AN: As far as this chapter goes, it will be different from my others in that it does not center around the main characters of the story (ie: Sesshoumaru, Inuyasha, Kagome, Naraku, Kikyou). Instead, it deals with the minors (currently, Sango, Miroku and Rin)—but more as you see will be added soon.
Chapter 14
The steaming bowl of chicken ramen was placed in front of the girl. A bit of the salty broth fell onto the worn table, and the waitress brought out a cloth from within an apron pocket, replied, "Thank you for waiting."
The girl gazed down at the steaming bowl of Chinese noodles and smiled happily, and absently mumbling, "It looks delicious."
The middle-aged woman who sat across the secluded table cleared her throat and eyed the young girl in an exasperated glare. The girl, glancing up, flushed slightly and gazed at her with large and questioning eyes.
The woman, her hair smooth and untouched by the day, raised her eyebrows and urged, "And…?"
Gazing up at the waitress, turning her back to leave, the girl called desperately, "Thank you!"
Once the waitress had bowed humbly and scuttled away the woman, delicately mixing in a bit of wasabi into her soy sauce, commented, "Rin, really. Have not we drilled the proper restaurant etiquette enough?"
Rin bit her lip in shame and quietly nodded, "Yes…we have Yorozu-sensei."
The woman, withdrawing a pair of chopsticks from the container replied briskly, "Well then, why had I to remind you?"
"But-but the ramen looked so good, and—and—," she paused, realizing she had been defeated. Quietly, she bowed her head and apologized, "Forgive me, Yorozu-sensei."
The teacher, Yorozu, replied after a she had taken the time to eat a gyoza, "Rin, I am your paid instructor. Do you wish for all of Sesshoumaru-sama's money to go to misuse? Don't you believe this is rather selfish of you?"
Rin, reddening slightly as she tried to eat her ramen quietly and in proper etiquette while at the same time respecting the "the more noise you make the better it is" rule, whispered, "Yes, it is rude of me."
The teacher was pretty although she had over plucked her eyebrows, questioned wryly, "Do you say this because you know that is what I wish to hear? Or do you say it in earnest?"
Rin, placing down her chopsticks insisted, "No, Yorozu-sensei. I truly mean it. Sesshoumaru-sama has spent so much money on me and always protected me. This is the one thing that he has wished me to do and I don't want to let him down."
The teacher chewed on another gyoza, watching Rin's rosy face, as though something was troubling her.
Rin avoided her glance and inaudibly ate her noodles, her eyes tracing the grains in the woodwork.
Outside the rain steadily fell from the sky and she could hear the sounds of footsteps and the trotting of horses. Occasionally a vendor and his cart with squeaky wheels passed by. The sound of rain on the rooftop grew louder as a large absorbent cloud must have been passing over head. The two ate in silence, Yorozu-sensei watching the other patrons of the restaurant. Yorozu-sensei, her eyes darting like the movement of a sparrow, knew that Rin was a wild soul. She was one of the few wild flowers that had been lucky enough to been brought Kyoto, the heart of Japan, to learn the ways of the court. Yorozu-sensei, with her fifteen years experience, knew that if she pressed too hard that Rin would wilt and die, like a flower under too much sun. If she nurtured and pruned her wild edges, then truly, she would flourish.
It was for this reason that she permitted the two of them to dine at one of the more shady parts of the city. The parts of the city where the middle class lived; where the traveling monks and mercenaries came to get a good cheap meal, the part of town where strange and mysterious creatures came for comforts.
Perhaps, Yorozu thought dryly, it reminded Rin of her roots. It reminded Rin that there was a world outside of the court walls. There was a world where not everything was sculpted and shaped to perfection.
Rin, glancing up at the window sighed slightly and leaned against the table causing an annoyed sigh from Yorozu-sensei that she pretended not to hear.
Whispering quietly to no one in particular, she said, "I wonder what is going on at the fortress."
Yorozu, sipping daintily from the earthy cup of green tea, suddenly remembered that the post had come today. And with the onslaught of letters pleading for her help and fine skills, there had been one addressed to Rin. By the great beauty of the script, and the naturally woven feel to the envelope, it was obvious that it was from Rin's caretaker; Sesshoumaru.
"Now that you mention it," she began archly, "I did receive a letter from him today…"
Rin, sitting alertly now, blinked and questioned, "Do you have it? Do you have the letter on you?"
Yorozu, thinking about it for a second, reached into the deep sleeve of her kimono and withdrew the short stack of letters that she had picked up before the two of them had left for the restaurant. Untying the bow of course string, she mumbled idly, "I do believe I have Sesshoumaru-sama's letter in here…"
Rin, tapping her fingers in anticipation, moved impatiently as Yorozu painstakingly read each name off each letter. Finally, at the bottom of the stack, lay Sesshoumaru's letter. Yorozu, wondering if she should keep the letter and bribe Rin with it, decided that it would be to cruel to withhold such information from one she loved so dearly.
"Yes, here you are." And smiling, she slid it across the table.
Snatching up the piece of paper, Rin hurriedly tore at the seal and unfolded the pieces of paper from within. Reading with an insatiable appetite, she successfully ignored Yorozu and her rapidly cooling ramen.
Three or so minutes later, Rin looked up, content, and folded the papers once again into the worn envelope, and placed it carefully into the sleeve of her own light green kimono.
"Well?" Yorozu asked, slightly interested in the news from the warring states, "Is there anything that you can share, or at least, wish to tell me?"
Rin, back to slurping her noodles, thought for a moment and answered, "Well, he tries not to talk to me about what is going on with his brother and the war. He says he wishes for me not to get involved—"
"Which, if I may interrupt, is a wise thing to decide. You are a young defenseless girl, and the warring prefectures are no place for you." Yorozu cut in, a look of concern surfacing across her pretty face.
"But, I grew up in the country. I know the ways of the people. Just because he wishes for me to be trained in the court does not mean I can forget my homeland." Rin replied primly, adding a bit of soy sauce to the ramen. Shrugging, and adjusting her kimono ever so slightly, she continued, "He tells me of the changes of the seasons and the restoration of one of the wings of the house. But, what takes of most of the letter, is that another person has come to stay with him."
"A visiting nobility? Warlord?" Yorozu questioned curiously, suddenly enthralled by the workings of this small and strange family. It was rather touching that Sesshoumaru, a feared youkai lord, had taken such a young girl under his wing and brought her up. In addition, what was even more curious about the situation was that he was not romantically involved in the girl; the two were companions, but never, or so it would seem, lovers.
"No…" Rin admitted, hesitating ever so slightly, her eyes averted, "Naraku brought his half brothers wife to live with him."
"Oh?" Yorozu inquired, and continuing, she hesitated slightly, "How terrible, I have forgotten all about that family. The Higurashi's, am I correct? I send them new years card's ever year."
Rin, suddenly interested in her slightly rambling teacher, asked curiously, "Oh? What do you know of her? Of the family?"
"Oh, fear not. They are of the best kind; honorable and trustworthy." Yorozu whispered in a voice of admiration. Her dark eyes, plain under normal circumstances, grew hazy as she tried to recall a distant memory; "She…" Yorozu paused, thinking harder, "Her name was Kagome, if I am not mistaken. It was but two years ago that she came to Kyoto if I remember properly. And, if I am not mistaken, she bore great similarities to you yourself."
Rin, who was eating her noodles ravenously, paused, her mouth full, "Like me?"
Yorozu nodded and offered a napkin to her. Adjusting her intricately set hair, she continued, "Oh, she was the type that had a wild spirit and determination. I believe her instructor was…oh, what was her name? Ah! Yes, her instructor was Mori-sensei."
Rin, her eyes wide nodded, as she like a sponge absorbed all that her teacher said. This girl, Kagome, had been brought to the court, trained, and then left to continue her life in her home country, and marrying one of the most known lords of the time.
Her thoughts were interrupted as another cloud passed over head, dropping a bucket full of rain across the terrain, the drops sounding like nails against the roof.
"Oh my, terrible weather…" she heard Yorozu whisper, though it was hard to hear. The building shook and the sound of the gutter pipes seemed to roar in her ears. The sound of the wooden door sliding back caught her attention, and looking towards the entry, she saw a young man stumble into the restaurant. Slamming the door behind him, he let out a gasp of air and declared, "What a downpour!"
The manager threw him a towel and bowing slightly, Rin's eyes noticed a sopping wet piece of fur on his rear. She had at first figured that the man had some small dead animal attached to his belt, perhaps a hunter but now she realized that it was not a small dead animal at all. It was a tail…
Her eyes widened in surprise and pleasure as she noticed the furry brown ears atop his head, now drooping and dripping like the rest of his body. She had heard of youkai; and a few years ago, some had attacked her village; but never had she seen one so human like. If it had not been for the ears peaking out of his unruly hair, and his tail moving from side to side; she would have presumed him just like her.
The man dressed in an attire of a traveler, carefully patted his tail as dry as it could become and then moved the towel to his head where he rubbed vigorously over his auburn hair. A sly grin spread across the young mans delicate features, and he exclaimed, "Thanks, Oji-san," as he tossed the towel playfully back to the manager who let out a cry of indignation.
"Oi! Now it's covered with your fox fur!" a beam hinted on the edge of the middle aged mans lips, and Rin smiled to herself as she watched the scene unfold.
Obviously, the young man must have been a regular to the restaurant; though it appeared that he had been gone for some time by the appearance of his clothes, covered with a thin layer of mud. However, there was something interesting about him nonetheless. He had a smart and clever sort of face; yet not deceiving. A childish grin still hinted at his lips, and so Rin could not help but wonder if their ages were not so very far apart. The youkai had cream-colored skin with dark auburn hair that seemed to match his eyes. The youkai gingerly picked a Ginko leaf from out of his hair, and flicked it over to the manager, chuckling slightly.
"You're disgusting," the manager continued, teasing the man, "As soon as you finish the ramen, go upstairs and take a bath!"
Someone from the bar added, "You're getting the manners of a solider—what, with all tramping about the war zone like you do."
The fox-youkai smirked and called across the room, "Well, at least I wasn't naturally born disgusting, unlike you."
The restaurant flared with laughter and even the manager chuckled to himself as he fried up some noodles.
The youkai settled himself down at a table and poured a small cup of hot sake and drank it quietly, his eyes darting about the restaurant to see if perhaps things had changed.
Rin was so unaware that she was watching him that it took her a moment to realize that their eyes had met and he was now staring at her as well. Slowly, a thin line of blush came across her face, and avoiding his eyes, she averted her own and turned back to the table where Yorozu-sensei was leaving the money. Soon they would leave.
Finishing her ramen hurriedly as well as her miso soup, Rin could still feel that the youkai was still watching her from his table across the room. Kicking herself mentally, she sunk lower into the bench trying to become invisible.
"Rin! What have I told you about posture?" Yorozu snapped. "Now, let's go."
Nodding her head slightly, she grabbed her parasol and stood. Clutching her purse as well, she realized that she would have to walk by the youkai's table. Her heart beat faster with fear and embarrassment. Would he question her for looking at him? Would he yell at her? Would he say nothing and just try to trip her?
No one would do that, Rin. You are being carried away…!
She became so nervous that she lost her grip on the purse and it fell to the ground, the tinkling of the silver coins hitting against one another echoing on the dirt floor. Reaching down to quickly snatch it, she found that another person's hands were already resting atop the silk cover. Glancing up, she found that it was the youkai who had come to her aid; their eyes meeting again, and she noticed flashes of green in their depths, he murmured, "Here you go."
"Thank you," she spoke, her cheeks quickly changing from pink to red, as she took the purse from his grasp. Their hands touched ever so slightly and outside a flash of lightening lit the interior of the shop. Stumbling back in surprise, she found that the youkai was looking up at her, his expression hard to read; as though something was bothering him.
"Have we met?" He whispered so that the restaurant patrons could not hear.
"Rin!" Yorozu called from the entrance before Rin could
answer,
"Come, we will be late."
Nodding, and casting an anxious glance towards where she had just stood, she bowed a final thanks and walked quietly towards the door and opened her umbrella. As she closed the door behind her, she heard the restaurant erupt with shouts and hoots of indignation and teasing.
"Oi! How come Shippou gets all the breaks?!" someone called.
"Eh! Shippou, not even five minutes---youkai get all the luck, eh, Hiroshi?"
"And look at the state of him! Mud and dirt, and still!"
The youkai, his cheeks aflame, mumbled absently, "Maa! What are you guys talking about!?"
The manager, coming from behind the curtain in the back, his tanned arms carefully holding a bowl of ramen, questioned, "Eh? Did I miss something?"
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Standing underneath a small withered pine tree, the two gazed out at the rain that had suddenly started a few minutes ago. The two of them had just stopped for lunch when Miroku had pointed towards the sky and predicted, "Looks like rain." Sango, casting a worried glace, shrugged and replied, "I think we have ten minutes or so left before it downpours."
A large drop chose that time to land directly onto her nose, causing Miroku to break out in a fit of chuckles as he quickly gathered the provisions and slung them onto the back of pinto colored horse. Not finding it amusing in the least, she sent an angry scowl in his direction as she mounted her own stead and kicked it sides. Already the drops had increased in numbers and in size. Nearly soaked to the skin already, Miroku motioned towards the main road, and explained, "We can use that shrine we saw a half a mile back."
Sango's face was contorted as a bolt of lightening lit the sky causing her horse to rear and throw her back into a puddle of mud and water. Screaming out in pain, the sound was dwarfed by a role of thunder. Miroku was some five hundred meters away and had yet to notice that she was not behind him. Her dark eyes watched as the horse fled into the woods, carrying the essential provisions that were needed for the trek to rescue Kagome from Sesshoumaru's hidden mountaintop fortress.
She lay there, feeling as though she was drowning in the pool of dirt. In deep pain, she moved slightly and crawled to the bank at the edge of the road, her breathing profound as every gasp brought her pain. She had not yet fully recovered from the battle against Naraku, and the stress of Kagome's visit and now the hard and painful fall off a galloping horse had not added to the healing process. Water, like small rivers, flowed over her face, and the rain became sharp like needles. Peering out through her bangs that covered her face, she saw that Miroku had turned and was glancing behind him in a state of alarm and panic. He had not yet seen her, fallen against the side of the road; his eyes were still searching for the horse, where he had presumed her to be. His lips parted and yelled her name, but it was unheard through the din of rain and thunder. At last, their eyes met, and Sango perceived an expression of shock and agony as he urged his horse towards her side. His figure drew closer and closer as the rain suddenly turned to hail. The horse's body was covered in mixture of sweat and rain, its muscles glistening in the half-light, their forms moving and pulsating with the effort that charging uphill required.
Darkness covered her eyes, and groaning she fought it back to the shadows were it surged angrily. A jolt of pain, like lightening itself, surged against her side. Touching her waist gingerly she found her finger tips covered in a red liquid; blood.
So, Sango thought darkly, struggling to remain conscious, My wound has reopened.
It was at that spot that during the battle a fierce and grotesque youkai had slashed a poison tipped sword into her side. At first, she had presumed the wound just a large gash; it would scar, yes…but it would heal. However, it turned out that the poison was of the time-released kind, working its way slowly into the blood stream before attacking. What had been her savior had been the untouched cellar filled with remnants of antibodies and medicines. Sango, half dazed in pain and agony due to the loss of her entire village, had foolishly consumed anything she could get her hands on. The next days that followed had been a half drugged hell filled with ample amounts of regurgitations and drug induced sleep. However, when she awoke on that third day, she found that although the wound was grotesque and fowl—it was not hinted with the green and purple of the youkai's poison.
Blinking back tears and sweat and rain, Sango watched as the horse reared to a stop and Miroku swung off and hurriedly made his way to his side. His usually tidy hair was wet with strands escaping from the grasp of the tie at the back of his head. His dark eyes were serious as he felt her forehead with his wet hands. Noticing a dark stain on her side, his eyes met his and he whispered, "I hope you will forgive me while I take advantage of the situation. I need to inspect what has happened."
Nodding slowly, Sango gasped involuntarily, grinning ever so faintly, "You're enjoying this too much."
Miroku, beaming slightly murmured, "Maybe so, maybe so," as he lifted her forward so that his head was resting on his shoulder. Cursing as he pulled at the many knots that untied the simple obi, he talked idly as though he was trying to keep her conscious, or alive. Perhaps Miroku knew that a great loss of blood would…
"I must admit, this is the first time I have ever been so close to you without you slapping me," he began as he carefully slid the restraint of the corset-like obi and tossed it to the side where it floated on the surface of a puddle before slowly sinking to the bottom.
"Of course, we have only known each other three or four weeks—so, I suppose I should not get too cocky."
He had now come to the yukata plan and simple. Yet, there was only one way to open a yukata to reveal a wound on the waist. Gulping ever so slightly, and reining back his coursing testosterone, he closed his eyes. The situation was grave, and there was no time to be thinking such lecherous thoughts as he was.
"Sango," Miroku breathed, his voice questioning. She did not reply, so nudging his shoulder so as to alert her to the fact he was addressing her, "Sango…"
Waiting another moment, he moved her gently so that he was facing her. Her eyes were closed, so shaking her gently his expression grew serious as no reaction came from her at all. Moving closer, he put his ear to her lips.
"Well," he whispered, "You're breathing is stable…so, you're not dead."
Setting her against the mound of dirt, he paused as he wrapped his hand about the material of her yukata.
"I suppose its better this way, eh?" he sighed as he pulled away the clothing revealing her bare skin and gazed down at the open wound.
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Walking along the pavilion, Rin idly ran her fingers along the polished and painted wood banister. Quickening her step and straightening her posture as a sophisticated lady walked quietly by, Rin gazed out onto the garden. It was sculpted and beautiful, as was everything in Kyoto. The fish were well kept, the trees trained into strange and almost gravity defying forms. The leaves were all new and green, none burnt by the sun that shone cheerfully down on the city. Currently, the eye of the storm was passing overhead, giving everyone a much-needed rest from the past week of rain. Finding she was smiling unconsciously, Rin turned the corner and proceeded to Yorozu-sensei's chamber where she rapped quietly against the wooden part of the shoji screen.
"Come in," Yorozu-sensei instructed neither harshly nor kindly.
Opening the particularly fine screen, Rin bowed deeply and whispered, "Yorozu-sensei, good morning."
Not lifting her head until Yorozu responded, she quietly studied the weave of the tatami mats underneath her tabi-socks.
"Good morning," Yorozu finally replied, her voice cool and unemotional.
Looking up at her starkly decorated room, Rin found that Yorozu-sensei looked particularly ill this morning. Her usually pale face was almost translucent, so that the blue and purple veins rushing beneath the surface of her skin could be seen. Her eyes were not watery, but abnormally dry and cold. The room, decorated in shades of yellow, green and blue seemed suddenly dark and abnormally cold.
Stepping forward hesitantly, and then deciding that she should sit, she questioned earnestly, "Yorozu-sensei, is something troubling you?"
Yorozu, shifting her eyes only whispered, "I suppose I must tell you."
Rin, her expression concerned and confused, whispered softly, "Tell me what?"
Yorozu, shifting her body so that the brilliantly colored bow of the obi was facing Rin, continued unemotionally, "Rin…I have been asked to tutor a young girl from Tokyo. In her blood she is related to the emperor."
Rin, casting her head downwards, and studying the pattern of her own silk kimono, whispered, "I see…will she be coming to live with us?"
An exasperated sound came to Yorozu's voice, "Don't you understand, Rin? I will be leaving you. I have found a replacement instructor. I am sure you have heard of Naga-sensei, have you not?"
"Yes, I have heard of her." Rin answered respectfully. I have also heard of her strict rules and terrible personality.
Yorozu adjusted her feat and heaved a great sigh. Her hair had yet to be styled, so it fell over her shoulders, a tangled mass of raven with flashes of ginger.
"This is all very disappointing, Rin," she admitted, and although she could not see her face, Rin thought that Yorozu was crying.
Casting one final glance about the room that for the past two and a half months had been her home-away-from-home she nodded and firmly decided not to cry. It just seemed so unfair, she thought desperately, rising to her feet. To finally become accustomed to something only to have it snatched away and replaced with something cold and unfamiliar—it was cruel and heartless. And perhaps, Yorozu knew this too.
Standing by the shoji screens, she whispered, "Goodbye, Yorozu-sensei. I hope that our paths cross again."
Bowing silently, she turned to leave and face the brilliant sun of morning. Pausing, she glanced over her shoulder as Yorozu whispered her strange farewell, "Don't be too frustrated Rin. My name is Sakura Yorozu, and I was but the daughter of a wealthy merchant. I know you can accomplish great things."
Blinking back tears, Rin nodded, and whispered, "Goodbye."
Her steps were hurried and light-footed as she fled down the pavilion towards the exit. She had to get out; this was all she knew. Even if it was just for the day, Rin had to know that there was something outside these walls; a place that was not directed and formed to fit perfectly into some brightly ornamented box. The scenery, beautiful and pristine, of the courtyard blurred about her so that all the grace and elegance vanished and only an assortment of colors remained. The very entity of nature. Brushing back her tears that caught the wind, Rin could not help but wish for Sesshoumaru. Even in the worst of situations he had been there; his quiet continence a comfort in this world of meaningless conversations.
Grabbing the bolt to the back entrance, she hurriedly flung the door open and entered into the real world; not one of ideals and hopes and dreams; but of loss and happiness and burdens and all the hardships that consisted of life.
Her large eyes darted about her; afraid someone might recognize her form. Shuffling quietly away, she turned left and then right down so many nameless streets and alleyways that by the time she came to her senses, she found herself utterly lost and confused.
Yet, she could not go back.
Not yet, she told herself, Not until I remember what my life was like—not until I embrace my roots and recall myself for what I am.
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Sitting casually down on the bench, Shippou handed over the five hundred yen that had been asked of him. In the past six months ramen had certainly become more expensive—but then, living out in the small country towns and eating off of what the earth had to offer—well, it made him rather stingy with the money that he had.
"Would you care for anything else?" the owner asked, pausing as he put the noodles into pot of boiling water.
Shippou, glancing up, replied graciously, "Yes, tea, if its not too much trouble."
The owner bowed deeply and took from a different pot some clean boiling water and placed it in a simple white teakettle.
"Thanks." Shippou mumbled as he looked through the cloth awning out at the street. It seemed to have shortly stopped raining, at least for the time being. At dawn, the sky had been overcast, and now it was but noon and already the clouds were beginning to form.
A rickshaw carrying chicken and some freshly cut leeks rushed by followed by two girls dressed in brightly colored kimonos. A few moments later, a boy carrying a toad sneaked upon them causing fits of hysterics and shrill screaming. The boy just giggled and bounded away.
Turning his face into the dim recesses of the ramen-shop, Shippou made conversation by surmising, "All this rain must be bad for the business. Considering this is just a sit and go ramen shop. The rain must blow in since there aren't really any walls."
The manager, smiling lazily as he drained the noodles replied, "Every spring right before summer the business lulls, yet—once I start advertising my cold noodles, it will pick up again. It always does."
Nodding, Shippou glanced out at the street again. It felt good to be in a big city again, not to see the fear and terror in the villagers' eyes. Here, it felt as though the problems of the countryside hardly existed. He too was beginning to believe them but a figment of his imagination. Yet, the pain and sorrow of the world was all too relevant.
Eyeing his bowl of ramen sadly, he picked up the chopsticks and quietly slurped his noodles. Being from a known lineage of fox youkai had always been one of the blessings of his life—he had been able to get a proper education, and actually be respected by humans; not feared, or hated, or just plain ignored. Coming from this background had been an assurance that his life would not have been as difficult as other youkai. However, being the only son, and the last of his family—it put great burden on him to marry well.
Because of his family's great influential power, in the youkai community their thoughts and ideas regarding certain matters were always examined carefully. His family was trusted to have wise and honorable decisions.
Yet, this trust was a blessing was burden at the same time. It all had started about a year ago when it was heard that a great and powerful force was rising in the south. His father had decided to make the journey with a trust and loyal tanuki-youkai in secret. His father believed that it was how people acted when not inspected that determined their true selves. And so, traveling to the south, his father had inspected this youkai in secret, watched how he treated others—observed his life.
And when he had return, when the youkai had questioned him of the dark youkai's worth, what had his father said? The truth, of course. That the youkai's soul was darker than a great thunder cloud, and angry like fire. The tanuki had agreed and warned all youkai to stay away from this strange one from the south; for he would only cause problems.
And how right the tanuki had been. Not three months later, there was word that the youkai was even more powerful than before, and wished to obtain as many followers as possible.
But, the dark youkai was not a simpleton. No, far from it. This youkai understood that to win the populace, they must first acquire their leaders. And so, swiftly and brutally this was done. It was not hard to do of course. He promised them everything and anything; money, clothes, love, land, sex, servants—all would be theirs, he insisted.
It was a grievance indeed; Shippou thought with remorse, that he should be out of the country those six months when all took place. As usual, he had spent his fall and winter in Sapporo as a local guide for the dignitaries as well as an emergency staff incase anyone was lost in a freak blizzard. By the time he had returned to his homeland in spring, his family had already been murdered, betrayed by his friends, and his home forever destroyed.
And so, for six months, he had lived his life in the wild, half mad with anger and sorrow, his head filled with plots of revenge. It was not until he made his way into the city that Shippou had learned of one survivor. His fathers trusted friend and companion—the tanuki-youkai. It had seemed that the tanuki had fled to the capital to beg the emperor for help in any form. Nevertheless, by the time the tanuki-youkai had arrived back to his homeland, empty-handed, all had been conquered and won.
There had been nowhere else to turn to but the city. And so, there tanuki-youkai had lived for the past six months, running a small antique shop filled with a few pieces of his own raku pottery.
It was in the company of tanuki-youkai that Shippou had learned of the war between the two brothers—of the quarrel between the inu-youkai, and of the series of events that had taken place. That Inuyasha, the hanyou, had married a human for her fathers' factory; and that Sesshoumaru, the proudest of all inu-youkai, had taken in a young girl as a companion. However, it was the news that the dark-youkai now set his sight on their land that troubled him the most.
Of course, nothing could be done; and nothing would be done. And so, he had fled to Shikoku where he learned the territory and became a sea and forest guide as well. Yet, his life felt fleeting and short on that small secluded pebble of the sea—and so, par tanuki-youkai's advice, he had returned to Kyoto; his second home.
Slurping the noodles thoughtfully, Shippou remained true to his promise that he would not let the past conduct his future. Yet, before he could continue down his own road, he knew that he had to avenge his family's tragic demise. He had to do something—anything, to avenge their death. Although he was unsure of the purpose now, Shippou knew that the time would soon present itself.
Finishing the pot of tea, he bowed respectfully and stumbled back into the sun drenched streets of Kyoto. Nearly colliding into someone who was walking hurriedly down the street, he bowed and apologized humbly, not even bothering to look up. It was only as he turned away that he caught a glimpse of her face.
Remaining perfectly still, he listened distinctly as her feet lightly walked along the compact dirt of the streets. His face formed an expression of puzzlement and then deep concentration. Where had he seen that girl before? She was so familiar!
Scratching his furry ears in annoyance, he sighed and decided that he would have to ask her. After all, who was he to pass up an opportunity? And, she was going in his direction—toward tanuki-youkai's antique shop (where he was currently spending the next few months).
"Excuse me!" Shippou called after her, rather embarrassed. Although women seemed to like him, usually he did not take much of an interest in them. Either they were not desirous, or their beauty did not have the same standards in intelligence that he required.
The girl, glancing over her shoulder in surprise, stopped and questioned frankly, "What? What do you want?"
Blinking back in surprise, he fumbled, having lost his cool,
"Well, actually—didn't, etoh, I mean, haven't we met somewhere before?"
The girl, obviously surprised by the question, she reddened and studied his
face for a moment. As if a fire had
flared inside her head, she turned bright red and stared down at her wooden
geta and tabi.
"Ah…etoh, yes…" she fumbled terribly, fiddling with her small earlobe.
Leaning forward and peering up at her from her bent position, he grinned slightly and thought in earnest, "I thought so!"
She mumbled something, or grumbled something, and slowly backed away, slipping slightly in the mud from the morning's fresh sprinkles. Tugging at her kimono nervously, she cast an embarrassed glance in his direction, and murmured, "Well, it was nice seeing you again, youkai-san."
Turning, and walking quickly away, her arms pumping and her face down she had caught him so off guard that it took Shippou a moment to realize that she was trying to get away.
"Oi! Wait!" Shippou gasped, fuming ever so slightly, yet intrigued by the girls' brazen and then sudden docile nature. It irked and intrigued him all the same—why was this girl so familiar?
"You're just going to leave, just like that! And not tell me where we have met?" Running after her, and chuckling as he walked along side her figure that had now nearly broken into a run, he added, "Remember, I am a youkai. I can run faster than you!"
The girl stopped so suddenly that it surprised him, and he continued for a few steps more before falling back to her side, and gazing at her intently, his auburn eyes flaring in the midday sun. Looking at the girl up and down, he realized that this girl was one of the countryside, despite her expensive dress. Shippou had found that in all his travels, it was the smart and naturally clever country girls that had the most exuberance for life, that drank every drop that they could get in their eager and outstretched hands. No well-bred city girl would have spoken to him so briskly, nor attempted to run in such a lovely and expensive kimono.
Leaning ever closer, gazing down at her, he smirked and urged, "Now where have we met, young miss?"
The girl, her eyes still averted, seemed to be smiling against her will. Her cheeks were flushed from the run and obvious embarrassment, "Chunari no Ramen-ya."
Repeating the place on his lips, he fell back onto the balls of his heals and rocked slightly. Chunari no Ramen-ya? Where the heck was that? Ramen-ya? Did she mean Satoshi Oji-san's place? Was his last name Chunari? Possibly…
Thinking back to the last time he had dined there, a particularly nasty and rainy day, he remembered that there had been one very pretty girl who had been sitting (most unhappily) by a middle-aged woman. As she had left, she had dropped her purse and then…
"Ahhhh!" Shippou gasped, chuckling and pointing at her, "You! The girl who dropped her purse!"
The girl nodded and admitted, "Yes, that was I. Now, may I leave?"
Blinking in surprise, wondering why this girl was so strange, he questioned, "Do you have somewhere to go?"
"Well, I--," Rin began, glancing about her, unsure how far away she was from the compounds.
"Because, I can take you there, if you want, you know." Shippou nodded, smiling in a fox like way.
"I really don't know where I am going," Rin sighed in an aggravated voice, taking a hesitant step back. This situation was most awkward. Of course she had wanted to see him again, and the fact that they were actually talking amazed her—but why today, of all days?
"Well, all the better!" the youkai clapped happily and motioning them to continue down the street.
Rin, grinning slightly, sighed and conceded, "I suppose so."
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The forest was an orchestra of music that day as the trees released all the water that had managed to entangle itself in their branches. Nearly everything was wet and glistening—from the flowers to the immature fruit. Even the rocks sparkled like diamonds in the sun.
Miroku stepping along the wet grass, whistled a quiet little tune. His dark brown eyes were alert and pausing for a moment, he knelt down and pulled at some vegetation. Cursing at the vegetable for its difficulty in extracting it, he finally succeeded. A stream was nearby, so walking over to its edge he gave the fragrant vegetable a good scrubbing before continuing on his way.
The forest was flat for the most part, or at least the area he was located in; but if you continued walking quite suddenly, you would reach the base of a mountain rising up out of the ground. At the bottom of this area, Miroku had managed to find a small cave, which, to his wonderment, had much dry firewood inside. Ducking his head as he entered, he called, "I've returned, Sango."
From the dark depths, her voice called out, "Where were you? I woke up and I was alone!"
Miroku chuckled and confided, "Really, Sango, I didn't know you felt that way."
It was too bad, Miroku noted, that he could not see her face. He would just have to imagine her expression…
"Miroku, you know very well that--!" she began, testily, and frantic to set things straight.
"Yes, yes," Miroku nodded, gathering up some wood towards the entrance so there would be ventilation, "Don't get yourself all worked up, your still an invalid, remember."
The girl moved slightly, and the fabric of her clothes rustled. "I'm not an invalid." She insisted.
Heaving a sigh, Miroku chose to ignore her, and instead he began the task of lighting the fire. After a few tries, he had managed to succeed, and so, throwing a few large rocks into the flame, he grabbed their metal pot (waiting by the door) and headed out to the creek.
As he did so, he smiled sadly to himself. Poor Sango. It was most unfortunate that her wound should re-open, for, as they were both aware, it now delayed them from their task for another month, or at least, three weeks. Already one week had gone by from that fateful rainy day, and although she was recovering quickly, the wound was still fragile, and potentially dangerous.
Squatting by the side of the creek, he plopped the bucket down into the water and filled it to the brim. Glancing up towards the morning sky, bright and brilliant with migratory birds and the hints of another oncoming storm, he found that something was amiss. Hadn't it been…much noisier a moment ago? Birds had been whistling above the tree tops…
Shaking his head and slightly hitting himself for his paranoia, he made his way back to the cave, picking up some wild chives as he walked along as well.
Upon returning to the cave, he sat down by the fire after putting the pot over the coals and flames. As he sat there, waiting for it to boil, he took out a knife and began to cut the chives he had found, as well as the large leek he had pulled out of the ground. Putting them in the pot, he added a bit of salt, and then withdrew from his bag three or four potatoes that he had managed to bring along from when they left the fallen fortress. Pealing them as well, he plopped them into the pot and stirred the contents with a clean stick.
Behind him, Sango who must of dozed off again, whispered, "What are you doing?"
"I, my dear lady," Miroku replied suavely, "Am making the two of us lunch. Romantic, wouldn't you agree?"
Miroku would never find out what she thought, for at that moment a figure blocked the entranceway. Stiffening in surprise and alarm, Miroku remained calm and whispered to Sango to get as deep into the shadows as she could. From the outline of the form, he would say it was a man; and knowing men's personality, a girl in any shape or form, was his prey.
The figure crouched through the entry way and made his way towards Miroku, questioning in a rough voice, "Eh, now what do we have here?"
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AN: well, a little change of pace, eh? Shippou gets introduced! And more characters next time! Its so cute between Rin and Shippou *melts* it was sort of tough writing him because how am I supposed to know what he is like when he is 16+ years!? So, I tried my best. I left him with a bit of the playful personality, but…adult as well! If you have seen the sketch of OLDER Chiriko from Fushigi Yuugi, I imagine him sort of looking like that? Yes? Anyways, heh, this chapter serves as an introduction to the next chapter where…well, you'll have to see! Anyways, hope you enjoying this!
R + R, onegai shimasu!
Cappie
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