Hiya, Peeps! This is my 4th chapter! I am right now typing this on my daddy's laptop in our van heading towards North Carolina. Wow. You guys really owe me now, huh? (joking) anyway, if you didn't understand what happened in ch. 3 the shikon jewel that Tsukiro put in Stella's Lasmae crystal caused Stella to forget who Tsukiro was. (notice how she introduced herself all over again and asked for his name.) We now know that Naraku is after not only the Shikon Jewel of the Four Souls, but also the Lasmae Crystal of the… err…… well, can't tell you that yet, can I?
o
In this chapter, poor old Kaede will be surprised. Hopefully, she won't have a heart attack on us.
o
Tamahome: -ahem- (reads a sheet of paper) I do not own Inu Yasha.
(He turns around and Stella pays him the promised $100 bucks. Tama walks away, counting the money.)
Inu Yasha: What the heck! Why is HE here! This is supposed to be a fanfic about ME! Inu Yasha!
Stella: Oh, give it a rest, Inu Yasha. (Licks her vanilla ice cream, skipping away)
Inu Yasha:…….
I DON'T OWN INU YASHA! SO THERE! SATISFIED? HUH! I DO OWN STELLA AND TSUKIRO!
"You know something, Inu Yasha, I can' believe that you can't swing your own blade. It can't be THAT heavy, right?"
"Feh, you don't know anything about blades, Kagome, so just leave me alone, okay?" Inuyasha and the others (including To-To Sai) (……….and his cow) were heading toward Kaede's village, and had stopped by the stream, having a little picnic after the crazy sword fight with Sesshomaru and his newly acquired sword, Tokijin. With his sword super-heavy, Inu Yasha was not in a good mood.
"Well then, Inuyasha, since swords are my life…ahem….I can't believe that you can't swing your own blade. It can't be THAT heavy, right?"
WONK.
"Ouch. Why'd you do that for?" To-To Sai grumbled with a bump on his head, still bent over the boomerang bone that he was fixing. Inuyasha glared at him.
"You're the one that made it heavy! You still have to explain why you made it heavy, damn it!" To-To Sai handed the fixed boomerang to Sango and turned to Inuyasha, now serious. "Yes, I'll explain-"
"IT'S A SECRET!"
WONK.
"Hey, that wasn't me!" To-To Sai complained with another bump on his head.
Inuyasha didn't care. "First, the 'build-up-your-upper-body', and now this!" He replied angrily, getting up. "It's a secret SO IF IT'S SUCH A IMPORTANT SECRET, WHY DON'T I HELP YOU CARRY IT TO YOUR GRAVE!"
"Inuyasha, calm down." Kagome mumbled, (To-To Sai zipped right behind her as if on cue. She pushed him away, annoyed.) her eyes on the forest, where lots of birds were flying away.
"It came from there." Sango pointed worriedly, mini Kirara in her arms. "Should we go look at what it is?"
"Probably. It's might be a demon with a Shikon Shard." Miroku replied. And that means that Naraku will probably be involved…. (Seriously, you can almost hear them think that!)
"But, more importantly," Shippo quipped in, "It's heading towards Lady Kaede's village!" That sent them flying.
"That was loud." Tsukiro commented, massaging his temples. Stella smiled.
"Sorry, it's just that the subject is taboo." Stella picked up a little bag. "C'mon, let's go to that village of yours!"
Kaede sat, calmly peeling the skin off the herbs she had picked in the morning. Of course, she had no idea that from the North Inu Yasha and the others (including To-To Sai) (………and his flying cow) were running towards the village, while from the South Stella and Tsukiro came. -.-;;
Stella couldn't believe it. People farming, a crystal clean river, a beautiful shrine, birds singing, smell of breakfast…BREAKFAST!
(growl)
Stella blushed. She was starving. Tsukiro laughed a little and started to walk along side the river towards the village. An Ancient Japanese village! Amazing! She really was in the past after all. When that hit her, she remembered why she was here. She stopped walking. Tsukiro turned around, still smiling. "C'mon, I'll show you where I live."
"I can't."
Tsukiro stopped smiling and looked at her. "Are you okay?"
Stella looked up, her brows furrowed together. "I…I just remembered why I came here in the first place. I…I have to go." 'What was I doing, spewing my life story on a stranger?' she chided herself silently.
"But I'm not a stranger!"
Stella looked at him. "What?"
Tsukiro looked away. "Well, I mean, uh…"
"What do you mean, Tsukiro?" Stella inquired.
He looked up. "I know so much about you now. I feel close to you. It's been only 3 days since I've moved to here and…well… It's like I know you from before. It's as if I've met an old, old friend. A very good friend."
Stella didn't know what to think. "Well, Tsukiro…er…well, my stomach's growling…ha ha! Er… I really don't know what to say." She was confused. In fact, so confused that she forgot about how Tsukiro had read her mind. Hold on, was it that that had made her forget, or the small red flash her crystal made for a fraction of a second?
Naraku frowned a little. This was a delicate part of the plan and could not afford Tsukiro making mistakes. "Tsukiro. Do not test my patience."
Kagura was on her feather, searching for a certain Inu Demon. With a couple of Hell Wasps flying around her, she thought as hard as she could about what Naraku said. 'Rin? The little human girl that always tails around him? How could Sesshomaru know about a girl from the future? Isn't her name Stella, not Rin? It doesn't make sense.'
She saw Sesshomaru sitting by his dragon while the little human girl Rin was picking flowers. She could tell that he could tell that she was coming.
'Naraku won't tell me anything. Guess he really can't afford any goof-ups this time, huh?' She landed and ignored Rin gaping at her and Jaken screaming at her.
'Time to do my job.'
"Why do you keep on coming back! Lord Sesshomaru ought to shred you to pieces!" Shrieked Jaken. Kagura glared at him.
"Shut up, frog. I'm not here to talk to you." Jaken went off in a fit of stutters while Sesshomaru stood and walked towards her. Kagura noticed his new sword. Her brother...
Sister…
"Naraku wants to inform you that Rin has returned." Kagura stated placidly. Rin's face brightened at the sound of her name.
"Lady is way too late! Rin returned loooong time ago! Since Rin's return, Rin can talk! See?" Rin paused and scratched her head. "………Rin mean, hear?"
"Hush, Rin." Sesshomaru gave Kagura a slight glare. "And how does Naraku know about Rin?"
Whoa, talk about bingo. Naraku knew this would happen, but how?
"Wish I knew. I'm just doing my job." Kagura turned and was about to leave when Sesshomaru's whip struck the Hell Wasps. They fell, nothing but a pinch of dust.
"Speak."
Kagura turned around, expressionless. "Who is Rin to you, Sesshomaru?" Maybe she was imaging it, but for a while his expression seemed… well… softer. Jaken was furious.
"How dare you! Leave and never come back, you… you witch!"
"I'm confused too, you know. I want answers. Is this "Rin" important to you? Who is she?" Kagura went on unnerved.
Sesshomaru's poker face took over again. "Where is she?"
Kagura sighed. Sometimes, Sesshomaru was just as stubborn as Inu Yasha. "She's at Kaede's village. I wouldn't go bother her now, though. Naraku won't like it."
"And why should I care if Naraku will like it or not?"
"Because," Kagura said, hopping onto her feather. She'll come back for answers later. "He has her life in his hands. He can kill her whenever he wants."
She flew away, leaving Sesshomaru to think things over.
"So will you stay with me for a while, please?"
Stella was about to say no, but then the journey ahead of her seemed hopeless. She needed food and shelter anyway, so why not? "Oh, fine. Just for today, though."
Tsukiro smiled. "You won't regret it. This village is great! Oh, I need to introduce you to Lady Kaede. Let's drop your stuff here. C'mon!"
Tsukiro walked towards the heart of the village, where she had seen the shrine. Stella paused and turned around to the mountains. 'This place seems… familiar, somehow. It's like I've been here before.' Stella dismissed the thought. 'Impossible. This is the past. How could it be familiar? I'm just imagining things.' She turned back and followed Tsukiro.
"What will we do, my lord?" Jaken asked. Sesshomaru was still looking out to the skies.
"I will go find Rin. Jaken, you will stay here with Rin."
"Yes, my lord."
Jaken bowed as Sesshomaru jumped and flew away. Jaken shook his head. "I thought she was gone. Why is she back now?" He muttered. Rin looked over at him with bewilderment and frustration in her eyes.
"Rin told you! Rin come back long time ago!" Jaken sighed.
"Kagome? What have ye done to yeself? Where are the others?" Kaede stood and shook off the peeled herb skin on her lap. Stella raised an eyebrow. Kagome?
"I'm sorry ma'am, but… I'm not Kagome. I'm Stella."
'Who's Kagome, anyway? And why isn't she surprised at me? That means that she's used to people from the future… that means…'
"Is Kagome's… err… CLAN name Highurashi?"
"Why yes. Are ye her friend?"
'I'm gonna have to tell Korino about this. A Higurashi in the past! Does she know what she's doing?' Stella thought alarmly. She forced on a smile for the kind old woman. "Err… no. I'm Tsukiro's friend. I'm searching for someone…"
"Ye are? Well than, why don't I show ye around first?" Kaede offered, and Tsukiro smiled.
"Err, okay. Can I take a shower first though?" Stella made a face. "I'm all sticky and dirty."
"Sure, the river is that way."
"WHAT? RIVER! YOU MEAN NO INDOOR SHOWER!"
"sigh ye are just like Kagome- NO."
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
"Did you hear that!" Kagome shouted.
Inu Yasha's ears were ringing. "Who didn't?"
"Inuyasha, you go ahead. I'll ride with Sango." Kagome told him, already motioning to Sango to come closer.
"Huh?" Inuyasha looked slightly taken back.
"The village is in danger, and you'll get there faster if you don't carry me!" Kagome explained, exasperated.
"Right," Inu Yasha ran ahead, his sword drawn. "Hold on, old hag!"
A bit after she unleashed her scream, the most strangest thing happened that Stella temporally forgot about the horrible fact that in the past there were no bubble baths with her favorite yummy strawberry scents, wonderful shampoo and conditioner and body wash. Let alone the deprived privacy! You'll never know who or what will walk in on you! Anyway, first came the red blur. It said,
"Hold on, old hag!" in mid-air and
KRASH!
Next thing she knew, Stella was in Tsukiro's arms, landing lightly down on the ground a bit away from the silver haired boy, who had made a huge breach on the ground with a giant sword.
A boy with a red outfit, long silver hair, and white- dog ears.
"How cute!" The world was quiet as Stella bound over and started to rub his ears between her fingers. Tsukiro, Inu Yasha and poor old Kaede had… how to put this… priceless looks on their faces. (Yep, even Tsukiro.) (Remind you; all the while you can hear the little poink, poink noise just like when Kagome first touched Inuyasha's ears. ;;)
Inuyasha finally gathered his wits to grab Stella's hands off his ears. "What the hell is wrong with you!"
"Oh. Sorry." She apologized, feeling goofy for doing such a thing.
"Inuyasha! What are you doing to that poor girl! SIT!"
You know what that means.
"This girl has some very amusing affects on others. Interesting." Naraku sat, wondering how Sesshomaru ever got along with her. Hm. Maybe they didn't. After all, opposites do attract. "Like Inu Yasha and Kikyo." Naraku murmured. But unlike before, he did not feel jealousy nor the ridiculous lust after Kikyo.
Naraku smirked. Now there was nothing to hold him back from killing the witch. He knew from the moment she gave him those shards that she was planning something. But when the moment comes, he will be the one feasting on her flesh.
"Isn't it wonderful? Having your powers once again?" Naraku spoke. He didn't flinch when a bolt of energy hit his barrier and exploded.
"Such temper. You should thank me." He stood up and turned to face the one who threw it at him. "Because of me, you can see your daughter again."
He looked down at the woman on the floor. She was breathing hard, and her long hair was messy. She looked up and glared at him with piercing pitch black eyes. Her big eight-sided black crystal, resting on her forehead, seemed to glare at him as well.
"Y,You…… bastard……" She managed to gasp out, pain in her eyes.
Naraku brought out his near-completed Shikon Jewel. "The Jewel of the East." He pointed at the Lasmae Crystal. "The Jewel of the West. I don't know how exactly an Asian family came to protect it, but that is definitely the Jewel of the West." He watched with slight amusement as the huffing woman's hand glowed.
"I will NEVER, EVER let you use the power of the Lasmae Crystal!" With her scream came a blinding light filled with sheer power. But in her weakened state and with Naraku's barrier at its prime, her attack barely made a scratch on his shield.
"It's useless." Naraku stated as the smoke from the explosion cleared. The woman was still, out cold from using so much energy.
"Sanioka, you are truly amazing." Naraku kneeled down to touch the crystal, then watched with no particular interest as the crystal's barrier melted his fingers. "Even after we took all your soul that we possibly can, you still move." He moved his hand away and let it heal itself. "It's like the crystal is regenerating your soul." He stood and walked away, ignoring Kagura who was behind the door listening to every word he said.
To Be Continued…
HA HA HA! Guess what my computer says,
Sanioka – Snoike
Lasmae – Lamaze
Shikon – Shimon
Kikyo – Kikuyu
Kaede – Kneed
Tamahome – Tama home
Rin – Ran
I fixed the chappie… added a couple of things, cut out most of the confusing commentaries during the story…(Man I gotta stop doing that! Oops. I just did it again) I promise to stop commenting. Added extra spacing to make it an easier read… the usual stuff… I'm sorry it's so confusing… everything will explain themselves later…