(A Memory from Takashi)
He was 13 years old and looking out at a field. This field was familiar he had seen this place before, he had been here once. He felt the wind in his face, the grass brushing his feet and then he saw a girl.
"Takashi? Takashi? TAKASHI!" a voice cried out to him.
A swift stick landed on his head creating a large bump appeared on his head.
WHACK!
"AGH! What? What?" cried Takashi.
He looked up to find a large muscular man over him. It was his sensei, Seto, looking down on him, and he didn't look too pleased.
"Takashi you must focus more on your training if you want to pass this tournament which, by the way, you must get in the top ten finals to succeed to get into a higher class of your sword training." said Seto impatiently.
Takashi looked up at his sensei looking quite bored.
"If this is supposed to be sword training how come we have to use kendo sticks?" whined Takashi.
"Because I have a student that has his thoughts scattered farther than autumn leaves! If I used actual sword you would...are you evening listening" cried Seto.
But it was too late Takashi had zoned out his sensei and was looking back out to where the girl was standing. She was blind folded underneath a tree slashing at thin air, but on closer inspection she was slicing falling leaves!
"She has a sword," he murmured to himself. "How come I don't?"
WHACK!
Another bump appeared on his head.
"Ouch!" said Takashi crouching on the ground rubbing his head in pain.
"Grr, that's it!" exclaimed Seto. "Come back when you can focus enough to raise your sword."
"It's a kendo stick," Takashi corrected.
WHACK!
Another bump appeared leaving Takashi without training and three large bumps on his head. Now, at least, he could talk to that girl.
Takashi strolled down the hill to the girl. She was a real knock out! Her black hair was long and extended below her shoulders. She was slightly sweating and it made her white skin glisten. He raised a hand to say 'hello' when she suddenly struck at him. The blade never hit him but it felt like it did and his eyes rolled to back of his head and he fell unconscious to the ground. Then, when he opened his eyes again, he opened them to a different scene, a bedroom.
Taiboku, The Tree Who Sought Revenge, Takashi, Even More Mysterious
Takashi rose from his sitting position and silently slipped out of the room silently and headed towards the forge. He had to fix Sango's Hiraikotsu he had broken during the previous battle. He silently picked the pieces up and headed towards the door.
"Where are you going?" asked a voice. It was Inuyasha.
"I'm going to fix Sango's weapon I broke." he answered.
Inuyasha stared at him for a little and gave a brief grunt and went back to sleep. Takashi then slipped out into the cool night air. The crickets chirped quietly in the bushes while he brought the broken pieces of Sango's Hiraikotsu to his forge.
Night turned into day and Takashi had not returned to the suite and our band of travelers awoke to the sound of a breakfast bell. Women entered with trays of food to serve to them in bed. The food was delicious and every one commented on how sweet the honey tasted on the toast. Miroku took passes at the girls but Sango kept him down and the women safely away from Miroku's groping.
"Inuyasha, why did you attack Takashi?" Kagome asked. "He didn't do anything to us but you attacked."
Inuyasha looked like he was thinking for a moment but turned his head again.
"Kikyo," said Shippo. "Kikyo came that night and upset Inuyasha."
Kagome turned her head to meet Inuyasha's eyes but he quickly stood up and walked out. There to meet him was Takashi holding Sango's repaired Hiraikotsu, again wearing those emotionless white eyes.
"I've repaired it for you," said Takashi handing it over to Sango. "I've also made a few adjustments."
"Wow," said Sango. "My weapon, it feels a lot lighter. Hey, what are these markings here?"
"They're nothing really," answered Takashi. "Just minor spells and enchantments, if you want I could make them transparent?"
Without a hesitation Takashi did a quick flurry of hand movements and raised one of his hands to his lips and the other to the writing. A bright silvery liquid seem to course through Takashi's veins to his fingertips and connect to the writing which, shortly afterwards, disappeared.
Everyone stared in awe as this happened but quickly shook of the shock and decided to get back to packing. However, Inuyasha was up and about outside looking for nothing in particular. It was true, the previous night he had met with Kikyo, but she wasn't there just to meet him she was there to explain to him again why she wasn't here to be with Inuyasha but to kill Naraku and pulled a knife on him for good measure. He couldn't understand why and maybe he didn't want to but he couldn't shake of this weird feeling.
Back at the suite everyone was ready to leave the village, but even with their supplies replenished and a good night's sleep they weren't quite ready to leave yet.
"First," said Kagome. "We gotta go shopping!"
Kagome dragged Sango and Shippo to the clothing shops to try on the beautiful kimonos, clothes, and dresses. Miroku, seizing the chance, quickly left to go girl hunting. Takashi went to the field in his dreams and was followed by a curious Kilala. He stared out onto the field and saw the tree where he had left his memory he found himself sitting underneath it's cool shadow feeling the grass beneath him.
"Kilala, what are you doing here?" asked a voice.
Takashi turned his head to the origin of the voice. There stood Sango in her normal clothing with Kilala in her arms and the newly repaired Hiraikotsu strapped onto her back. Some how she was able to get away from Kagome's shopping spree. She turned her head to Takashi and a surprised expression appeared on her face.
"Takashi-sama, what are you doing here?" she asked.
"Recalling old memories," answered Takashi. "Just old memories."
Sango took a seat beside him, setting down her weapon and looked out to the field. Takashi turned his head to see the wind blow in her face tossing her hair. He slowly turned his gaze back onto the field squinting against the wind.
"I just want to thank you again about fixing my Hiraikotsu. It really means a lot." she said.
Takashi turned his head back to her. This time her chin was resting on her knees her back against the tree. Again he turned his head. His heart was beating so fast now, how could this be happening to him!
Sango stood up and turned to leave but Takashi stood up and murmured something and Sango stiffened.
"It was the least I could do." he said and he turned and left.
Soon after, they met back up at the suite. It had seemed like everyone had a good time. Kagome came back wearing a beautiful, short- sleeved, red kimono embroided with a gold and green dragon. The skirt ended shortly after the knees where a crease slid up a few inches along her right leg and her hair was raised in a traditional Japanese way. Shippo on the other hand came back wearing an oddly crafted garment, which was an unmistakable sailor suit! Miroku came back (with pissed-off looking Inuyasha) with a plastered look on his face, however his face was beaten and purple along with the rest of his body they later found out. Sango and Kilala came back with Takashi.
"What the heck happened to you?" exclaimed Sango.
"He found his way to open Hot Spring bath and then gotten the crap knocked out of him by the 'All-Girls' Kendo Club for grouping then went to the nearby bar and drank loads of sake." explained Inuyasha, then he looked at Kagome and a shocked appearance appeared on his face.
"You like?" asked Kagome modeling for Inuyasha.
Inuyasha quickly turned his blushing face away and Miroku stared at Kagome murmuring something about 'could it get any better'. Then Inuyasha's eyes crept down to a sulking Shippo. Then he couldn't help but laugh leaving Miroku half laughing half drooling.
"Where were you, Sango?" asked Shippo, quickly trying to change the subject.
Sango blushed but Takashi kept a straight face but said nothing.
"I think they did something naughty," remarked Shippo, nodding his head.
Inuyasha swiftly connected the base of his foot to Shippo's head and then Shippo cried for Kagome. Thankfully the subject was then quickly dropped and they went to go rest for they would be leaving shortly after sunrise.
"My bike!" cried Kagome. "I totally forgot about it. Oh, God my mom's gonna kill me!"
"Don't worry," said Takashi. "I had a few volunteers go back for it when we came. It'll be here in the morning if you wish."
"Thanks Takashi." sighed Kagome.
Everyone was ready for sleep until they felt a tremor rumble through the ground then another and another. Kagome called it an earthquake, but it came in such small bursts that it couldn't be. They quickly geared up and went outside to see a gargantuan tree looming above them looking around its many arms waving in the air. The 'Lunar Curtain' he had explained previously prevented anyone for seeing this village so the giant tree was walking aimlessly looking for something.
"I know this tree," said Takashi. "It's Taiboku."
"TAKASHI!" the tree bellowed. "COME OUT AND FACE ME, OR ARE YOU HIDING?"
"Come to think of it," said Takashi. "He used to be a lot smaller. A LOT smaller."
The tree continued to move forward to the village. The village was going to be crushed if he didn't do anything. Takashi sprang into action and charged to through the edge of the curtain to reveal himself. The tree looked down on him and grinned, a rigged grin.
"Inuyasha," cried Kagome. "That tree, it has five jewel shards on him!"
Every one looked at her then back at the tree demon. It must have extraordinary power. How would Takashi be able to kill this pumped up demon? They had to help. Sango quickly changed into her battle outfit, Kilala changed into her monstrous form, Miroku quickly shook of his droll face, and Kagome quickly changed into her school outfit and caught a lift from Inuyasha. They soared at the Taiboku, weapons raised.
Then they saw Takashi soar into the air sword in hand. Then a he let lose a major fire attack.
"Phoenix Fury!" he fried and let loose a barrage of fire balls from the furious slashing of his blade.
The fire blasted the gigantic tree but with little effect. The scorch marks quickly disappeared. Taiboku used his arms to swat Takashi out of the air into the trees below. Everyone looked where Takashi fell in shock and the tree began to laugh maniacally moved towards the invisible village. None of them would stand for this. They couldn't allow this village he made to go down with him.
"Hiraikotsu!" cried Sango as she released her weapon at the tree's arms.
Sango almost fell of Kilala because the power from the Hiraikotsu was much greater than usual and it was spinning much faster and straighter. The Hiraikotsu cleanly sliced off and sealed 5 of the 10 arms to prevent them from growing back.
The tree was not amused. It let loose a moan of pain and anger and struck at her before she could redeploy her weapon. Kilala swerved to get away but got hit anyways and fell to the ground Miroku caught onto a branch before he fell and caught Sango by the arm. The tree loomed upon them again and raised a hand to annihilate them but an arrow soared at his hand severing it off from his body. He growled again and faced Kagome and Inuyasha.
"KAZA NO KIZU!" cried Inuyasha and large yellow streaks blasted into Taiboku. The tree still came back up and went after them filled with rage.
BROOOOOOMMM
A giant red fire appeared from the trees and took a form of a dragon. It charged at the tree engulfing it with flames and quickly reduced it to small charred pieces. Every one looked in awe. However they knew the power of the shards it would quickly regenerate.
Takashi beat them to the pieces of demon. He looked weak and tired his shirt was shredded revealing a tattoo. It had a circle in the center with two wings wrapped around it. Then saw him rolling up his sleeve revealing a decorated armlet with a large red ruby in the center and the tattoo's wings unfolded and glowed. The ruby began to glow and the pieces of the demon began to tremble and white silvery wisps of smoke came from the pieces and entered into the ruby. The substance then traveled to the circular part of the tattoo on his back. Then when there were no more wisps of smoke the wings of the tattoo closed over the circle. He slowly turned around to face him and then he collapsed.
End of Chapter
Okay so I made this extra long. It's because I'm going to take a little break of about 4 weeks. Then I'll get back to the writing. Keep those e-mails coming! Thanks to those who appreciate my writing. Tell your friends! Plus keep the demon names coming I'll need them.Special thanks to Marina and Kathleen