Of surprises and scientists
-(-
I haven't been able to sleep for some time now. Some youkai require sleep, some don't. I remember when I used to sleep, I remember those pathetic childhood dreams of hope or something of that nature. I haven't fully slept since... my mother-I shouldn't be reminiscing now; It is past dawn and the scent of Ryoko's blood has faded from the brisk atmosphere. I don't understand why she was just floating above the indigo water like that. She looked like a lost soul, only the way she hang there almost looked like she was dancing.
Dancing? What has come over me?
She is pathetic, calling out her undying love for some man. Tenchi…is this some Lord that I have not yet met? Is he this powerful to control the unpredictability of this bothersome Ryoko? Why am I even dwelling on her? So what if she was just floating there and I could smell her blood. It's not like she is important.
The nerve of that Ryoko, she thinks she can say what she thinks to me when she likes to? Why did I even strike that deal with her in the first place? I do need someone to wash my gi and other items because Machi has fallen ill. This Sesshoumaru does not even dwell in this castle. I only returned so that I could interview my suitor that shall be arriving here any day now. I don't need Ryoko's help.
I bang my newly formed fist against the table. This Sesshoumaru will not regret his decisions. I will simply not hold up my end of the bargain! The way she acts is an excuse enough. She is loud, she is brash and she does not belong in my presence. She does, however, have intriguing abilities that I will look into.
She has the power to summon a sword and youkai: she can move through walls like a spirit, she can somehow transport herself instantaneously anywhere she pleases, and she can make her hair into needles and throw them at small retainers, and fly. If I didn't know better I'd say she was an ancient Oni. Feh, I will just simply fool her into thinking I will keep her here until I find out all of the abilities that I please.
I smirk at my own conclusion. Like I would help that wind sorceress anyway.
I step away from the message received earlier today. It is of a most important matter, it was delivered by a falcon youkai to make sure it arrived to me in minutes. The message is from my cousin, Akira, who is a head general stationed near the Northern lands border. He states that the Northern borders have been flooded with low-level bloodlust youkai that are influenced by an evil miasma that seems to be linked to Naraku. They also state that a wolf youkai prince has been ascertained because he may know if Naraku dwells in the Northern lands or not.
"Lord Sesshoumaru breakfast has been prepared!" I inwardly sigh as I am pulled from my deliberations, Jaken can be most annoying at times. I can see why Ryoko lost her temper with him so easily. "Should I go retrieve Ryoko mi'lord?" The small toad bleats.
"No, I shall. I have a matter to discuss with her." I look at Jaken with icy golden eyes and he leaves my quarters swiftly to go make sure Rin is looked after. I walk quickly from my sparsely decorated study, down the steep, but wide stairwell, to Ryoko's quarters. I open the heavy wooden door to see a partially dressed, wet and very annoyed Ryoko. She had not gotten the chance to put on her haori yet. I saw the blush of either anger or embarrassment on her cheeks.
"Hurry up Breakfast is served." I say as monotone as youkai possible, trying not to notice how very...appealing she looked. Then I see a crackle of red ki from her right hand. Her wet, cyan hair that cascaded down her back like a river, suddenly stands on end. I feel her ki spike.
"YOU! GET OUT NOW!" She throws three ki blasts at me, I am able to deflect two with my acid whip but the other hits me in the shoulder and I am shot through a wall, splintering it. I feel crimson invade my eyes as I rise up, the ki blast burned through my gi and haori and welted my torso. I sprint back into the hall, after being shot into Rin's room to see a fully clothed, happy Ryoko.
"Sorry 'bout that… but for all the times you tried to strangle me we are even…" I see her smile, her fangs gleaming. Her mischievous smile is somewhat still empty, hollow. She thinks she can hide emotion and intentions from this Sesshoumaru. Then I remember what she said to me last night. I glare into her eyes, mine are fully overtaken with crimson, and my claws drip jade poison on the floor. I don't see the fear in her eyes; I see the tiredness and the suffering. I shall end it right here.
"Ohayo Sesshoumaru-sama!" Out of nowhere Rin skips down the hall in her orange kimono with Jaken's staff of heads swinging in her small hand. I regain composure. "Sesshoumaru-sama what happened to you?" I see her sepia eyes widen as she looks at me welt, it is already healing.
"Sorry Rin-chan, Sesshoumaru came in my room without knocking and well…" I see Ryoko's eyes brighten when she looks at Rin. She picks her up, without asking, and Rin laughs happily.
She hugs Ryoko and she returns the hug. I have never seen Rin act that way with anyone she has just met. She is usually very wary around other demons.What makes Ryoko so special? Why does Rin relate to Ryoko and not any female suitors?
"Ryoko you will eat with me now." I sternly break-up their small happy moment with an icy breath of words. Ryoko smiles shifts Rin in her arms.
"Alright, can Rin and that funny toad, Jaken, come too?" I frown. Jaken and Rin do not eat with me when we are at my home. Jaken eats with the servants and Rin gets fed human food after me. However, if it will please Ryoko enough so that I can finally get some peace then it will be permitted…just this once.
"Agreed, If you will do your work, and not bother the general that will stop by later on." She nods and floats down the stairs. I run ahead of her and walk in front. I spot the mouse youkai servant, Yuna. Her small form is almost covered by the large hallway.
"Kiku go inform retainer Jaken that he will be eating with me today." The mouse youkai responds and scampers off. I sigh, this is going to be a very interesting meal.
(POV change)
"Ryoko-chan why is Rin eating with you and Sesshoumaru-sama?" I look up at Ryoko while smiling, skipping down the hallway, barefoot, beside her. She would just make the coolest sister...or mommy!
"'Cause I told him so, although I thought he would put up more of a struggle than that." I see Ryoko smile, she has fangs too! Then I see Sesshoumaru-sama catch up form talking to my friend Kiku. Kiku is really nice, she taught me how to read and write. Jaken-sama was supposed to do that, but he got really mad when I wrote his name wrong and gave up.
"Sesshoumaru-sama is Ryoko gonna be my new mom?" I look at him, but he doesn't answer right away. Did Rin say something bad? No of course not, Sesshoumaru-sama just doesn't know! Its ok...although Sesshoumaru-sama is unbeatable, he is not supposed to know everything.
"No, Rin. I do not think someone like Ryoko would be a good mother to anything." I frown, that wasn't a very nice thing to say. Why doesn't Lord Sesshoumaru like Ryoko that much?
"Sesshoumaru I highly doubt you know a lick about parenting either!" Heehee Ryoko got Sesshoumaru-sama back! I run in the dining room and scamper to my usual seat, piled high with pillows so I can see over the table, to the left of the head to Sesshoumaru.
"Sesshoumaru-sama, you are my dad, right?" Before Sesshoumaru can answer Jaken answers, he is still limping a little from Ryoko's hair attack. I wish I could shoot hair at Jaken when I got mad too!
"Stupid human child, your parents are dead. Sesshoumaru would never be a father a human child anyway." I remember my parents, they were attacked by bandits. I eyes widen as I remember I hid behind a tree when they attacked our horse cart full of supplies. Why, why won't Sesshoumaru be my daddy? He is so nice and powerful. What is so wrong with being a human? Why is Jaken-sama so mean? I don't want to cry, but I feel the tears coming and I can't stop them.
"Why can't-Sesshou-maru-sa-ma-be my dadd-y!" I cry and mess up most the words. I see the food in front of me, but I am not hungry anymore. Suddenly I see something move across the table, even through my watery eyes.
"Rin stop crying." I see Sesshoumaru-sama, my Sesshoumaru-sama standing beside me, holding a handkerchief. Sesshoumaru is my daddy, he wouldn't let eat with him otherwise! I grab the handkerchief and wipe my eyes.
"I love you Sesshoumaru-sama!" I look up at him, he looks funny. Like he isn't looking at me but thinking of something. His eyes are wider than usual. Did I say something wrong? Before I can say sorry he sits back down, I see Ryoko-chan across the table smiling, or grinning. I laugh.
Today is going to be really fun! I see Ryoko eat some of her food, it looks like she is thinking of something else though. I look at my food...it is pig meat I think...I don't really know I just eat the bread and the yummy eggs and berries! I see Jaken take a seat next to Ryoko, I think Sesshoumaru put him there away from me so I won't through my yucky meat at him.
"Ryoko, does the food taste good?" I ask her, she is poking the yucky-meat with her chopsticks. I don't blame her I usually don't eat a whole bunch in the morning either.
"I don't know I can't taste. The texture is pretty good though." I see Ryoko put a finger to her lips and begin to eat something weird, I think it still has fur!
"You can't taste anything?! That is sad, I love berries!" I pop one in my mouth and let the juice rain in my throat. Jaken-sama rolls his huge eyes
"Of course pathetic human, you don't eat much else but them!" Jaken-sama sneers. Well, we are usually off in the forest so we don't have much but berries and grain anyway.
"Sesshoumaru-sama when are we going to go back in the forest and travel again?" I ask, finally managing to swallow a particularly tough piece of meat.
"I do not know Rin." Sesshoumaru-sama answered simply, Ryoko rolled her eyes and looked out the window behind Sesshoumaru. The sky was really clear and blue, but something, I think from the north, is making the sky dark and gray. Usually I would think it's just a scary lightning storm, but they come from the south, and they don't move as fast.
Then I see Ryoko stand up really fast. Sesshoumaru-sama's eyes widen in realization that it isn't a cloud either.
"Hey Sesshoumaru, I think we might have company and I don't think they are here for the food." Ryoko smirks as she looks to Lord Sesshoumaru, who's claws are already lengthening.
(POV change)
"Please Kagome, we need to see Ryoko! Please, let us go down there and find her, she ran away without saying goodbye!" Sasami, loosing her last bit of composure, ran up to Kagome grabbing her shirt sleeves, her roseate eyes pleading. Whether this girl will let us go or not is not of my concern, I will make her.
Not only is this the scientific breakthrough of a millennia, but I get to give Ryoko a stern talking to about leaving and not even telling your own mother you are running off with some Youkai-Lord!
"I don't think so, the feudal era is filled with strong youkai and evil creatures, I know Inuyasha can't protect you all, and I seriously doubt that Sesshoumaru would just let you stay in his land either." Kagome said softly, gaining the smile of Sasami and I.
"We are not your ordinary humans either. We have been places your kind has only dreamt about going, and if you think that a few youkai are going to stop us you are wrong." I state professionally, Mihoshi on the right side of me, slowly rebuilding her crumbled confidence bursts out.
"I am an officer of the Galaxy police squad, sworn to protect and ....wait...I'm sure there's more...just wait...lemme think of it." Mihoshi sweatdrops, and the Kagome girl gives her a confused look. I just grin, knowing not even I could never explain anything about Mihoshi to anyone.
"Lord Tenchi is a wonderful warrior of Jurai, and I have azaka and tamadake to assist me as well." The mild mannered, Ayeka, shows her bodyguards to impress the girl, while Ryo-oki merely mewed and hissed accordingly. Kagome seems just a little confused.
"Galaxy police? Jurai? What are you talking about?" She asks unbelievingly, her gray eyes wide in confusion. Sashiko, her mother calmly walks foreword; Sasami and Ayeka already talked about our expeditions through the galaxies, freeing Ryoko from her possessor, Kagato, and reclaiming the Juraian throne, to her. Sashiko seemed impressed, but it was her little brother, I forgot his name...something like Sofa...who seemed the most enthralled.
"Kagome, dear, they are from different planets. Jurai is the planet that Sasami, Ayeka are from. But they live here on earth at the Masaki Shrine." Her mother smiled I couldn't help but notice the drop of the girl's jaw as she heard those words. I don't see the whole big deal of it, she can travel through time, why can't she see us traveling through space. It only seemed logical.
"Wow...ok...I guess you guys can come, I think it would be easier than to go to Sesshoumaru's castle alone anyway." Kagome visually cringed. I must see this Sesshoumaru she keeps talking about. I wonder what he looks like...I must get a sample of his hair and skin. If I know my Ryoko, she is fine, and probably bossing this youkai lord around.
"Arigatou Kagome! Did you hear that Ryo-oki? You are going to see your sister!" Ryo-oki happily smiles for the first time since Ryoko left. I smile also, I can't wait to go in the past and see everything...not that I haven't been there before...I'm ages old, but it will be interesting. I did not visit earth back then; I was a little preoccupied with being imprisoned by Kagato.
"Well, I have to get my supplies fir-" Her mother, handing her packets of Ramen some of Mihoshi's favorite, shampoo I have seen Ayeka use, candy Sasami loves, blankets and some other random accessories. Her mother is very useful; she knows everything that we like! Can she read minds?
"Wow, thanks mom! Well, I can only take a few at a time, so I guess Washu and Ryo-oki are first. I'm certain kirara, Sango's neko-youkai, will be happy to see you cutie!" Kagome pets the small youkai around her overlarge ears, making her purr with content. Kagome giggles and she takes my hand and leads me to the well.
"Hold on tight to Ryo-oki!" Kagome says, handing her to me as we jump into the well. A startling, yet calming blue aura surrounds me and before I had a chance to get an air sample, we are in the well again, this time...in the past! Ryo-oki jumps from my arms and into the fresh air, I follow, but Kagome disappears again to retrieve the others.
"Hey girl, what are you doing in that well, and where is Kagome?!" A silver haired boy with dog ears come rushing towards me and Ryo-oki immediately stands on alert, hissing at the rude disturbance. I ignore the annoying boy right now, I am concentrating on my mental link with Ryoko, it is there, but some barrier is preventing me from contacting her.
"Hello?! Answer me baka!" I narrow my emerald eyes at him and take a pair of tweezers, pluck a few hairs from his head and deposit it into my carry-all DNA container. My scarlet hair swishes behind me as he growls angrily, just because I plucked a few hairs!
No backbone I tell you, this better not be this Sesshoumaru guy.
"I am Washu the scientist, not a baka, you science experiment gone wrong! And Kagome is bringing the others...so be patient!" I huff, aggravated. This guy sure is a hot-head. But before I know it another, more annoying kid, comes up to me with a puffy tail. I really don't like small children…there is only one solution!
"Hey who are you? Did you come through the well? Do you know if Kagome got me candy? What's your name?!" I narrow my eyes, I simply can't do with all these intrusions! I must concentrate. I look to Ryo-oki beside me with a devilish grin.
"Ryo-oki...sic the kid please." The little fox thing sprints away as Ryo-oki playfully runs to catch him, she could never really hurt a kid. That act though, caught the attention of the silver-haired attitude problem though. I roll my eyes.
"Hey only I can boss Shippou around!" He said, flexing his claws. I remain unfazed; there is nothing this scientist can't overcome! I prepare to block his attack when Kagome's piercing voice comes from the bottom of the well.
"Inuyasha! Do not threaten our guest!" Kagome yells as his years go flat. I turn down and look into the well to see Tenchi and Ayeka there too. I bet Tenchi can teach this brute some manners! I look at the 'Inuyasha' smugly, noticing his eye twitch.
"Why are they here anyway Kagome?! I thought you said you'd be at your time for a while...and Why is Miroku's twin in the well?" Inuyasha yells back, Kagome now trying to calm herslf down. She really needs to take some yoga or something, she seems way too tense. I notice the annoying thing called 'Shippou' is still off in the distance being perused at full speed.
"They are Ryoko's friends and they are powerful too! Don't forget the beating Ryoko gave you, 'cause if I find out these people are harmed in any way, it will be worse!" Kagome warns before disappearing back into the well to go get Mihoshi and Sasami, I automatically think of my daughter, Ryoko, pummeling this guy to a pulp. She could take this idiot on anyday, I bet he doesn't even know how to use that sword on his waist!
"Hello there, I am Tenchi, and this Ayeka." Tenchi holds out his hand, but the jerk Inuaysha refuses it. Automatically I smack him across the face. How dare he not accept Tenchi's hand! Sure Tenchi chose that brainless, idiot, princess over my daughter, but that does not mean Inuyasha can show disrespect!
"Oi wench you are asking for it!" He rears back to hit me, when Tenchi draws his sword with expertise and holds it to his neck, fully aware that the Inuyasha has a sword to his side too. Inuyasha's eyes widen as Tenchi's narrow in pensive. That will show him.
"You heard your friend, do not harm Lady Washu!" Tenchi lowly warns, telling him he meant business. I could Ayeka is slightly stunned, so am I. never saw Tenchi act so brash and confidently since the last battle that had Ryoko in it. That Ayeka is making him soft; he will lose his edge in fighting if she gets everything her way.
"Feh, whatever, I have bigger things to worry about anyway." The silver-haired boy leaped off with a single great bound and into a branch of the great tree to sulk I guess. I sigh; I suppose I should go to the village to find out any leads on this 'Sesshoumaru' Youkai lord guy. It concerns me though, did this guy capture Ryoko, or go with him on her own accord?
"Oooooh it's so pretty here! Look Mihoshi there is so much green plants and vibrant flowers!" Sasami, Mihoshi and Kagome clamber out of the well; I watch them with neutral curiosity as I turn to the Kagome girl. As always, patience is a virtue I don't have time for.
"Where exactly is this Sesshoumaru guy anyway?" Before she had a chance to answer, the Inuyasha character jumps from the tree, and looks at me irritatingly. What in the hell did I do? What is this guy's problem anyway? I must analyze his hair for rabies when I get back to my lab.
"Why is everyone obsessed with my half-brother?! He is a cold, ruthless, calculating, hateful Taiyoukai! And wants all humans dead, and you want to find him too!" I roll my emerald eyes. I don't really care about how ruthless the guy might be, neither do most of my party, we have all witnessed Kagato, the most evil, vile thing in the universe. Besides, the Kagome girl doesn't seem too scared for Ryoko.
"I'm not looking for your brother...or whatever. I am looking for Ryoko...and scientific evidence that Youkai existed in the past of course. I am the greatest scientist in the universe you know." I end with my favorite shining smirk as he frowns at me again.
"I don't see what is so important about Ryoko...everyone is magnetized towards her or something, what is so special about her?!" My eyes narrow, Ryoko is special. I narrow the space defiantly between us and I look him hard in his amber eyes.
"Ryoko is my daughter for your information! And she is very special, maybe not to a flea infested attitude problem like yourself, but to her friends, and the world of science she is! I created her from nothing but my own DNA, and with all of her jewels she can become a goddess just like I am! So if you could take us to this guy's house or palace or whatever that would be very helpful!!" My eyes go into slits and feel my skin heat up. I have had it with this guy... I visualize myself strangling him with my bare hands.
"No way in the seven hells I'm taking you to that pompous bastard!" I then hear Sasami pad up with Mihoshi beside her, their eyes teary. Yea, if there is one thing those girls are good at is putting on a good acting job.
"Please doggy-guy! We really need to see her; I know it's probably out of your way. So if you take us there, Mihoshi and I will cook for you. Promise!" Needless to say, Inuyasha's stomach grumbled. Then from the clearing, I see another boy and a girl come, the girl has a neko- youkai, like Ryo-oki, and a large boomerang on her back. The other is the spitting image of Tenchi, except he looks like some sort of monk and he carries a staff.
"Feh, ok, but I'm only agreeing because Kikyo might need our help too!" Fine whatever, I don't care about this guy's motives anyway. I have come this far to find my Ryoko, and I am not stopping till I do. It is ironic, that I have to go back in time to find someone who ran away from her past.
-(-
AN: ok another chapter up!!!! I'd like to thank everyone for reviewing my story, it has meant so much to me!!!!!
Ok, first, I made a mistake, Ryoko only has two gems, and she doesn't have the one in her earring, they are both in her wrists. And, well that is about it for mistake correcting. I am sorry if this chapter has a lot of spelling errors and grammatical boo-boo's it's late and I am going to summer-school, art classes and I am painting my room while doing at least two other fics, so I am pretty bogged down.
Thank you for all of your support!!!!!! Please R&R!!! :D