"Journey Anew"
Chapter 03 : Give Thanks
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Author's Note: Hiya everyone. I hope you enjoy this chapter. I've never wrote a story yet with my own personal bad guy, so this is a first. Tee hee. I hope you enjoy him, although his appearance in very brief. Thank you for all of your support! I'll address any questions or specific comments from you guys at the end, okay? Have fun and enjoy! And drop a word or two in a review. Tee hee. Oh and now I can't do the five little - so... lets stick with one, okay! Tee hee.
Warnings: Kouga beating up on Jaken. Tee hee. Nothing much other than that…
Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha.
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Sango frowned as she walked along the country road. It had been two days since she'd taken a bath and she felt grimy. The feeling was annoying, considering the hot sun above her was shining down hard on the back of her head and shoulders. Sango looked at Rin, who was bouncing ahead of her. Did Sesshomaru ever let Rin stop to bathe?
Kouga looked at Sango, "What is it?"
"Oh… well," Sango blushed slightly, "I was just thinking about taking a bath…"
"There are some hot springs near here," Kouga told her with a grin.
Sango sighed wistfully, "A hot spring would be nice…"
"Hey! Sesshomaru-SAMA," Kouga ran ahead, leaving Sango alone. She tried to grab after him, to shut his mouth, but she was too late. He had already stopped beside Sesshomaru.
Sesshomaru turned to Kouga and stared at the wolf prince, as if to say, speak.
"Wouldn't it be nice if we stopped and let the ladies relax in those hot springs? Rin and Sango aren't as strong as we are and taking a short, relaxing break should keep them both in good health and in good spirits." Kouga said in an attempt to sway Sesshomaru.
Rin's eyes got bright, "A hot spring!"
Kouga winked at her, "Yeah, cool huh?"
Sesshomaru stared at Kouga and then he looked at Sango, "No longer than thirty minutes. Take Rin and bathe yourselves."
Rin reached into her kimono and pulled out a small cloth. She unfolded it and revealed some soap. Sesshomaru looked at Kouga and began to speak, "You go…" He paused and seemed to consider what he was going to say next, "I will lead you there."
Kouga blinked, "Why not me?"
Sesshomaru turned over his shoulder as he began walking in the direction of the hot springs, "Because you are much more likely to interrupt them…"
Sango giggled lightly and grabbed Rin's hand, "I doubt Kouga-kun would bother us, Sesshomaru-sama."
Sesshomaru sniffed and continued walking. "Stay Jaken and keep an eye on the wolf."
Kouga looked at Sesshomaru's back incredulously, "Why doesn't he trust me?"
Jaken snorted, "Its completely obvious that you're besotted with the wench." Jaken eyed Kouga with a smirk, "Or have you not noticed this yourself?"
Kouga blinked and stared down at the toad, "What are you talking about? Sango and I are comrades, nothing more. I suppose acknowledging her for other reasons than to tell her what to do would give you the impression that I am 'besotted' with her…"
"Sesshomaru-sama would never sink so low into harboring such feelings for a human wench. You shouldn't either. Its degrading to the royalty of the youkai community."
Kouga raised one eye brow at Jaken and laughed loudly, "What are you talking about, you little toad?"
"I AM NOT A TOAD!" the toad screeched.
-
Kouga and Jaken had just faded from view as Sango and Rin followed behind Sesshomaru. Sango stared at Sesshomaru for a moment before speaking, "I wanted to thank you-"
"There is no need for any gratitude. I did not save you, my sword willed that you should live. I was only humoring it." Sesshomaru said coldly, "Your life means nothing to me."
Sango looked down at the ground and then she smiled at Sesshomaru, "Even if you were only humoring your sword, I'm grateful that my life was saved."
Sesshomaru was silent. Rin's attention had been grabbed by the butterflies.
"And I want to thank you for letting me come along…" Sango said, "Being in the company of a child really helps a lot."
It seemed she was not going to be deterred from this little conversation, so Sesshomaru nodded to her words and remained silent.
"I'll repay you Sesshomaru-sama."
"There is no need for that." Sesshomaru sniffed indifferently.
Sango shook her head, "You, excuse me, your sword saved my life. I am in debt to you for that, since I can't very well be in debt to your sword." A small grin crossed her face when she finished speaking.
"Do what you please then." Sesshomaru replied. "The hot springs are just beyond those trees. I will remain here until you are finished."
Sango nodded and grabbed Rin's hand, "Come on Rin-chan! I can't wait to-" Her words faded from Sesshomaru's mind as he stood alone. Why had the taijiya tried to commit suicide? She did not give off the impression of a weak or cowardly person, nor one who was afraid of life… Sesshomaru internally shook himself. Her actions were her own, and he did not wish to know the reasons behind them.
-
Mayura slipped into the room with a tray of food and tea, "You awake miss?"
"Yes." Kagura opened her eyes. She watched as Mayura placed the food on the table beside her bed.
"Feeling any better?"
"I feel stronger." Kagura admitted, "Whatever you gave me worked like a charm."
Mayura smiled, pleased in the quick recovery, "My husband studies youkai physiology and brewed our medicines himself. Not to brag or anything," Mayura chuckled.
"I'd gloat." Kagura shrugged, "Anyway, if you don't require pay for your services… how do you both live?"
Mayura sat down beside Kagura's bed, "Well we don't ask for money, but we can't disrespect someone when they insist on paying us. That happens more than we like."
"You don't like getting money?" Kagura looked at Mayura with incredulity, "I thought all humans were greedy."
"Not all of us. But a good deal are, I'm afraid." Mayura looked suddenly older, "You'd be surprised but we get more trouble from our own people than yours."
Kagura looked up from the soup, "Really. So some don't take kindly to what you do." Kagura continued after Mayura nodded, "Then why do it? Most youkai hate humans anyway."
"But.. not all humans hate youkai." Mayura said with a soft smile, "And not all youkai hate humans. Perhaps one day we can live in peace with each other."
"Childish ideals." Kagura snorted, "The world will not change, at least not for the better."
Mayura looked at Kagura sadly, "Why do you think that?"
"Why? Look around you. Your own people look down on you for helping my people. And my people look down on your people because they are humans, and humans are weak." Kagura smirked slightly, "This world is full of animosity and ignorance. The only things worth anything at all is freedom and your health."
Mayura smiled, "What you have said is true. But you're leaving out all the good things too."
"Good?" Kagura sniffed, "What is good? For that matter, what is bad?"
They stared at each other before Mayura chuckled, "Lets save the philosophy for when your back to full health, shall we?"
"Yes please." Kagura said and smirked. Mayura stood up then and reached into her bag. "What are you doing?" Kagura inquired.
"Open your mouth."
"What!"
"Open your mouth." Mayura repeated.
"What for?"
"Just do it miss."
"…"
"Its for your health,"
"Fine."
"That's a good girl."
-
Sango and Rin returned just before time was up and Sesshomaru began to walk back towards Jaken and Kouga. Sango smiled at the youkai lord's back. Sesshomaru must have honestly believed that Kouga would peek at her and disturb the bath. Why else would he have stood for almost thirty minutes alone…
Or perhaps he preferred to be alone…
Sango's thoughts changed as she saw Kouga holding Jaken by one leg, shaking the poor little toad around in circles. Chucking as he did so. Sango smiled and she was reminded of Inuyasha and Shippo, fighting over the last bit of ramen…
Rin began to laugh hysterically, pointing one little finger at Jaken. She ran up to them, "My turn Kouga-kun! Swing me around too!"
Jaken's eyes were shut and his skin was slightly a paler green. He continued to protest, but Kouga was ignoring him.
Sango and Sesshomaru stood beside each other, watching in silence. Sango was smiling and Sesshomaru was staring at the scene with a blank expression.
After a few more minutes of Kouga ruthlessly torturing Jaken, Sesshomaru moved his head slightly in their current direction, "Enough."
Kouga stopped moving Jaken in circles, but he did not release him, "Why? Its just starting to get good. I think he's gonna puke."
Jaken squawked pitifully, "Sesshomaru-sama! Please…"
Sesshomaru sniffed, "Release him wolf." Though he did not verbally threaten Kouga, the wolf got the point as Sesshomaru's hand moved to rest lightly on his sword's hilt. Sango did not see Sesshomaru's indication, but she could feel the tension that suddenly became oppressive.
And then Kouga smiled good naturedly and dropped Jaken. "There you go."
Jaken picked himself back up with as much dignity as he could and kicked Kouga in the leg. The wolf's eyes widened in surprise and Jaken ran to hide behind Sesshomaru. Sesshomaru walked passed Kouga with Jaken trailing closely behind. Sango stopped next to him.
"Weren't expecting the little guy to retaliate, huh?"
"Thought he was smarter than that." Kouga smirked, "This means pay back." He winked at Sango and then his face got serious. Sango blinked at the change of expression.
"What's the matter?"
"Huh?"
Sango smiled, "Is something wrong?"
Kouga cleared his throat, "No nothing really… but I just want you to know that I wouldn't have peeked at you… when you're bathing… I don't know where Sesshomaru got that idea… but-"
"No worries," Sango grinned, "I don't think you're the type… well… actually," Sango laughed at the expression on Kouga's face. "Kidding."
"No. You're right. I might peek at a girl," He laughed and threw his hands behind his head, "But I promise I wont do anything like that to you Sango."
"Good, good." Sango grinned.
-
"Lord Severus,"
"What?"
"Sesshomaru has been located. He seems to be traveling east with four companions."
"Four? Never thought Sesshomaru was the social type… Oh well, tell me what you have gathered about them."
"One is an imp-"
"Jaken." Severus chuckled, "Looks like Sesshomaru never did kill the toad…"
"Another is Prince Kouga of the wolf tribe that recently suffered greatly at the hands of Naraku."
"Naraku was a fool. If you want something done, you might as well do it yourself." Severus smirked, "And Kouga traveling with Sesshomaru. How interesting. Mongrels always travel in packs it seems."
"Yes and the last two are human wenches."
"Wenches? Human wenches? Where has Sesshomaru's taste gone?"
"Not that sort. One goes by the name Rin and she's nothing more than a child. The other is Sango, a formidable taijiya, from what our sources tell us. She fought Naraku along side the hanyou Inuyasha."
"How pleasantly ridiculous. A dog, an imp, a wolf, a brat, and a taijiya. No matter. I'll kill them all."
"Yes my lord."
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And that is all for Chapter 3!
Dun dun dun, we finally get to meet the bad guy. Well, he's sort of bad. Not all the way, but he's definitely more bad than good. He seems rather bad though, huh? Tee hee.
But what is good and what is bad? Tee hee. I noticed that Mayura and Kagura are completely different people. Well sometimes opposites work and sometimes they don't. All relates to the people involved I guess. Hehe. I hope Mayura doesn't seem too good and then she's unrealistic. Well. She's a very pure hearted person, that's for sure. But she and Shinto have a secret, but lets not get into that quite yet. Hehe.
And could there be the beginnings of a love triangle? Maybe.
Join in next time! Bye!
Dragon/Fairy Girl - I hope you enjoy my try at a Kohaku/Kanna fan fic. Its for you, after all.
Mornings Light – Yes! I enjoy writing Rin and Jaken a lot. I think they're cute too. Hehe.
Neolannia – I'm glad this is one of your favorites. Its always a pleasure to write. : )
Joseph – Actually, I am going to write about when Rin learns the truth. But that comes later. Hehe. I'm glad you enjoyed the story.
UnreadableTaijiya – Tee hee. :dodges the rocks: Close, but I was too quick. Lol. If only I'd be quick about updating, huh. Lol. :bows head: Forgive me :big eyes:
WanderingSerpent – Your welfare does mean something to me. That's why I brought this chapter out sooner than the others. So, here you go!
You can all thank WanderingSerpent this came out before the other chapters for my stories. I like Godsmack, by the way. Hehe.
Thank you to everyone who reviewed before, I never addressed you all but my appreciation is just as strong! Sweet-thing-88, (hi again! ), Tauna the Tundra Wolf, Rikku-san, Raven-999, M-X, Cwolf2, XxSangoxX, and everyone else! Thank you!
- Taijiya