Chapter 4 - The Newest Member
Sango and Miroku had returned to Kaede's hut. Miroku had come back unconscious with a lump on his head and Sango had come back five coins richer, while dragging the monk. Kaede and Shippo had both laughed as Sango had dumped the monk's body in a corner and sat down next to the priestess to wait for Kagome and Inu-Yasha to return.
Kaede then handed Sango five gold coins. Sango looked confused.
"What is this for, Lady Kaede?" she asked. Kaede smiled.
"I had bet five coins on Inu-Yasha. But you won, so here is your reward," Kaede said.
"Well…thank you very much Lady Kaede," Sango said. Miroku started to regain consciousness during this exchange between Sango and Kaede. He sat up and rubbed his head. Shippo leaped into his lap.
"Didn't have the money to pay Sango, did ya?" the little fox demon teased. Miroku bonked Shippo on the head, much like Inu-Yasha usually did. Shippo jumped out of his lap and ran over to Sango. The demon exterminator shot a look at Miroku, who looked away.
Just then, Serena ran into the hut, Kagome right behind her. They were out of breath and couldn't stop laughing.
"Do you think…we…lost him?" Serena breathlessly asked Kagome. Inu-Yasha burst into the cabin.
"Why the hell were you running!" he demanded. Kagome tried to answer him, but she was still laughing to hard to regain her breath.
"We were trying to see if we could outrun you," Serena said, having stopped laughing long enough to regain her breath.
"Why?" Inu-Yasha asked. Kagome had gotten her breath back and started to answer him, but Serena interrupted.
"Because we felt like it, dingus." Miroku, Sango, Shippo, and Kagome all moved back, sensing a fight.
"Stop calling me that!"
"Calling you what?" Serena asked, pretending to me confused.
"…dingus," Inu-Yasha said, his voice barely audible.
"Oh, I'm sorry," Serena said with mock honesty. "I didn't know you were so sensitive." Inu-Yasha just growled at her.
"Are you growling at me? Are you growling at me?" she asked.
"Who else would I be growling at?" Inu-Yasha snapped.
"What are you, an animal?" Serena spoke in a disbelieving tone.
"No. I'm a demon," Inu-Yasha said and then he growled again. This wench is starting to make me angry.
"Sooo…what? Are you gonna attack me? Cause if you try I can guarantee you that I'll kick your ass," Serena said, crossing her arms in an imitation of Inu-Yasha.
"Oh, really? Well maybe we should put your claim to the test," Inu-Yasha suggested, taking a fighting stance. Although, to Serena, this looked just like his normal stance.
"Hey! Stop it, you two!" Kagome shouted, jumping between the two. Sango and Miroku nodded their agreement.
"You guys are being really immature," Shippo said.
"I think it's time we get moving," Sango said. Neither Inu-Yasha nor Serena looked like they were going to back down.
"I thought you said we have to find the shards before Naraku does," Kagome said to Inu-Yasha. At this remark, he snapped out of his rage.
"Feh…let's get going." The group sighed, thankful that a fight had been avoided. They all gathered their things and prepared to leave. As the group made sure they had everything they needed, Kagome realized something.
"Oh my god! Serena, you don't have anything to protect yourself with," she exclaimed. Sango and Miroku looked over at Serena.
"She's right. Serena has no way to protect herself," Sango said.
"That is not a good situation to be in. But don't worry; I'll protect you, Serena," Miroku said, eyeing the blonde. Inu-Yasha looked happy at the prospect of leaving Serena behind.
"Guys, cool your jets. I've got it covered," Serena said.
"You do?" Kagome asked skeptically. Serena nodded, then reached into her backpack and pulled out a long and well polished sword.
"Wow," the group exclaimed as one. Sango took the sword from her and examined it carefully.
"Where did you get a sword of such quality?" Sango asked, amazed. Serena giggled as Sango handed the sword back. Everyone left the hut and started out of the village.
"My dad gave it to me. He trained me in swordplay, as well as in martial arts. And my mother trained me as a gymnast. They both had high expectations for my future. So, I'm more than adequately prepared for demon fighting," Serena explained after putting her sword back in her bag.
"Speaking of that," Sango asked. "Kagome told us that you're living with her now. Did something happen to your parents?" Serena looked down at the ground.
"I'd rather not talk about it, Sango," she said.
"Oh, I'm sorry. I won't bring it up again. Although, the others will probably ask, too," Sango apologized.
"I know. I'll just tell them that I don't want to talk about it," Serena said. The girls walked at the back of the group in silence for a bit before joining the others in conversation.
It was less than an hour later when Serena felt it. Since she was a little behind the others, she looked around hastily before spotted a place that would work. She caught up to the others.
"I'll be right back guys," she said. They stopped and looked at her.
"Where are you going?" Kagome asked her.
"Over there," Serena said, pointing to the area she had picked out.
"Why?" Inu-Yasha asked, shooting her a look. She shot a look of her own back at him.
"Because. I'll be right back," Serena said quickly before walking away. Her feeling was getting urgent. Inu-Yasha jumped in front of her.
"Why?" he asked again, getting impatient. Serena's eyes started to water. She couldn't wait any longer.
"Because I have to piss!" she yelled as she ran around him. Inu-Yasha stood there in shock while the others all started around, trying to avoid looking at each other. Then Sango caught Kagome's eye and both girls burst out laughing. Miroku and Shippo followed suit, falling to the ground.
Serena finished her business behind the tree with a deep sigh and walked back to the group. She looked around in confusion and saw Inu-Yasha standing exactly where she left him, his expression one of astonishment. Serena also watched as Miroku and Shippo rolled on the ground, hysterical. Sango and Kagome were doubled over laughing. Sango looked up and saw Serena standing there, her face contorted with bewilderment.
"Um…hi, Serena." Everyone stopped laughing and looked at her.
"What'd I miss? What the hell is so funny?" Serena asked. Kagome waved her hand in front of Inu-Yasha's face. He snapped out of his shock and walked away with a 'Feh'. Sango hesitated before answering Serena's question.
"Um…you," she said. Understanding passed over Serena's face.
"Oh, the whole pissing thing. I just really had to go and Inu-Yasha was being stubborn," she explained. The group started walking after Inu-Yasha.
"It was still very funny," Miroku said, sidling up next to Serena. Seeing what Miroku was doing, Sango and Kagome sighed and walked away from them. Then Miroku rubbed Serena's butt.
SMACK! Miroku slid on the ground past Kagome and Sango.
"PERVERT!" Serena yelled, stomping past him. Kagome and Sango helped Miroku to his feet.
"You never learn, do you?" Kagome asked. They walked ahead of Miroku, who was rubbing his check, to try and catch up with Serena.
"Apparently not," Shippo said, hopping beside Miroku.
The sun had set and Kagome had still not sensed a jewel shard. Inu-Yasha wanted to continue searching, complaining that they had lost valuable time because of Serena. But the others had wanted to settle down for the night, so he had been outnumbered. Serena had smirked at him as they were collecting wood for a fire. He had just said "Feh" and walked away.
Now, the group was sitting around the fire they had built in the middle of a small meadow, and they were talking.
"So, Serena…"Miroku started to say.
"Don't even think about touching my ass again, monk," Serena said, interrupting him.
"I wouldn't think of it," he said. Sango shot him a look.
"Yeah, right," Sango, Kagome, and Shippo all muttered. Miroku decided to ignore their comment and continue his question.
"So, Serena, what happened to your parents?" he asked, turning toward the teenager. Sango looked over at Serena worriedly.
"What do you mean?" Serena asked Miroku calmly.
"Well, Kagome told us that you moved in with her. That implies that something happened to your parents. I'm merely wondering what?"
"Well…I really don't feel like talking about it," she said. Then she reached in her bag and pulled out a plastic bag. "Now, who wants marshmallows?" The group forgot about Serena's parents as she showed them how to make s'mores.
"Wow. These are delicious!" Sango and Miroku said in unison. Serena was sitting a bit away from everyone and Shippo ran over to her.
"Yeah, but what's in this?" Shippo asked.
"Well, these two things are called graham crackers," Serena said, pointing at the two ends. "And this dark brown thing is called chocolate."
"Oh! I know chocolate. Kagome brought me some before. That's why this tasted so familiar," Shippo said before scarfing down his s'more and running back over to Kagome. Inu-Yasha looked down at Serena from his perch on the tree branch just above her head.
"Would you like one, Inu-Yasha?" Serena asked, holding a s'more up to him. He just looked her. The others continued their conversation.
"I promise it won't bite," she teased from her position against the tree trunk.
"Feh," was her answer. She shrugged and he turned his back to her.
"Suit yourself," Serena said before biting into it. She chewed for a few moments before something came to her mind.
"Why do you hate me, Inu-Yasha?" she called up to him.
"I don't," he said, his back still turned.
"Then why do you act like it?" she asked. He sighed, then jumped down from the tree and landed next to her.
"I don't hate you," Inu-Yasha said rudely. Serena noticed he was eyeing her plate full of s'mores, so she held one out to him. He took it and jumped back onto the limb of the tree. Serena looked at her new friends and sighed happily. She settled back against the tree and closed her eyes.
In his stolen castle, Naraku watched the group at their camp through Kanna's mirror. He grew puzzled when he saw Serena.
"Who is that new girl?" he asked himself out loud. "I guess I shall have to send some…thing to test her and whatever powers she possesses." Kagura watched her master from the door. Naraku doesn't know who the girl is? Maybe I can use this to my advantage. Perhaps this girl can be exploited to help me.
Naraku watched Serena sleep through the mirror.
"Leave me," he commanded. Both Kanna and Kagura left his chambers.
"Perhaps I can exploit this girl to reveal the half-breed's weaknesses." Naraku smiled maliciously.
And still Serena slept, knowing nothing of those who watched and plotted against her.