I do not own Inuyasha and if you think I do then you need to have the crap kicked out of you . . . I do however claim the characters I've created. RR please.
A/N: Because I had so many wonderful reviews, I was just so psyched and decided I had to get another chappie out.
He had felt it. The thin bracelet now wrapped about his wrist, crafted from the enchanted cord, had pulsated, urging him in this new direction. And now, here he was, far from the beaten path, struggling with a noncompliant brier that so persistently clung to his cloak, tearing at the flimsy material. "I should've been a bookkeeper," the young man grumbled.
Once he had freed himself from the bothersome bush, Keitaro stood, peering into the surrounding forest, soon realizing that he was indeed . . . lost. Had he not remembered his master's teachings, he would have stayed on that path and on his merry way. But instead, his master's words rang in his ear with crystal clarity, reminding him that the cord strapped to his wrist may lead him to those closest to the couple. "It takes mere experience and training to know when to follow or ignore the cord's guidance," his master had said.
So now, being the faithful servant and apprentice that he is, he waited for any sign from the bracelet that might enlighten him on which direction to go, which route to take.
Nothing.
Still waiting.
And still nothing.
As the slow seconds ticked by, so did his patience. Quickly pulling the tainted silken bracelet off, Keitaro hurled it at the nearest tree, cursing it to the darkest recesses of hell. "Why, by all that is holy, did you bring me out here in the middle of nowhere?"
"I don't think it's going to answer you," came a voice from behind him.
Keitaro whirled around to view the voice's source, finding a young woman dressed in a bright yellow and orange checkered kimono, her hair decorated with a single lopsided ponytail. In her hands were several dandelions and other such weeds. "Who are you," he asked.
"Who are you," she quickly countered.
"I asked first."
A toothy grin quickly spread across her face, paused only briefly before stating, "that's a bit childish, don't you think?"
Keitaro's lips twitched as he restrained himself from mimicking the girl's easy smile, the word 'adorable,' echoed in his head.
The girl's eyes darted to the silken bracelet that now lay forgotten on the forest floor. Her simple curiosity moved her feet to where the item lay, picking it up to momentarily study the new found object before handing it over to its rightful owner.
"You can see it," Keitaro questioned, completely dumbfounded as to why a simple girl was able to see the mystical string.
Nodding, the girl asked in a hushed tone, "why, is it supposed to be a secret?"
Keitaro fingered the bracelet. "Who are you?"
"I'm Rin," the girl giggled and began to walk deeper into the woods, only stopping when she realized the young man would not follow. "Are you coming?"
"Why should I," Keitaro asked, still suspicious of the new girl.
"You are lost are you not?" Again, not waiting for an answer, she fled into the surrounding forest.
Keitaro stood rooted to his spot, unsure if he should follow the strange girl or go another path. He glanced down at the bracelet now grasped in his hand, feeling it pulsate and ripple through his hand. "I see," he said quietly to himself and hurriedly ran to catch up to the girl called Rin.
Birds chirruped and cooed to each other as they bounced playfully in the tree tops that circled the large clearing, while others hopped on the grass, pecking at the worms and bugs that were flushed out from their hiding places. Not far from the edge of this clearing, laid a certain two-headed dragon, dozing contentedly as butterflies fluttered about, tickling its nose and earning a snort of annoyance from the gentle beast. This serene setting was indeed picturesque with its only marring quality being that of a squawky reptilian imp.
Jaken stood atop the sleeping Ah-Un, using his two-faced staff to maintain balance, crying his woes for all to hear. "Lord Sesshoumaru, why did you abandon me? I know. It's because of that wretched human. Oh, if only you had left that girl to rot by the wayside. Lord Sesshoumaru . . ." The toad demon's pleas were cut short when a small stone collided with his skull, knocking him off balance to send him clamoring to the hard ground. The two-headed dragon barely stirred, hardly caring to raise even a single watchful eye. "Lord Sesshoumaru," he cried, hope etched his words as he collected himself quickly to peered over the sleeping demon. The hope that filled the small demon, left just as quickly as it had come, as he once again faced the source of his anguish. Not only was his master's ward here again to torment him, but she had brought another worthless human. Jaken collapsed to the ground, flinging a short pudgy arm across his face. "Oh, Lord Sesshoumaru! Why have you forsaken me?"
Keitaro watched on as the odd the demon flipped and rolled about on the ground. 'Yep,' he thought to himself again, 'should've been a bookkeeper,' and followed after Rin to help set up camp for the night.