Disclaimer: The kawaii Inu Yasha isn't mine....*sigh*....'nuff said.
AN: Sorry I took a whole week to get this out...just blame my school ^_^; Oh, and I changed two words in the prologue. It's now the Inu youkai clan, not tribe (sounded too primitive, ne?) And Inu Yasha was an outcast from their clan. In answer to all questions you may have: All in due time! This is only the beginning of the story! Sango, Miroku and many other characters will get into the story eventually ^_^. Oh, and I've decided to definitely stick to Inu/Kag and Sesshy/Rin...oooh, the plans I have for them...^___^
**** I edited some minor errors in this chapter, so if you're reading this for the first time, or second (^-^) it's all good for you!
Nogareru~Break Away
By Otaku-Chan ^_~
Chapter Three~The Meeting of Fate
It had been ten months since the spies from Saizen and the other four taijiya villages had begun to take Kinryoku apart from the seams, unbeknownst to the people living there. They arrived at Kinryoku, pretending to be traitors of the taijiya villages, no longer able to tolerate the fighting and the death. They played the roles of the guards and main defensive forces once they gained the trust of Kinryoku's leader, Sumiya Anzen, only to turn around and strike at the village in the end. It was a perfect coup d'etat. And the night the hanyou was freed from Saizen became the perfect excuse they needed to invade the village.
Taking an outcast from the Inu youkai clan was the spark needed to start the fire. The Kinryoku spy who freed him was either incredibly naive, or she was completely oblivious to what the taijiya had been planning.
Yes, everything was going according to plan. Taking the people and youkai from Kinryoku as slaves was the next step in the plan. They would eventually perish, but not just yet.
The taijiya leader, who was known only as Naraku, had his goals set on getting rid of those who defended the existence of youkai and hanyou alike. People like them didn't have the right to exist either, as far as he was concerned. Once Kinryoku was out of the way, he could focus all of his forces on getting rid of the remaining youkai clans, especially the Inu youkai. He feared them the most, since they were more intelligent than all the rest. They had revealed their cunning and skills time and time again, and their methods of combat had vastly improved. He especially despised the current leader of the Inu youkai...Sesshoumaru. Yes...He had to get rid of that pest...
**********
Through the deep, twisting forest paths, covered in unseen shrubs, and unwelcome roots, Rin ran. The only light she had to illuminate the path was that of the full moon's. Covered in scratches from sharp, thorny plants, as well as some wounds from the siege at Kinryoku, she was indeed worse for wear. However, the driving desire to stay alive kept her going.
Her deep, azure kimono was torn from the ankle area, all the way up to the middle of her right thigh, accompanied by both wet and dry crimson stains of blood, which came from a deep cut on her leg. She tried to ignore the intense pain. Her muscles were stretching to their limits, almost screaming from the exertion she was putting on them. Her breathing was fast and heavy, and her heart was racing as fast as she was. She swallowed the bile she felt rising in her throat and tried to ignore the nauseating fatigue that was quickly overwhelming her body. If she was to be captured by a taijiya now, she'd never have a chance to repent for the huge mistake she made. It was all her fault that everything had happened. Even knowing all of this, she refused to lose hope.
She'd had the feeling that Kinryoku was on the verge of total war, and she ended up being the catalyst to it's destruction. All the information she'd gathered as a spy was merely a cover-up for the taijiya's true plans. Tears welled up in her eyes as she felt the overwhelming guilt. In a way, she sacrificed her entire village for one person...how foolish...or was it? Who could decide if the lives of many were more important than one? The only consoling thought Rin had was that the taijiya were merely taking the villagers as slaves. She prayed they wouldn't execute them. No. She would never let that happen, but she did know that she couldn't save them on her own. She needed help, but who could she possibly turn to?
'Damn it! I should've just left the hanyou there...but... would I be able to live with myself if I let him be killed...?' she thought as she jumped over another elevated tree root, 'if it wasn't for those adorable puppy ears...'
Before Rin could think another 'puppy eared' thought, she was stopped dead in her tracks by a tall figure. Her lithe body fell hard to the ground as she realized she had bumped into whatever it was before her.
"Ow...," she wined, rubbing her lower back, then glancing upward, only to have her breath taken away.
He was gorgeous...Or was it a he? She didn't know, but all the same, the creature before her seemed to shine with an ethereal glow.
"I-Inu Yasha?"
Then the being slowly turned his cold golden gaze upon her, not making a sound. No, it definitely wasn't Inu Yasha, but there was a resemblance...
Rin took note of all of this. After looking over the fierce armor and seeing a sword at it's side, she concluded it was a male. Then, to her surprise, he began to speak.
"Ignorant human wench, I am not Inu Yasha, however, I have been searching for that reckless hanyou. Before I wipe you off the face of this earth, answer me one question, ...where have you seen Inu Yasha?" a deep, smooth voice growled in a threatening tone. Rin had a bad feeling about the man before her...no, youkai. She could tell he was the kind of youkai that despised humans.
"You know him? I am the one who got him out of Saizen the night he was captured. The last I saw of him, he was in Kinryoku with my friend, Kagome. I would help you find him..., but I'm not sure I can go on..."
Rin suddenly winced at the immense pain she felt shooting up her leg, and she cried out as she felt the warm blood continue to ooze out into her lap. Apparently the wound was worse than she thought, and running only opened it further. The adrenaline had kept her from feeling it...
The youkai could smell her blood, and judging from the wound on her leg, she'd be dead in five minutes at the most.
Rin got up the courage to speak to the handsome, yet dangerous looking being before her. If he was going to finish her off, she may as well have him hear her out first.
"I guess this is it, ne? Even though you probably hate humans, and me as well, I...just want you to know this...not all humans hate youkai," Rin gasped as she felt another sharp bolt of pain, "It seems...I'm not gonna make it... Who will save my people? And who will save the youkai?"
Rin paused, lowering her head in pain.
"I guess I'll have...to try harder in...another lifetime. I don't have any hatred for youkai, or humans...I only want to help put an...end to all of this wretched...fighting...," Rin said, tears running down her cheeks in a torrent of emotion. Then, unable to bear the pain any longer, she passed out, her body going limp in a small puddle of her own crimson blood.
The youkai lord didn't understand the peculiar creature before him. Such an enigma, as all humans were. Sesshoumaru had never heard such words out of the mouth of a human in his entire life. All his life, he firmly believed that no humans could truly care for youkai, be they from Kinryoku or not. She desired to save her people and end the war itself, even knowing it was a futile wish. Why are human's like that? Always getting upset over problems that are far too difficult for them to fix.
As he stared at her seemingly lifeless body, he felt an odd emotion...was it pity? Perhaps he should spare this wench's life. After all, if she had enough skills and strength to sneak his pathetic half-brother out of Saizen, and come this far out into his territory with a wound as severe as that...Indeed, for a human female, she was quite commendable.
A minute had passed as the youkai lord stood over the girl in quiet contemplation. All was silent except for a few crickets and other insects of the night. A cool evening breeze drifted through the pine trees, sending a slight chill down Sesshoumaru's spine.
He could smell it. A smell that was very familiar to him.
The smell of death.
The girl had died...Without another thought, Sesshoumaru grasped the hilt of his sword, Tenseiga, and began to unsheathe it. He swung the mighty healing sword, which was passed down to him from his father, slicing up the spirits that would take the girl's soul to Hell. He watched in anticipation for the girl to revive. He had never used the sword before to revive anyone, especially not a human.
'Father...I just saved the life of an unworthy human...'
Before Sesshoumaru could be further upset for his sudden, unlikely action, the girl's clear brown eyes gazed into his golden ones, erasing all of his doubts. He could practically feel the girl's pure spirit and overwhelming joy.
"W-What just happened?"
Seeing that the young woman was now in a state of confusion, he obliged to answer the question he knew she would ask.
"Your wound did you in, and I revived you. As payment for my deed, you will help me track down Inu Yasha. However, if you become bothersome, I will not hesitate to kill you."
Rin was very surprised. Not only were all of her wounds gone, but the youkai before had actually brought her back to life! Who was this mysterious man?
"Ano...may I ask your name?"
"I am the Inu youkai lord of the Western Lands, Sesshoumaru. Now, if you're done with your questions, we should head back to my estate. Come morning, you'll come with me to find Inu Yasha."
"I don't understand...you were threatening to take my life, and now you're saying that you revived me and want me travel with you? Honestly! I'll never understand what goes on in youkai's heads!" Rin sighed, utterly perplexed by her situation. 'At least I'm alive again,' she thought, as she followed this 'Sesshoumaru.'
**********
"Do you understand what you have to do?"
"Hai, Naraku-Sama. I am to exterminate Sesshoumaru and retrieve his Tenseiga..., but this will be an exceedingly dangerous job. I'm not sure I can handle it," said the soft-spoken voice of a young woman clad in the traditional taijiya clothing, a large boomerang at her side.
"If I had any doubt of your abilities, I wouldn't have chosen you for this job. You are one of the best hunters in this village. Do not disappoint me, Sango."
"I'll do my best, my lord."
Then Sango bowed in respect, and exited the room. As she walked down the long hallway that lead to the exit, she couldn't help but feel doubt. 'Can I really take on Sesshoumaru all by myself? This is suicide! Even with all the damn technology we have!'
She exhaled in a deep sigh as she let down her long, ebony hair.
"Sister! Are you going to take the job?" a young boy of eleven asked as he came running up to the girl.
"It appears I have no choice, but don't worry about it Kohaku. Just believe in me, okay?"
"Can't I go with you? I want to help too!" the boy exclaimed as he grasped onto Sango's wrist.
"No. You'd be better off here. Just help out around the village...it's safer," she replied, noting the disappointment on Kohaku's freckled face.
"Hai~~~"
"Good. Go tell father that I'll be leaving shortly, and get some food packed for me too."
With that said, Kohaku nodded and ran off to their hut. Sango then pulled out a small, rolled up piece of rice paper, which was a map to where the Inu youkai's estate was. Naraku had marked off all of the best routes for her to get there, and she still had all the details fresh in her mind. Once in the manor, she was to infiltrate the youkai lord's quarters and use the new secret weapon.
It was a scroll she kept in her belt...but not just any scroll...
The most powerful miko named Kikyou had created the scroll, which had the power to extract the soul of any youkai, and instantly destroy it.
'All I have to do is hit him with this scroll, and it's all over,' Sango thought as she looked at the seemingly harmless piece of paper, which was so powerful at the same time.
Sango then headed to the hut to retrieve the rest of her things and bid her family farewell. It would be a difficult trip, and invading the most powerful Inu youkai lord's domain wasn't exactly her idea of a great job, but she had to take it. Her family needed the money, and her rank as a youkai taijiya is what kept the food on the table.
Upon entering her pine scented home, she greeted her mother and father, both of whom were cleaning and repairing weapons and armor for other taijiya. They were the local 'fixer-uppers' of Saizen.
"Ah, Sango-Chan...you be careful, you hear," said the deep voice of her father.
"Don't get yourself killed. I'm going to make your favorite dinner for you when you come back," her mother said as she got up and hugged her daughter. Kohaku came into the room at that moment, a batch of rice balls in his hands.
"I promise I'll be back."
"Here sis, I made these for you. Don't eat them all at once like a pig. They hafta' last you know!" Kohaku said as he handed them to her.
"Hey! Who're you calling a pig?!"
"Anyway, good luck sis. Come back safely, okay?"
The two siblings hugged each other good-bye, then Sango gathered up her gear and left.
After walking to the edge of the village, Sango stopped in a secluded little spot by a large tree. She opened her leather bag and took out a small bottle of lotion.
A cold wind blew, sending shivers down her spine as she rubbed the scented lotion into the skin of her arms and legs. Sango knew that Inu youkai had very keen senses of smell, so she used the lotion to cover her human scent with their scent. Another invention by the miko's guild, of course.
As she rolled down her long, black sleeves and pant legs, she looked up at the tree top, noting how beautiful the leaves were in the autumn.
"Well, time to go. Be brave, Sango," she said to herself as she left the village, not quite sure of what dangers lied ahead.
To Be Continued...
AN: See? Sango's in the story now! ^_^ For those of you who're clamoring for more romance, you'll have to wait. This will hopefully be a long fic, and love isn't too fast now, is it? R+R!
AN: Sorry I took a whole week to get this out...just blame my school ^_^; Oh, and I changed two words in the prologue. It's now the Inu youkai clan, not tribe (sounded too primitive, ne?) And Inu Yasha was an outcast from their clan. In answer to all questions you may have: All in due time! This is only the beginning of the story! Sango, Miroku and many other characters will get into the story eventually ^_^. Oh, and I've decided to definitely stick to Inu/Kag and Sesshy/Rin...oooh, the plans I have for them...^___^
**** I edited some minor errors in this chapter, so if you're reading this for the first time, or second (^-^) it's all good for you!
Nogareru~Break Away
By Otaku-Chan ^_~
Chapter Three~The Meeting of Fate
It had been ten months since the spies from Saizen and the other four taijiya villages had begun to take Kinryoku apart from the seams, unbeknownst to the people living there. They arrived at Kinryoku, pretending to be traitors of the taijiya villages, no longer able to tolerate the fighting and the death. They played the roles of the guards and main defensive forces once they gained the trust of Kinryoku's leader, Sumiya Anzen, only to turn around and strike at the village in the end. It was a perfect coup d'etat. And the night the hanyou was freed from Saizen became the perfect excuse they needed to invade the village.
Taking an outcast from the Inu youkai clan was the spark needed to start the fire. The Kinryoku spy who freed him was either incredibly naive, or she was completely oblivious to what the taijiya had been planning.
Yes, everything was going according to plan. Taking the people and youkai from Kinryoku as slaves was the next step in the plan. They would eventually perish, but not just yet.
The taijiya leader, who was known only as Naraku, had his goals set on getting rid of those who defended the existence of youkai and hanyou alike. People like them didn't have the right to exist either, as far as he was concerned. Once Kinryoku was out of the way, he could focus all of his forces on getting rid of the remaining youkai clans, especially the Inu youkai. He feared them the most, since they were more intelligent than all the rest. They had revealed their cunning and skills time and time again, and their methods of combat had vastly improved. He especially despised the current leader of the Inu youkai...Sesshoumaru. Yes...He had to get rid of that pest...
**********
Through the deep, twisting forest paths, covered in unseen shrubs, and unwelcome roots, Rin ran. The only light she had to illuminate the path was that of the full moon's. Covered in scratches from sharp, thorny plants, as well as some wounds from the siege at Kinryoku, she was indeed worse for wear. However, the driving desire to stay alive kept her going.
Her deep, azure kimono was torn from the ankle area, all the way up to the middle of her right thigh, accompanied by both wet and dry crimson stains of blood, which came from a deep cut on her leg. She tried to ignore the intense pain. Her muscles were stretching to their limits, almost screaming from the exertion she was putting on them. Her breathing was fast and heavy, and her heart was racing as fast as she was. She swallowed the bile she felt rising in her throat and tried to ignore the nauseating fatigue that was quickly overwhelming her body. If she was to be captured by a taijiya now, she'd never have a chance to repent for the huge mistake she made. It was all her fault that everything had happened. Even knowing all of this, she refused to lose hope.
She'd had the feeling that Kinryoku was on the verge of total war, and she ended up being the catalyst to it's destruction. All the information she'd gathered as a spy was merely a cover-up for the taijiya's true plans. Tears welled up in her eyes as she felt the overwhelming guilt. In a way, she sacrificed her entire village for one person...how foolish...or was it? Who could decide if the lives of many were more important than one? The only consoling thought Rin had was that the taijiya were merely taking the villagers as slaves. She prayed they wouldn't execute them. No. She would never let that happen, but she did know that she couldn't save them on her own. She needed help, but who could she possibly turn to?
'Damn it! I should've just left the hanyou there...but... would I be able to live with myself if I let him be killed...?' she thought as she jumped over another elevated tree root, 'if it wasn't for those adorable puppy ears...'
Before Rin could think another 'puppy eared' thought, she was stopped dead in her tracks by a tall figure. Her lithe body fell hard to the ground as she realized she had bumped into whatever it was before her.
"Ow...," she wined, rubbing her lower back, then glancing upward, only to have her breath taken away.
He was gorgeous...Or was it a he? She didn't know, but all the same, the creature before her seemed to shine with an ethereal glow.
"I-Inu Yasha?"
Then the being slowly turned his cold golden gaze upon her, not making a sound. No, it definitely wasn't Inu Yasha, but there was a resemblance...
Rin took note of all of this. After looking over the fierce armor and seeing a sword at it's side, she concluded it was a male. Then, to her surprise, he began to speak.
"Ignorant human wench, I am not Inu Yasha, however, I have been searching for that reckless hanyou. Before I wipe you off the face of this earth, answer me one question, ...where have you seen Inu Yasha?" a deep, smooth voice growled in a threatening tone. Rin had a bad feeling about the man before her...no, youkai. She could tell he was the kind of youkai that despised humans.
"You know him? I am the one who got him out of Saizen the night he was captured. The last I saw of him, he was in Kinryoku with my friend, Kagome. I would help you find him..., but I'm not sure I can go on..."
Rin suddenly winced at the immense pain she felt shooting up her leg, and she cried out as she felt the warm blood continue to ooze out into her lap. Apparently the wound was worse than she thought, and running only opened it further. The adrenaline had kept her from feeling it...
The youkai could smell her blood, and judging from the wound on her leg, she'd be dead in five minutes at the most.
Rin got up the courage to speak to the handsome, yet dangerous looking being before her. If he was going to finish her off, she may as well have him hear her out first.
"I guess this is it, ne? Even though you probably hate humans, and me as well, I...just want you to know this...not all humans hate youkai," Rin gasped as she felt another sharp bolt of pain, "It seems...I'm not gonna make it... Who will save my people? And who will save the youkai?"
Rin paused, lowering her head in pain.
"I guess I'll have...to try harder in...another lifetime. I don't have any hatred for youkai, or humans...I only want to help put an...end to all of this wretched...fighting...," Rin said, tears running down her cheeks in a torrent of emotion. Then, unable to bear the pain any longer, she passed out, her body going limp in a small puddle of her own crimson blood.
The youkai lord didn't understand the peculiar creature before him. Such an enigma, as all humans were. Sesshoumaru had never heard such words out of the mouth of a human in his entire life. All his life, he firmly believed that no humans could truly care for youkai, be they from Kinryoku or not. She desired to save her people and end the war itself, even knowing it was a futile wish. Why are human's like that? Always getting upset over problems that are far too difficult for them to fix.
As he stared at her seemingly lifeless body, he felt an odd emotion...was it pity? Perhaps he should spare this wench's life. After all, if she had enough skills and strength to sneak his pathetic half-brother out of Saizen, and come this far out into his territory with a wound as severe as that...Indeed, for a human female, she was quite commendable.
A minute had passed as the youkai lord stood over the girl in quiet contemplation. All was silent except for a few crickets and other insects of the night. A cool evening breeze drifted through the pine trees, sending a slight chill down Sesshoumaru's spine.
He could smell it. A smell that was very familiar to him.
The smell of death.
The girl had died...Without another thought, Sesshoumaru grasped the hilt of his sword, Tenseiga, and began to unsheathe it. He swung the mighty healing sword, which was passed down to him from his father, slicing up the spirits that would take the girl's soul to Hell. He watched in anticipation for the girl to revive. He had never used the sword before to revive anyone, especially not a human.
'Father...I just saved the life of an unworthy human...'
Before Sesshoumaru could be further upset for his sudden, unlikely action, the girl's clear brown eyes gazed into his golden ones, erasing all of his doubts. He could practically feel the girl's pure spirit and overwhelming joy.
"W-What just happened?"
Seeing that the young woman was now in a state of confusion, he obliged to answer the question he knew she would ask.
"Your wound did you in, and I revived you. As payment for my deed, you will help me track down Inu Yasha. However, if you become bothersome, I will not hesitate to kill you."
Rin was very surprised. Not only were all of her wounds gone, but the youkai before had actually brought her back to life! Who was this mysterious man?
"Ano...may I ask your name?"
"I am the Inu youkai lord of the Western Lands, Sesshoumaru. Now, if you're done with your questions, we should head back to my estate. Come morning, you'll come with me to find Inu Yasha."
"I don't understand...you were threatening to take my life, and now you're saying that you revived me and want me travel with you? Honestly! I'll never understand what goes on in youkai's heads!" Rin sighed, utterly perplexed by her situation. 'At least I'm alive again,' she thought, as she followed this 'Sesshoumaru.'
**********
"Do you understand what you have to do?"
"Hai, Naraku-Sama. I am to exterminate Sesshoumaru and retrieve his Tenseiga..., but this will be an exceedingly dangerous job. I'm not sure I can handle it," said the soft-spoken voice of a young woman clad in the traditional taijiya clothing, a large boomerang at her side.
"If I had any doubt of your abilities, I wouldn't have chosen you for this job. You are one of the best hunters in this village. Do not disappoint me, Sango."
"I'll do my best, my lord."
Then Sango bowed in respect, and exited the room. As she walked down the long hallway that lead to the exit, she couldn't help but feel doubt. 'Can I really take on Sesshoumaru all by myself? This is suicide! Even with all the damn technology we have!'
She exhaled in a deep sigh as she let down her long, ebony hair.
"Sister! Are you going to take the job?" a young boy of eleven asked as he came running up to the girl.
"It appears I have no choice, but don't worry about it Kohaku. Just believe in me, okay?"
"Can't I go with you? I want to help too!" the boy exclaimed as he grasped onto Sango's wrist.
"No. You'd be better off here. Just help out around the village...it's safer," she replied, noting the disappointment on Kohaku's freckled face.
"Hai~~~"
"Good. Go tell father that I'll be leaving shortly, and get some food packed for me too."
With that said, Kohaku nodded and ran off to their hut. Sango then pulled out a small, rolled up piece of rice paper, which was a map to where the Inu youkai's estate was. Naraku had marked off all of the best routes for her to get there, and she still had all the details fresh in her mind. Once in the manor, she was to infiltrate the youkai lord's quarters and use the new secret weapon.
It was a scroll she kept in her belt...but not just any scroll...
The most powerful miko named Kikyou had created the scroll, which had the power to extract the soul of any youkai, and instantly destroy it.
'All I have to do is hit him with this scroll, and it's all over,' Sango thought as she looked at the seemingly harmless piece of paper, which was so powerful at the same time.
Sango then headed to the hut to retrieve the rest of her things and bid her family farewell. It would be a difficult trip, and invading the most powerful Inu youkai lord's domain wasn't exactly her idea of a great job, but she had to take it. Her family needed the money, and her rank as a youkai taijiya is what kept the food on the table.
Upon entering her pine scented home, she greeted her mother and father, both of whom were cleaning and repairing weapons and armor for other taijiya. They were the local 'fixer-uppers' of Saizen.
"Ah, Sango-Chan...you be careful, you hear," said the deep voice of her father.
"Don't get yourself killed. I'm going to make your favorite dinner for you when you come back," her mother said as she got up and hugged her daughter. Kohaku came into the room at that moment, a batch of rice balls in his hands.
"I promise I'll be back."
"Here sis, I made these for you. Don't eat them all at once like a pig. They hafta' last you know!" Kohaku said as he handed them to her.
"Hey! Who're you calling a pig?!"
"Anyway, good luck sis. Come back safely, okay?"
The two siblings hugged each other good-bye, then Sango gathered up her gear and left.
After walking to the edge of the village, Sango stopped in a secluded little spot by a large tree. She opened her leather bag and took out a small bottle of lotion.
A cold wind blew, sending shivers down her spine as she rubbed the scented lotion into the skin of her arms and legs. Sango knew that Inu youkai had very keen senses of smell, so she used the lotion to cover her human scent with their scent. Another invention by the miko's guild, of course.
As she rolled down her long, black sleeves and pant legs, she looked up at the tree top, noting how beautiful the leaves were in the autumn.
"Well, time to go. Be brave, Sango," she said to herself as she left the village, not quite sure of what dangers lied ahead.
To Be Continued...
AN: See? Sango's in the story now! ^_^ For those of you who're clamoring for more romance, you'll have to wait. This will hopefully be a long fic, and love isn't too fast now, is it? R+R!