Present Time: Clock Town
Two hours after the unexpected attack from Armaros, a mysterious sorcerer somewhat behind the apocalyptic curse placed upon Termina, the town had fallen into a terrible silence. Shortly after Kagome, Inuyasha and Link had disappeared during the fight, and Sango and Miroku had fallen unconscious, Armaros had vanished from the battle; his whereabouts unknown.
From the explosion that apparently swept the priestess, half demon and young swordsman into oblivion, the town was then consumed by a darkened and ominous fog. Though they had tried their best to remain brave despite the evil plaguing the land yet again, it proved all too much for the guards of Clock Town. As soon as the battle had commenced, many had all but hightailed it out of town to take refuge at the ranch or anywhere far from there.
Shippo had been all alone when he witnessed the entire battle. He saw his friends battling Armaros, he saw Inuyasha turning into his demon form and he saw his surrogate mother, Link and Inuyasha disappear after the explosion. It wasn't until after he searched the entire area for Sango, Miroku and Kirara. He found them just outside the Stock Pot Inn unconscious and badly hurt and he had fallen into tears thinking the worst.
OOO
The warm blaze of the fire warmed the room in which he occupied. The caretakers of the Inn, Anju and Kafei, having seen the state in which his friends were in, were quick to intervene. Using granny's room downstairs next to the kitchen, they placed both Miroku and Sango upon the bed, where they continued to sleep. Though the caretakers were confused about what had transpired outside and had heard the startling explosion, they tended to the slayer and monk's injuries.
All the while, Shippo remained seated by the fire, his small feet hanging off the soft pillow he sat upon. His eyes were red and puffy from crying so much. The child had feared Sango and Miroku wouldn't wake up, but after Anju's gentle voice explaining to him that they were just fine and would wake up later, he felt a little more at ease. However, he still couldn't help but feel the warmth of new tears falling upon his cheeks.
'Kagome…Inuyasha…Link…Where did you go?' The only thing he imagined was the worst, and that was, they were gone forever, dead from the blast. The only trace left behind of his adoptive mother was her backpack.
Kirara, who had awakened earlier than her companions, sat beside the fox child, nuzzling her face against the child beside her. In response to her affections, Shippo hugged the feline.
The soft whimpers from the child did not go unnoticed by granny, and when she craned her head to peer down at the lad, his knees pulled to his chest and his back towards her, she called out to him. "Oh, Tortus, why do you cry?" She questioned and as Shippo sniffled, wiping at the tears on his cheeks, she turned her spiked chair to face the fire before holding her frail and pale arms out. "Come, let granny tell you a story."
Somewhat embarrassed to have been heard crying, the child obliged and crawled upon her lap where she held him softly, her book lying beside her in the crook of her chair forgotten.
Granny began her story. "Long ago there was a very beautiful woman who didn't take any drama from anyone," Granny began, her old and grey eyes recounting the days of her youth with mirth. Granny suddenly held her head high and whipped her thin and gray hair over her shoulder before muttering softly to herself. "Damn…I was gorgeous…" After saying that, she cleared her throat before patting the child softly on the head. "Anyways Tortus, this woman went on a grand adventure, of one she always dreamt of. Now she wasn't the sort to seek love or comfort; in fact, journeying was her life, exploring ancient ruins and treacherous snowy mountains flowed through her blood, just like her father and the generations before him."
As Shippo listened to her, he found his saddened thoughts of his friends pushed in to the back of his subconscious, imagining, now, the story Granny painted out to him. Eventually the tears subsided and he grew more immersed into the story.
"She sought to unveil the riches in the ruins of the Canyons East of here. And riches did she find! Remnants of ancient civilizations and beautiful assortments of valuable gems were only the beginnings of her adventure. I kid you not, Tortus!" Granny exclaimed, her hands held up above her as high as she could manage before delving deeper into her past.
"How did she do all that on her own?" Shippo couldn't help but find himself asking.
She grinned. "Sheer will power and believing in one's own strength, Tortus," Was all she replied. "It wasn't easy, Tortus…Her journey stole away years of her youth, but it was well worth it." Granny leaned back in her chair, softly stroking the child's auburn hair, closing her wrinkled eyes. "After she had returned home after her grand adventure, she was greeted by a very dear and close friend."
"Who?"
"His name was Stephen," Granny replied softly, her voice much softer than before. "The two spent a few days together, the young woman elaborately describing her many adventures, and to her surprise, he had asked to accompany her, to which she rejected." Granny tilted her head down to stare at Shippo. "You wouldn't last one day out there," She replied, speaking as if she were talking to the man back then. "Since he seemed adamant on joining her, she accepted, but little did she know what would lie in store for her on the next adventure."
Shippo blinked, scrunching his eyes bemusedly at the older lady. "What happened?"
Granny laughed. "Oh but it seems your tears have faded, Tortus. Are you sure you want to know?"
Shippo nodded. "Granny…was this lady you?"
"Yes it was, Tortus…It was a long time ago…It feels more like a dream now that I'm telling you after so many years," She replied, speaking to the child as if he were her granddaughter, Anju. "Well continuing where I left off, Stephen and I set out towards the Great Seas of Great Bay that spoke of fierce pirates and unspeakable treasures in the waters and mysterious deities that dwelled in the darks of the sea."
Shippo couldn't help but automatically think of the Zoras and the pirates to which she spoke of as the Gerudos. Granny went on quests in her youth just like him and his friends! He frowned at the thought…His friends…
"I'd hurt my leg terribly during our travels, and I realized at that moment, when Stephen was holding me in his arms, that I would never again walk…" Granny admitted, and Shippo saw a small glimpse of sadness in her small eyes.
Flash Back
Her legs were badly wounded, more than just twisted; they'd been crushed by the falling rocks from atop the highest peak in Snow Head. Blood had stained the wet grass, and she forcefully managed a slight smile to her comrade beside her, who was in much better condition than she was.
"I'm sorry…I don't think I can manage," Angela replied dismally as she lay on her side, but Stephen stubbornly refused to listen to her and instead lifted her into his arms carefully, but the suddenness of this brought her surprise. "Stephen, please, I'm too heavy!"
But he ignored her and stumbled somewhat awkwardly over the fallen rocks surrounding them, making his way towards the stream ahead where the bridges led back down the mountain towards Clock Town. Unfortunately the hike back would undoubtedly take an entire day, if not more.
"Stephen…You're hurt too. I'm ok—"
"No you're not!" He replied before pressing himself against the wall of the mountain beside him, his breathing a little harsh and his arms numb. "You always act so tough when in actuality you aren't…Angela, it's not just a scratch this time! You know this just as well as I do!"
Angela's mouth opened to retort back, but she found he had a point. The wound inflicted upon her legs was indeed terrible and worse yet, she felt nothing. The young woman was unable to move her toes or feel the muscles in her legs twitch, yet she kept her face passive, her eyes looking into Stephen's. "It was fun while it lasted. Thank you for accompanying me. If you hadn't—"
"Stop it…" Stephen replied, already knowing full well where she was going with her sentence. "You're alive…and that's all that's important to me. Angela, you act as if you don't care…but you do! Stop hiding your feelings!"
It was true. And she knew it. Her adventures had come to an end, but she embraced it. What could she do? She was not one who could turn back the sands of time.
And for the first time since she could remember, Angela wept, with Stephen holding her close. Their tears spilled and the winds around them silenced their sorrow.
End Flashback
Shippo frowned. What he had thought was an exciting story turned into a sad one. "And then what happened?"
Granny frowned. "On that day, even though my legs could no longer carry me, I was the happiest woman alive. On that day, Stephen had confessed his feelings to me, and on our return back to town, we were to be married next Spring."
Now this caught the child by surprise. Even though it was a life changing event in her life, she also managed to smile despite the fact that something tragic had happened.
"Eventually, with the riches I had saved up over the years, the Stock Pot Inn was built, and we lived out the rest of our lives since, raising beautiful children and growing old with time," Granny replied, ending her story at that moment.
When Granny saw that Shippo had calmed himself, she continued patting his head. Briefly she wondered about Kafei and Anju's whereabouts, recalling their earlier conversation to prepare something warm to eat after bandaging the young man and woman in her bed. Granny only hoped and prayed her granddaughter was not in charge of the cooking this time around, otherwise she'd up and wheel herself out of the Inn once more to feast at the bar across the street, where she knew Mr. Barten would surely allow her.
A small smile shone upon the tyke's lips as he stared at the older lady deep in thought. "I think I understand now why you keep leaving the Inn, Granny. Your joy for adventure hasn't faded, right?"
She nodded. "And it never shall, Tortus. Now, let Granny tell you another story."
OOO
Stirring from a rather unpleasant dream, Miroku tiredly opened his indigo eyes. Recognizing he was in a bed in a somewhat perplexing and yet warm room he wasn't used to, he couldn't help but hear the soft voice of Shippo's in the background along with another much elderly voice which he recognized as Granny's. So they were back in the Stock Pot Inn? Squinting through the somewhat darkened room, he saw Granny with her back in her wheel chair with Shippo possibly sitting upon her lap in front of the fire. Kirara was there as well, nuzzled up against the wheel of the chair with her tails curled around her small form.
Attempting to lift himself from the comfortable bed, he realized he couldn't and achingly reclined into the soft mattress before rolling over to his side. He briefly tried to recollect all that had happened after their revisit to the town, but before he could grasp onto any important details, his vision was suddenly flooded by long brown tresses.
For a moment he attempted to figure out who else could be lying beside him asleep, and recognizing the slender back and bare shoulders of a familiar slayer, his eyes lit up.
Sango.
The bed sheets did little to hide her voluptuous curves, though with her back turned to him, and the view of her breasts were unfortunately concealed, he nevertheless felt a little anticipation.
They were in bed together…
Though it seemed she was still garbed in her slayer uniform, he couldn't help but lift the sheets slightly to peek underneath. Just as he thought; the view of her backside, rounded to perfection was just what he needed the moment he opened his eyes. There was no denying the truth that he was struggling not to touch her; now was not the time.
Sango shifted slightly, this time with her back to the wall and her face and body towards him. Because he figured she had awoken, Miroku feigned sleep. He felt something shift upon the bed near his feet and nudge his leg slightly. The monk figured it was Sango's leg kicking him as she peacefully slept.
While his eyes were half closed, he watched her face. Her pouty lips and scrunched expression told him she was dreaming of something, and he wondered if he was part of it.
Miroku's eyes lowered to stare at her large breasts, and he smirked somewhat to himself. Beneath her tight fitted uniform were beautiful mounds ready to be ravished, and though he had only seen her naked a couple of times, lying with her completely nude was only a fantasy, for the time being at least.
Would she ever consider baring him children? There was a time a while back where they had returned each other's feelings, and he had promised that once the fight with Naraku was over, he would settle down, and truly she did accept his proposal. Yet, even as they continued journeying, he attempted to hold back on his immense feelings regarding the slayer; it proved very challenging. Miroku didn't want to risk anything by getting too carried away, even though the very thought weighed heavily on his mind.
Still, sleeping or not, this was a perfect opportunity as any to touch the woman he loved. Perhaps it was ignorant of him to do so, especially while she was unaware, but he blamed his perversion on that. After all, he did take after his father.
Just a little touching wouldn't hurt.
As though he were pretending to sleep, Miroku mischievously scooted himself closer to Sango, her own pleasant aroma drawing him towards her. With his hands hidden beneath the covers of the quilted blue blanket, he reached up to grasp her chest, but before he could, he felt Sango kick him again in her sleep.
'Is she truly sleeping?' He thought.
Closing his eyes once more, he once again felt her shift in her sleep. He felt what he thought was her knee, painfully nudge him this time in the stomach, and though it felt somewhat annoying, he did not care. Deciding to delay no longer, he reached out and grasped her chest.
Unfortunately his hand met with chubby and small mounds, nothing like he had felt before with his beautiful Sango. Miroku faintly remembered them being slightly larger, just like Kagome's. He gave them a soft squeeze but before he could do anything more, something rather unexpectedly smacked him straight in the jaw.
In that instant he cried out, clutching his face achingly as he turned his back to Sango. The monk could already imagine her terrifying glare behind him, as if she knew exactly what he had done. But the impact of the punch felt slightly different, but it still hurt all the same.
"You disgusting pedophile!" A boyish voice cried out.
Miroku's eyes snapped open in surprise. A child's voice? Pedophile? Sitting up after having been cracked harshly in the jaw, Miroku turned his questionable eyes upon the boy sitting in the bed between him and a sleeping Sango. He recognized the kid as one of the members of the Bombers.
What was his name again? More importantly, why was this child in bed with them? Miroku wondered how the child had intercepted his approach towards the slayer; the only reasonable explanation he could come up with was that the child had crawled into the bed, and it had probably been the child kicking him rather than Sango.
Noah glared. He'd been keeping an eye on the monk shortly after the pleasant Inn Keeper and her husband had taken them inside to bandage the adults up. During so, he had noticed a sudden change fall upon the older man when he presumed he'd awaken.
With his face reddened with embarrassment and shame, the Bomber child found himself standing before the seated monk with his hands fisted in front of him. Instantly, he grabbed the collar of Miroku's robes before lowering his face to stare inches away from the monk's. "If you ever touch me again, I swear I'll tell the entire town that not only are you seeing another man, but I'll tell them you touch little boys too!" He harshly voiced allowed.
Miroku's face paled at this. Not because he had been called out as a pedophile, but due to the fact that he had accidentally touched a little boy inappropriately. He had not meant to. "No you have misunderstood…" He managed to let out while sweat dropping. Miroku held his hands up in defeat.
Granny, who had earlier turned her chair to look at the disturbance in the corner of her room, looked on with interest, with Shippo watching silently as well.
The freckled faced boy in the blue bandana and blue and white clothes merely continued seething at the adult in bed. "I knew you were a good for nothing creep! It's a good thing I told Jim I was staying behind, because if not you would have been groping my beautiful Sango while she slept! And you call yourself a holy man?"
"What in the name of the Four Giants is going on over there?" Granny questioned. "You little whipper snapper, get your shoes off my quilt."
Noah turned to the elderly lady before pointing accusingly at the monk angrily. "This adult was feeling me up grandma! He was touching me here," Noah pointed to his stomach. "and here," He pointed to his upper arms. "And…and…his hands were sliding over here!" Noah gestured to his chest as he hugged his arms around himself. "I have never been so violated in my entire life!"
Shippo was flabbergasted. Well he knew Miroku had interest in girls of almost all ages, the youngest probably being twelve. But a little boy? "Miroku you didn't…" And would it really surprise him?
Mortified, the monk attempted to defend his honor. "I would never lay my hands on a child! I was clearly reaching for my lovely Sango—"
"She's not yours!" Noah retorted.
Miroku nevertheless continued on with his explanation. "It was clear my cursed hand was wandering on its own again. This child was simply in the way. I apologize for that."
"Apology not accepted! You freak! You better keep your slimy hands away from Sango!" The child warned.
Miroku's eyebrow twitched at this. "Sango doesn't belong to you."
"She will in ten years!" Noah replied before smirking at the monk suddenly. "I already proposed and she didn't say no!" He replied cockily with his nose in the air and his chest puffed out. Noah had already won against the monk.
The monk couldn't help but sweat drop at the child. "It was clearly out of pity…" Miroku faintly recalled his and the Bomber's first encounter when the freckled child had asked the slayer to a date to which Sango had replied somewhere along the lines that 'I think you're a little young for me…' In no way would his woman accept the proposal of a child who was no more than a man than himself!
Growling at the adult, Noah attempted to swing his fist at him yet again, but the monk was quick to react this time around. Catching the child's fist, Miroku pulled the boy down over his lap before wrapping his arm around his neck, holding him in a headlock.
"You liar!" Noah cried out. "Let go of me!"
Miroku only shook his head in disappointment. Boys would be boys, he supposed.
It was at this moment that Sango had finally stirred from her deep slumber. She felt sore all over, faintly recalling an encounter with some sort of sorcerer who had been in possession of the Shikon Jewel. After which, everything was blurry.
When her eyes fluttered open, she heard the sounds of childish wailing next to her, and curious, Sango attempted to sit up, despite her shoulder hurting her. When she managed just fine, she turned her brown eyes toward Miroku beside her in bed, holding a little boy by his neck, somewhat playfully and yet she couldn't be certain.
At first she had thought the crying had come from Shippo and she'd have blamed that on Inuyasha's crude behavior, but she was surprised it was not. Sango recognized the child, his familiar blue and white clothing and short curly red hair.
"What are you doing to that poor boy, Miroku?" She questioned, but she was unprepared for what happened next. In an instant, the child had fled from the monk's loosened hold upon him and turned, throwing himself into her arm. Sango fell back in surprise, managing to support the child's weight with her elbow.
"Sango you're awake!" The monk replied, but at the sight of Noah embracing her and his head lying purposefully upon her chest, he glared. He could clearly see the boy smirking at him devilishly if only to get him in trouble.
Noah pretended to cry into the slayer's chest and when he realized the slayer saw him very distressed, holding him closely to her, he decided it was time for the monk to get his pay back. "Sango that nasty monk tried to touch you when you were sleeping!"
A vein popped out onto her forehead and her eyes flashed at the monk sitting very closely to the edge of the bed warily. "What…"
Panicked, the monk attempted to speak over top Noah's wails. "Wait Sango let me expla—"
"B-but instead of you…he touched me!" The child cried, pretending to sniffle at this point. He felt the slayer hold him very tightly against her. "I didn't know what to do. I was so scared! His hands were all over me!" Noah cried into her shoulder, his little arms wrapped around her neck.
Sango's eyebrow twitched at this. How low could this man sink? Not only could he not keep his filthy and lecherous hands to himself when around women of all ages, but now he had the nerve to touch this poor innocent child? Beyond angered, she never gave the monk a chance to finish his explanation; he fell from the bed smacking against the wall of the room after a mighty hit the face from her fist.
Despite that, Granny and Shippo continued to watch silently. Kirara on the other hand scurried over to the monk's side, her head canting a couple times as her eyes watched the monk rub his face achingly.
It was at this point that the door to granny's room opened, and stepping inside lightly, while carefully balancing the tray in her hand while simultaneously closing the door with the other, Anju turned her perplexed eyes upon the five occupants inside. "My goodness, what is going on?"
Miroku pulled himself off the floor, and ignoring the child's focused glare while still embracing Sango, he settled on sitting at the edge of the bed. When he saw Anju staring at his face in worry, he reassured her it was nothing to fret over.
Anju then set the tray of deliciously warmed food, gratefully prepared by her husband, upon the polished table before pulling out a cushioned chair to sit across the bed from the slayer and monk. "Thankfully your wounds are not serious," She replied. "Kafei and I were surprised and even startled to have found you both unconscious down the block…We'd have thought you and your friends would have taken refuge elsewhere by now..."
"Refuge?" Sango questioned.
Miroku frowned. "We heard from one of the guard's in town that many have already fled, and I can only assume from the frequent tremors and this ominous fog in town. Has anything else happened that has brought the town fear?" He wondered if they were aware that it was their enemy, the mysterious sorcerer.
Sadly, she only shook her head. "I can't say that I know for sure…But because of chaotic experiences some years back, that same fear has re-emerged among the townspeople…this one much greater," She explained woefully. "You've seen how the sky remains red and how the trees and even the grass outside have even wilted. Kafei sent his mother and father for refuge at the ranch south of here."
When Noah had heard this, still curious of the strange happenings plaguing Termina, he removed himself from Sango's embrace. He settled for sitting next to her in the bed while listening to the younger woman.
"It seems the focal point lies within the town," Sango replied, to which Anju nodded. The slayer wasn't sure if she should reveal anything about the 'real' cause of Termina's downfall; it was the one relating to that of the legend told by the Great Fairy and it's connection to Armaros.
"I've heard from travelers coming to and from town that the conditions in the four regions aren't entirely as bad as it is here in Clock Town," The Innkeeper replied dismally. At the sight of the little boy still lingering in the room, Anju held a hand to her mouth in surprise. "Oh dear, I shouldn't say such awful things…"
Noah only waved his hand. "It's okay. I've heard Mutoh complain about the end coming more times than I can count!" The child exclaimed.
Anju frowned at this before looking at both the slayer and monk quizzically. "Where are your other friends?"
Sango lowered her head at this question, the same with Shippo and Miroku. How could they answer that when they didn't even know what happened?
Before either could answer, the door suddenly flew open and a startled blue haired boy with purple eyes stood within the open doorway. Because it had happened unexpectedly, Anju turned in her chair to stare at her husband. "Anju…we're not safe here any longer."
The Innkeeper furrowed her brow before standing up immediately from the chair. "Did something happen? You look pale, Kafei."
Miroku stood up as well. "What's going on?"
"Something rather large is forming above the town as we speak! I can't explain it…but…" Kafei immediately turned away from the door but looked over his shoulder to stare back at them. "Anju, granny, pack whatever necessities you need. We leave immediately!" He explained before running down the hall after.
Sango and Miroku looked to one another. Something was forming above the town?
Despite the fact that she was slightly hurt, Sango pulled herself out of the bed, following quickly behind the monk as he raced out of the room, while Anju stayed behind to soothe the children.
After managing through the hallways and past the main desk and the sitting room, she followed the monk outside the open door where she was immediately greeted by the heavy and thick fog.
Sango squinted through the haze, and she recognized the form of Miroku beside her. There was something chilling in the air around her and as she looked around, searching for the source that had brought Kafei such fear, she noticed a strange noise. "What is that?"
"It sounds like some sort humming" Miroku replied next to her.
As they took hold of each other's hands, to keep themselves from becoming separated, the two ambled deeper into the thick fog before searching above them where they presumed Kafei had seen the fearful occurrence. What they saw caused their hearts to nearly drop.
The redness of the sky seemed somewhat torn directly above the Clock Tower and an ominous, swirling black vortex seemed to leak through. If that wasn't enough to cause fear, then what was?