RELATIONS AGAIN

Author: Ark Angel HFB

CHAPTER 3: Tied For Last (Edited: Complete Rewrite 7/1/2022)

Sango caught her weapon as the teen rolled to a stop, face down in front of Kagome. Inuyasha came to a rest just beside him, face up and eyes closed. A still silence gripped over the group as no one moved. Blood ran from the mouths of the men lying on the ground, both unconscious.

"Inuyasha!" Kagome yelled, her feet carrying her over the gap between them in a few steps. She dropped to her knees next to Inuyasha, her hand touching his chest lightly as her eyes scanned over his body, not knowing how to help him. She ignored the roughness of the road mixing with the softness of his sprawled black hair on her bare knees, her eyes focused on the blood coming from his mouth.

"YOU THERE, STOP!"

Miroku, Sango, and Shippo jerked their heads away from Inuyasha to see several men dressed in armor, each brandishing a sword or spear as they closed on them from behind.

"They don't look too friendly," Shippo commented, from his place on Miroku's shoulder.

The monk stepped forward, holding his hand up in an attempt to calm the men as Sango walked over to kneel on the other side of Inuyasha. No words were spoken as Sango's hand hovered over his mouth. Feeling a faint breath pass by her fingers, she nodded at Kagome, giving her a faint smile.

Thunder clapped over their heads as clouds that had gone unnoticed till this moment announced their presence.

"We should get him inside… or maybe not move him..." Kagome whispered both thoughts aloud as she worriedly glanced at the sky and back to the, currently human, hanyou.

"You brought demons into our village and attacked an innocent!" The leader of the group of men raised his sword, pointing it at Miroku. "You are a slave to demons!" The man's voice was full of fury.

Miroku waved his hand as the rain began to fall. "I assure you, we mean no threat to this village." He shifted and used his free hand to gesture at Kagome. "This is Lady Kagome. She is the protector of the Jewel of Four Souls." He offered a smile as the men glared at Kagome, who reflexively reached to her neck pulling the jewel into view. Then they turned back to Miroku and lowered their weapons.

"Many have heard of the Jewel. It is said to be complete once more and protected. What brings you to our village? It is a far trip from the Shrine of the Jewel."

Kagome looked up, her face still painted with concern. "What?" She asked, her ears did not catch the question over the now pouring rain.

The guard glanced at her and then to Inuyasha before nodding and waving his hand for them to follow. "I will fetch a healer for your friend." he said.

Miroku nodded and turned to his companions. "Can he be moved?"

Shippo looked at the teen, who had not moved since the fight had ended. "What about him?" The little youkai asked, as he clung to Miroku who kneeled down to take hold of Inuyasha.

Sango paused as she lifted Inuyasha before nodding to the guard, asking him to help the teen as well. With a free hand she pointed to the teen now lying in the muddy gravel of the road.

Kagome stood up, grabbing her bow before following Miroku and Sango as they carried Inuyasha towards a large nearby inn.

XXXxxxXXX

The world was fuzzy as darkness still hung around him. Slowly, sounds drew him awake: a girl's voice talking about some jewel, another woman speaking of threats, a man speaking of something strange about someone, and a child asking for a treat from the first woman. He tasted blood in his mouth and the scent of slightly burned fish reached his nose. His shoulder and back felt sore and stiff. Overall he felt weak in general. His mind spun as he tried to focus.

As his chest expanded in a breath, the sensation of ropes reached him. They wrapped around his chest, pinning his arms to his sides. He kept his breathing steady, his mouth just barely open and his eyes closed. A soft glow from a central fireplace flickered across him and he could feel its warmth as well as the sound of rain from outside.

Again, voices from the room around him reached his ears.

"Inuyasha said he is fine, but I'm not sure..." He heard a female voice, young but tired.

"Cause I am." Was almost snarled from across the room by a harsh sounding male.

"Stupid, Inuyasha. He's just upset about losing." A child, loud and blunt.

"Feh!"

"I'm not sure if you can say he lost." The young voice again.

"Yeah, I think it has more to do with Kagome's arrow, Shippo." Another female, her voice sounding more firm, but kind.

"I think the only one who won anything was Sango." A male's voice, a joking tone as he chuckled before a loud slap echoed through the room.

"Stupid monk! That is no prize! Keep your hands to yourself." The other female, her voice angry.

"Baka!" The child laughed.

The teen let his eyes crack open. His dark brown hair hung just in front of them, hiding his eyes as he scanned the room. 'So this is how his pack acts. Wait, what the hell is that girl wearing? I... I've seen that outfit before… but where?'

"So", The female with the young voice paused, her face turning to look at him. "What do we do about him?"

"You said the jewel shard in his shoulder is rather deep and, with his injuries, I don't think we can get it out just yet," said the man dressed as a monk.

"He looks about my age. He'll be alright?" The aggressive voice sighed. "I wonder how he even found a shard so small."

"You know, in a funny way, he looks a lot like Inuyasha when he was human. For a second I thought I was seeing double." The other female said, her voice sounding more joking this time. "His injuries are pretty bad, but he seems to be doing better now."

"His clothes aren't right..." The young girl mumbled suddenly. "They look like something from my… home."

The floorboards creaked as steps approached from the left of him.

"Who cares how he is doing or what he is freaking wearing. Just cut his whole damn arm off and be done with it! He's nothing more than some power hungry bastard who found a shard and used it to get stronger. Nothing new from the others we run into." Inuyasha sneered.

"Inuyasha, that would be a bit much. We don't need to hurt him." The firm voice said. "Are you sure you should even be up?"

"I'm fine! I'm a hanyou, baka. I've been fine for a while." Inuyasha's voice was harsh. "And this bastard has been awake for a while too."

"Inuyasha..." The young voice stated flatly. An unspoken threat seeming to drift behind her voice.

The teen could feel the hanyou standing over him, glaring down. His breath, short and rumbling like a growl, was all he could hear when his knuckles popped.

"Cut the act!" Inuyasha growled as he grabbed the stranger's hair, yanking his head back into the wall.

The teen winced in pain as his head struck the wall. He glared up at Inuyasha. "Bastard." He spat as he felt dizzy for a moment.

"You think I can't tell when someone's heart speeds up when they wake up? I'm a hanyou, moron! I can hear better than you humans."

The teen smirked through the pain. "of you can monster."

"Inuyasha, cut it out!" The girl in the rather short skirt yelled.

"Feh, whatever, Kagome." Inuyasha turned, literally slinging the teen's head downward as he stalked back to his corner of the room.

The teen pulled his legs up, inching his knees closer to his face before resting his head on them and sighed. "So, how did you spot me? And what are you going to do with me?"

Kagome blinked before staring. "What do you mean 'spot' you? I just sensed the jewel shard," There was a pause before Kagome smiled. "We just want the shard in your shoulder. We aren't going to do anything to you. You can relax if you are worried."

The next few moments were filled with Kagome telling everyone's names and explaining about the Jewel. The teen sat motionlessly with his head still on his knees.

"So, what is your name?" Kagome asked as she finished. The group sat staring at him.

The teen kept his head down as he turned ever so slightly to the left, his green eyes glaring at Inuyasha through his hair. "Haydin," he answered. He raised his head to look over at the group before he placed his head back on his knees. "Can you take these ropes off?" He asked.

"Hell NO!" Inuyasha yelled as he glared at him. "If you think you're running off with the jewel shard, you have another thing coming!"

"Pff," Haydin scoffed. "What happened to the stronger, better, faster crap you were going on about..." He lifted his head to glare at Inuyasha once again. "If you're so damn strong, then why did I have your ass until your stupid pack jumped in?"

"Pack?" Sango repeated, staring at Haydin.

"Like I needed them," Inuyasha countered. "You just got lucky. If it wasn't for Kagome's arrow, I'd have wiped the floor with you." He paused to glare at Haydin's shoulder. "And you've got a freaking shard of the Jewel! You're not even using your own damn power!"

Haydin turned his head, spitting at the taste of blood in his mouth. "Whatever, if it makes you sleep better, tell yourself whatever you want. But, if you are so cocky then take these ropes off." Haydin glared, but his mind still felt fuzzy between the throbbing in his head and tightness of the ropes.

"Yeah, fat chance." Inuyasha retorted as Kagome broke in.

"Your outfit is… interesting." Kagome paused, staring at Haydin, her eyes locked on his. 'His outfit is all black, and the cut is similar to a school uniform… it isn't exactly a suit. But not every school wears the exact same one. I was going to ignore it but…is he even from this time? Maybe others from my time can use the well!'

Inuyasha spat as he crossed his arms.

Haydin's mind raced. He was sure he had seen this girl before, but where? The blank was driving him nuts. She was someone important. The mere fact that she was traveling with Inuyasha and was protector of the Jewel gave her importance. His mind turned over and over until finally, he gave up and looked away.

The room was dead silent except for the fire's slow crackling.

A/N: As always, I would love some reviews guys, and thanks to those who have reviewed.

Anyway again, special thanks to Chiaztolite, best Sess writer I've seen... as well as the best editor I've had in a long time.