Surprise! Double update! ms. meow1968. I'm very sorry FFN hates your pseudo. I type it out real careful like, I promise.
~Yasha's Sis
Circumstance
Book 2: Land of Grass
Chapter 8:
Eradicated
Oromori took one look at the boy before sighing and sending the other two scouts up ahead to continue their unofficial escort.
They'd maintained their distance per custom and Oromori only wondered fleetingly why the group lingered for as long as they did.
Once Kushina-hime and her party moved on, Oromori assumed the boy would continue on his way, back to his home, or at least out of reach of the samurai.
It seemed counter intuitive for InuYasha to merely wait for his captors to reclaim him.
Not that Oromori would. A deal was a deal after all and Samurai were never ones to renege on a bargain.
Finding his normally excitable charge as unresponsive and desolate as a broken doll- it made the warrior's chest ache just the slightest bit.
He could only hope InuYasha-sama would be willing to talk.
"I never thought your silence would be more unnerving than your vulgarity." A voice began, startling InuYasha with its proximity and volume. Light brown eyes blinked into focus and blinked again at the sight before him.
"Oromori?"
InuYasha grimaced at the hoarseness to his voice but Oromori pretended he didn't notice. The Samurai was seated just across from him in seiza. A small fire crackled cheerily between them and InuYasha not so distantly noticed how numb he was as the wind sent a gust of heat in his direction.
Briefly, InuYasha wondered at the reasons his former babysitter turned confidant would be here. All were found wanting.
The former hanyou scowled. "You here to try an' take me back?"
Pale brown eyes held his and InuYasha felt a wave of relief when the man shook his head in the negative and then annoyance for letting himself feel anything of the sort.
Oromori spoke before InuYasha could cover his relief with some harsh comment. "Our duty was to ensure Kushina-hime's safety as she passed through the Land of Iron. Finding you, alone, is an oddity I wish to understand."
InuYasha glowered but said nothing.
"Kushina –hime seemed intent on bringing you back to your home. You're abrasive personality has done little to dissuade her so I am at a loss as to why you remain alone." The samurai prodded at his continued silence.
Unconsciously, InuYasha's face twisted and his shoulders hunched. "She did what she said she'd do so I told her to get lost."
"And yet you remain exactly where we found you." Oromori replied patiently and then made a show of looking around. "I fail to see this home you spoke of, meaning she did not return you to where you belong."
This is where you will belong.
Unknowingly echoing the words InuYasha tried so hard not to think of, the boy found himself flinching at the remark.
"I have no home." InuYasha growled out bitterly, voice raw and eyes burning. "I don't belong anywhere and I didn't need that stupid bitch taking pity on me."
Oromori watched him for a long moment before tutting. "I doubt it was pity that urged her to make you such an offer."
At InuYasha's incredulous look, Oromori slowly shook his head, eyes closed.
"Obviously she would offer you a place with her, she's a woman and she was orphaned at a young age as well."
Amazingly, InuYasha bristled at the woman comment on her behalf even as the Samurai continued talking.
"If anything it was empathy that urged her. Empathy and your ability to inspire loyalty among those who surround you." InuYasha scoffed but Oromori ignored him. "If you wanted a home, you could have had one with her. The Uzumaki were notorious for their vows."
The former Hanyou's eyes narrowed, mouth pressed in a thin line. He wanted to question it, all of it, but what slipped out his mouth instead was, "Were?"
Oromori hummed. "Yes, were. Whirlpool country was invaded during the last war and its inhabitance killed or scattered. The Uzumaki clan was the most populous family of the country and they were eradicated by their neighbor village almost 10 years ago. Kushina –hime is the last living Uzumaki of the main branch do in part to her family sending her to Konoha."
InuYasha stared, horrified despite himself. "What? Her whole family? Gone?"
"Over two hundred," Oromori clarified unflinchingly. "The lesser branches had only a handful of survivors, less than a dozen according to the most recent Kiri Bingo Book, none of whom reside in Kushina-hime's home, while the other clans of Whirlpool country, those that survived, have gone to ground."
Like a mocking echo, InuYasha's bitter thoughts replayed in his mind.
Like she could know what it was to lose everything. To be abandoned by the one you trusted most.
You don't fucking know the meaning of alone.
Well… if that didn't make him feel like a huge ass.
Next chapter: Roadtrip!
Thoughts? Comments? Concerns?
~Yasha's Sis