Tora-chan: Ah man, I was hoping to write two chapters in one day, but I ran out of time.
Vitanie: Does it matter, just start the story.
Tora-chan: Sure thing cranky kitty.
Vitanie: What did you call me?
Tora-chan: You heard me! (Vitanie's growling at Tora-chan) Hehe, you don't scare me.
Yuki: Will you two be quiet. Tora-chan doesn't own Inuyasha and group, just everything else, including me. (Please save me from them!)
Tora-chan: What was that last part Yuki?
Yuki: Nothing.
Tora-chan: Oh - - okay then. Enjoy the story everyone!
Last time: Vitanie explained about Hiroshi's instruments and why she doesn't carry her staff in her hands. Then they stopped for a rest before going on the Takehashi.
The day passed quickly with little excitement. There was one small fight when some bandits started to threaten them if they didn't hand over all their money, but that didn't last long after Inuyasha pulled his sword out and the scared humans noticed just how many demons were in the group. I mean seriously would you attack a group with two half demons, four full demons, a monk, a priestess, and two demon slayers? The bandits ran soon after confronting them.
The sun was just starting to set when they reached Takehashi. The town was one of the largest in the country and had just about anything you could hope for, including several nice Inns. The town it self was surrounded on three sides by the Sakura River which had rows upon rows of cherry trees lining the river and surrounding the southern part of the town, which just so happened to be the side they were coming from. Since it was a beautiful spring day the trees where in full bloom and the setting sun gave a stunning view of the pink blossoms.
"It's gorgeous," Kagome whispered stopping on one of the three bridges that crossed into the town.
"Yes it is, isn't it? It's been almost two years since I've been here, and the blossoms where in bloom then as well," Vitanie sighed looking at the wonderful view around her.
"Vee, we don't have time to stand and stare at flowers, we should head through town and camp on the others side so we can get an early start tomorrow," Yuki complained.
"Yuki we are not sleeping outside. We have money so we are staying at an Inn, I don't care how much you complain but I'm sleeping in a bed tonight and that's final," Vee huffed. Now lets go, must places are going to be closing up for the night and I would like to get some food before going to sleep."
With that she turned and started walking through the town. Inuyasha and Yuki were sulking not wanting to stay but everyone else seemed relieved that they would be staying. Sango was keeping a close eye on Miroku who in turn was keeping his eyes on any women that walked by. Kagome was talking quietly to Inuyasha while holding a sleeping Shippo in her arms. And Hiroshi had actually put in lyre away after breaking a string and was now holding a sleeping Mari.
As they walked through the town to a small Inn near the center she heard comments that had made her nervous the last time she was here.
"Did you see those ears?" "Yes, aren't they cute?" "And look at those tails?" "What about the little ones in their arms, they're so adorable." Vitanie shook her head trying to drive the voices of many of the women here from her mind. In all the places she had been this was the only place where people didn't even question her appearance but expected and some even envied it. She would never understand them.
"What are all these women talking about?" Inuyasha snapped also hearing the comments about his ears as well.
"What do you mean Inuyasha, I didn't hear anything strange," Kagome asked looking around.
"It's nothing Kagome," Vee answered. "The women are gossiping about how cute they think are ears are. They did this the last time as well. It's something I just can't understand about this place," she finished stopping in front of an Inn.
"Oh, I remember this place. This is where we stayed two years ago," Hiroshi commented when he saw the sign.
"Yes, we should be able to stay here. Maybe even make some money," Vitanie said giving a quick glance at the instruments on Hiroshi's back.
"Nope, no can do. I broke a string on the lyre and I don't have a replacement. And I don't want to lose the lute unless I have to," he added with a smile.
"Kay, well why don't you guys take care of getting rooms, I'll go and try to find someplace to get some new strings, not to mention some supplies that we're low on," Vitanie shrugged.
"Oh, I'll come with you," Kagome said handing Shippo over to Sango. "There are a few things that I need to look for as well."
"Fine with me. Well be back shortly," she said handing her pack over to Yuki, but taking her staff with her.
Kagome and Vitanie walked down the street to one of the main market areas still open to people just getting ready to go home after work. The street was ablaze with lantern light giving a golden glow to everything. Kagome glanced over at Vitanie as they walked by the shops and saw her silver-ish white hair glowing orange making her look even more like a tiger demon then before.
"Where are we going exactly," she finally asked once they left the main market area towards a darker and more foreboding area of town.
"We're trying to find Makoto's music shop. It's the only place I know of to get strings and I want to slap him upside the head for making me feel like a fool the last time," Vitanie shrugged turning down another side street. After another minute of walking Vitanie tilted her head and sniffed.
"I would know that stench anywhere," she smiled before walking forwards another half a black before turning into a dark shop. "Yo, Makoto get your butt out here. And bring some light why don't you," she called into the dark back room.
Only silence answered her call. "Maybe no one is here," Kagome whispered not sure about being in the shop, her eyes couldn't make out anything so she stood in the door way hoping some of the moon light would help her see.
"No he's here," Vitanie almost growled with pleasure. She moved toward the main counter where she saw a flute laying out. She remembered his behavior before and knew exactly how to get his to come out. She slowly reached out to the flute and right before she touch it lights started to blaze throughout the shop.
"Keep you paws off that flute," an older portly man said walking in through the door to the back room.
"I knew that would make you come out Makoto," Vitanie smiled in triumph. "Hey Kagome you can come in now," she commented over her shoulder. She heard her mumble about first not being able to see because of the dark but now being blinded by so many lights.
"Vitanie Tora. What brings you back here?" Makoto asked not sounding please to see her.
"I came for some strings for my friends lyre again. He seemed to have snapped his and ran out of replacements," she shrugged looking around the shop.
"Those strings should have lasted a life time, but your friend went through six sets in two years, what are you doing to the poor instrument, beating demons over the head with it," he snapped grabbing a large box out from underneath the counter.
"I don't think that would be very effective in beating demons," Vitanie hissed back. They were arguing back and forth until both broke out laughing.
"Well you sure have gotten quite a tongue on you since the last time you were here," Makoto laughed.
"I've just been thinking about meeting you again since the last time you made me look like a fool," she shrugged. Kagome stood beside her watching the interaction in awe. She had seen Vitanie joking with Hiroshi and Yuki and even tease Inuyasha, but nothing like this easy banter of insults.
"You two must really get along," she commented.
Vitanie looked over at her and then turned back to the man and laughed, "Get along with him? You got to be kidding me I can't stand the guy."
"Stop with you banter girl, and tell me who this is." Makoto replied shaking his head.
"This is Kagome, a friend of mine and traveling companion," she answered with ease.
"Fine, now here are strings for both the lyre and the lute, you remember what I said last time correct." When he saw her nod he continued. "Here is another small vial of oil for protecting the wood on the instruments, knowing how he went through strings he's probably also run out of oil. He said adding the vial to the two boxes of strings. And one more thing before you go you contradicting stubborn cat," he smiled. "This here is an ocarina, it's a wind instrument that makes soft, sonorous notes. It's made of terra cotta so be careful with it."
"You want me to give it to Hiroshi like the lute," Vitanie sighed starting to grip her staff tightly. If he makes a fool of me again, I'm going to hunt him down just to hit him upside the head. He already made me look foolish handing the lute over to Hiroshi with nothing but 'Makoto gave it to me and then disappeared' speech. I wont let that happen again, she thought.
"No girl, you will not give this to that boy. This instrument is something that you must use," he stated blandly. He smiled slightly when he saw the look on her face.
"What do I know about playing an ocarina?" she questioned.
"Indeed, what do you know? You have the nerve to sing a wood fairies song without even knowing it, what do you know about music what so ever," he smiled knowing he hit a soft spot.
"How did you know that?" she glared at him.
"That is one of my many mysteries," he answers placing the ocarina in a small padded pouch. He picked up the boxes of strings and placed them in Kagome's hands, who had just stood there in shook at the exchange between the two. Then Makoto turned and walked into the back room. Once through the door the shop vanished and Vitanie and Kagome were once again in the brightly lit market place just down the street from the Inn.
"What just happened?" Kagome asked in shook.
"Makoto happen," Vitanie growled taking the pouch with the ocarina from her and tying it to the sash around her waist.
With that they walked down the street stopping at a few stalls to pick up bandages and foodstuff for the journey before heading toward the Inn.
In an alley not far away a badger stood and watched the half tiger demon walk away from where he had once again dumped her after making the shop disappear. Makoto sighed in frustration as her watched the girl shop. First I have to give a spelled lute to the girl to give to some human boy, granted he's good but still; now I had to give her a spelled ocarina. That girl knows about as much about music as I know about fighting and I don't know much. Sen, you idiotic wood fairy I pray you know what your doing, he thought before turning and leaving the town so that he could report to Sen that the ocarina had been delivered to Vitanie.
Tora-chan: That's it for tonight. So what did you think?
Vitanie: I think I'm going to kill Makoto the next time I see him. I feel like a fool every time he dumps me into the middle of the market. Do you know how many people stare at me when that happens?
Tora-chan: Stop overreacting will ya. You're giving me a headache. Besides Makoto isn't that bad. Sure he's useless in a fight but what would you do with out those instruments?
Vitanie: I would fight and Hiroshi would cower in fear, it would be just like when I first met him.
Hiroshi: Vitanie it's time for you to calm down. (Starts playing a song to put Vitanie to sleep)
Vitanie: Hiroshi - - you - - stop - - ZZZ ZZZ ZZZ
Tora-chan: That was great Hiroshi (clapping hands).
Hiroshi: Thank you Tora-chan. To all the readers please review and tell Tora-chan what you think. And a special thanks to inuyashaswife12 and gfam89 for your reviews last chapter.
Tora-chan: Yes thank you. Please review, and Thank you for reading. I'll try to post again soon.