Hello Everyone and Anyone reading FEUDAL ERA!
I really hope you guys have been enjoying the story, however long the updates may take. Life tends to get in the way and finding time is like stumbling upon a cavern of gold.
Please enjoy the new addition.
Oh by-the-by I will start asking questions at the end of each chapter. You don't have to answer if you don't want to, but it would be awesome if I can read what you have to say:)
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
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Chapter 5: Return
The twenty-six year old kept up a good front as she held off the wolves who had invaded her kitchen. The cleaver she held was stained with reddish brown blood and the wolves seemed less willing to deal with such a violent meal. The largest of the beasts gave two short barks and the pack eagerly retreated to the living room. Sango raced to the other room when she heard the sound of broken glass. They had gotten out by smashing into the bay window.
The young woman panted, sweat trickling down her neck as she calmed from her adrenaline rush. Never before had she done such a crazy thing.
Managing to catch her breath, Sango dropped the cleaver into the sink and quickly ran to the pantry, wrenching the door open. Rin curled up beside Shippo, hiding her face in his shirt. Shippo's tensed features relaxed at the sight of the unharmed Sango.
"See, brat. Told you she'd beat 'em" Shippo smirked, nudging his little sister.
"Yeah, it's ok Rin. They're gone now sweetie" she reassured, kneeling down to the terrified girl's level.
Rin hugged her big sister and gave a hiccupped apology. Sango soothed Rin's black hair and returned her embrace, thankful they were both alright.
"We should call someone about those wolves" Shippo said, standing up. The oldest Tayjia gave her brother a small thoughtful frown as she helped Rin stand up.
"And what are we going to tell them? A pack of demon wolves magically appeared in the house while we were playing some board game we found in an attic?"
They all left the small cramped room and filed into the kitchen. The game sat innocently on the island counter, mocking the shaken Tayjia family.
"We should put it away" Sango sternly said.
"How are we gonna put it away when the pieces won't move from the paper?" Shippo asked, agreeing with Sango.
"We can just stuff it in the box" Sango replied.
Rin glanced at the open instructions and her puffy eyes narrowed. Snatching them up, Rin read a section she had missed before because it was on the flipside of the back.
"Travelers should know that a journey cannot end halfway. Once the players' pieces are placed on start, they have committed themselves to participate. In order for the changes made by the Shikon no Tama to disappear, the game must be completed. Failure to do so will result in danger" read Rin, forcing her siblings to listen.
"So basically what you're saying is that we have to keep playing or something really bad is going to happen?" exclaimed Shippo bristling. Rin nodded.
"I don't believe this" he stated angrily.
"Shippo, after what just happened, I don't think we should ignore this" Sango countered reluctantly. She had fought the demon wolves and knew how very real they were. She didn't like it, but what should they do?
"We'll just hurry through the game. The well isn't that far, we just have to roll high numbers" Rin tried to reason.
"Fine" Shippo was outnumbered and he knew better than to mess with demon magic.
Hesitantly picking up the dice, the Kitsune tossed them and was relieved to get a five and six. The spinning top slid effortlessly across the paper board as three pairs of eyes anxiously watched. The Shikon jewel glowed from its position on the counter, ready to reveal what would happen next.
Shippo looked as if he wanted nothing more than to throw the jewel across the room, but he withheld from doing so. Taking a deep breath he read out the cryptic message.
"Just as in the animal kingdom, there are some demon species where the female is the most deadly"
"Does this mean that another demon will appear?" Rin asked nervously, moving closer to Sango.
"I think that we should get of the house" Shippo sternly suggested, his orange tail bristling.
"But if we do that than people will get more involved and we'll be out in the open" said Sango shutting down the sixteen year old, "Rin stay close to me and Shippo grab that broom. We have to be somewhat prepared"
Shippo, Rin and Sango stood back to back so nothing could surprise them. Armed with kitchen knives, a broom and a frying pan, the Taiyjas were ready for what might appear next. Rin's hands shook as they clutched the black handle of the silver pan. She could have sworn she sensed something moving above her. Brown eyes glanced up, but there was nothing, just a white ceiling and light.
The three stood there for quite a long time and the tension in the room slowly dissipated. No sounds, but the rain hitting the windows could be heard and there were very few creaks coming from upstairs that could just be the house settling.
"Maybe it was a dud?" Rin offered, breaking the silence.
"I don't know" Sango's eyes drifted from side to side, searching for any betraying movement.
"I smell it... I can smell the jewel... and the humans who guard it" slithered a raspy voice. Rin yelped and tightened her grip on the panhandle.
"I wait the Shikon Jewel!"
The ceiling exploded and a hybrid monster floated above the trio, salivating from her maniple jaws. The demon was the mixture of a six armed woman from the waist up and a giant centipede downward. She laughed manically and twisted over the game lain out of the counter, her body as flexible as the insect she half was.
Shippo growled and in an act of both bravery and foolery, snatched the jewel before the demon woman could touch it. She didn't seem to like that and hissed, swiping at the Kitsune with two taloned hands.
"I must have it! I must have it!" she chanted with shrieks as Shippo nimbly dodged her.
"Shippo!" Rin shouted rushing in to bang her heavy weapon on the centipede's tail. Sango followed her little sister's lead with her sharp kitchen knives. She cut off the wiggling legs.
The monster howled in pain and momentarily focused on the humans attacking her lower half. Her tail slashed out, knocking into the young whelp with the cookery pot. The adult female cried out in rage and tried to slice through the thick armor, but failed.
"I will kill the whelp, if you do not hand it over" Mistress Centipede threatened circling around the smallest creature in the room, her clawed hands grabbing Rin by the neck, digging slightly into the soft skin.
Shippo and Sango froze, too scared to move.
"I hate bugs, especially big ugly ones like you" stated a gruff voice.
There, standing in the semi destroyed doorway was a man with rather strange features that marked him easily as a half-demon. He wore billowing red robes that looked heavy and his posture seemed relaxed for someone witnessing a demon attack.
"This had nothing to do with you, half-breed" Mistress Centipede spat angrily, tensing her hands tighter around the child.
"It is my business when creepy hags piss me off. A demon should know the danger of messing with a Inu Youkai" the half dog demon snapped, his legs moving into a fighting stance, his claws flexing and his fangs bared in challenge.
Mistress Centipede could sense the power the dog pup had, even when it was suppressed by this strange new world. She dropped the human brat to the floor and curled her tail, preparing to spring at the half-breed.
Sango snatched her little sister from where she had been cast aside and dragged her over to the counter where Shippo was, guarding the game board.
The two new demons launched at the other, claws clashing in a fury of slashes and swipes. Snarls and hisses filled the air and the unbroken window of the kitchen boomed along with the force of the sounds.
"Worthless hanyou!"
"I'll show you worthless!" the dog demon exclaimed. Shippo's eyes widened with awe as a yellow light engulfed the man's left hand. Demon energy! The half-demon could harness his own energy!
"Iron-Reaver Soul-Stealer!"
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Inuyasha smirked down at the remains of the centipede hybrid and brought his bare calloused foot down on a piece of the rib cage, breaking the bones. Thanks to his claw technique, the demon hadn't been that difficult to finish off.
"So much for a half-breed, huh?" he scoffed, before he stumbled a little on his feet.
'The hell?' he cursed mentally. Why did he feel so much weaker than he did before? A small attack like that wouldn't have drained him so quickly. Could it be because he was no longer in the feudal era that his energy was so low?
The dog eared head snapped up and scanned the room with golden eyes. In the corner there were two human females and a young Kitsune, but his eyes past over them. Amber orbs rested on the board game sitting on the counter island, which looked so out of place in the war torn room. The bits of broken bone crunched as Inuyasha made his way to the counter. The long bangs covered his eyes and his expression was unreadable from the other occupants' point of view.
The tanned hand reached out to grasp the two dies, but his hand stopped short as he saw the blessed black spots on the one die.
Six.
He was home... out of the feudal era... back in the present.
So in shock was he, that Inuyasha didn't notice the other three pick up their weapons. It wasn't until he felt the sharp tip of a kitchen knife at the back of his neck that he was brought back from his wondering thoughts. It was the woman, who held the weapon, a fearsome glint in her eye.
"Who are you and where did you come from?" she demanded, sounding much like a mothering demoness. However, Inuyasha's nose could smell the fear that was thinly veiled by anger.
"Keh, put that down, wench and then maybe, I'll tell you"
"I'm not an idiot" she snapped, "I've been through hell in the past hour and you expect me to listen to you after what you did to that monster?"
"Fine then, bitch" he growled, annoyed at her attitude, "My name is Inuyasha Takahashi and I was trapped in the game until someone rolled a three or a six. Since I'm here now, someone did"
Surprise washed over the woman's face and she lowered the knife, slowly.
"You're that boy the cop said disappeared ten years ago. So then, it was because of the game you disappeared?"
Inuyasha simply nodded, his face suddenly looking solemn.
Ten years.
Ten years he had been gone, ten years he had spent surviving from day to day, ten years since he had seen his friends and family.
"Do you know what happened to the couple who lived here before, Inutashio and Izyoai Takahashi?" he asked. He knew his parents didn't live here anymore, his nose didn't lie, but perhaps they were still around?
"No, as far as we know the house has been abandoned for years" the woman replied unable to look the half-demon in the eye. She had a feeling that whoever lived here previously had left the house, having no intention of ever coming back.
"Keh, I'll need your phone then" he stated, crossing his arms. If they didn't know anything, then he would have to get a hold of someone else.
"Rin, could you get my cell?" the woman asked the girl. The teenager timidly nodded and nimbly ran into the living room.
The Kitsune only stared in wide eyed awe at Inuyasha a question apparent on his lips.
"What are you looking at runt?" questioned Inuyasha, prompting the Kitsune to respond with a short retort.
"I'm not a runt, old man!"
"Old man! Do I look old to you?" Inuyasha snarled dangerously.
"No, you just look stupid" the Kitsune shot back.
"Be quiet Shippo. I don't think this guy is someone you want to mess with" the woman interrupted, frowning down at the Kitsune, who was a head shorter than herself.
"Better listen to her Shippo," Inuyasha smirked, "Unless you wanna end up like that centipede"
"How did you do that though?" Shippo wondered, ignoring the threat.
"When I was in the game I discovered that demon energy was able to flow freely through the body and could be manifested into attacks. For some stupid reason, future demons cannot access that power" Inuyasha explained, keeping out the part that his own energy was once again 'plugged'.
The younger girl, Rin the woman had called her, came back through the half destroyed door, a small device in her hand. She stood beside the woman and gave the device to her.
"Here Sango" she said, looking up at Inuyasha, her cinnamon eyes curious. Thankfully, she was starting to calm down from the fight earlier. Sango nodded and fiddled with the 'cell'.
"Do you know what a cell phone is? I can't remember when cell phones became big" she admitted, giving it to him.
Quizzically, Inuyasha stared at the bizarre phone. It was so small! And what was with the screen? He looked up in confusion, his eyebrows scrunched up. Sango took pity on him and took it back.
"What's the number?"
"Ummmm" Inuyasha drew a blank. He couldn't remember the phone numbers of anyone, it had been too long since he had to think about it. Embarrassment welled up and he scoffed, turning his head away.
"Never mind, I'll just find them on my own" he stated as he made his way over to the door, ready to start on a journey on a journey. Hopefully, the people he had known from ten years ago were still living in town.
"Wait!"
Inuyasha glanced back at the young girl who had called out. Rin stepped up to him and looked into his eyes, her own reflecting sympathy.
"If you don't have anywhere to go then stay here" she offered, "Besides, we may...need your help with the game"
"No" Inuyasha answered, squashing her plea. He had just been freed he wasn't going to give it a chance to trap him again.
"But you'll know what to expect! And if we can't finish the game then something terrible will happen. Please Mr. Takahashi we need you to help us!" Rin explained, almost pleading as she grabbed a fist of his billowing red robes.
Inuyasha's expression softened somewhat. He couldn't stand it when any female was emotionally distressed and a young teenager was no exception.
"Fine. I'll help defend you, but I am not going to play for anything" Inuyasha reluctant agreed.
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"Officer Houshi, we have an animal attack on Oakmaru St. Repeat. Animal Attack on Oakmaru St. Over" the crackling of the police car radio died down as it hung up. Miroku frowned deeply as he stared out the front window.
"Another one?"
This had been the sixth call of an animal attack in the past few hours. Sure there was a call occasionally about such a problem, but they were few and far between. It worried him greatly and he made a mental note to make sure his parents and Kagome were safe. The animals in question appeared to be primitive wolf demons and Miroku knew how cautious his friend Kagome was of demons. It would terrify her to hear about rampaging demons.
Thankfully an ambulance was already at the sight of the incident and the injured were carefully being transported. However, this did not help Miroku. He needed to find those wolves before they could cause more trouble than they had already.
It took only a matter of minutes for the officer to get any and all accounts of the attack from conscious victims and lucky unharmed bystanders.
"Dreadful creatures! They came from nowhere!" one woman declared as she watched her neighbor, who had been gardening, being hauled away in the medical emergency vehicle.
"Never in all my years have I seen a wild wolf, much less a demon wolf, in these parts" piped up an old man, his elderly wife nodding in agreement.
'Where could they have come from?' Miroku pondered, getting back into his police car. Starting up the engine Miroku steered the vehicle down a series of roads, ready to patrol the streets for the potential threats. He turned down the familiar street of Sakura and slowed down when he neared 209. Violet eyes narrowed in confusion. Shards of glass littered the front yard below the smashed bay window.
Could a wolf have gotten inside?
Acting on instinct, Miroku took the handheld gun out of his holster and flipped the safety off. He sprinted silently to the door and tried to turn the door knob. The door wasn't locked and it pushed open fairly easily. The living room was messy and the doorway to the kitchen looked worse. Voices came from inside and Miroku noticed that they did not seem alarmed.
"I thought only evil demons came out" said a young male.
"No" replied a girl, "there are obstacles AND rewards. Sango got the lucky roll. It looks like a Fire Cat demon"
"She doesn't seem to want to harm us, do you little one?" a woman, most likely Sango cooed.
A small mew answered.
"I guess this means it's my turn again" the girl spoke nervously.
"Come on Rin, you can do it, just don't go for killer wolves this time" the first voice teased.
Killer wolves? Were they talking about the same demon wolves he had been hearing so much about?
"Hold on. Someone's here" growled a new voice.
Miroku, knowing he was detected leapt out, gun raised.
"Freeze!" he shouted in authority.
A clawed hand shot out and grabbed the gun, thrusting it upward. Greatly startled, Miroku's finger tightened and the bang from the gun was explosive. An angry and snarling face glared back at him, eyes slatted in aggression.
Golden, amber eyes.
Snow white hair.
Pointed dog ears.
"Inu... yasha?"
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Please R&R tell me what you thought about itJ
Question: If you had to explain one new form of technology to someone from the past what would it be?