Sorry for the long wait, but here it is! It should be a lot beter than my chapters thus far. A whopping 6 pages! That's pretty good for me for just one chapter! Please don't forget to review and let me know what you think! I've been on a rap trip for a while, so if the story picks up a bit, that's probably why. Enjoy! Oh, before I forget, I don't own anything except the plot and Shinata. I'll have a profile of Shinata up shortly on my profile.
The grass glowed in its bright hue of summer, blown softly by a gentle breeze that whipped around the blades of grass. The sunrise was bright, signaling a great day was about to begin. If only that's how it really felt to Sango. The weight of her running away was still keeping a tight hold on her heart and she sighed, as if to try and slough off a bit of that weight. Seeing the surprised look on her love's face before she had fled again was almost too much for her to bear. It took all of her will power not to run to him, but away back to her mini-camp. She had held back tears until she was back at her camp, then fell into a restless sleep. A light rain had fallen that night, making it hard to stay warm, despite the fire she had started. Since then, however, the rain had dispersed and the now mid-morning sun shown down brightly, hoping to lighten the spirits of a certain taijiya. Sango, despite running away, was truly hopeful of meeting up with the others again soon and hopefully fighting Naraku with her brother by her side. Just the thought of finally focusing on her brother and looking solely for him lightened her spirits more than anything. As she finished packing her sack with her belongings a bird flew over her and landed on a tree, showing off its beautifully colored feathers to anyone who would look. Sango watched the bird for a minute, then hoisted her pack onto her shoulders and continued north, and at the same time heading slightly east.
"I hope that lead to Kohaku was right. I can't afford to make too many wild goose chases, but then again, I can't afford not to try as many as I can. I guess I can go back to being a slayer-for-hire to earn some money." She thought out loud to herself as she saw a small village with a tall pillar of smoke coming out of the center of the area. Sounds like that of a cry for help were coming from the small village, and for all she knew, Sango was the only one who could do anything. The village looked too small to have any real protection. Adrenaline started to course through her veins, and she hoisted Hiraikotsu on her shoulder and started running towards the village. Just as she reached the small village a rather large minotaur-like demon ran out on his hind legs holding a young girl. She appeared to be no older than her brother, but she was scarred on one side of her face and had a rather large gash on her shoulder and her thigh. She wore a bright pink kimono with a light blue stripe that was slowly becoming a shade of purple with the mix of blood on the blue. Sango slid to a halt in front of the demon; anger and confusion clear in her chocolate eyes.
"Who are you? What are you doing with the girl?" The demon turned his head to her and laughed openly and loud.
"Foolish girl! I am the great demon Niu Wang, and you will pay for thinking you can talk to me like that!" He tossed the girl to the side where she landed on a cart full of fruit.
"Stay there girl! If you move I'll kill you slowly." Sango narrowed her eyes at the bull-man.
"Hey you! Tell me. Are you from the Continent?" The demon faced Sango once again and smirked.
"How very observant of you. You must know then that I am much more powerful than any low-life demon you'll find around here. I came from the far reaches of the Continent, searching for just the right girl to become my bride. I finally found her, and now I'll have a wife and a concubine!" Sango scowled at him as he laughed and closed his eyes. He didn't deserve anything more than a swift kick in the-
"Of course, if you want to trade your life for hers, I'm sure we could come to some sort of understanding. You're not much to look at, but-" He was cut short by a swift kick to the jaw. The beast recoiled and got down on all fours, charging at Sango with speed even Inuyasha would have difficulty with. Sango barely avoided being gored by the bull, but her sash caught on the bull's horn, yanking her down and dragging her across the rugged terrain. Sango whipped out her dagger she kept hidden on her arm and cut the sash, disconnecting her from the beast. Niu Wang stopped, stood on his hind legs again and pulled out several small daggers. He threw them at Sango who couldn't avoid them. Two cut her shoulder and arm while one slashed her cheek and others grazed her. Niu Wang then brandished a large sword that was shaped like a bull's horn. He charged at the slayer ready to slice her in half. Sango turned on her heel, ran to Hiraikotsu and yanked it from its place in the ground as Niu Wang was gaining on her. Just before Niu Wang brought his sword down, Sango pivoted on her heel and used Hiraikotsu to block the sword from slicing her left arm in half. She brought her arm dagger over and was able to sliced Niu Wang straight across the stomach. The youkai laughed in response and grabbed her arm. He picked her up by her arm and brought her halfway up his body's height.
"Foolish girl! You honestly thought you could defeat me?" Before Sango could respond Niu Wang punched her swiftly in the stomach, sending her flying into a nearby building. The minotaur chuckled to himself as he turned to face the young girl.
"Now my dear, if you come with me without trouble, I may spare your life. If not, well, you saw what I did to that wench." He said motioning to the building Sango landed in. The girl just shook her head and jumped from the cart. She kneeled down on her knees in front of Niu Wang.
"Please Sir, I will go with you, but I must beseech you let me at least give the woman a proper burial. To have battled one as powerful as you, for the time she did battle, she deserves at least a burial." The bull snorted, closed his eyes and crossed his arms.
"Very well, but make it quick! We leave after midday." The girl bowed respectfully and ran towards the building. The girl entered the hole Sango made when she crashed into the building and coughed at the amount of dust still in the air. From what she heard about her, this slayer couldn't be defeated that easily. She squinted her eyes to keep the dust out and gently scuffled her feet on the ground so as not to step on Sango. She called out for the slayer and was replied to by a small groan. The girl ran to where the noise came from and was shocked to find Sango lying on the ground bleeding profusely from several critical looking wounds. The young girl cleared the debris off of Sango and picked her up under her arms. She pulled her over to a futon that stood nearby and pulled her up with a lot of effort. Sango let out a painful groan and opened her eyes.
"What happened?"
"Don't move. You're injured quite badly. You're the taijiya, Sango, correct?" Sango ignored the young girl's request to lay still and sat up, concealing her hidden weapon.
"Who wants to know?" She half asked, half groaned out. She hadn't felt this bad since her brother had first been possessed.
"Kohaku sent me to find his sister Sango." This got the taijiya's complete attention. She snapped her head to the young girl.
"How do you know Kohaku? Who are you?" The young girl turned away from Sango.
"M-my name is Shinata. I met Kohaku a while back. He saved me when I fell into some rapids escaping a demon that killed my family and half our village. We became good friends and spent most of our days working side by side earning money. One day he said he had to go. He wouldn't explain why, even after I begged him." Sango was listening intently. Any news of her brother spending time with others was good news.
"He said he couldn't explain, but if I was able to find his sister Sango, she could keep me safe and that if I stayed with her, then we would meet again for sure. After that, he gave me the money he had earned then left without another word. So I packed some food and left, searching for her. If you aren't her, then I have no choice but to go with Niu Wang now. If I don't, I will surely be killed." Shinata caught a sob in her throat as a lone tear slid down her cheek. Sango placed a comforting hand on Shinata's shoulder and made to stand. Shinata jumped up and put her hands out to stop her.
"No you mustn't! You can barely sit up, much less fight!" Sango brushed the young girl's hands away.
"And what will happen if I do? I have to defeat Niu Wang so you won't have to go with him. I'm sure Kohaku wouldn't be too happy if he learned a friend of his was taken away." Sango smiled at Shinata. Shinata nodded smiling as well.
"Now Shinata tell me, where is Niu Wang now? What is he doing?" Shinata ran over to the hole and looked out to find the bull lying down on his side resting.
"Perfect. Shinata, I now need you to retrieve my Hiraikotsu. That's the only way I can defeat him for sure." Shinata waved a hand to acknowledge her and took off quietly towards the giant boomerang. Niu Wang heard her footsteps though and opened his eyes.
"What are you doing with the weapon girl? Are you done burying the slayer yet?" Shinata stopped and bowed towards the minotaur.
"Not yet master, but I'm almost done. I just have to lay the boomerang over her grave." Niu Wang snorted.
"Well hurry up! We leave soon." Shinata nodded coolly and lifted the boomerang. She was able to hoist it over the opening where it landed with a thud next to the concealed Sango. The taijiya quietly picked up Hiraikotsu and readied herself for battle once again.
"Shinata, stay here. If it looks like I'm going to be defeated, run away as fast as you can and find Inuyasha the half demon and Kagome the miko. I'll give you enough time to escape." Shinata acknowledged her request reluctantly and hid away where she wouldn't get in the way. Sango stealthily was able to get into just the right position to strike Niu Wang and let fly her weapon. Niu Wang heard the boomerang and tried to dodge it, but to no avail. Hiraikotsu slammed into the chest of Niu Wang, dealing some damage to him, but it didn't pierce him. He moved out the way before it did any more damage and if continued its path back to Sango.
"You little wench! How did you survive?" Sango smirked as she caught Hiraikotsu.
"I can't be defeated that easily. A mere punch is nothing compared to the hits I've taken from worse than the likes of you. I don't have time for small fries like you." Niu Wang snorted and growled at Sango, preparing to charge at her once again. Sango just waited. Niu Wang got on all fours and, with a massive roar, charged at the slayer.
'Just a little more.' Sango kept her cool as Niu Wang charged full speed to her. Shinata peered out after hearing the roar from Niu Wang. She saw Sango just standing there and reacted by shouting at the slayer. This was able to get Niu Wang's attention off of Sango for a split second, just long enough for Sango to jump up, before Niu Wang gored her, and swing her arm around to land on Niu Wang's back. The minotaur became even more infuriated and started bucking, trying to throw Sango off. The slayer reacted by activating her arm scythe and slicing open the back of Niu Wang's neck. She then reversed the dagger and plunged it into the minotaur's neck, severing his spinal cord. The demon immediately dropped to the ground, lifeless. Sango, knowing that most demons didn't die by just severing their neck, proceded to take Niu Wang's head. She called out to Shinata.
"Shinata, look away! I don't want you seeing this." Shinata obliged and looked away as Sango decapitated Niu Wang. After she finished the deed, she burned the demon, ensuring it couldn't come back to hurt anyone. Sango called out to Shinata and they went to a nearby hot spring to wash up from the day's events.
"So you never answered my question. You are Sango, right?"
"Yes. From now on, you can travel with me to find my brother. Kohaku was kind to you then?" Shinata smiled and nodded, a light blush crossing her cheeks.
"Yes, he was kind. To be honest, we had talked of possibly being together." Sango's eyes widened.
"Really?" Shinata nodded.
"Yes, but before we could talk about anything, he said he had to go, but he'd be back one day. I didn't understand, and I still don't fully understand, but I trust Kohaku's word. We will meet again." Sango couldn't help but admire the hope Shinata had. She also couldn't help but envy the girl for the naiveté she had on Kohaku's situation.
"Shinata, you should know something. There's more to Kohaku than meets the eye." Sango and Shinata finished washing up and set up a spot to eat by a nearby stream. Sango stayed up for some time explaining Kohaku's story to the young girl. After the story was told, Shinata was in disbelief.
"So, where did he go?"
"Most likely back to Naraku." Shinata closed her eyes.
"How can he continue to do such things? Even if he is being controlled, he must have some sense of right and wrong. I mean, he seemed to know when he saved me."
"That's how Naraku works. When he summons Kohaku, Kohaku loses control of his body and follows Naraku's orders. When he isn't under Naraku's direct control, he has control and can function like a normal person."
"So are you planning to defeat Naraku?"
"Yes. I have to. For Kohaku's sake, as well as mine." Was Sango's reply. Shinata couldn't be certain, but she could see a mix of determination, pain, and rage in Sango's eyes.
'To have gone through the pain of losing her family and still be able to wake up and fight everyday for the freedom of Kohaku is an incredible feat indeed.' She held an even greater respect for the slayer than she first had.
"I also have to warn you Shinata. Coming along with me means you'll have to endure lots of challenges. Are you willing?" Shinata smiled and nodded enthusiastically.
"Can you teach me how to defend myself?" Sango nodded in agreement and lost no time in beginning to teach the young girl about the history and different techniques the slayers use. Soon the two girls were lost in explanation and learning, and soon it was time for camp to be set up for the night.
So what do you like better? Long waiting periods with longer chapters, or shorter waiting times but shorter chapters? Let me know what you think about that and my story by reviewing please! I really appreciate all the reviews I've gotten so far, and I hope to get more!