Disclaimer: I do not own InuYasha or its characters. They are the proud property of Rumiko Takahashi. However, this story and created characters are mine.
Chapter 3: An Awkward Meeting
Tomi was lying stretched out on the roof of the house, thinking about the guests sleeping below. Stupid villagers, she thought, Why can't they leave me alone. Of course, the villagers did not know she was there; she was very discreet about her whereabouts. She cursed them anyway.
Her head rested on her crisscrossed arms as she stared at the twinkling night sky. The sparkling beauties caused the girl to smile. She thought about her past, with her family, and her future, one without loneliness and pain. The demons that plagued her would never give her a chance. She closed her eyes, intaking the crisp night air.
"Promise me you won't leave me. I don't want to be alone."
"I promise."
A scraping noise interrupted her concentration. Tomi twisted her head to see a struggling monk clinging to the edge of the roof. Frowning at his lack of skill, she sat up with legs intertwined. She wanted to watch him to suffer, just for awhile. Her smirk transformed into a small smile as she watched the futile efforts of Miroku.
"Would you like some help?" she asked, trying not to laugh at him. He glanced up at the young girl, unwilling to answer.
"Well do you or don't you?" Tomi repeated, now getting annoyed at his taciturn composure. Her arms began to cross as he made a noise.
"Yes," Miroku squeaked, not sure if she would let him drop. Sighing, Tomi crawled to the monk and reached for his hand.
"I didn't take you as lacking the skill of jumping on top of the roof," she stated as she crawled to the edge.
"I was trying to be discreet," he squeaked again, trying to reclaim his dignity.
"It didn't work," she replied, reaching her hand over the rooftop edge.
"So I see," he said, extending his right hand to grab Tomi's outstretched hand. Each felt the warmth of one another's hand. Miroku smiled to himself, his mind slipping from the reality, the reality of his rosary beginning to slip went she came in contact with it.
"Hurry!" Miroku cried in urgency, not wanting his rosary to release his sealed wind tunnel. Tomi growled under her breath at his command. Pulling with all her might, she yanked the monk onto the roof. They tumbled once due to the force of Tomi's help. Each landed on their backs, lying next to each other. Raising her head, Tomi forced her body in a sitting position. Her eyes glanced at Miroku, who was rubbing where his head kissed the rooftop. She smiled, but quickly brushed it off from her face.
"What do you want?" Miroku paused his rubbing to look at Tomi's annoyed expression. Seeing her face, he sat up next to her.
"What are you doing up here?"
"There's not enough room in the hut," she honestly answered.
"But you don't have to be on the rooftop. The ground might actually be more comfortable." He suggested, smiling at her to ease the tension. She smiled at him for a moment before replying to him.
"I am on a mission." Her eyes now fell on the rooftop, refusing to look at the monk.
"May I inquire what your mission is?"
"Why should I tell you?" He backed away as her nose entered his personal space. Her green eyes pieced into his own blue eyes. Once again Tomi was trying to read the mind of the lecherous monk. She wanted to know what he was thinking.
"Okay but can I ask you one more question?"
Tomi continued her glare for a moment. She wanted him to be scared of her. Miroku, on the other hand, wanted to know more about this young girl who he never met. He waited quietly and contently for an answer. Knowing that he would not leave just yet, Tomi dropped her eyelids.
"What is it?" She sighed, opening her eyes to meet his dark blue pearls.
"What I did do to make you mad?" Miroku asked bluntly. Tomi straightened her back and widened her eyes in surprise. She did not expect him to confront her so quickly. She responded with a twist of her head, deterring her hurtful gaze away from the monk.
"I just wanted to make it up to you," he sighed in surrender. Tilting his head back, he smiled at the millions of stars that seemed to dance across the dark violet sky.
"Do you like the stars?" Tomi once again faced him in surprise. She didn't expect him to speak so soon. Easing her glare, she slowly shifted her eyes to the sky.
"I don't have time to admire them anymore." Miroku noticed the sadness in her girlish voice. He shifted his eyes to her, wondering what he did to make her so mad or why she was so sad. Before Miroku could find an answer, his train of thought was broken by a voice from before the couple.
"Miroku, come down here. I can sense some demonic auras and InuYasha's nose has caught their scent." Sango shouted to the monk, whose head popped over the edge of the rooftop. She was already dressed for the fight, her body covered in black armor. She clenched to her prized weapon in betrayal when Tomi's head appeared next to Miroku.
"I have to fight now," the monk said to Tomi before jumping down next to his not-so-secret love. Sango stared hard at Miroku, who gave her a shy smile. She sighed, knowing he would never change. Upon seeing Sango sigh, he scanned his other friends. Kagome had an arrow cocked on her bowstring, while Shippo stood close by her legs. InuYasha had his amber eyes at the sky, hand on Tetsusaiga, waiting for the horde of demons to pass. Kirara, standing close to her best friend, grew in preparation of the fight. He met Sango's eyes once again. They stared at each other with determination and concern. The one wanted to the other's safety, but neither spoke of it.
"Ready?" Miroku said to his friends. All responded with a nod and navigated their pupils to the sky.
Tomi, unknowing to the others, began getting ready for battle. She had done this so many times that it had become routine. Demons would fly over the meadow. She would destroy them with Isamu. Then the two partners would go inside and sleep. It was the same thing every night.
As if on cue, hundreds of demons began to pass the cleared meadow. They were all heading for Mount Shen. Many were ugly and weak, so weak in fact that InuYasha released his grip on Tetsusaiga.
"These demons aren't worth the effort," he said as he prepared his claws. A smirk spread across his face as he positioned himself to jump.
"Isamu!" Tomi shouted to the ground down below. InuYasha stumbled as the cat demon bumped him. Nauru leapt onto the roof, meeting his partner in combat. Tomi jumped on the cat demon's back and ascended into the sky. The two partners in combat met the horde of demons head-on, each barring its fangs to the enemy. Tomi's fangs were her swords, a cherished dagger christened Kitsu and a treasured short sword entitled Gaia. Carrying the blades, Tomi slashed at the mass of demons. She killed them one by one, using Isamu as a transport and support system. Blood and flesh fell like rain, covering the ground with puddles of crimson red. The group of friends hid under a tree, watching the young girl kill all the demons with her partner. Inuyasha gritted his teeth as he grew impatient.
"Iron Reaver Soul Stealer!" His voice rang through the sky as streaks of yellow light flew at the demons. They disintegrated upon impact of InuYasha's attack. Light screams soared through the sky, creating a chill in the air.
With the last demons destroyed, Tomi and Isamu descended from the sky. Each was covered in demon blood and innards. Upon reaching the ground, the young girl flicked her two blades while Isamu shook his body, ridding themselves of excess blood. Sliding Gaia and Kitsu into their appropriate scabbards, she turned to the river across the meadow.
"We are going to clean up," Tomi responded, pointing to the body of water, "we will be back shortly."
"Tomi, did you get hurt? Should I go with you?" Kagome began to move towards her in time with her worried words.
"No, I am fine. We won't be gone long." The two continued to the river, leaving the rest to relax at the hut. The rest stared at the demon killers until their figures faded with the darkness. All were impressed with Tomi's talent. Well, not all of them.
"Feh! They were weak demons. Killing those demons only means that she can fight at a basic level."
"She seemed so fearless, going in alone," Sango said aloud, ignoring InuYasha's comment.
"Well, she wasn't completely alone. Isamu was with her, just like Kirara is with you," Kagome responded, continuing to stare towards the river.
"But still, she was amazing," Sango said, thinking about the slayers who were once in her village. She still thought that Tomi was an official demon slayer, but maybe lost her memory, like Kohaku. Her eyes sunk at the thought if her brother, a boy who is controlled by their enemy, Naraku.
"Sango, are you okay?" The melancholy girl, upon hearing her name, glanced at Kagome. She could see the worried look in Kagome's brown pupils. In response, Sango morphed her frown into a smile.
"I'm fine, just thinking." Kagome was not satisfied with Sango's answer.
"Don't worry, we'll get Kohaku back." She placed a hand and Sango's shoulder in comfort. The demon slayer gave a reassured smile to her best friend.
"I think it is best if we should get some sleep," Miroku stated, gesturing to the hut. All feeling exhausted from walking, the others followed the monk's advice and headed for the hut for a goodnight's rest.
Tomi, after leaving the group to bathe, began to think about Naraku, the demon with so much power, the one who seeks more power. She had heard the rumors of the Shikon Jewel and how it was shattered into hundreds of pieces. If she had any idea of what Naraku was like, she figured that he would attempt to collect every shard to the jewel, in order to increase his strength.
"Isamu, you would never lie to me right?" She looked at the cat for a response. The demon cat glanced at his master, giving a truthful look from his maroon eyes. Tomi smiled at the reply.
"I'm glad to hear that," Tomi turned to face the water, "I hate lies." Her voice turned to icicles as they reached to air. Her thoughts were on Miroku. He had lied to her in the past, breaking the trust she once reserved for him. All it took was one lie.
The water felt cold as Tomi daintily placed her feet into the liquid. A breeze passed through her hair as she inhaled. The thoughts of the past had to be wiped from her mind, in order for her to think about the future.
"Isamu?" The cat picked up his ears at the sound of his name. He stared at his friend and master, waiting for her to speak again.
"Should I tell him?" As if a reply Isamu transformed into his cute kitten form and meowed. She smiled as she cuddled the cat in her arms.
"I thought you would say that," Tomi petted Isamu as she waded into the water. Blood ran down the river, escaping the barrier placed by the meadow. She tried to picture her as the blood, escaping from her fate. She placed her left hand on her right shoulder, reminding her of her cruel destiny. She leaned back her head, looking at the stars as she did with Miroku.