A New Leaf
Author's Note: Thanks for the reviews. I hope that you all enjoy this chapter.
Chapter 2
The next morning, Rin was awakened by the sounds of Kaede speaking with someone. "You're very lucky." She was also examining the arm of whoever she was speaking to.
It was a very nice arm. Rin had been around a lot of powerful demons and humans. So she recognized a powerful arm when she saw one. Those biceps were not to be trifled with, but something had bitten the man. Hard.
"Yes, I know." His voice reminded her vaguely of Lord Sesshomaru's. "I was lucky that I managed to kill it and that there was a village nearby." Only his was more like silk, whereas Lord Sesshomaru's was more like velvet.
Rin wasn't really sure how voices could 'sound' like a texture, but that was just how she described them. Some people had really smooth voices and other people had course ones. Most fell somewhere in the middle.
Kaede nods at that. "Aye, you were very lucky." She smiles at Rin. "Rin, come help this young man." She turns her attention back to man. "It doesn't seem that you were bitten by anything poisonous."
Well that was good, Rin decides as she makes her way over to Kaede and the stranger. Poison could have meant that his life was in danger. Though it still might be, if that wound got infected.
"What makes you say that?" He nods in greeting to Rin.
Kaede raises an eyebrow. "Child, you wouldn't have made it all the way from the mountain to our village, if it was poisonous. Well at least not a strong one." The elderly woman pauses and adds as an afterthought. "What should we call you? I am Kaede and this is Rin."
"Sasuke and I suppose that's true." He nods his head in concession.
He was immune to poison. The way he didn't bat an eyelash at the mention of poison said it all. He looked like a human, but was its possible he was really some kind of demon?
After all, there were many demons who looked mostly human. Lord Sesshomaru, Kouga, Inuyasha, Shippo, and Kagura stood out most prominently in her mind.
"It's nice to meet you." Rin smiles at him. "May I see your arm?" It was always better to ask beforehand.
When she had first met Lord Sesshomaru, he certainly hadn't reacted well to her offers of help. From then on, Rin had learned quickly that not all people responded well to help when they were injured.
'Sasuke' as he called himself, nods at her. "Yes, please." Offering her his hand without hesitation.
Probably because he didn't view her as a threat. His clothing was strange. A black shirt, pants, and cloak. Maybe, he was some kind of warrior monk? Those did exist, after all.
"Alright." Rin blinks as she surveys the damage.
It had to be a demon or wild animal. It would have to be a really big wild animal though like a wolf for this sort of injury to be possible. She suspected a demon as she begins slowly cleaning the injury.
One had to be thorough or else he might get an infection. "What attacked you?" Infections killed even more than the wound itself these days.
"I'm not entirely sure." Sasuke gives her a perplexed look. "It was a giant bird with teeth bigger than any shark's, but there was a man riding it." A man riding it? "Apparently, he was actually part of the creature though." Oh. That could mean only one thing.
A Bird of Paradise. Sasuke had been bitten by a bird of paradise and lived to tell the tale. That was impressive. Inuyasha's group and the wolf demon tribe even had trouble with them. Though their numbers had dwindled so much since then, that they were a rare sight.
Kaede was right. This man was extremely lucky to be alive. Usually, once those things got hold of you, they didn't let you go!
"A Bird of Paradise." Kaede sighs and shakes her head. "We should probably have Inuyasha and Miroku go have a look to make sure that it was alone."
It probably wasn't though. They were definitely flock demons. Then again, their numbers had gotten so low. On second thought, it might very well be the case that the beast had been traveling alone.
Sasuke shoots her a blank look." Who are Inuyasha and Miroku?" Oh right. This man was a stranger. He didn't know who anyone in this village was yet.
"Miroku is a monk with great magical power and Inuyasha watches over the village. He's a demon, but the nice kind of demon." Rin shakes her head quickly. "Nothing like the Bird of Paradise that attacked you!"
The stranger chuckles at that. "Well that's good to know." While Kaede mutters something about that being debatable and Rin gives her a dirty look.
Kaede and Inuyasha still loved to tease each other. Rin was quite certain it had something to do with the fact that Kaede had been a child when her sister fell in love with Inuyasha.
Kikyo might not be around anymore, but Kagome was her reincarnation. It was all very confusing. How Kikyo had managed to be revived while her reincarnation was walking around and yet, they shared a soul. They shared a soul, but had such different personalities.
Rin was happy that Kikyo had apparently found peace. "Indeed." Well at least in the end. Though that didn't stop Kaede and Inuyasha from bickering with one another, every single time they saw each other.
"This might sting." She shoots Sasuke an apologetic look as she applies a concoction designed to prevent an infection. "I'm sorry." Seeing him grimace was enough to make her realize that it stung. Badly.
She knew that. Rin had seen some of the strongest men and women she had ever known cry out in pain once it was applied. Though no one could argue with the substance's effectiveness. That was for sure.
"It's fine." He gives her a small reassuring smile. "Thank you."
His eyes. She could only see one, but it was ruby red. A demon eye? The other she couldn't see because it was obscured by his bangs though.
She didn't sense a demonic aura about him, but was it possible Sasuke was just cloaking it? Cloaking it because he was in a human village? Such an action would make sense.
"You're welcome." She smiles at him.
Oh well. If he was a demon, Rin was certain he was the good kind. He had a nice smile and she didn't sense any evil intentions radiating off him. Sesshomaru had taught her how to sense such things. Something about auras.
Kagura shakes her head. "They've been at this all night." She sighs as she fans herself.
Sesshomaru had gone into the Council Room last night and he hadn't come out yet. He'd been in there for approximately twelve hours. Which couldn't mean anything good.
"What are you doing sulking about outside the Council Room?!" Sesshomaru's vile little imp glares at her as he shakes his staff wildly in outrage. "You're not supposed to be here! Are you spying on Lord Sesshomaru?!"
Why the man put up with the imp was frankly beyond her. She would have dropped the toad demon off somewhere long ago, but Sesshomaru must have seen some purpose in keeping him around. What it was, Kagura truly didn't know.
She simply flicks it with her fan. "Quiet." The fool was going to attract the attention of all the demons in that room, if he didn't shut up.
Now, that would really get Lord Fluffy going. His eyes would probably turn red and he would growl. It was probably borderline masochistic, but there was something almost erotic about seeing him reduced to that state. It was primal and far more honest than the carefully crafted mask that she knew he presented to the world.
"Don't tell me to be quiet!" That only served to aggravate the ugly little creature more. "I am Lord Sesshomaru's Vessel and I will be treated with respect!"
That's when Lord Sesshomaru comes out of the Council Room and quirks an eyebrow at the imp's antics. "Jaken, silence." He then turns his attention to Kagura. "And you as well."
Both Kagura and Jaken deflate at that. The toad demon more comically though. That's when the ruby eyed woman watches as more Demon Lords and Ladies filter out of the Council Room. Their faces were all grim.
This couldn't be good news. Something horribly must have happened. What else could possibly explain why they were all so somber, even Lady Juna.
"All will be well, Lord Sesshomaru." The snake demoness smiles at Sesshomaru as she glides her hand along his arm. "Though things would likely be easier, if you banished this Clay Bitch from your Court."
Kagura despised the orange haired snake demoness. More than once, she had been tempted to cut her into a thousand tiny pieces with her Dance of Blades, but she couldn't.
The woman was the Lady of the South. She was far too influential to attack. It could start a war. Which is why Kagura was sure Sesshomaru hadn't killed the witch yet and turned her into a pair of blue scaly boots yet. (Well Kagura could always hope that Lord Sesshomaru would change his mind about that eventually, couldn't she)?
Sesshomaru stiffens for a moment and redirects his formerly golden gaze towards Lady Juna. "I appreciate your concern, Lady Juna." His eyes were now bright red and the magenta markings on his cheeks were slowly turning more jagged. "Though I will determine who is allowed to stay at my Court and shall afford you the same courtesy."
He was angry. Really angry. Sesshomaru was only a few moments away, perhaps even seconds…from losing control of his Inner Demon. Was he really that outraged on her behalf? Kagura couldn't help, but feel touched by the display.
"Lord Sesshomaru, I meant no offense." Now, the witch was trying to backtrack as fast as her scaly ass could. "I simply meant that she is the only living incarnation of Naraku. She cannot be trust!"
The woman obviously didn't now when to quit. Her mistake was so grave that even Jaken was beginning to look more than a little worried for the woman.
He waves his staff at her angrily. "Lord Sesshomaru knows what he is doing!" The toad was practically spitting fire. "Are you questioning My Lord's judgment?!" Oh wait. His staff actually was emitting some flames!
Sesshomaru waves his hand as the other Lords and Ladies watch the scene with some amusement, but mostly terror. They all knew what Sesshomaru was capable of when he was angry and considering how close to the surface his demon was, this could end badly. Very badly.
"No!" Juna holds up her arms in surrender. "I would never do such a thing. I was merely expressing my concern for Lord Sesshomaru's well-being."
The marks were growing more jagged. "I shall manage my household in the manner that I see fit. I do not require your assistance in this matter." His teeth were sharpening! "Now, leave Lady Juna. When I desire your advice, I shall ask for it."
His voice was more a growl than words. It was an awesome sight to behold. A Demon Lord that was likely only minutes away from assuming his true form.
"Yes, Lord Sesshomaru." She bows quietly. "I truly meant now offense." And she takes off running as the other nobles make polite (though hasty) exits.
Kagura looks at the Inu with concern. "Are you alright?" Rarely, did she see him this angry.
"Lady Juna overstepped her grounds." He takes several deep breathes trying to compose himself. "Were she not the Lady of the South, I would have put her in her place more thoroughly."
Kagura would have loved to see that. "I don't doubt it." She smiles at him. "Come on. I believe the cooks made your favorite tonight."
Food was something that tended to distract men wonderfully. It didn't matter what their species was really.
Sasuke watches as a beautiful woman with chocolate brown eyes carefully tends to his injuries. This was a strange place. They spoke of demons as if they were far more similar to humans than Tailed Beasts. Implying that they were at least somewhat common.
"What is the name of your village?" It was time to get some answers. "And how far would you say it is from the Leaf?"
Rin tilts her head at that as she finishes bandaging him with her gentle touches. "We don't really have a name for it, but there are plenty of leaves around here."
She thought that he meant actual leaves. "I don't mean leaves, I meant the Hidden Leaf Village." He must be far from home.
This might not even be one of the Five Great Nations! Where the Hell was he? Had he really been transported that far from the Leaf?
Kaede sighs as she pours them some tea. "I've never heard of such a place in all my years." Which was saying something, Sasuke thinks to himself. The woman appeared to be quite elderly. "Does it go by any other names or perhaps you can give us the providence?"
Right. If they didn't know of the Hidden Leaf it was a safe bet that they would at least know of Fire Nation! They had to! It was impossible to miss!
"The Fire Nation." He smiles at her.
His only response was a blank look and Rin places her hand on his good shoulder in sympathy. "It sounds like you're very far from home, but Lord Sesshomaru might know what village you are speaking of."
Lord Sesshomaru? Maybe, that was this land's Daimyo. Yes, he'd just speak to him then.
"Thank you." She really did have beautiful eyes. Chocolate brown and warm. They reminded him of a doe's.
He mentally frowns at his own thoughts. "Where can I find Lord Sesshomaru?" Sasuke really shouldn't allow himself to get distracted in this way. He had to get home and it sounded like this Lord might be able to help him do exactly that.
Kaede smiles at him. "Well he comes through now and then." That sounded only vaguely promising. "Most of the time, he is either at his castle or patrolling the rest of the Western Lands." Castle. Definitely a Lord then.
"Right." Well it seemed like the proper thing to do was to go to the castle. "Is his castle nearby?"
Rin looks at him as though he had grown another head. "Lord Sesshomaru doesn't like it when visitors stop by unannounced." No. Sasuke imagined he didn't. "You're better waiting here. He always comes to visit me sooner or later." She smiles at him serenely.
Well whoever this man was, Rin clearly had absolute faith in him. She spoke of him as if he was a God or a beloved father figure.
"Alright." Well if he was going to stay here, he might as well earn his keep and maybe some coin. "I'll find a place to stay in exchange for doing some labor. I'm not sure that my money would be accepted here."
"You could stay here." Rin shocks him by offering.
The woman was either extraordinarily kind, naïve, or both. To open up her home to a stranger like this was something unusual to say the least. "Are you sure?" She and Kaede had already tended to his injuries. It seemed greedy to ask for more than that.
"Well you'll have to go easy on that arm." Kaede eyes him as if she was assessing him. "Though another pair of hands is always useful around here. We can't really pay you, but you we can offer you place to sleep and food while you wait."
That sounded fine to him. "Thank you." Now, he just had to wait for this mysterious Lord Sesshomaru to arrive and then, maybe Sasuke would be able to return home.
Sango had finally found Aoi and Miroku. It had taken her all night to find their fishing spot. Their fishing trips could last a day or two at at time! Sometimes even three!
"Miroku, you can't just drag him off without telling me where you're going." She sighs and folds her arms. "I was worried sick."
He smiles at her though. That smile that she knew was meant to disarm her, but Sango knew her husband too well at this point as he strides over to her. "Sorry. I thought we would be back now." He wraps his arms around her. "Aoi was just so excited to go fishing. Can you forgive us?" And yes, just as expected his hand slides over her rear.
So she did what any respectable woman would do when her husband groped her in front of their child. "Yes, I can." She smacked him. "Though come on. We should get back. Kaede might want one of those fish!"
Miroku was used to this though. "So cruel." The man rubs his cheek that now had a rather dark imprint on it.
"You deserved that." Sango shakes his head. "You know better than to do such things in front of Akemi, Akira, and Aoi!" That or he should know better!
Miroku shakes his head as they head towards Kaede's home with a laughing Aoi in tow. The boy was certainly used to this sort of outrageous behavior from his father. Sango was beginning to worry that the man might have developed an immunity from her slaps at this point because it was just ridiculously impossible to teach him manners!
It didn't take them long to get to Kaede's home. After all, it wasn't that large of a village. What they found when they got there was surprising.
"Oh. This is Miroku, Sango, and their youngest child, Aoi." Kaede nods at a stranger. "This is Sasuke. He'll be staying with us until he can recover from his injury and Lord Sesshomaru comes around."
Miroku tilts his head at that. "What injury? He looks fine." That was until Sango and Miroku both notice the bandages on his arm. "Oh. How bad is it?"
Sasuke sighs and shakes his head. "Not that bad." He glances over towards Rin. "I was fortunate that Rin and Kaede were willing to treat me. I got bit by something called a Bird of Paradise."
It wasn't a particularly pleasant experience, but it was far less traumatic than getting his arm blown off by Naruto. Though to be fair, Sasuke had also blown his friend's arm off as well.
"Yes, you're very fortunate." Miroku smiles at him. "Kaede is the best healer in the West as far as I'm concerned and Rin has been learning from her for awhile."
A faint dusting of pink appears on the young woman's cheeks, Sasuke notices. "I'm not formerly trained. I just help Kaede sometimes." She was shy or modest. One of the two.
Of course, that might be more because Miroku had accidentally put her on the spot than anything. Maybe, she was like Hinata. Only without her former stuttering habit. From what he had heard, the Hyuga woman had finally outgrown it. Probably because Naruto had finally noticed her or maybe it was just a nervous tic of childhood that had left her when became a Jonin.
"Doesn't matter." Sasuke wasn't about to let the woman diminish herself. "Whether you're a fully fledged medic or not, you were able to do what needed to be done."
He wasn't sure why he felt the need to point that out. If she wanted to be modest or was a little unsure of herself, that shouldn't impact him in the slightest. Sasuke would be gone soon enough.
It was probably her eyes, he decides. They were so warm. Like his mother's. That had to be it.
"Thank you." She beams at the praise.
Sango's gaze was far more serious. "How many Birds of Paradise did you see?" The woman was clearly a practical one.
"Only one." Sasuke definitely would have noticed if another demonic bird of that size was lurking about. "I killed it. So it won't trouble anyone else." That much, he was quite certain of!
The others seemed relieved by that. Though Sasuke was growing increasingly curious about something. Just how common were 'demons' in this place? No one seemed shocked that they were around, but there were none terrorizing the village as far as he could tell.
"Meow!" Suddenly a cat trots into Kaede's humble home.
It wasn't like any cat that Sasuke had ever seen though. It had mostly blonde fur and ruby red eyes with fangs. This place was strange, but it was also…well cute.
Sango smiles and scoops the feline into her arms. "Kirara." Apparently, she was some kind of pet or maybe, this place's version of Ninja Cat.
"Well we should still inform Kagome, Inuyasha, and Sesshomaru about the Bird of Paradise." Kaede sighs as though this was a troubling occurrence. "They'll want to know." Irritating in the way that pests were.
"That would probably be wise." Miroku nods in agreement. "Well welcome to our village." He smiles at Sasuke.
Sasuke nods at him. He was more interested in finding Sesshomaru so he could get out of here. Though these people did seem friendly. The last Uchiha supposed there was no harm in relaxing until the Lord came by.
"We brought fish!" A young boy giggles happily.
Fish sounded really good right about now, actually. Sasuke couldn't remember the last time he ate. Probably yesterday or the day before, he assumed.
Kaede smiles, seeming rather pleased by this development. "Excellent. Come." She glances at Rin and Sango. "Let's prepare supper and the men can have a look at the fields."
"Have you ever tended to a field before?" Miroku looks at Sasuke.
Sasuke nods. He had. His family had once had their own fields in the Uchiha District. "Yes, here and there." That and he had tended to a few fields on his travels.
"That's good." He smiles at him warmly and gestures for Sasuke to follow him. "I imagine that Inuyasha will be along shortly and he'll give us a hand." Which Sasuke gladly did.
Inuyasha. He kept hearing that name. Well that and Sesshomaru. Those two were obviously important people in this village, the Uchiha thinks to himself as continue on their short trek towards the fields.
Sasuke shoves that thought to the side. Sesshomaru was the one he should focus on. He was the one who would help him get back home. Well at least that's what Sasuke was hoping anyway.
For now, the raven haired ninja didn't mind playing the part of a farmer. "That's always good to have another pair of hands." It wasn't as though he had anything better to do while he waited for Sesshomaru's eyes and he was taking advantage of these people's hospitality. So a little plowing was really the least he could do.
Besides, it would probably make Rin happy. She did have a sweet smile. He wouldn't mind seeing it again before he left.