Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to these characters. All rights go to the creator Rumiko Takahashi.
Chapter Nine: A Familiar Trinket
Miroku and Inuyasha ran through the rain drenched paths of the forest. During a rather daring escape attempt, mud and water sprayed up from beneath their rapidly moving feet. In their clenched fists, the gold coins clinked together in a cacophony of jingles, and footfalls thudded noisily behind them. The castle guards were still in a desperate pursuit, fearful of what fate would befall them if they failed to capture the thief again. Bankotsu led the charge, hot on the heels of the evading bandits. In a brutish voice; he shouted out, "Stop. Turn yourselves in and we may be charitable enough to spare your miserably pathetic and insignificant lives." The pair of crooks vanished into the branches of the thick forest trees and Robin's laugh floated out into the air. The guards froze and listened as Miroku's voice seemed to echo from every corner of the woods.
"I must respectfully disagree with your low opinion of us. I find our lives to be rather significant and being the bane of Naraku's existence brings me much joy." In a fit of fury, the sheriff fired arrows blindly into the trees, with the hopes of hitting the evasive criminal.
His dark blue eyes flashed dangerously and with animosity he spat out, "How dare you defy your King. You shall hang for your crimes against the Royal Family." The hanyou clutched an arrow that had been fired into a nearby tree, with a splintering crack, Inuyasha snapped the arrow in two between his thumb and forefinger. How he despised when the sheriff had the gall to threaten his friend when he was so nearby and he knew Miroku all too well. He just knew the hooded moron would only taunt the bumbling sheriff into complete vexation.
With a chuckle, Miroku replied, "I have committed no such crime against my King, for I do not accept Naraku as the true King of Nakimoto. Long may he reign, King Hitomi!" Inuyasha sighed in exasperation, he was aware that it would come, but he would, of course, prefer if Miroku would not put himself in such danger. The hanyou's ember-colored eyes harshly scanned his immediate area. He had every intention of telepathically cursing Miroku out for his impulsive mouth. Just when he had about given up on his mission, he felt a hand clamp down on his shoulder, and with a jolt he turned to find himself facing the thief. Inuyasha mumbled curses under his breath, while Miroku's eyes danced with amusement. With a smile in his voice he asked jovially, "Were you seeking me out?" The hanyo offered him a, none too serious, frown.
"Must you always exacerbate the situation? You are well aware of how much your opinion only aids in cultivating their disdain for you." Inuyasha did not need to see his face to know that the man was smiling, because his eyes shone with a silent laughter.
In his usual theatrical way, he spoke clearly, "Come now, Inuyasha. We could merely breathe in their general direction and that alone would garner us more of their wrath. Naraku has never really concerned himself with the matter of being liked by his people, he merely wants wealth. My opinions of him matter not, he's only troubled by my returning what he has claimed as his own." An argument on such a statement would be fruitless, for Inuyasha knew it to be all too true. Though they had long since stopped listening to the threats of the sheriff, the hanyou was still wholly aware of his actions. The presence of the sheriff was not lost to him. His canine ears picked up the whistle of an arrow slicing through the air and with lightning fast reflexes; he snatched the projectile just as it nearly made contact with his companion. The growl that rumbled in his throat managed to startle even the hooded man, Miroku had never heard the half demon sound so feral before. In an attempt to diffuse the situation, Miroku spoke easily, "I suppose I should go out there and give the sheriff the fight he so desperately wants." He moved to reveal himself, only to feel the bite of Inuyasha's claws that dug into the flesh of his shoulder.
With a harsh voice the hanyou bit off violently, "Do not even consider it. This time that sheriff is my opponent. I have still got a score to settle with that corrupted, crooked, snake. Leave him to me. Ya hear?" The anger in his voice left no room for argument. Miroku raised his hands in surrender and with a wordless gesture signed for him to be his guest. Miroku was not the type to shirk his duties onto Inuyasha, he much preferred to handle his own business, but Inuyasha seemed determined to make this matter his own. Had he not been so taken aback by his rage or the declaration that Inuyasha had a score to settle with the sheriff, he would not have backed down without so much as a word. The hooded figure stood by, more than a bit annoyed that he was demoted to the sidekick, while Inuyasha stepped into the clearing just as the sheriff had begun to set his bow. With his jaw set, Inuyasha spoke low, "Draw your sword, Sheriff Bankotsu. I am your opponent." The sheriff sneered at the half demon, but he pulled his weapon from it's sheath.
Bankotsu replied furiously, "Then you shall pay for Robin Hood's crimes against the crown."
With a cocky grin, Inuyasha returned, "You shall have to catch me first and you lack the skill." So Miroku had started to rub off on the hanyou, his witty remark was something he had definitely learned from the crafty Robin Hood. In a display of skill and confidence Inuyasha and the sheriff crossed swords in a dangerous duel. With every metallic clang of iron on iron, the rage in the hanyou's amber eyes burned hotter. Miroku watched on, impressed by Inuyasha's prowess with a sword, but he was confused by his partner's rage. What could the sheriff have possibly done to earn Inuyasha's unbridled fury? With his temper unchecked, he used all the strength he could muster, and sent Bankotsu's sword flying from his hands. Inuyasha pointed his weapon towards the sheriff's face, his eyes cold, hands steady. He carried himself like a natural born killer and it worried Miroku greatly. The thief rushed into the clearing.
Breathless and concerned he proclaimed, "Blood Hound, I implore you, stop. Do not insult your character by behaving as deplorably as the enemy. We do not kill." The air was thick with tension and the silence lingered on for far longer than was comfortable. Miroku could hear the wind as it whispered through the branches and his heart pounded relentlessly in his chest, while Inuyasha still pointed the iron weapon at the sheriff. He had made no move to lower the sword and his look had yet to soften. It was almost as though Miroku's words could not reach the hanyou's ears. In a final act of desperation to preserve Inuyasha's reputation, the hooded thief set his bow. His voice was firm when he spoke again, "I will not let you tarnish yourself in such a manner." He took aim and fired the arrow. It cut through the air rapidly and struck the sword with a metallic clang. Inuyasha snapped out of the trance his rage had put him in. The desire to protect Miroku remained, but the desire to kill had begun to fade. Instead he looked down at the trembling sheriff with disgust.
With a threatening tone he declared, "Pathetic. If you ever harm Robin again, I promise you; it will be the last thing you ever do." Inuyasha turned on his heel, he still trembled with rage, but the adrenaline had begun to drain from his body. Never before had he allowed himself to be consumed by such a darkness and he vowed then to never allow it to happen again. In an angry haste the hanyou disappeared beneath the shadows of the forest. Miroku remained for a fleeting moment. The sheriff still cowered in a puddle of mud but fury burned in his eyes, much was probably fueled by his embarrassment. In his typical theatrical fashion, Miroku lifted two fingers to the side of his head, and offered a wordless salute to say farewell. He, too, then slipped beneath the branches of the trees, only to be chased by the yells of the sheriff.
"I'll kill you yet, Robin! Just you wait! Your days are numbered and your little guard dog will rot in a cell!" The thief glanced back over his shoulder, no guards were in pursuit, but a cold chill still raced up his spine. With a shaky sigh, Miroku faced forwards again, and left the threat behind him in the forest clearing.
Maid Sango had ended an early visit with monk Mushin a few hours earlier and now walked about the grounds that surrounded the temple. She told herself that she had taken the journey to unwind, but if that were the truth she would not be searching so hard for his form. Yes, she truly stayed to see if she could find Miroku. She wanted to know why he had walked away from her so suddenly during their last visit. She followed the path that ran down the mountain, the one that wound its way down to the river, and she hoped would lead her to him. She was determined to speak to Miroku, maybe even apologise to him for hurting his feelings, but her resolve dissolved when a familiar voice drifted out of the woods. A man's voice asked harshly, "What in the hell were you thinking back there? I know you're impulsive, but use your head." Sango followed the voice, but remained hidden and quiet. From behind some overgrown grass and lush shrubs, she spotted the two men. Robin and Blood Hound.
The pair stood in a dense ring of towering oaks and though the branches cloaked them in shadows, the maiden had gotten close enough to get a good look at their figures. Blood Hound wore his usual blood red ensemble, with the puffy matching pants. His silver white hair and dog ears caught the sunlight that spilled between the leaves on the branches which sent his locks aglow. Yet it was Robin that truly captured her attention. He was dressed, as always, head to foot in black. The hood on his tunic was pulled up and his cloth mask still concealed the bottom half of his face. She remained quiet as the two continued their conversation. The hanyou crammed his hands into his pockets and kicked at a tree root with his left foot. "Well I wouldn't have behaved so egregiously if that half wit of a sheriff hadn't earned my scorn to begin with." The hooded man's head moved about, as though he was a tad confused.
His exasperation was evident when he exclaimed, "Earned you scorn? Whatever do you mean? He has done nothing so wicked to deserve such animosity." The half demon scoffed and threw his hands above his head in frustration and disbelief. How the thief could be so absolutely clueless was beyond his comprehension.
He spoke in a rushed sort of fashion, "Oh you have got to be kidding me. It isn't about what he has done to me, but to you." He paced now, angered, but merely confused his companion even more so.
It laced his voice when he asked, "Done to me? You must be upsetting yourself over an insignificant matter, surely it was but a trifle of a thing." Inuyasha had only been annoyed, but at that moment he became furious.
He froze in his steps and demanded ferociously, "You consider your very life insignificant? A trifle? You may, but I do not. You very nearly died that night!" Sango had to hush the gasp that threatened to give her away. She had not known of such an occasion. Had the threat of death ever truly come so close to befalling the brave Robin Hood? Robin pushed the hood from his head and chocolate brown hair spilled down to his shoulders. T'was a shame she was still unable to see the lips she had once kissed. The shock of seeing even just a bit more of him, was almost enough to distract her from the words being spoken.
"I think no such thing. I knew the risks when I started. I know my own mortality. Do not speak down to me, it does you no credit. We shall speak of that night no more, it was but luck and I have not fallen yet. So you have no cause to avenge me."
The hanyou sputtered for a moment, then spat out, "I was merely protecting a friend. I can fight for you, you know?"
Robin sighed, but responded kindly, "I do not want you to fight for me, friend, but with me. Is that not enough? I promise you I am capable enough to fight my own battles."
Defeated, Inuyasha replied, "Yes, it is enough. Just do me a favor. Don't go get yourself killed."
Miroku smiled behind his mask, "I wouldn't think of it." With practiced ease, Robin pulled his brown hair back, and tied it up into a short ponytail. In that moment Sango saw it, a golden earring glistened in the sun, one that was in the shape of a feather. It was such a familiar thing to her. Where she had seen it before, she could not remember. She could only seem to recall the golden charm, with its amethyst gem, and the color black. She glanced back up at the man's covered face, his raven locks still pulled back. Had he always had black hair? She was unsure, but it must be so and yet she could have sworn it had been brown just moments prior.
(A/N: Hello my patient readers. I hope the wait wasn't nearly as bad as it usually is. Finding time for writing is even harder when you're a working adult with bills to pay. This chapter is a bit shorter than I would have liked, but I felt like this was a good place to end one. I can only hope you find it enjoyable to read and while you wait for an update, feel free to read any of my other fan fictions. Leave a review, I am more likely to pay more attention to the stories that have the best reader traffic. Thanks for sticking with me, I will update again as soon as I'm able.)