Knocked Out and Shocked Out
It was morning of the next day in Tokyo Japan. Inside the tent Kagome shared with Inuyasha and Shippo, she stirred looking about. Remembering that this was the morning Arthur was supposedly going to Valentine, this was inspiration for her to bolt awake and nudge Inuyasha and Shippo awake.
"Mmmm, Kagome…." Inuyasha protested, "….it's early…."
"Not as early as everyday life where Michiru is," Kagome answered, "The Van Der Linde Gang needs as early a start as possible considering their situation, and there's probably a good chance that Michiru's already awake."
"Alright, alright…" Inuyasha grumbled with a yawn. While he was still the energetic warrior he always was, time waited for no one. Not even half-demons. Inuyasha wasn't old, but he had the energy in the morning of a human teenager now. Still, he and Shippo rose, fluffed out their clothes, did their hair, and went into the lab where Sango and the others were already awake.
"Morning guys," Kagome yawned looking to see the screen was active and Michiru was still sleeping in the pod, "I see we're not too late."
"We're all really too early," Dr. Carter spoke up, "Apparently, the machine sped up the process by a couple weeks or so. Arthur's been in and out of Valentine, but he hasn't even gone anywhere near the post office. He's just been hunting food, finding random jobs in and around town, and selling skins to give cash to the camp's proceeds."
"That's good," Shippo said, "It means there's no rush."
"The thing is though," Dr. Ericson said, "Why is the machine skipping this stuff? It was on normal speed, why did it fast forward through a couple weeks?"
"It is a prototype, as you pointed out," Kagome reminded him, "It's probably just a glitch."
They all watched as Arthur sat on his cot in camp writing down his thoughts like he did in her room in Colter.
"We got off the mountain," Arthur said as he wrote, "Headed east into some pretty enough country called the Heartlands. Ain't been this far east in many a year. Dutch seems a little better. His eyes are sparking once more, and…I can see he's thinking a little clearer. I think we all feel a little happier…spite of Blackwater and that whole mess…"
Arthur rose to grab his black hat with the rope tied around it and got up to greet the day. Only for Hosea to come to him.
"Arthur," He said offering him a metal cup with something hot inside.
"Hosea," Arthur nodded taking it as Hosea chuckled patting his back before looking out across town.
"Quite a day," He said with a smile.
"Let's hope so," Arthur answered as he took a drink.
"Tea?" Sango asked.
"Coffee," Dr. Ingles corrected.
"What's coffee?" Shippo asked.
"A bitter drink commonly served hot to help wake people up," Kagome answered, "I don't think you'd like it."
"There's a bunch of the boys already in Valentine," Hosea said, "Bill, Charles, and Javier. And Swanson found something down at the train station by the lake, apparently. And Strauss came back with that creepy little smile on his face. I'm sure there's a whole list of unfortunates he's forced money upon."
"Forced money?" Sango frowned.
"Stauss is a moneylender," Dr. Ericson said, "He'll loan money to those who ask for it, but the thing is they'd better pay it back or risk getting beat up for not paying on time."
"I thought these people stole from the wealthy and gave to the needy," Kagome frowned.
"Not at the moment," Dr. Ingles said, "And not Strauss either."
"Thank you," Arthur said, "And you?"
"I'm gonna read a book," Hosea said as Arthur chuckled and nodded as Dutch came up to him.
"Arthur, my boy," He greeted, "My dear boy."
"What's goin' on?" Arthur asked.
"Nothing," Dutch answered, "Nothing at all. For the first time in weeks, nothing. We're free. We're free to plan our own future once more."
"I hope so, Dutch."
"You kept the faith, Arthur. You always kept it."
"And I ain't losing it now." Arthur assured Dutch as he walked away and looked around the new camp. Molly sat in Dutch's big tent next to a phonograph. Arthur had some photos around his own sleeping quarters along with a wall of ammunition for him and the others. Pearson's wagon had some canned food, a butcher's station, and a pot over a fire for stews. Hosea's tents had medicines and potions. There was a place for cutting wood. Some tying stations for horses. Haybales. A few chickens walking about. Some campfires. And even a couple tables for little games. The women lied next to a wall of wagons.
Arthur turned to a trunk at the foot of his cot. He put away his heavy blue trenchcoat and pulled out a lighter brown leather jacket. He also felt that he had a heavy beard and turned to a straight razor and a mirror in his cot area on a barrel as he began to shave a little off. No longer scraggly and thick, now his beard was groomed and well-cut. Not like the thick and heavy beard on Michiru's face as he slept in the pod. He not only had a long thick beard, but his hair also had run three inches down his shoulders! He must've been sleeping in that pod for a very long time.
"You were right about this place," Arthur said to Hosea, "It's a good spot."
"It'll do for now," Hosea nodded ignoring him.
"For sure," Arthur nodded scooping up a bowl near the stew and taking his breakfast eating it slowly while looking at the tied-up Kieran to his left. Mocking him again with food, Arthur slowly ate and savored it as the poor O'Driscoll whined and complained about it all while looking down on the ground to try and avoid the visual torture before him.
"You're Arthur, right?" He asked.
"My name ain't no concern of yours," Arthur growled back.
"I'm hungry…" Kieran pleaded eying Arthur's bowl.
"I don't give a damn," Arthur answered.
"No, but, you seem like a decent feller, behind it all…" Keiran said hoping that compliments would get him some mercy.
"Then you are a bad judge of character," Arthur answered downing the bowl in front of Kieran's eyes as he whined and complained. As he wiped his mouth, Arthur added, "You ain't gonna get a bite to eat from trying to flatter me or anybody here, little birdy. We'll give ya water when you absolutely need it, but if you want something to eat, you'd better sing for your supper."
"I ain't got nothing to tell you," Kieran said.
"Then we ain't got nothing to feed you," Arthur said.
"Yeah, well…we'll leave it at that, then…" Kieran sighed as Arthur turned to leave him.
"Good morning, Arthur," Miss Grimshaw greeted as Arthur turned to a barrel full of bottles of beer. Something to wash down that heavy stew.
"What do you think of this place, Susan?" Arthur asked.
"An improvement on the last, that's for sure," She nodded.
"Well, that ain't too hard," Arthur agreed as he turned to Pearson messing with chicken wings and legs in a bowl.
"Morning, Arthur," Pearson greeted as he looked up, "Arthur, don't forget I'm more than happy to craft you something if you bring me the right materials."
"Thank you, Mr. Pearson," Arthur said, "I'll try to bring you whatever you need. Here, I know supplies are low. Take all this."
"I apologize in advance for this stew," Pearson said, "It needs better meat.
He handed Pearson all the meat he had on his person save one venison steak. It was mostly meager meat from small animals and small fish.
"It's better than nothing," Arthur said.
"Well, I'll take what I can get," Pearson nodded, "Just try and find good quality stuff if you can."
"Will do, Mr. Pearson," Arthur nodded leaving the butcher's station.
"Thank you, Arthur!" Pearson said as Arthur went to the campfire where Micah was working on his gun. He suddenly pointed it at Arthur and then chuckled.
"Got you there, tough guy," Micah mocked as Arthur got annoyed.
"Just name the place, my friend," Arthur growled, "Just name the place. You're all talk."
Chuckling, Micah answered, "You keep thinking that…"
"I know your type," Arthur hissed out before turning to leave and check on the ladies.
"Good morning," Karen greeted as she knit.
"How you doing, Karen?" Arthur asked.
"Alright, I guess," Karen answered, "Grimshaw's driving me crazy."
"Well, so no change there," Arthur said turning to Mary-Beth, "Alright there, Mary-Beth?"
"I'm bored out of my mind," Mary-Beths sighed, "Been cooped up here for days. About ready to stab one of these needles in my eye."
"Well, bored is better than freezing," Arthur said as he turned, "If you want something to do, how about we talk?"
"Sure," Mary-Beth nodded as they went behind the wagons where some crates were for some privacy. Sango noted the look on Arthur's face. A look she knew all too well. Stress. Worry. Pain. All mired together on Arthur's face, but why?
"You okay, Arthur?" Mary-Beth asked.
"I guess," Arthur said.
"You seem kind of…worried," Mary-Beth said.
Arthur sat for a moment before answering, "Of course I'm worried…"
"What about?" Mary-Beth asked.
Sighing softly, Arthur answered, "Whole world's changing…even I see that now." Sango looked up at this as Arthur continued, "Our time…has pretty much passed. They don't want folk like us anymore. It's their rules or be damned with you. No more outlaws…no more killers…"
"No more Demon Slayers…no more monks or priestesses…no more ninjas…" Sango said softly as the others turned to her disregarding the rest of Arthur's conversation with Mary-Beth.
"What was that, Sango?" Kagome frowned.
Pausing a moment, Sango slumped and answered, "Last night, I asked why we were being shown all this stuff with Arthur and the others. I…I…I can't explain why, but…something just felt to me that there was a reason to me seeing all this stuff that's been shown to us, and again last night I even asked why. Now I think I know why we're being shown all this. Now I know why we're here. We're not here merely to ask Michiru to help us with Fushizenna, but we're here to see the truth. A truth that we've been denying and not realizing it."
"What do you mean, Sango?" Shippo asked, "What truth?"
"I mean the truth that Arthur's right," Sango flatly answered, "He's seeing the end of the Era of Gunslingers while we're seeing the beginning." All listened to her intently as she asked, "When was the last time we were called to handle a demon problem in a nearby town or city back home? We don't get the calls to arms that we got back when Naraku was still running amok. In fact, I can't even remember the last time we walked into a village or town without someone mocking us for still using swords, bows, boomerangs, and staves when guns are simpler and more effective. When at one time it took years of training and handling to train a man or woman for combat with demons, now commoners with guns just gather up, set out, and kill them quickly and virtually effortlessly. Demons are on the verge of extinction with the only few survivors are the ones calling for peace treaties with humans that they once considered little more than food. Even my husband! Once quite recently one of the mightiest warriors I ever knew…now dead. He wasn't slain in battle. He wasn't bested by a superior fighter. He was just….shot."
Inside the pod, Michiru's head thrashed a bit inside as Sango's head slumped as the others looked sympathetically at her.
"Sango…" Kagome spoke softly with a sob.
"The Era of Swords and Magic…is pretty much over too…" Sango sadly admitted to herself, "Our time...has pretty much passed as well…."
"Sango, I know this all seems bleak, but I've told you," Kagome protested, "One day the Emperor of Japan will ban public usage of firearms making them only accessible to the samurai and other battalion warriors."
"Maybe, but will that happen within our lifetime?" Sango asked, "Evil demons are not extinct yet, and probably won't be by the time we all die, or by the time our children start their own families."
"She's…got a point…" Shippo said hesitantly, "There will probably be a new king none of us will ever see when this law is passed, because we'll be long dead."
"Arthur…oh Arthur…" Mary-Beth spoke, "You're the only one of these fools knows just how lost he truly is."
"Ain't that the truth…" Arthur said, "Ain't that the truth…"
"And yet," Mary-Beth said, "I feel that somewhere in the deep dark recesses of your mind, body, soul, and presence is something that't even more lost. Something that's even more hurt than you, Arthur. Something trying to run away even further than you."
"Sometimes I feel that way…" Arthur said, "…sometimes I feel that part of me just…just…"
"Just truly doesn't belong here?" Mary-Beth asked.
Turning to look his friend in the eyes, Arthur nodded, "Yeah…yeah, I guess that's one way of putting it. I just…don't know why. I've always been loyal to Dutch and the gang. Why would any part of me feel like I don't belong here?"
"I don't know, Arthur Morgan," Mary-Beth said, "I don't know."
Rising from the crate chair, Arthur tried to regain his composure. Taking a moment to carry a nearby bale of hale to the horses' feeding area, he then started talking to others and even got Dutch to talk about missing his old smoking pipe and offering to get him another one. He then saw the donation box and dropped a couple valuables he frisked off those dead O'Driscolls up on the mountains before hearing a familiar annoying snoring at the front of the camp. Stomping over, he saw Uncle lounging leisurely against the wheel of a wagon.
"Hey!" He barked at Uncle rose awake, "Careful not to work yourself to death there, Uncle."
"I-I was thinking," Uncle protested.
"Yeah, does it pay well?" Arthur asked sarcastically.
"I dunno, eventually," Uncle grumbled.
"So while the rest of us are busy stealing, killing, lying, fighting to survive…you get to think all day."
"Ah, it's a strange world we live in, Arthur Morgan," Uncle said.
"You wanna head into town?" Arthur asked, "See if we can find anything out?"
"Sure," Uncle agreed, "I got some errands to run."
"Great," Arthur said pointing to the front of the wagon, "Go check the horses are ready."
Grumbling, Uncle went to the horses as Karen called out to Arthur.
"If you're gonna take the old man into town…" She began, "…could you take us too?"
"Why? What you got planned?" Arthur asked lighting up his cigarette.
"Nothing," Karen said, "We'll find something for ya'll two to do. We always do."
"We're bored out of our minds," Mary-Beth griped. A brief conversation, no matter how meaningful it was, wasn't sufficient entertainment, "Been cooped up here for two weeks now. Karen's about ready to murder Grimshaw."
"Well, can Miss Grimshaw spare ya?" Arthur asked not wanting to provoke Susan Grimshaw's annoyance.
"'Can Miss Grimshaw spare you?'" Karen asked incredulously, "What's happened to you, Arthur? Three young healthy women want you to take 'em robbing, and you're worried about house chores? Let's go!"
It was then that Sango frowned, noting the trio of Karen, Mary-Beth, and Tilly Jackson. They were indeed lovely, and the only married couple in the gang was apparently John Marston and Abigail. Everyone in the gang seemed to like Arthur, save for Micah.
Ugh! Why do I even care? Sango asked herself. It's not like I care what Arthur Morgan does and who he does it with! He's not my husband nor my love interest! Why would I be jealous of a few women I'll never meet being interested in a man I'll never meet?!
"Fair enough, you got me," Arthur nodded, "Come on then."
The girls all squealed in delight as they went to the wagon.
"I can't believe we're going to see civilization," Tilly smiled, "Feels like weeks since we did."
"Yeah, Valentine," Uncle snorted, "The very embodiment of civilization. You ladies are gonna love it."
"Okay then," Arthur said now in the front seat of the wagon, "Let's go."
"Alright, out through the trees here and take a left," Uncle said.
Arthur gave a flick of his reins as the wagon made its way through the woodsy area hiding the overlook when the road was seen, Arthur guided the horses to turn left just as Uncle told him to as they rode along the trail.
"Ladies," Uncle said, "Sing us a song."
The girls all giggled.
"I….got a girl in Berryville. Can't be screwed, cuz' she's too damn ill. So I don't go down there no more. There's a blue horse lays outside her door."
"How nonsensically crude…" Kagome grumbled.
Kagome wasn't the only one annoyed. Arthur had to contend with Uncle's backseat driving.
"I got a girl in Valentine. Likes to drink that fancy wine. Plumes in her hat was two feet tall. The crack in her pants paid for it all!"
As they sang, another coach was approaching and crossed right in front of them as the girls still sang their crude song.
"I got a girl in Berryville. Can't get in her cuz' she won't stay still. She kicks, and squeals, and farts, and hollers! Won't take less than seven dollars!"
"Whoa, look at that coach! It's all over the place!" Uncle pointed out as the coach that passed them indeed seemed to be wobblingwith the horses loose when suddenly they broke away and fled in opposite direction.
"Oh, goddamn it!" The driver cursed, "Oh shit, the horses!"
"Is one of you gonna get that fellow's horses?" Tilly asked.
"Oh, I got lumbago," Uncle protested, "It's very serious!"
Arthur parked the wagon and hopped off.
"Alright, I'll see what's going on," He grumbled as he approached the driver, "Lumbago, really…" Arthur knew Uncle meant well and was a trusted friend, but he was quite annoyed with Uncle's constant excuses to avoid manual labor. He then addressed the driver, "You alright there, friend?"
"Oh hey," The driver said, "You couldn't help me get my other horse back from over there, could ya?"
"Sure, no problem," Arthur agreed.
"Thanks," The driver said, "It's the white one over there."
The horse was on the other side of the train tracks. Arthur walked slowly to it crouching not to spook it.
"You can do it, Arthur," Mary-Beth called out.
The horse tried to hide behind a hanging tree branch, but to no avail. Arthur walked to it slowly as it tried to flee.
"Easy. Eaaaasy!" Arthur firmly soothed out as the horse calmed down a bit as Arthur walked closer to it. He repeatedly told it to take it easy and shushed it as it started to walk over to him.
"Make sure it doesn't bolt," Tilly called out.
"Easy! It's okay…" Arthur said now at the horse's side. The horse looked at him, then lowered its head as Arthur took its reins to guide it back to the carriage.
"Yeah! There, you got it!" Mary-Beth said as Arthur led it, "Well done, Arthur!"
Arthur hopped on the horse's back and rode it the short distance back to its master who had tamed his other horse and was about to reattach it to his carriage.
"Here," Arthur said, "Here ya go."
"You're a gentleman sir," The driver said, "A gentleman."
"No, not really…" Arthur answered turning back to his friends, "I was just…trying to impress the women…"
Chuckling, the driver said, "Well anyway, thank you."
Arthur hopped back onto the wagon.
"Come on, let's go!" Uncle griped.
"To Valentine!" Karen hooted.
"You're turning into a regular old fairy godmother there, Arthur," Uncle said.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Arthur growled.
"It means ya got a heart," Mary-Beth said.
"A small one perhaps, hidden deep inside," Karen added.
"But a real one," Sango agreed as all turned to her for a moment.
"And you haven't, you repulsive old lizard!" Mary-Beth said to Uncle.
"Lizards have hearts!" Uncle protested.
"Well Arthur, I'm proud of you," Tilly said.
"To be honest," Arthur said pausing the wagon as a train sped past blocking their way, "If you lot hadn't been here, I probably woulda robbed him.
"Well, ya didn't!" Karen shot back as all chuckled.
They had arrived in Valentine. The first things they noticed were a yellow train station and a lot of sheep pens.
"Whew!" Mary-Beth called out, "Smell those sheep!"
"Or is that Uncle?" Karen asked.
"Very funny…" Uncle grumbled.
"This looks like a decent little town," Karen said as they passed stables, houses, and were nearing the main street, "Other people…finally."
"Look at all that snow on those mountains," Mary-Beth said pointing to the gorgeous distant view, "Sure don't wanna be back up there…"
"You think we should've asked Molly to come with us?" Tilly asked.
"Oh no…" Karen said in a sarcastic arrogant mocking tone, "Miss O'Shea is too high and mighty now for the likes of us. Or to do any real work. She's a society lady, now!"
Arthur passed one saloon, then turned when a bigger one was in sight. They were on main street in Valentine.
"Okay, take a good look around, ladies," Karen said, "Let's see what we got here."
The street was wide and full of business buildings. A paperboy on the corner, and all kinds of activities.
"Sheriff's office on the right," Uncle pointed out, "Sure you can pick up some bounties there, Arthur."
"Heaven forbid you put your head on the line," Arthur answered.
Chuckling, Uncle answered, "That's a young man's game."
"Oooo, yes! We can get up to some mischief here, alright!" Karen squealed.
"Just remember, keep a low profile," Arthur answered quietly.
"Will you remember that though, Arthur?" Mary-Beth wondered.
"Probably not," Arthur admitted.
"Let's park up down the end there," Uncle pointed at the giant stable house, "Near the stables." Arthur pulled up to a spot between the stables and another building currently in scaffold condition. "Alright! Here we are, just like I said. The cultural center of civilization. Man at his finest."
Arthur hopped off the wagon and looked around a bit.
"Uncle," He began, "What're we doing?"
"Well, we're going to do what any self-respecting maniac does," Uncle answered, "Put the women to work."
"With pleasure," Karen spat, "We'll start at the saloon."
"Okay, just stay outta trouble and don't get yourselves noticed," Arthur said.
"Right, I-I need to get something from the stores," Uncle said.
"Okay, well we'll see you at the general store when you're done," Arthur said to the girls.
"Come on, ladies," Karen said, "Imagine we're in Paris."
"I imagine Paris and Valentine are easily confused," Tilly replied.
"What's Paris?" Shippo asked.
"A big city in the continent of Europe in a country known as France," Kagome answered.
"Unless of course these ladies mean Paris Texas," Dr. Carter pointed out.
"So that's how you see yourself, is it?" Arthur asked Uncle, "A maniac?"
"Well, in my youth, I used to be known as the 'One-Shot Kid!'" Uncle chuckled,
"Okay," Arthur nodded, "I'm not gonna ask why."
"You're a sad man, Arthur Morgan," Uncle said, "But I know you love me."
"Desperately," Arthur grumbled sarcastically as they walked towards the general store's door, "You're my favorite parasite. No, ringworm's my favorite parasite. You're my second favorite parasite."
"Very funny…" Uncle said again.
"I lied.." Arthur said, "Ringworm, then rats with the plague, then you."
"Shut up…" Uncle grumbled as they were at the store's door, "This is the place, now. Come on." They go inside as the store owner greets them.
"So, what do you need?" Arthur asked.
"Well, a drop of whiskey, for a start," Uncle chuckled, "Something to pass the time while we're waiting on the women."
"Always thinking ahead, ain't you?" Arthur mocked.
"Why don't you pick out a cigar?" Uncle suggested, "A cigar always focuses the mind, I find."
"What are you saying?" Arthur asked.
"Well, you seem a little scattered, Arthur. Trust old Uncle."
Arthur grabbed a pack of cigarettes, then picked up a big cigar looking at it. He gave the store owner some money and put it into his pouch.
"Okay, if you're done, I'll meet you outside," Uncle said, "I won't be too long."
Arthur picked up another cigar and a canister of chewing tobacco.
"So…you're actually buying for once?" Arthur asked Uncle, "Are you feeling alright?"
"You see this?" Uncle asked the shopkeeper, "Young folk got no respect for their elders no more. So what do you reckon? Lamb or the sausage?"
"Well, this here's a sheep town," The shopkeeper reminded him, "The lamb the best in the state."
"Now I know what the smell is," Uncle said turning to a big wheel of fresh cheese.
"That's a ripe cheese, alright," The shopkeeper agreed.
"What is this list of yours?" Arthur asked Uncle.
"I got a lot to replenish after that godawful time in the mountains," Uncle answered.
"All done," The shopkeeper said.
"Thank you kindly," Uncle said paying for his groceries and turning to leave and pulling out a bottle, "Yep. This should do the trick. Yep, That's fine whiskey. That should do us. Let's wait for them outside."
"All the best, fellers," The shopkeeper said as Arthur and Uncle left the store. Arthur left right after Uncle and turned to see him sitting and drinking.
"Oh, here's to your good health, sir," Uncle said handing Arthur the bottle, "And to being down here, off that mountain."
"Absolutely," Arthur agreed taking a swig.
"It's a funny world," Uncle said as they watched the goings-on in the town together and Arthur passed the bottle back to him, "This time in my career, I pictured myself being married to an heiress."
"Are they really going to drink that whole bottle?" Kagome frowned.
"Why not?" Dr. Ingles said, "They're men, aren't they?"
The two conversed and drank themselves to sleep only to be woken by Mary-Beth's soft voice.
"Gentlemen," She began, "I think I got something good."
"Wh-what…?" A slightly drunk Arthur Morgan stirred out in his sleep.
"I snuck into this fancy house…" Mary-Beth began, "…and acted like a servant girl…usually works. Someone was saying her sister was taking a trip from New York or someplace. Train full of rich tourists heading to Saint Denis, and then cruising off to Brazil!"
"Okay," Arthur nodded.
"A train laden with luggage and passing through a bit of deserted country at night," Mary-Beth elaborated, "As to get to the docks in time for the tides in some place called Scarlett Meadows."
"Yeah, I know it," Uncle nodded, "Yeah, yeah, it's right out near New Hanover. Right, it's real quiet out there."
"Sounds good," Arthur nodded, "Where's Tilly and Karen?"
"I think at the hotel," Mary-Beth grumbled, "They were picking up some drunken fellers that they was going to rob."
"Why?" Arthur asked.
"It seemed easy," Mary-Beth answered, "They have been gone for quite a while."
"I guess I'll go see if there's any trouble," Arthur said rising from his seat when Mary-Beth stopped him.
"Oh, there's Tilly over there," She pointed in between two buildings. Arthur looked to see her being shoved by some black skinned stranger in a yellow coat and derby hat, "That does not look ideal…"
"What's that scoundrel doing with Miss Tilly?" Kagome demanded.
"Excuse me…" Arthur growled picking up the pace to where Tilly was being taken silent flames following his every step.
"Get your hands off me!" Tilly's voice yelled out.
"You thought I wouldn't find you, Tilly?" The man's voice asked.
"You can go kiss a damn snake, for all I care!" Tilly defiantly yelled at the man that was well over a foot taller than the poor girl that was roughing her up, "Get off of me! GET OFF ME!"
"I been looking too long!" The assailant hissed as he put his hands on poor Miss Tilly's throat and pinned her against the alleyway's wall, "I gotcha now!"
"GET YOUR HANDS OFF OF HER!" Arthur, Kagome, and Sango all roared simultaneously as Arthur pulled out his revolver and pointed it at the assailant's chest.
"Who are you?" The man demanded.
"A friend of mine," Tilly said.
"Get the hell off of her, you son-of-a-bitch!" Arthur furiously roared again.
"Get him, Arthur!" Kagome cheered only to gasp in realization.
"Yeah, get him, Arthur!" Shippo agreed, "Punch that bastard's head off!"
"Hey…hey…take it easy…" The assailant soothed holding his hands up in surrender as he released her, "There's no problem here."
"There will be if you don't outta here right now!" Arthur warned with menacing hiss.
The man looked from Arthur, to Tilly, to a crowd in the streets that was gathering to witness the commotion.
"You're making a big mistake, Tilly Jackson," He warned.
"Just get lost!" She spat.
"I ain't doing this with you right now," The assailant spat back as he walked away.
"Go wait with Uncle and Mary-Beth," Arthur said, "They're across the street."
"Okay, thanks Arthur," A relieved Tilly Jackson answered as she walked towards her friends.
"Uncle!" Arthur called out, "Look after her. I'mma go see about Karen in the hotel." He walked a little bit turning to a white building with blue pillars. He walked inside where a stout man in glasses behind a desk was.
"Can I help you, sir?" He asked.
"I'm looking for a girl who came in here earlier with a drunk feller?" Arthur asked, "Mid-twenties, blonde, you'd remember her."
"Yeah, they're in 2B upstairs," The hotel clerk confirmed, "Are you, uh, a friend of his?"
"A friend of hers," Arthur corrected going to the stairs.
"No trouble now, please!" The clerk called out as Arthur reached the top of the stairs to the second floor. He walked the hallway looking at the room numbers and spotted 2B. As soon as he was there, his eyes went wide at the sound behind the door.
"Get off of me!" The frightened voice of Karen yelled out.
"I'm getting what I paid for!" A man's voice declared as Arthur furiously kicked the locked door open!
"Hey!" He called out seeing poor Karen face down on the floor, but thankfully she was still dressed.
"Who are you?" A pale scrawny man in his undergarments asked.
"A friend of hers!" Arthur answered.
"Get outta here, buddy, I paid!" The drunkard said as Karen crawled away to the side knowing the tone in Arthur's voice.
"Ain't paid to hit her, you goddamn animal!" Arthur growled taking up a fighting stance, "Come here!"
The drunkard got a good punch to Arthur's face.
"You're dead, friend!" Arthur growled.
"I paid for nothin-!" The drunkard declared blocking one of Arthur's hits and hitting him again only to receive a punch from Arthur that sent him sprawling to the floor. He got back up and delivered a punch to Arthur's chest that was answered with another blow from Arthur to his face that he collapsed to the floor from and didn't get back up.
"What the hell were you doing here?" Arthur asked Karen over the man's unconscious form.
"Trying to play him," Karen said, "Not very well."
"You okay?" Arthur asked going to the man to frisk him for valuables finding some change.
"Yeah…" Karen answered, "Nothing…nothing to worry about, just…men, but…stupid bastard…stupid bastard was boasting about the bank."
"The bank?" Arthur asked.
"Sure, I know, small town banks are usually a waste of time, but this is a livestock town," Karen pointed out, "There's lots of cash sometimes."
"Okay," Arthur nodded at this point, "Keep investigating."
"I will," Karen nodded.
"I hope, uh…everything's okay up there," The innkeeper spoke from below as the two made their way downstairs.
"After you," Karen said next to the front door as Arthur left, "Thank you, Arthur. I don't much like being saved, but…when I have to be."
"I understand," Arthur answered as Uncle, Mary-Beth, and Tilly arrived noting a mark on poor Karen's face.
"You okay?" Tilly asked.
"Sure, he only punched me," Karen answered, "Arthur punched him a lot harder."
"Yeah…" Arthur said, "Alright then."
"Hey," Mary-Beth said looking outwards, "Who's that guy over there looking at us?"
They all turned to see a man in a grey suit riding towards them.
"Weren't you in Blackwater a few weeks back?" The man asked Arthur.
"Me?" Arthur said, "No, sir. Ain't from there."
"Oh, you were," The man said as Arthur turned back around, "Well, I definitely saw you. With a bunch of fellers."
"Me? No. Impossible." Arthur said again, "Listen, buddy, come here a minute."
"I saw you…"
"Come here."
"Come on, get!" The man yelled at his horse as they took off together.
"I don't like this," Uncle said.
"Me neither," Arthur nodded going to a nearby horse, "Go get the girls home. I'm gonna go have a word with our friend."
"Be careful, Arthur," Tilly said.
"Just a word," Arthur said getting on the horse's back, "Hyah!"
He gave chase to the man as another man called out.
"Hey! That's my horse!"
"Just borrowing it…" Arthur called back as he gave chase to the man through the narrow streets of Valentine.
"You stay away from me!" The man called out to Arthur.
"You get back here right now!" Arthur called back.
"Oh my God!" The man cried as Arthur rode fast near him, "Mister, please! I'm so sorry! Come on, hyah! Hyah!"
He was ahead of Arthur but didn't notice he was riding towards a cliff face, His horse braked in time, but in the process reeled back sending its rider tumbling off and falling off the side of the cliff. Arthur dismounted to investigate.
"Help! Someone!" The man's voice pleaded as Arthur saw he managed to hang onto the cliff last second. He walked up to him struggling to hold on for dear life and looked down on him, "Please! I can't get up!"
"Why you telling lies about me?" He asked the man still hanging on.
"No, no! I-I-I-I got it wrong, partner…" He begged, "…I got it very wrong! Now please, help me up!"
"I ain't never been in Blackwater!" Arthur declared.
"Then why are you chasing me?" The man asked.
"I've got an unfortunate face," Arthur answered.
"Yes…yes…me too…" The man nodded started to blubber, "Now please, pull me up! Please! I made a mistake! I'm sorry!"
Arthur looked at the man. What should he do? Kneel and risk getting thrown off? Or stomp on the man's fingers with his boot and send him to his doom? He looked for a moment as Sango turned to the pod Michiru was sleeping in.
"Don't do it!" Sango begged, "Please, Michiru! Pull him up! Please pull him up!"
Michiru's eyebrow twitched again as Arthur knelt to offer his hand.
"Alright, come on…" He said taking the stranger's hand and pulled him back up, "You okay, partner?"
"No…" The man admitted, "No, I am not." He struggled to get to his feet, "I'm a mess."
"Well, you ain't dead," Arthur reminded him.
"There is that," The stranger nodded as held out his hand, "Jimmy Brooks."
Arthur looked at Jimmy's hand and answered, "I think it's best for both of us if we pretend this never happened."
Lowering his hand, Jimmy nodded, "Oh, I agree. You saved my life. You're a good man, and I errr...here." He pulled something out of his pocket, "You want a pen? It's one of those steel ones."
"Oh," Arthur said taking it, "That's very kind of you." Putting it into his pouch, he added, "But I'm not a good man, Jimmy Brooks…not usually. You see…I was in Blackwater. I kill people, and maybe I shoulda killed you." Inching closer to get face-to-face with him, Arthur asked, "Should I have killed you, Jimmy Brooks?"
"Me…?" Jimmu asked, "I n-never saw you…not-not now, not-not never. I-I think we have an understanding?"
Smiling with a nod Arthur said, "Of course we do," Patting his arm he said, "Jimmy Brooks…I will remember that. I've got a good memory."
"I haven't…I haven't!" Jimmy said backing away to his horse, "Not-not one lick! Not…one sense in this here old mind!" He ran to his horse and got on, "Come on! Come on! You have a nice day now, sir!" And he rode off leaving Arthur all alone.
Arthur got on the back of his horse and rode back into town spotting the yellow train station.
"Huh," He said, "I forgot to check the mail a couple weeks ago. Guess now's as good a time as any."
Everyone gasped at this. This was it! Now Michiru was going to see their message! Arthur rode to the yellow building, hitched his horse up to the rack, and went inside.
"Good day," The ticket man greeted, "I'll be with you in a second." He went to the barred window Arthur was standing behind, "How can I be of service?"
"Any mail for an 'Arthur Morgan,' sir?" Arthur asked.
"Hmm…" The ticket man looked, "Ah, yes! One single letter. Been here for over a month."
"Thank you," Arthur said taking the letter and opening it. He unfolded the letter inside, but there were no words on the page. Just some Chinese or Japanese symbols that unknown to him read "Michiru." But someone within him could read it and knew what it meant as the scenery in the screen suddenly switched from a yellow building in some mountain town, to a void of various blues, greens, and whites as Arthur's image faded away to reveal Michiru standing in the void.
"Doctor?" Michiru's voice called out through the screen, "Are my vitals looking bad? Is something wrong?"
"Nothing is the matter, Michiru," Dr. Ericson spoke through a microphone, "Some…friends of yours are in the lab paying you a visit and would like for you to wake up to talk."
"Friends?" Michiru frowned, "None of my friends know about this, but…I guess I'll have to get up."
"Splendid," Dr. Ericson nodded as a white door appeared in the screen away from Michiru, "The pod is draining. It will be empty by the time you reach the exit."
Michiru's image nodded and started running towards the white door as the liquid in the pod encasing Michiru began to indeed drain out as a metal arm rose from the floor, propped under his armpits to hold him up because he was no longer floating, and held him in place as the pod was emptied and Michiru on the screen crossed through the door. The doctors went to the pod as it slid down and propped up Michiru on their shoulders removing his breathing mask as he stirred awake.
"Ugh…" Michiru groaned, "…how long was I out for…?"
"About three months," One of the doctors said to him.
"A quarter of a year…?" Michiru groggily groaned again, "….talk about a short trip."
"Michiru!" Sango called out getting the attention of the Kururugi man.
"Huh…?" Michiru groaned looking up only for his eyes to widen as he saw the four others in the lab. He blinked for a few times before furrowing his eyes and snarled through clenched teeth.
"YOU?!" He hissed out before turning to one of his supporters, "You're not my friends! What is the meaning of this?! Put me back in the Animus right now! I have nothing to talk to these people about!"
"I know that you're angry, Michiru," Dr. Ericson calmly began, "But they need your help. Some being is threatening their world, and he can apparently only be killed with Shikigami powers-"
"And how is that my problem, you goddamned bastards?!" Michiru yelled out breaking from the doctors' grasp and stomping to the others, "There's plenty of Shikigami Users where you are from! Get one of them to kill your pest! Leave me the HELL out of your bullshit!"
"Whoa! Easy, cowboy!" Kagome shot back seeing Sango wince at Michiru's choice of words and realizing that Michiru picked up a few habits from his western ancestor, Kagome frowned and spat, "It seems that being in the Old American West has really changed you, Michiru Kururugi!" Cocking her head to the side, she added with a sideways glare, "Or should I call you 'Michiru Morgan' now?"
Michiru's eyes widening at this, he then suddenly furrowed his eyes as he waved off the doctors before going to the cocky priestess standing face-to-face with her as he growled out, "Keep….his name….and any snotty comments and insults towards him….out of your goddamned mouth, bitch! Or so help me, I will send you to meet him!"
"Hey!" Inuyasha snapped back tugging on Michiru's shoulder, "Watch it, pal! You can't talk to my wife like th-"
"SHUT UP!" Michiru spat out as a sudden swing of his fist slammed right into the half-demon's face knocking him to the ground as all gasped in shock.
"Uh-oh…now you did it…" Shippo shuddered.
"Inuyasha's going to kill you for that, Michiru…" Sango nodded, "…just as soon as he gets- Huh?"
The trio then gasped as Inuyasha lied on the floor breathing, but not getting up.
"I-I-Inuyasha…?" Shippo asked, "…shouldn't you be getting back to your feet by now…? F-F-F-Fighting Michiru for hitting you like this…?"
They all looked, but still Inuyasha lied there. Kagome knelt to him trying to nudge him only to gasp as she saw a puddle of red on the floor around Inuyasha's face. She then turned him over to see to her shock, and Sango, Shippo, and Kirara's shock as well, Inuyasha's eyes closed as blood was oozing out his mouth. The doctors in the room, rushed to the half-demon and began prodding his face and throat. Dr. Garter frowned as she felt something in Inuyasha's neck area.
"Guys, get a neck brace," She ordered, "Stat!"
"Neck brace…?" Kagome asked hesitantly, "Why?"
"What would you recommend using for a broken neck?" Dr. Garter asked, "A bamboo brace?"
"What?" Sango gasped.
"B-B-Broken neck…?" Shippo asked hesitantly.
"I-I-I-Impossible!" Kagome protested, "There's just no way!"
The trio turned to Michiru standing above them rubbing his fist, cracking his knuckles, then turning towards the door walking towards.
"H-H-H-How did you get so powerful?" Kagome asked with a frown.
Stopping just before the door Michiru said without turning his head, "Wouldn't you like to know?"
He exited the room with everyone gathered around Inuyasha's unconscious carcass in awe and fear of the impossible phenomenon they just witnessed. Sango was the most awed as she breathed with shock and trepidation.
What…what has Michiru been up to all these years…? Sango asked incredulously turning to the doctors putting some sort of big ring around Inuyasha's neck as she looked out the door in the direction Michiru had left. What could make Michiru's human flesh strong enough to break a half-demon's spine with a mere punch…?