Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction / InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ How to make a slayer feel good ❯ Part 1 ( Chapter 1 )

How to make a slayer feel good…

 

Higurashi, Miyuki - the woman that had given birth to a girl that already existed in the history books even before she was born. Higurashi, Kagome, the girl that had defeated a nameless evil to become a legend. This mother was now sitting on the porch to the shrine that her family had guarded for decades; in her hand was a tea cup which she was sipping every now and then. She looked at a miko dressed young woman and her heart became heavy. It was not her biological daughter but a woman she had taken in and adopted, the woman's name was Sango. The last of the demon slayer tribe.

 

`Kagome-chan, why do you haunt your friend's memory so badly?' the older woman asked herself as she watched Sango sweep the court yard to the shrine. Sango was in bad shape, had been like that since the moment of her arrival in the modern day Tokyo. Miyuki still remembered it like it was yesterday.

 

= * = * = * = * = * = * = * = * =

 

It had been a warm summer day. Miyuki was helping Souta with his bicycle and her father was busy with cleaning the stairs to the shrine. Everything seemed to be just fine except that her daughter was on the other side of their strange well, fighting an evil demon named Naraku. It had been over a week since Kagome had passed through the well and Miyuki was becoming a bit worried about her daughter.

 

Miyuki had learned that day that she was going to trust her instincts in the future because just as Souta was sitting up on his fixed bike there was shouting voices coming from the well house. She rushed over together with Souta. From the well jumped the dog eared boy who had found a place in her heart just as she knew he had within Kagome's. In his arms he held Kagome's battered body, his eyes were watering and she could see tears spill.

 

“Inuyasha??” she had whispered.

 

“Higurashi-sama… I'm so sorry…. I…. I…” his voice had turned into sobs as he fell to his knees, clutching the lifeless body tight against chest. He was crushed; he was torn to pieces by the pain that the loss of his best friend caused. It was now Miyuki saw something red and furry holding on to his hakama. A trembling little thing that looked terrified and dove to hide his face in Inuyasha's long white hair.

 

Miyuki tried to apprehend what was happening when she heard another voice. She looked up and saw a tall figure with same flowing white hair as Inuyasha. He too was carrying something in his arms and over his shoulder she could see a very dirty face look at her with terror filled eyes. What had happened on the other side of the magic well??

 

“W-what's going on?” asked Souta as he saw his sister's body in the arms of his dog-brother.

 

“The slayer, she's in dire need of medical attention,” said the taller of the men as his yellow eyes caught the confused dark ones of Kagome's mother.

 

It was Jii-chan that was the one with enough clarity that helped out in the situation. He might be a jittery, old man, but there were moments he still could be the man of the house and take action. He showed the demon into their home and into the bathroom. He was surprised to see that the demon had no qualms what so ever to use his claws to remove the tight outfit of the slayer. He handed over a box of medical treatments.

 

“Houshi-sama? Please, take Rin out of here while this Sesshoumaru tends to the slayer's wounds,” ordered the demon and Jii-chan was not going to go against that voice.

 

Jii-chan held out his hand and nodded towards the very scared young girl that held that white, fluffy thing that adorned the demon's right shoulder.

”Rin-chan, come…. I'll show you where you can wash you face and then I'll get you a glass of warm milk… sa, sa, come here..”

 

“Rin, go with the monk, you are safe now,” said the demon without looking at the little girl. “And houshi-sama, please take the kit with you.”

 

“Kit?” Jii-chan was confused.

 

“Rin, get the kit too.”

 

“Y-yes, Sesshoumaru-sama,” whispered Rin and let go of her master's tail and took the hand the old man held out. He smiled gently at her and she tried to smile back but the only thing that happened was that she began to cry again.

 

Jii-chan gently lifted her into his arms, his back complained, but he ignored it. This was not the time to nag about his bad back. The girl needed comfort. `And my daughter and grandson too…. I need comfort…' Kagome was dead; he already knew it in his heart. Inuyasha's voice had told him that much and he had just looked at the lifeless body to know that Kagome was never coming back to them.

 

When he came down the stairs he saw Inuyasha place Kagome's body on the couch in the living room. Miyuki and Souta were dissolved into tears and he could see that Inuyasha had lost the fight and was now trying to comfort the two. It was now he saw the little red thing that was clutching Inuyasha's hair and red haori tightly. The kit, the little kitsune demon Kagome had told them about. Shippou… yes, that was the name. He walked over to them and pried the little demon from the hanyou.

 

“Come here, little one. I'll help you wash up a bit…. And then I'll get you something warm to drink,” he said softly and saw Inuyasha nod at the kit.

 

Shippou let go of his haori and dove into the old man's arms and buried his face in his neck. The old man smelled a bit like Kagome and he found comfort in it. The old voice was soft and nice as he spoke to the kitsune boy.

 

“I-Inu-no-niichan, w-what happened?” cried Souta and hugged his idol's leg.

 

“That bastard Naraku is what happened…. he killed her and I couldn't protect her,” growled Inuyasha, his voice thick and rusty because of his tears. “I f-failed her.”

 

“Ohh, Inuyasha…. shhh, I'm sure you did your best,” whispered Miyuki and tried to comfort the upset hanyou along with her son. “Kagome-chan knew about the risks…. I have tried to imagine this from time to time….”

 

“Inuyasha-no-niichan, is he dead…? That bad person… is he dead now?”

 

“Yes, Miroku and Kikyo finished him off somehow. They're dead too… And Kirara… and my brother's dragon Ah-Uhn and Jaken. So much death.” Inuyasha buried his face in the older woman's neck. She carried a scent similar to Kagome's and he found it to be comforting. “I'm so sorry…. please forgive me…” he choked on the words as his hands wove around her waist.

 

Miyuki turned his head and looked at Kagome's body. Her face still held a resolved look and Miyuki knew that her daughter had died fighting to protect her friends. `Kagome-chan, may your soul be blessed by the gods…'

 

But it was still a person that needed medical attention and she gently moved from Inuyasha. The hanyou nodded and picked up the crying boy and carried him into the kitchen. He shouldn't be in the room as his dead sister.

 

Miyuki went up the stairs to the bathroom. She was a bit surprised that the other demon was very tenderly had placed the woman in the bathtub. He looked a bit annoyed and Miyuki hurried to show him how to work the shower.

 

“I can take care of her,” said Miyuki softly as she handed him a towel to dry the woman with.

 

“NO!!” snarled the demon and Miyuki jumped back. “No… I…. I need to do this. The slayer took a blow meant for me…”

 

“I understand… But please, let me help you with her wounds.”

 

He nodded and gently picked up the slayer from the tub and held her as Miyuki helped him to dress the slayer's wounds. He was grateful for her help, he had yet to accept the fact that he now was in a home that was located several hundred years into the future. He had known about the magic well, but it was a time portal, that was news to him. By the smell of it, it belonged to his brother's companion. This was her family, it was their home.

 

“I have some clothes that might fit her. She is a different size than my…. my daughter,” Miyuki choked on the word but swallowed it down and rose to her feet and went to get some of her own clothes.

 

Sesshoumaru looked at the slayer's face. `Why did you do it, tajiya? You are but a human, I could have taken that blow…' he thought as he brushed away a few strands of wet hair from her face. Her giant boomerang had been destroyed in the blow meant for him, but he knew that if she didn't have that enormous thing - she would have been dead now. He saw the woman come back with clothes and together they helped to put them on the still unconscious girl.

 

Downstairs Jii-chan did his best to comfort four young people. Rin and Shippou had been cleaned up a bit; even Inuyasha had washed his bloodied hands and face. He had both Souta and Shippou in his lap and they had all gotten warm milk to drink. Warm milk and honey to calm them down a bit.

 

Jii-chan could see that Inuyasha was fighting the tears again and the truth was… he did fight them too. They needed to be strong for the children. They could mourn later. And there was the thing with the lifeless girl in the living room. It would take a lot more than a simple lie about some exotic disease to cover up this one.

 

Sesshoumaru and Miyuki came down. Sango had been placed in Kagome's room to rest and heal up. Sesshoumaru had mumbled something about the slayer being a strong female, that she would be able to pull through it all.

 

“How is she?” asked Inuyasha and looked up in his brother's stern face.

 

“She'll live,” answered Sesshoumaru and looked around the room. There were so many strange things that his head almost began to spin. But they were safe.

 

= * = * = * = * = * = * = * = * =

 

And that's how the Higurashi family was extended to be a family with two full blooded demons, one half demon, a demon slayer and a little girl that reminded Miyuki of Kagome when she was a little girl. Kagome had been buried in the family grave yard behind the shrine, right next to Miyuki's husband and mother and other relatives.

 

Sango had turned from being a rather vibrant woman, if Miyuki were to believe Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru, into being a shadow of her former self. She had never forgiven herself for the death of Kagome. Miyuki had tried to tell Sango that Kagome was much aware of the dangers and what fate could be given her. But the slayer had refused to listen to the older woman's words. Inuyasha had moved on, it had taken him quite some time, but he had found Miyuki to be a source of comfort just as he comforted her and her son too. Jii-chan had taken his granddaughter's death very hard once he had kept his family together, once they had gotten over the worst part, he had broken down and rushed to the hospital.

 

Fortunately he had gotten better rather quickly and was back to chasing the demons around. Miyuki smiled as she remembered how annoyed the regal demon lord had been when Jii-chan had plastered his useless wards in the lord's long flowing hair and on his “tail”. Miyuki was still not sure what that thing was and she had no desire to be put to an early grave by asking him. Rin, Shippou and Souta had become very good friends and with the help of some relatives, she had managed to get guardianship for the two youngsters. Shippou of course had to use his fox magic to keep his true appearance hidden, but with the help of Sesshoumaru, the fox was getting good at it.

 

Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru bonded over time but you could still hear the hanyou shout angrily at his older brother from time to time. They sparred in the back yard and were pretty good at staying hidden when there were visitors at the shrine. They did venture into the city, but to get the royal lord to put on a cap to hide his pointy ears, now that was another challenge. Fortunately he knew how to use concealing magic. But only to cover up his ears, nothing else. He was proud of his demon heritage and he would rather move to the deepest, darkest jungle before cover anything else up.

 

But it was Sango that took up much of the older woman's free time. She loved the slayer like a daughter, but this daughter refused to be toddled with. She had taken over some of Kagome's shrine duties and was often seen sweeping the grounds around their place. `Kagome-chan, I wish you could cross the borders between the living and the dead and tell your friend that she must move on with her life…' Miyuki sighed and rose to her feet and went inside. It was time to make dinner.

 

= * = * = * = * = * = * = * = * =

 

Inuyasha had take refuge outside the main house again. Glad it was summer there were no problem. The only thing was that infernal smell that Sango was producing at the moment, making it impossible for him to stay inside. He sat in the God Tree looking out over the night lights of the town. He turned his back at the house when he heard the door slide open. He was not surprised to see Sesshoumaru step outside. The hanyou smirked a bit, he could be a cold bastard, but he couldn't deny that he too was affected by her fertile smell.

 

“Inuyasha…,” the demon lord acknowledged his brother's presence.

 

“Hey, Sess, having a hard time too?” asked Inuyasha and jumped down from the tree.

 

“No,” answered Sesshoumaru but Inuyasha didn't believe him.

 

Over the two years time they had become pretty close. Closer than any of the family really could guess, but they didn't show it much. It was more of a dog demon thing; they could read each other pretty well now.

 

“She's not gotten over the thing yet, she still suffers,” said Sesshoumaru and they walked down the stairs of the shrine to get to their little “hide-out.”

 

“I know, and it bitches me. She should know that Kagome choose to do the thing and there was nothing any of us could've done,” said Inuyasha.

 

“She loved the monk, did she not?”

 

“Hell… I'm not sure Sess,” sighed the younger brother as he entered their hideout.

 

The hideout was a tree house they build in the canopies of a giant weeping willow. And with the help of demon wards, they had made sure that it would stay hidden and only the two of them knew about it. It was here they took their refuge whenever the demon slayer went through her fertile period.

 

“Explain,” asked Sesshoumaru.

 

“Although there were times where she would blush and smell all sweet and stuff, I sometimes thought she had accepted Miroku only because she never thought she could get anyone one else,” answered Inuyasha truthfully as he watched out the small window.

 

“Why would she think something like that? She is a very strong female, any male would want her,” Sesshoumaru shut his mouth and looked annoyed.

 

Inuyasha smirked but he didn't taunt his brother about it because he shared the same opinion. Sango was strong, and being pack demons, she was a perfect alpha female. But he had spoken the truth when he said what he said. He was not sure that Sango had loved that perverted monk but she had accepted him because she thought that nobody else wanted her.

 

“Only two more days and then we can sleep inside,” said Inuyasha as if to change the topic a bit.

 

“Ahh,” answered the lord and relaxed back and closed his eyes.

 

= * = * = * = * = * = * = * = * =

 

`What to do… what to do??' thought Miyuki as she saw that nothing they did could make the slayer turn her leaf and get on with her new life. She really wanted to give the young woman a spanking, beat it into her that it was not her fault that Kagome had died that day two years ago. It was not Sango's doing that her fiancée, cat and the others had perished in the fight against Naraku. But the girl just couldn't take a hint and move on. Miyuki growled inwardly when she saw Sango tilt up her head towards the sky, only for a second and then she continued with her sweeping. `Seriously, that girl needs to get out….' That thought spurred Miyuki and she almost got a little light bulb above her head. `Of course… she needs to have someone her own age. Someone that can take her out.' And with that Miyuki decided to call Ayumi, one of Kagome's friends from school.

 

If anyone could get the slayer to get her act together it would be Ayumi. The bubbling girl was a breath of fresh air where ever she went. She could get the grumpiest of people smile. Miyuki was pretty proud of her idea. `I wonder why didn't think of it sooner…?'

 

Miyuki didn't waste much time, she looked up Ayumi's number in the phone book and called the spirited young woman. She was glad to hear that Ayumi would love to help out and said she would come by this very weekend to take Sango on a shopping tour. Most girls Ayumi knew loved to spend money on things they had no real use for. `Yes, perhaps it would be the thing for Sango-chan as well…' thought Miyuki and smiled as she hung up the phone. But as she turned around she was faced with Sesshoumaru's tall stature.

 

“Higurashi-san, what was that about?” he asked and tried to figure out this petite woman that sometimes could scold him like he was a little pup again.

 

“Nothing, Sesshoumaru-sama, I just thought of a possible way to get Sango out of her self destructive shell,” said Miyuki and brushed passed the lord and into the kitchen. She could hear him growl and she couldn't help herself. “She needs to get out and you know it. Even though you are so hot for her, she really needs to get out, she needs to breathe, she can not exist unless she put the past behind her.”

 

Sesshoumaru snorted and disappeared and Miyuki sighed. `Those two really need to tell Sango how they feel about her….' She wondered how the slayer would take that information. The knowledge of having two very handsome young men, or in this case, handsome demons, lusting after you and the knowledge that they would have no qualms what so ever when it came down to sharing her… Ohh, the slayer would probably beat them into bloody pulps if she knew. `When did things turn so complicated?'

 

Sesshoumaru on the other hand had no intention of letting Sango move around this monstrous city without any form of protection. Of course Sango was strong in her own right, but this was not the feudal era, this was the modern day Tokyo. He had to talk to Inuyasha but he was sure that his brother would agree with him.

 

= * = * = * = * = * = * = * = * =

 

Sango was not the happy bird as Miyuki practically shoved her into Ayumi-san's car. She barely knew the young woman and she did not want to go around this stinky, loud, village to shop. `Shopping my scarred ass… It's more likely to be a torture which even Naraku would be envied of…' she silently cursed as Ayumi smiled brightly at her before putting her foot on the gas pedal and they were off. And Sango began to pray silently.

 

“Sango-san, don't look so grim. I'll take you to places where I normally don't take my other friends,” said Ayumi with a secretive smile.

 

“What?” Sango practically snarled.

 

“You know…. I'm not like many other girls. Kagome-chan had no idea of my small fetishes. But for you to wake up, I know I must find something to tease your senses with… and I now just where to start.”

 

Yes, it was a fact now - Sango was freaked out by this girl. The way she smiled, the way her eyes would flash in pure mischievousness. Sango just knew that this girl was bad news!

 

“Don't look so scared, Sango-san. I'm sure you will love the place just as much as I do,” said Ayumi and sped up the car as she drove onto the high way.

 

Sango just looked as if she was going to puke all over herself as she gripped the handle on the door tighter.

 

= * = * = * = * = * = * = * = * =

 

Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha were fuming. Somehow that Ayumi-girl had managed to loose them with her suicidal driving. They sat on top of a skyscraper, looking around, trying to find that little car that belonged to Ayumi. Their noses tried to find the scent of the woman that had crawled under the skin of them both. But nothing.

”FUCK!!” screamed Inuyasha frustrated.

 

“Although I do not condone such language, I do agree with you this time, otouto.” You could hear the dark growl in the lord's voice. He was not happy to have lost track of the slayer and the female that had “abducted” her. “Perhaps we should split up and we will find her again?”

 

Inuyasha nodded. They would have a better chance to find Sango if they searched apart.

 

“Call me when you find her,” said Sesshoumaru.

 

“Ahh, later, nii-san,” said Inuyasha and jumped towards the northern part of Tokyo.

 

“Yes, I see you later, otouto,” answered Sesshoumaru and headed west of the large city. Even though it had been two years, he had yet to feel accustomed here. The smells, or rather stenches of humans, was beyond anything he had smelled in the past. He couldn't really believe how the humans could have taken over the way they had. How they had poisoned the air, the seas, the lakes, the Earth Mother… it was remarkable in some bizarre way.

 

= * = * = * = * = * = * = * = * =

 

Sango stepped out of the car. Her legs were shaking and she inhaled deeply trying to compose herself from the horrorfilled ride. There was no way that she ever stepped into a car while Ayumi was the driver.

 

“Don't look like that, Sango-san. Once you get your drivers license I'm sure you will like to go fast too,” said Ayumi and smiled as she locked the car.

 

“I rather have piggy back ride on a demon lord,” growled Sango.

 

“Ohh, a demon lord no less. Sounds like fun,” giggled Ayumi and Sango blushed. Ayumi had no idea about Sesshoumaru or Inuyasha. “Come on, Sango-san. You will love this place.”

 

Ayumi took a firm hold on Sango's wrist and pulled the poor, still a bit green faced, slayer towards a very suspicious looking store. Suspicious because you couldn't actually see anything of what the store held in stock through any of the windows. Ayumi opened the door with the black window and entered the store. Sango did not want to enter. It really made her want to crawl out of her skin.

 

“Stop acting like a spoiled brat, Sango-san. There's nothing to be afraid of in here. I promise you will like it as much as I do.”

 

`Spoiled brat??? Ohh, I will show you Ayumi-san, I will show you that the last of the demon slayer tribe fear nothing…!!' And with that she pushed Ayumi towards the side and walked right into the shop. She heard the small giggle coming from the spirited woman and Sango snorted. `Ok, I'm here, so what's so special about this…. this place…????'

 

Ayumi smiled in victory as she watched Sango look around the store. Ayumi had long harboured a passion for swords, daggers, all kinds of such weapons. And she had found this place where you could enjoy a sword smith's artwork along with a drink or beer. It was a rather dark place, not many knew of it and those who did often looked like samurais. Many were role players and this shop often let them use some of the weapons as requisite in plays.

 

“Ayumi-san, b-but h-how… how d-did you know?” whispered Sango as she walked over to one of the walls and let her fingers brush over a sword that hung there. A sword much like the one her father once had used. `It could be his…'

 

“I have seen you move with the sweeper a few times. It struck me that you might were interested in swords. I'm glad you like it here.”

 

“Like it… I love it…. Thank you!!”

 

Ayumi just smiled and felt rather full of herself for a second and then she left Sango to go and buy them some coffee. She was greeted by the man behind the counter.

 

“Ayumi-san, I see that you finally have brought a friend,” said the man and poured black coffee into two cups.

 

“Yes, her name is Sango. I was called by Higurashi-san, I think that her father is someone you might know?”

 

“Ahh, Kohui-sama, yes, one of my best friends actually. Although I do not get to see him very often,” said the man. “Didn't he loose his granddaughter? I have a memory of you telling me of this…”

 

“Yes, Kagome-chan died. Sango here was one of her friends as well, and according to Higurashi-san, she blames herself for Kagome-chan's demise. I'm here to help her get over that,” said Ayumi and sat down on one of the high chairs at the bar-counter.

 

“And I'm sure you will do a great job doing that,” said the man as he held his eyes on the woman that now looked absolutely absorbed by the weapon collection on his walls. He was sure that she knew what she was looking at and how to use it if necessary. He could almost see the glow around her as her fingers moved over the swords and daggers and other a bit more obscure weapons.

 

“Sango-san, come here at have some coffee,” called Ayumi and saw the woman turn around and you could practically see the stars shining in her eyes. `Yeah, this was a great place to come too.'

 

Sango could feel that something inside her had changed and it was this suicide driver with a spirit of a thousands angels that had done it.

 

“I take it you like it here. I fell in love the place when I first found it too. But don't ask me why I kept it a secret from the others. Perhaps I just was selfish and wanted to have a small refuge all to my self?” said Ayumi and handed over the cup to Sango.

 

“Yeah, I like it. I will come here again. The weapons are just amazing.”

 

“Good, then we can come here again?”

 

“Yes….”

 

“Sango-san, let me introduce myself I'm….”

 

“JAKOTSU…?!!!” Sango screamed and leaped away from the counter and looked at the man. The feminine look, the paintings on his face, yes, it just had to be Jakotsu.

 

“Ehh… what? No… no, my name is not Jakotsu, my name is Kyouji,” said the man confused but smiled gently.

 

“But you look just like this guy… this girly bandit I knew about a…. a very long time ago..” Sango's voice had turned into a whisper and she fell back against one of the high chairs. “A very long time ago….” `A long time ago when I traveled with Kagome-chan…'

 

Ayumi looked at Sango and she could see the woman revert back to that empty shell she had seen earlier. `No, no, I promised Higurashi-san that I would help you get out of it and I'll be damned if I were to let you hide your self again…'

 

“Sango-san!!! Snap out of it, don't act stupid!” she yelled at Sango and was met for a short moment by a pair of blazing eyes. `Yes, get angry with me… anything instead of that self destructive thing you're going through.'

 

But just as quickly the woman was back being a shadow. Ayumi sighed in defeat. `Maybe next time then…?'

 

“I'm sorry, Kyouji-san.”

 

“Don't worry Ayumi-san, come back soon. And perhaps I can manage something very special for the young woman here,” the man blinked and retrieved the half empty cups.

 

“Thank you, I'll see you around then… Bye!”

 

But when Ayumi opened the car door for Sango, the older woman refused to step inside. She just shook her head and stepped back.

 

“No way… I'm walking home… I think I need to have some time for myself,” mumbled Sango and fought the pain that was rising inside her chest.

 

“Please, Sango-san, I will not drive like I did earlier. Please, just get into the car,” begged Ayumi and used her best puppy-eyes-look to get Sango to agree with her. And she sighed inwardly when she saw the small nod and then Sango got into the car. `I've promised Higurashi-san that I would take care of you and I can not do that if you are walking home alone.'

 

= * = * = * = * = * = * = * = * =

 

The two inu-brothers returned to the Higurashi shrine empty handed. But as they reached the top of the stairs they could smell Sango's fresh scent and they sighed in relief. Their friend was safe and sound. `Friend and soon to be mate,' thought Inuyasha and a smirk appeared on his lips. His brother quirked an eyebrow and Inuyasha just broaden his smirk. His brother was sure to know what Inuyasha was thinking at the moment.

 

They found Sango sitting in the back yard holding in her hands the pieces of her former slayer suit. She was deep down on memory lane.

 

“Oi, Sango, what's up?” shouted Inuyasha but he got no response from her. He was startled when he saw Miyuki come up to them.

 

“Ayumi-chan said that the place she took Sango too was a good thing, but then… something happened. Apparently the owner of the place looked a lot like someone Sango called Jakotsu and then she broke down completely,” said Miyuki with a sigh and waved towards Sango.

 

“Jakotsu…?? Ohh, that I can understand,” said Inuyasha and smiled bitterly. “But he's dead and this person can not be him… right?”

 

“No, Kyouji-san is not a bandit from the feudal era,” said Jii-chan and stepped into the conversation. “He's a very good friend of mine. I think you might want to go and see his place sometime. He's got all sorts of strange weapons along with the ordinary ones. Why not get Sango to take you there?”

 

“Good idea Father,” said Miyuki and patted Jii-chan's back. Her father did come up with great ideas… from time to time that is.

 

= * = * = * = * = * = * = * = * =

 

But as the weeks passed, nothing seemed to help Sango improve her mood. She became edgy and refused to leave the shrine-grounds. Sesshoumaru watched her when she moved over the back yard. He mentally sighed and followed her by jumping from tree to tree. He saw her sit down next to Kagome's memory stone. It didn't take long until he could smell the salt of her tears. `Sango-san, you really need to let go of the past..' he thought and settled down on a branch and watched silently as the slayer wept.

 

“Sesshoumaru-sama, you can leave,” Sango said without looking at him. He was a bit startled that she knew that it was him that was watching over her.

 

“Sango-san, I merely wanted to make sure that you were safe,” said Sesshoumaru and gracefully jumped out of the tree.

 

“Sesshoumaru-sama, I was trained as a demon slayer from the tender age of three… I think I will be able to protect myself if it came down to that,” snorted Sango and brushed away a few sad tears.

 

Sesshoumaru didn't answer that. He was well aware of how demon slayers were trained. He hadn't lived for over a thousand years and not learned about them. But it was not that he was worried about. No, he knew that she was capable of taking care of herself… in a fight. But this was not an ordinary fight she was dealing with. A fight against a past was not an easy task. He was beginning to grow a bit impatient with his alpha female. He had waited long enough and it was time to take some action. He knew that his brother was feeling the same thing. They had to do something for Sango if they wanted her to come out of her shell.

 

“Just leave me alone, Sesshoumaru-sama,” sighed Sango and turned to look at the regal lord.

 

“No, I will not.”

 

“Why are you doing this? Can't a girl have some privacy? No matter where I go either you or Inuyasha is following me. It's annoying.”

 

“You are still hurting, Sango-san. Have we not showed you that you that there is more to this new life than just grieving over a dead lover and a dead miko?”

 

Ok, so that was not the best thing to say to Sango this very moment. Her eyes flashed dangerously just before she moved from her sitting position and in the next second she had thrown herself at the stoic youkai lord.

 

“You bastard,” she spat and landed a heavy punch on his face. “Don't you ever talk like that again!!” Another punch, and another one.

 

Sesshoumaru had been caught by surprise by her attack but he didn't let her get away with it. She had managed to get a few hits on him and then he grabbed hold of her wrists and turned them both around and he pressed her back against a tree. His eyes were glowing with passion. He saw her stunned expression and he smirked.

 

“Angry are we?” he said as he leaned closer to inhale her furious scent. In a few days time she would go into her fertile cycle again.

 

“Asshole!!”

 

“You need to get over it, Sango-san. Or else it will consume you and in the end you will die. You have lost a lot of weight again and I know that you are trying to kill your self with not eating enough. But don't you ever think that we will let you get away with it. We will be here for you and you need to…”

 

“What?? What do I need, Sesshoumaru-sama? A new man to love? A new friend that I can call my sister?” Sango began to struggle to get away from the demon lord. She didn't like the way he was acting. It was way out of his character to get so passionate about something. And she didn't like the way her stomach was beginning to flutter.

 

“Did you love that monk, Sango-san?” growled Sesshoumaru and felt a flare of jealousy course through his body. He did not like the fact that she had promised herself to that perverted monk.

 

“Why should you care about it?” snarled Sango.

 

“Why don't you try and find out the answer to that question? If you only opened your eyes you would see things you never thought possible.”

 

With that he let her go and leaped away, leaving a furious tajiya behind.

 

Sango let out a howl of frustration and she stomped her foot into the ground. `Fucking demons, they think they can get away with everything!!' she thought and walked towards the house again. She was going to teach that lord a thing or two on how demon slayer dealt with defeat and humiliation. She was going to beat the living shit out of that demon.

 

= * = * = * = * = * = * = * = * =

 

Sesshoumaru came into the house and draw a curious look from his brother. Sesshoumaru just smirked a bit and walked into the kitchen.

 

“Alright nii-san, what have you done?” asked Inuyasha and came into the kitchen and looked at his brother. He had a strong suspicion that something had happened.

 

“The slayer will be here soon. I just going to have some milk and then… I don't want to be here when she gets here. I think I might have angered her a bit,” said the lord and opened the refrigerator and poured some milk into a glass.

 

“What have you done to Sango?”

 

“Just told her that she had things to search for if she just got passed her past. I'm going now.” Sesshoumaru disappeared and Inuyasha looked just as confused as he was feeling.

 

But he didn't have to wait long until Sango came storming through the front door. She called for Sesshoumaru but she got no answer. Inuyasha went to her and was pounced the minute he showed his face.

 

“Where's the fucking bastard??” snarled Sango.

 

“Sess? I don't know… what happened?” asked Inuyasha and tried not to blush as he was straddled by the furious valkyria. Her hands gripped hard on his shirt and her dark eyes were flashing with anger. `She's seriously pissed off, that's for sure.. Sess what the fuck did you say to her?'

 

“I'm going to kill him…”

 

“Sango, just tell me what happened!”

 

“He said… he said… I should find me a new man to love and then he asked if I really loved Miroku… and to find a new friend to love as a sister. B-but I can't… what if I forgot about them?”

 

Inuyasha felt his heart melt and he sat up and put his arms around Sango and hugged her tightly. He felt her stiffen a bit before relaxing into his embrace.

 

“Sango, why should you forget about them? They will always be with us in our hearts. You will not forget how it was like to have them around, but you really need to step out of the past and into the now. I know that you're hurting, and I'm hurting too. But we can not change what happened. What we can do is to live on and cherish their memory and the good times we had together.”

 

Sango's eyes widened when she heard Inuyasha's words. She pulled away and looked into a pair of golden eyes. He smiled and lifted a clawed finger and wiped her cheeks.

 

“And you don't have to be afraid. We will all be here for you…” continued Inuyasha and leaned closer and brushed his lips over hers. “Always, Sango…”

 

Sango bolted up and stumbled backwards. Her fingers reached up and touched her lips. She saw Inuyasha rise up as well and he looked at her with warm eyes. “Always, Sango. Remember that.” And with that he turned and walked up to his room, leaving Sango behind to ponder about what he had said.. and what he just had done.

 

`H-he… kissed me?' Her lips still burned after his touch and she could feel the blush rise on her cheeks. `He kissed me??? W-why did he kiss me?'

 

= * = * = * = * = * = * = * = * =

 

Rin, Shippou and Souta had watched the whole thing from the top of the stairs. They giggled and went inside Souta's room again.

 

“You were right, Shippou-kun,” said Rin and hid a bright smile behind her hand. “Our papas like Sango-san. D-do you think she will accept?”

 

“I'm not sure. But she didn't look like she hated that kissing thing with Inuyasha… right?” said Shippou.

 

“No, but she looked as if she wanted to faint,” said Souta and laughed.

 

“Well, if a beautiful man like that kissed me, I would feel a bit faint too,” snorted Rin.

 

“What??” both Shippou and Souta yelled loudly.

 

Rin blushed and mumbled something about “it not being their business”.

 

The two boys just shook their heads. Girls were so strange sometimes.

 

= * = * = * = * = * = * = * = * =

 

Sango walked aimlessly around town. She was still confused. Inuyasha had kissed her. And Sesshoumaru's words had said things that made her very confused as well. She rubbed her temples and looked up at the darkening sky. It would soon be dark, she should head back to the shrine or else they would worry about her. But she wasn't ready to go back. Not yet. She wanted understand. She looked around and noticed that she actually had walked very far because she saw that strange weapon-shop/bar was straight ahead.

 

`I should apologize to him for being so rude the first time I visited his shop…' thought Sango and steered her steps towards the odd shop.

 

She saw that the man who had introduced himself as Kyouji was about to close up. But when he saw Sango he smiled and opened the door for her. Once she was inside he closed the door and turned a sign that said Closed.

 

“Hello again, Kyouji-san,” said Sango and blushed a bit.

”Nice to see you, Sango-san. What brings you to my shop this time?” asked the owner and smiled gently and showed her towards the bar.

 

“I…. I wanted to apologize, Kyouji-san. I was very rude when I visited you with Ayumi-san and I wanted to ask for your forgiveness for that,” said Sango and sat down on a chair he pointed at.

 

“Apology accepted, Sango-san. But I wasn't offended. Kohui-san has told me stories about you and the others that have taken refuge at the Higurashi-shrine.”

 

Sango looked at him in surprise.

 

“Do you want something to drink perhaps?”

 

“Ehh…? Uhm… warm milk with honey…” said Sango and looked across the room and locked her gaze at the weapons hanging on his wall.

 

Kyouji looked curiously at her, but he didn't get any answers but he had no trouble serving what she wanted. From the corner of his eye he could see her walk over to the wall with weapons and he smiled. She really admired his collection. He tried to figure out what kind of weapon she would wield in a battle but couldn't quite get it. Kyouji was proud of his ability to sense what a person would like as a weapon, but this girl was giving him mixed “signals”.

 

“Sango-san, here you go,” said Kyouji and held out the cup with warm milk and honey.

 

“Thank you,” she whispered and smiled shyly.

 

“Is there some of these that really appeal to you?” asked Kyouji and waved his hand over the wall. “I must admit that you have me a bit puzzled. I just can't figure out what kind of weapon you would wield in a battle and I have had always guessed right about others but you… you I just don't get at all.”

 

“Oh, I'm sure that none would be able to guess what my weapon of choice would be,” smiled Sango a bit sadly and took a small sip from the cup. The warm milk and honey soothed her throat and she enjoyed the taste of it.

 

“You are such an enigma, Sango-san,” chuckled Kyouji and picked out a short sword from the wall and handed it over to Sango. It was the very same she had looked at and thought that it could be her father's.

 

She took the sword in her hand and felt something flare through her. It was no ordinary weapon. It was made of a demon's fang. Her eyes widened and she looked at Kyouji. “What kind of person are you?” she whispered.

 

“Ohh, so you can feel it… can't you?” he asked.

 

“I'm not sure that we are talking about the same kind of feeling,” mumbled Sango as she let the sword cut the air in front of her a couple of times.

 

“I must admit that I often play stupid, especially when it comes down to ordinary humans, but you are everything but ordinary, Sango-san. I noticed it the moment you stepped into this place. And Kohui-san can be a blabber mouth after a few cups of sake….”

 

Sango spun around and placed the edge of the sword against his throat.

 

“I know about you Sango-san, the last of the demon slayers tribe. And I know about the others that live at the shrine. Two full-blooded youkais and one hanyou. And this blade is made out of a demon's tooth. And I know you can feel its power… right?”

 

“For how long have you known about this?” asked Sango quietly and pushed him up against the wall.

 

“Almost two years. Kohui-san got drunk with me here just after he had his collapse. Of course I thought he had damaged his brain or something at first. But I know that demons still exist in this world, most of them live hidden, but they do exist. And I have a demon that makes these weapons for me. But you have nothing to fear, Sango-san. I have no intention of letting anyone know about you. When Ayumi-san took you here and told me who you were, I was honoured.”

 

Sango was not convinced, not yet.

 

“Please, Sango-san. I tell the truth.”

 

“I will die in order to protect my family. Trust me when I say that if anyone comes to the shrine to do harm - I will come after you and I will do things to you that makes you wish that you never been born.” With that Sango removed the tip of the sword and placed it on the wall again. She drank the rest of the milk and walked over to the bar and placed the mug on the desk.

 

Kyouji took a deep breath. He knew that she would do the things she just said if he said the wrong thing to the wrong people. But he had known about the Higurashi-secret for some time now, and he had not betrayed them and he had no intention of doing it either. Actually he wanted to meet them all, but the truth was that he was a bit afraid. He was a bit of a scholar and he had read up about demons that roamed around their country in the past and if he were to believe those stories, nope, he did not want to face their wraths.

 

“I loved Kagome-chan like a sister,” whispered Sango and sat down next to the bar. “I really loved that girl. She was so strange from what I had learned about women and the way she just walked right into your heart and….”

 

Kyouji didn't say anything, instead he just walked around the bar and placed two glasses on it and poured some scotch into them. He knew that this woman had a lot to ventilate and he was not going to be the one that denied her that ear that she so desperately needed.

 

“We fought together for over two years. Side by side we fought against the evil that was Naraku…. The bastard that took my family away, my whole tribe. He turned my brother against me…”

 

Kyouji listened for two hours. The story was like nothing he ever had heard before. He was stunned to say the least. The Naraku he had read about was not the same that this woman was telling him about. But somewhere in the story he just knew that was things that she had bottled up inside her. She told him small things about Kagome, about her brother and her tribe. He was pretty sure that the Higurashi-family never had heard these things before nor had the others that were living with them. He could see her sip the scotch every once in awhile and he made sure that her glass was filled. This woman had a need to ventilate and he knew that she would feel a lot better afterwards.

 

“…. And that's how I ended up with Kagome's family,” ended Sango and looked up at Kyouji with sad eyes. He just smiled gently.

 

“You should be glad that you all were able to travel through the magic well… I don't think that it would have done neither of you any good to be left in the past. You have been given a second chance, Sango-san. You all have and I am pretty sure that your friends have said the same thing to you,” said Kyouji and lifted his glass and gulped down the golden liqueur.

 

He saw Sango's face turn pale and then there was a real dark shade of red. `What did I do now???' he silently asked himself and saw her imitate him and drank all of her glass' content.

 

“Uhm… I'm sorry… I just… I just….”

 

”You needed to talk, Sango-san. I understand and I promise you - it was a pleasure to be the one you told your story to,” said Kyouji and bowed to the slayer. “Thank you…”

 

Sango blushed and returned the humble bow.

 

“I hope that you will honour my shop again with your presence?”

 

“I will come back, Kyouji-san, and when I do - I will buy a weapon from you and… and I will tell you what kind of weapon I wielded, because that is something you have yet to gain knowledge of,” said Sango with a warm smile. `Who would've known that a man that look like a girly bandit from the past would be the one that made me open up….?' she thought and put her hand on his before she walked out of the strange shop/bar.

 

Kyouji smiled and walked up to the door and locked it. He could see Sango walk away from his shop and he could almost see the little skip in her walk. `Indeed, I have done a good deed…' He rhymed in his head and let out a laugh.

 

= * = * = * = * = * = * = * = * =

 

Yes, Sango felt like a new person as she stepped out of Kyouji's shop. He had listened the her story without interrupting her. He had told her that he knew about them all, about demons. He had weapons that was forged from the bones and fangs from demons. Why had she not noticed it when she first visited his place? `Because you were too stubborn to realize that this world has its secrets as well,' whispered her heart and she smiled sadly. Yes, it was true. She had held on to the past for too long. It was time for a change.

 

= * = * = * = * = * = * = * = * =