InuYasha Fan Fiction / Sailor Moon Fan Fiction ❯ Breathless ❯ Grossed out ( Chapter 24 )

Disclaimer: I don't own Sailor Moon or Inuyasha.

 

 

Chapter Twenty Three.

 

 

`Grossed out

 

 

He knew she was upset… his little ward.

 

 

He seemed to pretend as if he didn't notice; he would have done so if it'd been anybody else, but, the fact that it was Rin really induced him to make the effort; and notice what was happening not only he did, but the truth was that he'd also been observing Rin furtively every onceina while, studying her, trying to discern the cause of this unusual emotional state. After all, it wasn't often that his little human charge would be so downhearted; acting so reserved and timid around him…

 

 

…She was definitely upset for some reason, and for the life of him, Sesshoumaru still couldn't gather why.

 

 

That is, until he saw the locket she carried underneath her obi.

 

 

…It was her locket…

 

 

Obviously, Rin and that golden-haired human girl had gotten along very well… could it be, that she was the cause of Rin's distress? Could the little girl's almost mystical cherishment of the girl's left possession; actually indicate that she missed her?

 

 

Sesshoumaru internally sighed. Rin was just a little girl, and a very sensible one at that, with a past filled with abuse at the hands of the villagers she used to live with, after her parents' deaths. It was only natural that she would harbor a special affection towards anyone that treated her with kindness… but could what that girl by the name of Usagi had done, truly be labeled as kindness? Sit down with the child for a few hours, and help her tie some flowers together into a crown?

 

 

Then, he had a flashback.

 

 

“You're…smiling? …Why are you so happy? I only asked you a question…”

 

 

There he had his answer: the first time they'd met, when Rin had tried to `help him' that time she found him wounded, after the incident with Inuyasha and the Tetsusaiga, she had come to him covered with bruises in her face, and he had merely asked her what'd happened… which had been what made her smile.

 

 

Kindness…shown by mild concern, though he wouldn't say that'd been his real objective at that moment. It'd been that smile, that single gesture of understanding, symbolizing the completion of exchange of mutual concern, what had sealed their lives together.

 

 

Someone else who didn't know Rin the way Sesshoumaru did, would have protested then, why not the girl Kagome? Why not that priestess, Kikyo? Both had saved or helped save Rin from great peril at least once, yet none of them had been quite welcomed inside the little girl's deepest affection, when that strange girl, Usagi, apparently had.

 

 

And there, he mused, lay the answer to the mystery.

 

 

The oddly dressed girl that traveled with his brother Inuyasha, and the woman who'd sealed Inuyasha to the tree fifty years ago, were both mikos… spiritual people. It was expected they would put themselves on the line to protect the innocent; that's what they'd been trained for. To such women, he supposed, it truly made no difference whether the innocent in danger was a child or an adult, Rin or someone else. They had a duty to carry out no matter the particular identities of the victims involved. It was what they did, and once it'd been done and fulfilled, they no longer had a reason to spend any additional time with those they had rescued.

 

 

From what he knew, monks and mikos were spiritual, religious people that usually liked to keep to themselves, concentrating on their worship and communion with the forces of nature. Beyond the act of protecting, they didn't require to know of the particular individualities of each and every single person they helped: find out their likes and dislikes, their personal beliefs, their unique views of life and other every day banalities of the sort; an interest in which usually showed a genuine, deep care for a specific subject.

 

 

On the contrary, that blonde haired girl had not only inquired superficially about Rin's wellbeing, but she had seated with her, sincerely listened to what she had to say, and if Jaken's annoying grumbles could be trusted, they had held a very long, warm and vivid conversation, talking about their fixation with flowers and even their mutual lack of fear towards youkai… establishing a kinship in spirits that Sesshoumaru doubted Rin had ever had the chance to truly form before.

 

 

Likeness; the first, earliest basis for two human's mutual comprehension and friendship. Rin had made her very first real friend… and he had scared her away.

 

 

Now he could understand why she was being like this, but Rin would just have to get over it; there was nothing he could do.

 

 

Nothing he would do… That girl had insulted him. She was no proper company for his ward, nor an adequate influence that he would ever be able to accept. Sesshoumaru knew he was one to hold a grudge for the longest time, and despite the human's attempts at compensation, that was an episode he wouldn't be able to let pass just yet…

 

 

…That was the real reason why he'd driven her right away. To think of it, the girl's great childlike sensibility had made it all the more easier.

 

 

That was something that kind of had him torn.

 

 

On one hand, he was certain that he found it despicable, how a girl of that greater age would act like less ―though it was also true that he already knew the average human, as the fleeting creatures that they were, made a fuss over non-transcendences and often acted quite like the sentimental wrecks―.

 

 

On the other hand, he wasn't certain he was comfortable taking advantage of this to his own suitability, which was keeping humans out of his way; the girl's emotional fragility had reminded him too much of Rin's own, even when they manifested in very different patterns… and it that likeness which, once again, the Taiyoukai found disturbing, for reasons he couldn't begin to fathom.

 

 

The Tenseiga's reactions, for starters, drew a big question mark.

 

 

What was the cause for it to start pulsing, both times that specific human had been near?

 

 

Sesshoumaru did not remember the sword ever behaving in that manner before… sizzling when there were no actual dead bodies to behold. Of all the strange happenings lately, this'd been the most disconcerting.

 

 

This was something he would have to further investigate, once he'd taken care of another business…

 

 

…He needed to find someone else first.

 

 

 

 

“Um… Why didn't Niraya-sama tell Aku, or even Tsumi, to escort me?” it was days later when a very nervous Usagi asked this, as she continued to walk between the two youkai along the path towards the human village far ahead, where Lord Niraya had said she was to receive some sort of training.

 

 

“Why, Usagi-san. You don't like being in our company?” the black haired half-demon to her right, `Byaka' or something, told her with an ironic smile.

 

 

At this, the blonde sweat-dropped. `Am I that obvious?'

 

 

She didn't know which of the two incarnations weirded her out most: the childlike Kanna, with her perpetual impassiveness and vacuous eyes, always carrying her mirror limply around ―she only needed to add the two hitodama, a pair of blue flames from the otherworld floating at each side of her head… and she would completely look like a haunting yürei ghost of the dead in great need for an exorcism, for God's sake! ―; or was it the handsome Byaka, with his refined features, his awkward sense of humor… and his disturbing knack for detaching organs from his body.

 

 

Yep… Usagi definitely liked Aku and Tsumi better… at least they didn't act all freaky while being around her.

 

 

“Look, Usagi-san; your rejection's made my flower wither” Byaka added when she said nothing, gesturing towards her with that damned tulip he was always carrying around; whereas Kanna ―surprise surprise, there! ― stayed silent.

 

 

`And what does he mean that I withered his “flower”? …Kami…it was made of cheapy paper!' she immediately stopped that train of thinking when she realized the possible sexual innuendo.

 

 

“Erm…I really didn't mean it, Byaka!” the blushing Usagi said nervously.

 

 

Unaware of her state, the male incarnation's face was priceless, and he glared at her when he heard that particular mispronunciation again. It sounded too much like “Baka” for his liking. “I already told you Usagi-san, my name is Byakuya” he stressed the three letters crossly.

 

 

Needless to say, the blonde sweat-dropped again. “Sorry… I keep forgetting”

 

 

“Phfmp” the dark haired detachment crossed his arms, raising his head high. `She should at least have learned what I am called by now' he didn't want to admit he was a bit exasperated. ―`Well, it's his fault for having such a difficult name' the blonde thought as if she had heard him ―.

 

 

The trio continued walking wordlessly for another while, before he asked her “So you remember all that you have to say, Usagi-san?” he waited for her answer patiently.

 

 

“I think” the girl responded with a finger to her chin, and glancing at him as she recited for confirmation “Let's see…I have to tell the Head priestess that I am the daughter of a Shinto priest who recently died, along with the rest of my family, when our shrine was caught on fire; former acquaintances of his have been compassionate enough to sent me here to request being taken in once more as a… um…um…” she scratched her head a couple of times, making a great effort to remember “Oh yes! I recall it now; it was: to be taken in once more as a miko-in-training, since a blow to the head during the fire caused me to forget everything my parents had taught me… I wish to complete my training to eventually become a priestess one day…erm… to keep on with the family tradition? Ugh! That's a lot to memorize! …I feel as if I were having a big exam tomorrow…”

 

 

“A what?” his voice interrupted, more-high pitched than usual.

 

 

“Huh?”

 

 

“You were having a what? What did you just say?” the blonde looked up, alarmed at his dumbfounded expression. He was piercing her with confusion-filled eyes.

 

 

“Uh. A-a-I don't know” she stuttered, becoming redder by the second “that just… sort of rolled out of my mouth… I don't know what it means” she was very mortified now ―what kind of stupid idiot would speak words that he doesn't have significance for? ―.

 

 

She turned to the more childlike detachment for some help out of the embarrassing situation, yet quite predictably, Kanna only stared at her emptily, together with her male comrade, for the longest minutes of most deafening silence. In those seconds, Usagi could swear she even heard the distant tree leaves' creaking.

 

 

“Um” the blonde gulped, “Shall I continue with the speech?” she finally murmured when their stares started to unnerve her. She did not wait for a reply before proceeding. “I will tell her that they've sent me with―” she paused to take a bag out of the futokoro, the inner pocket of her kimono “―some silver coins to take care of the expenses… Aren't those a bit too much, Byakuya-san?”

 

 

“Not if you say that some of these former acquaintances of your father's were very wealthy people” the dark incarnation supplied, still with that odd assessing look on his face “Also, don't forget to mention the reason you weren't attacked by bandits during the journey was because those rich people had a low level samurai escort you”

 

 

The blonde nodded, swallowing hard. “Makes sense…” she sighed, then looked him in the eye “However…is it really necessary… all this lying?” she said with a distraught expression. She wanted to sure know for sure before she finished gathering her wits about her and departed to confront the miko.

 

 

“You already know how humans feel about half-breeds, Usagi-san” the white haired nihility spoke for the first time in a dull voice, startling the youth “You mustn't mention to any of them who we are”

 

 

“But… how long will I have to stay there, with those people? …Will I be able to come back?” the girl turned around hesitantly, as if afraid to ask “I don't understand” she sounded so dejected out of the blue “Why is Niraya-sama sending me to this place, Kanna? Have I done anything to displease him, for him to want to send me away?!” she asked with a passion, her eyes watering.

 

 

These people had been the only ones she could remember. As far as she was concerned, they were the only people she had ever known.

 

 

“Usagi-san, you must do as Niraya-sama says. You must be patient” the Void detachment said bleakly… It was harder for Usagi to listen to the piece of advice given by such an emotionless voice.

 

 

`I don't want to… I don't want to leave…' the golden-haired youth thought miserably, feeling like she was no longer wanted. How could her Lord have asked her to leave the only home she'd ever known… for as short as she remembered?

 

 

It was cruel.

 

 

If only Aku'd been here… but no. Neither him, nor Tsumi had been considered reliable enough to carry out this important task of bringing her to the outskirts of the village; not once after Niraya-sama had caught on their transgressions.

 

 

On the other hand, why did Niraya-sama even want her to become a miko, to begin with?

 

 

…Wasn't she fine as she was?

 

 

Once again, she felt as if, for some unexplained reason, she was not good enough for these two. She'd always believed her beloved Niraya-sama's thinking was different.

 

 

Perhaps she was wrong

 

 

That way, with her head down and her shoulders slumped, she was the vivid image of depression. Byakuya didn't need to be a genius to figure out she was desolate.

 

 

`Not good' he thought to himself `if it keeps like this, she'll soon start crying and there's no way she'll ever accept going inside the village… The Master won't be pleased, he expressly told us to make sure she did so safely…'

 

 

`…I thought the Master had explained everything to her clearly! Why is the silly girl having second thoughts now?' he protested inwardly, rather uncomfortable, wanting to scream in frustration.

 

 

He didn't have the slightest idea how to deal with crying women. Still, he had to get her to snap out of it… fast.

 

 

―For she'd already started hiccupping―

 

 

Finally, he came up with an idea. If he couldn't comfort her, he would distract her…

 

 

“Oh, Usagi-san… You already know it'll be only for a short time… Niraya-sama merely expects you to be there for a while, you know” he told her cheerfully as he raised his hand to his right eye.

 

 

Unchanged, Usagi kept her grief-stricken stare on the ground.

 

 

“You shouldn't be sad, Usagi-san… you know. It won't be so bad; for I will always… be keeping an eye on you!” with a quick flick of his hand he took out his right eye and held it in front of her face, showing it to her.

 

 

The blonde jumped.

 

 

“KYAAAA!!!!” Usagi's high pitched scream reverberated through the forest, scaring away the birds.

 

 

“WAHAHAHAHA!! What's the matter, Usagi-san? You don't like my eye?” he said exploding with laughter “you should take it with you to the village, to keep you company!”

 

 

“Are you insane?! GET THAT THING AWAY FROM ME!” the blonde yelled in fright, looking at the jelly, bloodied and moving eye-ball on his hand with horror, and jumping to hide behind an unperturbed Kanna. “It's GROSS!!! I TOLD YOU NOT TO DO THAT IN FRONT OF ME!”

 

 

“Oh, but detaching organs from one's body, as you call it, is so much fun!” he loved making her squirm like this: it was the perfect cure of boredom…

 

 

(Needless to say, this was the reason Usagi didn't like him)

 

 

“I'll tell Niraya-sama… you are crazy!” the girl cried as she crouched down, covering her head with her arms as she continued to hide behind the void incarnation. She could still hear the substracted eye's sprouted bat wings flapping around as the other detachment roared with laughter.

 

 

“That's it, Byakuya” the void child finally intervened with an indifferent whisper “Put that thing back in so we can get back to what we were doing”

 

 

Hearing those words, the mischievous detachment controlled his mirth and snatched his eye-ball from where it was flying in mid-air to cork it back inside its socket. He knew that, if even the void child was willing to reprimand it, it was really enough.

 

 

“Very well”

 

 

“Now, Usagi-san” the child youkai said turning towards her “we'll be keeping constant watch on you. One of us will contact you periodically to inform Niraya-sama of your progress.”

 

 

“And when it comes the time to take you back, we will come for you” the taller incarnation added.

 

 

“Really?” the anxious human asked hopefully. Both demon servants nodded.

 

 

“Now. You must go” repeated the void child.

 

 

They waited for her expectantly.

 

 

Seeing this, the golden-haired human girl sighed.

 

 

“…Tell Aku and Tsumi to visit me…”

 

 

Slowly, she turned back around to face her ordeal.

 

 

 

Moments later, the peasant inhabitants of the village turned to look at the curious girl newcomer in the elegant furisode.

 

 

“I came to see the local miko…”

 

 

“…Kaede-sama?”

 

 

To Be Continued.

 

 

GLOSSARY

 

 

`Byakuya' is Kagura's replacement in the manga. He is Naraku's latest canon detachment.

 

 

`Baka' means stupid.

 

 

`Kami' means `God'.

 

 

`Futokoro' is the inner pocket of the kimono.

 

 

`Furisode' is the most formal kimono worn by unmarried women.

 

 

`Yürei' means ghost of a dead person.

 

 

`Hitodama' are the two colored flames (usually blue) that are often depicted at both sides of the head of a person in a Japanese painting, to show that the `person' is the haunting ghost of a deceased.

 

 

A/N: Usagi's been temporarily removed from Naraku's side now… what's going to happen? How will Kaede-baba take the news of having a `student'?

 

 

Find out in the next chapter!