InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ A Sesshomaru Story ❯ Chapter 8 ( Chapter 8 )

Chapter 8

While the group ate supper Alexandra got to hear their stories. Kagome started off with the tale of how she had come to feudal Japan through the Bone Eater's Well. She told her how she had met Inu Yasha, Shippo then Miroku and Sango. Alexandra found out all about Naraku, Kikyou and the Shikon Jewel. Sango took a turn relating how Naraku had wiped out her village and taken control of her brother Kohaku. Miroku helped her with the more difficult parts of her story and not to be outdone told the tale of his family's curse from Naraku. Shippo helped everyone by adding details now and again.

Inu Yasha just ate his food sullenly. He scowled darkly at Alexandra whenever she looked at him. She wondered what his problem was and did her best to ignore him. Once she found out that he was half dog-demon she assumed that must be the reason that he looked so much like Sesshomaru. The longer she spent with Inu Yasha the more she saw the difference between them.

After they were done eating, everyone gave a hand clearing things up. Then they settled around the fire to resume their conversation and drink tea.

"Wow! It sounds like you've all been through a lot!" Alexandra exclaimed. "This Naraku sounds like a real psycho! How are you ever going to beat him?”

"Feh!" Inu Yasha said. "We'll get him. It's only a matter of time! If he'd just quit running away all the time!"

"Which brings us to why we're here," explained Miroku. "There's a shrine not far from here. It contains a wooden chest called Buddha's Heavenly Chest. According to my master, Mushiin it is rumoured to provide things in times of need. We thought that there might be a chance it could give us something to use against Naraku. Do you know of the place?" he asked.

"Yes" Alexandra answered. "It is actually the reason I'm here." She related her own history and how she had come to feudal Japan.

"It's quite a coincidence that we should come looking for the same box that brought you here," Sango said

"Yes," agreed Miroku. "And after hearing your story I would suspect that Buddha's Heavenly Chest was made from one of the Trees of Ages as the Bone Eater's well was. That would explain its ability to transcend time. It could also explain where the objects found in the chest come from. Perhaps they're from the future. But you say you weren't able to return to your own time?"

"No," Alexandra answered. "If but if the chest and the well are both made Trees of Ages and have the ability to span time as it were, shouldn't they work the same? If the well won't take Kagome back, why won't the box take me?"

Kagome mused, "I remember that earthquake last year. It was big news. If the museum was destroyed maybe the box was too and that's why you can't use it. There might be no chest in the future to crawl out of."

"That makes sense," agreed Miroku. "Perhaps the objects that appear in the chest now are things put in the box in the future. If that is the case, there may be a turning point when our present becomes the future. If in your time the box is destroyed this could be it. Perhaps now what is put in the box ends up in our past."

Alexandra frowned as she contemplated all of this. It could explain things.

"It sounds like going to this shrine then is going to just be a big waste of time!" Inu Yasha interjected. "Kagome can already bring us stuff from the future! If there was something there we could use - we'd have it already!"

"Not necessarily - weapons that work best on Naraku are spiritual ones," Sango said. "It could be something she wouldn't have access to."

"We should at least check it out," Shippo argued. "We've come all this way anyway!"

"I agree and on a more positive note I think it’s a possibility that the Bone Eater's well could return Alexandra to her own time," suggested Miroku.

"Do you think so?" Alexandra asked incredulous. The idea slowly began to sink in. A chance to go back. It had never occurred to her there might be another way besides the chest.

"Of course! Inu-Yasha and I both use it and since you're already from the future, it may work for you too!" Kagome exclaimed.

"You mean I could travel between the two time periods like you?" asked Alexandra.

Kagome hesitated. "I don't know if you'd be able to come back. There have been times when I haven't been able to come back without the jewel shards."

"I would say that returning to the future in your case would be permanent. Both Inu Yasha and Kagome only seem to be able to travel back and forth at will. Though whether it’s because of their strong ties to the Shikon Jewel or to the God Tree it would be hard to say."

"You could come with us when we go back!" Shippo suggested excitedly. Alexandra smiled at his enthusiasm.

"Great!" Inu Yasha mumbled under his breath crossing his arms. "Somebody else to slow me down!"

"Inu Yasha!" reprimanded Kagome.

"What?" he asked insolently.

"I can't believe you said that! We're guests you know!" Kagome said.

"I just don't see why we keep getting involved in everybody else's problems. We're supposed to be going after Naraku you know!" he retorted crossly.

"Don't mind Inu Yasha," Shippo said to Alexandra. "It's just his nature to be bad-tempered."

"Yes|" Sango added. "He's very childish sometimes."

"What do you mean?" Inu Yasha asked indignantly.

"They mean what they said!" said Kagome. "And I happen to agree with them."

"It's alright," Alexandra assured them as she stood up. Her head was still spinning from the thought of being able to return to modern times. She had only been half listening to the conversation but she suddenly felt like she needed to get away from all the bickering. "I'd better go and get some more wood for the fire before it gets dark." She headed for the door.

"I'll help you," said Miroku following her outside and closing it behind him. "Please don't take Inu Yasha too seriously."

"I don't," Alexandra admitted truthfully. She wondered how everyone she knew would react to her sudden reappearance.

They went to the edge of the forest which was already dark in the growing gloom. The moon was just starting to rise as they crossed the clearing. Her thoughts went from going home to Sesshomaru. Over the last few hours she'd forgotten about him. She had hoped he would've come by but perhaps he'd seen she had guests. If she was leaving she might not get to see him again.

"You are most welcome to come with us," Miroku remarked. "It's such a waste for a young and beautiful woman to be here living by herself. How long has it been since you've been on your own?"

"Since the spring," she answered crouching down and stacking up an armful of wood. Sesshomaru would return to find her gone again. Well, she would leave him a note so he could tell Rin what had happened to her. After all he had no qualms about going into people's homes and rifling through their personal belongings. She was still mad about that but it didn't matter now.

"It must be very lonely," Miroku said sympathetically as he crouched down next to her.

Suddenly she realized that his hand was stroking her butt. She reacted almost without thinking, grabbing his hand and twisting it behind his back. She stood up, forcing him to stand up with her. He cried out in pain and surprise, realizing that she had a knife under his chin.

"Try that again, monk and you'll pull back a bloody stump," Alexandra said threateningly.

She pushed him forward and he fell over the woodpile. Without looking back she picked up her stack and returned to the cottage. He came in a few minutes later, looking rather disheveled robes rather dusty. After he put down his rather some wood stack he went in the corner and massaged his shoulder. Alexandra noticed the rest of the group smirking at each other but Miroku kept his distance from her, which suited Alexandra just fine.

After a bit more discussion it was agreed that the next day Alexandra would take them to the shrine to see if there was a weapon there to use against Naraku. Then they would take Alexandra to the Bone Eater's Well to see if she could use it to go back to modern Japan.

~~~~~~~~~~

Sesshomaru watched the lights darken in the little cottage before he turned towards home. He had been quite disappointed to find Alexandra had company when he arrived. He'd been more than a little annoyed that it turned out to be his brother and the irritating group that followed him around. But he was curious as well. What possible reason could they have to show up here? Was it just hospitality?

That was bad enough. If Inu Yasha spent the night there it would take days to air out the stench. Of course that might not matter. What had that idiot monk said? 'You're welcome to come with us.' He seemed to be of the opinion that Alexandra was going with them. What would persuade her to do such a thing? Surely not loneliness as that lewd womanizer had suggested. After all he and Rin were there to keep her company. In his opinion even Jaken would be more entertaining. And certainly more respectful.

He growled at the memory of that letch caressing Alexandra in such a dishonourable manner. The very idea that such a lowlife would make such a pathetic attempt at flattery and then fondle her enraged him. He did have to admit she handled herself well though. She was quite skilled with her little knife. Surprisingly effective. He wondered if she might have some demon blood somewhere in her ancestry.

He doubted he'd have showed so much restraint himself. It would've given him great pleasure to show the monk his own steaming entrails after such crass behavior. Although he would've had the bother of dealing with Inu Yasha and the rest of them afterward, it still would've been worth it.

As it was it probably worked out for the best. He would be satisfied for now.













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