InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Choices ❯ Chapter 24

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

Sango was the first to catch sight of their new mistress. "Miroku," she called out. She saw Sayuri was not alone. With what distance there was between them, she could not see who it was. Only when the two were a yard from the rebuilding in-progress did she see who it was.
Sayuri halted when she knew Sango saw Kagura. "Wait here. I will signal you when all is clear." She moved forward thenwith Kanna held safely in her arms. She was greeted just outside the wall by the monk and slayer. "Sango, Miroku. The work goes nicely. What have you finished?"
"What is that incarnation doing with you?"
"What have you finished?" Sayuri calmly repeated. There was, however, a bite in her tone.
Miroku placed a hand on his wife's shoulder."The main house is done. Will you come see?"
"Ayhai. Sango, Kagura is no threat. Miroku, I want you and Kilala with Sango to accompany us until we reach the area that
leads to the future. You and Kilala will return here. We will be gone a month. 25 days from now you will journey back to where you left us. Wait for our return. We will need you to help us carry what is brought from the future. Understood?"
"Hai, Lady Sayuri. Here it is," said Miroku.
Sayuri arched an eyebrow. Before her was a nice wide building. She walked into it and inspected it. Coming out, she said to the couple, "This is good. In time other houses like this will be needed. Keep the plans for this one. Now, Sango, shall I let Kagura know all is well? Or is there something you want to get off your chest first?"
"How dare you bring Kagura. Where is Kohaku? Why can't I see him? Why are we kept from Kagome?"
"I did not bring Kohaku because he has studies to tend to. He is Rin's playmate. I want him to have a childhood. On this venture he would not have that. If you do well on this trip, you may see him at our return. I have already told you that you served Kikyou under the influence of her potion."
"What does that mean?" asked Sango.
Sayuri looked Sango straight in the face. "You truly do not remember?"she asked.
Sango shook her head.
Sayuri sat and looked away. She sighed and motioned for Sango to come closer. Then she had the chief's daughter kneel
before her. Then she drew Sango into her memories. There she held the soon frightened, still denying slayer until it
was over. Releasing her, she put Sango to sleep and then went to summon Kagura.
Miroku was civil to the wind witch. He let her inside the house he and Sango had built. He did not attack her.
Kagura admired the work that the couple had built. "This is a good structure."
"Thank you." Miroku was silent. Then he asked, "Why are you with the mistress?"

Sayuri heard Kagura and Miroku talking. She was heartened by this. She looked down at the sleeping Sango and sighed.
She touched Sango's temple and watched what was going on in her mind. She sighed again. Rising, she left the house.
She walked to the entrance of Midoriko's cave. She did not enter it, preferring not to sully with her prescence. She
sat just outside the barrier.
Kilala watched her from the porch. She felt torn. She wanted to comfort this ningen onna. She wanted to speak to her.
Then again she wanted to stay true to her mistress. Raising her face to the sky, the neko meowed almost pleadingly
with the Kami to act in this situation.
Sayuri looked up then and her gaze fell on the twin-tailed neko that was currently the size of a kitten. She was just
about to reach out toward Kilala when Sango screamed. She stood and walked quickly toward the home.
Miroku had been listening to Kagura when Sango suddenly screamed. It was blood curdling.
Kagura gave the monk a look that made him freeze. Then looking at Sayuri, she nodded toward the screen separating the
monk and his wife's sleeping part.
Sayuri said, "Miroku, stay here. Kagura, without needlessly hurting him, keep Miroku away." Then she slowly approached
the screen. She slid it back just enough for her to slip through. She made no move to wake the slayer. Kneeling where
she was, Kagome's soul twin drew on her reiki.
Miroku froze at the feel of Sayuri's power. 'It is so strong. So warm and bright. How can she be a demon and possess such a pure spirit?'
Beside him, Kagura looked at him with a sideways glare. She wanted to hit this monk with either her dance of the dragons or her other attack. However, she knew Sayuri would call it unnecessary violence. She settled for hitting him on the back of his head with her fan. She watched him land facedown. Holding Kanna close, she sat against the wall so she might see the screen easily.
On the other side of the partition, Sayuri sat behind a sitting up, unconscious Sango. The mind-reader knew that as she was, the slayer was not strong enough to see what happened. Sayuri did let her hear what was said between the four of them concerning Kagome. Then she sealed off the rest. Rising, she went to speak with Miroku. However, she found him out cold. She said nothing to Kagura but moved the monk to lie beside his wife. Then she sent a clone to hunt and fed Kanna herself while they waited.
The clone returned quickly and soon meat seasoned with herbs was cooking while potatoes, wild onions, wild sorrel and
wild rice cooked together in a pot.
Miroku and Sango came to just as Sayuri the original removed the cauldron from the fire. They saw her glance at them
from the corner of her eye. They watched her incline her head for them to sit. They nodded and sat. Then they watched
her serve the food. It reminded them of how Kagome would do. It was then they felt a pang in their heart and regret they understood not filled them. It was then they saw Sayuri still mid-motion and then look back at them, a thoughtful almost evaluating look in her starry amethyst eyes.

Sayuri ate her portion and then tended to the cleaning up. This finished, she came to stand beside Kagura. Reaching down to take Kanna from Kagura, she said, "Sango, you should go on to sleep. Miroku, I will take first watch. The first hour of your watch, you and I will use to talk. Kagura, you need to rest too."
"What about you, Obahime?" asked the Wind witch.
An amused look on her face, Sayuri motioned beyond her.
Sango, Miroku and Kagura looked in that direction. Sayuri was already asleep and yet, she was also standing right there with them. It was the slayer that asked, "How is that happening?"
"I am a ninja," Sayuri said. She turned away from the fire and Kanna began to nurse.
"What baby does she feed and how?" asked Sango of Kagura.
"My baby is Kanna. I gave her a new life to live. She will be my daughter as surely as the ones fathered by Inuyasha's true form will be."
Stunned, Sango and Miroku looked at one another. They could not understand this, not at all.

Just at five the next morning, Miroku rose and went to Sayuri's side. There he stood in silence for a moment before
asking, "What happened? Why did my wife and I feel regret last night? Why do I feel sorrow now?"
Sayuri faced him and said, "Kikyou gave you, Sango and Inuyasha a certain potion that gave her control over you. Then
she used that control to make you three hurt Kagome." Sayuri turned to look at him then. "Kagome lived and fought with
you for three years. In that time, did she ever betray you? No. She would have died to save any of you many times over.
How did you repay her? You encouraged her to free Inuyasha from the beads, then you stood back while he beat her, you
took up for Kikyou and then she was able to use the demons inside you to cause you to starve Kagome. You were used to
injure her and you watched while he sexually assualted her. Worse yet, you joined in. Miroku, you are a strong monk.
Why did you not fight harder?"
Ashamed, Miroku looked away. "I was tired of fighting. I just wanted to live in peace with my wife and our family."
"Now look at what you have. Is being separated from Kagome like this worth that? Miroku, there will never be true
lasting peace until the world is again right with Kami. I want you to use the time ahead of you to re-evaluate your
priorities. Your choices have consequences. They affect not only you, but everyone around you. I will call you to
breakfast when it is ready."

Five hours later, Sayuri left with Sango and Kagura at her side. She carried Kanna. She watched the two. At first, they were silent toward each other and her. Silence did not bother her. Also it was good for Kanna who slept most of the time. Then they started being civil toward each other. This odd group reached the portal to the Earth's current
generation just about six that even. They were greeted at the door by none other than Mother Higurashi.
"Sayuri! You're back! Grandpa! Souta! Sayuri's home. Come in, come in. Supper is just about ready."
The three entered and Kanna woke.