InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Forever Mine ❯ Strength ( Chapter 6 )

Disclaimer: "Bankotsu, aren't you happy I gave you a spot in the story."

"You gave it to dog boy! You let him say MY line."

"But it worked too well, besides I can do whatever I want. I'm the author."

"You don't own me! You don't own any of us!"

"A mere technicality."

Oh, just for those who don't know, `Neechan' means sister.

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InuYasha rolled onto his stomach and felt the space next to him expecting to find his mate but only ending up with empty covers. Slowly, he opened his eyes and looked around the room he and Kagome shared. Her red yukata was folded on the wooden trunk next to the door signaling she had woken and dressed before him. The strong smell of food cooking in the other room brought him from his sleepy reverie, but what surprised him was the scent of newly killed meat.

Grudgingly, InuYasha dressed and headed for the sitting room, which was already warmed by the flames in the hearth. Kagome sat before the fire carefully cooking what appeared to be fresh deer meat.

"Kagome, where did you get that?"

She looked up and smiled to him, the tan kimono providing a subtle but noticeable softening of her dark brown eyes. "It was here when I woke up, but Shinryo and Kyo were both gone, so they must have left it for breakfast. They both should be back soon."

He nodded his understanding and sat across from her. "What about Makoto and her spoiled highness?"

InuYasha reached down and grabbed a piece of sizzling meat between his claws, blowing on it before tossing it into his mouth. Having eaten nothing but rice the previous night he found the taste extremely satisfying.

"Not awake yet."

"Really? I didn't take Saraku to be the sleep in kind."

"What are you talking about?" a tired, muffled voice sounded from behind them. Makoto slowly rubbed the sleep from her eyes and yawned. "Saraku isn't asleep."

"Well, is she coming for breakfast or are we not good enough to be graced with her presence?" InuYasha scoffed, reaching out to his young daughter and pulling her into his lap.

Makoto yawned again and blinked her golden eyes a number of times trying to see straight. "I guess she is too good because she wasn't in the room when I got up."

"What do you mean she wasn't in the room?" Kagome asked, a tinge of worry in her voice.

"Well, I remember her getting up really early, but I thought she was just going to…you know, relieve herself. I fell asleep before she came back."

"Great, Lord High and Mighty's daughter has to go off on her own. Doesn't that girl know when to stay somewhere?"

"InuYasha, you had better go and…"

"Fresh meat for breakfast?" Shinryo's loud voice interrupted Kagome as he and his brother entered the house.

"And here Otousan has been lazy about hunting in the morning." Kyo laughed and turned to tousle Makoto's already disheveled hair. "Got to show off for company, I guess."

Kagome shook her head slightly. "You two didn't hunt for this?"

The brothers glanced at each other before shaking their heads.

"Great, so not only do we have a missing kid, but now we have a strange person delivering food to our doorstep."

InuYasha gently pushed his daughter up and stood, going back to his bedroom to get Tessaiga, which was leaning against the wall. Shinryo and Kyo were listening as Kagome explained what was going on when he returned.

"Otousan, we were just in the village. I didn't see or smell her at all," Shinryo said, his brother nodding in agreement.

"Then we'll check outside the village." InuYasha grabbed a few more pieces of meat and popped them into his mouth as Kagome glared at him. "What? Why waste perfectly good food?"

"What if it is poisoned? Maybe someone wants to try and kill us?"

He snatched one last strip and gave it an exaggerated sniff. "Ok, you don't eat it, but if I can't smell it, I'll live."

InuYasha left the house closely followed by his two sons. The three together made quite a foreboding scene, the boys' builds almost matching InuYasha's, though their youth still showed. InuYasha sent Kyo to search north of the village, Shinryo to the southeast, while he went to the southwest. If they were careful, and if Saraku was nearby, one of them was bound to catch her scent.

This girl really was turning into a serious pain. First she causes trouble with Muchi, which in turn get him in trouble with Kagome…ok, part of that was his fault, but still, she started it. Then she eats his and Kagome's food leaving them with rice…nothing but rice! Followed by another round of insults, of course. How well he could see her being as arrogant as Sesshoumaru when she was older. And now, now she goes off on her own, so early in the morning her scent had dissipated already. If she was hurt it was InuYasha's neck that would be gone. He very much doubted Kagome wanted a headless mate.

Ten minutes had passed without a single trace of Saraku when he heard Kyo's voice calling to him. "Otousan! We found her!"

"The brat isn't hurt is she?" InuYasha asked as he hurried to met his son.

Surprisingly, Kyo was laughing. "Otousan, you just have to see it."

InuYasha looked skeptical but allowed himself to be led east, obviously Shinryo was the real one to find her. As they ran through the trees he thought of all the ways he could teach the girl how to stay…the idea of a subduing necklace crossed his mind more than once, though he decided a good knock to the head would suffice. Even that thought left him though, when he finally saw the reason for his niece's leaving.

Shinryo stood at the edge of a small clearing not far from Goshinboku carefully watching the movements of the small hanyou. A morning exercise? By the expression on her face and the seriousness of her frame this was much more than just normal exercise. InuYasha found himself enchanted by the motion she created with her small form.

It was like watching water move in shape. She twisted, turned, stretched, jumped, and balanced; her arms swept through the air in the mixture of a waltz and fight. Each muscle seemed to be controlled independently, yet in a perfect synchronized dance that allowed such balance and flexibility he had never before seen in a child. Her speed only added to the grace she was showing. Her body moved with such pose and strength, yet already so fast that InuYasha was sure she would one day surpass even Sesshoumaru.

Her speed was very different from her father's though. His was power and force, to get from one place to another with as little stress as possible, but Saraku…it was like water in motion. If he hadn't paid attention he would never have seen it, but when he stopped and watched carefully, the swift and subtle movement of her body was stunning. In a fight if someone tried to analyze her style they wouldn't realize that the motion was coming towards them till it was to late and the wave came crashing down.

His anger failed to stay with InuYasha as he watched Saraku perform. Not even Shinryo or Kyo could have claimed such discipline and ability at such a young age, and certainly not Makoto. As much as the girl infuriated him, he couldn't help but be impressed by her strength and skill.

Saraku stopped moving, pulling her arms to her sides and body upright. She didn't speak, just stood there breathing for a moment. Then, slowly, her spine arched backwards, arms lifting above her head to meet the impending ground, until her form was once again straight. Her blood quickly rushed to the three lowest points of her body, her hands and head. Saraku stayed in that position for several minutes, still paying absolutely no attention to the three watching her.

InuYasha smirked slightly. Saraku's face was turning a deep red, tinged with a hint of purple in a few areas. If she didn't already have a headache, she would when she tried to move. Ten minutes passed and InuYasha sent Kyo and Shinryo back to the village to tell Kagome that Saraku was safe. It was a few more minutes before Saraku's legs began the slow decent back to the ground, her form strict and flawless despite the blood rushing through her head. Her body didn't show the effect, but her eyes did. Her eyes blinked rapidly as she tried to focus while moving back to her upright position.

"Hey, Saraku, are you done yet? Breakfast is going to be cold if we don't get back soon."

She turned her head, a little too fast from the way her eyes rolled back in pain. Her face scrunched together as she waited for the pressure to pass.

"I am finished. I have to practice in the morning though. I will every morning."

A part of InuYasha's temper flared again as he remembered why he was in the middle of the woods. "You could have told someone that. No one knew where you went. If anything happens to you Sesshoumaru will go into a fit."

"Chichiue does not `go into fits.' Chichiue kills those who offend us or hurt Okaasan and me."

Saraku picked up her scythes from the ground not too far from where she had been practicing and the two headed back to the village.

"Do you really not care if someone is killed? I mean, a human is no match for Sesshoumaru. What is the point of fighting when it is obvious who is the stronger?"

"I don't know, why do you fight Chichiue?" Saraku asked smirking.

That remark earned her the strike on the head InuYasha had been restraining from giving her, though he made sure not to hit either of her ears. He knew just how painful that could be. She rubbed her head and glared at him before turning her nose up haughtily.

"If it is obvious Chichiue is stronger then the human should accept it and do as he is told."

"Just because he is stronger doesn't mean he can do whatever the hell he wants."

"Chichiue is the Lord of the Western Lands, and in his lands he can do `whatever the hell he wants.'" Saraku made sure to put on her best impression of InuYasha, which earned her a second blow to the head.

"He could just toss them aside or knock them out. He doesn't have to kill those who have no chance of winning."

"That bastard you took me to meet last night, if he hurt someone in your family, say Makoto, and you fought there would be no chance of him winning, but would that stop you from killing him?"

InuYasha wasn't sure what annoyed him more, the fact she was right, or the fact that she used Makoto as an example.

"Why did you say Makoto?"

"Cause she is the only one who is weak enough to be hurt."

"She is strong. She simply…doesn't use it."

"It doesn't matter if you are strong if you never use it though."

They walked in silence for a few moments before Saraku looked up at him again. "You didn't answer me. Would you kill him?"

"Without a second thought," InuYasha said dryly.

"See, Chichiue doesn't want Okaasan or me…or Seto…to be hurt, and that includes our honor."

InuYasha growled. How was this brat making Sesshoumaru into the good guy?

"Let's go, breakfast should have been done a while ago. You even get fresh meat today."

"I better seeming I caught it. You should be happy I thought of getting one big enough for all of you as well."

InuYasha stared her slightly dumbfounded. "You caught it?"

"Of course. What, did you think some stranger just left food at your doorstep? I always have meat as a part of my breakfast and since I smelled no preserved meat and no one woke up to hunt, I went myself. How late do you people sleep in? What a waste of the morning."

"How do you know how to hunt if all your meals are prepared for you?"

Saraku looked at him as if he had just said the stupidest thing in the world. "Even if I had never been properly taught, do you really think I couldn't go catch a deer on my own? Idiot."

There was that knock on the head again.

"Stop that!" She took a moment to compose herself again. "Just because I live in the castle doesn't mean Chichiue never took me out to hunt. He doesn't want me to not know how to survive outside of the castle."

The village came into view and they headed through the fields to his house.

"Saraku, why did you do that at the end of your practice this morning? The handstand."

"One should know how to move with pain, that way if you are hurt it won't effect you."

"You are in pain?" he asked surprised since she hadn't acted like she was other than when she first moved.

"A person can't stand with all the blood rushing to their face for almost twenty minutes and not have a headache. It isn't too bad right now tough, not like when I stood. Now I know why Chichiue doesn't call for me afterwards. It hurts to turn your head too fast."

"Sesshoumaru makes you do all that? Why the hell do you need to if he is supposed to protect you."

"Chichiue doesn't make me do any of it. The only thing Chichiue makes me do is my practice with him, everything else I do on my own. I want to, so I won't be weak and..." Saraku's voice trailed off and she looked away, refusing to make eye contact with him.

InuYasha was rather confused, this was the first time she had ever hesitated and he couldn't think of anything that would make her anxious. He stopped and squatted down so that he was eye level with her.

"What, you finally shut up when you actually have something to say?"

"InuYasha," Saraku said tentatively, "can I ask you a question?"

He nodded but remained silent this time. Whatever it was seemed to upset her and InuYasha didn't want to make it worse.

"What is it like…when it takes over?"

"When what takes over?"

Saraku's eyes glanced down at Tessaiga, which was sheathed at InuYasha's waist, then back to her own scythes. He understood now. He stood and directed Saraku over the stream, which ran between the fields and the village, taking a seat next to a nearby tree. Saraku quickly followed suit, though she still refused to look directly at him.

"You want to know what it is like when your demon blood takes over?"

She nodded.

"Why? You won't have to worry about that if you keep those things from breaking."

"But, what if they do? I would rather believe they could and prepare than think they won't and go mad."

"Preparing won't matter. Nothing will. It isn't something you can understand unless you have felt it."

"Chichiue says it is dangerous, that it can make me forget who I am if it happens."

"Damn, does Sesshoumaru like scaring you?"

"I have a right to know what would happen to me."

This time it was InuYasha who looked away. She was right, he had wished the others had told him sooner.

"You don't forget the first time. The first time is…unnerving. It will only happen if your life is in danger, but even after whatever it is that was threatening you is dead you will still want to kill. Somehow the bloodlust is heightened, everything appears as an enemy, even those closest to you. If it happens more, soon you won't remember anything during the transformation, and sometimes returning to normal is the worst part."

"Why?"

InuYasha was surprised to find Saraku staring at him, not just looking or paying attention, by staring at him as she had done to Sesshoumaru before. His eyes filled with regret as he remembered the times he had transformed.

"You have to see what you did. You have to see the consequences of a part of yourself you can't control. Sometimes it is hard to accept what you have done, even though the blood is staining your claws."

"But it is to protect yourself."

"Only at first, but the transformation can stay longer than the enemy."

InuYasha had smelt her fear when she was in her human form, but to smell it then, when she appeared so calm and controlled, was something completely different. To think she was so scared about something that would more than likely never happen to her, and to be worried so young.

InuYasha hit her right between her multi-colored canine ears. "Who cares though, since you won't ever need to worry about it."

"Who says I don't need to worry?" Saraku asked sourly as she rubbed her head.

He looked down with a reassuring expression. "Like the daughter of Sesshoumaru would ever be cornered in such a way."

A gentle smile formed on her normally arrogant face and the fear was soon gone from her scent. InuYasha stood up and started back to the house, Saraku in close pursuit. The scent of cooked meat was filtering through the door and InuYasha couldn't wait to eat finally.

"You know I could get to like you hunting every morning."

"Don't get used to it. If you don't hunt you don't get any. I can always just catch a rabbit or something for myself."

He watched as she once again rubbed the spot between her ears. He wondered how many times it would take before she realized some things were best left unsaid.

He did go hunting the next morning, that is, he went with her while she hunted. Saraku actually didn't want him hunting, she enjoyed it very much herself, but it seems she wasn't used to having her morning routine alone. Sesshoumaru, as she later told InuYasha, always accompanied her, whether it was hunting or practicing. InuYasha couldn't say he didn't enjoy watching her. She was still irritating and arrogant, the number of times he hit her, or tried too as time passed, proved that, but she seemed to be very interested in him since he was the first hanyou she had met.

She often asked him questions, some as simple as `can a hanyou ever really match a full demon' while others were a bit more…delicate. The most tender topic being Makoto. Saraku was both annoyed and baffled by her cousin's behavior. She never could understand why Makoto seemed to remain subjected to everyone else, especially Muchi. If Saraku had gotten a lot of hits from InuYasha, Makoto had gotten twice as many reprimands from Saraku. During her morning practice, after having been with InuYasha's family for a week, Saraku asked him a question even he didn't know the answer to.

"InuYasha, why is Makoto so scared of Muchi?"

"I don't know, she just always has been. If I knew I would try and help her, but she keeps to herself about that."

"Why don't you ask her?"

"Would you answer if Sesshoumaru asked you something like that?"

InuYasha was beginning to believe she had perfected the "are you stupid" look just for him.

"If it was something that important of course I would. Chichiue wouldn't let me not answer."

"I guess this is another way you two are different. She will just remain silent if I ask her."

"Then don't let her move till she does. That's what Chichiue does. If I don't answer him and he really wants to know he won't let me do anything until I tell him."

"And that is another way Sesshoumaru and I differ."

"You're just too soft."

InuYasha tried to hit her but she moved out of the way before his hand struck her. Damn girl was getting too fast.

Saraku continued her practice. "I just don't understand how she can just let it all happen. Doesn't she have any pride in her? If she has strength she needs to use it. If she doesn't she is just going to get walked over all the time."

InuYasha was silent as Saraku named his unspoken fears.

"I mean, what if she gets attacked? Is she just going to roll over like a broken dog and take it?"

His eyes lowered to the ground. "Most likely she would."

"Why! I don't understand."

Saraku was no longer performing her exercises but staring straight at him. InuYasha motioned for her to sit down and did.

"Think of it this way. When a dog gets cornered there are really only two things it can do, lay down and submit or try and fight. Makoto would rather lay down and take whatever happens than provoke the person who cornered her."

"Every dog has fangs."

"Sometimes it is better to stop. Not often, but sometimes you have to submit."

"No I don't! If you are cornered you fight!"

InuYasha couldn't help but laugh. Talk about a one-track mind. Saraku seemed less than pleased at being laughed at.

"Maybe it is because you only have one demon eye," InuYasha said in a unusually thoughtful tone as reached out and covered her brown eye. "You only see one path."

"What do you mean?" she asked, obviously surprised by his action.

"To anyone, even me, there are times when you just know this fight isn't one you should be in. For whatever reasons sometimes you should avoid a fight, yet you only see one path, forward. I pity the person who ever tries to corner you."

"Why?"

"Where anyone else would see two ways out, you see one. One path that leads to your freedom, of body and pride, and whatever is blocking your way is meaningless. Even if they are more powerful, you will never just submit to them, you will fight, and nothing will prevent you from being free."

InuYasha took his hand away and smiled when he saw the attentive look on her face. "I just wish Makoto was more like you, but as much as you can't see her way, she can't see yours."

Saraku slowly stood and returned to her practice, which was finished in silence. When they returned to the village and eaten, Saraku hurried off to meet with Kohaku who was teaching her how to control her scythes. As she ran off InuYasha was sure she had a smirk that would only lead to trouble firmly plastered on her face.

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Saraku woke before dawn as she always did, but this morning she looked over at the girl whose room she shared. Makoto really didn't appear like much at all, too petite for a fighter, too delicate for any real work, yet it was obvious by the fact she could do strong labor that she had demon blood. No human with her body could do what she was capable of. Saraku walked over and not so lightly kicked her cousin awake.

"Makoto, rise and shine."

The girl rubbed her side as she struggled to open her eyes. "What shine? It isn't even dawn yet."

"Nope, how are you supposed to hunt in the dark is the sun is already up?"

"What are you talking about?" Makoto asked and she pulled her cover over her head only to have it snatched completely off her body.

"I mean, we are going hunting."

Makoto's eyes shot open at that statement.

"Hunting? I don't know how to hunt. Otousan hunts for us."

"Not today, you and I are going to be hunting this morning."

"But…but Otousan never makes me hunt," Makoto whined, her voice filled with both annoyance and worry.

Saraku tossed one of Makoto's kimono's to her and waited at the door. Makoto grudgingly put on the kimono and stepped forward only to be stopped by Saraku. She smiled at her unsuspecting cousin and ripped her claws down the side of the kimono before Makoto could stop her.

"What did you do that for!" Makoto cried.

"Do you really think you can hunt when your legs are restrained like that. If you had any decent clothing to hunt in I wouldn't have had to."

Suddenly, the door flew open, InuYasha stood in the doorway looking worried and confused. Saraku smiled up at him while Makoto looked as if she was about to cry.

"What the hell is going on in here? You are loud enough to wake the whole village."

Makoto ran to her father and grabbed the side of his pants, currently the only article of clothing he was wearing. "She woke me up and said I had to go out hunting then she ripped my kimono. It is ruined now."

InuYasha looked down at Saraku and tried to knock her on the head, but she moved away and playfully caught his hand in her palm. Then she did something she rarely ever did, she spoke so sweetly that a person could go into sugar shock just listening to her.

"InuYasha, I just thought that we haven't spent anytime together. I thought that it would be fun if we went out and I could teach her how to hunt. We would stay near the village, I promise. But she didn't have any clothes that let her move freely. I told her I was going to cut the kimono, but she got upset anyway."

"She did not tell me!"

"I just wanted to spend time with my cousin." Saraku looked up at him with the most fake and innocent eyes she could manage.

She knew InuYasha could tell she was lying, but she seemed to have conveyed a little of her purpose (or he could have really been that dense), because he pulled Makoto's hands from him and smiled at her.

"I think you should give it a chance Makoto. Just one little hunt won't hurt you."

"Otousan!"

Makoto rocked on the balls of her feet and was definitely on the verge of crying. The only thing Saraku couldn't figure out was if it was because she had to hunt, or because she was going to be left alone with her. Saraku playfully took Makoto's hand and pulled her into the hall then out of the house. Once out of InuYasha's range Saraku's grip tightened making Makoto wince.

"That…that hurts."

"How interesting," Saraku said dryly.

She wouldn't do anything unless Makoto directly ordered her to. Saraku wanted her to learn to take charge, and since her family seemed too lenient to do what needed to be done, she would do it herself. The only problem was she couldn't act this way in front of InuYasha's family without being reproached. Kagome had even scolded her for complaining about Makoto lowering her head. It wasn't a hard thing to do, and Saraku would stop complaining once Makoto raised her head. So in the end it was Makoto's own fault.

Saraku lead her cousin far out past the village, going out to a place that was full of game. It would have been a very easy kill for Saraku, but she wasn't the one who would be hunting. They searched around, Saraku never releasing Makoto from her grip and Makoto never again mentioning the pain, even though Saraku had steadily been increasing the pressure. Finally, Saraku found what she had been looking for. A small group of deer was sleeping in a clearing between the trees. Nothing could be easier for a first hunt. Saraku released her cousin and pointed to one of the largest bucks.

"Now, I want you to go and kill that one right there. Make a quick grab for the neck and break it before it wakes. If it wakes it will cause it more pain, so it is best to kill it while it sleeps."

Makoto's mouth opened to protest but Saraku slammed her hand over it pushing her cousin against a tree. "Don't make too much noise or you will wake them. Then you will have to chase it and kill it. I am trying to make this easier on you. Now are you going to stay quiet?"

She nodded and Saraku released her mouth. Makoto's eyes glanced over to the sleeping deer as she bit her lower lip.

"I don't want to kill it," she whispered in a scared voice.

"You are only going to eat whatever you kill. I will make sure of that."

"Otousan and Okaasan won't let you."

Saraku adopted the stoic expression she had learned from Sesshoumaru. "Do you want to challenge me."

The fear was so strong in Makoto that several of the deer were stirring from the scent. Saraku's gaze burned into Makoto as she looked between her immovable cousin and the deer she was supposed to kill. Finally, Makoto turned to Saraku.

"I won't kill it."

Saraku leaned in close, her eyes locked with her elder cousin. "You won't kill it?"

"No," Makoto said, her voice scared but firm.

Saraku pulled away nonchalantly and sighed. "Alright."

"What?"

"If you say you won't kill it then you don't have too. Of course now we have no breakfast, and I do so love meat with my breakfast."

Saraku was talking as if she had not just threatened Makoto into total terror. Her cousin stared at her slightly dumbfounded by the quick change of character.

"The…the fawn," Makoto said hesitantly.

Saraku ignored her and turned away. "I mean if you won't kill one of them then I will have to eat just rice…well maybe some fruit or something, but I really wanted meat."

"The fawn," Makoto said strongly.

Saraku smirked knowingly before calming her demeanor and turning to Makoto. "And what about this fawn?"

Makoto pointed to one of the fawns on the edge of the clearing. "It is hurt in the leg. It isn't right to kill a healthy one when a weaker one is there."

Saraku waited silently, she wanted Makoto to earn her respect.

"We should go for the fawn, not the buck."

Still Saraku remained quiet, crossing her arms over her chest. Makoto looked from her to the deer and back again.

Hesitantly she said, "I will hunt the fawn?"

A smile crossed Saraku's face and she nodded. Makoto was catching on quicker than Saraku had expected. She wasn't going to let Makoto get out of hunting, but she had wanted her to refuse to kill the buck. Saraku had chosen this carefully. She rarely hunted the strongest of the group, it would only hurt the deer as a whole. Taking the weakest was the best way since that is the natural order of the animal world. Had Makoto agreed to hunt the buck Saraku would have stopped her.

Makoto slowly moved towards the sleeping deer, looking back unsteadily. "I just break the neck?"

Saraku nodded and Makoto resumed her quiet prowl through the trees. Saraku was actually surprised by her grace and stealth. Having never before hunted Saraku expected Makoto to make the mistake of not watching her feet and breaking a twig as she walked, waking the animals, but she was silent and swift.

Makoto was only a few feet from the intended prey but seemed to be worried. The first kill could be unnerving, Saraku reminded herself, not a show of weakness as much as inexperience. In one quick move Makoto jumped in and broke the fawn's neck between her small hands.

The noise alerted the rest of the deer and they awoke in a panic, running and rampaging in an attempt to escape. Makoto froze in place as the chaos ensued around her, but one of the does was heading straight for her. Within a moment Saraku was standing atop the dead body of the deer, now lying before Makoto. She grabbed her cousin's wrist and pulled her up into the treetops till the area was clear.

"Thank you," Makoto said as they returned to the ground to collect their kill.

"Don't expect me to do it next time," Saraku stated firmly.

"Of course." Makoto looked down at the carcasses before them. "I just, got scared, when they all started running around. I had never killed anything before. I thought they were mad at me. Silly thing to think, I suppose."

"Definitely a stupid thing to think, they were just freaked by the noise and got as scared as you. You need to get out of the way when that happens."

Makoto nodded. "But now we have too much. Are we just going to leave the other one here?"

"No, we can take the doe to Sango and Miroku's. No point in wasting the kill if someone can use it."

She picked up the larger doe body and let Makoto have the fawn. Even though Saraku was three years Makoto's junior, physically Saraku was more sound than her cousin. Besides, it was Makoto's kill and she should carry her own. They took the deer to a nearby river and cut and cleaned them. Saraku was amused by her cousin as they worked to get all the usable meat off the bones since she had only ever used a knife and Saraku was forcing her to use her own claws. This, at least, was something Makoto had done before and was fairly competent in.

They took the meat back to the village, first to InuYasha's house then over to Sango's. When they were done delivering the food Makoto headed in the direction of the lake but Saraku stopped her.

"You don't think we are done for the morning, do you?" Saraku asked mischievously.

"What else is there to a hunt?"

"Oh, the hunt is over, but the morning isn't."

Saraku reclaimed her fierce grip on her cousin's wrist and half led, half dragged her to the cleaning she used to exercise. As they were making their way through the trees Makoto pulled at the hold Saraku had.

"Can you let go of my wrist? I can walk without being pulled."

"I can," Saraku said, though she maintained her grip.

Makoto actually looked annoyed by Saraku's actions. "Let go of my wrist."

Saraku happily complied, releasing her without another word. Makoto seemed to be understanding the rules Saraku had placed on her and was, if slowly, starting to take some opposition to her younger cousin.

Once in the clearing Saraku showed Makoto her exercise routine, having Makoto repeat during the simpler movements, but allow her to just watch as she progressed to more difficult techniques. She even had Makoto spar with her in hand to hand fighting, though Makoto's skills were definitely lacking in every area of combat.

By the time they returned to the house for breakfast Makoto was exhausted. She sat in front of the heath across from Kagome and with Saraku and Kagome on either side. The two boys sat behind Makoto giving Saraku death glares as they tried to figure out what she had done with their sister.

"May I please have some more rice?" Makoto asked her mother.

Kagome quickly filled her bowl and handed it across the hearth only to have Saraku steal it from her hand. She put her own empty bowl and down and took a bite from Makoto's bowl. Shinryo was about to reach for the bowl in Saraku's hands but stopped when Makoto spoke up.

"Saraku, give me my rice."

Everyone stared at the small girl, who had never before spoken out for herself, in complete shock. Saraku had to bite the inside of her lip to keep from smirking. Makoto had finally figured out what she had to do, not ask…order. She gave up the bowl as if it were nothing to her and finished eating her breakfast. Across from her a satisfied grin was on InuYasha's face.

She spent the next few days with Makoto, taking her, instead of InuYasha, hunting and through her morning routine. Makoto was still shy and reserved most of the time, but when she pushed hard enough Saraku could get her to stand up for herself. She had to admit, after spending time with her cousin Saraku actually found her to be an enjoyable companion, and their close ages did help on that account.

On the day before Sesshoumaru would arrive to take Saraku home she was returning from her lesson with Kohaku to find an unwelcome and disturbing scent near Makoto…Muchi. What was worse was the sharp spike of fear in Makoto's own scent. Saraku hurried to find the source of their scents, which led her to the edge of the village out of sight from the majority of people.

Makoto was standing with her head lowered as Muchi spoke. Saraku wasn't close enough to hear so she slowly crept forward, being careful not to be seen.

"You little brat, how many times do I have to teach you your place?"

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to do anything wrong," Makoto whispered so softly Saraku could barely hear her.

"Sorry…sorry doesn't matter."

Muchi's hand came hard across Makoto's face. Saraku saw Makoto's ears twitch slightly as an all too audible growl escaped the hanyou's throat. That bastard thought he had any right to strike one of her kin.

"Please, I want to go home," Makoto said slightly stronger this time.

"You will go when I am finished with you."

He raised his hand to strike her again but Makoto pulled away at the last moment. Her body was visibly trembling but she had not let him hit her as she did the first time.

Muchi face contorted into a harsh snarl. "Did I say you could move? You will do what I tell you to!"

Saraku had enough of this. She abandoned her hiding place and ran across the small area separating her from Makoto and Muchi. Muchi's eyes widened as she leaped forward and clamped her arms around Makoto's neck, her legs pulled off the ground to she hung off her cousin's back.

"What's going on, Neechan? You look all upset." Saraku sent a sweet sadistic smile over her cousin's shoulder to Muchi.

Makoto stared at Saraku in shock. "Neechan?"

"Yeah, I thought it worked nicely. So, Neechan, why are you so unhappy?"

Saraku rubbed her cheek gently against Makoto's already bruised one indicating she knew the real reason.

"I want to go home, but Muchi won't let me pass."

By Muchi's expression he wasn't expecting Makoto to tell the truth. Saraku almost laughed when he heard a low growl forming in his throat, to think he was growling at a dog demon.

"Little bitch," Muchi muttered so low that only Saraku and Makoto's sensitive ears could have heard it.

Saraku pointed her right hand at Muchi and said playfully, "Flattery will get you no where."

She was pleased to see a smile forming on her cousin's face and a scowl on Muchi's. She wrapped her arm back across Makoto's shoulders.

"You know what, Neechan, I don't like it when you're unhappy. When you're unhappy it makes me mad, and when I am mad Chichiue is displeased, and when Chichiue is displeased," she looked Muchi in the eye, "people die."

Muchi glared at them both for a moment before turning and leaving. Saraku couldn't hold it in any more and started laughing uncontrollably, releasing her cousin and falling to the ground. Above her she could hear a light giggling from Makoto.

"He is so much fun to taunt," Saraku said, still laughing.

"I never saw him look…scared at a kid before."

"It isn't that hard if you know what to say. Like from now on, if he says something to you just say you know I will be pleased to know you are happy and well, see what he does then. I bet he will leave you alone immediately."

Saraku laid back on the cool grass and stared up at the passing clouds. Makoto sat down beside her, pulling her small knees to her chest and wrapping her arms around them.

"It would be nice if he did that."

Saraku was surprised Makoto had admitted to his insulting her. InuYasha had said she never did.

"Well," Saraku drew out the word in a long sigh, "I could always just tell Chichiue he insulted me and even tried to hit me. Oh, Chichiue would kill him in a second if I said that. I can see it now, Chichiue staring down at him, and Muchi would wet himself just before he dies. That would be great. Humiliation even in death."

"But it wouldn't be right, you would be lying and your father would know. Otousan always knows when I lie."

Saraku turned to look at her cousin. " I suppose you are right. Hey, Neechan, how about you come and visit us at the castle sometime. It gets kind of boring since there are no other kids. It would be a fun visit, and I can show you around. The gardens are really pretty and I am sure Okaasan will be happy to meet you."

Makoto smiled as she stared at the grass. "That sounds like fun. Maybe I can later on…Neechan."

The next day Saraku followed her normal routine with Makoto helping in the hunt and exercise. It was just as they were finishing eating breakfast that an all too familiar scent filled her nose. She immediately dropped her bowl and rushed out of the door, followed more slowly by InuYasha and the others.

Sesshoumaru was at the edge of the village and making his way to his daughter in a dignified walk. Saraku meet him halfway and could barely contain her happiness to see him. All at once she spoke with a speed in her tongue that could have matched her legs.

"Chichiue! Is Okaasan doing all right? It was actually fun here. Well, except for this one bastard but I taught him his place…it was great, I scared him to death…actually did that a few times, but it was fun each time. Oh and I went hunting every morning cause InuYasha is lazy…but it was fine because it was fun to hunt…I even took Neechan after a while and taught her how to…Did you know InuYasha never took her hunting…only the boys, what a waste…"

Sesshoumaru placed his hand on her head, which commanded her immediate silence. "There will be the entire trip home for you to speak."

She nodded her understanding and composed herself.

"Now, who is it you speak so familiarly of?"

Saraku smiled and pointed to Makoto, knowing he meant her use of the term neechan. "This is Makoto, InuYasha's daughter."

"That is apparent," Sesshoumaru said as he looked over the small girl who was half hiding behind InuYasha.

His eyes traveled from Makoto to her two brothers standing between InuYasha and Kagome, and finally to InuYasha.

"I trust there were no difficulties during her stay."

"Difficulties," InuYasha scoffed, "No, not at all. The brat was a complete pain, but no difficulties."

"Very well." Sesshoumaru gazed down to Saraku. "Let us be off."

He was about to turn around when Saraku grabbed his sleeve. "Chichiue, can Neechan come visit us at the castle sometime?"

Sesshoumaru looked once more to the girl now standing in front of InuYasha. "Another day."

Saraku smiled brightly and waved to InuYasha and the others as she and Sesshoumaru left the village.

She spent most of the trip telling him everything that happened, though at a slower pace than in her first attempt. They were over halfway home when she finally finished her story and looked up waiting for her father's reaction. He did not directly comment on any part of her tale but seemed more interested in the relationship she had formed with Makoto.

"Do you wish to see her more often?" he asked in his usual calm demeanor.

Saraku nodded. "When she isn't acting all weak she is all right to be around. It was more fun to teach her to hunt and fight than anything else. InuYasha and Kagome pamper her too much."

"Her appearance is more human than demon, they may see her that way."

"That shouldn't matter, besides she can't defend herself really. That jerk scares her to death."

Saraku was almost sure he heard a growl forming in her father's chest.

"InuYasha should not allow someone who threatens his pups to live."

"That's what I said." Saraku sighed nonchalantly. "But they could get in a lot of trouble if they kill the son of the headman, I suppose. It will be nice to have her at the castle one day, I can show her around and we can go visit Saka at the bathhouse. I bet she has never been to a bathhouse before."

"You will see more than Saka there. That girl, Yoshimi, she is now staying and working at the bathhouse."

Saraku looked up at Sesshoumaru both worried and confused. "Why?"

"Her village offered her as compensation for their insults. She would not be safe there. You may visit her whenever you wish, provided you have the time."

"Thank you, Chichiue," Saraku said, thankful that he did not destroy the village and that he protected Yoshimi. Now she had two friends.

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Saraku is just such a fun character to write. I hope you like her as much as I do. You got a little bonding with InuYasha and Makoto, bet you weren't expecting one with InuYasha. Like I said before, next chp jumps about 4 years for a very specific reason, and it will be dark. Just a warning. I rate this R because of a number of chps that are none too pleasant in nature, the first of which is coming up next.

So, remember to review, I love reviews, and you all are so wonderful to me.

Ja!