InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Lavender and Roses ❯ What's Your Story? ( Chapter 2 )

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Lavender and Roses

By: Rini

Chapter 2: What's Your Story?

Kagome walked side by side with her bike as the group returned to the road they traveled earlier before the demon attack. Sango was trying her best to get Miroku to lay off while Inuyasha was determined to lead the group this time. Kilala was now her normal state sitting in Kagome's basket on her bike. Arioch was in last, watching out for anyone who would attack them from the rear.

Shippo, who was also in Kagome's basket, jumped down and hopped onto Arioch's shoulder, "Its nice having another demon around."

"Don't you like Inuyasha?" Arioch asked.

Shippo scowled," He's such a jerk to me. He's always so mean to me and doesn't care about anyone besides himself."

"Well I guess that's just the demon in him," Arioch shrugged.

"I still say it's nice having another demon, especially a fox demon. It's great to have someone like me around," Shippo said as he cuddled her neck.

Arioch smiled, despite herself, and held Shippo in her arms instead, where he dozed off into sleep. Arioch pushed the hair away from his face and kissed his forehead, much like her mother would do for her when she was younger.

Kagome looked back and saw the sweet exchange with the two fox demons. Kagome smiled and nudged Inuyasha's arm. Inuyasha looked back and scowled at the little demon. He huffed out and just kept walking.

"Inuyasha, isn't it sweet?" Kagome whispered.

"She's just an arrogant demon after the jewel shards. I'm sure after we fall asleep, she'll attack us and take the shards," Inuyasha growled out.

"Big words dog boy. I mean who here wants the jewel for power," Arioch spoke up from the back.

Everyone turned around as Inuyasha walked back to her and stood eye to eye.

"Say that again to my face," Inuyasha snarled out between his teeth.

"You question my motives when yours aren't any purer. Last I had heard, you were after the jewel to become a full demon. So unless I'm mistaken, no one here matters after you get the jewel."

"How dare you think you know what we are doing?"

"Inuyasha! Arioch!" Kagome pleaded.

"If you must know. I heard about you from other demons. They say you are after Naraku and I can't let you do that."

Inuyasha took out his Tetsaiga, "So you're one of his flunkies huh?"

Arioch laughed out, "Please! I want that man's blood spilled to the ground. I hate Naraku for what he did to me and I will avenge my family's honor and kill him myself."

Inuyasha put his sword away, "I can't let you kill Naraku. I have to make amends for the past and to do that I must kill Naraku myself."

"Then we are rivals then, for neither of us will let the other take what we want."

"You guys," Sango started, "It's after sunset and it'll be pitch black soon. I think we should set up camp and hear what Arioch has to say."

"I agree with Lady Sango," Miroku said, "No point in us arguing in the middle of the night in darkness."

"There's a clearing up ahead you can rest at. It's not the best, but the river runs close by there," Arioch stated.

The group walked ahead a few more minutes and came to a relatively large clearing and set about making camp. Miroku got firewood so Kagome could use her matches, while Sango got some fresh water and Inuyasha pulled out some food from Kagome's backpack.

Arioch made a spot up for the humans and placed Shippo on a pillow by Kagome's sleeping bag, close to the fire. Arioch sat down by the fire and pulled out her whip, cleaning it off with a cloth she had pulled out from within her robes.

Once everyone was settled and comfortable with food and firelight, Miroku turned to Arioch, "So what happened to you concerning Naraku?"

Arioch reclined against a tree and set her weapon aside, " I guess it started about 30 years ago. I was born to a fox father and cat mother like I said. My parents raised me in a forest far off from here. My father was a trickster who disguised himself as a human and stole from humans while my mother would often help travelers who got lost.

When I was about 10, my father heard of the Sacred Jewel and how he could steal it and prove himself the best trickster of all time. He was set in his ways, but he was stopped before he could even reach the village where it was kept. My father was chased down by a bunch of demon slayers hired by disguised demons who heard of my father's idea.

They chased and practically killed my father, but he barely got away with his life. He returned to my mother and myself, but he was in bad condition. My mother used some of her powers to conceal our identities and took us to a nearby village. It was there that we got care from the local priestess.

My parents had grown fond of the quaint village and planned on staying, but my father still entertained the thought of taking the Sacred Jewel. So we traveled to the village where the Jewel was said to be kept and stayed there for 7 days. On the 7th day, my father planned to take the jewel, but demons attacked him before he could.

My father was chased out of town by powerful demons. My mother feared for him and went after him. They were both cornered in the heart of the forest. I was ordered to stay in the village, but I ran out after them. I saw how Naraku killed my parents before my eyes.

I tried to kill Naraku then, a foolish thought for a mere child, but he easily stopped me. He threatened to kill me if I tried to go after the jewel or him, but I was so enraged I wanted him dead right there. I attacked him and he threw me to the ground, an inch away from death, and absorbed my parent's souls and encased them in two stones.

I cried as he left with the souls of my parents, but I was nearly dead. I prayed to whoever would listen for the power to slay Naraku and save my parent's souls. It was then that the spirit of the forest came to me and granted my wish. The spirit saved my life and healed my wounds. But it did more than just that. It granted me power and I began to age, since my body couldn't contain all the power in such a small form.

` Fight young one, for the love of your parents and the sake of doing what's right,' the spirit said.

It granted me one last gift. It gave me this weapon, the Jewel of the Moon. It's a whip made of precious metal not found anywhere in this area before and lightweight as well. This whip never dulls nor will it ever break. It possesses great power and uses the power of the moon to charge it's special attacks.

The spirit told me that a warrior centuries ago used the whip to ward off evil in the universe and slaughtered countless lives in order to protect the light in the universe. It told me the same weapon would be used again in order to stop the evil Naraku possessed from spreading and infecting the world.

I searched for Naraku for about 10 years now, but haven't been able to find him. In that time, I honed my powers and improved my strength. I killed many demons and fought many battles, earning a reputation myself. In that time though, I heard nothing of Naraku and I thought he was gone, so I stayed secluded for the last few years.

When I had heard the Sacred Jewel was broken into hundreds of pieces, I knew Naraku was behind it and would want the shards. So I searched around for traces of the shards and of Naraku. That's how I came to learn about a half demon and a group of humans, a monk, an exterminator, and a mysterious young girl. I knew sooner or later that I'd run into one of you, either you or Naraku.

I had only collected five shards before I met you, including the one from today. I had hoped it would draw Naraku in, but I guess it hasn't. I'm still waiting for my chance to rip him apart."

Sango turned to look into the fire, "That's horrible. It seems Naraku has no shame in what he does."

Miroku shook his head, "I guess we have become famous for chasing down Naraku and the shards."

"All that proves is that no one in the right mind will bother us," Inuyasha spoke up.

"Not really. All I had heard was that there was a group going after the shards. Other than what you all are, I don't know anything else."

Inuyasha stood up, "Then we'll keep it that way. There's no way we can prove your story is true so there's no sense in trusting you blindly. If you want Naraku, then that makes you on the same side, but other than hatred, we hold nothing else the same."

"Inuyasha," Kagome replied," Don't you think that's a little harsh?"

Inuyasha turned, "If we trusted every demon who walked up to us and said they hated Naraku, we'd be getting no where. This isn't your era Kagome. We can't afford to take chances now."

Kagome looked into the fire with her head down. Sango reached out and put her arm around her.

"Maybe we should get some sleep," Miroku offered.

Everyone curled up into their sleeping bags and went to bed. Inuyasha jumped up into a nearby tree and sat on one of the branches, reclining against the trunk. Arioch laid against the base of the tree at the trunk until she was sure everyone was asleep. Then she got up and walked over to the riverside.

"I'll have to watch out for this group, "Arioch whispered lowly, " The humans are trusting in my nature since I saved Kagome, but that half breed is still wary. They believed my story for now, but I'll have to prove that I'm on their side. I'll have to help those humans out more and be nicer to Inuyasha. He is the key here. But I must watch myself, should He come along. As long as I'm here with Inuyasha and the Tetsaiga, He could come at any moment and ruin everything."

Arioch looked down into the reflection of the water and stood up and walked silently back to camp where she laid down and fell fast asleep.