InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Lingering Ghosts ❯ Summons ( Chapter 1 )

Disclaimer: I don't own the sandbox, I just like to play in it.

 

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Chapter 1 - Summons

 

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Thundering hooves broke through the tranquility surrounding the mountain temple where Hacchi had made his temporary home. Startled out of his nap, the tanuki ran inside the temple as fast as his plump legs would carry him.

 

It didn't take him long to locate the temple's other inhabitant. Mushin was also dozing, but the pounding feet of the approaching horses were not enough to disturb the monk from his drunken stupor.

 

“Mushin-sama!” said Hacchi frantically, kneeling to shake the old man. “Mushin-sama, wake up!”

 

Heavy lids blinked slowly at the tanuki. “Hacchi? What is it?” Mushin didn't seem at all concerned about his companion's frenzied state.

 

“There are horses coming! Quickly, too!”

 

“Horses?” Mushin frowned blearily. It was rare for him to have visitors at his secluded temple, even rarer for them to be in a hurry to get there. He walked outside, scratching his stomach and yawning.

 

Stepping out to the top of the stairs that sat upon the mountain, Mushin could see ten horses below with their riders. One of the riders dismounted and ascended the stairs. As the man came closer, Mushin saw that he was middle-aged and stern, wearing the armor of a samurai.

 

Mushin tapped himself on the cheek in an effort to shake off his lethargy. “Good morning,” he greeted with a slight bow when the man reached him.

 

“Are you the monk Mushin?” The man's harsh voice matched his strict countenance.

 

“I am. Is there anything I can do for you?”

 

Without salutation, the samurai replied, “I am Kuromatsu Seiji, general of the Furugawa clan. I have come to speak to the monk Yasuo. I was told I could find him here.”

 

Mushin raised his bushy eyebrows. Yasuo… That was a name he hadn't heard in a long time. “I'm afraid Yasuo passed away many years ago.”

 

Frowning, Kuromatsu responded, “No matter. This only directly concerns Yasuo's son. Take me to him.”

 

So the Furugawa clan wants to see Miroku. “You won't find him at this temple. He left here a long time ago.”

 

Kuromatsu's frown deepened. “Can you tell me where he is now?”

 

Some time later, as the sound of hoof beats faded to a distant rumble, Mushin went back inside the temple, where Hacchi was waiting for him.

 

“Are you sure that was wise, Mushin-sama? Telling them Master Miroku's whereabouts? They could be out to harm him.”

 

“No,” Mushin replied casually, laying himself back onto the floor to continue his nap. “I had a feeling the Furugawa clan would seek him out one day.” He yawned. “Besides, I'm sure it's nothing Miroku can't handle.”

 

.-.-.

 

“That was a waste of time,” Inuyasha growled. “All this way for some wimpy centipede. Shippou could've beaten this one - should've sent him to take care of it and saved myself the trip.”

 

Kagome smiled good-naturedly. “Oh, it's nothing you couldn't handle, right?”

 

“'Course I can handle it, I just don't want to spend all of my time wandering the countryside, killing off youkai because you humans can't take care of things on your own. What do these people think I am, their personal exterminator?”

 

“Come on, Inuyasha, you know you're bored out of your mind when you have to stay in the village all day long.”

 

“Keh!”

 

The ever-brilliant retort, thought Kagome with a sigh even as a small smile crept onto her face. A little griping from Inuyasha didn't bother her; it only served to remind her that they no longer had anything important to be upset about. After living in uncertainty for so long, she had come to appreciate a peaceful life.

 

Well, as peaceful a life as Kagome could have, at least.

 

Inuyasha halted suddenly, his ears twitching, and turning around he lifted his nose to sniff the air. Before Kagome could make any inquiries, he had taken her by the waist and pulled her off the road. Only a few seconds passed before she heard it as well - horses coming up fast behind them.

 

Sure enough, a group of men on horseback thundered past them not long after. They came and went without sparing a glance at the pair.

 

Inuyasha snorted. “Guess they're in a hurry.” He released his grip on Kagome and continued down the road.

 

“They're heading in the same direction as we are,” she mused, idly taking hold of Inuyasha's hand and ignoring the blush that flew across his face as she did so. “I wonder if they're going to Kaede-obaachan's village…”

 

“Feh, why would they want to go there? Unless they were looking for a good place to pillage, in which case I wouldn't blame `em.”

 

“Inuyasha,” she reprimanded, nudging him with her elbow.

 

“Yeah, yeah…” Without warning, he pulled her onto his back and bounded off into the forest at what was to him a leisurely pace. When Kagome looked at him questioningly, he mumbled, “You walk slow.”

 

She smiled and buried her face in his back.

 

.-.-.

 

After fifty years of relative peace, the townsfolk of the village that housed the Shikon no Tama had been forced to adjust themselves to the daily chaos that came with harboring youkai, a hanyou, a girl from the future, and a pair of extremely volatile newlyweds.

 

This chaos was currently manifesting itself in the form of two very different voices coming from a hut on the outskirts of town.

 

The first voice was calm and reserved: “I still think you're overreacting.”

 

The second sounded as if it would be more suited for a battlefield: “I saw what you were looking at, houshi-sama, and it wasn't her eyes!”

 

“I assure you, my intentions were completely honorable.”

 

“The day your intentions are honorable is the day I grow a beard!”

 

Two young boys sat outside the hut, both pretending they weren't listening intently to the argument going on within.

 

The smaller of the boys sighed, stretching his hands above his head. “Guess we should've known they wouldn't change after they got married.”

 

His companion, a human not yet in his teens, replied, “It seems like they get along most of the time, but whenever they do fight…”

 

“Better look out,” Shippou concluded with a solemn nod.

 

“Miroku-sama always seems so calm about it, but I guess ane-ue's temper just gets the better of her.”

 

“Has she always been like that?”

 

“Not often… not that I've seen, anyway.”

 

Shippou smirked. “Maybe Miroku just brings out the worst in her.”

 

“Maybe… but he makes her happy most of the time, right?”

 

“I dunno.” The kitsune stood, having apparently grown bored with listening to the argument going on inside the hut. “Grown-ups are weird like that. They always seem to stick with the person who gets to them the most. So even if they really like each other, they'll still argue a lot. That's what I've noticed, anyway.” Seeing the perplexed look his companion was wearing, Shippou grinned. “Don't worry, you'll get used to it.”

 

Kohaku sighed wearily as he stood to follow the fox cub. “Like I don't already have enough to get used to.” Going through three lives could put a strain on anyone, and the eleven-year-old taijiya was no exception.

 

He had awoken to his third life with the same image that had ended his first - the tear-stained face of his beloved sister. Vaguely he could hear the sheathing of a sword accompanying the joyful gasp of a little girl.

 

“You did it, Sesshoumaru-sama - you saved him!”

 

“Rin, we're leaving.”

 

“Right!”

 

Kohaku tore his gaze away from his sister, to be met with one of the brightest smiles he'd ever seen. Rin waved at him energetically, impossibly cheerful for a girl who had just watched hell erupting all around her. “I have to go now, Kohaku. I hope we'll see each other soon!” With that, she turned and trotted after the youkai lord.

 

“Se- Sesshoumaru…” Sango stammered, clutching Kohaku tightly. “You saved…” A sob cut her off, and she buried her face in her brother's hair.

 

As Sesshoumaru passed his half-brother, Inuyasha spoke in a low tone that did not fully hide his amazement, “I thought you hated humans. So why--?”

 

“This Sesshoumaru does not need to explain his motives to anyone, least of all you.” He continued on, not looking back once.

 

Four weeks had passed since Naraku's defeat, and Kohaku was still adjusting to his new life in a new village - with a new brother-in-law.

 

Miroku was likeable enough; it had simply come as a shock to the boy when - after having just been reunited with his sister - he'd learned that her wedding would not be far behind. Kohaku had always thought Sango to be above the reach of any man. He had to admit to himself that he'd never really seen her as a woman. She had been a sister and a warrior, not someone to be tied down by marriage.

 

Kohaku had been rather standoffish towards Miroku at first, mainly due to shyness, but also because deep down, he couldn't help but feel cheated. He was finally allowed to return to his sister, and he had to share her affections with someone else. But the monk had been patient and understanding, and a friendly truce now existed between the two men in Sango's life.

 

And now, after four weeks of being followed by a clingy, worrisome sister, Kohaku was starting to wish she'd spend more time with her husband.

 

Shippou's voice cut through Kohaku's musings. “Why so quiet?” The kitsune sighed dramatically. “Just when I thought I'd gotten you to talk more…”

 

“I was just thinking,” Kohaku replied, embarrassed that he'd left his companion in silence for so long.

 

“About?”

 

He started to shrug the inquiry off, but instead decided that he'd rather vent on the subject to his new friend. Heaving a sigh, he said, “It's ane-ue. I'm glad to be back with her, but I really wish she'd stop worrying about me so much.”

 

“Ohh, I see,” said Shippou knowingly. “She has kept a pretty tight leash on you.”

 

Kohaku kicked at the grass sourly. “I know. I didn't mind so much at first, but now I feel like…” He trailed off as he stared out towards the other side of the village, where specks in the distance had caught his attention.

 

Shippou followed Kohaku's gaze, and his sharp youkai eyes were able to discern ten rapidly approaching horsemen.

 

“Looks like they're heading into the village,” said Shippou, cocking his head to the side. “I wonder what they want?”

 

“Should we go back?”

 

“Yeah.” The cub hopped onto his shoulder. “Nothing to do out here anyway.”

 

They soon found themselves back at the hut; a brooding silence now hung in the air, and the spot they had recently vacated was currently occupied by a sullen monk with a tell-tale red handprint on his cheek. His eyes were closed, his arms crossed over his chest, a slight scowl marring his face. He was perfectly still but for the periodic twitching of one eyebrow.

 

The two boys regarded him silently for a moment, until at last Shippou spoke up, “Still think she was overreacting?”

 

Miroku's normally smooth voice now came close to a growl. “Most assuredly.”

 

“Maybe it would help if you weren't such a lecher.” Shippou's attempt at a serious tone was ruined when he grinned smugly. Kohaku had learned early on that the seemingly innocuous kitsune quite enjoyed seeing Miroku punished for his wandering hands and eyes (though this joy didn't compare to the euphoria he displayed whenever Inuyasha was sent face-first into the ground by a single word from Kagome).

 

“She misunderstood,” Miroku stated firmly. “I was staring straight ahead when that girl walked into my line of sight. If my gaze lingered at all, it was purely by accident.”

 

“Su-u-ure,” Shippou drawled, smirking.

 

A timid voice interrupted the exchange. “Ah - Miroku houshi-sama?” They turned to find the village headman slowly approaching, followed by the group of soldiers that Kohaku and Shippou had previously spotted. Miroku stood to meet them.

 

“Miroku houshi-sama, these men have come to speak with you.”

 

The monk nodded his thanks to the headman, then turned to regard the samurai who looked like he felt himself the most important of the group - Kohaku assumed him to be the leader. “May I help you?”

 

The samurai spoke gruffly, “Are you the son of Yasuo?”

 

Miroku raised his eyebrows, apparently surprised at the address. That he would be so taken aback by being called his father's son struck Kohaku as odd, especially coming from a man who didn't so much as blink at being called “bouzu.”

 

But only a brief second passed before he regained his bearings. “I am. Is there something I can do for you?”

 

Almost as one, the haggard soldiers all seemed to let out a combined sigh of relief. From the looks of them, they had been traveling for quite a while to find Miroku. Their leader, however, remained harsh and unstirred. “I am Kuromatsu Seiji, representing the Furugawa clan.” He paused, waiting for a response from Miroku, but the monk only stared back with polite curiosity. Kuromatsu, who already looked like he would rather be in a youkai's mouth than here speaking to a houshi in some backwater village, scowled deeply. “Have you not heard of the Furugawa clan?”

 

Miroku nodded slowly, and Kohaku guessed he was trying to ascertain why exactly that name should be of importance to him. “From what I have heard, they are a powerful military clan ruling north of here.”

 

Kuromatsu's undisguised distaste transformed into outright indignation. “Is that all you have to say about your mother's family?”

 

Miroku's surprise was not so easily masked this time. Kohaku heard a small gasp coming from behind him, and he did not need to turn to know that his sister was now watching the exchange from the doorway of the hut.

 

And still, Miroku's voice remained unruffled. “Forgive my ignorance. I've had no prior contact with my mother's family, and I did not know my mother, as she died giving birth to me.”

 

“I am aware of all that,” Kuromatsu replied irritably. “We had simply thought - or hoped, rather - that Yasuo would have honor enough to at least keep his son informed of his own lineage.” The samurai wrinkled his nose, seeming to take great satisfaction at staring down from his mount at the unassuming houshi. “Clearly, we were mistaken.” He let out a long sigh of resignation. “All this way… but it can't be helped. I told Takara-sama that Yasuo's son was likely a monk himself, and would probably hold no interest in our affairs; but she was adamant.”

 

A humble, innocent smile crept onto Miroku's face. “And… Takara-sama would be…?”

 

“Your uncle's wife!” snapped Kuromatsu; Kohaku thought he saw a vein throbbing in the man's forehead. But the soldier sucked in as calming a breath as he could manage. “As I was saying, Takara-sama has requested that you come to the Furugawa castle so that she might discuss some important matters with you.” As he spoke, he motioned for one of his men to come forward and hand Miroku a scroll. “Takara-sama has enclosed the details in this letter. Should you decide to accept her request, I assume you will be able to find your way to our territory. I estimate it is a little over a week's ride from here to the castle. If we do not see or hear from you within a month, we shall assume that you will not be coming.”

 

As Miroku stared thoughtfully at the scroll, the village headman spoke up timorously, “My lord, shall I arrange a place for you and your men to rest for the night?”

 

“That won't be necessary,” Kuromatsu responded curtly. He signaled his men, and within seconds the ten horses were galloping out of the village. A heavy silence filled the air that they had just emptied, in which the headman bowed and hurried back the way he had come.

 

“Ten soldiers to deliver a letter?” Shippou commented with raised brows, then muttered, “Miroku must be more important than we all thought.”

 

Miroku sighed, turning back towards the hut. “No, I think they're the ones who are `important.'” He walked inside, not even sparing a glance at his wife as he stepped past her.

 

“Houshi-sama,” she murmured as she stared after him, hand clutched worriedly to her chest.

 

.-.-.-.

 

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Translation Stuff (or, In Case You Were Wondering…)

 

Ane-ue: A respectful and archaic way of addressing one's older sister, and the name that Kohaku commonly uses for Sango.

Bouzu: An insulting term for a Buddhist priest - you'll sometimes hear Inuyasha use this when he's mad at Miroku. Hee hee.

Hanyou: Half-youkai, half-human.

Kitsune: The Japanese word for a fox, or a fox spirit/demon such as Shippou.

Obaachan: A familiar way of addressing an old woman/grandmother.

Taijiya: An exterminator - Sango and Kohaku came from a taijiya village.

Youkai: This is almost always translated as “demon,” but it basically covers many kinds of magical beings and monsters from Japanese mythology.

 

(Information from http : / / autumney . net / iy / index . html, a lovely site that I've become quite dependent on.)

 

Feedback would be lovely, especially as I'm uncertain about how the characterization turned out. Thanks for reading!