InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Mika- the Inu Ookami Hanyou ❯ More Questions than Answers ( Chapter 6 )

More Questions than Answers

 

Kaede's village…

 

As Mika and Kagome approached Kaede's hut, the smell of cooked food assailed their noses. With her keener sense of smell, Mika was able to discern the smell of rice and omelet rolls. Her stomach growled in anticipation as she realized she'd not eaten anything since her Trans-Atlantic flight two days earlier.

 

“I hope the food is as good as it smells,” Mika said as they reached the door.

 

Kagome replied, “It's pretty good. Almost as good as my mother's cooking, considering the rudimentary means of which they can cook.” Kagome led the way back into the hut, seeing Sango, Miroku and Shippo already seated in front of their meals. Mika set her bag next to the door and took a seat near Shippo. Kagome also took a seat as Kaede handed the young women each a plate of food and a pair of chopsticks. Once thanks had been given, Kagome dug into her plate hungrily, while Mika looked at the chopsticks in her hand.

 

After a few minutes of staring between the plate of food and the chopsticks, Miroku spoke up, “Is there a problem with the food? Is it not to your liking?”

 

Shaking her head, Mika replied, “No, the food looks delicious. I'm not used to using chopsticks.” Turning to Kagome she inquired, a hint of near panic in her voice, “So they know about forks? Or even a spoon?”

 

A shocked look crossed Kagome's face as she realized the extent of Mika's questioning, “You've got to be kidding me! You've never used chopsticks, with Aunt Ayame's cooking?!” Mika nodded her head, as her eyes slid to the floor in disgrace.

 

“Every once in a while when we'd go to the Nugget in Reno when we'd eat at Trader Dick's. We'd order the sampler platter with sushi, rumaki and ribs, other then that, I've always used a knife, spoon or fork. I mean no offense, Lady Kaede.”

 

The elderly priestess handed the young woman a spoon as she replied, “No offense taken, ye child. Our customs are foreign to ye. I imagine that your ways are just as foreign to us. However, I would ask, ye child, to work on your chopstick skills, for others may not be as understanding.”

 

Mika thanked the elderly priestess as she shoveled the food into her mouth as quickly as she could. The others marveled at the speed with which the food disappeared from the plate, similar in nature to both Shippo and Inuyasha. “If only this was a plate of bacon, pancakes, or French toast, this would have been perfect,” she thought as she gulped the last morsels down. The remainder of the meal remained silent as they remained deep in thought as to how Kagome's cousin had entered their era without the benefit of the Bone Eater's well.

 

After the meal of rice and omelet rolls, Kagome showed Mika around the village. As she pointed out different things, such as Kikyo's shrine, the river, rice fields, etc. Mika realized the scope of the village and how it was similar to her home on the outskirts of Jerome. “As you can see, everyone here helps everyone else out. It is a very close knit community,” Kagome said.

 

“I'm glad you like it here. I prefer it here more then modern day Tokyo. A lot less crowded,” Mika replied. She noticed Kagome's quiver and bow leaning on the wall of Kaede's hut near her duffle bag. “Do you mind if I do some target practice?” Mika asked as they neared the hut.

 

Kagome looked at the bow and arrows, a little possessive of them, and then thought, “What could it hurt? I'm sure she's not that good, and the arrows would probably just end up on the ground.” Kagome handed Mika the bow and quiver as she said, “Sure, Mika, you can use them. It will help pass the time until Inuyasha comes back.”

 

Mika slung the quiver across her back, with the arrows over her right shoulder. As she moved near a target leaning on a tree, she took a solid stance. She pulled the arrow from the quiver, notched it and pulled the arrow to her cheek in one fluid motion. Within seconds, as she focused on the target, Mika released the arrow. A solid “thwack” resulted in the arrow hitting the bull's eye a good three inches into the wooden target. Kagome's mouth dropped as the second and third arrow hit the target, creating a small cluster of arrows in the very center of the target.

 

Regaining her composure, Kagome approached her cousin and asked, “Where did you learn to shoot like that, Mika?”

 

Mika looked at her cousin with a smile. “I've been bow hunting with my father for about three years now. I've learned how to shoot like this since I was a freshman in high school. Trust me, there's not much to do in Idaho when you're a teenager. I turned to outdoor activities such as hunting, fishing, camping, hiking and working on a ranch during the summers as a wrangler. How's your shooting?”

 

Kagome shook her head, as she replied, “I'm a novice compared to you. Could you show me some pointers?”

 

“I'd be happy to, seeing as we're not sure when Inuyasha will be back.”

 

After a few pointers and scavenging a second bow and quiver of arrows, Kagome began hitting the bull's eye on a more regular basis. As they practiced Kagome looked at her cousin. “When we asked you some questions two days ago, other than your name, you couldn't remember who you were. Now it seems your memory has returned. Do you remember what brought you to Japan in the first place?”

 

As she notched another arrow, Mika replied sullenly, “My parents died in an auto accident over two weeks ago by a drunk driver. On my mother's death bed she revealed that I was doing in the hidden well. Instead of looking for my biological parents, they kept me as their own. I came to Japan to see if I could find my real parents, but also to be closer to what family I have left.”

 

Kagome listened to her cousin as she recalled what Inuyasha had told her and the others of Mika being found in the well as an infant. “So what kind of ideas do you have for searching for your parents?”

 

“I've not much to go on, just my wolf pendant and the tattoo on my shoulder. Mom said that this tattoo has been on my shoulder since they found me and that it never stretched or faded as I grew. Almost as if by magic,” Mika recalled, putting a few more arrows in the target.

 

Kagome turned toward Mika as she said, “Lady Kaede saw the tattoo when she and Sango were dressing your wounds. She said the words `wolf, dog, human and demon' were on your shoulder. What could they mean?”

 

“I'm not sure. All I know is that I had the tattoo when I was found, as well as my pendant. It was a coincidence that the day I was found the previous night was a new crescent moon. Mom had also kept the blankets I'd been wrapped in, a wolf hide actually of a soft grey color,” Mika recalled.

 

A puzzled look crossed Kagome's face as Mika spoke. “You said a wolf hide blanket? Is it possible that with your pendant and tattoo combined with the blanket that part of your heritage is wolf demon?”

 

Mika looked at her cousin as a confused look crossed her face. “Wolf demon? You're kidding me, right? I'm as human as you are, Kagome. I think this place has affected your perception on reality.”

 

“I'm not so sure it's that far fetched, Mika. When Inuyasha searched for you at the cavern in our time, he picked up the wolf scent, and he caught it again when he first met you. His nose is pretty sensitive, seeing as he's half dog demon,” Kagome pointed out. “Not only that, those sounds you got from the sword fight healed in record time and I've only seen that kind of healing from Inuyasha. So it's possible that you have some demon blood in your back ground.”

 

Continuing with target practice, Mika thought about what Kagome had said and thought about some of the things that she herself had noticed. “Is it possible that what Kagome had said is true? Could I be this wolf demon she mentioned? No way, and yet I'm not going to rule it out. Everything about my parents is still a mystery.” With both girls engrossed in target practice, neither noticed Koga's arrival.

 

 

As he stood near a group of trees, watching Mika and Kagome, he immediately recognized his niece. Despite the modern clothing, he saw his sister in the long red hair and blue eyes. Her scent was as clear to him as the day she was born. A tear came to his eyes as he recalled his long dead sister. “You would have been proud, Akane. She is your spitting image. If it were not for her father and the imminent threat to her life, I would have raised her as my own, you know. I would have protected her with all my heart, breath and strength. Why did you have to die, to have me take her to those two idiots who put her in worse danger than I ever would have?” he thought. He continued to observe the girl, thankful that the binding spell he'd requested, on Akane's behalf, was still in effect. At last, the girls moved away from the target, which now closely resembled a porcupine with all the arrows that filled its perimeter.

 

Koga stepped out from the trees, as he cleared his throat to gain their attention. Kagome and Mika stopped in mid-stride with a start. “Oh, Koga, we didn't see you. How've you been?” Kagome said.

 

As he took Kagome's hand he said, “I've been missing you, Kagome. I came to see how you were since I was in the area.” He looked deeply into Kagome's eyes, causing her to blush as he continued his silent vigil on Mika.

 

“Koga, you are so thoughtful. I'd like for you to meet my cousin…” Kagome started, but the rest of the sentence died on the wind as Koga took Mika's hand, breathing in her scent deeply, memorizing the uniqueness of her person.

 

“I'm Koga, leader of the wolf demon tribe. It is a pleasure meeting you….” Before he was able to get her name, Mika pulled away from him suddenly. She looked not at Koga, but through him to the striking figure which had entered the far side of the clearing. To Mika the tall, white haired man in a white haori covered with fur on one side, resembled a God or at least a wealthy war lord. As the white haired man strode toward them, Mika sensed malice from the stranger, unlike the wolf demon before her. As the wind blew into her face from the demons before her, she smelled their full demon blood. When the smells combined she realized that they smelled similar to her own scent. As the realization of the implications of this mixture sunk in, Kagome's thoughts of the possible wolf demon parentage weren't so far fetched. Suddenly her mind was a jumble of emotions and the urge to flee the demons became over powering.

 

Koga saw the look of distress cross her face shortly after she withdrew from his grasp. He turned and saw Sesshomaru enter the clearing. Sensing the danger, Koga's hackles raised as he positioned himself between Mika and the advancing demon. Koga tensed as the impending battle was about to ensue. He noticed the breeze was in their favor since both he and Mika were downwind and Sesshomaru did not appear to have seen the girl.

 

Kagome moved toward Koga as she said, “I wonder what he wants. It's unlike him to venture this close to the village.”

 

“I'm not sure either,” Koga replied, lying because he didn't want to draw attention to the quacking girl behind them.

 

The two continued their quiet vigil as Sesshomaru moved unhurried toward them. A flash of red appeared as if out of thin air and landed between the group and Sesshomaru. Inuyasha stood in front of his brother, effectively blocking his progress toward the trio.

 

“What brings you to this neck of the woods, Sesshomaru?” Inuyasha asked coldly.

 

Sesshomaru looked his brother in the eyes and said, “This does not concern you, little brother.” He continued toward the group, ignoring Inuyasha. When he was about 10 feet from the trio, he stopped and noticed the girl for the first time behind the wolf demon. His eyes went wide briefly as he took in the look of the girl, her hair, eyes, build and thought, “Akane?”

 

Inuyasha moved between Sesshomaru and the trio a second time, unsure of his brother's appearance either, but knew that something wasn't right. Sesshomaru moved a lock of hair from his face as he addressed his brother, “I see you've acquired another human for your group. Based on her appearance, she's the same as the girl you've been with for a while. What is it with you and human women, Inuyasha? What is your fascination with them? Do they make you feel human, or do they find your demon blood energizing?”

 

While he continued to needle Inuyasha, Sesshomaru continued to look at the trio, especially Mika. He wondered if her sudden appearance coincided with the half dog demon scent he'd followed to the village. He realized as he tracked the scent that it was not only hanyou, but mixed with wolf demon. He gazed at Mika intently as he realized that the wolf demon before her also had some of the same characteristics as the quaking girl. “Is this the scent I've followed? Is it her that I'm after? What is it that draws me to this woman?” Sesshomaru thought.

 

As the exchange of insults ensued, Inuyasha's temper flared. Once it reached its limit Inuyasha balled up his fist and took a sloppy swing at his brother. With the swing drawing Sesshomaru out of his deep thoughts, he side stepped the swing as a whip snaked from his fingers on his right hand. He lashed at Inuyasha relentlessly, causing him to use his haori of the fire rat as a shield. He continued to fight Sesshomaru, drawing him slowly away from Kagome, Koga and Mika.

 

As the fight continued, Sango, Miroku, Shippo and Kirara arrived. “What's going on? We heard some shouting and came to investigate,” Sango asked as they approached Koga and Kagome.

 

Kagome replied, “We're not sure. Sesshomaru showed up and Inuyasha showed up, and they started to fight like normal.”

 

“Well that makes sense. We'd best stay out of their way,” Shippo replied. As the group turned toward the fight, no one took notice of Mika, or the concerned look upon her face.

 

“What is going on here?” she thought. “First it's this guy who I remember from the vision I had earlier today. Now it's that one out there, Sesshomaru, I think he's called. Why do I feel that they are connected to me?” As she thought about the whole situation, Koga began getting agitated at the close proximity of Sesshomaru to Mika. Even though the wind was in their favor, it could change direction and they would be in great danger.

 

As he slid up next to Kagome, he said, “We have to get her away from here now, or he will kill her!”

 

“Who will kill whom?” she asked, as she tore her eyes from the fight.

 

Koga only replied, “Sesshomaru will kill Mika.”

 

“He'll do what?!” Kagome yelled as Koga grabbed Mika. Despite Mika's fear of men and her lack of knowledge of this one in particular, she knew he would not hurt her, and she'd gone with him willingly. Kagome looked toward the direction that Koga fled with Mika.

 

She grabbed Sango as she moved away from the fight. “What's going on, Kagome?” Sango looked around a second then asked, “Where's Mika and Koga?”

 

“Koga said something about Sesshomaru killing Mika and took off. We need to find them. Kirara, could you give us a ride?”

 

As Kagome and Sango swung onto Kirara's back, Sango asked, “Why would Koga have taken off with Mika like that? Does he know something we don't?”

 

“I'm not sure, but like Inuyasha clearly pointed out, she smells of wolves. The tattoo on her shoulder could be a description of her parentage and the pendant is that of a wolf. What else could it mean?”

 

Sango looked at Kagome as she replied, “It's possible. Once we catch up, we'll be able to get more information from him. Do you think that Miroku and Inuyasha will be able to find us once we catch up with Koga?”

 

“I'm fairly certain they will. There's Koga!” she exclaimed as the spotted a whirlwind.

 

As the fight continued, Sesshomaru was acutely aware when a majority of the group dispersed in a hurry. He had briefly seen the wolf take off with the red headed female as the others took off on the two-tailed demon cat, leaving behind the monk. Without the presence of the girl and the scent of the hanyou very faint, his thoughts focused on the girl. There was something about her that he felt was the answer to the questions he had about the scent he'd been following as well as a clue to Naraku. Immersed deep in thought, Sesshomaru did not see his brother pull back a haymaker punch. As Inuyasha let if fly, he knew it shouldn't connect, but was shocked when it landed solidly on his brother's left cheek, cracking the check bone, loosening a fang and splitting his lip.

 

Sesshomaru shook it off like a mosquito bite, wiping the blood from his lip off with the back of his hand, “What? Were you trying to hurt me? I don't have time to play with you, Inuyasha.”

 

With that, he knocked Inuyasha to the ground, disabling him momentarily and took off in the general direction that the women went, with Inuyasha yelling, “Wait! Where are you going? Why are you following them?” Sesshomaru ignored the questions, concerned only with the combined scent of the dog and wolf demon.