InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Mika- the Inu Ookami Hanyou ❯ Reconnecting with Friends ( Chapter 13 )

Reconnecting With Friends

 

Volcanic plain of Totosai's home…

 

As Mika reached the others, she noticed for the first time how much the group had grown. In addition to Kagome, Miroku, Sango and Shippo, there was a grizzled old man on a three-eyed bull and two young men dressed in furs, relishing some of Kagome's stash of food. At the smell of the cooked ramen noodles, Mika's stomach growled. “I'd prefer steak and potatoes to ramen, but I'm not going to be picky. I'm pretty starved,” she thought.

 

Ryuu cantered up to group, eyeing the group in general, sensing a mixture of emotions from them. He drew to a nervous stop a few yards from the group, pawing the ground as Mika slid from his back.

 

Miroku noticed the horse and rider approach. He recognized the Robe of the Fire Rat on the female demon as well as the demonic aura. He stood to defend the group because of the threat he felt coming from the two.

 

Kagome looked at Miroku as he moved into a defensive position. “What's wrong Miroku?”

 

“We've got company.” The group looked past Miroku to the female demon and horse slowly approaching. Kagome's heart went into her throat as she recognized Inuyasha's haori.

 

“How could he betray me like this? Who is this girl anyways?” she thought as tears sprung into her eyes.

 

Once Mika saw the monk take a defensive stance before the group, she realized that he didn't recognize her. “Great. I'd forgotten about my transformation. Well here goes nothing!” she thought. “Hey! What does someone have to do to get some food around here?” she called out, approaching the group at an even, unhurried and non-threatening pace. When she was more clearly visible to the group she saw a look of recognition cross most of the group's faces.

 

Once Kagome got a better look at the approaching female demon she gasped. Her eyes widened in shock at the facial markings of the demon. “It can't be!” she said quietly as she saw a female Sesshomaru approach.

 

Sango gripped her Hiraikotsu, getting ready to attack. She recognized the markings on the young demon's arms as those of Mika's arm after she killed the bandits. “So, this is her demon form. What is she capable of? I'd best keep an eye on her,” she thought.

 

A slow smile crossed Miroku's face as he took in the nearly naked demon, with her slender yet muscular arms and legs. As his eyes moved to her face, he noticed the blue eyes, firm lips and high cheek bones. Her tan complexion complimented the red haori that covered her from shoulder to mid thigh as well as her markings.

 

Seeing the monk with his mouth a gap, Mika smiled slyly as she said, “Miroku, I wasn't kidding about castration, if you don't keep your dirty thoughts off my body!”

 

The others chuckled softly at Miroku's expense as he tried to explain, “Mika, I was drawn by your beauty. I meant no disrespect. Please forgive me.”

 

Mika reached Miroku and gave him a sly smile as she replied, “Thank you for the compliment. I'd just be careful about how you express it in the future. I'd hate to see what my uncles would do to you if they saw you drooling all over me.”

 

As everyone relaxed once they realized that the demon was in fact a friend. Kagome approached her cousin, feeling relieved as well as upset at herself over her fit of jealousy against her cousin. “So where are Koga and Inuyasha? Why didn't they come back with you?”

 

Mika quickly filled in the group as to what had happened after being kidnapped by Kohaku and Kagura. She briefly described her befriending of the demon horse, Ryuu, her flight to freedom, demonic rebirth and concluded with the fight of the dozen demons. “When Sesshomaru made his presence known, they had me leave. I followed the directions Koga gave and got here as quickly as I could,” she explained.

 

“So what happened to your clothes?” Miroku asked, and was promptly rewarded with a bump to the head by Sango.

 

Blushing mildly, Mika replied, “When Inuyasha and Koga were arguing, he said that they had been ripped to shreds and those that were left he'd used as rags to stop the bleeding. He gave me this to at least stay modest. Now I just wish that I'd grabbed my bag with my clothes in it.”

 

Totosai let out an exaggerated sigh as he said, “I knew the day would come that I'd have to provide you with armor to protect yourself.” He pulled a huge burlap bag from near the three-eyed bull. He extracted several pieces of silvery blue armor as well as a black leather top, pants and boots, also accented in the silvery blue. “This armor and clothing comes from a blue dragon's hide and bones. He gave me a fairly decent fight, but it was well worth it. This will protect you from most weapon attacks such as arrows, mace, blades, etc.”

 

Mika examined the armor and leather goods with an experienced eye. She noticed the care of which the armor was constructed and the durability of the leather clothes as well.

Totosai pulled a sheath, equally constructed and ornate as the armor. From the sheath a handle stuck out a little over a foot to end in a circular hilt inlaid with mother-of-pearl in the shape of a crescent moon. He bowed his head as he offered the sheathed sword to Mika. “Please accept this sword and armor as a birthday gift. I'd be honored to know that you're well protected. I know that your mother would appreciate this, as well as your grandfather.”

 

Mika looked at the sheathed sword. Taking it from the grizzled sword smith, she thanked him greatly and inspected the blade. Even in its sheath, the Nueva Luna appeared as a menacing sword at a length of almost 60 inches. Although it was similar to Sounga, Mika hefted the sword as if it were a piece of wood, no heavier than a bag of sugar. Despite its two handed appearance, the Nueva Luna, could be wielded as easily as a rapier, or as it was designed as a hack and slash approach. Mika turned back to Totosai as she said, “I'm grateful for these gifts. Although forgive my curiosity. What type of metal is the sword made of? I know it is not dragon, like the armor.”

 

“The sword was constructed from the fang of your father, but it also contains some remnants of the fang from your wolf pendant, from your mother. It's constructed to protect you from your father if necessary. It is immune to the `Demon Strike' as well as poison proof and acid resistant,” Totosai explained. “We made a promise to protect you, seeing as we're old and not accustomed to fighting anymore; Myoga and I felt that by giving you a means of protection was as good as defending you ourselves.”

 

Mika knelt down and hugged the old sword smith and gathered the armor and clothing. She moved away from the group, deep in thought as to what Totosai had revealed. She donned the armor Totosai had created from dragon bones and hide. The dragon leather top covered her breasts, back and followed the curve of her rib cage, exposing her taught belly as well as her shoulder blades, but also leaving her able to move freely. Once the shoulder guard dragon armor were in place Mika noticed that it protected the cap of her shoulders down to the point of the shoulder blades, upper chest and her back over the hide top.

 

Mika cursed under her breath as she secured the armor into place, “I should try out as a linebacker for the Packers after this fiasco. What was Totosai thinking when he made this?” She pulled the scaled gauntlets on, noticing that they also allowed for maximum movement in her wrists, but also covered the palm and back of her hand in a protective layer of leather and armor, without covering her fingers. On her lower body Totosai also constructed a pair of jeans of dragon leather that fit like a glove, complementing her strong athletic build. Across her shins, the dragon scale shin guards were strapped into place over a sturdy pair of boots. Mika grabbed the sheath of her sword, strapping it across her back over her right shoulder, leaving the hilt, when sheathed, looking over her shoulder in an ominous manner. As she looked at her sword, Mika gently touched the hilt of the mother of pearl inlaid crescent moon and the rune marks on the blade. It pulsated under her tender touch, accepting her as its wielder. After she pulled her knee length strawberry blond hair into a pony tail, she returned the sword to its sheath on her back. With a stern look on her face, Mika returned to the group, ready for the imminent battle with her father.

 

Forest, near the edge of the volcanic plain…

 

As Sesshomaru advanced northward to the volcanic plain, his thoughts turned to a conversation centuries in the past. It was on a snowy night of a lunar eclipse as he watched his father, bleeding heavily from wounds he received in battle with Ryuukotsai.

 

“Have you some one to protect?”

 

“Protect… The answer is no. I, Sesshomaru, have no need of such.”

 

Looking back, Sesshomaru was beginning to understand what his late father had meant. “I'm beginning to feel protective of this person who looks like me. Where have these thoughts come from? I've never felt the need to protect anyone before. Maybe Rin has rubbed off some of my rough exterior to show that it's okay to have feelings. I'd just not let them show, or else they can be used against me. Naraku has already shown that he's not above kidnapping and murder of the innocent.”

 

Once he entered the edge of the plain he noticed that it was near Totosai's home. A brief smile crossed his lips as he thought, “It would figure that he's involved in this. I should thank him for this treachery.”

 

Back on the volcanic plain…

 

Miroku glanced at Mika as she slid next to Kagome. He looked away, toward the incoming and bickering Inuyasha and Koga, and then looked back at Mika with a look of shock on his face. His jaw dropped like a ton of bricks. If this were a Bugs Bunny cartoon, he'd be bug-eyed and drooling, not saying that he wasn't in his mind. When Sango spied his reaction, a swift slap to the face regained his composure as he gently rubbed his injured check with a smile on his face. Mika looked on in indifference to the reactions of the monk, although when her newly found and bickering uncles spied her, they also had the same reaction as Miroku, until they realized that it was their own flesh and blood that they had ogled.

 

As they approached, Inuyasha demanded, “Where did you get that armor and sword? And what makes you think that we would allow you to get into harms way to where they would be of use to you?” as he came within inches of her face.

 

“I was given this by Totosai and Myoga for your information. And I'm more than capable of taking care of myself. I've done a fairly decent job of it so far, thank you very much. Besides that, they figured that since my demonic heritage has been released, that my father will come for me and that they wanted to help me protect myself from him. Moreover, I saved your backside earlier today and what thanks do I get for it, Inuyasha. You're not the boss of me!” Mika replied, trying to rein in what little control of her temper she had left.

 

Koga pushed Inuyasha aside, also getting into Mika's face, as he put in his two cents worth, “I promised your mother on her death bed that I would protect you from harm if those two couldn't. Now shut up and let me protect you like I said I would, alright.”

 

“I'm well aware that you both are concerned about what my father will do when he meets me, and I'm fine with that when the time comes, until then, we have other things that we need to do before that happens. I for one hate being left out of the fight. Seeing as I've had to assist in the dispatching of various demons, and now that my parentage has been confirmed, I'm more of a target now than I was before in my human state. You two can't protect me every waking moment,” Mika responded, moving toward Ryuu as she let soak into their thick skulls what she had said.

 

As she ran her hands over the colt's neck, trying to regain her control on the boiling temper, Ryuu's head came up with a snap. He started to paw the ground, as his ears pitched forward. Mika picked up on the restlessness of the horse and looked in the direction he gazed. On the far side of the volcanic plain, near the tree line, Mika spied the tall white haired figure moving his way methodically toward the group. Koga and Inuyasha both caught his scent at the same time and whirled toward him, placing themselves between Sesshomaru and Mika.

 

Sesshomaru gazed at his daughter, mesmerized by her strong, yet feminine resemblance to her grandfather, and yet he saw a lot of her mother in her features as well. As he slowly moved toward her, he barely acknowledged Koga and Inuyasha as he approached. Both had moved into a defensive position to prevent his progression toward Mika. Inuyasha said, “You're not going anywhere near her, Sesshomaru. Just leave her alone.”

 

Sesshomaru ignored his brother, looking instead to Mika as he replied, “If my blood does run in your veins, then call them off or I will be forced to strike them down.” His gaze never wavered from her face as he memorized every detail of her markings, and expressions.

 

“Koga, Inuyasha, let him pass. I will not let you die like this,” she replied, moving toward her father, also locking his gaze with hers, trying to read his soul through his amber eyes. She saw a storm of emotions; however they were clouded in mist, as if he was trying to suppress them from even himself.

 

Kagome placed her hand on Mika's shoulder as she asked, “Are you sure that you can handle a meeting with your father? What if he tries to kill you?”

 

Mika continued her vigil on the trio as she recalled the dream of her battle with Sesshomaru earlier that morning. “I've seen my death at his hands. However I do not fear it.” As Kagome contemplated her response they both turned back to the battle field anticipating the impending fight.

 

Despite Mika's request, Koga and Inuyasha continued to bar the way for Sesshomaru to approach to his daughter. “So be it,” Sesshomaru replied as he pulled the Tokijin from his sash. He slashed at first Inuyasha, then Koga, trying to make his way toward his daughter. Both dodged the deftly wielded sword as they tried to protect their niece, against her wishes. Mika looked on in horror as her father tried to kill her uncles in an attempt to reach her. As the fight continued, Mika's blood began to boil, filling her with rage. She unsheathed Nueva Luna and charged at the group, feeling an immense power race from her into the sword. Her blue eyes changed into vivid green as her fangs and claws elongated, silver highlights streaked her hair as a war cry slipped from her lips. On nimble feet, she reached the fight within seconds and began to parry the strikes from not only Tokijin, but the Tetsusaiga and Koga's claws as well. She whirled with blinding speed, which matched Sesshomaru and Koga, but with the immense power of her dog demon blood. As her fury at being ignored by all participants in the fight grew exponentially, the blade of Nueva Luna began to glow a menacing blue aura. Mika jumped into the air, landing in the center of the fight, driving the blade of her sword into the ground as `Arctic Dragon' reverberated over the battle field and unleashing a horrific wave of blue energy. The blast threw the combatants back at least thirty feet from where Mika had struck. She alone stood next to her sword, her fury ebbed and her appearance returned to normal as she withdrew Nueva Luna from the ground.

 

As Koga and Inuyasha lay unconscious near Miroku and Sango and Sesshomaru looking on from a distance, having landed on his feet, Mika sheathed her sword and moved toward Ryuu. The great horse knelt down on one leg, as if bowing to his rider, allowing Mika to get on his back, as Kagome approached her.

 

“Where are you going? Are you not going to go and talk to your father?” she asked.

 

Mika looked at Sesshomaru as he returned her gaze. “Not at this time. I've too much to think about before I speak with him. With this demonstration of power, he needs to reassess his approach to me as I do him. I need to sort out my feelings and figure out what happened.” She looked at her unconscious uncles and asked Kagome, “Could you direct me toward this well you mentioned when I first got here? I need to clear my head and think about what happened.”

 

Kagome looked back at the group as she contemplated her answer. “Will you tell Inuyasha that I left for home? I'm sure he'll understand.” Mika helped swing her cousin onto Ryuu's back. Ryuu nuzzled Mika's knee, as she urged him toward Kaede's village. After a few steps, he was airborne and moving at a fast clip, leaving the group in astonishment of Mika's battle skills, speed and agility.

 

As the demonic horse disappeared into the setting sun with its precious cargo, Sesshomaru replayed the battle in his mind. “What speed, grace and accuracy that she possesses. She is truly remarkable. I'm certain that I also felt a very strong raw demonic aura emanating from her as well. This aura reminds me strongly of the raw demon state of Inuyasha when he's in full demon, but under more control. I've a lot to think about. I need to be able to talk to her.” He looked at the unconscious duo as he mentally reviewed the fight. As evenly matched as he was to the tag team fighting styles, he was astounded at Mika's ability to deflect all three persons at the same time without injury to her or them. “I wish those two had not interfered with my desire to speak with her. Now, I fear she sees me as a blood thirsty monster, only out for myself. I think that I know myself enough to know that I would not hurt her, and yet I'm not sure how she would react to me either. This is getting more complex than I thought.” He turned to leave the plain, heading back to his young charge and the annoying toad demon.

 

Inuyasha placed a gentle hand on his head as he groaned in pain as he asked, “What happened? Where's that scrawny wolf and Mika?”

 

Shippo landed on his chest holding up his fingers as he asked, “How many fingers am I holding up?” Inuyasha looked at the young fox demon and pushed him off his chest.

“Hey, I was just trying to help, Inuyasha. You needn't be so harsh with me,” Shippo countered as he regained his footing.

 

From a nearby stream, Miroku was able to retrieve a bucket of water, to clean the wounds of the two men. As he was preparing to wash the dirt from Koga's wounds, Inuyasha grabbed the bucket and threw it in the unconscious Koga's face, waking him up rather quickly.

 

“What was that for?!” Koga roared as he jumped to his feet, shaking the water from his head. He turned his indignant look to Inuyasha who responded with a smug look of his own.

 

“I was making sure you were still alive, you scrawny wolf,” Inuyasha replied as he handed the bucket back to Miroku. He looked around the group, quickly counting heads as he went. “Where are Mika and Kagome? Did Sesshomaru take off with them? Are they in danger? Where are they????” He demanded as he grabbed Miroku's cloak and started shaking him.

 

After a swift few blows to Inuyasha's head, from Miroku's staff, Inuyasha released the monk's robes as Miroku replied, “They got on Ryuu and left for the Bone-Eater's well. I think that Mika intends to return to the modern era to think about all the events that have transpired during her time here. I would kindly appreciate it if you would not take your anger out on me.” Inuyasha started to pace around, thinking about what Miroku had said.

 

Koga looked at Inuyasha, as he said, “I'm going to follow Sesshomaru and make sure that he's not going after either Kagome or Mika.” Without another word, he sprinted toward the retreating scent of the elder dog demon and vanished into the surrounding woods. Ginta and Hakkaku followed their leader as all that remained was a cloud of dust.

Sango slid next to Miroku as she asked, “Should we follow Kagome and Mika back to Kaede's village? I'm sure that is where Inuyasha will be headed shortly, seeing as Kagome left without his permission and his possessive nature toward her.”

 

Miroku looked at Inuyasha as he replied, “I'm sure he's as worried about Kagome as I am at Mika's hands. Despite their relationship as cousins, that display of raw power we just witnesses was very impressive and not to be underestimated. If she had wanted too, Mika could have easily killed all three with that blast. However her concern for all three as family prevented her full onslaught of that same power.”

 

“I agree. I watched Sesshomaru after the shock wave struck and he was even a bit concerned about this development. I'm sure that the reason she left was because she needed to think and understand what happened. We should not judge her for what that. There have been many times that anyone of us has done something like this. Take for instance Inuyasha's demonic blood overtaking him and slaughtering those bandits, my theft of the Tetsusaiga for Naraku in exchange for my brother's life, Kagome being overtaken by Tsubaki and forced to shoot Inuyasha, and for your womanizing which has caused us numerous headaches. Each of these should, in itself, have caused the others of the group to hate, even despise the perpetrator. Yet we've grown stronger as a team because of them. The same should be said for Mika. She's no different than I was when I first accepted the opportunity to join with this group. I understand how she feels,” Sango remarked as the two began to move in the general direction of Kaede's village, leaving Inuyasha to his thoughts. Shippo and Kirara followed the two, also reflecting on the battle and amazed at the amount of power Mika displayed in her abilities with Nueva Luna.

 

Lost in his thoughts, Inuyasha followed the group at a bit of a distance. “What happened? At first we were fighting to protect her, and then she launches an attack of her own to stop us from fighting. How can this be happening? We were only trying to keep her from being killed. She's such a fool. Doesn't she realize what would have happened to her if he had been able to get to her? I've some choice words for her when I see her next. I may not be her `boss,' but she will listen to what I have to say,” he thought as he caught up to the group. “Hey, let's get going. I want to see if we can beat them to the well and stop her from leaving.” With that said, he began to leap as if on wings from tree to tree, far ahead of the group. Kirara transformed into her big demonic cat form as Miroku and Sango swung on her back. Shippo sat on her furry head as the big cat took off, following Inuyasha toward Kaede's village.