InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Naraku's Expiriment ❯ Telling the Truth ( Chapter 25 )

Chapter 25 ~ Telling the Truth

 

Sango and Miroku were pacing around restlessly. It had been almost a week and neither Autumn, Kagome, or Inuyasha had returned. “Is it just me,” Miroku said, “Or do you feel used?”

 

“We aren't the primary concerns of this party, if that's what you mean,” Sango replied grimly, hoisting the boomerang to a more comfortable position. Gods, her back wouldn't be able to support the bone boomerang one day, and then where would she be? I suppose I'll just have to use my sword, she thought. “I feel more useless than used.” Yep, as useless as a fifth wheel on a cart, she thought.

 

They were all getting a little agitated. Sango in particular. The gods only knew how many times Miroku had tried to play grab-ass. She had slapped him so many times, it felt like her hand would never stop stinging. Miroku wouldn't have sympathized with her. He felt like he was going to have a permanent hand-shaped etching on his cheek. Yet he still persisted in igniting Sango's temper. Shippo just watched this with amusement, wondering if this was love meant.

 

Miroku had reached out his hand, setting himself up for disaster once more, when they heard the sound of leaves crunching underfoot. A familiar crop of silver hair and white ears appeared out of the forest. Followed by the image of a red fire rat haori. Yes, it was Inuyasha, looking confused, and troubled but beaming all the same. “Well you guys, I did it.”

 

“Did what?” Miroku asked.

 

“I gave Kikyo the boot.”

 

“Well it's about time,” Sango muttered to herself. Miroku elbowed her in the ribs and she saw Inuyasha casting a funny look at her, as though he had… Crap, she thought. He's a dog demon, isn't he, so surely he must have heard every word I just said. She blushed in embarrassment.

 

“What do you mean, finally?” Inuyasha asked dangerously. “Since when has my personal business become any business of yours?”

 

Sango laughed, “I…uh…didn't mean anything by it…”

 

“Oh look!” Shippo said, fighting the urge to look at Inuyasha's expression. “Here comes Kagome!”

 

“Kagome?” Inuyasha said. His voice cracked on the last syllable. “She's back?” A second later, his voice became hard and he said, “Nobody tell her what I did, all right? I wanna be the one to tell her when the time is right…especially you, Shippo.”

 

“Who, me?” he asked; the epitome of wide-eyed innocence.

 

Inuyasha was not amused. “Everyone knows you can't keep a secret to save your own yellow carcass.”

 

“Shows how much you know,” Shippo said. “I'm orange.”

 

Before Inuyasha could reply, Kagome joined them with a smile, peppy as ever, still wearing that truly hideous green sailor suit uniform. “Hiya guys…where's Autumn?”

 

Sango glanced at Miroku, who shrugged. She scowled. It looked like she was going to have to be the bearer of bad news tonight. She'd just have to be as tactful as she could. “Autumn's been gone for a while, now. She borrowed Kirara to get her sword back from Sesshoumaru a week ago and we haven't seen her since.”

 

“Sesshoumaru?” Inuyasha shouted. “You let her go to that bastard's castle…alone?”

 

Well, so much for tactful…

 

“She's a very powerful hanyou,” Miroku said, and Inuyasha's eyes narrowed at the implication that perhaps he was not. “I'd imagine she'd be able to take care of herself.”

 

“Yeah, but she's a girl…” The way his eyes widened, it was obvious he'd realized his mistake the moment the words were out of his mouth.

 

Sango and Kagome rounded on him.

 

“Just what do you have against girls, huh?”

 

“---Bet I could kick your ass---”

 

“---Kinder…you can actually tell what they're thinking and they don't---”

 

“---Weaklings just like female demons, only with less control---”

 

“---Wish you could just grow up because---”

 

“---Men like you that make me---”

 

Miroku said, “Why don't we go look for her, huh?”

 

Shippo looked up as a shadow passed by from overhead. “I don't think we have to, guys. She's right there.” He bounced up a little, pointing at the sky and waving.

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Autumn saw her friends waving at her enthusiastically. Gods, she had been gone for so long. That made a blush creep up her neck slowly, and she remembered the mark. Did her haori hide it? It didn't matter. They would find out eventually. The only thing she was in charge of was when. She swallowed hard, as Kirara descended towards the ground. Well, here it goes. Show time.

 

Kirara bounded into Sango's arms, who gave her a hug and then frowned at Autumn. “Where were you? I mean, I understand perhaps three days, but a week? Please tell me you got your sword back?”

 

“Yeah,” Autumn said. “I got it back. I'm really tired…is it OK if I take a nap or something?”

 

“Er…go ahead,” Sango said.

 

“Thank you.” Autumn went over to the clearing after giving a brief but friendly welcome back to Kagome and Inuyasha. “Glad you two are back here, too.” She said with a smile.

 

They watched her leave and then Kagome said, “Did it seem like she was acting a little strange to you?”

 

“I'm not sure,” Sango said. “I regret to admit it, but I don't know her very well.”

 

“Do you think I should talk to her?” Kagome asked. “Maybe find out what's wrong?”

 

Miroku and Inuyasha casually wandered away sensing a talking about `feelings.' Once they were gone Sango said, “Sure, I guess it couldn't hurt as long as we're…not imposing.”

 

“Can you come with me?” Kagome asked. “I don't want to go alone.”

 

Sango raised her eyebrows. “She may be a hanyou, but she isn't going to rip your head off for talking to her before she falls asleep. She's a really nice…er…person…girl.”

 

“I know. I just don't want to go there alone. I have this feeling that whatever this is…it'll involve both of us at the least.”

 

Sango nodded. She had the same feeling herself. Together they walked over to Autumn's sleeping bag, with Sango in the lead and said, “Are you awake?”

 

Autumn yawned. “I am now. What do you want…um…gals?” She added, upon seeing Kagome.

 

“You just seemed…different,” Kagome said. “We wanted to make sure nothing was wrong.”

 

“Wrong?” Autumn asked. There was definitely something strange in her voice, but her eyes were far too bright for it to be tiredness. “What do you mean?” No…her voice sounded almost guarded.

 

“You just seem…different,” Kagome repeated. “I don't know how else to explain it. Maybe its your aura or something…there's a change.”

 

“My aura?” Auutmn said, sounding like her old self for a moment.

 

“Yeah,” Sango said. “Kagome can see things like that. Some of Kikyo's passed on powers.”

 

Autumn sighed. “You really want to know?” When they nodded, she hesitated for a moment and then pulled her haori to the side, exposing her shoulder.

 

“Did…something bite you?” Kagome said faintly. “That looks really bad. Infected even. Jeez, Autumn, we should get you to a doctor or something. What bit you?”

 

“Not what, but who,” Sango mused. She put her hand on Autumn's shoulder and said, “This is known as a mating mark, used with demons to establish their mates.” Sango noticed Kagome looking a little confused and added, “I guess…it's sort of like those things you call wedding rings except demons mate for life.”

 

“For life?” Autumn squeaked. Now that wasn't fair.

 

“For life,” she said. Her dark eyes were oddly bright in the darkness. “Who was it?” She had a sneaking suspicion, but didn't want to even allow it into her mind until she heard the words from Autumn herself.

 

“Sess…hou…maru…” Autumn whispered.

 

“WHAT?” Kagome shouted.

 

“Quiet, Kagome,” Sango said. “You don't wish to draw the boys back over here just yet, do you?”

 

Kagome shook her head, making the lock and key motion near her mouth.

 

“SESSHOUMARU?!”

 

Sango whipped around and saw Shippo hanging in the nearby bushes with a guilty expression on his face. “I didn't mean to eavesdrop,” he said, when Sango grabbed him by his bright haori. “I was just trying to…”

 

“No one's accusing you of anything,” Sango said in an accusing voice. “However since you're here, I think we ought to clarify a few rules.” She waited until she had Shippo's full attention and said, “Absolutely under no conditions are you to speak to Inuyasha of this. That boy simply does not have the mental capacity to deal with such a matter.”

 

Shippo stared at her blankly.

 

“She means that he's not emotionally mature,” Kagome stated helpfully.

 

Sango nodded and said, “Exactly. Second, you must not tell Miroku because he has the same issues with secrecy that you do and would most likely go to Inuyasha and tell him. Men often do…stick together.”

 

Shippo nodded and said, “I understand.” Then he bounded off into the forest.

 

“I don't trust him,” Sango said.

 

“Oh well,” Kagome said with a grin. Even if he does say something, what's the worst that can happen?”

 

Autumn winced as she closed her eyes. That was something that she called a jinx phrase. Phrases like `what's the worst that can happen?' or `At least it can't get any worse' seemed to be self-prophesizing disaster. When you say a jinx phrase things will always get worse. As she slowly drifted off into a fitful sleep, the last thing in her mind was a beautiful pair of large gold eyes.