InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ New Journey ❯ 7 ( Chapter 7 )

[ P - Pre-Teen ]

When they got to the hut, the monk offered them a seat and soem tea.
They accepted. When they were seated, Miroku asked the monk:
"Didn't you have some questions for us?" The monk nodded, and began to
ask them questions.
"Why are you this way? Demons do not like being humans, or masqurading
as them, they'd never mix with humans either. What were you originally?
How did your group come to be? Cat demons, dog youkai, and wolf youkai
don't travel together, and not with two mikos and a monk!" He said,
nodding in the general direction of Nari, Kagome, and Miroku. "And monks
certainly don't become demons! Please, tell me your story." everyone was
silent for a moment, then Sango said:
"I'll tell you all I know of the story. But first, please tell me how
you know so much about demons." the monk nodded and laughed.
"All right, young one! But first, introductions?" the group colored for
several seconds, realizing that they hadn't been properly introduced.
Nari introduced them all, and when she was finished, the monk introduced
himself.
"I am called Myshini."the monk began. "I know so much about demons
because I used to study them. I was also raised by them." The group gasped.
Studying demons wasn't something anyone would do, or being raised by
one! Kill them, or sometimes befriend them, but study them, be raised by
them, unless you were another demon? Never!
"I see you are shocked. That is only to be expected. I was a special
case. My parents died when I was a boy, no more then five. The clan that
took me in was very kind, and they made sure that I had meat, though
most of it was raw. They didn't like fire." Myshini said, smiling at the
memory.
"They were scared of fire? Were they wolf youkai?" Koga asked, then
realized what he had said. "I- I mean...... who could shame youkai like
that?"
So that's why Koga never sat near the fire! Kagome realized. "It's okay
Koga. We understand." she said out loud. Koga turned red while everyone
laughed.
"Yes, Koga, they were wolf-demons." Myshini explained. "How.........
clever of you to notice." More peals of hysterical laughter could be
heard. Myshini smiled. Koga turned redder.
"They came around after my village was decimated. Earlier, some youkai
had came and killed everyone in the village. The clan's leader was a
middle-aged wolf. He sent me to a lovely couple to be raised by. I wanted
to be a monk, much to his dislike, but he couldn't sway me from my
dream. Eventually, when I was old enough, he disowned me, claiming that no
son of his would be a monk. They had thought of me as family,
ecspecially his son. I forget his name now, but he was my best friend, and he
had to take over when his dad died a few years later. I don't think he
remembers me. The clan name I remember though. It was the east cave
wolves. they lived in some kind fo a cave. Come to think, Koga kind of
reminds me of my friend. His name sounds familier........" the monk needed
to say no more. Everyone's mouth had dropped open at the clan's name. It
was the one Koga now was chieftan of, he'd taken over. No one knew the
details, and they had never stopped to ask. Now, they knew a bit
about it, or would, if Koga would give an indication that he
remembered the monk.
"I- I think...... that I may know your friend." Koga said, stuttering.
Everyone was shocked. Koga was normally so calm and confident. Why was
he stuttering? Well, they supposed, A first time for everything. "May I
know more about him?"
"Sure, sure. He was one of the fastest runners in the cave. He also
wore a small headband, like yours. He loved wrapping himself in warm wolf
pelts and he had a special gift with regular wolves. Do you know him?"
Everyone's mouth popped open. That was Koga as a kid for sure! Koga
himself had said that very few wolves wore the style he did.
"Y-Yes. I think.......... there is one way to know for sure. Did he
have a red and blue sword?" Koga asked.
"Yes. He recieved it for his birthday. Shot fire, or some such thing."
Myshini replied. Koga froze. That meant........ Myshini really was a
friend from so long ago. Koga rarely used the sword, it had always slowed
him down, and he had forgotten about its existence, but he had really
loved using that sword. It had been a part of him, almost. He had given
it to his childhood friend, asking him to hold onto it, after
demonstrating once. He had promised to return for it, but had forgotten. Now
everything came flooding back.
"Do you still have it?"
"Of course. It was something of a parting gift. I was asked to hang
onto it while he did something. I haven't let go of it since. Would you
like to see it? I have it in the back, in case he ever returns." Myshini
stood up and started walking to the back when they nodded an
affirmitive. They were led through a series of twisting passageways, all very
dusty, save for a single path drawn through the dust, which the monk
followed, like he had been doing for a long time. Eventually, they came to a
door, which was locked. Myshini produced the key, and on they went.
they came to a small room, and on a white sheet fo cloth, there lay a
beautiful blade, finely honed, and the sheath lay next to it. It was a
wonder to see. Koga moved forward, as if to pick up the sword, but the monk
stopped him
"I have placed a spell on it, preventing all those who are not my
friend from picking it up. If you touch it, you'll get a masty burn."
"And if I am your friend?"
"Then it will not harm you, if you were." Koga snorted and reached
forward, picking the sword up. As Koga touched it, it hummed. The monk
watched, tears forming in his eyes.
"It is you! I wasn't sure, but now I know!" Myshini cried, racing
forward and enveloping Koga in a brotherly hug. "I am so happy to see you
again!"
"I am too, but please get off of me." Koga said, pushing of Myshini.
"You're still the same runt."
"And you're still as stuck-up and pround as ever Koga!" Myshini said,
still smiling, not the least bit fazed at Koga's runt comment. "It's
just like old times, huh?" Koga smiled.
"Exactly. I'm glad you kept her for me. I didn't want her hurt in the
battle my pa died in, so I left her with you." Koga smiled, giving it a
few practice swings, careful not to hit anyone. "She's in great shape.
How'd you get someone to keep her honed?"
"I honed her myself. I took blacksmith lessons for a while, but then I
returned to being a monk. Meanding and honing the Quesusaiga wasn't
easy!"
"The Quesusagia? And what's she?" Kagura asked, mystifyed. Naraku had
never taught her about swords, and she couldn't have picked it up
anywhere else!
"The Quesusagia is my blade. I refer to her as she. My dad told me to
do that when he gave it to me." Koga explained, sheathing his sword.
"Waitaminute," Inuyasha said. "I thought that wolves were afraid of
fire?" He stared pointedly at Koga. Koga colored.
"I am a special case. I have no fear of the fire that she shoots, but I
don't like man-made fires." Koga explained.
"Well, I'm glad that that's cleared up, and now it makes perfect sense
that you were chosen to represent fire. It fits your personality and
you have a flaming blade!" Kagome exclaimed.
"Well, then why don't I represent wind? Tetsusaiga uses wind attacks."
Inuyasha asked.
"Your the leader. Earth is supposed to be the 'leader' of the
elements." Kagome explained.*
"Well, then that makes sense." Inuyasha said, and fell silent.
"Why don't we go back through the tunnel? I'm sure Koga and I have
plenty to talk about." Myshini said, and walked back to the door. Silently,
the others followed.
When they got back, Myshini headed into another room, motioning for
Koga to follow. Giving a nod at his group, he headed off. Walking into the
room, he started talking.
"Myshini, it's been a while." Koga said.
"A very long while. You've grown." Myshini said, a smile on his face.
"So have you, and now you seem so much older then you should be!" Koga
exclaimed. "Where's the spirited whelp that my dad took care of?"
"I was that little boy many years ago. Humans age faster then demons,
reemember!"
"How could I forget?"
"Oh, before I forget, what's become of all the clan? I heard that
someone slew a great deal of wolves at some lord's castle....." Myshini's
voice trailed off.
"Yes. many of my wolves were slain at Naraku's castle-the lord you
mentioned. The north wolves were also there, slain beside my brothers."
Koga voice took on a sad tone. "I couldn't save them."
"You cannot save everyone Koga. It would be folly to try."
"I know." Koga and Myshini them launched onto a happier subject: old
times. They were chattering all night, and evetaully couldn't keep their
eyes open. They fell asleep where they sat. The others had given up on
staying up long ago.
The next morning, they headed out again, but now Koga had the
Quesusaiga. They didn't waste much time on farewells, but what they did say was
heartfelt. Koga promised that he'd be back, and Myshini agreed to stay
where he was and not move if the villagers did. they exchanged one more
brotherly hug, and then they went their seperate ways.
They had been traveling for a while when Kohaku asked Kagome to read
the next clue. Kagome dragged the scroll out of her pack, and read:
I am gold, I am lead,
I am iron, I am copper,
I can be anything mentioned, and much more,
What am I?
They were puzzled by that one, and it was so hard to figure out.
well, she said that they'd get harder, Nari thought, and Mom was right!
They stopped at the next village, in human form, and decided that
they'd think more the next morning. They had been traveling all day, and the
girls wanted a bath before bed, so no one demanded taht they stayed.
after the females took baths, they realized that maybe the men should
too. They never knew when a convienient time to bathe would come up next.

They continued to puzzle over the riddle the next day. Everyone was
very confused, but no one really minded. It gave them something to think
about. Miroku even managed to grope Sango once (Old habits die really
hard). Kohaku was the quietest of them all. He had so much to think
about. What would he do? He had known for a long time that he loved Nari,
but he wasn't sure if she loved him. They hadn't actually said 'I love
you', and he wanted to tell her that, and hear it said back to him. He
also needed to speak with the Princess Miko, Nari's mother. Marriges were
always discussed with the parents, never the daughter or son, but Nari
would still have to give final consent.
They eventually came to a village, about 5 miles from the border of the
Southern Lands, around mid-afternoon, and the group wanted to stay
there. Inuyasha just snorted, but eventually agreed. They'd be able to get
to the Southern Lands and find the next two talismen's there. they had
looked around for a bit, but no one was really interested in anything
they saw in the market. Eventually, they gave up on finding some cool
knickknacks to take back to Kaede's. they went back to their inn, and
rested.
The next morning, they started off early, a little before dawn. they
reached the Southern Lands in little less then 2 hours, traveling in
youkai form, Kagura carrying Nari on her feather. they had stopped
traveling as youkai as they neared the first town. It was about a mile in from
the border, and the group had changed clothes. It was a lot warmer in
the Southern Lands, so Inuyasha had decided to wear a little less,
taking off his underkimono shirt and putting on what Kagome had called a
'muscle-shirt'- from her time. Kagome walked around in her bathing suit
and her skirt, trying to keep cool. It was the height of summer after
all. Sango and the other walked about in skimpier versions of their normal
clothes so that they would dehydrate.
"Are we there?" Shippo wailed loudly.
"Of course kid. See the buildings?" Inuyasha said, rudely. The heat was
bugging him, making him crabbier then usual. "Dumb brat."
"I heard that! Kagome, he's being mean!"
"Inuyasha! How could you be mean to Shippo?" Kagome exclaimed, but knew
the answer. The heat. It was even affecting her a little.
They hushed up quickly when they noticed that the villagers were
observing them, as well as everyone else in the group. They colored. It was
just another silly fight, but why was everyone staring. Inuyasha looked
at Kagome, really looked, then whispered:
"Kagome! You're a hanyou at the moment! The heat must have made you
forget to transform all human!"
Kagome gasped at looked at her hand. Claws were at the end of her
fingers. She felt her head. Cat's ears.
"Oops!" Kagome said, quickly turning human. Hopefully the villagers
would think that the ears and claws were mirages. No luck.
"Demon!" The villagers houted. "Why have you come?"
"Who, me?" Kagome asked.
"Who else?"
"I'm not really a demon. I'm a miko." Kagome explained, then gave them
a demonstration. She had learned The Miko's Mark from Kaede a while
back. It was a mark to show that you were a miko. Basically, it entailed
her holding some sort of blue fire in here hand. Kagome performed it
admirably. The villagers then offered them a room, glad to house a miko
and a monk. It appears that theyd been having trouble with a ring, and
they thought that it was possessed. The group was offered rooms in return
for the ring being excorsised and the shop where it was, purified. They
agreed.
The next morning, Kagome and Miroku went to see the ring. Miroku
started to reach for it, but burned his fingers on it.
"What is the story behind this ring? When did it start doing this, and
what is it doing?" Miroku aqsked.
"It used to belong to some powerful demon, and it started not allowing
anyone to pick it up a few weeks ago." The headman said.
The pieces clicked into place. Miroku asked that the rest of the group
be brought here. After that request, Kagome came up to him.
"What was that about Miroku?"
"Lady Kagome, I think we have stumbled upon a talisman." Just in time
to hear 'talisman' the group stumbled in. Inuyasha's mouth dropped open
in shock.
"Another one? Okay. True forms everyone that hasn't gotten theirs yet,
and try for it!" Inuyasha commanded. Shippo transformed into his
kitsune self and tried grbbing the ring. He was burned, as were Kagura and
Sango. Kohaku made a grab for the ring, and picked it up without any
difficulty. He slid it over one of his fingers, and asked Kagome what the
metal ring meant.
"Metal. What else?" Kagome asked, laughing. Kohaku colored several
shades, until Nari told him that she hadn't known that. He felt much better
after that.
They requested rooms for the next night. The headman readily agreed,
happy that they had disposed of the ring. He hadn't noticed Kohaku
wearing it. They were about to go to sleep when Kohaku caught Nari's eye. He
wasn't normally this bold, but the ring had made him feel stronger.
"I think I want to take a walk." Kohaku said, his gaze never leaving
Nari's eyes. Nari evidently got the hint, because she was picking herself
up off the ground and asking if she could join him. He agreed, happy
that she had caught on. once they were out of earshot of anyone, they
both started talking at once.
"Koahku-"
"Nari-"
"You first." The both said. Nari blushed and gave a small laugh,
adding:
"I insist."
Kohaku grinned sheepishly before beginning. "Nari, I just want to tell
you something. Based on your reaction to my words, I may ask you a
question." Kohaku turned red at this point." How- how do you.......feel
about me? I will not judge you by your feelings. If your feelings for me
are different then mine for you, then I will still be your friend."
Nari blushed bright red. She managed to stammer out: "I...........
really like you. More then a friend. How do you feel...........about me?"
Nari looked down at the floor, becoming very interested in her shoes.
She was startled out of this when she felt someone hugging her.
"I like you more then a friend too. You are 14, correct?"
"Yes, but why do you ask?" Nari asked, curious. She hugged him back.
"Because, I am also of marrying age. I want to ask for your consent
before I ask your mother permission for your hand." Kohaku said, blushing
several shades redder.
"Oh Kohaku! Of course I accept! I was wanting to speak with you about
marrige, but I'd have to talk to Sango first, just so that my mother and
your sister consent to us marrying." Nari hugged him harder, more
fiercely. Kohaku awkwardly patted her back.
"I'm glad," He began."that you consented." They stood there hugging for
a few minutes, when Kohaku thought of something.
'I wonder if the others went through this? I'll ask Myoga.' he thought,
picking himslef up off the floor and helping Nari up. They went back to
the others, Kohaku pulling Myoga aside this time.
"Myoga? Did Inuyasha and the others clear it with their parents or
relatives before marrying?"
"No. Lord Inuyasha and the others didn't but they were allowed to. You
and the others are a new species of peoples. You may transform between
your three forms, and no one has laid down the law for such a peoples.
Inuyasha and Kagome formed new laws, so that they may marry as they
wish. You, however, must clear it. You are younger then they were when
they married, and you are planning on marrying a certain young human
woman, are you not?" Myoga said, giving a signifigant look at Nari, who was
currently talking to Sango and laughing.
Kohaku, of course, blushed. "And if I am?"
"Then I wish you much happiness." Myoga said, hopping off Kohaku's
shoulder.
A/N: You know the drill. Reviews=Chappies!!!!!