InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Of Crismon Butterfly's Dream ❯ Separated but not Alone ( Chapter 3 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

A/N: HOLY TOLITOS BATMAN, SHE FINALLY UPLOADED A NEW CHAPTER!! I’m sure all of you have noticed that in the title I place “based off the manga series” that is because, the animated version of Inuyasha, has significant differences from the book version. For instance, Sesshomaru in the manga series was more inclined to joke, Kagome had more a back bone then she let on and was a lot smarter, and Sango didn’t see Inuyasha as a constant opponent (recently started watching it again). So I decided that the story would be based off the manga series, instead of the anime, if you never read the manga, well, there might be moments that you think that the characters might be OOC, but I suggest you check the books before calling it OOC (and no, I didn’t get a bad review lol, I just wanted to point it out as we are entering the third chapter)
Excuse’s for taking so long: one, I was lazy…, two I was catching up on my latest Inuyasha manga I bought in the big volumes, three, working on original stuff, four school started, and five I was lazy >>, Six School started and slapped me in the face so hard I forgot that I had this story online still.
Anyways, hey were at the third chapter, hurray, ok so I’m not celebrating yet, we’ll throw a party after I get past chapter five, that’s always been my milestone lol. I should have a picture of Cho on Deviant art, under the name of ‘ChunMeiguiProduction’ so keep an eye out for it, trust me, you won’t be disappointed.
Also there is a main writer, and a, well not sure what you would call her, but I have an assistant that helps me write the story that you enjoy, you might see her work up on deviant art at times, while alongside my own. Ok, so I think I’m blabbering, shall we get going lol!
Please Review
Suggested Music: So Cold by Breaking Benjamin and Gypsy by Shakira.
Chapter Three: Separated but not Alone
Kagome nodded sharply at her sister, and tried to think of the best way to explain to her about Naraku, and the whole thing that had just suddenly occurred. For that matter, they had yet to tell Cho anything other than that she had somehow gone back in time through the well and this was where Kagome spent most of her time.
Not only that, but how did one tell your sister, that she had just been marked by the most wanted demon in all of japan of this time, dead. And yet even as Kagome and the others had shown a clear dislike and underlining fear of this Naraku, Cho remained unmoved. Moreover, when had Cho gotten that fast, she had sensed Naraku moving in for an attack almost as fast as she had seen Inuyasha’s brother move to attack his brother just to spite him, well maybe not that fast, but Cho was much faster than she remembered. Kagome had an odd manga scene playing in her head as the waiter trips and sends every one’s dishes flying into the air and Cho quickly catching them all, oddly enough Kagome had entertained herself with that thought for every fast demon they had encountered including Inuyasha. The only thing that made that entertaining thought a little uncomfortable was for the fact that she had indeed seen Cho do exactly that, with a few plates still being sacrificed to the floor.
The group had marched their way back through the village and back into the house where Kaede resumed her traditional position beside the fire and poked at the dying flames stirring them to life, the fox child that Cho had noticed sleeping earlier was now awake being that the sun was now beginning to rise, that or it was oddly quiet, Cho had a sneaky suspicion it was only quiet after her sister and the dog boy were asleep.
Once everyone had found themselves a comfortable place Cho picked her place carefully picking the best spot to sit across from her sister so that both the sunlight filling the hut and the still burning fire light would reflect into her sapphire eyes and give her sister the exact look she was hoping to portray, the ‘start talking’ look, with the added running of her fingers through the blonde strands of hair.
“Who is she,” the fox kid finally said breaking the silence that Cho had not noticed had fallen over the group, “my name is Cho, I am Kagome’s older sister,” Cho said quietly.
The fox child jumped into Kagome’s waiting arms which caught the attention of the slightly weary albino fox that had now taken up position on Cho’s shoulder once more, “I didn’t know you had a sister Kagome, thought you only had a brother,” the fox child said and hugged Kagome, “welcome back by the way,” he added.
Kagome smiled at him brightly, “it’s good to see you to Shippo, oh Cho, this is Kaede by the way, with all the fuss we kept forgetting proper introductions,” Kagome said with a nervous laugh as her sister gave her another irritated look.
“Right,” Kagome whispered, “where should we start,” Kagome said looking to Inuyasha for help but the dog demon didn’t seem very interested in their conversation obviously remembering his defeat by the mere human named Cho Higurashi.
And so began the long explanations of the demon Naraku, of his how his wicked tentacles had slithered themselves into the lives of everyone present in the room all for the possession of the Shikon jewel, which had been shattered by Cho’s beloved sister, a sliver that Cho still carried in her pocket and had yet to make a move to hand it to her sister. No she would hold onto it and not because of the power, she had no use for such an evil creation, but because she couldn’t bear the thought of another burden being placed on Kagome’s shoulders. So maybe Cho had a sister complex somewhere deep down, but right now this was the only family she had, and Cho was going to protect her fang and claw, even from dog eared boys and baboon pelt wearing freaks like this Naraku.
Surprisingly enough, even with her new found knowledge of the demon that had just marked her for some unknown future scheme Cho was still not bothered, she wasn’t even the slightest bit irked about the situation, which now that Cho thought about it, might be the only thing unnerving, to a normal person that is.
“but it is not Naraku, who has drug me into this world am I correct,” Cho said quietly, “aye, it is the demon witch Yamasuso, who had vowed to take revenge on Inuyasha and his brother for killing her half-breed son and seeks to capture both Sango and Kagome to devour them for their youth,” Miroku stated quietly. Cho pondered this knowledge though already it had been explained to her, she still wondered if her first assumption had been right, if the living curse had indeed been too stupid to realize it had grabbed the wrong human. But, it didn’t matter, she was here and she would make the best of the situation.
“It seems, that fate has placed you here Cho,” the old woman spoke as she begun to make preparations for a broth of some kind.
“It does,” Cho replied quietly and looked at the mismatched group in front of her, “what do you suggest we do Inuyasha,” Sango said looking up at the demon.
“I don’t know, but she can’t come with us,” Inuyasha snapped, Cho arched an eyebrow slightly, “I believe we already had a discussion similar to this already Inuyasha,” Cho said saying his name with more pronation. Inuyasha just scuffed.
“I don’t believe, that Cho remaining here, is a good idea either, I believe that she should accompany you Inuyasha, her fate is tied here now, and has the right to hunt down the demon witch, once her curse is broken, I’m sure Cho will return home,” Kaede said and looked to the blonde.
“No argument there, however, there will be times that I will come seeking Kagome to return to her studies,” Cho said with a slight chuckle and glanced at the annoyed Inuyasha.
Cho stood to her full height and glanced to Sango who was just finishing dressing in her traveling kimono, the women looked alike if it weren’t for the fact that Cho was taller than her, and slightly more bustier (and of course blonde). Cho wore a similar tank top to her night one, but it had more strength in its effort to hide her voluptuous bust.
Unlike her sister who was wearing her school uniform, why in god’s name was she wearing it when it could get ruined –she would never know, Cho was wearing a pair of slimming jeans that made her long legs seem all the much more longer and hugged her ass in just the right way that Miroku’s eyes bulged as she rounded the corner of the hut. The kimono’s hid much of the woman’s figure, and her poor sister’s skirt didn’t hide much at all, but good old blue jeans outlined everything and that lecherous monk didn’t need to grope her butt to see that it was well toned and perfectly in shape. Cho nudged her glasses up higher on her face and held out her other arm for the albino fox to leap onto her shoulder.
Cho lifted her bag onto her back aiding her sister in lifting her bulging yellow bag onto her back as well. After everyone was settled, Cho followed the group as they headed out the edge of town with a simple shout from Inuyasha to Kaede that they were leaving. The whole situation had this atmosphere of a bunch of teens just going on a hike for the day or to a friend’s party, it didn’t feel like the demon hunt that it was.
“And for that matter, where exactly is our heading,” Cho said sharing her thoughts out loud with the rest of the group. A third weight landed on her shoulder and she gazed into the eyes of the green eyed fox child she understood to be Shippo.
“Beats me, Inuyasha usually just wanders aimlessly till we run into trouble, normally because he started it,” the fox child said. Cho smiled softly and caught Inuyasha’s fist that was aiming to whack the kid on the head.
“Don’t think so dog breath,” Cho snapped at him but kept her brilliant smile towards the fox. Chikara yipped and turned balancing expertly on her shoulders and gave the little fox child a lick to the face. Shippo laughed slightly and moved higher and sat onto Cho’s head like a perch looking ahead.
“Hey cool, I can see clear over Inuyasha’s head, are you taller than Inuyasha Cho,” Shippo shouted excitedly, which still gained many chuckles and another failed attempt of Inuyasha’s discipline.
Cho took one long sideways glance back towards the village, and for a moment, she thought maybe she should try to go home again, but that word home suddenly tugged at her mind again, and she forgot the thought and kept walking.
Walking at the pace of Inuyasha and Cho, Kagome had never thought it would have been possible, to see the first human to try and ‘out walk’ Inuyasha. The two of them must have the same amount of stamina, another surprising twist for Kagome to learn about her sister. She must have been doing a lot of training over sea’s to be like this, she didn’t remember Cho being ever this athletic, yes she was very athletic before, but almost braking into a full out run against Inuyasha down the path, and still winning, this was just, absurd.
Cho wasn’t even trying anymore, her wide stride and annoyance was the only thing that was making her walk faster than Inuyasha. It was, only Inuyasha that was bugging her, she still had much to catch up on with her sister, and after all she had only been home for one night. Well not much could be done about it now. Cho slowed down, beginning to get fed up with Inuyasha’s game, not only that but she could see smoke rising in the distance.
“I smell blood,” Inuyasha said softly, the group looked at him a wash of seriousness fell over the group.
“A battle perhaps,” Miroku suggested looking at the dog boy for more details, Cho looked back to the rising smoke and eyes narrowed, “I don’t think so, that’s an awful lot of smoke,” she commented.
Kagome wrapped an arm around her sister’s arm with memories of so many things they’ve run into in the feudal era, up until now she’s held her own and had a brave face, but now Cho was here, and she didn’t know if she wanted to protect Cho, or for Cho to protect her.
They didn’t need long to question what was going on as the group approached closer screams echoed from just behind the trees, women’s screams to be exact and the cries of men as they were being killed. Kagome was definably holding her sisters arm now and Cho had turned rigid with the thought of what was happening just beyond the line of trees.
“You girls stay here,” Inuyasha shouted turning towards Cho and Kagome, Miroku nodded to Sango to remain as well and the men were gone running ahead of them.
Cho looked between the two women that seemed to think it was only natural to obey Inuyasha and Miroku. Shippo sat on Kagome’s shoulder neatly cleaning his ears with a finger while Chikara, her ever aware fox was alert and snarling.
“Do either of you find this odd, that we are actually obeying their orders,” Cho commented quietly, Kagome looked up at her sister with raised eyebrows, “but Inuyasha and Miroku can handle whatever it is,” she stated carefully.
“Yes, I realize that, but you two can handle things to can’t you, I don’t imagine a few men would be too hard to knock aside” Cho commented slightly annoyed sounding. Sango looked to be thinking a little bit harder at Cho’s comments.
“I normally stay behind to look after Kagome,” she said. Cho looked down at her sister again, “I’m not one for battle Chonee-chan,” Kagome added, indeed that made a valid point.
“I’m going then,” Cho announced after only five minutes of standing their waiting for the boys to return, the two other women looked after her as Cho and her shoulder riding fox walked on ahead of the path.
“Cho are you sure that’s a good idea!” Kagome shouted after her, Sango knelt slipping her pack from off her back and pulled out the same bone sword that Cho had already borrowed and tossed it to her, Kagome was slightly surprised at this and looked at Sango.
“Be careful Cho,” Sango said and returned Kagome’s gaze, Kagome nodded sharply and looked at her sister who was already walking away sword in hand.
Cho rounded the corner sliding the sword into a belt loop, it settles at an odd angle at her hip, but it would do for the moment. Cho could see that the buildings were on fire, being made from wood and grass it wouldn’t take long for them to burn down if someone didn’t put them out soon. There was a large crowd gathered in the center of the town, she could see just about all of them were bandits. Most of the village men were dead but she could sense there were still a few close by, possibly hiding in the surrounding woods where demons would be waiting as well.
Inuyasha and Miroku were at the center, she could just barely see Inuyasha’s red hakama pants, and Miroku’s bottom of his robes. Both of them were obviously trapped by the bandits. Which according to Kagome and Sango, that would make no sense, even if the bandits were human, she highly doubted Inuyasha would find it hard to knock a few heads and send them packing. Cho slid closer along the wall, her feet were light as air and didn’t even kick up the loose dirt surrounding the yet to burn hut.
“there being led by a demon,” Miroku’s clear voice could be heard over the snickers and laughs of the men and the whimpered cries of obviously the village women, “you’re getting dull Miroku, most of these guys are demons,” Inuyasha said it wasn’t hard to pick out his voice.
“that’s right half-breed, and you’re going to die peacefully and give us that sword and that nice kimono,” a man said sitting on a white horse, or, what she had assumed was a horse. The animal looked like a horse, but it had teeth like a snakes and a long lizard tail with clawed feet. The man on top didn’t look like he was much different, with long black hair and similar teeth and snake like eyes. Most of the bandits looked the same, but more lizards like then their leader.
Cho figured that this had been more than just a raid, but of a bunch of demon’s that found it to be easier to attack whole villages for what they needed. If she understood from her sister’s stories, more and more people were rising up against demons like these. Sango also told her, that her father use to say, that a demon who can wear a human appearance is the most dangerous of all. Cho scuffed slightly to herself.
“well, well, what do we have here,” a voice said behind her, Cho stood rigid for a moment, and turned to stare into a foul breath of one said lizard man who reached out and grabbed her upper arm rather roughly and dragged her out of her hiding spot.
“aye, boss look what I found!,” the demon shouted, Cho went along, putting on a frightened face, which wasn’t too hard, she had to admit she was a little worried about what would happen next.
“Cho, I told you to stay behind!” Inuyasha shouted angrily, the leader guy laughed, “so you know each other, she isn’t your lover is she hanyou,” the man laughed.
Inuyasha made a disgusted face, “as if! I wouldn’t touch her with a pole, much less with my own hands,” Inuyasha snapped, Cho glared at him but remained silent.
The demon dragged her into the crowd where she could feel clawed hands make passes over her toned ass. Finally she was brought forward beside a trapped Inuyasha and Miroku, trapped by what, she couldn’t tell, she couldn’t really see what it was exactly, but perhaps it was some type of barrier spell. She mentally shrugged it off and turned her gaze up to the lizard man sitting on his horse.
“you smell like human, yet ye look demon, what a rare find indeed, if she means nothing to ye, hanyou, I’m sure you wouldn’t mind if I had a taste of her,” the demon said and reached down grabbed her by the front of her tank top.
“sapphire eyes, oh pretty, I think I will pickle them and save them so I could always see that look of terror when I kill you,” he said smiling.
Cho made no effort to fight him, but her gaze turned cold and light with lightning, her shirt made a loud hiss, and ripped. She was free and she landed on her feet hand on sword and already sliding it free she struck low, catching the demon’s horse’s legs and slicing them clean through. The animal toppled over, demon rider and all.
Cho stood straight, slinging the sword over her shoulders and a hand on her hips, even with her chest and straining bra in full display. Cho wasn’t some weak woman; she was well toned all over, with very soft and feminine ripple’s sliding over her flat belly. Her jeans and face had a spray of blood across them, and the man still held her ruin shirt up in the air as he stared at her stunned and trapped beneath the animal that still cried and whined as it swung its bloody stump in the air.
“Inuyasha, how do I set you two free,” she said quietly, coldly, venomously and her gaze did not leave the face of the slowly recuperating demon.
“his armor, there is a amulet, brake it,” Miroku shouted because the hanyou was to shocked to speak much less be any help to her, “right then, let’s go,” Cho said in her clipped British accented English.
“you wretched women, you know how hard to was to find that thing,” the demon said as he stood, her shirt still clutched in his hands, “no, no idea at all, and I really don’t care, I’d like my shirt back however,” she said a hand brushed through her hair with annoyance.
The demon’s surrounding them looked at their boss for direction, and with a flick of a hand from their leader; he ordered them to kill her. Cho slid into a stance well practiced stance of a life time of black belt training and sword fighting. Her sword sliced through soft flesh, jerking against bone, and sending only more blood over her clothing and skin and pristine white bra.
Cho was as ease, it was her fighting, but it wasn’t her, it was like she was in a dream, like so many of the dreams she had in her life. Dreams that often made no sense, or wasn’t physically possible for a human. But, that was Cho, she never was quite right. And even now, as Cho moved, it was like Chikara, the fox who’s fur was turning a delicate red, wasn’t noticed still perched on her shoulder.
The demon’s stopped coming, she could sense the rush of fear and the unmistakable scent of piss, five demon’s lay in a crumpled heap of blood and body parts in an almost perfect circle around where Cho stood. The silver fox stood on Cho’s shoulder; even he looked as bored as Cho did at that moment. The demon leader was masking his fear; she could feel that to, with adrenalin rushing through her veins, she could sense everything, even sense Inuyasha’s sudden male need to dominate and show off that he was better than this human woman that was doing more than he did.
“Chikara,” Cho spoke softly, the fox whined and the demon’s gaze slide to the fox, “fetch the Amulet,” she said petting the fox under the chin. The fox snarled and leaped, and just like his mistress, Chikara wasn’t, normal. The animal moved with such blinding speed that the demon had little time to swing his sword before the fox already had the amulet clutched in its jaws and leaping off of his chest. The most the fox lost may have been a few hairs from his tail.
Chikara returned to Cho’s shoulder with a proud yip and dropped the block of wood into her open and waiting hand.
“ye smell like human, yet ye look demon, ye move like a demon, ye even talk like a demon, what are you,” the demon said viciously preparing for an attack, he moved so slow to her, like he wasn’t moving at all.
“I’m just a human,” she said and crushed the wooden amulet in her hand thus shattering the barrier that surrounded Miroku and Inuyasha. Inuyasha laughed and drew Tetsigua with a loud hiss as it transformed into the fang.
“you think she’s good, wait till you see this,” Inuyasha shouted and swung, “Wind Scar!”, Cho leaped back, her feet sliding to a stop beside Miroku as a swirl of air and aura and power filled the air and blinding lightning bolt like lights rushed the demon that she could so easily out wit, and turned him into nothing but flittering dust in the air. The rest of the demon’s shouted and ran running for the cover of the tree’s but Miroku shouted, “Wind Tunnel,” and again, more wind, this wind however pulled them in pulled them back into the center of his hand where the gaping hole from Naraku’s curse lay.
It was over, and Cho looked down at her bloody body and clothing, and decided, she needed a bath, because red didn’t look good on her. Inuyasha turned on her then amber eyes burning, the two of them standing eye to eye.
“I told you to stay with Kagome,” he snapped, “and have I showed any sign of being the type that listens to barking dogs,” she said coolly.
“by the way, what is a hanyou, he kept calling you that,” she asked softly an eye brow arched. Inuyasha scrawled, he looked like she may have reminded him of something, that or she had hit a nerve with the word hanyou.
Instead he turned and stormed off back towards where they had left Kagome and Sango. Cho went to the aid of the women; there were quite a few still alive, maybe about ten that seemed normal for a small village. Cho held out her hand offering to help one woman stand, she placed a generous and warm smile on her face, but with her face covered in demon blood, it probably looked fighting more than welcoming.
The woman took her hand and stood, at the same time she quickly removed her top part of her kimono leaving only the under kimono, it was a tan almost white color, and handed her the top half. It was a soft baby blue with little embroidered butterflies dancing across the sleeves.
“you lost your shirt, when your demon friend sliced up that evil demon,” she said softly. Cho smiled softly and nodded gently and slipped the kimono on tying it at her waist.
“are any of you hurt,” Cho asked softly, some of the woman nodded, while others shock their heads no, it was then some of the men came out of hiding, they were weary of her, but Miroku assured them that Cho was indeed human.
“do you have a Miko,” Cho asked the woman, and she glanced down, “we did, but, she was killed first, I was her care taker in the shrine,” the woman said softly.
Cho didn’t have any consoling words to give her, other than a sharp nod and a glance towards Sango and Kagome as they appeared following Inuyasha.
“Cho!,” Kagome shrieked and ran past Inuyasha and to her blood covered sister, “Cho your covered in blood, are you hurt,” she said so quickly Cho almost didn’t understand her.
“it’s not my blood, if that’s what you’re worried about,” Cho said calmly, and she could see the confusion in her sister’s face, “Lady Cho fought like a demon, Kagome,” Miroku said calmly as he approached Cho and the women.
“are any of you beautiful young ladies in need of assistance,” Miroku said suddenly putting on a cocky smile, “Miroku, Chikara is quite hungry, after his little show of acrobats, I might add his favorite meal is made from Kobe balls,” she said softly, Sango laughed and Miroku’s face went placid white, “I assure you Lady Cho, I was only thinking good things,” he said waving his hands passively, “right,” Cho responded.
Kagome looked at her sister, whose shirt was obviously gone and replaced by the kimono’s top, and she found herself thinking, that Cho looked right, covered in blood, holding a sword, and carrying a white fox across her shoulder. Kagome shook the thought and grabbed her medical bags and begun to tend to wounds.
the village tended to; dead buried, wounds cleaned, stitched, and wrapped, makeshift patches on burned buildings, and wards to expel lingering demons, the group was offered a place to stay in the now dead priestess’s home by her apprentice and care taker, Shina.
With Cho’s blood bath as well, and her nervous still riding a high, Kagome asked Shina if there were anywhere they could bath. Shina was quite happy to inform them that the shrine had a natural hot spring that the village women used to “purify” theirs bodies for just about anything and they were open to use it. Shina placed emphasis on Cho, sense it was demon blood she was covered in, and it wasn’t putting off a very nice aura. The four girls and two fox’s, demon and albino, were lead to the hot spring, where they were all happy to slid out of their cloths and into the welcoming steaming water of the hot spring.
The hot spring was located almost close to the center of the shrine, and was surrounded by four high walls but had an open ceiling to the beautiful night sky. Four large lanterns were placed at each corner to light the hot spring with a warm fire glow and were decorated with a variety of vividly blooming plants and tediously cut bonsai trees on shelves surrounding the hot spring.
“Kagome, What is a Hanyou,” Cho said softly as she ran a wash cloth over her shoulders, a soft sigh escaping her lips, “where did you hear that from,” she said slightly surprised.
“the demon called Inuyasha a Hanyou, what is that,” Cho asked again, her gaze drifted towards the two fox’s that were playing in a more shallow area of the spring, “it’s a half-demon,” Kagome responded.
“half-demon, Inuyasha is a half-demon, what is his other half,” she asked sounding uninterested in the answer, “human,” Sango responded for her.
“I’m guessing, that half-demons aren’t the most wanted thing in the world,” she said ringing the rag out over her head, her short blonde hair lay flat and stuck to the side of her head.
“no they are, most demons are disgusted by hanyou’s, humans fear them,” Kagome said softly, a sadness seem to grip her sister as they spoke about it, and Cho let the subject drop.
After a few moments passed, Shina, the Shrine maiden had been staring at Cho for some time now; she seemed to want to speak.
“what is it, lady Shina,” Cho said softly, the women’s face turned a deep red, “I was wondering about your hair, if it was….the same everywhere,” she said softly.
Kagome and Sango had red faces as well, but they were laughing about it, Cho could only smile, and so she stood up and tilted her head a little, “I couldn’t really show you,” she said as Shina’s eyes glanced down for a little bit then back up, “how do you not have hair there,” she said turning a deeper red that wasn’t from the heat.
Cho remained standing and instead begun to climb out of the springs a look of annoyance on her face, “I shave it, or cut it off, it bugs me,” she said.
Cho crossed the wooden planks towards the sliding doors that had brought them into the hot spring and slammed them open. On the other side of them, a truly shocked and blood nosed Miroku fell backwards as Cho stood before him, both hands braced on the door frame, and not a thing to cover her gloriously naked and flushed body from the heat of the springs. Cho was truly super model play boy bunny worthy, maybe even better, and she didn’t look in the least bit worried that Miroku could see everything, including her shaved woman parts.
The rest of the woman, however, screamed and sunk into the water with embarrassment. Down the hall, the familiar sound of bare feet running across wood floor announced the approach of Inuyasha.
The dog-boy’s sword drawn froze where he stood with his mouth hanging open and his expression was what could only be recognized as shock. His amber eyes flickered down ward, but Cho’s sharp gaze caught the quick over look of her body. Inuyasha may have had good intentions but he was still a young man.
Kagome didn’t give him any chance to explain himself as she had poked her head out from behind Cho and with a flustered sneer shouted, “Sit you Pervert!” and Inuyasha’s prayer beads lite with fury and he crashed into the floor with a crunch. Cho suppressed the fit of laughter that bubbled up her chest.
As things begun to settle down, the women dressed, Shina was so shaken Cho couldn’t help but escort the poor girl back to her room.
“You’ll have to forgive me Lady Shina, I tend to be…Bold, around men, if that is the right term,” Cho explained to her a lip leaning against the door frame and her arms crossed over her chest.
“It’s ok Lady Cho, it’s really not the first time, but in never ceases to rattle you knowing that not even a bath is sacred anymore,” she said softly, Cho smiled softly hoping it would reassure the girl and turned away heading back down the hall.
Cho’s return to the shared bedroom wasn’t as pleasant as she had hoped. As she entered the room it was like entering a thick molasses of tension. This was definitely not collage kids who would have laughed about the whole ordeal afterward even joked about each other’s parts.
Cho could almost see fire rolling off of the two young women who had sat themselves on the right side of the room, while a bloody and beaten Miroku lay on his side probably on the edge of unconsciousness opposite the room of the girls. Inuyasha sat beside him, with his back to the girls, he would not look at Kagome, and he was burning just as much as her. The only three that seemed blissfully unaware were the cat demon and the two fox’s.
Now it was Cho’s turn to be annoyed, annoyed with the fact she was stuck with a bunch of children, annoyed that her sister liked the dog-boy, and most of all, she was annoyed that she had yet to get a moment to relax for more than an hour sense she had gotten home less than 24 hours ago.
“so…,” Cho spoke slowly, it was the first sound anyone made for what felt like ages, “I wasn’t peeping,” Inuyasha announced suddenly.
Cho’s little sister’s eyes narrowed dangerously, Cho had this sudden feeling of pride blooming in her chest. “It sure looked like you were,” Kagome said with clipped words.
“How was I supposed to know your sister would have no shame,” Inuyasha said turning around to face her.”
“Aye, but you would think common sense would tell you to cover your eyes while women are bathing before you come barreling down the hall way swinging your sword like a lunatic,” Cho said running a hand through her hair.
Inuyasha turned on her, “How do you expect me to fight if I couldn’t see,” he snapped, Cho settled her sapphire gaze heavily on to him and he involuntarily squirmed and his face burned with color. Obviously her clothing still weren’t back on in his head.
“this obviously happens often Inuyasha, and every time Kagome has only been in danger of a peeping tom, I’ve never known a dog not to learn something that’s been repeated to him,” Cho stated calmly, honestly, she wasn’t entirely intending an insult she was really pointing out a fact.
Inuyasha snarled, “I’m protecting the jewel shards, Kagome isn’t something I would peep on,” Cho got the meaning, it was an excuses, and an attempt at being a gentlemen; translation, “I was only trying to protect Kagome, not try and ruin her virtue,” but that hidden message wasn’t received by Kagome and Cho’s sisters eyes widened and brimmed with tears.
Now, sure, Cho was rational, she knew what he meant, but Cho’s protective nature tended to overpower rationality and she pulled back her left arm and closed in the distance between her and the dog demon with her fist. Her knuckles met his jaw with a satisfying smack and Inuyasha’s head turned with the force. Inuyasha fell over following the force of the punch, the sound seemed to echo in the room, and he looked up with a shocked expression at Cho who stood over him, glaring dangerously.
“Make my sister cry again…” she hissed. Inuyasha returned her glare, and it was no longer just a simple rivalry over her sister anymore, Cho over stepped a boundary and this was hate, simple hate between the two of them. In fact, now that she thought about it, Inuyasha was the exact type of guy Cho hated the most.
Cho felt the rage inside boil and she collected her bags and scooped up Chikara in her arms, she fox barked with surprise but Cho ignored him and left the room. Kagome watched her sister leave and scrambled to her feet chasing after her. Cho was already at the Shrine’s front entrance and was slipping on her shoes.
“Cho, what are you doing?” Kagome asked softly, Cho looked up glancing at her over the rim of her glasses, “I’m going for a walk,” she said glancing back at her feet so she could tie her shoes.
“Why did you bring your things,” Kagome asked touching a hand to her chest, “because, I’ll think about if I’ll come back,” she said and stood up straight.
“Cho, he doesn’t mean what he says, it just, it still hurts when I hear it,” Kagome whispered, “I knew what he meant, Ka-chan, but it doesn’t make what he got any less deserving,” Cho said and pulled her sister into a hug. “Are you sure you can handle yourself Chonee-chan?” Kagome asked.
“Don’t worry Kagome, when have you ever known me not to be able to handle things, I’ll be back later,” Cho said and slipped through the doors, “be careful Ane-chan!” Kagome called out after her.
Cho slipped into the nearby forest following a very narrow trail roughly carved into the brush. It looked more like an animal trail but it was suitable for her purpose. She would return later, she wouldn’t dare leave her sister alone with that dog, but she needed time to recollect herself and cool her thoughts.
Chikara yipped in her ear and moved to her shoulders to settle down into sleep. It was a decent night, cooler than normal on a summer eve, so she could take the time to settle her thoughts. In a few more hours, it would be 24 hours sense she returned to japan, 24 hours, and her life twisted itself and took her on a 180 spin. She thought Benji had been the worst thing to ever happen to her. Well, this wasn’t really all that bad, it was, just a snag in her life, maybe she might even gain something from this journey.
“What was that saying, it’s the journey not the destination,” Cho whispered to herself.
Cho hadn’t had the time to react, it was fast and unexpected, her feet had no support and she went tumbling down the steep hill side that she had not seen over the tall brush. She managed to hit every stone, every tree root, and every thorn bush on the way down, she felt like her bones where in a shaker and her head was a drum.
She heard the rip as her bag tore open sending clothing and other essentials scattered over the forest floor. Chikara had fallen off at some point and Cho grabbed desperately for some kind of holding, but the grass was slick. Finally Cho jerked to a stop as her back smacked into a large tree and she cried out.
“Mother fucker!” Cho snapped in English and grabbed her head rubbing the now considerable lump forming.
Chikara came running down the same cursed hill until he slide to a stop, the foxes big red eyes stared at her with genuine concern and she reached out scratching his head.
“I’m ok boy, just going to be sore in the morning,” she said.
The fox whined and dropped something on the ground; Cho looked down and squinted her eyes. It was then she noticed her glasses were gone and she picked up the item. She squinted her eyes really hard until the black rims of her glasses came into focus.
“Fuck!” Cho snapped at the mangled frame and broken glass of her glasses, there was no way she would find her way back or even get back up that hill.
The only thing she could see even vaguely clear, was the tip of her nose and even that was blurry. Chikara whined again and placed both paws on her legs pressing his wet nose to hers. “Yea, I know, you’re going to have to help me, ok,” she scratched his ears and stood up.
Without her glasses her dept. perception was, pretty much gone, that same hill looked like a giant green blurry wall with brown blotches. Even her ungentlemanly heroic tree was doing some odd contorting movements. Chikara nudged at her legs, towards the hill, she took one step and tumbled when the hill did some kind of rippling wave effect when she set that one foot down.
“Fuuuucckkk!” she called out frustrated, Chikara whined, “we’ll have to find another way around, and if you think I’m gonna crawl back up, you got another thing coming,” she said standing up again, she could just imagine Inuyasha finding her after her sister got worried, to see Cho crawling back up the hill side in the mess she was in.
A scream caught both fox and human’s attention, and Cho didn’t need her glasses to follow the noise of struggle. Cho stepped around her heroic tree and stepped right into a scene of a big black moving blob with two red dots at the top of the blob, holding a miniature pink and green blob that was swinging a silver blob in the direction of the glowing red dots.
What Cho had really stumbled upon was a ogre demon that had captured it-self a small imp woman, she was the size of a toddler but proportioned like a full grown woman. She had lovely black hair in low pigtails and really well trimmed bangs. She had a light green complexion that had a soft flushing pink color in her cheeks, her eyes were almond shaped with no pupils by first glance and where colored a light yellow. Her kimono looked well made, maybe even noble quality and was a cherry blossom pink, the silver blob was actually a decorative dagger given to noble woman as a fashion statement.
The ogre wasn’t anything special, he was big and hulking and black as night with white hair and a cloth wrapped around his waist to hide the groin area.
“I demand you let me go, by order of Princess Suzuran!” the imp squeaked swinging her sword (dagger) valiantly and kicking her legs wildly.
“Sorry you highness, but it’s gotten too dangerous to attack human’s and I’m hungry,” he said.
“that doesn’t mean you can eat me, you already ate my guards and my inu, aren’t you full yet!” she said her little voice choking up with mention of her fallen comrades.
That was when the two noticed Cho stepping out of the shadows, Cho could imagine she was a sight to see after that fall. She wasn’t totally wrong either, without her glasses it was like taking off a mask, Cho’s sapphire eyes burned un-wavered as she stared at the pair. Cho’s hair was sticking straight up in all directions the blue and blonde blended in odd ways. Her clothing was pretty much useless once again; her light knit shirt was ripped across the sides and a good portion in the front giving everyone a lovely view of her full breasts. Once more, Cho begun to wonder how her sister managed to keep her uniform so neat, but the thought occurred to her that uniforms can be replaced readily then say this shirt she bought in a small boutique in England. She wore a pair of jean shorts, they had survived better but her legs were nicked and bruised and she could feel a small stream of blood going down her leg.
Chikara at her feet snarled standing between her and the demon pair, cho could hear his laughter and saw his black blobbed shape begin to shake.
“You got lucky, a human showed herself for me, you look hurt sweet heart, let me end your suffering,” the ogre said. He tossed the green, black, and pink blur aside and into the air, “Chikara,” Cho ordered and the fox rushed forward without further instruction and caught the imp girl.
“I’ll have a full belly tonight and gain a little beauty,” he said stepping forward. Cho’s eyes burned as she stared coolly, she couldn’t tell where he was by sight, but she could tell by her hearing. So her gaze was off and she appeared to be looking behind the demon instead of straight at him.
“Those are gorgeous eyes for a human, I’ll pickle them and save them,” he paused, “what are you looking at human, too afraid to even look me in the eyes,” he laughed an arm reaching out.
“No, I simply cannot see you,” she said her voice dripped with venom and her hand struck with lightning speed grabbing the demon’s out stretched arm and twisted flipping around to the demon’s back with its arm her leg kicked out knocking him off his feet and crashing into the ground.
The demon screamed as she yanked his arm upward, both shock and fear rolled off the demon in waves.
“What the hell, you smell human, but move like a demon, even look like one,” he cried. Cho had no response only to twist his arm further till a popping sound could be heard from its shoulder.
The demon screamed and Cho’s eyes narrowed, her other hand whipped out grabbing the imp girls abandoned sword (dagger) and snarled, “would you please shut up,” and slammed the dagger into the back of its skull.
The demon shut up instantly, its body twitched and a foul smell filled the air as it relieved its bowls. Cho covered her nose and climbed off the demons back before she added a frustrated kick to its ribs.
“Thank you very much,” the imp said, Cho turned and squinted trying to make out the girls shape. The imp froze mistaking Cho’s squinting as a glare.
“You’re welcome,” Cho replied to her, Cho stood up straighter and took a step towards them, “um, my lady, watch…!” the imp shouted, but it was too late Cho couldn’t see the large tree root and hadn’t lifted her foot high enough to avoid it and she fell like a tree herself.
The imp climbed off of Chikara’s back and ran to her side placing a tiny hand on Cho’s shoulders as Cho pushed herself off the ground. Blood was now trickling down her face from her nose, so she cursed repeatedly and pinched the nostrils closed.
“You weren’t joking were you, you can’t see a thing!” the imp gasped. Cho made note that the imp’s voice was high pitched, and could be annoying if provoked enough. “I don’t make a habit of lying, no, my glasses broke when I fell,” Cho said sitting up.
“Glasses,” the imp questioned, “They helped me see, they broke and cannot be repaired,” Cho explained.
“Yet you were able to defeat such a demon…” the imp whispered, the girl suddenly sprung back and dropped to her knees bowing her head to touch her out stretched hands, “My name is Suzuran, Allow me to repay you for saving my life as your servant and seeing aide,” she shouted.
“Suzuran…” Cho said, the girl lifted her head, “I won’t mind the help, but do not call yourself my servant, I only did what was right, consider me your friend and ally,” Cho said running a hand through her hair.
“Then we are friends, allow me to treat your wounds,” she added quickly and ran to Chikara’s side.
“do what you want,” Cho said leaning back to rest, “his name is Chikara,” she added, “and I am Cho Higurashi,” finished with  introductions Cho appeared to have fallen asleep. Suzuran climbed onto Chikara’s back and tugged his fur to point him towards the woods. The fox went with a little encouragement but a lot of reluctance.
Cho let her mind wander back to her little sister who was waiting for her to come back. She handed decided at some point during her fall that she wasn’t going to come back. How lucky to have lost all her things during the fall that a pen still made it down. With a torn piece of shirt Cho squinted her eyes and managed to write a small note state she was fine and she’ll meet up with them later. This was her problem, or that was her excuse. The truth was, if she had to spend one minute more with those two idiotic males she would commit murder just for a little peace.
Suzuran returned, carrying cloth that looked oddly like one of her old t-shirts and a handful of weeds. Obviously it was medicinal herbs and the imp begun to treat and clean her scrapes and cuts wrapping them with shreds of shirt, even got Cho’s nose to stop bleeding.
“your all done, but we should get you to a human village, their priestess or priest will do better work then me,” she said patting Cho’s knee.
Cho stood again and looked down, her eyes narrowed as the imp held up something long and brown. It was a narrow branch, Cho took it graciously, knowing the intention was to help her feel for things in front of her feet, while the Fox and the Imp would be alarms to whether she should move or stay still. None the less, Cho would have to accept their help, she was surprised that the imp wasn’t trying to get her up the hill; instead Cho followed the silver blob of her white fox out of the forest and onto what seemed like a road.
“I’m surprised you are not returned me to the other village, it’s shorter distance,” Cho commented quietly, Suzuran made a scuffing sound, “you were leaving that village, I can only guess that perhaps you wish not to return to it,” she commented. Cho remained quiet for the moment, “no…no I don’t,” she whispered softly, even though she had left that note, stuck to the tree by a sacrificed pen, she still felt bad, to be leaving her sister without a proper good bye…why was that familiar.
Converting /tmp/phpZaJc25 to /dev/stdout