InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Replacement ❯ The Memory ( Chapter 1 )

Replacement

 

Chapter 1: The Memory

 

“Hiraikotsu!” Sango yelled, throwing her boomerang bone towards the green lizard youkai. The boomerang missed, and Kirara flew up so Sango, clad in her leather exterminator outfit, could catch it.

 

“Watch it, Sango!” Miroku called back to her, his violet eyes flickering back up to his betrothed. “Its body is covered in a poison, if you touch it, you'll be killed!”

 

Turning back to him, she answered, “I'm all right, Houshi-sama, but you had better be careful too! Don't you dare think about sucking it in to your Kazaana!”

 

Smirking slightly, he lifted his hand gently off the rosary beads sealing his cursed hand. His Sango knew him all too well.

 

Two days ago, villagers had met them on the road, saying the village they lived in was being plagued daily by youkai from the forest. In need of some money, they all agreed the constant, unrelenting search for Naraku could be put off for the moment to go youkai slaying, especially when the villagers had offered up such a handsome reward. The only one against it was Inuyasha, for obvious reasons.

 

Now, thunder cracked, and rain poured down around them in little pitters as they fought this youkai, the last of a large nest that had been disturbed in the forest near the village. The fight had started early that morning, right after dawn, and now it was mid-afternoon, fighting youkai after youkai until, they were down to the last one.

 

During the day, the news had spread to the villagers that youkai exterminators were getting rid of their youkai problem, and some had even come to watch. Inuyasha was annoyed by it at first, especially when people began to ask why a youkai was helping the humans kill a youkai, but he put up with it because he couldn't just yell at them to leave while he was busy at the moment.

 

Frankly, the hanyou was at his wits end because Kagome had been almost been killed several times that day, and he was constantly looking over his shoulder to check and see if the miko was in any danger or not. With her powerful purity arrows, she held her own, but on a few occasions, Inuyasha had to scoop her out of the way when things got nasty.

 

That was also the situation Miroku found himself in whenever Sango got close to danger. He knew there was nothing whatsoever he needed to be worried about; she was trained in fighting youkai for longer than he was, but he couldn't help it if his manly instincts wanted to push her out of the way and fight the youkai on his own, to know she was safe.

 

But, knowing how she would react to such an idea, he knew attempting it was out of the question. Miroku almost smiled, thinking of her, the wild and strong willed girl.

 

It was no wonder that he had decided long ago that he wanted to stay by her side, long after their quest to defeat Naraku was over.

 

“Watch out, Kagome!” Inuyasha yelled, grabbing Kagome out of the way as the lizard youkai swung its poisonous tail towards her.

 

“Hiraikotsu!” Sango cried again, throwing the boomerang as it whizzed through the rain, causing droplets to fly everywhere. This time her aim was true, the boomerang struck the youkai right on the head and flew back to her, which she caught with ease.

 

The lizard screeched and clawed at its head, dented by the powerful blow, and began to thrash about, making the humans scramble to get away before they were hurt. But Sango wasn't fast enough. The lizard's tail whipped up and struck Kirara on her leg, causing the neko youkai to shriek and fall back down to the ground, transforming into her small form, like she always did when she was injured.

 

“Sango!” Miroku yelled, running to catch her as she fell. He jumped forward and caught her neatly in his arms, hurrying away as the youkai swung its tail once more.

 

Relieved, Sango said, “Thank you, Houshi-sama—!” she was cut off as she felt the monk's hand wander once again. For a second she froze, stunned by the action, before yelling, “Houshi-sama!” and smacking her betrothed upside the head, making the monk drop a fuming Sango to the ground.

 

Rolling his eyes at the daily routine as Miroku grinned despite the red mark on his face, Inuyasha turned away, back towards the youkai. “Take this!” he yelled, jumping up and slashing at the lizard. Dark blood flowed on the ground as the youkai howled, jumping back.

 

Kagome drew an arrow, pink light glowing at the tip as she released. The arrow whizzed through the air, parting the rain, imbedding itself in the youkai's tail. With a burst of pink light, the tail blew into several tiny bits, making the youkai screech in pain.

 

Inuyasha pushed Kagome out of the way as the pieces of the tail flew through the air, turning the ground a sickly purple as the poison sunk in. “Be careful!” he chastised, turning back to the annoying youkai in front of them. “I'm sick of this stupid thing! Kaze no Kizu!”

 

With that, there was a flash of golden light that flew from the sword, striking out at the youkai and enveloping it in the light, and in an instant, the youkai disintegrated.

 

“Put up a good fight for being so weak,” Inuyasha muttered, sheathing Tessaiga after the sword's use.

 

Looking at the blackened bits of youkai strewn about the forest, Miroku sighed, “There shouldn't be any poison left on the surface now. Time for me to do the clean up.” With that, he pulled off the prayer beads on his right hand and yelled, “Kazanna!” sucking up the last of it.

 

The villagers who had been watching were awestruck with the exterminator's fighting, but the appearance of the black hole in the monk's hand was almost unbelievable. While everyone watched the monk with a mixture of wonder and fear, one little boy in particular was entranced by this image. A monk…with a hole in his hand that could suck up everything…

 

This boy, who had jet black hair and deep blue, almost indigo eyes, gasped as the saw the monk seal the hole, cutting off the endless stream of air inward. It was something you didn't see every day, and something he wanted to tell someone else right away.

 

Turning away from the exterminators, the boy ran back towards the village, as fast as his little three year old legs could carry him. He raced through the tall grass, past the wooden huts, and ran towards the small, run down, secluded hut at the very edge of the village. Bursting through the tattered bamboo curtain, he called in his small, babyish voice, “Mama!”

 

His mother, a tall, beautiful woman with long brown hair that appeared to have a reddish sheen, was hunched over, coughing into a white handkerchief. The boy looked alarmed as he saw this. “Mama, Mama, are you all right?” he asked, running up to her.

 

Finishing her coughing, she folded up the handkerchief and nodded, “Yes, Taro, I'm all right…just the spring air, I suppose.” When she looked at her son, she revealed unusual deep, deep blue eyes, and a soft smile. “You seem excited. What is it?”

 

Taro grinned back, and spoke eagerly, “Mama, I saw the exterminators killing the youkai in the forest!”

 

“Did you?” She put the handkerchief out of sight, kneeling down and taking her son in her lap. “What was it like?”

 

Flailing his small arms in an attempt to describe, Taro explained, “It was amazing, Mama! There was this youkai…who seemed to work with them, he was awesome! He had this giant sword that killed it instantly!”

 

“Oh, my!” his mother gasped, smiling at his giggle. “That sounds dangerous!”

 

Taro nodded, “And then, there was this girl…she was wearing some strange clothes, but she had these arrows that blew its tail off! Everyone said she was a miko! And another woman, I don't know what she was, but she had this giant bone she used…and she rode on a flying youkai, too!”

 

His mother brushed a lock of her reddish brown hair behind her left ear, revealing a single, pearl drop earring. “That sounds amazing, Taro. It must have been exciting to watch.”

 

“It was, Mama! And then after the youkai with the big sword killed it, there was a monk!”

 

At that, his mother's dark blue eyes widened in a moment of memory flashing by. “A monk? What did this monk look like Taro?” she asked with all urgency.

 

But to her disappointment, her boy shrugged, and replied, “I don't know, Mama, I didn't get a very good look. But he wore the robes and had the staff of a monk…But he did this thing with his hand, it was unbelievable!”

 

Unfortunately, his mother wasn't listening as she held her son close, musing on what he had said. “A monk, hmm…?” Her dark blue eyes looked on to the past as she remembered almost forgotten memories, about the last time a monk had passed through their tiny village…it seemed so long ago, and yet it was only about three years since…

 

Smiling back down at her son, she ruffled his hair. “Come on, Taro. We should probably see if these exterminators have any wounds that need healing. They did, after all, destroy the youkai in the forest, so we should be grateful.”

 

Standing up at once, his indigo eyes shining, Taro replied, “Okay, Mama!” and ran out again. Smiling to herself at the antics of her child, she allowed her red hair to cover the earring on her left ear once more, picking up a wooden bucket and heading out to the well.

 

 

* * * * * * * *

 

 

“I believe you will have no problems now with attacking youkai,” Miroku spoke, bowing towards the village headman. The rain had finally cleared up, and the sun had come out to shine brightly on the scene. “We destroyed the nest, and any other youkai in that forest should have a warning.”

 

“Thank you so much, Houshi-dono!” the headman and villagers spoke, bowing low in return. “As a gesture of thanks, we insist that you stay in this village tonight.”

 

Stepping forward, the hanyou spoke irately, “Sorry, but we can't. We're on a mission and its not even night yet—”

 

He was cut off as Kagome gave him a sharp elbow jab in the ribs. “Ow, hey, Kagome! What was that—”

 

“Inuyasha, we should at least take their thanks!” Kagome yelled. “Besides, I want to sleep indoors once in a while, and it would be nice not to have to catch our own food tonight!”

 

Instead of getting angry, the hanyou just looked a little bit hurt. “Are you saying I don't provide for you?”

 

Sighing, Kagome replied, “No, Inuyasha, you provide enough. It's just I want to sleep somewhere other than the ground once in a while, okay?”

 

Watching the exchange with curious eyes, Sango asked, “So, are we going to stay in the village tonight? It would be nice, since I should tend to Kirara while we're here.” The little cat in her arms mewed softly, though was obviously avoiding touching the greenish wound on her front paw.

 

Shippou, who was now sitting on Inuyasha's shoulder after the fight, cut in, “Yeah, I'd like to sleep inside too, since it might rain again.”

 

“We should accept their hospitality,” Miroku agreed. “It would be better to do so, and it would give us a well deserved break.”

 

“We'll prepare some rooms for you immediately!” the headman said gratefully, leading the group out of the forest and to the village. “If you forgive us, we are but a small village, but there is an empty hut in the village that you may stay in.”

 

The monk replied, “Thank you for it. I'm sure that the lodgings will be comfortable.”

 

Leaning over towards Sango, Kagome whispered, “Wow, that's the first time I've actually seen him get rooms for us in an honest way.” Sango nodded in agreement, glad that they weren't ripping this village off like so many others with tales of “mysterious” jyaki floating around the nearest village inn.

 

But as the headman was leading them on, a small, young boy ran up to the group, looking as excited as he could be. “Excuse me,” he said in a tiny voice. “But is anyone injured? My mama is the village healer, and she could help you if you are hurt.”

 

All turned to see this small boy, who's deep indigo eyes brightened at the attention. “We just have cuts and bruises, but we have a youkai that might be badly injured,” Kagome spoke, kneeling down to see this boy eye-to-eye.

 

“Oh, pay no attention to him,” the headman spoke sharply. “We do not visit the village healer if we can help it; I suggest you do the same.

 

“Why?” Inuyasha demanded, “Is there something wrong with her?”

 

The headman continued, “She and that brat of hers without a father live alone, and that's how she's always lived. Her mother was a whore and she is of the same mold, yet she's proud of what she is, and of that little bastard of hers, too.”

 

Ignoring the man and his harsh insults, Kagome turned back to the boy who seemed like he hadn't understood the previous exchange. “Where is your Mama?”

 

The little boy pointed towards the lone run down hut at the edge of the village. “Mama and I live alone, but we like it that way. She takes care of me, and she says that I'm all she ever wanted.”

 

“And I'm sure you're very happy together,” Sango finished, smiling at the boy as well. “What is your name?”

 

His chest puffing out with pride, the boy spoke, “My name's Taro. But Mama calls me `Sweetie' `Precious' and even,” he winced, “`Baby'”

 

Sango, Kagome, and Shippou laughed. “Take us to your mother, Taro. I'm sure she'll know some way to help,” Kagome replied.

 

“And we want to check to make sure you didn't suck in any poison, right, Houshi-sama?” Sango turned to Miroku, but he wasn't listening. In fact, he looked like he hadn't noticed anything at all for a long time. “Houshi-sama?”

 

But Miroku kept staring at the village, and at the hut at the edge, muttering to himself, “A healer…in this village…”

 

“Houshi-sama!” Sango yelled, making him snap out of it.

 

“Yes, Sango? Is…is there something wrong?”

 

“Houshi-sama,” she repeated, her voice lower and more serious. “Are you all right?”

 

He nodded, almost too enthusiastically, “Yes, yes, I'm fine, why do you ask?”

 

But as they walked off, with Taro leading the way and leaving the village headman scowling behind, Miroku muttered once more, “A healer…why does that ring a bell…”

 

 

* * * * * * * *

 

 

The same healer wasn't at her hut, but had gone to the village well to retrieve some water as her son spoke to the exterminators. Like usual, she ignored the stares and snub remarks of the villagers as she passed them by, her lone pearl earring in plain sight on her left ear, her long, dark red hair flowing freely behind her.

 

As she bend down to gather up the water once more, she overheard a bit of conversation from some of the other village women. “Those exterminators are amazing!”

 

“I know! Especially that monk…I've never seen anything like it!”

 

Watching the two women intently with her deep blue eyes, she thought, That monk again…

 

“I can hardly believe that it was real! One minute everything's normal, and the next there was this flash of wind, and the rest of the youkai was sucked in!”

 

“But into what?”

 

“Didn't you see? It was like everything was being pulled—and sucked into—his hand!”

 

There was a splash and a thud as the healer's bucket of water fell to the ground, her eyes wide. Things were sucked in to his hand…

 

She didn't hear when people called her clumsy for dropping the water bucket, nor did she hear their surprise as she suddenly took off, up the hill toward the path to her hut. It can't be…it just can't…A monk with a hole that sucks everything into his hand…But how…why now…

 

As she caught sight of the travelers; the powerful youkai with the sword, the one woman in odd clothes and the other with a giant bone, another small youkai, and then her son, she almost thought she had been fooled, until…It's been three years…three long years, and yet…I never thought…

 

All turned to see the woman suddenly running up to them, with surprised looks on their faces. Parting so she could see clearly to the one man dressed in monk robes, the one man with the glove and the prayer beads on his right hand…the one man with the face she would recognize anywhere…

 

He turned to her, and without thinking, she gasped to everyone's shock, “Miroku-sama!”

When he heard his voice, he turned to her, and also looked surprised. Usually he could barely remember the faces of all the women he had met in his lifetime, but he would know those eyes and that red hair anywhere… “Atame!”