InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Road to Remembrance ❯ Not Ready to Mate ( Chapter 10 )

Chapter 10

 

The Swordfish's first stop in Benguela was only a few days, but their second stop, up on the northwest African coast in Dakar, was closer to a month. The African people fascinated Inuyasha to no end, even though he became accustomed to their strange looks and clothes. He quickly grew to love their traditions and customs in the short time he was with them. That night the village they were staying in was having a wedding and their entire crew was invited. As dusk approached the wedding carried on. There was loud music full of beating drums and singing families. Many people were dancing in a clearing, in front of the drums, moving to the exotic beat in practiced steps. Sam was one of the first Europeans to get up and try dancing with them. Seeing him making a fool out of himself sent many of the other crew members following in his footsteps.

“Come on, Inu. Up ya go,” Sam said, trying to get the youth to join him on the dance floor.

“Nope,” Inu Yasha replied, “I'll look like an idiot.”

“So what? That's half the fun! Live a little, mate.”

“I live plenty. Now leave me alone.”

Sam shrugged, “you're loss; they've got some mighty fine lookn' birds out there.”

Sam jumped back into the fray. He and Santos began jumping around in circles to the beat of the drums. Inu Yasha laughed at their antics perfectly content with his seat between Charley and a native named Kwasi, eating some of the many strange foods provided by the bride's family.

“How can you eat that?” Charley asked in disgust as Inu Yasha tried some guano. Inu Yasha grinned after swallowing what was in his mouth.

“How can you eat that?” Inu Yasha pointed to the spicy yam soup Charley was eating. He never liked spicy foods, which was probably why he didn't take to the Indian food much.

“At least it's not bat dung!” Charles exclaimed, shying away as Inu Yasha held the bowl towards him.

“Come on,” he urged, “try it. It's really not that bad.”

“No way.”

Inu Yasha laughed but stopped as a shadow loomed over him. He looked up to see a young African woman standing before him, a sister of the bride.

“Zacccomma,” she said, holding out a hand to him. Inuyasha stared at it. He knew very well what `zacccomma' meant—he heard it about twenty times that evening. He shook his head vigorously but she would have none of it. Reaching down with her other hand, she grasped his forearms in a tight, unrelenting grip and pulled him to his feet.

“N-no...Ngicela—I don't—” he said as she pulled him into the throng of people. She finally stopped and faced him, a big smile on her face.

“Ngicela, I really can't,” he said nervously. She just smiled and started moving to the music along with everyone else.

“You must relax,” she said in English with a heavy African accent. Inu Yasha stared at her, amazed that she could speak English. She laughed at his dumfounded expression and grabbed his hands and began to dance with him. Inu Yasha nervously looked around for Charley and was surprised to find him dancing as well. Albeit poorly.

`Live a little.' Maybe Sam had a point. So life dealt him a tough hand, big deal. He'd spent too long being bitter for what he had suffered in his short life. He really should learn to enjoy the better, if rare, parts of it. Naraku was dead and he had nothing holding him down in life. Here he had all these opportunities to learn about the different cultures of humans and he wasn't taking advantage of it.

Inu Yasha grinned at her and tried to follow her movements, laughing as he stumbled along. He must have looked like an idiot but he was having fun! Maybe this living it up thing wasn't so bad after all. The woman laughed with him as well and started to show him some proper moves to go along with the music.

“Hey, looking good puppy!” Sam called to him before attempting a move the groom just pulled off and falling on his ass. Inu Yasha laughed at him, watching Sam try to stand and rub his sore butt at the same time.

The woman gave a delighted giggle.

“What's your name?” Inu Yasha asked.

“Sauda” She replied, “And what are you called?”

“Inu Yasha.”

“Inu Yasha,” she repeated, trying out the name, “You are not like the rest of these Englishmen. Your hair is a strange color and so are your eyes.”

“Well...” Inu Yasha didn't really know what to say to that, “I came from a different land.”

“This is true?” she said in amazement, “I am tired. We will rest and you can tell me about your land.”

“Um, alright.”

Inu Yasha then spent the rest of his evening sitting with Sauda telling her all about Japan, which was a subject she found fascinating, especially when he mentioned the vast amount of demons roaming the land. She wished to travel the world as he did. Unfortunately for her, her father was more interested in marrying her off to some wealthy farmer, so that was out of the question.

The morning after the wedding was spent packing up the ship and set out to sea again.

“Next stop, Swansea,” John said with a grin. He couldn't wait to see his wife and daughter, who would be nearly five when he reached her. Inuyasha felt an unexpected jolt of anticipation in his stomach. While the voyage was almost at an end, the journey was far from over.

 

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Miroku walked out of his and Sango's home, preparing for a short journey to a neighboring village in need of an exorcism. His life was great at the moment and he couldn't have been happier. He had a loving wife, a great village who respected the both of them deeply for protecting them, a beautiful home, and best of all—no curse. He even managed to quell his lecherous ways and reserved the groping experiences solely for Sango. Yes, life was good.

“Miroku!” Shippo squealed, darting towards him from Kaede's hut, “Sango smells funny! I think there's something wrong with her!”

“What!” Miroku cried, nearly dropping his staff. He ran towards Kaede's residence and inside, barely noticing Kouga perched on the roof with a knowing smirk.

“What is it?” Miroku called upon entering, “what's wrong.”

Kaede looked up from where Sango was lying on a mat with a cold cloth to her head.

“Nothing is wrong child. She has just fainted.”

Miroku continued to look worried and knelt down next to her.

“I'm alright, Miroku,” Sango said with a dazed smile, “I have wonderful news. I'm pregnant.”

Miroku couldn't believe his ears.

“P-pregnant? For real?”

Sango smiled and nodded.

“This is wonderful!” Miroku laughed, sweeping her into a deep hug. Kaede watched the couple celebrate with a warm smile before exiting the hut.

“Kouga,” she called, knowing he was near. It was more fortunate than ever that he arrived when he did, for the village would be down one slayer for protection. Though the jewel was long gone, there were still many demons who still believed it was located there.

“Yeah?” he said, hopping down.

“Would ye mind hunting down some game for a feast tonight in honor of Sango's pregnancy. I know the village will be determined in celebrating.”

“Fine,” he said, turning to leave. Though he and Inu Yasha shared the same short tone with her, the wolf prince was always a bit more polite when addressing her and Kaede soon developed a soft spot for him.

“Just one moment young man,” she said, stopping him in his tracks. He turned back and looked at her curiously. His stay in the village had made him a lot more patient with humans.

“Ye seem restless as of late. Is the time ye spend away from your pack troubling you?”

Kouga looked down for a moment. He did miss his pack—especially Ginta and Hakkaku. But he wasn't allowed to return without a mate or he would loose his rank in the wolf tribe. At least while he was here he could bide his time.

“No,” he answered hesitantly, “It's just...sometimes I feel like I'm wasting my time here when I should be out looking for a mate.”

“Then what is stopping you from doing so?”

Kouga blushed and looked uncomfortable. Kaede nodded in understanding.

“Ye do not feel ye are ready for a mate, is that right? Ye are quite young,” she stated, “How old are ye?”

“Older than sixty and that's all you need to know,” he said hotly, crossing his arms. Kaede's withered face broke into a smile.

“Yes. You seemed adamant in making Kagome your mate. So I supposed you would be at least that old.”

“Well it's not my fault that stupid half-breed had to chase her away for good,” he said sourly, “What the hell was he thinking anyway? He fought me for her and he never even marked her!”

“I do not think you and he were fighting for the same reasons. Inu Yasha is much too young to be thinking about mating himself at his age. He has already taken on too many responsibilities.”

“Too young?” Kouga repeated skeptically, “How old was dog turd anyway?”

Kaede thought for a moment.

“Well. If ye take away the time he was sealed to the tree...about fifteen years I should say. Sixteen now.”

“FIFTEEN?” Kouga screeched, startling a couple of passing villagers, “I've been fighting a mere child??”

Kaede simply turned and walked back into the hut, leaving the distressed prince in her wake.

“Fifteen...” Kouga mumbled to himself, ambling off into the forest. He couldn't wrap his mind around the fact that Inu Yasha—that infuriating hanyou who managed to defeat some of the most powerful demons to walk the land of Japan—wasn't even close to reaching his prime yet.

Kouga shook his head, frustrated. He couldn't believe he was fighting a child all this time. A child who could kick his ass no less! He'd be screwed when Inu Yasha did reach his prime.

The scent of fox caught his nose. He looked up to see Shippo perched on a branch.

“Um, Kouga,” Shippo started meekly, “I was wondering...”

“What?” Kouga asked impatiently, still sore from the latest information he received from Kaede, “spit it out.”

“Would you teach me to hunt,” the kit mumbled quickly. Kouga gave him a disbelieving look.

“Are you saying you don't know how to hunt?” he asked incredulously. Shippo blushed.

“Well...no...”

“You mean mutt face didn't teach you?”

Shippo felt he had to defend Inu Yasha in some manner.

“He was busy fighting Naraku. He didn't have time to teach me anything.”

Kouga gave him an annoyed look.

“As leader of his pack it was his duty to make sure all the cubs were properly trained.” He ignored the little voice in his head that argued Inu Yasha was a cub too.

“Pack?”

“Yeah,” Kouga said as if it was obvious, “you know...the people you traveled with?”

“Oh,” Shippo said, “I never really thought of us as a pack.”

Kouga blew his bangs upward. He supposed it was now his responsibility to take over where Inu Yasha left off. It wasn't like he was doing anything else productive with his time.

“Alright, fine.”

“YAY!” Shippo squealed, jumping from the tree and latching himself onto Kouga's shoulder.

“First things first,” Kouga snapped, “No loud, sudden noises!”

“Sorry,” Shippo whispered. Kouga groaned. This was going to be a long day.

 

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Ewww, Inu Yasha ate bat poo. The boat trip is just about over and we'll get into the juicy dramatic stuff. I'm making Inu Yasha fifteen in this story because it will work better with my other story, I know he's supposed to be 200 or something. Thanks for being patient!