InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Road to Remembrance ❯ Back on land ( Chapter 11 )

Chapter 11

 

“Damn boy! How'd you get so good? I thought you said you'd never done this before?” John laughed as he parried another blow from Inu Yasha's fencing sword. Inu Yasha was actually using Sam's sword, who, at the present time, was laughing jovially at the friendly spar between the hanyou and his best friend. Earlier that day, John had heard that Inu Yasha had never fenced before and immediately insisted on teaching his young friend. It turned out he was in for quite a surprise.

Like English, fencing came to Inu Yasha as if it were a second nature. At first his movements were slow and jerky. But as he watched John's actions something was triggered in the back of his mind. His body began to move with more grace and confidence and soon flowed into a familiar dance. Something told him this wasn't the first time he fenced.

“I don't remember ever doing this,” Inu Yasha replied with exhilaration as he finally knocked John's sword from his hand. A small round of applause pattered throughout the small crowd that had gathered. Inu Yasha and John shook hands, John laughing in good spirits.

“That was quite a show you put on,” Isabel said as she approached them. She had a knack for popping up whenever people weren't working. “Now get back to work.”

The crowd thinned out as the crew men began finishing up their last tasks before they docked in Swansea.

“Here Sam,” Inu Yasha said, tossing him his sword back, “Thanks.”

“Why didn't you just use that one?” John asked, pointing to Tetsusaiga which was nestled into Inu Yasha's belt.

“Er...this one isn't for fencing,” Inu Yasha said uneasily. John just shrugged and got back to his duties. There were just some things he would never understand about that kid.

It wasn't long before the awaited sound of port bells and chattering sailors greeted the restless crew as the Swordfish pulled into a dock at Swansea.

 

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“John!” the veteran sailor never fully made it off the walk before a short woman with mousy brown hair flew from the crowd and into his arms.

“Giselle!” he cried with equal gusto and swept her up in a long kiss.

“Working hard or hardly working,” Inu Yasha said pleasantly and he passed the reuniting couple with an armload of crates. Sam followed behind him with his own load, laughing.

“Oh hush up,” John said, parting from his wife, “Giselle, you remember Sam,” Sam inclined his head towards her and lowered his crate to the ground, “And the smart ass over here is Inu Yasha. Inu, this is my wife Giselle.”

All Giselle could see was someone carrying three crates on top of each other so she was certainly surprised when the crates were lowered to the ground and out stepped a young man barely old enough to be sailing on his own.

“Oh my,” she laughed, “You certainly are a strong one, aren't you?”

Inu Yasha blushed at the complement.

“Erm, thanks,” he said awkwardly. He didn't really know what to say from there—he was still working on his people skills. Thankfully someone came to his rescue.

“Daddy!” A young, brown-headed child came running out of now where and leapt into her father's arms.

“Helen!” John cried out in glee, smothering her face in kisses, “Look at you! You've grown half a foot!”

The three of them immediately began talking; trying to catch up on everything in the time they spent apart at once.

“Awkward enough?” Sam muttered, backing away from the chattering family.

“Yup,” Inu Yasha agreed, fully intent on following him. Unfortunately it wasn't meant to be.

“Oh!” Helen cried out in glee from her father's arms. Her own little arms were outstretched and reaching towards Inu Yasha, “What pretty hair and eyes!”

Inu Yasha felt his face heat up in embarrassment as the child literally leapt from John's arms into his.

“Helen!” her mother cried aghast as John laughed. Helen ignored her mother and stroked the fine silver forelocks that rested on his shoulders. Seeing as the girl wasn't intent on going anywhere for a while Inu Yasha shifted her weight so she was positioned more comfortably on his hip.

“Such an odd color,” she said in childlike wonder. “How did you ever get it to grow so long?”

Inu Yasha shrugged, “Just never cut it I suppose.”

“Someday my hair will be that long,” she told him as if it were a very important matter. Inu Yasha nodded to humor her.

“Alright baby, that's enough,” John said, lifting his daughter out of Inu Yasha's arms, “the ship's not going to unload itself.”

Inu Yasha waved goodbye and went back to unpacking the ship. The task was finished two hours later as the sun was setting. Inu Yasha sat down on the last box he carried off and wiped the sweat from his brow. He had finally made it to England. Next he had to find his way to Scotland and then to the Black Estate. He reached into his pocket and pulled out the letter, rereading it for what felt like the hundredth time.

Julian Black was his grandfather, he got that much. And it sounded like Magnus was his uncle who was after the same inheritance. But what was this power that only he had? What was this exceptionality of his? Did it have something to do with being a half-breed? According to the letter it was something he had discussed with his grandfather many times. Why the hell couldn't he remember? The only thing he remember from before he was six was that reoccurring dream; the one where his mother died.

Inu Yasha felt a blazing anger stir in his chest. Magnus. That name alone seemed to take full responsibility for her death and he didn't know why. Perhaps returning to the Black Estate would trigger his memories to return to him. He had a sneaking suspicion he'd been there before, there at the Black Estate.

He stuffed the letter in his pocket just as his former captain came strolling around the corner. She froze as she caught sight of him, a small blush staining her pale cheeks.

“Hey,” she greeted casually. Things grew somewhat awkward between them as of late. It was hard to explain but Inu Yasha had the sneaking suspicion that she had a bit of a crush on him.

“Hey yourself,” Inu Yasha said back. Isabel smiled brilliantly and plopped down on the crate next to him.

“So where are you heading now?” She asked, swinging her legs back and forth so her heels kept hitting the wood in a steady rhythm.

Inu Yasha sighed. He didn't even know where to begin.

“Scotland I suppose. That's north right?”

“Yeah,” Isabel bit her lip. She was staring at him in a way that he'd only seen a few women stare at him before (most being in the last couple of years in his life). It was as if she was searching for something that would help decide an internal debate.

“What?” he asked annoyed. He hated it when people stared at him.

“It's just...we'll probably never see each other...and...” She was now playing with a strand of her long, red hair, “What are you doing tonight?”

“Huh?” Inu Yasha said, now paying full attention.

“You wanna come to my place?”

“Your place...” he repeated distantly, having a pretty good idea at what she was implying. She hopped off the crate and stood between his knees so that she was now facing him with a playful grin on her lips.

“Come on Inu,” she droned gaining more confidence, “I'm not your captain any more and don't even pretend you don't find me attractive.”

“Well,” he began uncertainly. He did find her attractive, even if she was older than him. And there was no denying he had more than one less than innocent dream involving her during his time on the ship, but then again what crew member didn't?

Apparently Isabel wasn't in the mood to wait for an answer because she lifted herself on her toes and pressed her lips against his in a searing kiss. Inu Yasha's eyes sprang open briefly before he closed them, kissing back contently.

“Ok,” he mumbled as soon as they parted. Isabel smiled, knowing she'd finally get what she wanted for the last few months.

 

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Yes...that took forever. I've just had writers block for the last couple of weeks, I'm sorry. I am very angry with myself. I'll update Demon Hunter asap.