InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Road to Remembrance ❯ Healing in Africa ( Chapter 18 )

Chapter 18

 

It turned out Africa was exactly what the doctor ordered for Inuyasha, so to speak. The people he lived with were quite elderly and had been having trouble managing their rather large farm, which was why they readily accepted Inuyasha into their home. Inuyasha spent most of the day in the sun working the farm or going into the village to run errands. His body had healed beautifully under the food provided by the family he stayed with and the work under the sun to tone and tan it once more.

And the best part for him was that he didn't have to wear a disguise. The people of Sinu accepted him as a half-demon, allowing him to stay because of his strength and kindness.

Inuyasha was quite happy where he was, despite his tenancy to space out or lapse into depression. To prevent this he would often talk with the children and tell them stories of his adventures back in Japan while they in return would teach him their customs and traditions.

“Howzit Inuyasha,” A tall, young man greeted him as Inuyasha made his way into the main village to pick up some more grain. Inuyasha smiled at him, slowing down so he could catch up to his stride.

“Howzit Bomani” he replied, with the smile that never seemed to reach his eyes anymore. Bomani frowned. He had heard about what happened to Inuyasha from the elders that he lived with and the very thought boiled his blood. Inuyasha had always been respectful and kind to everyone in their village and didn't deserve to have suffered the way he did. It saddened him greatly when he saw the never ending pain in the half-demon's eyes that was masked by a sham smile.

“Inuyasha,” Bomani muttered, “Why did you let them get away with it?”

It had always bothered Bomani, who was rather hotheaded, that Inuyasha had let someone wrong him like that. Inuyasha sighed, having gone over this many times with the youth. However, he put up with him, for he reminded him of himself years ago.

“I've told you, it wouldn't have solved anything. I'm happy now and that's all that matters.”

“Of course it would have solved something,” Bomani argued, “I can see in your eyes that you're not happy—not like you should be. Everyone here can. Canis is sitting on his ass living it up and you had to suffer like that even though you gave him a second chance. It's not fair.”

Inuyasha had to chuckle at the youth who was training to become a village warrior.

“You don't put enough faith in the divine powers. Ever heard of Karma? Canis will get what's coming for him. Its not up to me to decide what it is.”

Bomani looked at him disbelievingly.

“If you say so...”

“I do,” Inuyasha said with composure. Azkaban may have subdued him, but on the whole, it was a learning experience. And he had every intention of using it to his best advantage in life.

 

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“Dziko, I don't think this is a good idea...” Inuyasha trailed, wincing at the sharp pull on his scalp. The young girl giggled and continued the cornrows she was doing in his hair.

“Hush. I know what I'm doing. Your hair is so pretty and it will look great like this. All the warriors wear their hair back.”

“I've told you,” Inuyasha said patiently, “I am not a warrior anymore.”

“Don't lie to me. I've seen you practicing that strange magic in the plains.”

“What?” Inuyasha gasped. He had been so sure no one had spotted him those few times he managed to sneak out to the abandoned plains to practice his blood magic. It had been quite fortunate that Nicholas remembered to grab his book and swords when he broke into Azkaban.

“Yes. That is a strange magic. None of the healers use it so I assumed it was a warrior's magic.”

Inuyasha blinked.

“You sneaky little cretin,” he smiled, opting not to get upset. She giggled.

“Are you done yet? You've been working on it for over an hour,” Inuyasha continued whining at the next painful tug.

“Yes!” she exclaimed excitedly, “Now come and look at it, you look fabulous!”

Inuyasha allowed himself to be pulled into the elder's hut and in front of the mirror, a rare gift from a trading traveler years back. He had not seen his reflection since the last time he was in Kagome's bedroom years ago and his eyes widened at the difference in him.

He was much taller now, going from a 5'8'' to almost 6 feet, like his brother. His shoulders were a bit broader and his face leaner; all of the baby fat gone leaving sharp cheekbones and a square jaw, giving him a more European look overall. Inuyasha's shining silver hair was sharp in contrast to his nicely tanned skin, merit to the African sun. Azkaban's damage was no longer present on his body. The knee-length patterned loin cloth, traditional of young warriors, showed off his muscle layered chest along with the blue beaded choker that accessorized it.

Dziko cut his hair a little before she braided it so it now fell to his mid back. The braids themselves went back across his scalp, zigzagging around his ears as cornrows would and falling down the rest of the way in dozens of little braids. The braids were then pulled into a half ponytail to keep them out of his face for when he was active.

“I told you you're beautiful,” the young girl grinned, “You never seem to believe us when we tell you.”

Inuyasha's chest tightened and he was overcome with a strange urge to laugh. In his time spent traveling the world on the HMS Swordfish he managed to build a confidence in himself with each woman who spent the night with him. Then he was thrown in Azkaban and was reminded why half-breeds were scorned, why he should have been disgusted with what he was, and all that confidence came crashing down.

And now here was this little girl, who knew what he was, and insisted that he was beautiful. Inuyasha looked back in the mirror, taking in the whole reflection. He had to admit, he was rather good looking.

A grin appeared on his face, erasing the lines from Azkaban, and the Inuyasha from Berchin was smiling back at him once more.

“Thank you Dziko, for everything,” Inuyasha said to her, patting her head. Dziko smiled up at him.

“It was no problem,” she smiled, “Now come with me, I'm going to show you off to everyone.”

Inuyasha laughed as he found himself once again being hauled around by someone less than half his size. He spent the rest of the day up until the sun set being shown off to the villagers, receiving many compliments and appreciative looks.

But as they say, all good things must come to an end.

“Do you smell that?” Inuyasha asked the young girl, sniffing around the air. There was something slightly basic, almost like rancid soap, wafting through the streets. It was not a pleasant scent.

“Yeah,” Dziko said, sniffing with her tiny, human nose, “I...” she trailed off as she fell into unconsciousness.

“Dziko!” Inuyasha exclaimed, deftly catching her body. He looked around, watching as people fell to the ground left and right. Not dead, just passed out.

“Dziko wake up, come on...” Inuyasha's enhances senses overpowered his demonic healing abilities, and he too fell into darkness.

 

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