InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Road to Remembrance ❯ The Reunion ( Chapter 20 )

Chapter 20

 

“Boys, I've got some business to attend to. I should be back within a week. Until then, enjoy the women and the sake,” Inuyasha announced. The pirates saw no qualms to this order and cheered in agreement.

“Indie!”

Inuyasha turned around to see Sauda running to catch up with him.

“Can't I come with you?” she pouted prettily.

Inuyasha grinned at her loyalty. She was very smart; always playing it up with the captain.

“Not this time, lass. I've got to do this on my own. I don't know when I'll be back though. This land is full of demons, as I've said before, so promise me you'll be good and be careful?”

“Of course,” she said, “But what about you?”

“I'll be fine. If I can survive a dance with you I think I can handle a demon,” she smacked his arm and smiled, “But incase I'm not back within the next couple of weeks,” He took off his hat and placed it on her head, “I'll leave you in charge of the crew.”

Sauda's eyes widened greatly, “Me? But captain...I'm a woman...don't you think—?”

“I first sailed under a woman. But I guarantee I'll be back before that,” he said with a wink.

“I hope so,” Sauda smiled.

“Good bye Sauda.”

Sauda leapt up and pecked him on the cheek, “Good bye Captain. You hurry back now.”

Inuyasha waved her off and turned back to his path.

 

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The journey to Kaede's had taken less than a few days, and Inuyasha's stomach twisted in anticipation with each step. He hoped they weren't terribly upset with him for taking so long. He was twenty-one now. That would make Sango twenty-two or twenty-three and Miroku around twenty-five. Shippo would have to be around eleven or so in human years. He had never asked the runt how old he was.

Inuyasha tensed up as he realized where he was. His feet had unconsciously brought him directly in front of the bone-eater's well. Inuyasha swallowed and looked over the edge. There were no more traces of Kagome's scent or his for that matter.

His claws dug into the wood, trying to suppress the painful memories of her departure. He dearly regretted letting her leave like that. They could have worked things out; maybe not into a relationship, but at least they could have saved their friendship. She was his first real friend.

Inuyasha straitened his posture and stepped away from the well. He had spent enough time reminiscing on something he couldn't change. Right now, he had a reunion of sorts to attend.

His presence was immediately noticed as he slowly made his way through the village to Kaede's hut. It was quite obvious, despite his many changes, that the people of the village remembered him. The villagers whispered and pointed as he passed; some smiling and nodding, delighted he returned while others scowled, mostly the elders, who just didn't trust demons. He tried to keep a grin off his face as a group of young women he recalled only being girls the last time he saw them giggled when he looked their way. Maybe Japanese girls weren't so different from European ones. Why hadn't he noticed that before?

 

 

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“Miroku, can you hold Sachiyo please? I've got to hang these clothes out to dry.”

Miroku took his third child from his wife, holding the infant on his hip.

“Are you still running a fever?” Miroku asked the baby, holding his hand against the slightly warm head. She had been sick the last couple days though Kaede said it was a mild cold. Sachiyo began to fuss in her father's arms.

“Oh yes, you don't feel too well do you? I'm going to take her to Kaede again, alright?” Miroku told Sango right before she left with a basket full of clothes.

“Alright, I'll stop by after I do these.” She replied, nodding her head toward the load in her arms. She walked out of the hut and took about two steps down the dirt road when a figure caught her eye, causing her to drop the basket. Wet clothes spilled around the ground at her feet. There, standing no more than ten feet away from her, was Inuyasha. She barely registered that he had grown a few inches, or that his hair was pulled back strikingly in many braids or that he was clothed in a different fashion. She just knew that he was back after years of waiting.

“Oh Kami, Inuyasha!” she cried out, forgetting all the poise of a demon slayer and running towards him, literally jumping on him in an all consuming hug. She could already tell Inuyasha was different by the way he laughed with her and swung her around. Neither of the old friends seemed to care about the scene they were causing.

“Sango what—?” Miroku asked, having given Sachiyo to Kaede. He emerged from the hut thinking she had called `Inuyasha'. It turned out she had.

“Inu—Inuyasha?” He asked, his eyes widening as he stared at his friend, looking more mature physically and at the same time younger as he laughed along with Sango. He had never seen Inuyasha laugh like that; so open and carefree. Miroku wasn't about to pass this up.

Much like Sango had, he ran up to the couple, all dignity forgotten, and leapt upon the two, sending all three crashing to the ground in a heap of hugs and mirth.

“I can't believe it's you! You're back!” Miroku laughed. He managed to get an arm around Inuyasha's neck in some sort of a hug.

Inuyasha couldn't stop smiling, tangled in a mass of arms and legs. He had never thought his normally composed friends would act this way in public all for him.

“God, I didn't think you'd miss me that much!” he chuckled.

“Well you can't blame us,” Sango giggled and tugged at one of his braids, “Look at you! You're all grown up. Your hair is so pretty too.”

“No, it's very manly,” Inuyasha pouted. They laughed, still on the ground behaving like children.

“You have an accent!” Miroku snickered, “I never thought I'd hear it from you, but you have an accent!”

“I do not!” Inuyasha grinned, trying to be indignant. The mood was far too cheerful to pull that off.

“Hello Inuyasha,” an elderly voice said. All three adults to look up from the ground to see Kaede standing above them. It was then they seemed to realize where they were. Miroku and Sango immediately turned red and stood as they noticed the audience they attracted. Inuyasha wasn't quite as embarrassed.

“Kaede,” He greeted with a smile, giving her a small hug. The woman was surprised, but hugged him back gladly.

“Come inside and tell us of your journey. You were gone for nearly six years,” Kaede then turned to Sango and Miroku, “I gave Sachiyo some herbal medicine and she should be well in a few days. Dai and Katsuki are watching him now.”

“Thank you Kaede,” said Sango.

“Dai? Katsuki? Sachiyo?” Inuyasha asked, looking at his two friends with a raised eyebrow. He had already put two and two together. Miroku smiled and held his wife's hand.

“You'll meet them when we come inside,” he said ginning at his friend. He could not get over the fact that Inuyasha was here with them right now or how much he had grown as well.

Inuyasha smiled, “Of course. Where's Shippo?”

“Oh he's off visiting Kouga. He should be back by nightfall. He's gotten his second tail, you know,” Sango said conversationally, picking up the laundry she dropped. She was very surprised when Inuyasha bent down to help her pick it up.

“Really?” Inuyasha said stunned, “Then he must have received training to become strong enough for that. Why would he be visiting Kouga though?”

After all of Inuyasha's experiences in the past few years, his rivalry with Kouga seemed trivial.

“When you first left Kouga had taken your place as the “village protector”. It was mostly because he didn't feel like he was ready to find a mate yet and his tribe wouldn't let him back without one. While he was here he trained Shippo into more of a fighter. That's how he eventually earned his second tail.”

Inuyasha nodded in understanding as they passed through the door flap. Inuyasha was greeted with three young children standing in front of Miroku.

“Inuyasha, I'd like you to meet Dai,” he pointed to a five year old boy with short black hair and indigo eyes, “Katsuki,” a three your old with hair tied in a little pony tail and brown eyes, “and our little girl Sachiyo,” the baby in Miroku's arms had the same blue eyes as her father.

“Hello,” Inuyasha said kindly to the children. They stared at his ears, mouths open.

“Are you Inuyasha? The Inuyasha?” Dai asked in awe.

“I'm...the only Inuyasha I know of,” he replied unsurely.

“WOW!” Dai's eyes lit up, as he ran up to Inuyasha and jumped on his leg. His little brother followed the example with his other leg.

“I've heard all your stories from mother and father and uncle Shippo and uncle Kouga—,”

“Uncle Kouga?” Inuyasha asked, looking at Miroku and Sango. They only shrugged and laughed as their sons tried to climb up the hanyou's legs.

“—why is your hair in all those braids? Can you do that to my hair? Where did you go? Why were you gone so long? Why do you talk funny? Why are your clothes weird? Can I pet your ears?” Dai continued in one breath.

“If I let you pet my ears will you shut up?” Inuyasha said quickly.

“Okay,” he said immediately.

“Okay,” Katsuki mimicked his brother.

Inuyasha bent down so both boys could each have an ear to pet.

“Just be gentle,” he told them quietly. The boys nodded and happily pet his ears, keeping silent.

“Wow Inuyasha,” Sango said in wonder as she watched her two energetic sons stay still for once, “you never used to let anyone touch your ears before.”

“Why deny them life's simple pleasures?” Inuyasha grinned, enjoying their attentions.

Kaede smiled and nodded, “So tell us about your travels.”

“I'd rather wait until Shippo gets here. It's a rather long story.”

“Fair enough,” Sango said, “I'll prepare supper. Shippo should be back by then. Oh, and Inuyasha, you do have an accent.”

“Do I?” he asked.

“Yes,” Miroku answered, “One of those European ones. I'm sure you will have the ladies flocking.”

Inuyasha grinned, “Oh, I have some great stories for you.”

Miroku raised an eyebrow. The Inuyasha he remembered would have been flustered at such a suggestion.

“Now I will hold my questions for when Shippo arrives, but I must know, how is it you've become so mild mannered? Have you actually matured or is it another factor? I do not mean to sound offensive but I am afraid I do not know much about the mentality aging of demons.”

Inuyasha shrugged, “I've just gotten laid a lot.”

This was not a response they were expecting, especially from Inuyasha.

Sango gasped, almost dropping the pan she pulled out, Kaede raised an eyebrow and Miroku burst out laughing.

“Don't say that in front of my son's! I don't want them to end up like their father!” Sango cried, trying and failing to look angry at him.

“I'm glad you weren't a lost cause, my friend,” Miroku smiled, the lecher emerging once more and slapping Inuyasha on the back.

“What's laid?” Dai asked loudly.

“LAID!” Katsuki yelled, clapping his hands.

“Oh, now you've done it!” Sango hissed, “Miroku, stop laughing!”

“I'm sorry, dear,” he said, covering his mouth with his hand as he continued to laugh. Sango glared at him and continued making dinner, Kaede set to help her.

“I smell fox,” Inuyasha grinned, standing. Before anyone in the hut could comment a red ball shot threw the window and into the dog demon's chest.

“YOU'RE BACK, YOU'RE BACK! I SMELLED YOU OVER A MILE AWAY! I CAN'T BELIEVE IT, YOU'RE BACK!”

Inuyasha laughed merrily and hugged the fox kit. The boy had grown a lot, almost reaching his shoulders. His outfit was much the same as was his auburn hair; though he had lost the bow and it had grown longer. Sure enough, he had two, longer tails behind him.

“Congratulations on the tail,” Inuyasha grinned.

Shippo smiled for a split second before it fell off his face, quickly replaced by a scowl, and punched him in the stomach. Not expecting it, Inuyasha gasped. That kid could actually pack a punch.

“What was that for?” he pouted, rubbing his stomach. If Shippo was surprised that Inuyasha didn't retaliate, he didn't show it.

“What the hell took you so long?” he demanded.

 

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