InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Alternate Storyteller ❯ On the Corner of No and Where ( Chapter 3 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

I ran as fast as my body would go, terrified of looking back and seeing someone, or something, in pursuit. I didn’t stop until I broke out of the trees and was standing on the beach once more. I stood absolutely still for a moment that seemed to last an hour, barely breathing despite my energetic sprint of just seconds before. As I stared at the moon I felt fear, excitement, loneliness, and the beginnings of panic. I abruptly wheeled around and headed, once again, for the same route that had taken me to the campsite.

Perhaps, I thought hopefully, if I go back the same way, it’ll simply take me back to my own time and reality. That belief cheered me up considerably and I picked up the pace. Passing some distinctive natural landmarks and taking the fork that was supposed to take me to town, I slowed as I reached an area of the road that felt…different. I couldn’t figure out why it did. I looked up and saw the moon and stars shining brilliantly through the only significant break in the forest canopy along this particular path. They looked so sharp and bright as I stared up, and I noticed a fine haze reflecting the milky light, covering the clearing with its twinkling. It looked like a scene from one of Tolkien’s epics.

Do the stars and moon have anything to do with this? I wondered as I gazed wide-eyed at this new development. I knew that back in the day people believed the sky governed the events of Earth. Perhaps somehow they governed my life now, transporting me to a time and place that only existed in the realm of fantasy and legend. Ah, but the myths and legends of my time had parts rooted in true events. Bringing my gaze back down to the way before me, I took a deep breath and walked through the clearing and its glittering curtain, praying my theory was right. With that done, I broke into a run, thoughts of a soft bed and warm food keeping me going at a good clip.


Sever al hours later, I picked myself up off the ground, chose the direction I thought led to Honshu, and began my trek.

After reaching what was supposed to be the town site and finding nothing there, I had dropped to my knees in despair and wept for my situation. I had little communication skills in Japanese, a few clothes, a bit of food, some toiletries, and a few odds and ends that I didn‘t know what to do with in the Sengoku Jidai. I was thankful that I had at least this much, because for some reason, my backpack had come with me. Thank God for small blessings, I though wearily. Now all I had to do was get myself to a village and then…

And then what? How am I supposed to explain my appearance? The only people with my colouring in this day and age is a fox demon. I snickered at that. Maybe I can scare them into thinking I’m a demon and tell them I need weekly offerings of food and clothing. My smile faded a bit at a realization. Except, if they decide they can take me on, they’ll take me prisoner or even kill me. I may look like a demon, but I sure as hell don’t have the powers of one. The remainder of my smile disappeared completely as a new thought floated through my head. If I actually convinced these people that I am a demon, chances are Sesshoumaru will hear about it and come see what the ruckus is about. Humph. He’ll slay me, if not on sight, just after he gives me a good look and smell. That walking - albeit handsome - icicle won’t tolerate having a higher-level demon in his territory. As the captain of the ‘Firefly’ once said, we’re on the corner of no and where. That’s certainly how I felt now.

After those rather morbid thoughts and nearly freaking myself out by spotting my shadow out of the corner of my eye, I decided sleep was definitely in order. The sun was coming up as I made myself comfortable under some bushes. I watched in wonder as the sky faded from black to navy to shades of purple pink, gold, and finally blue as the sun came blazing over the horizon. The chattering birds was the last sound I heard before sleep finally overcame me.


Abo ut two days after my unceremonious arrival in this time, I finally arrived at a village. Rather than give in to my inclination of making all haste to the nearest food and bed, I hid for several hours in the forest that ran right up to the edge of the settlement. I debated ‘borrowing’ some clothes, as opposed to simply walking in and asking about food and shelter. Either way, I still looked like stranger and unless I could dye my hair and colour my face, I was stuck. I sighed and calmed myself as best I could.

Now or never, I thought with apprehension as I took my first hesitant steps into the village. At first, everyone was so busy working they didn’t notice a stranger in their midst. However, about halfway to the village square, a couple of children saw me and raised the alarm. Some of the men ran from the other side of town and intercepted me just as I hit the square. Their faces had looks of suspicion mingled with fear. I held my hands up to show them I was unarmed.

“Please,” I began in hesitant, affected Japanese , “I mean no harm to you or your village. I am a stranger to these lands and only wish for a place to rest and eat before I continue my journey.” The villagers’ looks changed from fear to amazement. From my appearance and manners, they clearly hadn’t expected me to know their language, and I was amazed that they‘d been able to understand me with my very stilted accent. I was also in my low-rise flare jeans, dark blue, v-neck baby-tee with ¾ length sleeves, and my blue, white and silver sneakers that I wore for long walks. I was hauling my large backpack as well. As we stood staring at each other, I fully realized what a sight I must surely be.

A confident, authoritative female voice interrupted my thoughts, “How do we know that you are not some shape-shifting demon from the Continent? Perhaps you seek to take our wealth and slay us in our sleep.” I looked around in slight confusion because I didn’t understand everything the voice had said and saw a middle-aged woman approaching through the parting throng. She walked with an easy grace and I noted her red hakama and white haori. The village priestess. She continued her observation, “Perhaps you wish to take this very land from the lord who rules over it.” The villagers surrounding us began murmuring at her pronouncement. I managed to translate enough of the sentence to get the gist of what she was suggesting.

“No!” I cried out, horrified, “I do not seek to displace Sesshoumaru-sama! I merely wish to rest in a safe place for the night!” I was dismayed. If that was what they thought of me just from my declaration of peaceful intent, then I had no idea what I was going to do to convince them of otherwise.

The villagers, however, were confused by my words. They murmured amongst themselves, wondering who this Sesshoumaru person was. I couldn’t believe it! The most powerful demon in Japan ruled their land and they’d never heard of him! The miko, however, looked troubled at my outburst. Something about that expression made me uneasy for some reason. Suddenly, she spoke up to quell the agitated crowd.

“I will question this stranger to see if her words be true or a lie,” she turned to the closest men. “Bind her hands and bring her to my hut.” Those she had addressed worked quickly at their task, and a few minutes later I found myself seated in the relative cool of the miko’s hut, with her sitting across the fire pit, a troubled and pensive look on her face as she regarded me. I studied her in turn. She had thick black hair that fell to her knees when she was standing and her wise, dark eyes seemed to see beyond the obvious. Her face was both youthful and old and she had an aura about her that spoke of spiritual power and knowledge, which I suppose was to be expected of a priestess . Her expression cleared and she waved my guards out the door.

“Although my people have never seen an outsider before, I have, which is why I am willing to listen to your explanation,” she stated softly, to my great surprise. She continued, “I am curious as to how you arrived here, as well. We have seen no outsider ships here for many months, nor welcomed the Continental traders for over twelve.” I was taken aback by her statement. During the time of ’InuYasha’, foreign traders were actually quite common. That’s why some of the episodes had guns and other Western weapons in them.

“However,” she went on, her face darkening somewhat, “the knowledge that Sesshoumaru-sama is the rightful ruler of this land is not commonly known among the people of the West, for some reason. We know of a demon overlord, but not his name. This information is found only among the lords, and a few religious leaders like myself, that claim to be his allies, although he does not accept the assistance of the humans as his father did. Why the lords do not share his name with their subjects, I cannot understand. In light of these circumstances, I must know who and what you are to explain the extent of your knowledge.” I swallowed, nervous about the story I was about to share.

“It’s hard to explain,” I began hesitantly, “but basically, I come from another existence and time period. I‘m from an existence where all of the events of this era are just a myth or legend made up by an author. And the time I‘m from, “ I paused and took a deep breath, “is roughly 450-500 years in the future.” I looked up at the other woman with her slack jaw and wide eyes and ploughed on. “I was out walking a few nights ago. When I was heading back to the town I was staying in, I seemed to have walked through a ‘door’ of some sort that brought me here. I tried to go through where I thought the ‘door’ was, but it obviously didn‘t work, which is why I am here.” I had to stop there because the poor priestess looked like she was about to pass out. I doubt that even with all her experiences with foreigners and spiritual matters, nothing had prepared her for this.

After a few moments, she managed to gather her wits and asked, “What do you know of the past?” I looked at the floor for a moment to remember as much as I could about the ‘InuYasha’ storyline and launched into the events starting from the creation of the Shikon no Tama and ending with a bit I had found on the internet about Naraku‘s demise. I couldn’t remember what had happened after that. By the time I was done, the other woman looked absolutely gobsmacked.

“I do not know what to say about the story of your arrival,” she said in hushed tones after a short silence, “however, I do believe you. I believe that you are who you claim to be. While your very face speaks of other lands, and your manner of dress and difficulty with our tongue explains some of the other aspects of your story, it is your extensive knowledge of our experiences that confirms your tale” Her voice rose to a normal level, “Now, I will release you and provide you with the meal that you so desperately need.” As if in reply, my stomach growled loudly. She laughed and I grinned sheepishly as she untied the ropes that bound my hands.

“Oh!” I exclaimed as she ladled some stew into a couple of bowls, “I did not introduce myself! My name is Persephone.”

“Persephone…,” she seemed to roll my name around her mouth, sounding like ’Purusepheni’, then smiled gently at me as we sat down to eat. “My name is Hoshi, Persephone-san. Welcome to the Western Lands.”