InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Alternate Storyteller ❯ Encounter ( Chapter 6 )

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

I was paralysed, breathless. Reality as I knew it came to a halt. My brain was screaming at me to breathe, move, make a smart-ass remark; to do anything but stand there, staring at the perfect specimen of man that was standing next to the slain oni, looking down impassively.

“What are you staring at, filthy human?!”

I was startled. The universe kicking into motion again. I looked for the source of some shrieking and found it, that rotten green toad waving his stupid Staff of Two Heads around, ready to fry me to a crisp any second. Sesshoumaru was standing a ways back, seemingly listening to Rin with his usual impassive look, but apparently aware of what was going on with us, because as I dropped into a defensive stance, about to fight or flee for my life, his deep, even voice sounded across the clearing;

“We are going,” he stated and turned, stopping Jaken short.

“But, my lord…!” Jaken protested, “He could have been the one to lure Rin away!”

“But that’s not true, Jaken-sama!” Rin piped up, “He saved me from the nasty oni!”

“ ‘He’?! They think I’m a man?! Oh, this is too good to pass up! Thank-you, Kenichi-sensei!

Jaken made a sound of disbelief. “As if a mere human male could take down an oni of this size, you stupid child!” he exclaimed, gesturing to the enormous corpse, “Only a demon as powerful as that half-breed InuYasha could take it down, and only with the Testsusaiga at that!” Then he gasped and began babbling that he wasn’t insulting his lord, yada, yada, yada. A fit of giggles began overtaking me, and I started shaking with suppressed laughter, feeling my face turn red and my injured ribs protest. Jaken turned back to me and noticed my ’condition’. He started squawking again.

“What are you laughing at, you pathetic human child…you, you…,” he lost steam as I began chuckling, then pointed that damn staff at me again. I couldn’t help myself and completely lost it, laughing my fool head off. I had tears running down my face and my stomach and sides ached, even though the toad was fit to be tied and about to take me out. Snickering, I took my defensive stance once again and wondered what Sesshoumaru was going to do to him later. I didn’t dare glance away to gauge the demon lord’s reaction. However, I’d had enough of Jaken’s insults and general stupidity, and so went to my next course of action; mockery.

“Yes, that’s right, Jaken-sama, “ I sneered, deepening my voice to about male level, “Only a filthy half-demon could defeat such a beast. No mere male- half-demon or human could have handled a dangerous task. It was fortunate that you were here, even if you were unconscious” My opponent’s face turned a darker shade of green and his eyes blazed. I began circling, a hunter eyeing its prey, while holding my poor midriff, the only outward indication of my pain.

“How dare you speak to this Jaken in such a manner! I will teach you how to respect your superiors!” He planted the staff’s end in the soft turf and prepared to fire, literally.

Oh shit!

I scrambled for a quick solution, but all I could think of was revealing myself. I was exhausted, I was in pain, and the fact that Sesshoumaru was only about 100 feet away from me totally put a fog over my already-wiped mental processes. I wasn’t happy with my conclusion, but it was the only way to actually live to see the next few minutes. Keeping the sneer in my voice, I pulled off my face wraps as fast as possible.

“Yes, you’re right, Jaken-sama. That’s why a pathetic human female easily took care of the task.” I mocked as I yanked the last of the cloths free and my hair fell around my shoulders. His jaw dropped and he sputtered incoherently.

“I-impossible!” he screeched when he finally found his voice again, “You’re too weak to even scratch him with that worthless piece of metal strapped to your back, let alone destroy him!”

“Yeah, whatever,” I muttered and rolled my eyes, “That’s why I rescued Rin while you took a nap.” He sputtered again. We probably would’ve kept going until who knows when, but Sesshoumaru’s words cut like his whip.

“Enough of this foolishness, Jaken. Had you used your nose, you would have realized the human was female. She is not worth the energy you waste on her.”

I have so been DENIED! You miserable bastard! What did I ever see in you in the first place?!?! Pause. Whoa! Since when do I care about what he thinks about me? He doesn’t even know me!!

“And where were you while I fought the oni, you son of a bitch?!” I muttered in English anyways. They all looked at me funny when the words came out of my mouth, even Sesshoumaru. That surprised me. Since when did the walking block of ice show any expression like that? “What?” I continued, not realizing my words were now in Japanese, “You gotta complaint? Take a number!” I stopped abruptly, realizing they could understand the last part. I realized I was now in the habit of speaking another language. Damn. The look on both Jaken and his lord’s face was enough to make my blood run cold.

I have somehow officially earned the wrath of the most powerful demon in Japan and his fire-spewing lackey. Open mouth, insert foot, Staff of Two Heads, and Unknown Sword That Probably Could Kick My Sorry Ass Back to My Time! In what I though was my final act of desperation, I went on the defensive and prepared to fight a losing battle.

“This Sesshoumaru will not tolerate such insolence from a filthy human.” he coldly addressed me for the first time. I decided to go boldly where no Fluffy fan had gone before.

“I think I have the right to, considering it was me who rescued Rin and slew the oni in the first place.” I boldly stated with more courage than I felt. Good thing my hakama were so baggy; they hid my shaking knees.

Jaken looked ready to retort this, but nothing came out as he considered my words. He looked helplessly up at his master, unable to refute my claim and wondering what Sesshoumaru was going to do. His master’s expression cleared as he also digested my words, and giving no hint of his thoughts, turned and walked back to wherever he’d come from.

“We are leaving.” Rin and Jaken dashed after him, Rin looking over her shoulder at me just as she vanished into the forest. Feeling like my body was burning with the righteous fire of God, I returned to my previous course to tend to my physical and emotional wounds.

After several hours of slow-going, I came to a small fishing village just as the sun kissed the horizon. I limped up to the biggest, best-looking hut and asked for the head of the household. The poor guy looked scared as he peeked around the shoji to see who was calling. Seeing it was only a battered and bruised traveller, he stepped into the doorway and asked what my business was. I told him and next thing I knew, his head servant, an elderly woman with iron gray hair and a kind disposition, was ushering me to a room and clucking over me like a hen.

“What a mess you are!” she exclaimed when she saw the extent of my injuries. I had developed the most interesting bruises during the day; big splotches of blue, red, and purple. “What on earth did you do?”

“I got into a fight with something bigger than me.” I replied wearily, hoping she wouldn’t go any further with her questions. She wrapped me up in bandages, fed me some rice soup, and put me to bed. The night was long and painful, as I couldn’t lie properly in any position because of all the bruising, so morning was something of a welcome relief.

After making the courteous gesture of trying to pay as thanks and leave, the head servant, Sakura, had a fit and told her master that it would be in very bad form to put out a guest in such horrendous condition. Ikei, the master, agreed and insisted I stay until I was well enough to travel. I was grateful for the room and food and said so.

“It is not an inconvenience,” Ikei waved off my gratitude. “I ask only that you tell me of your travels. You look as though you have had quite the adventure.” I agreed to share, but after I had had a good night’s sleep.

After a decent night of sleep and a day of easy activity, I joined Ikei and his family of three grown sons at the evening meal. I enjoyed the baked fish and rice, which was topped off with some deliciously sweet rice dumplings. All the while, the sons fired off questions about what I had been up to on my travels. I told them as much as possible without actually saying anything about my origins, fielding their shrewdness with a conversational grace I rarely displayed. Later on, Ikei and I moved to his study to have a more serious discussion.

“Please forgive my forwardness.“ he began, “I wish to know who it was you encountered the day you came to my door.” I hesitated and looked down at my knees to collect my thoughts. ‘Who,’ he asked. I needed to clarify one thing before I answered.

“During or after the fight?”

He looked startled for a moment, then answered, “Both.” How much would I have to tell him? I raised my head and looked him straight in the eye.

“I fought an oni…and the person I encountered afterwards was Sesshoumaru, Demon Lord of the West.”

Ikei turned white and swallowed. So, he knew of Fluffy, did he? I was curious to hear just how much he knew, but wisely held my tongue. The silence was broken when he cleared his throat and finally spoke.

“The name of the Demon Lord is not spoken loudly nor freely in this land.” he murmured while glancing fearfully around.

“Why? Now what has he done?” I asked with a sigh. Ikei looked at me like I’d just grown two heads.

“You are a friend of the Western Lord?”

“No! However, I know enough about him to make a somewhat accurate judgement call about his temperament and actions.” A rather big lie, considering the events after the battle showed a somewhat emotionally uncontrolled dog demon.

Kinda like his brother, now that I think about it. I blinked. Oooh. Better not let him ever hear that! Seven kinds of death for sure. Maybe even a Darth Maul moment. I turned my attention back to my companion. Ikei glanced around once more and began explaining.

“Last spring, an old priestess was said to have visited the Western Lord. Rumours spoke of her having visions about the future after he refused her a private audience. About his mate, his children…” his voice dropped to a whisper, “ and his death. No one knows exactly what was said because he was said to have flown into such a rage that he slaughtered anyone who had heard the prophesies.”

I was stunned. Since when did he lose his temper and needlessly slaughter people like that? Well, other than a couple of instances earlier in his life. And why did he lose his temper in the first place? He could have simply told her she was a fake and turn his back on the old crone. God knows he did it enough times to his own brother!

“But there is more.” Ikei continued, “It is believed that as the Demon Lord slew the old woman, she put a curse on him, said to last for the rest of his long life.”

“What kind of curse?” I broke in, “Did anyone ever find that out?”

Ikei shook his head, “No, no one has been able to figure that out. Although, many believe, including myself, that this curse is what has made him feared by so many since then.”

I sat in silence, pondering this fantastic story. Well, that would explain why he showed more emotion than I was used to seeing. The curse must’ve been a doozy to loosen his control over his emotions like that. I was curious about the old woman as well. What exactly had she seen and said to have set him off like that? He didn’t put such stock in things like visions and prophesies. At least, he never did in the show and what I’d been able to read in the manga. Something Ikei had just said bothered me and I had to know.

“What do you mean ’feared by so many since then?’”

“Again, these are just rumours. He is said to have slain many who have merely looked at him the wrong way. Those who were lucky enough to escape his wrath said the unfortunate ones had done nothing but perhaps glanced at him fearfully or shied away. We are aware that he is a powerful demon, since his brother InuYasha-sama is the overseer of Musashi’s Domain.” I perked up at the mention of Musashi’s and InuYasha. Ikei noticed my reaction.

“You know of InuYasha-sama?” he queried.

I nodded, “He is my destination. How far is he from here?”

Ikei thought for a moment. “It is about four days travel to the border of Musashi’s Domain and roughly another two to three days to Lord InuYasha himself.”

Another week, eh? Well, considering how long I’ve been on the road already, I should be okay. Then all I have to do is convince the stubborn mutt that I’m not evil and maybe I can talk to Kagome and Kaede, if she’s still alive. I sighed and bowed my head slightly. I just know I’m going to end up with more bruises and broken bones from the Super Smash Fluffy Brothers before this is all over. I snorted mentally, Maybe I should brush up on my Sheik Super Smash Attacks. Bitch-slap them around with my Palms of Fury. I grinned evilly in my mind. Tremble in fear, you bastards!

Doing my best to quell my giggles, I bowed to my host. “Thank-you for all your information, Ikei-san. I think I will retire for the night.” Ikei bowed as well and wished me a good sleep. I padded down the hall back to my room and rolled out the sleeping mat. As I curled up under the blanket, I couldn’t help but be somewhat excited about meeting the legendary InuYasha. I always thought he was one of the coolest characters in the series, with his gruff kindness and protectiveness of his friends, even of his brother sometimes. Although that was very, very rare.

Instead of a Super Smash Attack, maybe I should just wave a magic wand around and say “Flufficus Explodicus”. Heh, that would work, too. With thoughts of exploding dog demons and tufts of white fur floating around in my head, I fell asleep with a smile.