InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Alternate Storyteller ❯ Eyes Wide Shut ( Chapter 2 )

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

“It was during my stay in Japan. I had decided to make a pilgrimage to the ‘Western Lands’ that were so prevalent in the InuYasha storyline. Yeah, I know. Geek Alert! Geek Alert! So, anyway, I took a couple weeks off from work and went to Kyushu and Shikoku, the two western islands that were rumoured to be the actual domain of the Western Taiyoukai. It was beautiful over there. The roaring ocean, the sighing trees, the rugged, down-to-earth people, the green mountains and hills; just… everything. I walked along the beaches, ate fresh seafood, did all the things a shameless tourist is notorious for. It was truly invigorating to be surrounded by so much history, even if the history I was thinking of didn’t actually exist.”

“I decided one evening to take a leisurely walk under the moonlight…”

It’s so beautiful! I thought as I watched the full moon rise over the ocean. The past week had been full of sights, sounds, and tastes that had reawakened my spirit of adventure. Suddenly, Sesshoumaru watching that same moonrise crossed my mind.

Ugh, what geeky fangirl moment! I berated myself. You’re really losing it!

I snorted and continued gazing at the white orb. Sighing, I turned from the silver ocean and headed back up the beach to the forest path that had brought me there. The forest whispered to me as I trudged down the darkened road, crossing small patches of moonlight every so often. My thoughts wandered off to more pleasant things as I continued making my merry way back to the town site. I was so absorbed in my happy place that I failed to notice the change in my surroundings. Raucous singing and shouts roused me to the present, bringing the distinct lack of a town and modern conveniences into focus.

What the hell is all that racket? I wondered, startled. A sudden impulse told me to check my cell phone. No reception. Now I was beginning to freak out and took a closer look at my surroundings. And where am I? I should’ve reached the town by now! Cautiously, I made my way towards the noise and flickering light that filtered through the trees. When I approached the clearing, I couldn’t believe my eyes.

In the small valley before me was a group of men dressed like warriors out of feudal Japan. The firelight glinted off their armour and swords. Banners of various colours waved in the soft breeze. The objects of my astonishment were drinking, singing, and gambling around an assortment of bonfires. As the wind picked up, it brought me the scents of sake, unwashed bodies…

I think I’m gonna puke, I moaned silently,

and…food!

Food, food, food, food, blessed food! I sang in my head as I rejoiced at the prospect of filling my rumbling stomach. Just as I made up my mind to approach them about getting something to eat, one of them dragged a woman to a throne-like chair sitting in the shadows. She was dirty, her clothes were in tatters, and she looked absolutely terrified. The leader, a huge, hairy oaf of a man, said something to her and the surrounding men laughed harshly. I wish I could’ve heard him, but I was too far away. The ragged woman fell to her knees, saying something and holding out her hands in a pleading gesture. The leader laughed and a couple of warriors took her under the arms and began dragging her away as she fought to free herself. She cried out in pain when one of them smacked her across the face.

“Know your place, bitch!” shouted the smacker, loud and clear.

“You killed my brothers, kidnapped my sisters and myself, and yet expect me to comply?” she shrieked back.

At least, I think that’s what she said. My Japanese was, frankly, rudimentary and sporadic, and the dialect they were using was more archaic than I was used to. As the other man raised his hand to strike her for her insolence, I realized these men were either renegades or mercenaries.

Suddenly, there was a commotion on the other side of the camp. The men drew their swords, but parted and between them glided a tall form, clothed in white hakama and kimono. The kimono had some kind of red detail on the left shoulder and the bottoms of the sleeves. It wore black and grey armour over the white clothes and black boots on its feet. It had looong silver-looking hair and some sort of white fur over its right shoulder. The leader got to his feet to confront the approaching being as my brain slowed to a crawl, processing the events that unfolded before me and the details I‘d just seen.

Silver hair, white clothes, white fur over the shoulder. That’s…that’s Sesshoumaru! Holy shit! The Taiyoukai of the Western Lands! And these renegades are on his land, I realized as I heard snatches of the exchange on the rising breeze. My breath caught in my throat. The next thought made my eyes widen. I’m in Feudal Japan. I gasped. Holy friggin’ cow, I’m in Feudal Japan!!! I felt faint, weak. I leaned against the tree I was hiding behind as my already-taxed brain processed this new bit of information. No wonder I had no reception, I couldn’t find the town, and these renegades were running around. I managed to get a grip on myself and turned back to the clearing. Apparently, in my temporary absence from sanity - if I can call this sanity, I thought darkly - I had missed the rest of the exchange between Sesshoumaru and the leader, because the next thing I knew, the acid green whip was out and the men were fleeing in terror.

There’s that little butt-kissing toad, as I spotted Jaken hopping towards his master. But where’s Rin? Or am I too early for that? My head ached from my new situation. Oh, who cares! I’m getting out of here before he smells me and makes an example of me too.

I turned and ran back the way I had come, wondering what the hell I was supposed to do now.