InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Botanist and the Beast ❯ Chapter 4: Bad Frog, No Stick ( Chapter 4 )

Disclaimer: I don't own, Sesshou, Rin and all other inu char's, “Little Orphan Annie” belongs to Harold Grey. I don't own it either; I barely own a beat to hell Dodge. Takahashi Rumiko, Mr. Grey: The van needs new tires.

 

The Botanist and the Beast

Chapter 4: Bad Frog, No Stick

 

Dear Alice,

Have you found the moral yet?

-The Duchess

 

 

I really don't understand why there are so many fairy tales about the feudal era, the middle ages or anytime that doesn't have trains, planes or automobiles. After the first week we had settled into a fairly regular routine. Jaken, Rin and I argued, told stories, sang songs and played inane word games Rin made up to pass the time while we traveled. Sometimes I would pause to show Rin an herb or plant along the way, and as I gathered pieces of them I told her of their medicinal qualities and she would reveal her knowledge of edible roots, fungi and bugs. Occasionally Jaken would interject some knowledge about local fauna or signs of other yokai. Patience was not something the toad possessed in any great amount and I was surprised at those moments to see him calmly and pridefully answer all the questions Rin put to him on the subject.

 

I was not really surprised at the frequency in which Sesshomaru left our little band, or the protracted lengths he was away. Despite his haughty manner and indifferent mien I had the distinct feeling that he did not feel completely comfortable in the group and preferred his solitude. Like Aunt Cora's Doberman, always restlessly patrolling the yard or the room, looking for some danger. Wary, and happy to be where he was but never content.

 

Sometimes he would come back smelling like blood. Despite his impeccably kept appearance, even my human nose could recognize the metallic scent. No one remarked upon it so I too kept my council, but I could not help but feel a little less at ease in his presence and I watched him warily until the smell faded. Some times he would give us warning of his departure, “Jaken wait here, guard Rin and the girl,” was all we would say and then he would be gone. Like a shadow in the night, and the party would dutifully settle in to wait for is return. Sometimes we would be away for days others hours. Sometimes he would just be gone and we would continue on if he didn't show by the morning of the third day we would just stay where we'd camp and wait for him to find us.

 

It irked me to know that we where sitting around on our thumbs while he was off doing God knows what. I loathed the delay, even though I had no particular place to be, but I did not argue when Jaken agreed to wait, it seemed petty and pointless. My opposition would not change his mind. Though I never actually tried arguing, it was just one of those inborn things you know with an unshakable certainty, like a child being afraid of the dark, instinctual and wise.

 

Sometimes Jaken would ask him where he'd been, especially if we stayed camped for more than a week, but he never received an answer. The longer his master was gone the more nervous, fretful and crabby Jaken became, often time lashing out at Rin. She took it all in stride and so I let the verbal assaults and miss aimed swings go un-remarked upon as Rin gave as good as she got and spent much of her time provoking the little kappa. They whole routine seemed to be part of their normal interaction, until he actually hit her and I lost my temper.

 

On foot my map of Japan had become horribly confused. The only thing I new for certain was that we where west of Mt. Yari, but how far north or south we had drifted from that landmark was anyone's guess or even how far west we had managed to travel, since there was no way to judge the miles. We had been camped for almost two weeks by a river I could not name. Rin had been catching fish and exuberantly splashing the toad who stubbornly refused to leave his rock by the river as he alternated yelling at the girl and grumbling worriedly about their master under his breath. With her wounds healed Rin behaved like any young girl swimming as plashing in the water. When she had finally caught a fish she hurried to the bank to show me.

 

“Donella-sama look dinner!” She called cheerfully as she struggled to the shore, but before she made it to me she fell back into the river near Jaken's post. The fish flew out of her hands as she struggled to grab hold of Jaken's rock. She regained her footing and smiled cheerfully up at me. The flopping fish, however, had landed in Jaken's lap and the toad was screaming bloody murder and brandishing his staff at Rin has he threw the fish from him. I chuckled to myself at the whole soggy scene until I heard an audible knocking sound and Rin cried out as the staff connected with her head.

 

“Serves you right, baka ningen, for making me stink like a fish market.” He continued to rail at her, but I'd stopped listening. I think his self-justified tone that did it, or maybe it was just camp fever, but I was furious. Snatching the staff from his frenzied grasp I said not a word as I proceeded to pummel him ruthlessly with it. Rin watched in stunned amazement as I throttled Jaken mercilessly. She seemed ready to protest my abuse of the yokai, but she did not speak.

 

Jaken, on the other hand, wailed loudly in protest, but I continued to beat the now cowering kappa until my rage was spent. Finally, I gave him one last kick, and with the staff tucked securely in my arm, I walked calmly back to Ah-un, retrieved my book and sat down to read. Rin whispering remarks to Jaken carried to me as I blindly stared at the page, “Master Jaken, you made her very angry. I don't think you should try hitting me again.”

 

“Shut up, Rin.” He replied, as he gingerly touched a particularly large bump forming on his head and glared at me with angry apprehension. Sesshomaru's voice was a shock. He had not spoken much in our time on the road as it was, but after such a protracted absence it struck me like a bucket of ice water after a sauna. Mechanically my whole body stiffened and turned in the direction of the voice as if sensing mortal danger, “Jaken.” His tone was a crisp warning, but the kappa was so overcome with relief at seeing his master he was completely unaware of the underlying threat as he flung himself to his master.

 

“Sesshomaru-sama, where have you been?” He shrieked as he went into an extended diatribe of worries and accusation pertaining to his masters absents, I heard my name but I ignored it, pretending to return to my book in disinterest, the staff two-headed securely resting in my lap. Rin laughed happily and danced around the clearing in her delight. I continued to studiously ignore the pandemonium his return always incited from my companions, but I felt his eyes on me and I fought to suppress a shiver.

 

“Damare, Jaken, we are leaving,” was all he said as he turned and strode westward, and away from us. Rin had warned me the first time he left that we should remain packed during daylight hours incase he returned and we needed to leave quickly. His boorish conduct annoyed me. After several such instances I had become accustomed to the abrupt manner, but familiarity did not breed acceptance. I stood slowly the staff held firmly in my left hand as I returned my book to Ah-Un's pack and took his lead. Jaken stood in my path angrily and I looked down on him coolly as we faced off.

 

“I want my staff back, woman.” He demanded holding his hand out to me. I continued to eye him, his master and Rin both stopped to watch the little drama unfold and Ah-un glared from behind my shoulder at Jaken. Him I can handle, as long has his master stays out of it. I thought warily. I stoically resisting the urge to break eye contact with the toad and glance in Sesshomaru's direction. Stare him down or you'll never hear the end of it. I schooled myself as Jaken puffed up before me.

 

“How exactly do you propose to accomplish that?” My voice was hard as steel in my ears.

 

“I am a great Yokai lord, leader of my people, and you have stolen something that was placed in my care by Sesshomaru-dono himself and I demand it's return.”

 

Using a trick I'd learned by watching far too much star trek, I raised one eyebrow ironically, Thank you Mr. Spock, patiently I retorted, “It seems to me that if it was so easy taken from you, you are a poor guardian for something so valuable. I doubt it was intended to be used to pummel innocent children, but that is beside the point. You obviously misunderstood my question so I'll rephrase it: What do you plan on doing to get the staff back?” Jaken is a petty bully, and petty bullies do not like to be put on display.

 

I was aware, as I saw him clench his fists in furry, that my tactic could back fire and cause him to not only do something stupid and rash, but I could also earn myself a serious enemy, an enemy who would eventually have a fire breathing staff back under his control I thought cautiously as I waited for the toad to make his move.

 

He leaped at my left hand intent on prying the staff from my grip; gratefully it was the action I was hoping for. I sidestepped to my right as the angry kappa flew past me and into a tree, knocking himself on the head. I went to him as he held his sore skull gingerly, and crouched down so my eyes could meet his wrathful glare. I offered him the staff. Fury was replaced by wary surprise and he did not reach for it, suspecting a trap. My voice was gentle when I spoke, “My grandmother was a very smart woman. She used to tell me that bullies are ninety percent bluster and ten percent brute stupidity. The strong should defend the weak, no matter how foolish they are, because it is something the weak cannot do. You make yourself smaller every time you forget that, but even small men can learn to be noble.” I pressed the staff into his hands and pulled him to his feet. Turning from him I retrieved Ah-Un's reins and looked towards our leader inquiringly.

 

A look crossed the granite features of Sesshomaru's face for a moment, it was almost curiosity or maybe admiration, but it was to short lived to be anything more than my imagination. He whirled away and marched off into the west. Rin laughing ran forward, leisurely I followed, and lost in his own thoughts, Jaken took up the rear, his staff clutched close to his chest.

 

That night, after our meager meal had been consumed I sat writing in my journal by firelight. Jaken sulked across from me and stared blankly into the fire and Rin sang a nonsensical song to Ah-Un while she groomed the dragons' mane. Our impassive leader was hidden in the shadows somewhere behind them, Ah, the mundane routine of it all. Throughout our first few weeks on the road, the grueling task of marching for hours without end had made me too tired to do much more than minimal domestic tasks and I had given up practicing the katas I had learned completely.

 

Slowly, as my body adjusted to the demands of travel, I found myself itching to take the routine up again. I am not used to being helpless. In LA not being helpless meant a concealed weapon's permit, weekends at the gun range and staying off the bus after dark. In the feudal era it meant keep your body strong, get a sword, know how to make someone bleed, and don't hesitate. So I learned and I practiced, but I didn't kid myself, against a trained killer I expected to do nothing more than leave him with a few deep cuts before watching my own blood feed the grass. That knowledge, however, didn't discourage me from wanting to make those cuts.

 

So, during those weeks Sesshomaru had been away I'd added the katas to my schedule. When dinner had settled I would tie my sword to my hip, and take the dishes and my evening things to the river and practice before taking my bath and the washing dishware. Occasionally Rin would follow me, and I would show her how to perform a few of the simple unarmed moves. Yet, the child was more interested in watching than learning and I determined her sporadic presence probably had more to do with avoiding Jaken than watching me.

 

That night as Jaken was still angry with me, and conversation with his master pointless, I determined to make use of my time by practicing. This decided, I carefully repacked my journal and began to gather my things for the evening, including my sword. Jaken did not look up from his sulky contemplation of the fire as I moved to leave the clearing but Rin paused in her ministrations to ask, “Donella-sama, would you tell me a story when you get back?”

 

“I don't know, can you tell me the name and uses of four of those herbs I showed you?” I challenged playfully, She rattled six off easily and gave me an accomplished grin as I smiled warmly at her.

 

“Such studiousness! You have earned a very special story, to be sure, Hotaru.” I beeped her nose as I gathered my pack and strode to the river, grateful that I did not have to pass the shadows where Sesshomaru lurked. The daiyokai and I had not spoken directly to each other since leaving the castle, he told Jaken to guard Rin and the girl, I asked about their master, or was told of him and we ignored each other as best we could. For my part that meant avoiding as much contact with him has possible, and his generally unpleasant manner helped tremendously.

 

An hour after I had left camp, avoidance was made impossible as I finished my practice and moved to sheath my sword, “You're defense is slow, and when you attack you extend yourself to far, leaving your left exposed.” His voice made me jump out of my skin and a yelp of surprise escaped my lips. I unconsciously spun, sword still drawn to the origin of the sound. “Is it your intent to challenge me, ningen?” He asked ominously as he stepped into the moonlight.

 

Realizing my danger I quickly I lowered my sword and allowed my head to bend slightly in difference, “No, Sesshomaru-sama, forgive me,” what the hell does he think he's doing now? I struggled to remain apologetic and soft-spoken, ignoring the anger I felt at the intrusion, “Please. You startled me.” I sheathed my sword in one smooth motion, as Kazuo had taught me, and then I lifted my head trying not to glare at him.

 

Careful to avoid making eye contact I waited for him to speak or leave. The last thing I need to do is try to stare a foreign dog demon down after brandishing a weapon at him. Why is he here? I struggled to find the tassel on his armor fascinating as I waited, like a child, for my elder to speak.

 

“Jaken is quite angry with you.” Glaciers held more warmth than his voice; it conflicted with the baritone silkiness of it. I tried not to giggle, as the absurd image of him singing Barry White's `Standing in the Shadows of Love' popped into my head, but I could not keep a small smile from my face.

 

“Jaken is quite angry with existence, I try not to take it personally.” My voice held my suppressed laughter and I prayed he wouldn't take offense. What offends an Inu-diayokai anyway? Sorry, Fluffy no Kibbles-N-Bits tonight? I suppressed another bout of hilarity and scolded myself; he could rip my head off wih out even shifting that pretty tassel, and you're laughing at him?! Knock it off! But stress makes me nervous and I deal with nervousness with sarcasm; it was a struggle to control myself.

 

“Indeed.” He paused and I prayed he was done and would leave, but the gods are not that kind to me. “Draw your sword.” And get myself killed?! His demand startled me.

 

“Excuse me?”

 

“Are you hard of hearing as well as stupid? I told you to draw your sword, ningen.” I balled my hands into fists at my side, fighting to hold back my mounting frustration.

 

Anger pushed back my fear and I glared up into his face. “You must think me incredibly stupid or mad! I would never willingly pull a sword on you! I'm incredibly fond of breathing and have no wish to stop anytime soon.” He chuckled at that, and the sound was surprisingly pleasant, but I was not given a chance to contemplate this new discovery long. A whoosh of air to my left was my only warning; intuitively I pulled my sword and whirled to meet the threat. He stood, calmly, as still as a statue, an inch from the tip of my weapon, and the look of surprise on his face was astounding to me. It was short lived; however as I exploded, “What the hell are you doing!” I stumbled back from him, my sword still extended and he allowed me to retreat.

 

“Your instincts are at least good. I would not have expected that, you move quickly, for a ningen.” He said, his voice betraying nothing about the meaning of his words. That almost sounded like a compliment, anger and frustration where still boiling inside me and my heart was threatening to pound right out of my chest. I lowered my sword; I would have dropped it if I could have convinced my hand to release its death grip on the hilt.

 

“I am very aware of my inadequacies, thank you. I would prefer a colt .45 and a speed loader but unfortunately they don't let you take those on diplomatic scientific exchanges. It's not like I was informed I'd be dropped like a sack of potatoes into a psychedelic, acrimonious production of Oz.” His continued silence actually helped to dissipate my rage, after all you can't stay angry at a statue, I thought and sighed, “Never mind, though Jaken makes a great Lion, you are a poor Toto.”

 

“What is a Toe Toe?” He asked and at that I did giggle. Oh great, I laugh at him and then I say `He's the heroin's pet dog', yep and then he kills me…

 

“I'm sorry. I don't think I want to answer that, though Toto is a noble character in the story of Oz, my poor attempt at a description would be most unflattering without explaining the story, and it is a long one.”

 

“Hmm.” He responded and for several moments we stood looking at each other in silence. A thousand thoughts ran through my mind, they where mostly confused theories on why was there, and all where probably wrong. Shortly he spoke again, “Your technique is flawed; in a real battle you would be killed quickly.”

 

I wanted to sit, but it would have been harder to look up at him and talk, and my pride wouldn't allow the indignity of it. If he kills me, at least I died on my feet; the thought brought a rueful smile to my lips. My anger was completely gone, leaving me with a sad lost feeling. “ I know I'm out of my league here. I can only imagine what you must be thinking, but I don't really care enough to try. The fact is I'm unaccustomed to being helpless; defeat is not in my nature. It was very clear back when Rin was wounded that if you had not intervened I would have only prolonged my inevitable death, but this,” I shook the sword in my hand, “is my only means of defense, and I will do what I can with the tools available for as long as I can.”

 

His new position in the clearing made the moonlight shine on his marble features his hair glowed, granting him an even more unearthly radiance, like an angel, though not a good angel, or a malevolent sidhe. “If you know that you will not win, why fight?”

 

I gave him a genuine smile at that, “I come from a long line of fighters, and we are stubborn people. If we cannot fight to win, we will fight to maim and leave our mark on our enemies, so that we will be remembered even in their stories as they explain the scars to their babes.” Grandma O'Conghaile would be proud of me, quoting her twice in one day, I thought as I waited for him to respond.

 

“Rin,” he said and I did not have time to be confused by it as the little imp popped from a nearby bush and answered cheerfully.

 

“Yes Sesshomaru-sama?” She portrayed no embarrassment or apprehension at being caught eaves dropping.

 

“Why are you here.”

 

“Donella-sama was late, Rin came looking for her, her practice and bath never take this long, Sesshomaru-sama. Rin didn't know you where here.”

 

“Indeed.” He said and wordlessly he moved back towards the camp leaving the Rin and I alone in the clearing. Confusion made me numb as I stared at his receding back silently.

 

“Donella-sama, are you finished yet?” Rin asked eagerly, her voice snapped me out of my fugue and I turned to her.

 

“I still have to wash the dishes and bathe.” I remarked and she bounded into the clearing and gathered the dishes from their resting place.

 

“I'll wash the dishes down stream while you bathe and it will go faster then!” She announced eagerly and rushed away without waiting for a reply. No help for it I suppose, he is always going to be creepy weird, and rude and…Pretty, my thoughts wandered away from the majestic memory of him in the clearing, my sword at his chest the moonlight reflecting off of his hair, and the blade of my weapon. I shivered as I entered the cool water and scrubbed quickly.

 

I washed my kimono thoroughly before putting on a fresh yukata and returning to camp. Rin was already there snuggled into her mountain of blankets at Ah-Un's side and the dinner things where packed away. I could not see Sesshomaru, but somehow I could sense him in the shadows to my right; just beyond the glow of the fire. Jaken was nowhere to be seen, and I returned Rin's happy giggle at my arrival with a smile as I hung my kimono on a tree near the fire.

 

“I swear, by the time this journey is over, everything I own is going to smell like soil and wood smoke.” I remarked to no one in particular.

 

Rin giggled again, “Well if you only washed and changed your cloths when they where dirty instead of every night, then you could put flowers in your pack and make them smell nicer.”

 

I went to Ah-un and folded myself into the blankets at Rin's side, “But my dear, even after an easy day in my cloths they are dirty and they smell, and I don't find it pleasant, so I'll live with the wood smoke.” A quiet grunt came from the darkness across the clearing and I wondered, Approval or derision? But there was no way to tell either way and so I turned my thoughts to telling Rin a story. I had originally planned on telling her a story about little Orphan Annie, but the events of the day had drawn my mind to my grandmother and her stories and so I told her this one,

 

 

 

“Ireland, the land my people come from, is a bit like this one. It is a island inhabited by humans, and many different spirits, like your yokais, onis, kappas and the like, but different. They all are descendants of the goddess Danu and are called the Tuatha De Danann. All of Danu's children have luminous eyes, pointed ears and sharp teeth. All the great sidhe are beautiful beyond human understanding, but there are many different kinds of sidhe. Like the Great Aes sidhi, the light sidhe; haughty, lords of all the Tuatha De Danann hosts, they are Danu's favorite children. Gorgeous creatures of fickle wants, the Aes sidhi often lure pretty mortals to them for one night of pleasure that means death to the fragile human creatures.

 

“Then there are the lesser Spirits like the beautiful Leanan, who will enrapture a mortals mind and inspire them to produce great works of art, and then drive them to eternal madness. The Sluagh, which are stupid, ugly, creatures who sneak in from the west during the night and steal the souls of the unaware, the banshee who mourn the death and collect the souls of the great houses, and many others of lesser importance.

 

“My story involves a mortal who survived the Wild Hunt and two of Danu's greatest children the Cusith sidhe and Daoine sidhe.

 

“The Cusith are immense dogs who can look like any greater sidhe, but in their natural forms they have soft, flowing, green fur, powerful bodies, immense stamina, amazingly keen senses and are wickedly cunning hunters. Because of their color they blend well with the lush green grasses of the Irish countryside and they can run for years without food or rest to catch their prey.

 

“The Daoine are much like their light brothers in appearance, except where the Aes sidhi are golden, with bright yellow or white hair, shinning pale skin and eyes like the ocean, the Daoine are creatures of dark beauty their eyes and hair varying in earthly hues and their eyes are often golden brown, green or yellow. The Daoine do not involve themselves with mortals the way their brothers do, considering themselves above such foolishness. Instead they dedicate themselves to knowledge, preservation of nature and fighting the chaos that threatens the balance of the world.

 

“It happens now and again that the soul of a mortal that is gathered to the other world wishes for something more and so they challenge the Tuatha De Danann to the Wild Hunt. If the soul lasts from midnight to sunrise on the eve of a blue moon then the Tuatha De Danann are forced to grant it anything it asks. If, however, they are caught, the soul is turned into a stag, and the Tuatha De Danann feast, according to the laws of Danu the soul is then sent into the eternal darkness, never to return.

 

“A man named Donal, who's name means `one who rules the world', son of Tiernan, the little lord,” I whispered to the distinctions to Rin in a conspiratorial tone, though I know it carried. “Was one of these foolish men and on the eve of the blue moon the entirety of the Tuatha De Danann ran forth hunting the mortal soul, but Donal had listened to his grannies tales as a child and had learned a few tricks about the Tuatha De Danann. You see he lesser spirits are easily distracted by mortal lives and feel compelled to meddle, while the greater sidhe cannot smell anything if it crosses living water and so Donal ran all night to the settlement of his father's enemies and not pausing there, he ran through reaching the Danu River, and with what remained of his strength he managed to ford the great river.

 

“The lesser spirits stopped in the settlement and, forgetting their hunt, began to reek havoc on the Tiernan's enemies while the gretaer sidhe continued the chase, but when they reached the river they lost the scent of their prey and milled about in confusion. On the other side of the river Donal watched from his hiding place at the confused sidhe and laughed his delight and triumph. The Cusith's sensitive hearing caught the sound, but did not know what it was, he turned to his clever companion, Donella of the Daoine.” At the sound of my name in the tale Rin gasped and I laughed. “Yes that's right, my name means Dark haired sidhe, and my clan name, O'Conghaile, means `as fierce as the Cusith' this story is special because it is about my family and how we got that name.”

 

“Oh Donella-sama what happened next?” She exclaimed in anxious expectation. I smiled at her before continuing my tale.

 

“Well, Uactaran the Cusith remarked to Donella that he heard the sound of laughter from across the water but it disturbed him because all the sidhe both light and dark where with them and the lesser spirits where still behind them in the village.

 

“Donella realized that the laughter must be that of their prey and she announced eagerly to the company of sidhe that the mortal had crossed the river. The Aes sidhi scoffed at her declaration, while her dark brethren sat to discuss the idea that a mortal could cross such a vast and powerful river after running such a great distance. As time passed and the predawn light began to appear, Donella fumed at her companions and Uactaran the Cusith itched to continue the chase. He turned to his friend and said, `These others are all fools, and we shall lose to a mortal if we do not act. Quickly I will change my form and you may perch upon my back. Together we will ford this river and capture this impertinent creature.' Donella readily agreed and together they traversed the waters as true dawn began to touch the far horizon. They quickly cornered Donal and Uactaran moved in, eager to end his hunt, but the mortal had one last trick up his sleeve. Quickly he shoved a handful of Apocynum, known as dog's bane, into the beast's mouth and the great Cusith writhed in agony from the poison.

 

“Donella, enraged by her companions injury drew her saber of beatha. Now, the sword of life is a weapon meant only to be drawn in the defense of the balance and not to be sullied with mortal blood, to do so is to grant chaos a victory over his enemies. Yet not caring Donella charged Donal as the sun's rays touched the blade and made it shine like a star.” I paused looking down at the child in my arms and noticed she was fast asleep I sighed and closed my eyes fully intending to stop my tale for the evening, but a voice banished the thought sharply from my mind.

 

“Finish your tale.” My heartbeat quickened in fear and my eyes flew open as they focused on Sesshomaru's towering form above me, my mouth was suddenly dry and I struggled to speak around the cotton that was somehow lodged in my throat. Unselfconsciously, the Diayokai folded himself gracefully to a sitting position at my side and continued to watch me expectantly I hesitantly sat up a little and turned towards him.

 

“Well the sun had risen and Donal had won the challenge. By rights he could ask anything of the sidhe host, but the only sidhe present where Uactaran and Donella and both where beyond caring about pacts. As she charged forward intent on bloody vengeance for her fall comrade and Uacteran could not speak from the poison that coursed through his veins. Instead, realizing the great iniquity his companion was about to commit by killing a mortal with the saber of beatha, he used the last of his energy and leapt between her blade and the human. The sword pierced him through the chest and his blood rushed out into Donella's hand. A cry of rage and pain left her mouth and echoed through the sun-drenched hills and she crumpled to Uacteran's side, afraid to remove the sword from the lethal wound.

 

“The goddess Danu herself appeared then, drawn from her home in the heart of the world by her beloved child's painful keening and knowing instantly what had occurred she asked, `Dear child, why do you cry?' and Donella answered through her grief, `I have killed my love Uacteran and all for this mortal's greed.' The goddess gaze fell to the cowering, deceitful human and said, `Donal, you who, not content to be the son of the little lord wished to rule the world, have killed Uacteran the greatest among the Cusith and brought grief to one of my guardians. Speak now, and tell me what do you wish to have from the Tuatha De Danann?'

 

“The feeble mortal stood and said, `I wish to gain life, strength and the power of the world' the great goddess smiled at this and said, `Your wish is granted, from this moment on you shall be granted another span of mortal life, and you will possess the world's power, as you guard it for me against those who would upset the balance. You and your line will be granted the strength of my servant Uacteran de Cusith who's blood you wear on your hands. Your children will bear the name O'Conghaile, they shall all share a measure of your power and be known as fierce warriors against chaos. I will take them to me as my own and when you pass away from this life, stupid mortal, your soul is forfeit to the darkness for your greed.' Donal could not argue against the goddess for she had granted him his wish, and he was the fool for letting his greed rule his judgment. Danu then turned to Donella who continued to weep over the body of Uacteran de Cusith.

 

“ `Donella de Daoine, why do you still mourn so?' and anger filled the Daoine sidhe's wretched eyes as she gazed upon the goddess saying, `Why do you not grieve for the loss of your loyal servant, my lady? He died to save this human my killing blow, and a bad bargain it was indeed.' The goddess considered Donella's contemptuous words and said, `So my servant, for your misdeed, this one suffered, what bargain would you accept to make it right?' Hope filled Donella's eyes and without hesitation she replied, `I would give myself, body, mind and soul to undo this shameful deed.'”

 

“ `Then,' said the goddess, `I will return his life to him, if you swear that for the remainder of Donal O'Conghaile's life you will be his faithful wife, helpmate in his task and mother to his children.' Donella agreed whole heartedly at that the goddess took the saber's hilt and withdrew it from the great dog's chest; slicing away the minions of death from his soul with one stroke. Those assembled, save the goddess, gaped as Uacteran breathed once more, and Donella realized her true punishment. She had held the power to save her love the whole time and was now cursed to marry the one she would have killed and bear him mortal children.”

 

“And she did, eight strong sons and four brave daughters and she taught them all that though rage is powerful, it should be tempered with thought, for no battle is ever truly lost as long as you have breath to fight. And so the house O'Conghaile came to be a clan of fierce warriors destined to temper the just and moderate the malevolent. Keeping the world in balance for all time, even though Uacteran and Donella are long past and Danu will never rise again.” His inscrutable gaze had never left my face as I related the end of my tale and I was tired of looking in his direction, I settled back into my blankets and closed my eyes, hoping he would leave.

 

“What does Uacteran mean?” I opened my eyes again and gave him a slightly annoyed look.

 

“It means superior, best, most important something of that nature Uacteran de Cusith is the greatest of great hounds.”

 

“You said Uacteran and Donella are long past and Danu will never rise again what does that mean?” I sighed in exasperation.

 

“It's just a story, generations after Donal passed, Uacteran and Donella where killed at each others side defending Danu in the Great War in heaven where the goddess sacrificed herself to place a portion of the world's power in each living mortal. Setting those of the O'Conghaile blood to guide them and fight a never ending battle to maintain equity.” He nodded and I closed my eyes, hope he would finally get the picture and leave me be.

 

“An eternal fight that cannot be won to keep the world in balance, it seems like a burdensome legacy.” He remarked ponderously. I frowned, but did not open my eyes.

 

“It's just a granny story to make us proud of our family name and convince disobedient children to be more respectable. Hell my family hasn't lived in Ireland for three generations and my sister married a drunken used car salesman. We aren't the guardian type.” I remarked crabbily and was relieved to feel the rush of air as he left me. I sought sleep, but I lay awake twitchily for a while half expecting him to return with more obtuse questions. When I finally drifted off, giant green dogs and swords that could bring people to life haunted me.

 

Author's Note: Ok, one, thank you Wandering Hitokiri and Tootsiepop254 for the wonderful replies, I was beginning to despair.

Two, I took a lot of liberties with the Gaelic, and my real Gran would be pissy about it, gratefully she hates using the computer and she's never gonna read this.

Finally three, no we aren't reliving the story and there will be no green dogs, final sacrifices or Gaelic/Japanese fairy tale crossovers. It's just a story, and it serves an entirely different purpose than foreshadowing, I SWEAR on my van.