InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Lost and The Found ❯ There's Something Evil in the Air and It Ain't Me. ( Chapter 3 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

While InuYasha and gang are busy purifying themselves of youkai BOOGERS, Sai is being harrassed by both women and men...he's SO adorable! Elsewhere, Jaken is plotting to have Rin kidnapped so that he can have Sesshoumaru-sama all to himself!

Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Drama / Comedy | Type: Continuation | Uploaded On: 02.01.2005 | Updated On: 03.08.2005 | Pages: 4 | Words: 5.8K | Visits: 260 | Status: Work In Progress

Chapter Three

“This is not a hot spring but it has got to do for now,” sighed Miroku, disappointingly. He wanted more than anything to soak his aching body in hot water to untie the knots in his muscles.

“It's water, O-KAAY,” InuYasha bellowed at the top of his lungs as he tried arduously to loosen the sticky substance from his hair with river water.

Miroku sighed again, “Did you see how those people looked at us? And the women, especially, the women…they were disgusted by our grotesque state of appearance, InuYasha.”

“I don't know what you're bitchin' about,” the hanyou muttered, “you got away clean. We're the dirty ones. And yeah, I would run, too, if I saw someone covered in nose slime,” he ran his claws desperately through his hair. “Dammit! This don't wanna come off!” InuYasha yelled, fearful that his efforts might be in vain.

Miroku sighed again, much to InuYasha's annoyance, “Patience, InuYasha. With patience you will be able to dislodge that filth from your hair. But, of course, you are not the type who is into exercising that sort of virtue.”

“Feh! Look who talks about virtue! Better to be impatient than a thief, pervert, AND liar,” InuYasha sung it to like a death glare.

“Do tell me- you want a medal,” the monk threw back in his defense.

InuYasha glared at him with his amber orbs. This was turning out to be one hell of a long day and it was not getting any better. The hanyou returned to the business of cleansing his locks, ignoring Miroku for the better part of the bath.

Further along the river, Kagome and Sango struggled to clean themselves after trying to scrub Shippou off, who, now, helped Kirara cleanse her fluffy coat. None of this proved to be any fun; and all they wanted to do was rest.

“Do you think we would be able to recover that shard, Kagome-chan,” asked Sango, trying to make conversation as she struggled to comb through her brown locks.

“I think so. Don't think those monsters have gotten off far. They are still near, I can feel them…I mean, feel the shard.”

“I see. That is surely good to hear. I just hope we are not here long; but I doubt that would prove to be true since this is very adhered to our clothing- and countless other places.”

Kagome sighed, knowing what this was leading to, and said, “Honestly, I'm as crazy as you to fight this thing, Sango. I mean, why should we have to extract a jewel shard getting ourselves dirty in the process? I mean, why do we?”

“InuYasha would tell you `Because it is your fault!' kind of thing.” Sango imitated his childish behavior.

“This isn't relaxing. I really don't want to have to fight off those slime balls, again. There has to be an easier way,” Kagome contemplated. She could see little Shippou striving to shampoo the little cat, which turned out to be more of a tug of war than a washing. The sight of it tugged at her heartstrings each time Kirara cried when the kitsune pulled too hard on the substance.

“I see what you mean, Kagome-chan,” she concurred; she, too, witnessed the ordeal going on before her.

“Honestly, it's pathetic watching him torture poor Kirara”

“It is even sadder to watch him lose the battle. I think we should assist him,” Sango suggested.

“Yeah, but we won't be of much help if we're sticky ourselves, Sango,” she looked at her friend, who nodded slowly, realizing that Kagome was right. Sango sighed, really wanting to help the kitsune.

“Aaaaaaah,” cried Shippou.

“On second thought,” said Kagome, “ I think we SHOULD help him.”

“I agree.”

They both climbed out of the water, wrapping themselves with the robes Kagome brought from her house, to help Shippou. Sango quickly ran to the kit as Kagome stopped to dig into her backpack. Quickly, she pulled out what she sought for- a bottle of Detangler.

“If this doesn't work I'll have to use the scissors,” Kagome muttered to herself, hoping it did not have to come to that.

“Kagome,” Sango desperately called for the miko as she struggled to detach Shippou from the crying fire cat.

“Coming, Sango!” Oh, cripes, Kagome thought as she dug once again in her backpack, pulling out the scissors. Just in case.

Miroku set his and Inuyasha's wet clothes across a thick tree branch while the hanyou still bathed in the river- still running his claws through his hair to loosen the wretched slime. Much to his agitation, the progress proved slow despite his hard efforts. However, InuYasha was not going to let something like nose slime get the better of him.

Only in his loincloth, Miroku sat cross-legged on the grass drying off. It was fortunate he hid out of harm's way the way he did. His friend, on the other hand, had absolutely nothing to wear since being entirely drenched in slime, which penetrated through his haori, wetting his under shirt. Miroku sighed. Feeling pity for the half-dog, he reached for his sack hoping there was something in there to conceal the hanyou's shame. Miroku wasted no time untying the purple bundle. As he rummaged through it, a smile of relief lit up his face- he found an extra cloth.

“Hey, InuYasha! I have solved your problem,” he called out to the hanyou, who was cursing incessantly into the water with his back facing the monk.

InuYasha turned his head the moment he heard Miroku. “Oh, Yeah! And how will ya be accomplishin' that,” he answered skeptically.

Miroku waved him the cloth. “I have found it within my belongings,” he then held the article to his nose, taking a deep whiff at it, “See! It is clean, my friend!”

“It won't be the longer you keep pressin' yur nose to it, Houshi,” InuYasha barked.

“You want it or not, InuYasha! I could give it to Shippou,” he taunted, lightly chuckling at his own words.

“What the hell does Shippou need it for- a DIAPER!”

“You are SO cruel, InuYasha. Your words would put tears into that little kitsune's puppy eyes.”

“Aw, and I should be so broken up about it. I'm sure Kagome has something to wrap him in,” he said as a matter of fact, dipping the ends of his silvery locks the water and scrubbing them hard.

“Do I sense hostility?”

“You hid, Coward!”

“True, but if I had not have done that, you would not have clean underwear, would you?”

InuYasha's face went blank, his eyes doubled in size. The monk was right, if it were not for his quick thinking—cowardice—InuYasha would be joining the monk, freeballing under the tree by now.

“Hmmm,” Miroku cupped his chin with the hand that held the cloth, rolling his eyes thoughtfully into the back of his head, “I wonder how the girls are fairing? I think I will go check on them.” Miroku made motion to rise but InuYasha stopped him short—

“Ho, No! They said not to disturb `em, Miroku,” InuYasha warned as me moved towards the monk.

“Yes, but what if they are suddenly attacked by those slime creatures again? Could you ever forgive yourself for not being there to protect Kagome-chan,” he taunted the hanyou with an air of innocence.

“I know what yur doing, you lecherous dumbass! I'm not falling for your slimy tricks!” InuYasha splashed in the water.

“To think Shippou can do so much in his little size,” Miroku kept taunting the already irritated hanyou.

InuYasha plugged his ears with his fingers, “I'm not listenin'!”

“Help me, InuYasha! Help me,” Miroku did a poor intent at imitating of Kagome. Inuyasha shut his eyes tight.

“I can't see ya, either,” he barked.

“Help me, InuYasha! Don't let them devour me…Aaaaaah!” he yelled in mock Kagome fashion.

“That's it,” InuYasha finally emerged from the water with his fists clenched tightly to hit the monk. Standing in front of him in the nude, InuYasha grabbed Miroku by the neck. “I'm gonna pummel you so hard your grandfather's gonna feel the burn!”

But, before InuYasha's fist could make full contact to Miroku's face, the monk handed him the cloth. Inuyasha dumbfoundedly took it from his hand, dropping the poor bum, er, monk hard on his ass. “If you pummel me, at least, have the decency to wear something. Any passerby who should happen to be…er, PASSING BY, would surely take with him an everlasting impression. Not clearly a good one.”

“Feh! You got off this time, you prick. Next time, I'll live by my threat. Well, thinkin' about it, I can still pummel you but I'll do it later. We've gotta go check on the girls.”

“I am glad you agree,” Miroku beamed, smugly.

“Oh, shut up. Don't know why I'm listenin' to you.”

The reflection was not clear but nonetheless, it was still a reflection. Sai stared keenly into the water as he waited for his friends. The job was done. Now, Sai was free to do whatever he wished. He had said his fond farewells to the others and thanked the captain for accommodating him on his ship. The captain was sad. He told Sai he had taken a liking to him the two weeks at sea. Graciously, the boy bowed in gratitude before stepping off the vessel and onto the dock. Before heading home, he had promised Li Ping and two other Chinamen, a night on the town. He had obliged, willingly, to serve as their interpreter and guide before disembarking tomorrow morning. He was going home.

From where he stooped, he knew people stared; they were talking about him. Many walked right passed him, especially, the women, giggling to one another behind elaborate fans. Sai could hear the whishing of their kimonos as they strolled `casually' near him. And when they were not busy whispering, the sounds produced by the closing and opening of fans, annoyed him. He knew what they said about him and his friends. But, mostly, about him.

“How adorable,” squealed one.

“I can eat him up,” squealed another.

“He's surely too young for you,” said a third, not too far away.

“I don't care,” giggled a fourth. “He's beautiful!”

Sai, not moving from his spot, rolled his eyes in annoyance. It was the same thing everywhere he went. It was a real pain having to endure these stupidities every time he showed his face! He sighed. Trying to relieve some tension, he placed his straw hat on his head to protect his face from the sun's burning fury. He looked back into the water. Still, his reflection was not clear but, nonetheless, it was still his reflection. Or was it?

“So beautiful! So scrumptious,” they cried with yearning.

By the love of Kami! May a lightening bolt of cosmic proportions seize them of their souls!, Sai wished, mentally, enraged. Do they not have homes to go to! Or husbands to mind! Suddenly, he could hear his brother's laughter ringing in his head. It was a good thing the bastard was not here or he would have to choke him for being a jackass.

To his chagrin, even men made comments about him.

“He must be a boy.”

“How long do you suppose they are staying?”

“Who cares as long as they do not stay too long.”

“Looks like a girl, though.”

“All Chinese boys tend to look like girls”

“He would look absolutely delicious dressed like a girl.”

Sai's eyes doubled both in appall and surprise.

“What an adorable little bracelet he has,” said one of the ladies.

Sai looked down on his bracelet. Yes, it was there, but he was far from finding it adorable. They resembled ordinary prayer beads; and the only reason why he wore them was because his mother insisted he wear them- for his protection, she said. Other than that, they looked very ordinary. However, whatever his mother gave to him, he cherished valuable.

“What beautiful black hair! I envy him,” they squealed behind their fans.

He wished they would stop saying `beautiful black hair'. It was rough hearing them giggle and even worse when they batted their lashes at him. Like he really cared for that kind thing.

In his personal opinion, he felt sorry for them. He thought they were silly and ridiculously obsessing over him. He did not understand why he would ever be an object of any woman's obsession, but he was, whether he liked it or not. It was the same everywhere he went.

What was keeping them long! Sai wanted to leave.

“Father had warned me,” he whispered down onto his reflection. It, in turn, responded with a series of ripples.

Li Ping watched all this from the upper deck, deciding it was time to rescue the poor lad. Climbing down and going down the ramp, he made himself known to the young scholar, “You have great reason to fear them.” Sai stood up to look at the sailor. “Women, I mean…they are a terrifying bunch,” he ended with a hearty laugh.

Sai turned to see the women and the men who stared at him, “That is not precisely what I fear, Li Ping, but all the same, I thank you for your concern.”

“Confucius said: Walk with your head held high but constantly look down or you will trip…or step into something.”

At those words, Sai acted accordingly and determined to stare down his `stalkers' with the air of indifference Li Ping came to know during the voyage. Noticing his defensiveness, little by little, they shied away, returning to their own business.

“You see, it worked,” said Li Ping, triumphantly.

“Yes. Confucius was a very wise man but if I am not mistaken, he never said that.”

“Confucius has more bearing than Li Ping words.” The Chinaman winked at his young friend when he said this.

“True.”

“Not for nothing, young Sai, but one would think you do not like women.”

“I just do not like them harassing me.”

“Yo, Ping! We're ready,” called another one, accompanied by his friend.

“I guess, we go,” Ping informed Sai.

Sai nodded, his straw hat bobbing with his head. While the others walked down the plank, Sai went for this sack, tying it securely to his back. They would have to hunt down the perfect inn where the best food, women, and beds were. He scanned about, trying to remember where he could find such a place.

“Follow me,” he finally said in his thin but strong voice. Ping noticed there was a certain authority in his tone but laughed it off, slapping the youth on the back. Sai had the wind knocked out of him by his comrade's sudden gesture. The others guffawed at his expense as he quickly recomposed himself, answering them with a nervous half-smile. If he would have been slapped any harder, he would for sure fall into the water.

“You need more meat on your bones! You almost toppled over,” laughed Wen Su, a man four times Sai's own build and over six feet in height.

“If I were to do that, I would look like you, Wen Su,” relied Sai, smiling, straightening his braid and then his straw hat.

The men broke out laughing, this time at Wen Su's expense. Sai could not help but join in the jest as Wen Su flexed his muscles, then comparing them to Sai's smaller ones. All was pure laughter. Even the men onboard the ship hung over the side of the vessel in whole-hearted laughter. All was wonderful in Sai's eyes. Nothing could go wrong- nothing could…

Suddenly, Sai's attention was abruptly pulled out of the friendly circle by an overflow of strong spiritual energy, which seized roughly at his heart like clamping hands. He quickly pivoted on reflex, carefully searching in urgent desperation for the source of it. It felt bad—it was near. Li Ping, noticed Sai acting strangely and stopped to see what was wrong.

“Sai?”

It seemed like Sai did not hear him. He continued to search among the crowd of people. There was another surge of energy. Sai grabbed at his chest in an attempt to soothe the pain. It was moving—the energy was moving. Where was it coming from? Ping directed the others to stop. They watched the boy as he continued to scan area around them. They have seen this look before; they were worried.

“It is gone…for now,” Sai finally said, still looking through the crowd of busy people.

“What's gone,” asked Ping.

Sai turned to face them, “A sudden surge of energy…I could feel it tearing at me like a hot knife.”

“Your sixth sense?”

“Somewhat. But it is not like we are in any eminent danger. It was just sudden. It has been so long since I have been here so, I surmise that it will get some getting used to, again.”

“Well, I hope it's nothing like that Sea Dragon,” Hui Hu Wren pointed out. The others laughed nervously, hoping what Sai sensed was not another one of those infernal monsters.

“As long as it does not bother with us, we will be fine,” replied Sai. Even though, deep in his thoughts, he did not want to worry these men about anything. He sensed their anxiety and voted not to tell them anything further. As he was thinking, this power was nothing like the Sea Dragon. It was stronger! And more sinister than the former.

“Well, the longer we stand here, the more chances we'll grow roots,” Wen Su announced, breaking the silence.

Sai nodded in agreement.

“Jaken-sama,” cried the little girl, running excitedly towards him with a wreath of flowers.

Jaken inquired rather annoyed, “What are you so excited about! It's not like I've been abducted by a kappa!”

“Rin is glad Jaken-sama is back. I was worried.”

“Well, I am here,” Ah-Un stared at the green toad suspiciously. “What are YOU looking at! It's not like I've grown horns on my bald head!”

“Jaken-sama is grouchy.”

“Well, how observant of you,” Jaken answered her sarcastically.

“Was the water too cold?”

“It was just fine! Has Lord Sesshoumaru returned?”

“Ah-uh,” Rin replied, shaking her hairy head from side to side to convey a point.

“He could be gone for long. I suppose you have hunted down some food for us to eat?”

“Ah-Un told me to wait for you. They said it was better you go since you have the Staff.”

He eyed the lizard. The lizard eyed back. “They would tell you that.”

“They said it was too dangerous, here. They told me this is kappa ter-ter-ter..." she stuttered, trying to spit the word out.

“Territory,” Jaken corrected.

“Yes, that's the word! So, I stay here!”

“That would be more logical, I guess,” Jaken said it more to himself than to Rin.

“Jaken-sama,” Rin suddenly inquired. In response, the imp raised an invisible eyebrow, when she finally asked, “What's a kappa?”

What else could happen? And what dark force lurks among the crowd?

And when the hell do we get to see our favorite boy-toy Sesshoumaru!

Sesshoumaru! Where are you! Jaken is planning something bad!