InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Unexpected ❯ Chapter 4 ( Chapter 4 )

Chapter 4

 

It was night-time and it was spent in silence. In truth, everyone had forgotten about the Shikon Jewel. All of them were still adjusting to the fact that Sango was now a male and Inuyasha, a female. Shippo was glancing at the two nervously, flickering from one face to another. Kirara, watching Shippo, had wondered “What on earth happened?”

 

Miroku and Kagome were still in the state of `Denial'

 

I do not like Sango. I do not like Sango. I do like Sa- I do NOT like Sango.

 

I do not like Inuyasha. I do not like Inuyasha. I do like Inuyasha's fig-I do NOT like Inuyasha, nor any part of him for that matter.

 

Sango just sat there, fondling with her newly `cut' hair. She had just noticed that it had changed from a dark brown to a lightish, more softer colour. Inuyasha was just slurping Ramen like always, oblivious to the world and focused only, and only on the steaming cup in his hands.

 

Kagome sat fidgeting with her hands. She couldn't stand one more minute of silence anymore. Not…one…more! “Alright everyone!” she clapped her hands “Off to bed!” she declared, feeling like a mother.

 

Shippo, having found no excuse to stay awake, nodded and crept over to Kagome's lap and fell asleep. Kirara curled her tail around and slept near the warm fire. Inuyasha ignored her and went on slurping his Ramen-in-a-cup.

 

Sango lay down on her side and closed her eyes, her Boomerang lying next to her and Kirara in front. Miroku leaned against a tree and put his head down.

 

Kagome sighed. There was no point in asking Inuyasha to sleep. She unrolled her sleeping bag and slid in, moving the already sleeping Shippo on her stomach on top of the bedroll, shushing him as he made quiet protesting noises.

 

Inuyasha glanced over at his Ramen and sighed. Guess Kagome was right, he sighed. Hopefully, this was all just a bad dream and he would wake up feeling tall and strong again.

 

OoO

 

Even hanyou have the right to dream, I suppose. Inuyasha thought dully, after just waking up and realising that he was still a girl and he wasn't just having a nightmare.

 

Dammit.

 

He knew now after a long period of time spent thinking, that this had come from the mist that he and Sango and been breathing in. So know that that question had been answered, another one had arose, how do we reverse the effect?

 

Maybe the Monk knows?

 

“Miroku!” his voice had gotten a bit softer and shriller. Shit, he really was turning into a girl!

 

“What now?” the monk was already awake…or half awake. He had his half-opened eyes turned to Inuyasha's direction; some strands of hair had escaped his small ponytail.

 

“The mist!”

 

“…What about the mist?” Miroku quirked an eyebrow.

 

“The mist was the one that did this to us! I'm gonna kill the damn thing!” Inuyasha growled

 

“Inuyasha…the mist does not contain a physical appearance, it is a lifeless object, and consequently, it does not have to take in air. No smog is like that. Every solitary mist or miasma you come across does not have an existing breathing body, since it has no heart or animated feelings.”

 

“…” Inuyasha had the dumbest look you could ever find on his face “Mind explaining that a little clearer for me?”

 

“It means you cannot kill the mist”

 

“Well why didn't you say so?! Instead of using confusing words…”

 

“Ah well”

 

“Anyway, the mist was the one who did this, so could you figure out how to reverse the effect?”

 

“Hmm, with only that bit of information, I lack the knowledge and facts to figure out what exactly is the cause of this strange predica-“

 

“Miroku”

 

“Ah, sorry. What I mean is that I don't have enough facts to know how to reverse it. I need to know what the exact properties of the mist is and what type of energies it contains and where it came from and how it got to be infecti-“

 

“Miroku!”

 

“Sorry!”

 

“How did you learn all of these annoyingly hard words?”

 

“Kagome lent me her `science' book and her dictionary and it says a great deal about how to use large vocabu- I mean, words”

 

“…Back to the mist. So you're sayin' that if we can figure out where the stupid mist came from, we you should be able to figure out a cure?”

 

“Yes”

 

“Alright! Then from this moment on, our main priority is to find a cure!” Inuyasha thought for a moment “…and look for Jewel Shards”

 

Miroku smiled “As expected, Inuyasha”

 

Inuyasha couldn't help but grin back. Everybody knew about his dedication to collect the Shards, heck it wasn't even a secret, and Miroku couldn't help but smile at the fact that the number one concern right now was still looking for the Jewel Shards, not just getting Inuyasha's manliness back, and Sango's femininity back too.

 

How Miroku missed it. His smile never faded, but on the inside he was sighing.

 

Quite loudly too.

 

OoO

 

“Argh, another day of being a man…” Sango sighed, flopping back into the ground with her arm over her eyes. I'm gonna kill the damn guy who created that stupid mist and rip his head off! Sango growled in her head.

 

“Why does it have to be so freakin' hot?!” Sango yelled softly “If it isn't bad enough!” She was right. It was a bright sunny, hot sticky day and everybody wanted to just stay there, feeling lazy.

 

“Sango?”

 

“What, Kagome?”

 

“Umm, you might wanna cover your chest up” Kagome mumbled

 

“Huh? Oh” Sango grinned sheepishly. She had just taken the top bit of her uniform off just to get some breeze.

 

“I mean, you might get sunburnt” Kagome kept mumbling “Seeing as it's so hot and all…” she felt her cheeks heating up. Maybe that wasn't the only reason…

 

She felt her ears start to burn.

 

“A-and I did-dn't b-bring my sunscreen” she hurried on, more flustered then ever. More like stuttering then talking, really.

 

“Why are you sounding so flustered?” Sango teased, oblivious to the effect her now flat-naked chest was doing to the girl.

 

Kagome blushed even harder. Dammit, Kagome thought frantically. Hello Kagome?! You've seemed to have forgotten that Sango is a GIRL!

 

“?” Sango's head were literally filled with question marks. What was that girl doing now?

 

“Kagome…? Are you suffocating?” she asked

 

“Wha'? No, I'm fine” Kagome shook her head to clear her mind of the…inappropriate thoughts and smiled “I'm going to go look for Inuyasha. He's probably talking with Miroku”

 

“Sure” Sango grinned “Go ahead”

 

Kagome suddenly felt weak in the knees and decided to leave before she faints from the…heat. Staggering off, she waved a goodbye before disappearing into the trees.

 

Sango just sighed again before going back off to rest.

 

After 2 hours, which to her seemed like 5 minutes, Sango bolted upright as a thought suddenly struck her

 

Aren't Inuyasha and Miroku…that way? Sango thought, eyes widening. That means…Kagome might be in trouble

 

Hurriedly, Sango put her uniform back on and picked up Hiraikotsu before going off to follow the confused girl.

 

OoO

 

It wasn't long before she saw a white fabricated piece of cloth hanging from a dead bush. Carefully, the slayer pulled it off and studied it before confirming that it belonged to Kagome.

 

Now she was worried. Kagome didn't know how to protect herself properly without her bow! She doesn't even know how to `slug' someone in the face or anything like that. Sango hurried on down the path, since she thought that Kagome had at least some sense to follow the path.

 

Too bad Kagome was panicking when she walked down the trail. Oh no, I can't find my way back! She thought desperately. What am I gonna do?

 

As she rounded a sharp corner into a blanket of trees, a loud rumble could be heard from close to where she was standing.

 

Very close.

 

A foul aroma hit her nose and she gagged, covering her nose and mouth with her half torn sleeve.

 

“Yuck, what is that stench?!” she said, her voice muffled by her arm “It smells like Grandpa's socks combined with Sota's after soccer practice!” In other words, it stunk like crazy.

 

As the stench got stronger, Kagome's knees felt weaker and she nearly collapsed onto the ground. Her head was pounding like crazy and was it just her or was her vision getting darker?

 

Groggily, she looked up and nearly screamed. A huge looming giant was standing right in front of her, its form blocking out the sun. At least it wasn't as big as Kyokotsu…Kagome thought, remembering the giant from the Band of Seven. But the size still came pretty close.

 

“Little girllll” the demon slurred, drool dripping in large gallons splashing on the ground “Youuu look tastyyy” a long fat purple tongue whipped out of its widely stretched mouth and flickered around its mouth “You'll be my supperr!”

 

Pretty fast for someone so big, Kagome thought dazed, as a giant fist closed around her tiny form. Clutching her like a little girl clutching a doll, he lifted her up until she was eye-level with the disgusting demon “A bit small, but I think it'll do!” it opened its mouth wide, like a huge gaping eel about to swallow a fish. Right now, that fish was Kagome.

 

So the `fish' did the only thing she could think of.

 

Scream.

 

OoO

 

“Well?” Inuyasha asked the monk who in turn, replied by shaking his head.

 

“Nothing” Miroku sighed “All the villagers say they have seen no such thing”

 

Inuyasha was feeling a bit worried now. What if they couldn't find a cure? Then he'd be stuck in a girl's body for the rest of his life!

 

“No!”

 

Miroku was startled by his outburst and looked at him questioningly

 

“C'mon Miroku! Chop, chop! We gotta look for a cure NOW!” Inuyasha cried and ran off in search for another village

 

“Uh…?”

 

OoO

 

An ogre.

 

That was what entered Sango's mind as soon as she smelt the horrible smell. She put her head to the ground and there was a faint rumble. Footsteps, she decided. It must be a maimed one though… The steps were uneven, like one of the legs was shorter then the others.

 

All of a sudden, a faint scream could be heard. Sango's head snapped upright and she quickly sprang up and ran towards the scream.

 

“Kagome!!” she yelled when she saw the monster holding Kagome, who was now limp “Put her down!” she demanded furiously .

 

“Whooo are youuu to orderrr arounddd pitifulll huuuman?” the ogre sneered “I'm going toooo eat herrr” with that, a giant fist came flying down on the taijiya who had to jump to avoid it.

 

She saw the knee coming up to greet her body, but didn't have time to dodge. So instead she shouted “Hiraikotsu!” and in an instant, the boomerang whirred and sliced through the knee cap before returning to the owner's hand.

 

“GRAGHHHHH!” the monster screamed “Youuuu dare chaaallenge the grrreatt To-“

 

It didn't get to finish the sentence, and as the boomerang came flying back for the second time, the body fell forwards. The fist holding the unconscious girl openened and Kagome was getting pulled down to meet the ground.

 

“Kagome!” Sango jumped and caught the girl by in her arms. Bruised arms and legs, a bit of blood here and there “Hang in there” she said, looking at Kagome's face which was twisted with discomfort “I'll get help!”

 

The boomerang strapped firmly on her back, the taijiya quickly ran in the right direction, hoping to find help.

 

OoO

 

It was night-time and Miroku sat there feeling impatient “Where is Inuyasha?” he said softly to himself “I should go find him before he hurts himself” The monk stood up and blew the fire out and turned around and ran to find the hanyou.

 

Too bad the timing wasn't perfect.

 

Sango and Kagome were plunged in darkness as the orange glow of the fire was snuffed out “What?” Kagome looked confused “Where is Miroku going?”

 

“I dunno” Sango looked worried. Quickly, both of them ran to the camp and Sango set Kagome down before checking the area.

 

“If I didn't know better…I'd say we just missed him” Sango said “If he's running, I doubt I could catch up”

 

Kagome understood what the taijiya was saying. Miroku was fast. He could keep in pace of Kirara at times, and being able to just barely keep up with Inuyasha while he was holding on to Kagome.

 

“Ah well” Sango groaned “Guess we'll have to wait…”

 

A few hours later, they had the fire up and blazing brightly. Kagome shivered and moved closer to the fire. Sango had gone off to get something to eat and she was alone, save for a few fireflies here and there.

 

A wet noise plopped down next to her.

 

“Wha'?” Kagome looked startled, then noticed that it was only the taijiya, soaking wet from top to bottom “What happened?”

 

“I got some fish” Sango offered “Looks like I got a bath too” she laughed heartily

 

Kagome joined in by adding her own nervous laughter “Yeah I guess” Now that she mentioned it, she hadn't had one yet…

 

“Hey Sango?”

 

“Mmm?” her eyes were focused on the cooking fish

 

“I'm going to go take a quick wash alright?”

 

Sango's head shot up “No.”

 

“What?” Kagome was irritated

 

“No you can't go by yourself”

 

“I'm not a baby, I can take care of myself just fine” Kagome argued

 

Sango glared at the girl. Why was she so stubborn? “I can't let you go by yourself because remember what happened last time?”

 

“You mean about the ogre? I was panicking alright?”

 

“Still…I know!”

 

Kagome looked warily at her friend “What now?”

 

“We eat the fish, and then I'll accompany you! How's that sound?” Sango said brightly

 

“You seem to have forgotten something…”

 

The taijiya had a confused expression that rivalled that of Inuyasha's.

 

“You're a guy”

 

“Ohhh” Sango said “Well that's alright! You've got nothing that I didn't have”

 

“But still…” Kagome mumbled something about `improper' and `highly discomforting'

 

“Jeez Kagome, do' ya think I would peek?”

 

“No…”

 

And that was that. Sango had made up her mind.

 

While eating her burnt fish, Sango's mind wandered off. So is this what a gender change do to our friendships and relationships? I can't talk to Kagome about anything anymore. It seems like she feels uncomfortable in my presence.

 

The taijiya glanced over at the girl. It seemed as if she was thinking about something really important, since her face was set in a mild frown.

 

“Kagome, what're you thinking about?” she asked, breaking Kagome out of her reverie.

 

“Hm? Oh, about how I'm gonna pass my next…uh…Geometry exam. Study, study, study!” Kagome laughed loudly. She swallowed the last bit of fish before standing up and rummaging around her bag, bringing out a towel, shampoo, body wash and all the other bathing equipment.

 

“C'mon Sango” Kagome complained, standing up “I don't want to spend another minute smelling like a dead parrot”

 

Sango just nodded her head and gulped the remainders of her dinner before grabbing Kagome's bag, Hiraikotsu and blowing the fire out.

 

Kagome just looked at her questioningly.

 

“Just in case someone comes” Sango said quickly “After you finish your bathing, we're off to find a village to stay in”

 

“Sure” Kagome agreed eagerly

 

Sango started walking ahead while Kagome was dreaming about a nice steaming bath and a soft bed.

 

“Hurry it up Kagome!”

 

“Hey! W-wait for me!”

 

OoO

 

After about five minutes of walking, the taijiya stopped.

 

“Well here it is” Sango announced “Better hurry up though”

 

“Sure, sure” Kagome waved it off, hurrying to the water “Turn around”

 

“Hn” Sango turned her head and sat cross legged, a tree smack dab in the middle of her line of sight.

 

Damn tree.

 

A thought struck suddenly.

 

“Kagome!” Sango said carefully “I gotta warn you first…the water is-“

 

There was a splash and then a loud shriek

 

“-freezing cold” the slayer grinned

 

“SANGO!!”