InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Trust ❯ Chapter 4

Chapter 4

"Zizi?" He said hesitantly. His face broke into a wide smile, surprising everyone there. "Zizi!"

The dark-skinned woman ran over and threw herself into his arms. "Pup!" she crowed. "You've gotten so big! I can't believe how tall you are! And so handsome!" She sniffed him again. "You've bonded? I can't believe you're all grown now." She sighed, tears in her large eyes, but a smile on her lips. He hugged her back, still speechless.

She stepped back from him, oblivious to all the looks of amazement given them by everyone.

"Sesshomaru." She looked him up and down, then broke out into a laugh. "It's even good to see you again." She walked over and kissed him on the cheek, much to his surprise, then landed a slap on his behind. He stiffened in shock, while Inu Yasha guffawed and the others looked on, stunned.

"Umm…Inu Yasha," Kagome was the first to get her voice back. "Did Sesshomaru say she was your sister?"

"She lived with us when I was a baby. She practically raised me until I was eight. I didn't see her again after that." He turned to her with a frown. "What happened? Why did you leave?"

Anger hardened her face and her voice, her earlier smile gone. "There were people who felt it improper that a human should have so much influence over you. One night I went to sleep in my bed, and when I woke up, I was tied up on a ship, on my way back to Kush."

Inu Yasha's eyes widened, then narrowed as a growl worked his way up his throat. "Who did that to you? Who would dare?"

"It was twelve years ago. It doesn't matter now." She smiled tightly. "It doesn't matter now, but it will matter if I ever run into them." She produced a growl of her own.

"Even after twelve years, a child's abduction will not go unpunished. Especially when it took place in the Clan leader's household." This from Sesshomaru. Sharing a look with his brother, they left unsaid the fact that it must have been someone trusted by their family in order to have gotten past the guards in their home.

"I think it's horrible!" Kagome burst out. It was all she could do to keep from doubling over in from all the remembered pain flooding her bond. How would she feel as a child if a beloved sister simply disappeared one day?

Inu Yasha must have noticed the effect his emotions were having on her, because they dimmed, and Kagome no longer felt as though a weight were pressing on her chest.

"I definitely do not recommend it." The older woman smiled at her. "As it turned out, I fell ill on the boat trip back to Kush. Luckily the people with me knew what was happening, and could make me comfortable. I was going through the Ascendance."

"The Ascendance?" Sango asked, speaking up for the first time.

"Yes. Among my people, once in a great while someone is born human, but then becomes a shifter during puberty. We call it the Ascendance, since many of my people are descended from shifters to begin with." The dark girl looked at Inu Yasha again. "Damn, Pup, it's so good to see you."

"You too, sister," Kagome was amazed at how the genuine smile transformed his face. She hoped that one day she could make him look like that.

He didn't look at her, but she felt a feeling of dismissal for her yearning. It was unnecessary. She was his other half, and he needed her. In spite of how he put it, the backhanded compliment still warmed her. She smiled to herself. He really wasn't such a bad sort, despite his bad manners and thoughtlessness.

"Well, I think we can take this reunion inside, everyone. Shall we?" The Commander suggested. "I'm sure Nzinga would like to recover after her journey."

"I wouldn't mind…it was a hard run." She smiled again. "But it was worth the trip."

A few hours later, rested and refreshed, Nzinga was getting to know Sango and Kagome. Inu Yasha had matters to discuss with Sesshomaru, but promised his "sister" they would find time to catch up.

Nzinga regarded the girl who had bonded with Inu Yasha. Human-shifter bonds were rare, but not unheard of. Inu Yasha's parents were one example. Kagome was pretty, she mused. She seemed kind, and with a good head on her shoulders. She would need it to put up with Inu Yasha. She grinned to herself. She doubted he had changed that much.

She took a sip of juice, and picked at the food on her plate. "So have long have you known Inu Yasha? The Bond smells new."

"Actually," Kagome smiled, "We just met yesterday."

The Kushite blinked. "Well." She paused for another drink. "You seem to be holding up well enough."

"Well, it's not going anywhere. It may not be how I imagined my marriage and courtship to be…but he seems to be a good man, if a little difficult. I might as well make the best of it." She shrugged.

Nzinga smiled. Inu Yasha was lucky to have someone this strong. He'll find himself so much stronger with her at his side, she thought.

There was a commotion out in the hall. All of a sudden, the door to the sitting room was thrown open and Miroku stood in the entryway.

"Zizi? Is it really you?" He looked at the woman sitting at the table.

Her brow creased as she tried to place him. "I can't think of any boy from back then that would have become a monk." She stood slowly. "Although, you're human, so that does narrow it down." She walked closer to the grinning monk, eyes on his face the entire time. "Those beautiful eyes, though…Miroku?"

He beamed. "You've grown more beautiful than I remember. It gives me such pleasure to…what is it?" Nzinga was laughing uncontrollably. She backed into a chair and sat down, as her companions looked on amazement. Tears gathered in her eyes as she attempted to control herself, arms wrapped around her middle.

"I…I am sorry." She wiped her eyes. "It's not that I am not pleased to see you…it's just that…I can't believe you of all people became a monk." She burst into laughter all over again. "Sometimes I had to wait until you were asleep so I could bathe in peace! I had to inspect the entire area before changing clothes. Sometimes I thought that spies had less strenuous training."

Looking slightly embarrassed, the monk cleared his throat, ignoring the muffled chuckles of the other two women in the room. "Nzinga, please. That was a long time ago. I have since become a man, and as you can see, have dedicated myself to the service of the gods."

"So I see." She eyed his robes. "Although I notice you chose a sect that does not vow chastity."

"Please," A pained look crossed his face. "There is nothing holy about the unnatural state of forced chastity."

She laughed. "I couldn't agree with you more." She finally stood and ran across the room to throw her arms around the monk. "I missed you all so much! I can't believe I found you after all this time." She pulled away, and turned back towards the table where the other two women were sitting. "Come and join us. There's plenty of food and you can tell me all about…" she stopped at the looks on Kagome and Sango's faces. She turned around just to see Miroku collapse to the floor in an apparent faint. Conn and Inu Yasha stood in the door with odd looks on their faces.

"Why are you just standing there? Why don't you help him?" Sango berated the men, as all of the women rushed to Miroku's side.

"Keh. Dirty monk's probably just faking it." Inu Yasha stated.

Nzinga felt his forehead. "No, his skin is clammy. It's like he's gone into shock." She looked at her "brother." "Pup…"

"All right," he grumbled, bending over and heaving his cousin over one shoulder. He looked around the room.

"Go ahead and put him on the couch," Kagome said. She turned to Sango, puzzled. "I wonder what would make him just faint like…be more careful!" This last shouted at Inu Yasha, who had simply tossed his cousin on the couch.

"Keh." He grunted.

"Conn," Kagome began, "You are the only one who doesn't look surprised."

The big man turned red. Gods, why me? He thought. "I-I…"

"Conn…" Sango said warningly.

"You're Conn?" Nzinga smiled. "You'll have to tell me who else is here, Pup, so I can stop being so surprised."

"Well, I figured it's kinda related to the last question you asked me about him, lady," Conn muttered.

"How is his fainting related to him groping women?" Kagome demanded.

At this Miroku's eyes fluttered, and he began to mutter. All that was audible was "…gods…such bounty…my thanks…"

Inu Yasha laughed. "Dirty fucking monk! He saw your big ass when you turned around, and got so excited he fainted. His senses must have overloaded with all the flesh he had to grope." He started laughing again, sounding much more like an adolescent boy than a warrior and leader of men. "I guess he was just happy to see his favorite ass back, bigger then ever!" His laughter abruptly ended when Nzinga punched him in the back of the head.

"Ow! What was that for?"

"You know good and damn well what for." She looked at him with narrowed eyes for a moment, then back at Miroku, who was started to come around. His violet gaze met hers, and he smiled.

"Did I tell you how happy I am to see you again?" Which of course set off Inu Yasha again, made Conn even redder, and solidified the looks of disbelief on Kagome and Sango's faces.

Finally, Nzinga gave in and started laughing, too. She slid down to the floor, her back against Miroku's couch, still laughing. Kagome and Sango looked at each other and shrugged.

"I guess this is as good a time as any to leave," Sango said. Kagome nodded. The two made their way out, closing the door behind them.

"Well." They looked at each other, and Kagome shrugged. "It's a bit early, but I think I will turn in. It has been a tiring two days."

Sango nodded. "Something tells me to get all the sleep we can, while we can."

In the sitting room, Inu Yasha had also made his way to the floor. He was lying on his back, his head in Nzinga's lap. This was a side he wouldn't even expose to his own brother, and it was a measure of how close he was to the other three people in the room that he would even think of doing it. The laughter finally dying down, Nzinga looked at his face in her lap.

"You used to go to sleep like this until you were about six." She smiled at the memory. Then you became a man, and demanded to be left alone."

Inu Yasha grinned. "How long did that last?"

"You were stubborn…a good few weeks. You didn't fall asleep on me anymore, but at least you would talk to me again."

He sat up. "It's good to have you back." He stated seriously. "It was…rough right after you left."

Conn and Miroku knew what a colossal understatement that was. The boy had been inconsolable and impossible for months after her disappearance.

"I know...it was hard for me, too." She looked at him. "But we can catch up later. You should go talk to Kagome."

He looked at her in surprise. "Why?"

She grinned. "Trust me on this. Your Bond is new. You should spend every minute you can reinforcing it." She sighed. "It needs to be secure before you go into battle. You can't have it distracting you."

Inu Yasha stood up. "You're still always right, aren't you, sis?"

She grinned. "Not always…but a lot. Go."

Conn and Inu Yasha left, leaving Miroku and Nzinga alone.

She looked at him and sighed. "I'm going to stand up now." She said, speaking slowly, as if to a child of limited intelligence. "Close your eyes if you think you're going to faint."

He tried to look offended. "That was simply a one time occurrence. I assure you it will not happen again." His voice grew smooth. "I am sure that with repeated exposure, it will become less of a trial."

She looked at him incredulously. "You mean if I let you grope me enough, that will help you to control your fainting spells."

He struggled to keep his face from breaking into a wide smile of anticipation. "Exactly."

She stared at him a moment, then smiled faintly. "If you really need it..."

He blinked; the words what he wanted to hear, but something felt off. "Ex-excuse me?"

"If you really think it will work." Her smile grew. "I would hate for you to have to suffer when such an easy remedy is available."

He swallowed, more than a little confused. He had a feeling it was too good to be true and decided to err on the side of caution. He did not trust that smile…and he had a feeling that being hit with the morningstar at her hip would really, really hurt. "You are more than kind to offer…but I will live with the suffering a little longer."

"Are you sure?" she asked, all solicitous concern.

"Yes," he stood, uneasy, his whole being feeling strangely off kilter. "I believe I will retire now." Walking to the door he paused, shaking his head then continued to his room. Nzinga dropped the couch, convulsing in silent laughter, lest he hear.

Oh, the look on his face! She thought. I knew he would have no clue what to do once someone played his own game against him.

She stood and sighed. It had been a long day, both physically and emotionally draining. "I'm going to bed," she announced to the empty room. She could deal with it all tomorrow.

In the meantime, Inu Yasha had taken her advice and gone to see Kagome. When he followed their link, he found her up on the wall, watching the sky.

He leaped on the wall, landing next to her, settling on his back. They watched the sky together in a companionable silence. The bond pulsed with feelings of happiness; Inu Yasha's pleasure at meeting Nzinga again after so many years, and Kagome's at seeing him so happy.

She also felt his iron resolve to punish whoever had arranged for the girl's abduction. She hadn't known him long, but she could sense his fierce sense of loyalty for those he cared for. She had also felt his remembered despair at Nzinga's disappearance. Kagome could only imagine how frightening it must have been for a thirteen year old girl to be abducted and thrown on a boat for months. Then to have transformed into a shifter in addition! She couldn't imagine the strength of will it must have taken to get through something like that.

"She's always been that way." Inu Yasha spoke, breaking the silence. "Even when I was little, I remember thinking she could do anything."

"She must have incredible inner strength. An experience like that could easily warp a person." Kagome mused.

"You could do it."

She sat up, and looked at him. "What do you mean?"

"You're just as strong as she is." He looked at her, then away.

Kagome smiled. His compliment warmed her. She laid back down and resumed looking at the stars.

"I hope she's around for a while this time."

"I don't think she'll leave if she can help it. She obviously missed you all."

He grunted in response, and she could feel the slow burn of his anger again. She sent calm in response, and felt his anger subside.

It struck her suddenly how natural it felt, this bond. They still needed more time to get used to it, but it didn't feel alien or intrusive. Just…new.

They stayed out on the wall another hour watching the stars, before turning in for the night.