InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Twist of Fate ❯ The Local Wildlife ( Chapter 4 )

Chapter Four: The Local Wildlife

Story: Twist Of Fate

By: Sky

InuYasha leaned up against the side of the cavern that Sango had found for them to stay in until he recovered enough to be able to fight. He couldn't tell what was hurt worse though, his body or his pride. He had been training with Sango for a little over three months, and the first time he ran into a youkai, he got his ribs broken, again. At least it wasn't Sango cleaning the floor with him. That was at least some consolation.

She stepped up to his side, bearing a carved wooden mud with water from the spring in the back of the cave.

“Feeling any better?” she asked, extending the cup to him.

“Fuck off. I'm not some prep-school boy that just lost his first fight you know,” he replied, turning slightly away from her. Sango let out a long sigh, reminding herself that he was injured enough and didn't need a few more broken limbs. Then she set the cup by him.

“No, but as long as you can't take more then four steps without help, we're stuck here. And the longer we're stuck here, the more likely we're going to be found. And besides, you are a boy that just got his butt kicked in his first fight with a youkai.” InuYasha winced, but didn't rise to her bait.

“Feh,” he replied, turning his head fully away from her. Sango reminded herself once more that she really couldn't afford beating some sense back into him, and instead examined his chest.

He had refused to wear any bandaging, and therefore she could see the bruising along his sides that still were an ugly shade of purple and black, and looked as though they still hurt pretty bad. They would be there at least a few more days before he healed enough to be able to fight should he need to. That was one skill she was happy to find in her bad-mouthed boy; he healed quickly, just like her kin.

“Well, since you're going to sit here and sulk, I'm heading out to find some more herbs to make some more poultice, and find us something to eat. Don't you dare move from here InuYasha.” He grunted as a reply, and Sango drew a curved blade and sheath from her hip, and placed it before him. “If anything happens, this is for you.” He nodded in reply, and she headed out of the cavern.

He watched her leave, and he mused about when he had first met her.

0o0o0o0o0

“Get up,” Sango told him calmly from her stance above him. InuYasha groaned. They had been at this particular maneuver for half an hour now, and for nearly that length of time, he had him back flat against the ground.

InuYasha had lost to her only a two and a half weeks ago, and was impressed by the woman who had managed to kick his ass quite thoroughly. But he wasn't ready for the surprise she had in store for him after she had wiped the floor with him. He remembered he'd lain their groaning a bit, for she surely broke something, when she stepped over him so she was sure he could look her straight in the face.

“You've got quite an attitude and a smart mouth kid. I'm surprised you haven't gotten into trouble sooner.”

“Shut up. What the fuck do you care?” She quirked an eyebrow at him, and then lifted a foot off the ground and placed it onto his solar plexus, pressing down a bit.

InuYasha gasped as she made a few of his broken ribs flare back up into agony, and he bit back a whimper of pain, `cause that wasn't his style. He was tough. Everyone knew it. Except for maybe her.

“I'll let you know ahead of time you punk, that I don't like people cussing around me all the time. So unless you want to become very familiar with a boot and broken ribs, I suggest you clean up your mouth while I'm around, you understand?” She pressed her booted foot down a bit harder, which did cause him to whimper.

“Yes ma'am,” he managed to gasp out, and she removed her foot from his chest.

“Good. Now that we have an understanding, I want to give you a proposition.”

“If it has anything to do with becoming your sex slave, forget it,” he snapped at her, starting to regain his normal attitude. Sango raised an eyebrow at him again, and none-to-gently nudged him in the side where one of his broken ribs was. InuYasha gasped, and she sighed.

“You're not making this easy on yourself you realize. If you just lay there and shut up, I won't have to break any more bones in your body. Now, what do you say?” InuYasha glared up at her defiantly, and she sighed and nudged him again in the broken rib. He took another sharp intake of breath, and she cocked her head to the side. “Well?”

“Alright,” he gasped. “What do you want?”

“I want to train you InuYasha.” He grunted in reply.

“Train me in what? Sitting, staying, and begging?” he replied sarcastically. She tapped him a bit harder in the side.

“You're not listening again. There aren't many with as much strength and agility as you have naturally. Though the bull-headed stubbornness and mouth you could do well without, I have to admit you have a talent. And it would be wasted if not trained. So I offer you something that has rarely been offered to anyone outside of my family. I offer to train you in our arts.”

“Gonna turn me into a priestess?” he muttered, taking shallow breaths. Sango was about to kick him, but then she saw that he was laying there with eyes closed and was actually listening, decided to let him off with a sharp tap.

“You are going to become a girl if you keep on talking like that,” she told him, growling slightly. “This is not a decision to take lightly. No one from outside has been allowed to train in our temple for many generations. The fact that you have an invitation is rare enough. I would not turn it down lightly.”

“Well, I might be able to think more clearly if you'd stop kicking my ass still, and letting me get a good breath.” She narrowed her eyes at him.

“That's only because you're being rude and letting your smart mouth get away with you.” This time though, she didn't even tap him. She let him lay there, thinking.

After about fifteen minutes, he spoke.

“And what would this training require?” he asked, violet eyes closed.

“Well, it would require that you stop being such a stupid ass and a street punk. All you need to do is show up, follow the rules, and keep up with the training. That is what I ask of you.” One violet eye opened to look up at her, and she smirked down at him.

“That's it?” he asked suspiciously. Sango nodded.

“No hidden contracts, no hidden agendas or nothing?” Sango was about to be angry with him. Didn't he trust her word? But there was a certain tone in his voice that left her wondering. It sounded a bit like he was afraid. Now that was interesting. Maybe this kid really was salvageable.

“Besides following the rules, no.”

“Because I'm warning you bitch, if you double-cross me…”

“InuYasha, do you really want to get kicked again that badly?” Sango asked with an exasperated sigh. InuYasha shut up. “Now, let's get you patched up so I can start kicking your butt again.” She smiled down at InuYasha, and offered him a hand. He examined it warily, but then took it, and had her help him up.

“So, what exactly do you train for?” he asked, after he had taken a few moments to try and recapture his breath while leaning against the cool alley wall. It had been forever since he had been hurt this badly in a fight, and he wasn't used to the sensation.

“What do you mean?”

“You have all those weapons skills, since I'm pretty sure you don't wear those for show, and you have a damn good right hook. You can't just be doing that for fun. There's gotta be a reason.”

“We're Exterminators.”

“Of what, like rats and bugs and stuff?”

“Oh yes, we use large weapons to take out roaches,” she snapped back at him. “Think for once InuYasha. Does that really sound plausible?”

“Well, you said you were exterminators,” he muttered.

“We exterminate demons,” she replied after a moment. InuYasha gave her a disbelieving look, and she sighed once more. “My family, for generations upon generations for thousands of years, have been exterminating demons. We keep up with the tradition just in case the longer-living ones ever show themselves again, and we are proud of our heritage.”

“Aren't they myths and legends though?”

“Say that around the temple, and you'll be lucky to get away with just broken ribs,” she warned. “No. They actually existed and still do exist. And we tend to want to make sure that they stay out of existence.”

“Well, if there isn't any slaying go on now, why do you wanna train me as a slayer?”

“Ah, but I didn't say I wanted to train you as a slayer,” she replied, lifting an admonishing finger.

“But you said you…”

“Wanted to train you, but I didn't say to fully teach you.”

“Whatever. This is making my head hurt.”

“Novel concept to actually find that you are thinking for once.”

“Bitch, lay off me.”

“Temper temper InuYasha,” she admonished, in a light tone, enjoying herself far too much. “If I didn't have to head off to be somewhere else, I'd put you flat on your back. And also if I didn't want to be able to start training you in the next week or two, I would haul you back into the alley and whip your butt again, but as it stands, I don't want to waste time. So I'll just remember this when we cover your first lesson.” InuYasha didn't like the evil grin she gave him as she finished that sentence.

0o0o0o0

He shook himself out of the memory. He was supposed to be keeping alert to make sure that nothing was going to eat him while he was laying here. He reached to grab the cup of water, and then noticed movement by the entrance. His muscles tensed, and he started to get ready for a fight, but then he met a beautiful pair of silver eyes.