Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction / Sailor Moon Fan Fiction / Trigun Fan Fiction / Utena, Revolutionary Girl Fan Fiction / InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Tales of a 1001 Nights ❯ Vash and The Forty Thieves ( Chapter 8 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

Vash and The Forty Thieves (Part 1)

All Inuyasha and Trigun declaimers apply! Also I don't own "Ali Baba and The Forty Thieves"! Some of the characters will be occ! Finally there will no guns used in this chapter or the next. It's because it won't work!

When Rin entered Sesshomaru's chamber, she got a surprise. Instead of just her husband, Inuyasha and Kagome (now five months pregnant) were with him. "My brother and Kagome wanted to hear one of your tales. Tonight I decided to grant their request." Sesshomaru said to Rin.

"I hope that we're not making you uncomfortable. Sesshomaru has told us how good your tales are and Inuyasha and I wanted to hear one of them for ourselves. I also wanted the baby to hear one of them." Kagome said.

Rin blushed a little. She then said "I don't have a problem with others listening to my tales."

She found a place next to Sesshomaru. Rin was across from Inuyasha and Kagome. Kagome was sitting in Inuyasha's lap, with one of Inuyasha's hands on her stomach. Once everyone was comfortable, Rin began her next tale.

"In the city of Kobe there lived a man whose name was Vash. He had blonde hair that stood straight up and aqua eyes. He was a poor but happy man. He made his living by cutting wood in a neighboring forest, loading it on his three donkeys, which were his only possession, and selling it around the city."

"One day Vash went into the forest and had almost finished cutting as much wood as his donkeys could carry when he saw coming towards him, a large company of horseman. From their appearance, he could tell that they were robbers. Very cautiously, Vash climbed a tree that grew at the foot of a large rock and his himself among the branches, where he could see without being seen."

"That very rock was the destination which the troop were bound. When they arrived, each man alighted instantly from his horse, tethered it, and removed as sack that was filled with gold. Vash counted forty men going in."

"The leader of the robbers was a blue haired, yellow eyed man named Legato. He advanced toward the rock and in a low but distinctive voice, he said 'Open Sesame!' Immediately the rock opened like a door. Legato and his men went inside and the rock closed behind them."

"Vash waited a long time. He didn't dare leave from his hiding place. He knew if he left and they found him, he would be killed. A few hours later, the door in the rock opened. The forty men came out with Legato leading them. When the last man was out, he said 'Shut Sesame!' Immediately the face of the rock closed together as before. They mounted on their horses and rode away."

"As soon as he felt that the coast was clear, Vash came down from his hiding place and made his way to the part of the rock where Legato and his men entered. Remembering the words Legato had said, 'Open Sesame!' Vash repeated. Again the rock flew open."

"Vash expected only to find a dark and gloomy cave. He was astonished to see a large, spacious, well lit vaulted room, dug out of rock and so high that he couldn't touch the ceiling with his hand. He also saw inside of it large quantities of provisions, numerous bales of merchandise, a store of silks and great quantities of coins, both silver and gold. Some of it was piled in heaps and the rest stored in large leather bags placed one on top of the other."

"Without any hesitation, Vash entered the cave. The door closed behind him as soon as he was in. Since he knew the words to open it, he didn't worry about it. Ignoring all the other riches, he went directly for the gold coins, the ones that were in the bags. After having collected as much as he thought that he could carry, he went out to search for his donkeys. Once he found them, he brought them close to the opening of the rock. Vash loaded them with the sacks of gold and then covered them with wood so that they couldn't be seen. With the magic words that he had learned, Vash closed the rock and headed home."

"When he got home, he drove his donkeys into a small court. Vash shut the gates carefully. He then took off the wood that covered the bags and took them in. He then hid them well in the house. Vash then went to his friend Wolfwood, who was a rich merchant. 'Hello Vash.' Wolfwood's wife Mille said with a smile."

" 'Hello Millie. Is Wolfwood home?' Vash asked her."

"She answered 'Yes he is. I'll tell him that you are here.' Millie let him in and told her husband that he was here."

" ' So my friend, what brings you here?' Wolfwood asked him."

" ' Just wanted to know if I could borrow a small measure.' Vash replied."

" This set Wolfwood's mind wondering. Knowing Vash's poverty, he was very curious to find out what kind of grain would require a small measure. So before he brought it to Vash, he covered the bottom with lard. He told Vash to bring it back when he was finished with it. Vash agreed and went home. Once he was home, Vash dug a hole. Once it was dug, he brought the gold out and used the measure to count it. When the last measure was filled and the gold dumped in the hole, Vash buried it. He then went back to Wolfwood's house and returned the measure to him."

"As soon as Vash left, Wolfwood looked at the bottom of the measure. He was astonished to find a gold coin, sticking to the lard. 'Since when did Vash have a huge amount of gold that he measures it instead of counting it.? I wonder how he got it?' He thought."

"The next morning, before the sun rose, he went to Vash's home with the intention of solving the mystery. 'Vash, as usual you are very reserved in you affairs. You pretend to be poor and yet you have so much money that you must measure it.' Wolfwood said to him."

" Vash replied 'My friend, I do not understand. Please explain what you mean.'"

" ' Don't pretend to be ignorant.' Wolfwood answered. He then showed Vash the gold coin that he had found. 'How many gold coins do you have like this one I found sticking to the bottom of the measure you borrowed yesterday?' He asked."

"Vash realized that further concealment was useless. He told his friend what had happened and offered him an equal share of the treasure."

" 'You'll have to tell me exactly where this treasure is. I would like to see if your story is true. If it isn't then I'll turn you in to the authorities.' Wolfwood said afterwards."

"Vash has a clear conscience, so he had no fear of Wolfwood's threats. Out of a pure good nature he gave Wolfwood all the information that he desired. He didn't forget to instruct him in the words that would permit Wolfwood to get in and out of the cave."

"Once Wolfwood got all the information, he lost no time in putting his own plan in execution. Intent on possessing all the treasure that remained he set out the next morning, taking with him ten mules laden with empty crates. When he arrived the rock, he remembered the words that his friend had taught him. As soon as he said 'Open Sesame!' The door in the rock opened and when he entered, it shut behind him."

"Wolfwood's eyes were drunk with the wealth of the cavern. The only thing he could think of was to quickly gather as much treasure as the ten mules could carry. Finally after exhausting himself with the heavy labor and greedy excitement, he suddenly found upon returning to the door, that he forgot the magic words."

" 'Open Barley!' He said but the door didn't budge an inch. He then named the various other kinds of grains, all but the right one. The door still did not move."

"The more he tried to remember the word sesame, the more he failed. He threw the sacks he had collected to the ground and paced up and down, in a frenzy of terror. The riches that surrounded him no longer attracted him."

"It was towards noon when the robbers returned. They saw the ten mules laden with crates, near the rock. They were shocked and began to search the surrounding area. Finding no one was there, they drew their swords and advanced cautiously towards the cave."

"From inside, Wolfwood heard the trampling of the horses. He knew that the robbers had returned and that they would kill him. He decided not to go down without a fight and stood ready by the door. As soon as the door opened, he fought the forty men with everything that he had. He was doing well until Legato mercilessly killed him with his sword, behind his back."

"Once the robbers entered the cave, they saw the sacks of gold that Wolfwood had left at the entrance and replaced them. They failed to notice the bags that Vash had stolen. 'How did he get in here?' Legato thought. To scare off anyone else who would dare to enter, Legato cut Wolfwood's body into quarters and placed them near the door. Then he and his fellow robbers mounted their horses and set off to commit more robberies."

"Millie was very worried when her husband didn't come home. Finally, at nightfall, unable to endure the suspense, she ran to Vash and told him about Wolfwood's secret expedition and begged him to go find him. Vash was too soft hearted to refuse her. He took his three donkeys and set out to find his friend."

"He quickly found his way back to the cave. When he saw traces of blood, Vash began to fear the worse. Those fears were materialized when he entered the cave. The brotherly love and respect for his friend gave him courage. Vash gathered the severed remains and wrapped them gently. He then placed them on one of the donkeys and concealed it with wood. 'I should have some payment for my trouble. Millie should have something also.' He thought. Vash loaded the two remaining donkeys with sacks of gold and also covering them with wood. He then made his way back home."

"Back at his home, Vash quickly buried the treasure from one of the treasure borne donkeys. He then led the other two donkeys to Millie's house. Quietly knocking on the door, so that none of the neighbors could hear. Millie opened the door and let Vash in. She was anxious to know about her husband. 'Millie, you must remain calm, I'm going to tell you something that you're not going to like to hear.' Vash told her. She promised to do so and Vash told her what happened. He then said to her 'Millie, you must control your grief and do your crying later. We must figure a way to bury Wolfwood as though he died a natural death. I have an idea, with your help, I think it can be carried out.'"

"At this, Millie wiped her tears. She may have not been very intelligent but she had some common sense. She listened while Vash coached her in the part she was to play. Before he left, Vash took out the gold bags from the donkey that had them and said 'I know that Wolfwood would want you to have this.' He then gave her the bags."

"Millie was flattered but didn't really want to take them. She thought for a moment and said 'I'll only take them if you accept one of my slaves as my gift. If you wait a moment, I'll bring her to you.'"

"Vash agreed to take the slave and for Millie to bring her. A few minutes later, Millie brought out a young woman with short black hair and blue gray eyes. 'This is Meryl, she was recently purchased and I think that she could help us.' She said."

"Meryl bowed to Vash and he took her to his home. He then told her of the plan and promised to take good care of her."

"Accordingly, Millie assumed a woeful expression and went to the nearest herbiest. She asked him for a particular medicine which was supposed to cure the most serious ailments."

"The following day, Millie again went to the herbiest. With tears in her eyes, she asked for an essence that was customarily administrated only when the patient was reduced to the last extremity and every other remedy had failed."

"As she received the essence, she cried 'Alas! I fear that this remedy won't work, just like the others. I shall lose my beloved husband.'"

"No one was surprised when towards the evening, when the piercing cries of Wolfwood's widow announced his death. And when a sound of wailing arose within the house all the neighbors concluded without a doubt that Wolfwood died a natural and honorable death."

"Millie had gone to Vash's house and they had asked Meryl to help with the most difficult task of all. That was to make Wolfwood's body presentable for the funeral. 'You two just leave it to me and I'll take care of it.' Meryl told them. The next morning, she went to the shop of an old cobbler who lived some distance off. Coming up to him, she wished him a good day and put a gold coin in his hand."

"The cobbler examined the coin and seeing that it was gold said 'This is a good wage. What is to be done? I am ready to do your bidding.'"

" 'Take all your materials for sewing and come with me. But I insist on this condition, that you let me cover your eyes until we have reached our destination.' Meryl said to him."

"The cobbler began to object. 'Oh, so you want me to do something against my conscience or honor.' He said."

"Meryl interrupted him by putting another gold coin in his hand. She said, 'May the gods forbid me to make you do something that would hurt your conscience or stain your honor. Come with me and fear nothing.'"

"The cobbler allowed himself to be led by Meryl, who bound a handkerchief over his eyes, and brought him to Wolfwood's house. She did not remove the handkerchief until he was in the place where the remains were placed. 'I have brought you here so that you may sew these quarters together. Lose no time. When you're finished I will give you another piece of gold.' She said."

"When the cobbler completed his gruesome task, Meryl bound his eyes again and after giving him the third coin, as promised and begging him to keep this a secret, she conducted him to the place where she had first put on the handkerchief. Here she uncovered his eyes and left him to return to his house. However, she watched him until he was out of site, lest he be curious enough to return and follow her."

"Then Wolfwood's body was prepared for the funeral and buried with due ceremony. Mille remained at home to morn with the women of the neighborhood, who according to custom, had come to her house during the ceremony. Meryl accompanied Vash and they followed the coffin."

"After the funeral, Millie went to live with her family. She gave the shop and house to Vash. She wished him good luck and then left."

"Now we will return to the forty thieves. On returning to the cave they were amazed and alarmed to find the body of Wolfwood gone, together with a large portion of their treasure."

" 'We have been discovered and if we are not very careful, we shall lose all the riches that we have worked so hard to get. All we know is that the thief we killed knew the secret of opening the door. It's apparent that he wasn't the only one. We must not allow that other man to escape. What do you say, my brave comrades?' Legato said to them."

It was here that Rin stopped her tale. For the first time, Sesshomaru was furious. In front of Inuyasha and Kagome he said to her "Even in the presence of my brother and his wife, can't finish a tale!"

He then grabbed her and threw her on his bed. "My dear, I'm afraid that your time had run out." He said. Sesshomaru then aimed his poison claws at Rin.

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Sorry the Sess/Rin part was very short! Chapter 9 will make up for it. It will take awhile for to come out. So you must be patient.

This is my first Trigun fic, so please be merciful. I originally wanted to do a Cinderella version but my friends all cringed. So you can thank them for stopping me.

Again, I would like to thank Haruka-chan for helping me with this fic. I don't know what I'll do without you.

Also, thanks to the following who took the time to read and review chapter 7: Lady Lunara, Slather Fox Demon, Toby Seer, Angel (You'll just have to keep on reading to find out what happens to Sess/Rin), SATrinity, Sweecneek and lindy*girl .