Eyes to Life: Scroll 12

Sango felt the pain shot up her back. She turned her head to see her Kohaku, her otouto, pulling his mask off and seeping tears off his cheeks.

 

"Ane-ue, I'm…"

 

Kohaku didn't finish, the arrows struck him, and Sango snapped her eyes open.

 

"Kohaku!"

 

"Sango wake up!" A rough hand shook her shoulder as Sango reacted swinging her fist.

 

"Ouch!" Sango opened to see Miroku rubbing his jaw. "Slapping would be more approved."

 

"Sorry, houshi-sama I…" Sango sat up on Kirara's back. Kirara was easy to ride on, but having sleeping on the youkai cat's back on her stomach was not the best of ideas. Her stomach growled in hunger and nausea. Sleep hadn't come for two days now, and Sango had fallen asleep on Kirara's back. Sighing, the exterminator rubbed her eyes and slumped on the youkai cats back again.

 

"My dear Sango, are you ill?" Miroku asked, worried.

 

"No, really just hungry and have had a lack of sleep." Sango sighed. She jerked her arms over her head, and stretched her arms toward the sky as far as her cramped muscles would go. She shook her head and felt her tied hair swish side from side.

 

"Was it…Kohaku again?" Sango looked at Miroku and looked down. "Sango, I'm sorry…"

 

"No, its fine, I just miss him terribly." Sango mumbled. She remembered how Kohaku always had the smile on his face, even when he didn't succeed destroying his intended target. Sango moved her hands over her arms and rubbed them, feeling the cold sweat come down her back.

 

Sango suddenly felt a warm hand come on her shoulder, she looked up to see Miroku giving her a sweet smile. "I know my dear Sango, I know."

 

Sango sighed and looked ahead on the road. Her face twitched when she looked at InuYasha. Remembering his face from the night before…still gave her the creeps. He had looked like the living dead, part of his bone reflecting through his muscle and flaps of skin dangling from his cheekbones. Sango still felt the nerve to hold her stomach down by even thinking about it, how could that have NOT been painful? Sango shook her head looking at InuYasha.

 

He was staring at the sky, his face whole again and his eyes a bit far away. She noticed the quick pace his pupils were darting, almost like he was scouting the sky for something, anything to attack. The entire time, he had kept one hand on Tessaiga's hilt, it had never left. Kagome walked next to him, but she was either looking down or turned to Shippo a few times and mumbled with him. She never looked at InuYasha dead in the eye, she may have been afraid or just still in the state of shock of what she had seen the night before.

 

"I do believe there is a village nearby." Miroku interrupted.

 

"We will pass over it." Sango looked at Sesshomaru, his cold voice cutting over all of them.

 

"Over it?" Sango asked.

 

"He means we're not going." Miroku sighed, "I was hoping to get a little bit of food before we all die of starvation and lack of sleep." He smiled at her sheepishly.

 

"Houshi…don't even think about." Sango glared at him darkly.

 

"I think it's a good idea." Kagome said, "We haven't gotten any good sleep in two days now."

 

"Miko, the answer was no." Sesshomaru growled.

 

"Let them go asshole." InuYasha spat. "You and I can stay on the outskirts of the village."

 

"Why aren't you coming InuYasha?" Miroku asked.

 

"Why should I go?" InuYasha turned to him and gave him a cold look.

 

"InuYasha is a youkai." Sango sighed. "Probably not the best idea, houshi-sama."

 

"InuYasha always came before, what changed?" Miroku growled.

 

"Let them stay." Sango sighed.

 

"Them?" Kagome's eyes went wide. "Ohhh no! InuYasha we are not leaving you and your onii alone!"

 

"Miko, this Sesshomaru is fully capable of taking care of my otouto." Sesshomaru said.

 

"Oh yea?" InuYasha hissed, his knuckles giving a slight crack.

 

"This is why." Kagome crossed her arms and stared at the two Inu brothers that were now giving each other the death eye.

 

"InuYasha, we need to get supplies, can you at least keep the fighting to a minimum until we get back?" Sango asked.

 

"My mates not going." InuYasha growled.

 

"Yes I am, I need to get some food to put in my pack." Kagome huffed. "And maybe a few herbs, how's your back?"

 

"Fine." InuYasha growled. Sango had noticed that when InuYasha had healed, the four scratches on his back healed as well, but they had left four nice scars on his back. InuYasha still the armor he had acquired recently, for some reason Sesshomaru or Kagome had persuaded the now youkai InuYasha to keep it.

 

"Honestly, you're the most stubborn person I've ever known." Kagome huffed.

 

"Kirara, can you keep an eye on the two?" Sango whispered to her faithful youkai cat. Kirara purred and rubbed her head under Sango's chin, indicating she meant a 'yes'. "That's my girl." Sango smiled and rubbed the youkai cat in-between her ears.

 

"We should head out, before we hit a busy trading crowd." Miroku sighed. "Though I really don't mind, there might be a girl or…"

 

"Houshi…"

 

"Never mind!"

 

Sango hoisted her Hiraikotsu over her shoulder as Kirara sat, her two tails curled around her front paws and InuYasha and Sesshomaru stood off to the side. They both looked at one another, an ice bridge ready to crack. Ah-Un and Rin were nearby, Rin happily danced in a field that was blooming with the spring flowers, and poor Jaken had a new crown stuffed on top of his head. Sango moved with the others as Miroku came to her side, and Kagome and Shippo slowly followed.

 

"You behave InuYasha!" Kagome shouted over her shoulder.

 

"Feh!" was the only response she got.

 

"Ugh, that guy drives me insane sometimes." Kagome gritted her teeth.

 

"We all know Kagome, its InuYasha's nature." Miroku smiled.

 

The village was about the size of her own village, back where all her family, friends and fellow slayers had lost their lives due to Naraku's evil scheming. Sango sighed as she let those memories flow through her mind. It sickened her that she had been tricked by Naraku in the first place to go and kill InuYasha because she thought he killed her village. She knew she was injured and slightly off at the time, but still…

 

The village boasted with activity, children happily throwing balls, women cleaning and nursing their children, men doing field work and stood guard in some places. The four entered without question and began to look for a good place to sit and have a good feast.

 

"I'm sorry guys…I really should have brought more food with me." Kagome sighed.

 

"It's okay Kagome." Sango smiled, "You haven't been to the Bone Eater's well recently anyway, besides we have a good amount of money."

 

"I know." Kagome said, "But I'll bring you some more marshmallows, you can be sure of that!" They both giggled and Shippo twitched his tail in excitement.

 

"At least InuYasha doesn't seem fond of the food; I get it all to myself!" Shippo smiled proudly.

 

"That you do Shippo." Miroku said.

 

"InuYasha…" Kagome's voice dipped from happiness to some what of a sad tone. Sango frowned and stared at the young miko.

 

"Kagome do you want to talk to me?" Sango asked.

 

"I don't know." Kagome sighed. "I smell food, I'm starving."

 

"Ahhh…I nice place." Miroku said. He glanced at the two and quickly started talking with the man behind the display of food. After a few exchanging words Miroku pulled out a pouch of money and handed it to the man.

 

"Shippo can you join houshi for a minute?" Sango asked the fox youkai. "I need to speak with Kagome alone."

 

"I…okay." Shippo nodded and headed over to Miroku who had turned his head, just as a young maiden walked by.

 

"Houshi…" Sango said darkly.

 

"I'm buying food Sango!" Miroku smiled, knowing he had been caught.

 

"Idiot." Shippo mumbled.

 

"Sango…"

 

"Yes Kagome?"

 

"I'm worried about him…I'm worried about InuYasha." The young miko sighed.

 

"Kagome…is it because he's suddenly turned into a youkai?" Sango asked.

 

"I…that and other things." Kagome looked up and closed her eyes. "When I was with him the other night, I asked him…if he wanted to stay that way." Sango blinked waiting for her to continue. "He said he didn't know"

 

"Sounded like he avoided the question Kagome." Sango frowned.

 

"But then, he said he was tired of being told what to be by me or Kikyo, and wanted to be what he wanted to be."

 

"He said that…?"

 

"Yea."

 

"Kagome, he's a man, he didn't want his pride ruined." Sango sighed. "My otou-sama told me that when she took my mother on walks, and one night had a good time with her. He got mad because she was stronger, the more trained slayer…"

 

"You never mentioned your mother." Kagome said.

 

"She died when I was very little."

 

"Oh sorry." Kagome looked down. Neither one said anything for a minute. "Do you think I'm doing the right thing Sango?"

 

"What would be wrong Kagome?"

 

"Mating with him."

 

Sango felt her face turn hot; talking with Kagome about InuYasha's relationship was one thing, but their private life…

 

"Kagome I shouldn't be the judge of that…" Sango started.

 

"Please, why would he do it?" Kagome begged.

 

"I…" Sango stared at the ground. "Youkai's mate usually to produce an heir, but I highly doubt that's in InuYasha's case."

 

"A what?"

 

"Nothing, that's what most youkai do," Sango put a finger to her chin. "Did he specify why?"

 

"Ummm…he said to protect me better." Kagome said.

 

"Well, then that's probably the reason."

 

"But from what, Naraku?" Kagome gave a face. "He's done a pretty good job already; I don't understand why all of a sudden he needs to be connected to me in this fashion."

 

"Do you think last night had something to do with it?" Sango asked.

 

"I…" Kagome looked down. "I felt something move over InuYasha and me when we were…together, but I didn't sense or see anything."

 

"And yet he was the only one who sensed this 'youkai'." Sango sighed. "Something isn't right. First Sesshomaru comes out of no where and joins us, because of Rin's nightmares, and then InuYasha plays the youkai tricky on us. What's all this got to do with each other?"

 

"I don't know." Kagome sighed. "He really scared me yesterday."

 

"Kagome…he might have died from that injury as a hanyou." Sango gulped.

 

"Any food, young ladies?" Sango and Kagome looked up to see Miroku standing over them and handing them a small bowl.

 

"Thanks houshi." Sango gave Miroku an evil grin.

 

"What did I do now my dear Sango?" Miroku asked, sheepishly.

 

"Nothing…yet." Sango smiled and took her bowl. Taking the chop sticks in hand she took the noodles and slowly pushed them in her dry mouth. "Ahhh…my goodness, hot food never tasted so good."

 

"You like it?" Miroku asked.

 

"Don't tell me YOU made it." Sango snapped.

 

"Kami no!" Miroku laughed, "I had to pay to get you this fancy dish for the most beautiful ladies in the village."

 

"Miroku…I'm taken." Kagome smiled.

 

"I know Kagome, but that still doesn't make you any less beautiful." Miroku smiled.

 

"Houshi! Quit it!" Sango kicked his foot.

 

"Sango…" Miroku leaned down and kissed her cheek, "No need to be harsh."

 

"Houshi…you are so lucky my hands are full with these delicious noodles, otherwise I would slap you."

 

"My dear Sango…" Miroku smiled.

 

Kagome ate her noodle silently, Sango noticed the miko not joining the conversation and gave her a quick glance.

 

"Something wrong Kagome?" Sango asked.

 

"Oh no!" Kagome giggled, "Just in deep thought."

 

"Kagome…is there something I'm missing?" Miroku asked. "What type of spell could make InuYasha what he is now?"

 

"Houshi, we're not talking about it."

 

"It's not that, why does he keep seeing illusions?" Shippo asked.

 

"He's not." Sango looked at Kagome. "InuYasha would have never sent me for you without my clothes, he was attacked, the marks on his back prove that." Kagome sighed.

 

"I know…but what on earth could it have been?" Sango asked.

 

"I don't want to know!" Shippo whimpered.

 

"Maybe we should ask him." Miroku said. "InuYasha obviously isn't refusing to give up his theory. I noticed how uptight he was the entire day; he isn't letting whatever it was attack again in surprise."

 

They all four sat in silence; Miroku finally took his sticks and began to prod at his food. Sango put her sticks down and stared up at the sky, hunger suddenly not becoming an issue. Shippo poked at his food and yawned.

 

"Look, we better find out what's going on soon, what happened if we run into Naraku?" Sango asked.

 

"I think InuYasha might take advantage of his new predicament and try to kill Naraku." Miroku sighed. "InuYasha would easily not let that chance slip past him."

 

"Sesshomaru is a daiyoukai though…" Shippo said. "And he's never beat Naraku."

 

"I wouldn't go around saying that Shippo." Kagome gave the young fox youkai a look. "Sesshomaru wouldn't want to hear it."

 

"Yea, but he's not here!" Shippo pouted.

 

"Shippo…" Kagome sighed. "What are we going to do with you?"

 

"Get me food?" Shippo gave his puppy dog eyes. Sango and Kagome laughed and Miroku gave the young fox pup a smile.

 

"You have food kid." Miroku ruffled Shippo's hair.

 

Shippo smiled and happily dug back in his noodles. "I made you all smile." Sango heard him whisper. Sango smiled, yes, indeed he did.

 

"Let me get some food to go." Kagome said and stood up. "We need to save some for InuYasha and Kirara."

 

"What about Sesshomaru?" Miroku asked.

 

"He refuse anything I give him." Kagome shrugged. "Tell you the truth I have no idea what he eats."

 

"Humans…" Shippo mumbled.

 

"Shippo!" The three gaped.

 

"I'm just saying!" Shippo hid behind Miroku's leg.

 

Sango gave Miroku a funny look and shook her head. "We better get going; I still believe those two are getting very close to eating each others head."

 

Sango followed Kagome as she took a small pouch of money and took some vegetables from the wooden crates and stuffed them in her yellow pack. She nodded to the women and came up to the others.

 

"I think this will last, I guess if we find a river nearby we can catch some fish." Kagome said.

 

"I sure feel refreshed." Sango said. "Now all I need is some good sleep."

 

"We all do my dear Sango." Miroku smiled. Sango felt a hand grope her and slowly patted her rear.

 

"HOUSHI!" Sango smacked as hard as she dared.

 

"When will you learn Miroku?" Shippo asked.

 

"Never." Sango scoffed.

 

"Sango you misunderstand me…" Miroku smiled even wider as he rubbed the red hand print on his cheek.

 

"Oh do I?" Sango looked at him.

 

"I don't hear any clashing of swords that's a good sign." Kagome said. They left the village and headed back to the hill where they had left the Inu brothers and Kirara.

 

"Do you think InuYasha just burned off some steam and just shouted at Sesshomaru?" Shippo asked.

 

"We can only hope." Miroku sighed. "Those two are like the total opposite of two peas in a pod."

 

"Why can't they just kiss and make up?" Shippo mumbled. The three stop walking and stared at one another. They all erupted in loud laughter. "What did I say?" Shippo asked, as his face began to go red.

 

"Shippo!" Sango couldn't control the tears sliding down her face. Kagome laughed the hardest and was clutching her stomach in pain from all the stress of laughing.

 

"Oh, Shippo did…" Miroku couldn't finish, he just shook his head and put a hand over his eyes. "Oh Kami…"

 

"Oops." Shippo fell off Kagome's shoulder and buried his face in the dirt.

 

"Shippo, it's…giggle…its okay, everyone makes mistakes sometimes." Kagome smiled, but couldn't help giggling the entire time she was talking.

 

"Let's hope their powerful ears didn't hear that!" Sango smiled.

 

"It didn't come out right!" Shippo protested.

 

"It's fine Shippo." Miroku smiled, but shook his head. "We needed a good laugh anyway, thanks." Shippo looked down and hit himself in the head.

 

"Oh stop that." Kagome said and picked him up. "They won't know that it even happened."

 

"Unless they can read minds." Shippo mumbled.

 

"I don't think they can." Sango reassured him. "I highly doubt Kagome would let InuYasha do anything and Sesshomaru would probably just ignore our stupidity."

 

"Our stupidity?" Miroku looked at her.

 

"Well…you know what I mean houshi!" Sango said.

 

The group headed over and saw something that made them stop and stare. InuYasha gave them all a look. "Say anything I'll lope off your tongues."

 

After Shippo's funny outburst, all three couldn't help but burst out laughing again. Kirara tipped her head and gave them all a funny look.

 

"Oh goodness," Kagome laughed. "One funny thing after another!" InuYasha, Sesshomaru, Jaken, and Kirara all had a nice set of flowers that placed all around their heads, a flower crown for each of them. Rin was happily skipping around and noticed the others.

 

"You want one?" Rin asked, excitedly.

 

"You did an excellent job Rin." Sango said, as she put a hand over her mouth to prevent the little girl for hearing her giggle.

 

Sesshomaru gave them a glance, but said nothing. InuYasha shook his head; the flower crown was making one of his ear twitch frantically. He looked annoyed.

 

"Well, I think successfully today, we have all gotten a brighter mood." Miroku said.

 

"Easy for you to say." InuYasha grumbled.

 

"Oh InuYasha it looks cute, why the sad face?" Kagome said and smiled.

 

"Why the happy face?" InuYasha shot back.

 

"Well, Shippo made the day." Sango smiled. Shippo hid behind Kagome's leg.

 

"What did the runt do?" InuYasha asked.

 

"Nothing, he said something funny about the village." Miroku slyly lied.

 

"You want some food you flower highness?" Kagome asked, her face going red from holding her laughter.

 

"What the hell did you call me?" InuYasha shouted.

 

"Otouto, you still act like a pup." Sesshomaru coldly said.

 

"Oh shut up you!" InuYasha hissed, "I still see one placed nice and around your head to!"

 

"This Sesshomaru is not complaining."

 

"You probably are, you're just not showing it through that thick skull of yours." InuYasha spat.

 

"How are you Kirara?" Sango asked the youkai cat. She rubbed up and Sango petted the top of her head. "You like your crown?' Sango asked, a wide smile leaking on her face. Kirara nodded.

 

"InuYasha, are you hungry, I got some food." Kagome said.

 

"No, not really." InuYasha scoffed. "What exactly do you got?"

 

"Some vegetables, do you want any?" Kagome handed some of the vegetables to him.

 

"Do you ever see me eating this stuff?" The daiyoukai spat.

 

"Well, then starve." Kagome gave him a dirty look.

 

"You don't have any meat?"

 

"InuYasha!"

 

"I was just asking!" InuYasha grumbled.

 

"Maybe we'll get some fish on the way InuYasha." Miroku said. "Though I don't think meat would do good in Kagome's pack."

 

"Feh." InuYasha leaned against the large boulder he was sitting on.

 

"Did you two fight?" Kagome asked.

 

"Miko, this Sesshomaru's otouto is still moving, I believe your answer is in front of you." Sesshomaru said.

 

"Oh shut up!" InuYasha growled

 

"My Lord, can I take this off?" Jaken begged. Sesshomaru ignored him. Kagome sighed and suddenly jumped up.

 

"Kagome what's the matter?" InuYasha asked, suddenly alert.

 

"I sense two Shikon no Tama shards…coming towards us fast."

 

"Kouga?" Sango gulped.

 

Suddenly a tornado of wind came crashing towards the group and the next thing Sango saw the wolf youkai holding both of Kagome's hands and giving her a sweet smile.

 

"How are you Kagome, it's been a few days?" Kouga smiled.

 

"I…uh Kouga?" Kagome suddenly look down. "I…have you found Naraku?"

 

"Why no, I…" Kouga stopped, just before a flash of gold came extremely close to scratching his face cleaning off. Kouga shot backwards and growled warningly.

 

That was when Sango heard an unnatural growl sending shivers all over her body, and making all her hair standing on end. Sango turned to Kagome, where InuYasha had just shot up and grabbed Kagome tightly on the chest and pinned her to his armor.

 

Sango felt her body go cold when she saw InuYasha's face. His eyes were red and bloodshot, their purple pupils staring viciously at Kouga. His fangs all poked out of his mouth, making that scary hissing noise. His hair was puffing out making him look larger and more threatening.

 

His large hand covered Kagome's chest and hugging her to his body for dear life. The young miko's face was startled and confused. Sesshomaru had jerked around, but didn't interfere.

 

"What's wrong with him?" Shippo cried and grabbed on Sango's leg. Sango felt the sweat come down her shoulders as she stared at a huge problem.

 

"Sango, what…?" Miroku started.

 

Kouga hissed and stood up and looked at InuYasha. InuYasha hissed more violently then ever.

 

"Get away from my mate." He hissed, sounded like a predator ready to pounce on his prey.

 

"InuYasha…?" Kagome whispered.

 

Kouga glared angrily at InuYasha and snorted. "Your mate! Who the fuck do you think you are!" Kouga cracked his knuckles. "Who the fuck are you anyways?"