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The Journey Home_Chapter 31

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Characters of Inuyasha (manga and anime) belong to Takahashi-san

The Journey Home – Chapter Thirty One


###


Souta rushed home from the gruelling exams of middle high school. As he climbed the never ending flight of stairs, the shrine slowly came into view. It was still the same, same old house, same old tree, and same old shrine.

The only thing that would always catch the young boy’s eye would be the well house, which stood almost unnoticeably in the shade of the trees.

It was the day when he came…

…The very cool dog-eared boy, Inuyasha.

He was so strange looking, compared to the mundane world of all the black hair and brown eyes; Souta just had to have him as a brother. Everything was cool about him, his hair, his eyes, and his amazing strength.

His older sister would always tell stories about the hanyou, on his insistent nagging that is. It was no doubt that he held great admiration for him. If only his sister would agree.



That was a long time ago, as Souta looked longingly at the closed doors of the well house. Kagome had become ‘stuck’ in this era and over the months and years; Souta had begun noticing the changes. She would be physically in this era, but it had become more obvious that her mind was not.

Kagome would always sigh after long periods of silence. She would look at people or places and she would go into a trance. Kagome wouldn’t isolate herself from her friends, but if she was alone by herself, she would begin to go into her own world.

It was that day when she had heard the news that she would be able to go back to Sengoku jidai, Souta saw the old Kagome he had always known, and for that he was happy.

He wondered how she was doing, he prayed everyday for her safe return and of course he had high hopes that a certain hanyou would be following behind her.

Hurry back home nee-chan.

A strange sound made him turn around in puzzlement. Souta quickly turned his head, first right then left, trying hard to determine what had made that sound.

It sounded like it had come from the well house.

Could it be?

Souta became excited by the thought, maybe she had found Inuyasha and were back already. He found his energy renewed and rushed to the well house. Souta quickly opened the sliding door to find…

…Nothing.

Only the well stood there, as if it had always been.

Souta inwardly swore, he was beginning to imagine things, and that was always not a good sign.

There was that noise again, only it sounded louder, like a scratching sound. Souta moved closer towards the well, ever cautious of where his footsteps landed on the ground.

There was a very loud rumble.

Souta nearly jumped out of his skin at the sudden noise, and then he could hear it very clearly.

“Meeoowww…”

“Buyou, what are you doing here?”

The over-weight cat continued to scratch at the well.

Souta sighed. Ever since Kagome had left for Sengoku jidai, that blob of a cat decided to make itself a permanent resident of the well house.

But the boy had a bizarre feeling in his gut. Not like a feeling he would get after eating too many rice crackers, but more like a premonition. The feeling grew stronger as he neared towards the well, as if some power had surrounded it.

Souta touched the well with his fingers and felt the smooth textures of the wood. Looking into the opening of the well, the only thing he saw was darkness and nothing more. But he knew that this was no ordinary well.

It was the connection to the other world, to Sengoku jidai.

Sometimes Souta would envy his sister for her ability to pass through the well. He had always wanted to know what happened on the other side; after all, he was very curious back then.

However the well held new meanings for him, it meant that his sister’s love was on the other side and she would be searching for him and bringing him home.

It had always amused him, his sister and the hanyou’s relationship. For someone so ignorant about love, Inuyasha sure showed a lot of it when it concerned his sister. And Kagome said Inuyasha didn’t care.

Girls were always so silly.

He couldn’t wait to see his hero’s face again.

Maybe he would stay here forever.


###


“I-Inuyasha, I think you should stop now. It looks like that tree isn’t going to come out.”



The large tree was proving very difficult to move and even with his hanyou strength, the tree refused to budge.

The hanyou relaxed his arms, feeling a bit more frustrated than usual at the stubborn tree. Looking down at his sore hands, he could see the small splinters that had somehow embedded themselves into his skin. He then winced at the thought of having to pull them out afterwards.

“What kind of tree is this anyway?” Kagome asked, poking a finger at the bark of the tree. “I’ve never seen anything like it.”

“It probably has a curse to make it grow roots like that.” The hanyou answered still trying to think of a way to pull out the tree.

All of a sudden, Kagome had an idea, “Hey Inuyasha, you could try to poison the tree. That would make it easier to pull it out.”

After some thought, he found that indeed it was a very good idea, “That is a very good idea.”

He reached into his large sleeve, pulling out a small wrapped ball containing poison. He drew out his dagger and carefully cut a slit into the ball. While holding his breath, he poured the liquid onto the tree, and as the liquid made contact with the bark, it made an awful hissing sound in protest.

Inuyasha covered his nose to prevent the stench overcoming him and quickly moved away as the poison did its work.

Ever so slowly, to their surprise, the tree crumbled before their eyes. Firstly the leaves shrivelled, turning a horrid brown-black colour and then dropping to the ground in clumps making sizzling sounds as it touched the grass. The bark of the tree became discoloured, cracking into chips of wood as the tree desiccated from the inside.

“Kagome,” the hanyou all of a sudden commanded. “Stand back now!”

The miko didn’t really understand what exactly was going on, however she did…

…Just in time.

The large tree was still hissing from the poison, yet it sounded more loudly, more terrifying, like an animalistic screech. Its roots began to move, first one, then three, and by the way they were moving gave Kagome a sinking feeling…

A horrible feeling…

Eyes blinked showing their blood red eyes. Grotesque pairs of legs stretched themselves to full length and Kagome finally realised why Inuyasha had called her to back away.



It was a hideous spider, a large hideous spider, an arachnid in the form of a tree that she was just poking a minute ago. Its form was as large as the tree itself, as it pulled itself out of the well in one swift motion. And now it stood there, more than irritable at being awoken by the poison. The spider screeched again and both Inuyasha and Kagome had to quickly block their ears as the soundwaves rippled through the trees causing birds and small animals to flee in fright.

Oh why did it have to be a spider? I hate spiders!

Kagome opened her eyes slowly to find the hanyou had just dodged a spray of acid from the spider’s mouth. A foul smell drifted into the air as the acid hit the grass and trees.

Without any vacillation, Inuyasha ran towards the towering beast with his katana drawn out of the scabbard. The sharp blade moved swiftly, right and left, hacking all in its path. The severed legs no longer provided the support for the spider, causing it to fall. And the final blow was delivered, with Inuyasha slicing the head off with such ease, that it made Kagome’s face turn a little green.

A few minutes later when the ‘tree’ had disintegrated into nothingness, Inuyasha and Kagome inspected the well. Or what was left of it.

“We can rebuild it right?” Kagome asked hopefully.

“I think so,” Inuyasha replied, equally hopeful.

Both of them sighed miserably, it would take a while before the well could be fully repaired. It was dangerous to travel in it at its present state, as the well may collapse completely and with the mysterious well, well anything could happen.

With a few minutes of consideration of what exactly to do next, Inuyasha felt a familiar sting on his cheek, resulting with the hanyou to slap his face, which was quite painful for the victim.

A flat looking flea floated onto the palm of Kagome’s hand, which she noticed the squashed shape immediately.

“Myoga jii-chan, I haven’t seen you for a long time!”

Myoga was more than surprised to hear a familiar voice, a female voice no less. He popped into his usual shape and peered upwards to a very happy Kagome.

“Kagome-sama, it is you! Inuyasha-sama has missed you…”

He was effectively squashed again by a disgruntled hanyou.

“That is enough Myoga ji-jii.”

However the flea only heard one word of the sentence.

“Inuyasha-sama it’s been a long time since you have called me ji-jii. You must be happy then.” He finished off by laughing heartily, not noticing the fingers that were ready to squash him again.

“Myoga jii-chan, what are you doing here anyway?” Kagome asked, snatching the flea just in time.

Myoga stopped his laughing and cleared his throat to speak.

“Oh…uh it’s just Sesshoumaru-sama requests to see you again. Urgent matters he said.”

“Ah, really, I wonder what he wants this time.”

“Can I come too Inuyasha?” Kagome asked, but she was cut off by the flea.

“I apologise, but it is business. No outsiders allowed. There are spies everywhere.”

“Oh…I see.” The miko replied squashing the flea showing her disappointment. “There’s nothing that I can say to change your mind?” She asked with hopefulness.

“I’m sorry Kagome. But when there are urgent matters, Sesshoumaru-san does not want any outsiders.” Inuyasha smiled apologetically towards her, she had every right to come along, but it was safer for the young miko to stay in the village.

Kagome sighed, this argument could not be won, but she wouldn’t be ignored so quickly.

“You can go Inuyasha, but you have to promise me something.” The rest was whispered into his ear.

His eyes first widened, and then blushing softly, he nodded timidly. Inuyasha reached for the tie that kept his hair up, loosened it and gave it to the young woman.

“Keep it, so I don’t forget.” As he gave her his hair tie, he wrapped his hand around hers almost hesitant to let go. He did not really want to leave her again.

“Are you sure you can’t stay for at least a while longer?” Kagome asked. “Surely Sesshoumaru can wait. At least have something to eat before you go.”

“Well, maybe I can have some ramen.” Inuyasha replied squashing the flea before he could protest.

“You can have two cups of ramen if you want.” Kagome said, happy that he could stay a bit longer.


###


It was night when Sango, Miroku and Shippou arrived at the border of Kaede’s village. Kirara set them down gently and transformed into her smaller self.

It’s been a long time since we’ve been here.

Shippou felt uneasy coming back to this village again; it held so many bad memories for him, mostly involving the hanyou and Kagome from the future. He missed his adopted mother, and he prayed for her to come back here everyday since the day she disappeared.

It was all because of that hanyou’s fault, everything was always his fault.

But he had missed him too, sometimes.

That thought was quickly pushed away.

“It would be good to see Kaede-sama again.” Sango said.

Miroku noticed that Sango’s eyes were beginning to water. He placed a comforting hand on her shoulder, and she smiled in appreciation. She didn’t know why she felt a sudden sadness.

The trees whispered in reply, knowing what the answer was.

A noise caused Shippou’s sensitive hearing to be alerted.

Out of the shadows appeared a young girl and she seemed very happy.  

Shippou blinked.

It certainly was a young girl, skipping merrily on the dirt-worn path, humming a song as she went along.

Shippou’s heart skipped a few beats. She’s cute.

Miroku saw the kitsune unconsciously take a sharp intake of breath. And the houshi instantly became worried.

Shippou ran to the girl.

That feeling of worry grew.

“Hi, I’m Shippou.” He said with enthusiasm.

The girl jumped slightly.

Sango squinted her eyes towards the girl, wondering where had she seen her before, for she had looked very familiar.

Maybe she would have been with a youkai.

A checker-patterned kimono…?

“Rin!” she cried in surprise.

Rin looked at the exterminator and houshi and tilted her head as if to think. She furrowed her eyebrows in concentration and suddenly she gasped.

“Sango-sama…Miroku-sama!”

Everyone stood still in uneasiness. Sango and Miroku placed their hands on their weapons, ever cautious that a certain tai-youkai would materialise out of nowhere and cause them havoc.

Instead a young boy’s voice could be heard. It had a soft quality and Sango thought she was hearing things.

“Rin where are you?” Kohaku called out.

Rin’s face brightened and ran to Kohaku, nearly knocking the boy over.

It was then Kohaku noticed other people in the area. He put his hand behind his back, feeling for the handle of his kusari-gama.

“Kohaku…?”

He paused, looking at the woman who wore a pink and white kimono and a green apron wrapped around her waist.

“Ane-ue…”

There he stood, Sango’s younger brother, and looking quite well, not the melancholy appearance he used to have when Naraku had control over him. Sango eyed the boy appreciatively, he had grown quite handsomely.

“Kohaku, you’ve grown up.” She felt her tears forming in her eyes again as she saw the kind face that Sango had always dreamt that her brother would one day have.

Kohaku blushed and nodded his head; it was good to see his sister again, “Really, ane-ue?” His body was shaking with overflowing emotions as he walked up towards her.

And then he smiled.

Kami, he’s smiling. Sango let her tears flow down her cheeks as she hugged her brother who was now as tall as her. But to her, Kohaku was always her dear little brother. She brought his face to look at him and she could see that the boy was trying very hard to hold back the tears. “Look at you Kohaku; you’ve grown up so handsomely.”

“Ane-ue!” the boy immediately went red in the face from hearing Sango’s comment. “Not in front of everybody.”

Sango only laughed and hugged him again.

Miroku decided to join in the conversation, “What exactly do you mean by ‘in front of everybody’?”

The boy began to stutter and blush a deeper red. They all laughed, but only Miroku had noticed Kohaku’s behaviour. It had closely reminded him of someone else, his behaviour, where have I seen it before?

He shook his head, clearing his thoughts.

Kohaku smiled again after the embarrassing moment was finished. He took his sister’s hand and with a kind voice that Sango was used to hearing before Kohaku had ‘died’.

“Come on ane-ue, you can sleep in the village.” And he began leading her into Kaede’s village with Miroku and Rin following close behind.

Shippou was left alone, the cute girl was gone. He mumbled something under his breath. This had always happened with every girl he had met. He knew better than to think of other things instead of girls, but years of influence from Miroku, Shippou just grew into it.

The leaves of the trees blew again, bringing a scent into Shippou’s nose, something far off but familiar. He sniffed again, the scent grew stronger and his eyes widened.

It can’t be!

He ran to catch up with the others.


###


Kagome felt a sudden pulse of energy that ran through her whole body, leaving her with a tingling sensation.

“What’s wrong Kagome?” Kaede asked.

“I can feel it, two or three shards coming in this direction.”

Kaede’s eyes widened, jewel fragments and anything coming in this direction was never good in her experience.

They would have to wait and see what would happen.


...
Chapter 31 for your enjoyment :D
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O-yu's avatar
Done reading this one!