|
Along Came a Serpent pt. I
It was dark, I didn’t care. All I could think about was getting away, away from the scene, away from his words, away from the heart ache. The path was nearly invisible through the shadows of the trees and moonlight, but I strained my eyes to watch my step. He was still at it; that perverted houshi was still flirting with other women! After all we’d been through, after all the intimate words and moments.
“You haven’t changed one bit,” I murmured to myself, whipping away a tear that threatened to fall.
- Earlier that evening -
We’d been called to the northern mountains once more to slay a youkai that was pestering the inhabitance. I agreed to go by myself, seeing as I could visit my village on the way there. Houshi-sama felt it’d be safer if he escorted me, and so the three of us had made it to the area in a fair amount of time.
“Thank you again, taijiya-san,” An old man bowed respectfully, his smile wrinkled from age. “Now that the massive kumo youkai is slain this village can once more be free to carry on life without fear.”
I smiled back at the villagers, tucking away my earnings into my traveling bag, “You’re quite welcome. If you experience more youkai troubles don’t hesitate to call for me.” With that being said I turned to the headman’s house where Houshi-sama and I were staying.
Upon arriving I placed hiraikotsu against the outside wall and stretched, also removing the katana from my side.
“K-kawaii …”
My ears perked hearing the small whisper and I turned my curious eyes towards the voice. There hiding behind the door two small children appearing to be twins popped their heads out to stare wide eyed at Kirara. The neko simply blinked back at them, her tails bobbing every so often. My expression softened as I crouched down to their level and scooped the youkai into my arms.
“Her name is Kirara,” I told the two, who now looked at me timidly. “She’s really friendly; would you like to hold her?”
The little girl’s eyes lit up at the thought, “H-hai onegai, taijiya-san.”
Kirara immediately hopped out of my grasp and rubbed against the twins, who giggled and lavished her with attention. Standing, I made my way to the tatami room in the back where I’d last seen the houshi. The closer I got to the room the louder I heard feminine giggles and chatter. Once reaching the end of the hallway my footsteps were absolutely silent, and I stood watching the shadows that played across the rice paper doors.
“Excuse me miss, but would you consider bearing my children?” Came the coy voice of my lover from across the wall. Again there was more laughter. I frowned, waiting outside the room.
‘This is what he does … while I’m away?’
Soundlessly I sat outside the shouji and listened to the flirting in the next room. It felt wrong of me to eavesdrop, but realization was too tempting to reveal. I listened as he asked two more women to bear him a son, my knees drawn up to my chin as I hugged them to my chest. When he asked a fourth girl I rose to my feet, fists shaking with anger. It hurt knowing that he was using the same words he spoke with me that fateful day beside the river.
It was dawning on me again, the painful agony – I couldn’t trust him.
“Hold on, ladies. I’ll be back in a second.”
I couldn’t trust him.
With a chuckle the shouji door began to open before me. Merry eyes met ones of sorrow as the material barrier was swept away between the two of us.
I couldn’t trust him.
“Sango?”
Before I knew what happened I found my hand raised and stinging slightly, while a red mark began to form on the cheek of a thoroughly surprised Miroku. A few of the women who had witness the event from inside the room gasped, whispers spreading about in the silence.
There was little I could do as a tear slipped down my cheek, I merely grasped the shouji door and closed it on a still shocked houshi. I walked in a fast pace down the hallway, my emotions in a bitter frenzy. I heard the shouji slam open behind me but didn’t bother to turn around.
“Sango! Hey common Sango – listen to me!”
I felt him about to embrace me from behind but I pushed him away with my elbow. “Don’t follow me,” I stated resentfully, not once casting a glance in his direction. As I turned the corner I heard a thud behind me, like knees abruptly hitting the floor. I thought nothing of it as I passed through the main gates of the small mansion. Apparently the children had taken Kirara somewhere else to play. Mindless in my rage I stomped off into the forest, the sun only a sliver on the horizon.
-present-
“Damn it all!” I cursed, my fist swiping out to connect with the tree at my side. Grimacing at the pain I spun around and slouched against the oak, bringing myself down lazily to sit against it. My hands came up to cover my heated face, rubbing at my eyes that burned with rising tears.
I hated crying – it made me feel weak and shameful. More importantly, I hated houshi-sama for making me cry. If all of this kept happening over and over my entire life would be a repetitive cycle of hurt and sorrow. Through my hiccupping sobs I heard a faint rustle in the nearby shrubbery. Hastily I leapt to my feet, bracing myself for the unexpected.
“Who’s there?” I nearly growled, eyes straining in the darkness. The leaves crackled once more as a glimpse of silver played against the grass. Ready to throw a rock, I was alarmed to hear the noise come from the opposite side. How many of these things were out here, or was this creature just extremely fast? Feeling nervous I backed up somewhat, and jumped with surprise when I pressed against a low hanging branch.
Before the branch could even settle from the contact a sudden jab of pain spread from just below the base of my neck. I pulled away, a small groan escaping my lips as I winced. I brought my hand up to cup the wound, looking back at the branch and seeing nothing.
“Hate him.” A silky voice echoed around me.
“Hate who? Who are you?” I leered at my surroundings, catching another glimpse of silver.
“Hate your mate,” the voice retorted, tone bathed in persuasion. “Someone of little loyalty should not deserve your love.”
“And what would you know of my situation?”
“I know many things, little taijiya.” There was motion in the corner of my eye, and I quickly turned to look upon this other being. My brows furrowed in confusion, “Anatawa … hebi.” Before me lay a silver snake, appearing around the same length as my height.
“Oh but I am so much more,” The snake soothed, slithering over to rub against my feet. “I am the voice of your want, your longing. I can give you all you’ve ever wanted. Many people have referred to me as Yuwaku.”
“Temptation?” I questioned in a small voice.
“Yes,” he answered, curling around my ankle. “You poor, sweet, innocent thing. Dry your eyes – and testify. I can feel your heart ache, let me help.”
“What could you possibly do?”
“I can give you courage, make you speak the words you wish to without hesitation. I can make you forget.”
“Forget?” My head seemed so empty at the moment. I found myself slowly walking over to a neighboring bolder and sitting.
“Yes of course,” Yuwaku purred, curling his body now around my middle. “So young and so scared. So much pain has wounded your soul. What happened to your village, your father, your brother – you can forget it all. Forget the doomed fate of your lover, forget how he throws around your heart – Forget him. Instead … relive your life before Naraku shattered it. That is what you want, is it not?”
“It is,” I stated blankly. It was as if the serpent was gazing through the window to my very being.
“You can have it all,” he whispered from my shoulder, “For nothing in return, you can have everything you had before.”
“Everything …”
There was so much I missed about my old life. Spending time with chichi-ue and Kohaku, the warm greeting I received after coming back from a mission, the large bonfires the village would have frequently. On the other hand there was so much I wanted to do … and houshi-sama. I would never know him …
“I- I don’t know. My companions … everything we’ve been through … I just can’t leave them. I can’t forget …”
“Ah, but do you have a choice?”
“What – agh!” The sharp pain above my shoulder began to burn. Hissing at the hurt, I turned to glare at the serpent. “What are you doing to me?!”
Yuwaku’s eyes glowed a fierce red, his tongue darting out to taste the air, “Rest, little taijiya. Rest and forget.”
I gritted my teeth and tried to concentrate. My vision was blurring at a rapid rate, and before I knew it red eyes faded into a world of black.
-*-
Miroku gave a heavy sigh after the taijiya had left. He’d never meant to hurt her, honestly. It was simply that bad habits die hard, and this situation was no different. All his life he’d been used to chasing skirts and asking women to bear him a son. Once Sango came along he managed to gradually contain his flirtatious manner, but he couldn’t help it if he slipped up every so often. But now she was upset over him again, and there are only so many times one can say sorrow for committing the same crime.
Halfheartedly his indigo eyes traveled upwards towards the front entrance, where hiraikotsu leaned against the slightly open door. The least he could do was bring her weapons into the room for her. Picking himself up from where he had sunk to his knees, the houshi walked over and scooped up the taijiya’s katana before grabbing the massive boomerang by its strap. The weight was still a little surprising, but not as intimidating as the first time he had carried it.
Hearing the distant sound of children’s laughter Miroku curiously glanced towards the main gate. The twins where making their way back from playing in the fields with Kirara, for the sun had gone down and it was time for their meal.
“Konbanwa, houshi-sama,” Said the little girl in a giggly tone.
The houshi nodded in agreement, trying to keep his concern out of his expression, “Pardon my asking, but has Kirara been with you two the entire time?”
“Yes, sir,” The brother replied, watching as the neko trotted over to rub against the monk’s ankles, “When your wife came back from slaying the kumo youkai she let us play with her kitten.”
Miroku would have said something witty about the children mistaking Sango for his wife but the situation was a bit too serious for that, “Did you happen to see where she went off to?”
The boy shook his head.
“I did,” chimed in the female twin. Upon remembering her enthusiasm dimmed, “She rushed into the forest. She looked like she was crying. Do you know what happened to her, houshi-sama?”
Miroku frowned, staring agitatedly at the emerald prayer beads wrapped around the hilt on Sango’s katana, “I did some things that made her upset.” He paused for a moment, before walking down the hall in a fast pace before returning with his shakujo. Kicking on his sandals he glanced back at the children, “I’m going after her. Inform your parents as to where we have gone.”
-*-
Miroku raised his staff at the sudden hoot of an owl. He’d been on high alert ever since he’d entered the forest. While Sango was fighting the youkai earlier he occupied himself by placing ofudas around the village, sensing the overwhelming demonic aura of the wilderness. It was unnerving knowing the taijiya was out there with little to protect her.
“Kirara did you find her scent yet?” He asked quietly, watching as the feline continued to sniff the ground. She gave a small whimper before proceeding forward; her flaming paws lighting his path. What was worrying him the most was that he couldn’t sense her pure aura within the forest, making him doubt if she was even in there or worse.
Miroku was snapped out of his thoughts when hearing his companion suddenly voice a snarling growl. “Kirara, what’s wrong?” he quickly brushed away the branch which was blocking his view, before gasping. Appearing asleep, Sango lay on a large bolder basking in the moonlight. At her side shimmered the silver scales of a serpent.
“Why you –” The houshi rushed towards the two, drawing an ofuda from his robes, “What did you do to her?”
Yuwaku’s eyes glowed their fiery crimson, “Me? I believe the question is what she did to herself. Or should the blame be yours to bear?”
“What are you driving at?” Miroku replied bitterly, taking his stance a yard or so away.
“It’s your fault she’s here, isn’t it?” The snake hissed mercilessly, “The poor thing. The amount of pain within her soul is overwhelming! And who could blame her – the man she gave herself to still pursues other women!” He bared his fangs in what seemed to be either a smile or a look of disgust.
The houshi grimaced, “It’s not like that.”
“Oh?” Taunted temptation, “When what is it? Come on, boy – keep feeding her lies. They’ll just serve as more nourishment for my hunger.”
“What?”
“So you haven’t figured it out by now.” Yuwaku curled once more to rest his head on Sango’s shoulder guard, “I devour souls, and the more filled with hate and sorrow the more delicious they are. This taijiya here has such a fantastically grieving soul, it should sustain me for many years to come! And once it’s shattered it shall be mine for the taking.”
“Kono-”
Before Miroku could even hurl the sutra Kirara already had the serpent crushed in her jaws and was thrashing her head ruthlessly. It severed in two, the halves flying off in separate directions. The houshi raised his shakujo, ready to strike it down on the head that had landed at his feet.
“Don’t think you have won, houshi,” Yuwaku assured in a low voice. “My curse lives on within the taijiya. And with her I shall exact revenge.
Gritting his teeth Miroku struck the head with the base of his staff, and watched as the corpse lit up and began to disintegrate. He turned his dark eyes back to Sango, Kirara currently sitting at her side as she licked her cheek. Wordlessly he walked over to them, scooping up the taijiya into a bridal position. She looked so pale in the moonlight. Kirara carried his shakujo like a dog does his stick, and followed quietly after Miroku.
-*-
The three of them were met by a few villagers with torches at the main gate. It appeared that the headman and his wife were waiting up for them, though the twins were already asleep on the porch.
“So you found her,” the headman stated, looking a little relieved as his lady gave a sigh, “Is she alright, houshi-sama?”
Miroku looked down at Sango, appearing rather melancholy, “I’m not quite sure yet. It is not my place as a monk to ask, but on the behalf of this woman might we stay a few more nights here?”
“Most certainly, of course,” Granted the wife. “I shall cater to your whims for as long as you seem fit.”
Despite the favor a smile never touched his lips, “I give to you my utmost gratitude. As for now I shall retire for the night.” Giving a slight bow of his head, Miroku carried Sango down the hallway and into their room.
-*-
Translations:
Taijiya = Demon slayer
Houshi = Monk
Kumo = Spider
Kawaii = Cute
Neko = Cat
Onegai = Please
Shouji = Rice-paper doors seen in wealthy houses
“Anatawa … hebi.” = “You’re a … snake.”
Yuwaku = Temptation
Ofudas = Sacred sutras
Pure Aura = Going by the PS InuYasha Feudal Fairytale. Sango’s aura is blue, making it pure and innocent. Normal ones are white and demonic ones are red.
Shakujo = Miroku’s staff
“Kono-” = “Why you-”
|
Community Member