Adult-FanFiction.org : Inuyasha / Yashahime

Relic of Dholes	By : LuciferDragon Category: InuYasha AU/AR > Het - Male/Female Views: 1404 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I own nothing from the InuYasha universe, nor do I make profit from writing this.

Chapter List
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Being able to eat something she had not hunted or gathered herself was highly satisfying in its own. The old priestess knew her way around the hearth.
Tension was still thick between the brothers, even after the dishware was gathered. The meal had not been entirely silent. Rin spoke non-stop to Sesshomaru, catching him up on what seemed like months of stories. He gave very little input, but didn’t seem to mind the teenaged girl’s babbling.
Twin girls sat with the boy from earlier, their appearances and scent suggesting siblings, despite the light hair on the boy. Kagome spoke with Kaede, mostly on the stock of the herbs at their disposal. InuYasha wisely kept his mouth shut, though that didn’t stop him from throwing glares of hatred to Sesshomaru, who didn’t even care enough to do something about it.
Yamika stayed quiet as well, mostly observing. They were kind strangers who hadn’t batted an eye to helping her, despite her being a strange demon.
“Yamika?”
She looked to Kagome. “Aye?”
“There’s an herb I need that only blooms at night,” she said, standing and moving to fetch her sandals. “I could use some help, if you’re still interested in paying me back.”
She nodded and followed her out into the now-quieter village. The stillness in the air made her nervous. They ventured into the woods, putting Yamika on even higher alert. Her still-broken wrist twitched towards her sword and she flinched with a groan.
“We’re fine out here,” Kagome reassured. “I’ve learned how to construct proper barriers while I’ve been here. While there are no more demons after the jewel shards, it still pays off to be prepared, right?”
She nodded, a little confused. “You smell… different than the other humans. And your dialect is strange.”
“Ah, well, it’s a long story,” she answered hastily. “Anyway, we’re here looking for herbs, and I figured you’d be a little overwhelmed with our dysfunctional family.”
Yamika smiled. “No, it’s quite alright. After twelve years of silence, boisterous is welcome, believe me.”
“You’ve lived alone for that long?”
She nodded again. “For awhile, demons were so busy hunting jewel shards they paid no mind to our shrine, and to the relic it protects. Then, a few years ago, a human wandered through. He said he had heard from one of my clan member’s last breath of the power the relic contained. He tried to take it.”
“And?”
“I severed his arm from his shoulder.” She looked around, aided by the moonlight. “I needed him alive to find out who had been slaughtered, and why.”
“What did you find out?”
They stopped in front of a patch of jasmine in full bloom. “The human had cornered and weakened a pup of an elder. The pup was still young and scared, and so tried to bargain. The human took the information, and then skinned the pup.” She knelt with Kagome and started to pluck the flowers for one basket, and leaves for another. “I had wondered how he had made it to the shrine without me smelling him. It was the pelt that kept him hidden.”
“I’m sorry, Yamika.” She focused on few more buds. “But, not all humans are like that.”
“Oh, I know. Now, at least.” She shook her head. “After that, the attempts grew. The one that injured me this time could have killed me if it wasn’t for Lord Sesshomaru’s interference.” She scoffed. “Pitiful, huh? Almost killed by one of you.”
“It’s not at all.”
“The silence is suffocating and the solitude is maddening. My carelessness showed today, and I’m ashamed of myself for it.”
“Did you get the relic back?”
“Yes. It’s with me now.”
“What is so important about it? If you don’t mind me asking, of course.”
She hesitated. She had not known the girl long enough to give a proper judgment on her. She sized her up, trying to ascertain her angle. “There are two relics, actually. One is in the east with another clan guardian. On their own they’re useless. Valuable, but useless. Combined, their power could give the Shikon a run for its money, though it doesn’t amplify any traits of the dhole that uses it.” She gave a soft bark of a laugh. “They risk their lives for something they cannot even use.”
“Only one of your kind can?”
“Yes. Wouldn’t make much sense for a species’ relic to be used by anyone.” She studied how well Kagome was taking the story, judging for herself if she should go further into the relic’s purpose. Every instinct she had said to keep it quiet.
“So why would humans try to take something they can’t use?”
“No offense, but your people are idiots.” She stood to get to the higher jasmine blossoms. Those closer to the moonlight would be a little more potent. To her surprise, the human laughed.
“None taken. I’ve been all over this land while hunting jewel shards. I’ve seen my share of idiots of all species.”
“You hunted the shards? On your own? For what purpose?”
She stood as well, though didn’t pick from the top of the vines. “There’s a river nearby. Let’s go get those clothes of yours cleaned off, and I’ll tell you everything. I’m sure after twelve years of silence, some girl talk is a welcomed sound.”

Yamika sighed and dipped her head back into the water. She kept her wrapped arm rested on a low rock. Her now-drying clothes hung from a tree nearby. “I think you wanted an excuse to get away for a bath.” She scrubbed at her copper hair with her still-good hand.
“Guilty as charged. I don’t get many chances to escape away.”
“So that’s the true story of the jewel? Now I’m glad my shrine was undisturbed for so long.”
Kagome nodded. “With all attention on the jewel shards, no one would even think to search for anything else.”
“I am impressed by your achievements.” She rolled her shoulders, still feeling a slight tug from the wounded one. “You’ve managed to make many allies in your venture that has helped for the better. Humans and demons collaborating for a common goal is uncommon, even now.”
“It took a lot of time, and unexpected alliances. But now we’re all doing well enough. Especially now when we go through with the treaty with the wolves.”
“Oh, yes, I meant to ask. Lord Sesshomaru mentioned something about love when your husband refused the notion. What happened with that?”
She went red and ducked further into the water. “I gained the attraction of the leader of the wolf tribe a long time ago. He’s married now, and chief of his combined pack, but InuYasha won’t let it go.” She frowned to the water. “He’s such a grown brat.”
Yamika smiled but said nothing else.
“What about you? You said you were alone, but do you…?”
“No. It was… decided it would be a distraction from my duties. And, as a woman, I have the risk of becoming with child. So, for that, I was stripped of the right to a mate in my clan.” She ran water over her dry arm, careful to keep the bindings dry. “Not that I have an interest in breeding. Not now, anyway.”
“That’s terrible.”
“It’s practical. A child would be a distraction I couldn’t afford to have.” She glared at her arm. “Not that I wasn’t foolish enough on my own.” She hadn’t made it out of every skirmish unharmed. A multitude of old scars said otherwise. “Stabs and cuts, those mistakes are easy enough to deal with. They heal within a few hours. But fractures hinder my duties. And being on my own, it will make this harder.”
“Stay with us then.”
“Do you want your village dead? It’s only a matter of time before demons catch wind of the rumors of the relic’s power.” She shook her head. “No, I could not repay your hospitality with a death sentence. Once Lord Sesshomaru returns me to my shrine in the morning, I will figure something out.”
“Ask him to stay with you.”
Her neck almost snapped when she looked at her. “What?”
“Ask him to stay with you,” she repeated. “It’d only be for a few days, with how fast demons heal. I don’t think he’d-“
“I’d be asking a Lord to guard a guardian. He’d have no reason to stay. He has his own agenda, I’d think.”
Kagome gave another innocent hum with her smile. “He doesn’t rescue just any damsel in distress. The only other woman I know that he’s saved is Rin.”
She went red and sank deeper in the water. “I appreciate the idea, but I’ll be fine.” A sudden scent filled the air. She sat up again, nose towards the sky.
“What is it?”
“It smells like… wolves. A few of them. Four are demon, and two more are beast.”
“Sounds like Koga’s hunting pack.” Kagome stood from the water. “We should head back. Your clothes should be dry enough by now.”
“What would he be doing here?”
She sighed as she started to dress again. “Koga probably knew there would be problems with the treaty. Either that or Ayame forced him to come in person. If there’s four, as you say, that’s the more likely option.” A distant snarl in the air drew their attention to the sky.
Something carried by flames passed over them.
“Hey, Sango and Miroku are back.” She gave a laugh as Yamika straightened her battle-worn clothes. “You came on the right night. The gang is pretty much all here.”
She made sure the relic was still secure inside her kimono before nodding. “Ready when you are.”
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Relic of Dholes