InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Double Vision ❯ Chapter 65

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

Amaya had insisted they visit every shop and street vendor in Fudo, giving Sango the opportunity to thoroughly scout out the entire mercantile district and even make some subtle forays into the industrial east side of town, where a few pawnshops and vendors specializing in metalwork were interspersed among the numerous foundries and factories. Literacy was rare in the feudal era, reserved for the religious orders, clerical class, and a few select members of the nobility. Because she could not read or write, it was second nature for Sango to remember huge amounts of detailed information. She had a well-trained memory, and would retain a mental map of all she had observed. Her mind also held all the technical knowledge of her tribe. Prosaic stuff, which would be of use to a warrior. Her maternal grandmother had been one of the few members of the village who cared about the oral tradition of the tribe’s past, which was largely lost to time, including the story of her distant ancestor, Midoriko. Sango’s father had frowned upon his children wasting time listening to useless ballads and romantic drivel, as he called his mother-in-law’s tales. Against his orders, Grandma sneakily supplied Sango and Kohaku with her famous sweet rice balls, along with the only hugs and kisses they ever received. Kagome reminded Sango of her grandmother. The way she had of lighting up from within, her stories and songs and games, her warm embraces.

They arrived back at the inn laden down with bundles. Amaya and Sango laughing and chatting about their purchases, Bankotsu somewhat quiet and grim. They had not been able to find a sword he deemed worthy of carrying. He had been unwilling to settle for even the best sword the merchants of Fudo had to offer. Grandpa was waiting for them on the porch. “Lord Inutaisho has arrived. He awaits you all in his quarters.” Amaya rushed into the inn, followed closely by Sango.

Bank went alone to Sango’s room, where he dropped the packages he was carrying onto the floor, and threw himself down on a pile of cushions, covering his eyes with his forearm. Just as looking at other swords had made him pine for Banryu, shopping with the girls left him longing for Jakotsu. Though it was easier just to waylay travelers to obtain food and clothing and such, Bank would lead the Band of Seven miles out of their way to make sure Jak got a chance to visit the larger towns. Jak loved to while away hour upon hour in the shopping districts, taking a break now and then to have tea and cake at some little tea shop. Bank sighed ‘Jak, Jak, Jak… What am I going to do?’ He had to get him back, along with Banryu and Jakotsutou.

Inutaisho lay face down on a huge, elaborately cushioned sleeping platform. He was dirty and bloody, and the broken shafts of several arrows protruded from his back. Amaya threw herself down at his side in a flurry of feminine concern. “Inu, baby, what’s happened to you?”

Sango stood off to one side. This would undoubtedly be her best opportunity to eliminate Inutaisho. He was a mess, but as a demon he would heal from his wounds in mere days. Or would he, given his undead status? She still had no idea what form of being he was. A specter, a spirit being assuming a material form? Or what Kagome would call a zombie, a being of actual flesh and blood, governed by the laws of the physical world? If she drove a blade into his flesh, even stilled the beating of his heart, would he truly perish? A wrong decision would not only put a final end to her career, it would also separate her from Kagome. Sango hesitated, her hand hovering over the blade she wore sheathed on her thigh. She made eye contact with Amaya, who shook her head, frowning. Sango casually walked closer, wiping Inu’s forehead with the same hand that had hesitated on the grip of her tanto moments before. “Do you want me to cut those arrows out, Inu?” If Amaya didn’t know the nature of his being, maybe she could find out by cutting into his flesh. He grunted in response. ‘Was that a yes, or a no?’ He was just as frustrating as both of his sons. Damn Inus.

Sango saw Bank standing by the door. “Fetch water, and plenty of cloths for cleaning, and bandages. Some unguent. And sake.” Sango cut Inutaisho’s shredded haori from his body, then used the hot water Bankotsu brought to wash the blood and battlefield dirt from his body. Combat stirred up a lot of dust, and Kagome had taught Sango the importance of cleanliness when working with wounds. Once the visible filth was removed, Sango poured a thin stream of sake over Inu’s back. He did not flinch. “Okay, Inu. Here comes the moment of truth. You ready for this?” She drew her tanto, sterilizing it with sake as well.

“Don’t cut. Just pull them out.”

“That’s barbaric. I’m not going to do it.”

“I’m a demon. My body is different than yours.”

She could not count the number of times she had heard Inuyasha say the same words to Kagome. Amazing, Sango thought, how alike father and son could be, though Inutaisho and Inuyasha had never actually met. While Sango could care less about the pain and tissue damage she could be inflicting, she regretted the lost opportunity to cut into his flesh and explore its composition. Some revenants she had encountered actually leaked bright green goo when their outer skin was compromised. Some simply dissolved when damaged badly enough, their physical form being nothing but illusion.

Sango raised the tanto, deciding to test Inu’s resolve. Her answer came when his hand whipped out, quick as a snake, and sent the knife spinning across the room.

“Calm down, alright? I just don’t want to hurt you! She grabbed an arrow by its jagged shaft, and pulled it out as straight and true as she could. Instinct would have led her to avert her gaze from the tortured wound, but she forced herself to look. Green fluid pooled around the base of the arrow as it pulled from his body, changing to dark red, almost black blood. Or something which resembled blood. ‘Well, that’s certainly ambiguous.’ She thought. She had seen Sesshomaru leaking green fluid, which smelled strongly of sweet flowers. She knew it was an acidic poison, but she could not smell anything sweet emanating from Inu’s wounds. Repeating the procedure on the second arrow, this time she cautiously dipped the tip of one finger into the substance, before it had a chance to turn to blood. Bright green, glowing, not acidic enough to burn. Hmmm.

“Hurry up, wench.” Inu gritted out.

‘He must experience pain, on some level.’ Sango thought. She quickly pulled out the third arrow, swabbing the entire surface of his back down with more sake. She watched as the first wound began to very slowly knit together, dabbing at it a little before applying the unguent. Deciding she had learned what little she could from the experiment, she efficiently bandaged his back, Amaya helping to tie the bandages in an aesthetically pleasing knot over his muscled chest. The girls settled him into a more comfortable position, smoothing the silken sheets around him. Amaya undid his braid, threading her fingers through his long, silken hair as if she had done so many, many times in the past. Inu closed his eyes, and sighed in contentment. Sango was awed by the extravagance of Inu’s hair. Freed of its braid, it was longer than Sesshomaru’s, which was bone straight and reached to mid-calf. If Inu didn’t braid his hair and secure it high on his head, it would be trod underfoot. Almost involuntarily, she reached out and felt it. It lacked the coarse texture of Inuyasha’s, being as smooth as the finest silk.

“Do you want us to go after whoever did this to you, Inu?” Sango asked, hoping to be sent on a mission which would give her an opportunity to track down Kagome.

Inu considered his options. He had already wreaked havoc on the humans who had shot the arrows into his back. His eyes slid to Bankotsu. The innkeeper had told him how Bankotsu’s partner had left in the company of Inu’s two sons. Perhaps there was something there.

“Bankotsu, I fear Jakotsu has been stolen by my traitorous sons. Your first mission as my vassal will benefit you as well as me. Take Sango with you. Get Jakotsu back. If possible, take out either or both of my traitorous sons. Return successfully to Fudo and you will regain your halberd as well as your companion.” His gaze shifted to the slayer. “Sango, odds are Kagome is with Inuyasha, or he at least knows where she is. Use this opportunity to find her and bring her back to me. You are both guaranteed positions of respect and honor in my realm.”

Bank, with years of being a mercenary under his belt, felt the occasion called for a little bargaining. “If I had Banryu, the success of the mission would be guaranteed.”

Inutaisho thought for a moment. Without Banryu, Bankotsu had no chance of defeating either of his sons, who he very much wanted out of his hair. “Your petition is granted. However, Jakotsu’s sword stays here. If you attempt to double cross me, be assured I will come for you.”