Disclaimer:  I own neither Ranma 1/2 nor Inu-Yasha.  Thank the genius of 
Rumiko Takahashi for them.

Sesshoumaru’s Imouto-chan Part 10

*400 years ago, seven people, a flea, and a pet pick up their bags from 
around a campfire.  A houshi puts out the fire as a youkai 
exterminator buries the group’s trash.  Two teenage girls chat as they 
pack their bags.  A half-demon stares silently over the grassy field, 
the bright breeze brushing his hair into from his face.  A similar yet 
different white-haired figure returns the stare, almost out of sight to 
human eyes.  Inu-Yasha grunts and turns away from his unwanted 
guardian.*

Inu-Yasha: Let’s go.  I think there’s a town a few miles downriver.

Miroku: Have you been in this area before, Inu-Yasha?

Inu-Yasha: *nods*  A while ago.

Sango: Oh, good.  We need some more supplies.

Akane: *agrees* It’ll be nice to have something other than instant ramen 
for a change.

Ranma: You can say that again!

Kagome: ... Inu-Yasha... *The half-demon says nothing, not paying 
attention to the conversation.  At the sound of Kagome’s voice, he 
turns to her*

Inu-Yasha: What?

Kagome: *shakes her head, guessing that he has seen Sesshoumaru again* 
Nothing.

*The group returns to their boats, shoving out into the water.  Shippou 
reluctantly clings to the side of the boat, refusing all food during the 
trip.  They keep their boats close for easy communication.*

Miroku:  So Inu-Yasha, you know this place.  What are the people like?

Inu-Yasha: ... *takes his time to answer*  They... they don’t like strangers.  
Especially people that aren’t like them.

Kagome:  Inu-Yasha... how long did you stay there?

Inu-Yasha:  *snaps* What do you care?  It’s none of your beeswax, anyway!

Shippou: Oi, Inu-Yasha!  You big meanie, don’t talk to Kagome like that! 
*promptly turns green and falls back against the side of the boat*

Kagome:  *gently pats Shippou*  If we weren’t in a boat, Inu-Yasha!  *She 
gives him The Look*

Miroku:  But you don’t sound like you hate them, Inu-Yasha.  Surely they 
made a hard time for you.

Inu-Yasha: Like I said, it’s none of your business!  Now shut up!

Ranma:  *speaking up* Besides, what does it matter?  We’ll be there soon, 
so we’ll just grab our stuff and go.

Akane: It’s not that simple, Ranma!  If the villagers don’t like strangers, 
how do we know they’ll sell stuff to us?

Ranma:  Baka.  Money’s money.  That’s all salespeople care about!

Miroku: Akane-sama has a point, Ranma.  Shopkeepers are as still 
suspicious, if not more so, than townspeople of those they don’t know.  
They may find themselves dealing with thieves, armies, or even 
youkai if they’re not careful.

Inu-Yasha:  They’ll sell.  Remember, I lived there?

Kagome: Will they remember you?  *Inu-Yasha snorts*

Inu-Yasha:  They never forget anything.  In fact, why don’t you just stay with the boats, and I’ll buy everything?

Kagome: Not a chance!  You’ll forget something if you go alone.

Inu-Yasha: Feh.  I don’t ever forget things.  *Kagome starts to retort, then 
Inu-Yasha interrupts her*  Anyway, there’s a youkai in the area that 
I don’t want you to bumble into.  

Ranma: *perks up* Youkai?  Will we have a fight?

Inu-Yasha:  No way!  This one’s too dangerous for you!  Like I said, I’ll go 
into town alone.

Miroku: ... Why do you not wish to confront this demon?  Is he truly that 
terrible, that all of us together could not defeat him?

Sango: Something’s suspicious about that, Inu-Yasha.  I don’t believe you 
truly fear this guy so much.

Kagome:  *suddenly lights up* I know!  It’s a water demon, isn’t it?  
Inu-Yasha doesn’t want to get wet again!

Inu-Yasha: Oi!  I am not afraid of water!  Baka!

Ranma: Besides, I can fight as well in girl form as I can in male form!  It’s 
just a little different!

Inu-Yasha:  You’re not going to fight this one, okay?  

Kagome: So, it’s settled.  We’re all going into town, and if we happen to see 
this terrible water youkai, we’ll beat him.  Right?  *Everyone but 
Inu-Yasha agrees*  Oh, good!  It’s unanimous!

Inu-Yasha: *shoves his face into hers and starts waving wildly, as if to get 
her attention* Oi, wench!  I never agreed!!!  

Shippou: Nah, you don’t count.  *Inu-Yasha turns as red as his armor and 
starts beating Shippou up.  Things digress from there, ending in a 
very wet Shippou, Kagome, Inu-Yasha-chan, Ranma-chan, Akane... okay, 
a very wet everyone.  Not to mention an unconscious Miroku and an 
irate Sango.  In fact, the only two who remain dry watch from the 
trees sheltering the river...*

Sesshoumaru:  Unusual, how they amuse themselves.  Jaken, has Inu-Yasha 
ever traveled through here before?

Jaken: I-I do not know, Sesshoumaru-sama.  You paid no attention to your 
brother’s last few years before he was pinned to that tre-

Sesshoumaru: *removing his foot from Jaken’s face* Do not tell me what I 
did, Jaken.  I already know that.  Find out what connection Inu-Yasha 
has with this area.  I now wish to know my sister’s past.  *Jaken bows 
and scuttles off, unable to talk since his face is now somewhat caved 
in.*  (Inu-Yasha.  You have been here before, but why?  I know who 
lives in this area; surely you also knew?  I doubt you could have 
defeated this one as a child.)

*Later*

*The boats pull up to the shore, and pause for a while for the water to heat.  
When everyone is back to their original gender, most of the group 
gets ready to go.*

Kagome: Inu-Yasha, hurry up!  

Inu-Yasha: *sitting against a tree, pretending to sunbathe* What are you 
waiting for? Go ahead. I’m not going.

Kagome: Nani?!?  *Grabs his hand and attempts to pull him up* But...*urk* 
you’re... *grunt* the only one... *yank, yank* whom these people know!

Inu-Yasha: *ignoring her as she practically mauls his arm, still firmly 
planted to the tree* I said, I’m not going.

Sango: Weren’t you just saying you’d go all alone?  In fact, you making a 
big deal of going.

Inu-Yasha: ALONE.  I’ll go alone or not at all.

Ranma: *Starts thinking* ...  (Is there... something in the village you don’t 
want us to see?  Something personal?)

Akane: What?!  That makes no sense!  Is he always like this, Kagome-chan?

Kagome: *nods, irked*  Always.  Inu-Yasha- SIT!

*THUD*

Inu-Yasha: Ow!  Wench!  I ~told~ you, I’m ~not~ going!!!

*five minutes later*

*Inu-Yasha rubs his sore neck as he walks with the rest of the group to 
town.  However, he now sports a large cloak concealing most of his 
features, and wearing the sunglasses he obtained in Kagome’s time. 
Kagome pretends to ignore him as she cuddles Shippou and gossips 
with Akane and Sango.*

*ahead, in the town*  

Kid: *comes running back into the village* Strangers are coming!  

Woman: *scoops her own children up*  Good job, Hairu-chan.  Go tell the 
village head.  *Hairu nods and jogs away*

*All around, people seem to disappear as they take their jobs indoors.  Only 
those who need to remain in sight.  Doors and windows lock, and kids 
take their games inside.  Three priests appear from seemingly 
nowhere and start putting demon wards on the doors.  When the 
finish, they sit conspicuously on the steps of the house nearest the 
road.  Indeed, they are the very first thing the odd little group of 
humans and youkai see as they approach.*

Miroku: *sounding slightly disappointed* It is fine to see some of my peers 
after so long traveling.

Houshi1: *politely but coldly* We do not often get wanderers around here.

Akane: Excuse me, but could you direct us to the market? We need to 
collect some supplies.

Houshi2: Down this street and beside the temple is the shop.  I doubt he 
will have much for you, though.  We don’t often get travelers.

Ranma:  *nods* Yeah- you said that already.  *Winces as Akane steps on 
his foot and hisses at him for being impolite*

Kagome: Thank you for your help! *smiles sweetly, but the priests only 
stare at her* (Brrr... Talk about the cold shoulder...) *she shivers*

Shippou: *tugging at Kagome’s skirt* Kagome... can you carry me? I’m 
getting really tired.

Kagome: *grins* Sure, Shippou.  *Picks him up.  As she does, all three of 
the priests move to block her way.*

Houshi 1: No kitsune are allowed in the village.

Shippou: eh?  *looks confused* Why not?

Akane: B-but he’s just a kid!

Ranma: Besides, we’ll keep an eye on him!

Houshi 3: No kitsune.

Kagome: *turns to Inu-Yasha* Inu-

Inu-Yasha: *cuts her off* I’ll wait with him here.

Sango: But Inu-

Inu-Yasha: I said I’d wait.  You gonna go or not?

Kagome: *accusingly* You knew this would happen, didn’t you?

Inu-Yasha: *grabs Shippou from her arms and shoves her in the direction 
of the village* I said, go on! *She starts to protest, but the houshi 
glare so hard that she finally accedes.  The group starts forward, 
minus the two youkai.*

Sango: Odd.  I’ve never seen people so set against kitsune, of all things.  
They didn’t seem to mind Kirara at all, even.  

Ranma: Man, those priests creep me out.  What freaks.

Akane: Ranma! They were only trying to protect their village!

Miroku: Even still, most priests are a little less... hostile.

Kagome: *fuming* I ~know~ Inu-Yasha knew that would happen!  That... 
that... that dog!  *The group reaches the shop.  Inside, a very large 
man stands behind a counter.  He looks up as they enter*

Man: *in an unfriendly tone* May I help you?

Sango: *not intimidated* Yes.  Do you have any rice?

Man: No. I don’t sell rice.

Sango: All right.  Do you have sacks for carrying grains?

Man: No.  I don’t sell those.

Ranma: *quietly, to Akane* Go fish. Do you have any fours?

Akane: *giggles*

Sango: Do you have shoe leathers?

Man: No.  I don’t sell that.

Sango: *takes a deep breath, then keeps going...*

*Back at the entrance to the village*

Inu-Yasha: *moves away from the guarding priests for a little privacy*  
Now listen up, Shippou.  We’ve got to keep an eye out, okay? 
The others don’t know it, but a pretty nasty youkai lives around 
here.

Shippou: Yeah, I know.  You already said that!  So what’s the big deal?

Inu-Yasha: Look, kid, I know what I’m talking about!  His name is Daisu, 
and he really likes to eat humans.  But he’s a shape-shifter, so we 
can’t tell who it is.  The only thing is, he can’t turn into someone you 
already know, because he can’t copy things.  That’s why the village 
folk hate strangers so much.  So keep an eye out for anyone you 
don’t know, okay?

Shippou: Inu-Yasha... is he why you left this place?

Inu-Yasha: ... Yeah.  Guess what? He was bigger than me then.

Shippou: Can we beat him?

Inu-Yasha: ...

*Flashback*

*Inu-Yasha, about 9 years old, wanders alone through the darkened forest, 
head down and shoulders slumped.  His straight black hair reflects his 
mood [and only his mood on this moonless night] as he shuffles 
through the slightly damp leaves of the underbrush.  Several months 
have passed since he left the small hut he had shared with his 
mother, all of them lonely and frightened.  A tiny sigh escapes his lips 
as he sits down, putting his face into clawless, dirt-smudged hands.  
He realizes his cheeks taste salty again, considers brushing the 
wetness away, decides not to, all alone here in the forest.  He’s 
hungry again, too, and now the dampness of his own tears is making 
him cold.  Cold, cold, all around him cold, but not nearly as cold and 
hungry as his heart, unwarmed by friendship or even companionship.  
Suddenly angry at himself for this impractical weakness, he punches 
the ground and forces himself to stop crying. He pounds his tears into 
a mental nugget, like a rice ball, and bites into it, forcing himself to 
swallow his sorrows into nothingness.  Somehow, this seems colder 
than crying, this lack of feeling... But he ignores the burning ice of 
emptiness and trudges onward.  Wait - a light!  A campfire!  Suddenly 
heartened again, he rushes forward, almost heedlessly, until caution 
grips him again and slows him to stealthy crawl.  Who’s there? A 
girl... but something’s wrong... The girl’s long hair reflects red in 
firelight, hanging over her face as she leans against the tree.  Leans? 
No, hangs from.  Something is very wrong.  If only Inu-Yasha wasn’t 
so tired... What was that?  Oh, she saw him. She’s mouthing 
something.  What is she trying to say?  Go- go away?  But she’s in 
trouble.  Doesn’t she want help?  He inches closer, looking around for 
the source of the danger.*

*Suddenly, his collar pulls painfully against his neck as the ground leaps 
away, and the world revolves until a striped face, framed by hair as 
red as the fire, leers at him.*

Man: Oh, look what I have here.  Dessert!  *Unpleasant laughter and a foul 
scent wash over young Inu-Yasha’s face.  The boy chokes a little and 
kicks at the stranger who holds him by the scruff in the air.*  Now, 
now, that’s no way for food to behave.  You’ll make a very nice after-
dinner snack, but I’d hate to have to kill you before I was ready to 
cook.  Not as fresh, after all.

Inu-Yasha: Let me go!  *starts cursing at him.  He merely laughs and ties 
Inu-Yasha’s wrists together with a piece of rope, then dangles him 
from a tree next to the girl’s.  Inu-Yasha now has a better view of the 
girl.  She’s a several years older than him, in her teens.  The hair 
which he formerly thought was reflecting firelight really is red, and a 
long tail swishes angrily from behind her.  She growls at the man, the 
tiny kitsune points of her teeth showing.  He, the stranger, is very 
tall, but of average build.  His hair is cropped short around the head, 
with a rattail hanging down his back to the base of his own tail.  
Stripes denote a mixed heritage, part kitsune and part youkai.*

Girl: Shame on you, Daisu!  Picking on little children!  But then again, it’s 
all you can catch, isn’t it?  Little human children!

Daisu: *grins at her* Then what does that make you, exactly?  Besides 
dinner, that is.

Girl: *spits at him* Cannibal!

Daisu: Not true.  I’m only half kitsune.  *punches her in the stomach, 
causing her to curl her knees up to her chest as she attempts to 
regain her breath*  Besides, I can’t have a rival in my territory. Your 
fault for coming here, twice your fault for thinking you could steal 
from me, and thrice your fault for getting caught.  *She is unable to 
answer, still trying to catch her breath, so he turns back to the fire 
and places a large pot on it.  To Inu-Yasha’s amazement, the girl 
immediately unfolds, then nimbly hoists her toes to reach her bonds.  
She frowns in concentration, feet silently working the ties.  Seconds 
later, she unfurls and lands gracefully on her feet, free.  About to flee, 
she glances at poor little Inu-Yasha, watching her wide-eyed.  She 
changes direction and gently lifts him off his branch.  As she does so, 
his arm gently thumps against the tree.  Daisu glances over his 
shoulder, then does a double-take as he sees his meal’s backside, 
with his dessert slung over the shoulder*

Girl: *realizing she’s been seen as Daisu stands* Uh-oh... You better 
appreciate this, kid!  *takes off, no longer trying for quiet*

Daisu: Get back here! Wench!  *hurls curses at the young pair as they dash 
away.  Or, more specifically, as the kitsune girl dashes, and Inu-Yasha 
hangs on for dear life.  For Inu-Yasha, the run blurs into one long, 
dark scramble, trees flashing by faster than his weakened human 
vision can keep track of.  The damp, moldy smell of wet leaves fades 
in the cold breeze of his own quick hurtle, his hair clinging to his face 
as his nose repeatedly bounces against his rescuer’s back.  He tries 
desperately to keep his upper body stiff and away from her shoulder, 
but fails as his arms quickly tire.  Her wiry shoulder digs into his 
stomach, and every jouncing step rattles him from head to toe.  Inu-
Yasha decides quickly that this is the worst night of his life, unable to 
do more than sit still on the shoulder of a fleeing kitsune.*

Inu-Yasha: (I- think-) *wince-wince, wince-wince, in time to her footsteps* 
(I- will- never-) *wince* (~ever~- go- human-) *gasps as she jumps* 
(again!) *Suddenly, he finds that they are in a tree, and no longer 
running.  Two arms gently pry him off her shoulder, and he finds 
himself face-to-face with his rescuer.*

Girl: Okay, I think we’ve lost him.  But stay quiet, okay?  *Inu-Yasha nods, 
and the girl starts gently working off the rope tying his wrists.  When 
it falls off, he speaks, unconsciously rubbing his sore arms*

Inu-Yasha: *whispering* Where are we?

Girl: *shrugs* In a tree.  I sort of wasn’t paying too much attention to 
where we were going.  You okay, kid?

Inu-Yasha: Why did you take me, too? You could have gotten away alone.

Girl: *taken aback* What’s a kid like you doing, asking questions like that?  
*shakes her head* Never mind.  Just call me a softie, but don’t you 
dare tell anyone!  What’s your name, anyway?

Inu-Yasha: Inu-Yasha.

Girl: *looking at him, but seeing only a human boy* Heh. Cute. Well, you 
can call me M. Short for Mirana. So, where are you parents?  Did you 
get lost?

Inu-Yasha: *quietly* They’re dead.

M: That sucks. No family at all?  *he shakes his head, deciding that Sess 
doesn’t count as family, since he isn’t allowed to see his half-brother* 
Poor kid. *She suddenly freezes, putting a hand over his mouth.  He 
starts to struggle, then realizes he can’t even budge her littlest finger, 
so stops.  They hold still like that for a few minutes, then-*

*Leaves explode everywhere, knocking the youngsters out of the tree.  A 
hand narrowly misses Inu-Yasha’s foot as Daisu finds his quarry by 
their scent, surprising them.  Stripes and fangs grin mockingly at him 
as a heavy weight pins him down, then spins him out of the way of 
claws.  Leaves collect in his hair as M rolls them both away from 
Daisu’s attack.  A growl of frustration follows in their wake as she 
springs into motion, Inu-Yasha grabbing on piggy-back rather than 
letting her sling him over her shoulder again.  Her long hair whips 
into his eyes, blinding him as they scramble and fall, just barely out 
of their pursuer's reach.  M proves amazingly nimble and quick, even 
with the dead weight of Inu-Yasha on her back.  Still, Inu-Yasha feels 
Daisu’s presence just over his shoulder, claws occasionally nipping at 
his coat.  Blood starts seeping from the near-misses, and M’s breath 
gets a little ragged.  Then light, in the distance!  Inu-Yasha’s finger 
gravitates towards the pinprick, as if magnetically drawn*

M: I- see it!--  We must- be near- a village!  *She stretches her legs just a 
little more, for the home stretch, and gets a few extra feet away from 
the angry demon behind her.  Somehow, she dodges the trees that fly 
at her at incredible speeds, pulling just a little bit of magic energy 
from her exhausted reservoir.*

*POOF*

*Inu-Yasha finds himself on the back of a black-haired young woman, 
dressed for sleeping in pants and a long shirt.  The light grows 
clearer, and M almost stumbles in relief, but catches herself just in 
time.  She vaguely hears a shout, but ignores it, concentrating only 
on reaching the light with her fragile burden.  Her thief’s nimbleness 
can only barely keep her out of Daisu’s reach, leaving no breath or 
time for second thought.  If only she had spent more time in hand-to-
hand training!  But no, she ~had~ to try to rob the most dangerous 
youkai around, Daisu the shape-shifter, gifted with a youkai’s 
strength and a kitsune’s cunning and abilities.  Sweat drips into her 
eyes, almost hiding the wooden wall in front of her.  Wait.  What’s 
that!?*

*M just barely manages to duck beneath the staff leveled at her head.  She 
squeaks in protest, but her plaint chokes off as the staff touches the 
base of her throat*

Priest: By all my holy powers, show your true self, demon! *But M has 
already rolled out of the way, taking care not to squash the youngster 
on her back*

M: Hey! What’s the big idea?  Don’t jump on me; get him! *points behind 
her, then realizes that there’s no one there* Uh- He was just there... 
Really, he was trying to kill my- little brother and me!  *Two other 
monks approach her from both sides, staffs held ready.  It’s either 
face them or go back into the brush, back towards Daisu, but her 
knees feel so weak... She’s not used to running like that; she’d never 
been caught before!  But then the woods behind her crash in, and 
Daisu hurtles out.  She realizes she must have gotten pretty far ahead 
of him, after all!  Snarling, he reaches for her, no longer hungry, just 
thirsty- for blood.  But a hand grabs her shoulder and pushes her 
back, back towards the village*

Monk: We mistook you for this creature.  Apologies.  Now go!  *He doesn’t 
have to tell her twice.  M stumbles wearily towards the village, 
hearing two of the monks setting a warding spell behind her as the 
third uses small spells to keep the half kitsune at bay.  She senses  
arms reaching for her, pulling Inu-Yasha from her back, guiding her 
over stairs into a warm room.  Light blinds her for an instant, then her 
eyes adjust, and she sees yet another monk placing a bowl of hot 
broth into young Inu-Yasha’s hands.  Her hold on her transformation 
spell is starting to strain, but she struggles to hold it.  So tired... she 
hears a murmuring voice, the monk’s, as he tries to tell her 
something...  Then an arm under hers and a few steps to a soft mat.  
A warm body snuggling up beside her just as her eyes close, in time 
to a door sliding shut.*

*The next morning, the monks find [to their complete and utter shock] a 
kitsune and a youkai curled up in their spare room.  Confused, they 
attempt to throw the two out, but are stopped by the village leader, 
who instead questions the two.  He finds that they truly have no 
relation to Daisu or each other, and offers to let them remain if they 
help fight against their attacker.  Since Daisu now waits just outside 
the village, obviously intent on tearing them apart the minute they 
leave the village’s protections, they agree.  The next few days sees 
M learning quarterstaff from the priests as Inu-Yasha gets put to 
chores - and adopted by every woman in the village.  He spends 
every long day getting his ears rubbed and “kawaii!” cooed at him 
at every turn.  The priests, unsure of what to do about the hanyou, 
finally decide to accept him, even as they consistently ward against  
M.  Finally, the two find they cannot take the over-affection and 
constant shunning anymore, and leave, with a farewell to the village 
leader for his kindness.  M carefully orchestrates their escape, 
choosing a day when Daisu has grown bored with harassing the town. 
The two slink through the forest, finding their escape surprising 
uneventful - unknown to them, the villagers have arranged a 
diversion in their aid.  Once out of Daisu’s territory, M and Inu-Yasha 
split up, for M must return to her home - not a good place for a small 
hanyou to go.*

*Present*

Shippou: Well, Inu-Yasha? We ~can~ beat him, right?

Inu-Yasha: *grunts* Of course, baka.  (I think...) I just gotta work out a 
plan, first.

Shippou: *goggles* Inu-Yasha? ~Planning???~  *Inu-Yasha calmly squishes 
Shippou, with a very nice “squuush” sound effect* G-Gomen!  Gomen!

Inu-Yasha: Now shut up and let me think.  *Shippou grudgingly does so, 
both youkai sitting down by road to wait for their companions - and, 
quite possibly, trouble.*

*400 years later*

*Shampoo stands miserably at the train station, brushing a strand of long 
purple hair out of her eyes.  She feels so very alone... No, not a new 
feeling, but always an unpleasant one.  Memories of similar lonely bus 
trips haunt her mind, mostly of times when she was hunting female 
Ranma after giving her the Kiss of Death.  She sighs, brushing the old 
ghosts away and considering instead the future.  A chime-chiming 
tells of the approaching train, and she bends to retrieve her single 
small pack.*

PA system: Arriving from Hikushi, train 534.

*Shampoo checks her ticket.  Sure enough, this is the train that will take 
her to Ranma.  She waits for the passengers to unload, then steps 
into gaping mouth of metal monster with every other wandering soul 
whose feet take it onboard.*

*A young man pushes his glasses up his nose, his single bag hitched high  
on his shoulder.  Uncomfortable in the jeans and tee he wears, he 
fidgets, wishing he dared changed into something more comfortable.  
But no, ~she~ would see him then.  He watches her board a train, 
noting down its next stop, then heads to the ticket office.*

Mousse: *receiving his ticket after paying for it* Thank you.  *Returns to 
his bench to wait for the next shining hulk of steel and wheels*