Disclaimer: Blah-blah, blah-blah, I don’t own anything except those characters 
you don’t recognize, blah-blah... Oh, just go see the other disclaimers.

(...)   thoughts
*...*  actions
[...]   Mandarin

Sesshoumaru’s Imouto-chan, Part 11

*Shampoo gently braids and unbraids a strand of hair, immersed in the quiet of 
night.  The nearly-empty bus pulls to a stop, and the only other two 
passengers hop out.  Next stop should be hers, a mere block from the 
Higurashi shrine.  A small, tired sigh escapes her lips, but nothing else.  
Soon... Soon, she shall be with Ranma again.*

*400 years earlier*

*in the woods*

Sesshoumaru: Jaken, we are near the Kitsune enclave, are we not?

Jaken: Yes, Sesshoumaru-sama.

Sesshoumaru: We will detour through there.  If Inu-Yasha has truly visited this region 
before, they will have recorded his presence.  

Jaken: Is that wise, Master?  The kitsune are very deviou-ERK!

Sesshoumaru: *one foot squashing the frog-face* Do not question me, Jaken.

Jaken: Yes, Sesshoumaru-sama. *The pair breaks away from the trail of Inu-Yasha and co.*

*In town*

*Ranma, Akane, and Kagome lounge around on the dusty floor of a shop as Sango tries 
to buy some items.  Any items.  Miroku leans casually against the wall, bouncing 
a spare string for Kirara to catch.  Kirara’s bored enough to play with it.*

Sango:  *in a tired, dry voice*  Do you have any fishing lines?

Store owner: No. I don’t sell those.

Sango: *finally snaps* Do you sell ~anything~???

Owner: ... You may buy as much dirt as you can carry.  1000 yen a bucket - provide 
your own buckets, though.  *Sango screams in frustration and storms out, 
everyone else trailing*

Ranma:  Well, that was pointless.

Akane: *nods*

Kagome: *still fuming at Inu-Yasha for not coming with them* I bet if Inu-Yasha had 
come, they’d sell!  *stops in her tracks*  I know!  Let’s go the other way!

Ranma: Huh?  *everyone turns to face Kagome*

Kagome: That’s right!  Let’s leave the village the other way, and just head back to 
the boats!  We’ll wait for that jerk there.

Sango: *still muttering under her breath all the things she’d like to do to the 
shopkeeper*  Good.  Serves him right.  *leads the way out the village, down a 
back road*

*Hours later, back at the boats*

Sango: ... Shouldn’t Inu-Yasha have caught up by now?

Kagome: It’s been hours. He can’t still be waiting.

Ranma:  I’ll go back and check.  I’ll be back soon.  *The others watch him stroll down 
the road.*

Miroku:  *looks around; happily finds himself the only male in the group*  Well, ladies, 
why don’t we start setting up camp?  We wouldn’t want to travel at night, now 
would we?  

Sango:  ... *suspicious glare*  Just watch your hands, ~priest~.  *Miroku affects a look 
of innocence*  

*By the village entrance*

Inu-Yasha:  *Leans back against a tree, staring up at the branches* Oi, they’re 
stubborn.  I’d’ve thought they’d have given up by now... *shrugs*  

Shippou:  I keep telling you, I think they left already!  You know Kagome’s mad at you!

Inu-Yasha: Shut up, brat.  I told them about the youkai living around here... no way 
they’re that stupid.  They wouldn’t go without me.

Shippou:  ... *GLARE*

*Along the forest road*

Ranma: *humming to himself* (Hope I meet that youkai... I could use a fight!)  *grins* 
(Don’t know what Inu-Yasha’s so worried about... youkai aren’t so tough!  
After all, we easily took down those bird things.  And I bet Inu-Yasha could’ve 
handled that lizard creature alone.)  *Starts to cheerfully whistle*

*The forest starts getting pretty dark around him as the trees drown out the last bit of 
sunlight.  Soon the sun will go down, and it will be blacker than black - but, hey, 
Ranma has good night vision.  Or so he tells himself.  Suddenly, a flash of motion 
catches his eye.  He swings to the right, trying to find the source.  A part of him 
strangely eager, hoping for a fight with that youkai Inu-Yasha had spoken of, but 
another part of him trills with warning.  But he sees nothing...  A twig cracks 
behind him, and he whirls.  Again, nothing.  A deer?  A rabbit?  Ranma 
suspiciously resumes walking, every sense alert, his danger sense now 
shrieking at him.  A flash of movement, again.  The boy pretends to not 
notice it, but a cracking twig on the other side of the road instinctively 
draws his eyes.  A blur across the road in front of him.  It occurs to Ranma 
that his stalker is playing with him.  The boy stops with a growl and holds 
his ground, lightly crossing his arms in front of him.*  I know you’re out there.  
You gonna come out, or what?  

Voice: *coming from the forest* Ah, the little boy thinks he’s brave.  Well, then - 
*silence*

Ranma: ... Well, then, WHAT?  

Voice: *a hot breath brushes the back of Ranma’s neck* Maybe I will.

*400 years later*

*Mousse brushes back a strand of his hair.  He stands at an empty bus stop, having 
watched Shampoo disembark ten minutes earlier.  Now ought to be a good time 
to start following.  Having looked up some information online about the Tendo 
family, Mousse has long since guessed his love’s destination.  He wonders how 
long she’ll beat him up before forgiving him for following her, but in truth, he 
doesn’t care, as long as he is by her side.  He starts towards the Higurashi shrine, 
ignoring the blisters on his feet*

*At the shrine*

Shampoo: So this how Kagome-chan go back in time?  *Smiles sweetly at Kagome’s 
mother*  Arigato, Mrs. Higurashi!  I really wanted to know.  *pretends to 
leave, and waits for the elder woman to go back inside before returning to 
the shrine.  She takes a deep breath, then jumps in -*

*POW*

Shampoo: I-Ite...  *The girl stands back up, looking up at the lip of the well.  Overhead 
is still the roof of the modern-day shrine.  She looks around, starting to get 
desperate.*  Airen... How I get to you?  *paces in the bottom of the well*

*In the Amazon village*

Cologne: *bent wearily over a heavy book, her cane leaning against the wall* [I am 
making no progress, Mao Tsi.  Have you found anything?]

Mao Tsi: [No, Kho Lon, the records are very unclear as to what, exactly, happened two 
hundred years ago.  Like all the others, the only reference states that all the 
youkai simply vanished.]  *A younger woman closes the book she was just 
perusing, and coughs a little at the dust it raises. She shoves her thick glasses 
higher up her nose and brushes back a strand of long brown hair.  A rueful smile 
brushes her lips*  [I was truly hoping to see my son again.  Why does that silly 
boy insist on following your granddaughter everywhere?  But, perhaps, he too 
shall play a small part in the coming events...]

Cologne: [Ah, Mao Tsi, youth will be youth.  It is ever the role of their elders to worry.  
But be comforted.  They, too, will one day be parents.]

Mao Tsi: [Ah, sweet revenge... and I’ll have sweet grandchildren to go with it!  But 
back to work.  Pass me that chronicle?]

*400 years earlier*

*Shocked, Ranma spins around, and finds himself staring down at the face of a small, 
slender traveler, dressed in the dark robes of a priest.  Before Ranma can lash 
out, the man holds up a hand*

Priest: Peace, boy.  *laughs* Or are you afraid of the dark?

Ranma: *angrily* Whaddya mean by that?!

Priest: *seriously* These are dangerous parts.  You should be frightened. 

Ranma: *snorts* I can handle it.

Priest: Oh, really? *smirks* When you couldn’t even hear a mere priest sneaking up on 
you?  *Ranma growls angrily, but the priest cuts him off before he can speak* 
Do not be so over confident.  Many travelers around here have been besieged by 
a local demon.  I suggest finding a safe place for the night.  Surely you sense the 
evil in the air?

Ranma: *that fifth sense still jangling* Er... yeah, I guess so...

Priest: *smiles knowingly* That is the feeling that the demon is near.  Follow me. I will 
lead you to somewhere safe.

Ranma: *snorts* I don’t need your help, old man.  I’m Ranma Saotome, of the 
Anything-Goes school of martial arts.  

Priest: *frowns and snaps* Don’t be a fool, boy! No human can defeat a youkai!

Ranma: *cockily* Wanna bet?

Priest: Have you no companions, that would be looking for you?  Think of them, at 
least! Surely they would be saddened if you were slaughtered.

Ranma: *shrugs* All the more reason for me to defeat this guy.  Don’ want Akane 
running into him, after all.

Priest: *sighs* Look, I shall give you dinner if you will only follow me out of danger.  

Ranma: Whadda you care, anyway?

Priest:  *annoyed* It is my sacred duty to keep travelers from harm in these parts.

Ranma: *stares* So, it’s your job to make me get off the path until your demon has 
passed?

Priest: *sigh* Yes.

Ranma: *shrugs* Well, if you put it that way.  By the way, I eat a lot.  Better make 
plenty.  *The poor priest rolls his eyes and leads Ranma off the path.  The minute 
his back is to the martial artist, though, a superior smirk graces his lips.  A strand 
of bright red hair escapes the confines of the priest’s hood...*

*By the village*

Inu-Yasha: *suddenly sits up* What-? 

Shippou:  Nani, Inu-Yasha?

Inu-Yasha: *leaps away from the tree, leaving behind his impeding cloak* *growls* 
Daisu... I can smell him.  *slips into the forest*

*Off the path*

Ranma: *brushes through another spider web* How far ~is~ this place, anyway?

Priest: *sugar-sweet voice* We’re almost there... just around this grove.  *Swings 
around a few more trees, and stops by a set of hanging vines*  Through here.  
*Motions Ranma ahead of him*

Ranma:  *Pauses, sensing something amiss* On second thought, you know, I think I’ll 
just wait out here.

Priest: *eyes narrow* But really, I must insist.

Ranma: *eyes also narrowing* And so do I.  You’re no priest.

Priest: *starts laughing* Smart boy!  *throws off his cowl, revealing a shocking crown 
of red hair*  What tipped you off?

Ranma: *smirks* You walk like a fighter.  *takes a supremely casual stance*

Youkai: *bows* Lovely.  I shall enjoy eating someone as smart as you.  I’ll even tell 
 you my name.

Ranma: *raises an eyebrow*

Youkai: Daisu. *leaps into the air*

*Ranma dodges the first blow, casually rolling his weight to the ball of his left foot.  
Daisu, not realizing Ranma had expected his move, misses.  He turns with savage 
growl, facing the boy again.*

Daisu: Clever.  But don’t think you’ll fool me again.  *Ranma only smirks.  Daisu 
rushes him again, but as Ranma moves to dodge, the shape-shifter corrects his 
aim.  Ranma, recognizing the maneuver, tries to block, but only manages to 
divert Daisu’s aim.  A fist aimed claw-first to crush his skull instead rips a bleeding 
line along Ranma’s cheek, gouging a deep nick from his ear.  The boy winces, but 
does not cry out; rather, he aims a kick at his opponent.  It lands, smacking the 
half youkai in the chest with a force that could crush a man’s ribs - but Daisu 
hardly notices it.  Instead, he chops straight down, attempting to snap the bone.  
Ranma barely pulls himself out of harm’s way, diving into a low blow.  Daisu 
doesn’t bother to dodge*  

Ranma: *sweating a little* (Maybe... I should have thought this through a little more...) 

Daisu: *grins* Tickling me won’t help.  *Dives with a crushing elbow blow at Ranma, 
who manages to roll out of the way.  Barely.*  I like my meat nice and tender!  
*He jump-kicks the back of a still-rolling Ranma.  A loud CRACK sounds, and 
when  Ranma stands, one arm is clenched tight over his side.*

Ranma: *grits his teeth* Kachu Tenshin Amiguriken!  *His chestnut fist grants him the 
speed to dodge completely Daisu’s next two attacks, both punches.  He even 
lands a few hits of his own, not that it bothers Daisu particularly.  But Daisu 
decides to stop taking it so easy on this pesky human, and speeds himself up.  He 
grabs Ranma’s fist halfway through a punch and uses it as leverage to keep the 
boy still.  A fist slams into the youth’s chest, snapping several more ribs.  The 
impact sends Ranma flying as Daisu lets go.  The sickening crunching sound as 
he lands convinces Ranma that he’s really make a mistake this time.  
Nevertheless, the martial artist painfully levers himself off the ground, adrenaline 
and desperation granting him extra strength.  No sooner is he standing, than 
Daisu attacks again, with claws extended.  Five shallow scratches trace 
Ranma’s side as he tries to move his rather battered body out of the way, then 
five more... soon, Ranma stands covered with nothing above the waist but rags of 
a shirt and his own blood.  He glares stubbornly at his attacker, though, and 
resumes his fighting stance, to Daisu’s amazement - and amusement.*

Daisu: The poor boy is still standing?  Amazing!  I wonder if he’s truly even human? 
Perhaps there’s a little youkai blood in him after all!  No, wait - you’re just too 
stupid to know that you’re already dead.  *Ranma doesn’t respond, too busy 
trying to summon the strength for another attack.  He puts his two fists together, 
concentrating - although his current situation is grim, he still manages to summon 
the confidence that makes him Ranma.*

Ranma: Moko... TAKABISHI!  *The powerful blast catches Daisu unawares, sending him 
crashing into the trees behind him.  A moment passes, then a very, very stunned 
Daisu stands*

Daisu: You little brat... *wipes a tiny trickle of blood from the corner of his mouth* You 
shouldn’t have done that.  You shouldn’t be able to do that.  *Raises his fist and 
swings-*

*-but it doesn’t connect.  A clawed hand catches the fist, inches from Ranma’s face. 
The last of his strength spent in summoning his trademark attack, Ranma 
collapses to a sitting position, the world swimming in front of his eyes.  A blur of 
white clashes with a dancing flame, dull thuds marking their meetings.  The boy 
lays his head against the ground, waiting for the world to sort itself out again.*

*a few seconds earlier*

*The sharp smell of blood fills Inu-Yasha’s nose.  Ranma.  Just this once, he wishes for 
his female senses - surely he would have smelt the others leave if he was a girl!  
The strong scent guides him close, but as he hears sounds in the distance, he 
slows - although Ranma’s life may be at stake, he mustn’t lose his advantage of 
surprise.  Daisu, though, is well distracted, reveling in his victim’s pain - Ranma 
can barely stand.  But, as Inu-Yasha prepares to attack, his friend suddenly grows 
calm, raising his fists in front of him.  The boy concentrates, and a burst of light 
explodes from his fists, knocking Daisu through a few trees.  Stunned, Inu-Yasha 
freezes.*

Inu-Yasha: (Th-that was a move for priestesses!  Or for youkai!  He-he can’t-)  *But 
there is no time to contemplate the impossibility of such a move, as Daisu stands.  
Inu-Yasha prepares himself - waits - waits - NOW!*

*As Daisu’s fist descends, Inu-Yasha dives into the fight, catching the other youkai’s 
hand inches from Ranma’s face.  Daisu grunts in surprise and leaps back, warily 
circling this new opponent.  Inu-Yasha moves to keep between his now-collapsed 
friend and the cruel hanyou in front of him.  Daisu leaps at him, testing, but Inu-Yasha 
bends, driving a fist into the other’s stomach as they pass.  They stop, by 
mutual consent, and regard each other carefully*

Daisu: You’re interfering. This is my prey.

Inu-Yasha: *sneers* Feh.  Still picking on humans, Daisu?  Afraid to take on someone 
who can fight back?

Daisu: *eyes narrow* I get the feeling we’ve met before.

Inu-Yasha: *smirks* I’m much bigger now.  I don’t need a protector any more - I can 
beat you myself.  (I hope...) 

Daisu: *thinks hard, but tries to conceal his distraction* Well, it’s been a while since I’ve 
had a good meal.  Thanks for interrupting - I’m hungry today.

Inu-Yasha: What, haven’t picked on any young kitsune recently?  Or have you decided 
to give up cannibalism?

Daisu: *eyes widen, then he snickers* Well!  If it isn’t the hanyou!  You should have 
stayed away, ~boy~, I almost forgot about you.  Don’t worry, you won’t escape 
me this time.  *With this, he rushes Inu-Yasha, who draws the Tetsusaiga.  Daisu 
pulls up short, then raises his eyebrows* What, afraid to fight me like a youkai?  
Trying to hide behind a pretty sword?

Inu-Yasha: *enraged* You- *He sheathes the heirloom, and faces Daisu with nothing 
more than his fists* I don’t need it to kill you.  *This time, he ducks Daisu’s first 
punch and returns with one of his own.  A sharp claw snaps at his eye, but is 
easily blocked; a kick at Daisu’s mid-region encounters instead empty air.  
Inu-Yasha leaps into the air, rebounding off a tree and extending all ten claws, 
but Daisu simply isn’t there anymore.  A shadow alerts the half-human, and 
Inu-Yasha pivots mid-flight, catching an elbow just in time.  Both combatants, 
too entwined in each other to steer, crash into the ground and roll.  Innumerable 
blows exchange, but none cause serious damage.  Finally, Inu-Yasha bends his 
knees and kicks Daisu off of him, sending the other flying back.  A momentary lull 
follows as each stands and regards the other.*

Daisu: *spits out blood from a lightly split lip* The little boy isn’t bad.  For a child. (I 
have to admit, the punk’s gotten better.  I’d better watch him closely - but I’ll 
still beat him.)

Inu-Yasha: *twitch* You know, that was over fifty years ago...  I’m not a kid anymore. 
(He’s as strong as I remember, but then, I’ve changed over the years.  He hasn’t.)

Daisu: *casually* You sure? You still fight like one.

Inu-Yasha: You know what I remember most about you?  Your stench.  And I guess 
some things never change!

Daisu: *twitch* Brat. If you weren’t about to die anyway, I’d kill you just for that.

Inu-Yasha: Heh.  Bring it on! 

*They clash again.  Inu-Yasha meets the charging Daisu with a sankon tetsutso, which 
scores a deep gash in the other’s shoulder as the half kitsune tries to dodge.  The 
enraged Daisu returns with roundhouse kick at Inu-Yasha’s head, but the red-clad 
ducks the red-head’s attack and plants a savage foot in his stomach instead.  Inu-Yasha’s 
bar-room brawl technique shocks the elder hanyou, but Daisu finally 
catches on to Inu-Yasha’s fighting style and hammers the other on the head with 
an elbow.  Inu-Yasha reels back, but manages to collect himself in time to block 
the follow-up blow.  Daisu presses his advantage, swinging punch after punch at 
Inu-Yasha, who falls back.*

*THUNK!*

*As Inu-Yasha appears to struggle, a stone bounces off his attacker’s head.  Daisu 
wheels around, looking for the source*

Shippou: *sticking his tongue out* Take that, you big meanie!  

Inu-Yasha: Shippou, you baka!  Get out of here!

Shippou: No way, Inu-Yasha! You need my help, I can tell! Uh- uh- HELP!  *The tyke 
falls off his tree branch as a red-headed man dressed in monks’ robes appears 
inches in front of him.  Shippou scrambles away, but a hand closes around his 
foot, dragging him back through the foliage.  Just as a bunch of claws start to 
rake down, the young kitsune whimpers and squeezes his eyes shut, preparing to 
die - or at least hurt.*

*back at the camp*

Sango: *frowns* Ranma should be back by now, shouldn’t he?

Akane: ... It has been a while.  Do you think-?

Miroku: Inu-Yasha was truly worried about that youkai in this region.  Perhaps they 
encountered it.

Akane: Well, then, we should see if they did.  Let’s go. *runs out of the camp without 
waiting for an answer.  The others follow, if only to keep her out of trouble.*

*At the kitsune village*

Sesshoumaru: *at the gates* I wish to speak to your records-keeper.

Guard: *gruffly* What for?

Sesshoumaru: *eyes narrow* Do not challenge me.  

Guard: I cannot admit you without knowing your business.

Sesshoumaru: I wish to look up references on a relative of mine.

Guard: What relative?

Sesshoumaru: *glare* ...

Guard: *grumbles under his breath* Give me your name, then.

Sesshoumaru: Sesshoumaru.

Guard: *Calls another guard and sends him after the records keeper, with the message 
that a Sesshoumaru wishes to speak.* You’ll have to wait here.  *Sesshoumaru 
takes a seat against a nearby tree.  Jaken waits up in the branches, fuming 
at Sess’s insistence on finding Inu-Yasha’s history.*

*Back in the middle of the woods*

*Shippou squeezes his eyes closed, waiting for doom to land.  And waiting.  And 
waiting.  When the hand about his ankle finally lets go, he cracks open an eyelid.  
Inu-Yasha holds Daisu by the throat against a tree, growling.  His protective 
instinct taking over, the dog-hanyou has suddenly gained his trademark strength 
and speed.  Daisu clutches convulsively at his throat, glaring stubbornly at the 
younger fighter.  A hand sneaks downward, reaching beneath his robes and 
emerging again - a glitter - a snake-like strike-*

Inu-Yasha: *clutching the dagger wound in his stomach, he jumps back, releasing 
Daisu* Ah! *growls* You lying #@$% - you said you wanted a fair fight.

Daisu: *smirks, rubbing his throat and advancing on Inu-Yasha* You should know 
better than to trust a youkai.

Inu-Yasha: *scoffs* You mean ~hanyou~.  Like me.

Daisu: I am nothing like you!  I am strong, not some weakling half-human!

Inu-Yasha: Can’t even keep to your own rules.  *Draws the Tetsusaiga* Prepare for 
death.

Daisu: *eyes narrow; he throws off his robes and reverts from his human disguise to 
his true form: tall, pointy-eared, striped and yellow-eyed* Don’t be so sure, brat. 
*The dagger comes up, and he charges, but Inu-Yasha catches the smaller 
weapon against his sword.  However, the knife is far more maneuverable, and 
Daisu slides it under the larger blade, trying to come in under Inu-Yasha’s guard.  
What he doesn’t know is that Inu-Yasha isn’t above using fists in a sword fight, 
either.  A knuckle sandwich greets the striped face, whose body can’t dodge at 
peril of impaling itself on the steel-cleaving fang.  Daisu ducks away, searching for 
an advantage.  He finds it, sprawled on the ground.*

Daisu: *standing over Ranma’s prone form* You must know this human.  I can’t 
imagine a kid like you randomly searching for an old fight.

Inu-Yasha: *growls* You really ~can’t~ fight fair, can you? *But Inu-Yasha’s protest is 
lost as Ranma grabs the threatening foot over his head and twists it.  The 
unexpected attack works, knocking Daisu to the ground and giving Inu-Yasha 
time to cross the distance and kick the surprised Daisu away.  Before the more 
experienced youkai can get up, Inu-Yasha impales him with his father’s fang, 
ending the fight.*

Daisu: *gasps* You... how could I... lose... *The light fades from his eyes as he falls 
back to the ground, dead. Inu-Yasha pulls the blade from the ground and 
stumbles back, sheathing it.  He kneels over Ranma, who is still conscious*

Ranma: Heh... He shouldn’t’ve counted me out of the fight...

Inu-Yasha: *looking worried and furious* What were you thinking?  I warned you-!

Ranma: *coughs* Okay, okay- I... made a mistake.  *As he murmurs this, Kirara 
appears, leading Sango and the others.  With a gasp, Akane pushes through the 
group and rushes forward*

Akane: Oh, Ranma!  You’re hurt!

Ranma: Really... It’s nothing.  *The others have gathered around him, Sango and 
Miroku hanging back a little*

Sango: We have to get him to Kaede’s house!  It’s his only chance!

Miroku: *quietly, to Sango* If he is to have a chance at all, we must hurry.  

Akane: *kneels beside Ranma’s head* Just hold on, Ranma.  *Sango has 
retrieved a bunch of bandages, and begins wrapping Ranma’s left 
arm.  He flinches, and his right arm tightens about his broken ribs, 
but he makes no sound.  Kagome takes over treating the deep 
scratches on his chest, liberally using a disinfectant as she commands 
Miroku to keep pressure on the wounds.*

Miroku: Inu-Yasha, where is this youkai now?

Inu-Yasha: *Motions to Daisu’s body in the corner of the clearing.* He’s dead.

Sango: Baka Ranma. Taking on a youkai by yourself.

Ranma: *smirks* heh. You sound like Akane.

Akane: And what’s so bad about that? *wipes the blood from his face*

Ranma: ... *looses consciousness*

Akane: *starts panicking* Ranma!  Ranma- wake up! *Sango catches her 
arm, shaking her head*

Sango: Don’t, Akane. Let him conserve his strength.  *Together, the group 
quickly binds Ranma’s wounds, but the bandages soak through 
almost as soon as they go on.*

Inu-Yasha: *shakes his head*  I’m taking him to the village.

Sango: But the villagers-

Inu-Yasha: Know me. * Inu-Yasha hoists his friend onto his back and starts running; Sango, Kagome, and Akane pile onto Kirara and follow.  Miroku and Shippou are left to walk.*

*By the village*

*Inu-Yasha, his cloak long since discarded, walks quickly toward the village, 
his features open to any who would question him.  A pair of priests 
stand guard, as always, but instead of challenging him, they summon 
others in disbelief.  A pair of priestesses and an elderly man confirm 
Inu-Yasha’s identity at the edge of the town.*

Old Man: Inu-cha- kun.  You have grown and returned.

Inu-Yasha: *grumbles at the nick-name* I don’t have time to chat- My 
friend is injured.

Priest: *Eyeing Inu-Yasha with distaste, and Ranma with doubt* How long 
have you known him?

Inu-Yasha: Long enough! Now’s not the time to sit around chit-chatting like 
a bunch of little girls. *One of the priestesses takes Ranma from his 
perch on Inu-Yasha’s back, bearing him away.  Before Inu-Yasha can 
follow, though, the old man grabs his arm* Let me go! *eyes the old 
man, and a much younger face imposes itself in his mind* Yarikon!

Yarikon: *sighing* You’ve not changed a bit, boy. I’m the village head, now, 
and you must tell me what has transpired. Come.

Inu-Yasha: *angrily* I told you-

Yarikon: That you are worried about that boy, but there is nothing you can 
do for him now.  It is up to the healers.  *Inu-Yasha growls a little, 
but knows the old man is right. He follows the elder into a small hut 
in the center of the village*

Inu-Yasha: So you’re the head of the village now, huh? Did Daisu finally get 
Kunoshi?

Yarikon: *glares* Will you never speak well of your elders?  Even the dead? 
*Inu-Yasha snorts in answer.  Yarikon sighs* Why do I even ask?  No, 
Kunoshi died of illness, lung rot.  Now it is my turn to question.  I 
need not ask how the boy became so injured - that’s obviously the 
work of Daisu.  But how did you get him away long enough to 
bandage him before bringing him here?  I wonder... *peers closely at 
Inu-Yasha* 

Inu-Yasha: *crossing his arms and frowning* Daisu’s dead. *His voice 
doesn’t invite question*

Yarikon: *Inu-Yasha’s movement has revealed a redder-than-red section of 
his coat* You’re also hurt!

Inu-Yasha: Feh. Scratch, that’s all. My shirt deflected most of it.

Yarikon: ... Liar.

Inu-Yasha: ... Brat.

Yarikon: *smirks* Suck-up.

Inu-Yasha: *lips twitch* Momma’s boy.

Yarikon: *chuckles* It ~has~ been a while, Inu-Yasha. It is good to see you 
again - even you’re too stubborn to show a wound like the rest of us.  
Or age, for that matter. 

Inu-Yasha: As I recall, the “rest of us” hated me.  Just because their 
mothers had an obsession with my ears.

Yarikon: *wincing* Actually, they admired you.  And Misa cried for two days 
when you left.  But they were all so jealous- you know how kids are. 
*Inu-Yasha had been carefully straight-faced during his own 
pronouncement of his boyhood troubles, but as Yarikon rebuffed 
them, his eyes first widened, then he started sitting a little straighter.*

Inu-Yasha: Yeah.  I know how kids are.  *rueful grin*  (But I didn’t then, 
did I? Maybe the world really isn’t the rat house I always thought it 
was.)  

Yarikon: But now, we really must get to business.  Assuming, of course, 
that you do not wish someone to attend your wound.  *Inu-Yasha 
glares at him* I take that as a “no.” Anyway, can you be certain 
Daisu is dead?

Inu-Yasha: Unless he’s found a way to survive with a hole through his 
heart, yes.

Yarikon: ... You ~have~ grown. All right.  Where? *Inu-Yasha tells him 
approximately the area, and he sends a couple of men to dispose 
of the remains*  And the priests questioned the wisdom of allowing 
a youkai into the town.  How is M?

Inu-Yasha: *shakes his head* She went back to her home after we left.  I 
haven’t seen her since.  *Suddenly, a head pops through the door*

Boy: *leaning in* Headman, Misa-san asks if... if Inu-Yasha has really 
returned...

Yarikon: *sighs* And so it begins.  Yes, he is here.  *The boy disappears*

Inu-Yasha: *his back to the door* Was he staring at my ears?  *Yarikon 
nods*  $#*!.  I hate this part.

*Five minutes later, Inu-Yasha sits in front of the house, his poor ears being 
abused by three little old ladies who keep calling him “Inu-chan!”  
Arranged around him are excited children, all asking him if he’s really 
part demon, etc, etc.  One brave youngster even tugs at his sleeve, 
asking if he really eats little boys, of course he doesn’t, it’s just a 
story, only Kitsune do that, and why doesn’t he answer, and doesn’t 
think girls are totally gross, and, and, and.  Kagome, Akane, and 
Sango arrive, but one look at the scene in front of them sends them 
running the other way, where Inu-Yasha’s sharp ears hear giggles and 
squeals of laughter.  In short, he’s not having a good day.  Finally, a 
young girl appears, asking him to head to the healer’s hut.  He 
gratefully sheds the embarrassing attention to hear of his friend’s 
welfare.*

Inu-Yasha: *confronting the elderly priestess, a carbon copy of Kaede*  
Well?

Kaede-clone: Well, I fear for this one.  He has lost too much blood - I 
cannot be sure he will last the night.  But he is as well as I can make 
him.

Akane: *turns to Kagome* Take him through the well! To a hospital!

Kagome: *nods* Right! Inu-Yasha!

Inu-Yasha: *carefully lifts Ranma* Right. *He leaves through the door, and 
moves at that speed only attainable when someone he cares for needs 
protection.  By midnight, he reaches the well and leaps through - only 
to be attacked by a savage purple-headed woman*

Shampoo: AIREN! *practically tramples Inu-Yasha*

Inu-Yasha: GAH!  Get back, woman!

Shampoo: *grabs Inu-Yasha’s shirt with a grip only an Amazon can have, 
and pulls him out of the well and towards the house* We must call 
doctor!  *Bursts inside, disturbing the family from dinner* Help! 
Ranma hurt!

Mrs. Higurashi: *gasps* What happened? Inu-Yasha? 

Shampoo: No time, just call doctor!  *Mrs. Higurashi scrambles for the 
phone. Soon, the ambulance arrives, and Shampoo tells them a 
hastily created story of a bunch of muggers, and some Amazonian 
healing techniques.  Inu-Yasha, meanwhile, is forced to hide upstairs, 
the others not wanting to alarm the authorities.*

*a hospital waiting room, an hour later*

*Shampoo paces restlessly across the floor, purple hair flying every time 
she turns around.  Mrs. Higurashi waits in one of the chairs for news 
of her sister’s daughter’s fiancé, sipping coffee with that too-alert, 
over-stressed look to her face.  The clock ticks, tocks, ticks... only 
time will tell if Ranma lives or dies.*

*On the road*

*Mousse wearily straightens his glasses as he trudges down the road.  
Shampoo went to the hospital - he had seen the strange white-haired 
one carrying a bloodied Ranma.  Deep in his heart, Mousse hopes 
someone has finally put the selfish martial artist in his place.  Maybe 
then, Shampoo would give up on him... and give Mousse a chance.  
Regardless, Shampoo is at the hospital - so Mousse will follow.  He 
sighs, and continues on.*