Thursday, May 12, 2005

Ties That Bind: Bring on the Fluff
*episode 6*

That night, Inuyasha is sitting in his tree watching the stars. He hears a noise beneath him, and turns to look. Sango is standing at the base of the tree. She calls, “Am I disturbing you Inuyasha?” “No,” he responds, “I’ll be right down.” “Don’t bother.” she says. Sango slips out of her clothing, revealing her slayer outfit underneath. She then proceeds to scale the tree. When she reaches his level, Inuyasha says, “I could have come down you know.” “I know.” she says taking a seat beside him. “I wanted to ask what you and Kohaku were doing this morning.” “I was just talking to him.” Inuyasha says. “I thought he might like getting support from a guy in the middle of all this and I wasn’t about to leave that to the monk.” “Thank you.” Sango says. “Kagome talks about how good you are to her brother. I’m glad you’re trying to help Kohaku.” “He thought we were lovers.” Inuyasha says. “How would he have gotten that idea?” Sango asks. “Well,” Inuyasha says, “you are traveling with two guys. One of them is a monk, so that should rule him out of the running. Plus, he doesn’t know about any of my stuff. I mean it’s not like it’s that strange a notion, is it?” he asks. “No,” she says, “I guess not. It’s just with Kikyo and Kagome; it just seems odd to think about what someone who doesn’t know might think.” “I got enough crazy stuff with just those two.” Inuyasha tells her. “I can’t handle having feelings for both of them, so I can’t allow myself to feel anything more then friendship for you.” “We work well together.” Sango says. “We shouldn’t risk spoiling that. Besides, Kagome’s my friend and she saw you first.” “My being a half-demon can’t help.” Inuyasha says. “What with you being from a long line of demon slayers.” “Neither one of us should be focusing on relationships until after Naraku is defeated.” Sango says. “I wouldn’t want to get in the way between you and that lord.” Inuyasha says. “Nothing’s going to happen between us.” Sango says. Inuyasha says, “So this won’t mean anything.” He bends toward her; she leans toward him. “Sango! Inuyasha!” Kagome shouts. “Dinner’s ready!” Sango quickly drops to the ground and dresses. “I’m coming.” she calls. Inuyasha looks back up at the stars.
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Wednesday, May 11, 2005

Another 2
Ties That Bind: Bring on the Fluff
*episode 4*

Dawn is still an hour off when Inuyasha walks into Kaede’s hut. He walks over to Kohaku and kneels down. He gently jabs the boy’s shoulder. Kohaku opens his eyes and looks up inquisitively. Inuyasha nods at the door then he gets up and leaves. Kohaku silently follows. Inuyasha heads to his favorite tree. When the boy gets there, Inuyasha grabs him and leaps to his branch. Once Kohaku is settled, Inuyasha says, “We have some things we need to talk about.” Kohaku asks, “What’s your relationship to my sister?” Inuyasha asks, “Wadaya mean?” “I’ve missed months of her life.” the boy says. “In that time, she has had to deal with terrible loss, and she has made new relationships. Are you lovers?” Inuyasha says, “No, we’re not. There’s potential there, but we both have other stuff going on in our lives. Sango and I are just friends. I respect her and I care about her. That’s why I wanted to talk with you. You must have thought about dying by now.” “What makes you say that?” Kohaku asks without denying the accusation. “Kohaku,” Inuyasha says, “Hard as it may be to believe, I know what you’re going through. You must have noticed that I’m not human.” Inuyasha’s ears twitch: Kohaku nods. “I’m a half-demon, most of the time. Under certain circumstances I can transform into a full demon. In the past, when that happened, I killed some humans. Granted these weren’t good people, but they were running and I hunted them down and slaughtered them. Afterward, I considered deliberately getting myself killed. If you’ve got a decent heart and you do something like that eventually you’ll start thinking that you’re too dangerous to be allowed to live.” After a pause, Kohaku says, “I killed all those people. People I cared about and people I didn’t even know. They’re all dead and nothing I can ever do can change that, or even make it any better.” Inuyasha says, “No kid, you can’t ever begin to make amends. But here’s the thing, Sango needs you. You’ve hurt so many people; do you want to hurt her too? You’ll just have to learn to live with what you’ve done. But don’t make it worse by forcing a good person like Sango to go through losing you again. If you want to say that she deserves better then you, go ahead. But she wants you, so you have to be better then you are. You have to be what she needs you to be or you can add failing her to your list of things you’ve done wrong.” A long silence is broken by calls from the village, “Kohaku! Kohaku!” “My sister.” Kohaku says. Inuyasha nods. “She’s worried that you ran away.” the half-demon says. “Listen; think about what I’ve told you.” With that, Inuyasha grabs Kohaku and heads for the village.
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Ties That Bind: Bring on the Fluff
*episode 5*

At noon, the entire ensemble is gathered for a meal. Kohaku turns to his sister. “Sango, you have to go after Naraku.” he says. “I can’t go with you. I’m not ready to face him yet.” Sango says, “I know. Kaede says that you’re welcome to stay here. We always get back here after a few days.” “No.” he says. “If I stay here, Naraku will come after me and all these people will be in danger. I have to stay on the move.” “Alright.” she says. “We’ll go. We’ll keep moving and never let Naraku catch up to us.” Kohaku says, “No, like I said, you have to go after Naraku. Your friends need you, and Naraku needs to be stopped. Sister I’m sorry, but we have to separate.” “No!” she says. “I will not leave you to wander on your own!” He says, “Sister, I can’t go with you and you can’t come with me. This is just how it is.” The room is silent. Finally, Kagura says, “Sango, if you’re worried about him being alone, I’ll be going where ever the wind blows me. Naraku is the last person I want to get near to. If you want, and if he wants, Kohaku could come with me. We could stop here every so often, if you’re here, we could stay until you leave. I promise I’d keep him safe. I don’t know if it’s a good one, but it’s an idea.” “I don’t know…” Sango says. “Look Sango,” Inuyasha says, “we don’t have to leave anytime soon. Take as long as you need to makeup your mind.” Kagome and Miroku come in front of Inuyasha. Kagome puts her hand on his forehead and says, “He doesn’t have a fever.” Miroku says, “Maybe he ate something.” Kagome says, “He didn’t get hurt in our last battle.” The monk says, “You may have used sit too much.” “What’re you two blabbering about?” Inuyasha asks. “Inuyasha, are you feeling ok?” Kagome asks. “You’re always in the biggest hurry.” Miroku says. “You always hate waiting, but now you’re telling Sango to take her time.” Inuyasha slugs Miroku. “Knock it off, both of you!” the half-demon says. “How come I get hit and she doesn’t?” the monk asks. “Why’d you think?” Inuyasha asks. Miroku says, “Because you’re in love with Kagome, not with me.” Kagome slaps him. Miroku turns to Sango and says, “Sango…” Sango gives him a right-hook. “And what was that for?” he asks. “I thought it would make me feel better.” she says. “Did it?” Miroku asks. “Actually,” she says, “it did.” “Oh good.” he says. “Now if you’ll all excuse me.” He passes out.
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Tuesday, May 10, 2005

   two short episodes
Ties That Bind: Bring on the Fluff
*episode 2*

Kagura walks out of Kaede’s home. She is crying softly and she doesn’t want anyone to see. Unfortunately for her, Inuyasha is sitting right outside the door. “What’s your problem?” he asks. “I just feel so useless.” she tells him. “Why am I even here? He doesn’t need me, he needs her and he has her. I can’t do anything for him; I was a fool to think I could.” “Are you done yet?” he asks. “Because if you want to keep going then don’t let me stop you. Look Kagura, we wouldn’t have got him without your help. You were the one who thought of getting Sesshomaru involved. Aside from those, when he woke up you were the one he wanted.” She says, “But that was only because…” Inuyasha cuts her off, “It don’t matter why he did, it still happened that way. Now, if you want to stop trying to help him, I won’t try to talk you out of it. But don’t go blaming it on him for not needing you. That kid is gonna need every friend he can get. So ask yourself, do you want to help him? If so, then get a hold of yourself. You can’t help him by being hysterical. And if not, then he’s better off without you. Either way, it comes down to what you want.” Kagura thinks for a long moment. “I want to help him.” she says. “Then welcome to the team.” he says. “Now calm down and wait for him to call for you.” Kagura dries her eyes and nods. Just then, Sango comes out. She says, “He’s ok for the moment. Kagome’s feeding him and then he’s going to try to get some more sleep. Kagura, I want to thank you. He needed you and you were there for him.” “I’ll do what ever I can.” she says. “I just wish that there was something more I could do.” “I feel the same way.” Sango says.
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Ties That Bind: Bring on the Fluff
*episode 3*

The girls are taking shifts watching Kohaku. It’s night, Kagome has gone home, and Sango is sleeping. Kagura and Kohaku are sitting next to each other. Kagura asks, “Do you remember when you cared for me; when Naraku was torturing me?” “Yes, I do.” he says. “I’m sorry.” “What are you apologizing for?” she asks. “I didn’t stop him.” he says. “I tried, but I was never able to stop him, not once.” Kagura takes his face in her hands, “Look at me Kohaku. Never apologize for those days. I have never been as happy as I was there, with you.” They stare deep into each others eyes. They draw close; their noses touch. Then they turn away. Neither one is ready for what almost happened. “Come here.” she says. She draws him into her arms and holds him. She begins to sing. It is the only song she knows. It is the same song Sango had hummed earlier. It is the song Kohaku had sung when he held her in Naraku’s pit. He now knows that it was the lullaby his mother use to sing. She sings off key: she has never tried before. But as she holds him, he begins to feel at peace for the first time since his ordeal began. When she reaches the end of the song they stay there. At length she says, “Kohaku…I think I love you.” He stares up at her. She says, “I don’t know how else to describe what I’m feeling. I’ve never talked about my feelings. I’ve never felt anything but pain and hate. But you changed that. Your sister, she calls what she feels for you love; and that has to be something like what I’m feeling. But it’s different; I think. I just don’t know what I’m feeling. I’m sorry.” “Kagura…” Kohaku says. He puts his palm against her cheek. “I’m not sure either, but I don’t want you to leave. If you did, you’d be all alone. I want you to stay here with us…with me.” “Then I’ll stay.” she says.
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Monday, May 9, 2005

Ties That Bind: Bring on the Fluff
*episode 1*
It is evening and Kaede has four guests. Two of them are familiar, her sister’s reincarnation and the demon slayer. However, this is her first time meeting the other two. Kagome is preparing soup from the strange packages she brings back with her from the other side of the old well. Kagura is lying on a blanket holding Kohaku; or more accurately, being held by him. Ever since his ill-fated attempt at consciousness he has been sleeping with his arms locked around her. Sango is sitting against a wall, trying very hard to look happy. She isn’t fooling anyone. She and Kagura keep exchanging apologetic glances. Sango’s eyes clearly state that she is sorry that Kagura hasn’t been able to move in hours; while Kagura’s eyes say that she is sorry that she is the one Sango’s brother clung to. Kagome brings Sango a cup of noodles. She sits by her friend and talks quietly. “Well, we finally got him back. The shard is gone and Sesshomaru kept his end of the bargain. When he wakes up I’m sure he’ll feel better and be happy to see you.” Sango says, “He was afraid of me. When he saw me, he was terrified.” Kagura calls softly, “He wasn’t afraid of you. He was afraid for you. Naraku had him kill many people. Now that he has his memories back, he was afraid that he would hurt you. But me, I’m from Naraku’s world. He knows he won’t hurt me because I’m Naraku’s servant.” “But you’re not his servant anymore.” Kagome says. “But he doesn’t know that.” Kagura says. “At least not on the level he was working from. He felt like he wouldn’t hurt me, so I’m the one he came to. He ran because he cares about you, Sango.” A new voice interrupts, “I’m sorry.” “Kohaku!” Sango says. As she starts to get up, he says, “No! Stay back! Please stay back.” As Sango settles back down Kohaku turns his face toward her and says, “Sister, I…I can’t be near you, not now. My hands,” he begins to cry, “My hands are still covered in blood. I can’t touch you with these hands.” He rolls over turning his back to Kagura. After a pensive moment, Sango stands and says, “Kaede, I want to ask your forgiveness.” The old priestess asks, “For what do ye apologize child?” Sango reaches for her weapon and says, “Your village, I’m going to destroy it now.” All eyes are on her. “If my hands are too clean to hold my little brother, then I must drench them in the blood of the innocent. I’ll raise the village: I’ll kill everyone. The young, the old, I’ll kill them all if that’s what it takes.” She is deathly serious, no one questions that. Kohaku says, “Sango…” He throws himself at her and clings to her legs. She drops the Hiraikotsan and falls to her knees. Brother and sister embrace. She says through her own tears, “I don’t care what you have done. You are my little brother and I love you. I’m not about to lose you; not to Naraku. He took our entire clan from us. I refuse to let him take you, and if you let what he made you do stand between us then that is exactly what will have happened.” Kohaku says, “Sister, I’m sorry!” “I know.” she says. “It hurts!” he says. “I know.” she says. “I know it hurts and I’m sorry. I should have protected you better. You should never have had to face any of this. I failed you and father and everyone. But please, don’t leave me. Please Kohaku, don’t leave me alone again.” As she holds him to her, she begins to hum. She hums a childhood tune they both remember. No one notices, but when Sango starts to hum, Kagura starts to cry.
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Sunday, May 8, 2005

Happy M's Day
Independence Day: A New Beginning
*episode 5*

Kohaku stands upon a hill. He is alone, and he stares off into the distance. A strong breeze strikes and Kagura is standing before him. “Kohaku!” she says. “I’m so glad I found you. Your sister is waiting. Come.” She turns away from him. He lashes out with his scythe, slicing deep into her back. She collapses forward. “If I didn’t know better,” she says, “I would think you weren’t happy to see me.” But, her voice is different. She turns to face him, smiling. As her hair turns from black to brown to red, a metal staff slams into the side of Kohaku’s head. A young girl climbs the crest of the hill, carrying a mirror. As she turns her mirror on the imposter and his companion a purple streak swoops in from another hill. It strikes the mirror, driving it and the girl back. A great two-tailed cat, bearing a female demon slayer flies in and collects the monk, the fox, and the unconscious boy. As Kirara takes flight, a hoard of demons pour from the sky. From the same other hill, a windscar rips them to shreds. Finally, the last element of Naraku’s trap falls into place. A mighty demon puppet rises directly in Kirara’s path. The cat is caught in a tentacle. Then a dance of blades cuts her free. As the puppet turns its attention to Kagura, the final blow is struck. Sesshomaru cleaves the puppet in half with a single attack. Kirara heads off into the distance with Kagura and Sesshomaru right behind her. After picking up Kagome, Inuyasha heads after them. Less then two minutes have passed since Shippo first touched down.

As the boy slowly opens his eyes, the first thing he sees is an old priestess. He is in a small house, resting by a fire. He sits up. His vision is blurry and the world seems to be swimming. Gradually, another figure comes into focus. The harder he tries to see her face, the less clear it becomes. Then suddenly, her face jumps forward. As he sees her face, emotions stir up from deep within him. He feels something but he isn’t sure what it is. Suddenly, the feeling comes out of the shadows and shatters him. Pain and sorrow and, above all, guilt pour into his heart. He makes a sound which is at the same time a scream and a moan. Then, the girl is coming toward him. In his terror, he manages to hurl himself away from her. Suddenly, he is being grabbed by another girl; he turns to see this one’s face and is confronted by the same feeling. He bolts again, and collides with someone else. As their bodies go sprawling, he feels powerful, yet slender arms around his waist. He struggles to break free, but the third person will not let go. Suddenly, a voice over powers his pounding heartbeat, “Kohaku! Kohaku, it’s alright!” suddenly he knows that the person holding him is not like the other two. She doesn’t cause pain in his heart. She doesn’t hate him. He wraps his arms around her and she holds him as he begins to remember who he is. Afterward, he can’t say how long he stayed there; it could have been seconds, or it could have been days. However, he knows that however long it was, she stayed there and held him until he had relived it all. Then he slept.
*the end*
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Saturday, May 7, 2005

Independence Day: A New Beginning
*episode 4*

…no and, for a third time, no!” Inuyasha shouts. “Please Inuyasha, this is important!” Sango says. “She’d do it for you!” Kagome adds. Miroku asks, “Inuyasha, isn’t it more important that we save Kohaku?” “That’s easy for you to say!” shouts Inuyasha. “Just swallow your pride and do it.” Shippo chips in. “Like Hell!” says Inuyasha. “There ain’t no way that I’m getting on my knees and begging for help from Sesshomaru!” “It’s the only way I can get my brother back.” says Sango. “Find another way!” he says. “Inuyasha!” Kagome calls. Recognizing that tone of voice, he turns to her with terror on his face. She shouts, “SIT! SIT, SIT, SIT, SIT, SIT, SIT, SIT, SIT, SIT, SIT!” The monk kneels beside the half demon and says, “Feel free to give up anytime.” “SIT!” Kagome says. “SIT, SIT, SIT…

Inuyasha stands before his brother. He looks down and says, “…please.” Sesshomaru says, “Pathetic. On your knees!” Miroku’s staff slams into the back of Inuyasha’s knee as Sango and Kagura each push down on a shoulder. From his knees, Inuyasha says, “Please.” Kagome says “Inuyasha!” “Please brother, I need your help.” he says. “Go on.” Sesshomaru says. Inuyasha continues, “Without your help I won’t be able to save Kohaku.” “And why is that?” Sesshomaru asks. “Because you have the Tenseiga!” Inuyasha shouts. “Sit!” Kagome interjects. From the ground, Inuyasha says, “Because I’m just a half-demon and I’m not strong enough.” Sesshomaru takes a long minute to savor what he has heard. Finally he says, “Very well little brother, I will help you.” “Thank you!” Sango says. “You too Inuyasha.” Inuyasha lets out a groan.
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Friday, May 6, 2005

Independence Day: A New Beginning
*episode 3*

It is the calm after the storm. The lord of the western lands walks in a new, clean world of the dawn. His ward and his vassal are sheltered in a cave nearby. As they sleep he wanders out into the fresh moist air. Suddenly, a wind picks up. A scent on the breeze excites his senses. He turns to face the wind…and raises an eyebrow in surprise. Where he had expected to see one, he sees three. They land and one comes toward him. He says, “Kagura, you travel in strange company.” She responds, “The demon slayer and I have a common goal. It is what we have come to discuss.” “I know of nothing we have to discuss which would be any business of hers.” he tells her. “I want to free her brother from Naraku.” Kagura says. “I want your help.” “Why would I possibly want to free a dead human?” he asks. Kagura asks, “How about for whatever reason you helped me?” “I freed you because I want to mate with you.” he says. “Is that your price?” she asks. “Kagura?” Sango says. The demoness turns to her, “Stay out of this Sango.” She looks back at the lord, “Well Sesshomaru, is that what you desire?” Sesshomaru turns to leave. “So it is acceptable for Naraku to sell you my flesh but not for me?” she asks. He turns back, “I want you only as a willing companion! I do not want you if you do not want me.” “I’ll admit that I would not mind paying this price.” she says. “But I am not looking for a mate.” “Then why are you doing this?” he asks. “If you do not seek to have him sire half-breed bastards, why do you want him? You have your freedom, is that not enough?” “I…don’t know why I want him, but it is important to me.” He turns away in thought. Slowly a smile spreads across his face. He turns back to Kagura, “Nothing you can do could make me want to help you. However, your friend just might be able to.” Sango asks, “What ever happened to half-breed bastards?” “Do not flatter yourself child.” he says. “If I sought to follow in my father’s footsteps, I could certainly find a far greater beauty then you. No, what I have in mind will be far more pleasurable for me.” His smile has turned into a grin. He says, “Human, listen well, if you want my help this is what you must do…
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Thursday, May 5, 2005

Independence Day: A New Beginning
*episode 2*

A little later, Kagura and Sango are sitting by Sango’s fire. Kagura has just explained the significance of her heartbeat. Sango is still not completely trusting, but she’s willing to go along for the minute. She asks, “So if you’re free, why come here?” “There’s something I have to do.” Kagura says. “After I tried to free Kohaku, Naraku tortured me. Each time he was finished, he sent Kohaku to tend my wounds. Only, it wasn’t the Kohaku I had known. That Kohaku was a lifeless tool; an extension of Naraku’s will. This Kohaku had emotion, he took care of me and he was kind. When I tried to free him, it was just a way of striking out at Naraku. But now, I want to help him. I…I don’t know. I feel something when I think about him. I want his freedom the way I wanted my own. Is any of this making any sense?” she asks on the verge of tears. “More then you might think.” Sango tells her. Kagura composes herself. “There are things I need to know.” she says. “I didn’t exist when Kohaku died. I never learned the whole story. Before I can try to help him, I have to know what happened to him. That brought me here. I know that Naraku destroyed this place to get the jewel shards you were collecting. I know that Kohaku was killed and then brought back to life with a shard of the jewel. But something else happened. Naraku punished Kohaku by showing him memories from his past. They were enough to make him serve Naraku. Even if I can get him away from Naraku, even if I free him, he will still need to face his memories.” “Kagura,” Sango says, “first of all, it’s not a question of you. It’s a question of us. I’m not sure I can trust you, but any attempt to free Kohaku begins with me. But if you are telling the truth, I’d be glad to have your help.” Kagura nods and even smiles. “The first problem we have to face is the jewel shard.” Sango says. “Even if Naraku would let Kohaku go, he would never give up the shard.” “Even if he would,” Kagura says, “that would be no way to live, always being attacked for it. No, the jewel shard has to go.” Sango says, “But, without it, he will die. Even Kagome’s medicine won’t be able to help him.” “There’s another way.” Kagura says. “Sesshomaru’s sword the Tenseiga, it can revive the dead. We take out the shard and use the Tenseiga to bring him back.” Sango is stunned. “How do we get Sesshomaru to help us?” she asks. “I’m not sure.” Kagura admits. “But have you got an alternative?” “No.” Sango says. “The hard part will be once we have him free, helping him deal with his past.” Kagura says. “Which brings us back to what happened here.” “We were summoned to a lord’s castle.” Sango begins. “It was a trick. While we were slaying a minor demon, Naraku took control of Kohaku’s body. He forced him to kill our father and several other slayers. Then Kohaku was turned on me. We fought until Naraku had his guards shoot arrows at us. Kohaku was killed and I was gravely injured. Also, Naraku has had Kohaku do other terrible things. He’s a good boy. Knowing what happened, he would blame himself.” Kagura looks glum. “Then I suppose there is no way to avoid this destroying him.” she says. “You know him better then I do. Is he strong enough to put himself back together? He wouldn’t be alone. I know how much that can mean. He’ll have you, and, to whatever extent I can be helpful, he’ll have me too.” Sango thinks. “It won’t be easy on him, but he can survive. But we will need help.”
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