Wednesday, November 23, 2005

   Huray!!!
I just made the top 500 popularity list. If you follow this link and scroll to the bottom of the page you'll see my name there. ^_^
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Inumittsu
*episode 2*

Inuyasha and Konpon are walking in the woods outside her hut. The old woman is gathering herbs, and the boy is full of questions. “Konpon,” he asks, “Why are you gathering those plants?” She says, “At this point, mostly out of habit. For most of my life I have gathered herbs and medicinal plants; I find it hard to stop.” “What do you need them for?” Inuyasha asks. She says, “When a priestess guards a village, she must see to the health of its inhabitants.” “A village,” he says, “But you don’t live in a village.” “No,” she says, “But I did till of late. Only now, in my last days, have I sought the privacy of a hermitage.” “Last days?” he asks. She nods, “I am old, little one. Soon enough I will die. But more than that, I am weak. I can no longer string a bow; let alone hit a mark. I cannot move quickly when I am needed; and I cannot endure until a task is finished. Another priestess has come to care for my people, so I have gone here to be alone.” After a long pause, Inuyasha asks, “Does that mean I have to leave; so you’re alone?” She tells him, “No little one, if fate has thrown you in my lap; so be it. I will teach you what you must learn to survive; at least for as long as I am able. For starters, it has been some time since I have tasted food which can run away from me. Use that nose of yours and find a rabbit.” Inuyasha asks, “But how do I get it?” The old woman tells him, “You have claws, use them.” The boy turns from the old woman and stares at the ground. She says, “You are thinking of the boy; the one you harmed with those claws. His fate was his own making; but so is yours. If you refuse to use your claws you are choosing to not survive. I am tired; I shall return home to rest. We shall have rabbit for dinner, or we will not eat. I can go through the night unfed, can you?” With that said, she turns and walks back to her hut. It is not until late in the evening, but they do eat rabbit that night.
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Tuesday, November 22, 2005

Inumittsu
*episode 1*

Inuyasha awakens to an unfamiliar, yet recognizable scent of cooking. He opens his eyes and sees the old priestess Konpon stirring a pot of porridge. She looks to him, “Good morning little one.” The night before, she had coxed his entire story out of him. Although much of what caused the events that he has been party to escapes him, she feels she knows well enough who and what he is. She was hardly surprised to find that one such as him would have no place in the world; but for him to have had one and then lost it so completely complicates things greatly. If the boy had been forced to either learn to survive on his own, or die at a much younger age he would now be more functional. However, the protection he clearly received from his mother and her station means that he now knows nothing about how to live. The old woman had no intention of finding such a hobby in her old age; but then she did fish him from the river. She can’t very well put him back, so, for the moment at least; she will have to care for him.
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Monday, November 21, 2005

Inuexodus
*episode 7*

Inuyasha awakens to consciousness warm and dry. His wet clothing is gone and he has been wrapped in a blanket. There is a fire nearby which he can feel, hear, and smell. He also smells many strange herbal smells and a human whose scent seems to be interwoven with the plants. He opens his eyes to take in his new surroundings. He is in a small hut from whose ceiling hangs every imaginable root or herb. Next to him, stoking the fire, is the oldest woman he has ever seen. She wears a strange white and red outfit. As he looks, she turns to face him and smiles. “Calm yourself, little one.” she says. “You are safe.” Unable to find his voice, Inuyasha simply stares at her. She says, “My name is Konpon; I am a priestess. You are in my home.” Finding his voice, he asks, “What’s a priestess?” Smirking, Konpon says, “I am; and enough said about that. Now, have you a name?” He nods; she says, “Will you tell it to me; or should I guess?” The boy asks, “Don’t you hate me?” She says, “No little one; I neither hate nor fear you. Now about your name?” He says, “…Inuyasha.” She nods, “It fits you; although you are not a true demon.” Inuyasha, having seen that when people find out that he is a half-demon they attack him, tries to make ready to flee. “There is no need for that little one. I knew what you were when I fished you from the river. Had I meant you harm I had only to leave you be.” He settles back. She turns back to the fire and he sits there for a minute. Eventually he says, “Konpon…” She cuts him off, “That’s lady Konpon to you.” Inuyasha takes a moment to process this, then he says, “And I’m lord Inuyasha.” The old woman laughs, “A lord are you? Well, lord Inuyasha, you have no subjects here and I no congregants. So you may call me Konpon and I shall call you little one. Now, let’s get some food into you.”
*The End*
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Sunday, November 20, 2005

Inuexodus
*episode 6*

Some time later, Inuyasha uncurls himself. Sniffing the air, he realizes that the people, whoever they were, are gone. They must not have seen where he hid. He is now completely alone and he has no idea what to do in the long term. However, the fleeing flea’s advice is still the best idea he has, so he heads toward the forest. The sun will set soon and he hopes to find a hiding place before dark. As he enters the woods, new unfamiliar scents await him. Unlike his grandfather’s woods, which are patrolled by human soldiers, this forest is wild and demons live here unchallenged. Having only the one experience with the imp and having had two bad encounters with humans since, Inuyasha decides that he would rather take his chances with the demons. Quite by accident, he gets an opportunity to put this preference into practice almost immediately. As the sun goes down, he stumbles into a clearing inhabited by two demons and an ogre. Before he can back away, they see him and confront him. One demon says, “Just a runt.” The other asks, “You got kin?” Inuyasha shakes his head. The first demon says, “Well, this is our turf. Stay out’a our way or you’ll get hurt.” The boy nods his head and turns to go. Just then, the ogre says, “Wait a minute! E don’t smell right.” It steps closer and begins to sniff the boy. He stands up to his full height and says, “A boyz, e’s an arf-breed!” The two formerly passive demons suddenly become focused on the boy. “He’s right!” the first one says. “Get him!” Having learned from experience, Inuyasha turns and runs. As he dashes through the woods, the boy hears them in pursuit. The demons see him running away and, knowing the forest, realize that he will soon be cornered. They know that the boy is heading toward a ravine over a treacherous river. As they clear the trees, they fail to see him. As the three approach the edge, they look down at the rapids below. Figuring that there is no way that a weak half-demon could survive both the fall and the river, they turn back disappointed at their lost kill. The top of the cliff juts out above the rest forming a small ledge. Beneath that ledge, Inuyasha hears them leaving. He is clinging to the rockface and emulating it as best he can. When he is certain that they have gone, he begins to climb down the cliff. He doesn’t consider that there is nothing beneath him except an impassible river because he isn’t thinking. He merely knows that the demons are back the way he came so he needs to go another way. When he is about halfway down, a handhold crumbles and he loses his footing. As he strikes the water, he hits his head and loses consciousness.
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Saturday, November 19, 2005

Inuexodus
*episode 5*

Humans can be so petty. We should be at home, defending the sacred jewel lest it be taken once again. But instead here we are cleaning up some human lord’s domestic problems. But I’m not ready to do this on my own, so I put up with it. If Midoriko were here, she’d talk some sense into them. But anyway, there he is. Does he really think I can’t see him? I’d better make this quick. What’s this, oh great. He’s crying for his mother. This is absurd. He’s dangerous? This kid won’t last a week out here, and he won’t hurt anyone. Would it be better to just end his pain? No, I can’t do that. Just thinking of how Midoriko would look at me is enough to stop me. It’s been years and I can still picture exactly how she would react. Well, if I’m going to “spare” him, I’d better lead my comrades in the wrong direction.
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Friday, November 18, 2005

Inuexodus
*episode 4*

Inuyasha is traveling away from the village and the forest as he has been for most of the day. Once he has a chance to practice, he finds that he can run at least as fast as a human adult. He sees another forest ahead and hopes to find shelter in it. All of this is at Myoga’s advice; and as yet, his guide has not misled him. Suddenly a tail-wind brings him new smells. Unknown humans are behind him; and something else he can’t place. He stops and turns back. Using his Superhuman vision, he clearly sees two men and a woman in black suits running toward him. Another man is leading the group from the back of the strangest horse Inuyasha has ever seen. It appear to be much smaller than a horse and its off-white fur seems more feline than equine. The man on its back is carrying a large L shaped object over his shoulder. As Inuyasha watches, the man jumps clear of the beast and braces his feet. Summoning great strength, he raises the object above his head and flings it forward. It spins directly toward Inuyasha who barely manages to doge it. As he looks, he sees the weapon make a great arc and then return to its master. “Myoga,” the boy asks, “What’s goin’ on?!?” The flea says, “I had heard rumors of these ones; but I thought that they were a myth. But never mind that, we are in danger.” Inuyasha asks, “Like at the village?” Myoga says, “Yes, only more so. Which is why I would advise you to run. Speaking of which, so long.” As the half-demon watches helplessly, his companion dashes off abandoning him. Keeping enough of his wits about him, Inuyasha turns and runs. Before he does, he sees that the two-tailed cat/horse has not stopped and that, unhindered by a rider, it is pursuing him. As he runs, his feet snag in a bush root and he falls on his face. Pulling himself under the bush, he balls up and hopes that he won’t be seen.
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About yesterday’s comments
There seems to be some misunderstanding about the setting of this story. Inuyasha is 5. The demon slayers mentioned now are Sango’s distant ancestors. However, the flame-cat among them is Kirara.
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Thursday, November 17, 2005

Inuexodus
*episode 3*

The old lord is in a foul mood. His precious daughter is dead (not that he didn’t consider her dead to him long ago), he has lost a promising officer in his ill fated attempt to contact the boy’s brother, the servant Chuugimaru (who had lived for years in his house, and it is his house, not his daughter’s) chose to follow the wrenched half-breed instead of taking a place of honor on the lord’s own staff, and now this. One of his vassals has just brought a complaint to him in person. Apparently the half-breed, no longer traveling in the old man’s company, has attacked a child in a village belonging to this vassal. Chuugimaru would not have left the boy of his own accord; the monster probably murdered the old man in his sleep. Anyway, there is only one course of action. Calling to an attendant, he says, “He must be dealt with. Send for them.” His servant says, “But m’lord; he is lady Izayoi’s son…” The lord cuts the man off, “He is not! That beast and his foul sire are in no way connected to this family. This lapse of judgment will be expunged from my daughter’s memory for as long as I live. Now go!” “M’lord.” the attendant says, bowing. These new warriors have gained quite a reputation over the last few years, and now he will see if these so called “Demon Slayers” can live up to their name.
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Wednesday, November 16, 2005

Inuexodus
*episode 2*

Several hours later, Inuyasha reaches the edge of the forest. Officially out of his grandfather’s domain, he accepts his companion’s assurances that they are now relatively safe. Stretched out before him is a cultivated valley in the domain of one of Inuyasha’s grandfather’s vassals. In the distance, he sees a village. The boy has no idea what to do; and the flea is less than overflowing with ideas. Despite a cautionary word from Myoga, Inuyasha heads toward the town. As he approaches, he sees a group of village children gathered in a field playing a simple game with a ball. Inuyasha has never been around anyone his own age, the people of the castle always kept their children a cautious distance from him; but he has seen adults playing similar games and decides to join. A small girl loses the ball and runs after it. It stops at Inuyasha’s feet and he picks it up. The girl’s attention is focused on the ball, and she takes a moment before she looks at the newcomer who is holding it. When she does, she screams and dashes back to the safety of the others. Two boys, nearly old enough to join the men in the fields, step protectively in front of the younger children. One whispers to the other, “It’s a demon. We should run; now.” Realizing that thinking that he is a demon is going to drive these people from him, Inuyasha calls out, helpfully, “I’m not a demon; I’m a half-demon.” Relaxing, the boys step forward. The one who has remained silent up till now says, “See, it’s just a filthy half-breed. We can deal with him on our own.” Glad that they aren’t about to run, Inuyasha tosses the ball to the closer one. The boy doesn’t react and the ball thuncks against his chest. As Inuyasha goes to get the ball, the first boy comes up behind him and hits him. Unbalanced, Inuyasha falls on his face. Turning to look at the boys with a puzzled stare, Inuyasha sees them come at him. They both begin to hit and kick him. Inuyasha raises his arms to shield his face and hears Myoga call, “Lord Inuyasha, Run!” That is exactly what the young half-demon tries to do, but the boys won’t stop hitting him long enough for him to get to his feet. As the pounding continues, Inuyasha realizes that they aren’t about to stop. Running having failed and having no other ideas; he decides to try hitting back. He pulls back his arm and strikes out at the arm of one of the boys. Suddenly, the world is flooded with new sensory information: he smells a rich iron scent flooding the air, he hears a wail of pain, he feels flesh parting before his claws, and he sees red blood gushing from the boy’s arm. The injured boy collapses in the ground, screaming; and the other boy, along with all the other children, flee in terror. Slowly, Inuyasha gets to his feet. He tries to reach out to help the boy, but his screams become louder until Inuyasha backs away. He is unsure what to do, but his companion is not. Myoga calls, “M’lord, look there.” The boy looks where he is instructed and sees a number of village men hurrying toward him. The flea says, “They mean us ill master; hurry away from this place.” Seeing the hate in the eyes approaching him, Inuyasha turns and runs.
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