Unexpected Places

Disclaimer: Checks in file cabinet. “Damnit! No copyright to Inuyasha!---- But a girl can dream right?” *sighs*…………Thanks Rumiko Takahashi for letting my imagination run wild.


The Northern Mountains


Her eyes refocused when Inuyasha jerked to a stop. The noon day sun was almost literally baking her back. The heavy material of her haori wasn’t helping to cool her off either.

“Over there,” she pointed out for Inuyasha a cave up in the hills. They were getting close to the Northern Mountains. They could walk and still be there before sundown. She was in no hurry so she silently decided they were having a long lunch. It was a quick hop, skip, and a jump to the cave. Her feet touched the ground and soon she was waking up Toka and Shippo.

“Are we there yet?” young Shippo asked trying to cover his yawn and stretch at the same time. Toka on the other hand just stared at her and grumbled. He immediately began to clean himself because during the journey he had gotten damp from her sweat. She gave him an impish grin then chuckled.

“Yes Shippo we are just around the corner from it,” she said while going through her satchel to retrieve some dried meat for lunch. An animal skin pouch full of water appeared from the bag and was passed around.

“You seem to be bored Shippo. Do you like games?” Neara asked.

His eyes lit up brightly in excitement, “Do I. I love games.”

“After lunch we can decide which game to play on the road,” replied she. Inuyasha looked a little peeved at the decision.

***

How in the hell did he get himself into these situations? One minute they were walking and the next they were playing the age-old game of Tag (A/N: So what if I bent the rules a little bit). He mentally sighed when Neara began by tapping Shippo on the shoulder saying, “Tag. You’re it.” He continued to walk and carry on as usual, but when nimble fingers tapped him on the shoulder and the raven-haired miko run past him, he couldn’t give up the chase. The excitement was a tangible thing and he was getting drunk off her excitement alone. Shippo was forgotten as he chased after her. He knew he could easily catch her, but what would be the fun in that.

“Come on puppy, no holding back. I want to see how well I fair against the almighty Inuyasha,” she called back to him laughing.

He smirked. If that’s what she wanted, who was he to deny her. He ran faster, but not too much faster to take away from the thrill.

He was catching up to her and as he was getting ready to catch and tackle her to the ground, she turned abruptly and he went face first into the dirt skidding to a halt. He heard a faint laugh float to his ears. Inuyasha grumbled cursing to himself. She had challenged him and by all Godds he was going to catch her.

A flash of ebony was seen not too far away and he scrambled up to chase after her. Every time he reached a hand out to grab her, she would make an abrupt turn forcing him to do the same. He changed his strategy because in truth he was starting to get pissed.

She made a swift 90 degree turn on the balls of her feet, taking off again at full speed. Inuyasha did the same, but pushed himself a little further to be right behind her. All he had to do was reach a hand out and…

He caught her.

Just as he tackled her to the ground, she disappeared in a puff of smoke. He rolled immediately to his back. When the smoke cleared, sitting on his chest was the trickster Shippo. His little hand and finger reached out to point at him and…

He laughed.

Inuyasha closed his eyes and scrapped his claws into the earth as his hands balled into fists.

Shippo’s laughing was insistent and rather embarrassing. He was tricked by both Neara and Shippo. The hanyou felt a tick in his left eye begin to twitch. His brow, his lips, hell his whole face lowered into a very unpleasant frown. How dare they play games with him. Neara was really gonna get it because more than likely she was the one who instigated it in the first place, but since Shippo was within arms reach he was going to start with the kitsune. Unfortunately the youkai could smell his explosive anger and stopped laughing, waiting.

“Decided to stop because you could tell that it wasn’t funny, did ya?” he almost exploded.

The kitsune carefully jumped off Inuyasha’s chest. “It is funny,” the kit supplied innocently.

Inuyasha exploded. “That’s it!” His eyes snapped open quickly getting to his feet to begin the chasing of Shippo.

“You couldn’t have been the one who thought of it. Where’s Neara?” he yelled as he ran after the little kit who was escaping and evading with some pretty neat maneuvers.

Some 30 yards or so away, a miko was laughing her ass off silently. The switch was easy when he had fallen on his face the first time she had eluded him. She distanced herself rather quickly in the branches high above so she could watch. His determination was evident on his face the whole time he chased the transformed Shippo. Good thing Shippo changed directions when the wind would shift keeping him down wind from Inuyasha to keep the ruse up.

She jumped from her haven to the ground as the guys drifted off some, away from her. Neara watched the hilarious display until the wind seemed to change and catch her attention. She could feel something in the air as it silently whispered to her. She turned towards the direction from which it came.

As she walked in the general direction of the sensation which pulled her towards it, the human noticed the stillness of the breeze and how much the presence of evil seemed to permeate in the air. She came across a clearing that seemed to be void of anything. No animal ventured into the secluded spot nor did any vegetation dare to cultivate in the darkened spot near the center of the supposedly peaceful place. Neara looked around to see something she had never seen before in her entire lifespan….

The trees seemed to be bent away from the area around the black circle. This was not natural. Why would trees want to grow away from here? What could be so vile as to bring fear into the very Earth itself?

Walking more into the area, she could feel an ominous aura that was about two weeks old. Her eyes widened at the thought of the power from such evil having a lasting effect after two weeks and it was still strong as if the strongest youkai just left not too long ago. Fear sent a shiver down her spine. Who was this person and how come she didn’t know about it earlier? Someone this strong should have alerted her senses when they had entered this world. The breeze flew across her face giving her a memory.

Was that the devilish presence she felt two weeks ago during the new moon? Was this the reason why Toka wanted her to come here?

She stared at the feline as he decided to make himself known, sitting near the edge of the clearing just staring at her.

“How did you find out?” she prodded.

There was a shift in you that I had sensed when you had met Inuyasha.

“Do you think this shift could have resulted in the emergence of this evil?”

That could be a possibility.

“Why do I feel like I am getting no where and you might know more than what you are saying?”

My lady, your uncle appointed me as your retainer. I am here to help you, but you just don’t ask the right questions.

“You and your damn riddles,” she scoffed. “Make sure Inuyasha hasn’t killed Shippo. I have a feeling that from this point on we will be running into a little bit of trouble.---- Oh, and make sure you find a safe place to hide. I will be back to collect you.”

She drove away her fear as the miko slowly stepped towards the vile blackened spot. Toka was just now leaving as she neared it.

“Alright wench.” Neara jumped. She was so focused on the tarnished grass that she didn’t hear Inuyasha approach. “Why…so…” The question died in his throat as he too stepped into the clearing and felt the vile aura that was given off. “Holy hell.” It was the same thing Neara was thinking.

She bent down to get a better look at the scorched earth. Touching the patch she quickly drew her hand back as if burnt widening her eyes at the intense feel of sorrow and despair. That must have been the reason why she had remembered a piece of her pained past was because this evil gained strength off creature’s pain, sorrow, and despair. Even their fears. Neara frowned. A power like that could do a lot of damage. Exploiting people’s fears was very powerful, but something that wasn’t unheard of. Youkai did it all the time, but this was different.

She never would have remembered if it wasn’t for this power. Again she touched the scarred earth only to scrape enough to place on her tongue immediately spitting it out. Indeed this power was definitely strong.

Her brow turned down in concentration. This power was old. Older than even she. What would possess something as evil as this to come back? Then again what usually possesses evil to do anything, but to acquire more power. She just hoped that she was strong enough to vanquish this devil.

“Uh, Neara what’s going on? This doesn’t feel youkai at all,” Inuyasha worried slightly.

“I have no clue as to who this is, but it is in our best interest to find out before something goes wrong,” she replied turning towards him. Shippo ran up to her shoulder hoping to find comfort. She gave him as much as she could.

The miko took one step and the wind picked up slightly stopping her dead in her tracks. Whispers were on the wind talking to her. She scanned the area with her eyes. She could sense youkai surrounding them. From the looks of it, Inuyasha could smell their presence making them known. He seemed to be caught between wanting to pull his sword or run over to her; probably wanting to protect her if possible.

She picked up a faint whistling sound that only got closer and closer. She jumped away in the nick of time to watch a huge ogre’s battle axe sail past her, between her and Inuyasha. Shock was registered on Inuyasha’s face and Shippo nearly fainted from it. As she was landing, Neara quickly grabbed her bow and notched an arrow. The projectile quickly left her hands after she found her target and aimed.

The miko heard the faint sickening thud as it lodged into her attacker’s chest, purifying him. Inuyasha turned his angry growl towards the direction the axe came from. He released the Tetsusaiga as it transformed into its true self.

“Inuyasha we must stay together in… Inuyasha!” Neara yelled out trying to talk some sense into him until he ran off towards the offending group. “Damn dog. He’s so protective its sickening sometimes.”

“But isn’t that a good thing Neara?” Shippo asked trembling as he watched the forest line like a hawk.

“Not when its best to fight together instead of splitting up. Have you heard of the phrase ‘I watch your back, you watch mine?’” she asked as she stepped up to the battle axe that was thrown.

“Yeah… What do you plan to do with that?”

“Well Shippo, how ‘bout we keep a secret between each other?” Neara said as she put her hands on the handle.

“I guess,” was his answer as he heard the battle cries of the youkai horde that was fighting against Inuyasha at this point. The miko began to pull the large battle axe across the ground towards the direction that dog-boy went in. She seemed to pull it without straining to do so.

“I think its time to level up the playing field. A demon horde against three isn’t pretty fair odds, but then again all is fair in love and war. Are you ready to help me Shippo?”

He nodded his little head. “I’m ready for anything Neara.”

“That’s all I wanted to hear. Hold on.” She took both hands to the handle firmly and began to spin. She spun faster and faster still until the axe was parallel with the ground. Centrifugal force was making Shippo try to break away from Neara. He held on tighter and tighter as the force got stronger. When he thought he couldn’t hold on any longer, Neara abruptly let it go to make a path of destruction through the trees. She put her fingers to her lips and whistled to get their attention. These youkai were quite dense. At least half of the horde wasn’t trying to fight Inuyasha anymore. Her senses stretched and she found, slightly to her surprise, that this was bigger than just a horde of youkai. This was an army. She couldn’t remember the last time she fought half an army. Her excitement built up as she prepared to go into battle.

“Neara, you only have but so many arrows. How can you defeat an army with so few?” Shippo had to ask.

“With your help and with the element of surprise, but we will only have that for so long, little trickster.”

Sensing the coming of the youkai, she dashed into the forest with a smile on her face. She knew Inuyasha was doing well even though he was stupid for going at it alone. This wasn’t the first time he had done so in the name of ‘protection,’ but this really had to stop. She could take care of herself. Neara jumped into a large tree then jumped across to another tree so to fool them with her scent.

She sat in the boughs of the tree hiding behind the trunk waiting for her prey. She toed around the corner to see them approaching cautiously. Not a sound was made as she pulled an arrow from her quiver and pulled it back on the bow string, taunt.

***

The youkai scanned everywhere for that miko, but they couldn’t find her. No human could mask their scent without the help of a trickster and still there were ways to find them. This human bitch could not be found, but she had to stay alive because they had told them that she knew where to find it. The last time they had sensed it, she was the one near it or the one who had it. It would keep disappearing. They couldn’t tell if she had it or not.

They searched everywhere on the ground because a human couldn’t climb up a tree that quick. The branches were too high anyway. The youkai searched deeper and deeper when they all stopped to listen to a strange noise. It seemed to get closer and closer still as it began to whistle louder. An arrow landed a few yards from the front lines. Everyone surrounding it looked down at it curiously. It began to shine brightly and screams of agony ripped through tortured ones mouths. When the screaming had died down, a thirty foot circle was carved into the crowd. Every demon who was within thirty feet of the arrow had vanished in a bright blue purifying light. One snake youkai looked up from where the arrow had originated from to see no one there, narrowing his eyes into a glare.

***

Neara smiled as she let the arrow fly moving from her spot to a neighboring tree as light as a feather. Their mistake was staying in a tight formation. She and Shippo hid behind the trunk when the snake youkai looked up. Her mistake was thinking that they were as stupid as they looked. The same youkai hissed out orders and soon the formation broke up into details. She would have to go after the intelligent leader since he had made himself known. Neara would go after him later. Right now she would concentrate on the small groups of fifteen or so. They had broken off into about ten groups and had kept the larger group around his person for protection knowing that she was going to target him, but he had another thing coming. The miko quickly notched another arrow and let it fly as she ran off to do some damage by picking off those groups one by one. The arrow was to make him think that she was trying for him first knowing that if he was killed then the formation would scatter into pandemonium without the power of knowledge from the leader.

***

The bull youkai had smelled something and attracted the others’ attention. The fourteen of them followed the scent to a raven-haired human woman sitting in a clearing picking roots. They approached cautiously so as not to spook her, but to instill the feeling of her being watched and heighten her fear. Creeping closer and closer, the woman showed no signs of being affected. The youkai slowly moved out to surround the small little clearing. They looked at each other with questioning glances as to why she wasn’t becoming fearful of their mighty presences. Her fearlessness awed them in a way that nothing other could. Was she fearless because she knew what was out there? Or was she fearless because she was perhaps stronger than her predators? Her courage was something to ponder or worry about. The woman had this air of respect surrounding her. Her aura was small and orange-like. Her scent seemed to waver between the innocence of spring and the maturity of fall. This was most intriguing. Her movements flowed like the summer breeze; soft and gentle, caressing like how a mother calms a child. Very graceful she was in digging up some kind of root that he couldn’t even name. The way she seemed to dig wasn’t at all barbaric or unladylike, but all in the sense of beauty and maybe even more. She didn’t make it seem like a dirty task, but an angelic art.

The bull youkai stepped out of the cover of the forest and proceeded towards the human. Never once did he look around to find his comrades. He was in a trance and the only thing in his vision was the raven-haired woman. The bull smirked when he caught her attention. Her sinuous body rolled like a wave standing to her full height. She turned to look at him with a sweet innocent face, one that was between expressions.

The expressionless facade turned to one of pure evil. Her brows knitted down into devilish excitement. The corners of her mouth lifted into a sadistic grin. The human’s eyes were not focused on him and he tried to turn to find what had her attention when a presence filled his senses then disappeared. He whirled around to find the entity gone. He didn’t even smell it. Turning back around to find his curiosity sated, he was surprised to find the ebony-haired woman’s twin standing next to her. A reflection caught his eye and before he could blink, the twin had run him through with her blade. The youkai groaned when she had twisted the wretched thing. A burning sensation was felt and he looked down to find that her hands were shimmering a faint blue. He looked at her in horror and found her aura to be a brilliant cobalt color. It was most powerful and massive. How could one contain such power and keep it in check? She had leaned forward towards his ear.

“I have a secret that your friends never found out. You should be so lucky.” She jerked out her blade letting his innards and intestine spill before his body in a great heap and with the pouring of clotting blood. The smell was most disgusting as she turned her nose away from the offending scent of hours old digested food. He saw a puff of smoke when she had turned slightly out of his sight. The raven-haired human turned into a little kitsune kit. He roared his rage towards the heavens as she swung her sword to decapitate his head from his shoulders.

***

Neara sighed as she heard the cautious steps of the youkai approach. Shippo was doing a great job once again at being her. He looked every inch like herself if she said so herself. Currently he was playing in the dirt digging up roots. He was a little frightened at first, but she calmed him down by saying that she wouldn’t let any of them get near him. She watched from the shadows of the tree branches seeing that they had decided to split up and surround him/her. Taking this group would be easier than thought. She slipped from her position to the nearest youkai. As if she were Air reincarnate, she breezed by him effectively slicing his throat with her blade. Death was quick and soundless. The youkai quickly choked on his blood and disintegrated from her purifying spell. He was literally dust in the wind.

Jumping to her next position easily, she effortlessly climbed down the trunk head first wrapping her legs around the girth once in close proximity to her target. She released her bow from her back, notching an arrow pointing towards his head. The arrow flew passing right through killing him instantly. She eyed her next target and sent him to the grave as well.

Going around the circumference of the clearing she quickly eradicated her enemies before the detail’s leader stepped foot into the open space. She watched for a little bit to see what the bull youkai would do. He had this look of curiosity on his face and maybe a little bit of…..lust? Oh hell no! Quickly breaking away from her hiding spot, she walked up behind him but jumped over him when he turned around completely.

‘Are you okay?’ she mouthed the question to Shippo who nodded. He looked like he was having fun playing with the youkai in front of him. She saw that look on his face that displayed up-most evil and deception. This was one devilish way to have fun, but he loved to be deceitful. After all he is a kitsune.

Neara readied her sword for when he would turn and see their great trick. The bull youkai noticed the “two” women and that light of lust flickered to life once again, but a little more intense this time. Something caught his attention and she jumped forward to run him through and twist the handle.

Shippo watched as she leaned forward to whisper something in his ear, but it was only for the dying youkai to know. He returned to his normal self when Neara slightly moved. The look of horror was evident on the bull’s face. Neara retracted her blade with a jerk. Shippo covered his ears when the bull roared to the heavens his anguish at being “played.” Neara effectively silenced that with a swing of her sword.

She wiped off the blood on the youkai’s remaining clothes and replaced her short sword back into its sheath on her back. Neara picked up Shippo and sailed through the trees to finish what she had started. He was safely tucked into her haori as she readied herself for her next plan of action. In a sense she wanted to “play” with this group, but now since that was out of her system it was time to finish this as quickly as possible. No more playing around.

***

Now she leaned against another trunk in the canopy of a great Magnolia tree. She closely watched the snake youkai as he sat there and waited. The other groups were easy to dispose of. A sneak attack was always the best way to get rid of them quickly. Neara shook her head as he did nothing else but wait for his demise. He only concentrated on looking on the ground. Somehow he was thinking that they were dealing with just a human weakling and a kit. She pondered his actions and wondered why he wasn’t doing anything at all. The human unhooked her bow from her shoulders as she continued to observe the demons from a distance. An arrow was soon in her hands. She took in a deep breath and blew gently as she released it. With her great sight and an extra boost, the arrow was able to hit its intended target of the tree next to the snake youkai’s head.

He looked up and smirked in her direction. Something was wrong. Something didn’t go right or she missed something. Her senses stretched and found to her shocked surprise two winged serpent youkais charging after her at full speed. She jumped only having a few seconds to get away before they turned the old tree into confetti. Landing on the ground, Neara found what was left of the horde rushing after her; which was about fifty or so strong.

“What happened? Did something go wrong?” Shippo asked in a panic. She slightly soothed him by ruffling his hair and giving him a sincere smile.

“Nothing Shippo that I can’t handle,” she replied as the human took off at break neck speed. She rushed through the forest jumping and dodging attacks that were thrown at her. A somersault here, a somersault there kept the attacks from producing too much damage. She also had to keep Shippo away from certain blasts and her back was now sporting some cuts and bruises. Turning periodically to throw a purifying stone that was kicked up at the ranks had reduced their numbers not by much. She picked up speed to run out of their sight somewhat.

***

The demons stopped when they approached a meditating ogre, looking at him expectantly.

“Where did the black haired human run off to?” the leader demanded.

The ogre cracked open an eye then closed it after seeing who asked the question. Nothing came out of his mouth.

“Didn’t you hear me?” The ogre lifted an arm and pointed in front of him without saying a word continuing to meditate in silence. The youkai looked in the direction pointed in and took off running without a second thought. The thrill of the hunt was on his mind and no second thoughts entered his brain.

***

Neara had to stifle a laugh as she pulled up the robe to get out of. She hid within Shippo’s robes when he assumed the appearance of a mountain ogre. They were quiet youkai who spent their time staying away from battles and meditating. They were one of the few peaceful youkai who tried not to interfere with the affairs of others and eat humans. She gathered Shippo again and ran down the same path she was on since the beginning of the chase. Neara had to find Inuyasha so they could finish this battle and head back home. She was getting rather sick of youkai trying to kill or eat or both kill and eat her. She just didn’t think she could fulfill their nutritional requirements.

Neara ran up in time to see a glimpse of red as it flew into the foliage and landing somewhere in the mountainous forest. She pulled her twin blades out to keep them from attacking him. Her battle cry was mighty as she got down to business running head first into a mass of youkai. She sliced, diced, and even shredded her enemies. Her technique was fluid, graceful, and forceful as the wind on the waves of a great storm. Her swords found heads, guts, and chests. She heard the approaching of the horde that she had tricked. With an extra fifty men the fight would be hard to finish without getting a scratch on her person or Shippo. He was still huddled in the protection of her haori as the fresh youkai joined the ranks and attacked her as well. She spun around as if a tornado and quickly depleted the ranks by half.

The miko jumped away from the horde as they distanced themselves from her as well. Neara held her swords out ready for an attack as she stared across the battlefield at her enemies. They glared at her slowly encircling. They didn’t even pay attention to Inuyasha anymore. It was as if it were she who they were after and only she.

She took Shippo out of her haori, “Go find Inuyasha and make sure he is alright.” She pointed him in the right direction and he ran off before they could totally surround her. Shippo ran hard and fast to escape the current battlefield.

“Can’t you see that it is futile fighting against us Miko?” the snake youkai said. “You are out of breath and your strength is weakening. I am impressed that a mere human has lasted this long. I commend you before your death.”

“Well,” she said shrugging, “I must have missed the message you were trying to send me because it seems that you have underestimated me. How ‘bout we finish this then?”

“Indeed.” The snake youkai’s charge was the go ahead to attack. They completely swamped her as she continued to fight. Soon you couldn’t tell where she was with all of the youkai attacking. They had covered Neara as they had pressed on trying to push her to the ground.

The miko miraculously jumped up and away from the mass. Many were surprised to see her so high in the bright blue sky. The day was beautiful except for the battle that was being waged here in the Northern Mountains.

Neara felt her power rise and filter down into her arms and further into her finger tips. They seemed to tingle and fizzle with the feeling of power. She pushed it further into her blades and with a mighty swing it was released onto the masses below instantly arching out to encompass all who were near and disintegrating them all at once with the power of her purification. She watched with eyes bright with victory how her power worked so well. The whole battlefield had been cleansed and Shippo and Inuyasha was nowhere near it to be affected in no way what-so-ever.

She sheathed her blades and gradually began to fall slowly. Now she would have to find the kit and dog-boy and tend to their injuries. Shippo was bound to have some just by running through the forest in a panic looking for Inuyasha. Inuyasha would have some just because he was plainly… Inuyasha. When did he not get injuries? He would be the hardest to deal with though.

Her decent was stopped when two arms encircled her and held her tight. Neara’s mind froze in fear and her automatic impulse was to get free. Well, her struggling only served to tighten the hold on her. Just when she was about to struggle again, the arms loosened enough to turn her around to look into the malevolent red eyes of a handsome youkai. He gave her one of those despicably evil smirks.

********************

A/N: You know, during that whole 'dust in the wind' tidbit I couldn't get that Subaru commercial out of my mind. Now, don't kill me because of the whole "cliffhanger." I have to be evil sometimes. Anyway, tell me how you like it and if you like it at all. It's a full action piece with some of Neara's great moves. She kicks ass. If you have any questions I'll be happy to hear them, but I can't guarantee them being fully answered. Anywho, review and be merry. I can't continue without reviews. *swoons dramatically*

Love, peace, and chicken grease
IL20