Having It All

Chapter 1
Hiring


I don't own Inuyasha or Yu Yu Hakusho. But if I did.....Ohhh the fun I would have!!!! Please enjoy!!!!



The exhausted female tajiya walked through the heavily veiled forest.
'At least I can get some shade now,' she thought with a sigh. The day had been grueling indeed.
Word was sent to the The Sacred Village of the Taijiya early that morning
regarding a nest of spider youkai that had been terrorizing a small town.
Sango's father immediately dispatched her, knowing full well that his daughter was up for the challenge.
The messenger had told her to prepare herself for a three days stay, so she and Kirara packed for just that.
Upon arrival, the young taijiya quickly assessed the damage.

"Are you certain that you would not prefer some of the stronger men to escort you, young huntress."
The towns head man eyed the teen female warily upon her arrival. Secretly he was deeply disappointed
that a male had not come in her stead. 'How appalling! A woman doing what is clearly mans work!'
Sango politely declined. Even though she would have felt better calling him a
sexist ass, the huntress had long been used to this sort of treatment.

"At least let me have someone carry that heavy weapon, clearly you must be exhausted."
Sango watched as one of the bigger men tried to relieve her of Hiraikotsu.
Relinquishing the giant boomerang to the man, Sango watched with detached amusement
when he was almost crushed under it's weight. Before he was about to tumble to the earth with
Hiraikotsu on top of him, Sango reached out to grab both weapon and man.


"How on earth are you going to use that thing, I'm twice your size and I can't even pick it up!"
Was this some sort of joke? They needed a real taijiya, not some little girl.
The situation was most crucial, and this girl child was clearly not up to the challenge.

Sango just moved away from the town inhabitants into a open clearing.
There she spotted some whithering tress that made excellent targets.
Getting into stance, she let the weapon fly through the air with ease.
Slicing through the trees, Hiraikotsu made it's way back to it's wielder who caught it with a casual hand.

"I guess I underestimated you Taijiya-san", the man stated not taking his eyes
away from the trees that now lay on the ground. He was impressed beyond belief.
The villagers gave her their well wishes and she began her mission.
One dead parent and three poison packs later, the problem was eradicated.
They had told Sango to expect a three days stay, imagine everyones surprise when she returned
in three hours. After collecting her fee, plus the extra the chieftain had given her for a job well done, Sango took her leave.

She and Kirara soared through the air, she sensed a small amount of demonic energy coming from the north.
Kirara followed the scent immediately after given the order. All to soon they were in a another village that
was in danger, only this time it was a huge centipede demon. While in the air, Sango hurled her mighty weapon
at the youkai cutting off a few legs when contact was made. The beast screeched in agony and redirected all of
it's attention towards the newcomer. In a blind rage it charged, which was clearly a mistake considering the small
fact the Hiraikotsu was returning and
Sango released the giant boomerang again. The attack was deflected, though it did give Sango
enough time to quickly jump from her neko companion onto it's head. With all the strength
she could muster, Sango sank her sword deeply into the youkai's head, certainly piercing it's brain.
With another deafening scream it fell dead to the ground.

The villagers who had seen the whole battle. quickly made their way towards the young
female whom as far as they were concerned had saved them all.

"Thank the gods that you came along when you did taijiya-san," one of the village elders began.
"That thing would have destroyed our whole village if it were not for you.”
Sango respectfully bowed and offered to assist them with wreckage, which they gratefully accepted.
Two hours later once most of the damage was cleared away, Sango was ready to depart,
and though she thoroughly refused, they would not let her be on her way without a handsome reward.

"Wow Kirara! We really did well today didn't we?"
The fire cat mewled in agreement and Sango let out a small laugh as she patted
her most trusted friend's head. "We should really head back, aunt Mira cooked her famous stew,
and we could even buy you some really large fish from the market, with extra money we've made.”
Kirara purred at the thought making Sango laugh even more. "So it's settled then, lets head ho-"

"Please somebody help me!!!" The two companions looked towards the horizon, only to see a
lone bird of paradise making away with a very young meal. At the sight of the small child dangling helplessly
in the things grasp, Sango's taijiya instincts kicked in for the third time that day.
Speed almost blinding, Kirara flew toward her newest foe, fangs bared and claws ready.
The battle seemed to last forever, the tajiyia not willing to be defeated and the bird beast
not willing to give up it's food. Kirara seemed to take the brute of the attacks,
but Sango was not without her bruises. In a final attempt to end things,
she plunged her sword deeply into it's throat and with a flick of her wrist decapitated the wretched creature.
Kirara zoomed forward and Sango reached for the child just before he could plummet to the earth.
With a small introduction which included directions, the Taijiya set off to return her new ward to his village.

Upon their arrival, they were met by a woman who looked to be only a few years older
than Sango and a boy slightly smaller than her ward. The taijiya took in her tear streaked face,
and due to the resemblance she was obviously related to the boy.
They had barely landed before the boy jumped off Kirara and bounded over to the woman,
"Mama!!!!" The moments that followed were filled with sobs mixed with laughter,
hugs and kisses, and as many 'I love yous' and 'my baby's' as possible.

'Mama?' Sango thought with confusion. Wasn't she a bit young to be anyones mother?
The woman had to be barely in her twenties. But the more she thought about it, Sango realized
that the woman's life was far more normal than hers. At her age she should have a husband and
at least one child. The life of a taijiya simply did not permit.

'I wonder if I'll ever be a mother?' she thought with a sigh. She was so deep in thought that didn't
notice that there was a small figure about to barrel right into her. When the young boy who told
her his name was Yoshiro made contact he wrapped his arms around her. Sango was almost knocked off her feet.

"Mama, Ms. Sango and Kirara saved me." Yoshiro then explained how he and his little brother
had been fetching water at the river, when the demon attacked. Yoshiro had told his little
brother to run and get help while he fended off the beast. But in the end the attempt was futile,
and he was captured.The little one chimed in to verify what his older sibling had said.
"Brother's telling the truth Mama. He really did fight the monster. He is so brave." She could tell without
a doubt that he worshiped the ground Yoshiro walked on. Or at least he would after this.
'They remind me of Kohaku and I' she thought, instantly becoming home sick.

Then he began to explain Sango's part in the whole event, while staring at her with wide adoring eyes.
The huntress blushed when she notices that villagers had started surrounding them,
focusing intently on her and the tale. He was speaking so quickly that it was hard to process his words.

"Thats when she and Kirara killed the thing and saved me from falling to the ground.
Mama, Ms. Sango is so brave and strong and pretty, um Ms. Sango do you think I could be a taijiya
like you when I grow up?" His little eyes were so hopeful that Sango found it impossible not too humor him.
The huntress raised a her finger to her chin and fiend thoughtfulness. She then dropped to one knee and looked
into his deeply into his eyes and gave his little bicep a gentle squeeze.

"Well, you seemed to have great strength," Sango said while giving his mother an unnoticed playful wink.
" And you've already proven how courageous you can be, all the makings of a true taijiya."
She said while raising. Yoshiro's smile positively beam, and it warmed Sango's heart just that much more.

"What about me Ms. Sango, do you think I could be a taijiya too? The little one looked at her with questioning eyes.
Of'course he would want to follow in his big brother's foot steps. Their mother tried feebly to stifle her chuckles, so
did the surrounding villagers. Sango couldn't help but laugh. He was just to cute.
"Looks like you have two taijiya on your hands", they all laughed.
"But you have to train really hard and when your adults, you can become exterminators then."

"We will," they both said in unison. Just as Sango turned to leave, the crowd suddenly parted.
A strong looking man walked towards them. In his hand was a unsheath katana,
and the way he sheath the weapon spoke volumes of his capabilities. This man was no stranger in battle.
He continued forward until he was standing in front of Yoshiro, and without warning he dropped
to his knees and grasped the child to his chest.

"My son, you're alive. You're not lost to me." With every word the man spoke, his voice seemed to crack
more and more. His wife was stood back, observing the whole thing with tears of joy in her eyes.
Her husband wasn't ashamed of his tears, and she wouldn't be either. Yoshiro started to cry as well
although he was trying to comfort his father.

"It's alright father," he said wiping his face on his shirt. "Ms. Sango saved me."
Suddenly all attention was directed towards her and Sango began to shift uncomfortable.
The man stood and in a show of gratitude grasped her hands. "Madam taijiya, my wife and I
can't possibly repay you for returning our son to us. Please allow us to reward you."

"I'm sorry, I can't possibly except. I was just doing what anyone would have done
in my position." She wouldn't charge a fee for saving a child, it would be dishonorable.

"Well you can at least allow us the honor of feeding and clothing you"
his wife insisted. This young woman had rescued her son from the clutches of death, she had to repay her!

"The truth is, spending time with your family has really made me anxious to return to my own."
Plus her aunt was making her famous stew and Sango wasn't going to run the risk of ruining
her appetite. But of'course she left that part out. " I know my father and brother are awaiting
my return as we speak, and I don't want them to worry." It was a lie, considering that they thought she
would be returning at weeks end. She just wanted to go the hell home for gods sakes. Sango was dirty,
smelly and hungry all to be damned, but she wouldn't stop until those wonderful gates that
surrounds the taijiya village were in view.

Seeing how they simply would not let her off the hook, she accepted a small reward then was on her way.
Once out of sight she told Kirara to land. She quickly dismounted and wrote a small note and attached it to
the fire neko. It stated that Kirara was wounded during battle and Sango was going to send her back to the village.
Kirara put up a fight, but Sango wouldn't ignore the gash on her feline companions stomach. Plus walking
at a brisk pace, she could be back by night fall. Walking home was better for her mood anyway. She had
began having doubts about her life's work. Was it really for her? It didn't really allow much room for anything else.
Sango was on call twenty- four hours a day. How her mother had done it? Only the Gods knew.

It had to at least been an hour since she and Kirara parted ways now, and the
grumbling in her stomach demanded her attention more and more.

"Maybe I should have at least let them feed me" she thought with no small amount of regret.
The sun was beginning to set, and unless she hauled ass she'd be spending the night in the forest.
That thought made her breakout into a brisk jog. A human female. In the dark forest. Covered in blood and gore.
'I might as well were a signs that says 'Eat me' ' Sango thought. She was snapped out of her musings by a gruff demand.

"Halt! Who goes there?"

'Okay! Where the hell did that come from' thought Sango as she scanned the forest.
She followed the sound of the voice and was about to part a rather large and thick set of shrubbery.
That is until it began to move and part as if it had a life of it's own. From their concealed location,
two guards immersed. They wore heavy armor and a nobleman's crest upon there uniforms.
Both men were young, but no stranger to hostile circumstances. This was the Warring States Era after all.
They eyed her suspiciously, and Sango began to get uncomfortable with their silence. '
I can take these assholes' she thought cockily!

"I am but a humble taijiya, merely passing through. I mean you no harm." She gave them a slight bow,
although Sango didn't take her eyes off of them. Some humans could be just as vicious as has the demons she hunted.

"Good!" said the stupid looking one." Be on your way girlie. Pretty little defenseless girls shouldn't
be wandering around a dark forest. There are monster about." Sango had half a mind to show him
exactly how defenseless she was. Had she not just said that she was taijiya? Didn't that mean that she took
care of the monster that he just spoke of? Fucking moron!

"Stupid! She said that she was a taijiya, and judging by her weapons and clothes,
it looks like the lady can handle herself." Sango could have kissed the man on the lips.
He actually got what others didn't. The fact that she was a small woman did not make her defenseless.

"Well if she is a taijiya then that means...."
the man who she had fondly named 'Stupid' began then trailed off suspiciously.

"Exactly" the other drawled out. Sango was begining to get a really bad feeling.
It felt like she was about to be asked to go on assignment again.
"Madame huntress, we cannot allow you to leave." He stated confidently.

"And just why the hell not" she glared at him incredulously.
As if they could stop her.

"We have a little problem, and our Lord will be most anxious to converse with you.
The Gods must have answered our prayers and directed you to us." Both men grabbed an arm and
began leading her deeper into the forest, the while chattering happily with each other about their lord
having perfect luck. Sango yanked away from their grasp.

"Listen, I would really love to help you and all, but I am in no condition to slay another youkai.
Whatever problem you have, your going to have to deal with it on your own. " Hell! She was only human.
There was only so much she could do. There would be no fourth extermination for her today. When they began to literally
beg her on their hand and knees, she still refused. Her father had always told her that a tired exterminator was distracted.
And a distracted exterminator was usually a dead exterminator. She needed to be at her sharpest at all times
in battle. As Sango began walk away, Stupid grasped her hand. Looking up at her with pleading eyes, he spoke.
"Please huntress! At least allow us to explain the situation, before you leave us to fend for ourselves."

'What could make to strong men cling to me like I'm their only savior' Sango thought.
"Okay explain, but make it quick!" When she saw their relieved faces, she added,
"This doesn't mean I'm going to help you though."

Both guards seemed disappointed at her words, but thought it best to tell her anyway.
Maybe she'd take pity on them. They looked at each other, then her. Resolving himself
for whatever the taijiya's answer would be, the smarter spoke.

"Madame huntress. Does the name Youko Kurama mean anything to you?"

Please read and review. Five reviews get you a second chapter. Thanks a bunch,

Chigirl.

P.S You decided pairings!