Bitter Winds

Disclaimer: “I don’t own Inuyasha, I’m just steal . . . ah . . . “ borrowing a bit from those who can afford it, and boy am I in debt!” ” *grins* ( I don’t own that quote either.) *rolls eyes*

‘. . .’ = thoughts
“. . .”= speech
(. . .) = translation
[. . .]= words spoken in English

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The Inu-gume rushed into the village prepared to find the worst, but they weren’t prepared for what they did find, the body of an already slain demon. Kaede greeted them warmly, and directed their attention the cloaked figure they just noticed.

“When we were in dire need, this kind stranger helped us.”

The cloaked figure picked a staff up off the ground, approached them slowly, and bowed slightly. Kagome felt somehow drawn to this person. She slid down from Inuyasha’s back, letting the blanket she was wrapped in fall off her shoulders revealing her school uniform, and discreetly looked for clues to this persons’ identity. She cautiously moved forward hearing Inuyasha’s low growl of suspicion. The growl was returned by a large dog that they just noticed beside this stranger. They also noticed a horse directly behind this person.

“Thank you for your help, we were very worried we wouldn’t get back in time.”

Kagome bowed, then she noticed this persons’ footwear . . . ‘Moccasins?’

“May I ask where you come from?”

“Do you wish to know where I have traveled from, or when?”

A voice with a hint of laughter came from the hood that was now being pulled back to reveal the smiling face of a dark haired dark complected young woman. No small amount of surprise appeared on the faces around her.

“[Are you an American?] How did you get here?”

“[Am I an American? Yes and no.] How I came to be here is a long story that I rather sit to tell. I would like to know how you came to be here as well, another story which I am certain will be long.”

Kagome’s hands flew to her face in embarrassment.

“Oh, Im so sorry! I can’t believe how rude I’ve been! My name is Higurashi Kagome and these are my friends: Inuyasha, Miroku, Sango her fire cat Kirara, and this is Shippo.”

Inuyasha just Ke’d when he was introduced while the others each bowed in turn.

“I’m very pleased to meet you. You may call me Marika.”

“Well, Marika would you like to join us for dinner and then we can each share our stories.”

“I would love that, thank you.”

As they walked toward Kaede’s hut Miroku approached Marika

“You must be a very strong and courageous woman to be traveling by yourself and ridding unsuspecting villages of demons.”

Marika looked at him then with an eyebrow raised in question.
Sango was about to go and pull the leacher away, but Inuyasha stopped her.

“Just wait.”

Inuyasha had a lopsided grin on his face waiting for the moment to come.
Miroku then quickly grasped Marika’s hand in his.

“Marika, would you do me the great honor of bearing my child?”

Marika just blinked in surprise at the houshi’s forwardness not quite sure how to respond, but almost ready to laugh in the mans face.

Someone else beat her to it, Inuyasha burst out laughing.

“You baka, she’s already carrying someone’s pup!”

Everyone turned surprised eyes to the hanyou including Marika. Kagome saw Marika’s expressions change from shock to something on the verge of tears. Kagome saw this and wondered at it.

“You didn’t know, did you?”

Marika slowly inhaled and exhaled before responding to Kagome.

“No, but it is more than I could hope for. Thank you, Inuyasha, I wouldn’t have known for sure for another week or so.”

“Why would a beautiful young woman, such as yourself, in your condition, be traveling alone?”

Marika sighed and was preparing herself to answer the monks question when Kaede interrupted.

“Are you all going to stand out here subjecting the poor child to the cold, or are you going to come in where it is warm and we can all share in the sustenance and stories?”

As the others began to go inside Kagome introduced Kaede to Marika.

“Kaede, would it be alright for my dog to come in with me, he is very protective of me.”

“It is fine by me child. Thank you for asking, he seems more behaved than another dog I know.”

“I heard that baba!” (old hag)

“Do you wish to stable your horse child?”

“Not right now, thank you. I think for now she will be more comfortable just outside the hut so she can still smell me. I do want to take a moment to take her saddle off and brush her and then I’ll be right in.”

“Fine child. Your food will be waiting for you when you come in.”

When Marika came in and took off her cloak they found another surprise, her clothing was strange and appeared to be similar to mens clothing but ornately beaded and she was well armed. After she was settled with her food, Marika noticed the others seemed to be waiting on her. She smiled at them and sighed.

“Go ahead and ask your questions.”

“How many weapons do you have? You sure do dress strange. Do you come from the same time as Kagome? Did you really kill that demon? Where did you get the dog and the horse? How did you do it? What his name? Did you come through the well? Is he friendly? What was that strange language you spoke in? Can I pet him? Will you be staying long? Do you have any candy in your bag? Do you wanna travel with us? Can I have some?”

Everyone in the room sweat dropped except Marika who burst out laughing at the kits verbal stream.

“Is that ALL you want to know Shippo?”

”It’s all I can think of right now, so it will have to do.”

“Ok then, weapons. Let’s see I have my staff, a bow and a quiver of arrows, my Atlatl, witch is just a foreign word for spear thrower, and spears.”

“How’s it work?”

She showed him the shaft of wood that had a groove in the top of the thick end that curved around to form a handle and at the other end a piece of bone that pointed back toward the handle at an angle, and it also had a small stone attached to the bottom close to the end with the bone.

“I would fit the spear with it’s fletched end here on this back stop.” She pointed to the bone.
“And let the shaft rest in the groove on the handle. It acts like an extension of my arm. It allows me to throw the spear farther and with more power.” She then showed him how she held it. “You keep it level as you extend your arm and then at the end of the extension you flip your wrist and let the spear fly. I’ll show you outside in the morning, ok?”

Shippo’s eyes were about to pop out of his head as he nodded in excitement.

”Let’s see where was I, Oh yeah, I have a sword a boot knife and a belt knife, a sling, but I’m still learning to use it. See these.”

She held out her wrists.

“They are war bracelets from India and are useful weapons as well, my hair sticks, and this.”

She showed him a sharp weight that was hidden in the tie she had at the end of a very long braid.

“Yes, my clothing would seem strange is a mixture of mens hori and hakama and a Native American style decoration. I’m a mixture too so I think it suits me. What do you think?”

Shippo tilted his head to the side seeming to scrutinize her cloths for a moment before nodding his head.

“Yes they are very beautiful, just like you.”

Marika smiled and blushed at the kits words of praise, knowing he meant them.

“Thank you. I’m glad you approve.”

“Let’s see next question was ‘when’ am I from. Where I come from, the date is mid January 2000.”

Kagome nodded her head. “Same time.”

“Next was yes I did kill that demon and I used my spear thrower to do it. That’s two questions. I believe the next were about my dog and horse. I got my dog when I turned 16, he is a Siberian Huskie, and his name is Hogo (protector). My horse was given to me by my iinauke (fiancé). Her name is Zoutou (gift). I trained them myself and they are friendly toward people they trust. Yes you may pet him. I’m sure he’d love the attention. That was three questions and a little extra.”

She looked down at her protector who had his head in her lap, he looked up to her and thumped his tail on the floor. Shippo slowly approached the dog who thumped his tail even faster. Hogo thoroughly sniffed Shippo over. Shippo did some of his own sniffing and after that introduction Hogo licked Shippo’s face which started him giggling. Shippo sat down next to Marika and patted and scratched the big dog in all the right places. Shippo then looked to Marika eagerly awaiting what she was to say next.

“Let’s see what questions do I have left? Did I come through a well? I take it to mean the portal I came through. No, I came through a special door. I spoke English in answer to one of Kagome’s questions, which she asked in English. I do have candy in my bag and yes you may have some. I have some Pocky. Would you like some strawberry or chocolate coconut?”

“Strawberry please, it’s my favorite!”

Marika dug into her bag and pulled out the box of Strawberry Pocky.

“Here you go Shippo. Do you want to see if anyone else wants some?”

Shippo nodded and offered some to everyone else. Kagome was pleased that Marika got Shippo to share without actually asking it directly, and Shippo wouldn’t be on too much of a sugar high before bedtime. She smiled at Marika silently thanking her. Marika bowed her head slightly and returned the smile.

Marika told of how she was led to the “spirit door” on her family’s grounds, how she met her sensei (teacher) who was to become her husband, and of the last time she had gone home for some final wedding preperations and when she returned his family acted strangely as if under a spell. She was told that her iinauke was dead. His brother who was a man of the cloth and a pacifist who had no desire to seek justice for his brothers death, but was willing to marry her.
“So I have set out to find my mate’s killer, and avenge his death.”

After the exchange of stories everyone was ready for some well deserved rest Shippo having already given in to the need for sleep while Kagome was telling her story. Kagome smiled warmly at the small kit in her lap.

“You know, it doesn’t matter how my day has gone, if at the end of it I can sleep knowing my friends are safe.” ‘If only for one more day.’

Marika noticed a fleeting look of sadness pass through her eyes. Marika smiled at the cozey picture of Mother and kit. “Treasure every moment Kagome.”

Marika slowly stood up and left the hut the cold night air buffeted her and she wished she had grabbed her cloak. Zoutou greeted her with a nicker as she came around the side of the hut out of reach from the wind.

“Do you want to get out of the cold? There is a nice warm stable waiting for you.”

Marika spoke softly to her horse as she led her to the stable. She used soft words and physical touch to calm the horse and herself.

“Zoutou, I can hardly believe it, I’m going to have a baby. They are nice I think I will hang around for a while. I can’t keep to myself forever. It’s not healthy. It’s good to have someone to talk to and good friends are hard to come by when you’re so different from everyone else. I certainly don’t want to be by myself when I go into labor.”

Marika bedded down her mare and brushed her again each taking comfort in the other’s presence. As she brushed Zoutou, the young woman cried softly as she felt the weight of the day’s revelations sink in and hit her hard. After she was done, she lingered theregingging onto the mare’s neck, not wanting to leave the warmth and breathing in the sweet sent of horse. Zoutou nudged her human closer to her. Marika let herself cry fully then into the responsive mare’s mane.

When she had finished crying herself out, she felt the familiar warm presence of her Hogo. She bent down and hugged the wolfish dog and ruffed his fur a bit before getting back up. She took out a clean rag from a saddle bag and dipped it in some clean water then held it to her face. The cold rag felt good on her tear stained face.

After she composed herself, she went back to the small hut with her bedding under her arm. Kagome greeted her warmly as she came back in and offered her a space next to herself and Sango. She unrolled her sleeping fur and Kagome couldn’t help but touch it.

“It’s so soft. What is it?”

“Its lama fur, I cured it myself. I could survive on my own in the wilderness if I had to, but I do prefer modern bathrooms to bushes and warm baths to cold sts.” s.”

Kagome chuckled. “You may have to teach me some of those skills.”

“You want to start with skinning a rabbit?”

“Eeew! No!”

Marika smiled. “Goodnight Kagome.”

Sango couldn’t help but laugh at their exchange. She didn’t know what to think of Marika. She seemed nice enough. Kagome was so trusting. She made friends easily. Sango didn’t know if it might eventually hurt her, or if her miko instincts helped her to be a good judge of character. Sango would reserve judgment until she got to know the young woman better, it wouldn’t hurt to keep her guard up.

Inuyasha trusted Kagome’s instincts for the most part. ‘She seemed to accept this stranger like a long lost relative.’ He also trusted his nose and the woman was truthful with them, wasn’t offended by his presence and she had suffered great loss just like the rest of them. ‘Maybe that’s what Kagome sees. She sees what makes us the same, not our differences. Ke and fig fighting skills she has will only help strengthen our group.’

Miroku thought this young woman would have a good effect on them all. ‘She has remained strong despite what circumstances were thrown her way. She seems to have an old soul. She is easy on the eyes as well.’

They all feel asleep looking forward to a new day and wondering how this new person would fit into their lives.

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Some links if you are interested:
To find out more about the Atlatl -
http://www.thunderbirdatlatl.com/

To see me with my Atlatling group -
http://community.webshots.com/album/82712414qYwzTD

To find out more about War bracelets -
http://www.shastarvidiya.org/htmls/akhara_multimedia.html
Scroll down to video #4 to see “Platha with Bagh Nakha and Kara” (unarmed combat techniques with lepard claw and war bracelet)

I do have a beta now! So I will be going back and cleaning up my chapters.

Thanks again to my loyal Reviewer YYY *Glomps* I miss you so much ;)

\,,/_ (I love y’all)

Marieka signing off for now EXCELSIOR!

AMBER EYES - And when God looked back with pain, His eyes, moist and wise, were the color of amber. And crowned upon his head was a silver lion’s mane. - Ralph D. Helfer