InuYasha

Sango's Lost Sister

Chapter 5

By mid-afternoon, Saika looked up and noticed the sun was starting its decent towards the horizon. Off in the distance she could see the telltale signs of a village. Something didn't feel right; smoke from individual cooking fires shouldn't be that visible from where they were. The others had seen the smoke as well and were concerned.

"Sensei, I think we better speed up and see if we can help that village." Injuro replied urgently.

"Agreed. Let's get moving." Saika answered firmly, as she took off at a fast pace with the other three right behind.

What they saw when they stopped about ten yards from what remained of the village's outer walls, was a few bodies lying dead not far from the entrance. Everything, as far as they could tell, was burnt to the ground. Saika went over to a body and felt its face.

"This massacre just happened. These people have only been dead for only five or ten minutes." Saika replied, letting out a heavy sigh as she stood up. "Well, let's see if anyone is still alive in there."

As they went through the village, they could see that there hadn't been any warning. The villagers had died in the middle of the chore or job they had been doing. After checking out the rest of the village, they cleared an area where they would camp for the night.

"We had better get these people laid to rest before the scent of death starts to attract demons. I'll use my wind ninjutsu (hope I have the spelled right) to get the job done quicker. We'l start at the front of the village." Saika replied as they all walked to the front of the village, picking up shovels as they went.

Kyouffu no Juugeki!! (strong wind of fury)" Saika yelled out, making a few hand signals, pointing to the ground a few feet in front of her and moving them forward.

As the dust and dirt started to settle, the three teenagers started to bring the bodies to the newly dug graves. Saika repeated her attack several more time as the others continued to place the bodies in the graves.

Two miles from the village

"Oh kami, InuYasha, look! It looks like that village is being attacked! We have to help them!" Kagome exclaimed, getting on to InuYasha's back. With Sango, Miroku and Shippo on Kilala's back; and Kagome on InuYasha's back, they arrived at the village in no time. They took one last jump and landed not far from Keiko, Injuro and Mihano.

"What the hell do you think you're doing attacking this village!" InuYasha demanded.

"Really!? Then where 's the fires. Or the people running around screaming!" Keiko demanded.

"This village had already been destroyed just before we got here. So watch your mouth mutt." Injuro snarled. He didn't like to be falsely accused, and didn't like the hanyou's snarky attitude either.

"Are you threatening me!" InuYasha snarled.

"Well what does it sound like...." Mihano scoffed., but didn't get a chance to finish,.

"That's enough! Hanyou, the fires were already smouldering by the time those three and myself arrived here forty-five minutes ago." a voice sounded from the shadow of the stone building. It had been the only building to remain partly standing as the fires died down.

"Then what were those clouds we saw coming from here?!" Kagome asked, sure she would catch this mysterious person off guard.

"Dust clouds from the graves I was making." the shadow answered, not liking the Kagome's tone of voice. Just then InuYasha growled and grabbed his sword, as his friends did at the same time.

"Naraku! What the hell are you doing here?!" InuYasha snarled.

"For once I didn't come to end your life InuYasha. I came to make an offer to the person standing in the shadows. Why don't you come out ninja." Naraku replied charningly.

"And how do you know that I'm a ninja!? I've only heard of your disgusting name. Telll me what you want then leave." Saika demanded more than asking.

"I know you are a shinobi leader from the Sunagurakura ninja village in the village, north of the demon slayer village you were born in. You ran off when your sister wounded you with the knife she had in her hand.You also have a younger brother by the name of Kohaku. My dear Saika, your poor mother died when you were a small child; so daddy had to raise the three of you." Naraku replied mocking the girl in the shadows. He was trying to get her mad enough to lash out at him.

"What's your point? If you think your knowledge and charm is supposed to sway me, it doesn't. I know you killed everyone in the demon slayer village. You will answer for what you have done." Saika replied, walking out of the shadows with a slow and deliberate walk.

"Saika???" Sango gasped quietly. This young woman really looked like the young girl she had known as a child.

"That sounds like a threat to me." Naraku replied. He didn't like this girl's attitude. He could see that she was clearly angry but she wasn't reacting like he had hoped.

"It's a promise. Now tell me what it is you're after or get lost." Saika replied sharply. She was getting tired of the man's rediculous ploys.

"What I want is that shard of the jewel you have in your possession. Now hand it over." Naraku commanded.

"Actually, I have two, and they stay with me. They'll be safer with me." Saika answered, watching Naraku carefully.

"Then we shall fight for them. I'll make you sorry for taunting me." Naraku growled.

"Bring it on. And you'll be the one that will be sorry." Saika exclaimed with a smirk that irritated Naraku further.

"That wench has jewel shards?!?! Then I'll be the one taking the shards off of her!" InuYasha yelled, drawing out his sword. Just as he prepared to jump, something struck the middle of his sword, causing it to vibrate. In a moment, it was vibrating harshly, causing InuYasha to do the same.

"W-w-what d-did y-y-you d-do?!" InuYasha growled out as he tightened his grip on his sword only to increase the vibration.

"What did you do him?! You stop this right now!" Kagome yelled.

"I threw my chakram at his sword, and he can stop it himself by slamming the tip in to the ground and letting go. Shut up and watch the fight." Mihano demanded. "And don't interfer! This is her fight."

They all watched in amazement at how well Saika was fighting Naraku. A few times they thought that Saika had lost when Naraku landed a hit. But this one time she got up, they all noticed a red glow around her, and a ghost-like figure emminating from her.

"I don't believe it!" Miroku exclaimed as he studied the ghostly figure.

"What is Miroku?" Sango asked.

"If I remember my history lessons right, that ghost around that woman is the spirit of Tomoe Gozen. Let's put it this way, you would be suicidal to fight against her in a battle. She helped her husband win many battles." Miroku replied. I think that girl is the re-incarnation of Tomoe Gozen; based on how well she's fighting Naraku." Miroku related.

"This fight ends now Naraku!" Saika yelled as she opened her left hand, palm facing out, and started to pull out Naraku's energy.

"Wench, what are you doing to me?!!?" Naraku yelled as he jumped back, beginning to weaken.

"Quite simple Naraku. I'lm drawing it out of you to use as a weapon." Saika replied with a "you're done for now" smirk on her face. She started to blend some of her "pure" demonic power in.

"Damn you wench!" Naraku snarled and jumped in to the air, retreating."

"You forgot something Naraku!" Saika yelled, hurling the ball of energy at Naraku. It just managed to hit him square in the middle of his back. He faultered for a moment before he again started to retreat.

As the evil hanyou disappeared, Saika's relaxed as she turned around to face the others, taking a couple of steps. He eyes rolled to the back of her head and she collapsed. The spirit around her laid her gently on the ground as her students came running up.

"Gozen-sama, is our sensei going to be okay?" Keiko asked, worried about her teacher.

"Yes, she'll be fine. The wound Naraku inflicted will heal shortly." Tomoe's spirit answered with a gentle smile.

"She's nothing but a weakling." InuYasha scoffed.

"If you haven't noticed hanyou, Naraku is half dead and there is not that much damage done to her. Your attitude and ill manners show your weakness. Now I must meld with her again so she can start to heal." the spirit replied and started to disappear back in to Saika.

"Gozen-sama, if I may ask; is this girl your re-incarnation?" Miroku asked, stepping forward.

"Yes she is. She has always been quite strong, even as a child." the spirit replied, glaring over at Sango. "Demon slayer, you should have let her show you what she had to offer. You would be much stronger yourself."

"Yes, you're right." Sango answered quietly. With that said, the spirit of Tomoe Gozen disappeared back in to Saika.

"What does she mean Sango? Who is...." Kagome started when she heard Sango and the others gasp.

She looked and Saika, still unconscious, was lifted up in to the air with a red glow around her. It was her demonic aura surrounding her and her wounds were starting to heal. A s the last wound healed, the young shinobi landed gently on the ground and opened her eyes.

"Sensei, how are you feeling?" Injuro asked as he, Keiko and Mihano ran up to her.

"A little tired but good. Now, we need to get the villagers buried before their odor attracts animals." Saika replied as she stood up, looked crossly at Sango for a moment, then headed back the way she had come.

"You should rest." Kagome replied, starting to come forward and stop Saika from continuing.

"She's supposed to just lie out in the open!? Sensei is a strong woman. She'll lie down when she's ready." Injuro replied with a sigh. Harsh words weren't going to get any of them anywhere.

"She hates me doesn't she?!" Sango said quietly looking down.

"If you are the sister that she's mentioned, then no, she doesn't. She's just angry with you." Mihano replied.

"Why would your sensei still be angry with Sango?" Kagome asked.

"Look slayer, if you want to get back with her, help her get the dead in the graves. Just don't say anything for a while." Keiko advised, ignoring Kagome completely.

"Injuro, Keiko, Mihano, I need your help over here." Saika yelled out from where she was tiredly dragging a body into a new grave.

Injuro and Mihano ran ahead while Keiko walked with the demon slayer by her side. As they got closer, Sango became more and more nervous, fearing that her sister would reject her; even after all these years. Taking Keiko's advice, she set hirokotsu against a nearby tree.

"Sensei, you need to rest. You're beginning to stumble." Mihano replied as he steadied Saika. "If you don't mind me saying this....I think the demon slayer wants to make up for what she did to you."

After a while the remainder of the dead villagers were place in their graves and earth thrown back in. Sango wiped the sweat off her brow and nervously walked over to her sister.

"Saika.....please forgive me." Sango pleaded tentatively.