Shiukori, Inuyasha's Sister

Chapter Seven: The Girl Who Stood Up To Sesshoumaru

Rin pointed at a spot on the ground and Sesshoumaru landed. They were at the outskirts of a demon slayer village. Sesshoumaru narrowed his eyes, setting down the girl and walking into the village.

Once the slayers noticed his arrival, they began firing arrows, and throwing swords, all in vain. A young girl within the village noticed his arrival as well. She was only fifteen, being trained to become a priestess. She immediately jumped up from her place on the ground and went to her hut. She grabbed her bow and arrow.

"Someday I'll be like her," she whispered under her breath. She was talking about Kikyo, a priestess from a far away village. This girl didn't even want to be a priestess, but if she was going to be, she wanted to be like the best. Selfless and brave, and very powerful. However, she would not let a dog demon trick her into her death.

The girl made her way to the center of the town, where the dog demon was standing and the slayers circled around it. She pushed her way to the front of the circle, right behind the demon. The training priestess drew her bow and shouted, "cease!" The dog demon turned around and faced her. He was growing impatient.

"Do not test me, young girl," he threatened menacingly. She gulped silently, pulling the string back farther.

"I won't hesitate. If you don't cease," she took a breath, "I'll make you." The slayers around her all held back their laughter, she was just a stupid girl and had never been very skilled with a bow. A few snickers were still heard from the crowd and the girl's heart sank.

No! she thought, Kikyo would never become discouraged by other people's opinions of her!

"I said, do not test me," Sesshoumaru growled this time, his patience with her wearing thinner.

"So be it," she sighed. The girl took a deep breath and squeezed her eyes shut tight, "for mother," she whispered before letting go of the arrow that she had previously held in a vice grip. The arrow soared past the slayers' astonished faces as it began to glow a bright pink. This young girl, had released a sacred arrow. Would she be the true hero of them all?

All hope was lost when the demon, Sesshoumaru, grabbed the arrow out of the air, and snapped it in half. He grabbed the girl by the throat and pinned her to a tree. "I warned you not to test me."

In a desperation, she choked, "do it. I dare you."

The demon's eyes widened. Had she really just asked, no, dared him to kill her?

"Do you not fear death, girl?" he asked her, slightly loosening his hold on her so that she could speak.

She laughed an empty laugh. "Why should I?" And he let her go. As her body dropped to the ground, gasping for air, he made eye contact. His gaze never left her face while some of the slayers circled around her.

"Speak your name, Onna," he commanded coldly.

She began getting up, but the slayers held her down. She gave them all a mighty glare, and they backed off. The girl got up with a deep breath and a brush of her clothing, she spoke, "Atsui, why do you want to know."

"Your village, recently captured a demon named Jaken. He is a toad demon. Bring him to me, and some of you will not die," Sesshoumaru demanded. The slayers all rushed to be the first to get him, thinking that they would be spared if they brought him what he wanted. Atsui stayed behind.

"Why don't you go like them?"

"I don't need to. Kill me if you're going to, I'll be the first to go. But you will leave my sister and father alone, you hear?!" she shouted threateningly. As if she could intimidate Sesshoumaru.

"You called for your mother before you tried shooting me with your arrow. Tell me, is she dead?" he asked her. He always had been very blunt.

Atsui's breath hilted for a split second at the cruel demon's words, "That is none of your concern! Now take your toad and get out!"

This girl is either completely fearless, or completely ignorant.

One of the slayers, a woman, came back with the toad demon, Jaken, and handed him to Sesshoumaru immediately. The little demon felt ecstatic, seeing him.

"Lord Sesshoumaru! You came for me!" his eyes shined as if he were made of polished iron.

"Please Lord, I beg of you, spare our village," the woman pleaded with him. He said not another word before taking his leave.

The slayers all gathered around the woman and cheered for her, except for Atsui. Another girl, the age of eighteen, ran up to Atsui and tackled her in a hug.

"Sister! Thank Goodness, you're alright! I thought you'd been slaughtered!" the older girl cried.

"I'm just fine, Onmitsu. But promise me you'll watch over Father, alright?"

"Atsui! You're going after him aren't you?"

"Yes, sister, I am. But what else could be expected?" she smiled. Her sister gave a stiff nod and sent her on her way. The villagers caught on as to what was happening and were all surprised.

"Everyone! The village coward is going after the strong demon that even we could not defeat!" shouted a laughing slayer. Atsui grabbed an arrow out of her quiver and loaded her bow. She took not a second to shoot it at a tree, whizzing past everyone's heads, and hitting it dead center. She smirked, proud, and went to get her arrow back.

As she placed it gently back in her quiver, she said, "the village coward will be on her way now. Do not follow me. If I don't return within ten days, I'm probably dead. My goal is to come back here with the demon's head. Farewell." And she made her way out of the village, and after the demon.

犬夜叉

"I know you are hiding, Onna," Sesshoumaru announced to the girl hidden in the bushes. An arrow flew past his face and buried itself in the tree next to him. He narrowed his eyes at the girl once she revealed herself.

Jaken gasped loudly, "You again! A little girl! That is who tries to challenge My Lord! I would laugh if I weren't so utterly disgusted!"

"Hush up, toad! I am no little girl! And if I was, what does that make you? Huh?" she shouted back, stepping on him. Sesshoumaru only watched, curiosity grazing his face.

"How dare you! Lord Sesshoumaru should skin you alive for this!" he screamed, beginning to hit her with his staff of two heads. She grabbed it out of his hands and began swatting him with it. Sesshoumaru would have rolled his eyes if he wasn't trying to keep his stoic expression.

"What is your purpose here?" he questioned emotionlessly with a completely monotone voice.

"Your head on my arrow," Atsui growled.

"You know nothing, Onna," he turned taking Rin and Jaken with him. "Do not waste my time again."

Atsui sighed, collecting the arrow from her tree.

*****

This chapter is a little shorter than normal, and I'm sorry. I just can't really continue writing one thing if it doesn't inspire me. I'll come back to this arc, if you like. In fact I have big plans. But for now, I'm going back to Shiukori and her friends.

As always,

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