I do not own Inuyasha or any of Rumiko Takahasi's charaters. Please enjoy my story!!!
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The setting sun shone brightly as Kagome laid face-up on a soft patch of grass. She enjoyed the sun's warmth on her face. The wind blew strands of her hair across her face, lightly brushing the tip of her nose, making her want to sneeze. She brushed away the strands and closed her eyes, wondering how things were back in her era.
"Kagome! Miroku and Inuyasha are back from the village!" cried Shippo.
Kagome sat up and looked toward the horizon. There, she saw two figures walking toward the camp they had made the day before. They were about the same height, but one was dressed in the purple robes of a monk and he carried a staff. The other was dressed in a red kimono and an aging sword in an aging scabbard was tied around his waist.
Kagome smiled and stood up. She walked over toward Sango, who was preparing a fire, and said, "They better have been able to get some food in town."
"One can only hope with those two," replied Sango, "And knowing them, they either had to kill someone, or Miroku had to pull his 'an ominous cloud hangs over this city' charade."
"I heard that," said Miroku as he and Inuyasha entered the camp and set the food by the fire, "I'll have you know that it's not a charade. I'm simply providing a public service."
"Right. And how many women have agreed to bear your child now?" asked Kagome, sarcastically.
"I didn't ask anyone anything of the sort!" said Miroku, blushing.
"I counted about five, but there could have been more." said Inuyasha.
"Just as I suspected." said Kagome.
"Well.... uh.... anyway we have the food. Does it really matter how we got it?" asked Miroku.
Kagome sighed, "Well, I guess what's done is done."
"Yea, whatever. Let's hurry up and eat already." said Inuyasha impatiently.
"Can't you think about something besides your stomach for two seconds?" shouted Kagome.
"What are you saying?" shouted Inuyasha.
"I'm saying that you can't think about anything but your stomach! You're so selfish Inuyasha!" cried Kagome.
Miroku put one hand to his forehead and said, "Here we go again!" He knelt down beside Sango and began to help her cook their dinner.
"I'm selfish? What about you?" shouted Inuyasha.
"Are you implying something?" cried Kagome.
"Yes I am!" said Inuyasha.
Kagome's face turned pink, then she said one simple word, "Sit!"
Inuyasha crashed face-first to the ground, making a large hole.
"Serves you right!" said Kagome as she took a seat beside the fire.
Inuyasha got up, hand rubbing his head painfully, walked over to the other side of the camp, and sat cross-legged on the ground. He turned his back to the camp and watched the setting sun.
"So, did you hear anything in town?" asked Shippo.
"Actually, we heard about a town not too far from here that has constant demon problems. They say that there is a woman in the town who protects it. She also protects an ancient sword. The same sword that was forged by Midoriko, the creator of the sacred Shikon Jewel. A mere woman could not have that kind of ability on her own. I think she might possess a shard of the Shikon Jewel." said Miroku.
"So, this woman is some kind of demon slayer?" asked Sango as she put rice on each of their plates.
"I'm not sure, but she is very well known. They also say that the priestess's beauty is beyond compare." replied Miroku.
"I knew that there was something more than a shard of the Shikon Jewel involved." said Kagome, angrily.
"Is that supposed to mean something?" asked Miroku, calmly.
Sango glared at Miroku and Kagome rolled her eyes. "Well, if there are Shikon shards involved, we should check it out." said Kagome.
Shippo looked over at Inuyasha and shouted, "Hey Inuyasha! Come and eat!"
Inuyasha stood up and made his way over to the others. He sat next to Miroku, making sure he avoided eye contact with Kagome.
They ate their meal in silence, pondering the events of the next day. Once they had finished, Sango and Kagome collected the dishes and Miroku went into the woods for his nightly meditation.
Without a word, Inuyasha stood up and took the first watch. Kagome watched Inuyasha climb a tree and perch himself on one of the higher branches. She sighed and unraveled her sleeping bag.
"Why does he have to be like that?" thought Kagome. She got into her sleeping bag and closed her eyes.
She wasn't sure how long she had slept before she heard a loud roaring sound and then a large thud. Kagome sprang up and looked around wildly. When she found the source of the noise, she froze.
A huge wasp demon was lying on the ground about fifty feet away from the camp. Kagome ran to Inuyasha, who was standing by Miroku, Sango, and Shippo.
Next to the huge wasp demon, stood a young woman holding a bow in her hand. Her hair blew across her face in the light wind, showing only her eyes. They couldn't tell who she was, or what she looked like. Her eyes glittered in the moonlight. She walked over to the wasp demon, grabbed hold of the arrow that was lodged in its chest, and in one swift motion, retrieved it from the wasp demon. She wiped the blood off on the grass. The point of the arrowhead glinted, showing razor-sharp edges. Then, just as quickly as she appeared, she disappeared into the dark forest.
After a few moments of silence, Inuyasha spoke, "Who was that?"
"I don't know, but I think we can find some answers tomorrow in the village." replied Miroku.
As the sun rose above the horizon, the small group made their way to the village. As they began to see the outline of the village in the distance, Inuyasha spoke up, "whoever killed that demon last night was very powerful. We're going to have to be very careful in this village."
"Why's that, Inuyasha?" asked Kagome.
"This particular village lies at the edge of the Demon Forest. It is said that all demons originated from that very forest." replied a small voice.
Inuyasha looked at his shoulder and saw a tiny flea sitting comfortably there. "If it isn't Myoga the flea. Where have you been?" asked Inuyasha.
"I was searching for information on the whereabouts of the remaining shards of the Shikon Jewel." replied Myoga.
"Did you get any?" asked Kagome.
"Actually, I was told that a priestess in this very village has collected shards of the jewel from the demons that she has slain." said Myoga as he pointed to the village in the distance.
"Great. If she's just a priestess, there should be no problem stealing the shards from her." said Inuyasha.
"Ah, master, be weary. This is no ordinary priestess. She possesses power that exceeds even the Lady Kikyo's. She is not one you should take lightly." said Myoga.
"Well, we'll see how powerful she is when we get there." said Inuyasha, bitterly.
After a few minutes, they reached the entrance to the village. It was rather large. There were about one hundred huts and a large shrine. In the center of the village there was a large flower garden.
"That's odd. I didn't think a garden would be able to survive if this place has a demon problem." said Shippo, studying the flowers closely.
"Ah, but that's just it. The reason the flowers have survived is because no demon has passed through those gates." said Myoga, pointing to the entrance to the village.
A young woman dressed in the garb of a priestess knelt beside the flowers. Her hair was the color of Shippo's and it flowed and danced in the light summer breeze. Kagome noticed that she had a quiver of arrows strung on her back and a sword at her waist. As they got closer, she turned around, saw them, and smiled.
"Hello. Can I help you with something?" she asked. Her voice was sweet and singsongy. As soon as the men saw her, their jaws dropped. She had crystal clear blue eyes and a smiling face. On each side of her face a lock of hair was tied with a braided cord and attached to the cord were two silver bells. She was the most beautiful thing they had ever seen.
"Yes, actually. Are you the priestess that protects this village?" asked Kagome.
"Yes I am. What can I do for you?" asked the woman, smiling.
Miroku went up to the priestess, took her hands in his, and said, "You are even more beautiful than I expected. I have never seen a more lovely face in my life! I am the honorable monk, Miroku. What might your name be?"
The priestess looked stunned and Sango's face turned bright red. She went over to him and smacked him in the back of the head with her boomerang bone.
"You'll have to excuse him. He doesn't know how to keep his hands to himself." said Sango, angrily.
Inuyasha walked over to the priestess and studied her closely. He clenched his hands into fists, trying desperately not to run his fingers through her hair.
Kagome looked at Inuyasha and was stunned to see a look in his eyes that had once been for Kikyo. Suddenly, Inuyasha placed his hands on the priestess's waist and lightly caressed her cheek.
"Hey Inuyasha! What's the big idea?" shouted Kagome, her anger building.
"I fear this is my fault. Please follow me." said the priestess as she tore herself away from Inuyasha's grasp. Inuyasha looked stunned, then saddened by her departure. She lead the small party to one of the smaller buildings in the shrine. Inside, herbs hung from the ceiling to dry, a small bed sat in the far corner, and a small table stood in the middle of the room.
She invited them all to sit down. Once everyone was seated, the priestess grabbed some herbs from the ceiling. She crushed them in a small bowl and added them to two small cups of water. She put one cup in front of Inuyasha and one cup in front of Miroku.
"What did you mean? How could have those two's actions been your fault?" asked Sango.
"It's a very long story. Oh, by the way, my name's Kotori." said the priestess, smiling.
"I'm Kagome, this is Sango, this is Shippo, and this is Inuyasha. You've already met Miroku." said Kagome.
"It's nice to meet you all. And I'm sorry if their actions angered you. They were not doing it of their own accord." said Kotori.
"Why did you give that mixture of herbs only to Inuyasha and Miroku?" asked Sango.
"Oh, well it's a mixture to stop the effects of my curse. It only affects men." replied Kotori.
"What kind of curse?" asked Shippo.
"Well, some years ago now, the demon Naraku came to this village in search of the sacred sword I protect. The Kenakari. I was ready to fight him, but when he entered the shrine and saw me, the sword was no longer what he wanted, it was me. When I refused him, he put a curse on me. He said that because I refused him, I would never know true love. Now, every man that lays eyes on me falls in love with me. The only thing that stops the effects of the curse is to give the men that mixture. Once they consume it, they see me for who I truly am." said Kotori.
"That doesn't seem much like a curse." said Kagome.
"Naraku knew that I could never love anyone who did not truly return my love. Every time a new man enters the village, it kills me inside because I know the feelings they have for me are not true, no matter how bad I want them. He knew that I would never go with any man as long as the curse was over my head so he believes that all he has to do is simply bide his time and wait until I give in."
"Wow. So when Naraku couldn't have you, he made it so nobody could." said Kagome.
"Yes. He also made me immortal. I can be slain, but I cannot die by sickness or old age. After Naraku left, he killed many of the villagers. Including my parents." said Kotori.
"That's terrible. I never thought that Naraku could be so jealous, or could even be capable of love." said Kagome, thoughtfully.
Inuyasha sniffed the mixture in the cup then drank it in one gulp. It was bitter, but he felt like his head was cleared of a thick fog. He looked at Kotori and realized that his feelings for her had changed. Now he simply thought she was just another human, though he still thought her beautiful.
Kotori noticed that Miroku refused to touch his drink. She pushed it toward him and said, "Miroku-sama, you must drink this. Your mind will no longer be clouded by the curse."
"I rather like the feelings I have for you, Kotori my darling. I do not wish to rid myself of them." replied Miroku.
"Those feelings are not true. Please drink it." said Kotori.
"Could you help me take it?" asked Miroku, grinning.
Kotori sighed, "If that is your wish, let it be so."
She took the cup from Miroku and sat next to him. He grabbed her hips and sat her in his lap, making sure that she faced him.
"Miroku! Stop this now!" shouted Sango.
"Please do not be angry with him. The curse is what is making him act this way." said Kotori. She pushed Miroku down on the floor. She placed one leg on each side of him, pinning him to the ground.
He was surprised at her forcefulness, but then he put his hands on her hips. Ignoring his gesture, she took the cup and put it to his lips. He swallowed it in two gulps. Kotori sat up and placed the cup on the table. She tried to stand up, but Miroku's hands still clasped her waist. She turned and looked at him in surprise. He smiled at her, but said nothing.
"Why didn't it work? It worked for everyone else. It even worked for the half-breed." said Kotori.
"I guess that my feelings for you are true." replied Miroku, smirking.
"Oh please!" said Sango and Kagome in unison.
"Wait a minute! How did you know that I'm half demon?" asked Inuyasha suspiciously.
"Well, my enchanted bells didn't ring," said Kotori, pointing to the bells tied to her hair, "They only ring for things that are a threat to me or my village. They ring twice for when a full demon or even a half demon approaches. For dangerous humans, they ring once. Besides, your looks obviously suggest that you are not truly a full demon, and yet you are truly not a full human either."
"So, you mean that you can detect demons before you see them?" asked Inuyasha.
"That's right." said Kotori, smiling.
"Wait a minute! You said the bells didn't ring when we came!" said Inuyasha.
"Yes, that is correct." replied Kotori.
"Then how did you know that we were behind you?" asked Inuyasha.
"I heard your footsteps of course. You weren't exactly quiet in your approach." replied Kotori.
"How can I not be a threat to you or your village? You're just a puny human. How could you possibly defeat me?" shouted Inuyasha.
"I am stronger than you think, half-breed. Do not underestimate my power." said Kotori, warningly.
"Where did you get those bells, Kotori?" asked Kagome, desperately trying to change the subject before Inuyasha's rage could surface.
"My mentor, Lady Kaede, gave them to me when she assigned me to this village. She said that they would be useful in my quest to protect it." replied Kotori.
"Wait. You know that old hag?" asked Inuyasha.
"Watch your tongue, half-breed! She is no hag! She is the greatest teacher and priestess I have ever known!" said Kotori, angrily.
Before Inuyasha could reply, Kagome put her hand over his mouth and said, "He's very sorry. He's not very good at handling his emot.." said Kagome.
Kotori cut her off, "I know all about Inuyasha's past and his run-in with the Lady Kikyo and her relation to my mentor, Kaede Please say no more, for I see that it deeply saddens him."
"It doesn't bother me at all!" shouted Inuyasha.
"Believe what you like, half-breed, but you can't convince yourself for very much longer." replied Kotori, calmly. Inuyasha's face turned red with anger and embarrassment.
"We are friends of Kaede's. We've come here in search of shards of the Shikon Jewel." said Kagome.
"I see. And you were wondering if I had any shards." said Kotori.
"Yes, actually. Do you?" asked Kagome, hopefully.
"Yes. I have eight to be exact. What do you want with them?" asked Kotori, suspiciously.
"We're collecting them so we can find Naraku." replied Inuyasha.
"Well, if you want to find him, stay a few days. He comes here once a month to beg me to reconsider his love." said Kotori.
"Well, then we can finally settle the score!" said Inuyasha.
"Oh!" cried Kotori. Miroku had tightened his grip on her hips and began to massage her bottom. Suddenly, something gray flew by Inuyasha's face. It landed on Miroku's stomach and began to scratch him.
Miroku picked the thing up, struggling, by it's tail and looked at it in surprise. The thing stopped struggling and looked at Miroku. It had little blue eyes, gray hair, and a gray tail. It was a little wolf demon.
The little wolf demon growled at Miroku and began to struggle once more, saying, "Put me down this instant! You're hurting my tail!"
"Kita, this isn't the way we treat guests. We must be good hostesses." said Kotori, calmly.
"Feisty little thing, isn't she?" asked Miroku, still holding little Kita by the tail.
"She isn't used to seeing me be groped by a man and not fight back." replied Kotori, coolly.
"Nobody touches Kotori like that and gets away with it!" cried Kita, as she kicked and punched wildly at the air.
"Relax, Kita. These are friends of the Lady Kaede." said Kotori.
"What do they want?" asked Kita as Miroku put her down.
"We're in search of shards of the sacred Shikon Jewel, and to get revenge on Naraku." replied Sango.
"That's all?" asked Kita sarcastically, "You don't intend to give them the jewel shards, do you Kotori?"
"I believe that their intentions are honorable. If they prove as such, then yes, I will give them the shards." said Kotori.
"Who is this little one?" asked Sango.
"My name is Kita," she replied, smiling, "I'm a wolf demon."
"I found her a few years ago in the forest, after one of Naraku's visits. In his rage at my rejection, he killed her parents. I found her trying to steal food from my master's storehouse." said Kotori, "She needed help so I took her in and we have been together ever since."
"Hey! What do you think you're doin' kid!" shouted Inuyasha. They were surprised to find that Kita had crawled across the table to where Inuyasha sat. She stood up, jumped in his lap, and curled up in a ball.
"Oh, well, she's never done that before." said Kotori, surprised. She looked hard at Inuyasha and then said, "I think you remind her of her father. I had the pleasure of seeing him once. You do resemble him, but he was a wolf, and you are not."
Inuyasha began to try and move Kita, but Kotori stopped him. "Please, just let her do it this once."
"Oh, all right!" said Inuyasha, embarrassed.
"Thank you. She misses her father very much." said Kotori, softly.
"So, she's like you, Shippo." said Kagome.
"I guess so. My parents were killed by the Thunder Brothers. I've traveled with these guys ever since." said Shippo as he pointed to the others.
"Interesting tale. I too have had a run-in with the Thunder Brothers. Unfortunately, they fled before I could finish my work." said Kotori.
Sango noticed Miroku's still firm grip on the priestess and reached for her boomerang bone. Miroku, still not having sat up and not noticing Sango's actions, began to, once again, massage Kotori's bottom.
This time, Kotori was prepared. She reached into the sleeves of her robe and pulled out many strips of paper covered in Japanese calligraphy. "Those are containment spells." thought Kagome.
She read each one carefully before she chose one and placed it in the middle of Miroku's forehead. Suddenly, it seemed as if Miroku was frozen in time, yet his hands hand been removed from Kotori's bottom. She stood up, free from Miroku's grasp, and walked out of the room.
The others simply looked from the seemingly frozen Miroku, to one another. Kotori returned two minutes later with a small teapot, several teacups, and a plate of rice cakes. She set these down on the table in front of the others, not noticing Miroku.
Suddenly, Miroku spoke, "Um... can somebody help me? I'm kinda stuck."
Everyone laughed. Kagome stood up, walked over to Miroku, and poked him in the chest.
"Wow, this is really cool! He can't even touch me!" said Kagome as she poked Miroku harder.
"What kind of spells were those and where can I get them?" asked Sango excitedly.
Kotori laughed, "They're containment spells. I made them myself. With a curse like that, I needed some form of extra protection."
"Well, finally, the perverted monk has met his match." said Inuyasha.
"Now, you all must be tired from traveling. If you wish, I can have special rooms made up for you while you take a bath in our hot springs." said Kotori.
"Yeah! That sounds great!" cried Shippo.
"You are too kind, Kotori." said Sango, smiling.
"It is simply common courtesy. You may stay as long as you wish. My master and his students don't get very many visitors. Now, I'll show the women to their bath and I'll have one of the male students show the men to theirs." replied Kotori as she lead the small party out of the hut and into the shrine.
Inside the large shrine, they found many people sitting on the floor studying from scrolls. They were all people under the age of eighteen by the looks of them.
On the floor closest to the back of the shrine sat an old man. He glanced at the newcomers and stood up.
"Welcome to Enoki Shrine. My name is Haruhiko Enoki and I am the master of this shrine. I am also a teacher for willing scholars. How may I help you, weary travelers?" said the old man.
"They claim to be friends of the Lady Kaede, Master. I offered them a place to stay while they wait for the demon, Naraku to arrive." replied Kotori.
"We are also in search of the shards of the sacred Shikon Jewel." said Miroku.
"Ah, I see. Well, you are very much welcome in this village. Shigure, come and show these men to the hot springs and prepare a proper room for them." said Master Enoki. A young man, about Kotori's age with dirty blonde hair that hung just below his ears and clear blue eyes, came over to them and showed the men to the springs.
"And I trust you know what to do, Kotori?" asked Master Enoki.
Kotori bowed and said, "Of course, Master. The women may share my accommodations."
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The setting sun shone brightly as Kagome laid face-up on a soft patch of grass. She enjoyed the sun's warmth on her face. The wind blew strands of her hair across her face, lightly brushing the tip of her nose, making her want to sneeze. She brushed away the strands and closed her eyes, wondering how things were back in her era.
"Kagome! Miroku and Inuyasha are back from the village!" cried Shippo.
Kagome sat up and looked toward the horizon. There, she saw two figures walking toward the camp they had made the day before. They were about the same height, but one was dressed in the purple robes of a monk and he carried a staff. The other was dressed in a red kimono and an aging sword in an aging scabbard was tied around his waist.
Kagome smiled and stood up. She walked over toward Sango, who was preparing a fire, and said, "They better have been able to get some food in town."
"One can only hope with those two," replied Sango, "And knowing them, they either had to kill someone, or Miroku had to pull his 'an ominous cloud hangs over this city' charade."
"I heard that," said Miroku as he and Inuyasha entered the camp and set the food by the fire, "I'll have you know that it's not a charade. I'm simply providing a public service."
"Right. And how many women have agreed to bear your child now?" asked Kagome, sarcastically.
"I didn't ask anyone anything of the sort!" said Miroku, blushing.
"I counted about five, but there could have been more." said Inuyasha.
"Just as I suspected." said Kagome.
"Well.... uh.... anyway we have the food. Does it really matter how we got it?" asked Miroku.
Kagome sighed, "Well, I guess what's done is done."
"Yea, whatever. Let's hurry up and eat already." said Inuyasha impatiently.
"Can't you think about something besides your stomach for two seconds?" shouted Kagome.
"What are you saying?" shouted Inuyasha.
"I'm saying that you can't think about anything but your stomach! You're so selfish Inuyasha!" cried Kagome.
Miroku put one hand to his forehead and said, "Here we go again!" He knelt down beside Sango and began to help her cook their dinner.
"I'm selfish? What about you?" shouted Inuyasha.
"Are you implying something?" cried Kagome.
"Yes I am!" said Inuyasha.
Kagome's face turned pink, then she said one simple word, "Sit!"
Inuyasha crashed face-first to the ground, making a large hole.
"Serves you right!" said Kagome as she took a seat beside the fire.
Inuyasha got up, hand rubbing his head painfully, walked over to the other side of the camp, and sat cross-legged on the ground. He turned his back to the camp and watched the setting sun.
"So, did you hear anything in town?" asked Shippo.
"Actually, we heard about a town not too far from here that has constant demon problems. They say that there is a woman in the town who protects it. She also protects an ancient sword. The same sword that was forged by Midoriko, the creator of the sacred Shikon Jewel. A mere woman could not have that kind of ability on her own. I think she might possess a shard of the Shikon Jewel." said Miroku.
"So, this woman is some kind of demon slayer?" asked Sango as she put rice on each of their plates.
"I'm not sure, but she is very well known. They also say that the priestess's beauty is beyond compare." replied Miroku.
"I knew that there was something more than a shard of the Shikon Jewel involved." said Kagome, angrily.
"Is that supposed to mean something?" asked Miroku, calmly.
Sango glared at Miroku and Kagome rolled her eyes. "Well, if there are Shikon shards involved, we should check it out." said Kagome.
Shippo looked over at Inuyasha and shouted, "Hey Inuyasha! Come and eat!"
Inuyasha stood up and made his way over to the others. He sat next to Miroku, making sure he avoided eye contact with Kagome.
They ate their meal in silence, pondering the events of the next day. Once they had finished, Sango and Kagome collected the dishes and Miroku went into the woods for his nightly meditation.
Without a word, Inuyasha stood up and took the first watch. Kagome watched Inuyasha climb a tree and perch himself on one of the higher branches. She sighed and unraveled her sleeping bag.
"Why does he have to be like that?" thought Kagome. She got into her sleeping bag and closed her eyes.
She wasn't sure how long she had slept before she heard a loud roaring sound and then a large thud. Kagome sprang up and looked around wildly. When she found the source of the noise, she froze.
A huge wasp demon was lying on the ground about fifty feet away from the camp. Kagome ran to Inuyasha, who was standing by Miroku, Sango, and Shippo.
Next to the huge wasp demon, stood a young woman holding a bow in her hand. Her hair blew across her face in the light wind, showing only her eyes. They couldn't tell who she was, or what she looked like. Her eyes glittered in the moonlight. She walked over to the wasp demon, grabbed hold of the arrow that was lodged in its chest, and in one swift motion, retrieved it from the wasp demon. She wiped the blood off on the grass. The point of the arrowhead glinted, showing razor-sharp edges. Then, just as quickly as she appeared, she disappeared into the dark forest.
After a few moments of silence, Inuyasha spoke, "Who was that?"
"I don't know, but I think we can find some answers tomorrow in the village." replied Miroku.
As the sun rose above the horizon, the small group made their way to the village. As they began to see the outline of the village in the distance, Inuyasha spoke up, "whoever killed that demon last night was very powerful. We're going to have to be very careful in this village."
"Why's that, Inuyasha?" asked Kagome.
"This particular village lies at the edge of the Demon Forest. It is said that all demons originated from that very forest." replied a small voice.
Inuyasha looked at his shoulder and saw a tiny flea sitting comfortably there. "If it isn't Myoga the flea. Where have you been?" asked Inuyasha.
"I was searching for information on the whereabouts of the remaining shards of the Shikon Jewel." replied Myoga.
"Did you get any?" asked Kagome.
"Actually, I was told that a priestess in this very village has collected shards of the jewel from the demons that she has slain." said Myoga as he pointed to the village in the distance.
"Great. If she's just a priestess, there should be no problem stealing the shards from her." said Inuyasha.
"Ah, master, be weary. This is no ordinary priestess. She possesses power that exceeds even the Lady Kikyo's. She is not one you should take lightly." said Myoga.
"Well, we'll see how powerful she is when we get there." said Inuyasha, bitterly.
After a few minutes, they reached the entrance to the village. It was rather large. There were about one hundred huts and a large shrine. In the center of the village there was a large flower garden.
"That's odd. I didn't think a garden would be able to survive if this place has a demon problem." said Shippo, studying the flowers closely.
"Ah, but that's just it. The reason the flowers have survived is because no demon has passed through those gates." said Myoga, pointing to the entrance to the village.
A young woman dressed in the garb of a priestess knelt beside the flowers. Her hair was the color of Shippo's and it flowed and danced in the light summer breeze. Kagome noticed that she had a quiver of arrows strung on her back and a sword at her waist. As they got closer, she turned around, saw them, and smiled.
"Hello. Can I help you with something?" she asked. Her voice was sweet and singsongy. As soon as the men saw her, their jaws dropped. She had crystal clear blue eyes and a smiling face. On each side of her face a lock of hair was tied with a braided cord and attached to the cord were two silver bells. She was the most beautiful thing they had ever seen.
"Yes, actually. Are you the priestess that protects this village?" asked Kagome.
"Yes I am. What can I do for you?" asked the woman, smiling.
Miroku went up to the priestess, took her hands in his, and said, "You are even more beautiful than I expected. I have never seen a more lovely face in my life! I am the honorable monk, Miroku. What might your name be?"
The priestess looked stunned and Sango's face turned bright red. She went over to him and smacked him in the back of the head with her boomerang bone.
"You'll have to excuse him. He doesn't know how to keep his hands to himself." said Sango, angrily.
Inuyasha walked over to the priestess and studied her closely. He clenched his hands into fists, trying desperately not to run his fingers through her hair.
Kagome looked at Inuyasha and was stunned to see a look in his eyes that had once been for Kikyo. Suddenly, Inuyasha placed his hands on the priestess's waist and lightly caressed her cheek.
"Hey Inuyasha! What's the big idea?" shouted Kagome, her anger building.
"I fear this is my fault. Please follow me." said the priestess as she tore herself away from Inuyasha's grasp. Inuyasha looked stunned, then saddened by her departure. She lead the small party to one of the smaller buildings in the shrine. Inside, herbs hung from the ceiling to dry, a small bed sat in the far corner, and a small table stood in the middle of the room.
She invited them all to sit down. Once everyone was seated, the priestess grabbed some herbs from the ceiling. She crushed them in a small bowl and added them to two small cups of water. She put one cup in front of Inuyasha and one cup in front of Miroku.
"What did you mean? How could have those two's actions been your fault?" asked Sango.
"It's a very long story. Oh, by the way, my name's Kotori." said the priestess, smiling.
"I'm Kagome, this is Sango, this is Shippo, and this is Inuyasha. You've already met Miroku." said Kagome.
"It's nice to meet you all. And I'm sorry if their actions angered you. They were not doing it of their own accord." said Kotori.
"Why did you give that mixture of herbs only to Inuyasha and Miroku?" asked Sango.
"Oh, well it's a mixture to stop the effects of my curse. It only affects men." replied Kotori.
"What kind of curse?" asked Shippo.
"Well, some years ago now, the demon Naraku came to this village in search of the sacred sword I protect. The Kenakari. I was ready to fight him, but when he entered the shrine and saw me, the sword was no longer what he wanted, it was me. When I refused him, he put a curse on me. He said that because I refused him, I would never know true love. Now, every man that lays eyes on me falls in love with me. The only thing that stops the effects of the curse is to give the men that mixture. Once they consume it, they see me for who I truly am." said Kotori.
"That doesn't seem much like a curse." said Kagome.
"Naraku knew that I could never love anyone who did not truly return my love. Every time a new man enters the village, it kills me inside because I know the feelings they have for me are not true, no matter how bad I want them. He knew that I would never go with any man as long as the curse was over my head so he believes that all he has to do is simply bide his time and wait until I give in."
"Wow. So when Naraku couldn't have you, he made it so nobody could." said Kagome.
"Yes. He also made me immortal. I can be slain, but I cannot die by sickness or old age. After Naraku left, he killed many of the villagers. Including my parents." said Kotori.
"That's terrible. I never thought that Naraku could be so jealous, or could even be capable of love." said Kagome, thoughtfully.
Inuyasha sniffed the mixture in the cup then drank it in one gulp. It was bitter, but he felt like his head was cleared of a thick fog. He looked at Kotori and realized that his feelings for her had changed. Now he simply thought she was just another human, though he still thought her beautiful.
Kotori noticed that Miroku refused to touch his drink. She pushed it toward him and said, "Miroku-sama, you must drink this. Your mind will no longer be clouded by the curse."
"I rather like the feelings I have for you, Kotori my darling. I do not wish to rid myself of them." replied Miroku.
"Those feelings are not true. Please drink it." said Kotori.
"Could you help me take it?" asked Miroku, grinning.
Kotori sighed, "If that is your wish, let it be so."
She took the cup from Miroku and sat next to him. He grabbed her hips and sat her in his lap, making sure that she faced him.
"Miroku! Stop this now!" shouted Sango.
"Please do not be angry with him. The curse is what is making him act this way." said Kotori. She pushed Miroku down on the floor. She placed one leg on each side of him, pinning him to the ground.
He was surprised at her forcefulness, but then he put his hands on her hips. Ignoring his gesture, she took the cup and put it to his lips. He swallowed it in two gulps. Kotori sat up and placed the cup on the table. She tried to stand up, but Miroku's hands still clasped her waist. She turned and looked at him in surprise. He smiled at her, but said nothing.
"Why didn't it work? It worked for everyone else. It even worked for the half-breed." said Kotori.
"I guess that my feelings for you are true." replied Miroku, smirking.
"Oh please!" said Sango and Kagome in unison.
"Wait a minute! How did you know that I'm half demon?" asked Inuyasha suspiciously.
"Well, my enchanted bells didn't ring," said Kotori, pointing to the bells tied to her hair, "They only ring for things that are a threat to me or my village. They ring twice for when a full demon or even a half demon approaches. For dangerous humans, they ring once. Besides, your looks obviously suggest that you are not truly a full demon, and yet you are truly not a full human either."
"So, you mean that you can detect demons before you see them?" asked Inuyasha.
"That's right." said Kotori, smiling.
"Wait a minute! You said the bells didn't ring when we came!" said Inuyasha.
"Yes, that is correct." replied Kotori.
"Then how did you know that we were behind you?" asked Inuyasha.
"I heard your footsteps of course. You weren't exactly quiet in your approach." replied Kotori.
"How can I not be a threat to you or your village? You're just a puny human. How could you possibly defeat me?" shouted Inuyasha.
"I am stronger than you think, half-breed. Do not underestimate my power." said Kotori, warningly.
"Where did you get those bells, Kotori?" asked Kagome, desperately trying to change the subject before Inuyasha's rage could surface.
"My mentor, Lady Kaede, gave them to me when she assigned me to this village. She said that they would be useful in my quest to protect it." replied Kotori.
"Wait. You know that old hag?" asked Inuyasha.
"Watch your tongue, half-breed! She is no hag! She is the greatest teacher and priestess I have ever known!" said Kotori, angrily.
Before Inuyasha could reply, Kagome put her hand over his mouth and said, "He's very sorry. He's not very good at handling his emot.." said Kagome.
Kotori cut her off, "I know all about Inuyasha's past and his run-in with the Lady Kikyo and her relation to my mentor, Kaede Please say no more, for I see that it deeply saddens him."
"It doesn't bother me at all!" shouted Inuyasha.
"Believe what you like, half-breed, but you can't convince yourself for very much longer." replied Kotori, calmly. Inuyasha's face turned red with anger and embarrassment.
"We are friends of Kaede's. We've come here in search of shards of the Shikon Jewel." said Kagome.
"I see. And you were wondering if I had any shards." said Kotori.
"Yes, actually. Do you?" asked Kagome, hopefully.
"Yes. I have eight to be exact. What do you want with them?" asked Kotori, suspiciously.
"We're collecting them so we can find Naraku." replied Inuyasha.
"Well, if you want to find him, stay a few days. He comes here once a month to beg me to reconsider his love." said Kotori.
"Well, then we can finally settle the score!" said Inuyasha.
"Oh!" cried Kotori. Miroku had tightened his grip on her hips and began to massage her bottom. Suddenly, something gray flew by Inuyasha's face. It landed on Miroku's stomach and began to scratch him.
Miroku picked the thing up, struggling, by it's tail and looked at it in surprise. The thing stopped struggling and looked at Miroku. It had little blue eyes, gray hair, and a gray tail. It was a little wolf demon.
The little wolf demon growled at Miroku and began to struggle once more, saying, "Put me down this instant! You're hurting my tail!"
"Kita, this isn't the way we treat guests. We must be good hostesses." said Kotori, calmly.
"Feisty little thing, isn't she?" asked Miroku, still holding little Kita by the tail.
"She isn't used to seeing me be groped by a man and not fight back." replied Kotori, coolly.
"Nobody touches Kotori like that and gets away with it!" cried Kita, as she kicked and punched wildly at the air.
"Relax, Kita. These are friends of the Lady Kaede." said Kotori.
"What do they want?" asked Kita as Miroku put her down.
"We're in search of shards of the sacred Shikon Jewel, and to get revenge on Naraku." replied Sango.
"That's all?" asked Kita sarcastically, "You don't intend to give them the jewel shards, do you Kotori?"
"I believe that their intentions are honorable. If they prove as such, then yes, I will give them the shards." said Kotori.
"Who is this little one?" asked Sango.
"My name is Kita," she replied, smiling, "I'm a wolf demon."
"I found her a few years ago in the forest, after one of Naraku's visits. In his rage at my rejection, he killed her parents. I found her trying to steal food from my master's storehouse." said Kotori, "She needed help so I took her in and we have been together ever since."
"Hey! What do you think you're doin' kid!" shouted Inuyasha. They were surprised to find that Kita had crawled across the table to where Inuyasha sat. She stood up, jumped in his lap, and curled up in a ball.
"Oh, well, she's never done that before." said Kotori, surprised. She looked hard at Inuyasha and then said, "I think you remind her of her father. I had the pleasure of seeing him once. You do resemble him, but he was a wolf, and you are not."
Inuyasha began to try and move Kita, but Kotori stopped him. "Please, just let her do it this once."
"Oh, all right!" said Inuyasha, embarrassed.
"Thank you. She misses her father very much." said Kotori, softly.
"So, she's like you, Shippo." said Kagome.
"I guess so. My parents were killed by the Thunder Brothers. I've traveled with these guys ever since." said Shippo as he pointed to the others.
"Interesting tale. I too have had a run-in with the Thunder Brothers. Unfortunately, they fled before I could finish my work." said Kotori.
Sango noticed Miroku's still firm grip on the priestess and reached for her boomerang bone. Miroku, still not having sat up and not noticing Sango's actions, began to, once again, massage Kotori's bottom.
This time, Kotori was prepared. She reached into the sleeves of her robe and pulled out many strips of paper covered in Japanese calligraphy. "Those are containment spells." thought Kagome.
She read each one carefully before she chose one and placed it in the middle of Miroku's forehead. Suddenly, it seemed as if Miroku was frozen in time, yet his hands hand been removed from Kotori's bottom. She stood up, free from Miroku's grasp, and walked out of the room.
The others simply looked from the seemingly frozen Miroku, to one another. Kotori returned two minutes later with a small teapot, several teacups, and a plate of rice cakes. She set these down on the table in front of the others, not noticing Miroku.
Suddenly, Miroku spoke, "Um... can somebody help me? I'm kinda stuck."
Everyone laughed. Kagome stood up, walked over to Miroku, and poked him in the chest.
"Wow, this is really cool! He can't even touch me!" said Kagome as she poked Miroku harder.
"What kind of spells were those and where can I get them?" asked Sango excitedly.
Kotori laughed, "They're containment spells. I made them myself. With a curse like that, I needed some form of extra protection."
"Well, finally, the perverted monk has met his match." said Inuyasha.
"Now, you all must be tired from traveling. If you wish, I can have special rooms made up for you while you take a bath in our hot springs." said Kotori.
"Yeah! That sounds great!" cried Shippo.
"You are too kind, Kotori." said Sango, smiling.
"It is simply common courtesy. You may stay as long as you wish. My master and his students don't get very many visitors. Now, I'll show the women to their bath and I'll have one of the male students show the men to theirs." replied Kotori as she lead the small party out of the hut and into the shrine.
Inside the large shrine, they found many people sitting on the floor studying from scrolls. They were all people under the age of eighteen by the looks of them.
On the floor closest to the back of the shrine sat an old man. He glanced at the newcomers and stood up.
"Welcome to Enoki Shrine. My name is Haruhiko Enoki and I am the master of this shrine. I am also a teacher for willing scholars. How may I help you, weary travelers?" said the old man.
"They claim to be friends of the Lady Kaede, Master. I offered them a place to stay while they wait for the demon, Naraku to arrive." replied Kotori.
"We are also in search of the shards of the sacred Shikon Jewel." said Miroku.
"Ah, I see. Well, you are very much welcome in this village. Shigure, come and show these men to the hot springs and prepare a proper room for them." said Master Enoki. A young man, about Kotori's age with dirty blonde hair that hung just below his ears and clear blue eyes, came over to them and showed the men to the springs.
"And I trust you know what to do, Kotori?" asked Master Enoki.
Kotori bowed and said, "Of course, Master. The women may share my accommodations."