Well, finally, it's the beginning of a long fic. Ask and ye shall (eventually) receive, I suppose. I know this first chapter is short and not very interesting, but hey, we all have to get through a little setup to get to the interesting parts. I just hope it doesn't wind up taking too long to become interesting…

Well, anyway, I hope you sit through this chapter so that you will enjoy the second one, when my deluge of papers and midterms permit me to write it.

Thank you so much to everyone who's reviewed my other works! I really appreciate you all.

***

"Don't you think it's about time that we camped for the night?"

The sun was sinking as Kagome and her friends trooped through the town.

"Let's press on a bit further," Miroku replied, his eyes glittering.

Kagome glanced around her in mild surprise. Inuyasha was getting odd looks, as usual, from the townspeople, but few of them seemed afraid of him. Mostly, they were just curious.

"Oi, Miroku," Inuyasha glared at the monk. "You're up to something. Why haven't you spotted any 'evil aura's?"

Miroku smiled cheerfully. "This town is unusually clean."

Sango looked at him closely, and then exchanged a look with Kagome, who shrugged back.

They passed out of the town and into the wooded country beyond. The road continued, and Kagome looked nervously at the woods on either side of them. She hastily glanced at Inuyasha, but he didn't seem to have noticed her apprehension. Kagome knew he would be offended if he thought she doubted him. That would just make him grumpier than usual.

Miroku stopped in front of her so suddenly that she almost bumped into him. She realized suddenly that there was a large castle in front of them, in a wide clearing. Miroku had stopped within hearing range of the front gate, which was open but flanked with guards. He stared for a moment, and then his eyes widened.

Kagome rolled her eyes and mouthed the words along with him.

"Ah! I sense an evil aura over this house!"

The guards stared at him and looked at each other as he approached.

"Please allow me to perform a purification to rid you of this evil spirit."

The guards looked at each other, and Kagome knew at once that they weren't buying it.

"I think you'd better move on, Houshi-sama," one of the guards said. His tone was polite but his grip on his weapon had shifted slightly.

"Wait a moment," came a voice from within.

The guard snapped immediately to attention and stood aside from the gate as a woman passed through it.

The entire group fell silent. By her dress alone they would have known her for the mistress of the house, but she radiated quiet confidence and authority. This was no twittering, ornamental princess. They were used to beautiful women, but something about this one was different. It wasn't so much beauty as refinement. Elegance was written in every line of her. She moved gracefully as she paced up to them. Her smile was open, encouraging friendliness but not impropriety. Kagome heard Inuyasha suck in his breath beside her, and she looked at him in surprise. His nose twitched, and his brow was furrowed. Kagome frowned.

"Youkai?" she whispered quietly.

"Hm?" Inuyasha looked at her as though he had forgotten she was there. "No." He went back to studying the woman – the young woman, Kagome saw, now that she was closer. The lady couldn't be much older than Sango.

Miroku, surprisingly, recovered first. "Lady," he bowed deeply. "I have sensed an evil presence over this house. I would be honored to -"

"Oi, Miroku," Inuyasha interrupted suddenly. The group turned to him in surprise. "Don't you think you've made a mistake?" the hanyou continued pointedly. Miroku stared at him for a second, but Inuyasha's golden eyes made clear the response that he wanted.

"Uh, perhaps that is so," he faltered, glancing at Kagome. She shrugged slightly.

"I see," the lady said slowly. Her clear voice was pitched to carry, and Kagome was sure the guards at the gate were meant to hear. She could see that they were still tense. The lady's eyes passed carefully over each member of the group, and halted on Inuyasha. Kagome felt him shift uncomfortably and wondered what on earth was wrong with him.

After a moment, she smiled brilliantly. "Well," she began, "I think it is best to be safe. Houshi, would you be so kind as to perform a purification tonight, in exchange for a room for the night and dinner for all of you?" One cultured eyebrow arched slightly for just an instant, and Kagome's eyes widened.

She knows. She knows Miroku was lying, and she's asking us in anyway.

"Thank you, lady," Miroku bowed perfectly, though he surely must be as confused as Kagome. "I would be honored to perform this service for you."

"Thank you, Houshi," she nodded, turning back towards the house, the picture of propriety once more. The group of Shikon hunters exchange glances, and followed, not sure what else to do.