The Problem With Mikos

       DAY ONE-The Arrival

            "Kenshin-san[1]!"  Yuzumi shouted.

            "Inuyasha-sama[2]!" Sakura shouted back.

            "Kenshin-san!'

            "Inuyasha-sama!"

            "I'm telling you Kenshin-san is better than little dog-boy!"

            "And I'm telling you Inuyasha-sama is better than...."

                                                            *DING*

            The microwave dinged before Sakura could finish what she was saying.

            "Ooooh, noodles!"  They shouted in unison as they frolicked toward the microwave.  Yuzumi was the self proclaimed Kenshin no Miko[3] and was staying the night at the house of her friend, the beloved Inuyasha no Miko, Sakura.  Yuzumi and Sakura were constantly arguing over who is the better bishonen[4], Inuyasha or Kenshin.  That is, they're arguing when they aren't eating noodles or watching Anime.

            "Hey, Yuzumi, let's watch Inuyasha while we eat."  Sakura proposed with a grin.

            "No.  Let's watch Rurouni Kenshin."  Yuzumi countered as Sakura made the begging puppy-dog face, complete with tears.  "Okay, we'll compromise, and watch Samurai X.  It has Kenshin-san and lots of cool fight scenes."

            "Okay.  Though, it doesn't have Inuyasha-sama." Sakura sullenly agreed.

            They walked out of Sakura's kitchen, with their noodles, and rushed toward the TV room.  Yuzumi picked up the movie and headed toward the DVD player.  She popped in the DVD, went to the language setting, set it to the subtitle version, and then started it.

            "Itada kimasu[5]!"  Yuzumi and Sakura shouted in unison.   Sakura took a seat on the floor, in front of the TV and began to sullenly eat her noodles; while Yuzumi took a seat next to Sakura and began to eat with a huge grin on her face.

            After several hours of Samurai X, and much crying, due to watching the death of Tomoe, Sakura insisted on watching Inuyasha, "Okay.  We've watched three consecutive Samurai X DVDs; now we are going to watch Inuyasha!"

            "Alright., fine, Have it your way."  Yuzumi sullenly gave in, as Sakura began to dance around singing "Go Inuyasha-sama".

            She grabbed the movie off the floor and put it in the DVD player, selected the subtitles, cranked up the volume, and returned to her seat.  "Yay!  Inuyasha-sama is the best!"  Sakura excitedly shouted as the opening theme started.  Meanwhile, Yuzumi sat there and rolled her eyes.

            Around two o'clock in the morning, Yuzumi decided that it would be best for the two of them to get some sleep, "C'mon Sakura, enough Inuyasha for one night; we do have work tomorrow, no da[6]?"

            "But, I wanna watch Inuyasha."  Sakura whined, as she reluctantly went to remove the DVD.

            "Hurry up, Sakura."  Yuzumi impatiently stated.

            "Yeah, yeah.  Hey! Let's listen to the Inuyasha sound track while we sleep!"  Sakura joyously proposed.

            "Okay, but we have to listen to the Rurouni Kenshin sound track too."  Yuzumi countered.

            Sakura walked over to the CDs, and put them into the CD player.  Then she grabbed some blankets and a pillow; and tossed them at Yuzumi.  She grabbed some sleeping equipment for herself and lay down on the floor.  "Oyasumi nasai[7], Yuzumi."

            "Oyasumi nasai."

            Both Yuzumi and Sakura stretched out on the floor and fell asleep while listening to the music.  As the night wore on, a loud bang woke Sakura up, "What?  Oh, it's just a stupid thunderstorm.  Kuso!  I was having a good dream too.  GRRRR!  Oh well, I might as well try to go back to sleep." *Grin* "Hee, hee.  Perhaps I'll have the dream again."  Sakura rolled over and began to drift off again.

                                                            *CRASH*

            "Kuso[8]!!  What now?!"  Sakura exclaimed irritably as she turned toward her TV and saw a very confused looking Kenshin and a none to happy Inuyasha.  No way!  She thought as she quickly went to where Yuzumi was sleeping.  Man how can she sleep through all of this?  "Hey, Wake up!  Yuzumi!"  Sakura shouted as she violently shook Yuzumi.

            "What the hell?"  A sleepy Yuzumi asked.

            "Just look over by the TV."

            "This better be g...." Yuzumi began until she saw the guys standing there, at which point she blinked a few times, "Oro[9]?"

            "Excuse me, but could you tell me where I am, and what happened?  Please?"  Kenshin politely asked.

            "Kuso!  Where in the seven hells am I?  And what in all the hells happened?"  Inuyasha rather angrily inquired.

            At this point all Yuzumi could do was sit on the floor and blink.  Sakura, noticed her friends stupor, hit her over the head and asked, "Does this hurt?"

            "Oww!  Why you!"  Yuzumi shouted and proceeded to punch Sakura in the arm.

            "Well that means we aren't dreaming," Sakura stated with a huge smile, and a slight wince, "If this isn't a dream that means they're really here."  Sakura got up and walked over to Inuyasha, respectfully bowed, and said, "Konnichiwa.  Watashi wa Inuyasha no miko desu.[10]"

            "Uh............" Inuyasha paused and blinked in surprise, ".......I have a miko.....?"

            "Yes.  Just let me know if you need anything, anything at all."  Sakura stated happily.

            "Humans."  Inuyasha sighed.

            Following Sakura's lead, Yuzumi walked over to Kenshin, bowed, and said, "Konnichiwa, Kenshin-san.  Watashi wa Kenshin no miko desu.  Please feel free to let me know if there is anything I can do for you."

            "Oro.......?  Um....I don't really need a miko...... but thanks for the offer."  Kenshin said a little uncomfortably.

            "Okay if you are my miko, then tell me what the hell I'm doing here, and where I am."  Inuyasha demanded.

            "Well, I don't really know Inuyasha-sama.  As far as I can tell a lightning bolt must have hit my TV, thus transporting you and Kenshin here."  Sakura guessed.

            "......TV?"  Inuyasha and Kenshin asked in a confused manner.

            "Yeah, you know that thing behind you."  Yuzumi said as she pointed to Sakura's 75in TV.

            "Where in all the hells am I?" Inuyasha said to himself.

            "Oro...........?"  Kenshin stated.

            "Well, Inuyasha-sama.  You're in America and the year is 2003."  Sakura answered.

            "America....?  What's that?"  Inuyasha asked.

            "You must be mistaken the year is1875."  Kenshin insisted.

            "Who cares what year it is?  I want to know where I am."  Inuyasha muttered to himself.

            "Actually, Kenshin-san, in your world the year is 1875, but in our world the year is 2003; and, Inuyasha, America is a country several thousand miles away from Japan, no da."  Yuzumi supplied.

            "No, I don't know.  If you could direct me back to my own world I won't have to hurt you.  Besides I need to collect the pieces of the Shikon no Tama[11]; and I doubt there are any of them in this world."  Inuyasha declared with obvious annoyance.

            "I would be more than happy to, but...." Sakura began.

            "But?  There's always 'but' when humans are concerned.  Why not just send me back home?"  Inuyasha demanded.

            "As I was saying, Inuyasha-sama, I don't know how to send you back."

            "Worthless human girl!"  Inuyasha ranted, and looked like he might use his sankontetsou[12] on Sakura.

            "Hey, you should be nice to these ladies.  It's not their fault we got here."  Kenshin said to try and calm the extremely irritated Inuyasha.

            "This kind of thing always happens when humans are involved."  Inuyasha declared, hotly.

            ""Why don't we fix you some food?"  Yuzumi and Sakura proposed.  Kenshin and Inuyasha are very good at fighting, and to piss either one of them off means death.  Thus, Sakura and Yuzumi decided it was best to keep the peace.  Otherwise Sakura might no longer have a house.

            "Do you have those Ramen noodle things?  Those are good!"  Inuyasha, who was suddenly happy, asked.

            :"Of course we do.  What would the world be without Ramen noodles?  Take a seat and I'll go cook some for you."  Sakura delightedly replied as she danced off to the kitchen.

            "Would you like anything Kenshin-san?"  Yuzumi inquired.

            "Uh...No I'm fine thanks.  I can make food for myself."  Kenshin politely declined.

            "Please?  I can make Ramen noodles, Macaroni, rice, corn, sandwiches......."  Yuzumi said as she began to list what she hoped was an appetizing array of foods.

            "No, really, you don't need to trouble yourself."

            "It's no trouble, besides I'm you're faithful miko."

            Suddenly, Sakura walked into the room wearing a slightly short skirted waitress' outfit and holding a tray of Ramen and saki.

            Oh god no. Yuzumi thought, why is she wearing that?  Wait a minute.  Where the hell did she get the saki?

  "Here you are Inuyasha-sama.  I didn't know what you wanted to drink, so I just brought saki.  I hope that's all right."  Sakura stated.

            "All right!"  Inuyasha said as he began to stuff his mouth.

            "Just let me know if you need anything else."

            Yuzumi looked at Sakura, then at Inuyasha, and then glared at Kenshin.  She decided that the only way to get Kenshin to cooperate was to make him uncomfortable and thus allow her to serve as his miko.  So she positioned herself on the floor, facing Kenshin in a way that allowed her to glare at Kenshin and make him squirm.

            "Oro...?"  Kenshin said with a sweat drop, "Is something wrong?"  He asked Yuzumi.

            "I'm not stopping until you let me serve you as a miko should."  Yuzumi replied, flatly.

            "Oro...?  Okay ... you can....um.... get me some Ramen noodles and saki, if you want."  Kenshin relented.

            "Yay!  Find a good place to sit and I'll be right back Kenshin-san."  She said as she ran off into the kitchen.

            "Mey mring me mome more saki, too."  Inuyasha demanded with a mouth full of noodles.

            Yuzumi stopped and glared at Inuyasha, "I'm not your miko.  Go get it yourself!"

            "Yuzumi, how dare you speak to Inuyasha-sama in such a manner?!"  Sakura angrily scolded Yuzumi.

            Yuzumi began to spasmodically twitch, "What are you implying?  Are you trying to say that dog boy is better than Kenshin-san?"  She stated with a cold smile.

            "Who are you calling a dog boy?"  Inuyasha asked while Yuzumi and Sakura ignored him.

            "You have to ask?  Isn't it obvious that Inuyasha-sama is ten times better than the little sword swinging child?"  Sakura said with an equally cold smile.

            "Child?  Oro...?"  Kenshin asked as he was also ignored.

            "Kenshin-san a child?"  Yuzumi inquired with her voice raising several octaves. "Kenshin-san is not a child, you..."

            "I do believe Kenshin is waiting for that Ramen and saki.  You wouldn't want him to wait too long, would you?'  Sakura interrupted.

            "Oh.  I'm sorry Kenshin-san. I'll get your food right away!"  Yuzumi hurriedly explained as she ran off to the kitchen.

            "I'll get you more saki, Inuyasha-sama.  Besides, she doesn't know where I keep the stuff.  I'll be right back."  Sakura rushed into the kitchen as Yuzumi was tearing open a package of Ramen.  Meanwhile Kenshin and Inuyasha just stared after them.

            "What was that all about?"  Inuyasha asked.

            "I have now idea that I don't."  Kenshin said as Inuyasha looked at him funny because of Kenshin's speech mannerisms.

            "Let me show you where the saki is hidden, and the chopsticks are in the top drawer, next to the sink."  Sakura offered.

            "Where did you get the saki anyway?"  Yuzumi asked suspiciously.

            "Sore wa himitsu desu[13]."

            "Oh no you don't!  That isn't going to work on me."

            "Well...um....shouldn't you check the Ramen?"

            "Nice try.  You are going to tell me where you got the saki, and you are going to tell me right now.  Got it?"

            "Fine.  Take all the fun out of this why don't you"

            "I will.  Now quit stalling!"

            "Okay, okay.  Sheesh.  You know that little Japanese restaurant on Montgomery ST.?  Well, they also sell sake, in bulk."

            "Oh."  Yuzumi began, then she paused and blinked for a second, "Wait a minute.  You buy it in bulk?"

            "Uh....well...um....yeah."  Sakura responded with her hand behind her head.

            "And just how long have you been buying saki in bulk?"

            "Oh, about a year now."

            Yuzumi arched an eyebrow and began to twitch, "And you never told me?"

            "Eh, he, he. funny thing that."

                                                            *SIZZLE* *SIZZLE*

            "Kuso!  The Ramen!"  Yuzumi ran over to the stove to see the Ramen boiling over.  As Yuzumi was tending to the noodles, Sakura got some more saki and walked out of the kitchen before Yuzumi could question her further.

            "Sorry it took so long, Inuyasha-sama.  Yuzumi just had to question me about where and when I got the saki."  Sakura apologized to Inuyasha.

            "Mhy mould mhe" Inuyasha paused to swallow his mouth full, "ask such silly questions about saki?"  He wondered as he contentedly finished off the Ramen.

            "In this country saki isn't that easy to come by."  Sakura responded, "When you are done eating, I will show you to my room and you can sleep there.  I'll sleep on the couch."

            "I'll just go sleep in a tree."

            Sakura began to leave the room and get some sleeping things for the guys when, Yuzumi walked in, "Yuzumi, Kenshin can sleep in the garage, or my sister's room."  She informed Yuzumi.

            "The garage, or the construction site that your sister calls a room?!!"  Yuzumi remarked, "I'll find a mattress for him and he can sleep out here."

            "I just sleep sitting up with my sword, so I don't need a futon.  Thanks any way."  Kenshin explained.

            "No, I insist.  As your miko I must make sure you are comfortable.  You can put your sword in the hall.  Then you won't have to sleep with it."  Yuzumi kindly informed him.

            "I really don't want to be a bother.  I can sleep right here."

"Are you sure you want to sleep in the tree?  It has a tendency to get quite could outside.  You can have my bed, I don't mind really.  I am your miko, so it is my duty to make sure you have anything you need."  She finished with a smile.

            "Whatever."  Inuyasha replied.

            "Kenshin-san, please reconsider.  You can sleep anywhere you want."  Yuzumi pleaded.

            "Well.....if you insist."  Kenshin gave in.

            "I'll go get some futons and blankets."  Sakura stated.

            "Wait one minute!  Where did you get futons?!"  Yuzumi asked.

            "Sore wa himitsu desu."  Sakura said as she made a run for it.

            "Hey, get back here!"  Yuzumi commanded as she chased after Sakura.

            "Those are some strange girls that they are."  Kenshin said, "And here I thought it was just Kaoru."  He added under his breath.

            "They're humans."  Inuyasha indifferently stated.

            "Sakura, when, where, and how did you get futons?!"  Yuzumi inquired of Sakura.

            "Sore wa himitsu desu."  She replied, while pulling them out of her closet.

            "You know that doesn't work on me.  Tell me, now."

            "Fine.  The boyfriend of a cousin of a cousin of a friend of a friend of one of my friends in my church brought them back from Japan.  He's a missionary there and gave them to me when he heard that I wanted to go to Japan."  Sakura supplied.

            "What else do you have that you haven't told me about?'

            "Nothing."  She said, a little too quickly.

            "Sakura."  Yuzumi said in an annoyed fashion.

            "I can't tell you because it would spoil your birthday gift."

            "Oh in that case, never mind."  Yuzumi gave up and she helped Sakura carry the sleeping stuff.

            "I'll put our stuff in my parent's room, and you can put that in the garage."  Sakura told Yuzumi.

            "I'm putting it in the living room!"  Yuzumi insisted as she walked toward the living room.  She walked in to find that the boys had finished their food.

            "Here, Kenshin-san, just tell me where you want me to put these."

            "I can take care of them."  Kenshin replied.

            "Then I'll take your dishes."  Yuzumi said as she set down the futon, and took the dishes to the kitchen, and at the same time Sakura walked into the living room.

            "Did you get Kenshin's things set up in the garage?"  Sakura teased.

            "He's sleeping in the living room!!"  Yuzumi rose to the bait.

            "Hee, hee.  Inuyasha-sama, if you are done I'll take your things and direct you to the room."  Sakura said as she began to take Inuyasha's dishes, "If you'll just follow me."

            She and Inuyasha left the room just as Yuzumi entered to make sure Kenshin was doing okay.  "Oyasumi, again" Yuzumi said as she rolled her eyes.

            Sakura left the dishes in the kitchen and directed Inuyasha to her room.  "You can sleep in here.  I'll be in the room across from this one, so if you need anything, don't hesitate to ask.  Oyasumi nasai, Inuyasha-sama.'

            "Eh."  Inuyasha simply replied.

            Sakura left, and walked into the room she and Yuzumi were going to share, and found Yuzumi there.  "Oi[14].  What a night.  What time is it?" She asked Yuzumi.

            "Four O'clock in the morning.  What are we going to do about work?"

            "We could call in sick.  I don't mind working while I'm tired, but what are we going to do about Inuyasha-sama and Kenshin?   If we went to work we couldn't leave them here, and we can't bring them along.  At least my parents won't be back until after tomorrow."

            "I guess we'll have to call in sick, won't we?  What would we do during the time we are supposed to be working?  I can't go home.  My parents don't work tomorrow, and they wouldn't approve of me skipping work, for any reason."  She replied as a memory of the last time she skipped work flashed through her head.

            "Wouldn't approve?  Your parents?  That's an understatement.  Well…we could stay here, or......I know!  Remember that Japanese festival that we couldn't go to because we had work?  We could go to that.  The boys won't mind; after all, most people there will just think that they are either cosplaying, or getting really involved with the festival.  We also need to work out how to get them back home, so after the festival we could come back here and ask the Genius Inc.  Then, we might be able to figure out how to get them back."

            "Sounds like a plan to me."  Yuzumi agreed as the two of them began to drift off into dream land.



[1] 'Mr.' or 'Sir'; suffix showing respect

[2] 'Lord'; suffix showing great respect

[3] 'miko' is a priestess an 'no' means 'of'; Kenshin/Inuyasha no miko= priestess of Kenshin/Inuyasha

[4] good looking boy; 'shonen' means boy, 'bish' good looking

[5] Let's eat; this is said before a meal in Japan

[6] you know

[7] good night; can be shortened to just oyasumi

[8] all purpose sear word; usually translated as 'damn'

[9] verbal sweat drop; can be translated to 'huh'

[10]Hello, I am the priestess of Inuyasha

[11] Jewel of Four Souls

[12] soul reaping iron claw; one of Inuyasha's attacks

[13] That is a secret.

[14] A term for slight exasperation; Japanese equivalent to 'oh brother'

Author's ravings:  Yay, I've started my first fanfic ever.  I'm kinda, sorta, not really proud of myself.  I finally stared a fic.  It's probably not very well written, but it's my first try.  Any input is welcome and most appreciated.