Prologue

This story first takes place when Miroku was a young boy, right after he's father had past away. And when Mushin wasn't a drunkard old monk. Then it's takes place when he is traveling with the Inu-yasha gang.

Miroku Meets an Old Friend

By Demonwind_wing

"The wind-tunnel has appear on your hand Miroku," said Miroku's now foster father, Mushin. "I hope that the curse will be lifted soon. Then your life will be spared. Now dry your tears, it was not you fault that you father was consumed by the wind- tunnel in his hand."

"This is all that demon Naraku fault, not my own." Cried Miroku trying not to let tears fall from his eyes. With that he ran into the forest, away from the Buddhist temple that was in the care of he's now late father. He did not care where in the forest he cried as long as it was away from the peering eyes of others. When he finally stop, he was by a pond that he had visited with his father many time before.

As he sat by the pond, on a rock, the memories of his father ran through his mind like lighting in the sky. He could not believe that his father was gone. With that last thought he cried his eyes out. Then, he heard movement in the forest behind him. He jump up and was pose to removed the prayer beads that cover the wind- tunnel in his hand. Thoughts ran through his mind on what to do. In a shaky voice he said, " whoever you are you better show yourself or I'll stuck you into my wind- tunnel!"

At what came out of the bushes surprise him. It was a girl. A girl that was wearing an outfit like that of a priestess, but in lavender and white instead of red and white. She had beautiful black hair that came down almost touching her shoulders, and with soft pale skin that take in light and gives it back even more radiantly. "Um, hello. What are you doing out here?" She asked in a voice that was like the angels of heaven (he's a Buddhist, I know).

Miroku was speechless, all thought had vanish on the appearances of the young girl. 'Speak will you!' Demanded his mind. But with all his might, he could not even uttered a sound. She was the most beautiful girl, in his opinion, he had ever laid eyes upon.

The girl walk up to the pond and grab a cup shape rock and dunk it in the water and then remove the rock from the water. She then walk up to Miroku and dump the water on his head. That wake up Miroku from his gaze on the girl. "I'm sorry that I had to dump water on you head. But you wouldn't stop looking at me." She replied politely.

Miroku, now talking, bluntly said, "where did you come from!" As that came out he cover his mouth. He couldn't believe his first words were so blunt to such a pretty girl.

All the girl did was giggle.

'She must be familiar to such remarks,' Miroku thought.

Now that the girl was up close he notice that the girl's eye color was that of pure amethyst. He had never seen so enchanting eyes. But then he notice the slit of her pupils. She was a demon! At the sight of that he move back.

"Demon!" Miroku cried in shock.

The girl on the other hand was puzzle. "oh, you must mean my eyes. Actually I'm a half demon. Well, really 1/8 demon. The rest though, is totally human." at those words Miroku clam down, enough to talk normally that is. "My name is Natsume, what's yours?" she finish.

"My name is Miroku," he said, "what are you doing here?"

"I asked first. It not nice to asked the same question without answering it first." Natsume replied.

"Right, I just came out here to think, that all, I didn't come out to do anything else. Now what about you?"

"To be honest, I'm lost. I was hoping that you can help me to find the road or a place I can stay at."

"Sure you can stay at my fath…" he trail off on the word father.

Natsume look at him and saw that tears were about to weal up in his eyes.

But Miroku did not want to seam like a wimp in front of this girl. But he made himself go on, "you can stay at my foster father's temple." With that he lead Natsume to the temple.

~At the Temple~

Mushin was sweeping the temple when Miroku return. "Ah, Miroku you have return. Are you okay now?" He said, then he notice that Miroku was not alone. Miroku was accompany by a lovely young girl. "And who do we have here?"

The girl introduce herself, " My name is Natsume. And I was wondering if I could spend the night at this temple. May I?"

"Of course you may. You are such a polite young lady. But I must asked way you are traveling all alone?" Mushin asked as politely as her.

As he had said that an emotion cross the girl slit amethyst gaze. Was Mushin correct, was the emotion sorrow?

"Sorry I had asked, maybe you can tell us that when you are ready. I really think that you should stay for a while."

Natsume was relived that the her story would not come out, or at least for now.

"Mushin when do you think we should get a grave stone for father's grave?" Miroku asked.

"We'll go do that now. If you don't mind Natsume?" Mushin asked.

"Not at all, if you like I wish to come along and help, if I may?"

"Of course you may come along." Miroku answer himself.

~ Miroku's Father Funeral~

As the night time sky set in Mushin said the prayer to honor Miroku's father as Miroku and Natsume stand beside him…

To be continue