"What do you mean my omelet tastes like cardboard?!" Kagome snapped, jumping up from the blanket to glare defiantly at the half demon. The silver-haired boy glared back at Kagome for a while before folding his arms over his chest and looking away. "What I said. It tastes like CARDBOARD, Kagome!!"
A collective sigh. All 5 of them were sitting under the sacred tree, eating. The wind had picked up, threatening heavier weather along the way.
"What an idiot", Shippo muttered as he chewed at the rice Kagome had also packed.
"I couldn't agree with you more", Sango replied. Miroku opened his mouth to remind Inuyasha that Kagome had a hold on him, what with the beads of subjugation still hanging around his neck but Kagome beat him to it. "Sit boy!"
Inuyasha's scream could be heard throughout the forest, like always it seemed whenever Kagome came to visit. Sango, Miroku, and Shippo all glanced at Inuyasha and let out another sigh. "By now you'd think he remembers what gets Kagome angry like that." Inuyasha's ears pricked. Miroku nodded. "But as always, Inuyasha's big mouth got him into a hole he can't even think about getting out of." "I agree", Shippo said smugly. "This always happens because Inuyasha's big ego won't let him see how Kagome feels."
"Are you done?!" the half-demon snapped, brushing his clothes off and glancing at Kagome, who was death-glaring him. He winced a bit under her glare but soon found he could talk again. "Look. I'm just telling it like it is. I don't see the harm in that."
"Don't see the harm in that?!"
Scowling, Kagome quickly shifted off her knees to sitting cross-legged and folded her arms across her chest. The others started giggling when they realized she was mocking Inuyasha.
"'What I said. It tastes like CARDBOARD, Kagome!!!!'" Sango, Miroku, and Shippo laughed at Kagome's impersonation of him, finding she didn't do that bad of a job. "You don't see that HARM in that?!" He grit his teeth and growled, their laughter annoying him to no end. He was about to snap at them when Kagome stopped abruptly, lifting her head up, her expression distracted and lost. "I sense a sacred jewel shard. And it's coming from up there." She pointed upwards, indicating the sky. Inuyasha stood up, drawing his Tetsuiga. "You mean like a flying demon has it?" Kagome's eyes narrowed and she shook her head. "No, I mean like...it's just in the sky..." Scowling, he slipped the sword back in its sheath. "Just in the sky? What the hell is that supposed to mean? Just floatin' there?...In the SKY?!" "INUYASHA!" "Come on", came Sango's voice as she got on Kirara's back, already changed into her demon-slaying outfit. "Kagome says it's in the sky, so we take her word for it. And if it's the last jewel shard, we don't have time to waste. Naraku is also searching for it."
Miroku nodded and got on behind Sango, looking at Inuyasha and Kagome. "Sango's right. We don't have time to waste, so—"Excuse me!" They all looked to the source of Miroku's interruption and found it was a young woman with dark red hair that fell to her mid-back and wore a red and black kimono. She looked troubled and Miroku instantly got off of Kirara to go to the girl's side. Sango glared at him in annoyance. "You've got to be kidding me."
"Hello", Miroku greeted kindly, taking her hands in his. "I am a monk, traveling with my friends in search of the sacred jewel shards. I couldn't help but notice you look troubled. Is something the matter? And while you think of an answer to that, would you by chance consider bearing my child?" Sango's Heraikotsu slammed down hard on the monk's head and he winced from the impact.
The girl blinked and blushed some. "I don't get it. Aren't monks supposed to be...holy?" Inuyasha snorted. "Holy? There must've been a defect with this one, then." Miroku sighed. The girl looked down at the ground suddenly, shy now. "My name is Hatsuki. I am here because I have heard many stories of a group of fighters who help people in need. If you are these people, then I desperately need your help." Scowling, Inuyasha folded his arms across his chest and turned his head to the side. "Sorry lady, we ain't got the time. We need to find the—"Sit boy."
Inuyasha screamed once again, thudding to the ground as Kagome, Sango and Miroku stood in front of him, hiding him from the view of the girl.
"Of course we'll help you", Kagome said kindly. "Just tell us what happened." The girl nodded, smiling greatly at them. "Thank you very much. I am in debted to you all. You're welcome to stay with me for as long as you'd like." As Sango, Miroku and Shippo went on ahead, Kagome stayed back with Inuyasha, carrying Kirara in her arms.
"How could you say that to her?! She needs our help and you were about to turn her down!"
Inuyasha growled and stood upright, starting to follow slowly and his golden eyes flashed. "Kagome, I sensed a strong demonic aura coming from that woman." She raised her eyebrows and looked at the retreating back of Hatsuki. "You mean from Hatsuki?...I didn't sense anything. She seems sincere. And nowadays, it seems like that's your favorite word! Demonic aura, demonic aura, demonic aura. Give it a break." She looked at him in exasperation. "You're losing it." As Kagome began to follow after the 4, Inuyasha dropped his jaw and clenched his hands into fists before screaming, "AM NOT!!!!!"