Two Weeks

A/N: Hey everybody, I know it's been a REALLY long time, but I have not dropped off the face of the Earth just yet. I've attempted to write an original novel, and sent it in, only for the editor to tell me it wasn't long enough, so I've been working on that, but, out of nowhere, this idea came to me. (And actually another, but that probably won't be up for a while.) Anywho, I thank you now for clicking on this, and hope you enjoy.

Myst

Disclaimer: Rumiko Takahashi created the Inu characters, they are not mine. Ks?

"Are you sure that's what the soldiers said?" Miroku asked the worn villager. He nodded, shifting the basket on his back.

"Yes, they said there were sudden strong youkai attacks both in the East and Southwest region."

"I see, thank you for the information." The houshi bowed before turning and rejoining his friends that stood farther up the road.

"Well?" and irritated hanyou asked, his foot tapping against the dirt path.

Miroku gave him a quick glance before turning to the women of the group. "He said there are an increase of strong youkai attacks in both the East and Southwest."

"What does that mean?" Kagome asked.

"You don't think its shikon shards, do you Miroku?" Sango added. He turned to her, opening his mouth to reply, but Inu-Yasha cut him off.

"No way, we already know where all of the shards are," the hanyou stated, turning on his heel and beginning to stride toward the village in the distance.

"Inu-Yasha, how can you just brush this off?" Kagome shouted after him. "Maybe we were wrong," she added, running to catch up with the hanyou.

"I think we should check it out," Sango put in, appearing at his other side.

"I agree with the lovely Sango," Miroku said, finished just in time to receive a hand print on his cheek.

"Hentai, keep your hands to yourself!" the taijiya growled.

"Baka, don't you ever learn?" Shippo asked from Kagome's shoulder. The houshi gave the kit a wide grin.

"Nothing but a love tap, my friend."

"Love tap? Shall I knock him out and leave him for the youkai?" Sango muttered under her breath. The miko giggled behind her hand.

"As much fun as it is to listen to you two fight, we have a decision to make," Inu-Yasha cut in, stopping again. Kagome turned to face him.

"And what is that?" she asked.

"What we're going to do about the youkai," he explained, rolling his eyes at the obvious answer.

"Do you agree that we should investigate?" Miroku added. The hanyou grunted and nodded.

"Maybe we haven't found all of the shards," he allowed. The houshi grinned and grabbed Sango's hand.

"Sango and I shall go east and see what we can find."

"And Shippo," Sango included, glaring at the man. "Miroku, Shippo, Kirara, and I will travel east." She turned back to Kagome and gave the miko a wink.

"Me?" Shippo piped up, eyes wide.

"Yes, I need a strong youkai to protect me from that lecherous houshi."

The kit gulped, looking at Miroku and then back to Sango. "Alright," he started, jumping down to the ground between the two humans. "I'll protect you, Sango," he finished, clenching his tiny hand into a fist.

Kagome couldn't help but smile at the display. "Well, I guess it's decided then. You guys will go East, and Inu-Yasha and I will head southwest."

"Feh, how come I didn't get a choice in this?" the hanyou finally spoke up. The miko turned to him.

"Is there something wrong, Inu-Yasha?" she asked with a quirked eyebrow. He looked like he was going to say something, and Kagome waited expectantly.

"Feh," he muttered again and turned on his heel and began to walk off again. The miko gasped and quickly looked back at the rest of their little group.

"Meet back at Kaede's in two weeks?" she asked. Sango nodded.

"Sounds good."

"See you then. Be careful!" Kagome shouted as she raced after the hanyou.

"Stay safe!" both Miroku and Sango replied. As soon as the hanyou and miko were gone, Miroku's shoulders slouched and he began to think as he, Sango, Shippo, and Kirara moved down the path in the opposite direction. The taijiya glanced over at him as they walked.

"What is it, Miroku?" she finally asked, as Shippo walked next to Kirara.

"Hm?" He lifted his gaze to her. "Sango, you don't think this whole trip has been set up by Naraku, do you?"

"What?" she questioned in surprise. "Why would you say that?"

He shrugged. "I was just thinking. I'm sure it's nothing," he replied. Sango didn't continue the conversation, instead retreating into her own thoughts.

I hope it's nothing. It just seems like something Naraku would do, now that we've got one of the last shards. Maybe we shouldn't have split up… A bad feeling made the houshi's stomach tighten. Could we be playing into Naraku's hands yet again…?

A/N: I hope to be updating this fic every Friday again, so hope to see you again next week! Oh yeah, please push that little button!