-1Metamorphasis

Chapter 2

Inuyasha smiled as Kagome yawned and stretched. They had returned home the previous night and gone straight to sleep.

Even though Kagome had been exhausted, Inuyasha suspected that she had waited until he had fallen asleep before allowing herself to visit the land of dreams.

Today they needed to visit Miroku, an old friend of Inuyasha's. He just happened to be a doctor who specialized in helping people with uncommon ailments such as muteness and deafness.

They say he does it in thanks to his father who died saving him from a terrible accident that had almost rendered him blind. Inuyasha knew that he just liked the "damsel-in-distresses".

He watched from his favorite chair as Kagome rose, still wearing the kimono as she had no other clothes, and started breakfast.

In truth, he had never eaten on a regular schedule before Kagome had come. But he wasn't complaining. His stomach growled at the mere sight of her tempura noodles.

"Are you ready to see Miroku?" he asked taking hold of the dish and gulping it down in one fowl swoop.

Kagome nodded her head while biting her lip nervously. Inuyasha looked at the girl seated on the floor before him.

"If I didn't know better, I'd say you were nervous!"

The girl shook her head vigorously.

"Right. Then you wouldn't mind going alone?"

Inuyasha stifled a laugh when her eyes become saucers.

"I'm kidding! Don't worry, I'll be there through the whole thing. I don't trust Miroku alone with you…"

He may have been trying to help but Kagome's brain immediately started racing to think of reasons why he would be worried. It wasn't a pretty picture.

When they had finished eating, they set out. It started out a normal walk. Inuyasha would talk and Kagome would pantomime wild conversations. It never even occurred to Inuyasha that their conversations were unusual. It all seemed so natural.

Then Inuyasha stopped abruptly. His ears twitched once.. Twice.

Leaning ever so slightly towards Kagome he whispered, "Get behind those boxes, now."

Kagome was confused but did what she was told. It was dark back there and she couldn't see anything but she could here faint footsteps getting closer to where she previously stood.

"Ah, Inuyasha," An unidentified voice said.

The sound of the voice gave her chills even from where she was.

"And what would you be doing in this neighborhood? Consorting with humans again?"

He said the word "humans" as you might say "dirty gym socks" and it really gave Kagome the creeps.

"I could ask you the same thing, Naraku."

"I was just going to buy myself a new slave. My old one ran away, as I'm sure you know. But it shouldn't be hard to find one to replace her."

Inuyasha glared at Naraku with a look that could kill if need be.

"Yes. Your flunkies searched my house. They didn't find anything."

"But why then, Inuyasha, does her scent cling to you?"

Inuyasha panicked for a brief moment but quickly regained his composure.

"She came to my house asking for assistance. I did not know who she was at the time and so I bandaged her wounds. When I found out she belonged to you, I made up my mind to return her. But she was a crafty little thing and she escaped while I slept."

This was the best excuse they could hope for at the moment. Naraku looked unconvinced for a moment but then, to the relief of the two outlaws, he accepted Inuyasha's word and walked away.

When he was sure he had gone, Inuyasha called Kagome back out. She peeked out from behind a box before rejoining him.

"I'm sorry about that."

Kagome started pantomiming and Inuyasha started guessing.

"Ok. Starts with no. no… not! Not my… Not my… fault!"

Kagome grinned.

"All right. I get it. Lets go."

The two slowly made their way to Miroku's, stopping only to buy some bread for lunch.

The closer they got to the house the more nervous Kagome got. Inuyasha could smell the fear radiating off of her and he was sure any other demon within a ten mile radius could as well.

"Hey. Hey, you need to calm down," he said taking hold of her forearms, "I've known Miroku for a long time. Nothing is going to happen!"

Kagome nodded, still not completely convinced but not as nervous, and knocked on the door. A tall man dressed completely in what appeared to be purple curtains answered the door.

"Ah, Inuyasha! And this must be Kagome! Kaede told me to expect you. Come on in."

…..

"Miroku, what the heck is wrong with you?"

"Why, whatever do you mean my dear Inuyasha?"

Inuyasha just stared un-amused at Miroku's feigned innocent expression.

"I expected you to be asking her to bear your child by now!"

"Inuyasha, you think much to low of me! I have Sango and that's all I need."

"Afraid she'll kick your butt, huh?"

Miroku hung his head and sighed. "You know it."

Kagome followed Inuyasha closely as they went in. Bowing to Miroku, she sat down beside Inuyasha on the couch.

"What seems to be the problem?"

"She's mute," Inuyasha answered for her.

"Ah. Kagome, please come with me. I'd like to run a few tests."

Kagome looked at Inuyasha. "Can I come with?" Inuyasha translated.

"I would prefer you didn't. But if you must."

Inuyasha looked at Kagome and, after thinking, she shook her head.

Miroku brought her to the back porch where his medical chest sat. Taking out a sanded stick he said, "Open you mouth as wide as you can."

Kagome complied and he spent a good three minutes staring at her vocal cords. He then put his hand on her throat and told her to hum. She did so lightly and no sound came out.

"I need to know your circumstances. Kaede said you belonged to Naraku. How long did you live for him?"

Kagome held up ten fingers.

"Ten years? And how old are you?"

She drew the number "eighteen" in the dirt surrounding the porch.

"Do you have any family?"

She shook her head slowly, her eyes downcast.

Leaving that particular subject untouched for the remainder, he continued to bombard her with questions until he could think of no more.

"All right. Let's get back to Inuyasha."

They walked back to the main room where Kagome joined Inuyasha on the couch once more.

"Inuyasha," Miroku said nervously, "May I have a word with you out back?"

Inuyasha obliged and followed Miroku to the back porch.

"Yes?"

All he got in reply was the nervous shuffling of a nervous man.

"Miroku!"

That seemed to startle him out of whatever he had been thinking. "I'm sorry, Inuyasha. This has nothing to do with health, although she could stand to be treated better."

"I treat her fine!"

Miroku sat down and Inuyasha joined him.

"I know, but Naraku is an evil man. My guess is that this is purely emotional. She may have learned that speaking would hurt her. There isn't much we can do."

Inuyasha growled and stood up.

"Like hell there isn't! Maybe you can't do anything, but I will."

He turned and stomped inside leaving Miroku to shake his head and smile at his friend's stubbornness.

They walked in on what appeared to be a lively conversation between Kagome and Miroku's wife, Sango.

"Exactly!" Sango exclaimed, "And the government will never do anything about it."

Inuyasha was already confused. They had a government?

"What are you ladies talking about?" ventured Miroku. Never was there a man as brave as he. Or maybe as dumb.

Sango rolled her eyes at him. "This has to do with politics and Governmental policies. You wouldn't understand."

Chirp. Chirp.

"Huh?" Sango heaved a humongous sigh. "We are talking about smart people things."

Oh….

"We probably should get going," Inuyasha said looking around the room obviously not sure what was going on.

"No, stay for dinner! I insist. Miroku, tell them you insist." Sango had a very scary smile on her face.

"Uh. Um, yes. I insist?"

"Good boy."

Inuyasha and Kagome exchanged looks but followed the couple into the dining room anyway.

"Inuyasha," Sango said passing the mashed potatoes, "You and Kagome must come by more often. I promised to teach her some new combat moves."

Inuyasha answered her in between bites. "You do know she's in hiding, right?"

Sango laughed.

"No seriously," said a confused Inuyasha.

"Inuyasha, you poor simple man. Of course I do! But she needs to know some things if she's going to survive forever. He will find her someday, you know."

Kagome and Inuyasha slowly made their way back home. They watched for Naraku's henchmen and, not seeing anything, didn't worry. Little did they know, someone was watching. And that someone was…

Author's Corner:

Hey! First, let's thank Flames of the sun, Zanessalover4life, and hanikamiya mitsukai for being my first reviewers!

Things are going to start heating up! Maybe some fluff… maybe some drama… maybe nothing! You will never know. Duh du duuu Until next time!