Chapter three: Something New

Disclaimer: you'd think that, by merely having the word there, lawyers would be content, but noooo, I gotta explain how I don't own Inuyasha, Rumiko Takahashi does, despite what my head people tell me. But I do own a very nice toy Tetsuiga that I will use on people who read and don't review! And yes I am putting the same disclaimer up over and over again. Hey, its enough just trying to drag my lazy arse away from my sketch pad to write, and you think I'm gonna come up with creative 'disclaimer's' every time?

After getting over their initial shock and hesitance at Miroku's sudden acquisition of bat ears and fangs, the group began to hurriedly discuss the next course of action.

"Do you think it was intentional?"

"Pah! Not the question right now! I wanna know if he's gonna change any more."

"We don't even know what caused it! Should we go to Kaede-san?"

"She's a Shinto priestess, Miroku's a Buddhist monk, would that affect anything?"

"Would Hadji be of any use?"

"Neh? Hadji?! As if we could find him, the cowardly tenuki bastard."

"HEY!!" piped a small, hereto unnoticed fox. "Ever think about taking him to HIS Kaede?"

Several eyebrows either arched or furrowed.

"I meant his master at the monastery!"

Inuyasha was not to be outdone. "Oh yeah, and where exactly is this monastery? As if YOU know."

"I do! I do! He pointed it out to me once. You were off pestering Kagome in her time and Sango wasn't around!"

Inuyasha huffed. "Well," he said, brushing past Sango, who had slung the monk over her shoulders, "Let's go already, then."

They plodded warily off, going cross-country to the north, forging impromptu paths through the forest whenever Inuyasha got too impatient for the road.

"Damn monk has to go and suck up my jewel shard, and get all creepy and shit, and take us off our damn course and delay the search so we can solve his little 'problem" Inuyasha mumbled not-quite-under his breath. He stole a glance back at Miroku swinging from Sango's armored shoulder. "Hmph. I don't frickin' think it's a 'problem'. Better than completely worthless human ears." His own twitched as if mimicking his thoughts as he cleaved a path through the underbrush with the rusty katana version of Tetsuiga.

Suddenly, Sango gave a great cry of surprise and astonishment and dropped Miroku hurriedly to the ground. He had awakened then, only to close his eyes again and double up with pain.

"Ah, crap, what now?" Inuyasha hurried over to inspect.

The skin on Miroku's back was starting to bubble and swell hideously, as if some rodent was tunneling along his shoulder blades. Then, with a great anguished cry from Miroku, which quickly turned into a scream of writhing pain, two arms ripped out from his back in a great burst of blood and youki.

"What the hell...?" Inuyasha started, but the show wasn't over yet.

The arms were almost human, save that they both possessed at least one extra forearm and elbow. The hands ended in five fingers topped by claws slightly smaller than Inuyasha's. As Miroku was still writhing on the ground, claws had formed on his hands and feet as well, and his screams had subsided into longsuffering moans.

"Let's hurry!" cried Shippo. "It's not far, I can see the roof! His master can help! Let's go!"

Inuyasha stared at Miroku, still very creeped out by the extra set of arms. While time may have been of the essence, he wasn't in any great hurry to pick up the freakish monk on the ground.

Sango decided for him. She once again hefted him across her upper back and shoulders and started jogging toward the shrine. Kagome hopped on Inuyasha's back without a second thought and they sped off after them.

Shippo scampered after them, slightly miffed that he'd been forgotten.

Miroku was tucked safely into the room of his boyhood and the rest of the group sat in a circle around Mushin, Miroku's foster father and priest. He had abandoned his sake cup for now, sobering up quickly at the sight of Miroku's transformed state.

"Now, I'm just a poor old Buddhist monk living out here in the woods," Mushin began, nodding his bald head thoughtfully, "and I'm not much about Shinto magic, but I can tell you the general diagnosis." The group leaned in a bit closer, eager to hear.

"From what I know of the Shikon no Tama, it grants near immortality to those demons who would possess it, no? If Miroku absorbed that bat youkai while it still had the shard in it..." he paused for effect. "Then it's quite possible that the shard is constantly regenerating the demon inside the wind tunnel and thus sustaining it. The problem lies in how the Shikon shard has reacted to Miroku's own spiritual powers. It has, somehow, and for no good reason started a process in which to merge the bat demon it sustains with Miroku himself. In short, turning him into the very youkai he holds within him. However," he cleared his throat dramatically. He was feeling rather pleased with himself, having this many youngsters actually hanging on his every word. "Miroku's own spiritual powers, however, are rejecting the demonic forces tying to overcome him."

"Like oil and water." Piped Kagome.

"In a manner of speaking, yes." Mushin confirmed. "This, of course, is what is keeping the process somewhat delayed, and will, hopefully, keep Miroku's own self intact even with a demon body."

"So, now that we know what is going on..." Sango started hesitantly.

"How do we fix it?" Inuyasha interrupted bluntly.

Mushin crossed his arms and looked very deep in thought. His brow furrowed. Then he sat up.

"Haven't the slightest idea." He stated simply.

Sango sweatdropped, Kagome fell over twitchingly, and Inuyasha gave him a 'no duh' glare. Shippo sighed.

"My guess is find away to remove the shard." Shippo said impatiently. They were really all so dense. It was sad.

Suddenly, a startled cry came from the general vicinity of Miroku's room. Then a series of sickening groans and what sounded like the painful shifting of flesh and bone.

The companions sprang to their feet and ran down the hall; Mushin's round stocky body wattling hurriedly after them.

Mwahaha

AN:

Ha ha ha! Behold! The evil cliffie! I love all of you who give me these detailed reviews! So helpful! And I love those who give short and sweet reviews too, they make me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. (And give me bragging rights over my other two friends. (As in, "Hahaha I have more reviews than you! Na na na na na! Joke! Joke! Don't hurt me allychik & aeriol.")