Then next morning, Sango was no where to be found. They looked all around the village, with the exception of Master Enoki's quarters. She turned up during lunch that afternoon. Kotori told the others about Shigure wanting to join them on their quest and the others were happy to include him.
When Sango decided to speak, she had some surprising news, "I have spoken with Master Enoki and have decided to stay and become one of his pupils."
"So you have decided to further your martial arts education?" asked Kotori as she took a sip of her tea.
"Yes. I hoped that I could become an even greater warrior." said Sango.
The others just looked at Sango, mouths hanging open. Inuyasha was the first to recover, "What about your revenge on Naraku? Are you giving up that easily?"
"I'm not giving up," Sango replied, "But I could have a better chance of defeating Naraku in battle if I have more training. It could help with my demon exterminating too."
"That's true. Well, if that's what you want, then I support you all the way, Sango." said Kagome.
"As do I." said Miroku.
Shippo piped up, "It sounds like a great idea, Sango."
Sango looked at Inuyasha, waiting for his answer. "Feh, do what you want. It's no skin off my nose."
"I'm glad that you all approve. Especially you Inuyasha. So, what time were you all planning to set out again on your journey?" asked Sango.
"In about an hour. We're hoping to find another village before dark." said Miroku.
Kotori stood up and quietly left the room. "Where's she going?" asked Inuyasha.
"To join Shigure in saying good bye to their master." said Miroku quietly.
"And how do you know that?" shouted Inuyasha.
"She told me herself when I went to her room this morning."
"And what, precisely, were you doing in her room this morning?" asked Kagome, suspiciously.
"Well, I.... I heard her talking last night with Shigure and...." stuttered Miroku.
"So you heard that too, huh?" interrupted Kagome.
"Heard what?" asked Inuyasha.
There was a pause, then Kagome spoke, "Shigure came to Kotori's room late last night. He confessed his love to her and told her that he wanted to travel with us. He was heartbroken when she told him that she loved someone else, but he still wanted to come with us."
"It seems that Kotori's love runs deep with Shigure, but even deeper with a certain monk, even though she can't show him," said Sango. Her eyes quickly flicked towards Miroku, "And I believe that certain monk returns those feelings. Am I right, Miroku?"
Miroku was silent for a few moments, then he spoke, "I love her more than anyone could ever imagine."
"But she can't show that she loves anyone because it would give Naraku power over her. He could destroy everything she loves and then she would be weak enough for him to simply take her." said Inuyasha.
"So that's why Shigure said that no one has been able to win her love. She can't show it or Naraku would destroy them." said Miroku.
"Yes, exactly." said Sango.
After a long pause, Kagome stood up, "We should get packed. Kotori and Shigure should be done with their good byes soon."
They all stood outside the entrance to the village. Everyone had come out to see them off. Unlike Kagome with her large backpack and her bicycle, Shigure carried only a sword at his side. Kotori had the Kenakari strapped to her waist and a small satchel slung over her shoulder.
Sango walked over to Kotori and embraced her, "I wish you a safe journey, my friend. May the Gods smile upon you and grant you safety and happiness. I will return to you when my training is complete. If you need me, do not hesitate to summon me."
Once Sango had released her, she smiled, "You will be greatly missed, my dear friend. Yet I, too, wish you luck on the journey you yourself are about to embark on. It is a long road, but I know that you have the courage to walk that path. If you require my services, I too will not hesitate to help." Sango smiled and went to say her good byes to the others.
They reached the nearest village an hour before nightfall. This time, Miroku had no need to use his charm, for the villagers were happy to give shelter to the Lady Kotori and her companions.
While Inuyasha, Miroku, and Shigure sat in the tavern, trying to get any information on the Shikon Jewel, Kagome, Kotori, Kita, and Shippo had decided to walk around the village.
An old man brought Inuyasha, Miroku, and Shigure their drinks and they were surprised when he began to talk to them.
"So, you three are traveling with the Lady Kotori?"
"Yeah. And how do you know about Kotori?" asked Inuyasha.
"Oh, every villager for at least thirty miles knows about the Lady Kotori. She's known as 'the second Kikyo' but everyone knows that her powers are far greater than the Lady Kikyo ever possessed. A greater priestess than the Lady Kikyo ever was." said the old man.
Inuyasha stood up and began to shout at the man, "What do you mean she's greater than Kikyo ever was? Kikyo was the greatest priestess ever! There is absolutely no way in any of the Seven Hells that Kotori could be better than Kikyo!"
"Kikyo let her heart be tainted with malice and hatred, and that's one of the reasons that she lost control over the Shikon Jewel. Nothing good can come out of that jewel and Kikyo is proof of that. It could even lead a great priestess like Kikyo to her downfall. Unlike Kikyo, Kotori is the prophesied 'Purest of the Pure'. Her heart is capable of hate, but she is able to control it before it takes over and utterly destroys her." said Shigure, softly.
Miroku and Inuyasha stared at Shigure in surprise. Then Inuyasha stood up and shouted at Shigure, "So you're saying that Kikyo wasn't 'pure'?"
"No, I'm not saying that at all, Inuyasha. What I am saying is that Kikyo's heart was pure, but she was unable to control her hatred for you and as long as her heart was tainted with hatred, so was the jewel. She wouldn't have been able to protect the jewel if her heart hadn't started out pure." said Shigure.
Inuyasha's anger left him and he sat down once more. "So she really is greater than Kikyo?"
"Yes, she is. Yet she does not admit such things, because she always admired Kikyo's strength and did not want to believe that Kikyo could be so easily possessed by hatred. That is one of the reasons the Lady Kaede took Kotori in and trained her to become a priestess. She knew that Kotori would be greater than Kikyo and she knew about the prophecy." said Shigure.
"I see that I'm the talk of the town once again." said a voice from behind them.
They all turned around and where surprised to see Kotori and the others standing in the doorway.
"Kotori... I..." stuttered Shigure.
But Kotori cut him off, "Do you think I like being talked about behind my back? Do you think I like being called 'the second Kikyo'? Do you think I like having men kill themselves over me? Well, for your information, I don't! I hate being named after Kikyo when in the end she was nothing but a weak priestess who was easily corrupted by malice! I hate walking through the streets and hear people whisper behind their hands about me! And I hate it when men look at me as if I'm some kind of prize that can be won!"
"I... I'm sorry." said Inuyasha softly.
"As am I." said Shigure.
Miroku stood up and walked over to Kotori. He reached out for her hand but she quickly pulled it away and began to walk out of the tavern.
"Kotori! Wait!" shouted Miroku. He grabbed her hand and turned her around to face him. Tears were streaming down her face. She tore herself away from Miroku's grasp and ran out of sight.
Miroku just stood in the doorway of the tavern for a few minutes, staring blankly at the street.
"She's probably training. It would be best just to leave her alone right now." said Kita softly.
"No, I'm going to look for her. I need to talk to her." said Miroku as he ran out of the tavern in the direction Kotori went.
After a few minutes of silence, Kagome spoke, "He really does love her, doesn't he?"
"Yeah, he does. For once it's not one of his lies. He really does love her. They've only known each other for about a week, but they seem as though they've known each other longer than that." said Inuyasha.
Shigure slammed his glass down on the table and stormed out of the tavern.
"It looks like Miroku isn't the only one who's still in love with Kotori." said Shippo.
Kagome nodded, then said, "Why don't we wait for them back in our room?"
"That sound like a good idea." said Inuyasha as he, Shippo, Kita, and Kagome walked out of the tavern.
Miroku ran through the forest, frantically searching for any signs of Kotori. He found her sitting beside a small pond, her head in her hands, and crying softly.
Miroku slowly approached her, trying his hardest not to make any noise. When he finally stood beside her, he put his hand on her shoulder. She quickly looked up to see who had intruded on her solitude. Her eyes softened when she saw Miroku, but she quickly turned away and said, "Why did you follow me, Miroku?"
Miroku went around and sat so he faced her. "I wanted to make sure that you were all right."
"Well, I'm fine. Now you have something to report back to Inuyasha and the others!" said Kotori bitterly.
"No you're not fine. You're crying."
"Just leave, Miroku."
"No, I can't leave."
"Why? Because Inuyasha and the others told you not to?"
"No, that's not it at all!" said Miroku.
"Then why are you still here?"
When Miroku didn't answer, Kotori stood up and began to walk deeper into the forest.
"Because I'm in love with you, Kotori!" shouted Miroku.
Kotori stopped in her tracks. Without even bothering to turn around, she said, "You don't know what you're saying."
When she began to walk into the forest again, Miroku ran after her, grabbed her hand, and turned her around to face him.
"I know exactly what I'm saying, and I know that it's the truth." said Miroku. He looked deeply into Kotori's eyes and said, "I love you, Kotori. I love you with all of my heart and all of my soul. I want to marry you, have children with you, grow old with you, and die with you. I don't ever want us to part for it would tear me in half. That's what I want to do with my life, Kotori. I want to spend the rest of it with you."
Kotori was stunned, yet somehow, she managed to stutter out a reply, "I.... I love you too, Miroku."
Miroku smiled and leaned forward. He brushed the hair from her eyes and saw that she wasn't crying anymore, but smiling. He kissed her softly at first, just lightly brushing his lips with hers. Once Kotori had kissed him back, he deepened the kiss and wrapped his arms around her waist. She let her arms coil around his neck and let her fingers intertwine in his hair. His tongue begged for entrance to her mouth, and once it was granted, he tasted the essence of her mouth, probing and prodding her tongue with his. He was surprised when her tongue entered his mouth and began doing her own exploring. He nibbled on her bottom lip, wanting to savor the kiss.
When he finally broke the kiss off, he looked to see her reaction. She simply smiled at him and said, "You're a very good kisser."
Miroku laughed, "Thanks. You're not bad yourself."
When he leaned in again, she stopped him, saying, "Inuyasha and the others are probably worried about us. We should get back to the village."
Miroku nodded, but did not let go. "Before we go back, please just tell me one thing."
"Ok, what?"
"Can I call you mine? Claim you as my own?"
Kotori looked at him with a somber expression on her face, "Of course. As long as I may do the same in return."
Miroku smiled, "Then it's a deal."
When Sango decided to speak, she had some surprising news, "I have spoken with Master Enoki and have decided to stay and become one of his pupils."
"So you have decided to further your martial arts education?" asked Kotori as she took a sip of her tea.
"Yes. I hoped that I could become an even greater warrior." said Sango.
The others just looked at Sango, mouths hanging open. Inuyasha was the first to recover, "What about your revenge on Naraku? Are you giving up that easily?"
"I'm not giving up," Sango replied, "But I could have a better chance of defeating Naraku in battle if I have more training. It could help with my demon exterminating too."
"That's true. Well, if that's what you want, then I support you all the way, Sango." said Kagome.
"As do I." said Miroku.
Shippo piped up, "It sounds like a great idea, Sango."
Sango looked at Inuyasha, waiting for his answer. "Feh, do what you want. It's no skin off my nose."
"I'm glad that you all approve. Especially you Inuyasha. So, what time were you all planning to set out again on your journey?" asked Sango.
"In about an hour. We're hoping to find another village before dark." said Miroku.
Kotori stood up and quietly left the room. "Where's she going?" asked Inuyasha.
"To join Shigure in saying good bye to their master." said Miroku quietly.
"And how do you know that?" shouted Inuyasha.
"She told me herself when I went to her room this morning."
"And what, precisely, were you doing in her room this morning?" asked Kagome, suspiciously.
"Well, I.... I heard her talking last night with Shigure and...." stuttered Miroku.
"So you heard that too, huh?" interrupted Kagome.
"Heard what?" asked Inuyasha.
There was a pause, then Kagome spoke, "Shigure came to Kotori's room late last night. He confessed his love to her and told her that he wanted to travel with us. He was heartbroken when she told him that she loved someone else, but he still wanted to come with us."
"It seems that Kotori's love runs deep with Shigure, but even deeper with a certain monk, even though she can't show him," said Sango. Her eyes quickly flicked towards Miroku, "And I believe that certain monk returns those feelings. Am I right, Miroku?"
Miroku was silent for a few moments, then he spoke, "I love her more than anyone could ever imagine."
"But she can't show that she loves anyone because it would give Naraku power over her. He could destroy everything she loves and then she would be weak enough for him to simply take her." said Inuyasha.
"So that's why Shigure said that no one has been able to win her love. She can't show it or Naraku would destroy them." said Miroku.
"Yes, exactly." said Sango.
After a long pause, Kagome stood up, "We should get packed. Kotori and Shigure should be done with their good byes soon."
They all stood outside the entrance to the village. Everyone had come out to see them off. Unlike Kagome with her large backpack and her bicycle, Shigure carried only a sword at his side. Kotori had the Kenakari strapped to her waist and a small satchel slung over her shoulder.
Sango walked over to Kotori and embraced her, "I wish you a safe journey, my friend. May the Gods smile upon you and grant you safety and happiness. I will return to you when my training is complete. If you need me, do not hesitate to summon me."
Once Sango had released her, she smiled, "You will be greatly missed, my dear friend. Yet I, too, wish you luck on the journey you yourself are about to embark on. It is a long road, but I know that you have the courage to walk that path. If you require my services, I too will not hesitate to help." Sango smiled and went to say her good byes to the others.
They reached the nearest village an hour before nightfall. This time, Miroku had no need to use his charm, for the villagers were happy to give shelter to the Lady Kotori and her companions.
While Inuyasha, Miroku, and Shigure sat in the tavern, trying to get any information on the Shikon Jewel, Kagome, Kotori, Kita, and Shippo had decided to walk around the village.
An old man brought Inuyasha, Miroku, and Shigure their drinks and they were surprised when he began to talk to them.
"So, you three are traveling with the Lady Kotori?"
"Yeah. And how do you know about Kotori?" asked Inuyasha.
"Oh, every villager for at least thirty miles knows about the Lady Kotori. She's known as 'the second Kikyo' but everyone knows that her powers are far greater than the Lady Kikyo ever possessed. A greater priestess than the Lady Kikyo ever was." said the old man.
Inuyasha stood up and began to shout at the man, "What do you mean she's greater than Kikyo ever was? Kikyo was the greatest priestess ever! There is absolutely no way in any of the Seven Hells that Kotori could be better than Kikyo!"
"Kikyo let her heart be tainted with malice and hatred, and that's one of the reasons that she lost control over the Shikon Jewel. Nothing good can come out of that jewel and Kikyo is proof of that. It could even lead a great priestess like Kikyo to her downfall. Unlike Kikyo, Kotori is the prophesied 'Purest of the Pure'. Her heart is capable of hate, but she is able to control it before it takes over and utterly destroys her." said Shigure, softly.
Miroku and Inuyasha stared at Shigure in surprise. Then Inuyasha stood up and shouted at Shigure, "So you're saying that Kikyo wasn't 'pure'?"
"No, I'm not saying that at all, Inuyasha. What I am saying is that Kikyo's heart was pure, but she was unable to control her hatred for you and as long as her heart was tainted with hatred, so was the jewel. She wouldn't have been able to protect the jewel if her heart hadn't started out pure." said Shigure.
Inuyasha's anger left him and he sat down once more. "So she really is greater than Kikyo?"
"Yes, she is. Yet she does not admit such things, because she always admired Kikyo's strength and did not want to believe that Kikyo could be so easily possessed by hatred. That is one of the reasons the Lady Kaede took Kotori in and trained her to become a priestess. She knew that Kotori would be greater than Kikyo and she knew about the prophecy." said Shigure.
"I see that I'm the talk of the town once again." said a voice from behind them.
They all turned around and where surprised to see Kotori and the others standing in the doorway.
"Kotori... I..." stuttered Shigure.
But Kotori cut him off, "Do you think I like being talked about behind my back? Do you think I like being called 'the second Kikyo'? Do you think I like having men kill themselves over me? Well, for your information, I don't! I hate being named after Kikyo when in the end she was nothing but a weak priestess who was easily corrupted by malice! I hate walking through the streets and hear people whisper behind their hands about me! And I hate it when men look at me as if I'm some kind of prize that can be won!"
"I... I'm sorry." said Inuyasha softly.
"As am I." said Shigure.
Miroku stood up and walked over to Kotori. He reached out for her hand but she quickly pulled it away and began to walk out of the tavern.
"Kotori! Wait!" shouted Miroku. He grabbed her hand and turned her around to face him. Tears were streaming down her face. She tore herself away from Miroku's grasp and ran out of sight.
Miroku just stood in the doorway of the tavern for a few minutes, staring blankly at the street.
"She's probably training. It would be best just to leave her alone right now." said Kita softly.
"No, I'm going to look for her. I need to talk to her." said Miroku as he ran out of the tavern in the direction Kotori went.
After a few minutes of silence, Kagome spoke, "He really does love her, doesn't he?"
"Yeah, he does. For once it's not one of his lies. He really does love her. They've only known each other for about a week, but they seem as though they've known each other longer than that." said Inuyasha.
Shigure slammed his glass down on the table and stormed out of the tavern.
"It looks like Miroku isn't the only one who's still in love with Kotori." said Shippo.
Kagome nodded, then said, "Why don't we wait for them back in our room?"
"That sound like a good idea." said Inuyasha as he, Shippo, Kita, and Kagome walked out of the tavern.
Miroku ran through the forest, frantically searching for any signs of Kotori. He found her sitting beside a small pond, her head in her hands, and crying softly.
Miroku slowly approached her, trying his hardest not to make any noise. When he finally stood beside her, he put his hand on her shoulder. She quickly looked up to see who had intruded on her solitude. Her eyes softened when she saw Miroku, but she quickly turned away and said, "Why did you follow me, Miroku?"
Miroku went around and sat so he faced her. "I wanted to make sure that you were all right."
"Well, I'm fine. Now you have something to report back to Inuyasha and the others!" said Kotori bitterly.
"No you're not fine. You're crying."
"Just leave, Miroku."
"No, I can't leave."
"Why? Because Inuyasha and the others told you not to?"
"No, that's not it at all!" said Miroku.
"Then why are you still here?"
When Miroku didn't answer, Kotori stood up and began to walk deeper into the forest.
"Because I'm in love with you, Kotori!" shouted Miroku.
Kotori stopped in her tracks. Without even bothering to turn around, she said, "You don't know what you're saying."
When she began to walk into the forest again, Miroku ran after her, grabbed her hand, and turned her around to face him.
"I know exactly what I'm saying, and I know that it's the truth." said Miroku. He looked deeply into Kotori's eyes and said, "I love you, Kotori. I love you with all of my heart and all of my soul. I want to marry you, have children with you, grow old with you, and die with you. I don't ever want us to part for it would tear me in half. That's what I want to do with my life, Kotori. I want to spend the rest of it with you."
Kotori was stunned, yet somehow, she managed to stutter out a reply, "I.... I love you too, Miroku."
Miroku smiled and leaned forward. He brushed the hair from her eyes and saw that she wasn't crying anymore, but smiling. He kissed her softly at first, just lightly brushing his lips with hers. Once Kotori had kissed him back, he deepened the kiss and wrapped his arms around her waist. She let her arms coil around his neck and let her fingers intertwine in his hair. His tongue begged for entrance to her mouth, and once it was granted, he tasted the essence of her mouth, probing and prodding her tongue with his. He was surprised when her tongue entered his mouth and began doing her own exploring. He nibbled on her bottom lip, wanting to savor the kiss.
When he finally broke the kiss off, he looked to see her reaction. She simply smiled at him and said, "You're a very good kisser."
Miroku laughed, "Thanks. You're not bad yourself."
When he leaned in again, she stopped him, saying, "Inuyasha and the others are probably worried about us. We should get back to the village."
Miroku nodded, but did not let go. "Before we go back, please just tell me one thing."
"Ok, what?"
"Can I call you mine? Claim you as my own?"
Kotori looked at him with a somber expression on her face, "Of course. As long as I may do the same in return."
Miroku smiled, "Then it's a deal."
