I used to ramble a lot before, didn't I? Well, no more of that, unless I find something of dire importance that needs to be said.

Disclaimer: Don't own squat…

Obsession of Sin

Unpleasant Travels…

Groaning moodily as she wiped the sweat form her forehead, Kagome fanned herself with one of the many books she had packed for entertainment during her travels. The sun was unforgiving that day, beating down on the land below without mercy. It was an oddly humid day for mid-autumn, the temperature an unusual high for that time of year.

Noting that her traveling companion seemed a little worse-for-wear, the young priestess retrieved her canteen and offered its contents. Smiling when the red-headed kit obliged greedily, she waited patiently for him to drink his fill before quenching her own need for water.

Sighing happily and smacking moisturized lips, Kagome reattached the canteen to her backpack strap and continued trekking, fanning her self and the poor, exhausted kit as she walked.

"I know it's selfish," Shippou began, "but I really hope we don't find any jewel shards today. It's too hot for a fight."

Smiling lopsidedly at the tuckered kitsune, Kagome replied, "With our luck Naraku will show up and declare a fight to the death."

An exaggerated moan left the tiny bundle of fluff on her arm, his miniscule weight flopping over her shoulder in defeat.

Huffing as she wiped her forehead yet again, Kagome went on, "It's not like he'd have to do much to win that fight. He'd just have to wait a few minutes until we all PASS OUT FROM DEHYDRATION AND EXHAUSTION!"

Hearing the obvious hint and warning tone of Kagome's voice, Inuyasha growled and paused, scowling at the other members of the group before snapping, "Fine, let's stop for lunch! I'll check the area for demons."

Sighing in relief, Kagome plopped her self down on the leaf covered ground; leaning against the base of a tree and reveling in the sparse shade it provided. Shippou collapsed beside her, his tiny body pebbled with beads of sweat. Sango and Miroku were quick to follow their example, huffing in the afternoon heat.

The priestess smiled to herself when Miroku offered his gasa to the young demon slayer. The grin she wore only widened when the woman blushed lightly and accepted, placing the straw hat over her head to shield her from the sun's unforgiving rays.

"What a dreadful day this is," Sango grumbled bitterly to no one in particular. Just yesterday morning the land had been pelted with a heavy rainfall, and now looked as though they hadn't received an ounce of precipitation in weeks.

"Just think," Kagome offered, "soon all of this will be over and we can all settle down. You and Miroku can finally get married."

Said monk smiled saucily at that comment, his hand slowly inching toward his beloved's bottom. Before it could reach its destination, however, the tip of a rather heavy Hiraikotsui came crashing down on the offending appendage, making him wince in pain.

The young miko watched and laughed as the priest nursed his injured hand, hurt eyes turned to the demon slayer who was currently glowering at him. Spying the rosary beads wrapping his wrist, Kagome remarked idly, "It's going to be so strange when this is all over and you can remove your prayer beads."

Chuckling, Miroku turned his violet gaze to Kagome and explained, "Not at all, Lady Kagome. When Naraku is defeated these beads will remain on my wrist."

"How come? Would you continue wearing them for a keepsake or something?" the curious, raven haired priestess queried.

Smiling at his friend's inquisitive nature, the young monk explained, "Though it will always be a reminder of the battle we fought against Naraku, all priests are required to wear these beads. Our ju represents the discipline of monk hood, and is made up of one-hundred-seven beads. Each one of these symbolizes the venal sins of mankind."

Noting that one bead was a fair size larger than the others, Kagome asked smartly, "So… the large one… does it represent lechery, since you seem to delve into that sin much more frequently than the others?"

Placing a hand over his heart at hearing her implication, Miroku gasped, "Lady Kagome, you wound me."

Chortling softly, Sango snickered, "She does have a point, Miroku. What does that bead stand for?"

Brow crinkling slightly, Miroku replied in all seriousness, "There is no order in which they are placed. The only reason that one is bigger than the others is for the purpose of hiding the knot that binds the string."

"What are you idiots babbling about?" Inuyasha clipped as he returned from his quick scout.

"Inuyasha, that wasn't very nice," Kagome scolded, sending a very mother-like look in his direction.

Seeing that he was on the end of a disapproving glare, the hanyou sniffled lightly and responded with a quiet, "Feh." The past few years of traveling with Kagome had taught him certain things about women. For example: when receiving the, quote on quote, 'death glare', it was wise to keep ones mouth shut… especially when the woman sending you said 'death glare' happened to be in control of the mystic rosary around your neck.

Shaking her head, Kagome pried her knapsack open and dug out a package of beef jerky. Pulling a strip form the brightly colored parcel, she then offered some to Shippou before tossing them to the couple sitting next to her.

For minutes they ate in peace, each enjoying the quiet yet comfortable atmosphere that had been set. After lounging for a short time they were once again ready to travel, stomachs pleasantly filled and bodies cooled to a manageable degree. Inuyasha was the first to break the silence.

"I've gotta piss. When I come back we're heading out!"

Lip curling at his remark, Sango muttered, "Too much information. Keep it to yourself."

Snorting, he barked, "Why does it matter?"

Eyes rolling, Kagome added sourly, "It isn't proper, and though I understand you've never been one for etiquette… could you at least tone it down for Shippou's sake? It's bad enough you run around with such a potty-mouth, I don't want him turning out the same."

"Hey," he groused, "what's wrong with the way I am?" When several dubious stares landed on him, his face soured and he stormed off, mumbling about silly humans and their pointless manners.

Stretching languidly, the young, raven haired miko collected her self and rose, brushing off her bum and hoisting Shippou onto her shoulder. She noted that he had grown a great deal since they'd met.

While she knew demons aged much differently than humans did, she couldn't help but wonder how long it would take for him to reach adulthood. Would she be fifty by the time that happened... or older?

However, such thoughts were risky ones, and she rarely allowed herself to linger on them. Though it would indeed be wonderful to watch him grow, she knew there was no guarantee what might happen once the jewel was complete. Would the well seal, leaving her in a time that was not her own? Or would she be transported back to her own time, never to see her Feudal family again? The risk was high, but she knew that in order to keep her word and fulfill her duty she needed to take such chances. The completion of the Shikon-no-tama was not an option. Such a powerful weapon could not be left unattended.

That was why she tried desperately to stray away from thoughts of what was to come... she had learned the hard way that thinking of the future were dangerous. She had once dreamt of a life with Inuyasha, and look where that had taken her. Her heart had been stepped on way too many times; therefore it was simply wiser to expect the worst.

She knew it sounded terribly pessimistic, but heck, if one was to assume the worst… the hurt would be more bearable when it came. On the other hand, if things went well, it was a nice little bonus after expecting something dreadful.

She sighed. Years in this time certainly had changed her from the peppy, optimistic child she had once been. Her youthful foolishness had left her, leaving behind a somewhat cynical young woman.

"Let's go!" Inuyasha demanded loudly as he strolled back into camp.

Hearing him shifted her attention, redirecting her train of thought to something much less appealing.

He didn't wash his hands… ever. She had held those same hands before… years ago. Suddenly the urge to clean her self arose, and she instinctively wiped her palms against her pants.

Kagome made a mental note, promising herself that she would remember to ask Inuyasha to stop them for the night once they neared a spring or river. Though river water would undoubtedly be cold, she was willing to grit her teeth and bare it for the sake of hygiene. Being chilly was manageable… being sticky and stinky was not.

Sango, she assumed, would greatly enjoy a bath as well, and Shippou too. Yes, her little man definitely needed a good wash.

"Get down!"

Yelping in pain as her face became better acquainted with the ground, Kagome bit out around a mouth full of dirt, "Owe! What was that for?"

"Doesn't feel too good, huh?" Inuyasha remarked smartly, grinning as her soil-smudged cheeks tinged red.

Flushing in ire, Kagome growled, "Hey, when I use the 's' word I do it because the situation calls for it. I don't just do it out of spite! And you didn't answer my question!"

Grunting, the rugged hanyou replied while amber eyes scanned the surrounding area, "Something is coming… its close."

No sooner had the whispered words left his lips than a violent, inhuman scream ripped through the surrounding woods.

A groan of despair left the young miko as she heard the telltale sound of trees snapping under the weight of the demon headed their way. 'It couldn't have been a reasonably sized monster… oh no… they always have to be enormous,' she droned acerbically, 'Maybe, if I'm lucky, it'll have four arms and humongous fangs too. Oh joy of joys.'

Shippou squealed in terror as a large, insect-like beast barreled through the brush, its mandible like a pair of giant sheers. However, the slavering, bug-eyed fiend was not equipped with four arms… but eight, half of which were long and whip-like while the others were tipped with scissor appendages.

Kagome couldn't help but think that the creature looked like an oversized preying mantis, its slender upper body and bulging abdomen giving it such an appeal. "I hate bugs," she hissed, sliding an arrow from her quiver.

"Wench!" the insect youkai screeched, its wraith-like voice causing all present to wince. "The Shikon-no-tama… you will give me your shards!"

Pulling herself into a kneeling position, the priestess drew her bow from its place over her shoulder, nocking the arrow in a practiced, fluid motion. "We can do this one of two ways," she explained calmly, staring directly into the monster's kaleidoscopic green orbs. As she did so, she noted that this thing was already in possession of a single shard, one which was lodged in the center of his abdomen. "One," she began, pulling the string taut, "you can hand over your shard and leave, and your life will be spared. Or two… you can try to take our jewel shards, though I doubt you'll be very successful."

Laughing, the bug demon chided, "My, my, you certainly have a lot of spirit for one so small. Yes… Let me see…" Bulbous jade orbs scanned the group, taking in each fighter. "What a peculiar entourage you have here. Three measly humans, a demon child, and a half breed. I think I'll take my chances with option number two."

Grinning wickedly, Inuyasha placed a hand on the hilt of Tetsusaiga and purred, "I was hopin' you might… option two is my favorite."

Drawing his legendary blade, the halfling charged, bringing the sword down in an arced sweep as he shouted, "Wind Scar!"

The giant mantis leapt deftly out of harms way, moving with surprisingly fluid motions for one so large. He did not have time to pause, however, for the instant his many, barbed legs touched down, a rumbling hum filled the air, followed by a vicious war cry.

"Hiraikotsui!"

Screeching as the massive, bone-boomerang severed a limb from his body, the demon turned seething emerald eyes on the pretty young demon slayer.

Numerous spindly feet assaulted the earth as the brute took off towards its newest target, making the earth quake under his weight.

Stepping forward and stabbing his staff into the soil, Miroku quickly unwound his cursed hand, fingers unwinding as he remarked, "I think not! Wind Tunnel!"

Wailing as a ferocious wind tugged at his bulky body, the mantis youkai snapped venomously, "For a group of wretches you certainly are bothersome!" Twisting at such an angle so that his abdomen was facing the determined monk, the snarling demon released a putrid, orange gas into the air, squealing in delight as the smell of fear permeated the area.

Gasping in pain as the poisonous cloud was swept into his kazanna, Miroku immediately rewrapped his hand and fell to one knee, teeth clenching as his hand began to throb.

Tittering evilly, the many armed demon hissed triumphantly, "You see, your attempts are futile!"

"Hey, you," Kagome shouted angrily, cerulean orbs alit with fury at witnessing her friend's injury, "this ends now!"

"Oh?" the mantis taunted, "and who will end it, little priestess… you?"

"Nope," Inuyasha clarified from his place directly behind the monster. "We all will."

Snarling as he dodged the attack too late, the beast flailed its scalded limbs, not noticing the large boomerang that was hurdling toward him until it was too late. Pained screams left a lipless mouth as the legs that supported it were shredded by the spinning weapon, causing it to fall gracelessly to the ground.

Finding the opportunity she had been waiting for, Kagome took aim and fired, grimacing when her arrow met its destination between the villain's eyes. Its wail morphed into a gargle and, within seconds, its body bulged and exploded in a shower of slimy goop.

Whining as she was pelted by green, snotty droplets, Kagome tried her best to shield herself from the assault, huffing when her efforts were almost completely in vain. When the shower of crud finally ceased, she looked up to find each of her comrades covered form head to toe in mucus, disgusted looks painting each of their features. Kagome felt safe in assuming that all of them would be looking forward to bathing that night.

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