Chapter 3: Revelations.
"I don't need a rest; I'm not like you guys! We need to go find Naraku; and stop him before he gets more shards of the sacred jewel!" InuYasha complained.
Sango frowned, "We need to recuperate; some of us where poisoned more then once."
"Besides I am sure the more we move around the more demons we'll run into." Miroku reasoned.
Shippo sighed. "I think InuYasha is just frustrated because we know how he feels about Kaaagome!."
Shippo's smart remark was cut off as InuYasha knocked him over the head. The others knew what the little fox demon meant and they couldn't help but chuckle.
"All of you just shut up!" InuYasha growled. "I'm upset because you all are too slow, and Naraku keeps getting away!"
They had found a small village to rest in, with what was left of their money they rented out a place to sleep for the night.
"If you are so anxious to do something; why don't you go get us some food?" Kagome suggested.
"I'll go, BUT IT'S NOT BECAUSE YOU SAID TO; I'm hungry anyway." InuYasha growled again and stormed out, to go catch something for dinner.
The others enjoying a chuckle busied themselves getting their bed rolls ready.
"I'll start looking for some curative herbs." Miroku said and slowly stood up.
The three of them wanted to make sure they had all they needed for the up coming fights.
Sango too slowly rose. "I'll come with you."
"Ah a dream come true, I'll have you all to myself." Miroku said in his most charming voice.
Sango sighed. "You better not try anything! We're going to gather herbs, no more no less."
Miroku was a lecherous monk, but Sango knew that he was just trying to keep their spirits up. She still couldn't understand how he dealt with his situation so well. He had been cursed with a horrible ailment; a black hole in his palm that would eventually consume him too. The only good thing was that he had no children that this curse would be passed on to.
Sango looked at Kagome and Shippo. "Are you two coming?"
"No thank you, I'll stay here and wait for InuYasha to come back." Kagome said.
Shippo did not answer since the little fox demon was already asleep.
When everyone had gone, Kagome gathered some kindling and readied a small fire. She thought whatever InuYasha would catch, would surely need cooking. InuYasha soon returned with plenty of fish, and Sango and Miroku came back with herbs. Miroku combined the herbs to aide each of them; all they would need to do is place a pinch of the aromatic plant under their tongue. They all ate dinner and settled down for the evening; it did not take long for mostly everyone to fall asleep. InuYasha grumbled and crouched in a corner; after a couple hours he too was deep in slumber.
By the next morning the group had set out again; they continued on their way. Passing through several villages they picked up some odd jobs; and even destroyed the errant demon or two. They traveled tirelessly all day only stopping to eat and rest. Their path was amazingly free of severe demon obstacles. This lull from tough battle was unsettling to InuYasha; he did not trust the calm. The others chose to enjoy the let-up. They reminisced about the tougher demons they had fought, like the demon that possessed a former Princess who had been in love with Sesshoumaru. Amazingly, it was Inuyasha's older brother that helped save the poor woman. The oddest demon they had come across was a paper thin fiend who had a strange compulsion to steal paper thin scrolls, and silks
"Ha Ha, remember the sake incident?" Kagome started.
Inuyasha finally growled. "This is SUCH a waste of time!!! We need to be looking for Naraku's heart, or Hakudoshi!!"
Miroku chuckled. "Calm down Inuyasha; we'll find them when the time is right."
"Yea, walking around in circles wasn't working for us." Sango said.
Inuyasha grumbled some more before bounding off; he climbed up a tree to sit on one of the branches and sulk.
"Think he'll be OK." Sango asked.
Miroku smiled slightly. "It'll take time so much has happened; Naraku got away, Kagome got attacked by that strange infant, Kana and Kagura are still out there, and Kikyo's was just the pearl in the Buddha.
"I guess. I just wish he'd mourn, instead of getting irrationally upset." Sango said.
Shippo climbed up on Sango's shoulder. "Inuyasha's always has been wound way too tightly. Why would he change and grow now? He's always been rash, and well annoying."
Miroku nodded. "True, but it has also been his great emotional release that has helped him slay countless demons. He's just has to mature, and learn more about the world beyond demons."
"Beyond demons?" Sango asked.
Miroku leaned on his staff. "Yes, there more to this world then just demons. There are humans, sorcerers, imps, and spirits."