A/N:
greetings! i appreciate those who reviewand follow my story, this is for you select luckies ^-^
Gomen for the late update but i couldn't for the life of me decied where to go next...the first 5 chappies i had written in advance so i was working off of inspiration and ideas from a WHILE ago...this is unedited and has been cut in half...i may come back and add the second part because now idk if i even have enough for 2 chapters, ugh. the struggle.
enjoy...


Chapter 7

Interlude: Tale of a Monk

A few days, and exorcisms later, brought the Houshi known as Miroku to the doorstep of a local village headman about a day's travel from where he had taken up temporary residence. A pressing aura was covering this place and stealing youth from various occupants, but at a rate so small a regular human would never notice. For a monk of Miroku's caliber he could see the damage in obvious light and even the source which leads to the reason, said monk was in the rain, waiting for someone to answer his call in the middle of the night. Grumbling to himself Miroku again rang the bell in front of the entrance of the headman's compound. This wasn't a wealthy village so the level of security was peculiar, but he has heard stories of the headman's fondness of, ...secrecy.

Finally he heard a man shout on the opposite side of the gate as the doors began to creak open just enough for the light of a lantern to be seen.

"Who goes there?" a strong yet raspy voice called out as the rest of the door opened to show a wet figure in monk's robes.

"Hello friend, I am a simple traveling monk seeking shelter for the night, this storm has turned into more than I can handle." Miroku said in a flourish, lightly pressing his way into the heavy wooden door.

Lightning struck as the hunched man grumbled, widening the berth as to let the monk thru.
"hmm, Monk you say?" as he stepped out of the way motioning Miroku to follow as the other guards shut and secured the door to the inner compound.

"Often a traveler seeks entry but you are the first monk." Turning to assess the young man discreetly as the house servant led him to a path that looked to veer off the main house to a garden facing a separate yet still large building.

Miroku was curious about the layout of this particular section, having never seen rooms arranged with no outside doors, yet kept his questions to himself.
"Ah yes, with the location of this place in regards to the village I can see why, anyone lost on the wrong path out could end up here." Making their way to the back of the main house as the rain continued to pour Miroku couldn't help but wonder why he was being taken the long way to his lodgings. Taking a moment to adjust his sugegasa*the monk eyed this man leading him as he reached out with his aura to possibly read his intentions.

hmm, I sense no ill will from this man..he actually seems..timid and.. hopeful by my presence.

Coming to the end of the small path and the beginning of a set of wooden steps that led to the walkway in front of sets of rooms- with doors to the outside- Miroku started to become..aware.

Awareness was key to surviving in Sekou Judia, and had been engrained into Miroku's head since before he could remember. Growing up a monk had its benefits, alongside its trials. It was just these circumstances that Miroku felt blessed to have his reiki instead of cursed.

Without missing a step Miroku pulled his aura tightly into himself and masked his power. Something, foul had rubbed against his senses and the monk wanted to keep his advantage.
Arriving at their destination the house servant slid a shoji aside and welcomed Miroku into a sparsley decorated room big enough to be used as a meeting area but set up as a guest area instead. Walking past a low table the house servant lit a lantern in the small partitioned sitting room and motioned for Miroku to sit.

As the servant bowed to Miroku before lighting another lamp in the corner of the room he again addressed him.
"Would the Monk care for anything from the kitchens? I will have tea prepared in a moment to chase the chill from you." The man then went to prepare the futon which was still set up and out of the way. Miroku inclined his head in the servant's direction. "No thank you, but the tea would be most welcome."
At that statement, there was a light rap on the door before the man-servant opened the shoji to revel a petite woman carrying a tray with the appropriate china for tea service. Keeping her eyes downcast, the silent woman set the tray on the table, carefully serving the Monk as he stared at her.
"ahh, what a fair maiden you are, tell me please, how old are you?" Miroku casually addressed the female once he noticed, to his chagrin, the male servant was gone.
Blushing demurely, the little woman answered in the softest of voices;
"I am Mieko, and have just seen my fourteenth summer."

Sputtering some tea back into his cup from the confession, Miroku straightened out his robes this time really looking at the female kneeled before him.
"ahh, such a time I remember from my youth as well...have you been in service for the house long, Mieko-sama?"
Blushing again at the formal way the monk spoke to her, Mieko answered,
"My family was outcast from our former village, so when we came here seeking shelter and the lord took pity."
Her eyes shifted down again as sadness crept into her sweet voice,
"My parents died some time ago so I was offered a place of service within the compound, I am truly fortunate."
All the while Miroku was half listening, he had been slowly leaking his aura into the house and over this young girl as to try and determine the truth of her words. So far everything seemed in order, he could feel the dull human auras littered about the house and could see the sincerity of the young girl's words. Miroku would just have to be patient and wait this one out.
"I am sorry to hear of your hardships young one, but you are right to consider yourself lucky. If I may confess that I am weary and feel the hour of sleep is upon me…thank you for the tea and pleasant conversation." Miroku stood to dismiss the girl, but Mieko stayed on her knees. Looking up but not making eye contact the little girl said quietly,
"I would stay with you tonight, and attend you Houshi-sama." Bowing low, the little woman began to loosen her outer clothing, giving peak at her yukata. Without missing a beat Miroku put his hands on her own, stopping the rustling of fabric as he lightly grabbed her elbow and brought Mieko to her feet.
"Ahh, surely you do not think me a weak Monk to take my vow and cast it aside so hastily my dear, even for one so fair as yourself. Please allow me to escort you to wherever it is that you need to go. The hour is late and I hear no one about." The flustered, yet cool monk slid the shoji open and led the girl out, happy for the crisp air.
"Wa-wait! Please, did I do something wrong? If I have offended you my Lord will be most displeased." Mieko, grabbed onto his arms and looked frightened and all the years she had seen were visible in her eyes.
"Come now Mieko, I am a holy man and cannot allow myself to fall into the vice of flesh, had I been an ordinary man things would be going differently right now."
While not entirely untrue, Miroku could feel the malignant aura creeping up from somewhere in the compound. Turning, Mieko stuttered her decline of the assistance and hurried down the corridor to some unseen hallway. Miroku had already started down the steps and into a well-manicured garden. To his frustration, everything was back to normal and no darkness could be felt.
Kami damn-it, I have felt this presence twice and neither time could I pinpoint its location…the hour grows late, perhaps meditation tonight in leau of actually sleep will be required…
Taking one last turn about the gardens, Miroku gave in and retired to his rooms. Determined to find the source of the demonic aura come morning, there was not much one could do in the dark and not become suspect himself.


* sugegasa- hat commonly made of bamboo, shaped triangularly to protect the wearer from the sun/rain