A/N: Yay, yet another chapter. Hope you enjoy it! Anja

Chapter Nine

Slowly she forced her eyes open. Actually, Kilala started to lick Kagome's eyes, so she had no choice but to open them.

"Thanks for the wake up Kilala," she sputtered, now that the feline was licking at her lips. She pushed the cat off her chest and wiped her face off. As she sat up in bed, she looked to the door. It was open, and a figure dressed in pale green was just shutting the door behind her. Kagome cleared her throat loudly.

Sango nearly jumped out of her skin. She gave a shriek. "What are you trying to do, scare me half to death!"

Kagome just smiled. "So where have you been until now?"

Sango looked to the floor and smiled. "Umm...at the festivities?"

Kagome looked at her hard. "Try again."

Sango came and sat on the bed. "Oh shush you. I haven't been gone that long." She still had a grin on her face.

"Uh-huh. That's why it's already dawn, right? So, who was it?" Kagome wanted to know.

Sango gave an evil grin. "Some pretty boy named Ruar. He caught my fancy last night when he gave me this." And with that she held out her hand displaying a large emerald ring.

Kagome gave a whistle. "Impressive. Who is he, if he can afford to give such gifts to anyone?"

Sango shrugged her shoulders. "Don't know. He was not from around here though. I think he told me he's from the city across the river."

Kagome cocked an eyebrow. "The city of romance, eh? Did he live up to it?" she asked.

"Is grass green?" Sango answered mischievously . Kagome laughed. She then slipped out of bed and quickly got dressed, with Sango helping her get into her corset this time.

Sango just got changed into some riding clothes. They then packed their saddle bags. Sango went off to the kitchen to fetch some food while Kagome went to wash her face. She was stopped when she heard a knock on the door .

"Come in." She called.

In stepped Miroku. He bowed and then closed the door behind him. "I came to see if you need any assistance."

Kagome nodded. "The saddle bags, I could use some help with them, and you looked like you could handle them rather nicely yesterday. I'm not going yet though." Mirokunodded. Kaogme pointed to the bed. "Sit" she instructed. He obeyed.

"You like my sister, don't you," she stated bluntly.

His face started to turn a bright shade of red. "Umm...why do you ask?"

Kagome chuckled. "Sango is my sister, isn't she? It' s my job to protect her, and to snoop into the lives of others if it involves her."

Now Miroku's ears started to go red. "Well, umm, she is very pretty, and, umm, attractive, but I don't know her well, I mean, she probably has a great personality and all, but umm, well..."

Kagome gave a laugh. "Calm down. Your acting as if the answer you give will take or spare you your life."

Miroku looked to the ground. "Yes, I would like to get to know her better." Kagome nodded.

"Perfect. That's all I wanted to know. Now tell me, would you like to join us on our quest? We could use the company, and it would be worth your while." His head shot up.

"Really? You want me to come with you? I ...I would be honoured, my lord."

Kagome put her hand up. "No formalities please. Call me Kohaku. Everyone else seems to." Miroku laughed. It was a good natured laugh. He stood up.

"I shall go and pack. Wait, first I must go and talk to His Majesty."

Kagome shook her head and held up her hand. "Let me take care of Draid. I must go and talk to him anyhow." Miroku had a look of pure joy as he bounded out of the room, once again carrying the saddle bags as if they were filled with feathers.

Kagome laughed. She then too walked out of the door, and went to Draid's quarters. When she reached them, she saw Shazeer standing outside the doors.

"Is His Majesty in the chambers?" she asked.

"Yes my lord. He has been expecting you." He then opened the doors and let Kagome enter. Draid was sitting in front of a cheerful fire, holding Hitomi in his lap, no signs of weariness from the previous long night on his face.

"Ah Kagome, good of you to come. You will be leaving now, as you told me. You must come back soon, however. Bring Souta too. He and Hitomi could have a lot of fun together."

Kagome nodded her head in agreement. "I will Draid. Thank you for the kind offer. I have two more favours to ask of you before I leave."

"Ask and it shall be yours. What do you desire? An escort, maps, or perhaps some coin?"

Kagome shook her head at these suggestions. "Thank you, but no, although the escort is the closest thing. I would ask for you to consider selling me one of your servants. He has proven himself to be of use to me, and I shall give you a fair price for him."

Draid laughed. "Ask for any servant and he shall be yours. No payment necessary. Was it not I who

offered you money?"

Kagome blushed. "Yes indeed. But anyhow, I want the manservant Miroku."

Draid chuckled as he nodded his head. "Done. I thought you might like him. That's why I assigned him to you." Kagome smiled, a light blush crossing her cheeks. Then he continued. " And the other request?"

" I don't know what is going back at home, but if things were to get bad, could I send Souta here until I return? It would be a three week period at the most." Draid nodded slowly, knowing the present political situation at the Torquillian pouch.

Kagome bowed. "I thank you once more for your hospitality and kindness to me. I will repay you one day, and you always are welcome in Torquiliia."

Draid looked at her, a tender smile on his face. "You need not repay me. It is I who is repaying a debt I owed your father. But good speed on your journey, and return safely." Kagome bowed once more and after winking at Hitomi, who could not keep her eyes off Kagome, exited the room.

Kagome soon reached her room once more. She entered and found Sango sitting at the window with Nina on her lap looking to the courtyard below.

"Miroku took our saddlebags down already. He looked very excited. Do you know why?" Sango asked.

Kagome gave Sango a smile. "He is ours now."

Sango had a very puzzled look on her face. "What do you mean, 'ours' ?"

"He was just given to us by Draid. He will journey with us." Sango looked at Kagome with disbelief. She looked like she was going to collapse. Uttering a quick squeal of joy, she started to bounce up and down with Kilala still in her arms. Kilala gave a yowl and Sango stopped her bouncing very abruptly.

"Does Miroku know yet?" Sango asked.

"Sort of. I haven't told him that it's final yet."

Sango giggled "This is going to be so much more fun now," she then paused. "Wait, we weren't allowed to take anyone with us from from our own pouch. Why is it ok for us to bring Miroku with us?"

Kagome gave a sly smile. "The Messanger would have known right away if we had more people with us when we left. However, he cannot know we have another person joining us now, and once we're across the ocean, you an I will go and see the Merchant alone, then return with Miroku." Sango nodded in understanding.

Kagome looked out the window, and then back at Sango. "Come on, lets go down to the horses and get started. The sun is nearly up." They walked out of the room, closing the door gently behind them. Soon they reached the courtyard, where Miroku stood with Sprite, Spur and another bronze coloured stallion.

Kagome went strait to him. "It's final. You're coming with us."

He nodded. "I know, I got news of it just a few moments ago. Thank you." He said and shook Kagome's hand. She smiled at him. Now she just had to decide when she was going to tell him that she was really a girl.

She watched as he helped Sango mount Spur, and then Kagome mounted her own horse. As Miroku swung himself up into the saddle, Kagome could see the glow of excitement around him.

And so, they set out. They took the horses to the back of the city where a secret door was. It could only be seen and accessed from the inside, and it spat out the travelers just outside the city walls.

They traveled for five hours before they reached the oak forest Kagome had anticipated.They began their quest through the forest in light moods. Miroku softly sang some old San Horen songs that made riding so much more enjoyable.

At about four they stopped near a river to have a late lunch. As they sat, they talked about their journey. Kagome explained it in detail to him, so that he would know what to expect. As they finished their meal they stood up. Sango seemed to be edgy.

"Did you hear that?" she asked.

"Hear what?" asked Miroku. "Are you that eager to keep moving?" He asked mockingly. Sango hissed with displeasure at the jest.

"Yes, if you want to know... you really didn't hear that sound?"Sango turned to Kagome.

Kagome looked at her, straining her ears for any sound. "Now that you mention it, yeah... But what could it-" Kagome was cut off by a high pitched screech. Sango yowled and fell to the ground holding her ears. The sound grew until all were lost in it's intensity. A black shadow dropped onto Miroku and he seemed to be enveloped by the darkness. A lock of black hair curled onto the ground as the struggle diminished. The sound stopped abruptly and only the gasps of Sango were herd as she struggled to her feet, holding her head.

"Are you all right?" Asked Kagom, but she never got an answer. Sango was speechless as she pointed at the figure that hunched over Miroku. Kagome found herself gawking at the figure as it looked for something at Miroku's chest.

The figure stood, and turned around as it pulled back it's hood to reveal a fair maid with long, strait balck hair pulled back with a tie. Her brown eyes glitterd with what seemd like evil and coldness. The maid wore all black under a long cape that looked like it was made of darkness itself. She stood as if she were expecting them to do something. After a moment, she shrugged and turned to leave, stepping over Miroku.

A/N: Oooooo, somewhat of a cliffie, although I'm sure most of you know who the new person is. But what does she want? Anyhow, you know the routine, review, and wait patiently for the next chapter. Anja.