Disclaimer: I do not own InuYasha, or anything associated with it. I have written this story solely because I enjoy writing.
Chapter 10: Dinner at the Higurashi Shrine
The trip to Kaede's Village was peaceful, and during this time they brought Shippo up to speed about Kaname's presence with them. But Michiru barely paid any attention to this. For as the group drew ever closer to the village, Sango's lovely visage appeared in his thoughts, over and over again. And each time it did, his heart went totally crazy, a goofy smile appearing on his face.
"Hey, Michiru, you okay?" Shippo asked at some point. "Your face is all red."
Startled from his thoughts, Michiru hesitated before opening his mouth to respond. But before he could say a word, Kaname grinned impishly and said, "That's because he's thinking about Sango!"
Jolted by the frankness with which Kaname spoke, Michiru felt his cheeks burn like his Fire Shikigami. "Aw, c'mon, sis!"
"Why? You basically have her name written all over your face!" Kaname returned, smirking mischievously.
Snorting with laughter at this exchange, InuYasha grinned at his friend. "Relax, Michiru! I'm sure Sango will be glad to see you!" he told him, his hands folded behind his head. "It's pretty obvious that she misses you!"
"That's right!" Shippo confirmed. "And when InuYasha notices something like that, you know it's really bad!"
"Really?" Michiru frowned, almost afraid to get his hopes up as InuYasha growled menacingly and shook his fist at the fox-demon.
Giving InuYasha a scolding frown, Kagome sighed as she turned to Michiru. "That's right. We all missed you here," she muttered, glancing back at the half-demon. "But…I'd be careful with Sango if I were you. She's…been having a real hard time, dealing with losing Kohaku again."
"I understand that, Kagome. Really," Michiru told her earnestly.
"Yeah. And she's also been having a hard time dealing with a certain monk," InuYasha grumbled, drawing a low growl from Kagome. "Just the other day, when he was trying to make her feel better, he was helping himself to a feel of her butt!"
"InuYasha!" Kagome cried out.
"He what?" Michiru shouted, suddenly outraged. "H-how could he do something like that to her? Now, of all times?"
"Hey, what do you expect? He does it all the time!" InuYasha grinned.
"He's just having a hard time with this, just like everybody else!" Kagome glowered, her hands at her hips. "In case you've forgotten, Miroku's Wind Tunnel is back! And unless we can find some way to seal it up for good, it'll kill him!"
Grunting his irritation, InuYasha shot back with, "Hey, I know that, Kagome!"
"Then would it kill you to try and be at least a little sensitive to his feelings?" Kagome wondered. Then she looked over at Michiru, and her expression immiedately softened. "Uh, I'm sorry about that Michiru. I…"
"No, it's okay, Kagome. I understand," Michiru assured her. "And…well, you might not believe it, but, I do feel sorry for Miroku. For all of you. Really!"
Her ire fading away completely, Kagome nodded. "I know you do. And actually, it's kind of refreshing," she decided, glancing over at InuYasha. "After all, how many other guys do you know who'd think about the feelings of their rivals in love?"
"And just what is that supposed to mean?" InuYasha growled lowly.
"Hey, c'mon, you two!" Shippo protested. "Sheesh! You've only been back five minutes, and you're already fighting!"
"That's right," Kaname chimed in, looking at them disapprovingly. "Look, I know it must be horrible for all of you right now. But fighting and hurting each other isn't going to help you feel better!"
Blinking a few times at the Kururugi girl, Kagome smiled contritely. "You're right, Kaname. We're sorry," she admitted. "Right, InuYasha?"
"Huh?" the half-demon glowered, his pride bristling the notion of apologizing. But when he looked over at Kaname, his anger faded somewhat. "Agh…yeah, sure. Whatever."
Heaving a weary breath at was probably the closest thing he'd ever seen InuYasha come to an apology, Michiru turned about and they continued onwards towards the village. When they finally arrived, the Shikigami User found himself looking about in delight at the familiar settings and people as they went about their daily routines. Eventually, he sighted a tiny, familiar figure meandering about the streets. "Hey, it's Kirara!" he cried out. "Kirara! Come here, Kirara!" As he cooed and called, the two-tailed demon cat turned and looked in his direction. Meowing her surprise, Kirara then dashed over to him and all but flew into his arms. "Aw, that's a good girl!" Michiru beamed as Kirara ran up his shoulder and curled about his neck. "I'm glad to see you two, Kirara!"
"Oh, she's so cute!" Kaname cooed, reaching up to pet Kirara as well.
"We've always gotten along well, haven't we, Kirara?" Michiru asked as rubbed her between her head, her blissful purring filling his ears. "Say, Kirara? Do you know where Sango is?"
"No need to ask her that! Take a look!" Looking at InuYasha, Michiru watched as he pointed off towards one of the fields. As they all followed his outstretched finger, Michiru's heart began leaping like a kangaroo gone mad. A short distance away, Miroku was dashing along one of the paths, looking much like a scared rabbit while Sango chased right after him, swinging her Hiraikotsu in absolute fury.
"Sango…" Michiru whispered, his throat gone dry. The video, his sketches, nothing compared to seeing the real Sango, and as he watched her move about, time rolled back and the feelings he had for her felt even more fresh and vibrant than the day he had first discovered them.
"Damn you, Miroku!" Sango howled furiously as she relentlessly pursued the lecherous monk, swinging the massive boomerang bone about. "How many times do I have to tell you to keep your hands to yourself?"
"But Sango, how can you expect me to ignore something as marvelous as your flawless body?" Miroku asked rhetorically as he successfully evaded Sango's many lunges. Their chase bringing them ever closer to Michiru and the others.
"If you have to admire me, try doing it from a distance!" Sango raged, readying to take another swing. So close that Michiru could see her eyes, eyes that were so beautiful, even when narrowed with fury.
"Sango!" Michiru called out before his heart could try to jump out of his throat instead, waving his arms at the Demon Slayer. The moment his voice was heard, Sango stopped in mid-swing, her Hiraikotsu falling to the ground as her anger evaporated into nothingness. Slowly, so slowly that it barely seemed like she was moving, she turned to look at him, her eyes growing wide as her mouth opened.
It took her a couple tries to find her voice, but soon her mouth was working and Sango was finally able to speak. "Mi…Michiru? Michiru?" she shouted, her voice one of consummate surprise and delight. Letting Hiraikotsu fall to the ground, she dashed over to him as quickly as her legs could carry her. When she was a few feet away from the Shikigami User, she slowly came to a halt before him, her face turning into one of fearful uncertainty. "Are you…?" Sango stalled for a moment, her voice shuddering as dampness filled her eyes. "Is it…really you this time?"
"I…I…" Michiru stammered, completely at a loss for words. Instead, he reached out, took one of Sango's hands in his own, and thrilled to the delightful warmth of her touch. "Oh, Sango…" he spoke again, tears overflowing his eyes as the joy and emotion of this moment became too much for him to restrain. As if his touch had shattered whatever emotional dam was in her, tears spilled down Sango's face, and before Michiru knew what had happened, she took him in her strong arms and held onto him like she would never let go. And it was an embrace he gladly returned, for he never wanted to let her go.
"You came back, Michiru! You came back!" Sango whispered so gently, yet so strongly. As for Michiru, no words escaped his lips, for none existed that could capture his feelings. Instead, his tears spoke his feelings as they continued to roll down his face. He wanted this moment to last forever, for he couldn't imagine ever being any happier than he was in that instant.
Unfortunately, Miroku decided to break up this reunion. "Well, Michiru, it's certainly a surprise to see you again." Slowly, with tremendous reluctance, Michiru pulled back from Sango, and looked at the monk. "However did you manage to get back?"
"I'll explain everything later," Michiru replied, hoping he didn't grit his teeth or anything. "In the meantime, I'd like to introduce you to my twin sister."
"Hello. I'm Kaname, Kaname Kururugi," she said, stepping forward to bow slightly before Miroku and Sango.
"Wow. You two look so much alike," Sango commented, deciding that Kaname looked like a female version of her brother.
As for Miroku, he studied Kaname with an appraising eye before going up to her. "Excuse me, Kaname, but could you do me a favor?"
"What kind of a favor?" Kaname asked innocently. Apparently unaware of the groans and eyes that were currently rolling up at this.
"Could you please be the mother of my children?" Wincing, Michiru and Sango groaned heavily while the others made various noises of dismay. Only Sota was shocked into surprise by the audacity of such a request.
"Hmmm…" Kaname began, a thoughtful look on her face before she finally grinned. "Sure! That sounds like fun!" This time, everybody was completely floored while Sota had the good sense to pass out.
"You…you mean it?" Miroku asked, his eyes wide with disbelief.
"Well, what can I say? I can't say no to such a handsome monk!" Kaname replied as she bounced up to Miroku. Looking totally, totally innocent.
"Kaname! What are you thinking?" Michiru howled in utter shock and outrage.
"Well, it seems obvious to me that your sister has exquisite taste, Michiru," Miroku stated calmly, taking both of Kaname's hands in his own. "Now, perhaps if you would excuse us, Kaname and I could relocate to somewhere more private."
A hushed gasp escaping her lips, Sango began to quake fury. "I don't believe this…!" she growled, metaphoric flames rising up from her that weren't nearly as metaphoric as anybody was comfortable with.
As for Kaname, she paid no attention to any of this. "Oh, but I can't wait! I'm all fired up!" With that she wrapped her arms around Miroku like she had hormones for brains. Then Michiru and everybody else noticed a pentagram forming at her feet, the Fire Shikigami power rising up around her. "It's time to put a bum in the oven!" With that, a lion of flame erupted from the pentagram and shot down straight at the two of them. The Shikigami power did nothing to hurt the person from which it came, despite the fact that it completely surrounded her. Miroku, on the other hand, looked a tad on the crisp side when the Fire Shikigami finally dissipated.
"I really should have known better…" Miroku gasped, a puff of smoke escaping his lips.
"That's right, you should have!" Sango shouted. Her face flush with humiliation and outrage, she let go of Michiru and stomped over to Miroku. Smashing the monk over the head, she proceeded to dart away from the rest of them, with Kirara leaping from Michiru's neck to follow.
"Sango, wait!" Michiru cried out as she dashed away. "Kaname, what were you thinking, doing something like that?"
"I'm sorry," Kaname started, a genuinely apologetic look on her face. "It's just that I couldn't believe it when you told me about Miroku asking women to bear his children. Then I got curious about what would happen if somebody actually agreed, so…"
"So you decided to play this trick on me?" Miroku asked easily, dusting the soot off of his person. "Now that wasn't a very nice thing for a lovely maiden such as yourself to do!"
"By the way, what did you mean when you said you were putting a bum in the oven?" InuYasha asked, grinning like crazy over this. "Aside from the obvious, that is!"
"Well, in our time, putting a bun in the oven is a slang term for getting pregnant," Kaname explained while Miroku practiced looking hurt and indignant.
"Oh, I get it!" InuYasha replied in comprehension, chuckling even more.
"I'm not sure I do," Shippo grumbled.
Michiru didn't share InuYasha's amusement. All he cared about that his reunion with Sango had been cut dreadfully short. And he was about to express his annoyance when an older voice was heard. "Bless my soul! What is all this commotion?"
Looking about, Michiru saw another friend from the past approaching. "Kaede!"
Her one eye lightning up with recognition, Kaede gaped at the Shikigami User. "My goodness! Michiru Kururugi, is that really you?"
"It's great to see you, too, Kaede!" Michiru greeted as the elderly priestess slowly approached.
"Oh, my word! What a pleasant surprise to see you again, child!" With that, they all began talking at once, speaking of all that had happened since they had parted ways. It was like no time had passed at all, good friends coming together as naturally as rivers flowed into one lake. Only one thing remained incomplete as Michiru looked down the path Sango had disappeared from.
It was roughly three in the afternoon when Sango returned, looking a great deal calmer than she had when she had fled. The group had adjourned to Kaede's house and were enjoying a late lunch when she appeared, and even managed to grace him with a kindly smile. Still, Michiru could easily see the hurt that remained on her face, and it was even easier to see it when Kaname tried to apologize for what she had done earlier.
"I'm not angry," was all Sango would say to her. Without another word, she took the serving of food meant for her, and sat down in the corner began eating quietly. Michiru knew her well enough to know it was best to leave her be at times like this, and let her work things out on her own. She was a woman who strove to be as strong as possible despite everything, something he had grown to respect. But at the same time, he could help but be saddened at the way she ended up isolating herself, to hide the all-too human pain she felt.
"Sango must be really mad at me, huh, bro?" Kaname gloomily as she sat next to her brother. "I wish I'd never pulled that dumb joke."
"Don't worry, sis, I know Sango won't hold it against you. She just needs some time to think and sort things out for herself," Michiru assured her. Trying to keep his own pain from showing in his voice.
"Aye, child," Kaede agreed as she came over to where they were stated. "Sango is a gentle girl at heart, but she has been hurt badly by the events of recent. Your prank was most ill-timed."
"I really am sorry about that," Kaname apologized.
"We understand that, as does Sango. She merely needs time to herself," Kaede assured her. "Fear not; I'm certain she'll be in good humor soon enough."
"I hope so…" Kaname murmured lowly. Slowly, they all started talking amongst themselves. The ice slowly breaking, the conversation amongst them all became more fluid and natural.
"You know, I still can't believe you actually found a way to get through the Well," Kagome declared at one point. "After all this time, wondering what makes it work…it's amazing!"
"Neither can I," Michiru admitted ruefully, much to the surprise of those around him. "If Wyvern hadn't figured out the Well worked, I'd probably still be at home, digging through the scrolls in the Kururugi Shrine!"
Quirking a smile, Kagome soon found herself chuckling at the image, along with Shippo and Sota. Then something else occurred to her. "Hey, speaking of home, what about your parents?"
"Huh? What about them?" Michiru wondered blankly.
"Oh, c'mon! You must've told them about all this! So how did you get your parents to let you and Kaname come here?" Kagome clarified. Only to frown when Michiru's mouth dropped to the floor, which was seconded by Kaname groaning in dismay. "Huh? Wait a minute…you did tell your parents about all of this…didn't you?"
"No, we didn't!" Michiru groaned, realizing his blunder. That he had forgotten that his time with friends would be so dreadfully limited. "I got so caught up in figuring out how to get back here and training Kaname that I completely forgot about explaining this whole thing to Mom and Dad!"
Unable to help herself, Kagome broke out in a case of the giggles while InuYasha snorted, "Oh, good one, Michiru! And just how the hell are you going to explain this one, huh?"
"I don't know!" Michiru moaned, burying his face in his hands. Unable to imagine the idea of him and Kaname spending days on end back in the past, fighting demons and facing life-threatening danger, going over so well with his parents.
While Michiru was busy mentally kicking himself to the moon, Kaede looked gently at him. "Now, now, child! Did ye not say that you had permission at least to spend today with your friends?" When Michiru slowly looked at her and nodded, the elder priestess smiled warmly. "Then save your worries for later, and be at ease with us for as long you two are able. When the time comes, I'm certain you will find the solution."
If only it were that simple, was what Michiru thought. What he actually said was, "Thank you, Kaede." And with that, they spent the rest of the day relaxing comfortably, reacquainting themselves and enjoying their time together.
A few hours later, the sun began its descent below the horizon. As far as Michiru was concerned, the day had been painfully short as he and the others approached the Bone-Eater's Well. However, he did his best to keep his gloomy thoughts to himself, not wanting to cause the others more grief than they had already endured. Still, this did nothing to lessen his surprise when, as they approached the Well, an unexpected face popped out of it.
"Mom? What are you doing here?" Kagome asked, jolted at this reminder that use of the Bone-Eater's Well was no longer restricted to just InuYasha and herself.
"I'm sorry we're late, Mom!" Sota started as he ran up to her. "It's just that…I was having so much fun with everybody, and…!"
"It's alright, Sota," Mrs. Higurashi assured her son before looking up at the others. "Oh, Michiru, Kaname. I'm sorry to bother you two, but…your parents are back at our house."
"What?" the Kururugi twins jumped at the same time. While Michiru was groaning in dismay, Kaname asked, "Our parents? They're really at your place?"
Mrs. Higurashi nodded. "They said that they'd come to pick you two up. When they didn't see you anywhere in the house, your father…I'm afraid that he was a bit upset when he didn't see you two there." Sympathy lining her face, she clasped her hands together and concluded, "Father's keeping him busy, but I'm afraid you two will have to come back for now."
"Oh, that's right. Dad did pick me up from there that one time, and…" Michiru lamented, shaking his head. "So this is it, huh?" Furrowing his brows as he came to stare down into the depths of the Bone-Eater's Well, someone came up from behind him and placed a hand upon his shoulder. He felt a flash of joy as he turned, and saw Sango smiling at him.
"Michiru, you do whatever it is that youhave to do," the Demon Slayer told him. "We'll be waiting for you when you get back."
"Sango…" Michiru said, his hearting melting as his head went all floaty.
"Come on! We'll come with you two! Right, InuYasha?" Kagome told him. "I'm sure we can find some way to convince your parents to let you come with us!"
"I don't know, Kagome! Our parents are real stubborn!" Kaname explained sadly.
"Feh! So what?" InuYasha boasted as he approached the Well. "C'mon, let's just get this over with! The sooner we convince them to let you two go, the sooner we can get back and start looking for Naraku!" As the half-demon looked about them, Michiru couldn't help but feel his enthusiasm spreading. A bit of hope rekindling itself in his heart, he and his sister, InuYasha, and the three Higurashi's leapt into the Well, and soon emerged into the Higurashi Shrine.
After they had all made their way out of the Bone-Eater's Well and the Shrine that held it, Mrs. Higurashi led the small group over to the house. "Kagome, InuYasha, I think it would be best if you two waited out here," she told them gently. "It'll give Michiru and Kaname a chance to explain things to their parents."
"Okay," Kagome agreed before turning to the twins. "Now just remember, you two, if you need to tell your dad about us, then go right ahead!"
"Are you sure about that, Kagome? InuYasha?" Michiru asked, a trace of disbelief still in his face. Some of his old fears clinging relentlessly to him. "I mean…"
Growling impatiently, InuYasha stomped up to the twins. "Dammit, Michiru, haven't you been listening? Just do what you have to!" he grumbled before giving them a light shove in the right direction, both literally and figuratively. "So get in there and do it!"
Startled by this brusque treatment, Michiru held up his hands defensively. "Okay, okay!" he protested as Kaname smiled. Deciding not to risk an even harder shove, the two of them, accompanied by Kagome's mother and Sota, made their way into the Higurashi home. When they reached the living room, they found their parents holding an active conversation with Grandpa.
"Um…hi, Mom…Dad," Michiru started bashfully, unable to come up with anything more clever to say.
Turning to look at their children, Mr. and Mrs. Kururugi rose up and glared scornfully. "Michiru! Kaname!" their mother began, invoking her voice of authority. "Where have you been all of this time?"
"You were supposed have been home by now!" their father declared, knocking the twins back with the sheer force of his voice.
"Uh, yeah!" Kaname muttered, shrinking away from their parents. "Well…you see…"
Wincing as his sister trailed off, Michiru felt his knees wobbling as he tried to find something to say to them. To make them see reason. "Well, um, that is…there's something we'd like to tell you…"
"Oh, really?" Mrs. Kururugi muttered, raising an eyebrow at her children. However, even as Michiru and Kaname were imagining the worst, she let her angered face fall away, and instead smiled knowingly. "Well, as it happens…there are few things that your father and I would like to discuss with you as well."
"Quite so," Mr. Kururugi intoned, wearing a similar smirk. "For example…when were you planning on introducing us to that half-demon boy and the young priestess that are standing outside this house?"
Very nearly falling over, Michiru gasped and looked in shock at his parents. Then he turned about to look at his sister, and found his own astonishment reflected in her face. Then the twins weren't the only ones affected; Grandpa had practically fallen out of his chair, while Sota was standing awkwardly on one leg, his arms spread out to keep him from failing. In fact, the only one not flattened was Mrs. Higurashi, whose sole expression of surprise was to blink a few times.
"Whaaaaaaaaaat?" Michiru bellowed, almost fainting as this single cry exhausted all the air in his lungs.
"How…how do you know about InuYasha? Or that Kagome's a priestess? Or – or -!" Kaname blared, her eyes ballooning at this as her voice failed completely.
Mr. Kururugi gave them a knowing look. "To put it simply, I've been keeping an eye on you two for some time now," he told them. While they were trying to put the pieces of their respective minds back together, they watched as a strange bird fluttered in through one of the windows, approached their father…and turned into a paper talisman with a crimson pentagram on it. "So…what makes you two think that you're the only ones to have discovered our family legacy, hmmm?"
Again on the verge of passing out, Michiru stared incredulously at his father. "Shikigami?" he spat out, unable to believe what he was seeing. "Dad? You...you mean…that you have that power as well?"
"Then…you knew about our training?" Kaname cried out. "But then…why didn't you say something before?"
Smiling as he shook his head, their father answered, "I didn't want to do anything that might discourage you from doing what you felt needed to be done. Instead, I thought it best if I watched my children make these discoveries for themselves, just close enough to step in if need be." Leaning forward, Mr. Kururugi looked intently at his son. "And that's why they were there watching, after the destruction of the prison, and how I know of your battle with Ryokage. And they were there when you told Kaname of the adventures you had in the Feudal Era." Letting out a low whistle, he looked over at his wife, who smiled her support. "Now, I must admit, if I hadn't seen some of the things I'd seen in my time…"
"Very true," Mrs. Kururugi agreed before looking at their children. "After all, we've…had our share of interesting times."
"I don't believe this! You mean you were spying on me the whole time?" Michiru gaped, all the while kicking himself for not noticing his father's Shikigami before.
Their father laughed pleasantly at this. "I'm sorry, son, but we were worried about you! You'd been acting very strangely since the Doll Festival, so I sent my Shikigami to watch over you, just to make sure you weren't getting in over your head." Then he gave a wry snort, and looked at Michiru with not just a little awe. "But I never expected for you to discover your sleeping powers like this…and to have developed them to this extent! I was amazed!"
"We both were," Mrs. Kururugi added. "And then…when you were attacked, Kaname…well, I'm guessing that's what caused your own powers to manifest."
Nodding shakily, Kaname frowned as she studied her father. "But…if you have the Shikigami power as well, then…why didn't you do something? Why'd you sit back and let Michiru…I mean, I know he was doing his best to train me, but…!
"Because you were afraid. And having a difficult enough time with your own powers, not to mention Michiru's," Mr. Kururugi explained. "I…I didn't want to add to it." A solemn frowned pulled at his lips, and he added, "And…I'm sorry, but…I couldn't think of the right way to tell you about this."
Despite herself, Kaname found herself smiling. "Wow. That sure sounds familiar."
As Michiru flushed with embarrassment as well, Mrs. Kururugi chimed in. "Yes, you're your father's son, alright," she decided as she looked at her husband. "Isn't he?"
"He certainly is," Mr. Kururugi agreed. "And I might still be trying to find the right words, if it weren't for the fact that I saw you, Michiru, speaking of your adventures together. And that you were seeking to rejoin your friends, and continue your adventures with them."
"Yes, Dad," Michiru admitted, unsure of what else he could say.
"As for you, Kaname, I've seen that you want to become strong in the ancient ways of our family, and have decided to accompany your brother on this quest," the Kururugi patriarch intoned.
"Yes," Kaname answered.
The elder Kururugis looked at each for a moment before Mrs. Kururugi leaned forward, looking worriedly at her children. "You have to understand something, you two. This quest you want to take part in…it is bound to be fraught with danger. To battle against demons is not mere child's play."
"Very true," Mr. Kururugi seconded with stern look. "These will be hard times for the both of you, and you will face incredible danger. Now I'll ask you, both of you, is this truly what you want?"
For the first time in his life, Michiru didn't even have to pause to think out his words. "Mom, Dad, I…" Michiru started, his words coming straight from his heart. "I'm not who I used to be. Being with InuYasha, Sango, everybody, it…it changed me. I've seen so much, been through so many changes, there are times I look back at the way I used to be, and I can't even recognize myself. I…I don't think I could ever be happy with things going back to the way they used to be, because I now know of the powers I…we have, and Kaname and I both want to put them to good use. I want to help my friends, to be with them. If that isn't what you want, I'm sorry, but you won't change my mind. For better or for worse, I'm going."
"And where Michiru goes, I go, too!" Kaname insisted. "I want to see what he's seen, and do what he's done! I want to help him, and understand what it means to be strong, to be able to help people."
There was silence, and all eyes were on Mr. and Mrs. Kururugi. For the longest time, they simply sat there, until at last they looked at each other…and signed. "It would seem that our children have all grown up, and right beneath our noses, at that," the Kururugi matriarch murmured in a somewhat sad manner.
"They have a way of doing that," Mrs. Higurashi agreed.
"Yes…they do," Mr. Kururugi noted. Rising to his feet, his made his way up to his children. "Well, it seems that we couldn't stop you two, even if we wanted to. So, instead, I will give you my blessings. But only on two conditions."
"Which are…?" Michiru asked, a little confused.
"First of all, never forget that the Kururugi Shrine is your home, and that you will always be welcome there. Please, come home whenever you feel the need," their father told them, extremely seriously. Then he cracked a smile and said, "Second, please try to keep up your studies! It's bad enough you'll be missing as much school as you will be! I don't want your grades getting that bad!" After a couple of blank looks from the twins, the entire Kururugi family shared a laugh that was as genuine as it was contagious, and it soon spread to the Higurashis as well.
"Oh, dear," Mrs. Kururugi murmured sadly. "Well, I suppose I'd better start thinking up some excuses as to why you'll be out of school so much."
"Oh, no problems there!" Grandpa chimed in gleefully. "I know all kinds of medical ailments you could use!"
"You certainly do, Father," Mrs. Higurashi agreed. "And now that that's settled…I better tell InuYasha and Kagome that they can come in. I'm sure they're going to want to hear about all of this."
"Yeah, I'll bet!" Michiru groaned, bringing his hand to his head even as Kagome's mother exited the living room. A short time later, she returned with their friends following a short distance behind.
"Well? How'd it go?" InuYasha demanded as he marched in and turned towards the twins. "Did you get permission from your folks or what?"
"InuYasha!" Kagome muttered as she came up behind him. She looked like she was going to say something else, but then she noticed Mr. and Mrs. Kururugi were there, looking at them. "Umm…" she hesitated, her mouth hanging open in surprise. "Hi, Mrs. Kururugi! I…!"
"Hello, Kagome. It's nice to see you again," Mrs. Kururugi greeted her pleasantly. Then she looked over at her companion and said, "And you must be InuYasha."
Pausing to look at Mrs. Kururugi, InuYasha frowned somewhat. While he had met many humans in the past, such a pleasant reaction to his presence was something he was not used to. "Uh…yeah," he got out. "So…what's happening here?"
Turning to face InuYasha, Mr. Kururugi declared, "To put it very simply, we have given our children what they wanted. Namely, our permission to travel with you and your friends." Both Kagome and InuYasha stared in confusion at him as he stepped closer. "However, I do believe that there is a great deal that we still have to discuss."
"Yeah? Like what?" InuYasha muttered suspiciously.
"For starters, we'd like to know more about the world our children will be traveling in, their companions," Mrs. Kururugi told them, her eyes narrowing. "As well as the dangers they'll be facing."
"Yes. And I'd also like to make it very clear that I expect you and your friends to take good care of our children," Mr. Kururugi told them, his features hardening, a dangerous glint showing in his eyes. "And to warn you about what will happen if any harm should befall them because of you."
"Dad…" Kaname groaned.
"Hey! Nobody's gonna get hurt while I'm around!" InuYasha growled, his normal temperament returning. "So you don't have to go around, threatening anyone. Got it?"
"A threat? No, that wasn't a threat, InuYasha. Merely a promise," Mr. Kururugi muttered darkly. "A promise I can and will keep, if need be." A pentagram then spun into existence at his feet, releasing his Wind Shikigami. "Oh, overflowing blue sky, scatter my enemy to the four winds! Executioners of the Blue Sky!"
"Executioners…?" Michiru jolted before looking towards his friend. To his horror, he saw that at the four compass points around InuYasha, a shimmering mass of magically stirred air rose up, the wind flowing off of them giving them impression of a massive blade. Before either he or the half-demon could say or do anything, the four blades shot forth, slashing through InuYasha and sending him flying into the air.
"InuYasha!" Kagome and Kaname cried out as one, watching in shock as the half-demon tumbled to the floor.
"Oh, my goodness! Are you alright?" Mrs. Higurashi cried out as she came to his side, with the twins and her own children close behind.
"InuYasha, hang on!" Michiru cried out, invoking his own Shikigami. "Oh, mighty flowing river, give me your blessing! Great River Blessing!"
Watching the tattered half-demon just long enough to see the healing magic taking hold, his injuries shrinking, Kagome then glowered furiously at Mr. Kururugi. "Hey! What's the big idea, doing something like that? You could have killed him!"
"Killed him? No, not a half-demon. And especially not at the level of power that spell was cast at," Mr. Kururugi assured her as he made his way up to them. Then he looked down at InuYasha, who growled as he met his gaze. "I just wanted to make something very clear to all of you; while I accept my children's decision, I expect for you and your friends to watch after them. And that you are to make sure that they come home safely." Then he narrowed his eyes sharply, and added, "Because if they do get hurt, and I learn that it was because of you…then you will have to deal with me again. And I promise you, I will be fighting with my full power."
Huffing breath after breath as his injuries healed, InuYasha glowered at the Kururugi patriarch. His eyes burned as he met the gaze of his attacker. Several seconds passed, and Michiru was certainly that blows were soon to follow…until he saw his friend grinning dangerously. "Yeah…you're a Kururugi, alright. You might look weak and helpless…but you're anything but," he growled as his injuries faded away completely. "And like I said before; nobody's getting hurt while I'm around. Got that?"
Mr. Kururugi studied the half-demon for a while longer before nodding. "I believe you," he told him before extending his hand. InuYasha took it in his own, and rose up to his feet. "Now, why don't we sit down and talk for a while?"
"Sure," InuYasha muttered, looking at Mr. Kururugi with newfound respect. Something that had the others staring in dumbstruck confusion.
"And at the same time, we can also talk about your methods of making a point," Mrs. Higurashi muttered crossly. "Just so you know, I don't allow fighting in this house."
"I'm sorry about that," Mrs. Kururugi told her, clearly a bit embarrassed. "My husband can be…a bit impulsive at times."
After Mr. Kururugi's demonstration of his power, the group slowly settled down into an even conversation. InuYasha and Kagome were properly introduced to Michiru and Kaname's parents, and they were told more about their mission to track down the Shikon Jewel Shards and destroy Naraku. Michiru told them about how Utsugi had brought him to the Feudal Era originally, as well as what had happened with Wyvern and Ryokage. Finally, Michiru had described his efforts to find a way to use the Bone-Eater's Well, and showed his parents the pendants he had created.
"This is quite an achievement, Michiru," his father marveled as he examined one of the pendants Michiru had crafted. "Reminds me of the wind-keys I made way back when."
"Wind-keys?" Kagome asked as everybody there exchanged blank looks.
"The Bone-Eater's Well is not unique in that it is a portal to another world, or rather, a different time," Mr. Kururugi stated. "There have been other magic portals, other doorways to strange realms. When I created the wind-keys, it was to escape another realm that I had fallen into, one where I had many adventures of my own."
"So you used to go back and forth between this world and another, Dad?" Michiru gaped, feeling like his head was going to explode from all the surprises he'd been receiving.
"Used to? I still do!" Mr. Kururugi smiled boldly. "Where do you think I go when I'm taking those long weekends off? Certainly not fishing trips!"
"So…is that how you know about demons and everything?" Kaname wondered nervously. When her father confirmed this, she looked over at where her mother sat. "And what about you, Mom? Did you ever go with Dad to these…other worlds?"
"Sometimes," Mrs. Kururugi admitted mysteriously. "And I even had a few adventures of my own before we even met."
"Indeed. We're going to have to tell you two about our own adventures some time," Mr. Kururugi decided. "Anyway, my friends and I, we love these get-togethers. Catch up on what's been happening, talk about old times, both good and bad, even go out on the occasional mini-adventure." Taking a moment to let this sink in, he gazed at his children with a thoughtful look in his eyes. "In fact, now that you two know about all of this, maybe you'd like to come along with us one of these days. I'm sure Naza and the others would love to meet you."
"That does sound like fun," Michiru admitted, growing curious as to what kind of adventures his parents had had, the friends they had made. "By then, Kaname and I will have some adventures of our own to talk about"
"Excellent!" Mr. Kururugi decided as his wife smiled, the both of them looking very pleased with the idea.
"And speaking of friends…I just had an idea," Mrs. Higurashi started, looking almost surprised with herself. "Kagome, why don't you invite your friends over here for dinner?"
"My friends?" Kagome asked blankly before realizing whom her mother meant. "You mean…Miroku and the others?"
"Why not? When I realized this was going to take some time, I decided to just order out, and I made sure to order plenty for everybody. If they want, they can even spend the night here," Mrs. Higurashi teased, as if she had planned on doing this the entire time. "Besides, you've told me all kinds of stories about your friends, and I'd like to be able to meet them at least once."
"But…" Kagome sputtered, unsure of what to say.
"Eh, why not?" InuYasha chimed in, looking almost amused by the thought. "Besides, thanks to Michiru's pendants, they should be able to pass through the well like the rest of us, right?"
"I guess so. They worked for us going both ways, so I can't see why they wouldn't work for the rest of them," Michiru decided. "Tell you what, Kagome, I'll go with you and get the others!"
"Well…okay!" Kagome quickly agreed as she and Michiru got to their feet. "I guess it would be kind of interesting, having everybody over for dinner!" With that, the two of them dashed outside and reentered the shrine that housed the Bone-Eater's Well. After taking a moment to panic that the pendants might not work a second time, Michiru leapt into the well, followed closely by Kagome. His worries were unfounded, for once again they were engulfed by the ancient magic of the well, and were carried back to rejoin the others.
As soon as Michiru and Kagome climbed out of the Well, they found all of their friends waiting there for them. "So, how things go with your parents?" Sango asked hopefully. "Were you able to work things out with them?"
"Work out? Work out? Sango, everything's fantastic!" Michiru enthused. "Oh, there's just so much to tell you, all of you!"
"Come on, Michiru! That can wait for now!" Kagome insisted. "Let's get back home! I don't want to keep everybody waiting!"
"Right," Michiru agreed, taking out some of the pendants from his pockets and presenting them to the others. "Kagome's mom is inviting us over for dinner, as well as to stay over for the night. Would you all like to come?"
"What?" Shippo gaped, staring at the pendants "Does that mean we can use the pendants to visit Kagome's world as well?"
"I don't see why not," Michiru answered with a shrug. "After all, they worked for me, Kaname, and Sota! I don't see any reason why they wouldn't work for you as well!"
"Alright!" Shippo laughed as the little fox-demon snatched one of the pendants and put it on. "Come on, Kagome! Let's go!"
"Okay, Shippo!" Kagome smiled, following as Shippo leapt straight into the well. Michiru looked after them, saw the flash of light that signified that the Well had indeed carried the two of them forward in time.
"Sango? Miroku?" Michiru asked hopefully, focusing on the woman he loved. "Would you like to come as well?"
"Uh…sure!" Sango said, accepting two of the pendants, placing one about her neck, then giving the other to Kirara.
"Indeed. It would be very rude to refuse such a kind invitation, and I must admit to being curious about Lady Kagome's world as well," Miroku stated as he placed his pendant about his neck. Though he smiled at this, Michiru had half-hoped Miroku would refuse. Despite everything, it was still painful for him to watch the two of them being together. Still, he refused to let his jealousy ruin this pleasant time together, and as one, the three of them leapt into the well.
The moment they were released into the present, Miroku let out a fierce groan of pain, dropping his staff so he could grab his right forearm. "Miroku! What is it?" Sango asked, her face lighting up with alarm.
"I…I'm not sure!" Miroku replied in fear. Panic in his eyes, the monk removed the cloth that covered up his Wind Tunnel, and as he stared at the palm of his cursed right hand, he gasped in shock. The rest of them were also stunned by what they saw; before their eyes, the Wind Tunnel quickly grew smaller and smaller, the dark void soon fading into extinction with a final gasp of wind.
"The Wind Tunnel disappeared!" Shippo yelped, his eyes as wide as was physically possible.
"But how's that possible?" Sango wondered. "Naraku's still alive, so why…?"
"No, Sango, Naraku isn't alive," Michiru instantly realized. "Remember, we're now five hundred years away from Naraku and all of his evil. He has no power in this world!"
"Of course!" Miroku exclaimed, seemingly stunned by this. "Naraku can't be in both worlds at the same time, so if I'm in this world and he's back in our time, then…!"
"As far as the Wind Tunnel is concerned, it's exactly as if Naraku had died," Kagome breathed, her eyes widening with excitement.
"Does this mean the Wind Tunnel is gone for good?" Shippo asked hopefully, his little eyes beaming brightly.
Sighing, Miroku looked up from his hand and shook his head. "As much as I'd like to believe otherwise, I doubt it's that simple," he muttered somberly. "After all, Naraku has dispelled my Wind Tunnel in the past in order to create the illusion that he was dead. More likely, we when return…"
"The Wind Tunnel will return as well," Sango completed, her expression saddening at this realization.
"Don't worry, Sango," Miroku said, trying to reassure her. "I'd say this is the first hopeful sign we've had since his return. This, more than anything, proves that Naraku will someday be defeated."
"But…" Sango started.
"Miroku's right, Sango," Michiru agreed, smiling as much for Miroku and the others as much as he was for her. "Besides, I have faith in all of us! Even if we have to kill him a dozen times over, we will bring down Naraku once and for all!"
"Yeah, that's right!" Shippo agreed as Kagome smiled broadly.
Smiling shyly, Sango replied, "Thank you, everyone. Anyway, we'd better get out of this Well or everybody will start wondering what's taking us so long!" With that, she approached the rope ladder and took a step up it.
Just then, an ugly thought popped into Michiru's mind. "Uh, Sango?" he started, looking over at Miroku, whose eyes were fixed on the Demon Slayer. "Maybe you and Kagome should go up last."
"What do you mean, Michiru?" Miroku politely protested, barely looking away from Sango's posterior. "After all, a gentleman always lets the ladies go first."
"Oh, I see," Shippo stated, giving Miroku a dirty look. Kagome and Sango soon got it as well, and were shooting dirty looks of their own.
"Whatever are all of you talking about?" Miroku wondered, oozing false innocence. "Do you actually believe I would take advantage of the situation and try and look up your dresses?" Shaking his head in dismay, the monk smiled and put a look of sage wisdom on his face. "Honestly, what kind of person would do something as sneaky as that?"
With missing a beat, Sango sourly declared, "Anybody who'd ask a ten-year-old girl to bear his child is capable of anything."
Michiru whipped his head about at that. "He didn't."
"He did," the girls and Shippo said as Miroku protested in vain.
"And here I thought that even you had your limits, Miroku," Michiru stated, eyes narrowed in disdain as he marched up behind the monk. "You're definitely going up first!"
"Come on! I've told you before, I never laid a finger on her!" Miroku continued as Michiru practically shoved him up the ladder.
"So why is it we don't believe you?" Sango growled unhappily, watching the world's most lecherous monk head up the ladder. All the while Michiru, on a deep, dark level he barely acknowledged the existence of, once again asked what Sango could ever see in such a perverted sleazeball.
Before long, they were exiting the Well, and once she was out, Kagome led the way with Shippo clinging to her back. Michiru could easily hear the little fox-demon gasp in surprise as they left the Shrine. "Everybody! Come and look at this!" Shippo called out. "You're not going to believe it!"
Frowning somewhat, Sango led the way to the door, only to stop in mid-step as soon as she had passed through it. "My…word…" the warrior woman breathed as she, Miroku, and Kirara took their first look at the modern world. "I know InuYasha said it was very different, but this…!"
"Yes," Miroku agreed, startled himself by the many changes that had happened in five hundred years. "I can't even begin to imagine what other changes the world has been through."
"Come one, you two," Michiru encouraged them, looking at Kagome as she and Shippo signaled for them all to come along. "This is just a quick visit, right?" Coming up alongside Sango, he took her hand in his own as he took in her beauty. "We're all here to just relax and have a good time together."
Shaking off her shock, Sango smiled and nodded. "You're right, Michiru. Let's just relax for tonight," she gently spoke. "Besides, there's no Naraku in this world, so what could happen?"
That night together was anything but dull. Buyo got in a minor tussle with Kirara, one that ended when the demon cat transformed. One snarl from the two-tail in battle-mode was all it took to send the lazy cat dashing off to find a safe shelter behind Kagome. Meanwhile, Sota and Shippo were becoming fast friends while Miroku was sharing some of the finer points of preparing sacred sutras with Grandpa. Kaname was busy talking with InuYasha, while Mrs. Higurashi was in a deep discussion with Mr. and Mrs. Kururugi about their adventurous children. As for Sango, she was off by herself in the corner of the living room, obviously in deep thought.
Upon seeing the state the woman he loved was in, Michiru frowned and carefully approached her. "Is something wrong, Sango?" Michiru asked tentatively, watching for any sign of distress.
"Not really," Sango answered as she looked out the window. At a world that was so alien to her as to be a completely different planet.
"I'm sorry, it's just that you've been acting strange ever since we got here," Michiru noted with concern. Swallowing nervously, he stepped closer to her and said, "I know this world is awfully different from your home, but it's not a bad place."
"It's not that," Sango reassured him, finally turning her gorgeous eyes in his direction. "I was just thinking about something."
As he looked at her, considering everything that had happened in recent times, Michiru nodded. He was good at math, and as far as he was concerned, this equation was a no-brainer. "You're thinking about how coming here broke the connection between Miroku and Naraku," he stated, what Sango was thinking as plain as day for somebody who knew her. "You're wondering if that would also work for Kohaku."
"No!" Sango protested, whipping about to look at Michiru. The pain she felt showing through as clear as day. Then she tightened her lips together, looking more delicate as she lowered her eyes. "I mean…I don't want Kohaku to have to stay in this world forever. But…maybe…"
"Maybe we could hide Kohaku here?" Michiru guessed as he sat down next to her. "At least until Naraku is destroyed?"
Sango was silent for several seconds before speaking again. "I'd be lying if I said I hadn't thought about it," she admitted with deep sadness. "I've come so close to getting him back before, and every time, Naraku has taken him away again." Her eyes moistening, the Demon Slayer met Michiru's gaze. "This time…this time I truly thought we'd succeeded in getting my brother away from him forever."
"What happened, Sango?" Michiru asked, wanting to hear the awful details for himself. "The others said that Kagura and Kanna pulled a sneak attack, but…"
Sighing, Sango just looked even glummer. "Well, a few days after InuYasha and Kagome came back from meeting with that strange lord, we'd stopped at an inn for the night," Sango slowly explained, looking as if the memories themselves were agonizing. "We'd just found another Jewel Shard, and after dinner, we were all…happy, relaxed…"
"Sango, if you don't want to talk about this, you don't have to," Michiru stated, sensing that they were getting onto difficult ground for her.
"No, it's okay. You deserve to know what happened." Sango smiled grimly. She then proceeded to tell Michiru the full details of how the compass activated itself, and led them to Kanna. Of how Naraku had announced his return through Kohaku, and respawned himself from Kanna's body. And finally, how he had abducted Kohaku and left Sango and the others forced to defend the village from Kagura.
"I still can't believe that Kanna and Kagura are still alive!" Michiru muttered, shaking his head as he spoke. Then he frowned as something else occurred to him. "But…there's something I don't get. Why couldn't any of you detect Kanna without the compass?" A quizzical noise sounded in Sango's throat as he shrugged his confusion. "I mean, Kanna may be a demon, but she's still there, she still exists! So how come you couldn't sense her?"
"Kanna is the embodiment of 'void', Michiru. She doesn't give off any demon power, no scent, no anything. The only way to find her is with your eyes," Sango explained slowly. "Fortunately, the compass could sense her easily. Somehow, it reacted to her presence and warned Kagome that she was coming."
"I see." Michiru nodded. Then he placed his hand on the warrior woman's shoulder, conveying as much comfort as he could. "Oh, Sango, I'm so sorry! I'd have returned sooner, but I had to train Kaname in the use of her powers! If only I'd known…!" Shaking his head in sorrow, Michiru then focused his grey-blue eyes on Sango's face saddened face. "Were any of you hurt?"
"Thankfully, we all got out of there fine. Naraku had been planning on taking us by surprise with Kanna, leaving us wide open. All we got were a few cuts and bruises, and none of the people in the village were hurt, either." There was silence between the two of them for a time. Then, fumbling for words, Sango said, "Michiru…after you returned home, Kohaku…he wanted to apologize."
"Apologize? For what?" Michiru asked, puzzled by this statement.
"He remembered…how he'd hurt you when he was being controlled by Naraku," Sango told him. "He felt so terrible, and wanted to say he was sorry."
Michiru just looked at her, looked at the girl who looked too delicate for battle, too strong to be believed, and simply too wonderful for words, and smiled. "Don't worry, Sango. I know Naraku was responsible for what happened, and besides, the wounds healed up okay. I don't even have any scars."
"Really?" Sango asked, looking surprised.
"Really! Here, have a look!" Michiru said, raising his shirt just enough to show the section of his flank that had been slashed by Kohaku's chain-and-sickle.
"Amazing," Sango smiled, looking at the flesh that showed no signs of the brutal treatment it had received. "The medicine from your world is very effective."
Pulling his shirt back down, Michiru went on. "Besides, Kohaku will have his chance to say whatever he wants. We'll get him back, Sango. I promise you we will."
"Thank you," Sango spoke tenderly. "It's good to have you back, Michiru."
"It's great to be back," Michiru assured her. Before he could say anything else, Mrs. Higurashi appeared from the kitchen, and let them know that dinner had arrived. Looking up in surprise at her, and wincing as InuYasha leapt into the dining room, he then looked at the woman he loved. "We better get going. I mean…knowing InuYasha..."
"Yeah, I know," Sango nodded, long past familiar with the half-demon's infamous appetite. As the two of them stood, however, she looked the Shikigami User in the eyes. "Michiru?" Returning her gaze, he watched as the shields she had erected around her emotions crumbled just the tiniest bit, and let a hint of fear escape. "Please…be careful. I don't…I don't want to lose you again."
Looking the Demon Slayer in the eyes, Michiru placed his hands on her shoulders. "Don't worry, Sango," he told her, meaning every word. "I'm going anywhere. Not this time."
Her cheeks coloring, Sango looked into Michiru's eyes. "Thank you," she murmured as she returned her embrace. The two of them drawing closer, closer…
"Hey, you two! Come on!" Kagome called out, shattering the moment and startling them both back to the real world. Her cheeks burning, Sango pretty much flew from Michiru's embrace and turned towards the modern priestess. "You two better get in here before InuYasha helps himself to everything!"
"We're coming, Kagome!" Sango responded, darting towards the dining room. Startled by how quickly the moment had been lost, Michiru looked after her for a time before letting out a heavy sigh and following. Completely unaware of the glare Kagome leveled at him as he passed her.
"Ahhh…" InuYasha growled happily as he lay back on the floor, massaging his stomach. "Damn, that was good!"
"You said it!" Shippo agreed. Like InuYasha, he was lying next to the table, completely prone after stuffing himself to full capacity. "Oh, I'm so full…!"
"That was quite a delicious meal, Mrs. Higurashi," Miroku said appreciatively, wiping his mouth and acting like the perfect gentleman.
I swear, he must practice that routine in front of a mirror, Michiru thought, rolling his eyes as he finished up his own dinner. The annoyance he had felt upon learning that Miroku had once gone after a ten-year-old girl still with him as looked at the monk.
"Thank you, but I can't take any of the credit," Mrs. Higurashi protested. "After all, I didn't cook any of this. I just had it delivered."
"Still, we do thank you for your generosity," Miroku insisted pleasantly. "Kagome is certainly fortunate to have such a wonderful mother."
"Don't even think it, Miroku," Kagome muttered, a hint of irritation in her voice.
"Think what?" Miroku asked incredulously. "I am a monk in service to Buddha! I would never approach a woman that was already spoken for!"
Unable to help himself, Michiru gave the monk a dirty look. "I'm sorry, Miroku, but when it comes to you and beautiful women, we can't take any chances. As I've said before, you'll go after anything that's female, attractive, and has a pulse." Then he stabbed viciously at one of the few morsels left on his plate and added, "And I'm not too sure about that bit about the pulse."
"Now that wasn't very nice, Michiru," Mrs. Higurashi admonished.
"That's alright, Mrs. Higurashi," Miroku smiled, waving aside her concerns. "After all, jealousy is a very human weakness. Nothing to get upset over."
"I'm not –!" Michiru started, only to frown unhappily. He had been so close to Sango before, so wonderfully close, only to have the moment spoiled. That, coupled with his irritation over the way Miroku had used his favorite pickup line on his sister, right in front of Sango and without care for her feelings, weren't improving his opinion of the monk and his lechery. "I…that is…" he tried again, the words coming with difficulty. "I…I'm sorry, Miroku. I…apologize."
"Apology accepted, Michiru. To acknowledge one's errors is a sign of being quite mature," Miroku stated in a sagely manner. "Actually, it's rather refreshing to deal with someone so honest about his feelings."
"Well, now that that is settled, I'd better take care of these dishes," Mrs. Higurashi told them, cleaning up after them like the perfect hostess she was. "Now, if you'd like anything else, just let me know, okay?" There was an assortment of thank-yous as she took the dishes to the kitchen.
"Would you care for some help?" Miroku asked, following Mrs. Higurashi just inside the kitchen door. "After all, we are indebted to you for your hospitability."
"There's no need for that! After all, you are our guests," Mrs. Higurashi said as she loaded the dirty dishes into the dishwasher. "But thank you for the offer." As soon as she was done putting the detergent in, she closed the dishwasher, starting it up before she left the kitchen.
"Now, that's odd…" Miroku mused as Sango noticed him and came over to where he was standing, followed by Shippo.
"What is it, Miroku?" Shippo asked.
"Mrs. Higurashi strikes me as a very neat and organized woman, would you not agree?" Miroku asked rhetorically. "Then why on Earth would she simply stuff her dirty dishes away in that strange cabinet?"
"What?" Shippo wondered, approaching the dishwasher in disbelief.
"You're right, that is strange," Sango agreed, and she and Miroku approached the dishwasher, staring at it in confusion. "Look, there's a light on this door."
"Indeed. I wonder what this thing is?" Miroku pondered.
"Let's open it up and find out!" Shippo decided, leaping up to the handle. However, no matter how he strained, he could not budge the handle. "I…I can't get it open!" he groaned, soon falling to the floor.
"That's odd. I saw no sign that Mrs. Higurashi had locked it," Miroku mused.
"Wait a minute, Miroku," Sango said, bending down beside the dishwasher. "There's some kind of sound coming from inside of this thing."
"Hey, you're right!" Shippo said, putting his ear to the dishwasher's door. "Well, it doesn't sound like it's eating the dishes. But what's it doing?"
Miroku also put his ear to the door, humming thoughtfully. "It sounds like there's water being splashed in there, or perhaps some other liquid."
"Hey!" came Kaname's voice, causing the three of them to fall over in surprise. "What are you three doing? Is there something wrong with the dishwasher?"
"Dishwasher?" the three of them echoed in confusion.
Blinking her eyes several times, Kaname then smiled sheepishly. "I'm sorry, I keep forgetting you don't know how things work in our world!" Kaname explained. "That thing is a machine that washes dishes."
"You mean…it is some kind of magic?" Miroku asked, eyeing the dishwasher with more interest.
"No, it's not magic. It's a machine," Kaname explained. However, as the three of them looked at her with blank expressions, Kaname found herself somewhat flustered. "It's like…oh, I know! It's like the recorder my brother gave to Kagome before? The one that had that message on it?"
"Oh, I get it!" Shippo responded, his face bursting with enthusiasm. "Like the camera Kagome has!"
"That's right!" Kaname smiled.
"That explains why Mrs. Higurashi didn't need help in doing the dishes. She has a machine that does it for her," Miroku spoke with a slight nod. "Are these things common, Kaname?"
"Of course!" Kaname assured him. "Lots of people have them."
"I see. Thank you ever so much for explaining," Miroku said, walking up to Kaname. "You've been most helpful."
"Uh…um…you're welcome," Kaname sputtered, blushing as Miroku placed his hands upon her shoulders.
"Yeah, thanks," Sango said, a painful stab hitting her heart, and with that she left the kitchen.
"Sango…!" Kaname started, watching the Demon Slayer retreat. "Oh, no, what've I done now…?"
Author's Notes: Well, it looks like Michiru and Kaname's parents won't be as much of a problem as we might have thought, now does it? But Miroku's horniness is bound to cause plenty of trouble before everything is said and done! Please, read and review! And check out my other stories, please?
By the way, that part about Miroku asking a ten-year-old girl to bear his child? I wasn't making that up! Her name is Koharu, and she appeared in the episode 'Kagura's Dance and Kanna's Mirror'. That mess is yet another reason why Miroku has a permanent spot on my Bad List!