Hey dudes. I'm so happy! I got four more reviews. Isn't that awesome? But I still haven't got any more reviews for my other story. Somebody read it! Living for Love. Read!
Demonic Devils is a new reviewer. You rule! And since so many people are nice enough to go ahead and review, I'll update every single day for you! Okay? All you people who keep asking me to review will get what you want. If I don't update once a day… you'll think of something to threaten me with.
silveryuki06: gasps in shock How could you be so mean! jk! It is sad, isn't it? Poor them… Well, thanks for reviewing (yet again)! You're the awesomest person ever. So many people are reluctant to review – even me. It's nice to have someone who likes it.
lilpinkpookie: My thoughts exactly. Great word usage.
-Key of Minds- It's okay, I sympathize. I'm a freshman now and high school is impossible to balance with fanfics. That's why I haven't updated in three days! (heh… forgive me!) Wait… did you just say you've started school yesterday? The 25th! We started two weeks ago! Not fair. Oh, thanks for reading the notes! I usually babble because no one does!
Everyone else: keep reading, and I hope you like it!
Disclaimer: Makoto mine. Inu not. (Ha! I made it even shorter!)
They set out from Kaede's fairly early the next day. The old priestess was sorry to see Makoto go. As far as she was concerned, he was the most polite and charming man she had ever met, and she had trusted him instantly. Kagome and Sango were delighted with this, as was Makoto himself. Inuyasha had merely ignored them all, though he had responded once or twice when Makoto spoke to him. He had developed a sort of respect for the man.
Makoto was walking with Miroku, as Kagome and Sango were busy gossiping. Shippo and Kirara had fallen asleep in the bright sunlight and were on the girls' shoulders. Inuyasha was, as usual, leading the group and walking alone.
"So," Miroku said, trying to strike up a conversation. "Kaede seemed to like you, Makoto."
"She is a delightful person. I was quite taken with her, as well, and am eternally indebted to her generosity. I can only hope that I will see her again one day, so that I may repay that debt."
Miroku smiled faintly. "I am sure you will see her again. You are traveling with us, after all, and we stop by the village quite often."
Makoto glanced at the monk. "I was under the impression that you mistrusted me, back in the days when we had just met," he said, searching Miroku's eyes for some response. "You and Inuyasha both chose to ignore me, and I had reason to believe that you did not take to me as Kagome and Sango did. What has changed your mind?"
The monk shrugged. "You, I suppose. How could anyone mistrust you?"
Makoto's eyes took on a light of amusement. "I suppose. May I pose another question, Miroku?"
"Of course," the monk nodded.
After a moment of thoughtful hesitation, Makoto spoke his mind. "Just now, you said that you expected I would see Kaede again, as I was traveling with you." At Miroku's nod, he continued. "How long, exactly, do you expect me to remain with you?"
"As long as it suits you," Miroku replied automatically.
"You do not object to my presence?"
"No," the monk said with a shake of his head. "Not at all. I quite enjoy it, really, now that I have everyone else angry with me." He heaved a sigh.
Makoto nodded, seemingly sympathetic to the monk's sorrow. "Do not fear, Miroku, I am sure that things will work out fine before long. I merely ask because I agreed to fight Naraku with you, and I did not know whether you would wish me gone when Naraku is destroyed and my help is no longer needed. Of course, if you wish to regain the normal lives you had before I came along, I would understand…"
"No," Miroku said, shaking his head. "I don't think Sango or Kagome would ever forgive me if I said you should go, and I don't really have a reason. So far, you haven't done a single thing that would give me any reason whatsoever to dislike or distrust you. As far as I'm concerned, you could stay for the rest of your life and you wouldn't hear a single complaint from me."
Makoto looked surprised. "Thank you, Miroku," he said, sounding sincere. "That means much to me."
The monk merely nodded and continued walking. Makoto fell back to speak with Kagome and Sango for a moment, and Miroku strode along the path alone for a while. Inuyasha glanced at the monk over his shoulder, but he didn't stop to speak with Miroku, and the houshi didn't speak to him, either. Silence descended upon them, broken only by the high voices of the girls from behind, and Makoto's low rumble laughing along with them.
Then, without warning, Inuyasha froze.
Miroku paused to glance at the hanyou, confused. Sango and Kagome noticed that he'd stopped walking and came to a halt behind him. Makoto's hand strayed to the hilts of his swords in alarm. "What is it, Inuyasha?" he asked quietly, ready for whatever danger might leap out at them.
The half-demon didn't answer, but sniffed the air once or twice. They all watched him, wondering what was the matter, and suddenly he turned to stare over Sango's shoulder at the hill they had just walked down.
Standing there, watching them, was Kikyo.
Kagome tensed and took a step back. None of the meetings she'd had with the priestess in the past had been pleasant, and she'd learned from experience to be wary whenever Kikyo was near. But the dead woman didn't even glance her way. As she began to descend towards them, her soul-catching demons wafting lazily about her, Kikyo had eyes only for Makoto.
Inuyasha stepped forward to meet her, a strange light in his eyes, and Kagome felt her heart catch with pain at the sight of it. Kikyo merely brushed past him and stopped in front of Makoto, whose eyes were narrowed.
For a moment, all was silent, and the two merely gazed at one another as though in a battle of nerve. Makoto won, and Kikyo looked away, letting her eyes settle on Kagome.
"I see you have picked up another stray," she said, her tone condescending.
Kagome clenched her fist tighter, but didn't respond.
Kikyo turned her lifeless eyes back on Makoto and considered him a moment longer. Miroku wasn't sure, but it almost seemed as though there was some light of recognition in her gaze, as though she knew Makoto from somewhere.
"Interesting," was all Kikyo said, and her voice was soft and thoughtful.
Makoto's eyes narrowed even further in warning and his hand closed on the hilt of his sword. Kikyo seemed unfazed, and turned back to the road, though the thoughtful look never left her eyes.
"I cannot linger," Kikyo said simply, and her soul-catching demons arched down to lift her into the air. She turned her back on them without sparing Inuyasha even the slightest glance. "I have more important business to attend to."
And she was gone.
Slowly, one by one, they turned to stare at Makoto. He had a look of surprise and confusion on his face, and for a moment Kagome forgot the gravity of the situation and wished she had a camera. At once, she took ahold of herself and coached her features into a frown. "Makoto, what was that all about?" she asked, wondering whether there was more behind her friend than she had suspected.
"I honestly do not know," he replied, and the look on his face was indeed clueless. "I could not begin to guess who that was, for I have never seen the like of her before, though I did notice that she looks quite like you, Kagome."
"That was Kikyo," Kagome said, glancing back up at the fading speck in the sky that was the priestess. "I'm her reincarnation. That's why we look alike."
Makoto nodded. "The priestess from fifty years ago that was betrayed by Naraku."
"Good memory," Kagome noted.
"Makoto," Sango said hesitantly, "are you sure you've never seen her before?"
"Quite certain," he responded innocently.
Miroku gave him a hard look. "It did seem rather as though she recognized you," he said quietly, trying to fit together the pieces of the puzzle. He couldn't do it; they were too jumbled up.
Sango had a better idea of what was going on. "You know," she said after a moment, "Kikyo is in league with Naraku, now that she is back from the dead with her second body. And Naraku was attacking you when we first met. I think that there must be some connection there. Kikyo obviously knows you, and Naraku must have, as well."
"Why do you assume that?" Makoto said, seeming almost wary. "Naraku may have simply attacked me because I stumbled across him and angered him."
"He may have," Inuyasha interrupted, "but Naraku's not like that. When you know him as well as we do, you know he never attacks just anybody. There's always a reason behind it."
"And if Kikyo knows you…" Kagome started.
"Then Naraku must, too," Sango finished.
"It makes sense," Miroku added, and everyone paused to give Makoto a chance to speak.
The man sighed, and they saw that he looked weary. "I do not know what to tell you, for I do not know what is going on. Perhaps I have met the priestess you speak of before, and I simply do not recall the instance. Perhaps I have even met Naraku before and did not realize it. Or, perhaps, I met Naraku in another form and gave him reason to dislike me. There are any number of things I could have done to win either of their attention. I simply cannot account for either of them."
They looked into his eyes, and they saw honesty, and immediately they believed him. Kagome felt herself crumble and immediately scolded herself. Why had she been so hard on him? Makoto was just a nice guy trying to help them beat Naraku, and here they had taken every opportunity to bust him when there was nothing to bust. It was obvious he wasn't lying. They were just trying to find some reason to distrust him because it's human nature to be suspicious.
"I'm sorry, Makoto," she said sadly, meeting his eyes. "I know you wouldn't lie to us."
Makoto gave her a slight smile. "It is all right, Kagome. I am sure, were I in your place, I would be suspicious of me, as well. You have done nothing wrong. I can only hope that, with time, you will begin to trust me, and trust that I mean you no ill will. Whoever this Naraku is, it is obvious that he has deeply wronged you, and for that alone I will fight him until I am either victorious or dead."
Tears rose in Kagome's eyes, and she threw herself at him. Makoto comforted her and exchanged a glance with Miroku and Sango over her head. The demon exterminator was giving him an apologetic smile, which he returned, and Miroku looked rather sheepish. He gave the monk the same forgiving smile and released Kagome before glancing at Inuyasha.
The hanyou was eyeing him warily. Makoto sighed and approached him. "Inuyasha," he started, "I know that you did not like or trust me when we first met, and I respect your opinion. I must admit that the circumstances point to me being guilty. I have no excuse; I have only my word that I know not this Kikyo, nor Naraku, except from what you have told me. Please, simply give me a chance to prove to you that I am worth the trust you will not place in me now."
"No."
Kagome and Sango looked up sharply. Shippo and Kirara exchanged a nervous glance; if Inuyasha didn't get his act together, there were bound to be quite a few 'sits' on the way. Miroku looked as though he would go stand by Makoto and defend him to the end. Makoto himself looked rather wounded and hurt, though he seemed ready to accept whatever answer he got.
All of them were expecting the worst, and none were prepared for what Inuyasha said next. "No, Makoto," the hanyou said slowly. "I think I already trust you."
-End-
That's all, folks! One story done, another to come… that's right, this is just the first in a trilogy! Go and read the next one; it'll be out soon, I promise. Thanks for reading!