CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE

Mikage

I felt as though I had made a complete fool out of myself!

As the sun began to rise, I repeatedly smacked my forehead.

"Ooo! Did you see how handsome he was? You should have confessed a long time ago! Then you two could have been married today!"

I stopped to glance at her.

"Confessed?"

"Of course! I totally have valid evidence that you love him now," Yuuhi taunted. We had been on the move for around three hours now, and had eventually spotted a village not too far off. It had appeared active and healthy, so we had decided to go there.

"You do not. I don't love him. I just was surprised to see him, is all."

We stepped down the slope, coming into the village. Ahead was a bridge and many houses, alive with people coming in and out. Some had harvested fresh rice, others had washed clothes. I even spotted some demons within the crowd. Upon that sight, I was surprised. They trusted the hanyous enough to live among them?

A man had caught me staring.

"Hey. You from around here?"

The man who had asked me wore a red kimono and had long white hair and dog ears. His eyes were yellow, just like Sesshomaru's.

"Um... No," I admitted. He laughed.

"What's a girl like you doing wearing all this battle armor?" He knocked off my helmet, causing my hair to fall free again. I found myself laughing as well.

"It's a long story," I explained, brushing my hair through with my nails.

"Well, make it short."

"I shrugged my shoulders.

"Let's just say it involves an escape, a sword, powers, and a demon named Sesshomaru."

He placed a hand on his hip, tapping his bare foot.

"Sesshomaru, huh? This should be interesting," he snorted. "Oh, whatever. Come on. Why don't you come to my place?" he offered. Although I barely knew him, my limbs were weary, and I could only imagine how Yuuhi felt.

"Well, Yuuhi?" I asked.

"Sure. Why not."

Returning my gaze to him, I agreed.

"Yes. Thank you for your hospitality," I said/

"Yeah, yeah. Just come on."

With that, the hanyou turned his back to me, hands tucked in his sleeves. He began to head deeper into the village, Yuuhi and I close behind.

"So what is your name, if I may ask?" I inquired.

"Inuyasha."

Inuyasha's voice was slightly scratchy and rough, fitting the personality that I had envisioned just from speaking to him. As he was walking, he twisted his head around to face me. "So what are you doing talking to my brother, anyway?"

Brother? Sessho-Maru had a brother? If I remembered correctly, nobody ever mentioned a brother, much less other family members around Sessho-Maru.

"He's your brother?"

"Unfortunately. We aren't exactly a close-knit family."

"I see... That's too bad."

I paused, examining my surroundings. The village had green grass in most places, though we were walking on yellowed dirt. The houses were well built of wood and straw, children running about. Ahead, I could see many ponds, ideal for rice harvesting. A part of me longed to be with them, since the kingdom hadn't been like that for such a long time.

"So why were you talking to him, er... Sorry. Didn't get your name."

"Mikage," I responded. Scratching my head, I sighed. How would I word this? What do I do? Tell him about running away, and accidentally bumping into my childhood crush? Never-that would completely humiliate me. "Well... I was just passing on through," I started.

"Sesshomaru isn't generally one to give his name to people who are just 'passing through'."

Inuyasha's fuzzy-looking ear flicked as he stopped. "You've known him from before, haven't you?"

I had cornered myself now. I mentally cursed as I glanced to the side.

"It doesn't matter, okay?" I grumbled, beginning to feel uncomfortable. I had just begun to feel the tight wrap on my chest, and had some difficulty breathing.

"Hey, hey. Okay! You don't gotta tell me. I was just wondering, okay?"

I realized how hostile my voice had sounded, biting my lip as I moaned.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to talk like that. It's just a sensitive subject," I justified, crossing my hands.

He smiled a bit, beginning to walk again.

"You don't have to talk about it."

"Thank you."

My voice had become quiet again, a bad habit of mine.

"Inuyasha... Who is this?"

A girl approached, a lettuce bowl in hand. Her black, uneven hair hung a bit past her waist, and white kimono hung loosely on her. How lucky for her. I felt a bit jealous at her comfort given how discomforted I was.

"Her name is Mikage. I just met her as she was coming into the village," Inuyasha said, a smile coming onto his face. I bowed my greeting to her.

"U-um... Hello. It's nice to meet you," I greeted.

"Hey! You don't need to bow to me! I'm Kagome. Welcome to the village! What brings you here?"

"We were just passing through," Yuuhi meowed, rubbing her hard head against me. She let out a purr, wrapping her tail around my low back, drawing me next to her.

"I see. Well welcome, anyways!" Kagome cheered, patting my back.

"Thank you..."

"Is it okay if she comes over?" Inuyasha asked, coming beside Kagome.

"Of course! I've just begun making dinner!" Kagome gave me a grin, rubbing Yuuhi's head.

"Oh. I couldn't accept. You're too gracious."

I raised my hand, waving it in front of my face. They were being so kind to me. Even though my muscles were sore, and my chest was throbbing, I felt spoiled. This was the exact kind of life that I wanted to escape, and here it was being offered to me again.

"It's nothing! We would love to have you over," Kagome insisted.

"Yeah. It's no trouble."

I felt myself blush of embarrassment.

"O-oh, all right."

We began to head towards a hut in the distance, fresh laundry hanging from strings attached to it. The pleasantly clean scent filled my nostrils, melting me on the inside. It had been such a long time since I had smelt the nice scent. Since Father left, anyways. Mother never did laundry.

The bright sun beat against my now helmet-free head, heating up my scalp under my thick hair. Raising a hand to block out the sun, I looked up at the house.

"You live here?" I asked.

"Yep! Nice, isn't it?"

"Y-yes. V-very much so! It's gorgeous!" I stammered, not wanting to insult them at all. It was nice, after all.

Kagome just laughed.

"It isn't that nice," she argued, smiling to someone past me. Then I smelled it. Someone smelt like essences and candles... Because of my past experience with priestesses, the herbal, freshened scent proved familiar to me. The oddly sweet odor made me turn around just as a monk approached.

"Now, Inuyasha," he began, placing a hand on my back. His hand was warm, but firm, able to be felt even through the ties of my armor, and through the kimono. "Why didn't you tell me we were having a guest to the village?"

Inuyasha let out a growl as the monk's hand crept down lower. Beginning to feel awkward, I stepped away, only to be followed.

"Because I knew that you would be right here feeling her butt!" Inuyasha shouted in reply.

As if on cue, the monk's hand moved there. I felt my face heat up as I let out a yelp. He didn't even move it when I cried out, attempting to pull away from his grasp.

"Y-you lech!" I screamed, face probably beet red. The monk just chuckled as I withdrew, as though expecting such a reaction. I brought a hard hand to his face, eyebrows furrowing on my face. As my hand made contact, there was a abrupt smacking sound, and a slow sting spreading throughout my palm.

Kagome sighed, moving a hand to her own forehead. She shook her head and closed her eyes.

Was this an everyday occurrence for them?

I wanted to yell and scold the pervert for what he did, but couldn't seem to put together words in my head. I was either too shocked, or too shy; it was anyone's guess. Either way, I decided to keep my distance from him.

"See what I mean?" Inuyasha shouted, exasperated.

"You can't give the excuse of it being possessed anymore, can you? Your hand, I mean," Kagome stated, shooting an irritated glare at him.

"No, I suppose I can't." The monk laughed, scratching the back of his head.

"You don't h-have any excuses for doing that!" I reminded him, growling a bit. Yuuhi let out a snarl.

"You don't go touching her rump without me getting after you, Mr. Monk!"

Yuuhi waved her head intimidatingly at him.

"Sorry. What can I say? Old habits are hard to break."

I couldn't believe it was possible, but I was becoming even more disgusted with this man by the moment. Old habit? He made a habit of groping women? And he called himself a monk?!

"W-what do you mean, habit?"

"Well..."

"Miroku tends to be a rather bad flirt," Kagome explained, rolling her eyes.

"A flirt? That's pure lecherousness!" I yelled, shaking fists balling.

"Forgive me, but do you happen to be a cat demon?" Miroku asked, closing his eyes.

"N-no...? Why?"

"Because. Then I would be cursed for seven generations. We can't have that."

In unison, Inuyasha, Kagome and I all let out an angry groan.

How horrible would this monk get? A part of me didn't want to know.