Days turned into weeks, weeks turned into months. Autumn had come, leaving the heat of summer far behind and still not a sight or sound from Naraku had been found. The motley group of friends had gathered their supplies and was departing from the wolf den for one final search for Naraku's whereabouts before winter set in.
Over the past few months all of the drama between Inuyasha and Kagome had faded into nothingness and they were soon in each other's good graces. Ayame was still with the hanyou and it came to no surprise to anybody when Inuyasha began courting her officially. Their courting didn't last long before they decided to hell with formalities and skipped right to the mating process.
The only thing keeping all of them from finding true happiness was Naraku. Miroku and Sango were hard pressed to wait for marriage. With all the love in the air, they were beginning to feel left out. Many nights Miroku spent the evening trying to convince Sango that they could marry at any point that they didn't need to wait for Naraku to be destroyed. Many times, Sango had thought the same thing, but she never voiced her opinion to Miroku. She always dragged Kagome to the hot springs to have her much needed girl time. Kagome didn't really see why they were waiting, unless it was to make sure Miroku wouldn't be of any danger to Sango and their potential children in case his Wind Tunnel expanded too far.
Kagome lay awake the night before the departure thinking about Miroku's curse. There had to be something she could do about it. It was placed upon the monk's family generations ago. She looked at her hands. She was a miko and not just any miko at that. She was the most powerful miko in generations, the guardian of the Shikon no Tama. The curse was nothing more than the black magic used by Naraku and she, Kagome, had purification powers.
She sat up from her pile of furs and glanced down at the sleeping Koga. She brushed her fingers against his cheek before leaving the bed. The night was cool and the only light to see by was the large, almost full moon overhead. After taking a deep breath of the refreshing air, she made her way to Miroku's sleeping quarters.
She paused at the entrance, listening to see if he was asleep or awake. If he had indeed fallen asleep, she would have to wait until morning to talk to him. She didn't want to wait that long since it took her this long to gather the courage to speak to him about what was on her mind.
Her eyes widened as sounds drifted to her ears. The rustling of bedding, the soft panting and moans of a woman, on top of all that, the occasional grunt from a male. She clapped her hand over her mouth at the realization of what was happening just inside. Her face turned several dark shades of red before she slid to the ground in embarrassment. Here she was like a pervert, listening in on Miroku and Sango's private moments, but she couldn't bring herself to leave.
When had things escalated to this? Surely Sango would have told me if she was considering doing this. I wonder…does this mean they plan of marrying now rather than later, or are they just seeking each other's bodies. Kagome sighed. Let's just hope she doesn't end up pregnant…
Several long embarrassing moments later, the noises came to a stop and Kagome found herself breathing a little easier. She waited another ten minutes or so before gathering her body off the ground and placing a gentle knock on the covering.
"Miroku-sama, are you awake?" Kagome asked full well knowing there was no way he was asleep. He was probably leaning against the wall reveling in his conquest. He had been trying to bed Sango for over a year and he finally managed to corner her.
"Kagome-sama? Yes I am, give me a moment to make myself decent. I'll be there in a moment."
Kagome couldn't help but chuckle. Yes Miroku, clothing would be nice…
Once dressed, Miroku pulled back the covering and stepped outside, not giving Kagome a change to see into his sleeping area. It took a lot of self control not to push the covering open and point a finger at Sango and tell her how busted she was.
"Is something the matter, Kagome-sama?" Miroku questioned after taking note of the serious, but comical look on the miko's face. Surely she doesn't know…
Shaking her mind clear she looked up into Miroku's violet eyes and gave him the biggest smile she could muster. "Let's go somewhere a little more private." Kagome took his hand and pulled him towards the top of the cliffs where the others would be safe in case what she had planned backfired.
Miroku couldn't help but think Kagome knew of his little adventure with Sango, but he didn't dare voice it out loud in case she truly didn't know. Though, where she was taking him so late at night had him curious and a bit nervous. He stayed quiet until they came to a stop at the top of the waterfall.
"What is this about, Kagome-sama?" he asked as he took a seat in front of her on the soft yet cold grass.
"May I see your right hand?"
"Uh…sure." He placed his cursed hand into her smaller hands, curious as to what she was planning.
"I've been thinking about this for some time now. Your wind tunnel is nothing more than a curse placed on you and your family by Naraku. Who better to break a curse than a miko?" She gave him a comforting smile.
"Take no offense, Kagome-sama, but I do not think it is within your power to remove my family curse. If I thought it possible I would have confronted you sooner." Miroku said sadly as he attempted to take his hand from Kagome.
Her grip on his hand tightened."Please, Miroku-sama let me try, if not for you, for Sango-chan. I know how hard all of this is for you two and as two of my best friends, I just want you to live happily. If this curse is the only thing keeping you two from marrying then let me try."
Looking into her eyes, Miroku was finding it hard to turn her away. She did have a point, his curse was placed on him by Naraku who was nothing more than a hanyou, and Kagome held the power to purify youkai. After letting out a deep sigh, he decided it wouldn't hurt to try.
"I suppose I could give it a try." His expression turned deadly serious. "If something happens and it gets dangerous, promise me you will leave."
Kagome could only nod her head. She knew this was a possibility, but if they didn't find and destroy Naraku soon; the Wind Tunnel would expand and claim his life and everybody in the vicinity.
She summoned her reiki as she removed the prayer beads that were used to keep the void at bay. The moment her hand touch the flesh of his hand, she could feel the curse pushing at her invading powers. Kagome closed her eyes and concentrated on the curse, trying to find the source of power. She struggled to keep her reiki in Miroku's Wind Tunnel. Naraku's curse was definitely a potent one, and she was having problems containing its destructive powers.
Miroku watched carefully as sweat built up on Kagome's brow. Her warm spiritual powers flooded his body; filling him with warmth he had only seen flare in the miko's aura. It amazed him that even after mating a youkai and having him mark her as his, that her powers were still as potent as they were. Over the past couple of months he had been working with her on her control, but during their training, he learned quickly that there was much more to the girl than he originally thought. The moment Kagome's soul was whole once more, her reiki exploded in its potency, as if that one missing piece of her soul had sealed her true powers. It was very possible that Kagome could pull this miracle off.
The miko pushed harder against the power of the curse. Wrapping it in a warm pink light, she followed the trail of power. It led far away from Miroku and into a dark forest coated in evil. Kagome didn't know how she was able to see or even know this, but she went with it. She searched the dark forest, only to be confronted with a dark evil.
Kagome would have gasped in surprise had she had not allowed her powers to carry her from her body. She looked down at herself to see her body; only instead of flesh and blood she held a spirit form. Praying that the person in front of her couldn't see her, she met his ruby gaze.
Naraku. She growled. Summoning all of her power, she launched an attack on the connection that linked Miroku and Naraku together. She could feel Naraku's eyes on her, though she was sure he was looking through her and not actually at her. Take this you stupid no good bastard! With one final flare of her power, she felt the connection snap.
Miroku stared in wonder as Kagome's body began to glow a brilliant pink. With a final flare of her aura, she released his hand and fell to the side, seemingly unconscious. Worried about his friend he reached out to shake her, only to be overcome with an unbearable pain in his hand. He clutched desperately at his wrist, as he brought the palm of his hand to his face. The dark abyss that had been with him all his life was swirling with Kagome's reiki. Not a second later, the hole snapped shut.
His jaw dropped open as the pain left. She had done it. The curse was gone. He returned his attention to the unconscious Kagome. Using his left hand, just in case it was only temporary, he shook her gently.
Her eyes squeezed shut before fluttering open. The look of happiness on Miroku's face was enough to tell her she had succeeded in her quest. "It worked?" She asked as she sat up.
Miroku nodded as he pulled her into a hug. Normally he would have let his hands wander over her body, but he couldn't bring himself to do so. He owned this woman his very life. "I don't know how I will ever repay you, Kagome-sama."
Sleepily, Kagome smiled. "I do. Go back to Sango, she must be worried." With that said, she stood up and slowly made her way back to her bed. Her body was drained and with their adventure starting in the morning, she needed sleep.
She couldn't stop the smirk that appeared on her face. Naraku, I know where you are. Be wary because we are coming for you and the jewel. You final hour is rapidly approaching.
-oOoOo-
Kagome was woken suddenly by a pressing weight on her stomach. Her eyes shot open thinking the worse, only to be confronted by a very exuberant Sango. Tears of joy streaked her face as the slayer lifted Kagome from her bed and enveloped her in a rib-crushing hug.
"I can't ever thank you enough, Kagome-chan!" Sango cried.
Patting her sister on the back, she whispered, "You don't have to apologize, Sango-chan. Just do me one little favor."
Sango pulled away, eager to do whatever it was Kagome was going to ask of her. She owed the miko everything. "What would that be?"
Kagome couldn't keep the devious grin off her face. "Next time you and Miroku decide to have 'alone time' keep it down."
Catching the innuendo, Sango turned several shades of unnatural red before scrambling away from her sister. "You mean…you know…you heard?"
Kagome nodded seriously. "If I heard you then imagine what the wolves heard…" She couldn't help but play off her friends' embarrassment a little bit. In all honesty she hadn't heard a thing until she was right at the door, but Sango didn't know that.
The slayer covered her face with her hands. "How embarrassing!"
Kagome couldn't take it anymore, she fell over with laughter. "Sango, I'm only joking! I just happened to be passing by when I accidently heard stuff! No need to worry about the wolves anyway. They were all passed out."
It was at that point when Koga made his appearance. "Just because we didn't hear anything didn't mean we can't smell it." He wrinkled his nose in fake disgust.
"Oh not you too, Koga!" Sango cried. "You guys are so unfair!"
Koga and Kagome laughed. "Don't worry, we did the same thing to Mutt-Face and Ayame." Koga grinned.
Ginta and Hakkaku made their way into the caves huffing and puffing like they had run a marathon, which was highly possible. "Everything is ready!"
"Good. Let's head out." Koga said before looking between Kagome and Sango. This was going to be their last trip until winter passed and they needed to find Naraku soon.
"We head west." Kagome stated. "Naraku is in the west, though why he would hide so close to Sesshomaru's territory is beyond me."
All of them stopped and stared at Kagome, wondering how she knew this, but none of them questioned her. If she had a lead, they would follow it, even if it ended up being a false trail. It was more information than they had when the sun broke over the horizon, and they would go with it.
-oOoOo-
A/N: Yay for Miroku! I don't know where the idea for his chapter came from but here you go. Also I have posted the first chapter/prologue of my new kag/sessh story, The Unexpected Miko. Please review it and tell me what you think of it!
