Author notes: Sorry if they are OOC. This is my first Inuyasha fic. Sorry if there are any English grammar and spelling mistakes. Gomen ne, minna.
Chapter 27: Conversations
After the three left the hut, Inuyasha was once more alone with Kikyou. Suddenly, Inuyasha remembered the reason why he decided to come back to Musashi in the first place and stiffened.
"What's wrong? Inuyasha?" Kikyou asked, sensing a change in Inuyasha's expression.
Inuyasha hesitated. How should he broach the topic of the Shikon no Tama without sounding like he wanted it for his own purpose?
"Inuyasha? Is it about the Shikon no Tama?"
Inuyasha nodded. "Kikyou….I don't know if you would believe me or not, but I think I may have a way to purify the jewel."
Kikyou raised an eyebrow. "Which is?"
"I…I can't tell you now. But I assure you, I'm not asking for the jewel with selfish intentions."
Kikyou laughed. "Is your way of purifying the jewel making a wish on it?"
"What?" Inuyasha blurted out.
"Actually, I know that if someone were to make a wish on the jewel with pure intentions, the jewel will be purified. But how do you know if your intentions are pure or not, that's the question. Sometimes we may think our wish is perfectly good, but our hearts may be tainted without us knowing it. If that's your way, then I advise you to forget it."
"But…" Inuyasha wanted to say something more yet Kikyou raised her hand to cut him off.
"I don't know where the jewel is. I gave it to my teacher and I never asked him its whereabouts. So don't ask me about the Shikon no Tama anymore."
Inuyasha growled. "Damn it, Kikyou. I really need to know the whereabouts of the jewel. And I'm not going to make a wish on that jewel. But I cannot tell you my method…"
Kikyou stared at the hanyou intently. "Sou ka? My teacher wanders around the country a lot. It's not easily to find him. But he may be dropping in our village within the next few months to check up on me and my sister's progresses. If you want, you can stay here for a while to wait for him."
Inuyasha lowered his head and pondered his options. Then with a soft sigh, he nodded.
Weeks passed by just like this and Inuyasha reluctantly stayed in near the village once more, assuming his unofficial role as its protector even as he bugged Kikyou about the jewel everyday. But Kikyou was adamant and simply stated that only her Teacher knew where the jewel was now. Inuyasha occasionally sent back letters to Sesshoumaru via the little carrier pigeon that he fondly nicknamed as "Kuu-chan" and even though Sesshoumaru never wrote back, Inuyasha was not angry. He knew that his brother had received the letters all the same.
Inuyasha smiled as he perched on one of the lower branches of the Goshinboku, enjoying the simple sensation of sunlight washing over his face. A small fluttering sound nearby told him his little pigeon was back, and he stretched forth his left hand, allowing the pigeon to fly towards him. Even though the little bird carried nothing with it, Inuyasha still nuzzled it, inhaling the scent of Saigoku which he somehow came to miss. Inuyasha began tickling the poor pigeon's underside, causing the bird to flap its wings wildly, trying to escape the ministrations of its owner.
"Playing with birds, Inuyasha? It's not like you." A voice cried out from the bottom. It was Miroku.
Inuyasha flopped over and landed gracefully beside the man, releasing the bird at the same time. The bird encircled the two for a little while, before disappearing into the sky.
"What are you doing here, Miroku?" Inuyasha asked, a bit hesitant on how he should act. He kept reminding himself that the man in front is not his friend but his heart screamed otherwise. He decided to keep himself aloof to prevent himself from getting too close to them emotionally.
Miroku shrugged. "I just want to see how you are doing. It's been weeks since you came, and you seldom join us for anything. Are you still holding a grudge over our first meeting?"
Inuyasha shook his head. "I'm just not a people's person okay. I'll be fine. Just leave me alone."
Miroku was unfazed at the hanyou's harsh tone. "Well, I don't think so. Since your arrival, you've been helping us with a great deal. Don't think I didn't notice. You killed more youkai than me and Sango put together. I think that deserves a little thanks."
"I didn't do it for thanks."
"Then what did you do it for? Why are you staying here? Does it have anything to do with Kikyou-sama?"
Inuyasha growled. "So that's your realmotive huh? To question me?"
Miroku held out both hands. "I'm sorry. But you must understand that you leave me with a lot of questions and my curiosity sometimes gets the better of me. But forget it if you do not wish to say; I don't want to encroached on your privacy."
Inuyasha kicked a pebble away and muttered. "You already have, lecherous monk."
Miroku looked startled. "Sorry?"
Inuyasha sighed and cursed himself for slipping. "Nothing."
There was a period of awkward silence as Miroku desperately tried to think of some conversational topics to engage the hanyou in. Meanwhile, Inuyasha was fidgeting too. Being in Miroku's presence is more difficult than he anticipated. He had many questions too…but he was not sure if it's appropriate to ask them.
"So what was that carrier pigeon for?" Miroku asked finally, mentally slapping himself for the lame topic.
Inuyasha had a "huh?" look on his face before composing himself and replied. "Oh, I used it to send letters to my half-brother."
"You have a half-brother?" Miroku whistled. "Is he a hanyou like you?"
Inuyasha bristled instinctively at the term hanyou but relaxed. "No, he's a full youkai. Actually Kikyou saw him once before. We had our disagreements in the past but we're okay now, I guess. I promised him that I'll return to him as soon as my business here is done."
Miroku nodded. "And what is your business here, may I ask?"
Inuyasha froze. "I cannot tell you."
Miroku looked slyly at the hanyou. "It's not about Kikyou-sama, is it?"
At Inuyasha's startled look, Miroku continued. "Don't bother trying to hide from me. I can sense that there's something going on from the way you and Kikyou-sama interact with each other. You are not trying to woo her right? You know she's engaged now."
Inuyasha spluttered. "Me and Kikyou? There's nothing between me and her…"
Miroku stopped grinning and started looking serious. "I sure hope so….because I know Kikyou-sama and Onigumo and I don't want to see him get hurt, no matter what."
Inuyasha was shocked at Miroku's protectiveness of Onigumo. "That Onigumo….is he really such a nice person?"
"What do you mean?"
Inuyasha shook his head. "I mean, is he a nice person? What do you think of his personality? His character? Is he really sincere about breaking away from his past?"
Miroku looked at Inuyasha speculatively. "So, Kikyou-sama told you something about her fiancé huh? Why are you so interested in him?"
Inuyasha did not wish to reveal the real reason. Even now, he could not help but feel a shiver of fear ran down his spine when he caught Onigumo staring at him somehow, the expression on his face unreadable. It reminded him too much of Naraku, and some part of him fear that if Onigumo is anything like Naraku, he might try to manipulate them all for his own ends.
"I just don't want Kikyou to be hurt." Inuyasha whispered softly.
Miroku looked at Inuyasha intently, before nodding. "That part you need not worry. All of us here can vouch for his character. He's really a good man."
Meanwhile on the other side of the village, another similar conversation is taking place between the youkai taijiya and former bandit.
"Hey, Sango." Onigumo waved to the Taijiya. Nearby, Kirara mewed softly, nuzzling her owner's leg to inform her of someone's coming.
"Hi. What are you doing here, Onigumo? No need to accompany Kikyou?" Sango teased even as she polished her Hiraikotsu.
Onigumo grinned. "She's busy at the shrine again. Sometimes, I really don't understand her. She's no longer a miko, yet she still always lingers around the empty shrine. For what reasons, I also don't know."
Sango smiled. "You know us girls are always sentimental creatures. Being miko is a huge part of her life. I'm sure she felt adrift, ceasing to be a miko suddenly. That's why she always lingers around the shrine. To get some comfort, I guess, from familiar things."
Onigumo nodded. "Sango, actually I came here to ask you a question."
"What?"
"What do you think of that hanyou, Inuyasha?"
Sango looked startled. "Him? I don't know. We hardly talk anyway. I don't know him well but I guess he seems okay. A little gruff, but maybe youkai are like this? I only exterminate youkai, not make friends with them."
"Precisely. He's a hanyou. Why did Kikyou allow him to stay here?"
Sango looked troubled. "To be honest. I don't know. But I trust Kikyou. If she said he's okay, then I guess he's okay."
Onigumo did not look convinced however. "Really….? I sure hope so."
Author notes: Sorry for the long update. I've been busy...Anyway, Hitokiri-san sent me my first fan-art. Its really beautiful and I want to give her a big thanks. The url is
http : hk. geocities. com / hitokiri battousai ishinshishi/ In. jpg
Remember to take the spaces in between away.....
Reviewers responses:
To: Kayzer: Gomen...updating not quite shortly after New Year...
To: DarklessVasion: I hope I didn't confuse you any further.....
To: Misao, Demon Master: I think I watch that movie a long time ago....but I forgot most of it already....hehehe...
To: Angel8818: Thanks....I also like stories with unexpected twists myself.
To: BeccaPatty: Well....you've to read more to find out....although I feel bad about Inuyasha too.
To: TaintedInuShemeeko: Thanks...glad to hear you've enjoyed it.
To: Black RoseL Me: Thanks..I'll continue to update asap.
To: Elconquisador: I guess it depends on whether you believe in him or not...:)
To: Kayhera: Happy new year too...(though it's a little late).
To: kitt: thanks...:)
To: NefCanuck: Well...whether or not to trust Onigumo is up to individual I guess....
To: Big Momma: sorry for the long update..:)
To: animebaby08060: thanks....
To: humble-bumble: glad to see that I've made someone think.....heheh
To: Binky: hehe...I think I'm making myself suffer too...
To: Hitokiri-san: Well....Sesshoumaru might be back....I hope. :)
To: lady kjerston of the western: Irony can be fun..as long as it's not visited upon me...:)
To: Water-dragon 9: thanks..:)
To: Ramen Makes The World Go: I saw your friend's fic...it's looks well-written except I know nothing about that series...please help me tell your friend that can? Or should I leave a review?
To: dude: hehe sorry for taking so long....
