Me: It's been one week, so here's the next story. I also once again exchanged the image in my profile for a nice close-up from episode thirty. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: "InuYasha" is property of Rumiko Takahashi, Sunrise, Viz, and all those other people who bring this series to us!


Story 29: Kotodama

Her consciousness was coming back as she became more aware of her surroundings. Eyes opening, she caught a glimpse of the person sitting beside her, watching her awaken.

"I'm feeling better. Don't you?" Kagome smiled brightly at her.

"Yeah." Sango returned the expression and looked up at her from the futon.

Kagome looked at her amusedly. "So are you going to get up or just lie there?"

"Is there something wrong with that?"

"No. In fact," Kagome flopped down next to her, "I think I'll join you." She giggled and put her hand over Sango's chest, fingering something around the taiji-ya's neck.

Hearing the clacking of beads, Sango tilted her head to see what it was Kagome was touching. She bolted upright, Kagome tipping off to the side with a, "Wah!"

Sango glanced down and held the necklace in her hand. Awe and confusion dawned on her when she recognized those familiar beads. "Um, Kagome-chan."

Though she had just been pushed off by Sango, Kagome replied with an innocent, "Yes?"

Sango turned to her. "Is this what I think it is?" she said warily.

"That depends." Kagome propped her head on her hand. "What do you think it is?" Her tone was playful.

"Well, they look like kotodama." Sango grew increasingly uneasy. "Like the ones Inuyasha has."

"And you're right. They are."

"Eh? But, why am I wearing them?"

Kagome shot up and looked Sango in the eyes. "In case you decide to run off again."

"W-What?" Sango leaned away from her. "I've never done that before."

"Oh, really?" Kagome folded her arms. "Well, what about the time you took Tessaiga and brought it to Naraku?"

"Um…"

"And then after that, you tried to get up and leave us."

"That was –"

"Or what about the time you ran after Kohaku?"

"I was –"

"And more recently there was the time when you followed those women by yourself because you were upset with Miroku-sama."

"I –"

"You put yourself in danger doing that you know. Do you know how worried I've been about you?"

"Okay, okay, you've made your point!" Sango had a feeling if she wasn't able to get a word in Kagome could go on ranting for quite a while. "If it makes you feel better… then I guess I can bear with it."

Kagome clapped her hands together and brightened considerably. "Great!" Her strange enthusiasm for this situation was making Sango cagey.

"Um…"

"Hm? Is there something else?"

"Well I just thought… if they're like Inuyasha's… what's the word you're supposed to use?"

When she said this, Kagome's expression became coy. "You'll just have to wait and see."

When the others discovered the kotodama around Sango's neck, they were immediately surprised and wanted to know why something that was used to subdue Inuyasha was around Sango as well. This proved to be an awkward situation for Sango as Kagome explained exactly why she had done so. Sango also had a feeling that Kaede was the one who made it for Kagome, as she sent her a strange apologetic look. Even simply walking around the village made Sango feel self-conscious, as she felt that whenever the villagers looked her way they would see the kotodama and deem it as a mark of Kagome's property. After all, only she and Inuyasha were required to wear them.

As the days wore on the simple bearing of the kotodama wasn't the only thing that weighed on Sango's mind. Up to this point Kagome had yet to use 'the word' on her. She supposed Kagome wouldn't use it unless she decided to try and 'run away' as Kagome had stated before, but such an occurrence had yet to happen. Besides, a part of Sango wasn't really looking forward to the time when Kagome would finally use it on her. Still, Sango was getting anxious and was guarded whenever Kagome was talking or pauses fell between them.

"Why don't you just ask Kagome-sama what it is?" Eventually these thoughts lead her to a conversation with Miroku when he caught her by herself looking troubled.

"I did but she told me to wait and see. I think she's going to use it when I least expect it."

"Hm…" Miroku thought for a moment. "Not 'least expect it'. Think about it. When does Kagome-sama usually use it on Inuyasha?"

Sango gazed up into the leaves of the tree she was under. "Well, that's when he makes her upset of misbehaves." It suddenly hit her; what it was Miroku was getting at. Her eyes turned on him. "I'm not going to do that!"

"But it's the perfect way for you to find out," he said good-humoredly.

"Forget it." Sango crossed her arms. "I don't want to make Kagome-chan upset or misbehave."

"Fine, fine. You just go about dealing with it the way you have been then." Miroku smirked inwardly. 'I'll just have to do it for you.'

The monk thought about the various ways in which Inuyasha usually got Kagome to use 'the word' on him; and so commenced Miroku's 'Operation Get Sango into Big Big Trouble with Kagome-sama™'. Starting with – Phase One: Smack Scolding.

Now, the only person Inuyasha got in trouble with for hitting was Shippo. Miroku obviously thought that there was no way Sango would even think of abusing Shippo like that, so he had to think of another target. The one that came vividly was himself, due to the fact that Sango always resorted to violence when he tried to 'show affection' for her. However, that didn't seem like a viable option either since Kagome never did anything about that. For this to work, Miroku would have to come up with a delicate plan…

They had stopped outside a shrine gate to shelter from the downpour of rain. Kagome sat on the steps with Shippo while Sango stood next to her against the gate. Miroku was by the older girl's other side, while Inuyasha leant against the gate at the end of their line-up.

Miroku eyed Sango from the corner of his eye and saw Hiraikotsu placed between her and Kagome. 'Now, to just time this right…'

Sango stiffened at the familiar brushing of a hand on her thigh, her reflexes causing her to swing Hiraikotsu across to smack Miroku in the face. As soon as he had caressed her however, Miroku dived down so that the only person there to hit was…

"OW!" Inuyasha clamped his hands to his throbbing forehead, a terrible bump emerging.

Sango stared at him dumbfounded. "I-Inuyasha. I'm sorry."

Inuyasha whipped round at her. "What the heck was that for?"

"I'm sorry, it was a mistake. I meant to hit Houshi-sama."

"Since when do you mistake me for Miroku?"

The monk made a blameless smile and wave when Sango saw him sitting on the ground out of harm's way.

"Geez, why don't you watch where you're swinging that thing?" Inuyasha was rubbing the lump on his forehead irritably.

Sango looked at him. "I'm sorry. I've already said that before, haven't I?"

"Yeah, well sorry doesn't put blood back into people's heads," he grumbled.

"Why are you so upset? It's not like you haven't been hit by worse." Sango didn't see why Inuyasha wouldn't let this drop already.

"And that gives you the right to hit me in the forehead?"

"I told you it was an accident!"

"How can after all these times you've managed to target Miroku dead-on you manage to miss and get me instead?"

"How should I know?" Sango grew annoyed with his attitude, turning away slightly and arguing, "Maybe it's because you have such a huge head."

"What was that?" Inuyasha raised a fist at her.

"Inuyasha, osuwari."

"ARGH!" The hanyou landed in the softened ground with a splat.

After having done this, Kagome asked Sango to sit with her for the remainder of the time there.

'Hm…' Miroku observed the now wet Inuyasha. 'Wrong target…'

On with Phase Two: Food Flounder.

The group had stopped for lunch atop a glorious hillside under a shady tree. Kagome happily pulled out the meal she had prepared earlier that day, placing the bento boxes on the mat laid out, as well as ladling out bowls of miso soup for everyone.

Miroku held his bowl up to his face and took in the miso scent. "Ah, what a lovely day it is for a meal outside. I really hope it doesn't rain."

Sango looked at him bewilderedly. "What was with that comment? You're saying it might rain on this lovely day?"

"Why yes." Miroku gazed up at the sky. "Don't you all think those clouds look a bit dark to you?" His friends followed his sight to see what he meant. In this moment, Miroku hurriedly began messing around with the items before him, making split-second decisions.

"You're crazy," Inuyasha said when he looked back down. "Those clouds are as white as my hair is."

"And what a fine head of hair you have Inuyasha." Miroku promptly laughed.

"Miroku's acting really weird," Shippo murmured. Kagome nodded in agreement.

After only taking a sip of the miso soup, Sango made a face. It wasn't difficult to notice, so Kagome said, "Sango-chan, what's wrong?"

Sango looked into her bowl disconcertingly. "Um… it's nothing."

Kagome frowned. "That didn't look like it was nothing."

"Really, it's –"

"Oh, come now Sango." Miroku tapped her on the shoulder. "It's best to be honest with friends, isn't it?"

Sango seemed unsure of this. "Well, it's just… the soup tastes a bit… watery."

Kagome looked taken aback. "Watery?"

"Tastes okay to me," Inuyasha remarked as he took another slurp.

"Inuyasha? You like it… but Sango-chan… you don't?" Kagome appeared slightly saddened.

"No, it's fine; really." Sango demonstrated this by drinking out her bowl and holding it out to Kagome. "See?"

Not convinced by this however, Kagome tried offering her an onigiri. Seeing Sango's less than desired expression when she bit into it, the younger girl dragged an opinion out of her, only to hear that it tasted sour.

"Okay, this then. The omelet, it's my specialty." Kagome held it out to her determinedly.

Sango put her hands up in front of her. "Kagome-chan, it's okay, I –"

"Eat it!" She shoved the roll into Sango's mouth, nearly choking her. Kagome stared at her with intimidation until Sango finished eating it. "Well?" Her eyes looked hopeful.

The taiji-ya's gaze shifted sideways. "It's really good," she said with a half-smile.

Kagome's eyes widened. "Omigosh, Sango-chan, you're lying!"

Sango looked at her. "What? No I'm not."

"Then why did you look that way just now?"

"It's hard to be serious with you right in front of me and looking at me like that," Sango rebutted.

"Yeah, right!" Kagome grabbed a box that Inuyasha was reaching for and brought it in front of her. "Here, try one of these!" She stabbed at a random item in the box and force-fed it to Sango.

"Kagome-chan!" Sango really didn't want to talk with her mouth full of food, but Kagome was going non-stop trying to feed numerous things to her. Every time Sango tried telling her it was 'good' Kagome would simply accuse her of lying and move on to the next food item. "Kagome-chan, stop it! I can't eat like this – and you're sitting on top of me!"

Inuyasha was searching through Kagome's backpack for ramen since she had taken custody of most of the food. "You should just eat the crunchy things Sango," Inuyasha drawled. "They're the only good things."

Kagome abruptly paused what she was doing and glared at Inuyasha. "Osuwari!"

"GARG!" Inuyasha's head dropped into her bag as the necklace he wore flattened him to the ground.

Miroku turned away from the group and put a hand under his chin. "Hm… that didn't work out the way I expected either."

It was time to put into action his Final Phase: The Other Woman.

They wandered into a new village, Miroku delighted with this for reasons other than the lovely village girls he would meet here. Then again… maybe not. Using his self-proclaimed dashing good looks and charm, Miroku combined this with his impeccable womanizing skills to seek out a most appropriate (or naïve) candidate…

Sango was tagging along with Kagome as they ambled about the village checking the local shops for supplies, various trinkets, and observing the general sights of the village. At the moment, Kagome had chosen a simple but pretty hairpin from one of the stalls aligning the path they were on.

She asked Sango to set it in her hair for her, saying once it was in place, "Does it look okay?" Kagome touched the homemade pin in her hair. "I feel a bit guilty. I know we really shouldn't be spending the money we have on things like this."

"It's okay once in a while." Sango stood back to study her.

"You did encourage me to get it," Kagome remarked as they began walking again.

"Well you really seemed to like it." Colouring faintly when she glanced at Kagome, Sango added, "It suits you. It's cute."

Kagome's reaction to that was a pleased smile and vague blush of her own. Their arms brushed together as they walked, and Kagome reached out to touch Sango's exposed fingers. Just before she made contact however, another hand came in and grabbed Sango's arm, bumping Kagome off to the side.

The owner of the hand was an unfamiliar girl around Kagome's age, who was clamping onto Sango's arm. Her expression was chipper, as was her voice when she squealed, "Sango-sama!"

'Sama?' Kagome stood staring at Sango and the girl, who was beginning to rub her face against Sango's shoulder.

"Oh, Sango-sama, it really is you! You've finally returned to out village!"

"W-What?" Flustered, Sango felt just how tight the girl's grasp on her was, as well as the awkwardness that went along with it.

"I was beginning to think I'd never see you again." The girl loosened her hold only to gaze up at Sango with sparkling eyes. "After that time you came with the other taiji-ya and saved our village from that terrible youkai two years ago."

"What are you talking about?" Sango had never recalled being to this village in her entire life, let alone meeting this girl who claimed to know her.

The girl however didn't seem to paying attention and continued with a wistful voice, "I remember watching you from afar as you soared through the air and beat down the youkai with Hiraikotsu." She pulled at Sango's other arm so they were face to face and held the taiji-ya's hands in hers. "I thought you were so strong, so beautiful… We were so grateful we asked you all to spend the night, and at dinner I served you and you smiled so wonderfully at me." She brought their hands up dramatically. "And then at night, you called me to your room and I sheepishly told you how breathtaking and untouchable your beauty was; but then, you let me… you let me touch… ahhhhh!" She hugged Sango's hands close to herself, eyes closed and with a blush on her cheeks.

Sango desperately looked at Kagome, expecting to see appall or resentment in her face from this false recollection. Instead she saw a blank expression, something which worried her even more. The young miko turned, and stalked off down the pathway. "K-Kagome-chan! Wait!" Sango stretched her arm out as if expecting it to stop Kagome from continuing on her way. When this proved to fail her, Sango apologized to the girl from the village and managed to squirm out of her grasp to run after Kagome.

Approaching steps came up from behind to the girl from the village. "That was excellent work," Miroku praised her appreciatively.

"Thank you." The girl bowed slightly. "So now will you stay in our village for the night, Houshi-sama?" She gazed at him eagerly.

Miroku smiled. "I suppose I must now after the favour you did for me." His eyes looked in the direction his female companions had gone. "There's just one thing I need to check on first."

Inuyasha was resting on one of the fences in the village when he heard someone stop in front of him. He opened his eyes unconcernedly but was mildly surprised to see who was before him. "Kagome?" Her face looked the same as when Sango had last seen it.

Speaking of who, Sango caught up to Kagome, calling her name. When she reached her, Kagome stared at her with a cool sedateness. It Sango off guard and she was unsure of how to respond. Kagome didn't wait for one. Instead, she got up onto the fence and sat next to Inuyasha, then stoically leant her head on his shoulder.

The hanyou's eyes widened, faint colour spreading across his face at Kagome's unexpected action.

Sango was made even more unsure of what to do after witnessing Kagome's stunt. Kagome still didn't show any particular emotion in her features. She simply closed her eyes and tilted her face towards Inuyasha. Sango interpreted this as a sign to leave her alone, so that's what she did. She walked away, wondering to herself who that strange girl from the village was and why she had said all those things. Furthermore, how did she know about the taiji-ya if Sango had really never met her before?

Further ahead, she noticed familiar robes poking out from behind a tree. She went around the trunk. "Houshi-sama?"

Miroku flinched when he saw Sango come around and hurriedly plastered on his best innocent-looking face. "Ah, Sango! And how are you?" his voice was coming out unnaturally sounding.

Suspicion dawned on Sango. "What are you doing back here?"

"Oh, just resting." Miroku ran a hand down to smooth his clothing.

"That's funny. I don't remember seeing you when I came this way before."

"I just got here." He chuckled nervously.

Someone in the distance's voice echoed, "Houshi-sama!"

The two turned and saw a girl running towards them. As she was coming closer, she suddenly stopped, then turned and ran back. Sango squinted at the girl, and then was surprised to discover that it was the same girl who had come up to her and Kagome earlier. She turned to a slightly perspiring Miroku. "How do you know that girl?"

"What?" He half-smiled. "You know me. I attend to all the lovely ladies."

Sango continued to stare at him. Before the girl was making a show of how she supposedly knew Sango, but when she saw her just now, she turned tail. She was also about to join Miroku rather than Sango. Those pieces of information didn't fit together. Sango wasn't stupid though, and soon found the rest of the pieces which made up the puzzle. Her expression morphed as she thought things out, and Miroku saw it. What he didn't see was the vicious slap that came across his face.

His body flew to the ground and he felt his throbbing cheek. 'Well… that hasn't happened in a while.'

"Houshi-sama!" Sango was towering over him dangerously. "I can't believe you! All those things that happened before, it was because of you, wasn't it?"

Miroku rubbed his reddened cheek. "I was just trying to help you," he said with a crooked grin.

"As I recall I believe I said that I didn't want to do what you were implying! Now Kagome-chan's upset with me because of something you did."

"Don't worry, Kagome-chan will forgive you…"

"You did it!"

Eventually the conversation ended with Sango storming off, though she was tempted to leave Miroku a few parting gifts in the form of physical deformities.

The next time the group was moving forward on their quest there was an awkward stillness in the air. Inuyasha and Shippo found it odd, but didn't say anything to otherwise break the silence.

Sango was a bit relieved thought also cautious about walking in the back with Kagome. She figured that she could use this time to try and explain things. She told Kirara to go on ahead and set her down to join the boys up front. Sango called Kagome's name and the younger girl gave her the slightest of acknowledgement. "Wait." Sango stopped walking and Kagome complied with her. "Kagome-chan, about what happened in the village – that was Houshi-sama's doing." Kagome didn't respond, so Sango started from the beginning. She told Kagome how she had spoken to Miroku before, his idea, and how she didn't want to do it so he took it upon himself to do it for her. Hitting Inuyasha, the taste of Kagome's food, and the girl from the village; Sango told her those were his methods for getting Kagome upset with her. "So, that's what's been going on." Sango waited for Kagome to reply now that she was through.

This time, Kagome did respond; with laughter. She covered her mouth with her hand and laughed, Sango watching her, baffled.

"So that's what it was about?" Kagome said between chuckles.

"You're not… why are you laughing?"

Kagome righted herself and looked at Sango out of one eye. "Because it was funny."

"It… was?" Sango didn't see anything amusing about what Miroku had put her through.

"Well, maybe not for you, but it was for me; watching you and Inuyasha argue; me sitting on and feeding you; and then watching you react while that girl went on about how she knew you." Kagome smiled. "I found it quite amusing."

"Wait, you knew that nothing happened between me and that girl?"

"Of course. I know you're not the type to do something like that Sango-chan."

"Then, why did you go off like that and went to Inuyasha?"

Kagome winked at her playfully. "I was just making fun of you."

Sango stared at her. "Wha…"

Arms came up around Sango's neck and Kagome hugged her. "If it bothered you that much you should have told me."

Slowly, Sango hugged her back. "Yeah… I will from now on."

Kagome stepped back from her. "Good. I'm glad to her it." She smiled. "Koishii."

The flash from the kotodama caught Sango's eye and before she realized it, she was being dragged down to hit the ground – hard.

The boys had turned around at the sound of a loud bang not unlike that of the one Inuyasha was usually part of.

"Ah! Sango-chan!" Kagome stooped down and pulled a dazed Sango into her lap. "Are you okay? Oh, I probably should have asked Kaede-obaa-chan if she could make it weaker."

Miroku smirked. "Well, isn't that nice?"

"Kagome finally used it, huh?" Shippo commented. Kirara mewed in agreement.

Inuyasha was thinking about something else. 'How come when it happens to Sango Kagome goes to hold her?'


Me: I don't know what to do for the next story. It's supposed to be a continuation of twenty, but if I do that it'll likely be something smutty… Does anyone care about that? I rather liked the way it ended last time.

I had also planned on thirty being the last story for a while.