July 19

We got back from our exorcism trip yesterday evening and it was...interesting.

The morning we left I was packing up some supplies for our trip. It wasn't as big of a bag as what I used to carry around when we traveled before but I think it's good to always be prepared.

Suddenly Inuyasha bent down in front of me. "You know what else we need?"

"What?"

"Ninja food!"

I laughed. "That would be nice."

"Those dried potatoes you used to bring would also be good," Inuyasha said thoughtfully.

"Calm down or you'll start making yourself hungry."

"There's something else I'd rather have right now."

His tone dropped and I looked up to find him giving me a sensual look. Next thing I knew, I was on my back while he kissed me.

"Inuyasha…" I moaned.

"Mmm, Kagome…"

He was making me feel so good...but I also knew we didn't have time for this. "Yasha...Miroku is going to be here soon."

"We have enough time," he said as he kissed down my neck.

"Are you sure?"

Sure enough, we didn't have enough time. Before anything else could be said or done, there was a knock on the door and we knew it was Miroku.

"Damn," Inuyasha said as he got off me.

I tried to calm my breathing and went to answer the door.

"Good morning!" Miroku said cheerfully. "Are you ready to go?"

"Yup, we were just getting ready," I said, still trying to regain my composure from what we had been doing.

"What's with you?" Miroku asked when he saw the glare on Inuyasha's face. "Was I interrupting something?"

"Shut up, you perv," Inuyasha said.

Miroku laughed. "Well, we are going to the house of a wealthy lord. I'm sure they'll have a nice, comfy bed for you tonight so you can continue."

Inuyasha was still glaring at him. Miroku was highly amused. I just pushed past them trying to hide the blush on my face so we could start our trip. "Come on, let's just go."

So we started our journey and it felt good to be traveling the countryside with them again. It brought back good memories of the times we had back then. Of course, it wasn't exactly the same without Sango and Shippo with us and we didn't have the added pressure of trying to find the sacred jewel or encountering Naraku or some other enemy, but the spirit was still there.

"This is so fun," I said about an hour into our trip. "It's just like old times."

"Not exactly," Inuyasha replied.

"No, but it's close enough." I leaned into his shoulder. "I'm glad I can come with you."

"I'm glad you're here," Inuyasha said before kissing me.

"I agree, Kagome," Miroku said. "Inuyasha is much more cheerful with you around." There was a traveler up ahead with a horse-drawn cart full of some kind of supplies. "You there!" Miroku said as he ran over to him.

For a moment I was confused, but then I realized Miroku was up to his old tricks.

"Do you realize that your cart has a demonic aura around it?" Miroku said.

The man looked horrified. "Oh no!"

"Please, allow me to use my spiritual powers to ensure that you have safe travels."

"Yes, please do, kind monk."

Miroku placed a sutra on the cart and said a chant. I rolled my eyes. I could tell there was no demonic aura around here. "The demons will now leave you alone."

"Thank you very much! Please accept this payment as a thank you."

"You're too kind," Miroku said, taking the money.

"You're right, Kagome," Inuyasha said as Miroku came back over to us. "It is just like old times with Miroku being just as shady as always."

Miroku shrugged and handed us a portion of the money. "I've gotta make my living somehow. Shall we carry on?"

It was late afternoon when we arrived in the village. It was quite large with the huge palace of the lord in the center of it. We were escorted inside and Lord Isuko was distraught because of the demon that had been plaguing his temple for weeks.

"No other exorcist has been able to help. I've heard great things about you all and your abilities. If you can't help, I don't know what I'll do."

"It shouldn't be a problem at all," Miroku said. "Please show us to your temple."

We were shown to the large temple just outside of the palace grounds. I could already sense the strong demonic presence of the demon. It seemed to sense us as well and although we couldn't see the demon, the temple shook with its rage. Lord Isuko and his residents backed away fearfully.

"Whatever it is it's big," I said.

"Nothing we can't handle," Inuyasha said, pulling out his sword.

"Once I place the sutra, be ready for anything," Miroku said to us.

Inuyasha and I braced ourselves as Miroku placed a sacred sutra on the temple. There seemed to be an electric jolt and the huge demon with horns and huge claws was expelled from the temple with a loud roar.

Lord Isuko and everyone else ran.

"Keh! This is nothing!" Inuyasha said confidently. "Wind scar!"

The huge burst of power flew from the tetsusaiga towards the demon but it seemed to have no effect and the demon just laughed. Inuyasha was shocked. "What's up with this thing?"

"Look out!" I exclaimed as the demon charged at us.

We all separated to get out of the way. Then the demon came for me next. I screamed and jumped out of the way again. Miroku, who was closest to me, knocked it aside with his staff. In another second Inuyasha was by my side with his arms around me.

"Are you okay, baby?" he said, full of concern.

"Yes, I'm okay," I said. "Give it another wind scar, Yasha. I'll use one of my arrows."

"Got it!"

We had done this before and I was sure it would work. Inuyasha fired off another wind scar and I shot my arrow directly into it. Sure enough, the demon was obliterated.

"Alright!" I said happily as Inuyasha and I high fived.

"Excellent! Thank you so very much for your help!" Lord Isuko said as he and the others emerged from their hiding places.

"All in a day's work," Inuyasha said.

"Please accept this payment as my sincerest gratitude," he said, handing us quite a heavy bag of money. "You are also welcome to stay at my home for the night. I can have my chefs make you the finest meal."

We agreed to stay and followed him back to his palace. As we walked, I was stopped by the lord's daughter Mirika, a pretty girl about my age with long brown hair.

"Lady priestess, forgive me for stopping you but I must know...is that monk single?"

"Oh no, definitely not," I said with a laugh. "He's got a wife and three children back home."

"Oh, I see," she said, sounding disappointed. "Well, it doesn't hurt to try."

I met back up with Inuyasha and we were led into the palace dining hall. We noticed that Miroku was no longer with us and wondered where he had strayed off to. Then we saw him come in with the lord's daughter on his arm!

"What does he think he's doing?!" I exclaimed.

"Once a lecher, always a lecher," Inuyasha said. "I told Sango not to trust him, she should have listened to me."

"What are you doing?!" I said to Miroku as Inuyasha and I approached them. "Did you forget about your wife and children at home waiting for you?!" I glared at Lord Isuko's daughter as well since I had just told her that Miroku is a married man.

Inuyasha crosses his arms. "Miroku, you disappoint me."

"Hold on a second you two," Miroku said calmly. "You can't possibly think so low of me?"

"Well considering your previous history with women," Inuyasha said.

"I was just telling Mirika here that she is very lovely but I must be a faithful husband. Isn't that right?"

She looked disappointed but nodded. "Yes, it's true."

"Now how about that dinner?" Miroku said, separating himself from the girl. Then we walked off to the dining hall. Inuyasha was still glaring at him so Miroku turned to me. "Kagome, you believe me, don't you?"

"Yes, I believe you," I said with a sigh. "I know you're a faithful husband."

"You give him too much credit, Kagome," Inuyasha said.

"As much as I miss the touch of a woman, I'm not going to seek it out from just anyone," Miroku said. "That was the old me."

Just when I thought things were going to calm down, after dinner I found Mirika flirting with Inuyasha!

The two were outside the dining hall and Mirika was trying to put her arms around him. I was furious with anger although it was quickly directed at her because Inuyasha clearly looked uncomfortable.

"What are you doing?!" he said, trying to push her off him.

"I'm in love with you," she said lustfully. "You're so hot. I don't care if you're a half-demon. Come to my bed tonight. I'll have all of your children."

"You're crazy, get away from me!"

"Excuse me!" I said as I approached them. "What's the matter with you?" I said to Mirika as I stepped between them. "What makes you think you can just flirt with everyone's husband?"

"I didn't know he was your husband," she said innocently.

"Oh sure," Inuyasha said, rolling his eyes.

"He'd be better off as my husband."

"What?!" I exclaimed.

"You're ridiculous," Inuyasha said to her. I was ready to completely lay into her, I had quite a few words to say about her attitude. I guess Inuyasha picked up on this because he took my hand and dragged me away.

We were shown to our room for the night, which was quite big and luxurious. I was still mad at Mirika as I took the white ribbon out of my hair.

"I haven't seen you this mad in ages," Inuyasha said, clearly amused, as he took off his fire rate robe.

"That girl's got a lot of nerve!" I said. "'He'd be better off as my husband.' Who says that?!"

He put his arms around me and placed his forehead on mine. "I think you need to relax."

"You think so?" By the way, he kissed me, I immediately knew what kind of relaxing he meant.

"Weren't we in the middle of something this morning? I think we should finish that."

It had been a long day and some lovemaking was definitely what we needed. I let him lead me to the bed and I tried not to moan too loudly. I would have been mortified if Miroku had heard me.

Luckily we were able to get home the next day without incident. No Mirika flirting with Inuyasha and Miroku, no more demons. Despite it all, it was a fun journey. Sango actually thought the Mirika thing was funny when I told her today. It makes me wonder when our next journey will be and what it will bring.