Chapter 5: Enter the Monk.
The Miko slept so peacefully. I brushed her hair out of her face, observing her closely, she stilled looked drain physically though. She smelled fine. I placed my hand on her forehead. She had no fever, I could hear her heart beating, but she slept as though she was one of the dead. I could hear the half-breed coming closer. He let out a deep sigh.
"Not again, Kagome."
I glanced at him out of the corner of my eye.
"This has happened before." I surmised.
He glared at me. "Who said you could speak to me, you runt?"
I sighed. "I do not know why I expected an actual response from you. You are a typical half-breed."
He growled. "I could kill you right here, right now. So I dare ya to call me that again."
"You could try and kill me. Do not let my size fool you. I am much older than you boy, and even if you managed to kill me. Your Miko here would never forgive you."
He clenched his jaw, leaning back. He knew that I was right. Several moments had passed, and I could still feel his eyes on me.
I quirked a brow. "Is there something that I can help you with?"
"Where the hell did she pick you up from anyway? You smell of ash and old soil."
I kept my eyes on the Miko. Eyeing her condition carefully.
"You have been nothing but rude and childish since the moment you met me. Yet you want me to answer your question?"
"Keh. Whatever." He said folding his arms.
I had already told that story to one person. I had no intention of ever telling it to anyone again.
Hours had passed and she showed no signs of changing nor waking up. Just how long would she be like this? She could not keep her promise if she was going to sleep her life away in some cave like this.
"You don't have to hover over her like that. Give her some space." he chided.
My eyes narrowed at him. "I am not a child. Do not chastise me as if I were one. One day I will pull your tongue from your head, and watch you gargle your own blood."
He scoffed. "I know an arrogant half-breed-hating bastard just like you, and he has yet to act on any of his threats. You two are just alike."
I turned my gaze back onto the Miko. "I do not make threats, boy. I make promises."
He let out a full-bellied laugh. "You're so pitiful. Still so small at your age. As if anyone could be threatened by the likes of you."
I ignored his obvious taunting, listening and waiting.
He scoffed. "What now? Cat got your tongue?"
"Someone is here," I said, without moving.
The buffoon clumsily shot to his feet sword in his hand. I'm surprised he didn't even realize that someone was coming. Maybe I had given him too much credit. I tilted my head back to see a man dressed in robes; a staff in hand.
A monk, slayer, half-breed, and a miko. What a strange combination for a group of companions.
"Inuyasha?" He'd said, confused.
His eyes traveled past the half-breed and to the woman, whom the Miko had healed. He had dropped to his knees, burying his face into his palms bawling like a child. He had most likely expected to come back and find her dead here.
I see. She is his woman.
He went to her side, placing her hand in his own, placing a kiss on the back of her hand. He stared at her adoringly. Humans; caught up in such a trivial thing as love. He traced his fingers over the scar on her stomach. The monk set her hand down, turning his attention to the half-breed.
"I will have to thank Lady Kagome once she wakes up."
"If she wakes up." the half-breed chimed in.
He nodded. "Who might you be?" he asked, gesturing over to me.
"My name is Shippo."
"It is nice to make your acquaintance Shippo."
I nodded. "Likewise."
He gave me a small smile. "Exactly how old are you Shippo? You do not have the mannerisms of a child."
At least the monk has enough sense to notice.
"Well over two hundred years," I told him.
You could see the surprise on his face.
"If you do not mind me asking. How did you come across our lady Kagome? I know you didn't come here with that grouch over there." he said pointing to the half-breed.
"The Miko has agreed to help me with something. I will let her explain it to you once she awakens. What did you mean when and if she wakes up?"
"You see, she has done this twice before. Once for me and once for Inuyasha. As I am sure that you saw, this process is very taxing. The first time she only needed a few hours to recover. The second time, two days had passed before she had woken up. The damage to Sango was extremely extensive. The is no telling how much time she will need to recover this time."
"So she just needs to replenish her stamina?"
"Correct."
"I see. Then there is a way that I can help with that. If I remember correctly. In this area, there should be a flower plant eleuthero. They hang from trees. Their stems are long and blue, and instead of flowers, they favor the small fruit called a blueberry. Which one of you are going to retrieve it?"
"I'm not leaving Kagome's side, and I cannot leave Sango." They'd said.
I sighed. "Fine. I will do it myself."
I stretched out my hand, encasing the Miko in foxfire.
"Oi! What the hell are you doing!?"
"Calm down you fool, before you attract unwanted attention. It is only foxfire. It can be used as a defense mechanism. I made a deal with the Miko, and she is under my protection until her she has fulfilled her side." I said walking towards the entrance of the cave.
It seems I would have to do everything myself.
Eleuthero, or Siberian ginseng, is a plant used in herbal medicine to treat dozens of health conditions. It is believed to increase energy.