Part 8

Inuyasha was half-demon and as such he had an over-developed sense of smell. And something was driving him nuts.

He smelled Naraku all around him, but the villain was no where in sight, nor did he sense him anywhere in the area. However, he could "smell" him near-by. And yet, there was something "different" about it. He couldn't quite put his finger on it.

Kagome had tried to calm him down, but once he had his sights on a target he was in his own little world where no one could enter and that was quite often. But no amount of searching brought his hunt for Naraku to an end.

Inuyasha and company were in grass fields on a flat plain surrounded by forest.

"He's 'ere! He's 'ere! I can smell'em!" Inuyasha said, on all fours with his nose to the ground. "That scent is undeniable. He's either 'ere or he's been 'ere recently. Either way I want to know where 'e is."

"We've been searching high and low for Naraku, Inuyasha, but he's not here," Miroku said, feeling tired after a long day following Inuyasha around from village to village on the trail of what Inuyasha thought was Naraku. "I think your imagination is playing tricks on you." He turned to the others who were near-by. "I think we should camp here for the night. It's nearly dusk and it'll be dark soon."

"I think that's a good idea," Kagome agreed. "We can begin our search for Naraku and more Suikon Jewel shards tomorrow. Besides my feet are killing me."

"I give very good feet rubs," Miroku said smiling. "A monk should be versatile in all sorts of different traits of relief and pleasure." He sighed softly. "If only Sango would relent, I could ease her woes and give her something she'll never forget."

Inuyasha looked back at him. "Pervert!"

"I meant a foot massage or a back rub, what do you think I meant?"

"We all know what you meant, Miroku," Inuyasha said with a huff. "And it's a good thing Sango was out of earshot of that. She would've whacked you so hard for it."

Miroku cocked an eye-brow. "Yes, well…maybe I need to choose my words more carefully from now on. I wouldn't want to get slapped." Miroku suddenly smiled.

"And what's that goofy look fer, huh? Your mind is dirty for a monk."

"I'm a monk, Inuyasha, but I'm also a man of the people. I must empathize with people to relieve them of their worries according to my teachings. Words are powerful."

"Yeah! And when I find Naraku, I'm gonna him a piece of my mind!"

"You don't have much to spare, Inuyasha," Miroku said sarcastically.

"Har-har!"

"Ah," Kagome said, finally speaking up, "that's okay Miroku, I think my feet will be okay without the foot rub, but thanks for offering."

Shippo said, "I could use a good foot massage," he said smiling. "My little feet were bred for walking, but a foot is a foot, right?"

Miroku sighed. "Yes, I suppose you're right," he said.

Inuyasha smirked. "Shoulda kept your mouth shut, huh?"

Shippo sat down and Miroku then began to rub the little fox demon's feet. He was a monk and was taught that kindness wasn't reserved merely for humans, but for all creatures.

Kagome chuckled.

"What's going on?" Sango asked, coming over with Kirana. They had been apart from the others, near the edge of the forest. Kirara needed to relieve herself and Sango had gone with her.

Kagome told Sango what had just happened.

Sango started to chuckle as Shippo's tail started to twitch, and said, "Be careful you don't get him too excited, Miroku, you might start something neither of you can finish."

Miroku rolled his eyes and continued to rub Shippo's feet.

Meanwhile Inuyasha had his nose to the ground in an effort to locate Naraku's scent, but it appeared he still couldn't pinpoint an exact location and it was starting to bother him through frustration. Miroku had noticed it, but didn't know what to do. Inuyasha had been acting like this ever since their last encounter with Naraku.

"Ah, that's better," Shippo said. "Thanks Miroku."

"Glad I could help," Miroku replied appreciatively. But he wished it had been Sango's feet.

Miroku noticed the girls broke ranks and sat down next to a large oak tree together. Kagome began to rub her feet. Miroku frowned that she wouldn't allow him to rub them, fearing his hands were touch another put of her body. He supposed he had a little bit of reputation for the ladies. But it was his nature, and despite his religious endowment, he was a man.

"Inuyasha, stop all that sniffing, and come over here and sit down with us," Kagome said.

All of a sudden Inuyasha's face smashed to the ground. "Ow! Kagome!" Inuyasha voice irked, looking in her direction. "Now what was that for?"

Kagome started to chuckle. Sango had a laugh too. "Sorry Inuyasha, I didn't mean to say that," she said. "I meant for you to come here and relax with the rest of us."

"There's no time to relax," he said, getting up. "By tomorrow Naraku's scent might be gone. If you wanna rest, then that's fine! But I'm carrin' on the search without ya. Naraku's 'ere, I can smell'em! His scent is stronger 'ere than every where we've looked today."

"You may be half-demon, Inuyasha, and have energy to burn," Kagome said. "However, we humans need. We don't have your kind of energy."

"Humans are so weak," he said.

Miroku cringed. "And I have to mind my words?" he said.

Inuyasha's eyes widened and he slapped his hands to his mouth. He looked directly at Kagome. She didn't look happy, even offended. "I didn't mean it, Kagome. I meant to say, most humans are weak."

"Strike two, Inuyasha," Miroku commented, "to use an analogy from Kagome's time."

"I meant…Oh, no! Don't say it, Kagome," Inuyasha pleaded. He feared the worse, but as the seconds rolled by she didn't say it.

She just looked at him, and finally said, "Just keep digging yourself deeper into that hole, Inuyasha. When I said the 'S' word earlier it was by accident. So, we're even. But that still doesn't mean you can go insulting human's like that. Some of us are just as strong as some demons—in will, that is."

Inuyasha nodded, looking thankful. "Yup, sorry Kagome," he said.

All of sudden, Inuyasha whipped his head around, Miroku saw, and he immediately went on guard. Inuyasha went back on all fours like dog with his nose to the ground. Had he caught a whiff of Naraku again? According to everyone, it was the general consensus.

Inuyasha seemed to follow the scent out beyond the grasslands, but then soon lost it. He then looked around like some lost animal. "That's strange, Naraku's scent is fading," he said. Then he turned back and suddenly the scent appeared to get stronger again. Inuyasha joined the group. "Okay, what's goin' on? Naraku's scent is strongest 'ere, with you guys!"

"Here? With us?" Shippo asked curiously. "How can that be? Did Naraku spray us with something like an animal does his territory?" He sniffed both his underarms, but couldn't smell anything other than himself.

Inuyasha then sniffed Miroku all over. "You reek of demon crap," he spoke gruffly.

"That's not a very nice thing to say, Inuyasha," Kagome said.

"Well, I am cursed by him with this blasted wind tunnel," Miroku stated. "However, we did just have an encounter with Naraku and two members of the Band of Seven, Bankotsu and Jakotsu. So, there's bound to be traces of his scent on our clothes after the fact."

"That's not what I'm getting at. I don't smell Naraku on the others, only you."

"I assure you, Inuyasha, I hate Naraku just as much as you do."

"You smell like him—Naraku!"

"Tell you what, Inuyasha. The next river we come across I'll take a thorough bath. Maybe the girls can even help me wash my back and other hard to reach places?" Miroku smirked.

Sango and Kagome looked at him with unamused faces.

"I think you need one now," he said. "The smell is driving my nuts!"

Shippo stepped up. "Can we mask it?" he said, sniffing Miroku.

"What do you suggest, Shippo?" Miroku asked.

Shippo took two powder bombs from his assortment of items he kept in a pouch around his waist and then threw them at Miroku—Inuyasha jumped back in the niche of time—covering Miroku with white powder.

Miroku coughed, waving his hand through the air to disperse the powder. His face and clothes were now covered completely with white.

"Like that," Shippo said.

Both girls giggled.

However Inuyasha didn't find it amusing. "Hey!

Miroku looked at himself, a little annoyed but not upset. "Looks like I need to bath sooner rather than later," he said. Kagome handed him a cloth and Miroku wiped his face. "Thank you, Kagome," he said. But he knew it would take more to get it out of his hair.

"If I recall there was a river a few kilometres back," Sango said.

"I think we should make our way back," Miroku said. "I'd hate to smell like…" He sniffed his clothes, but couldn't detect a familiar odour, "…whatever this is?"

"I think Kirara can take us there quicker than on foot," Sango said. "Then we won't be walking in the dark."

"Good idea," Miroku said.

"Kirara?" Sango said.

Kirara transformed into her fiery, large cat alternate form and the three of them got on her back. Miroku looked back. Inuyasha was now chasing Shippo in revenge for his powder attack. "We'll let those two catch up, when they are ready," he said.

Kirara soared into the sky, and they were on their way.

After taking a relaxing dip in a smooth-flowing river that not only brought serenity to their bodies and minds, the girls at one end and the guys on the other, split with a divider of a natural rock formation—except for Shippo who ventured from end to end because he hadn't the inclination of modesty in being so young, and no one really cared—the group fell asleep under a cloudless, full moon night.

All except Inuyasha, who decided to keep an eye on Miroku, because despite his dip in the water, he still reeked of Naraku. But eventually, Inuyasha ventured off to sleep.

To be continued...