The next villiage over was a bit larger than the first. Granted, it was no New York city, but it was more 'peopled' than the other, more suburban villiages had been. The buisy, crowded streets yammered away about nothing particular, or at least no commen thread of conversation could be decifered, and life milled around in the same fashon as a swarm of man-eating bees.
Miroku staggered up to the tea house, using his staff to prop himself up, panting heavily after running all the way from the path in the woods. He leaned against the porch banaster and looked over his shoulder, gasping for breath.
"For some pampered princess, she's exhuberent..." He huffed. He could still hear her calling after him.
He sighed and seated himself heavily on the steps, throwing his head back wearily and staring straight upward at nothing till she caught up.
"You immature bastard!" She hollored, panting a little less than he, but still wiped out.
Without looking forward, he put his hands in the air defensivly. "I give up, I give up! Just-" he turned toward her then, "Let me buy you lunch, and we'll discuss it."
"..." She scowled. "Stop trying to bribe me."
He shrugged. "Fine. Don't eat lunch. I'll see you later then." He stood up with the aid of his staff and gently removed his sandles, climbing up the stairs in the process.
She watched him sullenly, glaring as he entered the building, and took a seat outside near where she stood. He then deliberatly ate his meal infront of her, slowely nibbling away at the octipus balls without granting her eyecontact. He sighed, placing the last back down on his plate, then lifted his tea, sipping just as maliciously as he had consumed the rest of his meal. Reikin sighed, but not with the same contentment as the monk. "Ah, you have no idea how much I hate you." She flipped off her shoes as well and went up the stares to join him.
"I can only imagine." He said, smirking over his cup.
She ordered her meal, as expensive as she could manage (a small revenge, if he was going to pay, he was goiny to pay) and they finnished eating in silence. As he settled the bill with their waiter, she just glared sullenly.
"Is that money stolen as well?" she hissed on the way down the road.
He kept a dignified conposier and decided not to answer. Instead he looked sharply to his left.
"What? What now??" her hands went to her hips and she stopped as he did.
"... something's comming." He said, drawing his staff in front of himself definsivly.
Suddenly, the sky went dark and a hush fell across the villiage as the locals gathered to see what was going on. Miroku's gaze shot upward, and a blue streak shot toward the ground, landing with a crash. "W-what-what is that??" Reikin shouted, pointing. Everyone nearby ran away, screeming as the dust cleared from impact.
"You'd better watch youself. I don't want to worry about you if this get's.... serious..." He said, sinking into a ready stance.
Green eyes blazed in the dust, as yellow teeth flashed in the artificial darkness. "Gu gu gu gu gu gu..." it laughed and thrashed forward, toward the monk. It's head was long and thin, neck connected to a bird-like body with six bat wings. A taloned foot sliced horizontally in Miroku's direction as he dodged so the left, jumping forward and smashing it's snout with the meatle part of his staff, creating a thin red line on blue and purple skin. It lowered it's head and hissed angrily.
"Ah, you didn't like that at all, did you? Now, what's gotten you all riled up?" He said as though he where just talking to a man walking down the street.
It ignored him and turned an ugly head toward the masses of people who shyly watched from a safe distance... or what they thought was safe. It flapped it's wings, taking to the air, then swooping downward, fangs beared. Blue and crimson fire shot out towards the masses and forked upward toward the roofs of the buildings on either side.
Miroku breathed a profanity and ran toward the beast once again, raising his staff above his head, he lept up high, striking the thing down the middle, slicing it in two. "Ignore me will you??"
He landed, and skidded to a stop on the other side, panting.
"H-houshi-sama... that.... that was great!" A villager shouted. The crowd began to close in slightly.
Miroku's ears twitched and he turned sharply. "Stay back!" He shouted, facing the two halves of demon corpse.
They began to twitch. The green eyes suddenly blazed to light once again, and the twisted half smiles on the two halves of faces suddenly became whole. The demon then arose, only now it was plural. Demons. The two creatures then hissed like it had befor and charged Miroku head on. He gasped and dodged just in time, falling to the dirt then pushing himself up in an "almost-handspring".
They lept into the air and closed in on him, on biting his arm, the other his leg. He gave out a yell of pain, but with his free had slashed with his weapon, knocking off their heads. He fell to the ground wincing. Luckily, their jaws where not very strong and his wounds where minor; just little scratches. He panted on the ground for a moment befor realising with horror that now four demons stood behind him, grinning with their green eyes shining brightly. "Wh-what the hell??" He shouted befor rolling to the side as a ball of blue and red fire shot past him. He jumped to his feet and began running, drawing the demons away from the villiage. The fight continued, and as most heroes who fight this sort of demon, Miroku had not figured out quick enough that cutting apart the monster simply did not work, and he soon found himself surrounded with a hundred snarling, snapping jaws.
Meanwhile, Reikin had followed him outside the villiage with a bunch of other curious bystanders and peered at him from the gate. "Don't die... don't get hurt..." She whispered to herself.
Miroku didn't have much time to think. He was running on instincts now, thrashing about when he wasn't blocking a talon or spiked tail. He then dodged under one beast's legs and ran ahead, seperating himself from them a little. This gave him enough time to draw up his arm. Around his purple glove was a long string of skyblue, almost pearly white rosaries.
Reikin grew mad. "What the hell is that supposed to d-" a slight wind wipped by her.
He then removed the string of beads.
His seal was released.
His hand shot forward as he steadied himelf with his left which grabbed his right at the wrist. A black light seered through the darkness as a gust of wind shot toward him, drawn by his open right hand palm. "HOURIKI!" He shouted, his sandleless feet digging into the earth as the wind drew the beasts toward him. With a shreek they where dragged kicking and screeming into oblivion, sucked into his palm.
Reikin's eyes widened in horror as she desperatly grabbed hold of the gate she hid behind. "What... what is..." She clenched them shut and hugged the gate.
Within a few minutes it was done. The wind suddenly receeded and the dust settled, revieling the monk standing alone on the hill. The sky cleared and sun shot down onto him as he stood there, wavering slightly, his arms and legs bleeding and his hand clutching the rosary which wrapped around his wrist. Reikin stood, and then ran out to him. "You stupid bouzu! What the hell did you do??"
He turned to her softly. "R-rei..." He then fell backward to the ground, unconcious.
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
The old woman slid the door open and approached Reikin who sat just inside the building, full of worry. She put a hand on the girl's shoulder. "He'll be alright, don't worry. He was just poisoned from the demon's fangs. With the remidy I gave him, your husband should be fine."
Reikin looked up, relieved. "Oh good... he had me so worr-
wait... husband?" She turned to face the old lady sharply.
"Who's husband are you talking about, obaba?" [[
The woman bowed, embarrased. "I'm so sorry! I thought he was your husband, the way you where so worried..."
"Teh. I wish he had died, the stupid lech... eccept that he owes me something..."
An akward silence befell the two women. Reikin dabbed her eye with her sleave. "Listen, thank you. Thank you for your hospitality... I didn't mean to offend you."
The old woman smiled. "It's quite all right. You can go in to see him if you wish..."
Without looking up, Reikin nodded and stood. She slid the door open and went into the dimly lit room where Miroku lay sleeping. "You idiot." she whispered.
He stirred in his sleep, sweat dripping down his brow as the poisen flowed out of his system. She walked up to him and dipped a cloth she drew from her sleeve into the bamboo tube of water that lay by his bedside. She kneeled down to his futon and began dabbing his forhead. "...idiot..."
Suddenly, she felt something on her rear like she had back beside the fishpond. She turned sharply to see his hand planted firmly on her bum. "W-w-w-w-w-w-w-whatthehellareyoutryingtopullhuh??" She squeeled, dumping the tube on his head.
He blinked at her. "What ever are you talking about?" He said softly, smiling weakly.
"Bah. Once a lech, always a lech. Why don't you go and die somewhere??"
He chuckled then winced, looking straight up at the ceiling. "I guess I am an idiot, aren't I?"
Her look turned stern, then concerned. "What... was that... what was that that you did back there...with your hand...?"
"..." he closed his eyes. "...so, you saw that?"
She nodded.
He sat up, pain on his face. His kesa had been removed and his komono hung around his waist leaving him topless, his hands in his lap. His look became very serious as he looked up at the girl who kneeled beside him. "The kazaana... this "air-rip" in my left hand... is a curse..."
He then explained to her his dilemma. He explained how his grandfather, who also had been a priest, battled the demon Naraku, but lost and a curse was cut deep into his hand which would consume him unless he killed Naraku. It would continue to pass on through his decendants untill his blood-line was stopped. Now it had befallen on Miroku to save himself and his family. His grandfather and father had already fallen to the curse (his father right in front of him) and each day he lived in fear that it would happen to him.
She took in all of this with a worried expression. She turned her back from him. "So... you're going to die?"
He nodded, even though he knew she couldn't see him... she already knew the answer. They sat in silence for a while, alowing her to digest all of this. "It will swallow me..." he cut off, remembering how all that was left of his father was a crater.
"I- i see..." she said, curtly.
He slowely got to his feet, and slipped an arm into a sleeve of his robes, one hanging at his waist as he reached for his staff which was leaning on the wall to the side. She said nothing as he picked up his neatly folded kesa and tossed it over his shoulder, carfully wraping it around him and tying it across his chest. He slowely shuffled to the door, still sore from the poison. As his hand reached the side of it's paper cerface, his fingers touched it's wood trim and he looked down.
"It- was nice meeting you, Reikin-hime." He said, then slid the door open and left.
She watched his retreating shadow, her eyes red. Too much had happened too fast... she wasn't sure what to do. Soon he would be gone...
She looked up sharply. Why did she care? It wasn't like she loved him or anything... he was a theiving, lecherous jerk! But then again... since she met him, all he had done was save her... She stood up, and ran out of the building after him. "Wait!" she called.
He turned, surprised. "...?"
She caught up with him and stood awkwardly across from him. "You... you still have my pendant." she said.
Miroku smiled, leaning on his staff. "Persistant, aren't you?" He then kept walking.
"Hey! HEY! Where do you think you're going??" She stomped after him.
"So, you're comming with me anyway?" He smiled, straining to walk but not wanting to show signs of weakness.
"Damn straight I'm comming! Without me, you'd go and get yourself killed somewhere... besides, I want that pendant!"
They continued their slow-paced chase into the next day.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Weeks later, there was the sound of a demon's cry as a dark shadow burst from the door of a building as Miroku, now fully recovered lept after, close on it's heals. The monster rat demon skittered down the road, the size of a dog with it's six red eyes flashing. People jumped out of the way as Miroku swung down with his staff for the kill.
Reikin sat back at the house, talking pleasently with it's owner as he came back in, the beast swung over his shoulder as he let out a sigh. "I think that's it, sir." He said politaly to the man who looked up from Reikin and removed his pipe.
"Thank you, Houshi-sama! Thank you! You have no idea how long it has pleagued us! If you hadn't come along..."
"It was nothing! I just saw people in need and-"
"Please! Please! Let me get you lunch as payment!" The man quickly scurried from the room.
Miroku watched him leave befor smiling at Reikin and tossing a couple of the gold boxes that sat out on a shelf into his sleave. "Lets get going... grab those silks behind you- with that we'll have ten lunches." He whispered before dashing off.
Reikin had given into his way of life. True it was dishonest, but if you thought about it, when he saved so many people's lives, he did realy deserve more than a few bowls of rice and a fish. She sullenly just went with the flow.
Later that afternoon, they sat down just outside of the other side of the villiage at the edge of the woods.
"Listen, I'm going to go find out where I can sell these... find a nice place for camp, and I'll be back with things for dinner." He said, using some of the silk to carry the other items he had.
"Fine, fine. Just- don't get distracted," she said, standing up and turning into the woods.
He watched her go. "Just what did she mean by that?" he pondered.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
With the money 'well earned' now pocketed safely within his robes, Miroku made his way back to the woods. Things had been going smoothly for a change. As he headed down a deer path, a smell came to his sences... sulfer. That ment there might be a nice hot-spring around. He smiled. It was about time he freshened up. He followed the path and then veered off to the right, drawn by the smell. A medium sized spring lay befor him, a little steam wifting into the air. He looked around to make sure that he was alone and then set his things off to the side as he slipped into the water, sighing and leaning back on a large rock that sat in the middle.
Suddenly, he heard a noise to his side, and he turned sharply.
"Of all things... 'Go find a camp and I'll be right back!' Riiight. oofah, he's probably picking up poor unsuspecting girls again. Bear his child indeed. He's just trying to find the easy way out... leave the dirty work to someone ealse, just like his dad." Reikin sulked angrily as she stomped into the spring, not noticing the second set of clothes set on the other side of the tree.
Miroku gulped and dodged to the other side of the rock as she began to bathe, oblivious to him.
"He hasn't even tried to find that Naraku guy... jeeze, and he acts so serious about it too. Man, if it where me I would have just sought the guy out directly and WAM! Problem solved. I kill him, and get my life back. No more sad attemps at getting some sort of relationship going in a short period of time."
Miroku leaned against the rock, listening intently. Was this really what she thought of him??
"I mean, he's got some sort of confidence disorder, if you ask me... most likely gay. He tries so hard to proove his masqulenity."
Miroku gagged, and dodged under the water to stop himself from shouting. He cerfaced again, uncertanly. He looked around. There was no way for him to get away without her noticing. Why did she have to complain to herself out loud??
Her venting gradually fizziled out into an angered grumble. He was only able to catch things like "treats me like a maid" and "what am I, his mother? Who was his mother, anyway?? Bet he never even knew her..."
Soon a silence fell across the spring as Reikin leaned back against the rock that Miroku hid behind. She was so close... if he made a single noise, he would be caught... A slight wind swept across the woods. Reikin closed her eyes and sighed.
Miroku's nose twitched. "Shit." he breathed. He needed to sneeze. He couldn't move. One splash and he was caught. he couldn't go under the water, it would make noise. His nose burned. He heald his breath. He slowely raised a hand to his mouth. His head jerked as he managed to muffle the explosion of air. He blinked. She hadn't seemed to notice it. He sighed in relief and went to lean back again, when suddenly, his foot lost traction. With a slpash, he was suddenly in the water again.
Reikin let out a startled cry and whirrled around. "AAAHH!!! Not only are you a lech, but a peeping tom too!!" She jumped down so that the water came up to her shoulders.
"You're the one who came in on me!"
"A likely story!"
"Honestly! I was here first!"
"Why didn't you say anything??"
"I didn't really have a chance now did I??"
They both stood there awkwardly facing oposite directions.
"So- uh, how are we going to get out?"
"You go first, I'll wait here, facing this way." Miroku said, his face bright red.
"No way, you peeping tom! You go first, and get far away! I mean, I'll meet you back at the path!"
"How do I know you won't spy on me?" Miroku spat.
She rolled her eyes. "Excuse me, there's a level of maturity girls are born with that men don't reach untill they're forty."
He thought for a minute. "Sexest." He began to move toward the shore. "Fine." He dodged behind the tree, grabbing his things and throwing his black robe around him befor sullenly skulking off into the woods.
to be continued...
The rant: This chapter was very random. Uh, I think that happened because I had so many random ideas, but kept getting writer's block (go figure). You see, I have an idea of where this is going to go, but the problem is going from point A to point B. I need to develope their 'relationship' a bit more befor I could actually begin the 'story'. Oh, re: the hot spring thing... hey, every good fanfic has a scene like this! Notice how expertly I guided it around so that it didn't turn into a lemon. =^-^= I'm not a hentai kind of girl! (Well, actually, I hate to admit it, but I actually really like yaoi doujinshi, but that's besides the point.) Heh, heh. The best (or worst) insult for Miroku would be calling him "gay" wouldn't it? =^-^= Well, I think I have developed the characters enough. Let's add a badguy. heh heh. See you next chapter!
Questions? Comments? nekoyasha@jusenkyo.com or check out my website www.geocities.com/nekoyasha42 ! Lots of doujinshi, fan art, etc! =^-^=
~Neko
