Half Breed's Song

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Hiya! Clear Shadow here. I feel I should answer a question that was posted as a review. Perhaps I should have taken care of it at the beginning. The question was "Where's Sango and Kagome?" Kagome is in here. Only, because the story isn't about her she's not mentioned a lot. Sango on the other hand, is a character that I haven't seen a lot of. I haven't seen any of her episodes in the anime and only read three manga's with her in them. Although, she does play a small part in the up coming sequel to this fic.

Also, to anyone who doesn't like sadness, this chapter has a bunch. It's the last chapter of Half Breed's Song and ends in a bit of a cliffie. Ah well, enjoy!

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Chiyumi slept the entire next day and well into the evening. When she did wake up, Miroku told her that Inuyasha and Kagome had gone to a nearby town to see if there was a doctor, and Ashi had taken Hoshi and Shippo to get some fish.

"Leaving me here with you?" she asked, "That worries me a little you know," Miroku sighed good-humouredly and Chiyumi chuckled. She began to sit up, someone had replaced her bandages but unfortunately Kagome's shirt was in tatters.

"Are you sure you should be getting up? Please, at least stay sitting."

"Alright. Can you do me a favor then? I brought my sewing supplies can you get them? I'd like to fix Kagome-Chan's shirt," he glanced at her a little suspiciously, "I promise to stay sitting if you do."

"Alright," the moment his back was turned Chiyumi went up into a nearby tree. Miroku nearly dropped her things when he noticed.

"You said you'd stay sitting!"

"Yes, but I never said where I'd stay sitting," to her relief he chuckled.

"Ok then, how do you suppose I get these to you?"

"You can come up here and join me. That's how."

"Me climb a tree?"

"It's not hard," Miroku looked distrustingly at the tree, shrugged, and began climbing, "See?" Chiyumi asked when he was up there, "I told you it wasn't hard. It's easier if you're not carrying a bunch of stuff."

"I can imagine," they sat in silence for a bit, Chiyumi completely absorbed in her work and Miroku completely absorbed in Chiyumi.

"Miroku-san?"

"Hm?"

"What are you thinking about?"

"How beautiful you are—I mean! I'm sorry! I didn't mean to say that!" Chiyumi chuckled.

"You're a lot like your grandfather you know that? He did stuff like that."

"He did?"

"Yep," she bit off a piece of thread, "He was a very awkward young man. They said, the villagers where he lived, they said that the only reason he was Kikyo's assistant was because she was a beautiful woman, frankly I'm inclined to agree. He was a bit of a kimono chaser," Miroku smiled to himself.

"Did he ever ask you to…"

"To have his child? Once. And this was before he placed the beads on me and therefore before Naraku cursed him."

"What did you tell him?"

"Someday."

"You told him 'someday'?"

"Yep. Though if he had persisted I would've given in willingly."

"You must have loved him."

"I did…maybe I still do. I can't forgive him for placing those beads on me and I still feel guilty."

"Why?"

"It's like I took Hoshi's life when you took the beads off."

"No," he said firmly, Chiyumi looked at him questioningly, "That demon took her life. She died that night and it wasn't your fault!" she smiled.

"…Thank you. I needed to hear that."

"Chiyumi?"

"Yes?"

"What if…what if I asked you to…to…"

"To bear your child?"

"No…what if I asked for a kiss? Would you stab me with a sewing needle?"

"I dunno. Try me," Miroku leaned in and receiving no stab from a needle, gently pressed his lips to hers. Chiyumi's sewing fell into her lap as she put her arms around Miroku's shoulders. Suddenly there was an intense pain from her wound and she accidentally bit down on his lower lip.

"Oh! I'm so sorry!" Miroku touched the inside of his lip with the back of his hand and winced.

"Your side?" Chiyumi nodded, placing two fingers on the abused lip in apology.

"Not very romantic is it?" Miroku chuckled.

"You are so cute you know that?"

"Yes, I know," she found his other hand and laced their fingers together. Miroku pulled her to him so her head rested on his shoulder, "I wish I knew why this is happening," she whispered.

"So do I, so I would know how to stop it. I like you better when you're pain- free and happy."

"Chiyumi and Miroku! Sittin' in a tree! K-I-S-S-I-N-G!!!" they looked down.

"Ashi-sama! Don't say things like that!"

"Yeah well, there are impressionable kids that can see that disgusting display of public affection," Chiyumi laughed.

"What impressionable kids?" she asked, dislodging herself from Miroku's hold and jumping down from the tree, "The only child I see is you Ashi. 'Kids' is a plural word."

"Did that make sense to anyone but you?" Miroku joined them a second or two later.

"It made sense to me."

"Ayashi-Chan, where's Shippo?"

"Dunno, and don't call me that."

"Ayashi."

"Don't call me that! I really don't know!"

"He strung him up a tree," Hoshi replied.

"Shut up!"

"Ashi!" he looked at her, slightly sheepish, "Go get him."

"Why?"

"Ashi!" grumbling somewhat he left and Chiyumi sighed, "He is just so mean isn't he Hoshi-Chan?"

"Yes," she climbed up to Chiyumi's head, "Are you feeling better?"

"Why, so I can cook for all of you?"

"Yes…no…yes."

"I'm feeling much better, thank you. C'mon let's cook those fish."

*~*~*~*~*~*

"You're in luck ya pain in the ass," Inuyasha commented as he and Kagome returned.

"Why?" Chiyumi wanted to know.

"The nearest town is one where they train doctors. The town's full of 'em."

"Great."

"So c'mon. Let's go," Chiyumi gave her head a mental shake.

" S'cuse me? What? Now?"

"Yeah. Oh come on, it's only a couple of hours. And you an' me are the only one leavin'"

"…If it's alright, I'd like to go as well," Inuyasha gave Miroku a suspicious glare.

"Why?"

"Just let him Chibi-hanyou-kun."

"I will if you stop callin' me that!" Chiyumi flapped a hand at him and stood up.

"I wanna go too!" Hoshi exclaimed. Chiyumi smiled at her as she placed the Kitsune in Kagome's arms.

"Not this time Hoshi-Chan."

"But—"

"No buts. Stay with Kagome, Shippo, and Ashi and be good, ok? You too Ayashi."

"Don't call me that," Chiyumi smirked.

"Then behave."

Inuyasha was correct when he said that the town was only a few hours distance. Of course that was a few hours, tree hopping. If it had been only a few hours walking Chiyumi would've asked what had taken her brother and Kagome so long. The village itself was really small, it seemed that the only thing there were houses, and the medical school. Once inside the village an old woman who introduced herself as Hikari met them.

"So then child, ye are the one?"

"Yes."

"Come then. Follow me, you two lads can stay here," Miroku opened his mouth to protest then closed when Chiyumi smiled at him. Hikari took the girl to a small-enclosed area surrounded by trees. "My child, I fear that the source of thine troubles was birthed by this village."

"I don't understand."

"Long ago when I was but child, a woman was tortured here for they thought she was demon. She was burned at the stake but instead of dying she was reborn into a demon. Her name is Hikori."

"I still don't understand what that has to do with me."

"I fear that she is the one who gave thou that wound."

"Uh...no…the demon who stabbed me was definitely a male."

"Ah, but the sword he wielded had been in Hikori's service. The wound pains ye when ye experience feelings of intense joy does it not?" Chiyumi looked back, thinking. It had hurt every time she thought she was happy.

"But I still don't understand why."

"Who knows why Hikori chooses the people she chooses? She must want ye to suffer for some reason."

"But— But I don't even know her."

"But she know ye, that is certain. Ye must find her and kill her, child. That is the only way to break the curse. Ye must travel alone, for your friends and brother bring ye happiness do they not? With every feeling of joy ye have the pain will get worse and worse until it finally destroys ye."

"How do you know?"

"That is the power Hikori gained when she was re-born. We are a town of doctors because every now and again one of us will experience this. We do what we can to make they person comfortable. I can give you herbs that will cause ye—"

"Depression? I'm to find this woman, alone and I'm unable to feel happiness until she's dead?!? Is that it?!?" she stood up, "That…that sucks!"

"I know child, I know. There is nothing else I can do for ye. I am sorry."

"Fine. Give me the damn medicine," Hikari stood up as well and took Chiyumi's hand.

"Ye will suffer much my child, I will not lie to ye. Ye will suffer much," Chiyumi nodded.

When Chiyumi walked back to where her brother and Miroku were waiting anxiously, she had already taken some of Hikari's medicine.

"Well?" Inuyasha demanded, "What the hell happened? Why do you look so sad?"

"Chiyumi?" Miroku asked softly, "What is the matter?"

"I cannot stay with you," she murmured, "Any of you," she continued walking, Inuyasha and Miroku shared a glance than caught up.

"You wanna run that again?"

"My wound. It only pains me when I am happy," she said dully, "So therefore I must leave you, for you make me happy," Miroku grabbed her shoulders and spun her so she faced him, there were tears in her eyes when she looked up into his dark eyes, "I have to find a demon named Hikori and kill her. Until then I can't be with you."

"You can't just find this demon by yourself."

"I have to! Don't you get it I have to!" she slammed her fists on his chest and burst into tears, "If I stay with you the pain will get worse and worse until I die! IS that what you want? Is it?!" Miroku looked at Inuyasha who nodded and left them alone.

"Chiyumi, look at me," she obeyed, " Of course that isn't what I want. I want you to get better. I do," he hugged her to him, "Promise me that whatever happens that you will return to us…to me," he put his mouth close to her ear and whispered, "I ask you this know only because this may be my last chance. Will you bear my child?" Chiyumi pushed herself away from him.

"Is that all you think about?"

"Answer the question."

"Perhaps."

"That's all?" Chiyumi sighed, swallowing more tears.

"That's the best I can do until my curse is removed."

"Then that will suffice. Be careful," Chiyumi bowed.

"And you…Chibi-monk-kun."