Chapter 4
Gapping at him, I didn't really notice that he was walking away.
"Miroku!" Inuyasha shouted, running over to my side once Sesshomaru had left. "What were you thinking?"
"How did Kikyo come back to life?" I asked.
"You idiot, you're not actually thinking of…......"
"Please!"
"No way! I'm not telling you a thing! You're out of your mind! First begging Sesshomaru for help and then this? You must be mad!"
"Tell me!" I screamed, grabbing Inuyasha's shoulders. "Tell me or I'll place flesh-burning spell scrolls on your ears!"
"All right!" Inuyasha replied, taking a step back at my anger. "I'll tell you, even though it won't do any good. This one night, right after Shippo had joined with us, while we were off, this old witch—a necromancer—came and stole Kikyo's remains. We followed her and she used the bones and Kagome's soul to bring Kikyo back to life."
"Where can I find this necromancer?"
"You can't. She's dead; there was a fight, between Kikyo and I, and the hag was destroyed in the battle. See? I told you it wouldn't do any good."
Letting out a sigh, I let go of his shoulders and stepped away. I needed to think.
That evening, when I was sure everyone else was asleep, I took my staff and started down the path that lead away from the village.
"Miroku." I heard a voice call from behind me. Turning to look, I saw Inuyasha sitting on one of the largest branches in a tree by Kaede's hut. He was leaning against the trunk and appeared to be sleeping since his eyes were still closed. Rolling my eyes, I turned to leave when I heard Inuyasha speak again. "The dead should stay dead."
"If the dead should stay dead, why does death of a loved one hurt so much?"
"Death is natural. It will happen to all of us! Even me, eventually!"
"But I can do something about Sango's death! I can do something to correct the wrong I committed!"
"Miroku," Inuyasha growled, finally opening his eyes, "Why are you pressing this? No one can bring back the dead!"
"Kikyo…......" I began.
"Kikyo is nothing but dead bones and clay! She needs to steal souls to continue her half-life! And when I have appeased her soul she will be returned to clay and bones!"
"You think I don't know that?" I asked. "You think I don't know Sango is dead?! You think I don't know that she will die again? I know! But I'm selfish and I want to see her again! Besides, she hasn't been reincarnated yet. Kikyo only needs to steal other's souls because Kagome has Kikyo's."
I waited for Inuyasha to scream at me or continue to argue with me, but he didn't. He just stood there, staring at me.
"If you're so determined…......"
"And I am."
"I will not try to stop you. But remember what I said. The dead should stay dead."
"But a half-life is better than none at all."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I traveled for weeks looking for a necromancer. I wasn't exactly sure where to go, or what to look for, or even how to ask other people about finding one, but I traveled anyway. Sometimes I would find a miko who was willing to give me advice, but most told me to abandon my quest and go home to grieve for Sango, but I ignored them. I did not want to grieve.
So I continued to travel as I had done before I meet Kagome, Inuyasha, Shippo…...... and Sango. Sometimes I would beg a ride off a traveler with a cart, but mostly I was forced to walk. I didn't mind though. It gave me time to think.
I usually wondered how Sango was, and if she was all right in the after life, but sometimes I wondered about the others. I hoped Inuyasha and Kagome were not looking for me, but I didn't think they were. They were probably looking for the rest of the shards. I myself had found two while searching for a necromancer. Fortunately for me, Naraku had chosen to ignore me for a while; possibly because I was not trying to kill him at the time. I hoped he wasn't harassing the others too much.
"Are you Miroku, the houshi?" A voice asked and I turned to see an elderly lady. She was not bent with age, but she was many decades older than I was. Her hair was graying, but she was thin and her face was not wrinkled.
"I am." I nodded, bowing in greeting. "I'm afraid I do not remember your name, though. Have we meet?"
"No, houshi. But I have heard much about you."
"Indeed." I frowned. "And what may those things be?"
"I've heard you used to travel with a hanyou, a miko, a fox child and a demon exterminator. I have heard your family was cursed by the hanyou, Naraku. I have even heard you are searching for a woman to bare your children. But what interests me is your search for a necromancer. Now what would a priest like you be doing searching for a necromancer?"
"I don't see how that concerns you." I replied, as I turned around and began to leave.
"I see. Well, I suppose this old woman shall be forced to take her offer back."
"Offer? What offer?"
"My services."
"You're a necromancer?"
"I prefer to think that I have many talents. It just so happens that I am capable of bringing the dead back to life."
"And would you be willing to help me?"
"When I heard of your search, I did not hold a great interest in helping you, but I was curious. And now that I have seen you, I am ready to strike a deal."
"A deal?"
"Yes. I'm sure you didn't except me to help you and gain nothing in return."
"No, I didn't. What would you want from me in return for your service?"
"Well, first I would need you to bring me the body of the one you want revived. And then we shall see."
"An open ended bargain? You could continue to ask for anything."
"True, but I will only ask for your help in the resurrection and then, perhaps, one more thing."
"Do you swear that is all you will ask?"
"I swear."
"Then I shall bring you the body. Where should I meet you?"
"I will find you."
I nodded shortly and quickly turned to get Sango's body.
