DISCLAIMER: Same as b'fore~

Chapter Four~

Kuja was lead into the inn by the black mage, and was greeted by his youngest sibling, Mikoto, who was already standing, hands clasped politely in front of her.

"Good morning, brother."

And, as if remembering her manners, she bowed in an exaggerated manner, blonde braids on each side of her head jiggling as she did so. It was quite obvious that she was still getting used to life in the village, even after five years.

"There is no need for that, my dear sister."

The blonde girl stood straight and was about to speak when a certain voice called out from the next room.

"When is Feather-Head gonna get here~? I'm starving~!"

"Inu-Yasha~!"

"...I don't think it's a very good idea to mention food right now."

Kuja grinned, finding that tiny conversation amusing, and made his way into the bedroom, where Kagome, Inu-Yasha, and Zidane sat almost smushed across from the bunkbed.

"I heard your little remark, He-Who-Had-His-Head-Rubbed."

Inu-Yasha lay his dog-like ears back, remembering the dreadful game of Tetra Master earlier that month, and almost cringed.

"Y'heard, huh~? Well, i'll say it again, Feather-Head~!"

"Um, guys-"

"Oh, c'mon, Inu-Yasha. Having your head rubbed isn't all that bad."

"Zidane put his goddamned elbows on my head~!"

Kagome would have Sit-Boyed her partner if she weren't afraid of him crashing through the black mage's hard work of wood and nails.

The silver-haired Genome, who had been watching the little arguement, noticed some movement coming from the beds, and turned to see three other Genomes, two having to share a bed, the other on the top bunk, all three looking as if they had had a hard time getting to sleep.

"...What has happened~?"

Kagome grabbed her white-haired mate's ear to stop his grumbling as Mikoto appeared in the doorway.

"This is why I sent you all letters through Moogles. One Genome" - She pointed to one in the bottom bunk - "Started to feel ill yesterday afternoon, and later that night, another one had to lay down. More have been complaining of feeling sick ever since."

Zidane stood up, nodding once at his sister, and when he spoke, his voice was tinged with worry.

"It was a good thing we where still in the Outer Continent when we received the letter."

"Has there been any news of a virus throughout the continent~?"

Kuja asked, twice as more disturbed then he was before he had arrived.

His sister shook her head.

"No, I don't think so. We're beginning to run out of room..."

Kagome, who had been taking this all in rather well, stood up.

"Maybe Tantalus can build you a big hut for the sick~?"

Zidane, a member of the group of thieves and actors, took a little bit of time to think about this.

"Good thinking. The guys and the Newbie have been pretty bored lately."

Elsewhere, inside the theatre airship named after the 'Prima Vista', Kouga, the black-haired wolf-demon, leaned back in one of the chairs with his arms crossed behind his head, red bandana hanging loosely from around his neck.

"Hey, Newbie~! Wake up~!"

Cinna hollered as he swung the door open.

Kouga opened one eye lazily, focusing on the short, fat man who resembled a cross between a black mage and a chef at the doorway.

"What~?"

"The Boss says Zidane wants us to help the black mage guys, so lets get movin'. Oh yeah, and you look hysterical still in those furs with that bandana."

With that, Cinna took off, snickering as he went.

The wolf-demon only blinked once.

"I wouldn't talk if I were him..."

He then yawned, stretching out his stiff legs, and got up before the Boss got angry.

Mikoto and Inu-Yasha stood watching as the Tantalus group had already begun building the large hut in the area beside the village graveyard.

"Hey~! I said give me that hammer, not throw it at me~!"

Marcus yelled at Cinna, and, with a sudden forgiving, goofy thought, raised his fist at his fellow member in mock-anger.

Cinna laughed at Marcus's silly expression, and continued work.

"I wonder how long it's going to take to build the hut~?"

Mikoto asked, tail twitching in anticipation.

Inu-Yasha's white ears twitched as well, for a completely different reason.

"I dunno, but I don't like the smell in this village... Smells like death."

And, no sooner had he said it, Inu-Yasha took off back into the village, as if he no longer wanted to speak of it.

Mikoto stared at him until he disappeared behind a black mage head-shaped hut, and, with curiousity, looked up at the sky, which was partially blocked by swaying leaves on branches.

"I wonder..."