Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha. Phooey.

Chapter 2: New Thoughts

"Why do you have to go now?"

"I told you. The village needs to get rid of those demons, and they specifically asked for me to come."

Sonnet stood and watched as her mother finished packing for the journey ahead of her. They were standing at the edge of the village, and her mother was leaving her to go exterminate some demons in another village. It had been a few days since the training incident with Yuri. She knew her mother was still in her little depression, and didn't think she should be traveling so soon. She had already packed a horse, filled with food and other supplies.

"Can't you just send Li or someone else to go? I want you to stay here." 'You're still not all the way better.' Sonnet silently thought.

"This town has been under attack for quite a while. They need someone who can help the wounded, and nobody else is trained in that. Besides, Li and some others are coming, just later." Sango said, straining her patience with her daughter.

"See! You are taking some of the other guys with you! So why can't I go?" Sonnet whined. If she couldn't get her mom to stay with her, then she'll just have to go and with her and make sure she stays safe.

"I want you to stay here and watch over the village. It needs protection too." Sango finished packing.

"Kiarara will be here! She'll protect the village! PLEASE let me come with you! Please!" Sonnet was on her knees now.

"I'm sorry, Sonnet, but you're not coming. Don't worry, you'll be fine. It'll only be a few days." She got on the horse. " Just make sure to eat healthy, and if you need any help, Yuri will be right next door. Bye, sweetie!" And with that, she kicked the horse and made it go at full speed.

"I can take care of myself!" Sonnet screamed, dusting herself off as she got back on her feet. "I'm not a little a kid." She muttered to herself.

She turned around and walked back to the village, muttering something about not being loved anymore, and wondering why her mom had left so fast.

'Could it have something with me try to hook her up with someone?' She wondered.

For the last few days, she had tried to get some of the younger men to go out with her. They seemed happy to have a chance with her, since Sango was very beautiful, but Sonnet got the feeling that they weren't in for the long term relationship. "And that's the thing she needs right now, to forget about that bastard." She thought angrierly, referring to her father as 'bastard'.

Her mom seemed to be getting better. At least see was able to teach her training lessons yesterday, though she was a bit off. The guys were starting to notice, but then they all decided to cut training short and go out for drinks. Men.

She kept walking until she got to the training grounds. After morning training, at least one man would be dedicated enough to actually be there and work out. Usually, it was the only man Sonnet liked, and her heart skipped a beat when she saw him training.

"Hi, Li!" She said brightly, hopping over to him.

"Why hello, Sonnet." Li said, wincing as he put down his pole. He was injured in a youkai battle a few days ago, taking a blow for one of his men, Sonnet remembered as he rubbed his shoulder. 'He's so brave.' She thought, sighing to herself.

"Did your mother leave yet?"

"Yeah, she just left a few moments ago." Sonnet glad he was interested in her mother's whereabouts. She had tried numerous times to get them to go out together, but her mom never thought of him as anything but a sparring partner. "Actually, I was wondering why you didn't go with her." She said, hoping to get him to announce his undying love for her mom, and that they would live happier ever after.

Li shrugged. "She said she could handle things on her own. Besides, I didn't want to go in another battle soon," He pointed to his arm. "Fighting youkai won't get it better."

Sonnet's heart sank. 'This guy needs to get a clue.' She thought, getting a little angry.

"You should probably get some rest."

"Yeah, I suppose so." He walked toward the town. "I go see how Yuri is coming along with my sword. I can't believe it broke during the attack so badly. See you later, Sonnet." He waved as he turned around.

"Yeah, later." She said. ' I can't believe how someone so cute can be so dense.' She thought as she picked up his pole and started twirling it. It not that she didn't like Li, it's just that he can't even figure out that Sonnet has been trying to get him and her mother to go out since he first started taking training lessons.

Sonnet kept twirling the pole, thinking about her situation. Her mom needed a guy. Not that she couldn't get along well without one. It's just she's having her mid-life crisis a little early, and she feels that she needs a man to complete herself. Sonnet had been watching her mom for quite some time now, and this is what she finally concluded.

'There was no shame in wanting a guy,' Sonnet thought. 'I'm sure every mature woman has felt like that some point in their life. It's okay if mom needs one, because that means I get to help her in choosing a her new life- long partner.'

Sonnet went into the village after she finished her lesson.

'I'm to tired to make my own meal.' She thought as she looked around at the shops. 'And I have no money.so I guess I'll resort to plan C.'

She walked up to a little inn that she had never been to before. 'This looks good enough.'

She walked up the path and knocked on the door. A little old lady answered the door with a smile, but when she saw Sonnet it froze.

"A child! What do you want girl?" The old lady looked she was gong to throw Sonnet out on the street.

Sonnet cleared her throat, and began. " My dear lady, I was just passing by when I noticed a strange presence around your inn. I would gladly get rid of it, in exchange for food." She bowed low and smiled.

The lady looked at her hard. "I know you. You're that little demon exterminator girl. What are you now, a miko?"

Sonnet smiled. " We in the exterminator business must be able to rid away of demon pressance. In exchange for food I would be able to -"

The lady took out a broom. " Have you no shame in what you do? I'm will have woman of that sort ever enter my inn. Get out! Out!" She chased Sonnet all the way out to the street. "And don't dare come on my property again! You and you're mother!" With that she slammed the door.

Sonnet let out a defeated sigh. 'I guess I'll have to make my own dinner.' She thought. She always tried to get a free meal whenever she could. Her mother didn't like it, though. She thought one should work for there own food. But Sonnet found that she could talk her way into anything, and thought that she should use that into getting he own food.

'Oh, well.' She turned to walk away when she heard a voice.

"Sonnet! Sonnet!" Lyn ran up to her, holding a basketful of vegetables. "Hi!"

"Hi. Lyn. What are you doing out here? It's pretty late.''

" Just getting some food so mom can make dinner. Would you like to join us?" Sonnet smiled. 'I guess I'll go with plan D' she thought. Out loud she said "That would be great."

"Yippee!" Lyn cried taking her hand. "Let's go!"

Together they walked down the street, hand in hand.

A beaten up looking monk walked up the same path Sonnet had just left. This young man had been traveling for the past three days, and hadn't eaten anything for a long while. He walked up to the same inn that Sonnet had just been to a few moments ago.

"This I'll do." He thought as he tried to straighten himself up before knocking on the door.

The same old lady answered the door.

"Yes? How may I be of service to you?" The lady asked with fake kindness.

The monk bowed. "Good evening, my fair lady. I was just passing through your village when I came upon your inn and spotted a strange presence around it. I would be glad to offer my services, in exchange for food and lodging for the night."

The lady's face instantly grew angry. "What, are you a monk now?" She screamed.

The monk blinked. "I beg your pardon."

"You're the second one tonight whose asked for food. Do you people go in groups, conning innocent old ladies like me?"

The monk tried using his charm. He flashed the lady a smile. " I don't know anything about this other person, but I assure you there is something over your house, and that it should be gotten rid of immediately. Unless, of course, you want everyone in your inn to know that they're staying in an haunted place?"

The lady thought about this. 'This jerk is good.' Defeated, she said. "Fine, you can stay the night." She smiled a toothy grin. "Besides, I wouldn't want someone as handsome as you to spend the night in the cold."

The monk smiled, holding back a shudder. He bowed. "Thank you"

They walked inside the inn, as the old lady showed him around.

"So tell me," The old lady said, walking him to his room, " What's a handsome young man like yourself doing traveling all by himself?"

The monk smiled again. "Just trying to make a living."

"What? Going around and conning people out of good, hard earned money?"

"Yeah. Pretty much."

They stopped at his room. She spoke up again. "Not that I care, but I would like to know the name of the only monk that conned me out of a free room. Just so I can worn other people and not let it happen again."

"My name," The monk started, entering his room, "Is Miroku."

* * * * * * *

'This isn't so bad.' Miroku thought as he looked around the room. The old lady, strangely reminding him of any even older Lady Kaede, had grumpily brought up his semi- cold food and made him go out and put up scrolls for those 'strange presences.'

Miroku shuddered thinking about the old lady.

'To bad there aren't any pretty ladies around.' He thought sadly as he watched the fire.

It had been 10 long years since they had defeated Naraku. 10 long years since he had gotten his wind tunnel removed from his hand. He turned his hand over again, for about the millionth time since that day, and studied his now cursed free palm. The only thing that was left was a small, white circle, a reminder to what could had been his fate if Naraku hadn't been defeated.

Yes, it had been 10 years since he got his life span to increase immensely. Since he didn't have to wakeup ever morning wondering if he was going to get sucked up in portal to hell. And yet, he didn't feel . happy, was it? In fact, he hasn't felt happy in 10 years. Ever since they ended their adventures. Ever since. she left him.

'Sango' he thought, sadly. It had been so long since they last saw each other, but he could still remember her face so clearly. 'She was so pretty. I wonder where she is now?" He always asked himself the same question.

He always thought of her. Especially during this time of year. When the cherry blossoms began to fall.

"ERGG!" He screamed, having one of his rare outbursts. 'Why can't I get you out of my head? It's been 10 years! Why?!'

The pain had decreased quite a bit between their time apart. But instead of it hurting unbearably, it was only an agonizing pain.

He watched as the flames in the fire licked around each other, almost like they were teasing him.

He sighed, angrily. 'I might as well dream of her. In dreams I don't feel the pain. As much.'

He turned over and tried to fall asleep.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Sango had set up camp. It was still a day's travel on horse until she would reach the village. Even though she felt guilty about leaving Sonnet by herself, she felt increasing glad that she finally got out of there.

Not that she didn't love her daughter. It's just that she knew Sonnet wasn't stupid. She knew that Sonnet knew something was up.

'Sonnet means well.' Sango thought, as she put down her blanket. 'She just doesn't understand.'

Sonnet had been trying to fix her up all week with someone. It was starting to get on her nerves, and she just had to get out of there. 'Can't I be depressed in peace?' she had wondered many times this week, as Sonnet introduced her to the same little boys over and over again.

'When I get back, I'll tell her to lay off on the match making.' Sango thought, trying to be angry. But at the same time she couldn't. 'She has so much of her father in her.'

Sango's thoughts froze, as they did every time she compared the likeness in them. Which seemed to be getting more frequent as Sonnet was growing older. Everything Sonnet did, Sango could picture Miroku doing the exact same thing. And though she didn't want to admit it, it made her increasingly sad.

'I really miss him.' That was her last thought as she drifted off to dreamland.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Miroku left early the next day. Before the village was awake. He walked into the woods, in the opposite direction he came in. The sun had barley begun to rise, and the light played interesting shadows off the trees.

Miroku walked on, enjoying how everything looked so fresh and untouched. His eyes rested upon a cherry blossom that flew in front of his face. He was hit by a wave of emotions. Happiness, pleasure, and incredible sadness that never seemed to have left him resurfaced. He closed his eyes and tried to the good emotions with him.

BAM!

Miroku was thrown back against a tree, as something hard collided into him.

He looked up to find his staff underneath foot of a very big cat youkai.

"Why hello." She said in a very seductive voice. "How lucky of me to have found breakfast so fast." She grinned.

Miroku stared at her, fear rising in him. 'I can't believe it! I was too wrapped up in my own thought that I didn't even notice her!'

"I'm going to enjoy this." She launched herself at him.

She pinned him to the tree, with holding his hands above his head with one of hers. She licked his face. "Mmm. You taste gooood."

Miroku tried to clear his thoughts. He would have been enjoying this if his life wasn't in so much danger. He put a knee in her stomach.

She fell over. "Bastard!"

Before Miroku could swing a punch, the cat sent a flying kick into his ribcage. He hit his head on a tree branch. He was struggling to stay conscious as he heard another set of footprints behind him. A set of silver flashed above his eyes, before he completely blacked out.

End Ohhh, cliffhanger!

Next Chapter: Sonnet and Miroku 'bond'. Watch out!