They sat around a fire and listened to Inuyasha's cursing. It had taken him forever to free his mouth of peanut butter and now he had even Miroku cringing from his expletives. Kagome tried to ignore him but it was very hard. Besides, she had to admit it was a dirty trick Ann had played on the un-expecting hanyou. How was he supposed to know that you have to approach straight peanut butter cautiously.
Kagome sighed. Her mother had, in an effort to calm Inuyasha down, persuaded Ann to let her spend the weekend with her friends but of course she had to be back Sunday evening.
Shippou snorted and snuggled deeper into his favorite napping place; her lap. She scratched his ears and smiled into the fire. Everyone, especially Shippou, had been happy to see her return with Inuyasha. They hadn't asked why she had stayed away so long, assuming that the angry half- demon had something to do with it.
They knew she had to go back on Sunday day and she could tell both Sango and Miroku were dying to ask why. It gave them very little time to search for jewel shards and the demon Naraku.
"Stupid woman," Inuyasha mumbled from his perch in a nearby tree. Hopefully he was winding down and soon they would be able to sleep without the sound of his unique lullaby.
Miroku glanced over at Kagome, his eyes bright. He'd definitely heard the word woman. "So Kagome, who's this woman Inuyasha keeps going on about?"
He tried to ask nonchalantly, but she wasn't buying it. "Get those thoughts out of your head Miroku. She happens to be my tutor from the twentieth century." She stopped and looked at the monk, he had a strange glimmer in his eyes so she added, "And Ann is absolutely not your type."
"Ah… Lady Kagome. You wound me," he smiled and laid back, resting his head on his arms. "All women are my type."
"Feh, not this woman Monk," Inuyasha shouted over from his tree, "Not even you would be able to like her. She a witch if ever a witch there was."
"Is she really a witch Kagome," Sango asked, clutching the weapon beside her, "are you in any danger?"
Suddenly Kagome began to laugh, her jolly chuckles waking the sleeping Kitsue in her lap. " What's so funny Kagome," he asked as he rubbed his eyes.
She just shook her head, laughing too hard to answer. The others looked at her as though she'd lost her mind. The laughter passed after a while, leaving behind a trail of tears and hiccups for the euphoric teenager. She couldn't bring herself to look any of them in the eyes as she tried to explain her brief hysteria. " I'm not in any danger," she hiccuped, "Sango. Inuyasha's just mad that," she wiped her eyes and hiccuped again, "Ann tricked him into eating peanut butter. All though," sniffle, " it's not her fault he ate the whole jar at once."
***~***
A figure stood amongst the sleeping travelers, dripping with the shadows of the dying fire. It had taken them forever to fall sleep after the girls fit of laughter, and now the normally calm figure was quite peeved. It had many other things it could be doing and didn't appreciate being made to wait, especially by a tiny slip of a girl and her inhuman companions.
It glanced down at the girl in question. A fuzzy red kitsue was wrapped tightly in her arms, as they slept unaware of the presence so close by. The figure treaded slowly past, moving over to the woman and monk. There was no point in asking the little fur ball anything, it's love and adoration was obvious. The others weren't so clear, there was the possibility of their abandoning the girl farther down the road.
A single touch to the woman's and the monk's forehead had them under the figures control. Then it slid over to the hanyou sitting high in a tree. The over grown puppy hadn't even noticed the intruder as he gazed up at the waxing moon. It was all too easy for the figure to send him to sleep with his companions. A simple touch to the forehead and hanyou was dreaming, completely under the figure's control.
***~***
Miroku was sure he was dreaming. Not one of his normal dreams, filled with nubile young maidens but a dream none the less. Where else would he be perfectly healthy and alone with Sango, without being in danger. He looked around. They were in a room, nicely decorated with strange paintings and odd furniture. He'd never seen any of these things before but the room didn't matter that much. As long as it was just him and Sango he was fine.
Miroku smiled, as long as he was dreaming he might as well take advantage of the situation. He tried to lift his foot but the limb refused to budge. He tried again with the other foot but it too refused to follow orders. He cursed under his breath.
"Miroku is that you?" Sangos' voice floated over from where she stood.
"Yes Sango, I'm over here." His voice worked at least.
Her head turned slightly, he could see she was grateful to see him. "I am unable to move Miroku."
She sounded just the tinniest bit frightened and in need of comfort. Once again he cursed his immobility, then replied to her, "I'm afraid, I too am unable to move."
"Well that makes three of us buddy."
"Inuyasha?" Sango and Miroku asked at once.
"No… it's Naraku." Inuyasha spat, "of course's it me you half wits. I'm right behind you. Now where's Kagome?"
"And Shippou, I don't see him or Kirara."
"They're all sleeping soundly back at the camp. There was no need for me to bring them here. They could tell me nothing of what I wanted to know." Three heads swiveled at once searching for the owner of the voice now booming in their heads, but they could see no one else in the room, "Don't worry. I am here. It's useless to bother looking for me though, not even a full blooded demon can find me when I wish to remain hidden."
"Who are you and where have you brought us?"
The voice chuckled, "I am merely an inquisitive stranger, who's invited you into their home. You should be grateful."
"Grateful…feh."
"I suppose you don't like being taken from your bodies, not everyone does…its an acquired taste."
"Taken from our bodies?" Sango gasped, "Are we dead then."
"No you're not dead, just miss placed spirits, hence your immobility."
Inuyasha struggled to move, "Put us back in our bodies or I'll…"
"Or you'll what…yell at me. You don't seem to realize half-ling I'm in control here… there's nothing you can do to harm me." there was a brief pause, "and so much I can do to you."
The three companions watched helplessly as the shadows around the room began to converge in a form. Inky black, surreal and impossible to place, they could only hope this thing was human enough to be killed. The shades of dark folded over themselves, never truly giving a body to the voice that leaked throughout their ears. The shadows stood before Miroku, continuing to bleed and reform. A limb rose level to his head, a strange but beautiful light pooling in the out stretched palm.
"You, Sango and you as well Inuyasha have all ready given me what I needed to know from you." Miroku gasped in fear, sweat beginning to bead on his forehead. One tiny spot curiously bare. " But you, Monk, still stand to be questioned. Answer me truthfully and I will give you something you desire greatly… lie…and you will suffer the consequences."
"Do you agree to this Monk?" Miroku could barely nod his head yes, his throat constricted with fear. The light began to spin in front of his eyes, a blinding crystal orb but he could not bring himself to look away. "Good. You have been traveling with the girl named Kagome for some time and on numerous occasions have proclaimed the stirrings of love. So your question is this… Would you die for her Monk…willingly give your life to save hers?"
Silence descended over them as they strained to hear his reply. Breathless moments ticked by before he nodded his head.
"What was the Monk. I am afraid you'll have to speak up I couldn't hear you." The voice was gloating.
"Yes," he whispered, harsh and curt, "yes…yes…YES! I would die for her if need be."
It was silent once more, the confirmation of his words fading into the shadows. Without any warning the ground disintegrated from beneath his feet. His soundless scream echoed off the hallow walls as he fell for what seemed an eternity.
Then with a jerk he found himself once more in his body. Covered in sweat and clutching his staff. One word remained in his mind as he sat starring into the fire, guarding the others as they continued to sleep fitfully.
"Liar."
***~***
Thanks to WoS, Dangerous-Beans and Sashlea for reviewing last chapter. ^^ Happy Reading
P.S. I don't own Inuyasha