Chapter 04: Off to Meet the Houshi
Miroku had secluded himself from the villagers since his attack. He sat inside his hut and absently stared at the cursed hole in his right palm. He had not eaten and his stomach was growling viciously. However, he paid it no mind and continued to stare at his hand.
The gentle rap upon his door broke him outside of his reverie. He stood from his resting position. The blood had long left his legs and he took a few wobbly steps towards his door.
"Who is it?" Miroku asked weakly.
"My name is Kagome and I seek the wisdom of the monk Miroku."
Miroku opened the door. Revealed before him was the owner of the knocking hand. She was quite lovely. A wolf youkai was standing a little too close to her for his comfort. However, the woman in the black and pink demon slayer uniform with the fire neko on her shoulder caught his fancy.
"Come in. I am Miroku. I only hope that I am able to provide the knowledge you seek." He ushered the ensemble into his home. They all sat near him on the floor.
"Why do you have a rosary around your hand?" Sango asked the monk curiously. She noticed that his attention was constantly drawn there.
"A short time ago I was cursed by a youkai."
"What? Why would the youkai do that?" Kouga demanded.
"I'm not sure. At first I thought the youkai was a beautiful woman, but then she turned into a man with evil red eyes. He cursed my hand with an air void that will consume my environment and eventually my life. He was angry with me because I had no knowledge of some visitor."
Miroku looked thoughtful for a moment. "I believe he may have been referring to you."
"Oh no! It must be my fault. I am so sorry Miroku, is there any thing I can do to make it up?" Kagome felt awful. Kouga looked appalled at her willingness to offer so much to this questionable man.
"Actually, if it's not too much trouble." He took her hands in his own and kneeled before her. Kouga rose in anticipation. "Would you do me the honor of bearing me a son?" Kouga leapt at the lecher and began to pound him. Kagome and Sango backed away from the scene.
After Kouga was satisfied that Miroku learned not to touch what was his he released him from the death grip he held him in.
"Sorry about that. That's how I was cursed in the first place. I'm afraid I'm too loving for my own good."
"Kagome is not going to bear your child. Do you know the name of the one who cursed you or of a way to remove the curse?" Sango interrogated the monk.
"The only way to remove the curse is to kill the one whom cursed me. Unfortunately, he didn't exactly tell me his name."
"Then we will help you find him. And then we will destroy him and release you from this tragic fate." Kagome reassured him. For a moment she was afraid that Kouga and Sango would decline the offer since she did not confer with them prior to making it. To her surprise they stood firm behind her and were willing to aid the delinquent monk.
"I thank you. Now, what was the reason for your visit? What knowledge did you seek?"
Kagome exchanged a look with Sango. Sango seemed to nod her approval to share the whole tale. Kouga had proven himself honorable on the venture to this village and the monk needed all the details.
"I'm not from around here. I'm about five hundred years in the future not from around here."
"Excuse me? Did you say you are from the future?" Miroku almost chocked on his own tongue.
"Yes. There is a well near Inuyasha's Forest. It is called the Bone Eater's Well. In my time, I fell through the well. Apparently it is a time warp connecting the two times."
"Apparently." Miroku remarked dryly.
"When I emerged from the well I met Sango. She and I decided that it would be too dangerous to simply jump back into the well without knowing how it worked. I didn't want to end up in a worse situation. So then we sought the aid of the local miko but she knew nothing and referred you." Kagome explained with her hands resting in her lap.
"It's good to know that I have such a reputation. I will need to inspect this well. Unfortunately, I have never heard of such a thing happening. I do not doubt your word." He looked down at his hand once more and sighed. "We better head out now, I don't have forever."
Sango pitied the monk. Sure he seemed a hentai but there was such a sad quality to him. It almost seemed as if he had never had a true friend. She herself knew how that felt. Before Kagome she probably shared the same solemn features that he bore. However, unless you suffered the same sadness one would never know for it could be well hidden behind a mask of strength.
"Kouga, thank you for your assistance in finding Miroku. You do not need to feel obligated to follow us to the village." Kagome told the wolf youkai that stood to her left.
Kouga only smiled at her. "As I explained to you before, I am in search of adventure and being in your company promises that I will find it."
Miroku packed lightly and then began to lead his new traveling companions out of the village. Many angry fathers freely gave Miroku death stares. He didn't seem to notice.
"I know where this village is that you speak. I have a feeling that we should head back using a different route than the one you came through."
"You have a feeling? What kind of feeling? We know the way is safe traveling through Kouga's lands." Sango answered the monk skeptically.
"That is my gift. Buddha has provided me with the ability to know which direction provides better fortune." Miroku gave the demon slayer a disarming smile. She almost caught herself smiling back, but just in time she managed to contain it.
"Who wants to take the easy route? Perhaps we'll run across that youkai by going this way and can kill two birds with one stone. Take him out and solve Kagome's mystery." Kouga liked this plan. He knew that this route that the monk had chosen would add at least another day to the trek. Another day with this creature, Kagome, sounded like a good idea to him.
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A few hours later the four companions along with Kirara were approaching a battlefield. They were not aware of the impeding battle, but they neared the turmoil none-the-less.
"My lord, my lord I know you do not need the aid of your half-brother, but I went to seek him out." Jaken groveled before his master.
"Let me guess, my dear little brother would not help this Sesshoumaru. I would think that in a time such as this where our family's honor is in stake that he would aid me. His hatred must be greater than I thought." Sesshoumaru's voice held a disappointed tone.
"No, my lord it is not that! He was sealed to a tree by a miko that he fell in love with. He is in an enchanted slumber and can only be awakened by a mighty miko."
"Pathetic. I do not have time to deal with such matters though. These neko youkai will consume enough of my energy. How many did you recruit to our aid?"
"There are many lower youkai that wish to serve with you my lord. They are grateful because of the many times your father saved their lives. They are not strong though."
Sesshoumaru sniffed the air. His super sensitive inu-youkai olfactory mechanism was kicking into action. "Across the hill there approaches a wolf youkai, three humans, and a fire neko. Bring them to me; I need to decide if I must destroy them or if perhaps they are willing to create an alliance."
Jaken went to greet the mentioned individuals. They were walking cheerfully totally unaware that they were approaching a great battle. They all halted in their tracks and stared at the hideous green toad.
"Are you aware that you are trespassing onto a sacred battle field?"
"No. Tell me about it though." Kouga encouraged the toad.
"This is the field where a sacred battle fifty years ago between the Lord of the Western Lands and an evil cat youkai by the name of Hyounekozuku. The neko demons once again threaten those that live in these lands and Lord Sesshoumaru of the Western Lands is fighting in his father's stead to protect them." Jaken finished his well rehearsed speech out of breath but looking proud as his puffed out his tiny chest.
"I see. I desire an audience with the Lord of the Western Lands. My colleagues and I may be willing to aid him if his cause is noble." Kouga answered the toad in a diplomatic voice that reflected his royal station.
Jaken lead the group of warriors to his lord. Sesshoumaru raised an eyebrow at the intrusion of his personal space.
"Lord Sesshoumaru, they wish to seek an audience with you."
"Sesshoumaru, Lord of the Western Lands I presume?" Kouga questioned the tall, lean inu-youkai before him.
Sesshoumaru nodded his head in acknowledgement of his title. He quickly surveyed the ensemble. He wondered how much use three humans would be. The wolf youkai would probably be a great assistance.
"I am Kouga, the leader of the wolf-tribe in the nearby forest. These are my companions. We will aid you in this battle if it is for a good cause. Tell us why you are fighting the nekos?"
"These nekos are destroying the lives of all whom live in my lands. If they have not injured them in some way they promise to do so in the near future."
"I see." Kouga turned to Kagome. She seemed a natural leader. Although she was not from this time she possessed a quality that the others trusted. They felt a great deal of confidence in her decisions.
Kagome's hand was clutching the side of her abdomen. She looked to be in discomfort. "Kagome?" She looked up at Kouga upon hearing her name. She graced him with a smile and nodded her approval.
The other two humans already began preparing themselves for battle. Sesshoumaru looked upon the group in amazement. He couldn't believe that they had so readily agreed to ally with him. Many allied with him out of fear, but never before had any allied with him without seeking something.
"What do you want for this alliance?" Sesshoumaru suspiciously inquired. He was met with four pairs of confused eyes.
"What do you mean? We want nothing from you. If what you say is true, then how could we refuse to offer aid?" Kagome told the astonished dog demon.
"You mean, that you will fight simply because it needs to be done?"
"Why else would someone fight? Now, tell us where to build formation," Kouga spoke authoritatively to the youkai lord.
Sesshoumaru proceeded to tell his new fighters of the strategic positions they were to take. As they battle began to proceed, he couldn't help but let a small smile grace his lips and break the unemotional mask of his face.
As the Sango and Miroku began to walk towards their positions she felt an urge to mock him. "So an intuition for telling the best way to go?"
"Occasionally, I have misunderstood Buddha's messages."
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Sesshoumaru was fighting well. The four new members to his army along with their demon slayer's pet neko were also proving formidable. He glanced around at the others whom offered assistance for what his father had done for them. Their intentions were well placed, however they offered no skills in battle. They hindered more than helped.
"Sesshoumaru look out!" Kagome shouted towards the inu-youkai. He had been lost in his train of thought as a neko demon threatened to impale his back. However such a blow never happened as an arrow glowing with an odd pink aura disintegrated the cowardly neko from behind him.
Sesshoumaru gave a curt nod to the human in thanks for her assistance.
The battle had proceeded for over three hours. The humans were becoming weary and yet they fought on. Sesshoumaru and Kouga both were supremely impressed with their endurance.
Miroku discovered that his curse was actually quite an advantage in battle. He began sucking up various demons yelling "Kazanna!"
Sango was releasing her boomerang with slower and slower reaction times now.
Kagome had spent many of her arrows. She was busy cocking her bow when a neko sneaked up behind her and put a dagger to her side intending to end her life.
"Kagome!" Kouga rushed to her side in a heart beat. He was afraid that he was too late. He destroyed the assaulting neko and held Kagome so that he could inspect her where she was stabbed. It only appeared to be a flesh wound. As his hand rested upon the hole she put her hand on top of his.
"I'm fine. It didn't go very deep. Thank you for saving my life, Kouga." She gave him a nervous smile, but his worried expression remained fixed as he felt something hard and cool lying within her abdomen.
"Kagome, what is this?"
"What are you talking about?"
"I saw you clutching your side earlier, is there something wrong?"
She frowned at him. "No, it just hurt a little. I'm sure it's nothing important." He was reluctant but he decided to stand back up and help Kagome to her feet. They looked around and noticed that the battle was almost over.
All that remained was Sesshoumaru and a fierce looking neko youkai.
"That must be Hyounekozuku," Kouga observed. He and Kagome watched in awe as Sesshoumaru began to transform into a giant white dog. The cat youkai also began to transform. Soon a battle between cat and dog raged on a whole new level. All those remaining on the field watched.
It looked as if Sesshoumaru was tired. The neko youkai was not playing fair by any means. He began to claw at Sesshoumaru. His white fur became matted with blood. Kagome decided that she must do something. She realized she was out of arrows. She began to scour the grounds looking for one that she could reuse.
She found one and cocked the arrow into the notch of her bow string. Then she took careful aim and aimed for the heart of Hyounekozuku.
Moments later, Sesshoumaru transformed back into his humanoid form. His white clothes were bathed in fresh blood. That's when Kagome realized that most of the blood was not his own.
There was nothing left of his opponent. He had disintegrated. Sesshoumaru then stared at the woman who had the guilty bow in her hands. He realized that she must be a miko to pack a punch of that magnitude. He stood staring at her until Jaken broke him out of his trance.
"My lord! My lord! The battle has been a success! You are victorious once again!"
"Indeed." Sesshoumaru then approached his valuable allies as they began to leave the field. "Wait." They halted. "Tell me where it is you journey to. I wish to repay your assistance with my own."
"We do not request pay back Lord Sesshoumaru. However, you are welcome to journey with us," Miroku answered.
"Tell me where your destination is?"
"We must travel to the village near Inuyasha's Forest," Sango informed him.
"I will accompany you. I have a family problem near there than needs to be attended."
Miroku had secluded himself from the villagers since his attack. He sat inside his hut and absently stared at the cursed hole in his right palm. He had not eaten and his stomach was growling viciously. However, he paid it no mind and continued to stare at his hand.
The gentle rap upon his door broke him outside of his reverie. He stood from his resting position. The blood had long left his legs and he took a few wobbly steps towards his door.
"Who is it?" Miroku asked weakly.
"My name is Kagome and I seek the wisdom of the monk Miroku."
Miroku opened the door. Revealed before him was the owner of the knocking hand. She was quite lovely. A wolf youkai was standing a little too close to her for his comfort. However, the woman in the black and pink demon slayer uniform with the fire neko on her shoulder caught his fancy.
"Come in. I am Miroku. I only hope that I am able to provide the knowledge you seek." He ushered the ensemble into his home. They all sat near him on the floor.
"Why do you have a rosary around your hand?" Sango asked the monk curiously. She noticed that his attention was constantly drawn there.
"A short time ago I was cursed by a youkai."
"What? Why would the youkai do that?" Kouga demanded.
"I'm not sure. At first I thought the youkai was a beautiful woman, but then she turned into a man with evil red eyes. He cursed my hand with an air void that will consume my environment and eventually my life. He was angry with me because I had no knowledge of some visitor."
Miroku looked thoughtful for a moment. "I believe he may have been referring to you."
"Oh no! It must be my fault. I am so sorry Miroku, is there any thing I can do to make it up?" Kagome felt awful. Kouga looked appalled at her willingness to offer so much to this questionable man.
"Actually, if it's not too much trouble." He took her hands in his own and kneeled before her. Kouga rose in anticipation. "Would you do me the honor of bearing me a son?" Kouga leapt at the lecher and began to pound him. Kagome and Sango backed away from the scene.
After Kouga was satisfied that Miroku learned not to touch what was his he released him from the death grip he held him in.
"Sorry about that. That's how I was cursed in the first place. I'm afraid I'm too loving for my own good."
"Kagome is not going to bear your child. Do you know the name of the one who cursed you or of a way to remove the curse?" Sango interrogated the monk.
"The only way to remove the curse is to kill the one whom cursed me. Unfortunately, he didn't exactly tell me his name."
"Then we will help you find him. And then we will destroy him and release you from this tragic fate." Kagome reassured him. For a moment she was afraid that Kouga and Sango would decline the offer since she did not confer with them prior to making it. To her surprise they stood firm behind her and were willing to aid the delinquent monk.
"I thank you. Now, what was the reason for your visit? What knowledge did you seek?"
Kagome exchanged a look with Sango. Sango seemed to nod her approval to share the whole tale. Kouga had proven himself honorable on the venture to this village and the monk needed all the details.
"I'm not from around here. I'm about five hundred years in the future not from around here."
"Excuse me? Did you say you are from the future?" Miroku almost chocked on his own tongue.
"Yes. There is a well near Inuyasha's Forest. It is called the Bone Eater's Well. In my time, I fell through the well. Apparently it is a time warp connecting the two times."
"Apparently." Miroku remarked dryly.
"When I emerged from the well I met Sango. She and I decided that it would be too dangerous to simply jump back into the well without knowing how it worked. I didn't want to end up in a worse situation. So then we sought the aid of the local miko but she knew nothing and referred you." Kagome explained with her hands resting in her lap.
"It's good to know that I have such a reputation. I will need to inspect this well. Unfortunately, I have never heard of such a thing happening. I do not doubt your word." He looked down at his hand once more and sighed. "We better head out now, I don't have forever."
Sango pitied the monk. Sure he seemed a hentai but there was such a sad quality to him. It almost seemed as if he had never had a true friend. She herself knew how that felt. Before Kagome she probably shared the same solemn features that he bore. However, unless you suffered the same sadness one would never know for it could be well hidden behind a mask of strength.
"Kouga, thank you for your assistance in finding Miroku. You do not need to feel obligated to follow us to the village." Kagome told the wolf youkai that stood to her left.
Kouga only smiled at her. "As I explained to you before, I am in search of adventure and being in your company promises that I will find it."
Miroku packed lightly and then began to lead his new traveling companions out of the village. Many angry fathers freely gave Miroku death stares. He didn't seem to notice.
"I know where this village is that you speak. I have a feeling that we should head back using a different route than the one you came through."
"You have a feeling? What kind of feeling? We know the way is safe traveling through Kouga's lands." Sango answered the monk skeptically.
"That is my gift. Buddha has provided me with the ability to know which direction provides better fortune." Miroku gave the demon slayer a disarming smile. She almost caught herself smiling back, but just in time she managed to contain it.
"Who wants to take the easy route? Perhaps we'll run across that youkai by going this way and can kill two birds with one stone. Take him out and solve Kagome's mystery." Kouga liked this plan. He knew that this route that the monk had chosen would add at least another day to the trek. Another day with this creature, Kagome, sounded like a good idea to him.
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A few hours later the four companions along with Kirara were approaching a battlefield. They were not aware of the impeding battle, but they neared the turmoil none-the-less.
"My lord, my lord I know you do not need the aid of your half-brother, but I went to seek him out." Jaken groveled before his master.
"Let me guess, my dear little brother would not help this Sesshoumaru. I would think that in a time such as this where our family's honor is in stake that he would aid me. His hatred must be greater than I thought." Sesshoumaru's voice held a disappointed tone.
"No, my lord it is not that! He was sealed to a tree by a miko that he fell in love with. He is in an enchanted slumber and can only be awakened by a mighty miko."
"Pathetic. I do not have time to deal with such matters though. These neko youkai will consume enough of my energy. How many did you recruit to our aid?"
"There are many lower youkai that wish to serve with you my lord. They are grateful because of the many times your father saved their lives. They are not strong though."
Sesshoumaru sniffed the air. His super sensitive inu-youkai olfactory mechanism was kicking into action. "Across the hill there approaches a wolf youkai, three humans, and a fire neko. Bring them to me; I need to decide if I must destroy them or if perhaps they are willing to create an alliance."
Jaken went to greet the mentioned individuals. They were walking cheerfully totally unaware that they were approaching a great battle. They all halted in their tracks and stared at the hideous green toad.
"Are you aware that you are trespassing onto a sacred battle field?"
"No. Tell me about it though." Kouga encouraged the toad.
"This is the field where a sacred battle fifty years ago between the Lord of the Western Lands and an evil cat youkai by the name of Hyounekozuku. The neko demons once again threaten those that live in these lands and Lord Sesshoumaru of the Western Lands is fighting in his father's stead to protect them." Jaken finished his well rehearsed speech out of breath but looking proud as his puffed out his tiny chest.
"I see. I desire an audience with the Lord of the Western Lands. My colleagues and I may be willing to aid him if his cause is noble." Kouga answered the toad in a diplomatic voice that reflected his royal station.
Jaken lead the group of warriors to his lord. Sesshoumaru raised an eyebrow at the intrusion of his personal space.
"Lord Sesshoumaru, they wish to seek an audience with you."
"Sesshoumaru, Lord of the Western Lands I presume?" Kouga questioned the tall, lean inu-youkai before him.
Sesshoumaru nodded his head in acknowledgement of his title. He quickly surveyed the ensemble. He wondered how much use three humans would be. The wolf youkai would probably be a great assistance.
"I am Kouga, the leader of the wolf-tribe in the nearby forest. These are my companions. We will aid you in this battle if it is for a good cause. Tell us why you are fighting the nekos?"
"These nekos are destroying the lives of all whom live in my lands. If they have not injured them in some way they promise to do so in the near future."
"I see." Kouga turned to Kagome. She seemed a natural leader. Although she was not from this time she possessed a quality that the others trusted. They felt a great deal of confidence in her decisions.
Kagome's hand was clutching the side of her abdomen. She looked to be in discomfort. "Kagome?" She looked up at Kouga upon hearing her name. She graced him with a smile and nodded her approval.
The other two humans already began preparing themselves for battle. Sesshoumaru looked upon the group in amazement. He couldn't believe that they had so readily agreed to ally with him. Many allied with him out of fear, but never before had any allied with him without seeking something.
"What do you want for this alliance?" Sesshoumaru suspiciously inquired. He was met with four pairs of confused eyes.
"What do you mean? We want nothing from you. If what you say is true, then how could we refuse to offer aid?" Kagome told the astonished dog demon.
"You mean, that you will fight simply because it needs to be done?"
"Why else would someone fight? Now, tell us where to build formation," Kouga spoke authoritatively to the youkai lord.
Sesshoumaru proceeded to tell his new fighters of the strategic positions they were to take. As they battle began to proceed, he couldn't help but let a small smile grace his lips and break the unemotional mask of his face.
As the Sango and Miroku began to walk towards their positions she felt an urge to mock him. "So an intuition for telling the best way to go?"
"Occasionally, I have misunderstood Buddha's messages."
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Sesshoumaru was fighting well. The four new members to his army along with their demon slayer's pet neko were also proving formidable. He glanced around at the others whom offered assistance for what his father had done for them. Their intentions were well placed, however they offered no skills in battle. They hindered more than helped.
"Sesshoumaru look out!" Kagome shouted towards the inu-youkai. He had been lost in his train of thought as a neko demon threatened to impale his back. However such a blow never happened as an arrow glowing with an odd pink aura disintegrated the cowardly neko from behind him.
Sesshoumaru gave a curt nod to the human in thanks for her assistance.
The battle had proceeded for over three hours. The humans were becoming weary and yet they fought on. Sesshoumaru and Kouga both were supremely impressed with their endurance.
Miroku discovered that his curse was actually quite an advantage in battle. He began sucking up various demons yelling "Kazanna!"
Sango was releasing her boomerang with slower and slower reaction times now.
Kagome had spent many of her arrows. She was busy cocking her bow when a neko sneaked up behind her and put a dagger to her side intending to end her life.
"Kagome!" Kouga rushed to her side in a heart beat. He was afraid that he was too late. He destroyed the assaulting neko and held Kagome so that he could inspect her where she was stabbed. It only appeared to be a flesh wound. As his hand rested upon the hole she put her hand on top of his.
"I'm fine. It didn't go very deep. Thank you for saving my life, Kouga." She gave him a nervous smile, but his worried expression remained fixed as he felt something hard and cool lying within her abdomen.
"Kagome, what is this?"
"What are you talking about?"
"I saw you clutching your side earlier, is there something wrong?"
She frowned at him. "No, it just hurt a little. I'm sure it's nothing important." He was reluctant but he decided to stand back up and help Kagome to her feet. They looked around and noticed that the battle was almost over.
All that remained was Sesshoumaru and a fierce looking neko youkai.
"That must be Hyounekozuku," Kouga observed. He and Kagome watched in awe as Sesshoumaru began to transform into a giant white dog. The cat youkai also began to transform. Soon a battle between cat and dog raged on a whole new level. All those remaining on the field watched.
It looked as if Sesshoumaru was tired. The neko youkai was not playing fair by any means. He began to claw at Sesshoumaru. His white fur became matted with blood. Kagome decided that she must do something. She realized she was out of arrows. She began to scour the grounds looking for one that she could reuse.
She found one and cocked the arrow into the notch of her bow string. Then she took careful aim and aimed for the heart of Hyounekozuku.
Moments later, Sesshoumaru transformed back into his humanoid form. His white clothes were bathed in fresh blood. That's when Kagome realized that most of the blood was not his own.
There was nothing left of his opponent. He had disintegrated. Sesshoumaru then stared at the woman who had the guilty bow in her hands. He realized that she must be a miko to pack a punch of that magnitude. He stood staring at her until Jaken broke him out of his trance.
"My lord! My lord! The battle has been a success! You are victorious once again!"
"Indeed." Sesshoumaru then approached his valuable allies as they began to leave the field. "Wait." They halted. "Tell me where it is you journey to. I wish to repay your assistance with my own."
"We do not request pay back Lord Sesshoumaru. However, you are welcome to journey with us," Miroku answered.
"Tell me where your destination is?"
"We must travel to the village near Inuyasha's Forest," Sango informed him.
"I will accompany you. I have a family problem near there than needs to be attended."