I do not own Inuyasha. No money is being made from it. I am just a poor college student. However, the characters of Nekoyasha, Lotus, and Shinta belong to me.

Chapter 2: Meeting the healer

The group finally arrive to the house of the healer. Miroku looked up at it. It was a big house. He wondered why.

"It looks so big so that my grandmother can treat many people without leaving them outside where infection can become worse," the girl answered to the priest's unspoken question.

The boys helped Kagome and Sango off of Kiara, so that she could transform back into the tiny kitten to go inside. The girls were unsteady on their feet. Miroku caught Sango just as she started to fall. Inuyasha did the same for Kagome. "If you even think about touching me anywhere hoshi." Sango threatened. Inuyasha looked a Kagome. She was still holding Shippo. I can't help her in while she is still holding the brat. And I can't hold him and help her in at the same time. He looked up at the girl in front of him. "Hey girl! Come here."

The girl looked at him and then came over. "My name is Lotus. What do you want?"

"You never told us your name. Anyway do mind holding the kid?" Inuyasha nodded his head to bundle that Kagome was holding. Lotus gently lifted the small fox child to her. She gave a curious glance at the fox's tail, but didn't do anything else. They followed her through the door.

"Grandma, we have guest! Oh, hi Shinta. Where's grandma?" Lotus asked the boy as he came in with more blankets.

"She's in kitchen making tea I think," the boy replied as he dropped the blankets.

"Lotus, there is a divider up in that room. Please put the girls on one side and boys on the other. I'll be in a minute," a very young feminine voice called. Lotus and Shinta helped Inuyasha and Miroku lay Kagome and Sango down on the blankets.

"Feh. Where should we put the runt?" Inuyasha asked.

"Well, who does he usually sleep with?" said the voice from before. The boys looked up to see the owner of that voice come into the room. The woman was tall with flame red hair and blue eyes. She looked about 18. What Miroku noticed was that she had two pointed little ears on the top of her head and slender tail that was the same color as her hair.

"With the girls," came Inuyasha's reply.

"Then that is where he'll be then." She handed the boys cups of "tea." "Drink this and go on the other side and strip. I will be on that side a moment to look at your injuries."

The boys went to other side of the divider. Inuyasha started taking off his outer layers. Miroku just stood there, watching (not like that!). "My, Inuyasha, I have never seen you obey a woman so quickly before," Miroku smirked.

Inuyasha looked at his friend. "She is a healer after all."

"You usually put up a fight with Kaede."

"Yeah, well, I know this one won't kill me."

About that time the woman came over to their side. "Typical that you wait until you were hurt to come see me, Inuyasha. Plus you had to bring friends." She smiled as she said this.

"Sorry, Nekoyasha. I had a lot to do recently. Find Jewel shards, fight demons, keep my brother from killing me. You know that kind of thing." Nekoyasha raised her eyebrows at this.

"Nekoyahsa?" Miroku repeated the name. She turned to him.

"Yes, that is right." She noticed the beads around his right hand. "Protection beads? Why?"

Miroku gulped. "A curse."

Her expression became concerned. "An Air Rip?" Miroku nodded. She held out her hand to him. "May I see?" He nodded and gave her his hand. She stared at it for a moment and then traced the outline of his Rip. "How old are you?" she asked looking back up at him.

"Twenty-one." Nekoyasha frowned. "It shouldn't be this big at your age. Shinta, can you bring me that packet of herbs in the third drawer, please? And some more hot water," she called.

"Of course, grandmother," the young boy said. He quickly appeared with what she requested. She slowly opened the package. She took one of the herbs and mixed it in water and then gave it to Miroku to drink. Miroku took the cup and smelled the liquid. It smelled familiar. He knocked the drink back and instantly knew what she had given him.

"How did you know?" he asked.

"Shhh. All will be explained in time. Rest now," Nekoyasha said.