Disclaimer: No own Inuyasha. No money. No sue. Poor college student.
Nekoyasha, Lotus, and Shinta mine.
I apologize about being so slow, but it has been tedious to rewrite what I lost. Grrrrr.I guess once it got down on paper, it was out of my system and now rewriting it seems so redundant. Or well. Thanks to my reviewers! You make me smile!
A/N: Sorry it took me so long to get to the description of my original characters.
Like always: "Spoken" *Thoughts*
Chapter 6: Questions and Answers
The group crowded around the table as breakfast was being put on it. There was a tense quiet in the air. The Shikon jewel incident had everyone on edge. Kagome looked around. At the table was Inuyasha, herself, Shippo, Sango and Miroku. Miroku and Inuyasha were dressed only in kimono pants. Kagome was used to seeing Inuyasha without his shirt on, after all she had tended to his wounds on more than one occasion. Miroku, on the other hand, she didn't see that much of. She noticed that he was fairly built for a monk. She also noticed that Sango was stealing glances his way. However, Miroku seemed oblivious to the attention. He was staring at his right hand with an odd expression. Every so often he would flex it and then ponder over it. Kagome smiled and shook her head. Both guys were without their shirts. Kagome sighed. It was a rare treat after all. Shippo was the same way. Kimono pants only. As for Sango and herself, they were dressed only in the white under kimonos. While they were feeling better, it still hurt to move a lot, even with the help of Lotus and Nekoyasha. It was the least amount they could put on and still be decent.
Kagome then looked at their hosts as the woman and her grandchildren went about getting food on the table. Shinta was setting the table, which in itself was a feat since she and her friends were sitting at it. He looked about Souta's age - 8 or 9. He had black hair that was pulled back into a ponytail that most boys wore in this time period. His light blue kimono looked like he had been playing in the dirt many times. *He probably helps his grandmother pull herbs. * She could see him learning the healing arts. His brown eyes were full of knowledge. They were also full of a sadness that seemed very old. She realized that Souta occasionally had that sadness as well. Knowing that, she gave Shinta's arm a small squeeze as he put the chopsticks down for her. He gave her a smile that tried to hide that sadness. *Just like Souta.*
She then shifted her gaze to his sister Lotus. Lotus's violet eyes were always very kind. She looked to be between Kagome's and Sango's ages. Around 16. Her raven hair looked auburn when it caught the sun just right. Her pale yellow kimono swished around her lean body. *It must come from working in a field trying to dig up herbs or walking into the village.* Kagome knew the girl was warm. She remembered the girl speaking softly to them last night when she was tending to their wounds. *She must have helped to raise her little brother. They seem really close.*
Then there was the grandmother. Nekoyasha. Kagome shook her head. She couldn't see how this woman could be a grandmother. She looked only 18. *So does Inuyasha. But he was asleep for fifty years. Well, she is part demon. Haven't you seen Sesshomaru? Who knows how old he really is and he only looks in his mid twenties.* Kagome shook her head to stop that inner dialogue. The woman had her long flame red hair in a braid. On the top of her head were to pointed little ears similar to Inuyasha's. Kagome also noticed that they were similar to Kirara's as well. The hunter green kimono did little to hide the curves of her lithe body. Her movements were so graceful, so fluid, they almost looked like those of a ... cat! Of course. That would also explain the tail. *But how can she and Inuyasha be related?*
She turned her attention to the paintings on the walls. They were also in the other room as well. There were two that she really had wanted to examine more closely. One had what looked to be a tree with something red pinned to it. The other had what appeared to be two boys. The younger boy had his arms outstretched to something while the older boy held him back. Kagome really wanted to go look at those paintings, but the last of breakfast had just be set on the table.
Nekoyasha seated herself between Inuyasha and Miroku. She whispered something to Shinta who left the room. Lotus took a seat between Shippo and Sango. Shinta came back in with a small bundle, which he handed to his grandmother and then went and sat between his sister and Shippo.
Nekoyasha was the first to break the silence. "I know this is not much but please eat. I know you all must be famished."
The group looked at the food on the table for a moment then everyone started grabbing food to put on their plates. The conversation for the most part was "please pass the ..." or "could someone get me more tea?" There was fruit, some fish, rice balls, and of course tea.
About half way through the meal, Inuyasha looked up at Nekoyasha. "Okay, Neko, why do you have a shard of the Shikon Jewel?"
Nekoyasha sighed and took a sip of her tea. She brought up the small bundle. "I don't have just a shard, I have five of them." She unwrapped the silken bundle. On it lay four very corrupt jewel shards. One was black, one was red, and the other two still had some pink to them, but not very much. "I received them as payment for my healing services. The one I wear is the least corrupt of the bunch. So I use it for healing. It seems however that my using it that way has somewhat purified it." She took it off and held it up. It only showed the slightest hue of black. "It was only marginally better than these two when I started using it," she stated as pointed to the two shards that showed pink.
"There was word on the wind that the jewel had returned and that you had woken up, Inuyasha. Then I heard that you were traveling with a miko to collect the shards." She looked up at Kagome. "The rumors were right when they said that she looked like Kikyo."
Kagome blushed and was about to say something when Inuyasha growled, "She is not Kikyo! She is her own person!"
Everyone's eyes got big at the fact that Inuyasha was defending Kagome. Everyone that is except Nekoyasha. The only thing that happened was her tail twitched a little faster. She took a sip of her tea. "I never said that she was Kikyo, just that she looked like Kikyo."
Kagome was looking at the shards. She reached out and picked up the blood red one. It instantly became purified. She heard gasps from the people that hadn't seen it before. She also went ahead and purified the other jewels on the silk. She was about to take the jewels when decided against it. *We have never had anyone just give us the jewel shards. Besides these are rightfully hers. She earned them. Perhaps it would be better if we asked for them.* She looked up at the female demon. "May we have the shards?"
Nekoyasha thought for a minute. "Yes, but I have a favor to ask. That I may keep the one I wear until you have finished collecting the rest of the shards. As you saw last night, it helps my healing abilities. Miko, you don't even have to purify it, if you don't wish."
Kagome thought about it. She looked at each of her campanions in turn. Most of them seemed okay with the agreement. Then she looked at Inuyasha. He was staring intently at the cat demon.
"You are sure that you will give it back?"
"Yes. I am not a power hungry for it. I do not even use it all the time. Only when it is important. Besides, I am sure others are looking for it? This way there will always be a piece missing and only the people in this room will know where it is."
This seemed to pacify Inuyasha. Miroku was still looking at and flexing his hand.
"My Lady, why did you use it on me last night?"
The healer stared at him for a moment. "To wake you up. Whatever nightmare you were having, it seemed very real to you. If you had died in your mind, you most likely would have died here as well."
Miroku pondered that though for a moment. He flexed his hand again. "Did you do something to my Air Rip? It feels... smaller, or ... tighter?"
She nodded. "How?" he asked.
"A monk showed me how," was the reply.
Miroku was lost in thought. *She knows how to fix my Air Rip. She has proved that she is good with children. Although, I have never thought about a demon. Well, at least when I knew they were demons. But wouldn't a demon be able to handle the curse better? And Inuyasha calls her cousin. He is strong, and I bet that she is as well.*
Miroku came to a conclusion. He took Nekoyasha's hand in his own, and knelt in front of her. "Lady Nekoyasha, will you bear my child?"
Everyone at the table gasped. Kagome and Sango looked like they were about to hit the boy. Inuyasha looked like he was going to kill the monk. Shippo just shook his head. Lotus and Shinta looked interested in what their grandmother was going to say.
There was a tense moment. Then she burst out laughing. Everyone stared at the woman. When she finally got her laughter under control she spoke. "Let's see. What did I say the last time a monk with a hole in his hand asked me that question?" She sat back and pondered for a moment ignoring the shocked expression on everyone's face. "Hmmm. That's right. I told him... No," she directed at Miroku. "So I am going to tell you the same thing... No. And before you even think about it, do not ask my granddaughter that question, or I will have to hurt you." She smiled.
Miroku however was not thinking about asking the girl at that moment. He was still reeling from the fact that this healer had been asked the same question before. "You knew my ... my ...?"
"Your father. Yes, I did. It was about 25 years ago when he came through this village. He fell ill here and was brought to me. I took care of him and noticed that his hand seemed be a source of pain. But every time I tried to examine it, he would pull it away. I finally got him to tell me who would know about it and a letter was sent off to another monk. He came here and showed me how to work on an Air Rip. I believe it might have been the same monk that raised you. However, when your father recovered, he did the exact same thing you just did. I told him 'no' of course. I already had a child of my own who was ten at the time and I was newly widowed as well."
Miroku had reseated himself at the table. "Did you know my mother? I - I don't remember her. She died when I was very young," he said softly.
Nekoyasha shook her head. "I am sorry. I never met her. I heard that she was a beautiful woman though who apparently loved your father. He must have loved her as well. There is a rumor that she was the only girl that he didn't ask his famous question to her the first chance he got."
Nekoyasha saw a pink flush spread in Sango's cheeks. Miroku flushed as well, both to what the woman had said and remembrance of his dream.
Inuyasha had been thinking over what had just been said. "So Neko-chan, are you saying that had you not had a child, you would have born that monk's?" he growled.
Nekoyasha flashed him a smile and had a glint in her eye as she replied, "Wouldn't you like to know, cousin?"
Inuyasha looked like he was about to say something else (or maybe strangle the answer out of her) when Sango piped up.
"So how are you two related? You keep calling each other cousins, but how can a dog and a cat be related?" she asked the question that was on everyone's mind.
*****
A/N: Wow that was a long chapter. There should have been a bit more, but that would have made it a bit longer and it will fit just as well in the next one. Next time on "The Healer," we'll see how -
Inuyasha: Hey I want to know if that cousin of mine would have born Miroku's father's child!
Miroku: I am wondering that myself. Hmmm. Then she would have been my mother, which means that I would be ... related to Inuyasha?
Inuyasha: Like I would ever be related to you!
Miroku: Lady Nekoyasha?
Nekoyasha: That is something that only I know.
Catleana: Hey! I know it too!
Inuyasha and Miroku: (Glare at Catleana) Well?
Catleana: (Glares back) Like I am going to tell you. Besides why are you in my computer lab again?
(Miroku suddenly recalls what Catleana told him last time and quickly shows himself the door. Inuyasha just stands there.)
Catleana: Well?
Inuyasha: Why does Neko get to stay?
Catleana: Because. Now scoot. Don't make me give you the same ultimatum I gave Miroku...
(Inuyasha, not sure that he wants to know what said ultimatum is, leaves.)
Nekoyasha: (Reading what Catleana was going to say about next chapter) Oh, is it how Inuyasha and I are related?
Catleana: Actually, yes. And maybe a word on those paintings Kagome saw. Well, that's all for now.
I apologize about being so slow, but it has been tedious to rewrite what I lost. Grrrrr.I guess once it got down on paper, it was out of my system and now rewriting it seems so redundant. Or well. Thanks to my reviewers! You make me smile!
A/N: Sorry it took me so long to get to the description of my original characters.
Like always: "Spoken" *Thoughts*
Chapter 6: Questions and Answers
The group crowded around the table as breakfast was being put on it. There was a tense quiet in the air. The Shikon jewel incident had everyone on edge. Kagome looked around. At the table was Inuyasha, herself, Shippo, Sango and Miroku. Miroku and Inuyasha were dressed only in kimono pants. Kagome was used to seeing Inuyasha without his shirt on, after all she had tended to his wounds on more than one occasion. Miroku, on the other hand, she didn't see that much of. She noticed that he was fairly built for a monk. She also noticed that Sango was stealing glances his way. However, Miroku seemed oblivious to the attention. He was staring at his right hand with an odd expression. Every so often he would flex it and then ponder over it. Kagome smiled and shook her head. Both guys were without their shirts. Kagome sighed. It was a rare treat after all. Shippo was the same way. Kimono pants only. As for Sango and herself, they were dressed only in the white under kimonos. While they were feeling better, it still hurt to move a lot, even with the help of Lotus and Nekoyasha. It was the least amount they could put on and still be decent.
Kagome then looked at their hosts as the woman and her grandchildren went about getting food on the table. Shinta was setting the table, which in itself was a feat since she and her friends were sitting at it. He looked about Souta's age - 8 or 9. He had black hair that was pulled back into a ponytail that most boys wore in this time period. His light blue kimono looked like he had been playing in the dirt many times. *He probably helps his grandmother pull herbs. * She could see him learning the healing arts. His brown eyes were full of knowledge. They were also full of a sadness that seemed very old. She realized that Souta occasionally had that sadness as well. Knowing that, she gave Shinta's arm a small squeeze as he put the chopsticks down for her. He gave her a smile that tried to hide that sadness. *Just like Souta.*
She then shifted her gaze to his sister Lotus. Lotus's violet eyes were always very kind. She looked to be between Kagome's and Sango's ages. Around 16. Her raven hair looked auburn when it caught the sun just right. Her pale yellow kimono swished around her lean body. *It must come from working in a field trying to dig up herbs or walking into the village.* Kagome knew the girl was warm. She remembered the girl speaking softly to them last night when she was tending to their wounds. *She must have helped to raise her little brother. They seem really close.*
Then there was the grandmother. Nekoyasha. Kagome shook her head. She couldn't see how this woman could be a grandmother. She looked only 18. *So does Inuyasha. But he was asleep for fifty years. Well, she is part demon. Haven't you seen Sesshomaru? Who knows how old he really is and he only looks in his mid twenties.* Kagome shook her head to stop that inner dialogue. The woman had her long flame red hair in a braid. On the top of her head were to pointed little ears similar to Inuyasha's. Kagome also noticed that they were similar to Kirara's as well. The hunter green kimono did little to hide the curves of her lithe body. Her movements were so graceful, so fluid, they almost looked like those of a ... cat! Of course. That would also explain the tail. *But how can she and Inuyasha be related?*
She turned her attention to the paintings on the walls. They were also in the other room as well. There were two that she really had wanted to examine more closely. One had what looked to be a tree with something red pinned to it. The other had what appeared to be two boys. The younger boy had his arms outstretched to something while the older boy held him back. Kagome really wanted to go look at those paintings, but the last of breakfast had just be set on the table.
Nekoyasha seated herself between Inuyasha and Miroku. She whispered something to Shinta who left the room. Lotus took a seat between Shippo and Sango. Shinta came back in with a small bundle, which he handed to his grandmother and then went and sat between his sister and Shippo.
Nekoyasha was the first to break the silence. "I know this is not much but please eat. I know you all must be famished."
The group looked at the food on the table for a moment then everyone started grabbing food to put on their plates. The conversation for the most part was "please pass the ..." or "could someone get me more tea?" There was fruit, some fish, rice balls, and of course tea.
About half way through the meal, Inuyasha looked up at Nekoyasha. "Okay, Neko, why do you have a shard of the Shikon Jewel?"
Nekoyasha sighed and took a sip of her tea. She brought up the small bundle. "I don't have just a shard, I have five of them." She unwrapped the silken bundle. On it lay four very corrupt jewel shards. One was black, one was red, and the other two still had some pink to them, but not very much. "I received them as payment for my healing services. The one I wear is the least corrupt of the bunch. So I use it for healing. It seems however that my using it that way has somewhat purified it." She took it off and held it up. It only showed the slightest hue of black. "It was only marginally better than these two when I started using it," she stated as pointed to the two shards that showed pink.
"There was word on the wind that the jewel had returned and that you had woken up, Inuyasha. Then I heard that you were traveling with a miko to collect the shards." She looked up at Kagome. "The rumors were right when they said that she looked like Kikyo."
Kagome blushed and was about to say something when Inuyasha growled, "She is not Kikyo! She is her own person!"
Everyone's eyes got big at the fact that Inuyasha was defending Kagome. Everyone that is except Nekoyasha. The only thing that happened was her tail twitched a little faster. She took a sip of her tea. "I never said that she was Kikyo, just that she looked like Kikyo."
Kagome was looking at the shards. She reached out and picked up the blood red one. It instantly became purified. She heard gasps from the people that hadn't seen it before. She also went ahead and purified the other jewels on the silk. She was about to take the jewels when decided against it. *We have never had anyone just give us the jewel shards. Besides these are rightfully hers. She earned them. Perhaps it would be better if we asked for them.* She looked up at the female demon. "May we have the shards?"
Nekoyasha thought for a minute. "Yes, but I have a favor to ask. That I may keep the one I wear until you have finished collecting the rest of the shards. As you saw last night, it helps my healing abilities. Miko, you don't even have to purify it, if you don't wish."
Kagome thought about it. She looked at each of her campanions in turn. Most of them seemed okay with the agreement. Then she looked at Inuyasha. He was staring intently at the cat demon.
"You are sure that you will give it back?"
"Yes. I am not a power hungry for it. I do not even use it all the time. Only when it is important. Besides, I am sure others are looking for it? This way there will always be a piece missing and only the people in this room will know where it is."
This seemed to pacify Inuyasha. Miroku was still looking at and flexing his hand.
"My Lady, why did you use it on me last night?"
The healer stared at him for a moment. "To wake you up. Whatever nightmare you were having, it seemed very real to you. If you had died in your mind, you most likely would have died here as well."
Miroku pondered that though for a moment. He flexed his hand again. "Did you do something to my Air Rip? It feels... smaller, or ... tighter?"
She nodded. "How?" he asked.
"A monk showed me how," was the reply.
Miroku was lost in thought. *She knows how to fix my Air Rip. She has proved that she is good with children. Although, I have never thought about a demon. Well, at least when I knew they were demons. But wouldn't a demon be able to handle the curse better? And Inuyasha calls her cousin. He is strong, and I bet that she is as well.*
Miroku came to a conclusion. He took Nekoyasha's hand in his own, and knelt in front of her. "Lady Nekoyasha, will you bear my child?"
Everyone at the table gasped. Kagome and Sango looked like they were about to hit the boy. Inuyasha looked like he was going to kill the monk. Shippo just shook his head. Lotus and Shinta looked interested in what their grandmother was going to say.
There was a tense moment. Then she burst out laughing. Everyone stared at the woman. When she finally got her laughter under control she spoke. "Let's see. What did I say the last time a monk with a hole in his hand asked me that question?" She sat back and pondered for a moment ignoring the shocked expression on everyone's face. "Hmmm. That's right. I told him... No," she directed at Miroku. "So I am going to tell you the same thing... No. And before you even think about it, do not ask my granddaughter that question, or I will have to hurt you." She smiled.
Miroku however was not thinking about asking the girl at that moment. He was still reeling from the fact that this healer had been asked the same question before. "You knew my ... my ...?"
"Your father. Yes, I did. It was about 25 years ago when he came through this village. He fell ill here and was brought to me. I took care of him and noticed that his hand seemed be a source of pain. But every time I tried to examine it, he would pull it away. I finally got him to tell me who would know about it and a letter was sent off to another monk. He came here and showed me how to work on an Air Rip. I believe it might have been the same monk that raised you. However, when your father recovered, he did the exact same thing you just did. I told him 'no' of course. I already had a child of my own who was ten at the time and I was newly widowed as well."
Miroku had reseated himself at the table. "Did you know my mother? I - I don't remember her. She died when I was very young," he said softly.
Nekoyasha shook her head. "I am sorry. I never met her. I heard that she was a beautiful woman though who apparently loved your father. He must have loved her as well. There is a rumor that she was the only girl that he didn't ask his famous question to her the first chance he got."
Nekoyasha saw a pink flush spread in Sango's cheeks. Miroku flushed as well, both to what the woman had said and remembrance of his dream.
Inuyasha had been thinking over what had just been said. "So Neko-chan, are you saying that had you not had a child, you would have born that monk's?" he growled.
Nekoyasha flashed him a smile and had a glint in her eye as she replied, "Wouldn't you like to know, cousin?"
Inuyasha looked like he was about to say something else (or maybe strangle the answer out of her) when Sango piped up.
"So how are you two related? You keep calling each other cousins, but how can a dog and a cat be related?" she asked the question that was on everyone's mind.
*****
A/N: Wow that was a long chapter. There should have been a bit more, but that would have made it a bit longer and it will fit just as well in the next one. Next time on "The Healer," we'll see how -
Inuyasha: Hey I want to know if that cousin of mine would have born Miroku's father's child!
Miroku: I am wondering that myself. Hmmm. Then she would have been my mother, which means that I would be ... related to Inuyasha?
Inuyasha: Like I would ever be related to you!
Miroku: Lady Nekoyasha?
Nekoyasha: That is something that only I know.
Catleana: Hey! I know it too!
Inuyasha and Miroku: (Glare at Catleana) Well?
Catleana: (Glares back) Like I am going to tell you. Besides why are you in my computer lab again?
(Miroku suddenly recalls what Catleana told him last time and quickly shows himself the door. Inuyasha just stands there.)
Catleana: Well?
Inuyasha: Why does Neko get to stay?
Catleana: Because. Now scoot. Don't make me give you the same ultimatum I gave Miroku...
(Inuyasha, not sure that he wants to know what said ultimatum is, leaves.)
Nekoyasha: (Reading what Catleana was going to say about next chapter) Oh, is it how Inuyasha and I are related?
Catleana: Actually, yes. And maybe a word on those paintings Kagome saw. Well, that's all for now.
