Disclaimer: I do not own Inu-yasha and company.
However I do own Esstel (and I won't ever borrow him, sorry, but true).
Symbols are: "talking", 'thoughts', ***new place or time***
Chapter 2 Soul from Hell
The way to the mountains wasn't easy and even harder it was for Miroku to make his friends change their mind in following him. So in other words all the six of them were now travelling toward a mountain.
This mountain was in the distant and you couldn't see it's top cause of clouds. When Kagome was staring at the clouds she didn't first realise that they were dark and promising rain. Her thoughts were to much in Sango who's body was on Kirara's back. Shippo was sitting beside the soulless body with a sad expression.
When Inu-yasha was walking beside Kagome, Miroku was walking a lot further away. He hadn't slowed up even a bit in his progress since they left the village.
They left early on the morning and in the horizon the sun was setting. "Let's find a shelter" Inu-yasha announced when changing the course to left. On that moment Miroku stopper but didn't make any move to follow the hanyo.
Kagome went after Inu-yasha glancing at Miroku. She was worried for Sango but so she was for his friend Miroku. "Let's go, Kirara" Shippo whispered to the cat-demon on her back beside Sango.
No one of them dared to say anything to Miroku. He had been so distant since Sango's soul had started it's travel to hell. The cheerful and smiling Miroku had disappeared. They continued their walk toward a small forest down a hill when Miroku still stood on the hill silently staring at the mountain.
***the camp***
They had a fire in middle and Kagome was sleeping in her sleeping bag. Or at least Inu-yasha thought so when sitting beside the fire and staring her calm face. Shippo, the little bastard, was sleeping beside her like always and Kirara was keeping Sango's body warm.
Inu-yasha threw a stick into the fire when he heard steps from the side. He lifted his gaze up to see Miroku to come. The monk didn't say anything when he sat beside the fire. Inu-yasha saw him to stare blankly at the fire. The hanyo sighed not knowing what to say but feeling the need t say something.
"Well get to the mountains tomorrow if we keep up the same way" the half- demon said finally.
It took a moment before Miroku even realised that someone had talked to him. When he did, he looked up at his thick-headed friend. He smiled. "Yes we will and then we'll get Sango back" he smiled widely and cheerfully at him.
Inu-yasha didn't smile. He saw trough the smile. He saw the pain the monk had. The monk laid down on his back and looked up at the tree tops. "Miroku" the hanyo exclaimed silently.
"Huh?" Miroku asked when concentrating on the treetops and still smiling.
Inu-yasha was silent first. Then he talked "You don't need to act so cheerful, Miroku. We know you good enough."
That made Miroku drop his smile for a moment. He sighed putting his hands under his head. "I'm alright! Don't worry!" he told the hanyo and then with a wide smile he went on his side and closed his eyes.
Kagome opened her eyes slowly after a long silence. It startled Inu-yasha a bit but he knew that she was also worried about Miroku. He just shook his head and Kagome sighed sadly.
***the mountain***
"There is a cave up there" Kagome exclaimed and pointed up mountain. Miroku and Inu-yasha who were in the front turned around and then looked at the place she pointed.
"Smoke" Inu-yasha said silently when smoke from a fire came out from the cave. Shippo stood up on Kirara's back and tried to see best as he could. All he saw cause of a cliff was the smoke.
"Maybe the hermit lives there" he said hopefully. Kagome turned toward him smiling and nodding.
"Let's find out" Inu-yasha told them then jumping powerfully up and on the cliff that had killed Shippo's view. Miroku staid still knowing that neither he or Kagome could jump up there.
"There is a trail up" Kagome exclaimed to Miroku pointing past him. With out another word they started to run the way up. "Wait here with Kirara, Shippo" she told the two left with Sango's body.
When they got up Inu-yasha was already in trouble. A man who was more of hair than anything else was hitting with a long spoon on Inu-yasha. "Evil, evil, evil demon!" the hair-ball chanted when hitting Inu-yasha.
Inu-yasha snarled and reached for Tetsusaiga when Kagome leaned for Miroku. "Doesn't he somehow remind you of Totosai?" The monk just nodded still stunned of what he saw.
When he noticed the hanyo to reach for his katana, the monk went quickly beside the two grabbing the spoon. The hairball turned it's little yellow eye's toward Miroku. Then it growled like a wild animal and jumped back.
"Put your katana back" Miroku told Inu-yasha who almost had pulled Tetsusaiga out. Then the monk turned for the creature that still had arms and legs. "Are you the Mountain Hermit?" he asked using the calling name the people knew him with.
The angry yellow eyes softened. Then the hairy head nodded hastily. "Yes yes!" he exclaimed. It at least seemed to be he. "Mountain hermit, yes. He went to the top yesterday. Yes he went there!"
Kagome looked at the hair-ball to jump up and down and pointing on a road up to the top. The friends glanced at each other and after calling for Shippo they made a haste toward the top.
***At the top of the mountain***
"There is no one here" Miroku sighed when getting to the top. Inu-yasha had been on the top long time ago and now he was sitting on a rock waiting for the others.
"Maybe he have gone back down" Kagome offered huffing and Kirara came with Shippo and Sango's body behind her.
"No" Inu-yasha said shaking his head and standing up. "Only one person have visited the top yesterday."
The others looked at Inu-yasha. "I find only that hairball's scent here." They looked at each other.
"Does that mean.?" Kagome began, but Miroku said the rest.
".That he tricked us?" Miroku hit his forehead. "Yes, he did."
"Lets' go back down!" Shippo exclaimed. "He might still be where we last saw him!" The others turned to look at the kitsune.
"Lets make haste" Miroku said to the others and took the lead down the mountain. However, Inu-yasha took the lead quite quickly this time carrying Kagome. They needed to get down fast.
***Down again***
"Hey, you!" Inu-yasha roared when he was lifting the hairball above his head. "What was the big idea of sending us all the way up and down?!"
"Calm down Inu-yasha" Kagome said coming beside him. She laid her hand on his hand to calm him down.
"Calm down?!" Inu-yasha shout. "Why should I calm down when this fool tricked us?!"
"Inu-yasha, let me do the talking and scowling" Miroku said hitting the hanyo hard with his staff.
Kagome looked at Inu-yasha who was knocked down and cause of it let the hairball free. Miroku turned for the hairball and then put the head of his stuff right before the yellow eyes.
"Now" Miroku said slightly getting angry about this all. "You are the Mountain hermit, aren't you?"
The hairball lifted his hand a bit where was again that damn big spoon. "No you are not going to hit me" Miroku said hitting twice as hard as he had earlier at the hairball. "So. Why did you trick us?!"
Kagome noticed the anger in Miroku's voice, but not to wonder when Sango was like this. She walked beside Kirara and then examined Sango's soulless body just when Inu-yasha got up again. "Feh!" Inu-yasha came beside Kirara and sat down letting Miroku do the stuff.
The hairball grumbled and then his yellow eyes flashed. He jumped high up and hit the spoon down at Miroku, but it was stopped. Miroku held his staff between his face and the spoon as a shield of protection.
Miroku sighed and then pushed the hermit away. Before the hairball was ready to do anything again Miroku grabbed the spoon and held it in his other hand when the staff was in the other. "Now you, Mountain Hermit" he said threatening. "Explain why did you send us all the way up?!"
The hairball growled and backed couple of steps. "I didn't lie!" he said crossing his hands (or at least they looked like hands) on his chest like a five years old child.
Miroku sighed angrily and then hit with the spoon on the hairball's head. Then he stepped closer and put the spoon against what he thought to be the creature's throat. "Don't try my patience" he told the hairball.
The hairball backed again, but then came the mountain wall against him. "I did go to the top yesterday" he said and then glanced at his left. On his left was the way into his little cave. "So. I didn't lie!"
Miroku was stunned on how quickly the hairball suddenly disappeared into the cave. He looked at Kagome who only shrugged her shoulders. Inu-yasha was still sitting grumpily when he could take care of this on his own way.
With out thinking more Miroku stepped into the cave just to meet the hairball again. This time the creature attacked at Miroku. He swung himself on Miroku's face that made the monk drop the staff and spoon when they fell on the ground Miroku's back first.
The hairball grabbed the spoon and then started to hit poor Miroku on the face. "Evilevilevilevilevil" the creature chanted keeping no pause in his chanting.
Suddenly, however, he couldn't hit with the spoon anymore. When he was bringing the spoon down again it was gone. He glanced up to see very angry Inu-yasha keeping the spoon in his hand.
The hermit yelped when Inu-yasha bared his fangs. "You have gone too far" he growled and then hit the spoon at the creature with all his might. The spoon cracked in two, but the hermit was still standing there.
When the hairball saw the spoon in two pieces he yelped again when Inu- yasha drew Tetsusaiga out.
"Stop, Inu-yasha!" Kagome shout. "We need him alive, jerk!"
"Jerk?" Inu-yasha shout forgetting about the hermit. "I'm not a jerk!"
Miroku stood up to see the two of them fighting, but he also saw the hermit trying to sneak away. Quickly he grabbed the hairball and lifted him up. "You have a lot to explain" he said with narrowed eyes.
***Inside the cave***
Finally the hairball stopped all his struggling and let the companions in into his cave. The cave had a low roof and the cave was full of stuff. You could find bottle after bottle around the cave and you wouldn't like to know what those green and blue liquid in them was. In one corner there was fabric and furs and the companions assumed it to be a bed. In the middle of the cave was a fire place just like Kaede had and Miroku was surprised to notice a hole on the roof where all the smoke went.
The fire was burning and the hermit was on the other side of it when Miroku and Inu-yasha on the other. Kagome was with Shippo and Kirara beside Sango who had been laid down on the furs.
"You want me to help you to return her soul from hell, right?" the mountain hermit asked slowly looking at Miroku with his bright yellow eyes. He was suddenly so serious that it surprised the companions. They had told the hermit about Sango's current state.
Miroku nodded slowly when Inu-yasha grumbled beside him. The hanyo was just about to say something very wise, but Miroku hit his staff against his thigh. Inu-yasha just bit his lip giving a death-glance to Miroku.
Miroku didn't pay attention to him when he turned for the hairball again. "You know a way to help?" he asked almost carefully. The atmosphere made him feel small even despite the fact that he hit his head on the roof when he stood up.
The hairball looked thoughtful. "I might" he said with a bit harsh voice. "How much are you willing to do for her? This isn't going to be easy."
"Anything" Miroku had said already before the hairball had the chance to end his sentence. Kagome glanced then up from Sango. He saw Miroku's determined look and Inu-yasha's grumpy face.
"Alright, I'll do it with one condition" the hermit said and Miroku leaned closer to hear it better. Actually all of the companions leaned nearer. Shippo and Kirara even moved nearer for being so small. There was a long silence and the hermit kept it going.
After a moment Miroku and Inu-yasha glanced at each other when hearing snoring. Sighing Miroku hit his staff across the fire at the hairball. "Wake up you. you." he stopped there fearing that anything that he would call him would destroy their chances of getting help.
The hairball shook his head and then was like he had never fell asleep. Inu- yasha rolled his eyes to this. "Spit it out" the hanyo growled. The hermit's eyes flashed and there was yet again a long silence, but then the hairball leaned back a bit that informed the others that he was still awake.
"I will do it." he said torturing the companions with the tension.
"Ifyouletmetouchher" he spilled out as quickly as he could lifting his hand toward Kagome.
Inu-yasha and Miroku blinked their eyes for a moment wondering what the hermit had said. When they however saw the hairballs hand point toward Kagome they understood enough.
"No way!" Inu-yasha roared and run between the hairball and Kagome huffing angrily. Miroku hit hard with his staff across the fire.
"So we have a little pervert here" the monk said still holding the staff on the hermit's head.
"Look who's talking" Kagome said with a low voice, but loud enough for Miroku to hear. Miroku felt how cold sweat formed on his forehead under Kagome's stare, but Inu-yasha was still standing there huffing.
"What if we do it this way" Miroku said dramatically when the atmosphere had relaxed a bit. "If you don't help us. We are gonna kill you."
The hermit stared at the monk with wide eyes. Inu-yasha cracked his fingers as confirmation. That was good with him. Kagome looked from behind Inu- yasha who still was between her and the hairball.
"Like you could ki-." the hermit started to say, but Inu-yasha was already there having his claws against the creatures throat - or at least he believed that the throat was there. "O-okay. I-I'll do a-anything you want."
"That's more like it" Inu-yasha said baring his fangs to the hermit.
***Little later***
Miroku, Kagome and Inu-yasha were sitting before Sango's body when Shippo was taking care of Sango. They were staring at the hairball who danced around the fire chanting something no one of them could understand. The hermit was throwing strange herbs into the fire and the smells were something that forced especially Inu-yasha to hold on his nose.
The hermit continued dancing around the fire when he took from within his long hair and beard red hair. It was tied up by a little string and then with few strong words (that the companions still didn't understand) he threw the red hair into the fire.
Immediately everything stopped in the cave when red smoke started to come from the fire filling the whole cave. This smoke didn't go up, but it fell down and before Shippo could realise it he was covered by the smoke with Sango's body and Kirara.
Inu-yasha stood up when a bright light came from within the smoke on the place where the fire should be. He however didn't reach for Tetsusaiga couse his head hit the roof.
Kagome gasped when the smoke started to take form above the fire. It was taking a form of a tall man. When the smoke started to fade from the top of the form Miroku got on his knees.
The smoke revealed red hair and strange big ears. In mere seconds there was standing a young looking man in the middle of the cave. He had a long black jacket that resembled kimono. He had his hands in his huge sleeves and he held eyes closed. What you could immediately tell was that he was too tall to be in the cave.
The man opened his eyes when he hit his head on the roof. "Damn it" he cursed with a young and in a way dreamy voice. He went down on his knees and then turned to stare at the companions.
Kagome gasped when those eyes that both were green and red from color stared at her. It felt like he would be reading her like and open book. Inu- yasha saw that and moved protectively before Kagome. Then the man turned his stare on Inu-yasha.
The hanyo didn't feel too comfortable.
"Why did you call me, hermit?" the man asked turning around to look at the hairball. Miroku noticed that the man was cursing under his breath, but he wouldn't be surprised if it was cause of the roof. He couldn't be so impressive when he hit his head all the time.
"They want help that only you can give" the hermit explained and pointed on the companions. He didn't seem to be even the least afraid.
The red-haired man turned to look at the friends again. Then he cached a glance of Sango behind them. Miroku noticed that and moved between the man and Sango. The man looked at Miroku with narrowed eyes. "What do you want?" he asked with a not-so-nice voice.
Miroku straightened his back even thought he wouldn't be so impressive either when being on his knees. "Are you able to help us to get my friends soul back?" he asked carefully.
The red-haired man's eyes widened. "Bring from death?" he hissed. "Even if I could do that I wouldn't be allowed."
"But she's." Kagome tried to say, but Miroku's hand interrupted her.
"Her soul was taken to hell by a demon" the monk said getting a bit nervous on this all and his voice was starting to be filled with anger. "That's not the right way to die. It's not her time yet!"
"And who are you to say that?!" The tall man's voice was like thunder, but it wasn't so impressive when he was on his knees. Kagome felt how cold sweat was gathering on her forehead.
Miroku went quiet. Yes, who was he to say when it was time for people to die. Kagome saw the disappointment in Miroku's eyes.
"Hey, you" Inu-yasha growled hitting his head on the roof again. "Who are you to be acting so macho all the time?!"
The man in the middle turned to look at Inu-yasha. He was long silent examining Inu-yasha from head to toe. "I'm Esstel of Abzar Valley" he said with a bit calmer voice. "And you, demon?"
Inu-yasha tried to straighten his back, but he hit his head again. He cursed under his breath before saying "Inu-yasha, but you won't do much with the name if you don't help us." He cracked his fingers threateningly.
"You are planning to kill me?" Esstel asked almost bored. "I'm sorry, but you are late." Kagome and Miroku looked at the red-haired man.
"I'm already dead."
A/N: sorry for this long absence but I have been busy with school and stuff. Also I have been drawing a lot lately so my time has been used by a table.
Hmmm. I'm hoping to get a new chapter soon to Tears of a Ghost, but this is here at least.
Esstel is from the very beginning mine and only mine! I have created it and his race for one of my stories and I won't in any occasions borrow him.
That's all for now!
Symbols are: "talking", 'thoughts', ***new place or time***
Chapter 2 Soul from Hell
The way to the mountains wasn't easy and even harder it was for Miroku to make his friends change their mind in following him. So in other words all the six of them were now travelling toward a mountain.
This mountain was in the distant and you couldn't see it's top cause of clouds. When Kagome was staring at the clouds she didn't first realise that they were dark and promising rain. Her thoughts were to much in Sango who's body was on Kirara's back. Shippo was sitting beside the soulless body with a sad expression.
When Inu-yasha was walking beside Kagome, Miroku was walking a lot further away. He hadn't slowed up even a bit in his progress since they left the village.
They left early on the morning and in the horizon the sun was setting. "Let's find a shelter" Inu-yasha announced when changing the course to left. On that moment Miroku stopper but didn't make any move to follow the hanyo.
Kagome went after Inu-yasha glancing at Miroku. She was worried for Sango but so she was for his friend Miroku. "Let's go, Kirara" Shippo whispered to the cat-demon on her back beside Sango.
No one of them dared to say anything to Miroku. He had been so distant since Sango's soul had started it's travel to hell. The cheerful and smiling Miroku had disappeared. They continued their walk toward a small forest down a hill when Miroku still stood on the hill silently staring at the mountain.
***the camp***
They had a fire in middle and Kagome was sleeping in her sleeping bag. Or at least Inu-yasha thought so when sitting beside the fire and staring her calm face. Shippo, the little bastard, was sleeping beside her like always and Kirara was keeping Sango's body warm.
Inu-yasha threw a stick into the fire when he heard steps from the side. He lifted his gaze up to see Miroku to come. The monk didn't say anything when he sat beside the fire. Inu-yasha saw him to stare blankly at the fire. The hanyo sighed not knowing what to say but feeling the need t say something.
"Well get to the mountains tomorrow if we keep up the same way" the half- demon said finally.
It took a moment before Miroku even realised that someone had talked to him. When he did, he looked up at his thick-headed friend. He smiled. "Yes we will and then we'll get Sango back" he smiled widely and cheerfully at him.
Inu-yasha didn't smile. He saw trough the smile. He saw the pain the monk had. The monk laid down on his back and looked up at the tree tops. "Miroku" the hanyo exclaimed silently.
"Huh?" Miroku asked when concentrating on the treetops and still smiling.
Inu-yasha was silent first. Then he talked "You don't need to act so cheerful, Miroku. We know you good enough."
That made Miroku drop his smile for a moment. He sighed putting his hands under his head. "I'm alright! Don't worry!" he told the hanyo and then with a wide smile he went on his side and closed his eyes.
Kagome opened her eyes slowly after a long silence. It startled Inu-yasha a bit but he knew that she was also worried about Miroku. He just shook his head and Kagome sighed sadly.
***the mountain***
"There is a cave up there" Kagome exclaimed and pointed up mountain. Miroku and Inu-yasha who were in the front turned around and then looked at the place she pointed.
"Smoke" Inu-yasha said silently when smoke from a fire came out from the cave. Shippo stood up on Kirara's back and tried to see best as he could. All he saw cause of a cliff was the smoke.
"Maybe the hermit lives there" he said hopefully. Kagome turned toward him smiling and nodding.
"Let's find out" Inu-yasha told them then jumping powerfully up and on the cliff that had killed Shippo's view. Miroku staid still knowing that neither he or Kagome could jump up there.
"There is a trail up" Kagome exclaimed to Miroku pointing past him. With out another word they started to run the way up. "Wait here with Kirara, Shippo" she told the two left with Sango's body.
When they got up Inu-yasha was already in trouble. A man who was more of hair than anything else was hitting with a long spoon on Inu-yasha. "Evil, evil, evil demon!" the hair-ball chanted when hitting Inu-yasha.
Inu-yasha snarled and reached for Tetsusaiga when Kagome leaned for Miroku. "Doesn't he somehow remind you of Totosai?" The monk just nodded still stunned of what he saw.
When he noticed the hanyo to reach for his katana, the monk went quickly beside the two grabbing the spoon. The hairball turned it's little yellow eye's toward Miroku. Then it growled like a wild animal and jumped back.
"Put your katana back" Miroku told Inu-yasha who almost had pulled Tetsusaiga out. Then the monk turned for the creature that still had arms and legs. "Are you the Mountain Hermit?" he asked using the calling name the people knew him with.
The angry yellow eyes softened. Then the hairy head nodded hastily. "Yes yes!" he exclaimed. It at least seemed to be he. "Mountain hermit, yes. He went to the top yesterday. Yes he went there!"
Kagome looked at the hair-ball to jump up and down and pointing on a road up to the top. The friends glanced at each other and after calling for Shippo they made a haste toward the top.
***At the top of the mountain***
"There is no one here" Miroku sighed when getting to the top. Inu-yasha had been on the top long time ago and now he was sitting on a rock waiting for the others.
"Maybe he have gone back down" Kagome offered huffing and Kirara came with Shippo and Sango's body behind her.
"No" Inu-yasha said shaking his head and standing up. "Only one person have visited the top yesterday."
The others looked at Inu-yasha. "I find only that hairball's scent here." They looked at each other.
"Does that mean.?" Kagome began, but Miroku said the rest.
".That he tricked us?" Miroku hit his forehead. "Yes, he did."
"Lets' go back down!" Shippo exclaimed. "He might still be where we last saw him!" The others turned to look at the kitsune.
"Lets make haste" Miroku said to the others and took the lead down the mountain. However, Inu-yasha took the lead quite quickly this time carrying Kagome. They needed to get down fast.
***Down again***
"Hey, you!" Inu-yasha roared when he was lifting the hairball above his head. "What was the big idea of sending us all the way up and down?!"
"Calm down Inu-yasha" Kagome said coming beside him. She laid her hand on his hand to calm him down.
"Calm down?!" Inu-yasha shout. "Why should I calm down when this fool tricked us?!"
"Inu-yasha, let me do the talking and scowling" Miroku said hitting the hanyo hard with his staff.
Kagome looked at Inu-yasha who was knocked down and cause of it let the hairball free. Miroku turned for the hairball and then put the head of his stuff right before the yellow eyes.
"Now" Miroku said slightly getting angry about this all. "You are the Mountain hermit, aren't you?"
The hairball lifted his hand a bit where was again that damn big spoon. "No you are not going to hit me" Miroku said hitting twice as hard as he had earlier at the hairball. "So. Why did you trick us?!"
Kagome noticed the anger in Miroku's voice, but not to wonder when Sango was like this. She walked beside Kirara and then examined Sango's soulless body just when Inu-yasha got up again. "Feh!" Inu-yasha came beside Kirara and sat down letting Miroku do the stuff.
The hairball grumbled and then his yellow eyes flashed. He jumped high up and hit the spoon down at Miroku, but it was stopped. Miroku held his staff between his face and the spoon as a shield of protection.
Miroku sighed and then pushed the hermit away. Before the hairball was ready to do anything again Miroku grabbed the spoon and held it in his other hand when the staff was in the other. "Now you, Mountain Hermit" he said threatening. "Explain why did you send us all the way up?!"
The hairball growled and backed couple of steps. "I didn't lie!" he said crossing his hands (or at least they looked like hands) on his chest like a five years old child.
Miroku sighed angrily and then hit with the spoon on the hairball's head. Then he stepped closer and put the spoon against what he thought to be the creature's throat. "Don't try my patience" he told the hairball.
The hairball backed again, but then came the mountain wall against him. "I did go to the top yesterday" he said and then glanced at his left. On his left was the way into his little cave. "So. I didn't lie!"
Miroku was stunned on how quickly the hairball suddenly disappeared into the cave. He looked at Kagome who only shrugged her shoulders. Inu-yasha was still sitting grumpily when he could take care of this on his own way.
With out thinking more Miroku stepped into the cave just to meet the hairball again. This time the creature attacked at Miroku. He swung himself on Miroku's face that made the monk drop the staff and spoon when they fell on the ground Miroku's back first.
The hairball grabbed the spoon and then started to hit poor Miroku on the face. "Evilevilevilevilevil" the creature chanted keeping no pause in his chanting.
Suddenly, however, he couldn't hit with the spoon anymore. When he was bringing the spoon down again it was gone. He glanced up to see very angry Inu-yasha keeping the spoon in his hand.
The hermit yelped when Inu-yasha bared his fangs. "You have gone too far" he growled and then hit the spoon at the creature with all his might. The spoon cracked in two, but the hermit was still standing there.
When the hairball saw the spoon in two pieces he yelped again when Inu- yasha drew Tetsusaiga out.
"Stop, Inu-yasha!" Kagome shout. "We need him alive, jerk!"
"Jerk?" Inu-yasha shout forgetting about the hermit. "I'm not a jerk!"
Miroku stood up to see the two of them fighting, but he also saw the hermit trying to sneak away. Quickly he grabbed the hairball and lifted him up. "You have a lot to explain" he said with narrowed eyes.
***Inside the cave***
Finally the hairball stopped all his struggling and let the companions in into his cave. The cave had a low roof and the cave was full of stuff. You could find bottle after bottle around the cave and you wouldn't like to know what those green and blue liquid in them was. In one corner there was fabric and furs and the companions assumed it to be a bed. In the middle of the cave was a fire place just like Kaede had and Miroku was surprised to notice a hole on the roof where all the smoke went.
The fire was burning and the hermit was on the other side of it when Miroku and Inu-yasha on the other. Kagome was with Shippo and Kirara beside Sango who had been laid down on the furs.
"You want me to help you to return her soul from hell, right?" the mountain hermit asked slowly looking at Miroku with his bright yellow eyes. He was suddenly so serious that it surprised the companions. They had told the hermit about Sango's current state.
Miroku nodded slowly when Inu-yasha grumbled beside him. The hanyo was just about to say something very wise, but Miroku hit his staff against his thigh. Inu-yasha just bit his lip giving a death-glance to Miroku.
Miroku didn't pay attention to him when he turned for the hairball again. "You know a way to help?" he asked almost carefully. The atmosphere made him feel small even despite the fact that he hit his head on the roof when he stood up.
The hairball looked thoughtful. "I might" he said with a bit harsh voice. "How much are you willing to do for her? This isn't going to be easy."
"Anything" Miroku had said already before the hairball had the chance to end his sentence. Kagome glanced then up from Sango. He saw Miroku's determined look and Inu-yasha's grumpy face.
"Alright, I'll do it with one condition" the hermit said and Miroku leaned closer to hear it better. Actually all of the companions leaned nearer. Shippo and Kirara even moved nearer for being so small. There was a long silence and the hermit kept it going.
After a moment Miroku and Inu-yasha glanced at each other when hearing snoring. Sighing Miroku hit his staff across the fire at the hairball. "Wake up you. you." he stopped there fearing that anything that he would call him would destroy their chances of getting help.
The hairball shook his head and then was like he had never fell asleep. Inu- yasha rolled his eyes to this. "Spit it out" the hanyo growled. The hermit's eyes flashed and there was yet again a long silence, but then the hairball leaned back a bit that informed the others that he was still awake.
"I will do it." he said torturing the companions with the tension.
"Ifyouletmetouchher" he spilled out as quickly as he could lifting his hand toward Kagome.
Inu-yasha and Miroku blinked their eyes for a moment wondering what the hermit had said. When they however saw the hairballs hand point toward Kagome they understood enough.
"No way!" Inu-yasha roared and run between the hairball and Kagome huffing angrily. Miroku hit hard with his staff across the fire.
"So we have a little pervert here" the monk said still holding the staff on the hermit's head.
"Look who's talking" Kagome said with a low voice, but loud enough for Miroku to hear. Miroku felt how cold sweat formed on his forehead under Kagome's stare, but Inu-yasha was still standing there huffing.
"What if we do it this way" Miroku said dramatically when the atmosphere had relaxed a bit. "If you don't help us. We are gonna kill you."
The hermit stared at the monk with wide eyes. Inu-yasha cracked his fingers as confirmation. That was good with him. Kagome looked from behind Inu- yasha who still was between her and the hairball.
"Like you could ki-." the hermit started to say, but Inu-yasha was already there having his claws against the creatures throat - or at least he believed that the throat was there. "O-okay. I-I'll do a-anything you want."
"That's more like it" Inu-yasha said baring his fangs to the hermit.
***Little later***
Miroku, Kagome and Inu-yasha were sitting before Sango's body when Shippo was taking care of Sango. They were staring at the hairball who danced around the fire chanting something no one of them could understand. The hermit was throwing strange herbs into the fire and the smells were something that forced especially Inu-yasha to hold on his nose.
The hermit continued dancing around the fire when he took from within his long hair and beard red hair. It was tied up by a little string and then with few strong words (that the companions still didn't understand) he threw the red hair into the fire.
Immediately everything stopped in the cave when red smoke started to come from the fire filling the whole cave. This smoke didn't go up, but it fell down and before Shippo could realise it he was covered by the smoke with Sango's body and Kirara.
Inu-yasha stood up when a bright light came from within the smoke on the place where the fire should be. He however didn't reach for Tetsusaiga couse his head hit the roof.
Kagome gasped when the smoke started to take form above the fire. It was taking a form of a tall man. When the smoke started to fade from the top of the form Miroku got on his knees.
The smoke revealed red hair and strange big ears. In mere seconds there was standing a young looking man in the middle of the cave. He had a long black jacket that resembled kimono. He had his hands in his huge sleeves and he held eyes closed. What you could immediately tell was that he was too tall to be in the cave.
The man opened his eyes when he hit his head on the roof. "Damn it" he cursed with a young and in a way dreamy voice. He went down on his knees and then turned to stare at the companions.
Kagome gasped when those eyes that both were green and red from color stared at her. It felt like he would be reading her like and open book. Inu- yasha saw that and moved protectively before Kagome. Then the man turned his stare on Inu-yasha.
The hanyo didn't feel too comfortable.
"Why did you call me, hermit?" the man asked turning around to look at the hairball. Miroku noticed that the man was cursing under his breath, but he wouldn't be surprised if it was cause of the roof. He couldn't be so impressive when he hit his head all the time.
"They want help that only you can give" the hermit explained and pointed on the companions. He didn't seem to be even the least afraid.
The red-haired man turned to look at the friends again. Then he cached a glance of Sango behind them. Miroku noticed that and moved between the man and Sango. The man looked at Miroku with narrowed eyes. "What do you want?" he asked with a not-so-nice voice.
Miroku straightened his back even thought he wouldn't be so impressive either when being on his knees. "Are you able to help us to get my friends soul back?" he asked carefully.
The red-haired man's eyes widened. "Bring from death?" he hissed. "Even if I could do that I wouldn't be allowed."
"But she's." Kagome tried to say, but Miroku's hand interrupted her.
"Her soul was taken to hell by a demon" the monk said getting a bit nervous on this all and his voice was starting to be filled with anger. "That's not the right way to die. It's not her time yet!"
"And who are you to say that?!" The tall man's voice was like thunder, but it wasn't so impressive when he was on his knees. Kagome felt how cold sweat was gathering on her forehead.
Miroku went quiet. Yes, who was he to say when it was time for people to die. Kagome saw the disappointment in Miroku's eyes.
"Hey, you" Inu-yasha growled hitting his head on the roof again. "Who are you to be acting so macho all the time?!"
The man in the middle turned to look at Inu-yasha. He was long silent examining Inu-yasha from head to toe. "I'm Esstel of Abzar Valley" he said with a bit calmer voice. "And you, demon?"
Inu-yasha tried to straighten his back, but he hit his head again. He cursed under his breath before saying "Inu-yasha, but you won't do much with the name if you don't help us." He cracked his fingers threateningly.
"You are planning to kill me?" Esstel asked almost bored. "I'm sorry, but you are late." Kagome and Miroku looked at the red-haired man.
"I'm already dead."
A/N: sorry for this long absence but I have been busy with school and stuff. Also I have been drawing a lot lately so my time has been used by a table.
Hmmm. I'm hoping to get a new chapter soon to Tears of a Ghost, but this is here at least.
Esstel is from the very beginning mine and only mine! I have created it and his race for one of my stories and I won't in any occasions borrow him.
That's all for now!