Family Ties: Part 2

Inuyasha had backed off his pace and was now walking beside Kagome, carrying her bike and backpack. "The farm looks pretty wide-spread, and the front fields look good, but the back fields are mess."

" Demons?" Sango questioned.

Inuyasha shook his head, "Just haven't been tilled."

" Strange, this area looks very fertile. Why wouldn't you take full advantage of that?" Miroku wondered aloud as they entered the path between the fields.

" These people look pretty healthy." Kagome noticed. " That's a nice change."

"So monk, you sense a dark cloud over the fields?" Inuyasha mocked.

" Actually..." Miroku paused.

Sango glanced at the monk, surprised at his sudden silence, than she followed his line of sight where a woman was walking up the path. Sango could tell the woman was in full command of Miroku's attention, not that she cared.

" MIKO!!" Came a child's squeal from the side of the travelers. "MIKO! MIKO!!"

Miroku turned to source of the voice and caught the five-year-old child in his arms. He laughed and hugged her tightly, tickling her here and there making her laugh. "Tanaya, you're getting so big." He asked her settling her in his arms. "How old are you now?"

Sango felt her mouth drop open as she stared at Miroku holding the child he called Tanaya. The little girl looked like him, especially in the eyes. Was this his child? Had he left the poor mother alone to fend for herself in rice fields? That didn't seem like something Miroku would do; but than how well did she really know him? Sango clenched her teeth and ventured a glance at the other, who seemed to be reacting the same she was. Kagome's eyes were as wide as saucers, and Inuyasha eyebrow was arched in confusion as his nose twitched.

" Ouch." Tanaya held up Miroku's right hand, with her own wrapped right hand, and kissed it. "Better?"

" Soon, angel." He smiled and kissed her forehead. " How's your mother?"

" She's right here." The woman standing in front of the group was beautiful. Long black hair tied back in a ponytail and her dark brown eyes were sparkling in delight. "Hello Miroku, I've missed you, Love." She hugged him tightly.

"I've missed you too, Michi." Miroku hugged her back and his free hand completely behaved, something that didn't go unnoticed by Sango.

Michi pulled back from Miroku and kissed his temple. "You look tried. Put down Tanaya she weighs a lot more than when last you visited."

"I noticed, I can't believe how grown up this angel is." Miroku put her down on the ground and cupped his hands together before producing a candy from seemingly nowhere and handing it to the excited child.

" Children grow, you've been gone." Michi smiled sadly, then looked at the rest of the group. "Aren't you going to introduce me to your friends?"

Miroku shook his head as if surprised he'd forgotten all about them. " Of course this is Inuyasha."

" Puppy!" Tanaya exclaimed pointed at Inuyasha, who managed a half-smile/half-grimace.

" Tanaya, you shouldn't say things like that." Michi chided her and bowed to Inuyasha respectfully. "Forgive my child, Lord Inuyasha, she doesn't always think before she speaks."

Inuyasha arched his eyebrow, very confused at the greeting. "Why are you bowing to me and what's with the Lord crap?"

" You're a demon, are you not?" Michi now looked confused.

" Half." Inuyasha regarded Michi strangely.

"I see, in this part of the country. We treat the demon with respect. Sometimes it keeps us from being eaten, but not always."

" Feh." Inuyasha folded his arms over his chest and looked away before noticing Tanaya was looking at him. "What?"

"I wish you many greetings great lord, Inuyasha." She batted her eyelashes at him and bowed formally at her waist.

Inuyasha's face twitched and finally he smiled at Tanaya. "Thanks."

"This is Lady Kagome." Miroku continued with his introductions.

" Lady." Michi bowed followed by Tanaya's sweet smile and bow as well.

Kagome smile brightly at Tanaya, this little girl was so precious. "Thank you, but you can call Kagome. I prefer it actually."

"As you will." Michi nodded.

"This is Sango, a taijiya of demons." Miroku motioned to the hunter.

Sango bowed first and Kirara jumped down to smell the little girl. "It is an honor to meet you both. This is Kirara."

" Kitty." Tanaya giggled and petted Kirara gingerly before remembering her manners and bowing to Sango. "You are very pretty." Tanaya smiled brightly.

" Indeed she is." Miroku agreed, flashing Sango a teasing smile.

Michi smiled amused at the conversation and bowed to Sango. "Thank you. It is an honor to meet you as well, Taijiya Sango."

"And last but not least, this is Shippou." Miroku pointed to the little fox on his shoulder.

" Greetings little one." Michi bowed and Tanaya giggled as she bowed.

Shippou didn't say anything just nodded and jumped to Kagome's arms once there; he managed a very shy "Hello."

"We should travel to the house, it'll be cooler there." Michi motioned for them to follow her and took Miroku's hand in hers.

" You're hands are calloused." Miroku noted.

"So are yours." She countered.

"I've been traveling."

"And I'm a farmer's wife."

Sango stopped dead in her tracks. This woman was married, and so friendly with Miroku and then there was Tanaya. What was going on here?

" Miko! Pick me up!" Tanaya reached her arms up to Miroku, who scooped her up without a moment of hesitation.

"Now how old are you?" He asked Tanaya.

"I'm five summers."

" Five? You only three last time I was here."

"I know. You were gone so long I almost forgot you!" Tanaya pouted and batted her eyelashes at the monk.

"And I'm very sorry about that, angel." Miroku kissed her cheek and hugged her to him.

"As I told you, Love, children grow." Michi smiled.

" Michi,"

There was the name that she'd been seeking, Sango narrowed her eyes at this Michi and pondered if she should say something.

Miroku continued, "I hope it wouldn't be too much trouble to ask, but we need a place to stay for the night."

" Think nothing of it. When Nia told me she saw a monk coming, I'd hoped it was you and started readying the house. 'Though I didn't expect you to have traveling companions; you've always been alone." Michi glanced back at the girls and noted the cold stare she was getting from Sango. "And traveling with women? Have you mended your ways, Love?"

Miroku chuckled. "Not nearly as I should."

" Miko, you have to be good or you'll burn forever." Tanaya informed him seriously.

Michi shook her head. "Sorry, Love, you'll have to blame her father for that one."

" Wait." Inuyasha growled. "Whose brat is she?"

Kagome groaned and slapped her forehead at his bluntness.

Sango though shocked at Inuyasha's outburst was grateful for it. She wanted to know the lineage of the child as well.

Michi arched her eyebrow and sounded slightly offended by the inquiry. " Mine and my husband's."

"Then why does she look and smell like the monk." He prodded.

"She should and if you'll notice, I do as well. We're all related." Michi offered.

" Related how?" Sango felt herself ask.

" Miroku and I are cousins." Michi answered.

"I see. Good." Sango bit her tongue at the slip and glared at Miroku as he smiled at her.

Did you figure it out???