Authoress' Notes: Wow 14 reviews for one chapter?!?! You guys make me feel so loved!!! I'm so sorry this took longer than planned. Basically Monday and Tuesday merged into one never-ending day and I'm still worn out. Just to let you guys know I started a new job and the hours are gonna be hard to take for the first week or two, so please bear with me and stay patient if it takes me a while to update...

This chapter irked me too...I'm trying to set something up and I'm not liking how I'm getting there. It feels kinda sluggish to me, like it's dragging its 'feet' or something. So anyways, I really hope you like this chapter...it hasn't been edited nearly as well as the others, but I wanted to put this up so you guys aren't thrown off it takes me awhile to update. Please enjoy the chapter! Thank you so much for all your support! Review responses are at the bottom.

Smiles - T.A.

Family Ties: Part 10

Kagome lifted up her head and yawned as she slowly started waking up from her dreamless sleep. She looked around the room and winced as she shifted to sit up. "Ouch. That's still sore."

"Of course it is, stupid." Inuyasha barked from the other corner of the room. "Michi thought she was gonna have to sew it up, it was so deep." He stood up and stretched his arms over his head.

Kagome called out to Inuyasha. "Where are you going?"

"I was gonna get Michi. She'll want to check on you." He explained.

" Wait, tell me how everybody's doing. Miroku was still sleep last time I talked to you."

" Yeah, and you both slept through the whole night."

"He hasn't woken up yet? What's wrong with him?" Kagome asked concerned about her friend.

"We don't know. He just hasn't woken up yet."

" Kagome!" Shippou cried out joyously and tried to pounce on her, but Inuyasha caught his tail at the last moment.

" Watch it runt. She's still hurt." He growled before setting the kitsune on the ground.

Shippou stuck out his tongue at Inuyasha, than nuzzled into Kagome's left side. "I was so worried about you, Kagome."

" Don't worry, Shippou. I'm just fine. A little worse for ware, but nothing too bad." Kagome rubbed the top of his head then tugged gently on the end of his tail. "I hear someone was a hero."

Shippou blushed and scuffed the ground with his feet. "It wasn't a big deal. I was just there at the right time."

Kagome hugged him. "I'm very proud of you for saving Tanaya. It was a very brave thing to do."

"It was a very brave thing to do." Inuyasha mocked Kagome's tone.

Kagome's eyebrow arched, "Sit!"

Slam. Inuyasha's face planted against the floorboards of the house as Michi walked into the room.

"So that's what the rosary's for." She smirked as she carefully stepped over the grumbling Inuyasha. "How are you feeling, Kagome?"

" Better. That medicine sure made me sleepy, though." Kagome rubbed her eyes with one hand.

"It does tend to do that, but the advantage is that it does help heal faster." Michi knelt beside Kagome and checked both of the wounds. "They're healing pretty well. You should be able to travel in a few days."

" Days?!?" Inuyasha complained, "You've gotta be kidding me..." He stopped mid rant as Kagome's eyebrow started arching again. "I'm gonna fix the roof." He stormed out.

"You don't have to do that." Michi called to him as she pulled back the curtains allowing the light to flood into the room.

" Whatever." He snapped.

Kagome shook her head. "I hope he's been behaving."

Michi smiled. "Oh he hasn't been any trouble, just don't ask my husband."

"Oh no, did he do something?"

" Yeah, Kagome, he grabbed Ryu by the throat and was gonna kill him, I think, but Michi stopped him." Shippou exclaimed.

Kagome's eyes widened, but before she could utter an apology, Shippou spoke up again.

" Tanaya is really scared of him. He's really mean to Michi too. I don't think that's right." He huffed and crossed his arms over his chest.

" Thank you little one." Michi looked very touched at the little fox's observation.

" Shippou, do you want to play tag?" Tanaya questioned poking her head into the room.

" Yeah." He answered excited to Tanaya, than looked up at Kagome. "I'll be back later, Kagome. Feel better!" He dashed out of the room hot on the heels of the human child, while Kirara trailed behind both of them.

Michi chuckled. "Kids."

" Yeah." Kagome bit her lip, before asking her next question. "How's Miroku?"

" Tired apparently, since he hasn't woken up yet." Michi rang her hands together tensely.

" He'll be okay." Kagome smiled reassuringly as she covered Michi's hands with her own. "He has to be; he doesn't have an heir, yet. He won't die without that." She teased hoping to cheer Michi up.

Michi sighed dramatically, "I suppose you're right."

Kagome grinned. "Where's Sango, by the way?"

" Taking care of Miroku. She's barely left his side this entire time." Michi's expression turned thoughtful. "The poor girl, she must be heartbroken over her brother." Michi noted Kagome's confused expression and explained. "Inuyasha was telling me about Naraku and what he did to Sango and her brother."

"Oh yeah. He's horrid all right, can't leave anyone alone. But then you know that don't you. I mean, of course you do. Sorry I'm rambling." Kagome muttered not believing she'd said something that stupid. Then Kagome noticed the second set of prayer beads around Michi's wrist. "How are you feeling? Did Naraku do something to you?"

Michi looked down at her hand and unwrapped the covering, showing her now scarred palm to Kagome. "Naraku opened the curse in me, but Miroku sealed it. I'm still a little shaken up over the whole thing."

"How did he seal it?" Kagome gasped. "Could he close the one in his own hand?"

"He used some kind of ancient spell, but he was speaking in a language I didn't understand, in a voice that wasn't his own and I hardly doubt the power he was using was his either." Michi drew a ragged breath as her eyes filled with tears. "He did it; he spoke the answer and I..." She choked out an anguished sob. "And I didn't hear it." She stood to her feet; blurting out, "I have to go check on some things. I'll come back to check on you later." Michi hurried from the room.

Kagome sighed and leaned back against her pillow. 'Poor Michi, I wish I could help her. Naraku, I swear one of these days...' Kagome rubbed the side of her face, and yawned before closing her eyes.

Michi raced into the forest, she had to get away from the house and everyone in it. The blood pounded in her ears as the tears streamed down her face. She ran until she could barely breathe and her legs burned in pain. She fell to her knees on the forest floor and let out a wail of sorrow. She gripped her right wrist and tore off the second set of prayer beads. The cord that held the beads together ripped, sending the beads flying in all directions. She beat the ground with her fists and cursed between her sobs.

" Why?" She finally whispered to whomever might be listening. "What could I have possibly done to deserve this? What in my past lives merited this?" Her voice broke as she continued to cry out. "The answer was laid out before me and I in my human weakness wasn't able to hear it! Why?!? Why won't you let me save him?!? He doesn't deserve this!"

Michi broke down crying, and wrapped her arms around her body. "All I want to do is see him alive, not walking dead." Her voice was barely above a whisper. Miroku had been her responsibility since she was five and she had taken it very seriously. They had been so close as they grew-up, but the older Miroku got, the more he understood his curse and the more withdrawn he became. Finally his lighthearted nature was no more than an act to hide the fear that threatened to overcome him. Ever since his father had died, Miroku had been terrified of the wind, it reminded him of the horror he'd witnessed.

:Begin Flashback:

Michi ran through the forest, the braches of the trees scraping her face as they whipped by her. That horrible light that had come from the direction of the temple had awoken her from her sleep. Her first thought had been her little cousin Miroku, he was at the temple that night. 'Something may have happened to Miroku, or Taro...Taro...The curse!!'

Michi ran faster at the thought, if Taro was dead, than the curse would have passed. Miroku would now have the full force of the wind tunnel in his hand. She stopped when she got to a clearing and took a few deep breaths. She looked down at her right hand; it hurt a little and her fingers felt cold. She shook her head and continued to run to temple. She finally reached the temple and saw the gapping creator in front of the temple.

Moushin was kneeling in front of the hole, chanting a burial prayer.

Michi walked up next to him and asked, "Where's Miroku?"

"Ahh!" Moushin gasped and glared at the young girl. "Child, are you trying to send me to an early grave?" He turned Michi's head to face the creator, "Look there. Your uncle has just fallen to the curse. Show some respect to him."

Michi huffed, "You can perform the funeral rites. Taro probably caused his own death."

Moushin cuffed her against the cheek, not very hard though, just enough to get her attention. "Show respect to the dead, Michi. I taught you better than that."

Michi scuffed her feet and bowed her head for a moment, but she wouldn't pray for him. She never forgave Taro for trying to give Miroku to Naraku. "Where's Miroku? He's probably upset."

"He's under the temple, he won't come out." Moushin told her.

"Thank you Moushin-sensei." Michi bowed to him and started towards the temple.

Moushin called to the eleven-year-old, "The curse is awakened in him."

"I know." Michi called back to him as she continued to walk away.

"Michi." Moushin called out to get her attention, when she turned and looked at him he posed his question. " How did you make it through the woods at night, with all the demons roaming about?"

"I ran." She answered not really comprehending what her teacher had meant and hurried to the steps of the temple.

She said a quick prayer and listened for her cousin. Soon she heard the quiet sobs under the temple and wiggled herself under the lip of the temple. "Miroku?"

"Go away!" He screeched.

Michi squinted, her eyes finally focusing enough to see the little boy huddled against one of the temples beams. His back was to the beam and his little body was curled up in a ball as he cradled his right arm tight to his chest. "Miroku, it's okay. I'm right here."

Miroku lifted his head and cried out, "It ate him, Michi. The wind ate him and it'll eat me too!"

"I won't let it get you, don't worry." She called to him. "Come here, Miroku. It's okay."

"I'm afraid." He sobbed and crawled towards Michi.

Michi pulled him out from beneath the temple and held him in her arms, rubbing his back and whispering comforting words. "Everyone's afraid sometimes. I'll be right here until you're not afraid anymore."

Teary eyed and terrified, Miroku looked up at her desperate for comfort. "Promise?"

"On my honor." Michi kissed the top of his head.

Miroku finally let go of his right hand and nudged the beads wrapped around his wrist. "I almost killed Moushin." He whispered through fresh tears. "My wind almost ate him."

"But it didn't." Michi comforted. "You'll learn to control it. And you'll beat that demon that curse our family."

" Michi, I want my father." His lip quivered and he threw his arms around his cousin's neck.

" I know, but it's okay. I'm here." She tightened her grip on him and rocked back and forth until he finally fell asleep.

:End Flashback:

Michi let out another sob of pain as she tried to calm herself down. A snap of a twig startled her and she turned around quickly. "Inuyasha, you scared me."

" Sorry, I heard you crying. I though you might be hurt." Inuyasha mumbled and looked away from her.

Michi blinked and wiped the tears from her face. "No, I'm...I was...I was just thinking. Thank you though, for coming to check on me. I'll back up to the house shortly."

"Take your time." Inuyasha answered as he turned to walk away.

" Inuyasha?"

" Yeah?" He cocked his head at her awaiting her question.

"Why are you so kind to me?" Michi asked quietly.

Inuyasha snorted. "Ya, just remind me of someone. It ain't a big deal." He stomped away from her.

Michi watched him walk away, than gathered a few herbs in her apron before returning to the house.

Sango soaked the cloth in the herb-saturated water and applied it to Miroku's face again. She narrowed her eyebrows and sighed heavily. "There's nothing wrong with you. Why won't you awake up?" Sango continued to wipe the cloth over Miroku's skin. Michi had left the bowl with her saying that its contents were a type of stimulant and it might wake him up, but so far it seemed to have affect.

Michi was very upset over something. Sango hadn't felt comfortable asking her, but she knew something was hurting Michi. It was probably Ryu. Sango had been listening from the corner and knew about the awful things that Michi had gone through. She had heard everything, in fact, if Inuyasha hadn't been so fast, Sango would have defended Michi herself.

Sango looked down at the monk, sleeping peacefully oblivious to the world around him. Miroku couldn't have known what his cousin had been going through; he wouldn't have allowed that. Hopefully he would wake up soon and Sango could talk to him about everything. She smoothed his bangs away from his face. "If only you were this peaceful, when you were awake."

"He'd be pretty boring then." Kagome teased from the doorway. She was wearing her modern sleeping clothes and leaning against the post to keep weight off her right side.

Sango quickly jumped to her feet and rushed to Kagome, "You shouldn't be up. Your injuries will re-open."

Kagome managed a half-smile as she complained, "I was careful. If I had walked any slower, moss would've grown on me."

Sango laughed at the Kagome's ridiculous suggestion.

" How's he doing?" Kagome motioned to Miroku.

Sango looked over her shoulder and sighed. "He's barely moved since the fight and he hasn't woken up."

"I know Michi was telling me that. Did we figure out what Naraku wanted, this time?"

Sango folded her arms over her chest. "Does he need another reason, but to make us miserable?"

"Not really." Kagome looked down the hallway. "I was looking for Michi. I think I really upset her."

"How so?"

" Well, I was asking about Miroku and I think she feels guilty about not being able to seal the wind tunnel in him. Because she started crying and ran out, but I was still so sleepy that I just laid back down and went to sleep. I can't believe I did that I'm so awful." Kagome moaned.

Sango touched Kagome's shoulder, "It wouldn't have done Michi any good for you to chase her and re-injure yourself."

"I guess not." Kagome's stomach started growling loudly.

Sango smiled, "I think we should find you something to eat."

" Yeah, food sounds good."

Original Reviewer Responses:

Review Responses:

Coherentidiot: I'm so glad your enjoying the story. I hope you continue to like/love it. Thank you for taking the time to review and for your very kind words, they are so inspirational!!

Nuklear Firefly: Thanks for the review! I so appreciate the time you take! Check outJaid Skywalker'sreview for the last part she wrote up hilarous conversation between Miroku and Sango about their daughter

Hikari: Thank you so much for review again! And pointing out what you really liked! Ryu, well he'll get his, don't worry! Bows Glad I'm getting Naraku right...I was worried about that. I promise, promise, promise to look over your fic when I have time! I wish I could have done it earlier, but I'm WAY too busy at the moment. But I will! Thanks again for being your wonderful self!!!

Jaid Skywalker You so made my day! That conversation in your review, made me smile! Thanks for the review and taking the time, it's so mice of you. I hope you enjoyed this chapter too!!

Blades of Ice: (")( ") (")( ") (")( ") (")( ") Dancing Kirbies for you for recommending my story!! Thanks thanks!!! I'm glad you liked the chapter...um...yeah he's still sleeping I'm working on that! Meantime, think happy thoughts

Neatobeans: Thanks for the tip about Blades of Ice! I'm so flattered that you liked the story. I'm sorry it took you so long to read, but thanks for doing so. I hope you continue to enjoy the story thanks for taking the time to review.

WildfireDreams: Thanks for your wonderful compliment and for taking the time to review! I so appreciate hearing from people that read this tale I'm spinning. I'm working on curing the monk so don't worry I hope you like this chapter too!! Thanks again!

Hershey: Hope you liked this chapter too! Thanks for taking time to review!

Dreamseeker: "Be..." just kidding! You know I can't resist

Thanks for all your comments they were helpful. It's nice when people tell me what they liked it helps me improve! Anyways Thank you for taking the time to review. I love you dearly, angel! Take care. I'll talk to ya later! Hope you liked this chapter too!!

Higurashi Kagome: Thank you so much for your kind words and for taking the time to review! I appreciate it. Thank you for complimenting my POV I'm not always sure how it'll go over with folks. Well I hope you continue to enjoy this. Thanks again!

Kookie: I'm glad you like the story and my characters...they love to play Anyways thank you for the compliments and for taking the time to review. I hoe you like this chapter as well!

Meow the chibi neko: Hee Hee. The dancing kirbie revolution continues. I hope you liked this chapter. Thanks for taking the time to review.

Kaylana: Don't worry his (Ryu) karma will swing around. I hope you're having a good week and getting more sleep. Goodness. Anyhow, thanks for taking the time to review my story and point out what you like and that you were confused. I appreciate the honesty. I hope you like this chapter too! Thanks again!

Tyric Stinnet: ¥ I love you!! You are so cool to have reviewed my story. Thanks for everything you do for me!