Authoress' notes: Okay! Here is the next part...it's been through several transformations and I think I'm finally completely happy with it. Thank you so much to everyone who's been reviewing, you guys light up my life! Well I don't have much to say about this part it pretty much speaks for itself. So I hope ya'll like it!
Smiles -T.A.
Family Ties: Part 14
Sango watched out the window of the room they'd been given by the innkeeper. She had a bad feeling about the whole situation. She should have been the one to go back with Inuyasha for Michi. She'd tried to convince Miroku to stay with Kagome and Tanaya, but he'd insisted that he had to go back, himself.
Miroku had been very disoriented after hitting the ground. Sango had noted that his first question was "Why am I on the ground?" His confusion seemed completely genuine; there was no snappy comeback to his 'mistreatment' or half-hearted apology due to his wandering hands.
The moment Miroku spoke Tanaya started shrieking for him, throwing her body from side to side, trying to get free of the blanket and Inuyasha. Her frantic shrieks dissolved into desperate tears as she called for Miroku, who was trying to stand up.
Miroku called for Inuyasha to bring Tanaya to him. He gathered the sobbing child in his arms and tried to comfort her.
Miroku asked Inuyasha why they'd left Michi's home. The hanyou told him that Michi had sent them away, because Ryu had been murdered and the town's Elders were coming for her.
Tanaya whimpered at the news and clung tighter to Miroku's neck. She sobbed that she'd never see her mommy again and that she was going to be all alone.
Miroku shook his head and told Tanaya that she would be fine and that he would go get her mother.
Sango had pointed out his weakened condition told him and that she should be the one to go back with Inuyasha. Miroku had simply shook his head motioned for her to come towards him. Sango knelt beside him and Miroku placed Tanaya in her arms.
"Take good care of her." He'd whispered to her, his lips brushing over her cheek. "I need to know she's safe and with you, I'll know that."
She'd felt herself blush, but managed a small nod.
Miroku had forced himself to his feet, but he wasn't very steady. Inuyasha threw the monk on his back and the two disappeared towards Michi's home.
Sango and the others had found the inn quite easily and were waiting there for Inuyasha and Miroku to return with Michi. Tanaya was sitting despondently in the corner, while Shippou was trying to make her smile. Kagome was cleaning her wounds and muttering to herself.
'Why had Miroku been so insistent on going back with Inuyasha? Was it to control Inuyasha or did the he know something that he wasn't telling them?' Sango bit her lip; she should have stayed with Michi.
" They'll get there in time." Kagome assured Sango from her seat on the ground.
Sango sat down next to Kagome and nodded. "How are you feeling?"
Kagome shrugged, "I'm okay, but I know why people don't travel with injuries like these. I hurt all over." She winced and rubbed her side.
"Did the wounds re-open?"
"Only on the edges a bit. I'll be fine." Kagome closed her eyes and leaned against the beam of the wall.
"I'm sorry." Sango dropped her head against her knees. Kohaku had caused her friend all this pain. How would she ever atone for everything he...
Kagome patted Sango's shoulder. "Don't worry about it. It's not your fault."
Sango lifted her head and nodded, but didn't say anything. Shippou had finally succeeded in making Tanaya laugh. He made faces and floated above the giggling little girl, in his pink-bubble form.
" Naraku's not anywhere near here anymore. At least I don't think so." Kagome sighed and sipped some water from her canteen. "I can't sense any jewel shards, like I could before. I think he's biding his time."
Sango kept her voice down, mindful of the children in the room. "Why do you think that?"
" Naraku's careful and whatever Miroku used to seal the wind tunnel in Michi's hand, must have been powerful, you said the light hurt Naraku. I don't think he'll mess with us for a while, not directly anyway." Kagome looked at the demon exterminator from the corner of her eye.
"It looked that way, the power of the light, I mean. Naraku was trying to get away from it." Sango understood where Kagome was going with this. "And he's got no idea where that power came from in Miroku, so before confronting us again, he has to test us."
"Yup, looks like it may get a bit quieter around here." Kagome smiled thoughtfully.
The door of the room came crashing down and the Inuyasha, Miroku, and Michi entered the room.
"You didn't need to kick the door in." Miroku complained.
"Get off my back. We're in a hurry!" Inuyasha growled. "Get up, we have to go, now!"
" Mommy!" Tanaya squealed and raced towards her mother, who was being placed on the ground.
Michi tried to stand but the pain in her feet, didn't allow her stay upright. She crashed down into a sitting position, just as Tanaya threw herself in Michi's awaiting arms. "It's alright, Angel. Mommy's here." Michi held her daughter close.
" Mommy, they said that Father's been murdered. Is he really dead?" Tanaya questioned.
"Yes, Angel, I'm afraid your father's gone." Michi smoothed the hair away from her daughter's face.
"Why are we here instead of home?" Tanaya questioned.
Michi hugged her daughter tightly, "Because, we have to leave this place. It isn't safe for us anymore."
"But I want to stay." Tanaya whimpered.
" Tanaya, we have to go. I'm very sorry." Michi kissed the top of Tanaya's head. "I love you so much, Tanaya. I'm so sorry."
"We gotta go." Inuyasha scooped Kagome into his arms. "Kirara, a little help, with the rest of the load?"
The little fire-cat transformed and allowed Miroku to put Michi and Tanaya on her back.
"Load huh?" Kagome half-growled.
" Yeah, load. If you got a problem with that, you can just go ahead and sit me. We'll see how you like it." He huffed and sniffed the air. "They're closin' in. We gotta go. Miroku, can you still walk?"
"I've got him." Sango looped her arm around his waist.
Miroku looked quite startled at Sango's fast action, then he got a devilish smile.
"That hand goes anywhere it isn't supposed to and you won't have to worry about finding a woman to bear your child." Sango growled quietly to the monk.
" Won't be able to have any huh?" He raised his eyebrows playfully.
Sango shook her head, but smiled and the group took off into the forest.
"Hey! Wait for me!" Shippou cried out behind them.
They'd traveled until nearly sunset, then finally made camp, as the last rays of the sun were disappearing. The whole group was exhausted from the hard traveling. Kagome broke into her stash of instant Ramen for dinner that night; it was a lot easier than trying to prepare something from scratch. Kirara had curled up, and fallen asleep at Sango's feet, while the rest of them had been eating. Inuyasha was already perched in a tree for the night, his eyes opening occasionally at some slight sound his ears had picked up on. Kagome laying flat on her back, sound out asleep with Shippou nestled against her left side contently dreaming. Sango was leaning against a tree, halfway between sleep and consciousness. Miroku was also using a tree to support his back. Michi was using his chest as a pillow and Tanaya was cradled protectively in her arms. Miroku brushed one of Michi's shorter locks of hair away from her face and tried to relax.
Michi opened her eyes and winced slightly.
"Are you in pain?" He asked.
She nodded slowly. "I need to treat my legs and my back, it feels like there's wood in it."
Miroku rubbed her shoulder. "I'll help. Sit up a bit, I can get Sango to watch Tanaya."
" Okay." Michi sat up slowly and kept Tanaya still in her arms.
Miroku crept up on Sango and touched the side of her face. When her eyes opened he held his fingers to his lips.
She understood the meaning and looked at him expectantly.
"I need to treat Michi's injuries. Can you watch over Tanaya for me?" He requested.
Sango nodded, she wasn't quite awake.
Miroku lifted Tanaya into his arms and carried her to Sango. He placed Tanaya in Sango's arms. "Thank you." He whispered. He was about to move away when Tanaya's eyes opened.
" Miko?" She wondered sleepily.
"It's okay, Angel. I just need you to keep Sango warm for me." Miroku informed the little girl.
Sango was awake enough to get the idea and managed a little shiver.
Tanaya nodded, nestled herself into Sango, to make sure they both stayed warm.
Miroku smiled and kissed Tanaya's cheek. "Goodnight, Angel." He moved away a bit when he heard Tanaya insist.
"Her too." Tanaya yawned before explaining, "She needs a goodnight kiss."
' Well, shouldn't argue with the child. I mean after all she'll go to sleep much easier if I don't.' Miroku brushed his lips gently over Sango's cheek. "Goodnight."
Sango's eyes snapped open, shocked at the monk's actions. 'This whole family's against me, even the little one.' She watched him walk away with Michi towards the river they'd found early that night.
Michi stumble slightly as they reached a small stream. She lowered herself to the forest floor. "This is far enough, right?" She pleaded quietly.
Miroku looked back at the camp. "It should be." He looked up at the sky, thankful for the nearly full moon and its light. "Believe me, if it's not. We'll get an earful." He knelt next to his cousin. "Which first?"
"My legs, they're probably worse." She winced; rolling up the robes Miroku had given her a little above her knees.
Sure enough her legs were badly brunt. Miroku shook his head. "You shouldn't have walked."
"It wasn't so far." Michi tried to smile. "I'm not that lazy."
Miroku didn't rise to the joke; instead he soaked a cloth and started wiping the dirt away from Michi's legs and feet. "These burns are bad."
"I know they are my legs." Michi smirked.
Miroku looked up at her an angry expression settling on his face. "What the hell were you thinking?"
"I was thinking that, that was my attempt at a joke."
" That's not what I meant. And you know it." Miroku wiped off part of her legs and some of the skin came off.
Michi hissed in pain. "Ow. I'm sorry. I'll talk to you, just don't inflict more pain on me, I'm in enough."
He looked up into his cousin's eyes, mournful he'd caused he any more pain than she'd already gone through. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you."
"I know, Love." Michi winced again, before sighing. "What did you mean?"
"I want to know why you stayed behind."
"I was trying to protect my daughter." Michi closed her eyes.
"How were you going to protect her, if you were dead?" Miroku took the ointment he'd borrowed from Kagome, and applied it to Michi's legs. She made another complaining sound.
"I hadn't planned that far ahead. "Michi admitted. "I didn't kill him." She whispered nearly inaudibly.
Miroku finished wrapping her legs with clean bandages. "I know you didn't."
Michi half-smiled, "I know, you know. I just wanted someone to agree with me. I never loved him, but I didn't hate, at least, not most of the time."
"I wouldn't hold it against you, if you'd hated him every moment." Miroku huffed and leaned back on his heels.
Michi shook her head. "I couldn't really hate him all the time. It seemed like too much energy wasted on him. Isn't that sad? My own husband wasn't important enough for me to even hate." Her voice was soft and reflective.
"When did you find out about Nia?"
Michi closed her eyes, "When Nia turned up pregnant and Ryu was very understanding."
" Liar." Miroku stated.
Michi opened one eye, "They were each others company the entire time she was there. Nia came into the house, before you visited last. You just didn't notice her."
"And you weren't upset?" Miroku purposeful ignored her attempt at another joke.
Michi shrugged, "Why should I be? I couldn't change it. Besides Ryu didn't want to marry me, he was as forced into it as I was." Michi huffed and snapped the twig in her hand. "I was a bet."
" Excuse me?" Miroku questioned.
"I was a bet. My father wagered me in a game of chance with Ryu's father. When Ryu's father won he panicked because of our family's standings in Kyoto. So he married me off to his younger son." Michi jumped as Miroku pinched her shoulder. "Ouch. What was that for?" She complained.
Miroku's eyes shifted back to the camp, than moved behind her. "Let's look at your back."
Michi looked over her shoulder at Miroku. "I take it they don't know and you don't want them to."
" There's no reason for them to know."
"What if you get near the Kyoto? You'll be recognized; you look he used to." Michi argued as she compared him to their grandfather.
"I cross bridges when I come to them and not before." Miroku rubbed the top of Michi's shoulder. "We should get your back cleaned up. We need to rest; we'll be traveling hard tomorrow too."
Michi nodded and untied the robes, letting the back fall, while holding the front up against her chest. "I've got blood all over these."
" It'll clean." He shook his head in disgust at the scars that ran all over her back. 'What the hell did Ryu do to you?'
"Are they that bad?" Michi whispered.
"No, I was just shocked at how many there are. How did he do it?" Miroku cleaned one section of her back.
"With a whip." Michi bit her lip as it quivered.
"Damn Naraku."
" Excuse me?"
"I'm just wishing that I could have been the one to kill Ryu. Kohaku's the one that did; I could tell by the wounds on the bodies." Miroku found a splinter and pulled it out with the tweezers, another item borrowed from Kagome. "Kohaku uses a sickle-like weapon; he..."
"He's Sango's brother. They told me, while you were sleeping."
"I hear I did a lot of that."
" Three days worth." Michi clenched her teeth. Her whole body started to quake as she felt Miroku finish cleaning her back.
He pulled the robes back up over her shoulders. "Michi, are you alright? You're shacking."
Michi tied the robes and shook her head as she let out an anguished cry. " I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm Sorry." She whispered over and over. "You spoke your own cure and I can't remember it." Her voice broke and she sobbed mournfully.
Miroku wrapped his arms around Michi and held her as she cried. "Shh. Shh. It's alright." He kissed the top of her head. "I'll be fine. I just have to defeat Naraku. I'm sorry, I brought him down on you."
Michi drew in a shaky breath as she sniffled. "Oh, he probably would have figured out that I wasn't affected by the curse and come for me sooner or later."
"What did he mean by an offer, Michi?" Miroku asked, quietly.
Michi shrugged her shoulders; grateful Miroku couldn't see her face. " I'm not sure."
"Fair enough." Miroku smoothed her hair away from her face. "Now we really look alike."
" Especially with the matching outfits." Michi grinned and sat up. She wiped off her face and kissed Miroku's cheek, "Thank you, for saving me, Love."
"I owed you one." Miroku sighed and hugged her. "I'm sorry you had to go through all that."
"Not your fault." Michi assured him. She sniffed and let a few tears roll down her face. "I just realized, that I have no idea where to go now."
" Don't worry about it. I'll take care of everything." Miroku wiped the tears off her face and held her face there for another moment. "Michi, I know about the other child."
"Nia and Ryu's son? The child was still-born."
"No, I mean your second daughter." Miroku argued.
Michi arched her left eyebrow, "Second daughter? I only had Tanaya."
Miroku sighed and solemnly told her, "I found the paper."
" Paper?"
Miroku narrowed his eyebrows, "Please, don't pretend to be confused. The paper, that says you dug her up and..."
" Found her little neck broken." Michi finished. " Miroku, that was from a legend I found in this area."
Miroku blinked digesting the information. "In that case, I'm very glad I slew the hawk-demon, instead of avenging you."
"Me too." Michi snickered in relief. "Either way, Ryu did get his in the end, though I feel bad for him. No one deserves to die like that."
"I'm going to argue with you there." Miroku stood to his feet and stretched, before extending his hand to his cousin. "Come on, we've got a long path to travel tomorrow."
"On that note; where are we going?" Michi questioned standing on shaky legs.
Original Reviewer Responses:
Neatobeans: Of course they saved Michi...I couldn't let her die like that! I'm so glad you liked the chapter! I hope you enjoyed this one too. Thanks for reviewing!
Nuklear Firefly: Of course I appreciate your reviews! They brighten my day! Thanks for taking the time to write them! I'm so glad you liked the chapter. Yes Miroku is conniving and you have to love him for it! Anyways I hope you like this chapter too!
Incoherence: Yeah Michi's rather glad I didn't kill her either. Yes, Yukio bad; interesting punishment...I'll have use that in a later tale...that would be really painful!
Thank you so much for complimenting the pacing and style of my story...I'm so glad it's not getter boring or repetitive, I was afraid of that. I'm so glad that I'm keeping your interest!
Michi's still a bit grouchy, but yeah she loves Miroku being overprotective too, she wasn't too thrilled about being burned to death.
See Sango/Miroku moments...two really...if you count Sango's recollections!! I'm so glad you're enjoying this fic and that you loved the last chapter. I hope this one was up to standards too!
Thanks again for taking the time to review.
WildfireDreams: I'm glad you took the time to review. I hope you enjoyed this one too!
Blades of Ice: I'm glad you loved the chapter, thanks for reviewing and saying so! Yeah Michi's gonna need some major therapy. I liked writing that whole scene with Inuyasha and Miroku saving her, it was a lot of fun! I hope you liked this part sorry it took so long to update!
Jaid Skywalker: Tashana looks in her dictionary Nope jerkiness is officially yours! And yeah they are not a nice group...family reunions must be a fun.
I love the fact that my stories inspire humor! I love the scenes you write! Thank you so much for sharing this last one! I was laughing out loud! I hope you enjoyed this chapter too! Thanks for taking the time to review and write that wonderful scene!!!
Try this:
Kagome: Inuyasha, have you seen my anatomy book?
Inuyasha: I don't keep tract of your books!
Kagome: Inuyasha! Every time I come here with my anatomy book I can't find it until I'm a about to home. Doesn't that seem a little odd to you?
Inuyasha: grunts defeated Fine what does this book look like?
Kagome: It's the green one, with the picture of the bones on it.
Inuyasha: Oh, that one. I've seen Miroku with it. Why would he want your 'natomy book?
Kagome: It's anatomy and it explains the body's parts and their functions...Trails off as the vein in her forehead starts to stick out MIROKU!!!!
Hee..hee... that was fun!!
Hikari: Opens eyes wide Well, um no, but you two have fun cleaning up the streets!
I'm so glad you enjoyed that chapter. I really enjoyed that line that Miroku said too, I came up with it because I was trying to show how made he was without saying "Miroku was so mad..." It's very cliché to do that and I didn't want to.
About the drawing: don't worry about it. As much as I would love to see it, I can be patient. I hope everything's going better for you sweetie. E-mail me if you need to chat.
I hope you liked this chapter! I'm glad you enjoyed the last! Thanks for taking the time to review and.... (")( ") (")( ") (")( ") (")( ") Dancing Kirbies for you! For identifying the cameo!! Nice job!!! Anyways, I hope you like this part!
Chris-Redfield26: I'm so glad that you like this story! Yes, it is most defiantly long, with this part it's about 71pgs. Yeah, he lied, but he had the best of intentions doing so. Anyways I'm glad you're enjoying the story. I hope you liked this part too!! Thanks for taking the time to review!
Kaylana: Yup, defiantly being chased, but yeah, everybody's okay more or less. Okay now think about this for a moment: Yukio is related to Ryu was married to Michi, now Ryu probably heard a lot of conversations that went on between Miroku and Michi and Ryu probably figured out that Miroku wasn't the most honest person and complained to his brother....or look at it this way, wouldn't you lie to save one of your cousins from being brunt alive?? Hope that cleared things up! I hope you liked this chapter too. Thanks for reviewing!
WarriorGL: Welcome back! It's okay that you haven't reviewed in a while, I've missed your reviews, but I won't hold it against ya.
Eep. I'm sorry your not doing well in school at the moment. I hope your doing better now! gives a big encouraging hug Good luck!!!!
Thank you so much your compliments of my story and writing ability. I'm so glad that you're enjoying it. I defiantly put a lot of work into to plotting this piece and I'm so glad that it's working out!
I try to draw as much realism as I can when I write and weave in my person experiences. Yeah I know what you mean about the 'horror of the experience' I know how a person feels in those shoes and I tried to capture it as honestly as possible.
I'm glad that you like this tale of mine. I'm sorry about not updating sooner, but I've been very busy! Well I hope you enjoyed this chapter too!! Thanks for the review!
Meow the chibi neko: looks over her plans for future stories Nope don't need Yukio anymore, you can kill him...but please clean up after you're done. Well I hope you're enjoying the story. And I hope you liked this part too! Thanks for taking the time to review.
Dreamseeker: You almost didn't get your review in, in time to get a response. Sorry about your minions...They can attack the elders if they want, I don't need them anymore. Anyways, Thank you so much for your delightful review as always. I'm so touched at your kind words. Thank you for the compliments!! I'll hope you see you soon! I'm glad you liked this chapter. Thanks for commenting on the structure by the way, I wasn't sure if that was gonna sound right. Naw, go ahead and get into lots of trouble. Hope you liked this chapter too! Love ya lots, sweets!