Paper Wings
===
Chapter Five
===

The teasing of Inu yasha came to an almost complete halt when a massive storm hit, nearly whipping the trees out by their roots and causing the houses to fly away with the wind. Kagome spent most of her time taking care of Inu yasha, who was forced to remain outside by her mother's demand. However, every time her mother dared to leave the house, Kagome would sneak the poor boy inside to keep him warm. Souta was always thrilled to see Inu yasha and would giggle and babble whenever the golden eyed man entered the home. The storm lasted for nearly a week and restoring what had been damaged took another week. By the time everything was back to normal, Inu yasha was nearly healed, though he was still too week to move around freely, and needed some support to keep him on his two feet.

"Well, I suppose I'm off to church," her mother said one day as she hoisted Souta onto her hip. "Are you sure you don't want to come, Kagome?"

"I'm sure, mama," Kagome said with a sigh.

Her mother sighed and walked to her daughter. "Kagome, I want you to know," she said with a small smile, "that I love you and I care for you. I know the way I've acted isn't very motherly…and I'm sure my excuses would only make you angry."

"I understand mother," Kagome said quietly.

"I'm just very saddened when I see you trying to resist," her mother said quietly and quickly shook her head, "Well, I'm off, I'll see you this afternoon sweetie." 

"Goodbye, Mother," Kagome waved as her mother left the courtyard with Souta babbling away with his baby talk.

As soon as her mother was out of sight, Kagome retreated to her home and searched for food and a blanket for Inu yasha. The winged boy was growing sick from the drastic changes in weather and she wanted him to feel better. As she threw some herbs into the miso soup she'd prepared, she grabbed a small blanket that wouldn't be missed.

Kagome padded out towards Inu yasha, who was still sitting in the same position he had for the storm. His knees huddled towards his chest and his arms wrapped around his knees. His head was lowered on top of his folded arms and he looked lethargic and depressed. She could understand why, of course. She hadn't been able to get a good look, and her knowledge of bird's wings were very limited, so it was very hard for her to determined whether he was healed or not, and if he wasn't, how long it would take for him to heal. But worst of all, was his ill treatment. For all Kagome knew, she was the only one to ever show Inu yasha kindness.

She knelt beside Inu yasha and gave him a cheerful smile. He returned it faintly as Kagome threw the blanket around his shoulders, covering as much as she could, while still trying to avoid his wings, which were constantly in the way.

"Good morning," she murmured, and one of his dog ears twitched, signaling that he had heard her. He opened his golden eyes (the once injured one finally healed), and tilted his head, spilling silver hair over one shoulder. She smiled and gently touched his forehead. "I'm glad that the storm has stopped; maybe now you're fever will go down," she said sadly.

"I'm very cold," he said and looked puzzled.

"Usually when someone gets really cold, their body heat gets very warm," she explained gently to the confused man. He nodded slightly and let out a small sigh. "I hope you're hungry, I've brought you some food."

"Yes," he breathed and shifted his position so he could better hold the miso soup. However, Kagome moved his hands back down into his lap.

"I'll feed you, you need your strength," she whispered, a slight blush on her cheeks. They both knew perfectly well that Inu yasha could eat on his own, but Kagome enjoyed feeding him. It gave her an excuse to be close to Inu yasha. Inu yasha smiled and nodded, his golden eyes studying her.

Kagome soon began spooning the food into Inu yasha's mouth, her blue eyes glowing with warmth and her caring nature evident as she tenderly fed the man, brushing his hair away every so often. As the bowl was emptied, Kagome set about getting him more blankets, the small one she provided for him barely covering his shoulders.

"Feeling any better?" she asked after another blanket had been draped into Inu yasha's lap. The winged man sighed and nodded, closing his eyes. Kagome gently sat down next to him, leaning against the only remaining wall of the chicken coop. "Are you ok?" she asked, his whole demeanor seemingly depressed and anxious.

"Your people," he whispered, "Why are they so different from you?"

The question surprised her. Mostly because she was thinking the same thing as he was. But also because of his uncanny way of always catching her off guard. Kagome bowed her head and let out a sigh. "There are evil people in this world, and there are good people, Inu yasha," she murmured quietly, lifting her head to stare at the cloudy gray sky. "It's not really their fault; they might be scared."

Inu yasha was quiet, his eyebrows tilted downwards towards the center of his face. He seemed agitated. With a gentle exhale of breath, Kagome wrapped her arms around him. "It will be ok, I promise," she whispered into one of his twitching dog ears. Yet she knew, and so did he, that she was not able to truthfully make such a promise.

===

"We've called you here for a reason," Naraku said smoothly to the village's healer. The motherly woman sat down at the low table with delicate ease, staring at the village leader with a trained ease.

"I would like to know this reason, my daughter is alone at home, I don't want to keep her waiting," the woman said with a narrow of her eyes.

"Yes, it has come to my attention that some fear this…demon that you have on your property," Naraku said calmly, taking a sip of his tea that his servant had placed before him. "My main priority is my people. You yourself included, of course."

"Go on," Kagome's mother said slowly.

"I would like to buy this monster from you," Naraku said, no longer beating around the bush. "I would give you fifty pieces of silver for him. He will be out of your hands."

"I am quite happy with the demon, thank you. I am making a profit. It is not for sale," the healer said firmly.

"I do not think you have thought this through, woman," Naraku said crossly. "It's only a matter of time before the villagers grow tired of this creature. What will you do then? Even if your profits do stay up, you'll have to feed it and take care of it. If you do not, it will die."

Kagome's mother paused in thought. "I want one hundred pieces of silver for it," she said finally.

Naraku frowned deeply, his dark eyes surveying the woman. "Fine," he finally agreed after a long moments pause. "But not a coin more."

"Of course."

"I shall come to collect him within the week."

"What of my daughter?" The woman took on the role as the concerned mother. "What if she tries to get in the way?"

"I will force her out of the way."

The healer's eyes narrowed and she slammed her fists against the table. "You will not lay a finger on Kagome. You will not harm her." Her angry tone left no room for discussion.

Naraku, still managing to maintain his composure, let out a very tight smile. "Of course. I will not touch your daughter."

Kagome's mother sneered and stood. She dusted off nonexistent dirt from her long kimono folds and turned, curtly leaving the village leader's home. Naraku chuckled.

"Sir?" a quiet woman's voice sounded from the doorway where the angered mother had stormed out.

"What is it?"

"Reverend Brown is here to see you," the meek girl stated, clutching the doorway.

"Send him in."

"Yes, sir."

Shortly after the woman disappeared from sight, the said priest came walking into his large room. "Naraku," he greeted.

"You have contacted the Americans, then?" Naraku said, not bothering with any formalities like he had with the healer.

"Yes, Naraku," the priest said as he sat before Naraku, across from the table. "They have agreed to buy the demon for one hundred of their English currency."

"Hm, I see…" Naraku said with a frown decorating his face.

"It seems like a lot, but has the healer agreed to sell the monster?" Brown asked as he shifted his position, now leaning forward, his elbows on the table.

"Yes, she has," Naraku scowled, "She requested one hundred silver pieces."

"Ah, I see," the priest clucked his tongue against the roof of his mouth. "When they get here, they'll want the demon."

"Yes, I know that," Naraku snapped.

"We can ask for more money once they get here," The priest said smoothly and stood. "It was a pleasure speaking to you, Naraku," he said nonchalantly. "I shall see you on Sunday, then?"

Naraku snorted before standing and leaving the room.

===

"Welcome back," the young priest greeted Reverend Brown as he entered the church. The younger boy of Japanese origin watched as the priest stormed past him and into the little side room on the southern side of the church. "Father?" he asked tentatively as he followed his mentor into the room.

"It is done," Brown said with a small smile as he collapsed onto a pile of mats. He let out a collected sigh of relief and wiped his blond hair out of his eyes. "The beast will be gone soon. I will no longer carry the burden of knowing a hell spawn is threatening the people."

The young apprentice sat down next to his superior and crossed his arms over his knees. His dark blue eyes surveyed the older Christian. "The demon the healer is displaying?" he clarified.

"Who else would I be talking about, boy?" the priest asked, irritated with the built up stress he'd been experiencing as of late.

"Sir, if you don't mind me asking…?" the boy trailed off and waited expectantly.

"What is it you want, Miroku?" the pastor asked, eying his pupil with a weary gaze.

"Is this…demon truly evil?" the boy named Miroku asked skeptically. "Don't get me wrong, sir, I truly do not want anything ill to happen to my people as well. But…I've been thinking about what everyone has said about him and what they have done to him, and I couldn't help but wondering…aren't we the ones who are sinning?"

The priest gave him a deadly glare that demanded an explanation.

"Please, sir, it's just that, he has done no evil to us thus far," Miroku said, growing anxious for some kind of reassurance. "We are acting ill towards him, when we are to love and care for all. Are we not the ones who are treating this man in prejudice and malice?"

"Miroku, you're mind has become too foggy. He is a demon, an angel that fell from the sky. Do you not know the story of Lucifer and his followers?"

"Yes, I am aware of them."

"They were banished. They are fallen angels. This creature fell as well, there's no other explanation. He was banished from heaven because he questioned our Lord, much like you are doing now. Miroku, do you want Him to cast his wrath? Our Lord is very forgiving, but do not be pulled in by Lucifer's trickery. It has already captured another who is unsaved."

"The healer's daughter?" Miroku knew the girl. Everyone knew of the girl. Kagome. Rumors had spread like a forest fire, all declaring that the devil had cast a spell upon the poor girl, that she was rapidly growing attached to the monster.

"Yes." The minister frowned. "Miroku, don't be pulled in like she was. It may be too late to save her."

"I won't sir." Miroku stood. "Please excuse me; I must light the candles."

"Of course."

Miroku left the man's chambers and walked around the church, lighting the white candles, their flames casting an eerie and beautiful glow upon the stone walls. Miroku's mind, however, was still plagued with his thoughts of right and wrong. He had long ago converted to the Lord's teachings. However, he could not help but feel a string of doubt within him. Was what the priest saying true? Was this winged man truly evil?

Or were they the ones who were sinning…?

===

Author's notes: Added Miroku on a whim there, just about to send it to the beta, when that thought struck me…So anyways, he's there to demonstrate a foil to the priest (who got a name this chapter, finally!)  He's also there to try and show that I really don't think that Christians are evil (sorry to anyone who though that…though I guess it was inevitable the way I portrayed them…)

Lots of controversy… (Stares at reviews) Kind of got a mixture of either tolerance or disgust to my portrayal of Christians. I am in no way trying to insult people. I'm just a walking controversy who writes what she thinks. I myself am not Christian, my mother celebrates all religions, my dad really isn't anything, my beta is a Jew and one of my best friends is an atheist who's thinking of becoming a pagan. In short, I have little experience with Christian faith. However, I have met some Christians, and I'm sorry to say that my experience with them was less than pleasurable. They insulted my faith, myself and my mother's faith and I ended up breaking down and crying in front of the Christian adults.

I know that not all Christians act like this; I know some who are very kind and generous and truly are the pure hearted Christians. But like all things, Christianity has a white and a black side to it. (And please don't take that as a racial remark.) The Christians who are written in this story are warped and inhumane, their priorities aren't straight and they are doing things for themselves. I am in no way, shape or form trying to preach that all Christians are like that, because that is not true at all. I did some research, and though Japan shut their doors to all for hundreds of years, Europeans were able to get preachers into the mainland and preach their beliefs. However, before the preacher's deaths, it became evident that they were not teaching the correct faith and that they were striving to gain control of the villages they had taken occupancy in. Due to their efforts, less than 1% of Japan is Christian, and they succeed in bringing Christmas into the lives of the Japanese.

But, this story isn't historically accurate due to the fact that Japan did shut down their communication with the outside world for many years…just bare with me for the story's sake.

So, the priest in this story is meant to be a sneaky little bastard, and Kagome's mother is taught by the sneaky little bastard and therefore is turning into a sneaky little bastard as well. Please try not to be too mad at me (bows) I was simply writing the story as I wanted it to be.

Next chapter is the last chapter, by the way, so be prepared for the grand finale…and the total angst…