There is an evil presence here. Miroku thought with surprise. But they were alone in Kaedes home, no one was there. Except Inuyasha, and Sango. Kagome went to the spring, and shippou... I dont know whare shippou went. Its faint. It feels like a curse. A curse! Like the one Kaede said only effects Hanyous?
Mirokus eyes opened wide in horror, and fear for his companion. Is that it? Is Inuyasha cursed? With the Black Sickness? Inuyasha was staring moodily at the ground, not saying anything. But he seemed to sense the monks gaze and turned. "Whats your problem, monk?" Inuyasha snapped.
In a flash, he was on his feet, and Miroku had a huge bump on his head. Whats my problem? He thought, echoing Inuyashas words. "Inuyasha, is something wrong?" Miroku asked, his voice gentle. His eyes were soft with worry. Why is he staring at me? A sudden thought struck him. He knows!
Hes a monk! He must have sensed the curse, and seen my fear earlier! He put two and two together,and.... "Nothings wrong." He replied. Might as well try, anyway. He honestly didnt think it would work. DDDD it! My voice went all soft! Thats really gonna convince him Im alright! He thought sarcastically.
"Inuyasha, I am ashamed." Miroku said softly. He dropped his head, and stared glumly at the ground. Huh? Inuyasha thought, surprised. What the heck was he talking about?
"Why?" Inuyasha asked in his most bewildered voice. Now it was Mirokus turn to be surprised. Didnt he know? Was he that clueless?
"Well, If you dont trust me enough to tell me the truth...." Miroku replied slowly. Sango took the hint, and left the room. She was thinking something along the lines of: Something tells me this is an Inuyasha to Miroku moment. Inuyasha and Miroku both beard the door slide open, then shut, and figures she had gone.
"Idiot."Inuyasha replied with a yawn. "Youve been traveling with us for how long? And when have I ever trusted anybody that much?" Inuyasha frowned. Mirokus face was a mirror image of his. "Except Kagome." Inuyasha admitted. Mirokus expression cleared, and Inuyashas frown lessened, simultaniously.
"Have you seen this miko?" Miroku inquired gently. He had the tone of a tamer trying to ease a turtles head out of its shell, to expose itself, and trust him. Inuyasha relented.
"Yes. And she cursed me. Yes." Inuyasha answered. "But dont tell anybody!" He hissed. He flexed his claws as if to say 'or else'. Miroku flinched and sweatdropped immediatly. It didnt usually take Inuyasha much effort to scare the monk into doing whatever he tolf him to do. Usually.
"Fine, I wont tell anyone." Miroku relented. But he wasnt happy about it. That much was written all over his face. Good. I can live with a little pain. But if Kagome ever found out... Well, it didnt matter. He wouldnt let Kagome ever find out. Not ever. He didnt even know what the black sickness was. Why let Kagome worry before he even knew what it was.
"So. Whats the black sickness?" Inuyasha asked. Miroku nearly fell over in shock.
"Its a disease...." Miroku started. He was hesitant, because he knew very well that Inuyasha liked to kill the bearer of bad new. "It originates from a curse. When you first get it, it causes an almost unimaginable amount of pain." Inuyasha winced at the memory, then shot Miroku a poisonous look that said, 'I already knew that!'.
Miroku swallowed and said quickly," Please dont kill me. Its a disease you get by being cursed by a Miko. It causes great pain when you get it. Then, every once in while, you get the pain again. It comes in waves. The attacks dont last very long at the beginning, but they get longer and closer together near the.... end" Miroku swallowed again.
"The last time, it lasts for hours and hours. Its worse then than the moment you get the disease. After that one...... after that one you..... expire." Miroku whispered those last few words. After that one you.... expire..... expire.... Inuyasha thought numbly, the words echoing loudly in his mind.
"I didnt know." He whispered. A tear fell and rolled down his face. His eyes were cast downward, and were filled with mental anguish. "Ill have to die... After Kagome finally knows that I love her... after we are finally together.... Il have to die." He whispered in a tortured voice. All that Miroku could do to comfort the hanyou was to put a hand on his shoulder.
Sango was listening outside the door. There was something strange going on, and she knew it. The look in Inuyashas eyes when the Kuromiko was mentioned was something she would never forget. Is he afraid he will be cursed? Well, Ill find out whats going on soon. I hope so, anyway.
"-and she cursed me." Inuyasha was saying in a rather bleak voice. Oh, no! Hes already cursed! But what is the Black sickness anyway? "But dont tell anyone!" He added in a hiss. Sango knew Miroku would agree. If he doesnt want anyone to know, I wont tell either. It cant be that bad.
"Fine. I wont tell anyone." Miroku relented. Sango smiled grimly. She had known he would agree. For all his bravery in battle, he wasnt that terribly hard to scare when it was just him against a demon as strong as Inuyasha. Or a hanyou. She added in her mind.
"So. Whats the black sickness." Inuyasha asked. Sango smiled. Here was another question he would have answered for her. Its was really a good thing to have Inuyasha around to ask her questions for her. Very convenient.
"Its a disease. It originates from a curse. When you first get it, It causes an almost unimaginable amount of pain." Miroku said hesitantly. Sango winced in sympathy for her friend. "Please dont kill me. Its a disease you get by being cursed by a Miko. It causes great pain when you get it. Then every once in a while you get the pain again. It comes in waves. The attacks dont last very long at the beginning, but they get longer and closer together near the end."
Sango swallowed. So apparently it was very bad indeed. She and Inuyasha listened on in silence. Miroku continued quietly, so she had to open the door slightlym noiselessly, to hear him." The last attack lasts for hours and hours. IT is worse than the first time you get the disease. After that one... after that one you... expire."
No! Inuyasha cant die! No! She thought frantically. But I still wont tell anyone. I remember something about it from before. It is uncurable. So if Inuyasha doesnt want anyone toknow, and there is nothing we can do about it, Ill let him tell Kagome and Shippou and I when he feels ready to.
A tear slid down her cheek, and she closed the door the rest of the way quietly. She noiselessly walked out of doors, and to the stream, where she pretended to be washing her hands. Her mind was in turmoil.