Author's Notes- And here's the next chapter! Thank you very much to those who took the time to review the first, it really means a lot to me. ^^
Read, review, enjoy.
Japanese guide.
Kaede-baba- What InuYasha addresses Kaede as, a slightly rude way of saying "old woman."
Kaede-baachan- Kagome's way of addressing Kaede. More like "Grandmother Kaede."
Shuurei-sama- A very polite way of addressing someone. In the series all the Miko we have seen have the honorific "Sama" placed on their name, so I felt that Kagome would automatically do the same for Shuurei.
A Fortuitous Blunder
Chapter One
The Miko's Mishap.
Kelly O'Connor
Kagome murmured something incoherent under her breath and sighed, nestling her face further into the folds of the downy sleeping bag she was wrapped up in. "Mm ten more minutes InuYasha," She said rather quietly. Quietly enough that the only person who managed to hear it was the person who was at that moment, trying to shake her awake. That person, boy, Hanyou… happened to be the one Kagome had just spoken about. InuYasha pulled away a bit and glanced at her.
"Huh? Is she dreaming about me?" InuYasha asked himself in a low tone. Hesitating for a moment, he reached back over to her shoulder so he could begin the process of attempting to wake her up once more, but instead he felt someone grab his hand, halting the action. Grimacing, InuYasha looked down to see Kagome had clasped his wrist in a surprisingly strong hold.
"I'm awake InuYasha," Kagome pulled herself up and released his hand, "I did want to sleep a bit longer, but I don't think I'll be able to fall back asleep now." She shot her companion an aggravated glare and rolled her eyes when he scooted back on his rear a bit. Even InuYasha knew that an annoyed Kagome in the morning was something one simply did not want to foil with. "And no I wasn't dreaming at all, I've been awake this whole time… trying to fall back asleep." The Hanyou made a small sound of surprise in realization that Kagome had heard his question and looked away to hide his blush.
"Kaede-baba," He finally ventured, "Has something she wants you to do for her..." Kagome shook her head and smiled lightly.
"Let me guess," Kagome tapped her chin and sat up completely, "Kaede-baachan has something for us to do together, and you're trying to get out of it?"
"Keh- No I was gonna go!" He retorted, "Not like there's anything better to do…."
"Hmm true," Kagome sighed, and reached over to casually take InuYasha's hand in her own. InuYasha squeezed back a bit before relaxing his hand in hers. "After all… If you stayed here you'd be stuck all alone with Shippou-chan all day." InuYasha abruptly dropped her hand at the mention of the kitsune, and "Keh-ed." Kagome sighed, "Right right, let's eat some breakfast and you can tell me what Kaede-baachan wants has for us to do." The schoolgirl stood up and moved the flap-door of the hut they slept in aside. She winced as the morning sunlight flooded her vision. "What time is it anyway…" Kagome trailed off and shut the flap.
She stretched her arms in an exhausted gesture and walked back to the area beside her sleeping bag, where she had placed her large backpack. Flipping open the front pouch, she pulled out a small portable clock and frowned. "Nine 'o' clock… I guess I slept longer than I thought I did." She looked toward InuYasha who was leaning against the wall and tapping his foot in boredom. "Okay InuYasha," The dark haired girl began, "What are we up to today?"
"Kaede-baba wants something from a Miko in a nearby village," InuYasha shifted to a standing position and walked over to sit next to Kagome, watching as she sifted through the contents of the backpack. "It's some kind of herb or something that she needs for some kid in the village..."
"An herb?" Kagome inquired as she threw her companion a small bag of potato chips, "What kind of herb?" InuYasha caught the bag and ripped it open, stuffing a few chips into his mouth.
"Keh- I don't know, that's all I heard," He replied in between crunches.
"You mean you stopped paying attention after a few moments?" Kagome asked rather rhetorically as she popped open a can of juice. InuYasha was about to reply when the door-flap of the hut swung open and Kaede herself stepped in. "Good morning Kaede-baachan" Kagome nodded respectively.
"Good morning Kagome," Kaede gave her a warm smile, "But… actually," The elderly Miko said as she stepped toward the center of the hut, "That is all I told InuYasha."
"Keh- told you so," InuYasha crossed his arms and smirked in triumph.
"That's all I told InuYasha because," Kaede continued, "I knew he wouldn't listen to anything beyond that point." Kagome found herself stifling a laugh, and InuYasha shot her an annoyed look.
"So Kaede-baachan, what else do we need to know?" The dark haired girl asked cheerfully. Kaede bent her legs and sat down, adjusting her frame a bit to make herself comfortable and began her explanation.
******
After an explanation from Kaede as to where they were to go and what they were to get, a bath for Kagome, and a little time playing with Shippou… InuYasha and Kagome were on the path to the small village they had been sent to.
"Okay InuYasha--- Since I know you weren't paying attention," Kagome sighed, "We're going to that same village that we went to a few months ago to get rid of that youkai that was…"
"After the Shikon no Tama," InuYasha scratched the back of his head, "I remember where that is." Kagome nodded, and began to finger a chain around her neck.
"Yes, that one InuYasha," She went back to playing with the chain, sliding it around a bit before resting her fingers on the shikon jewel that lay in the center of her neck as a pendant.
"Why do you always play with that?" InuYasha asked as they continued walking along the forest path.
"What?" Kagome blinked and dropped her hand from her neck.
"You're always running your fingers along it and stuff," the Hanyou explained. Kagome gave him a confused look and then shrugged.
"I don't even realize I do it," She answered, "Just an unconscious habit I guess…. Since it's always there." InuYasha nodded.
"Keh- Well don't do it, it will draw attention to it," He reasoned. Kagome gave him a friendly jab in the arm, and then linked her arm in his.
"Well I'm so sorry it bothers you InuYasha," She replied rather teasingly.
"Not as much as it bothers me that we're spending our whole day getting medicine for some stupid kid," He grumbled.
"InuYasha…" Kagome sighed, "Stop being so grumpy about helping others," She paused, "Especially a little kid."
"Well… someone else could go," InuYasha argued lamely. Kagome shook her head lightly, and took his hand.
"You know you don't mind it silly," She smiled softly and leaned up to give him a playful peck on the cheek. InuYasha made an embarrassed "Keh" and blushed brightly. He looked away for a moment before turning back.
"Fine but…" InuYasha held out his hands behind his back and motioned to Kagome, "Can we at least get there a little faster?" Kagome crossed her arms.
"InuYasha, can't you just take a little time to enjoy the walk. We don't have to rush everywhere." InuYasha thought for a moment before replying.
"Well we can get to the stupid kid faster if we do this…" He reasoned. Kagome blinked, he had a point.
"Okay fine," The schoolgirl climbed onto his back and wrapped one arm around his shoulder, "You just like it when I ride on your back, don't you?"
"Keh- No!" The Hanyou replied, flustered, "It's just quicker."
"Sure InuYasha," She tightened her grip a bit as he took off in a flying run. "You like it."
"So what!?" InuYasha snapped defensively, and his eyes widened at what he had accidentally said, "I mean… No… I didn't mean it like that!" Kagome leaned a bit more into his thick hair and laughed softly to herself as they continued their journey at a much speedier pace than before.
**********
The normally few hour journey to the village was completed in a flash, and InuYasha and Kagome found themselves there by the time they would normally eat lunch. Kagome climbed off her companion's back and stretched her legs and arms. "Neh InuYasha, we're looking for a Miko named Shuurei." Kagome looked to the white-haired boy standing next to her. "She's the one who grows the herbs around here and does a lot of the healing."
"Well then you ask someone where she is then," He suggested. Kagome shrugged.
"Probably a good idea," She replied. The schoolgirl surveyed the village around her. It was very similar to Kaede's in appearance and wealth-- flap-doored huts lined a small central pathway and there were a few stray children playing in the streets as well as some adults chattering. Kagome's eyes rested on a kind looking middle-aged woman leaning against a hut fairly close by and she motioned InuYasha to follow her. "Umm excuse me." Kagome said in a friendly tone to the woman once they had approached her. The village woman glanced to the one who had addressed her and took their appearances in.
"Can I help you?" She asked rather hesitantly, seemingly not recognizing the young Miko and the Hanyou as the two had been to the village some months before. Kagome bit her lip.
"I'm Kagome and this is InuYasha," She pointed to her companion who was standing a bit off to the side. "We're looking for Shuurei-sama." The woman's eyes widened in realization, as they traveled to Kagome's neck where the Shikon no Tama lay.
"Oh I'm so sorry!" She bowed politely, "You're the two that I heard saved the village a couple months ago… the guardians of the Shikon no Tama."
"Keh," InuYasha crossed his arms, "Yah that's us so take us to…"
"InuYasha!" Kagome glared at him, and InuYasha hmmphed.
"I'm sorry… I was away visiting family when it happened and, oh never mind I'll get you to Shuurei-sama right away." Kagome nodded and her and InuYasha followed the older woman to a small hut near the edge of the village. Kagome quickly noticed a small garden of herbs planted on one side of it.
"Thank you Miss," She said once they had reached the hut, and then looked over to InuYasha and nudged him lightly in the side.
"Keh- thanks… I guess." He grumbled reluctantly. The woman smiled at the couple.
"It's no problem, I'll go inside and tell Shuurei-sama she has visitors." Once the village lady had entered the hut, InuYasha immediately looked to Kagome.
"Kagome… I'm hungry," He stated simply. The black haired teenager sighed.
"I'm sure we can find something to eat somewhere around---"
"No I'm really hungry. Can't I just get something out of your---" His eyes widened, "Where's your bag Kagome?" He asked, just now realizing that she didn't have it with her. Kagome gulped.
"I uhh… forgot it…"
"What?! You forgot it?" InuYasha snapped in annoyance. "How could you forget it, you bring it everywhere!"
"I'm sorry InuYasha!" Kagome answered defensively, "It just slipped my mind I suppose and I left it…"
"Didn't you know we would get hungry and stuff?" InuYasha raised his voice.
"Well excuse me for not being perfect InuYasha," She replied in a very aggravated tone. "Why didn't you bring your own food if it annoys you so much."
"Keh- Why should I?"
"Well then why should I!?" Kagome crossed her arms in annoyance.
"You should because---"
"Excuse me," A polite sounding voice interrupted the couple's bickering. InuYasha and Kagome looked to the entrance of the hut and to the young woman who as now standing there, as well as noticing the middle-aged woman who had led them there waving goodbye and walking away. She was rather tall and presumably in her late teens, her long black hair was tied back in the way Miko's traditionally wore it, and her red and white clothes suggested as well that she was the village Miko. "Kagome-sama and InuYasha-sama?" She asked excitedly. The two of them nodded, still getting over being interrupted mid-argument. "Oh that's so wonderful, I'm Shuurei, please come in would you?" She requested sweetly. The couple shrugged and followed the young Miko inside her hut. "Hold on a moment please and I'll---" Shuurei interrupted herself when she tripped on what was presumably a small pebble as she pushed the door-flap open. "Ouch," She winced as she caught herself on the frame of the door, "I really need to stop doing that." InuYasha and Kagome exchanged looks, and Kagome walked over the Miko.
"Are you all right Shuurei-sama?" She asked helping the woman to a standing position.
"I'm fine, I'm just a bit clumsy it seems," Shuurei giggled, "Thank you for the help Kagome-sama."
"It's no problem," Kagome smiled, "But please… drop the Sama," She looked in InuYasha's direction, he was clearly uncomfortable with the honorific being added to his name.
"But surely the two famous guardians of the Shikon no Tama should be addressed in such a way!" Shuurei argued. InuYasha twitched.
"Eh… we're not… famous…. It's not necessary," Kagome stated simply. "Right InuYasha?" She looked toward the Hanyou, who was leaning against the edge of the inside wall of the hut with his arms crossed.
"Keh--- like I care," He replied, clearly still disgruntled about their argument a few moments before… and still hungry as well. Shuurei frowned.
"Umm Kagome-sa… Kagome… InuYasha, why were you fighting?" She ventured as she sat down on the floor of the hut.
"Eh?" Kagome gave her a surprised look, "Well we were…"
"Never mind," Shuurei interrupted, "It's not my place to ask… I just thought that because…" She cut herself off, "So what did you two come here for today?"
"Well Kaede-baachan, our village Miko wanted a specific herb to treat a girl who's had a fever for a long time. She told me it was a--"
"Oh okay I know what you're looking for," Shuurei nodded, "I'll get it in a bit, but would you two like to stay and eat something? It is around that time of day."
"Well it's not necessary we're in a bit of a--" Kagome was cut off by InuYasha.
"Yah we'll stay, since someone didn't bring their backpack." He said from the wall he was leaning against. Kagome rubbed between her eyes.
"Okay Shuurei-sama, we'll stay," The schoolgirl complied.
"…All right," She looked slightly disappointed and kept consistently glancing back and forth from InuYasha to Kagome. InuYasha tapped his foot in annoyance.
"Keh- what are you doing?" He blurted out, "You've been staring at Kagome and me all weird ever since we got here!"
"InuYasha!" Kagome warned.
"Kagome I'm serious--- this girl is like…"
"Osuwari!" Kagome interrupted him, and InuYasha found himself flat on the floor of the hut.
"What the hell was that for?" The Hanyou yelled as he pulled his body off the ground.
"For being a jerk of course," Kagome answered truthfully. She hardly ever used the sit command anymore, but this was one of those rare occasions where she just couldn't help but revert back to her old habits. Kagome looked back up to Shuurei, who seemed to have the most devastated expression on her face.
"I'm sorry…" Shuurei said quietly, "I just thought from what I heard that…"
"That what?" InuYasha asked in an irritated tone.
"From what I heard from people… who were here when you were last time that." She paused and closed her eyes, "That the two guardians of the Shikon no Tama were in love." Kagome nearly fell over, and InuYasha just found himself with a very bright blush. "So I guess to find out that you just fight all the time, and probably only are with each other out of convenience because you're both pretty powerful and…"
"Shuurei-sama it's not like that!" Kagome interrupted her.
"Keh…Kagome and I don't… well we… Yah," InuYasha stammered out, and cut himself off, not wanting to say anything too embarrassing on accident.
"I mean, I know you fight and all, but it's obvious that you care for each other or at least like each other." She sighed wistfully, "I just thought it was kind of romantic, the idea of a Miko and a Hanyou falling in love and… now that I know that it isn't true I'm kind of disappointed I suppose." She smiled at the couple, who were both standing there twitching and speechless. "It would be nice if you could realize your feelings for each other," She shrugged and stood up, tripping at the door once again, "I'll go get your herb now."
"But!" Kagome began, and sighed when she saw that the Miko had gone, "We already have…" She finished exasperated, then looked over to InuYasha, who was continuing to brood while hiding his deep blush
. The two of them sat in silence for a few minutes, until Shuurei came back with the herbs, tripping once again on the door. Kagome was beginning to wonder if she did that on purpose, but decided she was probably just overly clumsy.
"Here," The young Miko said and rather halfheartedly handed Kagome a fair amount of the herbs wrapped in a cloth. "I'll get you something to eat now… If you're still hungry."
"Actually I think InuYasha and I are uhh good to go now!" Kagome smiled, "But thanks so much for the offer!" InuYasha didn't argue, not really wanting to get embarrassed again. Shuurei sighed.
"Very well… but I was thinking," She looked away from the couple for a moment, "I'm a Miko, but some of my powers are fairly undeveloped…"
"Keh- Imagine that," InuYasha snorted, obviously referring to her clumsiness. Kagome shot him another warning glare.
"I want to try something though…" She paused, "On you two."
"What?" InuYasha asked.
"It probably won't work anyway… I'm sure it won't."
"You're still training to be a Miko right?" Kagome asked.
"Well yes, I'm actually the temporary replacement for the village Miko, but she's been gone traveling from village to village for a few months now. I'm her apprentice, but she hasn't been here to teach me… and because…"
"Well I'm sure it won't do us any harm will it?"
"Of course not! There's no way it could do any harm!" InuYasha opened his mouth to object, but Kagome shot him another look.
"All right fine, I'll be glad to help a fellow Miko." Shuurei's expression brightened.
"Okay now just… if you can bear to do it, reach over and take InuYasha's hand." Kagome shrugged and did so; giving it a reassuring squeeze and basically telling him to just "play along." InuYasha "Keh-ed" in resignation and took Kagome's hand in return. Shuurei looked over the couple for a few moments before reaching over to their clasped hands. She placed her own on top and muttered a few words rather unceremoniously. Kagome and InuYasha winced as they both felt a bit of raw Miko power enter their hands. "All done!" Shuurei exclaimed. "I really think I did it right!"
"Ummm Shuurei-sama…" Kagome ventured, "What exactly did you do?"
"Yah really," InuYasha asked in aggravation as he shook his now slightly tingly hand. Shuurei looked down to her hands and fidgeted a bit.
"Well I… I cast a spell… It's supposed to make… those who already care for each other… fall for each other romantically," She stammered out. Kagome just blinked.
"Oh okay, then don't worry, it won't have any effect."
"But I know you two don't hate each other!"
"No Shuurei we don't… I tried to tell you earlier but," She paused and looked over to InuYasha, "InuYasha and I are already in an ummm "romantic" relationship." Kagome blushed having to say this aloud. "I know we were fighting, but we just tend to do that at times. With someone as stubborn as InuYasha as your boyfriend it's bound to happen." She rubbed the back of her head. InuYasha crossed his arms as his cheeks tinged pink as well.
"Keh- You're the one who forgot the backpack." Shuurei looked from InuYasha to Kagome and smiled.
"Oh I see, I'm really very sorry for being like that then," She sighed, "Sometimes I get a bit carried away.
"A bit, right," InuYasha replied smartly, "Let's go Kagome."
"Coming InuYasha, be patient," Kagome followed him outside the hut. "Shuurei-sama," The schoolgirl bowed politely. "It's been umm nice meeting you, but we'd best be going."
"I hope to see you again then." Shuurei bowed to the couple, "I'm sorry I was like that… really."
"It's perfectly okay," Kagome shrugged, "Don't worry about it." She averted her eyes toward her companion in case he was going to say something as well. "Well I hope to see you again as well, and ummm so does InuYasha."
"No I don't," He argued, earning a dangerous look from Kagome. "Fine bye Shuurei." Kagome shook her head, and the two of them began to walk from Shuurei's hut after a few more good-byes.
"That was interesting," Kagome said once they were a fair distance away.
"Keh- that was stupid," InuYasha countered. "Now get on my back because I'm still hungry and want to get back now."
"Very well." Kagome rubbed her forehead and reached up to place her hands around his waist, but before she could get herself firmly in place… InuYasha fell backwards directly onto Kagome, knocking her flat on the ground. "…InuYasha… Why did you just fall on me?" Kagome managed to sputter. InuYasha flipped himself around and stood up, immediately falling back down after he'd braced his hand on her shoulder to gain his footing. This time they were face to face.
"I didn't fall on you!" He said, completely weirded out by this sudden clumsiness on his part.
"You fell on me InuYasha… and now you're on me again," She blushed at their close contact and he did as well. InuYasha quickly pulled himself off her and sat down next to her.
"I didn't fall on you," He repeated rather confused.
"You were on me InuYasha!" Kagome wondered why he was denying something so obvious.
"I mean I didn't trip on anything!" InuYasha rephrased. Kagome blinked.
"So you just… fell?" She asked, "Okay I can deal with that."
"Keh--- it was like… when you "sit" me kind of, but not… painful," The Hanyou explained. "Like I felt something drag me down and just fell!" Kagome's eyes widened in realization.
"InuYasha… I don't think that Miko performed that spell correctly." InuYasha blanched.
"The hell? Well then let's go back there and…"
"Probably not the best idea InuYasha, we should go back to Kaede-baachan's and ask her," She stood up and reached over to take InuYasha's hand. He grabbed on and she began to help him up, but this was not to be… as Kagome then began found herself falling directly on top of InuYasha. "Oh great," She sighed in annoyance and embarrassment, "it worked on me as well." InuYasha just muttered something about "stupid Mikos" and hmmphed.
"Keh--- Kagome, now you get off of me!" Kagome nodded and pulled her body off of InuYasha's.
"This… is not good."
******
Next chapter- After many more trips and spills, InuYasha and Kagome finally reach Kaede's hut… will she be able to do anything about it?
Disclaimer- "InuYasha" belongs to Takahashi-Rumiko-sensei.