A/N: Thanks to Spacewolf, L.A.B.99, Miss Anonymous, shinkon no yume and Super Ceech, who reviewed in the previous chapters!
Super Ceech: What Inuyasha actually meant when that his Iron Reaver attack never decimated something like that so effectively and made it catch fire and stuff. He always had his claw attack, just for some reason, it was more uber that time. Hm... I wonder why?
shinkon no yume: Don't worry, I didn't forget about Kagome's bow and arrows. She'll be getting her bow soon, probably sometime after they've reached the southern continent. And she doesn't need her staff to cast spiritual spells; she said so to Kouga! The Shikon Staff only helps to amplify them.
In this chapter, our heroes meet Sango, Miroku, and Hojo! Good times!
"Thanks for the ride, sir!" Kagome called as she waved to the farmer still seated on his wagon.
"You take care now," the farmer called back as he started to turn the wagon down an adjacent path. "And I hope your grandmother gets well soon!"
Inuyasha hacked and coughed beneath his cloak in response.
He and Kagome passed through the town gates in Ogonkai.
"It sure was lucky that farmer was making a delivery today," Kagome sighed in relief. "And that he was generous enough to lend us a ride in his wagon. It's not as dark as I thought it might have been. Now we can look for the Kaigan Inn."
"I have some idea where it is," Inuyasha informed her. "I think it's this way."
They walked side-by-side down the streets, abandoned for the night.
"Here, down this alley," Inuyasha said, suddenly making a turn. "We need to get to the next street."
He stopped suddenly, and Kagome crashed into him. She peered around him to see a figure silhouetted in the early moonlight at the other end of the alley. As she stepped forward, Kagome could see that she was dressed like a police officer. Her brown hair was pulled up into a high ponytail, and a small demon kitten walked alongside her.
"Evening, folks," the officer called. "Haven't seen you around here before."
She stopped before the two, particularly eyeing Inuyasha suspiciously. Inuyasha lowered his head a little, trying to keep his face concealed.
"Um, yes! We're new around here," Kagome said. "We just got in town tonight. We're just here to visit for a little while, at the Kaigan Inn."
"Is that so?" the officer replied. "That inn is a little expensive."
"Oh, we'll be alright for that," Kagome assured her.
"Well, if you happen to be going that way..." the officer said as she reached into her jacket. She produced a wanted poster. "I know you're new here, so I don't suppose you've seen this man?"
Kagome peered at the parchment. Pictured on it was the same Miroku/Azami/Seiji on their parchment.
"No, we haven't," Kagome began, "At least not in real life. Where's that wanted parchment we have, In– uh... Inara-jiji!"
Inuyasha snorted, and the officer raised a suspicious eyebrow. Kagome laughed nervously and secretly elbowed Inuyasha in the ribs.
He reached into his cloak and held the parchment out for Kagome to take it. Kagome noticed anxiously as the officer's eyes seemed to swerve right to Inuyasha's hand as soon as it appeared. Inuyasha apparently noticed as well, and pulled his hand back into his cloak as quickly as possible.
Kagome unfolded the parchment and showed it to the officer.
The officer knitted her brows at the sight of the parchment. "Where did you get this?"
"We just kind of found it," Kagome responded uncertainly. "We think someone dropped it!"
"I only painted two pictures of this man's criminal mug," the officer scoffed. "The one I have, and the one you found."
"Oh, wait..." Kagome piped up, realization dawning on her. "Are you Sango-san?"
"I am," the officer replied. "If you really are going to the Kaigan Inn, do you think you could keep an eye open for this man? With that airship of his, he's an extremely slippery one to catch. And even if I could catch him, I don't have enough evidence to convict him properly. So...if you can possibly catch him doing anything illegal, that would be greatly appreciated."
"Sure," Kagome answered with a nod. "We'd be glad to help bring a criminal to justice!"
Sango nodded. "Have a nice evening."
The two parties passed in the alleyway. Inuyasha and Kagome continued on to the Kaigan Inn.
"I feel kind of split on the issue now," Kagome sighed. "If we ask Miroku to take us across the ocean on his airship, we'll just be allowing him to escape... And if we help Sango, she'll arrest Miroku and our convenient ride across the ocean will be gone."
"Sounds to me like Miroku frequents this town quite a bit," Inuyasha pointed out. "Let's get him to take us across the ocean, and then when we return, we can turn him in to Sango."
"Great way to show our appreciation..." Kagome muttered.
"Aw, come on!" Inuyasha snorted. "He's a criminal. He's probably done worse to lots of people."
"I don't know what you consider worse..." Kagome said, edging away a little. "But I think I'm actually starting to agree with you. How bad is that?"
"We are on a mission."
"Of course. I can't forget that," Kagome said, squaring her shoulders. "Our first priority is getting to the southern continent."
"Alright then," Inuyasha said a little harshly, "Let's quit talkin' about it and keep going."
The Kaigan Inn was the largest and most expensive inn in Ogonkai, and definitely looked the part. The two walked in, and Kagome headed straight for the innkeeper behind the counter. She was in a hurry to secure a room.
"800 gold pieces," the innkeeper informed them.
Kagome winced and reached into her purse. She pulled out several coins and reached out to hand them over, but they slipped out of her fingers before she could give them to the innkeeper. The sound of the gold hitting the wooden floors echoed in the vast chamber.
Kagome felt her face grow warm, and she bent down to pick up the coins. Though Inuyasha was remaining silent, to keep up his facade, she knew he was probably berating her mentally. While she was retrieving the coins from the floor, she felt an unusual pressure on her rear. Her back immediately went poker straight, and she was upright in a shot.
"INUYASHA!!!"
She could see his golden eyes from beneath the hood of his cloak send her a puzzled glance, clearly offended at her accusation.
"Inuyasha?" a man's deep voice repeated behind her.
She nearly jumped out of her skin. She had not realized that there had been anyone there. Now she saw that the man who had spoken appeared to be about the same height as Inuyasha, with brown hair pulled into a short ponytail at the base of his neck and intriguing violet eyes. He was very well dressed in a long, violet coat, and a fancy dress shirt and pants. The violet brace on his right hand was wrapped in beads.
"That's a peculiar name," he continued.
"Um... I-Inuyasha?" Kagome stammered uncertainly. "I didn't say Inuyasha! I said...Inara-jiji!
"I see," the man drawled, clearly not entirely convinced.
"She's my grandmother!" Kagome lied.
Inuyasha coughed.
"My, uh...sick grandmother. And now if you'll— Wait a minute! Did you just grab me?!"
"Pardon me if my introduction was a little forward," the man apologized suavely.
"Gee, ya think?!" Kagome raged. "You don't just sneak up behind people and—"
She stopped in the middle of her rant when the image of the man's face really began to sink in. Though it had colour now, it was distinctly similar to the ink painting.
"It's you..." Kagome gasped. "Miroku-san!"
The man's eyebrows drew inward. "What?"
"Miroku," Kagome repeated menacingly. "Or Azami-sama, the monk. Or maybe Kuroshita-no-Seiji, the noble. Which would you prefer?"
"Please, miss," the man said diplomatically, holding his hands up before himself defensively. "I hardly think this is the place for that..."
"Then where is?" Kagome asked. "You do have a personal room here to gamble in, don't you? We're not here to turn you in. We have a business proposition."
Miroku considered this for a moment. "Very well. Come with me."
He led the way to his personal chamber, stopping only a moment to toss a coin in the direction of the innkeeper, in a matter-of-fact tone informing him, "You didn't hear anything."
The innkeeper nodded and secreted the coin away somewhere.
Miroku pulled aside a tapestry, and indicated with a gentlemanly hand for Kagome and Inuyasha to enter. They walked through the concealed doorway into the room that lay beyond.
The room was virtually featureless. Hardly any furniture, to tapestries, no art. Just a plain, wooden-paneled room with a table in the centre, and a brunette man standing by it.
"Guests, master?" the young man inquired. His voice was sweet and cheerful, and he carried a silver serving platter in his hands.
"You could say that," Miroku admitted. He turned to his two 'guests'. "This is my personal attendant, Hojo."
"It's a great pleasure to meet you both!" Hojo enthused. He bowed very deeply to Kagome, then to Inuyasha, and then a third time.
"Hojo," Miroku interrupted. "That's okay, I think that will do. I keep telling you, you're going to give yourself back problems if you greet everyone like that."
"Yes, master!" Hojo piped happily.
"Please, have a seat," Miroku offered. Kagome sat down across from him at the table. Miroku crossed his arms over his chest and regarded Kagome with a ghost of a smile. "So. You obviously know who I am."
"Miroku-san," Kagome replied. "A wanted criminal."
Miroku raised his eyebrow slightly. "You're not from around here. How do you know about me?" He paused and rolled his eyes. "I suppose Sango-san caught up with you as soon as you walked through the gates, hm?"
"We did meet her," Kagome admitted. "But before that..." She reached into her robes and produced the parchment she had taken from Inuyasha. "This was dropped by someone, so we took it. It included information that may very well prove to be vital to us."
Miroku took the parchment and studied. "A striking likeness." He rested his chin in his hand and smiled dreamily. "That Sango really is something of a painter, isn't she, Hojo?"
"Yes, master," Hojo replied. "I'm very impressed with her work. That painting looks just like you. The detail is so accurate; she even managed to paint in how your right ear is a little higher than your left."
Miroku shot Hojo a wry glance.
Hojo stared blankly at him a moment, then smiled jovially.
"Anyway," Miroku drawled. He paused before he finished the thought. "You know, your demon friend is allowed to sit down, too."
"What?" Kagome started. "What demon? Th-that's my grandmother!"
"While your exclamation of Inuyasha was a dead giveaway," Miroku smirked, "I was able to sense his demonic aura before you even opened your mouth."
Inuyasha sneered and flicked his hood down. "Well, now you know what's about to kill you if you try to pull anything funny."
Miroku chuckled. "Rest assured, I would never draw a weapon in the presence of a lady. Speaking of which, what is the name of the lady whose presence I am in?"
"Kagome," Kagome replied. "Lady Kagome, an acolyte of the Uzume Order."
"Ah," Miroku nodded. "I should have guessed by your temple cloth. Do me the favour of answering my next question honestly, would you?"
"Um... Sure, I guess..."
"Would you do me the honour of bearing my son?"
"WHAT?!" Kagome shrieked.
"Who do you think you are?!" Inuyasha demanded. "First you grab her ass, now you want her to have your son?! What are you, some kind of cradle robber?!"
"Master Miroku is only 19," Hojo spoke up.
"Oh..." Inuyasha murmured. He shook his head and resumed his angered demeanor. "But you're still a pervert!"
"Master Miroku asks that question of every pretty young lady he meets," Hojo informed them, cheerful as ever.
Kagome felt a blush rise in her cheeks. This Hojo guy just said she was pretty!
"Must be something wrong with his eyes..." Inuyasha muttered.
Kagome's blush dropped. Stupid Inuyasha...
"That still makes him a pervert, ya know," Inuyasha pointed out.
"Don't jump to hasty conclusion," Miroku warned. "I have my reasons."
"Oh yeah? And just what would those be?"
"Let's discuss the matter of business we came here for," Miroku said, tiptoeing around the subject. He picked up the parchment and glance at it again. "What exactly was it about the information on this parchment that caught your interest?"
"You, according to that poster, are the owner of the world's last airship," Kagome explained. "We need a ride across the ocean to the southern continent. We were hoping you would do us the favour. Not for free, of course. We'll do something to make it up to you."
Miroku quickly glazed over the parchment's text and snorted. He flipped it around for Kagome to see. "Didn't any of this other stuff bother you in the least?"
"Well..." Kagome began thoughtfully. "When we met Sango, she did say that she has no decent evidence to prove that you committed any of those crimes... But she did seem pretty peeved just at the thought of you."
Miroku rested his chin in his hand once again. He adopted the same dreamy smile as before and sighed. "Yes, Sango is very lovely when she's angry..."
Kagome and Inuyasha shared a look.
"Tell you what," Miroku said suddenly, snapping out of his reverie. He handed the parchment back to Kagome and snapped his fingers, causing Hojo to jump at the signal. "Here's all I ask: three rounds of poker. If you win two out of three, I'll agree to take you across the ocean in my airship. Wherever you'd like to go, no questions asked. If I win, however... Hm... Shall we say, you give me all the money in your purse?"
Kagome assumed a determined expression and sat up straight. "Deal." She untied her purse from her belt and tossed it on the table. The coins inside jingled as they hit the polished surface.
"Excellent," Miroku chirped as Hojo began to expertly shuffle and deal playing cards.
"Wait! What?" Inuyasha demanded. "Kagome, we need that money! What do you think you're doing?!"
"I used to play this game all the time," Kagome told him earnestly, looking him in the eyes. "Don't worry, I won't lose."
Inuyasha lidded his eyes. "Wait a second... What do you mean you used to play this game all the time? You're supposed to be a priestess!"
"Acolyte."
"Whatever! You mean to tell me you would play these sinful card games right under the high priestess's nose? Tsk, tsk, tsk... Kagome, Kagome, Kagome. The trouble I could get you in if I told old lady Kaede..."
"Well you're not going to, got it?" Kagome warned. "You want to get across the ocean or not?"
Inuyasha shrugged. "If you fancy yourself a card shark, then go on and win us that trip across the ocean."
"Thanks...I guess."
Inuyasha watched every move Hojo's hands made as he shuffled the cards. If that servant did anything that Inuyasha thought was suspicious, Hojo wouldn't be perpetually cheerful for much longer.
Kagome and Miroku picked up their hands of five cards and began to study and rearrange them silently. Hojo positioned himself between them, slightly closer to Kagome and angled toward Miroku. Inuyasha was uncertain who to keep his eye on; Hojo, or Miroku.
Kagome's face was completely blank as she arranged her hand. Though Inuyasha found it a little hard to believe, he trusted Kagome knew what she was doing. If not, he would give her a piece of his mind for getting him to put his trust in her for no reason!
Inuyasha noted that Miroku was holding his cards a little high. Perhaps it was merely a habit, but it seemed to be a rather awkward position. There was so little in the room that could be used to cheat, Inuyasha could not begin to wrap his head around how Miroku could be cheating, if he was.
Kagome dropped two cards on the table, and Hojo handed her another two from the deck. She rearranged her hand yet again and patiently waited for Miroku to make his move.
He discarded three cards, and Hojo restored his hand as well. Miroku studied his cards, still staring at the tops of them. Inuyasha focussed hard on Miroku's eyes, watching for any kind of strange movement. There was none.
"I fold," Miroku sighed, throwing his cards down on the table.
"The game's a draw," Hojo announced. He gathered up all the cards and began to shuffle again. Kagome relinquished her hand a little disappointedly. Inuyasha assumed she'd had a good hand. He hoped she could duplicate such a hand in the next round.
The cards were dealt for the second game, and it proceeded much like the last round. Kagome, this time, discarded three cards from her hand. Her face was still expressionless, but Inuyasha suspected by the number of cards she discarded that her hand was not as good as it had been.
Miroku only discarded one card. His poker face was just as unreadable as Kagome's. Then, suddenly, Inuyasha saw what he had been watching for. Miroku, for only a moment, glanced up from his hand. He was looking at something over Kagome's shoulder. As Inuyasha had observed before, there was so little in the room that could lead to cheating. What on earth had Miroku looked at?
"Are you ready?" Miroku asked, that same ghost of a smile on his face as before.
Kagome placed her hand on the table. "Three aces."
Miroku smirked and tossed his hand on the table. "Straight flush."
Kagome stared at the hand, slightly horrified.
"Second round goes to Master Miroku," Hojo announced. He gathered up the cards for the third round.
Inuyasha cursed silently. Kagome's hand had been decent, but Miroku's had been better. Much better. And the flush had been all hearts. How appropriate for the self-proclaimed ladies' man.
Inuyasha continued cursing to himself. He had yet to find how the criminal was cheating– he was certain now that he was– and Kagome had one chance to stay in the game. If she won, they would have to play another round. If she lost, it would be over. No ride, no money.
"I believe I'll keep my hand this round," Kagome stated.
Inuyasha smiled. She must have had a stellar hand to want to keep it. Either that or she was bluffing. But if Miroku could see her hand like he thought he could, it might not make a difference...
"I'll keep my hand too," Miroku said, grinning lazily.
Inuyasha's smile faded. This was bad. He glanced over at Kagome. He wished he could see her hand. The suspense was killing him. He glanced over a little, and was pleased to notice that he could see the Ace of Hearts in Kagome's hand. Wait... How could he see Kagome's hand? The reflection on Hojo's serving platter... He was holding it in his arms in such a way that Kagome's hand was reflected in it. And he was standing at such an angle that Miroku...
"Aha!" Inuyasha screamed.
"What the–" Kagome began.
Inuyasha took two steps toward the table and punched Hojo in the face. Hojo went flying backwards and landed on his back.
Miroku leapt to his feet. "What's the meaning of this?!"
Hojo held the side of his face tenderly and stared at Inuyasha, shocked. "W-was my bowing insufficient?"
"This is the meaning of this!" Inuyasha shouted at Miroku. He scooped the fallen platter off the floor and slammed it down on the table. "Lousy cheater! You could see Kagome's hand in your stupid servant's serving tray!"
"Please, call me Hojo," Hojo offered pleasantly, sitting up and still holding his face.
"That's preposterous!" Miroku shot back. "How can you prove it?"
"I saw Kagome's hand in the reflection myself!" Inuyasha attested. "I say you start the game over fresh, with Hojo not holding the platter!"
"We'll have to start the third game over again anyway, thanks to this interruption!" Miroku growled.
"No more games!" Kagome protested. "You cheated, so you should be obligated to give us a ride across the ocean!"
"But that doesn't make any sense," Hojo piped up. "Just because he could see your hand, if he didn't get dealt the right cards, there was nothing he could do anyway."
Miroku turned his head slowly and menacingly to glare daggers at Hojo.
Hojo stared back blankly. "What?"
Miroku threw his hands up in surrender. "Alright. Uncle. I give up. You proved it, and I'm a man of my word. I guess this means that I'm disqualified, so that ride to the southern continent is all yours."
"Good!" Kagome grinned. "Thanks, Miroku-san, Azami-sama, and Kuroshita-no-Seiji."
"Think nothing of it," Miroku laughed helplessly.
Hojo climbed to his feet. He trotted over to the opposite wall and pushed a section of it in. A large section of the wall fell out of place, revealing the courtyard beyond.
"This way to my airship," Miroku offered. He led the way out in the apparently empty courtyard.
"Some airship," Inuyasha scoffed. He leaned over to Kagome and stage-whispered, "It's so rare, it doesn't even exist!"
"Never entirely trust what your eyes show you," Miroku warned. He strode over to a monk's staff that was buried in the ground and pulled it out. The air shimmered and wavered in the air of the courtyard. There was a great fluctuation as the barrier surrounding the airship disappeared, and the huge vessel was revealed. A bullet-shaped balloon suspended a deck below that appeared no different than one would witness on a sea-faring vessel.
"Hold on a minute!" Kagome called as Miroku made tracks for his airship. He stopped and looked over his shoulder at the acolyte. "I thought you only impersonated a monk...!"
"I did," Miroku replied with a nod. "That doesn't mean I don't have any spiritual powers to back it up. I need to do a convincing job if I'm going to impersonate something."
Inuyasha and Kagome shared a flabbergasted look.
Kagome murmured, "There's a lot more to this guy...than we can learn from a wanted poster..."