"A pie eating contest?" Kaede asked curiously. "Will there be banana cream pies?"

"Of course not," snapped Miroku. "Banana cream is a silly thing. We will be having fudge ripple pies."

Kaede scowled. "I'm allergic to chocolate."

"Fine," Miroku said angrily. "Bring out… the apple pies."

Everyone except Kaede and Miroku gasped.

"The apple pies?" Kikyo said, her eyes huge. "Are you sure?"

"Yes," said Miroku grimly. "She needs a punishment."

"O-okay," said Kikyo, before hurrying off to fetch the apple pies.

"What's wrong with the apple pies?" Kaede wondered.

"You'll see," said Miroku, and for the first time he wore a thin smile.

"And who is my opponent?"

"You'll see."

"Well, fine then," Kaede said crossly.

She was led out a back door to a large field, where a table was set up. It was already laden with apple pies on one side, and fudge ripple on the other.

"For your opponent," Miroku explained, looking at the fudge ripple.

Suddenly, the back door opened again, and a boy in a purple… um… outfit cam out.

"Are you ready, Kohaku?" Miroku asked seriously

Kohaku nodded and looked at the fudge ripple pies, then at the apple ones. He gasped.

"Apple, my lord Miroku?"

"Yesiree. For the offender."

Kaede and Kohaku sat one on each side of the table.

"Ready," said Miroku, "Set, go!"

Kaede took a bite of pie. Tasted all right to her. She shrugged, and took another bite.

"Gaah!" she yelled. Almonds! They'd put almonds in her pie. The crowd looked the almonds and shuddered.

But I have to keep eating, she thought. She was about to take another slice when a bell dinged. Kaede looked sideways and saw that Kohaku was already done. Whoa! He could really pack it away.

"Kohaku is the winner!" Miroku announced. "Meaning the disagreement is settled. Walnuts must be a fruit. Meaning," he added to Kaede, "You're wrong."

"So what's going to happen to me?" Kaede asked, with a touch of worry.

"You'll have to work for us," Miroku said. "As a construction worker, where you will produce vegetables named Kikyo, to show the public that Kikyo is not a fruit. Naraku will show you there."

Naraku nodded, and grabbed Kaede by the arm. He led her through a series of doors, until finally they reached their destination. Kaede looked around and gasped…

Author's Note: Hmmm. Well, this didn't turn out quite the way I wanted it to. But I hope you like it. Please review it! And chapter four will be coming soon…