Chapter 13
Sidetracked Again: Wandering Spirits seek Answers!
note: sorry about the crazy formatting lately but its what FFN is taking at the moment. Sooner or later it will all be straightened up into brackets, until then, enjoy
Miroku: ::is sitting in a bar, talking to some friends. Its early in the morning, and Miroku shows he's tired by yawning, greatly. He looks to the man on his right:: So Gareth, how did you do last week?
Gareth: Pretty well, I think. I got at least 800 dollars in one session. The prices people will pay these days ::sips some beer:: aint that right Wes
Wes: ::nods:: But tell me, why did you get this job Miroku.
Miroku: Im planning to buy an expensive gift for my wife.
::all the guys eye him, and then laugh::
Wes: Way to go buddy. What are you planning to get her?
Miroku: Im not sure yet. Some jewelry, or maybe her own vehicle. She's been through a lot lately, and I wanted to
get some quick cash in order to spoil her.
Gareth: You are a true gem, Miroku. All wives should want a guy like you
Miroku: Im sure all wives do..
Wes: ::laughs:: Want another drink..
Miroku: ::looks worried for a moment, then shakes his head:: No, not really.
Wes: Oh alright. Well if you ever need any advice or equipment, you know who to call.
Miroku: Yes, thank you, I appreciate that Wes.
Gareth: And you can call on me too, just in case that bum Wes runs out on you
Wes: Funny
Miroku: ::smiles:: Thanks, but I better be going.
Gareth: I can tell you arent used to these hours.
Miroku: I can handle them. I'll see you both later.
Gareth: Sure you don't want a drink?
Miroku: ::waves and leaves:: I better get back, ::looks at his watch:: Sango will notice soon..
---
:: Its later in the day, and three girls are walking through the neighborhood, climbing up and over fences, laughing::
Girl1: Where are we going?
Girl2: Im not sure!
Girl3: He's around here somewhere. He told us to meet him at the park.
Girl1: I have a feeling...he's over there!
::they all go running off::
----
InuYasha: Tell me, whats your problem??
Kagome: That! ::points to his shirt::
InuYasha: ::looks at his shirt. Its a T-shirt with a big ol image of Spongebob, saying IM READY!::
Kagome: Listen. You are not wearing that to the show! Dress decently for once!
InuYasha: Hey you gotta problem with Spongebob?!?
::Inuko, just home from school, opens the door just in time ot hear his parents argument::
Kagome: Yes, Its spongebob!!
InuYasha: Do I look like Inuko?! You have no right to boss me around!!
Kagome: Dont..Make...Me...Say It!!
InuYasha: Go ahead! IM READDDYYY!!
::With that, Inuko shakes his head, shuts teh door, and walks away from his own house::
Kagome: You scared him away!
InuYasha: What do you mean by that!
Kagome: It was your big goofy T-Shirt!
InuYasha: Why dont you stop acting like my mom and act a little more like my wife!
Kagome: In your case, there is NO difference!
InuYasha: Why dont you just go occupy yourself until we leave tonight!
Kagome: Fine.
InuYasha: Go watch TV or something, I prefer Food Network.
Kagome: Food Network?
InuYasha: Yeah, I picked up a few recipes..
Kagome: You..did?
InuYasha: What?! Why does everyone around here treat me like im Homer Simpson! Im intelligent enough to pick up a damn
fork!
Kagome: Im sorry Im sorry! ::waves her hands and walks into the next room::
InuYasha: ::sighs, and as he goes to sit down, rams his foot into a coffee table:: Doh!
----------
::At a nearby park, three girls are having fun playing on the swings. They practice having jumping contests from the swings::
Girl1: I win!
Girl2: No you didnt, you cheated!
Girl3: She didn't cheat, you are just a sore loser!
Girl2: Am not
Girl1 and 3: Are too!
Girl1: ::looks to her right, and speaks, seemingly into thin air:: Aww...can't we stay a little longer.
Girl3: We still have time to play, dont we?
Girl2: We have to go, if we ever wanna find dad.
Girl1: I guess so. But I wonder why he left us in the first place.
Girl2: He is probably some big hero, and saved a whole bunch of people from evil.
Girl3: Or a famous artist, off selling his paintings. Its something really great.
Girl2: I love this place, there is so much to do here! He mustve forgot us when he moved.
Girl1: But...why would he forget us?
Girl2: Because you like to hide all the time
Girl1: ::sticks her tongue out:: Nyah.
Girl2: He's leaving without us ::jumps off her swing:: wait up!
Girl1: You wait up! ::runs off, grabbing the stragglers hand::
Girl3: ::laughs as she is dragged along::
-----------
Miroku: ::is on the computer, surfing the net. He, of course, is looking at naughty sites::
Sango: ::walks up:: What are ya up to?
Miroku: Oh..Sango! I think I sense a demon presence to the east!
Sango: What ::turns her head, giving Miroku just enough time to minimize the windows::
Miroku: Oh..guess It was a false alarm. See you honey ::gets up and leaves::
Sango: ::stares at the computer, and clicks around as if looking for something::
Miroku: ::walks towards the back of the house and looks out the window:: What the...
::he sees the three girls playing and running around in their backyard::
Miroku: Sango! Sango come here!
Sango: ::gets up and goes to him:: Whats going on?
Miroku: Do you recognize those kids? ::he points to the window::
Sango: Kids? ::she looks out, but now, the kids have disappeared::
Miroku: Thats strange, I just saw them...
Sango: What are you trying to distract me from this time, dear...
Miroku: Nothing I..
::Sango walks out::
Miroku: ::sighs, but then he hears the girls giggling. They appear again, running and jumping and playing with a ball::
Miroku: Better go check this out ::he steps outside. The girls just stop and look at him::
Miroku: Hey kids, what are you doing out here?
Girl1: Playing.
Miroku: Shouldnt you all be getting home. A rainstorm is coming, and I dont want you getting caught in it.
Girl2: Oh its okay. Weather doesnt bother us.
Miroku: Is that so?
Girl3: Yep.
Miroku: May I ask you lovely young ladies your names?
Girl2: Im Akemi, She's Chikako, and the silly girl behind me is Shizuka.
Miroku: ::smiles charmingly:: Very cute. But I think you girls should get along home.
Akemi: We are home!
Miroku: You...are..?
Akemi: Yes. Our father lives here.
Shizuka: Yeah. He has puppy ears and always wears red.
Chikako: He's like Santa Claus, but not nearly as nice.
Miroku: ::blinks:: InuYasha
Akemi: Yes. He's our pop.
Miroku: There must be some mistake..
Shizuka: Nope. ::with that, they seem to ignore Miroku and continue playing::
Miroku: ::goes back in:: InuYasha ::shakes his head as he hears Kagome and InuYasha still yelling::
InuYasha: ::stops hearing Miroku, and leaves Kagome glad to get away:: What is it monk?
Miroku: There are three little girls that say you are their father...and they are playing outside.
InuYasha: I think you're eyes are shot from staring at all those pornos, Miroku, what are you talking about?
Miroku: ::grabs InuYasha's hand:: Just come with me ::he drags him outside::
::they get to the window and the girls are still there, playing::
InuYasha: Something doesnt feel right...
Miroku: Obviously. They're lost spirits, from what I can tell.
InuYasha: What?
Miroku: ::nods:: Yes. They seem to have the strange idea that you are their father. For what reason I cant be sure.
InuYasha: Well I'll go straighten this out ::walks outside:: Listen Kids, I dont know who told you what, but I aint your-
:: he gets ambushed by the girls, reaching and jumping for him::
InuYasha; I...I..WILL YOU QUIET DOWN!
::the girls go silent::
InuYasha: I aint your father
Shizuka: But of course you are
Akemi: You have the ears
Chikako: You are him!!
InuYasha: No Im not!!
Miroku: Hold it..hold it...::kneels down:: Can You tell me who told you that InuYasha was your father?
Chikako: Our friend. ::she points::
InuYasha: I dont see anything.
Shizuka: Only we can see him..
Miroku: ::whispers:: looks like a rogue demon, ::approaches, cautiously::
InuYasha: I need the...damn! I forgot I can't control the Tetsusaiga!
InuYasha: Hmm I...::the sky gets dark and InuYasha hears a voice in his head::
Voice: Kill them
InuYasha: What?! Who is this!!
Voice: Kill them now! They are evil!!
InuYasha: And why should I believe you??!
Voice: Everyone will die if you dont kill them now!!
Miroku: ::shakes inuyasha, who is now in a daze:: InuYasha! Whats wrong?
InuYasha: Whatever that thing is, its speaking to me! He needs to get the hell out of my head!
Miroku: What did he say?
InuYasha: ::pulls him to the side:: Miroku he asked me to kill them! I dont know whats going on! Maybe they are demons sent by
our enemy
Miroku:::whispers back:: I dont sense any darkness in them, I just cant be sure...::turns back to the girls:: Well perhaps - ::sees they have disappeared again::
InuYasha: Now where'd they go!
Miroku: They'll be back. You are their father. I will return soon ::walks inside::
InuYasha: Dont give me that cryptic stuff! ::goes into the house:: Sango...Sango
Sango: ::was just getting off the phone:: What is it, InuYasha?
InuYasha: Miroku and I saw some ghosts around th-
Sango: You saw some ghosts?
Kita: ::walking in overhearing the last part of the conversation:: Ghosts? Cool.
InuYasha: Yeah. He says they are some "wandering spirits". We have enough problems as it is, last thing I need
is some bratty children's sprits bugging the hell out of me. Why dont you convince Miroku, that Furyou Houshi
to get off his lazy butt and do something. Or better yet, why dont you?
Sango: Hello. Im not the one with the spiritual powers.
InuYasha: You mean you havent learned any? Figures, all you learned is how to keep your skirt down. Im gonna go talk to Kagome. ::walks out::
-----
Shizuka: Why isnt anyone coming out to play with us?
Chikako: Not sure...wonder what daddy is doing?
Akemi: if we just wait right here...he'll come.
Kita: ::skips outside:: Hey
Chikako: Hi
Kita: Whatcha doing?
Akemi: Waiting for our dad
Kita: who is..
Chikako: His name is InuYasha
Kita: Ok...stop and rewind that back...who?
::all three of them:: InuYasha..
Kita: What makes you think that?
Chikako: Our friend told us..
Kita: ::glares and looks around:: Something doesnt feel right ::starts walking around the yard::
Chikako: What are you looking for?
Kita: Your friend. something isnt right about him
Akemi: Im not sure why people keep saying that. He lead us right to our dad
Kita: He's no...hmm. Are you guys going to stay around?
::the girls nod::
Kita: Good..
Miroku: ::walks up behind Kita:: You see them as well
Kita: Its not the first time ive seen ghosts..
Chikako: Hello, we can hear you...
Kita: I have a bad feeling that-
Miroku: ::puts his hand on his daughters shoulder and looks outward:: InuYasha claims he spoke to him. I need your help Kita.
Are you able to spot him?
Kita: Im trying...
Akemi: Why are you looking for him? We already seen him, we just want our dad.
Kita: We just walk to talk to your friend. We know he's hanging around here somewhere..
Voice: (now only heard by kita) They are evil...kill them...
Kita: The only thing around here that breaths darkness is you...reveal yourself or I will do it for you... ::walks towards a tree in the backyard, placing an ofuda on it. A few moments later, the tree's leaves fall off and a slim man stumbles from the tree.
He is dressed from the sengoku jidai, but has a rather expensive watch on::
Chikako: ::runs up and looks at the watch:: Oooh..Burakuken, you got a nice watch. Im glad you decided to be visible. ::nods::
Burakuken: ::chuckles:: dear girl, it is not my place to be parading around this strange world. I do what I have to when I have to.
Miroku: Where did you get that...
Kita: ask me later..
Miroku: Who are you, Burakuken, and what do you want with these young girls?..
::inuYasha and Sango step outside, Kagome behind them::
Kagome: whats going on?
Miroku: Kagome-sama..step back.. Answer me..Burakuken
Burakuken: ::lowers his head:: Im so sorry to say these children are little demons. I led them here to be slaughtered..
Chikako: ...what??!
Burakuken: InuYasha, I have heard of your power for quite some time. You may be the only one capable of exterminating them for good.
InuYasha: You're trying to make me thing that a bunch of little girls are the demons? Please, you have bad-ass demon written all over you ::pulls back his claws, but Miroku holds up a hand::
Miroku: Im not even sure if you could call him a demon. I know his type, and physical force will not work against him. I will warn you, Burakuken, leave this place or be banished to the hells.
InuYasha: Got a point..if he was so strong why didnt he destroy the girls himself.
Miroku: Now I see...these children arent dead at all. I doubt they are even from this time period.
Sango; What do you mean?
Kita: they feel like ghosts..
Miroku: They were given the ability to walk freely from this world and the world of the dead.
InuYasha: Whats the point of that?
Miroku: Well if you had to search many lands and many times for a murderer, it would make sense to me..
Burakuken: If you are quite finished, why dont you play the safe side and get rid of these children..::he waves a hand to them and their faces slowly twist into a demonic, monsterous form::
Sango: Stop it!
Burakuken: Would you rather get rid of them now and have them rest in peace, or shall i mold them into my pets. The choice is yours.
InuYasha: Unhand the children you creep.
Kagome: ::watches, uneasily::
Sango: Stop..please...
Miroku: ::takes out his own ofuda:: I did not want to have to do this...
Burakuken: I and the children are joined. Try to banish me and you do the same to them...
Kagome: No...what do we do InuYasha?
InuYasha: I dont know! The monk said physical force wont work..
Kita: ::stares right into Burakuken's eyes and blinks:: It won't. Father, use your spiritual abilites to shield the girls now...
Miroku: Ah.. ::shuts his eyes and places a barrier around them, halting their transformation for a moment::
Kita: You are scared, arent you? I saw it...your thoughts. You need someone else to destroy them, so you can steal their souls and live forever. All you are is a leech. You dont even have much time left. My father and I can hold this barrier, and all you can do is stand their and wither away...
Burakuken: ::shivers a bit but tries to hide it:: I will not be talked to that way by a mere child
Kita: You are looking a little pale.. ::puts her hand on her fathers back and shuts her eyes::
InuYasha: What a pathetic way to die, loser...just gonna stand there and die..
Burakuken: No..I can find others, ::starts to leave::
Kita: Not so fast..::her eyes are still shut:: When you went to transform them, you linked yourself. Since they are frozen in this barrier, so are you frozen in this place. You ARE a loser.
Burakuken: ::sweatdrop:: I can break that barrier!
Sango: You dont have the strength..you are weakening..
Burakuken: ::becomes more transparent:: Damn...damn you......You cant hold out forever.
Miroku: Im afraid we can. Often battles are won by simple endurance.
Kagome: Thats something you could learn InuYasha...
InuYasha: ::mumbles:: I aint even gonna comment..
Burakuken: Thats it...::mumbles:: Im sorry...I repent...I do what it takes to survive...::fades, his watch falling to the ground. The children are restored, but scared to death::
Miroku: ::falls to his knees::
Kita: Dad...
Miroku: Im fine...
Kagome: ::looks to the girls that are now crowded around each other, sobbing:: Oh..please dont cry..
Akemi: But now we will never find our daddy..
Chikako: and you said our friend was a bad man..
Sango: ::her eyes soften and she kneels down to them:: Why dont you stay with us?
InuYasha: What? There are already way- ::looks at the girls, that are now giving him big sorry puppy eyes:: Well...
Sango: Well we can't just leave them by themselves.
Kagome: Wait...Lee's aunt Erin could take them
Akemi: Who? ::wipes her eyes::
Kagome: Ms Erin is a sweet lady, who has tons more room than we do, and a grandchild, Laura, that you can play with.
Shizuka: I dunno. But..what about..
InuYasha: Im not your dad, okay. But I can be your friend..::holds Shizuka's hand, and then she runs and hugs him::
Sango: All of us will be here for you. And if we ever do find your dad or mom, we'll lead them straight to you.
Akemi: You promise.
InuYasha: Yeah kid, I don't lie. Now come on inside ::gets up and walks in::
Kagome: Well, I can never write to mom that my life is boring ::walks in, everyone else following::
Kagome: ::sits on the couch and looks at the clock:: Oh great, we are gonna be late for sure now..and InuYasha..
InuYasha: What?
Kagome: Please change that shirt!
InuYasha: I don't feel like it!
Kagome: wear a jacket at least ::lets her head fall back, staring at the ceiling::
InuYasha: ::rolls his eyes:: fine fine ill change my shirt. ::walks off:: maybe..
Kagome: I heard that...
Sango: ::leads the kids off to play with Sango and Kotaku. Miroku is resting on a couch, with Kita curled up at his side. She smiles softly at her husband, then looks back to kagome:: You dont think Lee will mind watching some more kids.
Kagome: I wouldnt think so. She doesnt seem to notice the difference between five and five hundred kids. Now Im gonna
Sango: ::smiles and nods:: She's helped us a lot.
Kagome: ::sighs and looks back at Miroku and Kita. Kita is hugging her father, and now slowly drifting to sleep::