"Shippou. We're back." Kagome called as Kaede's hut came into view again. The little kitsune that sat on the front steps jumped up when she called.
"Inuyasha! Kagome!"
Kagome towed the surly hanyou along behind her by the sleeve of his new kimono. Inuyasha had been sulking the whole way from the village and Kagome, after a few useless attempts at conversation, had let him. She could sympathize a little bit at least. After all she'd be very upset if she'd had her gender tampered with.
"Have Miroku and Sango returned?" Kagome question, releasing Inuyasha.
"No yet." Shippou answered with a shake of his head.
"They better have found something!" Inuyasha growled haughtily.
Kagome glanced at him. "Oh. So you're speaking now?" She smiled her amusement when he turned his head away stubbornly then glanced up at the shadow that passed overhead. "They're back!"
Kirara circled overhead once before landing near them. The cat demon looked ruffled, casting a look back at her riders as Sango jumped down of her back. Kagome frowned curiously then gasped in surprise as Miroku got down. His arm had been set in a sling and bandages were wound around his head.
"What happened to you monk?" Inuyasha questioned.
"It was the strangest thing." Sango asked, looking over at Miroku worriedly. "We were on our way back and then this horrible wind picked up."
"A wind did that?" Kagome said in surprise.
Sango nodded slightly. "It was so strong in knock Kirara right from the sky. I managed to hold on but Miroku. ….well Miroku landed in a tree."
"Is that how you broke your arm." Kagome questioned the monk.
"No. That would be the cause of my head injury." He said in a composed voice. "My arm broke….when all the branches in the tree broke under me. I believe however…" he went on, slipping a hand inside his pocket and lifted out a strand of pale, silver blue hair. "That is had something to do with this."
"What the hell is that?" Inuyasha questioned, leaning forward to study the hair.
"We found it in the forest surrounding the well. Miroku believes it belongs to whoever it was that cast the spell." Sango answered.
"Look careful Inuyasha. Does it belong to your brother?"
"No. It doesn't look like Sesshomaru's hair." He took the strands from Miroku and sniffed them. "This defiantly isn't Sesshomaru."
Miroku nodded. "I didn't think so. Then we can rest assure that it wasn't the Demon Lord who cast the spell."
"So it wasn't your doing either. Little brother." A voice spoke slowly from the nearby.
Kagome gasped and turned in surprise. Sesshomaru had emerged and was regarding them with his normal, cool gold eyes. Kagome took a hesitant step backwards and study the demon lord curiously. He didn't look any different. Had he escaped the spell after all?
Inuyasha snarled. "So you're not behind this Sesshomaru?" he demanded of his brother.
Sesshomaru turned his ice gaze on Inuyasha. "I wouldn't expect you to be intelligent enough to figure this out. I did not, however, think you were stupid as well."
"Why you…" Inuyasha took a menacing step forward, dainty hand moving towards the hilt of the Tetsusaiga.
Kagome spoke quickly to stop the fight she knew would begin, addressing the demon lord. "If you didn't cast the spell…were you effected by it to?"
Sesshomaru's gaze moved to her and Kagome tensed beneath the weight of those cold eyes. He watched her a moment then lifted a hand and brushed aside the front of his kimono. The shirt beneath it showed the foreign swell of his chest. Kagome heard it now, the deep husky note in his voice. Rather then Inuyasha who's tone had become high and squeaky Sesshomaru had a new sultry melody to his voice.
Inuyasha blinked in surprise at his brother then looked down at his own, larger chest. Kagome heard him mutter 'I win' beneath his breath and threw him a look. He blushed in embarrassment, folded him arms and turned his head away irritably.
"Since you have nothing of interest to me." Sesshomaru said, turning away. "I'm going to find the culprit myself."
"Wait a moment." Kagome called, taking a step forward again. "Wouldn't it make more sense to stay with us?"
"Kagome!" Inuyasha snarled.
"Well think about it." She went on quickly. "Whoever did this was after either you or Inuyasha. That means that he'll want to come back to see his handiwork. If it was Inuyasha and you leave to hunt him down you won't be able to catch him when he comes back. It would be a better idea to stay together, just in case."
Sesshomaru remained still and silent for a long moment then resumed walking towards the forest. Hid voice, however, floated back to them. "I shall be nearby."
Kagome watched him leave, expelling a sigh of relief. "That worked."
"What the hell was that about Kagome!" Inuyasha demanded.
"Do you really think that it might be Sesshomaru they're after?" Miroku asked her.
Kagome turned and nodded. "It would make as much sense as them being after Inuyasha. They've both made a lot of enemies."
"They could both be the target as well." Sango added.
Shippou nodded from his place where he had hopped onto Kagome's shoulder. "Inuyasha and Sesshomaru's father had powerful enemies as well. It might be one of them trying to get revenge on the dog demon's sons."
"Either way." Miroku continued. "Having your brother near is the best solution. Whoever cast this spell was very powerful. Particularly if he spelled both you and Sesshomaru. We may need him when it comes down to a fight."
"Whatever! Do what you want." And then Inuyasha turned and stormed up into the hut.