A/N: Ok, no annoying author's notes this time. What? Oh, you mean this was an A/N? Sorry, didn't realize! P.S. I feel like writing a disclaimer today. Here goes...

I do not own Inuyasha, or Kagome, or Kikyo, or Sango. I only own Miroku and Sesshoumaru! Ok, just kidding! I owe none of it...

Restarts: I do not own the anime Inuyasha. I own only a Sesshoumaru chibi doll and fifty posters. ((Sweat drop))

Chapter 4: My Brother

Miroku's offer was... kind, but Kagome didn't particularly feel like going to a teahouse with genuine men. After all, she had no idea how to act the sleazy customer. And worse, what if the trip to teahouse ended with a trip to the whorehouse, then she and Sango would really be in trouble.

"No thank you," said Kagome quickly in response. "If we went with you to a teahouse, the men would see it as favouritism. I wouldn't want that."

"Me neither," echoed Sango, sensing a potential dangerous situation.

Miroku refused to take no for an answer. Here was the perfect opportunity to dig answers out of Higurashi and Tanaka. "Nonsense," he said breezily. "Come on, let's get moving. Kagura's waiting. Inuyasha, you too."

"Who?" spluttered Inuyasha. "That evil, cold bitch who -"

"You're scaring Kei and Kohaku," warned Miroku. "Kagura's a lovely woman," he told the two.

"I'm sure she is." Sango smiled weakly.

Kagura was, indeed, a lovely woman. If you defined lovely as, lovely to look at.

At the moment she was throwing a fit only rivalled by Kikyo's tantrums.

"She's been like this all day," said the teahouse mistress, apologizing.

"I have not!" snapped Kagura. "It was only after that stupid bitch Kanna spilt tea on me that I yelled at her."

Honestly, the standards these days. Absolutely appalling. Kagura certainly had never been allowed to spill tea on even the table as an apprentice geisha, and now that some silly little girl had scalded her, it was too harsh to tell the chit off.

"Kagura darling, do calm down," said Miroku easily. Placing a gentlemanly hand on her burnt wrist, he began stroking it softly as Kagome and Sango gaped and looked away at the same time. Inuyasha scoffed at Miroku and called for music.

A pale girl in a white kimono began to blow on a flute. Kagura cast dirty glares at her occasionally; it had to be Kanna.

"So, how have you been since we last met?" Miroku asked by way of conversation.

Kagura shrugged. "Fine. Still surviving in this hellish place." Miroku was not one of her regulars per se, he was always out travelling around Japan, but Kagura knew him very well. You could say he was a favourite of hers, and he knew it in the cocky attitude he always adopted around her. This she found charming.

"Any luck with finding a danna?" Miroku asked, winking at Inuyasha.

She looked distasteful. "Plenty of offers... but I turned all those miserable twits down. I refuse to play mistress to stupid rich-asses."

"What's with all the geisha nowadays? Rude like hell and insufferable," grumbled Inuyasha. There was the geisha they had met in Kyoto, the one Miroku thought was his sister... man, she had major attitude problems. So did her older sister, was it Kikyo or Kikuko, he couldn't recall. "Miroku, what was her name again? The one at the party? She totally unnerved Naraku and then ran away. Kagame? Gome?"

"Kagome, you idiot," said Miroku, trying to sit Kagura in his lap and earning a slap for it.

"What was she? A lord's daughter or something... boy, she sure gave Kikyo hell." Inuyasha grinned at the memory.

Kagura sneered. "Probably served that slut Kikyo right, too. She was all over the shogun when he came to a party here. Kikyo could screw every man alive and still want more."

"Not very nice, are you?" said Inuyasha. "...But I'd have to agree."

"Oh Inu-chan's in love with Kikyo aren't you," taunted Kagura. "Well, Miroku, you'd better introduce me to your two friends." She inclined her head flirtatiously at Kagome and Sango. The two girls had no doubt had they been men, they would be head over heels already.

"This is Higurashi Kei and Tanaka Kohaku," said Miroku. "Jaken was recruiting men and they showed up."

"These two?" snorted Kagura, raking her eyes over the two tiny men in front of her and not really buying the 'men' part. "Don't look like raw samurai material to me... Hey, you two. Why the masks?"

"It's a trademark of theirs," shrugged Miroku. They did wear it all the time, after all.

Kagura raised an eyebrow. She then smiled.

"I think I've taken a certain liking to you two," she grinned. "Come on, to the bedrooms."

"I'm not sure if that's a good idea," Kagome said, eyes darting wildly to the exit. "I mean, we've got duties at the recruitment camp and all that..."

"Nonsense," said Kagura, getting to her feet. "I insist. Miroku, back me up."

Miroku sucked in his breath, jealous. "Well, Kagura won't even accept me, I suppose it's an honour if she takes a liking to you..."

Before Kagome could protest again Kagura had half-dragged Kagome out of the room, to great howls of laughter from Miroku and Inuyasha.

They went across a corridor, into another room, where Kagura promptly shut the door and glared suspiciously at Kagome.

"What?" asked Kagome, confused.

"Ok, so you're a girl. Mind telling me a bit about yourself? Maybe even take off that mask?"

Kagome blushed, jaw dropping a little. "Huh? How'd you -"

"Guess?" Kagura simply reached forward and pulled the mask off Kagome. For somebody who was so slim and delicate, she seemed rather strong. "Well, for one, you didn't look happy to be here, with me, the most beautiful geisha in all of Japan. And your hands," scoffed Kagura. "Those hands are meant for pouring tea and playing a shamisen, not fighting."

"Oh," said Kagome, hiding her hands behind her back.

Kagura paced a bit. "So why did you answer the recruit call? No, I think I know." She reached for a shelf, and took down a scroll. Unrolling it, she pushed Kagome in front of a full-length mirror and placed the scroll next to her.

"See the likeness?" asked Kagura. Kagome squinted. It was a painting done of her a few days before her father died, not too long ago.

"Well, now we have a lord's daughter traipsing around an army of uncouth men. So what made you leave your home? Oh, and don't get me wrong, I'm merely curious. You see, I was forced to leave my home, and I always wonder why people leave theirs by choice."

"A simple reason," spat Kagome bitterly. "Haven't you seen one of the posters in town?"

"Like, this?" Kagura unrolled another picture, but it was made of flimsy paper. It was one of the 'Wanted' notices hanging around the area. Kagura flipped it over and read it.

"Kyoto geisha runs away... whoever returns her will receive a reward in gold... You ran away?" asked Kagura, new respect in her voice. "I tried, but they brought me back. They were going to beat me but they decided against it and starved me instead."

"Well, I had it easy," Kagome explained softly. "I had two accomplices. Besides, they could never really make me conform to their rules. After all, I didn't look too kindly on nasty old women trying to comb wax through my hair."

"Me neither," laughed Kagura. Her hair was beautifully decorated with a few feathers, and had no sign of fancy combs and rice husks that geisha so loved to use. She began putting the pictures of Kagome away.

"So, you know Miroku's looking for his sister?" Kagura asked.

Kagome nodded. "Yeah. I'm not sure... but I think he thinks it's me. Though that's impossible."

"You really think so?" Kagura said. She paused for a while, then continued. "I know Miroku very well, better than he knows himself. If he thinks something is right, it probably is right. I'm sure everything will become clearer in the end."

"Well, we'd better get back. Sango, I mean, Kohaku, no... Sango's a girl too... She'll be wondering where I am."

"Oh, just sleeping with one of the prettiest women in Japan," laughed Kagura. "Don't worry, your secret's safe with me."

"Took you two awhile," grinned Miroku, sending Kagura a knowing wink when they rejoined the guys and Sango.

"You don't know what you're talking about," she said haughtily.

"This is getting boring," complained Inuyasha. The other geisha who dropped in to chat to them were freaking ugly as far as he was concerned.

"Right. And I'm getting tired. Goodbye, gentlemen. You can leave now." Kagura rapped the table with her folding fan impatiently.

Sango leapt up and grabbed Kagome into the hall outside. Inuyasha bounded out behind them. Miroku lingered.

"Did you find out anything about that Kei?" he asked.

"Go mind your own business," said Kagura. "You owe me a big favour, for sleeping with your friend."

"Yes, Kagura," sighed Miroku. "So what did you find out about him?"

"Hell, I'm not telling you," cursed Kagura.

"Uhh... Kagura? That's why I asked you for help in the first place. You know, pillow talk, the kind of things you geisha are good at..."

"Go ask him yourself," said Kagura. "You know, commander-to-recruit talk, the kind of things you army people are good at," she added sarcastically.

"That's right, Kagura," muttered Miroku through gritted teeth. "Show us your lovely hospitable manners and humor."

"What did you two do in there?" demanded Sango when Kagome and her were alone.

"Nothing," said Kagome flatly. "She knows, Sango. She's smart, and she figured it out. She knows just about everything."

"But how -" Sango began.j

Kagome had bigger news. "And she thinks I'm related to Miroku."

"What?!"

"I know," said Kagome in a low voice, wary of the sharp hearing of a hanyou in front of them. "The very idea is ludicrous. How could a travelling priest be related to me, in any way? Besides, I've never been told I have a brother."

Sango didn't think it was that unlikely. "You've got the same last names, I'd have to say. If a noble family is a certain name, it's unlikely any other commoner will have that name."

"Yes, true. But the Higurashi clan is widespread throughout Japan. Generations ago, a branch of the clan could've become commoners through bankruptcy or something," argued Kagome.

"Nonsense. Now, that priest looks, acts, and even probably thinks, aristocratic. Speaking of looks..." Sango trailed off, a faraway look in her eye.

"Shut up! Oh my god. You fancy Miroku!" gasped Kagome, a grin tugging at her lips.

"I do not!" snapped Sango. "Well, there is only one way to find out whether Miroku is your brother or not."

"And that would be..." Kagome said.

"The tattoo on your left shoulder; above your heart, remember? The character for 'love' which glows gold? I've seen it when you bathe. Now, if Miroku is your brother, he should have one too."

Kagome started excitedly. "True... if I remember correctly, the men wore their character tattoos on their arms, while the girls got them in less conspicuous places. If we could somehow catch a glimpse of his arm..."

"Umm... Kagome? I'm glad for you, if he's your brother, but are you sure you're not getting to worked up over this? I mean, it's great you're not an only child anymore, but still. We are hiding from the rest of Japan, if you get my point."

"Oh, but don't you see?" asked Kagome. "Right now, my stepmother controls the Higurashi estates in Kyoto. Technically, she had no claims to the land; they should've gone to the closest men relations or myself. Seeing as there are no men, all of whom are dead, the property went to me. But acting as my guardian, my stepmother easily gained control and threw me out so she could have free reign over the estates."

"Your point being?" Sango hurried forward; they might lose Inuyasha if they kept stopping to talk.

"Well, if I have a brother, all the estates will go to him. No matter how young he may be, if he's male, there's no need for a guardian at all. He'll take control, and then I'll be able to return home, and so will you."

"Today, we do hand-to-hand combat practice," Inuyasha said to the assembled recruits. Already the 'scrawny' bunch of men were toughening up, thanks to Miroku's training. That was to say, all the men, except those two (the scrawniest of the lot, too), Kei and Kohaku.

Miroku paced up and down the line of men. "I assume all of you have done some work in this area. Be it fighting away robbers stealing your chickens, exchanging kicks with your village boys, or punching your corn to make it grow; I don't care. We start by assessing your skills in such fighting. Inuyasha and I, and maybe Hojo, will go round you all. You will then engage into a short fight with -"

"Spare us the lecture!" grumbled Inuyasha. "The men aren't stupid, they can figure it out! Ok, let's start."

They broke off into small groups. In Kagome's little group, Sango was the first to get selected against Miroku.

It was short, but not a waste of time. Sango, instead of concentrating on his blows and throwing some back, was set on uncovering at least one of his arms.

She blocked his hits easily, occasionally throwing a kick or elbow back. At one point, as he arm came up to block her...

His sleeve came up with it. Quickly, Sango yanked hard on the material under the pretext of landing a blow.

From his wrist onwards, the expanse of his forearm was completely unmarked. Sango would've gone on to reveal the other arm too, except...

"Ok, we're done," said Miroku. He hated to admit it, but this Tanaka had given him nearly cause for sweat. "Next!"

"His left arm's clean," whispered Sango to Kagome as she rejoined the rest of the recruits

"Ok, I'll check the right," she whispered back.

When it was her turn, Kagome stepped forward, carefully surveying her opponent.

Miroku was bigger, and stronger. But with any luck, she was faster.

The attacks came raining down, more intense than any of the men had faced. The moves Kagome's old teacher had taught her came flooding back to her. A punch came, directed right in the middle, below her ribcage. Years of practise in the dojo had seasoned Kagome's reflexes. She'd memorized all the moves, and had been forced to be able to recap the counter-blow for each one on the spur of the moment.

Instinctively, she stepped a leg backwards for balance. Her arms flew in coordinated arcs towards Miroku's fist. One, she blocked the blow with. Another, she used to fly towards his unprotected shoulders.

With ease, his free hand came up to stop her. Perfect opportunity.

The wind was on Kagome's side, and it flapped his sleeve around, finally making it gather at the crook of his inner arm.

A neat 'intelligence' character, faintly glowing purple, shone brightly at Kagome.

She had a brother. She had a brother!

"Well?" asked Sango later on. "Aren't you going to tell him you're his sister?"

"No," said Kagome after a while, snapping out of her daydreams. "I've been thinking about it, and I don't think it would be a good idea."

"Why not?"

"Because if he could claim back his rightful estates, he would have done so by now. Obviously, he is waiting for a reason. It wouldn't be fair for me to tell him, not before he reclaims his land."

In Miroku's tent...

"So, why are you looking for your sister anyways, Miroku?" Inuyasha wanted to know.

Miroku rolled his eyes, nursing a few bruises Higurashi and Tanaka had landed on him. "We've been through this before. Because she's my sister."

"Well, I meant, why don't you go back to your clan, take control from your stepmother who is currently controlling everything, and then look for your sister?"

"Simple. Reason being, nobody knows me there, except for one or two old servants who have probably died already. However, everyone would probably know my sister. If she vouched for me on my return, it would be a much smoother process altogether."

"Even so, you'll have people loyal to your stepmother who won't give up the land that easily."

"I know. But with my sister's help I can convince more people."

Inuyasha shook his head and sighed. "You'll never find her. If she's half as smart as you make her out to be, she'll have disappeared from man's reach already."

"That, I am aware of. She could've gone far, far away. Or she could be right under our noses. The most dangerous place can sometimes be the safest, after all."

"The most dangerous place can be the safest, after all," lectured Hojo. "The shogun would probably be plotting in a place we'll never think of."

"What would you know of such tactics?" challenged Kouga. "I say we capture that cad of a shogun before he tries to seize the throne."

"There are currently five major daimyo families," continued Hojo. "That would be the shogun, the Taisho clan, the Higurashi clan, Kouga's tribe and myself. The shogun wants to become Emperor of Japan. If that happens, Japan will cease to exist as we know it. I admit, my clan is still rising and I have few loyal forces. If we were to keep the throne out of Naraku's reach, we need to become allies with each other."

"You can count the Taisho clan out!" blustered Jaken. Of the small meeting of four, the only lords present were Hojo and Kouga. Sesshoumaru had sent Jaken. Kagome's stepmother couldn't well appear at a meeting as a woman, so a representative, Bankotsu, had been sent.

"Jaken, stop jumping into silly conclusions," said Kouga. "The Taisho and Higurashi clans may be able to hold their own should Naraku try and take power. However, it's unlikely Hojo will survive without their help, which is why he has called this fruitless meeting."

"Neither will you, wimpy wolf," said Bankotsu scornfully. "Both of you – maybe there shouldn't be five major daimyo. Three, more like."

"Shut your face!" yelled Kouga. "I never thought the Higurashi clan would sink so low as to put a woman in charge!"

"They haven't sunk at all," said a cool voice from behind them.

"Sesshoumaru-sama!" cried Jaken. "Just the person we needed to see! You have graced us with your presence and -"

"Shut up." Sesshoumaru smoothly filled Jaken's place on the tatami mats as the toad scampered out the door. "Carry on, Kouga. What was it about the Higurashi clan?"

"Well, maybe Bankotsu might like to change the three major daimyo to two. In all Japan's history there has never been a woman, not a blood descendant, in charge! And seeing as there are no heirs..."

"There are," interrupted Hojo. "There's the daughter they sold."

"They sold her to eradicate all heirs!" Kouga began yelling again. "Lady Higurashi was the one obstacle in their path, so they got rid of her!"

"What do you mean, obstacle?" fumed Bankotsu.

"Even if there were no males, any blood descendant would inherit the lands! But the late Lord Higurashi's second wife wanted control. She ordered her stepdaughter sold, what part of that do you not comprehend?"

"I hate to correct such passionate statements," Sesshoumaru said icily. "But there are heirs to the Higurashi title. One, the lady you have spoken of. Another, a traveling priest."

"A traveling priest?" shouted Bankotsu. "How could a traveling priest be related to the Higurashi bloodline?"

"Lord Higurashi's second wife, on marrying into the family, made sure to get rid of his sons, should they stand in the way of her future sons. She sent the one boy to a monastery, and covered up her tracks skillfully. She never dreamed she would be barren. So when the lord died, she was left with no heirs at all, not even a girl to contest Higurashi Kagome's claim," stated Sesshoumaru.

"And how come the boy didn't step out to claim his property?" demanded Bankotsu.

"Because he has no proof of his identity," said Hojo. "Anyone each stick a tattoo on and claim to be Higurashi relatives. The only person right now with valid claim in the eyes of the people, is Lady Higurashi. And she won't be returning too soon. Legally she is the property of the okiya that bought her, and we have no power to shield or protect her, unless we buy her from the okiya. And they'll never sell – she would make them so much money no amount will make them give her up."

"Unless their lives are threatened," said Bankotsu. "If restoring Lady Higurashi can help us keep Naraku at bay... I think we can work out a way to get the okiya's cooperation."