Well, well, well. It's been a while, hasn't it? No excuses from me, I know I was putting this off, but you see, this was one of the hardest chapters to write. If you read the last chapter, you might see what I mean.

Responses to my lovely reviewers:

Fiona McKinnon: Oh. Okay. Thanks, I've never seen PAMS before. Now I know. Sorry to keep you waiting, here's the next installment!

Cheriberigurl: You'll see. It really doesn't change things that much, but . . . you'll see!

Melinda-chan: You know, I never really thought about it, but I tend to use clichés a lot. Not meaning to, but they just crop up. I really hope not to disappoint you, you are my favorite reviewer as of right now, and I enjoy your feedback. I understand, though, if you don't want to continue. Also, something to think about. Are you sure that she is Miroku's cousin? Anyway, I'll continue reading To Be Human: Prelude, though not today, I got a lot of homework. I hope you like this chapter!

This chapter is either going to go really well, or not, so I'm crossing my fingers, and hope you enjoy it

DISCLAIMER: Don't own Inuyasha.

Chapter 5: A Possible Solution

Hojo was all ready second-guessing himself by the time he reached his apartment in Tokyo. 'Does this make me a murderer?' he pondered. 'Am I . . . evil?' At the moment, that day, he had no doubt. He loved Kagome with a passion that no one knew about, a passion that surprised even him. So when this guy, Inuyasha, came to claim her, a hot rage burned inside, suppressed only by sheer disappointment. Kagome didn't even stand up for herself, and that thought made him even angrier. Yes, there was no doubt that at that moment, he wanted to kill Inuyasha, although he didn't notice it.

However, as time grows farther from the moment, the feelings attached to the moment diminish. Hojo was certain that he would not kill Inuyasha. It was all so strange. 'Even though he hurt Kagome and is a demon . . . actually only half-demon . . . the desire to kill him is gone. What kind of guy am I?' So lost in his thoughts was he that Hojo never realized hi mother greeting him. "Hojo! I was hoping you'd come earlier; it's awfully late. Out playing soccer . . . ?" She paused on making domburi. "Hojo?" He finally turned around.

"Oh. Hello, mama," he replied half-heartedly.

"Something bothering you?"

Hojo mentally slapped himself. Now he was getting his mom all worried. He hastily wiped the melancholy from his face and gave his usual smile, though it was tinted with worry. "Nothing really. You know, just some girl trouble."

"My son, the popular, handsome soccer star, with girl trouble? When he can have his pick of any in the school; or, I'm willing to bet, all of Tokyo?" Hojo inwardly grinned. His mother had a streak of pride, unrivaled by any woman in Japan.

"That helps a whole lot when the only one you want is the one that's not available."

Tanaka Kaoru shook her head. "Oh Hojo, just turn on that charm of yours, and she'll come around. In the meantime, have some dinner; the oyakodon looks great, don't you think?"

"Yes, mama." A rush of nostalgia filled his being; oyakodon was his favorite meal as a child, but she rarely made it. It felt just as it did back then, and as the meal continued, he didn't want the feeling to go. Hojo made the mistake of looking down. There, glowing a shiny purple, was a jabbing reminder in his pants pocket that sent him back to the present. He frowned. It was as if he couldn't escape it even for one moment so that he could enjoy dinner with his mother.

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"Fine. My name is Mikayo. I am Miroku's cousin." Mikayo had to admit, it was quite amusing watching five different facial expressions all turn simultaneously into the same expression- one of immense shock. If it hadn't of been for the seriousness of the situation, she would have laughed out loud.

"Bah! Impossible!" Inuyasha was the first to voice his opinion.

"Inuyasha!" Kagome reprimanded. She didn't believe the girl, but, as usual, she wanted to be polite, and that included making Inuyasha be polite as well. Plus, it gave her an excuse to yell at him.

"What, wench? It is impossible! If they are related, then they would have a similar smell, but they don't smell the same at all!" Kagome noticed that Mikayo tensed up at the mention of smell.

Shippou spoke for the first time that night. "Inuyasha's got a point. I mean, it's definitely obvious that he and Sesshoumaru are brothers with just one whiff."

Inuyasha rounded on Shippou. "How dare you say I reek like that arrogant bastard!" he shouted, bopping the kitsune on the head.

Kagome groaned. "Oh, this is getting out of hand. Sit!" Inuyasha got a face full of trunk while Shippou smirked gleefully.

Mikayo directed her attention back on Miroku. "I am sorry, Mikayo-sama, but I don't see how it is possible. My father has never mentioned any relatives."

"Yes, and there is also the fact," interjected Sango, "that you are not inflicted with the curse. Your right hand is whole." It was true- Mikayo wore no covering over her hand.

"Well, then I would suggest we all sit around the fire while I explain," the female monk said, and they all complied except for Inuyasha. His senses were extremely alert, and he was particularly edgy. It was like his instincts were detecting danger, but from where (or what) he wasn't sure.

She began. "Our grandfather, Miatsu, was a great monk, and nearly every village has heard of his exploits to defeat the demon Naraku. Those who were close to your family and your village, Miroku, heard about how Naraku cursed your family with the black hole, an Air Rip that threatens your life with every passing day. A never-ending vacuum, in which it becomes a race against time to produce a descendent, lest you family line becomes extinct forever. So careful track was made of Miatsu's descendents. He had one son, your father, and your father had you. They believed that was all, but they were wrong." Complete silence ensued, save, for the crackling of the fire, and the chirpings of the night bugs. Mikayo took a breath to form her words and gather her thoughts,' her true tale begins now, and the most important conversation she ever had was about to take place.

"There are many things that is not known about Grandfather; many only know about him form the dealings with Naraku and afterwards. I understand that he was a traveling monk like you, Miroku?"

"Yes, and I took after him, as well as my father."

Mikayo showed a hint of a smile. "And I do believe that there's a particularly undesirable trait you inherited from Miatsu, isn't there?"

"Oh, if you're talking about lechery, that's the one." Shippou stated, rooting through Kagome's bag until he found a lollipop. "Girl don't like it too much, especially Sango. When she slaps him, his face goes red for days-"

"Now now Shippou, let's not bore our guest with unnecessary tale," Miroku quickly said, stuffing the lollipop in his mouth to quiet the kitsune.

"Just as I thought." Mikayo nodded. "Though it wasn't as prominent as his post-Naraku days, Grandfather enjoyed the company of beautiful women. One day, on the full moon before his rendezvous with Naraku, he visited my grandmother's village. Apparently they got on together quite well, but Miatsu was not ready for any commitment, and his duties called him away. Then came Naraku, and so he thought he had to produce a descendent, and so on. There was no way that he could have known that he had a daughter, Seiko, my mother."

"You don't say," Miroku quietly said, totally engrossed with the story.

"Yes. Shortly after Haha-gimi was born, baa-san moved to your village. They decided, after hearing about Naraku, that they would not reveal who they were. Grandfather did not recognize baa-san, and so your father and my mother grew up together, and became friends, though your father didn't know that they were siblings. Seiko gained much knowledge on the training of monks from this close relationship. I cannot tell you how much his death has affected her."

"Haha-gimi married at a young age to Hiroshi, my father, a monk who specialized in healing, but could slay many a demon as well. He did not travel much, but happened to be on a journey at the time. He stayed in your village shortly, and met your father and mother. My parents left before you were born though."

"Now that you mention it, I do recall my father telling my mother about a childhood friend called Seiko," Miroku mentioned, thinking.

"It's unfortunate that you never met him. Chichi-gimi took my mother to Tanashi, his village. I was born there, but. . ." Mikayo's voice broke, but she regained it. "She died giving birth to me. Chichi-gimi didn't want his line of monks to decease, so he trained and taught me all he knew in hopes that I will carry on the family knowledge. That is how I became a monk, and I travel around offering my services to those who need it. And that is it."

Kagome sat thoughtfully. "So you took on the family job to fulfill your father's wishes. That's so cool. What do you think, Miroku?"

Miroku was currently entranced. "What, Kagome?"

"Well, idiot," spoke Inuyasha, "is she lying or not?"

"I do think that she's telling the truth."

Sango bursted at that moment. "Wait a minute, Miroku! How can you be so sure? There are still questions she hasn't answered, loopholes in her story. For example," Sango turned to the female monk, tone less than friendly, "Why don't you have the Air Rip?"

"By, simply, a combination of factors. One, Miatsu did not know that I or Haha-gimi existed. Two, Haha-gimi was originally conceived before the curse took place. Three, Grandfather and baa-san were not married and officially unified. Finally, Haha-gimi and I are female. Descendents and family lines are traced through males. Because of all of these things, I was not cursed, especially since I'm considered of my father's line. Does that satisfy you, Sango?"

Sango did not reply, but gazed stonily into the fire, obviously upset.

"Mikayo-sama-"

"Just Mikayo; we're cousins."

Miroku grinned. "My apologies then. I have a couple of questions, though. Where is your father?"

At the mention of this, her eyes grew hard with hatred, and pain flashed across her face. "He was killed by. . . by a demon." She pointedly looked away from Inuyasha while she said this, something that Sango noticed.

"I am sorry to hear that."

"We do know what it's like to lose a father, don't we, Shippou?" Kagome asked quietly.

"Thank you for your concern."

"So why're you here?" Inuyasha's sudden question startled the group. Mikayo couldn't help but smile. 'If only they knew that Naraku asked me essentially the same thing. . . wonder how they'll take it, knowing they had something in common. . .'

"Yes, that was going to be my next question," Miroku piped up. "I'm glad that you are telling me all this, but why now?"

"I came to ask you a question, assuming that you wish to defeat Naraku. Just recently, I've discovered- or at least, believe I discovered- a way to defeat Naraku."

She got the reaction she wished. All heads popped up in anticipation. "I want to know, Miroku, if you would like to go on a journey with me."

"How can Naraku be defeated?" Inuyasha growled, wanting to know very badly.

"Chichi-gimi, and your father, Miroku, were experimenting with spells during their time together. They looked through ancient scrolls, trying all sorts, some more practical than others. One they saw, I forgot its name, was able to take a demon made up of many different demons, and separate them into weaker, individual demons. You may see where this applies to Naraku."

"Oh!" exclaimed Kagome. "If Miroku used that spell, Naraku would be transformed into individual demons, and we can destroy each weaker piece."

"Exactly," said Mikayo. "However, there are difficulties."

"Such as. . ."

"It's very powerful. My father tried to do it alone when he was traveling on a demon that happened to be made up of pieces of other demons. Alone he could not control the power, but with the help of your father, Miroku, they sealed the spell away in the enchanted box of Arakan. They were to have hid the box of Arakan away, but from a few tips from the elders in my travels, I think I've found it."

"So you want us to go on a wild goose chase on a mere theory?" Inuyasha was getting impatient again. Something told him it was not a good idea.

"It's more than that, isn't it?" Kagome asked.

"He's partly right. I could be wrong. But in my heart, I believe I'm right, and I need your help, Miroku, plus everyone else can come too, as well." She tried to summon her most convincing voice.

"Please, Miroku, will you make this journey with me?"

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I hope beyond hope that this explanation will satisfy you readers. However

I HAVE MADE A MAJOR MISTAKE IN THE OVERALL PLOT LINE SO FAR.

And I wonder if anybody will notice it. Think about what was said in this chapter plus in one of the earlier chapters, and let's see if you can find it.

But if you can't, then I'm not going to tell you. Even though it's a major mistake, it is possible that it has gone unnoticed, and the story won't be ruined because of it.

Also, what side do you think Mikayo is on? Just wondering.

THANKS TO:

Fiona McKinnon, cheriberigurl, and Melinda-chan for reviewing.

Don't forget to review! I KNOW YOU ARE READING THIS STORY! Please let me know if you like it! Constructive criticism is welcome, outright flames are not.

See you next time,

SereneDolphin