Summery; Warning; Disclaimer: See First Chapter.
I own the green-sky legend that shows up, just so ya know. And yes, I'm messing around with characters and stuff, but I thought I'd go all-out on this fic.
Please review if you read. (I'm begging you!) Comments, ideas, suggestions, and helpful criticism is welcome. No flames.
"Is that man here again?" Kyoko asked, noticing Sesshomaru look around the train compartment. "Relax – there's nothing he can do while we're in public."
"Yes, he is," he replied, ignoring the latter part of her statement, "And he's coming this way. Shall I dispose of him?"
"No!" she shook her head, "You should know you can't just go around killing people! Especially not in public – as long as he doesn't try to kill us first. What does he look like?"
Sitting opposite her in the seat, Sesshomaru peered over her shoulder at the approaching man. "He has dark brown hair, dark lavender eyes, and is rather tall and well-built."
"He doesn't sound familiar…" Kyoko thought, trying to remember all the men she had had contact with in her life. Twisting the ring on her finger, she shook her head. "No, I don't think I know him."
"Lady Kyoko?" he bent down slightly to address her, and she looked up in surprise.
"Yes?"
"My name is Miroku," he told cheerfully, and sat down next to her, completely ignoring Sesshomaru. "Lady Kaede sent me to accompany you to Yatsushiro. I was the one who sent that ring," he added, glancing at the jewel, "I was not able to give it to you beforehand. It has the power to increase both your miko and youkai powers."
"You know?" she asked, and Sesshomaru interrupted.
"Who are?"
"Miroku – oh, you mean what am I doing here?" he realized, blinking his eyes innocently, "I am a monk – the descendent of the same Miroku who traveled with Lady Kagome during her travels with Lord Inuyasha and the others."
"Kaede told you this?" Kyoko asked, and he shook his head.
"No, that I found out on my own. I am named after him, obviously. But yes, Lady Kaede informed me of your ancestry and mission," he nodded, and glanced at Sesshomaru. "I also know of Lord Sesshomaru and Toshiro."
"It seems that Kaede trusts you," Kyoko nodded, settling back in her seat, "But you aren't dressed like a monk."
"I didn't want to raise further suspicion," he told them, "It is already know that the miko Kyoko travels with a stranger who looks like a youkai – a monk might add more suspicions to the true nature of you mission."
"Good idea," Kyoko agreed, gazing at the twenty-two year-old man. He wore boots, black jeans, and a dark lavender shirt that matched his eyes under a black trenchcoat.
"Why did you not reveal yourself until now?" Sesshomaru demanded, slightly put out that the monk would obviously be joining them on their journey.
"I had to make sure I had the right people," he admitted, "I didn't know what you looked like. But when I sensed the Shikon no Tama, I knew I had the right people. I just wasn't able to get close enough to you before now to sense it."
"Ah," Kyoko gazed at him, taking this new development in stride. Glancing at the youkai lord, she smirked. "Jealous?"
He glared at her, and promptly ignored them for the rest of the train ride.
"Hitoyoshi is our last stop," Kyoko sighed in relief, as they disembarked from the train. To her embarrassment, Miroku had insisted on carrying her bag along with his own. "After on last trip, we'll be in Yatsushiro."
"I'm surprised no youkais have shown up to steal the Shikon no Tama," Miroku murmured, as they sat down on a bench. "Its aura must be dampened by your powers, Lady Kyoko."
"Please, don't call me that," she requested, "For one thing, I'm not a priestess again yet. And for another, it's too formal."
"As you wish," he nodded happily, and Sesshomaru growled in the back of his throat.
"It's nice to finally get some respect, though," Kyoko added sharply, glancing at the lord, "Unlike certain other people."
"We certainly didn't have to wait for the train long!" Miroku interrupted hastily, as the train rolled into the station. "I hope the seats are comfortable, because we'll have to spend the night in it."
"At least it's not a hotel room," Kyoko muttered, and Sesshomaru silently agreed with her. Inwardly, he was fuming at the personal manner the monk had assumed with her, but couldn't figure out why he even cared. Putting the thoughts out of his head, he strode onto the train, leading Kyoko and Miroku.
"And they have private rooms,"she noticed. The two cushioned benches faced each other, and a small room was created by a wall of wood that surrounded them, with a screened-in sliding door. The benches were against the wall, but there was enough room between them for even Sesshomaru to spread his legs out comfortably.
"Yes," Miroku agreed, having taken his seat beside Kyoko, who was giving Sesshomaru the silent treatment he was apparently giving her.
"I wonder if Meiko is much older than I," Kyoko wondered, and Miroku shrugged. "The shrine in Yatsushiro is one of the largest in Japan," she continued, "Apparently, great spiritual power resides there."
"That's probably why Lady Kaede sent you to there," Miroku suggested, and glanced at Sesshomaru. "Wouldn't he be purified, though? I have to admit, I'm surprised he's not already, from being in close contact with you for so long."
"It's because I erected a shielding barrier around him," Kyoko told them, "I'll have to strengthen it once we reach the shrine, but it's strong enough to ward off any single attacks by a miko."
"I do not need a barrier from you to protect me," Sesshomaru informed her, and then glared at Miroku as the monk grinned.
"Well, it seemed appropriate at the time, since you were surrounded by mikos and Shikon no Tama," Kyoko replied grumpily, and turned her head to look out the window. Miroku exchanged a curious glance with Sesshomaru, who ignored him, and then resumed his reading. Sesshomaru fell into meditation, and his thoughts turned inward once again.
"Night is falling," Miroku commented, as Kyoko pulled down the shades. "Is anyone hungry?"
"No – I'd rather starve than eat train food again, and I think my stomach agrees," Kyoko shook her head, and Sesshomaru also shook his head.
"I do not need to eat as often as humans do," he informed them, and fell silent again. Kyoko rolled her eyes, and then caught herself as she began to yawn.
"I guess I'm more tired than I thought," she admitted, and Miroku's eyes suddenly gleamed.
"I understand that windowsills are not the best pillows," he said smoothly, "I am willing to offer you my shoulder, if you like."
Sesshomaru growled softly at him, and Kyoko examined him doubtfully. After a few moments of letting him sweat it out, she grinned at the monk.
"That actually sounds like a good idea," she nodded, and slid closer to him. He wrapped his arm around her shoulders, and she snuggled into the crook of his arm. Within moments she had fallen asleep, and Miroku shot a grin towards the inuyoukai.
"He's fuming," he thought, sensing the inuyoukai's emotions, "And yet he acts like he can't stand her! There's something more to this demon than a mere blood debt, that's for sure." Emptying his mind, Miroku allowed himself to lean against Kyoko, and Sesshomaru was soon the only one awake in the car.
As dawn broke, Sesshomaru pulled the shade up, more than happily letting the light fall on the sleeping pair, and watched in satisfaction as they groaned.
"Sesshomaru!" Kyoko yawned, trying to glare sleepily at him, "That's not funny."
"I don't think he has much of a sense of humor," Miroku remarked, "At least, not enough to play a trick on us."
"Wise monk," Sesshomaru inwardly nodded, but his face remained stoic.
"So, how much longer until we get there?" Kyoko wondered, "I mean, it can't be that much father, is it?"
"Only a few hours more," Miroku told her, "I've been to Yatsushiro before. It as actually the place where I was made a monk."
"Really? That must be why Kaede sent you along," Kyoko thought, "How did you become a monk in Japan if you're of European descent? And how did you become European anyway?"
"My family traveled the lands," Miroku began solemnly, "Apparently, they believed in spreading more than the good word to the people of the villages, and so it was that I came to be descended from them."
"An illegitimate bastard of a monk," Sesshomaru snorted, and Miroku's eyes flashed.
"As a matter of fact, I am the only male descendent living," he told them, "But do not fear, Kyoko. I may take after my ancestor Miroku in his looks, but not his womanizing ways. At least, not enough to ask you to bear my children."
"Good," she eyed him, and scooted a little bit away from the innocent-eyed monk. "Very wise decision, monk."
Sesshomaru also eyed the monk with a less-than-generous look, and then continued to gaze out the window. To his surprise, Kyoko turned to him after a moment's silence.
"Sesshomaru?" When she was greeted by silence, she frowned. "Sesshomaru? Lord Sesshomaru?"
"Yes?"
Kyoko rolled her eyes in exasperation. "What brought this sudden formality on?" she wondered, and then shrugged it aside. "I was wondering if you won't mind my erecting a stronger barrier around you once we reach the shrine. The last thing I need is you to be purified – at least, until Toshiro is defeated," she added, and he gazed at her calmly.
"No, I do not object," he shook his head finally, "As long as it will not stifle my youkai powers, there is nothing further."
"No, it won't," she assured him, "Just your aura, so you won't catch the attention of a purification-happy miko. Oh, look!" She pointed out the window at the mountains, as the sun rose over it. The sky was painted a blue-violet, with pink and even pale green tinges on the horizon.
"When green appears in the sky, it means death is near for one who sees it," Miroku told them. Seeing their looks, he blinked. "What? I heard it in Europe!"
Kyoko rolled her eyes, and rested her head on the back of the bench. Staring up at the ceiling, she sighed.
"I'm never going to ride another train again," she vowed.
"If I was allowed to fly there, we would have arrived two days ago," Sesshomaru informed them, and Kyoko nodded her reluctant agreement.
"Kaede thought it would receive too much attention," she said, "Unfortunately. But maybe we can fly back. Or swim. Or something. But no trains!"
"I must agree," Miroku nodded, "I've seen my share of trains during my life, but never so many at once. I don't believe I want to ride one for quite some time – if ever."
"Here we are – the town of Yatsushiro awaits!" Miroku announced, as the trio stepped out of the station into the sun-filled streets.
"It's so…beautiful," Kyoko said, looking around at the area. Flowering trees and plants surrounded architecturally-sculpted buildings.
"Yatsushioru Shrine is a few miles south," Miroku told them, "Shall we walk, or catch a cab?"
"I'd prefer to walk. Sesshomaru?" Kyoko looked up at the youkai, who nodded.
"That seems agreeable," he said. Without further discussion, they began their walk down the streets, Kyoko in between Miroku and Sesshomaru.
Next chapter will be next...your silence will not deter me!