Michi - gateway, pathway
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"Look! A village!" Shippou exclaimed and pointed to the north, in front of them. The sun shone down with watery light in the early morning,as a certain inu-hanyou demanded the group get an early start.
"Feh! Why do you think I was taking us this way?" Inuyasha snapped and bopped him on the head.
"Ow! Kagome...!"
Sango, Miroku, and Kirara all shook their heads as the familiar word brought him crashing to the ground.
"Osuwari," Kagome yawned and continued walking in the direction of the village. The rest followed, knowing Inuyasha would catch up as soon as he was able to. Both of the female humans in the group were lethargic, tired from waking so soon.
"It seems that village has an ominous dark cloud hanging over it," Miroku whispered conspiritorily to Sango. She rolled her eyes and let out a huff at him before reaching up to scratch Kirara's chin. He decided to catch up to Kagome who usually just shook her head in amused reproach, the rings on his staff jingling cheerily. He gave her a big smile which she returned tiredly.Miroku put his arm around her shoulders and pulled her body close to his.
"Kagome-sama, I know it has been tough for you, not having been able to go home for over a month now," he began with sympathy. "And I would like you to know whatever you need, be it a friend to talk to or, perhaps, some male companionship..."
With those words, his hand moved down to caress her backside. He just...he couldn't help himself. It was so...there. Kagome stopped walking, her eyes shadowed by her bangs as she looked at the ground.
"Miroku...," she said softly. "GET YOUR HANDS OFF OF ME YOU HENTAI!"
Sango came to the rescue with Hirakotsu, when she perceived the situation.
Miroku decided to resume his position with Sango, behind Kagome. The view was nice, and he was in no danger of immediate blows. He watched as her teasingly short skirt swayed, following the motion of her hips. He swore he could see a flash of lavender panties, but it could have been a hallucination since purple was his favorite color. After all, Kagome usually wore white panties.
When they reached the village, Kagome stopped the first person she saw.
"Excuse me sir, could you tell us the way to the hut of this village's priestess?" He took in her strange attire and company and pointed to a small hut not unlike Kaede's. By the time they got to the door Inuyasha had caught up, oblivious to the stares of the village people.
"What'd you have to leave me for?" he whined as he took his place at Kagome's side, hands in the sleeves of his haori.
The dark-haired girl didn't answer him, only knocked against the doorjamb and called out a hello. Inuyasha decided that he could forego another sit and left her alone for now. A middle aged woman came to answer dressed in tradtional miko robes.
"Yes?" she queried, bewilderment apparent in her doe-like eyes.
"May we come in and talk? I'd rather not say what I wish in front of so many people." Kagome nodded her head to indicate the large amount of villagers who had gathered to see the strange mix of demon, human and hanyou that had come upon their priestess's doorstep.
"Of course," she answered and moved to the side, allowing them entrance.
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"So pretty much, that's the story. We were wondering if you had heard rumors, anything like that." Kagome ended. The woman, whose name was Michi, sat back in contemplation. After a few moments, she spoke.
"I have not heard anything of these shards," she said as she shookher head. "But around here there is a band of bat demons that have been attacking the village at night that seem to be very strong. They have already killed seven. Perhaps they posess one of the shards?"
Kagome shook her head. "I forgot to mention, I can sense the shards. If they had any, I would have known by now."
"Well, then I should mention; my predecessor told me of another village about halfway up into the mountains," Michi paused. "It is a village of only monks and mikos...they allow only their kind through the gates. It is the birth-village of Midoriko and houses the same council that chose the shard's last protector. They might have some information."
Kagome brightened."We'll help you with the demon problem tonight, and set out for the village tomorrow."
"That's very kind of you," Michi gave a hesitant smile and looked pointedly toward the young woman's companions. "But they don't allow anyone but those who are trained as mikos and monks through the gate."
"Don't you listen? She already said that Kagome," Inuyasha sneered. Before Kagome could yell at him, Sango stood up, hands on her hips.
"What is with you, Inuyasha? Is it your time of the month or something"
she shouted. Inuyasha got up and glared at her, then stormed out, tossing aside the flap that covered the doorway. Michi looked stunned at the taiyja's blatant mention of a woman's cycle. Kagome gasped.
"Oh! Oh no!" she got up to follow him mumbling a hurried 'please excuse me' as she left. The rest of the group was left in the hut.
"Sango, you could stay here with Inuyasha, Shippou, and Kirara, and take care of the demons, while Kagome-sama and I travel up to the village"
Miroku offered. Sango looked at him warily, but his face was not only innocent, he looked serious as well.
"You better not be up to something, houshi."
"Me?" Miroku batted his black lashes innocently.
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Kagome caught up to Inuyasha near the edge of the village. His back was to her, but she knew that he realized she was there. She put a hand on his shoulder.
"Inuyasha," she said softly. "I'm so sorry."
He stayed where he was and didn't answer. Kagome walked around to speak to him face to face.
"I forgot it was so close to the new moon. I know that's what's making you edgy."
"Feh!" Inuyasha jerked his head to the side. Kagome tried again. Honestly,
he was such a child sometimes. It wasn't as if she didn't have other things she needed to do. She hadn't even cracked open her geometry book in months. Euclid was most likely hanging his head in shame after her last test. She was pretty sure the only points she got were for effort. Or pity.
"I said I'm sorry already. Let's just go back to Michi's and get some more info on this village in the mountains."
"Alright," he said sullenly and Kagome flashed him a big grin before latching onto his arm as they walked back to the hut.
"It's still a few days off," she said brightly. Inuyasha made an incoherent grumble, which Kagome knew meant that he was feeling better.
As they reached the door, everyone they had left behind came out into the sunlight, squinting their eyes at the sudden change. When Sango explained the plan to everyone, it was met with a less-than-enthusiastic Inuyasha.
"Like I would leave Kagome alone with him!" he snorted.
"Actually, I think it's a good plan," Kagome put in. Inuyasha gave her a look of incredulity. "What? It's a good plan! We can shoot two arrows from one bow this way; you kill the demons to repay Michi for her information,
and Miroku and I find out some shard info."
"Kagome is right. For once the houshi has a good idea." Sango put in her two cents' worth.
"Hey! I have good ideas all the time!" Miroku argued. Inuyasha rolled his eyes.
"Feh! Your 'good' ideas include groping and hentai thoughts!"
"You insult me!" Miroku crossed his arms, thrust his nose in the air and looked away. Kagome giggled at the mock arguement.
"Okay you guys, the sooner we get this done, the sooner I can get back to the well! We're coming up on midterm exams soon!"
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Alright, I didn't do alot of editing because I just wanted it out. All my other stories are on hiatus due to the fact that they're saved on my laptop that I can't turn on for some reason.