Chapter 2: Really Really Really Weird Explanations
There had been two replies to this unexpected announcement. Silence and dropped jaws. The awkward silence continued for about five minutes before Ari finally suggested that everyone finish dinner. Then, Jin changed back into his human form
Now, everyone just sat around the campfire eating while staring at Jin. He had silver hair a little darker than Inuyasha's that came just below his shoulders. His skin was extremely pale like his silver eyes. He was about an inch taller than Sango, who was sitting next to him.
Suddenly, Jin coughed and looked from Ari to Inuyasha. Unfortunately for him, Ari saw this and knew what he was thinking.
"Ari, I think I see why you didn't want me to kill this half-breed." Jin stood up, sighed a little, and continued. "You have feelings for him, don't you?"
"EW!!! No way! I don't like –him-, I like Miroku." Again, silence and dropped jaws. Jin figured Miroku was the monk across from him, since there were no other guys around.
"Uh, that never happened. I said I didn't like Inuyasha. Then, I just stopped talking." Ari was so embarrassed that she ran off into the forest.
"Miroku, I think you'd better solve this," Kagome said with a smile. So Miroku went into the forest to find Ari.
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After searching the forest for over thirty minutes, Miroku decided it would be best to just sit downand wait for her to come by. So, he did. He sat down at the base of a nearby tree and closed his eyes. He was tired and his feet were sore. He needed a break.
Directly above him sitting on a tree branch was Ari. He didn't know that, though. She sighed. Hopefully he wouldn't be here too long. The last thing she needed was to be alone in a forest with the guy who she liked, and just admitted it in front of everyone. Unfortunately, the branch she was sitting on wasn't very sturdy.
There was a slight 'thump' as Ari landed right in Miroku's lap.
Now there were three steps to this procedure. Of course, the first was blushing, yeah, you just landed in a guy's lap that you just admitted that you like in front of a watching crowd.. I think I'd be blushing. Anyways, there was a long dramatic pause. Suddenly Ari felt something a little lower than the hips on her backside. (For those of you who don't know what Miroku's doing, pay more attention to the shows. For those of you who do... you probably know what I mean.) There was a rush of air as Miroku felt a hard force on his face.
"I can't believe you... you...you... HENTAI!" Ari forced herself up and stomped off
I haven't had that feeling in a long time. Miroku thought rubbing the red hand mark.
Just as Ari's luck was revealing itself, -again- she ended up stomping right in a hole and twisted her ankle . "Gah! Damn, Damn, Damn!" She yelled
"How much does it hurt? Can you walk?" Miroku asked helping her back up
Ari took a step and fell again. This was not her night. "Can't walk." She groaned "Can you support my weight?" She requested
"I can do better!" Miroku grinned as he practically swept her off her feet and started carrying her back to camp.
Walking back to the forest was no easy task... for Ari that is. Miroku tried every opportunity he could to grope. Fortunately, Ari was carrying his staff because he was carrying her, so she hit him with it every time he tried.
There were quite a few lumps on Miroku's head after this. Unfortunately, that wasn't even the worst part. How in the world was he going to face Jin? Miroku didn't know Ari's brother very well, but even he knew Jin wasn't pretty when mad.
Both of them were a little nervous about the situation as they walked back into the camp. They had a good reason to be. Jin couldn't stand it. He immediately demanded an explanation! Ari, being the quick-witted scoundrel she is, didn't take long to provide an "explanation".
"Ari, what just happened here?! You don't even KNOW him!" Jin yelled, glaring at Miroku.
"It's a very easy story... um... I ran into the forest. To hide from the embarrassment I hid in a tree. I... well it wasn't very sturdy so it broke, OUCH! That still hurts... heh. Anyways I fell onto the ground and got all angry. So I stomped back and my foot landed in a gopher demon hole. I had to call for 'help' and Miroku just happened to be the only one around..." she smiled nervously, hoping he would buy it.
"So, lemme get this straight- you ran into the forest?" Jin asked.
"Right."
"Then hid in a tree branch that wasn't very sturdy?"
"Right."
"Fell into the monk's lap."
"Right."
"Then HE," Jin glared over at Miroku, ""did something to make you mad an the rest is true."
"Yes... NO NO NO! I DIDN'T land in his lap! I...fell on the...ground" Ari knew it was no use – Jin had caught her.
"I thought so... He DID do something to make you mad, yet you are defending -him-."
Inuyasha just -had- to butt in. "I know -exactly- what he did. He just sickens me" Inuyasha gave a slight smirk... then sighed and whispered in Jin's ear, what he was doing to Ari...
Jin twitched a little, looked at Ari, and spoke. "That is my -SISTER-!!" Ari could've sworn she saw smoke coming from his ears... Jin moved closer, turning tiger form. Ari HAD to stop this!
Ari jumped from Miroku's arms and yelled at Jin: "Jin! I'll settle this -myself-! I don't want -you- defending me! I'm almost 19! Just because I'm a mere two years younger than you doesn't mean I can't do anything myself! Chikusho! Glad I got that off my chest." Ari sighed and looked at Jin expecting something like: "I'm supposed to protect you! Tiger demon laws!"
Jin could do nothing but stare. Of course, there was no time for that. Ari felt bad for yelling at him so she stood up and limped over to give him a -hug-. Again, no time. A thick vine pushed its way out of they dirt, grabbing Ari's ankle. (Yes the bad one, how much more can it take?)
That one little vine grew into a 10 foot tree. At the very top was none other than... yup, you guessed it, Naraku.
Inuyasha cursed once again. (Now there's another unpredictable thing) Naraku threatened them all with, "Well, a tiger demon! A mighty lovely one too. Aren't you Ariadele? Yes! You can break though the barrier! The long years were worth it!"
Ari responded with a blank stare and "Huh?" Suddenly it was so clear! The curse of the barrier had been passed down to HER not Jin! (ew... did Naraku just call her lovely?) Ari glared at him and struggled, but the vine only got tighter squeezing the bone. (And more EW! Naraku?! Calling her -lovely-?! Ew... just ew!)
Naraku released Ari from the vine, but not before her ankle shattered. Everybody heard the crack, and Jin changed into tiger form again. Before he could attack, Naraku said, "I would take you now, but there are things that have to be done. I have to make preparations for when you break the barrier. I'll see you later." With that, Naraku left. Everybody was too stunned to do anything.
The silence was finally broken when Ari started screaming her head off. "MY ANKLE! SOMEONE DO SOMETHING ABOUT MY ANKLE!"
Kagome looked at Ari and said," I think you need a doctor."
"What's a doctor?" Jin asked, narrowing his eyes suspiciously.
"Uh, they're like healers." Kagome responded.
"WHERE CAN WE FIND ONE?!" Ari yelled.
"In my world."
"Y-your world?" Ari sputtered "I can't go to -your- world. Wait? Where is -your- world?"
"Well, It's hard to explain..." Kagome said.
Inuyasha cut in: "She comes to the feudal era from a well, she lives in the future and keeps going back and forth and that really ticks me off!"
After this little 'experience', everybody went to the well. This time Jin carried Ari. It sure did beat having the pervert carry her. Ari's thought started to trail in as she looked over to Miroku. If I didn't know better... I'd say he's jealous. Maybe I could start another interesting fight. Ari smirked and evil smirk. This was just too good!
"Well this is it. If we go through here, you have to be prepared to face my family. Especially my Grandpa, he's fascinated with Tiger demons." Kagome warned. Jin growled "If he harms my sister I'm gonna..." Jin clenched his fist so hard that the knuckles turned white.
"Jin just jump through the well!" Ari yelled... "I'm coming too." insisted Miroku... Jin got right up in his face "No you're not!"... Miroku: "Yes I am! Just try and keep me from going!"... Kagome "How about everyone comes. My family will be happy to see you guys." Kagome had a little sweat drop. Why did I offer? She thought to herself
So everybody jumped through the well... including Miroku. Kagome was still panicking about how her friends (and Hojo) would react. It was sure to be chaos, pure chaos.