Hey, hey! It is I, Drink Qoo and I just wanted to say thanks to everyone who reviewed to Life Span. Yes, Miroku is my favorite character, and yes there will be this and that's of a Sango x Miroku romance thing. But not THAT much that it'll change from Action / Adventure to Romance. Well ENJOY!
Rayoko: Thanks for the right hand left hand thing! I always get confused! ;;
Lady Sango 7: Thanks for the review! And I'd love to read your stories! Wanders away to read
Claddagh Ring: Th-th-th thanks!
Life Span
Chapter 2: Powerful Winds
"Miroku, you're ten now and I really didn't expect you to end up like this after three years of your father's death." Mushin said bandaging Miroku's wounds. Miroku had taken a knife and attempted to cut off his right hand. Mushin and Hachi (his new raccoon friend) had found him pressing the knife onto his wrist. It took a few minutes to wrestle the knife away from him.
"Four." Miroku replied bluntly. "It's been four years since he died." Mushin was silent and finished patching up the wound.
"Miroku, I was waiting for your twelfth year before starting your training as a monk, but you look like you need something to keep your mind occupied. Once your wounds heal, I'll begin teaching you." Mushin walked away leaving Miroku to his thoughts. He left Hachi there to make sure Miroku doesn't try anything rash.
"Hachi," Miroku's face was empty and emotionless as he spoke. "My wrist hurts."
The walk through the forest and to the village of Kaede's home was a relatively silent one. Inuyasha would open his mouth now and then, but quickly snap it shut after receiving a few "don't-even-try" glares. It was a typical day for this wandering group of shard hunters. Daily, Inuyasha and Kagome would fight, and Miroku would grope Sango, which he has yet to do. Unfortunately, Sango had learned to walk a few paces behind the lecherous monk, so he couldn't grab her as she walked.
A slight breeze ruffled their hair, calming them. It wasn't hot for once, but it was still early. The trees above them provided great shade, making them feel comfortable. Surely, by the time they arrive at the village it'll be hotter than it was now, especially without the shade of the trees. Miroku sighed as he allowed himself to be more at ease. He walked in between Kagome and Inuyasha, who were walking up front and Sango who was a tad bit behind. Shippo rode in the basket of Kagome's bicycle, as well as Kirara. The silence couldn't last forever, and Shippo was the one to break it.
"Kagome," Shippo began "What's a phone?"
It took a moment for Kagome to realize that Shippo had addressed her. She turned towards him, pulling away from her thoughts. "What's that, Shippo?"
"You were talking about a phone earlier. What's a phone?" Shippo asked again
Kagome took a moment to ponder how to answer this. "Well, you see. It's this thing that can allow you to talk to people that are far away or just not with you." Kagome smiled hoping it was a good enough explanation. Shippo turned towards her again, a slight look of understanding on his face. "Oh! So it's like writing a letter?"
"Well, no, not exactly." Kagome paused to find a better way to put it, then it hit her. Her birthday was a few months ago (not that Inuyasha cared) and from her mother she had received a cell phone. Though she couldn't use it in the feudal era, she brought it everywhere she went. Kagome pulled it out and showed it to Shippo. "You see, people with phones have a number that only they have. It's called a phone number. If someone wanted to call a friend you'd punch in his or her phone number and press call. Then you can talk to them until you hang up. I'd show you, but my phone won't work here." Kagome made a disappointed face, then quickly changed to a smile. "Understand now?" Shippo had fallen asleep in the basket and Inuyasha wasn't paying attention to Kagome, but rather the gadget in her hand.
"That thing is a phone?" Inuyasha made to take it from Kagome's hands, but she quickly jerked it away and placed it back into her pocket. "Hey! I just wanted to look at it!"
"You'll break it!"
Before they could begin fighting once more, Sango chimed in. "We're here!" They walked out of the forest and down the path towards Kaede's home. Though, most of the homes look similar Kaede's home stood out to them like a sore thumb. Kaede greeted them from her garden, and slowly walked over towards the group. She was stout, and had only one eye. Her right eye, she lost long ago, about 50 years ago. Kaede was old and wrinkled, and a bit hunched over. "Ah, I see ye have made it through the forest without killing each other." She was speaking to Inuyasha and Kagome, of course. Yet again, Sango and Miroku had their share of fights too.
Kagome smiled and laughed. "Why would we fight on such a beautiful day?"
"Yes, why would you?" Sango muttered from aside. Kagome laughed a bit before changing the subject. "Kaede, you wanted to speak to me about a shard?"
"Ah, yes. It is rumored that a demon is terrorizing a small village just over those hills." Kaede pointed towards the west where a few green hills stood. "The demon is said to possess a fragment of the jewel shard."
Inuyasha scoffed, "I can take this, easy."
"Aye," Kaede said, "I am sure ye could, but ye must learn to work in a team. Without them ye would be dead, no doubt." Inuyasha looked away and mumbled something in coherently. "Go now, and all of you may return by nightfall."
With thanks and a wave, they were off. The hills weren't very steep, but Kagome couldn't ride her bike up it. Inuyasha carried her on his back leaping from one area to another. Sango and Miroku were riding on Kirara's back to keep up with the half-demon. It wasn't long before they reached the village. It was in ruins. The men were slain and left for the crows in a pile. The older women were slain as well. The children were rounded up into a pile as well as the young women. Nearing the women was a large demon with a jewel shard implanted in his forehead. He licked his fangs as he grabbed the nearest woman. She screamed, tears falling from her eyes. "Please, don't!" she begged. He merely laughed and tore into her flesh. Licking every drop of blood that escaped the wound.
"HIRAIKOTSU!" The demon heard a young woman yell as she threw a large boomerang in his direction. It caused him to jump back away from the civilians. The boomerang doubled back towards Sango where she caught it with ease. She was already dressed in her exterminator outfit since she had first returned to Kaede's village. Inuyasha dropped Kagome onto the ground and leaped into battle. His claws were barred and he brought them down into the demons face, trying to carve out the shikon shard. The demon laughed. "Inuyasha, I presume? I've heard of you, the half-breed with the steel fang. You travel with a young priestess, a monk, and a demon exterminator. There is only one thing I hate more than a half-breed, and it's a half- breed working along with humans!"
He threw himself towards Kagome. She shrieked as they collided. They both fell to the ground. "Kagome!" Inuyasha cried! "Get away form her you stupid demon!" The demon, which was known as Roidan, pressed Kagome's head onto the floor. She couldn't see what was going on, but she could feel his breath on her neck. "HIRAIKOTSU!" Sango yelled again and threw the boomerang towards him causing him to push himself off of Kagome.
Miroku was standing behind Roidan. He hit him with his staff but it didn't have much effect. Roidan hit Miroku in the stomach causing him to fall back. Inuyasha was running towards Roidan with anger in his eyes. 'How dare he try to kill Kagome!' Inuyasha thought slicing his claws into Roidan's arm. Roidan growled at him. "You interrupted my meal twice." As he said this he turned towards Sango, who was helping Kagome up off the ground.
"What's wrong? Why do you keep fighting the girls and not me? You afraid?" Inuyasha called out towards Roidan, hitting a nerve.
"I'll deal with you, Girl, later. First, the mouthy half-breed." Roidan ran towards Inuyasha with great speed. He leaped into the air then landed behind Inuyasha, before the half-demon had a chance to turn around Roidan grabbed his throat and began to press his claws into Inuyasha's skin. Inuyasha kicked Roidan in the stomach causing him to drop Inuyasha.
Kagome looked down at the spot where she was just lying a few seconds ago. She picked up her bow and arrows then noticed something she wished she didn't see. There, besides her weapon, was her cell phone. Broken. Kagome's eyes turned red as she picked up the pieces. "He... broke... my... CELL PHONE!" Kagome cried. She picked up an arrow and mounted it on the bow. After taking aim she shot the arrow at Roidan, hitting him squarely on the forehead where his jewel shard lay. Everyone was in shock, Kagome had taken mere seconds to aim and managed to hit him at the exact spot they meant to, but in truth she was aiming for his heart.
Inuyasha snatched the jewel shard before it hit the floor. He smirked. Roidan, in an uncontrollable rage, decided it was time to take his true form. He transformed into a large beast. Green, leathery skin, eyes red as blood, and claws and teeth that could tear anything to bits. The women and children of the village screamed at such a sight, but our heroes merely smiled. Miroku pulled off the rosary beads on his right arm, opening his wind tunnel. Soon Roidan disappeared into the void on his right hand.
Miroku quickly closed it before he accidentally sucks in a civilian. He looked down at his hand in shock. Inuyasha handed Kagome the jewel shard, and looked over at Miroku. "Something wrong, Monk?"
Miroku looked up and put on a smile. "Oh, no." After being praised by the survivors of the village and they buried the dead, they began the return trip.
During the return trip back to the village Miroku looked back at his hand. 'The winds of the void, it has become stronger?' Miroku thought.