This is actually the first part of the attaining of the Kangaroo's toenail...so bare with me ok? I made sure to be nice and not leave a cliffy...at least...I don't think I did a cliffy...

Chapter 9:

In Australia...

"Where are we supposed to find a boxing Kangaroo?" asked Sango as they trudged the Australian outback.

Barnaby looked at the map, turned it left 90 degrees, turned cocked his head, and then pointed at a remote location on the map.

"Kangaroo peak...." Read Kagome aloud, "Uh huh...right...so we're following a name"

"Yup...pretty much"

"At least the anger management sessions with Kagome paid off." Whispered Sango to Miroku.

"hmmm...are you sure about that?" asked Miroku just as quietly.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean that..." Miroku pointed as Sango followed his gaze.

Barnaby was staggering around, surprisingly still on the right trail, all swirly eyed. He was clutching the map for dear life as Kagome landed another bonk on his head. Shippo stared at Kagome and yelled, "Do it again! Again! Again! YAY! Go Kagome! Give it to'em!"

"Oh my..."

Later that night...

(A/N: They are spending the night in a forest in Australia ok? Ok...)

"Kagome you sleep on this side of the fire, Barnaby sleeps on that side," stated Miroku

Barnaby picked up his belongings to move to his side of the fire.

"Fine, as long as I'm not sleeping within 2 feet of that mad women"

Miroku watched, shaking his head, as a large rock sailed over the fire to land on the leprechaun's head...

Kagome's jeering cry or "Say that again Midget!" came soaring over the fire with the rock.

Sango turned to face Miroku... "He was waiting for it..."

The next morning

Kagome and Company woke to the smells of bacon, eggs, toast, and potatoes?

"Good Morning!" Came Barnaby's hearty greeting, "I took the liberty of making breakfast!"

"Put it out! Put it out you fool! Inuyasha can smell a potato a mile away!" Screeched Kagome. Sango and Shippo made a mad dash to the potatoes and frantically tried to get rid of the hash browns that were in Barnaby's withdrawn hands. Miroku stood guard for the expected Inuyasha.

"Pshaw." Snorted Barnaby scornfully, "You don't really think he can smell these potatoes from Brazil do you?"

However before Kagome could say anything a blur of red swooped down from behind and disappeared...along with the plate of potatoes that Barnaby had held...

"I suppose he can..." said Barnaby as he fell over in a dead faint.

"Sango? Where's Miroku? I thought he was supposed to be on guard"

Sango pointed to Miroku's bedroll.

Miroku was curled up in his makeshift bed, shivering.

"Squirrels, they're all around us...They're plotting something in those trees. HAHA! The trees! The trees are haunted..." he said muttering frantically his pupils dilated.

"I wonder how that happened?" mused Kagome

A Few minutes earlier...

Miroku faced the forest and held his staff before him.

"Inuyasha come out! I know you're here!"

"Very perceptive Miroku" came the voice from above him.

"Show yourself!"

"I'm right behind you..."

Miroku whirled to see Inuyasha grinning at him sadistically, his eyes green instead of their normal deep amber.

"I know what you're here for..."

"Indeed? Then move aside, and spare me from inflicting any pain upon you..."

"No! Inuyasha! We must cure you first! I will gladly accept any pain you give me if the end result is you sane!"

Inuyasha sighed, paused then said, "have you noticed the trees Miroku?"

"Umm...yes" Miroku wondered at this sudden change in topic

"Have you heard how they whisper at night? Plotting?"

"Trees plot?" asked Miroku, suddenly quite nervous.

"Of course trees plot, they plot with their friends the squirrels"

Miroku's pupils dilated, "squ-irr-els?"

Inuyasha nodded his head emphatically, "Yes squirrels, I happened to catch one of the little buggers, wanta see him?" before Miroku could answer Inuyasha reached up into the trees and pulled down a squirrel...but it wasn't just any squirrel, it was Miroku's dear friend the deranged squirrel from Feudal Japan. The squirrel screeched and howled and chattered, until Miroku's ears were ringing and ringing and ringing with squirrel talk...

"AHHHHH! Squirrels! They're plotting with the trees!" he shrieked as he went dashing back through the woods to seek the comfort of his bed...and perhaps Sango's rear to help him sleep...

As soon as Miroku was out of sight Inuyasha turned and handed a large bulging bag to the squirrel.

"Here's my part of the deal" Said Inuyasha, before dashing off towards the hapless Barnaby and his innocent plate of potatoes. The squirrel just pulled out a large nut and popped it into his mouth.

A/N: Ok, I'm on a roll again...kinda...so chapter 9 is back, and the squirrel returns. Ok, the LOTR thing at the end of the last chapter I have decided to make into a comic relief, it is to difficult to find something humorous in random locations. There will still be, however, a little ending for it in the epilogue . Thanks for being patient with me and my writers block.

Arigato!

Cringe