The restless impatience of both Sango and Kagome had the group headed for civilisation long before sunrise. Miroku's condition seemed to be growing worse. 'He has a fever,' Kagome informed them all as she placed her hand across the monk's forehead. And it's all my fault, Sango thought to herself. I should have realised...

'Don't be so hard on yourself, Sango,' Kagome consoled, knowing that look she so often wore since Naraku had taken her brother Kohaku.

'Yea... he could be dead,' said Inuyasha in what Kagome thought was a helpful way, at least for him.

'Oh!' For the remainder of the walk, Sango took to herself, trailing behind in a rather depressed manner. As the sun rose, the storm clouds returned and this time it did rain. Though, it wasn't all bad luck; they had at last reached the village.

'Excuse me,' Kagome called, knocking on the door frame of the closest house. 'We're looking for shelter. Could you-' The schoolgirl stopped short when someone inside laughed.

An older man answered her call, half-dressed and looking drunk. 'Heh, heh. What've we here? A pretty little beggar come to show us a good time.' Inside, someone laughed again.

'Uh... uh. Never mind,' Kagome stuttered. 'We're just passing through.'

'I don't think so.' The fiend grabbed and pulled, dragging a struggling Kagome into the unkind household.

'INUYAAASHAAAAAAAAA!' The hanyou reacted instantly. As he barged into the house, he succeeded in tearing down the door cloths. He glared at the men.

'Let her go, lest I slash you,' he commanded. 'IRO- Kagome. Hold still! Or you'll be the only one I end up hittin'.' It would seem that she didn't hear him. The other men continued to laugh as if it were all one grand comedy act. 'Shut up, bastards!' Inuyasha turned instead on his audience and bared his fangs. They ran.

'Get back here you great cowards!' shouted Kagome's captor. 'Uh... nice doggie?'

'No one calls ME "doggie"!' The old man stumbled over himself as he too fled Inuyasha's anger. 'Are you alright, Kagome?'

'Eeeeekkkk! He's so cute!'

'Huh?'

Seven or eight woman piled out of the room behind Kagome. 'You saved us!' shrieked the youngest of them. 'We thought we were going to die.' 'I've never seen anyone with ears like these before.' 'His kimono is so pretty.'

Kagome couldn't help but giggle. There's a sight you don't see everyday.

'What are you laughing at? Get them off of me! Besides, we're here for Miroku not for your personal entertainment.'

'There's another one!'

'Wait!' Kagome held up a hand. 'Listen. Does your village have a healer, or a priestess, or someone?'

'Why? Has the doggie been hurt?'

Inuyasha scowled.

'No... It's Miroku. He-'

'I will help you,' came a voice from the entryway.

'Lady Kisa. You are okay.'

'We're so glad.'

'Where is this Miroku? How severe are his wounds?'

Soon after, in the priestess' home, Lady Kisa was brewing up a potion for Miroku's fever and a stew for the rest of them. Shippou had long been sleeping and Sango hadn't left Miroku's side. 'I'm sorry. I really am,' she muttered.

'You needn't keep saying that,' Miroku said, though his eyes remained closed. Sango bowed her head and Kagome knew that she was persisting to say the words to him telepathically.

I wonder where Inuyasha's gone. Kagome stood up and walked outside into the soft drizzle. 'I'll be right back,' she said to anyone who was listening. She found him sitting, almost sleeping, against the backside of an empty dwelling. 'It's raining you know,' she stated.

'I'm keeping away from those giddy girls. It's not like I wanted to save them anyway. I didn't even know they existed and could care less even if they do.' Inuyasha shifted his position away from the reincarnated Kikyou.

Kagome knelt down beside him. 'Come on, I know you've got a heart in there somewhere,' she said, poking him the chest. 'I mean, you let all those men go. Instead of hurting them.'

'I've been thinking,' he mumbled.

'Well, anyway, I think you're safe with Lady Kisa.'

'Fine,' he said. 'I'm coming.'

COMING NEXT... CHAPTER FOUR: SESSHOUMARU'S WOUNDS