Chapter 60

The couple returned to the village arm in arm. Inuyasha kissed Kagome and asked her to join him in the hammock. Kagome responded that she would, soon. She needed to talk to Sango. Disappointed, Inuyasha let her go and went over to the hammock. Kagome smiled as Kazuo hopped off the porch where he was playing and climbed into the hammock with his papa.

'Kazuo would be good company for Inuyasha right now', thought Kagome as she headed over to talk to Sango. She knew Kaori would have informed Sango and Miroku about the strange lights and about her and Inuyasha taking off after the two little girls. This would all be out of Kaori's insatiable curiosity of what was happening.

Knocking on the door and entering, Kagome called out,

"Sango? Are you here?"

Sango came out from the back of the house, "Kagome, where have you been? Kaori said you dropped off Kazuo with her and left with Inuyasha after two little girls. Were they Kikyou's shikigami?". As she finished, Miroku came out and joined her.

"Yes, they were Kikyou's shikigami. Kikyou needed to see us. She had been attacked by Naraku's spirit. He is taking the forms of dead people.", Kagome answered.

"Is Lady Kikyou alright?", Miroku asked.

"No. The miasma was too much for her and I couldn't purify it. She died in Inuyasha's arms.", Kagome said quietly.

"In his arms? He's still a two-timer? You're married for goodness sake!", Sango exclaimed.

Kagome just shrugged, "We made love afterwards."

"WHAT?", both Sango and Miroku said together.

"He's more of a lecher than I ever was.", Miroku commented.

"Now, Miroku, you need to remember that inu demons are sexual creatures after they first mate. He needed to know I wouldn't ever leave him. He needed to feel needed. He needed to be as close to me as possible and to him, that is through mating. It has nothing to do with sex or release or pleasure. Inus show affection by mating. He also wanted to make sure I knew his heart belonged to me.", then as she came out of her random thoughts, she said, "And why am I explaining this to you?", as she shook her head.

"Ok, getting off that subject,", Miroku said, smiling, "Naraku is still alive?"

"His spirit is. And he's using dead people's bodies to get around. I think he is still trying to get reincarnated."

"How do you know he is using dead people's bodies, Kagome?", Sango asked.

"Because, Sango, Kikyou said he came to her as Kohaku.", Kagome said and then winced at Sango's response.

"That evil bastard! How dare he use my brother's body for his selfish use.", Sango said, as she started to cry.

"I'm sorry, Sango,", said Kagome, as she hugged her friend. As Sango cried on Kagome's shoulder, Miroku went out to see Inuyasha. He found Inuyasha swaying gently in the hammock with Kazuo.

"Inuyasha,", Miroku called out as his friend opened one eye and found the monk approaching.

"Whaddya want, Miroku?"

"I want to say I'm sorry about Lady Kikyou."

"Hmm. Thanks. I appreciate that."

"So what are we going to do about Naraku?"

"I'll wait."

"Wait? For what?"

"For him to come to us. He went after Kikyou so he's bound to come after us. Plus, Kagome seems to feel that the Shikon Jewel is inside Kaori."

"What?", asked Miroku, flabbergasted.

"Well, when we were in the other world, the jewel disappeared and we didn't know where it went. Since Kagome was pregnant at the time, she is assuming that the jewel disappeared inside of either her or the baby. Of course, that baby was Kaori."

"How can you be so calm? Naraku managed to kill Kikyou."

"I will kill him, Miroku. But, he's disguising himself as dead people."

"Yes, I know, Kagome explained he used Kohaku's body."

"Yes.", Inuyasha said quietly, "If Kikyou couldn't sense his demonic aura, I don't know if I can smell his stench. So let him come to us and we'll go from there."

Inuyasha stopped talking and began to sniff the air. Sitting up, he growled. Miroku looked in the direction that Inuyasha was looking and saw a whirlwind of dust heading their way.

"A dust devil?", Miroku wondered aloud.

His question was answered as Inuyasha got out of the hammock and took a battle stance and the dust revealed its occupant.

"We meet again, you insolent puppy.", the demon yelled to Inuyasha.

"What do you want, you mangy wolf?", Inuyasha asked his enemy.

Miroku rubbed his forehead as he shook his head, 'Yes, why are you here, Kouga?', he thought to himself.