Chapter Fifteen: Photo Op

Since I didn't want to totally kill this fic I waited for inspiration…forgive me for being so slow!

Disclaimer: Inu-Yasha isn't mine. The OCs are though!

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Zen had been a monk for almost all of his life, and he loved the solitude that it offered him. He only wished that his time alone could have lasted; now he was almost regretting taking on an apprentice, especially one as…unusual…as his.

Hiroshi was, in general, a good sort of fellow. He obeyed most commands to the letter, and he picked up on new concepts quickly. It was because of this that Zen had chosen him in the first place. As far as he could see, there was only one problem with the boy. Hiroshi was a complete lecher. This was an unfortunate, and problematic quality. Zen sighed as he and his young apprentice began their descent down the side of the mountain. At least they were unlikely to come across any women while they were in out in the wilderness.

Or so he thought.

…………..

"Oh, wow! Everything is always so pretty after the rain. Look at all of the dew on the flowers! It's so amazing when the sun hits them like this…I'm glad that we get to see it in the late afternoon light. I would never have imagined that so many different plants would be in bloom at this time of year!"

Sesshomaru did not reply; instead, the two companions continued to walk through the sparkling valley in silence, Kagome gazing about in awe. As she looked, she noticed something moving toward them on their right. Whatever it was, it was still far away. All the same, Kagome didn't like to think that a demon was following them.

"Um, Sesshomaru," she said hesitantly. "I think that there's something up there."

"Humans."

"Oh." In her experience, humans could be just as bad as demons, so his words didn't do much to assuage her doubts. "Um, you don't smell blood on them or anything, right?"

Sesshomaru looked at her with amusement. "No," he replied. "I believe that they are monks."

Kagome was taken aback. "You can tell that?"

"I am able smell the old sutras that they carry with them," he explained.

"Really," she asked with interest. "That's amazing!"

For some reason, Sesshomaru was pleased by her response. What an entirely odd reaction to a human's words.

"Hey, Sesshomaru? They're getting a lot closer…"

He turned to look in the same direction as Kagome. It was true; the people were gaining on them. They even appeared to be running.

"Shall we leave them behind," Sesshomaru questioned.

"Actually," Kagome said thoughtfully. "Maybe we should ask for directions. I don't know exactly where the swamp is that I need to get to, other than the fact that it is supposedly on the other side of the mountains." She tilted her head. "Are they trying to say something to us?"

"Nothing of importance," Sesshomaru replied, a slight smirk on his face.

If Kagome strained her ears, she could just make out the voices.

"…aaaaaaaAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!"

The girl's eyes widened. "Do you think they're running from a demon," she asked.

"There is no demon scent from whence they came. Even if, by some miracle, I did not pick up the scent, to run this way to escape a demon would be foolishness at its height."

"Why? What do you mean?"

Sesshomaru raised a brow. "Look at what they are running towards."

Kagome frowned in puzzlement, and then laughed. "Oh," she said. "They're running towards us, and you're probably stronger than any demon they'd be trying to escape from."

Again, Sesshomaru felt unusual satisfaction, and unexplainable feelings aggravated him. This new emotion definitely fell under the "unexplainable" category. How very irritating.

"They're certainly going fast," Kagome noted.

"So they are."

The two figures had reached the bottom of the slope now, and Kagome smiled and lifted her hand to wave in greeting. Unfortunately, her welcome was ruined by the fact that the two monks were moving far too quickly to stop easily. The one on the right zoomed past her, eyes wide, and hands out, running into a tree. The other was not quite so fortunate, and he did a face plant at Kagome's feet.

"Oh my goodness," Kagome cried. "Are you alright?" She quickly bent down to help the man get up.

"Do mine ears deceive me, or is that the voice of a lady," the man asked from his position on the ground. Or, rather, that was what he tried to articulate. Due to a mouthful of soil, his question came out sounding more like: "Duh mah devmeh ohis thoice ahlay."

The monk grimaced and spat out the dirt before jumping to his feet. He took one look at Kagome, and then suddenly she found her hands were clasped firmly within his own.

"Beautiful lady," he began. "Might I inquire as to what your no-doubt lovely name might be?"

"Um," she replied, blushing, and making an effort to tear her gaze away from their hands to look at the monk's face. She gasped as she did so, taking in his features for the first time.

"Miroku," she exclaimed. He nodded solemnly and stared deep into her eyes…

—THWACK—

Kagome blinked, realizing that the young man was no longer holding her hands, but was once more on the ground. The other monk was standing above him, fuming, and brandishing a long golden staff.

"Your name is not Miroku," the elder monk cried. "Your name is Hiroshi, and you must stop this foolishness! Such behavior does not befit a monk!"

"Of course not." The man called Hiroshi laughed apologetically. "Forgive me, my Lady," he said, turning to the young miko.

She just stared at him, blank-faced. She could see now that he wasn't her friend, Miroku, but he looked so similar! In addition to this, the staff that the older, white bearded monk carried was identical to that of Miroku's. This is too weird, she thought. I don't understand it…maybe…could this Hiroshi guy be an ancestor of Miroku's?

That was when the monks noticed Sesshomaru, who had been watching the whole process with a mixture of amusement and annoyance. "Stay back, Lady Kagome," Hiroshi warned, moving into a position that suggested that he was preparing for battle.

"No wait," Kagome said, stepping forward to stand beside Sesshomaru. "I'm traveling with him." She placed one hand on his shoulder armor, and the demon stared at her in alarm. He had only ever been touched in battle, and it was usually a good indicator that pain was soon to follow.

"You're traveling with him," the monks asked simultaneously, with identical expressions of incredulity on their faces.

"Yep. By the way, my name is Kagome." The young miko bowed to each monk before continuing. "And this is Sesshomaru."

"My name is Zen," the older monk told them, trying to regain his composure. "And I believe that my apprentice, Hiroshi, has already introduced himself to you."

"Yes, actually, he did." Kagome smiled at them. "It's nice to meet you both."

"No, Lady Kagome, the pleasure is all ours. I hope that we will be able to spend some time together in these mountains," Hiroshi said with sincerity. He was rewarded by murderous glares from both Zen and Sesshomaru, which he did his best to ignore.

"Actually," Kagome said, "we're going to be leaving the mountains as soon as possible."

Hiroshi was crestfallen, but Zen looked relieved by the news. "Where will you be going," the older monk inquired.

"A swamp," Kagome told him. "Although I'm not really sure where it is, other than the fact that it's on the other side of the mountains. I have a map, but I've gotten a little bit turned around. I was sort of hoping that one of you might know where it is…"

"You're going to the swamp," Zen asked, his eyes widening. "It is a dangerous place…surely you have heard about the great demon that is imprisoned there?" Sesshomaru looked at Kagome with evident interest.

"Actually, I had heard about it," Kagome said sheepishly.

"And were you planning on telling me about this 'great' demon," Sesshomaru cut in with his question. "Or were you going to leave me completely unprepared for the fight that is likely to occur?"

Kagome looked stricken. "I wasn't going to leave you unprepared, but I was afraid that you wouldn't let me go if I told you what was at the other end of our journey! Anyway, this doesn't concern you!"

"It doesn't…concern me," Sesshomaru repeated, his tone suggesting that he found her words mildly amused. "And how exactly do you believe that to be the case?"

"You won't have to lift a finger," Kagome told him, her face determined. "I'm the one that needed to go to the swamp in the first place. In all honesty, the reason for my journey to the swamp has always been to kill the demon. This is my battle, and so I will be the one to face the demon of the swamp."

"Do not be ridiculous," Sesshomaru said. "I shall lend you what aid I can."

Kagome looked at him in shock, and then a smile spread across her face. "Thank you, Sesshomaru," she whispered.

She should learn to control her emotions, Sesshomaru thought uncomfortably, turning his head away from Kagome. She is too confusing this way.

"Oh," Kagome exclaimed, remembering the monks, "I'm sorry, I guess that I got sidetracked. Where did you say that the swamp is?"

"I didn't," Zen reminded her, with a look of consternation. "It is far too dangerous a place…I strongly advise against looking for it…"

Sesshomaru sighed. "You might as well tell her," he said to the monk. "She will most likely search for it either way."

Zen looked at Sesshomaru for a long moment before nodding his head reluctantly. "Let me look at your map," he said to Kagome. "I will have to determine our exact location to give you the most accurate directions."

"Okay," Kagome said, smiling. "Why don't we just stop in those trees up ahead, and make camp for the night. Then we'll have plenty of time to talk things over."

"That sounds like a wonderful plan," Hiroshi said cheerfully. Sesshomaru looked at him apprehensively, and Zen developed an eye tic, but Kagome didn't seem to notice; she just ran on ahead.

When the group finally settled down, Kagome pulled out the map that Lady Asherah had given her, and handed it over to Zen. He was strongly inclined to rip the parchment to shreds to further discourage them from going, but if what the demon had told him previously was true, then Lady Kagome would continue her search with or without the map. Thus, he decided that it would be best to simply show her how to reach her chosen destination with the least amount of problems and obstacles.

"Hmmm," Zen murmured, lost in thought. "If my calculations are correct then we are about here so…might I suggest that you take this route?" Zen traced the possible path with his finger, before raising his head to compare their surroundings to the details on the map. Apparently spotting something useful, Zen pointed into the distance. "The swamp is no more than a day's journey away, but it will be a rather hard one."

"Why?" Kagome was curious.

"It's over that ridge there"—he pointed—"and down the side. When you reach the bottom, you will only have a little ways to go before you will come upon the swamp.

Kagome paled at his words. "Well," she said, feigning cheerfulness, "I guess that I'd better get some sleep. Sounds like I'll need it." Oh no, she thought in dismay. That's one hard hike!

"Lady Kagome," Hiroshi said, a gleam in his eye, "Allow me to assist you in finding a suitable resting place…"

"No." Zen grabbed his apprentice's cloak and had hauled him back. "I think it would be best if we left now. There is still enough light for us to travel a bit further. We wish you luck on your journey." The older monk smiled and bowed.

"Oh," Kagome said, flustered, "I wish the same to you." Then Kagome remembered the contents of her backpack. "Hey! I think that this is probably as good a time as any to find out if my camera is still working after being tossed in the lake…"

She raced over to her pack and began to ferociously dig through her supplies. Zen, Hiroshi, and Sesshomaru watched her with looks of confusion.

"Finally," she said, standing up, digital camera in hand. "Now…let's see if it will turn on. It's a good thing that I had it in its case…Yeah!" The camera had emitted a tiny 'beep,' and the shutter had opened.

"Mind if I take your picture," Kagome asked the group. "Surprisingly, I think that I might actually want to remember this trip."

"Er," Zen said.

"Of course we don't mind," Hiroshi decided, although he had no idea what was going on.

"Great," Kagome said happily. "Sesshomaru, would stand next to them for a moment?" The demon looked at Hiroshi with dislike, but he did as Kagome had requested nevertheless.

"Okay, ready?" Kagome held up the camera. "One…two…three."

—Click—

"I think that I've gone blind," Hiroshi said after a minute, sounding surprised.

"What do you mean," Kagome asked in alarm. "What's wrong?"

"If these spots do not go away," Sesshomaru said crossly, "then I shall be most seriously displeased.

"Oh, I get it!" Kagome laughed. "I guess that I should have warned you about the flash. Don't worry: it'll go away," she told Sesshomaru, waving 'goodbye' to the two monks who were by now thoroughly confused.

"It had better," Sesshomaru grumbled.

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Please review!

So, that's it for chapter fifteen, hope you liked it! The monks aren't that significant; don't trouble your heads trying to figure out why they're important. They'll be explained a little more later on.

shadow miko- Aw, thank you so much!

Golden-Eyed-Girl- Sess is just full of surprises, huh? ;) He's a guy of many talents, lol.

anonymous- Thank you! I am definitely planning on finishing this story, although it may take me a while. I'll do my best!

AngelMaiden- No problem, and thank you!

Mysticalflame- Lol, thank you! I appreciate the grammar tips too, I'll look out for stuff like that in the future.

aninaig- Thanks—you'll just have to wait and see!

helikesitheymikey- I know! Wouldn't we all love to see that? Had to add it in. XD

susie202- Lol, you'd never guess that he would be a scholar, would you:) Thank you!

SaBrIel of the MoOn- Thank you! Glad you're enjoying it!

princess of the western lands- I made another somewhat long chapter! (Go me; I'm so proud of myself, lol) You're questions pertaining to older Sess shall most certainly be answered …later on in the fic!

mangadreams- Thank you so much! I'm happy to know that my characters have "character," lol. I appreciate your saying so! ;)

Sweeteen19- Lol, same here. Glad you liked it.

Kaichai- Thank you!

NekoYasha101- No problem, and thanks for reviewing!

Raine- Thank you! Yeah, I love writing this story… it's so fun!

cj- Lol, thank you, I appreciate it!

Hiei'sCrazySpaz- Thank you! Don't worry; there will most assuredly be more on older Sess later on in this fic…

Angel Shippo- XD Actually, Kagome always has been partial to the nickname 'Bob.' ;) lol

A big 'thank you' also goes to forthright, Redunicorn2, LoudlySilent, golden-kitdunebi, Inu-child1, Shadow Eclipse, Cold-Hearted NightFox, lildarkgothdragon, ClearBorooke, Lady-Sess08, Justified Assassin, Greeneyedgrimkitty, and EverD for reviewing for Portal, and for the kind comments that you made!