Well I'm glad everyone liked the part with Midoriko. All the other fics I've read simply have the group make a wish on the jewel but they never say anything about Midoriko and I wanted to do something about that. Not to mention, she'll be slightly needed down the line. I had thought this chapter would be short but it turned out to be a little longer because of two new ideas that popped into my head at the last second. I hope you like this chapter.
exsanguination - I haven't heard anything about Kag & Kik being Midoriko's reincarnations but I think the series itself hints at that slightly but even if they did come out and say it the problem is that Midoriko's soul has been in the jewel the whole time, so how could she be reincarnated?
Takerus Lost Angel - I do feel privileged. Did you enjoy snowboarding? I can't wait until Tuesday. Then I start skiing again. :) Also don't feel bad that your the only one that picked Kouga, that just means your special. and I'd still be willing to hear as who you think Sess should be paired with. As I said before, what people said doesn't have a say in the story, I just wanted to know everyone's preference.
SilentDark - I highly doubt that Ramen is a position in Japanese govt. As for the food ramen, I can't say that I totally like it. I'm not fond of it but if I was starving I'd eat it. I'm a very picky eater.
wsantelm - I must say that I liked your review. Both scenarios with Midoriko are hilarious but I'm not planning anything like that, sorry. As for Sess, I have to ask, have you just seen the episodes on Cartoon Network? If you have you'll notice that after Sess has his fight with demon IY, he starts to get away from being a villain. As a matter of fact, IY and Sess fight side by side in battle a few times. So he's not as bad as he first seems and definitely not as bad as Naraku.
Sango13 - Good job on predicting. I didn't think anybody would really notice but I'm somewhat glad you did. Now if you could only see what I have in store. ha ha ha.
midniteracer - Okay just to let you in on something, I have seen both subbed and dubbed versions of IY. In the subbed version's Sango's cat is called Kirara even though its pronounced Kilala. Don't ask me why but they seem to pronounce an r as an l in japanese.
Thanks all of you who are reviewing. Without you this story wouldn't be getting far. I hope you all enjoy this chapter and just remember, I don't own IY. I had him once but as the saying goes if you love something set it free, if it comes back its yours. If it doesn't, go and hunt it down. So I'm in the process of hunting him. Later
Chapter 19: Real or Ghost?
After looking around, Midoriko put her sword away and walked over to the group. She looked at Inuyasha and smiled. "Thank you. My long battle with that demon is finally over."
"Well this is interesting," Kagome said even though it was a huge understatement. "Care to explain, Inuyasha?"
Everyone turned to look at him. "Hey don't look at me. I don't have a clue as to what is going on. Ask her," he said pointing to Midoriko.
Midoriko just smiled at them. "Could you please explain it to us, Miss Midoriko?" Kagome asked her politely.
"Sure, but I'd prefer if I explained it to you outside. It's been a while since I've felt and smelled fresh air. I could definitely use some," Midoriko said as she turned to make her way out of the cave. "And by the way, just call me Midoriko." Once they reached outside, Midoriko took in a huge breath of air and stretched in the remaining sunlight of the day. "Ah, it's so good to be outside again. Thanks again."
"Sure," Inuyasha said unsteadily. "Now can you please explain what is going on?"
"Alright, just where to start?" she said as she thought to herself.
"Are you a ghost or real or what?" Inuyasha said interrupting.
"Well I was going to start at the beginning but if you must know I'm real," she replied. "Well everyone here knows the origin of the Shikon Jewel so I don't have to explain that just as long as you remember both my soul and the soul of that demon was in the Shikon Jewel. Because of both souls in the jewel, it was easily swayed between good and evil. When the jewel was used for good, my soul was stronger but when it was used for evil my opponent became stronger. The only thing about this was that it was easily changed by whoever had the jewel. Inuyasha, when you made your wish it gave me more power and it became permanent. I'm glad you eventually choose the wish that you did. You made a selfless, good natured wish and that's a reason I got more power. If you or Naraku had made a selfish wish that you only cared about yourself, then the demon would have gained more power."
"So you're saying if I would have gone with my original wish to be a full demon, then I would have been helping that demon?" Inuyasha asked.
"Not necessarily," Midoriko said surprising everyone. "Your intentions are what would have made it good or bad. For instance, if you would have made that wish only so you could have become a big bad demon, then yes that would be bad. If you had made that same wish so that you could be more powerful to protect people such as Kagome or any other good intention, then it would have the same outcome as you have today. It's what's in your heart at the time of the wish."
"I told you, you had a good heart," Kagome said to Inuyasha.
"Feh," was Inuyasha's response. "That still doesn't explain what's going on here."
"Yes, well I'm getting to that. After you made your wish, I was the one that gave you the urge to come here. I wanted my body back," Midoriko said. "I respected you need to see your parents though so I didn't bother you too much but as your stay came to a close I wanted to make sure you came here so I made the urge stronger. I knew that even if you didn't want to come, you'd get annoyed enough that you'd come here."
"Yeah, well next time annoy someone else," Inuyasha said.
"If you were locked in the jewel, how did you know where we were going?" Sango asked.
"I may have been locked in a jewel but I still knew what was going on outside. Even when the jewel was shattered I was aware of what was going on around me. So I know all of your adventures," she told them. Midoriko then turned to Kagome, "I must say that I find your era quite interesting. Things seem to change a lot between now and then. It actually surprises me that you would come back to such primitive time like this."
"Well this era might be primitive when it comes to technology but I like this era for its beauty," Kagome told her.
"So what will you do now?" Miroku asked. "Will you continue to purify demons?"
"I wish I could," Midoriko replied. "As you know, my power was equal to that of the demon I fought and it was Inuyasha's wish that gave me the extra power to beat it. Unfortunately I practically used all my power to defeat it. So as of now, I'm about as powerful as a regular miko." She then looked directly at Kagome, "you're way more powerful than me now."
"I don't think, I'm that powerful," Kagome said humbly.
"Quit being modest," Midoriko replied. "You are probably the most powerful miko of this time and probably your time."
Sango's father decided to interrupt at this point. "Well it's getting kind of late. I think we should head back to the village. Midoriko you are welcome to stay at the village as long as you like."
"I think I would like that," Midoriko said. "I may not be as powerful as before but I'm willing to continue to help people against demons."
"Your help is greatly appreciated," Sango's father replied. Everyone walked back to the village together. Along the way Sango's father remembered something. He spoke quietly with Midoriko about it. "I just remembered. We only have guest room and Kagome and Inuyasha will be using that. I'm sure we could make at least a makeshift house for you tomorrow but I'm trying to think about where I could set you up tonight."
"I might have an idea," Midoriko responded with a grin. She then leaned in and told him her plan.
After hearing her plan, he smiled as well, "I think I like your plan. With the right persuasion," he said cracking his knuckles, "then there is nothing to worry about." With that he went up to everyone else in the group to talk to them.
"WHAT?!?" Sango yelled after hearing the plan. "You have got to be kidding me. You want me to share a room with Miroku?"
"It's only for one night, two at the most. Just until we can get a place built for Midoriko to live in the village," he told his daughter. "Besides, I'm sure Miroku will be on his best behavior, right Miroku?"
"Of course," Miroku responded. He knew what the father was trying to tell him and either way he wouldn't have been stupid enough to grope Sango in her own house with her parents around.
"I'm still not so sure about it," Sango said.
"Well from your adventures you always used to sleep with him around didn't you. What's the difference now?"
"Well Kagome and Inuyasha were there as well," Sango said.
"Does it really bother you that much if I sleep in the same room as you," Miroku said. "I will sleep outside then." It may have been an easy way of getting to agree with her father via a guilty conscious but he didn't mean it that way. If she would rather it, he would sleep outside.
"No, I don't want you to sleep outside," Sango said. "You can sleep in my room but I'm warning you. If you lay one hand on me, you'll find yourself sleeping outside really quick."
"I wouldn't dream of doing such a thing," Miroku said in his defense.
The next day, everyone was up early to see Inuyasha and Kagome leave. They had decided to leave. Kagome missed her family and she wanted to show Inuyasha around her world. Not to mention that Kagome wanted to go over some things for school before it started. She had barely passed the last year and she wanted to be prepared for this upcoming one. It would be her final year in high school.
"Well, I'm going to miss you Kagome," Sango said as she tried to refrain from crying. "Promise me you'll come back and visit some time."
"I will. You have my word," Kagome told her. "I hope things go well with you and Miroku."
Sango blushed at this. "Well at least he didn't try anything last night," she told her friend. "Best luck with Inuyasha." Sango smirked as it was Kagome's turn to blush.
Midoriko then came over to see Kagome. "Remember what I said. You're a very powerful miko and don't forget it."
"I won't though I still don't think I'm that powerful. Thank you very much," Kagome said.
Midoriko then walked over to Inuyasha who had just gotten finished talking with Miroku. "Thank you very much. If it wasn't for you making that wish and coming here, I would still be stuck in that cave if not worse. I am in your debt," Midoriko told him.
"You don't owe me anything," Inuyasha said. "Just quit thanking me and we'll call it even."
"One of these days, Inuyasha, you'll have to learn how to accept a person's thanks." Midoriko said. She then extended her hand, "Can we at least shake and call it even?" Inuyasha was a little unsure about this but decided to trust her anyway and shake her hand. The moment that their hands touched, Inuyasha felt a surge go through his body. Kagome had even sensed it and turned to find out what happened.
"What the hell did you do?" Inuyasha demanded.
"Call it my way of paying my debt. It's a small gift," Midoriko said.
"What is it?" Inuyasha asked.
"You'll know when the time comes. It isn't anything big but it will help you. Have fun in the future," Midoriko said as she walked away.
"Any idea what she did?" Miroku asked.
"Well I don't feel any stronger and besides I don't think she'd have enough power to make me stronger," Inuyasha told his friends. "She didn't do any harm so I don't really care. Well, Kagome, I think we better get going. Bye guys." Kagome wished her friends goodbye and got on Inuyasha's back. With that they headed home.
~&~&~&~&~&~&~&~&~&~&~&~&~&~&~&~&~&~&~&
Well that brings another chapter to a close. If anyone is expecting Midoriko's gift to be something big, your gonna have your hopes killed cause it isn't. You'll actually find out in a few chapters what it is. As I've said in the past, the next chapter will be short but I think you'll all like it. So be sure to check it out. Now before I have a referral I have yet another poll question:
Should I have a song chapter in this story? (Where either a song's playing in
the background or the character's sing karaoke)
Well its a simply yes or no. If you want to be more specific go right ahead. This might affect the story. Now for my referral:
Simply Irresistible by angel-wings-131 storyid=1485423
This fic is a little more depressing to start off with and I was a little unsure
about reading this fic but with the newest chapter, I was blown away. This is
definitely worth a read.
Thanks to my great reviewers: Inushemeeko, Angel452, chinta, Defafaeth Mechqua,
Sakume Nohara, Raven ShadowCroft, Kawaii monkey hanyou, Miss Queen of the World,
Ryguy5387, Kourtney1617, midniteracer, demonic honyou, xo-Kagome-ox, Brittanie
Love, Silver Warrior, anime mistress, Sango13, CaribMiko03, KittyDemon16,
wsantelm, SilentDark, Evil-Miyu, Takerus Lost Angel, inuyashabutterfly,
exsanguination, Black Dice, Weirdo's Rule, HIllary, Just Me17, Selcryn,
darkinuyasha, Phoenix Archangel, Hanyou-Girl25, and Sara. Well that's it. Be
sure to come next time for:
Chapter 20: A Confession From the Heart I think you guys know what's going to happen here. I'll make this deal. If I reach 370 reviews in 24 hours I'll update tomorrow rather than the day after.