XXXXXXXX

Itty Bitty Pretty Sixteen

XXXXXXXX

It wasn't possible. More than that, it was impossible. Yet there he was sending a powerful blast of spiritual energy undoubtedly his own straight at the dark miko – his long dark hair flying back from the sheer force of it, his hand outstretched and a look of pure determination on his face. While the fact that Inuyasha was now very much human was disturbing in and of itself, to find him in that form wielding spiritual power was almost too much to handle.

"Inuyasha!" Miroku finally called out as he overcame his shock and he slid off the firecat's back as she gracefully landed, "What is happening?"

"Bitch turned me human and now I've got pink shit coming out my hands. What's it look like?" Inuyasha responded acidly over his shoulder – his hand still held out at the ready towards the dazed and singed looking miko on the ground, "Now are you two gunna help me or what?"

"Why yes of course," Miroku responded as he and Sango rushed to stand by their friend's side, "But uh, I must admit this is quite a bit to take in."

"You're telling me," Inuyasha responded with a huff of frustration, "None of this shit makes any fucking sense."

"I've never seen a priest be able to do something like that," Sango observed sagely, "They usually require something to harness their power like sutras or beads. I've only seen mikos do what you just did."

"Oi! I have a dick," Inuyasha spat back in an affronted tone, "I don't know what's happening but I know I ain't a miko."

"Thank you for that explanation," Miroku responded in an amused tone – the corners of his lips twitching upward despite himself, "Why don't we deal with the task at hand and then we'll focus on the fact that you can send a quite lovely pink shimmering light at your enemies."

"I can't control the color asshole," Inuyasha clipped agitatedly – his violet eyes never leaving the miko, "Now are one of you gunna get her or am I gunna have to do all the work here?"

As Sango's eyes glanced at the still smoking serpent laying on the ground near their feet, she set her jaw in determination and held her boomerang at the ready, "I remember her being more formidable last time we ran into her. She managed to conjure all manner of demons yet it seems she's relying on the serpent."

"She told me she's out of demons. She started this whole mess to steal my youkai," Inuyasha spit out bitterly as he added in a low, dark voice, "But she messed up and purified me instead."

"Thus the, uh, pink light coming out of your hands?" Miroku asked – still seemingly finding great enjoyment out of the fact though clearly trying to fight it, "Normally such power runs in the family yet your mother was a princess was she not?"

"You just said we'd talk about this later," Inuyasha clipped in an annoyed tone before adding in a pointed tone, "Ya know, after we kill this bitch and save Kagome and those other guys?"

"Of course," Miroku responded – the wicked smirk still on his lips as he raised his hands towards his beads, "But do you sense any jewel shards on her?"

Setting his jaw and sending his friend a side-eyed glare, Inuyasha huffed as he turned his eyes back towards the seemingly stunned miko on the ground and giving her a once over.

"Don't see one," Inuyasha mumbled under his breath as he flushed a deep crimson to rival the firerat, "Doesn't mean shit though. Only Kagome can see jewel shards."

"Not true," Miroku responded with a short laugh as he gave his friend a broad mischievous grin, "Sango and I both are capable of sensing them only our skills are not as accurate nor can we purify them. You, my friend, were the only one ever left in the dark. You are correct, however. I sense no jewel shards myself."

"Fuck you Miroku," InuYasha groaned as he rolled his eyes, "Why can't you take this seriously?"

"I get so little joy in life. I take the opportunity to relish in it whenever I can," Miroku retorted giving his friend a wicked grin which earned him not one but two side eyed glares.

"There's lives on the line," InuYasha clipped, "You can make fun of me later when it's not a matter of life and death."

"Fair enough," Miroku sighed as he held his hand out at the ready, his fingers curled around the beads that kept his wind tunnel in check, "As there are no jewel shards and destroying her hasn't worked to stop her yet, shall I?"

"Be my guest," InuYasha snarled as he nodded in approval, "Kill this bitch and let's be done with her."

It was over quickly - Tsubaki cursing and screaming about how could these fools defeat her once more like they were in an episode of Scooby Doo until her voice cut off instantly as she entered the void.

"Why the fuck didn't we do that the first time?" InuYasha groaned as he ran his fingers through his hair before the answer came to him and he let out an exasperated sigh when it occurred to him, "The jewel. She had the jewel. That's why."

Turning towards Miroku, InuYasha arched a single brow at the monk who was grinning like Christmas had come early this year and let out a resigned sigh, "Go ahead. Get it out of your system."

It started as a snort. A tiny little snort that grew into a choked chuckle before the monk burst out into riotous laughter as he clutched his sides.

"I'm...sorry...it's not...funny...but...your...powers...pink," Miroku managed to gasp out in between his loud guffaws, "I mean...we'll...fix it...obviously...but...I mean, pink!"

"Miroku, we don't laugh at our friends," Sango chided angrily as she moved towards the monk and boxed his ear, "This is a serious problem!"

"I know," Miroku sighed as he rubbed his ear with one hand and wiped away the few tears of laughter that had broken free with the other, "We need to head back to speak with Totosai. Maybe he knows what's really going on."