Something of Nothing

Disclaimer- I don't own this, if I did, so many things would be different.

--------------------------------------------

"Speaking"

'Thinking'

--------------------------------------------

Last time

Quietly approaching the sleeping pair, Kagome noticed two things. One, it seamed that Kikyo somehow regained her human body and two, the jewel shards she draped around her neck. Ever so carefully, Kagome made a short energy knife and cut the necklace off, putting the jewel shards in a pocket on their dress. But her good luck was not to last.

--------------------------------------------

Now

Just as Kagome began to back away from Kikyo and InuYasha, Kikyo sensed that the jewel shards were moving away from her.

Quickly her eyes sprang open and she cried out in alarm. In a flash everyone in the hut was awake and in defensive positions.

As quickly as she could, Kagome teleported outside of the hut and began to fly away as fast as possible. But she was not fast enough.

With a roar behind her, InuYasha smashed trough the roof of the hut and let out a wind scar, just barley missing Kagome, but it forced her to move lower to the ground. There Kagome was forced on the defensive with her energy blade as InuYasha attacked her like a wild animal.

Kagome, still floating, was forced back and it was taking all of her concentration to block the furry of blows from InuYasha and his tessaiga.

Suddenly a giant boomerang came from the left and as InuYasha leaped back, Kagome was able to fly higher into the air. But as she was in the air a sacred arrow came flying at her.

Putting up her shield, Kagome was able to stop the arrow from hitting her and it exploded against her shield's in a bright white and pink light. But the force of the explosion caused her to land and the moments delay in her escape would cost her.

As Kagome's eyesight returned she noticed that she was surrounded by InuYasha and the group.

Noticing who they were fighting for the fist time the group was stunned. They never expected that their next meeting with Kagome would be under these circumstances.

"Kagome! Is that you!?! Why are you trying to steal the jewel shards?" yelled InuYasha in a furious voice.

"Even though you were our friend, we can't let you have those shards!" said Sango brandishing her boomerang and preparing to throw it again.

"She's right, I'm sorry Lady Kagome. But please give us back the jewel shards or we will be forced to hurt you" said Miroku is a determined and apologetic tone of voice.

"I'm sorry too, but the shikon jewel does not belong to you. Heck, it doesn't even belong in this time. I'm sorry" said Kagome as she bowed her head. As soon as she finished speaking, she teleported into the woods and immediately made her self transparent and hid in the shadows of the upper branches. She then took the jewel shads and incased them in a shield so that Kikyo wouldn't be able to track her through them.

"DAMN IT! Where did that bitch go!" roared InuYasha, slamming the tessaiga into the ground and looking around.

"She couldn't have gotten far" said Sango, mounting up on Kirara. "That teleporting power has a limited range, so it we hurry we can still catch her."

Quickly the group split up in different directions and began scouring the area for any sings of Kagome.

From her hiding spot Kagome could hear the group moving around and with her demon abilities she could sense were everyone was and what they were doing to a certain extent. Twice she tensed up as members of the group passed close to her.

First time was when Sango over flew her on Kirara, searching the sky for her, and the second time was when InuYasha came crashing through the trees just a few feet away from her.

She had no illusions about her power level. If she got into a one-on-one fight with InuYasha or even Miroku, she would loose. Against Kikyo or Sango she might have a chance, but she would still need to be careful.

And be careful she needed to be. Her former friends were out for her blood and Kagome knew that they would kill her it they found her. 'Like any other demon that we've encountered. Ha, that's what I've become to them, just another demon to be exterminated' thought Kagome grimly.

So caught up in her thoughts, she almost didn't notice Miroku approach the tree she was hidden in.

Putting his back to the tree, Miroku let out a sigh. "Is it true what you said, about the shikon jewel belonging in your time?" asked Miroku as he looked up.

'How did he know I was here?' thought a panicked Kagome, before she realized that he did not alert the others to her location. In fact they were not even near them.

As if sensing her inner turmoil, Miroku again spoke out, "The others are off searching farther out, believing that you would be trying to put as much distance between us as you could. But here you are, right under out noses, so to speak."

"Why didn't you tell them I was here?" asked Kagome from her hiding spot.

"Because Lady Kagome, I am your friend and I don't want to see you get killed. Also the shikon jewel came from you, so it belongs to you. And since you come from the future it belongs there too" said Miroku glancing up into the tree.

"If you're my friend, then why did you abandon me when I became a demon?" accused Kagome.

"For that, I am truly sorry" said Miroku apologetically. "I had no intention of abandoning you, it was just that I was taken back by the transformation and I was wary of how your personality would change."

Taking a deep breath, Miroku continued, "Sometimes when a person is turned into a demon they loose control and go on massive killing sprees. I had to be sure that you didn't become like that. I'm sorry, but I couldn't put the safety of everyone over my faith in you. I'm sorry" said Miroku as a tear rolled down his cheek.

Before the tear could fall from his face, a pail hand reached out and let it role on her index finger. Looking up Miroku saw Kagome standing there, "Apology accepted."

Smiling Miroku reached out and pulled Kagome into a hug as more tears fell from his eyes, "Thank you" he whispered.

"Come with me, please?" asked Kagome look at Miroku in the eyes as she pulled away from the hug. "I could really use your help."

"You ask a difficult thing of me" said Miroku. "If I accompany you, then I would be forced to leave the others, for they are not as accepting as I am. But I owe it to you and besides, I have my duties as a monk to fulfill" said Miroku with a smile.

This last statement confused Kagome and she cocked her head and looked at Miroku confused. Seeing her confusion, Miroku continued, "As a monk it's my duty to protect and bring balance to the world. As you said before, the shikon jewel does not belong in this time, so to restore balance it must be returned to you."

Smiling, Kagome looked at Miroku, "Thank you. You truly are a good friend and a good person, but what about Sango?"

"Yes, while I do care about her, I have dept to pay to you and besides, what type of friend would I be if I let you do this by your self? Also, I tend to find her methods, one-sided. She tends to think that most situations with demons can be resolved with the death of the demon, while I try to find more peaceful solutions first" said Miroku with a small smile.

"Thank you Miroku" said Kagome with a smile.

As the two of them set off, a pair of eyes was observing the two from a distance.

XxXxX

I had been over a week since Miroku left InuYasha's group and joined up with Kagome and the two made an unusual pair. It wasn't every day that a full blooded demon would be seen travel willingly with a monk, and even aid the monk in ceremonies and exorcisms.

On this particular day the two stopped in a town to pick up supplies and to get some information. From what Miroku told Kagome she already knew that Naraku had all the other jewel shards, even killing Kyoga and taking his shards. So they needed information on where he could possibly be hiding.

But before they could get information, or even food, they needed money. And that's why the two of them where standing outside of an abandoned house in the center of the town.

According to the villages a demon or a spirit inhabited the house, bringing misfortune and death to whomever lived there. Already two people have been killed inside the house and three more where driven from the property when they tried to live there.

"If you get ride of the evil inside that house, we will pay you handsomely" said the village elder.

"Everything will be ok good person" said Miroku with a smile. "The evil in this house will be taken care of."

"Be careful, it appears as a small child before it attacks" said the elder shaking his head.

Entering the house Kagome asked Miroku, "Any idea on what we will be facing?"

"Not really. It could use the image of a child to lure you into a false sense of security, or it could have a child trapped and using it as bate to attract people. The other option is that it is the spirit of a child and it doesn't realize the affects it's having on the living" said Miroku as he looked around.

The interior was dark and water stains could be seen everywhere. The floor gave out a creek everywhere you steeped and the sound of rats gnawing away could be heard inside the walls.

"This house does have a foreboding feeling to it. Like all happiness has been sucked out of the place" commented Miroku.

Soon after Miroku spoke a chilling little girl's laugh could be heard in the house and the sound of footsteps could be heard.

Pulling out some fuda scrolls (spell scrolls) Miroku looked around cautiously, trying to pinpoint the nose while Kagome formed a ball of energy in her hand, either to launch as projectile or to form into a sword.

The sound of laughter could be heard again and in the middle of the room, the figure of a translucent little girl could be seen.

"Hehehe, you should be here" said the girl in a haunting voice.

"We are here to purify this house. I can help you pass on to the next world if you let me" said Miroku.

"I won't be leaving her, and neither will you!" the girl said, her face becoming darker and her teeth became razor sharp. Her hands became razor sharp claws and her whole body began to stretch out.

Right as she lunged at Miroku and was moments away from impaling him, a ball of energy hit her square in the face. This caused her head and neck to explode and her still translucent body fell to the floor twitching.

But she didn't stay dead as her head and neck grew back as she sat upright, ready to attack again. But before she could even stand, Miroku placed a fuda scroll on her forehead.

She let out an earsplitting shriek as she dissolved into gray smoke and when she was gone, much of the oppressive atmosphere of the building was lifted and the place seamed to get a little bit brighter.

Turning to Kagome, Miroku let out the breath he was holing in, "Thanks for helping me out there."

"No problem, but what was that thing?" asked Kagome.

"That was the spirit of either a child that got twisted from not passing on, or the spirit of a demon child that died with hate and rage on its mind. Whatever it was, I sent it to the next world where it will be judged accordingly" said Miroku.

The two spent several more minutes in the house with Miroku saying some prayers and Kagome using her powers to try to purify the place.

Exiting the house they were met with the concerned faces of the village elders and some of the villages.

"We heard screaming. Is everything ok?" one of them asked.

"We have taken care of the spirit that inhabited this house and purified the place. It is now safe for you to live in" said Miroku holding his hands up slightly into the air.

"Thank you so much for what you have done for this town" said one of the elders bushing a bag of money into Moroku's hand. "Here is the reward promised you. Please come have dinner and stay at the mansion as out honored guest for what you have done."

XxXxX

Dinner was simple affair, consisting mostly of rice, with some fish and vegetables on the side. But they did eat with the village elders so it gave Kagome a chance to ask them about Naraku.

"A demon of great power going by the name Naraku you say?" asked one of the elders.

"Yes, have you heard of anything him?" asked Kagome.

"There have been stories of many powerful demons to the north and to the east, but as for a specific demon, I can not say" said the elder. "Perhaps if you would give me some more information about the demon I may be of better help."

Glancing at Miroku, who was listing in attentively while at the same time checking out the serving girls, Kagome said, "He has many of the shards of the shikon jewel and can absorb other demons into himself."

"Ah, that demon, such a troublesome one" said another elder.

"He is said to live in a castle five days north of here, but I wouldn't be chasing after him if I were you. He is bad news" said the first elder.

"Unfortunately we must. He can not be allowed to live and must be stopped" said Miroku grimly.

"In that case" said a third elder, "I heard of a group of humans and a half demon who are also traveling to destroy this demon you speak of. Perhaps you should join up."

"I am afraid that wouldn't be possible" said Miroku with his head down.

"Why is that?" asked the first elder.

"Professional differences" said Kagome grimly, getting only confused looks in response.

Seeing that her words only confused the elders, Miroku clarified, "They tend to take a one-sided approach to handling demons and any situation for that matter. While we try to find more, peaceful solutions before we resort to the grim work of hacking and slashing."

"That is understandable" said the second elder. "A couple like you two must not be received well being that she's a demon and you're a monk."

At this comment Miroku began to chock on the rice he was eating and Kagome spit out her drink.

"W-we are not a couple" said Kagome. "Miroku is a good friend of mine and we are both after Naraku for similar reasons."

"Sorry, sorry, I didn't mean to jump to conclusions" said the second elder holding his hands into the air defensively. "I just assumed that because you are a young, female, and he is a young male…you are young, aren't you? I-I mean, demons can hide their ages so much better than humans that it's hard to tell…"

"Yes, I am still younger. I am approaching my 17th birthday soon while Miroku will soon be approaching his 20th" said Kagome, with her eyes drilling into the now uncomfortable elder.

After that the conversation died down and soon Kagome and Miroku settled down for the night. The next day they woke up at dawn and ate a small breakfast in silence.

They then got ready to leave, and after bidding farewell to the elders but as they were still in the town they felt a presence that they both knew coming.

Looking down the road they both heard the familiar loud and abrasive voice of InuYasha. "Where is this demon that been causing you trouble. We'll kill it for you" he shouted.

One of the braver townsfolk approached him and said, "Sorry to disappoint you, but that spirit was taken care of yesterday by a monk and his demon companion.

"A monk and a demon working together?" said Sango. "That's an unusual pair."

"It certainly is, but they seam to be almost like brother and sister, or their married, I can't tell" said the villager. "They stayed the night at the house of the village elders, if you hurry you can catch them" the villager said pointing towards the elder's house.

Hearing this, Kagome and Miroku turned to leave as quietly and quickly as possible, but they were not fast enough.

"Miroku is that you?" called out InuYasha. "And YOU!" he roared.

Unsheathing the tessaiga he continued, "first you steel the jewel shards and then you kidnap Miroku, I'll kill you, you bitch!"

Steeping in between the two, Miroku called out, "Calm yourself InuYasha. She did not kidnap me. I went with her willingly. Also, can't you see that the shikon jewel doesn't belong here? It belongs with Kagome!"

"Miroku! Why did you leave us?" cried Sango as she approached the standoff.

"I'm sorry Sango. This is something I must do" said Miroku.

"She's controlling you Miroku! Wake up!" shouted Sango.

"I am doing no such thing" said Kagome.

"Shut up demon! Why else would Miroku be with you than us? I'll end your control over him, WINDSCAR!"

Reacting instinctively, Kagome threw up a barrier around herself and Miroku, protecting them from the blast of energy. Placing a hand on Miroku's shoulder Kagome quickly teleported away from the area and teleported a few more times to put as much distance between them and InuYasha's group as they could.

All the while, a pair of eyes was still following their every move.

XxXxX

That's it for this chapter! Thanks for waiting while I took my time to get it out. I was suffering from some writers block.

So who is the person behind the pair of eyes that is following Miroku and Kagome? I'll give you a cookie if you can find out!

Ja ne!