The Prankster Youkai's Revenge!
Chapter 3: For ONCE Miroku did nothing wrong…
The next day dawned upon the group like any other dawn…The poor fools had no idea what situations they would find themselves in; but it was too late now. Suki had carefully formed her plans indeed; not the smallest detail had been overlooked, not the tiniest snag remained to prevent her from pulling her pranks off perfectly. She grinned mischievously. Today she would get revenge for poor Shippo! Never again would those humans and hanyou abuse him! As she had begun to lay her plans, some pity had twisted her resolve; did they really deserve such humiliation? She asked herself, wondering; but even as the sympathy grew, all she had done was remember the terrible scene she had witnessed; and the horrible images of the poor fallen Shippo had awakened such a rage in her that the pity died at once, never to return. In fact, as she continued plotting, those memories only stirred her to ever more ruthless heights of trickery and subtlety. In the past she had abstained with tricking and twisting the love between two people, but now no trick seemed low enough to serve as revenge for what those people had done. She snickered, much like the kitsune whose revenge she had labored over with such resolve. It was at last time to begin!
Miroku woke slowly to the urgent, if hushed, cries of the village headman. "Houshi-sama! The youkai has just appeared! You must come quickly!" Suki smiled inwardly. Her disguise was perfect; it was her most cherished talent, her ability to change her appearance so well at will. The Houshi had no idea he was in actuality speaking to her, a female kitsune. She waited for his response, already aware of what his question would be and fully prepared with a false answer.
Miroku had immediately leapt to his feet to dash out the door with his friends. Except for the fact that his companions weren't there. He looked around in surprise; when he had fallen asleep they had all been here, even Shippo. He turned to the headman, his voice showing his concern and confusion, but still polite as ever. "I would go immediately, but none of my companions are here…It is typical for us to hunt youkai together. Do you happen to know where they could be?"
"They have all disappeared as a part of the youkai's first trick. She apparently heard that you all were sent to exorcise her, and decided to take hostages. That is why you must come at once; no one else has the skills to save them from her clutches!" Suki replied, not letting the smugness she felt appear in her voice. This was too easy!
"But why didn't she take me as well?" Miroku inquired, very much confused. "And did you say that this youkai is female? May I enquire as to which form she takes?" He added, seeming suddenly a bit less worried for his missing friends, and a bit more curious about his alleged enemy.
"Oh, who knows why females do what they do. Perhaps she wanted some time with you personally. And as you intuited, her form is that of a beautiful woman." 'I didn't even have to lie to trick him with this!' Suki congratulated herself. 'I'm sure Shippo would realize how truly beautiful I am…'Suki sighed to herself, lost in her love of herself and Shippo.
"So where is this youkai exactly?" Miroku asks more urgently. 'It seems that meeting a lovely lady is more incentive than saving his friends,' Suki observed sardonically.
"She resides in the forest south of the village, but be warned. Her lair is concealed. When we sent exorcists in the past to get rid of her, she always managed to escape to it. It will take much diligence and skill to find her." Suki said solemnly, calculating that her warnings would keep him from giving up for a few hours at least. She of course wouldn't be anywhere near her nest while he was searching for it, and she was confident that he would never find it without a stronger sense of youki than her home emitted.
"Then I will start searching immediately. Do not worry if I do not return for some time, but know that I will bring my friends back at the very least." Miroku said bracingly, intending to quash any idea the headman might have had about his inadequacy for the task. Confident that the headman had understood, he strode out quickly with only his shakujou. He was sure that he would be able to find and dispose of the demon in enough time to return to the village by nightfall; food would not be necessary for such a short trip. Unfortunately for him, so intent was he as he left he failed to notice the gleeful glimmer playing across the headman's face. He would regret his error soon.
As he set out on his wild goose chase, his friends were busy enjoying another meal with their host, the real headman. They were completely unaware of him doing anything other than sleeping in a bit later than usual (courtesy of some powder Suki had allowed him to inhale). When they returned from their breakfast to find an empty futon where Miroku had been, they didn't worry over much. They assumed that he had gone to get supplies or his own breakfast in the village and so they started their own search for the youkai. Inuyasha set out to see if he could catch the youkai's scent while Sango and Kagome went to gather more information from the villagers who had fallen victim to the youkai's tricks. Sango and Kagome had agreed to speak with the victims from the opposite sides of the town so as to get more done more quickly, and it wasn't until lunchtime that any of the group would meet up with one of the others again.
"Damn that Miroku, where the hell can he be?" Inuyasha muttered to himself as he realized that he had not caught the Houshi's scent since breakfast. He was making his way back from the forest on the north side of the village after no success in his search for the youkai. He had never searched so long for such a low-level youkai and been unable to find any trace of the creature, and he couldn't help but wonder if it even existed. . Inuyasha growled involuntarily as a thought suddenly came to him. Perhaps the youkai didn't exist…perhaps this had all been a ruse by Miroku to get a chance to relax and maybe meet some local girls. Only Miroku had ever spoken with the village headman directly concerning the youkai, and he did vaguely recall something the monk had said regarding female companionship. 'No, that was ridiculous' he thought, mentally slapping himself. Miroku wanted to continue on the journey to defeat Naraku as much as he did, and while the monk might be a little more willing than himself to stop for those in need, and an inveterate pervert, he would never do such a thing as this. 'But still…' he continued. 'It was damn strange how Miroku disappeared so completely…'
Meanwhile, Suki puts the next stage of her plan into motion. Lifting an ordinary leaf to her head with a sly grin, she whispers "He'll never be able to convince those idiots it wasn't him…And by the time they've finally figured it out, it'll be too late, I'll have gotten them as well!" With a pop and a puff of smoke her small form is replaced by the exact replica of the monk now desperately searching for her miles away. His appearance, his voice, his shakujou, and even his scent (carefully noted to make sure the hanyou was fooled as well) are all reproduced perfectly. She grins, so like him, and yet so not like him. She is ready.
"Kagome, there you are, I've got something I need to tell you!" Suki calls to the startled miko across the road. She inwardly smiled at her good fortune. The girl was all alone, the scent of the taijiya and hanyou faint on the breeze from the north and east. She didn't have to employ one of her many minor tricks to get some time to speak with her alone.
Perfect.
"Miroku-sama, where have you been? We've been wondering where you went all morning!" Kagome rushed, surprised to have finally found him. She had just finished speaking with all the victims on her side of town and had been making her way toward the headman's house where their party had all agreed to meet and have lunch. It was a bit early to be eating, but as she had had nothing to do she had decided to go there and wait for them anyway. As she had walked, her mind had turned to the missing Houshi, and for this reason she was even more surprised to encounter him so suddenly.
"I was searching for the youkai, but I came back early hoping to have a word with you. Please, let us speak in the private rooms; this is not exactly something I can tell everyone." he explained, gesturing toward the headman's house and the rooms that had been provided for the group to sleep in.
Kagome's interest was immediately aroused and she did not speak again until they had entered and closed the doors behind them. "Miroku-sama, what is it? Is there something wrong with your Kazaana?" she queried breathlessly, her eyes alight with curiosity and concern.
Miroku/Suki shook his head, but before he could properly reply Kagome had begun again, a new idea having suddenly occurred to her. "Oooohh, is it something to do with Sango?" she squealed, delight for her friend almost glowing on her face.
"No, it's not that either. Now please hear me out before saying anything Kagome-sama…"
"Thank you for the information, and don't worry about the youkai; we'll take care of it quickly enough." Sango assured the apprehensive village woman. Receiving a smile and a nod in thanks, Sango turned around to make her way back to the headman's house. She had finally finished speaking with all the victims on the east side of the village and had learned a lot. Given the tricks this demon was capable of, she had determined it to be a kitsune, tanuki, or a monkey. None were especially dangerous fortunately, but they were mischievous, and this one seemed particularly sly. She and her companions would have to be very careful while dealing with this creature.
Her thoughts full of the youkai, Sango didn't notice Inuyasha calling to her from a few huts away for several moments.
"Sango! Oi, Sango! Kora, I'm right here dammit!" the annoyed and ignored hanyou shouted.
"Oh, I'm sorry Inuyasha, I didn't hear you. I was busy thinking about this youkai we're going to face…"Sango finally replied, only to drift off into thought yet again. Having finally met up with one another, they made their way toward the headman's house discussing the youkai and how best to deal with it. It wasn't until they were just entering the gate that Inuyasha noticed Miroku's and Kagome's scents nearby.
"There's that bastard monk! I'd been wondering where the hell he'd gone off to…" Inuyasha interrupted Sango suddenly.
"Oh, I almost forgot that Miroku had disappeared!" Sango said involuntarily. Her face, originally surprised and a little bashful for having forgotten the monk so easily, contorted quickly into a scowl. "He better not have been doing anything perverted while we were searching for that youkai!" she said angrily, striding quickly toward the rooms they had been given.
"Nah, Kagome's with him, if he had she'd smell angry." Inuyasha assured her as they came closer to the door, her scent wafting out strongly.
"Wait. You can smell emotions?" Sango asked, surprised enough to slow down her semi-rampage to a leisurely stroll. "How does that even work? I don't understand."
"Well, I don't really know how it works, but I can. For example, right now Kagome is…" he stopped suddenly, realizing exactly what Kagome was at that moment. They had just reached the strangely closed door and Inuyasha ripped it open, not caring for the damage he might cause.
"Kagome!" he shouted, a bit melodramatic but sincere all the same.
"…so you see, I have truly loved you all along, since the moment we first met. I would have confessed my feelings before, and tried to more than once but obviously I failed. I did ask you if you would bear my children once a long time ago; I want you to know that I'm even more interested than before." Miroku finished, smiling sincerely at Kagome's shocked and scared face. Suki was ecstatic. She could sense the other two coming toward the rooms, perfect timing for her to pull off the last bit of her trick. Even as Kagome stuttered, trying desperately to find something to say to such a confession, Miroku's hand snaked its way behind her.
Kagome was scared for herself, hurt and upset for Sango-chan, and utterly confused and shocked. She had never dreamed that Miroku-sama might have been in love with her! It was that fear and hurt now pouring off Kagome that Suki knew would drive the Hanyou crazy, and anticipating his outburst she considered her options for escape. She certainly didn't want Inuyasha to catch her in this form.
"Ano, Miroku-sama," Kagome finally began, even more scared than before (that she might hurt her friend with her rejection), just as two things seemed to happen instantaneously. Miroku, apparently not able to wait for an answer, began groping her backside just as Inuyasha burst into the room, livid with anger and concern. Seeing her shocked and scared face, and the monk currently violating her, he leapt for the monk, growling fiercely. Sango came in just after spying the monk's wandering hand, full of rage and jealousy. One look at Kagome's scared little face let her know her friend's innocence, and she turned to the Houshi with murder in her eyes. Suki, having barely avoided Inuyasha's first attack, made a quick get away, a leaf already in her hand as she dashed out to change her appearance to that of an innocent squirrel or tree. She did manage to shout out a rushed "Remember what I said Kagome! Don't let anything come between us, even Sango or Inuyasha!" and received the death glares she'd been hoping for. Hiding behind a bend in the path, she quickly changed her form before her pursuers could catch her, stifling her laughter even as she made her way toward the real Houshi in order to lure him back in time for the full brunt of his friends' anger.
Swearing furiously at having lost the lecher, Inuyasha came back to find Kagome weeping in Sango's arms. Unable to bear her tears but too embarrassed to go and take her into his arms with Sango already taking care of it, Inuyasha stood uneasily beside the two girls, shifting from foot to foot, his mind in a turmoil. What had Miroku done that had scared and hurt Kagome so much before he had entered? And what had that bastard meant about not letting Sango or himself come between Kagome and Miroku? Miroku didn't like Kagome that way, did he? Inuyasha's fears were soon answered as Kagome's sobs slowly became more coherent.
"Miroku-sama! Why?! I don't understand it! I, I never thought, that- that-.he, well, that he could-." Kagome shook uncontrollably, stuttering out her thoughts which were impossible to understand between her own confusion and her crying.
"Shhh, Kagome-chan, just start from the beginning," Sango soothed, keen to comfort her friend but also to understand what had happened.
"Stop worrying about it, just tell us. You know I wouldn't let anything happen to you." Inuyasha said gruffly, equally intent on helping the beautiful girl before him and discovering what the pervert had done this time. He thought back wistfully to his original theory to explain Miroku's absence. So far this one seemed far worse.
Slowly, and with much consoling and comforting and assurances throughout, Kagome explained what had happened. She started from the very beginning about how she had met up with the Houshi and he had wanted to speak with her, how he had wanted to do so privately, how he had not wanted to speak of his Kazaana, or the youkai, or Sango, but rather (and here Kagome sobbed for almost a minute straight, unable to continue for the guilt she felt toward Sango for stealing Miroku's affection from her), to confess his feelings for her. She hesitantly repeated as much as she remembered of his little speech, unable to meet the eyes of Sango or Inuyasha throughout. She finished with his last remark before Inuyasha had crashed in: 'I did ask you if you would bear my children once a long time ago; I want you to know that I'm even more interested than before'.
Silence reigned for a several minutes when Kagome finished, none of the group able to speak for their confusion and shock. Kagome brought the other two back to their senses with another heartfelt wail, this time throwing herself away from Sango in her guilt. "I'm so sorry Sango-chan, I had no idea, I, I, I never meant for any of this to happen!"
Inuyasha, giving in at last, roughly put his arms around her, chucking her chin up to say "Don't be stupid, nothing you've done has anything to do with this, right Sango?"
Sango responded immediately. "Of course not, Kagome-chan, anything Houshi-sama has done is exactly that: something Houshi-sama has done. Any and all blame for this situation lies with him, and never with you." Sango bit her lip as she said it, not able to hide the emotion in her voice. She couldn't believe what had happened. Miroku, in love with Kagome-chan? It was unthinkable. Or was it? She pondered. He did flirt with all the girls they met, especially the pretty ones, and there was no denying that Kagome-chan was pretty…But somehow she could never imagine him in love with her friend, despite his fondness for all women. 'That's it!' she realized suddenly. 'His confession to Kagome was just another one of his perverted plots again. He must have realized I was in town and would have seen him flirting with girls there and stopped him, so he went after the only girl he could find available! Poor Kagome-chan…'Sango thought, and immediately voiced her opinion to the others to end her friend's pain quickly.
Inuyasha who had been equally upset and confused by Miroku's actions seized upon Sango's idea at once. It made perfect sense, and it also meant he didn't have to worry about Miroku competing for Kagome's affections in the future as he had been worrying. Inuyasha could now get revenge on the pervert knowing that he'd never have to worry about such occurrences in the future. He was also glad to see (though he would never admit it) that this theory had eased Kagome's worries greatly and her tears had completely stopped.
Kagome slowly pulled from Inuyasha's grasp, relieved at this turn of events. Inuyasha, realizing how he'd been clinging to the girl, let go quickly as if he had been gripping a hot stove. Kagome fortunately didn't notice, lost in the revelation Sango's explanation had given her. 'It explained his actions perfectly when put in context with how he had acted in the past…The comment and the groping at the end only proved her theory all the more.' It was so good to know that she hadn't stolen the monk from Sango-chan; Kagome hadn't been able to bear the thought of her part in her friend's unhappiness. To know that the monk hadn't been serious about his love for her lifted a huge pressure of guilt and confusion that had settled over her as soon as he had begun his 'confession'.
All three sighed in relief, their confusion a thing of the past, ready to scold/beat Miroku to a pulp when he came back for yet another (if a bit more daring this time) lecherous deed.
Miroku was finally led back into the village around sunset by the feel of Suki's youki (she had disguised herself several different times and ways to make sure he never got a lock on the source of her energy). As he reached the edge of the settlement the youki suddenly vanished, and he sighed in defeat. It seemed that this beautiful women/demon had eluded him, and his friend's absence meant that he couldn't even look forward to seeing Sango or Kagome-sama to ease his eyes. Slowly he made his way back to the headman's house, set on eating quickly and sleeping early in order to start out early the next morning to continue his search for the youkai. The poor monk would not receive the quiet meal or peaceful slumber he desired, although the next morning he would be more set on finding the youkai than ever before.
A/N: Well here's chapter 3 up finally. Sorry it was so long, it's just that the prank was supposed to affect every member of the group emotionally so I had to go in depth with all of them…and it took longer than I thought it would. 7 pages if I'm right.
And please, if anyone has any ideas for pranks on Kagome or Inuyasha, I'm all ears. Especially Kagome. Please. I beg of you all, I can't think of anything good enough at all for her!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And please, please, please, please, pleaaaase review?????? I don't care if it's a one-liner, I'm desperate, and if I don't get an idea for Kagome's prank soon, I'll just end the story after hers and none of you will get to see what happens to Sango! (which by the way, is an oldie but goodie and I just couldn't resist….)
Ok, I talk too much I know.…..If anyone has any questions, please feel free to message me.
Chapter 4 should be up next week if I finally decide on which prank on INuyasha oh yeah he's next…