Healing the Moon

Disclaimer: Me no own.

Chapter Three

"Son of a bitch!"

Rolling her eyes, Midori tightened the last of the bandages around Miroku's chest before straightening to confront the irate hanyou. Inuyasha stormed into the room, eyes aflame, snarling. "Your language is appalling, Inuyasha-san."

"You got a problem with me, bitch?!"

"Other than your atrocious manners -"

"Then why the fuck are we still here?!"

A soft sigh passed Midori's lips as she calmly gathered her supplies. "Follow me, Inuyasha-san," she said as she walked out of the room. Once he'd followed her out, she slid the door shut behind them. "Miroku-san is still too weak to be moved, Inuyasha-san. If he was able to walk even for a few minutes, I would give you permission to leave. However, he cannot. And I will not condemn you and your friends to hardship simply because I was becoming vastly annoyed with your presence."

Inuyasha growled slightly. "We've managed just fine before we met you."

"But the fact remains that you and your companions came to my families estate in need of aide. You have trusted my judgment in the care of your friends' lives, yes?"

"I may be a hanyou, but even I've heard about the skill of the Hikari clan in the art of healing. Speaking of, why haven't I seen anyone other than your guards, assistants, and you?"

Looking at the hanyou, Midori smiled sadly. "I am the last of my clan. We have faced many hardships, and now there is only myself. But you need not concern yourself over such things. Only focus on the rest and recuperation of yourself and your companions." She calmly walked down the porch and further into the healing ward.

~*~*~*~*~*~

"She's the only one left?" Sango asked, frowning slightly.

The entire group was sitting in Miroku's room, sharing the evening meal together. Inuyasha swallowed his stew before nodding. "That's what she said. But wouldn't we have heard about something like that? I mean, an entire clan of healers just dies off?"

"It was nearly a decade ago, Inuyasha," Miroku said softly. The others looked at him in shock. "I remember Mushin talking with a few of the other monks about it. The entirety of the Western region was in an uproar because the Hikari clan had been decimated, seemingly overnight. It was rumored that some of the soldiers were able to escape with a single child of the clan, in hopes that they would not die out completely."

"Do you know what happened?" Kagome asked.

"No one knows for certain. I don't think that even Lady Midori knows what caused the destruction of her clan. But from what Mushin said, I would assume that a local daimyo did not wish for them to help every traveler that came along."

"That's horrible. Even in my village we heard about the Hikari clan. They were well-liked by many villages, and offered aide to any who asked," Sango stated calmly. She placed a hand on her recently-healed arm. "To lose an entire clan of skilled healers..."

"Maybe that was the problem," Inuyasha snapped, causing the others to look at them. "They obviously helped someone they shouldn't have. The local daimyo heard about it, and killed them off."

"Inuyasha!" the others exclaimed.

Kagome glared and grabbed one of his furry ears, twisting it slightly. "How can you be so callous! No one deserves to have their entire clan wiped out just because they helped someone!"

"I agree with Kagome-sama," Miroku said. "Killing them off is simply too extreme. Even a daimyo would understand that. To lose the entirety of the clan would cause too much of an uproar."

"So it was probably someone who wouldn't care about the repercussions," Sango added softly.

The group grew quiet in contemplation, and were subdued as they continued their meal."

Outside of the room, Midori calmly walked away. Keigo watched his lady sadly as she moved towards him. "Midori-sama?"

"I'm fine, Keigo. They were simply talking about -"

"I heard, milady. Do you wish for me to speak with them?"

"No. It will do no good, at any rate. What's done is done. But there is nothing to be accomplished by dwelling in the past. Allow them to speculate. I am going to retire, Keigo."

"What do you wish for me to say, if they have questions?"

"Tell them that such things are best left buried."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"We can leave?" Inuysasha stared at the healer in shock as she changed the linens on his bed.

"Miroku-san has made a great deal of progress this past week, Inuyasha-san. He is strong enough now that I have no worries about allowing you and your companions to leave." She smiled at him as he grinned. "But you must remember to take it easy. If it appears as if your companions are tiring, stop and allow them to rest."

"Yeah, yeah," Inuyasha scoffed as he went to collect the rest of his companions. "Let's go! Come on! We're leaving!"

It took nearly an hour for the inu-tachi to gather their belongings, and for Midori to gather some provisions for them. However, they were all standing at the gates of the estate well before noon. "Safe journey, and much fortune in your endeavors," Midori said.

"Thank you for all of your assistance, Midori-sama," Miroku smiled calmly. "However, I have a simple request before we leave." He took one of her hands in his own. "Will you do me the honor of bearing my child?"

Hiraikotsu collided with the back of his head and he grinned sheepishly at the taijiya. "Miroku..."

Laughing softly, Midori shook her head. Feeling a soft tug on her hakama, Midori looked down and smiled at Shippo. Taking the kit into her arms, she hugged him gently. "I am counting on you to take care of them, Shippo-chan."

"I will, Midori-mama. And I'll be sure to remember your lessons," the kit said, trying to hide the tears in his eyes.

"No tears. We'll see each other again."

"Hai." He hugged her around the neck and gave her a kiss on the cheek before allowing himself to be handed over to Kagome.

"Goodbye, and thanks for all your help," the miko said as they all turned and walked away.

Giving a final bow at the backs of the travelers, Midori gestured for the gates to be closed. Keigo smiled softly. "You shall see them again, milady. A group such as they are bound to get injured again."

Midori laughed and nodded. "You are correct. We shall see them again."

As they moved towards the main estate, Midori stopped and frowned. Keigo turned to her, a worried expression on his face. "Milady?"

"I'm sure its nothing, Keigo," Midori said, looking over her shoulder at the gates. "I suddenly had a great sense of fear. As if someone had told me that my doom was at hand."

"Possibly just your concern for the travelers, milady. Come, the servants are preparing the midday meal."

Nodding, Midori followed the captain of her guard into the estate.

~*~*~*~*~*~

A/N: Well, there's chapter three. A little bit of background into the Hikari clan, and the Inu-tachi is once more on the road. Wonder what'll happen in the next chapter? Hmmm........

Expect the next chapter by next Wednesday.

Ja ne!