A/N: Well, I feel much more refreshed after a week's hiatus. On with the show. I promise this will be finished in September.
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Meeting the Crew
The weirdos just get weirder, Jack thought as what looked like an old witch twisted his chin this way and that.
"Hold still Jack," Annie giggled at his discomfort. "She's just trying to get a better look at you."
But under the cold, boney touch, Jack couldn't help squirming. He didn't know what to make of his inspector. The withered woman looked too stern to be the grandma-type and her eye-patch only helped make her look like an unfriendly pirate.
"Aye," the old lady finally said, releasing a very grateful Jack. "This boy is most certainly of another age like you, young Kagome, but he does not bear any spiritual power."
"You mean like the power to make Inuyasha sit?" Annie wondered.
The half-demon flinched at the word, then quickly crossed his arms. "Only Kagome can make me do that."
Kagome tried explaining. "More like fighting off evil demons and monsters."
Annie tilted her head. "And how do you do that?"
"Actually, anyone can do that, too," said another young lady, walking toward them with a huge boomerang strapped to her back. Annie saw that she wore a long green skirt and a beautiful pink and beige blouse. She looked a little older than Kagome. "Hi, I'm Sango."
"Nice to meet you. I'm Annie, this is my brother Jack, and – oh, what a cute little kitty!"
"That's Kirara," Sango laughed as the two-tailed kitten scurried into Annie's open arms.
"I've never seen a cat like that before," Jack observed, pushing up his glasses again. "Is it...a demon?"
"Well, yes, but Kirara's also my friend," Sango beamed.
"So some demons are good?" Annie kept her eyes on Kirara as she scratched the feline's butterscotch stomach.
"Yes, some of them are valuable partners to us," joined a young man in black and purple robes, the rings of his staff jingling at his approach. "Isn't that right, dear Sango?"
"And some of them are just plain irritating," she retorted. "Eh, lord monk?"
"That's Miroku, a Buddhist monk and our friend," Kagome said, keeping the children close and somewhat blocking their view of Sango and Miroku.
"Why doesn't Sango just call him by his name?" Jack asked as the pair continued to trade banter in their own little world.
Kagome smiled. "She finds…her own special way of saying things."
Annie caught the look Sango gave Miroku. It was kind her mother used on her and Jack, the one that meant "you better behave yourself or else."
"Hey, Miroku, no goofing off in front of these kids," piped a voice from behind the monk.
"Oh, my –!" Jack started at the sight of giant, pink beach ball with huge eyes and shriveled arms and legs. Suddenly it popped and pint-sized kid with russet hair stood in its place.
"Wow! New people!" the boy said, and what looked like a bushy tail wagged behind him. "My name's Shippo and I'm the proud leader of this band of warri – awk!"
Inuyasha's heel ground into Shippo's back. "You were sayin'? Leader?"
"Inuyasha," Kagome warned.
"Please, let's try to extrude some manners in the company of such impressionable minds." Miroku solemnly placed a hand to his chest.
"You're one to talk," Sango mumbled.
Jack was starting to get fidgety. "So, do you get a lot of demon attacks?"
"Around here?" Inuyasha arched a thick, black brow. "Not with me and my Tetsusaiga." He patted the sword at his side proudly.
"Wow! Will we get to see you in action?" Annie sounded more thrilled than her brother thought healthy.
As if on cue, the ground started to tremble. The shaking grew more violent with every minute; first, rattling pebbles and then shifting the very soil beneath their feet.
"Is this an earthquake?" Jack automatically pulled his sister closer.
"No, but it looks like you kids are gonna get your answer." Inuyasha drew the scruffy-hilted Tetsusaiga at his side and the blade burst into a dazzling display of flame. "We've ourselves a demon to slay!"