Thanks to everyone who reviewed and enjoyed the last chapter. Now, this chapter is going to really start picking up on the plot. So be prepared. :P
Chapter six
I rode with Sango on Kirara as Inuyasha and Miroku ran along side her. All of us were silent, as everyone knew what had transpired last night, and were afraid to break the tension. Inuyasha didn't look at me, and he had been avoiding me. I had been avoiding him as well, so it wasn't as if it was entirely him.
I sighed. Why did I have to let myself get tangled up in a mess like this? It's all so complicated . . . Ugh . . .
"There! At the top of the mountain!" Sango pointed, and when I looked, I recognized it at the remains of her village. "There's our destination!"
"All right, then let's hurry and get there! We need to get this done already!" Inuyasha complained, and I wondered what had gotten him in such a rush.
At the pace we were going, it wasn't long before we reached Sango's old village. There was nothing but burned down houses and piles of junk everywhere, and then there were many graves, which had been dug by me, Sango, and Kaede to bury the dead.
"Such a terrible fate." Miroku murmured, whispering a holy incantation to put the souls of the dead to rest.
"Well, there's nothin' we can do about it now." Inuyasha crossed his arms over his chest. "Sango, where's this cave of yours?" he turned to face her, and I glared at him for being so insensitive, because Sango was looking about the village with very sad eyes.
She sighed. "You're right. Let's get this done. The cave is this way."
She led us through the rubble and behind the village, and it wasn't long, before we came across the large mouth of a cave, which led deep into the earth. I could hear a low humming, and I knew it was the barrier that Sango spoke of.
"Can you hear it?" I asked them out loud. "That humming. It's the barrier."
"I'm not sure how to get past it." Sango admitted. "But I remember my father telling me something that you could only pass through if Midoriko allows it."
"Well, I've got the jewel, and I don't want to harm her resting place. I want to help put her soul to rest." I said, reaching up and touching the jewel.
"And I as well, would like to end this curse, once and for all." Miroku agreed, stepping up to my side.
"I feel that if I put Midoriko's soul to rest, I will be helping my village, because the cave is here, and we protected it. I feel as if it's my duty to do this." Sango joined us.
Inuyasha folded his arms lazily behind his head. "I'm just here for the ride, but if I get to fight any demons, that'll make my day. And I'm already in this, so . . . whatever."
All four of us were left speechless when suddenly the humming stopped, and I hesitantly stepped forward. When I was met with no resistance, I started descending down into the cave. With the others didn't follow me, I turned to face them. "Come on! Obviously Midoriko has decided to let us inside!" The others exchanged glances before they followed me down.
The descent was long, but when we reached the bottom, I was shocked by what I saw.
Before us, were demons everywhere. The cavern within was massive, and demon covered almost every inch of it. In the center of the cavern, surrounded by the demons and on top of one, was a woman, a large, gaping hole in her chest.
But everything was crystallized. The demons all looked like crystal figures, along with the woman in the middle. "Midoriko . . ." I whispered. The woman had to be her.
"That must be where the jewel left her body." Sango said softly, and she walked up to the woman, examining the hole.
"So . . . now that we're here, how do we contact Midoriko?" I asked aloud.
"Maybe we should wait." Sango suggested.
We stood there in silence for a while, and finally, Inuyasha's impatience got the better of him. "Nothin's happening! I hope one of you has a better idea, because I've got nothin'." With that, he crossed his arms over his chest, glowering ahead.
"Kagome," Miroku turned to me, "take the sacred jewel and place it in the hole in Midoriko's chest."
My eyes widened. "But what if that awakens the demons?"
"I will place spirit wards around them and along the walls so only Midoriko's spirit can be contacted." Miroku explained, and began to do so. When he had finished, I turned to face Midoriko, and stepped forward, pulling the jewel from my neck, and placing it in the hole in her chest.
For a moment, nothing happened. But then, the jewel began to glow, and the cave began to rumble. My hand went to my bow instinctively.
"What's happening?" Inuyasha demanded, flexing his claws as all of us tensed.
"Maybe that wasn't a good idea." Sango grabbed her boomerang, holding it at the ready.
"Kagome, look out!" Miroku suddenly shouted.
I whipped around, and raised my bow just in time to block the sword that was coming toward my head. It was wielded by Midoriko, who was no longer crystalized. I could see the jewel glowing from the hole in her chest, and her eyes were narrowed at me. She was beautiful, with dark, flowing hair, and deep blue eyes. Three dots were tattooed into her forehead, and she wore thick armor over a priestess's garb.
"Who has dared to summon me from the dead like this?" she demanded, holding her sword fiercely to my bow. "Was it you, priestess?"
"Well, technically, yes." I replied warily. "But it's for a good reason. Midoriko, your soul is not truly at rest."
"And you plan to put it to rest?" Midoriko finally pulled her blade back, but did not pull it away. "You are not the first to come to me with this proclamation, if that is what you wish to tell me."
My brow furrowed. "I'm sure that we have far much more motivation that any of the others."
Midoriko's eyes narrowed. "So then, enlighten me, priestess."
"That man there," I pointed to Miroku, "is cursed with the wind tunnel that you inflicted upon one of his grandfathers a long time ago."
"With good reason." Midoriko interjected. "However . . . I did not guess that it would pass down through the generations. That wasn't my wish."
"But it has." I informed her. "And because of that, many of the men in Miroku's family have been consumed by the kazaana that you placed upon them. This wind tunnel will continue to plague his family until it is completely eradicated, unless you remove this curse."
Midoriko shook her head. "I wish to aid you in this task, but I cannot. I am dead, and do not possess the power to remove it at this time."
"But what if your spirit was put to rest? Would the wind tunnel vanish?" Sango asked, coming forward.
"Yes, young demon slayer. If my spirit was put to rest, the curse would no longer hold and would vanish." Midoriko looked to Miroku. "Monk, is that your only reason for putting my spirit to rest? For your own gain?"
Geez, she makes him sound so selfish for wanting to save his life. I thought, but didn't dare say it out loud. "Midoriko," she looked back to me, "that isn't the only reason we want to. Also, because of the Shikon no Tama."
"Ahh, the jewel of four souls." Midoriko closed her eyes, and there was a half smile on her face.
"Yes. If your spirit is put to rest, the jewel will vanish forever." I explained. "And the world would be better off without the jewel. No offense or anything."
"None taken." Midoriko sighed. "It wasn't my intention that the jewel should be conjured in the first place, but you are correct. It would be better if the jewel did not exist."
"So, can you tell us how to get rid of it?" I asked.
"Unfortunately, it will be no easy task . . ." Midoriko hesitated. "The jewel of four souls was the result of my fusion with the demons to end the battle. However, the jewel was not the only result. In that moment, something else was created . . ."
"Something else?" Miroku questioned, his brow furrowing.
"Yes. The jewel was formed from the fusion of souls, but . . . the hatred of the demons for me and their greed for power fused together, and created a most horrible being, a demon. And this demon still wanders the earth, and is my tie to this world. This demon is the epitome of evil." Midoriko looked away, a faraway look in her eyes, and I knew she was reminiscing.
"If I were not in the condition that I am, I would have slain him myself." She went on quietly. "This demon kills without regrets, and slays all that stand in his path. Killing the helpless or the weak is not beyond him, nor the killing of children. "
"That's terrible!" I said, appalled.
"Where can we find this sick bastard?" Inuyasha asked, obviously as disturbed as I was.
"I know not his whereabouts at the moment, but just that he is alive, and his killings are slow, for the moment. When the jewel went under a new protector, his activity dwindled." Midoriko's tone was solemn as she went on. "As for the reason for this, I also do not know. Perhaps it is because he is going to find a way to slay the new protector and take the jewel for himself."
"But if he wanted the jewel, couldn't he have taken it from the previous protector?" I asked.
"Not if he knew that he could not kill them easily." Midoriko replied.
"Is there any information at all you can give us about this demon to help us find him? Anything at all?" Miroku was desperate for information, and it was understandable. He wanted to rid himself of the wind tunnel, and aid me in my quest, as well.
"He is known as the 'white child' in these lands." Midoriko answered. "He is highly feared and there are sure to be villages that can give you more information further on toward the west. This is where he went to attack. There were many villages he slew simply for the pleasure, this one being one of them."
Sango's eyes widened. "This . . . this bastard is responsible for the death of my people!"
"Sango . . ." Miroku put his hand on her arm, and I could sense Sango's fury.
"It was one of the first villages he targeted when he started to slay villages, because it was full of demon slayers. There is no greater threat than that." Midoriko replied.
"Then that means . . . he could also be responsible for the slaying of my village, and Rin's!" I realized. "This only gives us more reason to kill him. He has to be taken down."
"His evil knows no bounds." Midoriko said quietly.
"We'll find him, and we'll take him down." Inuyasha declared. "I've heard enough, and it makes me sick."
"You, half demon." Midoriko turned to face him. "What do you hope to gain from this?"
"Feh. I don't owe you an explanation." he replied arrogantly, glaring at her.
Midoriko shook her head. "Fine by me, demon. I sense you four are different from the others who claim to be able to put my soul to rest. And so I am counting on the four of you to keep to your word. Slay the white child, and put my soul at peace." Midoriko reached into her chest and pulled out the jewel, and I took it from her. When the jewel left her hand, her body once more turned to crystal, and she was still once more.
I looked back at the others, and I knew, by the looks on their faces, that they felt the same way that I did. That we had to slay this demon at all costs and stop him. He was responsible for so much trouble and pain in our lives, and we had to put a stop to it. It was our only hope.
Sango had been extremely quiet ever since we had left the cave, and I knew it was because she was in deep thought about her village. She was upset, and that much was evident, in her body language and expression. I felt for her, because I knew how she had to be feeling, because I was feeling the same way.
This demon is responsible for the death of my parents, and my own village . . . And for Rin's . . . he's done so much evil to all of us. And he is the reason that the wind tunnel is not broken on Miroku's hand. We can't sit by any longer and allow this to carry on. I thought determinedly.
I glanced over at Inuyasha, who was running alongside Kirara, along with Miroku. Everyone was quiet, and lost in their own thoughts. I wonder who this demon is, and how we'll find him.
"Midoriko said that we should head west to find more information out about this demon!" Miroku called, over the rush of the wind in our ears. "There is a village up ahead that we might be able to press for some information."
"Then we'll stop there and ask around." Inuyasha confirmed. "Anyone got a problem with that?" When no one protested, we quickened our way toward the village up ahead.
Suddenly, Inuyasha faltered in his steps, and sniffed the air. "What is it?" I asked.
"I smell blood. Human blood. And it's fresh." He began to growl. "It's coming from the village! And I can smell a demon too!"
"Then we'd better hurry! Kirara, faster!" Sango pressed her heels into Kirara's sides, and we began to rush towards the village.
I pulled my bow off my shoulder and nocked an arrow in the bow, and as we approached the village, my eyes widened when I saw the flames roaring up all around the houses. "It's on fire!" I cried.
"This is definitely the work of a demon!" Inuyasha growled. "C'mon!"
I jumped off Kirara once we were inside the village. People were running and screaming, and I could smell the blood. I looked up as I heard a loud roar, and my eyes widened when I saw a horse, up above me. It was far larger than an ordinary horse, and it's body was pure white. It's eyes were blood red, with black slitted pupils, and it's mane was fiery orange, and flames whipped up about its hooves. The horse whinnied, and opened its mouth, and a large pillar of flame billowed down toward me.
"Kagome!" I was seized around the waist and jerked out of the way, and the fire missed me by inches. I looked over my shoulder, seeing it was Inuyasha who had saved me.
"So you're the one who's done this?" Inuyasha bared his fangs up at the horse.
"I've heard of that demon! That's Entei, the horse demon of fire!" Sango informed us. "Don't underestimate him. He's very dangerous!"
"I don't care what he is, because he's going to die!" Inuyasha let go of me and darted over to a house that wasn't on fire, and leapt on top of it, using the leverage to jump up in the air after Entei. Entei's form flickered and then vanished, and I gasped.
I heard a snort from behind me, and I whipped around and shot my arrow as soon as I saw the horse behind me. Apparently I was fast enough, for the arrow embedded itself into Entei's chest. The horse roared in agony and flames began to fly everywhere from its mouth as it thrashed. Bolts of energy sizzled all over its body, wrecking havoc in their wake.
"Kagome, get out of the way, you stupid miko!" Inuyasha grabbed me a second time and whisked me away in his arms as Entei rushed towards me.
"You are far too accident prone!" Inuyasha muttered to me, as he landed on top of a roof.
"Inuyasha, let me climb into your back. You don't have a weapon anyway." I said.
"Fine." he crouched, and I climbed onto his back, his hands grasping my thighs in place as he lifted me.
"Hiraikotsu!" Sango flung her boomerang at Entei, who was up in the sky at this point. Entei dodged the boomerang easily, and Kirara missed the great horse with her mighty jaws as she sailed by.
Miroku was on Kirara's back, and I knew instantly what he was going to do as he grabbed the prayer beads on his right hand. "Inuyasha, stay back!" I said in Inuyasha's ear. "Got ya." he responded, and lowered down.
Miroku pulled the beads off, and aimed his hand at Entei. "Wind tunnel!"
Entei whinnied and thrashed back and forth, but couldn't seem to escape the grasp of the wind tunnel as it sucked him in forcibly. We watched as the horse was violently sucked forward toward the endless black hole.
My eyes widened when there was a flash of white and pinkish purple, and a boy, no more than a mere child, appeared beside Miroku in the air, and smacked his right hand with the end of the spear he held. Miroku sealed the wind tunnel immediately, and the child darted away towards Entei.
Kirara flew over to Inuyasha and I with Sango and Miroku on her back, and all five of us stared up at the child and Entei. "And just who are you?" Inuyasha demanded.
The child smiled, and it was disturbing. His eyes were cold and merciless, and they were a pinkish purple color, along with his hair, which was long. His eyes were smudged with shadows, and his skin was a very pale, white color. He wielded a spear, and something about him was off, and just plain creepy.
"I am Hakudoushi. I am known as the 'white child' in these lands." his voice was as icy as his eyes, and he seemed pleased by our reactions to who he was.
"So you're the one we need to confront?" Inuyasha grinned. "Fine by me. You're just a little brat anyway."
Hakudoushi smiled again. "How foolish. Underestimating me due to appearances? Do you have any idea how many demons like you I've slaughtered? Don't be so quick to judge."
"Midoriko said not to underestimate him." Miroku added. "I could sense his demonic aura from here in waves, and it's overpowering."
"It seems the monk is smarter than you, mere hanyou." Hakudoushi's eyes flashed.
"Were you responsible for what happened to this village?" I demanded.
"Entei is under my control, so more or less." Hakudoushi seemed unconcerned for the fate of the village. "I would have slaughtered each and every villager with my own hands, but I had errands to attend to."
"You sick bastard! You were the one who slaughtered all of my village!" Sango shouted. "I'll kill you!"
"Ah, yes, the little demon slayer from two years ago. You've grown a little." Hakudoushi tilted his head to the side, as if appraising her. "Hmm . . . you're tougher. I should have made sure you were dead. How terrible it must be, to look at the very person responsible for all the pain and misery in your life, and not be able to do a thing about it."
Sango's rage got the better of her, and before we could stop her, she flung her boomerang at Hakudoushi, screaming, "DIE!"
Hakudoushi didn't move from his spot, and right before the boomerang hit him, it struck something hard in front of him, and a red barrier appeared. The boomerang began to glow, and a moment later, it was flung back in our direction. Sango and Miroku cried out as the boomerang struck them, sending them, along with Kirara, into the ground.
"You bastard!" Inuyasha was growling as he bared his fangs at the demon.
"I suppose you're going to challenge me next? You don't even have a weapon. There's nothing you can do to harm me." Hakudoushi brandished his spear. "I didn't plan on killing you just yet, but if you want to chance it, I'd be delighted to indulge you." he smirked.
"Inuyasha, don't." I whispered. "There's nothing you can do against that barrier. We need something to break through it."
"Can you fire a sacred arrow?" Inuyasha whispered back.
"I can, but he'll send it back at us." I replied.
"As I'm sure all of you already know, I am a demon that was created from the pure hatred and greed from the demons who battled Midoriko. I am the very essence of hate itself." Hakudoushi's eyes narrowed as he went on. "I can see into the hearts of all humans alike, and see their darkest desires, and darkest emotions. I see the thoughts in your minds. There's nothing that escapes me. I can possess your soul, fuse it with mine, and put you under my control."
"So tell me, Hakudoushi, what do you really want?" I demanded. "You slaughter these villages but what purpose does it serve?"
"Simply my own pleasure. But, what do I want, you ask? The Shikon Jewel, of course. Not to use it's power. I'm already powerful enough on my own. I am quite aware that if I am slain, Midoriko's soul will rest. But the jewel must also be made to disappear, and this is another task in itself. I wish to taint the jewel, so this is impossible." Hakudoushi smirked down at us. "You, priestess, are the new guardian of the jewel. I had bided my time, and bided it well, waited for the perfect opportunity to strike and seize the jewel. And I will take it from your lifeless body."
"Not in this life you won't! You won't lay a hand on her!" Inuyasha snarled. I was touched. Inuyasha . . .
Hakudoushi suddenly laughed, and the sound was cruel. Cold chills ran up and down my spine. "Is that so? Tell me, half demon, will you cry when she is dead? Remember, I can see your innermost desires . . . what would you be, without the woman who first showed you kindness? You would be a soulless monster . . . I could use this to my advantage. Consider it, Inuyasha." We didn't bother to ask how he knew the name. He could read our thoughts, so it only made sense he knew us by name. "If you joined me, as my servant, I could use my power to make you fully demon. Isn't that what you truly desire?"
"Get out of my head!" Inuyasha roared, infuriated. I'd never seen Inuyasha so angry before.
Hakudoushi laughed again, and I shuddered. "I will give you this opportunity, Inuyasha. To join me, and rule under me, as a full fledged demon. I can give you that desire." his cold eyes were compelling and unforgiving.
"Shut your mouth, you stupid brat!" Inuyasha was shaking, he was so angry. "There's not a chance in hell I'd join you!"
Hakudoushi settled back, and he was still smiling coldly. "Hmph. You might change your mind once the priestess is dead, along with the demon slayer and the monk. I'll kill them all, Inuyasha, and you will have nothing and no one to turn to. Consider your options wisely." With those cold words, Hakudoushi backflipped and landed on Entei, and they vanished from our sight.
"We have to stop the fire!" I reminded Inuyasha, once Hakudoushi was gone. He nodded.
"Miroku, can you suck the burning houses up in your wind tunnel?" Inuyasha turned to the monk, who was still recovering from the blow of the boomerang. He, Sango, and Kirara looked all right for the most part.
"I can!" Miroku jumped from Kirara's back and went to do so.
"We need to save the villagers who might be trapped in the houses." I said to Inuyasha and Sango, and they nodded.
Inuyasha let me down, and I ran inside one of the burning houses that Miroku wasn't going after yet, and heard a child crying within. I found the child buried within blankets, and picked up the little girl, carrying her from the house and to her mother, who was nearby and crying.
"Kagome, out of the way!" Inuyasha called, and I ran as Miroku sucked up the burning house.
It took some effort, but within time, the fires were put out, and the village was saved, for the most part. The villagers thanked us profusely for coming to the rescue, and offered us lodging from the houses that were left. They made us food, and even paid us a little money to thank us.
"Huh, and you didn't even have to scam them to get all of this." Sango commented to Miroku as she ate her eggroll.
"Scam? I have no idea what you're talking about." He replied, sipping his tea.
"Of course you don't." I muttered, taking a bite of my rice.
Inuyasha had already eaten, and he was sitting off to the side, by himself as usual. He didn't look angry, but I could tell something was bothering him. So I stood up and moved over.
"Are you all right?" I asked softly.
"What Hakudoushi said . . . about me wanting to become a demon . . . and about killing you . . ." Inuyasha trailed off.
I nodded. "He's not going to kill me though. Because I know you'll protect me." I said softly.
Inuyasha looked over and met my gaze. "Kagome . . ."
"I understand that you can't protect me from every little thing that happens, but you can protect me from things and people like Hakudoushi. I believe that you can." I went on. "So stop worrying about it. Because I'm safe. And I know you aren't going to become a full demon, at least not right now. I like you as I half demon, and I hope you'll stay that way. There's nothing wrong with it."
I could tell, in Inuyasha's expression, that he was touched by my words. Suddenly he smiled and closed his eyes, shaking his head.
"What?" I asked, worried.
"You don't get it, do you, stupid? When we were out there, with Hakudoushi, I could hear him, talking to me, but in my head . . . and he said that if I couldn't keep proper control on my inner demon, I could kill you." Inuyasha said quietly.
"What do you mean?"
"When my inner demon takes over, I don't recognize friend from foe. I just kill. I don't feel any pain or suffering. Just . . . killing. That's all I know." Inuyasha looked away.
"You've gone through it?" I whispered, scared of the thought.
"Once. A long time ago."
"Well . . . I don't think it will happen to you again. I have faith that it won't." I replied softly. "So stop worrying." I repeated. "You worry too much about all of these things. We're going to defeat Hakudoushi, and get rid of the jewel."
"But to do that, we're going to need something more than what we've got now." Miroku interjected, obviously having overheard our conversation. "Hakudoushi can produce a barrier that is obviously invulnerable to all of our weapons that we possess. We need something that can penetrate that barrier."
"Inuyasha is the only one without a weapon besides his claws." I replied. "So . . . something that Inuyasha can wield. He's the strongest out of all of us, after all, and the most durable. It would be most logical to give the weapon to Inuyasha."
"I agree with Kagome. We need to get a weapon for Inuyasha that can break demonic barriers." Sango agreed. "But a weapon like that is extremely powerful. I used to aid my father in crafting weapons, and a weapon like that is not something that can be made by mankind. Only demons make weapons like that."
"Then we just need to find a demon who has a weapon like that. Simple enough." Inuyasha confirmed.
"But how are we going to find a demon like that? I mean, we can ask around, but . . . I mean, maybe Kaede knows something. We can head back to the village and ask. If anyone knows anything about demon blacksmiths, it'll be Kaede." I replied.
"Then we can head back for our village in the morning." Sango replied. "But it'll take us a few days to get back, even with Kirara. So we're going to have to be on the lookout until then. Hakudoushi is a strong opponent, and he can strike for the jewel at any minute."
"Sango's right. We're going to have to be on edge for a while. I don't believe that Hakudoushi will strike anytime soon, because I sense that Hakudoushi is the type of foe who wants a challenge in battle. I'm sure he'll give us plenty of time to gather strength up." Miroku reasoned.
"Damn it, I can't stand this!" Inuyasha growled suddenly. "It's like bein' toyed with."
"Sadly, Hakudoushi seems that exact type. Unfortunately, there's nothing we can do, other than to get some rest for now. We've got a long journey ahead of us." Miroku replied.
I sighed. "This is going to take a lot longer than I originally thought."
"You said it." Inuyasha muttered, looking moody.
The next day, we were walking along the road to give Kirara a break from carting us around, and we ran into a band of human travelers. It consisted of a beautiful young woman and two men, and they asked us if we wanted to join them for lunch since we were fellow travelers.
The woman's name was Ayumi, and Miroku, of course, decided he would lavish her with attention. He sat down beside her, and she smiled at him. Sango was watching with hawk eyes, and Inuyasha looked uninterested as he ate his own food. I watched Miroku carefully as well.
"So, Ayumi, you say that you travel with these two in search of stolen valuables?" Miroku questioned.
"Yes, monk. Why?"
"Well, a maiden in distress always catches my attention. And it just occurred to me that perhaps you could join us on our journey, and we could help you search." Miroku offered. "And in that process, I would also like you to consider . . ." he took her hands in his. "bearing my children."
"You're not going to be a father anytime soon." Sango growled, as she marched over and grabbed his ear, yanking him away.
"No, Sango, it was an honest mistake! Forgive me, please!" Miroku cried as she dragged him off. I shook my head. Those two. . .
"Tch, what a jerk." Inuyasha muttered, from where he laid on the ground with his hands laced behind his head. Kirara mewed in agreement from where she rested on his chest, her tails swishing back and forth. "The only thing he seems concerned with is stroking women's butts."
I reached down and rubbed Inuyasha's ears. "Good boy." I praised. He growled up at me.
I glanced up as I heard Sango's angry voice, and I saw she was standing off to the side with Miroku, and was apparently letting him have it, from the looks of it. I raised my eyebrows, and Inuyasha sat up when he saw my attention was elsewhere.
"Hey, where are you going?" He asked, when I stood up.
"To spy." I replied.
"Tch, women." But Inuyasha stood up as well, and tiptoed along behind me. Kirara jumped onto my shoulder, obviously going to watch as well.
Once I'd found a good hiding spot, I began to eavesdrop. ". . . being a lecher! Can't you keep your hands to yourself, ever?" Sango demanded.
Miroku sighed. "It's a bad habit, Sango. I just can't seem to help myself when I'm in the presence of a beautiful woman." His hand drifted down, and began to rub Sango's bottom. Her eyes widened, and she flushed red before slapping him. "Do you see?"
"Ugh, you're disgusting!" she clenched her fists. "Can't you just settle down with one woman?"
Miroku smiled at her. "Why, are you offering, beautiful Sango?"
"Eh, what?" her face flushed again. "Of course not! Why would I offer to be . . . your wife . . ." I could see the nervousness written all over her face, and though she would die before admitting it, I could tell the thought appealed to her. I smiled. You go, Sango! I thought, and clenched my own fists. Inuyasha 'tched' at me.
"Sango, I've already asked you once to bear my children. The offer still stands." Miroku took Sango's hands in his. "If you like."
Sango jerked her hands away. "Don't be ridiculous, Miroku."
"I do care about you, lovely Sango." Miroku admitted. "Out of all the women, you are the loveliest."
"What a jerk." Inuyasha muttered. "Give him a minute, and he'll be stroking her butt."
"Shh!" I hissed at him, and turned back to listen.
"Miroku, what are you saying?" Sango stammered. "We don't know each other that well-"
"Time does not transcend feelings, Sango." Miroku replied. He smiled down at her. "But I am afraid this conversation will have to wait until later. I must bid those travelers goodbye before they leave."
"Aww . . ." I slumped with disappointment. "I was hoping that would go somewhere."
"Don't count on it. Sango's too proud to admit how she feels." Inuyasha muttered.
"I know!" I sighed. "I hate when people are too proud to admit how they feel. If you love someone, you should just come right out and say it."
"Exactly." Inuyasha agreed.
"At least we agree on that." I replied, standing up, and coming out from my hiding spot with Inuyasha trailing after me.
Sango and Miroku were bidding the other travelers farewell by this point, and hadn't even seemed to notice Inuyasha's and my absence. When they realized we were behind them, they both looked like they were guilty of something. It was sort of funny.
I smiled secretly at Sango, who avoided my gaze at all costs. I would ask her more about it later. For now, we had to get going.
How many of you guys guessed it was Hakudoushi? I couldn't help it. I love that kid. He's my favorite villian, even over Naraku, so, he has to be the main villian. Just HAS to be. Haha.
But, anyway . . . random thought occurred to me. Some of you may be wondering why I never have Shippo in any of my stories. Well the thing is . . . I'm probably going to get in trouble for saying it, but . . . Shippo, in my eyes, is extremely annoying, and I really don't want to deal with putting him in here. I mean, occasionally he proves himself to be useful or kind of cool in the anime or the manga, but all around, I just don't like him and see him as nothing more than an annoying tag along, so I just don't put him in my stories. I mean, I can, I just don't. I'm sorry if you guys think I'm cruel for that, but . . . oh well.