Chapter Seven: Homecoming Revelations
Rated - M (for suggestive adult themes, references to some violence, and coarse language)
Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha.
He was unsure how much time had passed since Kagome had left. Inuyasha had spent so much time not keeping track of time that this new concept of days, weeks, and months were foreign. Previously, He had no use for time; otherwise, he would have allowed himself to fall into a depression that may have resulted in insanity decades ago. Now things were different. He woke up with a desire to live rather than exist.
It all began the moment he woke from his long, dreamless slumber. He vaguely recalled being put to sleep by that priestess he was supposed to kill, but instead, he found himself disobeying Boss and getting pinned to a tree. While he was lost in the dark, the aroma of honeysuckle permeated around him, reminding him of something warm and inviting. The last thing he remembered was looking at the priestess and thinking of how pleasant she smelled, like fresh rain, clean, pure, and renewed. Now, it was a different smell that brought him back.
His eyes opened, and he thought his nose was playing tricks on him. Here was the face of the priestess who, in her anger, had fired the sacred arrow into his chest. She did not smell the same, but as his eyes adjusted to the light, he noticed subtle differences. The eyes of the woman before him were different. It was not just the color of her eyes, pools of deep blue that he had only ever seen on his mother's favorite yukata, but alive with curiosity and hope.
In contrast, the priestess' eyes appeared ringed with sadness and heavy with the burden she must harbor. Inuyasha felt the woman touch his ears, seeing her reach her arms over his head to do so, and allowed him to study her face. Momentarily she realized that he was staring at her and shrieked before falling to the ground. Some part of him wanted to jump down to her, though the concept of helping a stranger was foreign to him; he could not move.
She called up to him, and her voice was melodic and strange. How long had he been asleep, he wondered. Where was Boss? The woman stood up and climbed up to him, breaking him from his thoughts. He heard her ask about the arrow and glanced down at it with his eyes and back at her. He watched as she wrapped her hand around the wooden shaft, ready to pull. Instead, it disappeared, and they both fell to the ground. He landed smoothly and watched as she picked herself up off the ground. He felt...rigid but free. He heard the woman's voice again and saw her approach. Instinctually, he shuffled back and briefly wondered why he was reacting this way toward her. When he pulled away, her face was confused, and a trace of hurt. Why would she look that way? No one cared about him.
That look on her face is what kept him in the area after he had run off. Fear of Boss is what prompted him to run in the first place. He feared punishment and being alone...but he was alone now, and Boss was not here to punish him, so he stayed in the woods...until he saw her again. After that moment, everything changed. He didn't realize at the time how his whole world had shifted.
When Kagome dropped into the well, he could sense that she had left. Shippo had jumped down to confirm that she was indeed gone. "She's gone!" he exclaimed as if he hadn't believed she would go. Miroku only scratched his head and muttered to himself. The trio returned to the village in silence. On their trek back, Inuyasha wondered what Kagome's home was. She had spoken to him about her home several times. She made it sound peaceful and loving, much different than how things were now. His life had always been tumultuous, whereas hers was calm and predictable even. So much different...just as Kagome was different.
Inuyasha did not have much experience with women, which was an excellent way to say none outside of his mother and the female servants who lived on his mother's estate. The servants were all cruel, but his mother was always gentle and kind. He hadn't thought of her in so long. While he was practically a slave, he had shoved the memory of his mother deep down into the recesses of his memory until he could no longer recall how she even looked. Kagome had unlocked those memories with her patience and gentle words.
A few days had passed since Kagome had left. Inuyasha's time had been occupied with assisting Miroku with several village duties. Many of these duties included checking or helping female villagers with mundane tasks. Inuyasha didn't understand Miroku's constant need to solicit smiles and attention from the women. The monk tried hard to inaugurate Inuyasha into his ways but had little success.
"So basically what you're saying is that you've never felt a woman's touch?" the monk asked, wide-eyed at the revelation. When Inuyasha did not respond, Miroku gave him a conspiratorial look, "Oh, my inexperienced friend, this we must fix."
Inuyasha did not understand what Miroku meant, but he soon found out. Miroku attempted to have Inuyasha converse with some of the lovelier village maidens. Still, the women were too timid to speak to him in that fashion, him being a hanyo. That and Inuyasha was not comfortable talking to people any more than necessary. The villagers were not openly hostile to him, but he could sense from their standoffishness. They weren't entirely comfortable having a half-breed in their midst, either.
After Inuyasha failed to speak to the more gentle sex, he became frustrated with Miroku's unabashed forwardness. He was tired of Miroku pushing him to do all these things that he was uncomfortable with, and he was sure the villagers did not appreciate it much either. Dealing with these new emotions was also foreign to him, and he did not know how to deal with them, so he would often brood in silence. Shippo must have sensed Inuyasha's mood one day after Inuyasha had tried and failed to follow Miroku's instructions on talking to a girl. The kitsune, who split his time between Kaede and Miroku, jumped to Inuyasha's shoulder, "Just tell him to stick it in his ear."
Inuyasha looked over at the Kitsune, wide-eyed at the suggestion, "It's what my papa used to say when people were getting on his nerves. I've heard people say other things, too, like, 'Go away, leave me alone, go to hell, fuck off,' stuff like that. You don't have to do anything you don't want to." Shippo nodded sagely.
Inuyasha regarded him for a moment and nodded. "Okay," he said before the kitsune dashed off again, leaving him alone with Miroku. This notion of speaking his mind would take some getting used to, but Shippo assured him it was perfectly reasonable to do so. He turned and watched as Miroku shamelessly flirted with one of the girls who Inuyasha had failed to speak to, pondering on Shippo's advice.
Days passed, and Inuyasha felt he was getting the hang of this "speak his mind" bit. It took a couple of days for his patience to wear thin, but Miroku prodded a little too much. The monk had taken it upon himself to introduce Inuyasha to the world, and his approach was a tad heavy-handed, not to mention somewhat misogynistic.
Today, Miroku had led Inuyasha over to the stream that bordered the village. Several village women and younger girls labored with laundry by the stream's edge. Miroku smiled as if he had just come upon elusive prey. "Alright, Inuyasha, now take a look at this beauty," he gestured to one of the women closest to them, "Take a moment to appreciate her subtle beauty. The way the light hits her hair, allowing it to glisten, and her kind eyes. I've seen that one eyeing you. You should go and speak to her," Miroku instructed. Inuyasha glanced at the girl in reference. He'd also seen her looking at him, but it was not in the alluring manner Miroku presented. When he saw it, he knew fear, and this girl exuded it in abundance. "No," Inuyasha said shortly, crossing his arms into his sleeves.
The girl peeked over at the pair, aware that she was being watched, and withdrew into herself. Her shoulders were hunched over, and she began to wring out an article of clothing more than necessary.
Miroku gave Inuyasha a cross look, "What do you mean 'no'?"
"I don't wanna," Inuyasha shrugged. He studiously avoided Miroku's gaze.
"Come on Inuyasha. Just walk over there and say hello," Miroku urged.
Inuyasha had enough. He turned and leveled his gaze at the monk, arms still crossed, "I said no, monk. I don't have to have a reason, so FUCK OFF!" Turning on his heel, Inuyasha growled and jumped into the distance, leaving Miroku to ponder what had just transpired. The monk scratched his and shrugged before walking down to the water's edge.
More time passed, with Miroku avoiding Inuyasha for several days before finally overcoming his aversion. Inuyasha had sat down to a meal with Shippo one evening when Miroku arrived and joined them. "I've been wondering when Lady Kagome will return," he paused, "Or if she will return at all."
Shippo stopped from gobbling down his meal, his mouth still stuffed, "She said she would!" he exclaimed. His tiny face looked offended that Miroku would even suggest that Kagome would abandon them.
"Think about it. She has no reason to return if she has truly traveled to another time, as inconceivable as that is," Miroku explained.
Inuyasha did not look up but merely grunted before taking another bite. He had worried about the same thing. Kagome had left him to "look after things," and he intended to, but he still felt drawn to her warm presence and was disheartened that she had not yet returned.
"I cannot wait any longer," Miroku continued. "I'm afraid it is time for me to move on."
Shippo's unchewed food fell from his gaping mouth, "What do you mean?" "You're leaving again?" He padded across to Miroku.
Miroku looked solemn for a moment, withdrawing into himself for a second before clearing his throat. "Yes, I must carry on to complete my journey."
"What is your journey exactly?" Inuyasha asked. "Since you've been here, all I've ever seen you do is chase accost women."
Miroku chuckled, "My intentions are nothing but pure." That revelation caused Shippo to snicker. Even Inuyasha had to suppress an urge to pique an eyebrow. "That doesn't explain what you're doing here. There are plenty of girls in the world, so protecting their integrity can't be why you're here or why you've stayed," Inuyasha said.
"Yes, I understand why you would question my quest. I have not been exactly forthcoming regarding my true intentions," Miroku sighed.
Shippo nodded, "It's obvious that it has something to do with your hand." He pointed at the monk's wrapped hand. "Plus you're always staring at it when you think no one is looking. Do you have warts or something?"
A shocked look passed over Miroku's face, and Inuyasha did snort in amusement. "Warts?!" Miroku exclaimed.
"Yeah, it's okay if you do," Shippo assured. "My Papa always told me that humans are covered in warts. I'm surprised that I haven't seen any humans with warts until now."
"I can assure you that it is not warts," he said with a shudder as if it were beneath him to carry such a disfigurement.
"Then what is it?" Inuyasha asked out of curiosity.
"It's a curse. One that has been passed down paternally from generation to generation. If I cannot remove the curse," Miroku took a deep breath, steadying himself, "I am destined to be swallowed up by it."
Shippo had crossed back over to put more food into his mouth, "Swawowed?" he asked, his mouth full of food. He gulped, "By what?"
Inuyasha picked at his food slowly and deliberately. While it was uncharacteristic of Shippo, he did not attempt to press Miroku any further for information. Miroku held his covered hand to his face and took a deep breath but said no more, obviously lamenting his predicament.
The small hearth fire in the room crackled and provided a break to the silence permeating the small dwelling. Inuyasha stared into the flames, contemplating everything. Had he really expected Kagome to come back? What was so important about her return? He assumed that she would be gone for good once she left, taking the Shikon Jewel with her. Now that it was gone, there was no reason for him to stay, just as there was no reason for Miroku to stay.
"I suppose you could come with me," Miroku suggested.
Inuyasha, pulled from his thoughts, regarded the monk. "Nah, I'll stay."
"Hmm," was all Miroku replied.
Shippo jumped up and exclaimed proudly, "Inuyasha and me promised Kagome we would stay at the village and protect it!"
Miroku chuckled, "I think I understand." He gave a knowing look to Inuyasha. "I shall depart in the morning then. I wish you well, Inuyasha." The monk stood up and dusted off his robes before leaving the dwelling.
Shippo rolled his eyes, "He's not gonna leave."
"And what makes you think that?" Inuyasha questioned. Shippo had been rescued by Miroku and traveled together for a time, but they were not close. No, Shippo had formed more of a bond with Kagome, but she was not here either, leaving Inuyasha as a surrogate.
"He's always blustering on about leaving but he never does. He's waiting for Kagome to come back," Shippo answered. He crossed his arms beneath his chest, imitating Inuyasha.
Shippo had turned out to be correct because Miroku had not left the next day. Nor the day after, nor the day after that. Perhaps he was waiting for Kagome to return with the Jewel, though Inuyasha was not sure why.
The people of the village continued to avoid
Inuyasha. At least until the yokai came. Lesser yokai began to assail the town in increasing numbers, which was odd given that the Shikon Jewel was not there. Inuyasha dispatched each menace quickly, and the villagers began to warm up to his presence, calling him their savior. Their behavior towards him was entirely unexpected and made him uneasy. In all of the long years of his life, people had always shunned him, used him, or abused him. No one ever accepted him. It was not until he'd met Kagome that he began to let down his guard and feel like something more than a nuisance or a tool. She was the real reason that he stayed. Though, that was no secret.
It had been nearly a month since Kagome had left. Miroku was convinced she would not return now and had begun courting a young woman in the village. Shippo had taken to following Inuyasha around, which Inuyasha found annoying. He'd found solitude to be comfortable, and Shippo found loneliness unbearable. There was no middle ground, and that was how Kaede came upon them one morning, bickering.
"Inuyasha!" she huffed, out of breath from running to find him. "Hurry! Mononoke ambushed the east side of the village."
Inuyasha jumped up, throwing Shippo off the side, who had been pulling at his ears during an argument. "Where's Miroku?"
"I could not find the Hoshi," Kaede responded.
Inuyasha nodded and leaped into the air to cover more ground, leaving Kaede and Shippo behind.
He sailed over the small huts and houses of the village and could see a small horde of lesser yokai assaulting people by the riverside. The men from the village had poured out to hold off the assault with pitchforks, slings, and the odd bow, but their successes were few. As he landed, he could see one young woman being molested by a demon, its forked tongue wrapped around her wrist and its maw open to devour her. Before he could intervene, he heard a yell. "Umi!"
Inuyasha's head swiveled towards the sound, and he saw Miroku sprinting in his direction with his staff in hand. Inuyasha looked back at the woman, and it dawned on him that this was the girl Miroku had been courting. Shippo told him that Miroku began their courtship by asking her to bear his children, and when she did not respond by slapping him, they began to see each other. Inuyasha had never met the girl, but she was dangerously close to losing her life to the yokai. He hesitated for a moment, wondering if Miroku would thank him or resent him for intervening when it was possible that the Monk could save her. He remembered from his time with Boss how the gang would hate to be one-upped and have their pride damaged. The outcome was never right. But Miroku was not part of that world. Inuyasha finally resolved to step in and made to destroy the demon but stopped when he felt a pull at his clothing and his footing.
Inuyasha's head whipped over to see Miroku remove the charm from his covered right hand, and his eyes widened at the vortex that pulled everything in its path inside of the tiny black hole. The sound was deafening, and Inuyasha froze to see the horde of yokai being sucked into that hole. Miroku's face contorted into anger, and he casually moved his aim to suck in every last one of the marauding demons. The demon holding the girl Umi had stopped attempting to eat her but did not release its grip. Miroku saved that demon for last and expertly positioned the vortex to pull the demon within. In seconds the demon's snakelike body was pulled up off the ground and into the tunnel. However, it still had its forked tongue wrapped around Umis wrist, and she was also pulled up. Miroku noticed this a second too late and moved to cover his hand. The deafening roar silenced, leaving Inuyasha's ears ringing, and the remaining villagers began to pick themselves up from the ground. Most had gone to their knees once Miroku's weapon had been revealed.
Miroku stared at the ground, his mouth agape. Instead of Umi, was nothing more than the sandal from her foot. Miroku had unintentionally sucked her up into his tunnel. The monk sunk to his knees at the realization.
Inuyasha jumped over to where Miroku sat motionlessly. His hands balled into fists at his knees, and he did not look up at Inuyasha's approach. "I killed her," he said matter of factly.
"It was an accident," Inuyasha consoled. Loss was not new to him, so he could not easily empathize. He really could think of nothing to say.
"My curse assures that I shall die alone and with no one to carry on my name," he lamented angrily.
At this time, Kaede hurried to the scene with Shippo at her side. "What has happened?" she asked.
"The Mononoke are destroyed," Miroku said quietly.
Inuyasha looked over at the old woman and shrugged, unsure of what he had seen. Shippo had the sense to keep quiet but looked at Miroku worriedly.
Kaede observed the area, noting that there was no trace of yokai. She rested her gaze on Miroku, who sat white-knuckle on the ground. "Let us retire to my home and discuss the matter."
They walked in silence to Kaede's hut. Once they got closer, Inuyasha detected a familiar scent, causing him to run ahead of the group. The sudare was rolled up, and Inuyasha stopped in front of the small house, peering into the doorway.
Inside, Kagome stood up, still dressed in her strange garb. "Hey guys, sorry it took me so long. I had to wrap some things up and I..." she trailed off, sensing the mood. "What's going on?"
The rest of the group also stopped once they realized what had stopped Inuyasha in his tracks. Shippo bounded forward with glee and launched himself into Kagome's arms. "Kagome! You're back!"
"Yeah, I'm back. I said I would, didn't I?"
"Why are your clothes so weird?" the kitsune asked, taking in her strange attire. "Is that people wear at your village?"
Kagome put Shippo down and giggled half-heartedly, "I suppose it is a little strange." She had returned wearing a sweater and denim jeans which had yet to be invented. She looked around at the group standing before her...something had happened. She instantly gravitated to Miroku's pained expression. "Miroku?"
The monk said nothing but walked in and knelt, looking at nothing and no one. Kagome's brow furrowed, and she looked to Kaede for answers. The old woman closed her eyes and nodded. "That is what we've come to discuss, Kagome." Kaede gestured for Inuyasha to enter her home and followed him in. Once everyone was seated, Kaede brewed a pot of soothing tea and finally sat while the water was heated.
Kagome was having a difficult time with the silence. "WIll someone please tell me what's happening? Miroku is acting as if someone died."
Miroku's eyes widened at the words, and Kagome could see a twitch in his cheek. "That's exactly what happened," he supplied.
"What? How?" Kagome asked. She looked over at Inuyasha, whose eyes rested on Miroku but not his face, his clenched fists.
His voice cracked when he spoke, "My curse...the Kazaana. It is a wind tunnel that is going to swallow me up if I do not break the curse."
"What curse is this, Hoshi?" Kaede inquired. She had risen to pass cups out to those who wanted them.
"One that has been passed down from my grandfather. He was a very powerful monk that battled against the demon Naraku for many years. This particular demon could shift-change into different forms, whether that be an unsuspecting old woman, to an innocent child. They would waylay each other with my grandfather prevailing the victor, but never being able to finish the bastard off before Naraku would slink off to lick at his wounds. The last time that Naraku and my grandfather came upon each other, Naraku came in the form of a beautiful young woman." Miroku took a cup of proffered tea from Kaede and took a sip. "My grandfather, ever the lady's man, was taken aback by the woman's beauty."
Shippo had sidled up to Inuyasha and whispered, "He means his grandfather was a lecher." Inuyasha absently flicked Shippo in the head, urging the kitsune to keep quiet.
Miroku continued, "He was unable to attack the woman and she, actually being Naraku, pierced his hand in his hesitance, inflicting the Kazaana curse upon him and all future males within his line to bear the curse until they are eventually consumed by it."
"I still don't understand," Kagome interjected. "You said that someone died?"
"Umi…" Miroku said.
"Who's Umi?" Kagome asked.
Kaede shook her head, "Ah, child. I am sorry for your loss."
"It's my fault. I killed her," Miroku said with another break of his voice. "I didn't know her that well, but...I…"
"Did you love her?" Kagome asked. She still was not quite sure what had happened, but judging from Miroku's reaction, it impacted him significantly.
"No...but I cared for her in a small way. I had not had the opportunity to...I may never have the opportunity to…"
"How do you break the curse?" Inuyasha interrupted.
"I have to find Naraku and kill him. Only then will the curse be broken," Miroku said. "I don't know if I will make it until then. So, my only alternative is to assure that my line lives on through my heir."
"So, you've given up on looking for Naraku? Is that what you are saying?" Kagome asked.
Miroku shot her a defensive look, "I have no choice. Naraku has been dormant since my grandfather received the Kazaana. I've spent my entire life searching for him and have not even heard a rumor of him."
"Quit yer bellyaching and go find him then," Inuyasha said matter-of-factly. Everyone turned to look at Inuyasha quizzically.
Miroku looked annoyed. "You make it sound so easy. It is not your life in the balance."
"It is easy," Inuyasha emphasized, "Kagome is back, and she has the Shikon Jewel with her. That's supposed to draw yokai, ain't it? Well, let's use that to draw this Naraku and kill him."