Chapter One: The Monk Rides Into the Sunset
"How much more Serpentine Rock is left?" InuYasha asked worriedly at his wife, Kagome Higurashi.
"Not a lot, InuYasha," Kagome frowned worriedly, "There's barely enough for three arrowheads. What we're planning will take a whole lot of luck and good timing. Especially since Fushizenna has found a way to adapt to Miroku's Shikigami sutras. We'll have to wait until the time is just right."
"And then we'll still need more luck!" Sango muttered sourly, "This plan will only work if we find him and convince him to help us, and I seriously doubt he will!" Grunting in disgust and disdain, Sango added, "Honesly, if it weren't for Fushizenna wiping out all Shikigami Users that could challenge him leaving only Kibo Chiri alive for us to rescue and bring to safety, I'd never even want to consider ever seeing him again! A part deep down inside of me wishes that he's dead after what he did…"
"We all feel that way to some degree, Sango," Kagome grumbled, "But what other choice do we have? That Serpentine Rock generated barrier around Kaede's Village won't hold out forever, and Kibo Chiri's power will never reach the level it needs to be to combat Fushizenna! He's only a small boy."
It was a dark period in Feudal Japan. Sometime after Naraku's passing, a new enemy arose. No one knew when or from where, but all of a sudden, all the great Shikigami Wizards began to falter and die. Young and old alike. A monstrosity bent on world domination known as Fushizenna Muteki. It happened less than a year after a certain Shikigami Wizard that was once part of their team committed a great betrayal and was banished forever from Kaede's Village and the Feudal Era and was sent back to his home in the modern world never to return.
And this betrayal couldn't have happened at a worser time. Fushizenna's only weakness was Shikigami power, and he was an expert at infiltrating Shikigamis, gaining their trust, and killing them to prevent him from ever opposing him. Every Shikigami User of the Feudal Era had been destroyed save for one small boy, Kibo Chiri. Although the monks' sutras infused with Shikigami magic initially staved off the demon, it had learned to adapt by developing an armor of flames hot enough to burn paper to ash upon contact.
The powers of the monks and sutra crafting priestesses could oppose him no longer, so all hope turned to the priestesses' Shikigami powers. Their powers were effective to some extent. Arrows with arrowheads made of Serpentine Rock at the ends of them seemed to faze him, but even through the heart, head, throat, or any vital area, they could not kill him because this was not pure Shikigami, just a branch of it. Just rendered him weak for nearly a whole month on average.
Right now, Fushizenna was recovering from a Serpentine Rock arrowhead shot in his right eye by Kagome, and with luck this kind of injury would keep him out of action for longer than that considering they had a new mission of vital importance, but Fushizenna also had minions who were always watching. They didn't have the flaming armor their master had, nor his level of power but their only weakness was Shikigami magic as well. Kaede's Village was surrounded by a barrier generated by Serpentine Rock to keep this army out, but it would not keep out Fushizenna once he recovered.
That left only one option: To find the traitorous Michiru Kururugi and convince him to return somehow. And that posed several problems. Michiru would not only have to still be alive, he'd have to be somewhere within a month's time to find, he'd still have to have his powers, and he'd probably not want to help without convincing or compensation.
The question was, "What would he deem as adequate compensation if he asked for it?"
"He'll probably ask for Sango's hand in marriage," Shippo snorted disgustedly as Miroku and Sango's children, Kino, Gyokuto, and Hisui shuddered at the thought of this. They had been told what Michiru had done out of pure jealousy, and the thought of their mother having to marry such a wicked man sent shivers down their spine.
"Don't worry," Miroku assured them gathering his sutras, "Every man has his price. I'm sure this gold we've collected will be more than enough to convince him to help and leave." He held his Demon Slayer wife in his arms and cried, "He'll never marry you, Sango. Never. Not so long as I've got a breath in our body!"
"That's right!" Kagome nodded, "Besides, even if those are his terms, we can agree to them, but don't have to abide by them!"
"Huh?" InuYasha frowned, "What do you mean, Kagome?"
"Just because Fushizenna is immune to our skills and abilities doesn't mean Michiru is!" Kagome smiled, "If these are his terms, then as soon as Fushizenna is dead, we all overpower him and send him back by force!"
"Sounds like a plan!" Sango smiled with much more conviction, "Let's go! Let's find that bastard, bring him back, get Fushizenna off our backs, then send him away where he belongs!"
"All we have to do is wait for Sesshomaru, Kohaku, and Kirara keeping watch to tell us that the minions near the Bone Eater's Well have gone to sleep, then we sneak past them, jump in the Well, and carry out our mission," InuYasha nodded.
"We're coming too!" Kino declared.
"Yeah!" Gyukuto nodded, "We wanna look into the eyes of the one that tried to beat our father to death!"
Sango chuckled at this and nodded. To see her children rub in the face that they were Miroku's and not Michiru's would be quite an amusing spectacle indeed. However, this might deter him from agreeing to help. Thankfully, Kagome was a lot more skilled with her powers. In fact...
"Hey! Maybe we don't need to offer Michiru compensation!" Sango declared, "Kagome, you know how to use your powers to manipulate minds of men! Maybe all we need do is temporarily control his mind and then send him back when he's done!"
"Oh yeah! That's right!" Kagome smiled, "It's been so long since I've had to do that, I'd almost forgotten that I can! Then that's what we'll do! Find Michiru, ask him to join us, control his mind if he refuses, get him to kill Fushizenna, and then send him home once he's done! Problem solved!"
As they went about their business shuddering at the looks from outside the barrier of Fushizenna's men giving them taunting and nasty looks from the outside, Miroku stayed inside wanting to be alone for some reason. He said he wanted to be sure his sutras were flawless since they still worked on Fushizenna's soldiers, so he sat alone in the room he shared with Sango painting the symbols on the slips of paper as he tried to meditate his powers into them. However, this was not an easy challenge for him.
Curses! Miroku swore internally. We must find the man that almost stole Sango from me! What if he agrees and this mission lasts for a very long time?! Or worse! There's one thing he could ask for as compensation that the others might begrudgingly agree to!
His memories shifted to that day so long ago. A day that cemented Miroku's marriage to Sango as Michiru walked sadly to the Bone Eater's Well tears streaming down his face as Miroku smirked slightly at this.
"But I didn't do this, Sango! I swear!" Michiru pleaded as he was at the rim of the Well as everyone, even Kaede of all people scowled disdainfully at him, "I swear! I was picking flowers over by the waterfall for you two hours ago!"
"You were stomping on Miroku's chest and whacking him with his own staff!" Sango snapped back angrily, "You almost killed him, I saw you with my own eyes!"
"As did I!" InuYasha barked, "Don't try to tell me it wasn't you! It was!"
"Please!" Michiru pleaded desperately, "You all know many demons can shapeshift! Maybe a demon trying to get rid of me changed his appearance to look like me and timed it just right to frame me!"
Miroku gasped silently as a bead of sweat unknown to anyone fell from his ponytail that dried up as soon as InuYasha spoke to this!
"It smelled just like you!" InuYasha snapped back, "So don't try, Michiru! It was you that attacked Miroku! My nose doesn't lie! You're the one lying! Now I don't know how you escaped my grasp, but I do know it was you!"
"And we've all voted!" Kagome added, "You are banished forever, Michiru Kururugi! Do you have any last words before you leave?"
They all listened as Michiru's teary eyes suddenly turned angry as he realized no one was going to listen or even give him a chance. He was angry.
"Yeah," He muttered, "I'm being banished without a fair trial, you know? You're all accusing me of betrayal, but not giving me a chance to defend myself?!" Seething as sorrow evolved into silent flames, "Know this: Lady Justice thrusts her sword into the hearts of all betrayers! She'll thrust her sword into the heart of whoever or whatever set me up," He then pointed his fingers at all of them, "And someday…she'll thrust her sword into all your hearts for punishing me this way!"
"Whatever, Michiru!" Kagome snorted, "This is Lady Justice thrusting her sword into your heart for betraying Miroku by trying to break up Miroku and Sango up! Your attempt failed! The only one getting punished for betrayal here is you! Not us! We're in the right!"
"We'll see…" Michiru nodded entering the Well, "We'll see…"
What if asks for that fair trial? Miroku asked his hand shuddering as his shuddering paintbrush made a mark outside the red Shikigami pentagram on the slip of paper. Even if the odds are he probably will be found guilty, there's still a chance! Then what? What will happen to me if they…
Miroku shook his head trying to regain himself as he continued to paint. Red ink was running out…and perhaps it was a sign for time and pleasure.
They can't find out! Miroku spoke with conviction. Perhaps I should bring this to everyone's attention, and see if this is a term they'll refuse…no! No, I can't do that! If I even suggest that Michiru might ask for a fair trial, it'll only serve to make me look suspicious! They'll all ask me why I'm worried about that! One question will lead to another and…and considering what that spurned sorceress did to me when she found out I was happily married to Sango…
Another more recent memory of the past rang through Miroku's mind. A memory that really changed who he was from what he was before.
"Curse you….Miroku….!" A lovely woman scowled weakly as she lay dying from Sango's poison attack. She was a sorceress who Miroku had "promised" his hand in marriage to pretty much right before he ever met Kagome and InuYasha, "…you….betrayed me…..to marry another…..and now I'm dying…"
"I'm sorry," Miroku nodded, "You are quite lovely, and you would've made a fine wife, but I have moved on. I'm sorry that you couldn't like all the other girls I said this to in my youth."
"Other…girls…?!" The sorceress cried incredulously, "…you've…made similar promises to others…? How many?"
"Too many…" Sango grumbled remembering Miroku's youth as she looked down on the sorceress with a hint of pity, "…I wish I didn't have to do this, you seemed to have really loved my husband, but you tried to force him to marry you. I couldn't let you succeed. I'm sorry."
"You should be…!" The sorceress scoffed, "…as for you, Miroku….don't think this is the end!"
Pulling a sack out of her kimono she used what remained of her strength, she chucked it at Miroku's face as a cloud of brown powder surrounded Miroku's head and then went into his mouth, his nose, and into his body as he coughed and hacked for nearly a minute before Sango patted him on the back before turning angrily to the sorceress.
"Hey! What was that stuff? Poison?!" She asked worriedly.
"Hardly…" The sorceress, "…the only thing it will kill his Miroku's dishonesty forever. Now he has to tell the truth. No matter what question is asked of him! That's my curse to you, Miroku! I curse you till the end of your time!"
Muttering her last breath, the sorceress died as Sango tested this theory asking all kinds of questions and Miroku did indeed answer them honestly. He was cursed with having to tell the truth! Of all questions asked, there was only one that he hoped Sango nor anyone would ever have to ask, but Sango and the others trusted Miroku enough to never have to ask it.
But what if they do? Miroku asked himself worriedly. If Michiru asks for a fair trial, at some point I'll be asked what happened! Everyone knows my new curse, and that I can't tell a lie no matter what now! I'll be found out! Shuddering at the thought, Miroku finished his sutra as his worried piled up more and more. Michiru was right. But who knew the sword of Lady Justice would be a brown powder that would force me to tell everyone about-
"Miroku! It's time to go!" Sango spoke getting the monk's attention, "Kirara and Kohaku say enough minions have nodded off so that we have a chance of making it to the Well. You got your ring?"
"Oh! Sango!" Miroku gasped, "Uh, yeah. Let me put it on." Looking down on his finger, Miroku scowled at the piece of jewelry. It was the only one of Michiru's artifacts he left behind just in case fleeing to the present was necessary. It wasn't anything fancy. Just a piece of bark carved from the Tree of Ages and a chip off the Bone Eater's Well, yet it likely spelled the end of Miroku's darkest secret.
"Well let's go," Sango declared, "Hey, don't worry, Miroku. Michiru will never convince me to leave you. You know I despise him for what he tried to do to you!"
"We all do, Miroku!" Kagome spoke from the door, "It disgusts all of us that we even have to do this, but we can't let all these people get killed for pride!"
"Right…" Miroku nodded, "…let's just…get this all over with."
Kohaku led the group through a grassy clearing. It wasn't the direct path to the Bone Eater's Well, but it would get there. It wasn't as heavily guarded, so it was their only home.
"Get down!" Kohaku whispered as everyone ducked beneath the bushes to watch a group of three near them. Though a small group, they could still alert everyone else and surround them all. Just like how Kohaku himself was a small boy that had caused so much damage under Naraku's control. Before Michiru's powers broke the hold and freed Kohaku forever.
Sango shuddered as this memory played in her mind. As much as she hated Michiru Kururugi, that did not mean she wasn't grateful to him for freeing her brother from Naraku's control. If only he hadn't betrayed them all and lie about it. She gave him a chance to admit the truth, telling him he still would have a chance to be with her if he just confessed, yet he refused.
Fool! She thought to herself angrily. You knew InuYasha and I saw you do it just before you fled to the waterfall to give yourself that false alibi! You knew! So why didn't you confess to it! I would've listened to you if Miroku did something to offend you! Why did you have to be so stupid? If you really loved me, you would've been honest with me!
Trying hard not to sigh and alert the minions, Sango shook her didn't know why Michiru didn't confess. Just that he didn't. All those memories and confessions of love from him disgusted her now. Maybe it was fate or justice opening her eyes to the fact that she truly belonged with Miroku. Just as Kagome always said that she did.
One good thing came from Michiru's betrayal, I guess. Sango smiled looking at Miroku and their children. I no longer had to choose between them. I married Miroku, had a family with him, and never looked back! Hmmm…maybe I should thank Michiru for betraying us when we run into him.
"They're dead drunk now," Kohaku whispered, "Two at a time. The Well is just beyond that hill there. InuYasha, you and Kirara are the fastest. You go first. Then Kagome and Shippo. I'll take Kin'u. Hisui you take Gyokuto. Then sister and Miroku. We need Miroku to go last because his sutras are the only things that can defend us if we're spotted."
"Right," InuYasha nodded, "Come on, Kirara."
As Sango watched her friends leave, the realization set in. After nearly twenty years she was going to see Michiru Kururugi. Someone she once cared about deeply that had lied to her and betrayed her love and trust.
Well…maybe he's regretted what he did… Sango thought as a spark of hope flickered in her heart as a thought occurred to her. Maybe…maybe Michiru will apologize to us all after all this time and we can part on good terms when he leaves. I'll…I'll never love him ever again, that much I know, but maybe we can finally get closure for this all. Smiling a bit at this, Sango nodded in hope. Please, Michiru. Please apologize to us. I don't want to hate anymore.
"I still can't believe we have to do this," Inuyasha scowled to Kagome, "Us needing that traitor's help because the kid is too weak to fight! This is gonna be a real pain in the ass!"
"Tell me about it…" Kagome grumbled, "And not just the dreaded meeting with him. There's also trying to find him!"
"Yeah, I know," Inuyasha groaned, "Who knows if he still lives at the Kururugi Shrine after nearly twenty years."
"But we have to try, Inuyasha," Kagome spoke, "Maybe my mom kept in touch with him and knows where he is. If not, we'll take the bus to the Kururugi Shrine. Michiru or some member of his family probably still lives there, and if they don't the people that do live there might know where he is now. Let's just hope he doesn't live overseas. We might never find him in time! We'd have to make passports, buy tickets, and all that mess! That'll take a lot of time in of itself!"
"We just have to home that Michiru is still in Japan somewhere," Shippo piped up, "He's the only one who has a chance at stopping Fushizenna!"
"Yeah," Kagome grumbled, "But there's still a chance of finding him! Just so long as Kibo is alive to sire…his…bloodline….wait! Wait! What if Kido isn't Michiru's ancestor at all?! What if…Michiru never was born!"
As this thought entered everyone's thoughts, worry set in their heads. Worry that lasted only a short while when Kohaku arrived.
"I highly doubt that's the case, Kagome," Kohaku said getting everyone's attention, "Remember, we rescued Kido from Kururugi Village. Not to mention if Michiru's bloodline is dead, then he'll never have existed and thus we would have no idea who he even is."
"You're right," Kagome nodded, "He has to be alive! He has to be!"
"Shhh! Not so loud!" Kohaku scolded, "We'll be detected, and Sango and Miroku need to move!"
"Right…!" Kagome whispered as Sango and Miroku's two other children arrived. She really wished her own daughter, Moroha, could join them, but she and cousins Towa and Setsuna had to stay behind and patrol the area near the village to protect it. They were in this alone.
Sango and Miroku waited for the birdcall to signal that it was time to move. As soon as the whistling was heard, they moved as silently as possible. Unfortunately, a heavy mind with every step towards a potential encounter he dreaded weighed on Miroku's thoughts. So much so, he lost attention of his footing, and accidentally stepped on a dry branch snapping it as a voice was heard.
"Who goes there?!" A voice asked as a head appeared from the woods, "It's the monk and his wife! They're escaping! After them!"
"Crap! We've gotta run!" Sango cried as she made a break for it with Miroku following, but not was quickly.
"Miroku! Hurry! Don't dawdle!" Sango asked.
"I have to protect you!" Miroku declared pulling out his sutras, "Go! Follow the others through the Well! I'll catch up!
"Miroku…" Sango protested.
"GO!" Miroku yelled as Sango nodded heading off to the Well. Seeing her taking off, Miroku threw sutra after sutra at the now advancing horde of Fushizenna's minions. There weren't enough to completely ambush him, but there were enough to slow him down. Still he fought bravely hoping Sango could escape.
As Sango fled, the Well in her sights, three demons appeared armed to the teeth in her path. They ascended on her as she backed away slowly laughing sinisterly.
"Going somewhere, little Demon Slayer?" The leader who carried a very large naginata in his hands, "You'll have to get past us. And without any Shikigami powers, you're dead meat! Your husband is too preoccupied to help too."
"I may not have Shikigami powers," Sango admitted, "But I do have these!" She reached into her pouch and pulled out three throwing stars shaped like red Shikigami pentagrams that she flung at them striking the first two dead on impact while the other one recoiled in pain as Sango drew her sword. Or rather Michiru's sword that he had disgraced and she insisted that he leave behind. In one fell swoop, the leader was beheaded and fell. Sango pulled her weapons from them, and looked at them scoffing.
"I never thought I'd ever have to use you guys again!" She scoffed, "Thank goodness I didn't throw you away! Buddha knows I thought about it!"
"Enough of this, Sango!" Miroku called out, "You're clear! Go! Now!"
"Not without you, Miroku!" Sango protested.
"I'm okay, Sango! Go!" Miroku called out as Sango could see his purple kimono and nodded knowing he was right behind. She immediately jumped into the Well and looked up smiling to see Miroku following as she transitioned. It was going to work after all-
BANG!
"Ugh!" Miroku grunted clutching his chest as the dreaded familiar sound of a pistol being shot was heard as Sango looked up in horror to see her husband fall back in pain!
"NO!" Sango cried watching Miroku fall into the Well as she transitioned to the Modern Age fading along with her.
The transition lasted for a whole minute as Sango waited for Miroku to finish. When he did, he fell to the ground holding his shoulder as the dreaded red liquid flowed from it.
"MIROKU!" Sango cried getting the attention of everyone, "Guys! Help me! Miroku's been shot!"
"What?" Kagome gasped as InuYasha immediately removed his ring and leapt into the Well leaping out with Miroku's body in his arms struggling to breathe. Kohaku, being more familiar with firearm injuries than anyone, went to his side to inspect the wound.
"Kohaku?" Sango asked, "Will he be al-"
Kohaku looked at the wound, looked up to his sister, and then shook his head sadly.
"It's mortal, sister," He said sadly, "He doesn't have much time…"
"No…" Sango sobbed shoving Kohaku out of the way and holding Miroku in her arms crying, "No…Miroku….you can't die on me…!" Despite knowing that it was useless, Sango kept crying for an untold amount of time before sadness became anger at someone else.
"Curse you, Michiru…!" She spat out loud, "Curse you! Damn you to hell! If we didn't need to come back to fetch you, Miroku would still be alive! It's your fault, Michiru! It's all your fault! Why didn't you tell me the truth then! WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME THE TRUTH?!"
Fury, sadness, and pain all mired in her heart, Sango wept miserably unaware that the question Miroku had feared to be asked had just been asked.
"….he…did…..tell the truth….Sango…." Miroku croaked unable to resist answering the question.
"Huh…?" Sango gasped, "Miroku…?"
"….he….was….picking flowers for you….as he said…." Miroku weakly spoke, "….he was going to propose….I know because I….read his diary….."
"Miroku…" Sango gasped as the others furrowed their eyes in confusion as they all listened, "…what are you saying?"
"I….met with a demon that could mask his appearance, voice, and even his scent…" Miroku unwillingly confessed, "…he told me he knew what it was like…to have someone he loved leave him for someone else….and wanted to help me…..he…changed his appearance, voice, and smell….to look exactly like Michiru Kururugi….and then he….beat me up right as you and InuYasha were arriving…..that's what you and InuYasha saw…..Sango…..Michiru was never there…."
"What…?" Sango gasped again her eyes going wide at this revelation, "…no….no, it can't be so! You're lying to me just to make me feel better! You're lying!"
A pained chuckle escaped Miroku's lips at his as he answered, "I can't do that anymore, Sango….you know that….you know that….." He chuckled again as he said, "….I guess….Michiru was right…..who knew…..that Lady Justice…..carried a….gun…"
With that, Miroku breathed his last exhalation and never breathed in again. Sango knelt next to him horrified at what she had just been told. The memory of that day replaying in her head once again as Michiru pleaded with her.
You almost killed him, I saw you with my own eyes! Sango's words rang through her mind as Michiru's returned to her. You all know many demons can shapeshift! Maybe a demon trying to get rid of me changed his appearance to look like me and timed it just right to frame me!
It was true. Miroku confessed to it. His dying words were a confession of his sins…but more importantly they were an exposing of Sango's own. She shoved her husband, the man she loved and married, off her lap angrily and then started crying nonstop.
"Sango…" Kagome spoke putting her hand on Sango's shoulder, "…I'm really sorry about Miroku's death and-"
Angrily, Sango looked up at this and shoved Kagome's hand off her shoulder and turned at her furiously.
"You think that's what I'm crying about?!" Sango yelled incredulously, "Yeah! I'm sad about Miroku dying! He's my husband, and I love him dearly! But this…! This is something else entirely! Miroku lied to me! Miroku turned me against an innocent man! He turned me against someone who loved me! He turned all of us against him! Made us all hate him! But he…. But he… Oh, Miroku, you stupid stupid monk!"
Sango started crying again as she turned to face no one.
"I'm crying for Miroku, don't get the wrong idea…" Sango wept, "…but I'm mainly crying for Michiru. I…I…I…I….I…..I betrayed him…."
Weeping sadly knowing for nearly twenty years she hated a man that did nothing wrong at all. She loved a man who betrayed him. She regretted whenever she did feel warm feelings towards him, and all for nothing. Her friends looked at her in shock, then hung their heads in shame as well.
"I betrayed Michiru too, Sango…" Kagome nodded sadly, "…I grew up in a society that believes in 'innocent until proven guilty,' but I used my desire to see you and Miroku together to make me ignore than and ban Michiru without a fair trial. I'm just as much to blame for this as Miroku and you."
"As am I," Shippo nodded holding his friends in a group hug.
"Me too," InuYasha murmured, "Michiru and I were closer than brothers, and I should have at least given him a chance to tell his side of the story."
"Meow…" Kirara mewled sadly snuggling up to her friends.
"We all betrayed Michiru," Kohaku sobbed, "He freed me from Naraku. I owed him my freedom, and yet I didn't speak up for him."
The friends all held each other weeping as Hin'u, Gyokuto, and Hisui went to their dead father's body crying as well. Their father was dead, they'd never see him again, and while sad they were all also mad. Angry that their father would do such a thing, yet their love for them would not be extinguished.
"Kohaku?" Sango wept, "Take my children home. Take Miroku too. Bury him with our parents. You know all the secret ways. Your betrayal is nowhere near as deep as ours, and my children are too ashamed to meet Michiru knowing they were initially going to rub it in his face that they weren't his children."
"Of course, Sango," Kohaku nodded picking up his brother-in-law's carcass.
"Here," Sango spoke removing her sword and throwing stars, "Take these. They were made with Michiru's magic. They will protect you, and I am no longer worthy to wield them. My misguided hatred of Michiru disgraced them."
"I'll give them back to you, sister," Kohaku nodded, "When Michiru decrees you are worthy of them again."
Kissing her children and brother goodbye, Sango nodded as Kohaku whispered in her ear, "Bring him home, sister. Where he belongs."
"I'll try, Kohaku," Sango sobbed, "But I don't know if he'll ever forgive me…it's been nearly twenty years…"
"It's been sixteen years, five months, and twenty-four days, Sango," Kohaku chuckled softly, "It may not be too late."
"I can only hope so, Kohaku…" Sango cried, "I can only hope so…"
Everyone watched as one of their dearest friends was being carried lifeless to the Well and back to the Feudal Era. His children and brother-in-law were all in tears. Although his confession was an angering experience, the fact he had given his life to protect his wife and children was enough to ensure they would never hate him and remember him fondly.
Of course, the same could not be said for Michiru. Sango knew this. Once he learned of Miroku's betrayal, he was bound to be angry about it. Not to mention angry with her and everyone else. He might even grow to hate Miroku and all of them.
"This revelation changes everything, guys," Sango spoke up getting everyone's attention, "How are we going to go to Michiru now? How are we going to apologize to him?"
"I don't know, Sango…" Kagome admitted, "…but we have to try. We have no other choice."
"She's right," InuYasha nodded, "Let's start by asking Mrs. Higurashi if she still keeps in touch with the Kururugi family and knows where they are."
The group went to the backdoor of the house and knocked. Sometime later, it opened as a surprised look was on the other side.
"Kagome…?" A young man gasped, "Guys?!"
"Sota?!" Kagome gasped as her tears vanished and she held her younger brother like she'd never let go!
"Kagome! You're home!" Mrs. Higurashi cried rushing to them all, "And you brought everyone else! There's Inuyasha, Shippo, and Sango! How are you dear? And…where's Miroku?"
At this, everyone's heads shrank.
"He's dead," Inuyasha answered, "He died just now. Confessing to a great sin."
"Oh," Mrs. Higurashi frowned, "I'm…sorry to hear that. What did he confess to?"
"That he set up Michiru to look like he tried to kill Miroku so that he'd look better," Inuyasha answered flatly.
"Oh that," Mrs. Higurashi, "Yes, I remember that. Michiru came from the Well all in tears. I made him hot cocoa, asked him to tell me what was wrong, and he told me everything." Turning towards Kagome, Mrs. Higurashi frowned, "Honestly, I was surprised to hear that he was banished without being allowed to tell his side of the story, Kagome. I would've thought you of all people who were raised in an innocent until proven guilty society would've protested this."
"I know, mother," Kagome nodded sorrowfully, "And I'm so ashamed of what I've done as well, but we're here to apologize to Michiru and to…ask him for his help in something."
"I see," Mrs. Higurashi nodded, "Should I call his parents? I don't know if he's still home, but I can try to reach them."
"Please mother," Kagome smiled, "That would be ideal."
They all gathered around the table eying a feast prepared for Kohaku and his family as Kagome met her niece, Mei, for the first time playing with her and smiling. She had been away from home for years, and was really happy to see everyone again.
"Where's grandpa?" Kagome asked.
"Retirement home," Sota answered, "He wanted to live the remainder of his life with friends. Maybe we'll go see him sometime."
"That would be nice," Kagome agreed as she listened to her mother on the phone.
"Hello, Mr. Kururugi?" She asked, "This is Mrs. Higurashi. See, my daughter and her friends are back in town, and they wanted to apologize to him for what they-"
"The city bus stops at the Kururugi Shrine!" A loud voice barked from the other side so loud the others could hear the paternal anger in it as they paled, "If they have the guts, tell them to take the bus!"
Then there was a loud click on the other end as Mrs. Higurashi blinked in shock a few times and sighed hanging it up again.
"Something tells me this isn't going to be easy for you guys," She said, "Michiru's father sounds very annoyed."
"I can't blame him really," Shippo sighed, "Michiru probably confided in him. He probably hates us all."
And I wouldn't be surprised if Michiru hated us all as well. Sango sadly thought. I just hope…wherever he is…than he'll accept our apology and return to us.
Realization of her earlier thought set in as she found herself shaking her head at the irony in this all.
Just an hour ago I was hoping Michiru would apologize to us so that we could part on good terms. Now I'm the one who's hoping my apology will bring him back to us to stay.
"Last bus leaves in half an hour," Mrs. Higurashi spoke, "I'd like for you all to stay longer, but judging by Mr. Kururugi's annoyance, I don't think he's going to be very patient."
"Let's all have a quick bite and make our way to the station," Kagome nodded as everyone ate quickly then exited the house heading for the bus stop. Putting tokens in, they sat together watching the modern buildings go by knowing they were nearer and nearer to something they feared deep down. With Sango most afraid of them all.
Please forgive us, Michiru…please…
"Next stop. The Kururugu Shrine," The intercom spoke as they all rose to exit. The bus stopped and they all exited it seeing the tall steps leading to what looked like an ominous quagmire of fear and terror. Slowly they walked up every step feeling a chill run down their spine as they passed a gravestone in the nearby forest that read "Utsugi and Kakuju Kururugi." This was the right place, alright. They knew that, of course, but still the hope that this wasn't the place they were supposed to be was still there.
Too soon they had arrived at the front door of the Kururugi Residence. With a deep breath, they reached to ring the doorbell when suddenly they heard the click of a lock without ringing the doorbell at all. It was then that Kagome noticed the little light on the doorbell. Maybe there was a camera inside it…
"The door is open, you traitors!" A hostile woman's voice spoke from an intercom as they all winced at this cold welcome before turning the handle and coming inside where on two armchairs a big elderly man and his wife sat rocking ominously. The group all removed their shoes and made their way into the parlor curtsying politely.
"G-G-Good evening, Mr. and Mrs. Kururugi…" Kagome greeted as politely as possible, "We…need to speak with Michi-"
"Only Sango may speak!" Mr. Kururugi snapped not turning from his chair, "She betrayed him more than any of you! We will listen only to her now!"
Sango put her hand on Kagome's shoulder and nodded as Kagome stepped back as Sango bowed politely.
"Sir? Ma'am?" She spoke, "I….I want to…apologize for what I….did to your son. I…only just learned that my…h-h-husband conspired with a shape-shifting demon to set Michiru up, and I'm…here to apologize to him for-"
"Then he should be the one apologizing!" Mrs. Higurashi snapped, "Where is he?"
Shuddering in shame knowing Michiru's parents' anger was justified, Sango gulped and said, 'He's…dead. He…died about an hour ago. He…confessed this all to me."
There was silence for a moment as the friends all shuddered. There was no light on in the house save for the fireplace. The two parents sat in their armchairs not turning to look at either of them. What would they all say to this?
"And you only realized this all now?" Mr. Kururugi spoke, "You all knew Miroku was a man of ill-repute in terms of his honesty, and you all realized this only now?"
"Look," Inuyasha spoke getting a little annoyed, "I get how you feel, but we really need to speak to-" He tried to approach them face-to-face.
"Stay where you are, Inuyasha!" Mr. Kururugi barked as Inuyasha froze, "No one has addressed you!"
The hostility and fury in their voices sent tears of shame down Sango's face as she continued, "We….I mean…mainly I…have come to apologize to him, Sir and Ma'am…I…understand that you don't like us, but the truth is that we…need his help."
There was silence at this as Sango explained.
"A…demon that can only be slain by a Shikigami technique is running rampage over the Feudal Era…" She explained, "…he slaughtered every Shikigami User in the Feudal Era leaving only a small boy from Kururugi Village alive. He's…nowhere near strong enough to confront him, and we…have no means of activating his powers. So we need…Michiru's help…"
There was another silence as Sango begged, "So, could we please ask him for his help? If this demon isn't stopped, he'll destroy everything."
At this, the parents turned around as the mother shook her head.
"You could ask if he were here," She spat, "But Michiru left us nearly five years ago."
"Left?" Sango gasped, "Is he…dead?"
"No," Mr. Kururugi spoke, "He just doesn't come home anymore. Not to the house, anyway. He's still in Japan, but at the same time he isn't. He wanted to get as far away from Japanese life as possible, so he signed up for some scientific project."
"Well…where is the lab then?" Kagome asked, "If what you say is true, then we need to be there when he does wake up."
Looking at them, the parents furrowed their eyes.
"You really want to see him?" Mr. Kururugi asked as he was met with several nods, "Follow me."
He led them outside and to the Kururugi Shrine. He tapped on the buzzer.
"Yes?" A voice spoke on the other side.
"Some friends of Michiru are here to see him," Mr. Kururugi said, "Don't worry. They won't tell anyone about this."
"Alright," The voice spoke as the door was unlocked, "Come in."
The door opened as everyone gasped in shock. Inside was a massive computer with three attendants gathered around it. In a far corner, in a glass tube of liquid, a lone figure floated inside with a breathing tube in his mouth and wires in his head. Everyone gasped in shock.
"Michiru!" Sango gasped!
"Shhh!" One of the attendants spoke, "Not so loud, ma'am! The slightest disturbance would wake him prematurely, and we don't know what might happen if that were to happen."
"What is going on here?" Inuyasha asked, "Is this what Michiru's doing with his spare time?! Lying in some tube sleeping all day?"
"Hardly," A female redhead scientist explains, "This machine taps into Michiru's DNA playing the memories of one his ancestors for him to experience. We call it 'The Animus Prototype.'"
"Animus…Prototype…" Shippo asked.
"Yes," A tall male scientist with an Australian accent nodded, "There is a theory that the memories of our ancestors lives in our DNA, and this machines allows us to see into the past and discover all kinds of knowledge. Right now it's just in the testing phase, so they're paying Michiru and his family to experience the memories of a distant ancestor to test and see if it works."
"That's….intriguing…" Kagome said, "Sounds like some virtual reality videogame thing."
"If only it were that simple," A second black skinned female scientist replied, "He's not playing a game, he's in a dreamstate. And since the machine is a prototype, he only wakes up when he feels like it. We dare not risk waking him up, it could cause permanent brain damage."
"Are you…seeing what he's dreaming about?" Sango asked, "Is he…really living the life of a great Japanese magic user?"
There was a pause at this as the room filled with laughter.
"No," Mr. Kururugi answered, "I told you all he wanted to get as far away from Japanese life as possible. That includes getting as far away from the Feudal Era as possible."
"Here," The male scientist explained, "Let us show you what Michiru's experiencing."
A big television screen lit up as everyone watched. On the screen was the image of a whole lot of snow. A blizzard in fact. And rolling up the side of a mountain was some kind of caravan.
"Huh?" Kagome said, "But those look like…covered wagons."
"1899…" A voice spoke from the speakers. A gruff and somewhat raspy masculine voice. A voice that spoke in English, but there were Japanese subtitles on the screen as everyone read. "…the era of outlaws and gunslingers is at an end. America's becoming a land of laws. Heh. Even the West has been mostly tamed. A few gangs like ours still roam, but we're being hunted down and destroyed."
"Huh?" Kagome read, ""America…? The West…?"
"Abigail says he's dying, Dutch," A voice spoke as on the screen a man was seen walking to the head of a covered wagon with two men at the helm. One was a middle-aged man all dressed in black with a black gambler hat and a black mustache. The other was an older man with a rimmed hat and a fur vest. Both were guiding a caravan of covered wagons through the snow.
"We'll have to stop someplace," The man who approached them pointed out.
"Okay," The man in black spoke, "Arthur's out looking. I sent him ahead."
"What is all this?" Sango asked, "I've never seen anything like this before."
"You've never seen a Western?" One of the scientists asked.
"Western?!" Kagome cried, "You mean…like cowboys and Indians? Gunslingers, rides across deserts and plains, saloons, and street showdowns? Why on Earth would Michiru be in a Western if this is meant to portray the memories of one of his ancestors?"
"We have American ancestors, Kagome," Mr. Higurashi explained, "One of them happened to be a gunslinging outlaw named Arthur Morgan. Michiru's experiencing his life through this machine."
"Arthur Morgan…?" Kagome asked.
"If we don't stop soon, we'll all be dying," The old man spoke up, "This weather. It's May. I'm just hoping the law got as lost as we did…"
"There!" The man at the front of the wagon declared, "Arthur! Any luck?!"
In the snow was a tall man about forty in appearance on horseback. He had a ragged black fedora with a pair of ropes tied around it. He had peering blue eyes that matched Michiru's perfectly. He had a scruffy beard and wore a royal blue trenchcoat. He looked at the two on the wagon.
"I found a place where we can get some shelter," He called out, "Let Davey rest while he…you know."
He turned on his horse to lead the way.
"An old mining town," He explained, "Abandoned, it ain't far. Come on."
"Come on!" The man in black called out as the slow caravan picked up a bit amidst the snow.
"So….this is what Michiru is experiencing?" Kagome asked, "This is how he got away from Japanese life? By experiencing the life of some cowboy in in the Old American West?"
(Whew! My first attempt at an "InuYasha: The Secret of the Cursed Mask" and "Red Dead Redemption II" fanfic with a little "Assassin's Creed" twist! I hope you all enjoy it. Will Michiru's experience as Arthur Morgan harden his heart to this great betrayal all the more, or will he learn to let go and that he doesn't really belong in the last days of the dying Old West? Tune in for more!)
