Chapter 97
Auctoritas non veritas facit legem
"Authority, not truth, makes law"
"They smashed up things and creatures
and then retreated back into their money
or their vast carelessness or
whatever it was that kept them together,
and let other people clean up
the mess they had made."
—The Great Gatsby
It wasn't much farther that Miroku halted.
"He says it's just beyond those trees," Miroku gestured ahead of them. "If you're comfortable watching these two then I'll go on and see who is waiting for us."
Kagome's nails scraped his chest as she curled it into a fist.
"I want to go," she whispered to him, as if asking permission.
"Kagome wants to go," Inuyasha repeated to the group.
"We don't know what we're walking into."
"Look, Sango and Kirara can handle a couple of assholes. If you get jumped, it's not gonna end well."
"It's less riskier than bringing the one person they wanted from the start."
Kagome's breath hitched; her exhale making his skin dewy and the air between them humid, and he fought back the shudder and the whine that tried desperately to escape him.
He was so fucking screwed.
"You sure you want to go?"
Kagome nodded. And that torn part of him reappeared. Glad she felt safe and well enough to confront her would-be kidnappers, but also worried that they were going to walk straight into a trap that he might not be able to get them all safely out of.
"You'll keep me safe," she whispered, and that deeply rooted part of himself preened at her confidence.
Oh, he would. He would keep her so fucking safe. There would be no question about her safety at all.
"We're going," he insisted, taking a step towards the monk, who looked every bit apprehensive about the situation.
He let out a soft sigh before turning towards the men.
"This is your final moment to warn us of any dangers that might be lurking ahead. Are there any traps set?"
"No, I swear, we were just supposed to hand her off, take our money and go. That's all, I swear it."
Miroku nudged the other man with his foot.
"And you? Do you swear it?"
The man glanced over at the two of them, and Inuyasha made a show of baring his fangs at the man.
"We do not have all day," Miroku said with a rough nudge of his foot. "Do you swear that there are no traps waiting for us?"
The man drooled over himself and nodded, eyes watering.
Miroku looked over at them.
"You ready?" Inuyasha asked, walking up next to him. "I wanna catch this bastard. Kagome's been out here long enough already."
Miroku gave a short nod, tightened his grip on his staff before turning and walking away.
Inuyasha walked a step behind him, watching for any sign of people or traps out in the trees. Every muscle felt overly tight, and he was ready to bolt at any moment.
"Miroku!" He hissed, and the monk looked over his shoulder at them, before following Inuyasha's nod and glare at the woman standing in the clearing.
"Sadly, I am not surprised," Miroku said, voice low and just above a whisper.
Inuyasha stepped out into the clearing, holding tightly to Kagome, who'd twisted her head to see who had offered to buy her.
"I think it would be best if you came with us," Miroku said, forcefully jabbing his staff into the ground. The rings jingled loudly throughout the trees, echoing in the small area, and Inuyasha watched her eyes widen at the sight of the the three of them.
"We've already got your other two cronies, so just do us a favor and don't—" He sighed as the healer turned and ran, "run."
Miroku was already after her, knocking her feet out from under her with his staff.
"Please, we are all very tired, and I am currently not in bed with my betrothed, so if you will be so kind as to not run, it would be much appreciated."
The woman started to scramble, and Miroku slammed the end of his staff right in front of her face, making her gasp and freeze from where she lay in the dirt and leaves.
"Shall I remind you? I am awake, cold, and not fondling the perfection that is my dearest Sango's glorious rear. I am not a happy man, and you are only furthering my upset. So please, do yourself a favor and walk calmly back with us."
The woman's head flipped between the two of them so quickly that Inuyasha was sure she was going to try running again. But she must've realized that it was only a matter of time before they would recapture her again. Slowly, she rose to her feet.
"I wasn't going to hurt you," the healer spoke quietly in the stillness of the trees.
Inuyasha snarled.
"You don't get to fucking talk to her!"
The healer physically recoiled as if she was slapped.
"You fucking drugged her and kidnapped her! She's fucked her ankle up again because she ran because she was fucking terrified!"
"Inuyasha," Miroku said, trying to intercept.
"And you want me to believe that you weren't going to hurt her?"
"Why?" Kagome's voice broke through his tirade as she turned her head to face the woman. She pulled her hand out of his shirt to brace herself against his chest. "Why did you do it?"
"Because!" She cried indignantly, motioning as if the answer was obvious, but said literally nothing else on the matter. Her hands just moved as if that was explaining the whole thing, but she didn't make any move to actually answer the question.
"She asked you a question, bitch. Answer it!" Inuyasha snarled. Her back straightened, and she turned her glower to him.
"I will not be spoken to like that by an animal."
Before Inuyasha could even retort, the end of Miroku's staff struck the ground right at her feet, making her backpedal a step.
"I do not condone violence against women, but you are making me drastically reconsider," Miroku said, stepping in her space. "You will not speak to or about Inuyasha in any fashion. We are done here. You can explain yourself in front of the headman."
At that, Miroku grabbed her arm, dragging her forward with him as he walked towards Sango.
"Do not touch me!"
Miroku shoved her in front of him.
"If that is what you wish, then I would suggest you walk briskly."
Inuyasha hesitated for just a moment as Kagome slumped back against him.
"I'm sorry she said that," she told him. "That wasn't right."
"I've heard worse," he said, and to be honest, it hadn't even phased him. He'd heard how people referred to him. It wasn't a surprise when they called him half-breed or a dog.
"You okay?" He asked, and she didn't answer right away, but he felt her fingers playing with his beads. "Kagome?"
"I'm fine," she said, turning her head to bury it into his neck.
"Kagome," he said, and she shifted a bit in his hold. "You're not fine."
"I know," she whimpered, breathing onto the bare skin of his neck. "I'm trying. I promise."
"What're you apologizing for? You've done jack shit wrong."
Kagome shifted so that she was hidden from him a little more, and he sighed.
"You haven't done anything wrong," he repeated, hoping that she would listen. It would probably be the first time if she did.
Sighing again, he walked after Miroku.
The healer hadn't tried to run from Miroku, but the way her shoulders slumped, she looked as though they were marching her to her death. He rolled his eyes at her dramatics, and headed back towards Sango and the other two kidnappers.
The moment that Sango saw the healer, he heard her let out a soft curse.
"I should've known," she said, loud enough for everyone to hear. "I should've known you'd be behind this." Sango shook her head. "Get up," she ordered the two men, nudging them with her boot.
"What did you do to his face?" The healer shouted moving towards the man still on the ground. She didn't have to feel it to know that his jaw was broken. That was pretty fucking obvious. "His jaw is broken! It practically feels like it was crushed!"
The healer turned towards him, a harsh and withering glare leveled at him like he cared or gave two shits about what this woman thought about him.
Tightening his grip on Kagome, he felt her cold ass fingers slide just underneath the collar of his shirt, resting back against his collar bone.
He bit back the small noise that tried to escape from him, happily letting her leach whatever warmth she could from him.
"You can treat him while the headman decides what to do with you. Get up," she ordered them.
"You can't expect him to walk all the way back!" The healer shouted in indignation.
"Then you can help him walk. He's been a burden to us long enough already," Sango said, shoving them forward. "Kirara, lead the way," she said, and Kirara led them slowly back to the village.
Inuyasha followed in the rear with Kagome. There was no reason for her to have to see those bastards anymore than she already has.
"I'll take you back to the inn," he said, feeling the need to fill the blank space. "Get you cleaned up. Get you someplace warm. Make Shippo start the fucking fire for once."
"Shippo starts plenty of fires," Kagome whispered, sounding half asleep.
"Yeah, but not the ones we actually want."
Kagome hummed, nails scratching along his collarbone, and he'd never known that he'd like it that much. It was hard enough not shivering or groaning—both things that he wanted to do.
He shifted her weight slightly, and she stirred.
"Sorry," she mumbled into his neck.
"Don't be. Go to sleep. You're safe with me," he whispered into her hair.
"I know," she sighed, and he felt her body slacken just a bit against him. He pressed his lips to her hair.
"We should be prepared for disappointment, I fear," Miroku said, and Inuyasha glared at the healer in front of them. He knew this was not going to go over well. He knew that this wasn't going to be easy.
He glanced over at the monk.
"We will be accusing their healer. It would be like someone accusing Kaede."
"Kaede wouldn't be caught dead doing this shit."
"I believe that she thought she was doing the right thing."
"How could anyone think that this was the right fucking thing to do?"
Kagome shifted slightly, and his thumb rubbed the vertebrae along her spine, feeling her settle back against him.
She felt safe with him. She knew that she was safe with him, and that's the only thing that mattered to him. She knew that he wanted her over Kikyo, and she knew that he would always come for her.
That made that thing deep down proud and preening. He liked that she could rely on him, and that in her hour of need, she went to him, wanted him.
He wanted her to know that he was there for her. He would always be there for her no matter what.
"You've seen her thoughts on youkai. Even those that have proved themselves allies are no different than those that would attack and ravage the village in her eyes at least."
"Then she's dumb as shit."
"We can't force people's opinions to change. It has to be their own doing."
"Like hell I can't," Inuyasha mumbled, gently rubbing his cheek against Kagome's hair. He glared at the group they were escorting back to the village.
They walked back in quiet all the way back to the village. The trees were quiet, and the chill permeated the trees. She'd been out here most of the night, stayed out of their reach for most of the night, ran on an injured ankle for probably most of the night.
He'd let himself believe that they were safe—that no one would get to them. He was human, and they'd just stolen her right from under his nose. Knocked him out and just took her away.
Look at how easily she was gone, and if she hadn't been able to get away for part of it. If he hadn't gotten his powers right then—she might've been lost to him. Forever this time.
That was a terrifying thought.
Humans were so fragile and delicate and short-lived, and it seemed like everyone was bound and determined to take her away from him.
He'd lost his mother. He'd lost the Kikyo that he knew. He'd almost lost Kagome—the list grew longer the more that he thought about it. The 'almosts' were starting to make his head spin, and he took a quick huff of her hair.
"You're safe," he whispered to her, eyes drifting over to the group that had tried to take her away from him.
The walk back only irritated him more. He'd have run back and left them, but he didn't want to risk something happening, and these fuckers would be the ones to try it.
So he took the long way back with Miroku and Sango guiding them all towards the headman's hut.
He just wanted to get her warm and dry and clean, wrapped in blankets and whatever warm shit she had.
Also him. He was warm. That counted in the 'warm shit' category.
Kagome shivered again, and he hiked her up a bit more against him. Her face rested in the crook of his neck, where her breath made a warm humidity against his skin.
They reached the village, just as it was waking. A few hushed whispers sprouted as they marched through the village with their prisoners.
Miroku knocked—loudly—on the headman's door.
A few muffled sounds came from inside before the headman himself appeared, eyes widening at the sight of Miroku and Sango and three of his villagers.
"I'm sure you have a reason for all this, Lord Monk."
Miroku's shoulders straightened from his normal causal posture to something firmer, something that dared someone to mess with him today.
Inuyasha could tell that he was practically white-knuckling his staff at this point.
"I thought it was pertinent for you to know that three of your citizens decided to drug our group last night and attempt to kidnap our priestess."
There was a moment of silence as he watched the man process his statement.
"Do you have any proof?" The man asked, straightening his posture.
The old fucker wanted them to prove that his fucking villagers decided to fucking try to sell her off.
"Inuyasha," Miroku said, turning ever so slightly towards him. "Is Lady Kagome up to showing her injuries?"
Her breath hitched against his neck.
"You okay?" He asked her quietly, and there was a subtle nod as she leaned back ever so slightly. Her eyes met his, and he started to tell her that she didn't have to. She didn't owe these fuckers anything. Lay back down. He'd protect her.
Her head turned to look at the man standing in the doorway, revealing the bruise already starting to form on her face.
The headman winced, looking to the three prisoners that stood there between them.
"Her other injuries that were earned protecting your village," Miroku emphasized the last part of his sentence, "have been reopened or worsened. Her healing has been set back several weeks. You can see how this is severely upsetting to us."
Miroku's staff struck the ground firmly, jingling lightly in the quiet.
"I will send for our other village elders. All of you, please, go around to the building behind here."
Miroku gave a slight bow and led the way. Inuyasha followed behind him, wanting to see that they were settled before he got Kagome somewhere he could care for her.
He wanted them to be punished for what they'd done and attempted to do.
But he had no desire to hear all the political bullshit that went with these proceedings.
Kagome shifted against him, burying her face into the side of his neck again.
She shouldn't have to be here, but he wasn't about to leave her anywhere in this shit village without him there to protect her.
Sango lightly scratched Kirara's head.
"Go check on Shippo," she said, and Kirara leapt up into the air, heading for the inn.
Miroku paused at a doorway, sliding it open and motioning everyone inside. The men and the healer went inside with Miroku and Sango following. Inuyasha stepped inside to ensure that there wasn't a way for them to overtake Miroku and Sango or that there wasn't a trap lying in wait for them either.
Sango stirred the fire to life as Miroku grabbed a couple pieces of firewood to fuel it.
It took a few moments, but the fire was slowly growing and brightening the room.
"You all good here?" He asked them. "I'm taking Kagome back to the room."
"No," she whispered, and he paused in his turn away, waiting for her to tell him what she wants.
When she didn't respond, he tried to figure out what she wanted, and he had an idea.
Which he didn't like.
At all.
"You wanna stay?"
She gave a weak nod.
He wanted to tell her no. He wanted to tell her that he was going to take her back to the room and take care of her.
But if she wanted to stay, then he wasn't going to take that choice away from her either.
"That fire needs to be bigger. Kagome's fucking cold as shit."
He walked into the room, settling Kagome down on the floor and placing her as close as he could to it. Sango poked and prodded at the logs trying to encourage the flames higher.
He took her hands in his and rubbed them together, trying to warm them up a bit before he looked at her feet.
"You okay?" He asked, holding onto her hands a bit. She stared at him almost blankly before nodding. "Kagome?"
"I'm just really tired," she said, giving him a warbling half-smile. "I'm okay."
Her eyes darted to the two men, and the healer who was looking at the one that he'd injured.
"I'm going to look at your ankle," he told her, reaching down for the cloth wrapped around her feet.
He deftly untied the knot Sango had made and winced the moment he saw her ankle. Definitely swollen again and definitely injured. She wouldn't be walking on that for a couple of days for sure.
Maybe even a week if it was already this swollen.
"How bad is it?" She asked, and he gently pressed his thumbs along the joint feeling her wince and hiss and jerk away with even the slightest amount of pressure.
"You're not going to be walking on it for a few days at least," he said, shifting her a bit so that her feet were next to the fire, because they felt like ice and were incredibly pale.
Looking up at her, he saw her fingers wringing together, and she looked on the verge of tears.
"Lady Kagome," Miroku said, moving beside them and kneeling down beside her. "Is there anything that I can get for you?"
Kagome shook her head, wiping her eyes with her fingers.
"I'm just really tired," she said. "I'm okay."
Both he and Inuyasha shot them a look that clearly stated they disagreed with what she'd said, but that now also wasn't the time to argue with her about it.
"That is completely understandable, but if you need anything, please ask."
She nodded, giving another half-smile with watery eyes.
Miroku stood, moving away from the both of them.
"Hey," he said, being mindful of current onlookers. "You wanna get out of here, just say the word and we go."
She nodded, taking a deep breath and clutching the edges of his haori closed.
Kagome was holding onto the very fringes of her emotional stability, and it made him want to break the other side of that fucker's jaw.
The door slid open and the headman walked in, fully dressed and looking displeased with the fact that they'd gotten up so early.
Well, fuck him and his attitude.
"The village elders are on their way," he announced, moving to take a seat at the front of the room.
Because of course, a fucker like that would have to be the center of attention.
He turned back towards Kagome, watching her fingers twist around themselves.
"Still cold?" He asked her, and she shook her head.
"The fire is helping," she whispered, and he nodded.
The door slid open again and three other men stepped inside, all taking seats in front of the headman.
He didn't like the looks on their faces, and the way that they were looking at his people specifically.
Inuyasha remained kneeling beside Kagome.
"You have leveled serious crimes against my villagers," the headman said. "We have gathered to hear your complaints."
Complaints? A growl built up in his chest. These were more than just some piddly-ass complaint.
"And we apologize for bringing such news at such an early hour, but you understand our distress over the current events," Miroku said.
"Please, relay the series of events that have led us here," the headman said with a motion of his hand.
"Before we begin," one of the elders said, and Inuyasha knew what he was going to say before he said it, "is it necessary for the youkai to be here? This is a human village. They have little to offer in these proceedings."
If they thought that they were going to get Kagome alone—without him—then they were in for a fucking rude surprise.
"As I have explained before," Miroku said, placing a hand on Inuyasha's shoulder to keep him from rising up to his feet, "Inuyasha is Lady Kagome's protector and guardian. Where she goes, so does he, and as she is currently injured from this morning, we are even more loathe to let them be separated, even for proceedings such as these."
Monk was fucking laying it on thick today.
Which was fine, Inuyasha never had the time for all this bureaucratic nonsense anyway.
"I suppose that will be fine," the elder grumbled. Kagome took a deep breath beside him and it came out trembling.
"Please continue, Lord Monk," the headman said, with a broad wave of his hand.
These fuckers were already bored. He could tell. They were probably already making up their minds about how this was going to go, and it wasn't going to be in his favor.
Which meant that it's not going to be in Kagome's either.
"We were finishing our supper when the inn brought us a serving of tea as a measure of thanks. We all drank, and it was not a few minutes later that we were unconscious. During that time, these men, at the request of your healer, had come into our room and kidnapped our priestess, Lady Kagome, with the intent to sell her to some unknown buyer."
Miroku paused, clearly waiting for some questions or comments.
"Wasn't the priestess already injured when she arrived here?" One of the headman asked.
"Her ankle was twisted, but until this morning she'd been able to walk short distances. Her other injuries were accrued at the cost of protecting your village from a—" Miroku hesitated for just a second, "a person who sought to use your village as an experiment for controlling youkai. Our victory and your safety came near a great cost to our priestess and her protector."
The elders sat there, all staring at them.
"And you're saying that our own healer, who has worked tirelessly to ensure that our village remains healthy decided to attempt to sell a woman that she'd helped heal herself?" An elder pointed out.
"As we have previously stated, she has already expressed her bigotry towards some members of our group, despite his concentrated efforts in helping your village," Miroku argued. "We are not here to place blame or our own biases. We are merely here to demand reparations for the damage that these people—your people—have caused."
"We owe you nothing!" One of the elders spat.
"You owe us everything!" Miroku shouted back, staff slamming into the floor, making even Inuyasha flinch. "Do you think that the person behind the youkai attacks would have stopped at the edges of your village? Do you think that you would have continued to escape without casualties?"
A staggered silence rippled through the room.
"My companions risked everything to ensure that your village remained safe and unharmed."
"And such is the line of your work," the headman stated.
Miroku's staff slammed into the ground, leaving a circular dent in the wood flooring, his knuckles turning white at how hard he was gripping the wood.
"I can assume that by your statements you have no intention of issuing appropriate punishments for those involved in such a crime?"
"All we have is your accusations," the elder argued, gesturing to the group behind them. "We have not yet heard their story."
Kagome grabbed onto his sleeve, and he turned towards her, scanning her for what she needed. He knew what she needed, what she wanted, because he wanted it too.
But if he held her now, they would do nothing to help them. She clutched at his hand, and he let her. Her fingers shook—trembling—as she held onto his fingers.
"I'm here," he whispered, and she nodded vigorously.
"Then by all means, let them speak their peace."
"Yoriyuki," the headman said, and the man who didn't have a broken jaw rose to a standing position, bowing deeply. "Please, inform us of your role in these events."
"Sir, you see," his eyes drifted from the headman to Kagome, to Inuyasha, and then to the healer and his accomplice. "I thought—we wanted—were told—" He cleared his throat. "We thought the priestess was in danger. Our lady said that she'd heard rumors that she was possessed and only sought to free her of the possession. That's all."
Inuyasha glared at the man, watching with a smug satisfaction as Yoriyuki swallowed loudly enough that Inuyasha could hear it.
Kagome's hands shook, and Inuyasha winced as tears ran down her cheeks. This was too much for her.
"Do you want to go?" He asked her, and she stared at him for a long time before she shook her head.
"I need to stay," she whispered, eyes darting to the men sitting on the other side of the fire.
"And how did the priestess injure herself?"
Inuyasha growled at the accusing question, but Miroku put a hand out to warn him. If Miroku didn't do something, then Inuyasha was going to handle it. And if he handled it, it was going to be really fucking messy.
Kagome squeezed his fingers, drawing his attention back to her.
"She woke up and broke free. She kicked him in the knee and ran into the trees. It was dark, and we lost sight of her."
"You mean to tell me that a girl, who was already injured, escaped your custody?" The elder closest to him asked.
Hold the fuck up.
Inuyasha turned to glare at the old man.
"What sort of question is that?" Inuyasha asked.
"Inuyasha," Miroku hissed, putting his hand on Inuyasha's shoulder.
"This is a human trial. There is no room for the commentary of beasts," the man spoke, and Inuyasha cracked his knuckles as a long, low growl built in his chest.
"Inuyasha asks a fair question. Are you chastising him for not succeeding in selling our friend?" Miroku asked. "Or perhaps are the individuals involved in this extend beyond those we caught red handed?"
"What are you insinuating, boy?"
"You know exactly what I am insinuating," Miroku said with a firm strike of his staff into the floor.
Inuyasha shifted closer to Kagome, and he glanced to Sango whose hand rested on her sword.
Good news is that these fuckers wouldn't be a challenge for any of them.
"You would defend a monster?"
"He is not a monster!" Kagome shouted. "And his name is Inuyasha!" Her reiki flared, loud and bright enough that he was sure even they could feel it.
Kagome tried pushing herself to her knees, and he steadied her at her shoulder and elbow.
"The only monsters in this room are human ones!" She wobbled, and he moved closer to make sure that she didn't fall. "You like to think that you're better than youkai and that all youkai are evil, but you're all nothing more than wolves in sheep's clothing!"
"You think you can talk to us like that?"
"I don't think, I am!"
"Put that woman in her place!" One of the elders spoke, and this time, Inuyasha was keeping her on her knees as she tried to climb to her feet.
"Why? Are you so afraid of the truth you cannot stand to hear it?" Miroku asked, standing in front of her.
The elder rose to his feet, and Miroku's grip shifted on his staff. Inuyasha watched him slide his foot just enough to give him leverage in a fight.
"Enough!" The headman shouted, standing. "I will not have my house dissolve into madness!"
Kagome wobbled, collapsing back down onto the ground, and Inuyasha made sure that she wasn't in danger of falling over or worse—into the fire.
He kept an arm around her shoulders to keep her supported as she slouched back against him. It seemed like what little energy she had was used up now.
"If I may speak," the healer said, slowly rising to her feet.
Inuyasha glared across the fire. The woman held power in this village, and she'd be foolish not to use it for her own benefit. These people needed her, but they didn't need Inuyasha or his friends.
It was a game of fine lines, and Inuyasha was notorious for slashing through those with his claws, even if it set bridges ablaze in the process. It was the primary reason that the monk spoke for them.
All Inuyasha needed to live was Kagome, and he'd burn to ash anything that threatened her well-being. Just like these fuckers had done.
The woman cleared her throat.
He could see the carnage on the horizon. She was going to save herself.
"I was informed by another priestess that this woman here, was possessed. We were only attempting to free her by removing her from the one controlling her."
The words clicked, and Inuyasha got the insinuation.
"Inuyasha," Kagome whispered, hands grabbing onto his sleeve. He snarled at the woman, who was daring to imply that he'd do anything ever to harm her. "Inuyasha," she whispered again. "I want to leave."
"I know that you are not insinuating that Inuyasha is in anyway capable of harming Kagome," Sango growled out.
"I've seen how he acts! You're all too blind to see it! Why do you think it took so long for her to heal?"
"It took so long because she was poisoned and survived an explosion!" Miroku bellowed. "And from the way that you've treated us, it wouldn't be a wonder that you were feeding her poisons to fuel your own sick and twisted beliefs!"
"I would never!"
"Would you though?" Miroku snapped, glaring at the woman.
Both of Kagome's hands gripped his sleeve, and he reached his other hand towards her.
"Look at her! Look at how she dresses! This—this harlot is hardly a priestess!"
Inuyasha snarled, low and loud.
"Watch your fucking mouth," he warned, as Sango's sword swiped out in front of the healer, halting the woman's approach as the point nearly nicked her nose.
"Not a step closer," Sango warned, and the woman's eyes shifted to the blade.
The woman recoiled so hard she hit the wall of the building, making the wall rattle noisily, and the village leaders were already on their feet.
Fucking dramatics.
"Try anything, I dare you," Sango warned.
Inuyasha quickly picked Kagome up, moving closer towards Miroku, who shifted to put himself between Kagome and the rest of the group. Her hands clutched at his shirt, and he watched the building fray with concerned interest.
This was getting out of hand fast, and the last thing he wanted was torches and pitchforks.
"Did you see that?" The woman shrieked.
"If you missed it, I'm sure that Sango will be more than happy to demonstrate her skills again," Miroku offered, staff angled towards the leaders, prepared to strike.
"I believe it is time that you all leave," one of the elders stated.
"I agree. You've all done enough damage here."
"We do not want to be forced to violence," one of them threatened.
Miroku turned his head to face him slowly, and even Inuyasha could hear that small snap of Miroku's patience.
"What exactly are you threatening us with?" Miroku asked, shifting his stance towards the men. "You came to us requesting aid, and we gave it. Now when we are requesting that you handle matters in your jurisdiction, we are asking for too much?"
"You give us no proof—"
"Proof?! We've given you more than enough proof!"
"You've given us nothing more than an injured man and stories."
Miroku laughed loudly.
"Well, in that case, if we are nothing more than story-tellers," he motioned to Inuyasha to follow him. "Then we will take our leave of your village."
Inuyasha skirted behind him and towards the door. Miroku paused at the entrance with Sango standing beside him, clearly waiting for something to happen.
"But I urge you, should you find yourself in need of our services again, we will not answer." At that, Miroku reached up and ripped the ofuda to ward against evil spirits off the door jamb. "Good luck. You'll need it." He turned towards the men, and he caught the wicked grin on his face as his gaze landed on the man with the broken jaw. "I hope you thoroughly enjoy soup."
And with that, turned and left the building, marching to the front and leaving everyone following in his wake.
A/N: Happy Thursday!
I hope you all enjoyed the extra long chapter! We got angry Miroku in here too! He's always a treat, 'cause we don't see that much of him.
We're officially back in session, and I gotta tell you, I'm not feeling it. I've already met with my principal and HR over a supervisor issue, so that's how this year started. It's also not getting better. I'm hoping it changes, but I'm not sure that it will. So just bear with me as we start the year, because I'm already stressed.
See you guys on the 17th, and as always let me know what y'all think.
