InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ An Encounter With Fate ❯ Hello ( Chapter 5 )

A/N: chapter 5! Chapter 5! ^_^ Oh yes. I must warn you. This is the chapter where Kagome officially becomes Kiyoshi. So I'm gonna start referring to her as he now, okay? Please note, Kiyoshi is a masculine name.

Disclaimer: don't own Inuyasha. In fact, I don't even own that many Inuyasha products. So you get the point.

An Encounter With Fate

Chapter 5 - Hello

Last Time:

"I'm not taking the whole trip with you. Just bringing you to the closest village. I wouldn't want to get stuck with you anyway." Toutousai replied. He was bonked on the head with Inuyasha's fist for that one. He decided using the Tetsuiaga, which was a gift from his father, on something he wasn't even gonna kill.

The three started walking down the path, leaving Toutousai to regain consciousness at the gates.

=*=

They continued on down the path that led from the castle down to the main roads. Soon, Toutousai regained consciousness and joined the three travelers on his three-eyed cow. He led the three travelers down the paths and through the roads, getting stares from several people. After all, a man on a three-eyed cow, a young man with dog ears, white hair and gold eyes, a young woman with a giant boomerang on her back, and a monk traveling together wasn't exactly the most inconspicuous of groups.

It was no better when they reached the village. In fact, it was actually worse. For one, Inuyasha had virtually never come into contact with any human or intelligent beings other than his family. He barely left the castle grounds, and when he did, he was off hunting or training or something. Everything was new to him. The smells, the sounds the sights, everything was new. Although he was 594, 18 in human years, he was more like a curious puppy. Wanting to go investigate, prod, poke and smell everything.

It was more than likely worse with Miroku. He had been to the village before, but he was under strict supervision then. Now however, he was as free as to what he wanted. And that was very bad news, especially for young women in the village. Every chance he got, he either a) asked them to bear his child, b) try and grope them or everyone's favorite c) groped them and then ask to bear his child. He left that village with several bumps, bruises, and red handprints, some of which Sango did out of disgust (or jealousy, whichever you prefer).

Soon after they left the village, Toutousai left as well. He said to them before leaving, "I'll be leaving now. Good luck. And don't die. Though it might actually be useful if you became that Inuyasha." And with that happy note, he sped off on his three eyed cow, more than likely to be because Inuyasha started to go after him with his fist, only to be stopped by Miroku and Sango who were trying their best not to laugh at the same time. When Inuyasha calmed down, the three set off to "experience the real world".

Apparently, there isn't much in the real world. There really wasn't much to see since all the paths were lined with lush forest. And just lush forest.

After awhile of traveling down the path with monotonous scenery, Inuyasha cried out, "Kami! Is there nothing in these lands?!"

"That's not true, there are very beautiful women in these lands," Miroku said.

Sango shot him a look and said, "And many good people. Women and men."

"But I don't see anything!" he screamed. "How in the seven hells are we supposed to `experience the real world' if there's nothing to experience?!"

"Now Inuyasha-" Miroku said. He knew exactly what was coming.

"It's so boring! There isn't anything! Why did we have to go on this trip? This trip is so dumb!" Inuyasha yelled out.

Sango sighed. She really wished she didn't have to do this so early in the trip. She brought out Hiraikotsu and threw it at Inuyasha. He got hit and a large bump appeared on his head, interrupting his ranting about the injustices of this trip. He fell to the ground and Sango and Miroku continued down the path, leaving a swirly-eyed, unconscious hanyou in their wake.

=*=

Inuyasha had woken up in time to catch up with Sango and Miroku. He decided not to do anything to them. Yet. They walked down the pathways relatively peacefully and without event. Inuyasha decided to take up his time by climbing trees, and hopping from branch to branch on the trees that lined the path, keeping pace with Sango and Miroku.

The hours passed by, marked by the gradual movement of the sun. the sun was setting when they came upon a river. it was a very small river, but it was too big to be called a stream. There was no bridge of any sort, and it did not look like a very good place to ford across the river.

"So what do we do now?" Sango said.

"We could either a, continue traveling, and find a fording for the river, or b, set up camp right here." Miroku said.

"Let's just keep going. You never know what you might find. Plus I really don't wanna camp here, it smells funny around here. Like dead fish." Inuyasha said.

"Okay, he has a point. Even I can smell the dead fish." Sango said.

"Then lets get going, we're burning daylight here." Miroku said, walking off down eastward down the river. his two companions soon followed suit.

=*=

Kagome placidly prepared and ate her meal. It mostly was instant ramen she had bought on the way to Sengoku Jidai. It was dark and cold and was glad for her cloak and fire. Soon though, she heard voices.

"Can we make camp now?" a male voice.

"I can still smell fish," a rough male voice said.

"Well, I can't smell it, its good enough!" the first voice said.

"No! I absolutely cannot! I can still smell the damn fish!" the second voice replied.

"Augh! You are the pickiest and most stubborn person I have ever met!" the first voice cried in frustration.

The voices were getting closer, she could hear their footsteps now. they were coming from her left, from the west. she couldn't tell if they were dangerous or not. Still, she continued eating a roll with her left hand and slowly placed her hand on the hilt of her sword.

The voices were coming ever closer. "Well sooooreee. Geez! What's your problem?" the second voice said.

"YOU DAMN IT!" the first screeched.

"Shhhh," it was a third new voice. it was a female.

"Yeah, I can see a light." The second voice said.

"Why didn't you see it before, Inuyasha?" the first voice said.

"I was busy telling you it smelled like fish," the second, Inuyasha, responded.

"Will you both be quiet?" the third voice said.

Kagome could now see the three voices out of the corner of her eye. There was a young woman with a giant boomerang strapped to her back, a monk, and a young man with white hair, gold eyes and, dog-ears?

The monk came first, followed by the woman and then the one with white hair. Kagome stood up and took out her sword and faced the strangers. She calmly said, "What business do you have with me?"

The monk raised his hands in a gesture of peace. "We mean you no harm." He placed his staff down, his companions followed suit. Although the one with the white hair did so a bit reluctantly. "See?" he checked if his companions had laid down their weapons as well. "We've put down our weapons, will you do the same?"

Kagome let her guard dorp a bit and put her sword away. "Answer my first question. What business do you have with me?"

"We are none but weary travelers, seeking for a place to rest. We merely seek to stay with you for the night. " the monk said.

"Fine" Kagome replied, still eyeing them a bit suspiciously.

"A hundred thousand thank you's." the monk said.

"So do these travelers have names?" she asked them as they sat down on the opposite side of the fire from her.

"Ah, pardon my gruffness." He said. So formal. "My name is Miroku Katsura." Pointing to the woman, "She is Sango Takasumi." Pointing to the one with white hair, "And he would be Inuyasha Ginnami." Miroku thought, `I hope that they don't mind I made up last names.' He continued, "And what would the name of our gracious host be?"

"Ka-" she had almost revealed to them her real name. Catching herself before doing so, she replied, "Kiyoshi. Kiyoshi Takara."

"Hello then, Kiyoshi," Sango said. She was thinking, `What was that she started saying? Something with a Ka at the front. Hmm… I wonder… '

"Hello there, Miroku, Sango, and Inuyasha." Kagome, now Kiyoshi responded.

"So are you traveling anywhere specific, Kiyoshi?" Miroku asked.

"Not really anywhere specific." She, actually now he, responded.

"So are you a wanderer?"

He shrugged. "I guess. How about you three? Anywhere specific?"

"Umm…"he looked at his companions for help. They didn't have an answer for him either. He said slowly, "I guess not."

"So we are a group of wanderers then," Sango said cheerily.

"So would this group wanderers be willing to add another wanderer?" he asked. They were probably going to say now.

The three looked at each other they all gave each other looks. They all silently talked to each other. It was strange to see them like that. But Miroku responded, disregarding the disapproving looks (actually more like glares) from Inuyasha. "We'd be glad to have you along."

*^*

A/N: sixth chappie comin up! ^_^ REVIEW!!! pwease?