InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Bound to Tomorrow ❯ Unusual Discovery ( Chapter 17 )

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Author's Message: Inugirl, I don't really have a set period of time for updates, honestly. Sometimes I update more frequently than other times when the inspiration bug strikes… generally though, as long as I'm not super busy, I tend to update about twice a month. It really depends on how things are going in my life and how inspired I am to write at that particular time. Some writers can fix deadlines. Unfortunately, I'm not one of those people.

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Disclaimer: Another religion will be mentioned in this chapter. I'm not proselytizing. What is mentioned is merely a plot device for the sake of the story. I've mentioned three religions (Shinto, Buddhism, and Hinduism) in a good bit of detail already (and, I hope, a great deal of respect) and I'm putting the next religion on equal footing to the other. Additionally, the actions taken by various peoples in this chapter are fictional accounts of real things that happened to some people in Japan during that time in history. It is not put in there to condemn or condone any religions or peoples; again, it's there for plot. As always, if something seems amiss or offends then by all means send me a message. I'm always ready and happily waiting to talk about things in the story.

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Author's Note: If I mentioned I knew only a little about the inner workings of Shinto, Buddhism, and Hinduism then I can honestly say I know even less about this one. I know much about the art but very little about daily practice. If you see something very amiss in my descriptions please let me know right away.

As always, thank you so much for reading!

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1599-1629

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“Well, I suppose it makes some sense…” Kagome's strong voice broke through the silence that had lingered at Sango's dining room table. Confusion had been the primary emotion of the day since Noboru had left. After many hours of contemplation everyone had reconvened at Miroku's home.

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“What do you mean, Kagome?” Miroku tilted his head to the side and raised an inquisitive brow.

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The one-time priestess leaned forward and closed her fingers together over the table. “Well, think about it. My arrows didn't work against Noboru, right? Well, that makes sense to me now. He's not a demon so there's no youkai energy for me to purify.”

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“Yeah, sure…” Inu Yasha interjected with a snort, “That's fine and all but what the hell is a living tree?”

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Sango turned her dark eyes to her dearest friends, “In our village we were taught that everything in the world has spiritual energy…”

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Kagome nodded and added, “If given enough time and experience, anything can obtain consciousness. That is why some sacred objects act up and people like Miroku and I have to calm it down. You've also seen that objects can become possessed the same as people. Most everything is a vessel that can be filled with energy.”

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“So, you're saying that this guy is a tree with a soul?” Inu Yasha's voice sounded incredulous to say the least.

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“It's not that impossible to consider. Naturally occurring objects tend to have a greater capacity to contain spiritual energy, after all.” Miroku chimed in; Shippo nodded in agreement near by.

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“Feh, whatever, so how do we kill it?” The hanyou grunted and crossed his arms over his chest. He could care less what Noboru was made of as long as he died like any other bad guy and it really ate at him the way he was unnaturally attracted to his mate.

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Everyone looked thoughtful and remained silent.

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Shippo's bored sigh emanated from the far corner, “Well we can't worry about something we don't know anything about so why don't we move on? I think I have an idea about where that onsen is that Noboru was talking about…”

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“I think that I would like to see Kagome's time.” Miroku exclaimed out of nowhere.

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Inu Yasha's eyebrow twitched in irritation; not wanting to rise to the bait of his outburst. Sango had a good idea where he was going with his thoughts but as normal could not resist asking.

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“Why is that, dear husband?” The question was a thinly veiled threat to prevent him from saying something perverted.

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The threat was promptly ignored. “Why, my dear wife, for the women of course! I bet they're lovely in her time. Don't you think?”

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*SMACK!*

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The sound of Hiraikotsu rattling the perverted houshi's brains was unmistakable. Kagome suppressed a snicker as she wandered a few steps behind the couple next to her own hanyou husband.

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“He'll never learn…” He muttered softly to her. She grinned and nodded her agreement.

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It had been nearly thirty years to the day of their meeting with Noboru and Shippo's discovery of the location of their next clue. He had said the reference to a particular food reminded him of only one onsen like it: Unzen Onsen in Nagasaki.

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When they had left Edo it had been in the midst of Tokugawa Ieyasu's construction of a great castle. Security had been tight to keep an eye out on the tremendous amount of people pouring in and out of the city. Even then though, Shippo had created several Inari statues which housed his latest creation: demonic barriers. They surrounded Edo at key locations and then activated by Kagome and Miroku. Demons could neither get in, nor out through the barrier, though humans were again unaffected. Because of this, they left behind Akahanna, Haruto, and Kohaku to keep watch for any sign of ambush while they were gone.

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Signs of trouble began to emerge the moment the gang started through the Mount Unzen region. They came across several seemingly abandoned villages tucked away in places. Unlike the last time, though, there was no sign of anyone at all; not even bodies. The local shrines also remained in tact. At first everyone had assumed that the town had become less than prosperous and had simply been abandoned… that is, until they found a second ghost town.

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No one wanted to stay in the abandoned towns but night was drawing upon them by the time they reached a third town. As they approached it became apparent that that place, too, was disturbingly bereft of human activity. Just as they were about to give up and find a house to hole up in Inu Yasha stopped abruptly and sniffed the air. Kagome turned and looked back at her husband inquisitively.

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“Inu Yasha, what is it?”

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He waved a claw at her to indicate silence and then sniffed again. Golden orbs turned towards Shippo. “Do you smell that?”

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The kitsune still wore his human disguise and he struck a strange figure as he tilted his head up towards the heaven and snorted like an animal. The moment he did so he nodded. “Yeah… I smell it. It smells like blood.”

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“What kind of blood?” The hanyou persisted.

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Shippo made a face at him like he had gone mad; then quickly realized that the dog demon was trying to teach him something important so he raised his head again and inhaled. Green eyes popped open wide while at the same moment he suddenly transformed back into his true form in a theatrical puff of pink smoke. He quickly sprinted off in the direction of the village and called behind him. “It smells like fresh blood! Someone's bleeding down there!”

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Inu Yasha concurred and took off after him; their friends rushed after them but were quickly out-paced by the demons. Distantly Kagome could hear her husband instructing the younger demon to keep track of the scent. Briefly, the humans lost their view of the other two but as they rounded a bend in the weathered path they were forced to come to an abrupt halt. Their companions were huddled around a wooden post. The sound of a thick rope being slashed could be heard one moment and in the next Inu Yasha had turned around with a small figure gathered in his arms. It turned out to be a little girl.

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“Quickly,” Inu Yasha rasped painfully, “Take her. She's burning me.”

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Sango quickly hustled the unconscious child, by all appearances no more than eight years old, into her waiting grip. It was quite obvious she had some sort of cut on her head but dried blood had matted her dark locks down and it was hard to see what exactly was bleeding.

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“Let's get her somewhere indoors where I can get a good look at her.” Kagome managed as her eyes flicked over the child's tiny frame; searching for additional injuries. Meanwhile, Miroku, Shippo, and Inu Yasha took the lead and headed into town in search of other survivors or enemies. It didn't take long before they were back with troubling news: the village, like the other two, was also bereft of people.

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The men quickly secured for themselves the most defensible house in town. As soon as they found one the women went to work on the girl; shooing the men outside to stand guard while they stripped her dirtied clothing and cleaned her battered body. They were shocked at what they discovered beneath the grime. The worst wound on the child was a long gash that ran all the way along her forehead from the edge of one eyebrow to the other in a straight line. After some cleaning Sango determined that the wound was too clean to be caused by a demon's claw. Rather, the slash seemed to have come from a man-made weapon. They also found rope burns around her arms and ankles. Wordlessly, Kagome used a bone needle to stitch up the girl's forehead with silk string and then wrapped her head in linen strips. Finally, Sango provided her spare yukata to clothe the child while she waited for her things to get properly washed. As soon as she was properly dressed, her hair washed clean of blood, and her wounds bandaged, the women settled her on a clean futon and then called in the boys.

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Inu Yasha was the last to step inside and he hovered near the front sliding door to the house to stand guard; he kept his hands balled into fists at his sides. Shippo had settled himself at the little girl's bedside. He was the first to speak.

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“Is she gonna be okay?” He whispered; his brow furrowing as he frowned.

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Kagome shrugged her shoulders, “I'm not sure. It depends on a lot of things; like if she develops a fever or an infection...” She looked up at the boy before her, “How did you guys find her? She has rope burns and a cut that didn't come from a youkai.”

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Shippo pursed his lips in a deeper frown, “She was… she was tied up to a post and was hanging upside-down by her feet. When I tried to touch her… her blood burned me so Inu Yasha cut her down instead.”

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The kitsune upturned his palms towards the women to show them the angry welts that laced his skin. Kagome raised her head and directed her gaze to her too-quiet husband.

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“Did she burn you, too?” She asked.

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He scoffed but did not allow her to see his hands. When her eyes hardened into a glare he admitted that he, too, had been burned.

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“My hands aren't burned, are yours, Kagome?” Sango showed her hands to the miko who promptly returned the gesture with the same result as she.

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“Does this girl only burn youkai?” Miroku muttered from somewhere near by.

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“I've never heard of anyone burning demons with their blood before…” Kagome added. “Priestesses can't do that.”

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Sango shook her head as she stroked the little girl's brown-black hair. It was oddly wavy and highlighted with streaks of lighter brown hair. The huntress had never seen anything quite like it.

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“I suppose we won't really know until she wakes up.”

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Inu Yasha grunted, “If she wakes up…”

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Over the next few days Inu Yasha's concerns proved to be quite sound. The little girl developed a nasty fever almost overnight. No one was entirely sure how long the child had hung outside exposed to the elements though her wounds never became infected, still, the fever persisted. It was touch and go for the better part of a day and everyone took turns watching her around the clock except for Inu Yasha who mostly kept guard. Sango helped teach Kagome how to spoon feed broth while the miko taught the huntress how to sew and dress wounds in the cleanest way possible with her knowledge of modern health care. Finally, after four days of constant vigil the girl's fever broke and she began to come to. Sango was there the moment she awoke. When her eyes opened Sango was surprised by how large and round her eyes were. She had never seen anything quite like them.

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“Wh-Where…?” She moaned softly as her eyes traveled the room and landed on the huntress.

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Sango gave the girl her most reassuring smile, “Thank goodness you're awake. You're safe, dear.”

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The girl looked confused for a moment then winced when the expression pulled on the stitches to her forehead. She raised a hand to her forehead in an attempt to touch the painful spot but was stopped by Sango's gentle touch on her wrist.

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“You shouldn't touch that yet. The stitches still need more time to heal. Lady Kagome says that they can come out in a week and a half if things go well.”

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As if summoned, said miko appeared in the doorway with a fresh bucket of water in hand and smiled when the girl twisted her head to squint at her. “Ah, you're awake! That's great!”

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The miko started to shuffle closer to the girl but she shied away, closer to Sango. Her large, almond-shaped eyes seemed locked on the priestess robes she wore as if they might burst into flames at any moment.

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“Did you cut me down just to hurt me again?” The child whimpered.

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Kagome was stunned. Most villagers found the sight of a miko relieving, yet this girl was terrified. Kagome set down her bucket and knelt near the exit with her hands raised. She had a feeling that getting closer would only work the child up further.

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“No, no, we would never do something like that.” Kagome said.

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Sango stroked the back of one of the girl's hands. “We're travelers and we found you hanging outside. Why would we want to hurt you?”

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“You have a miko.” She pointed out.

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“Why would that matter?” Kagome wondered out loud.

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The girl looked confused. “You weren't called by the village elders?”

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The two women shook their heads in the negative. Kagome decided that this train of questioning was important to pursue. “Why would we?”

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The child's eyes moved around the room fearfully for a few minutes as if she was not sure someone might be listening before answering in a whisper to Sango. “Because the elders think I brought a curse to the village.”

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“…A curse?” The two women queried at the same time.

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The little girl nodded then winced when her stitches pulled again. “Did you see the other empty village?” When they nodded, though they did not add they'd seen two, she continued. “I'm from there; Chidiwa Village. It was attacked by demons. My… my parents… I don't know what happened to them. They hid me in a closet when the demons came and I heard them screaming… but the demons didn't find me. I waited a day after it got quiet and then when I thought it was safe I ran to the next town.”

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She was quiet for a moment when Sango offered the child some water and she took a few sips before continuing. “When I got there I was taken to speak with the village elders. I thought I needed to warn them but the elders had already heard about the attack. They said that demons had been wiping out the other villages and that it was because the gods were angry with them. They said it was because of me. Since… Since I escaped when no one else had that meant that I was cursed. But an old miko stepped in and said that it couldn't be me, since I'm just a kid, and that maybe the gods had tried to spare me. The elders were mad but they let the lady take me in.”

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“So what changed?” Kagome pressed.

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The child began to wring her fingers and her lower lip quivered slightly. “I don't wanna say… I'll make the miko mad… just like I made the other miko mad…”

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“You won't make her mad.” Sango gently replied. “Kagome cares for everyone. She's not like other miko, I promise you on my word as a demon hunter.”

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The girl seemed less-than-convinced but continued on regardless; she seemed to trust Sango at the very least. “The miko found my Buddha when she was washing my clothes… it… it had a little cross carved on the back. She got angry at me and then she burned it; then she took me back to the elders and told them.”

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Kagome's eyes widened and she raised a shaking hand to her lips as realization dawned on her. “They used tsurushi on a child?!” Kagome had only heard about the torture technique in history lessons but had never considered it had actually been practiced. It seemed too strange to think that someone would hang a person upside down by their feet, cut their forehead and let them dangle there—just to get them to renounce an upstart catholic religion that was only barely practiced.

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The little girl didn't look at her but continued. “They thought if I recanted then the demons would not come. They thought I summoned them. The demons came anyway.”

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“Why didn't they take you?” The huntress had to wonder how her own children had been snatched away while a lone defenseless girl managed to remain largely untouched.

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“They tried while I was hanging there… but when one of the demons tried to take me they reared back like they had been burned… so they left me alone. I heard the people in the village screaming. Then everything went dark and I woke up here.”

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Kagome and Sango looked at each other for a few minutes then back towards the girl. Noboru seemed to be getting less sloppy in his work but it was very strange that he would leave one child behind.

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“Did you see a man with blonde hair and red eyes with the demons?” Sango had to ask.

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The girl indicated no with a shake of her head. “…Are you going to kill me now?”

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Kagome took over at that point. “Of course not; we would ever hurt anyone for believing what they want. Actually, we're here because we think we know who is really causing the youkai to take people around here. We're trying to stop him.”

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“You had nothing to do with what happened.” Sango added quickly. “Say, what's your name?”

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“My name's Mina. So then, mommy and daddy aren't dead? Someone just took them somewhere?”

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“We can't know for sure until we find them…” said Kagome, “… But we'll try to get them back if we can.”

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“Should I go home and wait?”

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Sango and Kagome looked at each other for several minutes. There was no way an eight year old could take care of herself on her own and they couldn't be sure if Noboru might not come back for Mina later. At the same time it was very likely that taking the girl with them as they looked for Noboru's clues would put her right back in danger all over again.

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Finally, Sango managed to speak, “I don't think your parents would be very happy with us if we left you at home alone…”

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“Yes, my wife's right. I think your parents would feel much better if you came with us. We don't know what they look like, after all…” Miroku's voice joined in cheerfully as he entered the front door and startled all girls present. He swept into the room and gracefully plunked down onto the floor near Mina's head.

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“Were you listening the whole time?” Sango growled at her husband, her eyes narrowing at the grinning man.

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He reached over and grabbed his wife's hand and kissed the back of it in a way that Kagome had once told him was considered chivalrous in another land. “Well I was hoping you would say something wonderful about me…” He put on a look of utter dejection while his wife blushed furiously from the open display of affection. “… But alas, I have had no such luck.”

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Mina cracked her first smile at the gesture. “Daddy did that once to mommy and she made the same face…”

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“Did she now?” Miroku's grin grew into something almost feline as he kissed his wife's hand again and was rewarded with an indignant splutter of words from his beloved. “Isn't it romantic? Lady Kagome taught me about it.”

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The little girl turned her eyes on the woman with the first sign of trust, “You do? Are you Kakure Kirishitan, too?”

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Kagome giggled and smiled. “Not quite, but I have heard from some of them.”

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It was a half-truth. She was truly a Shinto priestess but she doubted it would be simple trying to explain to the girl that she knew about Kakure Kirishitans (or, “hidden Christians”) from history lessons five hundred years in the future. Her explanation seemed to satisfy the girl anyway.

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Suddenly, the monk was nearly bowled over when Shippo zipped into the room. The kitsune boy deftly avoided the monk and then promptly tripped over the blanketed feet of Mina. He was quickly yanked up by the scruff of his neck by Inu Yasha who began to drag the boy out of the room.

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“You idiot, I told you she was awake but you didn't let me finish, dammit!” He spared a glace at the girl gaping up at him and gave a sheepish smile. “Sorry about this pup here. He's a little overenthusiastic.” The hanyou then proceeded to haul the kid out the front door.

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Kagome could see the look of fear blossoming on the young girl's face and she quickly jumped in to explain. “That's Inu Yasha and Shippo. They're our friends, too. They're good demons.”

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“Good demons…?” Mina squeaked out, the blanket that had been in her lap now scrunched up near her face.

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“They can fight off the bad demons that took your family.” Sango added.

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“I thought demons were all bad…” Mina argued quietly, twisting the blanket in her fingers. She seemed slightly calmer—if a little confused.

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“Are humans all bad just because a few of them act like idiots?” Inu Yasha stood in the doorway while Shippo peered around his side.

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Mina blushed and quickly shook her head in disagreement.

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“Now can I come in?” Shippo whined impatiently.

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“Shit, you sound just like a pup when you say it like that.” The hanyou complained loudly but allowed him to pass.

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“I am not a pup!” He whined again. It didn't exactly help his case.

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The two arguing youkai looked up when Mina emitted a small snicker. Shippo looked thrilled at the response. The half-demon rolled his eyes and sauntered back outside.

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“Whatever, I have to get back to watching out for you idiots. Oi, Kagome, when you have a minute why don't you take a break?”

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Kagome nodded and turned to the girl. “Are you going to be okay while I'm gone?” Mina agreed quickly. The miko decided to add one more comment quietly, “Don't tell him I said so but, Shippo's been at your side constantly. He's kept an extra careful watch on you to make sure you got better.”

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The little girl blushed and snuck a look at the young man who pretended he hadn't heard all that with his sensitive hearing. Satisfied that Mina would be fine and knowing that Sango would be there to keep her calm, Kagome rose to her feet and headed outside.

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“So, what'd you want, Inu Yasha?” The miko peered up at her husband curiously.

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“I've been thinkin'…” The hanyou began nervously. He opened his mouth to continue; then shut it again in thought. Whatever he was worried about he was having a hard time broaching the subject.

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“What is it? Is it about taking Mina along?” His wife persisted.

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“No—well—sort of… but not really…” He turned his golden gaze upon his pretty wife and then sighed when he recognized the look of total confusion. It looked like he would have to spell it out for her. Sometimes he wished so badly that she could read his mind.

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“Ah…it's….er… it's about…” He began to sweat a little when he noticed her rising irritation at his beating around the bush. “It's… it's about…uh…pups.” He squeezed his eyes shut for a moment when he said it, then cracked an eye open at her when she didn't respond right away. Her cheeks were pink but her expression was too neutral to read. After a few more minutes she looked up at him expectantly. She still wasn't getting it, so he continued.

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“You remember when Jaken came to see us right? W-well… that dumbass brother of mine told him something about… us… you know… and uhm… pups.”

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Kagome's heart lurched in her chest. What could Sesshoumaru have told him? “Oh?”

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Inu Yasha nodded, “Yeah, uh… He said that someone told him that… if you—I mean—if we wanted them… you know… pups… that on the night of the full moon we could. I'd have to let my youkai side take over… and… you'd have to purify it. But… we could, but they'd be hanyou.”

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“What made you think about this just now?” Kagome's mind was reeling from the thought.

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“I remembered because of the girl. Sorry, I was going to tell you but… Noboru and keeping Edo safe… and Shippo's damned traps…” Inu Yasha continued to babble.

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The miko laid a hand on his arm and smiled. “It's all right, but can I have some time to think about it? I'm a little distracted with Mina.”

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“S-sure.” Inu Yasha agreed. Other things were still on his mind but he could wait; for now, at least.