InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Family Ties ❯ Meetings ( Chapter 7 )

Sorry, I lied. This isn't the last chapter. But I can almost guarantee that the next one will be. I would also like to apologize for the lateness in posting this chapter. Three other projects came due in the last few weeks. Too much to do and not enough time to do it in. *sigh* Anywho, enjoy the chapter!

 

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha

 

Chapter 7: Meetings

 

Miroku locked gazes with the confused violet eyes of the hime. His heart kicked into overdrive and his palms grew moist. This is my sister, the person I've waited for years to finally meet! She blinked and he saw her throat convulse as she swallowed. Fear flitted across her features.

 

“Who are you?” Her voice, slightly hoarse with disuse, quavered on the last word.

 

“We're the ones who just saved your life,” Inuyasha stated bluntly. He still stood in front of Kagome, carefully not looking at her as she comforted Shippou. The rigid line of his body and the fact that he had his ears trained in the girl's direction betrayed the tension he was still feeling.

 

The hime glanced around at the rest of the group and seemed to notice that not all of them were human. “Youkai!” Her eyes grew wide and she tried to simultaneously sit up and back away from them. “Stay away from me, vile creatures!”

 

Miroku jerked backwards to prevent her head from cracking him on the chin. His elation at his sister's awakening quickly crumbled into ashes. Where was the joyful reunion? Where was the gratitude?

 

Sango helped him to his feet, handing him the staff he had laid on the floor while he was helping the hime. “Give her time, Lord Monk,” she whispered. “She has just awakened to a room full of strangers.” Miroku nodded, carefully squashing down his disappointment. Kimiko shouldn't be afraid of him. He was her brother!

 

Beside him, Sango suddenly stiffened. “Would you kindly remove your hand from my butt?”

 

Miroku blinked at her innocently. In his preoccupation, he hadn't even realized that his hand had sought a comforting and familiar target.

 

“Do it now, before your sister witnesses me beating you to a bloody pulp.”

 

Miroku gulped and removed his hand.

 

Kagome pushed past Inuyasha to kneel in front of the hime. “You don't have anything to worry about,” she said, smiling brightly. “The bad youkai is gone.”

 

“That's right!” Shippou leaned forward in Kagome's arms, his eyes bright with curiosity. Obviously, he was back to his normal friendly and inquisitive self. The hime's beautiful violet eyes nearly crossed as she stared at the small kitsune kit right in front of her nose. She shrieked and promptly fainted.

 

The kit yelped and dashed to a safe perch on top of Kagome's head, furry tail twitching with reaction. “I didn't do anything to her, honest!”

 

“Hime!”

 

The door flew open and the two guards burst into the room, weapons ready to be used. Right behind them came the old miko. One of the guards scanned the room and jumped to the logical conclusion based on the evidence of his eyes.

 

“What have you done to the hime?” Raising his sword, he swung at the youkai closest to the hime, which just happened to be a certain dog eared hanyou. “We should never have allowed monsters in the castle!”

 

Inuyasha wrapped an arm around Kagome's waist and sprang out of the way. Shippou lost his grip and tumbled to the floor where he was in more immediate danger of being stepped on than sliced in two. Sango dodged the second guard, using the bulk of Hiraikotsu to deflect his sword. Kirara growled and pushed the man to the ground. He swallowed hard and decided not to argue with something the size of a transformed firecat.

 

Depositing Kagome in the same corner as the slowly rousing Hachi, Inuyasha easily relieved the remaining guard of his weapon. After tossing it aside, he smirked and flexed his claws.

 

“Care to face me now, human?”

 

Face pale, he still looked determined to take on the hanyou. This said a lot for his courage, but very little for his common sense.

 

“That's enough!” The old miko's voice cracked like a whip through the chaos. Muttering to herself, she stumped to the hime's side. Miroku again knelt next to her, peering anxiously into her face.

 

With a groan, the old miko lowered herself to the floor. Meticulously she examined the hime before giving a grunt of satisfaction.

 

“Is something wrong with her?” Miroku asked anxiously. Deep in his gut he knew that she was fine. After all, dealing with fainting women was nothing unusual. But this was his sister and he wanted reassurance.

 

At that moment, the hime stirred and opened her eyes for the second time.

 

The old miko let out a sharp breath and turned to look at Miroku, her expression speculative. “The hime is fine. There is no trace of a dark aura anywhere around her.” Though she addressed everyone in the room, her eyes never left Miroku's face.

 

“Miko-sama?” the hime whispered in a sleepy voice, recapturing the attention of the group. “I had the strangest dream. I woke up and I was surrounded by youkai.” She shuddered. “It was horrible.”

 

There was a muffled exclamation from the corner. Miroku glanced over to see Inuyasha rubbing his head and glaring reproachfully at Kagome. It didn't take a genius to figure out that the hanyou had almost said something that would have sent the hime into hysterics again.

 

“Everything is fine,” the old miko soothed. “Your noble Lord and the villagers will rejoice to see that you have recovered.”

 

“Recovered?” She allowed the old miko to assist her into a sitting position. “Was I sick?”

 

“In a manner of speaking.”

 

The hime's eyes widened as she noticed that the youkai in the room were not the product of a nightmare. To her credit, she did not scream or faint this time. “Have we been overrun? What are these youkai doing in here?”

 

Shippou edged closer to her with one wary eye on the two apprehensive guards. He gave her his best adorable little kid smile, complete with large, dewy eyes. It was a look that had charmed many women, or at least convinced them that he wasn't a threat. Her expression turned more uncertain than fearful, and she allowed the kit to approach without screaming or bursting into hysterical tears.

 

“We came to help.” Not willing to push this tentative acceptance too far, Shippou stopped at the level of her knees. “We heard that there was trouble and we came to help because that is what we do. But it was mostly Miroku who got rid of the bad youkai.”

 

The hime smiled, her hands nervously twisting the edge of the sheet in her lap. It was painfully obvious that she would be just as happy if all of the youkai in the room kept their distance. “Then we are grateful.” She looked around at the rest of the group. “I am sure that my Lord would like to reward you. We would be honored if you would stay for a while to recover from your journey and to make sure that the evil is completely gone.”

 

She barely waited for their assent before turning to Miroku. “Would you perform blessings for the castle, Lord Monk?” Lowering her lashes, a shy blush graced her cheeks. “I would sleep better at night,” she admitted.

 

Sango jabbed him hard in the ribs with her elbow, helping Miroku to find his voice. Bowing slightly, he said, “I would be honored, hime.” A few days spent in the palace might give him the courage to tell her about their family tie.

 

They were escorted back to their chambers and an enormous meal was brought. News traveled fast and the servants seemed more curious than afraid of them now. Many lingered until Kagome gently shooed them out before Inuyasha's scowling could frighten them.

 

Miroku glanced out the window, absently noting a new day had begun. Night had still lain heavy over the land when they had entered the hime's quarters. The whole exorcism had taken longer than he thought.

 

“Will you tell her, monk?” Inuyasha demanded abruptly after the dishes were collected and taken away. “She should know.”

 

Miroku started, the excellent food turning into a lump that sat heavily in his stomach. Didn't Inuyasha understand how difficult this was? At least two lives would be irrevocably changed by the admission. “As soon as you tell HER why you're being so irritable,” he retorted.

 

Inuyasha snapped his mouth shut and retreated into peevish silence. The girls exchanged glances, obviously wondering what part of the conversation they were missing. Shippou found Kagome's sleeping bag and quickly fell asleep, sprawled in the middle of it.

 

Long after everyone was asleep, Miroku remained awake. Kimiko seemed to have a good life here. She was respected by the villagers, and seemed content. The two children had looked happy and well-fed. What changes would come about by telling her about an unknown brother?

 

Miroku hadn't met the Lord yet, but Kimiko did not have the look of someone being abused. Out of gratitude, he might offer Miroku a permanent position at the castle. The old miko, though still vigorous, probably wouldn't last for too many more years. There were certainly plenty of pretty serving maids around.

 

He clenched his hand, feeling the familiar stretch and pull of the fabric covering his cursed hand. While Naraku yet lived, he couldn't settle in one place. Father and Grandfather were counting on him to extract revenge for the curse placed on their family.

 

Knowing that Kimiko would suffer if he died before fathering an heir made him determined to keep fighting. In his years of travel, he had made many enemies. Some would be perfectly willing to threaten his sister to get to him. That was something he couldn't risk.

 

He glanced around the room at his sleeping companions. Inuyasha, as usual, had placed himself in a position where he could immediately spring to the defense if they were attacked. There had been no reason for any of them to become involved in his problem. They were good friends.

 

Miroku could see out the window from where he sat. The sun steadily trekked across the sky, counting out the minutes and the hours. He smirked a little. If they took the hime's offer and stayed a few more days, the next night should prove interesting. Inuyasha would turn human in a castle full of ordinary mortals. Kagome would have her hands full keeping him entertained and quiet. The last thing any of them needed was for even more people to learn Inuyasha's little secret.

 

The anxiety of the last several days catching up with him, Miroku yawned. Maybe after a good sleep, he could decide what to do. Leaning against the wall, he allowed his limbs to relax and felt his eyes growing heavy.

 

All he needed was some sleep.

 

^**^

 

Food for thought: Why do toasters always have a setting that burns the toast to a horrible crisp no one would eat?