InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Call of Life and Death ❯ A Fateful Meeting ( Chapter 3 )

The Call of Life and Death

Chapter 3: A Fateful Meeting

Kagome and Inu Yasha arrived in the village that Miroku and Sango were staying in late that day. They found the inn where Shippo had told them they were staying just as the sun started to sink below the tree line, causing the sky to look as though it had caught fire.

Inside, the inn looked much as the same as all the other inns that they had stayed at. Sango was brooding into a small cup of Sake, and Miroku was nowhere in sight. Glancing up at the new arrivals, Sango's face lit up in a brilliant smile as she saw Kagome approaching.

"Oh thanks the gods you are here!" she exclaimed, hugging the surprised Kagome tightly. "I don't think I could have lasted another day alone with that pervert."

"What did he do now?" Kagome demanded, already assuming the worst.

Clearing his throat, Inu Yasha got both the girls attention before Sango could launch into the monk's sins. "Speaking of Miroku, where is he? We have much to discuss and he should be here for it."

Raising an eyebrow at Inu Yasha's abnormal thoughtfulness, Sango replied bitterly, "In the village somewhere. Just follow the line of giggling women."

Nodding his head, Inu Yasha stepped back out side and set out in search of the perverted monk. Sighing to himself, Inu Yasha scented the air, and found Miroku's scent mixed with that of many different women. Shaking his head, he walked over to where the scents were emanating.

The quiet of the village was broken by the peal of female laughter. He could hear Miroku say something, and more laughter from the females, Miroku's voice joining them. As he approached, Inu Yasha could see a large group of women gathered around a sitting man who was dressed in the purple and black robes of a Buddhist monk. The women shied away from the hanyou as he passed them.

Miroku was to busy being witty and suggestive to notice that something was different, until Inu Yasha placed a hand on the monk's shoulder. Wheeling in surprise, Miroku swung is staff at Inu Yasha's head. Catching it with his free hand, the intended victim pulled the offending weapon out of the monk's hand.

"If you don't mind Miroku, we need you to get back to the inn," Inu Yasha informed him curtly.

"Ahh, Inu Yasha, I didn't hear you coming," he replied. Smiling, he turned to address the crowd of women, "Don't be frightened ladies, Inu Yasha is quite harmless."

"Quite harmless! I'll show you harmless!" Inu Yasha yelled, grabbing the handle of the Tetsusaiga.

"Easy there, Inu Yasha, no need for that," he assured Inu Yasha. "He's really just a big push over, ladies.

"The inn?" Inu Yasha prompted Miroku.

"Yes, of course. I'm sorry, ladies, but I must take my leave of you. I may return after though," he assured them, winking.

The wink caused many sighs and giggles among the village women. Shaking his head, Inu Yasha pulled the waving monk behind him toward the inn. About half way there, Miroku stopped dead and addressed the hanyou.

"Why do you have a second sword, Inu Yasha?"

"It's the Tenseiga," he grunted.

"The Ten-what are you doing with the Tenseiga?!"

"That is one of the many thing we have to discuss, now are you coming?"

As Inu Yasha left, Kagome took Sango's hand, "Come on, lets go up to the room, I would like to sit down, and it will be more private there."

Nodding in agreement, the demon exterminator led Kagome up to the room she had been sharing with Miroku. The room was very simple and rather small.

"Gee, I was expecting something a little larger," Kagome said, looking around the room in a perplexed manner.

"Yeah, we decided that Miroku shouldn't claim the dark presence thing this time, being as how we didn't know who long we would be staying for. This was the best the innkeeper could give a wandering monk and a demon exterminator for the money we had. I don't know if he'll let Inu Yasha stay though."

"That's okay, we can sleep under the stars a few more nights," the young girl replied wistfully.

"You mean HE can sleep under the start a few more nights," Sango corrected her, emphasizing the pronoun.

"Huh? No, I mean we. It would be rather rude to expect him to sleep outside all by himself after all."

"You mean that I would have to, to, uh, stay with that monk alone? Longer?!"

"Whoa, what happened Sango? I've never seen you this worried before."

"Well, um, last night I, uh…" she trailed off, looking anywhere in the room but at Kagome's face.

"Last night you what?" Kagome demanded.

"I-almost-agreed-to-bear-him-a-son!" Sango blurted out.

"What?!"

"Yeah, I know. He's just been so sweet and considerate to me. He even went two whole days without groping my ass."

"Sango, this is Miroku we're talking about."

"Hey, he can be a nice guy when he wants to be!" Sango shouted defensively. Realizing what she had just said, and seeing the look on Kagome's face, she covered her mouth with both hands. "What am I saying?"

"What's with people today?" Kagome wondered out loud.

"What do you mean by that?"

"Huh? Oh, Inu Yasha was acting oddly today he was polite and thanked me for something with out being prompted."

"Quickly," Sango shouted jumping to her feet. "We have to find him and the monk, and fast!"

"Wha-why?" Kagome asked, confusion written all over her face.

"So that Miroku can perform the exorcism of course."

Kagome started to laugh so hard she fell over, her eyes tearing.

"I really don't see what's so funny Kagome. Inu Yasha might be in real trouble."

"It's just that you think Inu Yasha has been possessed because he's acting in a civilized manner," she managed to get out between laughing fits. Calming herself, Kagome managed to stop laughing and wipe the tears from her eyes. "We should go find them anyway. Inu Yasha wasn't kidding when he said that we had a lot to discuss."

The two women left the room and headed out in search of the monk and hanyou. They found them sitting at a table just outside of the inn.

"I was just about to come and get you," Miroku explained, standing to greet the women.

"That's okay, we came down on our own," Kagome replied smiling warmly at him, and sitting in the seat next to Inu Yasha. She gave Sango an expectant look, as she gestured for her to sit down; Miroku quickly sat next to her.

Kagome smiled at Inu Yasha, who gave her a strange look and snorted through his nose. Sango watched Miroku suspiciously out of the corner of her eye, every wary for one of his wandering hands. He smiled reassuringly at her, and groped her ass as soon as she wasn't looking. Bringing her hand back she slapped him across the face, knocking him from his seat.

"You know Miroku, you should watch yourself," advised Kagome. "One of these days she's going to have a sharp object in her hand, and reflexively slap you."

"Ahh," said Miroku as he climbed back into his seat. "But I assure you that it will be well worth it." The rest of the group sighed collectively.

"Now, if we're done discussing the art of groping Sango's ass," said Inu Yasha sarcastically, "Why don't we get down to the business at hand?"

"Okay, why don't we start with how you can to have possession of the Tenseiga?" offered Miroku.

"I guess that's as good of a place to start as any. A couple of days ago, as Kagome and I were walking from the well, Jaken approached us. He delivered to me the news of my half brother's demise, and to carry out Sessomaru's final will," the hanyou explained.

"Does this mean that you are now the lord of the western lands?" Sango interrupted excitedly.

"If you would all shut up for a minute, and let me finish telling the story without interruptions, then you would already know." Glaring at Miroku and Sango, he continued, "As his next-of-kin, all his lands and possessions were mine. Jaken told us that Sessomaru had specifically mentioned that the Tenseiga should go to me. I then instructed my half brother's former vassal to divide the holdings of the western lands and the estates there in as he saw fit." Holding up his hand to forestall any interruptions, he continued, "I don't like Jaken, however, he was extremely loyal to my brother and I feel that he can be trusted with this task. I have no use for great holdings or lots of land. Besides, I couldn't exactly go hunting Shikon shards and be the lord of the Western Lands, now could I?"

"Now, moving on to more pressing matters; Kagome was attacked by a very strange demon last night. I wasn't there when it attacked, but I was able to save her and managed to drive it off. However, when it left it took the shards that we had already collected. It was moving with amazing speed, and I figured that I wouldn't be able to catch up to it until it stopped somewhere. We now need to recollect those shards, and the one that you have found here."

As he fell silent, Inu Yasha realized that the three humans were staring at him in wonder and amazement. "What are you all staring at?"

"Since when has…" sputtered Miroku.

"It's just that…." Sango started.

"I think that what they mean is that we've never head you speak at such length, and that you really thought everything out," explained Kagome, regaining her composure first.

"Hey!" exclaimed Inu Yasha.

"Relax, you just are more the kind of guy who takes things as they come and just react to the situation as it changes, rather then a whole lot of planning before hand. We're complimenting you," she finished, winking at the flustered half demon.

"Yeah? Well you all have a strange way of showing it," he grunted.

"So, how do you suggest we proceed, Inu Yasha?" Miroku asked.

"I think that wherever that thing was going, is its home, and probably not the best place to fight it. We should collect the shard here, and then try to figure out some way to meet it on ground that is either neutral, or in our favor."

"That sounds like a very good idea Inu Yasha," the monk replied, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. Sango continued to stare at the hanyou, and muttered something about needing an exorcism under her breath.

Chuckling too herself Kagome interjected, "Well it's too late to go after the shard today, so why don't we eat and settle for the night?"

"That's the best idea I've heard yet. Only one problem," Sango reminded them, "The innkeeper here hates demons, and won't let Inu Yasha stay under his roof. Kagome, you are more then welcome to stay with us though." As she said this, Sango's eyes pleaded with Kagome to stay at the inn.

Kagome inhaled as though to answer, then stopped as something occrued to her. Tonight is the night of the new moon. Inu Yasha will be vulnerable tonight. Perhaps I should mention this, maybe if the innkeeper saw that he was human, then perhaps he would let Inu Yasha stay. No, he's already seen Inu Yasha as a demon, and would just think that it was some kind of trick.

Looking into Inu Yasha's eyes, she replied, "Actually, I think that I'll keep Inu Yasha company tonight."

"Are you sure?" Sango half asked half pleaded.

Slipping is arm around Sango's waist, Miroku said, "Let them be Sango. They obviously want some more time alone together." This earned him another slap that sent him to the ground from Sango, a swift kick from Kagome, and a dangerous look and warning growl from Inu Yasha.

As the monk climbed back into his seat, again, Inu Yasha forestalled any further argument on the topic, "Feh, let's just eat." As he spoke, he glanced nervously at the quickly sinking sun.

When they had finished eating, Kagome assured Sango a few hundred more times that she was really more then happy to spend another night out in the open, and that Sango would be fine for one more night. Once she had separated herself from the demon exterminator, the young woman from the future went to the edge of town where the soon to be human hanyou waited for her.

"Come on, we have to hurry, I trust you know why. I remember seeing a tree not too far outside of town that looked like it would suit our needs quite well," he said as she approached.

Smiling at his back as he turned toward the woods, she replied, "Okay."

It didn't take long to reach the tree, where Inu Yasha picked Kagome up bridal style, and jumped from branch to branch until he reached the one that they could both be comfortable on. She noticed that he winced slightly every time they landed, and when he put here down.

"Let's take a look at that shoulder before we lose the light completely."

"It's fine, you don't need to worry about me."

"Don't be difficult, I don't want to have to use the word on you again, but if it's the only way that you'll let me check it, then I will." Grumbling, he bared the injured shoulder and allowed her to change the bandages and inspect the wounds.

"Well," she said after she had changed the gauze and replaced the ace bandage, "They look like they are doing much better then this morning, but they still aren't as healed as they should be."

"Feh, they'll be fine," he replied in a tone of dismissal, tossing his head as he spoke. It was as he tossed his head that the failing sun finally sank below the horizon, and the silver haired and golden eyed demon changed into a human. "Feh, human again."

"I've been working on using my Miko powers. I think that I've gotten the hang of a new spell that will erect a barrier to protect us. It keeps both humans and demons from being able to enter."

"Well, why don't you give it a try?" her companion replied in a mild and encouraging voice.

Smiling and shaking her head at the difference between normal Inu Yasha and human Inu Yasha, she closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Holding her hands in her lap, the left resting palm up in the palm of the right, with the thumbs touching, she relaxed her body, and concentrated on her spell. When she was sure as she could be that it was correctly formed and in place, she opened her eyes.

"There, I think I got it. But why don't you stick Tetsusaiga into the trunk, just to make sure we're safe?"

Inu Yasha did as she suggested, and taking her backpack he hung it on a close branch. Then he sat with is back against the trunk and shut his eyes in preparation for sleep. His eyes shot open as he felt a warm body snuggling up against his chest. He smiled as Kagome got herself into a comfortable position.

"Kagome?"

"Hmm?" was her sleepy reply.

"Thanks for staying with me."

"Yeah, no problem."

They didn't speak again; they just enjoyed the closeness as they waited for sleep. Both slept peacefully, Inu Yasha was totally relaxed, a way that he had not felt since his childhood. He smiled and moved his arms around Kagome as she shifted in her sleep.