InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Difference a Little Time Can Make ❯ Chapter 29 ( Chapter 29 )

Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha. Rumiko Takahashi does. I am not making any money from this story.

 

Author's note: Thank you to everyone who has reviewed. Please continue to review and let me know what you think. The changes from canon will continue to ripple out, though some things will remain the same.

 

Just to let you know I'm not planning to re-write every little thing from canon. I will be following the manga as an outline but things will change. However, I do plan to keep some things from canon. Therefore, there might be times that I make mention of events from canon without actually showing them in my story. For example, in this chapter Miroku will have discovered the field of warriors before encountering the princess like he did in the chapter dealing with the ink-painter, but I will not be showing it. As for how the ink-painter comes into the story without a shard, you'll just have to read to find out.

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Inuyasha huffed as he cast another look at his companion. She had been oddly silent since they had left the houshi the night before. She hadn't even put up much of an argument when he had berated her for putting herself in danger. His ears drooped as he wondered if she had wanted to stay with the bouzu after all. Thinking about the meeting with the houshi, he couldn't help but wonder why she hadn't let him hit him a few times for groping her, not to mention spying on her. And she hadn't voiced any objections when the bouzu asked her to bear his child. Then again he hadn't really given her a chance to say anything. She wouldn't have accepted, right? He thought about it for a moment longer then he shook his head and snorted. No, he was pretty sure that wasn't what the problem was. But damned if he could figure her out. Well there was only one thing to do about it in his opinion. He glanced at her again and growled.

 

“Alright wench. What's your problem?”

 

Kagome looked up at him startled. “Huh?”

 

“Keh! You've been quiet since we left the cave last night. Normally you don't shut up. So again, what's your problem?”

 

Kagome flushed at his words. 'Was that really how he thought of her? A troublesome girl who never shut up?' She felt her heart sink a little more. “Nothing's wrong Inuyasha, I've just been thinking.”

 

“Feh. I think I prefer when you're too busy talking. I don't like the type of stupid ideas you come up with when you think.” He snorted as he recalled her last 'brilliant' idea to let herself be sucked into the Kazaana.

 

Kagome couldn't take any more. “So now I'm stupid?” she asked, eyes downcast as her fists clenched at her sides. All day she had been contemplating his words and arguing with herself. She was so confused. One moment he would call her his bitch and act like he cared, the next she was merely his responsibility, a burden. And now he was adding that she was stupid.

 

Inuyasha flinched at her tone of voice. “Feh. I'm just saying you come up with the stupidest ideas ever.” He winced, that didn't come out right. He tried again. “Like allowing yourself to be sucked in last night.”

 

Kagome's head shot up at his words and she glared at him. Did he really have to keep bringing that up? “I was trying to save your life, Baka! And it worked. You were the one who wanted to fight when everything could have been settled by talking things out. Miroku-sama ended up being very reasonable. And I knew that he wouldn't allow me to be sucked in.” 'At least I was pretty sure, and I ended up being right' she thought.

 

Inuyasha stiffened at her words as his ears flattened on top of his head. “KEH! Miroku-sama, hah! If you think that bouzu is so great, then why didn't you stay with him?! I'm sure the lecher would have been thrilled with the idea. If you hurry, I'm sure you can still catch him!” He turned his back and crossed his arms, tucking them into the sleeves of his haori. He tried to ignore the pain in his chest. Why would she want to stay with him when she could be with the bouzu. He was obviously powerful and able to protect her, not to mention human.

 

Kagome froze in shock. 'Is he saying that he doesn't want me around, that he would have preferred to leave me behind with Miroku-sama?' Tears began to well in her eyes as she struggled to keep them from falling.

 

Inuyasha winced when the scent of her tears hit him. Despite his own hurt, he could never stand to be the source of her tears. Turning slowly, he confirmed what his nose was telling him when he took in the sight of tears in her eyes. “Kagome” he said softly as he reached one hand out in her direction.

 

But she flinched away from him and turned her back. Unable to stop the tears from flowing, she refused to let him see them fall. “Go ahead” she told him. “Tell me how stupid I am. How much of a burden I am. Tell me that you wish you weren't stuck with me and how you want me to leave.” She took a deep breath and tried to brace herself for the words she was sure were coming.

 

Inuyasha could only gape at her back. “What the hell?!” Reaching out, he gripped her shoulder and spun her around to face him. “What the fuck are you talking about bitch?!”

 

“Stop calling me that!”

 

Inuyasha flinched. 'S-she doesn't want me to call her a bitch anymore?' His ears drooped again. 'Maybe she really did change her mind about being with me after all.' However, her next words dispelled that idea while further confusing him.

 

Covering her face with her hands she continued. “Don't call me a bitch when you don't mean it. When you don't really want me!” She broke off as she began to sob into her hands.

 

'What the hell is she talking about?!' Inuyasha could only stare at her shaking body as he tried to figure out just what the hell was going on and where she had gotten that idea from. “Oi, don't cry. You know I can't stand to see you cry.” But that only made her cry harder.

 

After another moment of trying to figure out what was going on, he reached out and pulled her to rest against his chest. Ignoring the way she had stiffened against him, he wrapped his arms around her while dropping his head to rest his chin on top of her head. “Shh, it's okay. I'm not going anywhere.” He breathed a sigh of relief when he felt her arms hesitantly wrap around his waist in return.

 

When he felt Kagome's sobs begin to calm he glanced around the area for a better spot to finish their discussion in. He didn't like the idea of being caught distracted on the ground. Shifting his grip on Kagome, he leaped high into one of the nearby trees and, ignoring her shocked intake of breath, settled down on one of the branches with her sitting in his lap.

 

Kagome was shocked at his actions. Why was he comforting her? And why had he just brought her up on a tree branch? Hands tightly clenching his haori she asked “Inuyasha?”

 

“Keh. I think we need to have a long discussion about what you just said. And it's safer up here than down on the ground.”

 

“What's there to talk about? You think I'm a burden and don't want me around anymore.” She refused to meet his gaze as she said it. Then a clawed hand clasped her chin and gently, but firmly lifted her head to meet a pair of intense golden eyes.

 

“That is what we have to talk about” he growled out. “Where the hell did you get the idea that I don't want you around?”

 

She gave him a confused look. “Back when Miroku-sama asked if we were together, you told him that I was your responsibility. And before we left Kaede's you were acting like you didn't want me to come along. You wanted to leave me behind. And just now, you were practically telling me to leave.”

 

“Baka! I didn't want to leave you behind, I just wanted to keep you safe.” He took a deep breath before forcing himself to admit “I wanted you with me more than anything but I was willing to leave you behind if I thought you would be safer and happier.”

 

Kagome stared at him. “But you were saying that I'm loud and stupid, and you've been avoiding me since we started this journey, sleeping in trees instead of holding me, and you haven't kissed me in even longer and-”

 

Inuyasha cut her off by leaning forward and covering her lips with his own. He sighed when he felt her practically melt against him. She was right about one thing, it had been too long. When they eventually broke apart, both were panting for air. He leaned his forehead forward to rest against hers.

 

“Stupid bitch” he muttered with amusement. “This is why you shouldn't think. You get the stupidest ideas into your head when you do.” He tightened his arms around her when he felt her stiffen at his words. “I said that your ideas are stupid, not you. And I've been staying in trees in order to guard you. It's too dangerous right now with so many youkai trying to kill you. I would prefer to hold you at night but I know I would relax too much and let down my guard, leaving us vulnerable to an attack. As for why I haven't kissed you-” He sighed. “Back in the village, the humans were still getting used to me being around. I didn't want to create a scene like what happened at Hisao's village if they saw us kissing. And since we left the village I've been more concerned with trying to track down this baboon-man. I never meant to make you feel like I don't want you. I thought we had settled that fear when I explained what a bitch meant to me.” He smirked at her a bit.

 

“But why did you tell Miroku-sama that I was merely your responsibility?” Kagome wasn't quite ready to let the subject drop. She still felt that she was being a burden to him.

 

Inuyasha closed his eyes and sighed. “Feh. You should know by now that I'm not good with words. You have to look at my actions.” He emphasized his point by tightening his arms around her and kissing the top of her head. “I don't own anything but the clothes on my back and the Tessaiga. The only thing I have to offer you is my protection. I vowed to protect you and I will keep that promise. So you see, you are my responsibility because I am responsible for keeping you safe. Because I want to keep you safe. There is nothing more important to me than that.”

 

Kagome simply stared at him as his words made everything click into place. “Oh” she said softly. “Then you don't think I'm a burden? You don't blame me for having to be out here, being attacked by youkai while you search for this elusive baboon-man?”

 

“No, I don't think of you as a burden and never meant to make you think I did. I like protecting you. And as for being attacked by youkai, they would attack me anyway if not for this reason, then because I am a hanyou.” He sighed. “Are we good now?”

 

“Yes, we're good” she conceded.

 

“Feh.” He briefly tightened his arms around her. “Don't doubt me Kagome. No matter what stupid stuff I might say, my feelings aren't going to change.”

 

She hugged him back. “I promise Inuyasha. I'm sorry I doubted you but it won't happen again.”

 

“Good.” With that, he dropped out of the tree. “Now let's get going. We've got a cowardly bastard to find.”

 

Kagome smiled at him as she took his hand and allowed him to lead her further into the forest.

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Several days later they were no closer to their goal and Inuyasha's temper was beginning to fray again. “Damn it!” he cursed. There had been no sign of the baboon-man. They hadn't even been attacked since they left the houshi days before and Inuyasha was feeling restless.

 

Kagome sighed. It had been nearly five days since they had last encountered any youkai. She didn't think that Inuyasha's plan was going to work. How can you get information when there was no one to get the information from? She had an idea of another way to learn more about the baboon-man but she didn't think that Inuyasha would like it.

 

Inuyasha turned to face her when he heard her sigh. Seeing the contemplative look on her face he called out. “Oi!” Once he had her attention, he said “Alright wench, let's hear it.”

 

Kagome blushed at the fact that he was able to read her so easily. “I was just thinking-” She glared at him when he snorted and mumbled something about it being a dangerous thing to do. “As I was saying, I was just thinking that we haven't seen any youkai in days. We can't learn anything about the baboon-man if there's no one around to get the information from. But I thought of another way we might be able to learn more.”

 

Inuyasha scowled at being reminded of the lack of attacks. But he raised an eyebrow at her suggestion that there might be another way. “And?”

 

Kagome took a deep breath before continuing. “As we haven't been able to learn anything from the youkai, maybe we can learn something from the humans. I'm sure that anybody in the nearby villages would have noticed if there was a strange youkai around or if the youkai in the area have been acting strangely. They might have seen or heard of the baboon-man. We could try stopping at a village and asking.”

 

Inuyasha could only gape at her. After a moment he shook his head before fixing her with an intense look. “Let me get this straight. You want to go to a village and ask if they have seen any strange youkai around.” At her hesitant nod, he exploded. “Have you lost your fucking mind?!”

 

Kagome was taken aback by his outburst but he wasn't done yet. “If we go into a village and ask if there have been any strange youkai around recently they'll answer yes and point at me, right before they attack! And if you think I'm going to let you go into a strange village by yourself, then you really are crazy!” He glared at her. “That was your stupidest idea yet!”

 

Kagome flinched back at his tone. She had known that he wouldn't be happy but she didn't think he would react so badly. “There's no need to yell like that. It was just a suggestion.”

 

“Keh! A stupid suggestion. I told you before, you need to stop thinking. You come up with the stupidest ideas when you think.” He turned away as something else caught his attention.

 

But now Kagome felt her own temper rise. “Yeah? Well something's got to be done! We can't just keep wandering around like we have-”

 

She was cut off as Inuyasha pulled her to his side and covered her mouth. “Shh!”

 

Kagome glared at him until she realized how alert he had become. Then she went still. When he released her she reached for her bow as she asked “What is it?”

 

Inuyasha continued to look around, ears flicking as he listened. “I'm not sure.” His nose wrinkled. Whatever was out there smelled really awful! And for some reason it reminded him of ink.

 

Suddenly a large oni lumbered out of the trees ahead of them. It eyed them before grinning hungrily. “You! I've found you!” It started forward again. “Now Die!” It swung it's spear.

 

“Keh! Nice try!” Inuyasha called as he leaped back before depositing Kagome on the ground. “My turn!” He unsheathed the Tessaiga and leaped forward. Swinging the Tessaiga, he easily sliced off the arm holding the spear, only to gag at the stench of the black liquid that spurted out and covered him. “Gah!” he cried as the scent made him dizzy. But he ignored the smell to the best of his ability when the oni gave a roar of pain and outrage and swung with its uninjured arm. Barely managing to dodge, Inuyasha struck with the Tessaiga again, this time separating the head from the oni's body. As the body started to topple it suddenly turned into the same black liquid and drenched the unsuspecting hanyou.

 

Unable to take the stench any longer, Inuyasha succumbed to the stench and passed out.

 

“Inuyasha!” Kagome cried as she saw him fall. She hurried to his side and made a face at the mess covering him. “That's not blood” she said as she stared at the black liquid. Carefully touching it with one finger, she rubbed before smelling the substance. “Ink?” she wondered. Turning her attention to her companion, she sighed. He needed a bath.

 

A short time later a freshly washed Inuyasha was conscious again and glaring at her. “What?” she asked innocently. “You were filthy and needed a bath. You're just lucky the stream was close by.”

 

Inuyasha continued to glare at her. He had been awakened from his untimely 'nap' when Kagome had shoved him into a stream. He had spluttered to the surface only to have her toss him the soap and tell him he needed a bath. He had grumbled and complied but now glared at her as he tried to ring his clothing dry. Seeing the amused look on her face, he smirked as an idea came to him.

 

Kagome shrieked as Inuyasha suddenly dropped to all fours and shook, sending water flying in every direction. “Inuyasha!” she scolded as she wiped water from her face.

 

It was his turn to look at her innocently as he replied “What? I'm dry now.” But the amused glint in his eyes and the smirk on his face gave him away.

 

Kagome rolled her eyes at him but let the subject drop as grabbed a cloth from her bag and dried off. “There was something strange about that attack, wasn't there?”

 

“You noticed it too?” He asked, serious now.

 

She nodded. “Something about that oni just didn't feel right to me. But I don't know what it was. And when you killed it, it turned into that black liquid.”

 

“I'm not sure either.” He reluctantly admitted. “But that liquid stunk of ink and blood. Its fumes completely overloaded my senses. I don't think that was a real oni.”

 

Kagome bit her lip. “Do you think it was sent by the baboon-man.”

 

“Probably.” Suddenly, his eyes lit up. “But now we have a clue. I can track the stink of the ink. Come on, let's go.” Pulling her onto his back he took off through the forest, pausing now and again to check for the scent.

 

It led them out of the forest and to a nearby field. Kagome gasped as she slid off Inuyasha's back. The bodies of a large number of samurai littered the ground.

 

Inuyasha pulled her back when she got too close. “This isn't right” he mumbled as he stared at the bodies. “There's no blood and the scent of that ink lingers in the air here.”

 

Kagome gulped. “Inuyasha, I don't think this was the work of that one oni. I think there are more of those creatures out there.”

 

He sighed as he looked over the carnage. 'Why are all of their livers gone?' he wondered. “I think you're right. Come on, there's nothing we can do for them now. We'll let the people at the next village know so they can give them a proper burial.”

 

Kagome looked at him in shock. “Inuyasha, are you actually suggesting that we stop at a village?”

 

“Keh.” He pointed in the distance where they could just make out the top of a shiro, probably belonging to the local daimyo. They could see smoke rising from the area. “I have a feeling that the scent is going to lead us there.” With that they set off.

 

Inuyasha was right, the scent of the ink did eventually lead them to the shiro. Though, they had stopped several times when he caught the scent of ink, leading Inuyasha to investigate various travelers, much to Kagome's dismay. Though one of the men he stopped did seem to be behind it as he pulled out a drawing that came to life and attacked them, allowing him to escape.

 

Flashback

 

Inuyasha had just grabbed another peasant for the seventh time since leaving the dead bodies behind. Kagome rolled her eyes as she moved to get him to release the man but his words stopped her. “You. Why don't you tell me why you reek of ink and human blood and liver?” He glared at the man.

 

The man's beady eyes shifted this way and that as he cried. “Aah! I am a simple painter. Let me go!” He pulled his arm out of Inuyasha's grasp and started to run away.

 

Inuyasha moved after him. “Keh! You won't get away that easily.”

 

The painter came to a stop as Inuyasha leaped in front of him. His eyes widened. “You! No you should be dead by now” he said as he glanced between Inuyasha and Kagome. “I won't let you stop me. I will fulfill my dreams!” he cried, reaching into his shirt and pulling out a piece of parchment. As it unrolled, the painting on it came to life. The large oni lumbered towards them as the painter took his chance to run away.

 

“Feh. Weakling like this won't take me long to finish off” Inuyasha said as he unsheathed Tessaiga and dodged a swing from the oni.

 

Kagome stared after the man. 'He didn't feel like a youkai. So how did he make this one appear? Something strange is going on.' She watched as Inuyasha dodged the oni's strikes before preparing to swing the Tessaiga. Her eyes widened with realization. “Inuyasha, wait-”

 

She was too late. Inuyasha struck with the Tessaiga and the oni turned to ink, which splattered everywhere. Kagome flung her arms up in a vain attempt to protect herself. She was surprised when she didn't feel anything touch her. A moment later, she heard Inuyasha groan and lowered her arms to see that she had unintentionally made a barrier that protected her from the ink. Too bad for Inuyasha, he was outside of the barrier and was now covered in ink again. She sighed as she released the barrier and began looking for a nearby source of water. Inuyasha would need another bath before they could go after the painter.

 

End Flashback

 

They had followed him to the fortress but lost him. But once they finally reached the shiro they were surprised to discover a familiar face.

 

They had entered the outer gates wondering at the lack of guards. They could see that the fortress had suffered damage recently, possibly in a youkai attack. As they passed an open door they heard a familiar voice say “indeed, the princess would undoubtedly be safer if she were to stay here with me, here in the same room. Sharing the same bedding.”

 

Turning to look they spotted Miroku sitting next to a beautiful woman of obviously noble heritage while addressing a noble man. Inuyasha couldn't help himself. “Keh! He's at it again! And I suppose you'll need to search her robes while you're at too, you lecher!”

 

Miroku was startled to see Inuyasha and Kagome outside and felt an eyebrow twitch at the hanyou's words. “Inuyasha, Kagome-sama, what brings you here?”

 

“Miroku-sama, have any youkai made of ink attacked? We tracked the one responsible for it here?” She ignored the way the guards had reacted at the sight of Inuyasha as she asked her question.

 

An explanation followed and a short time later the three of them were settled in a room. Miroku lamented the fact that the daimyo had decided the princess was safer alone in her own room while Inuyasha kept a wary eye on the houshi's roaming hand.

 

Kagome continued the explanation. “Yes, so it seems that the artist has some way to bring his paintings to life. I don't know how he gained the power but he is obviously using it for the wrong purposes. And he was definitely human not youkai.”

“Indeed, there are much better ways such a skill could be utilized.” Miroku agreed with a lecherous smirk. “But why does this concern you? I did not think that Inuyasha was the type to involve himself in things that didn't concern him.”

 

Inuyasha bristled at the houshi's words. “Keh! Not that it's any of your business, bouzu, but one of the fool's creations attacked us, specifically. I want to find out why and what the creep knows.”

 

Kagome elaborated further. “We are currently looking for information about someone, most likely a youkai, that has been described as a baboon-man. We were told he could be found in the northwest. The only description we have is that he covers himself with the pelt of a baboon.”

“Interesting” Miroku remarked. “And what exactly is your interest in this baboon-man?”

 

“Keh! He wants Kagome dead and has been sending loads of lower level youkai to do it. I'm taking the fight to the bastard! Gonna make the coward pay for threatening Kagome!”

 

“We think he may be behind the artist's sudden ability to bring his paintings to life” Kagome added.

 

“I see” Miroku said as he lifted his hand to his chin in thought. “But why is this baboon-man after Kagome-sama. Besides her beauty, of course.”

 

Kagome looked to Inuyasha, unsure of just how much they should share with the houshi. But he was standing near the door, sniffing. “Inuyasha?”

 

“I smell it again. That mix of ink and blood.” He growled and bounded out the door. Kagome and Miroku quickly followed him.

 

They took in the sight of a hoard of youkai swarming in the courtyard. A scream pierced the air, and they turned to see the princess being pulled into a chariot. The youkai and chariot took off into the sky before they could stop it.

 

“Excuse me” Miroku said, then he ran off, grabbing a nearby horse and swing himself into its saddle before setting off after the youkai.

 

“Keh. Come on, that painter's involved in this and I want some answers.” He pulled Kagome onto his back and swiftly headed after Miroku and the youkai, easily catching up with the houshi.

 

A short time later they arrived outside of a small hut. “What are we waiting for?” Kagome asked. The youkai had beaten them there. “Who knows what could be happening to the princess while we stand around outside.”

 

“Relax, Kagome-sama. I was afraid of something like this happening, so I took some precautions and utilized the help of an old friend.” As he spoke there came the sounds of yelling and crashes from the hut before a tanuki ran out of the door. He was followed by a large number of ink youkai.

 

“Miroku-sama! Save me” he cried as he ran towards them.

 

“Feh, you had the tanuki take the princess' place. Not bad bouzu.” He unsheathed the Tessaiga and prepared to face the oncoming swarm of oni.

 

“Inuyasha, they are paintings, made from ink. If you destroy them they'll just turn back into ink. It's the painter that we have to stop” Kagome warned him.

 

“Keh, I know that. But we have to go through them to get to him” he retorted.

 

Kagome groaned. She was going to have to give him another bath after this, she just knew it. “Just try not to get any of the ink on me” she pleaded as she drew an arrow and notched it on her bow.

 

“Perhaps you should stand back Kagome-sama and allow us to deal with this” Miroku offered. “I would hate to see you get hurt and a battle is no place for a lady such as yourself.”

 

Kagome gave him an odd look as Inuyasha snorted. “Feh, she can take care of herself. Besides, she stays with me, where I can protect her.”

 

Miroku opened his mouth to say something else but it was too late. The youkai had reached them. The tanuki ran past them while they each readied their weapons.

 

Inuyasha pulled Kagome onto his back and leaped forward, swinging the Tessaiga. He easily defeated the first few youkai, and managed to steer clear of the ink when they dissolved. But the fumes were quickly getting to him, and he landed on the ground trying to clear his head. An oni tried to strike at them but Miroku sent his staff through it before stepping in front of them.

 

“Do not worry, I will handle this. Kazaana!” Miroku unsealed his hand and began to suck the oni in.

 

Kagome's eyes widened. “Miroku-sama! Look out behind you!” She quickly fired an arrow at the oni that hid been sneaking up behind him.

 

It was Miroku's turn to be surprised as he took in the sight of the glowing arrow that quickly dissolved the oni. Not even any ink was left behind. He gazed appraisingly at Kagome. He had been unaware that she was a miko. “My thanks, Kagome-sama.”

 

“You! You stole my oni! You ruined my plans! The princess was supposed to be mine! He promised me!” Their gazes fell on the painter as he stood in the doorway of the hut, ranting at them.

 

“Who promised you?” Miroku asked. He frowned as he took in the sight of the container of ink strapped to the painter's back. He could sense something magical about it, something familiar.

 

“The man in the baboon pelt. He gave me the ink I use to bring my drawings to life. He said it would fulfill my dreams. All I had to do was kill a troublesome miko.” He glared at Kagome. “You're supposed to be dead not here ruining all of my plans. My oni was supposed to kill you.”

 

“Keh! I protect Kagome and it'll take more than your pitiful, weak drawings to beat me!”

 

“Pitiful! Weak! I'll show you!” The painter unleashed another scroll, sending a hoard of oni at them before releasing a dragon and climbing on its back. “See how you like these, some of my finest work!” he called as the dragon took to the sky.

 

“Keh! You won't get away that easily.” Inuyasha leaped after him, straight through the hoard of oni.

 

Kagome gasped. “Inuyasha! If you cut them down you'll be knocked out by the ink again!”

 

“Out of my way!” Inuyasha yelled as he punched his way through the oni. “That bouzu's not the only one who can show off.”

 

Kagome gave Miroku a sheepish look. “I think he means 'thanks but I'll handle it from here.'” She watched as Inuyasha merely used his fists to clear a path through the oni before leaping up onto the tail of the dragon.

 

The painter gave him a startled, frightened look. “What's the matter? You all out of oni?” Inuyasha taunted him as he cracked his knuckles. “You are going to tell me everything you know about the baboon-man.”

 

Miroku sighed. “Well that's it, he has him cornered now.”

 

Kagome glanced at him before turning her eyes back up to the confrontation in the sky. “But he can't use his sword or he'll be knocked out by the ink” she pointed out.

 

Miroku waved her off. “At that distance, he should easily be able to slice through the painter's neck without hitting the dragon.”

 

Kagome gave him an uneasy look at his words. She knew that Inuyasha disliked killing humans, and only did it when he had no other choice. Like with those bandits that had captured her. Besides, they needed to get information from the painter.

 

Miroku caught her uneasy look. “Perhaps you shouldn't watch Kagome-sama. Something like this is not meant for your delicate eyes.”

 

She glared at him before turning her attention back to the sky. “Inuyasha” she whispered.

 

The painter was in the meantime glaring at Inuyasha as he slowly approached up the dragon's back. “You fool! Have you forgotten, I painted this monster!” The dragon turned its head and shot out a large flame directly at Inuyasha.

 

Inuyasha cursed and lifted his arms to protect his face. He heard Kagome scream his name from below and growled.

 

The painter was laughing. “Not even your bones will be left by the fires of hell!” He continued to laugh until he felt a clawed hand grab hold of his arm. “No, impossible! You should be dead!” He stared in horror at Inuyasha, surrounded by flames.

 

On the ground Kagome breathed a sigh of relief. But Miroku could only stare in disbelief. “H-he is on fire. But he is unaffected.” He gaped at the sight.

 

“The fire-rat haori” Kagome breathed, recalling how it had saved her life in a similar situation.

 

“Give up” Inuyasha growled as he unsheathed the Tessaiga and dispelled the flames. “Do you think I'd let myself be beaten by a human?! Especially one as weak and pathetic as you?!” He leveled the sword at the painter.

 

“W-wait. Spare my life, please.” The painter begged as he tried to crawl backwards away from Inuyasha.

 

“Start talking. What do you know about the baboon-man?” Inuyasha growled.

 

“I don't know much. He appeared to me one day after I had been thrown out of the shiro. I was vowing that I would have my revenge and that the princess would be mine, when he appeared out of nowhere. He told me he could help me get my vengeance and fulfill my dreams. He gave my this ink” he held out the container to Inuyasha “and told me it would bring my paintings to life. With that I could bring my dreams to fruition. But the only way to power the ink was to feed it blood and fresh liver. So I ambushed travelers on the road and harvested their blood and liver, feeding it to the ink and my oni. The baboon-man said all I had to do in return for his gift was kill the miko.” He whimpered in fear.

 

“Why does he want her dead? Where can I find him?”

 

“I don't know. He only said that she had caused him a lot of trouble. Please! I only saw him the one time! Please spare me” he cried. He held out the container of ink. “Here, take this. Without it I will no longer be able to bring my drawings to life. I will be a regular man. Please!”

 

“Feh. The monster who took dozens of innocent lives to gain power, is begging for his own?” Inuyasha stared disgustedly at the pitiful man before sheathing the Tessaiga. “Feh.”

 

Miroku stared up at him in shock. 'He's going to let him go? He's not going to kill him?' The more he learned about the hanyou, the more questions he had.

 

Inuyasha started to turn away when a laugh from the painter caught his attention. “You fool!” Suddenly, he felt a sharp pain in his leg as the dragon clamped down on it. He punched it in the head to make it release him then leaped away.

 

The dragon fell to the ground and the painter clambered to his feet before trying to run. “No, you're not gonna get away.” Inuyasha drew the Tessaiga and slashed as he ran after the painter, easily dispatching the dragon and getting clear before the ink could affect him.

 

The painter continued to run, panic fueling his legs. He clutched the container of ink to his chest. If he could just escape, he would be able to have his revenge. Hearing the hanyou gain on him he clutched the container even tighter. Suddenly he heard a crack. He looked down in time to see the container shatter, the ink bursting forth to cover him. He fell to the ground, feeling the ink start to spread over his body. “Help me” he cried, reaching one hand out to the approaching hanyou.

 

Inuyasha cursed and grabbed the painter's hand, trying to pull him free. But he was too late, and the painter's body dissolved into the ink leaving only the hand in his grasp which he dropped to the ground. “What a fool.” Inuyasha shook his head as he stepped back and regarded the ink staining the ground. He turned his head to see Kagome and Miroku approaching.

 

“Inuyasha!” Kagome ran to his side glad to see that he was unhurt. She gasped as she saw what remained of the painter. “What a horrible way to die.”

 

“Keh. I don't know what was in that ink but it hungered for blood and liver. It devoured the painter to get it.” He shook his head. “A fitting end for him, revenge for those whose blood he spilled.”

 

Kagome noticed a piece of parchment on the ground and picked it up. “He was trying to paint the princess” she said as she looked at it sadly.

 

Miroku stepped up to stare at the ink-stained ground. “What a fool. How can one paint such purity with such tainted ink?” He shook his head sadly before regarding the ink seriously. There was something familiar about that energy. He could feel the taint from it and dared not touch it. It would take a long time and many prayers to purify this area. He sadly shook his head as he thought about it.

 

Kagome stepped forward with her bow and drew an arrow. “We can't just leave this puddle of ink here. Who knows what trouble it could cause if it fell into the wrong hands.” She released the arrow and the purifying energy accompanying it swiftly dissolved the ink into nothingness.

 

Miroku regarded her for a moment. Such power! She was able to completely purify the ink with just one arrow. He looked between her and the spot the ink had been before turning and offering a brief prayer to Buddha for the departed soul of the painter.

 

“Feh. What are praying over him for?”

 

“For the dead there is neither good nor evil. All that remains is the mercy of Buddha” Miroku responded.

 

“Mercy? Feh. I swear I'll never understand you humans.” Inuyasha turned away and crossed his arms.

 

“I think you understand better than you want to admit, Inuyasha.” When the hanyou turned his head to regard the houshi, he continued. “You could have easily slain the painter, but you spared him. That is mercy.”

 

“Keh!” He turned his head away again as Kagome came up to him and gave him a smile.

 

Miroku regarded the two for a moment in silence. It was surprising to learn that Kagome possessed spiritual powers. It was obvious that she had at least some training but as far he knew miko were trained to regard all youkai as evil. So how had she ended up in Inuyasha's company? He gazed down at his hand and realization came to his mind. “So, why is the baboon-man after Kagome-sama?”

 

They turned to look at him. Kagome bit her lip. “Err...” she trailed off, unsure of what to say.

 

“It wouldn't, by chance, have anything to do with the Shikon no Tama, would it?” Miroku asked with a glint in his eye.

 

Inuyasha lunged forward and fisted his hand in his robes. “How the hell do you know about that?!” he growled, ignoring Kagome's attempts to calm him.

 

Miroku lifted his arms. “Calm down. Put me down and I'll explain.” Inuyasha glared but complied.

 

Miroku straightened his robes and ignored Inuyasha's impatient growl. Once he was satisfied he began. “I didn't actually know, it was a guess. I had heard that the Shikon no Tama had resurfaced and had been on my way to Edo to deal with it. I knew that Naraku would seek it out, after all he was responsible for the death of its previous guardian.” Inuyasha's and Kagome's eyes widened at that, and Kagome finally remembered where she had heard the name Naraku. Kaede had mentioned it when she spoke of her sister's death.

 

“But before I could get there, I heard that it had been destroyed by a miko that had appeared out of nowhere.” He regarded Kagome. “It was said that she did not wear the typical miko clothing and did not regard all youkai as evil. Am I right in assuming that you, Kagome-sama, are that miko?”

 

Kagome looked at Inuyasha then admitted “Yes, I was the one to purify the jewel but with Inuyasha's help.” She regarded Miroku suspiciously. “But how did you know?”

 

“Well, you did display miko powers during and after the battle, you do not wear the typical miko clothing and you travel with a hanyou. But the thing that really raised my suspicions was the ink.”

 

“The ink?”

 

“Yes, you see, I have been sensing something familiar about the ink since we encountered the painter and I finally realized just what it was. I believe I know who your baboon-man is.”

 

Inuyasha grabbed him again. “Who? And where can I find him?” he growled.

 

“I wish I knew where to find him. It appears our two quests have joined. For the familiar sensation that I felt was the same one I get from my Kazaana. Your baboon-man is none other than Naraku, the one I seek to kill.”

 

Inuyasha released him as his eyes widened. “Naraku?”

 

“Yes, I am sure he was most unhappy with the jewel's destruction. Just as he was unhappy when it fell out of his grasp fifty years ago. It is just like Naraku to want revenge, and then send others to do his dirty work for him.” Miroku regarded the other two for a moment as they digested his news. “So, where are we going to next?”

 

Inuyasha turned his head to glare at Miroku. “Keh! What's this we, bouzu?”

 

Miroku tilted his head. “Isn't it obvious? Naraku is after Kagome-sama. He will eventually go after her himself when his current tactics continue to fail. If I wish to survive, Naraku must be defeated. Therefore, if I remain with you, I will have a better chance of encountering Naraku to succeed in my own quest.”

 

“Feh. Who says we need your help?”

 

“We have a better chance of succeeding if we work together.” Miroku told him. “Besides, wouldn't it be helpful to have access to my knowledge of Naraku? My family has been trying to defeat him for fifty years. I do have some knowledge of his strengths and weaknesses and the way he thinks.”

 

“Keh! And yet you haven't succeeded in those fifty years, now have you?”

 

Kagome grasped his arm. “Please Inuyasha, I'm sure Miroku-sama will be a lot of help.”

 

Inuyasha's eyes widened and he stared down at her. “Y-you want him to come?” His ears drooped. Why did she want the bouzu to come? It wasn't like she- He eyed her suspiciously. “You don't like him, do you?” he questioned her quietly.

 

Kagome gave him a confused look. “What do you mean?” Then her eyes widened in realization and she slapped his arm before hugging him. “Baka! No, I don't, at least not like that. I just meant that since he knows about Naraku he could be a lot of help. Besides, we know that he is helpful in a fight. And if we need anything from a village, he can get it since you don't want me to go.” She gave him a pleading look.

 

“Fine, the bouzu can come with us.” He turned and fixed the houshi with a glare. “But I'm watching you bouzu. I find you spying on Kagome or trying to touch her and you won't have to worry about your curse ending your life, I'll do it for you.”

 

Miroku waved him off. “I understand you completely. So shall we be off?”

 

Kagome paused for a moment as a thought occurred to her. “Hey, what happened to that tanuki?” She didn't see where he had gone and hoped that one of the youkai hadn't gotten him.

 

Miroku looked over at her. “Oh, Hachi? Don't worry about him. He's a bit of a coward. He ran off once his task was complete. He'll turn up again at some point.”

 

“Feh, reminds me of someone else that I know. At least yours is more useful.” Inuyasha snorted as he thought of a certain flea.

 

And with that the newly formed trio set off, Inuyasha's ears again twitching from the renewed sound of buzzing insects.

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Wow. The chapters just keep getting longer and longer. I hope you all enjoyed this one. I know a lot of people weren't expecting this because there were no jewel shards. I hope nobody minds that I took creative license by having Naraku give the painter the enchanted ink. I just really liked the idea of Inuyasha repeatedly passing out from the ink. Also, I needed a way to get Miroku to rejoin them and figured it would be a good way to reveal the knowledge that Naraku is the baboon-man. I am not planning to go through every single episode/chapter and rewrite it to fit this story. I will be using canon as a reference but without the shards (and especially without Kikyou) a lot of things won't happen. But major events will still occur, just altered to fit the story. To that end, as things progress you should start to see some major differences from canon in the scenes.

 

If you are wondering, I use the manga more than I do the anime because it is easier for me to reference when I am doing scenes that only have slight differences from canon. So if anyone was confused about why some things might not be the way they thought it would be, it's because of the differences between the manga and the anime. Though, some things that I like better from the anime might find their way into the fic instead. I hope this information helps anyone who was confused.