InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Eternal Curse ❯ Old Habits Die Hard, A New Foe Introduced ( Chapter 13 )

The Eternal Curse

Chapter Thirteen:

Old Habits Die Hard, A New Foe Introduced

Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha. I can only dare to dream. *_*

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The young man ran his hand through his short black hair, stormy blue eyes narrowed with slight annoyance. His staff jingled lightly as he picked his way through the hallways. It seemed deserted. Miroku sighed.

"How will I ever be able to find Sango at this rate?" he murmured, scanning the room one last time, in hopes that he would find something the second time around. He bit his lip. Inuyasha and Kagome had left earlier that morning, after telling Queen Higurashi. It had not been a pretty affair. He still winced at the thought of the loud shrieks and breaking china. Earlier he had wanted to trot downstairs for a midnight snack of some left over dinner, or fruit of some kind, but the thought was quickly abandoned once he heard the string of muffled curses from the throne room, and he quickly turned back the way he came.

But right now his thoughts were plagued by Sango. Where was the beautiful girl now? He just loved to watch the way her body moved rhythmically as she walked through the long corridors, or after she came in from her morning run, when her clothes clung to every curve of her body, lightly coated with new sweat. Her personality was what set him off. Miroku liked fiery girls - too many of the village women(unattractive ones at that) had melted willingly in his arms, and were not in the best of shape. But, the strong, muscular demon exterminator was exactly what he lusted for.

Miroku almost licked his lips in anticipation. It wasn't that he enjoyed the pain of the slaps, it was just that she took the time to touch him was what really mattered.

"Okay, I admit it, I'm obsessed," he said, as he stealthily slid through the hallways. And I often get lost in her eyes. They're like freshly picked cinnamon…Miroku's thoughts came to an abrupt end when he ran into someone. With a stifled "oof" he toppled to the ground and landed on none other than Sango. He grinned lecherously, and his hand - which was currently rested on the curve of her hip - twitched. Sango's face heated up, and she narrowed her eyes at him.

"Remember the bet…you promised…we shook," she mumbled softly. "If so much as touch me, I'll knock you to kingdom come!" Miroku flinched, and reluctantly pulled himself off of her, brushing off his robes, reaching out to tug her from the floor. Sango hesitantly took his hand, and quickly dropped it once she could balance on her own. "Thanks…I never thought that you'd actually stick to the bet." She smiled a small, yet significant smile. A light bulb danced over Miroku's head. Ah…I see, the trick to scoring points with Sango isn't feeling her up…it's being nice. He almost shuddered at the thought of not being able to caress her, but then again, love came with a price. "Well, I should be going now."

"Let me accompany you," he mumbled, flashing her a charming smile. Sango fixed him with a scrutinizing glare, before nodding dumbly, letting him trail after her.

***

"You really are an idiot you know," Kagome drawled lazily, trailing behind Inuyasha, arms over her chest.

"And what does that make you for following me?" Inuyasha asked, growling softly. They were walking under the thick, leafy canopy of the pine trees, where light struggled to break through. The thick underbrush was hard to climb through, and Inuyasha and Kagome often got tangled up in it. All in all, they were lost, tired, hungry, and aggravated.

"Oops," Kagome giggled, sticking her foot out, tripping the hanyou. There was a loud thump.

"OW!" he cried. "Bitch what did you do that for?" She extended a hand, pulling him up, then began to pick the stubborn burs from his thick white hair. He grumbled.

"Because you need to lighten up. I just knew we should have waited for Myoga to come back! Then we would know where we are going at least. Walking around aimlessly and lost I might add is not the way to be able to control your demon blood." Kagome smiled as she finished picking off the last traces of forest residue from Inuyasha's hair. "There all done!"

"Well wench, you got a better plan?" he inquired, shoving her off him.

"Yeah! Wait for Myoga…punk." (A.N.: I LOVE SAYING THAT WORD!)

"Punk? Who are you calling a punk?"

"You!" she said, sticking out her tongue at him. Inuyasha distractedly ran a hand through his silky locks and shook his head.

"We're not getting anywhere," he mumbled. Kagome chewed her lip.

"We could go back…and just wait for Myoga…"

"Idiot! You can't trust that flea!"

"He seemed trustworthy to me!"

"What do you know? If you want to go back…fine."

"If you haven't noticed, Inuyasha," she spat, glaring at him through heavily hooded brown eyes. "I'M NOT A HANYOU YET!" He shielded his face with his hands.

"Geez…calm down!"

"I AM CALM! YOU ARE JUST SOOOOOOOOO IRRITATING."

"Will you shut up. Fine, we'll camp out tonight, and go back to the castle tomorrow. Is that okay with you…you're highness?" Kagome shoved him, fuming silently. He stumbled forwards a few feet in the dirt.

"In case you didn't notice, numb skull, you're a prince!" Inuyasha opened and closed his mouth soundlessly, before growling at her, sticking out his tongue.

"Of course I knew that!"

"Oh no you didn't!"

"Oh yes I did!"

"Oh no you didn't!"

"Oh yes I did."

"Oh no you didn't!"

"OH YES I DID!"

"OH NO YOU DIDN'T!" Kagome sighed, blowing her thick, black bangs from her face. It's going to be a loooong day.

***

"You know Miroku, I didn't think you could be so…civilized," Sango admitted, bending over to gather some more herbs to put in her basket. Kaede was the Healer, and she always needed more. She plucked a green, leafy plant from the ground and added it to her growing pile. Miroku didn't respond, however. He was still struggling eternally.

I mustn't look at Sango…

Ooh, but she's so beautiful!

But we're actually communicating!

Her nice curves…and butt…

She'll whack me again!

She'll never know!

Sango won't believe me, she'll think I'm a liar.

LOOK!

Finally, the monk gave in, and as soon as his eyes started wandering, his hands followed the suit…

"Miroku you okay…you look-" She was quickly caught off, when an all too familiar, but unpleasant hand rub her backside. A blush covered her face, and she quickly dropped her basket and… *WHACK*

"Sango…I'm sorry…really I am…it's just that you're so pretty." The young girl looked at him, and narrowed her eyes.

"Humph! Save you lies for someone else, houshi, because I ain't buying it. You're nothing but a liar and a pervert. Goodbye." Miroku furiously rubbed the throbbing red mark on his face, wincing in pain.

"WAIT SANGO!" But he was rewarded with silence as she made her way back to the castle. Shoot, just when things were looking up…

***

"Inuyasha I am NOT sleeping here!" Kagome cried shrilly. Her eyes were round with fear as she look into the dark depths of the cold, dreary cave.

"Stop being prissy. Besides, you'll be a hanyou soon," Inuyasha said, gaze settling on the golden horizon as if to prove his point. Kagome placed her hands on her hips.

"So what! I'm a princess nonetheless and there are probably scorpions and monsters and grime…" She counted off the list on her fingers. "There are a bunch of reasons why we shouldn't go in there! Can't we just go home now please!"

"And spend all night running, no way!" he barked stubbornly. "I want to actually rest for a bit, Kagome."

"NO!" He shrugged.

"Oh well." Inuyasha effortlessly lifted up the shrieking teenager, hoisted her over his shoulders, and hopped into the cave.

"WHY YOU!" she screamed, as he dumped her off of him. A shiver ran up her spine. It was cold and wet, making goosebumps rise on her small arms. "Grrr…" Her scent began to change, and Inuyasha smirked.

"Oh well…" Then she started to transform.

Inuyasha could never get over how she changed, the way her body would change shape, the way her hair would streak with silver, the way claws grew from her finger tips, the way her eyes would change to a warm caramel, the way dog ears would appear on her head. The way she would turn into an intriguing vixen…He bit his lip bloody, sucking away the tender drops of blood, and turned away from her.

"What the hell is your problem?" she asked, as she felt an indescribable amount of power surge through her body. "You scared or something?" Inuyasha shook his head, feeling a blush rise on his cheeks.

"N-No."

"Man, you get weirder and weirder every day."

***

The little toad ran after his white-haired master, bulging eyes holding a sheen that suggested unshed tears.

"Lord Sesshomaru, Master…why did you leave behind your faithful servant?" it squealed, tightly clutching a wooden staff with two heads attached to the top, its little feet padding against the dirt. Its "master", a man with long, bleached white hair, cold, piercing yellow eyes, and purple stripes lining his face looked down, as if the little creature was a disgrace - and it probably was.

"You are useless."

"But Lord Sesshomaru, I serve you faithfully every day!" it choked, vigorously rubbing its eyes, a startled sob escaping his tightly clenched throat.

"You are nothing but a weak toad," he murmured in a monotone voice. A loose wind blew his hair, whipping silver strands of silk across his pale, expressionless face. A clawed hand gracefully swept them away.

"Aye, you may be right, but Lord Sesshomaru, I…with this staff am your only hope at finding Tetsusaiga." The man stopped his diligent steps to glare at the green, wart-skinned youkai. Its pointed lips were parted slightly, as a few ragged breaths escaped him - he was nervous.

"I hope you are not suggesting that I am useless without you," the Demon Lord said in a quiet, yet lethal voice. The toad gulped, a few beads of perspiration crawling down his face. A shudder rolled down his body.

"No Master! Never would I say such rubbish! Please spare me!" It threw itself, a sobbing heap at Sesshomaru's shoes. He kicked him away, making the little youkai squeak and roll a few feet in the dirt.

"Get up, Jaken. I have no intention of killing you up." Jaken turned a tearstained face to his Master, and gave a creepy grin of appreciation. "For I know that another also seeks Tetsusaiga."

"W-Who me Lord?" he sputtered apprehensively.

"Why none other than Inuyasha."

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This is slightly longer than the last chapter, and I know some are you are glad that I stuck Sesshomaru in here somewhere. JI'm actually being generous because I am in a good mood since I'm listening to the cool Spirit, Stallion of the Cimarronsoundtrack. Aloha.