InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The odd things we do ❯ the return of Innocence! ( Chapter 15 )

[ P - Pre-Teen ]

The group had been traveling for days. Everything had returned to
normal, or what passed for normal now. Kagura had been scouting and Koga had
joined her.
Miroku and Sango were just traveling, as were Inuyasha and Kagome.
Shippo played with Kirara and Myoga gave them lectures on how a demon
should behave. At least, he did until Shippo or one of the others squashed
him. Kohaku practiced his chain sickle and would hock the tops off of
flowers and make crowns for the girls hair.
It was a quiet day, and a wondeful summer one at that. The tempeture
was warm enough so that everyone was comfortable wearing their usual
clothes. The girls were particularly happy, seeing as they'd stop at the
next village for the night. the reason they liked it so much was that the
village was only a half days travel.
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When they got to the village, the villagers were surprised at the fact
that humans were traveling with youkai. A monk no less!
Miroku managed to convince the villagers that Inuyasha, Shippo, Kirara,
Myoga, Koga, and Kagura would not harm them. The villagers grudgingly
agreed to give them rooms for the night.
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They had fun for the rest of the day, and everyone had baths, the first
bath they'd had time to have in a few days. Kagome could hardly believe
that it had only been a week and a half since her school-mates had
found out about Inuyasha! They went to sleep feeling safe. all except for
Inuyasha and Koga. they all felt that something was amiss. The humans in
the village had looked perfectly okay with the youkai staying, but fear
underlined their scents. It was obvious that they planned something.
Inuyasha made a promise to himself, as did Koga. They would stay awake
and protect their group.
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In the dead of night, the villagers tried to sneak up to their room.
They also had a priest with them. Inuyasha could tell by the way the
voices kept talking too someone, and the answering voice had an air of
authority, if a bit old. From what he heard, they planned on excorsising
the demons. They were even going to excorsise the human memebers! the
villagers thought that they were possessed. The villagers banged on the
door, and woke everyone up, yelling " we know who you are and that you're
in there! Open up!"
Miroku, always the peacekeeper, went and opened the door. A villager
threw some purified salt on him, and all Miroku could do was stare at the
monk the villagers had brought.
As the monk came into the room, everyone else started to stare too.
They knew who he was, and so it wasn't surprising when he asked Miroku how
he'd been.
" There's something different about you, isn't there Miroku?"
The only people who didn't recognize him were Kagura and Koga.
" Who is this old monk? He smells like sake!" Koga said.
" I am Mushin." The monk said. " Who're you? And what's different about
Miroku? I haven't seen him in ages!"
" This is Miroku's foster father!" kagome said.
" The lech was actually taken in by someone?"
" Yes! Mushin healed the cut in Miroku's Wind Tunnel when it was hurt."
" That's it! Miroku's Wind Tunnel is gone! Did you beat him Miroku?"
Mushin asked.
" Do- do you know these people, honorable monk?" the villagers asked.
" Yes." Mushin answered. " I have family ties with one of them."
" Then we beg your forgiveness!" the villagers said quickly, now
addressing Inuyasha's group. " We didn't know of your connections with our
head monk!"
" We forgive you, and may Buddha smile on you." Miroku said, before
Inuyasha had a chance to say something.
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After the villagers left, Mushin stayed to talk with the group.
" How did you come to be here Miroku?"
" Well, my companions and I came here in search of the shards. This
young demoness " Miroku said, indicating Kagura, "is leading us to
Narakus' castle, so we will be able to collect the rest of the shards. And
you, Father Mushin?"
" It is a long story, and I will need a drink before I tell you." Sango
got up and fetched one of the villagers. Soon after, the villagers
brought the drink to her, and she gave it to Mushin. After a long swing of
the sake, he began to tell them what had brought him here. He had been
chased by ordinary bandits out from his home, and hadn't been allowed
to continue his work as a monk around where he used to live, too many
knew of his drinking habit. Miroku caught something suspicious in Mushins
tone of voice when he mentioned the bandits.
" I think," Miroku said softly. " That there is something you aren't
telling us."
" As usual, you are right Miroku." Mushin sighed. "It is a tale for the
morning. I shall tell you then."
Everyone looked at the time ( A/N: looked out the window to see how
dark it was) and agreed that it was late. Everyone went to sleep, and
prepared for the morning.
When they woke up the next morning, Mushin was already drinking.
" Father Mushin?" Miroku asked. " Could you tell us now?"
" Alright." Mushin said, his voice slurred by the sake. " Some bandits
came t' my house and robbed me. Not ordinary bandits. They had some
demon wit' them. Ugly little creature. Kep' calllin' for his lord, or
somethin'. It gave me th' creeps. Green, ugly, and bubbly, are th' three
words I'd describe it wit'. saw someone, looked likea woman, come up
behin' it. She had whit' hair, and was wearin' some weird fur."
Everyone had become very attentive when Mushin started to describe the
demon. It sounded familier............
" The creepy green thing called it 'sess' somethin'. It was a wierd
name. Don' find it's like very of'en. Some little girl was wit' them too.
Black hair, and some fancy kimono. I think her name was Rin."
Everyone had gone very silent. Not even the birds twittered outside,
almost as if afraid to.
" Was the demon's name.......... Sesshomaru?" Inuyasha finally asked.
" Yeah! That' it!" Mushin cried, delighted at having finally
remembered. " D'ya know her?"
" Him. He's my half-brother." Inuyasha said. " He knows that Miroku
knows you. He expected this, and he's probably still after Tetsusagia."