InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Wild West and the Gang of Four Souls ❯ Plans and Peppers ( Chapter 8 )

Here is a nice long chapter (well at least compared to my others) to keep readers happy. I'm going to be playing in a lacrosse tournament in another state for the next week, so it might be a while till I update, but I'll try my hardest to be fast. Again if you have any questions about something I write review and tell me. (Even if you don't, review anyways)

(Revision- Changing dates, the Mikos went down six years ago not ten.)

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It was dusk when Sango finished her story, and the light slanting through the windows cast a mysterious air over the room.

It was a lot to take in for the two guys who had listened to the story. They had always heard stuff about both the Miko family and the Black Spiders, but all of the reports were vague. Never had they heard the full account of what was known about the events that had taken place six years ago.

Sango breathed deep and closed her eyes. She remembered that morning like it was yesterday. Every ranger had gone to see what had happened, and the sights that Sango seen had never left her.

Snapping her eyes open, Sango remembered Kagome. She had left so fast, and with such a look on her face, that Sango couldn't forget her strange behavior. Deciding that her being in the kitchen by herself was an opportune moment to corner her, Sango excused herself saying she was going to help Kagome with dinner.

As soon as the door swung closed behind Sango, both Inuyasha and Miroku snapped out of their trances with interest clearly showing on their faces.

"So Inuyasha, what did you think of that story?" Miroku himself was highly interested. There were so many things mysterious about what happened, and the curiosity to figure it all out was killing him.

"It was really amazing. I have never heard the whole story before. Sango does know what she is talking about, well except for hinting that my brother is strong. That was complete bullshit."

Miroku rolled his eyes, "Inuyasha how long were sentenced to bed after your last fight with Sesshomaru? Was it two weeks?"

"Keh, he was in a lot worse shape than me after I got done with him. He was just lucky that I was tired."

"Right….." Miroku always found it fun to taunt Inuyasha about his fights with his brother. Miroku had to give it too Inuyasha though, he was improving every time they fought.

After a few minutes of silence, well not complete silence since Inuyasha was swearing under his breath about stupid perverts and weakling brothers, Miroku decided they should figure out what Kagome had to do with everything.

"Inuyasha, we never did figure out why that guy was after Kagome. It has to be some connection to the Black Spiders."

"My guess is that she is one of the old high ranking member's kid. What else could it be?"

Miroku shrugged, "Well Sango said that the granddaughters in the Miko family were never found. They would be about Kagome's age."

Inuyasha just about fell over at hearing this suggestion, not because he believed it, but because he was laughing so hard, "Are you kidding Miroku? The granddaughters are supposed to be near legendary with marksmanship and excellent at horseback riding. I have never even seen Kagome hold a gun, and the one time that she shot with a bow and arrow, she almost hit me, and I was standing behind her. She is that bad. Plus you saw her the last time I tried to get her to ride her own horse, she wouldn't even get on. That's why she always rides on the back of my horse, because she is too incompetent to ride by herself."

Miroku shrugged again. Inuyasha's argument was logical enough but he couldn't get over the feeling that Kagome was not the girl she said she was. Then deciding he could worry about it later he grinned at Inuyasha and said in a childish taunting voice, "Oooooo I'm going to tell Kagome that you think she is incompetent. You're going to get it. She's going to tie you up with barbed wire. Ouch!"

Inuyasha glared at the ex-priest in front of him, who now had a very large lump developing on his head. -He can be so damned annoying, that fucking prick.-

"You have some serious anger management problems. One day you are going to lose your head in a fight when you get angry, and do something stupid." Miroku looked thoughtful for a moment, "O wait that happens every time you fight now, never mind."

"ARE YOU LOOKING TO DIE?" Inuyasha growled. He then lunged at Miroku, who side stepped, sending Inuyasha crashing into a chair.

Kagome's voice came from the kitchen a minute latter, "INUYASHA, YOU BETTER NOT BE BREAKING ANYTHING IN THERE."

Inuyasha, who was already in a crouched position about to pounce on Miroku froze, and then trying to make himself look less obviously whipped, he straighten and said in a cocky voice, "Keh, you aren't worth my time. Right now we need to figure out what we are going to do about the Black Spiders."

Miroku swallowed the laugh at Inuyasha's greatest weakness, Kagome, and nodded. "I was thinking that since the attack on Kagome today was obviously on orders from the top, it must be of pretty high importance to take her out. That means we won't even need to go after the Spiders to find them, they'll come to us."

Inuyasha liked this plan, less work for him, but he was never one to sit around and wait, especially when it was too easy for Kagome to be attacked in Mercy.

"Miroku you know what happened today. I reckon if we stay in Mercy, it's going to be too easy for them to attack Kagome. We need to go somewhere where we'll get the upper hand. Then we can kill those son-of-a-bitches before they know what's hit them."

Miroku considered this plan favorably. He was tired of staying so near to Mercy all the time and never getting to travel like he was used to. Going somewhere would be a much welcomed change of venue. Not to mention the chance of meeting a new crop of women who didn't yet know his reputation.

"Do you propose we go to the old hide out, Inuyasha? I think that would be the best plan of action. It is a few days a way, but no one knows the canyon like us. It would be a wisest course of action."

With one head nod Inuyasha agreed. "We'll leave tomorrow morning for it, and you better be able to keep up with Kagome and me, priesty boy, because I aint watching your back like usual."

Miroku grinned, "Speed has never been my problem. I am always fast, or so my partners tell me."

Inuyasha froze for a second, deciding whether or not he should just block that last comment, he then replied in a disgusted tone, "I'm going to pretend I didn't hear that. Are you sure you grew up in a church?"

"Never had any doubts about my upbringing. But speaking of watching our backs, will the lovely Miss. Sango be accompanying us? It would be nice to have another fighter, and Kagome would probably another female companion."

Inuyasha shook his head at his friend's transparency, "Hands off Miroku. Do you know how livid Kagome would be if you dated and ditched her friend. I don't want an angry Kagome, so hands off!"

After saying the needed warning, Inuyasha answered the ex-priest's question. "But despite your one track mind, it would be a good idea to take her along. We've seen her talent and she could be useful, but if she gets in trouble or hurt it isn't my problem."

Miroku was happy about the thought of Sango joining them, and the warning from Inuyasha was heeded; he knew that his relationship with her should be approached with caution. He didn't want an angry Kagome anymore than Inuyasha did.

A loud growl came from Inuyasha's stomach reminding them of what time it was. "Let's go see if that woman is done with our food yet." Inuyasha decided.

Miroku shook his head, -Ha-ha just wait till I tell Kagome he called her woman again.-

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Sango mumbled her excuse for leaving the boys and then went to track down Kagome. She was worried about her, most people don't go ghost white at the mention of a name. Something wasn't right, and Sango thought she knew what it was.

Kagome wasn't in the kitchen when Sango entered; she was out on the back porch looking at the horizon and the last fading light. Dusk was upon them and the porch was a pleasant temperature. Coyotes could be heard in the distance, and the bugs that lay dormant for the day were making unbelievable amounts of noise.

Kagome heard and saw nothing in reality. She sat there, in her own world much like Sango had been for the previous week.

"Hey Kagome are you alright?" Sango sat down beside her friend and looked at her with concern apparent in her eyes.

Kagome snapped awake, and quickly plastered her face with a smile to big to be real. "Of course I'm ok. Why wouldn't I be? Just a little shocked before, you know, nothing to worry about."

Sango didn't buy it. She had been a ranger; her entire life was centered on figuring out if someone was guilty, reading people was second nature to her. It was obvious that something wasn't right about Kagome at the moment.

"Kagome you can stop smiling. I know it's fake."

Kagome's smile switched off like a light, and what replaced it was a face that looked too old for Kagome's twenty- two years. She had seen and gone through so much it was amazing she was usually so up beat. Kagome was one incredible woman to be able to be so happy with a past like hers. A past that Kagome hoped no one would ever find out.

Sango knew there was something Kagome was hiding. The difference between the boys and her was that Sango had a pretty good idea of what Kagome was hiding, and she was determined to figure out if she was right.

Sango turned to stare with Kagome at the horizon. Kagome was the first one to break the silence, "It seems like every time we have something hard to talk about were staring at the horizon. It is such a comforting picture isn't it. It always makes me feel like I'm home when I'm sitting here."

Sango nodded and decided she might as well get her question over with, "So, do Inuyasha or Miroku know you are a Miko?"

Kagome froze, she stopped breathing and blinking, it seemed as if she had become a statue. She had known this question was coming, but it still made an impact. After a few seconds she closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

"No" she began, "all they know that is true, is that my family is dead and I have no where to go. I've told them a few other things that I made up, like my family dieing from smallpox. I couldn't tell them who I really was; it would put them in danger."

Sango turned to look at her friend. Kagome's look was still sorrowful but the strain that had appeared on her face was gone. She had let go a secret that had weighed her down almost more than the memories.

"I've moved on with my life." Kagome continued, "Why can't my past leave me alone?"

Kagome was going to ask Sango how she had figured it out, but knowing Sango's history with the rangers; it seemed a pointless question to ask. -Of course Sango would know just enough about my family to figure out who I am.-

There were a few points that Sango wanted to clear up with Kagome, but she didn't want to push too much, so she proceeded with caution.

"Where have you been the last six years?" Sango questioned. She figured that avoiding what happened to her family would be a good idea, but she didn't think it would be too hard to answer what had happened to Kagome herself.

Kagome let go a breath she didn't know she was holding. -Thank God she didn't ask about that night.-

"I've done a lot of things." Kagome replied, "I took care of my little brother, Souta, on my own for awhile till we met up with one of the traveling shows. I played parts when they acted out the fictional battle scenes between the cowboys and Indians." Kagome almost smiled a little at this. She really had loved doing stuff with the show; they were like a second family to her. "I was useful because I can shoot decently with a bow and a gun, and I always did an act where I did some tricks on horses. I was the bandit horse back rider who never took off her mask. We traveled a lot with the show, which was good because even after everything died down, I was still worried about Souta and me being tracked down."

Kagome paused for a second and her face went a little darker, "In the end it didn't matter. They found us anyways. A Black Spider attacked Souta and he was hurt badly. I did the only thing I could think of, take Souta and run again. I was lucky, however, and I found a couple on a farm that took us in. They had no kids of there own and were only too happy for company. Souta is with them now. They said I could stay, but life on a farm was too dull for me, and if I stayed near Souta it would have only put everyone there in danger. It's me there after, but even though I know this, I miss him so much."

"I understand more than you could ever imagine. I miss my brother too." was Sango's sad reply.

"What was his name?" Kagome asked warily, knowing by Sango's voice that this wasn't a pleasant subject.

"Kohaku, he wasn't found after Naraku attacked, and I don't know where he is."

"I'm sorry. I don't know what I would do if I didn't know Souta was safe."

After a few minutes, Kagome decided that enough was said about the past for the night. It was time they started thinking about what the hell they were going to do about her attacker, and about time that the mood was lifted a little.

"Well aren't we a pair. I bet you never thought you would find a friend in when you came to Mercy." It wasn't a comment exactly on topic with what she wanted to discuss, but at least the topic was now changed.

"Ya this place is about as close to hell as I ever want to get, you and the boys excluded of course."

Kagome laughed a little at her friend's opinion of Mercy, "O it grows on you. After a while the near anarchy of this town seems like the best thing on earth, and at least you are never cold during the day."

Sango looked a little skeptical at her ever liking Mercy, "You have been cooped up in this place for far too long. Have you no respect for your sanity?"

Kagome laughed a little at that, "You are more right than you can ever imagine. I have barely set foot outside of here since I've arrived. I told Inuyasha that I was terrified of riding horses, and I wouldn't ride them alone. It would look too suspicious for me to be too adept at riding and shooting, so I feigned ignorance and fear. The only problem is that it is too hard to travel with out a horse around here, so I'm stuck."

It was at that point Kagome heard a loud crash. Not again, "INUYASHA, YOU BETTER NOT BE BREAKING ANYTHING IN THERE?"

Shaking her head Kagome stood up and offered a hand to Sango. "You want to help me with supper? All I'm doing is heating some stuff up from earlier today. I don't think we'll have any diners tonight since the coach hasn't been through here today, so we'll have the kitchen to ourselves."

Sango took Kagome's hand as she pulled herself up, "Of course I'll help you." Then thinking for a moment Sango added with a slightly evil grin, "Kagome by any chance can we add some… unique spices to the boys food. I'm sure they would just love it. I have some interesting peppers in my room. I might use them for blinding opponents, but I'm sure they'll work in their food too."

With an evil grin that mirrored Sango's, Kagome nodded. This could get fun.

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Inuyasha sat at the table with a carnivorous look on his face. Miroku, who was across from him, looked exactly the same. They were both dieing for food, and it smelled so good in the kitchen that it was driving them insane.

Sango and Kagome were putting food onto plates for the boys. They were clearly smiling while clearly trying to cover up that fact. Inuyasha noticed this but decided to completely ignore it. I guess Sango did a good job cheering up Kagome. NOW WHERE IS THAT DAMN FOOD!!!! I SWEAR IF I DON'T GET FOOD SOON, I'M GOING TO HURT SOMONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sango walked over with the boys' food, but before she even set the dishes down, they were attacked. From the looks of it you would have thought that Miroku and Inuyasha hadn't eaten in at least a year.

Sango stepped back with Kagome to see what was going to happen. This was going to be priceless. They had put enough ground Habanero peppers in the food to burn a person's tongue off. And 5, 4, 3, 2, 1. Ha right o cue.

Both boys' froze at that moment and looked at each other. Their faces were turning bright red, and it looked as if they were about to explode. Inuyasha jumped up and sprinted to the water pump outside, while Miroku went straight for the cabinet and grabbed some whiskey.

Sango and Kagome were watching this, barely able to stand up because they were laughing so hard. O my God, Kagome thought, Sango was right, this is great. Ha ha teaches them to wait for us till they eat.

Eventually, Inuyasha took his mouth away from the water pump out side long enough to express his opinion on the girls' little joke.

"WHAT THE FUCKING HELL WAS THAT? I'M GOING TO KILL BOTH OF YOU." Well as soon as I can feel my mouth again.

"O Inuyasha don't be such a baby," Kagome replied, she was having way too much fun with this, "It isn't that bad, and if you really want to save your tongue you should stop drinking water. It doesn't do anything."

The only thing Kagome got for her advice was, Inuyasha stopping for a second glaring at her, and then returning to trying to drink all known water on the planet.

Kagome sighed at this, Fine don't listen to me. Not my fault. But even as she said this, she grabbed a tortilla to give to the poor tortured sheriff. She walked down and handed it to him, still trying to hide her laughter. Inuyasha took it, shoved it down his throat, and then resumed chugging water. Well I tried. I wonder how Miroku is doing."

Miroku at that moment was wrestling with Sango for the bottle of whiskey, of which he had already consumed far too much of.

"Give me… gasp… that. I'm dieing here…gasp…Must drink something."

Sango was having a rough time with getting the bottle away from Miroku. For one, Miroku was a damn impressive fighter, and for another, Sango was having trouble breathing because she was still having a laughing fit.

Sango had one hand on the bottle and the other was trying to push the determined man away from it. With a nice move she managed to trap one of his arms behind his back but Miroku, being quite limber for a guy, managed to twist his way out of it, and make another lunge at the whiskey.

Kagome watched this for awhile at the doorway. She wouldn't interrupt quite yet, the fight over the alcohol was too amusing, especially since Miroku was already feeling the affects from what he had already consumed. If only I could take a picture of this.

After another moment of watching, Kagome decided to go help her friend. She walked over to the pair and held out a tortilla for Sango to grab.

Sango, seeing relief from the fight, grabbed the food and shoved it down Miroku's throat. He almost choked at first, but then he chewed and swallowed it.

"Gasp…need another…" were the only words he managed.

Sango shook her head and grabbed another tortilla from Kagome to hand to Miroku. "I swear you guys are the biggest babies I have ever met." With that Sango turned to follow Kagome into the kitchen where they started their meal.

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It was night, and the four of them sat at a fire pit behind the inn enjoying the peaceful night.

It had been at least a fifteen more minutes after the pepper escapade, that Miroku and Inuyasha finally gotten their real dinners. The girls just bit their lips and handed the non contaminated food to them. Most of dinner was spent with the girls trying not to laugh, Inuyasha glaring holes though them, and Miroku trying to sit up straight in his chair.

After dinner they all went outside to make a camp fire and relax. It was peaceful and cool, since there was little moisture to hold any heat that had been present during the day. Sango was telling a story about how the rangers had a show down with a group of train robbers. It was interesting and Miroku seemed absolutely fascinated with it, given that just about anything would probably amuse him with the amount of whiskey still in his system.

Inuyasha was only half listening to Sango. His real dilemma was how to get Kagome to leave Mercy and go with them, without letting her know why. It wasn't going to be easy, but he thought he could pull it off. When Sango finished her story, Inuyasha didn't waste any time in bringing up the idea of a trip.

"Kagome" Inuyasha said in his no nonsense voice, "You have been trapped in Mercy for too long. How about you go on patrolling rounds with Miroku and me? I know you hate to ride by yourself, so you'll ride with me on Soul Stealer."

Kagome raised her eyebrow at this. Of course she knew Inuyasha was up to something, she wasn't stupid. Inuyasha never patrolled, he always said it wasn't his problem, and if he ever did why the hell would he take her with him. -He probably just wants to get me out of Mercy so he can trap the Black Spiders easier. It figures, just like a guy, doesn't think I will follow his plan if I know it, so he won't tell me it.-

Kagome decided to humor Inuyasha anyways. So with as much enthusiasm as she could muster, she said to Inuyasha, "That sounds like so much fun. I would love to go on a trip. How did you ever come up with such a great idea?" -Maybe I over did it a little.-

Whether she did over do it or not, Inuyasha didn't seem to notice. He thought that he had completely pulled the wool over Kagome's eyes. -That went better than I thought it would, Kagome always has to be so damn stubborn. I must be getting really good at this negotiation thing.-

Miroku, still in his delirium, decided it was his job to ask the angel next to him to come with them. "Lovely Shango we would alsho be `onored to have you come wisth usth… pleasth."

Sango was shocked by this. Who wouldn't be, she had tried to kill Inuyasha before. How could they trust her to travel with them? It would be one of the most awkward situations she had ever been in. She was going to say no, till she saw Kagome look at her with pleading eyes that just about screamed, `Don't you dare leave me alone with only the guys. Have you no respect for my sanity?'

"Okay," Sango answered, more to Kagome and Inuyasha than to the man who was inching uncomfortably close to her. WACK down went the lecher. -Okay, Took care of that problem.- "When do we leave?"

"We'll leave at dawn. So you better be ready or get left behind." And with that Inuyasha got up and walked away to go sit under his favorite tree till dawn.

"Well" Kagome said while getting up also, "we better get some sleep. He's too big of a softy to carry through with the threat of leaving one of us behind, but I still would rather not put him in a bad mood."

Sango grinned at Kagome's opinion of Inuyasha. "What should we do with him?" She asked, while gently prodding the side of the knocked out Miroku.

"O' just leave him. He'll eventually wake up, his fault for trying to grab your ass. He really needs to get over that tendency."

Sango looked back at the man. -You mean he does that all the time.- She had a feeling this was going to be a very interesting trip.

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Here are a few random facts for people unfamiliar with peppers. Habaneros are about as hot as you can go in terms of peppers. They burn all your taste buds out of your mouth and the only things that help kill the heat are dairy and grain products. My mom actually hid a Habanero in my dad's food once and I have never seen a man chug a beer so fast in my entire life. It didn't help at all but it was really funny.

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Well now that I have gotten that over, here are my thanks for recent reviewers.-

Aurora_thorn- Thank you so much for the amount you review. It makes my day. I think Thorny is a good name for you, kind of catchy if you ask me. To answer one of your questions, I don't know completely what I'm going to do with Kikyo. She'll show up, or at least be mentioned, but no Inuyasha/ Kikyo romance. Please review as much as you want, I love reading them.

INU-ROX- You rock too. I love the long reviews and especially when you do three. Glad you like the plot, that means a lot to me. Feel free to review as much as you like, you're reviews are also fun to read.

Y- Thank you for reviewing, and for having an appreciation of a writers speed. Your reviews are always so nice.

Squeekers and HellKeeper- Thank you so much for reviewing as much as you both do. I love having readers who keep up with the story.

Hope to write soon,

Yours truly,

FeFe aka Eef