InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Two Months to Live ❯ Lessons: Secrets of the Staff ( Chapter 3 )

Disclaimer: Corisu Li: Roses are red, violets are blue, I don't own Inuyasha, don't bother to sue.

Inuyasha: Feh. That was stupid.

Corisu Li: *turns to see everyone standing behind her* Grrr...I thought I could get

through this story without you guys bugging me in the disclaimer.

Kagome: *grinning* Nope. Didya miss us?

Corisu Li: *sarcastically* Of course. My life was incomplete. *looks at readers* You guuuuuuuuuys.... I am sooooo sorry...... I know it's been forever, but I sorta-kinda forgot... *pushes fingers together and blushes* I'll update EVERY DAY if I remember!

^___^ See? Good things come to those who wait!

Miroku: Don't I know it. *gropes Sango's butt*

Sango: HENTAI!!!! *bashes him upside the head with Hiraikotsu*

Corisu Li: *sighs* I said those who WAIT, Miroku.

Miroku: @.@ *woozily* Must've missed that part... *swoons and crashes to the floor*

Corisu Li: Ah, well, enjoy Chappie 3 while we mop Miroku up...

Chapter 3: Lessons: Secrets of the Staff

Miroku stayed true to his word. As their journey toward Senpai progressed, they were attacked by numerous youkai, yet the prayer beads around his right hand never budged. Even when they were faced with a swarm of bird youkai that would have been easy prey for his kazaana, he refused to employ it. Unfortunately, this left the rest of the team weakened without its power. Sure, the group still consisted of powerful members, but Miroku wasn't much help anymore. Technically all he could do was whack things with his shakujou and use ofudas.

And usually ofudas weren't much help in the heat of battle. He could never find the time to purify one.

It was Ninsei who first addressed Miroku about the decrease in his usefulness in battle. This was mainly because everyone else had been his friend for so long, they wouldn't dare say such a thing to him. Inuyasha even refused to talk to him about it, and he usually didn't care what the monk thought of him.

It was around daybreak, and everyone was asleep save for Miroku and Ninsei. While the youkai was feigning sleep, Miroku left the makeshift camp and wandered off. Curious, Ninsei waited until he was out of sight before following. He may have looked human at the moment, but his senses were still as sharp as they had been in his normal form.

Walking stealthily, he caught up with the monk about a quarter of a mile away. Thinking that he hadn't been detected, Ninsei jumped when Miroku said, "What is it?"

"I just came to speak with you, Houshi-sama." Ninsei replied, stepping out in front of him now that his presence was discovered.

"About what?" Miroku sat down, leaning his back against a tree trunk and raising his gaze to the panther youkai. "If this is about the kazaana, you know that I have no interest in going back on my word."

The youkai followed Miroku's lead and sat against a tree directly across from his. "I am not here to persuade you to use the kazaana. However, I would like you to know that by denying the group the use of its power, you are creating a plainly visible handicap."

Miroku allowed his head to fall back and sighed. "So you *are* here about that, then. They don't need it. Inuyasha has the Tetsusaiga, Kagome has the Sora-Ki, Sango has the Hiraikotsu, and you have that staff. I'm just dead weight that's following everyone around, begging for help to heal this stupid hole in my hand. If I weren't here, Kagome and Inuyasha could already be ruling the Northern Lands."

"I admit that you have been less than ...effective... in battle lately. This is why I am here."

"I told you, I'm not going to-"

Ninsei raised his hands as if blocking Miroku's next words. "No, not that, Houshi-sama. I said that I was not here to persuade you to use it, and I am *not*. I come to offer you training."

"What sort of training?"

"Have you noticed that your staff fairly resembles mine?"

Miroku looked at the objects in question and immediately realized that this was true. If you were to overlook the obvious differences, being the emblem at the top and the fact that Ninsei's was completely golden, certain resemblances could be discerned. They appeared to be about the same size, and both sported the clanging golden rings. "I've

never noticed before. Is there any reason in you pointing this out to me?"

"Ah, there is. The same person who made my staff made yours."

"And this would be who, exactly?"

Ninsei grinned smugly. "That would be me."

Miroku looked lost in thought for a moment, then said, "So, does this mean that the staffs hold the same power?"

"Hai. However, this power comes from the person who wields it. I am willing to teach you to realize its strength. My staff bestows upon me the power of controlling the earth. My skills are not limited to just creating the disturbances that you've seen before. I can cause earthquakes and even form creatures from the dirt at my apex of power. I would like to point out that staffs are immensely hard to master. I myself have never been able to completely control it. I have never tried to conjure earthquakes or soil- beings. If something were to go wrong, the consequences would be devastating."

Miroku had been eyeing his staff all through this speech, and he now raised his eyes to meet the icy blue of Ninsei's. "I do wish to learn more. Maybe I can regain my worth."

Ninsei smiled. "If you truly do pick up the techniques, you will do far more than regain your worth." He stood up and brushed dust from his clothing. "Do not fall sleep tonight. When everyone has turned in, we will travel to an out-of-the-way place to begin your instruction." Without waiting for an answer, he began to stride back toward camp.

Miroku looked from his right hand to his staff. 'If I will truly be stronger, maybe I can save my own life. I would love to destroy Naraku with my own hands. It would take some of the burden off of the others. I'm sick of having them fight for me.'

Rising to his feet, his staff clutched tightly in his hand, he followed Ninsei back in the direction of the others.

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"It is I who should take the throne! I have immense power! Check out these muscles!"

"No! It is I! I am the late Inazuma's second cousin and I demand the right to his throne!"

"You liar! I know you aren't because I am his FIRST cousin! Therefore, *I* should claim what was his in life!"

The arguments had started immediately after Inazuma's demise. The bodies of dead youkai littered the proximity of the abandoned castle. No one had yet to enter it. No one was being allowed to. Every day, more and more youkai were killing each other for the right to the throne. Areas that were outside of the Northern Lands were beginning to refer to the castle as Hellfire.

The name wasn't so incorrect, either, as a youkai called up flame to toss at his fellows.

All hissed and jumped aside, and what seemed like the hundredth battle of the day began. Ties of friendship were no more. Tribes that once were allies hated each other. Wait, forget that, because even tribes were now virtually nonexistent. Even within family groups, the greed had taken hold, causing fathers and elder brothers to abandon their clan to fight for the right to rule.

Sesshoumaru took this all in with disgust. This was youkai behavior at its most undignified, and it was beginning to grate at his nerves. With a bored, yet pissed sort of look on his face, he landed near the closest group of scuffling creatures.

"Stop your senseless bickering. This land does not belong to you." The youkai immediately ceased their brawl (one took a dirty kick at another before stopping completely), and turned to him.

"Who do you think you are, pretty boy?" one sneered.

Sesshoumaru fixed him with a cold glare. "I do not feel as if I should have to reveal myself to you, but for the sake of formality, I will. I am Sesshoumaru, Taiyoukai of the Western Lands."

The change in the faces of the youkai was instantaneous. Each reflected a mixture of respect and fear. "Lord Sesshoumaru," they muttered, one by one, each making a small bow of reverence.

"Listen here," Sesshoumaru continued, paying no attention to their displays of respect. "This territory belongs to my half-brother, Inuyasha. He will return in time. If anyone should try to claim his throne, I shall see to it personally that that person is killed for insubordination. Now, spread the word and cease this meaningless rash of wars." In the blink of an eye, Sesshoumaru darted forward and sank his claws into the stomach of the nearest youkai, returning to his previous location before his body could reach the ground. His hand shimmered green with the Dokkasou as he eyed the others. "As much as I enjoy a good slaughter, I want some subjects left for my little brother." He allowed the power to fade and flicked blood from his fingers with practiced movements.

The youkai scrambled over each other, running away from the stolid Inutaiyoukai. From where he stood, Sesshoumaru could easily hear their cries, proclaiming that the leader was coming back, and it was the same one who had defeated Inazuma. The youkai gave a harsh chuckle that didn't reflect happiness. No...more like-

Success.

The idiot hanyou would come, he knew he would. He had watched as that panther left the castle days ago. He was the last person to cross its threshold. And when Inuyasha came, Sesshoumaru would finally kill him. There was no doubt in his mind that he'd be able to. Before, he had held back, always trying to test new techniques, use new arms to steal Tetsusaiga, or simply embarrass him in front of his friends. If he'd wanted to kill Inuyasha, he felt that he could have done so long ago. Confidence flowed from Sesshoumaru so thickly that it was nearly visible and tangible. Now, he would fight with everything he had. Now was the perfect time. He had so much to gain now with his brother's death, but so much more than the throne...unrivaled possession of the fang-sword...and his bitch.

Taking to the air, Sesshoumaru cast a fleeting glance over the area that he had just vacated. Already, the news seemed to have spread. The sounds of fighting were greatly diminished. Focusing his eyes ahead, Sesshoumaru chuckled again. 'Come, little brother. The stage is set...for your final scene.'

(a/n: YUCK! Corny, corny, corny! *shoots self in head and revives* Whew...now that that's out of my system...)

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Miroku cracked an eye open and peered around at the forms of his friends. The last dying embers of the fire provided just enough light for him to make out their faces. Sango lay a few feet from his side. Until a few minutes ago, she had had her head in his lap, but he had moved it once he was sure that she was deeply asleep. He had enjoyed her warmth, but now was not the time for such things. Kirara was coiled into a ball at Sango's side, the tips of both tails covering her nose. Shippou was bundled up in a blanket at the foot of a tree, snoring lightly. Looking up this tree and squinting slightly, Miroku was able to faintly make out the form of Inuyasha, asleep on a branch with his back against the trunk. Kagome was nestled in his lap, and she, too, slept soundly.

Barely moving his head, Miroku locked eyes with the one person that was awake.

Ninsei nodded and rose silently to his feet, his staff held firmly to his side. Miroku reached for his staff as well, but Ninsei shook his head and beckoned for Miroku to follow him. Confused, Miroku yielded, leaving his staff behind as he trailed the youkai.

The two walked in silence for about twenty minutes before Ninsei finally stopped. They were at a lakebed, and the moon danced merrily on the surface of the gently moving water. Turning, he talked to the monk for the first time. "You may wonder why I asked you not to bring your staff tonight. I did so for a simple reason. Those who begin studies with an object to channel power become limited by it. You need to push to the extent of your ability before you try to increase it."

Miroku nodded. "So what do I have to do?"

"The first thing is to determine what element you control. Surely you control one, because the staff would have rejected you long ago if it hadn't sensed the Power within you. Sit."

Miroku did, and Ninsei sat facing him. Raising his hands so that the palms faced the monk, he said, "Close your eyes. Try to empty your mind. Imagine the power in you as a light. Force it to the surface. Imagine it erupting through your skin and illuminating your surroundings. Concentrate." As he told Miroku this, he himself focused on the unlocking spell that would free any dormant powers.

The monk's eyes flickered closed. For a second, he thought that he would just nod off and Ninsei would awaken him, telling him that he was no good and that he would have to take the staff to find a more worthy owner. Once Ninsei began to speak, however, and Miroku began to follow directions, he found it easier and easier to stay awake.

As a matter of fact, he had never felt more alert.

The smallest thing became very noticeable to him. He heard Ninsei's breathing clearly, and even suspected that he heard his heartbeat. He could hear the youkai's hair flapping in the wind, and the slight jangling of the rings on his staff seemed so loud that they were deafening. The sloshing of the lake made Miroku feel as if he were underwater. Miroku was even aware of the top branches of the trees swaying and creaking as though in pain. Before he had time to fully realize his heightened senses in this meditative state, he felt a stirring within him. He wanted to open his eyes to see if anything was happening, but he decided against it and focused even harder.

At first, Ninsei thought he was imagining things. A thin coil of dust lifted from the ground and deposited itself on his hand. Shaking the soil away, he figured that a storm was coming, causing the wind to behave strangely. When he looked up, however, he saw a very interesting sight.

White rings of air were circling around Miroku, visible only because they had picked up a small amount of dust from their movements. As Ninsei watched, the rings coiled into a spring-like shape and began to extend from the monk's body, reaching tendrils of air in the youkai's direction. Before he could react, they had coiled around him and he felt a lurching sensation in his stomach. He felt himself rising, finally settling at an altitude that was a few feet above the ground.

Keeping his head, Ninsei decided not to startle Miroku by yelling. Instead, he used a conversational tone. "Ah, Houshi-sama?"

Miroku's eyes flickered open. Upon seeing Ninsei levitating, he gasped and the coils of wind dissipated immediately, dropping the youkai face-first in the dirt.

"Ninsei-san! I'm sorry, what happened?" Miroku asked, approaching him and helping him to his feet. Ninsei was shaking, but one look at his face told Miroku that he was...laughing? "What?"

Ninsei curled his arms around his stomach as he laughed. Dropping to his knees, he regained enough of his breath to explain what was so damn funny. "You...have power over the air...and yet your curse..." He dissolved into giggles once more and Miroku looked at him, stunned. That didn't seem funny ha-ha. More like funny ironic.

Despite his perspective, Miroku couldn't help but smile when he saw Ninsei's state. After quite a few minutes, the youkai recovered and drew himself to a rather overly regal sitting position. "Impressive. Never before have I seen such power from a beginner."

"It's probably because of the kazaana," Miroku said, his happy mood vanishing in an instant.

"Impossible," said Ninsei simply. "True power cannot be changed by curses or anything else. That was simply you."

"Ninsei-san?"

"Hn?"

"When I first entered the trance, I felt like I was hyper-sensitive. I could hear every little thing. I could even feel it when you shook the dust off of your hand."

"You sensed that? Hmm. Like I said, impressive. But it also may be because of your chosen element, air. Everything touches air, and everything has to move through it to change position. It is natural to sense these things. In time, you will be able to control it. I have merely unlocked the power in you. Now, you must master it."

Miroku nodded. "Should I try to do something else?"

Ninsei looked thoughtful for a moment. "Try to channel your power. Call the wind."

For a second, Miroku looked confused. 'Call the wind? What the heck is he talking about?' But even as he thought it, Miroku felt a part of him stir and he lifted his hand automatically. Instantly, at his signal, a gentle breeze blew over the area.

"Harder," Ninsei demanded, his eyes focused on Miroku.

Miroku complied, pushing his energy into the surrounding atmosphere. The breeze turned into a stronger gust of air. Fatigue began to pull at his muscles as he held his hand up.

"Push harder, Houshi-sama! You have more than this!" Ninsei was now back on his feet, his eyes peering into Miroku's.

Miroku focused. The strain was beginning to show as he gritted his teeth, one eye closed with the effort. The wind was now just strong enough to ripple their clothing. Ninsei's hair blew across his face. Miroku was beginning to feel drained, as if someone had stuck a straw into him and was sucking out every bit of his energy. Colored spots began to dance before his eyes.

"Enough." Ninsei muttered.

Relieved, Miroku let his hand fall and flopped to the ground, tired and out of breath. He looked up at Ninsei, expecting praise, but met with the disappointed stare of his teacher.

"Did I do something wrong, Ninsei-san?"

"I know that you have more power than this. I don't understand why you don't allow it to surface. You showed more prowess than that when you were entranced!" Ninsei looked bitter for a moment, but then his mood lightened as he grinned. "No matter. We will be having these lessons every night. I expect you to improve greatly before I allow you to use your staff. You *will* master your element."

"I'll do my best," Miroku promised.

"You'll do even better than that," Ninsei answered, retrieving his staff from the ground. "Come on. You'll have to get some rest. I feel that you are exhausted."

Miroku nodded and the two made their way back to the camp. Miroku was still slightly oversensitive, but the last traces of the ability faded away as he sat back against his tree, returned Sango's head to his lap, and dozed off in mere seconds.

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Miroku did improve, although it seemed to Ninsei that he hadn't yet realized his true power. The monk could call up gale-force winds, but he couldn't seem to form them into tornadoes. He could lift things with his power over the air, but he couldn't yet lift himself. For every positive thing that Ninsei could think of, there was a corresponding negative thing that kept him from being in awe of Miroku. It had been only three days, and already, Miroku had progressed further than he had when he'd been learning of his element. Not wanting to be helpless any longer was a powerful motivator, but it wasn't strong enough to push him to his full potential.

It was night once more, and the group had taken up camp, expecting to reach Senpai before sundown the following day. Once more, Ninsei and Miroku waited for everyone to fall asleep before rising, but this time, Ninsei did something very different.

He motioned for Miroku to bring his staff.

It took them a while to find a suitable spot for lessons, the forest being dense and thick. Finally, Ninsei lost patience and used his energy to shove a few trees out of the way, leaving a bare patch for them to practice in.

For a few minutes, Ninsei made Miroku review the basics, telling him to lift one of the fallen trees into the air and bring forth a strong wind. He was satisfied when Miroku showed no signs of tiredness. Motioning for the monk to pick up his staff, he began to speak.

"Houshi-sama. You have come very far in a very short amount of time. I commend you. However, you have not yet perfected your technique. This will take quite a while, and it won't be very pretty. To incorporate your staff into your power, it must be merged within your very soul. I can do this, but you must be perfectly sure that the power level you now have is not sufficient. The merger is very painful, but once it is done, you will be able to command your element with your staff. When this is complete, you will reach previously unattainable levels of power. I will no longer be able to instruct you. A pupil after the merger has to fend for his- or herself. I tell you now, that I have done all I can. After this, you will be capable of nearly everything air-related."

"You mean that the power from the staff comes from the holder's soul?"

"Hai. This is why the aura creeps to the staff before a large release of power."

"And it will make me even more proficient at controlling the air?"

Ninsei nodded. "Keep in mind that it is very painful. The level you have now is perfectly fine, and could aid the others well in battle."

Miroku pondered this, then set his face determinedly. "Do it."

"Are you absolutely sure? The pain lasts for quite a while. I was in agony for almost two weeks."

Miroku winced at the thought of the panther writhing in pain, but the unperturbed look quickly reclaimed his face. "I'm sure."

The youkai sighed, then set one hand on Miroku's shoulder and the other on the tip of his staff. "Repeat after me: 'I wish to command my element. I wish to dominate the air. The strength sleeps. Awaken it.'"

"I wish to command my element. I wish to dominate the air. The strength sleeps. Awaken it."

For a while, nothing happened. All that Miroku felt was a tingling feeling where Ninsei was touching his shoulder. Then, he sensed what felt like an interior tickle spreading from that area to cover his body. Then, nothing.

Miroku had to choke back a relieved laugh. There was no pain at all! Suddenly, he didn't feel much like laughing as Ninsei met his eyes with an ice-blue stare. "Gomen nasai," the panther whispered. "I cannot help you from here. Brace yourself."

The monk wondered what Ninsei was talking about for a brief second. Then, all became clear as the youkai somewhat reluctantly removed his hands from Miroku and the staff. Now, a wave of almost unbearable heat swept through his body, making him choke and gasp. The gentle tingling sensation was completely swamped by this hotness.

Then, the pain started.

Miroku fell to his knees. It felt as if someone had force-fed him gallons of oil, then stuffed a burning ember into his nose. His insides were on fire. Every inch of skin seared with the unbelievable pain. Even his hair and fingernails seemed to send reports of pain to his muddled brain. His right hand remained clasped around his staff, and he tried to release it, only to realize that he literally could not. He wrapped his left arm around his stomach, wishing it was possible to hug your whole body in this manner.

And it got worse.

If at all possible, Miroku would have turned himself inside out and jumped into a lake. The agony was immense, as if every bone was broken, every nerve pinched, every muscle strained, sprained, and torn. He opened his eyes, which were tightly clenched, and Ninsei flinched back at what he saw. Miroku's eyes were completely white. Pain was etched his face, and as Ninsei watched, he felt the urge to vomit, even though he'd never been sick a day in his life. Watching someone go through this sort of torture was next to unbearable.

And finally, Miroku did the one thing that Ninsei was waiting for. The one thing that no one who had ever merged in such a fashion had failed to do. Miroku screamed.

He gave voice to the torment that rushed through his body as if it were his own blood. His piercing shriek attacked Ninsei's sensitive ears, but he refused to cover them. This was partially his fault. He'd take some of the pain if it was at all possible.

The desperate cry wrenched Ninsei's heart. Even though he'd warned the monk that the procedure was painful, he knew that he'd never expected anything like this

.

As the youkai watched, Miroku collapsed to the ground, but was denied the bliss of unconsciousness, the staff remaining seemingly cemented in his hand. He still screamed, now twisting his body as he suffered. Ninsei could no longer stand it, and pressed his hands firmly to his ears. 'Oh, gods, what have I done?' he asked himself. 'I should have known that a ningen would be too fragile for this! The power will consume him! I was foolish!' Yet there was nothing that Ninsei could do but stand there, clutching his ears. But he could still hear the screams.

He supposed that he would hear them forever.

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Kagome's eyes snapped open. She turned to look at Inuyasha, whose golden eyes were already fixed on her. 'Did you hear that?' she asked.

He nodded. 'A scream.'

Just then, it sounded again. It was obviously the cry of someone in extreme pain. 'We should see if there's something we can do!' she said, sliding out of the tree. Shippou had awoken at the scream as well, and clung to Kagome's waist as she went to rouse the others.

For a second, Inuyasha looked as if he were going to protest, but in the end, he followed her. He couldn't just ignore those cries.

Kagome was shaking Sango awake. "Sango-chan! Wake up! Someone's in trouble!"

Sango opened sleep-blurred eyes to see the hanyou hovering above her. Realizing that she was lying on the ground, she asked, "Where is Houshi- sama?"

Kagome looked around. Her night vision was excellent, so she could see that the camp was empty save for the two girls, Inuyasha, and the two small youkai. A sick feeling of dread built in her stomach.

Another scream rent the air. And Kagome's fears were proved true. It was Miroku who was in such pain. With another look around the campsite, however, she realized that the monk wasn't the only one missing. "Where's Ninsei?"

Inuyasha gave a savage snarl. "I'll bet it's him that's doing that to Miroku!" Sango had risen to her feet and outfitted herself with her huge boomerang. Turning to her, Inuyasha spoke, "I promise you, if it is him, I'll kill him myself. Then, I'll go kill Sesshoumaru, steal the Tenseiga, and bring him back to life so you can kill him again." Sango would have laughed, but under the circumstances, nothing was funny.

Nothing was funny at all.

Sango woke Kirara and tossed her into the air, where she promptly changed into her bigger form and allowed the taijiya to mount. Shippou leapt onto Kirara from Kagome's waist, figuring that if there was to be a fight, she didn't need his added weight. And the group took off, each plotting revenge on the one who was causing their friend such pain.

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Corisu Li: *sigh* That was hard to write. *shivers* I can practically FEEL what I wrote. And nobody's talking to me in the disclaimer anymore.

*BIIIIIIG SILENCE*

Corisu Li: See? Well, R&R, I'll try to get the next chappie up fast, so I don't leave yeh hangin'. Peace like chicken grease. <~~~ (Why the hell did I just say that?)