Head Trauma

Disclaimer:See any previous chapters.

Orika stared curiously at the monk. She and Miroku had gotten lunch at a fruit and fish vendor, and they were seated comfortably under a large cherry blossom tree, eating and talking. Miroku was extremely enthusiastic, chatting about his life, Naraku's curse on his family, how his father died, how he now had a wind tunnel in his hand, how he joined Inuyasha, ect. Orika noticed that Miroku talked about everything and everyone- that is except for Sango.

“May I ask you something?” Orika interrupted as Miroku planned to tell her about fighting the mysterious princess in the woods. He closed his mouth and smiled, watching the juice from the strawberry she had bitten run down her chin.

“You may ask anything,” Miroku garbled, his voice thick with desire. Orika smiled as Miroku leaned and wiped the juice away with his thumb. The brief contact made her heart pound. Above that, she could smell someting, and it was the smell of jealousy. She cast a brief glance at Sango, who was staring daggers at them.

“Why haven't you said anything about Sango?”

Orika wanted to laugh at how uncomfortable Miroku looked. He shifted uneasily and folded his arms over his chest. “Well why do we need to talk about her?” He asked, suddenly grumpy. Orika leaned over and stroked Miroku's hand, making the monk melt.

“We don't.” she replied softly, making Miroku's heart flutter. “But I can smell her anger from here.” Miroku looked past Orika's shoulder and saw Sango with Rin and Shippo, her face gnarled and maroon colored. He sighed and looked down. Sango never wanted him unless another woman was around, and even then she didn't know how to act. Sango rolled her eyes and snatched at Shippo and Rin, causing Orika to step in.

“Excuse me a moment,” the Sphinx purred to the monk and walked over to Sango. “I noticed you being rough with Rin. I realize you may not care for me or Master Sesshoumaru, but please don't be rude to Mistress Rin. She is only a helpless child.”

Sango's eyes blazed angrily. “I wouldn't have to watch Rin if you weren't over there making googly eyes at Miroku! And besides, Rin likes me. Don't you Rin?” Sango pressured, shaking and pulling the now frightened little girl's skinny arm. Rin's head flopped back and forth and her hair became displaced.

“Oriiiiikaaaaa,” Rin whined, trying to wrench herself from Sango. Orika had enough. She very gently removed Sango's claw from Rin's arm and picked the child up and held her protectively against her chest. Sango snatched away and held her hand against her own chest as if Orika had struck her.

“Filthy demon! Don't you EVER touch me again!”

Orika glared at Sango and calmly walked away as Sango stormed off in the other direction, dragging a crying Shippo behind her. Kilala gave an apologetic 'meow' and followed her mistress. Orika brought Rin back to the cherry blossom tree where Miroku was sitting with a look of shame on his face.

“I'm sorry for Sango's actions. I'm sure she's just jeal-”

Orika held up her hand and shook her head.

“Sango is a grown woman. You are not her father, nor are you her voice. If she was not taught how to handle herself in adult situations, it is not your fault. I noticed the miko is somewhat immature as well. Perhaps that's why they get along so?” Orika smiled reassuringly at Miroku and patted Rin gently, who's sobs were slacking off into hitches and hiccups. She rubbed her eyes pitifully and stared woefully at Orika.

“I wanna go home,” Rin pouted, knowing that her nanny wouldn't deny her. Miss Sango started acing like a “freak” as Inuyasha would put it, and Rin was not prepared for the cat fight between the two women. She knew that there would be many more opportunities to play with Shippo, but today was not going to be one.

Orika gently rubbed at the handprint Sango left on Rin's arm and clicked her tongue. That slayer did not know who she was messing with. Hopefully the bruise would heal before Sesshoumaru got back, because if not, Sango's best bet would be to drown herself in the Yamate River. She gingerly licked at Rin's arm and the child giggled and tried to push Orika away.

“You aren't that injured,” Orika teased, rubbing her nose against Rin's. Rin shrieked happily and hopped out of Orika's arms and ran toward Ah Un, who was seated comfortably in a shady glen at the edge of the village. Rin turned and waved as she ambled uneasily on to Ah Un, holding her arm out away from her body.

“I think Sango may have fractured Rin's arm,” Orika said in a low voice. “Look at how she holds it.” Miroku was so ashamed, he could have hid under a rock. Only hours ago it seemed, Sango was screaming at Kagome for using brute force, and now Sango herself had used it, on a child no less! He felt sick. He rubbed Orika's shoulders and her ruby colored hair, which smelled like pine and cherries.

“It's not your fault, Miroku” Orika murmured, trying not to enjoy the monk's fingers in her hair. “I had better leave.” She started to walk off when Miroku took her hand.

“Let me walk you to your demon. It's the least I can do.” Orika blushed slightly and and allowed Miroku to guide her to Ah Un, who growled upon smelling Miroku. “He's not the mean one, the dragon lady is,” Rin scolded, making Ah Un whine and drop it's head.

Miroku hoisted Orika onto the demon and kissed her hand lovingly. “When will I see you again?” he asked, his dark blue eyes shimmering happily.

Orika opened her mouth, but Rin answered for her. “Come by the castle tomorrow. And bring soda and pop rocks!” She leaned in close between the two adults as if to share a conspiracy secret. “Daddy Inuyasha says that if you eat pop rocks and drink soda your belly will explode! Daddy Sesshoumaru says it's a fable, but he won't prove Daddy Inuyasha wrong.” Rin pouted and nodded her head to validate her statement. The two adults laughed and Orika and Rin rode off, waving goodbye to Miroku until he became a dot in the distance. Orika smiled to herself...not only did someone like her, someone was even jealous of her! She didn't know what she had done to earn the Gods' favor, but she hoped the luck would continue on....

~In the Village~

Miroku walked sadly back to Kaede's hut and sat down on a blue mat that was beside the door. He honestly felt bad for the way Sango treated Orika. He had explained to Sango weeks ago that their relationship wasn't what he thought it would be and told her that she wasn't for him. She seemed alright with it, until he tried to talk to other women. Sango could not get it through her head that Miroku didn't belong to her. He sighed and leaned against the wall, drawing his knees under his chin.

“What happened to the Sphinx demon?” Kaede asked, shuffling outside. Miroku sighed. “Sango scared her away.” Kaede nodded and waddled back inside. She understood how Sango felt, being upstaged by someone more beautiful and intriguing. Even after Kikiyo's death, the men in the village would gush about her, to the point that Kaede's own jealousy drove any prospective mates away. She felt self-conscious about her eye patch, never considering the fact that she had other attributes that made her attractive. Yes, she understood Sango's feelings.

Shippo crept cautiously around the hut and stared at Miroku. The monk groaned. He knew the kitsune would ask 'male/female' questions and probably wanted candy to soothe his ear from Sango's pinching fingers. Wordlessly, he reached into his robes and handed Shippo a green Now or Later. Taking one for himself, the two sat beside each other, silently chewing the tart green blobs.

~In The Forest Adjacent to the Village~

“So, miko...tell me why you are so upset,” Kagura's voice echoed behind Kikiyo. The undead miko pulled the knife from the table and glared angrily at Kagura.

“Why should I tell you anything?” Kikiyo snapped, causing Kagura to take a step back. The wind sorceress smiled widely.

“Silly girl...he could never impregnate you. Once your soul leaves that dust heap you call a body, it will be absorbed back into Kagome and you will be but a memory. Isn't that sad?” Kagura teased, laughing at a high pitch. She stopped laughing when she saw a silver flash and a small figurine in her hand.

“Looks like I'm not the only one made of clay,” Kikiyo stressed, holding up the doll Naraku made of Kagura. The usually pale face of the sorceress turned even more pale as she realized what Kikiyo had.

“That isn't me.” Kagura's lie was obvious.

Kikiyo gave a sweet smile before ever so gently taking an arrowhead and tapping the shoulder of the clay doll. After a few taps, the clay began to crack and Kagura fell to her knees, screaming from the piercing pain of the crack on her shoulder.

“You would do well to remember your place,” Kikiyo snapped, throwing the doll to the ground. The energy exhausted from her, shortly after she fell to the ground beside the doll. Kagura glared at her through the tears in her eyes. As much as she hated Kikiyo, they pretty much were in the same position, someone basically controlling their bodies, but not necessarily their minds. She heard a faint noise behind her and saw Kikyo's soul collectors wafting from the forest. They encircled Kikiyo and picked her limp body up and carried her away. Kagura stood painfully and followed the soul collectors on her wind feather; she and Kikiyo's conversation was FAR from done. Her eyes narrowed as they passed over the Bone Eater's well as she saw Kagome jump inside.

~Present Day Tokyo~

Sesshoumaru wanted to go home. Besides being uneasy with Kagome's insane whore mother, he was beginning to miss Rin and did not like how ningen acted in this 'future world'. One man bumped into him, did not excuse himself, and Sesshoumaru could smell the stink of the man on him even after washing profusely. This new world, full of lights and sounds was beautiful, but the people in it were not impressive. He sighed and shifted uneasily on the bench, scraping his nails against the wood anxiously.

“What's wrong?” Inuyasha asked, playing with one of his brother's elf ears. Sesshoumaru growled. Inuyasha knew he wanted to leave, and he was trying to sexually stimulate the youkai to keep his mind off of things. Sesshoumaru flicked Inuyasha's hand away and stood up to stretch. They had sat down in a small park near the shrine where they were living to watch some festival fireworks. Women dressed in stylish kimonos played shamisen and danced Geisha style as sharply dressed businessmen looked on and talked of old days.

“Would you like to go over and join them?” Inuyasha asked, trying to find a way to appease his beloved. He understood that Sesshoumaru was trying to get used to his new surroundings, but the man had not been acting right since he discovered their ancestral grounds had been turned into a free clinic.

Sesshoumaru shook his head. “We are not dressed properly to attend a formal event.” They were both wearing black slacks with black jackets, Sesshoumaru's shirt was white and Inuyasha's was red. They looked as formal as anyone else, but Sesshoumaru was being stubborn. Inuyasha's ears drooped as he leaned back on the bench and watched the roman candles.

“Fine. We can go.” Inuyasha's tone was flat and moody. He pulled his hand away when Sesshoumaru tried to take it. Not looking at each other, the two brothers walked silently towards the well that would take them back home. The music from the shamisen floated behind them and followed them home sounding sad and ominous, as if it were foretelling a doomed future....


Authors Note:I know it's been a long ass time. Sorry. I was going to post a spoiler, but that's gay. I'll have the next chapter up hopefully over the weekend. Thanks for hanging in there with me.

On the box: Justin Timberlake-Sexyback