Unexpected Places

Disclaimer: Okay, I give up. I know I don’t own them, but a girl can dream, right? Thanks Rumiko Takahashi for letting my imagination run wild.

The Curse

“You can’t run forever. I will find you eventually,” the voice whispered calmly, seductively within her ear. She turned in a panic to see if he was behind her almost sighing with relief to see he wasn’t there. She moved on in the convoluted twilit hallways. The burgundy colored cloth panels with gold thin-lined detailed designs that depicted many a folklore served as walls. None of the walls or the many hallways lead to doors. Taking many hurried turns lead to her fear, panic and despair at not being able to find a way out. She could feel him getting closer teasing and taunting her like the prey she was. Not knowing if she was lost, Neara pressed on determined to get away.

A cold feeling went through her like someone had doused her with cold water, making her shiver. This was her instincts kicking in telling her that the gig was up and she had been found. Turning round she found him mere inches away from her.

* * *

Neara jerked awake with a feeling of being nauseated. Her head swam with a new headache brewing as she crossed her legs to bend over and hold her head so the pain would try to pass. Luckily the sickness did, but the headache began a dull throb. Nothing serious or annoying. Bending around slightly, the Miko saw that she was alone in a cave. A fire burned brightly, happily. The enthusiastic flames seemed to calm her down. She didn’t notice she had been tense. Getting up to walk outside to notice her surroundings, the woman saw the familiar setting of the Northern Mountains in her hungry gaze. She took a deep breath wincing slightly almost in shock. Looking down pressing slightly at her abdomen the pain was minimal. The events of what happened came back to her in a choking wave. They filled her mind with panic, fear, determination, hatred, sadness, then finally with content.

Her ears swiveled to hear the quiet swooshing of wind and finally a graceful landing.

“How long have I been out?” she asked quietly not looking up at him knowing he would hear her.

“About two days,” he stated.

“Thanks,” she simply remarked turning.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” Those words that she had dreaded had finally been spoken, but even though she had been prepared for them it still didn’t stop the guilt. The tone of voice also stopped her in her tracks making her feel hurt. Her lips were suddenly dry and her tongue darted out to moisten them. She heard him step up behind her almost hesitant not knowing what to do next.

It felt weird to have him finger through her long hair, but also relaxing.

“You and I are alike in many ways.”

She sighed from the heavy guilt the plagued her heart, “My life has no room for friends. I must lead a double life that of a Miko who isolates herself near the Great Forest and of the Guardian of that forest who stands before you now.”

His hand dropped to his side. “I guess I understand, but I thought that the Godds were all powerful. Why must a Miko, especially a hanyou one, guard their home?”

“It is my duty and self-proclaimed punishment…. My curse”

“How so?” he asked.

“You ask a lot of questions,” she remarked walking over to sit by the fire.

He sat beside her, “As I recall… so do you.”

She cut her eyes at him, “Only you would say something like that dog-boy.”

He smiled. Only she would be this snappy with him. “Shippo, don’t worry it’s still the same Neara. She just looks different.”

He made a mocking hiss and swat of his hand resembling a cat. Neara’s hands clenched into tight fists.

“I might be half neko youkai, but I still have claws and right now I feel like using you as a scratching post,” she grated through clenched teeth. Her voice was calm anger; a temper like that would easily pop like a bubble.

Neara had no idea the small kit peeked inside the cave. When he saw no change in her personality, he ran inside about to plunge into her arms when hands swiftly reached out to grab him around the middle.

“You know better than that. She’s still healing from her wounds and diving head first at her like she’s some kind of swimming pond isn’t going to help,” Inuyasha chastised. He instinctively placed Shippo on his shoulders as if it were second nature to have him there. This was a shocker and a first for her and it showed in her drop-jawed expression. Inuyasha reached over to lift it back in place like it happened everyday and there was nothing to it.

Shippo leaned forward on Inuyasha’s shoulder to study her as if to memorize like there was going to be a pop quiz any minute and every second mattered.

“If you stare any longer then your eyes and face will permanently stay that way,” Neara remarked.

Shippo seemed shocked, but looked away briefly, “I’m sorry Neara. It’s just I never thought you would change so much.”

She sighed, “Shippo, my appearance shouldn’t matter. It’s just another part of who I am. Underneath it all, whoever I happen to look like: the human Miko, or the Guardian, I’m still just Neara. The very same person you met over a moon’s cycle ago. To tell you the truth, if I weren’t half youkai then the human-looking Neara is what I would have looked like.”

“Really?” Shippo wasn’t sure.

“This…” she gestured to her appearance now, “is what humans are unsure of and fear. Like the way you and Inuyasha look.” Inuyasha growled somewhat. “Shut up dog-boy. Don’t get me started. -- Anyway, Shippo, I cloak myself in a human appearance so they will not know who I truly am. And it’s not because I’m hanyou either. It’s more to keep myself and others safe.”

“Well, you do have the added advantage. It seems that the pain in you ass will have a hard time finding you since he only saw your human appearance.”

“That’s right!” Shippo seemed more enthusiastic than she felt.

“But he has another way of finding me Inuyasha,” Neara explained.

“Oh please do tell” Inuyasha’s sarcastic interest reared its ugly head.

“Well, I’ve been thinking quite a lot on it and I’ve come down to a theory… Naraku (she shuddered a little bit) told me that some where within my body was a jewel called the Shikon no Tama. I have felt his presence only slightly every time I have felt anger. The stronger the anger the more I feel him. My theory is that every time I get angry…”

“He is able to pinpoint your location which means I better be on my best behavior.” Inuyasha had easily caught onto her train of thought. “Well, I think we should start movin’ on. Don’t want ‘em to catch us here cause I ain’t goin’ to be cornered in this cave with no room to fight.”

Neara chewed it around her brain for a few seconds to realize what he meant. Well, she did get kinda angry at him a little while ago. How much strength of anger was he able to detect? Frankly, she wasn’t going to stay around to find out.

Dousing the fire they quickly cleaned up camp ready to make a swift escape.

“Toka,” she called. “Where are you?”

“Right here mi lady,” he replied behind them.

Neara turned scooping him up and off they went through the cover of the sparse forest in the direction of home.

“Do you know anything about the Godd of Chaos?”

“Not that I’m aware of. I do not meddle in the affairs of the Godds.”

“This isn’t meddling. I’m just asking if you’ve heard anything before.” She wanted to choke the grey bundle of fur.

Inuyasha was looking at him curiously, “He’s… never talked before.”

Boy was he Mr. Obvious.

“Not directly, no.” She spoke as if her reply was subconscious, but Neara remained looking upon the cat waiting for an answer rather impatiently.

Toka sighed, “With the time that I have spent with them I can at least say I haven’t heard that name before.”

“That doesn’t make sense. He is a Godd,” Shippo piped up.

“He’s got a point there,” Inuyasha added.

“You’re right it doesn’t make any sense at all. There should have been some gossip still circling around about him, but no one has even spoken his name before.”

“Your uncle would have the answers. Maybe this time you will take him up on his offer and visit. He has asked about you many times,” Toka stated.

“You know how I feel about that place,” she grimaced.

“I know and you still have nightmares about it periodically.”

Neither the inu-hanyou nor the kit asked anything about it and she was secretly grateful.

* * *

The sun was starting its slow decent towards the horizon when they approached the crest of a hill that over looked a large and prosperous village. Inuyasha felt the stirrings of power. Without looking he knew what just occurred.

“I guess we all would be welcomed well if one of us looked human,” he replied.

“Wearing the clothes of a servant girl doesn’t help, but you are right at least,” the miko answered.

They all received curious glances as they walked through town towards the inn. Neara was able to find them a room big enough for all to fit in. When the innkeeper found that she was a miko, he welcomed her with an enthusiastic smile not worrying about why she was dressed so. Minutes later they were sliding the door to their rooms closed.

“Well, mentioning yourself as being a Miko helped to not get us kicked out. That’s a bonus,” Inuyasha said placing the Tetsusaiga in his lap as he descended to the floor in his familiar sit. Neara plopped down onto the nearest futon.

“It doesn’t seem right that he was overly enthusiastic about it. Almost relieved,” she remarked.

Toka yawned, “Inuyasha is quite intimidating at times.”

“Don’t make his head any bigger than it already is,” she retorted, but had considered it.

The small cat seemed to shrug off her chastisement as he curled into a ball on her chosen futon ready for sleep. Neara looked down to see that Shippo was in the same position right next to her. She moved slowly to not disturb the both of them, standing in one fluid motion.

The human-looking Neara motioned for Inuyasha to come along. He followed quietly and watched as she erected a barrier around the door. With her leading the way, they entered a teahouse not too far from the inn. Inuyasha sat with Neara at a low table for two as they waited for them to be served. Two cups and a warm bottle of sake were placed before them. Neara served him before herself.

“I’ve noticed that these villagers seem to be skittish,” she remarked.

Inuyasha took a sip of the alcohol before replying, “Yeah… everyone also seems to be relieved. Do you think that maybe a youkai has been terrorizing them?”

“Have you grown to be sympathetic?”

“Feh”

She shrugged nonchalantly, “If they are then no one has approached me about it. I can’t do anything unless they want help.” Sipping her own drink, she glanced around the room noticing a pair of eyes watching her.

The man was already drunk. His robes were a deep purple signifying the status of a traveling monk. His shakujou that he would have carried around was nowhere in sight. One arm sported a makeshift glove that reached his forearm with holy beads around his hand. Was he injured? The black hair on his head reached back into a short pony tail at the nape of his neck. Two small golden hoops dangled from one ear. His face was slightly red from the amount of alcohol consumed. Neara could feel his depressed aura. Because of his deep sense of depression was the reason why he was drunk. Red rimmed eyes looked away from her. Power notices power. Because of his spiritual aura was she able to notice him at all and she had no doubt that he had noticed her and Inuyasha as well.

She leaned back as their food was brought out. Picking up her chopsticks she gracefully devoured every last morsel. Sushi was served with rice. Neara would give up her right pinky finger for some meat. She hadn’t eaten in at least three or four days and meat sounded really good to her right about now.

Right when the Miko was going to pay for their meals, a hand reached out and stopped her.

“Don’t worry about it,” said the drunken monk.

There had to be a catch. “What do you want in return?”

“Just some information,” he returned.

“Go on,” she urged softly.

“I’m sure you have returned from the Northern Mountains where I feel evil has collected… Has the devil returned?” the monk simply asked.

“I’m not sure what you speak of,” she simply stated in return dropping two gold coins in the clay pot then left with Inuyasha following shortly after once he got a good look of the man. He wasn’t much of a holy-man, seemed too caught up in his drinking to be considered a threat.

“When we get up we’re leaving as quickly as possible.” Neara spoke these words as if what the monk asked worried her. In truth they made her nervous. Her situation was frightful enough, but the monk’s tone of voice just made her close to becoming paranoid and nearly freaking out. Neara knew now that she definitely needed some questions answered and more information on her enemy.

* * *

Sleeping was useless. Her mind kept wandering and asking possibly important questions.

What did he do to become imprisoned? What is the Shikon no Tama? What was its use? Why is it so important?

Her brain became muddled. Clearing her mind she concentrated on the sounds of the night outside her window. The cricket’s song of peace, the nightingale’s dream filled chirps, the frog’s happy croaks, the tree’s whispers, and the caress of the night’s wind. These all tickled her senses even the feel of youki that filtered down from the embrace of the now quiet forest. The cover of night blanketed them from the peering eyes of humans who were just about to snuggle off into restful sleep. Neara rose from her position to look into the knowing eyes of Inuyasha. He had smelt them coming. It was times like these that she hated; times when youkai dared to attack a village. Nodding to Inuyasha, he left right away as she told Toka of the circumstances and that they should remain there. Once reaching the cool outdoors was the moment when all hell broke loose. Screams filled the air as panther youkai began to pillage through the homes of weak, unprotected, and unsuspecting humans. Catching one youkai who just happened to be in reach, she easily broke his neck as his body crumpled into a heap before her. In the distance she could hear the distinct noises of battle between Inuyasha and the majority of their numbers. Jumping atop a roof she scanned the remaining village for enemies. Looking further, Neara could see the monk struggling with two youkai. He was a good fighter to stand so long against two very agile panther demons. Leaping from her perch, she crushed one enemy as she used him for a landing pad. The distraction caused the monk to easily purify his own opponent.

“You are easily sobered,” she remarked gauging his level of intoxication to be low. Indeed, he had sobered up quickly since last she saw him a mere few hours ago. His body still reeked of alcohol though telling the amounts he had.

“One must be always in control of one’s self,” he wisely replied.

“Well Mr. In Control make it your priority to get these people to safety. I can handle the rest of the youkai.”

“If you say so”

“I just did”

Neara disappeared in a whisper of cloth as she hunted down the other renegades. Periodically she helped some humans to safety.

Quickly landing on the Headmaster’s house, she watched Inuyasha battle the leader who happened to be an exceptional swordsman. The only way for Inuyasha to defeat him would be sheer power. It was hard to catch the swordsman in a display of youki for he was fast. Inuyasha didn’t have great eyesight so he only caught his enemy’s attacks at the last minute. It was gradually wearing him down and that’s what the youkai wanted.

“MOMMY!”

A child’s scream diverted her attention. The youkai reared back his weapon ready to strike down the little girl. Neara landed next to the monk who heard the child’s scream as well. In a split second she noticed his shakujou in his hand wrenching it from his grasp. He looked on in shocked surprise as she tossed it into a throwing position rearing back to hurl her newly acquired weapon at him. Her makeshift spear hit its target throwing him a few yards from his intended victim. Running up to the child, the girl was frightened but otherwise just fine. The holy-man soothed the small female as the Miko wrenched free his holy staff from her now dead enemy who in turn completely crumbled to ashes. The blood purified as she handed it back to him.

“Thank you,” the girl said peering up at Neara.

The Miko only smiled back her acceptance.

“The villagers are safe in a barrier I had erected near the center of town,” he remarked.

Neara turned when she heard the metallic cry of Tetsusaiga being separated from its master. Once it embedded into the earth the legendary fang reverted to its rusty state.

“Good Monk. You should go there yourself. This battle isn’t over just yet.”

“I can help as well.”

“Suit yourself… Even if I were to say that everything is under control, it won’t stop you. I have no power over you, so do what you want.”

Neara sprinted towards Tetsusaiga keeping a close eye on Inuyasha’s battle. The inu-hanyou was sprawled out on his back trying to gain his footing with feeble results. He inched away from his opponent as his enemy approached his prey.

Hovering her hand above the sword’s hilt, she pleaded with it. “Tetsusaiga give me the consent to wield you in order to save your master.”

Pulling Tetsusaiga from the ground as she watched Inuyasha’s encroaching doom, she sprinted.

Inuyasha inched back even further away from his enemy readying himself for the next attack. His claws scrapped the ground gathering dirt in his awaiting hands. The swordsman was upon him in the blink of an eye. The hanyou closed his eyes as the katana swiftly descended.

CLANG

Inuyasha peeled his eyes open to see Neara standing before him blocking the enemy’s katana from striking him dead. He looked further and to his shocked surprise there held in her expert grasp was the rusty Tetsusaiga.

“Inuyasha I trust you can finish the others off. Leave this one to me.” Neara glared daggers at her new opponent.

“How do you plan on fighting him with Tetsusaiga in its rusty state?”

“This will be all I need,” her deathly calm voice replied.

“Do what you want” Inuyasha leapt away clutching his side. The swordsman jumped a few yards away himself.

“Can you finish what the hanyou couldn’t start?”

Neara smirked slightly. She pushed her emotions into the deep recesses of her mind to only concentrate on her fight.

Moving Tetsusaiga to her front, she charged him. As they met, Neara parried his thrust. He blocked her slash, but didn’t see her foot swinging around to trip him. The youkai vaulted away from her angrily.

“You do not fight with honor,” he growled.

“Oh give it a rest… sooner or later you would have done the same thing in order to kill me. I just figured I’d up the stakes a little bit. If you can’t win playing dirty then there is no need to consider yourself a warrior.”

“We will play your way then, Miko.”

She arched a curious eyebrow. He charged her this time with his welcoming fist caught in her hand. Thrusting his sword she ducked laying the flat of the blade on her shoulder. Moving her head under the slashing blade, it came to rest upon her other shoulder. One small fist connected with his solar plexus, knocking the wind out of him.

Inuyasha watched from the sidelines after he and the Monk finished off the rest of the forces. He saw many times when Neara could have won the battle. She was holding back and he knew it. The fierce fight had been waged for many minutes and he could smell her frustration. All of her moves were weak by her standards and he knew she was stronger than this. Her miscalculation had caused her to get stabbed in the side. If the woman didn’t watch it she would become angry and they would be dead meat; as in slowly cooked over an open flame. He shivered, that would be one slow and painful death. The hanyou had to do something.

“Dammit woman, quit being so damn cautious. Your holding back just because one FUCKING human is watching? Give. Me. A. Break! Does it really matter if he sees you!”

Neara growled as she grabbed her side hard trying to stop the bleeding while she and her opponent circled one another. Unfortunately he was right and now she really didn’t care. She flexed her wrist into a new position. Time seemed to slow down as she threw a blast of youki toward him and leapt. Anticipating his next move, she met him in mid air above where he was moments before. The panther youkai felt pain as she cut him deep across his chest. He was only slightly surprised to see her true self as he grabbed her head and threw her towards the village.

The Monk and Inuyasha watched her speedy descent towards the center of town. All the Monk could think of were the villagers. He rushed to where he could see his bright barrier encompassing the frightened people. She landed on the barrier itself near the side of the bluish dome on all fours. Quickly she tucked her feet beneath her and launched disappearing. The holy-man turned towards the youkai. He was in much of a surprise as they all were. Sure enough, the hanyou had practically dropped his jaw to the ground. The only thing that the demon did not catch sight of was the Miko’s reappearance just behind him as she sliced him in half. Quickly releasing the prayer beads from his gloved hand he saw what was going to happen.

After Neara’s finishing move she was open for an attack. The youkai moved in to rip out her heart but never had the chance. A fierce wind pulled him back sucking him into a void. Neara gracefully landed as she looked upon the Monk in curiosity.

“I see you are not injured after all, but cursed. How a Monk could become cursed with such a thing, I wonder?” she said quite intrigued.

“And how could one be a hanyou and be blessed with purity powers is beyond me,” he answered back.

“I asked you first”

If his eyes could spit flames they would with the type of warning stare he was giving her. It didn’t last long as his face relaxed and he began his story.

“My great-grandfather actually received this curse when he had crossed onto the bad side of a Godd. The curse has past on to every generation there after. Either the Godd of Chaos has to die or I will succumb to the growing void for the curse to end. I would rather the devil die then be sucked up by my own hand.”

So before Naraku was punished, he was able to leave his mark on the humans. At least one human family knew about him before he was sealed away. She knew for a fact the council would deny his existence just because one of their one got out of hand and made a hell of a lot of trouble. If the Monk came with them then she would have proof. The void in his hand was living evidence that it was the work of a Godd. Who else was strong enough to curse a man with a kazana in his palm? No youkai in history had the power to alter the fabric of time and space. Looking at Inuyasha she showed her acceptance of him joining their little group. He only sighed showing his reluctant acceptance. No, he didn’t quite trust the Monk to come along with their group, but then again the human couldn’t hold up against one let alone two hanyous, so it was a fair assumption that he couldn’t get away if he double crossed them.

“What’s your name Monk?” Neara asked.

“Miroku” he stated.

“Well… Miroku we are actually in search of information on the Godd of Chaos ourselves,” Inuyasha piped in.

“Would you like to join us?”

“I would be honored,” he bowed, “Miko”

They shared a knowing glance unbeknownst to Inuyasha. The inu-hanyou walked up to Tetsusaiga still grasped in her hand, taking it. Quickly replacing it he began his journey back to his sleeping spot against the wall of their room at the inn. He wasn’t too much worried about the Monk right now. He was tired and wanted some sleep for a change.

“We’re leaving at first light, right?” he asked at a distance.

“Yeah” Neara replied.

“That’s fine with me,” Miroku said walking away as well to reassure the villagers, take down his barrier, and get some sleep.

Neara smiled to herself. We will see what you are made of soon enough.

********************

A/N: Please Review! Anyway, hope you like it. I didn't have much trouble with this one, but then again my sister has a knack for laughing at my every little mistake. She about died when I accidentally typed 'player beads' instead of 'prayer beads'. Thanks to her it got proof-read correctly and with a second eye. She is better than I am at finding discrepancies. Anywho, enjoy and pray that a thought will strike me on the next chapter. Something akin to lightning would suffice.

Love, peace, and chicken grease.
IL20