Walking Fathers Path

Chapter 3: Spirits of the Shrine

Inuyasha was sitting in class thinking back to what he had witnessed the night before. He was deep in thought trying to figure out a way to get Miroku away from Sesshoumaru. ‘That guy seems like he might get upset if Miroku just left. I don’t want to get him hurt. Should I call the police? That guy’s got money so he’d probably just bribe them…’ Inuyasha glanced out the window and saw the person he was thinking about walking up the path to school. Sesshoumaru wasn’t with him as he normally always was. ‘He came alone today, I wonder where Sesshoumaru is?’

Miroku walked into the classroom with his head down. He was not looking forward to facing his friend after what had happened last night and was afraid that Inuyasha would want nothing more to do with him.

Inuyasha watched as Miroku opened the door and came in. He stood from his desk and stepped in front of the pig-tailed boy, getting him to raise his head and look at him. “Morning,” he smiled brightly glad to be able to talk to him without the other, more intimidating teen around.

Miroku raised his head and immediately turned bright red. ‘Oh Kami, what he must think.’ He noticed that Inuyasha began to turn a bit pink across the cheeks as well and for some reason that made him feel better.

Inuyasha cleared his throat self consciously and then a plan formed in his mind. “I forgot to give you your career guidance questionnaire. I’m sorry, but I left it home and it has to be passed in tomorrow at the beginning of the day.”

“That’s okay,” Miroku answered his face returning to its natural color, feeling exceedingly glad that Inuyasha was still speaking to him and that his friend wasn’t questioning him about what he had seen. He walked to his seat and sat down. Inuyasha followed and sat on the edge of his desk.

“I can drop it off at your place after school,” Inuyasha offered.

Miroku's eyes got bigger. Sesshoumaru was still home and in bed and he didn’t want his friend and his master to see each other. Not just because of what happened, but he thought Sesshoumaru might hurt his friend. His master had been acting so strange lately, calm one minute and volatile the next; that he was unsure of what he would do.
He knew his lord was upset with him as well. His power had not been strong enough to help his master and he had been expecting some kind of punishment. Instead Sesshoumaru had told him it wasn’t his fault and not to worry about it. He had actually been kind and it had thrown Miroku for a loop. The youkai hadn’t talked so gently to him in a long time. He had then told him to hurry up and get to school before he was late.

“You don’t have to go to all that trouble,” Miroku answered quickly. “I can come to your house and get it if that’s okay.”

“That would be great,” Inuyasha stated excitedly, glad that he had figured correctly, that this is exactly what Miroku would do. “I’ll give you directions.” He grabbed a pen and paper and began drawing a map, writing out the way to his house and then passed it to Miroku. “I’ll see you after school then?

Miroku looked at the paper and gave his friend a smile. “Yes, I’ll just check on Sesshoumaru first. See you then.”

Inuyasha sat down at his desk, pulling out the guidance questionnaire that had been in there the whole time. With a happy grin he stuck it in his notebook so he wouldn’t forget to take it home.

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Miroku opened the bedroom door and stuck his head in the room. Sesshoumaru was still in bed sitting up with his back against the headboard watching TV. “I’m going to Inuyasha’s now,” he informed his master.

Sesshoumaru gave his servant an irritated glance. “Why are you going all the way over there?”

“Because…I don’t think it would be a good idea if he came here. It might cause trouble for us,” Miroku answered.

Sesshoumaru gave his shy slave a smirk. “Don’t you mean you would be troubled?”

Miroku blushed, “You haven’t recovered yet either,” he stated as an excuse. The embarrassed boy looked up when there was no reply from his master. Sesshoumaru was giving him an odd look and holding his hand out to him.

Miroku stepped over to the bed, unsure of what his master might want until he was close enough for Sesshoumaru to grab his arm and gently tug him forward onto the bed. He was soon engulfed in his master’s arms and lips as Sesshoumaru began to unbutton his shirt, gently stroking his fingers over his chest.

Miroku opened his mouth to allow his lords tongue entrance, a soft moan escaping him. Sesshoumaru was just beginning to enjoy himself when the dark haired boy jumped up off the bed to answer the phone that had begun to ring, his face flushed red.

“Hello?” he asked tucking the receiver between his ear and his shoulder as he buttoned up his shirt.

“Oh, you’re still there,” Inuyasha said from the other end of the line.

“Sorry, I got tied up for a moment,” Miroku replied and then blushed when he noticed the wicked grin that appeared on his masters face from his words.

“I don’t mean to bother you, but you were late, I was a bit worried you had changed your mind,” Inuyasha returned. He actually was worried that Sesshoumaru would not let him come. He was hoping that once Miroku was away from the more aggressive teen, that he would be able to talk him into leaving him for good.

“No, no, I’m leaving right now. See you soon.” Miroku said goodbye and then hung up the phone and went to the door. He turned and looked at his master who had gone back to watching TV with a bored expression on his face. “I’m going now,” he told the reclining boy.

“Ummm,” was the only answer he received as Sesshoumaru continued to stare at the flickering screen.
Miroku stood for a few seconds more a bit uncertainly and then left.

Sesshoumaru didn’t miss the happy look on his vassal’s face as he went out the door. ‘Go then, see if I care,’ he thought sulkily, wondering why he was suddenly so irritated…and felt so lonely.

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‘Let’s see,’ Miroku thought as he again checked the directions he was reading. ‘It has to be somewhere around here. Oh…there it is. A shrine? It’s huge.’ The teen boy stood in awe looking at the large shrine. He had just entered along a south wall after climbing a long cement stairway. He noticed a smaller house to the right of an old well house. He looked at the well house in surprise; he could feel a power emanating from the old building. ‘I’ll have to go check that out and tell Sesshoumaru about it.’ He turned towards the house hoping that Inuyasha would give him a tour of the grounds and that well.

“Who’s that,” asked one small spirit to the other, watching as the boy knocked on the door of the house and the long haired boy answered with a smile, allowing him to enter.

“I don’t know, but he has spiritual powers. We better keep an eye on him.”

Inuyasha had just finished giving Miroku a tour of the shrine grounds and they were now back inside his house amidst the squeals and laughter of his four younger siblings when the phone rang.

“Come play with us, big brother!” Rin cried bouncing around him and getting in his way. Shippou latched onto his leg, further slowing his progress to the still ringing phone.

“Hey, I told you two to go play somewhere else. Go play with Shiori and Souta why don’t you?” Inuyasha replied grumpily as he finally made it to the phone. He pried his younger brother from his leg and gave him a shove towards his other siblings before picking up the receiver.

“Hello, Hanyou residence. Oh, Mom…the documents? On your desk? But, I’ve got a friend over and…” The line went dead after his mother gave him a quick thanks and a cheery goodbye.

’Damn it, she hung up. Why does she always do that?’ he thought irritably, he still hadn’t had an opportunity to talk to Miroku about Sesshoumaru yet. Inuyasha went back to his room where he had left Miroku. “I’m really sorry, my mom needs me to drop off some stuff to her. It shouldn’t take me too long, but would you mind watching those guys?” he asked, motioning to the four small heads that were peeking around the corner of the door jamb.

Miroku grinned. “Sure, I’ll watch them.” ‘Plus this will give me a chance to get a better look at that well. There’s something strange about it for sure,’ he thought as he remembered when Inuyasha had let him take a quick peek at it when they were on their tour.

“Really, it’s okay?”

Miroku nodded and motioned for the kids to come in. “I really like kids; I’ve often thought that I’d like to have a lot of children if I ever got married. We can play on your play station while you’re gone.” This suggestion was met with loud squeals of joy as the four youngsters climbed over the blue eyed teen.

“I owe you big time for this,” Inuyasha told his friend. He then glared at the two boys and two girls who were putting a game in the machine and getting their controllers ready. “You guys listen to Miroku and do what he says. I don’t want to hear a bad report when I get home.”

“We will,” answered Souta

“Bye-bye big brother,” the other three returned in unison.

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Inuyasha came running up the steps of the shrine, panting hard. His mother had had him run a few extra errands before he was allowed to head home and now it was dark. ‘I hope Miroku's not mad at me.’ He thought as he kicked off his shoes just inside the door before heading up the stairs and to his room. He was apologizing as he came into the room. “I’m sorry mom had me do…huh?”

He stopped and looked at the scene on his bed. All four of his siblings were lying cuddled up around his friend, they were all asleep. Inuyasha went to the closet and came back with a large comforter. He smiled as he laid it over the bunch on his bed. ‘He looks so cute with those kids,’ Inuyasha thought as he tucked the blanket under Miroku's chin. The teen smiled in his sleep and cuddled into the warmth of the comforter.

Inuyasha stepped back in surprise thinking he had woken him. When Miroku didn’t move anymore Inuyasha sat on the floor looking at his friends face. ‘I’ve never seen him smile like that.’

The urge to kiss the sleeping boy’s lips grasped him. ‘No one would know,’ he tempted himself as he leaned closer. He just barely brushed his lips over the sleeping boys so as not to wake him and a feeling of warmth coursed through him at the contact before he sat back.

‘Why am I having these feelings?’ He reached out and swept the bangs out of Miroku's face and then realized he had to call Sesshoumaru. He wasn’t going to wake his friend at this late hour and send him out in the dark, plus he was getting a thrilling sense of satisfaction at the idea of telling that jerk that Miroku would be staying with him. He was also a bit concerned that if he didn’t let the controlling asshole know what was going on the bastard would more than likely show up at his door.

“…so he’ll be sleeping over at my place tonight,” Inuyasha informed the boy on the other end of the line.

There was a moment of uncomfortable silence. “WAKE HIM UP AND SEND HIM HOME NOW!” Sesshoumaru demanded in a loud voice.

Inuyasha held the phone out to the side. “Listen, Sesshoumaru…” he started angrily after putting the phone back to his ear.

“Miroku is not your property, send him home,” Sesshoumaru interrupted gripping the headset of the phone so hard his knuckles were turning white.

Inuyasha was gripping his phone with equal anger. “He’s not anyone’s property, you jerk! Can’t you even let him have a friend?”

Sesshoumaru barked out a short laugh. “Friends? He has no need for friends, and you want more than that, do you not?”

Inuyasha face flushed red, not just from anger, but because Sesshoumaru was right. He did want to be more than just friends, he was just unsure of how to accomplish that. His only thought had been to get Miroku away from Sesshoumaru, but he hadn’t planned any further than that. Inuyasha was so caught up in arguing with Sesshoumaru that he didn’t notice two shadowy figures floating by the window.

“He’s still here,” the small ghost said.

“We need to get rid of him, he’s dangerous,” replied the second boy spirit. Both of the child ghosts began to hum a tune.

Miroku opened his eyes and sat up. He was still totally asleep, his eyes hazy and unfocused as he stood and walked down the stairs and out the door, following the haunting melody twisting though his mind. As soon as he entered the yard, long vines twirled around him and lifted his dazed body from the ground. More and more vines appeared, some entering his mouth as they began to glow.

“Miroku isn’t going home tonight!” Inuyasha yelled.

‘Or any other night if I have a say in anything,’ the teen thought as he slammed down the receiver. The room rang quiet in his ears for a moment and then he heard something, some kind of rustling. ‘What was that noise?’ Inuyasha wondered as he looked out the window, putting the aggravating conversation of a few moments ago out of his mind for the time being.

Inuyasha pulled the curtains back to look out into the night and then stood in shock as he saw his friend hovering above the ground almost completely wrapped in long, leafy vines. He ran as fast as he could out the door into the yard trying to get to Miroku. Suddenly vines began to snake across the ground towards him, attempting to entwine themselves around his legs.

‘What the hell is going on here?’ Inuyasha thought as he jumped back away from the twisting vegetation. He was sure he heard the sound of children giggling.

‘Now what?’ Inuyasha thought as he felt a strong wind. He had to cover his face with his hands and close his eyes tightly shut as bits of dirt and debris began to fly around him. He opened his eyes and lowered his hands when the whirlwind stopped, totally stunned to see Sesshoumaru standing in front of him.

“Let him go,” Sesshoumaru demanded of the house spirits.

“What should we do, brother?” asked the first ghost.

“Don’t listen to him, get him too!”

The vines that had been chasing Inuyasha now attacked the taller figure of Sesshoumaru who just stood there stoically and raised his hand, pointing his fingers at the approaching danger. A powerful light emanated from his fingers and all the vines began to wilt as if they’d been poisoned, causing the two spirits to moan in fear.

“You dare to go against me?” Sesshoumaru asked angrily. “I, who am the successor to the demon lord of the Western lands. You’re pitiful powers are no match for mine!”

The demon boy lifted his hand above his head and a long sword appeared in the air. Sesshoumaru grabbed the sword and thrust it into the ground at the base of the large, old tree that Miroku was trapped above amidst the pained shrieks of the two ghosts.

The vines that had been enshrouding the pig tailed teen shrank back into the tree, releasing Miroku who began to fall. Sesshoumaru leapt under the falling boy and caught him before he could hit the ground. He gently laid his unconscious servant at his feet. Inuyasha could only stand and stare, his mouth gaping open.

“This one,” he said looking down at Miroku, “is special to me. I do not care if you are the spirit guardians of this shrine; to have raised your hand against him….you shall not be forgiven!”

Miroku stirred on the ground, his eyes opening to see his very angry master above him holding his sword as it began to glow with power.

“Consider yourselves honoured…for I shall personally mete out your punishment!” Sesshoumaru swung his sword in an arc; a crescent of light began to form from the blade. The two small spirits were crying out in fear, their little hands trying to cover their heads.

“No! Stop!” Miroku yelled, jumping up from the ground and grabbing his master’s sword. He was thrown backwards several feet from the pulsating energy, his hand burning from where he had touched the demon weapon.

Sesshoumaru cut off the power that was flowing from himself and the sword, going over to his servant. “Why do you stop me? They were trying to kill you by possession.”

Miroku lowered his head so his bangs covered his eyes. “They were just frightened. I’m a monk. They probably thought I was here to exorcise them. It’s not their fault.” The teen monk raised his head and looked to the two small ghosts that were hovering in fear over the tree and held his hand out to them. “It’s okay, I won’t hurt you. You are the protectors of this house and shrine. I would not try and take you from here.” He gave the two a gentle smile.

Sesshoumaru said nothing as he made his sword disappear.

Inuyasha was sitting on the ground in total shock. ‘Spirit guardians!? Demon lords!? What the hell is going on?’

The larger of the two spirits bowed low and then they both slowly vanished back into their sacred tree’s branches.

Miroku looked at his master in surprise. “Sesshoumaru…thank…”

Before he could finish Sesshoumaru grabbed his burnt hand and looked at it pensively. “Do not be so reckless,” he admonished gently. The demon sighed inwardly in relief that he had gotten here in time. After speaking to that annoying human he had received a vision of Miroku being in trouble so had used his demon power to fly to the boy’s aid. It had surprised the demon teen that he had been so worried for a mere servant, but perhaps he too wanted what the human did. To be more than what he was to the boy.

Miroku blushed slightly, gently pulling his hand out of his master’s grasp. “It’s nothing.” Secretly he was glad that Sesshoumaru seemed to be concerned for him.

Inuyasha watched the exchange between the two and began to feel extremely jealous. Then a feeling of sadness descended on him. ‘How do I compete with that?’

REVIEW REPLIES
To InuyashasGypsyGirl
I love getting reviews, good or bad, as long as its not outright flaming. Like you said it is nice to know if the story is liked/hated and it gives us encouragement to write a better story next time. Yeah, the characters are a bit OOC, especially Miroku, which makes me a little nervous as to how readers react to that, but when I read the manga it just struck me how well the Inuyasha characters would do in this story and I just had to put Miroku in an uber uke role. ^_^ I love uke Miroku LOL.