Notes: Okay, I told myself I wouldn’t do this again, but
here I am, posting in chapters. Egads, feel free to badger me; it gets me
writing faster. But I finally figured out that it’s the lack of
reviews/feedback that has been stalling my writing. I need readers to keep me
going.

Genre: I’m not really sure… Whatever I classified this as,
I’m sure angst will sneak its stinky butt in here.

Rating: R

Codes: Mir/San, Mir/Sess

Feedback: Please give me some feedback. Reviewing will keep
the fics coming. (points to too-thin muse) and he needs to eat (muses live on
reviews)! But please keep your flames to warm yourself.

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Unforeseen Obstacles

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Sesshomaru was frustrated in his search for Naraku. He had
tried to let nothing slow his quest, but there are always unanticipated events
that ruin everyone’s day. His had most recently involved Rin far too many times
for his liking, but he was unable to force the child to leave. She served him
as well as she could, as Jakken did, and he tried to ignore the stench of human
that clung to her. Her last stunt in retrieving the poison antidote for Jakken
had opened his eyes to her potential usefulness. She was relatively fearless,
kept up with him and he would have no complaint with her anymore if she weren’t
a target for his enemies. Most of the time he could count on Ah-un and Jakken
to prevent her from coming to harm.

His current distraction came in the form of his worthless
hanyo brother and his companions. They were traveling within the range of his
sense of scent. It caused him no small amount of irritation that the meddlesome
mutt continued to receive information on Naraku’s whereabouts and he, Lord of
the Western Lands, did not. He was definitely irritated.

…

Miroku sighed and rubbed the sore patch on his face
lovingly. Sango had long since stopped hitting him with all her might and he
hoped that soon the day would come that she would carry his heir. He knew much
of the reason she rebuffed him was that she wanted no distractions on her quest
to destroy Naraku. It seemed that only he had any interest in anything other
than their ongoing quest. Well, he thought, looking towards Kagome, I’m
not the only one whose love is suffering because of this mission. Miroku
smiled. Kagome was never shy, except when that one question came up. InuYasha
was the same. Miroku didn’t know what he thought about the two of them creating
more hanyo to suffer in the world. Certainly, InuYasha had thought of that. Why
else would he keep pushing her away and continue pursuing the Shikon no Tama to
become a full demon, if not to rid the world of his own hanyo status? They had
all heard Kagome declare that she loved him as a half demon during the
fight with Kaguya.

Miroku had attempted to take that opportunity to pursue
Sango openly, but had been met only with the sting on his cheek that he no
longer felt as pain. If he was truly not wanted after Naraku was killed, he
knew there were plenty of beauties that would happily bear his child. He just
had to find one.

Surely someone out there wanted him?

…

Sesshomaru stopped as the wind shifted. Death. He sniffed
lightly, ignoring the queries of Rin and Jakken. At least Ah-un never questioned
him. He briefly debated continuing on his present course. There was a massive
amount of death up ahead. He caught the scent of sickness and began walking
again, deliberately avoiding the village. They had suffered some plague it
seemed and he would not take Rin through it. Jakken, Ah-un and himself, he
would have no fear for, but the human girl could easily suffer the same fate as
the villagers. His companions didn’t interrogate him as he started walking
again; they just followed behind, is it should be.

…

Miroku stopped as InuYasha did. The hanyo sniffed the air,
grabbing the hilt of his sword. Miroku tightened the grip on his staff.

“What is it?” Sango asked. Miroku smiled. He never knew
which one of them it would be, but someone was always asking that question.

“Death. And a lot of it.”

“Has a village been attacked?” Miroku asked.

“No. I don’t smell any blood. It smells more like a plague.”

“Perhaps we should take another route?” Miroku suggested.
InuYasha nodded.

“What if there are people who need help?” Kagome asked.
Miroku glanced down at the ground. Sometimes he wondered how much better must
the world Kagome have come from, if she would risk entering a plague-ridden
village to save people. Was she unaware of the risks? Or did she not care?
Either way, it was obvious why everyone in the group cared for her—her soul was
truly kind.

“Are you stupid? Do you wanna die?” InuYasha snorted at
Kagome, who glared back.

“Anyone in there is beyond our help,” Miroku clarified.
Sango glanced over at Miroku. Did she agree with Kagome? He couldn’t read the
expression she directed at him and then it was gone. Kagome looked sadly in the
direction of the village as they changed course. Miroku hated not checking on
it, but if InuYasha didn’t want to run headlong into the village, then it truly
would be foolish to enter it. The place was only fit for the dead.

…

In the plagued village, Kikyo looked up from the dying girl
she was tending to, having the strangest feeling that someone was talking about
her. She looked around at the death and decay and wondered what had been
causing all these villages misfortune of late. This was the third in a row she
had found that was completely destroyed. The first had been torn by civil war;
the second had been overrun by demons. The girl in her arms died as she looked
back down and her soul collector swooped down, interrupting her musings.

…

To be continued…

That’s right. If you want to read more, please review. I have
a couple chapters to post even if no one reviews, but what’s the point of
writing fanfic if no one reads it? Even if you don’t have much to say, at least
write: I read it. It’ll make me happy, really!