Kaya's Story (An InuYasha Fanfic)

Chapter 108: Miroku's Decision to Fight

A few days after our battle with Kanna, Miroku and Sango took on the job of fighting a demon that fed on bones. The reason Sango and Miroku had gone alone was because InuYasha was human until morning. Tonight, was the night of the new moon, so InuYasha was no better than any other human. The reason I was with Kagome, InuYasha, and Shippo was because they needed me to stay and protect Kagome and InuYasha until morning. When we finally got to Sango and Miroku, it was dawn, so things weren't exactly hopeless. The two had fought hard and taken out a larger demon, but the female demon was still alive. InuYasha took care of that by putting a hole in the roof using his adamant barrage. After the demons were dead we assessed damages to people and weapons. Miroku had used his wind tunnel several times during their battle, so his scar had spread slightly. Hiraikotsu was in pieces and partially dissolved, but Sango was relatively unharmed. She had used a special poison that demon slayers keep, it could dissolve bone, so she had to use it as a last resort. When InuYasha questioned if there was a way to fix it, Myoga showed up with a solution. I thought it was kind of convenient the old flea knew something about it. He told us that there was a potions master who was essentially a demon sage who dealt in remedies and potions. According to Myoga, whether or not he would help depended on how much he liked you. "So, we don't let InuYasha do the talking then." I smirked at my statement earning me a slight glare from InuYasha. We finally reached our destination which was a very beautiful waterfall that reeked of alcohol. When Myoga confirmed it was alcohol after InuYasha asked about it, I was confused. Why would such a powerful potions master need a waterfall of alcohol? I got my answer when Myoga had InuYasha pull one of the large jugs up to our group and dump it out; inside the jug was the potions master. I shouldn't be surprised anymore.

It was several minutes before we got the old man up and speaking clearly. We had InuYasha ask the potions master for help, but he declined because of the salve Sango had used. When InuYasha tried to give the potions master the whole story the potions master threw up and Sango suggested we leave. Immediately, the potions master changed his mind and agreed to help, only because he learned the weapon belonged to Sango and not InuYasha. It seems the potions master and Miroku have something in common. Anyway, the potions master explained that even though he agreed to fix Hiraikotsu, in reality it would be Sango who repaired it. When we gave Hiraikotsu to the potions master he put it in one of the jugs and Hiraikotsu began to dissolve. He explained that Hiraikotsu would be repaired when the poison he had placed it in became a remedy. In order for the poison to become a remedy Sango has to pacify the demons within a second jug. The way he said pacify and not slay made me a little worried. Without hesitation, Sango did what the old sage said, and she disappeared into the jug.

We stood there and looked into the jug, hoping to see Sango but we couldn't see what was going on inside. The old sage finally got bored with us and tried to get us, well Kagome in particular to come drink with him. When InuYasha went after him for being a pervert, the old sage picked InuYasha up and plunged into one of his many jugs of alcohol. Just after this, Shippo found Myoga floating in a cup of the stuff and explained he could see Sango because he was drinking the alcohol. Granted, he and the old sage were pretty drunk, but InuYasha confirmed what Myoga said; InuYasha by this point was pretty drunk himself. It took us several minutes to get InuYasha out of the jug that the potions master had put him in. Drunk didn't even describe his condition and I had to try really hard not to laugh at his behavior. Kagome and I were trying to help him, but it wasn't really working. All of a sudden the old sage picked up InuYasha and plunged him into the jug where Sango was. Instead of InuYasha coming up out of that jug, he popped up out one several feet away below the waterfall. Kagome and I walked over to help InuYasha up out of the jug below the waterfall, but I overheard part of Miroku and the old sage's conversation. It wasn't anything new to me because I could smell the poison in Miroku's body, but everyone else had no idea how bad things really were. If he didn't want the others to know, I didn't have a right to tell them what was really going on. Honestly, I knew how he felt trying to carry that secret alone. The dragon scar I carried was my experience and I had no idea what to do about it. I wasn't going to talk to the others about it though because judging from InuYasha's recent behavior towards me, he wouldn't let me fight. My thoughts were interrupted by InuYasha getting up to go join Miroku and the old sage. to join Miroku, InuYasha, and the old sage.

When I walked up to the three men, InuYasha had the old sage by the beard lecturing him about offering Miroku the remedy. "InuYasha, let the old sage go, this isn't helping Miroku," I told him. Miroku explained that things were getting worse, to which InuYasha explained he knew already. InuYasha then asked Miroku what he thought would happen to Sango if he died. I could tell Miroku was hesitating. I looked at the cup in front of the potions master, "It would crush her, but I don't have to tell you that. She loves you and you love her. Just like InuYasha said, you wouldn't hesitate to use your wind tunnel if Sango was in danger." I listened to the two argue about the situation until Miroku had had enough of InuYasha's lecture. Miroku explained that his decision wasn't based on pride, in fact, he was doing it to protect Sango. He wanted to make sure she lived. This caused InuYasha to go silent, but the old sage ruined that moment. After Miroku gave his resolve, he asked us both not to say a word to Kagome or Sango and we agreed on the condition he only used his wind tunnel for life and death situations. He agreed before taking the poison, err remedy. Shortly after he collapsed, and Kagome began walking over. InuYasha and I both pummeled the old sage for what he did to Kagome. The old sage then explained it was the only way to keep Kagome away and told InuYasha, specifically, to distract her. The old sage had a short conversation with Miroku before he turned his head towards me. "You are suffering the same fate as the monk." I nodded, "I know." "You seem less concerned than he is." I looked down at Miroku, "I'm stronger than most humans are, besides I'm more worried about my friends." "You really are much more selfless than the other one," the old sage stated. "InuYasha cares about us a lot more than he lets on. You saw a little of that with the monk here." The potions master nodded, "Yes, I did. If it would work, I would offer you a medicine similar to the monk's. I'm afraid it would not work with you because the poison in your body has spread too far. Not to mention, you have a much higher tolerance for the pain caused by the poison." I nodded in agreement, "I know, and I wouldn't ask even if it would work. I have accepted my fate." Shortly after this, Miroku sat up and the potions master turned back to him. The old sage explained that his herbs and poisons were connected and Miroku's resolve helped change the jug that Hiraikotsu was in into a remedy. He then asked how Miroku felt and Miroku said he felt much better. A second later, Sango emerged from her jug carrying Hiraikotsu. Miroku, Kagome, Shippo, and Kirara went to go congratulate her while InuYasha and I stood not too far away. The old sage came up to us and clarified that Miroku wasn't cured, he just couldn't feel the pain from the poison any longer. InuYasha said he was grateful even for that. I was too, but it wouldn't stop me from worrying that he might do something stupid; an unhealthy trait the group has picked up from InuYasha. Just then Sango ran up and expressed her gratitude to the master of potions for restoring Hiraikotsu to the way it was. The old sage then explained that since it was 'swimming around' in his herbs and remedies that it won't be how it was. In fact, Sango won't know how it has changed until she fights with it the next time.