InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ A Cat's Paradise ❯ The Ways Of The Monk--Miroku ( Chapter 1 )

A/N - For all of those who are patrons of fanfiction.net, the older version of this fanfic is posted under my other user name--InuFan246. So I am the original author, and I have decided to completely rewrite the story. I just felt the original was just a pain to read and filled to the brim with grammatical errors. Now, I'm still just a simple high schooler, but I do my best with my lovely spell check. If you do come across any problems though in spellings or word meaning, please bring it to my attention. I love feedback and reviews so please drop your opinion if you can. Thanks. ~ Mental

 

~~Chapter One: The Ways Of The Monk—Miroku~~

 

“Oh Kami..” Kagome sighed, wiping the condensed sweat that had gathered along her brow line off with the sleeve of her shirt.

The sun still high over head, the summer heat was taking it's toll on the human travelers. The term 'human' is used, because all but a very irritated hanyou were tired from the walk that they had started on early this morning. Having left from the southern village of Himeji, the shard hunting group decided to head back towards Edo and ultimately back towards Kaede's village. With Inuyasha's legs and Kirara's speed, the trip should take no longer then a week. It seemed that the scorching Japanese summer had different plans though.

“Inuyasha...” Kagome said with a sigh, pulling her self up the hanyou's back to look over his shoulders, “Can we please stop and rest? I think we could all use a break...” she continued.

Inuyasha snorted, “What do you mean we? I'm just fine—and besides—you haven't even done anything.”

Kagome made a slight face, “But it's so hot..” she said over dramatically, wiping her sleeve against her cheek once more to get her point across.

“Keh” Inuyasha countered simply.

Kagome didn't believe he would give in, but Inuyasha came to gradual stop from his usual sprint as he stopped on the brim of a field, the ground heavily shaded by the large and strong trees that towered above.

Following not but fifty yards behind, was the the remaining members of the group. Perched upon Kirara, Sango sat farthest to the head, Miroku in the back, and of course Shippo—who stayed in between the two to help ward off any foreign hands.

“Hey, it looks like Inuyasha is stopping just ahead” Sango commented, head looking straight ahead at the hanyou.

The sigh of relief from Shippo was audible as he leaned back against Miroku, “That's great—I could really use a break...how about you Miroku? Aren't you glad?” Shippo asked, looking back at the monk.

“Mmm..” was all Miroku could manage as a reply, his mind to focused on counting the string of coins he had acquired earlier that morning.

Looking back at his awkward response, Sango's eyebrows narrowed on the money in his hands. “I thought monks were supposed to be honest people..” she started.

Miroku looked up innocently with a nod, “Well of course” he replied causally.

Sango nodded at the money in his hands, “Then what do you call tricking that man out of his money?”

Miroku nodded, as if he had expected the question, “Well, I did give his castle an exorcism...there were no spirits in the castle, but who was I to tell him that? Now he feels better about his home, and so do I” he answered, his logic sounding flawless to his ears.

Sango shook her head as she looked away, “Your such a leech.”

Conversation ended as Kirara landed near the now squalling couple.

“Inuyasha, I have to do this myself!” Kagome screamed.

“The hell you do—I'm coming with you for whatever it is!” Inuyasha countered, crossing his arms.

“In-u-ya-sha..” Kagome started.

“Kagome, there are demons around here! You can't go into the woods by yourself to--”

“Go to the bathroom!” Kagome yelled, finishing his sentence.

Cheeks redding slightly, Inuyasha muttered a inaudible 'Keh' and turned away. Stomping off irritably, Kagome moved into the woods.

Sango shook her head slightly as she jumped off of Kirara and moved to Kagome's backpack that sat up against one of the large trees. Pulling out the empty thermos, she nodded, “I saw a brook from the air on Kirara, I'll go get us some water.”

“And I'll accompany you” Miroku added, jumping off Kirara as well behind the demon slayer.

Casting the monk a suspicious glance, she turned and began into the forest, not arguing against the monks request. Hearing the soft jingle of his staff, she knew that he had followed though with his claim.

Walking along, Sango had the strangest feeling, as if Miroku's presence was engulfing her. She could no longer make out his footsteps as they seemed to fall in place in sync with hers. The feeling that his eyes were piercing right through her was unbearable enough as it was. Refusing to put up with it any longer, Sango spun around quickly to confront the monk. Running smack into his chest, Sango stumbled back slightly to look up at the surprised monk.

“Everything alright Sango?” Miroku said, taking a step forward and placing a hand on her arm to help steady the stumbling Sango.

“I-..Y-yeah” Sango replied, voice fluttering slightly at the casual contact being pressed by Miroku's hand.

“You should be more careful” Miroku continued, seeming to move slightly closer to her as Sango's personal space was eaten away inch by inch.

“I-I will” Sango managed, glancing at the approaching monk. Unsure if she should step back or not, the violet orbs of Miroku's eyes seemed to be calling to her as they stared back into her own.

“Miroku..” she said breathlessly, “What...are you--” Sango stopped instantly. The rubbing hand on her butt was an all to earth shattering reminder of the true nature of the monk. Almost a second nature move by this point in time, Sango brought her hand around and delivered a clean slap to this side of Miroku's face.

Seeming to have more anger and emotion in it then usual, the sudden force to the cheek caused Miroku to stumble back, holding a hand to his own injured face. Looking down, the monk gritted out, “Sango—you know they have a mind of their own—you didn't have to..” Stopping as he looked back up, his hand dropped from his face when he saw that she was gone.

 

Having found the brook, Sango stared solemnly into the shallow water, knowing that trying to find depth in a shallow place seemed to be impossible. She knew that for sure now.

“That monk...I thought...I thought that were was chance that maybe her really did care...” she said to herself.

Blinking back the tears that threatened to flow, Sango shook her head as she tried to regain her normal strong outward composure.

“But no more...starting now...I just don't care anymore...I don't care about Miroku in the least!” she said, now shouting aloud. Now standing, she slumped her shoulder as she walked back into the woods. The thermos lying forgotten in the forest foliage.

Unknown to Sango, preying eyes had been following her not long after she had left the village. It hadn't started that way though. At first, Omijana had been content with watching them leave his home, also being extremely content when he had his castle fully exercised off all entities.

Or so he had thought. Not but one hour after the monk and his friends had left, not but one damn hour later, his gold rooms had been looted and his shrine destroyed by the rat demon that had obviously not been exercised. Having had many of the rooms destroyed, his wife had thrown him out of his own home until he set things straight with the monk that cheated them out of his money.

His wife was a special cures healer, meaning she sold completely useless and non working 'potions' to anyone who had the little wit to buy them. For instance, invisible powder and love potions were her two best selling products. However, for all of these sham products, she had one potion that actually had an effect.

“Psh, or so she said” the husband sneered, pulling out the vial that his wife had instructed him to use on the monk and one other living being. Having followed the route of the group by horse, he had kept his distance until they had stopped, when he then followed the monk and woman into the woods. Of course, he had made sure to stay in the shadows of the trees or behind brush to keep his position a secret.

Now in the bushes, he watched Sango storm back into the woods and back towards the make shift camp the group had made. Standing from behind his hiding spot, he walked towards the rock she had been sitting on.

“How am to make them apply this powder willingly?” the man thought to himself, taking out the vial.

“I mean—who would willing accept a vi-WHA!” he yelled, falling backwards onto the ground.

“The hell...” he muttered, rubbing the back of his head, and looking for what had caused his unexpected fall. Lifting up the thermos, his eyebrow raised as he examined it.

“Some sort of water keg?” he thought, studying it's futuristic design.

“Come to think of it...that one girl did set out a lot of weird looking things that night they stayed in my home...”

Now knowing that the water holding device belonged to his targeted group, a wicked smile formed on his lips as he glanced at the vial and back at the thermos

“Now that could work...” he mused.