InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Destiny's Fool ❯ A Heart to Heart ( Chapter 2 )

Disclaimer: If I owned Inuyasha, Miroku would be with Kagome and the infamous episode 132 would have never taken place...or it would have but not with her. So, I'll just borrow them from Takahashi-sama and return them when I'm finish. Don't worry, they will be unharmed.

Chapter 2

Kagome's eyes fluttered open. She did not sleep well the last couple of nights, tossing and turning, constantly waking during the night. When the pale dawn light began to seep through the shaded windows of the hut, she gave up all fighting efforts and succumbed to the wakefulness that was inevitable.

She raised her arms over hear head, stretching the muscles that were fortunate to get enough sleep. She pulled herself from under the covers of the futon, greeted by the brisk morning air. A shiver crawled up her spine as her body adjusted to the temperature. Folding her futon and covers, she realized she was alone in the hut.

Where has everyone gone this early? She asked herself. Hm, I must have slept more than I thought. I didn't hear anyone leave.

She went to the kitchen area, picking up her textbooks. She had to go home today. Exams were tomorrow, graduation next week. She placed her books in her backpack and put the bag against the wall. She debated whether or not to tell Inuyasha that she had to leave. Kagome walked to the door of the hut, sliding it open. Kagome stepped out in the morning air, involuntarily wrapping her arms around herself.

No, she concluded. I won't tell him. "Besides," she said to herself, "it's not like he won't figure out where I am when I leave."

"You're rather happy about that, aren't you?" a voice behind her said.

Kagome jumped a mile before spinning around, finding Miroku standing about an arms length away from her. His hands were behind his back.

"Kami, Miroku-sama!" she gasped. "Are you trying to give me a heart attack?"

She put her hand over her heart, feeling the quick thumping. It seemed to be aiming for the first place in a marathon.

Miroku humbly bowed his head. "Forgive me, Kagome-sama. I did not mean to frighten you."

"No, you didn't frighten me," she said, still clutching her racing heart. Her heart could not slow down. Miroku's black hair was unbound, framing his face, his eyes lacked their usual humor. "I was just caught off guard is all."

There was a pause, then Miroku stated, "You're going home today."

She nodded. "Yes, I am, in a couple of hours. I have my finals, then graduation."

He furrowed his eyebrows, trying to understand without asking. Kagome explained it for him, knowing he was at a loss.

"The finals are the last examinations I have to take and pass. Graduation marks the end of my formal schooling." She closed her eyes and sighed. "I will finally be done. I can hardly believe it!"

Miroku smiled at her. "You've worked hard while you were here, what with trying to keep up in your studies and assisting us with Naraku. You deserve the break."

Kagome sat down on the porch. "Maybe."

Miroku sat beside her and raised an eyebrow. Kagome couldn't resist smiling. Although she was technically with the hanyou, she could not ignore how handsome the houshi was. She would not if wanted to.

"Maybe?" he asked, bringing her back to the conversation.

"Yes. In my time, after high school graduation, it's common for young people to continue their education by attending larger schooling facilities called universities."

"And what is the purpose of these facilities?"

"Well, they have outlined study courses that specialize in different fields, such as medical, education, law, religion, and others to better students and prepare them for different occupations. It's very expensive, takes a lot of time, and there is even more studying than what I had been doing."

"That's a lot to consider."

"Tell me about it," she agreed. "But that's what my mother wants me to do."

"You don't?"

Kagome shrugged and gazed at the panorama of the village that had become her second home. She felt at home in both the 21st and the 16th centuries. Whatever happened to her, she would never be able to choose between the future and the past.

"It doesn't really matter," she finally answered.

Miroku shook his head. "It does matter. If you don't want to go, you shouldn't have to. Besides . . . " His voice trailed off as he followed her line of sight.

It was Kagome's turn to look at him questioningly. He didn't answer for a long while.

"Besides," he continued with a smirk, "what would become of us if you abandoned your friends to this education?"

"You know I wouldn't abandon any of you!"

Miroku's tone grew serious again. Curiosity was pulling at him. "What about a family?"

"Nani?"

"If you decide to get this education, would you have time to have a family? If I remember correctly, you did want to have a family of your own."

"Eventually," she admitted. "If I decide to go to college, I would want to wait until after I finished before I started having children. I wouldn't want my husband to be bogged down with raising children and working while I was still in school."

"If he really loves you, he would make the sacrifice."

"Some are too selfish to make that kind of sacrifice," she spat. Both knew she was referring to Inuyasha. The hurt pride pushed to the surface. "They think it a chore or selfish on the woman's part because she's off spending time somewhere else instead of with the family, although he knows full well what she's doing!"

Miroku didn't answer. Instead, he watched Kagome as she thought over the conversation. He looked back to the village that was starting to awaken.

A deep sigh drew his attention back to Kagome. "I don't know, Miroku. I just don't know. I love it here, but I like it there, too, but I haven't talked to Inuyasha yet. I need see what he wants me to do. I know he won't want to live in my time since youkai and hanyou aren't around anymore." She looked down at her hands in her lap. "He'll just disregard anything I say or feel anyway and probably try to force me to stay here. Still, I want to consult with him before making any decisions."

Miroku shook his head. Spoken like a true mate, he thought to himself. Inuyasha is a fool for treating her the way he does. I hope he gets over himself and take her as his mate as she is expecting. He would be a very lucky man. Very lucky, indeed. If only Sango would love me with as much conviction . . .

His thoughts were interrupted. He noticed that she had dropped the honorific ending. He could not stop the skip in his heartbeat. She had done it before and that was only before he and Sango got engaged. He had always considered himself her friend from the beginning but for her to use his name so informally made the conversation personal. His heart skipped again at the thought. He hooked a calloused finger under her chin and raised it so he could look directly into her brown eyes.

"Kagome, you are not Inuyasha's mate." She flinched at that statement, but he continued. "You are a free woman, and you can do what you want. If you wish to attend these learning facilities to better yourself, then so be it. We will be content with visits every now and then. If not, then rest assured that we'll be happy to have you here as often as you're wanting to come and I'm sure Kaede-sama would appreciate the company." His voice dropped to barely above a whisper, "I certainly would enjoy the company."

Kagome nodded, vaguely aware that Miroku's finger had left her chin and was lightly tracing her jaw. She looked intently into his indigo eyes before lowering them to watch his lips.

A soft grumble brought them out of their trance.

Kagome felt the heat rise to her face as she blushed furiously, crossing her arms over her stomach. She forgot that she had not had anything to eat yet.

Miroku tossed his head back and laughed. He took her hand and stood, pulling her to her feet. He held her hand until after he led her inside Kaede's hut. Kagome sat at the table as Miroku started a fire. He busied himself in the kitchen as she watched him.

"I hope you don't mind," he said, without turning, "but we'll have to content ourselves with rice and some tea until Kaede returns."

"That's fine," she said absently. "Where did everyone go anyway?"

Miroku placed a bowl of rice and a cup of tea in front of her. "The pregnant woman on the other side of the village started having birth pains and someone came for Kaede. Shippou and I went along with her since you were still asleep, but when we got there, plenty of women were there offering their services so I wasn't needed." Kagome narrowed her eyes at him, but he added, "It's not like I would have enjoyed helping with a birthing anyway."

"Although you would have been more than happy to put one of the other girls in that woman's situation."

Miroku placed his hand over his heart, feinting hurt. "Kagome, you wound me with such insinuations."

"Hmph. I'm sure," she muttered.

Miroku continued. "Shippou stayed with Kaede, playing with some of the children that had awaken at the commotion. Not having anything to do, I came back here and found you were awake."

Kagome took a sip of her tea and gingerly sat her cup down. "And Sango?" She did not want to bring up her best friend's name, especially since she was enjoying a bit of solitary time with said friend's fiancee. Miroku poked his rice with his chopsticks as if he expected it to come to life.

"I don't know," he said. "She wasn't here when I got up."

He tried hard to sound like nothing was wrong, that everything was fine. Inuyasha was still there when he left with Kaede, but he was not here now with Kagome and Sango was still gone. He didn't know of any reason why Sango would be out and about before dawn. The hanyou was always out all hours of the day and night so Miroku did not have any reason to question it now. Besides, Inuyasha was his best friend and he trusted Sango. His mind wouldn't let him make any assumptions. Even if he did, he could not prove anything.

Miroku surreptitiously eyed Kagome from across the table. She was staring intently into her tea and looking as though she, too, was trying to piece the facts together.

Which she was.

Kagome had first noticed the harsh change in attitude but Inuyasha had been acting that way for a long while and naturally thought she was to blame. She went out of her way to appease him, to try and make him happy. If she asked what was wrong, he would scoff and shout at her to mind her own business. If he sulked, which was more often than not, and she followed him, he would demand that she leave him alone.

As much as she tried to turn a blind eye to the fact that Sango and Inuyasha were disappearing more often, she could not ignore the feeling that those disappearances had something to do with the abrupt changes in behavior by both parties. Sango tried to avoid her, but if there was no way out for her, she would not, or could not, look Kagome in the eye. Inuyasha was not only more distant, but he became more hateful toward her. Usually, his mood swings lasted a few hours, a day at the most, but for nearly half a year?

They passed their small meal in silence. Both were left to their own reveries until Miroku stood. He collected both of their dishes, putting them with the used pot. Kagome stood and stretched as Miroku shouldered her big yellow backpack.

When they arrived at the well, Miroku slid the bag from his shoulders and handed it to his companion.

"I hope everything goes well with your graduation."

"Thank you. I'm really excited!" she beamed.

Miroku lowered his voice a notch and raised his hand to cup her cheek. "How long will you be gone?"

"Not that long. Two weeks at the most." Kagome gulped. She saw a hungry fire in his eyes. She forced her eyes to stay with his.

Miroku held the gaze of her chocolate-colored eyes with his indigo ones. He saw a need in her eyes that he was sure was mirroring his own. Both of them were frustrated with their significant others, second place in the lives of the people they held as most important to them. Kagome was planning her future around Inuyasha and Miroku was wanting to build his with Sango.

Miroku leaned forward a bit, encouraged when Kagome closed her eyes, softly pressed his lips to Kagome's. He felt her lips part and took her bottom lip into his mouth, lightly stroking it with his tongue. Kagome gasped against his mouth, allowing him to take advantage of the opening. He slid his tongue in and found hers, gently caressing it, but she broke the kiss and pushed him away. Her skin tingled as he touched her face, running his thumb along the cheekbone.

Kagome drew in a ragged breath. "Miroku," she whispered. Her heart could not deny the desire the houshi was stirring within her, but her mind was screaming at her to think rationally. She could not tear her eyes away from his heated gaze.

Miroku wanted to say something but his words were lost as he tried to read the emotions playing across her face. All heat rushed to his lower regions, causing him to stiffen. He swiftly turned away from her to try and get a hold on himself. It took him a moment before recollecting what he was going to say. Even when he did, it took every bit of self control to level out his voice.

"I-We'll miss you," he said softly. He started to walk away. "I'll be here when you get back."