InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Destiny's Fool ❯ Conflict of Interest ( Chapter 3 )

Author's Note: Thank you all so much for the reviews! My muse and I really appreciate them. I'll keep this fic going just for you guys. I know this fic is really angsty and depressing, but anyone who has ever been in love knows that not everything is wine and roses. Don't worry. Inuyasha and Sango will be found out, but not by Kagome yet. That is a confrontation in itself. At any rate, here is the next chapter. Enjoy! ~ J.N.

Disclaimer: I wonder if Takahashi-sama would be willing to sell.

Chapter 3

Miroku sat in the back corner of Kaede's hut, eyes closed with legs folded under him and hands resting on his knees. None of his friends have arrived from their various locations yet, so he slowed his breathing in concentrated meditation. Only one thought continued to roll around in his head.

Kagome.

She would be gone for the next two weeks.

He always missed her whenever she went back to her own time, but this time was different. Now, he understood the insane longing Inuyasha used to feel whenever she was gone. Those were the days that she would leave in anger, after she and Inuyasha had an argument. Those were the days when Miroku would worry that she would not return. She always returned to that half-breed dog demon. This time, Miroku made sure she would come back.

But what if she doesn't? He thought to himself. No, she will. She'll come back to me because I was the one that kissed her. She wanted it just as much as I did.

Miroku could not fight the triumphant smile that escaped. He sighed deeply. I wonder if she's thinking about me. What I would give to have her here again with me, to kiss her again.There was definitely something there, something that ran deep. I didn't feel it whenever I kissed Sango. I don't know what it is exactly, but whatever it was, I want it again.

Why did he kiss her anyway?

Miroku shook his head. He did it because he wanted to. He should not have because it was wrong of him to do so. She was Inuyasha's, not his. Sango was his, but kissing Kagome felt like the right thing to do. There was a nagging feeling in the back of his mind that told him that he needed to.

But the smile faded as soon as it touched his lips. Guilt bled into his heart.

It was not guilt because he kissed Kagome. That was hardly the issue. It was the fact that he and Sango were to marry that plagued his mind. But when? How long would he have to wait? How long will she continue to push him away? He did not have the heart to call everything off just because he was frustrated. They had been through too much together. She had been through too much, what with her family being slaughtered and all. He didn't want to waste that, the bond they had formed, but he couldn't wait forever, nor could he keep his mind from going back to the well and the other woman on the other side.

A sniffing sound caused Miroku to cautiously open one eye. He expected to find Inuyasha sitting in front of him with his nose within a hair's breadth of his mouth. Instead, it was Shippou that was doing the sniffing. With a silent sigh of relief, Miroku closed his eye again, trying to resume the contemplation of the dilemma in his heart.

Shippou jumped on his knee, forcing him out of his thoughts. He opened his mouth to speak, but Shippou beat him to it.

"Why do you smell like Kagome?"

"Is Kaede-sama with you?" he said, ignoring the mini-youkai.

"No, she's still in the village. The birthing is taking longer than they had hoped. I got bored." Shippou crossed his arms. "Miroku, where is she?"

"She who, Shippou?"

The tiny child scowled. "You know who I'm talking about, Miroku! Where is Kagome!"

"She went home."

The kitsune's face softened as his eyes started to water. Miroku gently patted the child on his head. "But-but she didn't say goodbye!" the child wailed. "She always says goodbye to me and promises to bring me something back!!"

"She'll be back in two weeks. She had to finish her schooling. I'm sure she won't forget to bring you something."

"I know, but why didn't she wait for me? Did that baka hanyou make her mad again?"

"No, she hadn't seen Inuyasha all morning."

Shippou's tears continued to fall. "Then why did she leave without saying goodbye to me first? What if she doesn't come back?"

Miroku took the crying kitsune in his arms. "Shippou, has Kagome ever given you reason to think she'd never return?"

"No," he murmured.

"Then hush and put your fears to rest," he gently scolded. "As soon as she completes her business in her time, she'll come back to us."

Shippou nodded and dried the tears that spilled down his cheeks. He sniffled again, still able to smell Kagome's scent nearby.

"Miroku, you smell like Kagome," he stated, changing tactics. If he asked for confirmation, Miroku would either lie or just not answer, so he gave the answer himself and decided to judge Miroku's reaction.

Miroku feinted indifference as if everyone smelled like Kagome. His eyes betrayed him by flickering, as if trying to force himself from averting his eyes, but that could have been anything. Shippou concentrated on the source of the scent. He sorted through Miroku's and Kagome's individual scents and inhaled sharply when he discovered the scent came from Miroku's mouth.

Miroku forced himself not to flinch at the kitsune's scrutiny, but he could not help shifting uncomfortably when Shippou's concentration hovered around his mouth. The youkai was a child, but he was not ignorant. He knew his surrogate mother had been kissed by the lecherous houshi. If the child figured it out, then it would take Inuyasha a fraction of the time.

Inuyasha's temper was too well known, especially where Kagome was concerned. Miroku did not want to think what would happen if Inuyasha found out that his lips had touched Kagome's, let alone her tongue.

The kitsune whipped his head around back towards the door and inhaled deeply. Shippou blushed a deep crimson and scrambled from Miroku's arms.

Miroku's heart raced. She can't be back yet! She only just left!

"Shippou?"

"Um, I'll tell you later," he said. The child donned his best beaming smile and ran to the door. He threw the door open and zipped out.

"Dammit, brat! What the hell are you doing?"

Miroku's spirits crashed. Oh, just him. Well, you can't blame a monk for praying.

Inuyasha walked towards the hut, carrying Shippou upside down by his fluffy tail by one hand and carrying a burlap sack in the other. The fox child squirmed, demanding to be let go.

"If you don't put me down, I'll...I'll...!"

"You'll what?" Inuyasha challenged.

"I'll tell Kagome and she'll sit you into next week!"

"Feh. Yeah right. She hasn't so much as attempted since we kicked Naraku's ass. I doubt she'll do it now just because of a whiney baby."

Shippou gritted his teeth. "I am not a whiney baby!"

Miroku had to smile at the exchange. Shippou was a bit of a whiner, but he'd never say that out loud, especially since the child was the equivalent of a seven year old.

Inuyasha stepped inside, dropping Shippou. Miroku closed his eyes and held his breath, waiting for the potentially hazardous burst of outrage.

None came.

Miroku opened his eyes to find Inuyasha going through the foodstuffs, putting select objects in the bag. Inuyasha hesitated when he felt Miroku's eyes on him, but he did not turn to acknowledge him. Miroku spoke first.

"Where have you been all this time?" he asked.

"Out."

Miroku nodded his head. That was all Inuyasha was going to volunteer. Miroku waited a moment, then asked, "Out where?"

"Out minding my own damn business like I suggest you do."

The words were hardly threatening, but Miroku could not mistake the venom dripping from them.

"Have you seen Sango?" he ventured.

Inuyasha stiffened. "How the fuck should I know? I'm not your bitch's keeper."

Miroku managed a nonchalant shrug. "She's been gone all morning. I was worried about her."

Inuyasha continued with whatever he was doing. "Feh. Your wench is tougher than you are. She can take care of herself just fine."

Miroku did not respond. Instead he said, "Kagome wants to speak to you when she returns."

Inuyasha growled and clenched his fists. The small sack of rice he was holding was gutted by his claws with the enraged action and spilled all over the floor of the hut.

"I wish that bitch would stop nagging the hell out of me!" he shouted. "I wish she would just leave me alone for two days! Just two fucking days together! Is that too much to ask?"

Miroku swallowed. "She went back to her time, Inuyasha. She'll be gone for two weeks."

"Good riddance," he spat. Inuyasha put a handful of potatoes in the sack.

"Inuyasha," Miroku said, "does Kagome know this? That you want a break from her?"

"How could she not know? Kami, she must have shit for brains! Anyone here knows I've told her to leave me the hell alone more than you fuck yourself. Is that so hard to understand?"

Miroku huffed. He didn't appreciate the analogy, but he got Inuyasha's point. "She understands, Inuyasha. She understands all too well, but she doesn't want to because she loves you. We all know you've never been affectionate with her, but honestly, you've become quite vicious towards her and she's concerned."

"I don't need her nor do I want her pity," Inuyasha said with finality. He picked up the supplies he had been packing and left.

Miroku watched the hanyou leave, his fists balled up on his knees. He seldom lost his temper but the half-breed brute was really pushing it. He looked down at the kitsune. When Inuyasha had dropped him, Shippou had skittered across the floor and hurled himself in Miroku's lap. He had burrowed himself in the houshi's outer robes, cowering at Inuyasha's abuse of Kagome.

"Shippou," Miroku said gently, fishing the fox child out of his robes.

Shippou allowed himself to be removed from this hiding place. Inuyasha's scent was fading.

"Shippou, you detected something when Inuyasha came back."

The kitsune nodded timidly, but didn't answer. Miroku picked him up and looked him in the eye.

"Shippou, this is between you and me, okay? Kagome and I need your help."

At the mention of Kagome's name, Shippou paid more attention. Miroku let him stand on his knee.

"What did you smell when Inuyasha approached the hut?"

Shippou averted his eyes and shifted from foot to foot. He raised his eyes to Miroku.

"Sango."

Miroku set his jaw, trying to keep his jealousy at bay. He knew what Shippou meant by that simple statement, but he wanted the kitsune to confirm his thoughts. He clipped the words as they came out. "Explain, Shippou. Is it the same type of scent as before, from you caught Kagome's scent on me?"

Shippou hesitated. "No. This scent is different, stronger." Shippou waited for the houshi's reaction. When it was apparent that Miroku was waiting on Shippou, he continued. "It's the same type of scent that I would smell on my mom and dad, especially in the mornings."

Miroku's mind was muddled. He had conflicting emotions and didn't know how to approach them. Scent. Sango. Inuyasha. Mom. Dad. Stronger. Different.

"How long have you detected this scent?" Miroku asked.

"Just now and it's relatively new."

"So that means it's been recent. Perhaps in the last few hours?"

Shippou gulped. "More like within the hour."

Miroku stood, forgetting the kitsune that was perched on his legs.

Shippou watched the houshi, expecting the usually mild monk to storm in a fit of rage. It was times like this that he hated having enhanced senses.

Miroku sat at the table and withdrew within his own mind. The ideas kept floating in his head.

Scent. Sango. Inuyasha. Mom. Dad. Stronger. Different.

"Shippou, I need a favor from you."