InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Love's Lessons ❯ Miroku: The Clueless Romantic ( Chapter 7 )

Chapter 7: Miroku: The Clueless Romantic

 

Hissori and Miroku had just finished working on her skills with the staff. She was slightly out of breath and her face was warm and flushed with the exertion of trying to keep up with the more experienced monk.

 

“You are improving,” complimented Miroku; he too was a bit flushed.

 

Hissori gave him a huge smile. She really wanted to do well and make Miroku proud. She found him to be a great teacher, kind and patient when she made mistakes but not going easy on her either. She couldn't believe that a few weeks ago she had been afraid of him. He had treated her with respect and he made her happy with his joyful attitude on life.

 

He had told her about his wind tunnel when she had touched his hand with a curious look on her face. She knew that he could die young, before having a family, which was something he told her he wanted. She understood the fear that he carried of dying. She had felt that way most of her life, especially after the old lord had died.

 

Having a family and children of her own was something that had been a secret wish of Hissori's as well but sadly, one she knew would not come true. After a particularly vicious evening with her lord she had had to go to the healer, the old woman telling her that she had been so badly torn that children would never be in her future. When the lord found out he couldn't have been more pleased. Now, he could do as he wished, not that he hadn't before, without the worry of illegitimate heirs. She had then become his favourite bed mate.

 

She really liked Miroku, the first time ever that she had thought of a man in that way, but knowing he wanted a family she couldn't provide made her sad. He would never want something like me. I cannot offer him what he wants, she thought unhappily, but that did not make her like him any less.

 

She was very fond of Inuyasha as well but she felt that he was leader and a great hero and therefore far above her station. He was master and she was slave, even if they were friends. She was not ever going to be in his league, besides her friend Kagome loved him. She felt the hanyou and human girl were a good match, both complementing each other perfectly. She knew that although Inuyasha was confused about his feelings, that he truly did love the miko. He just needed to figure that out too.

 

Miroku approached her as she wiped the sweat from her forehead and took a drink of water. He stood looking at her in a peculiar manner and she looked back at him curiously, passing him the water gourd. She watched as he took a drink, a bit of water spilling from his mouth and running off his chin onto his neck to drip under his robe. She got a funny feeling in her stomach she had never experienced before and looked away, her face flushing just a bit redder than it already was.

 

“Will you come somewhere with me this evening?” he asked politely.

 

Hissori nodded her head wondering what he wanted. She tried to ask him with her eyes, he picked up on her small signal.

 

“It's a surprise,” he smiled mischievously. “I want to show you something.”

 

She shook her head at his boyishness, smiling, and then again nodded affirmatively.

 

They headed back towards the camp site they had set up. They were going to be heading north; Kagome had felt that a shard was in that direction but for now they had decided to stop and rest for the day and move on again tomorrow.

 

Inuyasha had been watching Hissori and Miroku sparring and had been impressed at the improvement in the girl's fighting skills. He wished it was him teaching her instead of Miroku and felt a stab of jealousy. He had left before they had finished. He had been trying to figure out what the hell was going on with him and the three women in his life since that day he had fought with Miroku, and so had spent more time on his own over the past few days. Kagome had been worried for him, “Is there something I could do to help you, Inuyasha. You seen out of sorts,” she offered.

 

“No. There's some things I need to figure out,” he had told her.

 

Kagome wondered what was wrong, but honoured his request to be by himself for awhile. “I'm here if you want to talk, Inuyasha.” He hadn't answered, thinking that there was someone he would like to talk to but it wasn't her.

 

When Miroku and Hissori entered the camp area Kagome, Shippo, Sango and Kirara were there, Inuyasha had gone off by himself but had not gone too far in case any demons were about. Hissori went and sat with her two girl friends.

 

This was the first time that she actually had some real honest friends as most of the other slaves thought she had been getting preferential treatment from being the lord's favourite concubine. They also thought she was a bit dumb as she couldn't speak. She had never bothered to try and change their minds.

 

She absolutely looked up to Kagome and Sango. She never knew women could be so strong and they were her inspiration. Kagome, especially, with her kindness and strength of spirit, was who she looked up to the most.

 

She had been nervous the first time they had gone to the hot springs together. She of course, had bathed with the other slaves in the castle but they were as scarred as she and she thought Sango and Kagome would think less of her for allowing herself to be so brutalized. Something she knew they would have fought against and she had not.

 

They had been shocked at the many lash marks on her back but then Sango had shown her the scar she bore from her own brother's sickle when she saw that Hissori had been ashamed. She had felt compassion for Sango when the female slayer had told her that she would not and could not kill her brother, even though he was being used by the evil demon they were eventually going to fight. The two girls had asked Hissori what had happened to her and she had tried as best she could to explain but she wasn't sure if they totally understood. She again wished for the millionth and one time she could speak.

 

Shippo joined the girls and kept them entertained with his illusions which Hissori never tired of seeing. Shippo used that to his advantage and soon Kagome and Sango were ready to bop him on the head but of course they would not. The girls got up and began to prepare the evening meal leaving Shippo to go and bother Miroku.

 

Kagome and Sango had noticed that there seemed to be a tension between Inuyasha and Miroku. Both girls had asked the boys what the problem was but neither would tell.

 

“You should go and make up with Miroku, he's your friend, Inuyasha,” Kagome told him.

 

Sango had told the same to Miroku. Both men had given non-committal grunts.

 

Inuyasha finally appeared and they all sat down to eat. The hanyou growled to low for anyone to hear when Miroku sat by Hissori. After everything was cleaned up Kagome went to try to talk to the half demon again and find out what was going on and why he was being overly grumpy. She couldn't figure out what had caused the rift between him and Miroku but she was hoping to fix it.

 

Miroku took that opportunity to ask Hissori to come with him. He took her though the forest for quite awhile and she was beginning to think that he was lost when they came out upon a huge field of tall grass blowing in the wind. The stars were just coming up and the half moon in the sky cast a soft glow on the scene. She looked as him with a question in her eyes. “Wait, watch and see,” he said excitedly.

 

They sat on the grass and soon small lights began to flick off and on in the grass, they rose in the air and more and more joined them. Soon the field looked like it was being coated in drops of light. It was the most marvellous thing Hissori had ever seen in her life. She looked to Miroku with awe. What a wonderful thing to show me, she thought. He looked into her blue eyes with his violet ones and she saw his countenance soften. She held her breath as he leaned in and kissed her gently on the lips. She kissed him back shyly putting her hands on the front of his robes.

 

Miroku tried to deepen the kiss but then felt her stiffen and pull back. He looked at her confused. “I'm sorry,” he apologized, thinking that maybe she didn't like him that way after all, he had been so sure though. She probably likes Inuyasha; they've spent more time together, he thought miserably turning his head from her in his embarrassment.

 

She pulled the sleeve of his robe, she did not mean to offend him and tried to explain by laying her hand on his face when he turned towards her that she had liked what he had done but was too nervous to go further. This was the first time she actually wanted to kiss a man and she wanted to take it slow to understand these new feelings within her. He didn't seem to get it as he again turned his head away. She sighed in frustration and then pulled his sleeve again. This time when he turned she kissed him, holding his face with both her hands. She pulled back and looked into his eyes begging him to understand.

 

“Do you like me?” he asked, holding his breath for her answer. She nodded and smiled,

 

“Do you like Inuyasha?” again he held his breath. She looked at him with a bit of confusion on her face and nodded again. Of course she liked Inuyasha he was her friend and had helped her when no one else would, she felt extremely close to him.

 

She saw a look of hurt cross his face and then it hit her. He is asking me if I `like like' him. She pointed to him and to her and she gave him a small kiss. She then pointed to herself and then put her fingers on her head to imitate ears. She then shook her head no.

 

“Inuyasha has not tried to kiss you?” Miroku guessed.

 

She nodded her head, as that was true, and then put her hands out, waving her fingers, coaxing him to keep guessing. It finally dawned on Miroku. “You do not want to kiss Inuyasha,” he almost shouted, happy as she nodded yes, putting her thumb in the air.

 

Miroku wrapped his arms around her in a big hug, when she started gasping for air he relaxed his grip and blushed, “Opps, sorry,” he said, looking into her beautiful blue eyes. He leaned down and kissed her again this time not pushing too fast. He had finally got it.