InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Of Gods and Monsters ❯ Chapter 47: Stumbling Towards Normal ( Chapter 47 )

A/N: OMG! An update! Sorry about the delay in this chapter, folks. Unfortunately, Hurricane Charley and Hurricane Frances sent all muses scurrying for cover. The whole OGAM gang evacuated to Alaska while I was stuck in Tampa for five days. They've been coming back to me, one by one, and I was finally able to get this chapter written.

Also -- yes, I am very, very aware of the "Kama Sutra" CG on Mikaila's "Kumo no Su" site. Yes, that CG inspired Chapter 46. In fact, Mikaila did me the great honor of reading Ch 46, which was way cool (and she liked it! Squee!). Actually, I wander over to her site quite frequently when I'm looking for Miro/San inspiration. If you look closely, you should be able to "visualize" other works from her site in that chapter. "Kama Sutra," of course, "Source of Strength," "Furyou Houshi," and "Houshi-sama..." Go to her site, shower her in compliments, but if you steal her art, know that I will hunt you down and beat you like a redheaded stepchild.

Now -- thanks to my wonderful team of beta-readers: Ithilwen, Nanda-chan, and Kat. They are wonderful and honest, and when something doesn't work, they tell me. Thanks also to Puppy for suggesting a line of dialogue that led to a huge rewrite. And, as always, thanks to Everstar for keeping me sane through so much of the hurricane freak-out. I would've gone mad without ya, babe.

Chapter 47: Stumbling Towards Normal

It was one of the most peaceful new moons he'd had in a long time. Kagome lay curled up in his arms, her body warm against his. She slept soundly through the night, and while Inuyasha tried to remain awake, he found himself far too relaxed, far too comfortable, and far too content to force his eyes to stay open. He fell asleep, his head resting lightly against Kagome's. Hours later, when the dimness of the room was eased away by the pre-dawn grey beyond the window, he woke again.

At first, Inuyasha was disoriented, so entirely at ease that he'd forgotten where he was. But as drowsiness dissipated, memories clicked into place and he took a moment to absorb all that he'd learned the night before.

It had been a mistake, all of it -- a simple, foolish mistake with wide-reaching ripples. There was a great deal of time that spanned between his world and Kagome's -- he knew that much. And from the sounds of it, Sesshoumaru had lived out that time alone, waiting to see his mate again. Inuyasha exhaled a silent snort; the youkai lord had always been disgustingly patient.

Inuyasha couldn't fathom the idea of years spent without his soul's mate and felt a spike of unexpected sympathy for his half-brother. Already, so many days without Kagome, without her optimism, her reassuring presence, without the spark of her smile -- this drought had proven stressful for Inuyasha, even more so than he'd anticipated. Now that he was here with her, now that he felt her slight form sleeping soundly in his arms, he felt as if he could finally relax, finally breathe. No matter what stood before them, now he felt as if he could handle it. Kikyou, Naraku -- these were complications and obstacles that littered their path, and they would be handled and defeated in good time. A rush of confidence warmed the hanyou as he gazed down at his slumbering mate. There was nothing they couldn't face down together.

He brought up one hand and tenderly brushed aside the dark bangs lying against Kagome's forehead. She woke with the gentle touch, blinking slowly until her eyes adjusted to the pre-dawn dim.

She yawned. "Inuyasha?"

"It's almost time," he murmured; Kagome nodded, never moving from her spot in his arms. She watched him, eyes fixed on his face. He could feel the familiar restlessness in his blood -- a quickening that foretold the change. It was as if his youkai blood could sense the heat of the rising sun, warming and rushing in anticipation.

The change from hanyou to human was always quiet; gradually, his senses faded and dulled, and soon his physical appearance followed suit. But the transformation from human to hanyou was always more marked. Fatigue vanished and his senses sharpened as claws and fangs forced their way forward.

Kagome watched in silence as his eyes lightened with the sun, shadowy indigo depths chased away by brilliant amber. His pupils elongated, growing narrower, the black slits standing out prominently against golden eyes. Likewise, his hair lightened, white locks overtaking black like snow covering a roof in a storm. She would always know his face -- the proud tilt of his jaw, the quirk of his brows, the line of his profile -- but his hanyou features were what she would forever associate with Inuyasha; that's who he was. The hands that held her were now clawed, and when he yawned and rolled his shoulders, cracking them, she could see gleaming fangs set in among his teeth.

She clamped down on the disappointment the morning brought. "You have to go back now, don't you?"

He didn't say anything for a moment. "Yeah." Neither of them moved right away. Inuyasha cleared his throat. "It's only for a few more days," he said softly, combing his claws through her bangs. "It'll be over before you know it."

She closed her eyes, tilting her head against his hand. "Are you going to... come back at all? Between now and then?"

"'Course I am." The brusqueness of the reply made her smile.

They stayed wound around each other like that a while longer, and Kagome began to wonder why he had to go back at all. She heaved a mental sigh. No, he has to go back. Miroku-sama and Sango-chan are expecting him. They'll worry if he doesn't return. And, besides, it's only for another week. Inuyasha's right; it will be over before we know it.

The silent lie made something fizzle and flatten inside of her. It was going to be a very long week.

After breakfast, they found themselves by the well, Inuyasha shouldering Kagome's yellow pack, which she had filled with supplies. Inuyasha had refused it at first, but Kagome had insisted in the event they got news of a shard somewhere and had to go off on another journey. She also knew that winter was a harsh season in the Sengoku Jidai, and she didn't want her friends to be without; she had tucked cold medicine and aspirin in with the ramen, potato chips, and pocky.

Inuyasha blew out a breath, glancing once at the well. "You know, I really don't have to stay there..."

The words were undeniably tempting to Kagome, but she swallowed back the urge to encourage his current train of thought. "They still need you, Inuyasha. Besides, what if something happened? Sango-chan and Miroku-sama wouldn't be able to come through and get you." She smiled with reassurance she didn't feel. "It's going to be all right. It's a week -- a week isn't long at all. And you'll visit, and..." her throat tightened suddenly, but she hid it under another bright smile. "And soon everything's going to get back to normal, okay?"

Inuyasha watched her for a long moment, measuring her. He didn't believe the sunny tone and cheerful smile for a moment, but he couldn't deny that she was right. They had to do what was best for the group, and what was best for the group was that they remain apart for the time being.

"Okay," agreed Inuyasha, though reluctantly.

They stood there, eyes searching each other out in the darkness. Inuyasha lifted his hand, touching Kagome's cheek; she closed her eyes, and brought her hand up, pressing his palm against her face. "I'll miss you," she breathed.

His throat tightening, Inuyasha leaned down and kissed her chastely. "IÕm coming back," he murmured against her lips. "It'll just be a couple days." She nodded quickly, eyes still closed. Inuyasha could smell her tears. "And quit crying," he added, almost gruffly.

Her eyes snapped open, and they were wet. "I'm not--"

He grinned and kissed her again before backing away and jumping onto the well's lip. "If anything happens here, come and get me." She nodded once and he jumped. As he fell -- and continued falling, his tongue burned with the words that had not passed from his lips this time.

Soon the ground materialized under his feet and the blue sky, heavily wreathed with slate-grey clouds, appeared above his head. He could smell wood smoke and felt a small ribbon of relief flutter through him; Miroku and Sango were still there, still guarding the well. Of course, now he couldn't help but wonder if it was necessary. Sesshoumaru had apologized for attacking him, but if he'd done more, wouldn't he have apologized for that as well? It made sense that he would.

Just because it makes sense doesn't mean he'd do it. It didn't make a damn bit of sense for him to push his mate away like that, but he still did it. Baka.

Shaking his head briefly, Inuyasha resettled the pack on his shoulder before leaping upwards. And then, suddenly, inexplicably, just as he reached the well's ledge, he came in contact with something unyielding. He slammed into it at full force, his head taking the brunt of the impact and sending him back down to the dirt floor in an unceremonious heap. He looked up and saw a rippling, shimmering barrier. A barrier? Miroku had put a barrieron the well?

"What the FUCK?"

Miroku's voice came from above. "Mm. I think Inuyasha's back," he murmured.

"I can HEAR you, y'know!"

"Yes, it certainly sounds like he might be," Sango replied quietly.

"What the hell's going on here, bouzu?" the hanyou yelled. "Why the hell did you--" He stopped suddenly, brows twitching as he inhaled again. There was a subtler scent hidden under flame and burning wood.

Oh, he didn't. He hadn't. He couldn't have.

Inuyasha sniffed again. For fuck's sake. He DID.

The silence drew out for several beats before the monk's voice floated down to him. "Inuyasha?"

Scowling and looking upwards, the hanyou growled out, "BOUZU! I'll fucking--" he stopped suddenly, grinding his teeth as he made a supreme effort to compose himself. This was not the way to get anywhere with Miroku, particularly when the monk had the upper hand, as he did at present. No, the best way to handle Miroku was to remain calm, otherwise the sanctimonious bastard would lecture him on the virtues of patience -- without removing the barrier.

When the angry pounding in his ears had subsided, Inuyasha took a deep breath. "You have exactly five seconds to open that barrier, bouzu," -- unfortunately his newfound calm did not last -- "or there aren't enough ofuda in this world or the next that will save your soul when I fucking tear you apart!"

Miroku's head appeared at the top of the well, marring the circle of sky above him. "I will in a moment. After you've calmed down. Remember -- patience is a virtue, Inuyasha!" he added gleefully.

"I AM FUCKING CALM, MONK!" Then Miroku's head disappeared and Inuyasha found that he had to try very, very hard not to swear too terribly loudly. He closed his eyes, clenched his hands into fists, and counted to ten, very slowly. Kagome had suggested that to him more than once in an effort to get him to learn to control his temper. How the fuck counting was supposed to--

He huffed an aggravated breath. This wasn't getting him anywhere.

"Oi, bouzu."

The dark head appeared again. Inuyasha gritted his teeth and swallowed against the foul taste collecting on his tongue. He knew exactly what he had to do to get Miroku to remove the barrier, but that didn't mean he had to enjoy it.

The word came out as a half-growl, half-mutter. "Please."

"That's more like it, Inuyasha," Miroku replied cheerfully. The monk sent him a bright smile, which was soon followed by a glowing shimmer as Miroku removed the mystical barrier. "Now, was that so diff-- OOFF!" The young houshi was flat on his back, an angry hanyou growling down from above.

Inuyasha dug his knee into Miroku's stomach. "I can smell what you did, bouzu," he growled darkly, baring his teeth at the monk.

Miroku struggled to suppress the wince. "Ah. I'm aware of that."

"The fuck did you think you were doing--"

Suddenly there were two hands at his shoulders, gripping him firmly and pulling him back. "Inuyasha, what are you doing?"

"I'm gonna kill myself a monk -- that's what I'm doing!"

But still, the taiji-ya pulled Inuyasha off of and away from Miroku. "It's all right, Inuyasha. It is. Honestly. I... I wanted him to."

The clearing got very still and very quiet all of a sudden; a fierce blush colored Sango's cheeks as she hugged her arms around herself.

"You--" Inuyasha sputtered, eyes wide with incredulity. "You wanted him to?"

The word came in that same quiet, firm tone. "Yes." There was a beat of silence. "He's asked me to marry him." The blush deepened somewhat and a tiny smile curved at Sango's lips.

Inuyasha blinked once. "And you said yes?" he blurted.

The pleased smile vanished as Sango gave Inuyasha a very dry look. "Yes. I did."

Before the hanyou could reply and further invoke Sango's wrath, Miroku cleared his throat. "So, Inuyasha," the monk said as he rolled carefully to his feet, "will Kagome-sama be joining us later in the day, perhaps?"

He looked as if he was about to speak, but Inuyasha's mouth snapped shut before he blew out a long sigh. "She's not coming," he replied, his tone low.

Sango looked at him for a moment, tilting her head. "What? Not coming? Why not?"

Folding his arms, hiding them in the massive sleeves of his haori, Inuyasha looked away, brows knitting together as he scowled. "She can't come back for another eight days." He stopped suddenly. "Seven. Seven days."

"Can't?" Miroku asked, frowning. " That doesn't sound like Kagome-sama. Are her studies keeping her?"

"No," answered Inuyasha, closing his eyes. His shoulders slumped minutely. How much could he tell them? How much should he tell them? "It's..." he paused, blowing out a sigh. "It's somethin' else."

"...Ah." But the bemusement did not fade from Miroku's expression.

Sango knelt by the fire and slowly set about putting it out. "...It's not Teles-sama, is it? The pup isn't... causing her problems...is he?"

Inuyasha shrugged. "It's got to do with her, sort of."

The monk felt a faint tremor of anxiety as a beat of silence passed. If it was serious enough for Kagome-sama to stay away for another week... "Is she well?" A thread of real worry had woven its way into Miroku's tone, which he strived to steady with polite concern.

"She's fine," Inuyasha answered brusquely.

Sitting back on her heels, Sango shook her head, confused. "...So why can't Kagome-chan come back?"

Inuyasha huffed a sigh as he sat down heavily on the hard ground. "She can't come through 'cause she's not s'posed to come through. Not for another seven days."

Sango blinked as Miroku silently digested this information. "...What?" she asked, puzzlement tinting her brown gaze.

"Inuyasha," Miroku began, slowly, "when you say 'not supposed to,' what do you mean exactly...?"

The hanyou was silent for several seconds, clearly gauging how much to tell. After a moment or two, he blew out a long breath. "There -- in Kagome's time... uh... Sesshoumaru was there. She's with him now. On that side."

Neither the monk nor the taiji-ya said anything for nearly a full minute.

Then, "Kagome-sama's with Sesshoumaru?"

Inuyasha sputtered. "No, stupid bouzu! Teles is!" Miroku's eyebrows vanished under his hair as he processed that bit of information.

Sango made a soft "hmm" sound. "..And yet, that sounds just as unlikely."

"No," the young monk said slowly, shaking his head. "No, that doesn't surprise me."

"No?" asked Sango, arching an eyebrow.

The houshi's tone was soft as he spoke, taking on a musing quality. "She... missed him. Greatly. Felt that he had rejected her." Shaking his head slowly, he turned his gaze to the taiji-ya. "But the Sesshoumaru you and I spoke with, Sango... He showed no signs of rejecting her." She blew out a long sigh and nodded, running her fingers through her hair tiredly.

"Turns out he lived five hundred years without her, waiting for her on the other side," Inuyasha supplied. He sounded as if he was still having a difficult time digesting that revelation.

"Five... centuries?" Sango echoed, eyes wide.

"Gods," Miroku breathed. "Gods," he said again, shaking his head. "Five hundred years wondering... how your mate and child are faring. And knowing what you can do to help both of them... but having to wait five hundred years to do it."

Amber eyes closed and Inuyasha tilted his head back. "Yeah, well the idiot said in the time that he remembers, Kagome didn't go through the well with me. She went through later. He said something about not wanting to screw up how things happened."

But the demon exterminator looked skeptical. "...Nevertheless -- Inuyasha, if ... if Sesshoumaru didn't reject Teles, then... don't you think..." her frown deepened. "Shouldn't ... doesn't she belong with this Sesshoumaru? Here?"

Their hanyou friend regarded them for a minute. "They're happy now," he replied simply, his shoulders lifting in a slight shrug. "Damned weirdest thing I ever saw."

"So... you're not going to tell him?" she asked. "Sesshoumaru, I mean. That his mate is safe?"

He shook his head. "No."

Sango looked as if she wanted to argue the matter. "But why not?"

A dark brow disappeared under white bangs. "Tell him his mate isn't here, but she's somewhere five hundred years from now? Tell him she's perfectly happy, and I don't think she's ever coming back?" He shook his head. " No. He's an asshole, and he's a fucking idiot, but... after finding out what happened... no. I'm not doin' that."

Miroku looked at his friend for a moment. "After what happened...?" Inuyasha blew out a breath, but did not elaborate. The monk sat on the edge of the well, resting his staff against his shoulder.

"What... happened, Inuyasha?" Sango asked quietly.

"My brother's a fuckin' moron. That's what happened."

"Ah." The houshi frowned at the grass. "It is fortunate then, that he found her."

"After she was transformed, he thought she was... what'd he say? 'Meek.' He didn't like it." Golden eyes rolled heavenward. "I toldhim. I fucking told him that it didn't matter whether she was a goddess or a human -- I told him that it was still her soul, she was still his mate. Why the fuckam I able to understand it, and not him? But no, no, he's gotta go and--"

"Inuyasha," Miroku interrupted.

"Eh? What?"

"What in all the gods' names are you babbling about?"

So he told them.

The silence that followed was vast. Sango and Miroku both wore identical expressions of shock mingled with incredulity. No-one was that stupid.

The monk blinked once, trying to comprehend the situation. "You're joking." At Inuyasha's dry look, he shook his head slowly. "You aren't joking." Several more beats of silence passed. That Sesshoumaru would do something so... so foolhardy, that could have put his mate in serious danger boggled the monk's mind. "That... that's the stupidest thing I've ever heard."

"You're telling me."

Sango shook her head. "...You're kidding. You've gotto be kidding," she said, her tone conveying her disbelief.

"Could I make this shit up?" Inuyasha retorted sharply.

Miroku winced, bring his left hand up to rub at his forehead. "What a mess."

Sighing, Sango nodded. "On the other hand, I guess we shouldn't be surprised. It sounded to me as if Sesshoumaru hadn't read much of his father's personal writings, so he probably knows very little about the nuances of matehood. He got scared and..." she shrugged. "I suppose you could say that instinct took over."

"That makes sense," Inuyasha muttered. "It's instinct for him to act like an idiot."

She looked at the dying campfire, her eyes following the cracks in the blackened wood, and Miroku could see her turning these events over in her mind. "Miroku's right, though," she said slowly, "--it's a good thing he found her after all. Even if he did have to wait that long."

The monk saw Inuyasha's double take at Sango calling him anything but 'houshi-sama' and smothered his grin. "Eh? What do you mean, 'Miroku'?" the hanyou asked.

The monk's tone and expression were deadpan. "It's my name," he explained good-naturedly.

"I know it's your damned name, stupid monk," Inuyasha rejoined tartly before shaking his head briefly and looking back at Sango. "Why's it a good thing he found her?"

"Because he needed to calm the child," Miroku replied patiently. At his friend's blank expression, the monk swore inwardly.

Sango's mouth worked silently for a bare moment. "...Kagome-chan... never told you?"

"Told me what?"

The monk and taiji-ya exchanged a glance riddled with guilt and dismay.

"Told me what?" Inuyasha repeated, slowly.

Closing his eyes, Miroku inhaled deeply. "Youkai children, even in the womb, are stronger than human children. The same is true for hanyou children. When a youkai female bears them, it doesn't matter, because she herself is strong. But when a human female bears them..." he trailed off, looking at Sango.

"...It becomes... more complicated. Dangerous," she supplied. Miroku nodded in agreement.

Inuyasha didn't speak for several moments, his mind clearly turning this over. When he spoke, the words were soft and came slowly. "But there wasn't anything wrong with me."

"Right. Because your father was present while you were in the womb -- the youkai father is responsible for keeping the pup calm," the young woman explained.

Miroku nodded. "We read about it in his journals."

"Huh. So that's what they meant."

Miroku's brow quirked. "...Sesshoumaru and Teles?"

Inuyasha nodded. "Yeah. They said to thank you two for your 'research.'"

Sango smiled faintly while the monk gave a small huff of laughter. "We told him our findings when we figured them out," she said, turning her attention back to dousing the fire.

"Although," Miroku added, "I had expected them to be used sooner." Violet eyes sent a thoughtful gaze Inuyasha's way. "You may need to know them yourself, come to think of it."

The hanyou looked at him, uncomprehending. "...Huh?" And then, suddenly, Inuyasha's face reddened until he was only a shade or two lighter than his haori. "What the fuck are you saying, bouzu?" he snapped hotly.

Miroku only shook his head, his voice taking on an infinitely patient tone. The houshi was doing an admirable job of ignoring the muted, strangled noises coming from the back of his friend's throat. "I know you and Kagome-sama are young, but since she is your mate, and you are hanyou, the chances of your children being stronger than human children are high."

"He's right," Sango nodded. The fire was out and she was pushing herself to her feet. "You should take a look at the scrolls we found. You'd probably find most of them very informative."

Inuyasha stood as well. "Keh. I don't need to read any stupid scrolls. What the hell makes you think any dumb scroll could sum me and Kagome up?"

A sly light twinkled in Miroku's eyes. "Very well, Inuyasha. Perhaps you're right; perhaps you don't need to read them. I wouldn't want you to waste your time."

"I never said I wouldn't read them. I said I didn't need to," he replied with a haughty jerk of his chin.

The young houshi barely -- barely managed to bite back his laughter. "Ah, I see. Forgive me for misunderstanding you."

Inuyasha's color deepened further at the sight of Miroku struggling to control his mirth; even the insides of his ears seemed to be a darker shade. "Just... shut up!"

The monk held up one hand. "Now, no, Inuyasha, there's no need to get--"

"You think you're an expert or something? Just 'cause you two were FUCKING all night..."

Silence reigned; no one spoke. The only sounds were the faint morning noises coming from the direction of the village; the wind carried the dull, rhythmic sound of chopping wood. Miroku swallowed hard, blinking once and a deep blush suffused Sango's cheeks as she turned her attention to a loose string that was coming unraveled at her sleeve.

When Miroku finally spoke, all traces of mischief were gone from his voice as well as his expression. "All right."

The awkward silence extended until Inuyasha folded his arms and turned his gaze back towards the forest, in the direction of the village. "So. Anyway. She's not comin' back for seven more days."

Sango cleared her throat as the blush subsided. "Shippou-chan will be crushed..." she murmured, in an attempt to restore equilibrium.

"I just wish I knew what he was tryin' so hard not to change," Inuyasha said quietly, shaking his head.

Turning his attention to the slender rings on his shakujou, Miroku frowned thoughtfully. The three of them seemed intent on pretending that the last five seconds hadn't happened, and that was fine with Miroku. "I'm rather curious myself, now. He didn't tell you?"

Inuyasha shook his head. "No. He didn't seem to want to talk about it."

"Interesting," Miroku replied musingly. After a moment, he stood. "Well. Shall we go back to the village?"

Inuyasha brushed the dead brown grass from his hakama. "Until we got something better to do, I guess." Slowly, the three companions turned their steps toward the village.

"I need to speak to Kaede-sama, anyway," Miroku said smoothly, his steps in time with the jingling of his shakujou.

"Yeah? About what?"

Miroku's calm answer caused Sango to check her steps so violently that she stumbled and nearly fell.

"A wedding ceremony."

The taiji-ya's lapse in grace did not go unnoticed by Inuyasha. "...Already?"

"Yes, already," Miroku replied, blandly.

"Now?"

Miroku sent the hanyou a level look. "Do you want to tell Kagome-sama that she missed such a blessed event?" At Inuyasha's cringe, he chuckled. "I thought not." He was quiet for a moment, thinking. "Perhaps sometime after she returns."

"Suit yourself." The hanyou gave a fluid shrug before heading past the rice paddies, into the village. The wind carried his response back to Miroku's ears; it was audible, but only just barely. "It's about fuckin' time, bouzu."

When they were alone again, the monk looked at Sango, whose expression was still quite shocked. She took in a breath that was slightly unsteady. "That's... a little sooner..."

"...Sooner than I had said? Yes." When she nodded, he sighed and reached out a hand for her. She took it in her own, lacing their fingers. "That was before... last night," he said gently. She nodded, solemn brown eyes watching him through the fall of her bangs. "Sango, if... if you are pregnant, then I must marry you for your honor." He was quiet for a moment, before tilting his head slightly. "And if you're not... well..."

"If not?" she prompted, swallowing hard.

He blew out a heavy breath. "Do you think you can avoid repeating last night until we defeat Naraku? Because I confess, I cannot."

A delicate blush spread across the bridge of her nose and the monk felt a swell of affection for her. "No... I suppose... not."

He reached up, brushing her bangs back with his other hand, his fingertips tracing her forehead and down her temple to her cheek. "I would much rather have you in my company on the road as my wife."

She smiled slowly, dark eyes glimmering with affection. "Yes, well, someone's got to keep you in line."

Miroku laughed ruefully, tugging her closer. "I'm in trouble now."

Sango's lips quirked into a grin as she continued to smile up at him. "Ah, but houshi -- you were always in trouble. So you find yourself in a very familiar spot."

"Not this kind of trouble," he murmured, brushing his lips over hers.

The young woman's words came out on a breath as she shivered. "No, definitely not this kind. This kind is far, far worse."

"Then I should definitely not go through it alone," he replied solemnly; Miroku slid his arms around her, tucking her body against his and seconds ticked by as they held each other's gaze, their eyes conveying far more than their mouths possibly could. A minute or two passed in this manner, the spell breaking when Miroku's lips curved into a sly grin as he pulled away, tugging Sango back towards the village. "You know..."

"Yes?"

"Inuyasha won't manage seven more nights without seeing Kagome-sama. Not without becoming nearly unbearable to live with."

"...You say that like he's never been unbearable to live with before," she replied with dry amusement.

He laughed, a rich sound. "True, very true. But my point is..." Here, the monk's expression smoothed itself out into a perfect facsimile of guilelessness. "If he wants to visit her, we may once more find ourselves with the heavy responsibility of watching the well again." He tilted a dark eyebrow at her. "Are you up to it?"

The smile that lit Sango's lips was a sly one the houshi had never seen the young woman wear before. "I think, houshi-sama, that a better question would be, are you up to it?" She pulled away from him and turned, sauntering steps leading her into the village.

Miroku blinked, staring after her. As she walked away, his eyes dropped to her hips, which were swaying gently beneath her yukata, the material clinging to her curves.

I'm definitely willing to find out.

Huffing a soft chuckle, he followed, unable to ignore the feeling that he was in a great deal of wonderful trouble.