InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Truth's Tears ❯ Drunken Conversations ( Chapter 11 )

Disclaimer~ All rights for Inu Yasha belong to Rumiko Takahashi. The legend of the Dragon King belongs to the people of Japan, we hold no rights to it. This fiction is only for entertainment purposes. And if any part of this fanfiction resembles another it is purely coincidental.

Chapter Eleven ~ Drunken Conversations

"The journey that followed was nothing your mother nor Miroku or I were prepared for. The danger was only briefly passed. Naraku had fallen yes, but; there was once more a price out on our heads. He was coming, and he wanted what was once his..."

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"B, b, but, Milord! You can't possibly... This is, this is a servants job." A small turtle babbled in its high pitched panicked voice.

The tall lord deftly stepped over his servant leaving the poor little creature to scurry along behind him. It's high pitched squeak easily ignored as he gracefully moved down gilded corridors.

"A servant is what lost me the Tama, I will not risk a servant botching this up once more." His voice rough yet soft as he spoke to his servant. Slowly he stepped within his chambers and prepared to leave, he would find his beloved Tama himself.





"Melordsss," a soft hiss sounded from behind the Dragon King, "we have newsss about the whereaboutsss of the Tama."

The Dragon King gestured the serpent to continue as he proceeded to undress.

The serpent's tongue flickered out momentarily before it spoke, "the hanyou that posssesssed the Tama isss no longer sssliving. The Tama isss misssing, melordsss."

The Dragon King whipped his head around and glared at the serpent from over his bare shoulder.

"What!"

His servant flinched under his master's hard gaze, "it isss misssing, melordsss."





Cold amber eyes narrowed, "explain."

The serpent once more flickered its tongue in nervousness as it spoke, "it seemsss that after the defeat ofsss the hanyou, the Tama wasss lossst. We don't know wheresss, melordsss, but perhapsss the Miko would knowsss."

The Dragon King's eyes lifted as he turned back to his dressing. Carefully he lifted the silken kimono over his shoulders and tied it around his waist. A sinister smile crossed his face as his eerily soft voice broke the sudden silence.

"Ah yes, Kagome Higurashi, our resident time traveler and the newest keeper of the Shikon no Tama. What a pleasure it will be to meet you."

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"Yes! Everything has a spirit."

"So you are saying that everything, everything, even this rock has a spirit. A way of life? A family perhaps?"

"Yup, even that rock. You see, it came from mother earth so therefore it is her child, and its way of life is to sit in wait for some child to come by and make it a pet rock!" Kagome exclaimed with a smile as she took said rock from Miroku's hand.

"Ahhh, I see. So with the understanding that I have with your beliefs, because this rock has a spirit, you with your poly-theism beliefs will worship it, a rock."

Kagome sniffed indulgently, "No, no, no! That's not it at all. We don't worship it per- say, we simply respect its spirit." She responded as she tossed the rock a few feet away.

Miroku quirked his eyebrow as he watched the rock land in a small mud puddle. And with a wicked smile he responded softly, "Lady Kagome, I think you just killed your spiritual rock. That landing looked like it could have hurt, or perhaps the mud it landed in cushioned its decent from the sky."

Kagome turned her head and glared at Miroku's smiling face before she too smiled wickedly, "Well then, how `bout we look at it in a Buddhist's perspective, I just did that rock a favor and ended its demeaning existence so that it now may continue toward its salvation."





Miroku chuckled softly to himself before he responded with a wise __expression, "Ah, but sadly enough this rock will not find enlightenment, for you see, it does not have a spirit and it is simply nothing more than a rock. A wet and quite dirty rock at that."





Kagome again glared at the monk walking beside her. But before she could respond Shippo tossed in his two cents, "You humans and your religions. One believes there is life in everything and the other can't wait for death. They're both strange if you ask me."

Miroku laughed again, "Right you are Shippo, but we humans fear life and death so therefore we need something to believe in. And because of that need we have created several different beliefs for us to follow. None of them are wrong, just simply a different way of looking at the world around us."





Shippo's small head bobbed slightly in confusion as he sent Miroku a wary look.

"Riight."

Kagome laughed softly, "Don't worry Shippo, I don't understand most of it either."





The day passed on in relative silence as the small group of three steadily made their way across the valley toward the monastery where Miroku had grown up. Each individual lost in his or her own memories as they walked across the familiar path. Each individual wished that the lost could be making this trip with them, that fate could have changed its mind and allowed their fallen to continue walking with this world. Yet fate hadn't had a change of heart and therefore the remaining needed to come to terms with their grief and learn to live on. Inu Yasha may have left them physically, but in their hearts he lived on in their memories.

The sun had began its decent in the sky as they arrived at the stone steps leading to the shrine. A faint smile touched Miroku's lips as he gazed up at the entrance to his old home. There was a time when he thought he would never be able to return to this place with the good news he now carried. And yet here he was and he felt the happiness that brewed within his soul spike. Mushin would be pleased.

"Miroku?" Kagome's worried voice brought him out of his thoughts. He turned and for the first time in a long time smiled a truly happy smile.

"I'm fine, Lady Kagome."

Kagome felt her heart lift with the simple joy that was in Miroku's smile and responded back with a smile of her own.

"Come on then, Mushin is waiting for you."

Miroku's smile widened as he turned and eagerly made his way up the many steps toward his old home. Kagome followed closely behind him while Shippo bounced in excitement beside her. The feeling of euphoria surrounded them as they entered the monastery.

Kagome laughed softly as the excitement took over Miroku's normally peaceful __expression, he was literally shaking with it. She shook her head and laughed full out at the look of complete frustration on his face, she knew he wanted to bound up the steps and share the good news.

"Go Miroku, we'll catch up." She said with a tender smile.

Miroku quickly shot her a puzzled _expression before it broke and again revealed another one of his true smiles. Without a word he nodded his head once and nearly jumped the remaining steps in his haste, his voice cried out a happy, "Mushin!"

"Come on Shippo, I don't want to miss this."





Shippo grinned and bounded up the rest of the steps along side Kagome. Kagome giggled as she heard a sudden shout followed by boisterous laughter. `Damn, I missed it.' She quickly followed the sounds of happiness and found Miroku clasped in a bone crushing hug.

"Tell me I'm not dreaming! Tell me that this is real, that you defeated that bastard! Ah, Miroku my boy!" The tearful Mushin exclaimed between hugs and hiccups.

Miroku couldn't answer, Mushin's hug had strangled the remaining air from his lungs. He could only weakly give a few muttered, `..ess... let go...nneed air!'





Tears streamed down Mushin's plump cheeks when quite suddenly he released Miroku from his death grip and his eyes narrowed.

"Oh dear. Miroku..."

Miroku, while he quickly gasped for air, muttered a rough, "Yes, Mushin?"

Mushin's face turned solemn, his eyes closed and he spoke quietly, "Your going to die."

Miroku's happy _expression faltered slightly before he narrowed his eyes and glared at the aged monk.

"Mushin. The. Hole. Is. Gone."





Another boisterous laugh broke free from Mushin's throat as he clapped Miroku on the shoulder, "I know!"





Kagome, who had stood back from the happy reunion, laughed at the exchange before her. Her soul eased as she let Mushin's laughter roll over her, everything was going to be fine.

That was until Mushin's announcement.

"This is a true cause of celebration! Miroku, my boy, go fetch my favorite stash of sake."

Kagome could feel the color drain from her face as Mushin continued speaking, "yes, yes, an occasion to honor with sake!"

"Um...Mushin?" Kagome began, her voice trembled with worry, "I don't wish to insult you but, I would rather have tea."

Mushin's beady eyes opened momentarily before he waved her request aside, "Tea? No, no, one can not celebrate properly with tea."

Kagome sent a nervous glance to Miroku who quickly responded, "Mushin, Lady Kagome is not much of a drinker. Perhaps tea would be appropriate for her."





Mushin's pudgy hand once more waved off the offer, "Posh! Sake never hurt anyone. It will do her some good in releasing the sorrow from her soul."





Miroku sent Kagome a look that simply stated, `Hey, I tried,' then stood and collected the sake, all the while, Kagome sat and glared at the `helpful' monk.





"No, seriously Mushin I really don't want any sake. Its quite alright, in fact I'm a bit tired. Maybe I should go lay down and take a nap." Desperation and panic tinted her voice as she quickly tried to get away as fast as possible.

Small, beady eyes stared hard and froze Kagome in her tracks, Mushin's eyes narrowed slightly before he slowly spoke, "Lady Kagome, I have known Miroku since he was born. And since that day I have had to prepare him for the time he would die by his own hand. Not an easy job, nor was it pleasing trying to explain to a child that he would be sucked up into his very own hand. And because of that curse, Miroku has never had ANY reason to celebrate. His every day was a gift and yet every day was an uncertainty as well. And now," Mushin paused before he turned to face in the direction Miroku had gone, "And now, he has a reason."

Kagome was stricken. Her eyes filled with tears as she stared blankly at her shoes and continued to listen to the old man that rested before her.

Mushin's gaze did not return to her as he spoke softly, "All I ask of you, Lady Kagome, is to be there with him, as you are the only friend that has remained by his side. Do not drink the sake if you desire, but share with him this moment." The gentle ire that had been in his voice faded as Miroku returned, his arms gently cradled the ornate sake jug and cups.

"Ah! Good, good! Wonderful my boy, now pour for us if you will."

Kagome darted the tears from her eyes with the back of her hand, quickly she leaned forward and stilled Miroku's hand. His violet eyes crinkled in confusion and Kagome responded to his unspoken question with a smile.





"Would you mind if I served you?" Pink stained her cheeks as she lowered her embarrassed gaze.

Miroku's eyes widened almost comically and his mouth went dry, he carefully nodded as Kagome took the small jug from his hands and slowly poured two cups. Her hands trembled slightly as she poured the clear liquor into the small cups, yet she managed not to make an ass of herself and filled each cup to the rim without spilling. Kagome set the ornate jug aside and smiled as Miroku swiftly lifted the jug and filled her cup. Kagome bowed her head and hide the blush that flushed her cheeks. Tenderly, she lifted the small cup to her lips, looked to Miroku and voiced a happy, "Kanpai!"

Miroku smiled warmly as he and Mushin both shouted a happy, "Kanpai!"





The warm liquor slid down Kagome's throat, she grimaced as she felt it burn its way down her throat and settle in her empty stomach. She fought hard not to gag and kept the cough that demanded to be released deep within her belly. She smiled wanly to Mushin yet her eyes stated quite plainly, `You owe me one!'

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Night had fallen, the light from the small lantern glowed against the oppressing darkness. The light casting shadows across the wide porch, it danced merrily over the forms of two young individuals that sat side by side laughing at some mysterious joke. Their companions had already retired for the evening and left them to their own company.

Kagome smiled, actually she had never really stopped smiling the entire evening, so she simply seemed to smile larger. The sake, she had sipped over the previous hours, had relaxed her frayed nerves and left her feeling calm and comfortable with a gentle warm blush to her cheeks. She leaned heavily against one of the support beams and sighed happily, the sake had obviously done more than relax her, it had also released her hidden inhibitions.

"Miroku, is a willy pretty night. You chould come fee the stars." She giggled out loud at some internal joke while she gazed up at the night's sky.

Miroku grinned. Kagome was drunk. Actually she was more than drunk, she was completely wasted. After her first glass she hadn't stopped, well no that was wrong. Miroku smiled mischievously, her first glass had mysteriously never emptied. So now he sat next too a very inebriated miko, who currently giggled at her own internal monologue and wanted him to watch the stars with her.

"Lady Kagome, I do believe your drunk." Miroku stated while he watched Kagome giggle incessantly into her hand.





Kagome brought her innocent gaze to Miroku's and smiled, "Oh? But I feel perfeakly fine."





Miroku chuckled softly, a smile played in his eyes, "Perfeakly fine, huh?"

Bringing her hand away from her mouth, Kagome giggled as she grinned happily, "Mm hm."

Kagome rose to her unsteady feet, her shoulder leaned against the frame as she reached out and grabbed Miroku's hand. With a carefree laugh she pulled him to his feet and doddered away from the porch and onto the grassy yard. Kagome never released his hand as she dropped to the ground and brought a startled Miroku with her. She giggled once more into her hand her gaze drifted to the sky and she gasped softly.

"You know, Inu Yasha brought me out to a place like this a couple of days ago, it was my birthday present. I, um, don't really remember what else he said, but it was really bertyful." Kagome paused for a moment before continuing, "You know, I took an astronomy class in my senior year, and I learneded that the sun would go away in 60 some odd years."

Miroku quirked a single eyebrow at her before he muttered a soft "ah."

Her bright eyes turned away from the sky and she curiously gazed down at her legs, the suddenly exclaimed, "I have jeans on!"

Miroku forced back a laugh as he murmured coyly, "Yes Kagome, I've noticed. Would you like me to help you take them off?"

Her excitement was forgotten and Miroku wondered briefly if perhaps she wasn't nearly as drunk as he had thought. He watched in amusement as her expressions changed from confusion to realization her eyes widened slightly as she caught sight of his grin. Miroku's grin was infectious as Kagome giggled loudly as she waved off his offer, "Oh Miroku, you so thilly."





With another sigh, Kagome turned her attention back to the stars and lifted her arm up, it was almost as if she were trying to reach and touch the stars.

"Miroku, rerimber a while ago you told me to look for my star? I found him but I last him too."

Violet eyes gazed down upon the girl before him, a soft sigh broke past his lips as he heard the distinct sound of her sniffles.

"Kagome, don't." His words were nothing more than a whisper.

Kagome continued talking, "I miss him so much, and I hate him too. He wasn't allowed to die on me but he did anyways." Kagome raised her knees to her chest and rocked back and forth as her tears rolled down her cheeks unchecked. Her bright eyes shimmered in the faint light as she looked up and met his gaze.





"You know he claimed me. Yup, he told Kicko that he didn't want her anymore. It was right after we had sex, he sought I was sleeping and he went and he told her that." Her eyes closed and Kagome looked away, "but she won anyways. She gave herself up for him ands she won."

Miroku sat stunned. They had, had sex? When? A slow lecherous grin formed his lips while he thought to himself, `Well it seems I'm not the only perv am I Inu Yasha.'

Kagome sobbed quietly to herself as thoughts of the previous years filtered through her mind. In a way she was caught in the rain, it was her fault without an escape. She had let him down. All the time they had spent together felt as if it was all for not. But in the end, nothing lasts forever. And it was too late for her to try and make it all right again, to try and make it perfect again.

Turning her tear-stained eyes to Miroku. A soft series of hiccups broke free from her throat as she softly whimpered, "You don't think I'm ugly, do you, Miro-kun?"

Miroku turned amused eyes to the drunken girl, his throat oddly dry as he voiced his opinion.

"Kagome, you are like a rose, beautiful and full of meaning."

Kagome brought her eyes up to Miroku, blinking and slightly wondering how he always

managed to come up with such double meaning answers. Her eyes quickly filled with tears again as she grabbed onto Miroku and buried her head in his chest.

"I didn't even get the chance to say good bye."

Miroku brought his arms around Kagome's shaking form, pressing her closer and tighter to him. Almost as if trying to protect her from the pain she didn't deserve.

"Don't worry Kagome, he knows."

His gentle words were spoken to shelter her from the reality of life. Words spoken from a dream with nothing but a meaning of fooling her into acceptance. Would it fool her, could she allow it to? The harsh reality that this was how it was, and this was how it was meant to be. But still, even knowing that she had never had the chance to say good bye, did not give her the power to morn. As she had sworn not to.

Deep brown eyes gazed up into Miroku's violet ones, desperately seeking the truth to her answers, the truth to her tears. Lost as she was in the haze of wicked death and pain, unable to answer to fears on why fate had been against her that day and stole Inu Yasha from her. Not quite ready to understand that death was unforgiving and callous. Why it was that her soul, though giving fully back onto her, could be ripped apart with nothing else but a misconception of what her life could have been.

"I just want him back." Kagome sniffled as she buried herself deeper into Miroku, trying to surround herself with the warmth he radiated of.

Miroku's normal sense of honor, though practically none-existent before, was gone. All his inebriated mind was able to recognize at the moment was a pretty girl snuggled up in his arms and his hands weren't doing their usual exploring. That and the fact that she was currently mourning her lost love.

Kagome sighed against Miroku's chest as she felt his arms tighten around her shoulders. She buried her nose deeper within his herb smelling robes and relaxed, his breathing lulled her into a light sleep.

A gloved hand moved lower, slowly reaching its destination and with a happy sigh squeezing ever so gently. A lecherous smile drew at Miroku's lips as he tenderly caressed Kagome's backside. Thinking he had been accepted due to the lack of screams and a slap, Miroku lowered his dark head and breathed in her flowery scent. `So sweet, so soft, so desirable.' Heat pooled within Miroku's stomach as he pulled away and tilted her face towards him only to discover a sleeping beauty in his arms.

A rueful smile touched his lips as he lifted his hand away from her bum and stroked her flushed cheek. Violet eyes gazed upon her sleeping face as Miroku's honor returned. Drunk or not, he could not, would not take advantage of a sleeping woman. With a heavy sigh, he tenderly lifted them off of the cold ground and carried Kagome to her room. With ease he laid her down softly onto her futon and covered her with the thick blanket and cast one last look over her sleeping face. Temptation taking over, Miroku gently kissed the her rosy lips once and turned to leave the room.

"Inu Yasha..."

Miroku stopped in his tracks, his violet eyes closed and he sighed softly before whispering, "Sleep well, Kagome."

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tbc....

"Ski masks..."

"Check!"

"Rope..."

"Check!"

"Black-out spray..."

"Check! Oh! Lookie! Our readers are back!"

Inca:: "Welcome back everyone! Hope you enjoyed our latest chapter."

Mystic:: "Our?? (grumble, grumble, `considering you were once again no where around as I wrote the chapter!') Anyhow, as you can see; we're getting ready to invade the Pepsi-cola company! Can't live off of Pepsi donations alone."

Inca:: "Shhhh! Baka! What she meant to say was....(uses a high squeaky imitation of Mystic's voice) `Thank you all so very much! And remember to leave your donation to our Pepsi fund, in the little box!"

Mystic:: (Riight....Okay..mumbles softly as they walk away,) "Ya, like the all black clothing and spy gear weren't a dead give away."

Inca:: A-HEM! Well thanks again to everyone who read and reviewed and even to the people who just pop in and never review! Much thanks guys!

Reviewer Responses~

Miztikal_Dragon~

Well no more tissues for a while, but expect LOTS more angst and drama. We're so glad your enjoying our little fic!

Slywolf9~

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!! Don't worry about the link, the last chapter insert from Shippo's POV stated everything we could find anyways. :: bows down to most faithful TT's reviewer:: Thank you for your donation, we really needed it for this chapter!

Additional A/N's and Disclaimers~ We don't own Pepsi-cola, sadly no, but someday we will!! (insert evil laughter)

"Kanpai" is the Japanese equivalent to "cheers!" Used as a toast while drinking sake.