InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Unforeseen Obstacles ❯ Lost in a world of doubt and insecurity… ( Chapter 16 )

Disclaimer: I don't know Rumiko Takahashi, so I can't say I own any of this. Now the warning: YAOI. That's right, man lovin' man. If you don't like that, you don't have to read another word. If you don't like my pairing, you don't have to read it, but you'll be missing out! I'm constantly reading InuYasha fics with pairings I don't like just because I like the story. But if you don't like my story, please be polite when you tell me. And also, tell me why. Or if you do like it, review and write whatever you want, LOL.

 

Notes: A rock and a hard place. Life changes.

 

Genre: Drama, romance…

Rating: R

Codes: Mir/Sess, Mir/San

Feedback: Reviews are something that give me a happy little thrill. They're also making my muse purr and chatter.

 

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Unforeseen Obstacles…Chapter 16

Lost in a world of doubt and insecurity…

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Miroku woke up with the sun so high in the sky he had obviously missed breakfast. He panicked for a moment, afraid Sesshomaru had left him behind, but when he looked around, he found the demon sitting next to Rin, listening to her babble. Rin, for her part, seemed delighted to have her lord's full attention. Miroku was even more amazed when Sesshomaru answered several of Rin's questions. Rin was silent and still as a statue when her lord spoke, hanging on his every word.

 

“Sesshomaru?” Miroku queried. The youkai glanced over at him briefly.

 

“I thought perhaps you would sleep the entire day away,” Sesshomaru chastised. Miroku stretched, aching from oversleeping.

 

“I don't know why I didn't wake up when I customarily do. It is unlike me to sleep so long.”

 

“You have not been yourself for some time now,” Sesshomaru commented. Miroku blushed. “Get yourself food so that we may continue soon,” Sesshomaru said. Miroku nodded, stood and finished stretching his sore muscles. He caught a rabbit in only a few minutes and brought it back to the fire that Jaken had created. He cleaned it, skinned it and stuck it on a stick in the fire. Rin came over when it was cooked and he shared it with her. He didn't like rabbit normally, it was too greasy, but they weren't near enough to a water source for him to catch fish and a boar would be too much food for the two of them. In the evenings, Sesshomaru would toss them part of a boar occasionally and Miroku assumed he ate the rest, but aside from the nibble of chocolate, he had never seen the youkai eat.

 

They were covering the cooking fire and preparing to set out when a loud, young voice broke into Miroku's quiet musings. He couldn't understand the words, but he knew voice quite well. He turned to Sesshomaru, realizing that the taiyoukai had kept him distracted long enough for his brother's group to catch up to them. A mixture of fear and gratitude filled him, but he simply stood and brushed his hands off.

 

“Hi, Miroku!” Kagome called, waving. Miroku lifted his hand tentatively.

 

“Hello, Kagome,” he called back.

 

“Don't look like such an idiot,” Sango hissed as she walked by him. “We aren't going to wait all day for you.” She never paused, but he understood the invitation. He quickly grabbed his staff and felt a thousand times better as Sesshomaru, Jaken and Rin fell into step with the group. He was nervous about how this would work out, but he was willing to take whatever time he could have with his friends again. He happily listened to the friendly banter within the group, remaining quiet for the time being. He disliked his own lack of self-confidence, something he had once been full of, but trusted that it would return shortly.

 

The sight of Sango told him exactly why he had missed the group so severely. Despite what he had told Sesshomaru, he missed the demon slayer more than any of the others. He realized what a bind he was in, now that Sango knew of his dalliance with the youkai lord. He could no longer have them both, as he wanted, but must truly make a decision. For now, Sesshomaru was a comfort and pleasure in the night, but he could never have the children he desired with the demon. He also knew that what he felt for Sesshomaru was not as strong as what he felt for Sango. Nonetheless, his chances with Sango were almost nonexistent now and Sesshomaru obviously cared more for him than Sango did before. He spent the entire day trying to find the best way to leave his options open so that he could have one or the other in the end and not end up without either of them.

 

It was a paradox, but Miroku insisted there was no romantic entanglement he couldn't figure out. Eventually.

…

 

“Sorry about the smell,” Miroku apologized as he sat next to Sesshomaru that evening. “It's been so hot I've been sweating all day.”

 

“You smell no different than usual. Just stronger,” Sesshomaru replied absently.

 

“Oh, thanks,” Miroku said sarcastically. “I'm sorry I always offend you.” Miroku started to stand, but Sesshomaru grabbed his shoulder and held him down.

 

“You do not. I do not find your odor displeasing.”

 

“But you're always complaining about the way people smell,” Miroku shot back, confused.

 

“To an inuyoukai, scent is slightly more important than eyes. It is easier to fool my eyes than my nose. Saying that I grow tired of the scent of all you humans is roughly the equivalent to saying I grow sick of the sight of you. It doesn't mean you actually smell bad—very little actually smells bad to me—it simply means that your scent is unwelcome.” Miroku sat very still through all of this. For Sesshomaru, it was a speech. He smiled when he remembered Rin sitting the same way when her lord addressed her. He now understood why. He didn't want to stop hearing the sound of the taiyoukai's voice. It was a very pleasant voice.

 

“What scents do offend you?” he asked quietly. Sesshomaru seldom spoke of himself outside of reciting battles and boasting about prowess.

 

“Cooking meat, especially fish, cooking vegetables, oranges, vinegar, bad breath, decay and smoke.”

 

“That is a short list,” Miroku agreed. “I must say that I'm disgusted by a far greater list of smells. Myself being one of them right now.” Sesshomaru glanced over at him and smirked.

 

“I can make you smell worse,” he promised, leaning in to kiss Miroku. Miroku laughed in pleasure, forgetting the reason they were even talking in the first place.

…

 

Miroku awoke once again to the heated glare of Sango. He and Sesshomaru always slept away from the camp so they could have privacy and so he didn't have to see the hurt, angry looks that Sango occasionally shot at him. She was now sitting on the ground, staring at him. He looked over, but Sesshomaru was already gone. For a panicked moment, he wondered if the youkai had left completely. He concentrated slightly and felt InuYasha, Kirara and just a little further, there was Jaken. Miroku relaxed and sent out a final search for demonic aura and found Sesshomaru, bathing in the river they were now following.

 

“Good morning, Sango,” Miroku offered.

 

“Breakfast is ready,” she said, without moving.

 

“Have I overslept again?” he asked, concerned. He looked up at the sky, but it only appeared to be just past dawn.

 

“No, we're making an early start. InuYasha and Sesshomaru both seem to think they've got an idea where they're headed now.”

 

“Have they scented Naraku?” Miroku asked.

 

“No,” a voice said from behind Sango. She stiffened. “There is still no sense of Naraku, but there have been enough rumors about a particular mountain that we think it is best to investigate.” Sango gave Sesshomaru a look of disgust. He stared blankly back. She turned to Miroku, her eyes blazing.

 

“So is he going to bear your child?” she hissed. Miroku flinched. He would prefer she resumed hitting him to this. Sesshomaru's eyes widened and a look of amusement passed over his face.

 

“You want a child?” Sesshomaru asked.

 

“What, he didn't ask you?” Sango asked bitterly. “He's asked every woman he's ever met.”

 

“Now, Sango, that's not true. I've only asked beautiful women,” he shot back. Her eye twitched. He realized that what he meant as a compliment was actually a reminder that he hadn't asked her when he first met her, but rather when she had mentioned that he had never asked her. He sighed.

 

“I can give him a child,” Sesshomaru responded evenly. Sango's eyes widened and she turned to him finally, a look of confusion on her face.

 

“Huh?” she asked at the same time as Miroku. Was there something Sesshomaru had not shown him? How could a man give another man a child? he wondered.

 

Sesshomaru raised his voice, although the tone didn't change. “Rin,” he called. Miroku smiled, understanding. Sango was beginning to look horrified and Miroku wondered what she was thinking.

 

“Yes, Lord Sesshomaru?” Rin called, running up to the small group.

 

“You are Miroku's now,” he said simply, and then turned to Sango, looking somehow smug, though his expression barely changed. Rin looked to Miroku, a strange look on her face.

 

“As a daughter or a wife?” Rin asked and Miroku finally understood Sango's look.

 

“Daughter,” Sesshomaru answered, not missing a beat. Rin's entire face lit up and she ran to Miroku and knelt in front of him.

 

“You want Rin to be your daughter?” the child asked. Miroku's eyes widened. He had never thought about acquiring a child like this. He reached out and took the hand she offered him. He looked at her palm and realized that she would never suffer his curse, he wouldn't have to worry about passing it down.

 

“Yes, Rin, I would like that,” he answered quietly. She smiled shyly.

 

“Shall Rin call you `Father'?” she asked. Miroku shook his head.

 

“You may continue calling me Miroku for now,” he said. She nodded and stood, pulling his hand. He stood with her and followed her as she pulled him to camp. Sango followed silently beside him, a frown creasing her forehead. Rin sat down and watched Miroku expectantly. He realized that she was waiting for him to eat and he smiled, then handed her breakfast to her and took his own and began eating. It wasn't much different than when they traveled with Sesshomaru, Jaken and Ah-un, just the five of them. But now, Rin was his ward. It was strange, how everything just seemed to be falling into place. Now if only he could find a way to make Sango cease being miserable and forgive him, or at least stop hating him…

…

 

 

To be continued…

 

I'm still not sure who Miroku will end up with. The lecher just won't make up his damn mind. I also don't want Sango to suffer. Nor Sesshomaru. Guess we'll just have to see what happens.