AN: Preview, if you will, to a story I'm working on.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything but 40 some manga and some bed sheets. Go me!
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Forgetting to Forgive

Prelude
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Miroku and Inuyasha, Miroku's best friend since grade school, pulled up to the movie theater, and got out of the car. They waited for Koharu, Miroku's longtime girlfriend to pull in and get out of her car. They all had made plans to go see a movie a few days ago. Miroku grabbed Koharu' hand and gave her a quick peck on the lips.

"Hey hun."

"Hey..." Holding her hand, Miroku turned towards the theater and begun discussing what they should see with Inuyasha. Koharu hung back, letting herself be led along. Her thoughts were troubled, but went unnoticed by the guys. Before they were out of the parking lot she decided to tell Miroku what was on her mind. With a tug on his hand she stopped him.

"Miroku, can I talk to you for a minute?"

"Sure babe, what's up?"

"... Alone?" Koharu looked pointedly at Inuyasha.

"Who me? Trust me, it's nothing I haven't heard before. Nothin's too kinky for me!" Miroku laughed at Inuyasha's grin, and turned back to Koharu.

"Really Koru. Yash's no one to worry about. Besides," Miroku threw his arm around his best bud and they both puffed out their chests, "anything you have to say to me, you can say in front of Inuyasha."

"Yeah!"

"Yeah." The two smiled childishly. Koharu, who had watched their antics tiredly, pinched the bridge of her nose and hung her head. Miroku noticed this and went to her, setting his hands on either side of her waist.

"Koru, what's the matter? We were only fooling around." Koharu sighed loudly and looked up into Miroku's violet eyes.

"You always are..." She looked down, not able to say the next part to his face.

"I wanted to tell you I'm through."

"Huh?"

"I'm done Miroku. I can't do this anymore." Miroku's hands dropped from her waist and he took a step back.

"What are you talking about?"

"I'm in love with someone else..."

"Koharu, this isn't funny." Inuyasha stepped next to Miroku, trying to offer any support he could.

"No, it's not. Not everything is Inuyasha." Miroku held a hand up to Koharu, who practically spat at Inuyasha.

"You're just getting me back for last week, right? Now you're going to say you're in love with Sesshomaru or something and how you have to run off to pursue him." Inuyasha looked at Miroku like he had started growing a third eye. He knew just by the look on Koharu's face that she was dead serious.

"Miroku..." Inuyasha started.

"Yeah! That's it! Look hun, I didn't know you were scared of spiders, and I said I was sorry. But this is good. You had me going there for a second. And look at poor Inuyasha! He doesn't know what to think." Miroku laughed heartedly, clutching his stomach. Inuyasha watched his friend sorrowfully. He really didn't know whether he should feel sorry for him or if he should call the loony bin. Koharu stood a distance away glaring furiously at the laughing maniac.

"You never take anything seriously! And I can't take that anymore! I've been wanting this for a long time now. I just couldn't make you see it." Miroku had stopped laughing but was giggling and grinning like a fool at the girl who had been his world for the past five years.

"You've always been good to me Miroku, but I haven't been fair to you... Would you stop smiling like that?"

"No, go on. This is great! How long have you been working on this one? This is better than the time we hid Kanna's mirror in 3rd grade. She tried to kill us! Remember that Yash?"

"Miroku, man..."

"No! Remember? She transferred schools after that..." Inuyasha was surprised by how Miroku stubbornly wouldn't let him change the subject.

"Miroku ..." Koharu called softly, "I'm sorry. I hope you find someone who will love you with all her heart." With that she walked back towards her car.

"That's a nice touch!" Miroku called after her.

"I'll see you tomorrow at my place! Love you babe!" Miroku giggled at his loves performance and threw his arm around Inuyasha.

"So, what should we do pal? It's just us guys for tonight."

"Miroku, bro, I don't think she was joking."

"Of course she was! She really got you huh? That's great. She's a brilliant actress." Miroku huffed on his knuckles and whipped them on his shirt; polishing them.

"I taught her well." He threw his head back and burst into another fit of laughter then breathlessly turned back to Inuyasha.

"So, heh, where we going? How about a bar?" Inuyasha sighed.

"Yea, sure. Sounds good."

They walked a block or so to a decent little pub & karaoke bar. Miroku giggled to himself the whole way, and walked with a bounce in his step. Inuyasha dragged along watching him sadly. 'He's lost it...' They walked in and tookseats at the bar.

"Bartender!" A wrinkled old man behind the counter came over to the two young men.

"My, don't you look happy, and you. You look like shit." He said, looking to Inuyasha who bristled at the comment. If he felt up to it he would have punched the old fart in his bald head.

"Ah there's nothing wrong with him," Miroku pointed out, "That sad excuse for a face comes from his father's side." Inuyasha was playfully slugged in the arm by the cackling psycho sitting next to him. 'I've lost my best friend. Some hyena has replaced him.'

"Alright barkeep! Two beers if you would." Miroku told the elderly man.

"Comin' right yer way!"

"Man," Miroku let out a bursting hoot, "do you believe her?" Inuyasha looked pleadingly to Miroku.

"Yes." He hoped he could get him to realize that this wasn't all some big joke.

"Bah! Man, you should see your face. I wish I had a camera so I could show Koharu how good she got you."

"Here you go lads." The bartender, Totosai, set two glass beer mugs down in front of the men.

"Thank you my good man!" Miroku wrapped his hands around the cool mug but didn't pick it up. He slouched over and stared at his reflection across the brown liquid.

Inuyasha, on the other hand, grabbed his and swallowed down half in a few gulps.

"She deserves a prize for that act." Miroku chuckled. Inuyasha was growing weary of that snicker of his. He hadn't stopped since Koharu walked away.

"And that, 'its not you, its me' material! Man, I need to watch more chick flicks or something, right?" Miroku laughed loudly at this. So much so that he had everyone in the bar looking his way. Inuyasha just stared. 'What are you and what have you done with my friend?'

"Oh man! And that... pfft, geez!" Without finishing the thought Miroku launched into another fit, louder than the last. And Inuyasha's last thread of patience snapped.

"Miroku, man! Why do you keep laughing?!"

Miroku stopped laughing, sighed, and smiled sadly. First at Inuyasha, then at the wall in front of him. He resumed his previous position. Wrapping his hands around his glass, he looked back down into it.

"Because, if I don't laugh... I'll cry." And a single tear rolled down his cheek into his untouched beer.

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AN: This whole chapter was based on a philosophy of mine. I think that when there's nothing more you can do about something, and you feel like crying, laugh insted. People might think you're crazy, but your pride will be intact... Just not your sanity.
Please R&R.