Disclaimer: Rumiko Takahashi-sensei owns the characters. I own diddly-squat but the story.
Author's Note: My first Inuyasha fic. Set before episode 161. All mistakes, OoCs (Out-of-Characterizations) and improper language is entirely my fault.
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Miroku gave an inward sigh of relief when he spotted the plume of smoke curling lazily over the horizon.
Praise Buddha, we can spend the night under a proper roof enjoying the hospitality of some pretty young village maidens…
The thought made him grin.
"A village! We can spend the night here!" said Kagome happily, shifting her backpack into a more comfortable position on her shoulders.
Sango adjusted the strap of her Hiraikotsu, smiling at the younger girl's enthusiasm.
"Kagome! It's only been two weeks since you got back from taking one of your stupid tests! We still gotta lot of Shikon Jewel shards to collect before Naraku gets his filthy hands on them!" growled Inuyasha. "Remember, it was you who broke the damn thing in the first place…"
Kagome stopped at the sound of her name and wheeled around to face the half-demon. "Inuyasha, sit!" she yelled, face red with anger.
The Kotadama rosary around Inuyasha's neck glowed briefly and with a howl, he slammed face-first into the ground. Sango and Miroku casually side-stepped around him and continued walking as though nothing was amiss. For the group, Kagome's punishment of Inuyasha was routine as he was forever infuriating her.
Inuyasha got to his feet, grumbling all the while under his breath but wisely decided to remain silent until Kagome had cooled down. Otherwise, he might end up being rooted to the spot.
As they entered the village, a number of people glanced at them.
"Miroku-sama?"
Miroku turned around at the mention of his name. A pretty young woman clad in a scarlet yukata was running along the road to greet him.
"Miroku-sama! It is you!"
The monk looked blank. "I'm sorry, but I seem to have forgotten your name…which is most unforgivable of me, to forget the name of such a pretty girl like you," he added suavely, capping it off with a roguish grin.
The girl giggled, sleeve over her mouth. "I'm Riko, Miroku-sama. It's been a long time since we last saw each other. Have you been with so many other women that you've forgotten who I am?"
Kagome glanced fearfully at Sango, who seemed to be taking the entire situation very calmly.
He laughed. "Maybe and maybe not. What brings you to a small little village like this?"
"My family stopped through here on our way to Edo. I've never forgotten you, Miroku-sama, nor that special night we spent together in Shinano…"
At least Miroku had the grace to blush.
"Really, my dear, how naughty of you," he admonished. "It is indeed good to see you again."
Riko beamed. "You too, Miroku-sama," In the distance, a burly man shouted something and she turned. "Farewell, I must go now."
She darted away, as quickly as she had appeared.
Inuyasha, Kagome and Shippo all held their breath, waiting for Sango's explosion as a smiling Miroku rejoined them.
Surprisingly, nothing came. Sango spun on her heel and continued walking as though nothing was amiss.
They proceeded in tense silence until they reached the village inn.
"Welcome to my humble inn, ladies and gentlemen! I am Akira, the proprietor and this is my daughter, Chiba." The master was a jovial man who appeared to be in his forties with a round and cheerful face. In contrast, the girl was slim and pretty and looked to be no more than sixteen years of age.
"We have not much to offer but we hope you will accept our humble hospitality," added Chiba, smiling sweetly, eyes sparkling with warmth.
Miroku wasted no time, seizing her hand in his.
"You are too kind, Chiba-san, to poor travelers like us," he said, flashing her a roguish grin. "We will certainly enjoy our stay with such a pretty young woman like you."
She covered her mouth with a hand and giggled. Behind Miroku, Kagome rolled her eyes. "Here he goes again, that incorrigible flirt," she muttered under her breath, sneaking a quick glance at her other traveling companions. Inuyasha merely looked bored, as did Shippo. Sango however, remained impassive, her eyes fixed on the monk and the innkeeper's daughter. That was what really worried Kagome.
As though Miroku isn't in enough trouble already.
When the girl turned her attention back to the scene, Chiba was already getting to her feet, assisted by Miroku.
"Come with me, I will show you to your rooms."
As the group made their way along the corridor, Kagome fell back with Sango. "Sango, are you all right? You haven't spoken a word in ages," the younger girl said worriedly.
"I'm fine, Kagome. There's really nothing to worry about." Sango's expression did not change, her eyes continuing to bore holes in Miroku's back. There was a definite edge to her voice which made Kagome take an involuntary step backwards.
Miroku is really in a whole lot of trouble.
Ahead of them, Miroku was continuing to flirt shamelessly with the innkeeper's daughter. She obviously had not been lavished with such attention before and was clearly enjoying it, giggling and blushing incessantly. The monk had yet to release her hand.
A particularly loud snatch of conversation was overheard by the women at the back of the group just as they stopped in front of the room.
"Why, houshi-sama, I'd be honoured to bear your children!"
At that, Shippo emitted a small groan which was not heard by the others.
Without a word, Inuyasha, Kagome and Sango stepped into the room and began unpacking their things. Miroku entered a few minutes later and sat down. Kirara, who had been curled around Sango's shoulders the whole time, leapt gracefully to the floor.
"I really need a bath now. Let's go, Sango, Shippo, you too." Kagome tugged on Sango's arm and the two women departed, Shippo being carried by Kagome. As they passed, Kagome and Shippo shot Miroku their filthiest looks.
You idiot monk, Miroku! You've gone too far! , thought Kagome viciously.
The door slid shut violently after them. Miroku blinked, and laid down his shakujou.
"Inuyasha, is it just me or did Kagome just glare at me? I swear, there was murder in her eyes."
Inuyasha snorted, tucking his hands into the sleeves of his suikan.
"Tuh. You know what'cha did. Don't come complaining to me."
"Why, I was just making the girl more at ease. Such a charming young creature," smiled Miroku as he leaned against the wall, pillowing his head with both his hands.
"What about the other one in the street?"
Miroku shrugged. "She's just part of my past. There's nothing between us now, of course."
"Sango's going to kill you later," commented the hanyou. Kirara looked up at the two and for a moment, Miroku could have sworn he saw the same sentiments echoed in the nekomata's eyes.
The monk made no reply, staring into space and absently fingering the prayer beads wrapped around his Kazaana.
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Kagome quickly finished helping Shippo take his bath and sent him off, sensing that Sango wanted to talk with her in private. Once the little demon had vanished around the corner, Kagome tried her best to take her friend's mind off Miroku.
"Isn't the water nice, Sango? It's been such a long time since we last had a good bath, not since we slew that giant fox demon…"
Kagome's babbling trailed off as Sango merely stared vacantly beyond her.
"Tell me, Kagome," interjected Sango, "Have I been wrong?"
"In what?"
"I…I never should have trustedhim. I should have realized that he'll never change."
Kagome bit her lip. "I'm sure Miroku meant nothing by flirting with that girl."
"What about the other girl in the street? I suppose she was also nothing?"
The fury in Sango's voice was evident now and she got out of the tub, dressing rapidly.
"Sango!" Kagome was quick to follow the incensed taiji-ya as she stormed off in the direction of their room.
There was much laughter, mostly feminine, coming from inside and with only the slightest hesitation, Sango threw open the sliding doors. Inuyasha was seated apart with Shippo, the pair of them scowling heavily at Miroku, who was drinking tea with Chiba. The girl was leaning on Miroku's shoulder. All four froze upon seeing Sango in the doorway
Sango's eyes traveled slowly over the entire tableau, from the guilty look on Miroku's face, to the hand Chiba had on his chest.
"Sango…" began Miroku.
It was too much for her. "Miroku, you cheat! Don't come after me!" she screamed, and she turned around and fled. Kirara sprang out the door after her.
As Kagome was running along the corridor, she was almost bowled over by Sango.
"Sango!" she called, hearing only sobbing in reply.
A now furious Kagome poked her head into the room. One glare aimed at Chiba had the young girl hastily making her excuses and departing.
"What do you think you are doing, Miroku!" yelled the enraged Kagome, hands on her hips.
"I…I…" The monk was speechless, looking everywhere except at her. "I didn't intend for things to be like this…"
"Miroku, you idiot!" added Shippo furiously.
"This is all your fault!" she seethed. "Do you have any idea how much you've hurt Sango's feelings?"
"I can explain…"
She pointed out the door. "Not to me. You'd better go out there and find Sango. Now. Go!"
Miroku scuttled out and Kagome slammed the door shut after him before turning her wrath on Inuyasha. "And you! Why didn't you stop him, you know what was going on…"
He held up both hands. "Hey, how am I s'posed to know that Sango would take it so hard? Normally, she'd just bash him on the head!"
Shippo kicked Inuyasha's leg in frustration and was rewarded with a thump on the head.
Kagome sighed angrily and flopped down. "Sometimes you can be really dense, Inuyasha. Sango was already upset because of that other girl Miroku met earlier and then when he wouldn't stop flirting with the innkeeper's daughter, well, she's got a right to be really angry with him."
"Eh? But why be mad? I mean, it's not like there's still anything between him and that other girl?"
"Women don't like to see their men's past women. It's just… painful for Sango to be reminded of Miroku's past. And he's as good as telling her that he's not going to change his ways when he flirted with that girl. "
Inuyasha scratched his right ear and yawned. "I have no idea what you're talking about, Kagome. All this stuff seems really complicated. I'm hungry, I hope that girl comes back soon with some food."
Kagome rolled her eyes, scooping up Shippo into her lap. "Never mind, Inuyasha. If you don't understand now, you'll never understand."
Author's Note: And that's it. Flames, criticism and corrections are always welcome (I shall take them as constructive feedback).