I have only seen a few Miroku/Kagome stories out there. It's an ultra rare coupling that no one either wants to do or doesn't want to read. I have only seen four or five good stories with this coupling. Sandra E.'s Chasing Methuselah and Jewel Bright's Changing Hearts and it's sequel are my favorites of these stories.

So does it surprise anyone else that I want to try my hand at writing one? Especially since I am addicted to this coupling now since I first read Chasing Methuselah and my fixes are few and far between. I mostly deal by re-reading my favorites. sniffles

I hope that I'm not going along the well worn cliché path as I start down a road I wish the anime of Inuyasha had gone. Now don't be bothered. I love Kag/Sess and Mir/Kag best but that still doesn't mean I won't read Kag/Inu or Kag/Kouga.

Just try out my story. Please?

Samanda

Disclaimer: No I don't own Inuyasha because if I did there would be more lemony parts and Kagome wouldn't have gotten with Inuyasha. No one is profiting from this story so please don't sue!

Like Snow Upon A Raven's Back

Chapter One: Seawater In The Air

It was night in Sengoku Jidai and the air was cold due to winter's firm grasp on Japan. Luckily for the small group that had bravely ventured out into the inhospitable weather in order to search for Shikon shards there was a small fire giving off precious warmth.

Five of the six members huddled around the fire trying desperately to stay warm until dawn broke. The fifth perched in a tree and kept watch over his companions as they slept.

Well that is until a familiar scent wafted through the air, making his sensitive nose twitch. Kikyo. He jumped down from the tree silently and nudged Miroku's arm with his foot.

Miroku woke instantly alert then saw it was merely Inuyasha. He asked quietly, "What is it?"

"I smell Kikyo in the woods to the left of us." Inuyasha whispered back. "I'm going to try to reason with her. I'll be back before dawn."

"Inuyasha!" Miroku hissed softly but it was no use. Inuyasha was already gone.

A soft sigh was heard and Miroku looked over to see Kagome awake and starting to sit up. Miroku's heart went out to the young girl when he saw the sad, forlorn expression on her face.

"He'll be back," Miroku said in reassurance and was rewarded with a soft smile.

Kagome turned her attention to the stars. "He'll be back," She repeated than said quietly. "I don't know where Inuyasha's heart lies anymore and I doubt he knows either."

She started to lay down but Miroku's soft voice stopped her. "If he cannot see you for who you truly are, Kagome-sama, then he is a fool."

Kagome turned around and Miroku saw the tears glittering in her eyes like bright stars. She seemed to struggle with something for a moment then she crumpled in upon herself. Miroku hesitated then almost defiantly pulled her against him and held her as the silver stars fell upon his robe and soaked his shoulder.

For once Miroku kept his hands to himself although he was presented a golden opportunity. Later he would wonder what the hell was wrong with himself as he looked over the night's events.

After a fruitless half an hour of arguing with Kikyo who had finally escaped using her soul collectors, Inuyasha returned to camp. He growled at the surprising and unwelcome sight that greeted him.

Kagome and Miroku were both awake. Kagome had her back facing him so he couldn't see her face but he could smell seawater in the air.

Tears. Inuyasha thought and was immediately outraged.

"What the hell did you do to make her cry, you damn bastard!" He accused Miroku loudly.

Sango sat up with a start and reached for her boomerang. Realizing it was only Inuyasha overreacting again, she let her hand fall back to her side. Kirara lifted her head and watched the drama unfolding around her with wide, alert eyes.

"I'm not the one that made her cry, Inuyasha-sama," Miroku said coolly. "She saw you foolishly running after Kikyo."

"Feh," Inuyasha suppressed a pang of guilt. "There's nothing to worry about. Go to sleep."

Miroku awoke with the dawn and saw that Inuyasha was already awake but silent as usual in the God Tree. (Well silent until Kagome woke that is.) He moved a few yards away from the sleepers and commenced his morning prayers. Sango woke next then shook Kagome awake. Sango checked her weapon for damage as Kagome started breakfast. Shippo slept all comfy in Kagome's sleeping bag until breakfast was ready.

"Time to eat," Shippo's stomach rumbled as he took his bowl of ramen from Kagome and proceeded to eat with childish gusto. Kagome served everyone but Inuyasha their bowls.

"Kagome, where's my ramen?" Inuyasha asked.

Kagome stuck her nose in the air. "Get it yourself."

Inuyasha looked pissed off. "Fine."

Sango remarked to Miroku and Shippo. "At least breakfast is never boring."

"Sometimes it gives one indigestion though," Miroku replied.

Inuyasha snarled, "Shut up, Houshi."

*********************

That same morning:

Sango had been thinking about Kagome's problems with Inuyasha. Sango was Kagome's confidante and so knew everything. Kagome had told Inuyasha that she cared about him but knew that he loved Kikyo, not her. The problem wasn't Kagome but Inuyasha and his indecision. If Inuyasha loved Kikyo then he would have abandoned their group to search for the shikon shards.

But he hadn't. That, in Sango's mind, meant that he didn't really love Kikyo. Kikyo had given Inuyasha friendship and in the process showed him that all ninjens wouldn't reject him. Inuyasha had confused puppy love and friendship for real love.

So how do I get the two of them together? Sango thought to herself. She thought about the girls in her village and what they had done. She remembered Mayuka and how she was shocked at what she thought of then as the other girl's rather extreme methods. But in this case it would work.

Now all she had to do was ensure Miroku's cooperation and get Kagome to set the plan in motion. Sango smiled serenely and petted Kirara who was sitting on her shoulder.

"Kagome," Sango whispered. "Do you have any paper and writing utensils?"

Kagome smiled. "Of course."

She dug into her backpack and pulled out a notepad and found a pen. She handed them to Sango who whispered her thanks. She was being cautious but there was really no need. Inuyasha had gone on ahead to scout for any possible problems leaving the rest of them behind.

And so Sango wrote: Kagome, I'm tired of you and Inuyasha fighting. I have a plan. Do you want to hear it?

She showed it to Kagome who looked uncertain then nodded.

Good. None of know how good Inuyasha's hearing is so when we talk about the plan we're going to write it so he won't understand what's going on. Do you understand?

Kagome nodded again. Now just hear me out. Sango outlined her plan for Kagome who nodded thoughtfully.

Kagome grabbed the pen. It might just work. But won't we need someone else to help us?

Sango nodded at Miroku and Kagome's eyes widened. She shivered, thought about it then reluctantly nodded. I guess he'll do.

Now Miroku saw the girls whispering together and taking turns writing. He was a little uneasy but he shrugged it off. Probably talking about Inuyasha, he thought and shrugged. But then he saw Sango nod at him and Kagome look at him like she had never seen him before. And he jumped to the wrong conclusion.

Sango must be telling her things about me. He thought smugly. Probably about how handsome I am and how she wants to bear my children. Maybe Kagome will be jealous and they'll fight over me! He sighed in rapture over that thought.

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Samanda: Hehe, Miroku and his fantasies. If any of you said you wouldn't like being the object of his fantasies I would know you're lying. Every girl… well nevermind about that. ^_^

But the next chapter will reveal more of Sango's plan and how it involves Miroku. I'm sure you already know but I'm still going to write it anyways!

Glossary:

Sengoku Jidai……….. Feudal Era.

Houshi………………. Monk

Sama………………… suffix meaning Lord or Lady depending on who's addressed. Term of respect. Can also mean Sir.