A/N: Hey everyone, thank you for those who still believed in me-I am in fact still alive! I am working on rewriting my stories, this is a multi-couple and multi-chapter fit, I currently have 28 chapters typed this story is dedicated for all you Miroku shippers! Please tell me what you think, review! Please excuse any mistakes, while I've checked them my stories are unbeta-ed.
Summary: Karma has a way of meddling with everything, as a monk Miroku should have known better.
Word Count: 2,267
They were so close, so heartrendingly close to basking in the peace that would come with the death of the vile Naraku. The group arrived at their makeshift campsite days after tailing Kagura. Instead he watches alongside his companions and Sesshōmaru the demise of the wind sorceress shortly after Kanna, despite the silent gazes of his friends he is fixed in prayer at the area where her ashes scattered. Somehow he sensed a change in the wind demon, often consulting with Inuyasha about Naraku's schemes, and could only predict the outcome of the betrayal.
And, yet karma caught up with her deeds.
The worse always befalls any act of good, as is the way with life-the repercussions of one's actions. He is a living embodiment of the very notion.
If not for himself and all those inflicted by Naraku's rampant poison, then Miroku would walk a straight path and strive further to finish the demon off. He was glad, after all he no longer had to worry about such a burden alone.
Miroku would rise each day before Sun up to prepare for the long journey ahead of them, gathering fallen branches for Kagome's morning meal-or as she put it, breakfast.
Miroku enjoyed these moments where he could contribute his aid to his friends. To feel the cool river stream jerk him awake at the whip of its current only to have part of the river's essence be pulled apart into the darkness of a clay jug; part absorbed onto their bodies in routine wash, and the other pouring life into their bellies.
Then as the group packed and began their trek to the nearest village an ill wind spread from the North.
It began when Inuyasha led them into a village harassed by giant Serpent demons. The villagers having reports of venomous snakes entering homes and crop fields to bite children and women. Who would have predicted such an outcome?
"Sango, on your right!" Kagome struck an arrow at a Serpent demon henchmen, as Inuyasha leapt on.
"Hiraikotsu!" Sango swings the massive demon boomerang swiftly cleaving the snake in two. Both girls leaned on one another, back to back in disbelief at the Inu.
"Where does he think he's going." Sango groaned, she detested snakes.
"Something about: nothin' but small fries, you know how gets." Kagome sighed, another sacred arrow in the distance.
"While we get stuck with nothing but work, and Miroku?" She swings the boomerang clockwise.
"He's protecting the villagers with Shippo." They separate dashing in opposite directions, a giant fireball expanding to swallow the remaining demon.
"Good girl Kirara!"
Meanwhile a walking distance from the village Miroku is cursing his luck.
The villagers are too close to summon his wind tunnel and Shippo's just about had all the fox fires and illusions he can take. Cloaked hands clutched frustratingly at his staff.
"Shippo!"
The fox demon was lying unconscious in a sunken quarry surrounded by Serpents. He glanced back at the remaining villagers huddled together behind the village elder who clearly appeared to waver at the slightest chance of survival.
"Sir I must go to my friend, please take these," he pulls out several talismans, "they will create a barrier to prevent them from getting any closer."
The elder placed an urging hand on his robes, "No, monk! It's much too dangerous, might you reconsider!"
Miroku grinned, this much is hardly anything for the girls, why should he be concerned? He moved from the elders grasp sprinting in a diagonal formation. He tosses movement binding talismans, they don't last long but they don't need to. He argues, he just needed to get close enough to pierce their skulls with his staff. Just as he's facing a Serpent a sharp pain erupts from his brow.
He takes a step forward only to lose his footing. He was positive there was no such thing in his direction that could cause him to fall. The soft and vegetated ground cushioned his fall. He checked his feet, his sandal straps strong.
"You're mine human!" The Serpent garbled. Miroku barely dodging its fangs jumped back on his heels.
He rubbed furiously at his eyes, the other Serpents ripped free from their bonds and encircled him. His staff had somehow wound up on the far side of the battlefield. His arms swung haphazardly in the air for leverage. Eight Serpents becoming a blurred green around him.
Where did they go?
"Master Miroku!" A brown shadow darted to his side summoning fierce winds with it. He recognized the obnoxious voice, and for once longed to see his friend.
If only he could find him. "Hachi!"
The tanuki swung his round tail in a fury flattening the lower demons. He moved onto his knees croaking some nonsense about forgiveness for stealing Miroku's glory. After a few minutes he noted that his master had not moved an inch from his spot, was he rejecting his most loyal follower? Even Miroku had his limits and wouldn't just ignore him.
Hachi stood from his position on the grass his fat neck craning to watch the monk, back turned, and seemingly gazing at joyous sobbing villagers.
Hachi scratched at the back of his ear, "Uughh? Master Miroku?"
Miroku sighed, "Alright you've had your fun Hachi," he giggled. Apricot fingers pressed around his gentle features searching for something.
Hachi moved to Miroku's front, "Master? What do you mean?" The servant scanning the small distance between them.
"Those pesky demons put something on me, you know-", his hand gestures over his eyes, "to prevent me from catching sight of them? Come now, enough of these games. Go ahead and remove it-"
Hachi's round body trembled and the fire in his belly died down, "M-M-Master..?"
"Ah! Right, I am taller than you, should I crouch down? Or is it a spell?" He cupped his chin in thought, "Hmm, if it's a spell it should have already been broken. Then again, perhaps Inuyasha has yet to defeat their lord?"
"Miroku!" Hachi cried, breath ragged, Miroku stills.
"Hachi…? What is it?" His voice firm. Hachi never dared to raise his voice at him, unless...there was something more. Miroku bit his lip.
"D-Did something happen to the others?" Silence. He pressed again, "Did something happen to Sango!"
He could hear Hachi's whimpers, the tanuki whispered, "N-No not at all."
Miroku allowed a stifling breath to release, "Was it Kagome? Shippo? Is he alright?"
Hachi leaned closer to the monk taking a deep whiff of the air. He jumps back. His master had the smell of change, of death around him. He walked forward again attempting to catch the other's gaze following his movements. When no such thing happened he assumed far worse.
Hachi swallowed back his tears, his precious master, "Both...Bo-th. Both are okay, I tended to Shippo's wounds. He just needs to rest and-"
"Was it Inuyasha? God, poor Kagome must be suffer-"
"NO! NO! Master! I'm so sorry!" Hachi broke down into giant tears. Fur now slickened and shining in the Sunlight. The villagers had decided to give the two men time to themselves.
Two opaque pupils gazed nowhere.
Hachi gathered strength in his voice, "Miroku, how long have you been experiencing problems with...your sight?"
What was this foolish tanuki speaking of? Hachi, always the jokester, would often jab him for fun. But, strangely he couldn't sense any mischief from him. Now he had to think.
"A little while near Naraku's escape", When had his voice gotten so shallow, "My eyes would take much longer to focus after simple things. Waking up, bathing, strolls even…" A lump had formed in his throat by then.
The tanuki hung his head. Miroku's voice struggled out, "What are you suggesting Hachi…? I'm not-"
Hachi held his hand, "Master, I-"
"I'm not blind! I'm not a cripple Hachi!" He yanked his hand away, only for the tanuki to pull it back into his own. Miroku crumpled to the thinning patch of grass between them.
"I'm not…I can't be…"
Hachi pulled the man into his shoulder. God, Buddha, whoever it was didn't have the right to do this to his master. Not after losing so much, when did tragedy ever stop for this human in his arms.
After several moments Miroku picked himself up. Dusting off pieces of grass on his dark robes and offering a hand to the crestfallen tanuki.
"Master?"
Miroku released a labored breath, cursed hand clutching at his long tresses, "Hachiemon we speak of this to no one."
"I-If that is what you wish Master."
"We leave tonight, I can't burden them any longer. Not in this state. Please", his covered arm reached for the willing tanuki, "fetch my staff and walk with me. We will eat amongst ourselves this evening. Understood?"
Hachi bowed, "Understood Master." The tanuki leading the monks way, staff and fox child in tow.
Everyone was feeling good having taken care of the demon infestation which apparently changed the villagers view of even that of Inuyasha. The elder prepared a banquet in their honor, too promising to let slide and to Kagome-just grateful to not have to prepare food for the lot of them.
She noticed Shippo was feeling glum after having to have Miroku rescue him.
"Come on Shippo show us your trick!" Several village children shouted over the heavy slurs of their adult counterparts.
"O-f course! Fox fire!"
The fox demon glowed in his superior presence with the other children. Then again, Shippo looked like he was having a blast. "Hard to believe he was unconscious most of the day, aye' Kagome?"
Sango laughed, and Kagome smiled, "Ain't that the truth! Although…?"
Sango stopped in her eating to meet the miko's worried gaze, in the far left of them sat Miroku conversing amongst himself and Hachi.
"Ever since Hachi got back, Miroku's been stuck with him 24/7."
Sango sipped her tea, "What do you mean?"
"Well is it just me, or has Hachi like never left Miroku's side today?"
Sango paused seeming to understand, "I guess it IS a little weird."
Inuyasha scoffed, clawed hand patting at his belly in satisfaction with the food. "Miroku's always weird. Honestly, I don't know why you bother worrying over him Kagome. So he's spending time with Hachi, he's been gone for over a month now. Just leave em'."
Kagome gasped, "Inuyasha! How could you say something like that?"
"Duh? Because it's Miroku we're talkin' about here?" Sango sighed, mind now anguished, if Kohaku wasn't enough now Miroku.
Inuyasha might be oblivious, but Kagome clearly saw Sango's affection for Miroku, she only hoped Inuyasha would see her own.
Kagome sighed, "SIT BOY!"
"AUUGHHH! You stupid-!"
Miroku has a tendency of acting impulsively when he was upset. She watched the duo converse jubilantly both Hachi and Miroku laughing at one another's stories. Maybe Inuyasha was right, she was overreacting.
Hachi followed Miroku's directions carefully. Stay at his side and guide him. To laugh at nothing when they were both pained, to release any suspicions of him Miroku added, and because he really wanted this all to be a dream.
Hachi offered the monk some of his own sake, an avid drinker Hachi just couldn't find any pleasure in drinking. Not when his master was not completely there.
"Master Miroku? What do you wanna do?"
Miroku held his gaze at the shining blur behind Hachi. The bonfires amber embers replacing even the stars in the night sky.
"I want to go. I don't know where, Hachi" his eyes flutter shut, "Anywhere. Someplace far from here. From them. Let's move West."
Hachi who had attempted to drink some of his sake found its wet content splashed thoroughly over his hakama.
"Geez!" He gave a great shake of his fur to Miroku's displeasure. "W-West!?"
This earned the curious stares of their friends. Miroku shushed the tanuki briskly.
"West? But, isn't that Inuyasha's brother...hmm...Sesshōmaru 's domain? It's too risky!"
Miroku nodded, "Yes, but from what Inuyasha tells us Sesshōmaru is more inclined to wander than claim his father's land. It's a rogue territory filled with hundreds of demons."
Hachi shivered, "Y-You sure about this Master? In your condition...and so many demons-"
Miroku smiled gently, "I'm...really scared Hachi, but just sitting here and letting Inuyasha and the girls fight for me…I've already taken so much from them. I have to get stronger. I will overcome this."
Hachi wiped a tear from his big eyes, "And you're not alone Miroku. I'm with you the whole step of the way!"
Miroku exhaled, "Thank you Hachi."
It took less time than either men had predicted for the entire village and party to be in a deep state of sleep. Aside from Inuyasha and Kirara, Miroku and Hachi meticulously shuffled out of the inn as not to rouse the attention of the demons' heightened vigilance.
A leaf and puff of smoke and Hachi has transformed into his flying gourd shape. Miroku leaps onto the others back before taking a final glance at the shadows behind-his companions. And...they were off.
Chapter 1 END: