Disclaimer: I don't own it.

Authoress' Note: this was the first fic that I ever wrote and reading it over I decided that I was going to re-write it and make it better!

In your arms of love
One

Miroku sat on the grassy hill and stared down at his right hand. He curled his hand into a fist and then uncurled it. Damn. It still hurts. He thought as he continued to flex his hand, hoping that doing that would alleviate the pain.

He felt the presence of someone behind him, but he didn't turn, he kept his attention focused on his hand, where he knew the damaged wind tunnel rested.

"Miroku?" he heard Sango's voice ask from behind him. "Is there something wrong?"

Miroku turned to face her, she was walking down the hill towards him and once she reached him she sat down and they looked at each other and then looked at Miroku's right hand.

"There's nothing wrong Sango, you don't need to worry about me."

"Miroku, you're eyes don't look like nothing is wrong. Your eyes betray you. There is something wrong and you're going to tell me what or you're not leaving this spot."

"No Sango, it's really nothing. I can handle it, it will be fine." He said, trying to reassure her.

Sango crossed her arms and fake frowned at him, "Miroku, I thought that we were closer than this. You can't even tell me when you're hurt? I don't know why you have to hide things from me."

"I just don't want you to worry about me. I'm telling you it's nothing because I don't think that it is anything you need to concern yourself with."

Sango leaned towards Miroku, she placed her hand on his arm, "I'm sick of arguing with you over something that is supposedly "nothing." Please just tell me."

"I'm telling you it's nothing. I simply injured my hand in yesterday when we fought with that large bear demon."

"Which hand?" she asked, her eyes showing her concern, even in the dark.

"The right one." Miroku said non-shalantly, hoping that she would not be worried if he didn't appear worried.

"Miroku? Was it your hand you injured, or was it your wind tunnel?" she asked as they walked up the hill towards the area where they were camped for the night.

"The sides of my wind tunnel were nicked when I drew in the bear, I'm not even sure it is a problem yet. It is a small nick, nothing too serious."

"You never said anything about that Miroku." Kagome said, overhearing their conversation, "You should get it mended, it could turn out to be a serious problem."

"I will tell you what I have been telling Sango all night, I do not think it will be a big problem."

"Well I was giving you my opinion, but you obviously know more about it than I do."

"Yeah, whatever can we focus on something more important? We have things that affect all of us to concern ourselves with." Inuyasha said, "Like finding the jewel shards."

"He's right." Miroku said, happy for the attention to be off of his hand for a short while. He turned to Kagome, who was making ramen for Inuyasha over the fire. "Kagome, do you sense any jewel shards?"

"No…not right now." She said in an apologetic voice.

"Well that's useless." Inuyasha said. Kagome handed him his ramen, which he ate in a matter of five seconds. He handed the empty bowl to Kagome and stood up. "Well, if Kagome doesn't sense shards, I want to keep walking until we sense something. Everyone, get your things and let's get a move on!"

Everyone reluctantly gathered their packs, extinguished the fire and followed Inuyasha out of the clearing.

They trudged half-awake through the woods, there was no sign of any jewel shards anywhere but Inuyasha wouldn't allow them to stop until Kagome sensed something. They walked groggily for an hour before Kagome was past the point of exhaustion and began to complain.

"Guys? Please. Can we stop now? I'm really tired, I don't think my legs can carry me anymore. I need to go to bed. I haven't sensed a jewel shard all night. Please Inuyasha? Can we just stop?"

Inuyasha scoffed, "Stop complaining Kagome. We'll be ready to stop when I say we are ready to stop."

"But Inuyasha, who put you in charge of deciding when are ready to stop for the night?" Miroku asked, "I believe I am the one who gets us a place to stay almost every night. Doesn't it seem right if I am the one to decide when we stop?"

"I agree with Miroku." Kagome said, quick to agree with anyone who could get her a bed for the night.

"Kagome! Nobody asked what you wanted!" Inuyasha snapped.

"Shut up Inuyasha! I'll give my opinions whenever I want!" she snapped back.

"Stop fighting! Both of you! It's obvious everyone is just too tired to keep moving." Sango said, always the voice of reason.

"Look up ahead! There's a palace!" Shippou exclaimed, "We're stopping here!"

"Well…I guess Shippou's in charge," Kagome said with a small laugh.

They approached the main gates and a guard opened the door.

"Who calls on the castle at this hour in the night?" he asked angrily.

"Hello. I am a traveling monk. My band and I were making our way though the forest when I noticed a strange demonic aura surrounding this castle. I would gladly perform an exorcism for free, if my band and I could have a place to stay for the night."

"I will be back" the guard said and closed the door. They waited for a moment before the guard returned and opened the doors for them. "My lord says you may stay for the night, monk, you must perform the exorcism now, before you go to sleep."

Miroku nodded, "Of course. If you show me where I will be sleeping first, I will then gladly perform the exorcism."

The guard led them down a maze of hallways where two rooms sat opposite each other. "This room is for the women" he said, pointing to the room on his left. "And this room will be for the men" he pointed to the room on his right. "You will be given breakfast tomorrow before you leave, have a pleasant sleep. Monk, come with me."

The others retired to their rooms and Miroku followed the guard to the main hall of the castle. He performed the "exorcism," placing talismans on the main pillars around the castle. He finished after a half hour and he then walked back to his room and laid down to try and get some sleep.

He tossed and turned but was unable to sleep. He lay on his back, staring at the ceiling and at his right hand.

"Why does it still hurt?" he asked himself not understanding, "It's just a little nick, why does it hurt so badly?" he sat up on his cot and looked at his hand again in the moonlight. "I have to go see Mushin" he decided finally, "I do not want to go, but if it's what I must do, then I have to leave." He stood up and gathered his things and slid the door of his room open.

He quietly left his room, closing the door behind him and headed down the hall, towards the castle gates. He closed the door a little too hard and startled Sango awake. She slid her door open and stuck her head into the hallway, where she saw Miroku walking away.

"Miroku, what are you doing? Where are you going?" she asked loud enough so he could hear her.

Miroku turned around and walked back to Sango. He knelt down beside her so he would be able to talk quietly. "I'm going to see Mushin; I need him to fix the wind tunnel. I'll be back soon enough."

"It's dangerous to travel alone Miroku, something terrible could happen to you."

"Hatchi is coming with me, so I won't be alone. Don't worry about me Sango, just go back to bed."

"Do you really think that Hatchi will serve as protection for you? He can barely take care of himself."

"That is true, but I can take care of myself. Sango, you don't need to worry about me."

He stood, turned and once again headed towards the door.

"Wait!" Sango shouted as quietly as she could while not waking everyone else. He turned and saw her turn back into her room. She quickly grabbed her hiraikotsu, left her room, closing the door behind her. She walked down the hall towards him and said, "I'm coming with you."

"No, Sango, you can't come. It's too dangerous."

"Oh, so now it's too dangerous? It wasn't so dangerous when we were talking about you going alone. I am a demon slayer, I am strong, and I will kill anything that stands in my way."

"Why do you want to go with me? You never seemed too concerned when it came to me before."

"I don't want anything to happen to you; you are an important part of this group. We need your power to defeat Naraku." Sango said, not wanting him to know the real reason why she wanted to go with him.

Miroku knew that there was no sense in fighting with her any longer. "Fine. Get all of your belongings, you're coming with us."

"I already have everything I need."

Miroku nodded, "Good, then follow me, Hatchi is outside waiting for me."

They quietly headed through the hallways and out of the castle. They left a message with the guards for Inuyasha, Kagome and Shippou and walked out to the forest where Hatchi had been waiting for them. He transformed and carried Sango and Miroku towards the high priest's temple.

Authoress' Note: well, I think rewriting this is a good idea. I enjoyed writing this cause it was my very first fic. So I would love some reviews! Thanks everyone! This rewrite will most likely take no time at all.