"Rise and shine Kagome-sama!" Miroku slid open the panel dividing Kagome's room from the rest of the temple.

"Ugh."

"Beautiful day isn't it?" He noted with no small amount of satisfaction that the girl was looking particularly pretty in her pale blue pajamas, bedding tossed to one side.

"Double ugh."

"Get dressed in the white yukata Mushin-san lent you, you are meditating under the waterfall today!"

"Triple ugh."

"I'm leaving breakfast here for you, please announce the moment you are ready!"

Kagome sighed and rolled over, reluctantly resigning herself to the day.

Miroku waited patiently outside her room, dressed in the casual white robe he used for meditating. He'd learned to his delight when they first began traveling together that Kagome was familiar with all the traditional roles of a miko as her family were shrine keepers in her time. He was extremely grateful that he had those building blocks to work with for her training as it would be impossible to teach her to meditate successfully in seven days.

As it was he already had plenty on his plate—it would take time to repair all the damage done to the girl's self-confidence. Naraku's attack had provided a convenient excuse but he'd been trying to find a way to get Kagome away from Inuyasha's influence for weeks.

After the last time that his hanyou friend had run after Kikyou and literally left Kagome in the dust the girl just hadn't been the same. Much of her vibrancy was lost and whatever tenuous grasp she had on her powers was all but gone. She needed a rest from heartache and if she went home Inuyasha would inevitably follow her. The training was perfect, secluded and peaceful enough to give her a chance to regroup and heal.

"Okay I'm ready." Kagome announced, holding her empty food tray.

Miroku blinked, stunned that he had lost so much time to his musings. "Ah! Wonderful! The walk to the waterfall should allow you plenty of time to digest."

"You're coming with me?" Her eyes took on that hard edge she seemed to reserve just for him.

"Of course." He responded benignly.

"To get soaked while only wearing white?"

He winced and wilted a bit under her glare. "I understand your concern but it is a necessary practice and I must be present to gauge your power's response to the meditation practices."

"So why don't we start by meditating somewhere dry?"

"Because I believe it would be best if you had the opportunity to wash away our travels. The power of running water to soothe the mind is truly unparalleled." He gave her just enough information to suspect him of plotting and was not disappointed when the flash of understanding lit her eyes.

"You've been planning this forever haven't you?" She accused, but the hard edge in her eyes had faded to a sweet understanding that did strange things to his insides.

"I have been seeking a chance to offer you training." He conceded carefully. "I believe you have been… unhappy as of late. It has been affecting your power."

She slid her eyes away to the misty morning scenery. "Fair enough."

"Do you want to talk about it before you wash away your concerns and begin training in earnest?"

She set down the tray and slumped against the railing across from him. He could not have chosen a better view; her yukata draped over her curves in an innocently seductive manner and the red of the railing was a sharp contrast to the green garden beyond. Her long hair twined and danced in the wind and lay shockingly black against her white garment.

She really is too attractive for her own good. He suppressed a lecherous thought and stilled the hands that had unconsciously started creeping towards her.

Strangely enough his fingers twitched in the desire to just touch her, not fondle or grope but feel her skin, even the gentle arch of her instep fascinated him. The fact that her feet alone tempted his fondle-reflexes did not bode well for the houshi, he was sure that given the slightest opportunity he would become happily addicted to the touch of her skin.

You promised. You will not lavish any unwanted attention on Kagome-sama. He lectured himself sternly.

"I'm… tired." She sighed eventually, finally meeting his eyes.

The bone weariness weighting down her soul was something he could empathize with completely. The difference was that he had years to adjust and resign himself to his burden and his fate, Kagome had only been in the feudal era for a two winters.

"I understand." He murmured, flexing his gauntleted hand.

Her eyes fixed on the movement, softening to acknowledge his curse.

"I just don't… I don't know why." She shrugged helplessly, leaving the houshi to guess at her meaning.

"Why you are tired?" He hazarded. He already knew that it wasn't the reason but she needed to know that he was listening if she was going to speak her mind.

"Why the well let me through." She amended quietly. "… If it was just going to hurt this much in the end."

"Do not jump to conclusions Kagome-sama. You may have a 'happily ever after' in the end."

Please find happiness… for both of us. Miroku thought with uncharacteristic introspection. Unlike Kagome he knew the end of his story.

"Maybe. But life just sucks sometimes."

He smiled and rose, leading her along the winding porch. They walked in companionable silence and Miroku realized that by offering to listen and by understanding her struggle and accepting it, even offering his own as proof that he could help shoulder her burden was more than enough.

"Speaking of sucking-"

Kagome gasped in horror. "Miroku-sama!"

"Aren't the honeysuckles lovely this time of year?" He asked innocently, plucking a blossom and tucking into Kagome's hand.

He felt her incredulous gaze on his back as he slipped on his sandals and walked along the pathway to the waterfall, whistling all the while.


Whirlwind Romance Challenge

1,000 words