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{ A Rose by Any Other Name }
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07: Globe Amaranth }x
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Nothing but the burnt wood from their fire marked the site where they had camped, which puzzled the hanyou gravely. Where was Tamako, Sango, or even Shippou? Could something have happened to them over the night? Could harm truly have come to Tamako while he was not around? No, he just couldn't think like that, he wouldn't know what to do with himself if that was the case so he tried his best to calm his nerves, to keep the twisted anxiety that formed a near suffocating knot in his chest to a minimum as he, again, adjusted the slumbering girl's weight on his back. Each time his golden gaze gleamed over the campsite nothing stood out. Perhaps they had just got lost in the woods?

It took a few deep breaths to find a trace of Tamako's treasured aroma, it would have been far better if he didn't have to carry Kagome on his back while he tried to follow it, "you are such a bother," he grumbled bitterly to the sleeping beauty as he started another trek through the forest. The farther he traveled, the harder it was to segregate one scent from the other, the more tangled Tamako's got with the surroundings, "damn it," he cursed as he paused to glance around once more.

He couldn't do it… not if he had to cart Kagome around and, really, the more he thought about it the more he was sure that the dilemma he found himself in was all her fault. She was the idiot that went running off after who-knows-what, she was the sole reason that he was alienated from his comrades, it was all her, so he didn't feel too bad about removing his arms from around her legs and letting her fall to the ground with a thud. As soon as he got the chance he stretched before turning to look down at her, it was really awe-inspiring to see she had somehow slept through that fall. "You've had your nap, now get up," he ordered with a nudge, "Kagome! Wake up or I'm just going to leave you here!"

And, really, he wasn't lying.

Reluctantly she groaned as she rolled over to rub her eyes, "what?"

"Get up!"

"Why…?"

"Fine, see if I care, I'm just going to leave you here," he grunted. He didn't have time to waste on her so he returned his attention back to trying to relocate Tamako's scent, it was easier once he could be on all fours and sniff the ground.

"I forgot how funny you look when you do that," she yawned as she groggily got up only to feel a terrible pang in her back, "ouch."

"Bitch," he growled as he shot her quite the glare.

"What are you looking for?"

"Tamako," he grumbled, "they weren't at the camp. I can barely find her scent…"

"I'm," she murmured as she slowly walked over to him, "sure she's fine."

"We won't know that until I find her, so just shut up and follow," he ordered and so she did just that. She didn't have the energy to argue with him, nor the patience at the time, so she just remained mute as they ventured through the vast forest. She was certain they crossed the entire place when they finally broke free to meet the high, blinding sun.

"Her scent is strong," Inuyasha muttered as he sped to the nearby village, halfhearted Kagome followed but far slower than him so when she finally reached the outskirts of the town she had missed whatever trigged Tamako rushing over to embrace Inuyasha. At least she was right, she supposed, Tamako was alright and so was the spectators of the scene, Sango and Shippou.

"I was so worried," Tamako mumbled as she grasped his red clothe all the more, "I'm so glad you are alright! We were looking for you all night. It's so dangerous for you to go off on your own on nights of the new moon, you know that," she scolded before she shook her head and gently pulled away so her shaky stare could meet with his sympatric one, "I was worried…"

"I'm fine," he assured as he placed his hands on her upper arms, "you should have just stayed at camp, it took forever for me to track you here."

"Sorry," she sighed, "but how could I have done that? We had to try and find you; we really hoped you were here. It felt like we searched the entire forest, where were you?"

That was it, she couldn't watch the heartwarming reunion anymore, so she just sighed and turned her back to it but apparently she wasn't allowed to walk away, Sango made sure of that.

"What was that last night? You better have a good explanation," she asserted with quite the contorted look on her face.

Honestly, she understood the hostility, she probably deserved it—no, actually, no she didn't. Granted, saying goodbye would have been the best thing to do but she had to leave. She had to go with her father; she had every right to, too. Moreover, she earnestly didn't want to deal with it at the moment. She just waved off the questionnaire and took a step away, "later, later, I'm tired."

"Kagome—" Sango began only to be overshadowed by a shout from Tamako.

"I have good news!"

"What?" Inuyasha inquired with a cautiously cocked brow.

"While we were looking for you I ran into an old friend of mine, he is a priest that helped me while I was training to become a priestess. Oh, he was very kind to me," she mused with the brightest of smiles, "he is fairly old now and I heard he fell very ill but he is cured now and will live."

"Great," Inuyasha wearily replied, he got that it mattered to Tamako but not only had she never mentioned the man or his illness before but none of them knew him so what merited such merriment?

"Wait, this is the important part," she assured as she clapped her hands together to interlace her fingers, "he would have surely died if not for a spring to the south. It is said to be able to cure all sorts of ailments, curses included. It is very difficult to find and you can only do so if someone that has already found it tells you how to get there. I believe it is some sort of masking spell."

"So…?"

"Miroku," Sango stated simply with a shake of her head at the ignorance of Inuyasha, "Tamako-chan was able to convince her old sensei to tell her how to get to the spring. We should surely spare the time to tell Miroku about it and how to find it."

"I guess we could do that," Inuyasha grumbled rather irately, "but Naraku—"

"Is exactly why we can't just tell him about it," Kagome interrupted as she glanced around at the four others, was she really the only one to think about that? "He's wind tunnel is very bad now, right? He is in no condition to travel a long distance alone. He has a lot of enemies, just like all of us, we should take him there ourselves."

"No way!" Inuyasha snapped, emphasizing his position all the more with a large gesture of his arm to go with his outrage. "Kikyou just gave us a lead to find Naraku, we have to check that first!"

"Yeah, and how often has that worked, huh?" Kagome ridiculed as she loosely crossed her arms under her bosom, "this spring could save Miroku now, his wind tunnel's getting worse now, Inuyasha."

"His wind tunnel will be gone if we find and kill Naraku!"

She couldn't help but roll her eyes at that, "how many times have you followed a 'lead' by Kikyou only to fail? How often have you gone rushing after Naraku only to have him get away at the last minute? I don't know about all of you but I would rather spare the time to take Miroku to the spring and save him now instead of letting him die over an 'attempt' to defeat Naraku."

"And that goddamn spring might not work, either," Inuyasha growled.

"I would still rather try that," she shrugged, "I don't care if you all aren't coming, I'm going to go with Miroku."

"Whatever," Inuyasha scoffed, "crushing Naraku doesn't really matter to you anyhow."

"That's not true!"

"Yes it is!"

"Please," Tamako broke in as she stepped between the fuming female and infuriated Inuyasha, "let's not fight. I think that Kagome-san is right; I think that we should take Miroku there. It would be far too dangerous for him to travel alone and while we might lose Naraku's track I would be able to continue on our journey with a clear conscious knowing that we've done everything we can for our friend."

"Tamako!" Inuyasha grunted, "don't take her side!"

"I will when she is right," she retorted, "Inuyasha, Miroku is a dear friend, when I spoke with Mushin-sama he told me that he only has a… a season at most left… If this spring works then he will live, his son won't have to grow up fatherless, please, consider the importance in this. What if we simply told Miroku where to find the spring and something happened to him along the way, could you really look me in the eyes and say you would not blame yourself? That you would not feel extreme guilt? Please, let's escort him to the spring."

It was clear in his rigid stance and clenched fists that he wanted to argue but Tamako's logic got to him, her pleading big brown eyes broke through his stubbornness so he just scoffed, "fine, whatever."

"Thank you, Inuyasha," Tamako smiled.

It was terribly difficult to justify her mild dislike for the pious priestess when she showed her kindness like that… but that little bitch envy was an equally difficult thing to get rid of, too.

x-•°•°•-x

"Welcome back?" Miroku greeted curiously once he noticed his friends return, he had sensed their presences but thought it was only wishful thinking, they had just left, why would they come back so swiftly? It was not until he actually saw them enter the courtyard that he was resting in that he believed his senses.

"Michio-kun," Kagome cooed as she dropped to her knees in front of the infant, "how are you?"

"Why the sudden return?" Miroku inquired as his violets shifted over the giggling girl to the others.

"We have something grand to tell you, Miroku-sama," Tamako began with the brightest of smiles.

"Tamako, Sango, Inuyasha?" The bald, baffled, Mushin called out from the porch, "what are all you doing back here so soon?"

"We come bearing good news," Sango assured.

"There's never enough of that," Mushin declared, "I just made us a meal; there is plenty for everyone if you'd like to join. It's nothing special, rice, purge, and tea."

"That sounds wonderful, Mushin-sama," Tamako accepted with a respectful bow of her head before she followed him into the temple along with the rest.

"What's going on, Kagome-sama?" Miroku murmured as he stood up to brush off his robes of the dirt, his eyes focused for the most part on his friend as she picked up his son to take him in with them.

"We might have found something that will help your wind tunnel, Miroku-sama," she replied in an equally hushed voice, she might have explained more if Michio didn't find a growing fascination with pulling her hair, earlobe, and cheek.

"Michio, stop doing that," Miroku sighed, "I'm sorry."

"It's nothing to apologize about," she assured as she sat him down in her lap while they joined the others in the room where they each had a mat to sit on and a wooden tray with two bowls and a tea waiting, "he's just a baby, after all." The little gleeful noises he let out as he flung his arms around were too precious; it was the small things in life that still managed to bring her aching heart warmth.

"So," Miroku coaxed as he glanced from face to face, "what is it… exactly?"

"Have you ever heard of Shinsei Springs?" Tamako questioned after a swift sip of her refreshment.

"I have, it's rumored to have mystical healing powers but," he paused briefly before he raised a brow, "it's also just a myth, Tamako-sama."

"No it's not," she countered with a bit of a frown, "my sensei recently traveled there to cure himself of an illness that would have surely killed him. You can only find the location if you are told how to by someone that has already been."

"I've found a few people that have claimed to have gone there, they each told me how to locate it but I was never able to find it, I followed their directions exactly," Miroku assured. "It is very kind of you to think of me, though, Tamako-sama. I know you mean well."

"You probably were not the first person they told the location to," Tamako guessed with a smile, "there is some kind of masking spell over the spring. You must not only find someone who has already been there in order to locate it but you must be the first person they tell, otherwise you cannot locate it. Everyone would be able to find it by now if you could tell anyone you meet. Also, you can only find the spring once so if we do go we would never be able to return."

"Is that so?" Miroku mused feebly, "I understand you are trying to help but didn't Kikyou-sama tell you how to locate Naraku?"

"Yeah," Inuyasha grumbled only to receive a swift elbow to his side from Tamako.

"That is not as important as your well-being, Miroku-sama," she assured.

"We've decided to push that off until we take you to the spring," Kagome explained further, "please accept our offer, Miroku-sama."

"Kagome-sama," Miroku muttered while his stare locked with hers before he pried it away to look to all the others, "Tamako-sama, Sango, Shippou, Inuyasha, thank you, but I really shouldn't leave Michio alone and I think that you should follow Kikyou-sama's lead."

"We've already decided to do this, Miroku," Inuyasha gripped.

"I really should not leave Michio alone," he repeated.

"He wouldn't be, Mushin-sama is here," Tamako reminded.

Though, he'd probably not say it allowed, Miroku couldn't really think to leave his infant with the old drunkard. He did a fine job of raising him but that was when he was already a child, he doubted that Mushin would know what to do with a little child that he'd have to give all his attention to constantly. "I really shouldn't…"

"Miroku-sama!" All of them exchanged looks before their attention went to the opening door, it seemed that luck was on their side as the raccoon demon Hachi entered, "I have come to… hello, I didn't expect so many people…"

"Hachi," Miroku gleamed, he wouldn't feel the greatest about leaving Michio in the care of Hachi and Mushin but it was better than just Mushin, "I have a favor to ask of you."

"What is it?" The raccoon warily inquired as he slowly entered the room all the way.

"I have to leave for a short while; will you stay and watch Michio for me?"

"Miroku-sama," Hachi groaned, "you know how Michio likes to play with my tail and ears…"

"Shippou," Kagome whispered while the persistent monk tried to convince his friend to do as he requested, "would you mind staying here, too? I know I would feel a lot better knowing you were here watching Michio. Protecting him, too," she had to play on his pride some.

"I suppose," the little kitsune nodded, "without Miroku here to make sure he's safe he would need someone else to protect him, in case of a demon attack or something."

"Exactly," Kagome smiled, "you are so brave, Shippou."

"Good, then it's settled," Miroku stated, "you'll stay and watch Michio while I'm away."

"But Miroku-sama," Hachi whined all the more, "I only came to visit for a short while."

"Perfect, we will only be good for a short while," he countered, "will you really not grant me this favor, when it could save my life? Would you rather Michio grow up without a father? Would you rather I—?"

"Fine, fine," Hachi groaned as he covered his ears and shut his eyes, "fine, I'll do it!"

"Great, then we'll leave tomorrow," Tamako declared with a reluctant nod of approval from Inuyasha.

x-•°•°•-x

That night, like every other one, the haunted woman couldn't sleep for too long, though she did more so than in weeks. Before dawn broke she was wide awake and peacefully wandering through the little garden that either Mushin or Miroku must have kept up, with a smile upon her lips she knelt down to examine the gradually blooming flowers closer, cupping some of them gently in her hands, taking special care not to break them from their stems.

"Can't sleep?" Startled her greatly until she turned to see an almost laughing Miroku there, "sorry, I should have known you didn't notice my presence. You seem so enchanted by the flowers."

"They are very pretty, who tends to them?" She inquired as she returned her hazels to the colorful flower in her hand.

"I do," he murmured as he situated himself next to her.

"Why?" She whispered, she knew he respected nature but it seemed odd to her that he would go out of his way to plant a garden when he had a baby to monitor, too.

"Mio, Michio's mother, I brought her here to have him, where it was quiet and tranquil, where there were no judgmental stares. She liked it here a great deal but didn't know what to do with herself for the most part so she started this garden," he smiled weakly as he softly stroked the petals of a flower, "she loved it. I've been keeping it up in her memory."

"I'm sorry," she mumbled, "I didn't know…"

"There is no need to apologize," he assured, "so, tell me, Kagome-sama, why are you not asleep?"

"I slept long enough," she shrugged, "why aren't you?"

"Anxious, I suppose, it's been a very long time since we've all traveled together… I think it will be nice, even if the spring does not do any good," or is not real at all, for that matter.

"I think it will," she assured, at least, she hoped and prayed it would.

He only nodded at that before a sly smile crossed his lips, "so, tell me, how are things between you and Inuyasha going?"

"Don't meddle," she ordered crossly, "do you see me trying to fix things between Sango and you? No, so don't do anything, Miroku-sama."

"That's a completely separate matter," he assured innocently, "there is nothing broken between her and I, we made our decision—"

"Then, I made mine."

"But Inuyasha did not get the chance to make his," Miroku added.

"He has Tamako now, have you not seen the way those two act?" She tried her best to keep it from happening but her voice cracked all the same because of that she had to look away from Miroku's sure to be pity induced stare.

"I still think things can be mended between you two. I think that you and he belong together more so, do not get me wrong, I like Tamako-sama. She is a sweet girl, a dear friend, but… I think fate would rather you and Inuyasha be together."

"Why would you say that?" She snapped as she glared back at him, "what does fate have to do with anything?"

"You crossed through time to be here, I believe that speaks volumes all on its own."

"That has nothing to do with it, if anything it's just another reason why him and I don't belong together, we aren't even from the same era," she grumbled.

"You are bound to Inuyasha, that is why you are here, that is why you continue to return to this time, don't you think that means something? That the well opens for you to be here, that only he can travel through it to your world? You two are meant for one another."

"Miroku," she coaxed with a bitter sigh, "don't do anything, please? I feel like you and Sango are meant to be together but I'm respectfully keeping my nose out of it, you do the same."

"But… that's different," he muttered.

"How is it different?"

"It simply is, I believe Inuyasha still has feelings for you, too," he asserted and that, really, she could not argue with. He still kept her picture with him, she had to wonder if Tamako was aware of the fact—she highly doubted it, though. It was probably true that he had some lingering feelings left for her but those were surely overshadowed for whatever he felt for Tamako and… she earnestly had no intention of changing that.

"Miroku, why did you let Sango go?"

Her tone had altered from irritation to a curious hush, her hazels had softened on the plants before her, and a small frown had penetrated her pink lips. He had been bothering her about her relationship, it was the least he could do to tell her the truth. "If it were not for my wind tunnel, my cruse… I would not have. I would have fought for her, for her affections instead of allowing them to go to Rensei. I will most likely die, I have accepted that, but this way she will have someone else when that time comes… someone that she loves, someone that can comfort her if my death affects her."

"It will," Kagome sped, "it will, I know it will. She still has feelings for you, too, I just know it."

"It is a little selfish of me, I must admit, but I hope she does," he smiled before standing up, "it will be dawn soon, Inuyasha will be up and in a rush to get everything ready so we can leave, I am sure, we should prepare."

"Alright," she sighed with a small nod of her head before she gradually got to her feet as well, "don't do anything Miroku-sama, promise me."

"Why, Kagome-sama, I am insulted that you would think—"

"Miroku-sama," she dragged out flatly.

"I promise not to do anything I normally wouldn't," he guaranteed.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"I will be good, I assure you," somehow, his charming smile did the very opposite.

x-•°•°•-x

Midway through the day they had segregated into groups within their traveling pack, Miroku and Kagome in the back, Sango and Inuyasha in the middle, and Tamako in the lead since she was the one that actually knew the way. There had been quite a bit of conversation between them all and whatever resentment that was in the air that usually left Kagome out of it was gone while their old comrade traveled with them. She assumed that was because it seemed like old times, for the exclusion of Tamako being around. Yet, the conversation had died down as the sun rose higher in the sky and all became wary of their journey and were privately eager for a break.

Apparently, that made for the perfect point for Miroku to start something, "play along," he whispered to Kagome before his wandering, cursed, hand found its way from his side to her behind. Instantly, she froze up only to come to her senses a second later to slap her hand across his face.

"What are you doing!" Earned the entire group's attention.

"I cannot help myself," Miroku proclaimed apologetically as he rubbed his wounded cheek, "you have grown into such a lovely lady, Kagome-sama. Over your absent you have matured in a fine woman."

"That doesn't give you an excuse to grope me," she exclaimed while she clenched her fists.

Before he continued on his respectful rant he glanced over to his friend to make sure he had his golden gazed attention, which he did, completely. "You know, Kagome-sama, when this is all over you would make a wonderful mother for Michio. I would be honored if you would consider the proposal."

Her eyes widened as she gawked at the fully confident man beside him, swiftly her stare flickered about to everyone in the group until it locked onto the glaring hanyou. All the pieces fell into place as she relaxed; he was trying to incense Inuyasha. That was one of his weaknesses, jealousy; even if his feelings for her were mild at best he wouldn't like to hear that at all. She was almost certain that Miroku's sole goal was to try and coax a response out of Inuyasha, anything that would prove that there was still affection left in him for Kagome.

"Is that so?" She sighed as she shook her head, "stop acting funny, Miroku-sama."

"I would be completely fine if you simply called me 'Miroku' from now on," he assured. He particularly relished the look that his friend was giving him, one step further and Inuyasha might actually punch him. Though, he doubted he actually wanted that to happen.

It wasn't out of an need to spark envy from Inuyasha but the simple fact that she would honestly prefer to drop the suffixes all together, she had been absent from Japan and that system for long enough that she had to think about adding them to the end of names. "Okay, but then you'd have to call me just 'Kagome'."

"Agreed," and with that their scandalous conversation ceased and Tamako suggested a break under the shade of a few trees.

"You are an idiot, Miroku," Kagome whispered before they reached their destination.

"You know I was just—"

"Trying to meddle when you shouldn't," she grumbled, "I know but…" she just nodded towards Sango. Miroku raised a brow at that before he looked over to see the strange look she was giving them, it wasn't until then that realization struck him. His good cheer evaporated just like that, his goal had been to entice a response from Inuyasha… he hadn't thought that Sango would take it the wrong way, too.

"Sango," he meekly approached while the rest sat down for the much needed break from their long day's walk, "may I speak to you, in private?"

"Yes, Houshi-sama," she replied and allowed him to lead the way just inside the sheltered forest, "what is it?"

"Sango, about what I just said to Kagome—"

"Honestly, Houshi-sama, I do not care, please do not think that I will bear a grudge against you two. I think you would make a fine couple and if you want to be with her it is up to you. I will support both of you. Really," she insisted when she noticed he was about to try and break in, "I think it is rather perfect. Everyone could be with the one that they should, Tamako and Inuyasha, me and… Rensei."

"Is that true?" Miroku murmured as his brows flexed together and lips curled into a subtle frown, "would you really not care?"

She knew what he was implying, she could see it in the way he looked at her, for a moment she remained mute before she assured, faintly, "I am in love with Rensei."

He knew she did… he did, and he supported the two, honestly, but to hear it was like a knife through his heart all the same. Nevertheless, he felt the need to inform her of the truth, just in case there was still a part of her that harbored feelings for him. "Thank you, Sango… either way, though, I have no intention of such a relationship with Kagome. I only said those things to irk Inuyasha and prompt a response from him—"

"You shouldn't do that," she snapped, "did Kagome ask you to?"

"No, she told me not to, actually," he muttered.

"Then listen to her, Houshi-sama. After everything that we have all been through… just leave Tamako to Inuyasha. In the end, Kagome will most likely return to her world, do you really wish to put him through that again? Don't you remember how crushed he was last time?" Her stiff features gave way to a compassionate contour, "I could not bear to see him like that once more. Tamako makes him happy now, she has told me often that when Naraku is gone she has no intention of leaving Inuyasha's side, she truly adores him. Why would you try to ruin that? Kagome made her choice, she left. She left without as much as a goodbye to any of us. Let Inuyasha have his happiness. Leave it be," was the last thing she requested, more like demanded, before she walked off once more.

Was that really all she meant to say to him…? He had hoped that she would have shown at least a flicker of relief in hearing that he had no intention to be with another. His shouldered hung heavy as he sighed and returned to the others as well, had all the fondness truly faded?

x-•°•°•-x

As of late she had not been very good about practicing her archery skills so she took the time allotted for their break to wander a little way in the forest with her bow and barrel of arrows to perfect her aiming once more. Still, she was not back to the level she had been before she left. It was just so hard to switch from a more advanced bow back to something that was essentially just a bent piece of wood and a string—she knew it was more than that, it probably took great skill to craft a bow, but it was nothing like the ones she could buy in her era.

She had carved a target into a tree some distance away yet after three tries had failed to the hit the center spot. With a deep breath she pulled back her string once more and focused all the more on the dot ahead of her, with another she released the arrow only to cringe and retract her hand from the bow as the arrow struck right by the middle spot.

"Ouch," she muttered as she shook her hand that had been grazed by the staunch feathers, that was always the trouble with shooting a bow. It was like picking splinters out.

"You are doing well," a familiar voice encouraged. She jumped some and twisted around to see that Tamako had been watching her.

"If I may," Tamako requested as she picked up her bow and another arrow, "try that again, just don't release the arrow this time."

"Alright," Kagome mumbled as she did just that, she felt ever so odd as Tamako walked about her, analyzing her stance and adjusting her here and there.

"There, that should be better, try once more," Tamako asked and grudgingly Kagome turned her attention back to the target and focused once more before shooting the arrow at it. She couldn't help but get a little giddy when she saw that she had finally struck the center. "Very well done, Kagome-san."

"Thank you for your help," she chimed in return.

Tamako nodded as her smile slowly faded into a meek one at best, "Kagome-san… I… I know of your past relationship with Inuyasha. I know how close you two were… I know that you cared a great deal about each other."

She had expected this conversation to have come sooner, if it was going to happen at all, so she respectfully lowered both her bow and gaze, what was she to say to that?

"I would just… really like to know if you plan to try and rekindle that," Tamako modestly inquired, "you must know that I feel very strongly towards him. I respect you, Kagome-san, you are Kikyou's reincarnation, you helped everyone a great deal at the start of the jewel hunt, you have grave powers, I would just like the to be shown the same respect. If you wish to attempt to earn your place in Inuyasha's heart once more, please tell me now. I do not wish to be taken by surprise later, I would like to prepare myself for the possibility of losing him…"

Her eyes shot up to the timid, evasive, gaze that Tamako held. That was more than sensible, more than reasonable, there was no aggression in her voice—if anything, there was a pinch of pain. She just wanted to know, and didn't she have every right to? Hadn't she been the one by his side all this time?

"Tamako-san, I respect you, too, and… and I have no intention of restoring our former relationship. Whatever feelings we once shared… I don't think they can compare to the way he feels for you. I honestly don't want to get in the way," though, it hurt her to say so, she couldn't hide that in her voice nor in her hazels, but it was the truth.

She could not, would not, win Inuyasha's heart back only to break it all over again.

"Thank you for your honesty, Kagome-san," Tamako bowed her head before she turned to go back to where all the others rested. She did not get far before she paused to say, "he… he missed you a great deal. I know that he does not act like it but I think he is pleased you are back, I don't know if that helps at all."

"Thank you," she whispered back as the priestess faded away. It took all the strength she had at that moment not to let the tinge in her eyes spark any tears.

x-•°•°•-x

"This seems eerie," Tamako observed as she took a step closer to the hanyou by her side, "but this is where my sensei said the spring would be."

They had to enter an abnormally luscious yet gloomy forest and head all the way to the center, turning here and there at certain landmarks as Tamako had been instructed. There was a low mist that hovered above the ground all around, vines that hung from the tree and an odd blue tint to everything around them.

"It's so strange there has to be something here," Sango rationalized as her mahoganies moved over the scenery, "it is sort of pretty, surreal, peaceful…"

"It's very quiet," Kagome mumbled, nothing good ever came from such an uncanny silence.

"Who goes there?" A feminine voice echoed about them, swiftly they all backed into a circle and out of reflex reached for the weapons.

"We are here for the Shinsei Spring," Tamako announced, "we were told that this is where it is located. We have a friend who has been cursed and is in desperate need for its curing powers."

"Is that so?" The voice inquired, the echo did not follow that time so they could all turn to see the little, old lady with quite the intimidating expression, "it is hard for people to find their way here because you were able to I will allow you to use the spring." Her old, gray, hazy eyes wandered over each of the members, lingering more so on Kagome and Miroku than the rest, "who is this 'friend'?"

"I am," Miroku announced as he stepped towards her, "my hand has been cursed for generations now."

"This way, everyone follow me," she ordered with a nod of her head before she turned and maneuvered over large roots to a secluded temple, a small bit of water was visible from behind it.

"Why's there an old lady here?" Inuyasha muttered to which Tamako only shrugged her shoulders.

"I have been the guardian of this spring for well over two hundred years now, hanyou," the woman replied sharply.

"Keh, whatever, you smell like a human," he scoffed back.

"It is thanks to the spring that I have lived for such a long time," she explained, "be respectful, hanyou, or I will expel you from here."

"I'd like to see you try," he ridiculed.

"I'm so sorry, he's just rude," Tamako apologized as she smacked him upside his head, "please forgive him."

"You may go inside my home," the woman allowed with a tilt of her head, "there is some tea. Cursed man, come with me, I will show you the proper way of cleansing yourself within the spring."

"Thank you," Miroku bowed his head slightly as he followed her behind the temple while the rest entered the well kept temple to find that tea they were promised.

"I hope that this works," Sango simply vocalized what they all had been thinking.

"Just have faith that it will," Tamako requested. "I do."

"I hope it does," Inuyasha assured, "or else all this would have been a waste of time."

"Girl," the old woman's raspy voice caught all of them by surprise. "Come with me," she ordered as she pointed to Kagome and then curled her index finger a few times, "I would like to speak to you privately."

"Okay," she mumbled as she got to her feet, her eyes met with each of her cautious companions before she exited out the back with the woman. There was a steaming hot spring in the back, divided in half by a high wooden fence. "The spring is a hot spring?"

"Yes, it's a common misconception," the woman retorted before she stopped right at the edge of the rocky ground around it, "please take off your clothes."

"What? Why?" Kagome countered quickly.

"I have a keen ability to tell when one is on the brink of death, those who come here often always are. The monk is obviously cursed, his is visible with that tunnel in his right hand, but you, too, are cursed. Am I wrong?" The awestruck look that she got in return confirmed her suspicion, "you have made it here, as well, why not try to use the spring to cure yours?"

"Will it… really work?" She muttered as her hand clenched the shikon shards she wore around her neck.

"You use those to slow the progression of what ails you," the old keeper mused, "it is a wise idea, I am sure it works well, better than nothing, don't they?"

"Yes," she replied softly as her hazels darted to the ground, "how can you tell all this?"

"I have seen many cursed souls come here, now, please, remove your clothes and enter the water gradually. It takes time to adjust to the heat. Your friends do not know of your curse, I presume?" To that, she simply nodded as she slowly started to discard her boots, jeans, and jacket. "I will respect your wish of keeping this private; if they ask where you have gone to I will tell them I had you help me collect a few herbs. I assume they would believe that, I can tell you have considerable spiritual powers that help to stage off the curse some, too."

"Thank you," she mumbled before she followed the instructions and little by little entered the hot water until she was able to sit down, she had pulled her hair up in a high ponytail to make sure it would not get wet so the others would not notice she had been in the water. It felt even more soothing than the usual hot spring and she found it easy to relax against the wall of it and shut her eyes. The steam was like aromatherapy, the water like a gentle message against her body, and the heat ever so comforting.

Her curse… the true reason she could never be close to Inuyasha again, why she would openly allow Tamako the pleasure of being by his side. Just like Miroku, she wanted someone to be there for Inuyasha if she were to pass while she was in the feudal era. Though, she had every intention of winning the battle against Naraku and then returning to hers before the curse took its full affect on her body but… even the best laid plans often failed. She reluctantly opened her eyes to reach out and take the rose, ruby ring that she always wore and examine it.

"I suppose… if I'm lucky, I'll see you soon," she muttered to no one. It was a while longer before the old woman returned to beacon her out of the water and hand her a towel so she could dry herself before she put her clothes back on.

"I am sorry," was never a good way to start a sentence, so she braced herself for whatever was to come. "The demonic nature of your curse… it is different than any in which I have encountered. It is as if there is this… this festering black haze building around your chest, it feels like no other curse I have ever stumbled upon… the spring did not help you, but I can tell that the jewel shards are at least fighting it off to give you more time. Though… in the process the shards are slowly becoming tainted, too."

"Yes, I know," she whispered as she lifted her hands to cup the shikon shards once more, that's the real reason I won't let Inuyasha take them from me… maybe that's wrong but…

"Your friends are waiting for you," snapped her out of her lamenting thoughts and with a sigh she was able to recompose herself before entering the temple once more.

x-•°•°•-x

"Oh, Miroku-sama, that is wonderful news," Tamako gleeful clapped.

"Did it work?" Kagome quickly questioned, the good joy that emanated from the group gave her hope that it did.

"Not completely," he replied as he turned his attention to her, "it's not gone but it has reverted back considerably. I believe it is at the same level it was when I first met you and Inuyasha."

"That must mean you have a lot more time now," Sango smiled which earned Miroku's full attention, of course. "I am glad to hear that, Houshi-sama."

"It's a good thing this wasn't all a waste of time," which was, they all knew, Inuyasha's way of expressing his happiness over the matter.

"I was thinking while I was in the spring," Miroku began cautiously, "that if it worked… that I would travel with all of you once more."

"What about your son?" Kagome inquired, "do you really think that is for the best?"

"It is my responsibility to protect him and the best way to do that is to get rid of this curse once and for all, to make sure that he does not have to grow up with it, that his family will not be burdened with it, either. This needs to end," he emphasized.

"Are you sure…?" She kept up warily, "it is up to you, of course, Miroku but… it would be hard for him to grow up without a father, too."

To that he weakly smiled, "I hope that not to be the case but…"

"This is great," Inuyasha interrupted with an odd amount of excitement which won everyone's sole attention, "that means we'll have another good fighter on our side! The more help the better, I'm sure we'll finally kill Naraku if you come traveling with us again."

"And, as awful as it sounds," Tamako added, "it has always been of great assistance how your acquire inn rooms for us. We have been staying in forest a great deal more since you have left."

"Oh, you needn't worry about that, I will be sure to fix that," Miroku promised, "can we return to Mushin's? I would like to tell him and Hachi my plan and… say goodbye to Michio."

"Of course," Sango assured.

"Then we really have to go after Naraku," Inuyasha pressured, "I'm sick of all this delaying."

"Yes, yes, Inuyasha," Tamako sighed.

"Shut up, Tamako," he grunted only to earn a gasp from her, "sorry…"

Though, she was not sure if it was the best of ideas to have Miroku part ways with his infant son… she couldn't lie, she was glad to have his company back.

{~¤°•.¤°•.¤°•.¤°•.¤°•.~}

The atmosphere about the Bone Eater's Well became bleak as the sky grew gray with thick, all-consuming, clouds that blocked out any chance of rays shinning down on the vine covered passage. Gradually, the greenery that sprouted on and about it wrinkled and dried up to flake away as the well shook more and more until a large, black, blur of smoke shot out of the channel between eras to flitter into the clouds and make them all the darker.


Globe Amaranth: Unchangeable