Chapter Fourteen;
"You're leaving, aren't you?"
The small miko jumped, a squeak passing over her lips as she steadied herself. She had been lost deep in her thoughts, trapped in her worries, and she hadn't heard the Monk approach. Turning, she gazed sadly upon one of her oldest friends. "Inuyasha thinks its time to move on." She whispered. It was easier to blame Inuyasha and his bull headedness than admit that even she had a sinking feeling in her stomach. Someone was out there hunting those with exceptional spiritual power and she was a miko. Staying in a village that was taunting a monster wasn't the safest of choices.
"You don't think that Kohaku could protect you?" Miroku asked, frowning slightly.
"I think Inuyasha feels like your daughter would be happier without us here. She didn't seem to happy we had finally returned." Kagome spoke softly, crossing her arms over her chest.
"Michiko doesn't know what she's saying. Sometimes I think she's felt Sango's loss more than any of us," Miroku explained.
At the mention of her best friends name, Kagome flinched slightly. She had been so excited to return to this time, so excited to be reunited with the Tajiha again… never had she expected that Sango's life would have been extinguished long before her return. "I understand."
"We only just got you back, lady Kagome." Miroku spoke, his voice pleading as he crossed the distance between them, placing a hand gently upon her shoulder. "Give us the chance to prove that we are still the loyal allies you remember."
Kagome kept her eyes downcast, unable to meet his gaze. "It's not safe for me here, Miroku." She finally admitted. "You heard Kohaku. This Erai is hunting spiritual power. I have Kikyo's running through my veins. Word is going to get out sooner or later that Inuyasha and I are back and once that happens I don't know it…"
"You don't know if we could protect you." He finished for her, the disappointment evident on his face.
"A lot has changed, Miroku. Twenty years have passed for you, but for Inuyasha it was only three days. I've been out of practice with a bow for an entire year. Who knows if I can even protect myself?" She could hear the desperation in her voice. "I need to stay with Inuyasha. For the sake of both my heart and my wellbeing. You understand, don't you?"
Miroku lifted his chin slightly, smiling down at her in a reassuring way. "He's loved you longer than I've known him, lady Kagome." Miroku reassured her. "He'll keep you safe. I have no doubt of that."
"You're not upset?" Kagome asked, reaching up to gently grasp the hand that rested upon her shoulder.
"No," Miroku pulled her into his arms, hugging her tightly. "You have to take care of yourself."
"Thank you," She whispered, hugging him back tightly.
"I've talked to my children. Once I realized you were leaving, I sat them both down. You'll be amazed how similar their fighting styles are to those Sango and I once possessed." Miroku smiled proudly.
"I'm sure you trained them well." Kagome took a half step back, looking up at her friend with quizzical eyes.
"You'll take them with you." Miroku stated, a demand not an offer.
"I don't know if Inuyasha will be comfortable with that." Kagome frowned, chewing on her bottom lip lightly.
"You've both been gone from this world for twenty years. It's not the same place you remember. When you came back you expected to have a Monk and a Demon Slayer at your side, didn't you?" He asked, the corner of his lips pulling up in a sarcastic smile.
"I suppose…" Kagome's eyes narrowed, realizing immediately that she was being led into a trap.
"Simply look at them as if they were us. Michiko may be brash and hard to deal with sometimes… but I'm sure you can handle her. Look at what you did to Inuyasha. You turned a snarling beast into a puppy." Miroku teased.
"I heard that, ya damn lecher." Inuyasha growled, entering the cabin behind them. "We're not talking your brood with us."
"I implore you to reconsider. How many battles have we won by sticking together?" Miroku asked, raising a brow. "How many times would you have died if not for Sango and I?"
"Yeah, Sango and you. Not your damn kids." Inuyasha huffed, throwing Kagome's bow and arrows over his shoulder. "I've already got my damn hands full carrying her and Shippo."
"I'm going with you?" Shippo piped up from the corner, a wide smile crossing over his lips.
"Of course you are," Kagome grinned, kneeling down so Shippo could come into her arms. Gently she lifted him, rising back to her full height. "I spent too much time without you already," she cooed, nuzzling him lightly.
"Michiko and Sachio are really good fighters, Inuyasha." Shippo chimed in from the safety of Kagome's arms.
"Keh. I don't care how good of fighters you think they are. They ain't coming with us and that's final!"
"Maybe we should consider it, Inuyasha." Kagome spoke, reaching out and placing a gentle hand upon his arm. "Miroku's right. There are countless times we both would have died without them. The extra strength wouldn't hurt us."
"Yeah but that damn wench might," he huffed, referring to Miroku's daughter. "She made it pretty damn clear she doesn't like us."
"She's hurt," Kagome explained, rolling her eyes lightly. "She thinks we're the reason her mother is dead." She watched as both boys visibly flinched. "Maybe we owe it to Sango to show them their wrong?"
Inuyasha huffed. "But don't come crying to me when they get themselves killed."
Miroku and Kagome shared a knowing smile. "I wouldn't dream of it, my friend."