KEY:

Dialogue

Inner Thoughts

Inner Yokai

Disclaimer: I'm too poor to own anything. .

Chapter 25: We're not a team.

(Miroku's POV)

What just happened?

Miroku watched as his half demon friend was dragged away from their campsite into the dim lit forest by his demonic half brother. It took him a moment to mentally process the situation before he started up to follow the two. Last thing the mishmash group needed was a fight between their two leader. Before he could, however, he was blindsided by the demon named Gaara.

He placed a firm hand on Miroku's shoulder. His head hanging low as he tried to breathe through his broken nose. "I wouldn't …" he used his other hand to wipe his bloody nose before he looked at the monk. His emerald eyes glistened, reflect the campfire flame that sat at their side. "Trust me, you do not want to get in between two Inu demons fighting."

Miroku looks towards the path said demons had traveled before he returned his gaze to the tanuki demon. "Alright...I can understand the reluctance. However this group is already in discordance. The last thing we need is our two leaders fighting."

Gaara sighed taking that in before he gave a bloody smile. He backed up from the monk and the kitsune who stood by his side and casually rubbed his hand up his neck. It was such a relaxed gesture. It made Miroku notice Gaara wasn't all that gazed by the situation at all. Even despite the fact that he had blood gushing out of his nose and seeping into his mouth. He was too calm about this.

"I suppose you right." Gaara shrugged. However he didn't move from his place in from of Miroku.

"...but you're still in my way?" Gaara shrugged again. This time however he glanced over at Miroku.

"Well it would've been foolish to believe those two would not fight on this journey. From what I heard from Sesshomaru they do not have the cleanest track record. From what I know about those dog demons, they are the most hot blooded and stubborn bunch you will ever meet." Miroku's hand tightened on his staff and he looked down at his feet. The demon had a point. They should have expected this. Especially knowing Inuyasha. He suppose with what Inuyasha told him he forgot who it was he was dealing with.

"Okay you are correct but we can't let them fight." Miroku still tried to protest but it was beginning to feel weak.

"Why not? That's how dog demons handle their problem. When Sesshomaru was younger his father Lord Inutaisho use to bend him over one knee and spank the living shit out of him. After he got older, however, the two use to have full on battles. Sesshomaru normally lost the 'Who was alpha' fights but in the end it always calm down the conflict no matter how severe it was." Miroku stared at Gaara who casually babbled about the Lord of the West. When he mentioned the bit about Sesshomaru being spanked Miroku couldn't help but look around in fear that the demon would return at that very moment. He would admit he had not expected the tanuki to know so much about Sesshomaru's life it made him wonder what else he could possibly know about Inuyasha's family.

"They have fought before. It didn't help." this time Shippo spoke up. Throughout the entirety of this trip the little kit had kept mostly to himself. The only interactions he had made were with Kagome whenever she would offer him a treat to brighten his mood. "What makes you think it will work now?"

"Hmmm…" Gaara takes a contemplative look before he smiled once again. "Because before they fought as enemies. Now they will fight as brothers." He winked at Shippo who swiftly retreated behind Miroku's leg. Immediately Miroku got defensive but When Gaara visibly sighed his disappointment Miroku began to feel just a little bit bad.

"Ugh, my nose. You think you could move it back into place for me so it could begin its healing process." Gaara walked away and took a seat by the fire. Shippo who had stayed tight by Miroku's side began to pull away. His high pitch yawn ringing through the clearing before he crawled into the tent.

Miroku looked at the pathway once more before he sighed and walked over to Gaara.

He took a look at the nasty wound, wincing slightly when he recalled how it was acquired. "I swear it feels worse than it looks."

Miroku paused for a moment and looked at Gaara. He had quite the humor. He was practically jumped by Inuyasha and all he did was make jokes about the pain. In fact, when Inuyasha attacked him Gaara didn't even lift a finger. "Why didn't you fight back?"

"What?" Gaara's eyebrows furrowed for a moment before his emeralds eyes lit up with realization. "Oh! You mean against Inuyasha? No way! Lay hands on the second son of the late Inu-No-Taisho aka Sesshomaru's brother. I will pass." Gaara stared at Miroku waiting for a response that would never come. He was too wrapped around his own thoughts to continue the conversation.

What was going on here? He felt like Gaara knew more about this situation then anyone of them, including Inuyasha and Sesshomaru. But how...how could he possibly already know the endgame.

"What are you doing?" Miroku's head snapped up and turned to look at...well he wasn't sure. It wasn't a man he knew that but nothing about it felt demonic. No his presence was too airy like he was barely even there. He had a head of bright blonde hair and piercing blue eyes to complement his pale features. "I surely do hope you weren't planning on putting his nose into place like that."

The man reached by Miroku's side and pulled out a nice little box. He opened it swiftly and pulled out a plethora of medical equipment Miroku could not even pronounce. The monk stepped aside. Clearly this was not his area of expertise and therefore not his place. He watched as the man gently cleaned all of Gaara's, mostly healed, wounds. He fixed his nose in place so it could begin to heal properly in place. By the time the man was done Gaara was all bandaged up. The healer wiped a collection of sweat off of his forehead before he stared down proudly at his work.

"Alright then, All better. So tell me, are you going to stop getting yourself into trouble so I wouldn't always have to patch you up in the end." Gaara shrugged before he laughed sheepishly at the comment.

"If I am to be completely honest, Forte, I would love to learn the answer to that question myself." The man, now known as Forte rolled his eyes before he began to clean up all of his medical equipment. It was all so casual. The way they all spoke to each other. It made Miroku wonder if maybe there was so much more to their relationship than what met the eye.

Miroku shook the thought away, instead he focused on a different topic. Something that was more pressing to their current situations.

"Why did you bait Inuyasha like that?" Forte and Gaara both looked at the monk. Forte's eyes gleamed with confusions and he immediately turned towards Gaara. The tanuki demon seemed hardly fazed by the question. Instead he gave a cocky smile and leaned back.

"To be honest I didn't know he had such a deadly right hook." Miroku sighed letting his palm connect with his forehead.

Was this guy serious? He thought. One look at the demon said he was.

"You mean to tell me you did all of that just to tease Inuyasha? I'm sorry Gaara but you not helping your case." Gaara paused for a moment, his smile fading. It was strange to him hearing the monk say his name and the scolding tone but he shook the thought away quickly.

"No...I baited the half-breed because he was asking for it. And I mean that in the most respectful way possible. His insecurities were practically seeping out of his pores." Gaara responded. His voice lacked humor so Miroku was sure he meant what he said.

"1. You're not allowed to call him a half-breed. He's got a name and it's Inuyasha." Miroku step forward and leaned down so he was in the demon's face. "2. You telling me you sensed his insecurities only tells me you're a cruel person who throws people's weakness in their faces. I'm sorry Gaara but that makes you very unlikable in my book." Miroku's glare could kill and Gaara's was deadly. He stood up forcing Miroku to take a step back.

"Cruel? Like the kind of cruel that comes with negatively prejudging a person you barely even know. Be honest...Miroku, before you even knew me you automatically hated me because of who I was. A demon. Let's not pretend this had anything to do with Inuyasha or the little kit for that matter. So, if I'm to play the villain in your story why are you bothering to pretend to try and get to know me? You have already written the chapters you're just waiting for it all to fall together." Gaara's eyes flashed the bright demonic color of red that Miroku had grown so accustomed to fighting. Immediately his mind was alerted of danger and he reached for his covered up hand. His secret weapon; the wind tunnel. Before things could escalate or get out of hands the healer stepped between them.

"I'm sure we are all just a little unsettled with the current arrangement. There is no reason for us to get unhinged." Miroku took a step back waiting for Gaara's stance to relaxes. The demon slumped back into his seat looking away into the flames of their campfire. A sign that the monk could relaxes. Miroku took that signed and turned away from the demons. He began make his way to one of their tents when Gaara's voice called for his attention.

"I wasn't baiting Inuyasha. I was addressing the issue. Because if I didn't. If he stayed insecure about his brother it would tear this group apart. The discrimination, hatred, and anger this group has will cost us our life we don't get it together. Especially if we don't before we battle Naraku." Miroku side glanced at Gaara before he stepped into the tent. He took a slow meditative breath before he plopped himself down on the ground.

The tent provided him with the privacy he needed. He took a moment, trying to center himself. Recalling all of his Buddhist practices to aid him in his meditation. He needed to calm down. Re-evaluate the day events.

He'd lost control back there. In fact he was embarrassed to say that he'd even reacted that way. Despite all of his travels with Inuyasha he never realised he still has such strong prejudice views about demons. Despite hunting demons he always viewed it as necessary. In the name of righteousness, in defense of good. But had he, in his own light been holding on to some traditional hateful idea. On most occasions his answer would be no but after the way he responded to Gaara maybe he was wrong.

Miroku opened his eyes and looked over at the far corner of the tent and looked at Shippo's sleeping back. Traveling with Inuyasha and Shippo had not made the monk anymore open minded. He was a fool for thinking it did.

Gaara was correct. Inuyasha and Sesshomaru needed to get their mess together. If they didn't it would tear this whole operation apart and it would cost them their life. The group was too different to cooperate any other way. Just look at tonight for example and it was only the first day.

Miroku rubbed his thumb against his concealed palm. What had he even planned to do with this? He better than anyone knew its destructive power. Why would he even risk that? He suppose Gaara's presence was that imposing to him.

Still he of all people had to have a more level head. That could never happen again.

A/N: Okay so already the group is having a little bit of tension with each other. It only been one night however. Could this get worse or will the two brothers fix the wreckage before it worsen.