Title: Motivation

Author: landofthekwt

Rating: PG-13

Prompt: Motive (Miroku/Sango Fiction#20)

Word Count: 579

Genre: Introspection

CU

Warning: None

Summary; Inuyasha examines Miroku's motivations

Inuyasha half-heartedly listened to the discussion between the headman and Miroku. For him it was nothing new. He had heard the same spiel so many times he could almost repeat word for word in his sleep.

Miroku had been easy to classify. The man was a lecher, a thief, a conman. Motivated by the basest of human emotions. Lust and greed. The man had shown his true colors the first time he met them. Stealing the Jewel. Rubbing Kagome's butt and asking her to bear his child.

It was easy to expect the worst from him Miroku usually did not disappoint. Everywhere they went on the quest he had lied and cheated for lodging. Blackmail and swindling parents of a sick child with phoney medicine were not beyond. him

They had met several girls who longed for him because he asked them years before if they would bear his child. His refusal to give up other women even in his proposal to Sango proved Inuyasha's point.

It was only when Miroku did not act like a lecher that Inuyasha was confused. Both he and Shippou had assumed that Miroku was empty beneath his slick veneer.

The actions Miroku was taking here were similar to his modus operandi. Asking one bale of rice for each offuda was clearly theft. Miroku left killing the beast to Inuyasha.

It was Miroku's rationale that had changed. Before Miroku had been lying and stealing to feed his lusts for wine, women and song. In that he was no different from the old drunk who had raised him.

Now he said that he charged more to feed his growing family. Inuyasha still found it hard to believe that Miroku cared. They did spend a lot of time on the road. Miroku had just missed the birth of his third child in order to get more money from youkai extermination.

What gave Inuyasha pause was the feeling that he got when he was in the bosom of their family. He could see the actual bonds of love which existed in the growing family.

Sango actually seemed to have found her vocation as a wife and mother. Inuyasha had always worried about how unhappy she was. All of the angst in her life seemed to have dissipated. She now had a motivation to live.

This motivation was having an effect on Miroku. His actions might be no different from before. They were now motivated by a desire to provide for his family.

Inuyasha had never thought that he would ever be jealous of Miroku. He had never had any respect for the monk. But now Miroku had something. A family. A wife and children who loved him. A home.

Inuyasha had been motivated by Kagome to fight harder. He was always faster and stronger when she was around. He knew that he loved Kagome, but he had actually thought about marrying her and raising a family with her until now.

Now he could see what Miroku saw. He could understand Miroku's motives. If Kagome ever came back, he wanted that for himself. No longer would he be fighting youkai for himself. He would be fighting to provide a home for his wife and their children.

To think that owed this enlightenment to Miroku. It almost made one believe in miracles. If wishes did come true maybe the kami would kind to him and allow Kagome to come through the well and give him the motivation that Miroku had.