Chapter 22
In the Light of Day
She was a coward. A gutless, sniveling coward.
What else could Kagome call herself as she laid her head on the table beside her breakfast? What had she been thinking; trying to seduce information out of Miroku? She was more than a coward, she was a complete idiot!
After her disaster of trying to sneak into the hoshi's room, Kagome had chickened out all together and rushed back to her room. However, as soon as she was alone in the dark, her thoughts had raced in horrifying possibilities that had kept her up all night.
The one mercy she had was that Miroku had been asleep through the whole humiliating escapade. Kagome had no idea what she'd do if he'd actually seen her creep into his room like a pervert. Probably die of embarrassment.
And, to make matters worse, she was no-closer to figuring out the answers she needed.
Groaning in frustration, Kagome banged her fist against the tabletop.
"If you wish something else, I'm sure Master Mushin will happily oblige you."
Snapping her head off the table's surface, Kagome blinked up at Miroku's serenely smiling face. If she felt low before, the open expression on his face dropped her further. She was a horrible person.
"No, it's fine," she replied, glancing down at her bowl. "I'm just not that hungry."
"Had a hard night?" Miroku ventured as he joined her.
Kagome blushed as she nodded wordlessly. He had no idea.
"Couldn't sleep," she muttered.
"Ah, yes," Miroku mused cheerfully. "That can kill an appetite real quick. Perhaps I'll join you on your fast. I had the strangest dream last night."
Kagome froze. Oh, no.
"A beautiful woman snuck into my room," Miroku elaborated, causing Kagome's throat to seize sharply.
No!
"And, then disappeared," he finished with a look of deep contemplation. "Truly, a very strange vision. Don't you think?"
Kagome forced the lump in her throat down as she nodded slightly. "Yeah," she squeaked. "Weird."
"It makes you wonder what the beauty wanted," Miroku continued. "And, what could have frightened her into flight."
Kagome cringed as she rubbed her brow with her fingers. This was just getting worse and worse.
"Miroku—"
"It's just such a strange thing," Miroku mused. "Is there some opinion you'd like to add, Lady Kagome? Maybe a question you'd like to ask?"
Kagome didn't think her face to grow any redder. Her cheeks and neck felt absolutely blazing.
"I'm so sorry, Miroku," she whispered.
"Was there something I was missing, Kagome?" the hoshi asked calmly. "Some hint or clue I should have picked up on?"
"No!" Kagome quickly answered, her voice rising in blind panic before she forced it to settle. "No, I just…. It was…. Can we just forget it ever happened?"
Kagome was so sure the hoshi would argue her request. However, he simply nodded in quiet agreement.
"If that is what you wish," he said gently. "But, please believe me when I say this, Kagome. You can talk to me about anything, if it will help."
Everything in Kagome was screaming at her to let it go, to take her own advice and forget it all. But, as she watched him stand and make for the room's door, she couldn't stop the question bursting from out of her.
"What is your fight with Naraku?"
Freezing mid-step, Miroku may have had his back facing her but Kagome could tell her question had taken him off-guard. A part of her hated shattering the peace between them but there was no un-ringing the bell now.
"I know you've been looking for him and you're keeping something from me," Kagome pressed, seeing no point in delaying. "And, I don't doubt you wanted to help me but…. If you have some stake in this fight, I need to know. I know you might not want to talk about it but—"
"You're right," Miroku answered, causing Kagome to blink in stunned surprise. "I have been hiding something from you. And, you need to know."
Taking a deep breath, he continued. "I'd been wondering what had been blocking you as far as your training is concerned. What worries had been plaguing your mind. I admit, I'd assumed it was Koga and his pack. And, to a degree, perhaps it is. But, it's more than that. You worry over whether you can trust me or not. Worry that I'm trying to deceive you, using you. Correct?"
Kagome felt her tongue grow heavy at the challenge. However, she managed a strained, "Yes."
"I can't say I blame you for our fears," Miroku mused softly. "After years of running, how would you know who to trust?"
"Miroku—"
"I will put those fears to rest," he continued. "Come with me."
With that, he left the room, leaving Kagome to blink in slack-jawed shock. Had…. that just happened?
Not wanting to make Miroku wait any-longer than she had to, Kagome quickly rushed after him into the crisp morning air.
The fresh layer of snow glistened in the light, the sky surprising clear for a winter day. The sharp bite of the wind nipped at Kagome's nose but she ignored the feeling as she caught sight of Miroku's retreating back. He was walking deeper into the gardens and didn't seem like he was stopping any-time soon.
Barely able to slip her shoes over her feet Kagome raced after him through the snow, frost stinging at her ankles.
Once they made it past the gardens, Kagome wasn't sure how much longer Miroku was going to keep walking. Was he angrier than she thought? She'd never seen the hoshi give fully into his temper but, that didn't mean he wasn't capable of it. And, after everything she'd accused him of, who wouldn't be furious?
But, where on earth was he going?!
As if hearing her own thoughts, Miroku suddenly stopped in the middle of what could only be described as a field. Glancing back over her shoulder, Kagome saw that the temple was actually quite a ways away from them. A…safe distance away, if she thought about it.
"I know you are afraid of being used," Miroku replied, snapping Kagome's attention back to him. "And, if I'm brutally honest, perhaps I was in my own way. But, I need you to believe me when I say that was never my intention."
"I can only hope," he continued when Kagome felt herself lost for words. "That you above all will understand the importance of secrets. How precious they are to keep. How deep the scars can be."
"Miroku," Kagome replied but swallowed whatever else could follow.
"You said I've been hunting for Naraku," he added. "And, you're right. I have for a very long time. But, it wasn't just me. My father did for his whole life. And, his father before him. I guess you could say it is a tradition, of sorts."
"Miroku," Kagome asked softly. "Why are we out here?"
"You wanted to know what my reasons are," Miroku stated. "And, I will show you. Just please promise me you will stay behind me. No-matter what, you must remain behind me."
"Miroku, you're scaring me," Kagome gasped as she took a step back.
"You will be safe, Kagome," he promised as he lifted one of his gauntleted hands. "So, long as you remain behind me. Promise me."
"I….I promise," Kagome answered, unsure of what else to say. What could be so bad that he had to wring a vow from her?
"Very well," Miroku stated, right before he gripped the string of prayer beads wound about his wrist. "I warned you."
Kagome thought she'd seen every horrible thing that could ever happen to a human. She'd seen Sango's village destroyed overnight, humans enslaved and tortured, and consumed by heartless yokai who cared nothing for them. She'd thought nothing could shock her anymore.
She'd been wrong.
