The girl had terrible timing.
Miroku nearly screamed when he saw her striding into camp, arms stuffed full of more ramen than she'd ever dared. It wasn't that he wasn't pleased of her return – and relieved – but a couple hours difference on her end would have made his life exponentially better. Couldn't have that.
As he ushered her into the hut to help unload her cargo, she could already tell something was amiss. His anxiety was so palpable that even she could smell it.
"You didn't... tell him, did you?" she asked, knowing the risk of extending her visit home.
"No," he assured, and a sigh of relief instantly escaped smiling lips. He could not join her in the sentiment. "But Kagome-sama, you must-"
"I know," she said, placing a hand gently on his bicep, "and I will. That's what all this is for. I'm cooking all of you a huge feast, and I will break it to him after dinner."
That would have been music to his ears only a few short hours ago, regardless of how many times he'd heard something similar from her.
Misreading his frustration, her expression softened into something apologetic to match her guilt-ridden tone.
He didn't want her apologies, and not just because he had grown weary of them. All he wanted from her was what she had been promising him for weeks, and expressing her genuine regret only made him feel worse about having to lie to her.
"...It wasn't fair to push this burden on you, or Sango. You guys are my best friends, and I took advantage of that."
His only consolation was that she seemed determined to talk to Inuyasha asap, but her tardiness ensured he would need to make use of his acting skills for a little longer yet.
"But thank you for not saying anything," she smiled weakly. "I know I put you in a terrible position; and I swear, I will find a way to make it up to you."
Miroku normally had no trouble accepting misplaced accolades, and even better if he managed to profit. He was a grifter to his core, after all; and would have starved long ago if he hadn't immunized his conscious at least somewhat.
"...until then, I can only promise that it will never happen again."
A good con normally ended with a reward, but her tortured gratitude didn't benefit him.
The notorious smooth-operator was struggling with how to proceed- keeping his best interests at heart, of course, while being sure to keep his lies straight.
The miko picked up on his discomfort right away.
"Tell ya what?" she offered mischievously. "Next grope is on the house- no retaliation, okay?"
The quip didn't lighten him up like she'd hoped, and her grin fell away.
"Miroku, that was a joke," she told him flatly. The lack of lewd byplay should have raised some flags; but luckily, she was also preoccupied with other thoughts. Blue eyes scanned ramen flavors as she brushed by.
With his apology out of the way, she started mentally going over her dinnertime confession once more, while simultaneously trying to decide which flavor of noodle went best with crow.
"I mean, I can only promise I won't hurt you," she went on distractedly, pouring over the hanyou's favorites, "but I can't really speak for..."
She froze, eyes suddenly going wide as she spun back around in a panic.
"Oh my god, what happened?" she asked, hurriedly rushing over. "Is that why you're being weird?"
The accusation, the sudden scrutiny caused the nervous monk to wince, which raised Kagome's hackles.
Forcing herself into his space had him retreating a few steps, so she grabbed his robes.
"What did Sesshoumaru say when he came back?" she demanded, reading his eyes for the answers. What she found there made her voice weaken with worry. "Did something happen?"
"Nothing," he assured her, but his cadence was concerning.
"You mean... he wasn't mad when you told him?" she asked hopefully.
Miroku's pitying glare was less than promising.
"No, I mean I never told him. He hasn't come back." He delivered the news gently, but the result was still devastation. Softening further, he added; "...yet."
"He didn't come back?"
Admittedly, over the past days, Inuyasha had been her focus- but only because fixing that problem was supposed to fix them both. Two birds, one stone. Sesshoumaru would appreciate the efficiency.
And sure, she'd been prepared to return to an angry dog demon. A disappointed one, even a sad one. He was well within his rights to be all those things, and she was ready to do whatever he needed to fix it. But she hadn't prepared to return to no dog demon at all.
She knew he was upset, but this wasn't a good sign.
As Kagome's mind started scrolling through all the places he could be, and all the reasons he wouldn't bother telling her where or why he was gone longer than he promised, it became clear to Miroku that it was not a healthy exercise. He could read each of her mounting fears in her expression, and feel them saturating her aura; and while he understood her concerns, they were going to do neither of them any good.
Opening his arms, he took the distraught woman into his embrace; and for once, the notion to cop a feel never crossed his mind.
"Hey, he has super-youkai senses," he reminded her, trying to reassure with his confidence and soothing timbre. "And why would he come back if you weren't here? Not to see Inuyasha, that's for sure, heh."
He felt her muscles relax a little as she finally tilted her head. He responded by squeezing tighter and placed a chaste kiss on her crown. Resting his chin atop, he took to rocking them slightly.
"I'm sure he was just waiting to catch your scent on the wind, that's all."
The perfectly logical scenario was a likely contender, and the most favorable he considered.
He hoped Sesshoumaru was simply laying low until Kagome returned, and was happy to share that buoy with her. But as much as he hated to sow doubt, he knew she would agonize harder each second until he returned- and a controlled fire is much better than a wild one.
"...And if not, sometimes a man's pride needs time to heal." Removing his chin so she could lift her troubled gaze; a pair of warm, violet eyes secured it tenderly, like something very fragile.
"We may be outwardly stronger," he offered, "but you women have our number in that regard."
"Wounds on the heart can require some tending, especially if it was a woman who put it there."
Sesshoumaru was so strong that it was hard to imagine anything could hurt him. Was he more sensitive than he let on, or had she just been more reckless than she realized?
"You're right," she said, forcing a smile and worked to push unhelpful worries away. "He needs some space, and that's okay. I needed space too. He'll come back when he's ready."
"Sure he will," he agreed with an easy grin, relaxing his hold around her. "I am confident in that."
Miroku's calm assurances had her feeling much better. Reasonably allayed, she slid out of his grasp.
She couldn't do anything about Sesshoumaru right now, but she had other important matters to take care of that she needed to handle immediately.
"That's good," she decided, "it might give Inuyasha a chance to calm down after I finally tell him. Maybe it is for the best." She brightened determinedly. "So, where is he?"
"Who?"
"Inuyasha. I'm going to start his dinner soon." Getting back to the ramen reserves, she quickly decided on a flavor and grabbed several helpings.
"...He isn't here either."
Another tone she didn't like had her turning nervously back to her friend. She was almost afraid to ask.
"Where'd he go?"
Miroku shrugged a shoulder, jamming his thumb nonchalantly up the road. "Had something to do a few towns over. You just missed him."
He didn't seem terribly concerned, but this threw a wrench in her plans. She was ready to do this right now, and he left?
"What's he doing?" she wondered, arms still full.
"Didn't say," he shrugged again, turning to exit the hut.
"When did he say he'd be back?"
"Didn't," he called over his shoulder.
"Oh." Disappointment colored her tone as she looked at all the packages in her arms. She really wanted to carry out her stuff-him-and-tell-him plan, having had the whole thing worked out.
She hadn't expected him not to be there - either - and tried not to let it chip at her confidence.
"Well, I'll guess that feast will have to wait," she said. Turning back to the storage, she replaced most of the portions she had taken.
Miroku watched nervously as she was forced to abort her mission, yet again; trying to find solace in that this time, it wasn't her fault.
Still, she had a bad history of letting bumps in the road slow momentum to a halt.
"You're still going to tell him," he ventured carefully, "right?"
"Of course."
As she finished putting away the ramen, Miroku stepped further inside the hut.
"The moment he gets back?"
"And after he eats," she insisted, turning to him, "yes."
"Okay, because it is very important you tell him at your first opportunity. This cannot wait a moment longer."
Pinning her with a serious expression, he held her gaze meaningfully. She'd admit she let him down before, but something about him seemed off.
She furrowed her brow.
"Miroku, what-"
"Listen to me, Kagome. You must tell him as soon as he returns." If it were anyone else, his approach would have seemed menacing as he repeated his stern command.
She was used to him urging this, but it felt so much more consequential- like he was desperate.
She could understand. He was at the end of his rope, she already knew. Well, that was going to end.
"And after he eats," she repeated with an affirming nod.
He glared intensely. "Fine."
...and prayed her confidence could hold out for a few more days.
"So, you guys want me to fix you something?" she asked, still holding a couple portions. "Where's Sango?"
"Back in the hut," he gestured, "I was on my way there now, actually."
Or had been, before a miko with poor timing came traipsing back into camp. And he was quite eager to get back, not just to preserve secrets.
"Do you want anything to eat?" she asked again.
"Indeed, and there is quite the feast awaiting me back at the hut."
"Oh, Sango cooked already?" she asked innocently. His eyes took on a devilish gleam, sly grin finally returning.
"No."
"Then what..." she began, but the strange look she gave him fell away once realization set in. "Oh."
She really should have known, but she had a lot on her mind- not to mention, he was being weird today. Maybe her time away was enough to lose her fluency in pervert. At least she got some practice among the females.
"Well, I didn't mean to keep you," she waved him off dismissively. "Best go before it gets cold."
"Indeed." When he returned her knowing, wicked smile, she realized how much she had missed it. She had missed all of them.
She turned to put away the last packages; deciding that if was just her, she didn't need to bother cooking. She'd eaten well in the future, and hopefully Inuyasha would be back in time for a feast tomorrow.
"Kagome, are you going to be alright?"
He lingered halfway through the exit; despite being obviously eager to go, he remained anchored to her side with genuine concern.
"Fine," she smiled somberly. "I made my decisions, and everyone made theirs accordingly. I'm going to focus on the things I can control."
Her trip home, albeit lengthy, appeared to be what she needed.
She seemed to have her priorities calibrated, got her head screwed on right. Determined and focused, all they needed now was the stars to align.
"Okay," he smiled back, and made his way back over to her once more. "Well, call if you need anything at all."
"Okay."
His offer was made with open arms, and she was far too willing to take him up on it.
She fell into his hold, wrapping herself around him and gave a tight squeeze- letting him do the same.
"Just... not for an hour or two," he amended, leaning back in her embrace.
Rolling her eyes skyward, she scoffed half-heartedly. "Go, pervert," she ordered, and released him.
When she turned to let him leave, however, an old familiar feeling rendered her too stunned to move.
Disbelief marred her features when she finally managed to twist, only to look down with incredulous eyes and confirm that yes, his hand was still on her ass.
"Free pass!" he grinned, moving just in time to avoid assault- despite her pledge. "Had to do it before his lordship returned!"
She chased him out, smiling after his retreating form as his parting promise resonated.
"He'll be back soon."
A/N: Okay, that concludes this PART. 4 parts to go, if my calculations are correct.
I know it feels like I'm dragging this out, but I swear I'm building to something lol.