Disclaimer: I do hereby disclaim all rights and responsibilities for the characters in this journey... especially for the one who finally notices. A nod of recognition is bent towards Rumiko Takahashi for her creative prowess.
Noted
For the third time that morning, Miroku bit back the urge to ask Sesshoumaru if they were lost. Because for six days now, they'd walked endlessly, only to change directions and walk some more.
It hardly matters. I have no place to be. No one waiting on me.
Sesshoumaru stopped.
Miroku swayed in place.
"You have not eaten."
"There is no food."
He seemed puzzled. Six days of silence in this remote place, and he was confused by the consequences?
Sesshoumaru said, "As my retainer, you are permitted to alert me to your needs."
"Noted."
"Do you wish for me to hunt?"
"Do you wish for me to starve?"
"You become fractious when you are hungry."
Miroku really would have loved to point out that that this was more a combination of hunger, frustration, boredom, grief, and annoyance.
Sesshoumaru sniffed lightly. "You are angry with me."
"If you do not like the person I become when I am hungry, feed me sooner."
A brow slowly arched. "Noted."
It was entirely backward, a retainer making demands of his lord. But Miroku was past caring. "Is there water nearby?"
"No."
Miroku's jaw ached from clenching. "You have some of the worst habits I have ever found in a leader."
Sesshoumaru stepped into his personal space. "Explain."
"Gladly." He'd been compiling a list since the food ran out. Three days ago. It would have been so satisfying to vent, but Miroku's vision was dimming at the edges. He latched onto Sesshoumaru's armor, a convenient handhold, provided he didn't accidentally impale himself on the spikes.
"Are you well?"
"I am not."
The world tilted, then blurred.
Sesshoumaru's voice was infuriatingly calm. "You will explain. And then you will listen. Because you have some of the worst habits I have ever found in a retainer."
End Note: This chapter was helped along by a prompt from ming, who contributed the word "endless" over on my Ko-fi account, where I'm currently hosting a fandom event. I'm also ticking off a prompt from a table I procured (ages ago) from the Live Journal community iy no kakera, where I hold a claim on Sesshoumaru & Miroku. Set #1, Theme #47, Conflict. 300 words, originally posted on April 23, 2021.