Disclaimer: I do hereby disclaim all rights and responsibilities for the characters in this journey... especially for the weary one. A nod of recognition is bent towards Rumiko Takahashi for her creative prowess.
Directionless
Although Sesshoumaru's definition of an easy distance needed refinement, the promised hot spring did eventually materialize. A collection of small, interconnected pools steamed enticingly, and Miroku set to work, checking depths and temperatures.
"Here." Sesshoumaru pointed.
Which simplified Miroku's choices to none. But he was weary enough—and chilled enough—to be grateful. He shed his outer robe, which had been preserving his modesty while his underthings dripped dry.
A toe in.
Footing found.
A sloshing descent.
Miroku hissed his way to a sigh, then sank to his chin. Bliss.
The water barely rippled when Sesshoumaru joined him. He was doing that closeness thing again.
"There are times when a man wants some space," Miroku grumbled.
Sesshoumaru didn't budge. Only asked, "Can you guarantee that you will not fall asleep?"
If he was entirely honest … "No."
His lord and master graciously inclined his head. "This bath will not end you."
"Because Tenseiga only works once."
"Hnn."
Miroku settled back, body limp, eyes shut. "How close are we to our destination?"
"I do not know."
"Are we lost?"
"We are searching." Sesshoumaru startled Miroku by volunteering more. "While my mother is usually in the vicinity, she moves with the clouds. They provide cover."
Miroku recalled the airborne castle, having visited it once during their questing. "It moves?"
"Hnn."
"That explains why we are lost."
"We are not lost," Sesshoumaru chided. "We are… directionless."
"Have you been chasing clouds?"
"Listening. Searching for scents." His voice had a pleasant roll to it, once he got past monosyllables. "She has a fondness for a certain wallflower. The entire castle is overrun by them, and they will be in bloom now."
So there had been a purpose to everything. "You could have told me."
"Hnn."
And because it was also true, Miroku said, "I could have trusted you more."
"Hnn."
The warmth and weightlessness pulled every resistance from his aching body, so that when Sesshoumaru next spoke, it startled him. And brought his attention to the hand at his nape, which was the only thing keeping him from drowning.
"I am awake," he lied.
The face that filled his vision was slightly flushed and unaccountably triumphant.
"Can you remain awake for another hour?" Sesshoumaru asked, though it felt like an order.
"Why?"
With the briefest of smiles, the inu-youkai pointed to a cloud billowing over the trees to the south. "I have found her."
End Note: This chapter was helped along by a prompt from LadyIsmene, who contributed the word "wallflower" 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 #2, Theme #25, Unknown Whereabouts. 400 words, originally posted on June 26, 2021.