Meh, way too busy lately, plus battling a bit of low-level depression. This whole "gettting a life" and "growing up" thing sucks majorly. Extremely overwhelming. But you all aren't here for me to babble about my issues. ^.~
So. ^^ Drawing ever-closer. This was a -fun- chapter to write, very light and funny. And horribly quick, once I got into it. I really -love- Miroku's pov. *.* It's really easy to slip into and -stay- in.
Beta-thanks go to tdei and Colin. j00 guys r0x0r. ^.^
--==--
Inuyasha snarled as he brushed splinters off his hands. He looked down disdainfully at the remains of the door. Whoever captured him had to be extremely stupid to think that could hold him.
That, unfortunately, ruled out Naraku. He flexed his claws trying to think of who else would try something like this and coming up completely blank.
So, wonderful. His enemy was an unknown entity that apparently wasn't over-endowed when it came to intelligence. He hated enemies like that - they were often some of the most dangerous.
Inuyasha glanced around the narrow hallway. A few more cells like the one he had just broken out of lined it, and at the end there was another door, thicker, and wrapped with dark metal.
He smirked. Entirely too easy.
Or, that's what he thought until he threw his weight at the door and bounced halfway back down the hall.
Inuyasha stared up at the door in disbelief.
He got back up, wincing, and made his way back to the door, examining it. He reached out to touch it, cautiously, feeling the menacing crackle of magic under his fingertips before he even made contact with the door.
Aw hell. It was warded. Obviously, the area was designed to keep both demon and humans contained.
He glared at the door. When he found out who was behind this, he was going to rip them to -shreds-.
--==--
It was getting hot. Miroku lifted an arm to wipe the sweat off his brow. They had been following the trail all morning, since last night, in fact. Sesshomaru had insisted that they drop Shippo off under the care of Jaken, and that they leave immediately.
Ugh, he could have at least let them get a decent night's sleep. But of course -he- didn't need any sleep, so why should they? He breathed deep, trying to relax the over-tense muscles in his shoulders and neck that were giving him a faint headache.
"Can't you people go any faster?" Sesshomaru's cold voice made him grimace. "I could have been there and back already."
Kagome glared at him. "No. We can't."
"They why do you insist on coming with me?"
"Didn't we already go over this?" Kagome folded her arms, shooting the youkai an irritated look.
"Refresh my memory, wench." His tone was dry, almost amused as she bristled.
"Wench?" Kagome's voice was nearing the shrill side of the scale and Miroku winced.
"They want Inuyasha back. Alive." Miroku interjected, hoping to stave off an argument. Somehow, he didn't think that Sesshomaru and Kagome snarling at each other like cats in heat was going to help anything - especially the dull ache in his temples.
He had to admit, though, that analogy was unworthy of him. He blamed it on the headache. Which -was- getting steadily worse, damnit, and he wondered if maybe he could convince Sesshomaru to take a short break, maybe next to a nice cool stream...
"And you?"
Huh? Miroku blinked, his thoughts having already gone a hundred miles ahead. "I'm sorry?"
"Do you have a vested interest in seeing my bastard brother alive again?" Sesshomaru's voice could have taught December lessons on how to be chilly.
Miroku answered without thinking. "Of course I do." He looked up at the youkai, and his breath caught at the cold, carefully controlled fire in his eyes.
"Very well then." Smooth as silk, but definitely cornering the market on deadly. Miroku frowned. What was his problem?
He was still worrying at the thought, when an hour later Sango quietly spoke to Sesshomaru.
"Absolutely not."
"You know it won't take that long, and we all need it."
"Of course you do." Was that a bit of sarcasm? "Must you waste my time like this?"
Sango was unfazed, she just folded her arms and looked at the youkai with a slight smirk. "You know, you look like you could use a break too. I think you're getting flushed." He raised an eyebrow, and she sighed. "Just give us a minute, Sesshomaru, to get water."
Miroku could have kissed her for braving that. ...hn... Kissing Sango. He smiled at that thought, and the thoughts that followed it, letting them spin themselves into a pretty little daydream.
Thwack. A solid hit to the back of his head woke him up, and he glared back at Kagome. "What was that for?"
"You were leering."
"Oh." Hell. He coughed, uncomfortably, and looked away. His eyes just happened to fall on Sesshomaru, who was walking away from the group, disappearing through the trees that lined the bank of the creek.
Now, wasn't that the perfect opportunity to confront him over all the various little things that were bothering him. Miroku started after the youkai, tossing a vague "Hey, Kagome, I'll be right back," over his shoulder.
Sesshomaru hadn't gone far, just enough to be out of ready earshot of the rest of the group. He stood, staring at the water, and there was a slight frown on his lips, and his forehead was wrinkled as if he was thinking about something. He didn't even acknowledge Miroku's presence as the human walked up next to him.
"Hey."
The youkai twitched slightly. "Go away."
Oh, goody, the cold shoulder. Miroku glared at the other man's profile, crossing his arms. "No. I have something I need to talk to you about."
Sesshomaru turned to him slowly, face set in a cold, impassive mask, letting the silence play out for a while until he finally asked. "Well?"
Into the fire... Miroku took a deep breath. "What was that, back there?"
"I'm sure I don't know what you're talking about." Sesshomaru turned back away from him.
Of all the... Youkai had absolutely no manners, Miroku decided as he quickly caught the lord's sleeve. Sesshomaru stopped, glared back at him as the human launched into his tirade. "I think you do. And don't give me the cold shoulder or the innocent act. Something's making you angry, and I'm willing to lay money down on the fact that it's about Inuyasha. So. What is this all about?"
Sesshomaru scoffed. "Besides the fact that he's a weakling, a bastard, and a waste of my time?"
"You know that's not what I'm asking."
The youkai reached out, drawing a single talon up along his neck, the underside of his jaw. "I think you know what my problem is."
"Actually... I really don't. I've been trying to figure it out, but I'm coming up blank. I mean, I know you hate him on principle, but this seemed to have more to do with me. I know it can't be jealousy...." He trailed off at the slight tightening of Sesshomaru's mouth.
Miroku choked back a laugh. "Tell me you're joking." The youkai remained silent, staring at him impassively. Miroku sighed, putting on his serious face. "... alright, so you're not. Mind telling me just what about my relationship with Inuyasha makes you so jealous?"
Silence. Not that he really expected anything different, but it made him suddenly very angry. "Fine. Be that way, you stubborn, stupid ass," he snarled, turning on his heel, desperate to be out of there before he swung at the youkai (and regretted it).
"...You said his name." The admission was quiet, but it was there, at least. Miroku stopped, turned back to face Sesshomaru, whose expression was closely guarded.
Well no shit, I've said his name at least a half a dozen times today alone, Miroku thought sourly. Which of course, knowing the little bit about Sesshomaru that he did, meant that couldn't be all of it, it had go a bit deeper.
He frowned, thinking about it. Had to be before the idiot had managed to get himself kidnapped, but when? Funny thing, as he racked his brain, he couldn't remember mentioning the hanyou before he had been abducted. Finally, he had to ask.
"I did? When?"
The youkai stared at him for a few more impossibly tense seconds before he sighed lightly. "The other night. You were asleep."
Miroku blinked at Sesshomaru. No way. He took a few steps, till he was close to Sesshomaru again, staring up into his gold eyes. "You mean... you're jealous of Inu-Yasha because I said his name once in my sleep?" He paused, eyes wide and incredulous, mouth hanging open.
Sesshomaru raised an eyebrow. "You were dreaming about him."
Miroku tried. He really did. But he couldn't help it, it was all just too absurd. Before he knew it, the laughter had bubbled to the surface and wouldn't go away. He laughed so hard he was panting for breath, and hand to grab onto the youkai's arm for support.
Sesshomaru growled. "What is so funny?"
"Oh god..." Miroku wiped tears away from his eyes, trying to quell the last of his giggles. "I can't believe that you thought me... and him..." He took a deep breath, trying to control himself.
"One night, he called out 'Kaede' in his sleep." The two jumped as Sango's voice chimed in. "Kaede." She was smiling wryly as she walked up to them. "When we asked him about it, he had no clue what we were talking about."
Miroku flushed, the laughter completely dying off. Oh, god, she -had- to bring that up.
"Kaede?" Sesshomaru looked completely nonplussed. "Who is that?"
Groaning, Miroku ran a hand over his burning face. "Dried-up old priestess we know, and shut up Sango, it's really not -that- funny." He sighed deeply, ignoring the demon hunter's snickering and putting on his best tragically noble look. "The old bat teased me about it for weeks. Kept making improper suggestions to me." Theatrically, he held a hand to his brow. "Such intimations should not be made to a pure and unsullied monk such as myself!"
He never thought that Sesshomaru and Sango could come up with such identical looks.
"... Miroku, you never cease to amaze me." Sango shook her head, smiling wryly. "Anyway, we're all rested. Shall we continue?"
Sesshomaru nodded curtly, glancing at Miroku briefly before leaving them. Sango made to follow him, but Miroku grabbed her by the arm. He had to talk to her, alone, before anything else happened.
"Hey... Thank you."
She smiled at him, waved her free hand airily. "Don't mention it."
Shaking his head, he smiled back. "No, really. Sango... I'm sorry about... well, everything. You're too good to me."
Sango looked slightly taken aback. "Miroku..."
"You know, you're the best friend I've ever had."
She sighed, grabbed his other hand too, but dropped her gaze slightly. "I'm just... sorry I couldn't be more."
He shrugged. "You win some, you lose some. Our timing wasn't right. But even so... I'm just... glad to have you around, no matter what."
Surprisingly, he meant every word of it.
She smiled at him, and he was struck again by how beautiful she could be. She hugged him then, good and tight, and he let himself relax into her arms. And he didn't even cop a feel (he was quite proud of himself for that one).
"Hey, we better catch up, or your boyfriend will be jealous of me too." Sango chuckled as she drew out of the hug.
Miroku blushed and stammered. Sango rolled her eyes. "I'd have to be blind not to see it." She snorted. "I don't know what you see in him. Really, you should have taken Kaede up on her offer..."
He coughed. "So! Inuyasha. Rescuing. Let's go." Resolutely, he pulled her in the direction Sesshomaru had gone, before she could torture him any more.
So. ^^ Drawing ever-closer. This was a -fun- chapter to write, very light and funny. And horribly quick, once I got into it. I really -love- Miroku's pov. *.* It's really easy to slip into and -stay- in.
Beta-thanks go to tdei and Colin. j00 guys r0x0r. ^.^
--==--
Inuyasha snarled as he brushed splinters off his hands. He looked down disdainfully at the remains of the door. Whoever captured him had to be extremely stupid to think that could hold him.
That, unfortunately, ruled out Naraku. He flexed his claws trying to think of who else would try something like this and coming up completely blank.
So, wonderful. His enemy was an unknown entity that apparently wasn't over-endowed when it came to intelligence. He hated enemies like that - they were often some of the most dangerous.
Inuyasha glanced around the narrow hallway. A few more cells like the one he had just broken out of lined it, and at the end there was another door, thicker, and wrapped with dark metal.
He smirked. Entirely too easy.
Or, that's what he thought until he threw his weight at the door and bounced halfway back down the hall.
Inuyasha stared up at the door in disbelief.
He got back up, wincing, and made his way back to the door, examining it. He reached out to touch it, cautiously, feeling the menacing crackle of magic under his fingertips before he even made contact with the door.
Aw hell. It was warded. Obviously, the area was designed to keep both demon and humans contained.
He glared at the door. When he found out who was behind this, he was going to rip them to -shreds-.
--==--
It was getting hot. Miroku lifted an arm to wipe the sweat off his brow. They had been following the trail all morning, since last night, in fact. Sesshomaru had insisted that they drop Shippo off under the care of Jaken, and that they leave immediately.
Ugh, he could have at least let them get a decent night's sleep. But of course -he- didn't need any sleep, so why should they? He breathed deep, trying to relax the over-tense muscles in his shoulders and neck that were giving him a faint headache.
"Can't you people go any faster?" Sesshomaru's cold voice made him grimace. "I could have been there and back already."
Kagome glared at him. "No. We can't."
"They why do you insist on coming with me?"
"Didn't we already go over this?" Kagome folded her arms, shooting the youkai an irritated look.
"Refresh my memory, wench." His tone was dry, almost amused as she bristled.
"Wench?" Kagome's voice was nearing the shrill side of the scale and Miroku winced.
"They want Inuyasha back. Alive." Miroku interjected, hoping to stave off an argument. Somehow, he didn't think that Sesshomaru and Kagome snarling at each other like cats in heat was going to help anything - especially the dull ache in his temples.
He had to admit, though, that analogy was unworthy of him. He blamed it on the headache. Which -was- getting steadily worse, damnit, and he wondered if maybe he could convince Sesshomaru to take a short break, maybe next to a nice cool stream...
"And you?"
Huh? Miroku blinked, his thoughts having already gone a hundred miles ahead. "I'm sorry?"
"Do you have a vested interest in seeing my bastard brother alive again?" Sesshomaru's voice could have taught December lessons on how to be chilly.
Miroku answered without thinking. "Of course I do." He looked up at the youkai, and his breath caught at the cold, carefully controlled fire in his eyes.
"Very well then." Smooth as silk, but definitely cornering the market on deadly. Miroku frowned. What was his problem?
He was still worrying at the thought, when an hour later Sango quietly spoke to Sesshomaru.
"Absolutely not."
"You know it won't take that long, and we all need it."
"Of course you do." Was that a bit of sarcasm? "Must you waste my time like this?"
Sango was unfazed, she just folded her arms and looked at the youkai with a slight smirk. "You know, you look like you could use a break too. I think you're getting flushed." He raised an eyebrow, and she sighed. "Just give us a minute, Sesshomaru, to get water."
Miroku could have kissed her for braving that. ...hn... Kissing Sango. He smiled at that thought, and the thoughts that followed it, letting them spin themselves into a pretty little daydream.
Thwack. A solid hit to the back of his head woke him up, and he glared back at Kagome. "What was that for?"
"You were leering."
"Oh." Hell. He coughed, uncomfortably, and looked away. His eyes just happened to fall on Sesshomaru, who was walking away from the group, disappearing through the trees that lined the bank of the creek.
Now, wasn't that the perfect opportunity to confront him over all the various little things that were bothering him. Miroku started after the youkai, tossing a vague "Hey, Kagome, I'll be right back," over his shoulder.
Sesshomaru hadn't gone far, just enough to be out of ready earshot of the rest of the group. He stood, staring at the water, and there was a slight frown on his lips, and his forehead was wrinkled as if he was thinking about something. He didn't even acknowledge Miroku's presence as the human walked up next to him.
"Hey."
The youkai twitched slightly. "Go away."
Oh, goody, the cold shoulder. Miroku glared at the other man's profile, crossing his arms. "No. I have something I need to talk to you about."
Sesshomaru turned to him slowly, face set in a cold, impassive mask, letting the silence play out for a while until he finally asked. "Well?"
Into the fire... Miroku took a deep breath. "What was that, back there?"
"I'm sure I don't know what you're talking about." Sesshomaru turned back away from him.
Of all the... Youkai had absolutely no manners, Miroku decided as he quickly caught the lord's sleeve. Sesshomaru stopped, glared back at him as the human launched into his tirade. "I think you do. And don't give me the cold shoulder or the innocent act. Something's making you angry, and I'm willing to lay money down on the fact that it's about Inuyasha. So. What is this all about?"
Sesshomaru scoffed. "Besides the fact that he's a weakling, a bastard, and a waste of my time?"
"You know that's not what I'm asking."
The youkai reached out, drawing a single talon up along his neck, the underside of his jaw. "I think you know what my problem is."
"Actually... I really don't. I've been trying to figure it out, but I'm coming up blank. I mean, I know you hate him on principle, but this seemed to have more to do with me. I know it can't be jealousy...." He trailed off at the slight tightening of Sesshomaru's mouth.
Miroku choked back a laugh. "Tell me you're joking." The youkai remained silent, staring at him impassively. Miroku sighed, putting on his serious face. "... alright, so you're not. Mind telling me just what about my relationship with Inuyasha makes you so jealous?"
Silence. Not that he really expected anything different, but it made him suddenly very angry. "Fine. Be that way, you stubborn, stupid ass," he snarled, turning on his heel, desperate to be out of there before he swung at the youkai (and regretted it).
"...You said his name." The admission was quiet, but it was there, at least. Miroku stopped, turned back to face Sesshomaru, whose expression was closely guarded.
Well no shit, I've said his name at least a half a dozen times today alone, Miroku thought sourly. Which of course, knowing the little bit about Sesshomaru that he did, meant that couldn't be all of it, it had go a bit deeper.
He frowned, thinking about it. Had to be before the idiot had managed to get himself kidnapped, but when? Funny thing, as he racked his brain, he couldn't remember mentioning the hanyou before he had been abducted. Finally, he had to ask.
"I did? When?"
The youkai stared at him for a few more impossibly tense seconds before he sighed lightly. "The other night. You were asleep."
Miroku blinked at Sesshomaru. No way. He took a few steps, till he was close to Sesshomaru again, staring up into his gold eyes. "You mean... you're jealous of Inu-Yasha because I said his name once in my sleep?" He paused, eyes wide and incredulous, mouth hanging open.
Sesshomaru raised an eyebrow. "You were dreaming about him."
Miroku tried. He really did. But he couldn't help it, it was all just too absurd. Before he knew it, the laughter had bubbled to the surface and wouldn't go away. He laughed so hard he was panting for breath, and hand to grab onto the youkai's arm for support.
Sesshomaru growled. "What is so funny?"
"Oh god..." Miroku wiped tears away from his eyes, trying to quell the last of his giggles. "I can't believe that you thought me... and him..." He took a deep breath, trying to control himself.
"One night, he called out 'Kaede' in his sleep." The two jumped as Sango's voice chimed in. "Kaede." She was smiling wryly as she walked up to them. "When we asked him about it, he had no clue what we were talking about."
Miroku flushed, the laughter completely dying off. Oh, god, she -had- to bring that up.
"Kaede?" Sesshomaru looked completely nonplussed. "Who is that?"
Groaning, Miroku ran a hand over his burning face. "Dried-up old priestess we know, and shut up Sango, it's really not -that- funny." He sighed deeply, ignoring the demon hunter's snickering and putting on his best tragically noble look. "The old bat teased me about it for weeks. Kept making improper suggestions to me." Theatrically, he held a hand to his brow. "Such intimations should not be made to a pure and unsullied monk such as myself!"
He never thought that Sesshomaru and Sango could come up with such identical looks.
"... Miroku, you never cease to amaze me." Sango shook her head, smiling wryly. "Anyway, we're all rested. Shall we continue?"
Sesshomaru nodded curtly, glancing at Miroku briefly before leaving them. Sango made to follow him, but Miroku grabbed her by the arm. He had to talk to her, alone, before anything else happened.
"Hey... Thank you."
She smiled at him, waved her free hand airily. "Don't mention it."
Shaking his head, he smiled back. "No, really. Sango... I'm sorry about... well, everything. You're too good to me."
Sango looked slightly taken aback. "Miroku..."
"You know, you're the best friend I've ever had."
She sighed, grabbed his other hand too, but dropped her gaze slightly. "I'm just... sorry I couldn't be more."
He shrugged. "You win some, you lose some. Our timing wasn't right. But even so... I'm just... glad to have you around, no matter what."
Surprisingly, he meant every word of it.
She smiled at him, and he was struck again by how beautiful she could be. She hugged him then, good and tight, and he let himself relax into her arms. And he didn't even cop a feel (he was quite proud of himself for that one).
"Hey, we better catch up, or your boyfriend will be jealous of me too." Sango chuckled as she drew out of the hug.
Miroku blushed and stammered. Sango rolled her eyes. "I'd have to be blind not to see it." She snorted. "I don't know what you see in him. Really, you should have taken Kaede up on her offer..."
He coughed. "So! Inuyasha. Rescuing. Let's go." Resolutely, he pulled her in the direction Sesshomaru had gone, before she could torture him any more.