DISCLAIMER: I don't own
Inuyasha neatly threw Sango over his shoulder and carried her back into the hut. Kagome followed them, frowning.
"Inuyasha, be more careful! She's still healing."
He laid her back down on the pallet and turned around.
"I know what I'm doing, so stop whining."
"Hmph, since when did you actually know what you were doing." Kagome muttered under her breath. Inuyasha fixed her with a haughty glare.
"What did you say?!"
"Nothing…..could you go get me some water while you're up?"
He continued glaring daggers, but controlled his temper and obeyed. Outside, Kagome could hear him cursing and ranting. About twenty minutes later he returned, making sure to slosh water all over the place. Kagome snatched the bucket from him and pointed outside.
"If you aren't going to help in here, go outside and find Miroku."
"Look, I already told you the monk will come when he's ready!"
"Just get out!"
Inuyasha ducked as a bowl sailed over his head. He scrambled out the door and landed in a heap on the ground. He stood up, brushing the dust off his front, then leaped into a tree near the hut.
"Stupid girl."
***
The light was beginning to fade. Miroku sat with his back against the Bone Eaters Well, listening to the crickets chirp their evening dirge. He had been wandering aimlessly in the woods for hours and strands of hair clung to his sweaty forehead. He brushed them aside and stared up at the sky, noting the position of the sun. Smiling, he stood up and began walking back to the hut. ~ Now to find Naraku and make him pay.~
The sun finally set, turning the sky to a deep, almost black, blue. Inuyasha savored the evening calm as a light breeze blew his platinum colored hair away from his face. Warm, yellow lantern light spilled invitingly from the doorway of the hut. The sound of Shippo and Kagome's voices drifted lazily up the tree. Against his will, the dog demon's eyelids drooped, and he fell into a peaceful doze. A few hours later, the light from the hut was extinguished.
A twig snapped. Inuyasha was jolted awake, and one of his golden eyes popped open. A figure was silhouetted in the moonlight. ~I can't believe he caught me sleeping!~ He dropped noiselessly from the tree and landed in a crouch near the base. The figure looked around quickly, then continued creeping towards the road. Inuyasha moved into the open and laughed aloud.
"You're getting careless, monk."
Miroku whirled around. Inuyasha walked nonchalantly toward him.
"So where do you think you're going, it's a little late to be out for a stroll you know."
Miroku turned his back.
"I'm going to find Naraku and slay him myself."
Inuyasha snorted.
"Yeah right. If you try to fight him, you will end up just like Sango and we'll have to carry your sorry ass back here!"
"He must pay for what he's done. I'm not asking for any help from you."
"Feh, you know it's suicide."
"There are worse things than death, I thought of all creatures you would understand that, Inuyasha."
Inuyasha narrowed his eyes. Quick as lightning, he lashed out, punching Miroku squarely on the cheek. The monk fell on his back. Inuyasha stood over him with his fist still balled.
"Listen to yourself! You're such a coward, do you think that dying will solve anything?! Sango needs you, and I am not going to be stuck explaining to her later why I let you leave and die, got it?!"
Miroku wiped a thin trickle of blood from his lip and got to his feet.
"Stand aside Inuyasha."
He pointed his staff at the half demon.
"You have no business telling me what to do. Sango is dead! I saw it in her eyes. All I can do now is avenge her death."
"Your so pathetic, monk. You give up hope so quickly. I guess you really didn't love her, did you."
"Shut up!!"
Miroku ran forward and made a wild swing at Inuyasha with his staff.
"What do you know about love! You're half demon, you don't care about anything!"
Inuyasha dodged the swing and grabbed the end of the staff.
"How would you know."
Miroku tried to wrench the staff from his grasp.
"You're just a cold…..heartless…animal!"
Inuyasha narrowed his eyes dangerously.
"I didn't wanna hurt you, Miroku, but I'm not gonna let you talk to me that way."
He grabbed the staff, pulling it easily from Miroku's grasp, then smacked him hard in the gut. Miroku gasped and fell to his knees. Inuyasha stood over him and pressed the butt of the staff into the back of the monk's neck. When he spoke, his voice was dangerous and barely above a whisper.
"What makes you think you can defeat Naraku, when I've defeated you and I'm only a half demon."
He threw the staff down.
"Stay here with Sango. Give her time to heal."
Inuyasha turned his back and slowly began walking off. Miroku wiped sweat off his forehead, blinking back hot, angry tears. He glared and spat blood into the dirt. Inuyasha continued walking. Miroku's fingers closed around the sturdy wooden shaft of his staff.
"Inuyasha!"
Miroku stood up, pointing the staff at Inuyasha's heart.
"This fight isn't over yet!"