Chapter 4
Miroku slipped into unconscious thought as the gentle rhythm of the pouring rain sent him into a meditative state, but how could the unfortunate monk not think with all that had befallen the group after the Shikon No Tama's completion.
"Inuyasha is being more of a jerk than usual, and while I see his logic, it causes Kagome more pain than she deserves. In all likelihood she has already decided that she will leave Japan's feudal era forever." He said to himself, while watching enormous droplets of water drip noisily from the entrance of the cave.
"Yet," the knowledgeable monk continued, "It is rather strange that even though we have completed the jewel, nothing has been set right. Inuyasha did not even wish to become a full demon, and still with a wish as pure as a person's happiness, nothing goes right. But it was to be expected after all, for no events that have ever surrounded the jewel has ever turned into your classic storybook happy ending. I do hope things will resolve themselves in the end." After he finished speaking to the cursed air around him, Miroku felt tired of meditation, and chose to wander the premises of the cave. While he walked soundlessly through the cave, he breathed in the dank, cold air, and saw the green moss that lay almost invisible on the gray, stonewalls. He approached the spot, where no grass grew and the aura of evil lay powerfully on the blank space of ground that at least fifty-years ago housed the severely burnt body of the evil thief Onigumo. The thief who gave his soul to hideous demons for the possession of the Shikon No Tama, the thief who became the insidious and despised Naraku upon the devouring of his body, the thief from where all the problems that currently hung like a torrent over his companions began, and most importantly it was the thief who cursed Miroku's family with a self- destructive air rip.
"Hmm." Miroku pondered, while he traced the outline of the grassless rectangle, "While the evil that mercilessly radiates is slowly fading from this cursed spot, it still is potent, was Naraku's spirit possibly that evil, that heartless. So evil that it even fades slowly in the wake of death."
'Of course it is,' Miroku's inner voice answered at the monk's out loud pondering. 'Naraku is after all the one who started this whole mess, the one who began the confusion and terror. How could it not be?' Miroku chuckled lightly as he finished tracing the outline of the grassless rectangle,
"Some day things will grow there again." He optimistically said, as the rain stopped pouring from the clouds above and the sun shone through, and without another word he left the sheltering, but cursed cave to see the simplicities of daily village life.
'Hrmph!' Sango's inner voice declared as she observed Miroku flirt, as he always does, with the naïve village girls. She watched them giggle and blush so innocently at his boyish charm, and his grin, or most importantly his essential lack of covering, since she was adorned in his navy blue vestments he went about in his undershirt and leggings. The grin that won her heart, shards ago, and of course, the mindless giggling ended when he offended an unsuspecting village girl by asking her his token question of, "Will you please bear my child?" and while this routine would have any normal female up at arms, Sango was quite used to this act he played and stared cross eyed at the delinquent monk. "Hey Sango! Why don't you just tell Miroku you love him?" Shippo said, popping up beside Sango. Sango being completely caught off guard gracefully lost her balance and began to loose her footing on the railing of the high fence. "Woooahhhh! Ow!" Sango yelled as she fell into the pit of mud directly on the other side of the fence, further angering her hurt ligament. She moaned as she wiped the mud from her eyes, and looked out to see the entire village staring her direction. Meanwhile, Miroku ran to her side, gently took her by the arm and assisted Sango, while she stood up and turned her blushing face away from the villagers, whose eyes bore into her.
"Sango, You know you have to be more careful. Your ankle isn't healed," Miroku scolded while he set the injured Tajii-Ya down back on the futon where she lay the night before. " I know," Sango, sighed in annoyance, while slouching unladylike on the futon," but I can't stand sitting still!" she exclaimed while attempting to stand again. Sango pulled her face into a determined scowl, rebelling the pain that came from the injured ligament, tottered unsurely and finally stood up on her own two feet. Still wincing. "Sango." Miroku again scolded. Sango grimaced and lightly tottered and stared directly into the amused monk's violet eyes. He grinned knowingly as he examined the look of determination and pain of his dear Tajii-ya's face. Sango felt her legs grow weak under Miroku's knowing stare, and attempted to stand no more. Miroku grinned, victorious and said, "I'm going to out to get some water, ok?" Sango nodded, her lips still pulled in a cute, rebellious pout. "Don't look at me like that Sango." Miroku calmly said, sitting by her side, staring directly into her chocolate brown eyes and placing his hand on top of hers affectionately. Sango demurely averted her eyes, and did not respond, but kept silent. "Sango, I know it's painful, but you've done an amazing amount of damage. Considerably more than it was when I first wrapped it. I'll get some more bandages, but you may have broken it." Sango glared doubtfully at Miroku, who grinned intern-causing Sango to blush a pretty pink hue. "I'm going to get the bandages, why don't you change out of my robes and back into your Yukata?" Miroku suggested as he pressed a feather light kiss to Sango's blushing cheek. Sango felt her lips tremble and her pulse rise. "Miroku," she said above a whisper, half hoping his hearing failed to pick up the should of her nervous voice, " I'm sorry." Miroku's lavender eyes grinned widely as he inquired, "For what?" Sango turned her face towards his, and chose no longer to hide her pink blush, "For disobeying your orders and furthering my injuries." She said ashamed of her own hubris. Now Miroku's grin lay not only in his lavender eyes but his charming smile as he said, "It's alright. No da." Then Miroku rose from his spot beside Sango and patted her condescendingly on the head and walked out in search of bandages and water. Sango watched Miroku leave, with an 'ay me' implanted in her heart. ' I do truly love him. He would be glad to hear that wouldn't he. I wish he felt the same way' her thoughts mourned while the pain of her ankle continued to throb through her blood stream. Slowly and steadily she rose and began to hobble to where her once soaked Yukata hung, now dry on a peg in the corner of the room. "Could that damn thing be any farther away!" she complained as she limped along. Wincing every now and then. After two long minutes Sango arrived at the location of her Yukata and bore her brown eyes into its multi-colored fabric. 'How am I going to get myself out of this robe and into that Yukata?' she asked herself while staring mercilessly at the Yukata.
"Let see, I have my school books, extra uniforms, and I hope everything else. My bag is sure heavy enough to make it seem like that." Kagome muttered while piecing together her backpack, renowned for its supreme weight. She was leaving the feudal era for good this time. And nothing, not even Inuyasha could stop her, like he had before though. She, as always had her sit mechanism to make sure he never stopped her from leaving, and now would he even try, or would he watch her leave and mournfully sigh once she was gone. 'Only time will tell,' Kagome moaned in her thoughts as she labored out of the small hut, and through the village that was itself a living organism. Young women and old ladies alike shuffled meekly through the market gathering food for their daily meals. While stout men strode fearlessly though the village talking here and there. In the rice fields all the rest worked under the blazing sun. 'I'm sure gonna miss this simplicity.' Kagome thought as she observed daily village life. The village simpletons paused all their action as Kagome silently walked through the town square and murmured, "Do you suppose she's leaving?" "Where is she going with that huge bag alone?" "Isn't she with Inuyasha and those other 3 people?" " Hey give me back my fish! Where's she going?" Kagome hearing the whispers walked even faster through the village.
Inuyasha's ears perked at the mention of his name and his eyes peeled at the sight of Kagome despondently walking towards the well, carrying her huge bag. 'She has to be pretty strong to carry that thing!' he thought while he gracefully leapt from the treetops. The wind sung sharply through Inuyasha's sensitive dog-ears as his agile frame, cloaked in the branches of trees moved soundlessly towards the unsuspecting Kagome. As the wind flew by him in jets his mind dwelled back to when Naraku, disguised as himself, or Inuyasha, caused Kikyo the injury which would lead to her own demise. His current approach was almost the same. That anguishing thought caused Inuyasha to stop completely in his tracks, as he stood stationary on a branch just within Kagome's hearing range. In silence he observed her struggle to pull the weight of her pack through the well. Finally, after numerous tries, she hoisted the heavy pack over the side of the well and sighed deeply. "Wow, What a work out!" She exclaimed as she sat down beside the well. Breathing in deeply again, she remembered when Inuyasha sent her back to her own time, for the first time, as he cruelly expelled her with the words, "Go back to your own time Kagome!" The sharp memory of her diminutive body hurling through a well across time periods sent two tears down her cheeks. Inuyasha, so moved with concern, began to leap down, for his desire that went beyond his thoughts; to protect, to comfort Kagome took over his mind, and he leapt to her side and held her close to his heart. His senses became veiled in her scent, and he felt his resolve toward his quest to let her go forever leave. He pulled her closer and moved his hands move sensuously across her back, moved with sudden desire for the small girl wrapped in his arms. His head moved to her shoulder and he lightly pressed his lips on her shoulder. Sending tingling sensations coursing through her body. As Inuyasha lips moved from kissing her shoulder towards her neck, while Kagome relished in this sudden attention Inuyasha felt the desire to claim her for his own, demon style. Gently, he began to bite into the skin. So he would not hurt Kagome, but before he could draw blood and make it official Kagome disentangled herself from Inuyasha's loving grasp, and faintly looked up at him. A pink blush painted her cheeks; her deep brown eyes gleamed with uncertain desire as she took Inuyasha's hand within her own. Inuyasha's eyes grew confused as he gently asked, "Why?" Kagome daintily felt the hickie that grew on her neck, and diverted her eyes from Inuyasha's kind glare, "It can't work out." She said above a whisper turning her back to Inuyasha whose golden eyes gleamed with confusion. He approached from behind and wrapped his arms about Kagome's waist. Instead of settling within his hold on her, she sharply evacuated from it and snapped, " I'm from another era of time Inuyasha it just can't. It stands to reason. And I'm nearly sixteen.I just cant.I'm sorry." Inuyasha nodded regretfully in understanding, 'Now that I realize the depths of my feelings for Kagome, she's already had to much. Miroku was right.' He mournfully thought while Kagome embraced him for the last time, and kissed him lightly on the cheek. "Good Bye," Kagome whispered, turning away and leapt through the well, not looking back. Inuyasha looked sadly at the well, and walked despondently away.
Somehow, Sango had managed to change out of Miroku's robes and into her Yukata, and now the both observed the passionate exchange between Inuyasha and Kagome. Sango was nestled in Miroku's arms, holding back tears, and Miroku nodded sadly as he thought, ' I was right after all. On matters of the heart I dislike being right.' He then looked at Sango's trembling figure, and saw two translucent tears slip out of her brown eyes, ' Must all conflicts involving the Shikon Jewel end like this?' He thought as he lifted Sango, and carried her weeping figure back to the hut. His face solemn, and concern for Sango evident.
Miroku slipped into unconscious thought as the gentle rhythm of the pouring rain sent him into a meditative state, but how could the unfortunate monk not think with all that had befallen the group after the Shikon No Tama's completion.
"Inuyasha is being more of a jerk than usual, and while I see his logic, it causes Kagome more pain than she deserves. In all likelihood she has already decided that she will leave Japan's feudal era forever." He said to himself, while watching enormous droplets of water drip noisily from the entrance of the cave.
"Yet," the knowledgeable monk continued, "It is rather strange that even though we have completed the jewel, nothing has been set right. Inuyasha did not even wish to become a full demon, and still with a wish as pure as a person's happiness, nothing goes right. But it was to be expected after all, for no events that have ever surrounded the jewel has ever turned into your classic storybook happy ending. I do hope things will resolve themselves in the end." After he finished speaking to the cursed air around him, Miroku felt tired of meditation, and chose to wander the premises of the cave. While he walked soundlessly through the cave, he breathed in the dank, cold air, and saw the green moss that lay almost invisible on the gray, stonewalls. He approached the spot, where no grass grew and the aura of evil lay powerfully on the blank space of ground that at least fifty-years ago housed the severely burnt body of the evil thief Onigumo. The thief who gave his soul to hideous demons for the possession of the Shikon No Tama, the thief who became the insidious and despised Naraku upon the devouring of his body, the thief from where all the problems that currently hung like a torrent over his companions began, and most importantly it was the thief who cursed Miroku's family with a self- destructive air rip.
"Hmm." Miroku pondered, while he traced the outline of the grassless rectangle, "While the evil that mercilessly radiates is slowly fading from this cursed spot, it still is potent, was Naraku's spirit possibly that evil, that heartless. So evil that it even fades slowly in the wake of death."
'Of course it is,' Miroku's inner voice answered at the monk's out loud pondering. 'Naraku is after all the one who started this whole mess, the one who began the confusion and terror. How could it not be?' Miroku chuckled lightly as he finished tracing the outline of the grassless rectangle,
"Some day things will grow there again." He optimistically said, as the rain stopped pouring from the clouds above and the sun shone through, and without another word he left the sheltering, but cursed cave to see the simplicities of daily village life.
'Hrmph!' Sango's inner voice declared as she observed Miroku flirt, as he always does, with the naïve village girls. She watched them giggle and blush so innocently at his boyish charm, and his grin, or most importantly his essential lack of covering, since she was adorned in his navy blue vestments he went about in his undershirt and leggings. The grin that won her heart, shards ago, and of course, the mindless giggling ended when he offended an unsuspecting village girl by asking her his token question of, "Will you please bear my child?" and while this routine would have any normal female up at arms, Sango was quite used to this act he played and stared cross eyed at the delinquent monk. "Hey Sango! Why don't you just tell Miroku you love him?" Shippo said, popping up beside Sango. Sango being completely caught off guard gracefully lost her balance and began to loose her footing on the railing of the high fence. "Woooahhhh! Ow!" Sango yelled as she fell into the pit of mud directly on the other side of the fence, further angering her hurt ligament. She moaned as she wiped the mud from her eyes, and looked out to see the entire village staring her direction. Meanwhile, Miroku ran to her side, gently took her by the arm and assisted Sango, while she stood up and turned her blushing face away from the villagers, whose eyes bore into her.
"Sango, You know you have to be more careful. Your ankle isn't healed," Miroku scolded while he set the injured Tajii-Ya down back on the futon where she lay the night before. " I know," Sango, sighed in annoyance, while slouching unladylike on the futon," but I can't stand sitting still!" she exclaimed while attempting to stand again. Sango pulled her face into a determined scowl, rebelling the pain that came from the injured ligament, tottered unsurely and finally stood up on her own two feet. Still wincing. "Sango." Miroku again scolded. Sango grimaced and lightly tottered and stared directly into the amused monk's violet eyes. He grinned knowingly as he examined the look of determination and pain of his dear Tajii-ya's face. Sango felt her legs grow weak under Miroku's knowing stare, and attempted to stand no more. Miroku grinned, victorious and said, "I'm going to out to get some water, ok?" Sango nodded, her lips still pulled in a cute, rebellious pout. "Don't look at me like that Sango." Miroku calmly said, sitting by her side, staring directly into her chocolate brown eyes and placing his hand on top of hers affectionately. Sango demurely averted her eyes, and did not respond, but kept silent. "Sango, I know it's painful, but you've done an amazing amount of damage. Considerably more than it was when I first wrapped it. I'll get some more bandages, but you may have broken it." Sango glared doubtfully at Miroku, who grinned intern-causing Sango to blush a pretty pink hue. "I'm going to get the bandages, why don't you change out of my robes and back into your Yukata?" Miroku suggested as he pressed a feather light kiss to Sango's blushing cheek. Sango felt her lips tremble and her pulse rise. "Miroku," she said above a whisper, half hoping his hearing failed to pick up the should of her nervous voice, " I'm sorry." Miroku's lavender eyes grinned widely as he inquired, "For what?" Sango turned her face towards his, and chose no longer to hide her pink blush, "For disobeying your orders and furthering my injuries." She said ashamed of her own hubris. Now Miroku's grin lay not only in his lavender eyes but his charming smile as he said, "It's alright. No da." Then Miroku rose from his spot beside Sango and patted her condescendingly on the head and walked out in search of bandages and water. Sango watched Miroku leave, with an 'ay me' implanted in her heart. ' I do truly love him. He would be glad to hear that wouldn't he. I wish he felt the same way' her thoughts mourned while the pain of her ankle continued to throb through her blood stream. Slowly and steadily she rose and began to hobble to where her once soaked Yukata hung, now dry on a peg in the corner of the room. "Could that damn thing be any farther away!" she complained as she limped along. Wincing every now and then. After two long minutes Sango arrived at the location of her Yukata and bore her brown eyes into its multi-colored fabric. 'How am I going to get myself out of this robe and into that Yukata?' she asked herself while staring mercilessly at the Yukata.
"Let see, I have my school books, extra uniforms, and I hope everything else. My bag is sure heavy enough to make it seem like that." Kagome muttered while piecing together her backpack, renowned for its supreme weight. She was leaving the feudal era for good this time. And nothing, not even Inuyasha could stop her, like he had before though. She, as always had her sit mechanism to make sure he never stopped her from leaving, and now would he even try, or would he watch her leave and mournfully sigh once she was gone. 'Only time will tell,' Kagome moaned in her thoughts as she labored out of the small hut, and through the village that was itself a living organism. Young women and old ladies alike shuffled meekly through the market gathering food for their daily meals. While stout men strode fearlessly though the village talking here and there. In the rice fields all the rest worked under the blazing sun. 'I'm sure gonna miss this simplicity.' Kagome thought as she observed daily village life. The village simpletons paused all their action as Kagome silently walked through the town square and murmured, "Do you suppose she's leaving?" "Where is she going with that huge bag alone?" "Isn't she with Inuyasha and those other 3 people?" " Hey give me back my fish! Where's she going?" Kagome hearing the whispers walked even faster through the village.
Inuyasha's ears perked at the mention of his name and his eyes peeled at the sight of Kagome despondently walking towards the well, carrying her huge bag. 'She has to be pretty strong to carry that thing!' he thought while he gracefully leapt from the treetops. The wind sung sharply through Inuyasha's sensitive dog-ears as his agile frame, cloaked in the branches of trees moved soundlessly towards the unsuspecting Kagome. As the wind flew by him in jets his mind dwelled back to when Naraku, disguised as himself, or Inuyasha, caused Kikyo the injury which would lead to her own demise. His current approach was almost the same. That anguishing thought caused Inuyasha to stop completely in his tracks, as he stood stationary on a branch just within Kagome's hearing range. In silence he observed her struggle to pull the weight of her pack through the well. Finally, after numerous tries, she hoisted the heavy pack over the side of the well and sighed deeply. "Wow, What a work out!" She exclaimed as she sat down beside the well. Breathing in deeply again, she remembered when Inuyasha sent her back to her own time, for the first time, as he cruelly expelled her with the words, "Go back to your own time Kagome!" The sharp memory of her diminutive body hurling through a well across time periods sent two tears down her cheeks. Inuyasha, so moved with concern, began to leap down, for his desire that went beyond his thoughts; to protect, to comfort Kagome took over his mind, and he leapt to her side and held her close to his heart. His senses became veiled in her scent, and he felt his resolve toward his quest to let her go forever leave. He pulled her closer and moved his hands move sensuously across her back, moved with sudden desire for the small girl wrapped in his arms. His head moved to her shoulder and he lightly pressed his lips on her shoulder. Sending tingling sensations coursing through her body. As Inuyasha lips moved from kissing her shoulder towards her neck, while Kagome relished in this sudden attention Inuyasha felt the desire to claim her for his own, demon style. Gently, he began to bite into the skin. So he would not hurt Kagome, but before he could draw blood and make it official Kagome disentangled herself from Inuyasha's loving grasp, and faintly looked up at him. A pink blush painted her cheeks; her deep brown eyes gleamed with uncertain desire as she took Inuyasha's hand within her own. Inuyasha's eyes grew confused as he gently asked, "Why?" Kagome daintily felt the hickie that grew on her neck, and diverted her eyes from Inuyasha's kind glare, "It can't work out." She said above a whisper turning her back to Inuyasha whose golden eyes gleamed with confusion. He approached from behind and wrapped his arms about Kagome's waist. Instead of settling within his hold on her, she sharply evacuated from it and snapped, " I'm from another era of time Inuyasha it just can't. It stands to reason. And I'm nearly sixteen.I just cant.I'm sorry." Inuyasha nodded regretfully in understanding, 'Now that I realize the depths of my feelings for Kagome, she's already had to much. Miroku was right.' He mournfully thought while Kagome embraced him for the last time, and kissed him lightly on the cheek. "Good Bye," Kagome whispered, turning away and leapt through the well, not looking back. Inuyasha looked sadly at the well, and walked despondently away.
Somehow, Sango had managed to change out of Miroku's robes and into her Yukata, and now the both observed the passionate exchange between Inuyasha and Kagome. Sango was nestled in Miroku's arms, holding back tears, and Miroku nodded sadly as he thought, ' I was right after all. On matters of the heart I dislike being right.' He then looked at Sango's trembling figure, and saw two translucent tears slip out of her brown eyes, ' Must all conflicts involving the Shikon Jewel end like this?' He thought as he lifted Sango, and carried her weeping figure back to the hut. His face solemn, and concern for Sango evident.