Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha!
Chapter 3
After dinner, Kagome took Miroku on a tour of the shrine. Although the monk had suggested watching more of the television, he seemed to enjoy the tour of Kagome's home and the futuristic oddities which surrounded it. Kagome made sure to keep Miroku away from the traffic which passed by the shrine, afraid that the 'metal carriages' would overwhelm the monk.
After the quiet walk around her home, Kagome gave Miroku at tour of the house, eventually leading him into Sota's room, much at her eager brother's request. Sota was more than willing to show the monk his action figures and describe each to him. Miroku looked exceptionally bored learning about the small human-shaped objects made of an odd material, but smiled as the young boy picked out yet another plastic figurine from his collection. "You sure have a lot," the monk commented with a polite grin.
Kagome was a little embarrassed about bringing Miroku into her own bedroom, even though Inuyasha had frequented there many times. Just the idea of having another boy in her room was an odd one. She wondered what the hanyou would think of Miroku being inside of her room. She blushed as she opened her bedroom door.
"This is my room, Miroku."
The monk looked around the room curiously. "All of this space is your own?" He smiled as he studied the light pink bedspread and curtains. "Very feminine." He walked up to look at a large, very realistic 'painting' of five shirtless boys wearing tons of jewelry and laughed to himself. He pointed towards the picture. "Interesting. Friends of yours?"
"Um…" Kagome's gave the monk an embarrassed grin, "They're pop stars."
"Pop stars?"
"Like… uh… musicians. Except they don't play instruments. Only sing."
"Ah." The monk took a seat on the edge of her bed, balancing his staff across his lap. "So, what do you like to do while you're at home?"
"I usually only have time for homework and studying while I'm here. I have to go to school five days a week." She took a seat next to Miroku, feeling a bit odd about the entire situation. She glanced sideways at the monk. "Sometimes I go to the mall or something. Or out to eat with my friends... Speaking of which, how did you like dinner?"
Miroku smiled. "It was… interesting. Whatever it was."
Kagome grinned. "In this era, we eat food from all around the world, not just Japan."
"Interesting. Wouldn't it be spoiled by the time it got here?" Kagome laughed. Inuyasha was never one to ask questions when he came to her era, but Miroku only seemed more fascinated the more she showed him around.
"Who's this?" Miroku picked up a school photo of her friend, Hojo, which sat on the nightstand next to her bed. "Another 'Pop Star'?"
Kagome smiled. "No, that's a guy I go to school with. Hojo."
Miroku grinned. "Do you like him?" he snickered.
"Not exactly. He's a good friend, but I'm not interested in him like that. Although I did go out with him once." Kagome smiled when she realized the conversation the two had just entered. Girl talk with Miroku? It had been a strange day.
"I see." Miroku put the photo aside. "Well, I suppose I should head back now."
Kagome nodded. "Yes, it's already getting dark out." She glanced out the window.
Miroku made a point to stop and thank Kagome's mother for the meal on their way out. Wow, he is polite, Kagome thought to herself, remembering Inuyasha's first visit into her home.
Kagome quickly grabbed a flashlight before heading outside into the darkness. She made her way towards the well and pointed the light in the direction of the old structure that housed it. Once inside, the two leaned over and peered into the well. Kagome shone the flashlight at the monks face as he squinted his eyes. "Well, I guess I'll have to hang onto you when we jump through, that way I can transport you through with me."
"Alright." Miroku looked at the girl uncertainly. "Just grab a hold?"
Kagome's eyes widened. "Umm… Well… Yes. Grab my hand." (extra emphasis on 'hand') Miroku clutched her hand in his own. Kagome smiled as the two stood on the lip of the well. "Ready?" Miroku nodded and the two jumped, grasping each other's hand as they descended into the depths of the well. Miroku let out a grunt as he hit the hard ground beneath him. Kagome shrieked landing oddly on her shoulder as her flashlight flew out of her hand and landed on the ground, giving the two only a minimal amount of light to see with.
"Are you okay?" the monk asked, noticing that she was clutching her shoulder.
"I landed… weird." She held the weight of her arm to hopefully relieve the pain her shoulder felt. Kagome looked up. It was almost completely dark out now. "Let's get out of here," Kagome said, quickly grabbing her flashlight from the dirt floor. Miroku nodded.
Kagome tried to grab hold of the side of the well to climb out as she had normally done, but the pain in her shoulder was too much for her to bear. "Oww!" she yelled out, wincing in pain.
"I'll have to carry us both out," Miroku said, eying her shoulder and touching it gently. "Can you hold onto my back?" Kagome nodded and wrapped her arms around Miroku's neck. The extra weight made it increasingly difficult for the monk to climb out of the well. After a couple of failed attempts the two finally made it to the top.
"Oh no!" Kagome gasped, as she was the first who looked over the top of the well. Miroku pulled the two out as he looked at the area around them. A familiar area that they had just seen ten minutes ago. "Miroku, we didn't go through!"
***
Miroku sighed as he clutched the bag of ice against Kagome's shoulder. After they were unable to pass through the well, the two had gone back into the house and were now sitting at Kagome's kitchen table. "I don't understand," he looked at the girl, who was currently in pain due to her new injury. "We went through once, why can't we get back?" Kagome began to shrug then let out a small whimper as the pain shot through her shoulder and radiated down her arm.
"I don't know, Miroku…" She smiled as the monk slowly pulled up the sleeve of her t-shirt to study her shoulder.
"I don't think you broke anything… but most likely you did pull something." Kagome grinned. Miroku was actually putting her situation before his—regardless the fact of how minor hers was in comparison.
"Thank you, Miroku."
"For what?" the monk asked.
"Helping me."
He smiled. "All I did was hold a bag of ice."
"And pulled me out of the bottom of that well," she reminded him.
"What did you think I would do?" he asked, "Just leave you there?" The monk's blue eyes studied the girl carefully.
Kagome smiled. She was now beginning to see a side of Miroku she hadn't noticed before. Despite the fact he always seemed to be so promiscuous, she now realized what a kind-hearted person he really was.
"Well," she eyed him momentarily, "it looks like your spending the night." She stood up and led the monk upstairs. "I'll put you in Sota's room." She grabbed a few blankets and pillows out of the linen closet with her good arm then led Miroku into her little brother's room, where he was already sleeping.
"We'll try the well again in the morning," she whispered unrolling Sota's guest mattress. "Don't worry, Miroku," she added patting the monk's arm, "I'm sure we'll get back through somehow." He smiled at her as he took the pillow from her hands.
"I hope so," he replied, placing his hand on the small of Kagome's back, then slowly rubbing it downward…
"Miroku!" Kagome shrieked as her hand reached up to slap the side of the monk's face. "Where in my little brother's room for gods' sake!"
"Kagome?" The sleepy child asked from his bed. "What's going on? What are you doing in my room?" Miroku grinned guiltily.
"Miroku's staying the night," Kagome whispered.
"Oh. Well, you two woke me up," Sota replied rubbing his eyes tiredly. "Can't he just stay in your room?"
Miroku smiled. "That sounds like a-"
"Terrible idea," Kagome finished his sentence.
"Why not?" Sota asked. "You let Inuyasha sleep in your bed before," he said, referring to the afternoon the hanyou had fell asleep in her room while she was studying.
Miroku eyed the girl curiously. "Is that so?" he asked with an interested a grin.
Kagome frowned. "Goodnight, Miroku," she said before leaving the child's room and shutting the door.
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A/N: I'd be obliged if you'd all review! Thanx.