Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha!

Chapter 5

Miroku continued to wander nervously through the busy streets of Tokyo, as he had been for a couple of hours. Miroku was never one to loose his sense of direction, but everything in the unfamiliar city appeared the same to him. After drifting for several blocks, he decided it would be best to return to Kagome's school and wait for her there. His face reddened with embarrassment when he realized he'd have to explain the entire situation to her.

He turned down an alley that ran beside a large building that appeared to be some type of restaurant. Miroku was amazed of how much space was taken up by the large, brick buildings in the future. It was bad enough trying to walk down the busy streets filled with people. After apologizing every time he bumped into someone, he was merely given an irritated look. He finally decided to give up on apologizing, assuming people of the future didn't know the meaning of the word "sorry." He sighed. How he longed to return back home.

The monk finally made his way through the alley into a busy street. Now, just which way was Kagome's school? He grinned as he saw the young school girl with the white and green uniform walking on the other side of the street. He called her name, but she didn't look up. This time he called louder. "Kagome!" He waved his hands frantically to get the girls attention. "Kagome!" The girl finally looked towards him with a look of bewilderment. Do all the girls of this era wear the same thing? the monk thought to himself when he realized that, in fact, it was not her.

Miroku frowned confusingly as a large yellow automobile with a black design on the side and a large box on the top that read 'TAXI' came to an abrupt halt in the street next to him. He studied it momentarily, when finally the window rolled down and an angry man gave him a dirty look. "Well buddy? Did you want a ride or not?"

Miroku smiled. Finally, a friendly soul who's willing to help me. He looked uncertainly at the vehicle and nodded. The man frowned once again at the confused monk. "Well get your ass in here, I haven't got all day." The angry man finally leaned across the back seat, forcing the door open. "Hurry up," he added. Miroku nodded and took a seat inside.

"Where to?"

"Higurashi shrine."

The man nodded as the car sped away. The monk watched uncertainly through the window, clutching nervously onto the seat of the vehicle. "Thanks for the ride," the monk said gratefully. The man grunted and continued to drive. Miroku tensed up as the vehicle came to an abrupt halt and the man driving it pressed the middle of the wheel-shaped object in front of him and hung his head out the window blurting some choice words at the other automobiles.

Miroku grinned as they finally pulled up to the familiar house. The monk smiled at the man once again. "Thank you again, sir, for your kind gesture," he said as he finally managed to open the automobile door on his own and step outside the car.

"Hey buddy," the angry man replied, "you forgetting something?"

Miroku studied the man uncertainly.

"Payment," the man barked.

The monk frowned as he pulled a prayer card out of his pocket and handed it to the man.

"What the hell is this?" the man asked angrily.

How uncivil, Miroku thought to himself. "You are welcome," replied the monk, sarcastically. Whatever happened to doing a good deed? Everyone expects something in return, Miroku thought to himself as he sighed. He shook his head at the man as he quickly walked back to the front door of Kagome's home.

"Cheap asshole!" the man shouted from the car as he sped away, screeching his tires.

***

"Thanks for carrying my backpack and walking me home, Hojo."

The young man smiled at Kagome. "No problem. I hope your shoulder feels better tomorrow." "Oh," he smiled sheepishly, "and I hope you get rid of your tape worms."

Kagome's face instantly turned a bright shade of red. Grandpa! "I will see you at school tomorrow, Hojo." She waved good-bye as she turned and entered her home.

"Oh Miroku, I see you made it back okay. I was kind of worried," she smiled at the monk who was sitting on the sofa enjoying a soda and watching his favorite women-at-the-beach show with Sota. "Not that I should have been," she added, "you're not an idiot." She laughed as the monk nodded nervously.

"Shall we try the well?" she asked.

***

Kagome and Miroku stood at the bottom of the well. Instead of jumping in this time, they decided it would be best to climb to the bottom. Neither of them wanted anymore injuries. Miroku had been generous enough to climb down the side with Kagome clutching nervously to his back.

 The monk sighed. "We're still here," he said, stating the obvious as he looked towards the top of the well.

Kagome gave him a sad grin. "I'm sorry, Miroku. This hasn't happened before. Well, except for the time Inuyasha stole my shards." She paused momentarily and smiled. "Then he tried to seal it with a tree. Unsuccessfully, might I add."

Miroku glanced towards the girl with an expression of worry on his face. "Do you think that's what happened?" he asked.

Kagome shrugged. "I know Inuyasha wouldn't seal it again. But I guess it could have been someone else. The question is who?"

"What do we do now?" he asked.

"I guess we'll just have to keep trying it." Kagome thought for a minute. "If Inuyasha were able to pass through, he most likely would have came through by now. Especially since you're here with me. Shippo had to have told him what happened."

"Do you think something happened to them?" Miroku asked fearfully.

"I'm not sure," Kagome replied. "But, I hope not."

***

Later that night, Kagome went to bed early. She could still hear Miroku talking with her grandfather in the kitchen. It was odd. Despite the age difference, Miroku seemed to have made quick friends with him. She smiled. Even if he was stuck in the future, the least her family could do was make him feel at home. Kagome began to wonder. What if Miroku is stuck here for good? She shook her head and tried to put those thoughts aside.

***

Miroku had been sulking in the living room after Kagome had announced she was going to bed. That's when her grandfather approached him.

"Something bothering you?" he asked the young man.

Miroku shrugged. Grandpa motioned for him to follow him into the kitchen as the monk stood up, turned off the television, and took a seat across from Grandpa at the kitchen table. After questioning Miroku about his problem, the monk had told the old man the story of the air void in his right hand and the unexpected life which lay ahead for him. He was glad to get such worries of his chest, and Kagome's grandfather seemed to be just the person to talk to. The old man nodded as he listened to the young monk's story.

"I have just the thing to ease your mind young fella," replied the old man, leaving the room. He returned with a bottle in his hand as he reached to grab two glasses out of the cupboard. He poured the liquid into the two glasses then looked up towards the depressed monk. "You are of drinking age?" the old man asked. The monk frowned questionably as Grandpa shrugged his shoulders and handed him the glass of sake.

Miroku smiled at the old man. "Thank you." The liquor, indeed, was just the thing he needed that night after a particularly hard day. He loosened up, revealing much to the old man about his past. Grandpa poured another glass of sake for himself and the monk as Miroku went on to tell him about what had happened to both his father and grandfather.

Grandpa nodded. "I too lost my parents at a tender age." Miroku looked towards the man curiously as he emptied the rest of the bottle into the monk's glass and pushed it back towards him. "As did Kagome…"

"Kagome's father?"

The old man nodded. "Kagome did not tell you?"

Miroku shook his head and looked towards the old man inquisitively.  "No…"

"He died while she was very young." The old man, who was now obviously buzzed, looked at the young monk. "It was very hard on her." He sighed. "Sota was much too young to remember, but I think it still hurts Kagome to think about it. That's probably why she doesn't speak of it." The old man went on. "He died of cancer. His mother, too, was taken by the same illness. It is hereditary. That means it's passed on down from generation to generation. To this day, she is still saddened by the thoughts of it."

The monk nodded understandingly. He knew exactly how Kagome felt. The disease had been passed down through her family, taking away people she loved. Much like the wind tunnel that had been passed down to him, and would eventually be passed down to his own children. If he lived long enough to find a woman to bear his children that is. After the conversation, he felt a connection to the girl he never knew he had. He too, tried to keep his feelings inside. It hurt too much to be reminded of the past, so he tried to forget.

The old man walked across the room, throwing the empty bottle into the trash. He reached into the cabinet and returned with another bottle of clear liquid.

"What's that?" Miroku asked.

The old man laughed. "I think you will like it," he replied handing him the bottle.

Miroku read the label carefully. "Everclear?"

***

Kagome had just drifted to sleep as her bedroom door slowly opened and awoken her. Sota's having another nightmare, she thought to herself. She was shocked to see Miroku in the doorway wearing a weary grin.

"Miroku, what are you doing in here?" she asked.

He smiled as he took two clumsy steps backwards. "Just coming to…" he slurred, "Just coming to say g-good-night," he replied. Kagome stood up and approached the monk curiously.

"Are you okay, Miroku?" she asked. He smiled as the scent of his breath reached her nose. "Miroku, you've been drinking!"

"Not much," he smiled, as he cupped her chin in his hands. Kagome felt a shiver run up her spine as the monk gently brushed her cheek with his hand. "Do you know how beautiful you are?" he asked. He slowly leaned in closely towards her before almost stumbling to the floor. Kagome grabbed onto his shoulders to keep the drunken boy standing.

A look of shock came over Kagome's face as she studied the monk. She had been groped by Miroku many times, but he had never commented on her looks. "Um…Miroku, you're pretty drunk," she replied, trying to stabilize the young man's body. "I think we should get you to bed." She slowly showed the unstable boy to Sota's room and helped him onto the guest bed, where he promptly passed out.

Kagome found herself smiling as she returned to her own bedroom. He thinks I'm beautiful… she thought to herself. She shook her head in disbelief. No, he doesn't realize what he was saying. He was just drunk. Kagome sighed as she returned to her bed and pulled the covers up over her.

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A/N: Wow. That was a long chapter, eh? I think that deserves some reviews. Pretty please?  =)