CHAPTER NINETEEN

*

"Kagome?"

"Yes, Inuyasha?"

"Tell Miroku to pass the tea."

Kagome sighed heavily. "Miroku, please pass the tea."

Miroku picked up one of the sealed cans from Kagome's time and silently passed it to the girl from the future. She, in turn, solemnly handed it over the fire to Inuyasha. The half-demon opened it and took a long gulp from it, glaring across the flames at Miroku. He hadn't spoken a word to Miroku -- directly -- since they had left the inn the morning after.

This is getting absurd. I swear, if I didn't know better, I would think he was a eunuch, Miroku thought, shaking his head. He's practically hopeless. What do I have to do to lower his inhibitions, force-feed him aphrodesiacs?

Much to Miroku's relief, Inuyasha did not tell the girls what had happened or where he had been. The blushing virgin apparently was too embarrassed to admit to Kagome and Sango that he had been in a brothel, even if he had been tricked. A good thing for me, Miroku thought, sighing. If Sango learned about it, they might never find my remains.

"I don't know what is going on with you two," Kagome said loudly. "But I'm gonna find out."

Inuyasha flinched and avoided her gaze. After gulping down the rest of his tea, he crept out into the darkness and vanished into the woods. Kagome looked after him, frowning suspiciously. The expression on her pretty face made Miroku feel like a mouse cornered by a cat. If she suspects... he thought.

"Inuyasha's acting kind of weird, isn't he?" Shippo said, taking a bite from his roasted fish.

"Really?" Miroku assumed his air of innocence.

"Yeah, he is," Sango said thoughtfully. "I wonder why."

Miroku carefully avoided looking at the girls, and instead pretended to be studying the stars in the night sky. He could feel Kagome watching him intently, but refused to respond. Mentally he began furiously searching for another topic -- something, anything to talk about except where they had been the day before...

"I know what happened," Kagome said suddenly.

Miroku almost fell over. "You what?" he almost squeaked. In the tree behind him, there was a faint cracking noise and fluttering leaves.

"I said I know what happened yesterday," Kagome said sharply. "Inuyasha hasn't been able to look me in the eye. He's nervous. He's grumpy. I can tell when he feels guilty and hides things from me."

Miroku felt as if he were going to faint. How could Kagome know? This wasn't possible. He was sure that the girls hadn't trailed him. He managed to say in a steady voice, "Oh... um, and what do you... I mean..."

"Miroku," Kagome said solemnly. "I want you to answer me truthfully. Inuyasha saw Kikyo yesterday, didn't he?"

It was all Miroku could do not to fall on his face with surprise. In the distance, he heard a branch snap, as if someone had collapsed with relief. The monk rallied a feeble smile. "No, Kagome -- Inuyasha was with me, and neither of us saw Kikyo," he said truthfully. "Not for a moment."

Kagome looked relieved. As she began nibbling on her roasted fish, Miroku sagged back against a tree. That had been a close one. From the sound of Inuyasha's near-collapse, he had been every bit as nervous as Miroku. Well, at least the girls were still in the dark, and PROBABLY weren't going to find out...

Suddenly there was a loud rustling from the perimeter of the camp, and something darted through the shadows. Sango swung out at a moving shape -- followed by a very familiar pained howl. The demon-slayer stood quickly. "Inuyasha? Is that you?" she said.

"Inuyasha?" Kagome said, concerned.

Miroku flinched when he saw Inuyasha kneeling on the ground, clutching a very sensitive part of his body, where Sango had apparently hit him. The girls clustered around him, asking if he was all right. Inuyasha's only response was whimpering growls and the occasional "Do I LOOK all right?"

Well, it's settled, Miroku thought, sliding down where he sat. I'm going to ask for Kaede's advice.

TO BE CONTINUED