Notes: Thank you all very much for your positive reviews. I'm not quite sure where I'm going with this yet, but that's part of the fun. I'm sorry for the shortness and expository nature of this chapter. Things are also, however, not as simplistic as they appear. Enjoy.

Disclaimer: Inuyasha "Sengoku o-Togi Zoushi" and its related characters are the property of Rumiko Takahashi.

Part II:

Reflection

Sunlight poked in shattered rays throughout the forest, the almost picturesque scene belaying the ever-present dangers felt more prominently in the night. Birds chirped vociferously and the area was filled with an almost ethereally beauty. The serenity however, would not last.

"Oi, Kagome!" Inuyasha shouted loudly, his amber eyes then narrowing in frustration at the lack of reaction.

The aforementioned miko stretched sluggishly within the comforts of her bedroll, her body stubbornly clinging to the last fragments of slumber.

Inuyasha and Miroku watched her from a distance, their reactions a mixture of impatience and concern.

"Perhaps we should let Kagome-sama sleep a little longer." Miroku suggested neutrally. "It would be a waste of a day if she were too exhausted to search for the shards of the Shikon no Tama or if she were injured in the process of doing so."

"Feh," Inuyasha snorted derisively. "If she ends up getting hurt, then it'll be through her own foolishness." Noticing Miroku's displeased expression, the hanyou's eyes narrowed.

"Besides," Inuyasha remarked coolly. "I told Kagome I'd protect her, didn't I? If something wants to go after her, they'll have a to deal with me first."

Looking satisfied, Inuyasha turned away from Miroku. The houshi didn't try to stop him, merely watched the renewed scene of Inuyasha trying to awaken Kagome with discontent.

For all of his stubbornness, Inuyasha was correct about one thing. Every time Naraku focuses his strengths against him, he indirectly hurts Kagome as well.

A abrupt and familiar realization caused an uncharacteristically deep frown to cross Miroku's face.

Though perhaps not as deeply as Inuyasha has wounded her himself.

Miroku grasped his cursed hand tightly in deliberation. Perhaps he had been wrong to instigate the events of the previous evening. The last thing he desired was to give Naraku another means in which to cause Kagome suffering.

And yet…

Miroku had been around his share of women, most of them bearing a more disreputable reputation than his present company. None of them could ever compare to Kagome's delicate innocence. For a moment Miroku reveled in the recollection of the frantic feel of her heartbeat as she trembled against him.

Knowing full well and caring little of the selfish implications, Miroku came to a decision. He didn't intend to let the memory of what he and Kagome had shared vanish that easily…

Things may have seemed normal, but Inuyasha could tell something was wrong. It had taken him near forever to awaken Kagome and the sight of the unusual dark circles beneath her eyes made him wonder what is was she had done to make her so tired.

Yet it wasn't only that incident that day which caused Inuyasha to regard her with suspicion. It was also the way Kagome wouldn't look directly at him when he spoke to her or the looks she kept sneaking in Miroku's direction.

Furthermore, Kagome's concentration seemed more scattered than usual. Even Shippou had been having trouble gaining her attention, which made the young kitsune far more brazen with his childish antics.

It wasn't until Shippou made one smart comment too many and proceeded to pull down his eyelid and stick out his tongue, causing Inuyasha to threaten to rip his tail off to use as a lure for youkai, that the extent of Kagome's diversion was made apparent.

Rather than the beginning of an admonishment, Kagome had simply glanced at both the kitsune and hanyou wearily, before making a bland command to, "Leave Shippou-chan alone."

While Kagome continued walking, Inuyasha and Shippou had glanced at one another with brief surprise, before snorting and turning away.

It was utterly obviously to Inuyasha that something was wrong and he planned upon finding out what it was as quickly as possible. The last he needed was something new to cause him unnecessary trouble in the end.

Kagome couldn't take it anymore. As she walked deeper and deeper into the twisting, ominous forest, she could feel both guilt and anticipation gnawing at her.

The events of the previous evening remained within her mind (and seemingly her body) with absolute clarity and given the lack of youkai or any other forms of excitement, showed no intention of waning. And it didn't help that Miroku, who was responsible for and knowledgeable of her distraction, was being his usual charming self or that Kagome's imagination seemed to be running into override.

A mere flash of memory and Kagome could almost feel the strength of Miroku's arms as he wrapped them around her. The scent of skin, the taste of his-

Feeling a warm flush creeping up her face, Kagome fought to focus upon something-anything-else entirely. Deciding that the scenery was a far safer object for observation, she glanced sideways and almost immediately regretted it. Miroku was staring at her, his eyes gleaming wickedly amidst his otherwise guiltless expression.

Kagome held back a scream of frustration. After saying that the events last night should never again be mentioned, Miroku still seemed intent upon seeing that a reminder remained of what had happened between them. But even worse, he was driving Kagome to the brink of insanity and enjoying it! How typical, how…

Any further thought of Miroku's male immorality was painfully interrupted when Kagome tripped over an upturned tree root and bumped into Inuyasha, sending the both of them off-balance.

With lightening dexterity, Inuyasha straightened and whirled to face the still unsteady, Kagome.

"What the hell is wrong with you today?" He inquired bluntly.

Putting on an innocent expression, Kagome waved her hands in front of her.

"N-nothing!" She replied quickly. "There's nothing wrong with me."

His expression obviously unconvinced, Inuyasha glared at her coldly. "Could've fooled me."

Kagome tone became defensive. "I just tripped, okay?"

For a moment Inuyasha simply stared at Kagome, his expression almost unreadable. Then with a callous sound, he turned away from her. Though not before she heard the words he muttered under his breath.

"Clumsy bitch."

The insult pushed Kagome's fragile patience to its breaking point. She gave Inuyasha a cool glare, before speaking through clenched teeth.

"Osuwari!"

The reaction was as usual, instantaneous. With the slight glow of the prayer beads acting as a example of things to come, Inuyasha's body plummeted to the rigid ground and the sharp rocks and tree roots that lined it.

Kagome trudged past Inuyasha's prone body, her anger almost tangible as she continued walking down the woodland path. Looking somewhat amused, Miroku proceeded to follow her. Smirking wickedly, Shippou followed suit, taking the time to hop on Inuyasha's head as the hanyou lay twitching on the ground.

In a ornate, yet lonesome castle, the deceptively attractive hanyou Naraku sat calmly. The room in which he resided was encased in darkness, as he had come to prefer it. The only sound within it, aside from his breathing, was that of his Saimyoushou Insects buzzing erratically. It was a particularly bloated member of the consortium that held Naraku's full attention, and he listened to the to the report of the insect with carefully masked eagerness.

Things were slowly following his course of planning, much to Naraku's wicked delight. A mere replication of Kikyou's Shinidamachuu had driven Inuyasha from his foolish companions for a time and planted the seeds of distrust within the wench who was Kikyou's reincarnation.

Giving a careless wave, Naraku dismissed the Saimyoushou Insect and smiled amidst the darkness.

Miroku's response had been an interesting, though far from unexpected development. The houshi's lust would be his downfall, simply a repeat of known history in Naraku's eyes.

How perfect, how utterly ironic the end would be. More planning was obviously needed, but the conclusion of his scheming would be the sweetest of vengeance.

"Kukuku…" Naraku chuckled coldly.

The monk and the hanyou at each other's throats, fighting to their deaths over a human bitch. Once both were dead, thereby stripping the girl of her protectors, he need only go and claim her. The miko's powers had interfered with his plans on more than one occasion and Naraku looked forward to making her regret her intrusion in the most painful ways imaginable…