Ai yai, stuff gets pushed off the front page so quickly these days. Well, anyway, here's a new chapter, after only a few days! I decided to put the next chapter split here, partially because I'm a little stuck on how I want to do some things. It might be hard to get a convenient breaking point as the next events unfold, and I have some decisions to make – but anyway, here it is, enjoy!
Oh, and Airiala, I know Kirara and Shippo kind of got left out a little, but they made it into this chapter! I will try to do better at keeping track of everyone – it's easy to accidentally leave someone by the wayside.
Enough babbling from me. Thank you all for your kind reviews! I really appreciate you taking the time!
***
When Kagome woke, Inuyasha was gone again, but she didn't worry. Somehow she felt he hadn't got far, and sure enough, he wanderd back in just as breakfast was arriving. She had taken the opportunity while he was out of the room to bring the rest of their companions up to speed, and while Sango and Miroku looked curiously at Inuyasha, Sango at least had the good sense to pretend everything was normal. Miroku, on the other hand, had to push just a little.
"The lady of this house is very beautiful," he said, too casually, watching Inuyasha out of the corner of his eye. "Perhaps I will see if—urk!!"
Miroku found himself dangling above the ground, with Inuyasha's hand around his throat and a look of anger in his eyes.
"Inuyasha!" Kagome shot to her feet.
Inuyasha ignored her, his golden eyes locked on Miroku's face. "If you touch her, you better pray that her guards get to you before I do." He held the priest there a moment longer, and then set him on his feet. "She's a lady. You treat her like one, or I won't forgive it," he said quietly, walking away.
Miroku put a hand to his neck, and cleared his throat. "I see," he said, almost to himself.
Sango and Kagome stared at them both as Miroku sat calmly back down and finished his breakfast.
"Well, Kagome-sama," Miroku said easily, as if nothing had happened. "Didn't you say that the lady said we could come and go as we please on the house grounds? Then, Sango, would you like to take a walk with me when you're done? I would like to take a look around."
"Houshi-sama," Sango blinked, her cheeks coloring slightly. "Y-yes, okay." Her eyes dropped self-consciously to her food.
"Shippo, what do you think? Do you want to go play in the garden?" Miroku looked to the kitsune and smiled.
Shippo looked at Kagome. "Kagome, will you go too?"
"Maybe in a bit," Kagome smiled. "I'm a little tired just now, though." Her eyes slid to Inuyasha. Shippo pouted, but decided to go anyway. He shot a venomous look at Inuyasha before attaching himself to Sango's shoulder. Kirara trotted along at their ankles as the little group trouped out into the sunshine.
"Inuyasha," Kagome went over to him as soon as they were gone, "What was that about?"
"If that monk fools around, he could get us all in big trouble," Inuyasha replied shortly. Kagome sighed. He was closed within himself again, and she wasn't sure what to do about it.
Should I leave him alone and let him think it out?
***
"That was scary when Inuyasha grabbed you," Shippo declared from his perch as Sango and Miroku walked through the gardens just inside the outer wall of the house grounds.
"Well, it wasn't very comfortable," Miroku admitted, his expression calm and smiling, as if it were nothing to have a clawed hand threaten to crush your windpipe while your toes dangled above the floor. "But, I think we can say now that Inuyasha isn't as indifferent about this situation as he'd like us to think. He's rarely that protective of strangers."
"He doesn't even get that mad when you grab Kagome-chan," Sango agreed.
"Just so," Miroku said cheerfully.
No remorse at all, Sango thought to herself in disgust, sneaking a glance at him. What an irresponsible lech.
"There is clearly more at stake than Inuyasha's sensibilities," the monk continued.
Sango's eyes widened. "You were testing him."
"I admit, I didn't think he would react quite so violently," Miroku touched the skin at his throat, which was bruising, but only slightly. Inuyasha had clearly made an effort not to really hurt him, in spite of the hanyou's harsh words.
"I see," Shippo nodded wisely. "If Miroku gropes Yoko-sama, she might get offended and throw us all out. He'd lose his only chance at having a family."
"So you're saying he wouldn't have reacted so strongly if he wasn't at least curious," Sango nodded, thoughtfully. "He must be interested in what Yoko-sama has to say."
"Yes. It won't be easy for him, though, and I don't think he's going to let us help him come to terms with it. We'll have to rely on Kagome-sama for a while." Miroku's expression brightened again. "But, for now, we're here in this lovely garden, with a few days of rest and good food ahead of us. We might as well enjoy it."
Sango smiled, cocking her arm back. "Yes, I agree." She let the hand fly, laying a bright red mark against Miroku's face. His hand fell away from her rear as he rocked back from the force of it. "But not too much." She stalked off, while Shippo sniggered.
Miroku sighed in mock dejection and followed, actually more cheered than he wanted to admit at the prospect of a rest from the endless hunts and death.