She's Not Mine
Chapter three:
There Must Be a Mistake
Miroku tried to struggle out of her grip, but she simply took the hilt of her blade and hit him over the head, knocking him out. She continued to leap over the trees, aware that the demonic cat was following her, but not caring much about it. She was headed for the foot of the mountains, but was sure to keep track of the way she came. She had no intention of hurting the monk as of yet, and she certainly didn't mean to keep him for long. Answers. That was the only thing she wanted from this man. He disgusted her, but it was necessary to get close to him in order to get what she wanted from him.
She finally reached the cave she had picked out earlier that day, and where she had kept a fire lit so that she could find it once the sun went down, which it had some time ago. She knew the fire would attract other demons, but she didn't care. They were no match to her, and she could easily defend both herself and Miroku through the night if it came to it. She laid him down by the fire, and checked the cave to make sure there were no demons lurking in the shadows. She then returned to the mouth of the cave, and telepathically called to Kirara, and asked the fire cat if he wanted to stay the night in the cave, or if he would rather sleep in a tree. She got no answer, so she assumed the latter, and went to try and wake Miroku.
She shook him, and called his name, but all he did was moan and roll over, so she took some water from a nearby river, and threw it on him. He sputtered awake, and sat up, wiping the water from his eyes with his sleeve. "Good," she said, smiling with amusement, "are you ready?"
"Ready for what?" he asked, taking the cloth she offered him to wipe the rest of his face, and shake the water out of his hair. It had come undone from the tie he had in it, and had she not known who this man really was, she would have found it attractive, since she always liked boys with longer hair. He gave her a quizzical look when he caught her staring, and she quickly shook her head, and got back to his question.
"I told you, monk, I need to know something, and since it isn't stored in your easily accessible memory, I'm going to have to probe deeper into your mind, and pull it to the front, which takes a lot longer, and requires the cooperation of the subject. Now please answer my question, and tell me if you are ready."
"Well, believe it or not, I have questions of my own, so if you want me to cooperate, I think you should answer mine first."
She sighed, "Fine, have it your way."
"First...how old are you?"
"Too young for you, pervert. I'm nine years old. Anything ring a bell?"
"No, I'm afraid it doesn't. What's your name?"
"Katura Houshi, if you must know. Anything else?"
"Why do you want my memories?"
"Oh gods, he's a blonde! Because you and I have something in common and I want to know how it happened! Are we done now?"
"What do we have in common? And why is it so important?"
"You'll find out if you let me get in your head, now lie down."
He raised his eyebrow at her before complying, but she noticed and shook her head in shame. Once he was in a horizontal position he sighed, "Now what?"
"Just close your eyes, and relax. I can't do this if you don't have an open mind," she said, putting her hand on his forehead. He did as he was told, and emptied his mind of all thoughts. She began to whisper something under her breath, and before he knew it, he saw her form in his head. She was looking around, seeing things he couldn't see until she pulled them out to the front of his mind. Most of the things she brought forth were memories he forgotten. Most of them were of women he had groped or asked to bare his son, and he vaguely felt heat rising to his cheeks. How many had he really done that to?
But finally, as she probed farther and father into his past, she pulled out a woman he recognized, but had forced to the back of his mind on purpose, but it took him a moment to remember why. Oh yes...it was because of Sango. He had forced that memory back, because he wanted to focus on Sango, and only Sango, even though he still put on the lecherous act with other women in attempts to hide it from her. But what did the memory have to do with her again? He was still having trouble remembering. 'Well then, if you still don't remember,' said Katura's voice in his head, 'let's just relive it.'
She brought the memory all the way forward, and he found himself in the memory this time. He was flirting with this woman at a dinner table. It was late, and the moon was bright. She sighed, "Isn't this romantic Miroku?"
"Yes," he replied without thinking, "and the moon is almost as beautiful as your eyes, Suruzama." He had been courting her for a month now, at least in his eyes. She might have seen it as stalking at first, but she eventually warmed up to him. She giggled at his remark, and leaned a little closer to him. He wanted to reach out and stroke her, but resisted the initial temptation, wanting a more profitable night than being slapped right now for his hormones. He was a decade younger than he was presently in the cave, and was still learning to control himself, though he never really did.
'I guess I can be thankful you took the time to learn her name,' he heard Katura mumble, but he found himself truly living the moment again, and so he ignored the comment, and continued to talk to Suruzama like he had a decade before.
"My lady," he said sweetly, waiting for her to look at him, "would you care to leave to another area?" She smiled, and nodded, so he took her hand, helping her to her feet, and put an arm around her waist as he led her down a stone path. He let go of her hand and waist, stepping behind her, and covering her eyes with his hands.
"What are you doing?" she giggled.
"It's a surprise. No peeking," he whispered in her ear. She smiled wider, and spread her arms to balance herself as he led her to a building not far off the path. He guided her into a dimly lit room, and shut the door before telling her to open her eyes. She blinked and looked around. The only things in there were a bed and a closet-chest-thingy.
"Miroku- what are you planning?" she asked somewhat confused. He came around to face her, a serious and determined expression on his face. He stepped close to her and she blushed.
"Can you not think of anything?" he whispered, coming even closer. He dipped his head, and kissed her. When she began to kiss back, he wrapped his arms around her and led her to the bed. Just when he laid down on her, Katura ripped the image away, and Miroku was left with nothing but the black void of mind. He was a little startled, but also a little angry with Katura for taking his pleasures away from him like that. He didn't have much time to question her though, because she was already searching for another memory. The next one was of the next day, and he didn't need to relive it to know what it held. He remembered everything now. She had confessed her love for him just before she fell asleep in his arms the night before, and he had stayed awake for many hours because of it. He had been looking for a one night stand, not a relationship, and so the next day, just before light, he gently removed his body from hers, put his clothes back on, and left town. He had been ashamed of what he had done, for he had half expected her to slap him before they got anywhere, but he had underestimated his own charm. He knew she would be heart broken when she woke to find he had skipped town, but he couldn't tie himself down to anyone; he needed his freedom.
Katura pulled him out of his reverie, and he opened his eyes to find her glaring at him. He was about to ask why when she hauled out and slapped him. He was taken aback at this, but was able to grab her arm before she did it again. He tried to sit up but she sat on his stomach, and tried to hit him with her free hand. He caught her fist and quickly glanced to the wall of the cave, relieved to see her sword was out of her reach. He looked back at her and was surprised to see that she was crying. She had her eyes closed, and soon she rested her head on his chest, still sobbing. "Why?" she cried, "Why did you have to leave her?!"
He let go of her arm, and put his around her, but she threw him off, and stood up, wiping her eyes as she went. "She trusted you, Miroku! And you betrayed her! You abandoned her! You abandoned me!" she yelled as she slumped to the ground. He had sat up at this point, but at her last words, his eyes widened in horror and he started to back away from her.
"N-no. That's not possible. You can't- no. There must be a mistake." He shook his head in disbelief and denial. There was no way. It wasn't possible.
"What, you think I'm happy to call you FATHER?" she said sarcastically. "When I found out...oh I was so mad. She had told me that you were a samurai, and that you had died in a battle when I was young, but one day I caught her thinking of you, and you weren't dress like a samurai, so I questioned her. She refused to tell me, and sent it to the back her mind, not letting me get at it."
"You are lying. I didn't get her pregnant. And even if I had, there is no way you could be the result. Besides, how did you find me if all you got was a glimpse of me?"
"You don't get it, do you? I wasn't mad that you weren't a samurai then, because I still believed you had died when I was little and mother just told me that to make a good bedtime story. It wasn't until our village was attacked that I found out the truth. Grandfather told her to run, that he would look after me, but she said she wouldn't leave me like you did. She- she died that day, Miroku. And since that day I swore I would find you and set things straight. I caught your scent a few miles from here, and knew I was close."
"How could you catch my scent? Both myself and Suruzama are-were-human."
She gave a small laugh, and grinned at the ground. "It looks like you both had your secrets then. She never told you?"
"Told me what?" he asked cautiously. He wasn't sure if he wanted to believe her or not.
"She wasn't completely human. My grandmother was a hanyou, the demon traits recessive, and so it skipped a generation. They did not show in my mother, but they shine through me like the sun. Grandfather told me when I was five, since my mother refused to believe the story."
"Well, I refuse to believe it either. I am not your father. I can't possibly be."
"Then maybe you haven't noticed this yet," she said, holding up her right arm. It was the hand she had tried to punch him with it was covered in a light pink cloth with beads wrapped around it. "You left a curse with me, Miroku. Mother said it wasn't from her. I got it from you, and it's because of this thing, I wasn't allowed to have any friends. I was alone, Miroku, and it's all your fault."
"There must be a mistake," he said under his breath, still trying to convince himself that he hadn't done that to her. But the proof was pudding, or in this case, her hand. She had a kazana...just like his...the familial curse that had plagued his kin for four generations now. Now that he noticed, she had inherited his eyes too, but the rest was her mother.
"Now, I wish I could kill you right now with my bare claws," she said, stepping forward and showing him her razor sharp nails, "but I promised that Sango girl she could have you back, though I can't fathom what she sees in you." The girl walked over to the fire, and sighed as she sat down. Miroku was hesitant, but he felt she meant to keep her promise to Sango, so he ventured closer. He stared into the fire for sometime, then opened his mouth to speak, but she beat him to it. "No, Miroku. I don't think I'll ever be able to trust you." She dashed his hopes of making it up to her for leaving like that, but that didn't mean he stopped feeling sorry for her.
"You were that lonely, huh?" he asked sadly.
"Yes. It was...hard...growing up."
"But you said you were only nine years old. You can still have a happy childhood."
"No, Miroku, I can't. I-I grew up a long time ago. There was no use in being childish if you weren't allowed to play with the other children, so I locked myself in a study and learned. I've never had a desire for a childhood, since I never really knew what one was."
"Had I known...I wouldn't have left her like that-"
"Liar." She was still mad at him. "You would have run even faster had you known that I was the result."
"That's not true, Katura, and you know it. I have been asking women to bare my children for almost a decade, and as of late, I've meant it as a sign to commitment. If I knew I had brought a child into this world I would have stayed with them, even if it meant I would never fulfill my dreams. I may be a letch, but I'm a dedicated letch, and I would not have abandoned my child."
"But you abandoned my mother? You don't make sense Miroku."
"I was scared, Katura. I was scared out of my mind. I was only sixteen then. I was a stupid child with stupid dreams, and she seemed like the anchor that would keep me in a harbor for the rest of my life when I yearned for the open sea. She would have been the death of me, and I was a coward, so I ran. You're a smart child, Katura. Can't you understand that?"
She was silent for a while, then got up and sat against the wall of the cave. "I have no more business with you, monk. You may stay the night if you wish, since it is nearly day as it is, but if you wish to leave, I am sure Kirara will take you to the village." He didn't answer, but was sure she knew he wanted to stay. He did not move from where he was until he saw her start to slide to the left as she fell asleep and her body relaxed. He got up, and took off his robe (I don't know if he actually wears pants under his robe, but for Katura's sake, in my story he does) and draped it over her limp form. He straightened her so she was lying down, and tucked his robe around her so that she would stay warm through the night. He hesitated, but then leaned down and kissed her forehead. "Goodnight Katura. Sweet dreams." He stood up and went to the other side of the cave, and sat down, folding his arms across his chest, and bowing his head, not used to sleeping without his staff in hand, but he eventually managed to get some sleep before the sun rose.
A/N: Miroku is a little more poetic in some senses here than he usually is, but hey, you got to admit, you like him that way. Also, if you've ever seen...that one movie...oh crap, I can't remember it...with the lady in NY, whose father owned a lot of guitars, and she had to be a nanny for this brat with excessive compulsive disorder...well the kid is a lot like Miroku's daughter I think, so if you know the title, please tell me, so I can fix this. I think the girl was in Man on Fire too, but the girl's character in this other one was pretty close. Sry bout my broken brain roght now. It's almost midnight, gimme a break.
Chapter three:
There Must Be a Mistake
Miroku tried to struggle out of her grip, but she simply took the hilt of her blade and hit him over the head, knocking him out. She continued to leap over the trees, aware that the demonic cat was following her, but not caring much about it. She was headed for the foot of the mountains, but was sure to keep track of the way she came. She had no intention of hurting the monk as of yet, and she certainly didn't mean to keep him for long. Answers. That was the only thing she wanted from this man. He disgusted her, but it was necessary to get close to him in order to get what she wanted from him.
She finally reached the cave she had picked out earlier that day, and where she had kept a fire lit so that she could find it once the sun went down, which it had some time ago. She knew the fire would attract other demons, but she didn't care. They were no match to her, and she could easily defend both herself and Miroku through the night if it came to it. She laid him down by the fire, and checked the cave to make sure there were no demons lurking in the shadows. She then returned to the mouth of the cave, and telepathically called to Kirara, and asked the fire cat if he wanted to stay the night in the cave, or if he would rather sleep in a tree. She got no answer, so she assumed the latter, and went to try and wake Miroku.
She shook him, and called his name, but all he did was moan and roll over, so she took some water from a nearby river, and threw it on him. He sputtered awake, and sat up, wiping the water from his eyes with his sleeve. "Good," she said, smiling with amusement, "are you ready?"
"Ready for what?" he asked, taking the cloth she offered him to wipe the rest of his face, and shake the water out of his hair. It had come undone from the tie he had in it, and had she not known who this man really was, she would have found it attractive, since she always liked boys with longer hair. He gave her a quizzical look when he caught her staring, and she quickly shook her head, and got back to his question.
"I told you, monk, I need to know something, and since it isn't stored in your easily accessible memory, I'm going to have to probe deeper into your mind, and pull it to the front, which takes a lot longer, and requires the cooperation of the subject. Now please answer my question, and tell me if you are ready."
"Well, believe it or not, I have questions of my own, so if you want me to cooperate, I think you should answer mine first."
She sighed, "Fine, have it your way."
"First...how old are you?"
"Too young for you, pervert. I'm nine years old. Anything ring a bell?"
"No, I'm afraid it doesn't. What's your name?"
"Katura Houshi, if you must know. Anything else?"
"Why do you want my memories?"
"Oh gods, he's a blonde! Because you and I have something in common and I want to know how it happened! Are we done now?"
"What do we have in common? And why is it so important?"
"You'll find out if you let me get in your head, now lie down."
He raised his eyebrow at her before complying, but she noticed and shook her head in shame. Once he was in a horizontal position he sighed, "Now what?"
"Just close your eyes, and relax. I can't do this if you don't have an open mind," she said, putting her hand on his forehead. He did as he was told, and emptied his mind of all thoughts. She began to whisper something under her breath, and before he knew it, he saw her form in his head. She was looking around, seeing things he couldn't see until she pulled them out to the front of his mind. Most of the things she brought forth were memories he forgotten. Most of them were of women he had groped or asked to bare his son, and he vaguely felt heat rising to his cheeks. How many had he really done that to?
But finally, as she probed farther and father into his past, she pulled out a woman he recognized, but had forced to the back of his mind on purpose, but it took him a moment to remember why. Oh yes...it was because of Sango. He had forced that memory back, because he wanted to focus on Sango, and only Sango, even though he still put on the lecherous act with other women in attempts to hide it from her. But what did the memory have to do with her again? He was still having trouble remembering. 'Well then, if you still don't remember,' said Katura's voice in his head, 'let's just relive it.'
She brought the memory all the way forward, and he found himself in the memory this time. He was flirting with this woman at a dinner table. It was late, and the moon was bright. She sighed, "Isn't this romantic Miroku?"
"Yes," he replied without thinking, "and the moon is almost as beautiful as your eyes, Suruzama." He had been courting her for a month now, at least in his eyes. She might have seen it as stalking at first, but she eventually warmed up to him. She giggled at his remark, and leaned a little closer to him. He wanted to reach out and stroke her, but resisted the initial temptation, wanting a more profitable night than being slapped right now for his hormones. He was a decade younger than he was presently in the cave, and was still learning to control himself, though he never really did.
'I guess I can be thankful you took the time to learn her name,' he heard Katura mumble, but he found himself truly living the moment again, and so he ignored the comment, and continued to talk to Suruzama like he had a decade before.
"My lady," he said sweetly, waiting for her to look at him, "would you care to leave to another area?" She smiled, and nodded, so he took her hand, helping her to her feet, and put an arm around her waist as he led her down a stone path. He let go of her hand and waist, stepping behind her, and covering her eyes with his hands.
"What are you doing?" she giggled.
"It's a surprise. No peeking," he whispered in her ear. She smiled wider, and spread her arms to balance herself as he led her to a building not far off the path. He guided her into a dimly lit room, and shut the door before telling her to open her eyes. She blinked and looked around. The only things in there were a bed and a closet-chest-thingy.
"Miroku- what are you planning?" she asked somewhat confused. He came around to face her, a serious and determined expression on his face. He stepped close to her and she blushed.
"Can you not think of anything?" he whispered, coming even closer. He dipped his head, and kissed her. When she began to kiss back, he wrapped his arms around her and led her to the bed. Just when he laid down on her, Katura ripped the image away, and Miroku was left with nothing but the black void of mind. He was a little startled, but also a little angry with Katura for taking his pleasures away from him like that. He didn't have much time to question her though, because she was already searching for another memory. The next one was of the next day, and he didn't need to relive it to know what it held. He remembered everything now. She had confessed her love for him just before she fell asleep in his arms the night before, and he had stayed awake for many hours because of it. He had been looking for a one night stand, not a relationship, and so the next day, just before light, he gently removed his body from hers, put his clothes back on, and left town. He had been ashamed of what he had done, for he had half expected her to slap him before they got anywhere, but he had underestimated his own charm. He knew she would be heart broken when she woke to find he had skipped town, but he couldn't tie himself down to anyone; he needed his freedom.
Katura pulled him out of his reverie, and he opened his eyes to find her glaring at him. He was about to ask why when she hauled out and slapped him. He was taken aback at this, but was able to grab her arm before she did it again. He tried to sit up but she sat on his stomach, and tried to hit him with her free hand. He caught her fist and quickly glanced to the wall of the cave, relieved to see her sword was out of her reach. He looked back at her and was surprised to see that she was crying. She had her eyes closed, and soon she rested her head on his chest, still sobbing. "Why?" she cried, "Why did you have to leave her?!"
He let go of her arm, and put his around her, but she threw him off, and stood up, wiping her eyes as she went. "She trusted you, Miroku! And you betrayed her! You abandoned her! You abandoned me!" she yelled as she slumped to the ground. He had sat up at this point, but at her last words, his eyes widened in horror and he started to back away from her.
"N-no. That's not possible. You can't- no. There must be a mistake." He shook his head in disbelief and denial. There was no way. It wasn't possible.
"What, you think I'm happy to call you FATHER?" she said sarcastically. "When I found out...oh I was so mad. She had told me that you were a samurai, and that you had died in a battle when I was young, but one day I caught her thinking of you, and you weren't dress like a samurai, so I questioned her. She refused to tell me, and sent it to the back her mind, not letting me get at it."
"You are lying. I didn't get her pregnant. And even if I had, there is no way you could be the result. Besides, how did you find me if all you got was a glimpse of me?"
"You don't get it, do you? I wasn't mad that you weren't a samurai then, because I still believed you had died when I was little and mother just told me that to make a good bedtime story. It wasn't until our village was attacked that I found out the truth. Grandfather told her to run, that he would look after me, but she said she wouldn't leave me like you did. She- she died that day, Miroku. And since that day I swore I would find you and set things straight. I caught your scent a few miles from here, and knew I was close."
"How could you catch my scent? Both myself and Suruzama are-were-human."
She gave a small laugh, and grinned at the ground. "It looks like you both had your secrets then. She never told you?"
"Told me what?" he asked cautiously. He wasn't sure if he wanted to believe her or not.
"She wasn't completely human. My grandmother was a hanyou, the demon traits recessive, and so it skipped a generation. They did not show in my mother, but they shine through me like the sun. Grandfather told me when I was five, since my mother refused to believe the story."
"Well, I refuse to believe it either. I am not your father. I can't possibly be."
"Then maybe you haven't noticed this yet," she said, holding up her right arm. It was the hand she had tried to punch him with it was covered in a light pink cloth with beads wrapped around it. "You left a curse with me, Miroku. Mother said it wasn't from her. I got it from you, and it's because of this thing, I wasn't allowed to have any friends. I was alone, Miroku, and it's all your fault."
"There must be a mistake," he said under his breath, still trying to convince himself that he hadn't done that to her. But the proof was pudding, or in this case, her hand. She had a kazana...just like his...the familial curse that had plagued his kin for four generations now. Now that he noticed, she had inherited his eyes too, but the rest was her mother.
"Now, I wish I could kill you right now with my bare claws," she said, stepping forward and showing him her razor sharp nails, "but I promised that Sango girl she could have you back, though I can't fathom what she sees in you." The girl walked over to the fire, and sighed as she sat down. Miroku was hesitant, but he felt she meant to keep her promise to Sango, so he ventured closer. He stared into the fire for sometime, then opened his mouth to speak, but she beat him to it. "No, Miroku. I don't think I'll ever be able to trust you." She dashed his hopes of making it up to her for leaving like that, but that didn't mean he stopped feeling sorry for her.
"You were that lonely, huh?" he asked sadly.
"Yes. It was...hard...growing up."
"But you said you were only nine years old. You can still have a happy childhood."
"No, Miroku, I can't. I-I grew up a long time ago. There was no use in being childish if you weren't allowed to play with the other children, so I locked myself in a study and learned. I've never had a desire for a childhood, since I never really knew what one was."
"Had I known...I wouldn't have left her like that-"
"Liar." She was still mad at him. "You would have run even faster had you known that I was the result."
"That's not true, Katura, and you know it. I have been asking women to bare my children for almost a decade, and as of late, I've meant it as a sign to commitment. If I knew I had brought a child into this world I would have stayed with them, even if it meant I would never fulfill my dreams. I may be a letch, but I'm a dedicated letch, and I would not have abandoned my child."
"But you abandoned my mother? You don't make sense Miroku."
"I was scared, Katura. I was scared out of my mind. I was only sixteen then. I was a stupid child with stupid dreams, and she seemed like the anchor that would keep me in a harbor for the rest of my life when I yearned for the open sea. She would have been the death of me, and I was a coward, so I ran. You're a smart child, Katura. Can't you understand that?"
She was silent for a while, then got up and sat against the wall of the cave. "I have no more business with you, monk. You may stay the night if you wish, since it is nearly day as it is, but if you wish to leave, I am sure Kirara will take you to the village." He didn't answer, but was sure she knew he wanted to stay. He did not move from where he was until he saw her start to slide to the left as she fell asleep and her body relaxed. He got up, and took off his robe (I don't know if he actually wears pants under his robe, but for Katura's sake, in my story he does) and draped it over her limp form. He straightened her so she was lying down, and tucked his robe around her so that she would stay warm through the night. He hesitated, but then leaned down and kissed her forehead. "Goodnight Katura. Sweet dreams." He stood up and went to the other side of the cave, and sat down, folding his arms across his chest, and bowing his head, not used to sleeping without his staff in hand, but he eventually managed to get some sleep before the sun rose.
A/N: Miroku is a little more poetic in some senses here than he usually is, but hey, you got to admit, you like him that way. Also, if you've ever seen...that one movie...oh crap, I can't remember it...with the lady in NY, whose father owned a lot of guitars, and she had to be a nanny for this brat with excessive compulsive disorder...well the kid is a lot like Miroku's daughter I think, so if you know the title, please tell me, so I can fix this. I think the girl was in Man on Fire too, but the girl's character in this other one was pretty close. Sry bout my broken brain roght now. It's almost midnight, gimme a break.