Warnings: Rated R – not a big bad rated R for this one… but there is some suggestive thoughts going on. There is also some language.
Disclaimer: I do not own Inu-Yasha… or Miroku… no matter how much I want to.
Only They Know: I Wondered Once Upon a Time
By Gabreilla Moushigo (aka Aeki Muffinhands)
It had been three weeks since they had seen the stupid monk last. They decided to head back to the village they had last seen him. Kagome was sure he would return there for some reason. They talked to the couple that they knew there, and said that she missed him by a few days, and he promised to return in another week. With a groan Kagome agreed to leave the inn and the kind people after only two days. They would go shard hunting for a week or so, and the couple promised that they would tell Miroku that his friends and wife were looking for him.
The woman and man thanked Kagome for ridding them off the ominous cloud all those weeks past, and were very sorry that they did not see her husband leave. The wife clucked her tongue and the man had a worried look for the young woman. They feared that Miroku had abandoned his beautiful young wife. "Young woman," Said the innkeeper, taking hold of her hand. "I am sure he will come back… do not worry yourself so." He patted her palm. "If you ever need a place to stay… remember to return here… we have not forgotten your kindness, nor will we."
Those people made her feel so horrible for lying! They were so kind! They were so generous… and she and Miroku took advantage of them… how bad could they be? Terrible!
They left the horrible little village but there was an odd tenseness in the air. Each member worried. Kago-chan would constantly look at Kagome worrying silently for the young girl. She herself had to deal with that terrible heartbreak Inu-Yasha gave her… she worried that maybe this time little Miroku might not return the young girl's feelings… what then? She could hardly think of her Miroku-chan leaving her for weeks on end… and quite frankly… that was a scary thought!
The week came and went and they soon found themselves heading back to the village that they hoped they would never have to look at again. They were already sick of the honorable innkeeper… they liked him alright… but he always talked too much… wouldn't leave them alone and even though it was a nice place to rest their heads for the night… they hated when he would keep them awake until very late only to wake them at the crack of dawn asking a most frustrating string of questions… questions they could care less about until they at least had a full five hours of sleep.
Everyone had a glum look on the way back, they were really worried about Miroku. They hadn't heard from him in forever… he was supposed to be back in that village for at least three days now… that was the date the innkeeper gave them. Unfortunately, they had become sidetracked by a shard Naraku had planted on a ridiculous demon who was supposed to kill them. He probably thought it was humorous… leading them away from the monk. Kagome felt sick on the way back, she just wanted to make sure Miroku was ok… worried about what Naraku might have been planning.
Sango worried as well, but she didn't let it show too much other than a "I hope he isn't doing anything perverted." every so often.
Inu-Yasha answered her worries with, "He probably is."
Kagome just fretted away, and Shippo with her. "We haven't seen him for a few weeks… I'm scared."
"He's probably just off meditating." The elder Miroku lied.
"Meditating in some girl's bed." Kago-chan jibed at Miro-sama.
"Maybe." Miro-sama conceded.
"Even in this place Miroku dearest you are quite a handful." She said, her eyes smiling.
"You never seemed to mind." Miro-sama said cautiously.
"You never ran away for weeks on end." Kago-chan said, he shrugged his shoulders, point taken. "I'm worried about our young fiend." She said with a sigh.
"You mean young friend?" Miro-sama offered.
"No, young fiend." Kago-chan corrected.
"I'm going ahead." Kagome was staring at the ground, lost in her own world. "I need to think about a few things."
"Don't go too far ahead." Inu-Yasha warned.
"I won't." She said, looking up and smiling at him.
"Feh!" He looked away, embarrassed for no reason whatsoever.
Miro-sama and Kago-chan exchanged looks, but said nothing to everyone's disappointment.
Kagome didn't notice anything; she just hung her head pitifully. Her and Miroku's conversations had taken a weird route last time they talked. 'It's just impossible.' Those words repeated in her head. Why did she say that? How could things be so strange between them now? Normally… they got along quite well. He had refrained from groping her for a while… complimented her on everything pretty much… she just didn't notice it until they had that talk.
He probably thought she was horrible… 'He is probably out asking girls to bare his child since I wouldn't do it… or he is probably out doing some whore in the country side… paying her to have his baby' She thought with a snort. 'He's probably having the time of his life right now while I'm worried sick.' She shook her head. 'Why am I thinking these things? He has probably done nothing… and I am just standing here thinking the worst… wasn't I going to tell him how I feel? Do I deserve to tell him how I feel?'
"Oh young lady!" A familiar voice rang out.
The innkeeper's wife! "Oh! Um… hello!" Kagome called, realizing for the first time that the woman was rushing up to her.
"Young lady… we found your man the other day in quite a compromising position." The woman blushed.
"Wh-what do you mean?" She grumbled. 'That damn pervert… I oughta…'
"He refused to come into our house." She huffed, as if he were the rudest man alive. "He said that he caused he enough trouble… but I don't know what he is talking about."
Kagome gulped guiltily. 'Well… he has a conscious after all.'
"He was acting so strange… playing around with that little glove of his." She muttered. "You wouldn't believe the misfortunate that followed him leaving that field out behind town!" She went on to explain. "We found this huge hole in the land… where he sat… a large object from the sky must have fallen… it must have been enormous for the size of the hole if left." She covered quickly. "But I am sure he was out of the way, he said he wouldn't be staying in the field for long."
'Hole in the ground?' For some reason those words buzzed in her brain painfully. Naraku… was all that a diversion while-? "W-where is it?" Kagome asked, deathly quiet.
"Over that way." The woman indicated. "Might take you a while, our village isn't that little you know."
"Thank you." Kagome only needed a second to look before she tore off down the road. 'Please!' Her mind screamed. 'Please be alright!'
The finally made it to the end of the village, her heart slamming against he chest so painfully that it caught her breath. "Oh! There you are young lady." The innkeep's voice rang out.
"M-Miroku?" She croaked.
The man smiled. "He was but here the other day, and look… a giant hole lay were he sat." The man positively beamed. "Everyone said that it was a star fallen from the sky." He shook his fingers, as seemed to be the custom around here. "But I'm not so sure… women." He said laughing. "Tend to romanticize things." He clapped her shoulder a bit, unaware of her expression. "My lovely wife believes that this is a misfortune… bah… your husband probably knew that this terrible thing would happen and drew 'the star' onto this field where our gardens were not growing. Hm. See, look… it missed our crops by just a little bit… oh what a wonderful man… coming back to save us from starvation." He was gushing again. "You should've seen all that dust and wind that thing picked up… it was like an explosion."
She stepped away from him, staring into that pit, knowing… just knowing. Her heart wouldn't stop twisting in her chest. All those good times together were gone. She tried to summon tears in her eyes, but she almost felt beyond them. All the times he complimented her cooking… while Inu-Yasha complained about the lack of raman… all the times he told her how pretty she looked… all those comforting hands on his shoulder… all the times he talked to her… everything that he said and did… perverted or not… all gone. Gone… gone… gone. She saw a little girl with beautiful violet eyes appear and disappear within her vision… a child that she would never see now. She choked out a sob deep in her throat. She felt a wave of nausea creep up on her. 'I was just wondering what it was like.' His words hit her finally… he would never know. "MIROKU!" Her heart broke.
Me: Working on the next chapter already… like I said… I'm writing up a storm… my finals are next week (Sob!) I should probably study but I want to write this story so badly. I guess college comes first though… right? I want to post the next chapter tonight though, so you guys won't feast upon my broken littlebody once you get your hands on me. (Worry)
I joined the Monk and Miko yahoo group… I wish I had joined a few months earlier… it seems like it just died or something. I think it would have been fun writing with all those passionate people… then again… you know how things go. They are probably all hard at work at school or work for the holidays. Studying and work can seriously put a cramp in your writing time. Of course… let me not be to hasty saying that the group died… I really… really want to be a part of something like that. It would be so much fun just to get to write all that wonderful stuff. (Smiles happy) Hopefully I'll get to help with a challenge or something.