The Switch: Chapter 3

Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha.

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In case you forgot: When I say Miroku, I mean Miroku in Inuyasha's body.

When I say Inuyasha, I mean Inuyasha in Miroku's body.

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With a groan, Inuyasha opened his eyes. The dream fresh in his mind, he stood up to wake Miroku up. Almost tripping over Shippo on his way, Inuyasha nudged Miroku with his foot. When Miroku opened his eyes, they both said the same thing at the same time.

"We need to talk."

Wordlessly, the two went into the woods, away from the camp. When he thought they were out of hearing distance, Inuyasha asked quietly "Did you have a… strange dream?"

"Involving the thing that switched us?"

"Ok, good, so you'll understand me when I say there is no way I'm gonna like touching Sango's-"

Inuyasha was cut off by Miroku's sudden burst of laughter.

"What?" Inuyasha asked, sounding exasperated.

Still grinning, Miroku answered"After that dream, I would've thought you would be more concerned with me liking Kagome now and not you."

Glad he had remembered to bring Miroku's-no, his- staff, he left a decent sized bump on Miroku's head.

Rubbing the lump, Miroku sighed. "Now that we've straightened that out, I really hope we don't find any demons today."

"Why's that?"

"Because I've never fought with a sword in my life."

"So?"

"What do you want me to do when it comes? Throw Tetsaiga to you?"

"Hey, that's a good idea."

Miroku sighed again. "I was kidding. Since you're a human, it probably won't transform for you. Besides, we should stay around here so we can find that chicken-mouse thing so it can change us back. I hear the others waking up, we should probably go back."

Inuyasha didn't follow Miroku. "Hang on, I've got a question."

"Yes?"

"If you don't like ramen, why do you have some in your pockets?"

He had to go through my pockets, didn't he? And now he's on to me. I might as well confess. "You're right, I don't like it. Since we eat it almost every day thanks to you, I took it out of Kagome's backpack when she wasn't paying attention."

Inuyasha's violet eyes darkened. "You… stole… from Kagome?" He chased Miroku back to camp.

Inuyasha felt something new that morning. He felt sorry for Miroku. Sure, he knew the monk would probably die if Naraku wasn't defeated soon, but he never realized how much of a pain the kazaana was. Literally. Not only did it ache (though Inuyasha had no problem ignoring the pain), he could constantly feel it trying to suck something in, even though he was wearing the prayer beads and glove-like cloth. The monk doesn't even complain about it. Does he think he has something to prove by bein' tough?

All through breakfast, Inuyasha couldn't stop looking at Sango. He had never realized how her long, deep brown hair shone in the sunlight and her chocolate-colored eyes were focused and intent. Now they were focused and intent on Inuyasha.

"What are you looking at, monk?" she asked defensively.

"Uh, I was just admiring your radiant beauty," Inuyasha replied truthfully (though he'd never used words like that before), making Sango roll her eyes.

"Yeah, right. You were just staring at her-" Shippo interjected.

Inuyasha used Miroku's staff to silence the obnoxious kitsune. This thing isn't half bad, he thought smugly as he watched Shippo run to Kagome, probably to beg for some candy.

That's when Inuyasha felt it. He hadn't even realized that his hand was inching closer and closer to the demon slayer sitting next to him. No! NO! Nononono! Damn monk. Inuyasha shut his eyes tightly as his fingers kept reaching. He couldn't move, it was as if he were possessed and he couldn't control that hand.

A loud 'SMACK' resounded across the campsite as a giant boomerang came in contact with someone's skull.

"I don't think we'll be going anywhere too early this morning," Sango said dryly when everyone looked at Inuyasha's swirly-eyed form.

All through breakfast, Miroku regretted taking the ramen from Kagome. Almost. She is so kind and beautiful, but she is strong too. When Sango knocked Inuyasha out, he could have jumped for joy, knowing that this would delay the shard quest a few minutes at the least.

After Inuyasha regained conciousness, they set out towards the nearest village to find rumors of jewel shards.

That's when Miroku smelled it. He wasn't exactly sure what it was, but he could tell it was a demon. Unfamiliar with Inuyasha's improved senses, he just announced "A demon's coming this way."

"Ha!" Shippo exclaimed triumphantly. "You can't even tell what kind it is."

"Do you have a cold, Inuyasha?" Kagome asked, putting her hand on Miroku's forehead. He blushed slightly.

"Feh," he said, mimicking Inuyasha's all-purpose response.

"Jewel shards are coming this way, too," Kagome announced, saving Miroku from further embarrassment.

"I bet it's that damn wolf, Koga," Inuyasha growled.

"What did you just say?" Sango asked curiously.

"I said 'I bet it's that wolf, Koga,'" Inuyasha said, hoping she really hadn't heard him the first time.

No such luck. "That's not what you said."

"Shut up."

"Excuse me?"

"Damn wench," Inuyasha muttered. Sango slapped him.

"What is wrong with you, Miroku?" she asked. "I don't know what's gotten into you and Inuyasha lately."

This is worse than being 'sat,' Inuyasha thought while rubbing the handprint on his face. At least that doesn't leave a mark. I would've thought the monk would've learned his lesson by now.

To say Miroku was angry would be an understatement. How dare he call her a wench or tell her to shut up, he fumed. He was about to leave Inuyasha with something that lasted a lot longer than a handprint on the face but the arrival of a certain demon suspended his thoughts.

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Thanks for all the reviews, guys!

Northstar-Thanks for the cupcake, it was good!

Happy belated birthday, cookies-will-invade.

Everyone else, thanks for reading!

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