Part Six : Plan A, This Has to Work
Kagome found herself walking along a peaceful stream, sighing at herself. Either way, they both had messed up, hadn't they? Love was so difficult to deal with. She wanted to tell him so badly. She wanted to wrap her arms around him and just tell him without hesitation, without any restraints.
'Inuyasha...'
"Kagome! Where are you going!" Miroku called after her. Sango, Shippou and Kirara were with him, as well.
She was sure that she'd heard his voice, but she didn't really care. Not now, at least. She was making her plans for confessing her love to Inuyasha. She had several ways, and not a whole lot of time after Miroku and the others would separate from them and give her the chance. She had to do it right this time.
"Kagome!" He grabbed her shoulder and stopped her in her tracks. "Why'd you just take off like that? We weren't even supposed to go yet!"
She blinked and stared at him blankly. "Mi-Miryoku-Chikan?"
She blushed, embarassed, realizing what she'd just said. She'd called him by the nickname she and Sango had given him. He looked at her, confused, and tilted his head to the side with a suspicious expression.
"Miryoku-Chikan?"
"Hehe..."
"Ano..." Sango chewed on her bottom lip and looked away from them as if she 'didn't know a thing'. "Inuyasha isn't here... Kagome, did something happen while we were asleep?"
"Yeah!" Shippou pipped up.
Kagome blushed and smiled shyly, holding the cheek that Inuyasha had kissed. She could still feel his lips brush against the spot. His lips were surprisingly soft, and warm. Maybe he did like her, but what about Kikyo? She couldn't forget that look in Inuyasha's eyes that day... the day that he had confessed an undying love the the priestess. It haunted her daily. She loved him so much; she loved him more than she ever could have thought she could love, and he shared his feelings for her with another woman.
"No. Nothing happened. Shouldn't we be going?" she answered, then quickly changed the subject. "I think I can sense another jewel shard..."
"Where?" Inuyasha hopped down out of a tree. Kagome screeched, and clung onto Miroku in surprise. "Where is the jewel shard?"
"I... I don't know for sure..." she stammered, feeling that blush creeping back up on her again.
"Kagome..." Miroku breathed, "you're holding onto me too tightly..."
"Aa!" She let go and took a few steps back, then bowed deeply. "Sorry!"
"There you are, Inuyasha," Sango half-greeted. "We were wondering if you'd taken off on your own or something."
"I was following," he growled, staring a flustered Kagome down.
Miroku, Sango and Shippou gave each other strange glances before nodding to one another. Inuyasha perked an eyebrow and stared at them suspiciously.
"What's going on?"
"You and Kagome should go on your own," Shipopu offered. "I sorta feel like I've got a stomach-ache or something."
Kagome blinked a few times. Shippou didn't seem like he had a stomach ache... and then in hit her. She mouthed the word "thanks" to them before grabbing hold of Inuyasha's wrist and taking off in the first direction she could think of. She hadn't really sensed a jewel shard earlier, but now it seemed the perfect reason to be alone with Inuyasha.
'Plan A, this has to work... it will!' she thought to herself, a broad smile making it's way across her face.
Miryoku-Chikan : 1) I think that "Miroku" must have beenderived (is that the right word?) from the Japanese word "miryoku" which means "charming" or "attractiveness". 2) "chikan" means "sexual pervert". So, in other words, Miroku's mickname is "Charming Sexual Pervert".