Lord of Swords And Waffles- Sorry if I confused you! A lot of people have said that it was a bit confusing…no he did not get a visit from a higher being, his father or drink too much sake. It was just a dream. A dream with a deep meaning.
Miko-of-Jades- The 'little voice' is the part that Miroku was talking about in Chapter 6- you hit the bull's eye! The part deep down that cares for her that Miroku decides he will try to bring out. I'm glad you understood! Keep writing in!
Twistedtiger- Thanks for the review! Actually, I was thinking of the same thing- that is, making Miroku talk to Inuyasha. Are you psychic or something? LOL. I don't know about a battle scene. I don't think I'm very good at those. Besides, you have to really imagine it as you write…and I can't imagine fights very well for some reason.
Miroku's Priestess- Yes, the hanyou is finally waking up. There shall be some romance now! Thank you for the review!
Ladie shinomori- Hehe. I can't put him away completely, I CAN'T. I tried, but I didn't succeed. I'm sorry. I really am! It's just that he's kind of important right now, I have major plans for him. And yeah, there is a lot of him coming up in this chapter…but don't worry! It's all Inuyasha's perspective again! I've decided to put away Sango for a while.
Are you an LOTR fan? I was wondering, cause your name is also Ladie Galadriel right? Who's your favorite character? Mine is Faramir.
Wave Singer- Great! You posted it! I will read it, I promise you! But I hope it doesn't contain excessive amounts of Kagome. No offense, but I just can't stand her. Keep reviewing anyway!
Youkosangohiei- Glad you understood! Maybe my explanation wasn't so bad after all!
Icygirl2, dudei'mlikesobus, Darkprincess, tinemelk, dragonprincemicah- Thank you for reviewing!
WARNING: Following chapter contains exceedingly large amounts of Miroku. Despite attempts to cure author of this obsession, Houshi sama still looms large in her works. ANY WHO DO NOT DESIRE TO READ ABOUT MIROKU, THIS IS YOUR LAST WARNING!
Teehee.
Inuyasha swung his arms, trying to work out the cramp in his shoulders. Raising his hands, he inspected his claws impassively. They looked all right, but the nail of the little finger of his left hand was rather blunt. He would have to ask Kagome for her 'file' when she got back.
Sighing, he looked up at the Sacred Tree. He was sitting on the ground before it, with Tetusaiga lying at his side. He needed time to think, and he managed to do that best when near this tree.
The sound of crackling brush came to his ears, and his head swiveled around to see. It was Miroku, arm in arm with a young woman from the village. The monk was laughing gaily, and the woman was blushing bright red. Disgusted, the hanyou looked away. Couldn't the lecher find anything better to do with his time than run after girls?
When he looked again, the woman was gone, and Miroku was making his way over to him. He sat down next to the hanyou, and closed his eyes, without so much as a 'by your leave'.
'Hey monk. What are you doing here?'
Miroku opened his eyes, and turned around, facing Inuyasha. 'I came here to think.'
'Well, go think somewhere else!'
'I don't want to.'
Inuyasha growled, but it didn't affect the Houshi at all. He just continued staring at him.
'Are you done clearing your throat?'
The growling stopped.
'I trust you didn't exactly have a good sleep?'
Inuyasha's eyes widened, and he stared amazed at his companion for a few seconds before glancing away. 'I don't know what you mean. Why wouldn't I?'
'You don't look rested Inuyasha. So tell me, what did you dream about?'
'What the heck do you mean by asking me that?'
'It's just a question to start up an interesting conversation. And judging by your expression, the answer is extremely interesting.'
Miroku looked innocent enough, but Inuyasha noticed that there was a knowing glint in his eye. He knew next to nothing about the limits of monks' and priestess' spiritual powers, and had no clue whether they could enter others' dreams or not. But Miroku was a pretty powerful Houshi- proven many times during battle- and only Kami knew what spiritual tasks he could or could not accomplish. If he could enter Inuyasha's dreams, then he undoubtedly knew everything. Otherwise, it was all just clever guessing.
'I didn't dream about anything that concerns you.'
'Oh. So what? I'm still interested.'
'Why did that girl go off?' He had to change the topic.
Miroku frowned, but replied, 'She is already engaged. She's not averse to flirting, but has something against physical relationships. Apparently she wishes to stay true to her fiancé.'
'Keh. Not your type, eh?'
'Not my type.'
They sat in silence for a while. Inuyasha closed his eyes, trying to shut out the monk, and had almost succeeded when Miroku started humming. His eyes snapped open immediately, and it was all he could do not to thump the idiot hard on the head.
'Would you SHUT UP?'
'Oh, did I disturb you?' Miroku's voice was as calm as ever.
'YES! Jeez, can't a guy even think in peace around here?'
'You were thinking? That's a dangerous pastime Inuyasha.'
Inuyasha ground his teeth. This was seriously getting infuriating.
'So what did you dream about?'
'NOTHING!' Wouldn't that idiot let go of that?
'I am a monk Inuyasha. I sense when people are lying.'
'So?'
'So I know you are lying right now when you say that your dream was not significant and thought provoking. If I guess correctly, you were thinking about this dream right now?'
'If I was, it still wouldn't concern you!'
'Nothing seems to concern me anymore. I'm beginning to feel very left out.'
'Keh. Serves you right for trying to meddle in other people's problems.'
'Oh. I didn't know the system worked that way.'
There was silence for a while, something that Inuyasha was deeply grateful for. But then, Miroku decided to break it again.
'What are you going to do about Sango?'
His head jerked around, and again, he found himself staring amazed at the monk. How does he know?
'How do you know?' he asked softly.
Miroku's grin never touched his eyes. 'She told me.'
Inuyasha looked down at the ground, absentmindedly tracing lines through the grass with his nails. 'She told you?'
'Yes.'
'And you're fine with it?'
Again there was silence, before Miroku answered: 'If it makes her happy, then I am fine with it.'
His voice did not contain a trace of bitterness. He sounded as though he were telling the simple truth. He was ready to give her up…Inuyasha couldn't help but admire the Houshi right then.
'She really loves you, you know.'
Propping an elbow on his knee and resting his chin on it, Inuyasha considered Miroku. The monk was staring into space, his fingers clutching his staff a little more tightly than usual. He continued, 'She told me that she would stay with you no matter what. Despite all these times you've transformed into your full demon form, and threatened to attack us, despite the fact that you may use the Shikon no Tama to become full demon, and forget about us, she will stick by you. She said she would support you, whatever decision you took.'
'She said all that?'
Miroku nodded, and looked back at Inuyasha. 'And she will not go back on her word. You know that.'
All this time, I thought only Kagome would say a thing like that. But Sango did…she's ready to stay by my side. Kagome wishes that I stay a hanyou; it's obvious in her eyes. Sango actually believes that whatever I decide will be right for me. Why does that make me feel so happy? A warm feeling had come gushing into his stomach, and a small smile crossed his lips. He wiped it off quickly when he saw Miroku looking.
'I think you should talk to her.'
'Talk to her? Keh! The girl's been avoiding me for five days now! How do you expect me to just go to her and talk like nothing's happened?'
'Because, you have to. It's the right thing to do. Otherwise, both of you will be stuck like this forever, undecided; this business will remain unfinished. Do you remember my master Mushin?'
'Um, who?' Confused at the sudden change in subject, Inuyasha knit his eyebrows.
'Mushin. My master. The man who brought me up. We went to his house once, remember?'
'Mushin, Mushin…' Memory dawned. 'Oh yeah. Old codger! Wasn't he the one who asked us to bring him some kind of wine? We had to climb a bloody mountain to get it, and there was this weird mist and…' He trailed off, as the full recollection hit him.
'And Sango tried to kiss you.'
Sango tried to kiss me. And the only reason she failed was because Kagome yelled that word. I didn't push her away…why?
'Inuyasha?'
'I didn't push her away.'
Miroku nodded. 'That's right. You didn't. So there is a part of you that…'
Inuyasha leapt to his feet, grabbing his sword. Standing over Miroku, he hollered 'There's a part of me that what?'
'That loves her.'
Silence fell once more. Inuyasha stared down at the Houshi, his grip tight on Tetusaiga's hilt, breath coming in pants as though he had just run a hard race. 'I…I…care for her. But only…as a friend.' He finally said.
Miroku cocked his head to the side, and looked at him, considering. 'How do you know?'
That's right. How do I know? The talk I had with her that night, the way I reacted when I saw Miroku holding her, the fact that I thought of pulling her away from him that other night, this dream…But what about Kikyou, and Kagome? Who do I love?
Three sets of brown eyes rose in his mind. One pair stared at him, accusing, hating. Once they had held love, but no more. The second set held a plea, a plea to trust the owner; they held innocence and loyalty to him. But they also brought him memories of a love long gone, a love now lost. The third pair, the most beautiful of them all, held changing emotions. Once they shone, shone with happiness and love; and then they changed, and held instead sorrow, and pain. Pain that he had caused, what seemed like so long ago. But the wound still hurt.
He could heal that wound. Only he could put the shine back in them. And then he realized that the thing he wanted the most in the world right then, was to see those eyes glow with happiness.
'The only way to find out if you do care for her, is to finish it.'
Inuyasha looked at the monk, puzzled. He was staring off into space again, and his eyes had that dreamy expression. 'Finish what?'
This time, Miroku looked at him. With a tiny smile he answered, 'Finish what she started.'
He understood.
Hmm, what will our dear hanyou do now? And no, Miroku does not know what Inuyasha dreamt about- it is just guesswork. I'm not sure if he'll ever find out, but does it matter? He's a crafty guy isn't he, manipulating Inuyasha and Sango? LOL. And he tells them both to talk to the other- but neither of them listens. I swear, I would never have been so patient.Review please! Thank you!