Chapter 3: A Tough Decision
"So where were we when we left off?" Miroku asked Kagome.
"Your offer." Miroku gave her a puzzled look. He was quite forgetful sometimes. "You know the offer you always make?" No change in his expression. "…to women?"
Miroku got her at this point. "Oh, right; that offer." Miroku rubbed the back of his head and gave a nervous laugh. He didn't know exactly how to answer. His perverted side said "Take it, take it! Come on, how often do you find a woman this willing and this beautiful? Do it!" His other side said otherwise. "You're crazy! You can't take this opportunity! What about Sango? You know you've got if for her." Miroku's thoughts were interrupted by Inuyasha, giving him a few more moments to ponder the pros and cons.
"Hey, Kagome. Can I talk to you for a second?" Inuyasha said in a flat tone.
"Sure." She went up to the front of the marching order to talk with him.
Miroku's mind was still arguing with itself. "Don't do it. Turn her down, even though it might upset her a bit. And you need an heir. And even though the perverted side had some good points. You know, forget what I said before. Go for it!"
While Miroku's mind was still waging its mental war, Inuyasha was doing his best not to yell. "Did you ask him what I think you asked him?" Inuyasha hissed at Kagome.
"So what if I did? It's only part of the plan after all." the girl reminded him.
"I know, but what if he says yes?" Inuyasha asked.
"He's supposed to say yes you git! Sango will confess before anything will happen. Trust me." Kagome assured him.
"I hope you're right Kagome. I don't want to kill Miroku, but drastic times call for drastic measures." Inuyasha warned.
"Don't worry. I am right, I know it." she said; giving him a wink. She fell back again, now knowing she was free of interruptions. "Sorry about all that Miroku. So, what is your answer?"
"Uh…remind me again what we were talking about." Miroku said, stalling for time. His response was still as much of a mystery to him as it was to anyone.
"Will you allow me to bear you a child?"
"What do I do? This shouldn't be so hard to answer! I can't answer now. How do I get out of this? I can run. No she'll catch me in a second. Damn these long robes! I have to delay my answer as long as possible." Miroku told himself.
"Why do you ask this of me Lady Kagome, surely you would rather Inuyasha-" Kagome made a gesture, cutting him off.
"No." Kagome stated firmly, knowing what he was suggesting.
"But Lady Kagome surely out of retribution, Inuyasha will-"
"Why do you keep bringing up Inuyasha? Inuyasha will not interfere." Kagome promised.
"But a child? MY child? Now? Tell me this is some kind of horrible, cruel joke." Miroku requested.
"I could not say that without telling a lie." Kagome informed him. "Not that a haven't lied already." She added to herself as an afterthought. "But we can start out small if you want." She gave Miroku a quick peck, doing her best to disguise a disgusted expression afterwards. After turning away from Miroku, she blanched. "Sweet Buddha, I can't believe I just did that! Sango is going to kill me. This better have some kind of HUGE payoff."
Realization hit Sango like a bolt from the blue. Not only the realization that Kagome had just kissed Miroku, her Miroku, but also the realization that Miroku had in a sense turned down Kagome. Unfortunately for all, the former was the more noteworthy of the two realizations. Sango pinched herself. "Shit, this is no dream." She thought upon feeling the physical pain. Since he and Kagome were no longer having their private conversation, Miroku sped up a little to keep pace with Sango.
"If there is a fate worse than hell, I think I have just experienced It." said a still slightly shaken Miroku.
"What, having to wait till nightfall?" Sango 'asked' angrily.
"What do you mean by that?" Miroku remarked, his face an image of confused innocence.
"I heard what you two were talking about! And before you make whatever excuse you're going to make, I can tell you in advance I don't believe you!" Sango yelled, despite the fact she had heard Miroku go against it. "I would've believed you didn't kiss her, that is, if I hadn't seen it myself!"
"In my defense she kissed me!" Miroku blustered in protest.
"Well, that certainly was one hell of a fight you were putting up!" the boiling exterminator spat sarcastically.
"What did you want me to do?"
"Shut up! I don't want to talk to you Miroku. Just leave me alone!" Sango ordered more than asked him. She allowed the poor monk to sulk far behind the rest of the group. Inuyasha and Kagome of course, were having their own argument.
"You KISSED him? What the hell for?" Inuyasha shouted at her.
"For effect! I have to make this believable. And don't yell at me!" Kagome said back in a very soft voice so the others wouldn't catch on.
"I yell if I feel like yelling!"
"You said you wouldn't be jealous!" Kagome reminded him.
"Whoever said I was jealous? Did I say I was jealous?"
"You might as well have! It's pretty obvious."
"Why on earth would I be jealous over you wench?"
Shippo jumped onto Kagome's shoulder. "Because you love her Inuyasha. Even a kid like me can tell!" the kit said, finally deciding to join the conversation. Inuyasha beat him over the head.
"Who asked for your opinion runt?" Inuyasha said.
"Sit boy!"