Chapter Two: Helping Miroku to Remember

Author note(s): Thanks so much to all who replied! I was so excited to have reviews! In reply to a question I was asked, yes something triggered Miroku's amnesia, but you will have to keep reading to find out what it was. ;)

"Miroku, cut the crap!" Inuyasha began shaking Miroku. "You know you're gonna get

clobbered if you keep getting under Sango's skin."

"Ok, Miroku. Seriously, stop joking around," Kagome demanded, while Sango solemnly sat on a rock.

"Listen, I'm not joking around with all of you. I want to remember who I am. I realize that I must be a monk, and you called me by name...Miroku was it? Well, I know that much now. Is there anything else you can tell me, such as who all of you are or why I'm traveling with you? Are my services required somewhere?"

The group looked at him with surprise. Suddenly, Inuyasha's ears perked up, "I smell demon."

Inuyasha, Sango, and Kagome, with Shippo perched on her shoulder, readied for battle. Miroku, on the other hand, seemed afraid.

"Did you say a demon?" He stammered.

"Yeah! You know, we fight them!" Inuyasha sarcastically yelled back.

Miroku thought to himself, I fight demons? I suppose that is only natural, considering I am a monk. It is my duty to exorcize evil, but still...demons...they are not to be taken lightly.

The demon appeared out of the bushes, and the group made short work of it. That is, all but Miroku, who had apparently become frozen from shock and fear and had taken a few steps back and was merely watching with a wide-eyed and horrified expressionAfterward, Inuyasha gave Miroku a piece of his mind.

"Miroku, what the heck did you think you were doing! You could have gotten off your butt and done something!"

"I'm sorry. I guess I froze up. I was afraid, and I let you all down."More blank stares.

Miroku, afraid of demons?

Kagome turned to Inuyasha. "Inuyasha, I don't think Miroku is kidding around. Something must have really happened to him!"

"Yeah...I think you're right. But what?" Inuyasha questioned.

Sango was still in shock, and her sadness was beginning to overcome her.

This can't be happening. I have to figure out what happened to him! I will MAKE him remember! She felt like he'd been taken away from her, and even though she didn't like the way he acted sometimes, she missed him greatly.

The group decided to retrace their steps and do some investigating into what could have happened to Miroku. The last time he was himself was at that shrine. They assumed they wouldn't receive a very warm welcome, but perhaps they could get some answers.

Before they headed out, though, they decided to try and help Miroku remember a few things. "Ok, your name is Miroku, and you're right, you are a monk...oh, and don't take those prayer beads off." Kagome wondered how she should explain that he wasn't a typical monk. She decided not to press the issue right now. "I'm Kagome, and I travel in time between two eras, this era and 500 years in the future where my home is." Miroku had a look of amazement upon his face. "That's incredible."

"Yes yes, well it's a long story...this is Inuyasha. He's half demon and half human, but don't worry, he's one of the good guys." She smiled at him, and he looked away and gave a "Keh!" Miroku thought to himself, I thought there was something strange about that guy. This is Shippo. He's a fox demon and travels with us, too. And that is Sango over there.

"Ah yes, she's a very forceful one, isn't she?" Miroku smiled slightly.

"Yes, she is. She doesn't let anyone push her around, but she has a really good heart. Surely you remember Sango, don't you?" Kagome looked hopeful. Miroku thought for a few moments. "I..I can't recall. I feel like I want to remember, that I should remember, but it's just not coming back to me..."

Sango looked over her shoulder from where she was sitting, gazing sadly.

Kagome sighed. We have to do something...

"Hey, Inuyasha. Maybe we should rest for the night. It's getting late, and it's been a long day."

Inuyasha wasn't pleased with the idea, but he reluctantly agreed. "Fine. We'll go and figure out what the heck is wrong with the monk tomorrow."

Kagome thought, Well, I guess we'll be sleeping outside tonight, since we don't have any money right now, and it's unlikely Miroku will be sensing any evil presences tonight.

The group set up camp in a nearby forest and Inuyasha built a fire. He was sitting by the fire with his back turned to the others, while Kagome lay in her sleeping bag. She was tired but was worried about Miroku and was having a bit of trouble resting. Kilala was a few feet away from her, and Sango was huddled against her. Sango was more restless than anyone, though. All that is, except maybe Miroku himself, who was feeling very confused and had gone off on his own to think.

Sango was worried about him, and she hadn't said much to him all day, so she decided to go and check on him. Maybe, just maybe she could make him remember something.

Miroku stood off in a clearing, his hands inside his robes, looking up at the stars, thinking deeply. He heard someone approach and turned to see Sango standing there.

"Um, Miroku, is it all right if I join you?"

"Yes, Lady Sango. I've been wanting to talk with someone about all this. But, you're not going to hurt me anymore, are you?"

"No, no. I'm sorry about that." Sango felt slightly better upon noticing that Miroku had somewhat retained his sense of humor. At least some aspect of his personality was showing. Perhaps she could bring more of his personality out, but what really hurt was that he didn't have any recollection of her.

"Miroku, I don't know what happened to you. I wish I did. All I can do is maybe...try and help you to remember things."

"Thank you, Lady Sango. Please, tell me all you know of me."

"Umm, ok, hmm where to start... Well, you've been traveling with us for almost a year now. We are in search of a terrible demon, and we all came together through the mutual task of destroying this demon, Naraku." Sango looked down.

"I see."

"You met Inuyasha, Kagome, and Shippo and began traveling with them, and then I came along. Inuyasha, you, and I have all been affected by this demon..." Sango looked at Miroku's right hand. "You have great spiritual powers, Miroku, but you also have another weapon. As Kagome said, you must not take those prayer beads off, no matter what." Sango thought that she'd better make sure he didn't try to use his wind-tunnel while he was in this state of mind.

"And why is that?"

She hated having to tell him of his awful memories, but it had to be done.

"Miroku...in your right hand is a wind-tunnel. If you remove those prayer beads, you will suck in everything around you." Miroku looked at his hand in shock and then looked back to Sango. "It is a curse placed upon your family by the demon Naraku." She hesitated. "This curse took your father and grandfather, and will someday take you if Naraku isn't defeated. That is one of the main reasons we are all so desperate to kill the demon Naraku." She sat down beside him. "We care about you very much and...we don't want to lose you..." Sango looked at him tenderly. "I know this is a lot to take in, and I'm sorry to have to tell you all of this."

Miroku was silent and was looking down. Sango shyly placed a hand on his shoulder. "Don't worry. We will defeat Naraku." She tried to smile, but it wasn't working well. "And...we will get your memory back."

"Thank you. I am indeed fortunate to have such wonderful friends. And what about you?"

"What?"

"Why are you in search of this demon? What did this demon do to you?"

Sango was doing her best to suppress her tears through all this.

"Well, you see, Naraku deceived me and took what was dearest to me away." Miroku kept eye- contact and listened with concern. "I am a demon slayer, as was my father and my younger brother. I came from a village of slayers. Naraku...he...possessed my younger brother and forced him to kill my father and fellow demon slayers...he then tried to kill me. I survived, though, only to discover that my village had been slaughtered. I was not aware of who Naraku truly was at that time, and he told me that Inuyasha had destroyed my village, so I fought him. Fortunately, I found out the truth and ended up joining all of you. I also found out later that my brother was spared, but is forced to serve Naraku. He doesn't remember anything about his life and is being controlled and forced to do terrible things." Sango's eyes were beginning to fill with tears now.

My heart aches for this woman. I know as a monk I am to feel compassion for all life, but it feels stronger with this woman. Is it the fact that she has suffered so terribly? Or, is it something else? I feel drawn to her, like we were very close... I feel as though I would do anything to keep her from being in pain.

"Lady Sango, I'm so sorry." He put a hand on her shoulder in comfort. It isn't often that he touches me in a non-lecherous way. I like the feeling. She wanted to be held by him, but she was still far too shy to make a move like that. Besides, he doesn't even know me, or himself for that matter. Perhaps I would be safe from his lecherousness, for he shows no signs of being his perverted self, but it just wouldn't be the same. She began to realize, flaws and all, she loved him for who he was. It was becoming almost too much for her.

"Lady Sango?"

"You can just call me Sango, ok?"

"Yes, of course. Well, Sango, I was wondering...are we close?"

Sango blushed. "Umm, well...yes, I would say that we are good friends" Only friends? That is probably how it will always be, but something in me wishes desperately that it could be more...

"I see. Because I sensed that we are close. I felt very strong feelings, and I wanted to know about the nature of them. I knew that it had to be a strong friendship because I am a monk and not meant to have relationships with women."

Sango thought, What! Not meant to have relationships with women...Miroku? This was so bizarre...and painful! How could he say something like that! But then again, he said he felt strong feelings between them... Was he talking about her feelings or his? Was he trying to say that he could tell she had strong feelings for him and was trying to set her straight...trying to say there couldn't be anything between them? Or, was he trying to say he felt something for her but wasn't sure what it was? Just who did he think he was trying to act so pure and spiritual! This was becoming ridiculous! She would set him straight on who he REALLY was!

"Miroku, I think you should know that you aren't exactly the type to stay away from women.." She couldn't believe she was telling him this. She HATED this aspect of his personality. She must be baka, but somehow, without his lecherousness, he wasn't completely Miroku, and she wanted the real Miroku back.

"What do you mean?" He asked.

"Well, you see, you're kind of a...well a...pervert..."

Miroku was shocked. "That isn't possible. I am a monk, aren't I?"

"Well, yes you are, but not everything you do is monkish..."

Miroku looked very confused.

"All right, fine...I'll show you! Just...grab me...go on, get it over with..."

"WHAT!" Miroku exclaimed. Sango nudged closer to him, clenching her fists and blushing immensely. She would do whatever it took to have him back. He quickly put some distance between them.

"Sango, I can't do that. I would never grope a woman. It would be wrong and impure. And besides, I respect you."

Sango blinked. Huh? He respects me...wow... Maybe I like this Miroku after all...no wait, it still doesn't seem right. I have to get him back to normal by any means necessary! Well, almost any means...Never grope a woman...ha! That's a laugh!

"Miroku! Just snap out of it already! I miss the old you!" I can't believe what I'm saying. She then proceeded to take his hand in hers and place it on her butt. She grimaced slightly but then realized, much to her surprise, that she had kind of missed this, in a twisted sort of way. Now she KNEW she was baka!

"Does this seem familiar?" She asked.

Miroku hesitated for a minute or two, then snatched his hand away, embarrassed.

"Why did you do that? Now I must go and purify myself!" He got up and walked off.

Sango was beat-red and humiliated. What had she been thinking! And how dare he reject her like that! She sighed. Was it hopeless? No, she wouldn't take this lying down! She would figure out what caused this and somehow reverse it! But now, how could she face the suddenly pure and innocent Miroku after she had forcefully made him grope her?

Meanwhile, Miroku headed off in the direction of the nearest stream. That was weird, he thought. Had what the girl said been true? Did he really act that way around women, and if so, how could he be a monk? He sighed. To be perfectly honest with himself, he had enjoyed it, a little too much. Yes, he definitely needed purification, if he could remember how to perform the ritual.

End of Chapter

Author note(s): Hope you enjoyed, more to come! And the word baka is Japanese for foolish, stupid, absurd