Chapter Fourteen: Skepticism and a Desperate Run
Strange and oddly comforting was it for the group to wake to a peaceful day. The sun peeked from behind the clouds and the birds welcomed all travelers with their harmonious music. And of course that included our travelers as well.
Inuyasha woke early that morning to try and scope out the best trail home, but Kagome insisted greatly that they stay for at least one more day to allow rest for their weary monk. She knew Inuyasha meant well, but Miroku for some reason just could not get himself up today. Sango had woken up off and on, but now was peacefully sleeping with her husband to be. Kagome worked on preparing breakfast for the group while they either slept or grumbled. (a/n: I'm sure u can fig out who is who) Coincidentally Sango walked in just as she was finishing.
"What's all this Kagome?" Sango asked wiping the sleep from her eyes.
"Nothing much, I'm just trying to make a good meal to get everyone's energy back. "
"Well that's very kind of you." She smiled. "I'll go see if Miroku wants to eat."
"Is he awake?"
"No, but he will be now." Kagome laughed and began to serve breakfast while Sango went to wake Miroku up. As she walked in she was happy to see signs of life. Also relieved to see he was back on a semi-normal sleeping schedule.
"Well good morning sunshine…" She said in a chipper tone. Miroku just gave her a skeptical look.
"Why are you so happy this morning?" He groggily asked.
"Because the you're awake, the sun is shining, and Kagome made us breakfast!"
"Breakfast? Oh I don't think I could stomach anything right now…" Sorrow wiped Sango's smile clean.
"Well that's alright. Maybe you can eat something later. For now how about you just come and sit with us for a while?"
"That sounds better…" Sango tried to help him up, but to no avail. He just didn't seem to have the strength this morning. Miroku sighed in exasperation.
"I guess you never realize how much you use your stomach muscles until you really have to use them." Sango nodded.
"Well I think you are very strong willed." Kagome peeked in.
"Why do you say that?" Miroku questioned.
"Because in my era people will be in the hospital for days after a stomach wound; sometimes even weeks. But here you are wide awake and yesterday you even walked to the lake!"
Miroku sighed. "But today it seems I can't even get up. I hope there isn't anything wrong with me."
"I can take a look…" Samara seemed to pop out of nowhere, as evident from the look on Miroku's face. People just kept coming…He was sure Inuyasha would join them soon enough.
"Inuyasha invited me in." She felt the need to explain. Miroku just looked back at Sango.
"Like I said though, I can take a look at your wound. It's not like you're going anywhere." She laughed at her own joke. No one else seemed to smile though as Samara was never this…giddy.
"Yes would you please take a look?" Sango interrupted the awkward silence. She worked on taking Miroku's bandages off while Samara got her necessary equipment. Nothing could be seen by Sango's untrained eyes, but Samara gained an uneasy look as she peered over Miroku's wound.
"I feared he may have done this…" Miroku's eyes widened.
"Done what?" He seemed to be breathing harder. "What did that bastard do to me?"
"Calm down Miroku…you'll only make it worse." Samara urged.
"Make what worse?"
"You see this?" She pointed a few spots out to Sango as she opened his wound slightly. Miroku cringed.
"Can we not have a lesson of medicine on me please?" He urged.
"What is it?" Sango asked now noticing what Samara had seen.
"It's the same poison that was on the arrows. The kind that delays healing."
"I'm not doing it again!" Miroku announced.
"I figured you say that." Sango looked as though she were about to cry.
"Just try to stay off your feet for a while and just relax for the next…month…"
"MONTH?" Inuyasha burst in.
"I told you that's how long it takes a wound to heal after it's been infected by this poison. You've seen it before…"
"But we can't stay here we have to go back." Miroku pleaded.
"I agree. Kaede must be very worried about us by now." Kagome said.
"Yeah…" They all sat in silence.
"Well maybe Kilala can take us back." Sango proposed.
"And how are we going to do that? Kilala is with Kaede."
Everyone sighed.
"How about we just stay here until I feel a little better enough to actually walk back."
"NO!…I mean no… you have to relax or it will take longer." Samara explained.
"As long as I am back home I don't care how long it takes."
Samara seemed a bit reluctant to Miroku's decision, but went along with it. "Suit yourself…"
Inuyasha peered over at their guest in an uneasy manner but didn't feel the need at this time to notify anyone. Maybe later when they were all alone.
"I guess until then Miroku we should just work on getting your strength back."
"Okay Sango."
"This is what you get. I told you to start looking after yourself rather then worrying about everyone else."
"Your right." Miroku laughed.
"So you just want to stay here for a while Miroku?" Inuyasha asked.
"Miroku seemed sort or surprised by Inuyasha's sense of caring. He didn't normally ask for his opinion. Kagome noticed this too as she held his hand tight. Inuyasha could only blush.
"If it's alright with you Inuyasha I would really prefer to stay here a while."
"You better heal fast monk I don't want to linger here too long." Kagome's face darkened a bit as his bluntness.
A sigh escaped the young mans lips and his pain-filled eyes gazed into that of his friend. "I'll do my best…" He sighed once more and closed his eyes, still clutching his stomach as a mother would hold her unborn child.
Samara spoke up, "Until then Miroku, I'll go get a medicinal herb I made to try and relieve you of your pain. I'll be right back. Inuyasha's golden eyes followed her every movement as she glided out the door. He waited until he was sure she was far enough away.
"Miroku we need to leave now." He shifted in his position trying to get up as quick as possible. It wasn't enough for him though as his tripped over his own feet.
"Why are we leaving? What's wrong." Miroku sat up on his shoulders to see his friends face. Worry was printed all over it.
FEAR
RUN
YOU CANT STAY
That's all he saw. His eyes widened as his friend approached.
"I'll tell you later. But for now…" His eyes searched the room desperately. Then looked back at Miroku.
"Miroku…I'm apologizing for this in advance."
"Apologizing for wh—" He was cut off as Inuyasha scooped him up in his arms allowing a stifled cry to leave the monk's lips. The girls looked in horror as neither of them had seen Inuyasha so desperate before. Confusion returned to reality as they noticed him motion for them to follow.
Inuyasha dashed outside with the girls following not far behind. Sango held her boomerang and Kagome hushed the rings of Miroku's golden staff, careful not to attract any unwanted attention. Foe or not. Miroku squirmed in Inuyasha's grasp as he longed to straighten his body once more.
"Hold still Miroku. Just 'till we reach the bottom alright?" No response was given. This worried the half demon, as he wasn't sure where exactly it was that they were going. Sango relieved him just in time as though she knew what he was thinking.
"Inuyasha! Head to the mansion we were at before." She shouted from behind. "I'm sure they can help us!"
He scolded himself mentally for not thinking of it earlier. This only made him run faster as the clouds were moving in. Though he was careful seeing as the young monk in his arms seemed restless. He didn't need to make this experience worse.
The morning air nipped at their faces as the group dashed through the mountain trail becoming more familiar with their surroundings as they went. Clouds littered the sky now and the earth was gradually darkened as the sun was covered. Who knew that a storm could move in this quick?
"R-rain…" Miroku muttered.
"We'd better hurry Inuyasha. We don't want to get caught in this." Kagome said now noticing droplets falling on her ivory skin.
"I know I'm doing my best…"
"Why don't you go ahead of us…we'll catch up."
"Are you kidding Kagome? This demon is unbelievably strong! What makes you think I would leave you girls out here in the middle of nowhere without any real protection?"
"I'm sorry Inuyasha…it was a dumb idea…"
"I just…I just don't want to risk anyone else." His eyes gazed down to the tired monk, who had finally settled.
"Just hang on Miroku…"