Chapter 8
She made sure to avoid the muddy areas, as she moved around the forest. It was taking her longer than she thought. But she just didn't want to get her new clothes dirty. She wore the lavender kimono they had bought her. Chizu, the little girl that would have been her sister was now the owner of her blue one. 'Hopefully she'll keep her word and not tell her parents that I left.' She reached the small clearance around the cave and stopped. There he stood with the girl he called a friend.
"What… what are you doing here?" A surprised look adorned her face.
"Shouldn't we be asking you that?"
He smiled at her and took a step forward. She stared at the two figures before her. 'How did they know?' Miroku guessing at her thoughts spoke up.
"That was your first time inside the town, wasn't it? That is why you kept looking around when we led you to your new home. You were trying to memorize the way back. Weren't you? In either case you should head back. Running away from people that have offered you a chance to be part of their family isn't very nice."
He took another step forward and was disappointed when she took one back. For a moment they just looked at each other.
"I never asked to be part of their family." Her voice was low but firm.
The look in her eyes told him everything he needed to know. 'She isn't going to go back. But I can't let her stay here by herself.' He paused to figure out what would be the best way to solve this problem. Sango, who had been quiet so far, spoke up.
"Mayumi you're to young to be on your own. You need a family to look after you."
She didn't answer and took another step back. 'I won't go back. Why can't they see that all I want is to be alone?' Sango looked at Miroku for support. That is when both girls noticed that he was looking up at the clouds. He faced her once more.
"I can't force you to do something you don't want to. But I also can't leave you here." He paused a moment.
"You don't have to worry about me. I know how to take care of myself. My… father taught me well." She dropped her view from him.
He walked forward and kneeled before her. She looked up and saw him smiling at her.
"You know their going to come looking for you, don't you?"
"Maybe… But I'm not going to stay here. I just came back to get something."
"Where are you going to go?"
"I'm…" She hesitated
She had planned to go to the village that was two days away from here. But now that he had asked her, she wondered about his intentions. 'Does he mean to follow?' She looked at him a moment longer not knowing how to answer. Then and idea occurred to her.
"Where are you going?" She smiled at him. 'I'll just say the opposite of him.'
"I'll tell you but you must answer my question first." His smile broadened when he saw the disappointment in her face. 'That won't work on me.'
"I'm heading… that way." She pointed away from the next village.
"I see." He stood up.
"So, where are you going?" She asked.
"The same way." He looked down at her and smiled.
"What? But… the next village is that way."
"I don't doubt that. But Kagome-sama has decided to return home for a while."
He walked towards Sango. He whispered something to her and she nodded. After a moment he returned his attention to the young girl.
"Since we are headed in the same direction, would you like to accompany us? You can get that ride on Kirara that Sango told you about."
Mayumi looked at him in disbelief. 'He wants me to join them? Why? He should be trying to convince me to… it's a trick?' She looked at him calmly trying to study him. Miroku held his serene composure without a problem.
"Why?" She asked.
"I can't just leave someone so young to fend for themselves. Even if they say they can. I would go against my teachings if I were too do so."
There was a small pause while she thought about his answer. She didn't know anything about Buddha's teachings but didn't think he would lie about that. 'He is a monk.' She began to smile and stopped. For a second she honestly believed it was that simple. That she would just join them and become one of the group of friends. And why shouldn't she think that? In the small time she had known them she had grown fond of them. And part of her had felt like she belonged. But her hopes died when she realized what he planned to do. 'They will leave me at the first village or town we come across. But this time they will make sure I won't run away. They will tell the family to keep an eye on me.' She looked at him and saw that same serene look. She couldn't see anything in that look but she knew that was his plan.
"I would slow you down." She looked down not being able to look at him
"Then I'll have company. I tend to trail behind my fast friends." He smiled
"I'm not dumb. I don't want a new family. I already have one here." She pointed at her heart.
When she said she didn't want a new family, Sango had thought that she had meant them. But Miroku knew better. 'She figured it out. I just know it. But how can this child be so insightful?' He didn't need to see her face to know that she had started to cry. He moved to her and kneeled once more.
"I haven't been completely truthful with you and I apologize for that. I do want you to accompany us. That way I can have time to convince you to take a new family. I know you'll come to under…" She cut him off.
"You won't… then what will happen? Will you leave me with a family I don't want?" She looked at him with teary eyes.
"No I won't force you to do anything you don't want."
"So you'll let me go then?"
There was a moment of silence between them. He couldn't believe how complicated the situation had become. This was one of the few times that he didn't know what to do or say. The silence might have gone on longer if not for Sango's intervention.
"Why don't we make a deal?" Both turned to look at her.
"Deal?" Mayumi wiped at her teary eyes.
"If you can prove to us that you can take care of yourself we will let you do as you want when we reach the next village. But if you don't you'll let Houshi-sama decide what to do. What do you say? Will you come with us?"
Sango had a playful look. 'No not playful, that look is… She is trying to goad Mayumi?' Miroku couldn't believe what he was seeing. 'Smart as well as beautiful.' He couldn't help but smile at her. Sango noticed his smile and shyly returned it.
"I don't know…" Mayumi wasn't sure what to say.
"Are you not sure of your skills?" The tone of her voice was taunting.
Mayumi balled up her fist. 'She doesn't believe my father thought me well?' Miroku just stared in disbelief. 'This can't be the Sango that I know. Can she?' He was about to interfere when Mayumi spoke up.
"I accept. I'll show you just how much I know. But you better keep your word." She looked at Sango.
"We will." She smiled at her.
To Miroku's surprise Mayumi returned her smile. There was a moment of silence before Sango spoke up.
"Kirara come here."
From the shadowy cave came the small cat demon. In her mouth she held what looked like a small bag. Mayumi walked up to her and took the bag from her mouth. She opened it and closed it after she was sure everything was still in it. She kneeled down to grab the small cat when she stopped. She turned to face the young taiji-ya.
"Can I hold her?"
"Of course you can. She likes to be held."
She picked up Kirara and held her carefully. Both Sango and Miroku stared at the young girl before them. 'This should be interesting.' Sango thought. But Miroku was already thinking of what he was going to tell the rest of the group. He knew that Kagome would have no problem with it. It was Inuyasha he would need to convince. 'Maybe it won't be too bad. I'm sure Kagome-sama will help me convince him'
"Shall we get going? We do need to catch up to the others."
He waited for them to nod before starting to walk. They quietly made their way into the path the others had taken.