Fated Existence

Chapter 4 – In another's eyes

Miroku watched as Kagome headed out of the hut to confront the wolf demon and suddenly grinned. Any interaction between those two was worth watching since it usually involved Inuyasha as well. The last time the wolf had bothered to show up was about a week after Kagome had left. The argument between the rivals had nearly escalated into a fight until Inuyasha, of all people, had diffused the situation. In an odd, uncharacteristic action, the hanyou had simply stated that Kagome would be sad if he killed the wolf and then just walked off. As though an unspoken truce had been declared, the wolf too had left without a fight. Miroku had reasoned that while the two may fight over Kagome, neither wanted to make her upset by killing the other.

But this time it was Kagome who would confront the wolf deliberately. Upon seeing her expression, however, Miroku almost laughed, realizing that what he had often pondered upon just might happen. He had often wondered why the young miko allowed the wolf to call her 'his', and moreover, how she never got tired of it, when there was one, undeniable truth; Kagome was not Kouga's. If Miroku had learned anything in their travels together, it was that Kagome was, first and foremost, Inuyasha's. The claim was never uttered aloud, nor declared by youkai traditions, - if they had traditions - , but anyone who saw them could tell. It was evident in the way Kagome worried the most over the hanyou's injuries despite knowing he'd be fully healed within days or less, the way she fussed and treated him with a tenderness that the hanyou's rough skin would barely feel the difference of, the way she made sure to find out the things he liked best, in order to give them, and the things he hated, in order to take them away. And while Inuyasha's mouth got him into more trouble than anything, the way he was protective of her whenever another male was around was evidence enough. The hanyou had proven, perhaps not the depth of his feelings, but at least that he did care for the miko, when he finally made amends with everyone.

4 Months Ago

"Are you still mad at him, Miroku?"

The question distracted the houshi from his meditative state and he gazed down at the kitsune from his seat on the rock. He had come to the stream to reflect on the day Kagome had left and ask himself how, not what he might have been able to do to prevent it. Jest and a wondering hands aside, all the group knew that Miroku, when looked at properly, was just as learned and insightful as any monk they might have met on the road, if not more so.

"No," he shook his head slightly as he spoke. "It upsets me that he would think so little of Kagome-sama, but I am not mad at him anymore."

"Then why do you still ignore him? Don't you forgive him?"

The questions, like the child, were innocent ones; questions that probably had simple answers from a child's view. The extra foot the kit had acquired in the last three years did nothing to make the houshi think he might have also grown mentally as well. The Shippo had a good heart and a quick mind when put to the test, but deep down he was still a child in youkai terms. Miroku tried to smile, but thought better of it; any lie he spoke would most likely be sniffed out by Shippou.

"Kagome would have forgiven him by now."

Miroku blinked with wide eyes at Shippou's comment. True, Kagome would forgive Inuyasha any transgression, but this time… this time he'd pushed too far. Although he'd heard of the dangers in Kagome's time and wondered if something might have prevented her from returning, she had never stayed away very long and Inuyasha had always been able to go get her. What if she… suddenly he wanted to kick himself for … He could have kicked himself for not thinking about it sooner. What if she was unable to ever return? There would be no way of letting them know, and Kagome would never have wanted them…. Kagome wouldn't have wanted them to alienate each other like this.

"You're right, Shippou. We need to forgive him; if he'll forgive us."

Present

Miroku glanced to the kitsune who now stood at the doorway watching Kagome leave. Thanks to the insight of the child, their group had been put back together. Until now it had only lacked Kagome's presence. Granted, she was back, but he didn't think things would go back to the way they once were. A brief look at Sango caused him to lose his grin. The woman was worried; although about what exactly he wasn't sure. The changes in their friend, while remarkable, were also alarming. It was like she'd suddenly grown up too fast. The smiling and happy demeanor was replaced with a quiet calm that was a bit unnerving to be honest.

When Shippou had squealed that he smelled Kagome, they'd wasted no time in following the kit to the well. They had been fortunate to be there at all, since they had intended to leave for Sango's village that morning. Once a month they'd gone back to pay respects to Sango's family, always returning to Kaede's in the hopes that Kagome would return. Now she was back and the strength in her aura had puzzled him at first. Now that he'd gotten a chance to really study the sudden change in her, he had been wary. While she wasn't anywhere close to someone of Midoriko's stature, compared to when he'd first met her, she had grown strong. Miroku didn't doubt she knew exactly how to use that new strength and would not hesitate to do so if any one of the group was in danger; because one thing had not changed. Kagome was, and always would be, protective of her friends.

While Miroku pondered Kagome's enhanced miko talents, Sango was lost in her own thoughts about her friend. Kagome never carried a weapon other than the bow and even that was rare. Now she carried a katana and walked with a new confidence in herself. Sango was glad to see the miko with such self-assurance, but she worried about that sword. She shouldn't have had to learn to use such things; that's what she, an exterminator, and Inuyasha were for. It was their duty to protect Kagome and keep her safe. She should never have felt the need to use anything other than the bow which was used more as a conduit for her powers than an actual weapon.

She hoped that she would have a chance to speak alone with Kagome once they got on the road. Sango sensed that so much had occurred during Kagome's absence and wondered what had brought it on. Inuyasha's words had driven her away, but had they also played a role in why she'd changed? Was she even the same Kagome they knew six months ago? It had appeared so when they'd all hugged at the well and she'd accepted Shippou as her adopted son. But this morning as they'd eaten, the miko had seemed more subdued than usual. She smiled and spoke, but there was something missing; that aura of constant happiness was gone. The aura that made nearly everyone welcome her and made her forgive even the cruelest person. The aura, whose very presence, could calm an irate hanyou in the worst of moods.

Her thoughts of the hanyou briefly redirected her attention to Shippou and she smiled. His interference had bridged a gap that she hadn't realized she needed to cross. Miroku had come to her after his talk with the kit and she'd come to agree with the houshi. Kagome would have wanted them to patch things up even if she never returned. Sango had still been angry at him for hurting Kagome, but it was not her place to punish the hanyou. Alienating him for two months had been punishment enough. While he may have mumbled his apology, it was the act that counted. He'd extended an offering of peace and regret in the hopes they would accept him again. Other than Kagome, they were his only 'family' of sorts, and their alienation had affected him greatly. Probably more than any of them had realized, save perhaps Shippo.

She didn't doubt for a moment that Kagome still had an effect on Inuyasha as well, despite the changes. Sango watched Kagome rebraid her hair and the exterminator narrowed her eyes when she thought she'd spied something odd in the braid. When it didn't happen again, she shrugged it off, but kept a mental note to keep an eye out. She was startled when Kagome stood, spoke a single name and then left the hut. She worried her bottom lip as she noted that the katana had been taken as well. Inuyasha was most likely still in his forest and wouldn't smell Kouga until he was at the village. Miroku, rising to his feet and holding out a hand to her, caught her off-guard and she eyed him warily.

"We should find Inuyasha. I have the feeling this will be worth watching."

Sango declined the hand and stood on her own. "Why do you say that?"

"Because her aura spiked when she mentioned Kouga and we both know how she feels about those two." Sango watched as he headed out of the hut and then waited briefly for her to exit before heading at a brisk walk towards the forest. "This is a good opportunity to see if we're right. Inuyasha should see this as well."

Sango shook her head as she spotted the hanyou heading for them as well. "I don't know about this, Miroku…"

A/N:

Would anyone happen to know why mm .org removes my paragraph tabs? And how would I go about fixing this problem? ff . net really sucks in the formatting department... It won't let me...grrr nevermind.

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Standard Disclaimer: Inuyasha is property of Rumiko T. All other characters are mine unless otherwise mentioned.