Title: Understood
Disclaimer: If I owned InuYasha, the pairings would be far more satisfactory.
Rating: G ( K )
Challenge: MnM challenge. Drabble: feeling.
Words: 500 exactly.

"I had a feeling..."

Kagome jumped, tearing her attention from the depths of the Bone-Eaters Well as she spun full circle on her heels.

"...that you might be here."

"M-Miroku!" the time traveling school girl pressed a hand to her fluttering heart. "You startled me!"

Miroku smiled, soft and omnipotent. "I apologize. I didn't mean to frighten you."

"I-it's alright...," she waved her hand around, dispelling his apology like magic. Kagome was forcing her smile so hard that it was painful. "I wasn't expecting it, is all."

"Are you...," the monk was watching her with reserved caution, casting an ominous shadow in the moonlight, and crossing the clearing with quiet feet. His staff jingled in tempo with his slow footsteps. "...well?"

"Yes, fine," Kagome stretched her smile as far as it would go. She almost hoped that he wouldn't be fooled by it. "It's not like it was a big deal, or anything. He didn't mean anything by it."

"Indeed."

"Really, it's nothing. I'm fine."

"So 'fine' that you consider returning to your world in the middle of the night?" Miroku forked a skeptical eyebrow. "Without telling anyone?"

Kagome scuffed the toe of one of her loafers against the ground and leaned heavily on the well. "I...have a test tomorrow. I can't miss it."

"Indeed."

Kagome raised her eyes to glare. "What? I do have a test! It's not like I can just ignore my problems at home because I've got to put the jewel back together!"

Miroku held up a placating hand, sighing, "I agree, Kagome-sama. Your responsibilities in your own time are important."

"Thank you. At least someone agrees."

"However," he reached out to her with his already hovering hand and clasped her shoulder. The beads in his palm dug into her flesh when he squeezed. "Abandoning your problems here for invented problems there won't solve anything."

Kagome sighed, slumping her shoulders forward. Miroku's hand remained fixated on her. "Was it that obvious?"

"Mostly, yes." Miroku flickered a smile at her.

"I guess this means that I need to go back now, huh?"

Miroku's gentle expression of cheer extended across his face. "I don't think that's necessary. He'll still be throwing his childish tantrum tomorrow, after all, and the hut is a little warm tonight," he said, withdrawing his hand from her shoulder.

Kagome reached up to snatch it back. He blinked at her, obviously startled, and she blushed. "Um...I don't want to enjoy the fresh air all by myself."

After a moment, Miroku's expression relaxed to it's usual mellow consistency. "I suppose it does beg to be shared. And don't worry about him, Kagome-sama."

"Hm?" Kagome paused in lowering herself to the ground beside the well, both eyebrows raised.

"Shippou is still young. He will still need you for many years to come, no matter how independent he chooses to pretend he is."

Kagome's face glowed with her smile as he settled down beside her. She grabbed his hand again, tangling their fingers together. "Thanks, Miroku."

--- --- ---

Authors Notes: Gotcha. I'll bet you thought she was mad at InuYasha again. C'mon, I wouldn't do something that cliche...I think.

I didn't bother to have this beta'd because the drabble challenges on MnM are just for fun. Thus, I apologize for any sub-par grammar that you might notice.

Btw, this story is simply a collection of the drabbles that I'm writing for MnM. You've probably seen the first two before as individual stories so I'm sorry if they aren't new. I figure this is an easier way for me to remember to upload in the future.

Should be updated weekly (assuming I participate every week in the drabbles, of course).

. ( . Ms. Videl Son . ) .