Title: Worldly
Category: Drabble
Author: SpiritualEnergy
Rating: T
Theme: Worldly
Word Count: 267
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"You are a very worldly monk. Did you know that, Miroku-sama?"
Miroku craned his head over to glance at the miko. He wiped the sweat off of his brow, and gave her a soft, reassuring smile. "Am I?"
Kagome nodded. "Yes."
"How so?" Miroku inquired.
The sun was setting over the horizon, the call of the birds echoing through the air like the drums of death as the blanket of night began to wrap around the land below it.
The souls of the now-buried bodies of a desecrated village would be hung up to dry in the remains of the sunlight until they could be put to rest, and Kagome knew that Miroku wondered when he would also have such an opportunity.
Kagome glanced further up the fields, watching the hanyou grumble as the last patch of dirt covered the graves they had created. She tried hard as not to cry. "You're just… very brave, Miroku-sama." She never wanted to pick up the shovel as he had.
The miko got down on her knees, cupping her hands together, and began to pray for the lost souls.
Miroku watched her, and found her presence peaceful as it collided with the sunset, despite the very dark moment. "You are worldly, too, Kagome-sama." He rested a hand on her shoulder – shoulder! – and gave it a small pat. "You are brave."
Time seemed to bend as seconds became minutes, and minutes became the shuddering souls that began to rest as they finally began to dry, with night finally enclosed around the world.
Kagome could still feel his hand. "Arigatou, Miroku-sama. Arigatou."
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Author's Notes: I know. It's extremely late. I'm definitely going to try catching up to the challenges I missed though… here you go!