By the time they were ready to depart their temporary haven, Sango looked a little lost.
She had given Kirara over to Kagome willingly enough, but looked a bit bewildered by the metal contraption that was the bicycle, as if she wasn't quite sure it was safe for her friend – or Kagome – to travel that way. Having once attempted to ride the bicycle himself, Miroku understood how she felt. He also knew that Kirara and Kagome would be perfectly safe, and that it would be better for Sango to discover that for herself.
She had only a few more moments to look so heart-rendingly forlorn before Inuyasha headed off down the road. He strode forward confidently, as if he knew exactly where they were going, rather than acknowledging that they were more or less setting off at random. Miroku let Kagome and Sango fall in behind Inuyasha, then took up a place at the back of the group.
The sun was shining gently between puffy white clouds and a soft wind blew at their backs; overall Miroku thought it a very pleasant day for traveling, and the view on the road ahead of him certainly didn't hurt matters. Rather than riding, Kagome had chosen to walk alongside her bicycle so that she could more easily chat with Sango. The breeze ruffled her short skirt so invitingly that Miroku sighed regretfully…
…and wished, rather wistfully, that the style would catch on.
"Why do you always walk at the back?" Shippou asked, interrupting his daydreams.
Miroku had forgotten that Shippou was there, even though the kitsune was clinging to his shoulder. That seemed to have become his custom lately.
"Someone has to watch everyone's backs," Miroku commented smoothly, as if that had been his intention all along.
Shippou saw right through him. "Don't you mean their backsides?" the kitsune asked archly.
"In case there's trouble," Miroku explained, though he suspected that Shippou was not fooled in the least. "It's good to have someone in the rear that's on the alert."
"And that's you?" Shippou seemed on the verge of laughing out loud.
"In this case, yes."
That really did it. Shippou burst into gales of laughter. Miroku could only sigh and mutter, "I am so misunderstood."