Miroku took it upon himself to keep watch even before Inuyasha and Kagome returned from their little date. By that time Sango was sleeping soundly with Kirara and Shippou curled up alongside her, so someone needed to keep an eye on things. And Miroku honestly didn't much mind. The last few days had been quiet and peaceful and had gone a long way to restoring his sense of equilibrium. He was well rested and wouldn't miss a little sleep, and he knew it would make Inuyasha feel better to know someone else was looking out for him.
Not that Inuyasha would ever admit that, much less show any appreciation for it.
Still, he was a friend—however grudgingly—and Miroku did not mind doing a favor for a friend once in a while.
"You could get some rest, you know," he said, speaking quietly so as not to wake the girls.
"Leave me alone, would you?" Inuyasha muttered. "I never sleep when I'm like this."
"So you're too scared to sleep, huh?"
Inuyasha looked so outraged that for a moment Miroku was afraid he would shout and wake everyone up, but he managed to control himself. "So what?" he asked.
Miroku chuckled. "Well, at least you're honest."
"There's all kinds of people that hate me, you know," Inuyasha pointed out. "If they knew when I become vulnerable each month… if they attacked while I'm human, I'd stand no chance."
The hanyou gave no sign that he noticed it, but while he was speaking Miroku got the distinct impression that something unpleasant was approaching. An evil aura, like that of a powerful youkai…
He thought they had left danger behind for a while when they escaped from Goshinki, but now he feared the worst. Had Naraku somehow managed to track them all the way here? If their enemies found out about Inuyasha's weakness when he did not even have the Tessaiga with which to defend himself…
"Perhaps vigilance is warranted after all," he said.
"So you sensed it, too?" Sango asked. He had not even realized that she was awake, but now she was already getting to her feet and reaching for her weapon. "That horrible aura…"
"It's nearby, and coming closer," he agreed.
Too bad he didn't want to find out what it was.