All right, personal life has been sorted out. I know what you're all thinking, "Why do I care? He's been a dirtbag and not updated in months!" If that's the case, you're absolutely right but after late nights for the past three months I didn't really have time. Now, on the other hand, I do. Enough of this mindless babble though, on with the story!

Review Shout-outs

Sango-Miroku-4ever: Yeah figured it might be, hope this chapter isn't to late for ya though. I kinda know it is, but still…

i-luv-the-cat-sohma52: Honestly, no, I have no idea what you're talking about.

Chapter 7

Breaking Camp

It must have been five in the morning, the very crack of dawn, just as the sun was drenching the world in its soft pink light. Already though the small camp that had been set up on the outskirts of the village was beginning to show signs of life.

"Hmph, dawn already?" the monk yawned to himself as he pushed himself off the ground. "Well I better see what I can find around here to eat, the others will be wanting something before we leave" he sighed as he walked slowly into the village.

It was much the same as it had been the day before, ruined and somber. The site had been so depressing that Miroku thought even the drunkest of men would have sobered up at the mere sight of it however. Now though it was more inviting, perhaps because the smell of death had finally been carried away on the four winds or maybe, because everything seemed much more welcoming and upbeat when shown in the morning light.

Already there were signs that life would carry on, not human life of course, but life in general. Small stalks were beginning to poke through the layer of dirt and death, winding there way through the rubble.

At any rate the first course of action was to try and find a pot, or something like a pot. It was a rather easy find, just inside the village was a large black kettle sitting, upside down, in the middle of the street. It wasn't incredibly large, so Miroku hoisted it easily from the ground and swung it over his shoulder. He may not be an Inuyasha, but he could still manage a pot.

"All right, got the pot, now I just need something to put in it…" he trailed off as he began to search every nook and cranny of the village for anything that looked edible. Whenever he did manage to find something he'd lower the kettle, inspect whatever it was, and then toss it in.

Only through an exhausting effort and what seemed like hours was he able to find a carrot, two potatoes, a handful of rice, and an onion. This was all that was left in the village, either the rest of it had been scattered by the wind or pulverized by the debris that came after. So after collecting all of his 'ingredients' he set off towards a small stream that ran through the east part of town.

They had seen it the day before when they were searching the town, and later used it clean Kasey's wounds. It was a small stream that wound its way down from the mountains to the north, crisp and pure, a sharp contrast to the destruction that had been wrought less then a mile away. But even there the destruction was evident, trees ripped from the ground. Even those trees that had managed to keep themselves in the ground still bore the signs, limbs ripped from their trunks and thrown to the ground, and trunks bent westward from the gale. Bits of the town had even made it out this far, chunks of reed mats now helped to make up the canopy as bits of tile now mixed with the rocks and pebbles.

Miroku set down the pot slowly on the small bank, taking his time to reach to kneel down lightly in the soft dirt. He slowly began to reach into the pot and pull the first vegetable from it. He knelt in silence as he slowly washed the dirt from the vegetables before throwing them back into the pot.

After he had cleaned the last of the vegetables, a potato, he sunk to all fours and gazed sadly at his own reflection on the water. "Why?" he asked himself "Why must all these people suffer and die?"

With a full pot of water he set off back towards camp, being careful not to spill a drop. Having already cleaned the vegetables he set the pot down and began cutting them with a small knife he had found near the potato, or maybe the carrot, he couldn't remember. After dicing the last vegetables, the carrot he threw the thin slices into the pot. He then placed this on top of the small fire that had been made the night before and allowed them to cook. The fire, having gone out the night before, needed new kindling. This wasn't a difficult task considering all the branched and twigs that now scattered the forest floor.

After a few failed attempts Miroku managed to produce a flame with a small click from Kagome's magic fire starter, something she called a 'light her' or something like that, which he promptly touched to the kindling before the flame disappeared back into it's mysterious silver container.

With the fire born anew and breakfast on he went about the task of waking the others, starting with Sango. For a few moments he merely hovered over her sleeping form. Someday Sango, when there's no more fighting he thought to himself and no one else need die, then I'll confess…I'll confess my love for you. He started a few more moments at his sleeping love until she began to stir. "Come on Sango" he whispered gently into her ear "Time to get moving."

As time ticked away and with no response forthcoming, he tried again. "Come on Sango" he whispered again as he began to gently shake her "It's time to get up." "All right" she yawned as she shook him off and pushed herself up. "You get Kasey and I'll get Shippo?" the monk asked once the demon slayer had forced herself into a sitting position. "Yeah, allright" she said sleepily before pushing herself, unsteadily so, to her feet.

"You okay Sango?" Miroku asked her, noticing her unusual unsteadiness. "Yeah, I'm just a little tired, that's all" she replied kindly before rubbing the sleep from her eyes and setting of towards Kasey. "Okay" he replied before adding under his breath a disgruntled "Women." Miroku stared after her for a few moments more before moving to rouse Shippo from his slumber.

"Come on Shippo, time to get up" he whispered after reaching the small tree that Shippo had slept at the base of. "Just five more minutes" Shippo replied sleepily before rolling over, his back to Miroku. "No Shippo, it's time to get up now" Miroku started a bit more forcefully as he began to shake Shippo.

"All right…I said all right already!" Shippo squawked as he swatted away Miroku's hand. "Well come on then" Miroku said happily as he beckoned Shippo towards the pot of boiling vegetables. When they reached it they found that Sango and Kasey had already helped themselves. Sango was finished with her helping, while Kasey was half asleep in hers.

"Morning" Shippo grumbled as he flicked rubbed off sleep from his hand. "Morning Shippo" Kasey replied groggily with a half-hearted wave. "Eat up Shippo" Miroku said as he handed Shippo a full bowl and a pair of chopsticks before ladling out some for himself.

By the time Miroku had finished his own helping the sun already hung high on the eastern horizon, wrapping the world in its warm embrace. Shippo was still plodding through the last of his vegetables while Kasey had finally finished her own, and was now half asleep where she sat.

"It's getting late…we should probably get moving" Miroku sighed as he gazed towards the steadily rising sun. "That means you two" He dropped his gaze to Shippo and Kasey. Kasey perked her head up slightly before allowing it to fall back to it's resting place. Shippo merely pretended to have not heard him as he stabbed a slice of carrot.

"Children can be so stubborn when they want to" Sango said as she and Kirara joined Miroku "But they do sort of remind me of myself, back when I was their age."

"I wouldn't know" Miroku sighed in reply "Life with Mushin was really strict, either I obeyed him or I'd get a long-winded speech about how I would be dishonoring my ancestors if I did not become a monk and carry on the family line…and curse." Miroku began to chuckle to himself "I suppose I never really had what you could call a normal childhood, I was in training since the day I was born!"

"I suppose neither of us had very normal childhoods, you a monk and I a demon slayer" Sango began to chuckle along with Miroku. "Speaking of childhood Sango, have you ever considered bearing children?" Miroku questioned her slyly. "Maybe eventually, I have to find the right man first…" Yes! I've caught her in a good mood, and I haven't even gotten slapped yet! Miroku thought eagerly to himself.

"Hey wait a minute! You lecherous monk!" Sango shouted as she slapped him hard across the face sending him spiraling off his seat. "I swear Miroku, you'll never change!" she huffed as she stormed of to sit between Shippo and Kasey, who inched carefully away from her.

"I spoke to soon" he sighed as pushed himself to his feet and began rubbing his now swollen cheek. "What was that!" Sango shouted at him.

"Nothing, I just said 'I'm ready to go, how about you?'"

You know that old expression a day late and a dollar short? Well that's what this is, only it didn't cost me a penny and took more like a hundred days.

Oh well, can't be helped. It's here now though so enjoy and I also recommend readying my other story Massacre At Malmedy. So far this is my best chapter, so let me know what you think.

Till next time, which hopefully won't be months, I'm out.