Chapter Five: Decisions, Decisions
"I still think this is a bad idea." Miroku complained.
"Why? All you got to do is talk to him." Sango explained.
"I know, but have you seen how he gets when someone mentions the way he really feels about Kagome? He's gonna be furious!"
"Quit complaining Houshi-sama, just do it!" Haruko urged him.
Miroku turned and glared at his child. "You have quite a lip on you for a little girl. But I suppose you learned from the best." Haruko nodded vigorously.
"Fine." Miroku conceded. "But no blaming me if this gets your little scheme nowhere."
"Of course not! Besides, I'll be talking to Kagome once she returns from the future." Sango reminded him.
Miroku went on his way to find his companion. He decided to try Kaede's hut first, since Kagome and Inuyasha didn't have a house of their own yet, like he and his family did.
"Excuse me Lady Kaede, but have you…" Miroku trailed off when he noticed Kaede was absent and Inuyasha was present, sprawled out in his odd position he took up when he was grumpy. "Inuyasha. You're here."
"Yeah, what of it perv?" Inuyasha snapped.
"Touchy. It's just I thought you might be at the magic well." Miroku explained.
"Well I ain't. You got a problem?"
"No, its just you usually wait around there for Lady Kagome to return." Miroku remarked.
"I got better things to do. Why just wait for Kagome to return?" Inuyasha asked rhetorically. Unfortunately for him, Miroku chose to answer anyways.
"Oh gee I dunno. Maybe because you love her? This is precisely why I came to talk to you." Miroku began.
"Who told you such a lie?" Inuyasha yelled at him in his defense. "I don't love Kagome!"
"Really? Why then do your actions say differently?" Miroku asked.
"Feh." Inuyasha replied.
"So you truly don't love her?" he continued.
"Damn straight!"
"Well that's a relief. I heard her say she was going to find Koga, and become his mate as was promised." Miroku laid his trap.
Inuyasha took the bait readily. "What? Like hell she is! Not if I have anything to do about it!"
"Why do you care?" Miroku inquired, knowing the answer well.
"She deserves better than that walking flea condo!" he griped.
"What about that nice Hojo fellow from her world? He seems decent." Miroku suggested.
"Bullshit! He's even worse! He's a weak mortal! He wouldn't be able to protect her!"
"Then…how about me? Surely as your best friend, you would find me satisfactory?"
Inuyasha exploded. "ARE YOU CRAZY? Need I remind you, YOU'RE MARRIED?"
"True, but both Sango and I agree we were a bit hasty in our marriage." Miroku lied.
"What the FUCK are you babbling about? If anything you two took too long. Besides, YOU HAVE A CHILD! You crazy bastard."
"Good to know you approve!" Miroku thanked him as if Inuyasha had just said nothing.
Inuyasha's clawed hands shot to Miroku's throat and gripped tightly. "If you as much as touch a hair on her head, I will see to it personally that your death is nice and slow."
"You'll need a better reason than that to dissuade me." Miroku said with a grin, despite his dangerous situation.
"Then maybe I should just kill you now." Inuyasha growled his tone dangerously low.
Miroku could tell Inuyasha was dead serious, but didn't waver. "Admit it Inuyasha, you are madly in love with Kagome Higurashi, whether you like it or not. It's no secret to anyone. Even little Shippo and Kirara know. The only one who doesn't know is Lady Kagome herself. And if you don't let her know soon, you will lose her forever."
"You know nothing. She promised to stay by my side." Inuyasha retorted.
"You think she'll wait forever? She's loyal no doubt, but she's not stupid. Why are you so reluctant to fess up? Are you remembering Kikyo?"
"SHUT UP!" Inuyasha shouted
"TELL HER!" Miroku shouted back.
"I can't." Inuyasha finally surrendered, releasing Miroku. "I would only be making a fool of myself. Who could love a filthy freak of nature like me?"
"Kagome obviously." Miroku replied. "Why I don't know, but she loves you!"
"How do you know?"
"She told Sango, Sango told me. It's that simple." Miroku explained. "But you believe what you want. Maybe she doesn't love you. But if she does, keeping it to yourself will only hurt both of you in the end."
"Maybe." Inuyasha admitted. "But I wouldn't want to tell her anyway. What about Kikyo?"
"What about her? I'm sorry Inuyasha, but she's dead. You have to let her go." Miroku said sullenly.
"Easy for you to say! You don't have to deal with a lost love!"
"Perhaps not, but I do know that Kagome is worth making that sacrifice for. All that keep's Kikyo bound to the living world is her hatred towards you Inuyasha." Miroku reminded him.
"Yeah, I just don't know what to do." Inuyasha sighed.
"I can't make this decision for you Inuyasha, but even if I could, I doubt you'd want me to. You know my thoughts. The rest I leave up to you." Miroku left Inuyasha to ponder his dilemma.
"What should I do?" Inuyasha thought aloud. "Miroku had some good points. I love Kagome, but I love Kikyo too. How am I supposed to make a choice like that?"
Inuyasha began to ponder the aspects of being with Kikyo or Kagome, both good and bad. "It's unfair to have to make a decision like this. No one should ever be forced to choose between two people like this."
Kikyo was dead. She didn't belong in this world. Miroku was right about that, but what about Kagome? She was from a different time. Did she really belong in this world either? He didn't know. His problem couldn't be solved by just thinking. He had to go see her. He leapt in to the woods in search of Kikyo.
"I have to find her and confront her. Only then will I know what is right."