Disclaimer: Inuyasha is property if its rightful owners. I have no part in its creation, and I make no profit from it. Thank you.

Author's Note: (See author's note on Chapter 23)

Chapter 22, Enduring Ignorance

Miroku was leaning against the trunk of a tall tree Sango didn't know the name of. She approached slowly, aiming to make the least noise possible, but Miroku heard her anyway. "Konnichiwa, houshi-sama," Sango tried. She attempted to smile, but it only made her look like she was in pain, so she stopped.

Miroku grunted in response and looked away.

Sango almost turned around and walked away right then, but she steadied herself. Swallowing against the lump in her throat, she moved closer to the man. "Houshi-sama" she breathed.

"Sango, what do I look like to you?" Miroku asked suddenly, still not looking at her.

Sango was caught off-guard. "What?"

"I asked what do I look like to you?" Miroku repeated. He sounded so tiredmore tired than she heard him sound before.

Sango struck out her lower lip in thought. Was this a trick question? She had the feeling she was supposed to say something deep and meaningful, but that had never been her strong suite. So instead, she said lamely, "You look like a houshi."

Miroku looked over at her finally, and she was momentarily distracted as his amethyst eyes caught a beam of sunlight. "Is that the truth?"

Was it? Sango took in his appearance. Miroku was tall and thin, though he could hardly be mistaken for gangly. Rather, he was compact and muscular. He wore the robes of his order, though the edges were slightly frayed, and carried his shakujou with him at all times. He had a neat pile of black hair on his head, and the most stunning eyes she could recall seeing. Miroku was handsome, Sango realized suddenly. Although it couldn't be so sudden She had always known that Miroku was good-looking, but the extent of his looks had only just become visible to her. She felt her face grow hot and quickly looked away. "Yes," she answered.

Miroku released a sigh, but she couldn't be sure whether he was relieved or sad. "Well," he said at length. "We should be getting back. We still have a long journey ahead of us."

Sango nodded slowly. "Are you sure you're alright?"

Miroku only offered a wry smile before walking back towards their camp.

(-)

When they got back, Yu had procured some berries and nuts to enrich their lunch. They left the road following the brief meal, and continued southeast. Sundown set the sky ablaze with fiery hues, but they didn't stop for another two hours, when Sango tripped over a root and twisted her ankle.

"There's a village nearby," Miroku said as he knelt down beside her. "I can secure us lodgings at the village head's home."

"How?" Sango asked. A respectable home sounded wonderful after so many nights of bathing in the river and sleeping on a hard futon. She fought make the urge to cringe as she eased weight onto her ankle. "I thought you weren't permitted to carry money?"

"I didn't forget," Miroku said, some of his old self shining through as he winked. "I have other methods"

"He means lying," Scarlet explained to Sango. This caused Sango to giggle.

"Houshi desu!" Miroku exclaimed, bringing the back of his hand to his forehead in mock faintness.

But sure enough, the second they entered the village, Miroku was warning the villagers of an ominous cloud hanging over their leader's home. The man, a small old man named Hisanobu implored Miroku to exterminate the youkai, which Miroku happily agreed to do.

"See?" Scarlet said, her eyes flat. "Lying."

Even Yu had to smile a bit at this.

They had a wonderful dinner, and Sango hadn't slept so well in over a week. When they left at the break of dawn the next day, Miroku gave some extra seals to Hisanobu. Then they on their way, the first signs of spring pushing through a fresh layer of powdery snow.

'Just a little farther,' Miroku repeated over and over to himself like a mantra. 'Just a little farther'

(-)

"Ginmaru!"

The silvery youkai slinked forward. "My lord," he breathed, keeping his head low in submission.

"Tell me what you have discovered. Has he realized the power of the blade?" The voice was just above an urgent whisper, and Ginmaru thought he detected a hint of fear in his master's tone.

"No, my lord Naraku," the lizard hissed. "He remains unaware."

"And the miko?"

"She's told them her identity."

A knife raced through the still air, grazing Ginmaru's arm. "That's not what I meant, fool. What do I care if the miko's given her story? Does she know about the katana?"

"N-no," Ginmaru stuttered.

"And has the prince told his side? Does the princess know?"

"No, my lord," Ginmaru said, regaining some of his confidence.

"Good." A smile tugged at the corners of Naraku's lips. The smile was so hideously chilling that even Ginmaru shivered. "One more day, and they'll be here, Ginmaru. One more day, and I'll finally be free!"

"Yes, my lord," Ginmaru said, bowing low and excusing himself from the room.

- Ichimu