Disclaimer: I do NOT own Inuyasha. Thank you.

Author's Note: Well for anyone who has this story on their alert list, you will know for a fact that I updated my story-- as promised-- on Thursday. But unfortunately, since my computer is a (fill in word of choice here) and absolutely hates me, it decided to delete the chapter. So, instead of putting the chapter up with some dumb excuse, I decided to make it up to you by doing a double post. I hope this means I won't get less reviews, though!

Enjoy the bonus chapter.

Chapter 23, Foresight and Slipping Time

The morning was crisp and bright, filled with sunshine and birdsong. Miroku rested with his eyes closed in the boughs of a sakura tree. The sweet-smelling blossoms filled the air around him as a warm spring breeze shook the branches. A smile was captured on his lips.

Heavy footfalls on the ground below shook Miroku from his doze. He frowned and cast a glance toward the ground. His amethyst eyes connected with Fumihiko, one of his personal servants, and one of the newer additions to the small group. "Oi, Fumihiko, up here!"

Fumihiko looked up and spied Miroku. "Miroku oji," he said, sighing in relief. "I thought Takara tono was going to kill me if I didn't find you."

Miroku smiled disarmingly. "You worry too much, Fumihiko!" With that said, he leapt from the tree and landed squarely on his feet. He brushed a hand along his haori to free it of dirt. "What does my father want to see me for?"

"Your brother has returned from the Kawate kingdom," Fumihiko said, obviously excited.

A grin brightened Miroku's face. He took off at top speed toward the castle's walls. He passed several pompous nobles on his path, yet somehow managed to avoid his father. He reached the wall and jogged up the stairs to stand on the catwalk. Gasping for air, he leaned on the wall and regarded the marvelous procession that followed his older brother home.

Kyoden rode in front, his bearing proud. His handsome face was bathed in sunlight, his black hair peeking out from underneath his ornate helmet. His coral-colored, dragon scale-plated armor shone brightly in the light. Kyoden's dark eyes were distant, and his countenance one of absent-minded satisfaction, but as Miroku watched him, Kyoden looked up and spied his younger brother. He flashed him a huge smile, and waved before turning back to the road ahead.

Moonbeams danced across the surface of the lily pond in a sacred, timeless ritual. The lilies shone with a powdery glow. Koa leapt in and out of the shadows cast by the lily pads, their luminous scales scattering the moonlight. Miroku watched the peaceful scene a few feet distant from the edge, his mind elsewhere this night.

"Miroku."

Miroku looked up as his brother neared. "Konbanwa, Kyoden."

Kyoden smiled and hugged his brother strongly. Miroku hugged back, his heart swelling with joy at having his brother home. "I missed you, little brother," Kyoden muttered.

Miroku grinned and broke the hug. "I don't have to tell you that I missed you as well, but I will anyway."

Kyoden shook his head and moved off a few paces to examine an iris. "The gardens are beautiful in the moonlight, aren't they?"

"I'll bet the gardens in the Takara kingdom are even more beautiful, ne?"

The smile that softened Kyoden's face was nostalgic. His dark eyes were distant. "Only when Sango-sama is in them."

"Eh?" Miroku teased, leaning against the trunk of a strong tree, "You've really fallen for this girl, haven't you?"

"She's incredible, Miroku," Kyoden said, suddenly excited. "She's sweet and fun, and she's filled with love. She's the most amazing person I've ever met."

Miroku smirked, his expression playful and knowing all at once. "Enough of that. Judging by your reaction, I'll bet she doesn't look too bad either."

Pink sprang up in Kyoden's cheeks, and he averted his eyes to the bamboo wall. He paused before whispering, "She's gorgeous, Miroku. Her face is painted as white as the snow, but I can hardly tell why; she could easily go without every drop of make-up on her face, she's lovely enough naturally. She has the body of a goddess, perfect in every way. Her brown eyes are" Here, Kyoden had to stop himself. He took a deep breath and started again. "Her eyes are so full of longing that your heart is ripped out of your chest and pressed into her palm. And she smells heavenly, like plums and irises." Kyoden looked at his brother as he finished his description, and was surprised to find his brother's look sad and distant.

"She sounds perfect," Miroku commented in a monotone.

Kyoden sighed and crossed to his brother. "Miroku," he said, touching his brother's arm. "You know, last night Sango and I took a walk together in the gardens. She was timid and quiet, but our conversation didn't lag. Then, she did something completely outrageous." Kyoden stopped and waited until he knew he had captured Miroku's attention. "She pulled me into a grove of cedar and kept on running until we lost our attendants." He chuckled at the memory and rubbed the back of his neck with his hand. "And then she kissed me."

Miroku raised his eyebrows suggestively. "Oh, how scandalous."

"Well!" Kyoden began to respond with a frown. "Yes, Miroku, it is very improper for a unmarried man and woman to run off like that, especially among people of our stature. Not that you would know anything about that."

"What're you implying?" Miroku asked, returning his brother's frown.

"Oh, Miroku!" Kyoden said with an exasperated sigh. "It's no secret how you chase around the ladies in the court."

Miroku rolled his eyes and said nothing.

"Anyway," Kyoden continued, "It's the strangest thing, but" His voice trailed off and he did not pick up his sentence. When Miroku looked at him, Kyoden's dark eyes were focused on his, piercing so that they seemed to be looking into his inner core. Miroku shifted uncomfortably under his brother's gaze. "Miroku, as our lips touched, a strange thought came to me. It all felt very wrong, as though I was in the wrong place and time. And then" He smiled and shook his head.

"Suddenly I was outside of myself, watching Sango as she moved into me, and watching my only body fold around hers in response. And something changed. It happened so subtly and quickly that at first I didn't notice it, but all at once, instead of me kissing Sango, it was you."

A cold wind passed between the brothers, so that Miroku shivered and pulled his haori tighter around his frame. He couldn't believe what his brother had just said. How ridiculous! He was removed from his body? And then, as if that wasn't enough, Miroku's had replaced his self? Miroku looked at the lily pond quickly, averting his gaze to the amethyst depths that matched his own eyes in color. He searched for the ethereal beauty that had shone there a moment before, but it was gone, and only a stark reality remained.

"For some reason, Miroku, seeing you there in the place of me it made me" There was a catch in his voice, either as he searched for the right word or as he was overcome by emotion, Miroku couldn't be sure. "Happy."

Miroku furrowed his brow and looked at his brother. "What do you mean?"

Kyoden was no longer looking at him. His dark eyes had glazed over, and the smile on his lips was absent. Finally, he blinked and turned to Miroku. He clapped his hand down on Miroku's shoulder in companionship and he said, "Nevermind, brother. Another day perhaps." Without another word, he turned Miroku and led him back to the palace.

(-)

Miroku looked up at his father's castle, silhouetted against a sky alive with the brilliant array of colors that arose to bid the sun farewell. That was exactly a year ago, he realized somberly. His brother had only been gone for a few weeks, but sometimes it felt like an eternity. Other times, it seemed like it had never happened.

But it had.

Kyoden was gone, and no useless memories would ever bring him back. But still, his brother's words that night had disturbed him in a way he could never place. It was like when he had confessed to Miroku that he never felt he would someday rule in their father's place. It was as if Kyoden had always known that this would happen.

Miroku scoffed and brushed the thought aside. He was tired of the vague images that haunted the edge of his vision, of the dreams that forced their way into his dreams. He was through hearing strange voices calling to him through the mists of his troubled mind. Why did these things have to plague him so? Did they plague Sango, or Scarlet, or any of the Chiba siblings as well? They had all lost people dear to them, so were they also tormented by these crazy imaginings?

"Here we are," Sango whispered, calling his attention back to the looming figure of the Takara kingdom.

"Indeed," Miroku remarked, trying to sound brave.

Sango and the Chiba siblings started down the hill, but Scarlet and Miroku hung back.

"You know what waits beyond those walls, don't you, Miroku?" Scarlet looked at him, her icy eyes penetrating.

Miroku didn't answer right away. Finally, he breathed, "I wish I could tell her, Scarlet. I've tried so many times, but I just don't know how to do it. I want her to figure it out, but as soon as she gets close, I panic and try desperately to make ends meet. It keeps me awake at night, worrying."

Scarlet nodded knowingly. "It was the same for me. But think of this, Miroku. Would you rather her have to hear it from Naraku?"

"I don't know, Scarlet. I don't know anything."

"This about it," Scarlet advised, starting down the hill. "Well still have tonight and tomorrow before we reach the castle." She gave a reassuring smile and followed after the others, calling for them to wait up.

Miroku risked one last glance at his father's home, and then joined his companions.

- Ichimu