(Meaning)
The next day was significantly cloudier than the day before, in fact the weather seemed almost ominous to the group of travelers below. It was, of course, this reason that Sango, Kagome, and Shippou used as an excuse to almost insist that hey stay camped until the weather lightened up. Miroku was a little disappointed and said that he didn't really wish to stay past tomorrow and Inuyasha was gruff about the topic merely muttering a "Keh" when asked his opinion on the subject.
Inuyasha couldn't get over the feeling like there was something between him and Miroku, almost like they had had and argument, but he knew that they hadn't. He still kept puzzling all the way through breakfast, muttering incoherently on several occasions when Sango or Shippou tried to prod him into talking. Something was up with Inuyasha and everyone knew it.
After breakfast Inuyasha decided that he was going to try and piece together what the hell had been going on the past few nights and days. No one really asked where he was going as he sped off through the small opening in the forest that led from the clearing to the small slope of a hill. In almost no time at all Inuyasha found himself standing in the clearing of which he and Miroku had sat the previous night.
"Now, all I need to do is think…" He said into the wind which was blowing almost constantly with slight shifts now and then in direction.
He sat down on the log and stuffed his hands into his sleeves as he stared out onto the stormy horizon. What he had come to was that it involved Miroku, and oddly enough it seemed to also involve Kikyou. He knew very well that Miroku and Kikyou were both people of holy stature, but, that couldn't be it, could it? Inuyasha shook his head at his thoughts and furrowed his brow. Think! What did you feel around Kikyou?
Inuyasha knew the most blatant answer to what he felt around Kikyou. In basic it was love and remorse. Love because he had always loved her and remorse because he knew he couldn't. However, the monk possessed none of those in his eyes, right? Whenever he had been in love previously he had felt a warmth inside, one of which cured every cold. He had also felt sadness because he knew it would have to end, but…
"This is ridiculous." He said as he shifted his eyes to the ground feeling a little un-nerved. "There's no way I could actually love him right?"
But the more Inuyasha thought about it the more he seemed to prove his words wrong. Every Image of Miroku brought a tingly light sensation into his arms and his chest, which was indescribably like nothing he had ever felt. I…I love him! NO! NO WAY! Damn, it won't freaking go away!
"Inuyasha, it will change…"
"Nyargh! Damnit get out of my head!"
"Inuyasha?"
Inuyasha felt himself nearly slam into the ground before recovering turning to see who possibly had had the nerve to follow him, especially with his mind in the state that it was.
"Relax Inuyasha," A smiling Miroku said coming closer.
Inuyasha felt his heart skip a beat. Damn! Not here! Not Now!
"What the hell are you doing here monk!" He said trying to block out the warm and tingly sensation that was now flowing though his entire body.
"I came to ask what was up," He said sitting down and looking up towards Inuyasha, "After all you have been acting quite strange right lately."
Inuyasha felt his face go hot as their eyes met. It's the same feeling! He thought to himself, remembering his inner quarrel. Damnit! It's the same feeling as when I was with Kikyou! Inuyasha made haste in pulling the connection between their eyes and sat down in the grass diagonally opposite from Miroku.
"Yea well, I've had some things on my mind right lately." He said looking to his right and into the far off woods opposite them.
"Like what?" He asked curiously.
"Nothing." Inuyasha said trying to keep his apparent newfound love a secret. No! I don't love him I… I don't, but…
Miroku chuckled a little and raised up off the log to face the windy horizon, blowing his earrings in such a way that they jingled together slightly.
"That's just like you…" He said, his violet eyes looking remorsefully at the hanyou on the ground beside him.
"You wouldn't understand!" Inuyasha said avoiding eye contact and averting his eyes back towards the log in front of him.
"I'm sure…" he said while starting to walk away, leaving a very confused hanyou behind.
Inuyasha just sat and watched the gusty winds blowing the grass. Miroku was nothing more than a friend and the warmth was nothing more than his fear of love, that was it, nothing more. But he continued to daydream about the monk and kicked himself whenever he caught himself doing it. For the rest of the day Inuyasha remained silent and was determined not to go anywhere near the monk unless he had to in order to keep from looking suspicious.
Night came and both girls were getting restless, complaining that they had not had a bath in days. Inuyasha spoke for the first time all day and told them of a hot spring he had found while walking around that was not too far from their campsite. They were instantly cheered up and seemed especially glad to know that Inuyasha had not had his tongue ripped out like they had seemed to think.
The girls walked off using the directions Inuyasha gave Sango as guidance, the small Kitsune trailing behind them. This unfortunately meant that he and Miroku would be left to their own devices. Inuyasha was about to jet off and avoid a little encounter with the monk but was a little too late as Miroku sat down beside him. He couldn't move now because it would look so damn suspicious it probably would be his undoing.
Inuyasha was determined not to look at him and talk as little as he could and just kept staring at the fire which glowed silently in front of them.
"Those two…" Miroku said sighing. "I don't think I'll ever get them."
Inuyasha snorted replying, "Why monk? Did they do something to piss you off?"
Soft chuckling could be heard from the mean beside him who had abandoned all attempts to sit normally and now sat sprawled on the ground, supported by his outstretched arms.
"What's so funny!" Inuyasha yelled about to turn his head before realizing what would probably happen as a result, after al; he was already getting the warm sensation again whioch was most definitely unwanted.
"Nothing." He said smugly finally laying his entire body down on the grassy ground, his hands behind his head as he star-gazed .
"Tell me!" Inuyasha said as he turned around to face the monk face-to-face, forgetting that it's effect might be his demise.
"It's nothing Inuyasha." He said as he averted his eyes away from the sky above and shifted them in Inuyasha's direction. "After all, I'm sure you wouldn't understand."
Their eyes were locked and Inuyasha couldn't move. All the will he had saved up, all the strength he had ever gathered had left his body and left nothing but a jelly mix behind. His heart was pounding, and he could feel it in his arms, in his eyes, and in his throat. Slowly Inuyasha gained his strength back up enough and moved his head away from the monk replying shrewdly.
"Don't mock me monk, my problems are not of your concern."
"Oh but they are Inuyasha, after all your problem and mine are, needless to say, the same problem." Miroku said looking back towards the hanyou's silvery head.
Inuyasha's eyes widened as he heard the monks words. The…same…problem! No! This is just another trick to get me to tell him, he's just curious and then he'll hate me, but, why? Why was this happening! Why did he feel any of this, how could he even feel at all! Kikyou was strong but, not this strong, nothing matched this power that seemed to linger over every word the monk said. Every word was stronger than any "Sit" command ever used against him and his touch might even be deadly. Why! I can't deny this any longer, I have to tell him! I have to… but... I, I can't.
"We both are loners and we both are still searching for love, and you have grown so far away from it that you have even forgotten what it feels like to be loved." Miroku continued, snapping Inuyasha out of his inner struggle for mental stability.
"I haven't forgotten monk." Inuyasha said as he looked back into the embers of the fire.
Miroku raised an unseen eyebrow and got back up slowly bringing his body closer to Inuyasha's inch by inch.
"Then who is it if it's not Kagome!" he asked as he looked towards the hanyou whose amber eyes gazed longingly into the fire.
Inuyasha decided to remain silent as it would probably be best if he didn't talk at all.
"Who!" Miroku said becoming a little more insistent all the while hoping and praying.
"Miroku…" Inuyasha said as he turned his head to meet the monks who was now no more that a few inches away.
"What?" Miroku replied as he continued to await an answer to his previously asked question.
"Don't hate me…"
With that Inuyasha got up and walked silently away into the nearby woods leaving a very shocked monk behind. Had that been his answer? Miroku thought as he looked at the spot in the brush where the silver haired hanyou had disappeared. He was sure that the hanyou had tears in his eyes as he got up and walked away but he couldn't be sure. Damnit! Miroku said in his mind, hitting himself mentally. You pushed him again! You brought him to the edge of tears, some monk you are!
Miroku raised his body off of the sodden earth and made his way to the edge of the babbling brook. A strong wind blew, rattling the golden hoops on his staff and rustling the trees, slowly giving movement to the darkened bank opposite him.
"Inuyasha…," He muttered, "It will change…"
(((T)))