INTERLUDE: HOLDS THE PEN

"Would you wonder at the pages left,
And all the places that they'll lead,
Then vow to make each moment,
One that you'd be proud to read,
Because there is a story of your life,
But it's you that holds the pen,
And I hope you fill the pages right,
Before you reach the end."
(e.h.)

They stand there, staring at one another in an uneasy sort of truce, no one willing to make the first move towards the others. Inuyasha is still staring off into the distance, his arms crossed and frowning, but no longer with a haze of murderous, jealous intent rolling off of him. Sesshomaru still grips the hilt of Tokijin uneasily. He has not lowered it, but, when Kagome casts him a disgruntled look he shrugs as if to say that he has not raised it any higher either. Miroku and Sango are glancing at everyone and then casting each other inscrutable looks that seem to convey a world of meaning between just the two of them.

"Where's Shippo?!"

Kagome's startled shout makes everyone jump, but it is Sango that answers. "We weren't sure what would be going on when we got here, so we sent Kirara to Kaede's village with him, until we knew it was safe."

The miko flashes rolls her eyes between the two brothers. "Good idea." Then she gasps. "Sesshomaru! Your face – let me do something before it gets infected."

He had no idea what that meant and, while he normally would have brushed off such tender ministrations, he did not. For one, he relishes the squawk that Inuyasha makes when he loudly exclaims that he has injuries, too. For another, he finds he does not mind the thought of Kagome doting over his injuries. So he bows his head lower for her to look at the bleeding gasp and listens to her fawn over him. When she declares that she'll need to grab something called antibiotic cream from her bag and marches off, he's left alone with the rest of her group.

After a long tense moment, he decides to take the initiative Kagome wishes from her. Sheathing Tokijin and steadfastly ignoring the way the trio of them all tense and teach for their weapons at the motion, he gestures towards his manor. "Be welcome here."

The monk is the first to step forward, matching his stride with Sesshomaru's as he heads back towards his home. It is many long moments before the remaining two pick up their feet and start to follow.

"May I ask you a question?"

Sesshomaru glances down at him. He has not forgotten the way the monk took liberties with Kagome's backside when they were reunited and wonders if he, too, will proclaim to have feelings for the priestess.

He takes the silence as agreement. "Do you truly care for Lady Kagome?"

"Why do you ask?"

Miroku glares up at him. "Because I care about her." When Sesshomaru's upper lip begins to curl back in a snarl, he rolls his eyes. "As a dear friend, no matter how I might act around her. She has made me a better man, made everyone around her better for her presence. She is good and kind and sweet and," he is fiddling with the prayer beads on his writ, "I will not see her injured or harmed. Physically or emotionally. I am not Inuyasha. I would not need to fight you with claws and swords to turn this entire castle into an empty field."

The fiddling with his beads suddenly makes sense. It is a threat. "You have this Sesshomaru's solemn oath that I would never harm her."

"Can you keep such a promise?" Before he can take offense and disagree, the monk continues. "Regardless of the threat of Naraku and his minions lurking behind every bend in the road, I am sure the Lord of the Western Lands has his own fair share of enemies and villains looking to usurp your position. How can you promise to be there at every turn? And what about when she joins us to hunt for the Shikon no Tama? Would you leave your lands abandoned?"

Those are all excellent points and, rather than brush him off brusquely and haughtily, he takes a moment to compile his thoughts. "Those… issues," he says slowly, searching for words, "may not be issues for much longer."

A slim brow rises in question. "What do you mean?"

There is only a slight hesitation before he answers. There does not seem a point in keeping it a secret any longer, with the deadline so fast approaching. "My father, before his death, left instruction that I was to take a mate and name her lady of these lands before my centennial name day, or I should forfeit this title and all that goes with it." There's a pause as the monk takes that in. "So, in a few short weeks, this Sesshomaru will no longer be lord here, and so shall be free to travel as I choose."

Miroku blinked. "Does Kagome know – "

"She does."

"But – "

"I should not like to force a situation on her that she might be unwilling to accept."

Miroku gapes at him. "Kami, you really do care her."

There is no reason for him to not agree, when the proof of that emotion was the title he was willing to throw away for her. "Indeed."

"If she agreed, if it was something she wanted, then what? You would name her, not just a human, but a miko, as Lady of the Western Lands?"

There's a sharp pain in his chest as he thinks about that. If she said yes… If she was his mate… "If Kagome would have me, I would give her anything and no one would stop me. Those are both only passing issues, in any case. For not only is her spiritual power too great for any demon to argue with my choice, but with a mating ceremony she would share my power, my longevity. But all of this is a moot point, as I shall not ask her."

"Why ever not? She cares about you a great deal."

"Because she deserves far better than I." Another person might not have caught the layers of meaning in that simple sentence. They might have thought he was referring to those times he had been involved in plans to kill her or her friends. They might have thought he was referring to the fact that he was a demon and she was a priestess. But Miroku was a monk, he could see the nuances of people. He could tell that Sesshomaru saw himself as too flawed, too broken, too damaged for her. A missing arm, a ravaged face. It was not a question of strength, as his fight with Inuyasha had just proven. He could protect her, if needed. He saw himself as too marred for her.

Miroku stares at the demon lord's profile, wondering how he could have become so changed in just a few short weeks. But he sees the way he is staring ahead at Kagome, all wanting happiness, and he realizes that, while Sesshomaru may not realize it, he does not care for Kagome. He loves her.

"I may have an idea."

A/N: So we're almost done! I've got three chapters left plus an epilogue (maybe two for two separate character sets)