A/N: Quick note, this is an ongoing fic. Keep reading! Updates will be fairly regular. Thanks for reviewing.
Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha, or any related characters. So there.
The Way It Has To BeChapter 2 – In the Aftermath
Miroku knew that by all rights he should have been the happiest man in the world, as befitted someone who had escaped a death sentence.
After all, the world looked very different when you didn't have a hole in your hand…
But there was something that prevented him from simply revelling in his good fortune. That something was the girl currently keeping her vigil at her friend's bedside. Her face was drawn tight with worry as she kept her lonely watch. Miroku wondered if Inuyasha, on some level, appreciated the attention he was getting. He wasn't about to admit to jealousy (out loud, anyway) but he couldn't quite suppress his quick frown when Kagome reached out to brush Inuyasha's silver hair out of his closed eyes.
'Once, I was treated like that,' he sighed silently.
Inuyasha had fallen to the ground shortly after he had finally defeated the hell-spawn known as Naraku, his many grievous injuries causing his body to suddenly shut down. Since then he had not opened his eyes. He simply lay unconscious in Kaede's hut, blissfully unaware of the angel sitting faithfully by his side.
That had been an awesome battle, Miroku reflected wearily. Awesome, and terrifying. It had taken the combined strengths of all of their allies to vanquish the vile hanyou – even Sesshoumaru himself had been hard pressed against the shard-enhanced Naraku. Miroku had been shocked when the normally impassive lord had unexpectedly joined the fighting, but strangely, Kagome hadn't seemed all that surprised. He would have to remember to ask her about that…later, when she wasn't so preoccupied with her adored Inuyasha.
He gave himself a little shake, slightly shocked at the rather uncharitable turn his thoughts had taken lately. Such childish attitudes did not suit a respectable monk…even one with his own somewhat minimal respectability. Anyone would think that he resented Inuyasha! But no, it was quite the opposite. After all, he now owed the inuhanyou his life.
Tearing his eyes away from the scene in front of him, the monk wandered outside and looked around. In the distance he spotted Sango sitting on her own near the edge of the forest, looking very small in her voluntary isolation. He hated seeing her like this, but at the same time he could well understand it. She had seen her beloved brother die at the hands of a monster. That was bound to leave anyone furious at the world in general. And dear heavens, was she furious! He had tried approaching her the day before, for once actually seeking friendly conversation rather than…his usual pastime, but that attempt had met with disaster. He was sure there was a fist-mark permanently implanted in his face now. Fingering his jaw gently, he reminded himself to keep a safe distance. Like…a mile.
He only knew one thing for sure at the moment. All of their lives were heading for a change. And one of the causes of the imminent upheaval was walking around the village at that very moment. Kikyo. Yet another problem for Kagome.
Not to mention that there was the matter of a certain jewel yet to be dealt with…
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Kagome looked up as she heard Miroku leave the tiny room and sighed. She was ashamedly aware that she was not the best of company right then, but who could blame her? It had been a huge shock to the system to see Inuyasha abruptly crumple to the ground with no warning like that…a shock that in all honesty had yet to wear off. The girl glanced around and smiled at the sight of Shippo lying curled up on her sleeping bag. The tiny kitsune had been so incredibly worried; he hadn't wanted to leave Inuyasha nor herself alone for even a minute. But his sleepiness had eventually claimed him. 'Poor little thing'.
She turned her attention back to the figure in front of her. Her eyes drank in the sight of Inuyasha lying totally still. His face, for once without the perpetually annoyed expression, looked calm and peaceful. You could almost forget the all-encompassing bandages wrapped around his comatose form.
But there was one thing that she could not forget, no matter how hard she tried. She could not forget that Inuyasha had gotten these injuries when he risked everything to save Kikyo from Naraku's clutches. In a rare moment of vulnerability, the miko had stumbled during Naraku's onslaught – and Inuyasha had wasted no time in abandoning his current opponent and racing to her side.
Incidentally, he had left Kagome open to attack when he had dashed off. Fortunately Miroku had picked up the slack, guarding the girl with all of his strength. In fact, judging by the young man's muffled curses, he had been more than displeased with Inuyasha's actions. She was still trying to absorb the fact…he had left her defenceless. Yet another thing that was impossible to ignore. And it had been the sight of Kikyo, damaged and weakened, that had spurred his fury to such heights that Naraku had finally been forced to retreat. But Inuyasha hadn't been satisfied with a mere retreat.
Kagome doubted that the likes of that final 'Bakuryuuha' would ever be seen again.
When the dust had finally settled, the members of their little group had been the only ones left standing. Sesshoumaru had left almost immediately; Kouga had smirked in his usual way and departed – but not before reminding Kagome that she was his woman; and the various others who had gathered for the battle had kind of drifted away. Somewhat of an anticlimax, really. But one person had reacted quite forcefully.
Miroku had wasted no time in ripping his hated glove from his hand, finding nothing but smooth, unblemished skin. To her surprise he had yelled and grabbed the nearest person in a bone-crushing hug, swinging them around in jubilant circles – the nearest person being Kagome herself. He had rapidly drawn in on himself afterward, seeming embarrassed at his actions…even scared…but the memory of his overjoyed face remained. 'Strange,' she thought suddenly, 'I haven't seen him smile since then.' It disturbed her – for the eternally calm and controlled monk to just lock down like that…it simply wasn't healthy, she was sure. And she knew that he had been staring at her rather strangely when he thought she wouldn't notice. Admittedly she was pretty out of it with worry (and other things) but she wasn't so unobservant that she would miss a man giving her that kind of look…
Having let her mind wander freely for the past few hours, it was a rude shock when reality suddenly pushed its way back into her mind, demanding immediate attention. Her eyes narrowed as a silvery-white soul-stealer drifted past the doorway, indicating that Kikyo was close by. Perhaps even right outside the hut for all she knew! The thought unnerved her. The undead miko didn't do much all day – just sort of wandered around, sometimes talking to Kaede.
The kind part of Kagome protested at seeing anyone so lonely, no matter what their past had been. The stubborn part insisted that it was the woman's own fault. If she hadn't succumbed to Naraku's deception, been a bit wiser, a little more trusting…
The girl grimaced to herself as the now familiar thought pattern played in her head again.
'If Naraku had never existed…'
'If the lovers hadn't been deceived…'
'What would have happened?'
The idea had been taunting her mercilessly lately…her brain positively buzzing with 'what ifs'.
And the biggest 'what if' currently hung around her neck. A bright, glowing, whole Shikon no tama. Just thinking of the myriad possibilities was enough to give her a migraine.
'What if, indeed.'
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Kaede finished tending to the hanyou and eased herself down onto the floor. In the firelight, she could see her young charges sitting in their various spots around the hut – none of them particularly close to one another, except of course for Kagome and her beloved little kitsune. Those two were curled up like they were one person…
The silence was getting to her. She was used to hearing rowdy arguments, panicked squeals, heads getting thumped…. not this big nothing. And this was the way it had been ever since the last battle with Naraku. The virtually unflappable miko could feel herself getting restless. At a slight movement to her left, she turned her head. Miroku had shifted a little in his corner, twisting to peek at the girl from the future. She raised one eyebrow. 'Interesting…'
Off to her other side, the demon exterminator sat slumped against the wall, staring at thin air moodily. Kirara was the only living being that she would let get near her, and that was only because the fire cat simply wouldn't take no for an answer. One of the girl's hands absently stroked the animal, but her mind was obviously elsewhere. Kaede's heart went out to Sango…she knew how devastating the loss of a sibling could be. But to go to this extent, to shut out everyone around her – this was something she couldn't quite understand. When Kikyo had died so tragically, she had turned to the people in her village for support and guidance. They had been invaluable in helping her to get on with life, and she wished that Sango would allow the same kind of help to be given to her…but the stoical girl seemed set on doing this by herself. Kaede feared that no good could come of it.
A soft sigh drew her attention back to the present. The noise had apparently come from Miroku, still gazing at Kagome. Kaede blinked. 'Very interesting…'
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The combination of quiet, firelight and shadows reminded Miroku unbearably of the time he had spent recovering from his blindness. More to the point, he remembered those conversations that he and Kagome had had. They had been friendly, and interesting, and enjoyable…and he had never felt more cared for. But now…Inuyasha took pride of place in Kagome's eyes. Once, Miroku could have laughed it off and turned to – well, other sources of entertainment – but he found it impossible now. He just couldn't stop remembering…her voice, her touch. And he missed it terribly.
In that moment he made up his mind. A Kagome without speech was not Kagome. He had to get her talking again. And he would start tomorrow.
He would regain those fireside conversations even if it killed him.