A/N: I'm making up for my long absence by updating nice and fast! Hope you like.
The Way It Has To Be
Chapter 7: A Visitor
Miroku woke up to a number of realisations.
His neck felt like it was bent at right angles, and permanently stuck that way –
His back ached as though someone was sitting on him –
He was most unusually warm for that time of day –
Kagome was still asleep with her head resting on his shoulder.
Of course, he couldn't say he minded that last part. This was by far the longest time he had been able to be near (and touching!) the object of his affections without fear of being slapped, kicked or punched, or of getting up close and personal with Tetsusaiga. Despite his now screaming muscles, he closed his eyes again and decided to put off moving for the time being. However, much to his annoyance, Kagome took the decision away from him when she began to stir as she gradually woke up.
"Huhh…wha?" she groaned, hiding her face from the sunlight by burrowing into Miroku's shoulder. He couldn't help but smile at the girl's early morning antics – she was so out of it, he doubted she even knew what she was doing.
"Hello, sleepyhead." He felt her shift and look fuzzily up at him.
"Oh, hello. Tired. Sleep," she commanded peremptorily, closing her eyes in preparation to do just that. And he was going to let her. Honest. But it was all at once out of his hands.
"Kagome! You're awake!" The self-restraint that the precocious kitsune had shown on the previous evening had obviously worn off, Miroku mused ruefully. Now he was practically bouncing off of the ceiling.
Sighing, the pair gave in to the inevitable. The kitsune would not be ignored this morning. "Yes, Shippo, I'm awake." Much to the monk's disappointment the girl moved away, leaving him oddly cold and missing the unaccustomed extra warmth she had brought.
"Ah, Kagome, good morning," Kaede greeted her calmly. "You will be pleased to hear that Inuyasha appears to be rather improved."
Miroku watched with dull eyes and a strangely sore heart as Kagome immediately sprang into action. "Really? You're sure? You think he might wake up soon?" She absent-mindedly gripped the hanyou's hand as she looked to Kaede for confirmation.
He grimaced at the sight. For the life of him he couldn't work out what that fool had ever done to inspire such devotion in the girl. Their first meeting had been less than ideal, he knew. And the boy was brash, rude, insensitive, and violent. He left Kagome to fend for herself – Miroku wasn't sure he would EVER forgive that idiot for that stunt he pulled in their last fight with Naraku – and had a temper to match any volcano he had ever seen. Not that he had seen that many, but one would be enough to see that they both had a tendency to blow up spectacularly.
The monk, observing her dedicated care of the invalid, could feel himself getting very riled up. But just before he lost control of his tongue and said something that he would very likely regret later, Kagome stiffened in alarm. It was a look he knew well. "How many youkai, Kagome-sama?"
She concentrated, biting her lip. He forced himself to look away.
"Three." Oh, no.
"Moving very fast." It couldn't be – not now!
"Kagome! How's my woman? Are you well?"
Damn. Kouga.
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Kagome raced out of the hut as fast as she could go in an effort to head the visitors off at the pass, as it were. A very familiar sight met her eyes. A proud, strutting wolf youkai was walking around two others who were currently in a crumpled, gasping heap.
"Hi Ginta, Hakkaku," Kagome called out sympathetically. Kouga frowned, rather put out at not being addressed first of all.
A pair of heads were raised wearily. "Good day, Oneesan."
"Hello, Kagome-neesan."
Their duty performed, the two returned to the difficult task of getting to their feet while getting untangled from each other. After a few moments Kagome took pity on the hapless duo and gave them a hand. Shaking her head at the mess they'd managed to get themselves into, she looked over at their leader. "Kouga-kun, why don't you help them?" She gave a final heave, freeing the two friends – and ending up on the ground from the force of her tug.
"Oneesan! Are you alright?"
She laughed. "Ginta, I'm probably better off than you are right now!" It was true – she was relatively unharmed, whereas Ginta was giving a distinct wince when he put much weight on his left foot. The wolf noticed her worried look and hurried to reassure her. "Oh, no, don't blame yourself – it was already sore."
Rather than calming her down as he had intended, the remark had Kagome's impressive temper on the rise. "Kouga-kun! How could you make him run all this way if he was injured?"
Kouga looked a trifle abashed for a moment, then recovered. "I never actually ordered him to come! So you can't say that I made him do anything!"
The girl pursed her lips and raised one sceptical eyebrow at him. "You never do."
"Exactly!" He looked very pleased with himself.
"No, they both follow you without orders, no matter where or when. Honestly, you ought to know better!" she scolded.
Kouga decided that it was high time for a change of subject. "So, where's the dog?" he asked, peering around curiously.
Kagome sighed. "He's in the hut – and no, you are not coming anywhere near him!"
Kouga, who had been intending to go and have a look, stopped with a scowl. "Why not?"
She hesitated. "He's…uh, in bed."
The wolf scoffed. "Asleep? At this time of day?"
"Unconscious."
His brow furrowed. "Ah." He thought for a moment, then came up with a positive thought that made his face clear up brilliantly. "I have you to myself, then! Well, that's good." Before she knew it, he had taken her arm in an unexpectedly courtly gesture. "Where would you like to go?"
Kagome's jaw dropped. "Go?" she echoed faintly.
"Well, certainly!" he exclaimed, gently pulling her along as he talked. "If dog-boy has been knocked out ever since the battle, then you have been stuck here the entire time! Am I right?"
"Well, yes, but I really don't mind –"
"That's settled then. I'm getting you away from here – only for a little while," he added hastily. "You deserve a rest. Now, where to?" he asked, giving her his best 'charming smile'.
She gave it one last shot. "But I really wouldn't want you to go out of your way –"
"Nonsense!" he cut her off grandly. "Nothing is too good for my woman."
For the second time that day, Kagome gave in to the inevitable. "We'll just go for a walk around here, then," she told him, twisting around to look back at the hut. To her consternation Miroku was standing framed in the doorway, an unreadable expression on his face. Suddenly very uncomfortable, she quickly turned back.
This was going to be a very long day.
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Miroku watched the pair leave, his insides twisting horribly. What was she thinking? Was she thinking at all? Going off alone with a full-blooded youkai who had shown no hesitation in kidnapping her in the past, and had been very obviously pursuing her ever since? If, for any reason, he didn't bring her back safe and sound, he would…he would…um…
He never thought he would actually miss having the Kazaana.
'Damn it, Inuyasha wake up!' he thought irritably. 'Someone's running off with your shard detector – kill, kill, kill!' The monk let out a frustrated sigh. He absolutely hated it when he was reduced to simply waiting for something to happen.
A short distance away, Hakkaku and Ginta exchanged concerned glances. The human was huffing and puffing most alarmingly – was he going to explode? Or worse, lose control completely and follow their leader and his companion? That wouldn't do – Kouga was easygoing, yes, but anyone who interrupted his time with 'his woman' would soon feel the consequences! Painful ones.
Ginta, the more perceptive of the two, looked closer at the distressed human. He didn't look angry, the wolf decided. He looked…more saddened than angered. And that sadness had only appeared at Kouga and Oneesan's departure. His eyes widened.
Ah. His leader had a new rival. Interesting…
"What do you suppose his problem is?" Hakkaku growled under his breath. The human didn't give any sign that he had heard the question.
"He, most unwisely, desires to have Oneesan for himself," Ginta whispered back.
His friend thought about this for a moment. "Well, and why not? After all, if I am any judge of human standards, Kagome-neesan is most attractive!"
Ginta glowered at him. "Oaf!…She is attractive by any standard, human or youkai!"
"You believe so?"
"Why else would Kouga want her?"
"Point taken." A moment of silence. "You think she is attractive, Ginta? You want her for yourself, huh? You'll have to fight Kouga for her, and even without his shards he's hard to beat! Ooh, I wouldn't want to be you when he finds out –"
"No! Shut up!" Ginta yelped in horror, slapping one hand over his friend's mouth in panic. "Don't even joke about that!" he hissed anxiously, looked around for any signs of a very mad wolf youkai coming to attack him.
Hakkaku took the hint and fell silent. Ginta knew it was too good to last. His friend was nothing if not a loud-mouth…
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Miroku sat on the ground, entertaining himself by eavesdropping on the very animated conversation going on between the two wolves. It was almost as good as listening to Kagome taking a dig at Inuyasha, really. But those battles of wit tended to be brief, ending in frayed tempers, a hanyou tantrum and a string of 'sit's. He wondered what the outcome of this little scuffle would be.
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"I still think you like her."
"I do not!"
"Do so!"
"Do n- oh, for the love of Kami-sama, hold your tongue!" There was a brief pause. "What on earth are you doing?"
"Ngh-mmb-nm-unh!"
Ginta let out a long-suffering sigh. "Not literally, you halfwit. Let go of your tongue, idiot, you look like a fool."
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Miroku's shoulders shook with suppressed laughter, his sides aching. This was fantastic! Who knew youkai could be this much fun? As for the winner – well, if he were a betting man (which he wasn't, naturally…he was a monk! Ahem, moving on…) his money would be on Ginta.
They were still talking, he noticed. What next?
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"Why would you do a stupid thing like that?"
"Well, you said –"
"Hakkaku –"
"You told me to!"
Ginta blinked, stunned. "Since when do you do what I tell you to?"
Hakkaku grinned sheepishly. "Actually…I thought it sounded like fun!"
Ginta's voice was flatly disbelieving. "Fun."
"Yeah! You should try it, it feels a bit strange, but –"
"Hakkaku."
"Hn?"
"Shut up." He looked sideways at his friend. "And let go of your tongue – again."
"But it feels funny! Look, I'll show you." He moved towards Ginta, grinning.
Ginta eyed him warily, shuffling backwards slightly. "What do you think you're doing?"
"I'm showing you, like I said! Now stop being such a stick in the mud and come here!"
"No! Get away from me – and my tongue – you moron!"
"Know-it-all!"
"Imbecile! Back off!"
"And I still reckon you like Kagome-neesan, by the way."
"Argh! I'm going to kill you – BEFORE Kouga does!"
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Miroku slapped a hand over his mouth and ran for it. It wouldn't do to be found laughing hysterically at youkai nearby, no matter how friendly they appeared to be.
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After pounding his stupid friend into the ground and extracting a promise of silence – one that would hopefully last indefinitely – Ginta completely forgot about his plan to tell Kouga of his new potential rival. He would remember this later and quite wisely decide to hold his tongue.
Not literally.
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That night, as the little group made up their customary gathering, Miroku found himself at a bit of a loss. He had seen Kagome return, much subdued, and watched Kouga and his still-squabbling companions disappear into the surrounding forest. Upon recollection, Kouga had not looked happy, which could only mean that Kagome had finally been able to break the bad news to him. That she was leaving.
That, or that she loved Inuyasha. Either way, he was in for a letdown. The monk wished, not for the first time that day, that he knew what had been said. It wasn't that he was particularly nosy – oh, who was he kidding? He wanted to know! Not least because ever since the wolf had left, Kagome had acted as though her mind was miles away. One whole day of Kagome acting so vaguely absent-minded…no matter who she was around…was enough to send his mind into overdrive. What could she be thinking about so constantly?
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Kagome's conscience simply would not let her rest. Her mind kept replaying scenes from her discussion with Kouga that day, leaving her with a terrible sense of guilt. Intellectually, she knew that she had done nothing wrong, but she hated being the cause of anyone's pain…like she had today. It had been rather unexpected – she had always assumed that the wolf youkai was not so very serious in his claims. But it now appeared that he had been completely in earnest.
Kagome found it strange to be walking along with her most ardent suitor in relative silence. She tried glancing sideways at her friend a few times, only to find the wolf youkai staring straight at her. Unnerved, she decided to keep her eyes fixed firmly to the front.
Kouga's voice startled her out of her reverie. "There's something different about you."
"What do you mean?" she asked shakily.
He stopped walking, forcing her to stop also, or else leave him behind. "It's not just that you're too white from staying inside for too long – which you are," he said a mite reproachfully. Kagome blushed in embarrassment and looked down. A clawed hand slipped under her chin and lifted her head up to look him in the eye. She gulped surreptitiously, unable to look away. "You don't smile. You don't laugh out loud like you always do. You're quiet and withdrawn, and it's so strong that I can practically see it."
Kagome didn't know what to say. Of all possibilities, the last thing she had ever imagined was the wolf youkai turning out to be so dangerously observant.
"Is it…the Shikon no Tama? Is that what has changed you like this?" Honest concern shone in his eyes, and Kagome guiltily admitted to herself that it was time to come clean.
"In a way, that's exactly what it is," she sighed.
Kouga frowned. "What do you mean, 'in a way'?"
Kagome sat down on the grass, settling herself in preparation for what she knew would not be a pleasant chat. Kouga remained standing for a moment, decided that he didn't want to tower over his woman like that, and sat a little awkwardly alongside her.
"Kouga-kun, you know how I come from a different time to be here?" He nodded, slightly confused. "Well, I have to go back."
"For how long?"
"For always. You see-"
Kouga exploded. "Is that mangy mutt making you go away? He's got no right! I'll tear him to pieces before I let him force you to leave!" His eyes glinted dangerously, bloodlust taking a clear hold.
Kagome grabbed his arm before he could leap up and away from her. "No! No, it's not like that at all! I promise, it isn't! Inuyasha hasn't done anything, he hasn't even been awake to do anything! I swear it!"
Gradually the wolf calmed, the momentary madness draining away from his expression. "What is it then?" he gritted out stiffly, not quite back to normal.
"I…I've chosen…it will be easier this way," she fumbled hesitantly.
"Easier?" His tone was incredulous, and full of hurt. She winced. "Easier for you, maybe! What about those of us who are left here without you? What are we supposed to do, eh?"
"Just – just keep on living like you always have. My leaving won't make such a huge difference, you know. Everything will keep going like it always has…the way it should have been all along."
Kouga's bitter laughter cut her explanation short. "The way it always has? Kagome, don't you see? I don't want it to be the way it always has! I want it the way it could have been!"
"There was never any other way, Kouga-kun. It was always going to be this way, I know that now."
"How do you know that? How?" he demanded, his voice laced with desperation.
"I…" she floundered, looking for an answer. "I just do." To her astonishment, she found herself pulled roughly to her feet without any warning.
"It's not good enough, Kagome! Are you sure? Are you really sure that this is what you want?" His eyes searched hers frantically, looking for something that they couldn't seem to find.
"I'm sure," she sighed, saddened by the effect her words were having. Before she even knew he had moved, she was wrapped in a warm embrace, surprisingly gentle considering the strength of the person holding her. Her eyes snapped wide open when she felt him kiss her cheek –a loving, lingering kiss that left no doubt of the affection behind it.
"Are you still so very sure?" he murmured in her ear, his voice husky and low.
She steeled herself, forcing her voice to come out clear and strong. "Yes, I am." She was only slightly surprised to feel her throat tighten and her eyes start stinging when he finally let her go, defeated.
"Very well, then." He turned and walked back towards the village, not speaking another word except to bid her goodbye.
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Miroku couldn't stand it any longer. She kept sighing, and muttering to herself, and sighing again…he had to know!
"Kagome-sama?" he asked cautiously. Her eyes turned tiredly to meet his own concerned gaze. "Can I ask what is wrong?"
"You can ask," she countered wearily, "but you won't necessarily get an answer."
"Hmm." He supposed he should have seen that one coming. What to do, what to do…? He noticed her give a slight shiver. "Are you cold, Kagome-sama?"
"Huh? Oh, a little, I guess. Shippo seems to want the fire all to himself this evening." Sure enough, the little kitsune had taken up the largest amount of warm floor space, unconsciously leaving the others to freeze in the darker corners.
"Perhaps I can warm you up a little?" He wagged his eyebrows suggestively. The monk was truly stunned when Kagome didn't take any notice of the obvious innuendo and told him to go ahead.
'Wow, she must be out of it! That's never worked before,' he mused, shocked. Never one to pass up an opportunity, he immediately seated himself beside the girl and wrapped one arm around her shoulders, pressing her down to rest on his own shoulder comfortably. His amazement knew no bounds when the young miko actually snuggled into him for the extra warmth. 'I'm dead…I've died and gone to heaven.'
"What happened out there today? I was worried, you know," he mumbled into her hair.
"I told him the truth," Kagome said quietly.
"And that was?" He held his breath waiting for her reply.
"That I had to go back to the future," she answered. Then he felt her shake, a light laugh reaching his ears.
"What's funny?"
"Back to the future. It's the name of a movie I saw once. The similarity is striking, it just struck me as being rather ironic."
Miroku had to admit that she had lost him there. "Whatever you say, Kagome-sama. As long as it makes sense to you."
The pair fell silent. After a while, Kagome sighed again. "I never expected him to give in so easily, really."
"Who?" As if he had to ask.
"Kouga-kun. He's always been so adamant about me being his, that I'm some kind of property that he's laid claim to. First he thought that Inuyasha had done something stupid to make me go, but after I'd explained it all…he just agreed and left."
'Agreed and left? Not much of an avowal of love! Kouga, you're an idiot…but thanks.'
"In a way, I'm glad he just went like that. Makes it a bit easier to bear, you know?"
Easier for you, maybe! What about those of us who are left here without you?
He felt her shiver again. "Still cold, Kagome?"
She didn't seem to notice that he had left the 'sama' off of her name. "A little. I just want to go to sleep, okay?"
This time it was his turn to sigh. "Of course, Kagome. Of course." He pushed her upright, shrugged out of his heavy outer cloak and draped it around the both of them, pulling her down once more to rest on his shoulder. "Better?"
"Mm, much," she answered sleepily. She fell fast asleep almost immediately. Miroku stayed awake for a while longer, just enjoying the feeling of having her so close. Who knew how long it would last now? Inuyasha was improving daily, that much was rather obvious now.
And when he woke up? What then? He didn't really want to know.
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A/N: Please review! I promise I'll update again soon.