How Will I Know
Disclaimer: I had the greatest dream last night… I owned InuYasha! But, it was just a dream…
Chapter 4: Together AgainA monk sat at the top of a large boulder and watched the sky. He scanned the horizon for any sign of his friends; the red-cloaked Hanyou and the girl with the priestess powers. As he completed his survey, he sighed, and leaned back a little.
"We're supposed to meet them here today, right?" He questioned of Sango, the demon slayer that was resting against him.
"Miroku, stop worrying. They will get here today… you know how those two are. Besides, they didn't say what hour they would meet us here, just that it was here and today. Just enjoy the view of the village."
The village Sango spoke of was Kaede's; it was nestled in a plain about 15 miles south of the mountain they were on. Shippou leapt up onto the boulder and onto Miroku's free shoulder, the one Sango wasn't using as a headrest.
"Have you seen them yet?" Shippou asked, after scanning the surrounding area quickly.
"No, Shippou. We'll call you if we do. Now go back to Kirara, she doesn't like to wake up alone."
The small fox Youkai sighed before leaping off the boulder and curling up next to a two-tailed cat at its base.
Miroku watched as Shippou jumped off the rock and fell asleep. He smiled, and wrapped his arm around Sango.
"You know, I think Kagome's idea to split up was excellent. Don't you agree, my Sango?" Sango laughed, and replied by wedging herself deeper into the crevice of his arm. It had been a wonderful idea for these two as well as InuYasha and Kagome. The time alone had really come through for them. On the first day Miroku had gotten such a beating he hadn't tried to touch Sango's posterior since. She was finally able to get near him without fear of her personal space being breached. She relaxed, and fell half-asleep as Miroku did.
Later that day, Kagome and InuYasha walked along a path up the side of the mountain. InuYasha had long since caught the scent of their friends, and as they approached, set Kagome down to walk on her own. When they came around the last corner, they were greeted with a surprising sight: Miroku and Sango resting together on top of a boulder, with Shippou and Kirara curled up sleeping at the bottom of the boulder, in a soft patch of grass. Kirara opened an eye, and jumped up, mewing once happily as a greeting. Shippou woke to her mew while Sango and Miroku looked behind them and instantly scooted a foot away from each other. Sango blushed furiously while Miroku chuckled. Kagome squealed slightly in joy before running up to Sango and they rejoiced like teenage girls (which they were, so why not?) over Miroku's soft side, bouncing around, positively giddy. Shippou ran up to Kagome, shouting a greeting before leaping into one of her hugs.
"I didn't realize I'd get such a big welcome!" Kagome laughed as Kirara rubbed against her legs. InuYasha watched as Miroku stood next to him for a second, and then they walked into the 'celebration'. InuYasha couldn't help smiling to be back with his friends again; it had seemed like a lot longer than four days. Kirara ran over and landed on his shoulder, purring as she rubbed against his cheek. Shippou landed on his other shoulder, although he refrained from rubbing against him like Kirara. Kagome looked over at her friends, and laughed at the sight InuYasha made. He looked like a perch for demons, and she nearly fell laughing, except for she and Sango were leaning on each other. Miroku laughed a little, and InuYasha wanted to be annoyed, but the atmosphere just got to him, and he joined in laughing.
Twenty minutes later, the group was walking along a new path, still smiling and catching up with each other, although they both sides left out the… more private, embarrassing parts. It was by far the happiest reunion yet, and everyone was hoping this mood would last a long time.
After a while, the sun descended, but did little to lessen the static atmosphere. Kagome stopped by the side of the path, and Sango helped her lay out a picnic blanket. The girls passed out food from Kagome's backpack and lunchboxes, and soon the friends were all seated and sharing a delightfully delicious feast. InuYasha had not one word of complaint, which everyone thought was slightly odd (there was no ramen) yet they shrugged it off to keep the mood light.
That night, they continued talking, now mostly telling stories that they'd heard, and even InuYasha was listening intently to some of Kagome's 'fary tails' and 'miths'. One story really caught his attention. It was a love story, about a couple: an overly protective male and a truly kind and loving determined female, who had to go through many trials, each one getting harder and harder, and it seemed as if the world wanted them to be apart. However, the trials only served to bring them closer together. They included being thrown overboard a ship in a storm; a kidnapping; a separation; dreams lost and new ones found; a traitorous old enemy; a fire; an assassin; and an army of ten thousand men had all stood in between the two at some point in their journey. It was heart wrenching, even to him, as Kagome told it like no other could. The ending was a happy one, though. The trials complete, and their friends with them, the couple got married, and ended a war. The newlyweds and their friends were the four most powerful people in the world.
When Kagome finished, Sango and Shippou were in tears, and Miroku and even InuYasha looked moved. Kagome was also in tears, but they had hardly muffled her voice, because they were tears of happiness. Kirara was unaffected, really, because she didn't understand Kagome's words. However, she was able to sense the swaying emotions, and her own slightly shifted with the rest of the audience.
By now, it was late at night; all of the sun's hues had faded from the sky. Kagome squirmed into her sleeping bag and tossed around, finding a comfortable position. She saw InuYasha sit against a tree across the campfire from her. He probably doesn't want to wake up in an embarrassing position, like the past few nights. She thought, and didn't know how she felt about it. She was kind of sad, that he didn't want to be as close to her anymore, but also thankful, because if they woke up in any of the positions of the last few nights (except for the one at her house) then she wouldn't hear a break from Sango, or any of her friends for that matter. As her friends settled down for the night, Kagome smiled and was just glad to be back in feudal era. She fell asleep gazing into the dancing flames. That night, she dreamt her story, with different faces on the main couple.
Well, whaddya think? I got serious writer's block for about three hours on this chapter, you can ask my Beta, contessa claire. Anyways, I'm expecting a few hits, and about three reviews. From my most faithful reviewers. Please prove me wrong. 5 seconds, please? I loved it. I didn't like it because: That's all. Please. Review something! I need to know who cares! (I have a severe inferiority complex over my writing abilities, if you haven't noticed.) K, later readers.