Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha; this is only a fanfic.

Authors Notes: Hi everyone. It is time for Miroku to meet his children. Their get-together is nothing elaborate (I'm reserving that for his reunion with Sango). Special thanks to my anon. reviewers – shippogirl 13 and sangofan 89. Read, enjoy and review!

Volume II

Me wa kokoro no kagami

(The eyes are the mirror of the soul)

Chapter 18: Images from the Past

The last of the troops, with their entourage, passed down the main road. The foot soldiers would set up camp on the outskirts, as the village was too small to accommodate them all. The monks traveled at the rear of the procession. There were about fifteen altogether, but only two remained behind as the others followed soldiers.

Five pairs of feet dangled from a fence several feet from the main road. Suiren, Shun'ei, Chisato, Yamoto and Ichiro sat looking bored.

"I thought you said this was fun, Yamoto-san?" Suiren smothered a yawn.

"That's what my father said," he informed them.

"Oh," they all said at once. Now they understood; Yamoto's father thought bird watching was fun.

"So… what do we do now?" Ichiro asked.

"Stay out of trouble," Shun'ei said evenly.

Other than wrinkling her nose, Suiren did not respond. She continued to watch the two men left in the middle of the road.

The monks were deep in conversation. One was tall with dark hair, wore long billowing robes and carried a staff. The other was shorter with a baldhead and wore a rakusu over kukuri-bakamas. As the men stood talking, another approached them. The man wore a white haori with black hakamas and a sword tucked into his obi. However, what caught the little girl's attention was the long, thick, silver braid hanging down his back.

Suiren's eyes widened; she had never seen anyone with hair that color before. "Goodness," she exclaimed and pointed to the small group. "Look over there!"

The others turned in the direction she was pointing.

"Whoa! Is he a samurai?" Ichiro gasped.

"Why is his hair that color?" Yamoto looked on.

"What's he doing here?" Chisato piped in.

"He's a hanyou," Shun'ei said calmly.

"A what?" Yamoto and Ichiro asked together.

"A hanyou… a half human, half demon," Shun'ei informed them.

"Are you sure, nii-chan?" Suiren questioned. "Haha-ue told us about them, but we've never seen one before."

"I'm sure," her brother confirmed.

"Ooh… I wanna see him close up!" little Chisato squealed.

"Yeah… me too!" Yamoto said.

They all looked to Shun'ei to see if he would object. When he did not, the others jumped from the fence and trotted towards the road.

Shun'ei followed behind his sister and their friends. Although he did not let on, he was just as interested as the others. He also wanted to see the hanyou.

His mother had told them stories of the half human, half demon entities she had encountered during her years as a demon slayer. Shun'ei was intrigued; he only wanted to see or maybe monitor the being, but Suiren would want to interact.

Breaking into a run, he caught up to his sister and walked at her side. He would keep an eye on her; it would not do to have their mother return only to find them in trouble again.

Miroku and Tsuneo stood in the middle of the road and watched the last of the procession exit the village. Inuyasha had informed them of what had occurred following the last meeting. Based on his friends warning, Miroku arranged for the monks to be placed at the rear. This way he could observe the daimyo's without being observed.

Inuyasha was concerned for his safety and believed he had stirred up some trouble for himself. Miroku recalled their conversation a couple of nights ago…

"That guy; what's his name?" Inuyasha began. "That Hajime guy gives me the creeps!" he announced at the campfire.

"Is that another of your 'sayings' from Kagome's time, Inuyasha?" Miroku asked.

"Yeah… it means he makes me uncomfortable."

"I figured as much," the monk laughed. "However, I do agree with you."

"Don't make light of it, Miroku," the hanyou said seriously. "I told ya' Kaede said this was dangerous stuff."

Miroku only smiled in response.

The young monk, Tsuneo, sat between the two men and wondered when his fellow monk had become acquainted with a half demon. It was obvious, due to the hanyou's concern and their bickering, that the two were great friends.

Tsuneo cast a look over at the hanyou called Inuyasha. The being had an odd coloring and wore a perpetual scowl, but Miroku said he was harmless, unless you got him riled. There was also a youkai cat named Kirara, that stayed extremely close to the older monk.

The young man had to admit, he was quite impressed with Miroku. He had spoken out during the meeting and fearlessly voiced his opinion. Even when one of the higher officials challenged him, the older monk refused to back down.

Having lived most of his life at the temple, Tsuneo had trained with very influential senior monks. However, the last few days with Miroku and his companions had been enlightening and most unusual. He felt honored that the older monk had allowed him the privilege of meeting his friends.

"Will you be following your brother's, Tsuneo-san?" Miroku inquired, breaking through the young monk's thoughts.

Miroku and Tsuneo knew the lower ranked troops and monks would make camp on the outskirts of the village. The higher officials would travel the mile to the Keikoku-ikki just down the road. Once there the high rank courtesans would cater to them.

"No, Miroku-sama," the young monk responded. "I would much rather stay with you and Inuyasha-san; if that is all right?" he asked anxiously and bowed. "I find it most educational."

Although Miroku felt pleased, he hesitated. "Are you sure?" he asked the younger monk. "It is not my intention to corrupt one of the temples best students."

"There is no fear of that, sir," Tsuneo said with assurance. "I have been well informed of your penchant for sake, women and your contrived exorcisms…"

"All right, all right," Miroku interrupted hurriedly. "I am well aware of my 'past' inadequacies, Tsuneo-san. Please refrain from repeating them," he said affably.

As soon as the troops were out of sight, Inuyasha, with Kirara perched on his shoulder, joined the two monks in the middle of the road. The youkai cat immediately transferred to Miroku's shoulder as they neared.

"So… what now?" the hanyou said, reaching them.

"I want to look around a bit, Inuyasha," Miroku stated. "Possibly talk with some of the villagers."

As they turned from the main road, Miroku was jostled as a body rammed into him. The monk fell back, but righted himself with his shakujou. He looked up in time to see two boys running past.

"Gomen nasai, Houshi-sama!" they yelled apologies, but kept going.

"I thought they were going to run you down, Miroku-sama!" Tsuneo said, brushing the dust from the hem of Miroku's robes. Inuyasha and Kirara simply scowled at the boys retreating figures.

"I'm all right," the older monk assured his friends. "Let us find a tavern for some refreshments; shall we?"

Reaching inside his robes, Miroku went to extract his coin pouch only to find it missing. He looked up wide-eyed, but the boys were no longer in sight.

"Inuyasha…"

"I'm already on it!" the hanyou was off in a flash, hopping over the first structure of buildings.

Halfway to the road, Suiren suddenly stopped and gasped, "Did you see that?"

"What?" Chisato questioned.

Suiren little face was set with determination, with a growl she turned and sprinted in the direction of the buildings.

The others stood with a look of utter confusion at her abrupt departure. While Ichiro, Chisato and Yamoto looked after Suiren, Shun'ei's eyes turned back to the road. He wondered what had occurred that made his sister react that way.

Nothing seemed amiss until the hanyou suddenly leaped over a couple of huts and headed on the same path as Suiren. Without a word to the others, Shun'ei took off in the same direction. He did not know had what happened, but he planned to intercept whatever his sister was about to do.

Goro saw it coming, but could not react in time. Suiren's flying kick hit him dead center in the chest and had him falling back on his rear. As he hit the ground, the coin pouch he stole flew out of his hands and was deftly caught by his attacker.

"What's the matter with you?" Suiren shouted, shaking the coin pouch at him. "You stole from a monk, suri baka!" the little girl was literally grinding her teeth. "I'd better see you at temple, Goro-san, on your knees and begging for forgiveness or I'm gonna tell your mother!"

Lifting himself from the ground, Goro clutched his chest as his accomplice, Roku came to stand beside him.

"Mind your own business," he snapped. "And, gimme that back!" he indicated the pouch.

"No… it's not yours!" Suiren was getting angrier by the second. "I'll give it back to the monk you stole it from and… and I'm gonna tell your mother anyway!"

The two boys looked to each other and then back at Suiren. They were about four years older and she was alone.

"You ain't gonna tell nobody," the boys advanced on the little girl. "If ya' know what's good for ya'," Roku sneered at her, "you'll had over the money."

"If you know what's good for you," Shun'ei said with deceptive calm, "you'll back off."

Suiren looked out the corner of her eye and saw her brother leaning against the wall. His eyes were closed and his arms folded across his chest. His posture appeared relaxed but Suiren knew that was a ruse. Shun'ei was just as prepared to fight as she was.

Roku and Goro hesitated, but only for a moment. Looking to each other, they decided they could take on the youngsters. Once again, they advanced.

Before the boys took two steps, Shun'ei moved with lightening speed and executed a neat roundhouse kick to Roku's midsection. As the boy bent over from the blow, Suiren followed through, rolled over his back and delivered another flying kick to Goro's chest. The boy hit the ground again and Roku looked like he was about to puke as he clutched his stomach in pain.

Suddenly, the hanyou appeared out of nowhere and landed in the middle of their scuffle. Roku and Goro took one look at his menacing scowl and ran off in the other direction. Inuyasha's golden glare, however, was locked on Suiren. The little girl was staring wide-eyed at him and holding Miroku's pouch tight in her fist.

Following his gaze, Suiren realized she should return the monk's money. Tentatively, she extended her hand with the bag of coins and stammered. "P-p-please… ah… sir, could you return…"

"Come' ere, you little thief!" Inuyasha reached out and grabbed the back of her yukata.

"Hey…" Suiren yelped as she was lifted from the ground.

"Save it, kid!" the hanyou gave her a little shake. "I'm takin' ya' right to the authorities!"

Shun'ei, who was momentarily stunned at the hanyou's appearance, came to life. "Let go of my sister!" he hissed.

"Your sister or your partner?" Inuyasha growled, grabbing the boy by the back of the collar of his keso with the other hand. "You two must make your mother real proud!"

At the mention of their mother, the twins struggled to get free. They had promised her that they would be good and stay out of trouble. Their punishment was not a week old and a new one was about to start.

"Please, sir…" Suiren began.

"Shut up!" the hanyou snapped, giving them another shake.

"That's enough, Inuyasha," a voice, smooth as silk, intervened. "Put them down."

The hanyou responded instantly. As the two children were placed on their feet, both eagerly turned to the voice of reason and bowed at the monk's feet.

"Thank you, Houshi-sama!" they said in unison and relief in their voices. Both children stayed in that position as Suiren held out her hand with Miroku's pouch in her palms.

"We didn't steal it, Houshi-sama, truly we didn't!" the little girl pleaded.

"I know that," Miroku chuckled softly and lifted the pouch from the child's hand. "Sometimes my friend here gets ahead of himself." The monk watched as the children finally lifted their eyes to his.

As etiquette required, Miroku turned and crouched in front of the little girl first. He extended his hand to help her to her feet and was startled by her wide-eyed stare.

She was exceptionally pretty, with a pair of blue eyes that rivaled his. She had two long, dark and glossy ponytails on each side of her head. She wore a pink yukata that was smudged with dirt; she had a darker pink obi tied at her waist in a bow.

Miroku was unnerved by the child's stare. He hoped Inuyasha had not scared her too badly. Taking her small hand in his, he lifted her to her feet.

"Are you all right?"

For once, Suiren was speechless. She could not seem to tear her eyes from the monk's blue orbs. She did not know what it was, but there was something about him… something familiar. She could not help thinking his eyes looked kind and fun loving.

"What's your name?" Miroku asked and gave her a dazzling smile. The child had yet to find her tongue, but she did return his smile.

"Suiren," Shun'ei's voice released his sister from her trance. "Her name is Suiren," he nudged his twin.

Turning to the boy to thank him, Miroku's words stuck in his throat as he stared at a miniature replica of Sango. The boy's hair was darker, but there was no mistake. That face had haunted his dreams for the past seven years.

The other night when Inuyasha had announced Kagome's pregnancy, Miroku had wondered what his and Sango's children would have looked like. This boy… could have been their child.

His face was shaped the same as hers with the same gentle slope of the nose, but it was the rich brown eyes flecked with gold that held him spellbound.

Shun'ei shifted uncomfortably under the monk's scrutiny and wariness crept into his eyes. Miroku immediately sensed this and made to put him at ease.

"Uh… thank you, uh…" the monk began.

"Shun'ei," Suiren had finally found her voice, "he's my brother!" she said proudly.

"I have the culprits, Miroku-sama!" Tsuneo announced. The young monk returned with Roku and Goro in his clutches. "What do we do with them?"

Miroku reluctantly tore his gaze from the children. Turning to Tsuneo and the two captives, he contemplated his next move. "What do you think, Inuyasha?"

"Hmph!" the hanyou sniffed. "You 'know' what I think!"

"Unfortunately, I do, but…" Miroku suddenly stopped and then turned back to Suiren and Shun'ei. "This is your village; isn't it?" he asked the children. After they nodded to confirm, he continued. "Well… what do you think we should do?"

If the monk expected the children to be hesitant or coy, he was soon to know differently. Suiren stepped forward and whispered conspiratorially.

"Goro's mother is sick; it will hurt her to know he is stealing and Roku's father died last year in battle."

"But… if they go unpunished," Shun'ei said in a low voice, "and no one tells them they are wrong, they will only do it again."

Miroku was impressed with their philosophy and he read the message loud and clear. He smiled as he looked down on their bent heads. "It appears you two have learned by experience," he laughed. "Thank you both for your advice, I think we can handle things now."

"Inuyasha… Tsuneo-san," Miroku inquired. "Would you do the honors and join me later?"

"Keh! I thought you'd never ask!" the hanyou smirked as he cracked his knuckles and flashbacks of Shippo came to mind.

"I shall personally deliver them to their parents after, Miroku-sama," Tsuneo said excitedly. The young monk remembered his punishments at temple; surely, these kids could handle holding stances for about an hour.

"Well… that's settled," Miroku turned back to the children as Inuyasha and Tsuneo carted their charges away. "Now… since you two are so well informed; can you tell me where one can procure refreshment or at least a cup of tea?"

"Why… yes, Houshi-sama," Suiren piped in. "Oba-sama has the best tea here! Please… follow me."

As the monk fell in step with the children, he wondered if the memories were finally getting the better of him. Once again, his eyes turned to the boy called Shun'ei. Even from this angle, he resembled Sango. Miroku shook his head to clear it; he had to stop thinking this way or he would surely go mad.

He raised his hand to stroke Kirara and realized the youkai cat gone. She was not with Inuyasha and he stopped to look around. "Kirara!" he called out.

"Oh… is that her name?" Suiren turned to the monk with Kirara perched on her shoulder.

His youkai companion's nose was buried deep in the child's hair and was sniffing anxiously. Suddenly, Kirara jumped to the brother's shoulder and did the same. Another phenomenon; Kirara was only that affectionate with the members of the Inu-tachi. This was another thought for the monk to ponder as he let the children lead.

To be continued…

Authors Notes: Hope you liked, I really got a kick out of writing that, but now I need a little help on Miroku's reunion with Sango. I have four variations written out – one romantic, a fight scene similar to 132 of the anime where Sango is possessed and Miroku and has to stop her (I'm a bit leery about recreating that scene) and I don't know if I want her to remember just yet, so… I'm stuck, so to speak. All suggestions are welcome. Please drop an IM or e-mail with a full explanation.

rakusu – waist length jacket

kukuri-bakamas – monk's pants

gomen nasai – I'm sorry

suri baka – stupid pickpocket