I do not own the show/manga of InuYasha. Nor do I own the characters.
I do own the creativity that has forced me to write a fanfiction, however. D:

It Is Not True
Paring: MriokuXSesshomaru
Chapter Four: Loyalty

"Thank you very much." Miroku thanked an old human woman for pointing out the direction on his map, toward the Demon Slayer village.

The old woman smiled at him and waved him onward. "You've got a while yet to travel, young man, and it isn't safe here with all the demons here in the west. Don't rest too much." She warned and then turned to continue deeper into the west.

Miroku lost count of the wandering humans that had warned him about the so-called "demon infestation". He had yet to even encounter one, let alone a tiny spider on the ground. It wasn't like Miroku to look a gift horse in the mouth, but then again, to ignore warning signs were also against his nature. He just wasn't sure which was which. Was this a gift horse or a warning sign? He still wasn't sure what to call it as he stopped to rest for the night under a nice large lush tree.

The sun had yet to raise when Miroku woke up. He wasn't sure what woke him, but he didn't feel like going back to sleep, or rest. He felt a strong need to keep going. Sure that this was not a gift horse, but a warning sign he stood up and started walking off in the direction the old woman had pointed on his map and in the real time.

The Villiage

"That damn monk. What the hell is he thinking?" Inuyasha crossed his arms while he spoke to Sango. "Why did you deny him? You know very good and w-"

"You expect me to lie to myself? That he'll be faithful? Inuyasha, you don't understand. Please don't get in this." Sango told him for the tenth time.

She had told Inuyasha and the other to just let Miroku be for a while. When a week had passed and the monk had yet to return, everyone got antsy. They made their way to the village and the monk wasn't there. Inuyasha followed his scent, which was half gone due to weather to an open field, where it got stronger, even after the weather. It worried Inuyasha; usually scents were gone within a week or so, this was still here mainly because it was the monk's blood. He told the girls that, but kept the information from Shippo, who was sure he was off chasing some woman's behind. He most cetinaly didn't tell Sango's brother, who was just getting used to trying to live with his sister as best he could, now that Naraku had no more use for him. His shard purified by Kagome, but they would someday need it.

Everyone was worried, which is why they all froze when Inuyasha said he smelled someone coming. They all held a secret hope that it was Miroku. . . instead, Inuyasha let out a low growl. "Sesshomaru."

"You're brother?" Kagome asked, "Why is he here?"

"…Hopefully, not to take the life he gave me back." Sango muttered, just loud enough for Inuyasha to catch it.

"I won't let him." Inuyasha snarled.

Each warrior kept their stance while the stunning figure of Sesshomaru walked toward them, followed by Jaken and. . . a human girl? Inuyasha was mildly confused and curious over that, but he kept silent. Instead of rushing ahead and making the first move, he wanted to know what was going on with his brother.

"That Monk that follows you is on his way back here to you." Sesshomaru said, his voice almost emotionless. Inuyasha detected something, but he couldn't point out what it was, and he wasn't sure how Sesshomaru would know that.

"How do you know that?" Kagome asked, she was usually the one who could get some type of information out of the demon lord.

"He's been with me these pasts weeks." He didn't specify why, since he wanted to see the reaction on Inuyasha's face. "I'm afraid he might reek of me, Inuyasha."

"Teech." Inuyasha made a noise that he'd believe that.

"Oh. So you must have taken care of him?" Sango pulled it together. Bloody Miroku, human girl, it wasn't that hard to figure out. Sesshomaru must have had some use for the girl; otherwise he wouldn't take care of Miroku.

"Something like that, slayer." Sesshomaru said. He looked at Rin. "Rin, tell them what the monk did for you."

Rin beamed to be able to talk to people Sesshomaru knew. She had to show them how well he had taught her. "Mister Miroku saved me from a snake demon with many heads." She started the story. She made it seem like Miroku was a super human hero who could shoot laser beams out of his eyes, when that was hardly the case.

"Since he saved something that is mine, I repaid him with letting him heal. Yet he disrespected me, Lord of the Western lands, by leaving without my permission. All to come back to you." Sesshomaru wondered what it was about Inuyasha that inspired such loyalty. He wasn't that strong. He was rash and offensive. Did Miroku like that?

"If I didn't know better, I'd say you sound jealous." Inuyasha retorted. If there wasn't any fighting, he wasn't interested in what his brother had to say.

The conversation stopped there, for another figure started to come toward them. This was dressed in purple. Miroku stopped at the odd sight in front of him. "Whoa!" He said quickly, assuming he got there just in time. "Don't start fighting you two!"

"Mister Miroku!" Rin smiled at him.

"I wish we were!" Inuyasha threw his hands up. "It would be much more entertaining than this talking." Then he remembered Miroku had been gone and quite tore up. "... You feeling better, Miroku?"

Sesshomaru listened.

Miroku walked pasted Sesshomaru as if he were just another person who he trusted. "Better as I can be, still a little sore, but nothing I can't handle."

Inuyasha made a face when Miroku got close enough to him. "He's right." He said and covered his nose. "You do reek of that fuckface."

Sesshomaru felt anger bubble inside of him. What was so bad about Miroku smelling like the man that saved his life?

Before anyone could say anything something whistled in the background. Sesshomaru automatically went on defensive mode, which didn't look any different from his regular appearance, he just looked around.

"Oh! The noodles!" Kagome said and rushed toward the fire to pour the water into the cups. She pulled out one more for Miroku and then three more, since they had extra guest and filled those too. "I hope you are hungry." She smiled at Rin from the fire.

Rin was hungry, she didn't get to eat any breakfast, and she was like Jaken or Sesshomaru who could skip meals and feel alright. Instead of saying anything, she kept silent, unless Sesshomaru motioned for her to get food.

Miroku, who had gotten used to the food that was served to him at Sesshomaru's house, wasn't looking forward to instant noodles for breakfast, but food was food. "Good, I'm starving." He made his way toward the noodles and waited for them to soften before he grabbed one.

Now that Sesshomaru was here he wasn't sure what how he could show Miroku that, even though he wasn't Inuyasha, he was well worth the respect and loyalty he gave the half-breed. Hold on, that didn't matter. Miroku didn't matter. He should just leave.

"Rin, do you want to try some?" Miroku held a warm cup in her direction.

Rin took a step toward him, but didn't move too far away from Sesshomaru. Then he remembered, she had yet to eat. "If you are hungry; go eat." He said and watched as Rin made her way to Miroku, who gladly showed her the joy of instant noodles.

Everyone ate, expect for Sesshomaru and Jaken who waited for Rin to finish. Sesshomar just made up his mind to leave Miroku there. There no reason to show him how much more important he was compared to his half-brother.

That was when everyone heard it. The sound a million bees headed their way. The sound of malevolent laughter that made Miroku, Inuyasha, Sango, Kagome, Kohaku, and Shippo shiver with fear. The first thing they saw were the millions of demons mixed with bees headed their way.

"Naraku." Inuyasha growled and then stood up, "Kohaku, take Rin and hide." He looked toward Sesshomaru, unsure of what to say.

Sesshomaru saw the look in the half-demon's eyes. "… We will fight together this once." Since Rin was being protected why not? He had a small score to settle with Naraku for using him before.

"I never thought this would happen." Miroku said with that ever present smile on his face. This time it held a hint of the old happy emotions he used to have. "Sesshomaru and Inuyasha fighting together, not with eachother."

"Don't get used to it, Miroku." Inuyasha said, his eyes on the hoard coming their way. "Just get ready to fight."

I'm going out of town for a while… Maybe two days, maybe two weeks.
I am not sure.
So this was kinda rushed, since I had little to no time to work on it.
The next one is the big fight! We'll see how SeshoMiro will work out.
(I also didn't reread and edit this after I wrote it, so please ignore all typos. )
ALSO, did any of you notice the total words in this story was 9999 exactly before this chapter? I thought that was funny.

:3
Much Love,
Maddening Shroud.