Summary
When karma bites back, it bites hard. And even perverts can be protective of their designated victims.
A/N: Oh Shunsui. I do adore you! And now I will use you! Hahahaa!
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Kagome hummed cheerfully under her breath as she walked down the stretch of road. Next to her, and wondering what had her in such a good mood, Miroku watched the sky absently and worded his sentence very carefully in his head.
"So, I got another 'recommendation' to vacate the Seiretei or join the Academy again." The happy priestess stopped mid-hum and graced him with a slightly pained look.
"What is this, the fourth or fifth one? Maybe you should just do it, Miroku," she murmured, glancing around her to hide the fact that she was upset, "I mean, you'd probably breeze through the school in, like, four years." At his incredulous look, she shrugged, "You're that smart, you know. Not to mention you'd probably jump right into a seated position the moment you graduated."
"It... I apologize, Kagome-sama, but I decided the moment I met you again that my sole purpose for remembering all of our times alive was to keep you safe and remain in your company," the monk replied, grinning happily and putting an arm around the flabbergasted girl's shoulder, "So, unless they let me into Squad 6, and that would only be if I decided to attend the Academy, I will refuse any and every summons to part me from your side."
"Mi-Miroku, that's one of the sweetest things I think you've ever said to me!" Kagome gushed, tears shining in her eyes.
"Well, I am entitled to say nice things now and then," he replied, grinning happily before leveling her with a suddenly sullen look, "Wait! What about the times I asked you to bear my child?"
"I said no, remember?"
"Well yes, but you were only doing that to prolong the glory of conquering your lovely lithe-!" she reached over and pinched him on the arm before he could finish that sentence. While he moaned in pain, she continued down the road, a slight bounce in her step. Miroku was just Miroku, and he certainly wouldn't be himself if he wasn't perverted.
"Come on, Casanova. I want to actually get some things done today before Captain Kuchiki makes me go through sword drills again."
"Yes, of course, milady," her old friend grumbled sarcastically, sidling up to her in resignation. Kagome nodded and turned away-
-only to twitch angrily and whip around to slap the crap out of the monk. "I swear, Miroku! Keep your damn hands to themselves!"
"Sorry, sorry! Reflex!"
Stomping away from him in exasperation, she turned the corner and skidded to a halt. There, floating before her nose was...
"... A rose petal?" the former time traveler murmured, watching it innocently drop to the ground at her feet. "What the hell?" Another one caught her attention and she glanced up.
"Kagome? What-!"
"It's raining... roses?" Kagome announced quietly, blinking when one red petal landed on her shoulder. Miroku stood in confusion as he observed the raining flora around them.
"Please, stop throwing them already! They're being wasted now!" a voice cried out desperately, drawing the two friends' attention. Peeking around the corner, with the monk hovering just over her head, Kagome almost rubbed her eyes and shook her head. "Nanao! I said enough!"
The sight was odd to begin with. The man, no shinigami, waving his arms around was not only wearing a pink ladies kimono over his robes, but a sakkat and little red pinwheel hairpins in his long wavy brown ponytail. "We're just practicing right now! Nanao!"
"I wonder... who that is?" Kagome asked quietly, snorting when she noticed the dark-haired woman standing atop a building and holding a basket of red rose petals. "So that's where they came from." She outright giggled when the obviously annoyed woman got fed up with the man below and upturned the basket onto his head before walking away.
"Perhaps a kindred spirit?" Miroku grinned, amused by their antics. Kagome shook her head. She certainly hoped not!
"Ah, I see we have guests," the man glanced in their direction and smiled slightly, "Dear sweet little Nanao! Come down from there! We have visitors!" A second later, the woman reappeared next to him in a blur and smacked him upside the head with a fairly large book before huffing and adjusting her glasses.
"Don't mind him. He's always like this when he's drunk," she demured, bowing slightly and surverying the two dark-haired people that came from around the corner curiously.
"I think... I can understand your exasperation," Kagome grinned, shifting her head in Miroku's direction, "I deal with him every day."
"Kagome! You say that like it's a chore!" the monk gasped, dramatically placing a hand over his heart and sporting a wounded look.
"It is."
"You hurt me with your cruel unfeeling words, my dear friend." Turning his attention back to the duo watching them, he reached forward and took one of Nanao's hands. She jumped suddenly in surprise and gripped her book a little tighter. "Do you see the pain I must endure every day, lovely young lady? Kagome is quite heartless when she wants to be."
"Yes, it's heartless that I let you live. It's even more so when I stop my Lieutenant from cleaving you in two with his Zanpakuto," the priestess deadpanned, a blank look crossing her features before she shook her head and slapped him on the arm. Immediately, he winced and let go of the other female. "And it's especially heartless that I decide to save you from being beaten to death by a book."
The brown-haired man snickered in amusement and had to give the smaller girl props. She really knew how to handle her handsy friend. He'd been annoyed when the monk had taken such liberties with his Lieutenant, but he'd let it go when things had been corrected.
"Forgive me. I don't think we've introduced ourselves. My name is Shunsui Kyoraku. This is Nanao Ise, my Lieutenant." Kagome gasped and bowed quickly while Miroku twitched suddenly in fear. He'd just tried to hit on another Lieutenant. And in front of her Captain, no less. How was he not dead yet?
'Thank you, Kagome-sama,' the monk thought, sending a silent prayer of thanks to the heavens.
"I'm Kagome Higurashi. This is Miroku, my friend. We're pleased to meet you both."
'So, this is Kagome Higurashi. Very interesting,' he thought, rubbing his chin and surveying the petite woman. She was exactly what Jushiro had described. Friendly, outgoing, kind, and very capable of taking care of herself. 'Though he failed to mention how pretty she was... I guess it's part of the reason why she seems to have caught Byakuya's attention.'
Of course, Jushiro hadn't told him that he was standing in front of one of the most honored and celebrated spiritual figureheads in the history of Japan. But then, Jushiro didn't really know all that much about the Shikon Priestess. The sickly man hadn't been as interested in the topic of the legendary beauty as he had.
"I see. Well, I think the honor's really all ours... Lady Kagome of the Shikon," Kyoraku murmured, bowing slightly and grinning at the shocked expression on the priestess's face. Nanao sucked in a breath and was watching her much more intently. Between one heartbeat and the next, though, Miroku was suddenly between them, violet eyes hard and angry.
"Who told you," the raven-haired man ground out, brandishing his shakujo threateningly.
"Hmm? No one. I figured it out on my own," the Captain replied, the grin still in place as the surprise began to wear from Kagome's features and was replaced with worry.
"How... How many people know my true identity?" she asked tremulously, afraid of what the answer would be. If her Captain actually knew and he had only been pulling her leg the entire time...
"Only a small handful, truly. Nanao and I, of course, because I used to read your story to her when she was a little girl," Kyoraku answered, winking conspiritorially and leaning closer to the two friends, "To be honest, she's rather starstruck by your bravery, milady." Kagome glanced at the Lieutenant and almost winced at the complete admiration sparkling in the woman's eyes. That was what she'd been afraid of.
"You're really the Shikon Priestess?"
"... Yes."
"I thought your story was beautiful! I've always wanted to meet you, Lady Kagome!" Nanao gushed, stepping around Miroku and suddenly taking the younger girl's hands, "What you accomplished was truly bringing an end to a terrible menace. I just... I've always wanted to thank you for your courage."
While Kagome was slowly being overwhelmed, Miroku turned back to the amused man and cleared his throat, "Is there anyone else we should be aware of?"
"Jushiro knows of her, but he wouldn't make that kind of connection right away. The only reason I did was because of who she looks like."
"Lady Kikyo."
"Exactly. Your friend is an almost perfect match to the very few portraits of the priestess. There are, of course, a few differences here and there that, if your looking for them, can help you tell them apart. I expect she was the reincarnation, and the one that pieced the Jewel back together after Lady Kikyo's death."
"... She was."
"Ahh, well, I know, the Head Captain knows, and... I believe Captain Kurotsuchi could figure it out in the very near future," Kyoraku continued, ticking off names and glancing up at the sky for a moment, "Oh! And Sosuke Aizen knew."
"... Who?"
"Former Captain of Squad 5. Sosuke Aizen betrayed the Soul Society about two months back. He's disappeared at this point, but we all know he's still out there somewhere. In fact, it's probably a good thing your friend didn't join the Squads until after he left. I'm pretty sure he would have pulled some strings to get her close."
"That... is an unsettling thought," Miroku murmured, disturbed by how simliar this Captain Aizen sounded to another foe they'd fought in the past. Surely not...
"I wouldn't worry too much about her. Your friend is surrounded by people that seem to want to keep her safe," the brunette nodded and Miroku looked back to the women... and almost couldn't contain his laughter. Nanao was now getting Kagome to awkwardly sign the legendary story about her tales of the Shikon no Tama in a small volume that the woman apparently kept very close to her.
'Poor Kagome. She was never one to take fame very well. She's just... too humble,' the monk thought, watching his friend bite her lip and carefully print her name and an encouraging note in small letters to the thrilled Lieutenant.
"Say, do you think she'd mind if I asked her on a date?" Kyoraku asked out loud, unaware of how furious Miroku became at merely the thought of the idea. In a sense, he could now understand why Byakuya became so angry.
"I will never allow it," the monk grit out, stalking forward after Kagome smiled up at Nanao and taking her by the arm, "I'm the only one allowed to pull that kind of stunt with her and live!" Dragging her off, Nanao watched them go with a sigh and turned back to her confused Captain.
"Do you think it's really all right for Lady Kagome to stay in the company of such a perverted man?"
"My dear, it's not as though she'd be any safer with me, now would it?" the brunette laughed, placing an arm over his indignant subordinate's shoulders.
"No, I suppose not," Nanao sniffed stiffly, allowing the man to lead her away, "And I'm not picking up all those flower petals, Captain."
"Awww! You wound me, my dearest little Nanao!"
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"Is there a reason why you look ready to start foaming at the mouth like a rabid puppy, Miroku?" Kagome asked, peeking at the annoyed monk as he led her back through the gates into the Seiretei.
"Don't go near him without myself, Lieutenant Abarai, or Lord Kuchiki around, okay?" the monk ground out, pulling her in the direction of the Squad 6 barracks. At her dark look, he added hastily, "It's just not safe, milady. When I said kindred spirit, I didn't realize how close to the truth I was."
"Great, another pervert," the priestess grumbled, huffing quietly and turning a corner. She came up short suddenly, and nearly ran into someone...
"Eep!" She recognized that broad chest. And that monsterous spiritual pressure.
"Well, I was wondering if you'd ever sneak off without your guard dog Captain, pussycat," Kenpachi Zaraki grinned, lifting a hand and intentionally mussing up Kagome's hair.
"Ca-Captain Zaraki! What... What are you doing here?" Kagome managed to get out between her chattering teeth. How had she not sensed him!
Scratch that! How had Miroku not sensed him? Glancing at the monk out of the corner of her eye, she noted the slack-jawed expression on his face
"Kagome? Who-!"
"Hey! It's Koneko-chan!" Yachiru interrupted, popping up over Kenpachi's shoulder and waving spastically at the flabbergasted duo. "Hi Koneko-chan!"
"Umm... He-hello, Lieutenant Kusajishi," the other girl murmured, swallowing the lump in her throat before moving her gaze higher and giving the still grinning Kenpachi a tentative nod, "Captain. How are the two of you doing?"
"Fine. Just wandering around looking for a fight," the big Captain answered lazily. That put her on edge. He couldn't have followed her out here just to fight her, could he?
Yachiru's answer was very different. "We're waiting for San-San! She was gone on a long mission and she's getting bac really soon! I told Kenny that we should go meet her and tell her how happy we are to see her again!"
"Who's San-San?" Kagome asked, blinking innocently as Miroku suddenly paled. No... It just couldn't be!
"Never mind that!" Kenpachi waved the question away, his wide smile gaining a few more degrees of insanity, "I see you have your sword on you, pussycat. You know what that means?"
"Ummm... Run like hell the opposite way?" the dark-haired shinigami squeaked in response as the larger man reached for his blade. Miroku tensed and lifted his shakujo. If he had to, he would stop this man to make sure Kagome got away safely. Although the Captain's haori he was wearing did make him a little nervous. This guy was strong!
"Captain Zaraki?" a voice behind Kagome asked uncertainly, "What are you doing here?"
"San-San! Welcome back!" Yachiru chirped, grinning enormously and launching over her Captain's head to land in front of the person behind Kagome. The priestess glanced behind her in question and thought her heart almost stopped. Dressed in the same shihakusho as herself was a woman that was a little taller than her with long brown hair tied up in a high ponytail and sparkling cinnamon brown eyes. Those eyes, which had been happily watching the little pink-haired girl jump around her glanced up sharply at the gasp that caught her attention.
"... San... go?"
"... Ka-! Oomph!" she never got to finish. The other woman had forgone Kenpachi's raised brow, let out a shriek, and threw herself at the brunette almost violently.
"Sango! You're here! And you're alive! Well, alive here, but not there! What happened? When did you get here? How long have you been a shinigami? Where's Hiraikotsu? What about Kirara and your brother? What happened after I left?" Kagome fired off rapid questions that the former taijiya couldn't even begin to answer.
"Hey! Wait a minute! Don't ignore me!" the Squad 11 leader growled. The two women didn't seem to hear him and he huffed and squeezed the hilt of his sword in agitation.
"Woah! Kagome! Breathe!" Sango managed to get out, hugging the priestess just as fiercely and sniffling happily. Damn it! She wasn't going to cry! Especially not in front of her Captain!
"I-I-I know! I just... I've been looking for you for a long time!" the other girl laughed, smiling up at her closest friend, "You must tell me everything! Miroku hasn't said a peep since I met up with him, and I'm sure your story is a little different than his."
"Of course! I have nothing to hide, after all," the brunette replied, sending a heavy look at the monk that had remained oddly silent throughout the whole exchange. Kagome blinked and glanced at Miroku. Why was he being to reserved?
"... Miroku? Are you okay?"
"... Yes. I'm... merely in shock." The monk cleared his throat and offered a strained smile to the former taijiya, "It's good to see you well, Sango."
"You as well, Miroku," she answered back, sadness flickering in her gaze before she shook it off. It wouldn't do to upset Kagome right now. Not when they'd just found eachother. Turning back to the priestess, she let a wide grin spread across her face, "So, I see you're wearing a shihakusho. What squad are you in, Kagome-chan?"
"Squad 6! How about you? Hey! Maybe you can help me work on my kido! I have so much to tell you!"
"Ahh... My kido is almost non-existent. That's part of the reason I'm in Squad 11," Sango countered sheepishly, tugging absently on her ponytail. Kagome's blue eyes widened and she squeaked again.
"You're in... Squad 11? With Yumichika-san and Ikkaku-san? And..."
"So you haven't forgotten about me," Kenpachi grumbled, glaring at his subordinate and the woman responsible for getting them off track, "Because I'm still waiting for that fight, you know."
"I'm not strong enough to do any kind of damage to you, Captain Zaraki!" Kagome ground out, blue eyes flashing up at the tall man in annoyance, "I've told you again and again; I'm not fighting you. I don't know why you insist that I am!"
"You challenged Kagome-chan?" Sango spluttered, brown eyes wide as she stared up at her leader. Kenpachi snorted and tapped his blade against his leg absently.
"Of course I did. She's hiding her true power." At that, the brunette took a close look at her friend and her brows furrowed in confusion. There was something wrong with Kagome's spiritual pressure. It wasn't...
"Kagome?"
"... I'll tell you what's been going on later. For now," the priestess finally sighed, glancing up at the sky and letting out a breath of long-suffering, "I gotta get back to the barracks. I was running an errand for Lieutenant Abarai and I don't want to be late for squad practice."
"Of course! I'll catch up with you after I've settled back in, okay?" With a happy nod, Kagome reached over and started to quickly drag Miroku away before he could snap out of his funk and try to grope Sango. Or herself. Meanwhile, the taijiya gave her Captain a dark glare as she got ready to berate him for trying to challenge her best friend.
"Let's go before we get caught in her tirade," the raven-haired girl muttered, steering around a corner and pulling the monk along, "Or before Captain Zaraki realizes I just got away again." Somehow, Sango had managed to keep the big man's attention as they snuck away as quickly and quietly as possible. Yachiru had taken to crawling up the taijiya's back and was currently attempting to braid it in an amatuer fashion.
Miroku shivered and let her take the lead. He remembered all too well how Sango's lectures went. They were usually followed by a lot of pain. "Indeed. Let's head back."
A few moments of silence later, Kagome was watching him out of the corner of her eyes. "Are you going to tell me why you looked ready to run screaming the other way when we saw Sango again?"
"It's... a long and very painful story, milady." Very very painful.
"Well, I'm here whenever you're ready. It's not like I'm going anywhere." She said it with a blaise non-chalance, but he could hear the sincerity in her words. It made the worried part of his heart unclench in thankfulness, and he smiled a little awkwardly at her.
"Let me sort through some things and I'll tell you my side. After all, not all of us ended up with a happily ever after when you were taken from us, Kagome-sama," Miroku finally sighed, rubbing a hand through his hair and staring up at the sky.
As far as karma went, this absolutely sucked.
Kagome nodded and let him ponder while she chewed that over. It was starting to look like Miroku and Sango hadn't ended up together like she'd previously believed. And she had to wonder what might have changed that after her disappearance into time.
'There are so many possibilities. I really won't know until one of them tells me.' Glancing at Miroku again, she bit her lip and narrowed her eyes. 'And it better be damn well soon too.'
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A/N: Yay! Finally they meet up with Sango! And look! Another twist in the plot! Don't worry, all the stories will come out soon! Until next time, my fellows, I'll see you soon!