Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to Inuyasha, all rights belong to the creator, Rumiko Takahasi. I also lay no claim on the creation of Robin Hood.
Chapter Eleven: A Cause For Concern
Miroku packed his meager belongings in the small satchel, he did so in haste, still bothered by the suspicion the sheriff displayed during their short meeting. He was in the middle of the task, when monk Mushin walked in and announced that he had a visitor. Sango gracefully entered the room, she practically floated in. The thief was rather surprised to see her again; he figured she would avoid him after he had cut their last visit short so suddenly. "Sango. I hadn't expected to see you again before I left."
She eyed the bag that sat before him and frowned slightly, "So you planned on parting without telling me goodbye? Do you take pleasure in vexing me?"
He smiled. He was rather amused by her question, but he reassured her quickly, "Not at all. I figured that you may be none too happy with me after the last time we spoke. I did leave you with little to no warning."
She almost appeared to wince at the reminder. "I have often wondered what I said wrong that day. I can only hope that you were aware that I had no intent of ill will. Did I say something that offended you?" He could not be angry at her for being unaware, it was not his nature to be dismayed by words so easily, and yet he wanted to be honest with her now.
He smiled sadly and answered, "I had no idea you thought so little of me. For you to think, me, far too selfish to offer aid to others, it was quite hurtful. I am not the same young boy you used to know. That is all."
So she had hurt his feelings, it mattered not that she had not the intention. "I apologise. It has been too long for me to think that you had not changed. Although I feel I can safely assume that you are still not the type to hold a grudge and that you will forgive me."
"I have not changed that much. I accept your apology without hesitation." Sango watched on as her old friend continued to pack. He had not yet departed but she had begun to long for his return.
Sadly, she spoke, "I had not expected you to leave so suddenly. When will you return to me?"
The thief was surprised by the tone of her voice, because he could almost swear he heard disappointment. "I shall be gone for a while, I fear the sheriff suspects me of being your vigilante and for that reason alone; I must make myself scarce." He turned to face the maiden after placing the last of his belongings in his pack. His smile was reassuring. "Besides, I am certain you will get along just fine without the likes of me around."
Sango was about to protest, but a question escaped her lips instead. "Why would the sheriff suspect you?" In that moment, she witnessed his calm exterior falter for a split second. He scrambled for a believable answer and the longer he took; the more her brow furrowed.
In haste he replied, "I suppose it is because he hasn't seen me around before and started asking me all these questions. It helped not, that he happened upon me sharpening my hunting skills with some target practice." Her eyes widened with curiosity, she realised that the boy she once knew had vastly changed over the years.
She earnestly asked, "Target practice? You mean…?"
The question trailed off but Miroku knew exactly what she was asking. He smiled warmly and answered, "It would have been helpful to know that Robin Hood is a rather skilled archer. One single chance bull's eye and the suspicion was unwarrantedly earned. I'm certain he would have not paid me much mind had he witnessed the poorly fired shots before his timely arrival."
She looked at him then, truly looked at him. She tried to take in every small detail about the boy she knew, who turned into a man she longed to better know. He was taller now, unlike how they had used to be. As children they had been the same height, but that had changed. His short black locks had grown out considerably, he wore it loose, and after a morning of outdoor activities it was unkempt and resembled a dark lion's mane. The bright eyes he had when a boy had deepened and when he looked at her, it was as though she was staring into a part of the endless night sky. The loose garments he wore made it difficult to tell how taunt his muscles had become, but that was of no matter. Peering closer at his face, she caught sight that beneath the mane of hair, gold glittered near his ears, like Robin, his too were pierced. Had she noticed that before? She felt as though she had, but found some difficulty in recalling the when.
Miroku had begun to grow tense, he recognised a pensive stare when he saw one, but alas, he could not read her thoughts. She was far too preoccupied to take notice of the anxiety her look had invoked. She thought back a little further, to the day she found him seated in the garden. When she happened upon him that day, his hair was not unkempt, but neatly pulled back into a ponytail. She had seen something else too, his earring. The one shaped like a feather, a gold feather with an amethyst gem. With some hesitation she questioned, "Miroku, where did you get that earring?"
Confusion colored his features, his brow creased, and a frown tugged at his lips. "Earring? Which one? I always wear three." She moved swiftly, closing the space that had laid between them. To Miroku's surprise, she reached her hand out and tucked his hair behind his ear. Her fingertips grazed his cheek and left behind them a tingling trail. Delicately she touched the ornament that dangled from his ear.
With some impatience she asked again, "This one, the feather earring. Where did you get it?"
Entirely befuddled by the urgency in her voice he answered cautiously, "It was my father's, I have held onto it since his passing. I carried it with me until I pierced my ears, it was one of his smallest belongings and he wore it so often. Being without a home, it is one of the only things I was able to keep. Why do you ask?"
She swallowed hard and hoped her eyes had not deceived her. "Because, I believe I have seen Robin wearing one that looks identical to yours."
With every ounce of control in his body, Miroku was able to keep any reaction from his face and with even more effort he was able to ask without the panic altering his voice. "Are you implying something, Sango?"
Her eyes sought his face, searched for deceit, and when she detected none; she frowned. "No. I could be entirely mistaken. I had spied it from afar and maybe I conjured up a memory and put it to the shape. I am not accusing you of being a thief." She turned her face away from him and thought back. Robin's hair had been brown until she thought she saw the earring and then his locks appeared to turn black. Was it even possible for a memory to alter the present? She did not know, but she was determined to find Robin and remove his hood and mask. She would learn the truth once and for all. She bid her farewells to Miroku and departed, just as Inuyasha had returned from his walk in the village.
Inuyasha entered the sleeping quarters in an unusually chipper mood, his normally stoic features were brightened by a cheerful grin, and he hummed a jaunty tune. The half demon was so distracted by his short meeting with the sweet lady in waiting, that he did not seem to notice Miroku's harried actions. He took a seat on the floor, back to the wall and made himself comfortable. With a smile on his face he spoke, "I have finally come to understand the joy of making fair cheeks rosy, especially when the face is quite lovely."
Had Miroku not been so preoccupied with his task at hand, his companion's declaration would have earned much bewilderment. Instead, dismissively he replied, "Yes, yes. Of course you have."
The hanyou frowned, it finally dawned on him that Miroku was preparing to return to Midori wood forest. With a bit of frustration he asked, "Why are you packing? I thought the plan was to stay for a fortnight and we have not yet been a week." It was at that moment that Miroku acknowledged the half demon's presence.
His indigo fell upon the other thief, confused, he blinked a few times before responding. "I fear my being here has warranted suspicion from the sheriff and Maid Sango. It would be wise for the two of us to depart, before not only I but you are discovered as well." Inuyasha hid his disappointment well, he had looked forward to another chance meeting with Kagome, but kept the sentiment to himself.
Instead he kept the focus on Miroku's concerns; "Why should either of them have suspicions where you are concerned?" The thief now packed the hanyou's belongings, his movements oddly frantic, and a bit jarring to Inuyasha.
"Well the bumbling oaf of a sheriff happened upon me in the woods today and I was indulging myself in a bit of target practice. Unfortunately my skills gave him an inkling of my possible connection to the crimes of Robin Hood."
Inuyasha picked up on Miroku's exasperation and he allowed himself to sigh; a sign of his frustration about the situation. Inuyasha pressed forward, "And what brought about Sango's intuition? What got her considering you as a suspect?"
As soon as the question was out, Miroku threw a pillow he had been holding against the wall, and answered harshly. "I was careless. She recognized my earring on Robin. I need to be more careful. Robin and I shall remain two separate entities. Even if that means the true me must not be seen in the village undisguised." Miroku smoothed the wrinkles in his tunic and just as easily he seemed to rid himself of his worries. "Gather your things, Yash, I do believe I have overstayed my welcome." Inuyasha nodded, he had no other choice but to follow the crafty thief; it was his self appointed role to protect Miroku and he had no intention of abandoning his mission.
"I am prepared to depart at your word." The pair gathered up their meager belongings and planned to depart at first light. Beneath the fog of the early morning, they began their journey back to the safety of Midori Wood.
Kagome paced about the maiden's room with a growing sense of anxiety. She had parted ways with Inuyasha a little over an hour ago. She returned to the palace fearing that she would be met with a rather worried Sango. Instead she found her lady's quarters void of its usual occupant and it was her that fretted about the well-being of Maid Sango. It was not like the lady to wander off alone, but it had become a bit of a habit after the appearance of Robin Hood. Sango's curiosity about the identity of the thief had caused her to lose all sense of reason and she acted far too rashly for a lady of her status. Of course Kagome would never say that to Sango, she understood that it was not her place to correct the maiden, she was only there to be at her side. Just as Kagome had begun to consider seeking help in finding Maid Sango, the lady returned to her room. "Sango, where in the heavens have you been? I have been worried sick?"
Sango acknowledged her lady in waiting and reassured her quickly, "I was visiting an old friend at the monk's temple, I suppose I was away longer than I had realised. I hope you were not too worried."
The old floors in the hall creaked and in the distance a branch scraped against the wall of the palace. "I really wish you would leave me a few words on paper before you decide to vanish for hours," Kagome exclaimed with a sigh. The Maiden took a seat upon her bedding and looked out the window. Kagome could easily see that she was distracted by another matter entirely. So she inquired, "Sango, is there something on your mind? I would be happy to help you sort through those troubling thoughts."
A soft smile tugged at Sango's lips, "Nay, my thoughts are not troubling me, Kagome. I am merely much more determined than I was before. There is more to Robin Hood than what first meets the eye. I know that there is some trickery behind his disguise and that Robin is but one man, one that I believe has developed feelings for me." Kagome merely stared with wide brown eyes at Sango.
Kagome implored, "What is it you are saying to me?"
"I am saying that I will uncover Robin's secret, I shall learn his real name, and I will have him tell me that my feelings for him do not go unrequited." Footsteps receded up the hall and into the throne room to Prince Naraku, where the whisperings were shared. There, a plan was devised to draw out the troublesome thief. If feelings for Maid Sango truly had begun to form, then they would use the weakness of devotion and love against him. They would just need some time to bring the plan to fruition, but until then, someone would have to keep a very close eye on Naraku's sweet niece.
(A/N: Sorry for the long awaited update. I do work a full time job and have other responsibilities I have to tend to. I wish I had the time to write more often, but have found it more difficult to do so. I have also been considering writing stories with more adult themes and heavier subject matter, so if you're interested in that please let me know. I hope you enjoy this chapter, the next one I will try to have up by Christmas. I have nearly finished it, just have to tie up the ending of the chapter. As always thanks for the patience and support. Please leave a review.)