Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha or any of the songs I use as titles.
Premonition
by Vernie
Chapter 3 – Sour Girl
Inuyasha had finally given into to Miroku's request that Kagome remain in the village under the monk's protection while he set off with Sango to search for the shards they had heard rumors about the previous day. Miroku decided that Inuyasha must have had at least some reservation about the state of Kagome's safety; otherwise, he would have tried to force the girl to come with him.
Kagome sighed as she helped Sango pack the rest of the supplies that she and Inuyasha would need on their journey. Inuyasha, who had been prepared for hours, scowled irritably as he watched the two girls stuff a small pack with supplies.
"Will ya come on already?" the ill-tempered hanyou asked from the other side of Kaede's old hut. "At this rate, we'll never get there."
Kagome frowned. "Hold on, Inuyasha; we're almost done." The young girl sighed as she took one last look through the small bag, checking to make sure everything Inuyasha and Sango would need on the trip was included.
Sango smiled weakly. "Don't worry, Kagome. I'm sure we'll manage to find the shards."
Kagome nodded. "That's not all I'm worried about. I'm more worried about being stuck here with Miroku, if you know what I mean."
Sango smiled slightly. "I'm sure he'll be on his best behavior with Kaede around. It may be little compensation for being forced to stay here, but it's something."
Kaede, who slowly made her way through the door with Shippo perched on her shoulder, held out a small sachet and smiled. "I will see that he treats ye with respect," the old woman replied reassuringly. Kagome nodded, as the old woman handed the tiny bag to Sango. "Herbs for ye, child. They will cure minor cuts and scrapes. Just in case," she added with a wink.
"Thank you, Kaede," Sango replied, thinking of Inuyasha hoping that they would cure a hole through the gut as well.
"And I have something for you as well," Miroku, who had just entered the door behind Kaede, replied. He handed two very large and thick blankets to Sango. "I bartered with some people from the village. I have a feeling it may snow tonight," he added, taking a quick peek outside at the overcast sky.
"Thank you, Miroku. Inuyasha and I appreciate it," Sango replied with a warm smile.
"Feh. I don't need a blanket, I'm not a weak human, remember?" an annoyed Inuyasha commented with a scowl.
Sango smiled. "Fine then, more for me. I appreciate them very much."
"Feh. Let's go already," Inuyasha said, leaving the hut quickly. "Well come on Sango!" he yelled once he was outside.
Sango rolled her eyes, picking up her Hiraikotsu and heaving it on her back as she glanced at Kagome. "Please, do be careful while we're away, Kagome."
Kagome nodded. "You two, be careful also."
Sango smiled, waving good-bye as she left her friends.
Kagome watched miserably while Sango perched herself on Kirara's back as she and Inuyasha traveled at a rapid pace out of the village. Once the two's silhouettes disappeared over the horizon, Kagome shook her head as she turned around to come face to face with Miroku, whose expression held a look of seriousness.
"It is far wiser to remain here, Kagome. I am sincere, and assure you that my intentions are honorable."
Kagome smiled slightly. "I know, Miroku, I just- Hey!" Kagome's eyes narrowed, as her hand came up to slap the monk's face. Miroku abruptly pulled the assaulting hand away from the girl's posterior.
"Force of habit?" he replied innocently, rubbing the reddened handprint which now marked his cheek.
"Oh...you!" Kagome growled, storming off and leaving a grinning Miroku to his wanton thoughts.
*~*~*
As much as he knew what he was doing was for the good of Kagome's safety, Miroku couldn't help but to feel sorry for her. He noticed that the girl, who was always so…cheerful, seemed somewhat depressed as he watched her help Kaede tend to her herb garden.
Shippo, who had begged to remain with Kagome in the village (much to Inuyasha's delight), studied the girl curiously as she slumped over and slowly yanked a weed from the soil.
"What's wrong, Kagome?" the young kitsune, who was dirty up to his elbows from helping the women to weed the garden, asked with a look of concern.
Kagome paused, giving Shippo a weak, fake smile. "Nothing Shippo."
Miroku had taken a seat next to a tree near the garden, leaning himself against its trunk and watching Kagome cautiously. The village appeared to be safe enough, but safety was never a guarantee, for the village had been under attack many times in the past. He closely observed a few unknown, and oddly dressed, villagers as they made their way down a nearby path and through the village. Miroku had begun to feel uneasy about sitting out in the open such as they were, and with Kagome so easily within attacking distance. The events of his dream brought fear to him once more…
He smiled, lifting himself from the ground, and then making his way to Kagome's side. "Kagome…perhaps you should take a break from your work. Come inside with me an-"
She grunted. "Please don't finish that sentence, Miroku," the girl replied, not bothering to look up from her work as she yanked out yet another weed. Kaede glanced at the two momentarily, however, remained silent.
He frowned. "Believe me, I am thinking no lecherous thoughts as of now, but I believe you would be much safer if you took refuge indoors for a few days."
Kagome scowled, slapping her hands together to remove the dirt the covered them, then stood up, placing them on her hips. Miroku couldn't help but to smirk a little bit at her posture, knowing she hadn't a clue how adorable she looked right then.
"Listen here, Miroku, first you have some meaningless dream, then you force me to stay here when I should be out hunting shards with Inuyasha, and now you want me to stay cooped up in that hut like some kind of recluse!" She frowned, as she crossed her arms over her chest. "Well, I'm not going to do whatever you say just because you, all of a sudden, think your some kind of psychic!"
Miroku stood, appalled, as Kagome stomped her way back to Kaede's hut. As she approached the doorway of the small building, she turned around and glared at him. "And if you think you can keep me here against my will, you're wrong!"
"Kagome?" the bewildered monk asked, but the girl had already turned around, stomping into the old hut.
Miroku sighed, slowly following the angered girl. "Kagome," he spoke her name softly as he entered the small structure. "Kagome, please. I'm doing this for your best interest."
Kagome, ignoring Miroku's words, grabbed her large, yellow backpack and began to shove her belongings into it. She angrily grabbed her pajamas, which she had left on the floor near her bedroll, trying to force the clothing into the already overstuffed bag.
"Kagome," Miroku grabbed the girl's hand, which worked continually at trying to close the hopelessly overflowing bag. "You need to remain here, where I can prote-"
"Miroku, I'm going home. There's no point in me staying—it's not like I can help anybody being here," she exclaimed, knocking his hand away and retrieving the backpack from the floor.
"But I can't follow you to your time-"
"Exactly," Kagome replied. "It's safe in my world anyways. I won't need your protection there—not that I even need it here."
Miroku grasped the girl's shoulders, bringing her actions to a sudden halt. "Listen to me, Kagome. I know that your life is in danger, and I must prevent whatever evil fate has been planned for you. Besides, I know for a fact that you do, indeed, have demons in your world. Inuyasha has mentioned it more than once."
"Miro-"
"I will not allow you to leave." Miroku spoke with a loud, forceful voice, his eyes filled with certainness.
Kagome paused as her bottom lip began to quiver. "You…you can't do this!"
Miroku stared at the girl, his face softening. "I must."
"Ooh, I'm gonna- SIT!"
Miroku shook his head as he took the backpack from the girl's hands. 'This is going to be harder than I thought…'
*~*~*
Nighttime had come, and the old priestess had already taken refuge in the corner of the hut. She had remained silent most of the day, even through Miroku and Kagome's bickering. She thought it would be wiser to let the two work things out themselves, which they had still failed to do come nightfall.
Kaede sighed, making herself comfortable on her bedroll with Shippo, who was currently too afraid to approach either Kagome or Miroku, at her side. Kagome sat in the corner, her knees pulled up against her chest as her hateful glare remained fixed upon the monk sitting across from her. Miroku, sensing her gaze, took a small sip of tea from his cup, as his eyes slowly raised to look at her.
"I suppose Kaede has the right idea. I'm rather fatigued myself," he said, putting the cup down and taking a couple of blankets from a nearby chest and spreading one out on the cold, wooden floor of the hut. He looked up towards Kagome, who had still not moved from her place in the corner, and whose expression still hadn't changed. Balling the other blanket into a ball, he threw it towards the girl, letting it land before her. "I will get some sleep, I suggest you do the same," the monk replied, lying down as he rested his head on the palms of his hands. He closed his eyes as he heard the girl across from him make herself comfortable. He took a deep breath of the bitter autumn air before letting sleep claim him.
*~*~*
Kagome frowned. Did Miroku truly think he could control her like that? She was tired of it— being controlled all the time. It was bad enough that Inuyasha was so controlling, but at least she could take care of that with a simple three-letter word.
She slowly sat up from her place, taking a quick look around the hut. Kaede and Miroku were fast asleep. Shippo lay curled up beside Kaede, snoring loudly. It was completely pitch black out, except for a little moonlight that shone underneath the reed door of the hut.
Kagome smiled, grabbing her backpack as she quietly tip-toed her way across the wooden floor. Miroku shifted slightly in his sleep as Kagome slowly stepped over his body. She froze, remaining motionless until she was completely sure that he was still asleep. She smiled as she reached the outside of the hut, making a mad dart towards the well.
Kagome hoped the others wouldn't worry too much when they awakened to find that she was no longer there. She began to think that maybe she should have at least left a note, but knew that there, most likely, wouldn't have been enough time to do so without awakening the others.
Kagome traveled further and further away from the village, then she could see it—the well. And it was only about 30 feet off. "Finally," she said, breathing a sigh of relief. She neared the edge, jumping into the well/time portal as she let the momentum of her fall begin to take her into the depths of the well. However, her fall was suddenly put to an abrupt halt as she felt someone's arm lock securely around her chest and under her arms with a powerful force that knocked the breath right out of her small body. Kagome gasped. Someone had her…
To be continued…