::0::0::

"My Lady!?"

"Dammit, Bouzu!" Inuyasha yelled from his perch from a tree on the edge of camp. "She's right fucking there!" He pointed to Kagome in her sleeping bag. "Quit waking everyone up!"

Miroku flushed, unfolding himself from his defensive crouch. "I'm sorry, I was-"

"Dreaming." Taro said, irritably. "We know. After a week of being woken before dawn, we know." He rolled over and tucked his blanket over his head.

"The first thing I'm going to do when I get home," Manabu said, burrowing back into his blanket, "is sleep late!"

"Oh, don't be that way." The Inari shrine maiden, Eiko, said. "I think it's kind of sweet."

"You would." Reiki, the woman exorcist snorted. "Stupid, foolish, romantic nonsense-"

"Don't be mean!" Hanako said. "Besides, you're all embarrassing Miroku-sama and his Lady!"

"Will you all shut up?" One of the soldiers shouted from across camp. "Bad enough that we get woken up by that imitation cock's crow every morning, do you all have to squabble like hens?! Let us get back to sleep."

Hanako drew herself up, "Hens!? Hens!? That's the amount of respect you have for us-"

"Oh, shut it already!" Reiki shouted.

"You should apologize," the bushy haired monk said to the solider. "That really wasn't called for-"

"I say it was pretty damn called for," interrupted another farmer-soldier, "we come all this way, is a good night's rest too much to ask-"

"Hey now," a laconic farmer said, scratching at his stomach. "It's not like they asked to be captured-"

"We do appreciate it," one of the priests said. "Don't think we don't-"

"Enough!" Inuyasha roared. "If you're all up we might as well get going!"

A collective groan spread over the camp. Bodies started to pick themselves up and packing their gear. Once Inuyasha used that tone there was no arguing. He plummeted from his tree in a controlled fall and nudged Kagome. "Oi, wench, breakfast!"

"I don't want any." Kagome muttered letting Shippo slip out of her arms and sleeping bag. She turned to hug her pillow.

Inuyasha growled and pulled the pillow from under her head. "I wasn't askin'! Get up and eat!"

"I'm not hungry!" She flared.

"So fucking what?!" Inuyasha's ears went back. "You're eating anyway!"

"Inuyasha," Miroku said approaching cautiously, "breakfast isn't ready yet. Why don't you let My Lady sleep until it's then? You'll eat when it's ready, won't you?" He addressed the lump that was Kagome. She'd retreated deep into her sleeping bag and looked like a giant worm. It shook it's head no.

"I'm not hungry!" Her voice came out petulant. "I'll eat later, it makes me feel sick to eat in the morning."

"OI!" Inuyasha nudged the worm with his foot again and it squirmed away from him. "You're eating!!"

Knowing the more Inuyasha insisted, the more Kagome would resist Miroku changed his focus. "Shippo!" He called. "Did I ever tell you of the delightful song My Lady taught me?"

"Song?" Shippo hopped up onto Miroku's shoulder. "Kagome never taught me any songs!"

The worm stilled. "Monk? What are you telling him?"

"This one is really special." Miroku said, ignoring her. "She used to sing it with her brother."

Kagome popped her head out of the sleeping bag. "You wouldn't!"

Shippo looked at Kagome then Miroku. "Wouldn't what? Why can't I learn it? I want to learn the song!"

"I'm getting up! I'm going to eat breakfast! I'll even help make breakfast!"

"Don't do that!" Inuyasha said. "That annoying miko cooks just fine."

"Hanako cooks?" Shippo asked.

Inuyasha wrinkled his nose, "No, the other one."

Coughing into his hand, Taro interrupted. "Um, Mariko has finished warming the porridge-"

"That one!" Inuyasha said.

"I don't think Mariko's annoying." Shippo said, jumping off of Miroku's shoulder and onto Taro's.

"Um." Taro looked a little uncomfortable.

Inuyasha snorted. "They're all annoying! They're humans."

"Hey!" Kagome said standing up. "I'm human!"

"You're annoying too!" Inuyasha said throwing up his hands. "You keep needin' to sleep an' eat an' -"

"Speaking of eating-" Miroku said and wagged his eyebrows at Kagome and then jerked his head at Shippo.

"I'm going now." Kagome huffed and stalked past him, Shippo jumped off Taro's shoulder into her arms still whining about wanting to learn songs from her.

"Why don't she wanna eat?" Inuyasha asked plaintively. "She's still so skinny."

"It may be a side effect of the sutra." Taro said. "She did say it made her feel full."

"Then she should take it off." Inuyasha growled, flexing his fingers as if he was going to rip it off her that very moment.

"No!" Miroku said quickly. "Not until she's better able to control herself. She'll weaken again."

Inuyasha snorted. "Damn annoying bitch," he muttered and took off into the forest.

Taro's face was flushed with anger, "Are you just going to let him speak that way of Kagome-sama?" He said to Miroku. "How can she stand to be around him? All he does is insult her! How can that not anger you?"

"She is used to translating his meaning from his actions rather then his rough words." Miroku explained. "He is only concerned for her and uses anger and complaints to mask it."

"Kagome-sama does not deserve that."

Miroku sighed.

"Where did Inuyasha go?" Kagome asked Taro. She didn't meet Miroku's eyes. She had two bowls of porridge and behind her Shippo walked carefully with a third.

"The Hanyo went into the forest." Taro said stiffly.

"The "hanyo" has a name." Kagome said blowing her bangs out of her eyes . She walked to the forest edge and sat down with her bowl. She set the other next to her and proceeded to ignore it and focus on her food and Shippo.

Taro glanced at Miroku and then back at Kagome. "What is she doing?" He muttered.

"I brought you a bowl." Hanako said coming up to Miroku. He thanked her and took it, and Taro took one from Eiko.

Miroku took a spoonful and then glanced at the forest. "That is what she's doing."

Inuyasha had emerged from the forest and hunkered down next to her. He'd taken the porridge and was messily eating it by sipping straight from the bowl.

Hanako gave an unladylike and un-miko-like snort. "She's like a wild animal tamer, dealing with him."

"I think it's kind of sweet." Eiko said.

Hanako rolled her eyes. "You think everything is kind of sweet."

"Well, they are. Don't they kind of look like a family? Eiko pointed to Kagome, "Momma," she gestured to Inuyasha, "Poppa," she mimicked tickling fingers, "and widdle baby foxy-woxy." She sighed happily. "Shippo's so cute I could just eat him up."

"That is a disgusting notion." Taro said.

Eiko blinked at him, "Well, I wouldn't really eat him-"

Taro chopped a hand through the air, "No!" He sighed. "The thought of Kagome-sama being with that hanyo."

Miroku gave him a cool look. "I was not aware you had a problem with Inuyasha's nature. You do not seem to have a problem with Hachi or Shippo."

"It is not his nature that bothers me." Taro said. "It is him." He stalked off into the camp.

"Uh-oh..." Eiko sing-songed, "Some-one's got a cruuu-uh-uh-sh!"

"He does not!" Hanako said. "He just feels that Kagome-sama deserves someone better." She gave a pointed look towards Miroku and flounced off after Taro.

Eiko looked at Miroku and then at the little "family" by the forest's edge. "Well," she said. "I do think they look sweet, and Inuyasha is nice enough for a rough sort." She smiled at Miroku, chubby cheeks dimpling and looking much younger then her thirty odd years. "But if you wanted to steal her away, I think that would be positively romantic." She giggled, blushed, and ran back into camp.

Miroku sat where he was and finished his porridge slowly, glancing at Kagome. Shippo and Inuyasha were making sure she ate all of her serving. She saw his look and flinched. She turned and concentrated on Shippo, wiping his face with a scrap of cloth. She hadn't spoken to the monk any more then absolutely necessary since their argument the last night at the village. It had been a week, Sango had yet to return, and Miroku was feeling a bit isolated from the little "family" of Inuyasha, Kagome and Shippo.

It wouldn't be romantic, he mused. It could be, if Inuyasha was a cruel man who abused her terribly and he was rescuing her from a horrible fate at his hands. Miroku could then happily and virtuously swoop in and seduce her out of the sway of the "evil hanyo." He could-

Miroku's eyes glassed over as he contemplated all the ways he could seduce her. He could push her up against a tree as the collected firewood, sneak into that tight bedroll of hers, come across her as she bathed... oh, Buddha, when she bathed. He could steal her clothes, after watching her go through her lather and rub routine of course. Then as she rose from spring, rivulets of water tracing down those full breasts, he'd step out from behind a tree. She'd be surprised, but he would see in her eyes she wanted him too. He would see it in her body, the way that flush covered her from head to toe and her lips parted. They'd come together and he'd kiss her, and she'd kiss him back, pressing against him and soaking his robes.

"Do you want more porridge, Miroku-sama?" Hanako asked coming up with another bowl.

He blinked at her, his fantasy bursting like a soap bubble. "Thank you." He said and took the bowl. "Did you-"

"Inuyasha came and got another bowl for Lady Kagome." Hanako said, guessing his thoughts. "I gave her a little of last night's rabbit too."

"Good." Miroku nodded. He knew Kagome didn't like that everyone was joining forces about her eating. But it made him feel better that even if she wouldn't listen to him she was listening to someone.

He watched as Kagome scowled but obediently finished the second bowl of porridge. He watched Inuyasha hand Shippo the bit of rabbit jerky while she was absorbed in the bowl. The little fox turned to Kagome with huge watery, shining, pleading eyes, holding out the meat. The girl sighed and shot Inuyasha a dirty look, clearly on to his tactics. But she couldn't resist the Shippo's "puppy dog" eyes and took the jerky. The kit leaned forward, resting his paws on her knees and watched her until she started eating.

Miroku nodded approvingly. No, it wouldn't be romantic. Because Inuyasha wasn't an evil or cruel man. If the half-demon hurt Kagome it was only through the Inuyasha's faultless honesty. Miroku frowned. He didn't know if honesty was the right word. Inuyasha certainly wasn't honest about his feelings for the girl. But even that was to protect her in his clumsy way. He wasn't free to make promises and declarations to Kagome. Of course, if he wasn't he shouldn't beat back any other male who expressed an interest. It just made her cling to hope. Miroku shook his head. He was going in circles.

Kagome was eating. "Her man" was being attentive and protective of her. She was gaining in strength and health. She still needed to learn control, but that could come with time. He shouldn't be upset that she wouldn't even look his way. He shouldn't be upset that he couldn't get close enough to her to smell that ripe apple scent. He shouldn't miss the feel of her beside him as he slept. He shouldn't miss the weight of her making his legs and arms lose circulation as she carelessly draped herself over him. He should revel in his freedom. It shouldn't bother him that she didn't seem to miss him at all.

He gave his empty bowl to Eiko and wandered with staff in hand to the opposite edge of the clearing they had camped in. He took a deep breath and stretched out his muscles before taking up his staff. He went through a couple of experimental spins and thrusts with it. His shoulders protested, no longer used to the heavy weight and stiff from disuse. He frowned as his arms started to ache. He worked through it, moving through a kata his body remembered but his mind didn't. His muscles finally loosened and he found his rhythm. Too long, he thought, it took too long. He had to exercise more.

"Oi, Bouzu, we're going!" Inuyasha barked. "Come on."

"Coming." He called, breathing heavier then he liked. The troop of people was already filing out of the clearing.

It was this weakness that had made him glad they were all walking to the homes of the returning soldiers and captives. It would have been quicker to have Hachi fly them, but he couldn't manage all the captives and the soldiers too. Instead Hachi was carrying the "spoils" of the farmers siege against the Twin Mountain village. Kagome had protested, but they only took what the village could do with out and it was unfair to send the farmers home with nothing for their toil. They had bolts of cloth, rice stores, tools, all useful things that would help them through their late harvest. Some of the farmers had even decided to stay in the Twin Mountain village, claiming empty homes and eye-ing the many marriageable women. They didn't fear demons, if they had they never would have traveled with Inuyasha.

Miroku jogged to join up with the end of the train. He looked over the group, counting heads. Inuyasha was of the mind that if someone wasn't smart enough to get going with the rest of group they deserved to be left behind. Yesterday they'd almost lost Eiko that way. Thankfully today everyone seemed accounted for.

The boy monk Manabu was chasing Shippo around the edges of the group, the mikos flocked together clucking at their antics. The priests followed them, pretending to ignore the boys and talked with the monks. As Manabu ran too close to one monk the older man playfully slapped him across the back of his head warning him to be respectful of the holy persons. Manabu just ducked his head and clapped his hands in a prayer begging forgiveness before yelling at Shippo to stop cheating. Reiki walked alone in island of her own strangeness. The farmers ranged around them, still acting the protectors. Miroku chuckled at everyone's enthusiasm and energy, despite their abrupt awakening, but his eyes didn't stop roving over the group.

"She's over yonder." One farmer, Miroku thought his name was Sato, said. Sato jerked his chin towards Kagome who was stupidly walking backwards as she described something to a farmer. He was nodding patiently, and even looked interested. Even as his shoulders loosened, lost the last of his tension, and Miroku wondered what she could possibly be discussing, the expected happened. Kagome gave a little shriek as she tripped over a root.

"Ah." Miroku breathed his hand coming up as if he could catch her from his spot in the back of the group. The farmer who'd been listening to her grabbed her hands and just barely kept her from falling to the ground. Kagome laughed, blushed and apologized. She turned right-ways and continued talking as if she hadn't tripped at all. She was still wearing borrowed clothes, this time a simple woman's kimono. It hugged her curves nicely, he thought, especially that pert-

"Got yerself right flummoxed, don't yer?" Sato said. He cast a speculative glance at Kagome. "Though I'll say, if I had my druthers an' pick of the lot here, she'd be the one I'd chose too."

Miroku leveled the man a flat look of annoyance. "I think you misunderstand-"

"Ain't no misunderstanding a look like that!" Laughed another farmer, slapping Miroku across the back familiarly. "I looked at my Mina that way, and my father approached her father the very next day. Good thing!" He looked at Sato, "'Cause this one was lookin' at her too."

"Damned luck of mine." Sato sighed. "But I got her sister, and I think most days I got the better bargain. My Yuki cooks better."

"That's true." The other man nodded. "But mine sews better. Look at this," he pointed to the stitching on his sleeve. "Three years and not a single repair needed. She'll love the cloth I'm bringin' her."

"How nice." Miroku said and decided to disengage himself from this uncomfortable conversation. "I-"

"What ya should do, see, is talk'ta her father." Sato advised. "Don't matter who she might fancy at first, if her father makes the match yer set. That was my mistake. I went about charmin' Mina, instead of her kin."

"Can't see as her kin'd choose a hanyo o'er a respectable man o' the cloth." Mina's husband said. "Not that he's a bad sort, but from a father's point of view-"

"My Lady's family has met Inuyasha and approves of him." Miroku said coolly, only realizing this was true as he said it. Inuyasha was the only one who had met Kagome's family. Why was that?

"Oh." Sato frowned. "Well, that Hanako will be a pretty thing in a year or two."

"That Eiko might be a bit long in the tooth, but she'd be nice to wake up to in the mornin' I'd wager." Mina's husband said. "And that Mariko is a fine cook. Can't underestimate the worth of a good cook."

"Gentlemen," Miroku said straightening his shoulders and pulling on his best holy aura. "You will have to excuse me, I wish to discuss with Inuyasha our journey today."

"Good plan." Sato said. "Miss Kagome ain't near him right now so he might actually let ya close." Mina's husband nodded.

Miroku took the tattered remnants of his pride, nodded to them, and went to seek Inuyasha. He hadn't been aware the tension between the three of them was so apparent. Inuyasha didn't like any male approaching Kagome, not just him. Kagome was avoiding him, true, but she didn't make pains to make it obvious.

Perhaps, he thought wryly, it was he himself that was being so obvious. He'd been following Kagome around like a lost puppy. He had instantly regretted his frustrated words the moment she ran away from him in the pre-dawn light. He'd sat with his robes slowly loosing her body warmth and scent and cursed himself. Since then he had tried to engage her in conversation, both the next morning and in the week following, but she'd glued herself to Inuyasha's side. The half-demon had only been too happy to carry her around as they made their plans to leave and started to travel. Kagome was still weak, and found the long days travel too much. Inuyasha usually carried her ahead of the group after their midday meal, completely out of Miroku's reach.

Sensing the new tension between the monk and Kagome, Inuyasha had been shooting Miroku suspicious looks and grabbing Kagome away any time he got near in the mornings. He hadn't been particularly interested in Miroku's input in organizing this trip. Inuyasha made his plans with Sango and informed Miroku only when he wanted him to liaison with the holy men and women who balked at taking orders from a hanyo. Now that they were on the road, Inuyasha's word was law and Miroku wasn't needed at all. If any of them disobeyed or disagreed with Inuyasha they were informed they could stay behind and make their own way.

Miroku drifted around the edges of the group, feeling like he was stalking Inuyasha. As he followed behind a clump of monks, he wondered if his closeness to Kagome was the problem or something else. Had he done something before their confinement that had offended both Sango and Inuyasha? His murky memories gave him no clue. It didn't feel like truth or lie, he couldn't say he knew either way. He knew Inuyasha blamed him for getting Kagome caught up in the Twin Mountain plots, but was there more?

"Inuyasha." He called and the half demon's ears flattened against his skull in agitation. "How far do we travel today?"

"What's it to you?" Inuyasha bit out. "It's just another day we can't hunt for shards." He glared at Miroku.

"We cannot abandon-" Miroku started calmly.

"Well I ain't, am I?" Inuyasha interrupted. "I'm takin' them all home, aren't I?"

Miroku didn't let his disquiet show in his posture or his expression. "I am merely curious, as I'm sure the others are, if any will be leaving us today. Will we reach anyone's home?"

Inuyasha snorted. "Couple of the farmers, we're gonna reach that village with the stupid monkey shrine."

"Monkey shrine?" Miroku repeated.

"Keh!" Inuyasha's ears twitched back and forth. "Don't you remember anything? It's that stupid village with the stupid rock with the monkey holy guy attached to it."

"The pickling stone." Miroku said, the bit of memory floating back into place.

"Yeah, that one." Inuyasha said shortly. His eyes never met Miroku's, instead constantly scanning the tree line and over his strange mix of farmers and holy men, checking for danger. His ears flicked to and fro, alert.

Miroku walked in silence noting that the half-demon's whole body was tense. He doesn't want to be here, Miroku thought, or rather, he doesn't want me here beside him.

Tinkling laughter reached him and they both turned to see what Kagome was so amused by. Manabu had Shippo on his shoulders and they were both waving their arms in a fantastic description of something. The girl gave another peal of laughter and Miroku was suddenly struck with a need to know what was so funny. He'd almost started to move in her direction when Inuyasha stopped him, a clawed hand thudding onto his chest.

"Didn't you come up here to ask me somethin'?" He growled, withdrawing his hand and folding his arms across his chest. He kept walking, forcing the monk to hurry to keep up.

Did he? Miroku sighed, the only topic he had to discuss was not going to soothe the half-demon. "My-" He stopped, cursing himself for the habit, Inuyasha hated when he called Kagome "My Lady," and started again. "Kagome has not been practicing her meditation or control. If she ever wishes to be free of the sutra, she must practice."

"So?" Inuyasha quickened his pace a bit, forcing the Miroku to continue to jog. It was an annoying bit of power struggle Miroku could have done without. "She's been tired."

"I know, so I thought if we could stop a little earlier tonight-"

"No." Inuyasha said flatly.

"But-"

"No." Inuyasha repeated. "We've got too far to go. It can wait."

"No, it can't-" Miroku started again, starting to feel winded by the fast pace. He glanced around and discovered that they'd outpaced the rest of the group by a far distance.

"You just want an excuse to be alone with her." Inuyasha stopped suddenly and Miroku almost tripped over his staff. Poking a clawed finger into his chest Inuyasha growled. "But she don't want to be alone with you."

Miroku paled, his heart clenched. Did she say that? Or was Inuyasha just guessing from her actions? He shook it off. "It doesn't have to be with me." He managed around a lump in his throat. "With Hanako, or Taro, or even Eiko... She needs to practice and train. She's a danger to herself otherwise."

Something flickered in Inuyasha's eyes. His mouth settled in a line. "Can't she do it by herself? You just sit there with your eyes closed. I can sit with her."

"It's not something she can do alone, or you can do for her-"

"Why not?" Inuyasha growled, his ears were twitching madly as if trying to find the threat he felt.

"Because you don't know how, because she doesn't know how!" Miroku burst. "Someone needs to show her and guide her."

Inuyasha looked away, his ears flattening in distress. "It don't have to be you?"

Miroku was tempted to say yes. He tried to say yes. "No." He said finally. "It just has to be someone she can trust." It should be me, he thought. She trusts me. But she didn't, not anymore, because of a couple careless, frustrated words.

Inuyasha chewed on that and started walking again before he answered. "Not tonight. Maybe tomorrow." His pace was slower and his ears weren't twitching as much. "I'll tell her to pick someone."

Miroku nodded and kept walking. He'd thought that once they started traveling again that things would fall back into place and he'd have that satisfaction of doing the right thing back. He knew there would be tension as he and Kagome reintegrated back into the 'real world,' but he didn't think it would be so hard or painful. He felt like he was trying to stuff himself back into a life he didn't understand or fit into anymore. The Miroku hole in this world was circle and he'd become a square.

"I'm gonna scout ahead." Inuyasha said and jumped away.

Miroku watched him go, slowing his pace so that he fell back within the group. He glanced around and found Kagome again this time seriously listening to Eiko. She was starting to look wan and tired, even though they hadn't been traveling more than an hour or two. She caught him looking and flinched. He quickly looked away.

For years before he'd met her, or Inuyasha and the others, he'd traveled alone. He should be used to nothing but the company of his own thoughts. Now he found it a poor substitute for her girlish babble. When would things go back to normal for all of them? When would that feeling of satisfaction return? Perhaps they couldn't heal this chasm between them until all the others were gone. He felt a ghost of unease drift up his spine.

The thought of being alone with Sango, Inuyasha and Kagome was unnerving and he didn't know why. What happened? How did everything go so strange? Was it just the mountain, and the cells, and the long, time-twisted separation? Was it something more? He was sick to death of questions with no answers!

::0::0::

"Inuyasha." Miroku said and watched the familiar pattern of the dog-demon's ears twitching, and flattening and then coming up again. It had been two days since he'd let Miroku get close enough for a word or two with him or Kagome. They'd reached the home of the bushy haired monk, Hiroshi, and he'd finally managed to corner him. "The monks of Hiroshi's temple have offered us a place to stay for the night-"

"No." Inuyasha said shortly. "It's early. We can keep going."

"Just because we can, doesn't mean we should." Miroku argued. "My Lady is tired, and she has still not attempted any training-"

"No. We'll stay for lunch, then we're going."

"Is it just because I asked?" Miroku said, wanting to spit the words out hot and angry. Instead he kept his words even and un-challenging. "Inuyasha, have I done you some wrong?"

The half-demon froze. "Huh?"

Miroku slouched against his staff trying to look nonthreatening as possible. He'd been trying to just start a simple conversation with Inuyasha every day since they'd left the Twin Mountains. Inuyasha had been avoiding him as much as the half-demon had been fussing over Kagome. Miroku had tried to make peace with simply drifting along as part of the group. He thought there would be time later to reforge connections, to find his place again.

But he found he was tired of waiting. He was tired of waiting to see Kirara on the horizon, returning Sango. He was tired of waiting for Kagome to forgive him, because he knew she would, because she had to. And tired of waiting for Inuyasha to remember that Miroku was his friend, because he was Inuyasha's friend.

So he found the words tumbling out, and decided to stand by them. "My memories have been slow to return, so I don't know if I have done something to upset you." He remembered childhood lessons in dealing with dogs. Don't look them in the eye, don't challenge, don't show your fear. Miroku was tired of being alone. "But you act as if I have-"

"Shut up." Inuyasha said, his ears so flat against his skull that they practically disappeared into his hair. "Don't be stupid." Miroku opened his mouth to say more and the half-demon was gone, not even bothering to give an excuse this time.

::0::0::

It was dark and Miroku still hadn't figured out what to do with his arms. Before, and the word before was coming to mean any time before the mountain cell, he used to sleep sitting up. Usually propped against a tree or a rock. He'd put his staff over his shoulder and rest his hands on it just so.

But it was not comfortable, and he couldn't see how he'd ever found it comfortable. And he knew that the farmers and the monks and the miko women and priests were all getting tired of the jangle, jangle jangle of his staff as he tried to settle himself. He was getting sick of it-

"Quit squirming, Bouzu, and go to sleep!" Inuyasha growled as he stalked past Miroku. He was looking around for his own perch, but Miroku was propped up against the only tree. There were others, but they were too far from the camp they'd chosen in the middle of the clearing. It felt odd to sleep so exposed, after so long with four walls close and a ceiling above.

Secretly, Miroku had hoped that Kagome might spread her bedroll somewhere close to the tree. He thought Inuyasha would most likely sleep in it and they usually slept close. The branches overhead might make her feel, like him, that there was a ceiling above. But she had seen him at the base and instead unrolled her sleeping bag close to the fire and flanked by Hanako and Eiko. Inuyasha had not liked that, and he'd stalked off to kill something for breakfast the next morning. His hunt had been unsuccessful, except for a few rabbits, but he seemed calmer.

Now he was looking restlessly for somewhere to sleep. He circled the tree like he would find some thing else on the other side besides more grass. Finally giving up, he jumped into the branches above Miroku and settled.

Miroku was not so lucky. He could feel the bark of the tree cutting into his back. There was a rock under his left thigh. He hadn't noticed it when he first sat down, but now it was pressing into him and making him have to shift-

"Quit moving!" Inuyasha hissed from above.

Sighing, Miroku gave up and set his staff aside, still in reach. He pulled the blanket he'd been given off of himself, balled it up and clutched it to him. It wasn't quite right. It wasn't big enough, or firm enough and it didn't smell of apples. But maybe now he wouldn't embarrass himself by shouting when he woke and Kagome wasn't beside him. Maybe. It hadn't worked yesterday, but there was a chance.

"Finally." He heard Inuyasha mutter.

Miroku glanced up at the branches and the red sleeve poking out among the turning leaves. "It's fall." He said, just realizing it. The summer had passed while they'd been confined.

"Go to sleep." Inuyasha growled and folded his arms across his chest, the splash of red disappearing into the leaves.

Miroku shifted to his back, his stomach compressed tight and uncomfortable. "I did do something?" He asked, resuming their conversation from the other day. He didn't have to worry that Inuyasha had forgotten.

The half-demon fidgeted. "Dammit, can't you remember on your own?"

"What did I do?" Miroku asked firmly.

"It... It ain't what you did." Inuyasha finally bit out. "It's what you're doing. You keep actin' weird."

"What am I doing that is so strange?" Miroku asked, frustrated.

Inuyasha shifted and the branch creaked underneath him. He uncrossed and recrossed his arms and finally stared down at Miroku silently before speaking. "You keep followin' Kagome around." He mumbled, looking back over the camp.

Miroku frowned. He'd hoped that all this avoidance and rudeness had been something more than just jealousy. "M... Kagome and I spent half a year in a tiny cell together. I suppose I have gotten used to worrying about her." He gestured with a hand. "It was my main concern for too long, I cannot just turn it off."

"It ain't just that." Inuyasha grumbled.

"Then what is it?" Miroku asked, letting a little of his frustration show. He was tried of being pushed to the edge and ignored.

"Go to sleep, Bouzu." Inuyasha said and his voice was tired and resigned.

"Inuyasha?"

The half demon didn't answer. Miroku shifted to his side again, hugging his blanket and knowing he was going to get no sleep tonight. He glanced up at the fire and saw Kagome watching him, looking worried. She ducked her head into her sleeping bag.

::0::0::

"Which way do we travel today?" Miroku asked Inuyasha. He was getting rather good at being a stalker. He didn't like it, but if he ever wanted to be able to talk to Kagome again, he had to settle what ever issue the half-demon had with his behavior. Inuyasha sighed, his ears flicking in tired agitation.

"We'll-" Inuyasha cursed and jumped to the side, pulling Tessiaga just as a great something burst out of the long grass. The monster looked like he was nothing more than a giant demonic mass of grass and shrubbery.

"Shards!" The creature yelled, waving viney tentacles in the air. "Give me them!"

"My Lady," gasped Miroku. She still carried the shards. He ran towards her. "Create a barrier around My Lady!" He shouted, running toward her.

Reiki was the first to reach Kagome and circled her with her holy salt. "Stay there." She said harshly and Kagome froze with her foot half outside the salt.

"But I can help!" Kagome protested. "If I had an arrow-"

"It's you it's after." Reiki said, "Don't put others in danger by being reckless." She spun away to the side, holding her salt at the ready.

"Kagome!" Shippo danced outside of the salt. "I can't come in to you!"

"It proves Reiki's salt is working." Miroku said picking up the little fox. "Be patient until Inuyasha-"

There was a shriek as the thing seemed to separate in two. It parted around Inuyasha, ignoring him. It seemed to be made of plant matter and vines."The shards!" It gasped, and Miroku fleetingly wondered how it could talk. The two halves reformed and then collapsed in on itself. It skimmed, half submerged in the ground like a creature swimming through the surface of a pond.

It bowled along the ground and knocked farmers, mikos and priests to the ground without pausing. Miroku scrambled to get in front of Kagome, tossing Shippo out of harm's way and into Eiko's arms. The chubby miko looked determined as she pulled a small paper from her robes with her free hand. It looked like a little paper man with a square mark in the middle.

"Shikigami, PROTECT!" She called and tossed the paper into the air. It expanded and grew into a giant paper man, hovering in front of Miroku and Kagome. She nodded and clutching Shippo tighter to her ran out of the path of danger.

The plant demon paused. Did it have eyes? Miroku wondered. Could it see the giant paper man wavering in the breeze? He was amazed by Eiko's shikigami man, he had no idea the miko had any kind of power. The plant explored the edges of the paper man with leafy tendrils. It crackled with static bursts of holy power, but the plant wasn't even singed. With a growl of frustration the plant creature tore into the shikigami with vines, shredding it to little flutters of paper.

It was just enough of a distraction to let Inuyasha catch up the creature. He couldn't use the Wind Scar with Kagome and Miroku so close behind the thing. "Dammit!" He roared and used Tessiga like a giant machete chopping into the monster and sending plant matter flying everywhere. A vine flew into Miroku's face and squirmed trying to wrap itself around his neck. He pried it off and flung it away. The ground was becoming littered with wriggling bits of plant. As he watched to pieces of vine rejoined and twisted itself together to form a larger lump.

"It's regenerating!" Miroku called. "Everyone get out of the way and I'll open the wind tunnel." The farmers and holy people who'd gone to the edge of the clearing to watch the battle just looked at each other in confusion. He'd never told them about the wind tunnel he realized. They didn't understand. "GET OUT OF THE WAY!" He bellowed. They looked at each other and stepped about two paces to the side, not leaving a large enough channel for him to safely open the wind tunnel.

Inuyasha looked behind him at the spectators and grunted. "Damn fools!" He continued to hack away at the plant-thing, trying to keep it in small enough pieces to be harmless.

"Monk!" Kagome called from in her circle. "Get me an arrow so I can purify it!"

"We're handling this." Miroku bit out. "Reiki, more salt!"

"I don't have a limitless supply!" She protested, but flung a handful onto the hacked up bits. The demonic plants it hit shriveled black and stopped moving. She flung another handful at the main concentration of the plant, but wise to the danger it scattered like roaches then reformed. "I'm not wasting more on this, not unless you can gather it together."

"My Lady!" Taro called. "Where are you going?"

"What?" Miroku twisted around just in time to see Kagome step out of the salt circle and run towards one of the farmers. "My Lady!"

"Give me one of those!" She said grabbing the farmer's quiver and taking an arrow. "I'll purify it and then it- AUGH!" The plant thing had regrouped and while it was only half it's previous size it was twice as quick. It shot out a pair of vine tentacles and dragged her across the ground towards it. She clawed at the ground trying to halt it, barely managing to keep her grip on her arrow.

Taro darted out and grabbed her arms trying to pull her back. "My Lady!"

"Ow! Ow! Let go!" Kagome cried, "It hurts!" She kicked her legs trying to loosen the monster's grip. "Let go!"

Obediently Taro released her hands. The sudden loss of tension flipped Kagome over and she zipped over the ground towards the plant monster.

"I didn't mean you!" She yelled, looking at the young monk accusingly.

"I'm sorry!" Taro said and tried to run after her.

Miroku got to her first, just before she was pulled into the bristling mound of rebuilt plant matter. He stabbed his staff into the mass of greenery, tucked his arms under her armpits and pulled backwards digging his heels into the ground. "I've got you!" His staff glowed with holy power, pinning the creature in place. It couldn't get any closer, but it couldn't move away either."Inuyasha! Cut the vines!"

Inuyasha jumped forward and brought his sword down, severing the vines. Four more shot out of the plant creature scooting around the sword and running up Kagome's legs. It wrapped tightly around her and continued tugging her and Miroku closer. She was getting dangerously close to slicing herself on the sword. Inuyasha cursed and brought the sword back up.

"Fox fire!" Shippo yelled darting close and tossing fire on the plant.

It shrieked but didn't let go. The flames traveled up the vines and and started to lick at the hem of Kagome's kimono. Kagome gasped and kicked her legs but the creature continued to hold tight despite the flames.

"Hot! Hot!" Kagome yelled. "Hot!"

"Kagomeeee!" Shippo wailed. "I'm sorry!" He grabbed at her hair and tried to help Miroku tug her back.

Hanako ran over and poured water from her canteen over the flames, dousing them.. She grabbed one of the vines and her hands lit with a faint pearly blue light. It snapped in two and the beast howled and gave a mighty tug with the remaining vines pulling both Kagome and Miroku closer. Hanako tripped over her feet and fell back. Taro pulled her out of the way. Inuyasha growled. Kagome was too close to the monster to risk using his sword. Her left foot was encased in little creeping vines.

"Oh, Kami," she gave a hysterical giggle, panic tinging her voice. "It tickles." She squirmed in Miroku's grip.

"Stop it!" He grimaced. "I'll lose you!"

"I can't help it!" Kagome gasped and she was crying as she giggled. "It tickles!"

"Kagome!" Shippo whined, still clutching her hair. "Do something, Inuyasha!"

Inuyasha growled and tossed aside his sword and started to tear into the creature with his claws. "This damn thing won't die! Does it have a shard?" The thing managed to squirm farther up Kagome's leg despite the damage Inuyasha was doing.

Kagome looked at the monster. "I don't see one." She stiffened and shrieked. "It's going up my kimono! Ew! Ew! Get it off! Get it off! Perverted plant!!" She glared at Miroku. "Let me go so I can purify it!" She still clutched her arrow in her hand. "Purifying it works! Hanako proved it!"

"My Lady-"

"This is ridiculous!" Kagome shouted and with a surprising burst of strength wrenched herself free of Miroku's grip. He fell back on his rear and before he could grab her again the plant jerked her forward, practically into the center of it. She stabbed the arrow into the heart of the demonic shrub. "Take that!"

For a moment Miroku thought it was over. He expected the arrow to glow a blazing pink and the plant to be destroyed.

"What's going on?" Kagome gasped and the plant happily started to wrap her in a cocoon of vines and leaves. A vine wrapped around her wrists binding them together and to the faintly glowing arrow. She squirmed and tried to tug herself free. The plant wasn't even bothered by the arrow, using it as a trellis to grow up and reach out for her.

"Shaaaards..." It hissed.

"Why isn't it working?!" She screamed, quickly being overcome by the plant.

"Kagome! Kagome!" Shippo yelled, practically climbing up her hair to tear at the vines starting to wrap around her neck. The situation that had bordered on humorous a moment ago was quickly becoming terrifying.

"The sutra!" Miroku yelled, realizing the sutra meant to protect her was keeping her power sealed. "You have to remove it!" He started tearing at the vines around her back.

"I can't!" She screamed, panicked. "It's got my hands!"

"Where is it?" Inuyasha shouted tearing through the vines and grasses.

Kagome blushed. "It's... It's..."

"Spit it out, you dumb girl!" Inuyasha shouted.

"It's in my kimono, okay!" Kagome blazed back. "It's in my bra! Are you happy now!?"

Inuyasha actually froze, his face flaming red and claw poised to grab where she'd indicated. "What'd ya put it in a dumb place like that for?!"

"I didn't want to lose it!" Kagome shouted. "And it's not like I have any pockets!"

"Now isn't the time!" Miroku yelled. He tore away the vines from the front of her kimono and reached in.

"Miroku!" Shippo yelled from Kagome's shoulder. "Is that all you think of?!"

Kagome screamed, "To the left! To the left! HANDS!" She shook her head and Shippo went flying.

"I wasn't even trying that time." Miroku muttered, sparing a moment to despair that there wasn't even time to enjoy this, but finally found the slip of paper and tore it out.

There was a bright flash of pink and three blended shrieks. The concussion blast was even enough to throw Miroku back.

"I did it!" Kagome cheered. She stood up, dropped the arrow and dusted herself off. The demon plant monster had turned to ash. She saw a glimmer by her foot. "Hey!" She picked up a dusky gray shard. It instantly purified a bright healthy pink. "It did have a shard! Why didn't I see it bef-"

A few feet from her Inuyasha laid sprawled in the grass. He wasn't moving.

"Inuyasha?" She whispered. "Inuyasha! She shouted and ran over to him. "What... What happened?" His dog ears were gone and his hair was black. He was unconscious. She knelt down and checked him over. "He's breathing...But..." She looked up at the farmers and holy men and women just looking on. "What are you all just standing there for? Do something! Inuyasha is hurt!"

"Kagome-chan." Eiko said softly, cradling a small form in her arms. "The little fox."

"What?" Kagome gasped, and scrambled up. "Shippo!" She reached out, not even noticing the light pink glow dancing over her skin.

"Don't touch him!" Miroku yelled, launching himself up from the ground and grabbing her wrist. "Look at yourself! You've already purified Inuyasha, you could kill Shippo in your state!"

"W-what?" Kagome gasped, pulling away from him. She looked at her hands. "I...I... did that to Inuyasha?" She looked between Eiko and Miroku. "Is... Is Shippo okay?" She wrung her hands together, the pink cast to her skin intensified.

"He was just on the edge of the purity blast." Hanako said stepping forward. "I saw it, it just pushed him back a little."

"He's breathing fine." Eiko said reassuringly. "I think it just knocked him out. He's a little warm, so there might be a little fever."

"K-kagome?" The little form in Eiko's hand started to squirm and whine. "Kagomeeee..." Shippo whined. "I want Kagome! Where is she? Did she go home? Did they take her again? Kagomeeee..." He started to sniffle and give off small, pathetic, animalistic whines. "Kagome?"

"I'm right here." Kagome called, twining her fingers in an obvious attempt to stem the urge to reach for him again. "Shh.. Shh... Just rest." She looked at her hands. "How do I turn it off?" She looked up at Miroku who was standing close. He watched in fascination as the pink intensified as her agitation grew. "I have to turn it off!"

"The sutra." Taro said. "I have another..."

Kagome turned to him like a drowning man looks for land. She snatched it out of his hands. The pink light dimmed but didn't go away. "It won't turn off!"

Miroku grabbed her shoulders and turned her to him. "It never will." He said. "It's a part of you, of your blood and soul. You have to control it."

"But how?" She sobbed. She leaned into him and for a moment Miroku was completely distracted by the press of her body, so familiar and missed.

"Remember your lessons with Kaede." He said, keeping his voice calm. He smoothed his hands down her back. "Deep breaths..." He breathed in and out calmly, willing her to match with him. "Look inside yourself, and pull it in... Deep breaths."

She pulled back from him and looked at her hands. "It's gone." She turned towards Eiko.

"It's not gone."

She looked back at him, then looking at her hands again without a hint of pink. "But."

"It's the sutra that's controlling it." Miroku continued. "The moment you remove it or if you get too stressed, you'll lose control again."

She took Shippo from Eiko. "But it's fine now." She cuddled the whimpering kit to her. "Shh, Shh..." He snuffled and snuggled into her arms.

"My Lady," Miroku said, "Next time you might not be so lucky. Next time you might kill Shippo."

"I'd never-" She started.

"If he'd still been on your shoulder when I removed the sutra you could have killed him today." He said.

"Re-set up camp." Reiki interrupted, looking up from where she was kneeling by Inuyasha. "The Hanyo isn't going anywhere today."

"His name is Inuyasha." Kagome hissed.

"He still isn't going anywhere today." Reiki said flatly. "And I'm not leaving until I recover as much salt as I can. If you'd just stayed in the circle the rest of us could have managed to destroy that thing. If you want to be mad at someone, be mad at yourself." The exorcist stalked off.

"Don't agitate her while she's holding the little fox." Eiko scolded. She patted Kagome on the shoulder. "Why don't you go sit by your friend? He'll probably wake up soon, let's try to make him comfortable. Hanako? Could you get some blankets? Sato, can you get the others to gather firewood and send someone to collect water? Mariko, it's early... but why don't you start lunch? Anyone with healing skills should see if they can't find any herbs or remedies for fever, okay? I think there were some willow trees a little ways back, that'd be a good place to start." Everyone scrambled to obey and Miroku was surprised again by Eiko. She was surprisingly good in an emergency.

She put a guiding arm around Kagome and giggled. "I was surprised! He's rather attractive as a human, don't you think? What color are his eyes..." She walked Kagome over to Inuyasha.

::0::0::

Kagome looked up at the soft jangle of the staff, her eyes puffy and lost. "Monk?" She whispered and wiped her eyes.

"You didn't eat your dinner." Miroku said, sitting next to her with a small package in his hands. They'd put Inuyasha and Shippo in a secluded corner of the clearing, away from the main fire. They'd built them a small one for warmth, but Kagome hadn't been tending it and it was mostly embers now.

"Please, not now." She begged, looking back at Inuyasha, still black haired and unconscious. She'd laid Shippo next to him on her pillow and tucked a blanket around him. The little kit had been suffering from a fever and sore body, she stroked the little boy's back when he started to fuss in his sleep. Shippo had been awake off and on through the day, but Inuyasha hadn't even stirred.

Miroku handed her a riceball. "If you're going to stay awake until they wake up, you'll need something."

She nodded and took it, but didn't answer him. "When is he going to wake up?" She sniffled and he knew she was referring to Inuyasha.

"Probably once his demon blood is unsealed." Miroku said.

"Unsealed?" Kagome said looking up a him. Her fingers were tearing the riceball apart. "But, I thought I just purified him."

"Eat that." Miroku said, "Don't play with it."

Kagome automatically brought it up to her mouth and took a bite. She started to cry again.

"Don't." Miroku said and reached out for her. She flinched and he let his hands drop. "He can't be completely purified. His demonic power is written into his very bones. It merely retreated deep inside him as protection against your blast. You sealed his power away inside him. Even now I'm sure his blood is fighting against it, it's devoting all his energy to it." He gave her a sigh, "At least that is the theory Taro and the others have come up with. I, and the others, can still sense his youki, it's just very faint. Once it regains enough strength, he'll wake up. I'm sure of it, My Lady."

"Really?" She asked hopefully.

"Yes." Miroku wanted to scold her. He wanted to shake her and point out that besides hurting Inuyasha and Shippo she'd very nearly gotten herself killed. But now wasn't the time. "I'll get you a sleeping roll." He said, starting to rise. She'd had the others put Inuyasha in her strange sleeping bag. "You should rest."

"Will..." she started then looked away. "Never mind."

"What is it?" Miroku said standing and looking down at her.

She shook her head and wouldn't meet his eyes. "It's not important." She nibbled at the riceball and gave a little shiver.

"I'll be back in a moment." Miroku said.

When he returned she had finished the riceball and was curled up in the grass watching her two youkai friends sleep. She nibbled on her thumbnail and her eyes were dewy with unshed tears.

"I can't believe I did that." She whispered, looking very young. "I can't believe it."

"We always knew your power was great." Miroku said. "Now you must learn to control it. Imagine what one of your arrows could do to Naraku now."

She shuddered. "Imagine what it could have done to Shippo." She reached out smooth back Shippo's bangs. "Look what it did to Inuyasha." She curled into herself.

"You cannot change what is done." Miroku said softly and cast a blanket over her. She wrapped it around her and looked up at him. "You can only try to keep it from happening again."

She nodded. "Will..." She stopped again.

"What is it, My Lady?" He sat beside her and spread his hands. "You know you merely have to ask."

"Will you help me?" She asked in a rush, reaching forward and grabbing his hands. "I don't ever want that to happen again." She shook her head and sighed. "Please, I know I was selfish before and I made you uncomfortable, but I won't do it again." She started crying again. "I'm doing everything wrong, and I know it, and I'm sorry-"

Miroku squeezed her hand in his and then reached forward to brush the tears off her cheeks. "You don't have to ask. Of course I will help you. We have come this far together, haven't we, My Lady?"

"Kagome?" Shippo fussed, his nose testing the air and cracking his eyes open. "Why are you crying? Did Miroku grope you again?"

"What? No." She said with a strangled giggle. She let go of Miroku's hand and turned her attention to Shippo. He reached for her and she picked him up. She smoothed back his bangs. "I think your fever is going down." She said, stroking the kit's cheek. "Are you hungry? Mariko made riceballs and soup."

The kit shook his head and snuggled into her chest. He was starved for comfort, not food. "I had a dream that you were gone again." He whispered.

"I'm right here," she said.

"Promise you'll stay?" Shippo said tucking himself up into a little ball in her arms. "Don't go away again."

"Oh, Shippo." She sighed, and smoothed his hair again. "I wish I could promise."

It was enough for the kit and he sighed and tucked himself even tighter against her. "Will you teach me a song?"

"A song?" She asked, glancing at Miroku.

"Like the special one you taught Miroku, the one you sang with your brother." Shippo looked up at her with huge moist green eyes. "I don't understand why he gets to know it and I don't." He pouted. He sniffled. "I thought you said I was family."

Kagome shot Miroku a glare. "Miroku was just teasing you." There was no way she was teaching the little fox "the song that doesn't end." They would never hear the end of it.

Shippo looked at Miroku, and gave the monk a dirty look. "You lied?"

"I did no such thing." Miroku said. "My Lady taught me several entertaining songs."

Shippo looked back and forth between them, trying to figure out who was lying. "Why can't I learn any of them?" He whined. "Please?" He begged Kagome.

"Why is this so important to you?" Kagome sighed. "You don't want to hear me sing, I have a terrible voice."

"I don't care." Shippo fussed kicking a leg. "If I was really family you'd teach me."

"I'll sing it." Miroku said, understanding the kit's need to secure his place with Kagome. "My Lady truly does dislike her voice, it took a lot of convincing to get her to sing for me." He scooted close enough that his shoulder bumped against hers. He stretched his arm behind her to support himself.

"Monk-" She started, her brows coming together and arms tightening on Shippo.

He held up a hand and leaned forward. "Don't worry," he whispered into her ear, almost too soft for her to hear. "Just think of this as my apology, for that morning."

He looked down at Shippo, "This song her mother likes."

She blinked at him, comprehension dawning.

"You always hurt the ones you love, the one you shouldn't hurt at all." He sang, his deep voice soft and husky. This was private, and there were others out there in the field who liked to listen to everything that passed between them. This wasn't for them. It was just for the woman and child sitting before him. "You always take the sweetest rose, and crush it till the petals fall."

Shippo sighed and relaxed. "This is a sad song," he sighed. "Your Mama likes it?"

"Yeah, she listens to it all the time. I think it reminds her of my father." Kagome smiled and the little boy's eyes drifted shut as Miroku finished the song, trailing off at the words Kagome still couldn't remember.

"Don't stop." Shippo said, glancing at Miroku, fighting to stay awake.

The monk smiled and leaned forward, pressing his weight subtly against Kagome, willing her to hear her apology in the words. He sang the lyrics again, and continued even after the kit was sound asleep. "You always break the kindest heart, with a hasty word you can't recall. So if I broke your heart last night... " he looked up at her. "I'm sorry." He whispered.

"For what?" She asked, leaning back against him, the habits of the cave overruling the two week separation they'd had.

"My Lady, you did nothing wrong that morning." He said. "I was half asleep, and my words... I didn't mean them." He gave her a rather rueful look. "I rather enjoyed being used as a bedwarmer."

She sniffled. "No, it was my fault. I'm sorry. I didn't think-"

"Enough." Miroku said. "Let's set it aside. You have enough worries, My Lady."

"How can you do that, just put it away in a little box and forget it?"

Becoming increasingly aware of her curves as she settled back against him, he was glad she couldn't read minds. She'd be aware how very little he was able to "forget things." He shrugged and wrapped an arm around her. "I do what is necessary. Rest, My Lady. Tomorrow we'll start your training again."

He spread the pallet of her sleeping roll down next to Inuyasha. She shifted herself to lay back against it, keeping Shippo cradled to her chest. She struggled with her blanket, trying to figure out how to get it back over them without her arms free.

"Let me," Miroku chuckled, tugged it off and re-arranged it over her.

"Thanks." She said and yawned.

He took his own bedroll and laid it close to hers. She blinked at him and cast one guilty look towards Inuyasha. She didn't protest when he crawled in and laid facing her.

"Inuyasha will really be alright?" She asked. "What if he wakes up in the middle of the night?"

"I doubt he will wake before morning." Miroku reassured her. "But if he does, we have water and food here. I'm sure he'll wake us if he needs something." He was struck by a sudden thought. "But he might be upset by my presence." He said reluctantly. He sat up and started to gather his things. "It might be best if I slept with the others."

Kagome's hand darted out from underneath the blanket. "Don't go." She said. "Please. I don't want to be alone."

He nodded, but moved his bedroll so that there was a thin strip of grass between them. "As you wish, My Lady." He gave her a sudden boyish grin, his lavender eyes flashing. "I will leave it to you to explain to Inuyasha when he wakes." He settled onto the blanket, laying on his side so he could look at her.

"Oh, sure." Kagome's lips twitched, she couldn't resist that grin. "Give me the tough job." She rolled onto her back and turned her head towards Inuyasha. Her eyes darted over his form as if checking for a return of any of his demonic features. She stroked at Shippo's back. The kit was boneless against her, as loose as a rag doll. "I don't think he'll be too upset."

She glanced back to see a shadow pass over Miroku's features. "I mean," she said. "I don't think he'll be too upset at you." Her lips twisted and she suddenly looked close to tears. "I'm the one w-who purified him."

"I'm sure Inuyasha will understand." Miroku paused, and faded memories of some of Inuyasha and Kagome's spectacular fights filtered through his mind. "Eventually." His eyes twinkled as he added with a shrug. "Maybe."

Kagome laughed despite herself, "Oh, you." She covered her eyes with an arm, and Miroku was sure she was hiding watering eyes from him.

"Me." Miroku agreed. He sighed and looked up at the sky. Silence settled around them, broken only by Shippo's small snuffles of contentment and the crackling fire.

"Monk." She whispered, and he looked over to see her staring up at stars. "Does it make you nervous sometimes, that the sky is so big?"

Miroku shivered, and he knew exactly what she meant. After having a ceiling and four walls encompass their whole world for so long, sometimes he'd look up and be unnerved by the sheer vastness of the world around him.

"Yes." He answered, and was surprised at how vehement his voice sounded. "Especially when I am trying to sleep. It makes me feel... very small."

Kagome gave a little sigh. "Yes," she said with satisfaction. "Exactly, that's exactly it." She turned her face to him. "The other day, when Inuyasha was carrying me I suddenly got really scared. I mean the sky was just so big, and the ground was so far away, and I felt like I was tiny. It felt like I could slip right through his fingers and he wouldn't even notice." She shivered. "I started to feel... I don't even know, like the world was spinning or something. I started shaking and I nearly choked Inuyasha I was holding on to him so tight. I couldn't stop shaking."

She swallowed. "I think I really scared Inuyasha. We sat in a tree and he kept yelling at me to calm down and quit being stupid, that he wasn't going to drop me or anything." She looked back at Miroku. "It's not like I didn't know that, but I just couldn't make him understand. I didn't understand."

"I can't figure out what to do with my arms." Miroku confessed. When Kagome turned to look at him, her confusion plain, he continued. "When I sleep. I know I used to sleep sitting up, and held on to my staff. But now, when I try to settle that way I cannot get comfortable. Even now, laying down I can't figure out what to do with them. If I cross them over my chest," He did so, "my shoulders hurt. If I put them at my side, it feels unnatural. If I put them under my head, my hands fall asleep..." He trailed off, knowing that his voice was beginning to sound hysterical. He sighed and tried to relax. "And I know I am making too much of it, but I can't help obsessing over it." He looked at her, "I feel uncomfortable in my own skin, My Lady."

"Me too," she whispered and her eyes were shining. "I thought it was just me. Inuyasha keeps trying to argue with me, and I know that before," and Miroku could tell that for her "before" in that tone meant before the mountain, "I used to argue with him a lot, that it was almost fun to argue. But now I just get so tired, and I can tell that Inuyasha thinks I'm really mad at him or upset or something. And I'm not." She said emphatically. "I'm not mad at him. I'm just tired." She smoothed her hands through Shippo's hair. "I just don't know how to act like the "me" he expects anymore."

"You are the wrong shape." Miroku nodded.

"What's that supposed to mean?" She asked, but he could see in her eyes that she understood.

"I thought before," Miroku explained, "that the me-shaped hole in this world was a circle, but I have become a square."

"Me too..." Kagome nodded. "And it's like I speak square-language and everyone else is speaking circle."

"Except me." Miroku reminded her.

"Except you." She sighed. "I guess we'll just have to re-learn the language. I thought everything would be so easy once we escaped. I thought everything would just go back to normal."

"You would be with your man. We'd have our important task to solve, and we would just slip back into our lives." Miroku agreed.

"My man." Kagome repeated, and snorted. "It seemed so simple back in the cave. Why did I remember any of it, if I wasn't going to remember all of it?"

"There are very few people who enjoy inflicting pain on themselves," Miroku sighed. "And you were suffering enough. But even if things are..." he trailed off searching for the right word, "...confused... between the two of you, surely you don't doubt his feelings for you? He is your man, no matter what other claims might lie against him."

Kagome stared at Miroku silently, but her gaze was turned inward. "It's... it's not that I doubt him," she whispered. "It's because I trust him so much. Inuyasha will always do the right thing, even if it's not the thing that will make him happy." Her gaze sharpened and she was looking at him again, "I want him to be happy, he deserves it. There's got to be some way to make that the right thing."

Her eyes were watery again when she looked at him. "It's just that... I might not be what makes him happy."

Miroku sighted and reached across the small divide to smooth his fingers over one of the hands curled over Shippo. "I grow tired of seeing you cry, My Lady. Don't forget about your own happiness as well. You are no less deserving then anyone else."

Kagome shivered at the feel of his callused fingertips over her knuckles. She reached out when he withdrew, wanting to prolong the contact. She caught a couple of his long fingers in her small hand. He smiled and curled his fingers around her hand.

"He's not mad at you." She whispered. "He told me you asked if you'd done something wrong. I think he's just a little weirded out because you keep chasing him around."

Miroku flinched. He was not a man used to confiding in others, and he was disturbed at the thought of Kagome and Inuyasha discussing him and his questions. "He blames me for getting you caught." He said.

"No-"

"He said as much when he took you to help capture the headman." Miroku said, his fingers tightening around her hand.

"He was angry." Kagome said. "He didn't mean it, you know that. He always says stupid stuff when he's mad."

"He was angry with me." Miroku said with quiet certainty. "Angry because I let you get caught, and because of that get into the state you're in now."

Kagome's eyes flashed. "And what "state" am I in?"

"Half-starved, confused, weakened in body and now with powers out of your control. All of that could be laid at my feet." Miroku said, he glanced over her at the sleeping Inuyasha. "What happened today could be seen as my fault."

"But that doesn't make any sense." Kagome said, squeezing his fingers. "We were all looking for a way to hide the shards. You just came up with one option, we all decided to try it. It's not like you knew what was going to happen. We all thought the monks were still there, and if Master Shinryu still was... I bet he would have figured out a way to shield them. It was worth a try. How were we supposed to know what was really going on there? It's not like anyone said anything in the villages we came to before it." She paused and looked confused. "I don't think."

"Did we stop in villages along the way?" Miroku asked, more to himself then her. Were there warning signs and he'd just ignored them?

"Ooooh," Her hand clenched in his, "I don't know! That's so annoying! It's those little bits that are gone and you don't even realize it until you try to remember it." Her fingers loosened a little. "I still don't remember going into the village." She darted a look to him. "Do you?"

"No," he sighed. "My memories remain vague on most matters."

"But..." she bit her lip and looked away. "Never mind."

"Let's not have secrets between us." Miroku said jiggling her fingers to get her attention. "You are the only one who speaks my language." He reminded her with a grin. It faded and he looked apologetic. "I caused a rift between us- No, let me finish," He said when she started to interrupt. "I caused a rift between us when I did not tell you what was bothering me. Let's not do that again. I have missed you, My Lady."

"I missed you too." Kagome confessed. "Taro would tell me something or Eiko, and I'd think "I wonder what Monk would think about that..." But then I couldn't talk to you and it felt lonely."

Feeling sufficiently warmed by the thought she had missed his company, he reminded her of the topic of their discussion. "What were you going say?"

She frowned in confusion before her face cleared in remembrance. It faded to a serious introspective look and he could tell she was choosing her words carefully. "You keep saying that your memories haven't returned like you can't do anything about it. But you haven't been trying... not at all! No, now you let me finish!" She said when his mouth started to open. "Whenever Hanako or Taro or any of the others start telling stories, or playing memory games you wander off to talk to the farmers. It's like you're trying to avoid it, you already know the bad stuff. Don't you want to remember any of the good stuff too?"

"Bad stuff?" Miroku repeated, lifting an eyebrow. She had the most amusing way of speaking.

"Naraku, the wind tunnel, the shards..." She sighed. "The bad stuff." She looked at him earnestly, "There isn't anything worse... I mean, there isn't any more "bad stuff" to remember, I promise. You don't have to be afraid to remember."

Miroku paused. "I'm not afraid." He said finally.

"Do you know it?" She asked, stressing "know" in the way they used to seal the truth when they played their guessing games in the cave. "Because you don't sound sure."

He dropped his gaze from her intent look. He studied the fingers in his hand. He bent forward, "Perhaps I choose to focus on making new," he kissed each fingertip in turn, "Pleasant," he turned her palm up to press a wet kiss on it. "Memories." The last word came out deep, rumbly and suggestive.

"Don't do that!" She said and jerked her hand away.

Kagome's eyes sparked and her fingers dug into the back of Shippo's

jacket. "Don't do that! You're just being sexy so you won't have to talk

about your memories! Stop avoiding it!"

"Kagome."

She blinked at his serious tone and the use of her name. "What...?"

"Calm down." Miroku said and his voice was odd and flat even to his own ears.

"Wh-"

"Kagome, you're glowing. Calm down."

Gasping Kagome looked at her hand, it had a faint pink shimmer to it. She quickly lifted her hands into the air. "Shippo!" she squeaked. "Take him! Take him!"

Miroku sat up and reached over, gently sliding the kitsune off of her chest and onto the blanket next to her. The kit whined at the loss of her body heat, but didn't wake. He curled up on himself and hugged his tail to his chest. Kagome inched away from him, putting a safe buffer between them, and looked at her hand horror. "Why? Why isn't the sutra working anymore?"

"It is working. Your power isn't leaving the confines of your body." Miroku said calmly. "That's all the sutra was designed to do, return your power to you instead of sending it out. But you are brimming with it, My Lady. Before the shrine took your power and used it in the barrier. Then it was just poured out into nothingness. Now it is building up and waits to be used, you called it out today to purify that plant yokai and the shard. That's the only way you've shown your power how to respond."

"I don't want to use it!" Kagome cried and Shippo flinched in his sleep. She bit her lip and continued in a lower voice. "I just want it to go away."

"It will never go away." Miroku said softly. "Not until you draw your last breath. You can only learn to live with it, control it, and use it safely and properly." He inched forward and smoothed back her bangs and wiped the frustrated tears from her cheeks. Cupping her face, the cool beads rolling across her cheek, he whispered. "You could do such amazing things, My Lady." He kissed her lightly, chastely, on the forehead.

Her face changed and she grabbed his hand before he could withdraw. "I'm scared." She said, looking determined. "But I won't run away if you won't."

"I'd never run away from you-" Miroku started.

"No, from your memories." Kagome said. "I'll start training, really training..." and her eyes slid away guiltily. He'd always thought her inability when Kaede had been teaching her was a bit forced, it seems he was right. She looked back up at him, "...if you start remembering, or at least really trying to remember."

"Why is this so important to you?"

She looked up at him, looked away and frowned. "I don't know. But it's like... right now you're broken..." She pulled his slack hand away from her face and threaded her fingers through his. He was struck again by how careless she was with his void. It was not even inches away from her fingertips. "We both are. You've been trying so hard to help me, I want to do something for you." She looked up at him hopefully. "Is it a deal?"

"If you really wanted to do something for me..." He said lowering his forehead to touch hers and deepening his voice, "you'd..." He trailed off and sighed when instead of blushing prettily and recoiling she just looked hurt instead. "It is a deal, My Lady."

She gave him a brilliant smile and leaned forward, pressing a friendly kiss to his cheek. "Thank you, Monk." Unable to contain herself she leaned sat up and gave him a quick one armed hug, her other hand still twined with his.

She started to draw back but he held her close, pressing her to him for a moment more. He let her go before she could get uncomfortable. "You are no longer glowing." He said, pushing back her hair and stroking her cheek with his thumb.

She looked at her hands and gasped. The pearly glow was gone. "Thank goodness!" She yawned and glanced at Inuyasha, he still slept and there was still no sign of his demonic features. She smoothed her hand down Shippo's back, still slumbering between them. "Do you really think we can make it so it doesn't do that anymore?" She looked at her fingers like it might start glowing bright again at any moment. "I don't like it just coming out like that." She settled back down on her blanket.

"I'm certain of it." Miroku said, reluctantly settling back onto his lonely pallet. "But it will be easier if you have slept." He lifted a bushy brow suggestively.

She snorted. "Fine, fine. I'm going to sleep." She curled up on her side, wrapping herself protectively around Shippo and tugged her blanket up over her. She sighed and squirmed.

Miroku felt a ghost Kagome in his arms as his body remembered how she'd squirm next to him before drifting off to sleep. She had her nightly ritual, one he hadn't even noticed until it was missed. She'd wriggle closer to his heat, then sigh, stroke a hand up her arm, rub her feet together and then go boneless and drift to sleep. She her eyes fluttered and she caught him looking. She gave a faint, sleepy smile.

He reached out and then almost drew his hand back. He'd only just gotten her speaking to him again. He was uncertain of his own reactions and afraid she'd interpret some move that seemed natural to him as too forward. She just widened her smile and let him wind his fingers through hers. She closed her eyes and drifted off.

::0::0::

"My Lady!?" Miroku shouted, coming awake with a start and reaching for a body that wasn't there.

"What? What? Huh?" Kagome shot up into a sitting position and launching Shippo into a tumble. "What? I'm up! I'm up!"

"Kagomeeee..." Shippo whined. "I was sleeping..."

"Dammit, Bouzu!" Inuyasha said, clawing through Kagome's sleeping bag and sitting up in it's shredded remains. "She's right- What the fuck!?" He crouched among the fluff and fabric of the bag and looked around suspiciously. "What the hell happened?!"

"Inuyasha! You're awake!" Kagome launched herself at him, hugging him tight. "I'm so sorry! I thought I killed you!" She pulled back and Inuyasha stiffened in shock as she ran hands over his ears. "They're back! I'm so happy! And your hands?" She grabbed them and flipped them over, nearly nicking herself on his claws. "Great! Everything's back to normal!"

She hugged him again. "Kami! I really thought you'd never wake up again." She started to sob. "I'm so sorry! I didn't mean it." She sat back and covered her eyes. She picked up a scrap of her sleeping bag and blew her nose, then took a closer look at the cloth. "Hey! What did you do to my sleeping bag?"

"What the hell!" Inuyasha fell back on his rear, totally confused. "Forget about the stupid bag! Why are you glowing?!"

::0::0::

I'm back! With a bit of a longer chapter this time... - SocialExperiment