Miroku watched as Sango cleaned her weapon, meticulously, completely absorbed in her task. Her brow was furrowed as she tried to get a stain off of it. Inuyasha had gone off somewhere with Shippou in tow. Kirara had gone hunting and the two humans were stuck together.

Whereas Miroku would have once welcomed such an opportunity, today he found himself uncomfortable. He loved this woman but Kagome's words kept rotating in his mind. Did he really know what love was? Sango's views disturbed him. Although he understood her mindset as the women in his era were only recognized by their relationship with a man, be it father, brother, husband or son. He had sought to give Sango the status as his wife but now; He looked away from the beautiful demon slayer. Now, doubts had started growing.

Kagome's way of thinking fascinated him, and unsettled him at the same time. He wondered what had caused such a sudden maturity to develop in her. Inuyasha has been shocked to say the least, when the young miko had all but told him she didn't have feelings for him. He hadn't been heartbroken, but shocked. The hanyou had probably expected to end up with Kagome after Kikyou departed. In fact, Miroku frowned, he had been in full denial of the whole episode.

"Keh, she's just being stupid. Kagome needs me." Had been his offhand remark when Sango had asked him. Miroku was not so sure his friend understood how independent women from Kagome's era were.

"Sango."

The woman in question, looked up.

"Do you intend to marry?"

Sango glared at him, :If this is some sort of -"

"No!" Miroku waved his hands, hastily, "An honest question, I assure you."

She studied him for a few seconds in silence, "Yes, of course. Why?"

The monk knew that Sango had not been oblivious to his former intentions with her and he could see how wary she was when she looked at him.

"If your husband were to have relations with other women aside from you -"

The Hiraikotsu hit him smack on the head and he groaned, apologizing profusely, "I was not trying to offend. It was a simple question!"

But he was talking to Sango's back as she marched away, angrily.

As he watched her behind sway with each step, he found himself confused by her reaction. She had clearly stated that she expected men to be unfaithful. Then why was she so angry over what he had said?

Women were very confusing.

Sounds of footsteps met his ears a few minutes later as he sat, rubbing his head. He turned around to see Kagome rushing towards him, waving a piece of paper, excitedly.

"Miroku! Look at this!"

Lips curving at the infectious grin on her face, he let her catch her breath to hand him the paper. "This is -?"

"A few random paragraphs I copied down! See," She pointed out, "My writing is getting neater."

"That it is, Lady Kagome."

She had stopped using the honorific a while ago and he found that he didn't mind. His eyes skimmed over the words and he paused at certain phrases that were oddly familiar.

"Lady Kagome," He asked, hesitantly, "Were these, by any chance written by a monk?"

Kagome paled. "Why would you ask me that?"

"Well," He continued, pretending not to notice her discomfort, "Some of these phrases are what we monks are taught as our training progresses. Simple lines like 'As Kami decrees', or 'Never lose faith in the Kami'."

Kagome looked at the paper, "Those don't sound like they would be limited to monks only."

Miroku chuckled, "True. But aside from us monks, these phrases are not used that commonly."

Kagome shrugged, "I don't know who wrote them. They weren't signed."

"Oh. Let's see then." As he leaned forward to study the writing, Kagome wondered if her curiosity was worth it.

Miroku's voice brought her back to the present as he frowned, reading and rereading the passages. "I do not understand."

"What is it, Miroku?"

He glanced at Kagome, "These are from the same letter?"

She shook her head, "No. Two different ones."

"Hmm. Well, this one, " he pointed to the first one, "Says, 'It is strange what I find myself feeling for this girl. I always thought I had given my heart to someone else, but it seems the Kamis decree otherwise. She seeks my company and I hers. The others don't notice or they don't care. My hanyou friend-"

Kagome let out a cry and snatched the paper from him.

Miroku was silent, "I feel I should be a bit angry with you, Lady Kagome."

She looked away, not wanting to meet his eyes. "I'm sorry. I just -"

Miroku smiled, "Curious?"

She nodded, feeling horrible.

He looked up at her, raising a brow, "Did you think I would not recognize my own style of writing, lady Kagome?"

She sat down next to him, feeling a bit disgruntled, "I feel horrible."

"And you should." Miroku looked across the meadow. "It is an invasion of privacy."

"I'm sorry, Miroku."

Miroku patted her shoulder, and chuckled, "It is quite all right, Kagome. Besides the ones I translated before were not true either."

Kagome gave him a shocked look as he laughed, "What? Did you think that I would let you read my innermost thoughts, Lady Kagome? And besides," He shot her a look, "Those were very private and they have led to me to ponder some things for my future."

At her chagrined look, he grinned, "I will let you do one thing. When the well is sealed and you are on the other side, you may read them yourself. I will teach you the writing style of this time and you can read those letters. But only after the well is sealed and you are on that side."

Kagome nodded, "That's fair."

"Yes. More than."

They sat in companionable silence for a while till Kagome asked, "So not even a hint -"

Miroku laughed.

A.N: I'm sorry. Three years is not short time. I am working on this now as well. I promise.