Authoress' notes: Well this is just a little piece on Inuyasha. Focuses mostly on Miroku and his past, but I'm working a little bit of a Sango/Miroku pairing. Hopefully everyone will like this. Just so you know I'm watching the dub on CN and I've only made it far as last one they've shown, so if anything is really off forgive me, this is just my interpretation. Thanks! Have a great day! Smiles
EDIT: I swear this is the last time I am reposting this... I think I finally have the formatting right, so it looks like it is supposed to. SIGH Oh well, I still hope you all enjoy it. Smiles
Legal stuff: I don't own Inuyasha; if I did I wouldn't be so poor now would I? Please don't sue me. There's nothing for you to get...really.
Family Ties: Part 1
" Please don't take him!" Came the shrill angry voice of a child. There were angry eyes all about him, but he couldn't fight back; couldn't move.
"What use would I have for this brat?" That voice; that deep-throated, vicious voice, which belonged to the causer of so much pain and suffering that it, was unimaginable. Then there were two malevolent eyes glaring down at him: Naraku's eyes.
Miroku snapped awake with start and drew in a sharp breath. His eyes adjusted to the dying firelight, as he looked around the camp to see if anyone had been awakened by his quiet outburst.
Sango was leaning on her arm across the fire from him, her eyes shone bright from the firelight and alert from being trained to be a light sleeper. "Are you alright?" She whispered mindful of the other light sleeper, whose ears twitched even at the minuscule sound so far from his perch in tree above them.
" Fine." He nodded solemnly. "Just a dream."
"Not a pleasant one I take it, Houshi-sama." Sango turned her gaze downward to Kirara, who was kneading Sango's legs, with her sharp claws. "Ouch." Sango complained and flicked the demon cat's ear.
Kirara shook her head in annoyance and sulked over to lay down with Kagome and Shippou.
" Don't like being a pillow?" Miroku teased.
"Not when she feels the need to soften me, with those claws of hers." Sango yawned.
Miroku smirked, "I certainly don't have any claws..."
"Stay on your own side of the fire, Houshi-sama." Sango snipped and reclined back, but continued to look at him through the fire.
"What is it, Sango?"
"I was wondering about your dream. You didn't answer me." She yawned again and blinked her eyes.
"It wasn't a bad dream, just one I don't understand."
"I never understand mine." Sango sighed and yawned for the third time.
"Go to sleep, Sango. We can continue this conversation in the morning."
" Okay." Sango muttered sleepily, "but, Houshi..."
" Yes?" Miroku questioned softly.
"You are on my side of the fire. Move or I'll move you." Sango glared up at the monk, who was hovering over her.
"I only sought to wish you a proper 'goodnight' with a kiss."
"Very well." Sango yawned.
Miroku's eyebrows shot up confused, before noticing that all but Sango's right hand had disappeared beneath her blanket.
" Goodnight, Houshi-sama." She bid him from under the blanket.
" Goodnight, Sango." Miroku sighed and kissed the back of her hand.
A snicker was heard from above and Miroku looked up to Inuyasha, who was shacking his head. "You are hopeless monk."
"And you are an expert in that my friend." Miroku quipped smugly, and settled back down for the night.
The sun was on its way up the sky as the travelers made there way down a well-worn path. Inuyasha was stalking lengths in front of the rest of the group, throwing anything that got into his way out of it.
Kagome bit her lip and fell into stride with Miroku.
Miroku looked her nervous expression and asked. "Is there something wrong, Kagome?"
" Yeah, um...are you familiar with this area at all?" She whispered.
" Fairly, why?"
" Um...the new moon is tonight and we need to find someplace safe to bed down for the night." Kagome winced as Inuyasha shouted back at her.
"I can hear ya just fine! Don't sneak around making plans, Wench! I know we have to find somewhere to sleep!" He stomped forward, putting more distance between them.
"I'm sure I can find us a suitable place." Miroku smiled.
" Thanks, Miroku." She smiled, before making a face. " Eep! Miroku!" Kagome slapped Miroku across the face, due to his lazy hand's path across her rear.
Miroku rubbed his cheek and looked over at Sango.
She walked by him with a snort of disapproval. "Houshi, you probably shouldn't be upsetting Kagome if Inuyasha is in a bad mood."
"I only have to worry about it until sunset." Miroku winced and closed his eyes listening for Inuyasha to rush towards him with murderous intent, but it seemed that the half-demon either choose to ignore the comment, which was unlikely, or was out of hearing range, which was much more likely.
Sango shook her head and fell into stride with Kagome, who had already starting walking ahead. "Kagome, are you alright?"
" Yeah, I'm just worried about Inuyasha. He gets so upset about being human, but..." Kagome trailed off and glanced back at Miroku to assure herself that he wasn't eavesdropping. " But he's so much nicer to me when he's human. It's almost as if he really cares about me."
Sango furrowed her eyebrows, unsure of how to respond. It was obvious to Sango that there was a deep level of commitment between Inuyasha and Kagome, but she couldn't be sure of whether it was the type that Kagome was hoping for. "He does care for you, you know that."
" Yeah, his precious shard detector." Kagome huffed. " I don't know why I even let my heart run away with me."
Sango blinked confused for a moment, than shrugged her shoulders unsure of what to say.
" Sango,"
" Yes?"
" Thanks for listening." Kagome smiled brightly, though it didn't quite reach her eyes. "Hopefully there'll be a nice bath house or a hot spring in or near the village where we stay."
Sango smiled and took the conversation switch in stride. "That would be nice. Especially if it were a bath house, then we'd have walls to keep the monk at bay."
Kagome laughed and glanced back at Miroku before giggling again.
Miroku couldn't hear any of the conversation, but he made out the laughter and Kagome's glance at him. "Shippou, I think they're laughing at my expense." He told the kitsune riding on his shoulder.
" Probably." He agreed. "But I bet you started it again. That's what Kagome said last time."
Miroku sighed, "No one ever takes my side."
" Probably because you're a lecher." Shippou sniffled the air. "I smell rice fields!"
Miroku grabbed the little fox's tail, before he could take off and scare the farmers. "We should walk up to the farm together, so we don't scare anyone."
"But Inuyasha's already way ahead!" Shippou informed the monk.
"Ah, that could present a problem."
"Is your lunch good?" A woman's voice asked. Her long, black hair blew in front of her face before she reached behind her and retied the ribbon that held it. She resettled the little girl in her lap and kissed the top of the child's head. "Tanaya, mommy has to go back to work soon."
Tanaya looked up with her dark brown/violet eyes clouding with sadness. " But I want to sit with you more."
"I know angel, but mommy needs to work. Now how's that lunch?"
"It's good." Tanaya sniffed.
The woman smiled at her daughter's show. "I tell you what, we'll work on your kimono tonight. How does that sound?"
" Okay." Tanaya smiled brightly and hopped off her mother's lap. "I'll go help with the water."
"Good girl." The woman kissed the child's forehead. "Stay close to the other workers and don't wander off alone." The woman looked over the cover on the child's right hand and gave her a pat on the rear. "Get moving."
"Yes Mama." Tanaya ran off to the well to fetch a bucket and cup.
The woman wiped the sweat from her brow and sighed heavily. "Now if I could just find that father of yours."
"Lady Michi! Lady Michi!" A young voice called out above the working songs in the fields.
"What is Nia?" Michi picked up her basket and rested it on her hip.
" Travelers are coming up the road and there's a young monk with them." Nia informed the now pensive looking Michi.
"I see. I'll have to get the house ready for receiving. Thank you, Nia." Michi set the basket back down and smoothed out her working clothes. "My, my Miroku are you traveling with others now?"