A few nights went by since the night Inuyasha and Miroku's baby was concieved. The hanyou was already showing signs that something was different. Just that morning Kagome'd complained of Inuyasha's sleeping in for the third night in a row. He always seemed to shove it off and forget all about it. He'd been forgetting many things latly. Not to mention at just that moment everyone was goping at the words he'd just said.
"Are you.... ill or something?" Sango asked pulling the bowl she'd offered him slightly back. It wasn't every day Inuyasha turned down an oppertunity to eat ramen. Though her surprise was only a ruse, she knew exactly why he wouldn't eat and she just set the contents aside.
"Inuyasha." Kagome walked up to the hanyou and placed her hand over his forhead to make sure. He was a little feverish, not to mention she witnessed he making sick in the woods early that morning. She was worried for him. "What's wrong?" she asked him in such a gental voice, her fingers weeving their way through his bangs, massaging his rather heated face. It felt so nice to be treated in that way.
"You don't have to fuss over me, Kikyo. I'll be alright." Kikyo. Of all the things to call Kagome in the world. She growled fiercly toward him and sent him a huge slap across the face that stung more then it should've.
"You know what, Inuyasha, that's the last straw. First I see you embracing her in the forest awhile back, then you start ignoring me, and now you call me Kikyo. You... uhhgggg, I'm going h...."
The next thing she knew a clawed hand was encircled her neck and she had her back pressed up against the wall. "You're not fucking going anywhere, so I suggest you sit down, shut up, and.... "
What am I saying?
"Oh man" He looked down to the floor in shame and gently paced her back to her feet. Once he pulled his hand away, it shook and he heald it to his chest. "I-I'm sorry.... I'm sorry, Kagome. I didn't... " It was so weird. Inuyasha looked as if he were going to cry all of a sudden. One moment he was relaxed, then he was angry, now he's.... about to break down in tears. "I'm sorry." The miko placed her hand upon his shoulder and gave it a good rub.
"Inuyasha, it's okay. I forgive you, you don't have to worry." He shut his eyes solumnly and headed out the door.
Kagome sighed. "Something's wrong with him you guys. He's not being his usual self."
"I know," Sango responded trying to keep as much sarcasm out of her voice as possible. "I mean, with all the mood swings, the morning sicknesses, sleeping in, actually turning down his favorite meal." She turn toward Miroku who tried staying as silent as possible throughout the entire thing. He let his eyes spring open in innocence. Sango glowered at him. He only made that face when he knew more then he was telling.
"Why do you glare at me, Sango? Am I supposed to know something."
She growled at him and then turned away. "No, I guess not. Do Kagome and I a favor though and go check up on him. Figure something else for us, after all, you two seam to be getting awfully close."
Miroku picked himself up off the floor and brushed his robes off slightly. "Very well. I'll try to pry whatever little issue seems troubling Inuyasha out of him so we can all get on with our lives." Miroku frowned when he thought of the last few words he'd chosen at random.
Maybe so you all can get on with your lives. I however...
Once he exited the place he store down to his hand. The suction in it seemed to fade. Perhaps he was only getting paranoid. After all, his father'd been in his mid twenties when the void took him in. Miroku was no older then about seventeen though. So why would his hand actually want to take him now?
"Inuyasha," he say, coming across a small lake behind some brush. The hanyou had really swollen red eyes that looked blood shot. He'd been crying, that was for sure. No wonder he left when he did. That stubbern half demon was no more fit to cry in public then the devil himself. "Inuyasha, Kagome is not mad at you."
"I don't care," he snapped. Now onto being angry again. Dealing with this for two months or however much time he hand left did not thrill the monk entirly. "Leave me alone."
"Why? Are you scared you'll hurt me next?" Miroku shoved his arms into each of his large sleeves and crossed them so he could lean them across the base of his chest. Then, he store down, now feeling suddenly grief striken. "Or, do you not enjoy my presence." Inuyasha looked up at him. He really looked at Miroku for the first time since that night. So much shame and guilt fluttered through his stomach just watching as the other man's confidence in himself deem itself lost.
The hanyou stood and walked toward Miroku. Around the ladies he was no more then arrogant in his ability to be his normal, overly suggestive self. Where as when he and Inuyasha were alone and face to face, his self esteem seemed to vanquish. "Now come on, why would you say such a thing?" He rested his palm atop the other man's shoulder and gave it a few good strokes. "Miroku."
"I... " he started out, looking directly into Inuyasha's golden orbs. That proved to be a huge mistake. Just looking at Inuyasha made his entire world seem to fall into place.
You are my entire world, Inuyasha. You have no idea what I'd give just to know you returned my affections.
For awhile the thought of Inuyasha, craddling the other man into his arms, whispering silent little nothings into his ear while he fell fast asleep seemed so appeling. It still did, though Miroku didn't want to trap Inuyasha into the oblivion with him. Such a thought was so unbarible it made him sick. Inuyasha mas not a mortal, he needed to live as long as possible before getting destroyed.
"Please Inuyasha, you must spare me all of the pity acts." He knew that was being harsh, not to mention it was extremly hard thing to do. In order for the youkai to live, he had to keep his distance from the monk.
"Pity acts, my ass," the hanyou said yanking his hand from that shoulder. "If you want real pity try dealing with Kagome. I don't know why, but I happen to care.... a lot." Inuyasha closed his eyes and quarter turned from Miroku's face. "A whole lot."
He.... he cares.
Someone.... someone finally cared for him. Usually Miroku only recieved respect due to being a priest, but that was title. Inuyasha cared not for his title, Inuyasha cared for him. Was pushing the hanyou away really the answer to saving his life painlessly? Would it truly be painless though? Inuyasha seemed hurt that Miroku made him think he thought the gesture was of pity. What a damn fool he was.
"I apologize," Miroku said flat out. "I-I know it wasn't pity." He reached out with both hands and placed them on Inuyasha's hips. "I know you well enough to know you wouldn't be carrying my child if you didn't care." They stared at each other for a couple of seconds, waiting for one or the other to make their move. The first move was Inuyasha's. He stroked Miroku's cheek while the face it resided on drew closer. In mere seconds, their faces met in their first non conditional real kiss. It was nothing fancy, just simple and lighthearted, warm and just right. Nothing less then a then the perfect moment to want to ask Inuyasha his feelings after they pulled back.
"Inuyasha, do you love me?"
The question, it was so sudden, yet it serched for truth. Love, why, Inuyasha didn't know what that was anymore. "Like I said before, no." This time Miroku's hurt was not heald back. He was shocked, but all Inuyasha did was shake his head and proceed to stroke Miroku's cheek once again. "Love can't even begin to describe how badly I yearn for you."
To emotions shot through the monk at the same time: contentment and guilt. He was of coarse content with Inuyasha's compassion and truth. An emotion that went beyond love. Miroku wasn't sure if there was such a thing. He again wasn't sure he had enough time to find out. His hand'd shown too many signs of posing a threat. "Thank you, Inuyasha." He looked up at the hanyou and smiled. "You actually gave my life worth."
"Miroku." Inuyasha simply wrapped his arms around the other man, shaking his head no and stroking his back slowly. "I'm the pregnant one here. Give me back the role of depression and quit beating yourself up."He tightened his hold and kissed him on the neck. "That's not how the man I fell in... whatever with would act."
The monk smiled and returned the embrace. "Let's call whatever you feel love for now, just to avoid confusion."
"Whatever you want, Miroku. And don't worry about that hand of yours. If you think you can last at least a month I've got a plan to get that thing fixed." He winked at the man in robes and walked away.
A plan?
Inuyasha was going to try to save him, but how? And what good could he do in a month? By then he'd be in the middle of his pregnancy. Miroku soon became suspicious. He wasn't going to try something drastic was he?