Turning the Other Cheek

Disclaimer: I do not own Inu Yasha!

Turning the Other Cheek by FrustratedPhoenix

Chapter 1: Suspicion

Girlish giggles floated out the inn's window. Miroku crouched closer to better eavesdrop. Damning his poor human hearing he muttered, "Where's an annoying hanyou with demon senses when you need one?"

The group had followed a lead on some shards only to be disappointed. The soldier rumored to carry Shikon fragments actually possessed only rock crystals and had been faking power to steal from peasants. After they exposed the soldier as a fraud to the villagers, Miroku generously offered to rid the inn of bad karma left from the lying soldier in exchange for comfortable rooms and a hot meal. As a humble monk, it was the least he could do.

The lecherous monk narrowed his eyes when he heard loud guffaws coming from his two female companions. Sango and Kagome had been acting peculiarly ever since the young miko had returned from the future a week ago. Miroku estimated they were approximately two days journey from Edo and couldn't wait to return so he could discuss their suspicious behavior with Lady Kaede.

Normally their private conversations didn't bother him. He knew women needed their secrets as much as men did. Hell, if Sango and Kagome knew about some of the late-night discussions he and Inu Yasha had regarding them, he would be castrated as a warning to all over-sexed males.

But something was different this time. The two women were deliberately hiding something from him and it was driving him mad. What really irked him was the knowledge that whatever it was somehow involved him. Whenever Sango or Kagome had glanced at him over the past few days they would quickly look away and start snickering. Inu Yasha told Miroku he had an enormous ego and was behaving like an idiot. Miroku knew he wasn't imaging things and was determined to discover their secret.

Realizing their laughter had ceased, Miroku held his breath hoping to overhear their hushed whispers. He leapt backwards in shock as cold water smacked him harshly in the face. Rubbing the water out of his eyes Miroku gazed into Sango's indignant glare.

"See anything good, Houshi?" yelled a mightily pissed Sango.

"Holy Buddha," he thought, "her eyes are stunning when she's angry."

"My dear Sango, I was merely inspecting the security of this inn. I could not sleep knowing that two beautiful women such as yourselves might possibly be attacked in your sleep. Surely, you do not doubt my honorable intentions?"

"I'd be a fool if I didn't! Now leave or my boomerang bone crushing your skull will ensure your rest and my privacy for the night."

Miroku calmly wrung water out of his robe's folds as he bade them good night. Sango threw the wooden bucket at him then angrily slammed the window covering down.

Only when he was in his own room did he vent his frustration. "Damn the harpy...damn her temper...damn her eyes!" Miroku seethed a few minutes longer then smirked imagining the shocked look on Sango's face if she were ever to learn he preferred her eyes to her ass. "Hmm. Being female she'd probably be insulted."

Miroku hung his wet garments to dry then climbed into his futon. Exhaustion quickly overcame him and he dreamt about the passion-filled gaze of a beautiful warrior.

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"Sango, Sango, My beautiful Sango" murmured Miroku. He wrapped his arms around his dream lover's warmth and trailed kisses down her jaw. "I love you, Sango. Please, please say you love me!"

Miroku's sleepy smile turned into a confused pucker when his sweet Sango growled.

"Wake up, Houshi!" said an angry masculine voice.

Miroku slowly opened one eye to stare into a furious golden gaze. Pissed could not begin to describe Inu Yasha's reaction to Miroku's amorous advances.

"If you value your life, Lecher you'll roll off me...NOW!"

Miroku never moved so quickly in his life. "Kami! Inu Yasha, I'm so..."

"We will never speak of this again...understood? Now cover your shame!"

Miroku grabbed his robe holding it in front of him. "Inu Yasha, I..."

"I SAID, we will never speak of this again!"

Neither man was able to look each other in the eye for the rest of the day.