The Beads

With her bow poised, Kagome’s statement was a threat. It was clear by the utter lack of sympathy in her eyes that she was truly clueless, and she wanted an explanation.

Miroku could not wrench his fear away from he demon lord lying with outstretched claws at his feet. That left Inuyasha to be wary of Kagome. He straightened up and sheathed Tetsusaiga, keeping his eyes on hers.

Frustrated that he had yet to answer, Kagome pulled the arrow taut. “Say something. Explain it to me. Tell me what [i]Sesshoumaru[/i] has to do with [i]Miroku[/i] and you, following him around, and all these [i]lies[/i] you’ve been feeding Sango and me—!”

Miroku’s eyes snapped up to Kagome’s, and his gaze got through. She lowered her bow; looked from Miroku to Sesshoumaru to Inuyasha with an expression so confused, she almost looked pained. “What’s going on?” she whispered.

Miroku looked down at his feet. Inuyasha swallowed.

Inuyasha only said one thing: “You’re gonna have to help us break it to Sango.”


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They had to. Miroku understood. What other option did they have but to tell Sango? Now, when they had Sesshoumaru there, Sango had to know.

At first, there was much debate as to what to do with Sesshoumaru. Inuyasha seemed to decided, all on his own, that the best option was to keep his brother under close watch. Miroku protested as vehemently as he could, but even he could not deny that it was a better option. This way he wouldn’t have to constantly look over his shoulder, waiting for the demon lord to return. He was actually safer this way.

But Sango…what would she say? What would she think? Miroku wasn’t sure he could stand any emotion in her eyes, whether it be pity, disgust, or both.

Sango hadn’t awoken yet. Miroku sat waiting for her beautiful eyes to open, while Inuyasha and Kagome watched Sesshoumaru. They had somehow managed to transfer the inuyoukai to a stump nearby their campsite. Kagome’s sacred arrow held him firmly in place; how firmly they would find out as soon as Sesshoumaru regained consciousness. Miroku was most anxious to see the results of that test as well. If Sesshoumaru was truly unable to escape, it would be a huge relief.

Fate decided to force a greater stress upon Miroku’s heart as the sun rose ominously. Two pairs of eyes fluttered open at once; one pair doe-brown, one blood-red.

Chaos.

With a snarl, Sesshoumaru’s claws lunged for the arrow now imbedded in his stomach. Energy crackled and burned him, repelling his grasping claws.

Sango sprung up just as Miroku’s gaze whipped to the struggling demon. Sango reached for her weapon. Kirara leapt up, growling fiercely. The noise awoke Shippo, who immediately ran for cover behind the demon-slayer once he caught sight of Sesshoumaru.

Everyone was awake. Now everyone would know.

The moment his brother’s eyes opened, Inuyasha was on his feet, his sword drawn. He waited, in case Sesshoumaru got through the energy repelling him and freed himself. But Kagome wouldn’t let him have that chance. She pulled out an arrow, stepped back a fair distance, and shot the inuyoukai’s fighting arm. Sesshoumaru was doubly pinned.

That was one relief. Now, Sango…

She looked Inuyasha first, her hiraikotsu hovering a few inches above the ground, in her hand.

She wasn’t the first there to speak. Shippo peered around her leg, eyed the still blood-eyed demon lord and asked, “What’s [i]he[/i] doing here?”

Sango nodded, reluctantly lowering her weapon. “Yes, I would like to know that, too. Inuyasha?” She looked to Kagome. “Kagome? Well?”

No one said a word for a minute. Kagome’s eyes darted to Miroku once or twice, though she tried not to draw too much attention to him. Eventually, however, Sango noticed, and she glanced at Miroku. For the first time she witnessed his downtrodden, broken expression and hers changed. Her face became the very image of concern.

“It’s…hard to explain,” Inuyasha said finally. “But…the beads…”

“…the beads?” Sango was confused. She looked at the strand of pink beads around Miroku’s neck. “Is he after them?” Silence again. Sango was becoming frustrated. “What is it then?! What happened?! What has Sesshoumaru done?!”

Sesshoumaru’s eyes had turned gold again. He turned a cold gaze to the demon-slayer and deigned to answer in the most dignified way he could in his position: “I’ve claimed the monk. He belongs to me now.”

Sango froze. Slowly, she turned her head to Miroku, the meaning of the words penetrating her soul. She wanted them to be a lie. Her heart couldn’t break if it was a lie…this thing could not have happened…

She looked into Miroku’s shame-filled eyes in horror and realized that it was no lie.

((Man, that was a piece of shit, if I do say so myself. Totally rushed, ne? Eh, whatever. Like I said, I'm being lazy for once.))