Kagome’s expression was flat as she watched a coin purse appear from one of the rich, dark folds of her visitor’s haori. Weighing the purse a hefty, clinking moment in his palm, the visitor clapped it to the guard’s shoulder with a smile.

“Your shift is ending, is it not?” the monk asked just as amiably. “I could have sworn I saw another guard on his way to relieve you.”

Hard black eyes bore into the monk’s, but his unctuous smile didn’t waver. After a few moments the silent, stern-faced guard closed his meaty paw over the coinpurse and left Kagome and her visitor alone to themselves in her pretty prison-quarters.

Miroku’s face lost its glibness as he turned toward her.

“So,” Kagome began, crossing her arms at the chest, “you got my summons after all.”

“Forgive me for the delay,” he said, bowing slightly. “I have been detained.”

Giving his flushed, bloated face a sharp once-over, Kagome arched a brow. “Yeah, I’ll bet you have.” In disdain, she glanced away. “Your bribes and oily overtures won’t work on me, Miroku. So why don’t you just come right out and tell me why you’ve betrayed me to Ren? I find it hard to believe he’s outbid me—in your regard, at least.”

Miroku frowned as he knelt to sit seiza before the foot of her bed. “Do not think so little of me, Kagome. You are never far from my thoughts. In this matter, least of all.”

The miko glared. “Cut the bullshit already—why’d you sell me out to him?”

“I have done nothing of the sort.”

“Allied yourself with him against me, then,” Kagome clarified, with heat.

Miroku shifted slightly. Perhaps he was still a little drunk from his latest forays in ‘diplomacy.’ Or maybe she’d just struck a nerve.

“I will forever be your ally, Kagome-sama.”

The miko peered hard at him, waiting for the other shoe to drop.

Miroku sighed. “However, your behavior of late has thrown your fitness to lead into question. You have been erratic, hostile and paranoid—”

“With ‘friends’ like you, who could blame me?” Kagome exploded, jumping to her feet. Her finger thrust toward him in trembling accusation. “I trusted you, Miroku—I trusted you to have my back, like you always did. But I see now that without that curse on your palm to keep you in check, you’re nothing more than a glutton and a conniver. That’s the real you. A pity for Sango-chan, but thank the gods I’m not bound to you by anything more than the memory of a friendship gone to rot. It’s a small blessing Inuyasha isn’t around to see this—he trusted you too, you know.”

At this, Miroku finally had the decency to look abashed. He bowed his head, his voice falling to a murmur.

“If you wish to leave Edo, Kagome-sama, I will help you. That is all I can do for you now.”

“What a cop-out,” the miko groused. “You’re really shameless, you know that? I suppose at this point you’ve milked me for all I had. I helped you to get rid of that damned kazaana. I helped you to get that big shiny temple of yours up-and-running, and now you’re ready to toss me aside like yesterday’s news. You’ve thrown in your lot with Ren because he’s offered you a sweeter deal. It’s just that simple; you’ve gotten really comfortable in your wealth, haven’t you, Houshi-sama? And unless I fall in line with Ren too, I’m nothing more than a liability to you now. A rogue element. Be honest with me: you’ve never looked at me quite the same since Inuyasha’s death, and you know it.”

Guilt flicked across Miroku’s features before they knit into a frown. “Edo is my home now. For my family’s sake, I must find a way to live in peace here. But you are not bound to this place, nor do I think you should be—by Ren or any other.”

“Edo is my home, too,” Kagome growled in defiance. “I won’t leave it!”

“Tokyo is your home,” Miroku shot back.

Kagome clenched her jaw. For a moment she saw a glimmer of his old self pierce through the haze that dimmed his once-bright eyes.

“…Tokyo is lost to me now,” she said quietly. “You know that.”

Miroku’s hackles fell, and he faded back into his present self. “Edo is lost to you too, now that Inuyasha is gone. You should seek a new home, elsewhere.”

Kagome’s eyes narrowed. “What are you driving at, really?”

“Go west,” he said. “Sesshoumaru-sama will provide for you.”

Kagome stared back at him, speechless with indignation. Oh, Sesshoumaru would provide for her, all right—he’d provide a nice little place for her beneath the heel of his boot.

“Gods,” the miko seethed, giving her head a vicious shake. “So that’s your solution?—to pawn me off on the charity of a demon?”

“He is your kinsman by marriage,” Miroku replied. “He cares for you.”

“What the fuck do you know about it?” Kagome said, pale-faced with misery and rage. “His brand of ‘caring’ would curdle your blood. He’s a cold-hearted son-of-a-bitch, and so are you. The only difference is he never pretended otherwise. But I don’t need either of you to condescend to me: I’ll find my own way forward, thank you very much.” Sharply, she turned aside. “Now, you can leave.”

Reluctantly, Miroku rose. “Kagome…”

“Run along, you miserable coward.”

He didn’t even hesitate to dispute it. A few moments later, the door slid softly shut behind him.

---

Inuyasha © Rumiko Takahashi

Sorry for the delay…haven’t been able to catch much of a break with work. But I have some time off coming up next week, so look for at least one update after Tuesday 🙂 Have a great weekend, and take care! <3

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