SM: To answer a few questions I have received, one: No I am not dead. Hooray! Two: I was asked about the age of all the characters. Originally I wanted them to all be adults, and very mature. Hence the thirteen year timeskip. But, the characters have still retained childish demeanors, actions, and sometimes thoughts though I have tried to make them mature, especially Inuyasha. I suppose I just can't help that. But Sesshoumaru should be around late thirties, and everyone else would be early thirties, or there abouts.

This chapter takes a turn that I really hadn't expected it to take. I finished it extremely late at night so forgive any errors my sleep-blinded eyes may have missed. And this is looking to be a three-parter. Next chapter should finish it up.

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Part Two

Kagome awoke to a familiar face too near to her own. Before her conscious mind caught up to her body, reflex had already slapped him across the room.

Inuyasha burst out laughing. “Serves you right man! Kagome’s deadly, even half asleep!”

Miroku rubbed his cheek morosely. “But I assure you, my lady, my intentions were pure!”

Long since used to her friend’s silver tongue, she merely huffed at him before studying her surroundings. What was she doing here? Wasn’t this Miroku’s apartment?

“Miroku found you out passed out in the street, Kagome.” Inuyasha’s voice suddenly turned serious, losing all mirth. “What were you doing alone in the cold, and gloveless?” He demanded. “You could have gotten frostbite! You walked home alone again, didn’t you?” Now Inuyasha was standing, his face inches from hers.

Obviously, he had waited until she was coherent before he started scolding her. She knew he worried for her, and that was sweet of him, but she couldn’t help the way she had felt, and still felt for her friend’s older brother. Even knowing that Inuyasha disapproved of it.

“Um…it was only from Souta’s.” She replied meekly.

“Then what did you do? Stand outside in the cold until you couldn’t feel your hands? Where were your gloves, Kagome?” Inuyasha sniped. He seemed to be on a shorter fuse than usual, but then, it might have had something to do with worry over his dearest friend having the sudden desire to become a human Popsicle.

“I had gloves.” She said quietly, much like a chastised child.

“Then why weren’t they on your hands?” Inuyasha raged on, oblivious to Miroku’s attempts to calm him.

“I saw him again.”

Her softly spoken comment froze the both of them. Miroku’s face became concerned whereas Inuyasha’s normally tan face whitened to match his hair.

“He was so real this time, I thought…maybe he had come back.” Kagome continued, staring at her lap.

A slight frown pulled at Miroku’s face. He rested a hand on Kagome’s shoulder, edging closer toward her.

She shook her head. “I know, Miroku.” She let out a short, bitter laugh. “I know he’s gone, and for a long time now, but for some reason I can’t accept it. I’ve been trying. But some days, I just think that I’ll look out the window, or answer my door, or see him in the street. And he’ll be there.” A sniffle cut her short. She turned, tearful eyes onto her friend, a sad smile on her lips. “Stupid, huh?”

Inuyasha’s lips thinned, his eyes narrowing to amber slits. His hands curled to fists at his side. Yet he said nothing. Miroku, too focused on Kagome, didn’t notice.

“Not at all.” He said gently. Worry tugged at his chest. He hadn’t mentioned the footsteps near Kagome when he had found her. They had looked fresh, but if a man had been there, and Miroku was sure that it was a man from the size of the print, he couldn’t imagine a person cold enough to leave an unconscious woman in the snow like that.

She was too sweet a person to abandon, by anyone. And she loved with her whole heart, so much so that it hurt her. So no matter how long it had been, Kagome still wasn’t willing to let him go, no matter how much she wanted to. She had truly loved him, and to have suffered such a loss…

Miroku stared at Kagome’s down turned face and watched her as she looked at her folded hands. She was biting her lower lip and her brows were furrowed as she lost herself in her thoughts.

Without really even thinking, he pressed his lips against hers. Kagome, frozen, stared wide-eyed at her friend before a growl ripped them apart. Inuyasha, tore his best friend from his other best friend. “MIROKU! WHAT THE HELL MAN?!”

“I…” His eyes darted to the stupefied Kagome.

She looked at him, confused. “Miroku…?”

She suddenly found her hands clasped in his. “I’ve decided. You will bear my child!” He declared, a goofy grin plastered across his face.

Miroku was slammed from behind by Inuyasha’s very irritated fist. “God dammit, ya idiot! What are you thinking!” He looped his arm around Miroku’s neck in a headlock and began to tighten his grip, forgetting that Kagome was sitting there. She allowed a small smile to grace her lips. Miroku always did know how to cheer her up, even at the cost of his own bodily harm…

“Um…” She stared worriedly at them. Miroku’s lips were turning blue…

She swallowed. “Inuyasha?”

He looked up, releasing Miroku suddenly enough that the poor man collapsed onto his floor. Miroku’s face had already turned an interesting shade of indigo by then.

“Yeah, Kagome?” He asked, his expression worried.

“I think I should be getting home now.” She replied, sliding from the bed.

“No!” Inuyasha’s arm shot out so quickly, his mouth moving before he could articulate his thoughts properly.

She glanced up at him, surprised. “I mean…you passed out in the snow. You should rest here for a while.” He muttered. He’d be damned if he let her back to her apartment. With Sesshoumaru hanging around her like a stalker, she couldn’t be left alone. She’d actually be safer in the apartment with Miroku than out there by herself. At least until he got things figured out with Sesshoumaru.

Inuyasha had told Kagome that Sesshoumaru had died in some fiery car accident while on a business trip in the States. She had taken the news poorly, as he had expected. She hadn’t even wondered why he had been in the States without contacting her, though Inuyasha had concocted some story that it had been an abrupt and emergency meeting. He hadn’t ever thought that Sesshoumaru would actually return. So in a word, he was screwed until he could explain Sesshoumaru’s sudden resurrection.

He didn’t suppose that “oh my, Sesshoumaru hadn’t actually died and has completed his rehabilitation in the States and is alive and well, it’s a miracle!” would work on her. He needed a better plan, like getting Sesshoumaru out of Japan as soon as possible before anyone noticed that he was back! That sounded good.

Meanwhile, Kagome was looking at him with a questionable expression.

“You want me…to stay here…in Miroku’s care?” She asked haltingly. That was a first. Usually, Inuyasha trusted Miroku with girls about as much as he refused ramen, never.

“Just, stay here. Okay? I’ll explain later.” He waved his arms impatiently. “Sit tight, take care of yourself, and don’t let the pervert touch you. It’ll be fine!”

She stared at him. He was acting much more agitated than usual. It was quite endearing. He did care for her, she knew. They had been friends for a long time, and they had always trusted each other. She wouldn‘t start to doubt him now, even if he was acting more strangely than usual. He normally had a set pattern of being gruff but kind, sometimes pigheaded, and the standard insufferably enraged.

“Okay.” She nodded. “I’ll sit here like a good girl.” As if to demonstrate she folded her hands in her lap, and smiled.

“Good.” He answered absently. “I’ll be back later.” He backed from the room, eyes trained on Kagome as if she’d bolt any second, then was out the door with a farewell cry of “if you touch her I’ll personally rip your arms off, Miroku!”

Kagome looked at the floor. Well, there shouldn’t be any problem with her touching him. She bent down and dragged Miroku’s suffocated carcass upwards.

“Why…are you…so heavy!” She groaned, hoisting up his dead weight. “Tub of lard.” She muttered as she huffed.

“Pure muscle, I assure you.” He murmured opening his eyes.

Kagome snorted “More like pure bonehead. Must you tease Inuyasha when he’s already so irritable? You’ll only cause yourself bodily harm.”

“Seemed like a good idea at the time.” Miroku grinned, finally gaining his feet. “Besides, I think having you bear my child would be well worth any pain Inuyasha could inflict.”

Kagome rolled her eyes. “You say that now.” She turned away, not noticing the slight frown that traced his features.

To her, it had been just a joke. No man could look at her that way. And for her, she didn’t think she could look at another man that way either. It was simply too hard to think of it, to risk it. She didn’t think she could take another heartbreak like that.

Loving so deeply also cut quite deeply.

Miroku sat down on the bed beside her, close enough to comfort, but far enough so they weren’t touching.

“I meant it.” He said simply.

Kagome tensed.

“Really.” He murmured, looping one arm around her shoulders.

It took almost a full minute for her to relax. He didn’t mean it, he was just being a good friend, she convinced herself.

“Liar.” She replied quietly, but leaned into the half embrace, resting her head on his shoulder. She closed her eyes. “I’m not pretty enough for your taste.” She said sleepily. Getting so excited had tired her out. Passing out in the snow wasn’t such a good idea after all.

The corners of his lips turned down, but he didn’t move nor speak. He just watched as she slowly fell asleep at his side.

“I’ll decide what’s my taste.” He said quietly, once sure that she was asleep.

He watched her for a few minutes more before shifting slightly and gently laying her down on the bed completely in what he hoped was a comfortable position. Then he stood and headed toward the kitchen. It was a cold winter this season. Soup sounded good and he’d have to start soon for it to be ready by the time she awoke.

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“SESSHOUMARU YOU STUPID IDIOT! I’M GOING TO KILL YOU!” Inuyasha yelled as he pounded on the door of his brother’s hotel room. His hand was clenched around a scrap of paper that had his brother’s contact information. Sesshoumaru had left it at his apartment the last time he was there.

He almost snorted when he saw the address. A hotel! Either his brother was hoping to get into Kagome’s good graces soon, fat chance of that, or he wasn’t on planning to stay long. There was no way Sesshoumaru would have approached him until he was set up in a satisfactory manner.

He glared at the door, willing his brother to open it before his neighbors called security.

On the seventh angry pound, the door swung open. Sesshoumaru stood, in all his disheveled glory, running a hand through his hair. “What?” He growled.

Inuyasha gaped. Whatever had happened to leave his brother in a state less than perfect. The top three buttons of his shirt were undone! Sesshoumaru, no matter how sweltering the heat of the summer sun was, always buttoned up completely. Sesshoumaru even had rings beneath his eyes.

“Well?” Sesshoumaru shot his younger brother an irritated glare, as if Inuyasha had rudely awoken him at an inappropriate hour, though it was well into the afternoon.

Inuyasha regained his steam in an instant.

“You!” He poked Sesshoumaru hard in the chest. “You went to go see her, didn’t you?” He yelled.

Sesshoumaru bared his teeth. He grabbed Inuyasha by the arm of his poking finger and dragged him into the room. “Lower your voice, idiot. Do you want the clientele to call security?”

Inuyasha glowered. “Don’t you scold me. I’m not the one who fucked up here.” He scowled.

A breath rushed out in a whoosh. “So what did you come here for?” Sesshoumaru asked, walking to the kitchen for a cup of water.

“Why did you go see her?” Inuyasha demanded.

Sesshoumaru stared at his water. “I simply wanted to see how she was doing,” he said after a moment. He downed his water. “What does it matter to you, anyways? Are you her keeper?”

“Yes! I am her keepter! And I forbade you from seeing her!” Inuyasha punctuated his words my stomping over and willing the glass in his brother’s hand to shatter.

“No you didn’t. You said that I shouldn’t see her.” Sesshoumaru set the glass down. “She fainted when she saw me.” He rounded on his younger brother. “Tell me, why was that?”

Inuyasha managed not to look too guilty. “I told you that you shouldn’t go see her. It would have been better for everyone if you hadn’t come back.” He said quietly. “She thinks you died. I never thought you’d actually come back.” He ran a hand on the back of a chair, not looking at Sesshoumaru.

“So, to her I’m just a ghost.” Sesshoumaru mused, looking into his glass and swirling it. “Is that it?”

Inuyasha nodded mutely.

Neither said anything for a while. Sesshoumaru because he was thinking, and Inuyasha because there was nothing more for him to say.

Finally, Sesshoumaru sighed, coming to a decision. “Is she happy?” He asked.

Inuyasha released an exasperated groan. Sesshoumaru always knew how to ask the questions Inuyasha didn’t want to answer. He frowned. “No.” He answered after a moment and a breath.

Sesshoumaru’s shoulders relaxed and it was then that Inuyasha saw how tense and nervous he was. Kagome still meant a lot to him. Sesshoumaru probably never did stop thinking about her. But if he had loved her so much, it confused Inuyasha more to think that Sesshoumaru had willing left her. Or why he had even allowed himself, a normally very controlled person, such a cruel indiscretion as cheating on her.

“But she’s learning to move on.” Inuyasha continued, not wanting his brother to get his hopes up too high. “It’s taken her a very long time to recover, and she’s starting to get better. If you still want what’s best for her, you shouldn’t complicate things.” And it was true. The wounds on Kagome’s heart were far from fresh, but they weren’t healed completely either.

“Is that why you told me she was seeing someone?” Sesshoumaru questioned, remembering the family he had watched through the window. Kagome, and that other man. But if she still loved him, Sesshoumaru might still have a chance. Though he knew that she was not the type to leave her husband if she were happily married. “Who is he?” He asked. “The man she’s with.”

Inuyasha gulped, realizing he’d screwed up somewhere. Sesshoumaru still thought that she was going out with someone else, but he’d slipped in that she still wasn’t over Sesshoumaru’s ’death.’ “Uh…” His mind flashed to his friend making a move on Kagome. “Miroku.” He blurted without thinking it through.

Sessshoumaru’s lips thinned. That perverted friend of Inuyasha’s? It certainly hadn’t looked like him through the window. Somehow, that other man looked kinder, less world-weary.

“She…married Miroku?” He questioned, not quite certain.

“MARRIED!” Inuyasha yelped, surprised.

Sesshoumaru was instantly suspicious. “I went to her house. She was married, with a small child.”

“Um…” Inuyasha’s ears reddened. Crap! He must’ve seen her at Souta’s. Kagome’s name was on the deed, but it was Souta who lived in the house. She had bought him the house as a present for when they married and had remained the owner as to take care of all other expenses. She had plenty of money since she hardly spent anything on herself.

“Inuyasha.” Sesshoumaru’s voice lowered dangerously, knowing he had been lied to. “Is she going out with anyone?” He asked, staring at his brother in the face. Inuyasha never could lie to his face.

“No.” Inuyasha muttered.

Sesshoumaru swept past him and out of the hotel room, leaving Inuyasha behind to curse himself.

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Souta listened to the dial tone. The phone rang and rang, and when Kagome should have picked up the phone but didn’t, Souta began to become worried. He hung up, not waiting for the voice mail. He stared at the house phone.

“Rin, I’m going to Kagome’s place.” He said, putting on a coat. “I left her a message on her apartment phone last night, and she’s not picking up her cell now.” He stopped at the door to peck his wife on the cheek.

She gave him an understanding nod. “Tell her to come over for dinner again. I have a great lasagna recipe I’d love for her to try.”

“Thanks. I’ll tell her.” Souta replied with a smile. He gave her a farewell wave, then pocketed his hands and trudged down the few blocks to her apartment.

Knocking on her door, he waited and when there was no reply he asked her neighbor, a kind middle-aged man named Souma, if he had seen her. He hadn’t, not since early yesterday. Souta thanked him and left the apartment complex more worried than before.

He called Inuyasha if maybe he had seen her, though he hadn’t heard from the man in the past few days. From there he got a somewhat hasty reply that Kagome was at Miroku’s apartment. With a fervent thanks, Souta hung up and trotted to Miroku’s apartment. It was a bit further away, but not so far that he wasn’t willing to walk. Hurrying his steps, he thought he saw a white-haired person running his way for a moment. The person looked too familiar and he paused to stare. But then the man turned sharply out of view in the opposite direction.

Souta shook his head and plodded forward. What was he thinking, that Sesshoumaru would be running through the streets. Perhaps the cold was getting to him.

He puffed little white clouds of breath as his pace picked up. For some reason, the worry really was eating at him. He couldn’t get to Miroku’s fast enough.

Knocking on the door, he shifted from foot to foot impatiently. Miroku opened it, slight surprise crossing his face upon seeing Souta.

“Come in.” He invited.

Souta nodded his thanks and followed Miroku in, stopping to remove his shoes and taking a seat in the living room. Miroku padded into the kitchen.

“I’m making soup.” Miroku said from the other room. He stirred a medium pot slowly. “You’re sister is in my room,” he pointed with the wooden spoon. “She’s sleeping right now, but she‘s fine. She just needs a bit of rest.”

Kagome was safe! Souta allowed himself a small sigh of relief, inwardly berating himself as to get so worked up. “How?” He asked.

Miroku stirred the pot slowly. “Unconscious in the snow.” He replied. He pointedly did not look at Souta while saying that, knowing what worry would be crossing the young man’s mind.

Souta frowned. Again! Kagome had done that a few times before, standing out in the snow, thinking and remembering, until her whole body had gone numb. Souta had gone out to fetch her more than once from the front of his house as she stood and stared at the snow, remembering him of all things. He had liked the snow, and she had loved it. They had spent much time in the snow when they had first decided to start going out.

For quite sometime after Sesshoumaru’s passing, Kagome would wander outside often, come winter. She would simply stand and contemplate until someone found her and brought her back inside. Many times Souta had received a call from Souma-san about her. Souta shook his head, his lips thinning.

“Don’t worry. I haven’t touched her.” Miroku added mildly after a few minutes. He was staring too intently at the contents of his pot. It could use a few more vegetables.

“I wasn‘t going to ask anything like that.” Souta said, looking up. “I trust you.”

A wry smile crossed Miroku’s face. “Well, you can’t blame me for thinking that, though.” He commented, aware of Souta’s thoughts on the matter. Out of everyone else, Souta was the only one who saw.

Souta pressed his lips until they whitened. He was silent for a few moments more, deliberating on his next words. He decided that enough was enough. Kagome couldn’t keep losing herself in the past like that. She needed to move beyond it and see that maybe, there was someone else who could care for her more.

“I know that you wouldn’t do that,” he said, “and it’s because you love her.” He added the last part quietly. It was sudden and quite frank, but Souta never knew how to mince words.

He was very aware of Miroku’s feelings, he had been for a long time. But as Miroku had not acted, he too had done nothing. Instead, they both watched Kagome’s slow descent into depression, and very slow recuperation after Sesshoumaru’s death. Perhaps a change of pace was needed, and Souta was quite certain that Miroku could help. He had always been looking after Kagome’s well-being, even if few noticed his subtle actions and words.

Miroku had gone very still, his hand clenching tightly around the wooden handle of the ladle. The room was filled the quiet hiss of his gas range burning beneath the pot as both sat in silence. Slowly, Miroku turned down the gas, wiped his hands and turned around.

“I never pegged you as being so blunt.” He said, watching the towel as he twisted it in between his fingers.

“I never thought of you as much of a housewife.” Souta returned nonchalantly, indicating the dark blue apron Miroku wore about his waist. Now that he had said those words, he wasn’t quite sure how to continue.

Miroku chuckled, his hands behind him as he untied the apron. He tossed it over the counter. “So I guess this is the part where I become all indignant and sputter and say that I don’t love her?”

“But you do love her.” Souta stated so plainly that Miroku almost choked.

Souta thought he saw a hint of blush staining the older man’s cheeks. It was nice to know that Miroku was, at the very least, very honest about his feelings.

“So, now what?” He asked, finally turning around to face the younger man. Inwardly, he was trying not to panic. He had suspected that Souta might figure it out, he had been the only one to see him watch Kagome as he did, but to be confronted with it so candidly, Miroku was more than ill-prepared.

This was where it became tricky. Souta’s expression became a bit more uncertain, and Miroku was relieved to note that this was new ground to both of them.

“I was hoping that maybe you could try…to show her that…it’s not all bad.” Souta said so hesitantly that it was hard to make out what he wanted. Kagome had loved Sesshoumaru, loved him so much. Souta had never seen her happier than when she was with him. But if him being gone had caused her so much pain, then it was better if she forgot him completely. She needed to move on, and Miroku would be kind and reliable, and he would be what she needed. Souta was sure of that. Now, he just had to convince both of them that it was for the best.

“It’s past time.” Souta finished, his voice brittle and slightly bitter.

Miroku nodded. “Thank you.” He said.

Souta only shook his head. “It’s for Kagome.” He replied, voice vaguely cold.

Miroku understood. It wasn’t that the younger man was being needlessly cruel, putting his sister’s feelings before Miroku’s and using him. Rather, Souta was becoming desperate, and Miroku had been his last chance. Souta was grasping at straws, and any shred of evidence that could make his sister happy, he would take it. He had seen Miroku, and he had seen Miroku with his sister. Miroku was his last bet.

The elder man let a small smile grace his lips. He hadn’t truly thought that Souta would be the one to push them together. He had imagined Souta yelling at him while Inuyasha bit his head off when he tried to explain to them that his feelings for Kagome weren’t impure or perverted. He just hadn’t known how to do so. He hadn’t been a truly honest man on the outside for a long time, but Kagome had always been able to bring out a slightly more sincere side to him.

It was refreshing. And it hadn’t taken him long to pin down exactly what kind of affection he held for her. He was glad that it was the right kind.

“Um…I guess I’ll be going now.” A faint blush graced the young man’s cheeks. Souta’s expression returned to that of the youthful and innocent young man he was, rather than the wary and desperate one he had held before. Eyes brighter and a small weight of his shoulders, Souta stood. He had no idea how to properly thank him, but he was grateful nonetheless. Kagome needed this, and he hoped that in time, things would be better. He wanted to give her all the time she needed.

“Thank you.” He said quietly and offered a quick yet respectful bow. Young people rarely showed such manners presently, so Miroku took it as a sign of true gratitude.

Miroku stood and lowered his head in reply, and Souta was at the door once more. He paused briefly as if contemplating something and turned his head to face Miroku, a shy smile on his lips.

“You know, I think Kagome’s making progress and everyone is getting over the bump of the past, and yet little things still surprise me. Kagome, I think will always be heartbroken over him, but him affecting her also affects the rest of us. The really funny thing is, I thought I had seen him on my way here.” He babbled, the relief loosening many restraints he had kept on himself. He shook his head at his own imagination.

“I suppose the stress is getting to all of us.” Souta added, smirking, and then he left, shutting the door quietly behind him.

Miroku had smiled in mirth at Souta’s comment, but as soon as the door shut, his expression darkened. A particular piece of revelation had clicked in his mind.

He would need to talk to Inuyasha.

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Kagome was dreaming.

She knew she was. It was only in her dreams that she felt such warm hands, such kind words. She was being held gently and she kept her eyes closed, not wanting to wake up.

The person was speaking so softly and so wistfully that though she could not interpret the words spoken, the tone behind them told her what she needed to know. She smiled in her sleep and snuggled closer.

Abruptly, everything changed, and she opened her eyes in surprise.

Above her loomed a silhouette too familiar to be real. Her own eyes wide in shock and slight fear, she watched as he extended a hand to her. It was a pale hand with fine-boned fingers and a palm that could envelop hers so easily.

She stared at it. Studying it’s features and remembering details that only she knew.

There was a slight callus on the middle finger, on the side of the first joint, caused from holding a pen and writing all day. The lines on the palm were all long, and the one running across was continuous. She knew that the back of the hand was especially sensitive and just as warm as the palm, an unusual trait. And she also knew that the moment she placed her hand in his, her hand would disappear from her eyes she would be drawn toward him.

She knew that hand, but for some reason, the hand she knew and remembered, she didn’t trust. It made no sense at all for he had always been honest with her. She needed to take the hand, but she wasn’t sure if it was what she really wanted. He hadn’t been there with her for a long time.

When she woke up, the ghostly image of a pale hand lingered in her mind.

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SM: Now a question as I see that this fic has listed toward a MK pairing possiblity, should it finish as SK or MK? I really have no idea as I can write it ending both ways, and this question has thus stumped production of the third and final chapter. I'd love to hear all suggestions. Thanks for reading.