These characters do not belong to me.

Choosing a Partner

Chapter 18

By Kenzie Kennedy

So it went for the next three days. Kagome and Sango made it a point to talk every night while they were sure the boys weren’t around about their progress. Kagome sighed over Inuyasha not wanting to talk to her even if she did go down into the basement every day.

"Maybe you should stop?" Sango offered.

"But if I do that-"

"Stop and see if he comes after you. Maybe he’ll miss you or something." Sango smiled ruefully at Kagome. "Have any ideas about Miroku?"

Kagome giggled. Sango had been patted so much, she’d taken to hiding in her rooms. "I don’t know," she admitted.

"Well, neither do I." Sango told her. "Every time I go out, he’s there. I swear that he waits by my door."

Kagome laughed. "If you don’t leave soon you won’t make it back before he gets out of his shower." Sango swore lightly and left.

Kagome relaxed on her bed. Should I try her advice? Why not?

***

Inuyasha spent a blissful day working on his layout without being interrupted. The second day his ears kept twitching at every sound.

He heard someone’s footsteps on the second day and thought it was Kagome for a split second. The footsteps were too heavy and a male voice said, "Inuyasha? Are you down here?"

"Yeah," Inuyasha answered loudly.

Miroku turned the corner and glanced around. He walked down the rest of the way and stood looking at the layout. "It’s looking well."

"Feh."

Miroku raised an eyebrow. "Are you okay?"

"Feh."

"Have a cold, do you? I bet Rimiko would give you some medicine."

"What do you want?"

Miroku found the folding chair and sat in it. "Rimiko’s making lunch, Sango is locked in her room, and Kagome’s in her room. There’s no one to talk to but you."

"Go talk to yourself."

"No, thank you. I wanted to talk to you."

"What about?"

"Women."

Inuyasha threw him a dirty look. "What about ‘em?"

"Are you making any progress with Kagome?"

"I don’t want to!" Inuyasha thundered. "Not like you, you lech."

"Actually, I’m only a lech because of my curse." Miroku said smugly.

Inuyasha snorted. "I don’t think so."

"Anyway, I wanted to know if you, as another male of the house who’s of age, had any ideas? I’m about out."

"You’re asking me if I have any ideas about how to make Sango have sex with you?" Inuyasha said bluntly.

Miroku winced. "Not quite that way, but yes." Inuyasha snorted again. "That’s not very polite. Or do you really have a cold?"

"Feh. That’s simple."

Miroku raised an eyebrow. "Really? Then why haven’t you tried it?"

"Cause I don’t want Kagome in bed. I want her to leave me alone." Inuyasha took a deep breath. "Have you read any of those manga that Kagome keeps reading?" Miroku shook his head. "There’s stuff in there. Go read some."

Miroku got up and said, "Thank you, Inuyasha. I shall take your advice."

***

By the third day of not seeing Kagome, Inuyasha stomped up to Kagome’s room in mid-afternoon.

"Come in," Kagome called.

Inuyasha swung the door open and stood inside the room. "What’s wrong with you?" he shouted.

Kagome blinked at him. "Nothing. I’m sitting here reading my miko homework."

"Why aren’t you bothering me?" Inuyasha asked.

Kagome shrugged. "I thought you didn’t want me to bother you."

Inuyasha stared at her. She’s right. What am I doing? He turned and stomped back downstairs.

Fifteen minutes later, he heard soft footsteps. "What do you want?" he said grumpily.

"Why’d you come upstairs and ask me that?" Kagome asked quietly. Inuyasha shrugged. "How’d you become a slave?"

Inuyasha whirled on her, his eyes flashing. "You have no right to ask that!"

Kagome looked into his eyes. "You’re right. I don’t. I still want to know, though."

Inuyasha stared at her and growled. He turned back to his train setup. "My mother died."

Kagome instantly felt sorrow. "I’m sorry," she said. "Where was your father?"

"My father was dead. Mother was taking care of me when she died. I was an orphan and a hanyou. So I was sent to the center. Satisfied?"

"No. I’m not satisfied. What was she like?" Kagome asked.

"Who?"

"Your mom."

Inuyasha paused for a moment. "She was beautiful." He didn’t speak any more than that.

Kagome realized he wasn’t going to say anything else and smiled. "Thank you for talking to me."

"Feh."

Kagome tiptoed back up the stairs leaving Inuyasha alone with his thoughts.

Why’d I tell her that, he thought. Because she’s an annoying woman who won’t leave me alone, he answered himself.

Then why’d you go after her?

She was probably cooking up some plot to annoy me.

So… You didn’t miss her chatter?

Why would I?

Oh, I don’t know. Someone wanting to talk to you. A pretty girl wanting to spend time with you.

She’s not pretty!

Open your eyes. Long dark hair, everything she feels written on her face, big eyes that sparkle… Besides, it wouldn’t hurt you to be polite.

Oh, yes it would. If I’m polite, she’ll want to spend more time with me.

That’s a bad thing?

Hell yes! She spends time with me, I spend time with her, we end up liking each other, and then she’ll either die when one of those monsters attack or divorce me.

So you’re afraid?

No… Inuyasha mentally squashed the voice and went back to carving a rock.

***********************************

In the next chapter… Really, do I want to tempt you to threaten me to post the next chapter? Oh, well. Just a short sentence.

"If you haven’t noticed, you’re standing in its blood," Inuyasha pointed out helpfully.

For the repeated questions… 30 chapters, Sesshoumaru, Naraku, and Hojo will have appearances. No Kirara, Shippo, or Kouga.

To clear up something. No Miroku's hand isn't better. He has to have sex to heal his hand and then Kaede can take away the curse.

Araki-chan: Nope. I'm not telling what Miroku's going to draw. I estimate about two chapters from now you'll find out.

Chi: Imagine this. A boy orphaned is shunted into a system where he is told he will be a slave. Everyone he gets to like is taken away or dies. I can see why he'd be mean to someone who was being nice to him. Suspicion.

Princess Sapphire: Inuyasha's just being mean. He's afraid of everything but covers it up by his attitude just like in the series.

Wolfen_Man: Do you still have the 'Miroku is falling for Sango' idea?

Ucchan: No way. You're going to dress your Ryan up as Miroku? Oh, have I got a story for you. About three weeks before Miroku's episode came on (back when the only showing was on Saturday night), I started calling my Ryan Miroku. Um, my Ryan has a thing with his hands, too. I swear… No Hiraikotsu to whack him with, either. Well, he didn't get it, but then he saw the episode and he declared Miroku his favorite character. I've never had my rear… better not go there. Then tell me about the Ukyo/Ryouga reasons and we'll see about the next one I write.

Ghost: No, Inuyasha and Kikyo have never met before.