He woke to the sound of Emiko's voice. She was in the other room talking softly to someone. He had no idea who, he couldn't hear any other voices. He sat up and reached over to pick up the sweatpants he'd had on earlier. As he walked into the parlor, Emiko was looking up at him and smiling.
"Hi honey" she mouthed at him as she held a thing black rectangle to her ear.
"Yes, I know. Yes, we'll be here. Okay. Okay, see you in an hour Papa." She said and pushed a button on the rectangle.
"I just talked to my papa. He said he'll be here in an hour or so."
"I didn't see Inuyasha. Where is he?" Miroku asked.
Emiko giggled. "No! I talked to him on this! It's a machine that lets you talk to people when they're not near you" she said as she pointed to the box she was talking into. "It's called a phone" she said and walked over to hug him.
"You have many strange things in your time" he said and leaned down to kiss her. Emiko sighed softly and leaned into his embrace.
"I know. Oh! That reminds me, you're robes should be dry by now. I changed over the wash and decided to let you sleep" she said as she broke the kiss.
"Okay," Miroku said and smiled down at her. She was wearing only the T-shirt that he'd had on a couple hours earlier. "Can I take another shower?"
Emiko smiled and winked at him. "Yeah, go ahead. I'll bring your robes in to you". He nodded and headed towards the bathroom, happy to be taking another shower. *Sure beats bathing in a cold river* he thought.
As Miroku took his shower, Emiko took his robes from the dryer (happily noting that they didn't shrink, thank gods) and brought them to him.
He came from the bathroom wearing his freshly laundered robes and gasped at what he saw. Emiko was dressed in a sapphire blue kimono with silver edging. Her Obi was made of silver silk and her skirt was a lighter shade of blue also with silver edging. She was sitting in front of a mirror, tying back her hair with a silver ribbon when she noticed him watching her.
She stood with a shy smile and walked towards him. "Do you think this looks okay?" she asked. "I haven't worn it in, gods, must be close to 50 years. Thank gods it's still in good condition" she ran her hands softly down the silk as she spoke.
"You look...more lovely then I think I could say" he said softly as he stared at her. Emiko smiled happily and blushed softly.
"Thank you Miroku" she said. "It means a lot to me that you like it". She walked towards him and hugged him. He hugged her back, holding her close when her ears twitched, slapping him in the jaw lightly.
"Papa's here" she said softly as a bell rang. She leaned forward and kissed Miroku softly and led him into the parlor to greet her father.
As she walked into the parlor, her father came through the door. He looked almost the same as Sesshoumaru, the main exception being that he was smiling softly as he saw Emiko approach. Miroku gaped at the uncanny resemblance between Emiko's father and Sesshoumaru, but wisely didn't say anything.
Emiko bowed to her father. "Hello father" she said quietly.
"Emiko, I'm glad to see you are well," Inuyasha said formally and looked behind her to Miroku.
"Miroku, it's good to see you" Inuyasha said softly and Emiko quickly looked up at him. "You never did answer me, what ARE your intentions towards my daughter" Inuyasha said as he walked towards Miroku.
Miroku looked like a bug under a glass. He wasn't sure how he was supposed to answer that when Emiko stepping in front of him. "Father, please. We have not discussed that yet" she said softly yet firmly. "However, I seriously doubt that Miroku would do any harm to me or my 'reputation'. " having said that, she bowed again.
Inuyasha looked angry for a second then smiled warmly. "You're right Emiko. I'm sorry. I've done some stupid things in the past, and I'm sorry for what has happened since you left."
Emiko looked shocked. "T-that's all right father" she said softly then hugged him. Inuyasha smiled down at his daughter, sorry for the time they'd lost, but happy that she was happy again.
Miroku watched the exchange between father and daughter, happy that Emiko had made peace with this Inuyasha.
Inuyasha stepped back from Emiko with a smile. "Now, I did not stop by to interrupt you" he said this with a grin at Emiko's faint blush, "I also brought news." At this his face went serious.
"You have to go back again Emiko. Sesshomaru is looking for you. I won't say more than that, but know that he's wants you, and your power. We're going to need your help to defeat him" Emiko nodded in understanding. She thought it would come to that.
"When should we leave?" she asked softly.
"Tomorrow. Go and find Kagome and me and tell them what I told you." Emiko nodded again. "But, for now, how would you both like something to eat? My treat" he said with a smile.
Emiko and Miroku's faces lit up at the prospect of real food, not instant ramen. "Where shall we go?" Emiko asked.
"Oh, I think here is fine." Inuyasha said, "Stay right here" and with that he walked out of the room and went up in the lift.
"He's changed" Miroku whispered and Emiko nodded.
"Yes, time does that to everyone. Demons and humans alike" Her nose twitched softly as she heard her father returning.
"Take-out!" she cried as Inuyasha walked in carrying two bags of food. "I figured you might not have any food here, so I thought I'd get takeout. It was in the car." He explained as Emiko pulled out the boxes from the bag.
"I'll go get us dishes and chopsticks" she said happily and trotted into the kitchen, leaving Miroku and Inuyasha alone.
Miroku spoke first. "I just want you to know, my intentions towards Emiko are honorable" he said. "I know how I act may seem like I wouldn't be honorable towards her, but I swear to you, I will be."
Inuyasha looked at Miroku for a minute then nodded. "Yes, I think maybe you will treat her the way she deserves."
Emiko heard this and decided to walk in after that. "I got the dishes! Let's dig in!" and she piled up the dishes full of food for her father and Miroku.
As they sat and ate, they chatted about what's been happening since Emiko was gone, and explained to Miroku things about the times. He was very curious about everything and it made the conversation easy.
After dinner, Inuyasha stood and helped Emiko load the dishes into the dishwasher. "I'm glad you're happy" he said softly. Emiko smiled and hugged her father.
"Thank you Papa"
Inuyasha nodded then looked at the clock on the wall. "It's late, I've got to get going. When you go back tomorrow, I want you to do me a favor"
"What?"
"Bring the halberd that belonged to your grandfather."
"But...why? It may get lost!"
"Please, just do it. I have a feeling you may need it" and with a smile and a kiss on her forehead he was gone.
Emiko walked into the parlor and sat next to Miroku with a sigh.
"That wasn't so bad" Miroku said as he snuggled against her. She smiled happily and climbed into his lap to snuggle against his chest.
"No, it wasn't really. I'm glad." and she yawned tiredly.
He noted her soft yawn and smiled at her. "Maybe we should be going to bed? We're going to have to get going in the morning" Emiko nodded and stood up.
"Yeah. We sure do" and grabbing his hand walked into the bedroom with him.