Miroku, Set #1, Theme #23 (Armour)
Title: Smile
Author: seinakyou
Theme: Set #1, Theme #23, Armour
Genre(s): Friendship, General
Characters: Miroku (obviously), Rin, Sesshoumaru
Word Count: 476
Rating: G/K/Suitable for all ages
Summary: He doesn't have all that much armour, really.
Rin is very lucky, Miroku reminds himself as the girl in questions braids his hair with flowers, To have a… he sneaks a glance over at the stoic taiyouki who stands guarding his charge, daring him to try something, anything with narrowed yellow eyes, a very capable guardian whom she absolutely adores.
He then sighs, trying to maintain some dignity by raising his head before Rin squawks and tugs on his hair sharply, pulling him back down to where she can easily reach the top of his head. So why, then, he muses as he nurses his arching scalp, is she playing with me?
His mind begins to wander as the child begins to undo all of the braids she's made and take out the flowers. He tries to remember what he should be doing - wasn't he looking for food, or something? - but comes up short. A little voice reminds him, You should be playing third wheel to every interaction in your little dream group, the one that doesn't notice you've been gone for nearly and hour.
He viciously tells it to shut up and lets Rin keep playing with his hair. She suddenly stops with a little cry, and his hands instantly come up to the back of his head. Oh no.
"Miroku-sama!" she exclaims, eyes bright, "I made something for you!" She holds something in her outstretched hands, and her glee is almost tangible.
However, he cannot for the life of him identify what exactly she has made him.
He still smiles gratefully. "Thank you, Rin-chan. It's lovely."
She grins impishly and falls back in the grass, causing her protector to grumble in alarm. "It's perfect for Miroku-sama, you see." She says seriously. "Because, Otori-chan there is noble, and pretty, and heroic too, but he's kind of alone amongst all the other birdies." She beams up at him, face framed by white wildflowers. "Just like Miroku-sama!"
He is torn between amusement, gratitude and melancholy. But Rin leaps up from her place in the grass and lets out a cry of delight.
"Look! Sesshoumaru-sama, Miroku-sama! Herons!" She proceeds to point to the sky, and he looks up in time to see the elegant birds framed by the sun as they fly overhead.
"Hn." Remarks the silver-haired demon, before turning around sharply and walking away. "Rin," He says blandly, "we're leaving."
She scrambles over a boulder or two to regain her place at his side. "Yes, Sesshoumaru-sama!" She then turns to Miroku, and cups her hands around her mouth. "Bye, Miroku-sama! Take care of Otori-chan!"
He gives her a little wave, and then she hops onto Ah-Un and they're off.
And then he's standing alone in a little field in the middle of nowhere with braids in his hair, a crown of flowers and holding a tiny heron made out of twigs.
He can't help but smile.