T.Y.O.M. Chapter 9: Bruised Foreheads

T.Y.O.M. Chapter 9: Bruised Foreheads

Pairing: Miroku x Kagome

Sango and Shippo were gone. Not dead---at least not yet---but they were taken and the rest of the group, along with the village caught in the middle, were left worse for wear. The timing couldn't have been any more perfect, Inuyasha had reverted back into a human and the village was celebrating a night of successful harvests. In the dark of night, in the span of what seemed like seconds, Inuyasha and Miroku were down for the count and half the flammable housings were burnt to the ground, the villagers injured and scattered.

The next seconds, minutes, hours were spent in damage control. Kagome, the temporary Priestess-in-training, did her best in consoling the remaining conscious village leaders and strongmen, the pink glow of her fingertips lingering. 

With Miroku and human-Inuyasha taken care of, the rest of the villagers were left to their own devices. The crying children were satiated, the injured cared for, the fires put out, and the village dead quiet as they rested and waited for the light to come. Kagome couldn’t be more grateful for the hospitality--after all it was her group who led them to the village.

In their own hut on the edge, shabby futons were laid out for the broken group but she couldn’t bring herself to lay down as the abandoned Kirara paced around by her side. Miroku was definitely the worst out of the two. Not good. Their breathing surprisingly felt calm, face occasionally twitching at the pain, and Kirara fiddled with their discarded-for-first-aid clothing.

“That’s no good...”

Kagome nibbled on her bottom lip, eyes looking farther than the ragged cloth. She couldn’t wait for the morning to come but then again she didn’t want to see the sun rise. Reaching in her bag, she felt for a travel-sized container of thread and needles and put her hands to work, willing for the distraction to last until the brink of daylight.

~~~~~~~~~~

“Miroku-sama, stop!”

One shoulder harshly brushed the other aside and robes were haphazardly thrown together by muscle memory with a wrapped up arm.  

“No! No, Kagome-sama.” 

Small hands trembled at messily-covered shoulders in another attempt.

“Miroku-sama!”

The hands on his robes were ripped off at the fabric and a grunt escaped his lips from the rigid motion. A moment of instinct and desperation.

“Why didn’t you wake me up earlier? Don’t--! Don’t you even care?”

“I--”

“Just why?! Because of this set-back, Sango--!... Sango an-- Sango and Shippo are farther and farther away. They could be dead now for all we know!”

Purple eyes burned, the early lights of the afternoon sun flickered in his gaze as he directed his attention into the floor. As if he were imagining the stomped blades of grass as the demon horde that ambushed them the night before. Fists clenched, heavy panting and unsteady balance, it was like there was a wounded, wild beast before her, and she was afraid. Afraid to get close. Afraid to make one wrong move.

“Kami-sama above, below, and beside us stupid mortals, I have to go. I have to be there for them. Kagome-sama, you understand… right!? I can’t just stand here! We have no time to waste, just lazing around here!”

He faced her, his expression scrunched and the most vulnerable she had ever seen. Must be because of Sango. Of course. It stripped at Kagome's strongest defenses until he attempted to step away. He stumbled over his own staff and barely caught himself as his outbursts caused the other villagers to slowly stop and gather.

“Miroku.” No honorifics, just firm, warm, and unwavering. He didn’t turn.

“You’re injured, damn it.”

“It doesn’t matter.”

“YES IT DOES!”

He felt the trembling strength in her grip as Kagome forced him to face her, hands stretching the fabric of his robes. She pushed and pushed, forcing him to stumble backwards just to keep them both afloat. He expected tears, he expected a slap, he expected childish Kagome. Flitting eyes met the fiery depths of blue as she slammed her forehead against his, keeping him close and lowered at eye-level. It was childish.

“You can’t come. You’re hurt and I don’t want you to die, do you hear me!?”

“Kag--”

“No, shut up. Shut up! Do you hear me? Can’t you see that this village needs and wants you here? Your left arm is also useless right now and you can’t even walk without using your staff! I--.”

Her voice decided right then and there to crack but her gaze refused to waver, eyes shining with a new wetness which she immediately blinked away. He didn’t say anything, a frown gracing his features as she pulled harder on his robes.

“Inuyasha’s already healed and he’s got his stupid ears and old man hair back so we can’t stay here long, they’re terrified of him. They’ve agreed to keep you here though… So please. Just stay here. We need to know that at least you’re safe and sound...”

Something poked at his legs and Miroku looked down, forehead still brushing softly against Kagome’s bangs. Kirara let out a small mew, pawing at his toes with a knowing look, before she bumped her head into Kagome’s bruised and tensed calf. He let out a small curse at his own misfortune and looked back at the quivering Kagome. She wasn’t finished.

“...And of course I care, Miroku-sama. I… I’m useless, I know I am, but I never give up. You know that. I’m just so scared. I’m just scared that we’re already too late! That I won’t be able to do anything if we ever find--!”

“When, Kagome-sama. When you find them.”

Miroku, gaining the advantage of her sudden loss of composure, adjusted the staff in his hand to wipe at the tear in the corner of her eye before letting a bitter smile fall on his lips.

“I just… I need you to stay here. Can you promise me that?”

“...Yes. Please get them back safely.”

“Of course---”

“I have complete faith in you, you know.”

Kagome couldn’t respond to the succumbed yet confident tone of his voice or the fingers that brushed against her reddened forehead. She just nodded with a newly found determination and ran back into the forest with Kirara in her arms as a glimpse of red greeted her.

Left alone, he watched their silhouettes disappear as the eyes of all villagers suddenly burned into his back. Fixing the position of his staff, he failed to collect himself and sheepishly looked back at various expressions scattered on their equally battered faces. Rather than scared and angry at their outburst, they shared a more bashful atmosphere. It was quickly broken by what seemed like one of their esteemed village elders.

“Aye, young monk-sama, was she your wife perhaps...?”

He burst into a coughing fit and bought his wrinkled robe sleeve up to his face to cover the abrupt embarrassment on his face.

”W… wife?”

They all nodded simultaneously, eager to hear the answer. He brushed the fabric against his face again at their eagerness and paused. There was an intrusion in the fabric against his chin--a slight raised threading against bunched and bloodied cloth. Looking down, he found something and thumbed the mended area, fixed with obviously tender yet rough ministrations. Flowers. Fragile white flowers against dark, tainted fabric. He fixed a softer, relaxed smile at the crowd.

“No, just a precious friend.”

The villagers looked between themselves with doubt before returning back to their duties while he, with the help of a rejuvenated, single young girl, moved back onto the porch of their mostly-emptied out hut and slumped against the wall. They’ll make it. Without a doubt. Sango and Shippo are safe… Right? With a sigh, Miroku started praying, fingers playing with the light flowers embroidered on his mended sleeve.

Intro | Chapter 8 | Chapter 10

T.Y.O.M. Chapter 8: Battle, Exercise, and Poison

Pairing: Miroku x Kagome

Warning: I like joking about near-death drama a lot so all this emotional depth (if any) is just weak lol

The battle came out of nowhere, as did many fights have before, but something about this one seemed off. Maybe it was because she was somehow five times more clumsier than usual, maybe it was because Naraku showed up for the briefest second, screwing up any stable mentality the group had at the moment, or maybe it was because the stupid horde of demons managed to overpower and separate their group with a surprise attack in the goddamned rain.

Sango in one direction, murderous fire tattooed onto her face, and Inuyasha in another, a forlorn look in his features as familiar ebony hair whipped through the forest away from the others. Shippo and Kirara somehow trailed after Sango in a panic as claws and fangs tore the air to shreds, keeping Kagome from following them. All which happened in a matter of probably five minutes.

She would be lying if she said her legs weren’t screaming as breaths were harder to make without gasping as water pelted against her face heavily. Their situation was pretty bad, she knew it, hand in hand with the infamously lecherous but wounded monk, running deeper to god-knows-where in the security of the forest. He had protected her from a cowardly attack from behind when she tried to shoot one of Inuyasha’s many enemies. The blood was too much, more than she had seen in her life and she couldn’t help but squeeze Miroku’s slippery hand at the thought of his actions, feeling the beads dig into her palm as he swerved quickly in an attempt to throw off their pursuers. The attempt was useless really, his fresh wounds were just the bait thrown to the wolves. The leaves rustled crazily from each side, pushing them further uphill as snarls bit at their heels.

Kagome’s eyebrows furrowed as he stumbled over his robes, she was scared that Miroku wouldn’t make it to safety without fainting. Her arrows ran out a long time ago--turns out she still wasn’t a hell of a shot yet--and she wasn’t ready to face off hungry demons with a bloody metal staff and a misshapen patchy backpack in the rain. Yeah, the rain isn’t exactly her favorite at the moment.

“Miroku-sama?”

He grunted softly as a sort of involuntary response, tugging her hand as gently as he could while nursing his side to avoid an attacker pouncing from the left, who slid into the bushes on the other side with the rain’s assistance.

“I’ll be fine. Let’s worry about escaping alive, hm? You could do without those wet clothes.”

Without so much as a breathless squeak of surprise and a discreet shirt shifting, they continued on, Kagome worryingly catching up to the slightly dizzy monk as they burst through the clearing. Miroku fell to the ground, splashing against the mushy grass and skidding with a painful ‘oof’ as Kagome tripped on top of him--she was looking at the edge of the ground where it cut off into the view of the sky and the forest below. Water rushed in front of them from a wide river into a very steep waterfall. It’s usually clear liquid stained with brown, leaves and fallen branches muddling the river as it fell over the edge. With a glance over the edge, there was nothing but trees, stray branches along the walls of the waterfall, and a small pool covered in rocks continuing dangerously further down below. It had to be at least a 30 foot drop.

“Oh my god. I’m so sorry, Miroku-sama. Will you be ok?”

Quickly spinning to his feet in a proper defensive stance, Miroku shrugged off her apology and narrowed his eyes at the mutated demons closing in by the waves---almost as chaotically as the river behind them. He grabbed his abandoned staff as a crutch and Kagome flanked his side, slightly trembling---from the cold or from fear, she didn’t know. Surrounding them was just a line of fangs, claws, and drool that inched through the bushes, their tongues flickering at the droplets of dark red left behind as their eyes flashed a similar shade. Kagome instinctively reached for her arrows, fingers grasping at air and water droplets aimlessly. She forgot she ran out, looking quickly to the taller monk as if to ask ‘what’s the plan now’. Miroku looked ready to rip off his prayer beads, already pushing her behind him before a hazy hum droned out from all directions. Poison bugs, damn. She furrowed her brows again helplessly but his expression didn’t change, the grit he put into clenching his jaw contrasted greatly against his clammy, pale complexion. The haunting flutter of their wings didn’t seem to deter the monk, in fact, it only drew him on as he shifted to unravel the beads. Kagome pulled at his hand.

“Miroku-sama, you can’t--!”

“We have no other choice, Kagome-sama! Stay behind me and hold on. Please.”

He slung off the beads, pulling Kagome tight against his side as the void in his hand prickled and expanded. The wind howled, pulling in the suddenly submissive predators and any obstacles without much effect. They managed to dig their nails into the softened dirt as the hovering bugs were sucked in, drawing poison into his veins as he staggered back in pain. He motioned Kagome to move behind him as he brought his other hand to support his slightly trembling arm. About thirty of the demons fell in, their last words being indistinguishable screams mixed with inhumane whining but the bugs wouldn’t stop coming. Kagome noticed, feeling the muscles slacken in Miroku’s back, as he went under a dizzying spell.

Kagome had to stop him before he killed himself, eyes burning as she dug her fingers hard into his soaked robes. Knowing Inuyasha would chew her thin for her recklessness, she shook her head in resolve and swiped the bloodied prayer beads from his whitened grip. He protested, hints of anger and panic in his voice, as she brushed her unoccupied hand along the length of his right arm and clasped his fingers closed underneath hers with force. The dark abyss disappeared as their hands glowed light pink, rubble and leftover forestry falling as the indescribable force faded. In shock, he could only watch as she moved with a once-in-a-lifetime grace to twist her body and her grip to wrap his wrist with the beads in a way she had seen him do hundreds of times.

Rain almost freezing in time, they stared at each other, blue eyes fiery and almost challenging while deep violet dimmed in response. The bugs fled in a swarm into the dark sky and the snarls of the still overwhelming and recovered group of demons brought back their attention. Biting his lip, Miroku went back to applying pressure on his wound as he edged backwards, causing Kagome to follow.

“So what’s the... pla---...n… Kagome-sama?”

He drew out the last syllable, allowing himself to lean on her lightly when she nudged his side. She didn’t necessarily plan what to do after. His eyes squinted against the sprinkle of rain, jumping back when one of the demons snapped forward. Their pursuers continued their slow, predatorial pace, cornering the two further against the edge. It was only till Kagome felt her feet brush against the edge when she sucked in a deep breath and froze. The seconds slowed into impossible lengths, the thudding of her heart faded as Miroku’s heart thumped loudly in her ear. Ba-bump… Ba-bump… Ba….Bump… There’s no other way, he can’t go on like this. She quickly felt her way down his arms and squeezed his hand, stressed tears pricking at her eyes.

“Ok, we gotta go.”

It sounded more tender than she’d like.

“Go?”

She nodded, warily eyeing the enclosing rows of demons.

“Mhm. Down there… Can you swim?”

“Sw...im? I can... certainly try for a pretty… lady.”

She couldn’t help but let a frantic giggle pass her lips, he probably didn’t even know what she was talking about.

“On the count of three.”

“Alright, fairly confident that… I can count that much, Kagome-... sama.”

Gathering Miroku’s staff, her backpack, and her partially useless weapon, she smiled at his comment and threw their stuff over the edge and away from the water. She could see it, the muscles tensing from beneath layered skin or matted fur as their eyes narrowed. They’re going in for the kill. Without a second to lose, she scrapped the thought of counting and leapt backwards, dragging the surprised, yet barely conscious monk with her.

“Kagome-sama, wait--!”

The wind whipped through her hair, lashing around her face as she hugged Miroku close to her body, hand protecting his head against her chest as he held onto her tightly. They fell fast, the rain surrounding them as they probably plummeted to their deaths. Eyes fluttering shut, she curled slightly into him, tightening her grip on him to keep them close, and prayed.

The water was harsh and cold, dragging them along like ragdolls along the strong overflowing current as Kagome struggled to swim to shore with additional deadweight. He would still paddle every now and then, filling Kagome with more energy and purpose. She had to get them somewhere safe and fast. Blinking her eyes against the stubborn water droplets, she felt the current ease only for a second and guided Miroku onto the shore before joining him in a less graceful heap. She stayed there only to catch her breath, then checked Miroku’s breathing--which was a tired but still teasing huff in her ear, how he managed that was beyond God at this point--and quickly guided him back in the direction of the waterfall.

His hand rested against any stray trees along their path as his breaths finally appeared labored, he couldn’t see much as black dots and blurring filled his vision but hummed when Kagome leaned him against what seemed like a cave’s entrance. He sunk slowly and closed his eyes, blinking in and out of consciousness as his hand found its way onto his wound again, the poison pricking all over his body finally affecting the fluidity of his body as Kagome ran out into the forest.

The seconds ticked by, warmth somehow draining but filling him as the color faded from his usually tan skin. The trickling of rainwater from outside of the cave felt calm, almost too calm, but he redirected his focus on mediating his heartbeat and strength. The poison must’ve spread quickly through their little water adventure and he wasn’t exactly in the healthiest condition, wound screaming in his attempt to stay awake. Without a pause, he felt clumsy footsteps coming closer and relaxed his muscles with a small, strained smile. She didn’t hesitate to throw her bag down, along with the miraculously intact bow and staff and a pile of mostly dry sticks and herbs, before digging in as if her life depended on it. Well his did, so it was completely justified. Seemingly finding what he needed first, she crouched next to him and popped open the cap. It looked to be a strange, sterile liquid, similar to the first time he managed to get poisoned.

“Oh Kagome-sama, I don’t think I have the strength to drink this all myself. Would you be open to--”

“Miroku-sama, you still got time to joke around?”

He noticed the slightest quiver in her voice as her sniffles became more audible, completely gluing his tongue to the roof of his mouth when he met her reddened eyes.

“It’s going to be alright, Kagome-sama. So maybe asking for mouth-to-mouth transfer is a bit too extreme…” He took a hold of the bottle, placed his hands over hers on the small container, and continued, ”How about just helping me?”

She only nodded, adjusting her position, and pushed the bottle against his lips. It went down smoothly and he leaned his head back, it felt better to rest his eyes. He let her drape a towel over him before dragging everything closer to his still form. Various little noises echoed through the shallow cave, a fire started after a couple minutes of silence and then a soft bubbling of something being boiled in a small pot with additional grinding of rocks creating a pulp with a familiar herbal aroma.

“Um..”

“Yes, Kagome-sama?”

“Are you ok to take off your clothes by yourself?”

“How bold, Kagome-sama--”

“Not like that!”

She was blushing, and he couldn’t help but feel relieved, it was more her than the hysterical girl she was earlier. He untied the knot on his robe, slowly shrugging his torso free from the fabric. It peeled slightly around the slowly clotting wounds, causing Miroku to wince and Kagome to forget about how his body was unfairly toned. Sucking in air through his teeth, he scooched closer to the fire, basking in the warmth as the light flickers over his skin. He didn’t notice Kagome settling in beside him until he felt a warm washcloth against his side. It didn’t hurt but it startled him enough to whip his head toward her.

“Sorry. Can I treat it?”

He nodded, turning slightly to give her better access as he tried to dry himself off with one hand. It was a fairly long process, cleaning, crying, comforting, applying ointment and herbs, and then dressing it. He only paid attention to the smallest brush of contact and the way her breath fanned across his torso as she felt more comfortable to fill the silence with rants about what just happened and then her Future problems. The pain flickered every now and then but the Future’s ‘painkillers’ seemed to help similar to a multitude of herbs he couldn’t name at the moment, the only difference was that it was making him quite drowsy.

“I’m probably boring you, huh?”

“As a holy monk, our lifelong mission is to seek and spread knowledge under the guidance of God… and personally I’d love to hear more about these ‘planes of air’, they seem quite revolutionary!”

So she continued, wrapping each layer of the bandages with tender care with a recovered sparkle in her eyes. He didn’t know it was over until fingers lightly trailed over his shoulders, his arms, and his face to finish off the little scrapes left over and she became more animated in her explanations while drying out his hair. She even dried out a blanket and placed it near the fire for him, giggling too as she tucked in his mostly naked form with another blanket. She hung his robes out on the other side of the fire as the silence filled the cave, leaving only the raspy breaths and the crackles of the reasonably small fire.

They looked at each other, eyebrows comically wiggling in an intimate conversation before he smiled, words already sent telepathically into her head.

“...Don’t thank me, I didn’t do anything. In fact, you almost died because of me.”

“Well, I don’t think I have to ask you to guess who also saved my life earlier, Kagome-sama.”

She smiled softly, almost as if to say ‘ok, I’ll give up only because you’re literally gonna die otherwise’, and he quirked one of his eyebrows cockily. Looking outside, Kagome sighed before a small sneeze escaped her. Miroku looked at her again, eyes glued at a certain spot with a sputter as he gave her a strangely familiar look. She tilted her head slightly. Something about it was off… It wasn’t cocky like earlier and it’s not necessarily happy either. Somehow it gave her the creeps.

“Gesundheit, Kagome-sama…”

“Um, thanks.”

She squinted her eyes in suspicion as he smiled even wider.

“You seem to still be quite wet, that is to say your clothes leave little to the imaginati--”

“Holy CRAP! You perv, look away! I swear to Kami, when you get better I’m going to beat the living daylights out of you.”

She covered her shivering form with what little dignity she could as her face grew hot. It caused him to chuckle as she ran over and pulled the blanket over his face with a speed that rivaled Inuyasha’s. Keeping the blanket over the laughing pervert with her foot, she quickly pulled off her clothing and attempted to hop into her dry pajamas. It proved to be quite difficult as she tripped on her pant leg, landing on his exposed arm.

“Oh jeez!”

“That stung. Although I have to confess black is such a suitable color on you, Kagome-sama--! Ah!”

“Oh. My. God. I’m going to kill you!”

“Well keep your clothes off if I’m going to die--!”

He was silenced with a soft yet stern flick on his forehead that basically promised a very foreseeable death and he slowly drew the sheet off his face to meet eye to eye with a scarily beautiful sight. Upside down pursed lips, pink dusted cheeks, and lively blue eyes plus a messy job of putting on a shirt.

“Ooh, what a scary angel.”

“Oh please, just as human as any person here…”

She furrowed her eyebrows slightly, leaning even closer to brush her forehead against his.

“I think you have a fever, Miroku-sama.”

“Take care of me?”

She huffed lightly at his cheesy smile, flicking his forehead again before getting up.

“Already on it, ya nasty perv!”

Intro | Chapter 7 | Chapter 9

T.Y.O.M. Chapter 11: Tricks & Nightmares

Pairing: Miroku x Kagome

Some comfort and light-hearted robbing attempt content for y’all.

He swallowed thickly but regretted how dry it left his mouth as sweat peppered his forehead and upper lip. The bob of his Adam’s apple brushed against his offending restraint and he tried to pull back. It was no good. The sharp edge of the blade slid harmlessly against his skin and he urged himself to not flinch. Curse his healthy libido. Do you have to jump at every attractive woman you see? Why, yes, I do, the fate of the Miroku bloodline is at stake. Of course, of course. He sighed at himself, his arm straining against the unnatural position it was put in.

He got tricked. Worst than the most cunning prostitute that slid in his robes and took all of the gold he stole a couple years ago. He didn’t think he’d be that careless again but the nails digging into his arm and the knife at his throat proved otherwise.

“How embarrassing.”

No response. She pushed him further into the dark with a twist of his threatening-to-snap arm. What to do, what to do indeed. You’ve snaked your way out of worse situations, come on. He glanced back at her and she pressed the blade tighter against his neck. Well then.

“Hand over your valuables, filthy monk.”

“Bold of you to assume I have valuables. I am a monk.”

“Don’t lie. Those robes of yours aren’t cheap and that staff...?” Miroku grimaced as she stripped him of his outer priest robes. Her rough ministrations left scratches on his chest as his inner wrappings tousled loose but her sultry voice continued, “Definitely gold-plated. So be a good boy and hand over the rest. No funny business either.”

He sighed, a shiver from the cool night air crawled up his spine as she cast the rich fabric aside. She must’ve been impatient, he thought, grunting at a sudden shift of balance, as his cheek slammed against a nearby wall. Maybe women can lose their charm.

“We don’t have all night---.”

“My front robe pocket.”

“Thank you, oh handsome servant of God.”

He rolled his eyes at the nickname that drew him into this mess in the first place. He could have found better women in Kaede’s hut. He pushed his chest harder against the wall and she paused. Their position was rather constricting. Her hands brushed over his body, fondling unnecessarily at intimate crevices, but she couldn’t reach his pocket. He smiled in the dark and his eyes finally adjusted. Trap for a trap. There was an exit to his right. Open space long enough for a scuffle. Boxes surrounding the two in the alleyway. No problems. The pressure against his neck budged slightly in her struggle to reach his hip pocket and he threw her off, bumping his head hard against her nose. She flinched with a surprisingly elegant yelp, at least to the tense monk before her. He cursed his subconscious women-only romanticized frame of reference.

With a quick crouch, he stuck out his leg and swept her legs off the floor. The woman stumbled and the blade went flying. There was a scrambling of hidden bodies in the room and Miroku dashed, a fistful of his ripped robe in his hand and an onslaught of angry clambering at his heels. Shoulders bumped into unfriendly corners and walls kept coming from left and right. He could only follow the dim light of the moon and the stars, his racing heart beat obscuring his other senses as adrenaline pumped through his veins.

His breathing quickened, his muscles strained, and his sides stitched. What felt like hours could have been seconds, it was hard to differentiate. Either way, he was alone. Looking down, he swiped away the sweat on his brow and sighed. His sandal was broken. How it stayed on his foot was beyond him.

“How embarrassing.”

He casually readjusted his robes and made his way back to the hut, breath slowly returning back to normal. At the sight of a sitting figure on his doorway, Miroku stepped back and tried his best to turn casually as if he wasn’t caught in the middle of the night looking like he walked into a bar fight.

“Look who’s out so early in the morning. That couldn’t be our Miroku-sama, right?”

At the sound of his name, purposefully amplified to stop him from making another step, he flinched and turned back to the scarily calm figure addressing him. He couldn’t help the nervous crack in his voice and attempted a cough.

“Nope, you got the wrong monk, Miss…?”

“Nah, I’m sure I got the right guy.”

He dropped the act and deferred to an exaggerated play at humility.

“Well, you didn’t have to stay here for little old me.”

“Ah, just spit it out. What happened to you? You look like a hot mess.”

“I… uhhh---”

He looked nervous, muscles tensed and eyes a little frantic behind a frozen half-smile, which caused her to slouch a bit from her mothering pose---arms folded with a tapping foot and a stern expression, in this case a looser, more teasing smirk.

“It’s ok, I’m just teasing. I was worried when I saw your corner empty but I guess it was nothing…?”

Adjusting the folds of his robes, he flashed a soft grin and shrugged his shoulder.

“I, uh, got ambushed…?”

The confession flew out of his mouth before he could stop himself.

“That much I could guess, you really got your shit rocked.”

Unfamiliar with the phrasing, he understood the connotation and chuckled. Looking back to her, he softened at her resigned but amused smile. Settling down at the porch edge closest to the direction of the moon, she patted the empty space without glancing back at his tense form. Plopping down as gently as he could, he followed her gaze to the full moon and loosened his posture, adrenaline slowly leaving his veins.

“Well, that’s my excuse but surely you weren’t just worried about me to be up at this time of night”, he saw her tense up from the corner of his eyes and quickly added, “But you don’t have to share, Kagome-sama---”

“Inuyasha was out too.”

His lips thinned into a firm line. This was a routine affair, and he was already too familiar with his role. He kept a level gaze on her, willing her to relieve her tension, but she continued glare at the moon. Feeling, rather than seeing the seconds and tensions slip on her shoulders, he offered the first words.

“I see.”

She sighed, jumping into the role of accepting seemingly pointless comforts, but refused to meet his eyes. “Don’t worry, it’s not like that---”, that being Inuyasha’s recent nighttime stroll in the forest, “I had a nightmare and seeing the two of you gone was a real shock for me. So I’m glad you’re back.”

He frowned softly, too soft to notice, but his shifting towards her was noticeable. She spared him a small glance and he finally noticed her sweat-glistened skin and haggard appearance. He reached a hand out to her, offering silent solace and good intent.

“May I?”

He could see her shakily exhale, then nod, and slowly pulled her into him by the shoulder. As soon as contact was made, she slumped against him. She was shivering.

“Tell me what happened.”

“Hm?”

“I need a distraction. Please. Any story about a con-man out-conning our conniving monk must be quite the story.”

“Of course. But it’s quite a looooong story, I wouldn’t want to bore you with all the details.”

She giggled a bit and he squeezed her shoulder with a soft smile, the familiar but dangerous clash of beads against flesh grounded them both.

“And it was actually a con-woman.”

“Why am I not surprised.”

“Hey, hey, be nice. I was assaulted, you know.”

She managed a small scrunch of her nose.

“Well, she matched me in wordplay and played along with my fruitless attempts of ensnarement, you know the palm readings and blessings, and she caught me fair and square in an alleyway. To my surprise she didn’t shove me in there to ravage me senselessly---”

“Ewwwww.”

She stuck her tongue out in distaste and he stuck his tongue back at her mockingly. With a sign, he fell back onto the grass and took her down with him, making sure she laid comfortably on his upper arm. She didn’t resist. Good.

“More like a disappointment on my part, Kagome-sama. She had a knife and tried to rob me, a monk, can you believe that?”

They stared up to the starry night sky and Kagome scoffed lightheartedly, shifting more comfortably against his side to fight against the sudden chill.

“I would rob you too, you look easy.”

“Oh how you wound me, Kagome-sama.”

That put a smile on her face. Good.

“Anyways, there we were, knife to my throat and arm twisted behind my back and she asked me for my valuables. Smart woman, she saw my robes and staff earlier this afternoon, and concluded that I was wealthy. And let me tell you, she fondled me so, looking for the money I left with you. It must’ve been my masculine physique or my dashing looks that caused her to slip, because when the chance arrived I was able to escape. Though, six---six, can you believe it?---men came out from the shadows and chased after me. I couldn’t tell how long I ran, escaping spears and assorted weapons and threats but after what seemed like an eternity, I found you.”

He stole a quick glance at her and jerked his head back up when he saw her looking up at him, sparkling blue eyes that reflected the stars hanging over them.

“Dashing looks, huh?”

“Indeed. Why, have I caught you as well?”

“You wish.”

“I didn’t share my embarrassment to be attacked so harshly, Kagome-sama.”

“Sorry, sorry. I’m glad you’re ok though.”

“Thank you for worrying.”

She smiled before her eyes caught a shine on his neck.

“Oh, you’re bleeding.”

“I am?”

She rose up on her elbow and assessed the wound, dark red slightly flaking and leaving a trail on the edges of his robe collar.

“Yes! Why didn’t you say so earlier?”

“I didn’t feel it, too busy fighting off 10 men.”

She quickly tiptoed inside the hut and came out with a damp handkerchief.

“Don’t you mean 6?”

“Did I say that?”

“I was listening!”

“And I was there, Kagome-sama. You can’t trick me!”

She shook her head, amused, and he rose to let her settle back next to him but she shook her head.

“Don’t move.”

“Yes, ma’am!”

He stilled and watched her from under his lashes. She caught his eyes for a second before sighing dramatically.

“What a rare opportunity for me. Seeing you act so childish, you make me feel special. Better not let the other girls see.”

She dabbed at the cut on his neck lightly and he hummed, not trusting his words to keep the atmosphere going.

“Ok, done. For now. Tomorrow morning, I’ll get a bandaid, I couldn’t reach it in the dark earlier.”

“That’s alright, Kagome-sama, thank you.”

She shivered and he cocked his head slightly at the display.

“S’chilly.”

There was a haunted look in her eyes, which he didn’t miss, before she smiled down at him.

“So it seems.”

Without another word or hint of hesitation, he gently pulled her back down into him and she let him, humming softly at the warmth radiating from him.

“Well, Kagome-sama, I’m not sure what dream dared to hurt you, but you’re not alone. We’re here and we’re here to stay.”

She flinched but there wasn’t an answer. He wasn’t looking for one. His eyes drew invisible lines within the stars but stopped when she hesitantly leaned into him.

“I--- I’m sorry just for a little bit please.”

He let her trace her fingers along the skin on his arm exposed from his rolled up robes, feeling it play along the edges of his beading and glove before resting on his inner forearm. He could feel her gaze burn across the planes of his skin but made no move to initiate eye contact. Whatever she was searching for, he needed to keep calm so he evened out his breath. Seconds turned into minutes, aimless trailing turned into invisible doodles on his arm and it was only a few more moments before he felt her ministrations stop completely. Stealing a glance, he found her asleep. Good.

“Sleep well, Kagome-sama.”

Intro | Chapter 10 | Chapter 12

T.Y.O.M. Chapter 7: Body Pillow?

Pairing: Miroku x Kagome

Tired was an understatement, Kagome was completely and utterly exhausted, both physically and mentally. Countless days and nights without proper sleep, full of bickering and fighting enemies and allies alike. It was draining, she couldn’t even remember the last time she actually got to rest. Sighing, she looked at the feeble campfire, throwing stray twigs in with the hope of absorbing the energy of the flames. Inuyasha wasted no time setting off into the forest, most likely to follow the scent of ash and clay, and the others settled into ‘bed’ after a small nibble of dinner and half-assed conversation. 

Everyone fell asleep quickly but Kagome’s eyes were glued open. Somehow she was too tired to actually sleep. Her behavior was strange enough, the lack of sleep made everything distorted and slow. Sort of like a drunk feeling. If that’s the right analogy. She rubbed her eyes, body straining at the simple action, before giving up halfway and staring to the right. Deep violet eyes greeted her from the other side of the campfire and she brightened up a bit. If there was a possibility that she couldn’t sleep tonight, at least she had company, and just like that she did her best to scooch her way--in her sleeping bag--to the smiling monk.

It was probably, no, definitely, the most inefficient way of doing it but she didn’t have the energy to really think about it. So there Kagome was, the smallest squishiest caterpillar with the dopiest smile, settling down as Miroku watched with a mirthful grin.

“Enjoying yourself, Kagome-sama?”

“Not sure, are you?” He glanced at her glassy eyes and the stress indented into her skin before looking up at the stars.

“Hmm, tough inquiry. But with you, I might as well be.” Kagome yawned, she couldn’t really think about what he said seriously. Whether it was just a formality or if there was something more, she stashed it away in her brain for later. His voice suddenly seemed to play on repeat and she couldn’t dissuade the strangely smoky tone for some odd reason. The words came before the thought did.

“Did you know that you have, like, a really nice voice?” Miroku quirked a brow at the compliment. Sure, he got the same compliments from many women but somehow hearing her say it felt heavier, full of value and warmth rather than a shallow comment. It was hard to word what he felt as he gazed into Kagome’s eyes, curious, mellow purple met dazed, giddy blue.

“Yes, I’ve heard many say that my voice is really nice, as you put it. But what about you?” She scrunched her nose and slumped back onto the tree trunk supporting the both of them, still looking at the still monk.

“What about me?” He got a little close, probably too close if she was in the right state of mind.

“Did you know that you have beautiful blue eyes?” She huffed good-heartedly, pushing him back slightly through her sleeping bag, a blush staining her cheeks. His eyes crinkled at her reaction and he settled back into his spot.

“Oh, you tease. Is that how you get all your lady friends?” 

She wiggled her eyebrows goofily, causing him to chuckle.

“Not at all. Only my special lady friend.” She didn’t register that fully but still answered, “Ooooh, lucky me.”

“Quite the opposite actually. I believe I happen to be the lucky one, Kagome-sama.” She smiled and lazily looked up, stars twinkling out in the open unlike the foggy nights in the future.

“You’re quite the charmer.”

“Thank you, I only learn from the best.”

“And who’s that?” She looked back at him, watching his lips form into a cheesy smirk.

“Me.” 

“Of course, it’s you. Hey, you think you can give me lessons?” 

She couldn’t resist a giggle and he, in turn, wiggled his own eyebrows.

“Sure, I could give you some private lessons.”

“Maybe some other time.’’

“Hmm, sure. I don't believe you’ll have the same mindset in the morning.”

“I’m just tired, Miroku-sama, not drunk. Besides I’m underage.”

He tilted his head with a quirked brow, and they shifted into a weirdly comfortable silence. Kagome felt more relaxed, happy even, maybe she’ll get some sleep tonight. Feeling a bit giddy, she unintentionally started looking at Miroku’s face. He was, indeed, attractive. High cheekbones, sharp jawline, he was angular but soft but she just really admired his eyes, swirling violet purple with long lashes. It was almost distracting enough to hide everything else…

Dazed spell broken, she furrowed her brows. Stressed wrinkles from a lifelong burden smoothed at night, dark, sunken eye bags, and a certain hardness suddenly popped out and she felt the urge to say, to do, something. Without a word, she scooched closer to Miroku, knees touching, and poked her hand out of the sleeping bag. He looked at her hand, eyes illuminating in the silence.

“When’s the last time you’ve slept properly, Miroku-sama?” Just asking the question made him deflate from the façade of ease he kept.

“I’m not too sure. Does it matter?”

She pouted, unintentionally a bit childish and cute. 

“To me, it does. If you can’t, I can’t, so take responsibility.”

“I wish I could, Kagome-sama. If you asked me maybe 5 years ago, I could have.”

His words felt bitter, just like the sudden crease in her eyebrows, and she felt helpless. Using her lack of sleep to excuse her sudden irrationality, she wiggled out of her sleeping bag, dug into her misshapen yellow bag and procured a large blanket. She threw the blanket over the unsuspecting monk with a fancy flourish and shimmied back into her own sleeping bag.

“Any better?” His lip twitched into a barely-smile and he mocked a sigh.

“Yes, maybe, but I do wish for the physical comfort of a beautiful woman by my side though.” 

“Pity, is it easier to sleep sitting like that or you ok with lying down?”

“Lying down is a nice luxury and yes, it is quite a shame…” His words dragged on as she scooched further along the tree and patted her leg with an expectantly warm smile. His expression asked the question for him.

 “I’m female, sooo…..?” He didn’t understand.

“....Soooo?”

“....Body pillow?”

“...Body… pillow. What a strange offering to a holy man, Kagome-sama.”

The insinuation jumped over her head.

“Oh hush, I’m tired. The offer stands for a short time period, so take it while you can!” After considerable silence, she feared she just ruined her wonderful friendship with the man in front of her but physically beamed when he hesitantly lowered his head onto her lap. Hands out of her sleeping bag, she yawned and adjusted his blanket, watching him turn slightly to look away from her. She hummed in confusion, catching his slightly reddened ears, and grinned.

“Feeling embarrassed, Miroku-sama?”

“... No. It’s not often when a beautiful woman willingly engaged with me.”

“You know I prefer ‘special lady friend’ over ‘beautiful woman’.” He glanced over at Kagome for a quick second, barely-smile widening just a tiny bit. Kagome returned the smile, lightly combing her fingers through his hair.

“...Thank you, Kagome.” The gratitude went beyond just the comfort of physical contact, how far, Kagome didn’t know but she felt closer to the monk in this moment after two years of knowing him. She felt his breath even out and his body loosen.

“Good night and sweet dreams, Miroku-sama.”

It didn’t take long for her eyes to shut, hand rested securely on his tense shoulders.

Intro | Chapter 6 | Chapter 8

T.Y.O.M. Chapter 13: He Felt Alive

Pairing: Miroku x Kagome

Kagome was never one for photos. With an old disposable camera at home, developing the photos or even buying extra cameras were a hassle that she didn’t want to indulge. Why take pictures when you can just enjoy the moment as it is? Maybe it was her naivety that was fueling her irrational irritation but she just didn’t find the use of a camera very useful.

She looked at the cursed camera in her hand and sighed. Out of all the places, it was  stuffed at the bottom of her yellow backpack. She didn’t bother asking how it survived everything that bag went through as memories of her bag being dropped in the river, tumbling over a cliff, and being thrown off her bike in the fields of Japan emerged in her head. It was a miracle of its own.

“When did you even get in there?”

“When did what get in where, Kagome-sama?”

Miroku settled down next to her, the shade providing good reason for their interaction. She welcomed the single clap of a paper fan in his hand as it blew soft, cool air over the two. His movements were relaxed and his hand was busy with the fan so she didn’t feel the need to move.

“I’m talking about this.”

She plopped the instant film camera into his lap and dropped herself back onto the grass. What was I looking for again, she thought as the soft sunlight bleeding through the leaves of the tree distracted her. It was a warm, sunny day. No shards, no stress. Inuyasha’ forest, left alone, looked the same the day she met the hanyou himself and she admired its tenacity. Without air pollution, the air was more bearable. It was humid but it was also all the more delightful. It caused a healthy tint in her deprived skin and she relished the calm that followed the smallest of breezes that teased the greenery around her. Various small blades of grass tickled her ear, the breeze tingling on her partially exposed skin, and she wiggled her toes in her sandals. Her eyelids closed to bask in the warmth.

“...I would be willing to praise an ordinary box if you were any ordinary woman. Anything given to me by a woman is bound to be fascinating enough, of course, but I have a feeling this is more than your average box, Kagome-sama.”

Kagome’s lips didn’t move at first. She stretched lightly, like an indoor cat under the sun, and his eyes followed her small movements without a word. With a small peek at the man beside her, she said, “It’s a specific type of camera. It captures still, beautiful moments and keeps them forever in photographs if you save them. Like a painting but more detailed than that, if that makes sense. Instead of taking hours, days or even months to finish, it takes only a second and you have an instant copy of what you can see with your eyes. It’s very accurate, some cameras need people to develop the actual photo because it doesn’t store it in the camera itself, but mine sort of copies it as soon as the picture is taken. It’s rather finicky with sun exposure so I’m not a huge fan myself but it’s a nice thing to have for memories.”

By the end of her spiel, she had scooched next to the monk with her legs tucked under her. He had a pretty funny expression on his face and she couldn’t resist pulling herself closer to admire it for a good laugh. It was a mixture of disbelief and childlike wonder. She’d like to imagine smoke escaping his ears from the heat of overstimulated curiosity but there was something about the way his eyes shimmered at the future artifact that made her warm up considerably.

“That IS fascinating! Think about all of the women I could capture with this handy little device!”

She smacked his arm playfully. The light quirk of his brow showed none of the ill will described in his words and he carefully placed the camera back into her hands. Any questions he had were stowed away for future sleepless nights.

“I’ll bring some books for you to read later, Miroku-sama. They might explain them a lot better.”

He hummed but internally disagreed. He liked the way she skipped over the details and bounced on the exciting bits. It was just like her to focus on the big picture, especially with such a gap in functionality and innovation in their time periods. Right, time periods. Did the world really change this fast?

“Thank you for sharing this with me, Kagome-sama.”

The way he froze earned him a wary glance from Kagome, who in turn tried to lighten the air.

“No worries, I can’t hog all the comforts of the Future to myself.”

“If you insist, but the things we are capable of--- It’s incredible! I mean, a tool that captures moments before your very eyes and provides living proof of the existence of that specific memory. I couldn’t imagine anything better than that.”

There was a wistful glint in his eyes, hands forming grand gestures as to enhance his wonder and underlying desolation. She swallowed the list of examples that she knew would deepen his overwhelming display of fascination at the subtle hints of bitterness in his voice and reached out her hand to squeeze his. With a soft breath, he collected himself smoothly, the transition between his frenzied erect pose to a cooler laze in his posture practically invisible as though his spiel hadn’t just happened merely moments before.

“Your world…”, he offered a small twitch on the corner of his lip,” It sounds wonderful.”

“It’s your world too, Miroku-sama.”

He blew a small breath from his nose, amused, at her words and the air cooled over her cheeks. She felt the ridiculousness of her words and felt her heart twist. The thought of a future, her Future especially, was something Miroku didn’t have the luxury of exploring. He was chained to this time, to a mortal body and a curse that threatened to pull him under with each growing day, and the well only opened for her and Inuyasha… She could feel her slipping never ending void of depression, one she was sure she could see Miroku delving into before her, but quickly collected herself---though not as smoothly as her well-seasoned friend. Willing herself to think like Kagome, she felt a burst of renewed love for her camera and her Future luxuries, as well as her Kagome-brand positivity, and squeezed her hand over Miroku again, the fan in their grip crinkling softly.

“I would love to show you sometime.”

Breaking out of his ever growing and dark trance, he simply quirked a brow at her words, no doubt questioning her line of thought. They both knew their limits. With a soft smile, she shook her head as to assure confidence in her claim and scooched closer to the man beside her.

“Well, we know I can’t promise immortality, Kami knows we haven’t reached that answer in my time nor can I promise passage to my time…”

He just nodded, resigned to their conclusion, but she wasn’t finished.

“...I think we can start with this.”

She held out her camera for him to see, the smallest glimmer of wonder returned to his eyes and she grinned.

“And I do remember promising a certain monk with books? There’s an endless stock of them just waiting for you---”

Fiddling with the knobs, she continued listing the many ways she could provide the feudal-tweaked tour of the Future, quickly placed a practiced arm around Miroku’s shoulders and brought him close. Quietly thanking her friends’ recent obsession with polaroids and instant film cameras and months of selfie practice, she gave the bewildered monk a quirked brow of her own.

“Just look at the circle here,” she pointed at the lens, “try not to blink---it can get brighter than my flashlight, and… Smile?”

He only tilted his head at her as she redirected her gaze into the open lens. With a giggle, she bumped his shoulder and smiled into the camera.

“Say cheese.”

It came out softer than she expected but she heard him mirror her words and pressed the shutter button. With a small flinch, she untangled herself from him, suddenly warmer at the contact and the barest flash of summer’s heat, and waved the camera around, urging it to develop faster. She chuckled at the laser focus he projected onto the offending camera, unanimated once the picture popped out of the bottom slit.

“Eyes over here, Miroku-sama!”

She thrusted the film into his hands and leaned over to watch the magic happen. As if his gradually shaking hand were any sign of his impression, she took in his sharp inhale as a positive and grinned when their faces emerged from a sea of white.

“What…?”

She quickly became bursting with excitement at his awe and shook his shoulders.

“That’s us!”

Eyes flickering between her bouncing form to the developing photo in his hands, he shook his head vigorously in disbelief.

“I--- How? This isn’t some late joke that I wasn’t privy to, is it? Kagome-sama?”

“Nope, call it Future magic, if you want, but that is the real deal! You couldn’t fake that famous Miroku-rat-tail anywhere!”

With a slowly growing upturn of his lips, he looked down at her and let out a semi-splintered laugh. It was like time froze, a picture developed before her and she wished her camera had the ability to capture the view before her. The way the light bounced off the curves of his face and the smallest smile to grace his face, with soft wind-tousled hair, and a relaxed but truly juvenile admiration air that surrounded Miroku. It was something she didn’t realize she needed from this very broken, lonely man and she willed the memory to dig itself into her most conscious of memory banks.

“It’s yours.”

As soon as it came, the picture in front of her shifted as he glanced back at the photo, barely pinching the edges as if it were a fragile, precious child.

“I couldn’t possibly…”

She could feel his hesitation and patted his shoulder once more. “I insist. Plus…”

She stilled as to fix her gaze on the man. He quickly returned it at her pause and her smile turned cheeky, replicating a familiar smirk that came after a successful fondle.

“It’ll be the first of many! I intend to follow through with my promises.”

With a resigned shake of his head, one of weathered joy, he leaned back onto the grass, as if drained from his child-like behavior and new found discoveries and delicately inserted the polaroid into the folds of his robes, the empty hand then traveling up to cover his face.

“I’ll hold you to that, Kagome-sama.”

At the slightest tremor in his rather smooth voice, she leaned down next to him and looked up to the sky.

“I’ll expect no less with your persistent disposition! I just don’t know where to start! I have some of my school textbooks back at Kaede’s, there are a lot of developmental topics, general and theoretical, or even philosophical, content and intros to some of the basic stuff that I can go over with you. Anything you find interesting, I can swing by the library to pick up too. I find that other cultures from around the world to be particularly enlightening, maybe you would like to browse the religious impacts and ideology first? Of course, I can tickle your fossilized taste buds with the luxuries of Future fine-dining for cheap at the convenience store---”

She rambled on and on, things reminding her of even more things, as a loose plan formed. She wasn’t aware it quickly became a one-woman speech but he didn’t have the energy to reply. He basked in the bubble that Kagome created, almost seeing everything she described in front of his eyes, breath slowing, speeding, and tensing at every turn. He felt alive.

Intro | Chapter 12 | Chapter 14

Taste of Your Own Medicine

Pairing: Miroku x Kagome

I wrote a compilation of romantic one-shots for this rare pair, with no particular plot or point of relationship growth. It’s just gradual pining and comfort between characters given the circumstances and it’s super sweet. Here’s the first prologue (?): 

Smack. There it was again, a stinging in his cheek and a gloved hand slithering from Sango’s butt to caress the pain. At least, it wasn't her Hiraikotsu, he thought willfully, the familiar ache of the last time the huge boomerang dug into the back of his head. Miroku held a mirthful smile as he caught both Sango’s growing blush and Kagome’s scowl. Their obvious embarrassment and disgust wasn’t anything new so it didn’t stop his shameless chuckling.

They were on their way to another village, Inuyasha leading with Shippo uncharacteristically by his side. Kagome sensed a jewel shard about a couple minutes earlier, she could feel it move slowly inside some unfortunate demon, its corrupted hunger glowing in the distance. She shivered at the feeling, small whispers of fear making her forget all about Miroku’s perversions toward Sango, until a hand brushed against her backside, softly groping it. 

In one second, she felt the texture of prayer beads thinly separating the offending palm from direct contact to her butt. In two seconds, she heard a scarily appreciative but velvety hum settle beside her. In three seconds, a blush exploded on her face then she finally found her voice to screech like a dying pterodactyl and jump inhumanely into the folds of Sango’s arms, who was unbelievably disgusted for a second time in five minutes. What a new record, Inuyasha and Shippo couldn’t help thinking as Miroku’s life suddenly flashed before his eyes.

A large boomerang-weapon in the hands of Sango hit the perverted monk’s head with a loud ‘thunk’, followed by the chimes of a fallen staff and groans from the observing group. Face in the soft grass, Miroku contemplated whether or not to explain his actions but stopped at Kagome’s huffing and a throbbing headache. He missed the obviously furious expression on Kagome's face as Inuyasha and Shippo shook their heads in disappointment. Miroku chuckled shamelessly, picked himself off the floor with grace and dusted off his robes, a huge bump already forming on the top of his head. He looked at a beautifully raging Kagome, who was hidden behind an equally pissed Sango, and smiled.

“I just couldn't help myself, Kagome-sama.” 

She stepped forward, hand sassily on her hips as she pointed at him with accusation clear in her eyes.

“‘Couldn't help myself’, my foot! Just wait till I get my revenge, you pervy monk.” 

She has a plan for revenge? Miroku smiled wider at that, an unfamiliar rush of genuine excitement filled him. He didn't know why but he had a feeling that she wouldn't disappoint.

“My fate is in your hands then, Kagome-sama!”

The original posts are on fanfiction.net, but I wanted to post on here. Please send any requests or one-shot ideas as well! I’ll do my best to deliver ^^

The chapter links:

Chapters: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17...