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

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

Resident Frosty Boy....? Not sure what I wanted to accomplish here but he’s cool (like ice, someone stop me)

Also pretend his staff transformed into a snowboard or something idk

T.Y.O.M. Chapter 1: Today is such a good day for pink

Pairing: Miroku x Kagome

WARNING: Old Middle school writing! (I’m very much older now lol)

It was a day like no other in the Feudal Era, really. Countless days of physical and mental exhaustion were not easy on the mix-matched group. Demons never slept or quit so neither could the heroes unfortunately. Feets ached and cramped, thighs burned, and stomachs growled for any kind of substance at this point. The scenery, in all its peacefully teasing glory, didn’t lift their moods like it usually did. Grumbling, Kagome dragged along on her bicycle, her bulging backpack digging into her shoulders in a familiar way. A sigh escaped her lips as she looked at the back of saturated red robes, glaring in hopes that they could rest soon so she could attempt her chemistry homework at least once. She never really had time to think about anything, well, outside of her set priorities.

This past week seemed to just be… automatic. Wake up. Make breakfast. Get interrupted by a corrupted demon. Defeat or persuade said demon. Walk in volatile weather for hours on end. Bicker over lunch. Make instant ramen for lunch. Walk some more. Maybe find a village. Eat dinner. Do homework. Go to bed. Repeat.

Surprisingly, slapping a monk wasn’t on that list but Kagome wasn’t about to jinx it. She shook her head of the thought quickly with another sigh, gaining said monk’s attention. Soft purple eyes glanced over in her direction, a small wanton smile gracing Miroku’s features when his attention fell downward to her swaying ‘skurt’. A soft--and much appreciated--breeze swept along their path, teasingly revealing a flash of something in his line of vision, and he hummed in approval, feeling rejuvenated at such an opportunity. Today is such a good day for pink.

Kagome felt something other than the breeze graze her skin and tightened her grip on the handlebars of her bike. She hoped it wasn’t another demon, there was only so much she could handle today and being on edge made her more tired than anything. Luckily, no demons came out on that fine day. Though Kagome couldn’t help but sigh again, gaining Sango’s attention this time.

“Are you alright, Kagome-san?”

Inuyasha’s ears twitched at the sound and the pace of the group seemed to slacken considerably. She didn’t answer right away, pondering a bit. He let out a ‘keh’ and turned to look at Kagome with piercing gold-colored eyes. He suddenly sniffed the air, nose twitching slightly, before uttering, “There’s a village nearby. About a couple miles east, you can reach there by evening if you hurry but there’s also a demon east-north-ish. I've been itching for a fight, you guys go on ahead.”

Shocked silence settled into the group and Kagome’s eyes bulged from their sockets. No slur? No fuss? Has the Kagome Higurashi finally died? She stuttered out a hesitant ‘ok’, her mood considerably improving with the lightness in her posture. Miroku and Sango were also quite surprised, he must have been just as tired as they were. Not that neither were complaining. With some hesitation, Sango walked up to his side with Kirara and a sleeping Shippo in tow. 

“We’ll go too.”

“Sango?”

Kagome couldn’t help but question, the demon slayer just shrugged as an answer, too tired for a verbal answer. It wasn’t much of an explanation but Kagome warmed at Sango’s consideration. She must have not wanted Inuyasha to fight alone--Heck, he even seemed pleased about it.

Splitting up, they exchanged quick goodbyes and headed their separate ways. Kagome’s face held a soft smile as she bounced cheerfully with each step. Then she stopped, hair flipping over and obscuring her vision. The realization that she was alone with Miroku suddenly sunk in and she spit hair out of her gaping mouth, chastising herself for allowing the slip up to happen. Her suddenly sullen mood didn’t last. There wasn’t much he could do, he should be just as tired as the rest of the group… She resigned to her fate with a tired groan and  tightened her grip on her bike.. Skipping further ahead, she hoped to separate them at a suitable distance but already forgot about the concerning length of her skirt. In haste, Miroku quickened his pace and glanced after her with an appreciative hum. He knew she realized their predicament, smiling at the sight of her shaking her head. He allowed the jingle of his staff to stray his intentions, eyes honing in with a practiced ease as the view ahead gave him little peeks of childlike joy with each bounce.

They managed to arrive a couple hours before the last rays of sunlight departed, leaving the heavenly glow of a sunset behind. Although slightly disappointed with the end of flashing pink, Miroku’s mood swelled once more. He always liked this time of day best, where the bustle was shifting from busy to hazy and single ladies came out to play. A purr settled in his throat, hinting the thoughts of his not-so-holy mind, before he took the lead in finding suitable lodging for the night.

The search was relatively quick, Miroku’s old trick of a dark-looming-clouds worked yet again and Kagome wasted no time in unloading the team’s luggage. Miroku’s gaze softened at the display, she must be so tired… and hungry. When was the last time they stopped for food and water?

“Kagome-sama?”

Kagome hummed in response and Miroku took the time gathering the last trickles of energy in his slow strides toward the entrance of their hut. Meeting her eyes, he pointed softly toward the brightly lit village square.

“Would you like to walk with me to get dinner?”

 She held her rumbling stomach and nodded. From one eye bag heavy look to another, she added with an accusatory finger wiggling close to his face, “Hands off though, got it?” 

Miroku chuckled, leaning his jangling staff on a nearby wall and tucking his hands into the folds of his robe with a flourish. She hummed in approval at the display and matched his content look. They headed out into the evening with Miroku humming with a small smile under Kagome’s watchful glare. The cool air felt nice on their overheated and weary bodies as Miroku guided Kagome through a leisurely path, it weaved through the other huts and buildings as their eyes adjusted to the growing lights. They didn’t have anything to say but it wasn’t uncomfortable. Kagome never really thought about it but Miroku could be respectful too.

In less than a second, Miroku came across several giggles in a nearby hut and slackened his pace, his gloved hands already twitching unconsciously. Kagome felt a shiver run down her spine, her lecher-radar off the charts as her hands itched to cover herself. I shouldn’t have said that. Watching him turn like his stomach wasn’t empty and running on 4 capfuls of water, Kagome felt conflicted. Should I eat and wait for him or drag him with me? 

There was another giggle and she bit her lip. She didn’t like where this night was going, stomach twisting uncomfortably, as Miroku inched toward the smell of heavily-perfumed women with a funny smile on his face. Her appetite disappeared as she fumed. Miroku was being disgusting. Again. She didn’t want to get caught up in his shenanigans again and turned on her heel.

“I think I'm going to go back to sleep. I lost my appetite, Miroku-sama.”

That got Miroku’s attention. With a smile still in place, he gave her a worried once over.

“Are you sure, Kagome-sama?”

She nodded, her face and posture telling him all he needed to know. She was uncomfortable and… upset. Why? He felt bad actually. He was the one that invited her for a walk. Another giggle happened to pass between them and she made to leave with a huff. He made a soft exclamation and stepped toward her.

“Please wait.”

“And see you lechering? I’ll pass, Miroku-sama”, she strained her voice on ‘sama’ before slowly turning back to Miroku. His purple eyes startled her, the sunset lighting made them more striking than usual, which made her avert her eyes again.

“Well, I was going to teach you about palm-reading actually. It’s a useful skill to have--”

“And not just a tactic to pick up women?” Miroku caught her eyes again, catching her usual sparkle once more, and chuckled softly.

“Men too, if you prefer!”

“I think I'm good, Miroku-sama. I just find it gross when you act all pervy...”

She emphasized her point with a worm-envy wiggle of her fingers close to her grossed out, scrunched face and narrowed eyes, and he matched with a cheeky grin of his own and a shrug of his shoulder.

“I suppose you would, but I can’t help the earthly pleasure of it.”

Kagome laughed, a bit too bitterly to her surprise.

“I guess I could stay around, to see you fail.”

Miroku seemed to catch the tone as well, mouth opening to inquire before an exceptionally stunning woman stepped out the door of the hut on their right. 

Her features were delicate.

Kagome’s own suddenly felt childish and rough.

She had an endearing smile seemingly crafted just for her face.

Kagome flicked a practiced tongue behind her cross-bitten yet normally aligned teeth.

Her luscious locks, from years of gentle care and organic products, and matching expensive yet modest silks framed her figure.

Kagome’s hair felt ratty and tangled from the weeks of stress, fighting, and drugstore travel sized products and her clothes felt too cheap, too manufactured and exposed, giving her a haggard appearance in comparison.

It made her shrink but also compelled her to huff with a single stomp of her beaten loafer on the dirt path. Many women fanned at the daunting woman’s side, obviously just as charmed by her appearance and charisma, as they covered their faces with a giggle and a sleeve over their mouths. Her stomach sank at the sounds. Kagome couldn’t tell if it was because Miroku’s pretty eyes locked onto the woman the moment she stepped out or because she suddenly became all the more insecure about herself. Wait, pretty eyes? Where did that come from?

Kagome’s eyes trained on the agonizingly slow pace the woman took towards them. It was intentional, powerful, and ensnaring. That woman knew what she was doing. She had at least 3 years of experience and time over the young girl. Lips glued shut, Kagome stayed stuck beside Miroku, the space between them growing at the woman’s threatening aura. There was silence, as if to lay ownership to the air surrounding them, before the woman opened her mouth.

“I heard there was a notorious monk that arrived here.” 

It was a sweet sound. Miroku chuckled, shamelessly rubbing the back of his head with his gloved hand. The beads tapped together against the movement and it brought her back to reality. As if her trivial feelings were thrown into an invisible abyss, his all-too-familiar saint-like and deceivingly humble smile reminding Kagome of his curse and it quelled the raging fire inside her. One that crushed his livelihood with each passing second and forced him on his knees with life-saving options slipping through his fingers. He had all the time to explore his options and potentially pass on his will, and the will of his predecessors before him, to an heir to end his family’s suffering when he was working alone but chose to be here, with her and Inuyasha and the others. Rather thinking it foolish, she couldn’t help but feel heavy with the maturity and responsibility of his decision. She felt saddened at the depressing thoughts, guilt clutching at her heart. I shouldn’t feel like this. I need to apologize. She reached out to get his attention but he opened his mouth.

“I am but a monk, miss.”

It feigned humility, sickly sweet yet easy to swallow, and she tried to wet her suddenly dry throat, once again grounded by him and his stature. The fire was back. Kagome crossed her arms, losing all previous concerns, and snorted very unladylike. The woman paid no mind.

“A humble monk? How… fetching.”

Kagome shriveled a bit on the inside as an unnaturally charming smile fixed itself on Miroku’s face. It suits him... What the hell am I--- Furrowing her eyebrows, Kagome watched the lady shamelessly flirt with the monk. Her giggles made Kagome’s insides twist as Miroku traced lines on the woman's dainty hand. Making sure his voice stuck to every single female in the vicinity, he lowered his volume with a smirk, watching as they all stepped closer to hear him. 

Hardly resisting herself, Kagome fell under his spell, intrigued by how soothing his voice actually was. Though she caught herself when her foot inched closer than intended and hung back, watching as Miroku chuckled again, he got caught teasing the crowd of thirsty females, who took turns pulling on his arm in mock exasperation. Kagome could have left at any moment if she wanted, but she felt like she had to stay. She might actually learn something… As if.

“Wow, would you look at that? You have such lovely lines, miss. I predict a wonderful husband and many sons and daughters in your near future!”

It was the performance of the main act, the leading lady and the lowly but handsome clergyman set up for a forbidden but fated romance. Kagome snorted again at the woman swooning elegantly, the latter causing her fellow gal pals to explode in giggles and chatter. They crowded the all-too-gleeful monk and pushed against each other, begging to have their palms read. It was actually impressive how fast he got them all wrapped around his finger. Kagome furrowed her brows deeper at the display, it seemed wrong to play with people's emotions, no matter how eager the person was. Especially in Miroku’s case, doesn’t he realize how serious this is for him…? As if Miroku read her mind, he attempted to tease the situation into his favor, her furrowed brows weren’t very Kagome-like. The outcomes were probably too predictable--a simple slap on the cheek and the following fussing over from adoring women--but he was hoping that she might play along a bit, or make it interesting.

“It's hard to learn about palm reading if you can't hear me. Kagome-sama.”

That seemed to get every female’s attention. The force of their scrutinizing glares caused her to freeze, a retort stuck in her throat as she caught a mischievous glint in Miroku’s eyes and an amused smile on his lips. She pursed her lips and cocked her hip angrily at being called out. If that’s how he wanted to play this game, she could very much reject his offer. Their respective smiles, one more forced and pissed than anything, clashed and she inhaled sharply. There it was again, that lonely numbness and resignation mixed with almost perfect, almost, liveliness. It stopped her tongue but she knew she had to answer at some point, and fast.

There was the softest, smug titter from Miroku’s right and Kagome felt the hair on her neck ruffle like a cautious newborn kitten. Locking eyes with the most mesmerizing--No, stop it--hazel eyes, Kagome felt her nostrils flare at a microscopic level, warning sirens firing in her head. Miroku hadn’t caught onto their instant clash of daggers but Kagome was all in, cards drawn, pawns moved, and dice already shaking in her hand. There were probably a lot of options she could go about but she only formed two in her head, her cursed single-mindedness directing her on auto-pilot. Each riled her up in different ways. Turn away and face the shame of running away and thirsty-female brutality of gossiping or play along and put all these girls and a perverted monk in their place.

Her pride wasn't having any of it apparently as she confidently took a couple steps forward. You wanted a game, monk? I’ll show you a checkmate. The giggling crowd turned quiet, parting slightly at the fiery spark in her scarily expressive eyes. Her own pace, not so delicate or practiced, had a powerful quality of it’s own, stealing back a territory more familiar to her in terms of a playing field. They were interested to see how this will play out, knowing full well how their leader's tongue was sharper than any knife. The elegant woman's smile widened, and--Was that a hint of lust? For a faulty, stupidly brooding in a mysterious but shojo kinda way prize? Oh hell no.

Leaning closer to a baffled, yet amused Miroku, Kagome smiled right back at her with just as much, if not more, aggression. The woman dropped her hands from Miroku’s, as if daring Kagome to take the bait. She did, allowing Miroku to gently grab her hand and face the palm upward.

“What a lovely hand you have, Kagome-sama! The lines are quite contrasting in meaning, hmm... Which seems to be the most interesting to you? I believe I could tell you something you do not know about yourself this way. I must warn you, it’s quite intimate.”

There was a subtle insinuation that made many suck in their breaths with anticipation. In the world of the female gender, this was the rope that either made you a woman or a girl. The man may think he holds the upper hand but it’s a woman’s game, for women against women. Whoever hit first set the playing field. Clever girl. 

With a contemplative narrowing of her eyes, she acknowledged her senior’s trap, who was on the side covering her own smile. It was elaborate but nothing Kagome couldn’t handle. She defeated demons of this degree and worse before, mind games designed for both the simple minded and the nuances of the female-dominated field in both the Feudal Era and her own world. This was a piece of cake. Sorry, but you’re 500 years too early to handle the heartlessness of highschool girls and single women in their prime at mixers with only one attractive males---excluding Miroku, of course.

The woman just waited for Kagome’s move with a graceful lift of a brow, the silence tense as the females all continued to hold their breaths. As if bored, Kagome shrugged at Miroku’s comment, glancing down at their hands before looking up at him from underneath her lashes. Miroku shifted his gaze from her hand to her blazing eyes, curious about what she will do. Her eyelashes fluttered. It was unusual, yet teasing and... a bit flirty? What are you planning, Kagome?

His gaze suddenly lowered to her lips in peaked interest, they looked quite cute when parted. There were small marks on the bottom lip too. She probably bit down on them earlier.

“I… don't think I'm interested in those kinds of lines, Miroku-sama.”

That got everyone's attention. Miroku blinked, confused, before he pointed to another crease in her palm and opened his mouth to speak. 

“Well---”

Kagome cut him off, lifting light fingers to linger over his ear lobe. Gathering her wits, bursting pride, and years of sappy romance novel knowledge, she leaned close, delicately balancing between the stagnant but warm air between them and her toes.

“I would say this jawline is very intriguing though.” She swiped her fingers along the sharp line of his jaw, humming in appreciation at the feeling of soft skin. As if feeling, more than seeing, all those eyes on her, she pulled her hand to her lips, sucking the tip of her finger and feigning pain. “Ouch.”

There was an echo of bewildered comments, but the leading woman felt the threat of the playing field shifting and Miroku glanced around at the subtle change in mood.

“It’s quite… sharp, and so very strong,” She carefully eunusciated her words, letting it drag before continuing, “Strong enough to capture quite the lovely maiden and…”

They all hung to her next words, begging to understand and poke holes at, but the leading lady prompted her on, “And…?”

Leaning close as to fan her scent in a rather animalistic way, she focused on the bobbing of his Adam’s apple, analyzing his reaction. He swallowed with a subtle stutter. Thank you, holy Alpha’s Only Affair. Collecting herself, she feigned a sigh, closed in on herself and played with a lock of her hair.

“So sorry, I just started training privately with Miroku-sama. But I believe it went along the lines of capturing quite the lovely maiden and having her beg for more---”

Miroku choked and the group exploded in a thrilled shock.

“..children, for more children.”

Giggles cut through the chatter and Miroku stared at her in disbelief. Who is this and what did they do with Kagome? She was urged on by his lack of comeback, it never happened before. Kagome couldn’t resist continuing, she was in too deep. Taking on a sweet, soft whine, she pouted softly and tilted her head to the side.

“Was I wrong? You were so thorough and diligent with your teachings, you even pounded it so hard into me. I can’t believe how forgetful I was but… I always loved the way you teach, Miroku-sama.”

Each word made the crowd whoop louder, as the beautiful woman in the middle clenched her teeth in scathing silence. Locking eyes with the suddenly devious woman, Miroku saw Kagome crack through her pout with a trembling smile and felt a sense of pleasure at the change strangely enough, warmth digging under his robes at the laughter in her eyes. The look vanished as it came, leaving an almost identical Miroku-esque smile on her face.

“It is quite a sharp line and I mean what I saw in them but…”

Another ace on top of your growing bid? This is risky, Kagome-sama.

“I’m having a hard time figuring out your state of vitality and fortune, your life line is covered. I hope I’m not prying…?”

At her knowing gaze, he shook his head with a smile and let his beaded hand fall, their little secret. With the same, equally fake soft whine, she smiled with soft resignation, “It’s of no consequence.”

The woman, seizing her chance, hugged his beaded arm gently, letting her soft mounds brush in an intentionally innocent manner, as if to say checkmate. Ignoring her settled rival, Kagome hooked her thumb in the folds of his robe and ran her hand up along the fabric, lightly caressing his chest before urging him closer with a pull on the knot connecting the fabric. The crowd, loud with gossip and excitement, quelled at the display and watched on.

“As I said before”, Kagome took her time to fake assessing his skin, warmth spreading from the trail of her fingertips against fabric yet her eyes did not meet his, “You have quite sharp lines.”

Miroku felt breathless. He couldn’t help the slightest stumble at her eyes, hooded yet inciting challenge. He felt, rather than saw her run her nail along his Adam's apple and collarbone.

“Is it the same under the robes? Because, if I can’t read your palm...”

Kagome shifted her eyes to the towering female on Miroku’s right before returning back to Miroku’s own, tone screaming ‘royal flush’ to her trivial checker’s match as she laid her hand out.

”...I’d like to read those lines, if you will.”

Gasps of disbelief were her only response, slowly shifting to deafening cheers and gasps. It was an irrefutable and crushing defeat, one to humble the mighty and strengthen the underdog. Biting her lip in silent pride, she quirked a small brow and waited for his move. Kagome went above any rule set for the game he set up, leading her opponents by the nose and molding the playing field to her advantage. He knew that, but where did she learn that? Miroku was oddly silent, eyes widening softly as he watched her. Seconds passed and nothing happened, the clamor turning chaotic as half attempted to appease the leading woman’s bruised ego and the other gushed over her boldness.

“Well…?”

Miroku snapped out of his reverie and tried to think of something, anything. He was cornered. If I… I could… What about… It won’t work, she got me. With a soft sigh, he conceded with a rather wolfish smirk and brought his hand up to surrender. His unwavering surrender took her out of autopilot and her pride feasted deliciously at the monk’s uncommon defeat. Kagome felt her heart beating wildly, like it was built up and stuck in a lag. The weight of her words crashed on her, echoing in her rather soft and girly self-conscious, and a blush crept up her neck, but she wasn't done yet. Looking back at the beautifully stunned woman and turning her nose up slightly, Kagome winked cheekily. No rebuttal. Good. 

Kagome’s pride in repercussion deflated at her shameless flirting but it wasn’t enough to drown out her victory. She couldn’t keep the triumphant smile nor the raging blush from appearing and quickly turned on her heels. She could imagine the growing smirk on his face at her slip up but refused to give him that image and quickly spat out, “I’ll meet you out front, Miroku-sama. Don’t play around too long, I’m hungry now.”

Oh gods, that sounded wrong. Curse you, Alpha’s Only Affair! Hand slapping over her mouth, Kagome cringed but couldn't change what she said. Quickening her pace, she noticed the outrageously excited chatter behind her and silently hoped to the gods that Karma wouldn't come back to bite her on the butt. She, however, didn't notice a different shift in Miroku’s expression.

His eyes flickered to her retreating figure, hand stroking along the tingle of her fluttering touch on his jawline and eyes on the rhythm of her long legs. Well, that was new, better than a slap to the cheek. Definitely better… Ah, today is such a good day for pink.

Intro | Chapter 2

T.Y.O.M. Chapter 6: Caught Ankles

Pairing: Miroku x Kagome

They came as they heard. Rumors of beautiful women being taken away by hordes of demons instantly peaked Miroku’s interest and concern, the rest weren’t as motivated until whispers of jewel shards and possibly Kikyo’s involvement actually got Inuyasha going. That seemed to be enough for everybody.

How dumb, Kagome thought at the memory. Turns out that, yes, the women were beautiful, and yes, they were taken by hordes of demons. There was actually more than one jewel shard, but no sight of Kikyo. How did Kagome come across this information, you may ask? The girl just sighed, her ankles and wrists bound with rope, blood quickly rushing to her head, as her body hung upside down with even more rope. She got captured. Of course, she did. Someone had the brilliant idea to butter her up on a silver platter, call it her post-matchmaker Mulan moment.

Kagome didn’t think it would work, compared to the other scared, stunning women who happened to cross her way in the village but look at her now. She didn’t get the luxury of pants underneath and the unwelcome breeze on her legs was due to the fabric bunched by gravity and rope, panties out for the world to see.

She couldn’t see through her blindfold but she could guess by multiple counts of breathing that they were from the captured women, unconscious hopefully, hung in the same way around her. They weren’t hurt and she didn’t know why but she knew she had to escape. There was a flash of something in the room, the lighting in the room shifted along with a creak at her eyelevel. Were one of the women awake? Silence answered her, a shuffle of feet passing by greeted her from outside.

“Inuyasha will be here soon and everything will be ok.” Kagome’s voice was low as she reassured herself, strength gathered as she swung upward to catch the taut rope at her airborne feet.

“That’s a pretty flattering angle, Kagome-sama.” A voice came from above and Kagome missed the rope, swinging down violently. It was Miroku.

“Quiet, you!”

“Here, let me help.”

“Help the other women! That’s why you decided to go, right?”

There was silence, his staff must have been in another room. Kagome swung upward again, straining until she felt a hand guide hers to the rope holding her, prayer beads against her fingers. Miroku took off the fabric of her blindfold and smiled in reassurance. They were about a good ten to fifteen feet from the floor and Miroku was hanging above her rope from the cross beams. He shrunk back up and started crawling toward another set of rope.

“If you’re that insistent, that’s the extent of my help right now. I’ll get back to you soon, alright?”

Kagome nodded, hoping that her kimono was properly covering what needed to be covered at this point. Paying attention to the situation at hand, she heard faint sounds of a rope beside her being untangled as she ripped into the poorly made knots that separated and somehow connected her ankles. With a grunt, she freed one ankle. Who did these knots? Seriously. Her left leg dangled as she worked on her right, sweat peppering her face. The knot came undone but she forgot to secure herself. The air rushed from beneath her, her eyes closing with the anticipation of an impact, but her leg miraculously tangled into the rope. She fell before the end of the rope’s length stopped her, tightening on her ankle painfully. She swung wildly, dizzy and freely. How graceful, she huffed, hearing soft and uncontrollable laughter from above.

“I’m starting to think you do need my help, Kagome-sama.” She didn’t answer, hiding her reddened face in her still tied-up hands.

“Hold on, I’ll get you--Hnn!”

There was a series of rope snapping and tightening before a heavy weight was swinging just as wildly. Kagome just burst out in laughter at the glimpses of Miroku’s wide-eyed, embarrassed expression passing by like a pendulum. It took only a short time for him to slow down, Kagome’s hands reaching for his causing them to spin with Miroku’s remaining momentum. It took a bit for them both to calm down, the ropes twisting between the two of them. Though it was a little too close for comfort, Miroku’s arm ended up wrapped around her waist and Kagome’s bound wrists around his neck. She felt hot from laughing too hard, a blush on her cheeks, and a joking comment on her lips.

“I think you just fell for me.”

He paused at her small smirk.

“You fell first, Kagome-sama. So have you anything to confess?”

She paused at his wider smirk.

“Yeah. We gotta get out of here, can you untie my wrists? I can’t feel them.”

Miroku nodded, smile still stuck on his face, as he untangled the rope. They fell apart swinging, rope still miraculously stuck around their ankles, before the monk suggested,” How about you climb up and untangle the women and I’ll go down to catch them?”

“And leave them to your lecherous hands? Does that really sound like a good plan?”

“Better than leaving them up there for some demons.”

Her only response was a sigh and a slow climb to the cross beams connecting all of the ropes. Miroku jumped down with a silent huff and waited for falling angels to greet him. There was the first one, he caught her eagerly with every intention to rip the blindfold off of her. He looked with satisfaction at full lips and untied the blindfold. He yelped, catching Kagome’s attention, and almost dropped the girl in his arms.

“Oh! Oh my god, they’re…”

“Beautiful? Grope-able--?”

He glanced down at her awkward and enlarged features before putting her gently on the floor.

“Um...Not my type. Let’s just get this over with.”

She laughed as she played with the rope and then they started again. Untie, drop, catch. It was a cycle of work, each face worse than the last somehow. Was he imagining it? Each time, he would suck in a breath only to let it out in disappointment. He didn’t know how relieved he was when Kagome whispered, “Last one!”

He held out his arms half-heartedly but fell down at the force, it seemed to have dropped from a higher height than the others. Sighing out half of a lung, he practically had to wrench his eyes open and forcibly tilt his head down, looking down to stop at two startling pools of pretty blue.

“Kagome-sama?”

“I’m the last one!”

“Ah, what a sight for sore eyes...” She just giggled.

“Hmm… Kagome-sama, I think the demons are taking their beauty.”

“Or maybe that’s your excuses talking.”

Suddenly, chaotic noises echoing from the door outside had them separate at a reasonable distance as the door broke down. Inuyasha and Sango finally came.

“Those demons looked unnaturally pretty, Inuyasha-san. You don’t think they stole the women’s attractiveness, do you?”

Miroku gave Kagome a slightly smug look.

“Yeah, yeah, monk. You were right.”

“Thank you, Kagome-sama.”

Intro | Chapter 5 | Chapter 7

T.Y.O.M. Chapter 15: Tossing Grapes

Pairing: Miroku x Kagome

Mindless physical intimacy and dumb dumb teens in desperate need of a childhood.

Plop. Crunch. Crunch. Kagome beamed as the light sweetness that burst in her mouth melded into a delicate tart flavor. There’s nothing like catching crisp grapes in your mouth on a warm, sunny day with no demons to worry about. Of course, it's a little boring by yourself when nothing is trying to kill you or kidnap you for your jewel shards, but beggars should definitely not be choosers in this situation.

“Why not play a game, me? ...Hell yeah, me, what kind of game?”

There was no one to answer her self-asked question but herself so she quickly set the rules in her head. Picking one large, juicy grape from her large plastic container, she lightly tossed it into the air, eyes following the little fruit ball and jerking her head back, mouth open, to catch it in her mouth. Plop. Crunch. One point for Kagome. She grabbed another grape, brows slightly scrunched, and threw it twice as high as in the first ‘round’, butt slowly rising to free her legs to move into place. Plop. Crunch. 5 points for Kagome!

The rules didn’t specify the point system but Kagome was definitely winning. She pumped her fist with slightly puffed cheeks before continuing. She was on a roll. A two streak roll but a roll, nonetheless. Locking the bowl onto her waist with a tight grip, she blindly grabbed a grape and tossed it higher than the last round. Her aim was off, feet backpedaling with each anticipated second before she flicked her head back, the grape landing on her back molar with a pop. 9 points!

The rounds kept on going, faster and more risky than the last, she didn’t even have time to chew or swallow the grapes as her stubborn competitive streak became fueled by the chance of ‘winning’ and her pride. 18 points. It kept her sliding, jumping, running and jogging around in circles just to catch the slippery suckers but she caught them all, one after the other. 37 points. It didn’t take long for her to lose all track of her surroundings, eyes glued to the sky for falling grapes. 56 points.

Cheeks full and bowl half-empied, she took one more grape and held it gently in her fingertips. This is it, Kagome. The final round, the crowd is on the edge of their seats, watching. Don’t panic. Breathe. Breathe. It’s all or nothing! Without pause, the grape went high into the sky, seemingly disappearing into thin air.

“Oh shit!”

She tossed it too high. Her eyes burned at the brightness of the sun but she continued to squint, looking for any signs of movement. 

Nothing. Her legs carried her backwards, hair bouncing and flying into her face and feet stumbling over small lumps in the grass. 

There…? She twisted lightly on her ankle and craned her neck with a small pop, eyes landing on something small, something fast...

There!

Picking up the pace and running further and further back, her heart dropped at the thought that she couldn’t make it like this. It almost stopped her in her tracks but, no, she could! Bowl now secured in both hands, she stretched her legs as far as she could running backwards and jumped, praying for a soft landing as her eyes followed the grape. She caught the offending grape in between her lips like a dog with a few too many tennis balls in its mouth. Here comes the ground, she thought ruefully, eyes scrunching closed at the thought of the impact. With a small ‘oof’, she slammed onto something. She expected to be sprawled on the grass in an ungraceful mess and choking on grapes but soft fabric surrounded her exposed skin as her mid back was supported by something. 

“Feeef wike a perffen--”

She still had those goddamned grapes in her mouth, and the one balanced between her lips was without a scratch. Nice. Her pride swelled at the fact as she hummed her victories.

“That was quite the magnificent catch, Kagome-sama.”

Her eyes popped out of their sockets and she sat up from her seat. Her landing spot ended up being Miroku’s lap. She looked down at their laps, then to his eyes, and then to the bowl in her arm. Who knew Miroku’s lap would be so comfortable? ...What the hell, Kagome.

“Wan’ suff?”

She made no effort to hide the cheeky flush in her hamster-rivaled cheeks or the childish sparkle in her eyes, nudging the bowl towards him. He let out a small smile. How ridiculous. There was a glint in his eyes and she didn’t miss it but she realized the intent too late.

“Don’t mind if I do.”

She smiled around the grapes but felt her heart thud as he leaned closer to her face, eyes trailing down to her lips.

“H… Hey!”

She shut her eyes tight, breath stuck in her throat. She could feel his breath fan over her lips and swallowed thickly, teeth slightly indenting the grape in between them. Crunch. There was no brush of skin but she knew he ate something. Testing the waters, she squinted out of one eye and watched him chew thoughtfully with eyes closed. She just stared, frozen like a deer in headlights. It was enough for him to stop his next teasing words.

“Are you ok, Kagome-sama?”

She plucked the grape from in between her teeth, slowly chewing the rest, and choked as her eyes found it to be half eaten. With a fist covering her mouth, she looked at the grape, then into Miroku’s eyes, and for a quick second she briefly glanced at his lips, to which he blew an amuse puff of air from his nose, before burning disbelieving daggers in the innocent grape. Taking her time, she finished off the rest of the grapes in her mouth in silence and Miroku couldn’t help but think that he broke her.

Letting out a nervous chuckle, he started, “Kagome---”

“I--- You---”

“You did offer.”

She took a pause and quickly glanced at his lips again, feeling heat crawl up her neck. He felt sweat gather, he was not used to this submissive Kagome, still in his lap, instead of slapping him into the next life.

“I guess I… I did...”

There was an uncomfortably long pause between them. No anger, no panic, both of which began his slow descent into a fear-induced adrenaline rush. Anything to get Kagome back to normal before the others caught them like this.

“Anyways!” He scratched the back of his neck and grabbed another grape from the bowl,”...these grapes? Fantastic! I’ve never had anything like them.”

Crunch. Chewing slowly, he snuck a glance, she was biting her bottom lip and looking anywhere but at him. This is not good.

“Oh! What was that game you were playing before, Kagome-sama? It certainly looked very interesting!”

No response. She was staring at him now, wide-eyed and ghostly, and he gulped. Sango is going to kill me.

“Would you mind if I tried? Uhhh… Ummm…”

Without a second thought, he threw up the grape with the hand not supporting her still frame and leaned back, his impending-doom-influenced shakiness messed up his aim and it bounced off his nose.

“Oh, ah-ha-ha! Looks like I missed, what’re my points looking like, Kagome-sama?”

Nothing. Kami, please help me. He started panicking and grabbed another grape.

“Ok! One more! I’m betting this’ll be at least 20 points!”

He tossed it high and bounced softly in his seat to catch the grape, it settled in between his teeth and he flashed her a thumbs up.

“Wha’ to you ‘hink?”

His eyes glanced over her entire face with out-of-place desperation.

“Kago-he-sa-ha?”

As if she were a video pressed on play, her face exploded in red and she grabbed his shoulders tightly. He flinched but felt his eyes get drawn in the sudden fire in her gaze. Her jaw was clenched, eyebrows furrowed, and an angry growl erupted in her throat. Here it comes. Accepting his fate, he just let the corner of his lips settle into a familiar ‘can’t-be-helped’ grin. He was prepared for the slap of his life but something he would never imagine happening happened. She dove in quick and fast and bit half of the grape in between his teeth. Crunch. Everything she felt transferred onto him and he felt something burst in his chest. His eyes popped comically, just like hers a moment ago, and he felt the air disappear in his lungs. He didn’t even budge when she pushed herself from out of his lap.

“Now we’re even!”

Her voice cracked but he didn’t even notice, he just stared at her. That did not just happen. Shoving the grape basket into his chest, she covered her mouth with one last glance at him. He couldn’t say anything, let alone breathe, and she ran away, screaming a repeated string of ‘omgomgomgomgomg’. Miroku watched her go, mind still processing the last few seconds, as he mindlessly plopped a grape into his mouth. Grape chewed and swallowed, the reality of what had just occurred settled. Miroku placed his beaded hand over his mouth with a silent groan and a late flush settling on his cheeks.

“Well, that was not what I was expecting.”

Falling onto his back, with the intentions of burying his blush and calming his mind, he inhaled deeply...They were softer than he thought.

Intro | Chapter 14 | Chapter 16

Lukanette but make it Avatar AU? Inspired by the dance party with one of the fire nation colony schools episode.