T.Y.O.M. Chapter 12: Two-Person Bow Action

T.Y.O.M. Chapter 12: Two-Person Bow Action

Pairing: Miroku x Kagome

You could say Kagome’s arm was subdued at the moment. Her ramen eating, hair brushing, cheek pinching, monk-slapping, bow holding arm was badly sprained---or dislocated, or broken, who knows. 

But… it wasn’t Kirara or Sango’s fault for jamming the Hiraikotsu in the eye of the large demon who squeezed her body to the brink of explosion like their life depended on it. It wasn’t Miroku’s fault for thrusting his golden-pointed staff head into the demon’s calf, who’s feet almost trampled him in it’s sudden blindness. It wasn’t Shippo’s fault for landing a fast one on the demon’s head and it definitely wasn’t Inuyasha’s fault for cutting off the demon’s hand that held her without a second thought.

Kagome would have to say that it was her own fault for falling---well, dropping---like she did. The demon’s dismembered hand wouldn’t let go of her small body and she tumbled hard over the teetering hill of a tall ledge, a pop and a crack following her every roll until she was airborne. The demon’s unconscious, overgrown body had followed after and the trip down the ledge never seemed as slow as it did in that moment. The collective expressions of horror on each team member’s face as they followed the shrinking form of Kagome falling stuck in her head but the battle wasn’t done. The looks shifted as quickly as they came as waves of demons and possessed villagers clawed at their last defences, leaving no free hands to spare for the falling girl.

Kagome knew they had no choice but that didn’t stop the cold grip of fear twisting her heart as the final crash failed to come. She just kept falling. 50 foot fall. 50 percent chance of survival. What if she died? What odds would Kagome’s luck grant her? 

She couldn’t take that chance, so her hand reached out. Desperately. Selfishly. Her nails cracked and peeled but her fingers caught onto an impossibly small ledge, her body stretching from the momentum as her other arm dangled beside her. It was only for a split second but she heard a spine-tingling pop, one made from a stretch too far and too fast, but couldn’t be relieved lest she wanted to risk cracking her skull at the bottom of the mountain. It hurt to hold on but she forced herself to dig her fingers into the ledge, urging herself to bear with it. Burn. Burn. Burn. Sting. Sting. Sting. Kagome’s eyes welled up but melded into an inaudible scream that escaped from her lips as she closed her eyes. 

She couldn’t let go of the ledge holding her but she could feel the strength slipping from her arm. One second more. Please. In her pain, she didn’t bother moving as dismembered carcasses rained from off the ledge where glimpses of Kirara’s flying form, Sango’s Hiraikotsu, and Inuyasha's sword swings flashed by.

God, why am I here? At 17 years old, in a psych-ward-worthy trip to the past, fighting demons and dead people, with no one to tie her here. Yes, the shards were partially her fault and, yes, her whole existence circled around the fact that she was the reincarnation of a hanyou’s booty-call but that didn’t really give her a reason to stay. Maybe she was being angsty but… 

She could’ve had a normal life.

A couple of clawed fingers, rocks, and blood pelted down beside her head from above.

With normal friends...

Inuyasha’s growls and Kirara’s roars, mixed with various chants and cries of battle moves, echoed into her ears. 

A normal body...

Her muscles abnormally toned and body scarred for a girl her age, from years of P.E. and time traveling in the valleys and grasslands of Edo-Japan, had gotten her one too many disapproving comments. She could still feel the tingle in the scars littering her body and words they sparked from passerbyers.

A normal innocence for her age...

Her eyes shone differently and her posture was more defensive, she was told but brushed it off with a practiced smile.

A normal love life...

Saturated red filled her mind before a swirl of something dark and rich flashed by. Kagome did a double take. Dark? Purp---?

“Kagome-sama!”

“Kagome!”

Kagome whipped her head to the side, hair obscuring her view as a flash of deep purple and bright orange, blue, and golden greeted her. A teardrop fell down her cheek. Her heartbeat picked up. Miroku, Shippo, and Kirara were miraculously, unbelievably there, right in front of her. Their eyebrows scrunched with worry and the former two’s hands shook from the height. They both reached out to her but she couldn’t do a thing. It was hard to breathe, hard to blink, hard to move, but it didn’t stop the smile that reached her lips.

“I think my arm is broken! I can’t move it!”

They found her smile and her giddiness strange, evident in the way their eyebrows lifted. Miroku shook his head and shouted over the wind.

“Which one?”

“What do you think?” She wiggled her dangling arm towards them and Shippo’s expression shook.

“Hold on, we’re coming!”

Kirara descended slightly below her with quiet mews and Miroku gripped her waist and ankle. Her arm protested greatly as she peeled her numb fingers off the ledge. She was glad she couldn’t feel her fingers, the pain in her shoulder overpowering her senses, because her nails were pretty much ruined. I need some serious self-care after this---One minor slip and her stomach plummeted as she fell flat on Miroku’s lap. She didn’t mind the way Shippo buried his head into her chest, warmed at the thoughtfulness of his hand avoiding her shoulder. Kagome also didn’t mind---or maybe didn’t notice---the way Miroku’s arms tightened around her shivering body as they rose back into battle.

It was just as bad as before she fell. Blood decorated the massacred battlefield of grass, mud, and bodies of both demon and human. The enemies’ numbers had greatly reduced with the combined powers of Inuyasha’s and Sango’s practiced teamwork and Kagome gasped at the ridiculousness of spotting her magically unbroken bow and arrows in the midst of the field. Suddenly, there was a heavy blow from behind. It knocked everyone off of the transforming cat demon and they stumbled hard, the battle resuming without pause. The demons took advantage of their weak links and Sango quickly mounted Kirara at her roar to fend them off. Miroku instinctively jumped in and pummeled the claws that scratched at their feet. 

Kagome tried to minimize her vulnerability and cover Miroku’s back but there’s only so much two loose shoes and lean legs can do without arms to balance with or the inability to turn off the pain in her arm. A scratch here, a cut there, it was an endless cycle of misses and defenses. She knew it couldn’t last long, she saw the sweat dripping on Miroku’s face and the strain in his arms as his strikes became sluggish. 

Inuyasha could be heard in the back, piles of bodies just circling his slashing form as he attacked from all sides. He attracted the most attention but the looming form of Naraku’s puppet stayed on the side, fending off each and every attempt that Sango made to destroy its supports from below it. With a wordless look, Inuyasha forced the enemies flat on their backs with one last slash of wind. He pounced on the retreating form of Naraku’s puppet but the tendrils of dark wooden roots dragged him back down. He yelped, embedding his large sword into the root but hundreds more joined in, constricting his movements like the seamless, strong muscles of a large snake with its prey. Miroku thought to use his Kazaana, arm already reaching for his prayer beads but a sudden attack from the right with no time to grab his staff caught him in the arm and he fell with a grunt. Blood splat across the floor and Kagome rushed to heave him up, feet scrambling to escape the demons behind them.

Picking up a beaten Shippo along the way, they could only watch as Sango and Kirara sunk into the pits of writhing vines and roots. Kagome saw something flash by in her peripheral and U-turned, causing the demons behind to skid past them as Miroku got a mild case of whiplash from the pull. She pounced on the forgotten bow and arrow but hissed at the pain in her left arm. She couldn’t hold her bow.

“Are you kidding me?!”

“What is it, Kagome-sama?”

Miroku peered over her shoulder and realized their situation. He was without his Kazanna and she couldn’t grip her bow.

“Got a plan, Miroku-sama?”

Her legs trembled slightly. Poison wasps filled the air once again, the buzz drowning the racing beats of their hearts that threatened to spill out of their chests.

“Do you still have any of that medicine from the future?”

“No.”

“Then I don’t.”

It was a standoff by then. Piercing eyes of pure spiritual energy clashed against the animalistic, unstable presences of a hollow beast and the hairs rose on the back of their necks. Their captive friends struggled against their bonds, weapons cast aside. Kagome could feel the pull of the hidden shards within the baboon coat of Naraku’s copy and slowed her breathing. If you can hear me, Kikyo or Midoriko, please give me the strength to purify and hit my target. As if he heard her thoughts, Miroku placed his uninjured arm over hers and they shared a look. Purple eyes probed into her mind, calculating different outcomes, but he wasn’t so quick to answer this time. They rolled under the swipe of a tree root and the arrows went flying, trampled under the pressure of the copy’s attack.

“Shit.”

“Shit indeed!”

He dragged them into the edges of the forest, the trees providing a temporary solace in the face of their imminent death.

“Hey Shippo, can you help me wrap up Miroku’s arm?”

Miroku kept eyes on the slithering form gaining on them as Shippo and Kagome stumbled through temporarily stopping the blood. Their options were dwindling and the muffled threats and growls only set them further on edge. What to do, what to do. Looking at their rations, they only had so much which set Miroku further on edge. He looked at his unoccupied hand. One staff. He glanced at Kagome’s smaller form. One Miko. One bow. One kitsune. One Priest. Four working arms, two too small to hold a bow, and two incapacitated. Shippo could possibly transform but the chances of purification? Unlikely. What else…? He checked over Kagome again and his voice hitched in his throat. One arrow. One chance.

Kagome followed his gaze and broke the pounding silence.

“I can’t hold my bow, Miroku-sam---.”

“Can you notch an arrow?” Miroku had quickly cut her off, both with a question and the sudden intensity of his gaze.

“I… I, yes, I can. Why?”

“Shippo might not be big enough to do the job and he doesn’t have your purifying energy. Sorry, Shippo.”

“That’s ok.”

“Can you summon that energy?” Kagome pursed her lips, confused at the progression of his hasty ambiguity.

“You know I can’t, Miroku-sama! Anyways, where are you going with this?” He brushed off her question.

“I don’t ‘know’ that, Kagome-sama. What I do know is that you can purify impurities!”

“And look where that got us!”

She bit hard on her lip as Miroku pulled them aside to another tree, deeper into the forest.

“I know you can do it. You just have to reach deep. I can help support but it’s on you, Kagome-sama.” He had pinned her against the tree, roots slashing against their tree, and Shippo buried himself closer into Kagome’s chest. She scrunched her eyebrows and clenched her fist around her bow.

“And what if I can do it? I still can’t hold my bow!” Her nose briefly brushed against his in the coincidence of a shared look.

“You’re going to have to trust me! Do you hold it with your left or right hand?”

“Left!”

“That’s perfect.” His gaze flickered to hers before staring past her. Her eyes followed but his jerky movements to the left landed them on the floor, rolling to the next patch of trees. Shippo had slipped from her grasp as both Miroku and Kagome winced at the pressure on their respective arms. The last arrow dropped from her pack and the group felt their hearts stop. In a flash, the large, deformed body of the puppet stood in the way between Miroku and Kagome and Shippo and the arrow. A non-existent hunger lingered in its gaze as it towered over the two.

“Hand over the shards, Kikyo-reincarnate.”

“Over my dead body!”

The large being paused.

“...That could be arranged.”

“Not literally, you psycho!”

Miroku caught a glimpse of Shippo, trembling, with the last arrow pinched delicately in his little paws. They made quick eye contact and Miroku slowly mouthed indistinct instructions at the little fox. Ears twitching, Shippo nodded shakily.

“Kagome-sama.”

“Not right now, I gotta rip a new one in this jerk!”

He went softer, harsher, and closer to her ear. She didn’t flinch.

“That’s fine. Just keep him occupied. Shippo’s got the arrow. Do you think you can force your purifying energy into it?”

“IF we can get it and IF I’m pissed off enough.” Kagome hissed, breath brushing against his cheek.

“Well you’re in luck. I can help with both,” Miroku quickly whispered into her ear and shifted his focus, clicking his tongue at the puppet, “Naraku! I don’t think I can ask you to release our friends, can I?”

“No shit, Miroku-sama.”

He ignored her snarky comment.

“What about a trade?”

“Are you crazy--!?”

“Go on.”

At the demanding tone, Miroku straightened his back to hide his wince.

“A shard for a friend.”

“Foolish monk. Your miko’s shards have fused into one. The locket---”

The pink bubble shape of Shippo’s transformation floated gently above Naraku’s puppet’s head and the two found it hard to focus on the rest of the deal, a smile fighting itself on their tired lips. The demon prattled on and Kagome felt Miroku grip the base of her bow from behind her. With a tug, she let go and crouched down to pick up a decent-sized rock. Miroku didn’t bother to look up her skirt. This was a crucial moment. One wrong move could send them crashing---besides he always had other opportunities. If they survived.

His eyes must have shifted suspiciously, maybe her throwing a rock at him signaled the wrong reaction or maybe Shippo wasn’t quiet enough but none of them could have predicted the snake-like grip that attached onto Shippo before they could blink.

“Did you think I wouldn’t notice?”

The snarl became Miroku’s new signal.

“Now, Shippo!”

Shippo threw the arrow in their direction and shifted his form to a rock statue. The quick change in weight and size loosened the puppet’s grip and Shippo planted a good thud on their head. While he scurried away, the arrow flew in slow motion, blurring as Kagome reached to catch it. Her uninjured arm brushed along the shaft and she squeezed.

She was ready to cheer in triumph until Miroku pulled her back flush against his torso, prayer-bead-covered arm circling around her waist as his other hand held her bow where she normally positioned it if her arm wasn’t messed up.

“Oh Miroku, you clever perv!” Kagome leaned her head back on his shoulder to look up at him. Inuyasha and Sango had to take a quick pause from their struggling. Like what in the actual hell but most importantly, would it actually work?

“Let’s focus, Kagome-sama.”

The position was a little awkward. He was a head or more taller and twice as broad. Without a pause, she bumped back into him. He glanced at her and crouched down, chin resting on her shoulder with his cheek brushing against hers. It felt secure. Cheesy but warm. This couldn’t fail. They had only one arrow. She’d bet her luck on it.

Kagome didn’t realize it but a pulse tingled in her battered arm, shifting down to the tips of her fingers. It was a steady feeling of a calm heartbeat, maybe two heartbeats. It soothed her and drew something from her partial soul. Was it hers? Was it...Miroku’s? Without another word, she hooked the arrow onto the bow string and tugged experimentally. It’ll have to do but she needs to adjust him. God, it’s going to hurt.

“Hold it tight, Miroku-sama.”

He hummed against her ear and tensed his form behind her, his hand tightening unconsciously around her waist. She forced her hand upward, smoothing the twist of his inner elbow, and covered his hand with hers. It burned, her arm cried out in pain and a whimper escaped her lips, but she didn’t let go. Tightening her grip, she shifted their position and it aimed straight for the ‘heart’ of the beast. 

The arrow by her side glowed, bright and heavy, as if transforming the projectile’s point. It might’ve been the heat of the moment but the rushing form of the puppet slowed, the drops of blood dripping over the battlefield froze as Kagome exhaled. Her hair flew with a non-existent wind, the slight vibrations of the power at her fingertips engulfed the arrow once more and she aimed straight for the puppet speeding towards them. One shot. One chance.

Thud. 10 feet away... Thud. 6 feet away... Thud. She released the bowstring. It struck its intended target and the force blew it back, body swelling as the arrow burrowed deeper within the empty folds of the puppet’s body. Kagome shoved Miroku back and they fell to the ground with a unanimous grunt, a familiar position to their ‘first’ meeting. The sounds of a disintegrating hollow shell was enough to indicate the end of the battle and they all cheered. 

Kagome refused to get up. She was pooped. Miroku didn’t protest, he didn’t even move. He too was tired. The others recovered quickly and the moment of triumph diminished, adding onto the pile of their previous shard battles. Inuyasha pulled her off of the offending monk and Sango reached out her hand towards him. He grabbed it with his uninjured hand but a tingle persisted in his slashed palm. With mild complaints of being hungry for ramen, they continued in another direction with no regard for their bodies at the sight of a nearby village awaiting them in the distance.

Inuyasha and Kagome snapped semi-playfully at each other. Shippo jumped onto Kirara’s transformed back. Sango heaved her large boomerang over her shoulder to cover her back and Miroku retrieved his abandoned staff from the forest floor. It was back to normal. Kagome bent down to pick up the purified shards and a glimpse of white caught Miroku’s eye. Yep, back to normal.

Intro | Chapter 11 | Chapter 13

T.Y.O.M. Chapter 4: Giggling, Giggling, and More Giggling

Pairing: Miroku x Kagome

Warning: Kind of similar to Chapter 1, Kagome’s getting better at thwarting the Monk O.O

Giggling, giggling, and more giggling. Usually she found the sound cute… when babies were doing it. Unfortunately, the laughter was not from small, helpless infants, not anywhere close. Kagome could feel her eyebrow twitch, her fist clench, and her patience running low. Who knew that she would get paired up with Miroku for the day. Especially in a village abundant in single women. Kami, is this a joke?

She tapped her foot against the ground, slightly impatient with a hint of something unfamiliar. She could practically hear his lecherous thoughts through all the giggling and chatter. Any second now, Kagome thought with a huff.

“Lovely miss, would you do me the honor of bearing my children?”

There it is, Kagome snickered. She thought back to the first time he asked her that question, What an odd day. Her hands tingled at the memory of his large, and very warm hands clasped over hers, the feeling of textured cloth and prayer beads over her left hand wasn't… terrible. She smiled in a stupor, leaning on a tree, before the daunting reality of what laid beneath the cloth and beads finally hit her as she stared at it, clasped around another woman's hands.

She sucked in a breath, all traces of anger fleeting… He could die right now, and nobody would be able to save him. All because of Naraku. How… How could Miroku act all okay? Like everything is fine, like he doesn't have an actual black hole in his hand that could kill him and anything in the vicinity. How can he just choose to stay with us, for all this time? How can he just smile and laugh, how can he just flirt shamelessly without receiving anything in return, how can he just be the Miroku that we know him as? Is this even who the real Miroku is? The thoughts of it gave her stomach a violent twist, her eyes looking for just the most miniscule indication of sadness or even fear in Miroku’s smile. There was none, at least not here. Just strong, captivating eyes and charmed smiles.

Her eyes started burning. No, she quickly wiped the tears from her eyes. Crying meant that Naraku won, that Miroku’s fate was sealed, and that was as far from the truth as Kagome could fight for. Naraku will never win. I won't let him. If Miroku can be strong, then so can I…

Her eyes focused on Miroku laughing with the village women and she chuckled. Kagome lifted herself from off the tree and calmly walked her way over, a slight bounce in her steps. I will fight for him and for everyone, but that doesn’t mean I can’t entertain him every step of the way. She cleared her throat and the giggles softened as the women's attention focused on her. They parted for Kagome, whispering into each other's ears in anticipation. Miroku noticed the silence and shifted his gaze to the center of their attention.

It was Kagome-sama, who looked quite different than usual when he was in the presence of village women. He waited for a slap, a glare, something. Anything. Kagome just smiled, brilliantly, respectfully, confidently. It was gorgeous.

What did I do to deserve this? Miroku couldn't help but smile back. She winked and flicked her wrist toward his face. It’s a slap?

She booped his nose instead, flicking the tip of his nose gently. Miroku stumbled in surprise, staff chiming in protest, as she turned to speak to the suddenly awed village women that he was just wooing a couple seconds ago. She grabbed the thin layers of his sleeve, and stuck her tongue out at them cheekily.

“I'm sorry ladies, I need to take my monk back. We have some things to take care of before we take our leave.”

They just nodded in response, giggles ensuing once again as they left the two alone. He raised a sharp eyebrow questionably but she shook her head, denying him an answer. He didn't mind, he could always figure it out. Miroku let a teasingly pleasurable smile shine at Kagome's gaze. She waited for his response.

“So, Kagome-sama, your monk?”

She stood frozen, mouth open to answer but her reeling thoughts got the better of her. She shook her head in mock disappointment and swiveled on her heels, away from Miroku’s calculating gaze.

“Of course you focus on unimportant details, Miroku-sama. We need to grab supplies so let's go!”

He chuckled at the clear embarrassment on her part. Her steps a little too loud to not be angry when he sped up his pace to keep up with her. He glanced at the side of her face, the smile didn't necessarily leave her face, which was strangely mood lifting.

They walked through various market stalls for a good couple of seconds, grabbing a few things and looking through some more items. It was peaceful but Miroku had a reputation to keep. His right hand twitched at a devious idea, beads clicking once against each other, as his palm made a straight beeline to her behind. A distinct screech greeted his ears and he grinned. Now that's more of a normal Kagome-sama response.

Intro | Chapter 3 | Chapter 5

T.Y.O.M. Chapter 3: Hair = Butt?

Pairing: Miroku x Kagome

“This looks so pretty, Kagome-chan! Thank you!” 

Sango beamed, squinting at the compacted mirror from mere centimeters from her face. It took Kagome a few seconds to explain what a mirror was, which was relatively easy when compared to water's reflection. The future’s definitely practical. Sango adjusted the mirror a couple times, looking side to side with admiration. The younger girl glowed at the silent praise in Sango’s expression, fiddling with her brush. It, although a bit more fanciful, looked lovely on Sango.

Her soft dark brown tresses were curled with old fashioned hair curlers and teased with care. Bangs left alone, two messy braids situated on both sides of her head were made to blend seamlessly into a high and bushy ponytail. Little curls framed her face and bounced at her back. It was just lovely. Lovely enough for the thought to be repeated apparently.

They giggled over it, Sango’s fingers playing with stray curls, before Shippo jumped in between them. 

“Ooh! Me next, Kagome-chan!” 

“Sure, Shippo. Why not?”

Kagome sifted her fingers through his equally soft hair. He beamed, expression identical to Sango’s, and shifted more comfortably into her lap.

~~~~~~~~~

On the other side of the forest, Miroku hummed, sunlight warming against his closed eyes. His torso stilled against his staff, legs crossed, with his sandals kicked to the side. The wind carried out in the chimes of his staff, it was peaceful. He wasn't too sure when he would be allowed another moment like this. The nature whispering in his ear turned to yells of protests in the bundles of trees nearby, booming shuffling getting closer and closer. One yell became more distinctive into two varying voices, one gruff and the other more childlike.

“Kami, Kagome! Stop torturing me, will ya?!”

“You should be glad, Inuyasha. She made you look not ugly.”

“The hell you say, pipsqueak?”

Ah, I shouldn't have jinxed it, the monk sighed. Miroku opened his eyes slowly at the disturbance as Shippo squawked in fear. He felt a small hand squeeze a bit of his robes, warmth radiating behind him, before he greeted the pissed hanyou.

“What brings you here, Inuyasha-san?”

His purple eyes analyzed him for a few seconds. An astonished hum rumbled in his throat at Kagome's handywork. She further tamed his locks into an elegant ponytail, bangs parted to the side, the hairs on each side of his head braided intricately to cover the lack of human ears and accentuate his dog ear on top. They traveled into and wrapped around the base of the ponytail. She turned this toad into a prince, it seemed. Hopefully without kissing, Miroku thought absently, not really questioning the thought as of then.

“I can't feel my head and Kagome's just demonic!”

“Says the hanyou.”

“Shut it, shortie.”

Another squawk was uttered. Miroku glanced at Shippo, whose hair was as equally as crafted as Inuyasha’s. His was a more simple bun, a small braid wrapped around it and his teal bow tied on top. A feminine voice echoed through the forest.

“Inuyasha, I'm not done with you yet!”

“You didn't see me, monk.” Miroku lifted a brow, a small frown forming, as Inuyasha grabbed Shippo by the tail and just vanished. He just sighed, closing his eyes once more, and waited for the younger woman to make her way to him.

It must have taken longer than expected, he thought with fading sleep, his back glued to the ground and the sky straight ahead in his view. He tilted his head, mind finally recognizing whose upside-down face was peering down at him. Kagome was leaning slightly above him, hands on her brush, her lips seemed to be moving but he didn’t catch it.

“Sorry, Kagome-sama, what was that?”

“Have you seen Inuyasha anywhere? I still need to fix his hair…”

Miroku shook his head as an answer. Kagome sighed and broke eye contact with him, allowing his eyes to stray to her calves. Her bare skin, smooth and pure, was a straight path to the glories of paradise hidden beneath her ‘skurt’. He couldn’t help but look for it, pleasure filling at the teaseful breeze.

“Blue is such a lovely color, don’t you think?”

Kagome looked at the sky for a second, and smiled.

“You’re right, Miroku-sama! The sky has a pretty shade of blue today.” Miroku’s gaze flickered to the sky.

“Oh! I guess the sky’s blue is also nice.”

Kagome glanced down at him, then at the sky, and then turning slowly to look around.

“Miroku-sama?”

“Yes?”

“What other blue is there? I mean, we’re surrounded by trees, and there’s no water nearby…”

Her voice died in her throat, a realization dawning on her as she quickly dropped on her butt to the floor with a squeak. She glared at the laughing monk, his smile soft, rare, and genuine. Dang, I can’t really be mad at him.

“That’s not somewhere you should look!”

“I don’t know, Kagome-sama. It was like you were begging for me to look!”

Kagome was left flabbergasted, a blush forming on her cheek and teeth grinding. Miroku noticed, a bit curious to see if she’ll attack him as he slowly rose into a sitting position. She played with the teeth on her brush instead.

“Good job with Inuyasha and Shippo, Kagome-sama.”

“So you did see them!”

“...You didn’t hear from me.”

Kagome giggled a bit before adding,” You should see Sango though.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah.”

There was a comfortable silence as they both looked at the sky.

“Hey, Miroku-sama. Could I do your hair?”

“If it will forgive my mistake.”

“I doubt it’ll be enough”, Kagome teased with a slight curve of her lips,” Just kidding.”

She scooted over to Miroku who, in trust, turned his back to her. He felt a small pressure, breathing evenly as she pulled the hair tie holding his small ponytail. Surprise, surprise, his hair is soft. He must be using some of her Future conditioner... She was almost jealous, gingerly smoothing the hair with her fingers. He hummed at the contact, lulled by the consistency. Time passed in a flash and a tap on the shoulder brought Miroku back. He looked at Kagome with a smile as she brought out her mirror, slowly explaining how it works. He took it from her, and looked at himself. 

His hair was brushed, straight and tied into a half up, half down style, hair tickling the nape of his neck. Small braids, two on both sides of his head, were made separated and tied into the half ponytail. Voicing out his awe, he caught a glimpse of her sparkling expression.

“Can I?”

“Oh! Um. Sure, take it away.”

Kagome was hesitant to turn but with her brush in Miroku’s beaded hand, she sat before him. He started by brushing her hair, carefully and slowly. Hands roaming to gather all of her hair, his fingers brushed against her neck and she flinched.

“You’re tense, Kagome-sama.”

“Sorry.”

Miroku’s answer didn’t come right away.

“I can’t say I’m an expert like you.”

“That’s alright! It’s just nice when--”

She squawked, a bit awkwardly, and jumped a heavy distance away from Miroku’s hand. He groped her. Of course, he did.

“You know, Miroku-sama. I gave you permission to my hair. Not my butt.” Miroku fiddled with the hair tickling his neck, a cheeky grin on his face.

“I couldn’t tell the difference really.”

Kagome just sighed, neck tingling from the earlier contact.

“Sure you couldn’t. Who is to say that you won’t wake up with all your hair shaved off. Maybe you’d look more of a monk than you act.” Miroku clasped his hands together and lowered his head in a panicked and apologetic manner.

“Ack! Let’s not get t-too hasty, Kagome-sama!”

“No promises!”

Intro | Chapter 2 | Chapter 4

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 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