I see your hurt, I feel your pain
All of our dirt is washed in the rain

Much to Inuyasha's utter mortification, he turned scarlet every damn time he looked at his woman over the next couple days. That first day his blush had been so dark that Shippo kept asking him if he had a fever or ate something too spicy. Kagome hadn't even sat him even though he'd eventually bopped the kit on the head because he wouldn't drop the subject. She hadn't sat him for getting flustered whenever she asked him a question or when he snapped at the monk for asking why he was flustered. Because he knew the woman knew it was her fault that his stupid mind and stupid body couldn't seem to handle the new dynamic. That for some unknown reason, he now felt like a little boy with a crush whenever he so much as caught Kagome's scent. Thank god she seemed to think his awkwardness was cute. It was humiliating. It was thrilling. It frustrated him endlessly because he wanted to do it again and he had no idea how to even breech that subject. Wasn't like he prompted her or even asked her to do what she did. It just happened.

He shivered at the memory.

Never, never, would he have thought Kagome would so something like that. For some reason, he assumed whenever they did indeed mate she'd be shy and innocent and he'd have to coax her into doing anything. Boy was he wrong about that. Not that he was complaining. In no way was he complaining. It just shocked him that she didn't even seem phased by what happened whereas he could barely string a sentence together around her now. If he didn't trust her implicitly when she said girls just knew things in her time, he would've seriously believed she'd done something like that before.

The worst part was that he wanted her to do it again. Repeatedly. He wanted her to do *all* the things he knew of and *everything* she knew existed too. All. The. Things. But then he might actually go full idiot if they did and then everyone'd be screwed just because he had been.

Narrowing his eyes in silent accusation, he half wondered whether she'd known he'd react like this. If she knew he'd somehow love her that much more. Had she been planning something like this all along to better tangle his heart in her web? Did she play the part just to make him fall and hard? Because, damn her, it was totally working. If he wasn't hopelessly in love before, he sure as hell was now.

"InuYasha," Miroku's way too close voice suddenly hit his sensitive ears and Inuyasha nearly jumped out of his skin. Dammit. He hadn't even realized the monk was so close. He sent a suspicious glare at his woman who didn't seem to notice the exchange.

Look at her over there reading her textbook looking all cute and focused. She did that on purpose just to distract him. He was sure of it.

"What?!" the half-demon finally snapped angrily when the monk failed to recognize his silence for the f-off it was and Miroku gave him a knowing look that had InuYasha blushing so hard his ears turned pink.

"While there are no pressing matters, would you be amenable to sharing a bath with me? There is a hot spring not too far from here," the monk commented with a slight smirk and it was in that moment InuYasha knew he was screwed. If the monk didn't straight up know somehow, he suspected. InuYasha turned his frustrated glare on Miroku.

"Why would I do that?" InuYasha asked bluntly as scowled.

"For we often bathe together and there may not be an opportunity tomorrow," Miroku pointed out innocently though his innocence didn't quite reach his eyes.

InuYasha huffed as he weighed his options. One, he goes with the monk and, in private, allows the monk to ask a question or two, don't go and risk being bombarded with questions here. At least in private he could swear Miroku to secrecy and trust him to keep his mouth shut. What was shared in the hot spring, stayed in the hot spring. Not that he had any intention of sharing. You don't bite the hand that feeds you.

"Fine," InuYasha huffed as he choose option one, "But we can't waste time like this."

"Oh, I didn't realize we have been in such a hurry," Miroku replied as he began heading towards their destination, "It must have been the past month of lazing about that made me forget."

InuYasha scowled.

~o~o~o~o~o~o~

Glancing at her soul collectors, Sango clicked her tongue twice to get their attention before ordering gently 'speak' as she watched as Shippo giddily ran into the forest charged with the task of checking on the boys. She wouldn't risk the young kit overhearing this conversation. Mainly because Shippo, while a child, loved to get a rise out of the adults in his company and couldn't hold his tongue.

Kagome watched bemusedly as the soul collectors began chittering loudly and soared lazily around the slayer who was opening a small bag of jerky. Clicking her tongue again and voicing the command once more, she casually doled out treats to reward them for successfully following the order with a soft smile on her face.

"When did you train them to do that?" Kagome asked as she set down her textbook and Sango sighed.

"Last week," the slayer explained as she deposited the small bag in her pocket before moving to sit beside the miko, "I want to make sure we aren't overheard."

"Ah," Kagome continued to giggle softly, "And...what might be overheard, hm?"

"Miroku and I shared a futon when we were at my village," Sango admitted and Kagome's widened in surprise. Blushing furiously, the slayer scrambled to clarify, "Just to sleep."

"It felt good didn't it," Kagome teased and Sango's blush deepened as she nodded.

"I'll admit I didn't understand why you share your sleeping bag with Inuyasha," Sango continued hesistantly, "Especially without being married but oh, it was so nice. It made me feel...safe? No that's not right. I don't..."

"I know what you mean," Kagome hummed happily before she gave the slayer a curious once over, "But you haven't been doing that since you got back."

"I..." Sango tried as she began playing with her hair, "I worry that if it becomes part of a routine he'll get ideas."

"Thats probably fair. Men seem to have that on the brain 24/7," Kagome agreed with a soft sigh, "I mean when I was with InuYasha the other..."

She clammed up immediately as she cleared her throat and tried to change the subject.

"Well he, uh, sometimes talks in his sleep," she lied lamely before chewing the inside of her cheek, "So what other tricks have you..."

"Oh no, no, no," Sango cooed almost evilly and Kagome cringed, "Has InuYasha tried something? He has been very affectionate lately."

"N-no, he hasn't tried anything," Kagome chuckled nervously and Sango searched her friends face before gasping.

"Kagome-chan, you didn't!"Sango chided playfully as a blush grew on her cheeks. The guilty look in her friend's eyes told her all she needed to know.

"I dunno," Kagome sighed as she scratched her nose and prayed for a demon to rush out and provide a quick death, "He wanted the ear rub thing and..."

"How did it feel?" Sango blurted out before cringing herself and blushing furiously, "Wait. No. I just meant..."

"I felt powerful honestly," Kagome admitted sheepishly, "But...but we didn't really do anything that bad."

"But you did something?" Sango breathed with morbid curiosity and the miko nodded with a faint blush.

"Kagome," Sango gasped in mock offense as she gave her friend a chastising yet playful look, "I can't believe it. I honestly thought you were allergic to nudity."

"Am not!" the miko protested with a slight pout, "I'm a big girl. I can handle myself."

"And half-demons apparently," Sango teased as Kagome buried her face in her hands.

In all the years Sango had spent training she had never had what someone would call a girl friend. Male friends, yes, but never a woman who she could tease much less confide in. It wasn't like she wasn't feminine. She knew how to cook and sew and do all the household tasks expected of her. In many respects, she was a girl like any other who wanted a family of her own. To settle down and get married to a nice young man. It just so happened she could also sling a boomerang three times her weight and fought demons for a living. That had, ironically, been a dealbreaker to the other women her age in the village. And, truth be told, the men as well. Which was ridiculous seeing as how they were a village made of demon slayers. True, she was the first female slayer but that shouldn't have mattered.

It did though.

It mattered a lot.

And then came this strange girl from a strange land. Kagome was her first and only female friend. More of a sister, really. Despite her being older, Kagome was someone who she looked to for guidance on matters of the heart. Someone to talk to about men and love. A shoulder to cry on when life became more than she could handle. Someone to confide in without fear of ridicule or judgment. Without Kagome she very seriously would not be here. She would have withered away into nothing after the loss of the only home she had ever known and everyone who had lived there. Thanks to this strange girl from the future, she still felt as though she had a future and a family with which to share it.

Without Kagome...

Sango bit her lip to keep from laughing at her friend's utterly humiliated body language. Yes it was rather shocking that something of that nature had occurred and yes, most women in this time period would have been scandalized but Sango had known a woman or two who had already been pregnant when they were wed. Societal expectations aside everyone knew things like this happened and to be honest...

"I've thought about doing something," Sango admitted and Kagome looked up at her with a slightly relived look, "But I don't think I'm ready for that type of thing. Not yet. If you haven't...Well, how did you stop InuYasha from taking it further than what you did?"

"He seemed, uh, happy with what he got," Kagome mumbled miserably as she began playing with her hands, "He didn't really ask for more than that."

"But he asked for what you did," Sango asked curiously before gasping when Kagome bit her lip and shook her head.

"Honestly?" Sango snorted as she rolled her eyes and shook her head, "No wonder he's been blushing so hard. I've been so confused as to why. What exactly did you do?"

"I..." Kagome began before furiously shaking her head and groaning, "Oh don't make me say it Sango. Please?"

The slayer giggled but didn't push the issue further.

~o~o~o~o~o~

"There appears to have been a new development in your relationship with Kagome-sama," Miroku observed as he sank into the heated water – completely unphased by the glare Inuyasha was sending him which would've struck fear into the hearts of even the bravest of men.

"I'm happy for you. I've made some progress of my own. Which is why I have asked you here today," the monk continued and Inuyasha's anger began fading into confusion. The monk gently drug a single finger over his palm before sighing heavily.

"While I have no intention of giving up on defeating Naraku," Miroku began as he cast Inuyasha a somewhat apprehensive look, "I do have a request if it is not in my fate to be there for his demise."

Inuyasha blinked. Well this conversation just made an unexpected turn. He fully expected to be bombarded with perverted questions that he had no intention of answering but that he was sure his blush would answer whether he liked it or not. Instead…

The monk cleared his throat.

"My wind tunnel has spread more than I have admitted unto to you all," the monk began cryptically, "Not that I will perish tomorrow or even a few months from now but it will occur sooner rather than later as I had previously hoped. Therefore, I ask that if I am taken from this world, that you do everything in your power to protect Sango from herself and from all harm."

"From herself," Inuyasha repeated slowly as his confusion and worry only grew, "How long do you think you have?"

"Mushin's estimate was by next winter," Miroku sighed heavily before pressing the issue, "So can you promise me that you'll protect her? Kagome-sama has made several unfortunate, impulsive decisions recently. Not that I do not trust her mind you. It is more….well, if Sango asked to be alone in a depressed state, Kagome-sama may respect her wishes and the consequences could be dire."

"Kagome wouldn't….well okay, she has been making some dumb decisions. That's fair," Inuyasha admitted as he thought back to her almost fricking leaving him on a whim just a few days ago….and sending him to talk to Kikyo by himself. That…that had been unfortunate. He wouldn't lie. Not that he held it against her, mind you, but he could see the monk's point if…

Wait.

"What do you mean the 'consequences could be dire'? What do you think Sango might do?" Inuyasha asked as he furrowed his brow.

"You surely have witnessed her own utter disregard for her own life," Miroku replied as he gave the half-demon a side-eyed glare, "Heard her admit that she has considered killing Kohaku and then herself. On other occasions, when my wind tunnel has been an issue in the past, she has literally begged for me to take her when I go. Promise me you will not let anything happen to her."

"I don't need to promise because you'll make it," Inuyasha replied a little harsher than he intended as he watched his friend dutifully avoid his gaze, "We'll defeat Naraku before your wind tunnel goes to hell."

"I need you to promise me," Miroku repeated softly and Inuyasha swore softly before nodding.

"Yeah, yeah if that happens I promise but why the hell haven't you said anything? How long have you known?" Inuyasha asked after a long tense moment and Miroku chuckled.

"It was only after the most recent injury that I was told," he sighed despondently, "Sango is already concerned and she would become distracted with my well-being which may get her killed in battle. I would much rather suffer in silence than lose her."

"You aren't giving Sango much credit here," Inuyasha muttered as he rolled his eyes, "Woman crawled out of her own grave. I'm pretty sure she can handle herself."

"I'd rather not find out," Miroku hummed as he shook his head, "I know it is for that same reason you've been avoiding pursuing the jewel as of late. Sometimes the unknown is more daunting than reality."

Inuyasha cringed as fidgeted guiltily.

"I'm not blind," the monk hummed as he sent his nervous looking friend an understanding look, "You've been avoiding completing the jewel for fear of having Kagome-sama taken from you. I will not hold that fear against you nor will I bemoan the gift of having a moment to breathe and enjoy life."

"That doesn't mean I've been avoiding defeating Naraku, idiot," Inuyasha clipped back heatedly as guilt ran his system ragged, "I just…"

"They are one and the same, Inuyasha," Miroku sighed as he gave his friend a somewhat annoyed look, "He is in possession of several jewel shards. The jewel cannot be completed without defeating him. They are intimately intertwined."

"Well we'll just defeat him then and get those jewel shards back and then you'll be fine," Inuyasha huffed as he rubbed his hand aggravatedly across his face.

"We'll need to destroy it," Miroku opined firmly and Inuyasha shook his head.

"We don't gotta," the half-demon argued weakly even though he knew it was true.

"You know we do. In my opinion, it would be best to have Kagome-sama wish it out of existence and then…"

"No," Inuyasha breathed as he shook his head, "If anyone has to wish on the damn thing, it'll be me. I'll do it."

"Your youkai taints the jewel. There is a likelihood that…"

"I know what it might do," Inuyasha snapped back, "I know what I could become. That's the point. The damn thing is evil and destroys anyone who wishes on it and you wanna sit here and tell me that Kagome needs to be the one to do it? Not happening."

"So you wish to destroy it and in the process risk destroying yourself."

Inuyasha nodded once.

"If I become full youkai, I want you to purify me," Inuyasha demanded as he stared glumly at the water and shook his head, "Don't make Kagome do it. She'll do something dumb like she always does and I imagine wishing on the jewel will send me on a one way path I can't come back from."

"And what if I'm not there?" Miroku asked softly as he held up his hand to remind him of his potentially imminent demise.

"You'll be there."

"But if I'm…"

"You'll be there dammit. And I know how it sounds. I don't need a lecture," Inuyasha huffed in frustration, "But I'm serious. Kagome is not allowed to wish on that jewel."

"I could do it," Miroku offered as he glanced at the half-demon, "If we complete the jewel prior to defeating Naraku, I'll wish on it."

"No one is allowed to get their ass handed to them but me," Inuyasha groaned, "God knows I probably deserve it anyway."

"Perhaps that was true once," Miroku teased lightly, "I could say the same. We have both grown immeasurably. Don't judge yourself on mistakes made in the past."

"You're just saying that 'cause you don't know my mistakes," Inuyasha chuckled darkly before his eyes widened incrementally and he glanced at the monk with fearful eyes.

"May I guess as to what those mistakes might be?" Miroku asked and Inuyasha shook his head.

"I shall do so anyway," the monk hummed indifferently as he tried to relax against the stone edifice and rubbed his chin thoughtfully, "Based upon what I know of you, of your past, I would venture to guess that you have killed many humans and demons in your life. Am I correct?"

Inuyasha didn't reply but his guilty, slightly nervous body language answered for him.

"And if I may be even more forward, I believe not all of those killings were justified," Miroku concluded and Inuyasha cringed. His mouth opening and closing repeatedly as he tried to figure out how to deny the borderline accusation but coming up short. The monk could always tell when he was lying anyway.

"Don't tell Kagome," Inuyasha finally muttered softly and Miroku chuckled.

"I will never do anything to interfere with your relationship with Kagome-sama nor will I judge you for the actions of the past,' the monk promised, "We both are better than we were in our youth. I know this most likely comes as no surprise, but I have been intimate with dozens of women. As I have extended a courtesy unto you, I would ask you not share that revelation with Sango."

Inuyasha seemed to relax slightly as his initial nervousness faded.

"You haven't been with that many women. There'd be dozens of little monks running around and I've never heard rumors of a kid with your curse," Inuyasha snorted skeptically before his face fell when he saw Miroku's.

"That too has occurred to me," Miroku admitted as he shifted in the water, "It very well could be that I am incapable of producing children. Perhaps it is for the best that the curse dies with me."

"You ain't gunna die dammit," Inuyasha huffed as he sent the monk a worried glance, "This is getting depressing. Make a perverted joke or something already."

"You wish for me to say something perverted?" Miroku asked as his lips twitched upwards and Inuyasha instantly regretted his word choices.

"I didn't…"

"For I have been wondering these past few days, what Kagome-sama must have done to make you turn so red. Tell me. Did she moan for you?"

To the monk's utter shock, InuYasha's initial blush faded into a smug, satisfied grin.

"Wouldn't you like to know."