Disclaimer: I say it every chapter… but rules are rules, I suppose. I don't own Inuyasha or his universe. I just write to have some fun and I like sharing it with you guys. I hope you guys have fun reading it, even though I don't own it.

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Paradigm Shift

Chapter Eight: Shift

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Posted: 1.13.2020

Edited: 12.28.2020

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Doubt is an inevitable part of the Paradigm shift. Stable, normal, average, typical, comfortable- these are the things that we, as people, cling to. Impulse, whim, change, unexpected- these things leave us with a sense of unease after we act on them. Unease brings doubt and doubt latches to chaos, which ushers in the beginnings of realization and awareness of the new arrangement that the Paradigm Shift is affecting.

… … …

The cool spring air of the afternoon felt nice on his heated flesh as Kouga walked around the main house's covered walkway. He clenched the bundle of green and white fabric in his left hand. Little flecks of dirt fell from it and onto the floor as he did so.

It had been so difficult to walk through that door. The more time that passed, the harder it got for Kouga to control his want to get closer to Kagome and instigate that closeness. Not that it was new… not that he hadn't already made himself completely clear to her.

He spotted Sango and Sesshomaru, with Shippou and Rin in tow, talking with one of the house servants at the corner of the walkway as it turned around the house, he fixed a smile on his face to cover his turmoil and hurried his pace. He was standing with them in no time, though to him it felt like far too long. Pushing his thoughts away from Kagome always made a second seem like hours.

"Thank you, Aki." Sango turned her head to Kouga and then back to the girl.

Aki nodded, eyes downcast and hands cradled gently before her. Sango turned the way that Kouga had come from and took in his damp, plain, white yukata. She pointed in the general direction and looked at Aki.

"Bath house that way." She received another nod.

"Kitchens that way." She pointed through the wall to the side of them and received another nod.

"Night soil closets on the other side of the gardens?" Another nod.

"Thank you again, Aki." Another nod.

"Nice to know where everything is for the night." Kouga patted the servant girl on the shoulder with one hand. She flinched away from the touch but didn't move away otherwise. "Glad I stumbled in on the conversation." He gave a roguish grin.

As footfalls sounded, they all looked around the corner to the approaching figure of Kuranosuke.

"Ah! Sango! I've been trying to find you. I would appreciate the chance to speak with you privately."

Sango turned back to them. "Could you take Shippou, as well? I'll catch up soon." Shippou already had one of Rin's hand in his own. Sesshomaru nodded as she turned from them and made her way to the clan lord's side. They left the shade of the walkway's cover and stepped along an inset series of large, smooth stones that curled away through the gardens and on toward a small bridge. It hovered over a thin stream that had been carved out of the grounds and carried water to the small koi pond.

Sesshomaru faced Kouga with a lifted brow and looked pointedly at the hand that he had hidden behind his back. Kouga's roguish grin was back in a flash and he brought Kagome's clothes into view. "I ran into her at the bath house." Sesshomaru's eyes narrowed. "She was coming in as I was leaving. I figured I'd get her clothes washed. I think she'll like it."

"I can take care of that for you." Aki's small hands laid over Kouga's curled fingers and the fabric. He relinquished it to her. "If there is nothing else, sirs?"

They didn't say anything and she hurried away to her task.

Kouga made to continue on his way to his room and was brought short by the chill in the taiyoukai's voice and the bruising grip on his shoulder.

"Your life is forfeit to me if you force your… affections… on her again."

All of his conflicted thoughts came flooding into his mind, filling his veins with burning ice. He was thankful that his back was to that voice, at least. There were no pulled punches in that statement either, and Kouga felt as if the words had physically pummeled his stomach.

In a single instant, he realized that Sesshomaru had to have overheard or witnessed what had happened between himself and Kagome in the cave, acknowledged that he hadn't interfered, processed that it meant that Sesshomaru had to have at least a little trust and faith in his character as a man to have kept from interfering, experienced regret and shame and desire and hope and the rest of the rainbow of emotions, and accepted Sesshomaru's statement without hesitation.

"I understand." He replied with steely resolve. It would never come to that. He would never put himself or her that close to a dangerous mistake again. "I did apologize." He had to add. He had, after all. He had and he would do it over and over in every way he could until he felt that Kagome understood that he never would have done it and he never again would scare her into feeling he could do that to her.

"Not nearly enough."

"I know. There's no way that I could ever apologize enough for that."

"Indeed."

The air thickened as the hand left him.

"I didn't realize that you saw us."

"I did not. I heard enough to know that you were too… occupied to notice my attention."

Kouga hesitated, doubt seeping in between the cracks of his own confidence and determination, and when he spoke his words were slurred into the hand that covered his weary face.

"You would have stopped me."

"Of course."

"Good. Thanks."

He heard the trio continue on their way, and something in his chest faltered. 'Just because she forgives me doesn't mean that I'll forgive myself. It doesn't mean that anyone else would forgive me either. Or that they should.' His feet felt glued to the spot, but he moved one of them forward and walked on, much more sedately than before, toward the receiving hall and onward to his room with the two other men.

… … …

When the door slid open sedately and Kouga entered the room, Miroku was still sitting where Sesshomaru had left him. His contemplations were interrupted by the gruff hello from the wolf.

"Welcome back. Perhaps you can point me toward the bath as well?" Miroku picked at his robes uncomfortably.

"Kagome's using it right now."

"All the more reason!" His enthusiasm was tempered by the remembrance of a hard golden stare and uncomfortable self-realization, but he did his best not to show it.

"Keep your hands to yourself, idiot."

Miroku wondered at the tiredness in Kouga's voice. He watched as Kouga brought one of the mats from against the wall and set it out for himself. His curiosity was piqued.

"Is there something on your mind, my friend?" He patted his hand on the floor beside himself.

Kouga heaved a great sigh and took the offered stretch of floor.

"You could say that."

"Care to talk about it?"

"Sesshomaru is pretty pissed."

"Ah. With you?" Miroku cast his look sideways at the other.

"Yep."

"And how might you have earned his ire?"

Kouga flinched and looked away.

"Would it have anything to do with our Kagome?"

"How the hell did you know that?" The surprise and suspicion coated his features as his blue eyes bore into violet.

"Ah. It seems that Kagome's wellbeing is a popular subject today." He stood and retrieved his Shakujo from its perch. "This wouldn't be concerning a certain cave with a certain stream in the middle of a certain night, would it?"

Kouga blanched at the question.

"Who the fuck else knows?"

"I'm fairly sure that I was the only one awake to observe Lord Sesshomaru's actions."

"Just his, huh?"

"I may have caught a word or two."

Kouga grimaced at Miroku's feet as they stepped closer to him.

"What?"

"Oh, just something about you being upset at her."

Kouga fell backward onto the floor gracelessly.

"And something about jealousy. Her telling you that she knew."

"I guess it's all that holy monk training that makes it so that you can keep your heartbeat and breath steady enough to pass for being asleep, huh?"

"Maybe."

Miroku slid the door open and had one foot over the threshold.

"Don't bother her, Miroku. I mean it."

"Wouldn't dream of it, dear man." His eyes danced with amusement as he left. He didn't close the door.

… … …

"I could never quite forget you, Sango. As I grew up I knew that when I took a wife, I would be sure that there would be more than duty between us. I want a woman whom I can love and who can love me in return. Your face is the one that has always been on my mind during those thoughts."

"I'm flattered, my Lord."

He took her hand and tugged her toward the railing of the little bridge. They stared into the water rushing by them for a moment. He still had her hand in his where they sat, joined, on the red polish of the wood.

"Please, Sango. You don't need to call me Lord. Just Kuranosuke is fine. Or whatever else you might wish to call me." He released her hand, and turned toward her; leaning on his elbow and letting his hand dangle above the water as he watched her face. "Husband, perhaps. I have, admittedly, dreamed of the word in your beautiful voice."

Sango raised her hands to her cheeks as they warmed. 'So charming.'

"Well, you see…"

… … …

Miroku jumped, more than he would have admitted to, as hands were laid on his back and a voice sounded in his ear.

"Ah-Ha! Gotcha!" He looked over his shoulder at his assailant and frowned at the mock whisper. He didn't miss the hint of purple on her chest that could be seen through her damp yukata.

"And what, exactly, have you gotten me for, Kagome?"

"I just knew you had feelings for Sango! Now here you are spying on her!"

Of all the… admittedly limited thing that Miroku could have guessed that she would say, that was certainly not one of them. He shuffled a little backward from the woman. It was awkward to do while crouched down like this behind a cluster of reeds near the bridge. 'Buddha preserve me, I've seen that gleam in her eyes before. She's planning mischief.' He turned back around to watch the backs of the two figures again, hoping he didn't miss anything important.

"… obligations. Other people that I have to take care of and things that I need to see through." Sango was saying. In her mind, she thought 'Like Kohaku. Rebuilding what might be left of my home. Finding and killing Naraku.'

'Maybe one of those other people is Miroku.' Kagome wondered.

'She won't leave Kagome's side while Naraku is out there.' Miroku knew.

He rolled his shoulders uncomfortably at the persistent warmth coming from Kagome's hand on his back as she listened with him. He shifted, and her hand slid over to rest fully on his left shoulder blade as she shifted with him. 'How innocent your touch is, Kagome.' He did his best to temper his newly allowed view of her as a mature adult with the thought of her sweet personality and his desire to see her stay pure and innocent for as long as this world would allow.

He wasn't used to women touching him so familiarly without his guidance. Kagome did it every now and then; a smile and a brush of her fingers on his hand when he fell into a dark mood, or a hug when they overcame a particularly difficult foe, or a bump of her shoulder on his on clear and sweet days as they walked down some unnamed road. Each memory took on a new meaning for him as they were colored by the now ever-present idea that she was grown and wanting and available and aware of herself and others around her in that adult context.

He knew that she was a very physically affectionate girl; in a way that was the polar opposite of himself and his own constant physical attentions. He knew that she did not limit her actions to any particular member of their bunch. Every time she did show him some sort of physical closeness, despite his understanding of those parts of her personality, it unbalanced him a little.

… … …

"If you wish to travel until your obligations are fulfilled, I would have no objection. I would trust in your fidelity and I assure you that I would be just as faithful to you."

"You make it sound so romantic, Lord Kuranosuke. It's not though. What sort of life could a husband and wife expect to have like that?" He hung his head at her words.

"It's not that I object to you… just… maybe in another life, it could have worked. A simpler life."

"If you ever change your mind, Sango…"

"You would wait for me?"

"I would wait for you." He had leaned his face close to hers intently. Her head lifted towards his.

… … …

Miroku felt the wetness through his robes as his knee slipped into the water as he watched them. He looked down at the edge of the stream and tried to back away from it, all the while hoping that this new complication in Sango's life, atop all of the other horrors she held so close to her heart, wouldn't break her. He worried. That was also part of who he was and he couldn't help himself. He tried to project a calm and simple countenance, but under the surface was a different matter altogether.

Kagome's knee pressed into his lower back as he attempted to back his knee out of the water, halting his efforts to save himself from a cool dip of embarrassment. She shifted for him, and he shifted with her as her hand came to rest on his own knee. He met her concerned eyes and tried his best to convey his reassurance to her. Silly girl. Silly, sweet, pure girl. She had no idea just how much she didn't need to worry about his reaction to Sango's current actions.

When they looked back to the bridge, Sango had lifted herself onto the balls of her feet and pressed a chaste kiss to Kuranosuke's lips. It was short, and they walked off of the bridge in separate directions.

Kagome couldn't find anything to say to Miroku, so she rubbed little circles on his back. She settled for simple.

"I'm sorry."

He stood and she followed.

"For what?" His eyebrows knit together in carefully projected puzzlement.

"Sango… she seemed happy that he said he'd wait for her." She waved a hand at the bridge.

"Ah." Miroku smiled softly down at her slight body, so much smaller than his own.

"She kissed him…" Kagome continued.

"She did."

"It must have upset you."

"Not overly."

"Oh." She was confused. "It didn't?"

He shook his head at her and took a slow, deep breath to control his urge to elaborate. Who knows how much of what he hid under his outward persona would be revealed if he let her curiosity pull anything else from him.

"But… you were here watching them, all jealous and sneaky." She grinned half-heartedly at his antics. It wasn't the first time she had caught him trying to snoop about.

Miroku threw his head back and laughed sharply. When he finished, he wrapped am arm around Kagome's shoulders and began to lead them away from the tall reeds. When he caught sight of a few Shinidamachu weaving through the trees in the distance, he spun them both before her eyes could leave his own face.

"Let's talk in the gardens for a little while."

"Alright…"

They followed the stream to where it bubbled over stacked stones in a trickling miniature waterfall and fell into the koi pond. Miroku plucked a voluptuous pink lily from its pad in the water and placed it in her hands.

"You have the wrong impression of me and my sneaking, as you put it, this time." He told her. Her nose scrunched up.

"Are you sure?"

"Mhm."

"But, Miroku."

"Yes?"

"You've always paid so much attention to her… I was sure that you liked her."

Miroku chuckled and sat on the grass. He tugged at her wrist and she sat next to him. He laid flat on his back and watched the clouds as he spoke, all the while feeling that he should bring a halt to this conversation and its revealing content.

"I can't deny that Sango is very attractive. Her face, her body," He winked at her. "Her dedication, her strength. These are all things that draw me to her, of course."

"Why are you guys always confusing me?"

He lifted a brow at her, but she just shook her head.

"Just because I find her attractive, in many ways, does not mean that I am contemplating a future with her." He chuckled again and fought away a flinch at his own words. "Otherwise, I would be pursuing every pretty, kind woman that I came across."

"You do pursue every woman you see." Kagome joined him and laid back to laze in the grass as the afternoon began to fade to evening. She noted in the back of her mind that night, and the upcoming battle, would be upon them soon.

With the humorous bait taken, Miroku's muscles let go of the tension that had settled in as he opened himself up to show Kagome more of his true feelings than he was comfortable with- small as they may seem.

"Perhaps." She could hear the smirk in his voice without needing to see it.

"You do."

"Maybe. That still doesn't mean that I was intending to court her." Of all the frustrating impulses- why couldn't he filter himself around her all of the sudden? He had just managed to steer away from deeper feelings and truths.

"Miroku! You were always groping her and, and..suggesting.."

He lifted himself on one elbow and peered down at her with that familiar smirk.

"You can't deny that I've done the same to you, Kagome." That was not at all what he should have said. He had told himself that he wouldn't tease her in this way, wouldn't try to corrupt that purity. Nevermind that he was doing his best to push away the idea that she could possibly want to explore more carnal experiences and that it wouldn't actually corrupt her.

She scowled and pushed at his chest with one hand. He laid back down beside her as she sat up. She twisted around to pin him with her annoyance.

"Not nearly as much, you letcher."

He sat up as well, and pulled her back to his chest, cradled between his legs, and put his chin on her shoulder.

"Are you telling me that you want more attention, Kagome?"

She struggled out of his grip and scooted back to his side with a hard backhand to his chest. It was forceful enough to draw an oomph from him as he doubled over.

"Be serious, Miroku." He rubbed his abused chest.

"I'm always serious, Kagome. Just say the word and I am at your mercy."

"Miroku!"

He reached over and tucked her hair behind one ear, letting the silken tresses cascade over his hand as he did. He didn't even fight it this time when the urge to be totally honest about how he felt came over him.

"I am not like Inuyasha, Kagome. I won't put her heart in a difficult position when I cannot offer her any promises." She glared into the little pond as though she could bring about the demise of the swimming fish with her gaze alone.

"It doesn't hurt that Sango doesn't hit nearly as hard as Inuyasha when my hands wander."

He was pleased to see that he had drawn a small smile from her with that. He fixed his face into his very best blank expression.

"Or Sesshomaru."

She launched one of the stones near her feet into the pond, scaring the poor fish and sending them scattering.

"What's that about, anyway. He's being so weird."

Miroku bit his tongue to keep his barely-maintained and finally regained mask up. Her tone was adorably petulant.

"Kagome."

She rested her cheek on her knees and looked over to him.

"You don't know why?"

"All I know is that he's been weirdly possessive of me."

"I wouldn't say possessive but I could see how his actions could be interpreted so."

"Seems pretty possessive to me."

"It's more accurate to call him protective."

"Okay. But why? It's not like he ever acted protective to any of us before a few weeks ago."

"Kagome. You underestimate the implications to his station that came with your warning those few weeks ago."

"Ugh."

This time it was his turn to rub circles onto her back. And lower back. And…

"UGH! MIROKU!"

Kagome lept to her feet and threw another small rock that she had been holding at his head and strode away in her temper.

Miroku watched her leave with his fingers pressed to the spot above his eye where it had hit him. 'I'm not sure if that's better than a slap or worse. New, at least.' He closed his eyes, forcing his breath to level out in a more regular rhythm and attempted to ignore just how much he had not been playing around a moment ago.

… … …

Dim light filtered through the trees. It bathed the two people that stood in a tight embrace below the boughs with a soft glow. The kiss was passionate and long, but any witness would wonder at the lie of it if they looked close enough. Somehow, the participants looked angry and not impassioned, with the kiss.

… … …

Back in the room that she would be sharing with Rin, Kagome laid out two mats side-by-side, and a third across the room; under the window. She curled up on one of the paired mats and drew a rough blanket all the way up under her chin.

If she wasn't going to get any sleep tonight, she was going to take a nap while she had the chance. She was exhausted, anyway. In no time at all, she was resting peacefully.

Not long after, Rin was in the room with her; dragging the third mat to the other side of the empty one and snuggling down on it with a similar blanket; leaving the mat between them empty.

… … …

Silence was the only thing exchanged between Inuyasha, Kouga, and Miroku three doors away. They were all lost in their own thoughts as they waited for dark to come and distract them.

… … …

Sango curled around Shippou and Kirara, her mind and emotions too turbulent to sleep, offering her comfort to the bundles in her arms.

… … …

Kuranosuke stood vigilant in the tower by the gates of his stronghold, soldiers to either side of him, staring out into the distance in anticipation.

… … …

Aki and Chiyo folded the freshly washed clothing bundles and distributed them to their owners.

… … …

Sesshomaru trailed his long fingers over the surface of the warm water, his hair swirling about him in the bath; looking ethereal as it flowed sinuously in the small currents created by his hand.

… … …

Red fabric and black strands of another's hair fluttered in a strong breeze as the sun neared the edge of the horizon.

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