CHAPTER ONE

*

"Come on, Myoga, tell us another," Kagome said, leaning forward.

"Shut up! Just shut up!"

"Lord Inuyasha, please. Some dignity," a gravelly voice said from somewhere on Kagome.

Inuyasha growled softly and cracked his claws. He was watching Kagome carefully, waiting for Myoga to emerge from her clothes. That rotten little flea had hidden somewhere on her uniform, so he couldn't be squashed without hurting her. When that bloodsucking snitch did, he was dead. I'm gonna seal him in a jar and drop him down the well, Inuyasha thought.

"Be quiet, Inuyasha. I want to hear this." Miroku leaned forward from the rock where he was sitting, allowing his eyes to rest on Kagome's form. He didn't get the excuse to do this very often.

"Easy for you to say," Inuyasha snapped. "You're not the one having embarrassing stories told about you."

"They're not embarrassing, they're cute," Kagome said. "The one about you stuffing Jaken in an honey jar when you were two was adorable. Not to mention the one about you taking off your clothes and jumping into the pond of frog demons. I bet your brother didn't forget that in a hurry."

"I was three years old!" Inuyasha shouted.

"And darn cute too. Don't lie to me, I've seen what you looked like back then."

"Feh." Inuyasha hunched over on his rock.

He stayed quiet while Myoga told another story about Inuyasha, at the age of one, shredding a magical tapestry of Sesshoumaru's when he realized what his claws could do. When Myoga finished, he said ominously, "You are so DEAD, flea!"

"Now, Master Inuyasha," Myoga said from somewhere in Kagome's sleeve. "That really isn't fair.

"Coward," Kagome said, looking into her shirt. "Hey... Myoga, where did you go?"

Inauyasha grabbed her shirt and peered down, then quickly let go and backed away. "You might want to learn how to stop blushing like that," Kagome said dryly.

*

"Quite effective, Master Monk," said Myoga, bouncing out of Miroku's robe. "Hiding in her clothing is a good short-term plan, but unfortunately Master Inuyasha always finds me eventually."

"I see," Miroku said, rubbing his chin. "So, you've tried telling stories about him before?"

"Yes, I have. Unfortunately, he never reacts well."

"Why not?"

"I believe he thinks that it weakens him to have his past foibles brought to light."

Miroku smiled. "I think it's more than that."

"Oh?" The flea hopped onto Miroku's staff, watching him intently.

The monk paused, contemplating. "You were relating these stories in front of Kagome. In many cases, young men don't like such stories related in front of women they are... attached to."

"Ah, I see," Myoga said significantly. "Hmm."

"Exactly." Miroku nodded.

"And I suppose Master Inuyasha's lack of romantic experience might make it an even more stressful experience. Dear me, I didn't even think of that." Myoga looked pensive.

"His 'lack' of romantic experience?"

"Of course. Master Inuyasha has always avoided potential attachments to young ladies. I believe he fears the possibility of betrayal, or else that his half-demon nature will make him subject to rejection."

"I had wondered about that," Miroku said thoughtfully. "However, he must have had some... experience."

"Of course. I have it on good authority that Master Inuyasha was kissed by the undead priestess Kikyo earlier this year."

"And you're saying that's ALL?" Miroku said, increasingly stunned.

"Yes, I believe so. I keep careful tabs on all his comings and goings, and when I'm not here, there are others to watch him. Why?"

Miroku picked the flea up and held him in front of his face. "Are you telling me he's a virgin?"

Myoga blinked. "Yes, he is. Why?"

TO BE CONTINUED