Shippo's Plans
Rating: Yup – still PG.
Summary: A very frustrated Shippo tips his hand to Miroku.
Disclaimer: Do I really have to say it? The words bring me pain.
Chapter Six: You Give Me Fever
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She felt dizzy and off balance, and she was beginning to think that it –wasn't- Miroku that was doing it to her. Her head felt exceptionally heavy and her knees felt like putty. Maybe she was getting ill? After being out all night in the rain in her school uniform, more than likely.
She found herself leaning on Miroku more and more, but she refused to give up. Not until they got safely back to Kaede's village. Then she was going to go to sleep and hurt anyone who woke her without an emergency.
"Kagome-sama, perhaps it would be prudent to rest for a while. I think that you are ill." Without letting her even answer, Miroku swept Kagome off her feet and placed her gently on the ground, letting a very excited Shippo jump and chatter around them.
"Miroku… why do you call Kagome, Kagome-sama? Don't you like her? I thought you guys were friends."
"We are friends, Shippo. I guess the honorifics are a bit much… what do you think, Miroku?"
"Yes, Kagome, we can go without such formalities. Now please rest." He smoothed her bangs out of her eyes and smiled kindly at her. As she drifted off to sleep, she absently wondered why it seemed that Miroku's smile didn't meet his eyes.
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And now to kill the fox child, Miroku thought maliciously to himself. Something was up, and that kit was getting him into a lot of trouble. It was almost like he was planning all this trouble, but Shippo wouldn't do that, would he?
Sparing a glance to evaluate the boy, Miroku decided that no, Shippo wasn't up to any tricks, it was Miroku who was simply being careless. He sighed heavily and leaned against a nearby tree, completely ready to catch up on the sleep he had lost the night before, But Shippo wouldn't hear of it.
"You know, with a reputation like yours, you'd think that you wouldn't be so dense."
Er? "Come again, Shippo?"
"I know that you like Kagome. And I'm pretty sure she likes you too, but neither one of you are doing anything about it. Are you afraid?"
"Kagome-sama is in love with Inuyasha, Shippo."
"Ha! I knew you were in love with her!" Shippo shouted all together too gleefully.
"I said no such thing." Miroku snapped.
Shippo tipped his head like a curious cocker spaniel, "You aren't?"
Quietly, Miroku mumbled, "I never said that, but there's no point. I'm not much longer for this life, and Kagome's in love with Inuyasha."
"Is she, Miroku? They never talk anymore without Dog-head saying the words 'shards' and 'Kikyo' and Kagome never talks to Inuyasha unless it's to say 'sit'. Plus, have you noticed that Kagome doesn't cry anymore, even when Inuyasha's missing?"
Miroku pondered over this deeply, but a twitch from his hand let him know such thoughts were futile, even if Kagome wanted him. He was still cursed. "Shippo, it's not meant to be, I'm sorry."
Shippo marched over to the monk and grabbed his hand, pressing the prayer beads into his palm. "Is it because of this? Naraku's curse? You're going to let him win and make you completely miserable, wipe out your family, and break Kagome's heart?"
"I'm not letting him win," Miroku roared, "I fight him everyday of my life."
Shippo would not back down. "You may, but you still don't live your life the way you want to because of that stupid jerk! You're giving up before it's over, and that lets Naraku win."
The monk went silent, glaring at Shippo then the still sleeping Kagome. Slowly his eyes softened at both of them, and he focused on the fiery fox demon "What happens if we fail then, eh kit? What happens if Kagome does like me, but I die from the curse? Would it be right to cause her all that pain?"
"What if it were her, would it be worth it? If she were the one with the curse? Would she be worth that pain."
In a daze, Miroku ground out, "Every moment with her is worth it."
"Then tell her how you feel! You two can be together!"
"Shippo.."
"Come on, Miroku, are you a monk or a mouse?"
"I dunno, I'm feeling awful mouse-ish right now."
"Miroku, just do it!" The kit then surprised the hell out the monk by shoving him in Kagome's direction. He brain registered numbly that he was going to land on her, but there was nothing he could do.
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Shippo watched in ultimate satisfaction as Miroku stumbled over Kagome, and like two pieces of a puzzle, they met mouth to mouth.
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As a child, Kagome's favorite movie was Sleeping Beauty. Even at a tender age, the absolutely perfect romantic notion of being awoken by true love's first kiss made her giggle. It seemed so perfect on the screen... too bad real life wasn't like that.
In her experience, she's found that real life is much more awkward, like waking up and taking a deep breath, and inadvertently sucking both of Miroku's lips in her mouth. He sprung away from her, pulling his lips from hers in a loud smack. He looked petrified.
"Kagome-sama, I'm so sorry. I stumbled and fell – you can hit me if it will make you feel better."
However awkward that moment had been, it had also been a moment of great clarity. She wanted this. She wanted it badly. She leaned forward and grabbed the monk by his robes and pulled him to her roughly, "Did you enjoy that, Miroku-sama?" She demanded.
He nodded shamefully, looking every bit the part of a four year old caught with his hands in the cookie jar. She couldn't help but giggle.
"Next time, then, do it right." She stood and left the bewildered monk and giggling kitsune behind, letting a self satisfied smirk glow on her face.
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Review Responses:
Puffin – soon my dear reader, soon.
Samanda Hime-sama – Well, I toyed with the idea of putting a lemon in here, but truth to be told, I suck at them. I think I'll write one and see how it turns out… whether or not it gets posted is a whole other matter.
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Thanks to everyone who reviewed. You guys really are a huge inspiration for me to keep writing.