General Info: Round Robin #1 for the Monk and miko Yahoo! Group

Title: Bed Ridden

Summary: He's lived through a cursed hand, demons, and a hanyou with an attitude- but can our sixteenth century Houshi live through the stimulation of the twentieth century? [MK]

Rating: PG-13

Chapter Author: Crimson Demon

Chapter Summary: In which Kagome and Miroku have (Pre?) lover's quarrel, make up, and our houshi want's to play doctor.

Disclaimer: If I could think up something snappy, and funny, I would. But as it is, you'll have to deal with, I don't own them. Damn.

"Did you mean it?" Still hung in the air, unanswered by the houshi who was still leaning against the kitchen wall. His dark eyes bore in to her own, making her shift in frustration after a moment. "Miroku, please, did you mean it?" Her fingertips ghosted over his cheeks, and then his lips before she cupped his chin gently. "Miroku, aren't you going to say anything?" She didn't notice the fact that she used the exact same words he had moments ago, but he did.

And with slight, barely discernable, anger in his voice, as he answered. "No."

Kagome drew in a breath, in what might have been called a gasp if she had stopped to think about it, and moved until she was kneeling beside him. "No what, Miroku? No, you didn't mean it, or no, you won't answer me?"

A wry smirk curved his lips, and he reached up with both his hands, curling his fingers around her small wrists, before pulling them away, and then dropping them as if they had burned him. "Does it matter, Kagome-sama?" It was a lash to her heart, adding the -sama back to the end of her name. She blinked once, twice, lips parting slightly, small hands fisting in the semi-baggy pants of her pajama's, before turning burning blue-gray eyes up to his face. "I'm serious, Kagome-sama, does it even matter anymore? You've made it clear that you've no interest in this…" He paused, the smile pasted on his face containing no humor what so ever. "What ever the hell this is. So tell me, does it?"

Her breathing was growing shakier by the minute, with each precisely, cold word spoken. Fear prickled down her spine, and she ruthlessly fought it down. "Of course it matters, Miroku! I-I don't just…ugh…I don't know… I don't just say things because I can- I mean…" A frown crossed her face for a moment.

"I think you do sometimes, Kagome-sama…Now, if you'll excuse me, I'll leave you to your snack, and I shall go to bed." She was only able to stare after him as he pushed himself up, and strode away, blinking rapidly to clear the tears that were burning her eyes, and burning her vision. Oh gods, she had really screwed this up, hadn't she?

With slight disappointment, he noticed that she did not come after him.

Honestly, he had half hoped that she would stop him, but no, she didn't. And he refused to think about why. One thing was for sure though, he didn't know why he had reacted so, to her. Was it because he was still angered about the 'date' that he had went on that had been ruined (and he wasn't about to admit that he'd rather it hand been Kagome he had went out with) or was it the simple fact that she seemed to dance about anything, never giving him a straight answer.

Up in the safety of her room, Kagome took another bite of her bento, before sighing heavily, and setting her chopsticks down. She couldn't concentrate right now, even if it was on eating- she was still running over the conversation downstairs in her head. Was I really that stupid? She drew in a deep breath, and rested her cheek in her hand, chewing absently and then swallowing. I should go and apologize to him- shouldn't I? I was kinda…mean… it couldn't hurt to go and talk to him at the very least. Decision made, she pushed herself away from her desk, and opened the door, sliding out and then closing it with a soft 'click'. Her footsteps barely making any sounds, she headed toward the spare room that they had given him when he arrived, where she knew he was 'sleeping' (which she doubted, but she didn't know) and paused before it.

Should she knock? It was her house, but it was 'his' room at this current time. Her hand seemed to make the decision for her, as she gently turned the door handle, and pushed it open with a soft creak. The entire room was dark- well, duh, it is night…She added snidely in her mind. There was a bed-shaped blob in the far right corner, and then what she assumed was a Miroku-shaped lump on the blob. Turning around, inside the room and then closing the door, she fidgeted for a moment. I should really go. Shouldn't I? This is his room, and he's mad at me- but then, I'd be (more) mad at myself and…ugh! Slowly she walked over to his bed, and through the moonlight that was shining through a cracked open window, she noticed it was he sprawled out on the bed. He was still shirtless, she noted, heart pounding so loud, she was sure it would wake him up. His hair was out of its usual small horsetail in the back, and was now hanging freely from its bindings. Even now, she realized, I couldn't just stay mad at him forever. I can try, but…

It was then she almost lost her nerve, but when he shifted, and rolled on to her side, she froze. "I thought you were eating," He murmured softly, and even in the darkness, she could see him open his eyes, and stare hard at her. "But instead, you are wandering in to other people's rooms at night…Are you really that bored?" There was no mistaking the sharp, mocking tone in his voice, and it surprised him. He was taking it a bit… overboard, wasn't he?

"You're being a jerk." Kagome sighed, reaching up and running a hand through her hair. Silently, the houshi agreed with her. "I came in here to apologize."

He didn't move, or even acknowledge that she was there.

There was silence for a moment, and then the girl crossed her arms. "I'm sorry."

"Hm." Was his noncommittal grunt, before he rolled over grimacing slightly as the stitches pulled painfully, turning his back to her. "Goodnight then." What was he waiting for? What did he want from her?! She had already apologized to him once, and he just ignored her?

"Is that all then?" She hissed, stalking to the edge of the bed, and reaching out to grab at his shoulder, gently. "I apologized, Miroku! The least you could do is at least acknowledge it."

"I did, Kagome-sama." He taunted, eyes still closed.

"You're such a…a jerk!" Swallowing again, she fought down her anger. Was he doing this on purpose? She didn't doubt it- but if so, why? What did he want her to say? Did he want her to get on her knees and beg for his forgiveness? If that was true, he shouldn't hold his breath- there was no way that she would. "You- you're so insufferable sometimes, you could do with some personal growth." Her nails dug in to the tan skin of his shoulder, and he winced a bit.

"I've grown, Kagome-sama." He shot back, rolling back over with another grimace. "Perhaps it's you who needs to grow up a- repeat that, please?" His face had gone from angered to slightly amazed in a matter of seconds, after hearing her soft, hissed comment. "Kagome, repeat that."

Mortified beyond belief, she shook her head. This wasn't good- he wasn't suppose to hear that! Drawing back her hand quickly, she bit her bottom lip. "I didn't say anything, Miroku…I-I-I've got to go though…Goodnight." She turned around as quickly as she could, yelping in surprise when a large hand reached out and grabbed her own, pulling her back over to the bed. She hadn't heard him move, which surprised her, and when he grabbed her other hand as well, she tried to get away. "Miroku, please, let me go."

"No, Kagome, not until you say what you had said before." There was no trace of the former anger, now only bemusement and something else. "Kagome, I'm not going to let you go until you say it again."

"Why should I?! You obviously heard it the first time- so I needn't say it again." She tugged her hands, but couldn't seem to free them from his grasp. "Miroku, I'll scream rape." She wouldn't, but he didn't need to know that, she added silently.

"Kagome," Oh no. He had that grin on his face again. The perverted grin that meant that either someone (in this case, her) was going to get groped, or he was going to say something perverted to someone, (again, in this case her) so either way, it wasn't going to be something good, by any stretch of the imagination. "And Kagome, just so you know, it isn't rape, if the other person is willing." He tugged her twice, until her knees bumped against the edge of the bed, and he was eye level with her breasts. A flush rushed over her cheeks, embarrassment evident. "Say it, Kagome."

"I-I said that…that an erection doesn't count as personal growth." She shifted nervously, eyes lowering until her eyelashes brushed against her cheeks. That deep, rolling laughter startled her, and she met his amused eyes after a moment. "It's not funny!" She whined, being pulled slightly forward, until she was kneeling on the edge of the bed, rather precariously, she noted, as he moved back. "Miroku…I…"

He was still bare chested, she noted with a hard swallow. "Yes, Kagome?"

By this time they were both kneeling on the bed, her hands still clasped in his, him being slightly taller then her at that point. Mouth oddly dry, and heart pounding loudly again, Kagome made the mistake of looking up in to his dark eyes- before that smile flitted across his face, and his lips gently claimed her own. It wasn't as if she didn't enjoy his kisses, because, god she did, but it was the simple matter of fact, that one of these times…. She didn't fully know if she could stop.

Her hands were released from his grip, and of their own accord rest lightly on his shoulders, fingernails digging in to the beautifully tan skin, unconsciously registering that his tongue had swept over her bottom lip. And then he nipped gently at her, a low moan escaping him when she parted her lips and pressed against him, deliciously warm, and soft. He didn't quite know what made her so…so, addictive, but whatever it was, it was just that, addictive. He couldn't seem to get close enough to her, to touch her enough, to kiss her enough, and he didn't know if he ever would.

Kagome pulled back for air first, panting, eyes large in the darkness, entire body burning- even though his hands had remained firmly planted on her waist, thumbs stroking absently. "Miro…ku…" The whispered name was barely audible as she looked away, suddenly self-conscious. He tilted his head forward again, burying his head in her neck, placing gentle kisses on the bared skin, before licking and nipping and making her body lean against his so that her head was resting on his shoulder, breath sliding over his bare skin as she drew in deep breaths to calm herself. He wasn't helping though, the open-mouthed kisses making it hard for her to actually see straight. (Which, she mused absently, wasn't really a problem. She didn't really need to see right now. But it'd be nice.)

His hands were still on her waist, beads from the rosary digging in slightly as his grip tightened after a moment. But no, he wouldn't do that to her. He wouldn't lose control and do what he so wanted to- and for that, his hands had to remain where they were. Damn. But with each whispered moan that he was sure included his name, he came closer and closer to lifting his hands up, and seeing if she was just as soft as he believed she- no! Bad thoughts; wouldn't get him anywhere! (Um…well, besides where he wanted- didn't want to go.)

His self-control- which he had normally prided himself on having, was fraying, fraying, fraying, and then it was gone when she licked at his neck, moaned his name, and arched against him, inadvertently crushing her breasts against his chest. He was gone and hadn't stood a chance.

It was amazing how he went from gently kissing and holding her, to somehow twisting them so that they fell on to the bed, her under him, with a protesting squeak of the springs. They bounced once, and she let out a muffled giggle of surprise before he was covering her lips with his, sweeping his tongue through her mouth, and she didn't even care that she was suppose to be mad at him. Because she didn't even remember what they were fighting about anymore- he had that effect on people (women), and at this moment, she was enjoying it immensely. Heat wound through her body as she writhed under him, hands sliding over the broad planes of his muscled back, fingernails gently raking over the skin.

One of his hands slid down, pulling at the waistband of her pajama pants, work roughened fingertips brushing against her hip tantalizingly, eliciting a soft groan from the dark haired miko. Her legs slid up until they were bent at the knee, feet planted firmly, or as firmly as they could get in the rumpled bed-sheets, toes curling as he drew back for a breath, and then kissed her again. "Miroku…ah!" She gasped in surprise when the hand that had been at the waistband of her pants had crawled up, under her shirt, cold beads sliding over her stomach, and then running over her br-

"Oh gross."

Cold water seemed to pour over them, as he jerked his lips away, and turned his head, hoping against hope he wouldn't see Risa standing there waiting with a knife or some other object that could be used to cut off…needed things.... For 'molesting' her daughter. No, it wasn't Risa, but Souta who stood there, yawning, stretching, and wearing adorable little rocket-ship pajamas. "'Night." And he turned around, closed the door, and headed back to his room. Kagome laughed weakly, in relief and amazement.

"He was sleepwalking!" She tangled her fingers in his hair and pulled him down for a quick kiss on the lips. His eyebrows raised at her sudden change from emotion to emotion. "He does that sometimes, he sleepwalks, and even talks. It's usually funny, because you can carry on a conversation with him, and he's still asleep." She met his eyes, and sighed heavily. "But still…we can't…what if anyone else wakes up…and…You're a bad influence."

He laughed slightly, leaning to his left side, and falling down the inch or two to rest beside her, his cursed hand tugging up her shirt, and then sliding his fingers over the smooth skin. "I try." Kagome yawned in response; eyes drifting closed a bit. "I'm sorry." He murmured after a moment, studying her. And it was the truth. He was sorry, sorry for acting like a…jerk, as she had so aptly called him. "I was…"

Kagome yawned again, and shifted closer to him, not minding the hand that was stroking her stomach. "You were right, though…I'm stupid sometimes." Miroku moved beside her, propping himself up on his elbow so that he could look down on her.

"Only sometimes?" A grunt of pain followed. "That was mean, Kagome."

"I try."

"I believe it." They lay in comfortable silence for a moment longer, before he spoke again. "Your mother was watching the news earlier, and I noticed that you are warring with another lord…how do you go about that?"

Her eyes opened slightly, a small smile curving her lips. "He's not a lord, per se, but…oh never mind. But we have all sorts of things… We have guns, and missiles and tanks, and…. Lots of things…"

"I've heard of these guns, before…Do people in this age carry them around with them often? Like a samurai and his sword?"

It took her a moment to answer; she was falling asleep quickly. "N…no…" She yawned once more, and he grinned in the darkness. "It's…unlegal to do that." She moved closer to him, and smiled tiredly. "'Night." A kiss on the tip of her nose, and he bid her goodnight as well. She fell asleep quickly, tired out from everything that had happened so far. Miroku on the other hand, stayed awake a little while longer, watching the girl sleep, and wondering what in the hell he had gotten himself in to.

Kagome awoke slowly, savoring the warmth that seemed to blanket her. Miroku was still asleep, curled around her own small body, an arm around her waist, and a leg trapped between hers. Oh yes, she could get use to something like this. Her eyes flew open at the thought- she was getting use to this. The houshi behind her mumbled something that sounded like; "It's unlegal, though." and she grinned.

The priest woke up a few minutes later, pulling her closer, and pressing a kiss to her neck. "Good morning, Kagome." He murmured softly, nuzzling her gently. "Sleep well?"

"Yes…" She closed her eyes again. "Very well."

Kagome ran the sponge over the plate, scrubbing slightly, before running it under the water. She didn't hear Miroku come up behind her, but she did feel it when he laid a gentle hand on her shoulder. "I finished helping your grandfather with the shrine cleaning. Souta kept giving me odd looks." There was no mistaking the perverted lilt to his voice, and she rolled her eyes.

"Riight." Reaching in to get a piece of silverware she wasn't careful enough and paid for it. She let out a soft gasp of pain when her finger was cut on a knife, and she jerked her hand out of the hot soapy water. "Oh ow!" Kagome rinsed it off hurriedly, and popped it in her mouth, sucking gently. Miroku turned her around, concern flitting over his face. "Sorry, I just cut myself." She said, popping her finger back out of her mouth, and watching as the blood oozed slowly from the centimeter long cut on her index finger. "Jeeze, stupid knives." She flashed a smile to him, and shrugged. "I'd better go and get a bandage."

He followed silently as she trotted up the stairs, and then went in to the bathroom. He trailed after at a slower pace, and by the time that he had gotten in to the bathroom she was already standing on her tiptoes reaching for the Aid-Bands. Stepping behind her, he reached up and plucked them easily from the high shelf. Taking out a medium sized one from the box, he unwrapped it without much trouble, and she held her finger out, a light blush covering her cheeks. "Thanks…"

"You're welcome." That grin she had come to love and hate curved the lips she had come to love. "Can we…perhaps play doctor later?"

She hit him.

Group Info: This Round Robin competition is sponsored by the members of the MonkandMiko Yahoo! Group. A fanlisting of the Inuyasha pairing of Miroku/Kagome. The group features fanfiction, fanart, links, chat, contests, and social interaction with other Miroku/Kagome fans. To join: monkandmiko-subscribeyahoogroups.com or go to http:groups.yahoo. com/group /monkandmiko (you have to delete the spaces)

Next Author: Juju

Due Date: June 27, 2004