Sorry this update took so long folks. I swear it's not my fault. I was all, "So there's this cave, and its got a big feather bed, and a mirror on the ceiling, and Barry White is singing..." And they were all, "Doesn't it seem contrived?" And I thought Miroku would be all over Barry White (not to mention the feather bed) but nasty words got thrown around and the phrase 'deus ex machina' was used. Which was quite uncalled for, in my opinion. So I sulked, and typed extra slow.
But on the good side: there is a bit of a lemon/lime twist thing going on. (Honestly, I still haven't figured out the difference between lemons and limes. In fanfic I mean.) 'Cause you could write a tame Miroku/Kagome story, but - Why?
And for those who've been enthralled by the "Childhood Rhyme Saga": Apparently it's an actual poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. This knowledge was provided by the incomparable Sandra E. (genius).
There was a little girl, / Who had a little curl, / Right in the middle of her forehead. / When she was good, / She was very good indeed, / But when she was bad she was horrid.
Plus, I want to thank everyone who's reviewed. It really means a lot to me that you all are enjoying my story. And it keeps me coming back to the keyboard. (That, and the threats of creative torture - you crazy peoples you!)
And FYI: The next update probably won't occur until after Thanksgiving. Family coming in, etc., etc. And I think I'll be busy breeding. And running away from bunnies. (Is it just me or is there a weird connection there?)
Chapter Four: In which our hero gets desperate and an unexpected confrontation occurs.
It was his fault. He'd been cocky; arrogant even. Everything had been planned out so perfectly in his head. Certain bliss was only a few hours manipulating away. He should have known better. The universe loved to punish just this type of thinking. But eleven days? Did he really deserve eleven days of this torture?
Eleven days during which Kagome was never, ever alone. Eleven days with Miroku staring at her over campfires, watching her sleep, walking behind her to get a cheap thrill when a stray wind blew. She tried to find time for the two of them to be alone. Miroku knew that. Hell, after the first few days of dancing around Inuyasha, fearful he'd suspect something, Miroku started coming up with excuses himself.
But something always came up. An injured innocent would stumble into their midst. The demon they were hunting would suddenly appear. The area would be judged too dangerous for them to venture beyond earshot. That had been a particularly memorable occasion. Miroku had been forced to ramble on about the spirit world and how to harness its powers for over an hour. Even his not small ability for endless rambling had been stretched.
It had gotten so bad, Miroku was thinking of faking a serious injury. And he'd gotten irritable. He snapped at Inuyasha, was short with Sango. Only Shippou escaped his hostility, and that was because he was a child and Miroku had yet to stoop so low. So, when they were setting up a new campsite and Kagome volunteered for firewood collection, Miroku jumped at the opportunity like the desperate man he was. Never had anyone, in the history of the world, been so eager to collect firewood.
He followed her as they wandered from the campsite, waiting for something to go wrong. Inuyasha was going to call them back. They were going to stumble into a group of bandits. Sesshomaru was going to show up and spend hours enumerating the ways in which humans were inferior to demons.
Instead, the trees grew thicker, the shadows deeper, the shaded air cooler, and the only sounds were those of birds and small forest creatures busy with their own activities. Then Kagome stopped and propped her bow and arrows against a large craggy boulder. "Finally," she started to say. But he had her pressed up against the rock and was ravishing her mouth before she could say another word.
"Too," he panted when he came up for air, "long." He bit and sucked at her neck. "Too, damn, long."
Kagome said something that sounded like agreement, but truthfully he wasn't paying attention. His hands roamed over her body and he feverishly pushed himself against her stomach before he thought to pick her up. She locked her legs around his waist, and he ground into her, ignoring the almost painful friction caused by his clothing. Part of him was horrified by his lack of control, but the rest of him beat that part into submission and continued on with what he was doing. And then Kagome was pushing at him, pushing him away.
"Wait," she gasped. "Wait."
But he didn't want to wait. He wanted to have her right here, right now. So he kissed her, deep and hard, and slipped his hand under her skirt.
She pulled her mouth from his. "Please, Miroku. Please wait."
He stopped. His fingers tangled in her clothing, his forehead resting against hers. He was panting and throbbing and frustrated and suddenly sure that if he was Inuyasha, she'd be begging him to fill her.
And then his reason finally caught up with his passion. With a muttered curse, he sprang back away from her and she yelped as she fell to the ground. "Kagome," he said hoarsely, "I'm sorry. I don't...." 'I don't know what came over me,' was what he was going to say, but he knew exactly what had come over him. And he knew that he'd probably do it again under similar circumstances.
"I'm sorry," he said again, because that was all he could say. "I... I'll go."
"Miroku, wait." Kagome pushed herself to her feet, wincing as she did so, and he was flailed with guilt.
"I hurt you!" He was going to turn himself over to Inuyasha. The half-demon would be sure to come up with an appropriate punishment.
"Yeah, a little," Kagome said with a pout. "That boulder isn't exactly smooth you know."
Miroku looked more closely at the rock he'd been pushing Kagome up against. It was cratered and barbed and pock marked with age. Nothing anyone would lean against by choice. He hadn't even noticed, or more accurately, cared. It shocked him how quickly and easily he'd completely lost all self-control.
"Kagome, I offer you my most sincere apologies, and if you wish to end our arrangement, I will understand." He'd probably have to spend a week in a large village with plenty of strong drink and morally open-minded women to get her out of his system, but he'd understand.
"Boy, you really know how to turn on the drama. It's just a few bruises." Kagome gingerly dusted off her bottom and grinned at him. "I'm not letting you go that easily."
Miroku smiled wanly back at her. She didn't know how close he'd been to not stopping, to just taking what he wanted. And, coward that he was, he didn't want her to know. He knew he should tell her. He should end their strange relationship immediately. But he was weak. And apparently addicted.
"- gone for a full week. So Inuyasha's been trying to distract me. Like it's that easy to fool me. Plus, he's not really strong in the sneaky department." Kagome giggled up at him. "That's your speciality."
"You are quite gifted at being sneaky too," Miroku said while trying to figure out what she'd been saying. "You'll be gone for a week?"
"Yeah. Finals." Kagome made a face. "And you know, I think I might actually prefer the blood-thirsty demons, but -," she spread her hands out in a 'what can you do?' gesture.
"When do you have to leave?"
"Tomorrow."
Oh yeah. The universe was laughing its ass off.
"But we're alone now." Kagome stepped closer to him and tangled her fingers in his robe. "And I was thinking... maybe we could have our own little private goodbye party." She looked up at him with large innocent eyes.
"Party?" Miroku cupped her cheek with his hand, running his thumb over her soft plump lips. He lowered his head. "I've got a party in mind," he murmured as his lips started to touch hers.
"Kagome? Where are you?" Sango's shout rang through the woods.
Miroku jerked his head up, and Kagome stared up at him ruefully. "I'm over here Sango," she called out.
Reluctantly, Miroku stepped away from her and headed back to the camp. He barely suppressed a glare as he passed Sango.
"What's wrong with him?" he heard Sango ask. So he must not have suppressed as well as he thought.
He was sitting at the campsite, glowering into the empty fire pit, when Sango and Kagome returned, each with an armload of firewood they piled by the pit. Sango took one look at him, rolled her eyes and settled (rather childishly he thought) away from him to begin building the fire. Shippou, who'd been strangely subdued with just Miroku and Inuyasha for company, scampered over to her side and began giving helpful advice.
Kagome, however, marched right over to where Inuyasha was sitting. She planted her feet and put her hands on her hips. Everyone waited breathlessly for the battle to begin. The half-demon didn't even look up.
"Inuyasha," Kagome said in a dangerously quiet tone.
"No."
The spectators gave a collective gasp.
Kagome's eyes blazed. "What did you just say?"
Inuyasha finally looked up, eyes equally fierce, and Miroku decided that he'd had enough. He sprang to his feet and strode over to Kagome. All eyes at the campsite were now fixed on him, and he didn't give a damn.
"As entertaining as this showdown is," he said as he grabbed Kagome by her upper arm, "we all know how it's going to end."
"What the hell do you think you're doing, monk?" Inuyasha's expression was a strange combination of rage and bewilderment, but Miroku found that he could care less.
"I'm cutting through the crap." He grabbed Kagome's bag and threw it over his shoulder. "Sango, I assume that Kagome may use Kirara to return to the well?"
"Oh!" Sango glanced at Inuyasha, but he was still staring at Miroku. "Yes. Of course." Before she'd even finished giving her permission, Kirara had morphed from cute little kitten demon into giant battle cat.
Miroku leapt onto Kirara's back, dragging Kagome up behind him. "Then I'll see you all in a couple of days." He could feel Kirara's muscles gathering and with a powerful spring she launched into the air.
He concentrated on hanging on as the demon sprinted steeply up through the trees, and then they were moving at an impossible speed, far above the forest. He thought he heard a distant shout from Inuyasha. He'd be paying for his actions when the half-demon caught up with him, but as Kagome tightened her arms around him, he decided it'd been worth it. And if he had allowed their little drama to play out in its usual fashion, Inuyasha would have ended up eating dirt. Miroku would have to remind him of that fact when the inevitable confrontation occurred.
Kagome pressed her body more tightly against his, and he could feel her shaking. Suddenly worried that he'd hurt her with his aggressive manhandling, Miroku started to twist around, but Kirara chose that moment to slow to a more sustainable loping pace, and he could hear Kagome laughing. Relieved, he settled into a more comfortable position, keeping Kagome's bag and his staff securely in front of him. His irritation finally slipped away and he found himself joining in Kagome's laughter.
When they finally arrived at Lady Kaede's, dusk had deepened into night, brightly lit by the moon hanging heavily above them. Lady Kaede met them at the door, clearly surprised to see them, and also clearly about to leave.
"Toshi has gone into labor," she said after they'd finished greeting one another. "This will be her first child. I shall be gone all night I expect." Lady Kaede looked grimly at Miroku as she said this, and he had to fight back a cheeky grin. It wouldn't do to provoke the woman, tempting as that thought might be.
"Kagome," she said, not taking her good eye off the young monk, "I seem to have left my bag of medicinal herbs inside. Will ye fetch it for me?"
Kagome went obediently into the house, her yellow bag on one shoulder. Kirara stretched sleepily and leapt to the roof of the house where she obviously planned on keeping watch in Inuyasha's absence. As soon as they were both gone, Miroku felt the full weight of the priestess' glare. In response he assumed his most bland countenance.
She gave a huff of annoyance. "Ye are playing a dangerous game, boy."
Miroku added mild confusion to his expression.
"Oh, aye. Ye have me fooled. As innocent as a new-born kitten ye are." Her words dripped with sarcasm.
With a grin, Miroku dropped his act. "I was innocent at one time."
"That I doubt." Lady Kaede stepped toward him and lowered her voice. "That girl you're playing with IS innocent." She shook her finger at him. "Ye will see to it that she stays innocent. Or ye will learn that there is power yet in this old body." She emphasized her words with a strong poke.
Exasperated, Miroku stepped out of her reach. "I am not playing with Kagome," he said in a fierce whisper. "Anything we do is done on her terms and at her bidding."
"A weak excuse. Passion can quickly sweep a young girl off her feet and down a path she did not mean to travel." Lady Kaede folded her arms and somehow managed from her lesser height to stare down at him. "Ye know this. Ye have taken advantage of this a time or two I would wager. Ye will not do so now."
"I don't -, I won't -, It's not -, Arrgh!" Miroku turned away from the priestess' piercing stare and clutched at his staff convulsively. "I have sworn to myself that I will not allow her to be hurt," he said quietly as he stared into the deep shadows of the encroaching forest. "I will do as I have vowed."
He could feel Lady Kaede staring at him, and the moment seemed to go on forever. "Good," she said finally. "I will not send Seki to act as chaperon."
Miroku stiffened, and had to struggle to keep an attitude of complete calm. Seki was a widow from the village with whom he'd had a certain understanding. And though he hadn't been to visit her for several months now, the thought of introducing her to Kagome was not a pleasant one. A quick glance at Lady Kaede confirmed that she knew exactly how awkward such a scenario would be.
A hint of his distress must have shown because Lady Kaede's lips drew up into a tight smile. "We understand each other then." She turned toward the house. "Kagome? I have my bag right here, child." With a last glance at Miroku she headed out into the night.
Miroku watched her until she disappeared behind some trees. Who knew the old woman could be so evil? But he did mean what he'd told her. He was not going to hurt Kagome, so he had nothing to worry about. Nothing at all. And no, he was not trying to convince himself. Chuckling dryly, he removed his sandals and entered the house.
The room was ablaze with light. Anything that could be lit was lit. Kagome was searching in the corner where Lady Kaede kept her herb and plant collections, all in various stages of preparation. She looked up from where she was kneeling, a frown of frustration on her face. "I can't find her bag anywhere," she said to Miroku.
"Lady Kaede had it with her. She's already left."
Kagome blinked up at him. "Oh," she said, and just like that the atmosphere changed.
Miroku had been in Lady Kaede's house many times; sometimes injured, usually tired, often recovering from one battle and preparing for another. Plots against Naraku had been planned here. Discussions on what Naraku might be planning against them had gone on late into the night and often into early morning here. He had relaxed here, laughed here, and flirted here. He'd been here more than anywhere else, except for maybe Mushin's old shack. In many ways this place was his home. But this was the first time the comfortingly familiar cottage had felt so charged, practically crackling with life.
The full heat of summer had yet to bear down, but Miroku now felt impossibly hot. He could feel sweat trickling down his chest and he impulsively threw off his outer robes. Kagome gasped and he could see a look of panic in her eyes. She was rubbing her palms on the rough material of her skirt, and her leg muscles were twitching. Realizing that they'd never been this alone before and suddenly afraid she would bolt, Miroku stopped himself from stripping down to his waist, and instead kneeled down in front of her.
Taking her hands in his, he looked deeply into her eyes, willing her to see his sincerity. "We will only go as far as you wish, Kagome," he said. Then, remembering Lady Kaede's words, he added, "We will not have intercourse."
To his relief, Kagome laughed suddenly. "Thank you Mr. Spock," she said. Which made no sense at all. "And if you ever use the word 'intercourse' about us again I'll... I'll..." He could see her mind ticking, trying to come up with a suitable punishment. "I'll tickle you to death!" she shouted gleefully and then she pounced.
She was actually very good at the tickling, and Miroku writhed around desperately, trying to protect himself and get her into a vulnerable position. But she moved like water, flowing from one spot to another, somehow always managing be in the most advantageous place. Finally, breath almost gone, Miroku was forced to concede defeat.
"Yes!" Kagome rolled off of him and onto her knees, raising her arms in victory. "The one and only World Champion!" she crowed.
Miroku lay on his back, and smiled up at her. Her thick black hair had gotten tangled during their battle, her cheeks were flushed and her eyes sparkled. "You are so beautiful," he said quietly.
Kagome started and stared down at him. "I... um... thank you. You're beautiful too."
Miroku grinned. "Thanks. Actually, what I am is hot. Do you mind?" He gestured towards his white kosode, and when Kagome nodded, he shimmed out of the top portion, leaving it to hang around his waist and returning to his supine position on the floor. Kagome gazed down at his bare chest, and the look in her eyes took his breath in a completely different way from the tickle fight.
She reached out tentatively and softly stroked his skin, running her hand over the planes of his stomach, tracing the outline of his pectoral muscles. Miroku concentrated on not groaning, clenching his fists to keep himself from reaching for her. Kagome scooted closer to him and brought her other hand into play. A frown of concentration settled on her face and she touched him more aggressively now, like she wanted to familiarize herself with every inch of his upper body.
She ran a finger down his side. "Where'd you get this scar?"
Miroku hoisted himself up on his elbows and looked down at where she was stroking him. "Boar demon."
"And this one?"
"Bandit."
"This one?"
"Ah yes. Fell out of a tree."
Kagome giggled quietly. "How old were you?"
"Six." Miroku sat further up.
"A little young to be climbing trees," Kagome said.
"Well, I was always precocious."
Kagome smiled a little. "I'll bet." She sank back to sit on her heels and licked her lips nervously. "You know, I'm... I'm a little hot too." She bit her lip, and Miroku wanted nothing more than to kiss her until she had no air left. But then she gripped the bottom of her blouse and with a look of total determination began to lift it up.
Miroku was not used to a woman's body being revealed in this manner. Usually the shoulders were bared first, and then the upper slopes of the breasts, and then the breasts themselves, and then the waist. Though usually he was concentrating on the breasts by then. But this way the first thing he saw was the curve of Kagome's waist, and the smoothness of her stomach as she stretched up, and he promised himself that he would kiss and nibble and tongue her bellybutton. And then he saw...
"Oh," he said, desperately searching for the right word. "Blue."
Only blue wasn't right. It was blue, but also white and frothy and like sea foam on a perfect, wind tossed, summer day. And it was like this wonderful confection was made to frame the beauty of Kagome's breasts, and to hold them in the best possible position, and tease and torment him with brief glimpses of what was underneath.
So this was a bra. He'd felt it before of course, through her clothing. But feel alone could not reveal the magic inherent in this clothing invention. Whoever came up with this was a genius of the highest order.
Kagome had removed her blouse and was watching him with a small smile. Miroku had the feeling that he was grinning like an idiot, but could not for the life of him, figure out how to stop. Or really why it was important that he stop. He reached out cautiously, terrified that she would change her mind. But she didn't, and so he traced the line of the bra along the slopes of her breasts, and then stoked the material itself, barely aware of Kagome's gasp as he did so. He was exploring the different textures; rough in some places, smooth in others. Which was not like bras he'd felt on her in the past. Which led to the happy conclusion that she had more than one of these things and there were probably different colors and maybe someday she'd show them all to him. Preferably by wearing them. One at a time of course.
But then he wanted to see what was so cleverly hidden, so he slipped the tiny little straps off of Kagome's shoulders. The bra didn't move. A frown formed on his face as he tried to push the rest of the bra down and it resisted his attempts. Kagome was giggling, which did interesting things to her breasts and quite frankly added to his frustration. Shifting closer to her, he pulled and tugged on various parts, but nothing seemed to be working. Kagome was out right laughing now. Okay, so whoever had invented this thing was obviously an EVIL genius. Dark magic had definitely been used.
Finally Kagome took pity on him. "There's a clasp in the back," she said with a wide smile.
With a grunt of acknowledgment for her directions, he leaned over her shoulder and examined the clasp back there. It was a small but complicated pair of hooks that needed to be pushed closer together in order to initiate their release. But Miroku was good with puzzles like these so he was able to unsnap the clasp fairly quickly. Sitting back he smiled at Kagome, pleased with his victory. Then she shrugged her shoulders and the bra slipped down her arms and he forgot how to breathe.
"Kagome," he whispered, "you're beautiful."
She fidgeted under his gaze. "You said that already."
"I need to say it more." Miroku reached out and pulled her into his arms, pressing her against his chest, delighting in the feel of her skin against his. He traced his fingers down the smooth skin of her back, her hair providing inky contrast to its creamy paleness. And he murmured in her ear, "You're so beautiful, you're so beautiful, you're so beautiful," until she stopped him with a kiss.
When they broke for air they were lying on the floor, Miroku on top of her, pressed between her thighs and it would have been so easy for him to take her over the edge of this precipice, but he'd made a promise, to Lady Kaede, to Kagome, and to himself. So he pulled back and took her hand and let her feel what she did to him. And he showed her the pleasure of touch; what she could do for him, what he could do for her. And he learned that there were so many ways Kagome could say his name, and that he loved every single one of them.
Finally, they lay replete on the cottage floor, sweat drying in the gentle breeze, moonlight streaking across their skin. They'd garnered enough energy to pull out bedding and extinguish the lights. And now they lay together quite comfortably; Kagome's head pillowed on Miroku's shoulder, his fingers drifting absently up and down her arm.
"Do you want to know the weirdest thing?" Kagome asked quietly.
"What?"
"I still have my socks on." She ran her foot along his calf as demonstration and laughed tiredly.
Miroku chuckled. "Go to sleep my crazy girl," he said and kissed the top of her head.
Kagome snuggled more tightly into him and obediently fell off to sleep. Miroku, however, stayed up quite late, listening to her breathing, thumbing the prayer beads wrapped around his hand, and wondering if he knew what the hell he was doing.
Early the next morning he escorted her to the bone-eaters well and they stood there awkwardly, both of them tired and a little shy. Kagome idly swung her bag and Miroku spun his staff. Neither of them would meet the other's eyes and so they took turns sneaking surreptitious glances at each other.
Miroku was feeling odd about the 'my girl' comment he'd made last night. It had slipped out so easily, but he knew he had no right to use those particular words together. Not about Kagome. His one consolation was that she'd probably been to close to sleep to really hear what he'd said.
He wasn't certain what was bothering Kagome, but he guessed that it had to do with how uninhibited she'd been the night before. It was one thing to fool around a little with someone. It was another thing entirely to allow them to see you clutched in the throes of passion, begging them not to stop. He smiled to himself a little at the memory. He'd always been very good with his hands. But this awkwardness was getting tiresome, and maybe he should remember that he was the experienced person here and start acting a little more maturely.
"I'll tell Lady Kaede you were sorry to have missed her," he said.
Kagome looked over at him. Finally. "I hope the birth is going all right," she said with only a slight blush.
"Oh, I'm sure it is," Miroku said reassuringly. It wasn't like she could change anything if it wasn't. "Sometimes it just takes a while."
"Yeah." Kagome looked back down and tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. "I really, really do not want to go," she said quietly.
"These tests you talked about, they're important aren't they?"
"Oh yeah. Very important. Scarily important."
"Then you need to go."
Kagome sighed nosily. "I know, I know. Geesh. You're like my Mom." Then she blushed. "I mean, not like my Mom. NOTHING like my Mom. 'Cause, eww."
Miroku laughed and Kagome laughed with him and it was like there had never been a moments awkwardness between them. "I'll miss you," Miroku said, and Kagome looked pleased.
"Me too. I wish you could come with me. You would love the modern era. All those short skirts and pushup bras; your head would explode."
And Miroku wasn't quite sure why he'd love his head exploding, though pushup bras sounded promising. But then he was distracted by Kagome's smirk. "What?"
"I'm just trying to picture you in jeans. It's... a nice picture." Her eyes went a little distant and a dreamy smile settled on her face.
He had no idea what jeans were, but the idea seemed to please Kagome, so he went with it. "So while you're gone, you get to picture me in jeans and I'll get to picture you in -,"
"If you say underwear I'll totally loose respect for your creativity," Kagome interrupted.
" - in the silks of a princess," Miroku concluded sanctimoniously, as though that was what he going to say all along.
"Ooh. Good save." She did not seem to be buying the sanctimonious act. "So we both have our missions," Kagome added with mock seriousness.
"We'll meet here in one week to discuss our achievements," Miroku declared.
"Yes, sir!" Kagome did an odd stiff handed gesture, then sat on the well ledge and swung around so her feet dangled inside the well. "See you in a week! And if Inuyasha complains, just tell him... Oh, tell him whatever you want." She pushed off the ledge, was enveloped in a misty blue light, and just like that, she was gone.