DISCLAIMER: I don't own Inuyasha and am in no way associated with its owners, so please don't sue me.
The night was rather cool, and Kagome and Miroku were sitting beside the fire in companionable silence, having finished their dinner an hour before. Shippou was already asleep, and Inuyasha was making a quick check of the surrounding woods.
"Kagome, would you bear my children?" Miroku asked suddenly.
She sighed. "I thought we went over this the other day."
Miroku gave her a look of innocent confusion. "At the time, I thought we had. But on second glance, it doesn't appear that you and Inuyasha are, in fact, together."
"What Inuyasha and I may or may not be doesn't have anything to do with what you and I are not."
"Come now, Kagome, give me a chance. After all, you are a beautiful woman, and I am certainly not bad looking." He gave her a charming smile.
"That has nothing to do with it."
Kagome suddenly found Miroku's hand on her bottom. She stiffened, and then took his wrist and firmly pushed it back towards him. She turned to face him, also putting her backside out of his reach.
"I was merely showing my…appreciation," he said.
"Yeah, well, women don't like being 'appreciated!'" Kagome snapped. Then she reined her temper in, her voice softening slightly. "Miroku, I'm sorry, but I'm not interested in you like that," she clarified. "But you know, I like you as a person, so why don't we just forget that this happened before Inuyasha—"
"This continues to puzzle me about you and Inuyasha. Why should he be so upset if you are not together?"
"None of your business! Inuyasha—Inuyasha…"
"Inuyasha what?"
"Is…behind you."
Inuyasha had materialized out of the darkness. With one hand he snagged the back of Miroku's robe and turned him around. Then Inuyasha grabbed the cloth just under his chin and lifted Miroku forcibly off the ground, pinning him up against a tree trunk.
"Look, monk," he said slowly. "I've got no problem with you traveling with us. In fact, you might even come in handy. But let's get this clear—if I ever see you lay a hand on Kagome again, I'm gonna break both your arms, tie you up from a tree, and leave you for wild dogs to fight over. Your Kazaana curse will be the least of your worries." He gave Miroku a shake. "You got that?"
Miroku nodded as best he could.
"Oh yeah, and mind your own business. Hmph." Inuyasha roughly let go of him and then jumped up into a tree above Kagome, his eyes never leaving Miroku, who was sprawled on the ground.
After a moment, Miroku collected himself, making his way back to the fire and sitting down a respectful distance away from Kagome.
"My deepest apologies, Kagome-sama," he said. "It seems we all understand each other now."
"Yes, Miroku-sama, it does." Then she gave him a small smile. "No hard feelings, but don't let it happen again?"