Warnings: This is rated "R" for a little adult content, possible horror and language. Be mindful and turn back now if you might be offended.
Legal: I don't own Inu-Yasha... but I wouldn't mind if I did... if you know what I mean... ha ha ha... oh... never mind.
Only They Know: Dreams of Times Past
By Gabreilla Moushigo
He lay quietly for a long time with Kagome at his side, her eyes were closed as she rested soundly. He smiled smugly at that, knowing he was the reason behind her deep sleep. He shut his eyes, dreaming of the days past, remembering all those wonderful days that they were together. He knew that they would have to get up in a couple ours to rejoin the group... but for now... he just lay there... and thought... and dreamed.
He remembered when Inu-Yasha and Kikyo tried to send Kagome home… he remembered everything. They told her that they no longer needed her help. Kikyo sealed the well, telling her that if she went back, she would be trapped there forever. They knew, that she would return. How could she leave her family behind, when she had nothing left here for her? Kikyo wanted her to leave because it made her feel unneeded in her own time. Inu-Yasha wanted her to leave for her own safety. He could not look at her anymore; her face carried too many happy memories… happy memories that were taken away long before their time.
Either way, they had left her back at Kaede's hut, not bothering to offer Miroku a part in their group either. Making him feel worthless as well. He was a human, and while his curse proved useful, they did not need him, he was weak. He did not want to leave with them though, would not have even if they had asked. His place was by Kagome, as it always had been. He couldn't help but feel a little miffed though, but he was equally upset for Kagome.
Miroku watched her silently, as she just stared out into the doorway for what seemed like an hour. Inu-Yasha and Kikyo were long gone… they were not coming back. Inu-Yasha was not coming back. She got up slowly, her hands reaching for her heavy bag. She sniffled a little, her heart breaking. He stiffened a little at the sight, 'Oh… to be the man to mend her fractured heart.' He had thought. If it had been up to him, it would be him, would've been him from the beginning. There were just too many things in the way… too many hurts… and her love for Inu-Yasha… Miroku wondered when he started considering Kagome so important to him… and then he realized… 'Since forever ago.' He thought with a smile, watching her beautiful face in a perpetual frown. 'Since we first met.'
Kagome looked at him, her frown leaving and forming a sad smile. She walked to the door and he followed, like a lovesick kitten, he would follow her forever. They finally came to the well, that… terrible well.
"I guess it's true… they did place a seal on it." She must have felt the magical power behind it too.
"Yes." He was the one to frown now. She placed her hand on the lip of the well and his heart started crashing against his chest painfully. He had to know. "Kagome…" Miroku breathed, feeling that there were no more reasons for pleasantries. He loosely remembered not putting the –sama at the end of her name. "Are you… leaving?" his voice quivered, but he hoped she didn't notice.
"Yes Miroku…" She sighed, her breath visible in the cold night air. "Without Inu-Yasha… I have nothing here…" She glanced at him with her saddened, guilt-ridden face.
'That's not true.' Miroku thought sadly, not speaking his thoughts aloud. "I see."
"I'm going to go home now…" She said, looking at his stony face, his lips were pressed in a fine line. She wondered what he was thinking. "I guess this is good-bye, huh?" She put on a happy face for his benefit, reaching out to hug him. It was a lighthearted embrace. "You be good… alright?" She clucked her tongue, trying to retain the cheerful air about her, hoping that in some way it would make their parting easier. "No perverted monk stuff."
Before he could blink she was on the well edge, dipping her feet into the seemingly unending pit. He didn't understand what snapped in his brain at that moment, but he just knew that he could not let her leave. He was on top of her in a moment, just as she was pushing herself off the lip. He grabbed at her arms, ripping one of her sleeves in his effort to keep her from falling. He did manage to get a firmer grasp on her other arm and literally dragged her up and threw her onto the ground, him following suit.
She almost gasped as he clasped onto her so tightly, his arms bands of steel around her body as his whole being seemed to shiver in some strange unknown emotion.
"What about me?!" He wailed into her ear, making her cringe. "What about me?" He said softer.
The heartbreak in his voice was so pitiful she could barely stand it. "Miroku?" His face was buried in her neck; she could not see his expression.
"Don't leave me!" His grasp on her hardened even more, "I have nothing left… no one…" he knew he sounded like a whiney child, but he couldn't help it. What was he supposed to do? Let her go? Let her leave him all alone? He felt selfish in a way, wanting her to give up her life and stay with him. "Please Kagome…" his eyes sought her understanding, his violet gaze locking with her blue eyes. "Please don't go." He watched as his eyes clouded with unimaginable sadness.
"Miroku… I-" Kagome looked away, not sure how to begin.
Sensing her hesitation, he began to worry. Then he did the only thing he could do, bargain. "If you are worried about living here…" he blurted, "I can take care of you." His mind raced of with things to say before she made up her mind. "You'll never have to do anything Kagome… I'll make sure you have everything you need, you have no reason to worry." At her skeptical look. "You wouldn't!" He exclaimed. "You do not need Inu-Yasha, I can take care of you just as well… no… even better!" At her blush he realized quickly how intimate his proposal must have sounded. He tried to cover it up quickly, his eyes darting this way and that. "I-I mean that you wouldn't have to worry about where your next meal came from… or where you would sleep at night…"
Her eyes narrowed on him. "And where would I be sleeping at night?" She knew he was referring to his innate ability to find free lodging with any village with an… "ominous cloud" hanging overhead… still she couldn't help but taunt him, just a bit.
He chuckled a little, loosening his crushing hold on her just slightly. "With me of course!" He teased, nuzzling her. "One night with me and you'll never want to go home again… or Inu-Yasha." He ground that name out like a curse.
"That's it… I'm so leaving!" Kagome fumed, smiling all the while, her heart started to feel a little lighter. It was so strange… being able to laugh like this again… how did he do it?
His vice like grip was once more in full effect. "Please Kagome-sama… I would never do anything that you wouldn't want me to… besides…" he reasoned. "We could travel together… protect the innocent, hm?" He tried appealing to her helpful side. "There are still many demons lurking around… even after we destroy Naraku…" he faltered seeing her face almost wither in pain at the mention of that horrid demon's name. "I-I'm sorry Kagome."
"No… no… you are right Miroku." She said, looking into his eyes. "I am needed here still… if not for everyone else's sake… for yours. Anyways… what good would it do if I did try to jump back in that well and I couldn't go through it… or worse… if I couldn't come back and make sure you were ok?" Her smile was a sad one.
He felt a bit guilty, but he couldn't help but want her to stay… but… was it all right? "Kagome…" The sun was setting quickly, his breath crackled in the wind. His eyes started shimmering as his words were all but inaudible, but she knew, she understood. "Thank you Kagome."
"It's nothing." She blushed. "Well…" She thought again, "you could show your thanks by getting me some new clothes."
He gasped mockingly, his tears all but dried up in his humor. "A priestesses trying to… b-black mail me? Lady Kagome… I am appalled… and for clothes too." But in his mind he already begun thinking of the clothes that she would need.
"I know this might sound strange to you Miroku…" Kagome began, "but if we are going to start anew…"
"Yes Kagome?" eager to please he smiled.
"Would you please…" she smiled sweetly, "GET OFF OF ME?!" she wailed, blowing his hair back.
"Oh… uh…" Then realizing their position, finally. "No." His face took on an evil, lecherous light. "I think I like this actually." He then had the audacity to rub himself against her, causing her face to turn a horrid tomato red.
"MIKOKU!" She shrieked, looking beyond him.
"Huh?" was all he could get out before-
CRACK!
Kagome's worried face was the last thing he saw.
Mumbling "Hm?" The back of his head screamed in pain. 'Voices?' He decided to be quite and listen before he made any moves.
"How was I supposed to know?" A masculine voice drawled.
"You big jerk!" A woman's voice, his eyes opened painfully wide, Kagome's voice! "You could've asked…" then she said in a conspiratorial tone. "But thanks for saving me all the same."
She was talking with one of the men from the village. "K-Kagome?"
Her eyes leapt onto him. "Miroku?" She was at his side in a moment. "It's ok… you were just hit over the head… I don't think he cracked your skull or anything."
'Oh… that makes everything better.' He thought bitterly.
"Let me get you something to take care of the pain." Kagome busied herself trying to find something in her bag. He took special note that the clothes she wore were still ripped - he frowned at that.
His mind wandered to right before he was clobbered over the head. He actually tackled Kagome, he thought with a raw smile. That little short thing she wore around her waist… pushed up around her hips. Her legs bent back and nearly wrapped around his middle, seeking comfort in their compromised position. His arms wrapped around her, trapping her arms to her sides. Her shirt ripped… 'Ah… it was a lovely thought.' He sighed.
"What are you sighing about?" Kagome's eyes once again narrowed, unfortunately knowing him all too well. "Your getting that perverted twinkle in your eyes again… you better be good" she warned. "Or I might have to leave your sorry behind and go back home!" She yelled, but still tenderly treated his wounds, yes, he was a pervert, but he was the only one she had left.
"I will." He promised, his thoughts being stored away in his memory for another time. "Do you not have anything else to wear Kagome?"
"Would I have asked you for clothes if I did?" She said, wrapping the bandage snugly, but not too tight. "Feel better now?"
"Hmmm… yes." He hefted himself up slowly. "Surprisingly better." He gave her the benefit of a smile, even though his head still ached a bit. He took her hand in his and rubbed it quietly.
"Miroku?" She questioned, watching him draw close circles on her skin.
"Are you ready to start over?" He said, a hush of excitement in his voice. She knew he was glad that she decided to stay with him. He continued to rub her hand, then her fingers. "It's just you and me this time, Kagome." With that, he kissed her palm.
She was nothing but tender to him afterwards, he was the center of her world. Oh, she thought of the others all the time… thought about Inu-Yasha… but she was still his… and he was still hers. They were together… and depended on each other for comfort and care.
"What are you smiling about Miroku darling?" Kagome asked.
He opened his eyes to see her grinning, her fingers playing with his hair. "About when I asked you to stay." He said simply, but she knew what he meant.
"I'm glad I did… though I didn't think so at the time." She laughed a little.
He ran his hand down her back, tracing gentle circles there. "Leave me to my thoughts." He admonished. "You should sleep a while." He kissed her forehead tenderly. "It should be a long day tomorrow… and I will not have you tired."
"You can't order me around." She said sleepily.
"Of course not." He purred. "But unless you want me to ride you to exhaustion again…" He laughed. "You better go back to sleep."
"Ugh." She mumbled, burring her face in the crook of his neck. "Alright… alight." She yawned and settled.
After her breathing evened out, he began thinking again of the past… with a smile.
Kagome walked beside Miroku in compatible silence, on a trip to only God knew where. She fell a few steps behind him, watching his back for a moment, thinking. He was certainly acting strangely, almost happy. Of course he was happy she stayed, but he was almost too happy. While it seemed like forever ago, it had barely been a week since they had left Kaede's, one week since the well was sealed and one week since Inu-Yasha walked out of their lives.
"Hrm." Miroku cleared his throat; she waited for him to say something, anything. Where they were going, what they were going to do. Nothing. Ah well.
She fingered her new clothing, the robes of a priestess, just like Kik-
"Don't think about it too much Kagome." Miroku cautioned.
'Did I said that out loud?' She thought to herself.
Seeing her confused face, Miroku already knew what to say. "I think that they suit you… besides… lots of priestesses wear them." He stopped, turning to face her. "Don't worry, we will probably meet a lot of priestesses along our journey, soon…" He stated with a smile. "You won't think of it at all." He deliberately left out Kikyo's name, she realized.
She gave him a faint smile back, knowing that the less they said her name, the less that she would think about it. 'Maybe one day… I will forget…' During their trip together Kagome often wondered how he knew what she was thinking about. How did he know what went through her head, and to be so sure of himself that he would voice these opinions out loud? She squinted at his back again, 'I wonder if he is some kind of mind reader.' She thought, 'I bet he is… how else could he-'
He turned his head back to look at her. "You're thinking again…"
"How did you know?" She wailed, stomping up to him, matching him stride for stride.
"Well… every time you think you fall behind… and then you get these looks on your face." He grinned. "Of course, you always used to do that when we were traveling around with our friends."
'He noticed all that?' She thought, careful to walk by his side lest he realize she was thinking again. 'I wonder what he was doing, looking at me like that all the time?'
"I always liked wat-" he stopped in mid sentence. "Here were are." He smiled gleefully, tapping his staff that he carried on the ground. The rings giving a resounding jingle.
"Miroku…" She started, "What did you mean-?" then she stopped, watching his curious movements. "What are you doing?"
He started pacing towards a tree, giving long deliberate strides, then, what seemed like fancy, he started walking to the right, this time he took very short steps. "You'll see!" He promised, his happy voice ringing.
She followed him skeptically for minutes, and then he stopped, she almost ran into the back of him it was so fast. He tapped his staff on the ground again, with a resounding THUNK! She could swear that the ground was hollow. "Here it is!" He announced happily leaning down until his knees touched the ground; he got his hands dirty, digging up this small box. "You see?" He opened the box, all sorts of currency was laid right before her eyes.
"Oh!" She looked impressed for a moment, then realized she didn't know how much anything was worth during this place and time. "Is it a lot?"
"Oh yes." He laughed at her ignorance. "And I have many more… "stashes" where this came from." He sighed, placing the small box into his robes. "Let's start making camp." He patted the place where the box was, "Tomorrow, we can stay at an inn."
He got up finally, after all his thoughts came to a close for now. Those were some of the best times in his life. She was so beautiful… so generous and kind. She followed him everywhere… and always made sure that she had everything she wanted or needed. He liked spoiling her like that. She was his precious darling, 'The mother of my children.' For a moment he felt sad, but quickly pushed it away. There would be more time to think about that later. Ever since he ridded himself of the curse, he finally found that they had all the time in the world, or so he thought. "Kagome." He nudged her a little. She complained a little, not wanting to move. For a moment, he didn't want to disturb her, then thought better of it. "Kagome… wake up." He kissed the top of her hair. Her eyes slowly opened. "Time to go back to our friends." And… she smiled.
Happy day! Another chapter! The next chapter will be very short! Sorry - but it should be up at the same time as this one. While I've got an idea of where I want to go with this story… I'm still trying to figure out what the climax of the story will be… and how long I want to drag this out for… hmmmm…. I still have a lot of content I want to write about…
Oh! (bonks her head) I decided not to write the prequel! I just decided to take what I wrote in the other story and incorporate it into this one in the form of dreams and thoughts. I'm sure you've noticed that though hehe.
I'm not sure how many lemons I want to write for this story yet… I like them… but I don't want the story to drown in them if you know what I mean. (Laughs) I noticed that too many lemons can be just as irritating as too few.
Anyways! Hope you liked it.