Warnings: This is rated R… youngins' not allowed (puts the bars up)
Disclaimers: I don't own Inu-Yasha… and I never will… yay! On with the story!
Only they Know: Confessions of Love
By Gabreilla Moushigo (aka Aeki Muffinhands)
It was nearing nightfall and they were all tired. Somehow… Kagome knew she was going to have to sleep on the ground again. She groaned. 'What I wouldn't do for a nice bath… and a soft bed.' The rest of the group probably thought the same thing, except for Inu-Yasha, who preferred the company of trees to anything else.
"Looks like there is a village up ahead." Inu-Yasha observed with his keen eyesight, everyone saw a little bit of wispy smoke, maybe coming from a fire, or a chimney if they had such things. They couldn't see the village themselves… but if he could...
Then suddenly, Kagome had an idea, she couldn't help but hide a snicker before she turned to Miroku. "Dearest Miroku," She began, mocking their doubles. He smiled at that, realizing her joke, as did Miro-sama and Kago-chan.
"Yes Kagome darling?"
"I do believe that there is an ominous cloud hanging over that village!" She declared seriously, actually keeping her face strait for once.
"Oh my!" He said, just as serious as she. "I do believe your right!" He scratched his chin a little. "Well then, it's up to us as priestess and monk to warn them of their terrible misfortune… maybe we could even help them get rid of it."
"And maybe they would be so kind as to let us stay at their finest inn?" Kagome giggled a bit.
"Oh my!" As they kept walking the village started to take on more definite shapes. "I do believe that the cloud is right above such an inn."
"Then we better hurry!" Kagome laughed, mock running and Miroku chased her.
Inu-Yasha watched on in horror. "She has finally snapped!" He shouted. "It must have been the shock of you two being married that got her thinking this way." He accused the two, both trying to look innocent. TRYING!
"I wouldn't know what you are talking about." Miro-sama said. "They can do whatever they want."
"Oh… Inu-chan." Kago-chan cooed. "Don't be such a stick in the mud… they are just playing. Besides, you'll enjoy sleeping in a bed for once." He scoffed at that. "Well… maybe everyone else will enjoy sleeping in a bed for once."
"I don't like it," Inu-Yasha continued. "What's with this "Oh dearest Miroku"?" he mocked Kagome's voice very poorly, then mocked Miroku's calm and manly voice by saying "Feh… then "Yes Kagome darling?"" He spat at that. "It makes me sick."
"Why Inu-Yasha… it sounds like your jealous." It was Sango who said this, making him double take. "If you're so upset… why don't you DO something about it?" She hinted, irritated with the scene as well. She wasn't about to run after the stupid monk and make a fool out of herself. They were just messing around after all… right?
"Keh… I think I will." He said mischievously, though the threat never came to fruition.
"An ominous cloud you say?" The innkeeper worried. "What could this mean?"
"Any number of things…" Miroku began. "Maybe a demon will decide and attack soon…"
"Or maybe your crops will fail." Kagome added solemnly. "It could mean a number of terrible things."
Miroku stared at her, disbelieving, but he wasn't complaining. "If you would allow me and my companions to stay, we would be more than happy to ward off this terrible menace from your premises." He bowed, as a proper monk should.
"Please come in, come in." The man offered, all too happy to find them. "I know you are a man of the cloth but…" He looked at Kagome's short skirt. "Who is this? A concubine?"
Kagome's face went red, and before she could blurt out an obscenity, Miroku offered. "No, this is my lady wife." Kagome choked behind him. "She normally wears her priestess robes… but…" He continued with his lie, a little too well in fact. He looked mournful… the damn liar. "We were traveling and well… as you can see… they stole half of her kimono away before I was able to fend them off."
"Oh how terrible." He looked at her clothing. "It looks like they stole more than half."
Again before Kagome could object, Miroku butted in. "How right you are… we are but poor travelers though… and I fear that I cannot provide my young and beautiful wife the attire she deserves."
The man bought it hook line and sinker, the innkeeper had tears in his eyes. "Oh, God bless you." He gushed. "You are but poor and noble people sent by God and this is how those ruffians repay you." He shook his finger at the wind. "Shame on them." Then he turned back to Miroku, gratitude sparkling in his eyes. "And to think… after such hardships that you would still try to help a stranger to you." The old man could barely contain himself. "You may stay as long as you like… even after the curse is lifted from my home." He took both of their hands, they started to feel guilty for lying to this man… almost. "From this day forth you are welcome back any time you like." He looked at Kagome's short robes (skirt). "And I will see to it that you receive proper clothing so that your husband will not be ashamed of you."
Kagome coughed again at the man, enter Miroku. "My lady and I thank you." He tried to be as grateful as he could, which looked pretty convincing to her.
"No thanks are necessary." The man bowed several times. "I see that your friends are catching up with you." He noted, they were still far off yet and so he looked at the two. "Let me give you two a separate room, it appears that you bring many friends and they might disturb you." He added, for Miroku's sake.
"Ah, thank you again." That perverted smile slapped on his face.
After a few 'not necessaries' later, Kagome found herself in a room with Miroku, alone. Oddly enough she didn't feel in the least be strange, which was strange enough by itself. "You know… we should probably give this room to Kago-chan and Miro-sama… since they are the ones who are truly married."
He sighed. "Yes, you are right of course."
"You seem disappointed." She smiled a little.
"I was just wondering what it was like." He said to himself, but unfortunately she heard him.
"What it was like to what?" She asked.
He cursed, needed to work on internal monologue. "I was wondering what it was like… you know…" He stopped, hesitant to say anything strange lest he get slapped or have Inu-Yasha destroy him. "I was wondering about how they came together." He said finally.
"Oh." Kagome said, looking down to study her hands. They were fascinating, really, her hands… at least that's how it looked. "We haven't really talked much since they came here… have we?"
"No." He tried hard not to sound disappointed again.
"I'm sorry." She said softly.
"It's not your fault… everything is just strange." Miroku breathed ruefully. "It's like looking at yourself… and seeing what could have been."
"What do you mean?" Kagome asked, wondering if the tone in his voice was any indicator of how he truly felt.
"That could have been us." He said.
"Yes," She looked down again.
"I wondered about it once." He wished he hadn't said that, but it came out.
"You did?"
"Of course." He confirmed, no point in backing out now.
She smiled. "That makes me feel good."
"How is that?" He lifted a hopeful eyebrow.
"Well… all this time it's been kind of hard you know." She looked at the wall, looking at it's simple decoration. "Sometimes I feel… sort of ugly… or unwanted."
"Why Kagome?" He said while wondering where she ever got that idea from. Then he frowned, who else? Inu-Yasha.
"Inu-Yasha." She said on a puff of air, making the name sound far to dreamy and unattainable.
'That confirms it.' He thought, all the while he wished she wouldn't say his name like that… it sort of irritated him for some unknown reason.
"It's not his fault really," She said. "I just take it too personally. I really shouldn't." Her hands fidgeted with a piece of fabric from her skirt. "It's not like I should be expecting compliments or something."
"Why not?" He asked.
"What do you mean "why not?"" She looked at him.
"Don't you think you should receive compliments Lady Kagome?" He looked serious for a moment.
"Why should I?" She blushed, looking at him closely.
"Because… you are so kind and beautiful… because you deserve-" A crash in the hallway, a muttered curse… Inu-Yasha.
"I wondered about it too." Kagome confessed.
"Huh?" Miroku gawked, his attention snapping back on her.
"What you said earlier… I thought about it too." She said simply, knowing Inu-Yasha would hear if she said anything too… specific. "I wondered about asking Kago-chan." She fretted. "But… oh… why am I thinking this way?" She looked down at that damn… warm… soft… lap of hers again… oh… did I say warm and soft… purr. "We can't be together." She said finally. "It's just impossible."
They both sat in stunned silence.
"You are right." Miroku finally said. "After all… we are not the same as them… they did not have their Inu-Yasha…" He choked, "Or Sango."
"Y-yes." She said. "We cannot hurt them."
'But they can hurt us?' Miroku suddenly felt selfish for thinking such a thing. After all… Kagome did not love him… she was just confused… he was just confused after seeing those two together. They were simply not the same people… Kagome… him… they were not meant to be. And for some reason… that line of thinking upset him more than anything.
"My lady," A woman announced, coming into their room. "The master of the inn would like to present you with some… suitable cloths." She bowed deeply. "He is sorry to say that these are not miko's robes… but they are much more… proper." She added.
Kagome was starting to lose her temper with these people, she might have yelled but the article of clothing she was presented with was so… beautiful. She squealed in delight, plucking the gift from the woman's hands.
The woman looked overjoyed, clapping her hands. "Oh, I cannot wait to tell him that you are pleased."
"Very." Kagome said.
"They will look beautiful on you." Miroku complimented, taking his own words to heart. It's not like he ever had a problem complimenting her before…
"Thank you." She blushed.
The woman tittered in delight saying 'Ah… young love' or something of like that before she exited. She came back faster than she first came. "Oh yes… your brother and sisters?" She lifted a questioning eyebrow. "Have come to see you… along with your son and…" She looked a little aghast. "Some white haired demon claiming to know you?"
"Do not worry," Miroku offered, hating to do so. "He is crass, but a good man. He is a half demon who has helped saved many lives by our side." He indicated Kagome.
"Oh… how wonderful that you were able to convert a demon!" The woman seemed even more enthused about this couple. "I shall tell my husband… he will be overjoyed!"
"The innkeeper in your husband?" Miroku asked.
"Oh yes."
"But you are so young." Miroku said truthfully.
She blushed prettily, "Thank you sir… but I am well over forty." He choked at her words. "It's in my blood I guess."
"Your still young in comparison." Miroku said.
"True love knows no age." Her hands reached up to her face to hide her blush. "To be truthful… I was worried about marrying someone so much older than I." She went on. "But after a while… just being with him… it's been worth it." She smile was so happy that it could not be contained. "I… I know that he will not live much longer." She choked. "But I don't care… I only regret not coming to him sooner…"
Her words his Kagome's core, making the heart in her chest twist painfully.
The woman waggled her finger at them. "You should enjoy your time together too," She said bossily. "Just because your young doesn't mean that something won't happen."
"Oh – but…" Kagome began.
"You take good care of her now." She told Miroku, then turned to Kagome "And you two… take care of each other… you only have each other after all… and you'll miss each other when the other is gone."
Kagome looked over to find Miroku playing with the beads around his cursed hand, fidgeting under the woman's stare. She felt compelled to take his cursed hand in her own, letting the cold string bite into her palm. He put a hand over hers, his hand… his hands… his beautiful hands. That terrible curse that would suck him painfully into the void… taking him away… taking away those beautiful hands.
"Now that is what I like to see." The woman said softly. "I will leave you two together then." And she left for the last time.
"Kagome-sama?" Miroku asked.
"Yes?" Kagome stared at him.
"I… I think I need some time to think… by myself." He said.
"I…" She looked away again. "I understand." She offered. "I'll tell the others."
"Thank you, Kagome-sama." He stood up, but realized that she still held his hand, his gloved hand.
"Miroku?"
Her eyes pleaded and he couldn't think of anything else to do but ask. "Yes Kagome?"
"Are you coming back?"
"Of course." And with that, he picked up his staff and walked out the door.
Ranting from the author: Sigh… another chapter. I'm currently on a quest to save my boyfriend… er… I mean I am on a quest to think up even more corny-sweet titles for my story. Are they too corny? I thought so… but… they just fit… damn them… and their sweet corny corn… ness!
I can't wait to put the rest of the chapters out! Didn't you just love Miroku and Kagome goofing off? I can just seem them doing that in the Anime or Manga… they are both just so much fun. We have Miroku, the wise, serious, funny and perverted monk with Kagome, the naïve, goofy, caring and innocent miko. God I love them… up until recently I never thought of the pairing until I read a couple stories… then I was just hooked. Have you ever noticed in the Anime how they act with each other? If they just gave each other the time of day. Not that I don't like my Inu-Yasha/Kagome and Sango/Miroku fics too… but… don't they just fit?! (Hugs Kagome and Miroku together) Have babies already! I want to see them!
Anyway… before I went insane way back there… sorry about the slightly gloomy ending… however… they will be plenty more gloom where that came from. Then you might laugh again (maybe)… then… GLOOM… sorry for screwing with your emotions… I can't help it… I'm sadistic! Well... maybe not… but I'm learning! (Thumps up to Naraku!)
Naraku: (Thumbs up to Aeki!)
Me: Cue evil music!