A/N: Hello all my loyal fans! I know I took my time in getting this chapter up but I have an excuse. From last Wednesday to Sunday I was going with my bro to his college to help him get the set-up at Vermont. I also went through Canada on the way back. That's right; I got to see my homeland again! Ever wonder why I use metrics and occasionally some very English-sounding terms? Well those are my Canadian roots sticking out. In addition, school just started and this is my junior year, the most intense one academically so I'll have a lot less free time than usual. I'll still update whenever I can though.

Review Responses

Shadow Kitsune67: I know! Isn't Miroku/Kagome the best?

ShyRomantic: Of course there's more! Ending it there would suck.

Kouga's #1 Fan: I'm glad you're happy. And it totally was his fault. Good for you.

Aaya-chan: I'm glad you're always up for something different.

Lady Fiore - Ami Metallium: Here's your chance!

Chapter 14: Tricks of the Trade and Tragic Treachery

Miroku had by this time managed to help Kagome forget about her and Inuyasha's 'frank exchange of ideas'. He had suggested they watch a DVD, a concept which he didn't fully understand, but he remembered Sota mentioning them when he brought up 'telly-vision'. Kagome had been immensely enjoying Donnie Darko until she fell asleep in Miroku's arms. Miroku didn't understand the story at all, but he figured it was another thing about the future he didn't quite get. As the ending credits began, Miroku gave Kagome a tiny shake. "Kagome? Wake up sleeping beauty." Miroku coaxed. He got no response. "It's over my love. Did I lose you somewhere back there?" Still nothing. "You're not fooling me Kagome. I know you are awake."

Kagome groaned. "No I'm not. I'm fast asleep." she protested.

"Then how will we get you to bed?" Miroku asked.

"That's for you to find out. I can't think while I'm asleep." Kagome brought to Miroku's attention.

"Well, I suppose I could carry you, since there's obviously no chance of waking you." Miroku joked.

"Looks like there's no other option." Kagome agreed, leaning up a bit to give him a soft kiss on his lower cheek. "I love you."

"I know." Miroku told her as he lifted her. "But this better have some sort of huge payoff."

"All in good time, I promise." she assured him. "Just don't drop me."

"What did you eat for breakfast? Cement?" Miroku asked.

"Shut up you weakling." Kagome snapped. "I weigh at least forty kilos less (eighty-eight pounds US) than you."

"Forty kilos of pure muscle!" Miroku objected.

"Maybe so, but your legs support your own body weight. You should be able to carry me." Kagome pointed out.

Miroku dropped her on her bed. "I can, but that doesn't mean I got to like it."

"Well maybe, you've just earned yourself a reward." Kagome pulled him down on top of her and gave him a rough kiss, one that promised to lead to something more.

Back in the feudal era, peace was reigning. In fact it was reining so hard that… "I'm bored!" Inuyasha complained. "We haven't fought a demon or anything for days!"

"I know." Sango agreed. "And it's extra boring without Miroku around. He can make any situation a comedic scene."

"Yeah, he is pretty hilarious letting you knock him about like a rag doll. But he's gone. And I can't even yell at Kagome since she's gone too." Inuyasha grinned ruefully. "We're pretty pathetic huh? Pining over two people we know are long gone."

"I know. Kagome always gets the good ones!" Sango griped.

"Hey! I resent that!" Inuyasha said, feigning indigence.

"You don't count. You're a hanyou." Sango explained.

"True. Small wonder Kagome hates me. I'm just a filthy half-breed. Maybe Sesshomaru is right. Maybe he's always been right." Inuyasha resigned.

Sango put a reassuring arm on his shoulder. "Come on now don't say that! Kagome doesn't hate you. I know she still has at least a little love for you left in her heart. She just gets angry because you can be mean."

"I want to be nice to her. I really do." Inuyasha confessed "But it's hard."

"Nothing worth having is easily obtained." Sango replied sagely. "You want to know the secret to getting girls?"

"Tell me, o wise one." Inuyasha bowed in jest.

"Well the first rule is that the girl is always right. Even when she's not. And you can't get angry at her more than once a month or so. The most important element is compliments." Sango began.

"Compliments?" Inuyasha inquired.

"Right. Women will love you in an instant if you give them lots of compliments. That's part of Miroku's element you see." Sango continued explaining all the components of getting girls (Kagome foremost in mind) to like him.

"Wow." Inuyasha said dully once she gave him the low-down. "That seems like more trouble than it's worth."

"For some women, it is. But all you need to decide is which is more important. Your pride? Your dignity? Or Kagome?"

"I'm not allowed to keep my dignity?" Inuyasha asked as if Sango was insane.

"Of course not. Not if you want to get the girl that is." Sango told him.

"This is going to be a lot harder than I thought." Inuyasha said to no one in particular.

"You can do it!" Sango encouraged him.

"That brings another thought to me. Why are you helping me in my effort to get Kagome? I thought you liked those two together." Inuyasha wondered quizzically.

"I do a little. But I'd also like Miroku to be with me more than I'd like him with Kagome. And he does like me as more than a friend you know. He told me so and even kissed me not to long ago." Sango informed Inuyasha with pride.

"Whoa!" Inuyasha exclaimed. "Did I miss a beat? Was this while he was with Kagome?" Sango shook her head. But nonetheless a grin, full of malice and wickedness spread across Inuyasha's features. "I don't suppose Kagome knows anything of this though?"

Sango looked at him pleadingly. "Inuyasha, no! I want to be with Miroku as bad as you want Kagome but I don't want to break him and Kagome up through trickery and lies! It's wrong and it's not fair to either of them. I even promised Kagome I wouldn't get in her way when she told me she loved him."

"You don't have to break them up through trickery and lies." The devious Inuyasha assured her. Sango sighed visibly in relief. "I can do it myself just fine. Inuyasha finished.

"You can't!" Sango protested.

"Just watch me!" Inuyasha shouted. "I was too stupid to realize I loved Kagome before, but now I have a chance I won't pass it up."

"Fine." Sango admitted defeat. "But I want it to be made clear to both of them I had no part in it."

"No problem." Inuyasha promised her. "But you'll thank me once you hold Miroku's heart."

A/N: Inuyasha is getting more devious every day. And I hope you who were waiting for it (i.e. Kogasgirl142) liked the sexual implication. Sorry again for taking so long to get this chapter up, but I'll try to update at least once a week from here on in.