A/N: Hello faithful readers. I would just like to take this opportunity to apologize for the extreme OOC-ness of Haruko. It's really hard to make an original character OOC, but I found a way. When I read it over, I realized Haruko sounded more like a teenager than a three or four year-old girl. I might make some alterations to that chapter, it was so atrocious. But to try and make up for it, I made this chapter almost twice as long as usual, and added some shrewd sexual tension, which seems to be what I'm good at, considering the booming popularity of Jealousy.
Review Responses
Princess Stephanie: That's true. I just didn't really think about, but if I had I don't know if I'd have known what to say anyway.
Punk Rock Miko 2: I'm glad you liked that chapter. I didn't think I did a very good job /
Missy Miss: Wow…I'm not sure I know what to say to that…I'm flattered.
Chapter Sixteen: Painful Memories
Kohaku and Rin sat together relatively close to the bonfire, which was slowly but steadily dying out. Kohaku and Rin also sat relatively close to each other. Okay, more than relatively close. If they were any closer, they would be fused into each others bodies. "Thanks for dancing with me Kohaku. I know you didn't really want to." Rin thanked him.
"It was nothing, really." Kohaku lied. It was far from nothing. His stomach must've turned six times, just to summon up the courage to ask. It was also probably the most embarrassing experience of his life, as he didn't think he was very good.
"You were pretty good. I didn't know you could learn how to dance so quickly!" Rin commended him.
A light blush lit Kohaku's face, similar to the one his sister would bear when Miroku showed subtle and sweet, yet very public displays of affection. "Thanks. I don't think I was that good to be honest, but hey, maybe I just had an awesome teacher." he joked.
"Aw thank you!" Rin fawned. "You are so sweet."
Kohaku's blush deepened. "I try."
"You succeed." Rin assured him, resting her head on his shoulder, making Kohaku turn yet another, darker shade of red. Rin noticed. "You don't mind, do you? It's getting cold."
"I don't mind at all. It is getting chilly." Kohaku agreed.
Most of the villagers had left for the shelter and if they were well enough off, the warm beds of their homes. Inuyasha, Kagome and the rest of the team of former travelers were still wide awake though. They wouldn't miss this for the world. Little Haruko was tired out though, and fell asleep on her Auntie Kagome's lap. "Aren't they cute together?" the afore mentioned aunt commented.
"You think everyone looks cute together!" Inuyasha sneered.
"Well, she's usually right." Sango defended her friend with a yawn. She was getting awfully tired herself, but she didn't want to miss any romantic interaction that may take place between her brother and Rin, so she just decided to cuddle up closer to her husband, and if she happened to fall asleep, well then fie on her!
Shippo nudged Miroku in the ribs. "He takes after his old' brothers-in-law don't he?" Shippo remarked, referring to himself and Miroku.
"I hear that!" Miroku chuckled giving the kit something Kagome had showed him some time ago called a "high-five".
"What're you talking about runt? I don't see you with a girl." Inuyasha remarked snidely.
"I'm still young." Shippo reminded him "Give me time."
Rin sighed tiredly as she leaned further into Kohaku. "I'm tired. I need sleep."
"Well we ought to get you to bed, shouldn't we?" Kohaku asked.
"Too tired to move." Rin mumbled back.
"Then you'll besleeping on the ground." Kohaku warned her.
"I find you much more comfortable." Rin said.
"Well, that's tough, because I'm going to get up soon enough." Kohaku threatened.
"No you won't."
"I won't?"
"Nope." said Rin, latching onto Kohaku's tunic. "You're staying right here, as long as I have something to say about it."
"Rin, this isn't funny. Let go of me." Kohaku demanded.
"Never." Rin replied sticking her tongue back out at him.
"You know, I could make you release your hold on me at any second." Kohaku brought up. "I'm stronger."
"That's true, but do you really want to?" Rin inquired.
"Why wouldn't I?"
In response, Rin leaned up and gave Kohaku a kiss on the cheek. Kohaku grumbled. Fine, ten more minutes."
"I love you." Rin said sickly sweet, not completely joking.
"I love you too." Kohaku sighed.
Kagome laughed lightly at what had transpired. "She's like a miniature tease."
"Indeed. I'm not sure Kohaku minds either." Miroku concurred.
"Figures. His sister never did." Inuyasha added, joining the conversation, and gesturing towards the now sleeping Sango.
"What do you mean by that?" Miroku asked, genuinely puzzled.
"Oh come of it Miroku. You are probably the flakiest boyfriend someone could ever manage to hook up with, but Sango put up with more groping, flirting, and sex propositions that anyone should. Any other girl would've dumped you long ago." Inuyasha explained.
"That's not true!" Kagome protested in her friend's defense. "I say he's gotten much, much better over the years, and while that isn't an excuse for his previous…"questionable" behavior, Miroku can be very sweet and loving when he wants to be."
"Yeah, about 5 of the time." Inuyasha snickered.
"You have no idea how sweet he can be, nor how often!" Kagome continued to object.
"Uh-oh." Miroku thought. He had a sneaking suspicion of where Kagome was going with this. He thought it would be wise to stop the argument. "Lady Kagome, as much as I appreciate your faith in my honor you don't-"
Inuyasha cut him off. "And how would you know when I wouldn't eh?"
"Because!" Kagome yelled, her eyes beginning to brim with tears. "Because you were always off with Kikyo! Miroku may have been a bit of a lecher, but her never snuck off to see other women when he though Sango was asleep!"
"Kagome, don't. I'm not worth it." Miroku said, putting his hand on her shoulder.
"And what the hell does Kikyo have to do with this?" Inuyasha bellowed.
"You think I didn't notice every single time you abandoned us to declare your everlasting love to a dead woman! A woman who wanted you to die! A woman who didn't accept you for what you were, while I was alive, I wanted to spend our lives together, I accepted you,and I waited, seemingly futilely, for you to accept her death and realize that I loved you more than anyone else could! Miroku was there for me every time! He always offered me a shoulder to cry on! He always listened to me and told me things would be all right! He was there for me more than you ever were!" Kagome continued to shout, the tears flowing freely now.
Inuyasha scowled and turned to Miroku. "You knew about all this and didn't tell me?"
"As if you would've cared!" Miroku snapped, now mad at Inuyasha himself, not for insulting him but for making Kagome cry yet again. "You always said, she was just your shard detector and nothing more! You are lucky Kagome was so hopelessly in love with you, because there are many men who would've taken Kagome without a second thought if they learned she loved him!"
"And how do you know that!" Inuyasha challenged.
"Have you knot holes for eyes? Look at how beautiful this girl is! She is kind and sweet and polite and intelligent and pure and faithful beyond words!" Miroku declared. "And I happen to know other men would take her because I am one of them!"
"How would you dare to impose on Kagome like that? I don't suppose you took advantage of her vulnerability during any of these pity parties? But what wouldn't you, considering you love her like you say!" Inuyasha growled.
"Sit!" Kagome demanded, bringing Inuyasha's face to the ground. "He didn't impose on me; I came to him if you must know! And Miroku is much too decent to ever do anything like that to me, no matter how vulnerable I may have been! I'm going home!" A furious Kagome turned heel and left. "Sit!" she uttered the command again to prevent Inuyasha from following. Miroku however took off after her, for she could do nothing to stop him from trying.
"Kagome, please don't over-react. I don't wish to be the cause if such an argument! You know how touchy Inuyasha gets when it come to Kikyo, and her recent re-passing must make it even-" Miroku was cut off to feel Kagome's lips on his. Several seconds of stunned silence followed once Kagome broke away. "What was that for?" Miroku finally managed to say.
"Just think of it as my thanks. And my apology. Don't feel guilty about this. None of it is your fault. It's Inuyasha's." She threw her arms around Miroku's neck and hugged him tightly. "I often wish I would have fallen for you instead of that stupid dog!"
Miroku hugged back. "No offence Lady Kagome, but I think it's for the better you didn't. That would've caused endless complications among you, me and Sango."
"I suppose. But still. I never really did get to thank you properly for all those times you helped me through my Inuyasha related depression, so I thought I might as well." Kagome explained her kiss, a light red tinting her cheeks.
Miroku chuckled. "I was just doing what any friend would do. There was no need to kiss me. Not that I minded particularly."
"I'll be back in a few days, but don't tell Inuyasha that. And while I'm gone, I might cook up a little something especially for you." Kagome offered.
"That would be wonderful Lady Kagome. You know how much we all enjoy your meals. Endless nights of mulligan stew do get old." Miroku admitted.
"It's the least I could do for you." Kagome said. "Three days, no longer. I promise."
"You take all the time you need Lady Kagome. Sango, Kohaku and I can hold down the fort while you're gone." Miroku assured her.
"I love you." Kagome said, giving Miroku another quick kiss.
"You better stop doing that Kagome, before one of us starts to like it." Miroku joked.
"It may be too late already." Kagome finished with a wink disappearing down the well.
Miroku returned to where Inuyasha was finally managing to peel himself off the ground. "Where's Kagome monk! And what'd you do to her?"
"Lady Kagome is in her homeland now. I suggest you don't go after her unless you enjoy eating mud. I suppose it is time for us all to retire. Wake up Sango." Miroku coaxed, shaking his sleeping wife lightly and picking up his daughter.
Sango pretended to still be groggy, but she had heard the whole argument between Inuyasha, Kagome and Miroku. "How would you dare to impose on Kagome like that? I don't suppose you took advantage of her vulnerability during any of these pity parties? But what wouldn't you, considering you love her like you say!" Why hadn't Miroku responded to that? He didn't really love Kagome, not as more than a friend, did he? You are lucky Kagome was so hopelessly in love with you, because there are many men who would've taken Kagome without a second thought if they learned she loved him!... And I happen to know this is so because I am one of them!" But that had changed since they had met…hadn't it?