Teach a Man to Fish

Blue eyes watched Kohaku with an intensity that put the taijiya on edge. Over the years, he had grown used to Sesshomaru's long, scrutinizing looks. You couldn't expect something that wasn't human to observe the same etiquette. But even the dog-demon got the hint when discomfort steeped Kohaku's scent. Kichiruka just stared on.

"So…what did you want to ask?" The taijiya finally broke the silence, scratching pensively at his whiskered chin with the arm that wasn't wrapped in bandages. This was a rare moment when there was a whole room of his brother-in-law's home unoccupied for a scant breath of privacy.

"Much…" Kichiruka said softly, looking back and forth between Kohaku and Miyoko. He didn't exactly want say what he had observed this morning on his way into the village, how the two humans had their bodies intertwined in embrace. And the familiar proximity of their faces, lip-locked – or kissing as Kichiruka recognized actions from his ichthyic friends who occasionally did the same and even rubbed gills together. Tasting each other.

Kichiruka often wondered what flavor Rin's smile had.

"Well, if you have a lot of questions," Kohaku said, pulling his guest back to the present, "we'd better start somewhere. So?"

"When is it appropriate for humans to kiss?" Kichiruka blurted out.

"What?" Kohaku nearly fell over backwards and his fiancée, Miyoko, beside him giggled. The slayer's mind scrambled to make sense of the question. Damn, I wonder if he's had this talk with Sesshomaru yet. Kichiruka seemed awfully familiar with the village and its residents – and even Inuyasha, in addition to Rin – so it only made sense that he must have. I guess.

"Also," the yokai continued boldly, shrugging off his increasing embarrassment, "Can I practice on you?"

"Wha—? No!" Kohaku reached for his exterminator's mask, hopefully it could block more than miasma. "You gotta do it with a girl!"

"Can I practice with her, then?" Kichiruka pointed to Miyoko who, with a sweet, friendly smile, was already brandishing a set of kunai knives between her fingers.

Kohaku tapped the blunt side of his kusarigama against Kichiruka's spotted forehead. "It has to be with your own girl." "But I want to impress her…or at least not screw up."

Miyoko smiled gently at the water demon in his lovesick plight. "Kohaku, you help him."

"Really?" both men cried, albeit in completely different pitches of voice.

Kichiruka smiled openly, but the taijiya just proceeded to knot the mask around the back of his head. "No," came his echoed reply.

Azure eyes pleaded gently. "Look, I wasn't born with this body," Kichiruka presented. "I've never had my nose longer than my mouth. How am I supposed to make that work?"

"Well…you, uh…" Kohaku molded the air with his hands as if he could conjure two demonstrative heads out of nowhere. "They kinda tilt, see? So, you can…ah…Miyoko? Help?"

Kohaku's fiancée giggled into her fist. "Keep going. You're doing a great job."

The demonslayer turned three shades brighter. Kichiruka stared back in rapt fascination. "And then?"

"Well…then you kiss her!"

"Why can't you just show me?"

"Because that'd be weird!"

"Males in my clan were never shy about showing affection for one another."

"It's different with humans."

Around this time Rin was rounding the wing to Kohaku's room, the poultice for his arm mixed in the bowl she carried. She slid open the door.

"Kiss me," Kichiruka begged.

"No!" Kohaku protested.

"Hi, Rin," Miyoko greeted.

For her part, Sesshomaru's charge turned bright pink.

"Drat, I didn't want her to see this," she heard Kichiruka grumble.

He likes…guys? Well, that explained all the touching and fascination with Miroku and now Kohaku. There are no single, straight men left in the world, not even demon ones. "Sorry for, uh, interrupting," she managed lamely. "Kagome prepped these for you, Kohaku." Rin smirked. "Whenever you're ready to take off that mask." Hurrying before the last of her bravado dissipated, she set down the bowl just inside the doorway and darted out, roughly sliding the panel closed.

Rin heard it clatter open almost immediately after she'd closed it. She kept her sights set on the end of the corridor.

"Hey, wait!" Kichiruka dashed to catch up.

"I'm sorry to break it to you, Kich', but Kohaku's already engaged." She laughed mirthlessly and kept walking.

"Oh, that's no problem," Kichiruka said simply, then Rin turned to gape at him. "I mean…no, no! I don't swing that way. I just…wanted to practice."

"Practice?" Kichiruka has a girl? "Oh…uh, interesting selection then."

"Yeah, wish I could have had a go."

Rin laughed. "Why don't you just try it on her?" she automatically advised. This is why I'm still single!

"Really?"

"Yeah, they say every person is different so the only way you can learn is –"

Um, wow… Rin found herself suddenly at a loss for words.

He kept his lips closed and was holding her much too tight, but Kichiruka's fervor was fully conveyed. Rin half-opened her eyes and realized he had never closed his. Blue eyes crossed awkwardly and he grinned sheepishly so her lips were suddenly pressed to his teeth. Rin laughed and had to pull away.

Well, at least she was smiling. "Did I do it right?"

Rin's laughter chorused louder, but before Kichiruka could even think of slinking away in humiliation she grabbed the sides of his face and pulled him in for a full-on smooch.

Still giggling, Rin kissed his cheek, then leaned over to whisper in his ear, "You taste good." And she held him close.

Tucked under his chin, Rin fit perfectly against him. Kichiruka was just her size. He nuzzled her hair and the ivory comb dropped out, clattering to the veranda's wooden planks, but Rin didn't take notice. Honestly, Kichiruka hardly did either.

He felt…happy, like everything was right with the world for once, that his teacher was wrong, and, human or not, he could never feel bitter toward Rin or anything would come to pass between them. If he could get his beating heart under control again, Kichiruka would've bet it could keep perfect time with Rin's to laugh with her, body and soul. Spurred on, he leaned in for another kiss, carefully tilting his head this time. And closing his eyes.

She met him with equal ardor. Rin pictured his eyes, the startled blue of summer morning skies, and trembled as the ends of his long, sharp bangs tickling her cheeks. She let her hands wander to trace the curves of his perked ears, feeling his lightly slicked skin…He wasn't slimy, not anymore, he was Kichiruka – endearing and klutzy, kind and inquisitive. And, best of all, he was hers. His kiss swore the sincerest covenant she could receive.

She parted her lips invitingly, but the demon gently drew away, sighing contentedly. A broad grin shared between them. He slid his arms around her waist, pulling her flush with him. Being in Rin's embrace felt like returning home after a long arduous journey. For the first time since he was a child, Kichiruka felt as though he were exactly where he was supposed to be.

Rin's smile was delicious and Kichiruka wanted to savor every drop of home.

.

A/N: This chapter took first place for IY Themes' "kiss" prompt on LiveJournal. Originally 1,000 words, it's been (pardon the pun) fluffed out to 1,300. And this is me being silly: feral-instinct(dot)deviantart(dot)com/art/Hooked-Something-Fishy-177586393

Thank you for reading. Reviews are always appreciated.