T.Y.O.M. Chapter 14: Tipped Over

T.Y.O.M. Chapter 14: Tipped Over

Pairing: Miroku x Kagome

Kinda short sorry!

Her feet reacted faster than her brain. A bad habit, really, and the result was no different than any other time she did it. Even when she stumbled, even when something felt wrong in the way her ankle bent, she couldn’t take her eyes off of him. A dark abyss growing and devouring everything in its path made way for a man struggling under its pressure. The battle had escalated past the point of poisoning the poor fool with those damned bugs and it was clear that he was beyond a healthy state of mind and body.

They got jumped on within the depths of Inuyasha’s forest and her stomach churned at the glimpse of the vulnerable Bone Eater’s well behind the monk. He had been cornered and she couldn’t help but direct anger towards herself. He knew the well was important to her and Inuyasha which seemed to be the main factor for his reckless act of unleashing his curse. It was touching but, if he went on any longer, he and the well would both perish. She tripped over a root and cursed her single-mindedness.

“Miroku-sama!”

He glanced over to her with a tremor in his body but he held on strong. There was something about the way he looked, wind blowing across his face and his body tensed under his own weakness. She saw it in the furrow of his eyebrow. He knew the risks and she felt her vein pop.

“Stop being so reckless, you idiot!”

There was a wince in his movements, her ability to insult his decision in the middle of a life-threatening battle while she dove headfirst without a second thought was just astounding. He miscalculated her strength, her determination, her Kagome-ness, and in a moment of deja vu, she jumped straight into his line of sight. His Kazaana pulled her in close but she didn’t waver. Her face conveyed the same expression as the first time they met. Completely trust. Warm determination. Pure naivety.

He scrambled to close the opening, prayer beads tightening around his wrist, as a barrage of left over debris pelted his frantic form. His arms barely had time to envelop her as her arms wrapped around his neck. His thighs hit the edge of the well from the additional weight, and they tipped over.

Intro | Chapter 13 | Chapter 15

T.Y.O.M. Chapter 11: Tricks & Nightmares

Pairing: Miroku x Kagome

Some comfort and light-hearted robbing attempt content for y’all.

He swallowed thickly but regretted how dry it left his mouth as sweat peppered his forehead and upper lip. The bob of his Adam’s apple brushed against his offending restraint and he tried to pull back. It was no good. The sharp edge of the blade slid harmlessly against his skin and he urged himself to not flinch. Curse his healthy libido. Do you have to jump at every attractive woman you see? Why, yes, I do, the fate of the Miroku bloodline is at stake. Of course, of course. He sighed at himself, his arm straining against the unnatural position it was put in.

He got tricked. Worst than the most cunning prostitute that slid in his robes and took all of the gold he stole a couple years ago. He didn’t think he’d be that careless again but the nails digging into his arm and the knife at his throat proved otherwise.

“How embarrassing.”

No response. She pushed him further into the dark with a twist of his threatening-to-snap arm. What to do, what to do indeed. You’ve snaked your way out of worse situations, come on. He glanced back at her and she pressed the blade tighter against his neck. Well then.

“Hand over your valuables, filthy monk.”

“Bold of you to assume I have valuables. I am a monk.”

“Don’t lie. Those robes of yours aren’t cheap and that staff...?” Miroku grimaced as she stripped him of his outer priest robes. Her rough ministrations left scratches on his chest as his inner wrappings tousled loose but her sultry voice continued, “Definitely gold-plated. So be a good boy and hand over the rest. No funny business either.”

He sighed, a shiver from the cool night air crawled up his spine as she cast the rich fabric aside. She must’ve been impatient, he thought, grunting at a sudden shift of balance, as his cheek slammed against a nearby wall. Maybe women can lose their charm.

“We don’t have all night---.”

“My front robe pocket.”

“Thank you, oh handsome servant of God.”

He rolled his eyes at the nickname that drew him into this mess in the first place. He could have found better women in Kaede’s hut. He pushed his chest harder against the wall and she paused. Their position was rather constricting. Her hands brushed over his body, fondling unnecessarily at intimate crevices, but she couldn’t reach his pocket. He smiled in the dark and his eyes finally adjusted. Trap for a trap. There was an exit to his right. Open space long enough for a scuffle. Boxes surrounding the two in the alleyway. No problems. The pressure against his neck budged slightly in her struggle to reach his hip pocket and he threw her off, bumping his head hard against her nose. She flinched with a surprisingly elegant yelp, at least to the tense monk before her. He cursed his subconscious women-only romanticized frame of reference.

With a quick crouch, he stuck out his leg and swept her legs off the floor. The woman stumbled and the blade went flying. There was a scrambling of hidden bodies in the room and Miroku dashed, a fistful of his ripped robe in his hand and an onslaught of angry clambering at his heels. Shoulders bumped into unfriendly corners and walls kept coming from left and right. He could only follow the dim light of the moon and the stars, his racing heart beat obscuring his other senses as adrenaline pumped through his veins.

His breathing quickened, his muscles strained, and his sides stitched. What felt like hours could have been seconds, it was hard to differentiate. Either way, he was alone. Looking down, he swiped away the sweat on his brow and sighed. His sandal was broken. How it stayed on his foot was beyond him.

“How embarrassing.”

He casually readjusted his robes and made his way back to the hut, breath slowly returning back to normal. At the sight of a sitting figure on his doorway, Miroku stepped back and tried his best to turn casually as if he wasn’t caught in the middle of the night looking like he walked into a bar fight.

“Look who’s out so early in the morning. That couldn’t be our Miroku-sama, right?”

At the sound of his name, purposefully amplified to stop him from making another step, he flinched and turned back to the scarily calm figure addressing him. He couldn’t help the nervous crack in his voice and attempted a cough.

“Nope, you got the wrong monk, Miss…?”

“Nah, I’m sure I got the right guy.”

He dropped the act and deferred to an exaggerated play at humility.

“Well, you didn’t have to stay here for little old me.”

“Ah, just spit it out. What happened to you? You look like a hot mess.”

“I… uhhh---”

He looked nervous, muscles tensed and eyes a little frantic behind a frozen half-smile, which caused her to slouch a bit from her mothering pose---arms folded with a tapping foot and a stern expression, in this case a looser, more teasing smirk.

“It’s ok, I’m just teasing. I was worried when I saw your corner empty but I guess it was nothing…?”

Adjusting the folds of his robes, he flashed a soft grin and shrugged his shoulder.

“I, uh, got ambushed…?”

The confession flew out of his mouth before he could stop himself.

“That much I could guess, you really got your shit rocked.”

Unfamiliar with the phrasing, he understood the connotation and chuckled. Looking back to her, he softened at her resigned but amused smile. Settling down at the porch edge closest to the direction of the moon, she patted the empty space without glancing back at his tense form. Plopping down as gently as he could, he followed her gaze to the full moon and loosened his posture, adrenaline slowly leaving his veins.

“Well, that’s my excuse but surely you weren’t just worried about me to be up at this time of night”, he saw her tense up from the corner of his eyes and quickly added, “But you don’t have to share, Kagome-sama---”

“Inuyasha was out too.”

His lips thinned into a firm line. This was a routine affair, and he was already too familiar with his role. He kept a level gaze on her, willing her to relieve her tension, but she continued glare at the moon. Feeling, rather than seeing the seconds and tensions slip on her shoulders, he offered the first words.

“I see.”

She sighed, jumping into the role of accepting seemingly pointless comforts, but refused to meet his eyes. “Don’t worry, it’s not like that---”, that being Inuyasha’s recent nighttime stroll in the forest, “I had a nightmare and seeing the two of you gone was a real shock for me. So I’m glad you’re back.”

He frowned softly, too soft to notice, but his shifting towards her was noticeable. She spared him a small glance and he finally noticed her sweat-glistened skin and haggard appearance. He reached a hand out to her, offering silent solace and good intent.

“May I?”

He could see her shakily exhale, then nod, and slowly pulled her into him by the shoulder. As soon as contact was made, she slumped against him. She was shivering.

“Tell me what happened.”

“Hm?”

“I need a distraction. Please. Any story about a con-man out-conning our conniving monk must be quite the story.”

“Of course. But it’s quite a looooong story, I wouldn’t want to bore you with all the details.”

She giggled a bit and he squeezed her shoulder with a soft smile, the familiar but dangerous clash of beads against flesh grounded them both.

“And it was actually a con-woman.”

“Why am I not surprised.”

“Hey, hey, be nice. I was assaulted, you know.”

She managed a small scrunch of her nose.

“Well, she matched me in wordplay and played along with my fruitless attempts of ensnarement, you know the palm readings and blessings, and she caught me fair and square in an alleyway. To my surprise she didn’t shove me in there to ravage me senselessly---”

“Ewwwww.”

She stuck her tongue out in distaste and he stuck his tongue back at her mockingly. With a sign, he fell back onto the grass and took her down with him, making sure she laid comfortably on his upper arm. She didn’t resist. Good.

“More like a disappointment on my part, Kagome-sama. She had a knife and tried to rob me, a monk, can you believe that?”

They stared up to the starry night sky and Kagome scoffed lightheartedly, shifting more comfortably against his side to fight against the sudden chill.

“I would rob you too, you look easy.”

“Oh how you wound me, Kagome-sama.”

That put a smile on her face. Good.

“Anyways, there we were, knife to my throat and arm twisted behind my back and she asked me for my valuables. Smart woman, she saw my robes and staff earlier this afternoon, and concluded that I was wealthy. And let me tell you, she fondled me so, looking for the money I left with you. It must’ve been my masculine physique or my dashing looks that caused her to slip, because when the chance arrived I was able to escape. Though, six---six, can you believe it?---men came out from the shadows and chased after me. I couldn’t tell how long I ran, escaping spears and assorted weapons and threats but after what seemed like an eternity, I found you.”

He stole a quick glance at her and jerked his head back up when he saw her looking up at him, sparkling blue eyes that reflected the stars hanging over them.

“Dashing looks, huh?”

“Indeed. Why, have I caught you as well?”

“You wish.”

“I didn’t share my embarrassment to be attacked so harshly, Kagome-sama.”

“Sorry, sorry. I’m glad you’re ok though.”

“Thank you for worrying.”

She smiled before her eyes caught a shine on his neck.

“Oh, you’re bleeding.”

“I am?”

She rose up on her elbow and assessed the wound, dark red slightly flaking and leaving a trail on the edges of his robe collar.

“Yes! Why didn’t you say so earlier?”

“I didn’t feel it, too busy fighting off 10 men.”

She quickly tiptoed inside the hut and came out with a damp handkerchief.

“Don’t you mean 6?”

“Did I say that?”

“I was listening!”

“And I was there, Kagome-sama. You can’t trick me!”

She shook her head, amused, and he rose to let her settle back next to him but she shook her head.

“Don’t move.”

“Yes, ma’am!”

He stilled and watched her from under his lashes. She caught his eyes for a second before sighing dramatically.

“What a rare opportunity for me. Seeing you act so childish, you make me feel special. Better not let the other girls see.”

She dabbed at the cut on his neck lightly and he hummed, not trusting his words to keep the atmosphere going.

“Ok, done. For now. Tomorrow morning, I’ll get a bandaid, I couldn’t reach it in the dark earlier.”

“That’s alright, Kagome-sama, thank you.”

She shivered and he cocked his head slightly at the display.

“S’chilly.”

There was a haunted look in her eyes, which he didn’t miss, before she smiled down at him.

“So it seems.”

Without another word or hint of hesitation, he gently pulled her back down into him and she let him, humming softly at the warmth radiating from him.

“Well, Kagome-sama, I’m not sure what dream dared to hurt you, but you’re not alone. We’re here and we’re here to stay.”

She flinched but there wasn’t an answer. He wasn’t looking for one. His eyes drew invisible lines within the stars but stopped when she hesitantly leaned into him.

“I--- I’m sorry just for a little bit please.”

He let her trace her fingers along the skin on his arm exposed from his rolled up robes, feeling it play along the edges of his beading and glove before resting on his inner forearm. He could feel her gaze burn across the planes of his skin but made no move to initiate eye contact. Whatever she was searching for, he needed to keep calm so he evened out his breath. Seconds turned into minutes, aimless trailing turned into invisible doodles on his arm and it was only a few more moments before he felt her ministrations stop completely. Stealing a glance, he found her asleep. Good.

“Sleep well, Kagome-sama.”

Intro | Chapter 10 | Chapter 12

T.Y.O.M. Chapter 7: Body Pillow?

Pairing: Miroku x Kagome

Tired was an understatement, Kagome was completely and utterly exhausted, both physically and mentally. Countless days and nights without proper sleep, full of bickering and fighting enemies and allies alike. It was draining, she couldn’t even remember the last time she actually got to rest. Sighing, she looked at the feeble campfire, throwing stray twigs in with the hope of absorbing the energy of the flames. Inuyasha wasted no time setting off into the forest, most likely to follow the scent of ash and clay, and the others settled into ‘bed’ after a small nibble of dinner and half-assed conversation. 

Everyone fell asleep quickly but Kagome’s eyes were glued open. Somehow she was too tired to actually sleep. Her behavior was strange enough, the lack of sleep made everything distorted and slow. Sort of like a drunk feeling. If that’s the right analogy. She rubbed her eyes, body straining at the simple action, before giving up halfway and staring to the right. Deep violet eyes greeted her from the other side of the campfire and she brightened up a bit. If there was a possibility that she couldn’t sleep tonight, at least she had company, and just like that she did her best to scooch her way--in her sleeping bag--to the smiling monk.

It was probably, no, definitely, the most inefficient way of doing it but she didn’t have the energy to really think about it. So there Kagome was, the smallest squishiest caterpillar with the dopiest smile, settling down as Miroku watched with a mirthful grin.

“Enjoying yourself, Kagome-sama?”

“Not sure, are you?” He glanced at her glassy eyes and the stress indented into her skin before looking up at the stars.

“Hmm, tough inquiry. But with you, I might as well be.” Kagome yawned, she couldn’t really think about what he said seriously. Whether it was just a formality or if there was something more, she stashed it away in her brain for later. His voice suddenly seemed to play on repeat and she couldn’t dissuade the strangely smoky tone for some odd reason. The words came before the thought did.

“Did you know that you have, like, a really nice voice?” Miroku quirked a brow at the compliment. Sure, he got the same compliments from many women but somehow hearing her say it felt heavier, full of value and warmth rather than a shallow comment. It was hard to word what he felt as he gazed into Kagome’s eyes, curious, mellow purple met dazed, giddy blue.

“Yes, I’ve heard many say that my voice is really nice, as you put it. But what about you?” She scrunched her nose and slumped back onto the tree trunk supporting the both of them, still looking at the still monk.

“What about me?” He got a little close, probably too close if she was in the right state of mind.

“Did you know that you have beautiful blue eyes?” She huffed good-heartedly, pushing him back slightly through her sleeping bag, a blush staining her cheeks. His eyes crinkled at her reaction and he settled back into his spot.

“Oh, you tease. Is that how you get all your lady friends?” 

She wiggled her eyebrows goofily, causing him to chuckle.

“Not at all. Only my special lady friend.” She didn’t register that fully but still answered, “Ooooh, lucky me.”

“Quite the opposite actually. I believe I happen to be the lucky one, Kagome-sama.” She smiled and lazily looked up, stars twinkling out in the open unlike the foggy nights in the future.

“You’re quite the charmer.”

“Thank you, I only learn from the best.”

“And who’s that?” She looked back at him, watching his lips form into a cheesy smirk.

“Me.” 

“Of course, it’s you. Hey, you think you can give me lessons?” 

She couldn’t resist a giggle and he, in turn, wiggled his own eyebrows.

“Sure, I could give you some private lessons.”

“Maybe some other time.’’

“Hmm, sure. I don't believe you’ll have the same mindset in the morning.”

“I’m just tired, Miroku-sama, not drunk. Besides I’m underage.”

He tilted his head with a quirked brow, and they shifted into a weirdly comfortable silence. Kagome felt more relaxed, happy even, maybe she’ll get some sleep tonight. Feeling a bit giddy, she unintentionally started looking at Miroku’s face. He was, indeed, attractive. High cheekbones, sharp jawline, he was angular but soft but she just really admired his eyes, swirling violet purple with long lashes. It was almost distracting enough to hide everything else…

Dazed spell broken, she furrowed her brows. Stressed wrinkles from a lifelong burden smoothed at night, dark, sunken eye bags, and a certain hardness suddenly popped out and she felt the urge to say, to do, something. Without a word, she scooched closer to Miroku, knees touching, and poked her hand out of the sleeping bag. He looked at her hand, eyes illuminating in the silence.

“When’s the last time you’ve slept properly, Miroku-sama?” Just asking the question made him deflate from the façade of ease he kept.

“I’m not too sure. Does it matter?”

She pouted, unintentionally a bit childish and cute. 

“To me, it does. If you can’t, I can’t, so take responsibility.”

“I wish I could, Kagome-sama. If you asked me maybe 5 years ago, I could have.”

His words felt bitter, just like the sudden crease in her eyebrows, and she felt helpless. Using her lack of sleep to excuse her sudden irrationality, she wiggled out of her sleeping bag, dug into her misshapen yellow bag and procured a large blanket. She threw the blanket over the unsuspecting monk with a fancy flourish and shimmied back into her own sleeping bag.

“Any better?” His lip twitched into a barely-smile and he mocked a sigh.

“Yes, maybe, but I do wish for the physical comfort of a beautiful woman by my side though.” 

“Pity, is it easier to sleep sitting like that or you ok with lying down?”

“Lying down is a nice luxury and yes, it is quite a shame…” His words dragged on as she scooched further along the tree and patted her leg with an expectantly warm smile. His expression asked the question for him.

 “I’m female, sooo…..?” He didn’t understand.

“....Soooo?”

“....Body pillow?”

“...Body… pillow. What a strange offering to a holy man, Kagome-sama.”

The insinuation jumped over her head.

“Oh hush, I’m tired. The offer stands for a short time period, so take it while you can!” After considerable silence, she feared she just ruined her wonderful friendship with the man in front of her but physically beamed when he hesitantly lowered his head onto her lap. Hands out of her sleeping bag, she yawned and adjusted his blanket, watching him turn slightly to look away from her. She hummed in confusion, catching his slightly reddened ears, and grinned.

“Feeling embarrassed, Miroku-sama?”

“... No. It’s not often when a beautiful woman willingly engaged with me.”

“You know I prefer ‘special lady friend’ over ‘beautiful woman’.” He glanced over at Kagome for a quick second, barely-smile widening just a tiny bit. Kagome returned the smile, lightly combing her fingers through his hair.

“...Thank you, Kagome.” The gratitude went beyond just the comfort of physical contact, how far, Kagome didn’t know but she felt closer to the monk in this moment after two years of knowing him. She felt his breath even out and his body loosen.

“Good night and sweet dreams, Miroku-sama.”

It didn’t take long for her eyes to shut, hand rested securely on his tense shoulders.

Intro | Chapter 6 | Chapter 8

Taste of Your Own Medicine

Pairing: Miroku x Kagome

I wrote a compilation of romantic one-shots for this rare pair, with no particular plot or point of relationship growth. It’s just gradual pining and comfort between characters given the circumstances and it’s super sweet. Here’s the first prologue (?): 

Smack. There it was again, a stinging in his cheek and a gloved hand slithering from Sango’s butt to caress the pain. At least, it wasn't her Hiraikotsu, he thought willfully, the familiar ache of the last time the huge boomerang dug into the back of his head. Miroku held a mirthful smile as he caught both Sango’s growing blush and Kagome’s scowl. Their obvious embarrassment and disgust wasn’t anything new so it didn’t stop his shameless chuckling.

They were on their way to another village, Inuyasha leading with Shippo uncharacteristically by his side. Kagome sensed a jewel shard about a couple minutes earlier, she could feel it move slowly inside some unfortunate demon, its corrupted hunger glowing in the distance. She shivered at the feeling, small whispers of fear making her forget all about Miroku’s perversions toward Sango, until a hand brushed against her backside, softly groping it. 

In one second, she felt the texture of prayer beads thinly separating the offending palm from direct contact to her butt. In two seconds, she heard a scarily appreciative but velvety hum settle beside her. In three seconds, a blush exploded on her face then she finally found her voice to screech like a dying pterodactyl and jump inhumanely into the folds of Sango’s arms, who was unbelievably disgusted for a second time in five minutes. What a new record, Inuyasha and Shippo couldn’t help thinking as Miroku’s life suddenly flashed before his eyes.

A large boomerang-weapon in the hands of Sango hit the perverted monk’s head with a loud ‘thunk’, followed by the chimes of a fallen staff and groans from the observing group. Face in the soft grass, Miroku contemplated whether or not to explain his actions but stopped at Kagome’s huffing and a throbbing headache. He missed the obviously furious expression on Kagome's face as Inuyasha and Shippo shook their heads in disappointment. Miroku chuckled shamelessly, picked himself off the floor with grace and dusted off his robes, a huge bump already forming on the top of his head. He looked at a beautifully raging Kagome, who was hidden behind an equally pissed Sango, and smiled.

“I just couldn't help myself, Kagome-sama.” 

She stepped forward, hand sassily on her hips as she pointed at him with accusation clear in her eyes.

“‘Couldn't help myself’, my foot! Just wait till I get my revenge, you pervy monk.” 

She has a plan for revenge? Miroku smiled wider at that, an unfamiliar rush of genuine excitement filled him. He didn't know why but he had a feeling that she wouldn't disappoint.

“My fate is in your hands then, Kagome-sama!”

The original posts are on fanfiction.net, but I wanted to post on here. Please send any requests or one-shot ideas as well! I’ll do my best to deliver ^^

The chapter links:

Chapters: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17...

“Just a little while longer... You haven’t saved anyone yet, Deku.” 

Ch. 306 is going to kill me. Anyway here’s vigilante Deku! AGED UP! So this is legal o.o

T.Y.O.M. Chapter 15: Tossing Grapes

Pairing: Miroku x Kagome

Mindless physical intimacy and dumb dumb teens in desperate need of a childhood.

Plop. Crunch. Crunch. Kagome beamed as the light sweetness that burst in her mouth melded into a delicate tart flavor. There’s nothing like catching crisp grapes in your mouth on a warm, sunny day with no demons to worry about. Of course, it's a little boring by yourself when nothing is trying to kill you or kidnap you for your jewel shards, but beggars should definitely not be choosers in this situation.

“Why not play a game, me? ...Hell yeah, me, what kind of game?”

There was no one to answer her self-asked question but herself so she quickly set the rules in her head. Picking one large, juicy grape from her large plastic container, she lightly tossed it into the air, eyes following the little fruit ball and jerking her head back, mouth open, to catch it in her mouth. Plop. Crunch. One point for Kagome. She grabbed another grape, brows slightly scrunched, and threw it twice as high as in the first ‘round’, butt slowly rising to free her legs to move into place. Plop. Crunch. 5 points for Kagome!

The rules didn’t specify the point system but Kagome was definitely winning. She pumped her fist with slightly puffed cheeks before continuing. She was on a roll. A two streak roll but a roll, nonetheless. Locking the bowl onto her waist with a tight grip, she blindly grabbed a grape and tossed it higher than the last round. Her aim was off, feet backpedaling with each anticipated second before she flicked her head back, the grape landing on her back molar with a pop. 9 points!

The rounds kept on going, faster and more risky than the last, she didn’t even have time to chew or swallow the grapes as her stubborn competitive streak became fueled by the chance of ‘winning’ and her pride. 18 points. It kept her sliding, jumping, running and jogging around in circles just to catch the slippery suckers but she caught them all, one after the other. 37 points. It didn’t take long for her to lose all track of her surroundings, eyes glued to the sky for falling grapes. 56 points.

Cheeks full and bowl half-empied, she took one more grape and held it gently in her fingertips. This is it, Kagome. The final round, the crowd is on the edge of their seats, watching. Don’t panic. Breathe. Breathe. It’s all or nothing! Without pause, the grape went high into the sky, seemingly disappearing into thin air.

“Oh shit!”

She tossed it too high. Her eyes burned at the brightness of the sun but she continued to squint, looking for any signs of movement. 

Nothing. Her legs carried her backwards, hair bouncing and flying into her face and feet stumbling over small lumps in the grass. 

There…? She twisted lightly on her ankle and craned her neck with a small pop, eyes landing on something small, something fast...

There!

Picking up the pace and running further and further back, her heart dropped at the thought that she couldn’t make it like this. It almost stopped her in her tracks but, no, she could! Bowl now secured in both hands, she stretched her legs as far as she could running backwards and jumped, praying for a soft landing as her eyes followed the grape. She caught the offending grape in between her lips like a dog with a few too many tennis balls in its mouth. Here comes the ground, she thought ruefully, eyes scrunching closed at the thought of the impact. With a small ‘oof’, she slammed onto something. She expected to be sprawled on the grass in an ungraceful mess and choking on grapes but soft fabric surrounded her exposed skin as her mid back was supported by something. 

“Feeef wike a perffen--”

She still had those goddamned grapes in her mouth, and the one balanced between her lips was without a scratch. Nice. Her pride swelled at the fact as she hummed her victories.

“That was quite the magnificent catch, Kagome-sama.”

Her eyes popped out of their sockets and she sat up from her seat. Her landing spot ended up being Miroku’s lap. She looked down at their laps, then to his eyes, and then to the bowl in her arm. Who knew Miroku’s lap would be so comfortable? ...What the hell, Kagome.

“Wan’ suff?”

She made no effort to hide the cheeky flush in her hamster-rivaled cheeks or the childish sparkle in her eyes, nudging the bowl towards him. He let out a small smile. How ridiculous. There was a glint in his eyes and she didn’t miss it but she realized the intent too late.

“Don’t mind if I do.”

She smiled around the grapes but felt her heart thud as he leaned closer to her face, eyes trailing down to her lips.

“H… Hey!”

She shut her eyes tight, breath stuck in her throat. She could feel his breath fan over her lips and swallowed thickly, teeth slightly indenting the grape in between them. Crunch. There was no brush of skin but she knew he ate something. Testing the waters, she squinted out of one eye and watched him chew thoughtfully with eyes closed. She just stared, frozen like a deer in headlights. It was enough for him to stop his next teasing words.

“Are you ok, Kagome-sama?”

She plucked the grape from in between her teeth, slowly chewing the rest, and choked as her eyes found it to be half eaten. With a fist covering her mouth, she looked at the grape, then into Miroku’s eyes, and for a quick second she briefly glanced at his lips, to which he blew an amuse puff of air from his nose, before burning disbelieving daggers in the innocent grape. Taking her time, she finished off the rest of the grapes in her mouth in silence and Miroku couldn’t help but think that he broke her.

Letting out a nervous chuckle, he started, “Kagome---”

“I--- You---”

“You did offer.”

She took a pause and quickly glanced at his lips again, feeling heat crawl up her neck. He felt sweat gather, he was not used to this submissive Kagome, still in his lap, instead of slapping him into the next life.

“I guess I… I did...”

There was an uncomfortably long pause between them. No anger, no panic, both of which began his slow descent into a fear-induced adrenaline rush. Anything to get Kagome back to normal before the others caught them like this.

“Anyways!” He scratched the back of his neck and grabbed another grape from the bowl,”...these grapes? Fantastic! I’ve never had anything like them.”

Crunch. Chewing slowly, he snuck a glance, she was biting her bottom lip and looking anywhere but at him. This is not good.

“Oh! What was that game you were playing before, Kagome-sama? It certainly looked very interesting!”

No response. She was staring at him now, wide-eyed and ghostly, and he gulped. Sango is going to kill me.

“Would you mind if I tried? Uhhh… Ummm…”

Without a second thought, he threw up the grape with the hand not supporting her still frame and leaned back, his impending-doom-influenced shakiness messed up his aim and it bounced off his nose.

“Oh, ah-ha-ha! Looks like I missed, what’re my points looking like, Kagome-sama?”

Nothing. Kami, please help me. He started panicking and grabbed another grape.

“Ok! One more! I’m betting this’ll be at least 20 points!”

He tossed it high and bounced softly in his seat to catch the grape, it settled in between his teeth and he flashed her a thumbs up.

“Wha’ to you ‘hink?”

His eyes glanced over her entire face with out-of-place desperation.

“Kago-he-sa-ha?”

As if she were a video pressed on play, her face exploded in red and she grabbed his shoulders tightly. He flinched but felt his eyes get drawn in the sudden fire in her gaze. Her jaw was clenched, eyebrows furrowed, and an angry growl erupted in her throat. Here it comes. Accepting his fate, he just let the corner of his lips settle into a familiar ‘can’t-be-helped’ grin. He was prepared for the slap of his life but something he would never imagine happening happened. She dove in quick and fast and bit half of the grape in between his teeth. Crunch. Everything she felt transferred onto him and he felt something burst in his chest. His eyes popped comically, just like hers a moment ago, and he felt the air disappear in his lungs. He didn’t even budge when she pushed herself from out of his lap.

“Now we’re even!”

Her voice cracked but he didn’t even notice, he just stared at her. That did not just happen. Shoving the grape basket into his chest, she covered her mouth with one last glance at him. He couldn’t say anything, let alone breathe, and she ran away, screaming a repeated string of ‘omgomgomgomgomg’. Miroku watched her go, mind still processing the last few seconds, as he mindlessly plopped a grape into his mouth. Grape chewed and swallowed, the reality of what had just occurred settled. Miroku placed his beaded hand over his mouth with a silent groan and a late flush settling on his cheeks.

“Well, that was not what I was expecting.”

Falling onto his back, with the intentions of burying his blush and calming his mind, he inhaled deeply...They were softer than he thought.

Intro | Chapter 14 | Chapter 16