Miroku and Kagome: 36 tales of love and lust

disclaimer: The characters and world of InuYasha are not mine, they are property of Rumiko Takahashi, Shogakukan, Yomiuri TV, Sunrise, and Viz. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.



A/N: It's been a while, but I'm still around. I've got another bunch of chapters all done up and ready for posting. I've since left the community that gave me the prompts for this, but the fic lives on. Expect more from me over the coming weeks. Enjoy!



Clarity

By Sarga



Kagome sighed in weary relief as she spotted Kaede's hut on the horizon from her perch atop of the fire cat. It wasn't that she didn't appreciate Miroku's rigid length pressed firmly into her back as she rode the fire cat to their destination, it was just that her rump hurt and her body was plain tuckered out. In several hours it would be the night of the new moon, and they had yet to break the distressing news to Shippo and Kaede. All of it compounded to create a tense afternoon.



Barely able to restrain herself, Kagome leaped from the fire cat as soon as she could and rushed to Kaede's hut. It had been weeks since they had last seen their friends and it would be difficult to tell them of the tragic end that had befallen their friend and ally.



“Kagome!” Shippo's excited voice was heard just before he launched himself into Kagome's arms. Tears welled up in her eyes as she snuggled her face into his hair, dreading the thought of the pain she would have to share.



With a tearful sigh, Kagome placed Shippo at her feet and knelt down to break the bad news to him. Kaede, who had followed the kitsune child out of her hut, looked haggard at the news. She had had such high expectations of the demon slayer. To meet her end in such a manner... at least she died like a true warrior.



Shippo clung to Kagome, his mournful tears lasting well into the night. Only after the sun had set and Inuyasha had changed into a human did Kagome slip the child from her arms and into his own bed. Wiping her own tears with palms of her hands, Kagome excused herself, opting to take a walk to clear her weary head.



Miroku shifted uncomfortably as he meditated in Kaede's hut. Since he had been given his own hut, which he had been sharing with Kagome, Kaede's had been a place to visit rather than a place to reside. The hostile glares Miroku was receiving from Inuyasha were drilling into his consciousness, even with his eyes closed. Almost ready to give in and head home, Miroku was startled by the sound of Inuyasha standing. Opening his eyes, Miroku was met with the sight of one pissed off human male.



“Fuck this, monk. You pretend you love her, but all you do is fuck her. She's out there crying and all you do is sit her like a pansy-assed idiot. I'm going to show her what it's really like to be cared for...”



Miroku's move to protest was cut of with a snarl from the human.



“Don't fucking think about it!” Inuyasha ground out. “You think given a choice between us, she'd pick you?”



Miroku felt as if he had been slapped. No, Miroku had been slapped before; this was much, much worse. Miroku felt like he had been grabbed by the balls, lifted three feet off the floor, slammed back down and kicked repeatedly. All because of one little fact.



Kagome most definitely wouldn't pick Miroku.



Stumbling to his feet, Miroku bid goodbye to Kaede before drunkenly stumbling to his hut where he could freely break down in a heap of pain. With no moon to guide his path and no light to greet him, Miroku revelled in the darkness, wondering if this was how his void felt when it ate a person whole.



- - - - - - - - - -



Kagome wandered aimlessly about the village, weaving about footpaths that led to and from small streams and gardens. The stars provided their meagre light and Kagome found herself following more by memory than by sight. How many moments had she spent by this riverside with Sango, washing clothing or getting water for one of the many families in this village? There was the clearing where the children played by daytime and where Miroku had made a habit of...



Kagome blushed as she thought of the monk's hands sliding over her naked body. His sexual prowess was enviable. Even in her own time, Kagome was certain he was a rarity among lovers – attentive, exacting... insatiable.



Kagome could almost feel Miroku's hands pulling her hair over her shoulder to bare her neck, could almost feel his breath on her skin, could almost feel his lips... whoa!



Kagome whirled around, practically knocking out Inuyasha who had been laying on the seduction in thick, unmistakable waves.



“Inuyasha?” Kagome breathlessly oriented herself. His mouth on her skin had enticed thoughts of another dark-haired man, one with shorter hair and darker eyes.



“Kagome.” Inuyasha stalked forward, his husky voice belying his intent.



“What... what are you doing?” Kagome backed away slowly, uncertain as to why she felt so exposed



“Giving you what you've wanted for so long,” Inuyasha breathed, grasping her arms firmly but with a gentle caress. “What we've both wanted...”



Inuyasha tried to kiss Kagome, but all she could think about was Miroku. A certain guilt made her push away at her would-be lover.



“Who are you to tell me what I want, huh?” Kagome demanded, her fury overshadowing her guilt. “You were the one who told me that I wasn't good enough. What happened to your 'true love'? Did she tell you to fuck off, or are you expecting both of us to swoon for you?”



Inuyasha grimaced, averting his eyes at the accusation.



“That was it?! You wanted both of us? One lover not good enough?” Kagome stomped past Inuyasha, heading anywhere but where he was. “Not happening, Inuyasha. You made it perfectly clear that I needed to move on, so guess what? I did.”



Not waiting for a response, Kagome hurried back to the village in the darkness, her heart hammering in her chest. She had been offered the one thing she had thought she wanted more than anything else... but when it came down to it, Inuyasha had made her feel so... dirty.



Kagome's mind inserted images of other nights, moonlit nights, where she and Miroku had shared intimate moments together. Deep thrusts and shallow breaths, rough bark and soft skin, together they had joined again and again under that bright lunar illumination.



Standing in the darkness facing Miroku's empty hut, it was strange that Kagome would have such clarity when there was no light at all.