The Other Side of Kazaana

A/N Thanks for the reviews! And…sorry about the sucky editing, yet again. I just can’t seem to get in the editing groove lately. Ah well. Hope you enjoy it, ‘cause, well…

…LEMON warning, yee ha.

Chapter 9 - Showing Miroku


Inuyasha heard Miroku’s breathing suddenly grow overly rapid and shallow. Poor monk, he hadn’t been this panicked around a group of men since that first day in the village. I wonder if it’s because they’re youkai, he thought. Reaching down, he pulled him close and nuzzled his soft hair a moment.

“Hey, don’t worry, they aren’t going to hurt you.” he said, trying to keep his voice low and calm. When Miroku’s scent suddenly spiked in fear in again, Inuyasha started to get worried. Was this too much for him to handle, for some reason? The pack was already starting to spread out to greet Kagome or check out the campsite, but Miroku still wasn’t mellowing. Inuyasha wrapped his other arm around his waist and tucked him under his chin, trying to make him feel safe. He really didn’t like that the little monk was getting this scared!

“Shhhhh, you’re safe, Little One, the wolves aren’t going to do anything.” Inuyasha wrinkled his nose as the fear ebbed and spiky, rather acrid anger took its place. What in the world was wrong with Miroku today?

“Let go, Inuyasha.” Miroku growled, pushing at his arms. “I’m not a small child who –“ his voice stopped and the monk stared over at Sango.

“S-Sango??” he choked, and Inuyasha, keeping a close eye on him, glanced over and smiled a moment.

“She’s not gonna listen for a few minutes, Miroku. They haven’t seen each other in almost a month now. Trust me, you’re not gonna get a word outta her.”

“But…but…she…and both of them??” Miroku was still in a state of shock, obviously.

“Yeah, it’s kinda unusual to have two mates at a time, but it works for ‘em.”

“But…how…?’

Inuyasha snorted. “Look, they didn’t say, and I sure as hell didn’t ask the logistics of it, monk.”

“No! I don’t mean… I mean… “

Kouga had walked over and was looking with them. “Personally, I think the only reason it works is because between the two of them they might, possibly, have enough to make up one whole brain.”

“But…Ginta and Hakkaku?! Sango is with…Ginta and Hakkaku?!!!!!” Inuyasha looked at Sango and the two males, curious what about it made Miroku so stunned. Nothing that shocking, he didn’t think, just the three of them making out, Ginta and Hakkaku fawning over her body like always.

“Yeah. Another ‘didn’t happen where I’m from’ moment for ya, huh?” Inuyasha asked, and Miroku shook his head.

“No, definitely not. I just…Ginta and Hakkaku?? They’re so… they’re just such…”

“…idiots.” Kouga finished, shaking his head. “Sweet guys, but idiots just the same. I swear, sometimes I’m amazed they lived to be adults. But hey, at least they’ve got somebody else who has to worry about ordering them around when they need it, now that Sango’s around.”

Miroku looked slightly more stunned, if that was possible, and Kouga snorted. “What, that surprises you? I mean, really, there’s only one person in that group who’s got a penis, and it sure as hell ain’t those two dorks.”

“Yeah,” said Inuyasha, smiling as Sango and the two youkai started to make their way out of camp, arms around waists and shoulders as they leaned against each other, “but she’s got two males who make her laugh. I wasn’t even sure she could do that when I first met her. She was so bitter and angry and withdrawn…”

“You’ve just described everyone in your whole damn group except Kagome, dumbass.” Kouga snorted, then looked at him slyly. “Good thing everyone seems to be finding someone to make them laugh again, eh?” Inuyasha stiffened, looking down at Miroku’s head to check if the monk had heard and sighing in relief as he still seemed intent on Sango.

“Shut up, idiot.” Inuyasha whispered fiercely, and then could have kicked himself as Miroku suddenly froze.

“Let me go, Inuyasha.” He said, in the same tone he’d used before.

Releasing him, Inuyasha grabbed one of his arms to turn Miroku around. He leaned forward to look down into Miroku’s face. “What the hell is wrong, monk? You’re acting really weird today.”

Miroku’s scent jumped again and he flushed, taking a step away from Inuyasha as he yanked his arm free.

“I-Inuyasha, I need to talk to you.” he said finally, rubbing his hand over his face. “In private, please.”

Kouga raised his eyebrows while Inuyasha nodded, wondering what they were going to talk about. The wolves? Sango?

“Sure, we can go out this way. It’s away from the water, so I doubt any of the wolves will come around.”

“I’ll make sure they keep away.” Kouga said, winking, and Inuyasha glared at him. Stupid ookami was going to freak Miroku out if he wasn’t careful. Miroku merely nodded and walked next to Inuyasha, letting him lead the way for a number of minutes until they could no longer hear any of the sounds from the camp.

“So, what’d you wanna talk about?”

Miroku took a deep breath and Inuyasha saw rosy color wash over his face at the same time. “Inuyasha, I need to know….what really happened last night?”

Silence reigned as Inuyasha tried to get his brain to start working enough to form words. He knew? He remembered?? Except, he wouldn’t be asking if he remembered, but then again, why would he be asking if he didn’t remember?

“Eh…wh-what do you think happened last night?” he finally got out, and Miroku flushed darker.

“I don’t remember, you idiot, that’s why I’m asking.”

“I- well-“ Inuyasha debated on how much to tell him.

Miroku swallowed and closed his eyes tightly. “Were we…intimate?” he whispered.

“Eh, well, define intimate.”

“Define?” Miroku choked, opening his eyes.

“Well, yeah, there’s different levels of intimacy and stuff.”

“Levels? Darn it, you…. I’m asking if we had sex last night!!”

Inuyasha’s breath wooshed out of him. “Sex? Oh, is that it. Nope, we didn’t have sex.”

Miroku sagged in relief, but Inuyasha couldn’t help his ear’s constant twitching and he flinched as Miroku focused in on it. “But we did do…something, didn’t we?” Miroku sighed, still watching him.

“Well, people are always doing something or other…”

“We did something sexual together, didn’t we?” Miroku asked again, his hands clenched tightly on his shakujou as Inuyasha slowly nodded.

Dammit, Miroku knew. He didn’t know how the young man had figured it out, but he obviously knew. Crap. Inuyasha closed his eyes, worried and trying to figure out what to do. What was Miroku going to do now? Was he going to completely lose it? Or try to run away? He felt his youkai growl low and start to seep into his consciousness at the thought and he tried to regain the control that was slipping through his fingers. He tried to persuade the stupid demon that Miroku wasn’t going to leave them, but as he didn’t entirely believe it himself, it fell flat. The youkai pushed a little more and he felt like he must be twitching with the effort of keeping control.

“What did we do?” Miroku asked insistently, and Inuyasha’s scarlet eyes flew open.

“What did we do last night?” Inuyasha repeated in a low, growling voice. “Why don’t I show you….” Before Miroku could move, Inuyasha grabbed him by the arms and pulled him close as he began to kiss him. Miroku pulled his head back frantically.

“Inuyasha, what are you doing? Mmmmm!!!” Inuyasha put one arm around his head and pulled him in close to cover his mouth, plunging his tongue into him roughly. Miroku pushed at him one more time and then felt himself start to sink into the kiss, the slick wet heat and exotic taste of it sizzling through his head and down his body until he felt his dick start to respond. He gasped for air as Inuyasha released him suddenly, and stared at the hanyou in shock.

“You kissed me?” he panted, trying not to wince at the crimson stare directed back at him.

“Did I say show and tell was over with, Little One?” Inuyasha’s voice was even deeper now, and Miroku was starting to get worried about the youkai being in control. What was it going to do? Miroku swallowed heavily and took an awkward step away. This wasn’t quite what he’d been expecting when he’s asked for some privacy.

“Take off the robes, Miroku.” Inuyasha ordered, and Miroku hung on to them tightly.

“I don’t wish to,” he wasn’t really expecting him to strip, was he?

“Take them off or I’m cutting them off again.” Inuyasha threatened, and Miroku flinched. He didn’t think there was another set of robes in the entire village, and he really didn’t feel like walking around, barely clothed, as he begged for scraps to make a new one.

“Wh-why?”

Inuyasha smiled and stepped forward to run a gentle claw down his cheek and across his lips. “You’ll see. Don’t worry, I’m not going to hurt you.”

Swallowing again, Miroku debated and finally sighed and started untying his robes. The youkai hadn’t hurt him when it had taken over before, had he? And he’d said they hadn’t had sex, so this wasn’t likely to go far. Although it might be a bit embarrassing, depending on exactly what had happened. Freeing himself completely, he folded his robes neatly and set them on the ground, flushing as he realized he was still highly aroused from Inuyasha’s kiss, and that it was rather…prominent… with just his fundoshi on.

“The loincloth too. Take it off.” Inuyasha ordered, and Miroku paused before complying. He didn’t really want to fight the youkai too directly; he just couldn’t shake the feeling of pushing his luck when he did. Shifting nervously as he stood naked in front of Inuyasha, fighting the urge to cover himself with his hands. Inuyasha looked at him for a moment before he started taking off his suikan, laying it on the ground in such a careful way that Miroku was starting to get very, very nervous. Inuyasha had said that they didn’t have sex, didn’t he? Worrying, Miroku looked up in surprise as he realized the hanyou was already nude as well and sitting on the ground.

“Come here.” He ordered again, and Miroku took one step forward before he faltered.

“What are you going to do?” he whispered, embarrassed that he was even in this situation with Inuyasha, and ever more embarrassed that his member seemed to be happy it was in this situation with Inuyasha. It didn’t make any sense. Inuyasha was a man, and Miroku was attracted to women. End of story. So why did the sight of Inuyasha running his eyes over his body make him feel shivery and aroused? What the hell was going on??

Inuyasha’s eyes narrowed as Miroku stopped, and he growled and jumped at him, scooping him up to deposit back on top of his clothing flat on his back.

“Inuyasha!”

“You can’t hide over there. I told you, I’m going to show you…” he said, and kissed him again until Miroku’s feet were trying to pull themselves into fists while his hands grabbed restlessly in Inuyasha’s hair. Miroku looked up at him with wide eyes as Inuyasha pulled back.

“How can you… what are you doing to me?!” Miroku whispered, feeling rather frightened that Inuyasha could make him feel as aroused as he was feeling.


“Only good things, I promise.” Inuyasha said, happily absorbing Miroku’s arousal into his senses. “Really, really good things.” He murmured as he moved his mouth away from Miroku’s and down his body, nipping at his chest and licking down his stomach.

“Inuyasha, what are you doing, I don’t think…Gods!” Inuyasha took Miroku’s whole erection into his mouth in one shot, counting on the shock to keep the monk still a moment. He suckled hard as he let one of his hands fondle Miroku’s sac, gripping it and releasing it rhythmically as he started to move his mouth over Miroku’s staff.

“Inuyasha!! You shouldn’t be…. This isn’t… Nnnnnnngggg, please… ohhhh, yess. Aaaaaah, Buddha save me, I – I-“ Miroku’s hips were already starting to push forward against Inuyasha’s mouth and he felt immensely pleased that his mate was getting aroused just as quickly when he was sober as he had when he was drunk. Although that meant he should probably hurry if he really did want to create the previous night. Hearing Miroku moan loudly, he slowly pulled his mouth away, pressing the tip of Miroku’s erection with his tongue before he released him completely.


Looking down at the flushed, confused man on the ground before him, Inuyasha and his youkai both felt pleased and terribly, terribly proud that they had managed it. Sentience was just creeping back into Miroku’s eyes as Inuyasha leaned back over.

“Time to turn over, Little one. Your bottom and I have a few things we need to discuss.”

“Eh??” Miroku’s eyes widened a moment before he yelped as Inuyasha flipped him skillfully, placing a firm hand on his back to keep him pinned. He stopped a moment to admire the small red mark on his ass, touching it softly with one finger before he started moving his hands over his body, smoothing them up his back and down his sides to cup his bottom and squeeze. One had reached through his legs to caress along his seam and rub against his balls again.

“Ohhhh, I don’t- OH!” Inuyasha gripped his sac tightly and smiled, loving the way Miroku jumped and moaned suddenly under his touch. He took his hand from his bottom to support himself as he leaned down and nibbled along Miroku’s spine. When he reached where his mate’s neck met his shoulders, he leaned against him, letting his chest rest against his back, his erection cradled by his ass. Miroku stiffened and started squirming.

“N-no!” Miroku stuttered, and Inuyasha frowned as the monk’s scent started to turn from arousal to fear.

That wasn’t right. He didn’t want to frighten him; he wanted to make him feel good. His youkai submerged instantly and let him take over. “Miroku, please, calm down, it’s okay. Hey, it’s just me. It’s just Inuyasha.” He murmured, kissing along the back of his neck. The fear didn’t rise, but he was worried that Miroku was still frightened.

“I promise, I’m not going to hurt you.” he said quietly, rubbing his hands down Miroku’s arms. “Just…can you give me five minutes?” he pleaded as Miroku stilled. “Just five minutes to show you what we did last night, and if it hurts, or you don’t wanna do anything else after five minutes, I’ll stop. C-can you do that for me?”

“I- “Miroku stuttered to a stop, but he wasn’t’ struggling anymore, just laying quietly underneath Inuyasha’s hands. “We shouldn’t do this. It’s not-“

“You really liked it last night.” Inuyasha murmured, bringing his mouth up close to the nape of his neck again to blow softly against it.

“I did?” Miroku’s voice broke slightly as Inuyasha nibbled along the line of his shoulder and gripped his sac again, and the hanyou smiled as the fear scent started to fade. “I liked th-this?”

“Mmmmm hmmmm. You liked it a hell of a lot, actually.” He added, and then grinned when he smelled Miroku’s arousal climb again and heard his muffled voice.

“F-five minutes. But that’s all!”

Five minutes was all he’d need, Inuyasha thought smugly, and he started to slowly lick his way down the man’s back, pausing a moment to grab a tiny vial he’d tied to his hakama after last night. He didn’t know what he’d been thinking, to start things without it before, but he was prepared now. A few drops from the vial were placed on Miroku’s lily white backside and Inuyasha started to rub the oil in slowly, kneading the firm flesh between his palms and Miroku started to relax. Inuyasha kept his hands rhythmic and slow as he worked, massaging Miroku’s bottom until he could only smell the man’s slight arousal in the air.

Good, he wasn’t frightened anymore.

He smiled, and started to move his hands in larger circles, his thumbs carefully, casually getting closer and closer to the cleft in between Miroku’s firm cheeks on every pass. Slowly, trying to make it seem as natural a progression as possible, Inuyasha’s thumbs started to press in as he circled towards the center, pulling out firmly so that the monk’s cheeks were splayed just slightly open as he circled back towards the edge of his hips.

Miroku’s legs tightened and he moved his hips restlessly, his arousal climbing as Inuyasha pressed in furrther and pull him apart with more pressure. He paused a moment to dribble more oil over Miroku’s opening, continuing the massage with his thumbs sliding slickly over the small hole as he moved his hands back and forth. When the monk was moaning rather frantically, he slowed his hands and swallowed slightly. His little mate was obviously enjoying it; his scent was flooded with arousal. Was it enough for him to accept what followed? Watching closely, he kept one hand sliding over the monk’s bottom while he slid one finger carefully in the oil and pushed very gently at the entrance to Miroku’s body.

Miroku squirmed slightly but otherwise continued to moan in time with Inuyasha’s stroking, his hips moving very slightly. Inuyasha smiled a bit and pressed harder, the tip of his finger meeting a small resistance before it started to slide in. Miroku’s hips bucked and he froze. Inuyasha rubbed carefully inside Miroku’s body, barely moving, and Miroku’s body started moving again, writhing slightly. Holding his breath, Inuyasha slid the finger in further, and Miroku’s whole body jumped as he managed to rub against the spot he knew was supposed to feel fantastic. He rubbed it again and Miroku gasped and tightened his buttocks as he thrust forward involuntarily.

“Wh-what did you, NNNNNNNNN, AAAAAAH!.” Miroku shuddered violently as Inuyasha rubbed the little spot inside him again, and Inuyasha chuckled.

“I told you that you liked it, didn’t I?” he was starting to feel his own arousal climb, now that Mirokus wasn’t frightened anymore. Watching his beautiful pale skin glistening with the oil, his body writhinge desperately every time Inuyasha moved his hand, Inuyasha really, really wanted to take this farther than they’d gone the night before. If he did it slowly, would Miroku let him take him? Would he be able to slide into that tight heat and feel the monk convulse around him? As Miroku writhed underneath him again, he couldn’t help but try.

“This might stretch a bit, Little One, but I swear it’ll feel good.” He said, carefully sliding in another finger. Miroku moaned again and to Inuyasha’s surprise, his hips arched back a bit to take in both his fingers deeper.

Shit, he likes it! Inuyasha felt himself almost drooling as Miroku’s body tried to move in time with his fingers. He tried to prepare him as long as he could, pressing in, moving his fingers to spread him slowly open, but in less than a minute, Miroku looked so close to cumming that he had to stop. Inuyasha took a few deep breaths. He was so close to actually getting to be inside that lovely, pale body. Would he be able to …complete this?

His fingers still, deep inside Miroku’s body that was squirming violently around them, Inuyasha leaned up again.

“Miroku…I really want to… I want to make love to you. I- Can I? Please?” Inuyasha winced at how stupidly the words came out.

Miroku didn’t seem to care. “Love?” he whimpered, still writhing.

“Uh huh. It’ll feel really good…”

“G-good?” Miroku moved his body, eyes closed as he pushed himself onto Inuyasha’s fingers. Small, keening cries escaped his throat and Inuyasha thought they were about the cutest, most erotic sounds he’d ever heard in his life.

“Really Good.” He purred softly, moving his hand to try and encourage the little sounds to continue.

“Yesss.” Miroku burst out as Inuyasha continued to move his hand slowly. “Yesss. Yes, yes, yes!”

Inuyasha smiled, ecstatic. Yes! He pulled out his fingers and pulled up on Miroku’s hips as the Monk continued to keen. Gulping, he looked down at the man underneath him, on his knees, trusting himself to Inuyasha as the hanyou carefully grasped his bottom and slid his palms over it, pulling the two globes apart slightly as he pressed against the entrance.

Miroku gasped and his body suddenly stilled. “I…Aaaaaah, Ieeee!”

Inuyasha tried to calm him as he continued to slowly press in. “Shhhhhh, I know it’s tight. It’s okay, it’s okay, I won’t hurt you.” he felt a slight give as his head pushed through and Miroku’s body clamped down behind it. Oh Gods, it felt so fucking good! He stopped, reveling in the feel of it as he tried to let Miroku’s body adjust.

“I-Inuyasha! AAAAAAH, hurts! P-please!!”

Inuyasha could feel him start to get frightened again, his muscles clamping down tightly as he tensed to pull away. Inuyasha grabbed his hips with one hand while he leaned over him and softly caressed Miroku’s manhood with the other. “I’m not moving. See, I’m just staying totally still. Not moving at all. I won’t go any farther if you don’t wanna, okay. But…another five minutes? Just to get used to me? Let me see if I can make it start to feel good.” He gripped Miroku’s staff tightly as he started to move his hand and Miroku moaned again.

“I-“

“Just five minutes? “ he murmured, licking gently at the back of the little monk’s neck as he strove desperately not to move and keep his promise to his mate. It was just…he felt so fucking tight!

“Nnnnnnggg, aaa. F-five mi…nnnnn.” Miroku gasped, grunting suddenly as Inuyasha tightened his hand around him. He moaned, low in his throat, and Inuyasha’s hand continued to caress along his erection, enclosing it snugly in his hand as he played with the tip, rolling the skin in his fingers, pulling at it in slow strokes until Miroku’s hips started pulsing in time with his hands.

Inuaysha waited, Miroku’s breathing growing quicker and panting again as his body moved underneath him, and then as Miroku’s hips pushed backwards to give the little monk the leverage to press against his hand, Inuyasha moved, thrusting incrementally each time Miroku’s body moved backwards. The slow, careful entrance made him grit his teeth, praying for the strength not to just plunge into the heat that gripped him as though Miroku was deliberately trying to make him lose control. He’d been right. Miroku was small, and tight, and hot and he wanted to feel encased in it completely.

When he’d managed to slip most of his length inside, Miroku shivered a moment and his muscles tightened so forcefully that Inuyasha cried out and thrust the rest of the way in. Miroku gasped, his back arching as he was pushed forward suddenly.

“I’m sorry, shhhhhh. Shhhhhhh, that was the worst of it. That was the hardest part. You’re doing so well, Miroku. And you feel so good…you’re so hot.” His hand moved down to the ground to support him as he leaned over Miroku’s back, tasting him in geodesic patterns as he let his tongue roam across his skin. He pulled out an inch and pushed back in, slowly at first, just the one inch of movement, until Miroku was vocalizing plaintively, his body moving in time with Inuyasha.

Smelling his arousal, feeling how slickly he could slide in, Inuyasha started moving more, slowly pulling out all the way and watching himself disappear inside Miroku’s body with increasing speed, hearing his mate panting with little gasping sobs as he opened for him.

“Inuyashaaaaa!” Miroku’s hand were clenched on the ground as his thrusts grew harder, pushed him deeper, and Inuyasha leaned up, grabbing the monk’s hips with both hands.

“Aaaaaaah. Yes. Yes. Yes. YES!” Miroku started chanting over and over as Inuyasha plunged into his body, barely holding back until he felt the monk convulsing around him, his seed spreading beneath him as he screamed out and Inuyasha plunged in and finally let himself come with a ragged yell. He clung to Miroku’s hips, shaking.

“Gods. Miroku that was…Gods.” He took a shaky breath, leaning over the monk again to hug him tightly around the waist as Miroku’s hips slowly slid towards the ground. “You really are wonderful, Miroku. That was so…damn, I don’t even have words.” He laughed at himself slightly, basking in the glow of Miroku’s acceptance.

He’d let him make love to him!

Miroku lay underneath him silently, letting Inuyasha embrace him for a few moments. As Inuyasha finally pulled out and lay on his back, Miroku turned his head to look at him, resting his cheek on his bent arms, his eyes shadowed and vulnerable. Inuyasha swallowed as he saw Miroku’s flushed, sweaty face.

“I-I thought you said we didn’t have sex last night.” Miroku whispered, still laying on his stomach.

“We didn’t.” Inuyasha said haltingly, watching him closely, “I got a little carried away.”

“Ah, I see.”

Miroku continued to stare at him and Inuyasha fought the urge to talk and break the rather awkward silence. Miroku seemed like he wanted to say something, and Inuyasha wasn’t going to go and screw things up by talking out his ass like he usually did, even if what he really wanted to do was to jump up and down like a loon and yell out “I just had the best sex, EVER! With my MATE! HA!”

After a few minutes, Inuyasha was concerned to see that Miroku’s scent was changing rapidly from aroused to something he couldn’t figure out. Sad? Angry? The little monk sighed once, closing his eyes. He pushed up to sit gingerly on Inuyasha’s suikan, looking down in embarrassment at the stain he’d made underneath.

“I’m sorry, I soiled your clothes.” He said softly, looking down at it.

“Don’t worry about it.” It was soooo fucking worth it; who gives a rat’s ass about a little dirty clothing?!!

“I’m sorry.” Miroku said again, standing up and walking over to his clothes. Putting them on carefully, avoiding Inuyasha’s eyes, he dressed quickly. As he grabbed his staff, he stared into the woods away from the hanyou. “I think I need to be alone for a little while.” He mumbled.

“What? Why?” Why was he acting so fucking defeated?? What the hell was wrong? Had it been that awful? Had he FORCED him and not even realized it? “Miroku, did I hurt you? I thought you were okay…after the first few minutes…did you tell me to stop?”

Miroku shook his head and continued to look away from him, “No. No, I didn’t tell you to stop. I…enjoyed it. But I’d still like to be alone. Please?” He finally looked at him, his face drawn.

Inuyasha’s chest felt tight as he watched his mate withdrawing from him and he nodded slowly. Watching as Miroku turned and walked away from him, he wanted to reach out and grab him and hold him close until he erased that horribly sad, lost look on that beautiful face.

What had he done?


Miroku walked away from Inuyasha, clutching his staff until his knuckles turned white.

It was ruined. Everything. He’d just had to find out, had to confront Inuyasha, and now things could never be the same again.

It was all ruined.

Inuyasha had made love to him, and it had been…

…wonderful. Fantastic, mind blowing, amazing, gut wrenching.

Only how was he supposed to act around Inuyasha now?

The big hanyou had touched him, aroused him, taken him until he’d screamed. He’d made Miroku feel something toward him that the monk wasn’t sure what to do with. He’d always loved the hanyou as a true friend, and suddenly, it was something more that he didn’t recognize.

He wasn’t sure he wanted to recognize it. All he knew for sure was that he couldn’t go back to the way he’d been before. He couldn’t simply treat Inuyasha as another friend after something like this; it wasn’t in him. It was probably the real reason he’d never made any real push for Sango. It wasn’t that he couldn’t have a sexual encounter without becoming close to his partner, but if he had a sexual encounter with someone he was already close to…he couldn’t disregard it.

The intimacy was there now. For him, at least. He wasn’t sure about Inuyasha. The hanyou had been uncharacteristically silent in the aftermath. Had it been a momentary encounter for him, or something more? Miroku really needed to think about exactly how it had changed his feelings inside before he talked to Inuyasha about it. He hoped whatever feelings it had brought to the surface didn’t make living within this group untenable. He didn’t want to lose what he’d had with the others.

He didn’t want to lose his friend, either.

He sighed, closing his eyes as he rested his forehead against his staff, and almost fell as it was suddenly jerked out of his hands. A rough hand clamped a cloth over his mouth from behind as another arm wrapped around his throat. He kicked back, twisting as he tried to break the hold and get free, cursing in his head as the man flowed behind him, matching his movements. Feeling his limbs start to go numb, he tried to break something, injure some part of the bastard so he could get away or call for help. His arms reached up weakly, barely scratching the arm around his neck, their strength already lost.

As he started to go under, the man behind him chuckled and murmured into his ear, leaving him with horror following him into blackness.

“Hello, Pretty One. Did you miss me?”