Later that day, while Inuyasha was out on an errand, Miroku dropped by the hut. It wasn’t a coincidence he was stopping by when Inuyasha was gone. Shifty-eyed, the monk slipped past the door curtain without so much as a word to announce his presence. Normally, this would have startled Kagome senseless, but she was expecting him. She’d given him the signal earlier that morning from across the village square. Hefting herself up from the table where she’d been dicing herb stalks, she padded over to him.

“No one saw you?” she asked, taking him by the arm and leading him toward the back of the hut where they’d be more comfortable. “Not even Kohaku-kun?”

Miroku shook his head, trailing after her. “No—I’m certain.”

“Good,” Kagome said with a sigh. 

There were prying eyes everywhere in town, so for him to have snuck out here unnoticed was nothing short of a miracle. But then Miroku could be quite sneaky when he needed to be. As he lowered himself to a cushion by the bed, Kagome followed him down. At once, she reached for his lapels, opening them up to bare his chest. Miroku chuckled as she did so.

“Slow down, Kagome-sama.” His violet eyes glittered suggestively. “Please, take your time.”

Kagome scowled, releasing his shirtfront abruptly. “Very funny,” she said, turning to retrieve her stethoscope from a trunk nearby. “Some things never change, I guess.”

“Your beauty for one,” the monk said smoothly, unabashed. “Now, Kagome-sama, don’t glare at me for appreciating it. A married man must get his thrills where he can.”

Kagome couldn’t help but take a little vindictive pleasure at the way he winced when she pressed the icy metal chestpiece to his skin. Once a lecher, always a lecher, she figured, shaking her head. Getting married had stayed Miroku’s wandering hand, but that was about it.

Or maybe flirting with her a bit was his way of taking his mind off other things.

Listening to his heart, Kagome tried not to frown. She could feel him watching her like a hawk. Taking off the stethoscope, she dug out her notes, double-checked them. Jotted down what she’d just observed.

“Well?” he prompted.

Kagome set down her notes, looking to him. She wouldn’t lie to him.

“It’s beating a little faster.”

The monk smiled suavely. “Must be the effect that you—”

“Miroku.”

“Just a little?” he asked her, sobering slightly. When Kagome nodded, he gave a wave. “It was stressful, of course, arriving here undetected.”

Kagome nodded again, somewhat forced. The trouble was, his pulse was already elevated far more than it should be, given his age and otherwise perfect health.

“Is your arm still feeling numb from time to time?”

“Some, I think,” Miroku replied, standing up. “But it’s hard to say. I might just be imagining it, by dwelling upon it.” Quickly, he added, “I’m certain, though, that the medicine has helped. I don’t get so fatigued now, nor short of breath.”

Kagome stood up as well. Crossing over to a shelf, she dug out a few fresh containers of pills Inuyasha had brought back for her from the Modern Era, on written request. Over-the-counter stuff, mostly. Though her mother was a nurse, Kagome would never put her in the spot of procuring anything too risky. 

The only time Kagome had smuggled restricted pharmaceuticals back to Sengoku Jidai, she had done it herself. Only that one time, and she was still paying the price for it. But she’d do it all over again in a heartbeat.

Forcing that thought aside, she handed the pills to Miroku.

“This should tide you over for a while,” she said. “But you’ll tell me right away if things get worse, won’t you?” Before he could evade the question, Kagome put her hands on her hips and fixed him with a stern look. “I know you don’t want Sango-chan to find out. I know you don’t want her to worry, but don’t push yourself too hard, Miroku-sama. For her and your children’s sake, promise me you won’t.”

“I won’t,” Miroku said, secreting the pills away in his robe, “I promise.” Crossing over to the curtain, he peeked through it slyly before smiling back to her in parting. “Thank you, my friend. Join us for dinner soon, won’t you?”

Kagome mustered a smile back. 

Not five minutes later, Inuyasha barrelled through the door in Miroku’s wake, a bunch of pale gnarled roots swinging from his claws. Kagome did start in surprise then. She’d thought those roots would’ve taken him much longer to sniff out.

“Inuyasha,” she said, her heart pounding, “you’re back already—”

“What was he doing here?” her husband demanded, advancing upon her with amber eyes flashing. When her lips parted in question, he bit out, “Miroku. I saw him walking away from here looking suspicious.” His searing glare raked over her. “And so do you.”

Kagome drew herself up, indignant. “Really, Inuyasha?” When he just continued balefully to glare, she said, “Yeah, he dropped by. He invited us over for dinner.”

“Dinner,” Inuyasha spat, stalking toward her.

“Yes, dinner,” Kagome said briskly. “Is that so hard to believe? He’s your best friend, happily married to your other best friend. Get a hold of yourself.”

Inuyasha’s ears flattened. The roots strangled in his clutch.

“I don’t like him coming around when I’m not here. No other guys should be around you when I’m not here.” Fuming, he amended nastily, “Except Sesshoumaru, maybe. But only because he doesn’t count as a man.”

Kagome was torn between feeling guilt-stricken and exasperated. 

“For Kami’s sake, Inuyasha, I’m a village priestess. People need to feel like they can come to me. That they can confide in me.”

“That’s fine,” he said, crossing his arms. “Whatever they have to say to you, they can say in front of me.”

Kagome was incensed. “Just because you’re my husband doesn’t mean you’re entitled to know everything that I do. ”

“Damn if it doesn’t,” Inuyasha snarled. His glinting claw streaked toward her. “You’re my wife before anything else. There shouldn’t be any secrets between us. Ever.”

Furious, Kagome turned away. For once she was grateful that Inuyasha thought reading was ‘stupid’ and ‘boring’ because he only knew a few characters, and so her notes and their secrets would remain safe with her.

---

Inuyasha © Rumiko Takahashi

Revised 4/3/23

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