Fruits Basket Fan Fiction / InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Inuyasha Basket ❯ Chapter Twenty-One: Fear ( Chapter 21 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

Chapter Twenty-One

Fear

Miroku and Shigure walked in silence through the dark forest for a while. Miroku glanced at the hanyou dog. “What do you think of all this?”

Shigure sighed. “It's nothing I didn't see coming, I suppose. Doesn't mean that it's fair, though.” Hatori was always the one looking out for everyone else. It didn't seem fair to him, either, but that was what was called “fate,” was it not? He sighed. “I suppose that in a few days, we won't remember any of this. It's a shame, but… Hatori-san is right.”

“Hm.” Miroku stopped. “We shouldn't go too far.”

Shigure was in no mood to go back to the village and face Hatori again. He looked around, then sat down, leaning back against a tree. “Then we can stop here, and walk back later.” He looked up at the patch of stars, trying to find the dog. He wasn't in the right position, though, so he gave up. After a moment's hesitancy, Miroku sat down beside him. “Well, what do you think?”

Miroku sighed. “Doing all this—with all of us together--we truly have a chance of destroying Naraku for good. However, with our memories gone, it will be back to the way things were, when we were struggling just to survive,” he said quietly. “And even so… I don't want to be forced to forget something.”

Shigure nodded. “I've seen what happens after a person's memories are erased. Usually… they're happier, or there is no change.” He glanced at Miroku. “I think, though, that this instance might be different—in a way.” He thought that some part of him would always feel like something was missing. Not just a memory, but a person. He really just felt sorry for Hatori, though. The dragon always suffered alone, with no one to share his pain. How could he bear it?

Miroku nodded. He would forget many people. And what had gone on in the past two days… well, so much had changed. Sesshomaru and his group were with them, and even Kikyou was with them. And the thing of it was, is that no one really seemed to mind. Sesshomaru and Inuyasha weren't at each other's throats. Sesshomaru was too wrapped up with Ayame (sometimes literally) and Inuyasha wasn't about to ruin the uneasy peace. Kikyou was around, and Kagome wasn't getting upset about it. Sango wasn't slapping Miroku either. In fact, since the Sohma family and Tohru had come into their lives, everything seemed to have taken a turn for the better. It was such a shame that everyone would forget this had ever happened.

“Since you have come here, everything has only improved, except for Akito and Naraku. It all seems like such a waste to have these memories erased.”

“It would be better for you—in a lot of ways,” Shigure agreed. “But think about how Ayame would feel to be separated from Sesshomaru. Think about how Momiji would feel about Rin. Yuki and Sango…” He shook his head. “Does the good outweigh the bad? I think that, when we leave, you would all hate each other afterwards.”

Miroku sighed. It was probably true. Sango would be pining after Yuki. Inuyasha would mope about losing Kyou. Kagome would be whining over losing Haru. And Miroku, he would…

“I think I would miss you more than the others,” Shigure admitted.

“I…”

He looked at the monk. “You're someone who can empathize with me, and thinks the same way.” He looked back up at the sky. “Yes, if I could remember you, I would miss you.”

Miroku didn't know what to say, but he didn't have to say anything. Shigure had leaned forward and kissed him again. At first, he was frozen, then slowly he melted into the hanyou's touch. He felt roving hands on his clothing. His eyes opened with surprise, then slowly relaxed. It was fine. They could do this.

When you realize that you won't remember something, no matter what, a lot of things cease to be important—like boundaries, for example.

The barrier of clothing was quickly cast aside, unneeded and unwanted. Shigure laid Miroku down gently.

“I've never…” Miroku said slowly.

Shigure nodded. “I thought so. Just relax, okay?” Shigure wished vaguely that he had lube. Oh, for the modern world… Ah, well. Spit would have to do. How uncouth. At least it accomplished the same thing. He sucked on his fingers for a moment, then positioned the first one. “This is going to feel a bit weird, but bear with it.” He eased his way in. Miroku made a sour face. Shigure chuckled a little, watching the monk's halfway erect member harden further as he began to move his finger. He slipped another finger in when he thought the other was ready for it. He couldn't wait to put his cock inside there, but he convinced himself to wait. Just be patient.

With his free hand, he lubricated himself with spit (something he tried not to think about), and rubbed himself. Miroku was ready for a third finger. He pushed inside. Almost there… Finally, the monk was ready for him completely. He withdrew his fingers and moved into position, looking at him for a moment. He leaned down and kissed him again, gently easing in to him.

Miroku had always thought there was a reason to men having sex—pleasure, of course. Women were for pleasure and reproduction, sex-wise. However, with another man, it was pure pleasure, in a lot of different ways. Shigure could stroke him and push against something inside of him, fucking him, at the same time—which felt amazing. Oh, why did he have to forget this?

They released at roughly the same time. Shigure sat there, panting for a moment, then pulled out. He leaned back against the tree, catching his breathe. Miroku didn't think he could walk if he wanted to.

Yuki looked so sad and frightened. Sango knew that she shouldn't pry. She had a good enough idea of why he was so scared. If they should happen to fail in capturing Akito, Yuki would be at Akito's mercy. And from the looks of things, Akito had very little of that.

The rat of the zodiac looked down the well. If only they had not escorted Tohru to the Higarashi Shrine, this never would have happened. How much time did the others have left beyond the well? He was so frightened of Akito. He trusted everyone here, but Akito… He was so terrified. He turned away and slumped down into the grass, shaking. Sango kneeled beside him, a comforting hand on his shoulder. She didn't know what to say to comfort him, but the gentle touch seemed to help a bit. He leaned in to it, a bit uncomfortably, as if he were not used to being touched. Considering his dark past, he probably wasn't.

Kagura, Rin, Kureno, Hiro, Kisa… They were all so sick, just because Akito was here. And he never would have ended up here if not for them. If Yuki just hadn't escorted Tohru… She had said she could go by herself. She probably should have. If Tohru had just gone by herself, then this never would have happened! None of them would be here, they wouldn't have caused so much trouble for these people…

“Are we any trouble to you?” Yuki wondered.

“Trouble?”

Yuki looked at Sango. “Yes. It seems that all we've caused you is trouble.”

Sango smiled. It lightened his heart a little, and brought a bit of sunshine to his night-like despair. “No, Yuki. I think that, in a lot of ways, everyone is a lot happier now. And if we could go on living with these memories… we could all work together again, and destroy Naraku. I'm sure of it.”

Yuki slowly smiled, thankful for her words and heartfelt appreciation. He needed to hear it. “Thank you, Sango-san.”

They fell in to silence again. Yuki looked up at the night sky. The constellations were shining brightly, as if looking down from their heavenly positions over the Sohma family. Yuki turned his head to look at the rat, as he often did. Watch over me.

“Are you frightened of meeting with Akito?”

Yuki nodded. “I'm terrified.”

“Don't be.” Sango smiled, squeezing his shoulder a little. “We'll all be there with you.”

“I hope so.” Yuki was trembling with fright, ever so slightly. He was truly terrified of Akito. Sango wished that there was something—anything—she could do for him, but nothing came immediately to mind. But she knew what most people wanted when they were frightened. She hugged him. Yuki was frozen for a moment, feeling awkward, and not knowing what to do. Slowly, he hugged Sango back. For the first time—hugging someone outside of his family and not turning into a rat. Come to think of it… Had he ever hugged someone before? He couldn't remember.

Slowly, he calmed. Sango was so strong. He really would be safe with her watching over him. It was a good feeling. It didn't dispel all of his fear, but it set it aside for a while, and he was able to enjoy being with her. When the hanyou stopped shaking, he looked at the demon slayer. They kissed softly, then pulled apart. “I hope this works out,” Yuki whispered.

“So do I.”

Slowly, sleep overcame them, and they drifted off into a peaceful slumber, still in each other's arms.