InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Grope Lest Ye Be Groped ❯ The Fourth Incident ( Chapter 4 )

Notes: There is no yaoi in this chapter, I nearly gouged my eyes out after the last. No offense to any yaoi writers, I suppose it's just one of those things that depend upon preferences. This chapter title is slightly misleading, mostly because I changed the idea for it completely while I was working on it. Anyway, thank you very much for your reviews and I hope that you enjoy this chapter.

Disclaimer: Inuyasha "Sengoku o-Togi Zoushi" and its characters are the property of Rumiko Takahashi.

The Fourth Incident or Miroku Gets a Feeling and Sesshoumaru Has A Soft Side?

Many thoughts flowed through Miroku's mind when Sesshoumaru revealed himself and made his less than factual comment. Embarrassment, shock, anger…all understandable emotions given his current situation.

It was bad enough to be nude and trapped between the clawed hands of Inuyasha, who would most likely kill Miroku painfully when he came to his senses, but it was far worse to be so in the presence of his older half brother.

"Inuyasha," Sesshoumaru continued, a wisp of a smile on lips. "I came to reclaim that which is mine, not watch you and your human bitch enjoy yourselves."

Miroku felt his jaw clench. He had been called many names in his life, most of which had been greatly mistaken, but Sesshoumaru had gone too far. Miroku planned upon making a comment about the youkai's effeminate appearance, but he was unfortunately beaten to the punch.

"Sesshoumaru," Inuyasha spoke blearily. "What the hell are you talking about?"

Therein laid the question. While Sesshoumaru raised a delicate eyebrow, Miroku pondered. Kagome and Sango had remembered anything and everything of their…encounters, yet had not taken the amount of time Inuyasha had to snap out of their cursed states.

Perhaps because he is half youkai, the curse functions differently. Causing Inuyasha to be more aggressive than a human and also fading the incident from memory once he "awakens."

Miroku sighed dejectedly. It was just his luck to receive a curse that would cause him to be aroused by humans and ravished by hanyous.

And it was that one sigh that did it. Inuyasha glanced back at him irately, only to discover what both Sesshoumaru and Miroku already knew. Hands, nude and male were Miroku's guesses for what went through Inuyasha's mind. Judging by the horrified look that crossed his face, he certainly wasn't thinking about cherry blossoms and ramen.

"Miroku…" Inuyasha hissed, almost interrupting the monk's silent prayer to Buddha and anyone else that would listen. Then when Inuyasha flung him nearly to the other side of the spring, Miroku decided he was on his own. Also that fate was a very cruel mistress, sentencing him to die alone, with no heir and…naked. So much for honor and dignity.

But, just as Miroku expected the final blow to be struck, cruel fate decided yet again to intervene.

A few feet away from the spring and the shame, a worried Kagome, a breathless Shippou, a taijiya suited Sango and a transformed Kirara stood waiting.

"Sesshoumaru?" Kagome inquired disbelievingly. "Why is he here-?" She stopped speaking after taking stock of the current situation.

~*~

Kagome had been having a relaxing and refreshing soak with Sango in their side of the hot spring when Shippou had frantically came and interrupted her. After hearing the news about Sesshoumaru, she and the taijiya had hurriedly dressed.

She had expected to find Inuyasha engaged in fierce battle with his half brother, sword meeting claws or some weird arm Sesshoumaru had managed to obtain. What she actually found was slightly different.

There was Inuyasha; looking the most ill tempered Kagome had ever seen him and Sesshoumaru looking calm and collected, as he usually did. But it was the sight of the harried Miroku and the sudden revelation that both he and Inuyasha were far from dressed that floored Kagome.

Despite knowing it was rude, Kagome couldn't tear herself away from the sight before her. Feeling her face grow hot, she idly wondered what would happen if she said osuwari, if Inuyasha would jump up and-

Oh no, Kagome thought, horrified. I'm getting as bad as Miroku.

Trying to take her mind off that disconcerting thought, Kagome glanced at Sango…

~*~

Sesshoumaru stared down at them, at his brother and the humans that had succeeded in besting him. The miko had turned away from Inuyasha, doing what she could to mask her interest, while the other woman kept her eyes constantly on the ground, obviously embarrassed by the sight before her. The monk wore the expression of a caged beast, making Sesshoumaru all the more disgusted by what was happening around him.

These had been the humans that had defeated and humiliated him? At the moment, Sesshoumaru believed they could have been overtaken by blithering idiots and that his precious time was being wasted.

He wouldn't stand for it. He, Sesshoumaru was Lord of the Western Lands and he deserved attention.

"What are you waiting for Inuyasha?" Sesshoumaru taunted coldly. "Or do you need your mate's approval to fight me?"

Inuyasha's reaction was as Sesshoumaru expected. His amber eyes narrowed and his fists clenched at his side.

Inuyasha snarled, "He isn't my mate, you bastard. Whatever you saw was part of a damn curse. And I'll fight you right now, I need something to tear apart."

Sesshoumaru snorted. "Clothe yourself. I, Sesshoumaru will not lower myself to deal with you in such a state."

"Yeah," Inuyasha replied, a cocky expression forming. "I wouldn't want you seeing anything else of mine to be jealous of."

Sesshoumaru made no response, instead turned away from his half brother. Inuyasha then sent a withering glance in Miroku's direction and was relieved to see him focusing upon something beneath the water. He was prepared to leap from the spring, grab his clothing and the Tetsusaiga, when he noticed something astonishing. Kagome was staring at him. Kagome was staring at him.

Had he not been caught doing who knows what to Miroku moments earlier, Inuyasha might have been grudgingly pleased. But as of now, he was wet, embarrassed, angry and-Kagome was staring at him, not Miroku, did it mean something? Or was it just-

He didn't need this, not now.

"Oi Kagome," Inuyasha ordered. "Turn around."

Surprisingly and with no small amount of guilt in eyes, she obeyed. Inuyasha breathed a sigh of relief, knowing Sango wasn't looking and that Miroku had damn well better not be looking.

Still, once he extracted himself and began to dress, Inuyasha couldn't help but notice that Shippou had been awfully silent…

~*~

To Miroku, his robes had never felt better. Being nude had never really bothered him when he was alone and he certainly wouldn't have minded being so in the presence of an equally un-attired, beautiful, willing woman. Instead, he had gotten Inuyasha.

Miroku frowned at the memory. It was something that would most likely haunt him for the rest of his natural life, if not longer. And judging by Shippou's uncharacteristic silence, the young kitsune must have felt the same.

Feeling a swell of pity, Miroku gazed at Shippou, who was perched on Kagome's shoulder, apologetically. The Lady Sakura's curse was proving to be most…annoying as of late. He then stole a quick glance at Inuyasha, only to receive a dangerous glare in return.

Miroku was usually very good at reading expressions, it proved to be vital in his various manipulations-err, services. The look Inuyasha was giving him almost screamed, "When I'm done with him, you're next." Not the most encouraging looks to receive.

But it was Sesshoumaru's sudden attack that drew Inuyasha's attention and seconds later, both he and Sesshoumaru were engaged fiercely in a battle between the Tetsusaiga and Sesshoumaru's claws. Inuyasha, like Miroku, had taken notice of the human arm in place of some usually freakish appendage and was centering his attacks upon it.

Kirara, along with Sango and Kagome stood nearby, Hiraikotsu and arrow set bow in their hands, the two women looked prepared, ever ready to offer Inuyasha assistance. Two beautiful women with weapons-Miroku abruptly ceased that line of thinking. It was going a bit far, even for him.

Perhaps they sensed his gaze, for moments later (and simultaneously) Sango and Kagome turned towards Miroku. Turned with glazed eyes, vacant expressions and-Damn.

It was "The Look." From both of them at the same time. It made no sense to Miroku, he wasn't anywhere near either Sango or Kagome and his curse had only been affecting one person at a time.

Unless…the curse must be growing stronger. If that truly is so, then I must be on my guard in case Inuyasha wishes to continue what he started earlier.

Miroku shuddered. He considered himself a man of remarkable endurance and stamina, but that would surely be pushing it.

Speaking of pushing, Kagome and Sango had both (luckily) dropped their weapons and, as if in a dreamlike state, were moving closer. Too close for Miroku's comfort. Inuyasha was only a few feet away, already feeling murderous and possessing a very big, very sharp sword. Miroku's odds for survival were swiftly dwindling.

The anxious monk was left with only one option. While Sesshoumaru was succeeding in keeping Inuyasha busy, (most likely his full-youkai blood rendered him unaffected to the curse, as he hadn't shown any real interest in groping Miroku) he did what he considered necessary. Ignoring Shippou's frantic pleas for Kagome to "wake up," and a cry from Inuyasha, he ran.

Normally, Miroku would have found such a course of action to be most unbecoming and the idea of two women chasing after him to be quite enticing, with everything that has been happening as of late, he was far from pleased.

And as long as Kagome and Sango were too addled to think of riding Kirara, Miroku was sure he was safe. For the moment…

~*~

High over trees and rocks it flew, intent upon its mission and full of glee over the news it carried. Flapping its wings even faster, the Saimyoushou insect sprung forward the visage of its master Naraku also on its mind.

It took little time for the Saimyoushou to reach his master, who was currently residing in an ornate castle and awaiting information. And what interesting information he would receive.

Minutes later, the Hell Insect breezed through a slightly ajar, door and into the inner sanctum of the mansion. It knew the layout by heart, and wasted no time in arriving at his destination.

In the largest of rooms sat Naraku, the raven haired, cunning, deceitful, despicable and any and all other words related to evil. Naraku extended one pallid finger for the insect to perch upon and drew it close to his ear to hear its secrets.

Once the Saimyoushou insect had completed his report, Naraku smiled maliciously.

"Kukuku. The dim-witted girl-chaser has received a punishment. One wielded by a woman no less."

Naraku was slightly tempted take up his baboon pelt and watch the havoc unfold, but the amusing, if not disturbing knowledge of Inuyasha's "amorous" advances made him hesitate. He was, loathsome as it was to admit, a hanyou and would most likely fall under the lust fueling curse if he did so. While the thought of Miroku broken and battered intrigued Naraku, it would take nothing short of such torture to make him touch Miroku.

Yet such an opportunity should not be wasted, Naraku reflected venomously. Miroku had run off alone and his irksome companions would be too occupied to aid him were he to run into…trouble.

Trouble Naraku was more than willing to provide. While he regretted no being able to send Kohaku to dispatch the lecher, (He didn't need the boy gaining another reason to repeat his previous suicide attempt) there were other methods.

"Kukuku." Naraku then ceased laughing and smirked. Other methods and other creatures…

~*~

In our next chapter, "The Final Incident or Naraku's Evil Plot and Miroku's Final Battle?