A Helping Hand By Sarga

The oncoming attack was swift, but they were ready. With swipe after powerful swipe, Inuyasha blasted hundreds of demons before they even got within range of Kagome's purifying arrows.

Still at the ready, Kagome waited until the few demons that got past Inuyasha were within bow range. In a blaze of holy light, her arrow lit up the sky, overshadowing the hidden sun in its brilliance. With no time to admire the amazing strength of her own power, Kagome notched another arrow to her bow and waited for more to align the first arrow had embedded itself in a tree after burning through a dozen demons.

With another holy arrow ready to fire, Kagome let the projectile take flight. Demons were obliterated to ash in the wake of her onslaught.

Arrow after arrow, each imbued with holy powers as great as the last, tore through the attacking horde. The few that drew too near would not last long once they came within range of Miroku's ultimate weapon.

Beads pulled down, fist clenched in restraint, Miroku waited for the perfect moment to eliminate those poor demons who managed to draw near enough.

Closer...

Closer...

There!

Wind Tunnel!

Miroku stood with his arm extended, his bare palm facing the stragglers who had bypassed the first two lines of defence.

Miroku's bare palm was without the expected wind tunnel. His curse had been cured.

Unfortunately.

The first demon flew into Miroku's extended hand, slicing through the proffered flesh with ease. Only his years of training and battle experience allowed Miroku to withdraw fast enough to save his arm from being severed completely. One hand rendered useless, he focused his holy powers into the sutras he carried, flinging them at the melee demons with a shaking hand.

Clenching his wounded hand in a fist as the blood trickled down his arm, Miroku could almost laugh at the absurdity of his situation. Now that his hand had been unburdened from the oppressive threat of the curse all he wanted to do was stare at the unmarred flesh of his palm. Yet if he released his hold on the wound, he would quickly loose too much blood and be rendered even more useless than his bare palm could ever be.

Unaware of Miroku's revelation, Inuyasha and Kagome continued their near-flawless defence while Miroku struggled to incapacitate the few who broke through.

Fuck! Monk, you're bleeding! Inuyasha grunted behind him as he took another swing to vaporize another wave of mindless demons.

It's not serious, Miroku informed, knowing that was the most important information to convey. My wind tunnel's out of commission though. No time to go into details just yet...

Stick by Kagome! You can get her back, Inuyasha barked out as he took out another swarm.

Inuyasha's words spoke loud and clear to the monk. 'Get back. Stay out of the way.' In other words: 'You're useless!'

Obeying Inuyasha's command, Miroku erected a barrier around the both of them. Kagome's holy arrows went out but the demons around them were kept at bay for the moment.

They were more than half-way through now. Kagome's arrows were still numerous and Inuyasha remained uninjured. The half-demon could handle himself so long as he didn't have to worry about protecting anyone. The monk could handle keeping both himself and Kagome protected within his barrier, all he had to do was keep concentrating.

Miroku fought off a wave of blackness that threatened to overwhelm his senses. His wound was deep enough to draw a steady stream of blood and it appeared to have been poisoned.

Miroku's barrier flickered.

Kagome... Miroku was sweating with the effort of trying to keep the barrier erect while fending off unconsciousness. Three demons were at Kagome's back, waiting for the weakness they sensed on the

monk. Behind. Miroku's voice rasped with exertion but Kagome reacted appropriately.

That Kagome was safe was the main thing.

The priestess swung her bow backwards, purifying energy slicing through the would-be attackers, turning them to dust.

Unable to stave off the darkness any longer, Miroku collapsed at the feet of his lover, his bloody hand the one that should have been their salvation clenched around holy beads and cloth that had been rendered as useless as the man who held them.

----------

The only sensation he could perceive was warmth. Fluid, all encompassing, the warmth washed over him in soothing waves.

He felt a soft brushing on his forehead and it stirred him from the semi-depths of unconsciousness.

Miroku?

A voice.

Kagome's voice.

Kagome was safe!

Miroku opened his eyes, grateful for whatever deity had smiled upon him to permit his lover to survive unscathed to his naked eye she was undamaged. He would of course complete a more thorough evaluation later, one that involved no clothing and very probing hands...

Pervert, Kagome chided, poking him in the side.

Hey, Miroku croaked in mock indignation. How do you know what goes on in this mind? I swear I am the paragon of purity!

Kagome snickered, sticking out her tongue playfully. Oh the things she could be doing with that tongue...

That's it, pervert, no soup for you! Kagome's giggles tipped him off to her less-than-serious nature, but still... how had she known his thoughts?

Answering the unvoiced question, Kagome took the mystery at least some of it from the situation.

I can see your aura, mister 'dirty mind'. Whenever you're thinking something naughty I can tell... Kagome trailed off as Miroku thought of one particularly dirty thought while keeping a perfectly straight face. He could see Kagome flush and start to breathe a little faster.

Keep your hands to yourself, Kagome admonished breathlessly. You can't handle the stimulation...

Wow. She really could see his aura. It was odd, normally such clarity was only perceived while in deep meditation.

One more thing Kagome could do without him. His priestess was outgrowing him in every way. Feelings of inadequacy overwhelmed Miroku in waves. What if he hadn't been so lucky? What if Inuyasha hadn't smelled the blood on his hands? What if...?

Countless What if's terrorized Miroku's mind.

Kagome's brow furrowed in concern as the dark thoughts raced unbidden across Miroku's mind.

What? Kagome was worried about the unhealthy hue of the sparks that tore through his aura.

It's nothing, my love. Ever the charmer, Miroku tried to stave off her questions through redirection.

It didn't work.

Don't give me that! Kagome reared up. Something's wrong! Tell me what it is!

Indignity, thy name is Kagome.

My wind tunnel is gone, Miroku admitted, realizing that his bandaged hand had probably made that

obvious long before his declaration.

Kagome smiled in relief.

I know! Isn't it wonderful?

Miroku's unhealthy aura alerted Kagome to his emphatic disagreement. Seeing his lover's intent gaze, Miroku sighed before rubbing his temple in frustration. He would have to tell her she could literally see his mood anyway. He wondered what colour his aura would appear when he lied.

I think it would be best for you to stay close to Inuyasha in the next battle, Kagome, Miroku sighed, hoping she would get the point without dragging his dignity through the mud.

What? Why would I want to do that? Kagome quirked an eyebrow even as her eyes flickered with worry.

Because I'm no longer an effective fighter, my love, even as he spoke the words, thoughts of Sango's death flitted across Miroku's mind. He could never live with himself if the same fate befell his new lover.

And you think you're going do die? Kagome's snort of incredulity knocked Miroku from his dark introspection.

Should I not? Miroku retorted, wondering just how the priestess could be so blithe about such a pivotal role he should have been able to play.

No! You shouldn't! Kagome was adamant, almost angry in her insistence. Grasping Miroku's injured hand, Kagome held it bandaged-palm up and stared into what would have been certain death only a week ago. You've been freed, Miroku, Kagome's voice was reverent. You've been given the chance to live the life you've always longed for, the chance to do everything you've always dreamed of doing.

Miroku smirked.

Everything?

Kagome blushed to the roots of her hair at the monk's innuendo.

Not today, you! Kagome threatened with a waggle of her finger. You need to lie back and let me do all the work,

Kagome's face flushed as she realized how that sounded. Her face flushed further when she realized that she could let it mean exactly how it sounded.

Shifting around so that she was at Miroku's feet, Kagome began a sensual massage at the tip of the monk's bare toes. Taking each digit between her fingers, the priestess worked the flesh back and forth in a soothing manner. Moving delicately upward, Kagome felt each muscle relax under her attentive care. As she reached Miroku's knee, the monk realized a trend. She was moving up.

Funny, that... so was Miroku.

By the time Kagome had worked all the tension out of his thigh muscles the monk was about ready to

explode. Only the unpleasant ache in his side where he had been slashed in a shallow but long cut prevented him from reaching for his lover and flipping their positions.

When she reached his throbbing hardness, Miroku was anything but relaxed.

Panting hard at the feel of her tongue swirling around the head of his penis, Miroku dug his fingernails into the bedding beneath him. With expert strokes, Kagome fondled his balls, rubbing through the delicate sack to caress at the hardness behind his balls while she worked the shaft from above. The suction in her upward stroke and the undulation of her pretty pink tongue were too much for the monk to handle.

All too soon, Miroku came in a blinding streak of pleasure, his injured body purring at the special attention he received from his lover.

As she kissed the tip of his penis, Miroku felt his robes shift back into place. Apparently she wasn't going to allow him to reciprocate.

Such a pity... It was great comfort.