Please Don't

Chapter 1

Disclaimer: I do not own InuYasha or the song mentioned in the summaries.

Chapter 1

"Dude, where are you?!" Miroku groaned into his cell phone. "We're gonna be late for the show."

"I'm sorry, man. I may have to take a raincheck again," InuYasha replied hesitantly.

Miroku sighed as his heart sank. This was the fifth time in a row that InuYasha has cancelled their plans at the last minute. All because of her, no doubt.

"Alright, man. Whatever," Miroku quipped as he sulked.

InuYasha instantly felt guilty, but he couldn't go back now. "Come on, man! I'll make it up to you. You know I always do!"

"Yeah, I was just really looking forward to this show. It's been a while since we last--"

"Oh hey, Miroku, I'm really sorry but I gotta go. You know how she gets. There will be other shows! It won't be long before I see you again," InuYasha hurriedly explained. "Look out for a call later tonight."

Miroku sighed as a beeping tone sounded in his ear. InuYasha was gone. He grew frustrated, but took this unplanned free time to reminisce on old times.

Miroku and InuYasha have been best friends their entire lives. They met back in elementary school, on the playground.

A young Miroku was playing by himself with pebbles that he collected from the ground. He hummed happily while he peered at his warped reflection in the small stones, reveling in the clacking sound they made as he rolled them around in his small hands. He picked one up and slowly ran his thumb back and forth over the silken surface. The coolness of the stones countered the warmth of his fingers--a satisfying sensation. He was lost in his own little world when a group of boys came over and disrupted his mini paradise.

"Oh looky here," one of the boys snarled. "Looks like the weirdo is playing by himself again!"

"Heh! Serves him right," another boy spat. He kicked up dirt into Miroku's face while the others laughed.

Miroku only sighed. He was used to this. A lot of kids treated him poorly because he was different...or at least that's what his mother told him. Other kids, especially this bunch, were always mean or they excluded him from their groups. When he told his mother, she explained that there was something special about him that the other boys did not understand, but that he should be proud of who he is. It would take years before Miroku truly understood her words.

A third boy walked up behind Miroku while he tried fruitlessly to swipe the dirt from his stinging eyes. Suddenly he felt a sharp pain in his scalp and neck while his head was snapped backwards.

"Take this you little fairy!"

Before he could recover, Miroku was barraged with blows from all sides. Everything was spinning and out of focus. He couldn't tell where each kick was coming from next. The pain from different parts of his body diffused like ink stains on fabric until it pooled altogether and became one. His whole body ached but he would feel a flare-up of pain at irregular intervals as the boys stomped all over him.

"Sissy!"

"This is what you get, you weirdo!"

"You should really just die!"

All of the pain in his body began to numb as a crushing feeling in his chest took over.

"Why mommy?" he thought to himself as he put his arms up to guard his face. "What is it about me that they hate so much?"

He began to give in and eventually submitted to the boys who towered over him. Warm, silent rivers gushed from the corners of his eyes while he lay as still as his dying heart.

"OWWW!"

Miroku's head shot up when he heard a cry come from above. His vision was blurred and the sun blinded him further, leaving him unable to make out what was happening.

"Get out of here you cowards!" exclaimed an unfamiliar voice.

The growing pain stagnated in the absence of punches and kicks. Miroku slowly recovered while he heard his attackers scream and run away. He could vaguely see one boy struggling to pull a severe wedgie from his bottom while he ran away after his friends.

Suddenly, a clawed hand was thrusted into his face. "Here, can you stand?"

Miroku took the hand in front of him and sat up. He felt another hand brushing the mulch off of his back, and he timidly looked up to meet the gaze of his rescuer. The deep eggplant of his eyes melded with brilliant gold. He felt more pressure in his chest, but this time it was euphoric instead of suffocating.

"Are you alright," the boy before him asked in earnest.

The boy had pale strands of silk extending from his scalp to his waist. They reflected silver beams in the sunlight as they gently floated around his full lips and button nose, getting caught in the fine peach fuzz that softly spanned his cheeks. His golden eyes somehow sparkled even though they were darkened with sadness, anger and concern. Miroku felt his heart stutter as he gazed back. Atop the boy's glorious head of hair sat two perky dog ears; an endearing juxtaposition to the godlike features that took Miroku's breath away.

"Yoo-hoooo," the boy sang as he waved his hand in front of Miroku's face.

Miroku gasped and then cleared his throat. "I'm good. Thanks," he said breathlessly.

"That's good," the boy replied as he stood, pulling Miroku up with him. "Those guys are jerks and they got what they deserved. I'm tired of them messing with you. You can just stick around me from now on. They wouldn't dare try anything again."

Miroku felt his face heat up from embarrassment, but he choked his ego down and accepted the beautiful boy's kindness. "Thanks."

"No problem. I'm InuYasha, by the way. What's your name," the boy asked while cocking his head to the side in curiosity. His cute dog ears twitched.

Miroku blushed again, but for a different reason this time. The boy... InuYasha... InuYasha was so cute. "I'm Miroku."

"Nice to meet you, Miroku." InuYasha grabbed his new buddy and put him in a playful headlock. "You gotta toughen up! But let's stick together from now on."

Ever since that day, the two were stuck on each other like white on rice. Thick as thieves. Two peas in a pod. They were the best of friends and were completely inseparable...that is, until she came along.