Title: Heal Thyself (or let the villagers help you)

Author: SakuraRyuu

Rating: T

Genre: Canon, Drama

Characters: Inuyasha, Miroku, Sango

Author's Note: Inuyasha and all characters in this fan fiction are the property of Rumiko Takahashi.

Miroku ran. He ran for his life, terror gripping his soul in a way only someone facing certain death could understand. Every so often he would duck behind a tree to catch his breath, peeking around just enough to see if his pursuer was close. He knew he couldn't outrun his fate. Stealing a quick glance into the treetops he wondered bitterly where his accomplice had run off, too. It was all fun and games until they got caught, and instead of helping him get away the fool took off on his own, leaving Miroku to try and save his own hide.

Hearing the crash of trees falling around him, Miroku ducked, covering his head. He certainly didn't want to be taken out by a falling tree now when he was so close to the village. He foolishly thought if he could make it there, it would be like reaching a safe zone. "When I catch you, it's over for you, monk!" Hearing the declaration sent a chill down Miroku's spine. Standing, he began to run again in earnest.

Sango caught hiraikotsu as it came rebounding back to her. She wasn't really going to kill Miroku, but she wanted to put the fear of God into him. It was one thing to peak at her when she bathed, and even Kagome was used to fending him off, but this time the deranged idiot had drug Inuyasha with him, who was usually their lookout. She didn't know how he'd done it, but they both had been peaking, eavesdropping, and this time some of the younger village women were with them. It was one thing for him to invade their privacy, but it was unacceptable to invade the privacy of the other women, who felt safe with Sango and Kagome. He had indirectly tarnished the trust of all the women for their small group.

Sango reached the village moments after Miroku, who she found trying to catch his breath in the center of the village surrounded by worried villagers. She called out to them, "Step away from the monk! We have unfinished business."

Standing upright, and still panting, Miroku put on his best smile. "My darling Sango! You look lovely today! Is there some way I can assist you?"

"Yes. You can step away from the villagers so they don't get hurt."

"Surely you're not going to throw your weapon and risk hitting any of the huts!" He thought he had her. He thought there was no way she could touch him now.

"You're right, monk, I won't throw hiraikotsu here and risk hurting someone or taking down a hut. But what I have noticed is some of the families of the women Kagome and I were bathing with are here. And I'm going to tell them, in front of the other village members, that you were spying on us during our bath."

Suddenly every person in the village center was staring at Miroku. "Sango, some assistance, if you please?"

"Sorry Miroku, it doesn't please me. It never pleases me when your lechery gets the better of you, and you never seem to listen. So maybe if you hear how wrong it is from someone else, you'll be more apt to change your ways."

Smiling sweetly Sango turned her back to Miroku, her last site of him being surrounded by village men. Heading back toward the hot springs with the women she felt certain they could bathe in peace.

Watching from a safe distance as Miroku was being held accountable for his sins against the village women, Inuyasha felt he would be much better off if he went back and faced Kagome, instead of making her chase him, too. He may get sat, but she wouldn't turn him over to the villagers. Especially when he explained he was only spying on her. If she'd let him explain that far before she pummeled him. Turning around he headed back to the hot springs.