Summery: A girl who's in love with Miroku is forced to become engaged to the lecherous Muso. Can her friends save her, or is she doomed to unhappiness?

Warning: OCXsomeone - reviewers decide outcome. Very AU, and OOC by some characters. If you like Sango, don't read, because I decided to try some Sango-bashing in this one. Some good guys are bad, and vice-versa. Like I said - AU!

Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha or any of the characters. I do own Deirdra and the plot.

This was originally going to be MirokuXOC, but I'm not so sure now. I'll post chapters 1 and 2, and let me know who you think should be paired. I'm leaning more toward SesshomaruXOC again - I can try for another Miroku one later. This one justkind of developed on it's own.

Please review if you read. Comments, criticism, ideas, and suggestions are welcome. No flames. Pairing decided by reviewers.

"Miroku?"

"Yeah?"

"Wouldn't it be fun if we got married?" the auburn-haired child rolled over to look at her black-haired playmate.

"That's a good idea," the year-older boy commented, "I think we should do that!"

"Ye wouldn't mind, would ye?" she asked shyly. He turned his lavender eyes to meet her dark-gray ones, and shot her a wide grin.

"Of course not!" he replied, "Then we'd get to play together all the time!"

"Yeah," she agreed, and rolled back onto her back to look up at the clouds. "Hey, doesn't that one look like a fish?"

"I guess…"

The nineteen year-old woke up with a start, and clutched her bed sheets to her breasts. Rubbing her eyes, she glanced out her window to see the sky slowly turning a rosy color.

"Dawn already?" she sighed, feeling as if she hadn't gotten any sleep at all. Not waiting for her maidservant to wake her, Deirdra Ashby climbed out of her bed, grimacing at the chilly fall air.

"Miss Deirdra?" the girl, the same age as her employer, peeped in several moments later. Her blue-black hair was tucked up into a bun, and her blue eyes examined the young woman with amusement. "Do you need any help?"

"Aye, and I'm thinking that would be most helpful this morning, Kagome," Deirdra agreed, in the slight Irish accent she had acquired from her father.

"I don't know why you try, Miss Deirdra," Kagome laughed, helping her friend dress. Deirdra refused to wear a corset, insisting that she had no need of one. While Kagome agreed with that fact, Colonel Naraku Ashby did not, and Deirdra was forced to merely tie her dresses tighter to disguise the absence of the corset.

"It's these blasted ties!" she exclaimed, "I could do perfectly fine without 'em!"

"I'm sure you could," Kagome shook her head, helping Deirdre finish getting into the dark-blue dress, it's A-line skirt reaching the tips of her black shoes.

"Thank ye, Kagome," Deirdra nodded, sighing with relief – and to get more air in her lungs. "I'm thinking these blasted things won't be in fashion for much longer, say ye?"

"I'm afraid they're here to stay for a bit longer, Miss Deirdra," Kagome said, and giggled at the crestfallen look that suddenly appeared. "Your father's gone away for the day on business. You're to take charge until he returns."

"That's how it's always been," Deirdra sighed, but glad that her father didn't conform to society as far as to deny that his daughter had a mind of her own. Stepping down the stairs, Deirdra looked around in frustration.

"I'll have Cook start on breakfast," Kagome said, rushing away. The Ashby's were by far from rich, but lived modestly in a two-story home, with enough money to pay for Kagome's services, as well as a cook and another manservant.

"Aye, and I'm to thinking that there isn't much to be saved," Deirdra sighed, examining the burnt food. "What happened?"

"I'm sorry, Miss Deirdra," the elderly man apologized, "The stove suddenly flared up on me! That was all that was salvageable, I'm afraid."

"Hating to see what the worst looked like, I am," she remarked stoically, and stood back up. "I won't be needing breakfast, so nary a worry. There's work 'ta be done, and I'm the one needing' to do it, I'm thinking!"

"Will you be requiring anything, Miss Deirdra?" Kagome asked suddenly, and a mischievous spark came into the other woman's eye.

"Aye, Kagome. There's the laundry needing to be done, as well as cleaning and restocking the larder!" Deirdra nodded solemnly, and broke out into a grin. "I'm not to be forgetting that yer sweetheart's comin' in this morning, Kagome. Go and greet him! And be happy ye have someone 'ta greet," she added under her breath, as the girl dashed from the room.

"There's a caller for you, Miss Deirdra," the manservant told her later that day, as she worked in her office, busy with paperwork.

"Send the person in, Hiten," she nodded, without looking up, "And tell him to be quick, will ye? I'm busy."

"Too busy for an old friend?"

"Sesshomaru?" the girl's head shot up at the soft voice, and nearly knocked the sailor over as she rushed into him. "What're ye doing here? I didn't know ye were stationed on the same ship as Inuyasha!" she exclaimed, as they sat back down.

"I didn't get a chance to write," the twenty-three explained, laughing softly, "Besides, I thought it'd be more fun to surprise you. Looks like I was right."

"Well, I'm glad ye came!" Deirdra smiled at him brightly, "How long will ye be staying then?"

"No more than a few weeks, while the ship's getting repairs and supplies," he responded. They had known each other since they were in diapers, and Deirdra had been close friends with both him and Inuyasha until the two brothers decided to leave town as sailors several years ago. Since then, Inuyasha had visited, but she hadn't seen anything of Sesshomaru at all.

"Well, will ye be needing a place to stay?" she asked, "I'm thinking there's room here for the both of ye, if ye're looking for it."

"That would hardly be appropriate, Deirdra," Sesshomaru admonished her, "What would your father say? Or the public, even?"

"Ah, to blazes with them!" she said in disgust, waving her hand, "They can go dig a hole to England, for all I'll be caring. So, will ye?"

"Of course," he nodded, and stood up. "I have to go get my things, and my brother. We'll be back in time for dinner, never fear."

"Since when have ye and yer brother missed a meal?" she teased him, and hugged him a final time. "I'll keep dinner waiting, so ye better not lag, ye hear?"

"I hear," he smiled, teasingly imitating her accent, before he left.

"That'll be a double room, correct?" Hiten asked, and she nodded.

"Please, Hiten. And tell Cook to prepare extra – and to fix that blasted stove!" she added grumblingly, becoming aware of her own hunger.

"Oh, I'm so excited!" Kagome giggled, twirling into Deirdra's study before the two Edstrom brothers arrived.

"And why'd that be, Kagome?" Deirdra asked curiously, seeing the healthy glow on the other girl's cheeks.

"Inuyasha proposed!" she exclaimed, and Deirdra gasped in delight.

"Well, I'm thinking if that's not cause for a celebration, then nothing will be!" she said, "When will the wedding be?"

"Oh, it'll be small, before they leave port again," Kagome said, "We want it very little – just you and Sesshomaru."

"Well, small it'll be, then!" Deirdra nodded, "But a wedding's cause enough for a party, to my knowledge! If ye wants one."

"No, Miss Deirdra, not very," Kagome shook her head, "Souta and Rin are away yet, and they won't be able to come to the wedding. I'd rather just have the ceremony and a small celebration here, if that's all right."

"Well, of course it'll be!" Deirdra nodded, and examined her friend. "Ye'll be wanting to be changed, I suppose, before yer fiancée arrives."

"Oh, yes!" Kagome gasped, and rushed up the stairs. Deirdra, still in her previous gown, merely sat back down, feeling a certain satisfaction within her at her friend's happiness – and a certain sadness as well.

"My dear Sango…"

"If you can't stay here, then you may as well just leave!" she pouted, refusing to look her betrothed in the eye.

"But, Sango, it's business!" he protested, "I must get my affairs in order if we're to wed on the appointed day! I'll only be gone a week or two, I promise."

"Promise?" she repeated, glancing at him. Seeing his head nod eagerly, she softened and smiled. "All right, Miroku, but just for that long! You better get back here on time!" she hollered, as he ran out of the house.

"Are you feeling all right, Deirdra?" Sesshomaru asked quietly, as the pair relaxed in the study. Kagome and Inuyasha had gone out for a walk, chaperoned by Hiten, leaving the two alone.

"Why do ye ask?"

"You seemed a little down, that's all," he shrugged. Peering at her, he frowned. "Have you heard from Miroku?"

"He's not a subject I'd like to talk about," she said firmly, averting her gaze. Since her childhood sweetheart had moved twelve years ago, she hadn't heard from him, except to find out that he had become betrothed to the governor's daughter.

"All right," Sesshomaru dropped the subject, and proceeded to tell her stories of his life on the sea, a subject which had always fascinated her.

"Will you be needing anything else, Miss Deirdra?" the cook, Myoga, asked her.

"No, thank ye. Ye may retire at yer leisure," Deirdra waved her hand, and he closed the door after himself.

"You don't seem yourself," Sesshomaru interrupted his own story several moments later, "Is your father doing all right?"

"He hasn't burdened me, if that's what ye be meaning," Deirdra shook her head, "I'm thinking I'm just a bit down, that's all, with Kagome marrying and all."

"So it does have to do with Miroku," he said in satisfaction, and blinked when she turned a blazing glare on him.

"I told ye not to mention that man!" she hissed, and then turned away again. After a few seconds, Sesshomaru realized by her shaking shoulders that she was crying. Placing his hand on her shoulder, he tried to comfort her.

"Deirdra, you were both so young…we all were," he said calmly, "Childhood promises don't mean anything now."

"They did to me!" she whispered loudly, "They did mean something to me, Sesshomaru. It's different for men – marrying whom they please, and playing with the ones they can't get. But for women…for women, we're to marry whom our fathers wish, and nothing more."

"But I thought your father had planned it," he began, confused.

"Governor Lieder took a shine to Miroku – and apparently, so did his daughter. That man always wanted to please that spoiled brat, and so he let them become betrothed. Da wouldn't go against the governor – not for his own daughter," Deirdra said bitterly, "Da told me to forget Miroku – he said what ye said. Da loves me, but he loves his place in society even more."

"I'm sorry," Sesshomaru said sincerely, rubbing her back. She wiped the tears from her face, a firm look crossing her features.

"Nothing to be sorry for," she shook her head, "It's just the fancy of a girl, that's all. Yer room's that way, up the hall. I'll be retiring now – if ye need anything, just let Myoga know."

"Good night, Deirdra," Sesshomaru said sadly, watching her slip out of the study. Glaring at the fireplace, he crossed his arms and slipped into his usual brooding state.

"May I please be excused for today, Miss Deirdra?" Kagome asked anxiously, as Deirdra yawned herself awake.

"Of course, Kagome – but what for?"

"To plan the wedding!" she giggled, "I need to talk to the pastor about it, of course."

"Get on with ye, then. I'm thinking I can manage to dress myself this morning," Deirdra said, half-grumbling as the eldest Torres girl shot out the door. Staring in dismay at her clothing, Deirdra let out a Gaelic curse as she began to dress.

Once she had managed to get on the cranberry-tinted dress, simply cut without voluminous sleeves or skirts, Deirdra pinned her hair up carelessly, pushing back the few loose strands impatiently.

Sighing, she strode down the stairs, fervently wishing that Myoga had fixed the stove, or at least had managed to get breakfast without burning it.

"Interesting meal," Sesshomaru commented, greeting her at the table. Deirdra groaned when she saw the burned mess, and Myoga popped his head in.

"I ordered a new stove, but it won't come until tomorrow evening!" he informed her, "I can't cook anything on it, I'm afraid."

"I'll take you out for breakfast," Sesshomaru offered, extending his arm, "My treat."

"Are ye suggesting that I'm to be found on the wharfs, on the arm of a sailor like a common woman?" Deirdre asked, pretending she was appalled.

"That's exactly what I'm suggesting," he replied promptly, and she laughed in delight.

"Let me get my coat – there's a chill in the air, and that's for sure," she added, and skipped back into the room a moment later. "Let's be going, then, while the morning's still fresh!" she prodded him. Sesshomaru laughed as they strode out of the house, and Myoga shook his head in a mixture of amusement and helplessness. Hiten, a cousin of Kagome's, merely watched and laughed.

Good? Bad? Tell me pairing ideas - no flames!