Author's notes and disclaimer: This is my first Inu-Yasha fanfiction, and as I'm rather new to the series I could have a few characters out of—well—character. I'd like to thank Miss Chiba Usagi for helping me write this.

Neither she nor I own Inu-Yasha; those privileges belong to Rumiko Takahashi. We are poor college students, please do not sue us for using your characters. When we are done writing our own television show and procuring those rights, we give you permission to write stories about our characters. J

Sango's Ordeal

-Every good quest begins with… groping, swearing, and a festival. -

~ Prologue ~

The young man stirred from his slumber. Raising his right hand to his head, he felt the beads of the rosary he had wrapped around it graze his brow. Miroku opened his eyes remembering where he was. He looked to his right to see how Sango had slept, only she was no longer resting against the rock on the other side of the chamber. 'Sango,' he thought starting to sit up only to realize that the weight that clung to him was neither his robes, nor a blanket, but the head of the young brunette woman resting on his torso. Miroku let out a sigh of relief, for a second he thought he'd lost her again.

Sango's head lay just at the base of his ribs, her right arm draped across his waist. She slept peacefully for the first time in nearly a week, and Miroku didn't want to ruin that. So he placed his hands above his head to resist any temptation of doing something he would regret, if not in the moment, when she woke up. However, knowing she was that close, and of her own accord, wasn't something he could take lightly and thus sleep did not return to him. Instead Miroku lay awake thinking about the past week that put them in this situation.

~ Chapter One: The Festival ~

"Osuwari!"

THUD

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH Inu-Yasha get him!"

Inu-Yasha sat on the ground arms crossed with a look of indignation written across his features. 'That's what I was trying to do before she 'sat' me,' he thought smugly.

Today had not been one of the Shikon-gumi's better days. Inu-Yasha and Miroku had been at each other's throats all week. The situation wasn't helped any when they passed an old monk on the way and Inu-Yasha started out after him before he was close enough to spit on them. Kagome seeing a problem arising 'sat' him before he could attack the old man. However, when Kagome went to apologize to the old man he bowed placing his head between her breasts and grabbed her ass at the same time. She shrieked slapped the man and yelled out for reinforcements when the man wouldn't let go of her. Inu-Yasha turned a deaf ear quite upset with her for 'sitting' him. So…

WHACK!!!! Sango took out her hiraikotsu and smacked the old man off the path, gave Miroku a defiant look which forced him to stop laughing if he didn't want to be hit next, and said, "Now can we, please, continue walking?" She glared at Inu-Yasha who snorted out a "feh" and got to his feet.

They walked along the path in silence, for the most part. Shippou kept trying to lighten the mood but his gags seemed to be having an adverse affect. As they neared a town Kagome lifted her head and stared off in its direction.

"What is it?" Sango asked.

"Do you sense a shard?" Miroku asked.

Kagome shook her head, "Don't you hear it?"

"What?" Shippou and Miroku asked together.

"Music," Inu-Yasha grunted pretending not to be talking to Kagome.

"Music? A Festival!" Sango said, "That's just what this group needs." She grabbed Kagome and Inu-Yasha by the wrists and dragged them towards the town. Miroku, Shippou and Kirara followed shrugging (and looking completely indifferent, as any cat-demon should).

The village was strewn with ribbons, banners, and color in general. Shippou's eyes about shot out of his head at the elaborate outfits a pair walking past wore. Sango looked from face to face and could tell that just being here wouldn't be enough. She took a deep breath put on a happy face and said, "Now all we need is a place to stay."

Miroku smiled, following her train of thought, "Leave that to me," and with that, he was off. In fifteen minutes he was back having secured lodging at the ritziest place in town.

"I don't even want to know how you do it," Sango smiled pushing Kagome ahead of her into a room and shutting the door behind them.

"Feh," Inu-Yasha said as the guys were forced to wait outside.

Miroku shrugged, "Women."

Shippou looked from one guy to the other and then looked at Kirara and shrugged and they left to explore.

Nearly an hour later, Sango pulled back the paper door and stepped out wearing a fitting pink and yellow kimono. She had pulled her hair up into a bun decorated with an ornate comb. She waved a hand back in the room, gesturing for Kagome to join her outside. "Come on," she coerced.

Kagome timidly stepped out wearing a blue kimono embroidered with red flowers tied with a red sash. She carried a fan, had her hair pulled up similarly to Sango's, but a single red flower decorated it, and wore traditional wooden sandals. Kagome flushed a little when she saw Inu-Yasha's concentration break for a second. And then he was back at staring out into oblivion, obviously still mad at her.

Sango nodded her head sideways looking at Miroku, who then abandoned his place on the rail. She then gently pushed Kagome towards Inu-Yasha and headed off grabbing Miroku's sleeve.

"I'm sorry." Kagome said looking at the ground.

"Feh."

"I shouldn't have said… it."

Inu-Yasha looked at her out of the corner of his eye. Kagome tilted her head to meet his gaze. "I didn't know what you were doing. I thought you were just going to pounce on some innocent old man."

"Feh, I could smell that bastard's perversion a mile away."

"Inu-Yasha…"

"Well…you should trust my judgement, more."

"Feh," Kagome said pointedly pushing him off the rail and walking on.

Inu-Yasha sat on the ground and thought, 'At least she didn't say 'sit.''

After hours of walking around, window-shopping, eating, and getting into the merriment, Sango's plan was finally taking affect. Sure Miroku couldn't restrain himself from hitting on every cute girl he passed, but for once Sango didn't let it bother her. She simply marveled in the fact that her plan had worked, and after Inu-Yasha picked himself up off the ground and met Kagome and the others at the stairs, they acted more than civil towards each other. Things went perfectly for a while. Sango and Kagome were window-shopping and Kagome was telling Sango what getting a piece of jewelry meant in her time. Sango saw an ornate mask in a window and slowly walked away from Kagome, who proceeded to talk; Sango paused noticing the pink crystals that were imbedded in the face. A man in the store was talking to a sales clerk. As he led her to the window, she picked up the mask, but that didn't stop Sango from staring at it. The man purchased the mask and left the store; Sango followed it and him.

Kagome continued to tell anyone who would listen about the value of a receiving a ring in her time. Shippou was listening intently but not understanding anything that she was trying to explain.

"But why would someone want a ring?"

"Because of what it symbolizes?"

"But you can't eat it, can you?"

Kagome sighed, and then let out a sudden yelp. Swinging around she smacked right into Miroku, who was clearly standing to close anyway. Clearly, based on the fact that his hand was still on her rear. Kagome glowered, "Mi-ro-ku"

Miroku smiled and removed his hand, but before he had a chance to make any attempt at an apology Inu-Yasha had tackled him.

"Kisama! How many times do I have to tell you not to do that to Kagome?"

"I forgot who she was for a minute."

Inu-Yasha raised an eyebrow, "Feh. Sure you fucking did."

"Well look at her, the kimono, the flowers, she doesn't look like Kagome."

Kagome was enraged, "And just what is that supposed to mean?"

Inu-Yasha pulled Miroku to his feet by his collar, "Are you trying to say that all the pretty, kimono-ed ladies have a kitsune youkai on their shoulder," he said pointing to Shippou?

"W-well…"

Kirara sat on the ground looking up at the men going back and forth from face to face as they argued.

Shippou looked over towards Sango for some help, when he saw her round a corner. "Uh… guys…" Shippou said hopping down from Kagome's shoulder. Shippou turned the corner chasing after Sango… but when he turned the corner the street was empty. Completely empty.

Running back to the others Shippou tried to get their attention by screaming. "Guys! Guys! Sango's missing!!! GUYS!!!" Giving up on that idea he turned into a big pink, floating ball and began to gnaw, first, on Inu-Yasha's, then, on Miroku's head. They were both too absorbed in their argument to notice Shippou. However, Kagome noticed that he was trying to get their attention and looked up from the fight in front of and over her. She didn't see Sango anywhere.

"Inu-Yasha, Miroku. Where's Sango?" she said walking between them.

"Hm?"

"What?"

They followed her gaze as she caught Shippou in her arms and headed down the street. "That's what I was trying to tell you. She walked around this corner and disappeared."

"She did what?" Miroku asked. Running ahead of them he turned the corner and stopped. "We'll never be able to find her in this crowd."

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AN: That's the end of the first Chapter. Let us know what you think, and if you like it or just want to know what happened to Sango I'll post more. Ja.