Sango's face was on fire, she was certain of it. As she went about making camp – clearing a spot for the fire, checking the perimeter for poisonous plants or frequent animal tracks – she tried to will the blush away. After all, she reasoned with herself, it isn't as though this was the first time. That line of thinking didn't help much, nor did wondering about the next step in Kagome's plan – which brought up a concern for how long Kagome had been out in the woods. Which reminded Sango of who her friend was with, and what they could be doing. "Hentai," she admonished herself in a whisper. Shippo looked up from where he was starting a fire and shook his head. Sango consoled herself with the knowledge that the kit no doubt assumed she was speaking of Miroku.
Miroku. Her heart fluttered in a pleasant way and her cheeks flared red again. That insufferable man would be the death of her. She wanted him, more than anything she wanted him, but he was his worst enemy. When Kagome had suggested training the monk to encourage better behavior, she had been hopeful, but realistic. Until she had seen him kneel down to fish, she would have said that the results had been mixed. That was no longer the case. She had heard him approaching, and conscious of Kagome's advice to test him, had purposefully leaned further over the stream that was necessary to wash her face. Her bottom high in the air, she had held her breath when he stopped on the bank. After only a moment, he had moved a few paces away from her and began to fish. Disbelief and excitement warred within the slayer.
Miroku had not groped her.
The opportunity was there, the pervert had clearly hesitated when he was presented with it, and then made the gentlemanly decision. Sango was so shocked, so happily shocked, that she had almost forgot to reward him. A breathy word in his ear, a caress across his back and lower, and then she made a hasty exit. She hadn't even been able to contain a small giggle of excitement. The plan was working.
It took much longer than usual for Miroku to catch enough fish for lunch, which was to everyone's advantage. Shippo took the opportunity to play with Kirara. Sango was finally able to turn her mind to something that did not make her blush. And Kagome and Inuyasha emerged from the trees, slightly rumpled, in time to eat. Although embarrassed for her friend - it was obvious what the newly mated couple had been doing with Kagome's soft smile and Inuyasha's possessive hand at her waist – Sango pushed it aside. She opened her mouth with an excuse ready to get Kagome away from camp and share the news about Miroku's progress away from prying ears.
Then he ruined it.
"Lady Kagome," the smiling monk said, handing Sango a fish and sitting down beside her, "you must take a care with our hanyou friend. Too vigorous a…sitting…has left him dazed."
Silence reigned in the camp for a long moment, and Sango had the odd sensation of watching the action from outside her body. Kagome blushed furiously. Inuyasha swore and threatened Miroku's life. Shippo, perhaps with the most appropriate action, merely rolled his eyes and muttered, "Idiot." The houshi turned towards Sango, his eyes still sparkling. For Sango, reality snapped back into focus with a vengeance.
"Hentai," she bit out and slapped him across the face. Unfortunately, she had forgotten the spitted fish in her hand so the blow lacked force. It made up for it with fish bits sticking to the monk's hair and skin. Sango stood and stomped to the other side of the camp to sit next to Kagome. It was just too disappointing.
"Rome wasn't built in a day," Kagome whispered encouragingly to her. Sango didn't know what Rome was, or how long it took to build, but she understood the meaning.
"It could have been," she said sourly, "if stupid men hadn't been building it."