"What do you mean by that?" He hissed between his lips as Sango looked up at him cooly.

"You question why I react in that manner when you embrace another woman." She said smoothly as his hand continued to hold to her wrist. "You think I react harshly but.." She said as Miroku smiled.

"You are merely angered by the thought of me in the arms of another woman," Miroku said smugly as his eyes danced across her face. "You are driven by desire, and act as such". He muttered pulling her near him.

Sango jumped as his hand touched to her lower back, clenching lightly to her robe.

"Well what of you"?! She retorted, glaring up into his eyes. "Did you not storm out, when another man asked me to bear his children"? She said eyes narrowing dangerously. "What would you have done if I obliged?"

Miroku shook his head as his finger stroked along her spine beneath the thin cloth. "You ask what I would have done?" he muttered seducitively as she nodded swiftly. Smirking perversely, he drew her closer, pressing her into his chest, holding her steady. As her eyes danced around, Miroku caught her gaze, licking his lips hungrily. "I would have taken you, threw you upon the floor and made good of my promise to have you as the woman to bear my heir". He said leaning forward as her cheeks brightened considerably.

Touching her hand to his chest, Sango pushed back against the force of his muscular forearm. Shaking her head vigorously, she blinked as Miroku drew back. "Contain yourself monk!" She said, her face as red as the brightest of cherries.

"I appologize," He said releasing her gingerly as his smile gleamed. "When I look upon one such as you, I cannot control my emotions."

Sango shook her head as she stepped away, clenching the collar of her robe. Saying nothing, she stared at the ground as Miroku took a step near her.

"But if I may," He whispered clenching her chin between his thumb and forefinger.

Leaning forward, his lips floated over hers as his other hand snaked around her back. "Stop it monk!" She said as their lips nearly touched. "This is merely a game to you". She said jumping backward as Miroku stared down at her sadly. "You say these things and then fawn over another woman". She whispered as tears lined her eyelashes. "How can I trust you to be true when you'll abandon me for someone else"?

Miroku stared at her softly, his eyes breaking away as his head turned.

Sango folded her arms around her sides as she stared to the ground, her foot making circles in the dirt. Her words did seem harsh, but Miroku needed to hear it. He constantly flirted with other and then returned to her to attempt some perverted act. It threw her mind and heart into conflict each time and he needed to know that. Looking up slowly, she watched as Miroku features fell into an intense expression.

"I don't know what else I might say to convince you otherwise." He said inaudiably as her eyes looked over his head. Letting his hands fall to his sides, he shook his head. Drifting back toward the trees, Miroku clenched his hands tightly.

How could Sango say something like that? Had he not shown her how much she meant to him in their travels together? She had not yet realized the depth of his feelings for her? But how might he show her if everything he'd done thus far was unsucessful? As his mind turned these thoughts over, he broke away from the trees, suddenly sensing a familiar prescence.

Eyes trailing up the path ahead of him, he saw the sillouette of his temple servant Hachi. Slowing to a stop before the racoon demon, he smiled politely.

"Miroku-danna"! Hachi cried as Miroku appeared, his kind smile breaking the darkness about his demeanor. Meeting the monk's eyes, he spoke quickly."Miroku- danna, Master Mushin has fallen ill." He said as the monk's smile faltered, suddenly turning to concern.

"What?"

"Yes, he has come down with a terrible fever, I fear for him."

Miroku nodded, watching the racoon shift.

"I figured it best I find you," Hachi said, his voice lined with a morbid undertone. "Just in case things take a turn for the worst".

Miroku nodded, thinking of his elder master, he would indeed join Hachi on the journey back to the temple. Looking over his shoulder, he watched Sango step from the forest, her shoulders slumped in a timid manner. Miroku felt his heart melt slightly as he stared over her soft features. It was truly impossible for him to stay mad at her, afterall she had his heart, whether she was aware of it or not.

As the demon slayer neared, her hands lowered to her front, clasping together as she stared from Miroku to the raccoon. "Hachi". She said serenely, her brows furrowing together in concern.

"M'lady". Hachi said with a polite bow as the humans glanced anxiously at one another.

"Why are you here"? She said softly, her eyes flashing up at Miroku for a moment.

"Master Mushin is ill". Miroku muttered darkly as Sango looked at him awestruck.

"Will you go to him?" She said, her voice rising in pitch due to concern and fear for the old man.

"Yes." Miroku said with a slight nod as the raccoon stared at Sango.

"I am sure master Mushin wouldn't mind seeing the rest of you also"! Hachi chimed in, looking up at Sango. "You esspecially Lady Sango, he speaks constantly of you and Miroku".

The monk blushed slightly, quickly hiding it as he turned his head. Remembering the things Mushin had said to him in confidence about Sango, the monk began to warm. He was very fond of Sango and said she would be a very good mother to Miroku's son. He said he would disapprove if Miroku continued persuing village whores rather than the radiant Sango.

Looking back at the raccoon, Miroku caught a glimpse of Sango as her face brightened also.

"I don't know if that would be appropriate". She said glancing back at Miroku quickly.

"Nonsense," Miroku said loudly, his eyes focused on Sango. "If it is the old man's final wish that he see you, then I really must insist."

Sango blushed, looking away as she raised her hand before her mouth. Glancing to Keade's hut, she nodded shakily. "Fine I will go with you. But what of Kagome and Inuyasha"?

Miroku shrugged, nodding to the hut. "We will speak with them about it, I am sure they will be fine." His eyes softened as he stared over her face.. Gliding into step alongside Sango, Miroku entered the small hut with the raccoon close behind.