Author Notes: Yet another chapter. This one is about Sango and who else… Miroku!

Disclaimer: I don't own the manga or characters of Inuyasha…

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"Hey Sango…?"

Swaying slightly from her injuries and loss of blood, Sango dropped her hiraikotsu as she turned around. Miroku's voice sounded uncharacteristically… weak.

He stood there, leaning heavily on his staff, hair mussed, the cut on his cheek still bleeding. One look at the priest's drawn and pale face and his swaying figure, and Sango was stumbling back towards him. She was tired, injured and weak, but she still had strength for this. For him.

Because it's him – Miroku.

There, she'd said it. Who she really cared for. And she'd said his name as well. If only to herself. But mentally, she rolled her eyes. Why do I always have to be the strong one?

Again came the answer.

Because it feels good when I'm strong. When I feel like I can handle anything. When he makes me feel like I'm capable of this and of so much more…

Sango made it to Miroku's side in time to catch him as his eyes closed and he fell forward. Grunting with effort, she held him upright, sliding an arm free to pull his right arm around her shoulders so that she could support his weight better. Miroku's head lolled forward, he'd evidently fainted.

Shelter. They had to find shelter… while they waited for Kagome, Inuyasha and the others to reach them. She fervently hoped that they were all fine. She and Miroku had killed the demon they were after and they could rest for the moment. Even Kilala had shrunk back to her kitten form, bleeding from numerous scratches all over her body, a cut on one ear, and an even nastier one on her front paw.

In the gathering dusk, Sango picked up her hiraikotsu and they set off. After a minute, she stopped to let a limping Kilala hop up gratefully onto her shoulder. Ignoring her own painful injuries, Sango merely concentrated on putting one foot in front of the other, making for the small cave at the foot of the next hill, where they'd spent the previous night, getting a few hours rest.

Remind me again, Miroku, why I'm using up the rest of my precious energy to haul your sorry butt off this mountain…

But she already knew the answer.

Because I know you would've done the same for me. And for Inuyasha. And Kagome. And Shippo. And Kilala. All without a blink of those large and innocent looking dark eyes of yours. Eyes that twinkle with sexual mischief one moment and smoulder with protective anger the next.

She shook herself. Oops, sorry Kilala… putting you last in the list.

And while I'm at it, I also love the completely stupid, futile and unhesitating way you always push me behind you - if you're near enough - whenever a demon tries to charge me, even though we both know I can beat the crap out of him or her better than you can. Even though we both know I can even beat the crap out of you if I choose to...

Darkness had fallen fully by the time they finally reached the cave, Sango's laboured breathing was loud even in her own ears, her trembling legs shaking with effort.

Kilala hopped down from her shoulder, landing gracefully even on three paws as she automatically patrolled the small musty interior. Sango stumbled with Miroku towards the far end of the cave, too tired now to even push the boulder to block the entrance. The ring of stones encircling the fire they'd built last night was still there together with the remnants of the burnt twigs and ashes.

With a groan of profound relief, Sango all but collapsed against the wall of the cave, Miroku's weight pulling her down. She pulled him off her and let him slide down to rest on the ground – gosh, he sure was heavy, despite his lean build...

Sorry again, Kilala – you've had to carry him as well as me on your back all this time, I'll remind him to thank you personally if we get through this…

She leaned back against the cave, chest heaving and wearily swiped her sleeve across her forehead, mopping up the droplets of sweat from her exertion. What she wouldn't give now for a bath – even a soak in cold water sounded good …

After she'd gotten her breath back somewhat, her body started reminding her of each bruise, each cut, each slash and she cursed. Kagome's box of medical supplies would be good too… she groaned aloud.

And got an answering moan from the prone figure next to her. Slowly, she reached out and ran her hands lightly over Miroku's figure – he didn't seem to have any broken bones as far as she could tell but she wasn't sure… After a while, she realised she was checking for broken bones one time too many and pulled away, face warming in spite of herself. OK, so he felt like he had a nice body… so what? He was still one damned perverted monk and sometimes, it seemed the many hits, slaps and whacks she dealt him was still one too few.

Again, a thought rose unbidden in her mind.

But I love the fact I can trust him with my life… if not my virtue… definitely not my virtue.

A small reluctant grin tugged at her lips in spite of herself.

Sighing, she pulled Miroku to a sitting position and propped him more comfortably against her, putting her right arm around him again and letting his left cheek rest against her shoulder. She was hungry and very thirsty but they had no choice but to wait out the night. Perhaps by morning, she'd have enough strength to scout around for food and water…

Kilala had long since fallen asleep, curled up beside Sango's other side against her thigh, after she'd licked her wounds to her satisfaction. Sango trailed gentle fingers through the soft fur for a moment, eliciting a sleepy purr from the demon feline.

Miroku was rather heavy but her body was used to it and she didn't bat an eyelid when he slumped even further on her, muttering in his sleep. After a while, she realised that his left hand which she thought was resting on the ground behind her had crept up to her firm behind. Again.

The caress was soft… as though he hoped she wouldn't notice. Like hell she wouldn't notice – hadn't he done it a thousand times before?

The caress was also tender… as though he hoped she wouldn't mind even if she had noticed. Of course she minded, hadn't she shown him her displeasure just as many times?

Sango's hand fisted automatically, ready to deliver a blow… then inexplicably, she paused. His mutterings were fake, she knew they were. In other words, he was awake and fully conscious of what he was doing.

In spite of herself, Sango almost smiled again. He was a lecherous if handsome monk, he wanted to bed almost every attractive woman he came across, he was repentant of his actions for like, two seconds… but right now, the action made Sango feel… like a woman. Like an attractive woman. Something she felt only very, very rarely in her life. And definitely not at this moment, body aching, bleeding from numerous cuts and bruises everywhere else, grimy with dirt and sticky with sweat. And longing for hot or cold water and clean clothes. Followed by hot food, water and somewhere soft and safe to sleep.

I guess I should appreciate how you remind me of this… that other than being a tough battle-scarred demon-slayer, I'm also a woman… I supposed I should be glad someone's noticing…

So she consciously relaxed her hand and said softly. "I should hit you for taking liberties with me, Miroku. Again…" the hand on her body trembled oh so slightly and the smile on Sango's face was real this time.

"But…" her voice lowered. "you're sleeping at this moment, and I don't want to wake you because you need your rest. So…" she let her voice trail off tantalisingly for a moment, and she could've sworn the hand on her behind twitched very, very slightly.

"So I won't hit you - this time…" she whispered. Tightening her right arm across Miroku's shoulders, bringing him even closer to her warmth, the expression in her dark eyes was as tender as the smile on her lips as she felt his right hand move this time – going around her waist and resting just under her bruised ribs. He burrowed his face into her neck, seeking its warmth, breathing in her scent. His sigh was very soft. But she felt it as it feathered across her neck.

His words were equally soft. "I love you, Sango…" and she wasn't sure if he actually said the words or she imagined it. But she echoed the words all the same in her heart as her eyes fluttered shut.

I love you, Miroku…

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