Just An Image

Disclaimer: I don't own it - I dream I do, but I don't.

Warning: AU, and a tad bit different from what I normally do. My daddy made me do it. I'm serious.

Summary: When a mysterious stranger drops into Sango's Life, not one, but twice, it seems that the world has a lot more in store for her than she'd imagined (SxM) AU

Rating: PG-13 for now.

First, let me tell you that Kagome was initially displeased, displeased being the kindest way I can put it. You should have heard some of the words that came out of her mouth. But then, Strange Man 2 showed up, and she was quiet really quickly. It may have had something to do with platinum colored hair - or eyes that shone like gold - (phrases she used, not me) or maybe the aura of a predator as he scanned the room. (Still her, I swear!) But all the protestations she had been hurling at me for the last half an hour died on her lips when this man came to my door.

Thank God for little favors.

So without a word, strange for the man who'd presumably screamed at me over the phone mere moments before, he followed me to the still sleeping Miroku. He grimaced when he saw the wound and muttered something before turning to the door.

Now I was the one pissed.

"Are you honestly going to leave? Not one word - no introduction, no explanation, no nothing? I don't think so, my friend. I don't think so."

He froze in mid-step, turning. Though his eyes burned in anger at the tone I'd used, his own was metered and even, "My name is Inuyasha Tetsai. I'm a friend of Miroku's. He was supposed to meet me for coffee when he was attacked. I got worried, that's all."

"Fair enough," interjected Kagome, "but were you really going to leave him in the care of strangers? I mean, we could be criminals or something like that." Personally, I think she was just trying to get him to stay - that's not to say the girl didn't have a good point or anything.

And that's when he looked at her. Oh. My. God. It was so sickeningly cheesy, I heard a swelling of violins - It was like one of those grocery store romance novels where the man's shirt is half ripped off, and the chick's thick wavy hair is cascading gently in the wind... just like that. I've never really believed in love at first sight before, until Kagome and Inuyasha demonstrated how utterly pathetic it can be.

Kids these days. I tell ya.

"Uh, I - I was going to leave Miroku to his rest." He blinked owlishly for a moment and then stuck out his hand, "Hi, I'm Inuyasha."

Kagome had lost her previous fire when 'those enchanting golden orbs' (rolls eyes) had locked onto hers. In fact, I think she'd lost all brain function because instead of offering her own name in return for the one offered to her, (regardless of how often) she intelligently replied, "I know."

I took this as my cue to intervene. "She means that her name is Kagome. I am Sango."

They stood there for a while, so I left the room, taking refuge with the unconscious guy would be more entertaining than watching those two stand there like zombies. I couldn't help but let the door slam a bit on my way in - it might even wake them up.

So imagine my surprise to find that Miroku is awake. Now compound that with the sudden fear that laced through me, my ability to speak shot, and shyness wrapping its tentacle of death in a strangle hold around my brain. Just one peek of shiny purple eyes, and I'm out of service.

His voice was almost too large for the room. Not that he was speaking loudly or anything, it was just so odd to have him conscious. And. In. My. Bed. "Sango?" Oh god, he sounded so confused - why the hell would a woman who barely knew him practically kidnap him - regardless of her intentions? Oh wait - did that make any sense at all? Oh god, that guy had knocked my entire brain about until it was nothing more than apple sauce.

The room tilted thirty degrees to the right when I realized that he remembered my name. No man, short of my brother and father, had ever done that. But to hear my name fall from that mouth - attached to that person. I was in shock.

I think it may have shown, "Sango, are you alright?"

He tried to get out of bed, and I think it was the look of pain, and the realization of what he was probably doing to his stitches that made me come back to reality. "Take it easy, you were hurt pretty badly. You've got some stitches." I remember falling to my knees by his bed, somehow not even blushing as I placed a hand gently over his wound, the other lightly shoving him back down. "Take it easy or you'll tear something."

I missed the shot of something a little less than proper that flashed in his eyes, but I saw the smile and felt the warmth of his hand over the one I'd placed on his stomach. Which, of course, was quickly joined by the warmth spreading over my cheeks. Flustered and embarrassed, I jerked my hand away and stood.

"So I take it that you don't wanna play 'doctor' then."

I had to take deep, calm, soothing breaths to keep from further wounding the patient. It wasn't right or proper to do so, particularly after Kagome spent all that time healing that jerk. Instead, I stalked to the door, pulling it open and informing him that Inuyasha was here to see him. I didn't bother looking back as I - for the second time this hour - slammed my bedroom door shut.

Outside, it seemed that Kagome and her new little love interest had finally snapped back to their right minds - Kagome pretending to pour over some catalogue on my kitchen table, and Inuyasha sitting on the couch trying really hard to not stare at Kagome. I made sure to clear my throat loudly upon my re-entry into the main room.

"Mr Houshi is awake, Mr. Tetsai."

Ignoring all the other occupants of my apartment, I flopped onto the couch, wishing I'd never gotten the hutspah up to play good Samaritan. My patient had only been up for five minutes - his friend here for maybe ten, and I could already feel the first signs of a migraine pulsing behind my eyes. I hate my life.

However, I found that I really couldn't decide if I would be happy or sad to see Miroku leave. I mean, I felt a tension whenever he was around, as if a violin lay between my ears, constantly hewing away at some high note while his eyes were fixed on me. It would be a relief to have it end - but then again... I might never see him again. It wasn't that big a deal - not really, I mean I'd only met the guy a whole twice, and he was unconscious for most of the second meeting, but - but he remembered my name for Pete's sake! I was so confused.

But fate wouldn't allow me to sit and watch the circus my thoughts had become. An explosion of glass resounded from the other room. Without thought I ran to the noise, drawn to it like a retarded moth to a bug zapper. Kagome was pale, eyes wide and practically clinging to Inuyasha - glass was littered everywhere, and partially embedded in the plaster of the wall was a large brick... covered in paper?

My mind went blank. This kind of stuff never happened to me - I lived a quiet life. The only thing I could do was fall to my knees and pick up the pieces of window. I was numb, wrapped in cotton, and strangely cold.

I think Inuyasha said something, I heard his voice, then the high, scared tones of Kagome, but what they said was beyond me. The light around me shifted a bit - people moving in the room, but I was lost to it. My world consisted of glittering bits of diamond like glass scattered about my carpet.

That is, until the hand brushed the back of my head. I tightened like a spring, every muscle in my body clenching to run. Having strangers in my home was scary, being in Miroku's presence was tense, but bricks - bricks through my window! I was terrified, and I came mighty close to bolting, but his voice, Miroku's, pierced my panic. I can't rightly remember what he said, but I remember the way it burned when my hands peeled apart - I remember the way it felt as each individual muscle unraveled and relaxed.

Kagome sat me on the bed as Inuyasha crossed the room to retrieve the brick. His voice was somber as he read the note out loud, "Miroku - I must commend you in your choice of guardian angels. The librarian is cute - however, that nursemaid cousin of hers is simply delightful. I must pay them a visit sometime. - N." My blood ran cold and Kagome's face turned a whiter shade of pale. Inuyasha's fingers curled in on themselves, practically ripping the note apart. However, Miroku was calm.

"You know what this means - right, Tetsai?"

"It means we should get the fuck out of here as soon as fucking possible." He snarled in return.

Purple eyes flashed with anger, although the target was unclear to me, "No. It means that they have to come with us. Nara- he has seen them, he knows where Sango lives - we have to keep them safe."

Inuyasha didn't really reply, but made some sort of gutteral noise as he shrugged.

Once more I found violet eyes trained on me, and a semi-mocking voice ask, "Do you know anything about Atlantis?"