Sorry if my English seems to get worse with this chapter. I'm writing it during free breaks in my Peace Studies program and since I'm one of three people who can speak Japanese well enough to communicate I've been using it almost constantly and I feel like my English is deteriorating. I hope to have this chapter spell and grammar checked although with coming back, then packing and preparing to move into my house off campus I don't know if I'll have the time. And a quicker update for this chapter so I can continue writing is a better plan than waiting and waiting for a large amount of free time. I'm thinking this fanfic will have about 30 or so chapters. So it should take me all of fall semester, then I'll likely go back and finish my other fanfics.


Chapter 6: The Date

"Not bad..." Miroku said to himself glancing in the mirror. He wanted to take Sango to one of the more upscale restaurant, but InuYasha talked him out of it. So instead they would go to a nice, cheaper restaurant where they both would feel more comfortable. He brushed a few more wrinkles out of his shirt and sighed. He was still confused by why Sango was carrying those pictures with her. He thought maybe she was going to show Kagome, since that's what girls do, but he had been extremely surprised to find out Kagome didn't know of any pictures. Maybe she was more sentimental than she looked, and that would likely cause problems if they started to have a relationship. He wanted to ask, but how could he ask that of her? Would she be mad or upset, would she want to never talk to him again? He genuinely liked Sango and if she didn't at least want to be friends with him things would be really bad. His friends were her friends and they had a lot of fun together, he wouldn't want to change that. So asking was out of the question, but he couldn't help but wonder.

"Well I can't help but be nervous! I haven't been on a date in a least three years."

"But your with him every day...here...How about this dress?" Kagome replied handing Sango another dress. Her room lay in disarray, clothes all over the floor, dresser, as far as the eye could see.

"I don't know...isn't it a little...cold to be wearing something like that?" Sango replied tossing it on the bed with more clothes. "I think just a long skirt and one of these button down shirts would be better..."

"But you wear things like that to class! You should wear something different!"

"Kagome...I think he'd prefer I just wore nothing..."

They giggled and Sango went back to searching for something 'special' for tonight. Kagome was supposed to give constructive criticism but all she seemed to do was tell her what not to wear, and anything Sango didn't want to wear she said was a good idea.

"Okay how about this one, it's not that short so I wont feel weird and it's one you picked out." Sango said grabbing a dress.

"Okay! Now, I'll look for shoes to match and you can take a shower. I'll help you with your hair and makeup too! We have to hurry though, he said he'd be here in an hour!" Kagome replied.

"Okay okay...I wont take too long..."

"So...how do I look?" Sango asked twirling around. "Good enough for a date?"

"You look so cute! Miroku's going to drool all over himself."

Sango blushed and looked herself over in the mirror for a third time.

"Probably...but the real question is do I want him to..."

"Maybe...maybe not...but lets make you look even more beautiful. I have a feeling you'll have a good time tonight regardless."


In the next thirty minuets Sango finished getting ready, Kagome went back home, and Miroku was coming to Sango's apartment. After she hung up with him she made sure Kirara and enough food and water to last a few hours. Then she went and shut all of the windows, then with nothing else left to do she sat around impatiently. Until she heard a knock on the door, on the other side stood Miroku holding a bouquet of flowers, shifting uncomfortably. Tonight would be interesting, Sango opened the door with a smile.

"Hey..."

"You look beautiful..." Miroku said softly as he handed her the flowers. "These are for you, I heard from a...reliable source you like Lilies."

"They are my favorite...Come in for a second while I put them in some water.."

"Okay.." Miroku replied walking into her apartment. "I'll just...visit my new friend.."

While Sango searched for a vase to fill with water, Miroku picked up Kirara. The cat continued purring softly and mewed at him.

"So...where are we going?"Sango asked as she set the vase on the table.

"It is a sort of surprise."

"Oh..."

"Shall we go?" Miroku asked

"Yeah..."

Miroku was trying his hardest to be a perfect gentleman, but every time he looked at Sango he had to shake perverted thoughts from his head.. He made reservations at a nice Chinese restaurant that was one of the best in town. He was nervous, very nervous as they pulled into the parking lot. Sango noticed his tense appearance and was confused, he flirted with her all week why be nervous now? When the car came to a stop he smiled at her.

"We're here...I hope Chinese is okay." He opened his car door and went to the other side to let her out.

"I like Chinese food." She replied.

"This restaurant is very different though. It has food that sort of...fuse together Chinese food and other types of food. It is very good..."

"Really? I've never been to something like that. I've wanted to go to one but there were none where I lived..."

"Well, now you get to come to one." Miroku replied with a smile, maybe things would work out after all.

Again, Miroku held the door open or her and was trying to be a perfect gentleman. This was something Sango didn't understand. He was always acting like a little kid after eating too much candy and she really kind of enjoyed that in a weird little way. She didn't know how to act around him when he was actually acting his age, but then again he did say he could be serious at times. Maybe this was his way of showing her that.

"So..." Sango said looking at the menu. "What tastes good here? I liked what you suggested last time.."

Miroku smiled "Well..." He leaned over the table a little. "It depends on what you have a taste for. This is a bit spicy, but if you like spicy things it is wonderful. This one..." he replied pointing to something else "...is kind of like sweet and sour but it tastes different depending on which one you get. Some are more sweet, and others have some spice to them. I think some of these ones have an Italian twist to them..."

"You come here often?" Sango replied with a giggle. "You should be a spokesperson for them."

"I've been here a few times with groups of people before finals. I do not know if I should be a spokesperson though there are quite a few things I do not like."

"I see. Well...what are you going to get...?"

"Probably something spicy...don't worry I brought some gum to make my breath fresh for when I kiss you later." He replied with a sly grin.

Sango blushed and looked down at the menu. "Who says your going to kiss me later?"

"Sango my dear you know how dates work. It is tradition that I kiss you before I have to leave." Miroku replied with a nod.

"Sure. Or I could shut the door in your face..." Sango replied taking a sip of her tea.

"Cruel...very cruel. Of course I know you are joking." Miroku replied. "If you weren't I would have to use drastic measures."

"Drastic measures? Do I really want to know what you mean by that?"

"Well, it should be obvious. I would give you the saddest look until you would pity me enough to let me kiss you."

Sango giggled again. This is the Miroku she could handle, not that she minded him being polite. This just felt more natural. After they ordered Miroku was trying to think of a good conversation starter. He ran through a list in his head. Classes...boring...Family...maybe as long as she didn't ask about his...Maybe her past...but she seemed offended when he looked at those pictures...maybe not the best thing to talk about. Maybe hobbies...but then that would feel like they weren't friends. How she was dressed...she would likely kill him...Her...cat? That might be a safe topic...lame...but she wouldn't be upset...

"Miroku can I ask you a question?"

"Sure..."

"Well...I was looking around campus and I saw flyers and posters about an Art Festival Sunday and...I was just wondering if you knew anything about it.."

"It's pretty nice. There are some fun things to do but I doubt you would want to stay there all day. I actually work there when they have it because I live in a Temple, we usually sell things."

"Really? I'll look around for you then."

"They have some live music too. You would likely enjoy it."

"Anything is better than sitting at home with my cat for hours..."

"I see...Well...if you were to get that bored you could always call me. Or Kagome..."

"I know..." Sango replied with a smile. "Kagome...is really friendly..."

"Yes, she is..."

"It's going to be weird seeing her and InuYasha together tomorrow..." Sango said with a giggle. "They fight every time I see them..."

"That they do. But he usually apologizes and then things are good."

"Yeah..."

Sango and Miroku ate their dinner in almost silence. Miroku was in deep though and Sango was just being shy. They studied each other silently, enjoying the food, the atmosphere and the company they had that night.

"You know Sango we have quite a bit in common."

"Huh?"

"Well I just meant that I am glad you agreed to come on this date with me. And I hope you will consider another."

"Maybe we can...your really not that bad..."

"Why thank you, my darling Sango."

"Miroku..." Sango said cuddling up next to him.

"Yes?"

"Why do all movies have romance..." She asked as she tilted her head up to see him better.

"Because romance makes people happy?" He replied. "And happy people buy more movies?"

Sango frowned and watched the rest of the movie. After dinner they went back to Sango's apartment. But not before renting a movie, Sango and Miroku got into a deep conversation about how much they dislike movie theaters because of the cost and the general attitude of the audience. Plus, the benefit of being at her apartment was to be able to sit comfortably on the couch, with a blanket, cuddled up, with neglected freshly popped popcorn on the table. A Friday night well spent. Miroku was thinking about Sango, this date made him more determined to see the other side of her she hid so well. She showed him tonight just what a complex woman she really was. One moment she was telling him about how romantic the restaurant was, without using that word, then later the same evening she seemed annoyed at romance, while being quite romantic with him. He also noticed the playful side of her, which he really didn't think existed, she joked openly with him during dinner and he enjoyed that much more than in the classes he had with her. If only he could see further into the future, he'd notice a problem that had yet to unfold.

After the movie, Sango looked as if she were half asleep. She smiled at Miroku we was reluctant to go back to his home. But every moment they spent together made him want to do more things and possibly push the boundary of their friendship. But his parting thought as he kissed her was that tonight was a great stride in their relationship, he knew how serious she wanted him to be, and he knew how serious she wasn't when she felt comfortable. That's all he needed to know before he started thinking more seriously about dating her, this time it couldn't just be a fling.


So...I know your disappointed you had to wait so long for this chapter. I'm catching up don't worry. I have the most basic outline forms of the next three chapters, which by the way will be so fluffy I'll be squeeing while I type them. But there is a plot line beyond the fluff.