The Maid And The Manager

"Want some?" Sango offered as she sat beside Kikyo on the balcony. "I just swiped them."

She really should eat, Sango thought, noticing how the bones of the child's shoulders were pointing out. She's so scrawny!

"Thanks!" Kikyo grabbed the scone and started chewing on it, looking up at the moon that shone over the dark sea.

"What a day!" Sango sighed, lying down on her side and holding her head with one hand. She took a scone from the plate and started eating, too.

"Toga missed the whole thing," Kikyo murmured pensively.

Sango's eyes snapped to her profile, watching for a second as the breeze played with the girl's short black curls. What's with this kid and the dog-boy?

"Not Toga again..." She grumbled, closing her eyes. "Sometimes he just disappears. They say Urasue makes him do bad things."

"Really?" Kikyo asked, not sounding very convinced.

The train passed below them over the water, making small waves in its wake. The rails were completely submerged because of the pouring rain that had fallen earlier. Both girls watched as the wagons made their way West, eventually disappearing.

"Lights," Kikyo whispered in awe, scrutinizing the horizon. "I never thought about the rest of the Spirit World…"

We never do, Sango thought sadly, albeit a little irritatedly. We fall down the well, and the Bathhouse becomes our reality.

Both girls were silent for a few minutes, gazing at the distant lights of the city. Sango could only imagine what it must be like to be free, walking along those colorful streets.

"I'll get into that train someday," she said suddenly. "I'll get in, and I'll never look back."

She looked at Kikyo out of the corner of her eye, but the girl didn't seem to be paying attention to her words. She was now looking at the moon with a soft smile, the scone in one hand and the subjugation beads fisted in the other.

Sango caught herself smiling, too. There was something about Kikyo, she didn't know what it was… just being with the child gave her hope.

Sango got up earlier than the other maids on the next morning, intent on going to the kitchens to talk to her little brother. She hadn't had the chance to do so in a while. After making sure Kikyo was warm enough under the covers, she dressed quietly and left the dormitory.

She stopped on the balcony for a second to gaze at the newly-formed sea. Sango couldn't be sure, for it was still dark, but she thought the water had already started to drain. Sighing regretfully, she straightened her shoulders and started climbing down the wooden stairs to the guests' quarters.

No time to admire the view, she thought. I need to see Haku and tell him of my decision.

Turning around a corner, she was startled out of her thoughts by bumping face-first into something purple and hard. In the blink of an eye, strong hands were clutching her shoulders, steadying her.

"Good morning, Sango," Miroku the Manager greeted, his indigo eyes roaming her face. "It's unlike you to act so careless. Is something the matter?"

Sango blinked a few times before stepping back, wanting to put some distance between them. She frowned at him, but Miroku kept smiling softly at her. Ever since she'd started working at the Bathhouse (and God only knew how long ago that was), Miroku flirted with her every chance he got. It used to make her uncomfortable, seeing as he was an employee of a higher status, but then it started just pissing her off.

It pissed her off because she knew Miroku was an ambitious man, not to say a little greedy. He would never take a maid like herself seriously for anything other than flirting…

And she, in spite of herself, might like him just a little too much.

"G-Good morning, Master Miroku," she stuttered, letting her frown drop. "I can't talk now, sorry; gotta see Haku in the kitchen."

"Your brother?" Miroku asked, his face suddenly concerned. "Did something happen?"

There he is, Sango thought, allowing herself to drink in his attention for only a moment. The Miroku who cares. Then, her eyes traveled up to his black pointy hat, and that was enough of a reminder of his station. And he's still the manager.

"I have to go." Sango sighed, unable to lie. Something did happen, Master Miroku. I decided I'm leaving. I'll find a way, he and I.

She shivered when passing by the manager.

"I know your brother's true name."

Sando stopped dead in her tracks. Turning back around slowly, she fixed her wide eyes on him.

"Don't lie!" She all but screeched.

This was very, very serious. It could mean H-Haku's freedom!

She would never, ever forgive Miroku if he were joking.

"Hush!" The man approached her in two quick steps, his hands fiddling with his purple robes. "I was in Urasue's office yesterday as she organized her folder of contracts," Miroku whispered urgently. "Your brother's happened to be on top of the others."

Sango shook her head as Miroku stepped closer still.

"Is that why you're here?" She asked with suspicion.

He nodded once. "I came to tell you before you started your chores."

There was a pregnant pause in which she begged him with her eyes, begged him to tell her what Haku's real name was.

Miroku seemed to listen.

"His name's Kohaku."

Sango's head reeled under the unstoppable force of the memories coming back, and she had to lean back against the wall.

No, Kohaku, Mama won't wake up.

Kohaku, come here! Father is calling you!

Damn it, Kohaku, we're late for school!

Don't go in there, Kohaku! The well house is old; it could fall apart!

She opened her eyes again to see Miroku's face was even closer than it had been. He wasn't looking at her mouth, though, as she would have expected; he was looking in her eyes, seemingly trying to control his anxiety.

"Do you remember your name now?" He asked seriously.

Sango shook her head. My face is wet.

"No," she managed to get out, "but that's not important. I'm finding it out. Even if I don't…" she sighed. "Even if I don't, I'm setting Kohaku free." Looking into Miroku's eyes, she hardened her stare. "I'll follow him as soon as I can. I'll take the train West, and I'll never come back."

There was a brief silence after that.

Why did you say that? Sango asked herself frantically. She didn't know what to expect of him now. Was he loyal to Urasue, even though he'd told her Kohaku's name?

Had he ever been truly loyal to the witch at all? Had any of them, for that matter?

"If you have to take a one-way trip," Miroku murmured, "I would rather go with you."

Sango blinked the moist out of her eyes. Could she have heard it right? Was Master Miroku, the manager of Urasue's Bathhouse, really saying he would leave his position to embark with a maid and a kitchen boy on a one-way train?

"There will b-be no t-turning back from that," she stuttered.

Miroku shrugged, his eyes softening. "There's no turning back from this, either."

Under the wooden stairs that led to the servants' quarters, a manager kissed a maid—and she kissed him back.

A/N: No, I didn't forget about this AU! Is anyone still there? Is anyone still reading this?

Well, anyways... I thought Miroku and Sango deserved a chapter before I resumed following the movie plot.

Take a few seconds to tell me what you think, please! :)

Ps: Miroku flirts with Sango, but doesn't grope her here. It wouldn't sound right, since he's Sango's manager and all.