Arrankor: Yeah, most people whom support any pairing other than InuYasha/Kagome, tend to focus solely on Kagome's flaws. xD It's amusing. Then again, she does have a tendency towards anger as well; so of course she will be getting upset on occasion.

Everyone: Hm..

[[I do not own InuYasha. I wonder how much Sango is? Got to start somewhere. :P]]

"InuYasha." Said Miroku, as they paused near the wood line, evidently this was far enough to go. "How do you feel about Sango?" Asked Miroku rather abruptly.

"Huh?" Asked InuYasha, he wasn't comfortable talking about such things on a good day, especially with someone whom he was already butting heads against. "What's it to you?" He dismissed.

"I'm her husband, so it does matter to me." Miroku corrected, not seeing to care to play games with InuYasha at the moment.

"Not from where I'm sitting, you aren't. You're about as much with Sango as I am with Kagome still, that is to say, not." Said InuYasha with a 'hmph!' as he dismissed the Monk once more.

"Funny you should mention that, because I believe Kagome intends to invite you back- she seemed particularly excited when I told her that I had found you." Said Miroku, analyzing InuYasha's reaction in order to get an understanding of where he really stood.

InuYasha made an annoyed growl, as he gaze lowered to the ground. "...About that, she wasn't supposed to know where I was.. but I'm guessing you knew that, right?" Asked InuYasha as he looked at the monk once again with narrowed eyes, suspicion present in his question.

"Perhaps somewhere inside, I could guess your intentions- but it seemed awfully traitorous to keep it a secret, all I did was mention it in passing, it was up to her to take it and run with it." Said Miroku.

"Spare me- Kagome isn't here for me, not like you think. Just like at home, she's here for herself, for her promise- she's 'trying' to be loyal to me. However; you aren't entirely wrong, it is best you brought her here, even if I think you might be up to something by doing it.. Seeing her again, made me realize stuff, and one of them is that she won't detach herself from me unless I make it clear that it's no longer an option... So that's just what I'll have to do." Said InuYasha.

"Then you will pursue Sango instead?" Asked Miroku, a tense tone.

"I don't think it is a matter of pursuit." Said InuYasha, but not particularly in a bragging manner as he glanced upwards.

"So you believe that you already possess her, is that so?!" Said Miroku, his pride outweighing his reason.

"No, I just don't believe pursuit is the right way to look at it. We didn't pursue each other at all. It has just happened on it's own lately. I know this because even I've seen the changes, it's enough.. for now." Said InuYasha, using those words quite heavily, enough. "We won't pursue one another because what separates us is each other. If Sango was holding back, yes, I'd be pursuing her- or if I was, she could pursue me, but from what I can tell, we're just beside one another- what reservations we have are to do with ourselves, not the other, so we'll just stay beside one another, and if one day that separation closes, so be it- if not.. it's enough." He explained, more like he was talking to himself, than Miroku.

"..." Miroku sighed, finding words failing him in this moment. "...Very well, InuYasha.. I can respect your feelings, and I must admit, I am relieved to hear your view on things, even if only to know that you aren't going to press Sango to make a decision." He said simply.

"What about you? I know bringing Kagome here was some form of plan, so that you could take advantage of the gap I'd leave, and try to put yourself there. I'm not going anywhere though, so what do you intend to do now?" Asked InuYasha, finally turning his attention to Miroku fully, his suspicious gaze returning.

"I had thought that perhaps you were regarding your relationship with Sango like with Kagome, a matter of convenience, or perhaps that you were merely playing along so as not to hurt Sango, or until you could return home. I see now that perhaps I was mistaken. If that's to be the case, then I have no plans anymore. If I must win Sango back, then so be it- no more tricks or games to play, I will merely make it known of my intention and proceed towards that." Said Miroku.

"I'd say your intentions have always been known.." Commented InuYasha with a degrading chuckle.

"Some of them, perhaps- and yes, I'm sure Sango knows that I am looking to return, I've told her so for years now. However, without competition, I did feel that I had the luxury of time to slowly work my way back in. Your appearance here has shown me otherwise, but I am not completely without means- I may not have a place to be here like you do now, but that doesn't mean I don't have a strong foothold myself." He said simply.

Something about that statement rubbed InuYasha the wrong way, he couldn't figure out what he meant though to really argue. "...I won't get in your way, no more than I already will be at least- because we're friends, but I am warning you; if you try to force Sango, I will keep my promise to rip your arm off." Said InuYasha with a low menacing growl.

"Likewise InuYasha, though in your case, I imagine a leg would be more threatening." Said Miroku, though InuYasha had the uncomfortable position of mentally imagining himself trying to fight with one leg.. it wasn't a pretty picture.

"Heh, I doubt you could get close enough to touch me unless I allowed you to." Commented InuYasha.

"Your demon strength tends to give you an advantage, but you don't always have that advantage, or that strength, now do you?" Commented Miroku, as InuYasha realized his reference- the new moon.

"That's dirty." He commented with a grunt. "I think we've talked enough, so long as we understand one another." Added InuYasha as he tucked his hands into his sleeves and began to head back.

"I'm glad we did- I'd hate to lose an arm over a misunderstanding." Said Miroku giving a rather cheerful expression. Yes, he acknowledged that he wouldn't be trying to pawn InuYasha off and out of the race at least.. but that didn't mean he would cease his attempts at Sango, and there was on particular way that he had a vote in the house too... the children.

Meanwhile, Sango and Kagome sat across from one another in a really rather awkward silence. They could chat for hours, but it would seem they both had something to discuss, but neither seemed willing to begin.

"Ah..." They both began, halting one another due to the poor timing.

"You go ahead." Said Sango quickly.

"No, no, please, continue." Said Kagome.

"..." Another silence ensued.

"Look.. this is silly, we could talk before, even about important things, so there's no reason to avoid it now.." Said Sango, as she prepared herself to speak once more.

"Very well." Kagome said. "I would like to ask your opinion about something then." Kagome began, delaying Sango's attempt once more.

"Ah.. Of course, ask whatever you want.." Said Sango, finding the constant attempts at speaking to be more frustrating than the fact that she had to tell her at all.

"Do you think I should bring InuYasha back home?" Asked Kagome, looking to Sango intently, looking to her for some direction in her undecided reason for coming.

"Wha?.. Take him... back?" Asked Sango. InuYasha had said before that he wasn't going to go... if she just said that it wasn't a good idea, did that mean it wouldn't be an issue?

"I admit that since he's been gone, it's been a lot more peaceful around the village- but maybe I'm a sucker for it, but it's kind of dull sometimes too. I just.. don't want to bring him back and fail again. You've been around him a lot lately, I am sure he hasn't changed, but that's okay, right? I loved him the entire time, just as he was then, so it should be okay, right?" She said, looking for assurances to her wavering certainty.

Sango immediately recognized the dilemma she now faced- it wasn't that simply disagreeing would end things, it would be discouraging to her friend, and furthermore would end things that she didn't feel she had the authority to end.. Sure, she cared for InuYasha, but that didn't mean she got to decide what he wanted. "I.. uh.." She tried to speak, but her conflicted sides wouldn't let her. She thought back to their previous conversation, InuYasha said he wouldn't go back, but he wasn't aware that Kagome wanted him back, right? That could change things.. He did promise to stay too, right? He wouldn't break his promise.. 'I care for him.. How hard is that to say?!' She thought, mentally scolding herself for not having gone first to begin with, maybe she wouldn't be in this position. She shouldn't be in this position.. 'That's right.. the only reason she's asking me.. is because she isn't aware..' She thought to herself.

"I don't... think.. you should ask me, Kagome." Sango finally said.

Kagome looked confused, as if her answer only further complicated matters, though in reality, it would. "Wh-What do you mean? I just want your opinion, I won't blame you if it's wrong of course." Said Kagome, trying to reassure her friend.

"That's not what I mean.. I just.. don't think.. I'd be a good opinion.. The truth is.. I don't want.. him to leave." Said Sango, hoping that would be enough to convey her meaning.

"I didn't mean he would have to come back immediately, I mean, he can stay as long as you need to find a new babysitter- I just meant if I should welcome him back or not." Said Kagome, as if that would enable Sango to tell her to go for it.

"No- uh, I mean, I.." Sango focused on her hands crossed on the table, then on the tea cup before her- when did it stop steaming? "I want him to stay here.. I have an open invitation to babysit from a neighbor.. I just.. don't want him to go." Said Sango simply.

"Oh, I imagine it must get rather lonely up here, huh? Well, you could always come back with us- I'm sure Shippo and Kaede would be very happy to see the kids again." Said Kagome with a smile.

"It's not about me!" Sango declared quickly. "Well, it is, but not like that. I.. What I mean to say is that he is..." She trailed off.

"What is it, Sango?" Asked Kagome, somewhat concerned for the fact that Sango was having such trouble finishing her sentence.

"...He's.. I'm... It's.. complicated, but.. I want him to stay.. with me. I don't.. know if or when that.. might change.. but today.. right now.. I don't.. want you to have him. I want to support.. you in your.. decision, but... I can't give him.. back. Not now. Never. If.. you want him back.. you'll have to ask.. him. I won't.. encourage.. you to take him from me.. but it's his choice." Said Sango, finally deciding to look up.

Kagome was looking at her with confusion still. "You.. won't give him back?" She asked, as if the words weren't coming together still. "But.. he isn't.. yours to give.." She said, as if it were a dispute over property for a moment, still avoiding what she had to already suspect.

"I care about him too! I may not be able to say what he wants, but at the very least I don't have to encourage him to leave me." Said Sango, nearly fed up with the subtle evasions she and Kagome were using there.

"Y-Y.. Y-... You.. love InuYasha?" Kagome asked, still rather in disbelief.

The words made Sango's hair stand on end for a moment, didn't she get enough mocking from InuYasha, now Kagome had to try to put it to words... "I.. didn't say.. that. I just.. want him.. to stay, that's all." Said Sango, refusing to agree with those words, if only out of embarrassment, but also- she honestly couldn't claim those words summed up her feelings, not really. "That's.. why I think.. you shouldn't ask me." She finished.

InuYasha, having been lost in various thoughts, he entered, just in time- for Kagome to turn towards him, having heard him enter- with a rather hostile look on her face.

"What the?" He asked, as she bolted upright and began marching towards him.