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Chapter Ten: Just a Theory

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Sango took in the two words that he spoke. It was not very significant but it somehow made her feel much better. His presence was kind of comforting at this time. He knew nothing about her. With him, she had a clean slate. Even still, that was not it—not entirely anyway. There was something about him that she could not place her finger on. He was mysterious and this made him alluring. She wanted to be closer to him, to learn more about him. After recovering from the surprise, she gave a sad little smile. It wasn't much but it was something.

This did not go unnoticed by Sesshomaru. He looked at her again uncertain of why she was smiling. She saw it and it only widened her smile making it a happy one. Why was she looking at him like that? He did not say anything to try to cheer her up. What was she thinking?

"That was an order, wench. It is unbecoming for you to display such emotions in my presence." Sesshomaru told her indifferently.

Sango did not hear any malice in his tone but she took this as a cue to argue with him. He did not want her to think that he was soft or anything. So she played along with his game and snapped back, "Your opinion does not matter to me."

It was not harsh Sesshomaru could tell that she only saying what she thought she should but he did not want to let on that he figured it out. He only looked away from her and back to the trees before him. Sango returned her gaze to the ground but the tears have dried—she no longer felt sad. Maybe this spell is not as bad as she thought. Maybe he's not as bad as she thought. Maybe she might kind of actually like him. Maybe.

They sat in comfortable silence for a long time. His presence was not foreboding like it was when he had his guard up. When he is alone, Sesshomaru seems almost easy-going. Sango felt at ease with him. She never thought that he the ability to make anyone feel that way. All the time she met him, he was terrifying and intimidating but right now, although his demeanour has not changed much, the vibe he was giving off was a polar opposite as the one that usually surrounded him. She sat there, enjoying his company in these rare moments when he had not expectations to live up to. Sango did not doubt that this is an honest piece of the taiyoukai.

The female's presence was pleasant, he would not deny that. Of course he would never say it aloud but he couldn't deny it. Rin was right, too, she was pretty. She is incompetent and disrespectful and she thought she was somehow invincible because of the spell but she was…something. She was not that bad for a human—for a human. This horrid accident might not be the hell that he expected it to be. She was still below him, though, he had to remember that. Maybe—just maybe—he won't kill her.

The night progressed and Sango began to drift off to sleep. She was leaning against the same large tree as the taiyoukai but her body was turned away from him. He noticed she was breathing more evenly and chanced a glance in her direction. He did not mind her. He would allow her to bide her time with him if she so chooses. Sesshomaru was not holding his breath for this, though. She had a moment of weakness and so did he. It's not likely this situation would ever happen again. But if it did, he would ask her why she was upset. Only to satisfy his curiosity, of course—nothing more.

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There was the clattering of metal. It almost sounded like Kagome preparing breakfast but that can't be. She fell asleep away from camp next to Sesshomaru. When Sango opened her eyes, she was in looking at a newly lighted fire surrounded by her travelling companions. How did she get here? It had to be the demon lord but why would he do that? More importantly, where is he? She scanned the vicinity and saw that everyone was there save from him. Inuyasha was high atop a branch and Kagome was indeed preparing breakfast. The children were playing with the toad although the toad clearly did not want to join in. Miroku was there as well.

'Huh, so he came back.' She thought bitterly.

"Good morning, Sango!" Kagome greeted her.

"Good morning." She replied. Where was he? He couldn't have been far she did not feel any pain that would be a tell-tale sign of his distance.

'What does it matter? It's not like he's going to up and leave. Stop it, Sango, you're being ridiculous.' She chided herself.

The daily morning routine was going on normally except for the presence of the two extra bodies. It was as if everything was the same as it was every other day but she knew better. There were many occurrences from the past night that cannot be overlooked. For one, she had no intention of speaking to Miroku regardless of what he might think of it. And she's thinking about talking to the demon lord again if she had a chance but there's a huge possibility that won't happen. How would she strike up conversation with him?

They were all served breakfast by Kagome and this was when the questions began. Inuyasha was the first to speak.

"Where were you two last night." He was talking to her and the monk.

"Nowhere in particular. Sango wanted to go clear her thoughts and I went to perform some duties in a nearby household." Miroku replied.

Sango hid her anger as he gave the explanation. "Perform some duties" more like bed with a female who accepted his request to bear him a child. She still disliked him for leaving her like that without so much as a proper introduction to the woman or a goodbye to her. She chose to be silent as Miroku continued to elaborate conveniently leaving out certain details of the night that would lead them to suspect him of what he really did. After that, there were some idle chatter that she did not care to listen to so she was startled when Kagome called her.

"What? I'm sorry, I didn't hear what you said." She answered.

"I was asking about the mission from the old demon slayer, how is Sesshomaru involved and since when were you somewhat civil with him?"

"I can't tell you that, Kagome." Sango could not find a good excuse and she did not want to lie to her friend.

"Why not?"

"Is he threatening to kill you if you talked?" Inuyasha said in low voice.

"No, he's not." She lied. "Please, just trust me when I say that I cannot say anything."

That ended the question and answer for the morning. There was a little in the way of conversation. Sango felt terrible for having to hide anything from her friends but she knew she had to—Sesshomaru would be cross if she were to tell them. No one knew where to go but Sango was certain that the taiyoukai would. If anything, he's probably out looking for the fastest way to get to the mountains. After passing some compliments toward Kagome for the delicious meal, the lot began to pack up their belongings.

"Where is that bastard?" Inuyasha asked impatiently after the last pot was put into Kagome's large bag. "He's wasting our time."

"And you are wasting our air." His voice came through the forest followed by his figure. "I suggest you keep you mouth shut, little brother, it would be better for your health."

"Speak of the devil." The half-breed commented spitefully.

A feral growl vibrated from the older demon's chest—a direct threat to Inuyasha. It sent chills through everyone. No one dared to make a sound. The taiyoukai ordered, "We are to travel north."

That was all the instruction they needed. The demon lord began to walk in the direction he specified and the others followed right away not wanting to irate him. The younger inu youkai was the one that decided to be difficult, cursing under his breath staying as far behind from his brother as possible. He complained most of the way to Kagome but his objections fell on deaf ears. She was busy watching Sango.

She didn't come back before she and Inuyasha were asleep and neither did Miroku. Even then, he said that he was not with her that night. Where could she have gone? Her friend is being very secretive lately and the fact that she seemed to be glancing at Sesshomaru more often than necessary is causing Kagome to suspect many things. Sango and Sesshomaru were working together on this task and he was the only one that knew where they were going. She insulted him and nothing—not even some kind of comment—were thrown her way. Something is going on. Kagome was going to find out what it is. Sango was practically her sister no doubt she would confide in her the reason for this detour.

"Hey, Miroku." Kagome called to the monk that was walking to her left. "Where do you think Sango was last night?"

"I'm not sure but when I awoke this morning she was sleeping beside Rin." He replied.

"But Rin went with Sesshomaru last night."

"Yes," he was pensive. "Possibly…"

She was shocked he would suggest something like that. "You don't think…"

"It's probable."

"That is ridiculous she wouldn't spend the night with him." She couldn't believe it. It couldn't be.

"Well, Kagome, they do have some sort of alliance at the moment. It would not be far-fetched for them to have other relations."

"No…" she said in awe. "No way, she is not that kind of girl."

The monk shrugged, "Judging from what has happened yesterday, I would be ready to believe anything—even something as preposterous as that idea."

"Oi, Miroku." Inuyasha was tapping him on the head with his fist. "Don't you kind of have feelings for Sango? If your theory is right, you should do something about it."

"No, Inuyasha, Sango can have relations is she wants. She has expressed it clearly before that she does not have any interest in bearing my children."

"I don't think that's it, Miroku." Kagome said, "I think it's just your approach that she's saying 'no' to."

"Either way, it's not as if I could stand between a taiyoukai and what he wants."

"That's true." the hanyou butted in. "Sesshomaru would crush you. Especially if he were to find out that you want to keep him from getting a female. He would break both your legs and slice you all over and watch you to bleed to death."

"Sit, boy!" she commanded and he went face first into the ground.

"What was that for?" he said muffled by the dirt.

"For not helping at all." Kagome continued walking.

"I'm just telling the truth." The spell wore off and he jumped back in line beside the miko. "And don't think I'll go and save your perverted ass, Miroku. Like hell I'm going to get myself in between your twisted little love triangle. If he's going to deliver to your painful death, you're on your own."

"SIT!" Thud. She looked sympathetically at the monk, "Don't listen to him, it's just a theory, after all."

"Indeed," Miroku was more torn than he let anyone know. Yes, he would let Sango have a relationship with any man if she wanted but he did have feelings for her at the same time. He did not know what to do about it. He just hoped that this discussion is unnecessary because there was nothing to worry about like Kagome said. "Just a theory."

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