I haven't updated this story in soooooo long. I'm so sorry you guys. I really meant to but it kept getting away from me. So here is a wonderful and super update! Or something like it. (Somewhere, Pobbin is probably cheering—although that might be giving myself too much credit.)

Teresa: I borrowed a line from a review you gave me. See if you can spot it!

Patukum-chan: I did indeed used to have a story called 'Lost Illusions' up, but well, I got two chapters and written and then realized I had no idea where the plot was going. But it's on the back burner but it may pop up again one day…when I figure out where I was going with it.

Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha. I don't own anything. Mostly because I'm broke—at least, today I am.

Warnings: Drug abuse! Drug abuse!

Fanning the Flames

Chapter Ten

I didn't feel spectacular. I mean, I felt perfectly justified at the time getting upset and yelling at Miroku, I still do. But the next morning, when I rolled out of bed, I decided I may have overreacted.

But still, I didn't feel like it was that big of a deal. He was a total pig, trying to score with me like that. I couldn't say what exactly about the whole 'Miroku trying to get into my pants' thing surprised me. After all, what kind of guy doesn't wear a condom with a girl he barely knows? Granted we were both drunk but still…he probably had bagged lots of girls while he was drunk. But he didn't have that excuse now. He had been perfectly sober when he had walked me up to my apartment.

Well what did you expect Sango? That he had sex with you that time because he thought you were a total dog? Wow, great logic there.

I didn't feel guilty though. But it was still bothering me. Two days after it happened, it kept nagging at me. I didn't want to ask Kagome for help, even though I knew I should. Couldn't I solve one personal problem on my own without asking Kagome's opinion?

Besides, Kagome had kept calling me, trying to get the details about what she referred to as 'my date'. I missed the first two calls accidentally, but now I wasn't picking up the phone. Not just because of her, but part of me was a little scared that Miroku would call. No, scared was the wrong word. Or was it the right word? See? This is exactly why I hate men. They complicate things. Everything was totally simple before I ran into Miroku. Okay, maybe not totally simple, but, it sure seemed like it.

I would not, I repeat, not ask Kagome for advice. I would think of something on m own. I'm completely self-reliant. I don't need to ask.

I'm not going to ask her.

"So what did you want to ask me about, Sango?" Kagome asked interestedly as we went into her apartment. I had completely and utterly caved. I needed to tell someone and as great as Kouga and Inuyasha are, they were not girls. I went to her apartment, half hoping she wouldn't be home, so I could just leave with the excuse that she hadn't been there. Kagome spoiled that plan by being right outside the building, having just come back from shopping.

"Well…" I hesitated a little. Something had prompted me to go see her. It's not like I just changed my mind. When I got home from work yesterday, something had been waiting for me. A bouquet of white roses. When I received them, I rolled my eyes, trying to mutter to myself about why roses were just stupid ploy to get me in a sappy mood, but secretly, I was a bit…fluttery. If that description makes any sense. There was a card on the roses, even though I didn't need a card to figure out who they were from. It was just a quick note, short and sweet.

Dear Sango,

Please forgive my behavior the other night. I wish to speak to you soon.

Sincerely,

Miroku

"You've been in hiding ever since your date." Kagome had a sharp look on her face as she unloaded one bag. "Did something bad happen, Sango?"

"You haven't said anything about what happened on your date." I retorted, feeling the only way I could get back at her for calling dinner with Miroku a date, was by calling out her dinner with Inuyasha for what it was.

"It wasn't…" Kagome went a deep red, as expected. Then she quickly cleared her throat. "Besides, we aren't talking about me. We're talking about you."

"Fine. After dinner," I emphasized. "We went back to my building and he offered to walk me up to my apartment. I let him, which was stupid of me, I know, but he was being nice and well…"

"And he's totally cute." Kagome giggled but then tried to look more serious for my benefit. "Sorry, Sango, go on."

"And then he wanted to know if he could come inside!" I finished, waiting for Kagome to become indignant on my behalf. She didn't, she just looked at me. "Then I yelled at him and slammed the door in his face."

"…Wow." Kagome blinked. "I wasn't expecting that ending."

"Well don't worry, I wasn't all that surprised." I muttered bitterly.

"He just seemed so nice…but then maybe…" Kagome looked thoughtful. "Maybe he honestly thought you wouldn't mind." She peered at me. "Did you guys kiss?"

"What does that have to do with anything?" I tried not to look embarrassed, but it wasn't working.

"Just as I suspected." Kagome hit her fist on her palm. Then she gave me a reassuring look, the ones she's so good at. "I'm not saying he did the right thing, but you can't forget that he's a man and you're a really good looking woman…maybe he's interested in you. And not just physically." She added hastily. "I mean, maybe he's interested in getting involved in a relationship with you."

"That's not going to happen." I opened the fridge to put a jug of milk inside.

"Well, maybe you should give him a chance." Kagome frowned a little. "He does seem nice. Has he called you since?"

"He sent…flowers." I admitted begrudgingly. Miroku had somehow won Kagome over, which sucked, because she was supposed to hate him as much I did. Okay, maybe I didn't hate him per se, but he wasn't exactly my favorite person right then. "And a note. He said he was sorry."

"Flowers?" Kagome raised her eyebrows. "What kind?" I groaned inwardly, knowing that when I told her, she would be completely settled into the idea of the two of us getting together.

"Roses." I murmured.

"That's so romantic!" Kagome looked dreamy for a moment. "No one ever gives me flowers…"

"Well, you can have mine." I said grumpily. Then I sighed. "I'm sorry, I'm just…"

"It's probably your hormones." Kagome guessed. "I mean, you are pregnant."

"I know." I looked down at the ground. "I just wish…things would just solve themselves, you know?"

"I think everyone wishes that." Kagome smiled, putting a hand on my shoulder. "But you know what they say…if wishes were fishes…"

"We'd all swim away." I finished and we both grinned. "So, what did happen on your date with Inuyasha?" Kagome moaned and buried her face in her hands.

Although I still wasn't sure what to do, it did help to talk to her.

When I got home from work at eleven, I was dead tired, and I just wanted to go to bed for a thousand years but I had class the next morning and I hadn't finished all my homework. Dammit.

I threw my keys on the table and went to get my textbooks when someone knocked on my door. Bleary-eyed, I made my way to the door, aware that I probably looked like a mess, my hair was starting to fall out of its bun, my make-up was smeary, and I was still in my IHOP uniform. I opened the door.

"Oh no." I could see, even through my sleepy haze, that it was Miroku.

"That's not quite the thing a man likes to hear from a beautiful woman upon seeing her again." Miroku smiled wryly. "But not hearing anything would be worse."

"What are you doing here?" I asked, not harshly, because I really did want to know.

"Did you get my message?" Miroku inquired politely. Didn't even mention the roses; that was smooth. Just his 'message'.

"Yes." I tried to look a little more awake.

"I've been waiting in my car all night…" Miroku looked almost shy for a moment. "I was hoping to get to talk to you when you got home…is it all right if I…?" Knowing what he was asking and also understanding his reluctance to voice the question itself, I decided to just get this over with now. I opened the door wider and moved aside to let him in. Suddenly, it occurred to me just how messy the apartment was. Oh well, he'd have to deal with it. "Thank you."

"Make yourself comfortable." I told him as I flopped down on the couch.

"You look really tired." He commented, his voice laced with concern.

"Thanks." I smiled half-heartedly.

"If you want me to go so you can get to sleep…" He trailed off. Miroku didn't want to leave just yet though. He was saying it out of politeness but I was half tempted to make him leave because of it.

"What did you want to talk about?" I spoke as conversationally as I could, propping my head up on my hand, leaning on the arm of the couch with my elbow.

"When we last saw each other…" Miroku began, still looking at me. I can't describe what was wrong with the way he was looking at me. It was like…he was trying to see right into me. I put up my most stubborn face. "I walked away the distinct impression that you were upset with me."

"I was." I replied curtly.

"But I was hoping that we could set that all aside." Miroku half-smiled at me. "I would hate to have you mad at me, Sango. Especially when you're bearing my child." Part of me wanted to say something sharp in reply but I was tired and Miroku looked like he was sorry…

"It's fine." I muttered, looking away from him. "You could have just called and said all that."

"You weren't taking my calls." Miroku reminded me.

"Well—" I began but was cut off when the phone rang. It rang a couple more times as I hunted for it and then, I answered it. "Hello?"

"Sango?" It was my dad on the other end, sounding worried and I could tell right away something was wrong.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

"It's Kohaku. He went to bed at nine, saying he was tired. It's a school night so I didn't think about it but then I was putting away laundry and he's gone." My dad told me breathlessly.

"He's gone?" My eyes widened. "What do you mean?"

"He's not here. The pillows are all arranged to look like he's sleeping in there but he's not there." My dad clarified for me. "I was hoping he might be there, but since he's obviously not, I'll have to go look for him."

"I'll help." I volunteered. "I'll be there as soon as I can."

"Thank you Sango." My dad sounded a tiny bit relieved, but not much. Of course he was worried. Who wouldn't be? We said our good-byes and I hung up the phone. It then occurred to me how tired I was and how I still hadn't done any of my homework. In the immortal words of Inuyasha: Fuck.

"Is something wrong?" Miroku saw my face and had heard my half of the phone conversation.

"My brother is missing." I got up, grabbing my coat and putting it on. "I have to go find him."

"I'll help you." Miroku stood up quickly.

"No." I shook my head. "I can do it myself."

"As soon as I offered I knew you would say that." Miroku looked almost amused. As if he found the whole endearing or something. "But I'm coming with you, even if I have to follow you in my own car. It'll be much easier if we just go together, though." There was a moment of silence between us and he reached out his hand, sort of towards my face and I wondered what he was going to do.

"Fine, let's just go." I turned around, effectively dodging whatever Miroku had been planning to try. We went downstairs and after a small argument about which vehicle we were taking, we were traveling along in my car.

I was driving, Miroku was in the passenger seat.

"Are you and your brother really close?" Miroku said after a little bit. We were stopped at a red light and I drummed my thumbs impatiently on the wheel.

"Yes." I nodded. "We were, anyways. Before I went off to college."

"Hmm." Miroku didn't say anything else, probably because he didn't really have anything to offer to the conversation. It took about half an hour to get to my old neighborhood and I wondered where Kohaku could have gone.

The last time I saw him, he had been doing pot. But I did talk to him about it. Maybe he couldn't be expected to kick it just like that, but I thought my threat would probably do the trick. I sincerely hoped that he had only snuck out of the house and gone to hang out with some friends, but frightening possibilities were running through my mind.

This is probably what it feels like…

To be a parent.

But as I was about to turn down the street to get to my house, I noticed a lot of lights around the corner of the street I was on. Call it intuition, but I just had this feeling. I turned off my turn signal and went forward.

When I got to the house with all the lights, I saw that there were lots of teenagers hanging out outside of it, and I could hear loud music. Why any of the neighbors hadn't called the police yet, I had no idea. I got out of the car, slamming the door behind me. Miroku was quick to follow.

"Do you think your brother is here?" Miroku was instantly at my side.

"I hope not." I shook my head. "But I think he might be." I went over to the small group of girls talking. "Excuse me, have any of you know Taijiya Kohaku?"

"I do." One of the girls looked at me curiously. "Why?"

"Is he here?" I questioned. She looked at me hesitantly but then shrugged her shoulders.

"Yeah, he's in the back." She gestured towards the house before sidling up to Miroku. "Hi, what's your name?" I rolled my eyes at him and quickly went into the house. I heard him call my name but I didn't bother turning around. I needed to find Kohaku, drag him home, and yell at him for scaring the crap out of me and dad.

In the back of the house was the kitchen, but to get there, I had to try to get through the masses of teenagers who didn't want to seem to budge and I was still really tired.

"Come on." Miroku grabbed my hand and started maneuvering the two of us through the crowd. The look on his face was strangely serious and I didn't feel any need to let go of his hand. When we finally got into the kitchen, I glimpsed him through yet another throng of people, sitting at the kitchen table.

"Make way, make way." Miroku tried to get through the people but to no avail.

"Hey, get in line mister." One boy scowled. "Wait your goddamn turn."

"Turn?" My eyes narrowed.

"This is the line for fun." One girl giggled wickedly. Realization hit.

"Oh that is it!" I stomped my foot. "All of you—I know who your parents are and if you don't go home right this second, I am calling the police." Some people laughed at me, but some of them scampered away warily. "In other words, get the fuck out of my way!" And I let go of Miroku's hand, shoving people aside quite hard. One guy was about to hit me in response but his fist never made it.

Miroku had a hold of his wrist. His eyes narrowed dangerously. "What kind of man tries to hit a woman?" And he threw him aside to show that he meant business without actually hurting him. Well, now, that was interesting. Miroku struck me as the type who would kind of suck in a fight. I guess I didn't know him half as well as I thought I did.

There at the kitchen table, Kohaku was staring off into space, his eyes wide, and a weird smile on his face.

"Kohaku?" I shook him a little. "Kohaku?"

"Don't worry lady, its cool." There was a guy counting money next to him. "Kohaku just dropped acid, he's having a blast."

"You son of a bitch!" I cursed at him. "You gave him acid?"

"What are you, his mom?" The guy rolled his eyes before hitting a companion on his other side. "We did well tonight, eh? The boss is gonna be pleased…"

"Let's just get out of here." I said out loud and grabbed Kohaku's arm. Miroku helped me grab his other arm and we had to get back through the crowd—although it was slightly less because of a rumor going around that someone's parent was there—and out the front door. Kohaku didn't seem to know where he was and was just staring like a zombie of some kind.

A hundred worries were running through my mind as we put him in the backseat and buckled him in. What if something went wrong? I didn't know a whole lot about drugs, but I had heard of people having really bad drug trips.

"He was right, this stuff is awesome…" Kohaku said from the backseat. "I think I'm in a car."

"You are in a car." I stood there with the door open, not sure what to do. We had to tell my dad, but should we take him to a hospital first or something? He didn't seem like he was in need of medical attention but still…

My dad was going to freak out when he heard all this. Kohaku had snuck out to go to a party. Kohaku was doing drugs. I wondered if I would have to confess that I knew that he had been doing pot but I hadn't told my dad. A million things were running through my mind and I was so tired. I just wanted to go to bed for a thousand years.

The world suddenly spun.

"Wait." I put a hand to my head. I could see Miroku looking at me in concern. I could feel him put a hand on my shoulder. The world spun once more.

And then I could feel my knees giving way and it went completely black.

I'm so glad I finally updated this story! Woot! I'm drinking some of my super awesome homemade southern style sweet tea as I write this. Does this count as a cliffhanger? Er, it might. Maybe it's because I know what happens, so I don't really think of it as such. It's good being the author. Sorry this wasn't put up yesterday but I completely forgot about it. Oh well, you guys forgive me, right?