Chapter 11: Memories

Miroku has officially been with Sango for over four months, and she's pretty much learned to deal with his antics.

"Miroku…" She sighed, feeling him nudging her with his nose.

The panther growled in his throat, persistently nudging her to try and get her up.

"It's the weekend Miroku…please let me sleep in for once." She groaned, pushing the panther's muzzle away from her back.

'If that's how it's going to be…'

The big cat went to the foot of her bed and gripped her cover in his massive jaws. He growled around them once before tugging it off.

"Let me sleep you dumb animal." She snarled as she curled in on herself to keep warm.

Miroku glared at her form before jumping onto the bed, pinning her beneath his lithe body.

"Hey! Get off of me you idiot!"

She looked up from her position beneath him, staring into a pair of blue eyes. Miroku purred at her as she sat up, eyes twinkling innocently.

"I swear…you are the most annoying guy I've ever met."

Miroku rubbed against her arm, purring lovingly.

"You are so lucky you're cute." She sighed, rubbing him between his ears.

The panther just smiled before getting off. After eating a hearty breakfast and Miroku going off to do errands, Sango decided to go through her old photo albums. She was just getting to her family album when Miroku walked in.

"What are you looking at Sango?"

"Just reliving a few memories."

His curiosity won out as he placed the groceries on the table before sitting beside her. The current photo she had opened to featured a much younger her, no older than five or six, wearing a little pink sundress.

"Aw…you were so cute Sango." He chuckled softly.

She ignored him as she turned the page. This one had little Sango holding a baby in her lap.

"My little brother Kohaku…I forgot how tiny he used to be."

She failed to notice his eyes filling with envy, ears turned down. The next photo showed her whole family: her father, mother, herself, and Kohaku. Her father was a tall and muscular man, while her mother was petite and seemed fragile to the touch. As for her brother Kohaku, he was skinny, and appeared a bit sickly at first glance. Miroku also noted she certainly took after her mother; the same eyes, hair and general facial structure. All four were dressed in formal clothes, no different from someone's Sunday clothes.

"You look like your mother." He stated quietly.

"Everyone says that."

He collapsed into her lap, turning his head so he could look her in the eyes.

"You are lucky that you have a family who cares for you." He sighed, ears flat against his head in sadness.

"Miroku…what is your family like? You've never really mentioned anything about your childhood."

Miroku closed his eyes and frowned, not wishing to speak of things he would rather forget. Sango just stroked him under his chin, Miroku purring lightly as he stared at her.

"Please tell me?"

He looked at her for a moment before sighing.

"You aren't going to drop this until I spill, right?"

She nodded eagerly as he rolled off, looking her dead in the eye.

"To be blunt, neither of my parents were around during my childhood." He stated, picking out mats from his tail.

"Then…who looked after you?"

"The Count of course. He watched over me, raised me, taught me right from wrong, the usual."

"Did he ever teach you it isn't gentlemanly to grope a woman when you first meet her?" She laughed, rubbing his head.

"That he didn't bother with." He chuckled lightly, tracing a claw lightly over the family portrait.

She saw how he was gazing at her family, loneliness shining in his eyes despite his smile.

"Where were your parents?"

"Father observed me as Count D took over my care, and my mother…she left me as soon as I was weaned." He stated, blinking away unshed tears.

"But…why would they…"

"I was a disappointment…Father was expecting a stronger heir, and Mother, well, she didn't want anything to do with him." Miroku sighed, curling his tail.

"She…didn't want anything to do with you? Or your father?"

"Sango…I come from a rare species…there isn't really any time to allow a pair to get to know each other if one wishes to continue the their line." He stated sadly, knowing fully well how he came to be was not the easiest thing to explain.

"So…the Count just put them together and they had you? And they didn't even care about you?" She demanded angrily.

"Simply put, yes."

Sango watched as he moved to lay on the couch, now depressed. She smiled reassuringly as she stroked his ears, watching as he purred contentedly.

"Your parents may not have cared for you Miroku, but I'll always be here for you." She told him, stroking him under the chin.

He looked into her eyes adoringly, taking her hand into his own.

"I knew I was right when I thought you were a caring person." He smiled.

"All right you, loosen up on the sentiment." She laughed, pulling her hand away.

Miroku just smiled playfully at her as he stretched out leisurely.

"I'm going to take a shower, stay here and behave." She playfully scolded, pinching his nose.

He smirked as she went off, tail swishing lazily as he moved into a more comfortable position to nap. But before he could even shut his eyes, the phone rang. Thinking it might be important, he answered it without a second thought.

"Hello?"

"Hi? Is Sango there?"

"Depends, who may I ask is calling?"

"This is her younger brother, Kohaku."

"Kohaku! Pleasant to hear from you at last; your sister's told me about you." Miroku chuckled into the receiver.

"Where's my sister? And who is this?"

"This is Miroku, her…" He paused a moment, thinking of what to say.

His face then spilt into a mischievous grin.

"Boyfriend."

"What! Sango has a boyfriend? When did this happen?"

"Really? She's never mentioned us?" He smirked, enjoying himself immensely.

"I'm telling Mom and Dad right now!"

He laughed quietly to himself as he heard the click on the other end.

"Miroku, did I hear the phone ring?" Sango called from the bathroom.

"Yes! But I already handled it."

"Great…who was it anyway?"

"Just your brother."

"And what did you tell him?"

"Nothing…just that I was your boyfriend."

He listened intently as she stormed into the room, a pink towel wrapped around her body.

"WHAT?"

He smirked at her, eyes traveling over her form as she was fuming.

"You told my brother you were my boyfriend! How could you?"

"I was bored…seemed like a good idea at the time."

"He's probably telling my parents right now! Next time there's a call it's probably…"

But the phone rang again, causing Sango to pause. She glared menacingly at him before picking up the phone.

"Hello? Hi Mom. I know I should have told you. Yes I know it isn't proper to be living with a man!"

He smirked as he watched his flustered owner talk to her mother over the phone, purring contentedly as she hung up.

"Thanks a lot Miroku, my family is coming here next weekend to meet you." She growled, bopping him upside the head.

"Ouch! It seemed fun to begin with."

"You really are a moron."

"I resent that! Besides…how bad can your family be?"

"You've no idea."

Dragonlover71491: Oh boy…what will Sango's family think of Miroku? Join us next time to find out!