Disclaimer: I don't own anything, just borrowing.
Far away from the prying eyes of her two male companions, Sango sank to her knees in the damp earth. She breathed out a weary sigh and bowed her head. It was a gorgeous night. Above her the stars shone brightly in a canvas of black. The heat from the sun had finally subsided leaving behind a cooling breeze that brought instant relief to her muscles. 'I think I over did the exercise today.' She brushed a few strands of hair off of her neck and began to rub her sore neck gently. 'I'll be paying for it tomorrow.' She removed the delicate sandals that adorned her feet and set them aside to bathe her blistered feet in the river. All day long she and Kilala had trained hard, taking full advantage of InuYasha's absence to enhance her abilities. One day soon, she would be up against her greatest enemy, and she knew that in order to survive, she would have to be in peak physical condition.
Of course not every one in her camp was as dedicated to their craft as she was. Both Miroku and Shippo had turned down her invitation to spar with her, and spent the majority of their day goofing off in the village and now their stomachs were to the point of bursting with good food and drink, and they lounged around the campfire like slugs. By now they both were probably fast asleep. She strained to hear the sounds of their laughter playing upon the wind, but the world around her was completely silent. She was alone.
It was during rare moments like this Sango's mind wandered back to a time when her life was so simple. She lifted her eyes to the stars and a small smile spread across her face as her memories began to surface. She could remember the first time she had ever slain a demon on her own. Her father had been so proud of her that day, and even threw a feast in her honor. 'Father, can you see me now? Are you still proud of your daughter?' She sighed and bowed her head in prayer.
Miroku poked his head around the massive bush that was serving as his hiding spot. As usual he had followed the demon slayer, hoping for just one glimpse of what lay hidden under her clothing. He had been spying on her for at least a half-hour now, and he knew from experience that her kimono was staying on. 'I guess she's not getting naked, but if she isn't intending to bathe, then what exactly is she doing?' His brow furrowed and he bit his lower lip. 'Why do I linger here? My only intention was to catch a glimpse of her beautiful body, but for some reason I can't seem to get my feet to move! Damn it Sango! How do you do it? I've never grown attached to any woman until you came along and turned my world upside down. What is it about you that makes me yearn to have you forever at my side?' He sighed and turned his back to her shaking his head ruefully.
A dry twig split in two with a loud crack, and Sango's eyes fluttered open. Her head snapped towards the sound and her forehead creased. 'What was that?' She wondered slowly rising to her feet. She moved forward two paces then stopped as the branches of a near by bush were gently swaying, but the wind had ceased blowing. 'That's odd.' Instinctively her hand slid to the boomerang like weapon she always carried on her back, and she gently caressed the worn bone. Her body quickly adjusted itself into a battle stance and Sango stared into the darkness. She tried to squelch the little tremor of fear that pierced her heart in two. Demons as well as other forest animals had the ability to sense fear. Any other night she would be elated to have the opportunity to turn her opponent into her personal punching bag, but tonight the prospect of a fight felt more like a burden. . If she wished to avoid a fight, the best thing to do would be to stand perfectly still and hope that whatever it was would grow tired of watching her and leave.
'That's funny, I'm can't even pick up the faintest trace of a demonic aura.' Slowly her weapon lowered to her side, and she straightened her posture. She ventured forward a step and squinted into the darkness. 'No, it isn't a demon. It's a person….Miroku! It has to be him! Damned monk! Why is he spying on me?' Realization hit her hard, and she grasped the thin leather strap that was bound to her boomerang until her knuckles turned white. 'He's not going to get away with it this time. I am so sick and tired of never having any privacy!'
"Wait Sango! It's me!" Miroku cried and leapt out into the open, waving his hands frantically in the air. His blood turned to ice in his veins as he recognized the look on her face; it was the same face she wore into battle. "Please cease fire!"
She pretended not to hear him and took aim at his chest, then threw back her arm and let it fly. A small cry of triumph caught in her throat as the weapon sliced through the air heading straight for the unfortunate Monk.
Miroku bellowed and began to sprint in the opposite direction, not hesitating once to look back. He didn't know whether Sango had not heard him, or if she was so furious that she actually intended to harm him, but none the less he knew that if he could be killed if he stuck around much longer. He urged his body to move faster through the dense foliage that covered the forest floor. He didn't notice the enormous tree root sticking out in front of him until it was too late. His foot caught under the root and propelled his body forward. He uttered a loud grunt as his chest made contact with the hard earth, then lay still in a state of shock.
Sango smirked and held out her hand for her boomerang waiting for its return. Once it was firmly secured on her back, she placed her hands on her hips and sauntered towards him. "So it was you Miroku. To what do I owe this most unwelcome intrusion? No wait let me guess. You followed me out here in hopes that I was set out to bathe before bed. Isn't that right Miroku?" She replied coolly and placed her hand on the handle of her katana. She quickly drew it from its scabbard, and aimed it towards his lower region. "All you ever think about is sex! I am sick and tired of the way you treat women, especially me! Why can't you use the sense that the gods instilled in you and figure out that you're supposed to treat a woman with respect and reverence?" She scowled and placed her foot on his chest to steady her balance over him, sword still drawn. "I swear Miroku, if you don't learn how to control your sick lusts, then maybe it's time to take matters into my own hands." His eyes bulged as he caught on to the area of his body she was referring to and blushed crimson.
"Y-You can't possibly be serious Sango!"
"Wanna bet?" She lowered her arm slowly, allowing the sharp point of the Katana to barely graze the cloth of his robe. Though she was mortified by the words escaping her throat, she stood firm.
"Please be reasonable! I admit, I may have done some things that deserved a good slap in the face, but aren't you taking this a tad overboard? It isn't like you were bathing this time! Come on Sango. I promise my intentions are good."
She grunted in reply and quickly returned her sword back into its casing on her hip. She sighed and turned away. 'Dang it I just can't do it!' Behind her she heard the rustle of leaves as the monk slowly rose to his feet. She took a shaky breath and shook her head. "I apologize for any shame my actions have caused you Lord Monk. Please find it in your heart to forgive me."
"I will forgive you dear Sango, the day you agree to bear my children."
"Would you cut it out?" She snapped back, and looked Miroku dead in the eyes and scowling. " I know it isn't any of my business, but why do you insist on hitting on every pretty girl in sight? If you want a woman to bear you child bad enough, you should settle on just one person, instead of asking every woman in sight."
"Do you mean I should marry?" He asked and raised his eyebrow quizzically.
"No.. well yes! Yes, I suppose that is exactly what I'm getting at. Why don't you just marry and settle down? At least then you won't be as much of a leach."
"That's simple, because I can't." Miroku sighed and slumped to the ground to rest his head against his knees. "In my order it is strictly forbidden to marry. We believe that marriage taints the soul severing the deep connection we have with the gods. Without that connection, I would certainly lose most of my spiritual power."
"But your father was a monk as well, right? If he didn't marry, then that means you're…"
"Go ahead, you can say it. Yes, I am a bastard child." He gestured for her to sit beside him and continued. "As was my father before me. You see Sango, when Naraku placed this curse on my grandfather," He balled the hand into a fist and held it to his heart. "It became necessary to ensure that our family's bloodline continue. My grandfather believed that not just anyone could break our curse, so it became essential that he find a woman willing to bare him a child. He searched long and hard, but he finally found a woman who consented. They worked out an agreement, that once the child was weaned, he would be taken to the shrine to be brought up in the ways of Buddha. My father carried this tradition with me, and unless I am the one to defeat Naraku, I intend to this as well." For a moment his face drooped and he looked so much like a lost puppy, that Sango desired to hold him.
"Miroku I'm sor…"
"Don't feel sorry for me Sango, for I do not pity myself. This is just the path the gods set before me and I accept it." He gave his shoulders a small shrug and flashed her a lopsided grin. "Now it's my turn to do the questioning! Why didn't you tell anyone where you were going? From the way you reacted, it's fairly obvious that you wanted to be alone. Is something bothering you?"
"Why do you ask?" The demon slayer asked cautiously and twisted a thin strand of her raven hair nervously around her finger.
"I don't know. You just seemed sort of…heartbroken while I was watching you."
"I was thinking about my father."
"Oh?"
She sucked in a deep breath and let it out slowly. "I was wondering if he would be proud to call me his daughter now that I have grown." She turned her attention to the sky. It was the beginning of the harvest season, and the moon had taken on a bright orange hue. From the corner of her eye however, she could still keep tabs on the monk's hands to make sure that they stayed far from her backside. For a moment she just stared, taking in every detail of his handsome face as if awestruck.
The monk paused for a moment deep in thought and mumbled incoherently in low tones. All of a sudden a carefree grin lit up his face, and his eyes sparked. "I want you to know that I've given this much thought, and the answer is yes, Sango. I believe that your father is very proud of you. Your skill in battle is like none I've ever seen. Not only that, but you are not just a fine warrior, but a fine person as well."
Sango felt her cheeks grow crimson and she buried her face in her hands to hide her embarrassment. "You don't understand Miroku. It is my fault that Kohaku fell under Naraku's spell. If I hadn't insisted to father that it would be the perfect opportunity for my brother to prove his worth as a warrior. Father insisted that it would be too dangerous for a boy of his age to go up against a powerful demon like Naraku, but I wouldn't listen to him. It's my fault that this happened to him! If there was only a well like Kagome's that could travel to the past! I would give anything to find it so that I can change the way things happened!"
"You're wrong Sango. You are very fortunate that things turned out the way they did." He stroked his chin thoughtfully.
"How could you say that!" Sango cried outraged and raised her fist to strike him, but he caught her by the wrist and forced her arm to her side. "You couldn't possibly understand how much it hurts me to know that he is slave to Naraku!"
"Calm down. I know how bad that sounded, but it is the truth. It is much better that Kohaku is the one who fell under Naraku's control because if it had been you, he would have been left alone in the world. He was a very young boy Sango, could you imagine the suffering he would go through just to survive, let alone the mental anguish such a heavy loss would bring. Imagine it, being a young child and losing everything you hold dear! I would break his spirit. Don't forget that this world is a dangerous place full of demons and murderers. I would be surprised if he lived longer than a year."
Tears began to form in the corners of her eyes and she pressed her hands against her heart as if to repair her invisible wound. She was vaguely aware of Miroku's arm firmly sliding around her shoulders. With a gentle tug, she was wrapped in his embrace and she buried her face into the folds of his robe.
"Shh! There, there Sango. Please don't cry." He buried his face in her shoulder and ran his fingers through her thick hair. "I can't stand to see you in so much pain! Dearest Sango." Miroku gently untangled her limbs from his and took a few steps backward so that he could see her angelic face. "I may not be able to do anything about your past, but maybe there is something I can do to ease the empty ache in your heart. I swear to you Sango, that I will do everything within my power to save your brother, and when you no longer have the strength to fight, I will step in and fight for you. I know that you don't believe me, but I do care about you Sango."
"Y-You care about me?" She managed to sniffle out and gazed into his eyes with wonder. Never in her life had she dreamed of being loved by a man, not to mention a rather good looking one at that, and the experience proved to be overwhelming. The earth was spinning around her and she felt her limbs begin to tremble. "Miroku?"
He cleared his throat and briefly chuckled. He wiped the sweat beginning to form on his forehead with the back of his sleeve and lowered his gaze to the ground. 'So Kagome was right, she does care for me. She didn't have to speak a word, I can tell by the way she's looking at me. What do I say to her?' "Sure. Why wouldn't I care for you? You're my friend Sango." He lied and gave a nervous chuckle.
"Yes, that's right. I'm your friend." She repeated more for her own benefit than the monk's, and sucked in a deep breath. "Thank you Miroku, I will accept your help with gratitude." She said in a flat monotone.
"Why are you sounding so formal all of a sudden? Did I say anything to upset you?"
"No, it's nothing." She breathed out barely above a whisper and looked out into the distance. The sky had changed to a shade of midnight blue and gone were the stars, hidden behind thick gray clouds. The wind had turned cold as well, and she wrapped her arms around herself to fight against the frost that had seemed to settle upon her skin. "You shouldn't worry about me. You seem to forget I am perfectly able to take care of myself."
"I could never forget that. Your self reliance is one of the traits I admire the most about you." He replied with a smirk. Sango glared at him and rolled her eyes as if to say "yeah right" and placed her hands on her slender hips. "You seem skeptical?"
"I am." She replied frankly. "How can I trust that you have not said those same words to other girls? Face it monk, we both know your behavior is far from saintly."
A loud masculine chuckle echoed off of the surrounding trees, and Miroku dug his fingers into the ground to regain his balance. "I am lucky today! I get to see not only one but two traits from you that I hold so dear! You never play word games Sango; you always call it like you see it. For the most part, you're right. I am far from a saint, but you're wrong about what I said to you. I spoke the truth, but that's not all. Do you know what else I love about you? Well I love your smile. It's like the first ray of sunshine on a cloudy day to me. You don't know how I look forward to going to bed in the evening just so I can wake early enough to be the first person to see you smile."
"You might as well save your breath Miroku. There's no way I am falling for your sweet talk."
All of a sudden, Miroku's face entirely lost good humor and he seized her hand and brought it to his pounding heart. "What sweet talk?" His voice was deathly calm. "What I am saying is not sweet talk. It is the truth. Sango, you are the most remarkable woman! I have never met anyone with the strength and courage you have. Not only that, but you are beautiful beyond compare! When I am with you, it seems like nothing else matters. Of all the women in the world, you are dearest to me Sango." He sighed and raked his hand through his thick bangs.
Sango sat perfectly still as if struck by the emotion contained in his words. He face went pale, and suddenly her heart dropped into her stomach. "Why haven't you told me any of this before?"
"Because I knew you wouldn't believe me. I hope you do Sango, because I mean every word I say." His big brown eyes pleaded with her and without warning her mouth went completely dry.
'Is.. is this a confession of love?' She wondered with amazement. She breathed deeply of the pine scented air and let it out slowly to calm her own jitters. 'What do I do? Do I just come right out and tell him that I love him?'
"Are you all right Sango? You look pale! Here lean on my arm."
Sango took his arm with a faint murmur of thanks and closed her eyes. Right now he seemed to be the only thing holding her down. Her body felt so light that she was sure if she let go of him, she would find herself floating towards the heavens. 'It's so strange. I've been waiting for this moment for so long, yet I can not find words to express myself!' She bowed her hand and cleared the lump that had formed in her throat. "I…" She started but lost the words. "I…"
"What is it?"
"I…" She blushed furiously and averted her eyes to her lap. "I- I love you… so very much."
Though her words were like the most beautiful music to his ears, there was a hint of despair contained in it that set his nerves on edge. Miroku crossed his arms in front of his chest."Gee, you make that sound like a problem."
"It is a problem!"
"Why?"
"Because!" She sputtered and shook her head sadly. "Do you honestly think that a relationship would survive? It's high time we faced facts Miroku. It is impossible for us to be together. We may care for each other, but our hearts are in two separate places. Yours is dedicated to the gods, and mine to the restoration of my village. Our paths may have been destined to cross so that we could both avenge the despicable deeds Naraku has done, but eventually Naraku will be defeated, and we will have to go our own separate ways."
"It doesn't have to be like that Sango! After your village is returned to its original state, wouldn't you like to repopulate it. We could have many children Sango, at least ten or eleven. Strong boys who will learn your trade with ease! Together we could make your village thrive once more."
"But Miroku, in order to do that, I would have to become your mistress! I don't know if I'm comfortable with that idea. I was raised with the belief that it was forbidden for an unwed girl to lay with a man."
He frowned and fiddled with the worn rosary that he wore wrapped around his hand. For a long moment, the pair sat silent, each completely absorbed in thought. The wind whistled through the trees and blackness covered the earth. The woods once again became alive as the creatures that dwelled within woke from their slumber to hunt and mate. He looked to the skies and searched for the moon, but it was no where to be seen. The clouds had covered the stars like a thick blanket and in the distance, thunder rumbled. 'It's going to rain. We should head back to camp soon. How can I leave things like this between us? If I love her enough, there has to be a way to make things work.' Only one idea leaped to mind, marriage. To him, it was the last resort for it would require a heavy sacrifice from him. He sighed and bowed his head in resignation. Gaining Sango was worth losing his spiritual powers.
"It's gotten very dark. We should have headed back long ago. I'll whistle for Kilala, she will be able to take us safely back." Sango sighed and placed her fingers into her mouth, letting loose with a large blast of air.
"Sango, do you mean what you said about becoming my mistress?"
"I'm sorry Miroku." She nodded. 'Why is life so unfair? Am I just destined to be alone?'
"Don't apologize Sango, it's not your fault. If I can't have you for my mistress, then I will simply have to take you for my wife instead."
"Miroku, you can't do that! You'll lose…" She gasped as a something warm and solid touched her flesh in the darkness, Miroku's hand. It landed on her arm and quickly slid down it to entangle the fingers below.
"I don't care. Don't try to dissuade me Sango, my mind is already made up. It's either this or live my life without you. I know that I would be able to survive with out my abilities, but I know darn well that I can't survive unless you're with me. Besides, maybe you're right. Maybe it is time for me to settle down.
Her arm was slowly lifted and she felt her face turn red as she felt it meet his lips. She couldn't help but to be slightly perplexed. "Miroku…are you serious?"
"Do I sound like I'm joking?" The hand was turned over and a kiss was placed upon her palm. "After all of this craziness with Naraku is in the past, start a new life with me as my wife. I promise Sango I will do anything to make you happy."
Her heart pounded in her chest and she felt almost ready to swoon with ecstasy. The world seemed to disappear around her. Lightning struck nearby announcing the storm's arrival causing her to jump several feet in the air. All of a sudden a pair of warm arms wrapped themselves around her shoulders and she felt her body being gently hoisted onto his lap.
"Marry me Sango." His breath was hot in her ear sending pleasant chills down her spine. "Please, I can't go on with out you."
"This is all so sudden!" She exclaimed and shook her head.
"Who cares, you know it feels right."
There was another moment of awkward silence between them and Sango debated with the emotions that fought for dominance inside her breast. Slowly she opened her eyes and took a shaky breath of air. Her next words would change both of their entire lives. "Miroku…I…yes." She whispered softly. "I would be honored to become your wife."
Miroku started as if struck, knocking a surprised Sango out of his lap in the process. "Y-You will?" Suddenly he felt as though he was on cloud nine experiencing a rare taste of heaven. "Sango, my love!" He cried with glee and swept her into his arms once more to bestow a firm kiss upon her lips. Sango giggled and wrapped her arms firmly around his neck like a person drunk and eagerly responded to the pressure on her lips.
In the distance the growl of a fire cat could be heard. She had picked up her mistress's scent and was trailing it through the forest, eager to be of service. Just as rain began to fall from the sky she arrived on the scene and eagerly scanned the area with her keen eyesight. She spotted her not too far off from the bank of the river. Someone was with her…the monk and he had his arms around her waist in a protective manor. Her eyes widened as she saw their lips meet, and closed her eyes, waiting for the sound of a slap. After a few minutes of silence she dared to open her eyes a crack. Her mistress wasn't struggling! In fact, she seemed to be almost happy. Kilala opened her eyes wide and bowed her head with gratitude. She couldn't even remember the last time Sango had been truly happy, and the thought warmed her heart as well. She calmly strode over to where they stood and gave a soft grunt, to announce her presence. The couple hastily broke apart at the familiar sound and began to giggle good naturally becoming aware of their now damp clothes and hair. They had been so caught up, they hadn't even noticed the rain had begun. Without another word they boarded the fire cat's back, Sango first than Miroku.
His arms once again went around her waist and he rested his chin upon her shoulder. He couldn't believe his luck! Not only had he learned of Sango's true feelings, but also she had agreed to become his wife. Tenderness flooded his body and he planted a soft kiss on her neck. "I love you Sango."
Sango smiled softly, relishing the honey sweet words that flowed from his lips, and the emotions they evoked. Unshed tears shone in her eyes and she spun to take his lips with her own. "I love you too Miroku…forever."
A/N: Well there you have it! Thanks for being so patient with me these last couple of updates. I hope that this chapter makes up for the recent lack of Sango and Miroku action. If It doesn't I apologize.
On a special note I would like to say to Phatdan that I meant no offense to the sport of football by calling soccer by that name. I was using the European name for soccer in my story because I wasn't sure what they would call it in Japan. I just assumed that it would be the same as Europe. If I am wrong please let me know and I will change it immediately. I assure you that I come from a family of football fanatics and have a great respect for the game. I apologize if there was any confusion. Anyway, thanks so much for reading!
