Fluff Prompt #34: "Dude–did you really just throw salt at me? I'm not possessed!"
Calling this a "rough day" would be a vast understatement, Miroku decided as he took in the situation.
He noted that Kagome was covered in mud and guts (but evidently unharmed), Shippo bouncing worriedly on her shoulder. She fretted over Inuyasha, who'd once again been nearly impaled – Miroku couldn't help but marvel at his friend's complete disregard for his own well-being. Kirara was gently licking her own wounds away from the others.
Sango was, well…
They were ambushed by a low-level snake-youkai, which seemed easy enough on its surface, but they'd been caught by surprise when it became clear that the snake youkai was craftier than they thought.
Miroku was riding Kirara, trying to get behind the youkai without it noticing in order to throw ofuda. Sango hurled Hiraikotsu straight at the youkai's head, but it dodged and lunged toward her as it released some sort of miasma. Sango, not wearing her mask, had no time to react. She took the blast in full, losing consciousness nearly instantly.
Miroku's stomach clenched violently as he and Kirara changed course and swooped in to pick up Sango's limp form before leaving her with Kagome and Shippo on the sidelines before rushing back into the fray.
They did manage to take down the youkai eventually. Miroku and Inuyasha's attacks, combined with a few well-aimed shots on Kagome's part (he would have to commend her on her improvement, since he knew Inuyasha wouldn't say anything), cleaved the youkai's head from its body – but not before leaving Inuyasha worse for wear and Kagome rushing to help him.
Which led him to now. Sitting and fretting over Sango, her head in his lap, as he vaguely noted the conditions of the rest of his companions from across the clearing.
You're not exactly hiding this well, his inner voice told him. Had he ever hidden it well, though? He was fairly certain it had been evident since the beginning.
Miroku wasn't sure he cared right now, to be honest. He was a man; he could be open about his emotions when it was necessary, unlike his emotionally constipated half-demon friend.
He was snapped out of his thoughts as Sango began to stir.
"Houshi-sama," she began weakly, "is everyone okay?"
"Everyone's fine – are you?"
"I think so," she responded, attempting to sit up before wincing in pain and lowering herself back to his lap.
"Poison?" Miroku asked but didn't need to – all the symptoms were there: flushed face, violent shivering, perspiration.
"I think so, but it's passing quickly," she responded. "Houshi-sama…"
"Yes?" He couldn't help but noticed Sango's flush increase. Was she wrong about the effects passing quickly?
"I'm cold… will you lie down with me?"
Ah, nothing to fear, then. Embarrassment, not poison, was the root cause of the blushing.
Miroku couldn't help but grin and he couldn't resist the opportunity to tease, even if just a little.
"Of course, Sango. Just one thing I need to check first," he promised, as he moved his hand toward her, ostensibly to brush the hair out of her face.
"Houshi-sama…" Sango replied, an edge of warning creeping into her tone, "You can remove the ofuda from my forehead. I'm poisoned, not possessed."
"Ah, so you are! Always prudent to make sure, you know," he laughed nervously.
Way to ruin it, his inner voice taunted as Kagome approached to take over Sango's care, but he paid it no mind.
There would be time for these moments when their quest was complete.