Sango watched as InuYasha and his ragtag team of suicidal men held Sesshomaru down, binding his arms and legs together.

"Will you stop cursing?" She leaned over him, kissing his cheek, "you're mad now, but you'll be much happier soon, alright?"

"Why did you have to tie me up!" He was squirming against his restraints, "I'm going to tear you all apart and jump rope with your entrails if you don't let me out." She cupped his cheek in her hands.

"Calm down," there was a flash in his eyes, the briefest admissions of severe unease and she brushed the others back. She worked against the restraints, tugging along expert knots until they fell away, "you'd better go with InuYasha easily!"

When he was untied he was much more at ease, but he promised that death would be swift should they ever attempt something so heinous again.

She kissed his cheek again and again, soothing his remaining nerves. If she'd known he'd freak out she'd have never let InuYasha try it, but she hadn't known and so she used kisses to apologize.

It wasn't like she could say 'sorry for not realizing you'd be freaked out by being restrained', not in front of Koga and Natsuo.

"I've got to go." She kissed him once more, sensing that his fear had been tamed, "cooperate with InuYasha or else."

XxXxXxXxXx

Sango was floating overhead when Sesshomaru and Miroku stumbled into the clearing.

InuYasha had out done himself with the decorations. A pale blue blanket was sprinkled with yellow petals and candles lit the darkening corner of the garden. Sliced fruits, perfect for feeding to one another, sat expertly plated.

"What is this?" Sesshomaru was careful of the delicate petals, but the disgust was clear on his face, "why have you done this?" Miroku, far more agreeable than Sesshomaru could ever hope to be, took a seat on the other side of the blanket, "why is there a harp?"

Sango floated down just low enough to beat him over the head, "it's supposed to be romantic, stupid. Now shut up and enjoy it."

Sesshomaru glared at his woman, considering storming back to the palace. They were impossible. Why was no one willing to let him be about the monk? If he wanted nothing to do with him, then dammit it that's all that mattered. How many languages did he have to say, "I'm not interested", in?

The monk would die. He may not be willing to rub the dirt of the truth in his face, but he also wasn't interested in surviving that kind of heartache.

"They're just trying to help." The monk was illuminated in candle light, as precious and as fleeting as a dream, "they planned all of this for us, so you should show that you're grateful for the concern."

"I don't want their concern." Still, he sat, glaring into the glass of wine. He'd more than learned his lesson about drinking.

They surely didn't think he was that foolish?

Get drunk, have a heart to heart, and then what? Share a kiss under the starlight? He'd sooner eat dirt.

The gentle strumming of the harp behind them began, filling the uncomfortable silence around them.

Wise men say

Only fools rush in

But I can't help

Falling in love with you

Seriously? Sango's voice was as tinkling and as gentle as wind through glass, serene and even.

"Ever think one person might be too perfect?" The monk asked him quietly. He'd moved closer to Sesshomaru, wanting to watch as she strummed an instrument she'd never played before.

"Daily," he answered without thinking, lost in her, and the feelings from the monk's proximity. In a perfect world they could be his, but this world wasn't perfect and he would not watch him die.

Shall I stay

Would it be a sin

If I

Can't

Help

Falling in love

With you

"She loves you so much it's almost comical," the monk continued, "she and InuYasha planned all of this for us. They want you to be happy." Sesshomaru found himself accepting the glass of wine, staring into the pools of amber, "and when I'm gone...we don't want you to feel as though you're not free to mourn me. I want to spend time with you now, when I'm young."

Like a river flows

Surely to the sea

Darling so it goes

Somethings are meant to be

"I don't want you to die." Those pathetic words were so soft that Miroku could hardly hear them, "it's a fate that is far too cruel for my liking." He took a mouthful of his wine.

So take my hand

Take my whole life too

For I can't help

Falling in love

With

You

"I hate to be selfish." Miroku- the monk- put his fingers to his jaw, ghosting along the edge of his skin in a way that stole Sesshomaru's autonomy, "I won't live forever. My life is a fraction of yours, but you were willing to love Sango. You're willing to love Rin." Those violet eyes seemed to be searching his for something- anything, "won't you bear that pain for me?"

Sesshomaru's shoulders sagged, his heavy sigh releasing the fear and anxiety that built inside of him, "I will, but-," this was the stupidest thing he'd ever said and yet he couldn't stop himself from saying it, "you'd better live a while. You're not to die until I allow it. Alright?"

Miroku wiped his face, "alright."

He smirked, leaning his forehead against the other man's, his lips a moment away, "don't cry, Miroku."

For I can't help

Falling in love

With you

XxXxXxXxXx

Well into the night Miroku was in a daze. The man he'd been chasing- half in jest and half in longing- had finally said his name.

He pressed his lips to his and whispered his name as if he were praying.

Sango and InuYasha were laying a moment away, drinking wine as she taught him to play patty cake. Despite being skilled with his hands in every other scenario, the patterns seemed to escape him. Or maybe he just liked having Sango's hands on his.

Who was Miroku to judge?

Sesshomaru was on his back again, a lightweight in every regard, singing their song under his breath.

"Are you happy?" Sesshomaru asked, he was tugging Sango away from her game, collecting her in his arm, "is this what you wanted?"

She rolled into his side, gazing at him with a giddiness that spilled into those that bore her mark, "marry me." When his eyes widened, she began to giggle, "I'm tired of waiting on you to ask me and so I am asking you. Marry me, Sesshomaru?"

"I must decline." He crushed her into his chest, barely loosening his grip when he squealed, "it will not go down in history that I was proposed to by a tiny, human woman."

"Sexist," but she was beaming at him, "no worries. I'll just try again later."

Miroku, mostly teasing, dropped next to InuYasha, "and why haven't you proposed to me yet?" He massaged the ear closest to him, "at this rate they're going to have children before us."

InuYasha cocked his head to the side, "men can't have children together," and Miroku laughed. He'd spend the next sixty years confusing the life out of this man.

It was decided.

"You're hilarious," InuYasha deadpanned, "I'm not gonna marry you after dating you for a few months. We have all the time in the world."

"But we don't," Miroku leaned against InuYasha, "we've only got a few years and- what if Sango was right?" His soft words fanned across InuYasha's cheek, "what's the point in waiting when I know I want you- I want this," he motioned towards the other two, "for the rest of my life?"

"How can you know that?" Being faced with those dazzling eyes was mind boggling some days. They were amber pools, liquid candlelight, perfect and warm and his.

"Have you ever felt as whole as you do right this moment?"

He shook his head no.

"Me either and if this is what it means to be with you all, if that love and warmth only grow with marriage and mating then that's what I want."

InuYasha tasted like plum wine, his grip was unbreakable, but he didn't mind being crushed if it was by InuYasha.

"Are you sure that we're what you want?"

"What's there to be unsure about? Two sexy brothers and a goddess? A life making a difference? A life surrounded by people who love me as much as I love them?" Miroku was squeezing him back, "the only thing I'll ever regret is being cheated out of an eternity with you."

A.N./ it's short but it's fluff and - y'all this is coming to a close. Anyways. Last chapter for tonight. Now I'm gonna watch Pride and Prejudice, pray for reviews, and ignore the election :)