"Oh, hello there, beautiful. Aren't you a cutie? You want me to take you home tonight, don't you?" Miroku crooned, peering down at the creature before him.
Bright eyes blinked up at him as a little cat let out a mew in response. Her tail swished back and forth as she regarded him. Cautiously, the cream-colored cat padded forward to head bump against his outstretched fingers. She was rewarded with scratches behind her ears, which made her purr in delight.
"I don't see a collar on you or anything," Miroku hummed thoughtfully, his fingers dancing between long tufts of fur. He noted that the cat seemed clean. He couldn't feel ribs or anything, so she must be fed regularly, he surmised. He wondered if it was a stray that people had been taking care of. He hadn't seen her around before, but he did just move to this apartment area. "How long have you been out here for, hmm?"
The cat meowed at him again, pawing at the indigo beads around his wrist with interest.
"Now, now, don't mess with that. It's important to me, and I don't want your claws ripping it." Gingerly, he picked up the cat, cradling her in his arms as a rumble echoed through the air. "Let's get you inside. It looks like it's about to storm. My neighbor has a cat, so she probably has some food to spare."
Dark ears twitched at his comment. "Mroww."
"I'll take that as a yes, then."
"Kirara."
"Mrrrow?"
"Why do you feel like you've gained a few pounds?"
Kirara struggled in Sango's grip as if offended by the question. Sango bent and dropped the cat onto all fours on the floor. Kirara stared at her disdainfully before walking away, tail high in the air.
"Rin, have you been giving Kirara extra treats again?" Sango called to her roommate. "She feels heavier to me. You know she's on a diet. The vet said she needed to lose a few pounds."
"Ehh?" Rin poked her head out of her room, mouth tipped down in a frown. "I haven't since you told me to stop. All the treats are hidden in the pantry so she can't get to them. Unless she's out hunting again?"
Sango touched her chin thoughtfully. "She has been going outside a lot more lately."
There were nights where Sango couldn't locate her cat, only to find her wandering back into their apartment at some point the next day. Kirara had originally been a stray that her brother, Kohaku, had found and begged their father to keep. He was such a kind boy with a bleeding heart. With Sango's persistence that they would care for her together, their father obliged, and the cat was theirs. With her little brother in college, Kirara was hers to look after. Even though she was technically a housecat, Kirara still loved to roam around outside.
"I bet you anything she's hounding some stranger for food," Rin said with a giggle, tucking a stray hair behind her ear. "She probably thinks we're being stingy."
"I guess I'll have to start keeping her inside then," Sango said with a sigh, plopping onto the couch. She stared at the ceiling, watching the fan blades turn round and round. Her feet dangled over the edge of the arm of the couch. "She loves being outside. She's going to hate me."
"Mmm," Rin hummed, twirling over to stare down at her. "Only for a little bit. You'll have to give her extra pets to make up for it."
"More like you'll have to give her extra pets. She'll ignore me for a week."
"It's hard being a mom," Rin said with empathy, "even if only for a cat."
"Oh, back for more?"
The cream cat chirped, walking between his legs to rub against his ankles. She jumped up, pawing at his knees. Her large liquid eyes peered at him with longing.
"Yeah, I know exactly what you want, you little glutton." Miroku reached down to momentarily give her scratches under her chin, letting out a small chuckle. He walked up the stairs to his apartment, the cat following behind closely. This had become their daily routine.
"Miroku!"
He looked up as he fumbled for his keys in his pocket, watching his neighbors exit the door to their apartment. "Ah, Kagome. Inuyasha. How are both of you doing today?"
"Keh, been better," Inuyasha shrugged, arm around the shoulder of his girlfriend. "Can't complain too much, though."
"You say that, but all you've done today is complain," Kagome tittered, leaning into his touch. "Ah, I see your little friend is back!"
Miroku raised an eyebrow but knew better than to question them. They constantly bickered about something or another. He'd only known them for a few weeks, but Kagome had been quick to introduce herself and her brazen boyfriend. Once a week they would do dinners together. He had taken quite a liking to the pair.
"Yes. My favorite gal, back for another date it seems," he said, glancing down at the cat sitting next to him. Her tail swished as she regarded him with an impatient gleam in her eyes. "Not sure what took you so long to come this time, though. It's been a few days since I've seen you."
"Probably gone back to her actual home," Inuyasha said in an offhand remark. "You're probably the side man."
Miroku feigned hurt, pouting at the creature next to him. "Is that true? Are you cheating on your owner with me?"
The cat sent him a pointed stare before pawing at the door.
"Well, you know what they say," he chuckled. "Fastest way to the heart is through the stomach. Let's go, little Lotus," he said as he nodded his head toward the door. "I know you're yearning for some canned tuna."
"Lotus?" Kagome questioned with a smile angled on her lips. "Cute!"
"You've done it now by giving her a name. Gonna be that much harder to get rid of her."
"Who says I want to get rid of her?" Miroku asked with a grin, putting the key in the lock. He opened the door and Lotus, as he called her, bolted through the entryway, chirping excitedly. "After all, her visits are my favorite part of the day. I'll see you all later." He waved goodbye as his neighbors carried on down the stairs, heading out for dinner he presumed.
Closing the door behind him, he strolled to the kitchen to get his little friend something to eat. He purchased a small cat bowl the other day, among other things. He was totally smitten. He never owned pets growing up, and he always wanted a cat or dog. So, when this cat showed up two weeks ago, he couldn't help but take her in and care for her. She left whenever she pleased, but always came back for food and attention.
Miroku placed the bowl on the floor with tuna. She wasted no time bounding over to chew the food merrily. "Here you go, little Lo. Enjoy." He knelt next to her and pet her back as she ate. The reverberating purrs beneath his fingertips brought a smile to his face.
Maybe it was time to officially adopt her.
"Have you seen Kirara?"
Rin walked out with a toothbrush in her mouth, leaning against the doorframe of the bathroom. Her pajama bottoms clung loosely to her hips. "Not recently."
Sango frowned, glancing around the apartment with eyebrows knitted together in concern. "I haven't seen her in a few days. I'm really worried."
"I'm sure she's fine. She's a big girl. She's gone out before and always comes back."
Shaking her head, she said, "Not for this long. I think something happened to her."
Rin paused, taking the toothbrush out of her mouth. She gestured around the apartment with it. "Do you want to go look for her? We can make posters to hang around the complex."
"Maybe." Sango gnawed at her lip, running her hands through her bangs. Her fingers lingered, cradling her head.
She jumped at the feeling of a warm hand on her shoulder. Rin smiled up at her, confidence radiating in her expression. "Don't worry so much. You'll get worry wrinkles on your forehead. Then you'll never find a boyfriend."
Sango rolled her eyes, softly pushing her friend away. "Leave it to you to bring up my singleness at a time like this. Not everyone finds their boyfriend like you, Rin."
"It always happens when you least expect it," her roommate said in a sing-song voice with a wink. "For me, it was winning a free meal from the best restaurant in town. For you, who knows!"
A few months ago, a restaurant by the name Tenseiga opened. It's sister restaurant, Tessaiga, was extremely popular. To celebrate the opening, they did a giveaway for a week's worth of free meals. Of course, Rin being the lucky bitch she was, won. The delivery person was out, so the owner, Sesshomaru, hand delivered the first meal for her. Then came back the next day. And the next.
He promised to never leave her.
Honestly, she didn't understand it. He was so serious. Rin was so playful. By all accounts, they shouldn't work, but they did. They complimented each other nicely, and her roommate was ever eager to find Sango someone for double dates. If Sango was being honest, she was a little jealous. Everything seemed to come easy for Rin.
If only finding the love of her life was that simple.
"I know," Sango drawled, eyes narrowed with feigned indifference, "that it just isn't in the cards for me. I don't need a man to be happy, nor do I want one right now. What I do want, though, is to find my cat."
"Well, let's look then!" Rin dipped into the bathroom to quickly dispose of her toothbrush and rinse out her mouth. She reemerged within seconds, grasping Sango's hand. "We should probably check around the apartment first. You remember that one time we thought she was lost, and she was curled up in a drawer sleeping on your workout clothes?"
"How could I forget? I always have to double check when putting away laundry because I'm terrified that she's going to sneak in and get stuck again."
"Let's split up. I'll take one side of the apartment and you take the other."
Sango nodded in agreement. "Alright. Let me know if you find anything."
The next few minutes were spent rummaging around every drawer, closet space, and nook and cranny. Every minute that passed had Sango's heart sinking further in trepidation. What if something bad had happened to her? What if she was hit by a car? What if someone stole her?
How would she tell Kohaku?
"Sango!"
Rin's calling disrupted her anxiety-ridden thoughts. She practically sprinted to where her roommate's voice came from. Hope hammered on her heavy heart. Rin stood at the backdoor pointing to a little cream colored-black cat sitting on the patio, licking its paws.
"Kirara!"
Sango could have cried with relief. Unbolting the back door, she threw it open, gathering the cat into her arms. Kirara instantly purred, head-butting her chin with affection. Sango buried her face into her fur, holding onto her tightly. Normally Kirara would have protested, but she supposed her cat missed her too.
"What's on her neck?"
Sango pulled back; her face contorted in confusion. "Huh?"
"There's something on her neck. I think it's a collar." Rin traced the outline of a floral pink collar around the feline's neck. "The tag says...Lotus?"
"What?" Sango held Kirara out in front of her, eyeing the tag. "This is definitely Kirara. Why on earth does she have a collar? And what kind of name is that?"
"I told you she's been out and about begging people for food. Probably hustled the poor guy into thinking she was a stray," Rin said, eyeing the back of the tag with curiosity.
"Huh? How do you know it's a guy?"
"It says 'Miroku' on the back," she said. Her eyes widened a fraction. A grin erupted on her face. "Oh, Sango, this is it!"
"The day I finally commit murder because someone stole my cat?"
Rin slapped her playfully on the arm, dark eyes sparkling with excitement. "No, this is how you meet your guy!"
"So, you want me to date the guy who stole my cat," Sango deadpanned with a roll of her eyes. She wasted no time unhooking the collar from Kirara. She looked at the name on the back with little interest. "You're too much, Rin. You live in this fantasy world and forget that things like that don't happen in real life."
Rin wasn't easily discouraged. Eagerly, she said, "You should call him! His number is on the back of the tag."
"I am," Sango said, setting Kirara gently on the ground and shutting the door to the patio. "I'm going to call him and tell him to stop feeding my damn cat."
"Hello, is this Miroku?"
Miroku wasn't sure what to expect when his phone went off close to midnight but hearing a feminine voice on the other end wasn't exactly what he had pictured. It was like honey; sweet, but also thick with an emotion he couldn't quite place. Honestly, he wasn't going to complain. He'd been going through a dry streak lately, and he wasn't about to look a gift horse in the mouth.
"Yes, this is him, at your service," he said in his most charming tone. "To what do I owe the pleasure of talking to a beautiful lady such as yourself this late at night?"
Until, at least, that mouth opened.
"Who the fuck do you think you are?"
Miroku blinked at how quick the voice went from demure to harsh. "Miroku, and I believe you called me?"
"I know that," the girl on the other end snapped. "I mean, who do you think you are catnapping Kirara?"
"Excuse me?"
"Kirara," the woman repeated, exasperated. "My cat. She's been missing for a few days and returned tonight with a collar. Your collar."
Miroku inhaled a breath of realization. He rubbed the nape of his neck, flushing in embarrassment. It seemed Inuyasha was correct in that Lotus, er, Kirara, had an owner.
"I think there's been a misunderstanding," he chuckled, nerves pooling into the receiver. "I thought Lo…, er, Kirara, was it? I thought she was a stray."
"Why on earth would you think my cat was a stray?" He could hear her huff of annoyance loud in his ear.
She was feisty. A grin grew on his lips. He liked this chick already.
"She was begging for food and seemed like she was starving. Honestly, she's been coming to my apartment each day since we met two weeks ago. It was storming, and I didn't want her caught outside in it. I apologize for being presumptuous, but I will not apologize for taking care of her when I thought she needed it."
There was an audible pause on the other end of the phone as the woman sighed. He wondered what she looked like. If she was as sexy as her sultry voice, he could turn this situation around and end his streak. She probably lived close by if her cat was coming to visit him daily.
Miroku swore he heard another female voice over the receiver, high in octave, scolding the woman. Quiet bickering filled his ears, and he imagined this mysterious woman trying to cover the receiver as they squabbled. Silence once again emptied between them.
Another rough sigh grated his ears. "Okay, well, thank you, I guess, for making sure she was safe. She was begging for food from you because she's on a diet. A strict diet."
"Oh," Miroku said, sinking onto his recliner. He glanced over to the kitchen area, locating the empty cat bowl near the counter. He commented, "I guess that means no more tuna when she comes to visit."
"Tuna? God, no wonder she's been escaping every day to go see you. You've been spoiling her."
"What can I say? I treat my woman well. I can treat you to a nice meal too if you'd like. What's your name?"
"Thanks, but no thanks. I don't know you at all."
"Ah," Miroku countered, voice rising high in conviction, "but your cat does, and she seems to like me just fine."
Another pause. "I suppose that's true. Thanks for looking after her. Goodnight, Miroku."
The dial tone was his signal that the mysterious woman ended the call. He dropped his cell phone on the arm of the chair, scratching his nose. She never told him her name. Playing hard to get? Perfect.
He always did like a challenge.
"She's got another collar on."
"Seriously? Another one? He doesn't know when to give up, does he? This is starting to get ridiculous," Sango said, sauntering over to Rin. With delicate fingers, she unclipped it from Kirara's neck. She fingered the sky-blue material, glancing at the tag.
Cat call me ;) -Miroku
"I think it's sweet," Rin gushed, hands on her cheeks as she swooned. "He must really want to get to know you!"
"More like tacky," Sango muttered, walking over to drop it in the pile that was accumulating on the counter, "and expensive."
"Which means he must really like you!"
Sango rolled her eyes, hand poised on her cocked hip. "He hasn't even met me yet. We literally talked for all of five minutes. This is all just fun and games for him. Something to pass the time. I doubt he's serious about me."
"Serious enough to spend all this money engraving cat tags," Rin pointed out as she rubbed Kirara's belly. The cat batted at her fingers.
"I guess. Sounds like a waste of money. Besides, cat call me? I think I liked the 'Are you a cat cause you're purrrrfect' one better."
"I think my favorite was 'Are you feline the connection between us'," Rin said in a fit of giggles. "Positively adorable!"
"Positively going to make me barf," Sango retorted, eyeing the growing collection of tags and collars. All of them had Kirara's name on the front and the pick-up lines on the back. Sango gnawed on her bottom lip, inspecting them. "I guess it is kind of sweet to put forth all that effort."
Rin jumped over to tackle her in a hug. "I knew it! You like him!"
"I never said I liked him," Sango said, pushing her roommate but failing to get her off. "I just said it was sweet."
"You should call him."
"And if it's a waste of time?"
"Then all you lost is time," Rin said, smiling up at her. "This has such great potential. He's obviously into you!"
"I don't know," Sango said in a small voice, glancing away. "He's only talked to me once. I wasn't exactly nice. Why would he want to get to know me?"
"Maybe you should ask him that."
"Maybe," Sango said, succeeding in peeling herself from her roommate's grasp. "I'm going to my room. Alone," she added after seeing Rin pout in disappointment.
She wandered over to her room, closing the door, but not before Kirara scampered in close behind. Kirara jumped up onto Sango's bed, kneading the blanket. Her large eyes observed her owner unblinking.
"What's that look for?"
"Mroooow."
"You think I should talk to him too, huh?" Sango asked, sitting down next to her cat. She rubbed her head, purrs vibrating against her fingertips. Kirara's tail flicked her leg with affection. Before she had a chance to rethink it, she grabbed her phone and snapped a picture of Kirara.
Someone misses you, Sango typed, texting the number she had called the other night. Toes tapped on the floor in sync with her erratic heartbeat. Why was she so nervous over a single text? She didn't know him enough to even be nervous.
His response rang within minutes. My favorite girl. Give her a kiss for me.
You want me to kiss my cat for you?
Absolutely. She's a good girl. She likes them best on the nose.
You kiss her on the nose. Seriously?
Do you not kiss her on the nose?
Sango flushed. No. Just on the head.
She inspected the cat next to her, who still was staring at her. She swore if Kirara had eyebrows that hers would be raised in question. "Well? Do you like kisses on your nose?"
Kirara mewed in response, stretching her paws out before her.
I'll take your word for it. I would hate to intrude on your special kiss.
Does her owner enjoy kisses too?
Sango gaped at the phone in her hand, cheeks rosy with shock. Feverishly, she typed back, Bold for someone who doesn't even know my name.
I don't need to know your name to know we're destined to spend our nine lives together ;)
That's nine too many for my taste, Sango replied, lips quirked in a petite smile. I liked your other lines a bit better if I am being honest.
Oh, so you did like them? That's good. I was worried it was a bit much when I never heard from you.
It was a bit much, but also kind of cute, I suppose. Sango's fingers hesitated on the touchpad, wondering if Rin was right about this guy. He seemed like a flirt if she was being forthright. She wasn't looking for a fling. She told him just that.
Thinking naughty thoughts about me already, huh? We haven't even met yet, my dear. I think you've mistaken my true intentions. I'm just using you to keep Kirara in my life lol. Joint custody?
Sorry, I already share joint custody with my brother. You'll have to take it up with him. And I am NOT thinking anything about you. At all. Period.
Already want to introduce me to your family. Sounds like you're definitely thinking about me :) I can't lie, I've been thinking about you too. Why don't we do dinner and a mewvie soon?
Sango tried her best to contain it, but a laugh burst from her lips before she could stop it. She had to admit that this guy was extremely clever with his cat puns.
My name is Sango.
What a lovely name. It's nice to meet you, Sango.
You have to officially meet me to say that, silly.
Is that a yes to my date?
It's a definite maybe ;)
Sango bit her lip to suppress her grin. Nothing wrong with playing a little hard to get. She ruffled Kirara's head. "Look at you getting me a date. You're a better wingman than Rin."
"Mrrowwwwww."
Miroku exited his apartment, stuffing his keys into his jacket pocket. A pair exited the stairs, walking in front of him. The girl was tiny compared to the tall man with long silver hair. Silver hair. Could this man be related to Inuyasha? Not many people had that unique color.
Before he could further contemplate the man's relationship to his neighbor, their door opened. "Keh. You're late."
"You're lucky I showed up at all," the man drawled, a bored expression weighing on his face.
"Oh, don't be mean," the girl said with a bright smile, bumping playfully into the older man's shoulder. "We've been looking forward to this meal all day. Thanks for having us, Inuyasha!"
"Yeah, yeah. It was all Kagome," Inuyasha muttered, scratching his ear. "I could care less."
"Inuyasha, be nice." Kagome emerged from the apartment, greeting the pair with a hello. "We're glad you could make it. Oh, Miroku!" she exclaimed as she spotted him. "Heading out?"
He nodded. "Yep, going to get some take out. Not really in the mood to cook for myself tonight."
"Miroku?" The young woman suddenly stood in front of him, peering up at him with a calculating gaze. The corners of her mouth lifted in a large grin. "As in the catnapper, Miroku?"
He paled, eying the tall man who watched them with little interest. "Sango?"
She laughed, clutching her belly. Her shoulders shook in waves. "That's a good one! She's my roommate. I'm Rin, the one who told her to call you."
Miroku exhaled in palpable relief. For a moment he worried that he'd hit on a girl who was already taken. "Nice to meet you, Rin. So, Sango told you about me, huh? That's a good sign."
"Oh, yes. She told me everything. I think it is just adorable how you put those lines on the cat tags. You must really like her."
"Well, yeah." Miroku rubbed the back of his head thoughtfully. "I mean, I haven't met her yet, but I am interested."
Her eyes widened and she smacked his shoulder as she squealed in delight. "I've got it! You should bring her food! I can give you our address."
"Rin," the older man warned. "Stop meddling in other people's affairs."
She beamed cheekily at him. "Sorry. I just want Sango to be happy. She's been hurt before," she cautioned, eyes narrowed in warning. "So don't screw this up."
Miroku laughed and saluted. "Yes, m'am."
Rin rummaged around her purse, finding a pen. She grabbed Miroku's hand, writing on his palm without warning. "This is our address," she told him, "and this is her usual for Chinese food."
"Rin, you don't even know if he was going to order Chinese for himself."
"Everyone likes Chinese food, Sesshomaru," she rebuked, waving him off. "Oh, you need to do something with your hair. Rat tails are so not in."
Before Miroku could even complain in protest, the girl called Rin was on her tiptoes, yanking out the elastic that held his hair. "You have nice waves," she commented, lips pursed as she nodded to herself. "You should show them off." She fixed his hair in a half bun, stepping back to eye her handiwork. "Perfect. Much better. You actually look hot now."
"Thanks?" Miroku wasn't sure whether he should be flattered or offended. He touched the top of his head, but she smacked his arm away.
"Stop, you're going to ruin it! Just go and sweep her off her feet already, will you?"
"Rin. They're waiting."
"Oh, sorry!" She sashayed back over to Sesshomaru, linking hands with him. "Good luck!" she called as they entered the apartment.
"She means well," the older man murmured before he disappeared from Miroku's line of sight.
Miroku said his goodbyes to his neighbors, who gave him a knowing look as the door shut behind them. He regarded his palm with the purple ink. Her roommate was quite the character. It made him wonder what kind of person Sango was.
He couldn't wait to find out.
Twenty minutes later, Miroku stood outside of Sango's door, a bag of food in hand. He shuffled from foot to foot, a twinge of nerves shooting through his veins. It wasn't his style to show up unannounced. Especially with a woman he hadn't officially met yet. He didn't want to ruin this. Something told him Sango was different from other girls.
Taking a calming breath, he rapped on the door with his knuckles. A faint voice tickled his ears from behind the door. His palms began to sweat beneath the plastic bag. He hastily wiped them on his jeans. What was wrong with him?
The door swung open, and he was greeted with the most beautiful pair of whisky eyes he had ever seen. Surprise swirled in their depths. He found himself wanting to drink her in as he glanced her over. Her chestnut hair sat upon her head in a messy bun. A long shirt dwarfed her hands. Her legs sported tight black spandex. He loved a girl in leggings. Her ass probably looked amazing. He brought his gaze back up to her face. Her rosy lips were open in an alarmed expression.
"Hi," he managed to say, clearing his throat. God, did he always sound that lame?
Sango tucked a stray hair behind her ear, looking up at him bashfully. "Hi?"
"Can you take me to the vet? Because you just took my breath away."
Those stunning whisky eyes widened in realization as she looked him over. Was she checking him out? A pretty blush settled in her cheeks. "Miroku?"
He held up the bag containing the Chinese food and bowed slightly. "At your service, my dear Sango."
"Did…did you bring me food?" She shook her head in disbelief, her hand clenched in front of her chest. "Wait, how did you know where I lived?"
"I may have run into your roommate, Rin," he explained. "Apparently her boyfriend is my neighbor's brother."
"Ah, that explains it. She did say that she was going over to Sesshomaru's brother's apartment for dinner."
"What are the odds? It's like we were destined to meet," he said, flashing her an enthralling grin. "Do I get to come in, or am I going to stand out here in the cold all night?"
Sango reddened, stepping aside. "Right. I'm sorry, that was rude of me. Come on in, Miroku."
"Can't be as rude as me showing up unannounced. Sorry about that. It was Rin's idea."
Sango swore under her breath. "Only Rin could manage to meddle in my love life without even being present."
"Oh?" Miroku looked at her in amusement as he stepped through the threshold. "That's awfully forward of you."
Sango slammed the door shut behind him. She leaned against it, observing him with a contemplative gaze. "Well, you did bring me dinner."
"I brought dinner for my favorite girl," Miroku corrected, pulling some tuna out from the bag.
"Seriously?" Sango crossed her arms over her chest, eyes narrowed. "She's on a diet."
"She can have a cheat night."
"She absolutely cannot have a cheat night. She already had several cheat nights the last few weeks with you."
Kirara's chirps filled the room as she came bounding out of nowhere, running up to Miroku. She pawed at his legs. Her large eyes swam with delight.
"Oh, there she is," he gushed, setting the bag of food down so he could pick her up. Kirara gave him a few head rubs, her purrs rumbling against his chin. "Did you miss me, too?" He gave her nose a quick kiss and was rewarded with a kiss to his chin.
"She…she kissed you back."
"Hmm?" Miroku tilted his head to the side. "What do you mean? Does she not lick you?"
A frown slipped on her lips, and he berated himself for being the reason she was upset. "No."
Miroku held out Kirara to Sango. "Kiss her."
"What?"
"Kiss her on the nose," he commanded. "She'll kiss you back. Guarantee it."
Sango scoffed, rolling her eyes. "I doubt it. You probably bribed her with that damn tuna."
"Better hurry. She doesn't like being held for long."
"I know that," she snapped. "She's my cat, after all."
He clicked his tongue in remorse. "Right. Sorry."
She ran a hand through her bangs, the frown on her face deepening. "No, I'm sorry. I'm just jealous, I guess."
"Of me?" Miroku asked, astonished. "You shouldn't be. Like you said, she's your cat. She only likes me because I help her cheat on her strict diet."
Her lips twitched. "I guess so." She took a deep breath as if to work up courage and quickly gave Kirara a kiss on the nose. Pausing near the cat's face, she waited patiently. Kirara considered her for a moment before sticking her tongue out in a quick lick. "Ah, she did it! She kissed me back!"
Miroku laughed at her reaction. "Of course. I told you so. She loves nose kisses."
Sango beamed at him, dark eyes full of adoration. "Thank you," she breathed, "for letting me in on your secret kiss."
Wow. She was beautiful when she smiled at him like that. He decided right then and there that he wanted to make her smile as much as he could. Putting Kirara on the ground, he angled his body toward her with a smirk. "I can show you my other secret kisses if you want."
She shook her head, shooting him a pointed look before turning and heading toward the table. "Yeah, yeah, whatever, playboy. Are you going to bring that food over or what? I'm starving. It's going to get cold, and cold Chinese food sucks."
"Coming, dear," he said with a short laugh. He half-expected her to ignore his advances. He would have to work hard to win her over, he realized. "So, was that a yes to the tuna for my favorite girl?"
She whirled around, holding up a finger. "One piece," she warned. "That's all she gets."
Miroku grabbed her hand, entwining their fingers. "I promise," he said with sincerity. He hoped she understood his double meaning.
She gaped at him, cheeks coloring once again. The shade complimented her skin nicely. "You're exactly like I expected."
"Oh?"
"A flirt."
He thumbed her hand. "Only a flirt when I'm interested."
"How can you be interested in me when you don't even know me?" she asked in a quiet voice.
"I'm a great judge of character," he said with a small wink. "Let's see. I can tell you're very kind-hearted. You went through great lengths to find Kirara when you thought she was lost, right? Protective, otherwise you wouldn't have called to chew me out for catnapping her. Loyal, too. Your friend adores you, which was very evident when she practically assaulted me to give me your address and make me presentable for tonight."
"She did what?"
"Oh yes," Miroku nodded, reluctantly pulling his hand away to show her the smudged ink. "Sorry, I think it smeared on you a little."
Sango didn't bother looking at her hand. Instead, she snatched his hand back, tracing the neat, loopy lines of Rin's handwriting. The small action sent a shiver up his spine. "Unbelievable."
"I think it's sweet," he said. "It means she really cares about you."
Sango snorted with skepticism. "More like she just wants someone to go on double dates with."
"She's quite the force to be reckoned with, isn't she? She also made me change my hair."
Her head snapped up at this, appalled. "She did not."
"She did."
Sango groaned, dropping his hand. "I am so sorry. We're hairdressers. Sometimes Rin can't help herself. She's the reason I have bangs. She cornered me with scissors and begged me until I broke and let her cut my hair."
"I like the bangs," he remarked with an approving nod. "They look good on you."
"Thanks. So, she's the reason you look like a hipster?"
A laugh bubbled out from his throat. "A hipster?"
"Well, you are wearing a man-bun."
"Are man-buns not your thing?"
"I didn't say I didn't like it," she said, the corner of her mouth twitching. "But they're not my favorite. They're Rin's. She absolutely loves it when her boyfriend pulls his hair up. What was your hairstyle before my roommate decided to give you a makeover?"
Miroku tugged at the elastic, letting his hair cascade to his shoulders. "I had it up in an apparent rat-tail," he joked, pulling it back into his signature style. "She told me they were out."
Scoffing, Sango eyed him. His heart skipped a beat as she checked him out. "I think it looks nice," she commented with a small smile. "This suits you better. Not a rat-tail at all."
He sent her a devilish smirk. "Are you calling me handsome?"
"Don't get a big head," she warned with mirth. She sat down and rummaged through the bag. Softly, she added, "you really got all of that from a five-minute conversation with me?"
He sat down next to her, bumping his knee against hers. "Absolutely. I knew from the moment you chewed me out that I wanted to get to know you better. Apparently, I am a sucker for feisty women." He reached to open his container of shrimp lo-mein but was stopped when Sango hit his hand with chopsticks.
"What are you doing?"
"Eating? I'm starving."
"You can't eat yet," she said, shooting him an incredulous stare. "You have to open the fortune cookie first or it won't come true."
"Oh, yeah?"
"Absolutely," she said, tossing him a cookie.
He caught it with one hand, cracking it open. "I guess that's why my fortunes never came true."
"What would you do without me?"
"Be eating dinner alone, and apparently not getting my fortune to come true," he quipped. He looked at his paper and read, "A beautiful, smart, and loving person will come into your life."
"You're joking," Sango said, snatching the paper from his hand to glance it over. "Holy shit, it does say that."
"Yeah, they must mean Kirara. She is pretty, smart, and loving."
Sango slapped his arm lightly as he laughed. "Funny, Miroku."
"What does yours say?"
She grabbed the other cookie, opening it with gentle fingers. "Date the guy who catnapped your cat."
"Seriously?"
"No," she giggled, eyes dancing with amusement. "It says a pleasant surprise is awaiting you."
"That's a good fortune," Miroku agreed, eyes crinkling at the seams. "I love surprises."
"Well, it already came true," she said, plopping a crab Rangoon in her mouth. "I got surprised with my favorite food tonight."
He leaned his elbow on the table, face inches from her. "Maybe the surprise didn't mean the food?" he asked, eyebrow cocked.
She swallowed thickly. Their eyes locked. "Maybe," she said in a shaky voice. "What do you think it means?"
Miroku grinned, eyes flickering toward her lips. He wondered how they would feel against his. If they would fit as perfectly as their hands did. When he resumed eye-contact, he was pleased to find she was glancing at his lips too.
Tilting forward, he whispered in a husky voice. "Me?"
Her sharp intake of breath filled his ears. If he leaned forward just a bit more, their lips would connect. Brown met blue as she glanced back up at him through hooded eyes. "You."
He pulled back, summoning all his willpower to do so. Disappointment swirled in those drunk whisky eyes. "I don't want to rush a good thing," he said, patting her hand. "I don't want you to think I'm just another guy trying to get in your pants."
She released a breath. "Oh." She blinked, as if broken from a trance. "Oh, wow, okay. Um, yeah, that sounds nice, actually."
He chortled at her response. "I mean, I could kiss you now, if you really want me to. I got those secret kisses to teach you, after all."
She shoved a crab Rangoon in his mouth. "Just eat the damn Chinese food."
"Mmmmrow."
Kirara's loud wail interrupted the conversation. The pair glanced over to see Kirara sitting by her food bowl, tail swishing, an impatient gleam in her eyes. She peered at her empty bowl before returning her gaze to them.
"Oh, shit. The tuna. Blame your mom. She distracted me."
"I did no such thing!"
"You so did."
"Mrowwwww."
It had been over a week since Miroku brought her food for the first time, and the infuriating man still hadn't kissed her. Almost every night, he would bring over food. Chinese. Sushi. Italian. Homemade meals, even. Sometimes, he took enough for Rin if she was there. They would talk. He would do that thing where he got super close, only to either kiss her cheek or head and murmur goodnight before slipping out into the dark, leaving her with unrelenting heat coursing through her body.
He was such a fucking tease.
She really liked him. It was rare for her to fall so quickly, but she couldn't deny the connection between them. He was sweet. Charming. Funny. A bit of a flirt, but she secretly loved it, even if she gave him a hard time about it. She understood he was taking it slow to prove to her he was serious about them. She appreciated that, but at the same time she was ready for the next step.
"I had a nice time with you tonight."
Sango rested against the door frame to her apartment. She had joined him for dinner at his apartment for once, and he'd insisted on walking her home.
"Tons of creeps out at night," he had told her when she asserted that she was perfectly fine walking home alone.
"I had a great time, too. I always do when we are together," she said in a much bolder tone than what she felt. Her hands were clammy. Her heart pounded in her ears. Would tonight be the night he finally kissed her? Her gaze flickered briefly to his tantalizing lips.
He reached out with his hand. Her breath caught in her throat in giddy anticipation. Instead of cupping her cheek like she had hoped, he ruffled her bangs with affection.
"Night, Sango. I'll see you tomorrow."
She blinked in a mixture of disappointment and shock as he dropped his hand back to his side, turning to walk away. What the hell was that? Again?
"Are you fucking kidding me?" The words slipped from her mouth before she could stop them. Honestly, she wasn't even sure if she wanted to. Her hands clenched at her sides. They shook with frustration that had been budding for a week.
Miroku stopped mid-step, peeking back at her with his brows pinched together. "What?"
"I said, are you fucking kidding me," she repeated in a sharp voice. "You're just going to leave like that? It's been over a week."
"And?"
A humorless laugh toppled from her lips. "Oh my God, are you clueless?"
"I think I'm a lot of things, but clueless isn't one of them."
"Sure could have fooled me."
He ambled back over to her, peering down at her. He rested his arm above her head on the door. She challenged him back with a heated stare. Indigo eyes burned through her, igniting a fire within her soul.
"I'm sorry," he murmured, a grin growing on his lips. "Is there something you want?"
She sucked the bottom of her lip between her teeth, her nerve slipping a little under his intense stare. "I think you know."
"I really don't think I do," he said with a taunting expression. "Care to spell it out for me?"
He was going to make her beg for it, wasn't he? Her whole body shook, though she wasn't sure if it was from irritation, desire, or embarrassment. Maybe a combination of all three.
"Well?"
"Shut up." Wow, great comeback, Sango. She ducked her head, attempting to hide the flush on her cheeks. The longing to evaporate on the spot encroached her thoughts. "You can go now."
Miroku raised an eyebrow, smile fading. "You want me to go," he repeated slowly. "After the fit you just threw, now you want me to go?"
"I said what I said," she retorted with a snap, trying to press further into the door to get away from him. This was a mistake. Why did she always do this? She was going to ruin a good thing because of her impatience and her inability to keep her temper under control. "Please go."
"No."
She whipped her head in his direction. Her nose bumped against his in their close proximity. His warm breath tickled her skin. Her chest touched his with the heavy rise and fall of her breathing as she tried to keep her rising blood-pressure in check.
"Excuse me?"
"N-O, no." His eyes gleamed with amusement. "There, I guess I had to spell it out for you this time."
She glared up at him. "You're infuriating."
"You're hot when you get feisty."
"I'm serious!"
"So am I," he retorted with a smirk. "I like seeing you worked up like this."
Sango pushed against his chest in a feeble attempt to put some space between them. He didn't budge. She demanded, "Move."
He enveloped her hands with his own, his forehead resting against hers. He whispered in a gravelly voice, "No."
"Miroku!"
"At your service."
"You are unbelievable," she huffed, stomping her foot. "I can't believe I like you. I-"
Her words were cut short as his lips crashed into hers. She stilled for a moment, taken off guard. Anger buzzed through her veins straight to her fingertips. On impulse, she yanked her hand out of his and slapped him.
He pulled back, alarm racing in his eyes. He touched his cheek gingerly, wincing. "What the hell, Sango?"
"What was that?"
"I could ask the same thing!" He shook his head, eyes still wide in shock. "I thought you wanted me to kiss you!"
"I did!"
"Then why did you slap me?"
"Because you were making me mad!"
He rested his head against her shoulder, laughing into her collarbone. "You are something else, Sango."
She stiffened under his touch, feeling his lips against her bare skin. It burned. He was the sun, setting her ablaze. Blinding. Trembling fingers gripped his shirt. He lifted his head, presenting her with a questioning glance. She pulled him closer, touching her lips to his, igniting the desire within.
"You're giving me such mixed signals," he sighed against her mouth, wrapping his arms around her.
"Shut up and fucking kiss me."
Mouths interlocked, she fumbled with the door handle. She briefly separated, yanking him into the apartment. He wasted no time pushing her against the wall, capturing her mouth once again with his lips. His chest and waist pressed against hers, sending pulsing heat through her body. Eagerly, she kissed him back, mouth parting to invite him in. His tongue slid over her lips, testing, tasting. She moaned against him, too entranced to be embarrassed by the sound she just made.
His hands roamed down her sides, sending a feverish shiver in its trail. His hands cupped her ass, hoisting her up. She wrapped her legs around his waist to anchor herself, nails digging into his back as she pulled him closer. She needed him closer.
"Your ass is fucking amazing," he murmured in a husky voice against her lips. His mouth left hers to leave peppered kisses along her neck.
She angled her neck to give him full access, fingers entwining in the locks of his hair. Breathless, she uttered, "So, you're an ass man, then?"
He paused, glancing up at her with hooded liquid blue eyes. "You mean instead of boobs? Is that an invitation to take off your shirt?"
"Please."
Within seconds, he expertly lifted her shirt over her head, throwing it onto the floor in a forgotten heap. He sucked in a breath, surveying how the lacy bra cupped her breasts, pushing them up.
"Wow," he exhaled, thumbing the bottom of her tits. "You're fucking beautiful. How did you know pink was my favorite color?"
Sango laughed against his lips in a chaste kiss. "Pink is your favorite color? Seriously?"
"It is when you're wearing that bra, cause damn. You might convert me to a boobs guy."
"Oh yeah?" she murmured as he captured her lips in his again.
"Rin," a deep voice made Sango's fiery blood turn to ice, "please give them some privacy."
Miroku's lips stilled against hers. One hand was on her ass while the other cupped her bra. He pulled away, reluctance dancing in his eyes as he stared at her before glancing at the couple sitting on the couch. Sango followed his line of vision.
Sesshomaru faced forward, glued to the television in front of him, remote in hand. The Netflix logo played across the screen. Rin, on the other hand, was leaning against the back of the couch, holding a bowl of popcorn. She popped a kernel in her mouth, a devilish grin playing on her face.
"Oh my God, Rin!" Sango exclaimed, releasing her hold on Miroku, who set her down gently. He angled his body as if to shield them from Sango's exposed form. "What the hell? I thought you were at his house tonight."
Rin shrugged unapologetically. "Plans changed, thank goodness. This is better than watching Bridgerton."
"My love life is not for your amusement," Sango said, cheeks matching the color of her bra. She was absolutely mortified. She snuck a glance up at Miroku, who seemed to have found an interesting spot on the wall to eye for the time being.
"I'm just so happy for you," Rin gushed with a loving sigh. "I knew that he was your person from the moment Kirara came back with that first collar. I knew it."
"Rin, the movie is about to start."
"I'll watch as soon as those two love-birds get a room."
Sango gripped Miroku's hand tight in hers, eyes inquiring. He met her gaze before flickering toward her room and then back to hers. Eyebrows quirked, he squeezed her hand in a silent question.
God, she wanted to say yes.
Wordlessly, he picked up her shirt and handed it to her. "I think this may be yours," he said in a low voice, eyes still lingering on her chest with regret. "As much as I want to continue," he shot a look at Rin, who popped some more popcorn in her mouth, unabashed, "I think it's best if I take my leave for tonight."
She clutched her shirt against her upper body. "Are you sure?"
"Positive. You're worth the wait."
"Awe."
"Shut the fuck up, Rin," Sango said, glaring at her roommate. Softly, she turned her attention to the man standing in front of her. "Miroku, you can stay."
"I know," he said, rubbing her shoulders with rough fingers. "But I think it's best if I head on home." In a hushed voice, he added, "but I cannot wait to continue."
Sango leaned up, kissing him gently on the lips. "Me too," she said, "me too. I'm free tomorrow."
He winked at her. "Purrfect."
Rin butted in from the couch, "Yes, he is perfect for you."
Sango was going to kill her roommate.
Miroku was going to kill his girlfriend.
Oh, he wasn't mad at her or anything. In fact, he very much loved her. The last year had been the best of his life. She just…wasn't the most observant person in the world, and that was going to be his downfall. He had planned this moment for months. Inuyasha made fun of him when he went out and bought a ring within a month of their relationship. When you know, you know, and Miroku knew almost immediately that Sango was the only woman for him.
Now if only she would look at her damn cat.
She was going to ruin him, unpacking her boxes while humming a Taylor Swift song like the most important moment of their lives wasn't about to happen. Like his pocket wasn't weighted down by a question he'd been wanting to ask for the last eleven months. She swayed her hips as she put away some dishes in the cabinet. Twirling to her own beat, she spun back to face him. Fingers tapped on the box, eyes locking on his.
"What?"
Miroku stilled, hands twitching. His eyes flickered to Kirara momentarily before he took a chance at Sango. Swallowing dryly, he said, "What?"
She shook her head, the corners of her mouth twitching. "You're acting weird."
Was it possible to choke on your own heart? Because it felt as if his had lodged itself deep in his throat. Pulsing. Cutting off circulation. Why was this so hard? If she would just look at Kirara then this torture would be over with.
"I am not," he managed to say, pulling at the collar of his shirt. A bead of sweat trickled down his neck.
A look of realization dawned upon her face. "Oh, I get it."
"You...you do?" His hand brushed against his pocket as hope helped to dislodge his heart back into its rightful place.
"You got some secret fetish you don't want me knowing about?" she teased, sauntering over to gently elbow him in the stomach.
A nervous laugh spilled from his lips to hers as he leaned down to give her a chaste kiss. "You caught me. I have a fetish for all things cats."
She jabbed a finger against his chest, the brown of her eyes swirling with mischief. "Oh, is that why you wanted to date me? For my cat?"
Miroku deadpanned, "Yes, Sango. I dated you for your pussy."
"Miroku!"
He chuckled, enveloping her in his arms. "What, you thought my cat-lines were over with?"
Her hum vibrated against his chest as she leaned into his touch. "It's been a while since I've heard one of your liners. That really brings me back to when we first started dating."
Hugging her was a bad idea. Could she hear how hard his heart drummed against his rib cage? His mouth was once again made of sand, and all he could do was make some sort of noncommittal noise in response.
Sango pulled away, eyes scrunched as she scrutinized his face. "You are acting really weird today."
"I…I was just reminiscing is all," he said, rubbing his hands against her back in circles. He hoped she couldn't feel how sweaty they were beneath her shirt. He hesitated a moment, an idea forming in his mind. Risky, but with how clueless his lovely (and hopefully) soon to be fiancée was acting, he decided it was worth it. "Remember when I used to make Kirara name tags in the hopes you would call?"
Her face calmed, a nostalgic expression taking over. "Yeah, they were cheesy."
Ouch.
"But also adorable," she added, pecking his cheek. "Kirara was a great wingman."
"Yeah, she is. You should probably go see if she's alright, you know, with all the unpacking we're doing. She's probably nervous." Her and me both.
"Why would she be nervous?"
"From being in an unfamiliar place."
"She adapts fast," Sango said, brushing him off. "Afterall, she lived with you for a week, and you were unfamiliar to her."
"I bribed her with tuna," Miroku countered, wanting to bang his head off the wall. "She was instantly taken with me. No tuna here. You should go check on her."
"Fine," she grumbled, pushing away from him. "But don't blame me when we have nothing unpacked and have to sleep on the floor."
"Oh, we were going to sleep tonight? I thought we would just christen the apartment."
"We don't have time to christen the apartment," she said, exasperated. Her ponytail pirouetted as she searched for her cat. "There's so much to get done and we only have the weekend to do the bulk of it."
"We don't have to get everything unpacked today and tomorrow, dear," he told her in a soothing voice. "When I first moved into my apartment it took me weeks to unpack everything."
"I recall," she said, looking under the couch. "You had a box as your nightstand for the first month we dated."
"See? Perfectly normal."
She curled into a seated position, huffing. "Just because you did it doesn't mean it's normal. Having all these boxes around gives me anxiety. I want to know where things are and start our life together."
A warm smile grew upon his lips. "I cannot wait either."
A few of her stress lines melted at this. "Oh, there you are," she exclaimed, scooping Kirara up in her arms. "Were you hiding in that box, hmm?"
This was it. Miroku could barely hear Sango's words from the pounding in his ears. He wiped his palms against his shirt. His thumb hooked his pocket, ready for when she glanced at him with surprise. He wondered if she would cry. What if she didn't cry? What if she said no? This was a mistake. She was going to say no, wasn't she? Who proposed this soon? Was it too soon? No, it wasn't too soon.
"Miroku."
Crap. He got distracted. "Y…yes?"
Sango cuddled Kirara, eyeing him with suspicion. "I asked if we should keep her in our room to help get her adjusted."
Whiplash. She was giving him emotional whiplash. How hard was it to see the collar when she was already holding the damn cat?
"Are you sure she looks alright?" Did his voice just crack like he was in puberty?
"Miroku, she's fine, though I'm not sure I can say the same about you. Are…," Sango swallowed thickly, eyes distraught, "are you having second thoughts on moving in together?"
"No!" he shouted with enough force that Sango took a step back in shock. "Sorry, no, I am so not having second thoughts. That's not why I'm nervous."
"Why are you nervous?"
Shit.
"Because I'm worried that you'll realize there are tons of better guys out there for you than me," he blurted, tongue tied over his backpedaling. It was technically true. It was a fear of his.
She blinked. A laugh fell from her lips as she shook her head, walking over with Kirara in tow. "You have nothing to worry about," she said in a gentle tone, eyes crinkling at the seams. "I've grown quite fond of you."
He smiled weakly. "Lucky for me."
Sango looked down at the cat in her arms. "What do you think, Kirara? Do you like Miroku too?" Sango held the cat out, frowning. "Why does she have a collar on?"
Oh, thank the heavens. Finally. He could kiss her on the spot. "I don't know. Maybe you should look at it?" he supplied, hoping he didn't sound as anxious as he felt.
Sango thumbed the collar, eyes set in concentration. "There's a heart tag on it," she said, glancing at him with apprehension. "Did you write a cat-line on this? Let me guess. I'm excited to meowve in together?"
"Not exactly, but that's a good one, too."
She flipped the tag over, and Miroku wasted no time falling to one knee while the silver tag held her attention. Her mouth parted in disbelief, head whirling to him as she read the words, Marry Me?
He wished his heart would calm down because he was nervous that he would miss her response over the deafening pounding in his ears. He opened the velvet box in his quivering hand. A single solitaire diamond sat between them, awaiting an answer as it sparkled under the apartment lighting.
"Oh my God," she breathed, whisky eyes filled to the brim. "Are you serious?"
He wasn't sure why, but his reaction was to laugh. "I sure hope so, because I bought the ring eleven months ago and I'm pretty sure I can't return it now."
Her hands trembled over her mouth. "Are you serious?" she repeated, blinking away the moisture in her eyes. "Miroku, oh my gosh, I don't know what to say. I can't believe this is happening."
"Yes?" he supplied in a helpful voice, brows raising an inch. "Because I love you more than I thought was ever possible. Finding Kirara was the best thing that ever happened to me, because it brought you into my life. You make me want to be a better person. No, that's not right. I am a better person because of you. I never thought I would ever want to settle down with a woman, and yet I went out and bought a ring within a month of knowing you. Sango, I want to spend my life with you. I want to grow old with you. I want to raise a family with you, to have you bear my children. So, will you please say yes and make me the happiest man? Will you marry me?"
"Oh," Sango seemed to realize herself as a tear cascaded down her cheek. She wiped it away with the palm of her hand before another quickly followed suit. "Yes, of course, yes! A thousand times yes! I'll marry you!"
With delicate hands, he picked the ring out of the box, slipping it expertly onto her finger. "Fits like a glove."
"It's beautiful. How did you know my ring size? Oh wait, stupid question. It was Rin, wasn't it?"
A cheeky grin answered her question as he stood up. "I'm honestly shocked she didn't let it slip."
"She did one thing right for once," Sango said, cheeks flushed with happiness. She gazed at the ring on her outstretched hand with admiration.
"She did two things right."
Her eyes scrunched in question. "She did?"
Miroku wrapped her in an embrace, leaning his head against hers. "Absolutely. She made me bring you Chinese food, and made you take a chance on me."
"Huh," Sango hummed thoughtfully against his cheek. "I suppose that's true. You know what?" She glanced up at him with a coy look, eyes batting. "I guess my fortune did come true that night. You ended up being the best surprise I could have asked for. So, do you want to go christen this apartment or what, fiancé?"
He planted a kiss on her lips. "That sounds purrfect," he murmured, ignoring her groan at his pun. "I was thinking about you wearing nothing but that ring." Miroku wasted no time pulling his soon-to-be wife onto the couch.
Kirara watched them for a moment, before padding away to give them some privacy.
Her work was done, after all.
I have been working on this oneshot for over a month for MirsanDay2021! Check out Tumblr's Dayofmirsan for more AMAZING stories for this amazing couple! You can also check out my tumblr, Skyelara, for some awesome artwork that goes with this story :) I hope you all enjoyed!