Disclaimer: Wow, I feel really bad for those people with like, 20 chapters. Man, they must get tired of typing these things. As for me, I am pretty fresh, so I will do it. I do not own Inu Yasha. If I did, I would actually write this story in the manga, or make it a part of the anime, or something. Maybe.

[Author's note] *PHEW* EEk! 58 reviews?? Cool! I'm so excited!! I was allll worried... I got all those reviews for the first chapter, and then like, four (no, I'm not kidding) for the second. So I was a little hesitant to put up that third chapter, but you guys all seemed to like it pretty well. The bad thing is, I think I'm realizing that a cliffhanger means "more reviews." So, um, prove me wrong, and let me know how you like this chapter, yeah? Plus, I'm being really really nice and giving you all some nice resolution.

Okay, so I surprised myself. I really didn't think I was that into writing about Sango and Miroku, but man, I got all carried away… Well, please enjoy! I hope this is what you all wanted!

Previous Chapter:

In Miroku's dreamscape, Sango just asked him why he's such a perv, and he's procrastinating by leading her out into the wildflower field.

In Inu Yasha's dreamscape:

Then Kagome remembered. This wasn't real. Dreamscape. Then she got an idea. After all, he wouldn't know she wasn't a dream…

"Inu Yasha," she continued, "there's something I need to tell you…"

*phew* Here goes!

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"Inu Yasha, there's something I need to tell you…" Kagome began, still held loosely in his arms. She looked up into his concern-stricken golden eyes.

"What is it? What's wrong, Kagome?" he asked. Kagome smiled weakly at the thought of what she was about to do. She took a deep breath as he silently urged for her to continue.

'He seems so much more caring in his dreamscape,' she told herself, trying to muster up enough courage to continue speaking. "Well, here goes," she said quietly to herself, forgetting that her volume made no never mind to Inu Yasha. "Inu Yasha,"

'this-is-only-a-dream-this-is-only-a-dream-this-is-only-a-dream,' she told herself for courage.

"I-I know you're not my boyfriend or anything, but,"

'this-is-the-only-way-to-find-out-how-he-feels-this-is-the-only-way-to-find-out-how-he-feels-this-is-the-only-way-to-find-out-how-he-feels,' Kagome felt herself buckling under pressure. 'Come on, girl!'

"But I really like you." She breathed. "There, I said it." She looked at his face expectantly, prepared to hear his typical 'Feh, whatever' line. She however, was shocked out of her mind at how he actually reacted.

"Kagome." He was shocked, plain and simple. He didn't know what to say. Kagome could sense this, and didn't like the idea of sitting around in silence after just proclaiming her feelings to him. So she decided to go for broke, and continue on.

"But before I really invest myself in caring like that about you, I need to know where you stand with Kikyou." Inu Yasha's eyes widened. He was going to have to make a decision between Kagome and Kikyou. Right here, right now. Kagome continued, "I'm afraid, Inu Yasha. I'm afraid of her taking you away. Not from me, exactly, but from this world. And I want to know where you stand with her before I really begin to give in to my feelings about you."

Inu Yasha stared at the lovely young girl before him, her eyes sparkling in the sunlight that had managed to filter through the canopy of the trees. She looked much like she did any other day, except that she was still soaked to the bone from her fight with Kikyou. The wind blew past them, making her shiver. He instinctively pulled her closer to him, wrapping his arms around her for warmth and protection from the wind. And that was when he realized his decision. And that he had already made that decision long ago without being aware of it.

"Kagome," he began, looking past her, over her head that rested on his chest. "Do- do you remember when we faced Kikyou and the tree of illusory fear?" He felt her nod her head against his chest, and continued, still staring forward. "I replayed the incident- when Kikyou betrayed me, and I her. And as I held her, bleeding in my arms, I realized that there was someone else besides her that I needed to protect." he used his left hand to draw Kagome's chin upward to face him, and he looked into her eyes. "It was you. I realized then, that Kikyou no longer needs my protection, and that although Kikyou and I were once kindred spirits, we were never in love." Kagome began to look back down at his arm, which had returned to her waist. "Even though I may only show it when I'm human, I- I care for you, Kagome. Somehow, without my ever noticing it, I began to need you near me. I know now that I want to be with you forever, Kagome." Kagome was melting in his arms like butter, when she remembered all the times she had been hurt as soon as Kikyou showed up around Inu Yasha.

"But what about Kikyou? The next time she comes around, are you going to drop me for her again?" Inu Yasha sighed, finally aware of what he had been putting Kagome through all along.

"I understand now. At first I was confused about how I felt, but now I know. My responsibility to Kikyou- my commitment to be with her- was relinquished upon her, albeit untimely, rightful and true death. Now my only responsibility to her is to see that she is put to rest once more." He paused shortly, and then continued. "But it's you I want, Kagome." Her stomach filled with butterflies, and she knew she was blushing fiercely. "But I don't want you to be in danger because of how I feel…"

"Inu Yasha," Kagome began, before he ruined the moment, "I know you'll protect me no matter what. You'll only end up hurting me and pushing me away if you think like that. I know you wouldn't mean to hurt me, but…" Inu Yasha's eyes sparkled as he saw the truth in what she was saying.

"You're right." Kagome looked at him confusedly, wondering at his sudden revelation, and his admittance of such. But, hey, it is a dreamscape, right? Inu Yasha continued, "I swear, Kagome," Inu Yasha pulled her even tighter to himself. He placed his forehead atop her head, and continued softly, deeply, passionately, "I swear to you that I will do everything in my power to never hurt you like that again. You mean…everything…to me." Kagome squirmed a bit in his unmoving embrace, and managed to free her arms. She looked up at him and wrapped them around his neck, locking her fingers together underneath his flowing, silver hair. Smiling, she returned his embrace. And there they stood, Kagome and Inu Yasha in each other's arms.

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Miroku's pace had slackened considerably. He and Sango were now amidst a slew of wildflowers; pinks, yellows, purples, blues, and greens. It was truly a beautiful sight. Sango was indeed surprised that Miroku's dirty little mind could construct a scene as beautiful as this.

"It's so beautiful here," she remarked to herself more than anyone else.

"Yes," Miroku responded, "but it doesn't compare with your beauty." Sango at first was very flattered, but then realized that this is Miroku talking.

"Don't play games with me," she warned, forgetting for an instant that this was his dream. Miroku looked a little hurt.

"Sango-"

"Miroku, you never answered my question. You are so confusing sometimes!" She looked at his face, which was riddled with confusion, and then turned back to face the horizon. "You seem to not understand why I have reservations with accepting your compliments?" He nodded, this being one of the few times in his life when he didn't know what to say. Sango paused, trying to find a way to properly word what she had been wanting to ask him for so long. "The reason for my reservations about you is that you haven't once had a decent conversation with me without acting like it was just a way to lay your hentai hands on me," she finished, reminded of her frustration with their relationship.

"O--oh."

"Tell me, why is it that you act in that manner?" Sango turned her eyes away from the horizon, and rested them on his handsome, albeit surprised, face.

"The- the truth is, Sango, that I am just as bad as Inu Yasha when it comes to expressing my true feelings." He looked at her, hopeful that that was the answer she was looking for. He sighed when he realized that she expected him to continue. He rubbed the back of his neck nervously, and looked around him.

'The flowers aren't going to help you out of this one, Miroku,' Sango thought. A smile played upon her lips as she watched him fidget uncontrollably. He finally came up with something.

"Well, it was never hard for me to be flirtatious. My grandfather and father were both fairly…amorous priests, and I guess it was just expected that I would follow in their footsteps." Sango continued to look at him. She was finally beginning to understand the monk's thought processes. Miroku didn't notice any kind of satisfaction in Sango's expression, so he continued. "At first, it wasn't so hard, being…"

"A lecher?"

"Well," he didn't deny it, but he wasn't about to call himself that. It went against his code of 'self-worth-preservation,' as he liked to call it. As he drew a breath to continue, Sango smiled, aware of his thoughts. "But after I met you, Sango, it was all just an act. And-," he was getting carried away with himself. "And I never asked you to bear me a son, because when I do ask you, I want it to mean something special, and not just something of no particular consequence." He looked directly at Sango, taking her by surprise. A faint hue of red appeared across Sango's cheeks. She hadn't expected this. "And, I do plan to ask you, Sango." Miroku looked steadily at Sango now, as if to prove to her his serious intentions. She was now blushing furiously.

"Houshi-sama… I…I had no idea," she said softly. It was now her turn to look at the flowers for moral support.

"Didn't you?" Sango looked up at Miroku in wonder. "Sango," Miroku reached for her hands. He held them firmly, tenderly, and clasped them dearly to his chest. "You are one of a kind. A unique, intelligent, strong, lovely woman." He gazed deeply into her eyes. Although this was a dream, Sango couldn't help but feel as though Miroku had actually been planning to say these things to her for a long time. "And now that my wind tunnel is gone," he said, smiling, but not removing his gaze from hers, "I would like to settle down and start a real family." Sango gulped. She knew what was coming. To her, it felt like she was the one who was dreaming. "Sango," Miroku continued, unwavering, "Please, will you start a family with me?"

He breathed.

Sango didn't notice until now that he had been holding his breath that whole entire time. He was looking at her expectantly. This dream seemed so real, that she found herself seriously considering the prospect of marriage with the houshi. She snapped out of it.

'Why not?' Sango thought as she tried to get over the shock of what she just heard from Miroku's lips. 'After all, this is a dream, and dreams are supposed to be pleasant, right? Besides… he'll never know that I'm really me…' She nodded slowly. "Miroku," she began, "it would please me greatly to marry you and…" she smiled at the handsome young houshi, "…and *cough* bear *cough* your children." She was about to laugh hysterically, not believing that she could get through Miroku's coined phrase without incident, but she quickly sobered when Miroku squeezed her hands gently. He removed them from his chest, and placed them around his neck. He moved his hands down her arms and around her waist, pulling her into him. Frankly, she was surprised- his hands were at her waist, and well, that is where they stayed.

"I love you, Sango. I have for so long, now," he whispered into her fragrant hair.

"Miroku," she responded softly.

"Shh," he quieted her. He pulled back slightly to look at his bride-to-be, and touched a finger to her soft lips. "Don't say anything." Sango relaxed into his embrace, and Miroku drew her face closer to his. He brushed his lips against her smooth forehead, and looked again into her eyes. Next, he landed almost imperceptible kisses on each of her eyelids, and again looked into her eyes. He raised his eyebrows. "May I have the pleasure of kissing lady Sango?"

'He's actually asking? Now there's a change,' she thought to herself. But she quickly realized that now was not the time for sarcasm. "Yes," was all she could manage to verbalize. Miroku smiled softly, boyishly, and closed the distance between their lips. Sango closed her eyes and fell victim to the sweet, tender kiss Miroku had longed to share with her.

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[Authors Note] *sigh* Well, how's that? After so many cliffies, I hope this one gives you all some resolution!