"Sango-hime, don't move, there's a bug in your hair," informed Kyo as he leaned closer to Sango who was staring into the fire absent-mindedly. There was a look of disgust on Sango's face at the thought of bugs but then again, even Kagome was grimacing as Kyo's deft fingers searched through the taijiya's hair.

"Here's the bug," exclaimed Kyo but when he pulled, he was holding a long-stemmed white rose instead. His face was solemn as he presented his simple gift. "For you Sango-hime," he said, blushing a little.

"SUGOI! Was that magic?" burst out Shippou who was watching them earlier. Kagome was smiling at the sweetness of Kyo's gesture and Inuyasha merely snorted. Miroku, who was sitting quietly at the base of a tree looked as if he was nodding off to sleep.

Kyo flashed a boyish grin and Sango gave a start at how similar it looked to one of Miroku's grins. It looked terribly appealing and Sango found herself giving her childhood friend a more thorough look. She found herself blushing when she realized that she found Kyo awfully attractive and the dimple in his right cheek was cute. She found herself holding onto the rose a little more carefully.

"Iie. It's not really magic, just an application of my shinobi (ninja) training which I had to take so that I would qualify as chichiue's spy," explained Kyo and when Shippou came closer, he accommodated the kitsune cub by making room for Shippou to sit next to him. Shippou showed him some of his fox magic and the two were laughing together in some jokes.

Sango was staring at the two of them with a bemused expression on her face when Kagome sat down beside her, carrying her books with her. Kagome smiled at Sango and remarked, "Kyo-san is awfully good with kids. I bet he'll make a great dad someday."

"Yeah," agreed Sango and then she blushed. Kyo and Shippou were done goofing around and Shippou was asking for more explanations how Kyo was able to pull a rose from Sango's hair. "It's such a neat trick Kyo! I bet Satsuki would be impressed when she sees me do that," enthused Shippou as he hung on Kyo's shoulder. Kagome and Sango both giggled at the mention of Shippou's first love.

Kyo smiled as he took Shippou's hand and when he waved his fist above it, a brightly colored pebble appeared on Shippou's hand. "Just some shinobi (ninja) tricks," explained Kyo as he faced his audience. "In our Clan, we believe that the hand is faster than the eye," he added, and when he flicked his wrist, he hand three more short-stemmed white roses in his hand. He blushed a little when he gave the roses to Sango.

Inuyasha, unable to help himself remarked with a snicker, "Oh yeah, Miroku's a firm believer in that too."

Miroku, whose eyes were closed a few feet away barely moved a muscle but his left eyebrow was twitching noticeably. There was a sweat-drop on both Shippou and Sango's head as they looked from Kyo to Miroku. "You know, as bad as Inuyasha said it, Miroku does have the same policy..." started Shippou slowly.

Kagome stood up slowly, incensed by Inuyasha's obliviousness. "Inuyasha.." said Kagome in a deceptively sweet voice.

Inuyasha looked up, annoyed. "What?"

"OSUWARI!"

Sango looked uncomfortable as she looked from Kyo to Miroku. Both men were handsome and yet...

Their contrast was stark.

"Sango-chan, daijoubu?" asked Kagome worriedly. Looks like her plan of making Miroku jealous enough to confess his true feelings isn't working. And what's worse is that everybody's getting to see how much better off Sango is if she chooses to marry Kyo instead of the perverted monk.

Blinking, Sango forced a smile on her face. "H-- Hai! I'll be sleeping now, my watch will be in 3 hours," answered Sango before heading over to her bedroll. Kyo followed after her, trying to convince her to just sleep and that he'd take Sango's watch instead.

Kagome had a very worried expression on her face as she watched Sango touch Kyo's shoulder affectionately and the shinobi look at Sango with adoration. "I have to find a way to get those two together," muttered Kagome as she thought of a plan. Slowly, a smile spread on her face.

***

Sango was angry enough to start breathing fire. She gave a growl reminiscent of Inuyasha. "This is all your fault," she accused as she followed after the houshi.

Miroku turned around and glowered at her. "I didn't exactly ask for your company," he pointed out as the two of them trampled through tree roots, leaves and other forest stuff.

Miroku offered to go to a nearby village, a few miles off their camp to get some supplies. Suspicious at the monk's motives, Sango tagged along, under the pretense of having run out of her herbal antidotes.

She begged Kyo not to tag along by pleading her need of privacy. Kyo retorted by saying, "That perverted bouzo will be with you, so you won't be having privacy with him around." Sango reasoned that once they reached town, all those other women will drive the monk to distraction and therefore not bother her. Kyo was unconvinced but eventually gave in to Sango's steely command.

What was surprising though, was the fact that the monk kept his hands to himself throughout their journey to the small town and back. Yes, the monk flirted with women and groped around giggling village girls.

At first, she was really ticked off and had to restrain herself from pounding Miroku to kingdom come. Sango rolled her eyes instead and wandered off to look at the merchandise. When Miroku came for her hours later, there was a frown on his handsome face.

"Not a successful hunt today Houshi-sama?" asked Sango, smiling, showing double rows of teeth at the monk. Normally, she would have forcibly dragged Miroku away from the gaggle of women but she was too fed up with his dalliances. Their kiss was probably nothing special, glumly thought Sango as she walked alongside Miroku, who was carrying their purchased supplies. He probably kissed millions of women! And kissing one very inexperienced and nervous taijiya like her was boring and pathetic.

But that was hours ago. Night has fallen and they were still going through the woods, trying to find the road where Inuyasha and the others have sent camp. Tired and grumpy, Sango couldn't help but take her anger out at Miroku. "We're going in circle Houshi-sama," complained Sango as she leaned against a tree, catching her breath.

Miroku turned around and placed a finger on his lips to indicate silence. "We're in the trap of a woodland spirit," the monk said quietly.

"A spirit?" asked Sango, aghast. She absolutely had no skills in fighting spirits, unless they had physical manifestations. The monk took out an ofuda (seal) and chanted. He let it fly to a stunted tree where the tree suddenly flashed. The area brightened for a second and then became dark again.

"The spirit's miasma is still too strong. This spirit has haunted these woods for 300 years, we have no other choice but to outlast whatever tests it would decide to give us," said Miroku as he moved closer to Sango's side. It was their first conversation in days without either of them snapping or bickering and Sango gave Miroku a look of understanding.

"Wakatta. Let's beat this thing," agreed Sango as she pulled her katana. She left her hiraikotsu behind because this was just a simple trek to town but obviously, trouble is drawn to them like bees to honey.

Miroku laid his gloved hand against Sango, forcing her to sheath her sword. "This will probably be a mental challenge. Why don't we sit down here and wait for it to begin," suggested Miroku as he tugged Sango down to sit beside him. Sango gave the monk an exasperated look but she complied and found herself sitting close to the houshi who looked like he was meditating.

A few minutes passed in relative silence and Miroku surprised Sango when he quietly asked, "Does Kyo-san know about what happened?" referring to Naraku's brutal massacre of her family and destruction of her village.

Sango looked up at the houshi's face in the dim light. Unable to discern the expression on his face, she shrugged. "Iie. But he probably knows that because his Father has excellent spies," answered Sango. She gave a tired sigh and opened up, "He probably wants me to marry him because I'm a poor orphan, left all alone in the world and the last of my kind. I'm a charity case, not a woman in his eyes"

Miroku faced Sango. "Don't be foolish. You're hardly the damsel in distress and--" began the monk. The monk stopped talking after Sango's glare of death. "When that kid probably saw your assets, he practically threw himself at you so that you'd marry him," muttered Miroku under his breath.

"What did you say Houshi-sama?" asked Sango sleepily, her eyes half-lowered.

"Nothing. I said, wait for it to begin," clarified the monk as he yawned.

/ Wait for it to begin. / thought Sango as her eyes began to droop. Mist covered the both of them and she was unaware that she fell asleep, her head resting on the monk's shoulder.

***

Kyo was pacing around the camp agitatedly, wringing his hands. He whirled around and asked, "What's taking them so long! I bet that bouzo did something to Sango-hime!" When the group ignored him, he burst out, "I'm worried about Sango-hime," said Kyo as he fretted back and forth in front of Kagome and Shippou.

Kagome looked up from her geometry book and tried to smooth her dread-frozen expression into a more soothing look. "I'm sure they're all right. Nothing would happen to Sango-chan, she's strong... and Miroku-sama would protect her," answered Kagome unaware of the angry look in Kyo's face at the mention of Miroku's name.

"She's in danger from him!" exclaimed Kyo passionately.

"Who? Naraku?" exclaimed Inuyasha, jumping down from a tree as he thought Kyo was talking about Naraku.

Kyo sat down on a tree stump heavily and replied, "No, from that lecherous monk."

"Miroku would never hurt Sango!" defended Shippou and Kirara purred in assent. Shippou added though, "He'd try to cop a feel on her rear though but Sango's always handled that pretty well by beating the monk up."

"Miroku-sama is pretty harmless guy Kyo-san. He may be the biggest pervert this side of the timeline but he can be a gentleman-- er, a reliable guy at times," assured Kagome.

"He's dangerous to me," said Kyo softly as he turned his back and gazed at the fire.

"And he's dangerous to Sango because he'll only hurt her," he whispered.

****

"What do you truly desire?" asked the voice, melodious and as gentle as a breeze.

"Revenge. Justice for the death of my family. My brother Kohaku," answered Sango, as she stood in the middle of nothingness. Oddly enough she felt no fear, and the voice that echoed in the darkness seemed to echo the questions she held in her heart.

"You withheld the wish closest to your heart," chimed the voice as Sango felt herself sweating in the darkness. It was too soon! She wasn't ready!

"There-- there is nothing more!" exclaimed Sango but even her words rang falsely in the void.

The mysterious voice changed its question. "What do you fear?"

"Being alone," admitted Sango, her voice barely audible but the truth of her admission made light shimmer in the darkness.

"But you are alone, your family is dead. Your village is destroyed. You have no one else," the voice reminded her. Sango felt tears pricking her eyes.

"CHIGAU! I'm not alone!" shouted Sango as she clenched her fists.

"Is that the wish closest to your heart?" asked the voice once more.

Sango felt tears coursing down her cheeks. She angrily wiped it away. She shook her head. "Iie. That's not the wish closest to my heart. That's what I want to believe in," answered Sango softly.

"Then what is the wish closest to your heart?" the voice asked gently, persistently.

As Sango finally put words to her heart's deepest desire, she felt something break free inside her. And she realized that it was her fear of not being loved enough. As she spoke, she was also coming to the full realization of her own feelings. "I want Miroku to love me... the same way I love him."

Light then engulfed the void. As she felt herself being pulled back to reality, the mysterious voice left a final reminder, "Love is something shared, not selfishly kept secret. Love doesn't not ask for anything in return but is willing to make the greatest sacrifice despite the pain."

And with that Sango woke up.

***

Sango woke up feeling warm and full of the aching knowledge she acquired in the test. So she was in love with the lascivious monk-- what a joke! What a tragedy...

Her senses sharpened and she realized that she was lying on something-- actually on someone. She was stretched over Miroku and his arms were holding her against him! The top of her head fit nicely under his chin and her face was nestled between his neck and shoulder. This was the safest feeling she had ever felt since her family died.

She raised his head to look at the monk's face. The forest was lighter now and the moon peeped through the trees shadowing them. Her eyes traced languidly over his slumbering features, the strong (stubborn) jaw, the arched brows, curved lips and long eyelashes. / I'm in love with him / thought Sango and she suddenly froze in her perusal when Miroku muttered in his sleep.

"No! Loving me-- would only destroy her. I can't let that happen! I will never let that happen!" said Miroku as his arms tightened around Sango.

/ His test isn't over yet? / thought Sango in alarm.

The forest brightened was more and that answered her question. Miroku has also passed the test.

***

Miroku opened his eyes slowly, still hearing the echoes of the spirit's words. Not letting her know the miracle of love-- that would destroy her.

He suddenly realized that there was a soft weight on top of him. And his arms were aching from strain. He raised his head to see Sango looking down at him with a soft expression in her eyes. The words caught in his throat.

As if time had stopped and everything else was inevitable, they moved towards each other as their lips met in the sweetest kiss. Soft, unhurried, warm. A kiss so tender that it ended before it ever begin. It was too brief. They both pulled back at the same time and Miroku dropped his arms. Sango immediately sat up and moved away from the monk.

"You passed the test," said Sango, stating the obvious.

"Aa (Yes)," answered Miroku not willing to discuss his test. Apparently, Sango was unwilling to discuss hers too and they sat in reflective silence. For Sango, her feelings were too new and hard to acknowledge. Miroku on the other hand still stubbornly clung to his belief.

Miroku stood up and observed the forest. "We can go back now," he said quietly and offered his gloved hand at Sango. He was about to pull it back, realizing his error when Sango grabbed it and hauled herself up. She held onto his gloved hand tightly for a minute and then released it. She gave him a small smile. Miroku was looking at Sango with an unreadable expression in his eyes.

"Let's go back now," said Sango as she walked ahead of him.

"Do not deny yourself the love you two share..."

/ I'm in love with Sango / thought Miroku as he stared at the slender back of the huntress who was walking ahead of him. He felt pain twist his heart. / But I can't let her love me.../

He hurried after Sango and then he took a silent breath. The scent of rain and lilies engulfed his senses. Sango, his redemption, walked on steadily, her back to him. / That's how things are supposed to be. / He quickly composed his face into his usual mask. He stealthily crept behind her and let his hand do the work.

"SUKEBE HOUSHI!" screamed Sango as she slapped him, a vein ticking in her forehead.

"But you were swinging your rear so charmingly in the moonlight you practically begged me to touch--" began Miroku in a whiny voice as he watched the anger spewing from Sango's eyes.

/ Yes. That's it. Turn her away. Turn away from her. Falling in love will only be a disaster. / But it was too late. He knew that he loved Sango and he would do everything in his power to turn away her heart. Even if it meant losing everything.

"Why don't you go and drop yourself off a cliff?" hissed Sango as she stalked away from him.

She was his everything.

TBC

A/N: ACK! Thank you so much anima-san for pointing out my mistake in uploading only !!!!!. Gomen gomen minna-san! So, here's the real chapter, Chapter 4- EVERYTHING. Please do review this chapter. Tell me what you think so that I can adjust my writing for everyone's reading pleasure. Jo-chan would really be happy if you let my reviews reach 45 and up! Thanks again so much for the support! Hello you guys, luv yah!!!!! REVIEW! REVIEW! REVIEW! God Bless you all!