Well, another chapter here! Woo HOO! Anyways, something came to me last night, and I wonder if I'm the only one this weird…Have you ever watched Inu Yasha (or ANY anime for that case) for like, say, 12 hours or so, in Japanese, and then find yourself thinking in Japanese the next day?

I have. And the odd thing is that I don't even know THAT much Japanese….so what language AM I thinking in? *Thoughts to ponder….*

Oh, and I don't own Inu Yasha! ^_^

Shadows

Chapter 20: Uninvited Guests

"Um…what did you say, houshi-sama?"

"Well, it was supposed to be more of a surprise than this, but I guess that vision screwed it up…" Miroku mumbled, more to himself than to the girl.

"But, houshi-sama…how did you know it was my birthday?" Sango asked him innocently.

Rubbing his head with his hand, he laughed nervously, "Ah…Kagome-sama told me? Ah, yes, speaking of…perhaps we should go see to her? Right, Souta?" He didn't really want to tell her the truth of how he had learned of her birthday. Somehow, he didn't think she would be too understanding, and he didn't really want to find out. So, grabbing the boy, they both quickly rushed out of the hut.

*~*~*

"Kagome!" The hanyou called out, running towards the spring from Kaede's hut. Coming upon the girl kneeling on the ground, he came to a halt. 'Why did Sango come running if she was ok?'

"Are you alright Kagome?" Inu Yasha, making sure that she was.

"Yes…I just…I don't know. My knees grew weak and I couldn't move. And then there was this woman talking…" Kagome trailed off, not sure if she should continue the sentence or not.

"So, you had the vision as well, Kagome-sama?" Miroku asked, coming up behind the hanyou.

"Kagome-nee chan! Are you alright?" Souta called out to his sister and knelt before her.

"Is that what it was Miroku?" Kagome asked then turned to Souta, "Yes, I'm fine…Shippo, are you alright?" When she had had the vision, she happened to land on the kitsune.

Swirly eyes answered her. "He'll be fine; he is a demon after all." Inu Yasha assured her in his annoyed voice.

Cradling the knocked-out kitsune in her arms, Kagome stood up slowly, making sure her legs were alright. Seeing that they would carry her, the small group made their way back to the hut.

*~*~*

"So indeed, we did all have the same vision" Kaede confirmed, sipping her tea.

"It appears so, but why only Kaede-sama, Miroku-sama, and me?" Kagome asked, petting the now conscious Shippo, who had been given a candy bar in apology.

"Well, in the vision the woman referred to 'holy ones' and 'Children of the spirits'…maybe it was because you two are mikos, and I, being a monk, perhaps we are the holy ones?" Miroku asked, in his 'pondering monk' pose.

"That may be so, monk."

"But, if she was talking about holy ones, we aren't the only ones. Doesn't that mean that others may have gotten the same vision?" Kagome asked the group.

"That's right...there are plenty of monks around the county. Not as many mikos anymore, but there are still some. Does that mean that they've all been called to in this vision?" Sango inquired.

Kaede shook her head, "Sad as it is child, not many of those monks and mikos have true holy powers…they just have the title of one."

"Why the hell on the night of the new moon? That makes it seem way too suspicious!" Inu Yasha growled, annoyed that they would have to be out and about during his night of weakness.

Miroku nodded in agreement, "It is highly suspicious…"

"But, what can we do, other than follow the guidance of the vision?" Kagome questioned to no one in particular. "Well, regardless of some vision or not, its time for a party!" She exclaimed and smiled broadly at Sango. "Happy Birthday Sango-chan!!"

Sango blushed and smiled back, "Thank you Kagome, but you shouldn't have gone to all this trouble for me."

"Oh no, don't think anything of it! Besides, it was all Miroku-sama anyways!"

"Houshi-sama? You did this?" Sango looked very shocked at this.

Miroku only smiled at her. "Happy Birthday!"

Sango's birthday party finally began, and Kagome, Souta, and Shippo all sang 'Happy Birthday' to her (they had taught the words to Shippo earlier). After that was finished, they all dug into the meal that had been prepared for the party.

*~*~*

After everyone had succeeded in stuffing themselves senseless, Shippo jumped up from his spot on the ground, "Present's time!"

With that, he presented her with a small, wrapped gift, "This is from me and Souta!"

Unwrapping the small package, Sango smile brightly, "Thank you Shippo, Souta! It's great!" She held up the gift, which was one of Shippo's tops, but had all the names of their group carved into the rim. "I'll keep it always!" She gave the kitsune a hug and smiled at Kagome's brother.

Kagome pulled her package out next and handed it to the demon exterminator. "Here Sango-chan…it isn't much but-"

Sango cut her off as she accepted the gift, "No Kagome! Anything you give me I truly appreciate! I didn't expect any gifts at all!"

Kagome smiled again at her friend, "Well, this is from both me, and Inu Yasha."

Miroku leaned over and elbowed the hanyou, "Oh…so a couple now?"

Inu Yasha growled at him, "Better shut up bouzu if you know what's good for 'ya!"

Sango carefully unwrapped her gift to find a two bottles, her very own shampoo and conditioner. But, also wrapped around the necks of the bottles was a thin silver chain, with a dark, round stone hanging at the end. As she touched the stone, it lit up to a dark blue.

"It's a mood necklace! It tells you what you're feeling, by what color it is!"

"Feh! Why does she need a stone to tell her what she's feeling if she already knows?"

Kagome sighed and rolled her eyes at him. "It doesn't really tell you what mood you're in…it just changes colors according to your body heat."

Miroku was staring at the jewel in amazement, "Wow, with that, maybe I'll know when it's a good time to…show my affection to Sango, or not to.'

After she had placed the necklace around her neck, Kaede gave her some herbs to take with them when they went traveling again.

 "Sango…this is for you." He handed the box to her and watched nervously as she opened it…would she like it?

"Oh my…" Sango gasped and looked at what the box held. Everyone leaned forward to see what could gain such a response, even Inu Yasha (though he did it nonchalantly, acting like he couldn't care less.) Inside the box lay a new kimono for her. It was a light lavender color, with pink cherry blossoms drifting across the bottom of the skirt and at the hems of the sleeves. Pulling it out of the box, she could feel the cloths texture soft, but still durable, for their traveling. The obi that lay in the box underneath it was simple, as to not constrict her movements, but still delicately embroidered with pink and purple flowers on top of the dark purple material.

"Houshi-sama…" She gazed at him, slightly puzzled by the extravagance of the gift.

He smiled nervously at her, "Do you like it?"

"I love it, but…it is too much!" Why would he give her such a gift? It was way too much, it looked really expensive!

The monk shrugged seemingly carelessly, "It wasn't really that expensive, and when I saw it, I thought that you might like it."

She smiled at him and put her hand on his, "Thank you."

For once, he had no urge to do anything other than feel her hand on his. No need to grope her, or to make some sort of remark about bearing his children. He felt peace inside him.

*~*~*

They then ordered the boys outside so that Sango could change into her new kimono. It fit her perfectly, even over her exterminator outfit. After the boys came back in, Sango saw that Miroku was not with them.

Walking outside of the hut, she saw him starring at the now darkening night's sky. Walking the few feet over to him, she lightly called out to him, "Houshi-sama?"

Without looking away from the sky, he answered her, "Why is it that you call me that? Why don't you call me by my name?"

A little surprised at this comment, she blushed a little and looked up at they sky as well, "I don't know…I just thought that it was appropriate, as a title of respect…"

He looked down at her as she looked at him. Their eyes meeting, Sango whispered the next words. "Would you prefer me to call you Miroku-sama?"

"I would prefer Miroku-chan…" he answered back, quietly as she spoke.

The blush on her face deepened as she realized she should look away…but couldn't.

"….but Miroku-sama will do, for now." His eyes held a little laughter in them as he continued to peer into hers.

"Sango…" He began and took a deep breath, "When we are done with our journey, after we have defeated Naraku…what are you going to do then?"

Sango frowned a little, "I'm not sure…I suppose, go to my village. Start over there. I haven't really thought of it. Mostly I just want to have Kohaku back." A little sadness crept into her eyes at the thought of her little brother.

"Would you consider staying with me?" Miroku spoke in a hushed voice, almost hoping that she wouldn't hear him, but knowing she would.

"What…what do you mean?" her blush deepened even more and she watched him closely to make sure it wasn't his lecherous side coming out.

"I mean, after we have defeated Naraku, would you live with me, as my wife?"

For a moment, Sango couldn't believe her ears. Had he really just….proposed?!?

"Hou- I mean, Miroku-sama…I…" Her mind and mouth weren't working right at the moment.

He leaned in closer to hear her words, as they were hardly audible, "Yes…"

A faint smile tugged at his mouth and he leaned in a little further. Oh, how he wanted to kiss her lips, imagining how soft they would feel. Just as he was about an inch from her, a gust of wind blew past them.

Both shaken out of the daze they had been, they look in the direction the wind had came from. A feather floated down on to the ground before them, with no other than Kagura upon it.

Sango reached for her weapon that, as usual, was strapped to her back. Miroku grasped his staff with his right, cursed, hand faced her.

*~*~*

Inside of the hut, Inu Yasha sniffed the air that had been wafting into the room. Abruptly a familiar scent was on the wind which made him stand and, growling, grab the hilt of his sword in his hand.

"Inu Yasha? What's wrong?" Kagome asked, worried at his sudden actions.

"We've got company." He said lowly as he headed out of the hut to face the intruder.

Well, a little shorter than the last one, but….WRITER'S BLOCK! *sob*

Anywhoo….please review! Let me know what you think ^_~