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XI

Sango dropped the bag and the books she was holding and enveloped Miroku in a hug.

"I never wanted to be a special girl for anyone," she said, her voice muffled by her head pressed at the junction of his neck and shoulder. "I never wanted any of this to begin with."

Miroku wrapped his arms around her back, savoring her scent and her being. To put it simply, he just missed her. He missed her company.

"It's my parents, Miroku. Everything that had happened was due to them," she continued. She was trying to suppress her tears but they flowed on their own volition.

"I'm sorry," Miroku breathed out. He felt bad for retaliating at her without understanding the situation.

"Can we still be friends?" she asked hopefully, breaking from the hug to look up at him.

"As far as I can recall, we never stopped being one," he said, giving her a smile.

Sango bit her lower lip, which fascinated Miroku every time. "Good, because I need one right now."

Miroku was mentally kicking himself. He tried to avoid her, but to no success.

It was foolish to avoid the one who held his heart.

He sighed and picked up her bag. With an arm on her shoulder, he stirred her towards the exit. It was a good thing that the campus was near empty at that moment. It was Friday so most students would rather leave the school early to go gallivanting.

"Come on, let's go grab something to eat," Miroku said. "Where's that guy of yours anyway?"

"I wish you wouldn't call him that," Sango answered, wrinkling her nose.

"Well, he's your fiancée," Miroku pushed on. "What else do you want me to call him?"

"He has a name. And he's not mine," Sango said, with a finality in her voice, clutching the books tighter on her chest.

"I don't suppose your parents would want to hear you say that," Miroku countered.

"I am only following them to any arguments. I don't want to complicate my life further by going against them."

"Ditto," came his reply as they entered a cafeteria not far from the school. "Well, surprising that you are all alone today. Your shadow's not around, huh?"

"Kuranosuke has a skiing trip with his friends. They have to leave early to go there before dark."

"You did not come?"

"Why would I? I got a life of my own. I don't like the company. And I certainly don't want to belong to that lifestyle."

"Mmmm… I'm glad you think that way."

"By the way, where is that girl of yours?" Sango asked curiously, raising an eyebrow.

"What girl?" he asked as he took a seat beside her on the counter.

"I'll have strawberry parfait and hot chocolate, please," Sango voiced her order to the man behind the counter. "You were pretty cozy with her yesterday," she said, turning to Miroku.

"Make that two," he said at the man, holding up two of his fingers. "I was not cozy with her, as you put it," he said as he turned to her with his brows drawn together.

"I am not blind, Miroku. You could not take your eyes off her. Your arms were always on her shoulder. Geez, your public show of affection was really eye-catching," she said, appalled.

Miroku scrutinized her reaction through squinted eyes. Then, he flashed a lopsided grin as if he discovered something that she was not telling. "You really think so?"

Sango raised an eyebrow. "Is she the one you were asking me about? Are you, two, an item all ready?"

Miroku snorted as he looked away, drinking his water. "Are you kidding, I don't even give a damn about her."

Her eyes grew wide. "What?! You mean to tell me that you are only using her?"

Miroku shrugged as he glanced at her. "Advice number 3: She would be jealous if I go out with another girl."

"She is not the girl you were talking about?" Sango's asked, aghast. "Man, how many girls would you use to get to her? Shouldn't you get the message all ready that the girl you like doesn't like you in return?"

"I think I'm getting on to her," he said with confidence.

"How, pray tell?"

"Advice number 4: they eyes are window of the soul… There would be a certain look in her eyes if she was jealous or something."

Their order came and, after thanking the man who served them, each got a bite of their parfait.

"I can't believe you… you remember all my nonsensical advices?" Sango said and shook her head before sipping her hot chocolate.

"Right to the very last one," Miroku confirmed.

"You're really that desperate about this girl, huh?" she asked after a moment, her voice serious. Somehow, she did not want to hear the answer but she had to endure it.

He nodded once and gave her a sidelong glance.

Sango felt her heart squeezed. She smiled but inside she was tearing in two.

They had just gotten their friendship back in track but somehow it hurt to think that it was all friendship. She wanted more from him but that could never be. Not only he loved another, but also the circumstances dictated otherwise, like their families had a history.

Why not fate stayed on her side for once?

"Who is she, anyway?" she asked, smile pasted on her face, hiding the hurt inside.

Miroku sighed heavily. "I'll tell you someday, but not now. I am not sure of anything just yet."

Sango had her mug poised in a drinking manner. "So you'll continue being a playboy until you get tired of waiting for her?"

"Hey," he objected as he twisted from his seat to face her. "I don't play with every girl I meet."

"Really?"

"Really," he confirmed. "When last did you see me with a girl?"

"Mmmm…" she said in a thinking manner.

"Not in a very long time, I tell you."

"Then why took my advice suddenly and got a girl?"

"I don't know," he smiled lopsidedly. "I guess it kinda ticked me off when I learned about Takeda, then seeing you changing because of him, then every other boy wanted to be with you… I missed your company that I looked for another but it did not work well."

Sango smiled. She felt warm inside learning about the reason behind the girl was not to make the one he claimed he liked jealous, but because of her. "Well, it's your fault really. You got mad at me right away."

"I was not mad at you," he said. "I was mad the people around you."

"Good. 'Cause I felt the same way."

"I don't know what's with Takeda but…"

"But?" she prodded, when he trailed off.

"But I am claiming my position again."

Sango gave a snort then laughed.

"Now that you have changed, I have to guard you from the dogs in the campus."

"Do you worse, friend."

**

ok, I think I'm back on track after learning about the episode 132. thanks for the info, sango-to-miroku. Really do appreciate it. haven't watched it yet. Am still downloading it.

And to all who took their time to drop in a kind review… thank you!

Miroku and Sango rock, baby!