Authors Note: Didn't take so long, did it? I admit, this chapter is a little cliché. I'm sorry, but you have to bear with me. There are only eleven chapters to Outshining the Brightest Star, and I intend to finish this weekend. Enjoy! Thanks for reading!

Chapter 9:

Flash! Another thousand flashes of bright light went off just as they exited the restaurant. Being famous meant everywhere you went, you were recognized, and clearly.

"Over here! Over here! Miroku, Sango!" A press member called, waving his notebook and microphone to try and flag them down.

Miroku held Sango's hand tightly and pulled her close against him so they wouldn't lose each other. After all, it was their date, and dates mean you go with two people. If he lost her, he'd be all on his own.

"Tell us what you plan to do next!" A paparazzi called, holding his camera back up to his eye to get in one more photo.

Miroku leaned over and whispered into Sango's ear, so that no one else could hear them, "We've got to get out of here, I know just the place to be alone."

Sango blushed and felt her heart rate speed up immensely. 'I hope he's not implying anything when he says…alone.'

"Alright. Then get us out of here!" she said back quietly but harshly.

The same paparazzi tried to push his luck and put on a leery grin, "Come on, Tiger. What are you and Sango going to do next?"

"Next, you ask? I plan to take her to a hotel room where we will shag for hours on end."

The lights stopped, the nonstop chatter silenced. Miroku took his chance to run past all of them, still holding Sango tightly. The press just stood in awe. But Miroku should have known that sex wasn't going to scare them off…as a matter of fact, a sex scandal could be priceless.

But for the time being they were running, and they had a head start. No one would be able to find them at the pace they set. Sango burst out into a fit of giggles, feeling the biggest high in her life. Miroku laughed whole heartedly as well before picking her up and slinging her over his right shoulder.

He jogged for some time before they were even past the city park and well into a forest, dark, quiet, and completely serene. Miroku set her down on her feet but as soon as they looked into each other's eyes she still didn't feel like she was on the ground.

They kissed. Their lips meeting passionately, almost fervently, for they were finally by themselves. Miroku brought his hands to her face, pulling her lips closer, giving her inexperienced yet unbelievable open-mouthed kisses.

Sango's eyes rolled into the back of her head, losing herself in the sensations of the friction his soft lips created on her own. She only came faintly back into reality when she felt Miroku's mouth moving slowly and curiously down her jaw line, until it felt like he was permanently suctioned to her neck.

Sango whimpered and felt his hands moving unsteadily down her body. He had never touched anyone so freely and felt his hands shaking as they explored her curves. She moaned and brought her hands to timidly caress his back tenderly.

But when Miroku whispered her name, everything came crashing down. They were into it, really into it, and in a glade no less. She would not forget what she planned to do before the date ended as well. She didn't want him to regret giving so many sweet, sensual kisses to someone he was bound to hate with one small confession.

"Miroku…" whispered, sounding more like a mewl than anything else. When he took it as a sound of encouragement, he continued just as eagerly, "No, Miroku…Stop."

She put her hand on his chest and pushed him away, he looked at her with swollen lips and a confused expression. Sango took his hands in her own, which had found their way to her stomach, and up.

"What's wrong Sango?"

Sango let out a large breath, looking to the ground and then back up at him, "Miroku, do you remember when I asked you if you ever felt like someone was lying to your face?"

Miroku looked befuddled and somewhat drunk from the after effects of the make-out session that had just transpired, "Yeah, what about it?"

"I have to tell you something important. Do you promise that no matter what I share with you, you and I will always be together?"

He hesitated then nodded, "Mm, hm."

"And you won't throw all of this away for one mistake I made?"

Miroku's expression fell considerably, seriousness welling in completely, "Okay, Sango, what's this about?"

"Miroku. I…I, I don't know how to tell you this. But, but, I am Seiko."

He shook his head, his mouth hanging slightly open, "No, that girl isn't anything like you."

Miroku could hear his own blood rushing in his ears, a hideous lump formed in his throat, and even though he was a man he could feel tears prickling the corners of his eyes.

But then, there was a flash, and all the noise that had ceased to exist for those few moments were back, and so were the press. Miroku balled his fists and bit his bottom lip, looking around before anger really took hold of him.

"I told her things…things I probably wouldn't have had the courage to tell my friends." He looked sullenly, looking to the ground, then back at her, laying all the guilt he could on her, "I thought I trusted you! I thought I had found a friend! A confidant! But you threw it all away!"

Sango's tears fell freely and her voice came in watery sobs, "I'm sorry, I just wanted to get to know you in ways you wouldn't let the real me know."

Flash! "Seiko was real, that's why. You're a fake! I don't even know what to believe about you anymore! Do you really like me? Or was this all just an act to put us everywhere, tabloids, magazines, newspapers! I wouldn't be surprised if you didn't hire all of these people to catch us here!"

"Miroku…please…don't do this," she begged. Flash!

"Don't do this? Sango, it's done, all right? It's done! And me and you are through…I thought I loved you. But it was all a joke. Well the joke is certainly on me Sango! You definitely pulled a good one on me…"

Flash! … Flash! … Flash!

"Goodbye."

He turned and walked away. His form dissolving into the darkness around him, and then he was gone. The reporters stood emotionless, writing, scribbling, taking pictures still.

Sango weeped stronger, burying her hands into her face.

Flash! … Flash! … Flash! … Flash!

=====

Kagome sat up in bed, wiping the sleep from her eyes and quickly getting up for once in the past few days. After Sango had come home the night before, crying like a baby and refusing to talk she realized that she couldn't feel bad for herself anymore. Sango needed the attention now, and she was going to be a good friend and help provide it.

She looked in the mirror and grimaced. She inspected the dark circles and drooping bags just under her eyes. There was always makeup for that kind of stuff.

Kagome heard Sango start to blubber, and before long…she was full out howling like she was mourning a death. Kagome rushed over to the bed in a hurry and set her hand on Sango's back. She had never seen her friend lamenting so much, something atrocious must have taken place between her and Miroku the night before. That could be the only logical explanation.

"Sango, sweetie. What's wrong?" Kagome said, sugar coating her voice.

Sango let out another wail, remembering everything hurtful from the night before. "He…He…"

"He what? What did Miroku do, honey?"

That name opened a floodgate in Sango's emotions and Kagome didn't think someone could cry any harder than she was after that moment. She moaned in desperation, "Miroku…"

"There, there. You've got to tell me about it. I want to help you to feel better."

Sango looked at Kagome, her eyes glassy and blood shot, her eyes just as bad as her friends, "He…he…broke up with me."

Kagome knew that there was no better time for a hug than then. Sango sniveled and bawled into her shoulder, letting it all seep out. "Shh," Kagome let her hand run down Sango's hair in a comforting rhythm, "Why?"

"Me, it was all my fault!"

Ring, ring, ring.

"Oh, what now?" Kagome groaned. "Hello?"

"Sango. Darling. So nice to chat with you!"

Kagome growled, recognizing the fake tone and voice coming from the other end of the line, "Kikyo, this isn't Sango."

"Oh, it's you. Kagome," she ground out between her teeth, "May I please speak to Sango? It's business."

Kagome took one look at her friend and knew now just wasn't the time, "No."

"But. Why? This is very important. You don't to be sued now, do you? On behalf of breaking a legal contract."

"Whatever has to be said to her can be said to me."

=====

Kouga and Shippo had rented a movie that morning, and they were so sucked into the television that they hadn't even noticed Inuyasha's dreamy expressions and Miroku's decision to stay cuddled in his bed with a depressed look.

But then Kouga, feeling the guilt fall on him, remembered suddenly. He looked at Inuyasha with jealously, "So, how did your date with Kikyo go?"

"It was," he sighed, "Heavenly."

"That's nice to know," Kouga then acknowledged the bed ridden Miroku, "How was yours Miroku? Was Sa-"

"I don't want to talk about it." Miroku growled, curling into a tighter ball and pulling the blankets even closer around him, concealing everything but the tuft of his black hair from view.

"What's eating him? Oh well!" Inuyasha walked lazily to the door and opened it, revealing the daily newspaper they had requested; "Well what do we have here?"

=====

Kagome squeaked. There was no way in hell she would share that with Sango after the way Sango cried that morning. And there was no way she would let her know about that concert she would have to perform with Miroku in that was coming up in two days.

The headlines everywhere read, 'Miroku's Pain, Sango's Tears.' And as a sub headline, 'Was this fairytale romance really a sham?' Worst of all there was a picture of Sango crying, and Miroku looking heartbroken. All she wanted to do was get her best friend a good breakfast from the hotel lobby and she finds thousands of depressing tabloids. Sango didn't need that right then.

Instead she decided her best bet at a conversation about it would be at the boy's hotel room. She ventured upstairs, the whole way dreading the fact that Inuyasha might be there, and then again, that he might not. He could be with Kikyo.

She knocked, nervously shuffling on her feet. Kouga answered and she only gave him a look of sadness. She was still upset with him and she wanted him to know it.

"Kagome…" he started as she walked right past him and into the room like it was her home, "I'm so-"

She pivoted nimbly, "I'm not here for that. I'm not ready to talk to you right now. I'm here to talk about this."

"So you found it too!" Shippo called. "Oooh, this one has pictures, and it's the main story! Awesome!"

"Awesome? This is not awesome, Shippo. Sango doesn't need this right now."

Shippo looked somewhat embarrassed and stared at his feet, "I'm sorry."

Kagome leaned forward with her hand on the younger boy's shoulder, she whispered, "How's Miroku doing?"

"Look for yourself…" he said, pointing in the direction of the main portion of the room.

"Where is he?" Kagome inquired curiously, not being able to make out that the lump beneath the covers was a sulking Miroku. She searched the room with her eyes and gave up by plopping down on the bed with a sigh of defeat, right on top of Miroku.

He groaned, "Uhhhh, who is that? Get off!"

Kagome jumped up in surprise, "Oh! Miroku! I didn't see you!"

Miroku sat up, scratching his head, "Kagome! What are you doing here?"

"I just came to see how you were doing…because, I saw this," She let the paper fall into his lap so he could see it for himself.

"I was there, I don't need to see it again," he snapped.

Kagome closed her mouth, opening and closing them again, like a fish out of water. She fiddled with her necklace before placing her hands on her thighs with a hard slap, "Well, I guess I should get going then."

As the boys watched her leave with a dejected look on her face the felt terrible, she turned, "Is there anything you want me to tell her?"

"We've both said enough. I think it's clear what needs to be done."

He pulled the sheets over him again, feeling his energy already gone from those simple words. 'We both need time. We need to be alone. We need to go our separate ways.'

"Goodbye guys, I guess I'll see you later."

=====

"Shippo, I suggest we do something!" Kouga was pacing back and forth across the short length of the hotel room, practically burning holes in the floor.

The younger boy eyed his friend, resting and smushing the side of his face in his palm while sitting Indian style on one of the beds. "I agree. Wait, what for?"

"We both know I have terrible manners and I'm a messy eater, right?" Kouga pointed out his fault.

Shippo had to think for no more than one second to reply, "Yeah, but I don't think there's anything we can do about that."

"That's not the point! The point is it's my fault that Kagome was embarrassed at L'Amour the other night. It should be my responsibility to make it up to her."

"But how?"

Kouga's small head thought, and thought, for a total of five seconds before it pounded so much he thought it would explode, "I admit it Shippo, all right? I know nothing about girls!"

"Me either."

Kouga snickered, "No surprise there, buggar."

"Hey!"

A pillow was hurled at both of them, both a split second after the other, "Guys! Quit fighting!"

"Sorry Miroku…we were just…hey! Wait! Miroku! You know girls! Tell us what to do to make it up to Kagome!"

"Me? I don't need to do anything! She still likes me!" Shippo lay down with his hands behind his head, a smug look cloaking his features.

"Flowers," was the only muffled word they could make out, and before long they both dashed out the door.

=====

Kouga and Shippo had just picked out roses upon roses. Red and white, fresh and glistening like they were just showered with the morning dew. They smelled heavenly; not that either of them would admit it openly. She would adore them.

"Hey baby, what's up?"

Kouga's attention was taken away from the crosswalk and into an alley where the dim orange light from a cigarette shown brightly like a lantern in the night. The voice was familiar, as well as the body form.

"Shippo," he whispered, elbowing his companion, "Isn't that…?"

"Kikyo?" Shippo's eyebrows perked up, "What's she doing here?"

"I don't know, but usually you don't sneak around in alleyways if you want to be normal."

Shippo gasped, "She must be hiding something! She's an alien! From another planet! And her race's survival depends on the blood from a rare half dog slash human with an amazing voice! Then they're going to suck his blood through neon colored bendy straws and sell his intestines to a German girl with hairy legs!"

Chirps were heard, even in the daylight.

"Was it something I said?"

"Shippo! Just keep your mouth shut, we're going to have to be sneaky to catch this conversation!"

They both crept over to the dark walk, crushing their bodies against the brick so they were not in view.

"…yeah. Tonight? Oh baby, of course," she giggled, "Oh! Kinky! You're making me hot…"

Shippo stuck his hand in his mouth, showing his disgust with fake gagging noises. He stopped when Kouga held his finger to his own mouth.

"Mmm…you always know what I like. Okay. Bye Naraku-sama."

And after that they were running, to where they didn't know, but their feet were moving.

Then in unison they stated, "We've got to tell Inuyasha!"

Thanks to my reviewers:

icenekohanyou- Doesn't that hurt? It's like a paper cut, and for some reason those things hurt more than normal cuts! I'm sorry…let me get Miroku to kiss it better! I love their mashed potatoes though, so the cut was all worth it! Thank you for the review!

tinnitus- I'm sorry…I know it's an MxS, but I'm trying to draw in a bigger audience since none of my stories have ever hit the 100 review mark yet. That makes me sad. So, some fun for everyone! IxK AND, of course the best couple ever, MxS! I'll check out your profile soon, it's a little late at night now, but I will! Thanks!

Aamalie- I didn't procrastinate. Okay, so I did. I wrote more than half the chapter one day, and the other days it just came very slowly. I apologize again! And I love you too! *Glomps back* Thanks so much for the compliments!

Misa-chan- Why can't all guys be carefree and open? I don't get it! Kikyo isn't mean anymore, horray…but now she's cheating! *Gasp* I suppose in the series she's "cheating" but not really, just some people thing the whole Naraku/Kikyo thing would be an awesome couple. How'd you know about my powers? No one is supposed to know…otherwise I wouldn't be: Kikanemi! Super Teenager with…uh…awesome…super fast powers, that are awesome! Well, it's late I got to go faster so I can go to bed! Goodnight…I mean, thank you!

LiL psYch0- I'm sorry I didn't describe the date, yes, it is sad. I kind of skipped through that part, but a hot awesome make out scene replaced it! You likey? I know I likey. Thank you so much for reviewing!

Sierra- Thank goodness, you're alive! Then who was that I buried last Sunday…? Grandma? No! I'm kidding! I only kid. Well, thank you so much for the compliments again! It means a lot to me!

SM together- Two more chapters. Oh the suspense, the drama, the sadness! What will happen? I don't know, you tell me. Actually, I do know, but I'm being stupid. Anyway, thanks!

Soli-chan- I've got a bone to pick with you…Don't give up on Forevermore! Us MxS got to make a comeback! I was sad, there were no stories for me to occupy my endless hours of free time because I'm a loser with no friends! And I'm sorry about your Aunt, I hope you feel better! And as for finals…I got A's on everything except my math final, which was so bad I shall not share that. I hope you get time of that busy life to just hang out! I must be going! Thank you though!

MikoMikka- Yes, cliché all the way! I won't stand for anything else! No, actually, it was just the original idea I came up with. So if it's cliché, then a cliché it is! Well…I hope you like the updates! Thank you!