Wow, thanks a lot for the reviews! It really is appreciated. Okay, judging by the response I should hurry up and start the chapter so here goes.
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'Think, think, think, think…oh how do I get myself into these situations?' Sango thought. She had been thinking of something to say the whole way back to where her and Miroku were staying but nothing could come to mind. She had at least broken some of the tension between Miroku and Shin, only now she was faced with a bigger problem. Her diversion had made promises her mind and body didn't want to keep.
"So Sango, I think we are pretty much alone now. What was it you were so desperate to tell me?" Miroku said looking behind him at Sango. In her daze of panic and confusion she had totally ignored what had just been said to her. "Hello? Sango?" Miroku waved his hand in front of her.
"Huh? Oh Houshi-sama what did you say?"
"What was it you wanted to tell me?" He asked almost growing impatient.
"Uh, I wanted to say…that…I…have to sit down." She seated her self on a patch of grass.
"You had to tell me that?" Miroku asked sitting in front of her
"Uh…. No." She said thinking of another diversion
"Okay, then. Now tell me. What did you have to say?" Miroku said looking generally interested.
Sango grabbed his hand and pushed his palm against her cheek.
"Do I feel warm to you? I think I might be feverish." She said blushing slightly at his touch
"I think you picked the wrong hand to check with." Miroku glanced at his covered hand, "here." He took his left hand and pressed against her other cheek cupping her face.
"Well? Do I? " Sango asked looking into his eyes
"Do you what?" Miroku said looking at her in return
Taking what he thought to be a hint Miroku began to lean in for a kiss. Sango, surprised by his sudden forwardness, began to tilt her head away from him.
"Wha..what are you doing?" She whispered.
"What do you mean, I'm doing what you wanted. First you tell me you want to be alone, then you take me to a secluded area, you grab my hand and give that look, what do you expect?" He said pulling back and looking somewhat confused.
"Look, what look?" Sango asked, "Houshi-sama, I just felt faint and I wanted to know if I felt hot to you?"
"Trust me, that's not what you meant." He said eager to return his former intentions
"I think I of all people know what I meant." She said laughing a little at Miroku's arrogance.
"You wanted me to touch you." He said keeping his arrogant tone
"Believe me, Houshi-sama there has never been a time when I wanted you to touch me." Sango said 'What a lie' she thought immediately after.
"I find that hard to believe." Miroku tried to save his self-esteem after Sango's last comment.
"Then how do you explain all of the slaps you have had?" She stood up
"Easy, your embarrassed." Miroku now standing in front of her, "You don't want to admit that you like it when I touch you. Sometimes I think you even ask for it."
"If you are trying to turn this around on me it's not going to work." She turned and started to walk away.
Miroku caught up to her. "I want you to prove it." He bluntly said
"Prove what?" Sango walked into the hut.
"Prove to me that you don't like it when I touch you." He said softly touching her arm.
"Houshi-sama..I..feel.." Sango tried to utter something but she suddenly felt very weak
"What?" Miroku asked
Unfortunately he would receive no answer, instead Sango fainted into his arms.
"Sango?! He had a sudden burst of guilt, she really was feeling sick and he had made a total ass out of himself thinking she meant otherwise. He called her name again and slightly shook her trying to stir her. When he had no effect he ran to get help.
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It really was not Sango's intention to faint, it was pure irony that her little trick actually turned into a reality. But alas, it was true. She was on the verge of leaving a tell tale slap mark on the Houshi when without warning she felt as though all the life had sucked out of her. The rest was total blackness. Until of course she started to come to. It started with the sound of muffled speech. She couldn't make out the voices. Then like a light turned on she slowly opened her eyes. It was as though she had been in darkness and was seeing the sun for the first time. It hurt, and she fought the urge to close them again. She could see she had a change of surroundings and a face came into view.
"Sango? Are you all right?" It was Shin
Sango let out a sigh, "Where is Houshi-sama?"
Shin hid his disappointment. He could remember a time when she would ask for him and him alone. "He's not here." He responded almost coldly.
"He is taking a bath." A servant answered. The woman walked off carrying an empty jug, Sango assumed she was going to fill with water.
"Where exactly am I?" She asked still groggy.
"You are in my home, I thought it best we keep you here." Shin broke out of his cold disposition and answered her warmly.
Sango closed her eyes again. "I see."
"How do you feel?" He asked
"Unbelievably tired."
"I was worried," Shin said brushing away her bangs with his hand.
"Please don't. Houshi-sama might see." Sango said
"You said yourself he wouldn't care." Shin was satisfied he caught her lie.
"But I do." She said opening her eyes again, it was a comment that she meant to keep to herself. She tried to push herself up into a seated position.
"Here," Shin lifted her up into his arms.
Sango looked at him, it was hard not to have some emotions return, if even for an instant.
The door slid open and Miroku was lead in by the woman from before, his hair still wet and uncharacteristically out of it's normal tied back position. "Sango you're awake."
Sango turned away from Shin and looked at Miroku's disheveled appearance. She smiled lightly, "Yes, Houshi-sama." For a second she didn't recognize him.
He sat next to her and looked her over, "Are you all right?" His eyebrows showing his concern.
"Tired, that's all." She answered
"Yes, well I think it would be best if you stayed here for the night." Shin broke in, "If you need assistance the doctor is close by as well as myself."
"And if you would feel more comfortable I could stay with you too." Miroku said making sure he wasn't left out of the picture.
Sango sighed; she suddenly realized the frustration Kagome experienced when Inuyasha and Kouga fought over her. She was halfway tempted to yell sit. She wasn't used to this much attention.
"You two don't need to worry, I should be fine after a good nights rest."
"So there is nothing else I can do?" Shin asked
"No, all I want to do is rest and take a bath." Sango said
"I can help with that." Miroku suggested
Sango looked at him with suspicion, "I wasn't being lecherous, I assure you." Miroku said making a point.
"I just need to know where they are Houshi-sama"
"I can show you where they are," the woman offered
"Do you need help walking?" Shin asked
"I am pretty sure I can manage," Sango stood up while the two men looked on each ready to catch her if she fell. Miroku then stood next to her, "Here," he said offering her a shoulder to lean on.
"Thanks." Sango said using him for support
It was Shins turn to offer help, "Would you like me to accompany you?"
No sooner had he finished his sentence than the Headman of the village called for his 'son'.
"Your father calls." Sango said looking at him, Shin smiled and left.
"This way." The woman walked a head of them.
The two walked behind her in silence. Miroku was dying to say something. He had felt foolish. 'She must blame me for not helping her, I acted like a lech when all she asked was if she had a fever.'
"Is something wrong Houshi-sama?" Sango asked
"You shouldn't worry about me Sango. I should be worried about you."
"I not a little girl Houshi-sama, you don't need to watch my every step." She said a small smile spreading on her face
"Your right Sango, but if I seem worried it's because I feel to blame that you are in this condition."
"It wasn't your fault at all Houshi-sama, I don't know what caused me to faint, but I am sure it is nothing some sleep cannot cure." She stressed the non-seriousness of her condition.
"Excuse me, we are here." The woman said pointing at the bathhouse.
Sango detached herself from the Houshi and walked in.
"Sango. If you don't mind maybe I should keep watch outside the door." Miroku called
"Houshi-sama, I don't think that's necessary…"
"You can blind fold me if it makes you feel safer." He joked
"Fine, but just because I fainted doesn't mean I can't slap you if you do anything lecherous."
He nodded in agreement, and Sango shut the doors behind her.
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Yes, another chapter done. I am hoping that with the upcoming break from school that I will be able to write some more. Anyway, I would rather post longer chapters than short little ones, that is why it takes a while. Thanks for reading and please review.