Chapter 3
Sango had been at the dance for an hour and a half, catching up with everyone while Yuri watched from the wall. There had been slow songs, but Sango hadn't danced with anyone – and didn't plan to. She was getting the weird feeling that Miroku wanted to dance with her, but didn't have the courage. She didn't mind that he was scared; it wasn't like she was going to say yes or anything.
There was only forty-five minutes left of the dance, and Sango knew Yuri was getting impatient. Yuri had drilled those words into her head, "YOU MUST SLOW DANCE WITH A GUY ONCE!"
Sango had gulped, and continued to gulp. She had tried not to join in with much of the dancing to regular songs, but when 'Get Busy' came on, she had to dance. It wasn't supposed to happen, but everyone gathered around her and started yelling, "Go Sango! Go Sango! Go Sango!" She didn't stop until the song was over, then everyone clapped.
Then, the one thing she didn't want to happen, happened.
"Here's the last slow song. For all you shy guys, this is your last chance." The DJ said into the microphone. 'If You're Not The One' by Daniel Bedingfield started to play. Inuyasha and Kagome were dancing, Naraku and Kikyo were dancing, Sesshomaru and a ninth grader, Rin, were dancing, and Hojo was sitting next to the wall, watching everyone dance.
Sango looked around as she watched all the couples. She had reported to Yuri about everything that had happened so far, and Yuri couldn't believe they had taken Sango back in so easily. Sango could tell she was a little disappointed Sango was getting off so easy.
"Sango, look! Miroku's coming over here."
"Good lord, if he asks me to dance..."
"You have to say yes. It's a part of the dare."
"When was the last time I told you how evil you were?"
"When we were back at my house, and just now. Oh, here he comes!" Yuri just happened to need to go to the bathroom again, as Miroku shyly walked over to Sango.
"Um, Sango?" Miroku said, arms behind his back. Sango – of course – knew what he was going to say, and was in an awkwardly nice mood.
"Yeah, I'll dance with you." Miroku looked at her and smiled. She had saved him from yet another embarrassing moment. He wondered how she always had a habit of doing that.
He put his arms around her waist, fighting the urge to let them slip down a little further, as Sango put her arms around his neck. They swayed back and forth, the song seemed to last forever to Sango.
Miroku kept his eyes on her the whole time, Sango's eyes wandered over to Inuyasha and Kagome, who were dancing really close. Sesshomaru and Rin, and Kikyo and Naraku were dancing the same way Miroku and Sango were: at arm's length. Hojo, Sango noticed, was still sitting down. For a second, she pitied him, but only for a second.
Sango looked back at Miroku, who she found was still staring at her. She wanted to squirm! His big, brown eyes seemed to be digging under her skin. She looked back at him, and they just looked at each other for a few seconds.
My god, is it just me, or is his head getting closer to mine... Sango gulped deep in her throat. Miroku was only inches from her face...centimeters...then the song ended. Sango felt as if her heart was sticking four inches out of her stomach. She let her arms down as Miroku retreated and looked at the floor, it suddenly looked very interesting...
*****
Sango started running nowhere in particular, just trying to get out. She could have sworn she was hyper ventilating. Kagome followed her. "Sango, wait!" Sango didn't slow down.
What am I getting myself into?! He practically kissed me! I didn't...he didn't...oh god; I am going to KILL Yuri.
Sango didn't even notice she was being followed until she stopped in the courtyard and turned around to make sure Miroku wasn't following her. But then she saw Kagome, who caught up to her and was panting almost as much as she was.
"Dang...you still...run fast." Kagome managed to say between breaths. "Why...you...running?"
"Miroku...tried...to kiss...me."
"And, your point is?" They both had fairly steady breathing now.
"My point is he tried to kiss me, Kagome! I don't like boys anymore. After what Naraku did to us, I dropped them off the face of the earth and learned to hate them. Take Hojo for example: probably a very nice guy who would just love to break any girls heart. I don't like guys, and I never even dream about them kissing me."
"Uh...oh. I don't think he knew that. I know I didn't know that. Sango, in case you haven't noticed, he really likes you, and you have just scared him half to death, if not hurt his feelings. I mean, if you liked a guy," Sango raised her eyebrows, "I did say if...and you and him were dancing, and were just about to kiss, then he ran off, how would you feel?"
"Firstly, that would never happen. Kagome, do I have to spell it out for you? I – Do – Not – Like – Boys. Period. No exceptions. Okay?"
"Well, maybe you could reconsider...?"
"Just, leave me alone for a minute, I have to let all this sink in." Kagome shrugged and nodded, walking back to the cafeteria.
Sango sighed, enjoying being alone for a minute to think, when there was a tap on her shoulder.
"What do you mean you don't like guys? You just had the perfect chance to begin the end of the bet, and you BLEW IT! How do you explain this, Sango?"
"Yuri, what the heck are you doing out here? I thought you were in the bathroom! Why were you eavesdropping?"
"I...I wanted to know what was wrong...that's all."
"So you hid behind a bush?"
"I figured you wouldn't want to be seen with me around Kagome and her friends."
"Whatever you would like to think...you pull something like that again and the dare is off. Deal?"
"Fine."
"I think you need to get back to the dance."
"No."
"Fine, fine. But I can't guarantee Miroku won't come out here looking for you."
"If he tries to kiss me again, I punch him in the nose. Hard."
"Whatever. I'm going back to the dance, see you." Yuri walked off and Sango stared off into the stars, replaying the whole thing in her head. She remembered how he kept staring at her, and how it made her want to squirm. Then she tried to think back to the group's earlier years...
*****
"Hey Miroku, what are you doing out here all alone?"
"Go away, I don't want to talk about it."
"Come on Miroku, something's wrong," Sango sat down next to him and looked at him with worry written all over her.
"Look, Its nothing, okay?" Miroku looked over at her and Sango could immediately tell he had been crying. "Just, leave me alone."
"Not until you tell me what's wrong, Miroku!" Sango's eyes went from worried to serious as they looked at each other. It had started to drizzle rain.
"Why do you want to know so much?"
"Because...because I care." Sango said, her eyes never leaving his.
"You do?" Sango could see the awe-struck look on his face.
"Yeah, I do. I thought you knew that, Miroku. I always cared." Sango smiled a little.
"Uh...Oh." Miroku looked at her and Sango looked at him, they just sat there for a minute or two, just looking at each other. Miroku leaned in, lightly kissing her. Sango didn't object.
It only lasted a few seconds, but Sango was in heaven the whole time. When Miroku finally ended the kiss, he looked at Sango and smiled when he saw she was smiling.
"Sango, Miroku, where are you? The bell rang, its time to come inside!" Kagome yelled. Sango and Miroku stood and walked back to the school together, both smiling.
*****
"Sango?"
Sango was jolted out of the flashback and looked over to see Miroku standing next to the bench she was sitting on. She looked up at Miroku, who she found was looking down on her with worry in his eyes.
"Yeah?"
"Um, can I sit down?"
"I don't care, it's not my bench."
Miroku smiled, I don't think she'll ever change...much. "Hey Sango, what are you doing out here all alone?"
"Go away, I don't want to talk about it."
"Come on Sango, something's wrong,"
"Miroku, we aren't in sixth grade anymore."
"I know...I didn't say that."
"You almost exactly quoted me from that day on the bench."
"You still remember that?"
"Yeah, so?"
"You never forget something that was important to you." Miroku looked at her, face blank.
"..."
"Did I do something wrong?"
"Look, you might as well know I don't like boys anymore."
"............"
"So, don't get your hopes up that we can get back together like before. I am not in middle school anymore. I grew up." She knew that what she had just said was not going to pass easily.
"What's that supposed to mean? 'You grew up'? As in I was just a little kid thing? It was only three years ago. No one grows up that fast."
"Tastes mature. In food and in boys. I don't have a taste for boys anymore. I was just a foolish little girl back then. A lot can happen in three years, Miroku!"
"Like what? Just because Naraku broke up your friendship with Kagome, doesn't mean you should completely drop your boyfriend, who just happen to be friends with him, and we still aren't even friends. He and Sesshomaru get along, so that's why he's still in the group. Everyone hates him except Kikyo and Sesshomaru. I just don't get it, Sango!"
Sango was starting to cry. "You don't know what I went though! One day you and your best friend are like sisters and the next you think she hates you? That was murder to me, Miroku! I lost my best friend, because of a boy.
"I though you all were in on it, and that Kikyo had told everyone, and it was going to be a fun little prank. Then I found out the truth, but Kagome didn't believe me, and so then I hated you all. I regret it now, I really do, but it isn't like I can just pick up where I left off as if it never happened, because it did!" Sango's eyes were red and puffy; she sat with her back to Miroku, knees tucked under her arms.
Miroku sat on the edge of the bench, trying to take it all in. He had just been practically told off by yet another girl, but this one was special. He liked this one.
The two of them sat there on the bench for thirty minutes, Sango stopped crying after a few minutes, but she would still sniffle occasionally. Soon enough, the dance was over and everyone started to pile out of the cafeteria.
Sango stood and went to find Yuri, not saying anything to Miroku as she walked away. Yuri smiled at her in a way Sango knew was saying, 'You are going to tell me everything when we get home.'
Sango had been at the dance for an hour and a half, catching up with everyone while Yuri watched from the wall. There had been slow songs, but Sango hadn't danced with anyone – and didn't plan to. She was getting the weird feeling that Miroku wanted to dance with her, but didn't have the courage. She didn't mind that he was scared; it wasn't like she was going to say yes or anything.
There was only forty-five minutes left of the dance, and Sango knew Yuri was getting impatient. Yuri had drilled those words into her head, "YOU MUST SLOW DANCE WITH A GUY ONCE!"
Sango had gulped, and continued to gulp. She had tried not to join in with much of the dancing to regular songs, but when 'Get Busy' came on, she had to dance. It wasn't supposed to happen, but everyone gathered around her and started yelling, "Go Sango! Go Sango! Go Sango!" She didn't stop until the song was over, then everyone clapped.
Then, the one thing she didn't want to happen, happened.
"Here's the last slow song. For all you shy guys, this is your last chance." The DJ said into the microphone. 'If You're Not The One' by Daniel Bedingfield started to play. Inuyasha and Kagome were dancing, Naraku and Kikyo were dancing, Sesshomaru and a ninth grader, Rin, were dancing, and Hojo was sitting next to the wall, watching everyone dance.
Sango looked around as she watched all the couples. She had reported to Yuri about everything that had happened so far, and Yuri couldn't believe they had taken Sango back in so easily. Sango could tell she was a little disappointed Sango was getting off so easy.
"Sango, look! Miroku's coming over here."
"Good lord, if he asks me to dance..."
"You have to say yes. It's a part of the dare."
"When was the last time I told you how evil you were?"
"When we were back at my house, and just now. Oh, here he comes!" Yuri just happened to need to go to the bathroom again, as Miroku shyly walked over to Sango.
"Um, Sango?" Miroku said, arms behind his back. Sango – of course – knew what he was going to say, and was in an awkwardly nice mood.
"Yeah, I'll dance with you." Miroku looked at her and smiled. She had saved him from yet another embarrassing moment. He wondered how she always had a habit of doing that.
He put his arms around her waist, fighting the urge to let them slip down a little further, as Sango put her arms around his neck. They swayed back and forth, the song seemed to last forever to Sango.
Miroku kept his eyes on her the whole time, Sango's eyes wandered over to Inuyasha and Kagome, who were dancing really close. Sesshomaru and Rin, and Kikyo and Naraku were dancing the same way Miroku and Sango were: at arm's length. Hojo, Sango noticed, was still sitting down. For a second, she pitied him, but only for a second.
Sango looked back at Miroku, who she found was still staring at her. She wanted to squirm! His big, brown eyes seemed to be digging under her skin. She looked back at him, and they just looked at each other for a few seconds.
My god, is it just me, or is his head getting closer to mine... Sango gulped deep in her throat. Miroku was only inches from her face...centimeters...then the song ended. Sango felt as if her heart was sticking four inches out of her stomach. She let her arms down as Miroku retreated and looked at the floor, it suddenly looked very interesting...
*****
Sango started running nowhere in particular, just trying to get out. She could have sworn she was hyper ventilating. Kagome followed her. "Sango, wait!" Sango didn't slow down.
What am I getting myself into?! He practically kissed me! I didn't...he didn't...oh god; I am going to KILL Yuri.
Sango didn't even notice she was being followed until she stopped in the courtyard and turned around to make sure Miroku wasn't following her. But then she saw Kagome, who caught up to her and was panting almost as much as she was.
"Dang...you still...run fast." Kagome managed to say between breaths. "Why...you...running?"
"Miroku...tried...to kiss...me."
"And, your point is?" They both had fairly steady breathing now.
"My point is he tried to kiss me, Kagome! I don't like boys anymore. After what Naraku did to us, I dropped them off the face of the earth and learned to hate them. Take Hojo for example: probably a very nice guy who would just love to break any girls heart. I don't like guys, and I never even dream about them kissing me."
"Uh...oh. I don't think he knew that. I know I didn't know that. Sango, in case you haven't noticed, he really likes you, and you have just scared him half to death, if not hurt his feelings. I mean, if you liked a guy," Sango raised her eyebrows, "I did say if...and you and him were dancing, and were just about to kiss, then he ran off, how would you feel?"
"Firstly, that would never happen. Kagome, do I have to spell it out for you? I – Do – Not – Like – Boys. Period. No exceptions. Okay?"
"Well, maybe you could reconsider...?"
"Just, leave me alone for a minute, I have to let all this sink in." Kagome shrugged and nodded, walking back to the cafeteria.
Sango sighed, enjoying being alone for a minute to think, when there was a tap on her shoulder.
"What do you mean you don't like guys? You just had the perfect chance to begin the end of the bet, and you BLEW IT! How do you explain this, Sango?"
"Yuri, what the heck are you doing out here? I thought you were in the bathroom! Why were you eavesdropping?"
"I...I wanted to know what was wrong...that's all."
"So you hid behind a bush?"
"I figured you wouldn't want to be seen with me around Kagome and her friends."
"Whatever you would like to think...you pull something like that again and the dare is off. Deal?"
"Fine."
"I think you need to get back to the dance."
"No."
"Fine, fine. But I can't guarantee Miroku won't come out here looking for you."
"If he tries to kiss me again, I punch him in the nose. Hard."
"Whatever. I'm going back to the dance, see you." Yuri walked off and Sango stared off into the stars, replaying the whole thing in her head. She remembered how he kept staring at her, and how it made her want to squirm. Then she tried to think back to the group's earlier years...
*****
"Hey Miroku, what are you doing out here all alone?"
"Go away, I don't want to talk about it."
"Come on Miroku, something's wrong," Sango sat down next to him and looked at him with worry written all over her.
"Look, Its nothing, okay?" Miroku looked over at her and Sango could immediately tell he had been crying. "Just, leave me alone."
"Not until you tell me what's wrong, Miroku!" Sango's eyes went from worried to serious as they looked at each other. It had started to drizzle rain.
"Why do you want to know so much?"
"Because...because I care." Sango said, her eyes never leaving his.
"You do?" Sango could see the awe-struck look on his face.
"Yeah, I do. I thought you knew that, Miroku. I always cared." Sango smiled a little.
"Uh...Oh." Miroku looked at her and Sango looked at him, they just sat there for a minute or two, just looking at each other. Miroku leaned in, lightly kissing her. Sango didn't object.
It only lasted a few seconds, but Sango was in heaven the whole time. When Miroku finally ended the kiss, he looked at Sango and smiled when he saw she was smiling.
"Sango, Miroku, where are you? The bell rang, its time to come inside!" Kagome yelled. Sango and Miroku stood and walked back to the school together, both smiling.
*****
"Sango?"
Sango was jolted out of the flashback and looked over to see Miroku standing next to the bench she was sitting on. She looked up at Miroku, who she found was looking down on her with worry in his eyes.
"Yeah?"
"Um, can I sit down?"
"I don't care, it's not my bench."
Miroku smiled, I don't think she'll ever change...much. "Hey Sango, what are you doing out here all alone?"
"Go away, I don't want to talk about it."
"Come on Sango, something's wrong,"
"Miroku, we aren't in sixth grade anymore."
"I know...I didn't say that."
"You almost exactly quoted me from that day on the bench."
"You still remember that?"
"Yeah, so?"
"You never forget something that was important to you." Miroku looked at her, face blank.
"..."
"Did I do something wrong?"
"Look, you might as well know I don't like boys anymore."
"............"
"So, don't get your hopes up that we can get back together like before. I am not in middle school anymore. I grew up." She knew that what she had just said was not going to pass easily.
"What's that supposed to mean? 'You grew up'? As in I was just a little kid thing? It was only three years ago. No one grows up that fast."
"Tastes mature. In food and in boys. I don't have a taste for boys anymore. I was just a foolish little girl back then. A lot can happen in three years, Miroku!"
"Like what? Just because Naraku broke up your friendship with Kagome, doesn't mean you should completely drop your boyfriend, who just happen to be friends with him, and we still aren't even friends. He and Sesshomaru get along, so that's why he's still in the group. Everyone hates him except Kikyo and Sesshomaru. I just don't get it, Sango!"
Sango was starting to cry. "You don't know what I went though! One day you and your best friend are like sisters and the next you think she hates you? That was murder to me, Miroku! I lost my best friend, because of a boy.
"I though you all were in on it, and that Kikyo had told everyone, and it was going to be a fun little prank. Then I found out the truth, but Kagome didn't believe me, and so then I hated you all. I regret it now, I really do, but it isn't like I can just pick up where I left off as if it never happened, because it did!" Sango's eyes were red and puffy; she sat with her back to Miroku, knees tucked under her arms.
Miroku sat on the edge of the bench, trying to take it all in. He had just been practically told off by yet another girl, but this one was special. He liked this one.
The two of them sat there on the bench for thirty minutes, Sango stopped crying after a few minutes, but she would still sniffle occasionally. Soon enough, the dance was over and everyone started to pile out of the cafeteria.
Sango stood and went to find Yuri, not saying anything to Miroku as she walked away. Yuri smiled at her in a way Sango knew was saying, 'You are going to tell me everything when we get home.'