Chapter Twenty-One: The Proposal

Disclaimer: sigh Won't you just look at all the previous chapters, okay? grin Wow, I'm not alone! Am I alone? looks around Guess I am...Darn it! Oh, well. On with story. Enjoy.

"We're back!" Miroku said, as we approached.

Kagome skipped inside the hut, and we saw Nezumi cuddled up with Areala and Shippou, and InuYasha, Tahallan, Kirara slept in the corner, Haru on his futon. She nestled herself down in his lap, and dozed off right away. [Futon-Bed]

"Well, I'm bushed, too. I'm going to settle down for the afternoon. Ano. . ." There was a long, awkward pause, ". . . . .would you care to. . .join me. . .Miro. . .ku?" I blushed a deep crimson as he sat down beside me. He held his hands up as if showing I could trust him. I fell asleep right then, comfortable with my pillow, Miroku. I'm sure he liked me as his blanket as well.

The hazy morning sun crept its way up the canvas of sky, ribbons of purple, pink, and blue. Through the door hole, the sunlight filled up the room with a golden light, settling perfectly on my face. My eyes squinted harder to block out the light, but I was now awake. I rubbed my eyes sleepily, and scanned my group.

There was InuYasha, in the corner, Kagome atop his lap; Kirara beside InuYasha, Tahallan beside Kagome; Shippou and Areala lay snuggled beside them, yawning in their sleep, so innocently; and Nezumi, she lay asleep with the kitsunes; finally, my eyes settled upon Haru, who was turning in the futon.

I realized I had not seen Miroku, and only one glance to my side, and I found myself, sitting in his lap! Having moved, I would've awakened him, but I wished not to, so I dared not to make any movements. I snuggled closer to him, having a crick in my lower back from sleeping in a rather awkward position.

Little did I know, Miroku was awakening underneath me. He smiled to himself, his pearly white teeth showing. His hair was bedraggled, and he had pulled it down from its dragon tail. Now, it showed all the different colors in his hair the sun was playing on. Although his hair was deep obsidian color, the sun displayed gold, and yellow, and red little lines. He shook his head slightly, and cocked it to have a better gaze at me.

Of course, I had no idea what he was thinking about.

Later, still early in the morning, but rather late for InuYasha, everyone awoke, fully rested, and ready to start a new day. Kagome was mingling with InuYasha in the corner yet again. I offered to gather firewood, a bit tad annoyed of seeing the same thing every time I looked at them. Miroku wanted to come with me, so I allowed him, stepping behind him, in case if he wanted to cop a feel on me.

"Oh, Sango? Before you and Miroku go, I was talking to InuYasha," (What a surprise. I never gathered them to talk before!) "We have to go back in my time. My mother expects me home soon, since it's my ototo's birthday. I can't leave InuYasha here, because then I can't keep an eye on him. So he's leaving with me. Shippou and Areala are staying, though, and so are Nezumi and Haru. Is that okay with you? Sango?" [Ototo-Little brother]

"Oh, yeah, sure, sure. Go and. . .have a good time," I exclaimed sarcastically, half of me not fond being alone with Miroku, "I'll be all right,"

"Sure of it?" she queried.

I nodded my head slowly, not catching her worried glance.

"Okay! C'mon, InuYasha! Souta's birthday should be starting soon! Bye, everyone!"

Kagome dragged off her hanyou, outside, and I could hear her muttering just barely.

"Be quiet, InuYasha! And stay still! Besides, those two need some time to their own, and I don't want them to be bothered." The last sentence, I didn't quite catch.

"Well, you heard her, Miroku. Let's gather some wood."

"Right behind you, Sango,"

'THAT HOUSHI BETTER NOT TRY AND GROPE ME, OTHERWISE HE'LL GET A WHACKING WITH THIS FIREWOOD. . .' I thought as I picked up piles of wood, having to bend down, unfortunately. Good thing, though, Miroku hasn't so far laid a hand on me!

About the time we finished gathering wood, it was sunset. My neck was sore, and so were my arms. I sat down heavily with a thump, and fell onto my back, feeling the grass tickle my cheeks. I heard the grass crunching and knew Miroku was coming towards me.

"I guess we could stay here for a while. Lady Kagome and InuYasha shouldn't be arriving soon. . ." I heard him mutter.

I nodded my head and continued breathing lightly, closing my eyes. The stars started to shine above us miraculously. Miroku settled himself down beside me, and started to whisper in my ear, his misty breath sending a chilling, yet pleasurable sensation down my spine.

"Before my otou-san died, he used to take me out on clear starry nights, and tell me about how the stars came to be, how the gods and goddesses created them for us humans to appreciate. . ." [Otou-Father]

I rolled over to look at him, and propped myself up with my elbow.

"Really? My otou-san used to do that too. . .before everything just. . .collapsed. . ." I heaved.

Then, after that, I really don't know how I brought up talking about the people in my village when I was just a little shoujo. . . [Shoujo- Girl]

"Hai, when I was just a little shoujo, all the boys just ignored me, or disrespected me, at least, that's all I remember. . .Only because I wasn't as feminine as most girls are supposed to be. . .But there was only one shounen who actually appreciated me. I can't remember his name, but he was the only nice shounen I can remember. . .

"I had my favorite child's play thing—my rag doll usagi. I know, I know. Don't laugh. But it was my favorite thing I had! At least, before my okaa- san died after giving birth to Kohaku. . .She gave it to me as a birthday present. . . [Usagi-Bunny ; Okaa-Mother]

"But as I was saying, I loved it so much, I carried it everywhere with me! And there was the town bully. He bossed everyone younger than him as he pleased. He saw me with my usagi. So he took it. But that one shounen I was telling you about, well, he got so angry, it wasn't even funny! He was so angry, he kicked him in the shins hard enough so I could grab my little usagi. Afterwards, he wanted me to be his kanojo. I didn't know what to do. I was so young! So. . .I said "iie". . .

"He was very upset, and I never saw him after that. Only since two years ago, did I. I felt bad. I would've said yes, but I didn't love him. He couldn't take it. Itai, it must've hurt him." [Itai-Ouch/it hurts]

"Hai, Sango. His feelings were probably crushed."

"I know, I know. . .I felt bad enough then. But as I was saying, two years ago, I saw him. He was nineteen, I was fourteen. . . He proposed. Proposed to marry. . .me. I didn't even recognize him—"

"—and again you said "iie", right?"

"Un. Then. . .I met you. And Lady Kagome, InuYasha, and Shippou-chan,"

[Un-Yes (Informal)]

There was a long silence after that. . .

"Sango? Ano, I—I have something I—I need. . .to tell you. . ."

"H—hai, Miroku?"

"I haven't really felt this way before. . .at least, not as much. . .Sango, what I'm trying to say is, that when. . .when you joined the group, I—I had. . .a—a meaning to live. . .Sango. . .I—I love you. . .Aishiteru. . ."

". . . .M-M-Miro. . .ku? I—is it. . .is it true? Do. . .do you really mean it?"

"Hai, itoshii. It is true," [Itoshii-Beloved]

"Miroku. . .I—I don't know what to say. . .except for that. . .I love you, too!"

"Then, will you live with me, and bear my children?"

"HAI!"

"As many as I want? Ten, or even twenty?"

"HAI! As long I get to be with you, I accept!"

I scooted across the now-covered-with-dew-grass, and almost sitting on top of Miroku. He wrapped his arm around me, and I snuggled closer, resting my head on his shoulder, and he just pulled me closer. The sun was now long gone, and the moon took its place, nestled high in the sky, blanketed by clouds.

"Aishiteru, Miroku. . ." I whispered, placing a chaste kiss on the apple of his cheek. [Aishiteru-I love you]

He only smiled, and pulled me closer. . .

I don't know how long we were there exactly, but I suppose we fell asleep together, in each other's arms. Behind us, hiding in the bushes, sat, of course, Kagome, InuYasha, and Shippou. Kagome was cheering, "banzai!" to herself. InuYasha covered a clawed hand over young Shippou's eyes, and peered at us. [Banzai-Yay!]

"I knew someday that shoujo'd fall for that monk. . ."

A pool of the sun's rays filled the area Miroku and I slept in. It swept over my eyes swiftly and gracefully. I slowly opened my brown orbs, and rubbed them, stretching widely. I gasped "oh!" as I realized Miroku was snuggled tightly around my waist. I then remembered what had taken place earlier that night. I wondered if Miroku and I tried to do it or not. . .

Suddenly realizing that we hadn't brought back the firewood back to our lodge, I hurriedly collected them.

'Nezumi and the others are probably worried sick about Miroku and I! Or are they? I could've sworn I heard rustling in the bushes behind us last night. . .It couldn't be Kagome and InuYasha; they're in her time, aren't they?' I wondered to myself. I suddenly dropped the sticks, and dragged Miroku up the hill. Forgot to awaken thee. . .

As I stepped inside the lodge, I saw Nezumi and Haru sleeping back-to- back on the futon. I dropped the sticks on the floor below them, and tapped Nezumi awake. No trouble at all, she just shot up straight, eyes wide as ever they could be. She saw I was motioning to Haru sleeping beside her, and explained.

"So you and Haru, are brother and sister? Oh, this is too much! Way too much!"

"Hai! We both were born to my parents in the same village. When Haru grew older, the head chief of our village didn't accept him as one of us. So my parents sent him off to a foster family instead of seeing their son banned from the village, or possibly, worse.

"So he went off to live with his other family, and about three years later, I was born! See, I'm fourteen, and he's. . .ano. . how old IS he. . . ?"

"Well, if he's three years older than you, he'd be seventeen!"

"Oh, hai. Duh."

"Hai. Duh." I laughed.

"But you see, he's got magic powers like me. Wake up, aniue!" [Aniue- Older brother]

"Mmf, what?" Haru yawned sleepily.

"Show her what you really look like!" Nezumi urged excitedly.

"Yosh. Now get a good look at me, Sango." [Yoshi/Yosh-Okay/All right]

"Yosh." My eyes scanned over his robes, still dark blue. Same eye color, brown. Same ebony-colored hair.

With a swish, he reached into his pocket, pulling out a wooden wand, and pointed it at himself. A purplish flash surrounded him, and it then evaporated into the air. Now before my eyes, stood a sandy-blonde haired boy, still of the age seventeen, who wore green robes identical to Nezumi's, and now had baby-blue eyes.

"If this is what you truly look like," I asked, "why do you disguise yourself?"

"So my village people could not recognize me. I assume they think I am a wanted man. So I disguise myself."

"Sango, don't you think we look alike! We're not twins, but we are so much alike!" Nezumi chirped.

The younger girl stood next to Haru. She was shoulder's length to him, her auburn hair was a shade darker than his, and the only thing different was their eyes. But I now realized, they both have freckles! Not noticeable, but they are there. Nezumi waltzed over to me. She was tall for her age, because I have to look up at her! I'm older, and I'm shorter? That sucks.

I laughed,

"That is so not fair! I'm older than you, Nezumi, and yet you tower over me! So not fair!"

"Ha ha!" she laughed back.

In the doorway, I could see Kagome standing there with InuYasha. She was grinning from ear to ear.

"Have a nice time together, you two?" She grinned more.

I gasped as pink tinged my cheeks. I felt so hot as my anger over- swept me.

"Kagome! I—you—how. . .you set it up!" I cried, walking into the corner where Miroku sat, listening to the conversation coolly. As soon as he saw me walk over to him, he gathered me in his lap. I rested my head against him. How I adored that earthy smell that hung on him. It really goes with him. But that earthy tone, I guess, just turns me on! I would never tell anyone that, though. Kagome glanced at us, and smiled as InuYasha slung his arm over her shoulder.

"Told you my plan would work. . ." she whispered in his ear.

I heard Kagome whispering, but ignored her. I was too busy occupying Miroku's lap to even notice. He loves me. And I love him. What more could I want? Everything is just so perfect. Nothing in the world could be better than this. I want this moment to last forever. . .for an eternity. . .I feel as if a whole eternity is just going by us, as I snuggle deeper into my itoshii's lap.

'Someday,' I began to think, 'we'll be able to beat Naraku, side-by-side, we'll defeat him. That day will come very soon. I know it will. Then Miroku's curse will be gone, and I'll be free to live with him, happy to be with him, and happy to know I had avenged my father and ototo. How I can't wait for that day to come. Only can I train myself harder, so I can be more than a match to fight him. Once and for all. I will prove to myself to Naraku and to everyone else, that I am strong enough to beat him. I hope that day comes soon. And I'll be ready. Ready to make that baka go to where he belongs, once and for all—Hell. And I'll be ready. . .I'm ready for you, Naraku.' [Baka-Idiot]

Okay, so how do you like this chapter? Should I end it here, or make a few more chapters, and include the fight with Naraku? I think I like the second idea better, ne? Well, make sure to please review this chapter! I love it so much! Hope I made plenty of SM fluff! Okey-dokey. Now press that little button down there. C'mon. You know you want to. . .

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