Disclaimer: see last chap 5

AN: I'm going on vacation tomorrow, so there won't be any updates for 3 weeks 'cause i won't be able to have access to computers. I'll be back on Aug 10, so be patient!

VIII. Comforting Words

"Sango!" Miroku called out. He didn't know how he was going to find the girl in this huge place. She could be anywhere. He wished that Inuyasha came with him because he could smell her.

"I can find her for you," Hachi said. He was a demon, and had a better sense of smell. "But I can't locate her exact position though."

"That's okay. Thanks Hachi!" he was grateful to have a way of finding her.

Miroku saw a figure moving through the trees and froze. He squinted and realized it was Sango. He quickly directed Hachi towards her.

"Sango!" he shouted to get her attention as he got off Hachi.

The girl turned around and saw him. She tensed, then bolted.

"Wait!" Miroku yelled and went after her. She was a swift runner from her training as taijiya, and Miroku found it difficult to keep up through the branches. He almost fell a couple of times, but was determined to catch her.

"Sango, please, wait!" he huffed and stopped to catch his breath.

But Sango didn't listen, she ran out of sight.

Miroku wondered why she ran away from him. He called on Hachi once again and scanned the canopy from above for her. He spotted her not far from where she was and, this time, got off quietly and snuck up on her.

She heard him when he almost got to her and made a move to run. But Miroku was ready and caught her arm, making her stay.

"Sango, stop! I just want to talk to you!" Miroku hang on tight to her arm while she struggled against his iron grip.

"Calm down!" he swung around to face her and clamped his hands on her shoulders.

"Sango, listen, why did you run away?"

Instead of answering, she dropped to her knees and wept. Miroku stood there watching her, then knelt down next to her. He put a hand on her shaking shoulder gently and peered closer.

"Sango, what's wrong?" he asked softly in a concerned voice.

She continued to cry.

Miroku wrapped his arm around her shoulders. He let her lean against him and cry into his shoulder.

"What is it? You can tell me."

Sango's tears stopped after a while and she started to hiccup.

"I…hic…I wanted him back…hic…so badly…that I told him I'd do…hic…anything. I, I can't…stay…"

"Why not?"

Sango took a deep breath to still her breathing and continued.

"Because I'll try to…I'll…" Sango couldn't continue, and she couldn't meet Miroku's gaze.

Miroku understood what she couldn't say, so he didn't ask her to explain. There was one thing he wanted to know however: why did Sango attempt to kill him.

"What made you, um, do it?" he asked softly. Sango didn't answer right away.

"I won't be angry, I promise. I just want to know. Besides, I think it would be easier for you to get it all out."

Sango took a deep breath again. "It's Kohaku. I wanted to free him from Naraku's grip that I," Sango paused, debating on whether or not to tell him. He'd probably tell her what she already knows: what she did was stupid.

"I made a deal with Naraku," she held up a hand to prevent Miroku from telling her off. "I know it's stupid, but I was so driven by my desire to have my brother back that I wasn't thinking straight. Anyway, I told him that I'd give my life for Kohaku's – "

"Sango!" Miroku couldn't help yelping in alarm. Then, seeing Sango's annoyed look, he beckoned her to continue."

"Naraku didn't want my life, so he told me that if I…that is, I can have my brother back if," Sango looked away, her cheeks flaming. "If I kill you."

Miroku didn't say anything. That would explain the absence of any evil auras. She was doing it out of her own free will, but she was driven by Naraku's promise. He wasn't mad at her, for he knew that Sango's will was quite strong, especially when it comes to Kohaku, and she could sometimes be blinded by it.

"I'm sorry Houshi-sama. I don't know why I even listened to him. I was so stupid. The worst part is that I didn't even pause to think that Naraku might be lying." Sango pounded at the ground remembering her stupidity.

Miroku smiled. "I'm not mad at you Sango, everyone makes mistakes. I'm mad at Naraku for making you choose."

"There's one thing I don't get though, why does Naraku want me to kill you?" Sango asked.

"It's not that he wants you to take my life. It's just that Naraku likes to play with people's feeling," Miroku explained.

"I don't know why I didn't think about this before. I guess I was too caught up." Sango balled her hands into a fist. "That Naraku, I want to kill him! How dare he play with our feelings!"

"We all want to kill him," he calmed her down by stroking her back. "But that's still no excuse for this stupid stunt," he gently scolded.

Sango sighed. "I know, I just want Kohaku back, he's just a little boy," she said in a weary voice. "I'm afraid for him."

"It's okay to be afraid. We'll try our best to make everything all right again. We'll get Kohaku back. I will personally make sure of it." Miroku gently brushed his lips on the apple of her cheek.

Sango blushed a deep shade of red and felt her face burning. "Thanks," she answered shakily.

"Promise me something Sango," he drew her closer.

"What?" she was still shaking, but allowed him to draw her closer. They were so close that she could feel his warm breath on her face.

"You won't attempt any more stupid stunts like this again? Especially exchanging your life for Kohaku's?"

"Don't worry Houshi-sama, I've learned my lesson."

"Then will you stay with us?"

"Yes, I'll stay," she sighed and leaned against him. Especially if it means I can be with you.

gasp long chapter, no evil cliffy? what's wrong with me! yeah yeah, it's sappy, and cliche, but oh well. don't worry, there's more when i get back from my vacay.

thank you for all the reviews and votes!

weird pairings:
Naraku/Kagome's mom - 6 (this'll make an interesting story)
Sango/IY - 5
Kanna/Kouga - 4
Naraku/Kirara - 4
Miroku/Kagome - 2
Kagome/Shippo - 2
Sango/Sesshy - 2
Rin/Naraku - 2
Kanna/Shippo - 1
Shippo/Kirara - 1
Miroku/Kagura - 1
Sango/Naraku - 1
Kaede/Naraku - 1
Hiten/Sango - 1
Shippo/Kikyou - 1 (kinda scary, but that's okay)
Naraku/Kagome - 1