Chapter 2

Kagome was more than a little concerned with her friend. Sango was tripping over everything, and nearly running into every tree they passed. If Sango would look where she was going then maybe Kagome wouldn't have to steer her away from all the unfortunate objects in her path. Kagome didn't know what Sango found so fascinating that she continued to look behind her. All Kagome saw was Inu Yasha and Miroku, and they were doing nothing out extraordinary to invoke that silly smile on Sango's face.

Kagome hurried Sango along, wanting to get Sango back to the campfire so that she examine her friends curious behavior. When they arrived Inu Yasha and Miroku sat by the tree discussing the peculiar words of the snake youkai. Kagome, Shippo, and Kirara sat close to Sango, all of them keeping a close watch on her. Sango was staring at the two figures with their heads close together in deep and serious conversation.

"Sango! Sango!"

Sango turned her head sluggishly, like waking up from a dream, toward Kagome.

"Yes Kagome?"

"I've been calling you for a while, I just wanted to know if you're all right?"

"Oh yes I feel fine, better than I've ever felt. I'm a little hot but even that feels nice." She laughed a little her hand going up to loosen the neckline of her kimono. The same hand traveled up further to pull the tie from her hair, letting the luxurious black strands flow down her back for the first time in a long time. This alone shocked Kagome, before she could question her about it though Inu Yasha burst into speech.

"I'm still hungry, Kagome you got any more of them ramons?"

Kagome started to answer, but before she could Sango rose, "I still have some of my ramon left." she scooped up her ramon and began walking slowly almost seductively toward him and Miroku, her hips swaying with every step. When she was less than an inch away from where Inu Yasha sat she kneeled and leaned closer, her now loosen kimono showing only enough flesh to hint and tease her hair falling enticingly over her shoulders and into his lap. She held her chopsticks to the mouth of the astonished hanyou who ate only by reflex. As he did so she turned to Miroku whose expression was just as astonished.

"Would you like some too Miroku-Kun?"

Even as she asked this question her gaze was drawn to the twitching appendages atop the hanyou's head, she reached out without giving her actions any thought and softly traced the outline of his ear.

'Hmm, they felt good, fuzzy but not in a bad way.'

Miroku's expression turned grim and Kagome's face turned red.

Kagome was livid, what did Sango think she was doing? Those were her ears.

"Sango what are you doing." Miroku choked out with less than his usual composure.

"Inu Yasha is hungry, I'm feeding him."

"Well . . . Stop it!"

"Yeah, what he said!" Kagome was standing right behind her, feeling betrayed her hands clenched and her back straight.

Sango looked teasingly over at Miroku.

"Are you hungry too Miroku, should I feed you with food or is there something else you desire?"

Miroku spluttered, completely fluster and unbelieving of what he was hearing.

Inu Yasha was still sitting there, looking completely lost and in need of rescuing.

"Sango can I speak to you for a minute?" Kagome's voice was strained with barely controlled jealousy.

"Sure Kagome," Sango didn't look away from Miroku and her hand traveled toward the hanyou's mouth, her aim was amazing.

"Now, please." Kagome was loosing whatever control she had.

Sango looked up at her friend.

"Sure Kagome." She picked up Inu Yasha's hand and placed the cup of noodles lightly in his palm.

Leaning forward, consciously providing Inu Yasha a perfect view of her cleavage, she place both hands on his shoulders and pushed herself up into a standing position. Both Kagome and Miroku gasped at her daring.

Sango followed Kagome back into the woods. Both of them making sure they didn't go too far this time.

"How could you Sango?" Kagome burst out.

"How could I what Kagome?" Sango was confused.

"You know what I am talking about, how could you make a pass at Inu Yasha?"

"Make a pass?"

"Yeah, hit on him, flirt with him. Or are you going to tell me you weren't?"

"But Kagome, I've heard you say that you are not his woman and he is not your man, has this changed?"

"But Sango you know how I feel about Inu Yasha, so why are you acting this way?"

"I'm sorry Kagome, I didn't realize . . . Is Miroku free?"

Kagome's eyes narrowed. "Sango what is wrong with you, don't you remember anything about us, your friends."

"Of course you are my friend and so is Shippo and Kirara."

"And so is Inu Yasha and Miroku."

"Miroku and I, we are only friends?"

"Yes, although, I have expected for some time that you have stronger feelings for him and he has stronger feelings for you."

"So he isn't taken."

"Something's wrong, I know it now. You say you feel real good and real hot, right Sango?"

"Yes."

"Do you remember when you began to feel this way?"

"No not really.What difference does that make. I feel carefree as if a burden has been lifted from my shoulders. It feels wonderful."

"Sango I know it feels wonderful but you have to help me out here. Did you feel this way when we fought the snake youkai earlier today?"

"No."

"Ok, good you can remember that then?"

"Yes."

"I'm pretty sure you weren't like this when we were taking a bath, but you were like this when we got back to camp. That would mean that it happened after I left, when you were attacked by the snake youkai. You could be under some kind of spell, but that doesn't make sense. Why would she put you under this particular spell, I thought she wanted the jewel shards. What did she tell you in the forest?"

"I can't remember anything about the encounter."

"Damn, we have to figure this out, immediately. If this has anything to do with the youkai's words, and I have feeling that it does, that means this could get permanent. The problem is we don't know what this is."

*****************************

"You can stop glaring at me monk, I'm not going to apologize I did nothing wrong!" Inu Yasha yelled for the umpteenth time. Miroku had been glaring daggers at him since Kagome and Sango had taken off into the forest. It was starting to annoy Inu Yasha.

"You did nothing to prevent the situation." Miroku's composed matter of fact tone belied the anger in his dark eyes.

"How was I to know that she was gonna start feeding me?"

Miroku gritted his teeth. "I think what we should ask ourselves is why Sango was feeding you."

"I should think that was pretty obvious. I'm irresistible, I've always known it. And this just proves it, and it also proves the fact that Sago has feelings for me. Of course I knew this all along . . ."

Miroku closed his eyes to regain control and stop himself from striking the arrogant hanyou with his staff.

Inu Yasha was enjoying the fact that he had something with which to pick on the monk. Too many times had he been the brunt of the monk's jokes, usually it was about Kagome. He also hadn't forgotten about the way they met. How the monk had tried to take Kagome from him, he wasn't one to hold a grudge, but revenge was sweet.

"It is reasonable to believe, that Sango was not just attracted to you, but to me as well."

"How do ya figure that, monk?"

"She also offered to feed me, Inu Yasha, and not just with food."

"It would have been impolite of her not to."

"You are being deliberately obtuse!"

"And you are reading way too much in between the lines." 'So I hit a sore spot huh, Miroku?' Inu Yasha thought grinning inwardly.

"There is obviously something wrong with Sango."

"Why 'cause she desires me?"

"She . . . does not . . . desire . . . you!"

"Sure whatever gets you to sleep at night."

Miroku had, had it. The hanyou had gone too far. It still bothered him that the hanyou could be right he couldn't get the image of Sango with her hair falling into another man's lap and the way she had caressed Inu Yasha's ear out of his head. He wasn't a jealous man, but it rankled that she had chosen Inu Yasha over him.

"Inu Yasha-"

"Inu Yasha, I need to speak with you."

Miroku and Inu Yasha turned to see that Kagome and Sango had returned. Miroku was still shocked at how beautiful Sango looked with her hair down.

"Yeah sure." Inu Yasha walked over to the girls.

"Miroku . . . Shippo can you watch Sango please?" Kagome changed her mind whispering this so Sango couldn't hear.

"Sure Kagome." The little Kitsune puffed out his chest at this responsibility.

He looked suspiciously at Miroku who was looking suspiciously at Sango. Who was preparing her bedding for the night, paying him no attention. This angered Miroku, so she was just being polite and it was the hanyou she preferred, well it was her loss.

He stomped over to the fire.

"Miroku?"

He turned to find Sango lying down the covers drawn to her small chin.

"Yes?" He spoke curtly, not ready to forgive her betrayal, no matter what she had to say for herself.

"I'm cold."

He looked at her incredulously. That was all she had to say? he watched as she lifted the covers invitingly. Miroku just stared, hadn't she, just a minute ago been trying to seduce Inu Yasha? What was wrong with her? And most importantly, why was he hesitating?

He walked over to her and sat down. He removed his sandals and placed his staff within arms reach. The he slid under her covers and settled down close to her. He glanced over at Shippo, the little Kittsune had fallen asleep almost as soon as Kagome and Inu Yasha had left. Miroku's back was facing Sango and he was trying to figure out what his approach was going to be, when he noticed that his breath wasn't the only one that was slightly irregular and that Sango had one hand beside her while the other was . . . making it's way to his front and . . . she wasn't going to . . . she was!

*****************************

"Master, I have brought good news."

"What news do you bring?"

"I have found the perfect courtesan, she is young and supple, full figured, and beautiful. She is also a youkai exterminator from the hated village. Many of our more perverted and cruel customers will enjoy that aspect."

"Where is this new courtesan, why have you not brought her to me for inspection?"

"I have not caught her yet master."

"Then your news means nothing to me, find her and bring her to me. I see you have lost your jewel shards, that was very careless of you. Try not to be so careless again."

"Yes master."

Sorry it's shorter than the last chapter, and kinda abrupt. I was trying to get this posted before I go away for Thanksgiving. I won't have the ability of getting on the internet where I'm going. Thanks to all of you who reviewed and I hope you like this chapter.