I don't own either Sango or Miroku (but I want to own him so very badly) or any other recognizable character you read about in here. Rumiko Takahashi does...

When Tomorrow Starts Without You

By: ShenYue

E-mail: Preventer_02@hotmail.com

"Hold me now,

I'm six feet from the edge and I'm thinkin'...

Maybe six feet,

Ain't so far down..."

I don't own this song either, come to think of it, but I like the lyrics. Sorry, I don't know the name... -_-; I thought it kinda fit, maybe not...

Chapter two: The Wind Calls His Name

Dawn was just breaking above the trees sending it's beautiful golden hues cascading over the hills to spill into the shadowed valleys and cover the fields in a rich bronze. But Sango did not notice as silently she stared at the peaceful houshi that she now cradled in her arms as she had done all night. Had that night really happened? Miroku shifted closer to her in his sleep, the heat of his body soaking through her yukata, and she resisted the well-tuned reflex, the one that commanded her to smack him upside the head that is, and merely brushed his bangs back, frowning as she noticed that he felt a little too warm. The ink-black strands had fallen over his eyes more then once and the taiji-ya found it a particular annoyance.

"Why can't you be more like this during the day?" Wondering softly she allowed her fingers time to caress his cheek, one that not hours before had been stained with the silvery, moonlit trails of tears. "I had no idea...how much you suffered from day to day...the curse lays heavy on your heart and still you stay with us..." she whispered, resting her slender fingers along the smooth edge of his jaw, smiling as he shifted again nuzzling her fingers like a kitten. Allowing herself a small giggle she scratched his head as she would Kirara and wondered for a brief moment if his leg would begin to kick like the firecat's when she hit a particularly delicate spot. Like behind the ears maybe? But before she had a chance to try Miroku's violet eyes shot open and he sat bolt upright grabbing his shakujou and pulling away all in one dexterous movement.

"Sango! I'm sorry! I didn't mean to-" quickly she cut him off by putting a finger to his lips. Confused he sat there as she ruffled his hair like she would a dog's ears.

"No need to apologize, houshi-sama, you behaved quite well." Leaning closer, in boldness that surprised even herself, she placed a chaste kiss on his forehead and rocked back looking straight into his eyes. "Thank you for sharing your troubles with me, I am deeply honored." Again she sat beside him smiling shyly at the blush that was creeping along the nape of his neck. Gently the wind blew through the leaves and moved his hair over his eyes again and she again moved it away with a fingertip leaving him more surprised. Sango's smile broadened; he was cute when he was confused.

"Sango? About last night...I..." he trailed off, not sure of where to begin. "I would appreciate if you...uh..."

"Wouldn't tell Kagome-chan and the others? I understand." Slowly the priest nodded and placed a rough hand over her own, gripping it tightly. Together they sat and watched the sun crest an opposite hill and together they left, walking back to the village in peaceful silence.

"Oh dear..." the fact that Sango and Miroku were missing did not go unnoticed by Kagome as she sat up and ran her fingers through her tangled black tresses. Suddenly deprived of the warmth of the sleeping bag Shippo curled his bushy tail about his legs and scooted closer to the reincarnated miko's knees. Yellow sunlight filtered in through the windows revealing the small motes of dust kicked up by horses going to the plow that trailed in the air and landed on Inuyasha's sensitive nose. Grinning as it twitched and watching as he turned away from the offending tickle with tetsusaiga gripped firmly in his arms, Kagome laughed as he rolled over too far and tipped over, waking with a startled expression on his face. Leisurely the hanyou rubbed his eyes with a fist and sat back up while peering around the small room.

"Where's Miroku?" Another look around. "And Sango?" Stretching with a loud yawn Inuyasha scratched the back of his head with a claw. "He tried something again didn't he?"

"I don't think so." Shippo twitched again kicking out with a foot paw catching Kirara in the side and making the tiny youkai yelp and jump into the air landing awake and ready on all four feet. "Neither of them came back last night, do you think something happened?" Frightened now that her friends could be dying somewhere she threw a hand up to her mouth. "Inuyasha?"

"Nah...I can hear them from here..." yawning again he swiveled one soft, white ear in the direction of the hanging mat. "He just got smacked;" he listened closer, "with Sango's fist." Soon their voices drifted closer and Kagome could hear them as well.

"But Sango, honestly, it has a mind of it's own!" Miroku was protesting, probably defending himself from another whack.

"Mind of it's own my butt..." she heard Sango sigh.

"Exactly." The lecher responded and Kagome could almost see his sly grin and half-slit eyes.

"Don't do it houshi-sama!"

"Do what?" It was innocent enough but everybody, save the sleeping Shippo, knew what was going to happen. *Pat, twitch, slap! * And with that they both entered the hut, Miroku sporting a rather large palm-print on the side of his face.

"I'll mind you!" The taiji-ya finished, holding up her fist, and Miroku backed away both hands held out protectively.

"Truce, truce. I promise on my honor as a houshi-"

"Yeah right," Inuyasha began, "he's more youkai then he is honorable." The priest merely raised an eyebrow, cleared his throat and continued.

"-That I will not touch you again-" A collective sigh escaped everyone's lips thinking they might have a fairly easy day. But no, that would not be the case. "-Until after breakfast!" With his mighty promise completed Miroku unwrapped some onigiri passed it around and sighed as the smell of the cooked rice wakened his hunger and Shippo. The little kitsune child was already halfway through one when he stopped and said with a rather full mouth:

"Ishidashimashu!" The rest laughed lightly, seconding his mushy wording, and bit into their breakfast, savoring every bite.

The day passed uneventfully, no disturbances, attacks or even arguments, of which Kagome was thoroughly thankful, but the silence was unnerving. Every one walked in silence, even the usually talkative Shippo, and it set her teeth on edge. Miroku and Sango walked at separate ends of the traveling companions and not a single lecherous pass had been made by the glib-talking priest, he merely strode along in humble silence staring at the ground and trusting his shakujou to warn him of anything in his path.

Inside Kagome wondered what had happened the night before, when the pair had not returned, but she didn't dare voice it out loud for fear of embarrassing herself or Sango. Instead she followed Miroku's example and marched in wondering silence.

Night was quickly falling and no town was within reasonable walking distance, they would be camping out tonight. Once again Miroku took his leave and wandered silently away to place wards around their small perimeter, successfully keeping meandering youkai away. He would return, he sighed slowly at the skeptical looks from his comrades, in an hour or so, after he bathed. Leaving his staff as proof he asked Inuyasha if he could smell any demons and the hanyou sniffed the air incredulously as if it were below him to do such a thing. Typical behavior.

This time Sango stayed. Averting her gaze from the priest as he left she ran her fingers up and down the smooth staff, letting her fingers glide over the delicate carvings and around the thin metal rings, eliciting a slight, cheery jangle. Completely opposite of what she was feeling.

"Sango-chan? Daijoubu-ka?" [Are you okay?]Allowing herself a small grin at the younger girl's care in her Sango sighed deeply and let the fragrant smell of wood ash fill her senses.

"Daijoubu...demo...tsukare ta..." [I'm fine...but...I'm tired...] the orange firelight flickered over the sleeping forms of Kirara and Shippo. Shippo...the little kitsune had been awfully quiet lately. Vaguely she wondered if he was okay. "Kagome-chan..."

"Hai?" [Yes] Innocent, big eyes, bright from the embers stared over at Sango from across the flames, glancing once and a while at the bulky shape of Inuyasha who was still staring in the direction Miroku had gone, sniffing the air for reassurance. Now her attention was focused totally on Sango, guessing immediately her thoughts.

"Nandemonai..." [Never mind] Silence reigned for minutes, each one passing as slowly as the night.

"Sango-chan?" Kagome's arms curled around her knees and a light blush forming across her cheeks. This situation was not hers to ask about and yet she couldn't resist it. "Yoi dekita?" [Are you ready?] Another moment of silence and Sango scratched the soft fur of Kirara's chest.

"Madu..." [Not yet] Kagome grew frustrated.

"Wakaranai! Naze?" [I don't understand! Why?] Sango smiled.

"Dekinai...mo wakannai...Tabun-ne...itsu-ka..." [I can't do it...I'm so confused...maybe...someday...] her hand graced the cold metal again missing the warmth of houshi-sama's face under her fingertips. Again she turned to look at Kagome, noticing that it was not really the firelight that made her eyes glow, and laughed lightly. "Kangae- toku-yo, Kagome-chan." [I'll think about it, Kagome-chan]

{Okay, back to English! Sorry, I couldn't resist...I hope I translated everything right...but, I won't do it again! I promise!}

"Inuyasha? What is it?" Sinuous, white ears twisted in the Miroku's direction and the hanyou's nose twitched, endearing if it wasn't such a grievous action, one that marked danger.

"I don't know..." he turned his head back and forth, sniffing all the while, as if trying to catch the scent again. "The wind's shifted..." brow creased with worry he stood up, gripping tetsusaiga firmly by the hilt golden eyes searching the darkness for signs of movement, shifting from foot to foot in anxious anticipation. "I'm gonna go check on Miroku." But before he could move Sango had stood and walked to the edge of the clearing.

"I will go." A sleepy Kirara leapt to her shoulder. "It would serve him right, ne?"

Sighing Miroku slipped beneath the cool water of the river, closing his eyes as the rushing water eased away his aches. He had been feeling ill for a while and had waited for days to find a moving body of water in which to wade in finding the movement always made him feel better. Trusting his wards would protect him he leaned his head back onto the grassy bank and stared through the canopy into the beautifully lit sky.

"I must thank Sango again later..." he breathed, the moonlight reminding him of the night before. Wishing she were here with him, lecherous thoughts taking over for a moment, Miroku sunk deeper into the stream, up to his chin now. Nimble fingers undid the tie that held back his black hair and let it cascade to his shoulders, spilling like ink onto the shimmering, moonlit water. He held his breath and dunked himself, remembering that he had forgotten the soap.

Kagome had given them all, except Inuyasha as the scents drove him away, bathing supplies, namely the viscous liquid she called "shampoo" that Sango had become quite fond of. He remembered her smell, it had surrounded him the night before and it had comforted him, a feeling he did not know all too well. It was a particular scent, one he could never quite place and forgot what Kagome had called it, but it was nice and always made him feel...safe.

Deciding it didn't matter he stayed under the water until his lungs burned and drove himself upwards with a kick against the rocky bottom. By now it was getting near the time of his departure so he quickly crawled out of the river, noting that he had drifted some, and dried off with a fluffy (not to be confused with Sesshomaru) towel, also from Kagome. After slipping on his black kimono he tied the kesa firmly around his chest and automatically reached for his shakujou, feeling a pang of apprehension at the absence, regretting that he had left it back at camp. He swept his hair back into the band and ran his fingers through his dripping bangs, feeling a slight headache forming right behind his eyes.

"Oh well..." Miroku groaned, rubbing his temples, "at least the rest of me doesn't ache anymore..." he stretched, yawning loudly and looking forward to seeing Sango again, when a rustle in the underbrush startled him. Wondering how something had slipped through his carefully placed wards without him noticing the houshi quickly turned around with an o-fuda scroll gripped in his fingers.

"Fuujin no Mai!" He had no chance.

Oh the suspense! Ugh, it's killing me too! Namely 'cause I don't know what I'm gonna do next! Ahhhhh! Poor Miroku-sama! I love him to death! ...literally...

Please e-mail me if you like it so I know to continue!