ONE Fantasy
The night seemed like an eternity for someone who can't seem to see a glimpse of dreams. Miroku sat outside the porch, with his head resting on one of the wooden posts supporting the roofing. His shakujou laid next to him, following the incline of his body. He looked overhead upon the skies, wondering how seemingly fast the heavens are filled once more with glitter right after the blanket of rain has been taken off.
It was a fine summer's night, but somehow Miroku couldn't stop shivering. He had wished he hadn't gone outside a while ago. Now he had to contemplate being cold and wet at the same time.
"I wonder if we'll find another shard tomorrow." he pondered quietly as he looked among the stars beset in a clean black canvass. It has been three days after all since they last found a trace leading to a Shikon shard, but it turned out to be a false alarm. He could still hear Inuyasha cursing and grumbling all the way back to the village, and the numerous thuds caused by the hanyou's falls to the ground. Kagome had been giving it to him lately.
Miroku let out a small laugh then glanced at the two, both enjoying their stay at dreamland. Inuyasha was sleeping sitting upright against the wall while Kagome rested in the comfort of a sleeping bag, at least that's what Miroku remembers her telling everyone about the strange contraption.
"Those two are really something", he thought as he smiled at the sight of the pair.
Who wouldn't think of the same about Inuyasha and Kagome? The way they get near each other as they walk together and then suddenly sparks come flying in the air is truly the strangest scene you'll ever see from a not-so romantic couple. It also happens to be their sweetest moment too. It's not like its sweet to yell at your loved one, but the way those two fight, it's as if they never really mean it. Sometimes though the intensity building up between them seems so huge that the rest of the gang don't know if they're fighting for real or just some petty lover's quarrel.
Lovers. Miroku smiled even more at the thought of the word.
"They make a rather shaky but fine pair", he concluded in his mind.
Pair. This word struck him as soon as he looked at the girl sleeping peacefully beside Kagome. Her hair flowed freely on the futon like a black river. She was curled like a kid facing to the left, covered in her silk-thin yukata. Surely, she deserved that childlike sleep. After all, she's been fending off multitudes of demons the past three days. And to no avail. It was a disappointment to all of them to fight their way through the forests, demons and fatigue only to find zilch. No shard whatsoever. At least she could have some much needed rest.
But they made a great pair, he had to admit. At least in fighting hordes of demons. Of course there was Inuyasha who can annihilate a number of Naraku's minions in one swish of his Tetsusaiga, and Kagome with her arrows, but they never seem to have the coordination and grace that Miroku and Sango had. They work in harmony, Hiraikotsu cutting through enemies like a lawnmower does to grass and the kazaana swallowing what the colossal boomerang didn't manage to hack away. Sometimes it was the other way around but nevertheless it had the same effect. Another victory for the gang and loss to Naraku. With plus points for being graceful and stylish, thanks to the demon slayer and the monk.
Miroku smiled as memories of him and Sango fighting together filled up his lonely (and lecherous) head. He won't tell anyone but he had always liked the fact that they were fighting together. Before he met Inuyasha and the others, he had always fought alone. He had been able to hone and improve his skills because of this, but deep inside it somehow hurt him that he was fighting alone against the rest of the world.
The day he met Sango was the day he was released from this loneliness (and also the day he touched the butt of a woman for the 347th time). Somehow, fighting alongside with her made him even stronger and a bit more lecherous, considering the fact that he was fighting with a woman.
Nevertheless he was stronger, not only because he had someone to fight alongside with, but also he had someone to protect.
He stood from the porch, leaving behind his staff so as not to make any noise as he walked towards the slayer's futon. He sat very close to the taijiya and gazed upon her serene face.
"I didn't know that taijiyas could be like this" he said to himself.
Before, he thought demon slayers slept like soldiers, straight and always alert. Not this taijiya though. She was sleeping like she didn't care if another demon would come up and stalk upon her. And her face. Who would've thought a taijiya could be as beautiful as her when she sleeps? Not that she wasn't pretty when she's awake, it's just that Miroku can better see her beauty in this light, when she's sleeping. If he tried gazing at her for a long time while they're walking, he knew he'd have another red mark in his cheek.
Completely mesmerized by her face, Miroku stretched his hand over towards Sango's face and brushed away a strand of hair that was blocking his majestic view that was the taijiya's face. The sight was truly breathtaking, at least for the monk who was looking at her with such intensity but with modest subtlety. He continued to fumble about his hands on her face, slowly gliding his fingers, tracing the contours of her delicate face. After all, this was the only time he could do such "lechery" or whatever Sango tries to call it.
He then thought about the "pair" word again. Surely they made a good pair when it comes to fighting, surely they can be also a good pair in other ways. Like...like...cooking? Sango never learned how to cook something that doesn't look scorched by a dragon, and Miroku spent his entire life in practicing the art of duping people using his monk image and telling them that there's a demon in their house and he'll exorcise it for something in return, save for some food and shelter. Cooking was never and will never be their middle name. How about...dancing? Sure they both have grace...in the fighting department. But dancing? A demon slayer and a lecherous monk dancing? Knowing Miroku having his "possessed" hand, Sango wouldn't even let him touch her anywhere, even if it's just, after all, an innocent waltz. Better cross out that idea.
Miroku tried some more to think in what things he and Sango could be a perfect pair. He was running out of ideas. Singing...acting...all sorts of ridiculous ideas popped into his head. He couldn't seem to grasp one feasible, non-absurd activity that both of them could engage in and be good at it together. Nevertheless, his long reflection on the topic at hand gave him an excuse to savor Sango's face longer. He continued caressing her face which he found surprisingly smooth and silky, very much opposite to what he had thought of the battle hardened demon slayers.
Maybe he was too fascinated and busy just looking and fondling her face that he almost didn't notice her stir a bit. Miroku froze like an icicle glued to the floor.
"Did she finally notice that I was playing with her face?" he murmured under his breath.
Perspiration suddenly covered his horror-stricken face. After all, more than any other creature or demon he has faced, it was Sango he feared the most. He would rather face Naraku anytime than face Sango when she finds out that he's taking advantage of her while she's sleeping. He shivered at the thought of the hiraikotsu banging his poor head. He can't afford another angry Sango shouting "pervert" at him again. He was in his best attitude the past three days, and he wasn't about to break Sango's newfound trust in him by touching her face while she sleeps.
He slowly began to retract his now shaking hand, careful not to let the huntress notice about his intrusion. Gradually, he pulled out first his right hand, shuddering at the thought of it swallowing her as she sleeps. When his right hand was in safe distance, he now turned his attention to his left one, which had just finished gliding past her hair. He was about to pull it out when Sango stirred again, letting out a mumble which he didn't understand. He froze, his left hand still on the verge of being pulled out.
"Shoot! Just sleep some more." he whispered to himself.
When he sensed that she was settled again in her sleep, he began to evacuate his hand from the premises of her face. Luck never seemed to be on his side, as she began moving again, this time both her hands performed an unusual dance in the air. Miroku was careful not to touch them, lest he wants her to wake up and therefore ending his miserable life in the process.
Like a skillful snake, his hand weaved past her compassing arms with no contact. He let out a sigh as he withdrew his left hand without waking Sango up. At least he gets to live another day, he thought.
In a maneuver that caught him surprised and unprepared, Sango's hands suddenly grasped his left hand and pulled him onto her, with only inches separating them. Miroku managed to stop himself from completely falling on top of her by using his legs to anchor himself on the floor and his free right hand to prop himself up ala doggy style. Her hand tightened her grip on his as she pulled him even closer until their noses almost touched. It was the first time that he got this close to her. He was still frozen, taken aback by the surprise that had befallen upon him. He gazed at her, and yes, she was still sound asleep.
Then, as if she was awake and aware that Miroku was there on top of her, Sango suddenly mumbled his name. His eyes widened in surprise. Had she just called him by his name? And in such a way that she was trying to seduce him. And then her grip tightened even more on his hand.
"Must be dreaming...of me..." he muttered as he let out a smile and a blush.
How lucky could a man ever get? He gets to touch a beautiful girl's face while she's sleeping then for some unknown reason he gets pulled on top of her while she's basking in her dreams...about him.
But then the dark horizon began showing signs of a new day's arrival. Subtle threads of light began cutting through the black canopy. Soon, everyone's going to wake up. Soon, she was going to wake up, he thought. And then he's done for. Even so, his manly instincts took the best of him and though he had the freewill to let go of Sango's hand and walk away from her like nothing happened, he chose to remain there, basking in the glory of being able to see her face so close to his.
Pair. The word reemerged from the depths of his mind. Lovers. This one also struck him once more. His heart began to beat faster as more sweat came from his temple. This was totally out of hand. Why was he thinking of that? Pictures of them together swirled around in a sea of thoughts in his confused mind.
"Me...and...Sango?" he thought as he gave another bashful blush.
It was another fantasy that hid deep in the abyss of his lonely soul. The one fantasy he had been hiding for a long time. It was only now that it has been brought up to the surface once again. Sure, the prospect may be uncertain, but this was one fantasy he longed to be a reality. The only problem is, he wouldn't admit it. In himself he denied it. He shunned himself for having such a fantasy, a farfetched desire that could only come true in his dreams.
His current predicament however was far from fantasy. He would've slapped himself many times and still realize that he is on top of Sango. Only the thin layer of air and his conscience lie between him and her lips. In his fantasies he would've kissed her already. But then he was dealing with reality, and the prospect of being boomeranged once she wakes up. Then again it was only him propped atop her, the reason why he was in that uneasy position in the first place. Fantasies can become realities, after all.
The sun was slowly but surely creeping up the sky. A light pink hue intermingled with the vanishing traces of black and grey. Another day was inevitably near.
Darkness didn't cloak them anymore. Miroku could see Sango's face so much clearer now. She was even more elegant than he would've thought. This made him want to kiss her even more. Soon, morning would beset them, and she would wake up. God knows what she's going to do with him when she finds out that she was sleeping with a concupiscent monk on top of her.
He didn't care. For now, it was just him and his fantasy. The world couldn't care less. The chance is there for the taking, and he wasn't about to let it go. Slowly, he closed his eyes and bent over towards her face, the sleeping princess waiting unknowingly for his prince charming to wake her up from her deep slumber...