OMG! People, we have hit 100!! I'm in shock! keels over do you guys love me that much? don't answer that, I would like to think the answer is yes, don't shatter it by saying, 'what? hell no!' lol. I have to dedicate this chapter to my dear friend Kayla, who suffered at the hands of being caught while we snuck out to hang with another friend. Kayla, we were careless, next time, we'll be less so. :P And you know what? It was the damn cursed moon when parentals get pms; hopefully it will pass. On with the chapter...

Chapter 18: Talks and fights

Sango finally got tired and flopped down to rest, hoping her scent wouldn't go upwind of her assailant. Laying there in the middle of the tall wheat fields Sango felt all her tension and unease leave her for a moment. She felt like she was floating away into a dream of relaxation. With eyes shut and breathing even and light Sango pictured her brother.

With a pang of regret Sango wished she could see him once more, but knew those chances were slim to none. Kohaku—her dearest brother—had been sold to a wealthy nobleman as a pet. Sango growled in frustration; it had been when she was powerless to stop it and she wasn't in the kind hands of her mistress and best friend.

Sango had been a slave, not a servant, for more years than she could count. The day after her brother was auctioned off she had been inspected by a curious little youkai who later told her she was 'Kagome'. They had made friends and the day of the auction Sango had been bought quickly by a handsome neko Lord. And of course, much to her surprise she had learnt little Kagome was in fact Lady Kagome of the Southern Lands, heir to Lord Kariudo, ruler of the South. Kagome—naturally—had thought it didn't matter and explained to Sango that she was free but would she like to work as her maid? Sango—in mild shock—had agreed and spent years looking for her brother.

Miroku grinned roguishly, so Sango wanted to play hide and seek, well that was fine with him. Prowling thru the long green grass and occasionally pausing to sniff here or there, Miroku found her scent. With delicate hunter's grace he began to stalk and finally waited. Silent as crouching low to observe her behaviour, Miroku studied Sango. About to pounce he saw a flicker of raw pain flit across her lovely face and smelt her sadness radiate off her with powerful force.

He just couldn't do it. He couldn't tackle someone who obviously needed a shoulder to cry on and a soft voice to comfort. He crawled to her and lay down beside her as though thru natural instinct and kept his hands behind his head staring up at the purplish sky. He didn't look at her, just whispered, "Tell me..."

Sango had felt him approach and really couldn't careless, she had slipped into her memories and it would take Kagome's experience to pull her out, but today she didn't want to. When she felt him lie beside her she stiffened slightly and edged away. But when he spoke her defensive walls came crashing down.

Miroku was startled to smell her tears and he turned to face her to see what was going on. Raising his head by propping his elbow on the soft grass beneath him Miroku examined her. Even crying she was a wondrous mirage of tantalizing perfected beauty. With her eyes shut tightly and the tears coursing with infinite patience down her soft cheek Miroku sighed and pulled her to him. Extremely startled Sango's eyes shot open and she glared lethally. Miroku chose to ignore that and rested his forehead on hers. Although an infamous lech Miroku knew this wasn't the time for him—this was Sango's precious emotions displayed in front of him.

Sango stopped breathing when Miroku rested his forehead against hers. His lips were so close to hers he only had to move a fraction and they would be kissing. Did he realize how much she wanted to feel loved right then? Did he? But Miroku seemed to be behaving and instead he slipped his head down to rest on her shoulder while pinning her under him. In a muffled voice he demanded hoarsely, "Tell me." Sango felt her tears slip again and winced when she saw them hit Miroku's unprotected neck.

Miroku waited a moment before raising himself and sitting up to give her a stern look. Sango sighed and closed her eyes. "Why do you want to know so badly?" Miroku traced nimble fingers across her stomach, claws slightly prickling her. "Because I have a right to know what my friend is suffering from. Are we not friends?" Sango's eyes opened half way and she gazed at him lazily; raising herself on her elbows, back still barely on the ground, she raised her head and smiled. "You consider me a friend?" Miroku nodded and then raised an eyebrow, "No changing the subject!"

Sango sank back down and closed her eyes again. Cushioning her head with her arms she told him about her brother and her love for him, and then their separation and how she had met Kagome. Then explained about a previous, sexually abusive owner and how she still had scars on her body and in her mind about him. When she opened her eyes Miroku's sparkling violet ones were gazing deeply into hers. Eyes glistening with anger and misery he grabbed her and held her tightly while she let her head rest on his warm shoulder.

Miroku's voice was melodious and like a sweet healing liquid to her ears as he murmured to her, "I'm sorry I forced you to tell me, and I'm sorry I wasn't there to help you..." Sango laughed softly and told him, "No, I'm glad I told you and there wasn't anything you could do anyways. Thank you though." She pulled away and stared at him steadily. "Now, tell me your story, houshi-sama." Miroku visibly looked startled, "Er...what?" Sango smiled seductively and wet her lips, "Please houshi-sama...?" Miroku gulped as Sango leaned down a bit, exposing a bit more flesh than he could handle without giving in. "Okay, okay."

Miroku sighed as Sango moved back with a smirk, "Sometimes you're too easy, houshi-sama." Miroku grinned and then began to tell her about his life and the curse he had been handed down. "It's a kazaana, a wind-tunnel that sucks up everything in sight. It was given to my grandfather from a beautiful woman—" Sango snorted and patted his hand. He continued, "—and it turned out she was Naraku in disguise. Both my father and my grandfather were later sucked into it and died. The late Lord of the Western Lands ordered Naraku to remove it. I still have it, but it's now attached to the glove I wear. The late Lord re-cursed it so that if Naraku tried to kill me with it, it'll rebound onto him. I watched as my father died, held back by the hands of my adoptive father."

Sango's eyes were extremely wide and they filled with tears steadily. She grabbed Miroku and hugged him just as tightly as he had held her.  Turning his face she stroked his cheek tenderly. Miroku's mouth opened in surprise; and his violet eyes went dreamy as she pressed her lips against his. They fell back still kissing and Sango blinked distractedly when she broke the kiss. Miroku stared at her in awe. "Umm...I gotta go now," she mumbled, face brilliantly red. She ran for all she was worth to find Kagome leaving a sexually frustrated Miroku in her wake.

Kagome and Inuyasha meanwhile were bickering about fighting techniques. "I say a bow is much more useful than a katana any day!" Inuyasha frowned and retorted, "No way! A katana is easier for close encounters!" Kagome smirked, "You'd think so, but I can use my arrow to nimbly stab up close and at a distance I can hurt an enemy far more efficiently than you and your katana could." Inuyasha growled and replied, "You wanna test that out?" Kagome laughed, "I've been waiting for you to ask that." Inuyasha studied her and smiled shyly, "Kagome..." "Yes?" "I'm sorry for lying to you..." Kagome shrugged, "The past is the past, don't worry about it."

The fight was forgotten as they reached Kaede's hut; Inuyasha visibly tensed and sniffed around suspiciously. Kagome identified a familiar disgusting scent. "That bitch..." she whispered. Kaede stepped out of her hut and welcomed them, a blur ran past her and launched itself at Inuyasha. "Inuyasha! You came back! I knew it, you do still love me!" it sobbed. Inuyasha backed away angrily and hissed softly. "Get the fuck away from me bitch!"

Kikyo was flung from Inuyasha's arm and she sat on the ground looking desolate. "But..." she gave a heaving shuddery breath and regained her composure coolly. "Fine. Then you will pay!" Inuyasha ignored her and turned to Kaede. "This is Lady Kagome." Kaede looked at her carefully and smiled slightly, "I am pleased to meet ye, child. I am the miko Kaede, what is it ye need?" Kagome curtsied and smiled cutely, "Likewise. Forgive me for not meeting you sooner. I too am a miko, and I should have introduced myself earlier. We need to know about a herb that intermingles youkai scents."

Kaede nodded thoughtfully. "Best not to ask why, am I right, child? Well, I do have, give me just a moment." she went back into the hut and looked back at Kikyo with a raised eyebrow. Kagome started talking to Inuyasha innocently while Kikyo clenched her fists. They both leapt back form the hut snarling as a scream and a roar were heard and suddenly Kaede was sent flying out followed by a humongous reptile youkai. Kagome caught Kaede and set her down gently. "Don't worry, we'll handle this!"

So they were at it, never suspecting what would happen during the fight...

I'm sorry for not updating in a while. I might not be able to update in a while since I'll be lacking my computer for quite some time. Sorry if I can't, but I love you and I'll try to update! Ciao.