Sango watched from the hot springs as the fire began to die down. Miroku had been gone for some time so she gathered up her strength and headed for the tiny village. When she arrived at the entrance, she noticed a crowd of people staring at something.
"Excuse me" she said forcing her way past people. She finally got to the center and saw the lifeless monk.
"Houshi-sama! What happened?!" she shouted bending down to touch his face. A little woman leaned over to her.
"That monk saved my daughter's life" she whispered. Sango stared at his face in disbelief. HER monk, the lecher, saved the child's life. She bit her lip and smiled at him. As she touched his face some of the woman came over and took him to a small hut near the center of the village. They brought in a bowl of cool water and two washcloths then quickly scrambled back outside to be with their men who were still drenching the flames. Sango sat for a moment regaining some strength. She dipped a cloth in the water and lightly dabbed his face. She removed the caked on soot and ash from his hair. His face was a pale grey and he reeked of smoke. There were some leaves and other debris entwined in his quaff. She slowly moved the cloth down his neck and onto the tops of his shoulders. She then slowly untied his robes and rolled them down to just below his navel. He she had never seen him like this before. He had always been her protector; there whenever she needed him. His chest moved slowly and his breath hardly audible. She soaked the cloth into the bowl again and sprinkled water on his torso. She removed as much soil as she could from him but later he would have to wash up himself. She turned away and soaked the other cloth. As she was about to wash her own face, she felt a gentle hand grab hers. Her eyes quickly darted towards his hand then his face. His eyes opened but ever so narrow. They were hazy and bloodshot.
"Houshi-sama?" she whispered. "Are you alright?"
"Y-yes. I am now." He smiled and tightened his grip. "You called me Miroku." She gave him a confused look as his eyes shut and he passed out once again. She couldn't believe that just because she called him by his name he would be happy. Maybe he really was developing feelings for her. She though of all the women he had fondled and all the women whom would gladly have his children. She didn't think there was any way that he could actually lover 'her'.
Sango cleaned her face and took the bowl back to the villagers. There was no way they were leaving tonight and Sango couldn't go out alone to bring their belongings so a few woman lent their blankets to them and Sango and Miroku slept in the hut. They were served chicken and ramen. In the morning, Miroku was to be rewarded with great things for his courage. That night, Sango lay close to Miroku, who was still very unconscious, and she just stared at him. She was proud of his bravery. She slowly, inch by inch, moved her hand towards his face and caressed his soft locks. His breath was warm against her wrist. She gathered some blankets and covered him up then did the same for herself. She slowly closed her eyes and fell into a deep sleep.