DISCLAIMER: Corndogs. Hotdogs. Hanyou dogs. What's the difference? I don't own any of them.
A/N: I've been procrastinating horribly these days; updates are dead slow (then again, I always procrastinate). I worked on the Cycle instead of this so you can just come and beat me over the head now. You might be confused on how Sango could actually exist in the future. Er, that'll be cleared up sometime in the near future. For now, just continue wondering.
I haven't really written any romantic scenes before this, so any advice would be appreciated.
Kuroi to Shiro
Chapter Three – Certain Revelations
By Blue a.k.a asian tofu
"You look beautiful," Shunsuke said huskily, giving her a small kiss. Sango blushed, taking his hand in both of hers.
"Look, Shunsuke, today is a very important day for both of us."
"It is?" He grinned absently, trying to think of a good topic to speak with the father of his girlfriend.
Sango recognized the uneasiness in his eyes, "Just wing it, and you'll be fine. He's not that hard to talk to." With that said, she gave his hand a quick squeeze and led both of them back behind the screen.
Shunsuke spoke automatically the opening he'd prepared, "Wakiru-sama, I just have to say that your daughter – "
In front of him sat a man who definitely was not old enough to be his girlfriend's father. He had a spark of something in his violet eyes when he spoke, flicking back his black hair, which he keep tied back into a tail. "Daughter? What the hell are you talking about?"
Clearly she's trying to embarrass me… Shunsuke thought as he glared at Sango, who'd suddenly dove into a coughing fit. "Um, Sango here mentioned to me that tonight I would meet someone important, so I implicated – "
" – That it'd be her parents?" The man laughed, "Yeah, I get that a lot."
Shunsuke felt a flush creep across his face, embarrassed from his earlier assumption. "So then, who are you, exactly?" He gave a suspicious look to Sango.
The girl cut in for that one, "Contrary to popular belief, I am not two-timing you, Shunsuke" She walked up behind the man's chair and placed her arms on his shoulders, "This is my lecherous friend Miroku."
The introduced cringed at her description, earning a raise of the eyebrow from Shunsuke.
Miroku cleared his throat, shifting in his seat to meet Shunsuke's eyes, "Sango here was in a coma for a majority of her teenage life." Shunsuke opened his mouth to speak, but Miroku silenced him and continued, "I'm sure she hasn't mentioned this to you. This is because I advised that she tried to put the past behind her, and so she asked me to come and tell you."
"Why would I care if she was in a coma if I like her the same?" Shunsuke replied indignantly, inwardly smiling as Sango's cheeks colored.
Miroku spotted Sango's reaction, alighting a certain amount of chagrin within him, and continued his practiced speech. "I'm the one who helped her out of the coma, and so it's very nice to meet you, Shunsuke." The warmth from Sango's hands had left his shoulders, only to find themselves intertwined with Shunsuke's. The owner of the offending hands was giving his – er, Sango a mischievous grin.
"Huh – oh, yeah. Great to meet you too, Miroku."
It hadn't been exactly easy to survey Sango with another man, this Shunsuke character.
How could she not have told me? Miroku grumbled, feeling the tear of being the third wheel as the two virtually disconnected him from any type of involvement in their conversation. He wanted to scream in frustration, telling her that she was his; that she had agreed to marry him long before this ungodly boy.
But then he would slump back into his chair as he reserved himself to enjoying the former taijiya's black dress; or rather, the skin exposed by it.
These thoughts will be the end of me…He groaned, trying not to think of Sango anymore, since he couldn't have her either way.
/Flashback
"A life for a life, houshi," the she-demon spat, hissing out her tongue. Miroku flinched as it snapped across his face, the poison ebbing deeper into his skin.
"You can't…" Miroku snarled, sending out a line of spells that caught the demon's barrier, then dissipated. He silently cursed. The coil of scaly skin tightened around his midriff, the crack of ribs ricocheting across the cavernous tunnel. Sango was waiting outside, ready for his signal.
Are you trying to bring upon you own death, houshi? A snide voice grated in his mind. All he had to do was yell and the taijiya would appear at his side.
The she-demon retracted her tongue, licking her chops as the poison dribbled down her chin, "I require a human soul. In return for my services you promised a soul – where is it?"
"Right here."
/End Flashback
The she-demon's face was enough to send shivers through him. How the world had changed since the time of the Shikon journey.
Kagome stepped out of Hojo's car, quite perturbed from his strenuous driving skills after spending some time working on her own. The boy got things done so slowly, Haley's comet could've passed Tokyo twice before he got to the gas station.
Tonight is different, she thought, leaning back to hug herself against the night cold. The stars flickered here and there, but the moon had disappeared. New moon, Kagome reflected vaguely between her bittersweet nostalgia as she closed her eyes, inhaling the spicy aroma of the shrine.
Kagome felt someone wrap his arms around her waist, and she couldn't help but imagine that someone being strong, that could hold her close and make her believe she was everything in the world and more. He would nuzzle her neck and tell her softly how he would protect her, and she would believe him, because there was nowhere else where she would feel safer.
So she turned around and kissed him, opening her eyes only briefly to see the registered shock on Hojo's face before he began deepening it, letting her mind go blank as she consented. She was releasing her soul into this spell of passion, trying to take his away, maybe to replace it with the one of another's.
They broke apart, unable to create words as the sound of Tokyo buzzed in their ears. Hojo had a slight smile on his face, his hands still clutching Kagome's sleeves like a lifeline. The girl stared at him as she pieced together her mind again, trying to see someone else. Kagome then realized what she had done.
Then she began to cry.
Sango was leaning on Shunsuke's shoulder as the car ride home was bumbled past its halfway mark. They had spent the night talking like old friends; with the benefit of a kiss in between every few sentences; and it was almost over. Miroku had withdrawn to himself the whole evening, and it had started to irritate her.
She had gone through all the trouble of calling Shunsuke on such short notice to meet him as he'd asked, and he'd barely spoken three sentences to him. At first, Sango felt it was her fault for not telling him sooner, and that it was probably the initial shock that had caused him the awkwardness. But truth be told, Miroku was the one shoving her cell in her hand and demanding to meet him.
"Jerk," she remarked under her breath. Shunsuke caught it, hoping she wasn't muttering curses against him.
Miroku did seem resentful that evening, the apathetic look on his face as they conversed and the standoffish way he would stare at them for hours on end. Though, this person was important to Sango, and if he didn't get a good opinion from him, Shunsuke wouldn't have much chance with her for a future.
"That was quite an enjoyable evening," he spoke up, trying to spur some small talk.
Miroku looked at him through the rear-view mirror, "It was Sango's choice." He replied, finding himself staring at the girl perched against Shunsuke.
He smiled into the rear-view mirror when Miroku took a quick glance back, "You must take great care of her, Miroku."
The received no reply, instead Miroku concentrated on the road, the minutes slowly winding down. Shunsuke tried again some time later, "So you were her doctor? Pretty young. Most med students I know get out when they're almost thirty."
Miroku simply nodded, grasping that there was no moon that night. Memories that threatened to penetrate through his impervious expression were barely held back. His voice was starting to betray his mind again.
"No," Miroku said softly, a slight tremble in his words only coherent to himself.
Shunsuke raised his head, "What?"
"Your earlier question, about how well I took care of her," he answered. I harm her.
"I don't get it," Shunsuke declared, shaking his head. Sango stirred a bit from her place, but remained unnoticed.
Miroku sighed, "She's glad you're with her."
You idiot, the ex-houshi scowled himself. You're giving her away like a rag doll.
She is happy with him, another voice stated firmly. Miroku caved in to the second voice.
"When she says yes, make sure she forgets me." More than she already has.
The young man was taken aback. Here he thought that this Miroku was attempting to break them apart, but he was already assuming a ring was waiting for Sango. "Whoa, wait a minute. You think we're going to get married?"
Miroku shrugged, "Sooner or later – haven't you two been dating for at least year now?" He stopped the car in front of his and Sango's apartment building, handing the keys back to Shunsuke as they exited. Shunsuke led Sango out, unaware of her half-awake state.
A layer of ice seized Miroku's pupils as he braced himself for the other man's answer.
"Yeah," Shunsuke fidgeted, "But it's been on and off, and we're not ready to take the plunge of actual commitment."
Suddenly, Sango snapped awake, "You think there is no commitment in this relationship?"
Shunsuke gaped at her abrupt rouse from slumber, "Of course I do, I just think that we need more time – "
"And 'on and off'? Since when have we been 'on and off'?" She snapped bitterly, earning a frown from Shunsuke.
"You told me that we were on break two months ago. Last month we got back together, remember?" Doubt ate away at his words.
"I was on vacation with Miroku, for god's sake!" Sango retorted, her voice rising in volume.
Shunsuke's eyes flashed, "For a month? Who gets leave for a month?! I kept myself away from the crowd for you when for all I know you two could've doing who-knows-what!"
Sango narrowed her eyes, her words dangerously low, "Are you calling me a slut?"
Shunsuke's mind was spinning, "Is there another word?!" He snapped hotly.
SLAP.
Sango stared at him, her eyes losing their angry flare. Before any type of word could be said, Miroku grabbed him right by the scruff of the neck and said through his teeth, "Apologize," Shunsuke momentarily lost his balance, held up only by Miroku's uncanny strength. Words failed him. "Now."
Miroku sensed a tug at his sleeve, finding Sango standing proudly with her head held high again.
"Let him go, Miroku."
The former houshi found a difference in Shunsuke's eyes as he glared. They were darker, somehow. Where had he seen those eyes?
"Miroku," Sango pleaded, her eyes giving away her immediate forgiveness to the offender. Miroku reluctantly released him, stepping back as he straightened his collar before wordlessly screeching out of their midst.
"Bastard," he hissed at the retreating headlights.
SLAP.
"And may I ask what that was for!?" Miroku sulked behind her as they retreated into the building.
Sango replied, "I can fight my own battles, houshi." She stepped into the elevator.
"H-Houshi?" Miroku caught up to her, breathless. They shared a small silence as they rose up.
Sango smiled slightly as the elevator dinged to their level. As she walked out, she said over her shoulder, "You just seem to have to be some sort of savior all the time. I thought it would be an appropriate enough title."
Miroku smiled back and followed her, crestfallen.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: I hadn't intended to insert that scene with Kagome and Hojo, but my writing muse has returned full swing. I plan on using it while its here so updates are hopefully on the way. That's my first ever kiss scene people, so watch it feebly shine! This chapter covered a bit about the Sango/Miroku situation, so yay! There's quite a few things I still have in the dark that I hope I'll make clear enough in future chapters. Please review, since I do appreciate them all.