A/N: Okay, here is Chapter 4! Yes, I'll have the final one out tomorrow, so never fear! I'd like to dedicate this chapter to my older brother, Mike, who is AWESOME. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or anything of that caliber. I do, however, now own Soul Calibur 2!

The Twelve Days of Christmas

Take 4

Sango sat in Miroku's living room, hands folded delicately in her lap, legs crossed demurely at the ankles, back perfectly straight. The way her mother had taught her to sit in polite circles. Like a lady.

It always helped to fall back on familiar behavior when you felt like a fish out of water. If she felt anything, Sango felt out of place. It wasn't Miroku's apartment, which was only slightly better than the one she had lived in before taking in Kohaku. It wasn't Miroku, who was always making the effort to come to her rescue if he saw her flailing with questions of becoming bored. It was Miroku's parents.

She recognized by the designer luggage and the label clothes they wore that they had money. I became even more apparent in the way that they spoke and how they moved. They just oozed upper class and Sango felt...less than worthy.

But then she'd look at Miroku, who wore off-the-clearance-rack stuff all the time, and complained about the heat in his apartment, and was puzzled. Why did he live in substandard housing when he parents had money?

The living room was mostly silent now. Miroku's parents sat on the ratty couch across the room from Sango and Miroku, each sitting in chairs brought out from the kitchen. Miroku lounged across his, hands behind his head, but Sango instinctively knew that he was uncomfortable. There was a subtle tension in his body, as if ready to leap to the attack in a fluid motion. He was on full alert, despite the pains taken to appear calm.

She couldn't remember ever feeling that guarded when she had been around her parents. Her mother was a little formal, but she came from a conservative family. It wasn't as though she didn't love her tomboy daughter, she just took certain measures to keep the unruliness in check. Sango had never complained, and always followed her mother's ministrations to the exact detail, because Sango had adored her mother.

Her father was the same way. Sango would do her best to please him. Fishing, baseball, wrestling. All the things a boy would do, Sango did better. When Kohaku got old enough, he joined them. The four of them were as close and loving as a family could be. Even after her mother had passed, and it was the three of them, they grew even closer.

Now her father was gone, and a void was left in Sango's world. She felt her eyes misty over lightly as she thought about him, and quickly reminded herself where she was and who her present company were. Tears abated, she tried to focus once more on her surroundings.

This was her second time meeting Miroku's parents, if the ride home from the airport the night before was considered a meeting. There was just a bunch of comments on jet-lag and questions about her relationship with their son. Now wasn't much better, but at least they're manners were as impeccable as their taste in clothing.

"Miroku," his mother began, sipping on her tea with refinement. "Are you still working that dreadful job?"

Miroku grinned. "Yes, Mother. I'm still writing freelance for the newspaper."

His mother shivered ever so slightly. "Dreadful things. That a son of mine would stoop so low..."

"It's not low, Mother," Miroku reminded. "It's how all Pulitzer Prize winners get their start."

"Don't listen to him, dear," his father commented, patting his wife's arm. "Let's just speak of better things." She nodded, turning back to her son with renewed vigor.

"Tell us where you met this lovely creature." Her smile to Sango was snowy, but ever so polite.

"Through Kagome," Miroku smiled. "She asked me to help her with some seasonal work, and Sango was working with her."

Sango read the look that past over both parents' faces when he mentioned Kagome: a look of contempt. It startled her. The way Miroku and Sango were so close, one would think it natural that his parents would adore her as much as the son obviously did, but no.

"I work as a photographer," Sango added lightly, drawing their attention. She colored slightly under their gazes. "I've known Kagome for a while, she introduced us."

His father sniffed. "I take it you're friends with her."

"Yes," Sango said, without a hint of fear. "She helped me during a very hard time in my life." Their eyes frosted somewhat. Sango felt the need to elaborate, to give them cause for her loyalty. "My father passed away last Spring," she said lightly. "Kagome helped me, financially and emotionally, so that I was able to provide a home for my younger brother."

"So...you are raising a child on your own?" Miroku's mother asked, startled.

"He's a teenager, actually," Sango corrected, not liking her tone. "And I'm all the family he has left."

There was silence again for a long while, until they started talking to Miroku again and ignored Sango for the remainder of the visit. Something told her that it hadn't gone well. Her job as "fake" girlfriend was not doing what he wanted it to do. Should have reigned in the temper, she chided herself.

When at last the parents departed to their hotel room for the evening, Sango approached Miroku calmly. "I would understand if you want to renege on the deal," she sighed. "I'm not playing a very good girlfriend."

"Are you kidding?" Miroku grinned at her, locking the door with flourish. "I couldn't have found a better one."

She blanked for a minute. "But they hate me."

"That makes it even better," he laughed. "Now I can throw in their faces that they wanted me to get a girlfriend, and I won't throw you aside just because they don't like you."

Sango was stunned, but then again, she often was by Miroku. "You like the fact that they hate me?"

"They hate Kagome," he shrugged. "They hate everything I love, so it's little surprise to me that they'd hate the girl I like."

Sango nodded, understanding this logic until something dawned on her. She looked up at him with a mixture of curiosity and confusion. He looked back, questioning her silently. "Why did you ask me to pretend to be your girlfriend?"

Miroku paled. "Kagome gave me the idea?"

"You don't sound sure about that."

"I'm not."

"Then why did you ask me?"

"You were there."

"Is that all?"

"What answer do you want?"

"The truth," was her cryptic answer.

"I don't have a girlfriend," he said simply. "If I did, I'd want her to be like you."

Sango cocked her head to one side, fighting the urge to blush. "Why?"

"Why am I getting the third degree?" Miroku asked, suddenly feeling defensive.

"Because I want to know."

Miroku frowned, then held up a hand, ticking off his answers. "You're smart, focused, beautiful, and understanding. You're the kind of woman who would sacrifice for those she loves. You've got a level head and a steady heart. You're a rock. Most importantly, you're paitent. Sango, you can take the time to see things that no one else does, especially being a photographer. I need someone who can keep me humble like that."

"Someone like me..." she echoed. A warm feeling settled in the pit of her stomach. "You really think I'm like that?"

"I know you are," he said simply, shrugging to add indifference. "I know I've only known you for what...two months, but anyone can know that about you in two minutes."

Her eyes began to mist again. So many echoed words in her head. Steady. Smart. Loyal and strong. The best kind of person. The best kind of daughter. Words from her father mixed with words from Miroku. "I'm not perfect, you know," she said in a little voice, speaking to man and ghost. "I get angry. I make mistakes--"

"Who doesn't?" he commented. "My point is that you're a good person."

"Just so we're clear, I think you're a good person too."

Miroku raked a hand through his hair. "You don't know me that well," he said darkly. "I'm not a good person. I used to be like them, all stuck-up and arrogant. I treated woman like objects and my so-called friends even worse, and everyone turned the other way because of their money."

"Is that why you live like this?" She took a step toward him, hesitated, then took another.

He looked at her with a wild desperation, trying to make her see that he was a damned man with an angel's face. "Penance? I guess you could say that. Kagome calls it that. I just...I don't want to become them...ever. I don't want their money, or their blessing. I just...want my life, good or bad, worth nothing or something. I want it to be mine. I want to love who I love, and do what I love, and not apologize for it."

"And you don't think you're good for that?"

He laughed; it sounded hallow. "I think I'm good for some things, and damned for others."

"Yeah," she agreed.

They stood their in silence, appreciating the other's presence. But it was enough of a start.

What else could they do? They were both stuck in the same place, trying to find themselves while living off the guilt and responsibility given to them because of situations out of their control. They were both lost and found at once. What could they do but fall in love?

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"I am issuing to you a formal invitation," Kagome announced, slamming the door to Inuyasha's locker just as he finished changing.

"Excuse me?" he said, somewhat startled.

"Do you have plans Christmas Eve?" He opened his mouth to reply but she held up a hand. "Before you tell me you're waiting on your friends, I'll spare you the trouble." She broke into a tremendous grin. "You're invited to spend Christmas Eve with me and my pseudo-family at my apartment."

Inuyasha was speechless for a minute. "Why?" he asked when he recovered his voice.

"I figured you'd have no where else to go," she said with an efficient ease. "And since we're all going to be sitting around, getting drunk now that our work here is done, you should hang out with us rather than being by yourself."

"What makes you think I'll be alone?"

She just looked at him, then smiled slowly.

"Ok ok," he admitted. "I'll be alone, but don't rub it in."

"Ok, I promise, if you promise to come tomorrow night."

Inuyasha who, over the course of the last few days, had been growing extremely nervous about this newfound realization that thoughts of Kagome danced in his head at night, was leery.

"I don't know."

"Oh, come on!" Kagome whined. "You've been so much better being Christmas-y this week. Treat yourself."

"I'll think about it," was all he'd say.

Kagome groaned, rolling her eyes. "Well, give me a ride home so I can convince you properly."

"It's not snowing," he complained. "Walk."

"You're going to deny a girl a ride home at night, in the cold, the day before Christmas Eve?"

He sighed; she'd won. "Fine."

Kagome smiled, very proud of herself, and followed as he left the locker room to head out to the parking lot. Finally, the Christmas season was over. It had been their last day as the mall's North Pole staff. In a few hours, Christmas would be upon them, in full.

The rest of the staff had packed it in for the night. Sango and Miroku had left together only a few minutes before. Kagome had happily noticed the pair of them spending more time together, alone, especially since Miroku's parents had left. Shippou had the day off, thanks to Kagome. She had stayed behind a few minutes longer in the attempt to goad Inuyasha into coming to her Christmas gathering.

Oddly enough, it wasn't the bet that motivated her. In fact, she hadn't really thought about the bet in days. She just wanted him there because she was growing to enjoy his company.

Together, they got into Inuyasha's car and headed off toward Kagome's apartment.

"Come."

"I don't know."

"Don't give me that!"

"Lay off! I just don't know."

"Don't be a little girl about it."

"Don't call me a little girl."

"I won't if you'd stop acting like one and just come."

"You're very unattractive when you manipulate people." She fell silent at that, just looking at him with very large eyes until they reached the curb of her apartment. Inuyasha put the car in park. "I don't know if I'll come."

"Why wouldn't you?" she asked quietly, suddenly subdued.

"Why should I?" he responded.

She never hesitated. "I want you to."

Inuyasha had to remember to breathe. "I'll try."

"Try hard," she said with a faint smile, then climbed out.

Inuyasha shook his head hard and tried to restart his car, but it wouldn't turn over. He paused for a minute, then tried again. Still, it choked and sputtered, but didn't turn. He waited once more, punching the gas pedal and turning the key, but the car only heaved once and died.

A knock on his window alerted him a few minutes later to the fact that Kagome had reappeared. He opened his door and got out. "Can I use your phone?" he asked.

"Sure," she agreed.

He followed her to her apartment.

Neither of them realized it had started snowing. Very, very hard.

A/N: Final chapter tomorrow. Review please!