A/N: Another chapter, and another realization that this story isn't turning out to be the way I planned it at all…maybe one day I'll admit to the strange idea that this story mutated from, but for now, lovely readers, enjoy the end product. Personally, I think it's a lot more interesting than my original setup, but who knows? The reason for my admittance of this is due to the fact that this chapter was supposed to be entirely different…and the Miroku/Sango moment wasn't exactly supposed to be there…that was until I was really tired, sitting at my computer, inhaling candle fumes, and got blessed with the bright idea to…well, read it and find out…but be warned, I really have no idea where this story is taking me, so chances are it can only get more quirky…
Just a quick thank you to Numisma and ArtemisMoon-san for their nominations of this fic for the IY Fanguild Award…I would have thanked you both so much sooner, but I had no idea where to find anything related to that contest, and it was only recently I stumbled across the page…I may not have won, but the fact that you guys thought it was worthy of being nominated makes me happier than you can possibly imagine : ) Thanks so much!
And finally, to my wonderfully amazing and patient reviewers who have stuck with this story for so long! I hope that you're enjoying the read as much as I enjoy writing it, and I can only hope that you know how brighter you guys make my day! (And to ArtemisMoon, I hope your kitten is doing much better…the minute I read your review, I had to go give my dog a hug…it's always such a horrible thing when animals are hurt, because you can't explain to them why they're in pain…at least your kitten's young, and she's probably already up and about and causing havoc! Glad the chapter helped : ))
Enjoy!
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Chapter 19: Playing The Fool
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The barest sliver of sunlight fought its way through the curtains to find its resting place across a certain hanyou's face.
Grumbling at the invasion, he dug a deeper hole into the pillow, and found with some surprise a head blocking his way.
His eyes fluttered open and came to rest upon the ebony hair that was scattered over the pillow. A small smile crept onto his lips as memories of the night came rushing back in all their fire-lit glory.
Shifting ever so slightly, the hanyou gazed into the face of the woman who had reached past his defenses and found the tiny hole in his heart. She hadn't just fixed the empty space--she had filled it. And it was a wonder that she had managed to work her way in at all.
His fingers drifted up and down the small of her back, and she made an unintelligible sound, curling closer into his warmth. Something rose in his chest and caught at his throat as he felt her good hand slide up his chest and clench within the folds of his sweater. The quiet innocence that she possessed was something he had never thought would be attractive in a woman.
But here he was, his insides all twisted up over a human female who spent her life caring for the four-legged and the feathered kind who were even more unfortunate in this world. Of course, there was so much more to her…and so much more to discover.
At least he'd already found out what made her tick. That was always an interesting area to explore, but he wanted to find out other things too. Her past, her family, what could have possibly driven her to become friends with Miroku…those kinds of things. It was frightening to think that less than a week ago, he would have laughed at the thought that he could ever possibly find such an interest for a woman, and mocked the person who had had the gall to suggest such a thing.
Heck, everything about this situation scared the living daylights out of him, but strangely enough the hanyou felt no urge to run away. Perhaps for the first time in his life, he was going to be accepting of something as emotional and as difficult as this would be.
No matter how much fairytales played up romance and love, Inuyasha knew that it wasn't all sunshine and sweetness. He had watched his parents work at their relationship; he had seen them grow from each difficult situation and find their love again.
All his life, he had wondered if he would ever be able to cope with that; that never-ending steady companionship that brought with it an equal balance of turmoil and bliss. It was such a giant contradiction when one thought about it, and Inuyasha had had his fair share of those thoughts since the young woman in his arms had first appeared before him.
Not that he would admit it to a living soul, even if he were under the duress of torture or some other horrible circumstance.
Kagome mumbled something incoherent, and for an instant, Inuyasha wondered if she was going to wake up. The usual jolts of nervousness that struck whenever he ended up sleeping over at a woman's house came as she stirred.
This isn't like the others, he had to reassure himself. This time she means something to me.
Yet that did not stop him from prying her hand off his sweater, and ever so gently exiting the warmth and comfort of the bed. Stretching, he decided that it would be best if she woke up without him there. There was so much that needed to be said, so much that needed to be cleared up, and he could only begin to imagine the awkwardness that might ensue if they began talking about it now.
I'll take a breath of fresh air, scout the woods, and then I'll come back to talk. We can kick out the hentai and his woman for a while so they don't interfere and make it worse. Then maybe we can discuss that whole business about the L-word too.
Just thinking about that sacred word had the hanyou stepping away from the bed and throwing on his boots and jacket. If he stayed anywhere near Kagome while he thought about that particular emotion, it would certainly do no good for his resolve to remain clear-headed about this. Cold or no cold, he could do with a little bit of a wake-up call that was far away from the alluring smells that hid under the mound of blankets.
Sunlight beamed down among the winter mists, triumphant at having broken through the clouds of the snowstorm that had hit last night. The snow crunched under his soles as he carefully shut the door behind him. There was a frosty breeze that was playing around with the trees and his silver hair, but the thickness of his winter coat protected his skin from the worst of it.
Sango had been right. The winds that had blown away the clouds had also taken with it the ashes of the creatures. Either that or their remains had been buried underneath the flaky dusting that was swirling around. Whatever the case, the snowy white ground looked as clean and as pure as it had before--all the secrets of that night were lost to anyone who had had no knowledge of it.
And that's the way it should be, Inuyasha reasoned with a grim nod. If anyone heard of Trackers being up at the resort, all hopes for business would be straight out the door.
Lifting his nose to the gusts of wind currently creating havoc with his hair, the hanyou took a good long sniff of the area. He had expected to find nothing interesting, nothing out of the ordinary, but he was proven wrong.
Whatever the world had in store for him, it certainly wasn't holding back on its plans. Along with the usual forest scents that came with being in the great outdoors, Inuyasha discovered a mixed scent that reeked of an unknown trouble.
The smell brought back memories of the night before, but with it came a whole new nightmare that Inuyasha hadn't recognized before.
His muscles flexed as his body prepared for another fight. But this time he wasn't going to needlessly drag his friends into it. This wasn't their dispute, this wasn't a battle they needed to participate in. Despite his lingering grudge against the attempted assassination, he had begun to realize that Sango wasn't the worst person to be around. She had been quite helpful against the attack and she had proven to be a decent human, even if she was a youkai hunter. And Miroku--well he had been unwittingly dragged into the beginning of this and there was absolutely no way the hanyou was going to let the businessman hang around until the end too.
As for the final member of the little group, she should never have been involved in the first place. She should have been in clinic, giving out rabies shots and advised ill-tempered children as to why hamsters don't like sitting in remote controlled cars. The last place on earth that she should be occupying was the fight that would no doubt be taking place.
Although his mind had won over his heart, his eyes allowed for one last, lingering glance at the closed door and the frosty window pane, from which a faded curtain hid the face of the woman who had dug out his ill-tempered heart.
There's no use mooning over her now. There are more important things to deal with.
Steeling his reflexes for the slightest change in atmosphere, the hanyou took off down the stairs, and followed the scent-ridden trail that had been left behind. His boots found purchase in the deep snowdrifts and carried him along through the spindly trees that stood proud against the clear blue sky.
Typical. The single beautiful day that shows its face and he's too busy hunting down his enemy to enjoy it.
And there was no guarantee that he would be alive and well to enjoy it later in the day either.
Now, never let it be said that he enjoyed wallowing in self-pity. But when you'd just discovered that you were capable of emotions more fruitful than scorn, it was rather hard to let go of the new opportunities that had the potential of arising. Especially when the only person you wanted to share the joy of discovery with was still sleeping soundly in a warm, sunny haven of wood and glass.
If losing Kagome wasn't a decent reason for a little bemoaning of one's fate--well, everyone else who thought differently could go to hell.
It wasn't that Inuyasha was afraid of the battle that drew nearer with each step he took. In fact, he'd been anticipating it each hour of every day for the last few months.
What was currently stabbing at his consciousness was the tiny matter of not being able to say goodbye to his friends. Somehow, with each step, his regrets about not having even left a note wishing them all well grew.
Living with humans for so long must have done this to me. Made me such a sentimental old fool. My brother would never let me live it down. Heck, he'd never let me live.
The scent grew in its intensity, and with it brought a whole new confusing aspect to the many problems he'd bee having lately. Not only was the reptilian smell floating in the crisp air, but with it followed along another, vaguely familiar.
But his familiarity with this particular smell could not be compared to his memories of last night, nor of some other demon that had been at his throat in the past.
No, this was a human scent. A human that he knew he had met before.
Suddenly things were proving to be even more complicated.
And Inuyasha wasn't sure of the drawbacks of this latest addition to his enemy list.
Wanting some damn answers, he picked up the pace, and emerged into a grove of evergreens. What would have been a place worthy of housing Bambi was tainted by the presence of the human standing in the middle of it.
With a snarl, Inuyasha skidded to a halt, and finally faced down a man who had been giving him as much trouble as his brother.
"You."
The man smiled, a slow smile that spread across his face but couldn't reach the cold glitter in his eyes. "Yes, it's me. Weren't expecting that, now were you, Inuyasha?"
"I was expecting a rat-faced bastard, Naraku," the hanyou spat, the anger he had been bottling up inside finally finding some release. "You fit the profile."
Never missing a beat, Naraku snapped his fingers. His smile grew as his minions answered the call.
Gesturing to the new arrivals, he reached out to one and rested a hand on the scaled head. "I'd introduce you to my friends, but I believe you've already met."
"We've met alright. I don't think your friends liked our hospitality though."
"Oh yes. I forgot. The weaklings that you unfortunately associate with were there to help you last night. But where are they now? Have they abandoned you already?"
His hands curled into fists, and a low growl was rumbling in the base of his throat. Gritting sharp teeth, Inuyasha had to use every last ounce of willpower to keep from leaping for the slimy lawyer's throat.
"No. They're not apart of this fight. They never should have been involved in the first place, and I won't let you hurt them," Inuyasha shot back.
He wanted the cowardly human to show some sign of fear, give off a scent that would betray the calm, efficient nature of his expression. But there were no signs that indicated any such thing, and it frustrated the hanyou near to breaking point.
Naraku's dark eyes were colder than any winter wind that was rustling the trees. And they were fixed directly onto his own golden ones, boring through them as if they could dig a bloody hole down into his very being.
Something leaked into the lawyer's smile, some kind of new emotion that Inuyasha wasn't too sure he would like.
"Playing the big, strong protector are we? Well, that role won't suit you much longer, once your friends wake up and find my present on their doorstep." The human paused, his hand giving the lizard a small pat on the head. "And this time, their half-breed hero won't be there to save the day."
Fear suddenly gripped the silver-haired dog demon as those words sunk in. If the two reptilian monsters weren't in front of their master, Inuyasha reasoned he would have given the human a good deep scar along the length of his exposed, scrawny neck.
Instead, he had to resort to keeping his fists in stiff position by his sides, and to banish any worries over his friends. If the idiot wasn't bluffing, as Inuyasha suspected he was, then his friends could very well take care of themselves. Now more than ever he was grateful for Sango's presence back at the cabin. At least there was one person there who knew how to handle demonic attacks.
He resorted to sharp laugh that held no humor. "Nice try, you asshole, but I'm not about to fall for that one. You have no need to attack my friends. After all, it's me you want."
"Do you really think so little of me that you believe I would actually spare unnecessary bystanders? Honestly, Inuyasha, we may not be well acquainted, but you of all people should know the kind of company your father liked to keep. He wouldn't just use any lawyer to handle his affairs." Naraku's cold grin hardened suddenly, as if he was tired of keeping up the effort. "And tell me, why I would let three witnesses to my crime live?"
"They haven't seen anything!" Inuyasha said, fighting the knot that was forming in his chest. "They're not part of this, and you know it."
"They were there last night, when my underlings attacked, were they not? They have been helping you every step of the way. The businessman friend of yours has been hiding you, the Taijiya woman has fought for you, and the veterinarian has been tending to your wounds. When are you going to wake up and realize that they've been just as much apart of this as you have?"
The knot inside twisted and constricted his breathing and his senses as Naraku's words hit a home that he'd been trying hard to protect. All of the previous emotions that he'd been trying to fight were taking over his head, and it was yet another battle that the hanyou wasn't too sure he could win. The confusion that he had experienced when first smelling the bastard in front of him was also gone, replaced by the furious need for blood.
Swallowing hard, Inuyasha unfurled his fists and let his claws extend.
"If you've done anything to them, I'll rip your eyes out and feed them to your monsters."
"Why don't you go see for yourself? No one's stopping you."
The hanyou whirled around, preparing for a long run, and came face to face with what appeared to be an army of scaled bodies. Ever so slowly he swiveled his head and discovered that the clearing was filling up with the things.
Behind him, he heard Naraku laugh, but he chose to ignore it. Instead, he took note of the growing number, and gave his shoulders a good roll.
Naraku's voice carried over the blowing winds, and reached his sensitive ears. "You're alone, half-breed. Your family's gone, your brother hates your guts, and your friends are going to join you in hell. And you have your daddy's precious lawyer to thank for it."
It was the last straw. Even someone who prized themselves on self-control would have broken down, and Inuyasha's own control could hardly stretch very far. With a cry of rage and anger, he flung himself into the mass of scales, and let loose all the turmoil he had been fostering inside his mind and soul for the past few months.
If this was it--and he highly suspected it was--he wasn't going to go down without a good, bloody fight.
- - -
He was a cruel man.
Oh, that aspect of his nature came and went as daintily as a summer breeze. But it always managed to resurface at the most opportune times.
Like now.
His mother had always said that someone out there had had a sense of humor when they created his soul. As a child, he had often wondered what that meant. As an adult, he considered it his own personal motto, and strove to do it justice.
The sleek surface of the camera was the diamond in the rough, the treasure at the bottom of a clothes-filled hole. With a triumphant grin, Miroku withdrew the silver apparatus from his bag, and gave it a good once over.
No dents, no scratches, no missing pieces. I think someone's been watching over me these past few days. Usually my luck runs out in the first few hours. Well, not today. Today, I am master!
He inched towards his door, listening carefully for any kind of sound that would indicate that a household member was stirring.
Satisfied that his plan would not be foiled, he slowly opened the door, and ever so quietly crept out into the open space of the second floor.
His sock-covered feet hardly made a noise against the polished wood, and once again the young man prided himself for being such an intelligent human being. Who would've thought that the same boy who used to repeatedly flush his Godzilla action figures down the toilet would grow up into such a mastermind?
As sleek as a prowling cat, he poked his head over the railing, and peered down into the living room below. The only sign of life came from the shapeless lump on the couch. A lump that could only contain two very special people.
Target sighted. Permission to proceed in three…two…one…
Despite the fact that the cottage had only been built a few months ago, the stairs had already fallen into the habit of creaking whenever feet came into contact with them--as was the habits of stairs, new or ancient.
Unfortunately, for someone who didn't want to be heard, that particular trait of the structure was not at all appreciated. He winced as his feet came into contact with a particularly noisy spot.
Freezing, he managed a glance at the couch. Trying hard not to breathe too loudly, the man waited for a moment, watching the blankets carefully. When no one stirred, he assumed that it was safe to continue, and so he did, clutching the camera to his chest.
Too bad I can't wake up Sango for this. She'd love to be here. Oh…what the hey! They seem like they're sleeping soundly, and besides, I need a witness to my greatness.
With the plan changed, he inched down the remaining traitorous steps, and shuffled down the back hallway, past the kitchen, and to Sango's door.
His knuckles rapped as gently as they could against the solid wood and Miroku held his breath, wishing that his heartbeat wasn't quite so loud. It was hard to distinguish the thumping against his rib cage from what could possibly the approaching steps of a certain hanyou.
He waited another beat, debated knocking once more then decided for the more direct approach. The less noise made the better. After all, dog demons were known for their acute sense of hearing, and Inuyasha's ears could only ignore the strange sounds for so long.
Carefully prying the door open, he crept into the room and waited for another assassination attempt by a startled woman.
When nothing sharp and pointy met the soft, vulnerable flesh of his neck, Miroku realized that he was truly on a high note. Of course, the only downside to that particular fact was that his luck was eventually going to run out. And he wanted to be prepared when it did, for when he was unlucky, he was really, truly unlucky.
Inching forward, he searched the room in the feeble light, looking for the slightest indication that Sango might be hiding behind something, waiting to attack the intruder. As much as he enjoyed being manhandled from time to time, he drew the line at physical violence.
Although having the lovely assassin on top of him like that again wouldn't be such a bad experience. But he'd rather that the moment be a little more on the romantic side. Violent attacks--even if it was by skimpily dressed Amazon women with enormous…muscles--were not on his list of turn-ons.
It took the soft mew of Kirara to alert him to the fact that Sango was not hiding behind the curtains with a knife in hand. Following the demon cat's glowing eyes, Miroku found the usually alert Sango sprawled out on the bed, snoring into a pile of pillows.
He reached for the camera, thought of the consequences, and decided that it would be best if he only had two people after his throat this morning. Instead, he winked to the cat, reached down and gave the sleeping woman's side a little shake.
His efforts were rewarded with a smack on the arm as Sango shifted away from the disturbance, burrowing deeper into the mess of blankets she had created for herself.
Now, Miroku wasn't one to peep, but seeing the object of his affections in such an unguarded state was a rather pleasant thing. Despite the dim light, he could just make out the dark shock of hair spread out across the pillows, and the steady rise and fall of the blanket that hid her from any intrusive chills that might be lingering in the air.
His usually invasive hands itched to reach out, but the surprise came in the knowledge that his hands did not want to go straight to the behind. Rather they wanted to tangle themselves in the silky hair that the young man knew was in reach, and brush the smooth skin of her lovely face.
Using all the willpower he could muster, he sat himself firmly on the side of the bed, and folded his hands in his lap. Behave boys. Your time will come.
"Psst…wake up sleepy head. I've got a surprise for you. I think the plan worked."
She mumbled something that would have been less incomprehensible had it not been spoken into a mound of polyester stuffing, and shifted deeper into her cocoon.
Pursing his lips, Miroku weighed his options. To touch, or not to touch. That is the question.
He knew that he had to make this as quiet as possible, and so--going against all of his conscious thoughts--he reached out, and rested a gentle hand across her mouth. The other one went around her nice, slim waist, and it took another breath before he could clear his wandering mind so he could focus on waking her up.
With a caress that could only be aimed to tickle, he brushed the soft curve of her stomach, running his fingers across the fleecy material of her pajamas. It was a gentle motion, and one that had been reserved for lovers only. At least, up until now.
Ignoring the implications that this would no doubt give fruit to, Miroku was finally rewarded for his actions when Sango bolted up in the bed, eyes wide and panicked. He fought her struggles vainly, and only just managed to avoid a nice shot aimed for a certain sensitive part of his anatomy.
Even in the dark room, the young man could see those beautiful eyes gaping at him as they registered just who on the face of the godforsaken planet had had the audacity to administer such a personal wake up call.
"Now I'm going to let you go, but you have to stay quiet," Miroku told her in a hushed whisper, "And don't kill me until you hear me out, okay?"
Sango gave a slow nod, but her eyes narrowed as he removed his hand from his mouth.
When he had placed his hands back securely in his lap, she pinned him down with an ugly stare. "Hasn't anyone ever told you never, ever sneak up on a demon exterminator? We're trained to kill, you dimwit! I could have seriously hurt you!" Despite the anger in her voice, she kept her tone low. Still, the power behind her words did manage to hit home.
Miroku tried hard to banish the sensation of having her warm body under his palms even as he faced down her wrath. It was particularly difficult, since that same overly alluring form was mere inches away from his.
"I didn't hurt you, did I?" She asked softly, her tone suddenly switching to a much less pissed off one. "Because if I did--"
Miroku smiled, touched at the sudden concern. So maybe the little lady really was harboring something other than distaste for him. Not that he ever doubted it, of course. "You did no such thing, although you were pretty close to harming the family jewels."
"It probably wouldn't be the first time someone's been close," She muttered, the previous tenderness replaced with cynicism. "Now what the hell are you doing in my room, at this ungodly hour? You weren't trying to cop a feel or something, were you?"
"Sango, your suspicions wound me!" Miroku slapped a hand to his chest, his face folding into an offended frown. "I would never do such a horrible thing. No, the reason I'm here at this ungodly hour is to let you in on a bit of fun I plan on having with our two favourite people in this house."
"I don't know what kind of fun you plan on concocting with the coffeemaker and the remote control, but count me out of it."
The young man rolled his eyes. "Not those people. The human and hanyou kind. Look--wait a minute, I can't see anything in this darn light."
"Wait, Miroku, don't you dare open that curt--AHHHH!"
Her muffled shriek, although quiet, was something he'd never thought he hear coming from her mouth. Basking in the warm glow of the sun that burst through the now open windows, he turned, confused as to what would cause such a strange outburst.
Instead of a blinking woman in the bed, he discovered that she had once again buried herself beneath the layer of covers. Arching a brow, he went over and tugged on the blanket mound.
"What are you? A vampire? Sunlight isn't that bad, you know."
"It's not the sun, you idiot," retorted a muffled voice.
"Then what? A bad case of bed head? I really don't care if you're hair looks like a flock of cranes decided to nest in it. I want to go over the final stage of our plan."
"Go away, and let me get changed. Then we can talk."
Sighing, Miroku gave the stubborn blanket another tug. "That's not possible. If I make any more suspicious noises, Inuyasha will be wide awake and this entire process will have been for nothing."
The mound was silent. He was torn between letting her stay under there and asphyxiate herself, or to bring her out into the light. What was it with women and getting up in the morning? Frankly, he didn't care if he stumbled out into the early light looking like he'd gotten hit by a herd of elephants. It was morning--everyone looked bad in the morning.
"I'm going to count to three, and if you're not out from under there, I'll be forced to take drastic measures."
He glanced at Kirara--who had found a much safer position of Kagome's vacant bed--and gave a little shrug. She replied with a shake of her furry head, and began to give her tails a good clean.
Taking that as a sign for full steam ahead, Miroku proceeded to follow up on his threat. "One…Two…"
Skilled hands grabbed hold of the blanket, took root in the folds, and gave one long, hard tug.
With a muffled cry of quiet triumph, he stumbled back with the blanket momentarily flying into his face. Tossing the useless thing to one side, he turned back to the bed and found Sango sitting cross-legged, her head buried in her hands.
But for the first time since he had met her, he wasn't marveling at her lovely figure. Truth be told, he couldn't quite take his eyes off of the garments that hid the slim body from his view.
"Uh…"
"It was a Christmas present from my brother and father," She whispered quietly, "I'd been complaining my old nightgown was getting too small, so they got it in their heads to get me something new. They made the mistake of assuming that since girls like girly stuff, then I would too." She gave a gurgled cry and buried deeper into her arms. "It's hideous, isn't it?"
It wasn't the fact that the pajamas were a bright baby blue, or that they looked to be two sizes too big. What Miroku couldn't quite get over was the masses of white cartoon bunny rabbits tumbling all over the fabric. Dancing bunnies, sleeping bunnies, reading bunnies, ice-skating bunnies…the young man suspected that there was a bunny for everything on there.
He swallowed the chuckle that was fighting its way up his throat when he realized that Sango was truly embarrassed at having being seen. She hadn't lifted her head from its fixed position in her arms, and that--he reasoned--was a bad sign.
Grinning, he sat down next to her, trying hard to ignore the cartoon bunny that was skipping in puddles on her sleeve.
"Hey now. These aren't so bad." When she made no move to acknowledge him, he rested a hand on her shoulder. "If it makes you feel better, I have a pair of boxers with Hello Kitty and all of her cutesy critter friends on them."
Her head shifted, and her eyes peered at him over the blue fuzzy fabric. "Did your family give them to you?"
"Nope. Kagome did, as a gag gift for my birthday. I still wear them too. They're the most comfortable things I own."
Her face appeared from behind the bunny-ridden cloth, and he realized that she was smiling. Although the hint of redness still tinged her cheeks, she finally faced him fully. Ah, the sweetness of progress. "That's the only reason why I wear this…this monstrosity. Well, that and the fact that I don't own any other pajamas at the moment."
"There's nothing wrong with them. In fact," He murmured slowly, eyes suggestively roving over the entire outfit. "They kind of suit you. I'd never thought I'd say this, but you, my partner in crime, are rather cute."
Sango glared at him, and he soon found a pillow shoved in his face. Laughing, he pushed it aside, and found her face mere inches from his, those dark, smoky eyes finding their gaze trapped in his own.
"Don't get used to it," She assured him, hands planted firmly on her bunny-covered hips. "When I get around to facing another shopping mall, this thing will be buried in the deepest, darkest hole I can find."
Oh god, those lips. He'd never wanted to kiss someone as much as he did now. And it would be so easy. All he needed to do was reach out to that slender neck, and bring her mouth to his, and all this aching and longing would finally be over with.
Something deep inside of him proved to be his voice of reason in the end. No matter how much he wanted to take Sango onto the same precarious edge that he faced each moment he spent with her, he also knew that she wasn't one to jump too readily into things.
Somehow, he knew that she had suffered from many hurtful things in the past. Although she had never outright said anything, he could see it in the way she acted with others, in her stance that she took whenever she was playing defense with someone. And he knew that pushing her into something that she wasn't ready for would do no good for his hopes of a future relationship.
So when the old Miroku would have put his moves on her, this new, controlled Miroku held back, distancing himself from the all too enticing warmth that she seemed to emanate in waves.
Instead, he got off the side of the bed, and removed the camera from around his neck. Wiggling a suggestive brow, he tossed it to her.
He didn't see the hurt in her eyes when he moved away, but he noticed that the smile on her face had dimmed a bit. No worries, Sango, my dear. Everything will happen when the right moment comes. For now, I must resign myself to my celibate fate, until this mess has been sorted out.
"What's this for?"
"To complete the final stage of our plan to play cupid, of course!"
"You mean our method for delaying boredom? We weren't necessarily trying to set them up, you know," Sango mentioned, gazing at the camera with a mixture of humor and worry. "I just thought it would be better to let Inuyasha have a sleepless night than one of us."
"Oh, come on. You know that deep down, there's a matchmaker in you just waiting to come out. And can I remind a certain someone of who had the bright idea to let Inuyasha sleep in the same room as Kagome on that first night?" Miroku gave her a not-so-subtle wink as he grinned mischievously.
"Last time I checked, that was your brilliant plan."
"And you agreed to it rather quickly."
She sniffed, plucking at a bunny in a tutu. "I was too tired to argue. I wasn't thinking clearly."
"Playing the victim, are we, Sango dear? That just won't do. Now you'll have to come along with me to prove yourself worthy of being named my accomplice."
The sleepy woman made a face. "Why would I want to be called something like that? I'm perfectly happy being plain old Sango, thank you very much."
"Think about it. Sango Taijiya, wonder-woman sidekick to the great Miroku Houshi. Has a ring to it, don't you think?"
The wonder-woman in question gave her eyes an exaggerated roll, despite the smile that she was fighting to keep off of her face. "Only if someone was delusional enough to believe it."
"Delusional or not, you've still had some involvement in this process, so I want you there to see my crowning achievement." He pointed at the camera in her hands. "Photographic evidence of the famed couple. Think eBay might be interested in the film when I'm done?"
"EBay is only interested in things that famous people have or do," Sango said, throwing the camera back to the insane man standing before her. "Unless Inuyasha is set to grace the front of People magazine for sexiest man alive, I don't think many people will be cueing up to bid on a photo of him."
"Even if he's in the same bed as a certain veterinarian?" Miroku asked, his face falling dramatically.
Sango nearly rolled her eyes. He was the biggest goof she had ever met, and that certain quality couldn't, shouldn't have been so attractive. It had never caused her to feel like some hapless schoolgirl before. What had changed?
A lot, she realized. Suddenly she found new resolve to stop from falling for the clown disguised as a businessman in front of her. Or at least she was going to damn well try to fight it. Fighting was what she was good at, and if that failed her, then she was quite certainly doomed.
"If that particular veterinarian was a notorious stripper by night, then maybe," Sango pointed out. "And since I don't think Kagome's been hiding any nighttime exploits from us, your get-rich-quick scheme isn't going to work."
Miroku sighed, and threw the camera around his neck, and prepared himself for cracking out his last resort.
"So this means you don't want to come along and watch me work my magic?"
It couldn't be possible.
No, she must be seeing things. It had to be the unorthodox awakening that she had received. Either that or she had finally overdosed on caffeine. What she was seeing couldn't possibly be…
…and it was too. There was no denying it. Miroku must be truly desperate for her presence if he was sending her the wounded puppy look. Did his eyes just tear up there? And--wait, did his chin just wobble?
Years of battles had toughened her up to most things. Blood, for instance, wasn't such a great big ordeal, and seeing someone's entrails hanging out of their torn gut was a rather regular occurrence in her life.
But that leathery exterior she prided herself on had never been able to withstand pathetic creatures. And she was discovering that dark-haired, good-looking, albeit pitiful creatures were perhaps becoming the one thing that would be her undoing.
Torn between laughing so loudly it would wake the dead, and throwing the blanket over her head to block out the miserable scene, Sango decided to go with middle ground.
I'm not going to give in. I'm not. I can't. I…I…oh, what the heck. What harm can giving in to him do?
"Listen up, Mr. Houshi. I will go along with this, only, ONLY if I can plead innocence when Inuyasha has his claws digging into your soft sides. And you have to let me change before we do this."
Miroku's hopeless, watery eyes lost their sheen of tears, and instead crinkled at the edges as he smiled stupidly. It took all of his willpower and more not to give the woman on the bed a loud, lip-smacking kiss.
To prove to his libido that he could handle the temptation, he turned around, and closed his eyes, gesturing blindly in the direction of Sango's bags. "No more time for dillydallying. We have a mission to do."
"That is if we haven't woken Inuyasha up with all this chattering," She muttered from somewhere behind him. "No matter how quiet we can be, there's no guarantee that he's still sleeping soundly. And if you turn around, so help me God you'll wish you were never born."
"Your accusations continue to wound me, my darling."
He heard what sounded like a muffled chuckle, and his spirit lifted ever so slightly. If someone had told him he'd lose his heart to a woman who looked like she hadn't laughed in years, Miroku would have begun cackling himself. It was a known fact in the business world that Mr. Houshi liked them spirited, well endowed, and pretty.
Sango was definitely spirited, and her figure was impressive. But her face--that enchanting, rosy-cheeked face--was what made his mouth go dry. It wasn't as if she had the makings of a supermodel. No, Ms. Taijiya had a special something that was entirely her own. And it was a wonder that Miroku was able to keep his head straight at all whenever she was in breathing distance.
His head was swimming with so many different thoughts that he nearly jumped a foot when a certain slender hand grabbed hold of his arm.
"Ready?"
Miroku looked down into dark, warm eyes and every single thought that had been stored in his brain flew out the proverbial window. All he could feel was the warmth emanating from her body as she stood next to him, dressed in a baggy sweatshirt and faded jeans.
It was a dangerous thing when men don't think. History had proven that particular fact over and over again, with women on the sidelines calmly pointing out that if the planet were ruled by females, then perhaps the chronicle of the world wouldn't be littered with so much idiocy. But instead of wisely listening to the opposite sex, men continued to bumble along in all of their ventures--smart and stupid.
So, really, if ever he needed one, Miroku had a perfect excuse for what he finally did. Yet he had a funny feeling that Sango wouldn't quite accept the explanation anyway.
He knew--somehow, he knew--that the woman before him would taste like fire. What he hadn't accounted for was the hints of tenderness and the overwhelming innocence that he found as he crushed his mouth to her own. She truly was a wonder, to be so complicated at some moments, and so easy to understand at others--and to taste so intoxicatingly beautiful.
His infamous hands enveloped that trained body tightly as he reeled her in closer.
- - -
Sango could count on one hand the number of times she'd been kissed. Okay, so if you counted the friendly smooches she'd shared with people under some ill-placed mistletoe, then maybe both sets of fingers could be put to use. But with such a demanding job taking up most of her time, she had long ago relinquished her girlish fantasies of being swept off her feet by a handsome young man. Not that she'd ever had the typical knight in shining armor scenario. It was more of a "strong woman meets her match and falls in love" kind of thing.
Miroku wasn't exactly her match…at least not physically. Though her roaming fingers were discovering aspects of his body that she hadn't realized was hidden under his clothes, his fighting skills were no doubt a little rusty.
But all of her dreams of a man who followed the same path in life that she did were slowly being replaced by ones of a certain young businessman. The one currently holding on to her like there was no tomorrow.
Her lack of experience had her faltering when he deepened the kiss, but she managed to match his heat with her own, exploring the sensations that he was igniting within every crevice of her being. She'd been kissed before, but never quite like this.
No one had ever made her skin burn or her mouth ache for more. And certainly no one had ever made her feel quite so inexplicably wonderful.
The ever-present voice of reason that was firmly implanted into her mind took the opportunity to point out the many issues that were arising even as Miroku continued his gentle exploration of her mouth.
Have you forgotten the deal that was made? He hired you on as a bodyguard, not his nightly bed partner. Well, you're certainly giving him his money's worth--maybe you'll get a bonus for it.
Shut up, she thought ferociously. But even as the bewildering thoughts left her hazy mind, the apprehension of what the whole gesture meant dawned on her.
I need to know that he means this. Then I'll know this isn't about money, or deals, or one-night stands. If I could only see his eyes, or his face, then maybe I'll know…
Hesitantly, Sango drew back, letting her fingers trail down his solid arms to find rest in his hands. Her eyes fluttered open, and sought purchase in his own.
The first thing she noticed was the faint flush in his cheeks, and the half-smile that had taken over his mouth. What she needed to see was there all right, but it would take her an eternity to sort through all of the messages that those wondrously dark eyes held for her.
There was so much to absorb--too much really, for the moment that they had been granted. Still, Sango fought to keep her head clear enough so that she could find her answers.
"Sango…" His hushed voice trailed off, and he brought his forehead to hers, as if the distance between them was too much to bear. The resolution she'd been trying to maintain with her increasingly fuzzy head was fading into the recesses of her mind. The exact thing that she was trying to prevent.
Frustrated with her body's lack of response to her demands, she tightened her hold on hands. Her mouth wanted to spew out all sorts of words and phrases, but nothing seemed to emerge, no matter how hard she tried. All that she could see or think or feel was the handsome man currently keeping an iron grip around her waist.
Unable to take it any longer, she moved in herself, hoping to bring the searing desire out from under her itchy skin, and to infect Miroku with it too. Let him know how he made her feel. Let him discover that she could give him the same passion and uproarious feelings that he bestowed upon her.
With her lips inches from his, and their breath quickening, it was no wonder that such a critical moment would be interrupted. Later, they would realize just how tragically predictable it was, to be interrupted so. But when the loud knocking echoed through the room, they thought of nothing else but of being caught and jumped apart like guilty teenagers.
Suddenly unable to look Miroku in the eyes, Sango turned her blushing face towards the door, waiting for a silver-haired head to poke through.
The knocking grew--if possible--even louder, and it took both lovers a moment to realize that the sound wasn't coming from the door that they were currently hiding behind.
Oh no. This was coming from farther away, and the assassin suspected that the person who was knocking was not someone that they would welcome with open arms. Those who came to this cottage must be looking for it, and so far, the only people that were looking for it weren't exactly Santa Claus and the Tooth Fairy.
With a quick glance at Kirara, she gave the cat the signal to be alert, and crept carefully over to her bags. When the belt of daggers was withdrawn and strapped firmly to her waist, Miroku only gave her a knowing glance before they reached for the door together, and stepped cautiously into the hallway.
Moments in her life were made to be broken, the young woman reasoned as they sneaked down the dim corridor. Yet for some reason, this time was different. This time the moment hadn't been killed--it wasn't lost in time. Maybe, hopefully, it has simply been put on hiatus until the larger issues were put to rest. Then she could face Miroku again, and she would come to terms with the fact that he made her insides melt into goo.
Watching his back, she sneaked along behind him, and it wasn't until she saw the strange shadow moving in the folds of the curtain that she came to the realization that those larger issues were far from over.
Miroku shot a glance over his shoulder, then gestured towards the very same shadow.
"What the hell is he doing here?"
- - -
Chapter 20 is on its way…
(The countdown to the end has now been axed due to the fact that this particular author writes more than she plans for…expect a few more chapters before the epilogue though…its not going to be done soon, but it will be done eventually : ) )