I have to know what it was like…to be in love with him…

"…Miroku…" Sango uttered softly. She felt so awful…and yet so good all at the same time. She had betrayed Sesshomaru, the man who had given her a second life, and left him for a man she couldn't even remember loving. But for some reason, she felt good about her choice. It felt right to be with Miroku…almost like it was her destiny. Of course, she had died the first time loving him, so it seemed only right that she was going to be with him now.

She took a few steps toward Miroku, Sango, and Inuyasha, but then turned back to look at Sesshomaru. He face seemed hollow, showing no emotion. But his eyes seemed shocked, angered, heartbroken. So many emotions in his deep amber eyes, conveying more then any expression ever could.

"Sesshomaru…" she said gently, "I'm sorry…I'm so sorry for…" Sango searched for words. How was it possible to apologize to a man for choosing over him? "I…I don't mean to demean you…it just…it just felt so right…"

As she completed her statement, all emotion flushed from the demon's eyes. Sesshomaru gazed at her with half-lidded eyes, then shut them fully. "Well…I see you've chosen to go from healer to killer…" he started, "So then, taji-ya…" He drew Tokijin, a sinister wind whipping around the all, blowing silver locks around him. He pointed the blade at Sango, then glared at her. "If you are the last taji-ya…then fulfill your duty…and slay a youkai!!" With this, he leapt at her, slashing the blade within inches of her throat.

Without any weapons, and remembering little of her youkai-slaying training, she formed a barrier of energy, swirling in many iridescent colors, but he didn't even strike that. As she let it fade, shell-shocked at his reaction, her friends standing battle-ready by her, she watched as he held out his blade.

"Sango-chan…take my sword…" he said sternly. Fearing what he might do if she didn't obey him, she reached two shaking hands out and wrapped them around the hilt of the blade. She tightened her grip, and slowly took it away from him, holding it away from herself. Then, completely shocking all of them, he sank down to his knees.

Sango gaped down at him. "Sesshomaru…what are you doing?" she asked, her very voice shaking. He lowered his head, moving his silver hair away, exposing his neck.

"Perform your duty…" he growled, "I am a demon…and so, you shall kill me!" Sango's eyes widened.

"Sesshomaru!! You…you want me to…kill you?! I…I could never do that!!" she squealed, holding the sword away from him. He glanced up at her, his expression shamed and saddened.

"Sango-chan…" he said softly, trying to comfort and persuade her at the same time, "Ai…aishiteru…and unless I could have you…I would rather die the live…so do me the honor of an admirable death…" As he finished his statement, he shut his eyes, gritting his teeth. "Do it…"
----

He had stunned everyone with this act, especially Miroku. Would he truly give up his life? Perhaps he isn't actually as evil as we once thought…he mused, But then again…this could all be an act to guilt Sango into taking him back? I have to keep alert…

But if it was an act, it was extremely believable. He did seem heartbroken, but there was a malicious quality to it. Miroku's eyes narrowed.

"Sesshomaru, if this is some sort of act, stop it now or I will be the one to kill you!!" he shouted, staff and sutras in his hands. The demon didn't stand, simply lifted his head and growled lowly at him. He said nothing to the monk, and his amber eyes traveled back up to Sango.

"Just do it already…"

But Sango gritted her teeth and mustered her strength, spinning around and throwing Tokijin into the woods. Panting, she glared down at him.

"S-Sessshomaru-k…" she stammered, pausing and cutting off her affectionate title for him. "No matter what I call myself…no matter what my occupation is…I could never kill you…" It was clear to Miroku that she still had feelings for Sesshomaru, even though she had chosen against him. And as his mind repeated what Sango said over and over, it was like she was professing her love for the demon again and again, and soon it began to wear rough on him.

"Sango…" he said, walking up behind her and slipping a gentle, yet slight guarding and possessive arm around her, "That's enough…we should leave this defeated demon alone…there's no telling what he might do in a state like this…" Sango looked down at Sesshomaru for a moment, then turned to Miroku, smiling ever-so-slightly.

"Of course…Miroku-kun…"

----

Sesshomaru growled up at the both of them. Betrayed by the woman he had resurrected and loved, and then insulted so harshly by the one who had stolen her. There he was, on his knees, weak and alone. He gritted his teeth and shut his eyes, cynical thoughts racing through his mind. He thought that if this moment ever should come, it would be at the fault of a powerful demon, perhaps his half-brother if he were ever to come into possession of the Shikon no Tama and use it to increase his demonic powers. But never he imagined it would be at the hands of a human, especially the man who had stolen his mate first.

He watched in agonizing anger and hatred as Sango and her friends disappeared, revenge the main thing on his mind. He still cared deeply for the taji-ya…but a new need to teach her a lesson was mingling in, and his hatred for Inuyasha and his other companions burned anew.

He slowly stood, dirt tarnishing the fine silk of his pants. Another gust of wind blew around him, his silvery hair being blown away from his face. He smirked somewhat, taking to thought what the monk had said. Miroku had described what he was doing as an act. Sesshomaru had, at first, taken it as an insult, but now, he took an idea from it. Rumors spread fast on the wind from ear to ear…and the death of a prominent lord would be no exception…