Who are you to say you love me? Who am I to say I love you?

A/N: HUGE thank you to icygirl! And a massive hug for you! Thank you so SO much for your support. If it weren't for your reviews, I probably wouldn't have gotten off my sorry and actually written this for a long time. I wanted to e-mail you so badly, but you didn't leave your e-mail T-T But I wrote this as soon as I could. So thank you once more! gives you chocolate muffins

Anyway, things has been happening lately. As in the weirdest randomest things, like people having breakdowns and dying and add a short term full of crazy school work plus part time job and you get a not so stable dEeYaN. slaps self

I've started writing this chapter a few times, but I was never able to go on. I just sat down on the computer all day today and here it is. Not perfect, not proofread and a lot shorter than the other two chapters but it's here. Hope you don't mind it.

Many many thanks to all who reviewed and especially icygirl! You rock!

Coral

By dEeYaN

Chapter Three – Detachment

Humans have always claimed themselves as masters of the world, of the universe even. Through religion, through culture, through their personalities they have always boasted their superiority against other existing beings.

Psychologists and philosophers, have analysed and guessed the way human brains work, ignoring the fact that they are, themselves, human as well. Perhaps it is because they are such insecure beings that they do this. Or perhaps it's a side effect of their so-called superiority against the others. A side effect in which humans detach themselves from the world, pretending that if they thought they were not part of it then they would cease to be.

I think, therefore I am.

But how can this be true? For even though Sango felt like if she gets up and does follows her normal routine and pretended that nothing had changed, nothing will have, deep down inside she knew it would not be true. What has happened, has happened and there is nothing she could do to change it.

Sango buried her head under her pillow, not at all keen on answering the cheerful morning greeting the sun was giving her through its rays. All she wanted to do at the moment is stay here in bed and pretend she was vegetable.

But she had lectures to go. Lectures that she could not miss, normally anyway, now that she is in danger of being expelled, it didn't seem to matter much at all. Yet something told her that she had to go.

Because if she stayed then she would've satisfied her enemies' egos, she would've proven herself a coward. And if anything, Sango Makino had never found herself comfortable in the previously said title.

Why was she worried anyway? What she had done was completely acceptable. Does this country not have a policy on freedom of speech, written or spoken? She had only been defending herself. Indeed, was it not them who had threatened her first?

These thoughts would've comforted Sango a bit more if only she had forgotten the fact that the people she had made enemies with had money and the world she lived in has never been as it should be. Money equals power. Full stop.

Glancing at the clock reminded Sango of her lectures. The ones she would miss if she did not start getting ready soon.

Sango was not a coward. And even if she was stripped away from her chance in education, then so be it. At least she would still have her dignity. She would rather have lost everything than to keep everything but have her pride, who she was, trampled upon like dirt. At least she was still herself.


Sango had expected an ambush. Or downright bullying. Or hostile rejection. She had expected everything. Everything, but nothing.

Yet this was what Sango found. Nothing had seemed to changed. Her fellow students were still hostile towards her, they still whispered behind her back, they still crumpled their nose at her as if she was rubbish, but no more than usual. By the end of the day, Sango had almost convinced herself that she had dreamed up everything she said the day before.

Maybe it was her subconscious wanting to break free and thus causing her to delusion things. Sango was seriously considering calling a night off work to get some rest by the time she was doing the rubbish duty with Koharu that afternoon.

"You're alright, Sango?" Koharu asked, concerned but oblivious of Sango's possible mental problems, "you're a tad off today."

"Uh yeah, just a tad. I think I need more rest, that's all," Sango answered, absent-minded.

"You're not getting sick, are you? You need to look after yourself more, Sango. Take a break off work or something," Koharu suggested.

Sango laughed at Koharu's expression, "yes, mother. I know, mother. I will, mother."

Koharu huffed at Sango's mocking comment, but joined her laughter anyway. They dumped their rubbish into the main bin chute and returned the now empty bin to its place.

"So are you doing anything interesting this weekend?" Koharu asked as they made their way out.

"What? You mean like going to Paris to get that new limited edition Versace bag?"

"No, I was more thinking along the lines of that new limited edition Gucci handkerchief. I mean, this one is pink for godsakes!"

"And like, ten million bucks!"

"That's why I'm getting it," Koharu mockingly batted her eyelashes at Sango.

Maybe it was fate. Maybe it was karma. Maybe it was both. Maybe it was neither. But because she was laughing so hard, Koharu somehow lost her footing on the steps and tumbled down the stairs to crash into someone.

"Sorry! I'm so sorry! I wasn't looking where I was going and slipped. I'm so sorry!" Koharu whole-heartedly apologized to the owner of the body she had not only crashed into but also showered with the books she was carrying.

"If apologizing solves everything, then what the hell would police be around for?" the person growled.

"I-Inuyasha…" Koharu froze, "I'm really really sorry."

"Just shut up, will ya?" Inuyasha shoved Koharu aside, causing her to loose balance once again and she would've fallen down the stairs if Miroku was not there to catch her.

"Nice one, miss. Just be glad I was here to save you from further harm," Miroku gave out his charm.

"Stop being stupid, Miroku. They're nothing but annoying pests," Inuyasha grumbled shoving Sango out of his way.

Sango felt that odd detachment feeling envelope her once more and before she knew it, her mouth had started forming syllables directed to the snobby man.

"Just hold on a sec there!" Sango found herself saying, "she's said sorry, hasn't she? It wasn't as if she meant to dirty your royal self by falling down the stairs!"

Sango watched as the effect of her words sunk into Inuyasha's brain. He stopped and then he turned to look at her, his eyes flashing dangerously.

"You," he said, "what the hell did you just say?"

"You heard me or was I too insignificant for you to even bother your pretty little ears to function properly? She said sorry already, it's not like she did in on purpose or anything."

"It's you again, huh? Miroku convinced me to leave you alone for awhile, but you're just begging for it, aren't you?" Inuyasha grabbed Sango's face suddenly, "who is she to you that you're putting yourself in danger for her? Or are you just looking for attention? You people are all the same-,"

"She's my friend!" Sango yanked herself out of Inuyasha's iron grip, thanking the gods that she had done self defence courses, "Even if Koharu wouldn't say anything, I'm not going to stand here and watch my friend being insulted!"

"Ah. And what makes this friend of yours so worth all the trouble?" Inuyasha asked tauntingly.

"At least she got in here through hard work, not just because her parents bribed the school to get her in!" Sango knew she was going to far, she was only making matters worse, but she could not stop herself, just like she couldn't have stopped herself from slapping Miroku the previous day even if she tried.

Inuyasha raised his hand as if to strike her. Sango refused to close her eyes and cower, but still she could not help but flinch as she watched Inuyasha's fierce expression.

"Inuyasha!" Miroku's warning voice came out of nowhere and suddenly he was already behind Inuyasha, his hand on the other man's shoulder as if to support him.

"Keh!" Inuyasha turned around and walked away so quickly, it stunned Sango.

"Not a very wise move, Sango Makino," Miroku regarded Sango gravely, as if searching for something, before following Inuyasha.


That was close. Very very close. Extremely close. As close as his fingernails were to his skin.

Not that that was a very accurate comparison. His brain was too tired to think of smart metaphors. Thank goodness Inuyasha could stop himself in time.

How long has it been since Inuyasha lost control? He has been even worse lately and Miroku didn't think even he would be able to stop Inuyasha anymore. She had been gone for six months now and Inuyasha is even worse than ever. She had always been the only one to restrain him.

This Sango girl was asking for trouble. Begging even, as Inuyasha puts it. He'd convince Inuyasha to let her go and Inuyasha agreed as long as she did not tell everyone about his hideout. Miroku had went into all that effort and now she'd just made matters worse.

Although he had to admit that there was something admirable about the way she had challenged Inuyasha to protect her friend, knowing just what Inuyasha was capable of doing. Miroku used to think that those are the things people only do in stories and fairy tales. Obviously, he was wrong. Because life was no fairy tale.

Then again, fairy tales do not always end with an 'and they lived happily ever after'.

Miroku shook his head. Why was he thinking about fairy tales again? It had nothing to do with anything. He sighed and closed his eyes, for once content enough to just sit beside Inuyasha and enjoying the whisper of the wind on the roof.

Hopefully things will just sort itself out in the end.


For a while Sango stood there just watching them disappear into a different corridor, and then suddenly she felt her knees go weak and she had to sit down immediately in her giddiness.

"Sango! Are you alright?" Koharu rushed to Sango's crumpled self, "I-I'm so sorry, you shouldn't have… I really didn't mind at all…" and to Sango's amazement, Koharu started to sob.

"I'm ok, Koharu. It's not your fault, it was just my stupid temper. It's ok, you didn't do anything wrong," Sango tried comforting Koharu.

"No, no. It's just that… f-for me…" Koharu sobbed on, almost out of control.

Sango just sat there as Koharu cried her distress away. Shouldn't she be the one balling her eyes out? Why was it then that she felt calm, extremely calm, albeit in an oddly detached way. She felt as if she were not there, as if she had not just yelled, for the second time, at the man who could make her life very miserable should he choose to use his power.

She might've gotten away the first time. But this time use his power Inuyasha will. All Sango could think to do was laugh though. Laugh at her stupidity and the mess it'd gotten her into. And laugh she did.

Maybe things will just sort itself out if she forgets about them.

Hopefully.


A/N: and there it was. Hopefully it wasn't too dark/depressing/weird. Trust me when I said it was even worst last week There wasn't much progress in this chapter but I'll write the next chapter ASAP! I promise! Thanks once again for all the support!

hands out chocolate muffins to everyone

ps. Read my other fic 'Poisoned Trust' if ever you get bored. 'Tis my pride and joy curtseys out of the room