Ok! New inspiration today! Here's how it came about…yeah right… like anyone cares -.-'

I always fall asleep with my headphones on and listening to random music CDs. Well, I woke up one morning and it was 'The Reason' by Hoobastank. Then, BAM! Inspiration! So, here it is! It's taken me a long time to get this written the way I want it… I still don't think it's very good…

Sango/Miroku PAIR! WOOT! A mushy love one shot for the pairing that is mainly a side romance –tear- poor them!

Disclaimer: I don't own Inu Yasha or the song 'The Reason' by Hoobastank

"You" by Inu Faceness

Miroku walked with the group, trudging along a forest-like path. They hadn't found a jewel shard on the uncertain lead. All that had awaited them was a peaceful village with a sick little girl. With the help of Kagome's herbs from both her world and this one, they managed to save the child's life. So here they were, heading back to Keade's hut.

His hands at his sides, the left with a purple wrapping and the other holding his staff, he walked alongside Sango. No one spoke, for all were in a sort of half asleep daze. The village was a far way away and they had not stopped once thanks to the 'ever patient' hanyou leading them. It took half a day to get there, ten minutes to help the child, and it was almost sundown before they had taken off. Miroku sighed heavily, feeling drowsy as his mind wandered from subject to subject.

Eventually, he began to think of Sango. Actually, she was the first thing he thought of. He glanced over at her, watching as she walked along side him. The sunlight bounced off her face, making her seem elegantly angelic. The heavens gave her beauty like none other, making her skin the flawless shield that he was looking at now. Her eyes-her focused, intelligent eyes-held a deep sorrow that he wished he could just wipe away with one of his spell scrolls. Miroku smiled softly. She was perfect, even with her hidden pain.

'Too perfect for the likes of me,' he thought to himself, turning his attention back to the path ahead of himThe back of his head started to throb lightly, reminding him of his actions earlier that day. Did she truly get jealous when he hit on other women? Did Sango feel more for him than she initially let on? 'That's absurd,' Miroku told himself. After all, she didn't seem the least bit interested in him. She was just tired of his lechery, that's all. But then again, there were those times when she would get flustered around him...

Miroku shook his head, clearing his thoughts with a heavy sigh. It was all his imagination. He knew Sango would never fall for him. For a few reasons if he were perfectly honest with himself. His perverted actions and his kazaana to be exact. Switching his staff to his other hand, Miroku let off the subject, leaving nothing but dreams of what might be. He lowered his head and closed his eyes, letting his instinct guide him along the path with his friends.

The sun sank deep behind the forest. No rays of dusk were visible, making the surrounding trees seem ominous and thick, deathly dark and frightening. When Kagome spoke he lifted his head.

"There's a clearing up ahead, guys. We can camp there for tonight." All nodded. Miroku heard a sigh of relief from the taijiya at his side. They pressed on.

A few moments later, they were all met with a surprise. Not only was there a clearing, but also a dilapidated hut sat near the northern edge of the tree line.

"Smells like rotting wood," Inu Yasha said, wrinkling his nose. Shippo, who was currently perched on his shoulder, quickly agreed.

"Yeah, I can smell it too. It's making me dizzy," the kitsune said. "Inu Yasha, can we sleep out here?" Puppy eyes were sent to the hanyou. He grunted loudly and rolled his eyes.

"Fine. You and me can sleep out here. Kagome, Sango, Miroku, you guys go see what it's like inside. See if it's worth sleeping in."

Miroku nodded and stepped forward. Kagome stood back a moment, seemingly debating on whether to enter the hut. Sango followed Miroku. The wood crumbled slightly under the houshi's hand as he helped himself in. He didn't realize some one had followed him inside until he heard a small, almost inaudible, disgusted sound escaped Sango's lips. Miroku turned to see her step over a broken piece of rotting doorframe, which had fallen to the ground.

'She spends her life killing demons and a little decomposing wood disgusts her,' he thought with a smile, heading further into the hut.

It was a rather large place, and, while the outside was raggedy and molding, the inside was rather well kept-although it was dirty from lack of guests. This place had been abandoned. No one would be coming home to this place tonight. Miroku stopped walking and turned. He was about to say something when Sango ran into him. Out of instinct, he put his arms around her to keep her from falling.

When she lifted her face from his robes, he could barely see the blush that colored her face. Sango quickly covered her embarrassment. "Get your hands off me, you lecher. Why'd you stop?" She stood up on her own and looked around. Kagome came up behind her, illuminating the scene with her flashlight from her backpack.

Miroku coughed, clearing his throat. "Tell Inu Yasha that I, and who ever else wants to join me, will be residing in here tonight." He turned, shuffling around to find a candle. From the light of Kagome's flashlight, he managed to gather small pieces of already burned candles. Miroku asked for a lighter, which Kagome readily gave to him, and he lit the candles, showing them that they were all sitting in a large, but completely empty, room.

"I'll go tell Inu Yasha you're staying in here tonight," Sango said. "Kagome, would you come with me? You're the only one with a portable light. Goodnight, Houshi-sama." Kagome smiled and nodded, leaving Miroku alone in the empty hut.

He sighed and took off his outer purple robes, laying them down on the wooden floor. He knew that neither one of his two lady companions would join him in the hut. His reputation was far too engraved in their minds. Miroku lay on the ground, putting his arms behind his head, using his hands as a pillow.

'If only she knew how much I truly cared,' the thought rang though his head as he still lingered on her form in his mind's eye. 'Has she not noticed how I have devoted myself to staying by her side? That I'm not as friendly with the maidens as I once was?'

The longhaired man stared at the shadows on the walls, flickering with the bright glows of the candles. Peeling wood flakes stood out from the walls, falling silently to the ground. He closed his eyes, preparing to rest for the night.

It was nearly half an hour later, when he was just finding his way from the haunting silhouette of his love, that he opened his eyes again.

The candles had withered, having not been very loyal in the first place. The light was fading; it was deduced to one candle on either side of him. It was then that he heard the creaking of a floorboard off to his right; the way he himself had entered. He then peered through one half lidded eye to see the shadowy figure of none other than…

"Sango?" Miroku whispered as not to startle her in the silence. He watched her lift her head from the floor to him. She took a few steps and knelt beside him. Silence flooded the room.

In an attempt to shed more light on the girl, he grabbed one of the longest candles left and ridded it of still melted wax, making the wick seem longer. The flame from one lit candle was used to light it and Sango's face became visual. Although hardly noticeable, remnants of tears stained her cheeks. This she knew so she attempted to hide her face with her brown flowing hair.

The silence was still heavy in the air when Miroku settled, setting up slightly on his elbows and looking at the angel before him.

"Sango?" He said a little louder.

She looked up at him. He saw raw fear decorate the gorgeous orbs shining on her face. It partially scared him as well, for he had never seen such an emotion pouring so fluently from her eyes to him, and he was sure his worry showed through his own. Why? Because after he himself discovered his worry, she looked away, having seen it herself. Miroku sat up completely and lifted her soft chin with his index finger and thumb. Her words shocked him more than anything.

"You're going to die," she whispered. Her voice shook slightly as she lifted her eyes to him. They weren't teary as expected, but seemingly dry. Miroku stared at her.

"What?"

She leaned forward. "Nothing." Sango stood and turned to leave. Miroku grabbed her wrist.

"Don't, Houshi-sama. Just let go or I'll wallop you good. Let me go back to sleep." She kept her face turned from him.

Miroku stood also, not letting go of her slightly shaking hand. "Sango. It's in the middle of the night. Why are you here?"

"No reason. Houshi-sama let me go please. I don't need your groping now!"

He dropped her wrist. Neither moved. Sango let a long breath hang in the air before turning her body toward him. Miroku noted the hesitation on leaving. He heard a soft murmur from her. His voice was nearly as soft as hers. "What?"

"I said you're dieing!" she burst out, her hands clenched together in front of her chest. Miroku stepped back slightly, confused and shocked by the outburst. "I cant do anything," she said, quieter as tears streamed from her face. "You're slipping from me."

She fell to the ground, hunched over and rocking slightly as her cries became more audible. Miroku swallowed and sat before her, looking at her intently. "Lady Sango, why are you thinking of this now?"

"Because," she answered slowly. "That woman today agreed, and you were just so happy." He had to strain to hear her words.

"That woman?"

"Have you forgotten? You baka!" she nearly screamed. "How can you be so dense? The young woman who you asked to bear your children! BAKA!" the wood boards above them shook from the force of her words, sending dust down upon them. It was silent for a moment.

"Never mind," she said finally, sitting up and wiping her eyes. Miroku watched her, feeling hurt and disgusted with himself.

"Sango?" he said again. She looked at him. "Sango, I don't mean to hurt you. But," he swallowed. He was just going to say it. "I really like you."

Sango stared at him.

"I love you, Sango." He said, not breaking eye contact.

"What?" she was mystified.

"Other women mean nothing. You're the only one. But I cant, because I know that I wouldn't give you a good life. And you know why." His hand ran along his curse.

"I know," she said softly. "I feel… the same." She looked up. Her normally strong and intense eyes had softened and began to water, her tough appearance weakened by the tears and lighting. "I know we cant. And I'm not sure I'd want to either… But I do… love you, Miroku."

Miroku brought her into a gentle embrace, patting her head softly as she laid her head on his chest. After a few moments in a comfortable silence, Sango pulled away, much to Miroku's disagreement. She stood, brushing her long hair back behind an ear and looked down at him.

"It's getting rather late… I'd better go back. Goodnight, Miroku."

He sat on the ground, watching her black retreating form until he could hear her step out of the rotting doorframe. He lay back on his robes, staring at the ceiling as shapes were created in the flickering light. A smile stayed on his lips until he drifted to sleep, long after the final candle had burned out. She loved him. She actually, truly loved him.

END CHAPTER

Awww… Lol. Ok. That's it. Not how everyone thought it would turn out, ne? lol. Hope ya'll enjoyed. Please review!

Inu Faceness