Someone Out There
Chapter two: Late night epiphany

Tonight was a clear night. The sky was painted a royal blue, like the color of navy silk or never-washed denim. Clusters of stars adorn the night, twinkling as if it knew something that the people below didn't. Miroku exhaled into the night as he climbed up the window. He picked the lock in a way that he has done it a dozen times before and entered the room. The room was quiet except for one girl breathing rhythmically.

"Wake up sleepy head," he murmured softly, poking her cheek. Sango stirred and turned around to keep sleeping. Miroku laughed, she was always such a deep sleeper. He looked at her, admiring how peaceful and vulnerable she looked when she slept like a baby. The normal fiery self was locked away in dreamland. He leaned in and caught a whiff of her fruity shampoo smell.

The smaller figure twisted as the weight of him leaned on the bed as he sat. He couldn't sleep, and plus he needed someone to talk to. He had too many unsorted feelings in his mind right now. None of his friends would deign to talk to him at this hour. If he tried climbing in their window…there'd be hell to pay.

"I've got ice cream," he taunted in her ear. "WHAT?" shouted Sango, suddenly awake. Ah yes, ice cream was his secret weapon. She doubled over when she saw Miroku sitting on the side of her bed. "What are you doing here?" she asked groggily. "C'mon, we're going out for a drive," he tugged on her arm, trying to pull her out of bed. "What time is it Miroku?" she yawned trying to hang onto her bedpost. It was an unsuccessful attempt to stay in bed. Miroku gave a strong tug and both stumbled on the floor. "Only 3 am, come on lets go, we can climb down your window" he ushered.

Sango felt the night air dance on her cheeks while the car drove breezily down the open road. "Sango wake up!" She straightened up, "Right…right…mm" She knew something was on his mind. Why else would he call her out during midnight for a 'late night drive?' She was going to try and keep up, even if sleep was to claim her.

Miroku exhaled, thinking of where to start. "Okay, it's like this, I was thinking of what you were saying back at the ice cream parlor. You said how I should stop playing girls and get serious..." "Mmmhmm" nodded Sango. "…I think the reason why I'm not serious with these girls is because I hardly even know them." He paused, looking around for a place to stop the car. He found a desolate spot near the park and parked there. Both of them sat there in a comforting silence. Sango looked up at the beautiful night sky while he pondered for the right words to say. Miroku started,

"Each of these relationships has left me with nothing but an empty feeling no where close to love. I don't want to keep going on like I am right now. I want a real relationship, something that'll last…"

"You've been looking for love at the wrong places." said Sango. "You mean the girls?" asked Miroku, not half surprised.

"What kind of girl are you looking for?" she asked. "Because, if you don't know yourself, how are you going to find someone that will "last"?

Miroku thought for a moment, "I want a girl who will not love me for the physical things, someone who won't criticize my past relationships."

"That's going to be hard," said Sango, not intentionally burning him, "because everybody is out for easy love these days."

Miroku nodded woodenly. He was one of those 'everybody' that she mentioned. "I want a girl who's my friend, someone I'm already so close with that it'd only feel natural if we are together." A thought flickered in Miroku's mind as he glanced over at Sango. His frister was the only one that fitted more than half his requirements. A look of doubt and sadness washed over his face as he realized how little of a chance that such a girl would exists, and even so, want him.

"Miroku," she interrupted, "Look man, you are a great guy, you just don't have your priorities straight. There is someone out there, I know it, that will love you despite your past. She'll love you and be your soul mate. And she won't be the kind that will just make you temporarily happy, she'll be the one that you realize you can live without. That's the kind of girl you want, right?" Miroku sat there for a long time thinking about the words she just said. Could there be such a person out there? he questioned. "Is there such a person?" he asked the quiet night.

He looked into the empty silence up ahead. The stars were twinkling...they knew the answer, but he didn't. He leaned back into his seat, confused at all the thoughts running through him. He never really cared about this stuff before, so why worry now? The words back at the ice cream parlor hit him cold. He didn't want the next relationship to be all washed up again. The white moonlight softened his profile, bestowing a child-like look on him.

"Stop worrying so much Miroku, if you can't find love, love will find you." she said simply before dozing off.

Surprisingly, that calmed his senses a bit. If there was someone up there who had power over all this love matters, he didn't know. But if there was, he was in no objection to let love take its course. Miroku looked over at Sango sleeping soundly, mouth opened slightly, breathing in and out quietly. Why Sango even keep up with his late night antics he had no idea.

It takes a very strong friendship for them to do the things that they do. He wouldn't trade this friendship away for anything, for anyone. He remembered that Sango once said when they were younger that if they were both old and no one wanted them, they'll marry each other and live happily ever after. Miroku laughed at the time at the prospect of marry her. He chuckled at the memory as he leaned over and kissed his frister's forehead, catching a whiff of the fruity smell. "Good night Sango."

A bit short for this chapter, but nonetheless it went over my 1000 words minimum-requirement so it's all good. Reviews please?