Someone Out There
Chapter Fourteen: You Either Sit your Life Away or you Run

Miroku turned frantically trying to look for Kagome. Trash was littered all over the campus streets. Firecrackers already used were scattered everywhere. There hadn't been much cleanup for the past week since Halloween. It's been a week and Kagome still refused to talk to him. His calls were ignored, his gifts were ignored, his sweet talk was ignored, he was ignored.

He loved Kagome. He was positive. That was why he was trying so hard to win her back, right? If only she'd let him, he would prove to her that he was right and true. Miroku felt hopeless. His life just threw him a curve that flipped him over and turned things around. His girlfriend was gone. Things were shaky between him and his best friend. Sango.

He couldn't even begin to shake off what happened. It's obvious, even a guy who's with tons of other women know that friends were off-limits. And if one ever did violate that rule…it was just wrong. A deep guilt grew within him. He felt pathetic for giving in to alcohol. He felt ashamed of what he did with Sango. He feels miserable for everything to come.

The sky was getting dark, and shadows were creeping up the sky. Goose bumps rippled his arm, turning him to go back inside. He wondered if he could go climb Sango's window and go out for a late night drive, like old times.

"You're an idiot," he cursed. Do you think she'd want to see you? He scolded inwardly. Sure, she looked fine when she held her cool while Kagome yelled at her, but something was eating away. He knew her better than anyone, and when she blew her bangs and shut her mouth tight: something was wrong. She didn't want an apology from him either. What did she want?

Maybe she wants you, said a nagging voice in his head. The tone of the voice annoyed him, as if it knew the obvious truth he didn't. No, he knew all too well that she already knows all of his tricks, know them too well to fall for them…for him. She would've said something anyways. Sango didn't hold things back. "Yes." he said more firmly drawing to his conclusion.

Miroku entered his room and slumped into his bed without taking a shower (or his shoes off). The pillow had a faint tangy smell. He held it close and prayed that sleep would claim him, or dreams otherwise.

… … … … …

Sandy shook his head for the millionth time as his boyfriend, himself and his cousin walked down the empty afternoon streets. It was mid-November and stores have already put out their Christmas sales. The cloudy frosty day had a faint glimmer of Christmas cheer as the Christmas lights flashed from a few stores.

Sango walked side by side, keeping up with her cousin's long strides. Sandy was half a foot taller than she was. But her at 5'5" and him at 6' she looked positively short. David was an inch taller than Sandy. Both men made Sango feel minuscule.

"I'm telling you, that's what happened," repeated Sango for also the millionth time.

So that was it. His little baby cousin was all grown up. All taken away by that… "Fuckin' pretty boy," he spat out. David tightened his hold on Sandy's hand. Sango touched Sandy's arm warningly. He couldn't understand why. "Why are you still on his side!" Sandy asked disbelievingly, "He pegged you and still doesn't want you!" Sandy instantly wish he could take that back. Sango let go of his arm and started walking ahead of him.

"Listen, I didn't mean it that way," reasoned Sandy catching up. She shrugged her shoulders, knowing it was true anyways. Sandy often wondered, how could one person affect another in such great ways? There were only a few things which can drive a person that strong. He opted which one it could be.

"Sango, why don't you just tell him?" He couldn't fathom why Sango wouldn't take things into her own hands. "He won't know, and will continue not to know if you don't tell him."

"I'm waiting."

"Waiting for what? The right time? You are in charge of when the right time is," cried Sandy, his arms flailing.

"I don't know," Sango said, monotonously. There were only a few things she was afraid of. Not everyone can take rejection well. She was so sure in her mind already that there was negative chances of them being together, so why go and ruin whatever friendship was left between them by exposing her feelings? Her logic made sense to her.

"Is that all you do? Sango, is it! You either wait your life away, or you just run. That's what you do. You ran from your parents when they wanted you to go to another college, you ran when your brother died and now you are running. Can't you see? You are running away from your possible future, your shot at happiness, poof! Gone because you are WAITING, and with that you are running."

Sandy stopped, catching his breath. He was never a man of words, and look at that speech now. He wrapped Sango into a brotherly hug. Sango wore her heart on her sleeve. His mind crushing, thinking of how one boy can manipulate and control his cousin's feelings with the tip of their fingers.

"Sandy?" Sango asked.

"What is it?" he asked cautiously, watching that his mouth wouldn't say something he might later on regret.

"I'm worried about what might happen," she said timidly.

"You mean…" Sandy dreaded what she was going to say. His smart, beautiful cousin dropping out of school because she was part of the statistics of teenage mothers didn't seem real enough to him. He saw the ads in magazines, but never thought Sango would be one of them.

"Yeah," she nodded quickly eyes wide.

David let out a low whistle. He was trusted with their secrets because Sandy insisted that "he was like family." He was use to hearing things about Sango. How she was so infatuated by 'pretty boy," and yet 'pretty boy' was so oblivious to her affections. Sometimes David questioned whether Sandy really loathed Miroku, or had a secret crush on him. David smiled remembering when he brought up the second option, and the oration he got in return about how he would never cheat on someone "unlike pretty boy" and that he would "never date pretty boy if he was the last boy on earth." I guessed that settled the question.

David took Sango's arm and hooked it with his own as the three continued walking. Sango appreciated his silence and comfort.

"You'll let me know, right? If that uh…ever happened." asked Sandy seriously. He'd really wanted to know. It would give him a valid excuse to beat the crap out of Miroku, and secondly, Sango needed someone by her. Miroku won't be, that's for sure.

Changing to a lighter subject, "Are you going to the Winter Ball?" David asked. "They're planning it already?" Sandy asked surprised.

"It's going to be a big thing this year. Ice sculptures, water fountains and fancy Christmas lights," David's eyes sparkled as he listed each thing. Sandy was equally thrilled. "Sango, you should come. It'll help take your mind of things. And plus, we can dress you up."

"But I-" interjected Sango.

David beat her to it, "Okay then, it's decided. We'll make you into…a princess."

Sango reprimanded, "We'll see boys, we'll see."