A/N: WELL WELL WELLLLLL! This is officially the turning point or midpoint or whatever you'd like to call it. This chapter is an okay length I think, and anyways, yeah enjoy. Oh and once again thank you muchly to the reviewers, sorry I couldn't take the time to respond to each one of you but in general I'm very glad that this story makes you guys sad, angry, happy, surprised and whatever other emotion that I missed. It makes my heart leap out

Important: This story is taking a brief hiatus, not because I am going to stop writing but it's because I want to write ALL of the bottom half (yes I'm near ending!) before I begin to upload again. This will take roughly one week for me to finish, so yeah one week of no uploading for me :D Sit tight! Oh and wish me an early happy birthday! It's on the 12th :)

Someone Out There
Chapter Eighteen: Betrayal

Miroku ran with only one place in mind to go. Pushing the people aside he ran as fast as he could back to his dorm. He went across and knocked on Sango's door. No reply. He went around and climbed up her window and picked the lock to enter her room. Miroku's heart pounded as he saw the room was empty. He stood there in still silence looking at the empty room. His eyes wide open, wishing this was some mirage. But it wasn't.

The bed was nothing but a mattress, the sheets were folded in a laundry bag waiting to be washed. The drawers were all empty. The room looked as if no one ever lived in it. Every trace of Sango was gone except one thing.

He walked over to the head of the bed. His mind flashed back to the countless nights when he was there, trespassing into her room. She never minded him invading her dreams just to talk. He picked up the stuff bear he bought her sitting alone on the mattress. It held a piece of paper. In Sango's big writing it said, "Someone Out There." Miroku looked confused, turning the paper over to see if she wrote anything more. Nothing.

Where could she be? He saw her dancing with some boy last night. Maybe she was with him? Was he the boy she was talking about the other day? His heart grew jealous, not wanting anyone to have a part of her. He knew it was an irrational feeling but he can't lay down a finger on why he felt that way. He racked his brain, thinking of all the possible places she could've gone.

He quickly got into his car and drove to the ice cream parlor. The shop was closed today. As quickly as he got out he got back in and drove down the block to the club to see if she was there. If she wasn't, he could always ask her cousin. Funny, her cousin never seemed to like him. He quickly opened the door, praying with all his heart that Sango was there, playing pool or something, and that everything was normal.

The pool table was empty and the club was pretty empty as well. There were a few morning drinkers, but most of them look sober. A tall muscular guy was turned around organizing the bottles of wine and alcohol. Miroku made his way over to Sandy to ask him about Sango. "Yo, Sandy," he called out urgently. Sandy turned around, not surprised at all to see Miroku visiting him. "What do you want?" he asked gruffly. "Where is she?" he asked quickly. "Who is she? The Miroku I know is acquainted with many "she's"," said Sandy coldly.

Miroku tried to keep his temper. This was not important, he reasoned rationally in his mind, What is important is that you know where Sango is. "Sango! Where is she? Her room is empty. Did she leave?" Sandy raised a delicate eyebrow, amused at how worried this boy suddenly was. "Wasn't she with you?" asked Sandy, continuing to toy with him. He deserved it, he had his fair share of toying with others, now it was time for his taste.

"No, last time I saw her was at the Winter Ball," said Miroku. His eyes continued to scan the room, over and over again.

"Oh really, who was she with then?" replied Sandy, a smile in his voice. He was certainly getting a kick out of this. And in the end, all he'd have to do is tell him "I don't know" and Miroku would leave and he'd be amused for the rest of his day. Such simple fun.

"Some guy," he said bitterly. Whoever that guy was, it didn't give him a good feeling. Maybe he kidnapped her! He pushed that thought back down, along with 100 other crazy possibilities he conjured up since this morning. "Do you think uh, she's in some sort of trouble?" added Miroku.

"Like what sort of trouble?" asked Sandy slyly. The more questions he asked, the more of his mind he royally messes up.

"I don't know," said Miroku frustrated. "Probably some guy kidnapped her or something." Oops, that one wasn't suppose to come out. Sandy burst out laughing, "That is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard." He said between breaths. He continued laughing, despite the daggers Miroku sent him.

"No, she's not kidnapped," he said firmly after several minutes, finally recomposing himself. Miroku stared at him. "How do you know?" he asked suspiciously. Sandy opened his mouth, but closed it. Maybe he should tell him Sango left. Let the guilt eat away for a while. But he promised Sango he wouldn't tell him why she'd leave, or where either.

"Because I know she left," damn it why did he have to go and say that, Sandy chastised himself. How are you going to fix that one huh, said a voice in his head snidely. Miroku's face softened, relieved. "So why did she leave?"

Sandy's face was mixed with disbelief and disgust. How can he possibly ask that? Did he really have no idea at all? "You're an idiot," he said staring at him, brows furrowed. Miroku gritted his teeth. "When is she coming back?" Oops. Wrong question again. Sandy was beginning to get really impatient. "So you're saying you have no idea at all?" he said in an appalled tone.

Miroku shrugged casually, smiling a bit. Sandy was furious. He wanted to wipe the smile off his face for good. Promise or not, he was going to give him a piece of his mind. He threw down his cloth and marched over to Miroku. Miroku stepped back, confused at what's happening. Sandy grabbed his shirt and threw him against the wall. Miroku bounced back trying to fight, but Sandy pinned him firmly to the wall. ""What the fuck did I do wrong?" shouted Miroku angrily. Sandy has been nothing but bitter to him today. I do not deserve this, he thought angrily, Just because he's Sango's cousin doesn't mean he can act this way.

Sandy looked disgustedly at him. "She's not coming back," he growled. Miroku's mouth dropped open. "What?" he barely got out. What did he mean 'not coming back?' Of course she was coming back right? "Why?"

Sandy rolled his eyes at his questions. Miroku took this chance to free himself from Sandy's death locked grip. Sandy stood there firmly, crossing his arms. "Why?" Miroku repeated. "You," said Sandy. "What the hell is that suppose to mean?" he huffed. "You and Kagome make her sick," said Sandy. Okay that was a little lie. Sure Sango was sad that Miroku picked Kagome, but she never said they made her sick, and it definitely wasn't the reason she left.

"The hell…" Miroku snarled. "You're lying!"

Sandy looked coolly at him. Good, he was getting mad. Sandy was tired of Miroku living his picture-perfect life while his cousin is struggling physically and emotionally. This boy needs a good whack on the head and triple dose of reality, he thought.

"She left, just like that?" he repeated, his gaze hard. Betrayal ran through his blood. Hot white anger coursed through his veins. If she didn't like Kagome, why didn't she say so? Don't best friends tell each other that? Why did she have to lie and pretend everything was alright? He shifted his foot, his mind racing angrily. How can she just leave him like that? Did many years of friendship mean nothing to her at all?

Miroku spat angrily. Sandy pushed him to the wall again. "You have no right to be angry," he sneered. Miroku pushed with all his force back at Sandy. He was really torque up. "I have every right to be angry." he said, "How can she just leave me like that without a word?"

"Can you really not see it?" Sandy said tiredly. It was obvious to the world but Miroku. "If you got something to say, say it!" Miroku screamed, "I'm tired of your stupid riddles."

"It's no riddle," he said coldly. Both men just stood there, glowering at each other. "Just tell me," said Miroku quietly. He was tired from not knowing. He hated the feeling of being the underdog. What happened to the confident Miroku who could get any girl he wanted? The old Miroku never had to beg for information from nobody!

"How can you not know Miroku? Everybody could see it but you. Even Sango said that when I gave her my keys to the car," said Sandy, adding the last part intentionally. "You let her leave?" said Miroku deflated. "Yes," said Sandy turning to leave. He paused and turned back adding, "She loved you." Sandy closed the door, catching a glimpse of Miroku's stunned and sad expression.