A/N: HI EVERYONE! I'M BAAACK! I have finally written the whole story, from start to finish. Now all I need to do is upload a chapter a day. There will be in total 28 chapters, and 1 epilogue. So there is about…10 chapters to go? Hahah yeah whatever, my bad math XD Thank you to all my reviewers! Ohmigosh almost cracking 200 reviews! EEEEEP! WOOOHOOHOHOO! Thank you darlings. Now on with the chapter. Note the setting of the story now is 5 years later! This chapter is not long, but it's to give you an insight on how things have changed, so yeah, bear with me you guys!

Someone Out There
Chapter Nineteen: The Scrawny Sheet of Pink Recycled Paper

5 years later.

Miroku shot the last frame, winning the game of pool. He looked around the club lazily. People were going in and out, buying drinks, staying, talking to some girls then leaving. Some things never changed. Miroku's hair stayed the same tousled burgundy goodness. He grew a few inches taller recently in the past months. He grew a stubble but shaved this morning giving him a clean shaved look. His smile was the same; mischievous and glinting. His eyes still sparkled with laughter, perhaps less than back in the day, but some joy was present nonetheless.

Sandy, his opponent whistled as he admitted defeat. He was pretty good at pool, but Miroku has gotten better as well. Miroku and Sandy had gotten pretty tight after the years that Sango left. No one could really pin point when they started talking and how they became close like that. The process was so gradual no one could see it coming. They weren't friends, more like "acquaintances" looking out for each other.

"See you guys later," said Miroku waving good bye to Sandy and David. Those two have been together for so long, thought Miroku. He shrugged into his jacket and went into his car. It was no longer a navy blue sports car but a red SUV. He didn't need to impress the girls anymore with a "latest model sports car." He turned on the radio and started whistling to the tune as he drove down the city streets.

The tall grey buildings towered over him. Shiny mirrors reflected off the building, flashy signs and creative architecture was everywhere. Yet the weather was always changing. One moment it was sunny, then next the clouds would roll in giving the city a grey dreary look, then the clouds would subside and the sun comes peeping out again. Miroku drummed his fingers on the side of his car while waiting for the red light to turn green.

Every morning it was the same routine. Wake up. Brush teeth. Get dressed for work. Cook breakfast. Grab the morning paper. Quickly wash dishes from last night. Lock the doors and drive to work. Life was fairly simple for him right now. He enjoyed his job and the pay wasn't bad. He didn't need to rely on his parents for income anymore, and enjoyed working for his money. Sure, life wasn't as extravagant as before, money was a little tighter especially since he lived in his own apartment now, but he was enjoying it. It was true, life is a learning process itself and everyday he was growing gradually. He liked living the domestic life.

Miroku searched around for a parking spot at the staff area zone. "Stupid kids," he muttered looking at their Mercedes-Benz parking in what was suppose to be teacher-only spots. Miroku circled the parking lot a few more times until finally one of the students left. "Isn't he in my English 10 class?" he wondered looking at the young kid in the driver's seat.

Miroku re-did his tie, checking the front mirror just in case. He smoothed down his hair a bit and got out of the car. "Another day, another opportunity to teach," he said smiling. He was an English teacher at a high school. He always loved English and decided to pursue it as a career. He wasn't a writer, heavens no, he rather be a teacher. At least he could have fun interacting with his students the way his old English teacher had.

He walked to the school's office. Several female student teachers blushed as they smiled and greeted him good morning. Despite how girls don't have that much of an impact on him anymore, his charm never stopped attracting the girls, even when he was unaware. He pushed open the door and entered the slightly hectic office. Slightly might have been and under exaggeration. Papers were spewing out of copiers, fax machines and printers. Telephones ringing non-stop, secretaries busy answering calls. Miroku quietly walked past them to the staff room to get some coffee.

"Miroku you're here my man!" bellowed the principal. It's too early, Miroku squinted inwardly. Plastering a polite smile, he greeted him, "Good Morning sir, how are you?" "Still not getting any," he muttered back. Oh great, information about his boss's sex life in the morning. Not what he wanted to hear to keep him up for the rest of the day.

He nodded politely and tried to dodge the chaos and into the safety of the staff lounge. "Wait Miroku, where do you think you're going?" The principal grabbed him by the tie. Miroku's head lunged forward at the tug of his collar. "Ow, can't breathe, you're. hurting. me." gasped Miroku. The principal guffawed, "Little old me hurt tall muscular you? What a comedian!" You obviously had one too many glasses of brandy last night, Miroku grumbled privately.

"What would you like me to do boss? Ask anything and it will be done," said Miroku in his polite yet cheeky tone. Everyone grows fond of this bubbly boss if you've worked with him for the past 3 years. Even if he did something terribly wrong, you couldn't stay mad at his round face and red cheeks forever. "You're not teaching at our school!" said the principal. "WHAT?" shouted Miroku, fond feelings for his boss quickly disappearing.

"You are going to be substitute," he continued, glaring at Miroku for interrupting. Miroku bit his tongue guiltily, waiting for him to finish. The phone rang. "At an elementary school." Miroku started to protest. The principal held up his hand to stop him as he talked on the phone. He nodded and told the caller to hold for just a sec.

"You are going to be a kindergarten substitute." mended the principal. "But I'm a HIGH SCHOOL teacher," said Miroku, emphasizing the word "high school." The principal didn't even flicker his eye as he was too busy talking on the phone. He handed Miroku a piece of paper with the elementary address and name on it. Finally he said good bye and hung up.

Miroku stared at his boss. His boss stared back at him. Office commotion still going on in the background. "Okay, now get going," his boss said, breaking the silence. He pushed Miroku out of the stuffy office waving him good bye and slapping him on the back, wishing him good luck.

Oh great. Before Miroku could interject and propose a compromise, he found himself out in his SUV, driving towards the address on the scrawny sheet of pink recycled paper.