A/N: Frick I'm getting tired of my stupid typos. Yeees I know I put Jessica, and before I had put Jason. There is an explanation for this. This is originally an 'original fiction' story I wrote in which I had put different names, but while writing it I realized this could very well be a Miroku and Sango story so I edited the names. I'm human, and I make mistakes so yaaah. I fixed it though, and hopefully I won't slip up again :)

Someone Out There
Chapter Twenty Four: Changes She Haven't Seen

Miroku froze. His mind reeled rapidly, trying to recall what she just said. No, his mind echoed. "No," he whispered his eyes opening wide with realization of what she just said. Sango shrugged her hand away from his grasp. He let go. "No," he repeated, this time less shocked but with more certainty. His mind raced through logically, trying to piece something together to prove her wrong.

"What do you mean no?" she asked, a bit annoyed. Tommy skipped over to his mom and tugged on her sleeve. "C'mon we're leaving," he pulled. Sango raised an eyebrow at her son. "A second ago you didn't want to leave," she said wryly. Tommy stomped his foot in impatience. Miroku grinned, "No because you're lying to me."

Sango's eyes flashed dangerously, "Are you calling me a liar?" Miroku backed off a little and his smile dropped. "No, it's just you're hiding something."

Sango started walking towards her car quickly, her son trailing behind. Miroku cursed and ran after her. "Sango, wait, what's wrong with you!" he cried. She whipped her head around, "What's wrong with me!" she asked incredulously, "What about you! You can't just come up here after 5 years and expect to get what you want."

Miroku stood his ground, "All I want is an explanation." "No," she said. Sango started walking again even quicker to her car. Tommy ran from behind and pushed Miroku in the butt. "Whoa buddy, watch it!" he said tripping slightly. Tommy ran after his mom to the car. "I'm sorry," yelled Miroku.

Sango got in her car ignoring him. "You've changed," he said. She couldn't tell from his tone if he was sad, mad or disappointed. "You don't expect everyone to stay the same forever do you? You didn't expect me to wait forever did you?" she demanded. "But-" he protested. "I'm sorry Miroku, everything is happening too quick. I need just some time to just, take a breather."

She started her car. Miroku grabbed the door before she could close it. "I don't know if this is too much to ask, but can I have your address?" he asked boldly. It was a pretty brave thing for him to ask, after the fiery argument they just had that barely settled. Sango gaped at him. "I want to visit you even after my substituting job is done," he said. Growling, she gave in. She grabbed a piece of paper and scribbled it on.

Miroku grinned huge and waved her good bye as she sped away into the fast-coming night. He clutched the paper, never letting go until he was safe at home.

… … … … …

Sango threw down her keys on the glass coffee table and stormed to the fridge. She got out a spoon and a tub of chocolate-chip dough ice cream and dug in. With each vicious spoonful, her anger faded little by little. "Tommy, go to your room, I'll call you when dinner is ready." Tommy wisely didn't say anything as he scampered up to his room.

Sango thought angrily. How dare he! How could he expect her to jump into his arms after 5 years? Given, he couldn't find her at all even if he wanted to tell her all those things sooner, but still! Sango sat down on the couch and flipped on the TV. She mindlessly changed the channel, not really paying attention to what was going on. She ate more ice cream until she felt better.

"Was it really unreasonable?" she asked herself. She couldn't answer that question. She got out some meat and spaghetti and started making dinner, vowing next time she saw him she will try to be much more calmer.

… … … … …

Today was Friday, the last day of the week for school and the last day of Miroku's substituting at the elementary school. After today he'll bounce back into his comfortable life of teaching high school English. He specially planned today so there will be little learning and more fun and games so he'll leave a good impression on the kids when he leaves. There will be reading as usual, then they will paint since kids love that. Snack time would be fun since he specially baked some cookies for them.

There were round cookies and star-shaped ones, chocolate, peanut butter, butter and sugar flavored. Pink sprinkles and blue sprinkles glittered brightly on each cookie. He also brought some fruit salad in, in case the kids like something healthy. The fruit salad had balls of every kind of fruit: small cantaloupe balls, honeydew balls, watermelon balls; there were strawberries cut in four so the kids won't choke on a huge one. He spent last night making each treat, hoping it'd be perfect.

The kids were so much fun to be around, smiled Miroku. They were young, fresh and full of energy. Zany and funny, feisty and emotional…I hope my kid will be like that some day, thought Miroku as he served some cool whip along with the fruit salad to a freckled-face young boy. The kids watched in fascination as he pressed the tip of the cool whip bottle and cream oozed out of the nozzle.

"Midori?" poked a timid girl. She and a group of girls clustered behind her. Miroku turned around and bent down to her level so he can look her straight in the eye. "Yes?" he asked. The girls stretched out a long piece of paper that had a word vaguely resembling the name "Midori" on it. Miroku whistled in amazement, "Wow…is that for me?" he asked incredulously.

The name was spelt wrong, but given, they tried sounding it out which was much more precious than anything. The word was painted in sparkly pink and blue paint. Someone drew a smiley face on the sun and lots of grass. He gave all of them a hug, thanking them again and holding the banner like treasure. "So that's what you girls were all secretive about while we were painting earlier huh?" he teased.

Everyone was playing happily on the playground or eating at the picnic blanket. Miroku clapped his hands to gather round the children. "We are going to play a game," he announced. Shouts of 'what game?" and 'how do you play?' came from the kids. He held his hands up to halt the questions.

"We are going to play football." Cheers erupted from the boys while girls whined and asked if they could go back to the playground instead.

Miroku shook his head. "Everyone will play, but this isn't your normal everyday boring football," he grinned. He paused for a moment of suspense. "This is even BETTER." The kids started chorusing again, 'how?' 'what?' and a few 'I don't wanna play!'

Miroku held up the soft football with one hand. "All you have to do is to throw that football at me," he pointed towards himself, "or the other people who are IT to tag them out. Whoever ends up running to the other side without getting tagged gets one point. The team with the most points win." The kids nodded their head, showing they understood.

"Okay to start things off, I will be it. Who else wants to be it? I need 3 girls and 3 boys!" Everyone jumped up and down, waving their hands in his face in hopes of getting picked. Miroku picked Tommy, Freddy and Joe; Becca, Larissa and Bonnie to be "it."

Miroku noticed Tommy smiling at him for the first time this week, proud that he got picked by the teacher as if this had never happened in the past. The kids ran up and down the field trying to throw the soft squishy football at the people who were it.

Miroku laughed as everyone tried to throw the football at his head and miss. They ran for another half an hour before Miroku stopped the game because he was too tired. All the kids look worn out as well. Miroku took off his shirt and started fanning himself with it. Several boys copied the older male and sat beside him shirtless as well. The girls pretended to be offended and turned their backs to them.

Miroku smiled amusedly as he watched them. Several girls tried to peep without the boys noticing, but Miroku caught them and winked knowingly. He laid on the grass for a few more minutes before gathering them round again to clean up. They returned back to the school in time for going home. Miroku quickly shoved his sweaty t-shirt on before going into the building.

Parents piled in and started picking up their kids. Miroku greeted the parents, offering them some cookies as well. "Hey Sango," he greeted the brown haired female. Sango looked up and smiled uneasily. He looks so sexy with his t-shirt clinging on like that, her mind drifted to the thought. She instantly pushed it down six feet under before it branched out to more outrageous thoughts.

She felt sort of silly for her outburst yesterday, but was glad Miroku seemed to have forgotten already. "So you're leaving?" she asked. Miroku nodded as he packed up his stuff into his backpack. He hardly looked like a teacher, more like a person on vacation with his t-shirt and shorts and backpack. "I'll visit," he replied.

Sango hung around for a bit, making pleasant conversation, reminding herself of the promise she made about being 'calm' and serene. Finally, Miroku said, "I got to get going, see you around kiddo!" He ruffled Tommy's hair and gave Sango a hug goodbye. Sango was surprised but hugged him back anyways. Miroku jogged off to his car and left the elementary school building.

… … … … …

Sango entered the bar where her cousin worked. It's been so long since she visited. They've talked on the phone and had always meant to get together to hang out, but it never happen between her busy schedule and Sandy's job schedules. Since she got off work early, she'd figured she'll pay her cousin a visit. Tommy's been wanting to see Sandy as well.

"Hey Sandy!" she called out cheerfully. Sandy looked up and dropped his mouth. He ran over and gave Sango a big hug. "Omg, you're here," cried out Sandy. Some bystanders raised their eyebrows at his femininity. Tommy jumped up and down waving for attention. "How's my favoritest Tommy!" he cried out, reaching over to carry him up. "Oof, you've grown a lot haven't you!" Tommy smiled proudly.

"What brings you here?" asked Sandy, sitting down at a table. Tommy bounced onto the seat beside him and Sango sat in the chair in front of him. "I don't need an excuse to visit my cousin right?" she replied innocently. Sandy laughed and dismissed her tone. "Want a coke?" he asked. Tommy nodded his head eagerly. "Haha, you better watch out or that head might fall off if you keep nodding so fast!" he joked. He stood up and sauntered to get them each a glass of coke.

"I met Miroku again," she told Sandy. To her surprise, Sandy did not look shocked. "I know," he replied quietly. Sango waited for Sandy to say something. "Well?" Sandy fidgeted with the sugar packet in front of him, tearing it a tiny bit so only a few grains of sugar leaked past onto the table counter. "What did you guys talk about?" asked Sandy. Sango's mind instantly flashed back to when they were at the swings and he was holding her hand.

"He expects too much from me," she said flatly. Sandy had no idea what she was talking about so he kept listening and playing with the sugar. "He expects I will run into his arms because he's declared he has feelings for me," continued Sango. "Wait, he said that? That's great! …Isn't it?" interrupted Sandy.

Sango bit her lip, "No, how can he expect that? It's been 5 years. Things have changed, I can't just go back to him. Even I'm not sure," rambled Sango. "You need to calm down and just go with the flow," advised Sandy.

"If it really is true love, even if you had to take months to decide, it will wait for you. True love that is." Funny how that was exactly what Sango advised Miroku a few days ago.

"Maybe," she mumbled. "Give this guy a chance!" exclaimed Sandy throwing down the packet of sugar. Sango laughed, "Who would've thought that one day you would be on 'pretty boy's' side and encourage this." Sandy shushed her. "You haven't seen the changes the past years, but I have."