Chapter 17: How to Get Her Back
Eri was trembling in her skin. She knew that sooner or later she was eventually going to run into Sango, and talking was not going to be the initial reaction. Miroku and Kagome had both told her Sango's temper wasn't a good one to test, and she had unknowingly pushed it past its limit. She saw the girl in question nearby. "I guess I might as well tell her now. Now is as good a time as any." Almost immediately Eri's already wavering courage failed her. "I can't tell her. I'm too young to die. What can I do? I'll run that's it. She has short legs, she'll never catch me. No, I can't do that. Has she seen me yet? Yes, she's coming this way. Shit."
Sango approached Eri and halted in front of her, her face a mask of cold fury. "H-h-hey S-Sango." Eri stuttered. "S-something wrong?"
"No, in fact I'm glad a found you. I've been looking for you." Sango replied. She wore an evil smile now. "I wanted to talk to you, and it concerns my boyfriend, Miroku."
"Look, look, I know what you think and it's not anything like that! He told me that you dumped him and why, and I swear to God that he wasn't cheating on you! He was a drunken mess, he was obviously really sad that you broke up with him. You have to take him back." Eri blurted out a little too quickly. "Not like that's really the best thing to say in my own interests though."
"Why do you defend him? Surely you don't want to share him with anyone else." Sango huffed. Eri rolled her eyes.
"Why are you so convinced there's something going on between us? You don't have any proof! Did someone say we were?" Eri asked.
"I'm not blind. The least observant person on the planet could see that you and Miroku have been a bit too cuddly. Stop trying to convince me otherwise, I'm sick of playing the fool."
"But there's a good reason for that! It's not his fault!" Eri protested.
"Then who's? Who should I blame it on?" Sango asked hostilely.
"Me." Eri ashamedly admitted. "I've sort of been trying to break you up."
"Why? Why would you do something so utterly sinister and evil?"
"I'm sorry, but I really like him! Surely you can see it from my point of view. I mean if he was with me, wouldn't you do the same thing?"
"No! No I wouldn't! I would respect the fact that he was taken and wait until he was available or forget it! I'm not a plotting bitch like some people! And just because you don't know when it's not alright to move in on a guy doesn't mean it's not just as much his fault as it is yours!" Sango screamed in her face. "I stand by my decision and until someone can give me more proof than your word that he wasn't cheating on me, I plan on keeping it that way!"
"So basically, he's guilty until proven innocent." Eri asked with a skeptical tone.
"Yes." Sango replied deftly. Eri sighed and walked away; knowing further argument would only prove to be a futile attempt. Not that she minded much, she had tried her best and besides, that meant Miroku was all hers now!
"So!" Miroku asked Eri hopefully as they walked home together, "Did you get to talk to Sango today?"
"Yeah. She didn't believe me." Eri informed him.
"Oh." Miroku replied dejectedly. "I see. I guess there's not really much I can do then?"
"I doubt it." Eri said. After a few moments silence she continued talking. "You know Miroku, if I was your girlfriend, I wouldn't ever suspect you of cheating on me. I would know that you loved me and that you wouldn't ever do anything to jeopardize our relationship."
"Is that so?" Miroku said back in a monotone, obviously either not listening or not interested.
"By the way, you still owe me for the other day you know." Eri reminded him.
"That's true. What would you like in return?" Miroku asked.
"I think you know." Eri said suggestively.
"Please Eri; I'm really not in the mood to joke around." Miroku said depressed.
"Whoever said I was joking?"
"I told you, I'm not in the mood." Miroku repeated, more firmly this time.
"Why are you so glum? Sango is really not worth all this." Eri tried to convince him.
"I don't care!"
"You really love her, huh?" Eri asked.
"Yes. Beginning to wish I didn't though. It kills." Miroku answered with a rueful grin.
"Do you think she loves you the same?"
"I think she did. Before she dumped me." he replied.
"If you love someone, you don't just quit. Why don't you give her a few days to cool down? Then maybe you can make up with her." Eri suggested.
"You are the best." Miroku said his normal cheerful demeanor partially regained. "If it weren't for Sango, I'd go for your pretty self in a second."
"You would? W-well you know, maybe Sango doesn't love you as much as you thought. Or maybe she's just too angry to let it go ya know?" Eri offered as a possibility. Miroku noticed the huge attitude change, but decided to make nothing of it.
"Only one way to find out."
Eri sighed in disappointment. "Well if you ever change your mind, don't forget to take a look at who's available. I bet the girls would be all over you if they knew you were single."
"Maybe." Miroku replied modestly.
"I know I would." Eri blurted out. I mean if you weren't going to try and get her back of course." she added as an afterthought.
"I'll keep that in mind." Miroku assured her with a wink. "Besides you never know when it comes to Sango."
"That's true." Eri agreed. "Who would've guessed she'd jump to such an absurd conclusion?"
"Well it was sort of our fault. You know, with all the flirting." Miroku commented.
"True, but that was all in good fun! Unless that is, you want it to be serious."
Miroku chuckled. "I'll think about it. Talk to you later."
A/N: You like? Send a review if it suits your fancy. Who would've guessed Eri wasn't a complete bitch?