A/N: Only one review eh? Pathetic! Don't make me pull out the big guns. I don't have to take time out of my day to write this thing you know!

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Princess Stephanie: Thanks for turning on another reviewer to my story. Be sure to tell her if she reviewed as well it would just make my day!

Chapter 23: Betrayal

Miroku stared up at the moon. Kagome had gone out a little while ago to watch the night sky, and Miroku insisted that he wouldn't let her leave the safety of the village at night unescorted. She could never see the stars in Tokyo and the clear sky was one of the things she enjoyed most about the Era of the Warring States. Now she lay asleep, propped up against Miroku's chest. Miroku held her fast about the waist and gazed at the stars that adorned the black sheet of night like a jeweled diadem. "I can't believe I'm going to be wed to such a perfect woman." Miroku said silently for about the tenth time that day. He chuckled softly at himself. "Who would've thought that a pervert like me could fall in love with such a pure soul as Kagome? It's like the match made in hell."

Miroku rethought his philosophy and looked down at the girl in his arms. "Or heaven rather. Nothing made in hell could be this beautiful."

"Hey." A voice from behind Miroku had startled him. He had no heard Sango come up behind him. "Why are you out here at this hour?"

"I could be asking you the same thing." Miroku pointed out, but he answered her question anyway. "I couldn't sleep."

"Me neither." Sango said. "It looks as though at least one of us can get some shut eye though." she added upon noticing Kagome was asleep.

"Indeed." Miroku agreed. "What was keeping you awake?"

Sango decided not to answer. "So, you're really going to do it, huh? You're actually going to settle down and commit."

"That's the plan." Miroku replied. "Mushin will never believe it."

"I wouldn't believe it myself if I couldn't see the ring on her finger with my own two eyes. I experienced how flaky you could be first hand, swinging back and forth between me and the next pretty girl we came across." Sango huffed at unfavorable memories. Miroku chuckled. "What're you laughing at? Do you find my misery funny?"

"No, I find it funny how incredibly foolish I was. But you have to give me a little credit. At least I didn't follow up on my infamous offer whenever it was accepted." Miroku said in his own defense.

Sango gave him a quizzical look. "Back up a second, you lost me. When, pray tell was your offer ever accepted?"

"Oh, here and there really." Miroku answered nonchalantly. "However, I was always enforced to embarrass myself by then denying that I was serious."

"Then why did you ask?" Sango pried further.

"Well, at the beginning of my journeys I believed that continuing my line was so important that I could bring myself to sleep with a woman who meant nothing, impregnate her, and leave, the girl being without support and the child being without a father. But as I grew older and more mature, I realized I couldn't commit such a heartless deed. And of course, the days when I thought a child was the first priority was long before I met you Sango. Actually feeling love for someone helped me realize I would rather my line die out then conceive a child with a woman who I felt nothing for. And for that, I thank you sincerely from the bottom of my heart."

Sango blushed lightly at Miroku's admittance of her being his first love. "I couldn't sleep because of Kohaku. I had that dream again." Sango confessed, finally answering Miroku's question.

"Ah, a repetition of the night he was taken by Naraku?" Miroku asked.

"Yes. I know that Naraku is dead now, but Kohaku could be anywhere. I'm starting to doubt we will ever find him. Even if we do manage to seek him out, who says he'll remember me?" Sango let a single tear slide down her cheek. Miroku wiped it away tenderly. He undid his purple toga-robe and folded it, making it a substitute cushion for Kagome's head. He scooted closer to Sango and clasped her hand with his own, giving it a light squeeze.

"Sango, I will travel to the ends of the earth if that's what it takes to find your brother, and I'm sure I speak for the others as well when I say so." He lifted her hand to his lips and gave it a light kiss.

Sango's blush intensified as did her confusion. Why was Miroku acting so lovey-dovey with her? Wasn't he in love with Kagome? Of course he was; he had just asked her to be his wife for God's sake! "There is little I wouldn't do for you Sango."

"Do you mean that?" Sango asked. Miroku nodded. He had no trace of deceit hidden in his face.

"I know Inuyasha and Kagome would do nearly anything for you as well. They love you. I love you." Miroku continued.

Sango looked away, figuring her face must have been red as a cherry by now. Who did he think he was, romanticizing Sango like this when he was engaged to be married to Kagome? "What do you think you're doing? What about Kagome?"

Miroku was puzzled. "What about Kagome?"

"She's your wife!" Sango cried.

"I fail to see your point Sango. She may be my fiancée, but what place is it of hers to keep me from loving you?" Miroku inquired.

"You truly love me?" Sango asked once again,

"Truly."

Sango's sense had been all but forgotten as she threw her arms about Miroku's neck and press her lips fervently to his, caring only that Miroku loved her.

Miroku's common sense remained however and his eyes grew as big as dinner plates. Sure, he had said he loved her, but he hadn't meant it in a romantic sense! Of course he couldn't exactly blame Sango for taking it the wrong way, he had been rather smooth about it, more so than he intended. He tried to gently force Sango off of him, but she held too tight for Miroku to push her off. He had no choice but to wait out the kiss. After a few moments she pulled away. "Sango…" Miroku gasped out as she loosened her hold on Miroku's shoulders. "What was that about?" Sango didn't answer however. Her attention was elsewhere, as she looked up at something behind Miroku. Suddenly, a foot connected with the back of Miroku's head. He fell forward, his skull smarting. He began to rise only to be kicked again, this time in the gut. He doubled up in pain. He looked up to discover his assailant was none other than Kagome. She looked down at him at him with a fiery rage in her eyes. Miroku slowly stood, wincing as a sharp pain panged his stomach. "Kagome let me explain. That wasn't a thing what it looked like, if you'll-"

"Shut up, you man-whore! I don't want your lame lies and phony explanations! I can't believe you'd turn on me like this! I loved you Miroku! We were going to be married!" Kagome screamed. Miroku opened his mouth to explain but he was prematurely silenced as Kagome's hand struck him across his cheek. "You. SMACK. Dirty. SMACK. Cheating. SMACK. Bastard! SMACK!" Kagome continued to rant, emphasizing each word with a slap, and then shoving Miroku roughly to the ground. "I told you I don't want to hear it. I hope you enjoy being alone, because you will be living and dying that way!" She stomped off back towards the village. She stopped as if to turn back but instead yanked the ring off her finger and threw it at Miroku, hitting him squarely in the forehead. "And there's your ring back! I won't need it anymore."

Miroku got up and hastened to follow her. "Kagome wait! At least listen to my explanation!" Miroku pleaded. Kagome turned and glared.

"I'm listening."

"First things first." Miroku began. He wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed her with an intensity that took her breath away. Miroku had found a list of 27 Ways to Make a Girl Smile when she's mad at you in a magazine from the present, entitled Esquire. Kiss her was number nineteen (A/N: real statistics!). Kagome slapped him again.

"I don't want you kissing me! I don't know where those lips have been! Wait, yes I do. They've been on Sango!" Kagome began to relentlessly pound her fists against Miroku chest.

Miroku held her fast. "What about my explanation?"

"I don't wanna hear you out anymore! Let me go you lummox!" Kagome shouted.

Miroku still held her tight, even though her pounding away at him began to hurt. "For starters she kissed me."

"One hell of a fight you were putting up!"

"Let me finish." Miroku said sternly. "She only kissed me because I told her I loved her. I didn't mean it in a romantic sense, she just took it wrong. I asked you to marry me Kagome, and I meant nothing else when I told you I couldn't live a happy life without you. Ask anything of me right now and I swear I will do it, if it will make you believe me." Miroku slipped the ring back onto her finger.

"I'll think about it." she answered. "I'm going to the future for a few days. I'll tell you when I get back. If you respect me you won't follow." Kagome began to make her way to the well. Miroku followed after a few moments. Kagome leapt into the well.

"Kagome, wait!" But it was too late. Kagome had already disappeared into the endless depths of time travel.