This one is basically another touchy feely chapter, but about Sango and Miroku…but…not quite as bad. So continue to read and tell me what you think.

The taijiya halted against a tree, her mouth mixed in a tiny frown. Her deep brown eyes concerned. Sango turned, stalking toward the village, her boomerang shifting as she walked, her sandals shuffling on the dark lush grass.
Kagome-chan...poor Kagome-chan... I wonder how she's holding up... She girl slowed as te village came into view, her eyes scanning the horizon. A deep sigh escaped between her lips. She knew she had to return sooner or later.
Her hands gripped the black strap, her bangs blowing in the light breeze. Turning in the direction of the hut, she started off slowly. Mou. Damn you, Naraku. We will take you down. Her thoughts swirled about Kohaku and seemed to imprint him into her eyes, her mind, her soul.

Miroku was set in the opposite direction of the taijiya, head bent towards the ground as he shuffled through the village. He had no desire to return to the hut; rather, his mind was too focused on other things. The houshi couldn't possibly give his concern with full attention, and therefore made no attempt to do so. As he walked, a small cloud of dust billowing out behind him, his staff lightly jingled, the merry noise almost mocking considering the mood. Blowing a wisp of hair from his violet eyes, he turned his head to face the clouded sky. We will get you, Naraku...
Trailing off from his mental threat that went unheard, he heaved a sigh. Things just weren't as simple as they had been before meeting up with the others. He didn't regret meeting them; no, he would do anything for his friends. Though, he couldn't help but wonder if he'd be closer to defeating Naraku without the Inu-tachi. Upon thinking of the matter, he decided he was better off with his friends than without.
As he passed the hut, he felt the familiar tug pull at his right hand. He refused to wince, despite the mild pain that shot up his arm; it was something that happened all the time, not because the wind tunnel was getting any bigger (though Miroku held no doubt to the idea that it was), but because it was simply there. He had grown used to it ever since, and it would do him no good to complain of it now.
Staring down at his cursed hand, morbid thoughts began to drift through his mind, encouraging the houshi's already depressing mood. This sudden delay would only hinder their fight for Naraku, and the completion of the Shikon No Tama. He knew they would have to cross the hanyou's path eventually, to complete the jewel, but Miroku could only speculate if he would be alive when that time finally came to pass. Am I going to die? Miroku had come to terms with the idea long ago, but the idea only seemed to be all the more haunting as the days dragged slowly onward. He felt as if they were only falling farther behind in the hunt for Naraku, rather than getting any closer.
A thin shower began to fall from the sky, one of the many rain drops landing on his face as the houshi blinked. As he moved his head to face forward, he reached a hand to wipe what was now a damp streak away, musing on how the rains made it seem the skies were crying. But we don't have the time to cry... His gaze shifted to the passing taijiya. Or to love...

The girl with the dark chestnut hair stared up at the sky, cringing as rain drops blew into her eyes, despite which way she turned her head. She put her hand to defend her face from the wetness. She gritted her teeth. "Mou..." Terrific. I'm sure this won't help Kagome-chan's behaviour...
Sango marched to the hut, setting her slender, rough fingers upon the wood panels beside the door. A frown shown on her face as she turned her wrist slightly. Her deep soulful eyes, normally so full of life, dulled as she squinted squinted.
She pulled back sharply with a hiss of sadness. I've been so distracted for awhile...that I did not notice all these new scars... She growled as she turned her back to the mat that hung from the top of the door as a door.
The taijiya glanced over her shoulder quickly. It's not like Kagome-chan will be all better if I go inside, right? She shook her head as she stalked off to find a sheltered place to think. It was not her intention to get chilled to the bone and as sick as Kagome had been. She knew it would only slow them down ever so more.
Sango started off, wandering restlessly. She gave a dry thought as she brushed rich brown hair behind an ear. Her hair was now soaked and seemed to darken a tad shade with the moistness of the weather. Her bangs stuck to her forehead as she tried to brush them off.
Why am I so angry? I chose my destiny. I need to deal with it. It was true. By choosing her occupation, she set her own path, everything. She glared at the dirt. How can I be considered a woman? She blinked, hearing a light mew in the distance.
Turning around, she sighted the kitten. "Kirara!" It seemed the cat was getting extremely soaked. The youkai cat had probably been out in the rain quite awhile. Opening her arms, she allowed the her beloved companion to be sheltered.
But the cat kept staring straight ahead. She turned her head to Sango and then into the distance with a tiny mew. "Mew..."
"Eh?" She looked up with startled surprise. She stood straighter from her half croush in an attempt to allow Kirara to run up to her arms. Side stepping to peer around her, she breathed sharply between her teeth. "Houshi-sama..." The monk was in the distance.

The rain did nothing but worsen Miroku's mood as he passed the hut, mud seeping into his robes as it splashed every few steps. Sighing once more the monk pushed his bangs from his eyes, frown deepening. He didn't like this, this... Well, whatever this was. The weather, their situation, everything was going absolutely wrong. A hollow feeling settled in his stomach, and he felt as if they would never defeat Naraku; even if he could live forever.
His gaze landed on Sango, his mind taking a moment to recognize the taijiya for who she was. He decided to give her some human company, figuring they could both use a distracting conversation. He was more than certain her heart ached and mulled over her brother, Kohaku, just as much as his mind dwelled on his wind tunnel, if not more-so.
As he neared, he nodded in greeting, stopped just short of the cat youkai between them. "Sango-chan," he stated, his mouth forming a thin line as he looked to the demon slayer with an almost blank expression. With his heavy heart, happiness didn't seem to exist at the moment. He hoped perhaps spending time with Sango might cure that. "Are you all right." He cocked a tired brow, reffering to her emotions rather than physical well being. Everyone was a bit stressed lately, but it always seemed to him Sango was more so than the others.

The taijiya wiped at her forehead, cringing at how wet she had become. Whatever thoughts of keeping well flew out of her mind once she saw Miroku. Now, Sango merely struggled to keep her emotions in check.
"Ah, nothing, nothing, Houshi-sama. I'm alright." Her face was serious, probably trying to convince him so. She looked at him before staring up at the dark, gloomy clouds high above.
A frown came onto her face as she spoke. Staring at him carefully, she rubbed the back of her hand, a bit nervously so. "Ano...Houshi-sama...why are you out here in this weather?" She spread an arm to the sky to emphasize her worries.
Brown eyes could not help but look over at the soaked through monk. Somehow, despite how wet he is, he still looks handsome... Her cheeks burned, seeming to make up for her chills. What am I thinking!
The kitten stared up at the two humans. Her mistress seemed quite flustered about one nthing or another. Kirara bounded over, rubbing her head against her ankle.
Bending over, Sango stroked Kirara. It was an excuse to keep the monk from noticing her embarrassment. Loose dark hair slid past her shoulders and before her face. "W-well?"

Miroku heaved another sigh, turning his gaze up shortly after Sango, blinking as rain fell into his eyes. Shaking his head, he faced away from the sky, water spraying out from his hair, though it was hardly noticable considering the rain.
"I was only thinking, Sango-chan," the houshi replied, his violet orbs landing on Sango. "About things no one should dwell on." He paused, eyeing the soaked taijiya, and the same question ran through his mind.
"I should be asking the same of you," he added, moving past the small youkai, forgetting anything that might have been proper or apropriate, and flopped into the mud beside Sango. "You seem rather wet."
His theory of spending time with Sango seemed to be working, a slight grin forming on his face as he let his staff fall to the ground with a splat beside him. He crossed his legs, leaning onto his arms which were stretched at a slant behind him, peering over at his friend. "What troubles you?"

"I'm just taking a walk, that's all." But Sango was less convinced than Miroku would have been himself. Who would buy that? Why would a sensible, knowledgeable taijiya wander into the soaking rain for no reason whatsoever? He won't believe it. And I wouldn't either if I were him...
Her eyes focusing on the sky, she murmured her answer lightly. "I told you, nothing's bothering me. Everything is okay. Everything is fine. Everything is grand." She could feel her fake optimistic attitude drop in her last statement. Dropping to one of sarcasm instead.
Nothing's wrong. Nothing at all. Besides the fact the Kagome-chan is out of commission, Kohaku could be getting more distant every day, and I'm confused with my emotions. Just wonderful.

Miroku nodded, watching Sango all the while. There was something about the taijiya that made her different from everyone else. She wasn't so... normal? No, that wasn't it. Nobody was normal; they knew that all too well. Still, something she did or said, he wasn't sure what, set him off slightly. He was never really certain how to act, and when he did act, his words and actions were never quite as 'smooth' as they were around other women.
"Ah, you're right," Miroku replied in a sadistic tone. "Everything's just absolutely perfect, isn't it? I mean, what isn't there to like about the fact Lady Kagome is next to ill, that Kohaku is under Naraku's spell, which is only continuing to grow, that we haven't gotten any closer to Naraku than when we started, and I'm scared stiff that the wind tunnel will suck me in only a matter of weeks?" He sighed, closing his eyes as he titlted his face upwards. It felt like a large weight had been removed; he felt like he could actually breathe now. Though, he was being a bit melodramatic; the wind tunnel wouldn't suck him in that soon, but it most certainly felt like it, which did make him worry. "Yes, Lady Sango, everything is wonderful, isn't it?"

The taijiya could feel her shoulders stiffen immediately at what the monk had to say to her. She watched him, concern outlining her features. Her brown eyes fell to his right hand, beads hanging off of it. "H-houshi-sama..."
"I...I didn't mean that!" She leaned closer as she spoke, her voice strained lightly with worry. All the demon slayer had tried to do was to get him off her back. But she had made things worse unintentionally.
What have I done? Sango bit her lip, feeling upset with herself by her stupidity. I really messed up. She looked away, a guilt trip racing through her veins.

Miroku sighed for what seemed to be the umpteenth time, and sat up from his relaxed position. "No," he objected, shaking his head. "I should be the one to apologize. Gomen nasai, if I worried you at all." He ran a muddy sleeve across his forehead, trying to get rid of the water running into his eyes; the rain always knew the worst times to fall, didn't it?
"No, I think it will be quite some time before the wind tunnel consumes me," he continued, staring off ahead. "If we don't defeat Naraku before then. Sometimes, however, it feels like I have merely days... Similar to how your hope for Kohaku changes, correct?" He raised his right hand, examining the beads and cover intensely, as if staring long enough would tell him something. He flexed his fist, his knuckles cracking in the hollow silence, occupied by only the rain and their small talk.

"Ano..." Sango leaned back to look at him better. Her critical eyes scanned his face quizically. She could not help but feel the guilt added to her burden.
She frowned as she rocked on her heels gently, her eyes settling on the sky. The rain pelted her face, but she seemed numb and unaware of what was happening to her.
"Houshi-sama...are you sure you're okay?" She could feel her two-tailed kitten pouncing over between them, but did no move to stop her.
In sudden movement, she looked at Miroku. She blinked at him curiously a few times before bursting into mirth. She smiled shyly as she pointed a finger toward his face. "Ano...you got a little mud there." A little? That was an understatement.

The ancient preistess Kaede shuffled quietly around the hut as Kagome and Inuyasha spoke. It appeared as if history was doomed to repete itself. The ancient miko let out a sigh. First with her sister Kikyou and now with her reincarnation, it appeared Naraku's malicious soul couldn't rest until he saw Inuyasha killed, and preferably by one he loved.
And although the hanyou tried hard to hide it, it was obvious how much he cared for her sister's reincarnation. As the soft pounding of the rain on the huts roof finally entered her mind the preistess started a fire in the pit in the middle of the floor. She walked slowly to the door, the muffled voices of Miroku and Sango were heard through the wall.
"Sango, Miroku...it be best if you come in now."

"Lady Sango, I'm fine," he told her, lowering his cursed and stretching out his arms behind him once more. "Really, no need to worry." I should be worried about you, anyway... He sighed again, looking up as the rain continued to fall. Why did it seem the weather matched the circumstances so perfectly?
He blinked, looking at Sango with a quizzical look. "Mud?" He reached up his left hand, which was also covered in mud from resting on the ground, a put it to his face. He made a look, pulling his hand away with an unsurprised sigh. "Ah, yes, mud indeed." He looked slyly at Sango. "You're not so clean yourself, are you?"
In truth, Sango was near spotless compared to the houshi. Well, she was, anyway, until he ran his left hand over her forehead, cheeks, nose and chin. Leaning back with a satisfied grin, he examined his work. "You've got a little mud there."
Miroku looked up as Kaede called to them, feeling a bit disappointed their moment in the rain was over; he felt better, though, and was thankful for the time alone he had shared with Sango. "We'll be there in a minute, Lady Kaede!" He replied, rising to his fet and gathering up his mud-covered staff.

The taijiya gave a startled cry as she shifted away from the monk. She laughed as he pulled away from her. She shook her hands in the air, trying to rid of the muck she had gotten splattered with.
She raised her fist teasingly, ready to get her game on. A flickering smirk crossed her face mischieviously. She blinked as she looked up. Kaede was seen through the door.
The taijiya flushed as she staggered to her feet. "H-hai, Kaede-baba!" Sango glanced at Miroku, before tucking strand of muddy hair behind an ear. "We should really head back..."
It seemed that just being around the houshi washed her fears and worries away. How funny life works... Then, she turned in the direction of the hut. And she headed off. She twisted around and gave a grateful smile. "Thanks, Houshi-sama."