AN: Hey guys, sorry I haven't updated in a while. I've been busy, and been suffering from Writer's Block. But, anyways, here we go! On with the story!

Disclaimer: I don't own anything you recognize

Chapter: Different Kind of Life

"That's where I used to live," Miroku said, pointing at a small mobile home. They had walked around town all day, seeing the old movie theaters, burger stands, and broken down homes that were still filled with people. "My mom raised me there for a few months."

"You only lived there a few months?" Sango asked, looking at the old home. The walls were faded yellow, the paint coming off in various areas. Two of the three windows were broken, looking as though balls had crashed through them numerous times. The front door was covered with bullet holes, and the screen door was hanging loosely on its own.

"Yeah," Miroku answered. "Looks like they never did replace that front door."

Sango looked up at him with wide eyes, "what?"

He laughed, "Yeah. My mom's boyfriend came along one day, I guess after she had dumped him. Around here, being dumped isn't taken loosely."

Sango shook her head, and he led her further down the street. There were similar homes, some looking cleaner than others surprisingly. She had never expected life to be so cruel before. She had only read of this kind of life in books and novels, but never before had she seen it up close for what it really was.

It was devastating.

"This is where I spent my sixth birthday," he said, pointing to her left.

She turned to look, only to find a broken bridge. The river was dark, the grass and moss covering it, and birds were hiding between the plants, the babies sleeping on the dry ground. "Did the bridge break recently?" She asked, her voice filled with wonder.

"Nope, it's been that way for a long time."

"No one wanted to fix it?"

"Nah, they said they didn't have the money or the time. We never minded it, though."

She nodded, turning to look away. "I never thought this lifestyle was real," she whispered.

He laughed, "Yeah, it's hard to imagine, isn't it?"

"It sure is."

"But, when you think about it, half of the world has grown up this way. Sometimes it makes people stronger, sometimes it makes them weak. Whatever the reason, there's no excuse for it happening." He sighed, his eyes scanning around him as if lost in memory.

She looked up at him, her lips trembling. "What was it like for you to grow up here?"

Licking his lips, he hesitated a moment to think about his answer. "I don't know. I've seen my share of some pretty nasty things. But I don't think it ruined me."

"Did it make you stronger?"

"I guess so, in a way. I never did have a father to show me how to make the best of life," his voice began to lower. She felt a lump form in her throat, and she waited for him to continue. "But I made the best of it anyways. I knew there would be something better to live for."

She nodded, not knowing what else to do. How could he be so happy when he's been through so much? What could be in that head of his to make him keep living this way if he knows it's wrong?

He grabbed her arm, pulling her across the street. "Come on! There's a place I really want to show you!"

"Where are we going?"

"You'll see," he answered, dragging her along the street, turning down alleyways and stopped in front of a giant willow tree.

Sango gasped, looking up at the top of the tree, the leaving hanging down with grace and ease. She removed herself from his grip and stepped underneath the branches, being completely surrounded by the safety and serenity of the leaves.

"Do you like it?" he asked, smiling proudly as she circled around, dancing as the branches began to move softly with the wind.

"It's so beautiful," she whispered, stopping to look at him.

He walked towards her, looking up around him. "For the past ten years I used to come here everyday. Sometimes I would take my school books with me and do my homework here. It's the only place that no one would bother me. The only place where the world wouldn't find me."

"Sounds lovely," she said, walking next to him.

"It was," he whispered, shaking his head. "That was so long ago."

"You don't come here anymore?"

He smiled, "Actually, no. Today is the first time in months that I've actually come back."

She tilted her head, "Why?"

He let out a deep breath, bending his knees to sit down on the soft, green grass. "Life's been keeping me away. Work, friends, that kind of stuff. I guess I just never found the time to come back."

She sat next to him, but remained silent. What more could she say? This was a place where he had grown up, this was his escape from the world. What more could she do?

He turned to face her, "So, what do you think of the southern part of town?"

Laughing lightly, she looked down. With her fingers, she picked up a blade of grass and began to tear it apart slowly. "It's different than I expected."

"Is that good or bad?"

"In a way, it's bad. I didn't expect it to be this way," she answered truthfully. "But," she turned to face him and smiled. "I guess it's good, too."

He laughed and stood up, stepping out of the safety of the branches to leave her alone. "Hey, it's getting late. We should get you home before things start to get ugly."

Fear struck her heart and she instantly stood and ran next to him. "What do you mean?" She whispered through clenched teeth.

"I mean, once the sun begins to set, that's when the trouble starts," he said calmly, grabbing her hand with his own. "Don't worry, though. I'll make sure nothing happens to you."

Her cheeks turned pink, and she glanced down at her hand, now covered with his. He began to lead her along, back from where they came from. Her heart was racing, but she chose to embrace it rather than hide from it. No other man in her life had been able to make her heart race, or her cheeks blush so quickly. The effect Miroku had on her was bounding, and she didn't want to escape from the warmth he brought to her.

Maybe she could let this go on for a little while longer.