A/N: Kera-chan, since you like this story so much, I'm going to dedicate it to you! After all, your birthday is close, and what better gift to give an obsessed Sango/Miroku fan, than a Sango/Miroku fan fiction? Any who, I hope all of you enjoy the next chapter of "Forever an Illusion"!

Forever an Illusion

Chapter 4: Love is a Rose

"Sango, calm down! I'm sure Miroku was just trying to be friendly!" Kagome scurried behind her best friend, who was in quite a rage. I guess she let that 'fire of jealousy' burn just a little too long. Wow, was Sango fast. Quickly, Kagome picked up the pace. "You should've done what I did!"

With this, the schoolgirl stopped for a moment and turned her attention to Higarashi. "And what was that?" Then, she breathlessly pushed herself into the bathroom door and walked in.

"Simple! I envisioned myself torturing Kikyo" The maiden ducked as the door came flying at her. With a free hand, she caught the handle and followed the brown-haired girl into the ladies room.

"I don't think he was being friendly, Kagome." She sat up against the wall and pulled her knees tightly to her chest. "He seemed so happy with her, I-I'm probably just envious." Her smile was weak, not to mention sad. "Miroku seems so nice…"

"Is there something you're not telling me, Sango-chan?"

"The other day…" Sango mumbled into herself, "I was afraid of getting my fingers cut off by those saws. Mr. Flynn was glaring at me, waiting for me to mess up or do something stupid… I was scared..." Her lips closed for awhile.

"That teacher of ours is odd, and I sensed Miroku thought the same. So, while I was petrified, glancing over my shoulder every two seconds, Miroku…" The red had returned to Sango's cheeks, as the woman tried to obscure her face more sufficiently between her knees, "Miroku had placed his hand on mine and was helping me saw. He was smiling, Kagome, one of those adorable smiles that you often picture your 'prince charming' to have. My old boyfriend never smiled that way; he never gave any sign of affection. I know this sounds silly but I actually have begun to…to-"

"Have feelings for him?"

There was no answer...

for awhile...

"It's funny. One moment, I thought my life had ended, and then… here comes this boy that has everything I think a man should have. It's a dream. I'm not even sure if it's real. It's like…an illusion."

Kagome just looked at Sango in response.

"It's pretty dumb; it's only been two days-"

"No."

"Nani?"

"It's not dumb. Don't say that." Kagome walked over near the window and stared out into the wide fields. "I feel the same way…for Inuyasha, I mean. Although, I think of love as if it were a rose. It's beautiful and deeply admired. Even so, roses have thorns, and thorns can hurt. Love can hurt." Grey eyes studied one of the birds resting in its tree branch. "After awhile, you learn how to handle the thorns, so you won't get pricked as much. But even if you do get hurt…"

"…"

"You'll always heal…" View came back to her company, her cheeks also flushed. "Of course, that's just something I made up." A nervous laugh sounded through the stalls of the loo.

"That was beautiful Kagome-chan…and you wonder why you're in creative writing."

"All I'm saying is, we just can't give up after a lunch period with two other women! We have to show the boys how much we care!" Kagome striked a pose. "What good is it sitting around in a bathroom, getting all depressed?"

"You're right! We should go back out there and show those creeps whose boss! It's not like Kikyo and Koharu are the most social able of people." Sango stood up and brushed the dust off her skirt.

"That's more like-"

"Men comin' in!! Men comin' in!!"

"Cut the crap, like you don't want to come in!"

"I was being a gentleman! This is a private place!" The voice responded, covering his eyes with both hands.

"Forget it!" Inuyasha dragged Miroku by his shirt collar and forced him into the room.

"It's okay, you guys. We're the only ones in here." Kagome blushed.

"Hey, how come you people get a couch?" Inuyasha remarked, glaring at the seat.

Sango blinked dumbfoundedly. "You mean to tell me that I was sitting on the ground all this time, when I could've been sitting on a couch?"

"Ano…hai."

"Figures…" She growled as she bit her lip.

"You girls seemed upset…" Priest spoke.

'Gee, you think?' "…"

"Did we do something wrong?" Miroku's voice sounded caring and concerned as her draped an arm around Sango's shoulder.

"Wh-what?" Her face was getting hot, was she blushing again? Oh please, she hoped she was not blushing in front of him.

"Sango…"

"Kagome…"

"We're sorry!" They both spat out in unison.

"For what? You guys didn't do anything!"

"Apparently we did, if it made you two run out of the café like that."

"Really Miroku, it's nothing…" Sango tried to say, but all that came out of her mouth was stuttering. So, Kagome did them both a favor and told the boys not to worry about it.

"I get it!" The hanyou smirked. "It's your time of the month, now isn't it?"

"INUYASHA!!" Kagome stomped her foot and charged out of the bathroom, needless to say, she was embarrassed.

"Come on, Kagome! Tell me!" And behind her he went.

There was nothing left, in that room, except for two people, starring uncomfortably at each other.

"You wanna…sit on the couch?"

"Yeah…all right."

And so, they sat next to each other, about to talk things out. They were sitting close to each other…and that made Sango blush easily.

"If you would like to know…"

"Huh?"

"Koharu is not my type."

"Oh," the maiden spoke softly. She then began fiddling around with her fingers.

"Sango, may I ask you a favor?"

Her eyes widened, as she nodded slowly.

"Will you do me the honor of…"

"Hai?"

"Going out with me this Saturday night?"

Silence.

Dead Silence.

She looked back up at him, after the seconds rolled by.

Miroku made a face of disappointment, and got up to leave. "I see…well, I better be going. I wouldn't want to get caught in a place like this." He pushed on the door.

"Matte! Miroku…"

"Yes?" He looked at her from the corner of his eye.

"I would…love to go out with you." She placed a hand to her heated cheek.

"We'll meet in the cafe, then?"

"Sure…"

"I'll be looking forward to it!" He smiled warmly and walked out. 'Chapter One, on its way…'

Sango sat there for a moment, and then got up. "Maybe it's not an illusion after all…"

TBC

You all thought Miroku was going to ask Sango to 'bear his child', didn't you? Yes, it could've worked, but I believe that would be sort of a turn off for Sango-chan. It might've revealed his true identity. Please tell me if you liked it, okay?

-Mikomi Taisho