A/N: Oh my goodness! I'm so incredibly sorry! I haven't updated since February! Oh, you must all hate me! I just had so much going on with Erik- you probably wouldn't know him, would you? Anyway, I hope you enjoy this chapter!

Forever an Illusion

Chapter 9: A Simple Movie

Mikomi drummed her fingertips against the back of the chair. One hour. One hour she had to watch Kera-chan practically drool all over her pocky, and then stare at Sango and Miroku as if they were two gorgeous celestial beings from above.

"Kera! They're leaving!" She pushed herself out of the booth exasperated, grabbing Kera firmly by the wrists.

"Nani? Oh! I didn't notice!" The wolf almost lost her footing as her friend dragged her across the floor.

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Miroku strolled into the parking lot, Sango following close behind him. In a gentleman manor, the college student swung the door of the car open, leaving it ajar for his lovely date to get in. Sango sighed contently as she curled her bare toes in mid-air. She sat in the warm, heated comfort of Miroku's vehicle, enjoying the heat circulating around her exposed feet. It was wonderful when you could simply take off your sandals. She stared out the glass of the window, watching Miroku as he fumbled around in his pockets. She assumed that he was searching for his keys. Of course, this was like finding something in a black hole, for she couldn't help but produce a small laugh as Mr. Priest began to get frustrated at his actions.

The driver's door opened, sending a rush of cold air into the front. Sango's skin shivered with tiny bumps of gooseflesh for only a moment. He pulled himself into the seat, flashing an embarrassed smile, before turning the keys into the ignition. He pulled the seatbelt over his broad chest, making sure to be safely buckled in.

Sango drew a peaceful breath, as Miroku's foot pressed down on the gas pedal, and then pulled out from the parking lot. She watched as the lights of the café fell out of view. She also couldn't sworn, that two young women and hidden themselves behind the automobile. The maiden leaned back in her seat and breathed in deeply, feeling relaxed.

"Miroku, were exactly are we going?" Asked Sango politely, watching her accomplice drive down the road.

"My place," he smiled, eyes on the black tar ahead of him, "I thought you would enjoy watching a movie with me."

"A…a movie? At…at your home?" She stammered, feeling the rosiness of her cheeks becoming far more heated.

"Yes, my apartment." His became saddened. "Of course, if you prefer not to-"

"No!" Sango replied, her voice a bit raised, "I mean…no, I don't mind at all…"

"I'm glad!"

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"I can't believe you made me follow them! This is a guy's apartment!" Mikomi and Kera snuck into the doors that led to the lobby. "I feel ridiculous!" She ran her hands over the banister and followed her companion up to the third floor. Her footsteps were heard as they resounded against the tile ground. Those feet were still sore from sprinting after the couple. "You see no shame in this, do you?"

"Nope," She peered behind the wall, looking to check if the coast was clear. She gave a hand signal. "Now come on! They went this way."

Miroku unlocked the door. "Wait out here Sango. I must check for something first!" And skimming the room for any books he might have missed, he allowed her to venture in.

"Nice place…" Brown eyes glanced over in all directions. "You sure do read a lot…"

"Ummm, well…yes. I suppose I do."

"Are these prayer beads?" Sango giggled, turning the tiny round circles with her fingers. She studied how the darkness of the shadows, played across the light blue spheres. "Why would you need a thing like this?" She carried them over to the sofa, allowing herself to sink down onto the black leather. Miroku took the spot beside her.

"Well, when I was a little boy, I had quite an imagination. For Halloween, I told my friend Mushin that I wished to be a monk with some disastrous curse of the hand."

"Why the hand?" The pure voice met his ears like a sweet sound from Heaven.

"When I was five…" Miroku was having a hard time keeping his voice full and normal, "my father received a terrible wound within his left hand. Later, he discovered that he had developed some infection, which left him with blood poisoning. I guess he should've treated it sooner. My father passed on when I was a mere boy…" He watched as Sango placed the beads carefully on the coffee table, pitying him as her eyes showed signs of concern and an immense mixture of sadness and utter loneliness.

"I guess I could relate to that. My father died just two years ago. My brother and I were in a car crash. I don't like to talk about it much."

Miroku wrapped an arm around her shoulder. "How old is your brother?"

She leaned further into him, discovered he had an enticing masculine scent, in which she couldn't help but inhale. "As of now, he's 13."

"It must be painful to remember."

"Kohaku doesn't remember much…" Sango whispered, looking down at the dark green fabric of her kimono. The delicate stitches seemed to flow in a beautiful pattern. "He lost his long term memory in the accident."

He wanted to hold her. He wanted to bring her to him, to embrace her tightly and feel the warmth of her body against his own. Miroku wished to tell her that she was not alone in this world. Life is sometimes consumed by the darkness. But he would not let her loose sight of the light.

"…How about that movie?"

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Sango's eyes brimmed with fresh tears. "You idiot! Why'd you choose him?" She watched the television screen as a woman rowed off into a misty lake, leaving a deformed man heart-broken and love sick for a woman named Christine.

She cuddled into Miroku, gripping his shirt. "This movie…it's-it's so sad! Why did you rent this?"

T.V.: Say you'll share with me one love, one lifetime…

"Sango, not all movies have happy endings." He explained to her, listening to the finale song sung by the 'angel of hell'. (aka. The Phantom)

T.V.: You alone can make my song take flight… It's over now, the music of the night!

"That's wrong! Erik deserved better!" She cried, searching for a tissue. Miroku tenderly whipped her tear drops with the softness of his thumb.

"How did you know his name was Erik?"

The girl paused in answering him. "Mikomi-sama read the book…" Sniffling, she smiled up at him.

He clicked off the television. "I say it was a rather romantic movie…more suitable for the woman of your age. He blocked his face as Sango threw some popcorn at him, teasingly.

"If you're calling it stupid, it was not!"

"Oh, of course not… I happen to be a just as romantic as any of those men in that feature!"

"Sure you are…" She muttered as a sigh escaped her lips. She then noticed Miroku's lips were only inches away from her own. Before she could turn away in embarrassment, he leaned down and caught her lips in a chaste kiss. "That was…" she breathed as he broke away.

"Romantic?" Miroku grinned, and then shifted until he was almost above her, cradling her with his right arm. He kissed her forehead, then her hair, her nose, her cheek, until he kissed her lips again. Every kiss he bestowed upon her left a tingling sensation across the skin of her face. He ran his fingers ever so gently, through the beauty of her hair.

"…Mir..o..ku…" She blushed. The warmth of his breath caused her to tremble slightly against him. Before she knew it, Sango wrapped her arm around his shoulder and brought him down to her. His lips met hers in that one single swift movement, taking his breath away. Was it her, or was Sango becoming a bit seductive? Sango knew this wasn't like her, and quickly sat up, folding her hands in her lap, the way a lady would.

"Amazing what a simple movie can do to a girl, huh Sherbert?" She turned away from him, cupping her cheeks in her hands.

'Sherbert? Oh, oh yes! That's me! I almost had forgotten…' Miroku thought."You're very addictive, Sango…"

She had been wrong to ever doubt his actions. So what if he had hit on her, romanced her, whatever it is you wish to call it - he had completely won her over. She was falling for him. The strange thing was... she didn't mind at all. That other boyfriend was long in the past. Right now, she was admiring the deep blue of Miroku's eyes, those eyes that held so many secrets.

Now, if Miroku would only give her a rose every day…

That would be perfect.

TBC