More To Life
Chapter 17 - Miroku's Bad Decision
The second Sango stepped through the door she was greeted by the blaring sound of vampires favourite type of music. For a second she could hear absolutely nothing but music but then her hearing slowly adjusted and she was able to make out Miroku trying to say something to her.
"What?" she yelled motioning to him that she couldn't hear.
"I said stay close!" Miroku yelled back.
"Don't worry I will," Sango yelled back. Looking around Sango noticed Inuyasha and Kagome had disappeared. "Where are Kagome and Inuyasha?"
Miroku whirled around and Sango saw him swear even if she didn't hear it. Turning back to her he yelled, "I don't know. Follow me!"
Sango nodded, and giving one last double check that all her shields were up so that no vampire would realize she was a slayer she followed Miroku who was making his way through the crowds to what looked like a bar at the back.
After a few hard minutes of pushing and shoving they arrived at the bar and Sango was relieved that it was somewhat quieter now that they were away from the huge speakers.
"Are you okay?" Miroku asked now no longer yelling just speaking in a louder voice.
"Yeah," Sango said and then noticing Kagome and Inuyasha only a few meters away said, "look there's Inuyasha and Kagome." And grabbing Miroku's hand hauled him after her as she headed over to where Kagome and Inuyasha were talking to a vampire with long dark hair tied up in a high ponytail.
"Hi guys," Sango said reaching Kagome's side.
"Hey Sango, hey Miroku," Kagome said. Motioning to the vampire who was lounging against the wall Kagome said, "this is Kouga, Kouga this is Sango and you already know Miroku. Sango, Kouga owns this club."
"Look Kagome," Kouga said. "Why don't you and I go dance and we can leave bozo with your friends."
"Who are you calling bozo, you moron!" Inuyasha yelled. "And what makes you even think that Kagome would WANT to dance with a slime-ball like you!"
"Cuz she's my woman, or are you still too stupid to understand that MORON!"
"Stop it you two!" Kagome shouted angrily putting herself between them. "Honestly can't the two of you get along for more than a minute? Inuyasha stop answering for me it's my choice if I dance with Kouga or not." Kagome said rounding on Inuyasha and then turning on Kouga she said as Kouga nudged his friend Ginta knowingly. "And Kouga stop calling me your woman. Because A) I am no ones woman B) I may not be a vampire but that does not make me a possession and C) I don't appreciate being treated like some sort of trophy!"
"WHAT?" Inuyasha exclaimed eyebrow twitching. "You mean you would actually consider dancing with…HIM!"
"Oh be quite you," Kagome said poking him in the chest. "It's not like YOU ever ask me to dance!"
"Yes I do!" Inuyasha exclaimed.
"No you don't" Kagome replied crossing her arms across her chest.
"Um guys," Miroku said. "I thought we were hear to talk to Kouga, why don't we go do that rather than just stand here arguing."
"Feh," Inuyasha said looking away sulkily. "Whatever."
Kagome just harrumphed and said to Kouga, "Kouga, do you have anywhere we could talk in private. We need to talk to you about something that well shouldn't be discussed in the open."
"Sure doll," Kouga said putting his arm around her and steering her off into a back room next to the bar. "Just follow me." Without a second glance at Miroku, Sango and a very angry Inuyasha they walked off leaving the others to follow in their wake.
Once inside the spacious room Kouga closed the door and flicking the lock shut flopped down on a couch and grabbing a beer out of an icebox next to him twisted the top off and took a deep drink. Inuyasha sat down on the couch opposite of Kouga and possessively grabbed Kagome around the waist and drew her down to sit on his lap. Something Sango observed Kagome seemed to enjoy.
Feeling an arm around her waist, she turned to Miroku and said, "don't even think of trying it Miroku."
Miroku relinquished his grip on her waist and slumped next to Inuyasha dejectedly. And Sango sat next to him making sure there was amble room between her and Miroku's perverted hands.
"So what do you need to talk to me about?" Kouga asked.
"We're planning on taking Naraku down and we were wondering if you're in?" Inuyasha said bluntly.
That made Kouga's eyebrows rise for a moment, but other than that no emotion showed on his face. His face returning to its normal impassive look he asked "what makes you think you can beat him?"
Kagome shot Inuyasha a look that could have killed and Sango knew exactly what it was for, this obviously hadn't been the way she had intended on proposing their idea.
"We've got a plan that involves sneaking Sango inside Moonlight," Kagome said. "I can't really tell you the rest of the plan, unless I know you're with us."
"Wait a second," Kouga said a smile crossing his face in wry amusement. "You're telling me that you plan on defeating Naraku by sneaking this human in, let me guess as a slave?"
"Sango," Miroku said leaping to Sango's defence, "is no ordinary human."
"Oh really," Kouga said. "Then pray tell, what is she the Easter bunny? Honestly Miroku, I know she's your new pet and all, but don't let her beauty blind you. When it comes down to blood, she's a puny human and nothing more."
Furious at Kouga's words Sango vindictively let her barriers down just long enough for Kouga to fall off the couch from shock and fear.
"I wouldn't call me a puny human again Kouga if you value your life," Sango said menacingly. Climbing back onto his couch muttering a colourful string of swears, Kouga may not have been entirely in a good mood but at least he was now no longer inattentive.
Kouga eyes flashed once with fear when he met her gaze but he soon composed himself until he looked once more the impassive vampire she had seen moments before. "I do believe you've got my attention now," he said. "I'm listening."
"All of us want Naraku dead, Sango included," Miroku said. "The only thing is we're not sure if we're strong enough now to beat him. Kagome figures with you, Ayame and your followers we should be strong enough. Are you in?"
Kouga was silent for a few heartbeats and for a second Sango was afraid he'd say no, but then Kouga nodded his head. "I'm in." he said. "I'm not sure if the others will agree to it though. You do realize how mad this sounds don't you?"
"You don't have to join us if you don't want to," Inuyasha said through clenched teeth.
"What!" Kouga exclaimed laughing. "And leave Kagome in a dangerous situation without me there to protect her? You've got to be kidding me!"
"I can protect her just fine," Inuyasha said angrily tightening his grip noticeably on Kagome's waist.
"Ha, in your dreams dog boy!" Kouga retorted and then lounging back went on nonchalantly, "plus that bastard killed my kin. I've been wanting to avenge them since they died. This would be the opportune moment."
"Feh! Whatever," Inuyasha said.
"Well," Kagome said shooting Inuyasha a warning that if he messed this up he was dead. "We've still got to work out a few flaws in the plan but basically we're going to sneak Sango as Miroku's pet and then when we have the opportune moment Sango will kill Naraku. So are you in?"
Kouga blinked and then looked from each face to the next and slowly nodded. "Yeah I'm in," he said and everyone breathed a sigh of relief. "But, only on two conditions. One I get control of Moonlight after Naraku's dead. Secondly I will only agree if Kagome agrees to marry me."
Everyone leapt up angrily at that. "I should have known you'd pull a stunt like that Kouga. You know we've got to let you have everything you want or be forced to kill you which really isn't an option considering we're in your club," Inuyasha growled furiously.
"No chance," Sango growled her eyes narrowing dangerously. Miroku gently put a hand on her shoulder restraining her.
"Kouga," Miroku said calmly. "I believe that our plan was once Naraku fell we would destroy Moonlight as well."
"Yes Kouga," Kagome said. "We wanted to put a stop to the human slave trade."
"I'm sorry Kagome," Kouga said calmly. "But I don't think that's an option. Let me explain. Moonlight holds too much power, someday it's going to be rebuilt, if you destroy it and if you don't destroy it someone's going to have to take over. Now do you want one of Naraku's followers to take it over or do you want me to take over. It's your choice. I will try my best to destroy the slave trade that exists now but it will never vanish entirely so I will only make it less…unpleasant for the slaves."
Kagome looked worriedly over at Inuyasha and Sango. "He's got a point guys."
"I don't care," Sango said. "I will not let that monstrosity continue. Kagome you cannot ask me to just stand by and let it live. I vowed to destroy Naraku and everything he stood for before I died. I was a slave, I will not let others suffer as I did! I just can't."
Not wanting to let herself fall to pieces in front of this vampire she hardly knew Sango turned her face into Miroku's chest and allowed him to wrap his arms around her.
"Sango's right," Miroku said. "Too many humans suffer in captivity for us to allow its existence."
"I agree," Inuyasha said looking at Sango, he always hated it when women cried.
"I can see where you're coming from but I think you always knew in your hearts it never could be. I am willing to propose changes to Moonlight however, no slave shall be allowed to be beaten unless they raise a hand against a vampire," Kouga started but Sango cut him off.
"I would rather die than let that place be carried on!" she said venomously.
"Well then what do you propose slayer?" Kouga demanded. "Moonlight has and always will be a weed in our society. It will never be destroyed. Never!"
"I was one of Naraku's slaves for two years of my life!" Sango said forcing herself to remain calm. If she started to cry all the mascara and all the eyeliner Kagome had spent so much time on would run and then well……..she wouldn't look that great. "I will not let others endure what I did."
"Do you really have a choice?" Kouga asked simply.
Sango opened her mouth to say she did and would destroy Moonlight but bit back her response as much as she hated to admit it Kouga was right. Sensing her submission and realizing how hard it was for her Miroku put his arm around her shoulders in a silent show of support. Sango reluctantly broke her gaze away from Koga's. "Fine, we can discuss that later after we've killed Naraku," Sango said. "But your second demand. It's just stupid."
"You make it seem like I'm asking a king's ransom," Kouga grinned. "All I'm asking for is the hand in marriage of a woman who already loves me."
"No chance!" Inuyasha growled furiously wrapping his arm even more around Kagome's waist.
"Inuyasha," Kagome said struggling to breathe. "I- I can't breathe."
Inuyasha looked up at her startled and instantly loosened his grip of Kagome's waist. "Sorry," he muttered.
"Those are my requests," Kouga said lying back down on his couch. "It's your choice if you want to accept them or not."
"Kouga," Kagome said furiously. "That is absolutely no way to ask me to marry you. If you're going to ask at least ask properly. I refuse to marry you if your simply going to demand it."
Inuyasha's grip loosened noticeably at that. "Kagome?" he asked softly sounding more than just hurt.
"Alright then," Kouga said grabbing her out of Inuyasha unresponsive grasp Kouga bent down on one knee. "Kagome I love you more than that mutt ever could. Please marry me and make me the happiest man on this Earth."
For one brief moment Sango looked at Inuyasha's absolute miserable expression and then to Kagome and actually wondered if she had been wrong. Was Kagome not really in love with Inuyasha after all?
"I'm sorry Kouga but I must decline your offer," Kagome said much to Kouga's shock.
"But you just said if I asked nicely," Kouga spluttered.
"I never said I would say yes," Kagome chided him. "I simply said that that was no way to propose to a girl."
"So you won't marry me," Kouga asked.
"No Kouga," Kagome said. "I'm sorry but I won't marry you. I'll be sad that you won't join our quest, but I won't marry you when I don't love you."
"Alright I chance my second demand then," Kouga said reluctantly. "How about you dance the first dance with me this evening, you could do that couldn't you?"
"Yes Kouga I think I could manage that," Kagome grinned.
"HA!" Kouga said rounding on Inuyasha. "In your face mutt-breath!"
"I'm sorry," Kagome said as Kouga dragged her past Inuyasha "It's alright, I'll dance with Kouga and then I'll come find you and dance the rest of the night with you. Okay?"
"Whatever," he said his shoulders drooping knowing it was useless to protest. "
Kagome gave him a quick kiss on the tip of his nose and said, "I'll be right back, I promise. I'll come find you the second the song's over."
Inuyasha brightened noticeably at that and nodded, a small smile at her kiss crossing his face.
Kagome returned his smile before Kouga opened the door and grabbed her hand and lead her to the dance floor.
Miroku looked down at Sango, "You feeling better now?" he asked.
"Mmmhmmm," Sango replied lifting her head away from Miroku's chest. "Let's go!" Getting to her feet Sango waited for Miroku and then the two of them walked out the door as well. Miroku lead her to the bar where she promptly sat down.
Sango had no clue how vampires could stand the music to be this loud. She was a human and without their super senses she found it impossibly loud. As Miroku flopped down into the stool Sango glanced over. Would he ask her to dance? Or was she supposed to ask him?
"Miroku…." Sango asked at the exact moment Miroku said "Sango…."
Both blushed when they realized they had spoken at the same time.
"You first," Sango said.
"No I insist you first," Miroku replied.
"Ooooookay, Miroku I was uh….I was wondering….what I mean is…" Sango said haltingly trying to work up the nerve to ask Miroku to dance. Just as she was about to say it though, they were interrupted by a female vampire as she flung herself around Miroku's neck.
"Miroku!" she exclaimed happily. "I haven't seen you in like FOREVER!"
Miroku blushed at the look of Sango's face. Turning to the girl, he said, "oh hi Rikka. How are you?"
"Doing great now that you're here," the girl smiled saucily.
Sango had to keep from grimacing the vampire's clothing – or rather lack of. The girl looked only to be about Sango's age and was wearing an impossibly small and tight leather miniskirt with a super low leather bodice sort of thing tied up with blood red ribbons.
"Come dance with me," the vampiress pleaded as provocatively as she could while tugging on Miroku's shirt.
"Rikka, I really can't tonight," Miroku said glancing at Sango, who realised she was watching the two of them a little too closely much and hastily averted her gaze.
"Oh please Miroku," Rikka pleaded rubbing herself against his chest and whispered in his ear. "I need you to help me with my shirt-"
"Sorry Rikka-" Miroku started but Sango interrupted him.
"Go ahead Miroku," Sango said putting on a smile. "Go dance, I'm fine here."
"Sango," Miroku said surprised trying to see past the false smile. "Are you sure?"
"Positive," Sango replied. "I need a few drinks to loosen up before I go dancing."
"Okay," Miroku said hesitantly waiting to double check that she wasn't going to change her mind. "I'll be back soon. Don't let anyone bug you."
"Don't worry I will," Sango replied as Rikka dragged Miroku off to the dance floor.
Once Miroku was out of sight, blocked by all the bodies of closely dancing people and vampires Sango sighed heavily and put her chin on her wrist.
"So what will it be hun?" a girl asked from behind the bar. Sango looked up and saw another vampires standing before her drying a mug with a cloth.
"Sorry what did you ask?" Sango said.
"I asked what you wanted to drink," the girl said. "I'm Ayame by the way, I don't recognize you. Are you new?"
"Yeah," Sango said. "I'm Sango." She was about to sink deeper into her sad thoughts when suddenly she remembered she was supposed to be playing the role as Miroku's new pet. "I'm his new pet," she said venomously.
"Oh sweetie," the girl said. "I suspected as much, I knew it was either that you were depressed because you're a new human or that you were love-sick. I know you probably don't want to hear this, but as far as things go you're a lucky one. Miroku will be a nice master, believe me. He may be a vampire but he's probably the nicest guy you'll ever meet dead or alive."
Hearing this Sango looked up and carefully studied the vampire before her. She was remarkably pretty Sango had to admit. Her hair hadn't lost its colour when she was transformed and retained its beautiful auburn colour. She wore a black miniskirt similar to Sango's with a lilac tube top which matched the iris flower she had stuck in front of one of her high pigtails.
"If you need to talk things out I'm here sweetie," Ayame said patting Sango on the shoulder and Sango was surprised she did not flinch at this vampires touch. "And if you want a drink it'll be on the house."
"Thanks," Sango said with a half smile. "I think a drinks just what I need. I'll let you chose something."
"Okay, Sango," Ayame said with a sympathetic smile and within a few moments plopped a drink down in front of Sango. "Here ya go, so do you want to talk about it? Believe me letting what you feel spill is much better than keeping it all in."
"Ummm sure," Sango said and Ayame leaned her elbows on the counter with her chin resting on them. "Well I got caught by a bunch of vampires about a week ago and I was sold to Miroku just a couple of days ago…" Sango gave a sigh she thought she should stick as close to the truth of what she had originally felt when she had been caught. It would give her story a feeling of truth, so Sango went on to say how she had felt when she had been captured editing parts here and there to suit the story. When she had finished, she looked up and caught Ayame smiling sympathetically at her.
"Oh sweetie," Ayame said giving her shoulder a sympathetic squeeze. "I know you may think we're all monsters now," she went on and Sango was surprised by her insight. She wished she had met Ayame when she had been with Naraku, maybe she could have made her feel better. "But not all of us are, Miroku for one is kinder than many guys you'd ever meet, even if he's a little perverted around the edges. There are some of us true, that even I would consider monsters. So think of it this way, at least you were sold to Miroku rather than to someone like Naraku."
"Naraku," Sango hissed angrily. "You're right he really is a monster."
"Oh you know him?" Ayame asked confused.
"Uhhh yeah," Sango said her mind frantically trying to find an excuse to cover her blunder. "He stopped by at Miroku's the other night and beat me when I refused to submit to his will."
"Doesn't surprise me," Ayame said disgusted. "I don't think you'll ever meet a darker, crueller vampire than Naraku."
"Yeah…" Sango said. Suddenly a voice called out from the other end of the bar asking for a drink.
Ayame looked at Sango and said, "be right back."
Sango watched the vampire serve up a round of drinks for a group of vampires and as she did so she wondered if she had met Ayame before the past bit if she would have hesitated in killing her. Realising the answer was no Sango winced, here was another vampire that was decent and it made Sango wonder how many of the vampires she had slain had been…..like Ayame.
She had believed when her family had been killed that all vampires were evil. And now months later she was realising the error in that opinion. Thinking back on how she had slain any vampire on first sight, Sango wised she had taken a little longer and had gotten to know hr prey. She could have found ways to follow them, if she had deemed them decent like Ayame or Miroku she might have let them live. Sango winced again as she thought of how very easily she might have slain Miroku is she had seen him before all of this. Due to her blindness and lust for revenge Sango shuddered to realize that she might have killed the only man she had grown to lo-
"Okay, I'm back," Ayame said returning. "Oh are you done that one already?"
Looking down Sango realized she had already drained the drink before her. "Yeah, mind if I have another?"
"Not at all," Ayame said mixing her another. "At a time like this you need a little reprieve. Just don't have too many alright. Trust me, getting hangover is not what you want."
Sango smiled and took another sip, amazing she thought. I'm feeling better already, almost confident enough to ask Miroku to dance with me.
After her third drink, Sango asked. "So hw long have you been a vampire?"
Ayame paused, "a couple hundred years. I'm one of Kouga's changelings. He found me nearly dead on the backside of a mountain when I was about 7 I think. He kept me as his pet until I was about 18 and then one night when Naraku stopped in to check on him. I forgot to address Naraku as 'his lord' and he decided to give me a little reminder never to forget that title by giving me a beating that would have resulted in my death. More out of spite for Naraku, Kouga changed me. That was the second time he saved me and I owe him everything. It was my idea a couple of years ago to start this club, as a reward Kouga let me be in charge of the bar while he ran all the financing. It's worked out really well, business is thriving."
Sango looked up at Ayame at that last statement. The vampiress's voice held a wistful note to it and when Sango realized that Ayame wasn't even looking. Following her gaze Sango saw her looking miserably at Kagome and Kouga dancing together. "You like him don't you." Sango said simply. It wasn't a question rather a statement.
"What!" Ayame exclaimed her gaze jerking back to Sango. "What makes you say that!"
"The way I just caught you looking enviously at Kagome and Kouga dancing," Sango said.
Ayame sighed. "Damn," she muttered. "You know you're going soft when a human can sense you're in love." Recklessly Ayame went on, "Yeah I guess you could say I'm in love. If that's what you call giving your heart to someone and never getting it back even if that someone is in love with somebody else. Oh who am I trying to fool yes I'm in love with Kouga. I think I have been ever since the very first moment I met him. It sucks."
"Why?" Sango asked finishing off her drink.
"Because he doesn't love me, and no matter how hard I try to get him to see I'm head over heals in love with him he's always going to see me as that little girl he rescued. It also doesn't help he's completely smitten with Kagome," Ayame said and Sango was relieved not to hear any bitterness directed towards her best friend.
"Well if it helps any," Sango said motioning for another drink. "Kagome's in love with Inuyasha."
"You know Sango you really shouldn't have any more to drink," Ayame said.
"Oh don't worry this is going to be my last," Sango said.
"Okay," Ayame said and started to fix her one last drink. As she did so Ayame asked, "so how do you know that?"
"Inuyasha's Miroku's best friend, I've met Kagome a couple times before," Sango said evasively.
"Oh yeah I forgot about that," Ayame said placing yet another drink in front of Sango. Looking up past Sango, Ayame caught sight of Kouga as he returned from dancing with Kagome and Inuyasha hurry to Kagome's side, and smiled. "Oh I've got to go Sango," Ayame said. "I'll see you around hopefully, if not I hope everything turns out alright."
"Thanks Ayame," Sango said before Ayame left. "Talking to you really helped."
"No problemo chiquita, anytime, anytime at all. Look you really should go and enjoy the party," Ayame said with a smile and then disappeared off presumably to talk to Kouga.
Sango sighed and as she looked out on all the happy people dancing she realized Ayame was right. She wasn't really having any fun just sitting here by herself she should go dance. Drowning the rest of her drink in one gulp Sango stood and made her way to the dance floor where she immediately put some of Kagome's dancing moves into action. "I'm so glad I had those drinks," Sango thought, "they really loosened me up, at least I won't have to worry about being all jerky and stiff."
Five songs later Sango was really getting into the music and thinking "Kagome was right, dancing really is fun," when much to her shock a pair of hands placed themselves on her waist and started to dance with her. Sango craned her neck to see who it was but then she thought, "what does it matter, this is so much fun!"
Raising her hands into the air Sango waved her hips back and forth relishing the freedom those drinks had given her. She wasn't nervous or afraid anymore, in fact considering she had just had four – or was it five – drinks she felt perfectly fine even though she had never really had any alcohol before. Those drinks – however many she had had – had given her the courage to let loose.
As the song ended Sango let out a whoop, the music was really great. She wondered what they'd play next. A slow song! Oh dear, Kagome hadn't mentioned how to slow dance. Oh well go with the flood – oops flow. Flood; now where had that come from! The arms on her waist turned her around and Sango around the guy's arms to wrap around her waist as she was surprised to find her arms snake their ways unbidden to around the guy's neck. Looking up with a coy smile Sango looked for the first time into the eyes – eyes that looked remarkably familiar -of her partner and her heart nearly stopped. She was staring directly up into Miroku's eyes, it was Miroku's arms that were wrapped around her waist, it was Miroku's neck her arms were snaked around, and it was Miroku's body she was seductively swaying against. Miroku was the person she had just been dancing with for the past five minutes with and she hadn't even realized it!
YAY! Oh wow you should all be so proud (not to mention happy) this is my longest chapter yet almost 12 pages! Well I really liked writing this chapter, because Ayame was in it. Man she has got to be one of my all time favourite anime characters. She's so cool! Well hope you liked the cliffie, Bet you all saw it coming though. Well look forward to the next chapter all I can say is its going to be interesting. 4 drinks + one Sango that's never been drinking before one extremely drunk Sango plus tons of fluff. Toodles and please don't forget to review you have no clue how much I appreciate it.