"Sango…" Kuranosuke's sweet, lilting voice interrupted her muddled thoughts, bringing her jolting back into reality. "Is something the matter? You've been acting sort of distant since you came back inside…"

She bit her lip, wondering briefly as to whether or not she should tell him. But she knew that doing so probably wouldn't be such a good idea, given his track record with the other young man. He'd surely jump the gun and believe her to be jealous. She paused to consider this. Well, wasn't she? No, she decided, after giving it a moment more of thought. She wasn't jealous--just concerned. "I'm fine," She assured him, reaching under the table and giving his hand a light squeeze. He smiled at this and the subject was dropped.

At that memory, the faintest of smiles curled her lips. Her fingers, currently clutching at the ends of the pillow case, tightened instinctively, drawing the fabric closer. A contented sigh escaped her, and she snuggled down further underneath the warm blankets.

Vision largely obstructed by tousled raven bangs, she lifted her head in order to catch sight of Kuranosuke, who was padding down the hall. "Sure your folks won't mind?" He grinned, settling himself down on the window seat, turning his gaze on the evening sky.

"Mmm?" She mumbled, blinking the sleep fully from her eyes. "Oh, yeah. They're out of town, still. Kohaku's spending the night at his friend's house, like I told you. He'll call my cell if there's a problem."

"I'm sorry," He said quietly, laughing at her exasperated tone. "I worry, that's all."

"I know," She sighed, struggling to sit up.

He was at her side in an instant. "You don't look so well," He intoned, frowning slightly.

"I'm fine," She insisted, shaking her head. "I'm just… Worried, too."

"About what?" He pressed, seating himself beside her, where she'd scooted over to make room.

She inhaled sharply before continuing. "About Kagome."

"Kagome, eh?" Kuranosuke's brows fused together in thought. "She's still pining away after InuYasha, then? One would have thought she'd have moved on by now."

Sango's face turned bright red at that last part. "You make it sound so horrible!" She snapped, to cover her initial reaction.

He looked taken aback by her quick flare of temper. "I didn't mean anything by it," He whispered, tentatively reaching out to brush several strands of hair from her shoulders.

She groaned, appalled by her own actions. As if the wind had been knocked out of her, she slumped over, leaning heavily against him. "I know… I'm sorry, it's just…"

"Sssh," He soothed, tilting his head a little ways so he could lightly pepper kisses across her jaw line. "Let me…"

She loathed the way her body responded to his touch.

He gently took hold of both of her arms, carefully easing her down onto the mattress. He softly tugged at her hair binding, causing her silken strands to come loose in a single, billowing motion, only to fan out across the cream-colored sheets. "…Love you," He finished, hands going under her shirt, brushing across the smooth skin of her stomach, gradually creeping upwards.

"No!" She said suddenly, a little more sharply than she'd intended, even given the circumstances. "Please, no."

Kuranosuke--looking both hurt and confused--swiftly complied. Placing one last, gentle kiss upon her forehead, he rolled off of her, head hitting the pillow next to hers with a resonating thud.

She sat up, swinging her legs over the side of the bed, groping around on the nightstand for her keys. "I… I'm sorry. I can't stay here. Not tonight."

He sighed, although he acquiesced, getting up as well, hunting down his robe. "I'll take you home," He assured her.

She relaxed some, realizing that she was not going to be forced into doing anything that she didn't want to. "I'm sorry," She repeated. "I'm sorry."

He ran a hand through his hair. "Not your fault," He murmured. "I shouldn't have…"

"No," She interrupted him, wrapping her own arms about her torso. Even in her jeans and shirt, she felt exposed before him, somehow. "Don't. It was my fault, let's just leave it at that."

"Right," He answered, gruffly. "Ready, then?"

She merely nodded. At the moment, all she wanted to do was go home, where she'd be safe… In her own bed.

The two of them walked silently out of the sprawling manor and to his car. She hesitated a moment before climbing into the passenger seat. Was she really making the right choice? Was she really doing the right thing when she'd led him on like that, having practically begged him to…

She rested her head against the cool glass window, staring out at the night sky for guidance. Her gaze, inevitably, strayed to the moon. Her confusion turned to shock as she saw, looking down at her from the grainy, crater-filled surface the very same thing she'd seen staring at her from Kuranosuke's lidded eyes as he'd begun the process of making love to her. Miroku's stern reflection.

Perhaps that is why she asked him to do what he had in the first place… And why she'd let it go on as long as it had…


A/N: In a way, you people are lucky. What you see here is far from my original intentions. I'd been planning--and for quite some time, I must admit--on leaving another dreadful cliffhanger here, which would have left you thinking Kuranosuke and Sango had 'done the deed'. Hmm… Maybe I'm the lucky one. I could do without more danger.

Anyway, the revelation that they had not had sex was supposed to be totally different from how it is here. As I was writing, the new part just came to me. And when I realized just how much more poignant it would be this way, I changed my plans. Besides, this new ending holds a sort of delicious irony, don't you think? Sango thinking of the one she shouldn't want to be with when she's with the one she should. Compare that with Miroku's actions a chapter or so back… And you'll find them even more shameful.

So now I can rest easy for awhile, without having to worry about any of you forming some sort of sick and twisted head-hunting party. As we're now officially entering the second stage of this fic, rest assured that the climax will be coming soon. Though whether it'll be another jaw-dropper or a complete doozy remains to be seen.

Oh, wait… Just realized I better do this… As I'm sure some of you all have noticed, some of the chapter titles come from names of songs, or snippets of songs. And I think I only credited one of them here. So I shall do the rest.

Chapter 13 (Suspended on Silver Wings): Sweetbox's "1,000 Words"

Chapter 14 (Cinnamon Lips): OK Go's "C-C-C-Cinnamon Lips"

Chapter 15 (Panic Bells, It's Red Alert): Nena's "99 Red Balloons"

Chapter 18 (Beauty in the Breakdown): Frou Frou's ( 3) "Let Go"

This chapter, 20 (Welcome to the Fallout): Switchfoot's "Dare You To Move"

Haven't done Reviewer Responses in awhile, so I guess I should catch up on the ones that need answering. Though most of these should have been included last chapter…

Zimfry: Yes, I do watch Wolf's Rain when I get the chance. I'm not a huge fan, mostly because the episodes I've seen have been out of order, and thus, I'm a little confused. That doesn't stop me from being a huge fan of Blue, however! P.S. I liked obsessed fans. They make me feel loved.

Aamalie: Thanks so much for all of your support! I know you don't feel like you helped me with that last chapter like you wanted to, but just talking with you seems to have done the trick! Too bad you sort of blackmailed me into telling you about this chapter… But I switched it around anyway, so no sweat.

Elsiey: A member of my 'adoring public' who's not after my head? One who, furthermore, enjoyed my insidious little twist? Oh, wow. I think I feel a tear coming on… Take me home with you? I fit well into compact spaces, I promise. Ugh. One of those, I'd have to gouge out my eyes with my blending stick. Which won't be happening, as I desperately need it, as I otherwise suck at shading. So no worries.

Divine-Red-Crayon: OK Go is 'teh sex'. You should have seen me back when I was obsessed with 'Get Over It'. For awhile it was the only song on my play list… And I had it on repeat. Perhaps that explains why my brain is so twisted. Though my favorite song by them is actually 'The Fix Is In'. Anyway, you better watch your back in upcoming chapters. Who knows what else I'll get you addicted to.

DarkHeartKeyblade: Alas, bananas are my least favorite fruit insert tragic childhood memory here. I'm rather partial to peaches. Although I am fond of certain banana-flavored things. Though I deeply despise how I always falter when typing out the word banana. You'd think I couldn't spell. Anyway. You dream about bananas? Should I be concerned?

Sorry for the monstrous Author's Note.

Psst. Everyone must go out and get addicted to Frou Frou.

Please Review!