Well, here it is. The next chapter in "There's Gotta Be Something in the Water"

I know I always have excuses, but they're usually really good ones, so bear with me. I got into a pretty bad car accident, thank God no one was hurt. I am a senior in high school, and I've had to apply for college, which is one of the most stressful endeavors I have ever faced. My sister came down with a severe case of bronchitis and I had to be with her for "emotional support" (At least, that's what I told my dad to get him to let me skip school) Nonetheless, I am sorry that it took so long. But look, now you have an early Christmas present from me!

Anyways, I hope you all enjoy.

I figured out why the last chapter didn't seem right. I completely forgot to add the reviewer response. So, here they are from chapter 8 and chapter 9

From chapter 8

crazy4dogboi: I'm glad you liked it. I can't believe you like "Just Those Rainey Days" I keep telling myself that I'm going to delete that story, but then I get reviews like yours that make me want to just cave in and post the utter crap that it the sequel. (I know that sounded weird, but that's a total compliment to you)

Laina-chan: I'm pleased that I could refresh your memory. It is hard to think of a Disney song that incorporates the ideas of burning in hell… Where did you go wrong, Walt? Where?

LadyRainStarDragon: Still love your name. As for your broom-o-doom… would you get one at WalMart, or Diagon Alley? I like that cork idea. Perhaps I can use it in a later chapter?

Ritoru Kani: You might want to try flying with magic dust and nice thoughts. Your jetpack seems a bit out of control. Wouldn't want you to get hurt while reading. (I think I'm liable)

Queen of Chipmunks: Love you name too. Yeah, thought I'd make sure you were paying attention. No, this story isn't over yet. I know this is a late update, but if you could restrain your evil chipmunks until after the story's is done, I'd appreciate it. I need to use them again…

Jazmen and Chris at school: why aren't you two doing something productive? Like learning! I am sincerely disappointed in the two of you. Especially you, Chris. Now I'm going to have to glomp the crap out of you.

WeirdPerson: Oh yes, it is from Hunchback of Notre Dame. Bring back fond memories?

AtticusBlackWolf: I love your name too! You guys are so original! I'm happy I could get a laugh out of you.

From chapter 9

crazy4dogboi: that's cool. I'm just glad you reviewed.

WeirdPerson: I had a pretty good giggle about the animals, too. Who doesn't like singing turtles?

Phenomenon: Aw! I love reviews like that. So positive! So uplifting! Makes me continue writing.

wizogirl192003: Hey wizo! Well, here's another chapter. Do I get another review?

NMareB4Xmas1223: Yes, I posted. Then I posted again. I love this cycle. Don't you just love chinchillas? They are so cute and furry!

sweetpotato1992: the funniest? Well, I am beyond flattered. I know for a fact that's going to go straight to my head.

inu's lover: Well, I love you too. And I'll love you even more if you review! So will this story.

mikomihino25: Oh, I'm a girl. Boobs and everything. Kook is a new word. I've gotten insane, crazy, mentally unstable, menace to society… but kook is new. I like it. I'm glad you were able to find my chapters enjoyable. Caution: many reviewers seem to have problems staying in their seats while reading. Please make sure to buckle up.

Racheru-Chan: It's only disturbing, scary, because it came out of my head. It almost makes you wonder about what goes on it there, huh?

Sango The Lecher Slayer: My sister loves your name. She gets a real kick out of it. Thank you. That is some very good advice. I just might have to take you up on that. I had never really thought of it…

windgal: well, here it is. I'm happy you like it so much.

AtticusBlackWolf: Yeah, I like rabbits too. I used to have one. It's name was Oreo. My sister's was SnowBall. It used to growl at me, which made me sad. I can't say that I like possums as much as rabbits, but I'm glad my story is as awesome as one.

gopher: Printing out in class? You're like my sister! What is happening to the youth of today? Why aren't they learning in classrooms anymore! It's anarchy! Jk. Yes, I'll email you that I've updated. Hope this chapter measures up.

Phew! Well, that was great! I love responding to you guys. I can't believe I forgot to last time. Anyways, be forewarned, there is some fluff soft and cute enough to choke you at the end of this chapter. I cringed writing it, but it had to be done. I hope you all like this chapter! Remember, review!

Disclaimer: Don't own it, not making money, sincerely which I did and was.

Later that night, (much later) Shippo strutted to the campsite; little kiss marks placed decoratively around his face. With a grin that could rival the Cheshire cat's, he dusted off his shoulder and took his seat next to Inuyasha around the otherwise sleeping campfire.

"And, just where the hell have you been?" Inuyasha yawned. He couldn't understand why he was so tired lately.

Shippo's jaw dropped as he stared at Inuyasha in shock.

"What do you mean 'where the hell have you been?' For a good 10 minutes of my life, I was flying, thanks to you!"

"What are you talking about?" Inuyasha asked sleepily as he rubbed his eyes with his fists.

Just then Shippo's mouth was successfully clamped over by Kagome's delicate hand.

"Shippo! We're glad you're back!" Kagome gave him a look that clearly said, "You are not to speak of this. EVER."

Having no intentions of facing Kagome's wrath, he nodded his head in compliance.

Inuyasha watched the two with vague interest, too out of it to register what was going on. With a bad attempt at stifling his yawn, he lazily leapt into a large sakura tree, thankful that winter was almost here, and he didn't have to worry about stupid cherry blossoms finding homes deep in his nasal passages while he slept. The rest of the group fell into a peaceful sleep, Kagome and Shippo sleeping under Inuyasha's tree, and Miroku and Sango a bit further away from the group. They actually hadn't planned on that, but they'd talked long into the night, falling asleep right where they lay. Sango was the first to wake up, hours later. She gazed around the group, smiling at everyone in turn. When her eyes landed on Inuyasha however, her smile was quickly replaced with a look that plainly said, "what the hell?" Inuyasha was already up, but instead of looking like he belonged to the land of the living, he contented himself with watching his breath freeze in front of his face, giggling at the results, sucking in more air, and continuing the cycle. Sango poked at the sleeping Miroku intent on asking whether or not they should be worried about the half demon.

"I'm not a girl, not yet a woman." Miroku muttered, still thoroughly knocked out.

Sango's eyes raised in alarm, wondering just what that had meant. Panic rising in her throat, she poked him again, more urgently.

"Nothing but a T-shirt on. Never felt so beautiful, Baby as I do now" He mumbled, turning away from Sango's violating fingers.

Sango: …

Miroku: --

Sango, more than a little worried about the words coming out of her-uh- the monk's mouth, turned him back towards her, shaking him violently.

"So yesterday, so yesterday. Haven't you heard that I'm gonna be OK?"

Sango sighed heavily, rolled her eyes heavenward, and clamped her fingers over the sleeping monk's nose. She watched the groggy Inuyasha watching his breath as she waited for Miroku to wake up, gasping for air.

A slow, sneaky thought crept from her subconscious into her conscious, as she averted her gaze towards the stars above.

"I wonder what will happen once the jewel is complete, and Naraku's dead."

She hated that thought. She hated not knowing what would happen. She hated thinking about what could.

They'd been together for a long time. This group had somehow managed to become her family. She still loved and missed her own, and she knew they could never be replaced, but this group of friends did something else. They didn't replace her family. They just became another one. Her heart contracted at the mere thought of a time when she wouldn't have each of them by her side. Kagome, to gossip with, and to help her add estrogen to the otherwise all male group. Shippo, to remind her that there were still good things in this world worth protecting. Inuyasha, with his brash, arrogant demeanor, giving her a type of big brother she never thought she would ever come to need, much less want.

And then there was Miroku.

Her Miroku.

Even in the deep recesses of her mind, she flinched. It sounded so strange, even in the safety of her own thoughts.

And yet…

And yet, it felt right. She liked how it felt, the way it sounded, the meaning it brought. She was amazed at what a philosophical sap she'd become in the time she'd grown to love him. She often would imagine herself as an old, gray woman, still being pinched proudly by an old, gray man. An old, gray man that could still see the beauty of that woman in their younger days, just as clearly as if they'd been yesterday.

Yes, she wanted to grow old with him. Love him, and laugh with him. Argue and fight. Kiss and make up. Bear his children. Have him there to know them.

She wanted it all. With every passing day, that desire grew more desperate. And every time he placed his wandering hands on another woman, placed his lustful eyes on another beauty, he placed her fragile heart in a state of hopelessness.

Sango sighed. As much as she wanted to, she just couldn't see how he could look at her the way she looked at him (when he wasn't looking.) She let her eyes wander a bit, letting them rest on the still fitful Inuyasha.

Suddenly, a jolt of lightning ran through Sango as she remembered that she'd been worried about Inuyasha, and wanted to wake up Miroku to ask him what they should do.

Wait a minute…

"Miroku!"

Sango snapped her head down, realizing she was still pinching Miroku's nose. The most horrifying thing was though, that he'd never opened his mouth.

So now, Sango was staring into the very purple face of a sleeping, yet suffocating Miroku.

"You idiot!" she yelped, letting go immediately. She looked frantically into his face, searching for some kind of sign that he was still with her.

"Oh my gosh, oh my gosh, oh my gosh!" she chanted, panic rising in her chest when she realized he still wasn't breathing.

"I KILLED MIROKU!" She wailed. She slapped at his face, pulled his ears, opened and closed his eyes, anything to get him to wake up.

Nothing worked.

"He's not breathing!" she told herself, even though herself was screaming "No duh!"

There must be something she could do. She thought back to any piece of information that might've helped. Suddenly, she remembered Kagome teaching her CPR from her Health class, because she'd felt if she needed to know it, so did Sango.

"Thank God for Kagome's Health class," she prayed. Sango squished Miroku's lips together on the sides, making them open slightly and tilted his head back. She leaned forward, but paused a second away from his mouth. "Does this count as a kiss?" she wondered.

She pushed the thought to the back of her mind, reminding herself that now wasn't exactly the time to ponder about whether or not resuscitating a person counted as a physical display of affection. She lowered her lips, until they met his. For a brief second, she saw fireworks, and heard bells, but she pushed all the feelings that rushed into her heart aside.

"I have to save his life. I have to save his life. I have to save his life." She chanted to herself. She breathed into his mouth a few times, came up for air, pushed against his chest, and repeated. She did this about 4 times. The 5th time she went down, Miroku's lips closed, and she felt a slight pressure on her own lips. A bit startled, she looked into Miroku's face to see him staring back at her. Just as she was about to pull away, she felt his strong arms wrap around her waist, pulling her down against him, lips never parting. She gasped in surprise, letting Miroku's tongue snake into the recently opened orifice. She saw his eyes close, and against her sensible half, allowed her own to close as well. Her arms grew minds of their own, as they wrapped themselves in his hair (seeing as how getting them around his neck would've been a feat, what with the both of them lying on the ground) She could feel his chiseled muscles underneath the black robes against her own body. "For a monk, he is REALLY built" somewhere in her subconscious mind thought. But her conscious was a bit preoccupied with the new sensation she was feeling in not only her lips, but her heart as well. If she thought the little peck of life she gave him a few seconds earlier was something, this blew her way. To say she saw fireworks would be an understatement, they damn near blinded her. She no longer heard bells. She heard sirens, and whistles. Erupting volcanoes, and crashing waves. She didn't even feel the unseasonable snow falling around them. She saw, heard, and felt heaven.

And it scared the hell out of her.

Before she could talk herself out of it, she abruptly pushed away from Miroku, sliding to her feet in a mere second. Miroku, surprised and somewhat disappointed, rose to his feet too, and stepped toward her, staring at her questioningly.

"What's wrong?" he panted not exactly pleased about the break for air.

"No," she whispered, taking a step back. She placed her fingers on her still warm lips, staring wide-eyed at the monk. "No, no, no." she repeated. "Just, no." with that, she quickly turned around and bolted into the deep woods, leaving a confused and hurt Miroku in her wake.

Meanwhile…

Inuyasha was not watching the confrontation between his two friends. In fact, he really wasn't watching anything, so much as staring off stupidly into space. Nothing fazed him. Not Sango and Miroku's steamy encounter, not the snow falling in the middle of summer, and certainly not the pixie dressed in an alarming amount of yellow that had just landed on his knee, staring at him funnily.

Nope, nothing bothered him.

So, when the pixie clapped, hopped around, made faces, and belched rather rudely to get his attention, he found the feat to be a bit on the difficult side.

He did the only other thing he could think of…

(Scene change, somewhere in the outback of Australia)

A hunter looks around in vain for his extremely large boomerang. As he's looking in the pouch of an irate kangaroo mother, pushing the young joey aside, he hears a faint scream. He can't tell where it's coming from. After a few minutes, it stops. Shrugging his shoulders, he continues his search for his missing weapon.

(Back to Japan)

Inuyasha stopped screaming as the pixie pulled his pants back up and turned around to face him.

"I have been to hell and back." Inuyasha whispered. "Never before have I seen evil such as that."

The yellow pixie smiled, quite proud of himself. "I gather that I've got your attention?"

Inuyasha nodded, afraid to do or say anything to make the little chunk of pure evil repeat the action that had him so mortified.

"You are Inuyasha, the dog demon, right?"

"Yes."

"I have a question of the direst importance. Ever since I heard of you, this question has needed to be-"

"What is it?"

"-asked. This question could change how we all think and react. This question could-"

"What is it!"

"-defy the balance between good and evil, up and down, left and right, night and-"

"WHAT is it!"

"-day. Our entire natural order of things could be disrupted. But, I must ask you…"

"WHAT THE HELL IS THE QUESTION!"

"Do you wear boxers, briefs, or thongs?"

Inuyasha: …

"Or perhaps you're one of the braver folk in this day in age. Perhaps you like a bit of a healthy breeze 'round your privates? Perhaps you don't don 'insufferable undergarments'?"

Inuyasha: OO… that was your question of the DIREST importance? What kind of underwear I wear?

"Or if you wear any at all!" the yellow pixie chimed in.

"OF COURSE I WEAR UNDERWEAR!" He screeched.

"Um…thanks?" a voice from underneath him said slowly. He looked under his branch to see Kagome looking at him strangely. He could feel his cheeks heating up at the thought of how loud he must've been. Of all things to yell out, the fact that he did indeed wear underwear was not too high on his "Things to Eventually Tell Kagome" List. (In fact, what was exactly on that list was still on Inuyasha's "Things to Come to Terms With" List)

Kagome gave him one last look of befuddlement before continuing on her way, not noticing the yellow pixie on Inuyasha's knee.

The pixie gave a low whistle as she walked away, exclaiming, "Wow! She's gorgeous!"

"I know." Inuyasha replied. He didn't realize the full impact of his words until he saw the little man's eyebrows rise in amusement.

"Wait! I didn't mean it like…she's just a stupid-"

"Sigurgandvarimillakaerethyrene." The little man interrupted.

"Excuse me?"

"Sigurgandvarimillakaerethyrene."

"What the hell is that?" Inuyasha asked, wandering why the hell the little man would randomly spit out such a ridiculously long word. It was a good thing he wasn't a Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobic. (10 goobles to anyone who can tell me what this is. I swear, it's a real word)

"My name." The little man answered casually.

"Are you trying to tell me that your mother named you Sigurflookinikesockdingdong?"

"No. I'm trying to tell you that my mother named me Sigurgandvarimillakaerethyrene. Dad said she'd been to Mack and his Pot a little more times than necessary, if you know what I mean. But you can call me Fred."

"What?"

"Call me Fred."

Inuyasha gave him a puzzled look, wandering whether the little pixie had been to Mack and his Pot more times than necessary. "I thought you said your name was Sigurflookinikesockdingdong."

The pixie sighed. "No, I said my name was Sigurgandvarimillakaerethyrene. But you can call me Fred."

"Why Fred? That sounds nothing like your name."

"I know. I just like the way it sounds. Come on. Say it with me. Fred!" The pixie grinned.

Before any more of the previous Kikyo/Fred conversation could be copied and pasted here, Inuyasha growled lowly.

"Look, I don't know who you are, what you are, how you got here, or why you're here, but I do know when you'll be leaving."

"Really? Have they rescheduled my flight?"

"Yeah, they have. You're taking off right about…NOW!" with that, Inuyasha flicked poor Fred off his knee and into the distance.

"HHHHHHHEEEEEEEEEEYYYYYYYYYY!" Fred's voice cried from over the treetops. "I STILL HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION!"

"Good riddance." Inuyasha muttered as he shifted back into a comfortable position. He felt himself getting drowsy again, and before he could ponder as to why, he was fast asleep.

Sango finally stopped running and bent over, hands on her knees, panting hard. Her tears flowed freely, melting the snowflakes that were gathering on the ground. Her head was swirling, uninvited thoughts running in and out of her mind like teenagers at an out of control party thrown at someone's house while they're parents are away. She was just waiting for somebody to break the expensive vase that was her sanity. She just couldn't understand it. This was something she had waited for since the day she'd laid eyes on Miroku. She'd pined for his affection almost as hard as she longed for her family's return. He was the one thing she could never clear her head of. And the one time he had finally showed some sort of feelings for her that weren't shown to every single girl they'd come across; the one time he'd touched her without groping; the one time she'd felt truly complete…

"I pushed it away," she sighed heavily. She lay down on her back, letting her dark brown mane fan out around her. She spread her arms and legs out, and started making a snow angel, taking solace in the cold around her.

"Freezing. Just like my heart."

Sango slowed the movement of her limbs, letting her rampant thoughts cloud her mind.

"Great job, you moronic pathetic excuse for a woman."

"You will never be happy."

"I wonder how hard a person would have to jam a twig up there nose before they started sprouting leaves out of their ears..."

Sango sat bolt up. What kind of a disturbed train of thought does a person have to board to think along those lines? Just as she was about to declare herself mentally unstable (because her feudalistic diagnosis really would've meant something…) she felt something on her shoulder. Turning to the right, she was nearly blinded by a mass of bright lemon yellow.

"AAAGGGHHH!" she yelped as she covered her eyes.

"Oh, sorry. I guess I should've warned you before you were graced with the wonderland that is my body. I'm sure it's hard to handle if you are presented to it unprepared." A voice said in the region where the yellow blob had been. Sango choked on her saliva.

She felt the weight move from her shoulders.

"You can look now."

Sango slowly uncovered her eyes to see a very small man standing a few feet away from her, his chest puffed out, his chin high, his eyes…

"What's wrong with your eyes?" she asked.

"I'm trying to seduce you through the power of winking." The little man said.

Sango laughed hysterically, feeling tears roll down her cheeks. She held her belly, trying to calm herself.

"I wasn't kidding." The man said.

"Oh," Sango sobered immediately. "I'm sorry, uh…"

"Sigurgandvarimillakaerethyrene. Not Sigurflookinikesockdingdong. Sigurgandvarimillakaerethyrene. But you can call me Fred. I know it doesn't sound anything like my name, but that's just life."

Sango nodded. She studied Fred, realization dawning on her. "Hey, you're a pixie, aren't you?"

Fred smirked as if he were Hugh Heffner. "Why, yes I am. I see my reputation precedes me."

"Uh, no, it's not that. I just remember you and your group attacking Kagome."

"Attack Kagome? Never! I wanted to give her a black rose and ending up spending my time with a dead lady with way too much hostility crammed up her butt. She was unpleasant."

"I gather you mean Kikyo?"

"Yeah, that was her. Totally waste of seduction techniques. Very odd woman. Kept singing about fire. I think she's a pyromaniac."

"Ah." Sango replied. They sat in a silence for a few minutes until Sango said, "Look, I'm sure you're really nice, but I'm not looking for company right now."

"You'd prefer to wallow in self-pity after that pitiful display with the man of your dreams back there? Yeah, I would too. You completely embarrassed yourself. I don't know how you could even go back and face him. You might as well say hello to your virginity, because it's here to stay! Too bad, you've got a pretty nice rack that would've been extremely appreciated."

"Why you little-" Sango made a move to strangle the pixie, but he jumped out of the way in time.

"Hey, I'm just saying…"

"What the hell do you know about it anyway? It's not like I like him, so why should I care?"

"Right. You don't like that Marabou-"

"Miroku."

"Whatever. You don't like him. And the earth is actually a sphere."

"It is."

"It is?"

"Yes."

"You mean Mother lied to me? NO!" Fred sank to the ground, beating at the snow in his frustration at the new information.

Sango: "Um…"

Fred regained his composure and stared at her with fiery intensity. "So, what are you gonna do with this Marauder-"

"Miroku."

"Whatever. What are you gonna do? It's obvious you love him."

Sango sighed in defeat. "Yeah, I do. I really do. I am so in love with Miroku." It felt so good saying it out loud. To finally admitting to someone else what her heart had been saying for so long. But as the weight of her secret was lifted off her soul, another weight became heavier. The gravity of the consequences of her affections.

"There's nothing I can do about it." She said quietly. "As much as I love him, I can't change the fact that he's a heartbreaker. He's a playboy. He's a tramp. And my feelings for him can never be reciprocated."

She felt the tears welling up in her eyes. Fred shook his head consolingly. "No, don't think like that. I don't believe that he doesn't have feelings for you. I believe that his feelings run just as deep as yours do."

Sango snorted a little through her tears. "Yeah, right."

Fred stepped forward, and took Sango's hand (which was about as big as a third of his body) and patted it with his own. "You know, you'll feel better if you let it out. Why don't you sing?"

"Sing?"

"Yes. Sing. Sing about what a playboy that Marlboro-"

"Miroku."

"Whatever. Sing about what a playboy he is."

"I think I'll pass. That'll just depress me even more."

"No, really. It actually helps. I'll start off." Fred cleared his throat, sung a couple of octaves, and cracked his knuckles.

"The man they call Mustafa-"

"Miroku."

"Whatever. He's really a piece of work.

The ladies call him a wild animal, a tiger in the bed,

God's gift to women, a hunk of hot, burning-"

"FRED!"

"Oops, right. Anyways, he's actually a big fat…uh…what rhymes with work?"

"Jerk?"

"Jerk! That works! He's actually a big fat jerk!" Fred proclaimed triumphantly.

Sango rolled her eyes "That, by far, was the worst song I've ever heard in my life."

"You've never heard a dead woman singing about her preoccupation with the fires of hell, have you?"

"You know what? Maybe I'll do it myself."

"Hmph, well, if you wanna ruin the mood I've set-"

"Which I sincerely do-"

"-then I guess it's your decision." Fred huffed, sticking his nose in the air like an aristocrat

"I suppose it is." Sango replied. She sighed, and muttered an "I don't believe I'm doing this," before she opened her mouth, and sung softly,

"He's a tramp
But I love him
Breaks a new heart
Every day

He's a tramp
They adore him
And I only hope
He'll stay that way"

Fred clapped joyously. "That's what I'm talking about!" He flew into the air, and tugged on Sango's hand, motioning for her to stand as well. He spun around in the air, catching snowflakes and tossing them at Sango.

"He's a tramp
He's a scoundrel
He's a rounder
He's a cad
He's a tramp" warbled Fred.

Sango giggled. Fred's singing voice was, to say the least, out of this world. It wasn't terrible, but it wasn't good either. It was…

Fred's.

His words sunk into Sango's mind. Even though they were true, she couldn't help but have a feeling of regret. No matter what she did, he seemed to pop out of nowhere in her mind. No matter what he said, she always tried to find hidden meanings in his words. No matter what happened, there was always that "but"…

"But I love him
Yes, and even I
Have got it pretty bad
You can never tell
When he'll show up"
Fred shook his head. Why couldn't this girl see that she could do better than this Melrose's Place who's feelings weren't 100 clear to her? Even if he hadn't been around very long, he could tell this was causing Sango a lot of heartache. Even more than the heartache (or heartburn) chicken enchiladas gave him on Wednesday nights. And that, to say the least, was pretty painful.

"He gives you
Plenty of trouble
I guess he's just a
No 'count pup"
Miroku stepped cautiously over the underbrush, his thoughts running madly.

'What did I do wrong? Why did she look so afraid?'

He had been rooted to the spot Sango had left him for a while, not sure what to do. Should he run after her? Let her cool off? Pretend it didn't happen? Curse himself for letting it happen? Hope for more…?

He stared quietly into space, for once in his life, not knowing what to do next. That was the thing about Sango. She was the only one who was ever able to disrupt his usually cool and calm demeanor. She was the only one who was ever able to make him doubt. Around her, he felt like a 12-year old little boy, unable to take hold of his feelings. Why couldn't he just…just…

"Just be a man and follow her," a voice said from behind him. He swirled around to see Kagome standing there, hand on stuck out him, foot tapping impatiently, and a look of utter annoyance.

"What?"

"Be a man and follow her." She repeated slowly. When he didn't make any motions of adhering to her directions, she sighed. "I can't believe it took you this long, and now you're not going to make your move."

"Make my move! I already did!"

"No, she was trying to save your life, and you took advantage of the situation. Why don't you try it when she knows you're conscious? Stop hiding. That's why she ran off."

"Hiding? I am not hiding!" He said huffily.

"Listen to me Miroku. Now is not the time to get prideful. Think about it. Can you really blame the girl for freaking out on you? You are a renowned ladies' man. This just looks like another grope session to her. And she wants so much more than that. Can't you see?"

Miroku took her words to heart. He guessed he could understand why Sango reacted the way she did. Because he was a jackass.

"Shit." He cursed. He darted in the direction Sango left in, determined to make her realize that she meant so much more to him that he let on.

So, there he was, searching for his true love (and he grimaced at how corny the thought sounded, even in his own head.) He slowed as he heard low murmuring. He approached it cautiously, not wanting to call attention to himself, in case the noise was being produced by a maniacal hunger circus bear. Because that would extremely unfortunate for him and the rest of this story if he were mauled beyond recognition by a bear with misplaced hostility in a tutu. As he came closer to the sound, he concluded it wasn't a bear. It was Sango, singing.

But I wish that he
Were double
He's a tramp
He's a rover
Fred heard rustling in the background and turned around to see Marble-head staring at Sango with an intense look. Like deep concentration. He made eye contact with the monk and nodded slowly at him. Maybe this Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade guy wasn't so bad after. With a name like his, he couldn't be. He looked back at Sango and watched her singing and spinning in circles in the snow.

'I hope he treats her right.' Fred thought. With one last look at Madison Square, he flew over to Sango and sung lowly,

And there's nothing
More to say
If he's a tramp
He's a good one
Sango nodded. "He is a tramp. But I do love him. More and more every day." She sighed. She didn't notice that Fred had left. She didn't notice that she was still singing. The only thing she noticed was the snow falling around, and the feeling in her heart expand.

And I wish that I
Could travel his way
She spun around, faster and faster, willing her pain to slip away. Unfortunately, the only thing that slipped was her footing. Sang yelped as she felt gravity pulling her toward the earth. As she was about to collide with it in the most painful of ways, the sensation of falling was halted, and she felt strong arms around her waist. Confused she looked down to see her face floating a foot or so above the ground.

'Hmm," she thought. 'This is not normal.' She then felt herself being shifted so she was standing upright. Turning around slowly, she looked up to see the violet eyes she'd been dreaming about.

"Miroku…" she breathed. Remembering the morning's events, she felt a blush creep over her face. "Listen, about what happened earlier-"

"No." he interrupted.

"No?"

"No. I can't listen to what you have to say about what happened earlier if you aren't informed enough about it."

"Not informed! What the-"

"Yes, uninformed. You have no idea what happened, because you don't know everything behind the scenes."

"Oh, really? Like what don't I know?" she asked, getting agitated that he was toying with her.

"Well, you don't know how much I think about you. Or how much cheese Shippo has eaten in the last 2 days. Or how much I imagine you in my arms. Or how much oxygen I must've lost with you trying to suffocate me. Or how hard it is to see you in pain. Or how many squirrels I've counted over the years. Or how in love I am with you. Or how mean a moose can be during mating season. Or how-"

Sango's heart skipped a beat. "You love me?"

"Well, technically, I said I'm in love with you."

"But…"

"No. No buts about it. Well, now that I'm thinking of it, if you'd like to get your shapely posterior involved in this, I can't say that I would-"

Sango cut his words off by pressing her lips to his, letting go of all her inhibitions (well, not ALL of them. In love or not, he was still Miroku…) He wrapped his arms tightly around her, as if he'd never let go of her. They stayed that way until the need to breathe became urgent.

"I love you, Miroku." Sango panted, trying to catch her breath. "Tramp and all."

"Maybe so, but I only want to be your tramp."

…

"That didn't come out right, did it?"

Sango shook her head. "No, it didn't."

"Well, maybe I can redeem myself?"

"Maybe."

Miroku moved in for another kiss, when he stopped a breath away from the lips he'd been craving since god knows when. "I didn't know you sang." He whispered.

"Neither did I."

"Maybe there's something in the water?"

"No, just something in my heart."

With a smile, Miroku closed the gap between the two. The snow fell softly around them, and the world seemed at perfect peace…

"WILL YOU GO AWAY! YOU ARE OF THE DEVIL! AND NO, I'M NOT TELLILNG YOU WHAT KIND OF UNDERWEAR I WEAR, YOU LITTLE PSYCHO!"

Well, almost.

There it is. The latest chapter in "There's Gotta Be Something in the Water" I hope you all enjoyed. Remember to review. And if you have any ideas for songs I haven't used yet, they would be greatly appreciated. (Preferably from movies I haven't stolen songs from yet) Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanzaa, and have safe holidays!

Much love,

Shiroryu