Fallen From the Heavens
By: SlayerSango23
Disclaimer: I own none of the characters, once again...
Chapter Three: Making the Connection
Sango sipped her cappuccino, silently wondering what Miroku could possibly want to talk about. He hadn't said a word for a good five minutes.
But he wasn't ignoring her. In fact, he almost seemed to be studying her...
She feared he was trying to paint some elaborate mental picture of her in his mind and was working on memorizing every detail.
And then there was the matter of the strangely peaceful aura he seemed to exude.
She was quite convinced that she wasn't imagining it... His was an almost...spiritual presence.
Regardless, he was making her extremely nervous.
Maybe it was the way he always seemed to be smiling, or the way his eyes would...sparkle when the light hit them just right. Or maybe it was the fact that she always seemed to be at her clumsiest when he was around...
She didn't quite know the real reason, but she fully intended to discover it.
No one had ever caused such a reaction in her...
Still, the thought of him possibly being interested was bringing about a great deal of anxiety in her.
So, she did the only thing she could think of to ease her discomfort. She made a joke.
"So, do you do this often? ...Rescue girls who fall off ladders, I mean."
He chuckled. "No, not actually. I'm rather new to it."
She nodded, looking down, and feigned studying her coffee cup.
Perhaps he noticed her uneasiness, for he spoke again.
"Ms. Nakamura, I imagine you're wondering about my intentions," he stated.
His voice was so gentle and soothing. She didn't know how such a man could make her nervous.
She looked up at him. "You can call me Sango."
He nodded, then he said her name. "Sango."
And the way he said it...
The word seemed to flow so sweetly from his lips, creating a harmonic tone she never thought her name could produce.
But she chose to ignore his honeyed voice and the way her name seemed to beg him to speak it.
"And yes, I am a bit curious, actually...about your intentions." She pushed a stray piece of hair out of her face.
"Well, to cut to the chase, I am familiar with your work, Sango. I believe you have great potential, and I wish to help you..."
She blinked, being more than a little surprised. She hadn't seen that one coming!
My work, huh? Well, that's a relief...
"So, you're an agent...?" she asked, still skeptical of him.
He quirked his head and shrugged. "Of sorts."
Of sorts? What does that mean?
Noticing the suspicion in her eyes, he continued, "I do a variety of work actually."
Then he produced a business card from somewhere, magician-style, and presented it to her.
She took it, reading over the elegant lettering.
It simply stated: 'Find meaning in your life and fulfill your destiny!' Then Miroku's name, cell phone number, and e-mail address were listed.
Sango turned the card between her fingers.
Sounds like a scam to me...
"Rather cryptic business card..." was her watered-down reply, and her eyes dared him to convince her.
His eyes, on the other hand, simply twinkled with amusement. "Like it?"
She blinked. "I'm not quite sure what to think of it...," she hesitated. "Or you for that matter. I still don't know what it is that you do."
He looked directly into her chocolate eyes. His expression was now completely serious, and his gaze was intense. He leaned in closer across the table.
"I help people."
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Kagome Higurashi lay on her bed, staring up at her bedroom ceiling.
It was good advice...
She pulled a pink pillow against her chest and hugged it lightly. And she thought of him...
I should go and talk to Inuyasha about this...
She sighed and rolled onto her side, still clutching at the pillow. She didn't feel ready, though.
She felt the tears welling once again, and she blinked them away in response. Then she allowed her weary eyelids to flutter closed.
She heard the man's soothing, compassionate voice in her head and recalled what he'd said to her... The weight was so much lighter after allowing the torrent of her words to flow. And for some reason, it felt right telling him.
Who was he anyway?
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Sango finished off the last remaining minutes of her shift. It was 6:00PM, and she was feeling hungry.
It had been quite the long day, and since her run-in with Miroku, she found herself easily distracted.
She'd done her best to push the encounter from her mind, but it kept returning.
No, I won't call him! I'm not a fool... I have no way of knowing if this guy is on the level...
She absently reached for the business card he'd given her and pulled it from her back pocket. She read it over to herself once more.
He seems genuine... He truly seems to have good intentions...
Sango picked up her coat and purse and headed for the door. She passed the manager of the bookstore on her way and stopped her.
"Kaede-sama, could I ask you something?" Sango inquired.
Kaede was a wise and gentle woman in her mid sixties. Her long gray hair was pulled back into a low ponytail.
"Of course, child. What is it?"
"Well, I was wondering if you'd heard of a man by the name of Miroku Kami. He claims to be new to the writing business."
The old woman stroked her chin and raised her eyes toward the ceiling in thought.
"He has been in here several times, and he introduced himself and spoke with me briefly," she asserted.
Sango felt like such a busybody, but she deemed it necessary to learn more about this mysterious man before taking him up on his offer.
"If I may ask, Kaede-sama...what did he speak with you about?"
The woman paused briefly. "To be frank, he inquired about you, child."
Sango was taken aback. "He did?" He was trying to get information on me?
She suddenly had an unsettled feeling, and her stunned expression reminded Kaede of a deer caught in headlights.
"You need not worry, child. He was simply inquiring about your books. He wondered if we carried any in the store."
Sango breathed a sigh.
She felt a wave of relief wash over her, knowing that he had not been inquiring for personal information. She knew Kaede would never give a stranger any of her personal information, but the idea of having an obsessive stalker, be he good-looking or not, was quite eerie. She thought of old friends who might have squealed with delight at the thought of a handsome mystery man inquiring, but she found nothing romantic about it at all.
But no matter, he appeared to be interested in her work and nothing more...
And it was fine by her.
She wondered how he'd found out about her, though. She wasn't very well-known in the world of books, and though he hadn't explicitly stated, she'd deduced that he was new in town.
She recalled from their conversation earlier that he'd claimed to be an expert at finding new talent, and she felt a sudden, unexpected rush of exhilaration at the thought of an intelligent agent, fresh to the business, taking a particular interest in her work. Just when she felt as though her writing was dead, someone had sat up and taken notice.
"Um, Kaede-sama?"
"Yes?"
She hesitated. "What did you think of him? I mean...did he seem to be on the level?" Sango continued in an almost sleuth-like manner.
"I know not whether he is 'on the level,' as you say, but he was quite pleasant and very knowledgeable," Kaede responded.
Sango nodded and looked down pensively. "Thank you, Kaede-sama."
She bid Kaede a good evening and headed out.
After picking up some dinner she made her way back to her apartment. She decided a soak in a hot bath was just what she needed to gather her thoughts.
End of Chapter
Review Responses:
Demon Exterminator Barbie: Glad you liked it, and I completely agree about Sango not being invincible. I love Sango's strength, but making her weak and clumsy at times is what makes her human! Of course we can all sympathize with that!
tinemelk: Yes, they know each other's names now. There is a reason for my choosing the last name I did for Miroku, but I won't reveal that yet.
Tera McCaslin: Thank you for all the compliments! I am really glad that you are enjoying it and feel that I pulled off the ladder scene:) I hope you enjoyed this installment, as well.
alchemistgrl09: Here is your update, and I'm glad you're liking it. Miroku is indeed so kawaii. :)
Eternal-Shade: Thanks! He wasn't 'technically' asking her out, but you'll have to see what happens...
Hawkeye Chuui: Lol. Thank you! Hope you enjoyed this chapter!