NL: Okay, cut the crap and move onto the chapter, right? Done.

Chapter Nine

My Gift

SESSHOUMARU STOOD BESIDE his window gazing out at the moon. He knew the young woman he brought home earlier lie just beyond the wall to his right, and he knew the demon within him wanted so desperately to tear through that wall and ravage her. Yet he kept a hold of his self-control and forced himself to concentrate on that sliver of moon, identical to that on his forehead.

'The moon,' he pondered. 'It must be so tranquil up there… It must be so quiet and calm… How I long for those feelings.'

His gaze turned to the desk, piled always high with propositions and requests. His mother's words suddenly rang within his mind.

"Sesshoumaru, give this to the one whom you cherish most in your life," she said, taking his hand and placing a cool stone in it.

"Why, Mother?" he inquired. His juvenile mind was not quite aware of what his mother was bestowing upon him. "What significance has it?"

"If you wish to protect your most cherished, you will have her wear this."

Sesshoumaru stepped lightly to the small table and opened a drawer. Flipping open the false bottom, he gazed upon a cool, dust-covered sapphire strapped in leather strings which lay scattered around it. Picking it up and blowing the grime away, he stroked a finger across the face of the blue gem, remembering with intensity the feeling of his mother's soft hand grazing his as she placed the stone in his palm.

He closed his eyes to the memory. 'I have no need for this. I don't cherish anyone.'

'That's a lie.'

'Not you again.'

'You're a fool, Sesshoumaru. You know you cherish two women in this world, both underneath your roof.'

'You know nothing of which you speak. I care for their wellbeing, but in no means did I mention cherishing them.'

The voice sighed. 'You really are a fool, then, my lord. You would deny them?'

'I deny nothing.'

'You would deny them again?'

"I deny nothing!" Slamming his hand to the desktop, he bowed his head. "I deny nothing," he whispered to himself.

"Sesshoumaru, what's wrong?"

"Kagome," he mumbled, turning his eyes in her direction. "What are you doing up at this time of night?"

"Sesshoumaru, I haven't slept a wink. You're keeping me up." She stepped into the room and shut the door. "But I'm a light sleeper, so it's not just your fault, trust me." She walked further into the room until she was but a reach away. "Sesshoumaru, I'll ask you again. What is wrong?"

Gazing at himself in the mirror, he snorted quietly. It was no wonder she was so concerned; he looked almost twice his age. He searched his eyes, his heart, looking for what was really wrong. He knew what he wanted to tell her. He wanted to tell her that she should go back to bed, that he was waging war within himself, that he wanted to whisk her to his own bed, that he loved her.

Kagome saw Sesshoumaru's eyes widen ever so slightly. Now she was really worried. 'Sesshoumaru never shows any sign of emotion, so what's got him so flustered?'

"Kagome…"

"Yes?" Her heart began to race as he turned to her, as if he were part of a movie and the director wished for this particular scene to be played out in slow motion. It seemed like an eternity before he was completely facing her. She waited what appeared to be another eternity before he finally spoke again.

"Go away."

This time it was her turn to widen her eyes in shock. "Go away?" she said quietly. "Go away?"

"Yes. Go away."

"Go away!" She was gaining momentum with each repetition. "Go away! Go away! Why on earth would you tell me to go away! You've obviously got problems that you can't handle alone, and you tell the one person who will honestly listen to you to go away!"

"Kagome, listen to me―"

"No, you listen to me!" She was cut off abruptly by a mouth over hers. Her first thought was to fight back, but she realized that this is what he was trying to avoid when he first told her to leave. She went lax in his arms, wrapping her own behind his head and burying her fingers in his silver locks. Mouth met mouth in desire, breaths heaved with passion, and caresses were felt with every touch.

'We have to stop,' Kagome's mind was telling her. For once, she wanted to push it aside. Apparently, Sesshoumaru did not.

Breaking the embrace, the great demon gazed into the human's fiery eyes. He could see a burning within them that enticed him, excited him, intrigued him. 'Some day,' he thought, 'I will find out what makes those eyes smolder.' At the moment, however, he needed to regain control. "Kagome, I did not wish for that to happen. That is why I told you―"

"To leave, I know," she responded, staring at the floor. "I'm sorry, Sesshoumaru. I should've listened to you." Turning on her heel, she started for the door. Her hand was inches from the threshold when she was stopped. "Yes, Sesshoumaru?" she inquired without looking his way, ashamed of her behavior.

"Kagome, look at me." He sighed when she did not obey. "All right, then. Just stand still."

This she had no problem with. Dropping her hand, she stood like a soldier at inspection as she felt Sesshoumaru place something around her neck. Curiosity got the better of her as she lifted her fingers to touch the cool ornament. "What is this, Sesshoumaru?" she asked, turning toward him in the process. The soft moonlight reflected off the stone's many faces, revealing the sapphire's intense oceans of azure.

"A gift." He had no intention of telling her its purpose. His instinct told him that if she were to know, she would immediately rip the trinket off and demand an explanation of why he deemed her so weak she could not protect herself.

'However, it will happen eventually.'

"Sesshoumaru, you went off into La-La Land again. What's on your mind?"

He smiled, a true genuine smile that would sweep any woman off her feet. "Don't you worry about it, pet. You just go back to bed and get some rest."

She fumed at the nickname. "I'll show you 'pet,'" she promised as she left the room for her own.

As she settled into her small futon, she couldn't help but wonder what Sesshoumaru wasn't denying.

IT HAD BEEN several days since Kagome's mysterious disappearance with Sesshoumaru. Inuyasha had discovered Sesshoumaru and Kagome's scents near the well, which sent him into another frenzy as they were entering a nearby village.

"You two lied to me? Or did you just happen to show up late to that certain spot?"

Miroku sighed. 'Once again, he's irrational over the simple fact that Sesshoumaru has something of "his."'

"Inuyasha, calm down. Why does it matter to you anyway?" Sango demanded, her cinnamon eyes burning into his topaz. "Well?" she asked when he didn't respond.

"Shut up, Sango." With this, Inuyasha turned and continued into a village. 'Maybe food and a nice place to sleep will get them to leave me alone.' He turned his head to shout back to Miroku.

"Yes, Inuyasha?"

"Find us a place to spend the night," he ordered, turning his head forward and gazing at the villagers he passed along the way. They all looked at him with anger or terror in their eyes. 'Feh, these humans don't know fear and malice.'

"As you wish, O Thou-Art-Holier-Than-I, Great Lord Inuyasha," Miroku mocked under his breath, even though he knew Inuyasha would hear him. Glancing about, he noticed an inn a few yards to the west. "Inuyasha, this way."

Sango walked with Shippo perched upon her shoulder, watching Miroku's shoulders sway with each step. 'He has yet to flirt with any of the women in the village... How strange.'

"Hey, Sango?" the young kitsune piped up on her shoulder, noticing her gaze on the monk.

"What is it, Shippo?" She smiled reassuringly at the child.

"Are you worried about Kagome?" His own fears for her safety shone clearly in his turquoise eyes.

"Of course not, Shippo," Sango responded, facing forward again. "Kagome-chan has enough wit to kill a cow, not to mention she's as fiesty as Inuyasha." She grinned at the memory of who she came to know as her younger sister throwing words back and forth with the hanyou. "She'll be just fine, if Sesshoumaru knows what's good for him."

They had finally reached their destination, and Miroku played the good monk of Buddha freeing the inn of evil spirits, making it safe once again for travelers. They were lucky to get one with excellent food and comfortable beds. As they were eating dinner, Miroku suddenly made a vow to himself.

'I will not flirt with any woman besides Sango.'

His eyes widened. What would make him suddenly think that? He remembered he had avoided the women of the village as they were passing through, but at the time he hadn't thought anything of it.

Sango noticed his sudden change.

"Houshi-sama, what's wrong?"

Gazing up into her eyes, Miroku smiled. "Nothing, my dear Sango. Why, nothing at all." He finished his rice and stood to walk outside. "I'll be right back in a few minutes." Walking to the door, he slid it open and stepped into the cool night air. The moon was barely a sliver in the sky, the stars almost overwhelming it. 'Almost like my feelings are overwhelming me...' he thought unenthusiastically.

Suddenly he heard a faint giggle coming from around the corner at his left. Turning, he saw a pair of large brown eyes, full of mischief, staring at him. "Who goes there?"

"Oh, lord monk!" a girl squealed softly. "I hadn't noticed you standing there!"

He supressed the urge to roll his eyes and say, "Yeah, right." Instead, he smiled. "And I you, apparently. What brings you out into the night at this hour?"

"I heard what you'd done for the inn keeper, and I thought that was awfully brave of you." She slinked closer to him and slid an arm through his, much to his dismay. "I was wondering if you'd like to come to my room for a little chat?"

Smiling with a grace he hadn't known he'd possessed, he politely declined. "I only came out for some fresh air before I turned in for the night. Maybe next time, my lady."

"Oh, and you're so polite! Handsome, too." Giggling her way back down the corridor, she waved at him as she turned the corner. "It's a date, dear monk!"

"I don't think so," he muttered as he gave a pained smile and waved back. Suddenly, the shoji flew open, causing the monk to jump back in surprise. "Sango?"

"Miroku, what the hell are you doing?" She didn't know why she was angry. Was it the fact that she was jealous he'd been talking to another woman, or was it her surprise that he'd declined her offer? "Why didn't you just go off with that woman? She sounded like she would've enjoyed bearing your child."

Her words stung a bit, but he was relieved that she was angry about nothing. Moreso, she was angry with herself for distrusting him. "Because I do not wish for some random maiden to bear a burden she would not be able to handle in the future, I politely refused. Is there something the matter with that, Sango?" He leaned back against the railing, the faint moonlight hitting his shoulders and highlighting his hair. His eyes shone with amusement and some other emotion Sango couldn't...or wouldn't...quite pick out.

"N-no," she stuttered. "I was just...curious, that's all." Her cheeks flushed, she turned abruptly to enter the room when Miroku gently took hold of her arm. "Yes, monk?"

"Sango, it's okay. I understand." When she looked into his face, he smiled that special smile he always saved for her. "Don't worry." He held onto her arm for a few moments, relishing in having her undivided attention, before releasing her and passing her on this way in. As he sat down against the wall, he mumbled, "Good night, Sango."

Stunned, she stood in the doorway, blinking and nodding numbly in response. "G'night."

That was all Miroku needed to see before he fell into a light slumber.

Sango couldn't move...wouldn't move. She couldn't describe how she was feeling. Surprise? Endearment? Numb? In love?

Instead of reentering the room, she stepped back and quietly slid the door shut. Walking over to the rail which Miroku had previously occupied, she sighed and stared up at the stars. "I wonder what the gods are planning up there," she thought aloud. She couldn't help but replay those last few minutes of the night. She had eavesdropped on Miroku, sure that he was on his way to some meeting with an affair of his that he might've known in this town, similar to their meeting with Koharu. (That brought up more memories, which she fought to suppress.) Was she angry with herself for not trusting Miroku enough?

'Of course, you dolt. That's exactly it.'

Silently, she made a promise to herself under the stars. Had the moon been full, she would've been shaded under a nearby tree. 'Miroku, I swear to you, I will trust you with my whole being. Tonight, you proved to me that I can. Thank you...'

Sango smiled and gazed down at the grass that was starting to develop dew upon the blades. 'I guess it is a bit cold out here...Perhaps it's time to rest.'

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The next morning, the troupe woke to a brisk, cool dawn. Shippo and Inuyasha decided to take Kirara and go outside the village to wait for Miroku and Sango to get supplies. It appeared that demons were not welcome within this village, so it seemed best to get going while the going was good.

The market was flourishing, even in the early morning. "Don't these people ever sleep?" Sango asked Miroku in a hushed voice.

"Apparently not," he responded, eyeing some medicinal herbs on a cart. 'They're a bit...dry and old, but they'll do.' Handing the woman a few coins, Miroku took the herbs and placed them in a pouch within his robes. "Thank you, my lady," he said as he bowed and moved on.

'He really isn't making any effort to start anything with any of the women here,' Sango observed. She was engrossed in her thoughts as she watched the monk make several more purchases of food and other necessities.

Miroku turned, noticing Sango had become very quiet. "Sango, what's―" He cut himself short as he noticed a horse-drawn carriage approaching too quickly for comfort. Sango was in its direct path.

Reaching out and turning sharply, Miroku brought the woman close to him. He kept his back to the crowd as he quickly moved to the side of the lane, Sango in tow, his arms wrapped tightly around her. Once the carriage had passed, he loosened his grip but did not release her. "Sango, are you alright?"

"Yes, I am. Thank you." Feeling secure in his arms, she glanced toward the out-of-control buggy. "What in the world was that about?"

"Probably royalty." He looked down and saw that Sango was gazing up at him with a smile. "What is it, Sango?"

Her smile grew until her eyes sparkled. "I knew I could trust you, Miroku." Standing on tiptoe, she placed a gentle kiss to his cheek, finding it surprisingly smooth. "Thank you." She gently moved out of Miroku's embrace before she was reeled back in.

Giggling softly, she placed her hands on his chest. "Miroku, what are you doing?"

"What I should've done in the first place." Without a moment's hesitation, he planted his lips on hers, his hands forming to the curve of her body as she tensed at first, then relaxed. He deeped the kiss and met no resistance. It was as if the entire village were no longer there, and it was just the two of them, alone with no awareness of time or space.

It was perfect.

"Sango," he mumbled, reluctantly breaking the kiss.

"Miroku?"

"I love you."

NL: Sorry about how short the chapter was. I mean, there was a central theme, and it all came out perfectly. dances around I so WISH Miroku would just freaking SAY that to Sango! IT'S SO OBVIOUS!

Miroku: Who asked you, NL?

NL: sticks her tongue out NYAH! XP Anywho, I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter. Short? Yes. Juicy? Yes. XD I 3 it! I wrote it in two days, but it took me forever to actually PLAN out what was gonna happen. The whole carriage thing? Totally off the top of my head. Wasn't in the original plans at all. And I was actually planning for a fireside scene between Miroku and Sango...so romantic, but I like the "in-the-middle-of-a-crowd-and-they-don't-notice-it" kisses. Now talk about GUSHY! 3

Shippo: Gag. That's so mushy.

Sango: Oh, just you wait, kit. You'll come to find it's not as icky as it sounds.

Shippo: Whatever! I don't wanna hear about it! Lalalalalalalalalalalalalalalala...continues on

NL: Anyway, I'm sure you want to know the preview and the review responses. I think I've given up on the whole actually READING other people's fanfics. It takes me forever to actually write a CHAPTER. I guess you could say Life's pretty busy right now.

Shippo: Lalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalala...

NL: STOP IT ALREADY!

PREVIEW: Chapter Ten, Strange Epiphanies

I kind of came at a standstill for a minute. Yes, I had writer's block, I'll admit it. In Chapter Ten, we have Miroku and Sango as a couple...FINALLY, and it's obvious that there's something between Sesshoumaru and Kagome. Inuyasha realizes the previous way before the latter, and wonders about his own life. 'Who am I destined to be with?'

Back with Sesshoumaru and Kagome, the great dog demon gets a chance to see the sapphire do its job for the first time when she fights yet again to protect herself from a trespassing foe. Never had he imagined what kind of power the gem holds. Not to mention the miko herself. 'How often I forget she is a priestess...' Things heat up between the two, and they both realize something about themselves and each other.

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