Sango stopped yelling at last, despair filling her. He couldn't hear her… her only hope was lost. She wanted to keep calling, to get louder, but by now her throat was too dry to even speak loudly, let alone shout.

She curled up on the floor and closed her eyes, trying her hardest to remember where she was. She couldn't give in to this! There was no tropical forest—not even any trees!

This was just a room in Miroku's house…

Sango heard a sound, but didn't dare look up. She was afraid that if she opened her eyes, the forest would appear again.

She kept her eyes shut tight, praying that the end was near…

xxxxx

Miroku finally reached the torture room and paused outside of the door. He was afraid of what he would see inside. He quickly brushed that aside and turned the knob…every second counted.

To his relief, Sango was curled up on the floor, her hands covering her face. Miroku went over to her and gently helped her up, ignoring that the door had shut behind him. He knew exactly how to get out, anyway.

He shook her softly, but she didn't look up.

"Sango?"

xxxxx

"Sango?"

She opened her eyes and gazed up as she heard her name, hardly daring to believe that Miroku had come. What if she was just hallucinating? What if it wasn't really him, but yet another cruel trick from this room?

The vision of Miroku knelt down and without thinking wrapped its arms around her, not romantically, but in a comforting way. Sango's heart leapt when she realized she could feel him. It really was Miroku!

"Oh, Miroku!" Sango turned towards him and buried her head in his shirt. She tried to hold back her tears, but couldn't… this room terrified her beyond belief.

Miroku held her awkwardly, not prepared for this response. He carefully helped her to her feet, and then guided her out of the room. When the door had finally shut behind them, Sango looked up, as if to make sure they were truly out. She took a deep, shuddering breath, and then realized something.

"Miroku… What was that room?"

"What do you mean?" he wouldn't meet her gaze.

"That room! Why is it in your house? What's it for?" Sango stopped and turned to him, but he still averted her eyes.

"It's nothing, Sango. Forget about it… that room is a part of my past I would rather not bring up."

Sango chewed on her lip for a moment, and then decided not to say anything more about it… for now. She wouldn't forget it, though… that room had nearly killed her! Miroku led her back to her room, and let her inside. Abruptly she noticed something wrong. "Miroku… why are your hands bandaged?"

She got the feeling he was becoming just the slightest bit irritated with her inquiries. "Enough questions. It's not of your concern." Then he turned to go.

"No!" Sango cried out immediately. He couldn't leave her alone again… the silence would drive her insane! If he planned to keep her here forever, which was what he had implied, she didn't want to forever be alone, surrounded by the suffocating darkness.

Miroku, understanding the reason for her fear, walked over to the matches and candles he had left on her bedside table. He lit several torches and placed them in holders around the room until the entire place was lit.

"You may read for a little while." he told her softly, "I have business to attend to, but I will be back, if you need me."

Sango nodded. She felt slightly better now that the room was well lit. Suddenly a thought struck her, and she began to ask, "What business—"

But he was gone.

xxxxx

Miroku stepped into the boat that he had tied by his house. He was about to push off from the shore when suddenly he noticed something. Instantly, his eyes narrowed. Someone else had found the other emergency boat he had hidden on the opposite shore.

Miroku quietly stepped out from the boat he had been about to push off in and faded back into the shadows before the person could notice him. Quietly, he began to wade out into the water, confident that this person would not reach the other side.

Before he could submerge completely, however, he recognized the person in the boat. Miroku frowned slightly, then backed out of the water and blended back in with the shadows.

He waited until the person had reached the shore, and tied the boat up. Then, without a sound, he crept up behind the man and hissed, "What are you doing here, Inuyasha?"

xxxxx

Inuyasha spun around, slightly startled, knowing at the same time that he shouldn't be. He knew Miroku too well to still jump every time he snuck up on him. And besides, a demon like himself should hear the faintest sound of footsteps on a cellar floor…

"Cut the shit, Miroku. I was waiting too goddam long."

All of a sudden Inuyasha took in Miroku's damp clothes. An amused look came over his face. "Going to drown me, huh, Miroku?"

Miroku ignored the question, eyes blazing slightly. "I'll repeat myself, then—Why are you here?"

Inuyasha skittered around that question as well, and answered instead with another one. "Where is Sango?"

Miroku pretended he hadn't heard, and instantly said back, "You shouldn't be here, Inuyasha."

The hanyou snorted. "I heard a girl screaming down here. What have you been doing down here, all alone by yourself, Miroku? Having any naughty thoughts?"

Miroku's blood ran hotly through his veins. "Are you here just to insult me, my friend? Most companions don't do such things to one another! "

There was a short pause, and then Miroku glowered and began to walk back towards his house, motioning for Inuyasha to follow.

"Why are your hands bandaged, idiot?" Inuyasha sighed in realiztion. "Miroku! Those mirrors—"

"We'll talk inside. I will answer your questions, if you'll answer mine." Miroku continued walking at a faster pace, for now he was aggravated beyond belief, and if Inuyasha hadn't been his only friend, there was nothing else stopping him from pulling out a Punjab lasso and ending the hanyou's life on the spot.

"Fine…if you answer my questions truthfully."

"And if I don't?"

Inuyasha sighed again. He had figured this would be difficult, but he had forgotten just how belligerent Miroku could be. "If you don't, then I won't answer your questions truthfully, either!"

The two reached the music room, and Miroku pushed the door open. "You first—why are you here?"

xxxxx

Sango looked up from her book, frowning. She could have sworn she had heard people talking… After a moment, she shook it off. It was probably just the silence getting to her. A few minutes later, however, she heard the voices again. One was definitely Miroku, but the other was alien to her.

As quietly as she could, she stood and crept down the hallway towards the voices. They were in the music room, that much she could see already. Sango hesitated for a moment, wondering if this was a good idea. Would Miroku get angry if she listened in? Most likely… Then, however, she heard her name. She couldn't restrain herself, and instantly peered inside.

xxxxx

"Miroku, I think you already know why I am here."

"If it has something to do with Sango—"

"It has everything to do with Sango!"

Miroku sneered.

There was a moment of silence, and Miroku gave Inuyasha a murderous glare.

"Sango went missing, Miroku! Whether you know it or not, people have noticed! I was just stupid these past three days and…" Inuyasha blushed at his own idiocy. "…I finally decided to pay you a visit. Miroku, is she here?"

Miroku didn't answer, but then, Inuyasha hadn't exactly expected him to. "When did you hear Sango was missing?"

"Last night. It's all over the newspapers… how the leading lady mysteriously disappeared after the gala."

"So why do you think that I have her?" Miroku demanded.

"I didn't think of you until I heard Monsieur de Baka, the new patron (at this, Inuyasha sweat dropped, for Miroku had known who the patron was…and he knew all too well), arguing with the managers. He seemed to think that Sango had been kidnapped by some kind of 'Angel of Music.'" Inuyasha waited for Miroku to say something, but continued when he didn't. "Anyway, he told them that he was going to meet Sango, but one second she was in her dressing room, and the next she was gone. She hadn't used the door. I know how you love trapdoors, Miroku, but I seriously hadn't thought of them until then. The mirror was very smart thinkin'. It took me nearly three hours to find out how to open it. But then, I know your style… that's how it became obvious to me that you had used the mirror as a doorway in the first place."

Still Miroku said nothing. Inuyasha exhaled. "Please Miroku, you haven't hurt her?"

Miroku finally answered by shaking his head slightly. "No."

Relief showed clearly on Inuyasha's face. "What do you want from her, then, Miroku? The girl is probably traumatized…"

Miroku winced. "She came here of her own free will. Inuyasha, I'm going to return her to the Opera tomorrow… I just…" he sighed. "I don't know what I wanted… and so I cannot tell you. Perhaps I just wanted someone else down here—"

"You're lonely…"

"Of course not! Besides, she was too curious for her own good. Right now she is in her room, probably wishing she could be as far away from this place as possible."

"She removed your mask?"

"Stop those infernal guesses—I'm not going to tell you what happened, Inuyasha, as it is none of your business!"

"Well then, one last question—why are your hands bandaged?"

"Mirror." Miroku said simply.

Inuyasha winced. "I knew it! Miroku…MIROKU! I thought you were passed destroying mirrors. If they bother you so much, then why do you have them down here?"

Miroku sighed. "I tire of your endless questions, Inuyasha. Perhaps you should go now."

Inuyasha stood. "Yeah, sure. But I'm coming back, Miroku! So don'tcha pull me into your lake. I don't like to swim."

Miroku watched him walk to the door, then turned and sat down at his organ. He gently stroked the keys, trying to quash the unwanted memories that Inuyasha's unneeded appearance had stirred. He couldn't live in the past any longer.

xxxxx

Sango let out a silent gasp and stumbled backwards as the half demon man exited. There was no place for her to run and hide, and there was a moment of silence as their eyes met.

"Sango?" Inuyasha asked at last.

Sango nodded, glancing nervously back at the door. She couldn't bear to let Miroku know that she had overheard the conversation—she didn't want to upset him more than he already was. And now she just felt childish in not recognizing Inuyasha or his voice. She glanced down at the floor, embarrassed.

"Sango…" Inuyasha hesitated, "I'll take you back to the dressing room. Miroku might be angry with me, but it's a risk I'm willing to take. You probably want out of here…"

Sango hesitated, not sure of what she wanted. Not quite sure what to think. So Inuyasha knew Miroku, huh? Well, no matter. Sango didn't care anymore. Anyway, Sango knew that she didn't want Kuronosuke and the managers to worry over her disappearance, but she couldn't stand the thought of Miroku's condition if she just got up and left him without even a goodbye. Finally, her heart overruled her guilt, and she shook her head.

"No…I'll stay."

Inuyasha frowned thoughtfully at her, then nodded and walked off towards the front doors. Sango cast a worried look at the music room, and then headed in the opposite direction. Miroku would never know she had left.