A/N: "And it's cool how you use Christine and Erik in place of Sango and

Miroku every now and then. It helps remind people of whom they're in place of."

(Nervous laugh) Yeah…sure. I do that on purpose. Actually, no, I don't. I do that because I'm brainless! The wizard should give me a brain! (Starts whistling) I know it annoys most of you, and I'm sorry. Ummm…I'm trying not to do it anymore. It's a (bad) habit, I suppose.

Anyway, I didn't realize that you guys liked the story so much. And yes, perhaps I am a bit greedy, but it's not just for the number of reviews! It's because I want to know what you have to say. It bugs me when people read a chapter and then don't review. This author wants you to review, for praise, critique, what ever (…but she also wants you to be kind!)

NOW ONTO THE STORY!

xxxxxxxxxxx

That night, Sango sat in her room, alone once again. To her surprise, she found herself longing for Miroku to be there with her, singing softly or playing the violin, as he used to. How she wished she had never removed his mask! Looking back upon that time, she realized just how foolish she had truly been.

When she recalled his face, she winced slightly. True, it was horrible…but was it as bad as she had made it out to be? It was possible that she had made it worse in her mind, simply because…however much she hated to admit it… she had still thought of him as her angel.

She had known, of course, that he wasn't… But his face had been the final factor. No angel could ever have a face like that… or a temper! If it was possible, in that moment, his temper had frightened her even more than his face had. He had always been so gentle with her before then…

Sango twisted a lock of her hair as she reflected on this. True, he had tricked her, kidnapped her, lied to her… but he had done so much to help! He had comforted her when she thought she would never be happy again, and reassured her when she had been frightened. He had given her something to look forward to…something to live for. He had gently pushed her until she became Prima Donna… her father's dearest wish for her! She knew for sure that he would never try to harm her, and knew just as certainly that she didn't want harm to come to him.

Sango changed for bed and lay back on the pillows. Perhaps she could give him one more chance… At least one more chance to win her love…

What she wouldn't admit to herself was that he already had.

xxxxx

Miroku sat down at his desk, carefully picking up his pen. He knew he had to return her tomorrow…she couldn't remain here forever. Still, he hated to let her go. Deep down, he was completely positive that she would never return to him if he did.

But he had to…there was no other choice. If he kept her now, after he had promised to let her go, she would hate him forever… allowing, of course, that she didn't already.

Miroku sighed and dipped his quill in the customary red ink. He would give another note to the managers tomorrow, after he let Sango go.

For a moment, Miroku paused as he leaned over the note, thinking. Then, ignoring the pain in his bandaged hands, he began to write.

Sango Youkaitashi has returned to you…

A/N: I'm sorry, I'm sorry! Just…justtry singing that! Haha…

xxxxx

The next morning, Sango woke up and for a moment didn't recognize where she was. Her heart fluttered as she looked quickly around the room, trying to place it.

She had become so used to her room in Miroku's home, that she had almost forgotten what her dressing room actually looked like.

Sango sat up in her bed, pushing the blankets off of her. Miroku must have carried her back here sometime in the night. She felt a thrill go up her spine at the thought, wondering what it would have been like had she been awake.

As she walked back over to her desk, she looked at the one-line note that Miroku had left her. It simply read, "Goodbye, my angel."

Sango shivered at the finality of the note. Certainly he was coming back?... He wouldn't leave her!

Suddenly she realized that the door to her room was open, and at that very moment Kagome walked past. Sango smiled as she watched her friend freeze mid-step, and then nearly fall over doing a double-take.

"Sango!" A huge smile lit Kagome's face as she sprinted into the room and embraced her friend. "Where were you? We were worried sick! Kagura told everyone that you had gone to visit your father's old friend, but then the Vicomte de Baka went and checked, and the man said she hadn't seen you in nearly a month! Honestly, I thought the Vicomte would have a heart-attack! He's very worried about you, you know. He was convinced that you were still somewhere in the building, too…" Kagome paused for a moment at this. But when Sango didn't care to elaborate, she went on, "because he said you had vanished while he was right outside of your door. He almost forced the managers to call the police and have them look through the building for you. The managers said that they had enough bad publicity as it was, though, and so they refused. Kuronosuke came back this morning and—"

"Wait, he's here?" Sango interrupted quickly.

"Yes, because La Kikyo returned—"

"She did?"

"Yes, and someone gave her a note saying—"

"Who sent the note?"

"Well, it was obviously from the Opera Ghost, wasn't it? And it said—"

"What did it say?"

"I was getting there, would you let me speak?" Kagome glared slightly, and Sango blushed.

"I'm sorry, go on."

"Anyway, Kikyo got a note from the Opera Ghost saying that if she tried to go back to being Prima Donna, a "great misfortune" would happen to her. She's furious…she's convinced that Kuronosuke sent it, because he wants you to keep being Prima Donna." She twined her fingers together, "Kikyo said you might have been sleeping with the viscount."

"What? Of course I didn't! " Sango said, appalled.

Kagome looked at her curiously for a moment. "Well, I know that"

"And Kuronosuke certainly didn't send a letter! It was…it was the Opera Ghost." Sango told her friend softly.

Kagome's eyes narrowed. "I thought you didn't believe in the Opera Ghost?"

"I was wrong."

Kagome's face broke into another smile. "Well finally you admit it! What made you change your mind?"

Sango turned away, unable to look Kagome in the face. "You were right." she admitted, trying to keep her voice steady. "All of this time, you were right…I should have listened to you in the first place."

"Sango, what are you talking about?"

"There is no Angel of Music."

There was a long pause as Kagome put everything together. Finally, she gently laid a hand on Sango's shoulder. "I know."

Sango turned towards her, a question in her eyes.

Kagome sighed. "I found out a little while ago that your Angel was actually the Phantom. I didn't want you to get angry at me, though, so I didn't say anything."

"How did you know?"

The ballerina hesitated for a moment. "Well…I…My friend kind of…knows him. Along with Madame Kaede—"

There was a silence as Sango registered this. "Madame Kaede…she knows Miroku? Why didn't she tell me before? I could have—"

"Would you have believed her?"

There was another pause. "Well…no." she confessed. "And…and Inuyasha. He knew, too!"

Kagome's mouth gaped, before finally responding. "Inuyasha wasn't happy that Miroku was pretending to be your Angel. I mean, obviously he wasn't happy…but he was really angry at him. He said something to him…I forget what…something about him being a man of perverted fantasies…Oh, I forget. Anyway, then The Opera Ghost got angry and left."

Sango winced. Inuyasha…and poor Miroku! He got so touchy about that kind of thing…she was sure Madame Keade and Inuyasha hadn't been talking about his face…they was smarter than that.

"So where were you?" Kagome demanded, cutting through Sango's thoughts like a knife.

"With…him. But Kagome, please don't ask about anything else, I can't tell you."

Kagome frowned slightly, then sighed and nodded. She knew about Sango and the masked man… she just wanted to hear it from Sango's mouth.

"Very well. Soon, though?" she looked hopeful. "You'll be able to tell me, won't you?"

Sango smiled. "Of course."

She was about to continue, when suddenly she heard a very familiar voice.

"Sango! Oh Lord, Sango!" And then Kuronosuke was in the room, his arms around her protectively.

xxxxx

Miroku's cobalt eyes blazed as he watched Kuronosuke embrace Sango…his Sango. Almost unconsciously, his hand crept to where the Punjab lasso was hidden. The foolish boy would regret that he was even born if he just made one more move…

Suddenly Miroku realized what he was doing and hastily dropped his hand. Why did Sango have that effect on him? After all, she wasn't his… she never would be his. He knew that… and yet, he couldn't seem to let her go.

The note he had written to her was a fraud, of course. He desperately wanted to let her leave him, but he knew he wouldn't be able to. Just thinking about life without Sango threw him off into a rage that eventually ended in tears.

That's how this entire affair would end, he was sure. There was no possible way that his beloved angel would consent to stay with him. This… this Kuronosuke deserved her much more than he did.

If Sango went with the Vicomte, she could live a life of luxury. He supposed it would be full of light and beauty—the exact opposite of what she'd get if she stayed with him. And, of course, with the Vicomte she wouldn't have to be afraid of the dark. He'd be there to hold her, to…

Miroku swiftly cut off his train of thought and turned away from the mirror. There was a lump in his throat, and his hands were clenched into fists.

No, no matter how good his intentions were, he couldn't let her go… She was his, and he would do anything to keep her.

xxxxx

Sango lingered in Kuronosuke's embrace for an instant, momentarily forgetting where she was. She could almost imagine she was back with Miroku...

But no, this most certainly wasn't Miroku. Christine pushed away from Kuronosuke quickly, blushing. "Kuronosuke…it's nice to see you again."

"Sango, where were you?" he began instantly. "I looked everywhere! You just…disappeared!"

Sango managed a weak smile. "Kuronosuke, don't be foolish—I went to visit a friend of the family, but the carriage lost a wheel on the way there. I was forced to rent a room for a little while, until I could find a way to return here. I didn't have enough money to order another carriage, and it was too far to walk. Then just as my rent was nearly up, a kind lady offered to ride me back for free. She said that it was on her way anyway."

Kuronosuke frowned. "But…but I heard your voice that night! Outside of your door—"

"Kuronosuke, were you spying on me?"

"N-no… I didn't mean to…I just came back to take you to dinner—"

"Which I told you I didn't want." Sango cut in firmly.

Kuronosuke looked desperately to Kagome for help, but she quickly fled and abandoned him. Kuronosuke gulped. He was either was too guilty to answer Sango's statement, or genuinely hadn't heard her in his despair, "But the door was closed, and when I knocked no one answered. Then I heard voices…yours, and someone else's… I couldn't really hear it, it was too quiet. I called out your name, but still you didn't answer. Then, when I opened the door, you had vanished!"

Sango forced a dismissive look onto her face. "Kuronosuke, you must have been imagining things. Either that or you heard echoes from another room. I told you what happened."

"Yes, but was it true?" Kuronosuke asked sharply.

There was a moment of silence, and then Sango glared at him. "Of course it's true! Why would I lie to you?"

"Who knows?" Kuronosuke returned, "Perhaps you were threatened? Sango, just answer me one question—who is Miroku?"

Sango gasped audibly, unprepared for this sudden development. "Mir-Miroku? I have…no idea what you're talking about…" Sango stuttered unbelievably.

"Oh, really?" Kuronosuke pushed. He leaned close and gently laid his arms around her waist, his face bare inches from hers. "Who is he Sango? Has he hurt you?"

Sango mind was in a whirl as she scrambled for something to say. "N-no…he…he…"

"He's a friend mine." Inuyasha answered for her, walking in through the door just in time to hear Sango sigh in relief. Inuyasha looked at her, watching her quickly mouth the words 'thank you' with her lips.

Kuronosuke frowned and let go of Sango, turning to Inuyasha. "Really? Then what was he doing in Sango's room?" Kuronosuke placed a defensive arm around Sango's shoulders.

"He wasn't." Inuyasha answered, looking up innocently. "You must have heard Madame Kaede's conversation with him through the walls. This place is weird…sound carries in odd ways. I can tell you that Miroku was meeting with the old hag, and it had nothing to do with Sango… by the time Miroku had even arrived, Sango had left for her friend's."

There was a moment of silence as Inuyasha and Kuronosuke locked eyes. Inuyasha held firm, however, and eventually Kuronosuke was convinced. He sighed. "Very well. Sango." he turned back to her, "I'm very glad you are all right. It seems you've had a troublesome past few days…I'm sorry I only managed to make them worse. Can you forgive me?" He looked truly remorseful.

Sango's smile was genuine this time. "Of course, Kuronosuke. I know that you were only worried, it's all right…I'm sorry I was so jumpy, I just…have been under a lot of stress lately."

"I'm sure you have. Why don't you rest, and I'll ask the managers to let you have the day off? I'm sure that, under the circumstances, they'll let you go for a day."

"Oh, no, Kuronosuke! Really, I'm fine."

"But I insist! I think you could use a day of relaxation. I'll make the arrangements immediately." he started for the door, and then paused. "And, perhaps…" he hesitated for a moment, before hurrying on, "Perhaps you could join me for dinner tonight? I mean… to celebrate your return, of course…I…"

Sango interrupted him before he could get himself even more confused. "Well, Kuronosuke, I'm not sure…"

Kuronosuke's disappointed look went straight to her heart. Well, why couldn't she go to dinner with him? He was her friend, wasn't he? And besides… Miroku seemed to have deserted her…what harm could come of a simple dinner?

"Actually, Kuronosuke, I'd like that. I'd like that very much." She smiled, and his eyes lit up.

"Perfect! Shall I pick you up at five, then?"

She nodded her assent.

"Five it is, then!" he hesitated for just a moment more, before crossing back over to her and pecking her on the cheek. Then he left.

Sango stood completely still for a moment, shocked. Finally Inuyasha's voice brought her back to reality.

"Are you sure you're doing the right thing?"

Sango blinked for a moment, and then suddenly said, "What are you talking about, Inuyasha?"

"Whatever." Inuyasha shook his head at the ground. "…I don't think I can lie like that again."

Sango smiled gratefully. "Thank you once more…"

"Don't thank me. Kagome's the one who came and told me of your predicament. I think you really should rest, Sango. There are shadows under your eyes. You should use this time to catch up on your sleep. Anyway, I'll see you later…" And Inuyasha turned towards the door.

Sango nodded, and she could have sworn that Inuyasha looked morose. "Goodbye, then."

Inuyasha sighed a second time and left.

xxxxx

Miroku seethed inwardly each time Kuronosuke held Sango, but his anger turned to surprise when the boy announced that he knew Miroku's name. Miroku wasn't often surprised, and he didn't like the sensation much.

He watched anxiously as Sango stuttered, certain that any minute she was going to admit everything. What reason did she have to protect him, after all?

Then Inuyasha had cut in with a quick excuse. To his further amazement, the foolish Vicomte believed Inuyasha's lies. Miroku let out a small sigh of relief. Thank Kami-sama for him…

He felt a slight pang of guilt as he remembered his last conversation with Inuyasha. He would have to do something to make it up to him…

This train of thought, however, was interrupted with a fresh wave of anger when Kuronosuke asked Sango to dinner with him.

But of course, she'll decline…

He smiled as Sango began to politely refuse the Vicomte's request, but the smile froze when she stopped. He saw her eyes flicker to the note on her desk, and then watched as she hesitated. Finally, she smiled at Kuronosuke and accepted his invitation.

Miroku's hands clenched again. How dare she? She was his, and she'd do well to remember that! In that moment, he refused to listen to logic. He didn't want to acknowledge that it was probably his fault for writing the letter. Besides, he reasoned He didn't say he'd let her go... she had only inferenced that!

His anger flared out of control when the boy had the nerve to kiss Sango. His hand slipped back to the Punjab lasso, and he just barely restrained himself from bursting in and snapping Kuronosuke's neck.

He closed his eyes and took a breath, then waited until Inuyasha had gone.

Then he reached for the latch on the mirror.

xxxxx

A/N: Wow, my longest chapter ever! Woot! Uggh…Kuronosuke. Lol, sorry for those of you who like him…I just…don't. Raoul, him…I hate them both! Anyway, I hope you liked this chapter! Thank you for reading, and please review!