A/N: I think this chapter contains a slight lime. I only say 'I think' because I'm not quite sure what the exact definition for a lime is. Silly, silly me! (can somebody tell me?) Remember to review, loves! Sango and Miroku are personally waiting to hear from you.

Sango: I like Houshi-sama in this story; he seems like himself…without being a lecher.

Miroku: I'm…a bit angry in this story, aren't I?

Sango: Its better you act violent than perverted.

Christine: Ummm…sure…whatever you say, Sango.

Miroku was still so shocked and confused over what had happened in the passageway that he failed to hear Sango's conversation with Kuronosuke. Normally, he heard everything that was going on, and wouldn't have missed it…especially since it involved Kuronosuke and Sango. Instead of following her and listening to their conversation, however, he had wandered the passageways. Eventually, he found himself outside of the door that led to Inuyasha's room.

He sighed…this was as good a time as any to apologize to her. He wasn't good at apologizing, so he wasn't sure how he was going to go about doing it. Besides, what did he have to apologize for? Nothing. He had done nothing wrong, had he? Of course not. Miroku turned and continued on back to his lair.

Sango counted the minutes until her lesson with Miroku. The day seemed like an eternity, even when Kagome was there to talk to during break. Every second was a minute, every minute an hour, and every hour a year.

She passed the time by singing a few of the songs she had learned, but eventually got tired and sat down to read. Sometimes while she was reading, she'd be sure a few hours had gone passed. Then she would look up at the clock expectantly, only to realize it had been minutes.

Eventually she fell asleep, the book still clutched in one hand.

Miroku stopped playing the organ for a moment and turned to look at the candle he had that marked the hours. It was time for Sango's voice lesson. Finally.

He stood and brushed the wrinkles out of his clothes, then grabbed the violin and started off towards her room.

When he reached it, he paused a moment to catch his breath. Then he straightened up and looked inside.

Sango was lying sprawled out across her bed, fast asleep.

He smiled softly, and then quietly pressed the mechanism that opened the mirror, and stepped into her room. Noiselessly, he crossed it and stood beside her, gazing down at her sleeping form.

Suddenly taken by impulse, he knelt down beside her and reached out to smooth a few chocolate curls back into place. Then he delicately removed one of his gloves and gently touched her forehead. His fingers, just barely gliding over her skin, traced the outline of her face. They traveled across her eyelashes, and down the slope of her nose, treasuring each detail.

Finally, his fingers reached her lips. He hesitated, reassuring himself that she was sleeping. Then he moved his fingers across her lips, tenderly caressing them. He froze when she let out a small sigh, and then jerked back as if he had been touched by a hot coal.

After several long moments, he realized that she must have just sighed in her sleep, and returned his fingertips to her lips. They were so soft, so red…

Miroku leaned over her, his face scant inches away from hers. What would it feel like for him to kiss her, instead of her kissing him? What would happen if he took the lead? Miroku paused for a moment, making sure she was still asleep.

Then he leaned down and took her lips in his.

After all, what she didn't know couldn't hurt her…right?

Sango had half woken up when she had heard the distinct click of the mirror mechanism. She kept her eyes closed, though. She had been having a good dream…

Slowly she began to wander back into unconsciousness, vaguely wondering what time it was, and what was touching her hair. She was jerked back into reality, however, when she felt his hand touch her forehead.

Sango lay completely still as his hands traveled across her face. Did he know she was awake? Probably not. That was the only thing that she could think of that would explain his boldness. At all other times, if she didn't take the lead he seemed almost afraid to touch her.

Hence, she decided to feign that she was sleeping. She didn't want to scare him away again, and she was nearly certain that if he knew she was awake, he would stop.

When his fingers touched her lips, she couldn't stop herself from letting out a gasp. She regretted it, for instantly he jerked back. Hoping that he would resume his caresses if he thought she were still asleep, Sango lay motionless again, her breathing even.

As she had hoped, his fingers returned to her lips a moment later. It was all she could do to keep silent as she felt him draw nearer. Then his fingers were gone, and she could feel his warm breath on her lips in their place. He was so close… she wanted to reach up and pull him down to her, but restrained herself. Kiss me, she urged him, Please kiss me…

The suspense was beginning to kill her. She couldn't take this much longer…

Finally, she felt his soft lips on hers, and had to stifle a moan of pleasure. For a while he kissed her, gently massaging her lips with his own. She didn't want him to stop, and had to control her urge to hold his head down to hers. Then he did something she didn't expect.

Sango just barely prevented her eyes from flying wide open when she felt his tongue run across her bottom lip. It felt like warm velvet, supple and surprisingly moist against her dry lips.

She couldn't breath, fearing that if she did she would let out some sort of sound that would tell him that she was awake. Eventually she had to take a breath, or she would suffocate herself. Her breathing was slow and painfully controlled at first, but then became rapid and uneven. She could only pray he didn't notice.

Apparently he didn't, for a moment later he began to nibble delicately on her bottom lip. Sango's hands gripped her sheets tightly. She was using every bit of self-control that she had not to whimper with delight.

Abruptly Miroku bit down hard on her bottom lip, but instantly sucked on it to dull the pain. Sango was surprised that she hadn't made a noise, but she suspected that by now, she couldn't.

She wondered briefly why Miroku hadn't realized that surely, even if she had been asleep to begin with, she would be awake by now. No one could sleep through this. Every one of her senses was telling her to wrap her arms around him and never let him go, but still she kept herself still.

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. Miroku pulled away, and Sango felt cold without the heat of his mouth on hers. The knock repeated itself, and at the same time she heard the quiet click of the mirror closing.

When the knock repeated for a third time, Sango opened her eyes and sat up. "Come in."

The door opened just enough for Inuyasha to slip inside. "I just wanted to tell ya…uhhh…good-night, I guess. I didn't realize you were sleeping already. I'm sorry I woke you..." Inuyasha tried to avoid glancing at the mirror. Damn his sensitive ears!

Sango felt like throwing her book at Inuyasha in irritation. She forced herself to take a few deep breaths. It wasn't Inuyasha's fault…he didn't know what he had interrupted.

'Or did he?' Sango thought to herself, 'Father once told me that demons have extraordinary hearing. Maybe he heard Miroku slip in?'

"It's okay, Inuyasha, I—" she was about to tell her friend that she wasn't really asleep anyway, but her eyes darted over to the mirror, not noticing Inuyasha do the same. "I probably would have gotten up anyway."

Inuyasha nodded. "'Night, Sango."

"'Night."

Inuyasha slipped back out of the door, and shut it behind him.

Sango sat in silence for a moment before speaking to the darkness. "Miroku?"

"I'm here, Sango."

Sango smiled inwardly. Oh, she knew.

"I'm sorry I fell asleep…why didn't you wake me?"

There was an awkward silence. "I was late. I only just got here."

She felt like bursting out into laughter at his somewhat unbelievable excuse. Miroku was never late.

"Are you ready to begin, then?"

"Of course."

The rest of the lesson went as it normally did, until the very end. Before Miroku could leave, Sango hesitated and then asked, "Miroku…about that dinner I had scheduled with Kuronosuke…"

There was a suddenly cold silence, and then, "Yes?"

"Well, I canceled it for tonight, as you know…but…"

"But?"

Sango was about to tell him, but then stopped. Obviously, he hadn't overheard their conversation. She was slightly surprised—she thought he heard everything—but pleased with her good fortune. She didn't have to tell him, and tomorrow night, this would all be over.

"What were you saying, Sango?"

"I just… felt guilty, that's all. I don't like lying to him." '…Anymore than I like lying to you…'

"That's all?"

"Yes."

"Don't worry about it, ma chérie; the Vicomte will get over it."

She nodded. "I suppose he will."

"Goodnight, ma chérie."

"Goodnight, Miroku."

Sango was relieved at finally having a normal day of practice. It helped get her mind off of that night. She was worried that Kuronosuke would tell someone…and for sure, Miroku would overhear. He wouldn't miss hearing about it twice.

After practice, Sango changed out of her ballet outfit and into a semi-nice dress. It was one of the better ones that she owned. She wanted to look nice for this outing, even if it wasn't really a date. Was it?

She glanced at the hour candle. It was almost time to go. Sango winced…why was it that when she was waiting for something, the waiting seemed to take an eternity, but when she was dreading something it went by in a blink?

What seemed like a few minutes later, there was a knock on her door. Sango quickly opened it, walking out passed Kuronosuke. She motioned for him to move quickly. Kuronosuke frowned at her odd behavior, but did as she wanted anyway.

Sango didn't stop to rest until they were at his carriage. Every bend she had been expecting to run into a furious Miroku. Now, however, she was beginning to hope that he would never find out about this.

Her hopes were in vain.

Miroku watched Sango and the Vicomte step into the carriage, eyes blazing. Now he knew what Sango had been going to say to him the night before… She hadn't canceled her dinner with Kuronosuke after all…she had simply moved it to another night.

He gritted his teeth. How dare she lie to him! He had trusted her, and she had betrayed him. Miroku closed his eyes and took a breath, attempting to control his rising temper. Sango must have had a reason for not telling him…

'She damn well had a reason!' His mind shot back angrily, 'She thinks she can get away with it! She tricked you into believing you could trust her so that she could escape! She doesn't love you…she never loved you! She thinks that she can deceive you twice.'

His eyes now burned hotter than fire.

He'd show her.

Miroku stalked down the passageways and left the Opera House through a side door, his cloak billowing behind him, and his hand clutched around the end of the Punjab lasso…