Hi everyone! I'm back! Man, it really felt strange going two chapters with no author's notes. I missed talking to my audience, but I wanted to keep the chapters as solemn as I could. And when I put notes in, there's bound to be some humor.
Dude! I can't believe how much attention I got for chapters 12 and 13, especially 13. That one was THE shortest chapter in the whole story, but it got 36 reviews, the MOST out of all the chapters! I couldn't stop marveling over that. I didn't realize I did such a great job on that one. (Bows gratefully) Thank you all so much, I can't tell you how much I appreciate your reviews and attention! Thanks to you, "I'm Goin' to Miami" has 170 reviews and, get this, 5,241 hits! (Screams happily, bows some more)
I just might reach 300 reviews by the time I finish this story. Okay, for the last two chapters, I read over my reviews and found that I made a few of you cry (intended, but not my mission in life) and mad, that one being Hazel Eyed Freak, who also wanted to skin me alive (nervous chuckle, teardrops). I'm surprised Cappuccino Addict ain't got on me yet. Also, because of my great work on this story, I have a pillow named after me! How very happy I am now that I have autographed merchandise!
It took me a solid month and more to do it, but I did it! Here it is, chapter 14, signed, sealed, delivered and yours to read! ("Signed, Sealed, Delivered"- Stevie Wonder) Heads up, this chapter is VERY long as it answers that burning question everyone's had since chapter 7:
What the hell's the deal with Miroku and Sango, man?
More or less in those exact words.
The disclaimer list is also a bit long as a lot of guest stars appear in this chapter in some form. All the characters and works belong to their respected owners and the only thing I own is the concept of this story. So don't sue me! You won't get much from this college student.
Gotta give credit where credit is due; a special shout-out and thank you goes out to mylovemiroku-san for giving me an idea after telling Sango to run to Miroku in her review for chapter 13.
Enjoy y'all!
"I'm Goin' to Miami"
Chapter 14
"Just For You"
Miroku's surrounding was pitch black, nothing except pure darkness. He turned around and found Sango standing behind him. A relived smile appeared on his face upon seeing her. He reached out to embrace her but couldn't touch her. Miroku stared in confusion. Sango hadn't moved but there was now a distance between them. She gazed back at him. A light wind blew her hair across her face as a tear fell from her eye.
Miroku wondered what was wrong. He spoke his concern but was not answered. He walked toward Sango, but didn't move from the spot in which he stood. Miroku picked up his pace and was soon running to reach her, but he was doing nothing more than moving in place. Sango watched as he continued to run after her, running faster and trying to break whatever was binding him. She was filled with sorrow but couldn't move.
"Sango! Sango!" Miroku called out to her.
Anguish surfaced on her face as he called her name so desperately. Miroku continued to run, thinking he would somehow reach her. He looked closer at Sango, seeing something behind her.
Sango's eyes remained on him as Naraku stepped out of the darkness and stood behind her. He smiled wickedly, baring his white teeth as he seductively ran his left fingers through Sango's hair. She remained still, her eyes narrowing with more anguish as if she would cry.
Miroku stared perplexed at the scene, but focused more on Sango's façade. She was unhappy, sorrowful. That man was adding to her sorrow and was delighting in it. Miroku tried his hardest to reach her. He would not allow Naraku the pleasure of making Sango miserable.
His movements caught Naraku's eye, causing him to stop his advances and cast a glare. His malicious red eyes narrowed with hatred at the sight of Miroku. His hand took hold of Sango and slowly pulled her into the darkness with him. She gave no resistance but continued to gaze miserably at Miroku, stretching her hand to him as black engulfed her.
Miroku ran for all he was worth to save her, reaching out his right hand to her but still could not get near her. His body grew weary from being pushed beyond its limits but he refused to stop. Horror washed over him as he watched Sango's fingers sink into the darkness and disappear.
"SANGO!" Miroku screamed, jutting out his arm so far toward her he dislocated it.
His body could take no more. The exhaustion overwhelmed him and sent Miroku to his knees. He slumped over, holding his limp arm tightly, his face downcast and grimacing with pain. Pain from losing Sango. Tears fell, soaking his jeans.
"Sango…." Miroku sobbed.
He opened his downcast eyes. A warmth seeped into his body through his dislocated shoulder. Lifting his eyes, Miroku found someone kneeling before him, touching his shoulder.
His sad indigo eyes met Sango's.
Miroku could do nothing but stare helplessly at her beautiful face. She gazed back at him, her gentle hand resting on his injured shoulder. Her saddened face tore at Miroku's heart.
"Sango?" He softly asked. "What's wrong?"
She didn't answer, only rested her forehead tenderly against his and caressed his face.
"Please….." Sango uttered in a near whisper. "Please, Miroku. Don't beg for death because of me."
He stared speechlessly as she had read his thoughts. Sango backed away, her soft hand sliding from his cheek.
"Sango..!"
Miroku reached out to her again, but she was already a great distance from him. Sakura petals blew from behind her as she slowly faded away, giving him a forlorn smile.
I wish you happiness, Miroku…..
Miroku screamed Sango's name as she faded away completely, her voice echoing in the vast emptiness surrounding him, the sakura petals increasing in the sudden wind. His voice echoed with hers, pleadingly.
Sango! Please, don't leave me! SANGO!
"Don't leave me…."
Miroku's eyes opened narrowly, blinking very slowly as he adjusted his eyesight. He found his right arm outstretched toward the ceiling of his bedroom. His senses returned to him and his arm fell lifelessly to his side. Miroku groaned miserably, feeling the effects of his hangover. Wondering what time it was, he turned to his left to the digital alarm clock on the nightstand. It was almost a half hour past noon. Miroku squinted his eyes to look closer and gawked incredulously at the date beside the time.
It was 12:30.
Sunday.
With a moan, his eyes went back to the ceiling; he had been out for a full day and a half. He was in bad shape, but would rather have endured his hangover. The instant he remembered that night, when Sango had walked out of his life, the heartache he had tried so hard to get rid of returned to him.
One thousandfold.
Miroku shut his eyes. His face grimaced as his emotional agony felt as if it turned physical. He saw images of Sango's face pass through his mind and the pain was horribly unbearable.
He grabbed fistfuls of his hair, gnashing his teeth.
"Stop…..stop…!" He whimpered.
Miroku….. Sango's voice called to him in his mind.
Miroku begged for the images to stop, unable to take the torment. His grip on his hair tightened, his teeth gnashing harder. Sango's face would not leave him, nor would her voice. Miroku whined in distress. He tossed and turned, extreme anguish ridden all over his face.
You stand there and lie to me?
I didn't think you'd resort to being his whore…
Whore…
Whore…
Miroku scrunched into fetal position. His words to Sango echoed loudly in his mind, torturing him relentlessly. Unknowingly, he had pulled on his hair so hard blood was trickling down across his face. The memories quieted but didn't cease. Remaining in fetal position, his tortured façade tightened slightly.
Thoughts came to him, disturbing thoughts of watching his pain and regret flow from his body through his wrists. Dark concepts of ending his life began to egg him on, beckoning him to search for a blade to end his suffering, but the heaviness of his heart anchored him to the bed. Frustration was settling in. Miroku wanted to rid himself of this pain, but he couldn't move. Something, something other than his heart held him down. The echoes of his memories grew louder again. Miroku turned over, burying his face in the bed cover.
Leave, Sango. Just leave me. Please! I can't take this….I can't take this anymore!
The echoes only grew louder, sending his face deeper into the bed cover.
Why can't I forget her? Why does she keep haunting me? The very thought of Sango, just hearing her name is bringing me so much pain! This is torture! I wish I'd never laid eyes on her. If it would bring me so much torment just thinking about her, I wish I'd never met her!
His thoughts finally ceased.
Miroku had been trembling fiercely throughout his entire ordeal. After his thoughts ceased, he calmed down.
He opened his eyes and stared before him, taking a look at himself in his mind's eye. Miroku released his head and lay still on the bed, weariness overtaking his body. Feeling a wet spot on the bed under his cheek, he looked and saw the bed cover stained with his tears and the blood that streamed across his face.
"I'm losing my mind."
His silent whisper hung in the air.
Miroku turned onto his back and stared wearily up at the ceiling. His mind was now blank. When he rubbed his head, his injured scalp throbbed painfully. Miroku removed his hand and saw a spot of blood on his palm. His anguished eyes narrowed.
This is my fault. Sango did nothing to bring this on. I'm the one who caused all of this.
His arm dropped onto the bed. His eyes stared upward a while longer and then closed, allowing Miroku time with his thoughts. He was at war with himself; forgetting about Sango would be best for him. If he continued to hold onto her, Miroku would lose his mind completely, if he didn't die of heartbreak first. Yes, expelling Sango from his mind, from his life, would only benefit him. It would kill him otherwise.
Miroku tried to forget Sango. He wanted to forget Sango. He wanted to be relieved of his pain and if he could put her behind him, he'd finally be at peace.
Miroku opened his partially-lidded eyes.
Emotion said forget her.
Logic said forget her.
But his heart said keep her.
His desire sided with his heart.
Miroku tried his hardest to put Sango behind him, to put her out of his life and forget she even existed. But he couldn't. No matter what he did, Miroku could not forget Sango's beautiful smile, her chocolate brown eyes, her flowing dark brown hair, her divine beauty.
Sango in general.
Miroku gave a small smile at the lovely image of her. It soon faded as he closed his eyes, remembering something that brought him more sorrow. Sango would never forgive him for what he said to her, not after being called a whore, let alone Naraku's. Miroku had disrespected her, didn't even give her a chance to explain, called her a liar, and the way he spoke to her….
That made him hate himself more. Never in his life had he spoke to a woman in such a cold tone, and yet he spoke to Sango as if she weren't even considered a woman.
I want to see her again. Even if it's only for a short while, I want to look into her eyes just once more.
A single tear ran from his eye as he felt his heart break even more.
Sango won't allow me the grace, not after what I said to her. If longing for her will only bring me misery, then I'll wander as a lost soul. I can't forget her.
Nor do I want to.
Miroku closed his eyes and returned to sleep, his memories of his time with Sango bringing a small amount of consolation to his ailing heart.
IoioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioI
Kagome sat on her bed trying to watch Urusei Yatsura, but couldn't pay attention because of Sango. She pitifully looked behind her at her dear friend, who laid on her bed, her back facing Kagome. Since Sango had come back from the beach the other day, she stayed on the bed, crying often but never speaking a word.
Desolation covered Sango's face, tear streaks lining her face. Naraku had brought her misery in all kinds of ways before, but this was the worse. He had deceived her into wrongfully casting Miroku from her life forever. The painful heaviness in her heart kept her anchored and immobile on her bed. She lifted her eyes from her soaked bed cover. Kagome was staring at her sympathetically, kneeling down so that she was eye level with Sango.
"Sango?" Kagome spoke almost in a whisper. "Sango-chan, what's wrong?"
Sango broke eye contact and looked down at the bed. Kagome regained her attention, her voice softer and filled with worry, "Sango, you haven't said a word or eaten anything since yesterday. Please tell me what's wrong."
She fought to keep her tears back as she looked into Kagome's pleading eyes. Sango started to speak when there was a loud knock on the door.
"We don't need anything, thank you." Kagome answered loudly, thinking it was room service
"This ain't room service, Kagome! I'm knocking because I don't wanna barge in at the wrong moment and get clobbered! Normally, when the door's closed, you guys are in your underwear!"
Kagome teardropped in embarrassment, recognizing the voice. She said he was okay to enter and Inuyasha stepped inside with Shippo behind him.
"Did you have to say that so loudly, Inuyasha? People could hear you down the hall." Kagome complained, giving a light glare at him.
Inuyasha cut his eyes at her, as if saying sorry. He had mainly come to check on Sango to see if she was alright. Seeing her lying on the bed crying led him to believe she wasn't in good health. "Yo Sango, are you okay?"
Her vocal chords were choked up from crying. She had just loosened them enough to speak when Inuyasha came and asked about her.
Kagome spoke up, "I've been trying to ask her, but she's been really upset. She hasn't moved from the bed since she got back from the beach yesterday." She paused. A thought came to her. "Is Miroku alright? I haven't seen him since you and I went out on our date, Inuyasha."
A cold jolt shot down Sango's spine when she heard Kagome's question. The feeling intensified when she saw the half-demon's face darken.
Something's wrong. She thought.
Inuyasha looked to the side. "I don't know how to answer that, Kagome. I don't even know what's wrong with him."
Kagome grew concerned. "Why would something be wrong with Miroku? Did you do something to upset him?"
"No, in fact I came here to ask you that." Inuyasha replied. "I tried, but I can't figure out why he went and got drunk that night we went out."
"Drunk?" Kagome exclaimed, Sango's face saying the same.
Inuyasha explained, "Shippo, or actually Satsuki over the phone, saw Miroku in a bar around an area near the mall. WHY the kit was over there that late I don't know, but he called me and told me to go and get him. And Kagome, Miroku was PAST wasted! He was so drunk, I don't think he even recognized me when he saw me."
The news shocked Kagome, whereas Sango was horrified.
Did I hurt Miroku so badly I caused him to drink his pain away? And so heavily?
"Shippo had told me Miroku reeked of alcohol but was still drinking. When I arrived and tried to get him outta there, he said he didn't wanna leave. And I wasn't takin' no for an answer, so I made him get up. Then he tried to get away from me and when I asked him what Sango would think if she saw him wasted in a dump like that, he landed one right here like he was tryin' to knock me out!"
Inuyasha pointed to his jaw where Miroku had struck him. Kagome gawked in amazement just as Shippo had. Sango's face grew pale, not knowing what to think except that hearing her name enraged Miroku.
Inuyasha continued, his golden eyes downcast, "The thing I thought really disturbing," His voice quieted. "I think Miroku was trying to kill myself."
The room became deathly silent, the statement striking Sango hard. She tried to speak, but was too horrified and shocked to form the words.
"Why would you think that, Inuyasha? What did he do?" Kagome inquired for Sango.
"Because after Miroku punched me, he had this real destitute look on his face and he screamed 'I'm not dead yet, I can't leave'. That gave me all the more reason to get him outta there, he looked pretty damn insistent on trying to drink himself to death."
Sango didn't utter a sound, feeling as though she couldn't breathe.
Dear Buddha, what have I done to him? I hadn't even bothered to look at him since that night. He drank so much and I didn't know. I didn't bother to so see him-
Oh no, what if Miroku drank far too much? He could be ailing right now. He could be sick, gravely sick, or-
Sango's face washed pallid as a frightening thought came to her.
He could be dead of alcohol poisoning…He could be dead and we don't even know it!
Gods, what I have done! I've killed Miroku!
"Sango? Hey, Sango, what's the matter with you?" Inuyasha inquired, seeing her pale distraught visage.
Sango sat on the bed, staring down at her hands. Her face was almost completely white from her thoughts as she started to convince herself she had killed Miroku. Inuyasha wondered what was wrong with her and guessed she had jumped to a conclusion when he said Miroku had drank too much.
"Sango, get a grip! I just said he TRIED to drink himself to death! I didn't say he did! I just checked his room before I got here, he's just sleeping now!"
That calmed her down as she looked up at Inuyasha. He tried to get a grip himself as Sango had scared him. She was barely breathing.
"I checked on him a while before that too. Miroku told me he was still feeling like hell so he's gonna stay in bed for a good while longer."
All attention was now focused on Sango as she was white and breathing deeply. Her fright had practically paralyzed her lungs. Sango still said nothing, but judging by her reaction, Kagome figured something had happened between her and Miroku that caused him to drink.
Inuyasha had came to Sango to ask if she had something to do with Miroku getting himself drunk It was obvious she had, but it was obvious she wasn't up for questioning either. In light of that, he stood up and faced the door.
"Since everyone's keepin' me in the dark, I'm gonna hit the arcade and play DDR for a couple hours. Holler if ya need me."
Inuyasha waved "see ya" as he headed to his said destination. Shippo grabbed his beachwear and headed to the pool to finally show Satsuki his moves.
Kagome resumed watching television, watching the first four hours of a Chobits marathon. She wound up dozing off on the ninth episode. Sango laid in bed, this time facing Kagome, her sad eyes fixed on her. In her thoughts, she begged her for solace. Her mind was in utmost turmoil; she didn't know what she should do.
Figuring Kagome wasn't watching TV, Sango took the remote and flipped through the channels, landing on one call BET (Black Entertainment Television). A Whitney Houston music video played. In the corner of the screen, it read "Takin' It Back to the Old School".
I know that when you look at me
There's so much that you just don't see
But if you would only take the time
I know in my heart you'll find
Ohhh, a girl who's scared sometimes
Who isn't always strong
Can't you see the hurt in me?
I feel so all alone
I wanna run to you, oooh-hooo
I wanna run to you, youuu-hoo
Won't you hold me in your arms
And keep me safe from harm?
I wanna run to you, oooh-hooo
But if I come to you, youuu-hoo
Tell me,
Will you stay?
Or will you run away?
Sango mouthed that question, shedding a tear. During the past four hours, she had laid on the bed with her eyes closed, thoughts running through her mind and preventing her from even dozing off. Whitney Houston's "Run to You" articulated Sango's feelings perfectly. She longed for Miroku, just to see his face would make her so happy, but she was too afraid to move from her bed. He wouldn't want to see her ever again. Sango paused her mourning thoughts; the middle of the next Old School song caught her attention.
Tomorrow morning
I'm a' hit the dusty road
Gonna find you wherever, ever you might go
And I'm gonna unload my heart
And hope you come back to me
Said when the nights are lonely
The nights are lonely
The days are so sad and
I just keep thinking about the love that we had
And I'm missin' you
And nobody knows it but me
The verse prior to the refrain stuck in Sango's head, ceasing the formation of her tears. She sat up silently, sniffling one last time and made up her mind.
I'm going to Miroku and I'm going to apologize to him. It's breaking my heart that he'll never want me, but I still owe him an apology. If nothing else, I can at least do that.
I just need to see him once more.
Sango finally got up from the bed and walked slowly to Miroku and Inuyasha's suite. She was very hesitant, but the strong desire to see his face pushed her down the hall to their room, which Sango discovered Inuyasha had left unlocked. She peeked inside and headed toward Miroku's closed door.
Quietly knocking, she called out to him, "Miroku?"
No answer. Thinking maybe he didn't hear her, Sango tried again, knocking a little harder.
Still no answer.
Sango's dreadful thoughts began to resurface. Shaking her head, she banished them and slowly turned the knob, opening the door.
Miroku was gone.
A note rested atop the wrinkled bed cover. Sango immediately picked up the slip of paper and read it.
Miroku had stepped out for a while, including in the note where he was going.
Her face darkened. How long ago had he stepped out? She refused to let it get her down. Sango quickly left in search of Miroku, willing to search all of Miami if she had to. She walked in an area about twelve blocks from the hotel, looking all around for a trace of him but finding none. She went down a busy street and stopped in front of one of the stores. Sango had walked for a long while but there was no sign of Miroku. She tried to think of somewhere else he might've gone to when she turned her head to look over the crowd.
Miroku was walking up the end of the other side of the street. Fearing her eyes were playing a cruel trick on her, Sango looked carefully and saw it was indeed Miroku. He stopped and looked at the building to his side. After staring at the entrance for a while, he went inside. Sango followed right behind him.
She quietly entered the building, thinking it was a bar but it turned out to a dance club. The seating areas lined the walls and in the middle of the room was a large dance floor. Across from the door was the bar and Miroku sitting before the counter.
Sango felt her heart sink seeing the side of his side. He was miserable. There was nothing but sheer sadness all over it, as well as loneliness. She took a seat at a table near the door, her back facing his. She gave Miroku his distance as she was not quite ready to approach him yet.
The bartender was talking with a friend when he took notice he had a customer.
"Hello there." He greeted in a friendly tone. "Can I get you anything?"
Miroku was silent as he stared down at the counter after giving the bartender a quick glance.
"I don't suppose you sell sake here in America?" Miroku quietly asked.
"No, sir, I'm sorry." He chuckled. "Well, in other parts, maybe. But we don't sell sake here, or alcohol in general for that matter. Our manager prefers to keep it alcohol-free here."
The bartender's response was lighthearted, but he calmed down when he saw the very depressed expression on Miroku's face. "Oh, I apologize, sir. I thought I could maybe cheer you up a little bit."
Miroku looked up at him. "No, please don't feel bad on my account. I appreciate it." He tried to be polite, though nothing could lift his spirits.
The bartender smiled and presented him with an exotic fruit punch in a margarita glass. "On me, Mr. Houshi, Japan's Hottest Actor."
Miroku stared blankly and then blinked. He had forgotten his title for a second. He thanked the bartender and accepted the drink with a weak smile.
"I didn't recognize you until you looked up just now. You played the Buddhist monk on that show, InuYasha. I only know about it because it's all my two daughters talk about. They are just in LOVE with your character, Mr. Houshi. I caught a few of the episodes and I must admit, I always crack up seeing you get slapped to Kingdom Come by that demon slayer."
That brought a small smile to both Miroku and Sango's faces. The mention of Sango caused images of her to flood his mind again, but they didn't send him into turmoil. Instead, Miroku felt comforted seeing an image of her lovely face.
Sango listened as the bartender spoke to him, lightheartedly relating the actor to his character on InuYasha.
"This place isn't full yet, but you'd be quite content with the few pretty ladies here, Mr. Houshi." He joked, looking around at the five young women sitting in various seats.
Miroku's weak smile remained. He chuckled at the bartender's joke, then surprised himself when he realized something.
He didn't bother to look around at the women.
Miroku had absolutely no interest in them.
"Yes." He finally spoke up. "By now, I would've flirted with every woman in here at least five times, asking each one to bear my child." He took a sip of his punch.
"I was quite the ladies' man back then."
Sango blinked, lifting her head as she caught Miroku's words.
"'Was back then'? Why do you say that?" The bartender asked, puzzled.
"That is the proper term when speaking of the past, is it not?" Miroku answered as a matter-of-factly. "I had thought chasing women would make me happy. It was once my greatest dream to be surrounded by all kinds of women and adored by them, back when I first began acting."
The bartender nodded. "Ah yes, every player's dream. With your popularity, it would most certainly be a reality, Mr. Houshi."
"Yes, it could." Miroku agreed.
"But all the women on this Earth couldn't bring me happiness."
Sango listened intently. Miroku's voice was very solemn.
"Oh?" The bartender was very intrigued, finding the actor's words incredible. "There is an exceptional one, Mr. Houshi?"
Miroku's smile strengthened. "Yes, there is. She stands out high above all the others. I'm always at a loss for words when I try to describe her. Everything seems so much brighter when she's near me. She's the most beautiful woman in the world, surpassing any goddess. The only woman who could ever bring me true happiness."
The bartender smiled warmly. He then noticed he had more customers coming in as it grew later and excused himself to tend to them. Miroku took a long sip of his drink, his expression forlorn and sincere.
"Of all the women in the world, you're the only one I want, Sango."
Sango took in every word he spoke, tears swelling in her eyes.
Miroku watched the bartender as he fixed an exotic drink for the group of people that had just come in, several of them couples.
"May I sit here, Miroku?"
He turned around to tell the speaker he wasn't saving the seat, when he looked up and found Sango standing next to the chair beside him. Miroku stared in surprise, his heart beating its strongest in almost two days.
"Sango…" Miroku uttered. "What are you doing here?"
Sango glanced down, timidly. "I...I saw the note you left on your bed and I just had to see you."
Miroku stared a little longer, taking in her words. He snapped out of it and offered her the seat. They sat together, looking away awkwardly, not knowing what to say to each other. After a minute of silence, Miroku couldn't stand it anymore.
"Sango, I'm so sorry." He spoke with deep remorse. "I can't believe what I said to you….I'm so very sorry."
"Miroku…no, it's my fault, not yours." Sango contradicted, taking the blame. "I blamed you for something you never did, then I just lost myself in a rage. Miroku, I'm sorry!"
"No, I'm the one at fault, Sango. I just jumped to a stupid conclusion and wouldn't let you explain. It didn't occur to me that something else could've happened until it was too late, and after calling you such horrible things. I couldn't live with myself for saying such things. I apologize to you, Sango. I'm not asking forgiveness, I don't deserve it, but I do owe you an apology."
Sango stared, speechlessly. That was exactly how she felt and Miroku had spoken her feelings exactly. She opened her mouth to speak when she observed his face.
Miroku looked so….broken.
Sango could see the heartbreak, the utter heartache and loneliness on his features. And in his indigo eyes, his feelings were emphasized, piercing deep into her already wounded heart. Sango remembered how she had drove him to nearly drinking himself to death, how he was unconsciousness for a whole day, almost two, and all she put him through. Her face grimaced as she felt her emotions overwhelm her.
"Sango? Sango, what's wrong?" Miroku inquired, worried.
She then broke down weeping, unable to keep it inside any longer. Miroku couldn't bear to see her cry so bitterly and tried to console her, asking what the matter was.
Sango calmed down enough to finally speak. "Miroku…everything I've put you through since that night…what kind of person am I to do that to you?" She said in-between sobs.
"Sango, I told you, it doesn't matter. It's behind us. The whole thing was just a misunderstanding." Miroku softly stated, just wanting to put the situation behind him.
Sango finally stopped weeping and dried her tears with the napkins Miroku handed her. She stood up straight in the chair, her head lowered and eyes downcast.
"Miroku, that man you saw at the beach, at the hotel and that night he kissed me? Naraku?" Sango started quietly.
Miroku gently beckoned her to look into his eyes. "Sango, I don't care about him. You told me all about him and how he doesn't mean anything to you already."
"Not everything.
"Naraku…..he's my ex-fiancé."
Sango's eyes broke contact with Miroku, so she didn't see his eyes widen with a blank questioning façade. She glanced up and then saw his face, her shame dampening her urge to giggle. After taking a deep breath, Sango went on and told him ALL about her relationship with Naraku, including the two times he almost raped her. She didn't spare a single detail nor did she keep anything from Miroku. Sango looked up at him after hearing nothing from him and drew back slightly in surprise.
Miroku was aghast! He was beyond horrified by what he had been told. His eyes widened and his face was slightly paler than it already was.
"What," Miroku spoke his mind slowly, "In the name of Buddha, would possess someone-"
To be so weak and stupid to even want to be near a bastard like him? You're right; I'm a worthless idiot, Miroku. I deserve that. Sango's shameful eyes glanced to the side.
"-to abuse a woman as beautiful as you, Sango?"
Sango's eyes popped open. She lifted them back to Miroku's face; his expression was sympathetic and filled with pity for her. She stared at him incredulously.
"Miroku, how can you be so foolish? After I've kept my relationship with Naraku from you, lying, saying I didn't know him, and after what I did you and put you through on that night, how can you still…."
Sango's voice quieted, her throat tightening as her tears returned.
"How can you still say something so kind to me? I don't deserve it."
The tears escaped from her downcast eyes, facing away in shame. Miroku placed his hand on Sango's right cheek and, as gently as he could, titled her head upward so that her eyes met his.
"Yes you do, Sango, because it's true."
His tone was gentle and soft. Miroku looked deep into Sango's tearful brown eyes, speaking his sincerity, "Regardless of what happened, you still deserve kindness. Don't bear such harsh feelings upon yourself. I don't feel any bitterness toward you, Sango. I have no reason, nor any desire to."
Sango's hand slowly rose up to Miroku's on her face, her eyes looking into his indigo eyes. That kindly smile that she admired so appeared on his face when he saw her tears had stopped.
"When I said you were beautiful, Sango, I wasn't talking about just your body. I was talking about YOU; your strength, your strong-will and determination, your gentleness and kind heart, your personality, everything that makes up who you are."
Sango closed her hand over Miroku's, holding it closer to her face, speechless and deeply touched by his tender, heartfelt words. His sparkling smile warmed her heart.
"I especially admire your strength, Sango." He added.
"My strength?" She questioned, a bit confused.
"Yes." Miroku's smile broadened. "You're the only woman strong enough to knock me senseless."
It brought Miroku so much joy to hear Sango laugh again, even if it was at his expense.
"Miroku, you idiot." Sango said, giggling.
Miroku tilted his head downward, looking up at Sango expectantly. She laughed, knowing what the gesture meant. He smiled, satisfied.
"I swear you put some kind of spell on me when you said that, Miroku."
"When I said what?" Miroku asked.
"At the karaoke bar, after you had sang for me, you said, 'if it sustains that beautiful smile, you can call me 'idiot' to your heart's content.'" Sango answered, smiling warmly. "I haven't been able to stop smiling since, even when I don't call you an idiot."
"If it was indeed a spell, it worked all too well." Miroku spoke gently. "Seeing your wonderful smile made it irresistible for me to do likewise."
Sango smiled at him, finding herself admiring Miroku's indigo eyes. When she looked into them earlier, they were dark and lifeless. Now, that brightness and that wonderful sparkle inside them had returned.
"You have such beautiful eyes, Miroku."
Her soft voice widened his warm smile.
"Thank you, but your beautiful eyes are most divine, Sango."
She smiled appreciatively, giving a silent thank you and rested her head underneath Miroku's chin. He rested his head atop hers, closing his eyes and caressing her hair. A blissful sigh escaped his smiling lips when Sango nuzzled his neck.
I feel…I feel so warm. This feels so right. My Sango…My dear Sango…this is where I belong, right here in your arms. Right here...
The bartender tried to stifle a sniffle as he had witnessed the entire scene between Miroku and Sango, tears of happiness for them streaming down his face. He looked around the building and found the evening crowd starting to come. He signaled to the DJ that the dance floor was now open.
It's electric!
The first dance song of the evening played. Sango's eyes flew open and she quickly sat up in her chair, making Miroku wonder if something was wrong.
"Oh Miroku, that's my song!" Sango exclaimed, hopping from the chair and beckoning him to join her on the dance floor.
"What? You mean dance?" He replied nervously.
Sango stopped and noticed the uncertainty on Miroku's face. She folded her arms and gave a playful mocking look. "You don't know the Electric Slide, do you, Miroku?"
He glanced back and forth between Sango and his right side, playing with his bangs. "Uh…no, actually." His quiet embarrassed answer.
And he calls himself a player, can't even do the Electric Slide. "Okay, c'mon I'll show you."
You can't see it
It's electric
You gotta feel it
It's electric
Ooh, it's shocking
It's electric
Sango lead Miroku to an open space on the dance floor ant tried to teach him the Electric Slide. At first, he kept getting confused with the footing, and then he kept heading in the wrong direction. Sango couldn't help but laugh; Miroku laughed at himself as well. She reviewed for him once more, going slower and instructing him further with the steps.
Soon after, Miroku got it right and followed Sango. She could tell he got it when he started adding his own groove to it, impressing her. Miroku got upset when the music ended. He thought the record was rather short but Sango explained it had taken him most of the song to get the dance down.
Come on shake your body baby do that conga
I know you can't control yourself any longer
Come on shake your body baby do that conga
I know you can't control yourself any longer
Miroku's eyes widened with excitement at the next song. He could never resist Gloria Estefan. The next thing Sango knew, he was dancing the Salsa. Despite the song being named "Conga" and he was doing the opposite, the dances seemed to go together with the rhythm anyway, making Sango giggle. As Miroku danced, seemingly for her, her eyes locked on his hips! They moved so smoothly to the festive music, as did the rest of his body, but his hips particularly entranced her. He flashed a proud sly grin as he noticed Sango couldn't take her eyes off of him.
"Enjoying the view, Sango?" Miroku teased.
She snickered, blushing a light pink.
Miroku laughed, "Don't just enjoy the view, become part of it."
Now Miroku was doing the beckoning and Sango didn't know the dance. He froze, still in a dancing stance, staring at her with the same blank face she gave him on the Electric Slide. She gave a wide smile as Miroku straightened up.
"You don't the Salsa? Japan's Sexiest Singer and you don't know the Salsa?" Miroku inquired, imitating Sango and making her laugh.
"Well T.M. Revolution doesn't know the Polka but I don't hear you getting on him." She laughed.
Miroku rolled his eyes up at her response, thinking that made a good argument.
"But yeah, I can't really do any Latino dances, not very well anyway." Sango added.
Miroku took her hand, causing her to look up at his kind face and his smile.
"Not confident in your ability to dance? Well, we can't have that now, can we?" He pulled her to him in sort of a Tango stance, gazing romantically into her surprised eyes.
"Allow me to strengthen your confidence, Sango." Miroku purred.
He led Sango into an energetic dance that was a combination of the Latino dances he knew. Sango caught on to the basic form and was soon dancing with him. She lost herself in the music and moved her hips lively, entrancing Miroku to the point of awe.
Come on shake your body baby do that conga
I know you can't control yourself any longer
Feel the rhythm of the music getting stronger
Don'tcha fight it, do it, gotta do that conga beat!
Miroku and Sango lost themselves in their dance, not noticing they had attracted an audience. He twirled Sango and dipped her as the last note played. Upon hearing the following one, Miroku just brought her to her feet and resumed dancing with her.
Do you remember the 21st night of September?
Love was changing the minds of pretenders
While chasing the clouds away
Our hearts were ringing
In the key that our souls are singing
Remember, how the stars stole the night away?
Ah, ah, AH!
Oh-we-oh Say, do you remember
Oh-we-oh Dancin' in September
Oh-we-oh Never seen a cloudy day
They continued to dance and Miroku was once again disappointed when "September" ended. It was one of his favorite songs but dancing with Sango made it seem much shorter than he thought. They took a break and went back to their seats at the counter. The bartender complimented them on their "Salsa" dance, asking Miroku if he could show him a few tips so he could stop stepping on his wife's feet.
As they laughed, Sango's stomach growled, followed by Miroku's. It was then that they remembered they hadn't eaten in almost two days. Miroku reached into his jacket pocket and found his Visa card. He smiled at Sango as he placed their orders and handed the bartender his card, happy he could finally repay Sango for lunch at Starbucks a few days back.
The bartender stared as he saw the food practically disappear the minute he placed it in front of them. Sango and Miroku almost literally inhaled their food. They noticed him staring and realized how fast they had eaten.
"I can tell you two haven't eaten in a couple of days." The bartender joked.
Miroku and Sango talked for a while more, allowing their food to sit before getting back to dancing. Sango glanced at the dance floor, noting there were fewer people dancing to DaftPunk's "One More Time". She noticed the DJ hadn't really played any good songs since "September", and was starting to consider leaving. She decided against it. Just being in Miroku's company was more than enough enjoyment for her.
"I wonder if we could find another one to dance to before we decide to leave." Sango thought outloud to herself.
A familiar tune entered their ears and moved Miroku out of his seat. He gently took Sango's hand and led her to the dance floor, never breaking his flirtatious gaze into her eyes.
"I don't know. D'you wanna try? And then we'll see (chuckle)."
They reached an open spot and Miroku sang to her while dancing for her.
Do you remember when we fell in love?
We were young and innocent then
Do you remember how it all began?
It just seemed like heaven
So why did it end?
Do you remember?
Back in the fall?
We'd be together all day long
Do you remember
Us holding hands?
In each other's eyes we stared
Tell me...
Do you remember the time?
When we fell in love
Do you remember the time?
When we first met, girl
Do you remember the time?
When we fell in love
Do you remember the time?
It made Sango melt being wrapped in Miroku's strong arms and hearing him sing to her with a deep and smooth voice, looking into her eyes romantically. There were numerous other women on the floor watching them, but Miroku eyes were focused only on the one whom his heart belonged to.
Sango.
She was THE only woman he wanted.
Sango smiled happily at the fact.
Do you remember how we used to talk?
You know we'd stay the phone at night 'til dawn
Do you remember all the things we said?
Like "I love you so"
"I'll never let you go"
Do you remember
Back in the spring
Every mornin' birds would sing
Do you remember those special times?
They'll just go on and on in the back of my mind
Do you remember the time?
When we fell in love
Do you remember the time?
When we first met, girl
Do you remember the time?
When we fell in love
Do you remember the time?
Miroku was re-enacting the music video to Michael Jackson's "Remember the Time", adding a few things to it. Sango wished he had the matching gold costume, then the act would be complete.
Those sweet memories will always be dear to me
And girl, no matter what was said
I will never forget what we had, my baby!
Others stopped to watch the Japanese couple get down on the floor. At that point, Miroku let himself go and danced just like in the video, Sango dancing with him. The two of them did some of Jackson's other signature dances, acting like Janet and Michael Jackson on the "Scream" music video and Sango doing the moonwalk perfectly!
Miroku gawked in amazement, asking if she could teach him.
"Now THAT, you have to be born with." Sango replied, smiling at his playful pouty face.
Miroku and Sango remained at the dance club for several hours more, alternating between dancing, eating and talking. When a song that one of them couldn't resist played, one would dance and the other would sit and watch. Just about every old school song lured them to the dance floor and had them grooving together. As the night grew late, Miroku and Sango found it hard to stay off the floor as the DJ played so many favorable dance songs. It didn't matter how much energy they exerted dancing, being with each other only replenished what was spent, and seeing each other smile gave them extra.
IoioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioI
Laughter sounded through the quiet street as Miroku and Sango walked back to the hotel early in the morning. Their last amount of dancing energy was exhausted after spending nine hours at the dance club. Miroku couldn't erase the smile on his face as he reflected on his wonderful time with Sango.
"Oh man, I can't remember the last time I ever danced like that. I hadn't felt that alive in a long time." Miroku mused happily.
Sango walked beside Miroku, chuckling at him. "You deserved it, Miroku. You'd been working so hard for so long. You really needed a break."
Miroku nodded in agreement with her. "And what better way than to be in your company, Sango?"
She smiled, taking his compliment. They stopped for a while and admired the night sky. Miroku observed the scenery around him, the beautiful black-blue sky, the sparkling stars, the bright moon. The night air was calm and cool. Fireflies flew about, lighting the vegetation. He stood several steps behind Sango, staring around in slight confusion. He was having that déjà vu feeling yet again, but now in this scenery and with Sango present, the feeling was at its strongest. Miroku couldn't underestimate the feeling in his heart associated with it; this had to have happened before. His eyes looked up at the night sky as Sango looked at the fireflies in admiration.
"It seems like it's been a while since I saw fireflies like this." Sango thought outloud.
"Each time I see them, I think back to when we were together on Inuyasha's porch. I was half-asleep but I still remember, I was in your arms and just before I fell completely asleep, you whispered in my ear, 'Oyasumi nasai, kirei na megami'."
Miroku froze staring up at the sky, his eyes wide.
Oyasumi nasai, kirei na megami….
Those words echoed in a whisper, making their way into an isolated part of Miroku's mind and unlocking his memories of Sango.
ALL of his memories of her.
Karada ga natsu ni naru kageki ni saa ikou
(I'm in summer-mode, so let's go!)
Natsu o sei suru mono dake ga koi o sei suru
(The person who controls summer also controls love)
Mou kakugo o kimechatte
(Make the decision to be prepared)
T.M. Revolution's "High Pressure" blasted from the speakers at the food stands at the Tokugawa beach. It was bright and sunny, temperatures nearing the triple digits, and beautiful women in revealing bikinis were everywhere.
The perfect day for Houshi Miroku to be at the beach.
The eighteen year old supporting actor of the hit series, InuYasha, lay on his beach towel, enjoying the first day of his two-week vacation. The bright sun baked him to a nice bronze tan. Putting on several layers of sunblock was a must for the young actor as he claimed to have very fair skin. Since the last time he got sunburnt to a crisp, Miroku was quite paranoid about leaving his penthouse apartment without at least three layers.
PING!
His timer went off. Miroku turned over on his chest and reset it. He lowered his sunglasses over his eyes and rested his chin on his folded arms, a broad relaxed smile on his lips. A couple of women nearby were checking him out and whispering excitedly amongst themselves. Miroku suavely lifted his sunglasses, his bronzed skin accentuating his striking eyes, and winked a flirtatious hello to them, flashing his sparkling smile. The women giggled loudly and waved back, then went to join him. Two others saw the two women join him and did likewise. Naturally, a broad perverted grin spread on the actor's lips due to this attention. The timer went off, indicating he was done with his sunbath. Miroku sat up and joined in on the conversation, trying to put a stop to the argument as to who would have his child.
"Now, now, ladies, please. It's most unnecessary to fight over such a simple actor." He spoke humbly, "There is plenty of me to go around."
One woman clung onto his arm, "Well that's the problem, Houshi-sama." She pouted, then giggled at the pun of his name. "There's so much of you and we want it all for ourselves. We don't wanna share you."
Another woman leaned on Miroku's shoulder with the same pouty expression. "Yes, Houshi-sama. Only one of us will have all of you. Might I have the honor of bearing your child?"
"Get in line, Katsumi! I'm gonna bear his child!"
"Well, you're outta luck, Kiddy, I'm gonna have his kid!" She gloated, clinging tighter to Miroku's arm.
Miroku calmed them down again, "Ladies, it would be cruel for me to just take one and forsake the others. We can take turns. Each one can have all of me and no one will be left out." His grin broadened, "That is, unless you'd all rather have me all at once? A five-some could be the best way to give everyone what they want."
The women burst into laughter at Miroku's suggestion.
"Houshi-sama!" Kiddy exclaimed with a giggle. "You're a naughty one, aren't you?"
"He is, indeed, to make such a suggestive suggestion."
The four women looked up at the speaker, recognizing the calm and collected voice. Rally Cheyenne stood before the group in her royal purple one piece swimsuit, smirking at the scene. The women greeted her with wide smiles. Miroku did likewise, waving up at her.
Rally smiled and nodded, returning his greeting. "I do hate to spoil your fun, Houshi-sama, but I must call off your audition for the mother of your child." Rally said, her humored smile remaining.
The four women whined not wanting to leave Miroku's company and inquired as to why they all had to leave so suddenly. Rally explained the group was due for the TV special of their show, Silent Möbius, in the next thirty minutes, so they needed to hit the road now. Immediately, they excused themselves and hurried to their car. Miroku was left to himself on his beach towel, enjoying the view of the other beauties all around him. He quickly averted his eyes when he made eye contact with their boyfriends/ husbands. He was just about to lay back down when he stared in awe at the beauty who caught his eye.
A young woman, a little over seventeen, walked up the beach. Long flowing dark brown hair tied near the end, lovely chocolate brown eyes brightened by the sunlight, beautiful lightly tanned skin.
Miroku lifted his sunglasses to gaze at her better. His eyes widened more at the view.
The small white ivory white bikini she wore greatly complimented her voluptuous body! Full and shapely hips and thighs, a nicely sized waist, her entire body was the right size, especially her chest.
She saw Miroku staring at her as she neared him, giving a friendly smile. He nodded his head and smiled back as the woman passed him by. He marveled silently as the back of her was as striking as the front. Miroku's eyes lowered and practically flew open as they fixed on her rear.
Lord Buddha! Even the goddesses don't have a bottom THAT fine! He exclaimed in his thoughts. With a body as stunning as that, you truly must surpass them, Taijiya Sango.
Miroku couldn't quite figure out why he kept marveling over her. They had worked together on InuYasha for four seasons already and he'd noticed her off stage many times before. Miroku had taken a fancy to Sango some time ago but they could never take time after the show to talk. Their other affairs kept them occupied, and during the time they had on stage, Sango was always with her friend, Kagome.
She stopped in front of the ice cream stand and ordered an ice cream. Miroku couldn't stop gazing at her. She looked so amazing in that white bikini. The stand was close by so he got up and walked over there, having a sudden craving for something sweet.
"I'll have the rainbow sherbet on a waffle cone, please." Sango ordered.
"I'll have a double scoop of pistachio almond on a sugar cone, please."
Sango looked to her side and found Miroku leaning on the counter smiling at her.
"Konnichi wa, Taijiya-san." He greeted, flashing his smile.
"Konnichi wa, Houshi-sama." She answered with a giggle.
Miroku laughed. "My name seems to be the joke of the day. People can't help themselves seeing as my name matches my character's profession."
The vendor presented them with their ice cream. Sango took a seat on the patio beside the ice cream stand, inviting Miroku to join her. He gladly obliged, slurping away happily, making her laugh.
"So I take it you're enjoying you vacation, Houshi-sama?" Sango asked, trying to start a conversation.
"Oh yes, very much. It actually feels so great to be a lazy good-for-nothing for two weeks."
Sango laughed, agreeing with him.
"But really, we've been working together for a while now, Taijiya-san. Surely by now, we can deem each other as friends at least." Miroku kindly proposed, wishing to drop the formalities. "If you wish, you may feel free to call me by my first name."
Sango smiled kindly, her face turning a slight pink. "Thank you, but I'm afraid we've only been co-workers. I can't really say I consider you more than a close acquaintance, Houshi-sama." She answered softly, trying not to be hurtful.
She noticed the disappointed look on Miroku's face as he looked to the side. "Houshi-sama, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to hurt your feelings."
Miroku lifted his head and revealed his bright smile. "A toast!" He exclaimed, raising his ice cream cone.
"A toast? To what?" Sango teardropped.
"To close acquaintances." He answered merrily. "That's much better than being unable to stand each other, wouldn't you agree, Taijiya-san?"
"Very true." She said, raising her cone to his.
Miroku nodded, finishing his ice cream. Sango hadn't yet finished hers but excused herself to join her friends on the other side of the beach. She stood up from her seat, getting lost admiring the sparkling ocean.
Sango froze, staring wide eyed into space.
Miroku's hand found its way to her butt and very gently stroked it.
A vein popped onto Sango's head as she growled and rose her shaking fist. "Ecchi! You never learn!"
SLAP!
The ice cream vendor watched nonchalantly as Sango stormed off, steam puffing from her ears. He brought his eyes down to Miroku, who lay sprawled out onto the sand with a crimson red handprint on his left cheek.
The vendor shook his head. "Brain damaged."
Miroku stared up at the sky, grinning in amazement as he caressed his injured face.
"What a woman." He sighed.
IuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuI
"Goodness, you just can't get enough, can you, Houshi-sama?" The cashier of Walgreen's joked.
The actor only smiled as he unloaded his basket of groceries, followed by the ten boxes of assorted pocky and fifteen bean cakes.
"Well I don't eat them all in one night, Mana. I just have a rather powerful sweet tooth." Miroku replied.
"Apparently. Even Yuta doesn't eat that many bean cakes." Mana chuckled. "You'll stop eating sweets when those two learn to co-exist." She hinted at her two other customers fighting over in the pharmacy.
"Listen, you ruffian, Tenchi-sama wanted the red ginseng! Now as his loving future bride, I am obligated to fulfill his request. His specific request!"
"And I'm tellin' you that ginseng crap ain't gonna cut it! Tenchi's suffering from a migraine, woman! He needs the real deal! This maximum strength Bayer is best! Plus, if he has a heart attack, it'll help save his life. And as his woman, I gotta look out for my man! Underhanded princess, trying to set my beloved an appointment with death. You're tryin' to kill 'im so you can cash in on his insurance, ya murderer!"
The purple haired woman snarled like a dragon, fires of anger blazing around her.
"Ya want a murderer, Ryoko! I'll give ya a murderer, you promiscuous heathen!"
"Bring it, ya royal suck-up!" The spiky white haired woman roared, stretching her opponent's lips.
The pharmacist stared in boredom as her two customers fought out their rage like it was Mortal Kombat, pulling out some Tokyo Mix and waiting for them to finish. They paused in a fighting stance and noticed her standing there leaning on the counter like she was watching TV.
"Megumi, this isn't the time go on your break! You're supposed to be doing your job." The purple haired woman reprimanded.
The pharmacist shot her a sarcastic glare, "If you and Ryoko would make up your minds, I'd have a job to do, Aeka!"
Another argument started to brew when Miroku politely interrupted and made a suggestion. "Why not buy them both? If one doesn't work, then you can try the other. And the one that works, the buyer can rub it in the other's face." He tried to appease the two women.
Aeka and Ryoko's faces lit up at the idea.
"What a brilliant suggestion, Houshi-sama. I thank you." Aeka bowed.
"Thanks a bunch, Miro!" Ryoko said, giving the actor a wink and a thumbs-up in appreciation.
Aeka couldn't believe her roommate's bad manners. "Ryoko! How dare you show disrespect for such a reputable actor! You have no close relation with him so address him as 'Houshi-sama'!"
"'Houshi-sama' sounds so stuffy! Besides, he's got a hot and strong name, it should be flaunted. Right, Miro?"
"Ryoko, you're a disgrace to the Japanese culture!" Aeka roared, aggravating Ryoko.
"And you're an embarrassment to women everywhere, you sissy!"
Miroku, Mana and Megumi showed their discontent as the two started beating each other down again. Miroku paid for his groceries and bid the ladies good day.
"Good day, Houshi-sama!" Aeka said, trying to pry Ryoko's hand from her hair.
"Later, Miro!" Ryoko squeaked, trying to pry Aeka's hand from her throat.
The actor walked outside the store and up the street, chuckling to himself. Those two have been roommates for at least five years and they still can't co-exist. I should ask Tenchi what it's like living a constant war zone.
"Houshi-sama!"
A woman's voice called out from behind him. He turned around and found Sango running up to him. His eyes lit up upon seeing her.
"Taijiya-san!" He exclaimed happily.
"Hi. Done some shopping, I see?" Sango smiled, noticing his bag.
"Yeah, a little. I'd have been out sooner but I tried to stop a fight."
"Goku and Vegeta?" Sango guessed.
Miroku teardropped, a bit shocked. "Aeka and Ryoko. I'd have to have a death wish to get in Vegeta's way."
Sango laughed at his half-joke. Miroku saw it was starting to get late and started on his way home. Sango replied she was walking the same way as him and asked if she could accompany him. Miroku was surprised at first, thinking she wouldn't want to be near him after his hand landed on her butt the other day. Nonetheless, he smiled warmly and said he wouldn't at all mind the company.
They took a rest and sat on a bench to watch the sunset in the shopping area. Miroku took out one of his red bean cakes and offered it to Sango. She accepted it gladly, eating it rather quickly as she had missed lunch. He offered her another after she finished. Sango started to accept it but then declined, not wanting to be greedy.
Miroku smiled. "Oh no, it's okay. I've got plenty."
She peeked inside the plastic bag and found all the sweets he bought. Miroku saw her look up at him, reading her mind about his sweet tooth. Sango only chuckled, keeping her thoughts to herself and resumed watching the sunset. He noticed she was in deep thought and asked what was on her mind. Sango became very quiet and a bit timid upon the inquiry, dismissing it as unimportant but Miroku insisted on knowing.
"You were so lost in your thoughts, Taijiya-san. I'd hardly think it unimportant for the matter to have a hold on you"
Sango had a hard time breaking her gaze from Miroku's eyes. He gave her such a welcoming look, telling her he would listen to her wholeheartedly.
"I had gotten lost in a dream actually." Sango started, smiling shyly. "Ever since I was little, I had wanted to be an actress. Every time there was a play at my school or in the area, I would always either audition or go see it. I auditioned for 'InuYasha' and I can't tell you how happy I was when I got the part of my character. Judging by the fan-letters I get, so were all my fans."
Miroku chuckled in agreement with her. "Well, it sounds to me like you're already living your dream, Taijiya-san. Maybe you were just reflecting on how wonderful it's been."
"I was thinking about that too, but being an actress was only my secondary dream. The dream I truly wanted above all else was to be a singer. When I wasn't going to plays, I was singing. My family would always find me in karaoke places singing my heart out or in my room doing the same. I wanted that dream more than anything in the world, to have my name in lights, have sold-out concerts on my worldwide tours, have men falling over for me."
They both couldn't help but laugh at that. Sango's smile then darkened.
"I had never really been denied a role in a play as often as when I auditioned as a singer. I got denied each time I signed up to sing for anything, school musicals, company functions, nobody would give me a chance. Ironic, producers would think I'm cut out to act but not to sing."
Miroku stared sympathetically, fully aware that she was very upset despite her efforts not to show it. "WHY wouldn't they give you a shot, Taijiya-san?"
Sango looked up at him, wondering if he had bothered to think about it first.
"I can't sing." She answered, telling him what she was told.
Sango really wondered what was wrong with Miroku when he looked at her skeptically.
"That can't be true." He stated. "You have too beautiful a voice to not be able to sing."
Sango paused, taking in the actor's kind words. "A person's voice can sound different when trying to hold a note."
Miroku nodded. "And for you, that's absolutely true."
Sango looked away in disappointment.
"When you sing, Taijiya-san, your voice goes beautiful to magnificent. You can indeed hold a note very well." Miroku confirmed.
Sango's face tinged red as she stared incredulously at Miroku. She had known him to grasp a woman's attention with flattery.
But what he told her honestly sounded more like praise than flattery.
His smile never leaving his face, Miroku explained that when he had walked past her dressing room to speak with the director one day, he heard Sango sing to herself, and she sounded heavenly! Afterward, Miroku would stand within hearing range of her dressing room to listen to her sing. He feared standing right beside Sango's dressing room would make him look suspicious.
Sango was taken aback, not knowing what to say. She had given up on singing and settled for her acting career. Hearing Miroku's praise, she got a desire to continue pursuing it.
He asked her to sing for him again. Sango's eyes flew open, asking if he meant for her to sing there in that open space with people around. Miroku started to confirm he did, but thought against it seeing she was uncomfortable under those conditions. Getting an idea, he asked if Sango would like to accompany him for just a short while. He wouldn't force her; it was only an invitation to hang out before returning home. She wasn't in a hurry anywhere, so she saw no reason not to. Miroku led her to a place about two short blocks up the street, a karaoke place.
Sango held her questions until Miroku requested she sing first. He smiled and said he only wanted her to sing for him, nothing more. He figured singing in front of a lot of people made her nervous whereas a more relaxed setting would calm her. Sango didn't argue; she hadn't sang karaoke in a long time. She obliged the actor's request.
When she finished, Sango hurried off the stage and sat beside Miroku, hiding her face in shame. She had missed several keys and lost the rhythm several times. She glanced up, meeting his expectant gaze.
"What? Are you waiting for an encore?" Sango said in frustration, half-sarcastically.
"Yes." Miroku smiled kindly, matter-of-factly.
Sango softly glared at him, thinking he was mocking her. "What's wrong with you, Houshi-sama? You heard how I botched the first song, you want to hear more?"
Miroku threw her for a loop when he nodded, keeping his smile.
"Taijiya-san," He spoke reassuringly, "You're acting as if this is another audition or a judging. I'm not here to judge you. I only want you to relax and have fun. Your best can't forth if you're nervous."
Sango's negativity waned. After taking a deep breath, she agreed and gave it another shot, taking Miroku's words to heart. As her nervousness eased, that lovely melodious voice Miroku heard before came out. Feeling encouraged by his applause, she went on for several more songs. Feeling comfortable enough, she started dancing too. Sango finished her last one and Miroku was floored! He applauded her wholeheartedly, giving her a standing ovation. She giggled humbly, accepting the praise, thinking she was very good herself.
"Thank you, Houshi-sama." Sango said, bowing in appreciation. "Your turn."
"Huh?" Miroku looked surprised.
A smug smile on her lips as she placed her hands on her hips. "I know what you were thinking; you wanted me to feel comfortable so my natural voice would come out. I thank you for wanting to help me; however, I've done my part. Now I want you to show me what you're working with."
Miroku began to protest, feeling a bit shy when Sango gently silenced him.
"Oh, I know you're not getting all shy NOW, Houshi-sama." She teased, playfully. "If you're bold enough to stroke my butt, you're bold enough to sing. Now get up here and sing."
Her soft yet dominant tone caused the actor to stare; Sango was much different than other women he had met. Miroku grinned, finding her attitude quite a turn-on.
"As you wish, Taijiya-san." He complied in a humble tone, stepping up onto the stage and doing as he was told.
Sango was amazed. Miroku had such a wonderful voice, with an equal stage presence. He sung and danced for her, mainly for her enjoyment though he got a kick out of it too. Judging by his selection, Sango could tell Miroku was a huge Michael Jackson fan. He took a humble bow as Sango applauded him as he had applauded her, his flirtatious smirk never leaving his lips. Seeing as they were both having so much fun, Miroku and Sango stayed at the karaoke place for several hours.
It surprised them to find the moon and stars out when they stepped outside the door. Miroku bowed in apology. "Forgive me, Taijiya-san. I didn't mean to keep you out so late."
"It's alright. I'd been working a bit hard lately. I really needed a break. Thank you." Sango replied with a grateful smile.
Miroku's eyes locked onto Sango's, entranced by her smile. "You're very welcome. May I offer to walk you home, Taijiya-san?"
"I appreciate it, Houshi-sama, but I can manage by myself. I may be a woman, but I'm not helpless." Sango declined with a polite tone, getting a bit defensive at the question.
Whoa, beautiful and tough. "Forgive me if I gave the wrong impression. I'm not demeaning you, I just feel uncomfortable letting you walk alone at night. I'd hate for something to happen to you and I wasn't there to protect you."
Sango was quite moved by his sincerity. "I'm sorry about that, Houshi-sama. A lot of guys I've known always seem to want to show off their macho side. But you're quite the chivalrous type, aren't you?"
"I'm afraid I can't help it. It's genetic, I think." He chuckled.
Touched, Sango agree. A very happy grin stuck on Miroku's face as he walked beside her. It was a long walk to her apartment, but it only seemed like a few minutes to him. The two hadn't much of a conversation along the way, but he enjoyed her company so much he didn't mind.
"This is it." Sango said.
Miroku had been daydreaming when he heard her. He woke up and found they were standing before the entrance of the apartment complex. He met Sango's smiling face.
"Thank you for walking me home, it was most kind of you."
Sango's warm and kind tone made Miroku's heart flutter as he saw her brown eyes sparkle.
"You're most welcome, Taijiya-san." Miroku spoke in a charming voice.
"Please, if you wish, call me Sango, Miroku."
His heart beat strengthened at hearing her say his name. His smile reflected his happiness as he nodded. "I wish you good-night, Sango."
Miroku watched as she entered the building. A light on the upper floor came on and Sango peeked outside her window seeing him still there, waving at him. He waved back and started on his way home, unable to get over the fact that she finally called him by his name.
IOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOI
Summer came and went. The hot days passed and the coolness of autumn started to set in. Miroku always became upset when September rolled around, feeling like a kid going back to school. Women wore much less clothing in the summertime than they did in winter, and something about the heat made it all the more exciting to chase after them.
And yet, being around Sango somehow made his annual tradition seem dull.
In the last couple of months, Miroku and Sango had become very close friends. He had never known a woman like her; an intellectual, fun, beautiful, never afraid to speak her mind, had such a gorgeous bottom, and was physically strong. Miroku just could not resist stroking her soft, curvy and supple rear; nor could Sango resist slapping the hell out of him. On several occasions, when the groping was most unwelcomed, she'd slap the actor so hard, she'd send him straight into the ground as if she had told him "sit". His advances never changed Sango's high opinion of him, fortunately. She just understood that was one side to him. Overall, Miroku was a very gentle and kind-hearted man. It made her laugh to see him sprawled out on the ground with that goofy grin of his and her "autograph" on his face.
"It was worth the pain." He always would say when he regained consciousness.
"Very good, Miroku-sama! You're getting better everyday!" Hachi shouted from outside the ring as he watched his client practice his martial arts with his personal trainer.
Miroku had a small role in an upcoming movie, "Rush Hour 4: Shinjuku Smackdown", and was practicing for his scenes, most of them having him in martial arts fights, with his trainer at the North Star Dojo. Hachi acted as sort of both his cheerleader and the coach from "Rocky".
The trainer sent a blow rocketing toward Miroku's face and was knocked away by an aerial kick. He recovered immediately and sent another faster one at his trainee, who evaded it by ducking below the fist and followed with a punch to the trainer's stomach. The blow sent him backwards, leaving him open to several more blows. Miroku stood over his opponent after taking him down, who laid on the mat watching bullet scarred stars circle his head.
Miroku kneeled down, tried not to laugh too loudly. "Ha ha! I finally got this down. Normally, I'd be the one on the mat looking like I was dead."
The trainer darted his narrowed eyes at him and jutted two of his fingers at Miroku's forehead.
"You're already dead." He growled.
Hachi grinned with anticipation, watching everything. "I love it when he says that line."
Miroku didn't move one muscle; his trainer had moved before he could even blink. He looked and saw the fingers were just a half inch before his forehead. Upon glaring at him, the trainer just laughed and brought his hand down.
"That'll teach you to gloat, Miroku."
"Don't do that, you KNOW it messes me up, Kenshiro!" Miroku whined, helping his trainer up after patting his chest to try and slow his racing heartbeat.
"Of course he knows that, that's why he did it, Miroku-sama." Hachi commented in-between snickers.
Kenshiro ended their practice session for the day and headed to the showers. Feeling hyped up that he finally defeated his trainer after several months of training, Miroku reviewed all that he learned when Sango showed up, coming in for her daily workout. She saw he had energy to burn and decided to spar with him until Kenshiro came back. He obliged, thinking she'd go easy on him just because they were friends.
Hachi's eyes and head followed Miroku all around as he flew and bounced in the air, Sango laying the smackdown on him like she meant it. He and several others watching laughed as the actor went wherever she sent him, pleading for mercy. When Kenshiro returned, he found his trainee hanging on the ropes like laundry with stars circling his head and Sango stepping out of the ring heading for the women's locker room.
"I see you got acquainted with Sango, Miroku." Kenshiro stated nonchalantly.
Miroku shook the stars away and saw her standing by the hallway looking back him with a playful smile, trying not to laugh too loudly, and then entered the locker room. He remained hanging on the ropes, keeping his eyes on her, smiling.
Miroku found getting beaten by Sango a SERIOUS turn-on!
September 21st, the annual Shogakukan Awards Banquet took place at the Tokyo Dome. The inside was set up like a Western-style ballroom, complete with a grand crystal chandelier hung from the ceiling. Miroku walked in wearing his suave debonair smile and his best black silk tuxedo. The way he was dressed, he swore he could hear the band playing ZZ Top's "Sharp Dressed Man" from him. He caught the eyes of many of the women in the room, receiving a few inviting winks as well. The actor smiled back as a greeting, when he looked past them and saw two more women walk through the door; one of them being the woman he was hoping to see.
Higurashi Kagome and Taijiya Sango, Miroku's eyes being locked on the latter, captivated by her elegant appearance.
Sango's exquisite diamond and pearl jewelry adorned her ears and neck, the sparkle of the diamonds adding to her radiance. Her dress was a strapless pure silk white gown that flowed down to her ankles. It was most flattering on her, complimenting her slim waist and flawless body. The gown especially complimented her backside. The view made the actor gawk in awe and sent all kinds of thoughts through his mind. His eyes caught Sango's smile and he was helpless to resist breaking his gaze. Her beautiful smile sparkled brightly, making all the jewelry in the room appear dull. Miroku's eyes followed her as she walked with Kagome to their seats, his heart pounding against his chest.
She's so beautiful, like a goddess… Miroku whispered breathlessly in his thoughts, amazed.
He was brought out of his trance when a white cloth was tossed at his head.
"You wanna do something about that waterfall comin' out your mouth, Miroku? You look like an idiot slobberin' all over yourself like that."
Miroku turned and found Inuyasha looking at him reprimandingly with an amused smirk. He wondered what he was talking about when he realized there was saliva on his chin and a little on his tuxedo. Miroku teardropped and hastily cleaned himself up, praying Inuyasha was the only one who saw him. His prayers were partially answered, no else had seen him drool on himself.
Except Sango.
She knew Miroku's eyes were on her the whole time and had just now seen saliva practically pour his mouth. A light blush accompanied her quiet giggle.
I made him do that? I've never seen Miroku react to a woman that way. Sango grinned proudly to herself.
As the banquet got underway, Miroku kept zoning out as Sango kept running through his mind. The host had to call his name twice when he was named "Japan's Hottest Actor" to snap him out of his daydreaming. It brought a round of laughter as everyone knew what was on his mind.
"I'd like to thank Takahashi Rumiko-sama for coming up with InuYasha and therefore allowing me the honor of playing everyone's favorite Buddhist monk." Miroku stated humbly.
"Monk slash pervert slash hopeless lecher slash underhanded crook and Playa' of the Year." Inuyasha joked loudly, earning another round of laughter.
A large teardrop appeared on the back of Miroku's head as he stood on the stage with a dignified smile, shooting a quick death glare at the half-demon.
"Thank you for those, Inuyasha." He cleared his throat and continued, "But there is someone whom I must share this award with. Sure, my charm and loveable character have made me the favorite among my many fans; however, my fame would not have been as great if I hadn't gotten slapped to Kingdom Come and back so many times. So with Taijiya Sango-sama, I share this award."
Sango's eyes flew open and blinked as the audience applauded her and Kagome teasingly nudged her arm. Miroku flashed a grateful smile at her, causing the actress to blush and smile back. After all the awards banquet was over, the floor was cleared for dancing. The band cleared the stage for their musical guest, Nishikawa Takanori, better known as T.M. Revolution.
He was greeted by a thunderous applause and screams from the women in the audience. Domon and Relena had to hold back Lynn-Minmay from running up on the stage and wrapping herself around him. T.M. Revolution only laughed, flattered. He thanked his audience and the owner of the Tokyo Dome for allowing him to perform for the Shogakukan Company and got his concert underway, singing covers of a few American songs as well as two he wrote just for this event.
T.M. Revolution ended his previous song and enjoyed his applause, but his attention was fixed on a particular couple, Miroku and Sango. Miroku had asked her to dance with him and she accepted, quite happily. The singer seemed surprised by the actor's behavior as he was familiar with his catch phrase question, which Miroku would usually ask first, and playfully put him on the spotlight.
Miroku chuckled nervously. "Nishikawa-san, I went to your concert in Osaka a long time ago. I'm surprised you still remember me from then."
T.M. Revolution tried to restrain his laughter. "How could I forget? You asked me back stage if I would bear your child."
The audience roared with laughter. Inuyasha gawked at his best friend in utter confusion while Kagome tried not to laugh too loudly. She knew that the way T.M. Revolution looked, he could be mistaken for a woman at times; so she got the joke he made. Miroku's wide embarrassed eyes darted all around him as he scratched the back of his head.
"Well, this is awkward." After this, Sango will never look at me the same.
Miroku looked up and found Sango staring at him with her hand over her mouth, but not for the reason he thought. She was trying to hold her laughter but later burst out laughing, finding all this too funny.
"Was T.M. Revolution THAT beautiful, Miroku?" Sango joked, laughing.
Her lighthearted joke eased Miroku's nerves causing him to laugh as well. "Well with that outfit he was wearing I couldn't tell. But, yeah, I guess so."
Sango couldn't help but crack up. Something about Japan's Hottest Actor hitting on T.M. Revolution made him all the more interesting.
The singer couldn't help but crack up himself as the memory replayed. He laughed even harder when he remembered Miroku's wandering hand and practically howled when the actor's eyes nearly fell out their sockets when he told him he was a man. T.M. Revolution's keyboardist, Daisuke, grasped his attention and whispered something to him. He thought Miroku had a thing for Sango. He had watched the actor through the whole banquet and his eyes were fixed on her and her alone the whole time.
"Get outta here." T.M. Revolution exclaimed incredulously in a whisper.
The singer looked and saw for himself how Miroku was looking at Sango kind of dreamily and she was looking back at him the same way. T.M. Revolution blinked in disbelief, but then smiled. Grasping his audience's attention, he announced he would have to bring his performance to a close, but would play one last song before he left, one of his classics. With a shout, he summoned the music.
Drums sounded and a very upbeat rhythm played, followed by the singer's magnificent voice
NAVEL VENUS koi nan ja nai
(Navel Venus, this ain't love!)
Rikutsu de chanto wa kakeru kedo
(I understand the logic but,)
NAVEL VENUS kanjisou natsu o motsu suhada ni
(You can feel it, summer feels your bare skin)
Almost immediately, the dance floor was filled and everyone danced to the catchy tune of Heso Shoujo Venus. Casting sly look to her, Miroku took Sango's palm in his and brought her hand to his lips then twirled her into her arms, inviting her to dance.
Secretly liking his approach, Sango accepted and followed the actor into a fast paced dance, a modernized Tango that he made up. The whole time, she could not stop smiling as Miroku twirled and dipped her, enjoying herself far too much. He brought Sango back up in a ballroom waltz pose and gazed into her eyes, bright and sparkling. He held his position, hypnotized by her.
She also gazed back into his; a thought crossed her mind as they resumed dancing. Sango took the lead. Taking Miroku's hand, she twirled and dipped him! He stared up at her in marvel, thinking she was more spontaneous than he thought. She was also stronger than he thought to hold him in one arm.
Sweet Buddha! She turns me on! Miroku exclaimed in his thoughts, looking at Sango's lively expression.
She brought him back up to his feet and allowed him to continue leading, barely aware of the attention she received from all around them.
NAVEL VENUS koi nan ja nai
(Navel Venus, this ain't love)
NAVEL VENUS kanjisou
(You can feel it)
NAVEL VENUS koi ni shitai
(I want to love)
NAVEL VENUS yureru hoshi
(Shaking thighs)
IoioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioI
Early November, the air grew colder and snow finally came. Miroku took a walk just to admire the winter scenery, overhearing conversations, listening to the birds singing and laughed as he saw children playing in the snow, hurriedly stepping out the snowball crossfire. Soon, he found himself thinking about Sango.
Ever since he had first laid eyes on her, Miroku had taken a particular fancy to her. Lately, since he had been spending time with her and had gotten to know her, he hadn't been able to get Sango out of his mind. To describe how she made him feel, Miroku was always at a loss for words. Seeing her face filled him with happiness, seeing her happy made him ecstatic, if she was saddened, he was miserable. The times Sango was unhappy, Miroku would go far out of his way to change that and make her smile, and wouldn't stop until he succeeded. He could be dead tired after the day's work, but if she was upset about something, he would do his best to console her and, if the situation called for it, make her laugh. For the times when laughter wouldn't work, Miroku held Sango in his arms, telling her she would never be alone; he would always be there for her whenever she needed him.
Those memories of holding her sent his heart fluttering. He couldn't explain what it was about Sango that made him feel so….alive. Sango made him feel like he was truly alive. As Miroku continued his thoughts, a thought crossed his mind, making him realize something. Over the past four months, chasing after other women had completely lost its appeal. Just now, he noticed several women pass him by, but he felt nothing, no desire at all to flirt with them. Other women that came into eyesight, nothing; Sango came into eyesight and he felt a desperate urge to be beside her.
He felt he belonged beside her.
Miroku stood in silent wonder at his feelings. At first, he really started to wonder if it were possible, that he would dare to think it. Then he shook his head, dismissing the thought, thinking the feelings he felt were nothing more than feelings.
A speck of white floated onto Miroku's nose, bringing him out of his musings. By the time he looked, it was gone. Several more slowly floated down. He looked up at the cloudy sky and found it was snowing. Almost instantly, the snow made him think of Sango. Seeing her smiling image in the sky sent questions running through his mind.
Is this just a feeling?
Once again, he was expelled from his thoughts; this time by a snowball colliding into the back of his head. Miroku assumed it was a stray snowball from the children and smiled, brushing it from his hair. Another one flung to his head made him think otherwise. He turned around to the children and was greeted by another snowball to the face. The children laughed and pointed.
"Sorry, mister! I was gonna aim for your butt, but then you'd look funny when it melts!" The assailant joked.
Miroku wiped the snow away and stared at his assailant. It was Sango, standing before him, waving and holding three snowballs ready for firing. The actor grinned mischievously at her. Risking looking like a kid, Miroku retaliated and threw a continuous round at Sango, who dodged them and returned fire. The children nearby got out of their way as they rained their ammo on each other. Entertained, they decided to watch Miroku and Sango and resume their fight whenever they finished.
It went on for some time as the two were having fun, running, chasing and pummeling each other with snowballs. Miroku seemed to be losing as Sango had gotten the most hits in. They paused when they noticed the children had left and snowfall had picked up significantly. Sango saw the sky was darkening as well. Getting the feeling a storm was very soon on its way, she decided it was best they head to her apartment since it was closer.
As they proceeded down the street, the snow thickened more and the wind blew harshly, making it hard to see. Fearing they might get separated, Sango took hold of Miroku's hand and held it tightly as she led the way. Miroku glanced down at their hands and throughout the entire way he couldn't help thinking "Sango's taking me home with her". They reached the lobby just as the wind began to howl and Sango led him upstairs to her apartment.
"This is my place, Miroku. It's not nearly as big as yours, but please make yourself at home."
As Sango went to the kitchen to make some tea, Miroku stood in her living room, looking around. He could tell she took a liking to porcelain figurines as they decorated the stands around her television. Curiously, he took a tour of her apartment thinking it was much larger than she had implied. Miroku came across Sango's bedroom and peeked inside. Her bedcover a soft baby pink, her favorite color, and in the shelf next to her window she kept her manga and anime collectibles.
Miroku carefully stepped toward Sango's vanity. All around it were photographs of her friends and family. He smiled warmly at the photo of her and little brother Kohaku posing before the Great Statue of Buddha on a family outing. Miroku looked down and saw framed photos of him and him and Sango together. He carefully picked up one that caught his eye, a gold framed photo of the two of them together on their first date. Sango looked very happy that evening.
Miroku stared at it intently. Just by looking at how it was framed he could tell it held great value to her.
Does this mean Sango feels the same as I do?
Rrrrr!
Miroku froze as he heard a growl come from behind him. Slowly, he put the framed photograph down and cautiously turned around.
Kirara, Sango's two-tailed demon cat, stood atop her mistress's bed in a defensive stance, glaring and snarling at Miroku, thinking him an intruder. His eyes darted toward the doorway and he slowly tried to make his way over there. Kirara roared and he immediately froze in his tracks.
"Kirara!" Sango scolded, drawing the cat's attention. "You, stop that. It's Miroku, don't you remember him?"
As if she understood, Kirara calmed down. She hopped off the bed and sniffed Miroku. Recognizing him, the cat mewed and rubbed against his leg, purring contently as he stroked her fur. Seeing as her mistress was in no danger, Kirara walked out the room.
Next time, announce yourself before you walk up into someone's room, Miroku. Sango would never let me live it down if I wound up eating you. Hmm. I wonder what pervert would taste like? Kirara thought as she paused before walking out the door.
Sango giggled at Kirara and handed Miroku his cup of green tea, inviting him to sit on the bed with her. The actor sipped his tea, feeling embarrassed for having her cat bust him for being in her bedroom. He apologized for his rudeness; Sango let it slide, so long as he didn't go through her underwear.
Miroku straightened up, slightly offended. "Who do I look like, Happosai?"
Sango laughed at his expression, saying she only meant it as a joke. Miroku smirked, letting it go. He could take being called a pervert but being compared to Inuyasha's uncle was too much. Sango set their cups on her nightstand when they had finished. Miroku looked up at the wall over her closet, finding several InuYasha posters, one with the group and the rest of them had him paired with Sango.
As he looked up, he noticed Sango's head resting on his left shoulder. He glanced at her and found she was looking up at the posters with him. She met his eyes and sat up looking away, thinking she was bothering him. Sango thought about taking the tea cups back to the kitchen when Miroku gently enveloped her waist. She felt her face turn red and her heart race as he rested his forehead on her shoulder. She was surprised by his actions, but when she realized she was inside his strong embrace and felt completely safe inside them, she relaxed, easing onto his chest.
Miroku held Sango in his arms for a while longer, taking in her scent as he inhaled deeply. The sweet smell of wildflowers filled his nose, putting him in a blissful state. He brought his lips to the base of Sango's neck, placing a tender kiss on her skin. His light touch sent her heart pounding against her chest, her breathing deepened. Miroku's eyes opened, half-lidded. Encouraged by her reaction, Miroku dragged his lips upward and suckled gently on her pulse, his hand rubbing her left side. A quiet sigh escaped Sango as her eyes fluttered shut, trying to keep her breathing under control. She stretched her neck out to the side as Miroku brushed his lips up her skin toward her ear, nipping on her earlobe and emitting a breathless moan from her.
Sango turned toward Miroku, keeping contact with his eyes. She placed her hand on her shoulder and drew down the sleeve of her loose shirt, exposing her bare flesh to him. Silently marveling over her flawless features, Miroku took Sango in his arms and rained kisses on her exposed shoulder, easing her onto the bed. Her moans sounded heavenly to him as his hands explored her body.
"Miroku…..Miroku…." Sango quietly spoke inbetween her moaning, her face showing great restraint.
As his hand rubbed up her stomach toward her breast, Sango took his hand in hers and softly pushed it back a little, catching his attention. Miroku understood the gesture and immediately stopped, looking questioningly at her as she tried to regain her breath. He moved as Sango sat up and looked down at the floor.
"Sango?" Miroku uttered awkwardly, seeing her distraught expression.
After a brief silence, she spoke up in a quiet voice, "I'm sorry, but…I can't do this, Miroku."
The distress on her face tore at Miroku's heart. He felt remorseful for advancing on her. "Sango, I'm sorry."
"No, you didn't do anything wrong, Miroku." Believe me you didn't. Sango interrupted, pausing before continuing. "It's just, I know I kinda let myself go just now but, I can't do this. I want to save myself for my husband on my wedding night. I'll feel like I'll be disgracing myself if I give in before then."
Sango looked up at Miroku and met his warm facade. He nodded in compliance to her wishes, having absolutely no desire to force himself on her. She returned his smile, pulling up her shirt sleeve. Longing to change the subject, Sango got up and looked outside her window.
She saw nothing but white. It was barely visible through all the heavy snow as the howling wind blew it all about outside. Miroku exclaimed as they both gawked at the freak blizzard.
"Looks like we're snowed in, Miroku." Sango stated.
"Yes, seems so."
Getting an idea, Sango closed her curtains and rummaged through a shelf in her closet where she kept her DVDs and pulled out several movies, then headed to the kitchen. Staring around with a huge question mark over his head, Miroku followed her and asked what she was up to. Wanting to put their previous incident behind them and given that they were snowed in until further notice, Sango decided to turn the situation into a dinner and a movie date if Miroku had no objections.
His smile said there were none and Sango got started, or she tried to. Her cooking skills weren't great. Sango had wanted to make something extravagant for Miroku since he was her guest, but the only thing she could make without burning or otherwise mutilating was norimaki and miso soup. She presented her cooking to him as dignified as she could, though she felt deeply mortified that that was all she could make. Miroku paid no attention to her poor cooking skills and ate, finding it very delicious. Sango's eyes widened, blinking in surprise as she received the actor's sincerest compliments.
Miroku gave her reassurance upon seeing her expression, "Sango, don't feel embarrassed if this is your specialty. It was made very well and since you put your heart into it, of course it would be delicious."
His encouragement extracted a tiny smile from her. "Thank you. I'm just embarrassed that's all I can make for you. I proposed dinner and a movie and I could only fulfill the latter for you."
Sango cast her lowered eyes away to the side, only to have them drawn back as Miroku placed his hand over hers.
"Allow me to fulfill the prior for you, Sango." He offered. "You've been most generous allowing me into your home and cooking for me. Please allow me to repay the favor and make dinner for you."
Sango was taken aback by his offer. "This seems a bit backward. I mean no offense, Miroku. I've just never heard of a man in the kitchen."
Miroku gave an amused smile. "You should watch Iron Chef more often." He joked.
Sango smirked and gave him access to her kitchen.
"Excellent!" Miroku exclaimed with enthusiasm. "And what would the Lady Sango desire tonight?"
Sango couldn't hold back her giggling at Miroku's antics, answering she was in the mood for Chinese. Elated to be of service to her, he asked where she kept things and got out his supplies. Sango sat at her table and watched Miroku work, happy that he actually wanted to cook for her. She watched in awe as Miroku went to work. He was only cooking but the way he worked the utensils and juggled and tossed the ingredients around in the pans so skillfully, it looked like he was giving a performance. Miroku's cooking methods lured Sango from her seat to get a better view. He then set what he had cooked aside and had her finish the rest, disregarding her protests. She wasn't going to get better at cooking if she didn't practice.
Their date could finally get underway now that dinner was ready. Sango brought her DVDs from her room to the living room, which Miroku had taken the liberty of arranging like a traditional Japanese-style restaurant.
Sango's face lit up upon seeing it. He's really going out of his way just for me.
The clock struck eleven.
Sango leaned on the couch, munching on the remaining tempura she made as Urusei Yatsura: Beautiful Dreamer played. She beamed with pride at her creation. Everytime she had tried to make tempura in the past, she could NEVER get it right. It would either come out overcooked, undercooked or over-crispy, burnt in other words. Now that Miroku helped her, she could eat her own cooking without suffering. She laughed at a scene in the movie but heard nothing from Miroku.
He had fallen asleep on her shoulder a short while after the movie started, cooking and staying up late seemed to have worn him out. Sango stared intrigued at the unfamiliar sight. Never in her life had she seen Miroku asleep. She smiled at him; she didn't know what it was but he looked very cute sleeping so peacefully. Unable to resist the temptation, Sango lightly brushed his cheekbones with the back of her fingers, feeling his smooth skin. Miroku moaned quietly in his sleep, stirring and moving closer to her, resting his head under her chin.
Sango's eyes shot open and her heart thundered against her chest, feeling the deep blush on her face. Miroku unconsciously wrapped his right arm around her waist and gently nuzzled his face against her soft skin. He whispered Sango's name as her lovely scent lulled him into a deeper sleep.
She stared at him as he lay sleeping, recalling everything he just did. Does this….Does this mean…
"Does this mean he feels the same as I do?" Sango whispered under her breath to herself.
Unconsciously, Miroku lightly nuzzled her neck as if he had heard her, answering silently. Contently, Sango smiled and rested her head atop his, stroking his hair and twirling his ponytail with her fingers as she drifted to sleep with him.
IuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuI
The sun hovered over the horizon of the snow covered Tokyo. A week had passed since the blizzard and though it hadn't snowed since, the city was still blanketed in white. Sango sat on a hill inside Yamagawa Park, one of the tall hills that allowed a great view of the city below. The glistening snow in the orange and yellow gradients added to the scenery. She was alone with her thoughts as she stared at the setting star, a light cold wind blowing through her hair.
That week went by pretty fast. I'm actually glad it happened; it got me another date and a cooking lesson.
Sango chuckled to herself. Her thoughts then skipped to when she caught Miroku touring her bedroom and what followed after he embraced her. A blush quickly found its way on her face as she looked down at her boots. She couldn't stop musing over how Miroku caressed her so tenderly.
Buddha, I still can't get over that. Everytime I think about it, my spine still tingles. I never knew Miroku was that gentle. I thought I would completely lose myself when he found that spot on my neck.
Sango's thoughts paused when something crossed her mind. Just then, Miroku walked up beside her, smiling and offering her company, which she accepted. He took a seat on her blanket beside her and was silent. Their eyes searched around them as if literally searching for the right words to say.
Miroku took a chance and spoke up. "I wanted to tell you I enjoyed your company last week, Sango."
Sango stared, feeling her cheeks burning. Miroku listened to himself and groaned in embarrassment, thinking that had come out wrong.
"Nice going, Miroku." He groaned sarcastically himself.
"No, no, don't feel that way, Miroku. I'm not holding anything against you because of that." Sango reassured him. "I wanted to thank you for coming over that day."
Miroku smiled. "Well it was either that or be a human snowman."
"Oh yeah, I forgot about the blizzard." Sango laughed.
Miroku gazed at her, apologetically. "Sango, this has been on mind all week…and….I owe you an apology for….kissing you like that. I…lost myself when I held you, I'm very sorry I went out of line and tempted you."
Sango said nothing. She listened; processing his words, but could say nothing. She stared into his Miroku's eyes, seeing his sincerity and how he placed her feelings above his own. "I was really surprised how affectionate you were."
She had practically whispered her sentence, lowering her eyes as her face grew a darker crimson. Glancing up at Miroku, she found him looking away with a red face as well. She guessed he still heard her. Sango almost giggled at him, thinking he looked cute with that shy look.
"But what was really stuck on my mind was, I told you how I was waiting until marriage and you didn't ridicule me."
The shyness disappeared and Miroku turned to Sango, questioningly. "Why would I do something like that?"
Sango didn't anticipate that kind of response. "I don't know why I thought you would. It's just, it's rare nowadays, that someone will wait until marriage. The way you reacted when I couldn't go all the way…I didn't expect you to take it so well."
Miroku held his gaze into her eyes, feeling guilty. His lecherous and perverse antics in the past caused her to think as she did.
"Sango, given the way I've acted, I can't blame you for thinking that. But regardless, when a woman says 'no', she means that and nothing else. And if she wants to wait until she's married, then she has the final word. I would never think of forcing myself on a woman. I have too much respect for them.
"I have too much respect for you."
Sango's breath caught in her throat as she stared inside his indigo eyes. I've never seen this side of him. He's so chivalrous and honorable, like a prince.
She smiled appreciatively; it made her so happy to hear that from him. "Thank you, Miroku."
"You're welcome, Lady Sango." Miroku answered in his most gentle and affectionate tone.
They resumed watching the sunset together. Sango rested her head atop Miroku's shoulder. He placed his hand upon her shoulder and held her close.
IOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOI
Springtime came, along with the annual Shogakukan-Takahashi Company Picnic. The park was filled with the actors and models of the companies and the screams of their fans who were held back at the gates. Sango sat at the tables, drinking a soda and watching as the children ran about the fields, laughing and having water fights.
When I'm feelin' blue
All I have to do is take a look at you
Then I'm not so blue
When you're close to me
I can feel your heartbeat
I can feel you breathing in my ear
Wouldn't you agree
Baby, you and me
Got a groovy kind of love
As she listened to the radio play, a smile came to her face as the song made her think of Miroku. Sango couldn't get him out of her mind. She hadn't been able to ever since their first encounter at the beach the previous year.
He's very special. It's very rare to see a man treat a woman with such great respect. Miroku never puts me down when I speak my mind. He loves it when I do and I never feel constrained around him. I can be myself and Miroku just loves it more.
And he treats me so tenderly, like he reveres me. Even when he goes for my butt, Miroku's very gentle. She snickered. He seems to like it when I slap him.
Sango was alone to her thoughts, finishing her soda when water suddenly splashed onto her. She jumped to her feet and let it drain off of her, happy she just wore a tank top and shorts and nothing fancy. Upon looking for her assailant, Sango found Miroku behind her, laughing mischievously and holding an empty bucket.
She gave him a mock glare, grinning slyly, "Oh, you gonna be like that, huh? Alright."
From her seat on the bench, Sango picked up her Mizu Tohmmi XLP5000 water gun, which pretty much looked like a huge Tommy gun the way she held it. Miroku's face went blank seeing the bucket paled in comparison to that. He bolted off in the opposite direction, Sango chasing after him and soaking him to the bone with her weapon. The children took a break from their fight to watch Miroku and Sango play, again.
"Do they do this sorta thing every season, Kentaro?"
"If they do, Miroku's gonna be hurtin' around Halloween when that lady throws pumpkins at him, Shippo."
Sango was having fun chasing Miroku and he was having fun being chased.
Puff! Puff! Pff…
She stopped, pulling the trigger on the water gun repeatedly, emitting only air. Realizing she was out of ammo, Sango glanced up at Miroku, who looked back with a wide grin and a sly glint in his eyes.
"Uh-oh."
Sango abandoned her weapon and took off a second after Miroku ran after her. Now she was being chased and enjoying it as she made it difficult for the actor to keep up with her. Hearing each other's laughter encouraged them to continue their game.
She turned around to look behind her and at that moment saw Miroku's arms reach out and envelop her. He shielded her as they tumbled and rolled onto the ground, laughing. When they stopped, he turned so that he lay over Sango, his arms still wrapped around her.
"Sango," Miroku spoke softly, "You slowed down, why?"
She smiled sweetly at him, touching his face. "I wanted you to catch me, Miroku."
He gazed into her eyes, seeing the true meaning of her words inside them. A blissful smile stretched across Miroku's lips as he rested his forehead atop hers, nuzzling her nose.
"And I wanted to catch you."
Miroku's eyes closed as his lips met Sango's in a tender kiss, which she happily returned, embracing his body closer to hers and lightly stroked his shoulders.
A few weeks later came Miroku's 19th birthday. Inuyasha threw a surprise party for him at his house, inviting all the cast of InuYasha. Sango thought it would be fun to have everyone dress as their characters. Upon learning that, Miroku wished she'd worn her demon-slayer costume. On second thought, he was glad she didn't; her hiraikotsu came with it and that thing hurt like hell when she slammed it onto his crown. Besides, Sango looked just as hot in her yukata.
Everyone enjoyed themselves as the party went underway, especially Sesshomaru and Inuyasha. The guests all seemed shocked that the two half-brothers could actually stand to be in each other's presence, let alone get along somewhat. They tried to explain they only act like they hate each other because the script called for it, but no one would buy it.
Miroku stood on the front porch outside, posing for Sango as she took pictures.
"Okay, now strike a pose like Madonna just for the fun of it." She requested. Adjusting her camera and taking a few steps forward.
He gladly obliged, almost wishing he had the wig and matching bra. Miroku stepped out of his thoughts when he saw Sango's heel hovering on the edge of the porch steps. Before he could warn her, her foot landed and she fell over, crashing onto the ground. Everyone rushed from inside after hearing her yell. Miroku observed Sango's injuries, a few minor cuts but her ankle was slightly sprained. He grabbed the First Aid Kit from underneath the porch steps and tended to her injuries. He kept the kit under there just in case some poor passerby called Inuyasha a half-breed and couldn't escape his fists fast enough.
"Looks like you won't be walking for a while, Sango." Koga spoke, folding his arms. "You'll have to sit on the couch the rest of the party."
Miroku smiled. "I beg to differ, Koga."
He positioned Sango in his arms very carefully and lifted her, carrying her bridal-style inside the house. She protested, not wanting to be a burden and keep Miroku from enjoying his birthday party.
He only smiled kindly and gently silenced her, "Sango, you are not a burden. I couldn't enjoy myself knowing you're injured and missing the fun, that I couldn't."
Sango giggled at Miroku's impression of Himura Kenshin and said nothing more. He carried her to anywhere and everywhere she wanted to go, without a single complaint. The guests all stared in admiration at Miroku. Koga copied his actions and did the same to Kagome, though her ankles were fine.
The party went on late into the night. Inuyasha tried to run everyone out as they all had work the next morning.
"Aw, don't be a party pooper, Inuyasha." Jakotsu whined, wrapping his arms around the half-demon "You're telling us we gotta go home already?"
"No," Inuyasha growled, shoving him away. "Y'all ain't got to go home but you gotta get the hell outta here!"
Sesshomaru stepped up and spoke for everyone, finding one o' clock in the morning too early to end a "bangin'" party. He made a proposal against his half-brother, challenging him to a ramen eating contest. Whoever ate the most bowls decided when the party would end. Inuyasha, now; Sesshomaru, whenever everyone wanted to leave.
Refusing to turn down a challenge, especially one made by Sesshomaru, Inuyasha accepted.
Ironically, he lost, eating half a bowl less than his elder brother, making the score five and a half to six. The guests applauded the taiyoukai.
"You put up a good fight, little brother, but ultimately you didn't stand a chance against Sesshomaru." He gloated, acting as his character, to Inuyasha, who lay practically nailed to the floor by his full stomach.
Sesshomaru chuckled, listening to him groan in defeat. "So, in light of our agreement….
"PARTY PEOPLE!"
Miroku listened from the backyard porch as Sesshomaru got the rest of the party started with Tag Team's "Whoop! There It Is!", chuckling as the taiyoukai sang. He had been outside with Sango for the last couple of hours, the two of them admiring the nocturnal scenery. The calm and soothing atmosphere caused Sango to doze off several times as she laid in his lap, wrapped in Miroku's arms. The music from inside had woke her up but she dozed off again as she got comfortable again.
Miroku looked Sango as she slept, her face relaxed and peaceful as her head rested underneath his chin and her hand against his chest. She smiled in her sleep, nuzzling his neck and whispering his name.
With the same serene expression, Miroku laid his head atop Sango's, careful not to disturb her and released a silent euphoric sigh. He was in seventh heaven. Being with Sango, holding her in his arms, brought him indescribable happiness. Nothing else mattered except her. As long as Miroku was with her, all was well in his world.
"I love you, Sango." Miroku whispered to her as he began to doze off.
"Oyasumi nasai, kirei na megami." (Good night, my lovely goddess)
Golden days
Life was play
Pain was all a world away
We went to school
We learned the rules
We trusted all they had to say
The studio was closed the following day due to repairs and due to Miroku's birthday party lasting until 4A.M. thanks to Sesshomaru's "Fight For You Right To Party" protest, Takahashi-sama gave her employees the day off to recuperate. Sango, her ankle feeling better, decided to head down to the Ginza to do some shopping. She called Miroku and invited him to come with her, promising to buy him a present. He unfortunately had some other business to tend to. Miroku was offered a role in another movie and was going to meet with the producer about it. Sango went about her day off shopping, making a mental to buy him something he'd really like.
She walked down the streets amongst the usual crowd looking for a restaurant when a man walked into her, knocking a few bags from her hands. Sango glanced up at him but he did nothing. The man had long, very long black wavy hair, part of it tied in a ponytail as feudal lords wore it and a black casual suit. He stared down at her, his blood red eyes peering directly into hers and his pale face emotionless. Without a single word, he walked around Sango and walked down the street just as she stood after gathering her bags. She stared indignantly at him, a little creeped out at how he just stared at her without saying anything.
"Could've at least said 'excuse me', man." She mumbled and continued on her way.
Unbeknownst to her, the man had overheard Sango and turned around, watching her walk off.
"Very well, then. I shall." He said with a wicked smile.
Sango shopped for another couple of hours, her encounter with that strange man mysteriously dulled her appetite. Now she was starving! She decided it was time to head home and headed to the nearest bus stop when she accidentally walked into someone.
"Oh please excuse me." She apologized.
Sango looked up and found it was the same man who walked into her earlier. This time, there was a kind and apologetic look on his face.
"Please excuse me, Sango-san." He said, bowing.
Sango at first wondered how this stranger knew her name, but figured he watched InuYasha and was addressing her by her character's name.
"I must apologize for our earlier encounter. Forgive me, I was in a rather sour mood."
Sango accepted his apology, politely yet hastily as she was anxious to leave. Mainly from hunger but also because the man was making her nervous. Before she could excuse herself, Sango's stomach growled loudly.
The man saw his opportunity. "Please, Sango-san, let me make up for my rudeness. Allow me to buy you lunch. I feel just terrible showing disrespect to such a reputable woman." He said humbly.
Sango's stomach began to feel uncomfortable as it begged for food. She saw the man was polite as he could be and was only trying to be kind; she accepted his invitation. He smiled, pleased, then smacked his forehead upon remembering something.
"Once again I must apologize for my lack of manners. My name is Bakayarou Naraku. I am most pleased to meet you."
Sango smiled and bowed, returning the introduction. "Taijiya Sango, nice to meet you, Bakayarou-san."
"Please, formalities are not necessary. You may call me Naraku."
Then life took a turn
We all had to learn
And we can't go back again
Naraku gave Sango a ride back in his limousine. She was silent throughout the ride; she marveled at the vehicle, thinking he must be a very prestigious man. The limousine stopped in front of Inuyasha's house as Sango instructed the chauffeur. Naturally, Inuyasha wondered what that thing was doing on his property when he saw Sango step out and ask for Miroku. He had said he would be there after his meeting with the producer.
"Yo, Miroku! Sango's back!" The half-demon called to Miroku, giving the limousine a quick glance. "You might wanna cut up her credit cards; she had too much fun shopping!"
Sango scoffed as the actor hurried outside to the front porch, greeting her with a hug and staring wide-eyed at the vehicle. Thinking that's what she had bought for him, Miroku commented he'd have preferred it in white. Sango laughed and explained it belonged to the kind man who gave her a ride. The window lowered, revealing Miroku to Naraku. The actor thanked him for his kindness. Naraku said nothing, giving a small smile and a quick nod of his head. He bid Sango a good-night and had his chauffeur drive him home.
Miroku watched the limo drive off as Sango went inside to visit with Inuyasha. By the way he responded, there was something about Naraku he didn't like.
The feeling was much more mutual with Naraku.
The instant he laid eyes on Sango, he was stricken by her beauty. He thought it would be easy to court her, figuring she was unattached. Then he learned she was. Seeing her run eagerly into Miroku's open arms and kiss him made him seethe with jealousy. He narrowed his raging eyes and gnashed his teeth when he saw Miroku kiss Sango back. As Naraku stared outside his window, he put the matter behind him, making up his mind that he would get that which he wanted.
He wanted Sango.
He wanted her and no one else would have her.
Not even Miroku.
And my heart is breaking
Just for you, just for you
And my arms are open
Just for you, just for you
Just for you
In the weeks that followed, Miroku had accepted the main role in the movie he was offered, a horror movie "Manipulated!" and Sango resumed pursuing her dream of becoming a singer. Both their occupations demanded much of their time and often kept them apart. The restricted amount of time Miroku and Sango had together only strengthened their bond. Whenever there was a moment to spare, they made it a priority to meet.
Along with the distance between the two, arose another problem.
Unbeknownst to either of them, Bakayarou Naraku had been stalking Sango. During the day, he had his chauffeur, Tatsumaki Kagura, secretly follow her everywhere she went and had her report back to him when the day was out. At night, Naraku would go over his subordinate's report and make plans to spend time with Sango in Miroku's absence to "get better acquainted" with her. In addition to keeping up with her, Kagura's job was to keep Miroku away from Sango at all times. Naraku never told her how to go about it unless he had a specific idea in mind; he only told her to be creative.
In the time inbetween, Naraku had established himself as a close acquaintance to Sango. He approached her with kindness and did everything he could to win her favor. That was pleasing to him, but far from satisfying. Naraku wanted her heart. Once he had her heart, she would be his to do with as he pleased. Naraku spent his time with Sango to reach his goal while making himself scarce when Miroku appeared. Upon overhearing him one day when he was at work, Naraku discovered he was causing Miroku to think Sango was cheating on him.
MUCH to his delight.
In light of that, he felt Sango should share the actor's doubts and spoke lies to her that Miroku was still a lecherous womanizer. Naraku at first feared the strength of the couple's bond. The second the thought of Sango being unfaithful entered his head, Miroku immediately cast it from him and Sango had rebuked Naraku's words, knowing the actor was still a pervert, but he was HER pervert and no longer a womanizer.
Naraku had his fears, but they soon faded. Miroku had a reputation of going from one woman to another when he felt the need for change, and the doubt of Sango's faithfulness to him was already planted inside his mind. Those tiny doubts were seen as seeds; once they were planted, they would very soon grow into roots of discord that would destroy the relationship between the two.
"No. I have had enough of this, Naraku." Kagura firmly declared.
She stood before her employer as he had summoned her to his home office in his large estate, wishing to have her perform an additional and vital service to his plan to win Sango. Naraku sat at his desk, his red eyes fixed in a calm displeased glare upon his defiant servant.
"You've had 'enough', Kagura?" Naraku questioned in his quiet ominous voice.
"Don't mock me." She snarled. "I'm sick of being your lackey and going about your underhanded scheme. Everyday for the last three weeks, I've spent all day following that woman and spying on her everywhere she goes. Ironically, the gods must pity me as they've kept me from getting suspected or caught. Now you want me to do a sleazy thing as this! The line is drawn here, Naraku! I will have no more part of this!"
Naraku yawned loudly, blatantly showing she bored him. "Just so I know the purpose of that insipid speech, Kagura, why is it now you make your complaints known? For the extra compensation you've received and will receive, you should be quietly happy to oblige."
Kagura roared, insulted. "You audacious bastard! You don't have NEARLY enough money that can cover the humiliation and shame I'll suffer! If this incident made me the mere disgrace of Tokyo, I wouldn't be here screaming. I will be the outcast of the entire frickin' country! No matter where in Japan I go, everyone will point to me and say 'There's the woman who shamed Houshi-sama' and will be ready to stone me to death!"
Naraku's boredom ebbed as he heard something behind his employee's words. "I see why you're so adamant about this; it isn't so much your humiliation, but Houshi's, correct?"
Kagura was silent, but her face said all Naraku wanted to hear. She, like most other women in Japan, admired Miroku, not in the fangirl sense, but had great admiration and respect for him. She knew of his kind and respectful nature and felt he didn't deserve such malicious slander.
Naraku ignored Kagura's sentiments and told her she would do as she was told or else he would alert the police of her stalking Sango. He had kept all the records of Kagura's expeditions so there would be plenty of evidence pointing to her. And if that didn't motivate her, Naraku would place charges of conspiracy and attempted murder of Houshi Miroku against her. The choice was hers to make. Kagura seethed in rage; she wanted to slit his throat and hack him into pieces. She wanted to so badly right now, but could do nothing. If she attacked him, Naraku would double his threat and file charges of attempted murder of him against her. Against her will, Kagura agreed.
God was God
Dreams were dreams
Life was all cake and ice cream
Truth was true
And lies and lies
We thought love would never die
Miroku enjoyed a cup of tea at the Kino Kogaino Ochaya (Outdoor Teahouse) early the following afternoon. He hadn't been there in a long while since he started working on his movie projects. He sat back comfortably in his seat and drank his green tea, enjoying his time off. Miroku had gone to Toei Studios for the rehearsal of his movie but was told it was postponed. The writers had gotten into a quarrel over one of the scenes in the script and couldn't come to an agreement. The producer gave them a week to decide on their own or else she would make an agreement for them. In the meanwhile, everyone else could enjoy their time off.
A woman's exclamation brought his eyes down from the sky. Kagura stood before him wearing a halter top, Daisy Duke shorts and an excited smile. She greeted Miroku with a sexy innocent voice and took a seat beside him. She was aiming to land in his lap but he caught on and moved out of the way to the right.
The owner of the ochaya, Kino Makoto, peeked from inside her kitchen at the two behind her Venetian blinds. Miroku, she stared at for her enjoyment, finding him very easy on the eyes. Kagura, she glared at in disdain, thinking she was an easy woman judging by the way she was dressed.
I knew I should've put up a dress code for this place. Look at this Daisy Dukes wannabe hangin' all on Miroku-sama like that….Ooh, and he's not happy about it? He's asking her to give him some space? Go Miroku-sama! I knew you liked women with class!
Kagura was well aware that she was bothering Miroku but didn't stop hitting on him. He remained polite as he firmly told her to stop and give him his space. For a minute, she yielded, starting at him silently. Then as he started to get up from his pillow seat, Kagura threw herself onto Miroku, wrapping her arms around his neck and looking him in his eyes.
"Wha-!" He gasped, stunned.
"Don't be shocked, Miroku-sama. I am only answering the request you made of me. Yes, I will bear your child." Kagura said passionately.
Miroku's eyebrows shot up in surprise, also at the irony of the situation. Then before he could deny her, Kagura latched her lips onto his and tightened her grip on his body!
Makoto had turned her attention away to tend to the cookies she was baking before the scenario occurred. She turned around and through the blinds saw what happened, the tray dropping along with her jaw.
"What the hell's goin' on up in here!"
She slammed her open door, startling Kagura off of Miroku.
"Foul! Off-sides! Traveling! Three-second violation!" Makoto shouted making time-out and no-good hand signals like a referee. "Uh-uh! I ain't havin' any of that up in here! That's inappropriate conduct!"
"I agree. Inappropriate conduct on both sides."
Everyone froze, especially Miroku. All eyes and heads turned forward to the other voice.
Sango stood before them, her eyes fixed on Miroku. Kagura laid over him, her lipstick painted on his lips.
"I was wondering why you hadn't called around this time like you normally do, Miroku. You were too busy hanging around here picking up women!" Her voice started quiet then rose as she filled with emotions.
Miroku's head swished all around and realized what she was thinking. He jumped to his feet, knocking Kagura over and immediately protested it wasn't what it looked like.
Sango held up her hand, unwilling to listen. "Get rid of the evidence before you plead guilty, Miroku. You don't have much of a case otherwise."
Miroku hastily wiped the lipstick away and explained to Sango what had happened, saying Kagura had come on to him.
Sango eyed him coldly, "And like a gentleman, you couldn't refuse her, right?"
Miroku drew back in shock, hurt by her words; her tone was cold as ice. "How can you say something like that? Sango, I wouldn't lie to you."
His raised voice agitated her. "The hell you wouldn't! You just did right now when I clearly saw you kiss her back! Given that, why should I believe a lying unrepentant womanizer like you!" Sango screamed back.
Her words wounded Miroku deeply, angering him. He didn't want to share his thoughts, but the urge to retaliate was too great to resist.
"Oh right, Sango, put the blame on me when all the while you were running around with that guy Naraku behind my back!" Miroku's anger shouted.
Sango's eyes widened at the accusation. "I did no such thing, you liar!"
"Keh, whatever! You were always with him; whenever I wasn't around, he was! If you must know, Inuyasha saw you two and told me all about it. And you were clinging on his arm, dating him and even kissing him!"
Makoto and Kagura watched as Miroku and Sango continued fighting, dealing whatever devastating words they could to top the previous ones. Makoto wanted to stand up for Miroku, but she only saw Kagura kissing him. She didn't know if he had invoked it or if Kagura acted on her own and she wouldn't dare speak against him if she didn't know the truth. Kagura tried to fight it, but felt guilt well up inside her as she was responsible for this.
"When did I ever say we were a couple? I don't recall making a declaration to you, Houshi! Seeing as you're always so anxious to drop your pants for every female you see, I'm happy I didn't make that mistake!" Sango roared.
Those words pierced his heart like bullets. Miroku erupted, "Fine! For all I know, you were screwing around with him as well! Seeing as it pleases you so much to be around him, run back to him and be his bitch, whore!"
The shouting finally stopped with Miroku's words. He had won as Sango said nothing in retaliation. She couldn't as his words rang in her head, each echo stabbing her heart and filling her eyes with tears.
Miroku's anger vanished instantly when he saw her tears. He had let his emotions get the best of him, losing himself in rage. He caught himself and was overcome with grief as he realized what he had just said.
"Sango, I-"
Miroku tried to apologize when a sharp and fierce pain to his face cut him off. Sango had drawn the back of her hand as far as it would go and launched it at full force to his jaw. She had meant to give Miroku a backhand slap but her wrath and pain formed a fist and sent it flying at him.
Tears flowed down Sango's face as she screamed, "Is that what you think I am, somebody's bitch? It is, isn't it, Miroku? That's what you thought I was from the start! You think I'm nothing buy a deceitful malicious woman who played with your heart! I'm not! Naraku was ONLY a casual acquaintance! Just some man I happened to come across everyday!"
Sango's face was ridden with anguish, from all that was said and from the blood streaming from Miroku's mouth. Their eyes met.
Her voice quieted, "If that's all I am to you….
"Then I was a fool to love you, Miroku."
Those were the last words he heard Sango speak as she left the café and ran down the street. He could do nothing but watch her run, running away from him.
Running out of his life.
"Sango…"
But the world moved on
My illusion's gone
And I don't know who to blame
Sango stopped by the large fountain just in front of the town square and sat down, out of breath and broke down in tears. Naraku walked around and saw her crying. He hurried up to her and sat down beside her. Sango looked up at him and sharply turned her head to the side away from him. Naraku gently coaxed her to tell him what the matter was, sounding concerned, though he perfectly well already.
She calmed down enough to speak and told him all that had just happened, including all the words that were shared between her and Miroku. Naraku offered her his handkerchief for her to dry her tears.
"I can't believe he would do something like that to me. He was seeing other women behind my back just as you said, Naraku. Then he tried to act his way out of it, but I wasn't going to fall for his lies."
Sango looked up to the confused look on Naraku's face. "Sango, I never said those things about him. I only said he was a lecherous womanizer."
"Y-You did so, I hear you." She uttered. "You called him a lying unrepentant womanizer and said he was playing around behind my back."
Naraku danced around in elation behind his sympathetic mask that Sango had acted just as he had anticipated. When he had tried to plant lies in her head, he only laid the set-up by speaking what Miroku had BEEN and caused her to fill in the blanks with her suspicions, making her think Naraku had meant he was still a player. In his kindest and most sympathetic voice he could muster, Naraku placed all the blame on Sango. He had only made statements that were true to how he'd acted in the past; she was the one thought up all those hurtful words and threw them at Miroku to try to break him down. Then here she was trying to hold him responsible to relieve herself of her guilt.
Sango stared down at the ground, horrified and ashamed.
"Then all Miroku said was justified; I am a bitch after saying those things to him." She uttered quietly to herself, beginning to cry.
Naraku placed his arm over Sango's shoulder, looking at her pitifully. "It hurts me to say, Sango, but I'm afraid so. As a friend, I must be honest."
The sniffle she made brought him more pleasure. "I believe Houshi carries no malice toward you. He must know you were mistaken, but at the same time, you've broken his trust in you by rushing to conclusions. And how you wrongfully lashed out at him as you did, it clearly states the error he made choosing such a violent and ill-tempered woman. This is all for the best, Sango. Your absence will only bring Houshi happiness, and that's the best act of love you can show him."
Sango took in every word Naraku spoke, thinking it to be true. More tears streamed from her eyes, never breaking contact with the ground, her heart completely broken. Naraku smiled at her sorrow; his plan had gone according to plan exactly. But he couldn't rejoice yet. There was one more phase to get past.
Naraku took Sango's hand in his, causing her to lift her teary eyes to his as he spoke, "Perhaps this isn't the appropriate time, but I've spent a long while gathering my courage. I've become very fond, attached to you over these last few weeks, Sango. You saw it as just casual, but to me it was so much more. Then I realized, you're the one for me."
Sango stared as Naraku held her hands in hiss and looked deep into her eyes, as if he were proposing to her.
"I bid you," He continued, "Say you'll be mine, Sango. It's evident that we were made for each other. All that happened between you and Houshi was meant to reveal to you the mistake you made. Happiness will exist with me." He gently concluded and waited on her answer.
Sango had lowered her eyes, her thoughts wandering all about. It felt too sudden for her to enter another relationship, especially after such a heartbreaking experience, but she didn't want to be alone. She feared loneliness. The memories of losing Miroku, driving him away would haunt and torment her to death. That is, if her broken heart didn't kill her first.
Sango nodded her head and agreed, reluctantly. Naraku smiled, rejoicing in his head. She belonged to him now. But unknown to Naraku, he had succeeded only in gaining Sango's hand.
Her heart remained to Miroku.
And my heart is breaking
Just for you, just for you
And my arms are open
Just for you, just for you
And these tears I'm cryin'
Are for you, just for you
Just for you
Miroku lay on his couch, sleeping, or rather attempting to sleep. His eyes were closed but he remained awake, his face ridden with anguish. The memories of his needless fight with Sango plagued him every minute of the day for the two months that passed since then. He had also known of the amount of time she and Naraku had spent together, but never thought much of it, figuring it was nothing more that a harmless friendship. Miroku had seen Sango with him five times and each time, he swore she looked as if she saw him as a little more than a friend. In turn, Miroku felt a slight tinge of jealousy creep inside him and did his best to repress it. Jealousy would bring discord and he didn't want that. He held to the belief that Sango wasn't seeing Naraku behind his back and repressed whatever negativity he felt toward him. Yet when Sango angered him with her false accusation, he released it. All the jealousy that built up under his repression was unleashed, along with the discord he predicted would come with it.
After taking two days to himself to think things through, Miroku called Sango to apologize to her, but there was no answer. He left over fifty messages, apologizing and begging to talk to her again, but never received an answer. Miroku tried once more, wondering why if she didn't want to see him again she didn't call to say so, and heard the operator say the dialed number was no longer in service.
He rushed to her apartment to talk to her in person. No one answered when he knocked on her door and called for her.
"Excuse me, oh, Houshi-sama, it's you." The landlady, Otonashii Kyoko, rushed up the stairs upon hearing all the noise. "Is something wrong?"
"Yes, I need to speak to Sango. Could you please give her the message from me when she gets in? It's urgent." Miroku pleaded.
Kyoko looked troubled at his request. "I'm sorry, Houshi-sama, but Sango moved out two days ago. I asked for her new address so I could tell you but she wouldn't give it to me. I don't understand why she moved out so suddenly. The neighbors downstairs do get pretty rowdy, but she never complained before. Sango just notified me and left."
Miroku narrowly his eyes, staring into space as he laid on his couch after returning home. He had asked all of Sango's friends and family about her, but not even her closest friend Kagome knew where she had disappeared to.
Two months have passed. Two months since I heard her voice, two months since I saw her face, two months since I held her in my arms… His desperate longing for her worsened his heartache.
It was unbearable being without her. Everything Miroku did, everywhere he went, even if he had never been there before, Sango came to mind. The memories added to his misery as he wished he could go back and change what happened. The agonizing fact that he couldn't made him want to pull out his hair.
RING! RING!
"Moshi moshi?" Miroku answered, sadly.
"Yo, Miroku." Inuyasha replied, his tone soft. "I ain't seen you around in a while. What's goin' on?"
Miroku didn't answer, not wanting to burden his best friend with his heartache.
Inuyasha took a guess, "What's wrong? You sick or somethin'?"
"You could say that." Miroku's miserable tone fooled the half-demon.
Out of concern, Inuyasha invited him to hang out with him for a short while, thinking it would be good for the actor to get up out of his apartment and get some air. Miroku at first refused but figured Inuyasha was lonely and wanted some company. The half-demon would never admit such a thing, but would greatly imply it. He changed his mind and agreed, thinking some movement might do him good.
Miroku accompanied Inuyasha to his favorite hangouts, including the arcades where he played Mortal Kombat and Dance Dance Revolution to his heart's content. He could get depressed Miroku to play some of the games, but he didn't have the energy for DDR. The last stop was the Ohayou Corner Store, Inuyasha's favorite store in all of Japan. It was the only place in the country that sold over twenty types of ramen, including Dessert Ramen, which was pretty similar to pocky, except it came in a bowl.
Miroku stared behind the half-demon as he went crazy gathering his groceries, spending ten minutes trying to decide between Frosted Cherry Dessert Ramen, Crème Brulée Dessert Ramen and Chocolate Mousse Dessert Ramen before saying "the hell with it" and dumped all three in his cart and moved on. The actor teardropped, wondering who in the world, other than Inuyasha, would eat Dessert Ramen, let alone invent it.
"Thank you very much. Please come again. And enjoy your Crème Brulee Dessert Ramen." The cashier stated as he bowed good-by to his customer.
"I heard from a friend it was good, so I'd try some. Have a good day, sir."
Miroku's eyes widened the instant the voice entered his ears. His head turned and from across the small store, he found his beloved Sango at the register, looking at some of the magazines.
How happy it made him to hear her voice and see her once again, even if from a distance! Sango put the magazine down and headed toward the door. Miroku took a step forward to chase after her, to apologize for his words and make things right between them. His mouth opened to call her name but before his throat could produce a sound, Miroku stopped.
As Sango walked out, she brushed her hair back with her left hand.
On her left middle finger was a twenty karat diamond ring.
Miroku watched helplessly as Sango walked outside and through the glass window saw Naraku walk up to her and kiss her. They took a few steps toward the curb, waiting for the crosswalk light to turn green. Feeling someone's eyes on her, Sango looked behind her at the store and saw Miroku standing behind the window, gazing back at her longingly.
Her heart fluttered upon seeing him again, overjoyed to look into his handsome indigo eyes just one more time. Her eyes narrowed sorrowfully, holding back her tears. Miroku looked intently as Sango mouthed her words to him; she didn't want Naraku to hear her.
I'm sorry, Miroku. I wish you happiness….
The light flashed green and Sango turned, her hair covering her sad eyes, and walked down the street beside Naraku.
Miroku stood in the store, heartbreak all over his face as he understood her inaudible words to him.
Inuyasha finished paying for his groceries, ninety percent of it ramen, and was ready to go, a broad happy grin on his face. "They had all my favorites! Tonight, I FEAST! Ha ha! Okay, we can go, Miroku."
Inuyasha looked and saw Miroku staring through the window into space. "Hey, Miroku, let's go. People are gonna be staring at you."
Seeing as Miroku didn't hear him, Inuyasha took a deep breath to yell in his ear, then held it in when his nose picked up a smell. He smelled tears forming in his eyes and saw the devastated look on his face. This really upset Inuyasha. The actor had been himself up until right now as he looked as if he'd break down in tears.
"Miroku, what's wrong, man?" Inuyasha inquiry softly, not knowing if he could take seeing a man cry, let alone his best friend.
Miroku didn't answer; his throat was too choked up. He walked past the half-demon and out the store. Inuyasha ran after him asking what was wrong but Miroku told him he wanted to be left alone.
IOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOI
The half moon glowed above Tokyo that night.
Miroku stared up at the sky, leaning on the large glass window of his dark penthouse apartment. His face was devoid of emotion; his hand tightened into a fist, speaking his pain. Sango's silent whisper echoed in his head, his mind applied her voice to the words and making them even more painful to hear. The phone rang inside the lightless living room. Miroku made no movement towards it. On the fourth ring, the answering machine sounded.
"Greetings, you have reached the residence of Houshi Miroku. I'm sorry, but I'm not home at the moment. Please leave a message after the scream and I'll get back to you soon.
ECCHI! (SLAP!) ACK!"
The caller snickered then cleared his throat. "Miroku-sama? This is Hachi. Please pick up if you're home, it's important. Well, I wanted to say it's about Sango and-"
"Hachi!" Miroku nearly broke both of his legs running and tripping over his furniture to reach the phone before his agent hung up.
"Good evening, Miroku-sama. I was calling to see how you were. You seemed as though you were ill these past couple of months." Hachi stated.
Miroku panted lightly from his efforts. "It's true I haven't been well, Hachi, but….well never mind that, what's this about Sango? Did something happen to her?"
"No, no, calm down. Sango-san's been fine. I heard from her agent, Jiji Totosai, that she had been pursuing becoming a singer and she got her first gig at Ryoko's nightclub downtown, 'Night's Paradise'. She performed a song she'd composed and the crowed LOVED it! Sango's been performing at various spots across town and recently Totosai told me Hamasaki Ayumi's asked to do a duet with her for her next album!"
Miroku smiled at Sango's success. So you made your dream come true, Sango. I'm happy for you.
"Miroku-sama, that's not all the good news I have, not only did Sango-san get her big break….she's getting married!"
Miroku's smile vanished and his stunned eyes stared before him, his heart nearly stopping.
"Wha-What did you say, Hachi?" He uttered.
Hachi didn't know that Miroku was in love with Sango. The tanuki had thought the two were only very good friends.
"She'd been proposed to by the billionaire Bakayarou Naraku two months ago and she accepted! Their wedding date's set for the week after next when she gets back from her concert in Hokkaido with Hamasaki-san. I managed to catch her at the train station a few hours ago have a short chat with her. I knew you and her were very close friends but these last two months it seemed you two had completely split and I didn't understand.
"Sango-san all of a sudden looked so destitute when I mentioned your name, Miroku-sama. Before she boarded her train she told me, 'There are two reasons I'm going on this trip, Hachi: to further pursue my dream and to escape my past. I'm getting rid of the burden so it will no longer be forced to be dealt with. You can tell Miroku that. He'll know what I mean'. And with that, she kinda whispered a good-bye and got on her train. I heard a rumor that Sango-san and Bakayarou-san had planned their honeymoon in Europe, because she headed there and he followed….Miroku-sama? Miroku-sama, are you still there?"
Miroku stood motionless and silent as he processed the news slowly, his hair and a black mask covering his eyes.
"I see…" His barely audible response as the phone lowered from his ear onto the machine, hanging up.
Miroku fell onto the couch of the dark room, lifelessly and stared up at the ceiling until sleep came over him.
The summer got off on a cool start. Spring seemed as if it were trying to linger a while longer.
Miroku sat on a bench, staring at the ground as people walked along the shopping area, passing him by. During the months he spent without Sango, wishing he could turn back time, he was miserable and lonely. In the week that followed after Hachi called him, Miroku was completely broken. The news of Sango's engagement to someone else destroyed him. His very spirit died upon hearing the news and he walked around as a soulless shell.
A sudden burst of wind blew the flowers from a florist shop all about in Miroku's direction. He lifted his head and watched a river of colors flow before him. Even when the wind calmed down and the river stopped, he started before him as the flower's sweet smell lingered.
Wildflowers.
The smell of wildflowers, the smell Miroku associated with Sango.
Miroku looked at his surroundings and down at the bench, covered with flowers.
It was the very same bench he had sat on with her a year ago when Sango told him about her dreams, and he was sitting on the same side as then. In Sango's seat laid a pink carnation. Miroku picked it up and stared at its petals, seeing an image of her in it. Another gust of wind blew, carrying the other flowers away with it save for the carnation held tightly in his hand. Miroku kept his saddened eyes on the precious flower as the wind continued to blow against him. He got up from the bench and walked back to his apartment, the wind's strength increasing. He continued, an anguished tear escaping the corner of his left eye, his broken heart feeling excruciatingly heavy.
The late evening quickly transformed into night as Miroku's penthouse building came in sight. He got to a curb and saw a small tavern across the street called, "Three Gun Saloon", one of Inuyasha's other hangouts, solely because they served some of the best American food in the area. Miroku peeked inside, finding a few other people inside, enough to keep the two waitresses busy. One looked up and waved at him with wide happy smile.
"Howdy there, Miroku! Long time no see!"
He responded with a weak smile as he took his seat, "Same here, Milly."
The owner of the "Three Gun Saloon" went to see to his customers and exclaimed loudly upon seeing Miroku. "Well, run me over and call me roadkill! Houshi Miroku rides again!"
His wife hollered from the kitchen, reprimanding him. "Vash, for the last time, keep it down! You're disturbing the customers!"
"Aw c'mon, Meryl-baby, I was just sayin' hi." He whined, though complying with her.
Three more customers walked in. Vash excused himself, "Hey sorry I can't talk, Miroku. Anything you want, Milly will take of ya. Good seein' ya again."
Vash welcomed his customers with his boisterous dramatic voice. Upon receiving their orders, he confirmed them as they were said and ran into the kitchen to tell the cook, his wife, reading the list as if he were a soldier reporting.
"Thanks a lot, Vash, Meryl, Milly. The food was awesome, as usual. We'll be sure to come back!" One of the customers said as he and his two friends left an hour later.
Vash waved, bidding then good-bye sounding like Apu, "Thank you, Duo, Quatre, Wufei. Come again."
"Um, Vash?" Milly whispered worriedly in his ear. "It's Miroku. He's been ordering drinks left and right and I'm getting worried about him. He's had more than enough but he just said to keep 'em coming."
He looked over at the said actor's table. Miroku had been seeking a way to relieve his heartache when he came across the tavern. The first cup of sake gave him some relief, the second gave even more. Within the hour, Miroku had drunk two bottles of sake, a bottle of whiskey and a shot of moonshine, and was still ordering more.
Vash stared incredulously at him, wondering why after getting all that liquor in his system he hadn't passed out. Seeing Miroku was wasted, he called a cab to take him home. Vash helped him inside after he kept slamming his head onto the edge trying to get in himself.
"Just take him home up to his apartment. Come back here and I'll pay you." Vash instructed the cab driver after giving him directions to the penthouse complex.
The driver nodded and drove off. Inside the cab, Miroku moaned and groaned miserably. Not only did his heartache escalate, but now he was nauseatingly sick from all the alcohol he drank. The driver glanced up at the rear view mirror to check on him, seeing the misery on his passenger's face. I'd better hurry and get him home. He's gonna puke on the seats any minute.
Miroku moaned, opening his eyes. He turned to his left and widened his eyes. Through the other window, he saw a car coming right at the cab!
The car sped up even more and slammed at full force into them, pushing it and causing it to roll over and flip three time before screeching to a halt and exploding down the street. The cab lay in a flaming wreck before the next streetlight.
Miroku's carnation was destroyed; its stem torn to pieces and the petals scattered everywhere.
IiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuI
There was a garden colored with a blanket of wildflowers, stretching all around. Across a small pond was a bridge that connected that piece of land to another, the other side hidden in a thick gray mist.
Under a sakura tree, Miroku sat, staring up at the image of Sango looking down at him from the white mist clouding the sky. His half-lidded indigo eyes filled with sadness, flowing down his face as he closed them.
I had been alone in the beginning. Sango came into my life and give it meaning. She was the reason I looked forward to the next day. She filled me with such unimaginable happiness. I was well as long as I was with her. I was complete knowing I loved her. Sango was my paradise, where I belonged.
It was all a dream, a long and wonderful dream.
One I wish had never ended.
More anguish flowed from Miroku's eyes.
When it ended, I awoke. I awoke to a nightmare. My dearest Sango…..
Without her, I feel nothing, nothing but this unbearable pain in my heart. My dearest love, she is gone forever and I am left with this nightmare.
His thoughts paused. His sad eyes opened and gazed into the eyes of Sango's image.
Give me my dream. I would rather keep my dream and remain in it forever than go on living a nightmare in that world without you.
I won't go on without you, Sango.
The image of Sango cast a longing gaze at Miroku and slowly faded away, the garden fading to black with her. Simultaneously, they slowly closed their eyes and everything was gone.
Oyasumi nasai, kirei na megami….
IuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuI
Miroku opened his eyes feebly, finding Inuyasha, Hachi, several doctors and a dozen nurses surrounding his hospital bed. He was told that he had been lying comatose in the hospital bed for a month after the car accident. The driver was killed instantly and as the car flipped the first time, Miroku was thrown through the window and onto the sidewalk while it continued down the street and then burst into flames. Vash and Milly heard everything and rushed to his aid while Meryl called the paramedics. Miroku was rendered unconscious upon striking his head onto the pavement and then slipped into a coma from alcohol poisoning. The driver of the other car had taken off before Vash could get the license plate number. Most of Miroku's bones were broken and his injuries were life-threatening, yet miraculously he survived.
He was released from the hospital several months later and resumed his life and career. A year after his recovery, Miroku was officially dubbed "Japan's Hottest (and best) actor" after winning the highest award for "Best Actor" in the movie "Manipulated!" by producer Corisu Li. Hachi read the paper and grinned happily, saying Sango would be proud of him.
Miroku gave no response to that.
Hachi just thought his client was playing around but then realized Miroku was serious.
Sango's name had no effect on him.
The tanuki gave a very detailed description of her, giving great detail of her physical features, and how she and Miroku were very close. No matter what Hachi said or how many times he or anyone else told him, the response was the same. Miroku didn't know who Sango was. Every memory he ever had of Sango and everything that happened in the time frame between his eighteenth birthday and the car accident had been wiped out when his head struck the pavement that night.
Miroku, however, went on with his life as if that year had never occurred. Though he moved on, he felt a void inside him, as if there was something missing in his life. In an attempt to fill it, Miroku continued with his career, accepting offers left and right. He also went to his habit of chasing after women and asking if they'd bear his firstborn child. His new life made the void he felt much smaller.
But it never disappeared.
I'm looking for protection
Give me shelter from the storm
I just hope this light inside me keeps me strong
Miroku stared up at the night sky, his memories of that year, every last one of them, returning to him.
Sango stood beside him looking at him, questioningly. He had spent the past two minutes standing still and staring up at the sky in complete silence. She feared something was wrong with him.
"Miroku? Miroku, what's wrong?" Sango asked softly.
He heard her voice but remained still and silent for a minute longer, taking in the memories of his forgotten past.
"Our time together on InuYasha….you telling me your dreams….body slamming me in the North Star Dojo…..the year we spent together…." Miroku whispered.
Sango stared, a quiet gasp caught in her throat. "You…you remember? You remember everything now, Miroku?"
"Yes." He uttered, lowering his head to eye level, staring before him. "When I held you in my arms, our first kiss. I had forgotten everything, but it all came back to me just now."
Miroku felt a little overwhelmed regaining his memories all at once. There was something he didn't understand, his reactions to Sango when he saw her again at the luau. It was though he recognized her but at the same time he didn't. The answer came quickly after the question surfaced.
Miroku loved Sango so dearly that when she was out of his life, it literally agonized him to think of her. It hurt even more to wish desperately to change the past and know it could never happen. Miroku had wished to forget her. He longed to forget her only to relieve his insufferable heartache. But at the same time, he wished against it.
Miroku was afraid to forget her. She had exited his life, but she remained with him in his memories. To completely forget all about Sango, go on as if she had never existed, Sango would be lost to him forever.
To lose her even in his memories would destroy him, and thus Miroku endured his pain, having some happiness with his beloved inside his mind. But due to his head injuries from the car accident, a small part of his memory had been damaged and she was taken from him even then. Every memory of Sango he shared was torn from his grasp and cast away. When he awoke, Miroku had lost her completely, not even her name remained with him.
Though Miroku had forgotten ever knowing Sango, she never left him. In his coma, he chose to keep her with him inside his heart and since then, Sango had resided deep within his subconscious, remaining dormant in that corner of his mind, keeping all of his memories with her. When Miroku saw her again at the luau, he reacted the way he had because she had awakened his subconscious. As he relived his time spent with her, Miroku's love for Sango deepened more, reaching into his mind and unlocking the lost memories of the one woman he had even loved.
In the past, Miroku had worked to try to fill that void he felt. When he realized that wasn't working, he chased after different women. Subconsciously, he was actually searching for Sango. He went to just about every woman he saw, trying to find the one he belonged to.
And my heart is breaking
Just for you, just for you
And my arms, they're open
Just for you, just for you
And these tears I'm cryin'
Are for you, just for you
Just for you
Miroku turned to his side and met Sango's eyes. When he looked inside them, he felt something grow inside him. As he gazed deep into Sango's chocolate brown eyes, Miroku felt a warmth that he hadn't felt in six years grow inside his body. Seeing her standing there before him, all his memories regained, his spirit had been brought back to life.
She looked at him, wondering if he was still alright. Miroku couldn't stand it any longer; he took Sango in his arms and embraced her tightly, fearing she would be torn away from him again if he didn't. Sango seemed startled and a bit confused by his sudden actions.
"Miroku, what-?" She fell silent when she felt a tear fall onto the back of her neck.
Miroku was crying.
Just for you
Oh, these tears I'm cryin'
Oh, I feel like cryin'
Just for you
"Sango…" Miroku whispered, his voice pained with remorse as his embrace tightened just a little more. "I'm sorry. Everything I said that day…everything, I'm so sorry. Please forgive me."
Sango stared, her eyes swelling with tears as she remembered back to the day as well. She buried her face in Miroku's neck, her tears streaming down as she embraced Miroku tightly.
"I already have, Miroku. I already have." Sango whispered, fighting her choked voice. "Forgive me."
Miroku loosened her just enough to look into Sango's eyes once again, looking insider her soul. Without a moment's hesitation, he kissed her deeply, parting her lips and filling her with all the love he had within him.
Oh, my heart is breaking
(My heart is breaking)
Sango welcomed Miroku with every fiber of her, feeling herself grow lightheaded with elation. She wrapped her arms around his neck as he caressed her back, tilting her head and returning the passionate kiss with all the love she had within her.
And my arms are open
(My arms are open)
Time stood still as Miroku and Sango held each other in their arms, tears of joy flowing from their closed eyes.
Oh, these tears I'm cryin'
(These tears I'm crying)
Just for you
I'll never let you part again, for this is where I belong,
Here in your arms
My heart is breaking
My arms are open
These tears I'm crying
Just for you
At their suite in the hotel, Shippo and Inuyasha waited. They had gotten back from the arcade, found Miroku's note on his bed, and had been waiting for him for the past six hours.
Shippo sat on the arm of the couch, channel surfing and watching Inuyasha as he paced the floor, growling irritatedly.
"Inuyasha, can you do something other than pace the floor?" Shippo inquired, slightly annoyed.
"Like what? Chew on the couch and then gnaw on my leg?" The half-demon snapped, aggravated and worried to death about Miroku.
Shippo never took his eyes off the TV. "If it stops you from wearing a hole in the floor, get some salt and knock yourself out."
Inuyasha stopped and stood in place. Two seconds later, his right ear began to twitch. It twitched faster and faster along with his eyebrow until he hollered in frustration. "That's it! I'm callin' the cops!"
Inuyasha rushed over to the phone when he halted, hearing the door close. He and Shippo looked forward and found Miroku leaning on the front door. Shippo hopped off of the couch, glad the actor was alright.
"Miroku! Oh man, we've be-"
"Where the hell have you been!" Inuyasha interrupted, shoving the kitsune back onto the couch and storming up to Miroku. "You just up and leave, stay out for six frickin' hours and then waltz up in here at two in the frickin' morn-"
Inuyasha's roar of concern silenced as he stared in confusion at Miroku's face.
There were tear streaks that hadn't dried, indicating he'd been crying again, but this time his face was calm and so much brighter than it had ever been before. Then there was the small but extremely euphoric smile on his lips. Miroku's eyes opened partially-lidded, revealing a dreamy expression inside them, bright and sparkling.
Both Inuyasha and Shippo stared dumbfounded at Miroku's paradoxical face. The actor slowly walked from the door and collapsed onto the couch, falling asleep the instant he hit the cushions, the serene smile still on his face.
Inuyasha stood gawking wide-eyed and confused, trying to make sense of Miroku's moods over the past two days.
"First, he was hitting on me, only to help me for my date, then he gets depressed and wasted. Maybe Miroku wanted some attention, but then why would he try to knock himself off? He's definitely depressed….no, but, just now he came in looking like he got…So then he's happy. But he was sad earlier, so how can be depressed and then get all happy just like that….Miroku might've did…maybe he just…nah, he's….but that doesn't add up-…..
"Keh, good night."
Inuyasha threw his hands in the air. Miroku was back and fine, that was good enough for him so he called it a night, heading for his room. Shippo got a blanket and spread it over Miroku, smiling as he observed the smile on the actor's face, happy he was at peace now.
Sango laid on her bed, staring up dreamily at the ceiling in sheer bliss. Her heart beat strongly in her chest. She reminisced on when she stayed with Miroku after locking herself out of her suite and remembered her hand. Sango looked at her bandaged right hand, remembering how he kissed it to help it heal quickly. She slowly removed the bandage.
Sango's left fingers trailed down the faint scar that stretched diagonally across her palm. This particular scar carried fond and happy memories of her time with Miroku.
She would treasure it.
Sango smiled, closing her eyes and drifting off to sleep.
Oyasumi nasai, atashi no Miroku. (Good night, my Miroku)
(exhausted swirly-eyed look) Good GRIEF, that was work!
The chapter I spent close to a year adding to, revising, going over almost…what?...six times, took me seven weeks to write out and four days to type and these are the results.
Do I kick-ass or what, man?
(proud smile) Okay, it's my policy so I'll just get it over with, the disclaimer list for chapter 14. This is all the stuff I DO NOT own:
"Run to You" (Whitney Houston), y'all should know that easy.
"Nobody Knows It But Me" (Babyface)
"Electric Slide" (No idea what the artist's name is. It came out before I did, so you KNOW it ain't mine)
"Conga" (Gloria Estefan)
"September" (Earth, Wind and Fire)
"Remember the Time" (Michael Jackson)
"High Pressure and Heso Shoujyo Venus" (that HANDSOME musical genius that is T.M. Revolution) (fangirl smile)
"A Groovy Kind of Love" (Phil Collins)
"Whoop! There It Is" (Tag Team)
"Just For You" (Lionel Richie)
Now for the ANIME I used, see if you can spot them out…
InuYasha, Mermaid Saga and Maison Ikkoku (Takahashi Rumiko-sama)
Shogakugan- the name of the studio where InuYasha was animated
Sailor Moon (Takeuchi Naoko)
Fist of the North Star (Don't know the owner, but it ain't me)
Gundam Wing, G Gundam and Robotech (Ain't mine)
Silent Möbius (Ain't mine)
Tenchi Muyo (ain't mine, RYOKO RULES!)
Rurouni Kenshin (Watanuki Nobuhiro)
Trigun (ain't mine)
Dragonball Z (it ain't mine.)
All that'll be it for a while. Hope it didn't bore you and I REALLY hope you enjoyed it. I put a seven weeks' worth of work in here.
See ya next chapter!