A/N: Again, thanks all for the reviews and comments! It's been really appreciated. Also, in reference to a comment left by lilpinkpookie: despite what you may think, I like Kagome – she's just like any normal teenager, and she really truly doesn't know whether Sango likes Miroku. There are no bad guys in this story, also human ones. So with that, let's go to the next chapter…
Chapter Five
"So it's seven-thirty, Miroku; where's your friend?" Sango was starting to get a little impatient. Twenty-five minutes had been wasted arguing over useless babble; during the last five, they had actually begun the assignment.
"He should be here any minute now." Miroku said, frowning over the calculus equation. "Something's not right here about your work. I'm not exactly a math or engineering major, so I can't tell you exactly. You're in a higher class than I was in when I took calculus."
"You know, you never told me your major – and why did you volunteer to help if you can't do the work anyway?" Sango asked exasperatedly. She sat in a comfortable arm chair beside Miroku's, leaning over its arm to peer at the figures in her notebook, placed on the small table between them. The lamp that had once been on the table was now on the floor; not contributing much in the way of lighting, but providing space for them to work.
"It's French literature and culture with a minor in international relations." He replied partly to her question, head still lowered over the paper.
"Nice, so are you planning to work in France or something?" she asked, curious. It was actually the first time she ever had a serious conversation with him – at least so far.
"I would like to work in the embassy in France, if I can. I think it'd be interesting, broaden my horizons."
"You must really love the place then." She smiled. It was nice to know he had some higher calling in life besides flirting.
"I love the idea of ambassadorial work, and I like to travel." He glanced up and smiled back at her. Their eyes met; his seemed smoldering, as if lighted from within. It was a surprisingly intimate gaze. Sango could feel a slight blush flare in her cheeks. She looked away.
"Is that so? What does your family think of it?" she asked, trying to continue in a normal tone. She hoped her voice didn't sound as breathy as she thought it did.
"They think they're throwing their money away, sending me to Yale and such. But then, my family has been throwing money around everywhere for years." He seemed rather resigned. Sango was surprised he wasn't more resentful towards his family.
"Well, do what you want, not what people think you should, that's what my sister always says."
"Kagome is a very wise girl for her years."
"Oh she has her spacey moments, especially with guys." Sango sighed. "By the way, she really has a thing for you. She wouldn't shut up about you on the last phone call."
"Does she now? I'm glad she's happy." He replied off-handedly. Miroku's tone of voice made her glance back at him, puzzled. 'Wasn't he happy she wanted him?' Sango stifled the odd leap in her heart as she thought.
Miroku was making notations in her notebook, head lowered, his hair, loose, falling over his face. He brushed back thin tendrils automatically, tucking them behind his ear. "But I can't help wondering whether there is someone else here who is not happy." He looked up and met her eyes again, beginning in a more insistent voice. "Sango, do you-"
"Hey man, sorry to keep you waiting! But don't fear, I'll fix all your – beautiful women…" The voice trailed off. Sango and Miroku both looked over to the door of the library, where an athletic looking brunette had entered, and paused, staring at Sango.
"Well, hello gorgeous. How does Houshi find babes like you, anyway?" The man grinning, flashing perfect white teeth in a tanned, attractive face. Sango looked up a little further to see brilliant blue eyes twinkling merrily.
"And you are?" Sango asked, in a tone that meant physical torture was soon on the way. Miroku glanced at Sango's face and grinned.
"This is my friend and dorm mate, Koga Ookami."
"Interesting last name." Sango tried for neutral. From the grin on the newcomer's face, it succeeded.
"It means wolf. I come from a pretty fierce lot. They call me the steel claw on the football field." Koga cracked his knuckles. Sango wasn't impressed, but she did like the confidence that seemed to emanate from him.
"So you guys play football together?" She asked, tilting her head to look at Miroku.
He nodded. "Yeah, quarterback and wide receiver. Depending on the game, we switch positions."
"And we kick ass! This year we'll beat Harvard into the ground. Their ass is grass, and the lawnmower's coming to town." Koga seemed excited, if the word could suffice for the intense gleam in his eyes. Sango couldn't help but grin. He was starting to make her excited about the upcoming match and she didn't even like football.
"Maybe I'll come watch."
"You will? But I thought you said you wouldn't be caught dead-" Miroku protested, seeming shocked.
"With a pretty lady like you there, how could we lose? I'll be sure to dedicate the winning touchdown to you." He bowed.
Miroku frowned at him. "Didn't we invite you here for something besides football Koga? You are the biophysics major, after all."
"Hey, chill. I was just introducing myself to the lady."
"A biophysics major? Excuse me for saying this, but you don't seem the laboratory type." Sango asked. She found herself strangely attracted to the flashy personality.
"Only 'cause the mentor's hot." At Sango's sudden frown he added hastily. "Kidding, kidding. I want to be in the field, studying wolves and other wild canines; that sort of thing. It's a passion. But I'm going to need some money. Biology majors aren't paid as much money as a more unusual major, like biophysics. So I'm studying that for now." Koga flopped into a nearby armchair, closer to Sango than Miroku. "What do you think now, honey?" he grinned.
"It's well thought out, and sounds like a good idea. But one thing," she leaned over her chair to say pointedly. "Don't call me honey."
"It's only because your eyes look like-"Koga's flirting was cut off by Miroku.
"So back to the reason we asked you here." Miroku watched Sango as she sat back in her chair, blushing.
"What was that again?" Koga seemed puzzled, but continued smiling in a satisfied way.
"Calculus help." Miroku reminded his friend.
"Oh right," Koga flashed a grin at Sango, "always willing to help a beautiful lady in distress."
After they had completed the assignment, it was late, almost midnight.
"Man, that took longer than I thought. I missed Family Guy, jeez." Koga hopped out of his chair, and then offered a hand to the freshman. "Allow me to escort the lady to her dorm?" his eyebrow arched in a decidedly humorous fashion.
"I guess it couldn't hurt. You did save my grade, after all." Sango agreed, taking his hand.
"Are you sure you want to walk alone with him? If you think I'm a pervert, then he would be a sex offender."
"That hurt dude. I thought we were friends." Koga made a pouting face. Sango thought it was cute.
"I'm just warning you, Sango." Miroku seemed serious, almost worried.
"I'll be fine." She brushed it off. He probably didn't want his friends involved with her more than they had to.
"Then let's go. The night is young, and you probably have parties to go to." Koga led her to the door, opening it for them both.
"Parties, me?" Sango scoffed. She glanced back though at Miroku. He watched them with an inscrutable expression.
She almost headed back, but Koga tugged on her arm.
"Come on Sango, don't worry about Hoshi; the man can take care of himself."
"I wasn't worried." Sango protested. They left the library.
"Just saying." Koga led her out of Saybrook College, walking casually to the Old College, and her hall.
They made light conversation, drifting from topic to topic in a peaceful, cheerful manner. 'It almost feels like I'm heading home from a date.' She thought amusedly to herself. She glanced over at him as he talked about football. Tall, but not too tall. Rather long black hair tied up in a ponytail.
They passed under a streetlamp. His light blue eyes glittered under the light like small jewels. He was tanned, in shape, and he had a vivid personality. She almost felt as if she was being bespelled.
"I wanted to ask you something, Sango." Koga asked as they headed towards her hall. He let her lead now, looking around at the broad courtyard in the center of the quadrangle.
"What is it?" she asked.
"Would you go out with me; be my girlfriend?"
Sango stopped walking. Was he serious? 'I mean, come on, I only just met the guy.' And she told him so.
"So what? I've been looking for a girl like you. Intelligent, funny, tough, but still delicate and beautiful. You're like a dream come true, you know." He touched her chin; lifted her face to meet his. His eyes seemed honest, sincere. "You are available, aren't you?"
"I – I don't know what to say." She sputtered finally. He was attractive, yes, but…
"Say yes, you're available, and yes, you'll date me." He supplied, smiling now.
"I-" Part of her mind froze, hesitating, as if unwilling to comply. But the more dominant side demanded, 'What the hell are you pausing for? Kagome said you needed a boyfriend right?'
"Yeah, I'll go out with you."
"Great," he answered, grinning with relief. "You doing anything this weekend?"
"No, not really." She looked over to her hall, feeling oddly sad.
"Then I'll pick you up around 3 pm. We'll do something fun."
"All right." She agreed, her mind whirling.
"See you later." He hesitated, then leaned down and kissed her cheek. Walking away, he waved. Sango waved back and turned away, walking up to her hall door.
"So I have a boyfriend now." She muttered to herself. "Then why do I feel so disappointed?"
Shaking her head at these conflicting thoughts, she headed inside for the night.
A/N: It's a bit longer than the rest, but I work in plot sections, not really page length. I swear to you I had no idea Koga was going to do that until I started typing. Characters, when you're writing just seem to take a life of their own. So I've let them complicate their own lives. Hopefully the ending still turns out the way I thought it might. Now I too am becoming a part of the audience! Naughty Koga! I love all the characters equally well…in their own special way.
