DISCLAIMER: I do not own Inuyasha or any related characters. The story and art is property of the great Rumiko Takahashi. This fan fiction is for entertainment purposes only, and in no way will be used for my betterment. I wrote this because I admire the owner's work and wish to daydream about the characters.

Ok a quick word here. GOMEN NASAI! My life has become highly hectic, and I haven't gotten the chance to type. So to make it up to all of you this will be a long chapter (hopefully) and I will reveal how they got there! nreep

YOU MAKE ME BREATHE

Chapter 8: Confessions of a monk

"Spill" Sango said, her eyes cold and steely. She was tired of being left in the dark, and was concerned over their predicament. And it didn't help that the only person that was there to keep her awake had just blacked out.

For a minute Miroku panicked, but kept it hidden. She knows... she knows how we got here...

"Why Sango, I have no idea what you're talking about," he said with his normal charm. But somehow it had lessened with his voice being just barely above a whisper. He tried to flash her a smile, and ended up giving a nervous look instead.

"You're hurt more then you said you were aren't you?"

Miroku would have breathed a sigh of relief if he didn't think that it would bring him more pain. At least now he was presented with the lesser evil of admitting to his asphyxiation.

"Hai."

Sango clenched a fist and continued to stare at him ferociously. How dare he lie to her when he was suppose to be keeping her alive! And what purpose could it possibly serve? It was becoming more and more obvious that if the two of them were to get out of wherever they were, they'd have to work together. After all, leaving Miroku behind just wasn't an option for her. He was too good of a companion, even if his hands wandered. "Well then what's the damage? Confess!"

Miroku shifted his weight awkwardly, looking like a floundering fish, what with his inability to use his left arm. It wasn't her anger that made him uncomfortable. His face stung too many times from her fists for Sango's anger to make him feel that way. It was her sudden concern over everything that was happening. That and he would be treading dangerous grounds to tell her how he'd hurt himself so badly.

"I think that I might have bruised my side that's all. It just hurts to talk and breathe." he finally said to her, hopping that his answer would be enough to satisfy her.

"Let's see then."

A moment of silence. Then Miroku's face got the normal perverted look.

"Sango! I didn't know that you felt that way!"

She looked confused for a minute. Somehow the bump to her head had slowed down her thought process. Normally she would have hit him on the side of his head by now for taking her statement that way.

"Huh?"

Miroku shook his head, not wishing to press his luck. "Never mind. I can handle it on my own. Besides... I think I found a way to make my pain less."

Hours passed in which nothing much had happened other then Miroku binding his chest while Sango looked the other way. She couldn't help but smirk at that considering his normal personality.

It was odd to her though. He'd been unusually kind to her since he had blacked out. And well behaved at that. A gentle tugging at the back of her aching head wanted to know why, and for the briefest moment she remembered how his explanation of how they got stuck behind the waterfall didn't quite satisfy her.

"Did we win?"

"Nani?"

Sango rolled her eyes. By now the two of them were sitting across from each other. The cavern had taken on a golden orange glow from either the rising or setting sun, it was impossible to tell as they couldn't see beyond the rushing water.

"The fight. The one we were in before we wound up in the river."

"Oh." Miroku said growing more silent then he had been before. His thumbs chased each other about in a circular motion. "Yes and no. It all depends on how you look at it."

"I don't remember any fight," Sango said arching one eyebrow. Yes and no?

"I suppose it's all because you hit your head pretty hard. It wasn't anything significant. I barely recall it myself."

Sango chewed her lower lip, looking at him in an inquisitive manner. "Shippou should be fine then?"

Miroku swallowed. This is getting to risky! You better watch your step monk or she'll kill you and not the void. "Yes. He went playing with Kirara after breakfast."

To his immense relief she nodded her head and bit her lip, a sure sign that her curiosity had been satisfied for the moment. He was given a bit of sanctuary until she found out the terrible truth. But Miroku couldn't help but wish that it was all over.

"Sango... I.."

"Yes?" she asked him. He just shook his head.

"It's nothing.."

Sango shrugged her shoulders, too exhausted to pester him. Instead she rubbed at her shoulders, moving her head about to get rid of a crick in her neck. Miroku grabbed a hold of her, and received the usual slap, despite the shape he was in. With his one good hand he rubbed his cheek.

"I meant nothing honestly. I don't wish to ruffle your feathers." he appoligized quickly. Sango moved hesitently over to him.

"Mm... that feels good," she said closing her eyes in the comfort he provided her as the monk rubbed the sore spot on her neck single handedly.

Miroku mumbled something along the lines of "I am to please."

She could feel herself starting to drift away, and pushed his hand off of her. The guilt on his face was more then it should have been, and they both knew it. Miroku and Sango sat staring at each other, their eyes holding the conversation.

"You..." Sango finally managed to say. Miroku's head hung low. "You..."

"Hai Sango... I did."

Memories flooded her brain. The breakfast that she'd struggled to prepare.. him spilling it on her, causing her to loose her temper... going to wash her normal clothing... getting into a heated argument... the two drawing their weapons... him grabbing the bone boomerang and pulling it away from her... falling into the river because of it..

"You sent us to our death! All because of breakfast?"

"No Sango! That's not what happened! You were upset, angry at me, I tried to say I was sorry! But..."

She turned her back to him, stood up and walked as far from him as she could. Miroku sat staring at the ground.

I can't reach her again...