Friendly Advice

Sango knew something was wrong with Inuyasha.

The hanyou was giving her sneaky glances all the day. They were at Kaede's village and were to leave the next day. Kagome was back already, sorting herbs with Kaede in her hut.

And yet, Inuyasha wasn't sitting around the young miko, he was sitting in a tree near the bench where Sango had her gear laid out and was giving it the last check before packing it for the road.

To say it was odd would be an understatement.

Twitch, twitch, twitch.

His ears were constantly moving, which was unusual for him too. Of course, they would swivel this way and that, but not if there was no sound t be focused on. It was a clear sign he was uneasy.

The problem was there was nothing for him to be uneasy about. They had a shard rumor to follow tomorrow, Kagome was already in their time, their supplies were almost packed, they were rested and healthy. And there hadn't been even a small quarrel with Kagome lately. Everything should be just peachy for him.

Twitch, twitch, twitch.

Obviously wasn't.

And Sango worried about what was the cause of this behavior.

She turned to her stuff and carefully put her smoke pellets away. Then she checked her knives. Then...

"Oi, Sango!"

The exterminator found herself on the other side of the bench, two blades in her hands, facing the hanyou who had startled her by sneaking up just behind her and speaking with his usual brash voice.

"Uh," she lowered her weapons. "Sorry, reflex. What is it?"

He snored and gave her a look that clearly indicated he wasn't offended by her reflex. On the contrary, she could see in his eyes he was pretty pleased she was so fast to react. Then the pensive, anxious expression from before returned and he looked away, crossing his arms in front of his chest.

"I wanna ask you a question," he said after a second. "But no one has to know about it, you have to promise!"

His twitching ears laid back and Sango smiled at him trying to ease his anxiety somehow. He squatted where he stood and she took it as a sign for her to sit down on the free end of the bench and put her weapons away. She gave him her full attention and tried to look encouraging.

She wasn't sure she was dong a good job.

"Keh!" he was still avoiding her gaze. She nodded, knowing that it was better to let him speak at his own pace. "So... I have a friend. And this friend, well... Uh... He wants to know..."

"Yes...?" Sango dared to breathe. Was Inuyasha actually going to ask her what she was thinking he was going to ask?

"That friend - I obviously ain't talking about me! - he wants to know how a boy should approach a girl... One that's fierce like a priestess of Bishamonten."

Sango wasn't sure if she was more elated that Inuyasha actually came to ask her for an advice in regard to court a girl (she was pretty sure which girl he had in mind), surprised by his description of the said girl, shocked that he actually wanted an advice or glad he came to a girl than to Miroku to get the said advice.

She looked at him and saw him watching her carefully with those yellow eyes that she learned to like pretty much. He didn't look like most people, with his exotic coloring, but after the first shock she learned to look past it and see Inuyasha, her friend, kinda like a reckless cousin, a companion in arms.

He never saw in her just a girl. She never saw in him just a half-breed.

So now, when he came to her with such a delicate matter, she decided to give him her best advice, not brush him off.

"Well," she rubbed the back of her neck, thinking what he could do for Kagome. "You could be nice to her..."

"Oi! I told you - it's my friend that asked me to ask you! Geez, I told you, it's ain't me who wants an advice!" he growled.

"Oh, sorry," Sango barely kept from giggling at his reddened face. "Well... I think your friend should be honest with his beloved, tell her what he feels. And he could give her little things like flowers or gentle touches to show his affection. Holding hands would be nice. But not in public, so she doesn't get embarrassed."

"Hm," he gave a small nod. She was pleased to see him listening intently.

"You... I mean your friend could be more open with this girl. Tell her what he thinks about things, what he hopes for, what he worries about. She will gladly help him and open up to him too."

"Okay, okay, he's past talking and touching, and all that shit" he grew impatient. "What about when he wants to make sure she knows he loves her? That he sees only her?"

Sango almost clapped her hands. Was he really asking her that? Oh, lucky Kagome!

"He... He could tell her he loves her and give her a kiss, a gentle, yet passionate one," she suggested. "I mean saying the words should be enough, but I think she would appreciate a kiss."

She giggled, imagining Kagome's stunned face.

The next day they were walking down a road. Sango was looking at the miko and hanyou walking in front of her, smiling and hoping Inuyasha was going to use her advice soon. Shippou was happily running around, playing hide and chase with Kirara.

Suddenly she found Miroku standing in front of her. Before she could open her mouth and ask him why he was blocking her way, he grasped her hands, put a small bunch of flowers in her fingers and gave her his most charming smile.

"I love you, my dearest Sango," he proclaimed and placed a chaste kiss against her lips.

Kagome and Inuyasha turned around when they heard Sango's cry and then a slap, followed by a thud of a certain monk's body falling to the ground. Shippou and Kirara both froze among the near bushes, observing the other part of the gang.

"Why did you do that?!" the hanyou uttered in shock. "He did all you said me! Right...? Or did he just go for your ass again?"

Kagome looked between the baffled hanyou and the exterminator who stood over the fallen monk, a bunch of wild flowers in one hand, the other pressed against her recently kissed lips, her eyes wide like saucers.