It was as if her fingers had a mind all their own, fidgeting nervously in her lap while she watched the discussion before her without listening. Her heart ached in too many ways to count. Her gaze flitted between the two men in front of her, one the love of her life, the other undoubtedly her brother in all but blood, but it was the empty space beside her that spoke the loudest in that moment.
As if expecting her sister to be there, Sango let her head tilt to the side, magenta gaze landing on the spot between her and Inuyasha, the only distance that separated the three of them.
She had so many questions, so many thoughts that she needed help parsing through. It was strange keeping them all in her head instead of letting them all spill out when the boys were away leaving only her and-
"Sango?"
She looked up and over, noticing deep, rich violet eyes that regularly filled her heart with wonder and warmth looking back at her then with a knowing frown and tender gaze that made Sango feel suddenly more exposed than she wanted to be and not in the right way.
"Yes?" She replied, taking in a shaky breath and looking back at him, summoning the strength that had gotten her through more than one hell to get her through just one more pang of loneliness and longing.
"Will you be joining us tomorrow?" Miroku asked, his tone gentle as he spoke slowly, softly in that manner that always felt like he was draping a warm blanket over her shoulders, the look in his eyes inflaming her skin.
"Yes," Sango murmured, turning toward Inuyasha who wasn't looking at either of them, but staring at the fire flickering in the middle of the hut, arms crossed and not quite comfortable in his stance.
"Good," he responded firmly, also turning to look at their forlorn friend. "Well, shall we get some sleep?" Miroku suggested, sighing a little as he looked out through the window at the dark sky. He recognized the unfocused look in both Sango and Inuyasha. They'd all had it on and off for the last two weeks. It was a lot to take in, a lot to process and certainly far too much to move on from just yet. Miroku looked down at his whole hand. A reminder of the precious life he was given and the chosen family that mostly surrounded him, breathing life into his second chance at something he was still grappling with.
Though, his second chance still felt a little wanting without their other teammate - the one, who, in her own way, had brought them all together. He wasn't sure what a reality without her influence would look like, but Miroku was positive he didn't want to live in that world. And by the looks on his friends' faces, neither did they.
It was a painful thought that had both him and Sango nervous for Inuyasha and probably overly cautious and gentle around him. Something Inuyasha was, unfortunately, all too cognizant of. It made him extra surly, yearning for the teasing and goading, instead of whatever gentle, tender crap Sango and Miroku - and even Kaede - were feeding him.
Naraku was gone, along with the Sacred Jewel. The village was rebuilding. Life was moving forward, even as they all grappled with a loss they weren't anticipating or sure would ever really come, certainly not so soon. Miroku recognized that he and his friends were mourning, still. Life was moving forward and they had to more forward also, even if they each detested it.
All three had been given a new chance at something and wasn't it their prerogative to take it? At least, that was how Miroku saw it… even if the other two looked less than interested in the thought.
Inuyasha stirred, lifting himself off the ground of the hut gifted to the group by the village. Miroku and Sango were pulled from their thoughts, both sets of eyes watching him wordlessly pad over toward the door. They'd reminded him every night that he was welcome to stay, it was, after all, his home too. However, every night he'd declined.
"Inuyasha," Sango began, her words spilling out in muscle memory. "You should stay."
"Nah," he responded, amber eyes looking out the single window frame, unable to look back at the only other people in his life that mattered.
"It's getting colder out," Miroku commented, knowing that Inuyasha would still refuse but wanting to make it clear the invitation was open, always.
"I'll be fine." He scoffed, reaching for the reed door, a clawed hand sliding under it before looking at his friends one last time, then brusquely exiting the building.
Sango's shoulders slumped and she exhaled slowly, swallowing down her own grief. "Are you sure we should be asking him to work?"
"Yes," Miroku responded confidently. "He needs something to think about that doesn't end in thoughts of Kagome."
"They'll always come back to her though," Sango stated confidently. After all, it's how her mind had worked. She couldn't imagine his wouldn't be similar in that respect. In the beginning her mind had been so consumed by thoughts of her brother that fighting demons may have shoved his image to the back of her mind, but he was always on her mind. And as her relationship with Miroku grew… so did her thoughts of him.
But no matter what, no matter how perilous the circumstance, Sango always thought of Kohaku and Miroku. Always. That was just how love worked… it took over your mind, and remained an active presence even if the object of your love wasn't there.
So, maybe Sango could see Miroku's point. For a brief moment in time, Inuyasha would be distracted but it would be brief and it certainly wouldn't be healing. Just because a thought was silent for a moment, didn't mean it wasn't still present. It just wasn't dominating the conversation.
"I'm aware," Miroku admitted, "but there's not much we can physically do to help him. We just need to be here and support him."
Sango paused, wondering silently how to remind her friend that he was still loved and found herself thinking about crazy ideas that Kagome might come up with. She giggled softly before turning to Miroku, "we could always tie him up and force affection on him."
Miroku shook his head, a genuine laugh pushing out from his chest, "Kaede, Shippo and I tried that before, or well… we tried to get him to rest. That did not go well." He replied, chuckling at the memory of stomping on his friend's back and attempting to force the half-demon to just fucking rest.
"Ah, well," she continued, turning to briefly peer at the now empty space Inuyasha had previously occupied, "we'll think of something to help him. It's still fresh."
Miroku nodded.
"Maybe…" Sango murmured, fidgeting with her fingers and looking up through her lashes, her head tilting down shyly, "maybe you and him should go together tomorrow? Just the two of you?"
"Sango-"
"I think he could use… some… brotherly guidance."
Miroku opened his mouth to protest then slowly let it close. He nodded his head in acceptance. He'd let Sango sit the job out for the next day. She looked more than a little tired and solemn herself. "Sounds like a plan," he mumbled, placing a hand tenderly on her knee.
Her sad eyes warmed at his touch and she looked up at him, her chest swelling with a fluttering heat that made her giddy. Their eyes met forming a swirling, brilliant stream of violet and magenta. Sango, bit down subtly on her bottom lip, a tiny smile curving her lips as she leaned into his touch.
Yeah, they were all still adjusting. Her heart ached for the loss of her sister and for Inuyasha, and maybe it was a little selfish but… Sango let her eyes drop to her love's right hand, not for the first time, grateful for the extra time she got to spend with him. More than ever, Kagome's sudden departure and Naraku's defeat reminded her that life with the one's you loved was precious and never guaranteed.
As a mortal being, Sango was very aware of how precious, how impactful, any single moment could be.
She swallowed down her nervousness and scooted herself closer to Miroku, sighing in content as he wrapped an arm around her. Both leaned against each other, wearing matching shy yet happy smiles, watching the fire dwindle until it finally died out, simply enjoying the other's embrace.
The comfort of love and acceptance after such a long journey, such an emotionally tumultuous path, felt like breathing for the first time. Sango pulled herself into him more, letting her head fall to his shoulder. She never wanted to let go.
Inuyasha was at their door at the break of dawn the next morning. Miroku was already up, placing a finger along his lips to signal Inuyasha to remain quiet as he slipped out of the hut, careful not to let his staff ding a wooden side or let the any of the rings jingle too loudly as he passed. He could see his friend's scowl and questioning look, his arms crossed over his chest defensively.
"Sango decided to sit this one out," Miroku whispered, gesturing for Inuyasha to walk.
The half-demon huffed but moved all the same. "And why is that?" He snipped.
"She's worried about you and thinks that this would be a good time for us to talk," Miroku answered honestly, having no intention of tricking Inuyasha into being open with him.
Inuyasha rolled his eyes.
"I have to admit something though…" Miroku mumbled, turning to look behind him, as if he was paranoid that Sango wasn't actually asleep back in the village but trailing them. "I agreed for a selfish reason."
"Oh?" Inuyasha asked, a single brow rising in a mix of slight curiosity and skepticism.
"I want your opinion," Miroku continued, his voice still soft, but his gaze returning forward.
"On?"
"Is it-is it too soon to ask Sango if she still wants to have a family and everything?" He asked quietly.
Inuyasha's brows furrowed and his frown deepened, but it wasn't a scowl or a look of irritation, just one of genuine bewilderment. "I-I don't know," he confessed. "No? I mean, you already live together and shit."
Miroku nodded, "yeah but… I don't want to pressure her into anything… and it's not really our place… you and Shippo technically own it was well…"
"Just ask. If she says no you know." Inuyasha responded, blunt and simple minded as ever, with a heavy sigh at the end and a hint of annoyance that Miroku never thought he'd miss yet most certainly had.
He smiled over at his friend, patting him firmly on the back of his shoulder.
"What was that for?!" Inuyasha growled, staring at the offending hand.
"You're going to help me."
"No-"
"Yes, you're going to help me ask her and get the everything set up."
"Not a shot in hell!" He protested in a pathetic whine.
"Inuyasha," Miroku stated, pausing in his walk and locking eyes with him. "You're my best friend, family… you're… like a brother to me. A real brother," Inuyasha broke his gaze, looking down at the ground not a scowl or frown in sight, just a pensive and impassive expression. "Will you help me?"
Miroku watched Inuyasha chew on the side of his cheek, tumultuous eyes moving unfocused along the ground. "Fine, but you don't have to be all sappy about it," he groaned out as he walked forward, dodging another pat on the back and ignoring the luminescent smile that broke across the monk's face.
"Thank you, Inuyasha."
"I said don't get sappy!" He exclaimed, tossing a glare over his shoulder. "Now get a move on! We don't have all day."
As impossible as it seemed, Miroku's grin only grew broader as he caught up to Inuyasha. If he was honest with himself, Miroku's mind had had little variety in his thoughts recently. He missed Kagome, and worried about Inuyasha, but more often than not he thought about Sango.
He was waiting for her. She was almost as distraught over Kagome's departure as Inuyasha was. But Miroku was positivehe didn't want to waste another moment of their lives - their adventures having solidified in his mind that life could be so temporary and fleeting - not being with Sango. Still, there was decorum. He wasn't going to force her to think about marriage and kids when she was clearly still upset and processing… and living in house, technically, with two other tenants. No… he needed a plan and he needed assistance.
Miroku needed help and he wanted Sango. He wanted them all to be a family and to grow said family… Preferably sooner rather than later. Sango's knees, though exceptional, were nothing compared to other, softer, parts of her that Miroku really, really wanted to visit and become familiar with.
Sango pursed her lips, listening politely as Kaede provided instruction to Rin, teaching her about the herbs and plants and techniques that could aid Kaede as she took care of the village. She still felt a little conflicted about the girl's presence, recalling the dirty memory of the time Kohaku had attempted to murder her. But Rin didn't seem the least bit bothered. In fact, every time Kohaku visited the village, Rin was there to happily greet him as well.
It was just another distasteful memory of her former life, a life she was trying to distance herself from. Though it had only been a couple of weeks it felt like it had been a goddam year since it had all came to an end.
"So," Kaede began, hands and eyes focused on the task in front of her and supervising Rin. "You decided not to join Inuyasha and Miroku?"
"Inuyasha seemed really down last night," she replied casually. "Thought they could use some time."
"Ah, Inuyasha seemed down." Kaede commented dryly, looking up briefly at Sango. "And you? How are you feeling?"
'Lonely.' Sango thought to herself immediately. Truth was, she felt desperate to talk to Kagome. She wanted her sister. There were so many things Sango had bottled inside of her that she didn't know what to do with. She would have killed to have Kagome back.
"I'm managing," she stated.
"Time is a funny thing," Kaede murmured, the pads of her worn fingers running along a medicinal herb. "It's never as linear as we think it is."
"I don't understand," Sango replied.
"Inuyasha has been visiting the well every night."
"I'm aware."
"When my sister Kikyo originally passed," Kaede continued, taking in a deep breath and looking up at the top of the hill. "Villagers visited her grave for strength and insight. I think… I think the well serves the same purpose for him."
"I see," she answered narrowing her gaze slightly, beginning to understand the veiled message Kaede was trying to impart on her.
"Have you visited the well?"
"Kagome isn't dead," Sango bit back more fiercely than she intended.
"No, she's not," Kaede smiled, "so… maybe she'll hear you."
It was a stupid comment. Dumb. Really dumb. Sango knew that. It was ridiculous to think that Kagome would hear her let alone respond. Still… throughout the rest of the day, with both men still away, Sango felt drawn to the well. Every errand brought her closer and closer to it until finally she gave in and walked over.
She hadn't been back to it since Kagome disappeared and Inuyasha returned, alone. Even basked in the warm glow of a cloudless day, even with birds singing a brilliant song all around her, being back at that place tore at her heart. It just… it hurt. Defeating Naraku was supposed to end the pain and end the loss. And it did… mostly… she wouldn't take it back or change it… but… Sango just hadn't thought that it would have cost her more of her family.
Slowly, nervously, she walked up to the well. Swallowing thickly as she approached, noticing the way the blades of grass around the well were bent or flattened. 'Inuyasha,' she thought to herself. She understood loneliness and she hated to think that he was experiencing that.
Standing awkwardly at the foot of the well Sango stared into its depths, wringing her fingers out in her hands and taking measured breaths. She stood there for a while, wondering what to do or what to say. It wasn't a grave, so it felt weird to bring flowers or to treat it as such. Eventually, she lowered herself down, kneeling against the wooden sides and leaning against the edge.
"Hi," she mumbled, hating how shaky her voice sounded. "So, uh, I miss you." She blurted, blinking back the tears rapidly, trying to maintain an even breath and failing. Sango shook her head looking up toward the sky. "Inuyasha misses you. As if you didn't already know that," she sneered to herself, sniffling at the end.
A long pause filled the air before she started again.
"Let's see," she murmured, "if you were here… I'd… I'd… I'm a little upset." A self-deprecating giggle forced itself out as Sango wiped away a tear. "I, um, so I'm living with Miroku and, well… he hasn't tried to seduce me once! Not once! That's weird right? I mean… last night he put his hand on my knee. My knee."
She shook her head, pausing, as if waiting for Kagome to actually respond.
"I know that's a silly thing to be upset over but… I thought… does this mean he doesn't want to be with me anymore? Is he… is he no longer interested in me now that his life isn't at risk?" The thought ate at her. He'd always been a flirtatious man and she wondered, silently, if… if now that he was 'free' of his curse if he wanted to play the field more instead of settling down with her…
She shook her head and smiled despite the tears, "you know… saying it out loud… kind of makes it sound really silly." She looked down at her fingers and then at the bottom of the well. "More than anything… everything that we went through… it really just makes me want to start our lives together. I know it's only been two weeks but… I mean… weshould all know how quickly things change in a second. Right? But… I'm sure you know that just as well…"
Sango chewed on the inside of her cheek, looking down at the cluttered bottom of the well. It looked like it always did, covered in near black dirt and weathered bones of demons. Not a single sign of life from anywhere in its depths.
Taking in a deep, slow breath, Sango closed her eyes. Quietly, she lowered her head, resting it on top of her hands that were laid over the edge of the well. She just… sat there. Letting the wind's song soothe a balm over her anxious, insecure, and forlorn heart, the rest of the world and her pain slipping away for a brief moment…
"Whatcha doin'?"
Her eyelids snapped open, his voice pulling her from a peace that had just begun to settle over her, as she pushed herself off the ground and stared back at Inuyasha with wide eyes.
"I, uh," she stammered, wiping at the tears on her cheeks and swallowing down her embarrassment. Sango felt… exposed and even a little guilty. Though she knew she had no reason to feel ashamed for seeking solace at the well, Sango felt for a moment like she had intruded on something private, something meant really for Kagome and Inuyasha.
He stood there before her, the sun setting behind him and Sango realized with slight horror that she'd been at the well far longer than she thought she had been.
"Whe-when did the sun start setting?!"
Inuyasha's head fell to the side, gaze narrowing as he observed her, "how long have you been here?"
Taking a shuddering breath and shaking her head, Sango looked at the flattened grass beneath her, "I-I don't really know… I just…"
"You were talking to the well," he commented, amber eyes perceiving her in a way she wasn't sure she wanted to be familiar with. They were too… expressive, holding out his pain in front of him in the most overt manner he knew how. It was something she always found fascinating - though occasionally infuriating - about him; that he wore his heart on his sleeve even if he refused to talk about it.
"Kaede had… suggested that I… speak to Kagome," Sango forced out. "I-I didn't like it," she continued, the words beginning to tumble out from her like word vomit. "She's not dead! She's not! I just, I wasn't prepared to lose her, you know? And-and, god, I wanted her to be there when I got married and had kids and-and… She was so excited for me, you know?!"
Sango couldn't feel the tears as they rolled down her cheeks but she could see them in the way Inuyasha's face morphed into something she'd only seen once before; when Kikyo died.
She hated that face. It was uncomfortable, but worse, it was heartbroken.
Sango knew she should just stop fucking talking but it kept coming.
"Who am I supposed to talk to now?! I mean, I love you and Miroku, but you're both men! She brought me this weird rouge the last time she came back and she promised that she would show me how to use it! I mean, look at this!" Sango exclaimed, her hand diving into a pocket and pulling out a modern lipstick that she hadn't let out of her sight or off her person in two weeks. "How the hell do I open this?!"
"Sango…"
"I dreamed of her helping me pick out my robes and decorating my home or whatever and helping me get ready! I had it all planned in my head! He was going to talk to me about it all, I was going to say yes - duh - and I was going to drag her to everything because-"
"Sango!" Inuyasha snapped, "stop." The last word cut through her like a hot blade. It wasn't loud or rude… it was desperate and pleading.
She swallowed hard, her mouth closing instantaneously and jaw clenching to keep it shut. But her lips trembled as she looked back at him. "I-I'm sorry, I didn't-"
Inuyasha rolled his eyes, "give me the fucking rouge."
"What?"
"We're going to figure out how to use that fucking thing. Now hand it over," his voice was filled to the brim with a heavy anger and his ears pinned to the back of his head, his lip curled up ever-so-slightly as if in a snarl, but his eyes gave it all away. They were glassy and beginning to become bloodshot. Sango didn't have to ask, she could see he was seconds from losing it like she had; seconds from crumbling.
Sango walked over to him, placing the tiny vial in his hands, pretending not to notice the way his nose twitched as a tiny puff of Kagome's scent wafted upward.
"I just can't figure it out," Sango mumbled, "the top comes off…" she explained picking it up for a moment and sliding off the cap, "but… like… look." She continued, pointing it at him. "The rouge is like… stuck inside!"
"Okay, so just stick your finger in it and swipe it out, isn't that what all women do?" He sneered.
"Kagome said that wasn't how it was done!"
He frowned, his brows furrowing as he twisted and turned the thing in his hand. He'd spent enough time in Kagome's world to know that things just worked differently there. Inuyasha wasn't sure what compelled him, but he began to just twist at the bottom noticing that it was slightly disconnected from the other portion, his entire demeanor shifting as the plastic thing turned easily in his grip and the rouge popped out from the top.
"Oh… my… god…" Sango whispered in awe, mulberry eyes wide and a smile breaking out as she looked at Inuyasha. "You-you figured it out!"
A silly smile crawled across his face as he held it proudly and showed Sango what he'd done. She nodded enthusiastically.
"How high does it go?" Sango asked, watching as he continued to twist it, a large stick of rouge poking out. "Okay… so… how do I put it on?"
"How the hell should I know?" Inuyasha barked. "I figured out how it worked! The rest is on you!"
"Some help you are," Sango teased, grabbing the lipstick from him. "It kind of looks like those drawing things she gave Shippo, doesn't it?"
"A little… I guess…"
"So… maybe… I draw on my lips?" Sango muttered, thinking out loud and looking to him for support. Inuyasha shrugged and watched as she brought it closer to her lips. "Well… here goes nothing!"
Sango pressed the rouge against her lips, her eyes on Inuyasha as if he was a mirror who would tell her whether or not she was doing it correctly versus some one just as if not more clueless than she. She felt a slight pressure against her lips, her eyes widening as the color glided across her skin.
"San-" Inuyasha warned, his eyes widening as she felt the pressure alleviate then disappear far too quickly.
She looked down, mortified to see the tower of rouge no longer resting in the weird, shiny tube in her hands but broken off, the trunk of the lipstick still present but the rest of it cradled in Inuyasha's hands, hovering barely above the dirty ground.
"I broke it!" Sango wailed, eyes watering immediately.
"S-stop! Stop it!" Inuyasha hissed, "Stop crying! We'll fix it!"
"How?!"
He grabbed the tube from her, lowering the tab on the bottom and dropped the tower back in. "Ta…da…?"
"Ugh, I'm not good at this girl stuff," Sango whined, her eyes shifting back to the well.
"Who the fuck cares?" Inuyasha exclaimed, rolling his eyes. "You're an amazing fighter and you're strong. That's more fucking important."
Sango sniffled lightly, pulling her gaze off of the well and at her friend again. "But Miroku-"
"What about Miroku?" He asked, almost offended.
"He-he hasn't…" a heat burned underneath her cheeks, causing her to blush a color far redder than the rouge.
"Well?! Out with it!"
"He hasn't touched me in weeks!" She hissed, a hand coming up, pressing against her lips in a measure to self-silence as she took a step back away from Inuyasha and her embarrassed gaze shifted to the ground.
Inuyasha stood, stiff as a board, blinking rapidly as if that statement had genuinely broken his brain. "Um…"
"I'm sorry! I-I didn't mean to say that! I just… see! This is why I need a girl!"
"That is what you and Kagome talked about?!"
Sango pursed her lips and took another step back. She was digging a deeper hole for herself and she knew it. "Not often… but… sometimes…"
A clawed hand came up and she watched as Inuyasha pinched the bridge of his nose, eyes forced shut. He was thinking… though with the deep frown and the way his brows were pulled together Sango wasn't sure she wanted him to really thinkanymore.
"I-I'm worried he… that he doesn't want to be with me… anymore…"
"Don't worry about that," Inuyasha murmured, his voice far gentler than it had been in weeks. "Come on, he's probably worried about where you are."
Sango nodded, shoving the rouge back in her pocket. She turned one more time to face the well before walking back to the village with Inuyasha next to her. "Thanks," she mumbled shyly as they approached the hut that was quickly becoming known around town as her and Miroku's residence.
"Don't mention it," he replied.
"You should stay over tonight…" Sango suggested, looking up at him. "It is getting colder."
"Sango-"
"Please?" She murmured, a hard resolve breaking through and a hand gently coming to rest on his forearm. "I miss youtoo, you know."
Inuyasha paused abruptly on the beaten path next to her, his head shaking from side to side in small motions as he sighed loudly. Sango waited next to him. She loved Kagome, she did, but Inuyasha was family too and she didn't want to "lose" him either. As it was, it didn't look like he was eating or sleeping nearly enough.
"Fine," he ground out.
"Go talk to her and I'll have dinner ready for you when you get back," she whispered softly and watching his gaze fall to the ground. He nodded in silent acceptance and she removed her hand. "I mean it," Sango stated firmly. "If you're not back here for dinner I will come get you and I'll bring my scent beads if I have to."
"Yeah, yeah," he groaned, rolling his eyes before darting off.
"You need to figure out something soon," Inuyasha stated a few days later in the village with Miroku. Sango was a few stalls down, speaking to a merchant about different ingredients she could use to refill and remake some of her poisons and other concoctions that she used for demon slaying, while Inuyasha stood next to Miroku, who was looking at dumb over-priced and useless trinkets.
"Why is that?" Miroku inquired, lifting up a particularly ridiculous and unnecessary trinket and showing it to Inuyasha.
His frown intensified, amber gaze never so much as dipping to inspect the thing Miroku was trying to show him. "Because she doesn't think you want to marry her anymore."
"What?! How do you know this?!" Miroku exclaimed, immediately placing the trinket back down and ushering Inuyasha into a more secluded space to speak.
"She told me."
"When?!"
"When I found her at the well!"
"At the well?! What is happening?! She doesn't go to the well anymore!" Miroku muttered in a rushed and nervous manner, a hand running through his bangs while he briefly looked back over at where Sango was standing, still engrossed in her conversation with the merchant.
Inuyasha rolled his eyes, "I found her asleep on the well earlier this week."
"Fuck," Miroku murmured, before sighing loudly. "I knew she was upset, I didn't-I didn't realize-"
"Relax, we got that covered." Inuyasha replied impatiently. "She doesn't think you're interested in her so just fucking ask or do your lecher thing and put us all out of our misery."
"I need your help," Miroku replied, stepping toward Inuyasha, keeping his gaze level and grinning like a kid who just discovered the wonders of a tree fort.
"No…. no…" Inuyasha whined, backing away from him. "This is between you and Sango-"
"You already butted in!" Miroku reasoned, smiling and taking a step forward for every back step Inuyasha took. "You're butting in now! Plus… you said you would help me."
"Miroku!"
"Don't make me get sappy, Inuyasha… I would really like my brother to help me with this…"
"Stop. Just… stop! I'll help… I'll help," he sneered acquiescing, shaking his head in disbelief that these two idiots were roping him into all their crap and looking back at Miroku like the man had smallpox and was seconds from giving it to him.
Miroku grinned brightly back at Inuyasha, completely unbothered.
"I hope she says no," the half-demon commented sarcastically.
"Oh stop being a sour puss and meet me at the well this evening before sun down. Sango will be with Kaede and we need to go over some details," Miroku instructed.
He groaned loudly but didn't protest any further. This wasn't a battle he was going to win. More importantly though, it was a battle he was willing to lose.