(A/N: alright my faithful (or not so faithful) reviewers, here's the lowdown. School is a lot more demanding than last year, and for that reason I'm pretty swamped. The next chapters for almost all my stories are like half-written, and if you're reading Old Or New? then I'll explain everything in that author's note, although be prepared, it's gonna be a long one. Now, back to this story. I know I said it's gonna be like five chapters, I lied. This is technically the last chapter, although there will be an epilogue. And I has NO idea when I'll get around to typing that, so just bare with me, 'kay? Anyway, without further interruptions, the next chapter is here!! :D)
DISCLAIMER: The day I own InuYasha will be the day I stop loving anime and become a cheerleader. In other words, NEVER.
Remembering Sunday
Corrections
"Wait Miroku!" Kagome called after him. He stopped, but kept his back toward her with his head bowed. "I know where she is! I know where you can find her! You...you need to go after her!"
"Why?" his voice cracked slightly. "She...she doesn't want to see me..."
"Because she thinks you're a lying cheating bastard and doesn't know what really happened!" InuYasha answered for her. He then grabbed the ring from his girlfriend's hand and bent down to put it back into the little black box, then he held it out to his friend. "Now, if you really loved her, you'd go after her!"
He was silent for a moment, but he finally made his decision. He took a deep breath before speaking. "...You're...you're right InuYasha. Kagome? Please tell me...where...where is she?"
She gave him a soft smile. "She left on an airplane. Sango said that she was going back home, to visit her family. But I know that she was going to stay in a hotel for two nights, (I reserved the room for her) to you know, get her head straight." All the while she had gone over to the counter to get a pencil and paper and quickly scribbled down where Sango was. "It's only about three and a half hours on a plane, but if you want to take the bus, it'll be about eight."
He turned around to get the directions, but kept his head bowed. With a trembling hand he took both the ring and the paper. When he looked up and they were both surprised to find his eyes stinging with unshed tears. "Th-thank you..." he said before all but sprinting out the door. He hit the ground running, and he ran all the way back home, making it there in record time. Wanting to look good while asking for her forgiveness – and maybe (just maybe) her hand – he hurriedly went and took a shower, put on some nice clothes, grabbed his wallet and keys, (he forgot to lock up when he left) then decided to pack enough for about two days. Finally he pulled on a pair of shoes (matching this time) and ran back out the door. He only had about ten minutes to make to the right bus stop that's usually a thirty minute walk. Well, he wasn't exactly going to be walking, now was he?
He sprinted with ease down the sidewalk and towards his destination: the bus stop. He made it with only seconds to spare before the bus chugged to a stop. Exhausted, he collapsed in a seat, with his hand in his pocket clutching the little box that would hopefully make Sango his forever. He stared out the window, slightly damp since it was still drizzling. He let the hum of the engine slowly lull him to sleep.
Oh well...I guess there's still morning...
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He woke up with a start when the bus stopped, confused and with a crick in his neck. Massaging his tight muscles he finally remembered what had happened. He heaved a sigh, but got up and out of he bus. He wasn't there yet, that particular bus only went about halfway. From here he had to take a different bus, but it wouldn't be here for almost a half hour. He couldn't remember the last time he ate, so he went to a little coffee shop across the street from the stop. After ordering a bagel and another coffee, he sat down near the window. He had wanted to wait back outside, but it was starting to rain again, and it was for of Sango's sake that he stayed dry. Sure, four hours was a long time, but he wanted to look as presentable as possible.
"Oh, I can see now..." he mumbled to himself. That all of these clouds are following me in my desperate endeavor, to find my whoever, wherever she may be. About two minutes before the bus was supposed to come, he ran to wait at the stop, which conveniently had a little overhang so he wouldn't get wet. Right on schedule, his way of transportation arrived. He hopped on and settled into a seat near the back. It had become a habit to repeatedly check in his right pocket to see if the ring was still there. It always was, yet it did little to calm his nerves.
Finally, after all of this, he would finally ask Sango to become his wife.
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Sometime during the ride he had managed to doze off, because next thing he knew, the four hours turned into five minutes. The cricks in his muscles were worse this time, but nothing to worry about. Trying to fruitlessly smooth out the wrinkles in his dress pants and coat, he walked out into the drizzle. He kept his hand in his pocket, clutching the small velvet box as he studied the directions Kagome had given him. This was his last chance, there was no way he was about to screw it up now, not after all this. And if she still didn't forgive him...well, let's just say he'd be buying a lot of beer for the next few days...weeks.
He walked in a rushed pace down the sidewalk, determined to catch Sango before she left. Kagome had written on the paper that she would be clocking out at about one in the afternoon. When he had left his apartment, it was nearing three-thirty in the morning. Count in that eight hour bus ride including all the stops, it was just a little past noon. He had to hurry if he wanted to catch her.
He had created a pattern; glance at the directions, next at his watch, then at his surroundings, and back to the directions again. The only thing that seemed to be going for him was that he got lost but once, but a quick turn around and he was back on course.
Finally, he had made it to the outside of the hotel. Slightly out of breath, but other than that unfazed, he boldly made his way inside. The secretary greeted him with an obviously feigned cheerfulness and asked if he had a reservation. He gave a her quick smile a wave before he walked over to the stairs.
"Nope, just visiting. I won't be long," he said just as the door closed. She started to protest, but he was gone before she had the chance to even utter a syllable. He jogged his way upstairs, still never taking his hand out of his pocket. It didn't take long before he reached her floor, acted like a newcomer who was obviously lost and looking like a fool, but eventually finding her door.
He tried to breathe evenly, in attempts to calm his nerves. It didn't really work, although he knocked on the door anyway. He heard some scuttling and soft footsteps walk toward the door. At a last minute thought, he stepped sideways so that he couldn't be seen if she looked through the peephole. Soon enough, her beautiful head popped out the doorway and looked around. It didn't take long before she saw him.
"Hel–" her eyes nearly popped out of her head. "M-Miroku?! W-what are you doing here?!"
"Sango, please, we need to talk," he tried to act calm and collected.
"Talk?!" her surprised melted away into anger and hurt. "Your little whore did enough talking for the both of us!" He cringed at the way she laced her words with venom.
"Wait – Sango! You've got it all wrong!" he tried to reason with her. All he got was her slamming the door in his face – well, tried to, but he caught it just in time. "Just let me explain, that's all I want! Lend me five minutes of your time!"
"Why should I listen to you?!" she spat out as he forced himself in, which reminded him briefly of a creepy stalker guy who was trying to rape a woman; a total opposite of his attentions. (He probably get his ass kicked anyway...she was definitely the better fighter.)
"You're right; why should you listen to me?" he repeated. Her glare was trying to bury him six feet under, and if looks could kill, it would have. Twice. "Just – just let me talk for five minutes, you don't even have to listen! And, when I'm done, if you still want me gone, I'll leave, alright?" he pleaded with all the puppy-eyed cuteness he could muster.
Her eyes narrowed, and her arms went from placed defiantly on her hips to greatly irritated crossed over her chest. "How did you even find me, anyway?!" she asked suspiciously.
He sighed, grateful that she was allowing him to speak his case. "Kagome told me."
"Kagome told you?!" she asked disbelievingly. How could her best friend betray her like that?! That's because she wouldn't. "Yeah right. You're just a creepy stalker!"
"I am not!" Didn't he already say that that wasn't his intention? "Here, look at the directions she gave me," he defended himself. He doesn't stalk people! ...Much. He pulled the crumpled piece of paper out of his left pocket and handed it to her. For a split-second he believed that the velvet box wasn't in his other pocket, but a quick thrust of his hand inside and that fear was forgotten.
"This – this can't be! How could she have double-cross me like that?!" she cried. Her eyes were filling with tears, she was still emotional from the Shima incident, now that she thought that not only her love but her best friend betrayed her, it nearly killed her. Miroku acted quickly.
"Please listen to me! Kagome and InuYasha didn't do anything wrong, and if you let me explain, you'll know why!" he begged, even putting his hands up in a prayer motion.
Sango sat on the hotel bed, head in buried hands, silently crying. Miroku sighed heavily when he got no answer and sat down next to her, causing her to scoot away. He took another deep breath and started his story.
"Shima, she was right about one thing; I did stay over one night about a week and a half ago."
"I bet you had lots of fun," she remarked sarcastically. He could practically see her rolling her red-rimmed eyes behind her hands. He took a sideways glance at her, but then diverted his eyes back at the ground in front of him.
"I was using her computer," he continued. "Because I was looking for a...gift, for you."
She peeked at him from behind her fingers. "...W-what kind of gift?" she asked quietly.
He let a small smile crawl up on his lips. "A very special kind of gift, and I stayed up until early morning looking for it. But, my efforts were not in vain, because I found it. Only, I fell asleep at her desk. Heh, silly me, eh?" His grin grew a little. She sniffed and looked away.
"I...bet it's something perverted," she said, trying to remain really pissed off at him. To be honest, she just wanted to sleep. Sleep and forget that all of this ever happened. His face suddenly wilted into all seriousness before he continued.
"Sango...I know that you probably hate me right now, but..." he paused and sighed. "I wasn't going to propose to Shima, and she knew that. She was just jealous that...well..."
"Well what?" she asked, still sort of suspicious. She turned her head away. "Never mind. I don't wanna hear it."
He was looked up, slightly surprised at her answer. "But Sango–"
"Just get out!" she cried. He stood up as well as she started to walk away from him. She was heading towards the bathroom – to lock herself in, probably – so he grabbed her left hand with both of his.
"Sango, wa–"
"Why are you doing this?" she asked quietly, cutting him off for what seemed like the billionth time in the past few days. "I...moved away for a reason, you know."
He downcast his eyes and looked at their hands. "I know," he paused, letting go with his right hand to reach into his pocket and grabbed that little box. That little box that has caused so much calamity. He noticed that she stiffened when he opened it. Carefully, he pulled the ring out, shut the box, and then dropped that on the floor. He gently tugged her to face him. She covered her mouth with her hand, and her eyes welled up with more and more tears as she watched him slowly ease the ring on her left ring finger. It was a perfect fit.
"Sango. I want to give you, that's right, you this ring because I'm in love with you. Not Shima, or any other woman. I...I was going to ask you on Sunday, but you left before I even had a chance. No, that's not true; I've had plenty of chances. It's just..." he sighed. It looks like all of his efforts were in vain. "Never mind." He finally tore his eyes away from their hands and glanced up at her face. He nodded once to confirm it, then tried to turn and leave like she had asked him to, but she tightly gripped his hand so he couldn't.
"I...I feel so...so stupid. H-how could I have been so blind?" she asked before breaking out sobbing. Miroku just stood there, wanting to take her in his arms, but not wanting to make it worse. When she fell to her knees, he plopped down right in front of her.
He held his arms out, – well one arm anyway – trying to figure out something to quiet her tears. She looked up at him.
"M-Miroku..." she stuttered before she flung her arms around his neck. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry," she repeated over and over. He blinked, once, twice, before he too wrapped his arms around her, holding her flush against him. After about a minute or two, he leaned back and pulled her into his lap. She sat sideways, and only hugged him tighter. He did the same.
Her sobs finally quieted down to soft hiccups. He felt her move a little, probably wiping her eyes. "Yes." she murmured quietly.
"...Huh?" he asked, not quite getting her.
She smiled and buried her head into the fabric of his shirt. "Stupid. Of course I'll marry you."
He pulled her away enough so he could see into her eyes. "Really?!" he asked in astonishment. "You'll bare my children?! Ten, even twenty babies?!"
She giggled. "Yes."
Instead of wasting more time on useless words, he opted for a different route. Pulling her impossible closer, he closed his eyes as she did the same, moving closer and closer until their lips finally touched.
Looks like his efforts weren't in vain, after all.
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Yay!! X3 and you've probably noticed (if you're a die-hard InuYasha fan) that I took a line from Miroku's Most Dangerous Confession. Well...too bad. I couldn't help myself. And as I said before, I has no idea when the epilogue will be typed, but it WILL be typed, I promise!!
Um...if you think that Miroku, InuYasha, Sesshomaru, Kouga, and/or Bankotsu are really REALLY sexy, then you has to review!! :D
