It was time, Sango decided.
She was done with Miroku's behavior, and thanks to Kagome's generous trips to her time's 'Libraries' and downloaded pee-dee-eff files on her computer-scroll, Sango had pulled together the best way to say what she felt. If it didn't get through this time she might just have to give up and kill him.
Sango tried to convince herself that she was serious with that last statement, but it was a stretch.
It was at Kaede's village that she excused herself from the group to walk and watch the sunset. Kagome, sensing the change in emotion, distracted both Shippo and InuYasha with her little brother's Pokemon cards. In fact, Kaede also wondered as to what manner of demons were depicted.
Miroku took the opportunity to 'sneak' off, slowly easing from the group and exiting the hut as Kagome had to restrain herself from laughing. Miroku found Sango waiting for him several yards away, her form a silhouette against the setting sun.
"Sango?" Miroku approached her slowly, the rings on his staff betraying his location behind her. She turned to face him, wringing her hands absently, before steeling her resolve and squaring her shoulders. Miroku gulped audibly.
"I don't want you to grab my bottom anymore. I don't like how it makes me feel." The warrior worked to stifle her rising embarrassment, and met the munk's eyes. To her surprise, he did not have a reply. His face was a mask, and Sango recognized the concentration in his lack of emotion, taking it as a cue to press on.
"In Kagome's time they call what you do 'Sexual Harassment', and it is punishable by law. Even if that wasn't the case, I am your combat partner and I deserve respect for my personhood. You act as if you care for me but if you cannot even respect my space and my body what good is your affections?" Despite her will, Sango's voice was rising, as was her passion.
"Furthermore, you have expressed explicit desire for me, and yet you flippantly dole out your proposition for children to every young maiden you see. What does this say of your desire? And even if I were a fool enough to believe you, for one second-" At this point the woman was trembling, but her eyes stayed dry of tears.
Miroku had not moved. His presence was so unwavering he could have been mistaken for a statue; that is until the taijiya spoke the words 'believe you.' As if woken from a trance, the man lunged forward, staff tossed aside as he filled his arms with his companions form.
Sango cursed the monk internally, for it was the embrace that loosened the floodgates and released hot tears from her eyes. She wanted to pull herself away, her mind thinking back to all the feminist literature and the telling signs of 'emotional manipulation'. She could not let this man make a fool of her, but she could not bring herself to struggle in his grasp.
"You have no idea how much your actions hurt me, Miroku-sama." She uttered, her voice raw with emotion and almost inaudible.
The munk held her form tighter, and several moments passed before he spoke.
"I had no idea. Sango-san, I deeply regret the harm I have done to you." He released his hold slightly, allowing only enough space so that he could look the woman he adored in her eyes. "I am sorry. How can I prove my unwavering loyalty? How can I undo the damage to your faith in me?"
At the furrowing of her brow, Miroku quickly amended, "Aside from ceasing my propositions and respecting your body. I meant to say, what more can I do?" His sheepish smile brought out a mirrored expression from Sango, and the demon slayer sniffled delicately before answering.
"Truly, monk? You would abandon your womanizing ways for me?" She was ashamed of the hope in her voice, experience telling her it was indeed too good to be true. But the tone had not gone unnoticed by the houshi, and the immediate dismay on Sango's face steeled his decision.
"Sango-san, yes. There is no woman in the world who could draw my eyes from you. You are the strongest fighter; the bravest heart. It has been my long standing error to behave in a manner that made you feel disrespected, and I pledge to labor the rest of my life to redeem myself in your eyes." Releasing her fully, Miroku move to kneel, his head bowed in reverence.
"I humbly ask your forgiveness."
Sango was awestruck, but remained cautious in her words.
"I want to believe you. You do understand what will happen if you falter." Her voice was soft, and with each word grew softer. The sadness was evident, and struck the monk like a bolt of lightning. His gaze traveled, looking everywhere but at the woman's face. Finally, he stood, and clasped both of the taijiya's hands in his own.
"I understand. There is nothing more valuable to me than your trust."
At Sango's hesitation, Miroku continued.
"Even defeating Naraku would mean nothing to me if I did not have your faith. You are my most treasured possess-" Her narrowing gaze corrected his words, "Companion. And you can be possessed by no man. It is a privilege to be allowed your company, Sango-san."
Sango scoffed, but gave a wry grin. It would take time, but the man was trying.
"Okay. I believe you. Now let's talk about appropriate touching."
Miroku beamed, and after picking up his discarded staff, offered his hand to the demon slayer. Fingers laced, he replied eagerly, "I am all ears."
In the coming weeks, Kagome made several comments to her fellow female as to the monk's rapidly evolving etiquette towards Sango, and women in general. He had traded his wandering hands for respectful affections, often offering the taijiya his hand while they walked, and would gently stroke her arm when the group sat around the campfire. His propositioning had been reeled in to sincere compliments, and nothing more.
Inuyasha once openly asked Sango how she could have cured the monk of his lecherous ways, but before she could reply, Miroku jovially supplied the answer.
"It's simple my friend. Sango-san's beautiful body is as tantalizing as ever, but I know the reward of her companionship will be made all the sweeter because she concents to it."