Disclaimer: I do hereby disclaim all rights and responsibilities for the characters in this continuation from last time… especially for the one whose heart is leaping. A nod of recognition is bent towards Rumiko Takahashi for her creative prowess.

What Big Eyes You Have

Miroku knew it would have been kinder to warn Sango, but when it came right down to it, he wanted to know what she really thought of his 'family'. Since she hadn't been prepared for… well, for this… her reaction was an honest one. The young woman stood very still, peering with wide eyes at the five wolf-youkai who hemmed her in, noses twitching and tails swishing with an almost predatory curiosity. Clearing his throat, Miroku said, "You remember Kouga? He's the manager here."

Sango's gaze immediately veered from Hakkaku's wild-looking silvery spikes to the smirking leader of the pack. "Hello, again," she said politely.

Then, to Miroku's great satisfaction, she simply looked past the welcoming committee to take in Peeping Tom's décor. Immaculate white countertops and tile, gleaming glass-fronted cases, and unadorned walls that had been painted an inviting shade of blue that the whole pack suspected Kouga had chosen because it brought out his eyes. The bakery wasn't anything fancy, but that wasn't the important thing.

At that moment, Sango took a deep breath and exhaled with a smile. "Something smells good."

Miroku could have kissed her for choosing the best possible thing to say. Kouga's tail settled into a self-satisfied wag, Ginta straightened and beamed, and Hakkaku actually blushed. Relaxing a little, Miroku nodded towards the kitchen and prompted, "Inuyasha said you have an order for Founder's?"

"Sure," Kouga replied with twinkling eyes. "But what's the hurry?"

"We haven't been introduced," chided the wolf-youkai with cropped hair. He presented himself to Sango and extended his hand. "I'm Ginta."

Sango face brightened with recognition. "Shippo said I should bring back some of your cookies!"

Miroku watched in amusement as she effortlessly secured a place in his serious-minded packmate's affections. Ginta led Sango towards the bakery case where long rows of over-sized cookies were on display, and Kouga dropped an arm around Miroku's shoulders. "Glad to see she's not the skittish type; she was surprised, but not scared," he murmured conspiratorially. "Things must be getting serious if you two are bathing together!"

Giving his adopted brother's arm a firm shove, Miroku said, "Same brand, different bottle."

Hakkaku edged closer and asked, "Even if they're not to the grooming stage, isn't it a little strange that there's barely any trace of Miroku's scent on his intended mate?"

Miroku shot a harried look in Sango's direction, desperately hoping she hadn't overheard. "Would you keep it down?" he whispered furtively.

"Maybe our boy's courtship isn't progressing smoothly," Kouga remarked with a fanged grin. "According to Mutt-face, she's succeeded in keeping Miroku at arm's length."

"No small feat." Hakkaku cocked his head and considered Sango with new respect, then added, "Although… she doesn't seem to be having any trouble with Ginta's attentiveness."

What? Miroku quickly glanced over, and sure enough, Ginta's hand rested lightly against Sango's back as he pointed out his fresh-baked goodies. That would have earned me an elbow to the ribs at the very least; she's not even tensing up!

"Interesting!" Kouga drawled. "She's particular… in particular."

"Let's test that theory," the mohawk-crested youkai said with an impish grin. He sidled over to Sango and looped his arm through hers as he introduced himself. "Hey, little sister! I'm Hakkaku!"

"It's nice to meet you, and… my name's Sango," she corrected.

"I know!" Hakkaku cheerfully replied, turning to wink at a blank-faced Miroku.

Kouga chuckled. "Is she this comfortable with Mutt-face and his uppity brother?"

"More or less," Miroku admitted.

"So, she's singled you out?" Kouga prodded.

"Looks like it."

"That's not all bad," the blue-eyed wolf opined.

"How do you figure?" Miroku sighed.

Kouga reached across and tousled the young man's hair. "Well, little brother… it means she's singled you out!"

Sango turned then and arched her brows at Miroku, asking, "Do you know Shippo's favorite?"

"I've never seen him turn down anything," he replied with an amiable shrug. "You can't go wrong."

"I guess it's… eenie, meenie, miney, mo?"

"I think a taste test in order!" announced Kouga, who began barking out orders. "Hakkaku, prepare a table for our guest. Ginta, pull a selection of your finest. Miroku, put your harebrained apprenticeship to good use and pour us some coffee. And you lot… c'mere," he finished, waving over the two who'd been hanging back.

Sango blinked in surprise when Kouga collared the adolescents, giving them a playful shake before turning them loose. The boys, who were probably around Shippo's age, bore a passing resemblance to Ginta… and a striking resemblance to each other. "Let's see now," Kouga said, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "You two are Ginta's oldest sister's grandchildren… or was it Hakkaku's second cousin's whelps?"

"Both, Uncle," they answered in unison, rolling their eyes.

Sango giggled and offered a warm, "Hello."

The pair fidgeted and grinned, and Kouga mussed up their hair, each in turn. "This one's Kurou, and this one's Jurou. Once they're trained up a bit, we'll open another branch." Turning his attention to the twosome, who'd puffed up considerably at the mention of their prospects, he said, "Kurou, watch the ovens; Jurou, take the register. The rest of us are going on a short break, so look smart."

"Yessir," they chorused.

"Are they twins?" Sango whispered as Kouga whisked her towards a small table in the back corner. "How do you tell them apart?"

Kouga tapped his nose meaningfully, then shooed her towards a stool. As she took a perch, Sango noticed that all the tables had backless seats tucked under them. "Are all the chairs like this because it's easier for you?" she inquired, gesturing uncertainly.

The blue-eyed wolf gave her a puzzled look, then broke into a smile. "You're right! Peeping Tom's is a youkai establishment, so we boast tail-friendly seating!"

Hakkaku darted back and forth, ferrying sugar, creamer, and napkins from the front counter, and Ginta arrived with an entire platter of cookies. "Here, little sister," Hakkaku said as he placed a bottle of milk in front of her. "Miroku says you're not much of a coffee-drinker."

"Thank you," she said with a surprised glance in her coworker's direction. "And… you can call me Sango."

"I know!" Hakkaku replied glibly.

Ginta and Hakkaku claimed seats on either side of her, crowding close to make room for Kouga and Miroku. No one seemed to mind jostling elbows with their neighbor, so she focused on the cookies and was soon swooning over a sinfully delicious concoction involving chocolate, nuts, and toffee bits. "So… Miroku grew up with you guys?" she asked between bites.

"Yep!" Kouga beamed. "My father took him in when he was almost two."

"You weren't kids together?" she asked, and almost immediately corrected herself. "Oh, no… of course you weren't. The aging difference."

"We haven't changed much since Miroku was a baby," Ginta confirmed.

"Our little tail-less pup!" Hakkaku said with a nostalgic sigh.

"He had to grow his own!" Kouga teased, giving Miroku's ponytail an affectionate tug. The man batted ineffectually at his older brother's hand, but didn't protest the 'rough' treatment any more than the twins had earlier. The blue-eyed wolf added, "It's our first time raising a human. I think we did pretty good!"

Over the next forty-five minutes, Miroku endured several embarrassing stories about his childhood and watched his packmates cozy up to Sango in a way he couldn't. However, he also heard Sango's laugh again, and he was relieved to see her accepted… and accepting. Now, if only she'd accept me.

When Inuyasha phoned to see what was taking so long, Kurou and Jurou slid several white bakery boxes onto the counter, and their 'short break' came to a reluctant end. Ginta hurried Sango over to the bakery case to pick out Shippo's cookies, and Hakkaku helped Miroku carry the boxes to the car. "I like her, little brother," the silver-haired youkai stated simply.

"I do, too."

"May her heart leap after yours," Hakkaku shyly offered.

Startled to hear the wolvish blessing applied to him, Miroku gave his packmate a lopsided smile and mumbled, "Thanks."

Sango appeared with two bags of cookies and a bemused expression, and Miroku opened the car door for her. They were waved away, and for a few blocks, nothing was said. Finally, Sango asked, "Is it always like that?"

"Pretty much." She lapsed into silence again, simply staring out the passenger side window, and Miroku didn't need his pack's keen senses to pick up on her melancholy mood. "I hope Inuyasha doesn't chew us out for taking so long," he offered lightly.

"Uh-huh," she said distractedly.

"Shippo won't mind having to cover for us; he works for cookies."

"Uh-hmm."

Miroku's violet eyes sparkled, but his tone remained casual as he said, "If you'll agree to bear my children, Hakkaku offered to help raise them. He misses having a baby to dote on."

"Mm-hmm," she murmured vaguely.

"I'm so glad you agree!"

She snapped to attention, asking, "What was that?"

He only chuckled and changed the subject. "Is something on your mind?"

"No… well, yes… I just miss…" Sango fumbled. Then, with a wistful smile that pierced his heart, she admitted, "I'm a little jealous of your family."

"I'll share," he offered. She stared at him as if he was crazy, and Miroku could see the refusal in her dark eyes, but he chose to ignore it. Giving his attention to the road, he asked, "Aren't you close to your family?"

"We were close."

"What happened?" he asked, turning onto University.

"There was an accident," she said, her voice tight.

"Ah," he sighed, understanding dawning. "Are you alone?"

"I have a brother, but he lives so far away. I'll wonder if he's lonely, too."

Miroku put the car in park in the lot behind Founder's and turned to face her. "Ask him," he said with all the bluntness of his clan.

Sango blinked, then smiled faintly. "I will."

She moved to open the car door, but Miroku caught her hand and said, "Please give my invitation some thought; a wolf doesn't make such offers lightly."

"You're not a wolf, Miroku," she flatly pointed out.

"Pack member, then," he conceded, hoping she understood even a little what he was holding out to her.

She gave his hand a quick squeeze before firmly but gently withdrawing her own. "It is a tempting offer."

Suspicious of the sly smile playing about her lips, Miroku asked, "Which part tempts you, my dear Sango?"

With one foot already out of the car, she held up the bag she'd brought for Shippo and sweetly answered, "Ginta's cookies!"

Miroku groaned, and Sango sashayed to the back door of the coffee shop and knocked. He folded his arms over the steering wheel and rested his chin atop them, watching the lovely, lonely young woman who guarded her heart so fiercely. "May your heart leap after mine," he prayed.

End Notes: Because every story in fandom seems to be plagued by twins, I give you my token set: Kurou ("ninth son") and Jurou ("tenth son"). Posted later than usual, but still on a Monday—July 13, 2009 (PDT). 1,808 words.