Disclaimer: I do hereby disclaim all rights and responsibilities for the characters in this tiny hiccup... especially for the one who's being honest. A nod of recognition is bent towards Rumiko Takahashi for her creative prowess.

Long Term

Miroku and Shippo put Kohaku through a ridiculous initiation ceremony in which he was declared Founder's Coffee Shop's very own Unpaid Lackey, with full apron rights and the potential for a future promotion to Part-Time Employee, pending Sesshoumaru's approval. They dubbed him with a broom handle and made him down a shot of espresso, which sent the teen into a fit of coughing.

"You're the worst," Sango declared, trying to hide her amusement as Shippo thumped her brother's back.

"At what?" Miroku asked amiably.

Her smile slowly faded, and she changed the subject. "Be honest..."

Violet eyes met hers squarely, and Miroku's brows lifted. "There is little point in lying when surrounded by sharp-nosed youkai."

"Oh... I suppose so," she responded, somewhat taken aback by the notion.

"What truth would you like to hear?" he prodded, unobtrusively moving closer.

When she shook free of her thoughts and focused on him again, Miroku was right beside her, one arm resting casually on the counter behind her. Holding her ground, she peered into his face and softly demanded, "Are you being nice to my brother just to get to me?"

A slow, pleased smile quirked Miroku's lips, and he stooped to murmur into her ear. "My dear Sango, you may rest at ease."

As warm breath tickled the curling tendril of hair next to her ear, she edged away and mumbled, "Good."

"Mm-hmm," he agreed, but he didn't let the subject drop. "I have you to thank for the opportunity to get to know Kohaku, but he's not a means to my ends. He's simply part of the happy ending I foresee."

"About that..." Sango began uncomfortably.

Inuyasha interrupted, sharply calling out, "Incoming!"

As they took up positions, Miroku frowned at the clock and mused aloud, "What's Kouga's doing over here in the middle of the afternoon?"

The wolf youkai's arrival lacked its usual magnitude; only the stack of used newspapers right next to the door were scattered. The napkins on the counter barely fluttered. Miroku hummed, and Sango glanced up at him. "What is it?" she whispered.

Shippo and Kohaku scrambled to pick up the drifting sections of newsprint, and Inuyasha tossed a wave at the bakery owner. "I'm not waiting on any deliveries. You here for coffee?"

The faint smile Kouga offered the hanyou had a strained quality, and Sango suddenly realized that this was the first time she'd ever seen the youkai without a smirk. "Something is wrong," she breathed nervously.

A reassuring hand settled on her shoulder. "Now, now... don't borrow trouble," Miroku gently chided. "Even he has his serious moments."

Clear blue eyes swung her way, and Kouga swaggered over to Sango's register and leaned against the countertop. "Don't you worry," he rumbled. "I'm sure everything will work out fine. Now... how about that coffee? Mutt-Face is offering, after all."

"Oi! I didn't say it was on the house!" grumbled Inuyasha, already reaching for a cup.

Miroku chuckled softly and succeeded in drawing his adopted brother's notice. "So?" he inquired.

Kouga folded his arms over his chest and looked off to the side. With a heavy sigh, he said, "I wanted to head you off before your shift ends. We have guests at the house."

"Oh?" Miroku replied nonchalantly. "Nobody mentioned anything to me this morning... though I wasn't fully awake when I left."

"He pulled an early shift today," Inuyasha jibed. "Had to be in by eleven."

The wolf-youkai snorted, and Miroku pushed for more information. "Guests? Who?"

"Dad's been working with one of the smaller packs from up in the mountains to the north of here. They're interested in strengthening ties, and plan to go about it in the usual way."

Inuyasha rounded the counter and prodded the wolf-youkai's shoulder before handing off a large cup of coffee. The hanyou looked amused. "If you mean what I think you mean, isn't that a little outdated... even for wolves?"

Kouga rolled his eyes and muttered, "Be glad you're an orphan. There is nothing worse than matchmaking parents... trust me."

Miroku gently cleared his throat and inquired, "Is that all you came to tell me?"

"Ehhh... no," Kouga admitted, sheepishly rubbing the back of his neck. "Dad's very fond of you, and he's of a mind to try to keep you around..."

"I'm not going anywhere," Miroku replied lightly.

Kouga grimaced. "Long term."

The hand on Sango's shoulder twitched, then tightened. "Oh... I see." The wolf youkai nodded emphatically, and Miroku calmly countered. "I have my own plans."

"I know that, but apparently the dialogue has been underway since winter, and Dad has been talking you up. Since you were 'raised right', the northern leader's granddaughter is willing to meet you. Tonight."

"Ah."

"Whoa," Inuyasha interjected. "That's... uh... really something."

Sango frowned at the hanyou and said, "I don't understand. What are you guys talking about?"

"Well... there's this... phenomenon..." Kouga began awkwardly, blushing like a schoolboy.

Miroku's took hold of Sango's other shoulder and turned her enough that he could meet her gaze. In a quieter version of his 'lecture voice', he explained, "It's not something that's spoken of much these days, but when a youkai takes a human mate, the human's lifespan is extended to match that of their youkai partner."

"Before my parents died, my mother was nearly two hundred," Inuyasha supplied.

"That's amazing!" she murmured.

"Matches between the species are rare, in part because of human ambition," Miroku said with a sad smile. "In the past, too many humans saw a demon as nothing more than the key to eternal youth."

"Oh..." Sango breathed. And then everything clicked into place. She couldn't quite bring herself to ask Miroku directly, so she turned to Kouga instead. With careful neutrality, she inquired, "Is that what you meant? Your father wants Miroku to marry a youkai?"

Kouga fidgeted under her steady gaze. "Usually, we'd say 'mate', but that's the general idea."

"He actually found a she-wolf who'd be willing to mate a human... sight unseen?" Miroku asked in disbelief.

"That's the way it sounds."

"Dad still misses my grandfather, and my father's death was also a blow... but I never would have expected him to go to such lengths in order to circumvent the natural order of things where I'm concerned." With a thoughtful expression, Miroku added, "I know he likes his little surprises, but it would have been better if he'd conferred with me on such a personal matter."

"I wouldn't put it half so politely." Kouga made an impatient gesture and continued, "Your silver tongue may not do you any good this time. You know how Dad can get when there's another alpha in the house; he won't appreciate having his authority questioned in front of guests."

"I won't need to contradict him if he refrains from speaking on my behalf," Miroku said with a shrug.

Kouga's eyes were troubled. "At this stage, I'm not sure he'll accept refusal. I don't know what he's promised, but promises were made. He'll honor them... no matter what."

The front door jangled as a group of college students filed in, and Inuyasha pushed back through the counter's gate to start another pot of coffee. "Miroku, your shift is just about over. Why don't you cut out early; I can handle things here," he offered.

"Thanks," Miroku agreed, moving purposefully towards the back room, untying his apron as he went. "I need to find out the nature of his agreement... preferably before he springs it on me at dinner."

With an exchange of gestures, Kouga gained permission from Inuyasha to follow Miroku out the back door, while Sango forced herself to greet the influx of customers with a smile. By the time she'd passed all the drink orders along to Inuyasha, the brothers were long gone, but their conversation kept replaying through her mind. An alliance between youkai wolf packs? An arranged marriage? The chance to live for decades, even centuries beyond a normal human's lifespan? Sango could only stare blankly at the cash register's glowing display. I should be happy for him... and for his family.

"Sis?" Kohaku stood across the counter from her, an untidy stack of newspaper in hand. His wide, brown eyes reflected concern as he murmured, "Why are you sad?"

Sango blinked and quickly pulled herself together, giving her brother what she hoped was a reassuring smile. "Sorry... I was just distracted for a minute."

The front bell announced another customer, and Kohaku eased out of the way so they could order. For a moment, Sango thought their exceptionally beautiful new customer was a kitsune. Vivid red hair tumbled past her shoulders, and the eyes that roved the shop were a brilliant green; however, a single tail lashed irritably behind her, and it lacked a snowy tip. "May I help you?" Keen eyes skimmed her face and rested for an instant on her name tag; Sango's back went up when the petite youkai very obviously dismissed her.

"There's a Mr. Miroku Murasaki working here, yes?" she asked courteously, though her words were directed past Sango's shoulder.

Inuyasha strode over and took a stand behind his perturbed employee. "That's right," he replied gruffly. "But his shift ended a while back."

The redheads lips pursed into a pretty pout, and she murmured a vague, "Thank you," before excusing herself.

Once the female youkai was out the door, Inuyasha sighed. "Oi... don't take offense, Sango. I've seen the behavior before, and she wasn't trying to snub you. I doubt she's had much contact with humans—just the reverse of Kohaku. She was nervous... and upset... and... a wolf-youkai."

Sango turned to her boss with startled eyes. "Do you think she's the one...?"

Inuyasha nodded slowly. "Yeah, I do."

A barely-acknowledged, fragile hope shattered, and Sango cursed the fact that she'd ever let it—and him—past her defenses.

End Note: This chapter is 1,642 words and was posted on September 8, 2009.