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

Chemistry

Finals loomed large, and Kohaku watched with increasing concern as his sister buried herself in her studies. There were only a few days left before the year-end reckoning—three written exams, one practical, and the due date for a lengthy research project. The stress is definitely getting to her. These days, Sango barely glanced at him over the top of her laptop screen, and conversations had dwindled to little more than distracted greetings and mumbled formulas.

"I already knew your sister took her classes seriously, but that's over the top," Shippo remarked. He and Kohaku had their heads together as they watched Sango stacking containers of coffee creamer.

"She has been a little distracted," Kohaku allowed. At Shippo's flat stare, he amended, "Okay... a lot distracted. I'm pretty sure she's constructing a molecular model."

"Out of coffee creamer and sugar packets?" the kitsune asked dubiously.

"Uh-huh," her brother confirmed. "Can you hear what she's mumbling?"

"Oh, I can hear her fine, but I have no clue what she's saying," confessed the kitsune. "I'm a history major, and she's spouting pure science. It might as well be Greek... though I think I caught some Latin."

"History major?"

Shippo shrugged in an embarrassed way. "It's kind of a cushy program for youkai, given our lifespans, but it's the family business... or used to be. Sesshoumaru said he can hook me up with a museum after I've maxed out the university's courses."

"Are you a freshman?" Kohaku asked curiously.

"Not exactly. The system is different for youkai, so I've been a student here for eight years already," the kitsune explained. "Since we have the luxury of time, we're expected to attain greater mastery than our human counterparts. I'll be slaving away here for a couple more decades before they've decided I have enough facts packed into my brain."

"Whoa," the teen remarked, eyes wide. A customer interrupted their discussion, but once Shippo had passed along the drink order to Inuyasha, Kohaku said, "You know... Sango's in the family business, too. Sorta."

"Oh, yeah?"

"Yeah... I think that's why she's so serious. She's following in Dad's footsteps."

"Your father's a scientist?"

"Was," Kohaku quietly corrected. "He was a chemist... specialized in youkai poisons and antidotes."

Shippo frowned. "But... you'd never seen a demon before coming here?"

The teen shrugged. "The closest we ever came to a youkai were the vials in Dad's lab, and strictly speaking, that was off limits. Sango spent a lot of time in there, though. She and Dad were close, and he taught her a bunch of stuff." He cast a pensive look in his sister's direction and said, "Sis always wanted to be just like him... make him proud, you know?"

"I can understand that," his new friend replied, sympathy shining in emerald eyes.

"Now that Dad's... gone, she's pushing herself even harder. Instead of following in his footsteps, she's trying to fill his shoes."

"Maybe it's because she's the oldest," Inuyasha interjected gruffly. Kohaku turned in surprise when the hanyou dropped a hand on his shoulder. "Sesshoumaru's kinda like that... always biting off more than anyone should try to chew. It's too bad for him that our old man had hella big feet. Sounds like yours did, too."

Kohaku's voice cracked when he bashfully answered, "He was the best."

The manager watched Sango with keen eyes as she wandered away from her construct to swipe at a table in a desultory fashion. "She'd not doing herself any favors by wearing herself out. Normally, I'd let my brother step in because nobody's crazy enough to cross that bastard, but he's not due back until this coming weekend. We're on our own."

"You think we should do something?" Kohaku asked uncertainly. "After next week, finals will be over."

"Yeah, we're gonna have to step in," Inuyasha replied. "If she keeps this up, your sister'll be too sick to take her last couple tests."

"She's sick?"

"No... not yet," the hanyou quickly assured. "But she needs to ease back, and it's our job to tell her so. Verbally if necessary."

Shippo snickered, Kohaku blinked, and Inuyasha said, "I'm willing to try something drastic... provided it's okay with you."

"Uhh... what did you have in mind?" the teen asked uncertainly.

"Miroku."

Miroku arrived in plenty of time to cover the evening shift, fully braced for a bit of teasing over his newfound punctuality. Timely arrivals had never been his strong point, but the prospect of seeing Sango each day had a way of hurrying his steps towards the coffee shop. I should not be ridiculed for succumbing to such a positive influence, he decided as he used his key to let himself into the back room.

Inuyasha did corner him, but it wasn't for any good-natured ribbing. "Look at her," he demanded, gesturing towards the corner booth where Sango was entrenched.

"Mm-hmmm..." he hummed approvingly, managing to convey several levels of meaning without a single word.

"Tch!" The hanyou flicked his forehead and growled, "Look with your eyes, not with your rose-colored plans for her future happiness." Miroku's wounded expression was met with an impatient grimace, and Inuyasha pointed insistently towards Sango. "I'm serious, you besotted idiot."

Miroku frowned at his best friend, then did as he was told. It didn't take long to see what Inuyasha meant. She looks pale... tense. Sango scanned the pages of a thick textbook with a grim intensity that looked almost painful. There were smudges of weariness under her eyes, and a small crease was etched between her eyebrows. Miroku sighed, "She's wearing herself out."

"Her brother wants you to do something about it," Inuyasha continued.

"Me?" he asked, shooting a look towards Kohaku. The teen had claimed his usual seat on the bench opposite his sister, and though he was flipping idly through the book that was propped against his upraised knee, he wasn't focusing. Kohaku glanced up, dark eyes hopeful as their eyes met, and Miroku's chest swelled. Has he already accepted me as a match for his sister? To request my assistance where Sango is concerned... surely that's a good sign!

Inuyasha shrugged and remarked, "I may have volunteered your services."

Ah... so much for that theory.

"And we have a plan," the hanyou finished.

Miroku nodded amiably. "Let's hear it."

"Right... at nine o'clock, you're going to go on break."

"Fair enough."

"You're taking her with you," Inuyasha directed, jerking his thumb towards Sango. "And you're going to talk her into going to bed."

Miroku's jaw worked for several moments, then he closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Could you rephrase that in a way that makes sense," he begged. "Because you cannot possibly be asking what I wish you were asking."

The hanyou rolled his eyes and said, "That girl is staggering on the edge of exhaustion, and she's too stubborn to listen to sense. She might respond better to nonsense."

"Is that what you think of my charms?" Miroku asked lightly, forgoing the usual theatrics for once. "It's not that I'm opposed to the idea, but Sango may be."

"She's about to crack under the pressure she's putting on herself," Inuyasha asserted. "Shippo agrees, and his nose is even better than mine. I took her off caffeine a few hours ago because she needs to sleep... but it's up to you to get her to call it a night."

"Ah, and how am I supposed to do that?"

Inuyasha tugged at an ear. "We thought we'd leave that part up to you."

"That's your plan?" he asked bemusedly.

"Pretty much," the hanyou shrugged.

Miroku hummed thoughtfully, then nodded. "I'll just have to improvise."

When Miroku's scheduled break rolled around, Inuyasha said, "Once you get her out the door, I'll give you fifteen minutes. I'm keeping an ear out, and the kid is ready to back you up."

"Can I tuck her in personally?" he asked hopefully, untying his apron and tossing it onto the back counter.

The hanyou snorted. "Only if she asks you to."

"Ah... that would be no, then." With a casual wave, he sauntered over to the corner booth where 'study hall' was in session. Kohaku dropped his feet to the floor and slid over to make room for Miroku on his side of the booth, and he winked conspiratorially at the teen before giving his full attention to Sango.

She did an admirable job of ignoring him for a couple of minutes, but she finally reached the end of a section and glanced up. "You're out of bounds," she commented.

"You know Inuyasha... he bends the rules for me every once in a while," he replied amiably. Her eyes drifted back towards her book, and he quickly interjected, "Say, Sango?" When she looked back up, he smiled. "I'm on break right now, and you could use a break, too. Come with me."

After a moment, she asked, "Where?"

"Just outside for a breath of fresh air," he replied breezily. "You can look at the stars for a while instead of all those formulas."

She hesitated, but Kohaku backed him up. "Go ahead, Sis. I'll watch your stuff for you."

"I suppose," she sighed.

Miroku stood, turned his back, stuck his hands in his pockets, and strolled slowly towards the front door... willing Sango to follow his lead. When he pushed through to the jangling of the bell, he was delighted to find the young woman right behind him. Reassured, he continued on down the sidewalk, eyes turned skyward. She fell in step beside him as he crossed the street, aiming for the tiny pocket-sized park that would keep them in view of the coffee shop. Several sprawling dogwood trees overhung a few old-fashioned lamp posts and benches. "Founder's Park?" Sango asked as they passed a bronze plaque.

"Not terribly inventive... but like the rest of the campus, it's simple to recall and easy to navigate."

"I guess the founders were good planners," she remarked offhandedly.

Miroku chuckled and replied, "Founder, and yes, his reputation precedes him in many fields—academic, philanthropic, scientific, economic, and most recently, culinary."

Sango drew to a halt in a pool of lamplight. "Wait... wait, wait, wait. What?"

He broke into a grin. "You didn't know?" he asked teasingly.

"Are you saying that... Sesshoumaru...?"

"There's a portrait of him hanging in one of those pokey little alcoves in the library; I'll show it to you sometime if you want."

Amazement and chagrin mingled on Sango's face, and Miroku patted himself on the back. All thoughts of finals have been chased away, and she's looking much more relaxed. He admired the woman's determination and dedication, but the intensity of her focus worried him. Whenever he'd lost himself in academia, his family had dragged him back to reality. She doesn't have a pack of wolves nipping at her heels to make sure she's eating right and sleeping enough, but she's not alone either.

Sango sighed and looked towards Founder's Coffee Shop. Only ten minutes had passed, and already her mind was grinding back into high gear. Oh, no you don't, my dear. Her eyes snapped to his face when he took her hand in his. "Sango," he gently chided. "Stop thinking about chemistry."

She tugged, but he didn't let go... and she relented. "The test is in a couple days; I want to be ready," she explained, weariness taking the edge off her retort.

"You know this stuff," he soothed, drawing her closer. "When the time comes, you'll be a natural."

Her brows drew together. "Chemistry doesn't just happen... I have to study!"

Pulling her into a loose embrace, he murmured, "You don't have to force it... everything will work out." For a precious half-minute, Sango leaned into him, taking comfort from his words and his warmth. "That's the way," he praised, resting his chin atop her head. "Relax... just let it happen."

"Miroku," she inquired, some sharpness back in her tone. "Are you talking about school?"

He hummed, then answered, "I'm talking about chemistry."

"Why?" she asked.

"Why what?"

"Why are you so... persistent?"

"Ah," he replied. "Instinct?"

"Miroku, you're not a wolf."

"I know that, Sango," he replied patiently. "But humans have instincts, too. Perhaps I'm just a little more attuned to them than most people?"

"I don't understand why you've fixated on me," she grumbled. "I've done nothing to encourage you."

"I don't need a reason to fall in love," he countered. After a breathless pause, he inquired, "Do you? If so, I'll give you as many as I can think of."

Letting those instincts lead the way, Miroku tilted her face and pressed his lips to hers. She stiffened, her hands braced against the starched white shirt that was part of their work uniform, but she didn't push him away. A slow brush, another gentle press, and he smoothed his thumb across her cheekbone. Every caress invited a response, and every second he didn't receive one added fuel to his fears. Please, don't refuse me, he coaxed with each soft kiss. Please, let me in, he begged with a tiny flick of his tongue. And just as he was about to pull back with apologies, she yielded, sighing against his mouth and returning his kiss.

His heart leapt... soared... and then crashed back to reality. "Oi! Time's up, Miroku!" hollered the hanyou from across the street. "Get your butt back behind the counter!"

Giving Sango a smile that he hoped communicated some fraction of his happiness, Miroku cheerfully sang out, "Coming!" He'd have liked to steal one last kiss, but the moment had passed, and Sango was pulling away. "My break's over," he sighed.

"I heard," she mumbled, cheeks aflame.

He couldn't help preening a little over the flustered state which was entirely his doing... right down to the wobble in her knees. "Shall we?" he invited, tucking her arm through his and leading her towards the crosswalk.

By the time Sango managed a belated, "I... suppose," they were halfway across the street.

Kohaku was waiting on the corner, weighed down by Sango's bag and books. "Hey," he greeted.

"It's time to say 'good night', my dear," Miroku announced. "You're going to go up to bed now."

"C'mon, Sis. You're sleeping in my room tonight. Inuyasha said it was okay, and I'll take the couch."

"But... I have studying..."

"...which can wait," Miroku firmly finished. "Listen to your family, Sango."

"It's still early," she protested.

"And an early night is exactly what you need." Lowering his voice for her ears only, he added, "You have no excuse to dawdle; you've already had your goodnight kiss. Unless... shall I tuck you in as well?"

"No, thank you," she countered, moving to her brother's side.

Kohaku offered her the key to Inuyasha's apartment, and she accepted it... and their demands. Before turning to go, she met Miroku's eyes and said, "Maybe you're right... about chemistry."

"Yes?"

"Yes," she replied seriously. "It can wait." And with a secret smile teasing at the corners of the mouth he'd just kissed, she turned on her heel and walked away, her brother hurrying to keep up.

That... little... minx! If I were a wolf, she'd find herself pounced for that. Eyes glinting, he called after her, "You're talking about school... right, Sango?"

"Good night!" she called, giving the set of keys a farewell jangle before disappearing around the corner.

End Note: Posted on November 17, 2009. 2,567 words.