"Lord, what fools these mortals be!"

William Shakespeare – A Mid-Summer Night's Dream

They left the cave at dawn, spending a brief moment checking on the kitsune before continuing south on the main path. Neither the monk nor the slayer spoke much, but this time the silence hanging between them was less hostile and more contemplative.

Their conversation last evening had given Sango a lot to think about. She frowned slightly. The more she learned of the coins and the summons the more uneasy she'd become about leaving her village. She couldn't shake the feeling of foreboding that had gripped spirit since encountering the possessed kitsune.

For the life of her though she couldn't understand why she felt this way. Even if there was some nefarious purpose behind the summons she would be the logical target, not her village. In fact she could see no purpose whatsoever in attacking her people. Still the nagging sensation that something had happened gnawed at her. She glanced at Miroku briefly, finding him lost in his own thoughts. She wondered what he was thinking.

Frustration clawed at her. They really needed more information. Her thoughts drifted away again and she frowned when something troubling occurred to her. The recent unrest among her people had started when Tatsuo had arrived. Tatsuo made no secret of being from the south and boasted frequently of having been the vassal to a very important Lord.

Could the Lord that Tatsuo had served been Toyotomi? He'd caused trouble for her from day one, whispering deceit and spreading what had at first seemed petty rumors. But something in his poison had worked and it has been spreading slowly and steadily through her people.

But why would Toyotomi care about undermining her authority? What purpose would such a thing serve other than to alienate her from her village?

This line of reasoning led her to another question. Would she have made this journey if she'd still been sure of her position amongst her people?

She bit her lip. The answer would most likely have been no, she would not have made the journey simply because the money was not worth the time she had to spend away from her village and her brother. Then there were her obligations to Kagome and InuYasha to consider.

Of course, this was all speculation. She had absolutely no proof that Tatsuo worked for Toyotomi and it wasn't like she was going to be able to come up with any miles away from her home. Still, if her supposition were true it threw a whole new light on this journey and confirmed that her fears were not without merit.

She looked up and noticed she'd lagged behind and did a quick little jog in order to catch up to Miroku. He gazed at her curiously.

"I've been thinking, houshi. You seem to understand part of the reason you've been summoned to Lord Toyotomi's palace, and it got me wondering what my purpose might be. I no longer believe the story presented by the vassal when he delivered my coin, not that I truly believed it in the first place. It seems too convenient."

Miroku frowned. "I confess I was thinking much the same thing. I do not like the fact that there was a hitherto unknown woman traveling with my father when he made his crossing to the southern lands. I started me wondering if perhaps she was summoned to journey with him just as you have been summoned to journey with me. It could be a coincidence, but…"

Sango's brow creased. "I don't know, Miroku. Simply because she was female and I'm female, does not seem to point to anything other than the fact that your father met a woman during his travels. We have no proof that she was summoned with him, nor do we really know anything about her."

"Actually taijiya, we do know a few things. For instance, we know that she was pretending to be a commoner."

Sango shook her head, disagreeing. "But we only have the farmer's word for it and Miroku, no offense, but twenty years is a long time. Can we really be sure his recollections of such a brief encounter are accurate?"

He smiled. "He remembered enough about my father to see the resemblance between him and I, and he remembered that my father was a monk. I believe that we can trust his impressions of my father and the woman, even though so much time has passed."

She sighed, exasperated. "Miroku, you don't know for sure that man was your father. He could simply have been a monk who looked like you. It's not like it would be the first time someone mistook you for someone else."

Miroku winced slightly at the memory. She was not so subtly reminding him of the time Hachi had decided to parade through the countryside wearing his face and bilking villagers out of their money and hospitality.

"That was an entirely different situation and besides the theory that the man was my father is not that farfetched. He was a monk, he was traveling south to Lord Toyotomi's lands, and the timeline fits."

She looked as if she was going to disagree again, but fell silent. She knew arguing with Miroku on this subject was moot. They couldn't really prove any of it and they would simply continue going round and round in circles if they kept discussing it.

She sighed. "Come on, monk. We're burning daylight." She picked up the pace forcing him to keep up with her.

The day wore on and neither spoke again until evening descended and they found themselves on the outskirts of a rather large village.

Miroku, being Miroku, wasted no time finding the inn, much to Sango's chagrin. She felt the scowl twist her face as she watched the houshi smile charmingly at the innkeeper and his beautiful wife. When she noticed the look the other woman was giving the monk her scowl deepened. She felt an immediate and completely unwanted flare of, dare she think it, jealously.

She felt her heart clench and fought down the growl that clawed at her throat.

She wasn't jealous, she told herself firmly. That would imply that she still wanted him and still cared and she knew that she couldn't afford such feelings. Not if she wanted to come through this damnable journey with her heart intact.

"My good innkeeper, I fear that you're inn is possessed by the spirit of a demon. I would be more than happy to perform an exorcism. All I would ask for in return would be the kind offer of lodgings for my companion and myself, separate of course," he added, upon catching Sango's murderous gaze.

The gullible innkeeper twisted his fingers nervously.

"My wife and I would be most grateful for your assistance monk, and I will gladly give you room and board in exchange for an exorcism. Perhaps too, you will allow me to offer you a meal as well? I admit that the thought of a demon infesting my walls has me greatly a feared and I, of course, would do anything to protect my lovely new bride."

Sango glared as the woman preened for the handsome monk and her lips twisted into a frown when she took in the form of the much older and soft-bellied innkeeper. She normally would not be so unkind, but it was apparent by the gleam of invitation in the eyes of the woman that she had not married her current husband out of any sort of great affection.

Her gaze narrowed on the houshi only to find that he was completely ignoring the woman. She blinked, suddenly confused. Usually Miroku had lecher radar when it came to women, especially women who were more than willing to spend a night in the monk's company.

"I am humbled by your generosity and thank you for the bed and the meal."

Sango caught her disbelieving snort before it could leave her throat.

Laying it on a bit thick aren't we houshi? She thought and hid her smile behind her hand. She had to bite the inside of her cheek when she caught the relieved look on the innkeeper's pudgy face. She looked again at his wife who was now pouting slightly since Miroku had not responded to her flirtations. Poor man, she thought. He was going to have a time of it being married to her.

She turned her attention back to Miroku and watched as he placed his sutras in strategic places on the outside of the inn, bowed his head, and made a motion with his right hand. She blinked suddenly and frowned.

He was using his right hand and for a moment there the air had seemed to shimmer and it had looked as if he still had his prayer beads wrapped around it. She shook her head and looked again only to see smooth, unblemished skin.

"Come; let me show you to your rooms, yes?" The innkeeper offered. Sango tore her attention away from the monk, still uneasy about what she had thought she'd seen, and nodded.

Her mind must be playing tricks on her.

Miroku knew he'd had too much sake and his head buzzed pleasantly as he stumbled down the hallway. The innkeeper had been a surprising jovial companion once he'd started drinking and they had stayed up together swapping stories and overindulging until well into the night.

Sango had gone to bed early but not before shaking her head and sending him a reproving look. He smiled suddenly. He had missed that. She was so darn cute when she was trying to look severe. Her eyes would flash, her lips would thin, and she would put those slim hands on equally slim hips while she glared at him for all she was worth.

It made him want to go and loosen her up in the worst possible way and had led to a number of highly licentious fantasies. Caught up in some very pleasant memories and inebriated, he didn't realize he wasn't alone until a feminine hand snuck out and pulled him into an empty room.

He frowned, confused, and turned to find the innkeeper's wife standing before him in her sleeping kimono. The material was silk and sheer and he could tell, even in his drunken state that she wore no wrapping underneath.

"It seems my husband has shared his sake with you monk. He must have been really impressed with you because he seldom drinks with guests. Now it is my turn to show you how hospitable we can be."

Miroku's frown deepened as the woman licked her full lips and let the material pool around her bare ankles. She stood before him, naked, her full, firm breasts pink tipped and aroused and her slim fingers dipping between silky thighs.

He licked his lips and felt his body respond but otherwise found that the beauty before him left him surprisingly…cold.

In the past such a blatant invitation would have pleased him immensely and he would have wasted no time taking her up on her offer, but time and circumstance had changed him. He may not have been celibate on his journey, but he had become more selective and even then the experiences had been unfulfilling. The sad truth was that he had found himself fantasizing about Sango whenever he'd bedded another woman and the bittersweet ache it always created had left him despondent.

He'd eventually stopped altogether.

She didn't seem to realize his reaction was not a positive one and walked forward so she could twine her hands around his neck. She stood on her bare toes and kissed him full on the mouth and Miroku kissed her back in reaction before suddenly wrenching away and pushing her gently away from him.

"What is it? What's the matter?" He shook his head to clear it.

"You're husband is waiting for you." He said and turned, and walked away from her.

The rejection took a moment to sink in and the woman went from surprised to pissed in less than a second.

"Are you refusing me? How can you not want to have sex with me? Aren't I beautiful?"

Miroku paused. "Physically you are quite stunning, but I have come to understand that physical pleasure is only fleeting. You're husband loves you. Return to him and stop this foolishness."

Miroku stumbled out and the innkeeper's wife glared at him.

"You bastard. You will regret this, houshi."

Miroku ignored her. Instead he stumbled down the hall and into what he thought was his room. He had stripped down to his inner robes, baring his chest and securing them around his hips. It was too hot tonight and he would have simply slept in the nude but he was afraid that the innkeeper's wife might not have given up for the night.

He stumbled about a bit and fell into the futon near the far wall only to turn and find a set of soft curves under his hands and against his chest. He frowned, confused.

"Mmmmm…what…" A familiar, sleepy voice sounded near his ear. He shook his head as if to clear it.

"Sango?" He questioned. The woman turned, still half asleep. "Mmmm Miroku," she purred and suddenly he felt her hands climb up his chest and rub languidly. He sucked in a ragged breath and closed his eyes.

"Sango," he breathed and felt her hands creep innocently down and trace the area around his abdomen where his robes were secured. It had a sobering effect as he felt his body turn instantly hard.

He should pull away; he knew he should pull away. She wasn't even awake for Kami sake, but he just couldn't as he felt those slightly roughed hands crawled over his skin, exploring. He smirked. He loved the fact that her hands weren't soft and baby smooth like some of the other women he'd been with. Sango had hands that had never been idle a day in her life, she had warrior hands.

Those hands dipped lower and under his robes and he sucked in a breath. Sango groaned in her sleep and Miroku panted.

Sweet Kami he needed to stop her. He couldn't let her do this, but then she stroked his hard length and he lost all coherent thought.

"Miroku," she panted and her hand moved faster. He moaned, loudly. He had to stop her, this wasn't right, she was asleep. He couldn't bring himself to move. Suddenly he felt a tightening in his sex and he gritted his teeth as he felt his release stain his robes. Sango stilled her hand and she opened her eyes.

She was staring at him and she looked mortified.

"Sango I…" he started. She suddenly jerked her hand away and stumbled away from him.

"What are you doing here? Get out!" she screeched. He sighed. Gathered his robes and pushed himself to his feet, swaying slightly.

"I apologize, Sango. I'm afraid I may have consumed too much sake and I mistakenly thought this was my room."

She glared at him, shaking with rage and embarrassment.

"You expect me to believe that? I swear Miroku, you haven't changed a bit. You're still a filthy lecher."

He stilled and felt his anger boil and in two strides he was in front of her.

Without vacillation he wrapped one arm around her waist, pulled her against his body, and kissed her. She stiffened but when he ran his tongue along the seam of her full lips and forced her to open for him she felt her body charge. He groaned and his tongue explored her hot mouth, running along hers, over the roof and along her teeth. She felt her knees shake.

Suddenly he pulled back and she looked at him with glazed eyes. He smirked and leaned in to whisper in her ear.

"My dear Sango, it wasn't I who had my hand wrapped around your sex. Now who's the lecher?"

It took a moment for his words to register but when they did she blushed furiously and pushed him away. He let her go and started laughing.

"Damn you, houshi," she snarled. He gave her a jaunty wave and went out the door. A moment later he heard a loud thump and the door wobbled. She had thrown something. Feeling more relaxed than he had in a long time he whistled as he made his way into his own room.