Disclaimer; I do not claim any sort of rights over Inuyasha or the characters. Just a fanfiction writer over here.

A/N; Chapter two seemed enjoyable for the most part, no? I had no complaints about it, so that gives me a good message. Ok, then. Thanks to everyone who reviewed! I'm up to 12 reviews. Normally that's not a big deal, but it is for me since I am kind of just starting out. So, 12 reviews for two stories is like awesome for me. xD Thanks to everyone reviewing and enjoying.

Another Author's Note; Also, I'm not to sure about the things they used to do back in their time. Well, obviously this is different from the feudal era. But, I am just trying to put together what I know. If I'm wrong on some things they used to do, forgive me. And I know normally Miroku wouldn't be addressed like the titles I say he would be addressed by, but it just added onto the story so just go along with it. It's just a fanfiction story anyways.

Rating; T for teens.

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x; What Challenges Await Us.

Sango paled. Her eyes darkened as she stared towards her father in disbelief; in betrayal. How could he just announce such a thing to her? How can he just wed her off to a man he doesn't even know. No one really knows what Miroku is like. For all they know he could be some foul, loathing, women beater. And her father is forcing her to marry someone like that? She can't marry Miroku. She won't!

"Sango," Miroku spoke softly to her; gently. He knew she was angered, enraged, towards both him and her father, and a demanding tone in his voice won't help. So, he softened up a bit, to try and sooth her out. "I know this is all to overwhelming for you. But trust me, it's for—"

"Trust you? Please! What good has that done me so far? I trust you enough to bring you to my home and what do you do? You go behind my back and try and force a marriage on me that's not going to happen."

"It is going to happen." He replied cooly, keeping his apathetic tone. But Sango wasn't ready to accept it. Not just yet.

"I can assure you, monk, it's not."

Miroku stiffened. Sango saw his jaw clenched; tighten up, as she spoke her words. "I want you to call me Miroku."

Before Sango could bluntly refuse him, her father spoke up with an enthusiastic tone. "What an honor that is, Sango! Do you not see! Lord Miroku is being ever-so generous with you. You must show him how grateful you are."

Back in these times, when a woman and man married, she was always forced to call him by his noble title. Whatever his title may be. For Miroku, he would normally be nobly addressed by, "Lord Miroku" or "His Grace." Only when the man tells the woman that she may call him by a different name would she be allowed to do so. And to be permitted to call them by their first name is claimed as a great honor, and one that should be respected by, not only his peers, but by her.

Sango, on the other hand, wanted to throw this "honor" she was given right back in his face. What is this so-called "honor" that she has been cursed upon? There is no honor. Being forcefully married is no honor. It's a nightmare!

"Thank you very much for giving me such an honor to live with," She forced herself to say. "But, I will call you as I see fit. I do not even see the name 'monk' all that suiting for you. You are no monk. And if you truly are, you are a poor one at that. You are a disgrace. One such as you should not be permitted to be claimed as noble as a title such as that and then say he is pure and good and preaches about God. Monks are pure and they pray and they are holy people. You, on the other hand are tainted. There is no such thing as a tainted monk in my eyes. So, to me, you are not a monk. I will not call you by your noble name, or that. I will call you what I see fit."

Miroku stood their, having amusement wash over him. Normally he would have been enraged. But when this fragile, outspoken female insulted him the way she did, he just found it amusing. He knew from the very beginning that she was going to be defiant and rebellious. That she would not agree with him so easily. But, he has faith in his ways. And in due time she will surrender herself to him. She will become a fitting wife, and have a title of her own to cherish. A beautiful woman such as her deserves more than she has.

"Sango!" Her father spat out, enraged. "I did not raise you to be disrespectful! Make worthy of yourself and learn to serve Lord Miroku, and be honored he has chose someone such as you to marry."

A sharp pain slashed across Sango's heart as she felt somewhat hurt at her father's comment. 'Someone such as you?' He was right. She never paid any mind of attention to it, but now that this rich and powerful man is here in her home, telling her she is to marry him, she sees it more clearly now. She is a low-life. A poor, revolting woman. Compared to other beautiful, rich women, she is basically nothing but a mere peasant in their eyes. She never cared for once what people thought of her. She is independent; her own person. No one dictates her. She won't have any of that. She runs herself. She is loyal to herself and her family. If someone doesn't approve of her she never paid any mind to it. But, hearing her father basically call her inferior to Miroku sends a permanent pain shooting through her. As if someone just tore her from the inside.

"Is that what you think of us, father? You think we are not worthy to someone such as him?" She points towards Miroku, avoiding to even look at him. "How dare you think that. We are happy. We don't need wealth, or riches, or a large castle. We are happy the way we are. We do not need money. We do not need to be corrupted by power! How can you think we are inferior to him? Because he is rich and we are not. You don't even know him and he's already twisted your brain into thinking we are nothing but trash. I will not marry someone such as that!"

Miroku said nothing. He looked towards her and saw the hidden pain within her. She was hiding her sadness; her sorrow. Her father's words hurt her and she didn't want to admit it. She had too much pride within her to break down and cry from a few pity words. But, Miroku couldn't help but feel sorry for the young woman. She tried accepting what life has given her. She tried accepting that she was poor, and was nothing like the other chits that Miroku was used to. But, to have her own, dear father tell her that he and her family are worthless, it makes her heart cry out. And even so, it's her pride that keeps her from just breaking down. And deep down, Miroku admires her for it.

"…" Her father did not speak. He stared at his daughter with regret and sorrow in his eyes. He looked towards her with a look of sadness. He knows what he did was wrong. It is not unknown for a father to sell his daughter off to be married. Sango is at the age where she should marry. She never gave it any thought though because she refused to. But, he knows his daughter all to well. She would never accept a husband unless she truly loved him. And she does not love Miroku, and guilt swamps his loving heart as he regrets his decision to wed off his daughter. He knew she would not accept it, but it was too great of an offer to refuse. "It is inescapable, young Sango. I gave your hand to Miroku. I already made the agreements and he is already willing to pay for y—"

"WHAT?" Sango took a step back, shocked. Her eyes went wide with animosity, but also fear.

Miroku groaned. He knew this was going to happen. He mentally glared towards Sango's father, displeased with his actions. She was already going to be a challenge to agree with this marriage in the first place. But now, to hear that was bought will only cause more defiance than Miroku could ever expect to handle.

"You sold me?! You sold me off like useless merchandise! Father! Of all the people in the world, I would never have expected you to do something so low, so unforgiving! I cannot stand to be sold to someone such as him and I will not be bought over." She stood her ground, defiant, trying so hard to stand strong and stay tough. But, she can only handle so much before she just cracks. And Miroku is expecting that to happen real soon.

"Your father and I have agreed on some terms and he handed you over to me. I am sorry to say, but you have little say in the matter." Miroku leaned back, a lazy gesture, stretching his arms back behind the wooden chair he was sitting on. His eyes were still fixed on his future wife. He saw the disgusted look she was giving everyone in that room, even her brother, Kohaku. She was just far to outraged at the moment. Probably wishing she never saved me. Miroku mentally thought to himself.

"I have all the say in the world. We do not need your money, you heartless bastard! Go away. I am tired of seeing your face. Wherever you are, trouble follows. I have not had a happy moment to myself ever since you showed up. Do us all a favor and keep your money and get lost." Sango folded her arms over her chest. The small movement had Miroku lower his gaze to her full breasts standing proudly through the thin layer of clothing. He was so intrigued by how beautiful and how well developed she was for such a young one. She cannot be any older than seventeen, and she still had the body and attitude as a true woman.

But Sango saw his gaze lower and she abruptly tightened her arms around her chest, to have him stop looking at her personal body with the lust he is after. "I said get lost, worthless monk!"

Sango's father could not stand any more of this. He stood up, swiftly and glared towards his defiant daughter. "You are to marry Miroku! That is that, Sango. What's done is done. He has already paid a good amount for you. Nothing you can do or say will stop what is already happening."

Her feet had a mind of their own as they took another step back, taken back by her father's true, but blunt words. "How can you do this to me!" She cried out to him. She spilled her heart, her soul, and her true feelings out towards her father. She was scared; afraid. She could not be wed away just like that. He cannot sell her off to some man she doesn't know. She always dictated her own life. And now, to have someone say she has been bought by this man she doesn't even know and he will rule her as if she is one of his slaves, it terrifies her; frightens her to no end.

"Young Sango," Miroku spoke softly to her as he smoothly stalked over in her direction, slowly, not trying to make her feel more uneasy than she already was. She took another step back, still standing proud and tall, trying not to have her very pride shatter in front of everyone. Miroku stopped when he was right in front of her, their bodies so close he could feel the warmth of her skin almost against his own. He saw her chest pound inward and back and knew she was not ready for such a commitment. She has not been properly prepared for the sacrifices most women her age have to make. She was not born to understand it was her time to get married. Being in a place like this, half the women married cottagers and village men, so they lived the same life from the beginning. But hers was about to change, and she and him both knew it.

He placed his finger tip underneath her chin, lifting her head to look up towards his face, with him being a few inches taller than she. His thumb stroked the smoothness of her skin, in small, seductive caresses that gave her a feeling she's never felt before. A feeling of desire. But how can this be? From just a plain simple touch. What is this feeling shooting through her entire body?

"Come now, I cannot be such a terrible choice of a husband, now can I?" He tried to tease her, with a small sense of humor. In a way, she should feel honored. He never pays any heed of attention if a woman wants him or not. But at this moment, he does care. He wants her to want him. He wants her to admit she is to be his wife and he wants to take her to his bed, where he will make her feel things her body has never felt before, in her virginal life.

He leaned his forehead down upon hers and gazed into her beautiful eyes that shined like magical orbs of light. Sango felt the urge to just give in; to accept what fate has placed upon her. It was as if he was controlling her, with his male muscularity. His gaze locked on hers, staring down upon her with a look of temptation; of need.

At that moment, Sango felt vulnerable. His free handle was placed down on one of her hands, tangling his fingers with hers and a small, possessive smile replaced his hardened features. Sango felt much more vulnerable than she could even describe. At that moment, he held her in a terrifying thrall. His cold eyes and heated sensuality sent shivers of desire down her slender spine; it was like he was holding her with his very own dark magic.

All this was overwhelming. The new emotions running haywire in her mind, she couldn't handle it. She shouldn't have to. He was asking too much of her. No. He was demanding too much of her. He cannot think to try and seduce her and she will just fall to her knees and expect her prince to carry her off to a safe place. That is not how things are going to work with her.

With her senses returning to her she let out a shocked gasp, surprised with her own actions of not stopping him. But how could she? He didn't make any sort of move on her, but he was using some sort of power of his own to capture her heart, and the worst part is: it almost worked.

She pushed hard at the thick wall of chest in front of her and found at that moment he was unmovable. As hard as she pushed at him, he would not move. It was as if she was trying to cut down a tree with a butter knife; an impossible task.

Miroku expected her to snap back into reality sooner or later and expected her to try and free herself of his grasp. But he was ready for it. He prepared ahead of time. He was so close. At that second, she stood their not knowing what to do. She was debating whether to give in to his own seduction or to continue to fight what fate has set upon her. She was not ready to give in just yet. But, Miroku got the hint that he could somehow get her to just give herself up. He hadn't even tried to kiss her, to give her the pleasure he was willing to give her and she almost gave in. Was this a sign for him to push the level a little further? Or would she despise him even more than she already did?

Sango pulled her hand out of his and took yet another step back, widening the gap in-between them. She continued to stare at him, a look of determination. She would not give in to him. She could not! It would make her a hypocrite to claim herself as an independent woman for all these years and then all of a sudden marry some rich, powerful man and have him completely rule over her life. It was something she could not do.

And Miroku knew that.

"So, Sango," Her father stepped in, taking his position right next to Miroku. Miroku felt somewhat annoyed by his stance though. As if he was saying he had an equal name as Miroku did. Which clearly he did not. "Are you ready to marry Miroku?"

Sango smiled. A sweet, innocent smile that lightened up the room. She truly was beautiful, alluring. She could make any man melt from desire, from lust. But she wouldn't do that. No man will ever melt because of this woman. The only man that can do that is Miroku himself, which he does not want to do. But, she has something about her that makes her much more alluring than the other women. And when she's dressed as she's supposed to dress and cleaned up the way the richer women are, Miroku will see the true beauty that lies beneath this low-life cottager.

But, her sweet innocent smile was a lie. She looked towards her father, holding the same smile and then replied in the most innocent of all voices, "No I am not. So, you can have discussions on how you will either buy me back, or forget we ever had this selling arrangement."

A moment of silence. She was sure deceiving. And she would not give in. Miroku knows he has met his match with this woman. Is all this worth it? Would she really be the one to bring him the pleasure he was seeking? True pleasure. Or would she just drive him to madness?

"If that is how you want it to be, then so be it." Miroku lazily shrugged his shoulders. He looked towards Sango's father and noticed his surprised look. But Miroku ignored it and turned his attention back towards his future wife.

"Really!" Sango almost shouted, overjoyed. Finally, he was saying things that were making sense. And she didn't think that was possible with this devious monk.

"Really." He replied simply. "Your father can buy you back with the money I already gave him."

Sango through she was going to spontaneously bust out screaming. This was the best news she heard all day. She did not have to marry him now! He was going to give her back to her home and everything would be just as it was before she had ever met the monk.

"Although, I doubt even that will be enough." He finished off, and Sango's joy fell into a deep abyss, as confusion replaced her toying emotions.

"What do you mean?" She asked him.

Her father looked towards Miroku, sharing Sango's confusion.

"I will gladly sell you back to this home of yours. But, it will be triple the original cost I bought you." Miroku shifted his eyes towards her father who was shaking his head ferociously, disagreeing. He had no intent of paying triple the amount. He could not afford it. And even if he could afford it, would he do it? Deep down he feels Sango will be far happier living in riches than she does in rags. And even though it doesn't seem like it, he does want the best for her.

"You scheming bastard! You know damn well my father can't pay back triple the amount you bought me for! He can only pay what you gave him in the first place!"

"Then I guess you still belong to me." White teeth gleamed as he smiled, deviously. He had no real intention of giving her up. After all his life living a lonely, bleak life, he finally found the woman that can bring . . . amusement into his home. He's slept around, knows how to pleasure a woman, and knows how all women act. Which is why he wants Sango. She is not like any of the women he has met or taken to bed. She is unique, different.

Sango knew what his plan was. She knew that he had no real intention of selling her back. The moment he said she was triple the cost, there was no way he had any real thoughts of actually selling her back. What is she, some piece of furniture! "Stop talking to me like I am someone to be bought! You cannot buy me, nor can you own me."

"Yes I can, because I did, and I do." He answer was stated bluntly, like a given fact. In reality, he was right. Men had this type of right and if the father of the daughter wants to give his daughter away to some man for money in return, he can do that. But Miroku took advantage of the situation. Sango's family needs the money and he offered it to them; in exchange for her.

"And if I refuse?" She, too, gave off a lazy shrug, showing him that he is not intimidating her in the least bit. If he wants to play hard, so be it. Sango will return the challenge.

"You cannot. You now belong to me. If you think to defy me in the matter I can do as I see fit. I have a powerful title, Sango. Remember that. No one would dare challenge my authority. If you think to look to someone else to free you of this burden, you are mistaken. Accept what has been set upon you."

"Damn you! I won't! I won't marry someone like you. I don't care what you do or say! I'll run far away from here if I have to. You will not claim me like I am some property, heartless fiend!"

Miroku laughed. A low, amused laugh that sent Sango to madness. Everything she says always seems so amusing to him. And it irritates her to no end. "There is no where you can go. Did you not hear what I said? I am a powerful man. I will not give you up so easily. Anywhere you run off too, I will follow, I will have people follow. You can't escape from me. I have bought you fairly."

"I don't give a damn what you say! Stop spitting nonsense out to me!" And that was that. She ran. She couldn't take the anger that was building up inside of her. Just couldn't. It was all to much for her. One second she grows angry that she was even told she was to marry him in the first place. The next second she is almost taken over by him in such a small, simple seduction, and then the very last second she's on the verge of exploding from the sheer anger of being sold like an item.

She ran far from her home, running down the hill. She couldn't face them anymore. She was about to just breakdown; crack. She needed time to herself. How can she be sold off to such a person? A person such as him should not have the rights to claim an innocent woman. How dare he look to her and think he is superior. Title or no title, she will always see him as nothing but a tainted, heartless fiend.

Sango's legs kept moving on their own accord. She wanted to stop, but couldn't. But, where would she run off too? Where could she go? She couldn't show her face to anyone. Her pride would not let her. Having her family see her in such a weak state bothers her to no end. She needed peace. And the only place around here to get that is in the forest. And that's where her legs took her.

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Sango's father stared towards the door in angry disbelief towards his daughter. He could not believe she behaved so poorly to such a high, noble man, such as Miroku. Or, Lord Miroku. In a way he felt embarrassed. Such high nobility was standing in his very home and his daughter shamed them with childish embarrassment.

"Lord Miroku, please forgive me for my daughter's behavior. I will send Kohaku to go get her right away!"

"Don't bother." Miroku replied, staring towards the door she just ran out of. "Let her have time to herself."

"What if she runs away?"

"She won't. Not just yet. She needs time to let all this sink in." And with a sigh, he turned around and headed towards the table. "Do you have a room I can lie down in?"

Sango's father nodded his head and turned to kohaku. "Take Miroku to my bedroom for him to lay down."

Kohaku merely nodded. He was still thinking about the big debate he had just witnessed. Sango was his sister, and he loved her dearly. If he knew that this monk had intensions of buying her to force her to marry him, he would not have let Miroku here. Kohaku hates himself for the pain he had caused his sister, and hopes one day she will forgive him.

"Follow me." Kohaku replied dully. He could not face the monk with a happy manner. Sure, he did give them a ton of money in exchange for Sango. But was it still worth it?

Miroku followed Kohaku towards his father's bedroom and shut the door once Kohaku turned and left. In a way, Miroku was satisfied with how things turned out. He expected Sango to defy his orders and he still expects her too, even in the near future. He expected her rebelliousness. He requested a lot from her today. But, in due time she will come to learn that there was a reason he chose her.

He never planned on marrying. Just sleeping around. Why should he marry someone he won't even grow to partially like? But then he met her. And Sango was the girl he knew he would grow to like. Not love. That's going too extreme. He would love to take her to bed, give her real pleasure to make up for what he's causing her right now. Her beauty and charm, and defiance intrigues him like no other. She was the one who will bring amusement in his dark world; make him laugh even if she is annoyed with him. Unique and beautiful she is; and also his, and his alone.

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A/N; Oh geez. Usually I type out about 5 pages or so each chapter. But this one came out almost 8 pages. I couldn't find a good place to stop. Ah well. As said earlier, some things may not be from back in the old days, even if I put them there. I know I'm not right about everything, but hey, this is fantasy anyways, so I guess it doesn't matter as long as it's enjoyable, right?

Speaking of which, I hope you did enjoy. Enough to review! ;D What can I say? I'm an obsessive sucker for reviews. They are inspiring, and it's nice to think of what people thought of the chapter. So, please review. Thank you.