MC: Hey guys! I hope your still enjoying the story so far. I'm receiving emails of people adding this story to their favorites, so it must be good! I'll be slowly trying to post more chapters, maybe I'll be lucky to post a few more before the week is over.

Also, I'm writing some new stuff, so be looking out for that.

Enjoy!

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Disclaimer: See Chapter 1.

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Chapter Nine

"…"

"…Myoga?"

"…"

"Please answer me."

Myoga sighed, rubbing one arm over his face. "Kagome, I don't know what to tell you. Maybe becoming friends with Sango was a good and bad thing. If this Miroku guy figures out you're a girl, and tells Lord Sesshoumaru, it will not be good."

"Fantastic." Kagome groaned wearily, plopping down onto her makeshift bed. "So what do we do?"

"Hmm…" Myoga tapped his chin, staring at the ceiling of the tent in thought. "I really don't know. If he did discover you're a girl, maybe he's willing to help you find a way out…"

"No." Kagome said harshly, causing Myoga to stare at her in shock. "No?"

"Exactly. No." Kagome crossed her arms over her chest defensively, her blue eyes turning icy. "I'm not giving up. I've come way too far to just up and leave, just because I was discovered. I'll bribe him with money if I have to. I'm staying here."

…

Sesshoumaru glanced up from his report, his gaze landing on his dazed captain. Miroku was hunched over in his chair, his purple eyes glazed over as he stared at the ground.

"Have you spoken with Sango?"

Receiving no answer, Sesshoumaru sat up slightly, his amber eyes narrowing as he took aim…

"Oww!" Miroku yelped, sitting up frantically as he glanced around the tent, rubbing his temple. "What the hell was that?" He glanced down, only to see an ink quill lying at his feet.

"What is wrong with you?" Sesshoumaru growled, causing Miroku to sigh. "I don't know. Hey Sess," he paused for a beat at Sesshoumaru's growl, but kept talking, "have you taken a minute to look at the Higurashi boy?"

"Why?"

"I don't know…something just doesn't seem right." Miroku mused quietly, slowly going back to his hunched position. "I can't seem to place my finger on it, though…"

"You're not going gay on me, are you?"

Both men looked up at the tent entrance to see Sango standing there, her cinnamon-brown eyes sparkling with laughter as Miroku scowled. "You hush, woman. You know something about him that we don't."

"Well that wouldn't be nice, would it? Talking about my friend behind his back…" Sango teased, sitting down in an unoccupied chair in front of Sesshoumaru's desk. "Besides the fact that he seems to be in my tent with an injury of some sort once or twice a day doesn't mean something is wrong with him."

"He isn't stalking you or anything is he?" Miroku hissed, catching Sango by surprise. "If he is, I'll rip that bun right off his head and –"

"No, Miroku." Sango said softly, her gaze softening. "Nothing is going on between us, I promise."

Miroku studied her face for a moment before sighing. "I'm sorry. It's just that I've been away for so long, and I haven't been able to see you, I just…think things without meaning to."

"It's okay, I understand." Sango smiled softly at him, and her gaze turned to Sesshoumaru. "What did you need to see me about?"

Sesshoumaru was silent for a minute before answering, "I need you to do a final examination before we head off next week."

"Head off?" Sango and Miroku asked simultaneously, exchanging a confused look. "But Sesshoumaru-sama," Sango started, only to be stopped by a cutting look from Sesshoumaru. "No buts. We leave in a week."

"Are you sure they're ready?" Miroku asked doubtfully, only to flinch at the cold glare from Sesshoumaru. "They're as ready as they're going to get."

"Okay, General, whatever you say." Miroku grumbled, him and Sango both standing. "I'll see you in the morning."

"Goodnight, Sesshoumaru-sama." Sango said lightly, following Miroku out of the tent, leaving Sesshoumaru to his thoughts.

'Have you taken a minute to look at the Higurashi boy? Something just doesn't seem right. I can't put my finger on it…'

He looks almost identical to Higurashi-sama, Sesshoumaru thought, sitting back in his chair as he stared at the tent entrance. The eyes especially…they're style is the same, the same determined look on their face when they perform their archery duties. Sesshoumaru stood up, slowly exiting the tent as the sunset disappeared beyond the horizon. There was a neighing of a horse, and the calico horse that Higurashi had galloped into view, his rider moving gracefully to the rhythm of the hoof beats as they headed in the direction of the puny tent Higurashi slept in. Miroku's right, though...there's something about him that seems off…

Looking up into the darkening sky, Sesshoumaru just took a deep breath, taking in this rare moment of calm.

"Are you sure they're ready?" Miroku had asked him, and Sesshoumaru's hand clenched. His father had asked him the same thing in the last message he sent him. Are you sure they're ready son? I could come assist if need be…

Biting down a growl, he spun on his heel and stomped into his tent, determined to write out a full curriculum of tomorrow's events so that the soldiers would never forget who, exactly, was top dog.

…

"I'm worried about Sesshoumaru-sama." Sango murmured, her cinnamon-brown eyes darkening to a deep black as she stared up into the sky. Her body was cushioned on a soft patch of grass with Miroku stretched out beside her, and as her hand found his, she heard his long sigh.

"Strangely, I've been having the same thoughts." Miroku answered lowly, his own eyes closing in thought. "I think this whole feud thing with his father is getting to him. What he needs in a good lay – OOMPH. Oww, Sango!"

"That's not the solution to everything, you idiot." Sango whispered harshly as she turned her head towards him. Narrowing her eyes, she moved her hand from his side where she had punched him, and folded her arms across her stomach. "He just needs a friend."

"A lady friend?" Miroku asked before he could stop himself, and screwed his eyes shut, waiting for another impact to his side that never came. He opened his eyes slowly, turning to look questioningly at his intended. "You're serious?"

"What is the first thing you do when you're stressed?" Sango asked him seriously, looking back up towards the sky. Her gaze traced patterns with the stars before continuing. "You come to me, whether it's to talk, or vent, or even get advice, right? Sure, you have Sesshoumaru-sama, and Vincent-sama, and even Inuyasha-san, even though he's an idiot, too. But nothing is more gratifying than having a woman by your side, if only to be something that your guy friends can't be."

Miroku just stared at her wide-eyed. "Did you seriously just say that?"

Sango blinked innocently up at him. "What?"

Shaking his head, Miroku just chuckled, leaning down to plant a soft kiss on her forehead. "I love you, dearest Sango, you and your wisdom."

"Hmm...are you sure that's it?" Sango asked playfully, giggling when Miroku gave her an exasperated look. "I'm just playing around with you."

"It's getting late." Miroku stated with a sigh, standing up before helping Sango. "You need your beauty rest."

Snorting, Sango punched his arm, turning on her heel and walking away, leaving a wincing Miroku behind.

...

MC: Sorry if this chapter didn't flow very well, I had it ending right after Miroku and Sango's interaction with Sesshoumaru. It obviously wouldn't have been enough, so I just went ahead and added a little Sango x Miroku fluff. =)

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