Here's a shout out to my best reviewer, Rainbow-Sunned-Spirit, for reviewing every chapter of my two current stories. :) Kyra, go to my profile. I left another little shout out for you there. Thanks, doll! You're the best, so the next Inuyasha and Kagome chapter will be dedicated to you, because I know how much you love them.

Rejection

A few days had passed uneventfully since Miroku's bikini incident. The gang was once again roaming around feudal Japan's countryside on the look out for the jewel shards. So far, they haven't been having any luck. Sango sighed wearily. She was replaying the conversation she had with Kagome earlier today. She was happy that Kagome and Inuyasha were going to be mates, she really was! But she couldn't help but feel a wee bit jealous.

Sango looked ahead of her to see Miroku walking calming, Shippo perched on his shoulder. She and Kagome were trailing the group while Inuyasha was in the lead, per usual. Kagome gave another dejected sigh.

Kagome was watching her friend worriedly. She had been acting weird since she'd told her of Inuyasha's question. "I wonder what's wrong with Sango," Kagome thought to herself. "Is she upset because Miroku hasn't asked her to be his yet?" She decided to find out for herself.

"Sango, what's wrong? You've been pretty down this afternoon," concern laced the miko's voice. Sango looked up at Kagome, then to Miroku and gave the girl a sad smile. That was all Kagome needed to answer her question. She had to help Sango win her man! Well, she already held Miroku's heart, albeit unknowingly. But Kagome just needed to give the two a little push in the right direction in order to start the fire. So, she began to plan.

o0o

Around dusk, Inuyasha decided to stop and make camp, with a lot of "persuasion" from Kagome. While the girls made camp, Inuyasha jumped into a tree to sulk and Miroku hung back to meditate. Kagome felt now was better than ever to put her plan into action.

"I know what to do, Sango," Kagome whispered. When Sango elicited a small gasp, Kagome knew that Sango understood what she was talking about. Kagome continued, "Get him to accompany you on a romantic walk and just tell him how you feel." Her plan was plain and simple. There was no way it wouldn't work!

Sango chuckled wryly. "Kagome, Miroku doesn't love me. Not the way Inuyasha loves you." Kagome nearly rolled her eyes and resisted the urge to punch Sango's arm. "Of course he loves you!" she whispered heatedly. Sango gave her a confused and hopeful look.

"You don't see the way he looks at you when you aren't paying attention. It's a look of longing, not lust," she cut off Sango's attempt to put her two cents in at that. "Miroku stares at you with a certain light in his eyes. It's the same light that Inuyasha has when he stares at me. Sango, I can just tell that Miroku loves you as much as you love him. Please, just do what I say and you two will be together in no time!" Sango looked skeptical, but she agreed nonetheless.

o0o

After dinner was happily eaten and the remains cleared, Kagome motioned for Sango to take Miroku on a walk. Sango gulped but did as she was told. She got up nervously and walked over to where the houshi was sitting. She stretched her hand down to help him up, a small blush splayed across her cheeks. Miroku grabbed her hand and stood up. He dusted off his robes and gave Sango a quizzical look. She turned around and began walking off into the forest. This was his cue to follow.

Sango lead Miroku to a clearing in the trees near a waterfall. She and Kagome had scouted out the perfect location for this plan and had stumbled upon this haven. Miroku was no more than two steps behind her. Sango suddenly felt very self conscious, and as luck would have it, it poured into her movements. Her foot connected with an upturned root and she began falling through the air. She closed her eyes, awaiting the impact with the cold hard ground. It never came.

Sango opened her eyes and looked down to her waist, noticing Miroku's muscular arm wrapped there. Once again, a blush rose to her cheeks. Miroku gently pulled Sango up and steadied her on the ground before he reluctantly withdrew his arm from her waist.

The taijiya nervously looked up into the houshi's deep blue eyes. Concern was evident in his warm orbs. Sango immediately looked away. She was feeling scared again. Miroku reached out and gently took Sango's chin in his hand and forced her to look him in the eye.

He gave her a gentle smile before asking her, "Are you alright, Sango?" His voice was soft and sweet, and Sango was resisting the urge to smash her lips against his. She slowly nodded her head to answer his question. "Now can you tell me why you led me to such a beautiful clearing, my dearest?" Just then Sango remembered what she had to do.

She swallowed the bile that started rising in her throat. She took a deep breath; there was no going back now. She nodded her head with conviction. Miroku looked on slightly amused at his taijiya's actions.

"Miroku, we've known each other for quite some time," this was starting to sound like the speech that Kagome had given Inuyasha just weeks before! How unoriginal could she be? "We've also been through a lot together, and now that Inuyasha and Kagome are together…I umm… I wanted…wanted to…know," Miroku cut her stammering off. "You wanted to know where we stand." She nodded. "I want to know the same thing, Sango."

She waited for Miroku to continue, and when he didn't, she decided she would break the silence. "I think that there's something between us," Sango looked away from Miroku. She didn't see the huge smile that spread across his face. "So do I," he whispered huskily. Sango snapped her head back. Did she just hear him right?

His smile only grew seeing Sango's, once again, confused and hopeful expression. He chuckled lowly, "Sango, my dearest, I do believe that I am in love with you." Sango's breath caught in her throat. "Do you feel the same way?" He was clearly worried about her answer. This caused Sango to smile.

"Yes," she said softly. Miroku's smile stretched even further. He then picked her up and began twirling her around in the air, laughing like a crazy man. His laughter was contagious, however, because Sango found herself laughing as well.

Once he set her back on her feet, he leaned down and stopped only when their noses touched. Sango could feel his warm breath fanning across her lips. She wanted to kiss him so badly! Miroku obviously saw the needs dancing in her eyes, for he closed the distance between them. In the middle of a beautiful clearing during a gorgeous full moon, the houshi and taijiya shared their first kiss with one another.

Wow. I must say I am proud of myself! :) This story is now FAR from over. With each chapter, I get more inspiration. If there's anything you'd like me to put in the story, leave it in a review or a PM and I'll try best to add it. Thanks so much for reading!

Much love,

Kikira Lynn