Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to Inuyasha, all rights belong to the creator, Rumiko Takahasi. I also lay no claim on the creation of Robin Hood.

Chapter Eighteen: Rendezvous Beneath the Moon

The night air had grown brisk. The stars were shrouded behind heavy clouds, the smell of rain hung in the air, lightning lit up the sky to the north, and thunder rolled in the distance; all the quiet promise of a storm. The silver moon peered out from behind the clouds, its position giving two solemn figures below the time of the late hour. Miroku laid on his back, his left leg bent at the knee, in the grass near the riverbank. He was doing all he could to appear calm and collected, but the uncontrollable way his foot tapped against the ground gave his charade away. It was creeping past midnight and Sango had yet to make her appearance.

Though he dared not speak his concern out loud, he had begun to worry that she would not come and that she would not see him again. As much as the thought pained him, he would not fault her if she didn't. Though he had never intended to deceive her, he had, and he had never imagined she would develop feelings for a thief. Despite his best efforts to remain a mysterious figure, she grew intrigued, and the fault for that laid with him. He played into his role with too much carelessness. He charmed her, flirted even, and he had allowed her to take him by surprise with that kiss. He should have known better than to get too close to Maid Sango, Robin had no business even looking her way, and neither did he.

The hanyo noted the nervous tapping of Miroku's foot, but said nothing to draw attention to his perception. Inuyasha continued to hope that the maiden would show herself soon, that she would not turn her back on Miroku now, not when he needed her most. Though he did have some selfish reasons as well, he wanted, very much, to see Kagome again. Stifling a sigh, his gaze drifted skyward again, by the position of the moon it was already a quarter past midnight. Perhaps the two women would not come after all. How utterly disappointing that would be. He had begun to wonder if he should suggest that they return to camp, when a twig snapping in the distance caught his attention. Ears twitching, his eyes shifted their focus to the shrubs and trees just on the other side of the river.

The two maidens broke through the greenery, their frocks covered by long, deep blue cloaks, that nearly had them concealed under the darkness of night. Just as Miroku sat up, Sango pulled the hood from her head, and for some seconds they gazed across the river without speaking a word; as he climbed to his feet. In the quiet of the night, Miroku crossed the sparkling water, and upon reaching her, silently he offered his hand to the woman. Without much hesitation she extended her hand, her fingertips softly grazing his, and her deep brown eyes locked his indigo ones.

With a trembling voice she asked, "All this time and it was you all along? You and Robin are one in the same?" Without concealing her concern, she pleaded. "Oh Miroku, please tell me that I am mistaken."

Breaking their locked gaze, he murmured, "I have disappointed you. Please understand that I am well aware that your affection was never meant for me, that had you known it was I beneath that hood, you would have never given those sentiments."

With soft hesitation she gingerly placed her fingertips upon his bruised cheek. "That is not why I wish to know I am wrong. To know it is you that Prince Naraku wishes to execute." She removed her hand from his and turned her back to him, for she did not wish for him to see the tears that brimmed her eyes. "To lose Robin would be a blow from which Nakimoto may not recover, but for me to lose you is a pain in which I could not begin to fathom."

He did not attempt to hide the way his eyes widened, so when she turned back to him a soft smile pulled at her lips. He wanted to tell her how much her words meant to him and know for certain if she loved him as she did Robin, but his next words were nearly lost by the burble of the river. "I hardly know how to respond to such a declaration. To know I mean so much to you, it has taken me by surprise." He made sure to make eye contact with the fair maiden and reassured her softly. "Not because I was in doubt of your kindness, but because I always knew I was not worthy of anything you had to offer me."

"You have always spoken of yourself with such censure, which was one of the only faults I ever found in you." She looked at the man now, really looked at him, and wondered how it was that she had been unable to understand her own heart. Perhaps it was his going away for so long or maybe it was that Robin had always held Miroku's essence. Whatever it may have been, she had finally realised the matters of her heart and what it was she had always felt for the mischievous young man. Looking away from him she muttered softly, "I wish you had trusted me enough to give me your confidence."

Taking up her hand again and giving it a gentle squeeze, he tried to explain himself. "It was not for lack of trust, it was best that very few knew of Robin's identity. Although you and your uncle are not close in a figurative sense, you are close in proximity to him, and if he caught onto you knowing who Robin was it would have put you in danger." His deep eyes skimmed her face as he attempted to read the emotions behind any reaction she may give.

Without much pause she blurted out rather forcefully. "I could have kept the secret. I detest Naraku just as much as the villagers. He is greedy, cruel, selfish, and hateful, he has no right to sit where Uncle Hitomi sat or to stand where he stood."

An amused sort of smile spread across his face, Sango's spirit was something he had always admired. "I have no reason to be in disbelief over your declaration, we are well enough acquainted for me to know your character could never align with the likes of Naraku." He turned his attention from the maiden to his companion and began to speak. "Blood Hound…"

Before he could even ask the question he was cut off by the hanyo. "Please, Miroku, if you trust these ladies, then as do I. As we are all friends here, my name can be used."

He nodded his head consenting to the simple request. "You're quite right. Inuyasha, if you would please take Lady Kagome back to the camp with you. I would like to speak with Sango alone." Turning back to her now, "That is, if you would do me the honor of taking a turn with me?"

Moving her hand in his, she laced their fingers together, and answered him with that sweet lilt in her voice. "I would follow you anywhere."

Meanwhile Inuyasha offered the wide eyed Kagome his arm, and though she felt several questions burning on her tongue, she took the offered limb and departed with the hanyo. Hesitantly she left the maiden in the care of the thief, all while being swept away by the man she thought she knew but didn't know at all.

The hour was now past one, the stars had disappeared behind the rain heavy clouds and the moon's silver glow was cast through a misty veil. The forest was cloaked in an eerie darkness, the shadows danced beneath the trees, the owl called out like a ghostly spectre, while a dense fog crept over the earth like a sea of smoke. Normally, a night like this, would have caused an unease in the maiden, but with Miroku at her side she felt completely secure.

She cast her dark brown eyes upwards to meet his face, he appeared deep in thought, and a bit troubled by what plagued his mind. It was rather odd to see him in such a quiet and pensive mood, because usually he was all cheerfulness and pleasant smiles. "Miroku, are you all right?" she asked with some hesitation.

He hummed and replied in a quiet rush, "Why, yes."

Biting her lip she let the silence settle for some few moments before enquiring. "Have you something on your mind?"

"Perhaps," he mumbled.

Growing ever more concerned with his mood, she gave his hand a soft squeeze. "I thought you asked me to walk with you so we could speak on important matters and yet you have scarcely spoke two words together since we set out."

He nodded his head and acknowledged her concerns. "You are quite right, my apologies, Sango. I am sure you have many questions and I am at liberty to answer anything you may want to know."

"I suppose I would like to know why you began this charade to begin with. Whatever possessed you to don that hood in the first place?" As the question was asked, the pair stepped into a clearing. The wild flowers were in full bloom now and their sweet aroma hung in the night air; it reminded Sango of the fancy perfumes her mother once would wear.

He pursed his lips into a thin line and considered the question. When was the moment he had made the decision to rise against the corrupt prince? What pushed him to take up his bow and use it for the benefit of someone other than himself? Frowning, he began to form an answer of sorts. "I have always been a selfish individual, so I have often asked myself this same question. To be quite frank with you, I am not sure why I began this endeavor to begin with. Perhaps I wanted to prove myself useful, selfless, or worthy and maybe for once in my miserable life do the right thing."

A bolt of lightning lit up the dark sky and thunder crashed shortly behind it. The storm grew close now and would soon be upon them; and yet Sango did not ask to depart. Instead she drew closer to him and spoke, "No, I know you better than that. I am sure you have a reason, one that you have yet to even admit to yourself. Think back, Miroku, and really reflect on the moment when you knew you had to help the people of Nakimoto."

He thought back to a night long forgotten, he had just returned to the village from the mountains where he trained, and he and his small party had been invited to dine with Mushin at the temple. The old monk, though in high spirits, looked rather haggard and troubled. It was while they sipped on hot green tea that Miroku finally asked him what was the matter. Mushin had opened up about the departure of King Hitomi and all that the prince had done in his brother's absence. He fussed over the hungry children, the frail and old that had fallen ill, and the villager's that had been forced to give all they had in taxes. People were hungry, sick, and unable to provide for themselves. It was the old monk that had inspired Miroku to take up his bow. What was it he had said that night?

A soft smile formed on his face as the memories of that night came flooding back. He wasn't sure how he had ever forgotten it at all. "It was Mushin. He didn't outright tell me to become some hooded vigilante, but he was the inspiration behind Robin. I remember now."

Having had her interest piqued she could not remain content with a long intermission. "Well, are you going to tell me what was said or shall you keep me in suspense?"

His gaze dropped to meet hers, and his features were still set in a soft expression. "I had just returned to Nakimoto and the old monk was rather disturbed by how the prince was running things. In his passionate ramblings he may have mentioned needing just one man to stand up against the injustice and that perhaps one man would be enough to inspire the villagers to follow suit."

Her eyes widened a little when realisation dawned on her and a sort of hurt settled in her chest. "Wait one moment, Miroku. Robin Hood has been amongst us for nearly an entire year. How could you have been amongst us so long and not call on me?"

He waved his free hand as though he was shooing away the question. "Merely an act of self preservation. It would have been too much of a coincidence if I appeared shortly before or after the hooded thief made his debut." Looking down at her, he smiled in that boyish way, which often charmed her. "It was but a simple means to escape suspicion."

She looked back at him without speaking and in that stretching silence she knit her brow. A thought began to form, an inquiry or sorts, and with some pause she asked, "So in some ways you remained that boy I was so fond of, but in that time while you were away you became a man that I must figure out?"

"I suppose a part of me will always remain as I was, but no, Sango, there is nothing you must do in regards to me." Pausing, he gave her hand another gentle squeeze, as he tried to ingrain its feeling to memory. "I request you seek only that of which you desire to know."

A playful smile formed on her soft lips. "Well, there is one thing in which I want to know."

"And what is that?" he asked.

"Why have you yet to claim your prize, sir archer?" The teasing tone in her voice caused his heart to beat faster and the glimmer in her brown eyes made his mouth go dry.

Turning away from her, he rubbed the back of his neck, anxiously. "I was not aware that it was still mine to claim. You were, after all, expecting some charming and dashing hero, but merely got a lowly thief instead."

She wished he'd face her, it was far more challenging to read his expressions when she could not see them. "You never give yourself enough credit. You always were more than you believed yourself to be." She removed her hand from his, so she could place one palm on both his cheeks. With a gentle touch, she coaxed him to face her, and locked her gaze with his. "Your prize, Miroku, take it."

The thief tried to ignore the painful way his heart raced in his chest, as two voices in his head argued between his choices. On one hand, he did want to accept her offer, while the other knew that he should keep his distance. All he needed was a sign, if it wasn't meant to be fate would step in and remind him of his station. He and fate never did have a good relationship and he was sure it would have no problem reminding him of such. This time he chose to follow his feelings over logic and claimed his long desired kiss. At first there was this sort of awkward hesitation, but it was short lived. There was something so familiar between them, a comfortability that had come with years of friendship. He let himself fall and overhead lightning sliced through the darkness, thunder crashed, and rain came down in a sudden heavy downpour.

So there it was, as was asked, fate gave him his sign. Grabbing her hand, he quicking led her beneath the canopy of the trees, and into the cover of a nearby cave. Once in the shelter from the storm, he released her hand, and created some space between them. He raked his fingers through his hair and shook the water from his dark locks. "It appears we will have to wait here until the rain passes."

Sango's thick cloak had kept her relatively dry, but as she glanced over to the man on her right, she was quick to notice that his thin and grey tunic had been soaked through. The fabric clung to his skin now, she looked away again, as color rose to her cheeks. What was she nervous about all of the sudden? They had played in the rain as children and she had never felt like this before. What was so different now? She tried to tell herself nothing had, even when she was fully aware of why her heart seemed to be pounding in her ears. Swallowing hard, she advised, "You probably should dry off before you catch your death."

Smiling, "I do not happen to have a change of clothes on me at present, so I have no choice but to take my chances."

Inuyasha had gotten Kagome to the campsite before the storm had arrived, but the distant roll of thunder had gotten much closer. Kagome had left his side and had taken to investigating the part of the woods they called home. Koga's blue eyes followed the stranger with a look of concern on his face. He smiled to himself, a bit amused that it had taken the lady an embarrassing amount of time to notice the wolf yokai. When she finally came face to face with him, she let out a yelp of surprise, which caused the man to visibly jolt at the sound.

She put her hand over her mouth, at the same time as her face turned red, distressed by her reaction. "Apologies, sir, you must be the howling wolf."

He moved to poke at the fire before he replied, "Your assumption would be correct, that I am."

The hanyo watched her expression change to intrigue. She paused a moment before inquiring, "Is that how you would like me to address you?"

Koga shrugged, "I have no preference, the moniker will serve well enough."

"But your name would probably be better, would you not agree?", she asked quietly.

He got to his feet, the rain smelled close now, and he wanted to retire to his tent. "I suppose, but it is rather unnecessary information for you. How often will we actually converse?" He slipped into his tent and dug out the lantern that would be needed soon, it would be the perfect night for a little late night reading. "Well, goodnight." He then closed the tent flap without another word.

When the rain began to pour, Inuyasha invited Kagome to the safety of his tent. The storm raged outside the small shelter, a warm glow was cast by an old and weathered lantern, and the lady sat silently; worrying about the gentle maiden. Inuyasha pulled out a worn deck of playing cards and did his best to keep his guest occupied. "Care to play a game of piquet?"

She acquiesced to his offer. shifting, she faced him now, and watched him deal the cards. "May I ask you a question?"

The hanyo nodded, "Of course."

She played her turn, then spoke again. "Are you the son of Toga No Taisho or a thief?"

Inuyasha answered, playfully. "Yes."

Perplexed, she pried for something more direct. "What do you mean by that?"

Grinned that ganged smile of his, he replied; "I'm both. My father really is Toga, but I wasn't cut out for the noble life. Instead I took up the offer of a rather convincing pick-pocket." From there the conversation became scarce and lapsed into a comfortable silence.

When several rounds had been played and Kagome had started to become distracted by the long separation from her companion, the hanyo had to find a way to make the game interesting again. He put up his prized pocket knife as a wager and she matched it with a small handkerchief. Inuyasha had always been competitive, but this round he had to win; he absolutely needed the grand prize.

An hour had passed before the rain let up, Kagome had fallen asleep, and Inuyasha's clawed fingers toyed with the new treasure he kept in his pocket. His eyes drifted closed, a smile on his face, and sleep claimed him before the thief and the maiden had made their return.

((A/N, Hey all, this chapter took me longer than I thought it would. I started it over once, deleted entire paragraphs, and sat in front of my laptop for hours but getting nothing written at all. I wanted this chapter to be really good and I struggled with getting it like I wanted it to be. I'm hoping to wrap this up by chapter 25, I know where I'm wanting to take this story, and the climax and conclusion are drawing near. The ending I have planned isn't something you would probably expect, yet I do hope it is enjoyable to those who stick with me to the end. Please like, favorite, or review. Perhaps you can tell me your favorite character, part of the story, or even a chapter I have written so far. I love hearing from any of my few readers. Until my next update, much love.))