InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Before The Fall: A Prologue of Sorts ❯ Scene One, Take Two (or Sango Falls) ( Chapter 2 )

Disclaimer: I do not, have not, nor will I ever own Inuyasha & Co. (sad as that may be), that honor belongs to Rumiko Takahashi. Furthermore, I do profess that I am making no money from this, only getting hours of enjoyment.

Kagome woke with a jolt at the sound of a door closing. Looking around wildly, she frowned as she saw her roommate throwing her coat on her bed. “Sango? It's 8 in the morning…”she mumbled, covertly wiping her mouth.

“I know.” The other girl ground out.

“You're just coming home?”

“Yes.”

“But it's 8 in the morning…” Shaking her head against the disorientation, she sorted through the facts known to her. They went to the party, Kagome left the party, Sango stayed at the party with… “Miroku?” she frowned again, jumping in surprise at an irritated growl from the other girl. “You were with Miroku?”

“Yes.”

“Wha…” Kagome grinned, alert now as she hopped onto her roommate's bed. “Details!”

“You first. If I remember correctly, the last time I saw you, you were being physically removed from the party.” Sango smirked when Kagome lowered her eyes and blushed.

“Yeah …” she murmured lowly as the memories rushed back, heating her face. Pointing at her roommate, she decided to focus on the task at hand. “But, I've been here since eleven. You however, didn't beat the sun. Spill.”

Sighing heavily, Sango sank onto the bed next to her. “Well, it started when…”

“Sango! There you are!” Miroku exclaimed as she came up to the group. “I was searching for you.” From the look on her face she wasn't buying it.

“I thought you were keeping Kagome company.”

“I was; she preferred to venture off on her own.”

“How does it look like that's going?” Her voice was laced with sarcasm as she pointed over his shoulder. Turning to see the stand down between Inuyasha and Koga, Miroku decided to choose his words carefully.

“Well, you see…”

“Save it.” She cut him off abruptly. “Let's just get over there.” Glancing at the girls who were still around him, she lifted a brow. “Unless you're too busy.”

Miroku gave a patient smile to the ladies and excused himself, leading Sango a few feet away. “Never too busy for you, my love…” He grinned as she crossed her arms and turned her head to conceal her blush.

“Let's go before things get out of hand.”

“About that…perhaps we should just let things play out.”

“What?” she snapped before narrowing her eyes, “Are you drunk?”

“Only slightly.” He conceded with a smile before continuing. “But that has nothing to do with it. Look at them.” Gesturing with his head, he winced when he saw Kagome crumple to the ground. Sango gasped and started to run over there, but was stopped by his surprisingly strong grip. “Sango, wait.”

“She's in trouble!”

“Sango…”

“Let go of me!” she yelled as she turned and slapped him. He clenched his jaw but didn't let go of her. “She's my best friend!”

“She's my friend too.” He responded firmly. “But maybe she needs this.” Sango scowled at him and pulled away, turning just as Kagome came to and Inuyasha lifted her. Her dark eyes followed their progression though the party. “He won't let any harm come to her…” Kagome did seem okay…and maybe Miroku had a point. She'd been in love with Inuyasha for so long...wait.

“What do you mean, `maybe she needs this'?” she demanded, turning on Miroku, eyes narrowed. He smiled at her benevolently.

“You know exactly what I mean. She's in love with him.”

“How do you know?”

“Anyone who's not an idiot knows.”

Sango paled. “Does Inuyasha know?”

“No, Inuyasha is an idiot.”

“You mean to tell me you're his best friend and you never told him?”

“Inuyasha is mulish, he believes what he believes. It stands to reason that he'll know when he's ready to know.”

“So…you're saying that on some level he knows that she loves him, but won't admit it to himself until it's a good time?”

“Yes.” He nodded. Sango's face screwed up into an incredulous expression.

“That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard! I mean, I know Inuyasha is the brightest bulb out there but the idea that someone is in love with you and you can just deny it, even to yourself…?” she ranted, shaking her head before looking up into Miroku's bemused expression.

“How ridiculous indeed…”he intoned dryly. Keenly feeling the urge to flee from his knowing gaze, she turned away from him, intent on finding a way to get back to the dorm. “Wait.” He called, grabbing her wrist lightly, using it to pull her back toward his chest. “Let me take you home…”His lips were close to her ear and his usually even baritone had dropped an octave. Her eyes slid shut as she willed her body to remain calm. No need to panic… “It's not safe out there, and it would be my honor.” Each word out of his stupid pretty mouth partnered with his warm breath to caress her ear and she found herself tilting her head to one side, unconsciously giving him access.

Miroku was slightly startled as the woman before him bared her exquisite neck to him, a silent offering. He wanted to kiss it, nibble it with is teeth, use his tongue to follow the long smooth line down into the crew neck tee shirt she wore…but he couldn't. It was Sango, his beautiful, skittish Sango who was, despite the position she was in now, nervous about all things carnal. He smiled slightly. It was only one of the reasons he loved her. Still, I wouldn't want her to think I don't appreciate such a lovely view…

Sango started at the feel of soft but firm, warm, slightly moist lips ghosting a kiss just below her ear. Just as she was about to work herself into a lather and smack him, he pulled away from her maintaining a respectable distance, hands behind his back. He backed off…? Unsettled by the feeling of loss, she simply stared at him as he awaited…something.

“Well?” he prodded politely.

“Well what?”

“Can I accompany you home?” the amusement lacing his voice made her blush again.

“Oh. Yeah, I guess.” She nodded distractedly.

“Let's be on our way then.” Silently, Sango followed him to his car. Silently, she strapped herself in and just as silently was she sitting there as they made their way to her residence. Even taking into consideration the fact that she was reticent on a regular basis, this silence was just odd. “A penny for your thoughts…” he teased lightly, fully expecting her to brush him off.

“Why do you say you love me?” she responded immediately before gasping and covering her mouth, as if to take it back. He felt his expression lengthen into one of shock before he pulled himself together, swallowing hard. Finally managing to order his thoughts, he answered, “Perhaps we should go somewhere and talk about this.” She nodded slightly and he continued to drive past her dormitory.

They pulled up to his apartment building and Sango looked at him in alarm. Shaking his head quickly, he placed a comforting hand over hers where it rested on the car seat. “No, nothing like that. There's a little park area out back, it's a peaceful place to talk.” He felt her relax and smiled slightly before getting out and opening her door for her. When she took the hand he offered to steady her, he didn't let go, opting instead to lace their fingers together. Guiding her to a large blossoming tree that hung over a picnic table, she noticed it gave them a gorgeous view of the full moon. As she settled herself on the bench, she finally peeked over at him. Seeing that he was preoccupied with the view, she gazed at his features, soaking in his glossy black hair, neatly held back, his strong jaw line, smooth slightly tanned skin, the way the black wings of his eyebrows perfectly framed his face… “I hope you approve of what you see.” His voice shook her out of her daydream and made her turn away again. His warm fingers cupped her chin and gently turned her toward him. “We've had enough of that, no?” As his thumb stroked her cheek, she noticed that his violet eyes looked almost black in the moonlight and they were filled with…she gulped. “Why did you ask me that?”

Good question, she thought wryly before sighing softly and pulling his hand away. She looked down at her fidgeting fingers but didn't try to turn again. In for a penny, in for a pound. Or some such saying. She'd asked the stupid question and she had to see it through. No matter how embarrassing it was. Looking him directly in the eye, the way her father had taught her to when dealing with a difficult situation, she answered honestly, “I asked because I wanted to know.”

“Hmm.” Miroku had figured that much at least. But he appreciated the genuine honesty of the comment. Perhaps it was the only way they'd get though this. “I say it because I mean it. I love you, Sango.”

Sango felt her hands go numb and everything started to tingle. Trying to collect her thoughts, she had the odd sensation of floating while not moving. She sure she had heard him correctly before the sound of blood rushing in her ears made her think that it would be the last thing she'd ever hear. As she blinked owlishly at him, he waited patiently, scooping her hands into his. When she finally spoke, her voice was tremulous. “Miroku this better not be a joke…”

“I assure, it's not. But it is complicated.” He added the second part reluctantly. At her frown, it occurred to him that he may lose her just as he was on the brink of gaining… her but this needed to be said. Sighing, he forged on. “I'm not a saint, as you well know. I'm a flirt…and many times I've been more than that. I've had my fair share of women…”

“This…isn't exactly how I imagined this going.” Sango cut him off, voice soft and confused, edged in irritation.

“I know, but I want to get this all out into the open. You're the only one I've ever come to respect or care for…the only one I've loved.” The hopeful look on her face pulled at his heart but he had to… “Despite that, Sango, I'm not sure that I can be a good significant other, that I can be everything that you need.”

“But you are what I need.” She answered, squeezing his hand gently. He looked to her and she smiled faintly. “I love you, Miroku.” As he looked into her serene face, he silently asked every deity he knew to help him not mess this up, for her to always look at him like that. Awed and humbled by her confession, he cradled her face in his palm before touching his lips to hers with the utmost tenderness. She stiffened at the contact before tentatively returning it. He felt her lashes brush his as he tilted his head, changing the angle and pressure of the kiss. Her hand gently touched his wrist, as she inquisitively explored his lips with her own. He pulled away slowly, opening he eyes in time to see her face, her eyes still closed, cheeks pink, a small smile playing on her lips, as she lifted her hand to her mouth. Her eyes opened and she smiled at him, tilting her head in thought. “Thank you.”

He laughed then before hugging her to him and kissing the top of her head. “No, thank you. I've waited two and a half years for that kiss.”

“You wanted to kiss me on the first day of class?”

“And every day since.” He assured her with a squeeze. She grinned and yawned snuggling up to him. They sat in comfortable silence, just enjoying each others company. He was sure she was slumbering when her quiet voice reached his ears.

“Miroku?”

“Yes, dearest Sango?”

“Does this mean you'll stop being such a flirt and groping other women?” she murmured sleepily. The hand that was meditatively rubbing her shoulder slowed down and she could almost hear him gulp. “Roku?” She was dozing off rapidly and lost the fight to hear his answer. Once he realized that she had indeed fallen asleep on him, he looked down at her and sighed.

It means that for you, Sango, I'll certainly try he thought as he lifted the girl into his arms and started toward the building.

“I woke up in his bed this morning and told him to take me home.” She finished sighing.

“So he never answered?” Kagome asked.

“No. He completely avoided the question.”

“But he loves you! And you love him! And you two finally admitted it, these are good things!”

“Not if nothing is going to change, Kagome.”

“Maybe they will. This is Miroku we're talking about, maybe he just needs a little time to adjust.”

“You think?” Sango said, cautious hope sneaking into her voice.

“Definitely.” Kagome said nodding authoritatively. She'd waited too long for those two to wise up and if Miroku could just keep his hands and eyes to himself, they'd be perfect together. Grinning as her mind alighted on a piece of information, she added, “As a matter of fact, I don't remember seeing him with anyone in particular in the last six months, at least. Oh, sure he flirts, but I haven't noticed any girls going home with him.”

“None that I know of either…” she mused quietly. Maybe…Shaking her head, she turned her attention to her exuberant roommate. “So, what happened with Inuyasha?”

“Nothing!” she responded immediately, cheeks turning red. She smiled so hard her eyes closed as she waved her hands franticly. “Nothing at all, just gave me a ride home.” Sango snorted and shook her head, smiling.

Whatever you say Kagome.

A/N: To the people who reviewed, thank you so much! You guys have no idea how much it means to me that someone else finds my story amusing!