What Sango Wants – Part Thirteen: Trading Spaces

Aamalie: Nothing important to say... Might as well just get on with the chapter, ne? Oh! Wait, I know... For you peeps who have read Time Together and are (im-)patiently waiting for the sequel, I NEED IDEAS! I can't come up with any scenarios for setting up Inu and Kag... ^^' I totally forgot everything I had. Suggestions HIGHLY appreciated!

Maela: She also wants everyone to check out the summary for the fic we'll be posting after we're done with this one, Illegal Love. It's in our bio, so check it out. Onegai?

Taena: Sorry this one's a little late... Had a busy schedule, what with going to our Great-Grandma's memorial and all. Then we had a 700 point project that we missed the first 2 days of. But that's why we're updating early. ^.^'

Aamalie: Uh, yeah... But it's all fun. Let's get started!

Disclaimer: Umm... Same as last chapter. Only you'll probably get sent a deficiency notice in the mail as well in a few weeks. Sound fun? *hisses at Geometry and Biology* (jk! ^^')

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She honestly didn't know what she was getting herself into. Honestly? She didn't care. For a long moment, everything remained black, and a fleeting aura of doubt flickered through Sango before it subsided into the overwhelming determination. She would get him back.

Keeping that in mind, she didn't break her sprint as she cleared the void feeling of the portal. Perhaps that was the feeling Miroku carried around from day to day, what with the kazaana... That was just one more reason to hate Naraku. If it weren't for him, her houshi-sama wouldn't have to go through the constant strain his curse put him under.

Sango smiled humorlessly at the bitter irony of that idea. As much as they all hated the yarou, it was his existence that had brought them all together. If he hadn't have made his initial attempt at the Shikon no Tama, Inuyasha would have probably become human and finished his life with Kikyou by his side. Kagome would have never entered this era. Shippou... Well, if the jewel had never been broken, then his parents would be alive and well, and the same could be said for her own relatives and friends. Miroku wouldn't have the kazaana, and, with any luck at all, he wouldn't be such a... loveable... lech.

All in all, if the tragedies that had fallen upon each of them had bound them together. If they hadn't occurred, she would likely have never met the friends she most cared about. Or Miroku, for that matter. They would have been separated by their very different lives.

Shaking off her train of thought, Sango concentrated on the tunnel she was rushing through. It was long and curved, so she couldn't quite see beyond the next bend. Every so often along the wall, there was a burning torch bracketed into the stone. Apparently, the youkai had been planning.

Suddenly, a jolt of pain shot up through her foot as it hit a rock, and she flew forwards, going face-first into the water she hadn't even noticed she had been pushing through.

Well, that explained why the air smelled salty, didn't it? Squids live in the ocean, and their youkai counterparts live nearby.

Sango jerked her head from the water with a groan. Just how far were they from where they had been about to kiss, just a short time before? As far as she knew, they had been pretty far inland- as much so as you can get while living on an island. This... This seemed more like it was near the ocean, or a bay. Assuming they would get out of this mess alive, how would they get back? It seemed they'd have to play it by ear. Oh, what joy.

A bit apprehensive at what was to come, Sango slowed her pace to a halt, extending her senses for demonic aura. She withdrew it immediately, the closeness of the energy nearly causing her to fall over again.

"Kuso... She's not here though," the taijiya muttered, concentrating once more, slower this time. Letting her senses guide her, she followed the pull of the energy with her eyes, lighting upon the two parallel torches to either side of her. Stepping a bit closer, she saw, upon closer observation, that it was no fire that lit her way. "Clever," she commended, peering at the waves of electricity magicked into looking like fire, the tiniest streak of energy trailing between them, at about hip height. She, the demon hunter, was being hunted.

Damn youkai. She'd just have to show her who the smarter one was.

Smirking as she backed up a bit from the sensor, she ran a hand over her hair, which, much to her surprise, wasn't even up. The smirk faded into a frown. This could definitely hinder her job- youkai knew that hair was a weak spot in humans. A long moment of indecision commenced, but ended when Sango remembered what could be at stake. Not taking the chance to hesitate, she quickly drew her katana from its sheath with one hand, grabbing her long tresses in the other, just below her shoulders, and made a quick cutting motion behind her head.

Holding her breath unconsciously, she brought both arms down, feeling strangely light-headed. Resheathing her weapon, she took a look at her loosening left fist. The hair she so secretly cherished lay there in her palm. Squeezing a lump of regret back down her throat, she let it fall to the surface of the water, reveling in the weight it seemed to lift from her shoulders.

*Like the weight of the past... What's left is the future, and what was lost will be returned in due time,* she thought, chuckling at the double meaning. Taking another breath, she dived beneath the surface of the water, coming up easily on the other side of the slim beam and continuing on.

She ran for what seemed like an age, occasionally ducking beneath the water, until she rounded a bend, entering a huge cavern, where she came to a dead stop. There, across the hall, was the squid youkai. She was halfway between forms, her ten limbs, more than several regenerating, in place of her hands and feet, but otherwise wearing the guise she had donned when she had first appeared.

"So, come to find your houshi, eh? He has quite a problem with keeping his hands to himself."

Oh. He was so going to get it. Promise her ass, baka.

"I noticed. Care to give him back so that I can exact punishment on him?" she said, suffocating the urge to find and kill Miroku. After she finished off this obstacle, of course. The youkai laughed, a high-pitched sound that irritated Sango to no end. Possibly because she didn't like her in the first place. But hey, wouldn't you hate someone too if they stole, quite literally, your man?

"Actually, I've already taken care of that. At the very least, I've set it up. I was just waiting for the audience to arrive. Namely, you." Sango's eyes narrowed. "Ah, curious? Of course you are. It's a pity you are both a taijiya and an enemy of that hanyou. For a ningen girl, you're quite intelligent. No matter. Observe." Gesturing to one side with a tentacle and pulling a previously unnoticed chain.

"Nani?" She let out a gasp as a movement off to the side caught her eye. From the ceiling descended a gate of metal, a sopping wet Miroku tied to it. "Iie! Houshi-sama!" He lifted his head, blinking slowly.

"What? Sango? What are you doing here!?" She didn't respond. She was too busy glaring daggers at the demon, who merely smiled.

"Get him down. Now."

"Iie, ningen girl. My job is to kill the both of you. But you know, you could always end up winning. I don't underestimate you, like some fools would. You've got the experience needed to kill a demon. But we are in my element; water, and I've got the tentacles to prove it!" Hardly a moment later, Sango felt a jolt run through her and she clenched her teeth until it passed.

"Damn you. Damn you to hell!" she growled, leaping forward and slashing with her katana, slicing through the tentacle that was raised in defense, ignoring the accompanying shock. The demon hissed in annoyance.

"Foolish girl!" was the reply, followed by an onslaught of whip-like appendages, which Sango barely managed to parry, slicing off two, until it relinquished. She glanced down at herself, taking inventory of the several gashes that now decorated her arms and her side as she retook her guarding stance.

"Not so foolish as you may think," she retorted, prepared for the charge that came a moment later. *Think, Sango, THINK! What did you learn about the weaknesses of squid youkai as a child? Agh!* She let out a growl of frustration, attacking savagely, and forcing the youkai back, who had once again nearly shed her human form, her tentacles growing back almost as quickly as she cut them off.

Then, it dawned on Sango. She remembered this lesson. Letting out a cry of superiority, she ducked beneath a flailing 'arm', swinging her weapon down so it sliced cleanly between the youkai's eyes. Hissing in shock, the squid drew back, her glittering eyes clouding.

"You..."

"Hai. Me. Apparently, you should have researched the ways of taijiya more before you decided to steal one of my friends, ne?" The youkai didn't verbally respond immediately. It simply smirked, a tentacle curling around one of the others scattered in the shallow water.

"Apparently," it breathed, flinging the loose tentacle into the air, slicing through the rope that held Miroku above the water, dropping him. Moments before the splash, it slumped down into the water, dead.

"Iie! Damn you!" Sango yelled, racing to where the water deepened. Unsure of just how deep the water was, she pulled off her shoes, discarding them along with her blade and its sheath. Taking a breath, she dived beneath, forcing her eyes open, expecting the sting of salt to assault them. It never did.

*What? Fresh water? But it was smelt salty before. Then again, when I went underwater before, the water didn't seem all too salty either. What is this? Oh! There he is!* Swimming harder, she caught hold of the gate the houshi was tied to, tapping him. He turned his head towards her, giving a sharp glance to his tied limbs. She nodded, moving over to his left hand first, examining the rope as best as she could. It wasn't thickly twined in itself, but it was long, tightly wrapped around Miroku's wrist multiple times. Flicking her own wrist, her blade snapped from her gauntlet, and she carefully cut the rope, loosening it from his arm.

Realizing her need for air, she pushed up from the bottom without a second thought, diving back under almost as soon as she broke the surface. Being underwater was so uncomfortable. Not being able to breathe wasn't exactly the best way to go about living. Had she been above the surface still, Sango would have gasped in realization.

Miroku couldn't keep his thoughts straight. Before, he had been concentrating on Sango's thoughts and actions to keep some bearing on what was going on, but now he was focused on continuing to hold his breath. If he inhaled now, he'd drown. He kept perfectly still, not wanting to waste what air he had. If Sango didn't hurry and get him out of this mess, Miroku knew he'd have very little chance at all.

It was too much. He couldn't hold out any longer. He had to take in air. As Miroku was about to give in to the inevitable, something covered his mouth. His eyes popped open, his jaw dropping in surprise when he saw what, or rather who it was.

*Sango?!* was the only thought that ran through his mind. A second later, a blast of air hit the inside of his mouth, and he understood. Ah, cruel irony. Well, at least karma was on his side...

She couldn't believe she was doing this. So THAT was why she despised water so. It always brought on twists of fate she couldn't avoid. Why, oh why did that memory of way back when just have to pop into her brain? Since when did she take pages out of Miroku's book? With a mental sigh, she broke away from the houshi, not taking time to turn red as she hurriedly, yet carefully, broke the knot binding his right hand, leaving him to unwind the rope as she went to go get herself some air.

"Kami-sama. I'm going insane!" she whispered, lingering for a moment to relish the act of breathing, but not for long. She dived again, slashing at the ropes around Miroku's left ankle as he fumbled to untie the one around his right. He wasn't doing a very proficient job. *Baka...* Shoving his hands away, she sliced through that rope too, pulling it off, and pushing off towards the air above for the third time. *That should do it...* Sango waited a long moment for the houshi to pop up from the water. He didn't come.

Deciding to investigate, she ducked under again, and saw Miroku struggling to swim in his jumble of robes and lack of enough air. Oh. Blowing a few bubbles in frustration, she swam down to him, meeting his lips again to give him more oxygen. It added much to her surprise when Miroku made it more like a kiss than anything else. Narrowing her eyes indignantly when she broke away, she grabbed him arm, pulling him up to the surface with her.

"What was that?!" Sango demanded as soon as they reached the shallower path, glaring at him. The houshi didn't respond. "Houshi-sama?"

"Do you hear that?"

"Hear what?" she said, confused.

"Hmmm... Maybe it's nothing. Now if you don't mind, I don't believe we finished," he said, smirking as he stepped forward, drawing her into a soft kiss. It didn't take Sango long to realize what was going on, but she didn't object at all, kissing him right back.

As the kiss ended, a breeze swirled around them, rustling the trees. Hold up... Trees?! Sango looked around, dumbfounded. They were right where they had been before, in the very same clearing.

*What? How did we get here?* Miroku wondered, looking around as well.

"I could ask you the same thing," Sango said, looking back at a bewildered houshi.

"Nani? I didn't say anything." *Did I?*

"Hai, you asked how we got here," she said, raising an eyebrow skeptically.

*What? I thought that... What is she thinking? ... What? I can't hear what Sango's thinking anymore?! What's going on?* Miroku wondered, staring blankly at the taijiya, who was staring blankly right back. Why could she hear his voice when his lips weren't even moving. And what was this about hearing her thoughts?! Sango's eyes narrowed drastically, her fists clenching.

"Houshi-sama, I believe you have some explaining to do..."

Miroku gulped.

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Aamalie: I'm DONE!!!!!!!! Finally! It took me forever to write that one, but it IS twice as long as my usual chapters. Before anyone asks about why the youkai was so different from what one would expect (or at least I think so), I might explain her motives in another chapter... *buries herself in rereading vol. 15 of the manga* KOHARU MUST DIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

Taena: Anything- or one- that gets in the way of the MirSan romance must perish- According to her.

Maela: *shrugs and sneezes* Dan code. Yuu juss had tuu make me teh sick one, di'n yuu?

Aamalie: I can't write while sneezing, can I?

Taena: And I can't be me while being sick!

Maela: *sighs and drinks tea*

Aamalie: ^______^' *plots ways to destroy Koharu and get Miroku and Sango together*

Review Responses

Hamaguri: I really don't think so! *snatches Sess back* My fiance!!! ^___^

Fruitloopsandorangejuice: Yes, I know he's mine! MY fiance!!! ^.~' *winks at the body guard look alike Sesshoumarus and hugs a very familiar looking human*

Sweet Chaos: Gomen! It's been a busy week. Bleah…

Sour Schuyler: Do you know how absolutely tedious it is to spell your name? XP Anyway, I'll have to read that sometime... Yeah.

Ghoul King: You don't like candy?!?!?!?! *calls the paramedics*

The-Real-Rose-Gamgee: *sweatdrops and calls the Men in the White Jackets*

Zero27: Neither am I. I can appreciate it, but a lot of times, it doesn't appeal to me. I just needed a break from the usual... Plus a two week vacation. ^^'

Vampire Elf: Long live the 'Too Lazy to Log In' feeling! YAAAY! ^.~

Blackcat8610: Yes, crickets are cool... And Maela and Taena are scared of you. As well as Aamalie. *nods to herself* Third person talking is FUN. Aamalie likes talking in third person. Yes, she does. And she thinks you need to visit the Men in the White Jackets with The-Real-Rose-Gamgee. *Aamalie nods and shoves her into the MWJ truck* Aamalie says buh-bye!

Corisu Li: Hmmm. Maybe we could stick a whole bunch of bishie cardboard cutouts in a room and lock her in when she goes after them?

LiLpsYchOwaRRioR: I'm lost.

Lancer272spoot: *easily takes Miroku back* I'm not THAT dumb, you know. And basically, she meant the whole thing about him asking her about her thoughts. Ya get it now?

CraziAznGurl: Thankies! Pixie sticks! Yummy! Thank you! And I'm TRYING to update more. If only school was nice. Bleah.

dEeYaN: OOC? WHAT?!?!?! Where??!! Nuuuuuuu! Bad me! *slaps self on head*

Yoshimi: *Taena takes over* I resent that remark! And don't we all feel sorry for her? I mean, we're basically torturing her in this story. *Aamalie comes back* Yeah. We do torture her. Heh. BUT KOHARU MUST DIE!!!!!!!!

Amber Eyez: You think I'm SANE? Sure, I survived, but how could I not go crazy? It's MATH girl! And gomen for the wait. ^^'

Shikon: Neither could I. She was talking about how he was asking about her thoughts (ya know... Miroku intruding on Sango's thoughts and all. The plot. ^^'), not Miroku's groping problem.

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Aamalie: I'd reply to more, but I'm lazy right now. So, REVIEW!!!

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And give me ideas for The Set-Up, or it'll never get done. Ja!