What Sango Wants – Part Nine: Splash Interrupted!

Aamalie: Crud monkeys... Second try at this chapter. Somewhere in the middle of the first attempt, I realized how lame it all seemed... To much back and forth dullness to fluffiness, back to dullness... Must make it all kawaii and fluffy and sweet...

Taena: --'

Maela: You Mir/San freakish obsessive...

Aamalie: I know... But they've been getting much more attention lately! They aren't so badly ignored...

Taena: Ya know what other coupling ish ignored?

Maela: Kouga/Ayame... But they're an anime only couple... Which sucks, 'cause we know absolutely nothing about Ayame so we can't really write about them...

Aamalie: We soooo need satellite. Oh well, onto the chapter!

Disclaimer: Go back a few chapters... The same applies.

---

After a long meal filled with lighthearted and carefree chatter, Miroku and Sango fell into silence, enjoying the company of the other, though neither would admit that was so. Keeping to their own thoughts, Miroku included, they stared across the water. As small and insignificant as it had seemed from the tree line, up close it was a bit different. The water branched apart halfway through the clearing, one branch heading towards the hot springs, the other feeding into a small pond.

The pond wasn't overly large, yet it wasn't small either. It was probably about eight feet in diameter, and possibly half of that in depth. Kept clear and fairly muck free, natural or other wise, Sango watched the tiny fish dart through, continuing down through the stream on the other end of the pond. Absent-mindedly removing her shoes as her thoughts wandered, she slipped her bare feet into the water, sighing contentedly. It was nice to have a day when things were going right for a change.

Hearing Sango's sigh, Miroku glanced over at her. She looked peaceful, sitting there. He couldn't help but wish she could be happy all of the time, wish that he could take away all of the cruel cards fate had dealt her, taking them for his own, and reshuffling to hand her joy, peace, and love. It was only what she deserved, instead of holding inside all of her grief and pain, biding her sorrow under her job was done, like a warrior. But, then again, she was a fighter, as he was all too clearly reminded by the outfit she wore, and no simple village girl. That was how he wanted her to stay.

Feeling the houshi's eyes on her, Sango turned her face to meet his gaze, meeting it with a raised brow as an idea filtered through her mind. An unnoticeable glint entering her eyes, she made herself frown.

"What are you staring at? Like something you see?" Taken totally off guard, Miroku visibly started, turning bright red at being caught staring as he tried to answer, caught between the advantages and disadvantages of saying either 'yes' or 'no'. Finally, after what seemed like the longest minute of his life, he managed to get the words out. Never mind he was avoiding the question...

"I was just wondering," he said, pretending to muse. Sango narrowed her eyes, pretending to be suspicious. She knew all too well that he was trying to throw her off. All in all, they'd been traveling together for too long to be pulling stunts like that and expecting to get away with it. Oh well. Might as well play along...

"Wondering what?" she asked, feigning curiosity as she wondered just how she was going to execute her own plan. He stretched, smirking.

"Just why women think the way they think." Perfect. She stood abruptly, looking down at him with false disapproval etched into her features.

"Oh, and how do you know how they think?" she asked accusingly. Miroku chose not to reveal the irony of this conversation to the taijiya, instead deciding to continue teasing her. With that in mind, he stood up casually, facing her.

"Experience," he replied, humor lining his tone, adding an almost lewd wink to spice up the conversation. Little did he know that it was not needed. Until...

"What the---"

SPLASH!

He spluttered as he came to the surface of the water, bewildered. Sango, for her part, was bent over laughing at his expense, gasping for breath as tears started running down her cheeks in pure mirth. She was still laughing as he got out, wringing out his robes, and stepping out of the water, trying to retain some dignity as he made his way over to her. She looked at the soggy houshi, still laughing.

"You look so..." Laughter. "I got you..." More laughter. "All wet..." Insane giggling. He could hear her thoughts were much the same. Brushing his dripping hair from his eyes, he smirked. Well, since she wasn't exactly on the defensive.

"Yes, Sango. I'm soaked. That is what happens when you get pushed into the water. For example," he said, scooping her up into his arm, silencing her laughter as he turned, her eyes going wide, "the same would go for you." And, with that, he dropped her unceremoniously into the pond.

She came up a moment later, a stunned look covering her face. By all means, she had not expected him to do that, of all things. *Baka houshi!* she thought, pouting a little. She turned her glare to him.

"You do know I just washed this today, don't you?" she griped, pushing her long hair over her shoulders so it didn't hang in her face, instead fanning out in the slow water.

"Hai, Sango, I know. I was there. If it bothers you that much, I apologize. Though I must say, you always did look prettiest when wet," he replied, earning a wave of water sent his way by a flushed taijiya.

"You hentai. Keep those thoughts to yourself. You did promise, didn't you?"

"Ah, I said I'd attempt to avoid letting my hands wander, and that I would not intentionally visit your bathes uninvited. I said nothing about setting limits on my speech," he said, sitting on a rock. He could see she was slowly working it out.

"Wait a minute... Attempt to avoid? And no speech limits? Why you little- To think I came here, of all places in the world, with YOU!?" She scrambled to get up, but Miroku beat her to it, catching her before she could storm away. "Let me go," she insisted, glaring up at him. Chuckling, he shook his head.

"Why? So you can be angry with me?"

"...Hai..."

"I don't think so."

"Oh? And why not, you yarou?" He was a bit stung by her choice of words, but continued on with the conversation.

"I could always add to the promise, Lady Sango." Sango blinked, regarding him with more than a little surprise.

"A-add? You mean... You could?" He smiled at the hopeful light that sparkled in her eyes. *He would really do that for me? Maybe I was a little harsh... No, Sango! Keep your head! He has got to have some trick up his sleeves, no matter how drenched they are!*

"Perhaps..." he replied, silently acknowledging the truth in her mind. She knew him better than he could have ever imagined. She was perceptive, intelligent, strong, and beautiful. What more could he ever hope to love in a woman, especially if it was Sango?

"Perhaps what?" the taijiya asked eagerly, looking up at him, not aware of how close they were, or maybe just not caring. Miroku just couldn't be sure.

"Perhaps I could say I promise that I will in no way touch you in a way that could offend you or make you feel uncomfortable, and that I will keep whatever thoughts I have to my self if they would upset you?" he suggested.

"I-I think I'd like that," she mumbled, blushing red. "But I have one more suggestion." Surprised, Miroku looked down at her, paling slightly when he heard her thoughts.

"Uh, and, uh... What would that be?" Sango stared him in the eye, taking a deep breath.

"No more popping the question," Sango said firmly, unyieldingly.

"Care to specify which question?" Miroku asked, frowning slightly. He needed to hear it in words, just to be sure...

"The one you always ask. The child one, of course." The houshi considered her for a long time, figuring his options, and she fidgeted slightly, but kept up her end of the stare. At long last, he sighed.

"Very well, but it will cost you something." Barely containing her excitement, she nodded.

"Like what?" Sango implored, smiling.

"Hmmm... Possibly... A kiss?" For what definitely wasn't the first time in the past day, the taijiya's mouth fell open.

"What?!"

"I guess not then," Miroku replied, sighing and pulling away from her slightly. She grabbed him.

"No! Wait! I-I'll... Err..." she stuttered to a stop, clearly embarrassed by the blush that was tap-dancing across her face. Miroku smiled, recovering the ground he had given in his bluff.

"You'll what?" She bit her lip.

"If you promise you'll promise what you said, I'll... I'll kiss you," she muttered, avoiding his eyes. Laughing to himself mentally at the many pleas to Kami-sama running through her mind, he nudged her chin up so their eyes met again with his hand.

"Deal," he said, leaning towards her.

"Deal..." she said, trying to stay calm.

Yet, it seemed that someone upstairs could also read Sango's thoughts, for at that very moment, a voice rang through the clearing.

"E-Excuse me?" Muttering a curse under his breath, which Sango heard all too well, Miroku turned to see a young woman standing a ways off. She slowly walked over towards them, keeping her eyes low. She looked to be of high standing, her clothing being of the finest cloth available, and there being a total of twelve different layers of different coloring on her kimono. Her black hair was up in a simple bun, and she was adorned with slim jewelry, her face decorated with expensive make-up. When she lifted her face, she was obviously quite beautiful, a being of ethereal grace.

"Can we help you, Lady?"

"Are you the houshi who seeks a woman to bear his child?" A frown quirked at Miroku's face. This seemed a bit too familiar for his liking. Sango let out an audible sigh. His promise hadn't been sealed, so he was free to ask the geisha what he'd like. Knowing that, she made to turn away, only to have her hand caught. She stared at Miroku in surprise, but he was still considering the girl.

"I must correct you, miss. I am the houshi who sought such a woman, but no longer." The girl looked shocked, then sad.

"Oh, I see. May I ask you why you have changed your mind, noble monk? Have you found a young woman to be your bride and be your child?"

"Iie, that is not it madam. Forgive me, but I'd rather not go into details. I'm a bit busy at the mom-" he was cut off by the young woman standing before him.

"Then you've given up your search?" Sango frowned at the girl, and pushed past Miroku.

"Excuse me, miss," she started, her voice dripping with sarcasm, "but I don't believe that it's your place to pry. What houshi-sama decides is his own business, and not yours." The geisha considered Sango lightly, her mouth quirked in a half smile.

"Well, then I guess we get to do this my way, don't we? I never did like Naraku's rules," she said, her eyes flashing red.

---

Aamalie: oO' Ya know, that's gotta be the longest chapter I've written. Ever. This is like, page five.

Maela: We usually manage three pages.

Taena: So yeah. Be happy...

Aamalie: *nods* Was the fluff good? There'll be more coming… And a twist… Let's just say Miroku's gonna get in TROUBLE...

Taena: *rolls eyes* Give it away, why don't you?

Maela: If anyone can guess what it is, you get candy! *holds up her very LARGE secret stash* Review!!!

Aamalie: New chapter next week sometime! Ja ne.