Beyond the Water’s Edge

Chapter One: ‘Follow or Forfeit’

Author note:  Okay, this is the most…AU (alternate universe) fic I’ve ever done.  I usually don’t branch off of the story line that far, but hell, I’ve been writing a lot of new stuff lately.  So this is, by all means, with no possible claims of it being otherwise, is an AU fic.  This story was also inspired by a movie, which is also very rare for me.  Now, of course I’m not just copying a movie and inserting Inuyasha characters, because that’s too boring for me.  But watching a certain movie DID give me an idea.  I’ll tell you after you read this, but don’t think you now how anything will end if you’ve seen the movie before because, like I said, I never COPY the movie.  And NO, Inuyasha is the main character in this; not Sango and Miroku like it might seem in the begining.

OOC:  I don’t want any OOC complaints, though if you can’t resist, just spill it.  Everyone is in an alternate dimension and grew up differently, thought they’re all basically the same people and have the same blood running through their veins.  The one thing I think most will bring up is Inuyasha’s “fear” (read and you’ll understand), but that idea is vital to the story, so don’t ask me to change it.  (And also don’t bug me about the Kikyou+Inuyasha thing because wink wink THINGS happen and you KNOW I’m Kagome+Inuyasha all the way…)

Pre-Explanation:  Just so you don’t get too lost or think I’m too ‘out there’ in the AU aspect--  Naraku is still the major bad guy, Kikyou is still a miko, Kagome was still originally from the future/present, and Inuyasha’s still a hanyou.  For those of you who get confused…Inuyasha was never sealed though. 

New stories:  Yes, this is the second of the two new Inuyasha stories of mine.  (Can you believe I uploaded it wrong three times?…I still don’t know how…)  And I want you to read this story and my other one ‘Awakening to White’ and decide between them.  You see, with three stories being written all at the same time it’s rather hectic to get chapters out consistently.  So I can only continue ONE of the TWO new ones and the other will be put on hold a few months.  Four stories-- I can do (which is still amazing) Five-- I cannot; unless you want to wait a month for each of my stories to be updated.

Disclaimer:  (Again?) I don’t own or profit from Inuyasha or it’s characters.  This applies to all following chapters of this story.

Vocabulary:

Haori- a short kimono used as a jacket (Inuyasha’s top)

Itai- ouch!

Youkai- demon/evil spirit

Hanyou- half demon

Houshi- monk/priest

Neh- Hey…

Now finally, let’s begin…

“Are you… Miroku?” 

Miroku looked up from the scrolls he was sorting through to see who it was that stood in his doorway.  A woman was standing by the door, still holding back the mat that usually sealed the doorway.  She was wearing a casual kimono over what seemed to be some form of closely fitted suit, and had a green piece of fabric wrapped around her waist.  Intriguing; was this the new girl? 

“Yes, I am Miroku, the village’s local monk.  Are you the new girl?”  He asked curiously, standing up to properly introduce himself.

“Hai, I’m new.  They sent me to see you...  My name is Sango, Houshi-sama.”  She bowed respectively and, glancing down the length of her back as she bowed, he noticed her hair was tied in a small ribbon at the end. 

“I prefer ‘Miroku,’ thank you.”  He corrected, and clasped her hands in his, giving a small nod of the head as a bow.  “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Sango.” 

Sango blushed very lightly and looked off the side.  “The pleasure is mine, Miroku-sa…”  She trailed off and froze up, nerves going haywire when she felt a hand on her behind. “Y-y-you!!”  She caught her breath and smacked him across the face, scooting back from his hand.  “What kind of monk are you!!”  She yelled and panted, more flustered than she could remember being in years.  This man…!!

“Oh, do please forgive me, it was a harmless little joke!  I forgot that since you are new here, you are far from comfortable with my sense of humor..." He said to explain himself, one hand raised in innocence and the other stroking his injured cheek thoughtfully.  ‘Joke!?  This man thinks such behavior is a genre of humor!? Or …is he just some clever lech!?’  Sango eyed him suspiciously, wondering if he spoke the truth.

“Never mind that now,…”  He waved her off.  “What did they send you here for?  Am I to place you?”  He asked, sitting back down on a mat in the center of the room against the back wall, straightening his scrolls.  She blinked at him for a moment, before remembering why she had been sent and sitting demurely across from him.

“Oh, I…”   She sighed and looked down, swallowing hard.  “My father and the village people…Youkai exterminators, in order for us to spare the village… I was sacrificed to Naraku, since…”  Miroku could tell she was trying to not appear saddened that she was given as a sacrifice for her village.  “He said that things sometimes got messy and he wanted someone strong, so I volunteered and…”

“That’s enough.”  Miroku said calmly, making her look up at him again.

“We are all stuck here for our own reasons, I’m sorry yours was tragic.”  He sighed and started going through some different scrolls that were stacked behind him.  “So I guess they did send you to me for placement then.” He spoke out loud while he started scanning the scrolls.  “Placement?”  She asked softly, but he didn’t answer and continued to look through his scrolls. 

“Hmmph.  Well I don’t know what Naraku had in mind when he accepted you here.  For this ‘strength’ you spoke of I guess you’re just back up.  But I don’t see any space for someone of your specialty in the village that’s open…”  He frowned as he went through the last scroll.  Sango looked down shamefully.  “Oh…”  She said sadly.  So she was trapped here with no place to stay…?

“Well that’s not a problem!”  Miroku suddenly chirped, clapping his hands together after tossing the scroll over his shoulder.  She stared at him in surprise, “What..?”

“You can be my assistant.”  He announced, making her gasp.  “Even with visitors it gets a little lonely, and all of these scrolls add up so fast…”  He continued, but she stood up and stared down at him.  “Now wait a minute!”  She breathed.  “Won’t you get punished for that?  And a demon exterminator --as a monk’s assistant!?  Who’s ever heard of such a thi…”  She cut herself off when Miroku’s face turned serious and grim, as he stood up in front of her.  He wasn’t much taller than herself, but it made her feel over powered, and the look he had on his face…..

“It does not matter what you are as long as you have a place.  No one cares.  If you have a title and a purpose, it keeps the balance; and that’s all anyone cares about.  Would you rather me send you out to see if someone will let you room with them for awhile?  Make you do chores for them?  They all have their own placements to act…” 

“N-No…”  She whispered and shook her head at him, unable to look away.  Finally, he sighed and slumped back down.  “I’m sorry…It’s not easy, you know.”  He said apologetically, looking up at her where she still stood, stiff as a board.  “But I really would enjoy your company, Sango…”  He smiled softly. 

“Thank you then, Miroku-sama…”  She said carefully and sat back down as well.  “Now,…I wasn’t really told much, but…who is this ‘Inuyasha’ that’s so important?”  She asked, clearing her throat, trying to start a more comfortable conversation.  “Aaah.”  Miroku smiled and leaned back with his grin.

“Inuyasha.”  He played the name on his lips with a happy familiarity.  “A hanyou.  Part dog demon, part human.  The very person that we are all here, living for… The center of our purpose.”  Miroku stated, waving his hand out in a wave-like gesture as if he had explained who Inuyasha was thousands of times before.

“That much I know.”  Sango told him.  “Well then,”  Miroku sat up, “For further information, he is considered the ‘village protector.’” He continued, using his fingers to emphasize the quote.  “At least, that is what you will have to treat him as.  He defeats any youkai that somehow make it into the village past the barrier.  He’s quite good at it.”

Sango looked thoughtful.  “A hanyou exterminating youkai, huh?  Interesting.  I’m not going to run into the barrier if I trail off from the village a little, am I?”  She asked carefully.  “Oh no, no!”  Miroku smiled again.  “You’d have to be trying to escape or somehow get lost wandering for miles, to ever reach the barrier!  It’s very far from the center of the village, but I still wouldn’t venture all that far beyond the water or the forest...”  Miroku informed her, stroking his chin.  “Inuyasha himself doesn’t know about it.”  Sango looked mildly surprised.

“Wow…”  She breathed.  “So it’s really true then?  He really doesn’t notice any of this?  The barrier?  Naraku?  The villagers?  Nothing…?”  Miroku nodded.  “He’s probably never heard the name ‘Naraku’ in all his life, except maybe by accident.”  He added to her amazement impassively.

Sango sat and thought about the new information in silence for a moment.  After a few expressions passed across her face she looked up with her features displaying a crude sort of sarcasm.  “Jeez.  All of our lives have been given up to revolve around a guy who’s lived as long as he has, and is still too dense to notice anything is going on!?”  She ranted casually.

“Stop!”  Sango squeaked when Miroku dropped a heavy hand on her shoulder and gripped it firmly.  Her eyes widened again at the meaningful gaze he pinned her with.  His voice was saturated with warning, and almost threatening.  “Don’t you ever blame this on him.”  He warned her directly.  “Our lives may be sacrificed to revolve around him, but none of this is Inuyasha’s fault.”

“Inuyasha was born unknowing… and lives unknowing, he didn’t and doesn’t have any say in what’s going on around him…  Though he’s lived longer than you or I, he’s still very young by demon standards.  He’s too innocent to place the blame for any of this on.” 

“A-Alright…”  Sango stuttered, gulping quietly as Miroku removed his hand.  ‘G-Goodness…He sounds like he knows Inuyasha well, to defend him in such a way…  I guess it’s true though…Inuyasha really can’t help it…’  Sango thought to herself as she watched Miroku collect himself again with his chin resting on a fist, propped up by his elbow on his knee. 

“Sorry.  But,…how do you know Inuyasha?  I mean, aside from playing a part in all of this?”  Sango asked, more cautious to think before she spoke.

To this question Miroku smiled widely and sat up straight, if not a little proudly.

“I’m his best friend.”  Sango looked a little surprised, but nodded.  They both turned to look towards the door as a few shrieks from village girls echoed down the dirt roads in their direction.

“What the hell!?”  Sango mumbled as she stumbled to her feet and towards the door to see what the commotion was about.

“Well speak of the devil, there he is.”  Miroku chuckled softly and pointed down the road.  Sango followed his hand and looked startled at the man he was referring to.

“That’s him?”  She asked incredulously and heard Miroku mumble an agreement behind her as they stood in the doorway watching the hanyou come their way.

Inuyasha stood taller than most of the people in the village, though not by too much.  He was carrying pieces of a youkai carcass over his shoulder, which was causing most of the village girls to gasp or scream in surprise when they noticed; explaining the screeches they had heard.  His hair was pure silvery white, holding true to his demon blood.  And his eyes golden, which Sango could already see from a distance.  He wore a very simple, red, loose outfit and sported a simple smirk upon his lips at the ladies who continued to fright about him as he walked on.  Though he looked one to be an attitude to stress with, there was a superior air about him also that Sango raised an eyebrow at. 

As he was passing them, he stopped and glanced at Miroku’s hut for a moment and noticed them outside; and slowed down his pace, but didn’t stop.  He raised a hand and gave a smile in greeting to Miroku.  But when he noticed Sango, he raised a playful eyebrow at Miroku and then glanced at something behind her and rolled his eyes, shaking his head, and continued on his way. 

Sango’s brows wrinkled in confusion at the odd passing and wondered what he had shook his head about.  She didn’t have to wonder long though because when she looked behind her to see what he had rolled his eyes at she saw Miroku wearing a big smile with his hand behind her making ‘groping’ motions even though he wasn’t actually touching her behind.  “Oh, you! That hand of yours!”  She spat and socked him in the arm.

“Hmm.  Violent, aren’t we?”  He sighed and cradled his arm.  “Yes, I wonder which one of us will fail to survive this partnership…”  Sango muttered and glared at him evilly.  It seemed the priest had been right about his sense of humor.  Or at least… Inuyasha was also familiar with it, so it seemed.

“But there you have it.  That was the man we’re all here for.”  Miroku said in a voice that was anything but bleak or grim.  Sango looked up at him oddly, wondering if he actually enjoyed being trapped in the village.  If he did, he was insane… Though she couldn’t say he was horrible company, minus his perversion, or that Inuyasha seemed too horrible.  Her eyes strayed to the offending hand that he had violated her with twice already.  Once actually, but she considered the second joke to count…

It was the first time she noticed the protective cloth that was covering the hand and disappearing beyond the sleeve of his robe.  There was also a rosary wrapped around his palm that she was surprised to have missed before.  But now that she thought about it, her ‘violation’ had a very delayed reaction not only from shock, but because his hand had such an odd texture that she didn’t recognize it as a hand immediately.  Beads, ugh.

“What’s the…”  She started, but Miroku noticed where her gaze rested and hid the questioned hand behind himself.  “It’s nothing.”  He interrupted and turned back into the hut.  Sango frowned and picked up her over sized boomerang she had left outside the hut to place it somewhere inside.  “Sorry I asked…” She mumbled and disappeared inside of the hut with her weapon.

“IT’S HUGE!!”  A few villagers looked oddly at the hut as the male cry was omitted loudly from within.  They just shook their heads and kept walking.

“Ah shit.”  Inuyasha cursed as his ears twitched and he looked behind himself to see a few of the youkai talons he’d been carrying had fallen off his load.  He was slightly surprised to see a little girl already bending down to help him recollect them.

“Well… arigato, Rin.”  He said politely and huffed, dropping to his knees to pick up the larger, heavier pieces.  He knew everyone’s name that lived in the village.  It was his village after all, or he protected it at least. Except… he didn’t recognize that girl who had been with Miroku…oh well.  He’d ask him about it later.

“You’re welcome, Inuyasha-san.”  Rin replied, politely as well, holding out her arms that held a bundle of the talons and pieces.  He accepted them, and nudged her in the arm playfully before he nodded and was on his way again.

Rin waved until he was around the corner and sighed.  “What’s wrong?”  Kaede asked from behind her, and Rin turned around to smile sadly at the other little girl.

“I don’t know…  Inuyasha-san is really nice.  Don’t you ever want to tell him the truth?”  Rin asked her friend sympathetically.  Kaede looked frightened.  “Rin!  Don’t you dare say that! We aren’t allowed, you know that’s the most important rule.  R-Rin, if you told him you’d be…”  Kaede sputtered, horrified that her friend would even admit to thinking such a thing.

“I know, I know…”  She sighed again and crouched on the ground.  “But don’t you ever feel sorry for him?”

“Of course.  But, if he’s so special, he should figure it out himself.”  Kaede huffed and kicked at the dirt.

“I don’t think that’s very fair…”  Rin frowned.  “Everything seems real enough.  I mean, if I weren’t told what to do, I’d probably think it was real myself….”  Rin stood up and stretched, shaking her head to clear her thoughts.

“Neh, Kaede...  When…do you have to go back to Naraku?”  Rin asked a little hesitantly.  Kaede bit her lip and wrung her hands nervously. 

“I-I have to go back tonight…”  Kaede answered, swallowing harshly.  Rin frowned, but then smiled optimistically at her friend hoping to cheer her up.  “But, hey, Kaede! We can still play and have dinner before you go, right?”  She asked hopefully.  Kaede slowly smiled and nodded before they both ran back into their hut as well.

“Too bad you won’t get to be here tomorrow, though.  Sesshoumaru-sama is coming to visit me.”

“Oh great, not that meanie!”

“Sesshoumaru-sama is not a meanie, Kaede!”

“Kikyou?”  Inuyasha called out softly as he glanced around the hut to see if she was there.  She wasn’t, and the hut was empty, so he just grunted and dumped the youkai parts in the corner and proceeded to clean them and start a fire.  “Probably off helping some ill old hag again…”  He sighed.

A second later Inuyasha sneezed and rubbed at his nose, setting down the piece he had been working at.  “Damn…She’s been so busy lately she hasn’t been dusting at all…” He frowned and got up to get a cloth.  Wetting it in the water kept outside the door, he quickly went over the hut interior with it to get rid of most of the dust.  Not intending to sneeze again, he also went over and took down the woven door and set it aside.  That would air it out….

Five talons, three slabs of protective shell, and one cleaned skin later; a shadow blocked the light flooding in from the door and Inuyasha glanced up.  “Kikyou…”  He mumbled, looking up at her a little surprised as she surveyed the scene from the doorway.  “It was dusty…” He explained when she glanced at the ‘door’ crumpled up on the floor. She  then raised a calm eyebrow at the mess he’d made.

“Uh…Killed another youkai today.  You can make use of most of this, can’t you?”  He asked as she nodded and knelt near him to inspect some of the pieces.

“Good for arrow heads.”  She murmured as she held up one of the talons to the firelight. He watched her inspect all of the pieces carefully until he finally spoke up. 

“Some hag in the village sick again?”  He asked quietly.  She glared at him for a second at his language, but shrugged.  “Yes.  The woman who tailors things… Her mother fell on the road and injured herself.  She developed a fever…”  Kikyou explained calmly, with her eyes closed as she instinctively fingered over the smooth surface of the talon in her hand.

She finally put it down and turned to examine the extent of the mess Inuyasha had made while cleaning everything.  She frowned at him and he shrugged at her guiltily.  “What!? I’m still in the middle of it...  I haven’t had the chance to clean it up yet!”  He folded his arms defensively.  She just shook her head and walked to stand behind him.

“Never mind it then.”  She said softly, slowly kneeling behind him.  Inuyasha tensed and watched her as she slowly moved, resisting the urge to turn around.  Something about her was always so mysterious that he couldn’t help but feel nervous, but he cursed his own naïveté and forced himself to relax.  She never did anything odd, any way.  Perhaps it was just something in his blood that always made him uncomfortable...

“Inuyasha.” She whispered in his ear, making it very difficult for him to keep his shoulders low and relaxed.  She wrapped her arms around him from behind and pulled him close.  She smelled good, he noted; and let himself slump back against her.

“You’re tense…”  She whispered, and let her right hand finger the gap in the front of his haori where it folded.  “Long day…”  He replied and swallowed as she tickled the nerves on the front of his chest beneath the fabric.  ‘Kikyou…’  He swallowed hard as she pushed up against his back.

“Oh my! Interrupting something? I’m sorry!”  Miroku held back a laugh as he stood guiltily in the doorway. 

“Miroku…”  Inuyasha sighed exasperatedly and got up, adjusting the front of his haori, before walking over to the door.  Kikyou stood up as well, but stayed where she was, casting a glare at Miroku.  Miroku rolled his eyes at her and turned his attention to Inuyasha.

“What do you want, lecher?”  Inuyasha asked casually, running a clawed hand through his hair.

“Lecher? I thought it was ‘Miroku’ a second ago.  I said I was sorry I interrupted.”  Miroku smiled. 

“Enough about that.  What brings you here? Not that I mind...” 

“Oh, that, you see….”  Miroku smiled even wider and turned around to reach out at something around the corner.  After a short moment of struggling and mumbles, to which Inuyasha looked amused, Miroku successfully dragged Sango through the door and kept her in place with an arm securely around her shoulder. 

“This.”  Miroku gestured.  “Is Sango.”  Sango bowed and muttered a greeting, standing back up rather stiffly.

“Damn, Miroku! You finally have a girl?  Has hell frozen over?!”  Inuyasha blurted out and placed a largely amused smile on his face, smacking Miroku on the back and sending both Sango and Miroku leaning forward from the impact.  Sango stared at Inuyasha in horror and Miroku glared at his friend threateningly.

“No.”  He corrected firmly.  “Sango is my assistant.”

Inuyasha sputtered over his shoulder and stared at Sango, causing her to shrink back into Miroku, feeling like she was being sized up.  “Assistant?  I know I’ve never seen her around before, where did she come from?”  Inuyasha asked incredulously.

Sango and Miroku froze.  Miroku silently cursed himself. He had been so absorbed in other things that he hadn’t considered making up a background for Sango.  He caught Kikyou glaring at him from behind Inuyasha’s back with an angry look, mouthing ‘what the hell are you trying to do!?’ at him.

“Sango…”  Miroku started, and nodded at himself for his quick remarks.  “Was sent to our village as a last resort.  My father knew hers, and sadly, the village was attacked by youkai and burnt to the ground…  In respect of our connections, she had nowhere else to go than here.  Thus’ …I have a new assistant.”  Miroku stated calmly.  Sango stared at him with wide eyes and actually looked a little hurt when he made up the story about her village burning; which was probably a good thing though, because Inuyasha saw it and believed him.

“I’m sorry to hear that.  Your welcome to stay here, of course.”  Inuyasha said sympathetically.  “Strange though,”  He continued, “Your father never mentioned anything about it…”  Inuyasha mused to Miroku.  He just sweat dropped, “Oh, well… they were childhood friends.”  Inuyasha just nodded and Kikyou was still glaring at Miroku behind him.  While Inuyasha bowed shallow and introduced himself to Sango, Miroku stood on his toes and stuck his tongue out at her so she would notice.  

“Anything else you needed?” Inuyasha’s voice caused Miroku to suck back in his tongue and look away from the angry Kikyou.

“Nope, just introductions.  Wouldn’t want Sango to get slammed up against a tree with you demanding to know who she was now, would I?” Miroku shrugged.  Sango froze and gawked at Miroku for his words.

“Jeez.  You’ll never let me live that down, will you?  It wasn’t my fault. You shouldn’t accept those damn ‘holy’ visitors of yours without telling me first any way.”

Sango’s gawking switched to Inuyasha. 

Miroku lifted a finger and shut her mouth for her.

“No, I won’t.  Everyone must have some leverage.”  Miroku smiled wickedly at Inuyasha as he turned, starting his way out.  “And I could always tell ‘Sango’ about all of your little ‘habits’.”  Inuyasha sneered.  Sango looked at Miroku curiously and saw him shoot a hard glare at the hanyou for a second.

“Nice talking to you.”  Miroku called over his shoulder.

“N-Nice meeting you.” Sango sputtered and bowed quickly before hurrying to catch up with him.

“See you tomorrow, lech.  You too, Sango.”  Inuyasha called his partings and walked back into the house.  Kikyou was already starting to clean his mess and he sighed, walking over to help her.  She gave him a look that stopped him.  “No, why don’t you go out and hunt or something?  I’m fine, …you’ve had a harder day.”  She assured.  He opened his mouth to protest but she looked up again and he closed it.

“Thank you.”  He said simply and he left the hut.  Once he was out of site Kikyou brushed herself off and walked off into the small adjacent room where she sat and meditated, concentrating.

“Naraku… if you’ve taken Kaede already, …I’ll be angry.”  She whispered in warning.

Sango looked over at Miroku, who was contently silent besides her.

“Who was that woman with Inuyasha?”  She couldn’t help but ask.  Miroku looked at her curiously and smiled.  He seemed to smile a lot, she noted.

“That’s Kikyou.  She …isn’t too keen with introductions, but she’s very polite and proper.”  Miroku mused.  “Surprising, that a woman like that would be Inuyasha’s type, don’t you think?”  Miroku asked.

Sango nodded and frowned.  “How DID she end up with him?”  To her surprise, Miroku frowned.

“Like anyone else ends up placed in this village.”  Miroku sighed.  “Naraku thought Kikyou was the right one to do the job, when Inuyasha neared the age suitable to take a mate.”  He explained, running his fingers along the rosary wrapped around his palm, unconsciously.

“You mean Naraku just chose her and that’s what she had to do?  Forced to fall in love with him?”  Sango asked in surprise.

“Love, is a strong word, Sango.”  Miroku smiled sadly.  “Kikyou is a lady of strict duty.  She’s a miko.  Loving Inuyasha was the duty given to her, and that she makes it seem.”

Sango frowned to herself.  “That’s awful.  You mean she doesn’t truly love him at all?” 

“Not really.  A bit possessive of him, yes.  But spending your life making someone believe you love them would do that to anyone, neh?”   Sango nodded solemnly.  She blinked and looked up in surprise when she heard Miroku start laughing.  “What’s so funny?”

Miroku grinned a wide, wicked, smile and raised a finger.  “The thing is…”  Miroku’s smile widened, making Sango wonder what the heck was wrong with him.  “Naraku placed Kikyou in Inuyasha’s life so he would take her as a mate.  And we all know what youkai do to claim a mate…”  Miroku lifted an eyebrow suggestively and Sango nodded numbly.

“But Kikyou and Inuyasha have been together for years, and he hasn’t slept with her once!  It’s driving Naraku insane.”  Miroku snickered.  Sango nodded again, supposing that it was, in some ironic way, very amusing.  “Why do you think that is…?”  She wondered out loud.

“Dunno’.” Miroku admitted.  “I’ve tried to talk to him about that kinda’ stuff before, but he’s not to happy about sharing those kinds of details.”  Sango rolled her eyes when Miroku looked seriously let down, but he straightened up again and started to tick the possibilities off on his fingers.

“Too much of a coward perhaps? Still too young? Kikyou too forward? Hard to turn on? Or perhaps he notices something missing and doesn’t love or trust her enough…” Miroku looked a little more thoughtful of the last option.  Sango just groaned and looked away. 

She sighed and looked off to side, silent again.  “Eeek!”  She gasped and looked accusingly at Miroku when he flipped the tail of her hair that was tied in her ribbon.

“You were biting you lip.  …Something else you wanted to say?”  He asked, not seeming to notice her glare.  She blinked at him and watched the ground as it passed beneath her feet.

“Would…Inuyasha really do such things, as you said?”  She asked hesitantly.  Miroku smiled knowingly.  “Not …in the way you might think.”  She listened to him curiously.

“True, he is very suspicious of people he doesn’t know.  But it’s just his nature, and he does protect the village, after all.  And he is part demon, armed with razor sharp claws, fangs, and strength,  but really… he never harms anyone.  The only things he ever kills are youkai …and then animals for food.  And even then, for food, his kills are very clean and simple.”  Sango’s eyes softened at the information.  “He isn’t the mean demon-behaving guy I might have alluded you to think, I'm sorry if it came off that way… I was only joking with him.”   Miroku explained.  “We’re like that.”

“So I’ve noticed.”  Sango muttered.  “Thanks for introducing me though.  When I was brought here, this whole ‘Inuyasha’ thing scared me a bit… He isn’t scary at all though.  Intimidating, yes…”  Sango smiled weakly and Miroku nodded.

“I think he’s just as human as any of us.  Only difference is that he lives a life innocently, accepting all around him as it is.  While we on the other hand, live by order to make it that way, under Naraku.”  Sango looked thoughtful, but frowned distastefully at the last name.  Miroku’s hut came into view and Sango looked around her in observation, and then looked at Miroku smiling next to her with his eyes ahead.

“I think …I might not be as miserable as I had originally thought.”  Miroku looked at her in surprise.  “Inuyasha, and you,… it isn’t so bad.”  She admitted with a small smile.

“I’m glad to hear that.”  Miroku replied, and then smirked mischievously... 

“Inuyasha’s bark is worse than his bite.  But, my bite on the other hand….”

“Ack! You pervert! Damn your hand, Miroku!!”

To be continued….

So there it is…  Did you like it?  Different huh?  Confusing?  I hope so because that’s what makes things interesting.  And Kagome comes soon, so don’t worry.  I personally like the Miroku-Inuyasha relationship and the Miroku-Kikyou glaring.  Sango and Miroku are amusing too. You’ll have to choose between this story and the other new one however.  ‘Awakening to White’ and this one, ‘Beyond the Water’s Edge’.  Only one of them will be consistently updated, or else I’d go into author-overload trying to write five stories at once.  Four is enough.  So decide which you’re more eager for me to continue and do tell.  But please give a general review too.  I’d like to know what you think.  Oh yeah… and the movie that gave me this whacked idea was ‘The Truman Show’, though not too many people have seen it, that I know of at least.  Basically the only thing I got from it though, was that the whole village revolves around Inuyasha and it’s all set up.  But it’s far from the movie if you haven’t noticed.   Well…decide, decide, decide!!  And review! 

(Disclaimer: I don’t own or profit off of the movie either!  It’s not even the same story line for crying out loud!)