Nature's Family

A/N- This is the new and prettier version of FSF that I've been meaning to post for some time now. If there are any old readers left, it's quite a bit different from the old one though I basically keep the same sort of premise. Hopefully, it will be much enjoyed.

Note about the title-It was inspired by an old Inuyasha site that had the title 'Nature's Couple', which I can no longer find. Just thought I'd put that out there in case someone was wondering.

Disclaimer: I don't in any way own Inuyasha.

Chapter One

It was a chilly, gray day. The kind of day best spent inside by a warm fire with a bowl of soup. Unfortunately, Sango and Miroku were not inside by a fire or doing any of the things that could be done to warm oneself. Instead, they were trailing through the forest in search of a demon that had supposedly been sighted by a few villagers earlier that morning. Their faces and hands felt raw after several hours of facing bitter winds and their hair and clothes were starting to become damp from the drizzle that had started to fall a little while ago. And so far, no demon had been spotted yet.

"Sango," Miroku called loudly from behind her, "perhaps we should turn back."

"What?" Sango yelled back. The wind had picked up in the last hour, making it harder to hear.

"I said, perhaps we ought to go back to the village. We've been out here for quite a while now and haven't seen any sign of a demon. If we continue to stay out like this, we'll surely become ill," he said, lowering his voice as she came closer.

"I guess you're right," Sango agreed, moving nearer to him so he could hold her closely if he felt so inclined. She wouldn't have minded sharing body heat right about now. "We haven't seen a thing since those bent branches hours ago. The weather's getting worse. Whatever was out here has probably long disappeared."

They turned around and headed in the direction of the village. They probably wouldn't normally have stayed out this long looking for what was possibly a demon after a random sighting but they were being extra careful these days. The village they were staying in wasn't too far from where they had last fought Naraku, not that they expected Naraku to be lingering around the area.

The village itself wasn't a spot particularly known for demon attacks which is part of the reason they chose to remain here for the time being. Rin and Kohaku were also with them. They had found them two weeks ago, apparently with Sesshomaru. Everyone was a bit surprised, but neither Sesshomaru nor his servant was with them at the time. Rin and Kohaku didn't know much other than that he had gone after Naraku. Inuyasha, picking up on his scent followed, along with Kagome who was more worried about Inuyasha.

Though a part of her had wanted to go along with them, Sango knew that she had to protect Kohaku now that he was finally in her care. She couldn't ease the pain of his past but she would do all she could to protect him from anyone or anything. The jewel shard in his back made danger even more imminent but neither Sango nor Miroku thought Naraku was likely to show his face any time soon, at least not while the remaining shard was still a threat.

Miroku had stayed with Sango, along with Shippou and Kirara. Sango knew that Miroku fancied the idea that he was protecting them all; she didn't dispel that idea for him. Even though her fighting skills far surpassed his though he was getting better with her training, it was nice knowing that he would risk his life not to just to protect her or their comrades but her brother as well. Not that she wanted him to risk his life but when she was with him, she felt safe in a way that not even all her skills at fighting and demon slaying permitted.

"The demon or whatever it was was probably smart enough to get out of this weather hours ago," Miroku remarked as they trudged towards the village.

Sango's reply was monosyllabic. She was wet, cold and grumpy.

"Sango, be careful not to slip. Some of the ground is really soggy and muddy…" Miroku warned but trailed off when Sango, who turned to look at him at the sound of his voice, stepped onto an especially soggy part of the ground and slid backwards into the mud.

Miroku's face hovered above hers. "Are you alright?"

She narrowed her eyes but sat up and took the hand he offered her. A hot bath sounded really nice right now. She looked down at her clothes and considered trying to wipe of some of the mud but decided it was useless.

"That outfit can't be too warm. You must be soaked," Miroku commented.

Sango gritted her teeth, biting back a scathing reply. She was trying a new more pleasant approach to the everyday. So instead, she stalked off.

Once they reached they village, a few villagers spotted them. Someone started alerting others of their return. Soon there was a small crowd surrounding them.

"Did you catch the demon?"

"Is it dead?"

"We didn't find any demon," Miroku said quickly before Sango could reply. "I'm sorry but there wasn't much to track. Not to worry though as whatever it was probably won't return for a while."

"We were starting to worry," the village headman said. "If you hadn't returned soon, a search party was going to be sent out."

"You have no need to worry. Sango and I have much experience with demons. If there's ever a problem we'll take care of it," Miroku reassured everyone in his smoothest and most self-assured voice. "Right Sango?"

"Right," she grumbled.

"With the pair of us-a highly skilled demon exterminator and a monk that possesses an extraordinary amount of spiritual power and --"

"I think everyone gets it, Miroku," Sango said, grabbing his hand and pulling him along. "Come on before you catch a cold or worse because you couldn't shut your mouth."

One hot bath later, Sango's grumpy mood was fading away. Her clothes had dried by the fire and were now nice and warm. She was greeted by the sight of Miroku telling Shippou, Kohaku, and Rin a story. Sango paused in the doorway, watching them with a smile. Shippou noticed her first and bounded towards her with a wide smile.

"Sango, Miroku said you were losing your touch because you couldn't track down the demon," Shippou said.

"What?"

"He's just teasing," Shippou whispered confidentially.

"Is he now?" Sango crossed her arms and looked at Miroku.

"You know, I would never sully your good reputation," Miroku said, standing and coming over to her. He slid his arm around her waist. "You're above such things." His lips brushed over the side of her face.

Blushing, she stepped away from him and sat next to Kohaku. Miroku's affections were always so sudden. She wasn't used to it yet.

"Are you okay, Sango?" Kohaku asked.

"I-I'm fine, Kohaku. Don't worry about me," Sango replied, smiling brightly at him. Probably too brightly. Kohaku gave her an odd look, as if he wasn't sure if he should say something or just let it pass.

Kohaku probably thought his sister had become very strange and a bit mad over time. The truth was, every time he spoke, she was still surprised to hear the sound of his voice. All that time spent worrying about him had hung heavy for so long in her heart that to suddenly have him back made her feel as if everything was a dream that she had not woken from yet.

"Tea Sango?" Miroku asked. She nodded and he poured tea into a cup. Instead of handing it to her, he stood behind her and leaned into her. Placing the cup in her hands, he asked, "Feeling better now?" His lips grazed her ears.

She felt a shiver run through her body. "Yes," she said softly. She wished he wouldn't do that as it made her lightheaded and slightly disoriented. But a much bigger part of her didn't want him to ever stop doing that as it always made her whole body feel wide awake.

When he pulled away, she felt his lips brush her against her neck. She knew that her cheeks had reddened so she busied herself with drinking her tea. No one seemed to notice anything.

"Will you finish your story, houshi-sama?" Rin asked.

"Of course, one must never leave any story unfinished," Miroku replied.

He spoke in a soothing voice, putting just the right amount of emotion into his words. Everyone listened attentively to his story, even Sango found herself fully engaged in the details. He sounded comforting, reminding her of something nice and pleasant, like the warm spring sun on her face. On a dreary days or whenever she was feeling chilly, she'd be sure to ask Miroku for a story.

He'll be great at telling bedtime stories to our children. The thought brought a small smile to her lips.

ooo

Miroku caught her eye a few times and she felt his warmth down to her toes. She wondered if his thoughts had been on par with hers. She rather liked that idea and hoped they were as she'd be embarrassed is he really knew what she had been thinking.

Much later, after Shippou, Kohaku and Rin had gone to sleep, Miroku and Sango sat together by the fire. They had been given two rooms, but more often than not ended up sharing. It was nicer to spend the nights the nights clustered together, enjoying what time they had left together.

"It's like having your own little family, isn't it?" Miroku said quietly.

"Yes, it is," Sango replied after some time. "Is it weird to suddenly feel like family? I mean, now that I have Kohaku, everything just feels…" Sango trailed off, unsure about where she was going with that.

"No, it's not weird, but Sango, you always had a family. Maybe not a normal one, but a family nonetheless. And you always will have one no matter what happens," Miroku said.

"I know." She reached for his hand, holding it gently. "And will you always be apart of my family?"

"Of course, Sango, my heart, but in what way?" he asked. She could hear the teasing note in his voice.

"I was thinking like an older brother. I've never had one and it might be nice to have someone who looks out for me and protects me from lecherous males," Sango teased back.

"Hmm…I could do that, I suppose. But you might find my thoughts too lecherous for that of an older brother and I don't much fancy the idea of touching my sister perversely."

"Then I had better call you big brother every time you try to grope me."

"Do you really want a family?" Miroku asked his tone suddenly contemplative.

"Of course I want to be part of a family even with a perverted older-"

"No, I meant children, your children."

Sango opened and closed her mouth, meaning to reply but then really started thinking about his question. She did want children, a family, but having them seemed so far off, it was hard to imagine. The image of a boy who looked like Miroku floated into her head. She only hoped he wouldn't turn out as lecherous as his father. She tried to imagine a girl with pig tails and a sweet personality, but just her luck, the girl would end up completely unfeminine and covered in mud.

"I would like children one day but I'm afraid I wouldn't make a very good mother. I think I lack the qualities mothers are supposed to have," she said.

Miroku was staring at her with a bemused expression. "And what qualities are those?"

"You know, mothers are supposed to be nurturing and kind and gentle. They should have a certain femininity about them instead of being covered in battle scars," she explained.

"I don't think it's written anywhere that mothers shouldn't have battle scars. It just makes you tougher, more prepared to handle whatever those kids throw at you. You have all those qualities and more. Okay, maybe not kindness so much-" She elbowed him in the side-"Ow…Okay, okay. And trust me, you do not lack femininity. It's just different for you than it is for other women. I think you'll be a great mother," he said.

"Well thanks, but that day seems so far off, I can barely imagine it." She paused; there was a question on her lips that she always hesitated to ask. "Do you still want a family…with me?" She sometimes worried that his wanting children with her was only a passing fancy, and one day when he had his freedom, he wouldn't be so keen on family life so soon.

"I would love nothing better than to have children with you." His hand tightened around hers. "That's what I want, well that and…"

Sango waited for him to tell her but when he didn't say anything, she turned her head towards him and found his face inches from hers. He gave her quick kiss.

"You!" She slapped his shoulder lightly. "Prevert," she muttered, biting back a smile.

"You sounded like you enjoyed that. Shall I do it again?"

"Maybe," Sango said," if you did it properly."

"Ah, I knew you could only resist me so much. Have I finally melted your walls of ice?"

"Ice? That's ridiculous. I'm as warm as a spring day."

"Only because of me, my love."

"You'd better keep in practice with your lines. You're losing your touch," Sango chided playfully.

"Maybe but I'm deliver them very well. I didn't know you were so partial to them."

"I'm not. I'm partial to you," she said, finding her own happiness disturbingly saccharine these days.

Her thoughts drifted back to their earlier conversation about family but there was no use in worrying about that now. She was trying not to add more to her list of things to worry about. They still had a lot ahead of them. First Naraku had to be destroyed. She was a bit more hopeful about now that she had Kohaku with her even though she knew that she wouldn't really have him back until Naraku was gone. But as much as she wanted Naraku dead, she feared their final confrontation with him, which she felt was coming sooner rather than later.

Miroku's wind tunnel had widened so much that she was afraid it would consume him the next time he used it. He didn't speak of it, partly for her sake, she knew, but he couldn't hide the sorrow that lingered in his eyes. A part of her wished he would open up to her about his fears so she could share some of his pain but he would not and another part of her was glad. It meant that she wouldn't have to open up about some of her fears to him.

As foolish as it may have sounded, she was afraid of dying and leaving everyone she loved. She wanted to see what would become of her friends, what sort of man Kohaku would become and of course, be by Miroku's side. In the event that she should die and he wouldn't, what would happen to him? Who would take care of him? Yes, she was aware that he was a grown man but someone had to keep him in line. And she was convinced that as big as the world may be, no one in it could ever feel the way that she felt about him. Only they could warm each other from the bitter coldness that swept through the hollow places in their hearts.

They were able to console each other without words but an understanding of each other's past. It surprised her how much Miroku had to give, like a pitcher of water filled to the brim. Her heart had grown back bigger because of him.

Glancing at him, she could see the light reflected in his eyes and scooted closer to him. She hadn't even had the chance to be as close to him as she had fantasized about during many sleepless nights. They had been growing closer everyday for a while now especially lately as if they sensed that their current way of life would soon come to an end. But what if the end came before she was able to experience all the different forms of love there were, in body and soul.

"You seem preoccupied with your thoughts. Thinking of me, perhaps?" Miroku said.

"You should be so lucky," she scoffed. She did want tell him what was on her mind but couldn't think of a way to broach the subject that didn't sound awkward so instead she ended up saying, "Do you fear the afterlife?"

He thought it over before answering. "I only hope that I'm doing enough and by helping to destroy Naraku, I will have finally made up for the bad karma of my family. I wouldn't want to pass anymore bad karma onto my children. That's why, if I survive this, I cannot commit anymore violent acts."

"You will survive this, you perverted monk…Do you think I'm too violent? Am I making my karma worse?" Sango asked, suddenly concerned about the sort of karma she would pass onto her children. It seemed the worrying never stopped for her.

"You're only following the path set out before you and doing what you were trained to do. You've suffered in this life but you're doing what's necessary to overcome it. I think your karma will be very good in your next life," said Miroku warmly.

The corners of her lips turned upwards into a smile. It was hard not to feel hopeful when talking to Miroku.

"Now if only you would help to satiate my desire, then I could leave this world without want," he said, holding her hand up to his mouth and kissing each knuckle.

"You shouldn't desire too many things. You'll only get into trouble that way," she scolded but she didn't pull out of his grip even as her face became warm.

"You have it wrong there. I actually desire very few things. Of course, I could narrow it down to just one if you want." Miroku gave her his most charming and lecherous grin.

Sango raised an eyebrow. "One thing, huh? Don't you mean one person?"

"Was that an unchaste comment uttered from your chaste lips?" he asked.

"Not really and my lips don't have to remain that way," she retorted.

"Are you saying that you want me to defile them in a lascivious manner?" he said cheekily.

She paused a bit before saying, her face becoming even hotter, "I don't want to die without knowing all of you."

"Wha…what are you saying?" he asked hesitantly as if he wasn't sure of what she had said. The look of surprise on his face was obvious.

"I-I want to experience love in all forms…with you. If you or I die, I want to know that at least we at least felt the full potential."

As close as they had been growing, it wasn't enough. She had more to give and it wasn't right that their time might be cut short. Accepting death was apart of life, but she wanted, needed to be closer to him before their time was up. She knew that he respected her, trusted her and even loved her, and that filled her heart. But she would be completely content if he knew all of her.

"I want that too, Sango," he said, holding her hand with both of his hands now. His gaze was almost unnerving but she met it. "And we will but there's no need to rush things."

Had he missed the part where she had mentioned death? "Miroku, I respect what you're saying but it's not about rushing things. It's need that we have to fulfill. I can understand if you-you don't feel the same way but if you do…" She lowered her eyes, waiting for a response. What if she had misread him after all? He had been meditating and praying a lot lately. Maybe he was finally clearing his head of perverted thoughts.

"Then we'll just let it happen," he finished. She looked up at him and smiled.

The next few days passed uneventfully. They helped around the village and enjoyed the quiet days. Sango only wished that Kagome and Inuyasha were here to enjoy it with them. She hoped they were doing all right. They were both strong, she was sure they were doing fine-Sango often told herself that to reassure herself.

All the worrying she did was finally catching up to her. She was so used to carrying a heavy weight, that all this time spent not constantly moving made her feel it for the first time in a long while. Nevertheless, that weight had lightened a bit because of Kohaku and Miroku's comforting gaze.

She found that she didn't mind his watchful eye, it was nice feeling taken care of. But her favorite moments were when they shared looks. A look shared over a meal, when he and Kohaku came in carrying firewood with Rin trailing behind them. Those looks sent shivers throughout body, warming up parts she didn't think a simple look was capable of. Shared stares usually resulted in sneaking off for a few moments alone. Sometimes just to be close to each other while Miroku whispered words of comfort. Well, they had been comforting in the past but now they were more…suggestive. It wasn't the words so much as they way he said them that left her longing for more. His lips would brush against her ear, making her skin tingle and he spoke in a low voice.

Finally, one night, when she could wait no longer, she clung to him. And it was she who whispered to him this time, "let's warm each other."

A/N: Still with me? Please drop a review on your way out. All chapters after this will be set post-Naraku and I'm putting this here that way you can skip the further chaps if you're not interested-this isn't going to feature any big showdown battle scene with Naraku. I have a few thoughts about that final battle and the jewel but this isn't the story I really want to explore it in. Thanks for reading.