InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Absolution: The Collected Chronicles of Miroku and Sango ❯ Lesson Learned ( Chapter 18 )

Sango couldn't believe she agreed to have lunch with Inuyasha again after the last time ended in such a disaster. Admittedly, she was curious on why he was so insistent, but she couldn't also help but wonder if this was going to be a bad idea.

 

Now sitting across from him, she could see the worry etched in his face. They made small talk until after they ordered their meal and the waiter had left them finally alone. Inuyasha wasted no time expressing what was on his mind.

 

“Miroku's meeting Kagome today.”

 

Surprise clearly showed on Sango's face. “Really?”

 

Frowning, Inuyasha asked, “He didn't tell you?”

 

Her face colored slightly, and Sango looked down to avoid Inuyasha's piercing gaze.

 

“We haven't really talked in a couple weeks.”

 

Inuyasha's frown deepened and he leaned closer. “Why?”

 

Giving an exasperated sigh, Sango snapped, “It's complicated, okay?”

 

Leaning back in his chair, Inuyasha gave a smirk. “Try me. It can't be any more complicated than the situation is now.”

 

Surprised, Sango looked up at the man across from her. She could see his sincerity and the concern glowing from his eyes. Taking a deep breath, Sango shared everything. She told him about the former fiancé, the confrontation with Miroku, and even her trip to Osaka. The end of her tale was met with silence. Their food sat getting cold, neither having noticed its arrival. Grabbing her chopsticks, Sango chose that moment to disclose another secret.

 

“I'm still angry with you and Kagome.”

 

Inuyasha nodded. “That seems to be the standard these days, but I suppose you'll explain why you are on that boat, too.”

 

Sango gave a slight smile at the sarcastic remark then her face became a mask of seriousness. “I'm angry because you didn't have to hurt him like that. If you loved him like the brother you say he was, you wouldn't have destroyed him.”

 

Flushing, Inuyasha looked her straight in the eye. “You think I don't know that? I admit, I was selfish, Sango. All I knew was I saw and I wanted. I didn't think about his or her feelings. I just had to have her.”

 

Hanging his head, he sighed heavily. “For the rest of my life, I'll regret what I've done. I've lost the one person who always had my back by stabbing him in his. He trusted me, and I failed.”

 

Sango couldn't speak, her words choking in her throat. She never thought Inuyasha felt any remorse for what he had done. She had assumed since he had “won” by taking Kagome, he was happy.

 

“Aren't you happy with Kagome?”

Inuyasha gave a small smile. “I love her, but I can't say we are happy. I wonder sometimes if we'll ever really be. Miroku is always going to be between us.”

 

Brushing his bangs back from his eyes, he continued. “I wish there was a way to fix this. I wish we could go back to when we all were happy. I want my friend back.”

 

Sango was struck by the sadness in Inuyasha's eyes and voice. In her few meetings with him, she could never really get a feel for what was going on inside his head about his feelings over what happened between he and Miroku. She was now touched by the fact that he actually mourned the loss of Miroku's friendship and love. Reaching across the table, she took his hand.

 

“A wise person once told me that in order to move on to the future, you have to let the past go. What's done is done, and there can be no turning back.”

 

Inuyasha focused his golden eyes on Sango. She could still see the sadness there but there was a smirk on his face.

 

“You would know all about that, I bet.”

 

Sango returned his smirk. “Consider it a lesson well learned.”