InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Assurance ❯ Assurance ( Chapter 1 )

A/N:  erm… I really don't know where this came from…product of out-of-whack emotions, I guess.  Please tell me what you think of it…  And yes, before you ask, this is canon and post episode 132.

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Assurance

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     "Kaede!"  Miroku rapped his staff against the wall of her hut.  His heart was pounding inside his chest.  Please, please, don't let it be true…  Inuyasha had looked murderous when he'd dragged Miroku from the tavern.  "Get out of here, you drunken fool," he'd snarled.  "Sango needs you."  He'd practically thrown him out by his robes.

    "Kaede!"  He pounded harder this time.  "It's me-Miroku!  Please let me in!"

     The old miko pulled back the reed door covering and peered at him.  "Ah, houshi…"  Worry lined her face.   "She's inside."

     Miroku swallowed and moved through the doorway, dread settling in the pit of his stomach.  Sango was curled in a ball in a far corner of the room.  Sango, his Sango, had been robbed of her innocence while he'd been flirting with tavern girls.  He thought the guilt would overwhelm him.

     "Sango…"  He moved towards her, kneeling beside her.  "Are you…?"

     "Go away, Miroku."  Her voice trembled.

     Not Houshi-sama?  "Sango…please…I'm sorry I wasn't-there for you…"

     She lifted her tear-stained face.  "It doesn't really matter anymore.  I'm used goods…if I'd ever been desirable before, I'm even less so now."  A tear slid down her cheek.

     "No, honey," he said gently, placing his hand on her cheek.  "Only to people who are too blind to see the diamond under the carbon."

     She shook her head.  "You're a male-it's excused if you have a few mess-ups before you choose a partner.  But women are supposed to be chaste and virtuous and…and innocent…"

     He leaned close and brushed his lips against her jaw.  "Sango, I would never-ever-think you to be anything less.  Anyone who says so doesn't know the real you."

     She pressed a trembling kiss to his mouth.  "I'm sorry," she said, "that I didn't tell you how I felt before.  I know I can never be with you now…a holy man deserves a pure wife."

     "Sango, you know I'm anything but."  He itched to comfort her, to make it all better, but he was afraid of upsetting her even more.

     She raised a hand and touched his cheek.  "Miroku…can I trust you to answer truthfully?"

     He nodded, not trusting himself to speak.  He wished he could have protected her…  She'd stormed off after seeing him ask his stupid question to a village girl-so this was really his fault…

     "Were you ever…attracted to me-before?"

     "There is no 'before.'"  He threaded his fingers through hers, holding her hand tightly.  "Nothing has changed, Sango.  I see no difference."  He stared into her eyes, silently assuring her of how deep is love was for her. 

     She ducked her head.   "I feel different," she whispered.

     "You're not.  Your heart hasn't changed; your soul and spirit haven't been altered."

     "Just my virginity."

     He shrugged.  "It's overrated anyhow."

     "Miroku!" she chided, half-laughing, half-crying.  "You take things too lightly.  The…marital activities are supposed to be sacred, a special bond between those who love each other…"  She trailed off, her eyes glazing over.

     "Don't," he said swiftly.  "Just…don't…"  He pulled her into his arms and held her tightly.  "It'll be okay.  I promise; I'm here for you."

     "Always?" she mumbled, her face buried in his robes.

     "Forever," he clarified quietly.