InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Captive ❯ Chapter 17

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

*Captive*

Chapter Seventeen

*Sango's POV*

"Luction!" I dropped the flowers in my arms and ran around Miroku to hug my brother.

"Sango," he held me tight squeezing the breath out of me. Then he set me back away from him and looked me over carefully. "He treated you well this fiend?" asked Luction. "He did not hurt you or, or... Compromise your honor?"

"I have done nothing against my will," I answered carefully not sure how Luction would take the news of our involvement.

"She's fine," put in Miroku walking forward with his staff. "No cuts, scrapes or bruises. I caused her no harm. In case you didn't notice we were laughing as we walked up."

"I did not ask you monk," snapped Luction. "And I will ascertain fro myself if my sister is unharmed." He walked around me looking me up and down. "Aha!" he exclaimed he grabbed my chin and lifted it then pointed to a dark spot when my neck and shoulder met. "What is this? Are you the cause of this bruise?"

"Yes," said Miroku honest to a fault. "But she felt no pain in receiving that mark. I like to think of it more as a love bite than a bruise," he stated in an offhand way.

"Love bite?" exclaimed Luction. "Sango what did he do to you?" demanded Luction.

I jerked away from him rolling my eyes. "Luction stop being an idiot. Didn't I just say I have done nothing against my will? I can take care of myself you know. And Miroku stop baiting him."

"Yes darling," said Miroku meekly.

"Darling?!"

"Luction calm down," I said. "Why do you always have to be so melodramatic?"

"Melodramatic?" said Luction.

"Does he always repeat other's statements like that?" asked Miroku.

"Silence," demanded Luction. "You avoided fighting over the theft of your staff but I will have my revenge for the taking of my sister's honor." He drew a sword and charged Miroku. Miroku simply sidestepped and stuck out a foot to trip him.

"Sorry, I'm a lover not a fighter," said Miroku as Luction picked himself up.

"Stand and fight," demanded Luction. "Have you no honor? Or are you scared of my blade?"

"I have honor aplenty; it's your sister I'm scared of," replied Miroku.

"Luction! Miroku!" I said in my most commanding tone. Both men snapped to attention. "Stop this nonsense at once. Miroku stop teasing Luction. And Luction, for the last time Miroku did nothing to me that I objected to. If he had tried he'd be dead right now. Or did you forget that I can best even you when it comes to the fighting arts." Both of them looked shame-faced. "Into the house both of you. It's time for lunch." Luction marched past me into the house and Miroku looked at me his face bereft of emotion then knelt to gather the flowers that were now dusty and wilted.

"Another bunch of flowers ruined," he said jokingly without looking up. There was an emotion in his voice that for the life of me I could not identify. "I must say I enjoyed ruining the other's more. I'll go see what I can do with these." He finished gathering the flowers then walked past me into the house. He did not look at me. He did not make eye contact.

I put a hand on his shoulder as he passed. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing," he said finally looking at me there was quickly concealed flash of emotion in his eyes. "What could be wrong? I have my staff, and your brother has finally come to take you home. All is as it should be." He continued into the house. I stood out on the porch for a moment thinking.

When I went inside I found Miroku and Luction on opposite sides of the kitchen. Luction was glaring at Miroku who was arranging the much happier looking flowers in a colorful vase. "So what's for lunch Miroku?" I asked starting to slip my arms around him but he moved away from me on the pretense of moving the vase to a sunnier spot on the counter.

"I thought we'd picnic on that hill on the left side of the house," he replied not looking away from the flowers. "The basket is in the refrigerator already packed. You and Luction should take it."

"Aren't you coming?" I asked stepping toward him. He stepped father away.

"No, I've just realized there's something I have to take care of. Go, have fun, catch up or whatever," Miroku answered.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, go."

Puzzled I went to the fridge and retrieved the basket. "Come on, Luction," I said. As we left the room I threw a glance over my shoulder hoping to see his face, to find some clue as to what was going on in his head, but his back was to me and his face was buried in the flowers.

*Miroku's POV*

I breathed a sigh of relief when she finally left the room. I wasn't sure how much longer my composure would have held up. I do know if I had let her touch me I would have turned into a blubbering idiot.

What is wrong with me? I knew this day would come and even if Luction had never come for Sango we would have grown tired of each other. This way there would be a clean break. No hard feelings, long silences, or heartbreak. This is how it has to be.

But somehow knowing that makes me feel no better. I've never felt this way before. Like someone pulled out all my guts, tied them in a knot, then shoved them back in. And what of this pain in my chest? Maybe I should go lie down.

*Sango's POV*

"So the ship will return here tomorrow morning and we will leave and forget this ordeal ever happened," said Luction between bites of one of the sandwiches Miroku had made. Misinterpreting the look on my face Luction reached out and patted my knee. "Don't worry, dear sister, we shall put this all behind us."

"It's not that Luction. I just can't bear the thought of--"

"Of staying on this godforsaken island another night? I'm sorry but tomorrow is the latest I could get the ship to come back."

"No, that's not it. Miroku--"

"Needs to be punished for tarnishing your honor? I shall take care of him if that is what you wish," Luction interrupted again.

"NO! That's not it! Stop interrupting and listen to me. Luction I have been happy here. It's the thought of leaving this island that I cannot bear. It is the thought of leaving Miroku that makes me feel as if someone is trying to rip out my heart."

"What are you saying?" asked Luction densely.

"I'm saying that I love him, you idiot. I love Miroku, and I want to stay here with him and make this island our home."

"But Sango," stammered Luction shocked. "He kidnapped you, tore you away from your family and all you hold dear. This is all my fault." he said shaking his head.

"Yes it is and I thank you for it. If you had never stolen Miroku's staff then he would have never kidnapped me and I never would have found him. I would have gone around my whole life with an inexplicable feeling of being incomplete. But now I don't have to do that because Miroku completes me. Miroku is my soul mate I know it."

"If, if this is what you wish..."

"It is."

"Then you have my blessing," said Luction wearily. "Stay here with your monk and be happy."

"Oh Luction," I threw myself at him. "I'm so glad you understand."

"I don't," he said. "Not really, but if he makes you happy then its fine with me. Let's go back to the house."

We gathered all of our things and headed for the house. Miroku was asleep and I couldn't wake him no matter how hard I tried so I just let him sleep and spent the rest of the day with Luction. That night I slipped into the bed to sleep with him.

*Miroku's POV*

When I woke up in the morning there was a warm body snuggled against mine. "Sango?" I asked puzzled. "You're still here."

"Yes," she smiled at me sleepily. "The boat will be here soon but I'm not going. I want to stay here with you."

"You can't," I said automatically. Puzzlement showed in her eyes.

"But don't you want me to stay?" she asked.

More than I want life itself I thought. But I answered differently. "You knew this day would come Sango. It's just come sooner rather than later. It's better this way. No messy break up." The pain in my heart was unbearable but this is what had to be done.

"But Miroku," said Sango haltingly. "I love you."

I laughed but it sounded sour. "I can't say I feel the same. I don't know what love is." The hurt in her eyes was killing me. "You better hurry before you miss the boat."

"Miroku..."

"GO!"

With tears in her eyes she scrambled out of the bed and ran to catch her brother at the docks. When I heard the door close I tried and failed to banish the tears in my eyes and the hurt in my heart.

THE END

Just kidding. I planed it out wrong so there will be one more chapter or an epilogue or whatever. So please don't kill me.

Love you all,

Inulover