InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Destiny ❯ Promises ( Chapter 6 )

Destiny - Chapter 6 - Promises.

Sango looked worriedly around Kaede's hut, she was momentarily reassured by the sleeping forms of Shippo and Rin, but where was Kagome? As if reading her thoughts Miroku laid a steady hand upon her shoulder.

"Don't worry Sango, I'm sure Kagome-san is fine, Inuyasha is bound to be with her."

"I know Houshi-sama, what worries me is if Kouga is with them too." She turned to face him a worried frown upon her face.

"Then fear not child, for the wolf demon is not with them. I saw him go in the direction opposite to Inuyasha, no doubt he is off to gather the wolf clan and tell them of our plans against Naraku."

Miroku almost jumped out of his skin and Sango's frown deepened annoyed with herself that she had not heard the old miko's approach, she really would have to ask Kaede-sama how she managed to move so stealthily.

Miroku grinned. "So Inuyasha more than likely is alone with Kagome-san." He ended up rubbing his head where Sango had smacked him hard for voicing the impure thoughts that were obviously running through his head.

"Pervert! Kagome-chan is not like that!" Sango glared at the young monk.

"I'm hurt Sango, I didn't mean it like that at all. I know Kagome-san is not like that. I simply meant that since they are alone, perhaps Inuyasha and Kagome are using this opportunity to talk over things regarding their relationship. That is why I was smiling so, would it not make you happy for them to be happy?"

Sango eyed Miroku suspiciously for a moment, measuring the truth of his words. It was more than likely that her assumptions over his comment had been correct. But as lecherous as he was, there was another side to Miroku. He could be telling the truth about simply thinking of Kagome and Inuyasha finally telling one another their feelings. They were his friends too after all, and they had both often discussed how they would like to see Kagome happy. And what better time to talk about how they felt? Otherwise if one of them died they would live a lifetime of regrets at not having told the other how they had felt about them. That would not take away the heartache at losing their love, but it would bring some comfort to know that person had loved them, instead of always wondering. Sango briefly thought of Kohaku, hoping that wherever he was, deep down he knew that despite what he had been forced to do, she had never stopped loving her little brother, he was not responsible, Naraku was and for using him as a puppet he would pay.

Her mind ran back to Inuyasha and Kagome, she started to mentally admonish them for being so foolish. For denying their feelings for one another for so long, to waste the time they had with one another. But hadn't she been doing the same for some time now? Sango sighed, maybe Kagome at least wasn't being so foolish, she had real reason to doubt Inuyasha's feelings towards her. After all there was still the matter of Kikyo, it angered Sango to see the pain on her friends face whenever the hanyou ran after the walking clay imitation of his former love. Well at least Kagome only has one woman to compete with she thought bitterly.

Miroku had been watching Sango earnestly for some sign of a reaction to his words. Her frown told him she was giving them serious consideration, but he was no closer to determining if her mood were good and bad. He had gone with her earlier to check the perimeter of the village, hoping they would have some chance to talk things over, hoping he could get a better hold on just what it was that he felt when he was around Sango. But Kirara had been with them, and he had not felt like confessing in front of the firecat, although he really shouldn't have been bothered by her presence. But he wanted to be alone to talk with Sango. He wasn't sure if it was the upcoming battle with Naraku or the possibility that Inuyasha and Kagome might be confessing their feelings for one another that had awakened this need in him. But for some reason he felt like he had to talk to her, to tell her things that he rarely would allow himself to think about. He glanced over at the now sleeping Kirara who lay curled up alongside a sitting Kaede who watched over Rin and Shippo, it was now or never!

"C'mon!" He grabbed Sango's hand pulling her out of the hut.

"Houshi-sama! Wha... what do you think you are doing?" Sango looked at Miroku in shock, was he trying to get knocked unconscious?

"Sango please, I think we need to talk, besides maybe we'll come across Kagome-san and settle your fears about her, although I am sure she is safe if she is with Inuyasha." He looked at Sango hopefully.

Sango regarded Miroku thoughtfully, it didn't seem like he had perverted intentions and that was enough to un-nerve her. No he seemed very serious about wanting to talk, desperate even. Sango saw movement out of the corner of her eye and bent down to run a soothing hand over the fire cat's head.

"It's okay Kirara, Miroku and I are going for a walk." Sango had to smile at the fire cat's almost quizzical expression. I hardly understand it myself she thought, but I really want to know whats on Miroku's mind, it seems very important.

"Go on Kirara, go back to the hut, I'll be fine. Miroku and I can take care of ourselves, should we get into any trouble, and I can certainly take care of him should he step out of line."

Kirara studied Sango for a moment before bowing her head in a nod and heading back into the hut. Sango got up, dusting her legs before looking over and Miroku and smiling softly.

"Let's get going then Houshi-sama."

"Ka... Kagome, you..... you took off the rosary!" Was all the shocked hanyou could say. He wasn't sure what had shocked him more, the fact that Kagome had removed the beads or her admission that she loved him.

"Hai Inuyasha." She looked at him shyly, her cheeks a soft shade of red, her eyes were shining. She took Inuyasha's breath away and he stood staring lost in the sight for a moment until he realized she was offering them to him.

"Here, they are yours to do with as you please."

Inuyasha accepted them, nodding dumbly at her and his eyes widened further when he felt Kagome wrap her arms tightly around his body, burying her head into his chest. His arms instinctively surrounded her and he looked down at his hands at her back, staring at the beads resting in his right hand. He soon forgot about them as his mind began to race with thoughts of the girl in his arms. He tightened his hold around her and felt her respond by snuggling into him. He raised a hand to her head to stroke her hair softly.

Kagome was in his arms, his Kagome was in his arms. How many times had he held her as a friend when he had wanted so much more and now his dream had finally been realized. He wanted the moment to last forever, the smell of her sweet scent surrounding him, comforting him and her warm body pressed to his in acceptance of him and his love. And suddenly he was brought back to reality, his body stiffened as he remembered another moment when he had wished for time to stand still. Kikyo......... he growled, it wasn't fair, it wasn't fair, he could love Kagome but not be with her.

Sango and Miroku watched the ripples on the surface of the river. The breeze was gentle and the moon full, it was truly a beautiful night. Sango sighed in disappointment, the monk hadn't made any perverted moves towards her, but neither had he said a word despite him saying that he needed to talk to her.

"Its late Houshi-sama, maybe we should talk tomorrow." She got up to leave only to stop when he gently grabbed her hand.

"Please stay Sango, I.. I know I asked to talk and haven't said anything, but I find myself at a loss for where to begin. I'm not even sure what it is that I want to talk about, I just feel like I have to, I have to talk with you."

Sango stopped, worried by the uncertainty she saw in his eyes. Miroku was never like this, even when he was being perverted he was like a rock, always self-assured and strong, so determined. Qualities she greatly admired in him. She finally nodded his way to let him know she would stay.

"Houshi-sama, what's wrong?" She asked figuring that maybe if she initiated a conversation, sooner or later what he wanted to talk about would come out.

He looked away from her out towards the water, deep in thought before finally starting to speak.

"Many things Sango, the battle with Naraku, the jewel of the four souls........ my life."

"Your life Houshi-sama? Your Kazanna is it, is it, I mean can you tell? Do you know if its about to..." Sango looked at Miroku in desperation, was he going to die before they could stop Naraku.

"No Sango you misunderstand, I am tired of this life I am so tired of this curse, of not being able to have a normal life."

Sango nodded gently saying nothing, understanding that Miroku needed to get his words out. He carried on speaking.

"For so long I have traveled stopping in villages, asking maidens if they would bear my child. At first it was something noble, I had every intention of finding a woman to carry on my line, to live with her and be happy. But how could that be? I could not live the life of a family man, it would be like sitting down and waiting to die. But if I traveled how could I continue my family line if I never found a woman? So the answer seemed to be to ask those that came my way to bear my child. That way I could continue my family line and actively search for Naraku in the hopes that one day this curse would be lifted and I could live that happy life. I guess it just became habit, one I couldn't stop, it became less about living my life with someone and being happy and became just continuing my line.

But, but I feel differently about you Sango, I I don't wish to push you away anymore. Its become easy to hide behind the lechery, to mask how I truly feel. I'm scared when I'm around you Sango, because you reawaken that wish, that wish for a happy life. One I'm not sure I can have, this situation with Naraku, opens up many possibilities to hurt. I could die, you could.. could die, or we could even survive only for me to die because we didn't defeat him. It is selfish of me to ask, you to bear my child when there is the possibility I may not be around to see it. I do not wish to hurt you Sango, so I ask of you only this. If we make it in the battle against Naraku, will you, will you bear my child? Not for the need to continue my line, but because to me you are special, and the only one I wish to have that life with."

Miroku finally turned to look over at Sango, she had tears in her eyes but was smiling at him. She reached over to clasp his hands.

"Hai, Miroku I will!"

"Inuyasha, what's wrong?" Kagome felt Inuyasha stiffen as he held her.

"Kagome...." His voice held such anguish and longing.

"Inuyasha?" Kagome pulled away to look up at Inuyasha, at the haunted look on his face.

"Kagome I'm sorry, we... we can't be together."

Realization hit Kagome. 'Kikyo, you mean because of your promise to Kikyo right?"

Inuyasha nodded unhappily.

"You, you are the one I want to be with Kagome, but I cannot break my promise."

Kagome bent her head down to look at the ground. "I... I understand Inuyasha, I always have. But I have something to ask of you." She looked back up at him, cupping a cheek in her hand.

"If you are to be Kikyo's for all time, then be mine for tonight." She reached up and kissed him, softly at first and then more insistently, so that Inuyasha got her meaning.

At first Inuyasha was shocked, and then he found himself kissing her back, no longer holding back the feelings he had kept hidden for so long. Suddenly he pulled away gently resting a clawed finger on Kagome's lip as he pressed his forehead to hers.

"Kagome, you realize what this means, you will be my mate, but we will not be together. It would be better for you if we did not do this, it would hurt less when we have to part."

Kagome ran a hand alongside his face. "Inuyasha I understand, and this is something I want, I want to be your mate, even if we can't be together. Just for tonight can we not think of anything but us, not Naraku, not Kikyo not anything, just us....."

Inuyasha's only answer was to kiss her...........