InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Fallen Samurai ❯ Chapter 8 ( Chapter 8 )

"Inuyasha!" Kagome exclaimed running over to kneel beside him. "Are you all right?!"

"I'm fine, but I told you to stay back!"

"I...I couldn't let him-"

"Next time do as I say wench!"

Kagome's concerned expression turned instantly to anger as she yelled, "SIT! Sitsitsitsitsitsitsitsit SIT! See if I ever try to save your life again!"

Inuyasha was in a giant hole at least ten feet deep and Miroku and Shippou chuckled at the sight while Sango stood awed.

"An impressive spell!" she exclaimed.

"It comes in handy," Kagome smiled.

After Inuyasha climed out of the hole, all went inside to bed for much needed sleep. All except for Sango. Leaving Kagome, Shippou, and Kirara in the room, she crept downstairs. She had left the sword back in its sheath on the wall, and the inkeeper told her on account of the samurai's wish she could take it with her. She starred at the sword, at her reflection and recalled memories old and new.

"Interesting sword isn't it?"

Sango jumped and formed her battle stance only to see Miroku sitting on the floor against the wall.

"Oh!" she sighed. "It's only you."

"Can't sleep?"

"I don't sleep."

"I know how that goes. You look like you have a lot on your mind."

"I always have a lot on my mind."

"Care to share?"

"Well, there's something I wanted to ask you. When that demon was about to kill me, I heard you call out my name. Why?"

Miroku sat stunned. "Uh...you got me there. I was...worried that's all and...scared."

"Scared?" Sango repeated in disbelief.

"Scared that this girl whom I just met would die before I got a chance to know her better. Oh Sango I-" he then paused, wondering if he should continue.

"What? What is it?"

"Nothing really."

The two talked all night, but one night wasn't enough for Sango to even touch the truth about her life. The time that they had spent, though, gave Sango a sense of security and an indescribable feeling of warmth.

"The others will be up soon," she said.

"Yes, well this was pleasant. I didn't end up being smacked. We should do this again tonight...I mean, I won't be sleeping."

"Nor I, I'd like to do that. Well I'd better go wash my face. See you later Houshi-sama."

Miroku sat stunned at the nick-name she'd called him. She just smiled, the first she'd ever shown to him and went upstairs. 'Breathe Miroku' he told himself. He was reaching a new level of friendship with her, but he wanted to be more than a friend. he wanted them to belong to eachother in every possible meaning.

That morning all left the inn after breakfast and continued their journey. The rest of the group noticed something strange...

"You seem chipper this morning Sango," said Kagome.

"Yea," said Inuyasha. "What's with the giggling huh?"

"What? I'm playing with Kirara," said Sango.

"I don't see how you could have enough energy to play if you didn't sleep," said Shippou.

"You couldn't sleep?" Kagome asked, concerned.

"I saw her go downstairs and then sneek in at sunrise."

"Downstairs?" asked Inuyasha. "Hey Miroku, weren't you...oh I see, no wonder you're so happy!"

"WHAT?!" Sagno asked flushed. "You pervert!" *whack*

"Oh Sango, I didn't realize.."

"No! Nothing happened! We just talked! Right Houshi-sama? Hey! Say something!"

"Yeah...just talked," he replied simply.

"Really?" asked Inuyasha. "Then what's with the 'houshi-sama' pet name?"

"It's not a pet name! What else am I supposed to call him?"

"How 'bout his name, Miroku."

"SIT!"

"Ha ha ha, it only works for Kagome!"

"Then you'll sit the hard way!"

She pulled out her hirakotsu and whacked his head like a hammer hits a nail. Inuyasha ended up half-in half-out of the ground.

"That's a hard sit!" Shippou exclaimed clapping. "Do it again!"

"You all right Inuyasha?" Kagome asked.

The only sound Inuyasha made were incomprehensible gurggles while foam came out of his mouth. The day went on and it was silent except for the chatter between Inuyasha, Kagome, and Shippou. But there was building tension between Sango and Miroku, and Sango decided to break the ice.

"Something wrong, Houshi-sama?"

"Nothing...just thinking."

"Well it must be troubling you since you look to be so far away."

"The same could be said of you."

"Me?"

"It appears you have somthing in mind. I just.." he paused and gave a slight sigh. "Did you have to answer Inuyasha so defensively?"

"Nani?" she blinked.

"When he made that perverted comment, as you might call it, you seemed to be so upset. Is it so horrible to be alone with me?"

"Houshi-sama that's not-"

"No, you don't have to say anything."

"Hey Miroku!" Inuyasha called. "I'm hungry! Where's that villiage you were talking about!"

"Not to far, it's just up ahead.

Sango noticed a familiar feeling to her surroundings. The trees and a smell reminded her of a memory that seemed so long ago. Kirara's ears perked, she too had the same feeling. Before she knew she was standing in the middle of an abandoned villiage.

"Is this some kind of joke, Miroku?" Inuyasha asked crossly.

"I suppose I forgot to mention the slight problem of this place. It's just a brief stop before we-"

"No, I can't stay here," said Sango. All turned to see her face panic-stricken.

"What's wrong Sango?" asked Kagome.

"I can't stay here!" she said again, this time slowly backing away.

"Sango?" asked Miroku. He stepped towards her with an outstretched hand but it seemed that she couldn't even see him.

"I...I.."

She looked around frantically searching for a way out. Her head began to whirl with memories flooding back to her mind. They were coming so fast to drown her, she couldn't breathe. She did the only thing she could think of, she ran...with Kirara close behind her.

"Sango!" Kagome called.

"Don't worry about it," said Inuyasha. "She'll be fine."

"What makes you so sure?"

"She'll be back," he said turning away.

"S-sango?" Shippou asked, sniffling, gazing into the direction of which the demon huntress had run off.

"Well, I'm going to go see if she's all right," Miroku said leaving.

The other three were left to walk through the ruins.

"What happened here?" Kagome asked. "It looks to have been like this a long time."

"A demon must have done this."

Kagome was just about to ask how he knew when Shippou exclaimed, "Hey look at this, you guys!"

They found Shippou kneeling before what appeared to be a memorial stone. On it was an inscription, and when the group read it, there was shock.

To my loving brother and devoted father. May you rest in peace and guide me to finish your work. From your loving sister and daughter, Sango."

"If what this says...then this place..." stuttered Kagome.

"But why would she be so uptight about it?" Inuyasha asked.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Miroku searched for Sango, but he couldn't find a trace of her. 'What must have happened?' he thought. While trying to track her down, he came across Kirara. She just sat there as if she was waiting for him.

"Kirara! Where's Sango?"

Her eyes shined and she meowed as she bouned away with Miroku close behind. He followed until she stopped at a tree and then climbed it. Miroku starred up at the branches, but he couldn't see a thing.

"Sango? You up there?"

There was no answer, but after calling out a few more times, there was movement in the shadows and a soft whimper.

"Sango! Are you all right?" He started to climb the tree.

"No! Don't come up!" came the harsh command.

"Oh, all right."

"Kirara gave me away didn't she?"

"Meow meow? Mew!" <trans: Who me? Never!>

"Is there something troubling you?" he asked. After a silence he asked again then said, "Why don't you come back with me to the others and-"

"No! I can't go back!"

"The others will worry."

"They'll just have to understand."

Miroku looked in the shadows of the tree and could see her eyes piercing through and shimmering. He then realized they glistened for she was holding back her tears. He decided to climb the tree once more.

"No! Stop!" she demanded.

"Why?" he asked, still climbing.

"I don't need persuasion!"

"You're right, you don't. You need a friend who's shoulder you can lean on."

He was on the same branch as her, but she turned away before he could see her tears sliding down her cheeks. She trembled, and Miroku looked at her not knowing what to do.

"Or, a shoulder to cry on," he said.

"W-why would I need to cry? Or depend on someone? I'm fine, you're fretting over nothing."

"Look at me."

"What?"

"Look me in the eye and say it."

Sango didn't turn around. She just couldn't face him, couldn't let him see her like this. Against her will, Miroku forced her around to look at him, and he immediately caught sight of her tears. Tears of which he thought should never stain a face so beautiful as hers. But kami, he thought, even her sorrowful tears were beautiful! Everything about her he loved, and if he hadn't been a servent of Budah, he would be her servent and worship the very ground she walked on, to the crumbs she left after a meal. But this was no time to be thinking such things, his angel was crying.

"It's all right to cry," he said, "and to depend on someone. Being lonely is a most difficult path."

She couldn't take it anymore. He had to know the truth. She clung to him and cried, which in a way surprised Miroku and moved him. He was actually holding her, and not because he made the move, but because she wanted to. Holding her close made him take deep hard breaths, but Sango didn't notice and proceeded to tell him the truth between sobs.

"I can't go back!" she chocked. "The nightmares...they.."

"What nightmares?"

"I'll relive them if I go back home!"

"Home? That's your home villiage?"

Sango rose up and dried her eyes. Miroku was reluctant to let her go, but she had that damn pride of hers, but it made him like her more. It was her own special characteristic that made him fond of her. She sat with her legs dangling off the limb with her eyes cast downwards.

"Years ago, everything I wanted was right there in that villiage," she started. "I had my father, my brother Kohaku; we were all happy. Until that one night when that demon Naraku came and destroyed my villiage, and killed my father and brother...they're gone...only I survived. I never saw his face, at least I don't remember. But I remember him telling me his name, to always remember it so when I heard it, it would instill fear in me. And it does..."

"So that's your reason for fighting. But why do you fight-"

"Because all demons are evil like that bastard Naraku!" she exclaimed as she punched the trunk of the tree. The tree shook and Miroku was suprised that he actually had to catch his balance. "And I will not rest until-!"

Sango sat wide-eyed as Miroku put his fingers to her mouth. "Please, milady, let me finish my question. Why do you fight me?"

"Fight you? I've never faught you."

"Perhaps not with weapons, but you've shielded me from entering your heart."

"Pardon?!"

Miroku took her hands within his. "Don't be so naive Lady Sango!" He tenderly kissed each of her hands.

Sango blushed. "J-just what are you insinuating?"

"What does it take for you to understand that I want you?!"

"Want me? No!"

"Yes. i think you feel the same for me."

Sango pulled her hands away roughly. "And how would you know how and what the hell I feel?" she huffed.

Miroku grabbed her roughly and pulled her into him. Although she protested, he held her firm. He tilted her chin to meet his gaze, forcing her to look in his eyes. The look in them made her blush.

"I know because I 'm the only one who can make you blush like that," he said tracing a finger along her scarlet cheek.

Sango blushed even more and Miroku smiled. He carresed the frame of her face where a lingering tear lay. Sango could feel his breath hot agaisnt her lips as he leaned down.

"You don't know what you're saying," she replied.

Miroku pulled away. "What?"

"So you want me? Big deal! All that shows is that you have lust! That's all you are! A lustful monk who wants to lay with some bitch so he can die satisfyed! Well I'm not that bitch because I need more than just a one night's stand! I need someone to love!" she jumped off the tree limb and landed firmly on the ground.

"Sango!"

"Talk to me when you've matured or at least got your facts straight!" With that she left him there dumbfounded in the tree.

"Lady Sango..."

"Boy oh boy, did you screw it up!"

Miroku did a double take. "Kirara? You can communicate telepathically?"

"Of course can talk. It's just that nobody listens. Especially that girl Sango you're lusting over."

"I'm not lusting over her! I love her!"

"I didn't hear you say that. Let me tell you something. Love means actually caring so deeply about another, you feel what they feel. Sango just poured out her heart of her past and you didn't even once give your condolences! You just try to take advantage of her. Sango, for once, was right."

"What do you mean 'for once?'"

"Let's just say she needs to live a little."

"What should I do?"

"If I know Sango, which I do, she'll go straight to Kagome and tell her what happened a minute ago and say what a careless, stupid, annoying; notice that I'm saying her words in a nicer way; bastard you are."

"She says that of me?"

"Well of course! But don't feel bad about it. I've seen the way she blushes when you're together...even though it ends up with you injured, but I know there's something in her heart that she refuses to show."

"How can you be so sure?"

"You sure ask a lot of questions! I know because of this: Why has she stayed as long as she has? I mean, ever since she had to leave her villiage she has been alone. So why pick now to travel with others? Obviously she feels something that gives her a sense of security."

"What should I do?"

"Sango will run off tonight when everyone sleeps. Follow her. Mew!" With that the neko demon leaped away and headed towards where her mistress had gone.

Meanwhile Sango reunited with Inuyasha and Kagome. Both didn't say a word as she payed her respects to her father and brother.

"Gomen nasai. I'm so sorry, I haven't fufilled my promise to you."

"I hope you don't mind me asking," Kagome started, "but what promise did you make to them?"

Sango, still kneeling in front of the graves, didn't even look at her when she answered, "I promised I'd find the demon who killed them, and pay him back eye for eye...and then some."

"O-oh."

"I'm sorry," said Inuyasha, "...for your loss I mean...I mean, I'm gonna help you bring to justice that bastard."

"...thank you...but this is something I must do on my own."

"Understood."

After a moment she rose and ushered Kagome into one of the only "decent" huts left. And just as Kirara predicted...

"THAT MONK IS UTTERLY A PERVERTED ASSHOLE!!!"

"Boy your mood changes fast! Okay what did he do now?"

And with that she proceeded to tell her friend of the current events.

"No way!" Kagome exclaimed, clearly shocked. "After you just told him all that?"

"The sick bastard..."

"However, despite how, um, inconciderate he was, he just confessed that he loves you."

"Loves me? LOVES ME?! Where the hell did you get that idea?"

"That's what you said that he said."

"No, he said that he 'wanted' me. To want and to love are two different things. Don't get me wrong, I want to feel and be wanted, but I need more! I want to be needed and cared for and...and..."

"Loved?"

Sango sighed, "Yes."

"You're in love with him, aren't you?"

"WHAT?!"

"You are! You want him to love you, and believe me he does. I've seen the way he looks at you."

"Like a sick lustful moron!"

"No. With a yearning desire to be close to you, with pain in his heart that can be seen through his eyes at the thought of you ever rejecting him."

"I already have."

"Don't give me that load of shit! I've seen the way you look at him too and you talk about him constantly with me."

"Do not!"

"Do so! You had even told him to come back to you once he matured! You love him!"

You love him...you love him...you love him...Those words just rolled over and over in her mind. She couldn't love him! C-could she? 'I can't!' she thought, 'All whom I care about end up dead!' And it was true, she reasoned, for the graves of her loved ones weren't far away.

"Talk to him," came Kagome's voice bringing her out of her present state of mind.

"What?"

"Talk to him!"

"No! I can't! You don't understand!"

"Then explain it to me!"

Sango was silent once more. Seeing that she clearly wasn't going to get anything out of her, Kagome stopped asking her questions.

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~*~Lady Pheonix~*~