InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Replacement ❯ The Other Woman ( Chapter 3 )

Chapter 2: The Other Woman

 

Miroku sat on a hill overlooking the village, sighing at his stupidity. How could he have gotten himself into this situation anyway? And even more, why hadn't he seen it coming when it was inevitable. Though he had…spent time with many women, and asked them to bear his child, he never expected any of them to follow through!

 

And now there's Taro and the obligation I have to him and Atame… The monk folded his arms in his lap, looking downward. He knew, as an honorable man, he should stay there for her and their son, but even so…Miroku glanced at the glove covering his right hand, sighing. I can't do that because of the mission to defeat Naraku.

 

And then there's the matter of Sango…

 

The exterminator had been very clear in her treatment of him that this had been a blow that was almost too much to bear. She hadn't spoken to him at all, and when she did look at him, it was in a fierce glare. And even he noticed how her fists would clench and her eyes narrow whenever Atame or Taro was mentioned.

 

He had seen Sango angry and jealous around women of his acquaintance before, but never this mad. Miroku knew it wouldn't have been any different if it were not for the small matter of Taro.

 

Speaking of Taro, Miroku knew he was not fulfilling the obligation he had by avoiding the boy at all costs. It wasn't that he didn't want anything to do with his son…it was that whenever he saw him, looking like a small miniature reflection, he felt the guilt weighing down and he didn't want to think on it.

 

Not just for the pain Sango felt, or the burden on Atame, but also because of the terrible fate his son might face one day…If they did not defeat Naraku and his kazaana swallowed him whole, then Taro would also have that to bear. Before, he had asked women to bear his child under the pretense that he needed an heir to carry on the task, but as his time in life became shorter and shorter, he realized what horrible a fate he was giving to his son when the time came.

 

And now, for all that, he desperately regretted the child that now laughed and smiled around his mother.

 

Even though Miroku was afraid to confront his son, Taro would not be daunted. The minute he heard that the monk was his father, he had become so excited by the idea, that he wanted to meet and talk to him instantly. And so, on the very moment the monk was regretting that small life, Taro ran up to him, a wide smile on his face.

 

“Papa!” Taro giggled, making the monk jump at the realization that his son had somehow snuck up undetected.

 

“T-Taro?” he asked, looking away with an unsure expression on his face. “What are you doing here?”

 

Violet eyes gleaming, the boy tugged on his monk robes. “Mama's helping a villager with a broken ankle, and she told me to go play.”

 

Sighing, Miroku dared a glance at the child. He did like children, always hoping for one of his own someday, but with this one…he just couldn't bring himself to be friendly with him. “Well, then you should do as your mother says and go play.”

 

Once again, those large purple eyes that Taro had inherited from his father glanced up at him with a pleading look. “But I want to play with you, Papa!”

 

To this, the monk look surprised for a moment before sighing and running a nervous hand through his hair. “Look, Taro…I don't—” He couldn't exactly tell the child that he didn't want to play with him, could he? “I don't really know how you play, sorry.”

 

“That's okay!” the little boy grinned. “I'll show you!”

 

The three year old scampered off, leaving Miroku with no choice but to follow him. Taro came to a stop near a large tree, and picked up something near the base. It was a small ball, sewn with cloth and filled with dried beans. “Mama made this for me,” Taro said proudly. “Watch!”

 

With a grin on his face, Taro through the ball up in the air. As it came back down, his tiny hands reached up and struggled for a moment, before he caught it. Even Miroku couldn't help the small smile on his face at his son's small triumph.

 

“That's really good, Taro,” he smiled down at him. “But can you catch it when you throw it higher?”

 

“Uh-huh!” Taro nodded, throwing the ball up higher, keeping his eyes fixed on it, until it came down. The little boy nearly tripped over his own feet, watching the small ball until he jumped sideways to catch it, landing on his bottom on the grass with a small “Oof!”

 

The monk chucked for a moment, but felt a small amount of pride in his son. He has good reflexes…a trait that would help him if he ever became trained in holy powers.

 

The second the monk thought that, he regretted it. Of course, he will never be trained in holy powers, he will remain here with his mother. He shouldn't be trained either, it's a hard life that I don't want for him…

 

But Miroku knew that he should have no business thinking of Taro's upbringing. The boy was his son, to be true, but he had abandoned him and Atame when he left her all those years ago. Had he known he had a son, then perhaps he would have stayed around longer, but alas…

 

“Watch, Papa!” Taro called again, throwing the small ball higher up this time. But, to his dismay, a strong wind blew it, and the ball was stuck at the top of a high tree nearby.

 

“Oh no!” the little boy cried, looking up at it. “It's too high to get.”

 

But, Miroku merely smiled to himself, and glanced back down at Taro. “Don't worry, I can get it down, but stay back.”

 

Putting his hand on the rosary beads around his wrist, Taro asked, “What are you going to do Papa?”

 

“Just watch, Taro.” With that, the rosary beads were pulled away as the monk yelled, “Kazaana!” There was a whoosh of the air as the tree threatened to be pulled out by the roots, and then the ball came whizzing towards the air void. The beads were pulled over the hole just as the ball came close, making him easily catch it with one hand.

 

Taro gasped, “Wow! How did you do that?”

 

The monk just smiled, “It is a power I stumbled upon, many years ago.” And hopefully, it is a power that won't ever affect you, Taro…

 

“Having fun?” a female voice asked, making both Miroku and Taro turn. Atame was walking up the hill, with a small smile on her face, with joy reflected in her dark blue eyes.

 

“Mama!” Taro ran towards her, his hands bunching in her kimono. “Papa was playing with me, and he showed me this amazing power, Mama! He has this hole in his hand that sucks up everything!”

 

“Does he?” Atame laughed, glancing back at the monk, who felt a bit uncomfortable at the scene. It was one thing to laugh and smile with Taro, his son, but quite another with Atame, especially with he current situation with Sango. “I guess monks do have many secrets after all.”

 

Miroku said nothing, but rubbed the back of his neck nervously. Yes, he had kept too many secrets. Secrets that now came back to haunt him. He glanced down at his son, who had noticed a butterfly and began to chase after it, laughing slightly. Atame watched her child, and spoke, “He seems much happier now.”

 

“You think so?” the monk asked, not looking back at her but keeping his eyes on Taro.

 

“I know so,” Atame looked back at him, causing the monk to meet her gaze. “Until you came to our village, he never talked to strangers unless I asked him too. Even though he smiles and laughs, he has heard the words the villagers said about him and never acted as he did just now…He is happy because his father has finally come home.”

 

“A-Atame…” What do I say? “I am sorry…that I left you and you had to raise him all alone…if I had known—”

 

But Atame shook her head, her reddish hair and pearl earring shaking slightly at the movement. “You don't need to apologize, Miroku-sama. I understand. You told me of your mission, and your curse before. I knew you would have to leave to finish your journey, so there is no need for you to feel guilty.”

 

But, Miroku could not shake off guilt that easily. What he had done to her was one of the worst things you could do to a woman; use her and then leave. He was different now, and knew the error of his ways (for the most part, at least), but that couldn't erase the mistakes of the past. He had left and forgotten, while Atame had to carry the burden of his mistake all alone. “Atame…do you…” His indigo eyes looked at her with pity. “Do you ever regret…”

 

The content look in her blue eyes never wavered. As Taro ran up to her, she smiled and picked him up in her arms. “Why would I regret something that gave me this precious gift?”

 

“Mama, mama!” Taro had a wide smile on his face. “I almost caught it, see?” With that, he opened his hands, allowing the butterfly he had caught to fly free.

 

Atame laughed, “You're a good hunter, Taro.”

 

Even Miroku couldn't resist a smile at that. “Yes…such an amazing child…” he spoke softly, feeling his heart change ever so slightly.

 

But little did he know that this moment was being closely watched. Sango, who had come running when she heard the Kazaana being released, had watched from down the hill as the monk laughed with Taro and his mother, looking every bit like the perfect family.

 

But its true…she thought to herself, sighing and turning away. She would be the perfect wife, wouldn't she…a woman that stays home and takes care of the children, not one covered in battle scars and dresses like a man…

 

Sango clenched her firsts and marched off, her Hiraikotsu in tow ever since she thought Miroku might have been attacked. She found herself in the forest, which, as the villagers thought, was indeed filled with youkai. Hardly coherent to the world outside, as if in a dream, Sango remembered over and over the image she saw as her weapon sliced through the bodies of youkai, one after another.

 

The perfect wife…The boomerang flew and cut clean through a large snake youkai. The perfect woman…

 

With no other youkai to slay, her boomerang fell to the ground as the exterminator fell to her knees, her face hidden in her hands. The perfect family…

 

 

* * * * * * * *

 

 

“Inuyasha, have you seen Sango-chan since this morning?” Kagome asked, as the sat outside the hut the villagers had given them to use.

 

“No,” the hanyou told her, “But don't worry about it. Her scent's coming from the forest, and she doesn't smell in any danger.”

 

“The forest?” Kagome asked, looking surprised. “But why would she go there?”

 

Inuyasha shrugged, glancing in the direction of the forest. “Maybe she wanted some time alone…?”

 

“Maybe…But I remember she said she wanted to check on Miroku-sama since she heard his Kazaana being opened…” Kagome thought a moment. Wait a minute…I passed by where he was just a few minutes before that happened, and all he was doing was sitting there with Taro…with Taro… “Inuyasha…you don't think…maybe Sango-chan saw him with Taro and Atame-san, do you?”

 

The hanyou raised one eyebrow. “What difference does that make?”

 

At that, Kagome couldn't help but lose her temper. “Why are you so dense? Can't you see how much this is affecting Sango-chan?”

 

Rolling his eyes, Inuyasha cut in, “So, what does it matter if she saw them or not? She knows this was something that happened in the past and the monk already promised to marry her, so why is she so upset? He's only staying because he feels guilty about leaving the kid alone all this time.”

 

“That doesn't matter!” Kagome stood up, clenching her fists as she yelled in his face. “If she seems him with her, acting nice and friendly, no matter what Miroku-sama said, she'll start to think that he may want to choose Atame-san! Of course she's going to be upset!”

 

“And why is she so stupid to think that he would choose her?” Now Inuyasha stood up as well, roaring back at her. “He already gave her his word that he would marry her once this is over, so why would she worry about him backing out on his promise?”

 

Instead of replying right away, Kagome just turned away with a cold, stony glare. “Inuyasha, you should not be the one to lecture about making promises.”

 

“Why, you—”

 

“Sit, boy!” Kagome yelled, and with a loud thump, the hanyou went down. “You shouldn't be defending him!” And with that, she stormed off, feeling more emotionally distraught than relieved.

 

Alerted by the noise of his friends fighting, Shippou popped out of the hut, to see Inuyasha in a face-plant on the ground. “Another fight with Kagome?” the kitsune asked, though he didn't look too surprised.

 

There was a growl as Inuyasha popped his head up from the ground, shaking the bits of dirt off his silver hair. “Damn it! Why's she mad at me?”

 

Instead of responding, Shippou merely rolled his eyes. He would never get it, would he?

 

 

* * * * * * * *

 

 

In late afternoon, Sango walked back towards the village, carrying her Hiraikotsu. She had spent most of her energy fighting off her frustration with youkai, and was very tired. But even so, it had helped, a bit with her pent up anger.

 

I shouldn't be mad like this, Sango told herself, sighing. It's not like me…Houshi-sama already promised me…he wouldn't go back on his promise just because of Atame and Taro, would he?

 

And Atame…I just don't know what to think of her. She seems nice, and I guess I really shouldn't judge her because of the past…but…She once again remembered what she had seen that morning. She would make the perfect wife…

 

She was halfway towards the hut when she heard footsteps following her. Thinking it might be Miroku, Sango turned around sharply, with a harsh look on her face. She was met with a surprise when she saw it was Taro. And he looked a little scared of how she had acted a second ago.

 

“T-Taro?” she asked. “What do you want?” Perhaps she didn't need to say that so harsh…

 

The boy looked nervous. “Umm…have you seen Papa? I wanted to show him the bug I found…”

 

Just at the reminder of the boy calling Miroku “Papa” made Sango's eyes narrow. “No, sorry.” But as she turned to go away, she realized the boy was following her. She wasn't one to be mean to children, but the fact that Miroku and Atame's child was following her around made her particularly annoyed.

 

“Wait!” Taro begged, making her turn around again. “I really want to show this to Papa, but I can't find him…and I thought that since you know him, you might…” his indigo eyes were downcast, making Sango feel a bit guilty of her previous words.

 

Sighing, she knelt down to his level and asked, “Where did you last see him, Taro?”

 

“By our hut, talking with Mama—”

 

“Sorry, but I haven't seen him!” Sango snapped, picking up her Hiraikotsu and stomping away, leaving the boy behind. A few steps away she regretted it once more, but she didn't care, with jealousy welling up inside of her. If he wants to talk to her so much, then why doesn't he just marry her already!

 

Sango continued to be in a bad mood as she made it back to their rented hut, and by the dirt marks on Inuyasha's face, she wasn't the only woman in a bad mood that day. With a huff, she leaned her Hiraikotsu against a wall and folded her arms, a sour look on her face.

 

But inside, she had second thoughts. I shouldn't have been mean to Taro, I should at least go and apologize…after all, he's a small boy, and he's already picked on by the other villagers…I'll just tell him I'm sorry and I was in a bad mood, but I haven't seen Houshi-sama…

 

But just as she got up to leave, she heard Inuyasha say from outside the hut, “You don't want to go in there, monk—”

 

It was too late; Miroku opened the bamboo curtain and was met with the surprised face of his intended, whose face turned to anger. Instantly, he tried to get himself out of a no-win situation. “H-hello, Sango…I just ran by Taro, and he showed me a bug he found—”

 

Even though a vein was nearly popping in the exterminator's forehead, she managed to calm herself down and say, “Oh, isn't that nice,” and march past him, her jaw clenching tight. Miroku looked more frightened than ever, as she walked past, and he watched her go with a fearful look on his face.

 

Glaring back at him, the dirt-faced Inuyasha muttered, “This is all your fault, monk.”

 

 

* * * * * * * * *

 

 

Glancing around the village, Sango calmed herself down while searching for Taro. Where is he? Perhaps by…her hut…

 

Sighing, she went off towards the small hut at the edge of the village, hoping she wouldn't run into Atame. With things how they were right now, a meeting like that couldn't be good.

 

But just as she got near, and saw no one, Atame came out of the hut, causing Sango to quickly duck behind the cover of a tree. Thankfully, the redhead did not notice her as she sat outside her hut to chop wood.

 

Just as Atame had started her task, there came Taro, running towards her with a big grin on his face. “Mama, mama! I saw Papa, and I showed him those sparkling bugs I saw by the river.”

 

Atame smiled at him as he came near. “So, did you show him any of the other hundreds of things that you like to show me on occasion?”

 

The boy shook his head with a grin, “No, but I'll show him those later!” Laughing at his comment, Atame pulled him close, just as Taro became quiet, in thought.

 

“Taro, what's wrong?” she asked, her smile fading as she looked in his indigo eyes inherited from his father. “Is something the matter?”

 

After a pause, he asked, “Mama, why doesn't the lady like me?” Sango nearly jumped at the direct implication, nearly cursing herself for not apologizing before.

 

Atame looked surprised for a moment, before sighing, “No Taro, it's not that she doesn't like you. It's that she doesn't like the situation.”

 

“What does that mean, Mama?” Yes, what did that mean, Sango wondered.

 

But Taro's mother did not give him a direct answer. “It's nothing you need to worry about Taro. You'll understand someday.”

 

While Sango seethed at Atame's explanation for her own behavior, Taro decided to drop it and asked another question. “Mama…I like it when Papa's here…Is he going to stay?”

 

Both Sango and Atame gasped at this question. But while Sango clenched her jaw and fists at the mere thought, Atame just sighed, “Taro…your father has a mission to complete right now. He can't stay with us.”

 

For a second, the exterminator felt relieved, until Taro asked, “And after the mission?”

 

“I don't know,” Atame replied. “But I'd like him to stay.”

 

“I would too, Mama!” Taro grinned, “Do you think…you could ask him to stay?”

 

Taro admires him so much, Sango thought, unable to keep from glancing at Miroku's child. But Atame…she wants him to stay for her own reasons as well.

 

Just as Sango predicted, Atame smiled at her child and replied, “I can try.”

 

Those words pierced the exterminator's heart like an arrow. She turned away as mother and child walked back into their hut, smiling. Sango's fists clenched so tight that her knuckles turned white. So that's it then…Atame is going to be trying to get Houshi-sama to stay here with her

 

I can no longer just let my anger be in the dark, Sango realized. I don't know what Houshi-sama would do for his child…knowing he has a duty as a father now…and Atame, I don't know what she would do to keep Houshi-sama here…

 

Glaring back towards Atame's hut, Sango made the firm promise, If I want to have Houshi-sama by my side in the end, then I have no choice but to fight!