InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Second Chances ❯ Chapter 2 ( Chapter 2 )

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DISCLAIMER: I do not own Inu Yasha and Company. That honor belongs to Rumiko Takahashi.

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Chapter Two

Sango sat on the porch of Kaede's hut and watched the stars overhead as the crickets sang in the tall grass by the steps. Out in the dark forest an owl hooted and the trees rustled in a gentle breeze. That same breeze brought with it the muted sounds of village life. She sat out there because Kaede and Shippo had yet to return, and she didn't want to be inside alone. She no longer liked being alone.

Her new family had taken some of her loneliness away, and she had begun to believe that Miroku would remove the rest, but that was no longer an option. Her feelings toward the lecherous monk had slowly been changing, but apparently not quickly enough. He and Kagome had looked so happy together as they sat by the well. It wasn't that she begrudged her friends their new relationship, but she couldn't help but be envious, and if the truth be told, just a wee bit jealous. She wanted to experience what it was that they had found, but her chances weren't good due to what she was. She was a demon exterminator, a profession usually left to men. Since she performed this service, she was degraded and considered unfeminine. Her only chances to find love were with another exterminator or professional fighter. Someone who wouldn't care about her calling and might actually appreciate her skills.

She turned her thoughts toward the events of the day. When she remembered the sight of Kikyo flailing about, screaming as she was sucked into the void, Sango couldn't stop the smile that brightened her eyes and lit up her face. That would remain one of her favorite memories. The undead miko had caused too much trouble, pain and confusion for Sango to even pretend to care that she was gone. Now that she was Kagome might return to her old cheerful self. She would no longer be considered someone's copy, she was no one but Kagome. The girl had thought that she was concealing the pain and torment that Inu Yasha and Kikyo's relationship had caused, but anyone could see that her smiles rarely touched her eyes any more.

Which brought her thoughts to Inu Yasha. Sango couldn't help but feel sorry for the hanyou, even if he was the biggest fool that she had ever met. He loved Kagome, but let his memory of a love from fifty years ago blind him to what he had in the present. Unfortunately, he had realized what he possessed only moments before it was lost to him. Sango had seen the hurt, confusion and self-directed anger in his golden eyes as Kagome walked away from him and toward Miroku. In that moment he had realized just what it was that he had lost and his heart had broken. In losing Kagome, he had lost not only his love but also his best friend. No one deserved to look that lost and alone. Sango had wanted to reach out to him, but nothing she could do would help in any way, so instead she had returned to the village.

Now she couldn't help but wonder if it was really too late for their relationship. After all, this was Kagome that they were talking about. She had a heart as big as the ocean and an unbelievable capacity for forgiveness, as she had proven time and time again. Besides, she was still in love with the hanyou. Sango had always believed that they belonged together, and although her opinion of Inu Yasha had dropped a bit because of his careless words and actions, she still did. Everyone knew that their bond was strong. Inu Yasha's strength, stamina and agility increased when the girl was near him. So even though she was with the monk now, who knew what would happen in the end.

Miroku was good for her. He made her happy and he did care for her. In fact, he cared enough to stop his groping, and to Sango that said more than any words ever could. The monk was trying to change his ways for her, and it seemed to be working, although he did still have lapses every now and then. He was there when she needed someone and had stepped into the fray to protect her. Yes, they were good for each other, but there were still quite a few obstacles ahead of them.

She sighed deeply. None of their lives were easy, and with Naraku still roaming around they wouldn't be. Her head bowed and she studied her hands which were clenched into fists in her lap. The thought of the demon that had changed her life sent chills down her spine even as her blood began to boil in anger. He was the cause of her loneliness. She had lost her family, her village and even worse... her brother was now his mindless puppet. Kohaku would be free of him, one way or the other. She would gladly give her own life to achieve that or die in the attempt.

A loud rustling from the forest brought her head up quickly and her eyes narrowed as she scanned the tree line. Whatever was coming, was coming fast and not trying to conceal its presence. She began to reach for her boomerang when a figure broke into view. Moonlight glinted off of his silvery hair as it streamed behind him. She got to her feet, wondering why he was in such a hurry. She had only seen him move this fast when....

"Has something happened to Kagome?" His golden eyes widened in shock and then he shook his head impatiently. He hadn't expected that question. He couldn't be with Kagome all of the time now, unless he wanted to spend time with the monk as well. He barely repressed a shudder at that thought

"She was fine the last time that I saw her." His ears twitched and he sniffed the air. "In fact, they are coming now." He turned his back to her and crouched down. She knew what he wanted, but hesitated. Why did he want her to go with him? He glared at her over his shoulder and she sighed. "Get on." He growled.

"Why? Where are we going?"

"Feh. No time for questions, they will be here soon." Now she understood. He didn't want to see the new couple. She climbed onto his back. As soon as she was settled he took off with a bound. Sango gasped and tightened her hold on his shoulders. A quick glance over her shoulder showed that Kagome and Miroku had just emerged from the woods and were now watching as they ran off. She couldn't hear what they were saying, but Inu Yasha did. He also heard the slightly jealous tone in Kagome's voice. He smiled, hope flaring in his eyes as he increased his speed. Maybe it really wasn't too late.

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"Where do you think that they are off to so late at night?" Kagome asked as she watched the pair run off. She didn't want to admit that seeing Sango on his back had caused a brief flare of jealousy. "You don't think something happened, do you?"

"No, I am sure that they would have come to get us if there was a problem. Either they can handle it alone or..." His voice trailed off.

"Or what?" She asked curiously. She looked up into his dark eyes and couldn't help but smile at him. Her jealousy had already vanished and now she was content to look into his handsome face. Miroku looked troubled.

"Perhaps they just wanted to talk."

"Oh." A frown creased Kagome's brow. "Have they ever talked before?"

"I don't know if he talks to anyone but you, unless he is forced to do so." She snorted in derision while Miroku looked down at her, puzzled.

"I was yelled at, insulted and degraded, but I was rarely talked to." An impish gleam lit her eyes. "Feh, that is for weak humans." she mimicked. Miroku couldn't help but laugh at her dead on impression of the hanyou. She joined in and their mingled laughter drifted on the warm summer breeze. Kagome took his hand as they continued on to the hut, only to find it dark and empty once they arrived. Only Miroku noticed the giant boomerang in the shadows of the porch.

"Looks like Kaede thought that Inu Yasha and I needed a lot of time to sort out our differences." Kagome paled at his casual words. They wandered over to the far wall and sat down shoulder to shoulder, their hands still entwined.

"She left the two of you alone?"

"Yes. With the threat that if we destroyed her home we would be building a new one. We sorted things out like men." Kagome looked around the hut and noticed that nothing looked broken or even out of place.

"You had a burping contest?"

"What?"

"Never mind. What happened?"

"I told Inu Yasha my intentions." She glared down at his hand and then up into his eyes. He laughed and shook his head. "Not those kind of intentions Angel, although I certainly wouldn't be adverse to..." at her warning look he stopped that sentence and shrugged with a little grin. " I told him that I wanted you to be happy, that I wanted to be the one to do so." He decided to leave out Inu Yasha's half of the conversation. He could tell her if he ever got the nerve. "And I also told him that I intend to live my life to the fullest, no matter how much or how little time I have left." Her eyes grew wide and tears welled up as his last comment sunk in. They really didn't know how long it would be until the void in his hand sucked him within. What would their lives be like without him? The hell with that, what would my life be without him? she wondered. Empty was the answer that echoed through her mind.

"Miroku..."

"Shh... I don't want to think about that now. I am happy being here with you, and that is all that matters."

"How do you do that?"

"What?"

"Make me feel all warm and comfortable without even trying?"

"Lucky I guess. I'm glad that I can Angel." She leaned against him with a sigh, placing her head on his shoulder. She closed her eyes and basked in the tranquility that Miroku seemed to radiate. She didn't see the worry in his eyes when he looked down at her. They sat in comfortable silence and once again he became lost in his own thoughts. He was only dimly aware that Kagome had drifted off to sleep.

Inu Yasha wasn't the only one who had detected the jealousy in her tone. It had twisted his heart, but it had also faded quickly. However, he knew that their friends were not off killing demons... the boomerang on the porch proved that. They were going to talk all right, and he was pretty sure that he knew what the topic of that conversation was going to be. The only question was what Sango would tell him. He also wondered if he shouldn't have his own talk with the demon huntress, but shot that idea down before giving it a second thought. His vow was to treat Kagome with the respect, kindness and honesty that she deserved, and he was going to live up to it. Going behind her back for her best friend's opinion would violate that vow.

"Miroku?" He started when she spoke. Her voice was low and slurred with sleep.

"Hmm?"

"Would you mind removing your hand from my butt..." she asked sweetly even as her hand connected with his cheek. "Pervert." she grumbled as she made her way over to her sleeping bag. She had to hide her smile when she looked back to see him staring at his hand as if he had never seen it before.

"Would you stop doing that?" he growled at the offending appendage, frustrated that it didn't seem to listen to him any longer. It seemed to be taking on a mind of its own more and more often, usually while he was deep in thought. Luckily it had been caressing only Kagome so far, and while that wasn't good, she knew how he felt about her. Now if it started to move on to others while he was preoccupied... that was an additional problem that he didn't need. "I really will tie you behind my back." Kagome's soft giggle did nothing to help his frustration.

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Inu Yasha came to a stop at a stream not far from the village. He let Sango off of his back and then walked a short distance away from her. He stared down at the water, moonlight making it seem to be made of molten silver. It boiled over rocks hidden under the surface, reminding him of his emotions that he kept submerged under his unfeeling demeanor. Now that he had Sango here, he didn't know how to broach this subject. He didn't like to show his feelings, even to Kagome, and now here he was with the demon exterminator.

"What do you want, Inu Yasha?"

"Kagome." He replied without thinking. When he realized what had just come out of his mouth he blushed. Sango was staring at him as if he had grown another head. "Do you think that it is too late?"

"What do you think, you idiot?" she asked as she started to laugh. Inu Yasha turned to stare at her, the hope in his golden eyes fading as he watched Sango continue laughing. The way she was laughing made him feel like he had asked the stupidest thing in world. And maybe he had....

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AUTHOR'S NOTE: Well, there it is, chapter two. Boy, this one is harder to write than anything else that I have written to date. This actually is beginning to feel like work, but at least it is work that I like. So these chapters might come a little slower until I can find my groove, but it shouldn't be too long. I hope that you like it! Until the next time....

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