InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Take My Hand ❯ Yakusoku wa Iranai ( Chapter 4 )

Take My Hand

By: Mystical Grace

Disclaimer: … Remind me again… WHY THE HECK DO WE HAVE TO DO THESE THINGS?! WE DON'T OWN ANYTHING, EVERYONE ALREADY KNOWS THIS!!!! *cries* WHY?! WHY MUST WE BE REMINDED OF THIS AND TORMENTED SO???

Miroku: .........

Sango: ...........

Inuyasha: ..........

Shippo: ..........

Kagome: ............

Silver-chan: *sweatdrops at Mystical*

Mystical: T_T…. -_- wat are u doing here, Silver-chan?

Silver-chan: Eep…. *slinks away*

Miroku: Ahem... anyways...

Sango: Yeah......

Inuyasha, Kagome and Shippo: *nod*

Miroku & Sango: She doesn't own Inuyasha, or the songs.

Mystical: meanies... ON WITH THE FIC!!! *stops and thinks…* Oh yeah! Thank you, you wonderful people who reviewed and who complimented me sooo nicely! Special thanks will be given at the bottom.

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Chapter Four: Yakusoku wa Iranai

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Sango smiled happily. The festival was wonderful. Children and adults alike were playing games, eating, dancing, or listening in awe to the wonderful stories told by Miroku. Kagome was practicing her archery skills with the other villagers while Inuyasha and Shippo watched.

'Kagome-chan looks very nice in a yukata. She should wear them more often.' Sango thought with a smile as she watched her friend hit a perfect mark. Kagome was wearing a pale-pink yukata with a sakura pattern and a blood red trim. It amused Sango to no end that the trim of the yukata matched the color of Inuyasha's haori, and she wondered for the fifth time that night if Kagome realized that she was proclaiming that she belonged with Inuyasha by wearing that particular color. Kagome's hair was pulled back into a loose bun, which was held by a beautiful wooden comb with a sakura carved into it. Inuyasha had obviously liked her outfit, as he couldn't keep his eyes off of her.

Sango smoothed out her own yukata, which was a soft violet color with a pattern of tomoyos and nadeshikos. Her hair was left down to glide gently in the wind as she moved, and -to the insistence of Kagome -wore a bit of face paint to enhance her features.

Suddenly, there was a shout, then a steady rhythm of drumbeats sounded, soon followed by the fast tunes of the bakia, flutes, and samisens filled the air with a lively tune. Sango grinned as the village girls and children practically ran to the center of the village and started dancing to the beat of the music. The elderly, too old to join such youthful fun, clapped and tapped their feet to the fast beat of the music. Sango and Kagome, filled with the festivity in the air, joined them in the dance, twirling around each other and stepping in time with the music. Men soon joined them, taking a female partner to dance with. Sango and Kagome twirled again, and found themselves facing Miroku and Inuyasha. Inuyasha immediately took Kagome and started dancing with her. Miroku grinned boyishly at Sango as he took her hands in his and followed Inuyasha's lead. The girls laughed happily as they continued to dance into the night. Sango had never felt so happy.

All too soon did the music end, causing everyone to stop and catch his or her breaths. They all applauded the musicians, who bowed respectfully. Kaede stood and announced, with a wink in Miroku's direction, that there would be singing next, to which she was greeted with applause and joyous shouts. Villagers each took turns singing, young and old. Kagome had everyone dancing to some of the songs she had brought with her from her time, and the village children had everyone erupting with laughter at their song, "The Shikon Hunters," which was a very comic childish version of the group as it was. Miroku then stood up and whispered something to the bakia player, who nodded and handed him the instrument with a grin.

Miroku cleared his throat and spoke in a loud, clear voice, "This is a song that my father had written for my mother a long time ago. And as he sung it for her, I now sing it for a very special girl in my life." He looked straight at Sango as he spoke the next words, "It is called Can You Feel the Love Tonight."

Everyone who knew the houshi gasped. Sango had a faint blush painting her cheeks and a small smile gracing her lips as Miroku skillfully plucked a beautiful tone out of the instrument and closed her eyes as he started singing in a beautiful tenor.

"There's a calm surrender,

to the rush of day.

When the heat of the rolling wind

can be turned away.

An enchanted moment,

and it sees me through.

It's enough for this restless warrior

Just to be with you."

The village girls sighed dreamily at his melodious voice. Kagome smiled gently, leaning into Inuyasha, who grasped her lightly. Sango opened her eyes and smiled happily, knowing that he was singing for her. Miroku kept his eyes on Sango as he continued to sing.

"And can you feel

the love tonight?

It is where we are.

It's enough,

for this wide-eyed wanderer

that we got this far.

And can you feel

the love tonight?

How it's laid to rest.

It's enough,

to make kings and vagabonds

believe the very best."

As Miroku played the interlude, Kagome gently pulled out of Inuyasha's embrace and headed to the dancing area and started dancing. Sango soon joined her, allowing the magic of the music and Miroku's voice flow through her and guide her movements as she gracefully danced across the floor.

"There's a time for everyone,

if they only learn

that the twisting kaleidoscope

moves us all in turn.

There's a rhyme and reason,

to the wild outdoors,

when the heart of this star-crossed voyager

beats in time with yours."

Miroku kept his gaze on Sango, watching her graceful movements as she danced. He smiled slightly, remembering his father telling him about this song and singing it to both him and his mother time and again. He hoped that he would be able to sing it to his own children, and to Sango, in the future.

"And can you feel

the love tonight?

It is where we are.

It's enough,

for this wide-eyed wanderer

that we got this far.

And can you feel

the love tonight?

How it's laid to rest.

It's enough,

to make kings and vagabonds

believe the very best."

Miroku caught Sango's gaze as he sang the final notes:

"It's enough,

to make kings and vagabonds

believe the very best."

Miroku strummed the final note on the bakia, letting it fade softly into the night. He was greeted with the sound of applause as he handed the instrument back to its owner. He gave a small smile and bowed modestly. He glanced at Sango, who was smiling happily at him. He made his way over to her and whispered, "You dance beautifully."

Sango blushed prettily at the compliment.

"That was a beautiful song, Miroku. You sing very well."

Miroku grinned boyishly.

"Not half as well as you do," he commented as he motioned to the players, who were waiting for the next singer.

Sango blushed even more and shook her head fiercely. Just then, Kagome, Shippo, Inuyasha and Kirara came over.

"Miroku-sama, that was wonderful!" Kagome exclaimed.

"Hai, Miroku, I didn't know you could sing or play!" Shippo said. He made a face. "But it was pretty mushy…"

Miroku smiled.

"Chichi-ue and haha-ue taught me when I was very young. They were both very excellent at playing and singing, so I had good teachers. However…" he cast a sideways glance at Sango, "I could never compare to Sango's talent. Demo, for some reason she doesn't wish to show off her voice."

Kagome looked at her best friend in shock.

"Why not, Sango-chan? Its fun!" Kagome exclaimed.

Sango hesitated.

"I don't know…"

Kagome pushed Sango forward, saying, "Go on!"

"D-demo-"

"No 'buts!'" Kagome leaned forward and whispered, " Sango-chan, Miroku-sama sang that song for you, ne? So sing one for him!"

With that, Kagome pushed Sango to the musicians.

"She's gonna sing," Kagome announced, backing away.

Sango turned slightly red as she requested a samisen. When she received the beautiful instrument, she plucked it expertly and turned to the crowd.

"Ano… I normally don't sing for people, but in this case I had no choice in the matter," she spoke, glaring at her friends. She cleared her throat and continued, "This is a song that I had written for someone who is very dear to me. I called it Yakusoku wa Iranai." With that, she skillfully plucked the notes and closed her eyes as she began singing the words she had gone over in her head for some time. She faintly heard the other musicians start to play along with her, but she concentrated on the words.

"Ne, aishitara daremo ga

konna kodoku ni naru no?

Ne, kurayami yori mo fukai kurushimi

dakishimeteru no?

(Say, when they're in love,

does everyone get this lonely?

Say, do they embrace the pain

that's even deeper than darkness?)

Nani mo kamo ga futari kagayaku tame

kitto

(It's all been so that we

can shine,

I just know it!)"

The audience listened to Sango's melodious voice in awe. Miroku smiled as she opened her eyes and looked at him as she continued to sing.

"Kimi wo kimi wo aishiteru

kokoro de mitsumete iru

Kimi wo kimi wo shinjiteru

samui yoru mo

(I… I love you.

I'm gazing at you with my heart.

I… I believe in you.

Even on the coldest night.)"

Sango played the interlude, humming along with it. Kagome bit her lip; she wanted to dance! The lively tune thrummed through her veins, and her feet itched. She soon felt the music take over her limbs as she went to the dance arena and began to dance. Soon, other girls joined her as Sango began singing again.

"Ne, koi shite mo dare ni mo itsuka

owari ga karu no?

Ne, aozora yori mo sunda

tokimeki sutete shimau no?

(Say, even if they're in love,

could the end someday come for them, too?

Say, could a feeling that's even

clearer than the blue sky end up being abandoned?)"

Kisetsu kawaru no kaze

michi wo hashiru

zutto.

(The season-changing winds

running along the streets

forever.)"

The men of the village soon joined in the lively dance as well, and Sango closed her eyes again as she sang:

"Kimi wo kimi wo aishiteru

kokoro de mitsumete iru

Kimi wo kimi wo shinjiteru

samui yoru mo

(I… I love you.

I'm gazing at you with my heart.

I… I believe in you.

Even on the coldest night.)"

Sango grinned happily as the music started to go wild. She had forgotten just how much fun this was! She felt a pair of hands take the samisen away from her and a strong set of arms wrap themselves around her waist and pull her forward into warm embrace. She opened her eyes to meet a pair of mischievous violet ones. As the music played on, Miroku twirled Sango around and started to dance with her. As the music slowed, they stopped, Sango's hands on the houshi's chest and his arms still around her waist. Ignoring the smirks that were coming from everyone, Sango sang on, keeping eye contact with Miroku the entire time:

"Tatoe ashita nakushite mo

anata wo ushinatte mo

Dekiru kagiri no egao de kayagakitai

(Even if I lost tomorrow,

and even if I lost you, too,

I want to shine,

smiling as best as I can.)

"Namida de ima yobi kakeru

yakusoku nado iranai

kimi ga kurete taisetsu na tsuyosa dakara

(I call out to you now with my tears.

I don't need promises or such things,

because of the precious

strength that you've given me.)

"Hitomi de ima yobi kakeru

yakusoku nado iranai

Hitomi de ima te wo nobasu

samui yoru mo…

(I call out to you now with my eyes.

I don't need promises or such things.

I reach out to you now with my eyes,

even on the coldest night.)"

The music played on for little while after Sango's voice died down. When the final notes strummed into silence, everyone cheered. Miroku reluctantly released a blushing Sango, who bowed modestly to the crowd. Kagome ran over and hugged her friend fiercely, congratulating her on her double success. Sango's blush deepened while Miroku chuckled silently.

Shippo tugged on Kagome's yukata, saying that he wanted to play some more games. Kagome nodded and, with a final word of congratulations, followed Shippo to the games, where Inuyasha was waiting for them.

As the crowd separated to find other things to do now that the dancing and singing was over, Miroku grasped Sango's hand, jerking his head in the direction of the forest. Sango nodded shyly, unsure of what the houshi was planning. Smiling gently, Miroku picked up his shakujô and led Sango away from the festivities into the lush forest.

~*~*~*~

They walked for what seemed to be ages to Sango until they reached a small clearing with a lagoon. Sango gasped; the scenery was amazing! The trees twisted and knotted around one another, giving the glade a secluded glance. Flowers-sakuras, tomoyos, nadeshikos-blossomed beautifully, with the dark green of the grass acting as their counterparts. The lagoon itself was a masterpiece with its clear waters and the tiny waterfall. Tiny ripples from the wispy branches of the trees were the only disturbance of the water's placid surface. Firebugs were lazily floating in the air, their gentle lanterns glowing softly in the darkness. Moonlight peered through the trees and starlight littered the skies. Sango, once again, gasped in awe at the beauty of the scene.

"Kirei…" she whispered softly.

Miroku wrapped his arms around her waist and hugged her to him so that her back was to his chest. He grinned when she instinctively leaned against him. He rested his chin on her shoulder.

"I know a certain taijiya who is more beautiful than even the goddesses of the heavens," he whispered huskily in her ear.

Sango shivered, both from the feel of his hot breath on her ear and the delicious tone of his voice, and blushed lightly.

"Flatterer," she mock-scolded, leaning into him even more.

Miroku, undaunted, planted a kiss on her cheek. "You love me anyway," he told her in that same seductive voice.

Sango giggled and continued to blush. She closed her eyes, content and happy. The wind sifted through the leaves of the trees, the water lapped at the shores, and the song of the nightingale created a calming melody, and Sango couldn't have been more at peace. For once, thoughts of her old life, her pain, and even her revenge on Naraku didn't seem so important. All that mattered right now was this moment, this precious moment she was sharing with Miroku.

Miroku smiled gently at the young woman who had stolen his heart and changed his life. She looked peaceful, content, happy… something he rarely saw on her face unless she was asleep with peaceful dreams. He felt her lean into his loose embrace even more, and he nuzzled into her neck, inhaling her scent and causing her to giggle again.

Neither human noticed the wind pick up slightly, nor did they realize that it was encircling them in a protective bubble with the petals of the sakuras, tomoyos, and nadeshikos floating gently and the firebugs fluttering around them. The only thing that they knew was that this moment was theirs.

Sango turned in Miroku's grasp so that she was facing him, which also left his hands dangerously close to her butt (not that she noticed). Music from the village filtered through the trees as she wrapped her arms around his neck. Slowly, they danced to the music, swaying slightly. Sango rested her head on Miroku's shoulder and closed her eyes as they continued to dance into the night. Neither noticed when the music stopped.

Softly, as though out of a dream, a mysterious melody came from the depths of the lagoon as the couple danced. A soft, feminine voice started humming, and then sang:

Woman: "We were strangers, starting out on a journey.

Never dreaming, what we'd have to go through.

Now here we are, and I'm suddenly standing

At the beginning with you.

As soon as she stopped, another voice, this time masculine, took over:

Man: "No one told me I was going to find you.

Unexpected, what you did to my heart."

Both: "When I lost hope, you were there to remind me

This is the start."

Both: "And life is a road that I wanna keep going

Love is a river, I wanna keep flowing

Life is a road, now and forever, wonderful journey.

I'll be there when the world stops turning,

I'll be there when the storm is through.

In the end I wanna be standing

At the beginning with you."

Sango lifted her gaze to meet Miroku's; she remembered all the times she had lost hope… during those times, Miroku always seemed to know what to say in order to make her feel better. Miroku, for his part, remembered all of the times that Sango had insisted that the two of them should stick together. She was a comfort and a candle through all of the pain in his life, and he was determined to do the same for her. Waves of memories hit them as they remembered how they'd met. They had started out as complete strangers with only their own personal goals in mind. Somehow, Fate made them closer. When one lost hope, the other was always there. They were two halves of the same whole.

Unbeknown to them, the soft song continued:

Woman: "We were strangers, on a crazy adventure."

Man: "Never dreaming, how our dreams would come true."

Both: "Now here we stand, unafraid of the future

At the beginning with you."

Both: "And life is a road that I wanna keep going

Love is a river I wanna keep flowing,

Life is a road, now and forever, wonderful journey.

I'll be there when the world stops turning,

I'll be there when the storm is through.

In the end I wanna be standing at the beginning with you."

Both: "Knew there was somebody somewhere

A new love in the dark.

Now I know my dream will live on,

I've been waiting so long,

Nothing's gonna tear us apart…"

Both: "And life is a road that I wanna keep going

Love is a river I wanna keep going on…"

Woman: "Starting out on a journey…"

Both: "And life is a road that I wanna keep going

Love is a river I wanna keep flowing,

In the end I wanna be standing

Woman: "At the beginning…

Both: "With you…"

As the gentle voices drifted off into the night, Miroku slowly closed the distance between their lips. Sango met him half-way, and they claimed one another's lips in a sweet, gentle and chaste kiss.

When they separated, they smiled happily at each other. Sango rested her head on Miroku's shoulder once more, snuggling into his warm embrace as he tightened his hold on her.

Miroku leaned over so that his lips were next to her ear and whispered softly, "I promise that you and I will always be together, even in death."

Sango smiled and whispered back, "Yakusoku nado iranai. I know, and I love you."

"I love you, too."

~*~*~

"KAWAII!!!" squealed an over-excited Kagome as she videotaped her friends (A.N.: For those of you who watch CCS as well… think of Tomoyo-chan videotaping Sakura-chan…@_@). Inuyasha covered her mouth with his hand to muffle the noise.

"Baka, you want us to get caught?!" he hissed.

"Of course not! And lucky for me, I've got the whole festival on tape!" she said gleefully.

Inuyasha rolled his eyes at her. "Kagome, you're strange…"

"Thanks."

"Kagome, I think they'd like to not be spied on."

"Demo…"

"How would you feel if they-" Inuyasha jerked a thumb at the embracing couple, "-spied on us?"

Kagome froze. Blushing, she turned the camera off and put it up.

Inuyasha smirked. "Thought so."

"Urusai."

Inuyasha laughed and kissed her gently on the lips. "C'mon, Kagome, let's head back to the festival."

Kagome nodded and allowed Inuyasha to lead her back to where Shippo was waiting for them. She smiled happily, thankful that her friends finally got what they had desired above all else: An unbreakable and undying love.

~*~*~*~

Unbeknownst to Miroku and Sango, they were also being watched by four other beings.

"Finally, I thought they would never get together," sighed a feminine voice. It belonged to a young woman with midnight black hair and chocolate brown eyes that were very close to Sango's.

"Un, it took long enough," spoke another, this one slightly tomboyish. She was around the same age as the first speaker, and her full hair was a dark brown that was almost black with black eyes.

A small chuckle escaped the lips of the first speaker. "Kaya-chan, was it really necessary of you and Mitashi-kun to sing for them? I'm fairly sure my daughter would've done just fine."

Kaya gave her friend a wicked grin as she leaned into Mitashi and replied, "No offense, Kia-chan, Moro-kun, but your Sango is very shy. It's a wonder that she even found the courage to tell him."

"Not as amazing as it was for you to confess to Mitashi, Kaya-san," Moro said in amusement as Kaya stuttered and blushed while Mitashi laughed. He watched his daughter with sad eyes. He sighed.

Mitashi looked at his long-time friend. "What's wrong, Moro?"

Moro glanced at his friend in wry amusement. "It would figure," he said, "That I would lose my daughter to the son of my best friend. It really amazes me just how much alike the two of you are."

Kaya giggled slightly and said, "That's my son for you!" Then, with soft, sad eyes looking at Miroku, she gently touched her son's handsome face… only to have her hand go through him. With bright eyes, she whispered softly, "Gomen ne, Miroku-kun. You never saw us here watching you all of these years, and still you never will. But remember what I told you the night I left you both; 'I'll always be there.' And so will your father. Take care of Sango, Miroku. She is your most priceless treasure." She now turned to Sango and spoke softly, "Sango-san, you never met me, but I know that you will be a good wife for my son. Take good care of him. Make good decisions in the future. May your love last beyond the sands of time." With that, she turned back to the other spiritual forms as she blinked away her tears. Clearing her throat, she said in a teary voice, "Let's go home."

With that, the four figures walked off and faded into the night, re-entering the gates of the Realm of the Dead. Mitashi stopped before the gates and turned once more to his son and his son's love. Mitashi smiled at the two and whispered, "May their love never die, and let the love that they share give them the strength that they need for the battle yet to come. Good luck, Miroku. May the gods smile on you as they have to let you live through this." With that, he entered the gates as they closed slowly behind him.

A faint glittering caught Miroku's eye. He reached around Sango's form and found the cause. It was…

"A flower?" Sango asked. She looked at Miroku in confusion and saw his face give a shocked expression. "Miroku?" she asked hesitantly.

"This flower… it is one that my mother spoke of. She told me that it only bloomed when the dead visit their loved ones and give blessings. I always thought that was a myth," he said in a slightly choked voice. The blossom was closed, its petals giving off a pink-purple glow as its radiance glittered. Miroku's hand touched the delicate petals with a gentle touch, then went to pick the flower. He held it in his hands and stared at it in disbelief. Sango wrapped her hands around the flower, marveling at its beauty. The moment that her hands joined his in holding the stem, the tight bud unraveled into full bloom, revealing in its center a tiny star. The flower wilted, but the star remained hovering over their hands. Gently, as if in a dream, the star surrounded the two with its faint light. Miroku and Sango both felt a slight pull, and then the star was gone.

"What happened?" Sango asked hesitantly.

Miroku smiled. "I think we've been approved to be together."

Miroku was right.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

OWARI!!! It is done! In truth, I didn't intend for it to be this long @_@… but oh well! There is a sequel in progress, so tell me if you think it needs one or to just leave it as it is!

Miroku: You are WAY too hyper…

Mystical: ty! ^_^ Onegai, ppl, r&r… speaking of which… *glares at audience* I posted both my Inuyasha fanfics on MediaMiner… I found out something VERY interesting…

Miroku: *sigh* She had 137 hits for Take My Hand, and only 8 reviews…

Mystical: *nods* And its only because of a certain reviewer there that reviewed three times to meet my level of the reviews that is urging me do this…

Thanks to:

Sango-chan: For encouraging me to continue this fic and other fics of mine.

My English II and III teachers: For helping me to become a better writer and encouraging my imagination to grow.

My Creative Writing teacher: For starting a Creative Writing Club to help young authors to express themselves.

Miroku/Sango fanfic writers: What else? For writing Miroku/Sango fics and inspiring me!

to sailorpsychosis: For pointing out some corrections that I missed. ^^

And to my reviewers! Thank you everyone!!

Translations:

Aishiteru: I love you, forever and for always.

Arigatou: Thank you.

Bouzo: Informal term for monk.

Demo: but

Gomen nasai: I'm sorry

Hanyou: half-demon

Hentai: pervert

Hiraikotsu: Sango's favorite weapon, a giant boomerang made from the bones of youkai.

Honto: really

Houshi-sama: a really formal term for monk. It literally means, "Lord Monk"

Iie: no

Kitsune: fox spirit

Miko: priestess

Nadeshiko: a type of purple flower… I never learned the English name of it…

Ne: right

Okaa-san: mom, mother

Sakura: cherry blossoms

shakujô: a Buddhist staff. Has many rings on it.

Shikon no kakera: Shikon shards

Taijiya: demon exterminator

Tomoyo: plum blossoms

Un: informal term for yes

Youkai: demon

Yukata: A type of kimono