Story: Haunted.
Summary: He had everything he'd ever wanted. Revenge. His life. Her love. His children. And yet, he is still haunted...
Rating: k.
Disclaimer: I do not own the characters used in this story, they belong to Rumiko Takahashi.
Haunted.
Sango sighed, settling next to her husband in their shared futon. She turned, letting her tired eyes rest on his peaceful face. She smiled and closed her eyes, breathing in his scent, before opening them again. His face was turned towards her, his eyes lightly closed, his chest rising and falling in time with his even breathing. Her eyes trailed down to his chest, and she caught sight of the scars that still remained, carved into his chest like a permanent reminder of their horrific past. Still, she thought, he had done it all for her.
He'd risked his life on several occasions to save her, and although she'd sat, scolding him as he lay pale and sweating, his tired body recovering from their latest run-in with Naraku, she noticed how happy he was to see her alive. Safe, and well. How she loved that man. She loved the way he'd listen to her talking about her family, and her past, something nobody else cared to do. He had his faults, like every human does, and once he'd learnt to trust her, he'd changed his ways, slowly but surely proving his love for her.
And finally, she mused, they'd defeated Naraku, his retched presence being wiped off the face of the earth, his name only a distant memory to those who cared to remember. He'd waited for her, as he promised, and once again he'd ask her to come live with him; embracing her, twirling her round, beaming as she'd agreed. She giggled, remembering how he'd practically boasted to every man he spoke with, who his beautiful bride-to-be was.
Then she remembered their wedding day. The most beautiful ceremony, more than she could have wished from the village they resided at. After she'd received news she was pregnant, she'd wait for him, seen him enter their warm, tidy hut and she'd excitedly share the news, making him the happiest father on the planet. Now, with her first child on the way, she lay and watched him as she felt her tiny child kicking softly at her insides. She could have sworn she felt an extra leg kick, but convinced herself that small child was punching her as well. A fighter...just like it's father.
She quickly sat up as he suddenly cried out, his brow creased, his breathing uneasy. She stroked his hair as he moved close to her, fisting her clothes. She quickly tried to calm her pounding heart, and watched as he blinked his watery eyes open, his dark orbs hungrily searching around their hut. She sighed, kissing his forehead.
"Did you have a nightmare, husband?" She asked. Silence hung around them as he was almost too exhausted to answer. Finally, he nodded and buried his head into her chest, her arms holding him.
"Yes..." He answered, his tired voice breaking the long silence. She sighed again and lay him back down, kissing him once more, before settling her head onto his sweaty chest. She looked at him then, remembering that even though he'd been through so much, even though he had everything he'd ever wanted, his revenge, his wife, his children...
"I'm sorry Sango." He muttered, shaking her from her thoughts.
"I can't seem to forget...him." He finished, breathing into her hair. She closed her eyes, nodding, understanding.
No matter how strong he was...he was still haunted.