Another Chance, for the Only Sango
By Industrial Monk
Chapter One: Confusion with a hint of 'something more'
"Sango…My only Sango…"
The words dripped with sweetness, with a soothing voice to match.
"Mi…Miroku?"
She tried to open her eyes, but a blinding light avoided her from continuing such an action. A hearty chuckle arose, shaking her gently in the arms of a mysterious man.
"Alas, I am not the monk you seek."
Sango concentrated hard on the identity of the speaker. Warmth pooled around her body, her neck was strained in an awkward crook, and her legs seemed to be draped over an object of some sort. She shifted her weight, testing how her body held up.
"Shh..." Warm breath mingled very near her ear. "We wouldn't want you to reopen your wounds dear Sango."
She tested opening her eyes once more. Sunlight pooled in, as she winced.
"Where…Where am I?"
At first glance, the room seemed anything but familiar. Too extravagant, and up-class for the usual inns Miroku would usually pick out, yet strangely homey and comfortable.
"Why, you're at my castle once again. How the fates have changed! They have given me one more glorious opportunity to see my little lily once again!"
Little lily…
"Ku…Kuranosuke?!" With a start, Sango bolted up, groaning at the sharp pain in her side.
"Ahh, lie back down Sango. We must not get you too excited." For the first time, Sango looked up at her captor, finding a dazzling smile, and the realization of how he held her gently in his arms.
"What…What are you.." With one finger, Kuranosuke hushed her, setting her back down upon her futon.
"By chance, or maybe even a miracle, you and your friends have stumbled back upon my land. They came in seek of help for your terrible wounds." His hand came upon her cheek, caressing her in a very intimate and personal manner. "Your wounds were so deep …you cannot imagine how shocked I was to see my shining demon slayer in such a horrible condition."
Sango winced at the contact, turning away from him in an attempt to distract herself. Her eyes came upon a figure huddled in the corner of the room. Head down, and eyes shadowed, Miroku sat, obviously with a bit of strain and frustration.
"Mi…Miroku?" As if on signal, Miroku's head snapped up.
"Sango!" He crawled over to where she lay, and stared at her intently with concern lighting up his eyes. Standing abruptly, Kuranosuke turned to take his leave.
"I shall alert the rest of your friends that you have awakened." Sliding open the door, he took one last look the woman currently a hold of his heart then sighed, stepping out.
"Miroku...What...what happened?"
"You mustn't move Sango, your wounds have still not healed thoroughly."
Despite his warning, Sango sat up trying to get her wits about her.
"How did we get to Kuranosuke's castle…I thought.."
Sighing, Miroku scratched his head. "I'm guessing you really don't remember a whole lot from our fight then." Sango stared questioningly at him. "We were ambushed by a fire lord demon. Inuyasha was away escorting Kagome back to her own world. Shippo, yourself and I attempted to lead him away from the village, but we got separated. You had ran off by yourself…" 'Stubborn woman.' "And when I found you…"
Sango closed her eyes, concentrating hard on remembering such events described.
"I do remember you calling my name…and a strange sensation….it was like my body was on fire…" Miroku looked away.
"Sango…I am so sorry. If I had been there to protect you…" He shook his head. "I don't know what I'd do if something would have happened to you." He eyed her wounds. "Something worse"
"Mi…Miroku…I…"
"SANGO!"
The bright eyed, black haired schoolgirl bounced in, a friendly smile plastered over her face and a small fox demon on her shoulder. Following silently was the dog eared demon, Inuyasha, wearing his typical 'I couldn't care less' scowl.
"We were so worried! When Miroku came carrying you, screaming for help, we feared the worse!"
Sango looked to the silent monk.
"You never told me that part."
Shrugging off his thoughtful look, Miroku put a hand behind his head disguising his grief with a bright smile.
"Yeah well…"
"He was shaking so hard, he looked like he was going to start crying!" The outburst belonged to the small demon, hyped up from all the excitement and eager for attention. His enthusiasm soon died with a quick punch to the head from the clearly irritated monk.
"Kuranosuke was kind enough to let us stay here while you healed!" Kagome flashed a grin. "It was a good thing we ran into him, wasn't it Shippo?"
"Now if you will excuse me, I think I will take a quick walk around to make sure no demons are near."
And with that, the monk up and left, leaving Sango at the mercy of the Kagome's eagerness for scandal, Shippo's sharp and embarrassing comments and a very confusing look gleaming across her face.
' Miroku…'