It felt like such a short and long amount of time since Naraku had finally died. The jewel had disappeared. Since Kagome... Kagome. Since Kagome had been in the feudal era and crossed the Sacred Well. A whole year. Life had to forge on without her, even it felt like something was missing. Someone. It just felt like longer to others. Inuyasha went through the motions of life. He lived. He did his best to 'move on' as some would say. He wouldn't frown and mourn for others to see. But he never really smiled either. He was secretly, patiently waiting. But he also fought the fear everyday that he may never see Kagome again.
On this particular night the sky was cloudless. Clear. Twinkling stars dotting the sky for as far as they eyes could see. Inuyasha gazed longingly at them, wondering how the sky looked wherever Kagome was. Miroku had been especially kind and understanding of the Hanyou, who hardly gave anyone besides Shippo a hard time anymore. His words extra careful and extra soft. Even the young Kitsune knew better than to tease the half demon on such a night. He had seen Inuyasha's countless secret attempts at crossing the well to meet with Kagome to no avail.
The demon slayer had come to understand the Hanyou even better over the past year as well. She'd always known of his intense feelings for Kagome but doubted whether or not he could adequately express them or be there for Kagome the way she needed. His quiet mourning was proof enough now, he loved Kagome with every fiber of his being and it hurt that they could not be together. Inuyasha would never say such, he would do his best to live his life with his friends. Still, Sango would be there for him the way he had been there for her through everything with Kohaku. Wordlessly, but unwavering.
She approached her friend in the warm meadow and took a silent seat beside him. Despite the muggy heat still thick in the night air there was an occasional chilled breeze. She pulled her kimono around her and gazed at the stars some more. She cleared her throat gently after a moment and spoke. "We ought to keep training soon. I don't want to lose my edge, especially if I'm ever to teach those two." she said, twiddling a blade of grass. Those two referring to her new born twin girls. Inuyasha gave a rueful chuckle without facing her way.
"Not quite yet in your condition, mama."
Sango turned to him for the first time while he spoke. His eyes were shut and his head dipped slightly. "You're still worn out from birthing the brats, and I can tell you're still bleeding a little from the labor. I'll be more than happy to keep you on your toes but not for a few more weeks." He knew Sango was trying to make him feel included and needed. He appreciated the thought but nothing could be better for him than Kagome's return.
"You're right Inuyasha. A few weeks, then." Another silence between the two.
"I thought, I thought that-" Sango watched intently as Inuyasha struggled. "I thought that defeating Naraku would feel a lot better. I know what we did was good. Amazing. And, and... We saved a lot of people suffering I just-" Inuyasha paused as his clawed fist grabbed a handful of grass. "I thought she would be here." There weren't tears in his eyes but his throat was closing. Sango nodded, looking up into the sky.
"Separated by hundreds of years... You're still under the same sky. I know she's remembering too. Inuyasha." Inuyasha swallowed. "And I think in in my heart, you're going to see her again." Now it was time for his eyes to sting. He offered Sango a brief, watery smile before looking to the sky once more.
