Me: Okay, so I came up with this idea when I was reading one of those "everyone loves whoever" fanfics. So because Sango is my favourite character and I thought it would be fun to tease her… I did this! Heh heh heh… I hope that doesn't sound too evil. Though I would have liked to try and include everyone, I didn't – only Inu-tachi. Sorry, I am sad.
By the way, this fanfic is going to be divided up into two sections; namely the problem and the solution.
Enjoy!
Disclaimer: "InuYasha" is property of Rumiko Takahashi, Sunrise, Viz, and all those other people who bring this series to us!
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Part 1: The Problem
Everyone was trudging their way up the mountain, yet again searching for a Shikon shard Kagome sensed.
"Are you sure there's a shard up here, Kagome?" Inuyasha glanced back at the reincarnated Miko.
"Mm," Kagome nodded.
"If we have to travel so high upwards, this youkai in possession of it must be able to fly," Miroku pointed out.
"Shouldn't that be obvious?" Shippo asked Miroku.
Miroku replied, "Apparently not."
"I can hear you!" Inuyasha retorted at the two.
Sango decided to change the subject. "It would be easier to see if it wasn't for all this fog."
"I agree," Kagome said. "We have to be extra careful because of – ah!" Something struck the back of Kagome's neck. She fell to the ground unconscious.
"Kagome-chan!" Sango whirled around.
"Kagome!" Inuyasha scampered over to reach her. Just before he made it however, whatever got Kagome also got him. Inuyasha grunted, his body hitting the floor.
"Inuyasha!" Shippo cried.
"Sango," Miroku warned, "be careful, there's something – ungh!"
"Houshi-sama!" Sango saw Miroku fall before her. Kirara transformed, ready for any necessary battling. "Shippo, over here!" Sango put her back to the side of the mountain and held Hiraikotsu before her. Shippo ran over to Sango and hid behind her, Kirara standing before both of them. "Kirara, wait for it to attack." Kirara growled in agreement with her.
They waited patiently in silence for their adversary to strike. The air was calm, but their nerves were on alert. Soon enough, they heard a gust cut through the atmosphere. It was headed straight for them. Kirara leapt to the side while Sango blocked the assault with Hiraikotsu. Quickly, she pulled out her katana and threw it at the source of the attack. She heard it hit something, and the sword fell to the ground.
"Did I get it?" Sango looked ahead into the fog.
"I hope so," Shippo muttered from behind her.
Sango stepped forward cautiously, until she saw what appeared to be a large blue insect. Its inky liquids spilt out, including from the needle positioned squarely on the youkai's face. Sango assumed that was what hit the others. Being impaled on her katana, Sango picked the sword up with youkai and all. "What youkai is this?" Sango examined the lifeless body.
"Hey, wake up!"
Sango turned around when she heard Shippo's voice. He was crouched over Kagome and the others. "Sango, they aren't waking up!"
She lifted up her katana. 'Is it because of this blue liquid? In any case, if I have the youkai I may be able to get an antidote.' She walked over to the others and picked Kagome up. Carefully, she placed her on Kirara's back. "Shippo, do you think you can carry the others?"
"Oh – sure! But, where are we going?"
"Back to Kaede's village; we have to treat the others for whatever it is that's taken over their bodies."
- - -
Inuyasha, Kagome, and Miroku laid inside of Kaede's home, still not awake from the youkai's toxins as of yet.
"So you say this youkai is the cause of their condition?" Kaede examined the bug still speared through Sango's katana.
"Mm…" Sango nodded. "But what I don't understand is – what type of youkai is it? In all my years experience as a taiji-ya, I've never come across anything like it."
"Hm… neither have I," Kaede commented. "I suppose we'll just have to wait and see if what we've done for them is enough."
"I hope they wake up soon," Shippo lamented sadly, hunched over Kagome.
"Yeah," Sango murmured. "Me too, Shippo."
- - -
Sango was gathering up fresh water in the basin by the river. She was still trying to figure out where that youkai could have come from. 'I wonder if I should go back to the place where we found it. The others should be fine while I'm gone.'
"So, here you are."
Sango spun around at the sound of the familiar voice. "Houshi-sama!"
Miroku smiled at her. "Glad to see me?"
"I'm more relieved than anything," Sango said as she stood up. "Are you alright? What did that youkai do to you?"
"I'm not sure. I feel fine," Miroku responded. "It probably just knocked me out. Inuyasha and Kagome-sama are all right as well."
Sango sighed with relief. "That's good." She turned around to pick up the basin. "Let me just get this and we can head back."
"So soon?" Miroku came up behind Sango. "Don't you want to stay just a little while longer?"
"Eh?" Sango turned to see Miroku in close proximity of her.
He kneeled down next to her and placed his hand on the ground. Leaning in, he whispered, "You know… just some quality time between the two of us?"
Sango started to blush. "N-no, I really think we should go back now." She made to pick up the wooden basin full of water.
"Just for a couple of minutes." Miroku brought his other arm around Sango.
She turned to look at him. "Houshi-sama, wha- " Sango froze when she saw Miroku's face in close proximity of hers.
"Sango, I care for you very deeply." Miroku's eyes were distinct as he spoke.
Sango's face flushed red. "H-Houshi-sama, what are you – " Miroku moved closer to her, eyes closed, ready to seal her lips with a kiss. Upon instinct, she shouted, "Iiya!" and cuffed him across the face. Miroku fell over backwards, and Sango took this chance to pick up the basin and run.
Sango ran back to the village, her mind racing. 'What in the world was that? What's wrong with Houshi-sama?' She began to slow down into a walk, taking the time to catch her breath. 'I wonder if he's going to come looking for me now.'
"Hey, Sango."
Sango tensed, worrying for a second that it was Miroku again. This voice however came from up above. She looked up into the branches. Instead she discovered it to be Inuyasha who found her.
He jumped down from the tree branch he was crouched on. "What happened? I saw you running through the forest and decided to catch up with you."
"Oh…" she breathed. "I don't know… it was Houshi-sama."
"Keh! Being his lecherous self again, huh?" Inuyasha frowned.
"Well… yes, but… it was different from before."
"Huh? What's that supposed to mean?" he folded his arms.
"He was… coming off more aggressively seductive."
"Huh!?" This confused Inuyasha. "What are you talking about?"
"Sorry; never mind." Sango dismissed the conversation. "I don't know why I'm telling you all this." In a lighthearted manner, she added, "Maybe there's something wrong with me."
Inuyasha stared at her. "There's nothing wrong with you."
"Eh?" Sango faced the hanyou.
"It's just Miroku. He tends to rub you the wrong way, doesn't he?"
"In a manner of speaking," Sango muttered. "That's not all the time though. Other times…" Sango's cheeks went pink, "he's alright."
Inuyasha watched her again with unwavering eyes. "Maybe you just need someone else to fully bring out the best in you."
"Eh?" This statement confused Sango. "Someone else?"
"Mm…" Inuyasha took a step towards Sango.
This situation began to make Sango feel uneasy. "Inuyasha, what are - "
"Can I be that person?" he interrupted her.
"Huh? What!?" She stepped back away from him, but he grabbed her hand to stop her from continuing. "Inuyasha, what are you doing!?"
He clasped her palm in both of his hands. "I want to be closer to you, Sango," he said softly.
"But – what about Kagome-chan?" She tried to pull back from him.
"Kagome?"
"Yes, Kagome-chan!"
Inuyasha looked at her with limpid eyes. "Kagome… she reminds me too much of Kikyou. I think it's better to start with someone completely new… and different."
"Inuyasha!" Sango was horrified as she saw Inuyasha bring his lips closer to her hand. "Inuyasha, stop it!" She smashed the water-filled basin she was still carrying over his head.
"Ehrgh!" Inuyasha stumbled back and fell to the ground.
Taking one last glance at his fallen body, Sango took off again. 'What in the world is going on here?'
She soon caught sight of Kaede's home in the distance. As soon as she was able, she rushed inside and leant against the wall, panting heavily. 'Something is wrong here…'
"Sango-chan?"
"Ewah!" Sango felt her heart jump in her chest as she slammed her back against the wall.
Kagome was sitting by the fire fixing up some food when she saw Sango dash in suddenly. She blinked at her. "Sango-chan, are you okay?"
"Uh… ye – no!" she replied forcefully, taking Kagome by surprise. "Sorry, it's just that – well, have you noticed Houshi-sama and Inuyasha acting oddly lately?"
"Oddly?" Kagome echoed. "What do you mean?"
"Uh… no, nothing." She sat by the wall on the other side of the cabin, eyeing the door restlessly.
Kagome picked up on Sango's behaviour. "Are you sure nothing's wrong?"
"No, nothing." She decided to change the direction of the conversation. "What about you? Are you alright after that youkai attacked you?"
"I'm fine," Kagome smiled at her. "Just a little mark here," Kagome pointed to her neck. "I don't know what happened after it attacked, but thanks for bringing us back and taking care of us Sango-chan."
"Oh, that was no big deal."
"Still, thank you."
"Mm…" That's when it hit her – the youkai! That blue liquid it injected into them must be what was causing Miroku and Inuyasha's unorthodox behaviour. This proposition triggered something in Sango's mind. Her eyes darted to Kagome who was busy stirring the stew she was making. Worry came over her as she watched the other girl. 'If the toxin did that to Houshi-sama and Inuyasha, then…'
"Sango-chan?"
Startled, Sango straightened up to be on guard. "Yes?"
"Do you want to try the stew for me?" Kagome ladled out a portion onto a dish and held it out to her.
"Oh, um… sure…" Sango cautiously took the dish from her. She took a sip.
"How is it?"
"Good!" Sango perked up. "Nothing less from you, Kagome-chan," she smiled.
"Really?"
"Mmm."
Kagome sighed. "If only Inuyasha ever liked anything I made."
"He's just a little too honest." Sango tried to cheer her friend up.
"A little may be putting it mildly," Kagome retorted looking doleful. "He never says anything nice about what I make. Not like you or the others."
Sango tilted her head to look at her. "Don't worry about it. Inuyasha may be inconsiderate at times, but he's nice in other ways – right?"
A small smile made its way to Kagome's face. "Yeah, I guess. Thanks, Sango-chan."
Sango smiled. "It's nice to see you when you're happy."
Kagome appreciated her friend's words. Taking a closer look at Sango, Kagome noticed something. "Sango-chan, why are your clothes so wet?"
"Eh?" Sango glanced down at herself. With everything that's been going on, she didn't realize that the water from the basin had splashed all over her. "Oh… it must have been when I was gathering water."
"And you made such a mess doing that?" Kagome said in a tone of disbelief.
Sango shifted her eyes to the side. "I was surprised by something…"
"By what?" Kagome insisted that Sango explain further.
"Er…" Sango wasn't sure if she should tell Kagome or not. She felt it would be embarrassing to say that Miroku and Inuyasha have become completely smitten with her, even if it was only due to the youkai's injections. Plus, how would Kagome feel about Inuyasha being in that condition? Sango shook her head. "Mm… it was nothing."
Kagome was still unsatisfied with this answer. She decided though that if she continued asking Sango it would be a lost cause, so she just sighed. "Well, you should still change your clothes. Those are soaking wet. You wouldn't want to catch a cold."
Sango agreed and chose to change into her taiji-ya uniform for now. She handed her damp clothes to Kagome so she could hang them by the fire to dry. As she dressed, Sango thought, 'Well, at least Kagome-chan isn't acting any different. Still, what to do about the others…?'
While she was deep in her thoughts, Sango became unaware of Kagome watching her with condoling eyes. She crept up behind her just before Sango could start hooking up the front of her uniform.
Surprised, Sango blinked when she felt Kagome's weight fall against her back. She dropped her hands onto the floor before she could lose her balance. Kagome hugged her from behind, her arms encircled around Sango's neck.
"Kagome-chan, what – " Sango started, but Kagome began talking before she could finish.
"Sango-chan…" Kagome whispered softly. "I worry sometimes about you, you know?"
Sango took a moment to take this in. "Kagome-chan…"
Kagome pressed herself closer to Sango. "Sometimes it seems like you try to handle everything by yourself. Especially…" Kagome hesitated "… when it comes to Kohaku-kun." She felt Sango flinch slightly at this. Kagome held onto her. "I just don't want you carrying so much on your shoulders. We're here to help you after all."
Sango tilted her head downwards. "I know, Kagome-chan," she murmured. "I'm sorry that I make you worry so much about me. Thank you for your concern."
Hearing this, Kagome buried her face in Sango's warm neck, Sango placing her hands on Kagome's arms for comfort. Slowly, Kagome's hand wandered to the undone toggle part of Sango's taiji-ya uniform. She fingered it, and rose up from behind Sango. Instead she came around and sat in front of her.
Her features still soft, she asked Sango, "Do you mind if I do this up for you?"
"Mm…" Sango shook her head.
Kagome took her time looping it together, Sango watching her. When Kagome finished, she let her hands linger there. She looked up at Sango, her clear eyes making contact with hers. Kagome parted her lips as if to say something, but nothing came out. Instead she drew closer to her.
This got Sango's attention. 'Wha-what's going on?' Taking note of Kagome's increasing desire to bring her face closer to her own, a thought raced through Sango's mind. 'No… it's the youkai's toxin! That's what's doing this to her!' Sango scrambled back quickly away from her. Kagome's face just as quickly donned a disappointed expression.
"Sango-chan…"
The sadness Sango detected in Kagome's voice stung her. She gritted her teeth and grabbed Hiraikotsu. "I'm sorry, Kagome-chan!" she shouted as she ran out the door.
She ran past Kaede, Shippo, and Kirara as she came outside. They were about to go in when Sango dashed out.
"Sango, where are you going?" Shippo cried as he saw her.
She stopped in her tracks and whirled around. Determination was etched into her face.
"Sango?" Shippo said unsurely.
"What is the matter?" Kaede asked her.
Sango thrust Hiraikotsu into the ground, allowing it to stand freely. She undid the ribbon in her hair and dropped it to land in Shippo's hands. Sango began retying it into a ponytail as she said, "I'm going back to the mountain where we found the youkai."
"What?" Shippo was surprised by this. "Why?"
"I have suspicions," Sango retorted as she pulled Hiraikotsu out. "Come on, Kirara."
"Wait, what about the others?" Shippo brought up.
Sango clenched her fist. "The others aren't in any condition to go."
"Bu-" Shippo was about to start up again until Kaede stopped him. Shippo looked back to see the Miko shake her head.
"Watch the others while I'm gone." Sango pulled out her katana. It was standing beside the door, youkai still pierced through it. "Let's go, Kirara."
Complying, Kirara mewed and transformed with a blaze of fire swirling round. Once she was in her larger state, Sango climbed aboard. "I'll be back," she told Shippo and Kaede before riding off.
"Be careful!" Shippo shouted, watching the pair fly off.
Sango looked down at the insect on her katana, the blue liquid now dried up. She frowned at the sight. 'Whatever is the cause of this…' Sango looked up ahead. "I'll find it." Kirara flew onwards with Sango, over the village, over the forest… and over Miroku and Inuyasha, whom were busy bickering on the subject of who would get Sango.
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Me: Weird… originally I was going to make this more humourous, but it seemed to evolve into something more dramatic. Maybe one day I'll do a remake and include more characters too. Yes, that would be fun…
Anyways, for the second-half, I want to know who you readers would like to see with Sango in the end – note that I said seen with, not necessarily end up with as a couple or anything. Thanks for your input!