AN: Hi guys! This popped up (Some weird twisted thought honestly) I was wondering what people did back in the day when it came to people drowning and choking. I mean, CPR didn't exist until 1957. Just a thought I had. Anyway. Enjoy!
The breeze temporarily rewarded the hanyou's face as he continued to shovel into the humid soil. It was mid-summer, hottest time of the year, and here he was, helping the perverted monk plow through the fields for the incoming crops. Inuyasha grumbled darkly as he continued to endure the unrelenting sun and its heat. Thankfully, they had one row left before lunch time with Miroku's family. Sango had convinced Inuyasha to join them with the promise of pickled vegetables, cold tea, and watermelon for desert.
He couldn't say no.
"Hey monk, you better pick up the pace before I leave your sorry ass and join your wife upstream." Inuyasha grumbled as he wiped a sweaty brow; he'd much rather help Sango wash vegetables than hear the monk grunt with exertion.
Miroku chuckled tiredly as he leaned on his shovel, "Believe it or not, I need you more than my pregnant wife does; Sango is perfectly capable of washing vegetables at the river."
"However" Miroku continued, "Himari and Hana might want to play with their uncle right about now…They do happen to like your ears my friend."
His hanging comment was met with the sound of continued shoveling and grumbling.
—-
Sango loved summer. It reminded her of their travels across Japan, filled with campfires and sleeping under the stars. The spontaneous picnics near the river always reminded her of her best friend. The ninja food, cold tea, and chopped vegetables always seemed to be a favorite of her futuristic friend. Hopefully, today's lunch would give her the same feelings it did last summer.
Sango craved nostalgia with a passion, what she wouldn't give to have Kagame back. She missed the fiery, yet kind aura that surrounded the miko. Her positivity radiated like a halo, beckoning anyone in her radius. Smiling sadly, she dipped the basket into the cool water and began swish the debris away. The powerful current made quick work of clearing the basket of dirt and accompanying weeds. Swaying the basket gently against the never-ending tide, she began to scrub.
Vibrant greens, yellows, and oranges flooded her eyes as she calmly finished cleaning each vegetable. Hiking the basket out of the water, she placed her swollen feet into the cool water. Sighing in relief, she hiked her skirt up higher and relaxed. There was always something so relaxing of dipping ones feet in the river and just enjoying the day. The sun was bright and powerful, yet the river's current and breeze brought a delightful cooling effect to the slayer. Taking a bite out of a cucumber, she hummed in enjoyment; her swollen belly readily agreed.
Munching happily, she tilted her head back and enjoyed the sounds of summer. The birds were chirping, the leaves were swaying gently, and her twins were splashing away on the edge of the river. It was music to her ears.
Looking over her shoulder, she spotted Rin dozing under the tree. Getting up clumsily, Sango waddled to the sleeping preteen.
"Rin? Rin- wake up. Mind giving me a hand with the baskets? I can't hold onto both." Sango murmured sheepishly as she took in her friend's disgruntled expression.
"Of course Sango, Rin will help you! It must be hard balancing these chores with an incoming baby." Rin commented as she stood up. Sango chuckled as she leaned on the tree.
"Don't get me started, Rin. Soon, you'll see what it's like taking care-"
"Ma-!"
The retort soon died as she heard a tiny, unmistakable shriek from the river. As Rin and Sango both ran to the river bank, they spotted two identical pink bundles being swept away by an unforgiving tide.
Sango's bloodcurdling scream soon joined the sounds of summer.
—-
His silver ears perked automatically, taking in the distant sound loud and clear: My babies!
Feeling his heart sink to his stomach, he looked over to Miroku. He was met with a terrified expression and quickly watering eyes.
"Sango…"
Wasting no time, Inuyasha pulled the monk on his back and began to sprint upstream.
Miroku had never felt this overwhelming fear and anxiety fill his heart before. A cacophony of noise and splashes was all he processed as he repeatedly gulped for air. Numbly, he tried spotting his wife and children as they approached the river's shoreline.
"They're further down Miroku! They must've been swept away!" yelled Inuyasha as they both leapt into the cool current. Vivid red, pink, and forest green filled his vision as they swam to his hysterical wife. Miroku tried making sense of the hysterics as he looked at his wife and daughter. Hana was crying, high-pitched keens as she pawed at her mother's neck, desperate to get away from the water that almost killed her.
Clutching Hana and Sango to himself, he began pulling them towards the shore, while shouting the feared words, "Sango! Where is Himari?"
"She's gone, Miroku! Rin swam after her, but the current took them both, my baby is still in there! Himari!" Sango sobbed, as she held on to her screaming child and husband.
"I see Rin and Himari, they're downstream!" Inuyasha bellowed over Sango's hysterics, as he dived further away, quickly catching up. Automatically, he pulled them out of the water and began to asses any injuries his wife and child might've had. Nursing a bruised arm, Sango swatted Miroku's probing hands.
"Bring me back my child, Miroku, don't worry about me. I can take care of Hana. Bring her back." Sango murmured urgently as she tried calming down for the child's sake. Hana's crying hadn't subsided.
Nodding quickly, Miroku ran down the shoreline, fearing the worst of what was to come.