Yay! Another chapter! This one isn't really poised on humor, but I hope you like it just the same. I was going to write the next chapter tonight, but my daughter just woke up, and I must go and be a mommy… I hope everyone enjoys it!
Chapter 3: The Hot Springs of Truth
Sango walked beside her friend with a troubled look. They were nearly to Kaede's and no one had spoken a word. Odd. Even during the worst of their fights there was usually occasionally name calling and "sitting". She sighed, defeated. Whatever was bothering them would surely explode sooner than later. She would just have to wait until Kagome was ready to talk. She absently petted Kirara who she was carrying as usual. The neko demon purred softly, but even she comforted Sango very little in her worried state.
Miroku walked slightly behind the quiet group. Inuyasha was directly ahead of him, apparently deep in thought. Sango and Kagome had walked several feet in front of the half demon, though sending looks of hate toward him all the way. Kagome now held her chin high in the air, trying not to cry. Sango occasionally sent her friend a look of concern, but said nothing. Shippo was perched on Kagome's shoulder, and by the look on his face he had also noticed the unusual silence.
Miroku quicked his pace to come up beside Inuyasha. "Hey," the monk said, putting a hand on his shoulder. "we are nearly there. Is everything alright?" Miroku loved the laugh that he had gotten over the fight, but this was going alittle far. Inuyasha flinched, but said nothing. Miroku removed his hand and fell into step with him. After a moment Inuyasha stopped and turned to Miroku.
"I'll talk to you, Miroku, but it can't be anywhere around Kagome or Sango. Even Kirara, and definitely not Shippo, Got it?" Inuyasha narrowed his eyes at the monk, and as he expected his unspoken threat was executed successfully.
The monk nodded solemnly. "You have my word, Inuyasha. When would you like to discuss this?"
"Tonight after the girls go to sleep. I'll meet you at the entrance of my forest." He sighed and hung his head in defeat. "This is something big, Miroku… I really need your advice. You are a lecher," Miroku faked a hurt expression, which only made Inuyasha narrow his eyes and speak the rest of the sentence through clenched teeth. "but you are also a holy man, so if anyone can help me, it would be you." He turned, looked up at the sky. "It's never been this bad before. I can't stop them this time." With that he started walking in the direction of the village at a quickened pace. They weren't very far behind the girls, but it was enough so that he couldn't hear or see them, and it made him uneasy to let them out of his sight in the forest. He could smell them about 40 yards or so ahead, and he couldn't sense any demons, but he didn't slow down just the same. Sango could handle herself for the most part, but what about Kagome? He'd rather have her bitch at him than have her hurt. Who knows what could be creeping around that he couldn't smell?
Miroku walked in the same direction as Inuyasha, though not nearly as quickly. He had a lot to spectulate on. What was so important to Inuyasha that he couldn't tell Kagome, let alone the rest of the group? He hoped more than anything that he could help his friend. All joking aside, he really did hate for anyone to be troubled.
-
They arrived at the village that evening. No one was really tired, but Kaede took the silence to be as such. She had been gathering herbs at the edge of the forest and smiled when she saw them. She welcomed the group in the ordinary fashion, and informed them that she was just about to start dinner. Both of the girls offered to help, so they made their way back to Kaede's hut. Miroku followed them to the village to stock up on supplies for their next trip, also followed by Shippo and Kirara. Inuyasha made sure no one was looking and hopped into his favorite tree. It was coming again soon, so he might as well get comfortable. He could never tell how it was going to effect him.
Sango filled Kaede in on the unsuccessful shard hunt. She left out the fight, and the silent trip home. She didn't want to upset Kagome anymore, she still looked to be on the verge of tears even as she was chopping carrots. Dinner was served an hour later. Miroku had returned from the shop with plenty of supplies. Kirara and Shippo wrestled in the corner of the hut. Inuyasha was nowhere to be found.
Kaede set aside her bowl of stew and leaned towards Kagome.
"What's wrong with ye, child? Kaede lifted Kagome's chin and looked into her eyes. "Ye have said nearly nothing since ye have arrived. Are ye sick?" She turned Kagome's head this way and that, looking for signs of fever.
"She and Inuyasha are having another fight!" Shippo piped up from the corner. He missed the death glares he received from Sango and Miroku. "This one's pretty bad!" He then caught the looks, smiled sheepishly at them, and continued wrestling. Kirara mewed in surprise at the unexpected restart as she was forced to the ground.
"Is this true, child?"
Kagome looked at Kaede and burst into tears. She said nothing, just cried silently, hugging the old woman she thought of as a grandmother.
Miroku and Sango shared a look. They had never seen her this upset. What had been said that would effect her that way? Everyone sat in silence while Kagome cried to her hearts content.
After what seemed like hours, Kagome raised her head and dried her tears. "I'm sorry, everyone. I don't know what came over me. Sango, would you like to join me for a bath? I feel like I haven't bathed in a week!" Sango nodded, smiling. "Yes, I will. We need to hurry, though. The storm will be beginning soon, and we wouldn't want to get caught in it." Kagome returned the smile, then turned to Kaede. "Thank you, Kaede. I think I needed that." She hugged her, then quickly grabbed two towels and headed for the hot springs with Sango beside her.
-
Once in the water, Kagome laid back against a rock and sighed. He raised her head and looked up to the sky. It was dark blue, sparkling stars littered it, cresent moon looking down upon its reflection in the water. The clouds from the coming storm where moving in quickly, surrounding it, making it stand out even more in the night sky. She sighed yet again. The moon always made her think of Inuyasha, for obvious reasons. She closed her eyes and sank lower in the water.
Sango watched Kagome intently. Did she what to talk to her? Sango waited patiently until Kagome spoke. Eyes still closed, she soon did.
"Sango, have you noticed that me and Inuyasha have been getting along better recently?"
Sango nodded. She had indeed. "Yes, I have."
Kagome nodded. "He was acting strange today, don't you think?"
Sango nodded again. "Yes, I did."
Kagome opened her eyes and looked again at the moon. She didn't speak for a long time. Sango had nearly giving up and her saying anymore when she spoke again, shocking Sango.
"I'm in love with him, Sango. You know that, right?"
Sango stared in shock for a second, then recovered. Who would have thought she would ever admit it? She again nodded. "Yes, I do."
Kagome nodded absently. She was nearly 17, and she had been in love with Inuyasha for nearly two years. She had known that Sango knew, as well as Miroku. It just hadn't ever been discussed.
"I don't know what to do, Sango."
Sango looked at the girl that she considered her sister. She had never had a sister, but she knew that if she had she would have loved her the way she loved Kagome. Sango sighed and waded closer the her, putting her arm around her. Kagome had grown so much since they had first met. She had helped with so many of Sango's problems without expecting anything in return. She had shouldered everything with complaint. Now she was asking for her advice. She watched as tears appeared on Kagome's cheeks and slid slowly down her face, dripping into the water. Sango thought for a moment, then sighed.
"Kagome, there is only two things you can do. You can either tell you how you feel and see if he feels the same way, or you can continue like you have been in silence. I don't know about you, but I hate seeing you this way."
Kagome laughed. "I hate being this way." She laughed again, then sighed. "I love him so much, Sango. I thought that it would go away, but it never did. I will always love him."
Sango nodded. She knew oh too well what it was like to love someone and never tell them because you feared rejection. Her thoughts quickly flickered to Miroku. Why did she love that lecherious monk again? She smiled at her thoughts, then frowned just as quickly. Somethings just weren't meant to be.
Kagome thought for a moment, then stood, shaking Sango from her own thoughts. Water dripped from her form into the spring still covering her from the waist down. She clenched her fists in determination, then looked at Sango with a new smile.
Kagome laughed. "I'm going to tell him tomorrow, Sango. I'm gonna do it. Before I go home and before I change my mind. I'm so tired of not knowing." She held a determined gleam in her eyes. "I would rather know that he didn't want me than wonder if he didn't."
Sango smiled at her. "I think you are right, Kagome. I think that it's a great idea."
The continued talking as they bathed, unbeknownst of the hanyou in the tree to their left, sitting silently, hearing everything that was said.
-
The hut was silent as the girls left. Everyone finished eating, and Kaede retired to bed early. The girls returned from the hot springs in slightly better spirits, and retired shortly after. Shippo slept with Kagome and Kirara slept with Sango. The storm soon hit the town, causing the hut to shake slightly, but it didn't seem to bother anyone inside. Well, except Miroku. Miroku laid on his mat until he was sure everyone was asleep, then rose and stepped out into the storm. He carefully made his was towards the forest, all the while the rain beat down on him like pebbles thrown from the sky.
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Hope you liked it! Thanks to all that reviewed on the first Chapter!
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