[[I do not own InuYasha, nor do I own any more amusing comments to include here. TT Sad Day.]]
When Sango returned late that night, she had considered going to Erol's house in order to acquire her children, but the hour was against her, she knew that even if the Erols' were awake, that the children would not be. So she decided to go home, and just go over really early in the morning. To her surprise however, when she walked into the bedroom, she was welcomed by the sight of three children, well four if you include the half demon laying amongst them, sleeping just as deeply as the children around him. They were all sprawled out, covers draped over the lot of them, but not surrounding any of them, appearing to have exhausted themselves entirely. Even a half demon didn't have the energy to compete with three adolescents it seemed... Sango stifled a giggle as she moved over and carefully fixed the blankets, before finding her a place on the very edge of the area, with only enough blanket to not slide off of her entirely. The fatigue of the trip and the battle rose to the surface quickly, soon she was just as bad as the other four, sprawling out and completely unguarded as she slipped into ever deepening sleep.
A pleasant dream. No, it was happening in reality, but what else can you call it when you are living in something that isn't real? Maybe it was chance that enabled this path, but this path wasn't moving forward. Five beings occupied the house, ate breakfast together, played together- sometimes InuYasha would help with training, as a true demon opponent it was valuable experience for them, other times it was Sango as a proper demon slayer educated in methods even Kohaku wasn't proficient at. Slayings came and went, and each time she returned home, InuYasha and the children awaited her. It's too easy to let life continue without questioning it, just in the hope that it continues the way it is. For Months now, she's let this fantasy linger of a normal home, and a family. On regular nights, she found it comforting to know InuYasha was sitting nearby, Tetsusaiga in his arms, and on the longer days, even more comforting to find his clawed hand draped over her. On the nights of the new moon, when InuYasha insisted upon being away from everyone were the only times she ever gave consideration to their situations- and then it wasn't what it was, but whether, will it return?
The following morning, when InuYasha returned, she always found herself relieved, yet not surprised. InuYasha wasn't much different in the situation though, perhaps were he a bit more perceptive, he would've questioned it long ago. That night it had began, he hadn't even considered being here through the night, they had talked to day break or it would've never began. Leaving now though, saying goodbye to the children would be troubling, and Sango needed him to babysit right? So of course he couldn't leave, not until all that was settled of course. It's easy to tell yourself when it's a better time, you'll do something- but it's even easier to deceive yourself with those words. He'd spent five years in that place that was neither human, nor demon, alone- again. There was a reason he felt compelled when he caught Sango's scent.. it was comforting to have someone around, even if it meant this domestic life that he'd adopted within the slayer's village.
Reality rarely gives you the chance to live outside of it for long, even if life itself doesn't rip your dreams from you, it's people will always expect you to live it, especially if they are forced to. Sango hadn't a reason to question her current situation, if not for the random conversation she wasn't intended to overhear. A simple conversation, nothing dramatic, one of the many slayers who took an interest in her during their training talking with another, she would usually pass it off as if it were merely an uneducated infatuation that would pass as quickly as it came, but the context brought with it a perception she didn't really want to see.
"Say, y'know the instructor from earlier? Miss Sango?" The infatuated trainee asked his fellow trainee.
"Yeah, of course- everyone knows Sango, she's Kohaku's sister." He responded as if it were the foolish question to ask, accurately of course, as it was among the more foolish ones to ask in the Demon Slayer's Village.
"Yeah, I am thinking about asking her out sometime." He said in a somewhat hushed tone, Sango wouldn't have overheard it at all if she weren't presenting doing some maintenance on her Hiraikotsu in the next room, how foolish was it to have this conversation in the armory?
"Don't be an idiot. She's got three kids, man!" The other said, causing Sango to stifle a chuckle, as she continued to oil the Hiraikotsu. 'That's right, boy, I may look young still, well.. for the most part, but I'm far beyond your maturity.' She thought to herself.
"Aw, man, she's married?" He complained. 'Can't fault you for that jump, after all, I guess technically I am.' She thought.
"Nah, but y'know she has a thing with that half demon from training the other day." THe other responded. '...Wha? A thing? What are they thinking?! InuYasha? Why he's Kagome's... well, even still, we're just friends!' She thought, as she halted her actions to listen.
"Really? Grah! I knew they were close, but I figured him being a dmeon and all, that it was more of a business relationship.." He cursed. 'What kind of stupid thinking is that? I don't care if InuYasha is a demon, one of my best friends is a demon!' She thought, dismissing the fact that Kilala generally was with Kohaku these days.
"Nah, you just were too busy staring I think. Surprised you don't see it, she never interacts with anyone in the village unless it's about business, the only person she talks to socially is the half demon. If she isn't training or on a mission, she's at home, playing house with it." He explained. 'It? He has a name, it's InuYasha! Boy, I oughta teach these two a lesson. If InuYasha overheard this, they'd get some first hand experience at escaping a hostile demon.' She thought to herself as she decided to put an end to this conversation. "Is someone in there?" She called out as she went to approach. She heard them announce themselves and summarily excuse themselves as they went onto their duties. She huffed slightly as she resumed her maintenance. 'I think we need to up the intelligence level of our accepted recruits, those two are idiots! Just because I spend my time at home, all of a sudden I'm in some affair with InuYasha! I'm a mother! Of course I spend all my time at home! It's not like I go straight home just cause InuYasha is there, hell I'm more likely to not go straight home now that I know he's watching the kids!' She contiued to mentally fume on the conversation while she finished her work.
On her way home, she tried to let it go, as not to cause any problems. 'It's getting warmer.. must be it's almost spring time.' She thought to herself as she looked around a bit. "Oh, I bet InuYasha and the kids would enjoy having lunch at the Cherry Blossoms." She said, pleased with coming up with an idea for an outing.
"Planning on a trip to the cherry blossoms, huh? That's nice, I remember my husband took me there when we were newlyweds too." Said Mrs. Erol, the elderly woman whom watches.. well, used to watch her children. She still does, but only on the occasion when a mission coincides with the new moon, or if InuYasha is out training and she needs to go shopping or something.
Sango halted in a frozen position, her face flushing slightly. '..No wonder they think me and InuYasha are involved... Geez, why does everyone have an opinion today?! I just wanted to treat my family.. err friend and family, and the season just happened to be about right. I need to get home, these people are going to end up confusing me too.' She thought with a sigh. "!" She remembered. "Oh darn, InuYasha wanted stew tonight, I guess I should.." She started but then steeled herself. "No, I'll make rice and fish! And he better not say one word!" She announced loudly, realizing only after she exhaled that she'd said it aloud. She swiftly rushed home, if only to get away from the embarrassment that seemed to haunt this day.
"Hey, I thought we were having stew tonight?" Asked InuYasha as Rice and Fish were served.
"Stew!" Announced the three kids in unison. They followed this by beginning to eat their respective meals despite their statement.
Sango chuckled nervously. "Yeah,sorry, I forgot." She lied, bowing her head to him briefly. "I will try to get the ingredients tomorrow, while you're at training." She said apologetically. 'Alright, so maybe I got a little over-excited, he is watching the kids for me really often, it's only polite that I try to make accomodations for him as well...' She thought, feeling a twinge of guilt for purposely ignoring his dinner request.
As the night came to an end, Sango noted that InuYasha was taking his usual place in the corner, Tetsusaiga already untucked and within his arms as she spoke up. "Y'know, you don't have to sleep there, y'know? I mean, there's room in the bed." Said Sango, wanting to make amends for her 'forgetfulness'.
"Wh-..What are you talking about?!" He said, a bit louder than he intended to, though a cold stare from Sango quickly shrunk him back into the corner again.
"You idiot, be quiet!" She said in a hostile yet stifled voice. "It's not like you haven't slept here before, everytime I come home late I have to practically use Hiraikotsu to get any space the way you spread out like miasma when you sleep." She said in a bit more hostile of a manner than she'd meant to.
"Well, excuse me then. I'll make sure that when I'm babysitting for you all day, that I fall asleep somewhere more appropriate, like on the ground outside." He said bitterly with a 'Feh!' as he closed his eyes and rested Tetsusaiga to his shoulder.
"That's not-... I just meant that it's.. alright.. if you want to sleep in the bed. I really.. don't mind." She said with a sigh as she sunk her head beneaht the blanket. '..Nope.. I'm doomed.. now I feel like I'm trying to get him into the bed.. maybe if I stay beneath the blanket forever, he'll never find me..' She thought, irrationally of course. She heard movement.
"Y'know, I have my doubts about your invitation, when you caccoon yourself up on the edge of the futon." He said, apparently over nearby now.
She popped her head out surprised, despite knowing he was closer, to find him closer. "Uh..! Yeah, sorry, I thought you were upset..." She said, as she shimmied over a bit, halting before she bumped into one of the kids... Even as InuYasha did enter the futon, she found herself fighting the intense draw of pulling the blanket back up over her head. Considering they'd slept together before, usually there was a kid or three between the two of them, for some reason the absence of that made her a bit more uncomfortable than she would've liked. She fidgeted.
"Alright! I'm getting out! I appreciate the gesture, but I won't be complained to later cause you couldn't sleep." He said, at least managing to keep his declarations in a hushed tone this time as he slid out from the futon.
"Wha? What're you?" She began.
"My ears aren't toys, despite what the little ones think. Ever since I came over, you're getting stressed out, I can hear your heartbeat from the forestline probably." He said, overexaggerating surely.
"T-That's.. not.. You're misunderstanding!" She said, as she reached over and grasped his robe, literally pulling him back in, winning her some flailing limbs as she pulled him over. "I was bothered because I was trying not to bump against you, or against Shako. Now, you just stay here, and don't get any ideas." She said in a hostile whisper, as she moved over, resting partially on InuYasha. "...I-it won't be an issue if we lay like this.." She said as her head rested on InuYasha's shoulder, her arm partially draped over him.
"...Y-ou.. Th-This is a little strange..." Muttered InuYasha, now feeling a tad uncomfortable himself.
"You're not exactly a soft pillow, but I'm making do, so deal with it!" She snapped quietly.
"That's not what I meant," he growled, "I just meant that I'm not used to sleeping on my back." He grumbled.
"Geez, InuYasha, do you have to make everything difficult.." She complained, sitting up a bit. "How would you suggest then?" She asked, getting more than a little annoyed- if not wide awake just from this little back and forth.
"Easy enough, face the kids on your side." He instructed, to which she obeyed with some annoyance, though that quickly faded as InuYasha laid behind her, his own hand moving around her. "It's still a little strange, but at least it's comfortable.." He mumbled.
Sango considered burying herself in the covers just to try not to reveal the intense blush coloring her cheeks. "Why is it wierd now?" She asked, perhaps to not let the air be silent, but truly more looking for some sort of comfort in the awkward situation.
He yawned rather deeply, causing him to press against Sango's back. "I haven't really slept right next to someone, on purpose at least, since I lived with Kagome." He explained.
Sango peeked back at him as he seemed to be getting sleepier than he would usually allow. She considered her words for a moment. "I know what you mean.. even if it's not the same, y'know, it's the same for me." She responded, before deciding to roll over. Speaking over her shoulder was not pleasant, though she found the new position just as awkward at first. After a moment however she sighed and moved in a bit, throwing in the towel. 'Who cares what it looks like? There's nothing between us, so it doesn't matter.' She told herself, but as she nuzzled into him a bit a smile crept to her face. 'It's nice to feel this way again..' She thought as she found the peace of sleep overtaking her, as she listened to the sound of InuYasha's breathing, she knew that before she'd even rolled over, that he'd already fallen asleep.