A/N: OMG, I'm sooo sorry! I haven't updated in months. I was just busy with my 'Strange Duet' fan fiction, but now that it's over, I can completely focus on this! Aren't you happy? Again, so sorry!
He felt the wet rag over his forehead as he took it off. He sat up slowly, taking in the sight around him.
He was in Sango's room, and she was sitting next to the bed in a wooden chair. Her head was drooped over in front of her, signaling that she was asleep. Her bangs fell lightly over closed lashes. You could hear little snores coming through her mouth, which removed all doubt from Miroku's mind that Sango really was sleeping.
He took off the covers and noticed that the top half of his body was totally clad of clothes, and there were nicely wrapped bandages around his waist. Little spots of blood were visible through the bands, but not too much. He rubbed his eyes and wondered what was going on, when he remembered.
"Sango?" he whispered. "Sango?"
She woke up slowly at the sound of Miroku's voice, and was pushed backwards in her chair. "Miroku…I'm glad you're all right…" She murmured, eyes still closed. A steady trickle of blood ran from her lips and her perfectly porcelain skin was purple with bruises, small burns and lacerations.
Kami-sama, she thought, I'm alive. Sango drew in a ragged breath, and if possible, swayed her back further into the chair. The thought of a cracked rib was extremely unwelcome.
I'm alive.
Sango grudgingly opened her eyes, watching as darkness turned to light. Sango was alive, and it was because of Miroku.
"So you're not completely useless…" Sango strained, the corners of her lips forming into a weak smile. "You saved my life, for now anyway."
Miroku turned around to that find peacefulness on Sango's face. A quiet seriousness had settled over her in its stead. Biting the inside of his cheek and fisting his hands, Miroku did his best to thank her.
"How could you possibly think of caring for me, when your wounds are so great?" Miroku's voice wavered a bit. And here he was supposed to protect this girl!
"Oh, don't act so upset. You saved my life, and I assure you, I'm less hurt than you think. I stayed by your bedside so that I could take care of you. I assure you Miroku, no thanks are necessary." She breathed a sigh of relief. Sango sat up, wobbling a bit, and reached across to place her hand on Miroku's.
Miroku made a sad smile. "Sango, I wouldn't have mattered if I died, I'm already dead!" He leapt out of her bed and scooped Sango up bridal style. "Now," he continued, brushing a strand of hair from her eyes, "I was sent to take care of you," he then laid her down gently on the mattress, "and take care of you I shall!"
Sango nodded in agreement. "Yes, thank you for that, perhaps I should rest. You may leave now, Miroku." Sango quickly drew the blankets over her face, as to obscure her on-coming blush.
Miroku gave a slight nod and turned around to fetch her some water, doing his best to hide his disappointment at being dismissed so easily and quickly.
He was halfway across the room when she called out to him.
"I notice that you are wearing cologne, Miroku."
He looked at her oddly. What a strange question. "Yes," he replied, suddenly self conscious. "Most men do."
Sango sighed. "Yes, yes they do. But you're dead, so…" She laughed playfully, "I guess it just amuses me." Sango withdrew under the covers again and gave a muffled 'Night'
"Good-night."
One step…two steps…three steps…
"Most men do wear cologne, but yours…yours is unique. I've never smelled anything like it. It's wonderfully light and airy, whereas most are oppressive. Yes, it is a delightful scent."
Miroku turned to Sango once more, but she only nodded another goodbye, the smile on her face even larger. Again he turned, and this time he nearly made it to the door before Sango's voice reached him again.
"It is especially delightful upon my pillow tonight."
Koga slipped into his socks and sluggishly made his way towards the refrigerator. He swung the door open. There Koga lazily pushed through a couple of food shelves and bottles of soda until he found the milk carton. Koga grumbled something, kicked the door shut with his foot and sat at the counter with the milk, a glass and a plate of cookies. Upon pouring the milk, Koga realized that he was not the only person who had decided to visit the kitchen that night.
"Dog turd, you should be asleep." He mumbled through huge bites to his Oreo cookie. "We had some day, today."
Inuyasha's golden eyes could be seen flashing from across the room. "In case you haven't noticed," he hissed, "I'm a demon- I heal easily."
"Whatever!" Koga said carelessly, examining his cookie crumbles and sweeping them on to the floor. "Hey, if I were you, I would've let Kagome take care of me, but of course, you're too dense to realize that."
Inuyasha faltered but said nothing. He just absent-mindedly walked over to the refrigerator. Magnets were holding up pictures of friends, family, and lovers. Inuyasha started to look at all the pictures until one jumped out at him. Inuyasha stared at it fondly, but also very painfully. He took a deep sigh and brushed his hand through his hair.
"We're out of milk…" Koga reported, and then blinked as he looked past his shoulder, towards his friend. "You're doing this to yourself, you know. Just take that picture down. It's been a year, move on!" He paused, as if thinking of something, "Kikyo would've wanted you to." Koga sighed remorsefully at Inuyasha's lack of a response. He resumed eating and stared blankly at the wall.
"I saw her today."
Koga turned again.
"She was leading that dog somewhere, I saw it!" Inuyasha whispered looking at the picture of Kikyo's smiling face. She looked radiant. It had been right before entering college, when Inuyasha and her had decided to drive up to Kikyo's grandmother's house and spend the weekend there. Kikyo's grandmother had gone out of town for a couple of days, so they would have the whole house to themselves. That's what caused Kikyo's ecstatic smile. She was full of anticipation that day.
"Inuyasha, I thought we were past this denial stage." Koga shook his head, placing his stuff in the sink for washing.
"I'm not in denial!" Inuyasha spat, "I saw it!"
Koga fell silent.
"It can't be any crazier than a three-headed dog appearing out of nowhere!" Inuyasha shoved past him, stomped up the stairs and slammed the bedroom door shut with a savage bang.
"So, is there any reason why you're wearing cologne?" Sango winced as Miroku continued to treat her burn marks.
"So I can cover up that dreadful rotting corpse smell!" Miroku smirked, and Sango didn't know whether he was lying or not.
She raised an eyebrow. "And how exactly do you cover up such a smell?"
Miroku ripped another piece off from the roll without effort "Hold still, you're squirming too much." He replied, applying the bandages carefully over the gruesome wounds.
Sango blew her hair from her face, "well, I think I have a right to know the answer, I mean, you owe me that much."
"I saved your life!" Miroku argued. "And besides, I just use a lot of it."
"Then I should be pinching my nose to keep from inhaling the over dosage." Sango smiled. Maybe this Miroku wasn't so bad after all.
"Keep acting like this, I'll let you smell my true scent…there! Finished for now." And my god, if she hadn't been in what was likely to be complete and total agony, and he wasn't being watched, Miroku would've been caressing Sango all over. The pervert.
"Thank you." Sango said sweetly. "Tomorrow, maybe you can help me around town. I need to do some things."
"You need to rest!" Miroku urged, assisting her back onto her backside and bringing the covers over her.
"Please? I promise I won't over exert myself!" She clasped her hands together, pleading for his approval.
Miroku sighed in defeat.
A/N: Nothing really happened; next chapter is really where the plot begins. I just needed this chap to get back into it.
