Dressing Wounds

Chapter 7: Amber

            As I had sent Inuyasha off to hunt for supper, and I had heard Kagome and Shippo returning from their bath with no sign of Sango as I was collecting firewood, I immediately set out for the hot springs.  There always seemed to be a hot spring where we camped.  They were frequent enough, and it saved the women from complaining about cold water or the scent of an unwashed dog-demon.

            Approaching the springs, I needed to find some way of letting her know I was approaching.   "Sango?"  I heard the sound of quickly moving water and sighed.  "Relax.  I can't actually see you.  I just wanted to know if we could talk.  I won't look.  I swear that I won't."

           I waited for an answer, and got nothing.  I moved a bit closer, walking backwards.  I was trusting Sango a lot on this, even if she wasn't aware of it.  I could walk right into an awaiting bone boomerang, or right into the hot springs, unless she warned me.  I felt the last of the shrubs give way, the sound of water increasing.

            "I swear on Kohaku.  You know that I respect you.  I would never break on oath made on the head of someone you love."

            She was quiet, and I took her silence as an acceptance.  I sat down on the grassy bank cross-legged.  Finally, she spoke, and what she said distressed me.

            "Once I knew that you respected me and wouldn't break an oath like that.  Now I don't know."  Water splashed against the rocks.  I could feel her gaze on my back.  "How can you say that you respect me and then treat me as if all I am is a prize to be won?  When I gave you that challenge, Miroku, I expected it to be one of wits, not me defending my body against you and your 'devouring eyes'!"

            When she was silent, I responded.  "I'm afraid that in this instance, we're both wrong, Sango.  You see, I did not expect you to take it so seriously.  Nor did I assume that you would think that I was in fact, being realistic instead of metaphoric.  Obviously my words frightened you, and kissing you didn't help that matter.  There are only a few things that I said last night that I was being serious about.  I want to see you smile.  I want to hear you laugh, and watch you dance.  Not the type of dancing performed by geishas, mind you, but… how Kagome looks after we win a fight, to watch you be happy and celebrating life.  Also, I do want to kiss you again, but next time I will wait until you kiss me back before I move on to anything else.  I fear that I mistook your defiance as surprise at being kissed and nothing else.

            "Lastly, as much as I'm sure that you don't want to hear it, should I ever see you naked, it probably would be best to describe as devouring, Sango.  I yearn to see you like that, without the hindrance of any vestments.  You're a beautiful woman, Sango.  First and foremost in my mind, you are a slayer, and secondly, a woman.  I would never for a second think of you as a conquest, Sango.  A handful, yes; trouble, most definitely; but as a conquest?  Never."

            I lifted my head.  I want to look her in the eyes, but I had promised not to look.  "I realize that right now you're probably mistrustful of me, and that's more than understandable.  As you pointed about, I'm sure in how I feel.  I wish that I could just come straight out and tell you what I think of you and how much you mean to me, but I fear that may do more damage than good.  You aren't sure of your emotions towards me, and nor are you sure of exactly how much I think of you.  You know that I would do anything to protect you, and I would.  Yet you worry that this might only be passing fancy.  I assure you, Sango, that it's not.  In all my life I've never met anyone like you."

            I stood up, preparing to leave.  In my talking, I hadn't noticed that she had gotten out of the water and dressed in her yukata until her hand wrapped around mine.  I turned around to look at her, smiling at the way her hair touched her shoulders.  "Your hair cut does look nice, though."

            She pulled me back down so that we could sit down together.  I hoped that she was going to move over and lean against me again.  I wanted to wrap my arm around her, but I worried that if I did, she would assume something again and ruin whatever I had just been able to mend.  "You know why I did it, don't you?"

            My eyebrows knotted as I tried to think of why she would want to cut her hair.  It was a very nice cut.  She pulled it back into a tight bun, ready for a fight at anytime.  It made her look a little older, and rather sophisticated the way it hung when it was down.  "I imagine that all that hair would be quite a weight to carry around, and the child you gave it to so that she can use it until her own hair grows back I know would be happy."  I watched as she took her chopsticks and wound up her wet hair, pinning it in place.  I tried to give her a teasing smile.  "And because it means you can hide weapons in it?"

            "Since we started sneaking away to talk, do you know how many times you've played with my hair?  Because I've lost count.  So when I thought you might be after me only because you found me attractive, I thought that since you liked playing with my hair so much that by cutting it you wouldn't find me so attractive."

            I felt her hand squeeze mine. Well, at least she didn't hate me enough not to hold my hand.  I squeezed hers back.  I might have laughed, but the situation was too serious.  "That would never happen.  I… I want to show you how much I respect your intelligence and your fighting skills, and everything else good that I see in you, but I don't know how."

            "Well," Sango said slowly, "for fighting skills, not going soft on me when we spar is a good way to start.  As for the rest, I don't know. I really don't know anything, Miroku.  Not when the topic is us.  I don't know what I want from you, what I feel for you, how I like being talked to, or held….  Which is why I want to apologize for jumping to conclusions.  It… it scared me, Miroku.  Sometimes I really like it when you speak to me in that voice you use sometimes, and I like the things that you say.  But that one scared me.  I guess deep down… I like the stuff that sounds like poetry.  I'd take back what I said before.  If last night was you trying to seduce me, then I think I would like to be… romanced."

            "Whatever the lady wishes, it is my duty to provide."  This time, I was actually able to smile at her, and she responded with a blush.  I leaned my forehead on her shoulder, and she placed her head on mine.  Her hair was wet and cold, but I didn't care.  "Still, I don't know what you were complaining about when you said that you wanted to learn to flirt.  I think your blushing is a wonderful response to anything.  The color looks good on you, and when I see it, I remember that I can't say that you're a warrior first and a woman second, because… you're simply Sango.  A female warrior who blushes, who smells like citrus and can beat me any day of the week with one hand tied behind her back."

She rubbed her face against my hair.  "That's the stuff I like hearing.  I would very much like to tell you exactly what I think of you, Miroku, but first and foremost I think of you of a pervert."

            I snuck my head from off her shoulder.  "Would you like to know a secret?"  My gaze met hers and I gave her a broad smile.  "Lately, I would have to agree with you.  I continuously find myself looking forward to the half hour we're able to spend alone each day.  For instance, we were both there with the incident of the biology book."

            Looking at me a second, she covered her mouth and heard a few drops of honeyed laughter fall from her hidden lips.  Her brown eyes closed, and the sound suddenly doubled.  My jaw dropped as I heard her laugh.  The notes made all the worry and awkwardness of the last day melt away, and as she shoulders began to shake with the action, I felt my body become lighter.  Her innocent laughter was blowing away all of lingering pain I felt in my body from our last battle, of the horrible nightmares I had about losing Sango or one of my other companions, everything bad just fluttered into the breeze.

            "My God!  That was so amusing!  You have no idea how hard it was not to start laughing at your predicament!  You were trying so hard not to let me notice, and then I saw the book as I was about to leave, I couldn't resist… just propping it up on you!"  Her laughter doubled.

            Reaching out, my fingers slid into her palm and gently took her hand away from her face, so that I could see her again.  Her soft lips were bright red from the blood rushing to her face, cupping her burning cheeks.  Her eyes slowly opened, finding my staring at her smiling face, and her smile softened.  She just smiled at me, her eyes so… I don't even know how to describe it.  They were… divine.

            "Miroku…."

            I let go of her hands to grab her shoulders, drawing her into my arms and holding on to her with every bit of strength in my heart.  "Shit, Sango!  I've been waiting forever to hear you laugh and smile at me like that!" Her arms slowly returned my hug, just in time for me to pull her off my chest so I could see that smile again.  I placed my hand against her cheek, running my thumb over the curve of her lips.  My other hand took her other cheek and I angled her face up to mine so that I could kiss her, mimicking the kiss she had first given me.  Then my hands settled back on her hips and I was comforted and happy simply holding her.  "And the way that you said my name, the way that you laugh… don't ever change, Sango.  You're perfect just the way that you are."

            Her back stiffened, hesitantly, just for half a second.  She didn't like the idea of being worshipped, and that's what she feared I was doing.  Sango whispered my name again, and it sounded like a sacred word, something so special that it wasn't supposed to even be spoken out loud.  "I don't know if I can do that.  I think that I will have to change, as I grow up.  I just hope that whatever I become, that you'll like it as much as you like me now."  Her fingers tightened.  She didn't want to let me go either.  "And that I hope that you'll be there with me to watch the changes firsthand."

            My skin suddenly turned icy, then it changed again, feeling like sparks of cinders running through my veins instead of blood.  Was this a sign that she wanted a life together after all the shards were all collected?  Was she…. No.  That was just my imagination.  She wanted me to be there as a friend, not as a husband or life-partner.  At first I was disappointed, but when I reflected upon it further, I realized that she had just, in her own way, told me that no matter what, we would always be friends.  As well as a tiny, nearly unnoticeable prayer that we would be able to always be friends in the case that nothing bad would happen to either of us.

            Even if it did….

            "No matter what Sango," I promised her, "I'll be there to watch you change."  Ah, wrong way of putting things.  "I mean, I'll be there to watch your grow, and learn, and love, and everything else.  I'll always be right with you, right here."  I reached down and touched her heart.

            "So," I let her go and leaned back on the bank of the hot spring, lounging dominantly.  I felt on top of the world.  I felt even better when Sango curled up next to me, putting her head in my lap.  "Now that we're going to be at the very least friends from here on in, would you mind if I ask you something?"

            Telling me to continue, I looked around, admiring the scenery and being perfectly casual.  "That handsome monk I saw you with last night, when he was bare-chested and doing sit-ups, were you actually, dare I say it as Kagome does, ogling him?"

            For a long moment she was silent.  Obviously, she was debating between the truth and lie.  She decided on truth and began to trace patterns on my legs.  "I was.  You're a very attractive person.  It's no wonder that you're willing to strip for me when you look like that." 

Sango managed to say it all with a straight face, making me chuckle.  I didn't know how she could manage to that!  To feel her eyes on me like that, I would gladly break my stance and submit to her punishment to show off.  It must sound like I was turning into an exhibitionist, but honestly, our lives are so serious that whenever we get the opportunity to be silly, we'll take it.

"Hey, Sango, I don't want to change the topic, or the nice mood that we have going on here… but I was thinking for awhile.  You had a shikon jewel shard in your back but you still managed to survive your wounds.  Can't Kohaku do the same?"  I placed my hand on her arm, rubbing up and down, feeling her hard muscles under my hand.  "I know that it would be hard for both you, him because of the pain, and you because of having to watch him be in pain, but if he's from the same family as you, deep down he has an iron core.  He can survive.  He's fighting Naraku, after all, isn't he?  I was also thinking that if we could find him when he has all his memories intact, as slim as that chance is, that we might be able to tell him that it wasn't his fault.  It wasn't his fault that he killed human beings.  He might have been old enough to send into battle, Sango, but he's still only eleven.  If you were that age, and did something beyond your control, would you realize that it wasn't really your fault?  I know that I wouldn't have."

Without allowing my hand to fall from her arm, she sat up.  "I suppose that six years ago, no, I don't think I would have.  You're right, too, that it's a very slim chance we could actually find him at that moment.  I know that Kagome and Inuyasha want to help me find a way for him to become the Kohaku I grew up with again, but Kagome's so hopeful, and Inuyasha is too because everything good in Kagome reflects in him.  I accepted a long time ago that the only way I could free Kohaku would be to kill him.  However, I had also planned… to be right behind him on the road to the afterlife."

My hand flinched.  I hadn't expected Sango to consider suicide.  Now that she knew that I loved her, would….

"Now, though, now I don't know.  Now I know all of you better than I did before.  Can I leave you three to take on Naraku alone?  Can I leave Shippo to be picked on by Inuyasha, and who will rebuild the village if both of us are gone?  Somebody other than priestesses and monks should be here to watch out for everybody else when demons come and attack.  Kirara can take care of herself, but can I leave her like that?  She's been with me since I was little.  More importantly… can I leave Kagome to be the only girl around for your hand to grope?  Somebody has to be here to curve your perversion so that Kagome won't be molested."  She sighed.  "I suppose that it's my burden to be that individual."

"Uh oh.  I think that I opened a door I shouldn't have when I got you to laugh.  Now you keep on teasing me and I don't think that I will ever be able to get a straight answer out of you." 

She turned against me and leaned upward, pressing her lips to mine to get me to shut up.  I was more than happy to comply with her wish of silence if it was a kiss that silenced me.  Her soft lips simply pressed, and then she slowly began to run her mouth over mine, our lips meeting and then parting repeatedly, allowing us to take little breaths between each one.

Pulling away, she looked back at the springs, her cheeks bright red.  "Well, that certainly is one way to stop your rambling," she said softly.  Sango licked her lips, her pink tongue flitting across the skin to capture our mixing tastes.

I could take a hint.  She wanted to change the topic.  My hand still on her shoulder, I pulled her close.  I could accept the change of topic, but I thought I needed a little more convincing.  "Sango, I know that we just agreed to watch out for each other and always remain at least friends, but please?  Will you promise me something?  Promise me that you won't leave me like that, promise me that you'll stay with me.  Please, don't leave me.  Not by your own hand."

She looked up at me, into my dark eyes already lined with worries that should dwell on no man my age.  I returned her gaze sternly.  Death was a part of life.  It deserved respect, it had rules to follow as life did, and eventually what death claimed from life, life would again claim from death.  If Sango killed herself, then she would not be able to become a part of that cycle, and we wouldn't have a second chance.  Realizing this, maybe even having realized it subconsciously long ago, I clung to her so tightly that she let out a peep.  I would rather die myself than let death claim Sango, and the scary thing was that there was a very real chance my oath might have to come true.

"All right," she quietly promised.  Her nodding head rubbed her soft hair against my chest.  "I promise you, Miroku.   If I leave you, it won't be by my own hand."

"Good."  My mutter was partially cut off as I lowered my head, snaking under hers to come up and kiss her.  Gently, I continued where we had left off, my lips grazing her lips again and again, until she began to respond.  She was already close, and I leaned back, drawing her with me until we were laying on our sides on the grass.  I slipped my hand to her cheek, winding the tips of my fingers into her hair.  Her hand fell to my waist, the one under me supporting my neck and toying with my earring.  Our legs entwined together as our mouths danced together, now barely touching and then trying to best each other. 

I took no chance at ruining the moment, the fingers in her hair the only part of me other than my lips that moved.  Her leg rubbed against mine to the rhythm of our kisses.  Her breasts grazed my chest when she took a deep breath.  I felt like I had found my perfect match, and by the hot springs, that we were the only people in the world.  At that moment it kind of bothered me to think that Sango might be thinking about the way the waves were crashing on the rocks, or wondering what had caused a certain rustle of a leaf.  I wanted her instead to be thinking about the way that my body and hers melted together, to think about what it might feel like without the clothing between us when our bodies touched, our just the way we were so content to lay next to each other without our hands exploring each other and to just kiss.  Not even kiss deeply at that.

I was happy.  I….

"Sango?  What's taking so long?"  Kagome's voice was close and getting closer.

Bolting up, I wondered why Sango hadn't been able to hear her approaching.  We looked at each other.  Sango's yukata was open to her waist, her stomach plainly visible.  Alas, nothing but her stomach showed.  We both had blades of grass in our hair, and our lips were swollen and red from kissing.  I took her hand and placed it on her chest so that she was holding her dress closed.  Then, seeing a flash of familiar green and red breaking through the foliage, I did the most logical and dangerous thing I could come up with.

"It's a good thing they're coming along now, Sango.  We don't have a biology book."

Grabbing her shoulders, I gave her a kiss goodbye.  Straightening my back to be taller than her, I pushed her back down on the grass and mashed my lips against hers.  I heard a muffled protest that was about to turn into a sigh before I reached down and grabbed her derriere.  Ah, bliss.  Soft, smooth, bliss… made even more delicious by the fact that this time there was only a thin yukata between her flesh and my palm.  I heard a gasp from Kagome, but didn't care.  I had taken the opportunity to deepen our kiss once, but this time… it was my duty to play the lecher.

My tongue darted between her lips.  I felt her lashes brush my cheek as her eyes widened at this new sensation. How can I possibly describe her taste, her feeling?  Soft and warm, tight because she was so unprepared; not sweet, but not bad; her taste strong but so overwhelming that after less than a second it became a pleasant tingling.

Fearing the growl that was coming from her, her nails digging into my back and the damage her teeth could do if she was truly mad, I pulled away and up, staring down at her.  "San…."

SLAP!

She slid out from under me, and pushed me back into the hot springs.  I was soaked instantly, from head to toe, and was left sputtering.  She scooped up her belongings and threw the soap at my head.  I tried to catch it but missed.  It was a slippery thing to catch.

"Pervert!"  She grabbed Kagome's arm and stomped off.  Even for me, it was impossible to tell if she was mad or not.  I noticed that she paused, touching her lips, her anger melting into a thoughtful expression.  No, she wasn't mad.  Next time we were laying down kissing, I was going to have to try kissing her like that again, just to see it up close as she reflected on my caresses.

Inuyasha remained, and I triumphantly held up the soap.  Even my stinging cheek couldn't stop me from smiling foolishly.  Well, Inuyasha would think it was foolishly, but I had just had the best day of my life: lots of kissing with Sango, we weren't fighting anymore, kissing Sango, no trouble from any outside forces, groping Sango, no trouble from the kazaana, kissing Sango, heart to heart talk with Sango, nice weather… did I mention kissing Sango?

"Inuyasha, I got her out of the hot springs!  Bath time!"  I splashed water at him, hitting him full face.  Inuyasha, of course, would retaliate mercilessly, but I didn't care.  I was too damn happy to care.

Still, the water could have been a bit colder for my tastes.

AN:  I bet that you thought you could get away from the an, couldn't you? This chapter is supposed to take place after chapters 206/207 in the manga.  Two very nice chapters for all those Miroku/Sango lovers.  I'm not going to try and write what was there, or what happened in said chapters, but just to give you a time line.  Basically: I'm going to try and write this without spoiling anything! ^^ And try and write it with following the manga… but, ah, meh, I just started picturing Sango with short hair, hence her new do.  (That, and frankly, it keeps me from overly repeating how he played with it.)

Aamalie: Glad to see I lifted your spirits!  And I would so totally kick a guy if he started talking like that.  Then I'd feel bad and bake him cookies… that makes me sound so much more girlier than I really am. *sweatdrops*  Yea, in my opinion, Sango's best feature is her hair.  I want hair like hers.  And best of all, she even fights with it!  I couldn't possibly imagine fighting with long hair in a ponytail.  Bun, yes, but a ponytail no.  What?  Don't demons know how much it would hurt to pull on it?

April May: I update, roughly, every ten reviews.  Let's face it.  I'm bored, so I pretty much get a chapter of at least one story done every day, more or less.  The fact that I put more effort into fan fics instead of exams that are worth 30% of my mark kind of scares me.  If I put that same energy into studying, I would be a bonified genius.  Let's face it… who wouldn't order Miroku to do pushups?  Heck, I'd even order him to do it when I was sitting on his back. ^_^    Your reviews made me quite happy, thank you.  It's nice to get a good review to take the sting away from my apparently superficial essay.  Oh, and sadly, I don't think that there are any hints here or there of what was going to happen next. ^^

Kikanemi: 'Sensual'.  Gotta love that.  Hard to think that four years ago I was blushing when I had two characters kissing.  Now I'm writing about erections, and breasts and nudity… although for the record, when somebody says 'nipple' I still want to giggle and fall off my seat.  Hoped that their sensuality helped to ease the badness out of your day! ^^

Mujitsu: Gomen!! I didn't spell it wrong today!  And if I did, I blame in entirely on the typo gnomes!!  The chest comment is one made by many people, the first person I've seen saying been the owner of Spiderwebs, the best Sango/Miroku fan art site out there, and you can totally find it on the anime web turnpike. ^^  So, what did she do to correct it?  Pictures.  Lots and lots of pictures.  Hm…. I think I need to make me some copies or something to poster over my desk for when I lose the net.

Lily Thorne: To avoid man troubles, do the following procedures:  eat chocolate.  Do something to vent your anger.  If, by this time there has been no calling from the man in trouble, proceed to read until he does, or until you next see him in the flesh and feel confident enough to talk to him.  When this happens, kiss him, and say one of the following: 'I'm sorry.'  'I love you, but you're an ass.'  'I understand that relationships are hard, but I want ours to work out, because I love you/care about you deeply, so here's the problem I'm having…..'

Then again, I haven't had a serious relationship since grade nine, with my second boyfriend, and we only went out ONCE because it was exam time.  (I love you, Greener!!)

Quistis88:  Once again, hopefully you will find them in character throughout the story.  No, I have not actually had any combat training, I just have a thing for movies involving martial arts (Ranma ½, Kill Bill Vol 1 –have to see Vol 2 soon- the Matrix, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, and so on.)  I do have two white belts and one yellow belt, but I truly doubt that counts as combat training.  I can't even flip anybody yet, and I have actually never tried sparring.  I can't wait to finish school and start doing karate again.  I miss my muscles and being sore when I go to bed at night and taking out all my aggression in doing katas.

E. Thompson: fumbuzzled is an awesome word.  Mind if I had to my list of nonsensical words?  Yes, I do actually have a list… it's only one word long right now, though.  And I'm not really quite sure what you were saying, hon.  You sounded… like me.  (God… history exam… do you think that I'll be deducted marks for using analogies is a history essay?  I still maintain that the League of nations did "thump their chests with their fists in a mockery of power"!)  If you are like me, yes, you're insane.  Maybe even clinically so.  I never actually said that Miroku understood, and maybe he doesn't understand that it was the idea of being prey-like that made her uncomfortable, but he knows it bothered her and made her feel petty, so that's good enough!

Blade of Fire:  *huggles*  How can I possibly feel like I failed my English exam when apparently I have an awesome writing style? (So what if I may have written on the wrong topic?) Thank you so much, love!  It's such an ego booster!  (Down ego, down boy!)

Queenizay:  Nope, that's just my fascination with hair, coming through in the median of Miroku and his "busy, busy hands"  (Yea Simpsons).  I do.  I have an obsessions with hair.  Namely mine, and how I want people to play with it, brush it, whatever.  I am like a cat.  I need a certain amount of love and being petted and shrimp now and then… and I shed.    I should probably cut my hair, but then, that would mean I couldn't go as Naru for AN.

Silver Amaryllis:  Ah…. I'm up to chapter 20, believe it or not.  Their despair is the reader enjoyment?  Part of me agrees, and the other half is worried about the human race given what I have put some of my OC's through…  I want a silly, amorous lech, I really do.  I'd just beat him with a Styrofoam bat when he got bad, since slapping him would be an offense.

Izu:  As well as being the PoF, I'm also the Queen of Cliffies.  I've been known to write some horrible ones.  Hell, I've written stories where 'the end' pops up while some characters are still speaking!  Yes, I am from Canada.  I can normally be found in Southern Ontario, trying to get away from the smog of Toronto, but for the next few days I am in dreary North Bay.  While there are no eps… there are cons.  Which means I can acquire manga from various animes… en masse.  Now I just have to get a job to buy them.  Why can't I be paid for writing fan fics!?  So far nothing has happened with the herb.  That was really supposed to be for comedy.  'Please, lady, give the herb to someone responsible, not to the lecher', kind of thing.  And Sango doesn't get mad easily, I just think that she has no way to vent things minus being physical.  That doesn't really mean she has to beat Miroku, just that she vents her anger using her body, like pushups.

Note benne!

This is my last week here at school, which means that after the 28th, I won't have internet access, minus abusing that of my companions.  So, updates will happen when I moderately abuse their accounts or save up enough cash to go to an internet café for a bit.  I will update again on the 28th before I leave, and I promise to update when I can after that.  I will still have my internet, so by the time I get my net back, this story will be done!

….Unless Miss Takahashi gets Viz to publish another manga and I can find another plothole or opportunity for fluff! ^_^  See you in… 4 days and counting.