Surprise! I'm back! I wanted to get one last chapter posted before I go on my move. I'm hoping to be fully settled by next week so I can post my next chapter then. With that being said, enjoy the story and review if you like it!
"It's been thirty minutes…should we be worried?" Kagome says back at the cave as she dries her hair. Inuyasha just scoffs and makes a snarky retort, but Miroku's worried. With how weak Sango is, she could be injured somewhere in the woods, and no one would know it.
"I'm going to go check on her," Miroku says as he stands and grabs her travel kimono and some fresh bandages.
"Lech," Inuyasha insults, yet Miroku ignores it. He needs to know she's all right. He wanders into the woods to where the hot spring is and sees Sango collapsed on the ground just outside of the water.
"Sango!" he cries, running over to her and kneeling in front of her with concern burning in his eyes. She weakly looks up at him and tries to smile.
"Hi…" she meekly mumbles as she groans in pain. Miroku looks at her bare body, amazed at how beautiful she is. His lecherous side wants to grope her luscious bottom as he scoops his arm under her knees and another around her back, lifting her off the ground without a moment's hesitation. He strokes his thumb over her soft skin as her eyes snap open and look up at him, "Miroku wait…my kimono is back there," Sango cries, though Miroku can tell she's too weak to stand on her own. With a sigh, he sets her on a boulder, his eyes boring into her as his worry continues to burn through him.
"Why didn't you get out of the water once you felt woozy?" Miroku snaps, not sure if he's mad at her or himself. If he was there for her, this wouldn't have happened…
"I didn't realize it was going to affect me so greatly," she mumbles before he sighs.
"I brought your kimono and bandages," Miroku says, draping her kimono over her for warmth. Her cheeks blush with embarrassment and Miroku smiles to himself. It's good to know he still has this effect on her, "May I wrap your wound again?" he asks and she nods. He steps behind her, once again wrapping the bandages around her chest. He strokes her long, soft, wet hair out of the way as his hand gently touches her shoulder. At first, she tenses, but soon her body relaxes and small shivers tremble through her. He knows without even looking that she's blushing again.
"Thank you, Miroku…I'm sure it isn't easy for you to do this," Sango mumbles. Miroku looks at her curiously as she slips her kimono over her body, tying it shut quickly. She acts as if she's ashamed of her body, or she's trying to shut him out, yet without her telling him he'll never know.
"Treating you is very easy for me to do…but you mean something else, don't you?" Miroku retorts as Sango's eyes fall to the dirt in front of her. Miroku gently grasps her chin and lifts it, forcing her to look at him, "Talk to me, Sango," he demands, his violet eyes hypnotizing her with his comforting gaze.
"Do I disgust you…?" she blurts before covering her mouth quickly with her hand. Miroku's eyes widen with shock that she could even think such a thing, "Never mind, Miroku, I'm sorry. Just forget I ever said any—" Miroku can't help it. He interrupts her with a kiss. His lips press against hers passionately, and her eyes widen, her hands hesitantly frozen between them. Finally, she pulls away from him, her face bright red, but not with anger as he was expecting, "Miroku!"
"I'm sorry, but I wanted you to know how ridiculous that question was…" he says, running a hand through his black locks, "Sango, I find you one of the most attractive and tempting women I've ever met," he adds and her blush spreads.
"But my scars…"
"Are just scars. They do not change how I feel about you, and how beautiful you are to me. I could never find you disgusting, dear Sango," he exclaims before helping her to her feet, "I'm sorry I kissed you. Especially if it upset you. Let us get back…the others will be worried," Miroku adds, changing the subject to make Sango comfortable again, though it breaks his heart a bit. He wants her to be okay with his kisses…he wants her to love him.
Not yet… he reminds himself, She can't love you yet…
…
When the two of them finally reach the cave, Inuyasha is antsy to leave. He shouts at them for a moment, but calms down when Kagome threatens him to 'sit'. Sango smiles at their usual antics before Kilala lays down, letting Sango comfortably climb onto her back, though her body still aches from the attack and her dizzy spell. She gets her kimono adjusted around her legs before she feels a warmth pressed against her back. She spins around to see Miroku also on Kilala. She blushes, yet he smiles gently.
"I told you I was going to ride with you in case you needed me," he says sweetly. Shippo pops up over Miroku's shoulder with his childish smile.
"And I'm here to make sure Miroku doesn't do anything to you!" Shippo chimes and Sango laughs.
"Thank you. To both of you," Sango says so Shippo doesn't think his presence is unwanted. In truth, Sango trusts Miroku, and if he were to grope her mid-flight, she probably wouldn't even have the strength to rebuttal. She feels the familiar sense of Miroku's staff in front of her as he wraps his arms around her. Just like before. Sango may not have her demon slaying gear on, but even just having her travelling kimono makes her feel a bit more like her old self. Maybe, just maybe, she will recover from this.
Kilala takes flight at Inuyasha's urging, and Sango clings to her fur, forgetting the wonderful way it feels to have wind flying past her as she soars soundlessly through the sky. She lets out a laugh as a breeze dances through her hair, caressing her skin as Kilala follows Inuyasha west. For the first time in what feels like forever, Sango genuinely smiles and Kilala purrs lightly. It is nice to have her companion in such a wonderful mood. This high in the air, Sango can forget all of her worries, her pains, and her sorrows. Up here, she is truly free.
"Do that again," Miroku says from behind her, and looks over her shoulder at him and Shippo with confusion. Miroku's smile has her blushing yet Shippo is also grinning from ear to ear. He's just so happy to see Sango feeling better and happy! Shippo crawls in front of Sango, wanting to talk to Kilala about everything.
"Do what again?" Sango asks. Miroku's hand moves from his staff to her side and her cheeks flush brighter. She can feel the warmth from his rough hand through her kimono, and it sends her reeling.
"Laugh," he says with his lips pressed so close to her ear that she can feel his breath mingle with the summer breeze, "It is one of the most beautiful sounds I've heard in my life," he adds and a sheepish giggle slips from her lips.
"Thank you, Miroku, that is sweet of you," Sango says, and he flashes her a dazzling smile. The pair fall into a sweet silence, the only thing breaking the tension is Shippo's innocent babbling and the wind. Suddenly, her head starts pounding again and she winces, leaning back against Miroku.
"Are you all right, Sango?" he questions, looking down at her pained face with violet eyes full of concern.
"I'm fine. I must still be weak is all…I don't know why I nearly fainted from the hot springs…" she mumbles under her breath and he sighs.
"Just take it easy…I'm here for you," he whispers, wrapping his arms around her gently. She leans against his warm body, her head resting on his chest with a light sigh. Even as her body relaxes, her mind wanders. Her thoughts occupy most of her day, and soon Kilala is soaring towards the ground where Inuyasha flags them down.
"We need to stop for the night. Kagome's tired," he says, and Kagome looks at them with surprised sleepy eyes.
"No…I'm fine, really, we can get some more—"
"Don't worry. I think resting soon is a good idea," Sango interrupts her friend's excuses, for her body really needs to stretch off of Kilala. Miroku nods before looking around the forest.
"We should try to find a river, or a clearing, and then we'll stop there," he suggests before the group takes off again. They find the perfect campsite and Miroku slides off Kilala, reaching back to help Sango. At this point, her body is screaming for some relief. She steps onto the forest floor, and instantly her legs give out on her. Miroku just smiles gently and carries her to a fallen log. Sango sits, her body heating with embarrassment at her own weakness. She was a great demon slayer…now look at her.
"I'm going to get some fish…Miroku come on," Inuyasha says, dragging him away from Sango as Kagome sits next to her. Sango wallows for a moment before Kagome sighs.
"What's wrong…?" she finally asks and Sango looks up at her.
"I feel like I'm useless…I can barely stand, I get dizzy on random occasions, and I'm too weak. Hell, if Kuranosuke did find me, I wouldn't even be able to defend myself. I bet I can't even throw Hiraikotsu…" Sango grumbles, letting out all of her despair on Kagome who just smiles back at her. The sympathy on Kagome's face eases some of Sango's pain, yet it is her words that heal her most.
"We don't expect you to. Sango, you have been through more in your life than anyone can imagine. You can't blame yourself for what Kuranosuke put you through," Kagome murmurs, stroking Sango's back lightly.
"I made that choice though…I chose to stay with him…" she exclaims and Kagome sighs.
"Did you tell him to beat you?" she questions, a bitter rage in Kagome's voice that Sango normally never hears. She looks at Kagome whose eyes are full of angry tears, "He did that on his own when he felt threatened. You NEVER gave him permission to torture you like this, and you know that!" Even though Kagome is upset, her words make sense. Sango never asked for him to hurt her…she trusted him and he took that power.
"Do…do you think I'll be able to wield it again?" Sango asks, glancing over at Hiraikotsu. Inuyasha volunteered to carry it for her since Kilala was taking both her and the monk for the day, but now as Sango stares at the bone boomerang, it calls to her in a song so lonely. Kagome smiles as Sango stands, wandering over to Hiraikotsu and lightly stroking the bone. It needs a polish after the year of neglect, and the edges are far duller than she remembers it being.
"Honestly, I think so, but do you think you can wield it again?" Kagome retorts which causes Sango to sigh.
"Only time will tell…"
