Sango squinted as the arrow whizzed through the air. She was trained proficiently in the art of archery but rarely did she use it in battle. Kagome's old bow, which she had diligently repaired, deserved to be used. She could feel the girl's positive energy just in the wooden handle... How Kagome was missed. Sango focused on the pale bark of the tree and shot again. It landed right in the middle. She smiled a little. 'Thank you, Kagome...' She felt a breeze rustle through her hair and liked to think it was Kagome's answer on the crisp, fall day.
She was surprised to feel a presence behind her. She turned quickly and bumped into Inuyasha's broad chest. His amber eyes were anchored to the old worn bow, surprised to see that it had been fixed. He reached out silently and rubbed his course hands over the worn wood. A bit embarrassed, Sango relinquished the weapon to Inuyasha. He held it for a moment before looking to Sango as though he were lost. "You..."
"I fixed it. I figured it deserved to be used..."
His eyes dropped back down to Kagome's former bow, rubbing it numbly. "I miss her." He uttered so quiet Sango barely heard. "I hope she's still with us, and that she's proud of me..." He felt Sango hug him from behind. He hadn't even noticed her movement.
"Of course she is. She's with us always. And so is Shippo! And Houshi-sama..." He heard Sango's breath hitch as she uttered his name and her grip tighten. 'You know exactly how I feel... Sango...'
He placed his hand on on top of Sango's and squeezed before whipping around to face her. "You're making me soft, Sango. C'mon. Let's get going." He wiped his nose with his thumb and grinned down at the tajiya. "And if you plan on using that thing you're gonna need more practice." She frowned at the hanyou but it broke into a grin as the dog demon leapt away playfully. She swung bow over her shoulder and smirked.
"You'll be my target." she broke into a light sprint after him.
He chuckled, leaping just out of range of the tajiya (though she wasn't trying that hard). Kirara eyed they two curiously, bounding after her mistress and comrade. After a little while of traveling the sky grew dark and was an ominous sign of rain. Inuyasha could smell it rolling in from the east. All jokes aside they were probably gonna need to seek shelter and wait the rain out. He paused and surveyed the area for possible places to wait the rain.
Sango hopped delicately beside him and tugged on one of his ears. "Gotcha!" Inuyasha felt a chill shoot down his spine as she whispered into his ear. He grabbed onto the demon slayers wrist and looked down on her with golden eyes.
"Idiot." he grumbled affectionately. Something about the way he was looking down on her made Sango's stomach knot. The gleam in the freckles of gold. Was it want? Affection? What? There she was again, her cheeks were burning under his intense gaze, and unlike before he didn't seem like he intended to look away any time soon.
"I-Inuyasha..."
It was unlike anything the hanyou had ever felt. He mourned Kagome. He had pined for Kikyo. But now, as he traveled and fought beside this tajiya, he longed for her. Was it wrong? His face was leaning towards hers before he could talk himself out of it. Her presence brought him great comfort. What would her soft lips on his bring? "I-INUYASHA." Sango's frantic calls didn't wake him from his trance but a loud crack of thunder did. He pulled away and looked towards the sky. Moments later both were being pelted by giant raindrops. He smirked at Sango and grabbed her wrist.
"Let's find somewhere dry."
With that he was tugging her along as he scanned for somewhere dry to stay. Sango eyed the hanyou's back with curiosity. 'What am I going to do with you...'The two ran, feet pelting the wet grass. Suddenly, a crowd of village kids caught Sango's attention. She had to wonder what several small children were doing gathered outside of a village in the rain. She looked to Inuyasha who had not seemed to notice.
"Mou, Inuyasha wait! Look!" She pointed to the small group huddled in a circle over something. "What're they doing?" Inuyasha snorted.
"Fuck if I know, c'mon. I'm tired of getting wet." He tugged on Sango in the opposite direction but she wrestled from his grasp.
"Hey!" she called through cupped hands. She ran over, Kirara following on her heels. Inuyasha rolled his eyes and reluctantly trudged after her.
"You can be really nosy, Sango..."
She ran up the group of boys who hopped up defensively at her approach. She eyed them for a moment. "What're you boys up to..."
"N-Nothing.."
"What's it to you?"
"None of your business!" Inuyasha frowned, arms folded.
"You guys sure have bad attitudes, kiss your mothers with that mouth?" He inquired with a growl. The boys began whispering and cowering once they realized Inuyasha's demon heritage.
"There's another one..!" one voice whispered.
"Another one?" Sango inquired. The boys quickly broke apart into a sprint back to their village. What they were hiding was a small demon, about the size of Shippo. She had a large, bushy, raccoon tail but otherwise humanoid features. Two dark ears poked out of a mane of dark hair to the creature's shoulder. Her kimono, thought dirty, was maroon and dark blue striped. She was sniffling, attempting to stand up. "Oh no! Were they teasing you?"
Sango reached towards the demon but it leapt up, bristling at both Sango and Inuyasha. "Are you a raccoon demon?" Sango inquired out-loud. As she thought back to Hachi, Miroku's dear Raccoon friend, this demon looked nothing like him.
"No." Inuyasha answered from behind her. He walked closer, amber eyes glowering down on the demon with some sort of look resembling pity. "She's hanyou." Sango cast a surprised look between the two, but that would explain why the villagers had been picking at her.
"He's right." the tiny hanyou piped in. She was edging away, unsure of whether she could truly the two strange people. "I'm half raccoon youkai and half human. It's brought me nothing but trouble here..." Inuyasha sniffed, attempting to look indifferent.
"Where is your home then? Tell us where you live and we can escort you there so nobody picks on you." Inuyasha offered gruffly. Sango looked up to him in surprise. The little youkai snorted.
"They're gone now. Why do you think I'm wandering around here? My whole clan was killed..." Despite trying to look tough, tears were leaking out of her bright blue eyes.
Inuyasha could read Sango's expression from a mile away. Without even turning to her he answered. "The brat can't stay with us. We're chasing Naraku and he's as ruthless as ever." Inuyasha's voice was firm even if the look on his face was soft. The rain was still beating down if not harder than before. Sango frowned. Inuyasha had a point but where could she go? And she reminded them of an old friend...
"She can come with us and we'll drop her off at Kaede's village. She would be safe there!" Inuyasha groaned a little. He could tell that Sango had more or less made up her mind. And what choice did the little youkai have? With a sigh he stooped down.
"What's your name?" Blinking, the little raccoon hanyou answered.
"S-Sachiko..."
Inuyasha rolled his eyes. "Alright, Sachiko. You can stick with us for now. When we drop you off, no complaining." Her face brightened up and she leapt into Sango's arms.
"Thank you!" Inuyasha turned and hid his small smile while he looked for shelter.
"Now I'm all soaked... Over here!" He leapt over to a chasm in the rock. The cave seemed safe and sound and most importantly, dry. "We can wait the rain out in here!" He called out to them. Sango nodded firmly with Sachiko in her arms. She hadn't realized she had been absent-mindedly stroking the hanyou's silken ears. A bit embarrassed she stopped and set the raccoon hanyou on the ground.
"G-Gomen, I'm sorry. I had a friend who liked that, once..." Sachiko only smiled.
"It felt really good..."
"Sango."
Sachiko smiled and shook herself off as best she could. "Sango-chan." She repeated. Sango smiled at that as she set her hiraikotsu down with a grunt. She set her hair free from her white ribbon and frowned. She was soaked and her hair was becoming a wavy mess. With a sigh she grabbed her hair and wrung what water she could out of it.
"Well, I guess we'll all be pretty wet tonight."
Inuyasha scoffed to himself. "Speak for yourself." He shook vigorously like a dog but was much dryer. Both Sachiko and Sango laughed, prompting him to frown. "Laugh all ya want. At least I'm dry!" Sachiko ran up Sango's shoulder.
"Is he always this grumpy?"
"No, not always..." Inuyasha stuck his tongue out.
"I can hear ya, ya know!" Both girls tittered at Inuyasha's disagreeable disposition. He snorted, eyeing Sango's thoroughly soaked yukata. "Oi, Sango. You gotta change into somethin' else or you're just begging to be sick." Sango looked up from Sachiko with a thoughtful expression.
"Well... I don't have anything else. My tajiya tights got soaked underneath." Inuyasha wrinkled his face as he began shrugging out of his haori.
"Mou- Inuyasha!"
"Just wear this. Me and the brat won't get sick because we're part youkai. A ningen like you is asking to catch a cold or somethin'." Sachiko frowned and plopped defiantly next to Sango.
"Who does he keep referring to as a brat! I'm not a brat!" Inuyasha stuck his tongue out before tossing his fire rat rob towards Sango. She examined it with scrutiny.
"It'll be short..." Inuyasha rolled his eyes.
"You got a better idea?"
With a frustrated sigh Sango began shrugging off her kimono. "Ah- No peeking!" Inuyasha whipped around furiously, glaring at the opposite wall.
"Who even says I want to peek, damn it!" Sachiko scurried around to face the other hanyou, grinning.
"Oi, Sango! His cheeks are red! I bet he'd love to-" A flick on the ear prompted Sachiko to stop talking. "Ow! Sango! Inuyasha's being mean!" Inuyasha growled as he was pelted in the head with a sandal.
"Inuyasha! Be nice!" Sachiko scurried away before he could knock her on the head.
"Really, Sango. You side with her?" He grumbled to himself while he waited for Sango to dress.
"Sango-chan, you are very pretty!" Sango blushed, realizing she was naked in front of the young hanyou.
"W-Who? Me?!" She covered up quickly with Inuyasha's red haori. She tied it as best she could so it would cover as much as possible.
"Yes! You look even better in Inuyasha's shirt than he does!" He snorted again but smiled as he turned around. Sango did look pretty breathtaking in the short, red, haori top. It stopped right on her milky thighs. Sango struggled to settle in a comfortable but modest position.
"Well, thanks Inuyasha. It's certainly dryer."
"Feh."
He shifted to the same side of the cave, noted that Sango would occasionally shiver. Kirara and Sachiko had clambered into Sango's lap. Before long the raccoon hanyou was fast asleep with the neko youkai. Sango smiled a little, stroking Sachiko's hair as she slept. "You got a soft spot for the brat already, huh?" Inuyasha's voice was hushed. He was leaning his head on his hand, watching as Sango carefully stroked the hanyou.
"Doesn't she remind you of someone?" She turned to Inuyasha to see the wistful stare in his eyes.
"Course she does, stupid. That's why I want to keep her safe." He eyed Sango shivering and moved closer to her. Gently, he pushed her over to lean into his body. She was blushing again, dangerously close to Inuyasha.
"Inuyasha..."
"You're cold. Just shut up and let me keep you warm." She was silent for a moment as she looked into the hanyou's face. He looked oddly at peace, eyes shut but still very alert. She had to smile. Though it made her nervous it also made Sango happy to be close to the hanyou.
"Inuyasha, do you like being close to me?" She felt him tense a little and look down to her with indignant gold eyes.
"H-huh?"
"You heard me! Do. You. Like. Being. Near. Me?" Inuyasha scratched the back of his head in discomfort.
"Sango... You talk too much." He felt the tajiya pushing away from him, obviously dissatisfied with answer. With a grunt he pulled her back, now scowling.
"Do I ever do anything I don't wanna do?" Was his haughty response. Now Sango snorted.
"Not without a lot of complaining!" He laughed a little at that, leaning his head carefully on hers.
"Well I wasn't complaining, now was I?" Sango smirked a little and closed her eyes with a sigh.
"Fair enough..."
Inuyasha watched as she softly stroked Sachiko's hair. After a while amber eyes flicked to the tajiya's face, her lips upturned into a smile. "Sango?" His voice was soft and a bit unsure.
"Hai?" He shifted, moving a little bit closer to her.
"F-For what it's worth, I think you'd be a great mother..." He felt her go rigid against him. She was so surprised she stopped stroking the tanuki hanyou. She grimaced before she resumed stroking Sachiko.
"I don't think I ever will be. But, thank you." She felt Inuyasha's reassuring grip on her arm and let the tension leave her body.