Author's Note: Written for the prompt 'Dark' at iy_themes. Word limit was 750 and this is part 11 of the serial Harsh Reality.
Kagome was safe, nestled in his arms with not a single scratch on her.
The same could not be said for Sango; although she had twisted at the last second at Inuyasha's shouted warning, the claws still managed to land a glancing blow, prompting a hiss of pain from her.
"Sango!" Miroku fought desperately to reach her side as the youkai surrounding him hemmed closer.
A white blur; the slayer drew her wakizashi and dispatched her attacker. "I'm alright, Houshi-sama!"
Inuyasha's eyes narrowed. The scent of her blood was rapidly filling the air; she was most certainly not alright. "You're badly wounded, Sango!" he shouted.
He had no choice but to continue fighting on, destroying as many youkai as quickly as he could. The sooner the fight was over, the better.
Finally – after what seemed like an eternity – the last few stragglers ran squealing into the forest. The first thing Miroku did was to attend to Sango, who had fell to her knees, clutching her Hiraikotsu for support.
"Sango-chan!" Kagome ran to her ashen-faced friend's side. Although he tried his best to act nonchalant, all Inuyasha could smell was blood; it brought up unwanted memories of another woman, drenched in her own blood, who had died for him...
~***~
Sango, her wounds cleaned and dressed, eased herself gingerly on the pallet into a more comfortable position. Even with Kagome's help, she winced with every movement.
Inuyasha hovered just outside the door, his ears twitching relentlessly. Once they told him Sango had been comfortably settled, he barged in.
"Inuyasha?"
"Sango, I wanna talk to you," he said gruffly. Kagome shot a look between them both before exiting, mumbling an excuse about Miroku and Shippou needing her attention. Somehow she sensed there was a link between her hanyou's odd behaviour and Sango's injury, althought its true nature escaped her.
"What is it?"
He fidgeted; his claws danced on the skin of his arm, hidden from her sight under his sleeve. "You got injured because of me," he forced out.
She blinked in confusion. "What?"
Inuyasha looked away. Conflicting feelings were clouding his vision; he wondered why they surfaced now, of all times. They had never haunted him when he was with Kagome – her reincarnation.
Sango guessed what was plaguing him. "I was injured because I was careless, that's all," she said softly. "You had nothing to do with it – "
" – I could have saved you!"
"You saved Kagome-chan. That's what's important." She made a small motion with her hand, indicating the conversation was closed. "I am supposed to take care of myself; it's not your fault, Inuyasha." Sango offered him a faint smile.
A part of him was relieved; she forgave him, it was not his fault. At least he would only have the blood of one woman staining his claws; that dark past of his would remain dormant. But still...
Sango was pack. It was his duty to protect them all but the unspoken agreement between himself and Miroku was that each man would look after his own woman.
The monk was only human. How could he be relied on to constantly save Sango without one or both getting hurt?
Inuyasha turned and bounded out of the hut, leaving behind a very puzzled Sango. "Miroku." The monk was instantly alert.
"Take better care of her, bouzu."
"Inuyasha?" The hanyou was gone into the trees.
