Chapter 11
Happiness and Jealousy
Sango POV
Lord Miroku bolted off into the trees, an obsessed gleam in his midnight eyes. "Lord Miroku wait!" I called after him. Kagome tried to toss the shard to me, to make me regain what I had lost, but now was not the time. I bolted, dodging the small crystal. It clinked against a stone and a small twinge of pain bloomed in my chest. But I ignored it and ran. I skidded to a stop as Lord Miroku fell unconscious to the ground.
"Hello Sango," a voice whispered in my ear as I knelt beside my fallen traveling companion. I whipped around, but saw nothing but the stones of the cliff and a few scraggly trees. "Fancy meeting you here," my heart beat sped up and my breath came in hurried gasps. Fear took a hold of me. The shadows on the trees and rocks crept forward. "Three hillsides hence," they said, melting from shape to shape, "The King awaits you, the one most precious." They hissed.
"Sango!" Kagome's panicked shouts filtered through the trees. The shadow creatures chuckled and hissed before melting into the natural shadows around. Inuyasha leaped over the trees, Kagome on his back. Koga followed in his usual flurry of wind, Shippo hanging onto his tail for dear life. "There you are! What happened?" Kagome rushed over, her magic box in hand.
"Miyako and Michi," I whispered.
"What?" Inuyasha growled, looking around for an impending threat.
"My uncle's demon partners. Miyako and Michi, shadow demons. It can't be!" I leaped up and glanced off to the east, the direction Miyako had gestured... "Take care of the lord Monk," I commanded, sounding stronger than I felt.
"We're going with you where ever you're going," Miroku muttered weakly. He sat up, a small trickle of blood running down his face.
"No, I think... I think I need to go alone." I hesitated, my heart ached at his pathetic form.
"No!" Miroku stood on shaky legs, swaying like he was dizzy, which considering his impact with a rock wall, I wasn't surprised. "Kagome?" He looked to her, she nodded and came up to me, one hand in her skirt pocket.
"We're going with you. Once you wake up." she added shoving the shard into my chest.
Memories of waiting alone or with Kohaku for Mother and Father to return from a demon hunt. Watching my friends and Family getting buried, my black Kimono serving as a handkerchief for Kohaku's weeping eyes. Sitting in a tree, watching the other village girls learning how to dance, and cook, and sew as proper ladies should. Wishing to be with someone, to be close to someone. Watching my cousins getting married to my few friends. Wanting nothing more than to join in the celebrations. Alone.
The light of the sunset shone in my eyes when I awoke, in Lord Miroku's arms as always. Tears pricked the corners of my eyes. "I have to go it alone," I choke out.
"Never," Miroku barked, "I will never let you suffer alone again." the tears that had been suspended in his eyes fell one at a time into my hair. I glanced around, no one was with us. Miroku sniffed and stopped showing his soft side. Seeing my exploration of the camp he spoke again. "They went to find your remaining shards,"
"I don't think they'll find them." I stated. "I think my uncle has them."
"Your uncle?" Miroku sat me up, but didn't take his arms from around my waist.
I nodded, "He was banished from the village for working black magics and creating his shadow puppets, Miyako and Michi. When he left he swore revenge upon the village as he left. He wanted us all to suffer the broken heart he felt by being thrown out by his own brother, my father."
"You think he did this to you for his revenge." I nodded again.
"Shadow puppets, the things in my dreams..." Miroku paused, remembering something. "What did your uncle look like?" He asked after a moment.
"He was thin, but agile. And excellent archer, with his long, blood red hair tied up on top of his head." I mumble as the memories of him came to mind.
"How can we beat him?" Miroku asked, though I'm not sure if he was actually talking to me.
"Three hills hence," I repeated Miyako's message, pointing to the east. "the King awaits you." Miroku stared hard into my eyes, heat rushed to my face.
"Shall we improvise?" He stood, taking me with him. I nodded and started walking, Miroku close behind me.
As we walked Miroku's hand found mine and squeezed it tight. It was a comforting gesture, though I still could not remember why. It took little more than an hour to find the third hillside. It was so obvious it was painful. The entire hill side was the color of dried blood. A stone stood on the top, still and gloomy like a grave stone.
"This ends tonight," Miroku grinned, his smile not reaching his eyes. "I hope you'll remember me after this." He leaned din and carefully placed a kiss upon my parted lips. Red glowed behind my eyes and I fell once again to the seizing black of memories.
The bonfire blazed in the village as I celebrated my birthday. I was slaying my first demon. I was saving a village. I was blushing and screaming and weeping with mirth and joy. Happiness.
I shook my head, realizing that for once, I was not lying in Miroku's arms upon awakening from memories. "Sango?" His gaze was full of concern for me.
"Sorry," I muttered, focusing again on out current task.
"No, it is I that should be sorry," Miroku blushed. "I need to fight him with out being worried for you." With a small swipe he thrust the other shard he carried with him into my back. This time I did fall into unconsciousness. Damn him.
