"Sango, you'll never guess what happened!" Kagome cried, jumping up and down at her door. Sango's eyes widened, and she was prepared to grab her Hiraikotsu by the door. "Kagome, what's wrong? What's happened?" she asked, her eyes searching Kagome's for a sign of fear. "Has there been an accident? Where are the guys, and Shippo?"
Kagome smiled, and Sango knew that there was no accident. "No worries, Sango! I was just teaching the others how to play checkers, and...Shippo won! Inuyasha's kinda jealous, but it was so funny! Miroku even smiled, for a change...I wonder what's wrong with him." Sango placed a hand to her heart, and let out a small relieved laugh. "You scared me for a moment, Kagome! I thought you or the others were hurt...I'm glad you enjoyed your game. I'll join you in a moment." Kagome nodded, and skipped off to allow Sango to dress.
Sango stood far from the window once again, and pulled her white nightgown over her head. She shivered, for the morning air slipped in through a small crack over the window. She couldn't just walk over, for the window was wide and there were male servants outside in the garden. Sango placed a finger on her chin for a moment, then grabbed her new shawl. She held the shawl to her breasts, tucking in the edges until her chest was completely covered. She made her way to the window and shut it, flipping the latch into place. The men did not look up, but Sango still felt it necessary to cover herself.
When Sango was fully dressed, she let out a playful laugh and ran downstairs to join Kagome and the others. When she made it downstairs, Shippo was jumping and scattering checker pieces all over. Inuyasha and Miroku sat at a small table, still finishing their morning meal. Kagome poured Sango a cup of tea, and her eyes widened when she saw Sango's new shawl. She nearly dropped the hot thermos as she ran to her.
"Oh, Sango, where did you get that shawl? It's so beautiful!" Kagome cried, gently touching Sango's shoulder as she fingered the soft cloth. "It's so light...it's like a spider web," Sango murmured, twisting her fingers around the hem. "Kuranosuke bought it for me. He took me to the drumming festival yesterday, and he insisted that I should have this. It really is beautiful, and Kuranosuke was right...I do look good in this."
Shippo's jaw dropped when he saw the shawl, and he too made his way over. He jumped up and down, holding a small mirror up. "Turn around, Sango! I wanna see!" Sango smiled, and turned around to show off the shawl at all angles. Inuyasha nodded his head, nearly spitting out his tea in amazement.
"Damn, that's some shawl. It must have cost Kuranosuke a fortune, though. If my woman ever tried to buy me something like that, I'd just say forget it." Kagome stared at Inuyasha dangerously. Sango lowered her eyes to the floor, feeling Miroku's eyes on hers.
"Well, I tried to stop him, but he bought it for me anyway. He gave me some perfume also, in the garden the other day. Kuranosuke really is a kind man," Sango replied. Miroku sipped his tea, waving his hand in silence. Sango couldn't help getting the feeling that Miroku was jealous, but she chose to ignore it.
"Where is Kuranosuke, anyway?" Kagome asked, and Inuyasha scowled.
"Kagome, Kuranosuke's rich, in case you haven't noticed. He's got a whole entire castle to live in! He could be wandering around anywhere in these rooms!"
Kagome smiled, gathering up the checker pieces. "Remember the last time we were here? Kuranosuke tried to get Sango to marry him, and he thought up all these ways to woo her. I wonder if he'll try again. He was persistent, but he respected Sango's wishes and told her to visit again if she ever changed her mind." Miroku said nothing, but he knew that Kagome might be right. What will I do if Kuranosuke is trying to make Sango his bride again? Miroku thought to himself, sipping his tea once more. I was so jealous last time...no wonder I'm so jealous now! Still, if it's what Sango wants...
Sango stood up slowly, swallowing the last bit of her breakfast. "I think I'll go see him," she announced, and slipped from the room. She opened the screen, and made her way down the hallway without even putting on her sandals. Once again, she passed by the old paintings, but this time she kept her eyes to the floor in thought. Is Kuranosuke really trying to marry me again? Sango pondered to herself. Or is he just being generous? The dinner, the perfume, the festival, the shawl...what on earth could be next?
Sango reached Kuranosuke's quarters, but stopped. The screen was open a crack, and she forced herself not to listen as Kuranosuke spoke to one of his male servants. She was about to leave when she heard Kuranosuke's smooth, rich voice. "I'm telling you, Sango's visit is the best thing that's ever happened to me," he said, and Sango froze immediately. This is wrong, she thought. I shouldn't eavesdrop...
Sango flattened herself against the wall a few inches away from the door, trying to resist the temptation to listen. Still, Kuranosuke was talking about her...she continued to listen as the servant asked about what she looked like.
"Oh, she's very beautiful," Kuranosuke said, and Sango felt the heated blush on her face. "She is tall and slender, with brown eyes like the trunks of the cherry blossom trees. Her face is open, and so alive! She has fine features, like the way her fingers flew over the shawl the other day. It was as though she was trying to see into a new life, a peaceful life, and she has such a mysterious smile..."
Sango could listen no more. She was flattered, and she knew that Kuranosuke was still in love with her. He was speaking about her as though he was a poet, his words so real and romantic. He was always in love with her, ever since she exterminated demons for him six years before. Right when Sango thought her face couldn't get any redder, Kuranosuke spoke about her and made her blush once more. She raised her hand to her face, and slowly made her way back to her room. I knew it, she thought. Kuranosuke is trying to woo me, trying to win my happiness. Maybe, just maybe, he will try to make me his wife once again.