The True Holder of Shikon
Disclaimer - Don't own Inuyasha.
Chapter 21 - Betrayed by Love
XxXxX
Sango ran as swiftly and steadily as she could. The battle was just up ahead. She saw Sesshoumaru getting attacked from all sides. Not only that, but the youkai were not weak. They were powerful and they would not go down easily. She stopped when she saw one beginning to attack the Taiyoukai from behind. As quickly as she could, she released a sacred arrow. Without waiting for it to hit its mark, she fired more. Then she placed the bow back over her shoulder before gripping Hiraikotsu and throwing it at the group who were coming at her.
"Sango..." Sesshoumaru whispered; finally noticing that she had arrived. She looked skilled and determined.
"Get your act together, Sesshoumaru!" She shouted at him with a smirk. "I can't save your ass every time you daydream!" He gave her a look before leaping up and bringing down his youki whip on the confused youkai.
"Save it, wench." He stated; his lips twisting into a smirk. She glared at him as she cut a charging youkai in half. Then Kagome and Miroku arrived on Kirara. Jaken was not far behind. The four stopped briefly to watch the fight.
"What are we standing around for? Let's go!" Kagome rushed in.
XxXxX
Sango stood on the battlefield after everything was all over. Her dark mahogany eyes gazed down at the jewel shard in her hand. It was all they got from battling the army of youkai. She closed her fist over it. The stars shone dimly in the sky, the night slowly turning into dawn.
Naraku must have sent them...
She felt disgust rise in her stomach. He was still the biggest threat. There was just no escaping the persistant hanyou.
"Sango." She turned around and noticed the human Inuyasha standing there. He frowned at her.
"Here." She tossed him something and he reached up and caught it. When he looked down into his hand, he saw the shard she had been holding. "You take it, since it would be in danger of getting back to Naraku if I have it." She answered the unasked question.
"What do you mean by that? We've stopped him before, Sango. I'll be damned if he gets hold of you again." She looked back at him just as the tip of the sun rose over the mountains. A sad smile rested on her face and a lone tear rolled down her cheek.
"No matter what I do, where I go, or whoever is protecting me, he finds me and somehow manages to get me. I just can't do it anymore, Inuyasha." He frowned before he felt the pulsing of his youkai blood. His hair turned silver and his senses increased once more. She smiled. "Even now, I would like to know peace. I would like to know it once more."
"We'll get you that peace. I promise." He walked toward her and put his hand on her shoulder. "Besides, what can a nice dawn like this bring except a nice day?" She looked at him again and smiled slightly.
"I have never had the priviledge of hearing his highness Inuyasha speak in such a sensitive way." He growled.
"Give it a rest." She laughed and brought her hand up to touch his. He heard her sigh.
"Inuyasha?"
"Yeah, what is it?" He asked. She looked back at the sun.
"Don't make promises to me." He frowned and sighed.
"Whatever." She smiled.
"Now that is the Inuyasha I know."
"Feh."
XxXxX
Kagome and Miroku stared at the scene with frowns on their faces.
"What do you think they're talking about?" Kagome asked. The houshi next to her shrugged.
"None of our business, whatever it is." Sesshoumaru stood, some distance away, tending to his wounded arm. The wound felt weird but he couldn't think of how. He couldn't detect anything with his nose. Soon, Sango walked over to him and peered at it curiously.
"You didn't tell me you got wounded!" She scolded him. He scowled at her.
"It will heal." She glared up at him and crossed her arms. "What?" He narrowed his eyes at her.
"Yes, it will. If you let me, the process will go faster."
"Hm." He gave up and handed it over. She gently placed her glowing hand over it. She jerked away and stared at it. Sesshoumaru felt an odd urge to transform suddenly...and not in a good way.
"S-Sesshoumaru?" His eyes widened and began to go red. "Sesshoumaru! Stop it!" She grabbed his shoulders but he shoved her away. Laughter could be heard from the trees nearby.
"Let us see how you handle a fully transformed Taiyoukai in a rage." Sango felt tears come to her eyes.
"Naraku, you bastard!" She stood up and ran at the Taiyoukai. She wrapped her arms around his waist tightly. She wouldn't let go, even if he tried to throw her off. "Sesshoumaru..."
"Sango, don't you see? You are the one he wishes to kill." Naraku laughed and it faded away as he left. Sango let her tears fall down her face as Sesshoumaru growled and fought with the transformation.
"Sango!" Inuyasha shouted. "Get away from him!"
"No!" She looked up at the youkai's face. "Please...don't do this." She looked at the wound, which was glowing white.
That's...
Her eyes widened. Could her powers have set it off? She closed her eyes when she felt his claws slice through her shoulder.
"Sango! Goddammit! Get over here!" Inuyasha was ready to charge in but Miroku wouldn't let him.
"Sango!" Kagome cried in horror. Sesshoumaru began to grow into his canine form. The taiji-ya held on desperately. The shards in her forehead began to burn. She felt the pain in her shoulder increase when she was shaken. She held onto his fur but dropped to the ground when he shook her off. His mouth dripped with venom, which she had to dodge, as well as his claws. He barked at her, hesitating a few moments. It looked as though he was fighting with the urges to kill and taste blood. Then he snarled and lowered his massive head, biting into her side and lifting her from the ground. She cried out in pain. He began to shake her.
"Sesshoumaru!" She felt herself begin to grow dizzy. "Sess..." She coughed up blood. She could feel his fangs ripping through her. "Don't let...him...control you. Please fight. I...love you..." Her shards began pulsing. Sesshoumaru settled down and dropped her. Inuyasha met her half-way, catching her in his arms.
"Sango..." The hanyou landed and looked down at her. "Hey...don't die on us." She stared up at him blankly.
"Inu..." She choked on more blood. "Is he...?" He turned around and watched as his brother's eyes went back to normal. He knew what was coming. He was fearing it. "Tell me..."
"He's...back to normal, Sango." She sighed with relief. "Are you gonna live?"
"I don't know..." She looked down at her wounds. "I had...worse when Kohaku first gave me my scar." She then smiled weakly up at him. "The shards should help me heal. I don't have the energy to do it on my own." Sesshoumaru was back in his human form and was staring at Sango in wide-eyed horror. His face was flecked with blood and his claws were stained red. "Take me to him."
"Yeah." Inuyasha began to walk to his brother, all the while still staring down at the taiji-ya in his arms. "You really...love him?" She smiled and nodded.
"I love him. You have nothing to worry about." He chuckled lightly.
"It isn't him that I'm worried about."
"Shut up, hanyou." He looked up at Sesshoumaru before he stopped.
"Here, Sesshoumaru. The burden wants to be with you." Sango laughed slightly but stopped and winced. Her side was killing her. Sesshoumaru took her into his arms hesitantly before falling to his knees. He buried his face in her hair, his shoulders beginning to shake.
"Stop that." He heard her whisper. "Where is that wound? Let me see it." He pulled away, not caring if anyone saw the few tears that ran down his face. He balanced her in one arm before showing her the wound. "It's gone. The shards healed it and killed the effects, then." She looked down at her side and placed her hands on it. "Do not blame yourself. I can heal this." Her wound and hands began glowing along with the shards on her forehead. When the wound was completely healed, she fell unconscious. That was when they noticed her shoulder.
"I'll heal that for her." Kagome said softly. "You just get her back to the village. We will be right behind you." Miroku watched them sadly. He knew it had to be that way. Sango had to stop him herself. She had to get through to him. He sighed and watched as they all left him. Then Kirara shoved him gently with her head. He looked back at her.
"Let's go, hm?"
XxXxX
Sango slept peacefully through everything. It took her two days to heal enough to actually talk to anyone. The claw marks were hardly anything and healed well with Kagome's medicines. The taiji-ya was exhausted mostly from healing her side. Sesshoumaru never left her side and never spoke a word to anyone. Rin was going crazy. She wanted to know what had happened. Inuyasha finally got fed up with her and told her that Sango got hurt and Sesshoumaru was just upset. It was better to let him have his time alone. Miroku went about the village, helping others in need of assistance. Jaken was his quiet, mournful self. They all thanked whatever spirits answered their prayers. Finally, the toad youkai went into the room on the second day to see his Lord. He watched in astonishment as Sango lifted her hand and brushed his master's cheek with her fingers.
"I am so sorry." Sesshoumaru said softly.
"Shh." She continued to stroke his cheek. "I am not on my deathbed, you idiot." She managed a smile. "I love you too much to be mad at you. Besides, it was not your fault."
"I love you." He admitted quietly. "I will kill Naraku for what he made me do to you." She frowned.
"When I saw what he was doing to you...I just wanted to cry. I would not leave your side; not even if you tried to kill me." He leaned down and kissed her gently. He pulled away when he felt her hand clutch his. She smiled at him.
"Thank you." There was silence for a moment before Jaken knocked and entered.
"M'lord? How are you?" Sango turned her gaze to the small youkai. "M'lady..." Sesshoumaru looked at his vassel.
"I am fine, Jaken. There is no need to be concerned." His amber eyes met the large yellow ones when he looked up. Then he looked at Sango. He had nothing against her besides the fact that she was a human but Rin was also a human so he couldn't hate her for that. He found that he had absolutely no reason to hate her. She had tried to feed him, she loved his lord, and she was good to Rin. He bowed his head in shame.
"Jaken?" He looked up again at the sound of her soft voice. "You need not worry about him. He is too stubborn and thick-headed to let anything get to him." Sesshoumaru looked at her and narrowed his eyes. "That was as close to a compliment as you get."
"Insolent female." He smirked and stood up.
"Stubborn fool. Go and see Rin. She is probably really concerned for you." He nodded and began walking to the door, still holding her hand. Then she let go and he left. Jaken followed him out after giving her a long look. Then she lay back and went to sleep.
XxXxX
Sango was sitting up, brushing her hair. She had been thinking about how much she was willing to risk. She loved Sesshoumaru. She loved her friends. She was putting them in danger. They were in less danger when Naraku was pursuing the Shikon jewel shards.
I cannot say there is anything I can do about it, though.
She sighed. They wouldn't let her leave them. Suddenly, someone entered. Little Rin and Sesshoumaru walked through the door. The small child ran to her and climbed into her lap.
"Sango-chan." She whimpered; clinging onto the taiji-ya's waist. "Are you feeling better?" Sango's mahogany orbs gazed into the warm, concerned chestnut eyes.
"Yes, Rin." She stroked the girl's hair. "I feel better. I am just tired now." The child's grip loosened and she looked at the older girl with a small smile.
"I love you, Sango-chan." The taiji-ya smiled softly and hugged Rin.
"I love you, too." She whispered. Her eyes stung with tears. She loved the girl like she was her own child. However, she knew that she could never replace Rin's real mother.
"Rin." Sesshoumaru's voice carried over the silence of the room. The girl kissed Sango's cheek then got down and left the room.
"Good night." She called as she left. Sango looked at Sesshoumaru when they were alone before looking away and wiping her eyes.
"She is such a sweet child." She stated. He walked over and kissed the top of her head. She looked up at him and smiled. He smiled back before kissing her soft lips. She pulled away after a brief moment and watched him sit down next to her.
"Do you feel a lot better?"
"Yes." She laughed. "Stop worrying, will you? You will get..." She paused and reached out, fingering his hair. "I was going to say gray hair but..."
"Shut up." He pulled his hair from her grasp with a scowl. She reached out and ran her fingers through it with a smile.
"I love your pretty silver hair, Sessh." She laughed harder when he made a face. "I could call you Fluffy..."
"Oh, dear spirits..." He glared at her. "There is no way-"
"Too late. I'm attached." She crawled into his lap and wrapped her arms around him. "That is your new pet name. Fluffy." She giggled. "I like it. Why don't you?"
"Because I would rather slice my wrists than hear that blasted nickname." He stated dryly.
"Fluffy-kins, is that any way to talk?" She asked in one of those baby voices. He growled at her. "Suck it up. I am calling you Fluffy only in the privacy of our own...room." He rolled his eyes.
"Fine...but I get to think of a nickname for you." She gave him a look.
"Nothing too bad, okay? Fluffy is not that bad."
"I will stay within limits."
"Why not just stick to your usual berating insults like wench?" He raised a brow and looked down at her.
"Perhaps."
XxXxX
The next day they packed up and moved out. The sun was shining and the air was warm. The birds chirped and squirrels chattered and fought over acorns. Inuyasha led the pack at the usual pace, followed by Kagome and her bike, then Miroku and Shippou, and lastly, Sango, Sesshoumaru, Kirara, Rin, and Jaken. The small neko was dancing around Rin's feet and playing a game with her. Sango gave Sesshoumaru a smile before quickening her pace to walk next to Miroku.
"Houshi-sama?" She queried softly. He looked at her and smiled.
"Oh, hello, Sango." He said cheerfully. "What brings you up here to talk with me?" She elbowed him in the side.
"I need a reason to speak with you?" He chuckled then shook his head, rubbing his side.
"No, of course not!" He sighed. "Do you think that we will be able to have some more peace before our next fight?" She snorted.
"I wish." He smiled. "With the things that have been happening lately, Naraku must have been pissed. I wonder what he'll throw at us next..."
"I doubt you will have to wonder." His soft voice made her look at him. Then she caught on and nodded.
"I guess you're right." She looked up at the sky. Birds flew by, soaring high above the ground. She then noticed some were circling ahead. She ran forward, leaving everyone in the pack behind. Inuyasha reacted and followed after her. Sesshoumaru was right behind him.
"What is it, Sango?" Inuyasha called. "What do you see?" She kept her breathing in check and watched the birds.
Circling birds usually mean death...
In times as such, she could not just let it go. She slid to a stop when she saw the dead body of a little boy. A young woman with curly brown hair was lying close to him. She was not yet dead. Sango kneeled down next to her and gave her some water from the bottle at her waist.
"Are you okay?" She asked softly. The woman looked at the boy. She was a priestess by the way she was dressed. The body of a youkai lay just a few feet from the boy. Inuyasha looked at his brother.
"Sesshoumaru?" The Taiyoukai drew the Tenseiga and narrowed his eyes at the boy. Then he looked back at the others.
"Nothing." He stated. "He is too far gone."
XxXxX
That's as far as I think we'll go for now. Anyway, please review and I hope that you like it. As far as I'm concerned, I believe that we're making progress into the relationship of Sess and Sango. We can't go too fast, now, can we?
Thanks for reading this far!