Dark Night Saga: Book II
Dreamless Sleep: Angel's Tears
by Sango-sama

Disclaimer: Nope...I still don't own Inu-Yasha...or Miroku...or Kouga...or Naraku...or Musuo...
::wipes drool from her face quickly:: Where I was I? Anyways...I have very little money so it
won't do you any good anyways.

Spoiler warning: Pretty much the same as the other story...but this portion will cover up
through Chapter 213...which includes the whole Musuo scenario. Once again, I will be covering
any important plot points, so it's not necessary to go through and read it all.

Other warnings: I moved the rating higher (R) to deal with potential problems down the line.
Please hold on...I promise there will be good reason for the rating later on.

Credit where credit is due: Both chapter themes courtesy Grasshopper Takeover. Big Kudos
to my buddy Nonie for introducing me to their work.

**************************************************************************************

Help Me Now

There's a reason why, the sun won't shine today.
So take a look around, and tell me what you see.
I should know by now, but still somehow it breathes.
If it's all been done, then what we do repeats.
Ain't that a shame?

When the lesson you are learning's almost killing you,
and you want to throw your hands into the air.
Solitary moments give no warning,
I've been understanding this too well.

When I tried to make an offer,
help me now, I'll never ask again.
This world only takes what it's been given,
help me now, I'll never ask again.

So you're a tired mind,
so you thought, you could figure it out.
In another time, in a place
I could tell you about.
Oh well, the sun did make my day glow . . .

When the lesson you are learning's almost killing you,
and you want to throw your hands into the air.
Solitary moments give no warning,
I've been understanding this too well.

When I tried to make an offer,
help me now, I'll never ask again.
This world only takes what it's been given,
help me now, I'll never ask again.

**************************************************************************************

I've never been a terribly light sleeper.

The sounds of the night: the animals uttering their own noises, rush of the howling wind, the soft pit-pat of raindrops hitting the leaves in the trees, are all but second nature to a wanderer. So the relatively unfamiliar sound of tortuous whispers jars me awake immediately, clenching my heart.

Poor Sango. Standing up from my seated sleeping position against the tree, I walk over the few steps away to where she is sleeping. Her sleeping form has become fitful, wrestling with my blanket as she tosses and turns. Beads of sweat drawing together on her forehead only to roll down the curves of her face, a pale shadow of tears. Shaking my head sadly, I can only whisper, "poor, poor Sango."

Pain always seems to find us both, tearing away at the very heart and soul. Nightmares always seem to find us when they are least welcome.

After the incident in town this morning, Sango grew very quiet, very reserved. Much like how she was after the death of her family and friends in her village. She's trying to deal with it all by herself again.

The last thing she needs right now are the faces of those men making it worse by haunting her dreams, compounding her pain. Old nightmares joining new nightmares, to reopen the old wounds and make her terror fresh. If I weren't a priest, I would kill those bastards.

Kneeling down next to her, I shake her shoulder to try to pry her away from her silent torture. "Sango, wake up."

Her eyes spring open, shock evident in her eyes. "Miroku...." Almost as fast, she sits up and wraps her arms around me.

What can I do but wrap my arms around her and comfort her?


Through a curtain of the deepest ebony, her eyelashes shimmer with the gleam of the heavy, weary tears. Her face has reddened with the exhaustion in releasing her pain. Her tears are slowing.

In spite of it all, nothing pales her beauty. Buddah, but she is beauitful.

But her heart, her spirit just as broken as the bruises that mar her otherwise flawless skin.

Holding her in my arms, I feel helpless to help her. I can only wrap my arms around her and try to be a souce comfort and compassion, letting her tears flow onto my shoulder.

If there were a way take her pain away, I would bear it all. But I can only be strong for her, so she might borrow my strength.

"Let it out."

I will hold her until the pain goes away.

"Let it all go away."

I will hold her for longer if she'll let me.

"Let me help you."

I will protect you.

"I will protect you, Sango."

Fresh tears fall.

She is already so wounded. Buddah, I beg of you. She can take no more scars. Do not let all of this harden her heart to me again.

Breaking free from her sniffles, she lifts her tear stained eyes to my own. "Miroku...I..."

Smiling, I shake my head slowly. "It's alright. I understand."

Wiping her eyes free of the tears, she says, "no...no, you don't. In my dreams, you--"

"But I'm here right now. Nothing is going to happen to you."

"You don't understand."

I found my hands milling through the expanse of her hair. "Then tell me."

"In my dreams, you died...while you were protecting me. It was all too real to just be a dream." She bows her head. "I've already lost so many people in my life...Mother...Father...everyone I grew up knowing...and Kohaku. I don't even know if I'll ever get my brother back. I will not lose someone else I care about...." Our eyes lock as she lifts her head again. "someone else I...love...." Her voice barely a whisper as her eyes trail off again. "I can't take it all over again. My heart won't let me."

Love?

"Sango...love? Did you say love?"

Shy and blushing, she answers, "yes."

Gently, I move her chin to join our eyes. "I love you, Sango. I won't leave you."

Her whole face smiles, eyes radiantly glowing.

"Even if we are separated, I will return to you. That is a promise."

My hands slides from her shoulder, down her arm, to rest on her hand.

She turns her hand in mine, so that our hands are joined, fingers interlocking.

Smiling eyes meet smiling eyes.

And lips meet lips.

**************************************************************************************
Rants, Rave, and General Insanity

1. Well...this is fun! I'm working about 46 hours this week at a grocery store. Flippin' produce...could anything else be more fun? Watching astroturf grow? Or making my shoes all shiny and clean...Survey says: YES! Oh well...at least I get some money. But there is another downside: this really slows down
my writing. So...I like I said in the reviews, I promise I'll try to get up one chapter a week...at least.

2. What does everybody think? I kinda like it, but I've been pretty stuck on where I'm going. I've got plot farther down the line nailed down. Setting up is my major problem...but it seems I have one down!

3. As always, still in draft form...suggested changes are welcome for consideration, but may not be taken.

4. This chapter is brought to you today by the letter B and the number 4. (BINGO!)

A Schnee! Production
by Sango-sama