HER HEART'S DESIRES

by Nana

CHAPTER II.

Miroku

"It's done. With the barrier in effect, no youkai would be able to penetrate this temple," said Oshou-sama, watching Sango wring the towel of excess water before placing it back on Miroku's forehead. Her hands shook.

"Naraku is no ordinary youkai," she said.

"That's true," agreed Oshou-sama. "But under the circumstances, this is the best that we can do."

Sango nodded. "Would Inu Yasha and Kagome be able to find it?" she asked, and shivered as a thought, unbidden, rose to the surface. If they're still out there…

"They won't have any trouble, I'm sure." the elderly priest stood up on dangerously wobbly knees. "It is late. You'd better get some sleep yourself," he said, then paused. "By the way, that medicine should be given every two hours for the first day, at least."

Ehhhh?

The elderly priest turned a bleary eye on her stunned face. "It shouldn't be so difficult," he said.

"N-no, but…" she stopped, a blush slowly creeping up her face. Dammit! But what, exactly? Of course, you'll be expecting too much if HE volunteers to do it!

She took a deep breath. "All right. I'll take care of it."

She was, after all, not unreasonable. But one had to understand why she had her reservations.

After the elderly priest left, Sango could feel the fatigue catching up with her at last. She turned to look at Miroku.

He was still feverish, although the chills were subsiding.

Houshi-sama…gomenasai. I have been a burden…

After awhile, she tore her gaze away, feeling another hot blush slowly spreading through her face. Had he ever noticed her staring? She certainly hoped not.

Enough of this nonsense! You're supposed to be level-headed, aren't you, Sango?

With that, she started to prepare for bed.

She did not know how long she had been sleeping, but she was jerked awake by a sound. She listened carefully, her whole body instantly tense, a hand on her Hiraikotsu.

Apart from the sound of the distant waterfall, everything was silent.

Then…

"Sango…"

It was but a breath. Sango turned and realized it was Miroku.

Heart pounding, she kneeled beside him, her hand instantly on his forehead. He was still out of it, still feverish. His eyes were still closed, his breathing still a little ragged.

He's dreaming. Of me?

It was time for his medicine. Sango turned to the pot of herbal concoction and ladled out a bowl. She sipped it, trying to ignore the bitter taste, and quickly pressed her mouth to his. She realized that, with enough practice and a lot of willpower, she could perform this task easily enough.

She felt his firm lips move against hers, could feel him swallowing the liquid, choking. She lingered, feeling his breath rush from his lips to fan on her cheek. It was almost magical how that one simple act could bring on a wave of comfort and reassurance.

She surveyed his sleeping face. In sleep, the handsome priest looked even more innocently boyish, more open and vulnerable. When awake, he would present the world with this serene, smiling mask that hid the man and his thoughts completely. She decided she liked the face that she was seeing now better.

Forgive me, Houshi-sama, if you were to awaken and find me looking at you. I cannot help myself. Later...later on, the sun will rise, and with the day must come all the decisions I must make for us both. Time has always been against us, but for now…just this once…will it be all right for me to indulge myself a little?

She went to awaken the elderly priest at dawn to inspect the temple. Dressed in her taijiya outfit, she accompanied a disgruntled Oshou-sama all over the place, deciding and anticipating weak points and counter-strategies.

Sango was desperate for any news of the others, but after hearing her proposal of leaving the barrier for a while to search outside, the elderly priest had vehemently refused and in the end, she had to give in.

What was the point of creating a barrier, if she or Kirara were to be seen leaving from it? he had pointed out. And supposing something were to happen while she was away? No, it would be best to wait for Miroku to regain consciousness at least.

I don't get it, Sango thought, feeling her skin prickle with unease. This is too easy-just like that time when we were fighting that giant spider before Chichiue and the others were killed…can it really be true that we were able to escape detection?

A complete search of the temple and its grounds yielded nothing.

"Wasser marrer?" the priest slurred, irritated, as he peered at her dubious expression. "Don't you think my houriki would work?"

"It's-it's not that, Oshou-sama…" Sango bit her lip, and seeking a diversion, pointed to an open room. "Is…is this-this looks like a study."

It was a large room filled with scrolls stacked neatly in shelves. A large, low table stood in the center, calligraphy brushes stood in a jar. Paper rolls and ink were ready on the side.

Was this how Houshi-sama had spent his time here? she wondered.

As if sensing her thoughts, the elderly priest replied, "It is Miroku's favorite room in the temple."

"Honto?" Sango was intrigued, despite herself. "What was he like, when he was a child?"

"Naughty," came the short reply.

Well, she could have guessed that, but…

Before she could ask anything more, the elderly priest had moved on.

"Well, Kirara," she said, stroking the firecat's soft fur, "nothing seems to be amiss…and it is true it will be so much safer just to let Inu Yasha and Kagome find us, but…"

She trailed off, feeling another prickle of unease.

It was just too easy…

She glanced at Miroku's sleeping form beside her. If only you would just wake up…

At least the fever was gone. And from the look of the bandages on his shoulder, the bleeding had effectively stopped.

Looking at his serene face, Sango could feel her unease slipping away. In the hustle and bustle of daily life and travel, she never really had the time or opportunity to look at him fully the way she was looking at him now. She didn't have to worry about him suddenly catching her off guard, for one. In a way, this was a rare freedom-something of him she could keep for herself.

She shook her head, not able to believe her flights of fancy. Just what is it with you? she chided.

It was time to give the medicine again. She was used to it by now.

But as she pushed the bitter liquid from her mouth to his, she could feel him shift his head and choke. She opened her eyes to find wide, violet eyes staring back.