Lost But Not Forgotten
Chapter 7: A Trip Down Memory Lane?
Sango-sama
Disclaimer: Same old song and dance. "I will do my German dance for you!" .... "Hey...what are you doing?" 0_0 "Noooo!!! Don't run away!!!!"
Author's Notes: Your comments have all been very kind. I'm glad you like it so far. I sat down and sort of drew out a timeline for this one. This chapter marks the halfway point, which 13 real chapters and an epilogue...unless I can convince myself to throw in a side plotline for Inuyasha and Kagome. I plan to stick with this scheme, but I may end up separating a chapter if the content gets too long. I apologize that I have too many stories I'm working on all at once; it really is frustrating for me, too!
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Miroku pulled his arms out from around Sango, allowing his lips to trace her hairline once more before completely letting go.
Her face remained scarlet and she didn't dare look up into those intense lavender eyes. She could feel the Monk's rather heated gaze still resting on her, as she mentally cursed herself for blushing so. 'Well...we are going to be married, right?' She twisted her fingers nervously. 'I...I'll look silly if I can't even look at him...without blushing like an idiot...'
She completely missed the soft smile that was directed at her. But Inuyasha and Kagome did.
It was a rare observant day for Inuyasha. Not only was he privy to the bouzu's softer side, but he could also see the stars shimmering in Kagome's eyes, as she watched the scene unfold before them. She looked like she was about ready to start gushing about how cute it all was.
Feh, he frowned. This was getting them nowhere; Sango needed to start remembering fast. There wasn't time for them to fool around like this, not if they were all going to defeat Naraku. He cleared his throat—loudly.
Sango looked at the hanyou, not quite grasping what had happened, but a bit grateful to have the weight of attention lifted from her shoulders. Miroku looked surprised, which almost masked the slightest bit of irritation niggling its way to the surface.
But Kagome...she was livid. She raised an irritated eyebrow and with a lowered voice whispered a furious, "Osuwari!"
Sango's eyes widened as she watched the hanyou being smashed to the ground; the very idea that a creature as powerful as a half demon would be brought to his knees by one word from her friend had left her blinking in sheer disbelief.
"Wench!" A muffled voice bellowed back from the dirt.
She pouted, crossing her arms as she watched him struggle to get up. He just had to go and ruin it didn't he. And Miroku was just starting to be open with his feelings for Sango, too.
"We should probably head back to the village, soon," Kagome said quickly, throwing a warning glare at Inuyasha as he brushed the dirt from the front of his robes and purposely ignoring his returned glower. She smiled again towards Sango and Miroku. "The sun is setting and Atsue-sama is bound to worry where we might have gotten off to."
The taiji-ya and houshi both nodded silently and in tandem before Miroku's hand gently settled at the crook of her arm, guiding her back along the path. Sango's eyes widened and she tossed an anxious glance over her shoulder to verify that his hand truly was the source of the surprisingly unbearable heat the lingered at her arm...and shockwaves throughout her whole body, before she allowed herself to blush.
"I found someone who might be very helpful in recovering your memories, Sango..."
Kagome watched blissfully as the two slowly ambled back along the path. Her smile thinned as she heard the breaking of a twig behind her. Inuyasha was back on his feet...and making no moves to conceal his footsteps. She really didn't want to yell at him, but what he had done was completely unnecessary, especially considering their friends' engagement. She tried to stifle the anger that was welling up inside her, as she spoke in low, carefully measured tones.
"Why did you do that, Inuyasha? They were getting along so well."
"Kagome...do you trust me?"
"I..." She blinked; that certainly wasn't the answer she expected. "You know I do."
"I made a promise to Miroku..." His slitted amber eyes grew distant and somber. "I can't explain why...but you should see soon enough."
*****
Atsue shooed her two apprentices on home for the evening. With all of her patient's friends about, her home was far too crowded to house all of her guests and the two young Miko-in-training.
Akagane kneeled on the floor, trying to keep the precariously balanced cup from spilling, as she gaped at the Miko. "She's lost her memory?"
"Ah," the Miko nodded sagely. She carefully measured two small spoonfuls of the green tea powder into her own cup. "I'm afraid we've only just found out when she woke up this afternoon."
The former taiji-ya looked into the hazy green depths of her tea cup, trying to make sense of this new situation. A better part of the reason she had come back was to reminisce with her younger cousin, while her wounds had time to heal. Hearing from the young Houshi that the rest of the village had been destroyed had only served to deepen her desire to find her only remaining family member. But now...to hear that the girl probably had no memories at all... "Then...perhaps I should return home..."
"What would make you do such a thing, Akagane-san?" Atsue gave her matronly smile as she lifted the lip of the cup to hers. "Certainly an old familiar face would do much to help stir up memories of her past..."
Akagane still looked unsure. One of her hands absently reached up to push back a stray auburn lock.
"Besides...I believe that you will want to give your blessing on her marriage."
"Marriage?" She blinked. Yes...Sango was sixteen now, wasn't she. She was certainly old enough to wed...but surely they could not have been married very long. A broad smile crept upon her face; it seemed like she had left only yesterday, when in fact so much time had passed. "Well, I suppose I must stay long enough to see her husband at least."
*****
The evening had come and gone and the morning was quickly passing by. After Sango had fallen asleep with the assistance of Atsue's tea, much of the night was spent talking about the best way to help Sango regain her memory. And after a fair amount of complaining on Inuyasha's part, which Kagome still couldn't understand, it was agreed by all of the others that it would be best for Sango to allow her time to remember her past.
The conversation had lasted well into the evening...and Kagome was certainly feeling the sleep she was lacked for the sake of it now.
She slumped drowsily against the base of the tree, watching with half-lidded eyes as Sango experimentally swung the bulky boomerang forward.
The taiji-ya didn't let go, but she also hadn't been using her full force, something she became very glad of as the flat top of Hiraikotsu came back, striking her at her open side. She did, however, drop heavily to the ground, knocking the wind out of herself in the process.
Inuyasha, who had been looming restlessly in the branches high above, had suddenly dropped to the ground almost as soon as the weapon glanced her side.
"Sango!" Kagome gasped almost belatedly, but Inuyasha was already at her side.
"I'm fine," she reassured them both as she slowly sat up. "I just feel...a bit...dizzy."
And with that, she collapsed back onto the ground.