Sango had always been beautiful in his eyes. But today, she was at her loveliest. Miroku stared appreciatively over Sango's glistening skin, as the shy yokai exterminator peeled every inch of clothing that had shielded her from his eyes. He couldn't stop kissing her. He couldn't stop touching her. He couldn't, for the life of him, figure out where his self-control had fled.
He ran his hands over her hair as she closed her eyes in blissful surrender. He wanted to do this over and over again. Everyday. For the rest of their lives. For Sango to want to do this with himit probably meant that she felt for him the way he felt for her. Now that his curse was gone, he would find the courage to tell her how much she meant to him.
They had made love fourno, five times that day. He had no idea that he was this insatiable. Nor had he any idea that Sango would make love to him like it would be the last time. He didn't want to think too much. He couldn't get enough of her. Maybe he'd never get enough of her. He trailed his hand down her cheek as the last vestiges of strength left him.
My Sango.
This was his last thought as he drifted off to sleep, an equally satisfied Sango resting her head atop his chest.
He had no idea that Sango was to wake up hours before he would. And that she would dress up quickly and quietly, touch his cheek with tears in her eyes, and finally walk away without a word of goodbye. And he would never know how her heart broke that day.
But he knew his did.
Miroku woke up with a jolt, beads of sweat trailing down his face. He scowled. What the hell is this dream that keeps replaying itself recently? It had been two months since he'd last seen Sango. He never wanted to think of her again. To do so would only cause him to destroy what modicum of self-respect he had left. To think of her was to be weak. To think of her caused him to wallow in self-pity and despair.
Miroku forced himself to stand up and walk to the nearest riverbank. He didn't realize that he was thirsty until that first drop of water fell into his waiting lips. He took a few more gulps before finally washing his own face. He needed to feel refreshed before embarking on another journey. The next village might well be a few days away from where he was. Maybe there, he could distract himself with youkai-hunting. If he'd be lucky, he'd probably have a few pretty village girls swarming around him, begging him to free them from an unfortunate youkai's nefarious misdeeds.
Ahwell, Miroku thought to himself, life must go on
Sango woke up with a start. Her body ached all over, her head spinning as if she had been twirled round and round by someone much stronger. Blinking rapidly, she noticed that she was lying inside an unfamiliar room, the scent of Jasmines assaulting her nostrils.
She had just realized that she was dreaming, her traitorous unconscious drifting back to that one blissful moment of madness in Miroku's arms. Why now? Her mind screamed at the injustice of it all. Why now when she had fought for months to forget that Miroku could never be hers. She had to move on. She had to—
"Ah, you are finally awake!" It was Takeda Kuranosuke's voice. Such a proverbial soothing sound could only come from him. Sango now realized that all this time, she had been staying in the village where the young king ruled. She wasn't able to identify the village earlier because it had been entirely defaced by one of Naraku's villainous activities. It was such an irony that she would end up in the domain of this determined man who had long ago promised what her true love couldn't give.
"I had been so worried about you," he continued, concern marring his otherwise gentle countenance.
The usually quiet taijiya tried to sit up. "I'm so sorry for inconveniencing you, Kuranosuke-sama. UmI'm fine, really. I just probably caught a slight flu. Kaoru has it, too."
Kuranosuke moved beside Sango and gingerly took hold of both her hands, clasping them lovingly within his own. "Sango, there is something that you must know" The man didn't know how to continue. He was never the bard. He could never put into proper wording whatever it was that he was feeling or whatever matters needed to be said. He was always a very efficient leader, using words that were always systematic and logical. He had a sense of humor that only he could understand. What he was about to say to Sango, however, was a very delicate matter. Nevertheless, it had to be said.
"Kuranosuke-sama?"
"I really don't know how to tell you this, Sango," he began. "You don't have the flu." He took a deep breath, held on more tightly to her hands, and pressed them towards his palpitating heart. He went on, "You are carrying life within you."
Sango didn't know whether it her nausea or just her recent absent-mindedness that was prolonging her digestion of this information, but it really took her quite some time to realize what the king was trying to say. When it finally dawned on her, she couldn't help flushing, her face quickly turning into a becoming shade of red. She shook her head in denial. It can't be.
Miroku.
I am carrying your child?
The baby that you've been asking every other woman to bear for you is living inside of me?
Ne, Houshi-sama?
Isn't this what you've always wanted?
"I hope you will forgive me, Sango, but I told the physician who was tending you that I was the one responsible for your condition." This was spoken with such speed, that it took Sango another minute to understand what he was saying. What did he mean? Was he trying to protect her reputation?
"Kuranosuke-sama, you didn't have to—"
"But I must, Sango," he cut her off as politely as he possibly could. "I know I am being selfish. You know that I would never give up." I let go of her hands and looked down at his lap, as if something outlandish had just sprouted from it. "I—"
Sango stared at him in disbelief. She was probably dreaming. She shook her head again, as if trying to clear it from imaginary cobwebs.
"I still want you to be my wife."
"But that would be unfair for you!" the taijiya protested. "You will become father to a child that isn't yours? How can you bear it? How will you bear it?"
He looked at her straight in her eyes, his visage exuding a new form of determination. "I have waited more than eight years for you. And if there's a need for more waiting, I will gladly do it for you. You don't have to give me your answer now, but know this: If you would let me, I can become a good husband to you and a good father to your child." With that, Kuranosuke stood up and walked towards the door. He turned one last time to look at her, his beautiful lily, and whispered in the gentlest voice: "Please think about it."
Sango couldn't do anything else but stare at his back in amazement. Could she
really?
AUTHOR'S NOTES: I apologize to those who have been wanting lemons...oh and those that I left hanging in the first chapter. LOL! I actually started chapter 2 last October 27, 2002 but unfortunately work and wedding stuff got in the way so I was only able to finish this now (December 13, 2002, 1:24PM). I just recently told my "boss" that I would no longer be continuing my contract come January because I will be retiring from the IT Industry to become a full-fledged "housewife" by June (okeh, I know that sounds really funny! ^_^). There are so many work that needs to be done right now, turnovers and stuff... And there's my wedding preps that I have been neglecting recently. *Sigh* Thank gawd for wedding planners!
Anyhoo, I would just like to warn you guys that it may take quite some time for me to write the next installment. But if you guys would like to read more lemony goodness (written by my favorite roster of authors), you can just visit my website: http://www.hentaineko.com. Take note: I'm not much of a lemon writer...well, I used to be when I was still in high school...a decade or so ago. Right now it just feels awkward. I guess I've become too cynical for overly romantic sexual fluff...I now concentrate more on writing anime reviews, both hentai and non-H.
(On a side note, have you ever noticed that high-schoolers are the best writers? Many people lose their flair for word-weaving once they enter the corporate world.)
Wow...I never really expected reader reviews. Looks like my sister isn't the first reviewer after all. She's the fifth. Ha ha! Gah...I'm still in episode 89. I want more Inuyasha! Takahashi-sensei, you're a true genius!