Author's note: We are near to the end.We'll have not many chapter after this. I'm pretty sad ç_ç so I've decided to do an announcement: this fic will have a sequel!!!!^ ^ Please, don't tell me you don't care ^ ^;; I'll explain it better in another chapter. Now, what will happen after that fight? Would Sesshoumaru go in search of Anna? We'll see.. CHAPTER 18 A WASTED CHANCE "So, she was human." the little kitsune said, jumping around the futon with a cautious air. "She was human, the last time I've seen her, Shippou." Kaede said, raising on her feet with rigid movements. The little Shippou made a not very convinced face and looked another time to the sleeping figure on the futon, inside a spiritual barrier. "Inuyasha and Kagome have told about her, don't you remember?" "Mmh." Shippou grumbled. Kaede laughed. "Are you still mad with him?" the old miko asked. Shippou stood in an obstinate silence and Kaede tried successfully to not laugh again. A couple of weeks ago, Kagome was returned in her world because her school, or something involved with, and Inuyasha had followed her. Shippou had tried to enjoy with them, but Inuyasha had found him inside Kagome's bag and had tied him to a tree, so he couldn't follow them. Kagome didn't know this fact, but Shippou wondered the 'osuwaris' Inuyasha would take from her after he had told all this to his friend. Since the day they had ended the Shikon's search, Inuyasha was become too much possessive. He wanted only spend his time with his friend! "I'm going to search Sango and Miroku-sama.- Kaede said- Please, if she wake up, call us suddenly." Shippou nodded and the old miko went out. She found Sango not very distant from her house. She was examinating her Hiraikotsu. Hearing her steps, the girl raised her eyes over her. "Kaede-sama! Any news?" Sango asked, smiling. Kirara purred over her legs. Kaede shook her head. "She's still asleep.- she said- And it doesn't surprise me, if only half of those buzzes are true." Sango nodded. Some days ago, in the village was arrived news about a terrible inu-youkai, that was killing many youkais during his run. It seemed very dangerous. Miroku and Sango had immediately decided to defend the village's people. They were ready to a terrible battle, but in the end all was gone quickly and with good results. They had captured the golden dog, really exhausted, and it had shown itself as a woman. More of all, it seemed that this woman was the human changed into a youkai who lived at Sesshoumaru's side from time, listening to Kagome and Inuyasha's words. "I'm sorry this is happened during the absence of Kagome-chan and Inuyasha.- Sango said, thinking- I'm wondering what have pushed that woman here." "And in such a condition.- Kaede nodded- It seemed all was gone well through her and Sesshoumaru. Inuyasha had said she was been accepted inside the castle another time." "It's not a normal thing she had so many youkais after her. Something strange has happened, surely." Sango said. She went out from her thoughts. "But say, Kaede-sama, do you need me for some reason?" "I'd like you and Miroku would be at her side, when she'll wake up.- Kaede nodded- She's still asleep, but her aura grow till this morning." Sango nodded and Kaede looked all around. "And.ehm, where's Miroku-sama?" "Houshi-sama?- Sango asked, cynical- Where do you image he is? He is surrounded by the village's girls, as ever." "But they aren't serious.- Kaede sighed, shaking her head- Don't be mad with him, Sango." "I'm not mad. Houshi-sama can make himself ridiculous till the end of his days, for what I care." Sango answered, pissed off. Kirara, feeling hurricane's air, jumping from the girl's legs. "Really?- Kaede tensed her- But I've heard you call him houshi-sama only when you're mad, in this latest time." Sango's cheeks flushed of a brilliant red. Hiding her embarrass, Sango stood up and put Hiraikotsu over her shoulders. "When he acts like a human and not like a pervert, I can consider him a friend.- she grumbled- I go to find him, Kaede-sama." Kaede looked at Sango while she started to walk with quick steps and sighed. "My dear guys.- she muttered- Too much pride." Saying this, she turned and walked again to her house. Sango found Miroku exactly where she had wondered he was: in the middle of a crowd of admired and pitiful girls. The girl made a face. Dead and buried the Air Rip's story, he had started to pretend to be the holy man on the Buddhist road, who could never know the love of a woman. Suddenly, Miroku was become the ideal man of all the village's girls, that wanted to put away that handsome guy from such a sad life. You want something only if for some reason is denied to you.Sango sighed, annoyed. For what she knew, Miroku could have take advantage from this innumerable times.but she hadn't ever caught him. If she wasn't be so sure about his lecher's nature, Sango could have said Miroku was only pretending. Seeing him completely inside his role, with all those cute girls around him, Sango became sad. Miroku had never talk to her with that calm voice, looking at her with his gentle eyes.Her cheeks reddened again remembering the time, when they were inside Mt. Hakurei, she had cried out she wanted to die with him. Stupid, stupid, stupid! Nothing was changed from then. Miroku wasn't attracted by her. In fact, she was the only girl he hadn't asked to bear his child. "And who wants him to ask me that?" she growled with a low voice, annoyed to herself. She walked on, ready to give vent to her nervousness on him. Miroku raised his eyes from the adoring crowd and saw Sango approach him with a dark face. He smiled and waved politely to her. "Sango!- he greeted- Do you carry me news or did you wanted to see me?" Sango stopped at a brief distant from the group, throwing killer glances all around. The girls, frightened, went away in a hurry. Miroku laughed nervously. Sango was really mad! He didn't dislike her sort of jealousy, if it was jealousy, but the Hiraikotsu over her shoulders wasn't a good signal. "Kaede-sama needs us.- Sango said, churlish- She thinks the girl will wake up soon." "Perfect! I'm really curious about what has pushed that girl here." Miroku said, walking with Sango and making a ring with his staff at every step. Sango didn't reply and Miroku looked at her in worry. "Are you ok, Sango-chan?" he asked, half joking, half serious. Sango hid her embarrass hearing him call her in that way. Recently, Miroku had started to fool her calling her in that way and Sango had replied taking the habit to call him Miroku.but not when she was angry with him. Sango was sure Miroku had planned it all. "All fine, thanks." she said, giving to him a cold glance. Miroku sighed, but didn't reply. He looked at her another time, while his face softened noticing, for the hundredth time, that Sango was beautiful. He sighed again. In spite of he had tried to make her fall in his trap and show to him her feelings, Sango resisted.Miroku was near to think he wasn't so able in that kind of things. When he was with Sango, he didn't know how to act, so, in the end, he did something to make her mad, breaking the tension through them. If only he had tried to take her in his arms, he had surely take Hiraikotsu right in the head, within the scream of the girl he loved. Better admit it if only to himself, it was just a step ahead. ".Houshi-sama? Miroku?" Miroku went out from his thoughts, noticing that Sango was calling him from time. "Uh.yes?" he asked, smiling. Sango looked at him like he was a being without brain, than shook her shoulders. "Nothing.- she said- I was thinking you were worried about something." Suddenly, Sango found Miroku's brightly eyes just in front on her, and her hands vanished into his ones. "Oh, Sango! Were you worried for me?!" Miroku asked, theatrical. Sango tried to free herself from the houshi's clutch. "I.no! Absolutely." Sango started to protest. In that instant, she felt a delicate hand caressing her behind. Sango's face became of a very nice tomato's red. "HENTAI!!!!!" The scream and then the Boomerang's hit over the head of the poor monk echoed in the village. Kaede and Shippou looked at each other. "I think they're coming." Shippou said. Kaede shook her head with resignation. ** Anna opened her eyes. "Ehi! She's awake!" someone said, with a tiny voice half excited half frightened. Anna turned her eyes, feeling around the futon where she lied a powerful spiritual barrier. Miroku, Sango and Kaede were sit at her side, waiting her awake, she thought. Shippou was over a Miroku's shoulder, curious. Kirara was curled near her lady. "How are you?" the old miko asked. Anna stood in silence for a moment. "Kaede-sama.- she whispered- Fine. I'm fine. I can't feel any pain." "Your wounds are healed quickly." Kaede nodded, while Sango and Miroku looked at each other. The girl had recognized Kaede, so she was surely the Anna of Inuyasha and Kagome's story. Anna nodded. "A privilege from my youkai's nature.- she murmured- Would you remove this barrier? I'm completely rational now, I won't kill you." Miroku corrugated his forehead, noticing the lack of expression inside the youkai's voice, but nodded and removed the holy seals. The barrier vanished. Anna sat up, looking with a distant face her dress in shreds. "I've.run for long." she said, looking again to the others. Sango almost shivered. That youkai was completely empty of vitality. Kagome had told about a friendly and strong girl.What could be happened to her? Have I killed anyone?" Anna asked, surprising them. "But you." Kaede started. "Don't you remember?" Miroku asked. "I don't remember well my long run.- Anna admitted- Please, say it to me, if you know that." "You've killed many youkais during your run.- Sango said, scanning her- It's the reason because me and houshi-sama had decided to intervene." Miroku restrained himself to give an hurt look to Sango: she was still mad with him. Anna thought over. "I remember the youkais." she said. "Why were they following you?" Miroku asked, gently. "I've.- Anna made a face- I've committed an act and someone think I should be punished for that. I've killed over Inuzuka's ground." "I understand." Miroku murmured, thinking. "We don't, Miroku. Can you explain it to us?" Shippou asked. "Inuzuka is a sacred ground for all the inu-youkais, this is all I know. It's a sacrilege spilling blood on it." the monk explained. "Why have you broken this rule?" Kaede asked. Anna avoided the question with a deed. "By the way, I don't care about youkais.- the girl said- I'm asking about human's victims." "We.don't know." Sango answered, after give a puzzled glance to Miroku and Shippou. "I see." Anna whispered. "Kagome and Inuyasha? Aren't they here with you?" she asked. "No.- Shippou answered, his cheeks swollen in annoying- They are beyond the well." "Oh.- was Anna's comment- Maybe it's better." She tried to stand up, but Kaede stopped her. "What are you doing? It's too much early for you go out of bed!" she rebuke her. "Let me go, Kaede-sama, or I'll bring inside this house all the youkais that are following me to punish my act." Anna said, putting away Kaede's hands and raising up on her feet. Her legs trembled, but she found enough strength to stand up. "It's about Sesshoumaru, isn't it?" Miroku asked. Sango saw Anna's face becoming of ice. "Miroku!" she hissed, turning to close his mouth. She stopped when she saw how serious was Miroku, who didn't low his eyes in front of Anna's coldness. "We know your situation. Kagome and Inuyasha, as friends of us, have told everything about you.- Miroku went on to talk- It was strange to me that balance through you two. Kagome-sama has describe you as a gentle and strong creature. To put you in condition to do such a crime, Sesshoumaru must have done something terrible to you." Anna stood in silence, in tensed atmosphere. "We don't ask anything to you.- Miroku finished- But, please, wait till Inuyasha and Kagome will return to us. They couldn't forgive us if we let you go, now." The tension vanished. Anna thought over for a moment, than nodded. "Fine, I'll remain for a while.- Anna whispered- You are.really nice peoples." Miroku smiled and Sango looked at him in surprise. She had ever known his ability with words, but it was a thing that didn't stop to surprise her. ** "HENTAI!!" "No, Sango! Ouch!" "Would they ever stop?" Shippou muttered, shaking his head. He looked to Anna, who was sit near him over a tree branch. The youkai girl watched Sango and Miroku's show with a light smile over her lips, but didn't reply, still inside her personal world. Shippou sighed, looking at his little feet of fox. Anna was in the village from two weeks and in all that time she hadn't ever say a word about what was happened to her. Shippou understood that was something serious, but he hadn't the courage to introduce the speech. In spite of her cold appearance, Anna was surely a gentle, caring and available girl. Sango, after a bad start, had decided they could be friends, and she had gave her a kimono to replace her elegant but ruined dress. Miroku had started with his lecherous actions, so he run every day for some reason with Sango behind him. Shippou followed Anna everywhere, because she was so gentle to sing for him and tell him stories. really a good thing, while Kagome wasn't there. Shippou had understand Anna was very lovable. But Anna, even if she smiled, wasn't really there. She waited Inuyasha and Kagome's return, maybe because she felt in debt for their kindness, but she wasn't really present even when she talked with them. She seemed to have left her heart and mind somewhere, and Shippou wasn't so little to do not understand where. In that moment, Miroku, with a couple of wonderful bumps on his forehead, appeared on the base of the tree. "Anna!- he cried, desperate- My sweet kami with golden hair, help me!" "I'm sorry, Miroku, but Sango's anger is right." Anna replied, smiling lightly. "But.I haven't done anything, yet!" Miroku replied, hurt. "But I'll give you something, you lecher!!- Sango screamed, making him start again to run- You're only a polyp!" "Children." Shippou grumbled. "But.those two have not show their feelings to each other, yet, haven't they?" Anna asked. Shippou looked at her with curiosity. It was the first time Anna asked something about his friends. Shippou sighed, making an all- knowing adult face. "Everybody know, but not them- he said- They need a miracle to put away their pride." "Mmh." Anna murmured. Then, while Sango and Miroku's cries faded in the distance, she started to sing and Shippou sat more near her to listen better. ** Running, Miroku and Sango arrived near to the Goshinboku. Miroku, tired, turned half to Sango, who had still Hiraikotsu in her hand but seemed not very angry. "Sango-chan, could we stop?- Miroku said, smiling- I will not do it another time, I promise!" "I know your promises.- Sango growled- And don't call me Sango-chan!" "No, please, Sango." Miroku sighed, seeing Sango start to make the movement to throw her boomerang, but he stopped when he saw the girl stumble badly because a root. Sango closed her eyes shut, while she fell on the ground and left go Hiraikotsu, but instead hard ground and grass, she felt strong and warm arms around her. She opened her eyes suddenly. Miroku had caught her before she could fall. "Are you ok, Sango?" Miroku asked, really worried. "Sure! I." Sango said, aggressive, trying to avoid his perverted hands, but the she looked at his face and her anger vanished. He seemed so worried for her.almost loving while he put her on her feet again. "I.I'm sorry, Miroku. Maybe I've exceeded." she murmured. "I'm sorry too, Sango.- Miroku said, politely- I can never stop myself in time." He took away a stalk of grass from her hair.and suddenly their eyes met. "Sango, I." Miroku whispered, his voice hoarse. Without could restrain himself, the monk approached her face. Sango stopped to breathe, understanding Miroku's intentions. She had to stop him, before."I can't! I can't stop him!- she thought, hypnotized- I want it from so much time." Sango closed her eyes and waited Miroku's lips.in the end. "Ehi, you two? What are you doing?" Sango and Miroku froze at three centimeters one from the other, more or less. Red like chili peppers, they turned rigidly to the voice, that came from the well. Inuyasha was coming out from it with a perplexed face, while Kagome, half inside, sighed sadly. "Inuyasha, you are as sensible as an elephant.- was regretting the girl- Couldn't you wait any minute before talk?" "Uh? And why?" Inuyasha asked, puzzled. "Ehm.it's beautiful to see you again!- Miroku said, recovering his sanity, while Sango went away, approaching Kagome- You've passed much time there!" "Feh! It's Kagome's damned school's fault." Inuyasha grumbled. "I'm free from the remedial exams!" Kagome said, triumphant, but she gave a pitiful look to her friend's still red face. "Congratulations, Kagome-sama!" Miroku said, then, when Sango went a bit more far with Kagome, he hit hardly Inuyasha on the head. "Ehi!- Inuyasha growled, clutching his neck- For what was that?!" "For your untimeliness, moron!" Miroku growled in the same way. "What do you want, you lecher?!" Inuyasha cried, raising a fist. "Learn a bit of sensitiveness from Kagome-sama, you bastard!" Miroku replied, raising his staff. "Inuyasha!" Kagome's voice made then turn suddenly. Inuyasha hid his head through his shoulders, ready to an 'osuwari', but he left immediately Miroku when he noticed the worried face of his beloved one. "Kagome, what's happened?" he asked. "Anna is here, Inuyasha." Kagome said, looking at Sango, who nodded. "She's here to meet us?" Inuyasha asked. He understood suddenly that it was not the reason. "Sesshoumaru.- he growled- What has he done?" "We don't know. She hasn't told a single word about it.- Sango said- She's arrived here running away from a place called Inuzuka." "Yes, I know it." Inuyasha said, making a face and showing his fangs. "Anna has killed an inu-youkai over the holy ground. When we have found her, she was in her youkai form and she had killed all the youkais behind her. She thinks soon other will arrive for her, so she wanted to go away from time." Miroku explained, serious. "Kami-sama, Inuyasha.- Kagome said, worried- Why hasn't Sesshoumaru defended her?" "Anna is not the kind of person who act without think.- Inuyasha said, darkening- I don't know her well, but she seems ok. Too much, for my brother. The only one who could reduce her so out of control is surely Sesshoumaru." "Let's go to her, Inuyasha." Kagome said. Inuyasha nodded and she went on his back. "I don't know if she'll want to talk about.- Sango advised them- She's.she seems very cold, but I think she suffers." "She'll talk, she wants it or not." Inuyasha muttered, smelling the girl in the air. She was with Shippou. "She'll talk with us, Sango." Kagome said, trusting. Inuyasha started to run to the village, leaving behind Sango and Miroku. "I hope.- Sang whispered- Talk with them can only make her feel better." In the sudden silence, Sango and Miroku noticed they were alone. Embarrassed, they walked to the village, trying to show indifference.