More of the Same
Sango looked up, alerted by the sound of someone coming their way. When she recognized the intruder as only Inuyasha, she relaxed, and set the sleeping kitsune down. Shippou snuggled into Kirara's fur, exhausted physically from the battle, and emotionally from Kagome's death.
The demon exterminator rose and walked to meet the hanyou that had become her friend. She didn't know what to say to him, the look on his face was so strange, and he moved as if every step brought excruciating pain. He's so alone… so heartbroken… but there's something else there… She opened her arms to him, and he accepted her hug for what it was. One friend seeing another's pain, and trying to lessen it.
"How is he?" Inuyasha's quiet voice met the silence, rather than broke it.
"Exhausted. I think he'll sleep for a long time. He was just angry, Inuyasha. I don't think he meant any of it, but Kagome was like his mother. Don't be upset with him." She stepped back as she spoke, letting go of him.
"No. I deserved it. He was right, you know? It is all my fault." Inuyasha's voice was tight, he sounded on the verge of tears. "But… maybe… the kid will forgive me. She has…"
Sango looked at him, confused, but not wanting to intrude on his private contemplation. She couldn't believe how badly he was hurt. His white shirt seemed soaked in blood.
"Inuyasha… are you okay?" She ventured.
"Huh?" The hanyou looked down a little surprised. "Oh, yeah, it'll heal. Miroku would probably like some company… I left him with her." At any other time, this would have been the moment for a joke about the hentai monk's wandering hands. But the sorrow still hung too thick on all of them.
Sango just nodded, and began her walk back to the battlefield, knowing that Miroku would be feeling the same pain she was. She wondered what would happen between them, now. The monk was healed, his curse lifted. Would he still want her?
Inuyasha sat at the base of the tree, holding the sleeping kitsune in his arms, feeling the late afternoon sun on his face. He noticed that the kid had gotten quite a few cuts during the fight, as well as some painful looking bruises.
Poor kid… you would have died for her if you could've, wouldn't you? Don't worry… I'll take care of you from now on. We've got to stick together now… that's what she wants. I know I can't be what she was for you, but I'll do my best.
Inuyasha thought of when he had lost his own mother, how heartbroken and alone he had felt. His mother had always been the only person who ever loved him, and when she was gone he felt like the whole world was against him. Until Kikyou. Kikyou, who had said she could make him human, and then they could be together for the rest of their lives. He had thought that he would never have to be alone again. But that had been ruined by Naraku. Even though the shape-shifter was gone, Inuyasha still felt a smoldering hatred when he thought of that name. Naraku had murdered Kikyou, and now he had succeeded in murdering Kagome as well.
Kagome… Inuyasha felt her name, calling it in his mind as if he were praying. Kagome… are you still here? We need you Kagome, please don't leave us yet… Please, you have to find a way home. I can't be the kid's mom, that was your job. As if summoned, a gentle breeze arose. It ruffled over Shippou's red hair, and teased its way through Inuyasha's white, tickling his ears and caressing his face.
The hanyou closed his eyes and smiled. Perhaps it was just the wind, but Inuyasha chose to take it as a token of comfort from the woman he loved. It feels good to finally admit that… I love you, Kagome. The sun was beginning to set, and Inuyasha watched it disappear behind the trees, as Shippou stirred from his sleep.
The kitsune stretched and yawned. Inuyasha had to smile. How many times had he seen the kid do the same thing waking up with Kagome in the morning? Shippou wrinkled his nose.
"What is all that blood…? Inuyasha?" He opened his eyes, to look up into the hanyou's amber eyes. He looked confused for a minute, to find himself with Inuyasha.
"Hey kid." Was all Inuyasha said. "Have a nice nap?"
He watched the boy's eyes change as he remembered all that had happened. They became, harder and sadder, welling up with tears of sorrow and rage. He didn't want to cry in front of Inuyasha, whom he was still so mad at. Inuyasha sensed the need for a distraction, and stood up, still holding the kit.
"We're both bloody and smelly. Let's go get a bath." He began to walk, carrying Shippou under one arm, like a bale of rice. He didn't look at the kid's face, so that if a tear or two did leak, Shippou wouldn't feel ashamed.
"I still hate you, Inuyasha." Shippou's voice was quiet and angry, unlike his usual loud wail.
"I hate myself, Shippou. I wish that I could die, right there beside her, but she won't let me." Inuyasha was trying to ignore the incredible pain flooding his body, to not much success. Luckily, there was a river not far from them; he didn't have to walk too far. He tossed the kitsune in without ceremony, and then waded in, still wearing his clothes. After all, they needed washing too.
Shippou spluttered, and scowled at the hanyou. But he seemed to appreciate the chance to wash the battle smells off of himself. The water wasn't warm exactly, but it was far from frigid, and Inuyasha looked up stream, thinking that it must come from one of those hot springs that littered this part of the country.
He floated on his back, enjoying the feeling of weightlessness before he began to strip off the bloody kimono and shirt. He watched the kitsune swimming like a puppy. Sadness still tinged the boy's attitude, and Inuyasha decided that he deserved to know.
"I told you that Kagome wouldn't let me die beside her."
Shippou stopped scrubbing his hair to listen.
"She came to me, Shippou. When I passed out…" Inuyasha looked down at his body, amazed at the number of cuts across his chest and shoulders. He could feel more on his back. Some of them were very deep, but all would heal, unlike his heart. "She seemed all right, kid. You know how she gets when she's figuring things out? She told me that I had to wake up, and I had to take care of you. She loves you a lot, Shippou."
Shippou stood, where the water was shallow. He had kept his back to Inuyasha through this. Inuyasha looked at him carefully, and saw the boy's shoulders shaking. He knew the kid was crying; the gods knew he felt like breaking down himself. He approached the kitsune from behind, and picked him up.
As if his actions had broken the floodgates, Shippou burst into wailing tears.
"Inuyasha!" He buried his face in the hanyou's shoulder, oblivious to the extra pain this caused. "Why did she leave us? Why did she have to die?"
"I don't know kid, but I do know one thing." Inuyasha spoke quietly. "This is not how I'm going to let this end."
When Sango stepped from the trees, she paused a moment, watching the monk praying. He had gotten hurt, protecting her from the triplet demons. They made a good team, on the battlefield. Her boomerang worked best at a distance, and he could protect her in close quarters with his staff. If worst came to worst, they could use his wind tunnel to suck up almost any demon. But she had never liked relying on that. She didn't want to risk worsening the condition. He had once asked her to bear his children, and he never missed an opportunity to let his hands explore whatever piece of her was within his reach, despite the many blows to his head this cost him.
But, she thought to herself, He's cured now. He could have any woman he wanted. It's my own fault for falling for the letch. She didn't know when it happened, but she had come to enjoy their game of 'grope-screech-crushing head blow'. She was fairly certain that the only reason he didn't do it to Kagome as much was because every time he tried, Inuyasha looked ready to eat him alive. She really liked being around him, even more so when he wasn't trying to feel her up. He really was handsome, and when things got really rough, he always seemed to know exactly what to say to make her feel better.
But that had been when they were on a quest together. When she had more often than not been the only woman around, it was only natural that he directed all his… passions… towards her. It had all just been a matter of placement for him, she was sure. Now he was cured, he had his whole life ahead of him to wander the countryside, staying at nice houses, seducing every pretty woman he came across.
Shaking her head to rid herself of those thoughts, she approached him from behind, placing a gentle hand on his shoulder. He didn't move, except to raise one hand and put it over hers as she sat next to him.
"Did you see? The look on her face when he attacked her…" he said, as if he were trying to figure something out.
"She thought Inuyasha was dead." Sango replied, "She wasn't going to hold anything back, she didn't care that she was dieing, so long as she could take Naraku with her."
"She was smiling." Miroku sounded thoughtful, "It makes one wonder. Would I do the same, for the one I loved? Would anyone ever do this for me?"
Sango tightened her hand on his shoulder, not knowing what words would comfort him, hoping that her presence would. What can I say? I have no right to burden him with my feelings. Not right now.
"Sango," the monk spoke quietly. "What happens now?"
She sighed. "Shippou asked me the same question… I am tired of fighting. Tired of the traveling. But my home is gone, so is my family. My best friend is dead. All of my skills as a demon slayer could not stop it. I want a new life. I want to remember this as if it were all a dream. I want a family again. I want a home again." She paused, then continued, "What do you want to happen now?"
Miroku was quiet for a long time. When he finally spoke, his voice was so quiet Sango almost couldn't hear him. He sounded… timid… something she had never expected from him. "It is much the same with me. Traveling alone will never feel quite right to me again. It is time for family and home. If… if you would have me, Sango, I would like my family and home to be… with you."
Sango looked at him in shock, pulling her hand from its place on his shoulder. He kept his head down, afraid to look at her. Did he just- just ask me to- She was finding it rather hard to breathe at that moment.
"Miroku…" Emotion flooded her voice, filling it with an unspoken 'YES!' He looked up, into her eyes, clearly surprised by the joy he found in them.
Without another word, they reached for each other. An embrace of joy and relief. After some moments they separated partially. Miroku kept an arm around her, she kept one around his waist, resting her head against his shoulder. Their other hands still holding each other between their laps.
Seated, side by side, Miroku and Sango found their pain and sorrow lessened.
