Tsuki no Ai

By Youkai Huntress

How many times do I have to say that Inuyasha is not mine?

Namida

Sango woke up sweaty feeling anxious for an unknown reason to her….

 She recognized she was in Kaede's hut. Her house for a long time, but she didn't know why she didn't feel home anymore. Her mind was a mess, she couldn't think clearly, it was as if in there was locked a memory she was willing to forget. Her body was sore but she didn't know why, she just looked at how it was trembling, as if it knew the tragedy her reason hid from her. And her chest hurt as if it were filled with cutting glass.

In that instant, the door opened and Kagome entered along with the morning breeze, as soon as it touched her skin, Sango's face changed. In that moment she remembered why she hated the wind. But it couldn't be true, it had been a nightmare, it had to be a nightmare.

"Obyo Sango-chan. Did you sleep well?"

" Where is him?"

Kagome looked at the floor, she had offered herself to be the first to talk to Sango, now she thought it would have been better for her to let Kaede-san to be the one to enter as the old woman had suggested.

"Where is him? Where is Houshi-sama? Where is Miroku?"

The younger girl raised her eyes in order to see Sango's. She found just what she had expected, pain, but she also found blankness. Kagome hugged the taijiya.  Her friend needed her, and she swear upon her soul that she would help her to find something or someone to fill those eyes.

"You don't know how sorry I am, Sango-chan."

The younger girl felt uneasy because the taijiya gently pushed her away, the exterminator's eyes fixed on the floor as if she didn't dare to look at her.

 Kagome (Sango has never been the most open person when the it comes about  her feelings. No, she wouldn't let them show that easily especially when they are so deep.) 

"Could you leave me alone Kagome, please?"

She just nodded and walked out of the hut, with a really depressed face. Even if she didn't wish to do so, the way Sango asked her made her felt unwelcome, as if the taijiya thought of her as an unwanted witness to her pain.  Anyway it'd be better to respect her wishes and leave without arguing, anything but causing the exterminator disgust in these circumstances.

Inuyasha looked at the Kagome, her eyes showing the sadness and sorry that invaded her heart. 

"She wants to be alone. I agreed because I felt it was the best for her in this moment "

"Damn Naraku!"

Exclaimed Inuyasha while clinching his right fist in anger. She noticed somehow he felt responsible for the loss of the group. Kagome would wait until they were more calmed to tell him there was nothing he could have done to save the monk. Then she turned her eyes to the little demon; Shippo had a sad face but he wasn't crying. This calmed her because she didn't know how it would disturb Sango to hear another person crying.

"Shippo, Inuyasha, remember we have to be strong for Sango, she's going to need all of our support. If we feel bad for Miroku's death, just imagine how she feels… It breaks my heart just thinking how it would feel to lose the one you love."

She said all these while looking at Inuyasha. After pronouncing those words aloud, she touched her chest to feel how her heart beat faster, all because of the thought of losing him. Suddenly Kagome noticed that the hanyou was looking at her with that strange emotion she had seen lots of times but that so far she couldn't define. She stopped exchanging glances with him as soon as her mind told her to focus on how to help Sango; she could wonder later about the meaning of Inuyasha's look. 

Inuyasha (I have to defeat Naraku as soon as possible, for Kagome's sake I have, I will.   And I promise you, Miroku that when I find Naraku he'll pay, I'll get revenge for you)

The hanyou face changed to a more serious one while thinking that.

One Week Later

Kagome and Inuyasha were whispering on one corner, in Kaede's hut.

"I think Sango-chan is feeling better, she even insisted on cooking dinner for us. Remember Inuyasha, we have to cheer her up, so comment on her food and say nice things to her."

The dinner was quite peaceful, with Kagome leading the conversation. For one hour it was as if nothing had happened. After the entire group was finished eating.

"Sango, Your food is tastier than Kagome's!"

Said a very satisfied Inuyasha, while looking at the taijiya. The pass days she hadn't been the same woman, she wouldn't look anyone at the eye, in addition to the fact that she was always facing the ground; also the slightest breeze paralyzed her.

But this day she acted as her normal self. Inuyasha smiled at the thought of hunting for the Shikon shards again. He had grown tired of being in the village without having anything to do, besides it was very probable that all Sango needed to be completely fine was to return to the routine.

-Whack!-

"What is your problem Kagome!? Are you nuts? First you say, be nice to Sango and now you hit me for doing so."

"I feel sleepy"

Not a second passed after Shippo said that and he had already fallen asleep next to Inuyasha. It was as if all of his energy had been drawn from him.

"Now that you say it, I'm also feeling so tired!"

Said Kagome while she fell asleep in Inuyasha, who looked surprised at the sleeping female. He was going to reach put for her when he realized that…

"What the heck is going on? Why is everyone falling asleep? .. Wait a minute! I can't move my body!"

"That's the poison making effect. I added it to the rice."

"What? What are you saying Sango?!"

"Don't worry, it isn't dangerous. By tomorrow you and the others will be back to normal."

While the dialogue was taking place, Sango took her already fixed hiraikotsu and put it in its usual place on her back, and then she started inspecting her katana. It was obvious that she was getting ready for a battle.

"Sango, I want to revenge Miroku's death as much as you do, but going alone to face Naraku is suicide!"

"What would you do if Naraku killed Kagome? Would you sit here and wait? Inuyasha, I'm sure nothing or no one would stop you from going after him."

She looked at him despising every word he just said. Her eyes weren't as empty as they were the day she lost him. But the hanyou wasn't so sure about if that was good because now they were filled with anger. And he knew very well that resentment as much as it can help you winning; it can also be the reason behind your downfall

"Sango if you face him by yourself, it's more than obvious that you'll lose your life."

"Naraku killed my family and friends, he trapped the soul of my dear Ototo and now he took.. He took Houshi-sama away from me. I have lost almost all the persons I cared for, that's why life holds no interest for me. I'm just the shadow of what I was.  The only thing that keeps me going is to destroy Naraku."

She headed to the door, nothing would make her change her mind; she had already decided her path. She would defeat Naraku or die trying it. The exterminator wasn't going to allow him to take another beloved being from her.  He had already done it three times; she was going to make sure there wouldn't be a fourth one…

"Miroku wouldn't have wanted you to lose your life like that."

She turned her head and looked at Inuyasha. She also saw the sleeping Kagome in his lap and by his side the little fox. One part of her yelled that this was the last time she would see them and that made her incredible sad. There she was leaving her friends, leaving the persons who had been the closest to a family for her since she had lost the real one but she had already decided the path she'd follow, and they weren't included in it.

She wished that she would see them again but she wasn't so sure if it'd be possible. The coin had already been tossed and her destiny decided.

"Too bad for me Houshi-sama is not here to convince me… Take good care of  Kagome-chan and Shippo … Goodbye Inuyasha."

And with that she left. Kirara looked quickly at the three before running after her owner. Inuyasha couldn't help to think that would be the last time he'd talk to the taijiya. He was glad the others were unconscious; in that way they wouldn't see how his face betrayed him, showing all the worry and sadness he felt. He had lost two companions, two friends in just one week.

The moon enlightened her path bringing painful memories of the houshi. All the happy moments she had passed with him flashed in her mind, before they had been a source of strength and hope, right now they were a cruel torture.

"I don't have a place where to lay flowers for you, I don't have a place where to say my prays for you.  I'm not even sure if you'd hear them. There's nothing to remember you were actually here."

She bent down to drink water from the river at the side of the lane. After the water's disturbance ended she was saluted by her own image. She had changed since he has departed, as if the pass days had been years. There was no similarity with the smiling girl she was when the Houshi said the right words. Or the girl dominated by jealousy whenever he flirted with other women. They were lively in their own way. Not like the image of the river; her face wasn't the definition of alive, it wouldn't even be close to. She looked as a ghost would do.  That's how her life was after his departure, the ghostly image of what once it had been.

"You know, I'm wrong, there is something to revoke your presence in this world, not a heir as you may have wanted but it must be enough, because there is nothing but that. And that thing is myself. 

You were the friend I never thought I would ever have. To be true to myself, I must say that if Naraku wouldn't have messed our lives up, you'd have been more than a friend. After all that Naraku did to me, I was so afraid of losing that I decided not to love again. I didn't want to cry again. 

But here I am crying over you.

You don't have a grave save for my heart and my memory.

However, as you may know I cannot let pain blind me, I need to be strong to be able to fight our enemy.

In this moment I have shed the last tear, and with it you're gone.  This is the way it must be, even if it is unfair.  You've let such emptiness in me that it feels like if my soul had fallen asleep.

If I survive the oncoming battle, if I don't lose my life… Who knows maybe one day I'll feel again.   But I doubt if after you, there will be someone who knows how to awake my asleep soul.

That's all I can offer you, my dearest friend.   Wherever you are now, don't forget about me…. "

She continued walking, if she was going to face Naraku she couldn't waste more time being sorry about the houshi's death. Now his mission was hers and she vowed she'd accomplish even if it meant death.

Unsuspected by her, two threatening eyes were watching her every step. 

"That's an interesting  young girl. I'm sure she would gladly accept my assistance"

And with that the owner of those eyes followed the oblivious taijiya through the forest.

I'm EVIL! Who's after our poor Sango-chan? Is it Naraku? Is it a new enemy? Is it a girl scout selling cookies? You'll have to read next chapter to know it.

I want to thank all the people who have rewied; I appreciate your kind words and your useful advices. Remember S/M Forever and Ever!

If you Review, I'll give you, your own Fluffy for your enjoyment. If you don't like Sesshy,  you can get Inuyasha  (But I warn you, if you have Inuyasha, you'll be bothered by annoying ex-girlfriend made of clay and very probably you'll have to fight Kagome too) ^_^  

If you don't Review, not only will the evil curse of Jaken's luck fall upon you, but I'll also send you a Jaken instead of Sesshy or Inuyasha, just imagine the annoying ugly thing following you to school Ô_Ô

We're so close to the really good part, so stay around and keep on reading.

By the way  THANKS FOR READING!.