Kaze no Houyou – The Embrace of the Wind:
Chapter ThreeMiroku stared up at the sky as he sat against a willow tree, blinking, having just woken up from a not-so-pleasant dream. He sighed, gazing over at Sango's sleeping body. I wonder where the others are. He glanced over at Kagome's sleeping bag, and the empty spots where Inuyasha, Shippo, Kirara, and the two other hanyou should have been. It would be nice to have time alone with Sango. If only she were awake… He looked over at her once more. Hm…Kirara isn't here either.
He shrugged, as he got more comfortable leaning against the tree. Oh well. Maybe there will be other nights when I get a chance alone with Sango. Kagome-sama did say I should tell her. I just hope there will be a time.
The monk sighed once more. "It almost seems impossible. When are we ever alone?"
"Houshi-sama?" Sango asked sleepily, sitting up.
She's awake? "Oh. Good evening, Sango. I didn't think you were up…"
"Hai. Your voice woke me up. I guess I'm a light sleeper."
"Soka." A distant look overtook Miroku's face as he trailed into thought. I guess…I should tell her now. I might not get another chance. I wasn't expecting this though. How do I say it?
"Ano…Houshi-sama? Daijobu ka?"
"Oh…hai."
"What are you thinking about, Houshi-sama?" Sango asked, sitting up.
Well…I guess…I guess I have to say it now. Or I might not get the courage again. "Well, Sango. I was…thinking about you, actually."
"Ano…me?" She inched closer to him, a bit interested now, though she was blushing. I should be recognized for this. I'm even acting out embarrassment.
"Hai. You see…Sango…I…I…" He paused, taking in a bit of a breath. I can't sound nervous now. Then it will seem like I'm not serious about it. "Sango, I will be blunt and honest with you. I love you."
The demon exterminator's eyes grew wide, but then retracted as her face calmed a moment later. She smiled, though she could feel her face hot with blush. Wonderful. He's right where I want him. It won't be long now, "Houshi-sama," before I'm through with what I was sent here to do. Kagura smirked, though only slightly, her smirk invisible in the dark of night. Naraku is more powerful than I thought, to be able to disguise me as this girl.
"Houshi-sama," she whispered, putting her sweet voice into play. She leaned against him, resting her head on his shoulder. "Houshi-sama, I love you too."
Miroku smiled, content with what he had heard. He put his arm around her and held her gently against him. "I am glad."
Perfect. Foolish monk. Kagura smirked once more as she fondled the small blade in her hand. The cool steel was a comfort to her, letting her know that her job was almost done.
"I am glad too, Houshi-sama." She took the arm that was wrapped around her, Miroku's right arm, and began to caress his hand, as a lover would. Miroku kissed the top of her head.
Sango – the real Sango – gasped slightly under her breath from a slight distance. Though Kagura appeared to be Sango in Miroku's eyes, Sango could clearly see the woman as the wind demoness. H-Houshi-sama? Doushite? I don't understand. Kagura. She is…she is evil. Are you that strange? Or are you truly evil as well? Houshi-sama… With tears clouding her vision, Sango turned and fled from the scene, running off to go find Kagome.
Miroku only smiled and watched Kagura fondle his hand, curious and content. But then, in a breath's time, Kagura drew her blade up and sliced it across the palm of Miroku's hand, tearing his wind tunnel farther apart.
The confused monk jerked his hand back from her, tearing it up even more. He jumped up, startled. "S-Sango! Doushite? Doushite?!" But he gasped as 'Sango' stood up, revealing who she really was. "K-Kagura…"
"Hm…that's right, Houshi-sama. Stupid monk. You are so easy to fool. You'll be gone soon, and now that I've taken care of you, the others shouldn't be to difficult…once that Inuyasha is out of the way," she laughed with her face behind her fan before taking of into the sky on her feather.
Kazaana. It's…it's burning. Will it…will it kill me tonight? No…no, it can't. I still…I still have to… Miroku gasped for breath, in shock, as he fell to the ground, unconscious.
When the monk awoke, he was lying near a crackling fire, and the smell of cooking meat hung in the air. He realized it was daylight, and he sat up, suddenly remembering all that had happened. He looked down at his hand, and he was surprised not to see any blood. So I guess it tore Kazaana only, not any of my skin. Strange…but fortunate. He sighed, looking around for the rest of the group.
Kagome was sitting near the fire, cooking two fish that were pierced onto a stick. Several other fish already lie cooked on a large leaf.
"Oh…Kagome-sama. Ohayou gozaimasu."
"Ohayou, Miroku." Kagome's voice sounded distant, as was her gaze into the fire.
"Miroku?" She usually…calls me "sama"… She seems tired, too. Distant. I wonder what's wrong with her? He sighed again.
"Feh." Inuyasha threw a glare at Miroku before standing up. "It smells around here all of a sudden. I'm going into the deeper part of the forest where the trees can block this smell."
Nani? Even Inuyasha is acting strange. Miroku stood up, wincing slightly as his hand throbbed, reminding him of its fragility. I had better be very careful. He glanced down at his hand, eyes revealing the pain in his soul. It won't be long…
"Kagome-sama, where is Sango?" Miroku glanced at the sleeping Kirara near Kagome.
"River," was Kagome's simple answer. Her voice was still faded, as if she was asleep as she cooked and spoke.
"Hai. Arigatou." Miroku began on his way towards the river. I wonder why everyone is acting so strange. Should…should I tell them about Kazaana? I suppose I should. I will have to leave them soon…tonight…so I don't kill them as well when it happens. They should at least know why I am leaving, when I do.
He saw Sango sitting on a small boulder on the river's bank. Ah, there she is. He walked up to her, quiet and casual. "Ohayou gozaimasu, Sango."
Sango looked away, gazing at the faraway rapids, where the river became rough. She said nothing in return.
Sango too? Miroku sighed. Then he smirked a bit. I know how to change her spirits. He reached over to Sango, but before he could even touch her, she spun around and smacked him in the face. Hard. Much harder than normal. And Miroku thought he caught a glimpse of tears in her eyes.
Miroku stepped back, pained both by her striking him so hardly, and by what he saw in her face. His hand covered his burning cheek. "S…Sango…doushita na?"
"Houshi. You can do as you please, with whomever you please. But just…don't involve me." Sango spoke slowly, through clenched teeth, as if fighting back her tears.
The monk's eyes went wide as he realized what was happening. Sango…Sango must have seen…last night. Kagura…so Kagura's false appearance was for my eyes only. She wasn't counting on others seeing her. Or was that also her purpose? To turn the rest of them against me? Sango must have told the others as well. Immense pain filled his face as he realized just how foolish he had been. Sango is shy. She would have never been so forward with me. I am a fool. I am not even sure she could love me…
"Sango," he gazed at her with a pained sincerity, "I would explain to you what happened. But I do not know if you would listen. And if you listened, I do now know that you would believe me."
She only continued to glare it him through blurred, stinging eyes, almost afraid to let down her anger. No…he was cruel. I cannot be sympathetic with him now. He…he deserves to see us angry with him. Kagura is not our ally.
Miroku's voice lowered a bit, as he was disappointed. It was then that his soul gave up, and it showed through the sudden fog and despair in his eyes. "So…I will leave you all now. You don't need…a traitor…in your midst." His eyes were shaded by his hair as his head hung. He turned and walked away, down the river.
Sango's eyes softened as one of her tears broke through the dam she had built in her eyes. She whispered, "Houshi-sama…" as she watched him leave.
She stood, and walked back to camp, too depressed to feel any more anger. She sat down next to Kagome.
"Sango-chan, daijobu ka?" Kagome asked, glancing at her.
Sango swallowed, trying not to let her emotions break through. But they flooded her voice anyway. "Kagome-chan. I don't…I know he did wrong, but I don't want him to leave. I still love him…I wish…I wish I didn't…have to love him anymore…" she whispered angrily, through tears, as she broke down.
Kagome put down the pierced fish and hugged her friend.
Sango accepted the offer of a shoulder to cry on and wept against her friend for several moments.
"Feh! Shit, will you just leave me alone?! Damn annoying brats!" Inuyasha tore through the trees angrily and plopped down near the other two.
Sango picked her head up and wiped her eyes at hearing Inuyasha's return.
"Hey, watch your mouth!" Yuki protested as she emerged from the trees, Serin moments behind her, though silent. She flopped down next to Inuyasha, in the same style as he had plopped. Serin stood against a tree, a bit away from the rest of them. Shippo ran up, bringing up the tail of the group, as he hopped onto Kagome's shoulder.
Yuki sighed. She glanced around the group for a moment. "Ano…where's Miroku-kun?"
"He…left, Yuki-chan. Gomen ne. Demo…he didn't feel welcome here any longer," Sango explained, her distant voice crying with pain.
"N-nani? He left?!" Oh no. What's going on? Yuki was puzzled. I hope he's okay…
"Oh, I guess I didn't tell you," Kagome began, taking over for Sango. She could see that Sango didn't want to talk of it anymore. "Well…Sango-chan saw Miroku last night. He was sitting at a tree. Demo…he was with Kagura. She is an enemy to us."
What? Uncle Miroku would never do that! Unless…unless Kagura… No!! She must have come to kill him! Yuki gritted her teeth, angry with herself for not seeing this. "No! This can't happen!!" Yuki slammed her fist into the ground as she stood up angrily. It wasn't supposed to happen like this. I…I came back here…to stop Uncle Miroku's death. But now…now Kagura… She probably would have torn open Kazaana. That's how she always tried to attack him in our time. Then that's really why he left. He didn't want the others…to be… "Shit!"
Serin obviously also knew the same facts that tore through Yuki's head. For the first time since she had been there, Serin spoke. "Yuki."
Yuki turned to Serin, tears now blurring her own eyes. She gasped though, upon seeing the look on Serin's face. "That…that's right! You! You can…you can fix it!"
Serin only nodded. Though it was evident she was going to help her cousin, her face and attitude still read of evil.
"Arigatou, Serin!" Yuki smothered her cousin in a hug.
The evil-looking hanyou pushed her cousin away and stood away from the tree.
"That's right. We should go now." Yuki turned to the rest of the group, which was pretty much confused now. "Ano…gomen ne. You've all been so helpful to us. We have to go now." She started to run into the trees, as Serin had already started ahead of her. She paused though, and glanced back at the still-confused group. "Please, don't think badly of Miroku-kun. He means well. And you all must know…that he would never consciously be with Kagura. He has a good heart." With that, Yuki tore off through the trees after her cousin.
Kagome looked at Sango, whose face was a mix of sadness, anger, confusion, and despair.
Inuyasha was the first to speak. "Dammit, they're on his side. Sango, you saw what you saw. I know it's hard to believe, but that just goes to show that you damn well can't trust everyone!"
Sango looked over at Inuyasha as she stood. "But…how can you be so sure? Houshi…Houshi-sama…I don't think he would…"
"Listen to you! You've been brainwashed by his flirting, and by his two pup followers too! He's not on our side anymore, Sango."
"Inuyasha! Osuwari!!!"
Kagome stood and faced Sango as Inuyasha smashed into the ground, with Shippo tying his hands and feet together to keep him there. "Sango-chan…you know Miroku-sama better than the rest of us. Do you really think that he would be with Kagura that way?"
"Kagura…she is on the same side as Naraku. Houshi-sama wants to kill him badly. Why would he…?" Sango was still confused herself, not knowing whom to believe.
"So he can get to Nara—" Inuyasha was cut off as Kagome smashed his head into the ground with her foot.
"Osuwari… Osuwari! Osuwari, osuwari, osuwari!!"
Once Inuyasha had been silenced through Shippo tying a cloth over his mouth, and he had smashed several feet into the ground, Kagome turned again to Sango. "Sango-chan, I don't think Miroku-sama would really do something like that. Naraku is powerful, and therefore, Kagura will be too, since she is part of him. I'm not sure how she did it, but she had to have tricked Miroku-sama in some way. I don't think that Miroku-sama would have done such a thing through his own choice…"
Sango smiled. "Kagome-chan…you're right. You're right. Houshi-sama is smarter than that. And even though he flirts needlessly with every pretty girl he sees, Kagura is still our enemy."
Kagome smiled with her. "Right. So…let's go find him?"
Sango nodded. "Hai."
The two took off into the trees, with Shippo right behind them.
