The Haunting: Remember, chapter 3
By Seabreeze
A/N: Chapter 3, woohoo! I think this may or may not be my longest story ever, but probably also my most original so far. Thanks so much to readers and especially those who review, because you know that we thrive on reviews. THRIVE, DAMNIT, THRIVE! I should eat less sugar, that I should.
Disclaimer: I sure as heck don't own Inuyasha. Do you? Can I have your sandwich? Or a napkin, or something?
*~*~*
When Sango awoke, the sun had yet to rise. Silently and quickly, she dressed while watching Miroku suspiciously. By the time the first rays of sunlight filtered through the window, she was waiting for her companions to wake up. Kirara was the first to, and untangled herself from Shippo before yawning and rubbing her head on Sango's ankle. Sango smiled and petted her now small friend. When she looked up again, Miroku was waking. He smiled at her.
"Good morning, Sango. I trust you slept well?" he had an ornery look on his face.
'So,' Sango thought with a grin. 'He's feeling lecherous today.'
"Good morning, Houshi-sama." She replied. Miroku began to get ready, and soon they heard Kenji awake a few rooms over. He knocked on the door.
"Sango, would you like to help me prepare breakfast?" he asked. Having nothing else to do, Sango rose and opened it.
"Sure, Kenji." She nodded and followed him to the kitchen. They quietly prepared breakfast together, and when they brought it out to the table, Miroku and Shippo were waiting expectantly. Surprised, Sango laughed. Kenji chuckled as well and they set the food down before sitting down themselves.
"I can't say I quite understand why you volunteered to help us rebuild," Kenji began before spooning some rice into his mouth. "But I'm glad, because we'll be done in half the time." Miroku sipped his tea nonchalantly.
"That's what we do, help people." Once again, he was casting Sango a look, and Kenji saw this but decided not to comment.
"Wonderful. Oh, and Sango, tonight after we stop working, there will be training for the demon exterminators. Would you like to join us?" Kenji asked. Sango choked on her tea and Miroku pounded on her back. When she had regained her breathing and composure, she looked at Kenji.
"I would love too." Her voice had cracked and her eyes were still watering, and Shippo and Kenji began laughing. Miroku smiled, but he was giving Sango a look she couldn't quite understand- a mix of suspicion, worry, understanding, and disappointment. She quickly looked away.
When they had finished breakfast, the five of them headed towards the main part of the village. When they got there, people were arriving sleepily- Kagome and Inuyasha were there already. Kagome, yawning, smiled at Sango. Kenji quickly divided everyone up and sent them to different areas or buildings. Inuyasha, Miroku, and Kirara were sent with a small group of strong men to the inn (to hold people whose homes were destroyed), and Sango, Kagome, and Shippo were with Kenji fixing the healer's home. Kagome took this opportunity to talk to Sango.
"Sango," she whispered as they hefted a large piece of wood into the wood pile. "how are you doing about the whole demon exterminators thing?" she asked. Shippo gathered spare pieces of small metal and wood and made a pile a few meters off. Sango sighed as they let the large hunk of wood land on the pile and went for another.
"I'm still in shock, I guess." She replied. She wasn't sure if she could be more honest than that. Kagome stared at her for a minute and then bent to help carry another scrap of wood.
'I don't know if she can see what the rest of us can,' Kagome thought, 'But somebody has to tell her before this gets out of hand. I hope Miroku does it.'
They worked in silence, and by mid-afternoon all the debris of the healer's home had been cleared and sorted accordingly.
"Now only to put it back where it belongs!" Kenji said happily while gazing at the now organized mess. He turned to Sango. "Sango, I've seen hiraikotsu. You can help the men and me carry the heavy wood." Sango nodded.
"Uh, Kenji, what should Shippo and I do?" Kagome asked. Kenji handed her the binding materials.
"When we lay down the wood, you will secure it. You'll be busy," he grinned, and handed Shippo some as well. They all got to work quickly, and with the number of people working, it seemed the healer's home would be fully repaired by the next day. It was slowly becoming what it once had been (during the demon's attack, the top half of the building had been torn away).
Sango had quickly thrown herself into the work. She was used to carrying heavy weights, so it was not all that difficult, but it kept her mind occupied as she lost herself in the rhythm of it. She grabbed a particularly large and heavy piece of wood and hefted it on to her shoulder, turning towards the partially destroyed home. For some reason, the wood began tipping and her balance was thrown askew.
'What?' Sango thought with confusion. 'I never lose my balance. . ." just as her knees began to give way, someone caught the tipping end of the wood. Sango looked up to see Kenji was holding it and smiling.
"Everyone can use a hand every once in awhile." He said. Sango shook her head, angry that she had lost concentration and balance.
"Thank you." Together they set the wood securely on top of another, and Shippo hurried over to secure it tightly as they held it. When he was done, Kenji checked the strength of the bonds, and seemed surprised at their tautness.
When the sun started to set, Kenji called everyone to the center of the village and dismissed them. He and the demon exterminators stayed, and he turned to Sango.
"Will you be joining us?" he asked. Sango nodded.
"Let me get hiraikotsu," she said, and caught up with Miroku, Shippo, and Kirara.
"You will be training with them?" Miroku asked. Sango nodded. The rest of the trip back to Kenji's home was silent, and when they arrived Sango quickly changed and grabbed hiraikotsu. She peeked her head into the room Miroku, Kirara, and Shippo were currently in.
"You're staying, Kirara?" she asked. The cat demon mewed in response. "Alright." She left after closing the door behind her.
Miroku sat, deep in thought, as Kirara and Shippo played.
'It would be best to get her away from the other demon exterminators before she wants to become one of them, if she doesn't want that already. She will never heal from Kohaku's and her father's deaths if she does not go out on her own, without demon exterminators to haunt her.'
*~*~*
When Sango arrived to the other side of the village, the others were practicing. Kenji turned and lowered his sword before bowing to her.
"This is Sango," he informed the other exterminators. "She will be training with us for awhile." The others greeted her genially enough, but not with the ease that came with being part of the team. Kenji seemed very interested in hiraikotsu.
"Mind if I see it?" he asked. Sango nodded wordlessly and handed it to him. He ran his hands over it and tested its weight before looking at her again.
"Could you show me how to use it? No one in our village makes them." Sango grinned and nodded.
"The thing you have to remember is that as hard as you throw it will be as hard as it returns to you. It's dangerous if you're unprepared for the weight when it returns. . ." and so on. She demonstrated a few times (soon the other exterminators had gathered to watch), and then handed it to Kenji.
"You try," she said. "but throw it easily." Kenji took hiraikotsu and placed himself as he had seen Sango do. "Good," she said. "Now throw."
Using only the strength it took to hurl the hiraikotsu, Kenji threw it out in front of him. It traveled about 6 yards before turning back to him.
"Prepare yourself. . ." she said as it neared him. He caught it, but not with ease as it dragged him back quite a distance. After he was still, though, he carried it back to Sango.
"Let's see you do your best throw," he said, handing it to her and smiling at her. Unsure, Sango took it back. Checking around her for the longest, clearest path hiraikotsu could take, she settled on one and faced it. She set it and swung it over her head, releasing it and watching it fly. It went about 20 times what Kenji's throw had, and when it returned everyone backed away from Sango except Kenji. She caught it easily enough (thought it had dragged her back, not very far) and swung it around her shoulder once again, before holding it there. When they all looked at her in awe, she shrugged and looked away, blushing.
"I've been working on it since I was 11," she said. Kenji laughed.
"You're not kidding. Alright, everyone, time to get some rest before we continue rebuilding tomorrow." He announced. The demon exterminators dispersed, and Kenji turned to Sango and bowed before they began walking towards the other side of the village and his home.
"You must have been with a highly trained team," he mused. "Hiraikotsu is heavy, I had trouble throwing it just that far. But you- you had no problem overshadowing mine by a mile."
"My father was our leader," was all she replied with. Kenji looked down.
"You must miss him a lot," he said quietly. Sango nodded. "What kind of demon could take out an entire team?" he asked, sounding slightly horrified.
"A very powerful and smart demon," Sango said, angrily. "Naraku." She said. Kenji looked at her, and then away.
When they arrived at his home, they parted to their own rooms. Kenji hesitated.
"Sango. . ." he called. She turned.
"Yes, Kenji?"
". . .nevermind." he smiled oddly at her. "Goodnight."
"Goodnight, Kenji." She slipped into the room where Shippo and Kirara were already asleep in. Miroku was leaning against the wall, waiting for her. His eyes had been closed, but they opened when she came in.
"Ah, Sango," he said. He had the look in his eyes that he had had since he first saw her returning from checking out the demon. "It went well?"
"They must have done most of the practicing while I was with you, getting hiraikotsu." She set the huge boomerang against the wall, and leaned against it. Tonight had almost been like a night back in her village, when a stray demon exterminator trained with them. Now she knew how he felt. Miroku got up to leave so she could change into her night clothes, but stopped before her. He laid his hands on her shoulders and waited for her to meet his eyes.
"Remember where your home is," he said, pulling away. Confused, Sango grabbed his arm.
"Houshi. . . wait. . ." Miroku stopped and felt her behind before walking out of the room.
"You know what I mean." he said.
*~*~*
A/N: the chapters keep getting longer and longer. Cool! This is the longest story I've ever written, and I'm only on the third chapter! * dances manically * So, what do y'all think?
By Seabreeze
A/N: Chapter 3, woohoo! I think this may or may not be my longest story ever, but probably also my most original so far. Thanks so much to readers and especially those who review, because you know that we thrive on reviews. THRIVE, DAMNIT, THRIVE! I should eat less sugar, that I should.
Disclaimer: I sure as heck don't own Inuyasha. Do you? Can I have your sandwich? Or a napkin, or something?
*~*~*
When Sango awoke, the sun had yet to rise. Silently and quickly, she dressed while watching Miroku suspiciously. By the time the first rays of sunlight filtered through the window, she was waiting for her companions to wake up. Kirara was the first to, and untangled herself from Shippo before yawning and rubbing her head on Sango's ankle. Sango smiled and petted her now small friend. When she looked up again, Miroku was waking. He smiled at her.
"Good morning, Sango. I trust you slept well?" he had an ornery look on his face.
'So,' Sango thought with a grin. 'He's feeling lecherous today.'
"Good morning, Houshi-sama." She replied. Miroku began to get ready, and soon they heard Kenji awake a few rooms over. He knocked on the door.
"Sango, would you like to help me prepare breakfast?" he asked. Having nothing else to do, Sango rose and opened it.
"Sure, Kenji." She nodded and followed him to the kitchen. They quietly prepared breakfast together, and when they brought it out to the table, Miroku and Shippo were waiting expectantly. Surprised, Sango laughed. Kenji chuckled as well and they set the food down before sitting down themselves.
"I can't say I quite understand why you volunteered to help us rebuild," Kenji began before spooning some rice into his mouth. "But I'm glad, because we'll be done in half the time." Miroku sipped his tea nonchalantly.
"That's what we do, help people." Once again, he was casting Sango a look, and Kenji saw this but decided not to comment.
"Wonderful. Oh, and Sango, tonight after we stop working, there will be training for the demon exterminators. Would you like to join us?" Kenji asked. Sango choked on her tea and Miroku pounded on her back. When she had regained her breathing and composure, she looked at Kenji.
"I would love too." Her voice had cracked and her eyes were still watering, and Shippo and Kenji began laughing. Miroku smiled, but he was giving Sango a look she couldn't quite understand- a mix of suspicion, worry, understanding, and disappointment. She quickly looked away.
When they had finished breakfast, the five of them headed towards the main part of the village. When they got there, people were arriving sleepily- Kagome and Inuyasha were there already. Kagome, yawning, smiled at Sango. Kenji quickly divided everyone up and sent them to different areas or buildings. Inuyasha, Miroku, and Kirara were sent with a small group of strong men to the inn (to hold people whose homes were destroyed), and Sango, Kagome, and Shippo were with Kenji fixing the healer's home. Kagome took this opportunity to talk to Sango.
"Sango," she whispered as they hefted a large piece of wood into the wood pile. "how are you doing about the whole demon exterminators thing?" she asked. Shippo gathered spare pieces of small metal and wood and made a pile a few meters off. Sango sighed as they let the large hunk of wood land on the pile and went for another.
"I'm still in shock, I guess." She replied. She wasn't sure if she could be more honest than that. Kagome stared at her for a minute and then bent to help carry another scrap of wood.
'I don't know if she can see what the rest of us can,' Kagome thought, 'But somebody has to tell her before this gets out of hand. I hope Miroku does it.'
They worked in silence, and by mid-afternoon all the debris of the healer's home had been cleared and sorted accordingly.
"Now only to put it back where it belongs!" Kenji said happily while gazing at the now organized mess. He turned to Sango. "Sango, I've seen hiraikotsu. You can help the men and me carry the heavy wood." Sango nodded.
"Uh, Kenji, what should Shippo and I do?" Kagome asked. Kenji handed her the binding materials.
"When we lay down the wood, you will secure it. You'll be busy," he grinned, and handed Shippo some as well. They all got to work quickly, and with the number of people working, it seemed the healer's home would be fully repaired by the next day. It was slowly becoming what it once had been (during the demon's attack, the top half of the building had been torn away).
Sango had quickly thrown herself into the work. She was used to carrying heavy weights, so it was not all that difficult, but it kept her mind occupied as she lost herself in the rhythm of it. She grabbed a particularly large and heavy piece of wood and hefted it on to her shoulder, turning towards the partially destroyed home. For some reason, the wood began tipping and her balance was thrown askew.
'What?' Sango thought with confusion. 'I never lose my balance. . ." just as her knees began to give way, someone caught the tipping end of the wood. Sango looked up to see Kenji was holding it and smiling.
"Everyone can use a hand every once in awhile." He said. Sango shook her head, angry that she had lost concentration and balance.
"Thank you." Together they set the wood securely on top of another, and Shippo hurried over to secure it tightly as they held it. When he was done, Kenji checked the strength of the bonds, and seemed surprised at their tautness.
When the sun started to set, Kenji called everyone to the center of the village and dismissed them. He and the demon exterminators stayed, and he turned to Sango.
"Will you be joining us?" he asked. Sango nodded.
"Let me get hiraikotsu," she said, and caught up with Miroku, Shippo, and Kirara.
"You will be training with them?" Miroku asked. Sango nodded. The rest of the trip back to Kenji's home was silent, and when they arrived Sango quickly changed and grabbed hiraikotsu. She peeked her head into the room Miroku, Kirara, and Shippo were currently in.
"You're staying, Kirara?" she asked. The cat demon mewed in response. "Alright." She left after closing the door behind her.
Miroku sat, deep in thought, as Kirara and Shippo played.
'It would be best to get her away from the other demon exterminators before she wants to become one of them, if she doesn't want that already. She will never heal from Kohaku's and her father's deaths if she does not go out on her own, without demon exterminators to haunt her.'
*~*~*
When Sango arrived to the other side of the village, the others were practicing. Kenji turned and lowered his sword before bowing to her.
"This is Sango," he informed the other exterminators. "She will be training with us for awhile." The others greeted her genially enough, but not with the ease that came with being part of the team. Kenji seemed very interested in hiraikotsu.
"Mind if I see it?" he asked. Sango nodded wordlessly and handed it to him. He ran his hands over it and tested its weight before looking at her again.
"Could you show me how to use it? No one in our village makes them." Sango grinned and nodded.
"The thing you have to remember is that as hard as you throw it will be as hard as it returns to you. It's dangerous if you're unprepared for the weight when it returns. . ." and so on. She demonstrated a few times (soon the other exterminators had gathered to watch), and then handed it to Kenji.
"You try," she said. "but throw it easily." Kenji took hiraikotsu and placed himself as he had seen Sango do. "Good," she said. "Now throw."
Using only the strength it took to hurl the hiraikotsu, Kenji threw it out in front of him. It traveled about 6 yards before turning back to him.
"Prepare yourself. . ." she said as it neared him. He caught it, but not with ease as it dragged him back quite a distance. After he was still, though, he carried it back to Sango.
"Let's see you do your best throw," he said, handing it to her and smiling at her. Unsure, Sango took it back. Checking around her for the longest, clearest path hiraikotsu could take, she settled on one and faced it. She set it and swung it over her head, releasing it and watching it fly. It went about 20 times what Kenji's throw had, and when it returned everyone backed away from Sango except Kenji. She caught it easily enough (thought it had dragged her back, not very far) and swung it around her shoulder once again, before holding it there. When they all looked at her in awe, she shrugged and looked away, blushing.
"I've been working on it since I was 11," she said. Kenji laughed.
"You're not kidding. Alright, everyone, time to get some rest before we continue rebuilding tomorrow." He announced. The demon exterminators dispersed, and Kenji turned to Sango and bowed before they began walking towards the other side of the village and his home.
"You must have been with a highly trained team," he mused. "Hiraikotsu is heavy, I had trouble throwing it just that far. But you- you had no problem overshadowing mine by a mile."
"My father was our leader," was all she replied with. Kenji looked down.
"You must miss him a lot," he said quietly. Sango nodded. "What kind of demon could take out an entire team?" he asked, sounding slightly horrified.
"A very powerful and smart demon," Sango said, angrily. "Naraku." She said. Kenji looked at her, and then away.
When they arrived at his home, they parted to their own rooms. Kenji hesitated.
"Sango. . ." he called. She turned.
"Yes, Kenji?"
". . .nevermind." he smiled oddly at her. "Goodnight."
"Goodnight, Kenji." She slipped into the room where Shippo and Kirara were already asleep in. Miroku was leaning against the wall, waiting for her. His eyes had been closed, but they opened when she came in.
"Ah, Sango," he said. He had the look in his eyes that he had had since he first saw her returning from checking out the demon. "It went well?"
"They must have done most of the practicing while I was with you, getting hiraikotsu." She set the huge boomerang against the wall, and leaned against it. Tonight had almost been like a night back in her village, when a stray demon exterminator trained with them. Now she knew how he felt. Miroku got up to leave so she could change into her night clothes, but stopped before her. He laid his hands on her shoulders and waited for her to meet his eyes.
"Remember where your home is," he said, pulling away. Confused, Sango grabbed his arm.
"Houshi. . . wait. . ." Miroku stopped and felt her behind before walking out of the room.
"You know what I mean." he said.
*~*~*
A/N: the chapters keep getting longer and longer. Cool! This is the longest story I've ever written, and I'm only on the third chapter! * dances manically * So, what do y'all think?