Disclaimer: Nope. I don't own Inuyasha. Never have, never will. It's a shame though, because I'd fix all those frustrating little things that our dear Rumiko won't clear up for us yet. But then that's what makes her wonderful, ne?
Author's Note: Sorry about the length of the last chapter, but I've never posted on this site before, so I really don't know about a lot of things yet… but oh well! I'll figure them out. ^_^
Neoshipper – Thank you so much for reviewing! I can't tell you how happy you made me! (Ok, so that's a little sad, but it's not exactly an understatement.) I surely hope I don't disappoint you, and you can bet that you'll see more Sango/Miroku fics coming from this author! Keep an eye out…
Youki Girl – I really think I benefited from your review, thanks for the input – I definitely need it! And you can be sure that I took some of your suggestions into account. Mwuhaha. You're ideas really helped me since I'm such a newbie writer. Thanks again!
The Reality of Things
Chapter Two
Miroku only cracked a single eye ever so slightly as he heard Sango leave the camp. She crept silently from their little group, mindful of waking the others. He admired her form in the moonlight through silted eyes as she walked away with her back towards him. He really did like that exterminator's outfit she always wore.
She didn't go far. In fact, Sango rarely did. Miroku knew that she thought her nightly outings were a secret, and so took care to let her believe that she was never watched. He had been a little worried about the demon exterminator when he had first realized that she would leave camp, but as long as he could see her silhouette against the moonlight, he would sleep (albeit lightly) in peace. He accepted and understood the fact that she, more than the others, needed time to think about the various changes in her life. Inuyasha usually sat in a nearby tree to think about the shards, Naraku, and becoming a full demon. Not to mention the fact that Kagome-sama and Kikyo gave him plenty to occupy his mind on quiet nights. Kagome-sama usually took long spring baths to think about – well – similar things as Inuyasha. He himself was already accustomed to the Kazanaa in his hand; there was very little need for him to seek the solitude that Sango so desperately craved. Of course, there were times when he desired to bathe alone, or take a walk to clear his mind of thoughts of a certain member in their little group… Ah, but there was no need to lose sleep over that yet tonight. He spent enough time as it was reminding himself of the different reasons why he could not consider Sango as a serious heir-bearing candidate.
What were they again?
Ah yes, now he remembered.
He could repeat this as one would a personal mantra. It was not at all unlike his early recitations of the Eight – Fold Path, and the other teachings of the Buddha. Although admittedly, these were slightly different in nature.
'You are a baka who hides behind a hentai mask to avoid the pain of attachment
'You are a coward who fears his own destiny
'You cannot drag her into this curse
'You cannot put her in danger of any more emotional hurt
'You cannot tie her to a cursed man like yourself
'Even if you could convince her to bear your child (which you wouldn't even do in the first place because she deserves so much more) she would never agree to bind her life with yours…
'It doesn't matter if you love her…if she doesn't love you back'
He let out a small sigh of relief after reminding himself of these things. In a sense it was comforting to know that he was looking out for her best interests. It didn't matter that she held him in contempt. 'No matter what her opinion of me, she will not be hurt by my hands – and I'll do my best to keep her from harm. She must not hurt anymore.'
He took a brief peek at the little hill that she was positioned on to reassure himself, and upon seeing her safe, he settled down a bit to enjoy a light nap until she returned. His eyes were already closed by the time she got up in a frustrated huff and walked towards the woods.
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Sango had begun to half walk/run through the woods. She was just frustrated and sad about…everything. Nothing was right was it? Nobody in their group was happy about anything, Naraku would probably kill them all sooner or later, and neither her, Kagome, Inuyasha, or even Miroku would have found peace or happiness… or…
Love
'Kuso!' her mind screamed as she broke into a sprint. Branches and bushes whipped at her in every direction, but she neither noticed nor cared. She didn't hear Kirara padding next to her, didn't notice the way her hiraikotsu hit the backs of her legs as she ran, didn't feel the tears flood from her cheeks nor the angry and frustrated scream well up inside of her, forcing its way out of her lips. But most of all, she didn't notice that she was being followed.
Kirara however was not so distracted. She was disturbed and troubled by her friend's state of mind, but she was still aware of her surroundings, and tried to alert Sango of the youkai's presence by a series of growls – all of which Sango was oblivious to. In fact, she never even noticed that anything was wrong until she was forcibly shoved from the surprise attack by the fire-cat.
The already transformed Kirara side-stepped into her master, knocking her away from the huge amount of sticky web that was launched in their direction from behind. She stood protectively in front of Sango even though she herself was covered in the white mass. Sango groggily rose, tears still damp on her cheek from only moments before.
'a spider- youkai!?'
Immediately, images unbidden sprang to mind. Of her father, the other village exterminators, and… Kohaku. Why hadn't she noticed that this thing had been following her! And for hours too. Had she been so distracted by her own self pity that she hadn't even been aware of a youkai hunting her down? What exactly was going on here?
There was barely any time left to think before the spider-youkai began a second attack. By this point, Kirara had freed herself from the web of the first attack, and rose to aid Sango in her attempt to bring down the youkai. As a reflex, Sango fell into her fighter's stance. But as she reached for her hiraikotsu, she was frozen with – fear?
Yes, it was fear. What she was looking at now reminded her too much of the monster she had "destroyed" all too easily only two years before. Her brother had been fighting at her side. It was that night that her old life ended. It was that night that she discovered what pain was. She couldn't move. Even when the youkai approached, and she saw Kirara launch herself at the spider's neck, she remained immobile. Her eyes stared ahead of her, wide, unseeing, and dark as memories from her past froze her legs. 'It looks so much like it did two years ago…'
It was her last thought before she was charged by the spider-youkai. It thrashed its huge head into her side, throwing her into the air nearly 10 feet high, and tearing deep into her side with its lower fang. She didn't feel any pain - because at that moment, she wasn't really there at all. She was in front of a palace, watching her family and friends get slaughtered by the one she loved the most. Her brother Kohaku. It all replayed in her mind down to the last detail. She could see each and every link in the chain attached to her brother's weapon as it whipped around the group of fighters in its deadly purpose. She saw the moonlight glinting eerily off the edge of her brother's blade, which was now dripping with her kinsman's blood. She felt herself flying through the air, but it didn't register in her mind that pain was to come. It didn't matter really. Not anymore.
Before she blacked out entirely, her eyes fell upon a single figure against the blackness of the trees behind him. She saw rather than heard him scream something as her body made forcible contact with the ground. She noticed, but barely understood, the look of pain and sorrow written on his face as her lips weakly whispered one final word before the world turned to blackness, and even memories were no longer real.
"Miroku…"
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Gomen minna-san! I didn't put in the fluff like I promised, but it's getting late, and I thought that this might be a rather evil place to stop, ne? This time for real, there will DEFINITELY be fluffy goodness in the next chapter.
Daijoubu? Is everything alright? Work with me here people! I'm paranoid! I've barely ever written before. Am I doing this right? Gaaahh Review and let me know! Even a single reviewer can make this sad little fic writer a very happy person. Was the length alright this time? I know it was too short last time…
Mrrr – I'm rambling. Ah well. I'll stop begging for reviews now and save what little pride I have left.
Arigato!