Begin 'Touching Her Hair' *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Sango hummed gently to the small child she held in her arms. Tenta squirmed a bit, resting his head gently on her arm, then falling back into a peaceful slumber. Sango smiled. For a child the boy had shown remarkable strength. She remembered how long it took her to get back to smiling again after her own family's death. All those nights she had spent crying, spent wondering if it was her fault. However, Tenta had been doing much better since the attack, and it had only been a mere three days ago. She cradled the boy closer to her and continued to hum a soft melody. Shippo looked towards Sango, producing a large grin from hearing her hum. It was such a soothing thing.
However, Shippo wasn't the only one listening to Sango's sweet melody. Sitting under a shady tree, the "lecherous" Miroku had been watching the Demon Exterminator for some time now. Listening to her hum. . . it was like nothing he had ever heard before, and it was just a woman. Just a woman's voice, but it seemed to tug at his heart so fiercely. Slowly, his attention was brought to her soft lips, which were slightly parted allowing her humming to float across the air and into his ears. His thoughts had also been focused on the young woman. She had bewitched him long ago; on the first day they met. He remembered every last move she made on that day, just as if it were yesterday. She wasn't like any of the other women. Perhaps he knew this when he first saw her, but now he could see it more than anything. She was different in every way. . . she was strong, and beautiful, and intelligent, and gentle, and mysterious. . .
Slowly, he eased back onto his feet. Closing his eyes for a moment, he regained his normal chain of thought and walked towards Sango. He watched her for a moment, not wanting to interrupt her humming. The way she held Tenta was so gentle. For a brief second he could see her holding a child of their own in her arms. But he quickly shook the thought off. Why now did it seem wrong of him to think that? It never bothered him with any other woman. But. . . oh yes, she wasn't like any of them.
"Sango, I need to go to the village for a while. Will you be alright here with Shippo and Tenta on your own?" Miroku asked, trying his best to keep his thoughts steadied on what he was saying, and not on the woman below him.
"I have Kirara, I believe I can take care of myself, along with anyone else who may need to be taken care of," Sango said, her eyes remaining fixed on the little boys face. She couldn't understand why the monk was being so nice, or worried. Whatever it was, she didn't want to look at his eyes. There was always some sort of hidden emotion there. Whether it is true concern, or nothing at all. She liked to think that perhaps he cared, and if looking at his eyes would convince her otherwise, then she didn't want to look at them. "I do need some soaps, though. Can you get them for me?" She asked, still keeping her gaze on Tenta's face. Miroku noticed her steady stare on the boy. He wonder for a moment if all the times he had come on to her had finally scared her off. He hoped not.
"Alright, I can," he whispered, turning away quickly. There was no reason to worry over her. Or care for her, for that matter. She obviously cared nothing for him. Miroku shook it off though, allowing a smile to return to his face. . . a smile to cover up the sadness. "I know you'll miss me, Sango my love, I will return shortly." Sango's eye began to twitch at hearing this. But before she could mutter a word, Miroku was long gone.
'Of course he didn't care.' She thought to herself as she began to hum again. 'He'll always be, just Miroku.' But inside, she secretly prayed that someday she would be able to see something in him she had always known was there. A true love for. . . for him to love her.
*****
Miroku's eyes traveled over the tiny huts in the village. He watched as several beautiful girls passed him, smiling and laughing. All he did was smile in return, and continued his search through the village. It wasn't those women he wanted. It was the one sitting in the dew-covered grass, with her hair tied up tightly. The one who hummed intoxicating tunes to lull children to sleep.
He moved his hand up to his face, wiping the sweat off of his brow. What was wrong with him? Thinking of Sango like that, it wasn't right. Shaking his head slightly, he continued his search for the soaps and herbs he needed. Coming across a small stand with an older woman settled behind it, he walked close to it.
"Might you have some soaps I can trade for?" Miroku asked, eyeing the woman suspiciously. The woman shuffled in her brown cloak. A black turban was wrapped around her face, hiding everything but her old eyes.
"Eyi," said the woman, "I do." Quickly, she moved to the back of the hut and began scavenging through some old boxes. Removing a small bottle of what looked like soap, and another small parcel containing herbs, she went back to Miroku. "Here." The woman handed him the bottle and herbs. Miroku eyed them for a moment, trying to decide if it was worth the trade or not. He opened the bottle and sniffed the soap.
"Wow," he muttered to himself, "this smells wonderful." The woman smiled under her turban, happy with the reaction. Miroku reached into his robe and pulled out three silver coins. The woman's smile grew larger as she quickly snatched the coins from his hand.
"Tell Sango that the soaps work best when rubbed in by another's hands," whispered the woman. Miroku's eyes grew wide, but before he could say anything, the woman had closed the shades to the hut. He stood back, eyeing the soaps again for a moment.
'Rubbed in by another?' He thought to himself. 'Ah, Lady Sango would never let me touch her like that.' Miroku's eyes dropped to the ground as he thought this. 'She would never let me do such a thing, even if it were in a friendly manner.' Though he hoped that perhaps someday she would.
*****
"No!" Tenta screamed as he jerked up from Sango's arms. "No no no!" He yelled, his eyes searching the campsite wildly. Sango quickly grabbed the boy shoulders and pulled him closer to her body.
"Shh," she cooed, "shh now, you're safe." Sango patted his head, rocking him back and forth in her lap.
"No no!" Tenta screamed again. He looked up into Sango's eyes. "No Sango, it won't end!!" His body began to shake violently as his pupils grew wider. Sweat drops glistened on his forehead. His whole body seemed to be going into shock. Sango shook her head and quickly grabbed a small glass of tea.
"Here, drink this," she said. Tilting Tenta's head back, she slowly poured the tea into his mouth. Tenta's breathing began to become normal once again, as he rested his head back on Sango's arm. Sango sighed, placing the glass back down on the ground. Tenta reminded her so much of Kohaku. Even the way he looked resembled that of her brother. The black hair and the soft brown eyes, it was all too familiar for her. She held Tenta closer for a moment, then stood up, cradling his body in her arms.
"Shippo-chan, would you please make a bed for Tenta in the shrine so I can lay him there?" Shippo smiled and nodded, quickly doing as Sango had asked. Sango carried the boy into the shrine and quietly laid him down, brushing the hair out of his face one last time before leaving the shrine. "Shippo, please watch him as well. If he wakes up, try and get him to drink some tea, and settle him down," Sango directed, as she let the flap over the doorway shut.
"I need a break," she muttered under her breath. Picking up a small brown sack, she walked out towards the woods. It was a beautiful day out. The sun was hitting the leaves just right, allowing a green tint to cast against her tanned skin. The air smelled so fresh, so perfect. This was the best way to rid herself of those horrible memories. The memories of Kohaku. . . oh, but how could she ever forget. It seemed like it had been so long ago since she had even spoken of him. But she never forgot.
It had been nearly a year now since he had passed away. She remembered that day as if it were yesterday. The whole group was still together back then. It had been such a normal day. Walking and laughing, everything was so carefree. That was until Inuyasha picked up the scent of Naraku. The horrible beast, Sango would never forgive the demon for what he had done to her or her family. By the time they found Naraku, he had already killed Kohaku. Her one and only brother laid face first in the deep red dirt. The blood spot on his back suggested that Naraku had finally taken the Shikon Jewel Shard from his body. What a horrible day that was.
However, it was also the day Inuyasha finally defeated Naraku. After months of fighting and hardship, Inuyasha had killed Naraku, it was all over! Then, as the last piece of the Jewel was put back into place, everyone began to rejoice. But that was the last time she ever saw any of them truly happy and together. The day after was just the start of another nightmare for her.
"That's all it has ever been since then," Sango said to herself, as she sat down on a rock close to the hot spring, "just a nightmare that never ends." Tilting her head back, she looked up into the clouds. Tears began to fall from her eyes as she did. How could she ever find something beautiful beyond this nightmare, beyond the clouds of her storm?
Suddenly she felt a hand on her shoulder. Jumping a bit, she turned to see Miroku standing there, smiling at her. His eyes seemed so sweet just then, and this emotion. . . oh yes, she could she this emotion very clearly in those eyes!
"Houshi-sama. . .?" She asked, her voice trembling a bit. Miroku smiled and nodded, squeezing her shoulder gently.
"I am here for you," he said. Sango's eyes began to fill with tears again. Quickly standing up, she fell into Miroku's arms, crying on his shoulder. It had been so long since she let herself be held. But. . . it felt so good to be in his arms. . .
Miroku cradled the crying woman in his arms. Ever since he had met her, all he wanted to do was feel her body next to his. To be able to hold her, even if only as friends, would give him so much pleasure. And now, to be standing with his arms wrapped protectively around her body. . . this all just felt so right. Resting his chin on her head, he began to stroke her soft black hair gently. Rocking her back and forth in his arms, he closed his eyes. Only one last thing would make this perfect.
"Sango. . . please hum that tune," he asked. Sango sniffed a bit, turning her head so she could rest it on his warm chest. Slowly, quietly, she began to hum. Miroku wrapped his arms tighter around her as she did. No longer did she see this man as a lecherous monk, no longer did she see him as uncaring. Not anymore. Being in his arms at this very moment, this was what she had always wanted. She felt so. . . so loved.
Miroku continued stroking her soft hair. It felt so wonderful. . . at that moment, he remembered the soaps he had bought from the merchant. Reaching over into his pocket, he pulled it out and looked at it for a moment. 'Well,' he though to himself, 'I suppose it's now or never.' Pulling Sango away from him so that he could look her in the eyes, he held up the soap.
"Here are the soaps," Miroku said, handing it to her. Sango examined it for a moment, then looked back up at Miroku. She studied his eyes, trying to decide if this was real or not. But all she could see in those eyes was love. And this, this was all she needed.
"Will you.. . ." Sango started, becoming nervous. Miroku smiled, placing his hand gently on her face.
"Will I what?" He asked softly, stroking her cheek with his thumb.
"Will you come to the springs with me?"
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* End 'Touching Her Hair'
I'm sorry I ended right at the juicy parts!!! But I'm sure all of you pretty much know what happens after that ~.^ As always, I'd like at least 7 reviews, good and bad, I need it all!! Also, if you'd like to be notified of updates to this story, please leave your email (if you're not already a logged member) and I'll email you when updates are available! Thanks for reading!