Love Beyond Life
Chapter 3
Sango-sama
Author's Rants: I have been doing quite a bit of research into the subject matter here, including ideas in Buddhism, and inevitably, Japanese thought on death and the afterlife. This is far from perfect, especially seeing as how the belief structures do not line up seamlessly, so please allow me a little benefit of the doubt. I promise I have reasons for writing what I do and it will become clear soon enough.
Reviews make chapters come out faster! Hint hint! A big 'Thank You!' to those who have commented so far by reviews and e-mails.
Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha. Sad, isn't it? I have however, temporarily borrowed Miroku to ravag--err, I mean (ab)use him in this fic. ^_-
************************************************************************
The birds of the early morning had awoken, trilling along side the breeze. The dew had just begun to fall from the tall grasses.
A twig cracked.
Her head snapped up. She must have somehow managed to doze off without even realizing it. And unless her eyes were deceiving her, she had definite need to be on her guard. Sleepily, she rubbed the sleep away from her heavy-lidded eyes. "Houshi-sama…where did you wander off to?"
He stood in silence, regarding her carefully. She still looked rather sickly, the usual blush of her cheeks replaced by an unnatural paleness. She looked badly shaken, but it would seem that she did not remember about… "I was unable to sleep, so I was off checking the perimeter of the village. I placed some ofuda, but I highly doubt they will be very effective."
"Hmm," she murmured into her sleeve as it rested atop her knees, her eyes following him warily as he sat down beside her on the narrow wooden planks. For some reason, he didn't have his shajaku with him; it usually clued her in to when he was approaching. It was quite odd for the Houshi to walk anywhere without it, as it was supposed to alert even the tiniest of insects to his presence so they would not be stepped on.
One of his hands had settled down upon her shoulder. "Are you alright, Sango? You look a bit pale."
The light brush had startled her. "I just had a nightmare." Heat rose to her cheeks far more quickly than she had thought possible. Cursing, she quickly spun her head away from him. It simply wouldn't do to let him see her blushing over it; he'd just take it as permission to grope her…though he very likely would try to do just that anyways. "I came out here to calm my nerves."
"Ah." He looked down at his free hand, serious lavender eyes tracing over the path of the beads and eyebrows rapt in concentration. "To be honest, I've had several myself lately. But perhaps that is to be expected. Between Naraku and the Shichinintai, some major battles seem to be rapidly approaching. A bit too soon, I'm afraid. Even with the force we have gathered, we might not have the strength to defeat Naraku and all of his minions."
She nodded, still not quite daring to face him. Why was it that she always blushed so often when she was just with him?
"But it's still to early to abandon hope. Though they both quarrel with Inuyasha, we may be able to depend on help from Kouga and Sesshoumaru in our battle..."
His hand moved off her shoulder. "…And there's a very good chance that he may be able to save your brother. So…you can't give up hope, Sango."
'Give up hope?' She turned towards him. "What is that supposed to mean? Houshi-sama?"
But her words met the empty air.
"Houshi-sama?"
************************************************************************
Kagome stood in the doorway of the hut, watching the older girl slumber against the wooden wall. She had been sleeping for the better part of two days…ever since Kohaku and Miroku had died. Kohaku was killed for refusing to fight Sango and Miroku had been struck by Jakotsu's sword when he pushed her out of its path. They both may have been protecting her, but it may have done more damage than the Taiji-ya's fragile heart could bear. She knew she wouldn't be able to bear the grief of losing Inuyasha; she would be shattered. But to lose her brother too… It must be taking a heavy toll on Sango.
'Kami-sama, I really don't want to do this.' It seemed cruel enough to make her wake up, but she didn't look very comfortable propped up against the wall. She set her hands on Sango's shoulders, shaking the girl gently. "Sango-chan, it's time to get-"
"Houshi-sama?" It hadn't been much more than a whisper. And if Kagome hadn't been so close, she probably wouldn't even have heard Sango say it. Kagome felt her heart clench.
'Damn. I should have know it was a dream; that sukebe didn't try to grope me.' Sango rubbed her eyes sleepily, looking up at her friend, a more than slightly puzzled look on her face. "Kagome-chan? What's wrong?"
Was it possible that she couldn't remember the truth about Kohaku and Miroku?
"Oh, Sango…" She had dropped onto her knees, tears spilling down her cheeks, pulling the Taiji-ya into a tight hug. "I don't even know where to begin…"
Chapter 3
Sango-sama
Author's Rants: I have been doing quite a bit of research into the subject matter here, including ideas in Buddhism, and inevitably, Japanese thought on death and the afterlife. This is far from perfect, especially seeing as how the belief structures do not line up seamlessly, so please allow me a little benefit of the doubt. I promise I have reasons for writing what I do and it will become clear soon enough.
Reviews make chapters come out faster! Hint hint! A big 'Thank You!' to those who have commented so far by reviews and e-mails.
Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha. Sad, isn't it? I have however, temporarily borrowed Miroku to ravag--err, I mean (ab)use him in this fic. ^_-
************************************************************************
The birds of the early morning had awoken, trilling along side the breeze. The dew had just begun to fall from the tall grasses.
A twig cracked.
Her head snapped up. She must have somehow managed to doze off without even realizing it. And unless her eyes were deceiving her, she had definite need to be on her guard. Sleepily, she rubbed the sleep away from her heavy-lidded eyes. "Houshi-sama…where did you wander off to?"
He stood in silence, regarding her carefully. She still looked rather sickly, the usual blush of her cheeks replaced by an unnatural paleness. She looked badly shaken, but it would seem that she did not remember about… "I was unable to sleep, so I was off checking the perimeter of the village. I placed some ofuda, but I highly doubt they will be very effective."
"Hmm," she murmured into her sleeve as it rested atop her knees, her eyes following him warily as he sat down beside her on the narrow wooden planks. For some reason, he didn't have his shajaku with him; it usually clued her in to when he was approaching. It was quite odd for the Houshi to walk anywhere without it, as it was supposed to alert even the tiniest of insects to his presence so they would not be stepped on.
One of his hands had settled down upon her shoulder. "Are you alright, Sango? You look a bit pale."
The light brush had startled her. "I just had a nightmare." Heat rose to her cheeks far more quickly than she had thought possible. Cursing, she quickly spun her head away from him. It simply wouldn't do to let him see her blushing over it; he'd just take it as permission to grope her…though he very likely would try to do just that anyways. "I came out here to calm my nerves."
"Ah." He looked down at his free hand, serious lavender eyes tracing over the path of the beads and eyebrows rapt in concentration. "To be honest, I've had several myself lately. But perhaps that is to be expected. Between Naraku and the Shichinintai, some major battles seem to be rapidly approaching. A bit too soon, I'm afraid. Even with the force we have gathered, we might not have the strength to defeat Naraku and all of his minions."
She nodded, still not quite daring to face him. Why was it that she always blushed so often when she was just with him?
"But it's still to early to abandon hope. Though they both quarrel with Inuyasha, we may be able to depend on help from Kouga and Sesshoumaru in our battle..."
His hand moved off her shoulder. "…And there's a very good chance that he may be able to save your brother. So…you can't give up hope, Sango."
'Give up hope?' She turned towards him. "What is that supposed to mean? Houshi-sama?"
But her words met the empty air.
"Houshi-sama?"
************************************************************************
Kagome stood in the doorway of the hut, watching the older girl slumber against the wooden wall. She had been sleeping for the better part of two days…ever since Kohaku and Miroku had died. Kohaku was killed for refusing to fight Sango and Miroku had been struck by Jakotsu's sword when he pushed her out of its path. They both may have been protecting her, but it may have done more damage than the Taiji-ya's fragile heart could bear. She knew she wouldn't be able to bear the grief of losing Inuyasha; she would be shattered. But to lose her brother too… It must be taking a heavy toll on Sango.
'Kami-sama, I really don't want to do this.' It seemed cruel enough to make her wake up, but she didn't look very comfortable propped up against the wall. She set her hands on Sango's shoulders, shaking the girl gently. "Sango-chan, it's time to get-"
"Houshi-sama?" It hadn't been much more than a whisper. And if Kagome hadn't been so close, she probably wouldn't even have heard Sango say it. Kagome felt her heart clench.
'Damn. I should have know it was a dream; that sukebe didn't try to grope me.' Sango rubbed her eyes sleepily, looking up at her friend, a more than slightly puzzled look on her face. "Kagome-chan? What's wrong?"
Was it possible that she couldn't remember the truth about Kohaku and Miroku?
"Oh, Sango…" She had dropped onto her knees, tears spilling down her cheeks, pulling the Taiji-ya into a tight hug. "I don't even know where to begin…"