Author's Rant:
Konnichiwa! Konnichiwa! Konnichiwa! I just decided to try out this pairing, since my twin was insisting I do something of this pairing. Hai, minna. This is Sango and Miroku. Of course, I find them really cute together! I think they are meant for each other! But... As far as I am concerned, I haven't tried anything of this. And in memory of my twin who practically loooves the monk [We both harass monks, if you don't mind, since Genjo Sanzo and Uesugi Tatsuha and our dear Houshi-sama here are all of the same vocation], and for being in the dumps after my last update, I should continue to write this S/M fic.
I thank again those who reviewed and stuck with the story. [Can you believe this fic is a year and a quarter old already?] You don't know how much your support meant to me when I read your reviews two months ago! *sobs*
And yeah, since a reviewer told me that she has restrictions when it comes to the rating of the story, I decided to not make it R. I'll just have a bit of what I really was planning. Anyway, the descriptions are the only ones that make it R and even if I remove that part, it'd still be the same. And to make up for the long wait, I made this chapter extra longer than the others. I'm just hoping ff.net would not screw up with the real format of this chapter.
~Shohoku no Miko~©
SnM: Okay peeps, gotta make up for the short and crappy chapter I posted previously. I was really ecstatic about certain results from certain universities I applied in and sure enough, the top three schools here in our country already released the results... And I passed! I passed the tests!
Inuyasha: *comes barging in* Oi, what tests? Don't tell me you take the same stupid tests this one heck of a miko here does...
Kagome: Heard that, Inuyasha!
SnM:Ah, Inuyasha, Kagome-chan. So nice of you to join me again.
Inuyasha: Keh. I was looking for the bouzou. Oi, bouzou!!! *shouts annoyingly*
SnM: *sighs* Miroku? Uhm...
Miroku: *enters the room with dreamy, swirly eyes* Hey, Inuyasha! Haven't you ever thought that I was meditating here?
Inuyasha: Not like you have anything to think of except groping for Sango...
SnM: Well, Inuyasha, you see...
Sango: *enters the room as well with dishelved hair and holds something in hand* Miroku... You left your stack of ofuda in my roo-- *Notices Inuyasha, Kagome and Shohoku no Miko* Ah... *turns beet red*
Miroku: Umm... I left it in your rogue pack? How did that happen?
Sango: I don't know...
Inuyasha, Kagome and SnM: Umm... Yeah... Right...
Inu-Yasha: A Medieval Pulp Fantasy -er- Inu-Yasha: A Feudal Fairy Tale ©Takahashi Rumiko.
XCS: This story is dedicated to a dear friend, FluffyLemonn [thanks for the e-shoulder] Also to my twin, MidoriTenshiSakura. Wherever you are...
Teach Me How To Love
By Shohoku no Miko
Chapter Twelve: Juni
Sango grunted for the umpteenth time. Even if her taiji-ya trainings taught her how to undo any kind of knot that existed in Sengoku Jidai, (well, at their time...) this one just wouldn't budge.
"My dear, dear Sango... Even if you try slashing your wrists just to set them free, you can't." Toya walked in front of her and knelt down, his face looking up to hers as she turned her head sideways.
"You see..." He roughly grabbed Sango's face by his hand, forcing her to face him. "I don't commit the same mistake TWICE. So sweat it..."
Sango huffed. "Toya... You see, I am more than willing to die here if ever slitting my wrists would set me free. But then... I still have to avenge my tribe so I'd rather stay alive. And I know that Houshi-sama and the others will come for me. So relax, youkai. Your death will be sweet once I am freed of this binding. But for the meantime, let me congratulate you for capturing me." Sango spat at his face, unable to hold back her fury.
Toya felt sticky liquid dripping from his cheeks. But instead of conveying the reaction Sango wanted him to, he smiled in satisfaction. Wiping his face using his sleeve, Toya drew Sango's face closer to his, inhaling her scent. "Coralberry... Sango... Just like a coral... A rough and strong exterior, but such a beauty..." He then placed his lips over hers roughly, concealing any sly speech she would have spat out.
She can't believe it. This... youkai... kissing her... even licking her lips... Without her permission at that!!! Inside, she seethed with fury... 'How dare he...? When I get out of this... When Houshi-sama saves me... He'll rip you off into pieces and suck you into oblivion...! Just like the ojii-sama he's meant to be, saving his hime--'
She froze. Where in the seven hells were her thoughts leading? And to think that her captor was trying to claim her... Almost smiling, Sango opened her mouth and began responding to Toya's kiss.
Feeling her lips move, Toya grinned through the kiss. If there's anything he wanted in a mate, it would be boldness. 'And I have certainly made the right choice...' Opening his mouth over hers, his right hand trailed down as he fancied taking her right then and there. He vigorously cupped her bosoms and smashed it wildly, his other hand joining in the fun while he was still caught up in a lip lock.
Unbeknownst to him, Sango's mind almost jumped in delight at what her 'response' did to him. Taking advantage of his current state of being drowned by erotic sensations, Sango opened her mouth, finally 'giving in' to his searching mouth.
And then, she bit his lower lip. Not lovingly, mind you.
Toya's lower lip began bleeding as soon as he released Sango. "Whore!!!" His right hand, which was currently situated on Sango's belly (with the intentions of going south) drew up and hit her cheek violently.
But then again, she expected that to come. Grinning victoriously, Sango spat out straight at his face for the second time. "You thought for a moment there I'd give in, didn't you? Well let me tell you... I'll never give myself to you... Not now, not EVER!!!"
Toya tasted his blood as it came out of the puncture. "BITCH!!!" He slapped her over and over again, not even noticing that tears slowly cascaded down Sango's cheeks.
'Houshi-sama... Tasukete... Tasukete kudasai... Hayaku...' She felt more hot tears spilling from her cinnamon eyes as Toya forced open her kimono and started devouring her through her wrappings.
*******
'Houshi-sama... Tasukete... Tasukete kudasai... Hayaku...'
Miroku's head snapped up, hearing a familiar voice. The voice was in pain, whispering as if it was facing something terrible... A strangely familiar female voice...
"Sango!" Miroku gripped Kirara's fur tighter as realization dawned him. Closing his eyes, Miroku tried to find her ki. 'Focus, Miroku, focus...'
After a few seconds of trying to locate her, his eyes flew open and looked forward to the west.
And as if on cue, a faint red orange light glowed for a while then faded.
"Kirara..."
The feline growled and headed off towards west at her fastest rate ever since she was a cub.
*******
"WHAAAATTTTT????" Kagura screeched. "You can't be serious about this now!!!???"
Naraku smiled. "You have to... Stay by the ookami prince's side before anyone could take hold of the shikon no kakeras to claim for them."
'More like "I don't want to die just yet,"' Kagura thought. It may be that Naraku is currently her master, but she was never the submissive type. She growled inwardly, unfazed at what assignment this baboon pelted hanyou ordered her.
"Why don't you send that stupid rat to that filthy thing instead..." Kagura scoffed towards the ningyo where the spirit of Toya was supposed to be. "You gave him shards after all. Three, to be exact."
"He is a distraction, Kagura. A distraction for the inuhanyou to chase while I gather all the other shards. And with that hanyou's pent-up desire for Sango..." Naraku smirked.
Kagura raised an inquisitive eyebrow. "But I thought you... Sango..." She did not get to finish what she wanted to say because a sudden twisting pain sprang in her chest, making it difficult to breathe.
She fell on the ground in a heap, clutching her chest, making short and quick gasps in futile attempts of inhaling oxygen for her systems. She looked up from her place on the floor and saw the hands of the person she greatly despised, as if holding something.
Naraku grinned mockingly at his younger detachment, loving the way her struggles seem useless. He saw Kagura's eyes widen and her face grow a pretty shade of blue or purple as realization dawned upon her.
Kagura's anger flared as her gaze landed on the object -- rather, her HEART -- in the still tightening grip of the fused Onigumo and prince of a nearby town. Her only source of the scarce emotions she knew, the reason for her to continue following the baboon-pelted hanyou, her liberty...
Naraku gave a menacing growl as he squeezed the fuuyoukai's heart one last time -- this time much longer -- then pricked one spot with his long claws before even releasing it.
Kagura almost wanted to run to him and thank him for releasing her, but her looming hate for her master weighed more than that. For her, water is thicker than blood, and if given a chance, she would loathe the people who kept her preoccupied when she could have spent her first years in pure bliss.
She was snapped into reality when Naraku spoke. "STAY WITH HIM. DO. YOU. UNDER. STAND ?!?!" He spoke, emphasizing his command by squeezing her heart with each word.
Kagura knew better than to voice out her objections, so with a scowl, she flicked her fan, a sudden gust of wind flapping the fusumas. She plucked a feather from her hair and it grew big, just enough for her to ride, hastily but gracefully hopping on as she turned her back on Naraku. Through gritted teeth, she worded her compliance. "...Hai..." And with that, she flew towards the north.
*******
Sango still couldn't believe it. She lay there on the ground, her kimono torn and tattered sitting at the far corner of the cave. Her bindings were the only things keeping her dignity from the youkai.
No, not a youkai. A hanyou. She realized that her captor was the prince of the fief her tribe once saved against a swarm of tanuki-youkais attacking the town. It was her first time exterminating, way back before she even saved Takeda-sama's village. She remembered it now. She had been just like Kohaku when Naraku summoned them.
~*~*~*~
She was nervous, and often she would adjust her boomerang at her back. She did not ride on Kirara then, since her father wanted her to develop her stamina by sprinting from her village to the town they were supposed to protect. Besides, she often acquired diseases and allergies, so they trained her to be accustomed to everything.
They arrived at the village at night, and exactly the time when the weasels started attacking. At once, her older comrades, together with her chichiue, charged at the demons.
She marveled at the skills of the older taiji-yas, and she saw that even without her, they would be all right. She readjusted her Hiraikotsu and stood at the sidelines only, but never dropped her guard.
That was when she heard a shrill voice cry for help. She cast a look at the ongoing battle and realized that all of them have their hands full. It is her duty to fight the youkais for the villagers, so she broke into a sprint towards the direction of the voice.
She turned on a corner, and a sight before her almost made her gasp. There, in front of the village shrine, a two-headed weasel-youkai bit off the neck of a village elder, while the other head snarled at a woman embracing a boy, both regally-dressed. The woman was still screaming for help.
The youkai's second head looked her way. She shivered, but hid it well. The other head turned and noticed her and as if on cue, the youkai lunged at her. She desperately defended herself using her katana, occasionally getting a hit in. She led the youkai towards the nearby forest as she leaped from branch to branch. Putting on her mask, she jumped as she threw poison bombs in the youkai's direction. Upon contact with the ground the bombs exploded and purple mist surrounded them. The youkai screamed in agony as the gas entered its eyes and inhaled the toxic substance.
As the haze cleared, Sango reached for her boomerang. Aiming it at the youkai, she hesitated. Her aim was never accurate when she practiced, so she doubted that the weapon would finish the youkai once and for all.
Sensing her doubts, the youkai grinned and staggered towards the clearing where the woman stood planted to the ground.
She saw the woman's eyes widen behind the youkai as it sped up to attack her. Brushing away all her doubts, she positioned her Hiraikotsu and set her legs apart, forming a stance that could easily throw and catch the huge weapon.
*Woooooshhh*
Hiraikotsu was sent flying, and in one fluid motion, sliced the two-headed demon into half, splitting its body and two heads. The youkai dropped dead on the ground with a thud.
Hiraikotsu hurled back to Sango and she caught it, skidding backwards. She fell on her knees, exhausted mainly because she was tense. The world was quickly dimming and she felt herself falling backwards. The last thing she saw was a little boy running to her before she passed out.
She woke up to the sound of a porcelain tray being set down a little distance from where she was. Cracking an eye open, she took in her surroundings -- a white ceiling, a scroll hanging on the wall to her front, a low table with small figurines of some sort, a futon standing on the corner, more scrolls with intricate designs to her left and an elaborately carved noren. She looked to her right and noticed the shoji open, giving her a perfect view of the garden.
"I see our savior is awake. I never thought I'd see your beautiful eyes open again." a soft voice to her left said.
Startled, she glanced again to her left where she failed to notice a boy sitting. A woman then sat beside the boy. 'Ah, the woman from the encounter.'
"Pardon my son's playful words. But I want to thank you for saving us. Especially my son. He's the only heir of our village." the woman smiled at her.
"Hello, pretty. Moshimoto Toya desu. Domo arigato for saving my life. Yorusuke onegaishimasu!!!" the boy beamed at her.
She felt herself blush. She was never used to compliments, more so coming from a boy. A boy of high rank, it seems.
~*~*~*~
It would have been fun to reminisce about those first days of exterminating, but given her predicament and the impending danger...
If only Houshi-sama could come sooner...
~*~*~*~
[this flashback was inspired by a fanart I saw in Kumo no Su, a shrine to Sango and Miroku. Visit the site, its awesome.]
"Sango!" Miroku shouted over the storm, running where his instincts told him.
She ran away again. But before she left him to his flirting, he received a very hefty beating from her Hiraikotsu and her delicate and strong hands, earning a lump on the head and several bruises and bluish purple patches on the forearms.
He never expected her to act very violently, since he thought she was already used to his "shameless flirting," as she always puts it. But this time it did look like she overreacted.
Does that mean she's jealous?
A man can only hope.
He sighed, inhaling the scent of the mud and the storm coming down on him. Kagome refused to talk to him about Sango's whereabouts, Inuyasha, as usual, acted like the jerk he was, rambling about how foolish the situation was.
Shippou, on the other hand, had been very helpful, telling him, after a long silent treatment from Kagome. He told her that the taiji-ya just walked away after they ate dinner. She deliberately left Kirara and her weapons, telling them that she would be back after a while.
But that was hours ago, and it was already past midnight. He was lucky he caught Shippou awake because of the storm, or else he would have sat there helplessly instead of venturing now to retrieve Sango, thanks to the vital information the kitsune gave him.
He thought he heard a faint whimper to his left, and spun his head to the left and began walking towards the direction of the voice.
A figure half-sat half-sprawled against the tree was what made Miroku stop from searching. He couldn't really see the face of the person, but was positive that it was a lady from the looks of it. He could sense a faint kenki from the figure. "Daijobu ka?" he shouted over the storm as he half-ran from his position.
"...Go... Away..." The voice seemed weak and very familiar, which gave him all the more reasons to draw closer.
"... Hou...shi...sa...ma--" The last syllable came soft and painful, as if strangled.
Miroku's eyes widened as he caught a glimpse of the auburn orbs staring at him almost sadly. And he knew that only one person could make his title sound so special even at the sight of death and agony. "Sango!!!"
He saw Sango's body, soaking wet -- with blood?
Indeed, Sango's right arm was bleeding, and from the looks of it, her other arm was bruised and her knees and legs scraped with wounds.
She looked like she had battled a youkai. But his Sango was never one to depend on somebody to save her for she can fend for herself.
On impulse, he grabbed her and pulled her towards him. "What happened...?"
"I...left...Hiraikotsu...so I...had to...fight... Hid my kenki... But I killed... Got shard..." She struggled to say, but all her energy was quickly draining from her, and the rain wasn't helping at all.
Sensing her drastically falling energy level [a/n: Does this sound like a trading card? Hope not...], he hugged her tighter, concentrating on transferring some of his strength to her as his serene mask contorted to an angry one, his eyes staring at nothing in particular.
She didn't deserve this much pain. He knew. He knew she was upset over his antics that she went to have some time to sort out her feelings and clear her mind. But of all the time for the youkai to attack, this definitely wasn't the perfect one.
It was his entire fault. His fault that Sango had to fight with a powerful youkai without any weapon. Sure, she was skillful, but because she left her weapons, add to her current state of mind, she had a hard time. His fault that she was too distracted to even sense a youki nearby, due to his horrible methods of getting some girl to bear his to-be-damned-if-Naraku-was-undefeated child.
Stupid Naraku. Every misfortune they try to endure, every curse they suffer, every ill emotion they knew and felt, every heartache... It was all because of him.
Under the raging storm, while giving his strength to the delicate and frail taiji-ya in his arms, he promised three things.
He will not lead her on.
He will protect her at all costs.
And he really will kill Naraku to put Sango's heart at peace.
~*~*~*~
Miroku got down from Kirara the moment her paws hit the ground. He promised he will protect Sango at all costs, but what did he do? Sango already experienced too much pain; She was a jaded soul. He should have watched over her carefully instead of flirting around her [or other women for that matter].
And now what happened? Her life was once again in great danger.
'Kuso...' He cursed mentally as he no longer detected her ki. 'This is definitely not a good sign.'
"Oi bouzou, I can hardly sniff her scent here. What did you come here for?" Inuyasha stopped just behind Kirara.
"Inuyasha..." Kagome tugged at Inuyasha's haori.
"What?" He snapped.
"There's a shard... Three shards... In that cave." Kagome pointed the small opening on the mountain.
Inuyasha smirked. "Feh. Another minion of Naraku to tear apart. I'm itching for a fight. Miroku, ikuso!"
Inuyasha sprinted towards the cave when Miroku stopped him. "Kagome-sama, when Sango was taken away... The youkai had a shard, right?"
Kagome pondered. "Well... Yes, yes I remember. It had two shards... One on each leg, just like Kouga-kun..."
Inuyasha growled at the mention of the name. Kagome fought the urge to scratch his fluffy [!!!] ears.
"... And I remember sensing a faint power from his chest... Maybe it was just my imagination… So probably…"
Miroku's head shot up. "Sango… I sense her ki!"
"So what are we waiting for here, c'mon!!!" Inuyasha, carrying Kagome, Miroku and Kirara headed to the dark cave.
*******
She didn't know how to face the insufferable jerk of a prince. Sure, Naraku thought it was just PEACHY, that merely staggering and crawling towards the ends of their territory would make her damsel in distress act believable. But no. Anyone who witnessed how a youkai -- or any other person for that matter -- killed almost half of the population of your tribe and had the guts to even use them against a former comrade would remember that...
Kagura shook her head. Stupid Naraku. If it weren't for that grave sin she did, it would be easier to make a compromise.
Hah. She walked towards the cave quietly, her grace never wavering. At this time of the night, maybe she could get a deal out of the ookami.
"You think I wouldn't know you're here, wouldn't I? Have you forgotten my sense of smell?" A voice snarled at her from the dark.
Kagura snorted. "I'm not stupid like you, ookami-boy."
Kouga growled. "Here to kill the rest of my pack?"
"If deemed necessary, yes." Kagura waltzed towards Kouga, fanning herself.
"Leave before I tear you into pieces. Now."
"Chill, Kouga-kun." Kagura teased, more of mocked as she flipped her fan close and placed it on Kouga's shoulder. "I need you to do something for me."
"Why would I do something for you?" He snapped back.
"Well for one, you might find it necessary to have an ally against the other interested parties in your territory. I mean, THEY are at an advantage when it comes to number --"
"All because of you, bitch!" Kouga grabbed her fan and broke it into two, the other piece in Kagura's hand.
Last straw.
"Look! I didn't want to do it like this! I have no intentions of fighting with you now but if you're so stubborn then sorry for you!" Kagura opened her broken fan and sliced it through the air.
Kouga smirked. Has she forgotten that her fan was broken?
A slashing sound took Kouga by surprise, add to a dripping sensation on his left cheek.
Kagura's eyes narrowed. "Thought it was that easy didn't you?"
A growl from behind her reminded her of another presence.
"Yo Kouga, ready to tear the bitch apart?"
Kouga raised his hand. The last thing he needed was another person dipping his hands on this business. "Ginta, leave this to me."
"But Kouga --"
"Leave. NOW. And make sure you wake up nobody or else..." He left the threat hanging.
Ginta shrugged. He knew that the youkai killed their kinsmen way back, but knowing Kouga, he wouldn't let that pass. So it would be much better to leave the matter to him.
When Ginta left, Kouga's gaze went back to the fuuyoukai.
Kagura was grinning maliciously. "Well, what a display of bravery. I must say I'm quite impressed. Too bad, the ookami prince is going to die because of stubbornness." She opened her trusty fan and readied for another attack.
"What do you want in exchange of your 'services' then?" Kouga's right eyebrow shot up.
Kagura's smile widened. "Should we settle this on a more comfortable place?"
Kouga's eyes darted around their camp. Sensing that his pack was sleeping, he relaxed. "If you want to." He headed towards the cave in contemplation, with a smiling in satisfaction Kagura in tow.
'He shouldn't turn his back on his enemy. But on the contrary...' Kagura followed him.
*******
The cave was dark, illuminated only by a small fire in the middle. A dark kenki prevailed in it.
"Where could those shards be..." Kagome jumped down from Inuyasha's back but stayed an arms reach away from him.
A slight rustle from their left got their senses and defenses kicked in as a figure clad distinctly familiar emerged from the shadows.
"Sango!!!"
Sango's gaze went to the said houshi.
Miroku walked towards the taiji-ya.
Inuyasha and Kagome watched the exchange. "There's something wrong in this situation..." Kagome murmured.
A faint glint of metal in the dark caught Kagome's eye.
"Miroku-sama!!!" She shouted.
Miroku jolted out of trance due to Kagome's sudden outburst...
... A second too late.
Hurdling towards him was a dagger that looked awfully familiar.
~*~*~*~
Sango stared at the stall longingly, her face stoic but breaking. She was never good at hiding her emotions.
Miroku stared at her from his place beside the gate. He did not want to leave yet; the place gave them all a well-needed break, save a night of battling a useless youkai made stronger thanks to Naraku.
But it was worth it. For months they never even stopped for more than eight hours. Sometimes they even changed strategy, traveling at night and resting in the morning. But in the end they still preferred the conventional way, though Inuyasha would always express it by complaining how unfortunate he was to have 'weak baka ningens' for company.
He was taken out of reverie when he heard Sango sigh for the umpteenth time before they started their journey.
"What are you all waiting for? Naraku wouldn't wait for us!" came Inuyasha's irritated gruff.
"Hai, hai, Inuyasha-SAMA." Kagome said jokingly while waving at the children.
Miroku chose this moment to take the one step that separated him from Sango.
"Something wrong?"
Sango averted her gaze from the stall to his face then smiled. "N-nandemonai. Saa, iku yo." Then she turned and started to walk away from the town.
Miroku looked at the shrine one last time before turning and walking away.
They have reached around twenty miles [thanks to Inuyasha who willingly carried Kagome along the way and Kirara who flew with Miroku and Sango on her back] when they stopped for the night, and the day had been tiring and fruitless.
"Look on the brighter side, Inuyasha. We have journeyed a good distance." Kagome reassured the pissed hanyou as she yawned. "Well I guess I should get some sleep then. You wouldn't want your good-only-for-shard-detecting burden get worked up, ne?" She winked at Inuyasha. "Oyasumi, minna." And she tucked herself to sleep, Shippou already ahead of her.
He caught her rift and 'Feh'ed, though he knew, deep inside, that she was more than that.
A little while later, everyone, save for a certain houshi, was asleep.
Miroku moved from his lotus position leaning against a tree, and crawled silently beside the taiji-ya.
Sango stirred, feeling a hand on her forearm. She opened her eyes and caught sight of purple and black robes in front of her.
"Gomen, Sango. I must have woken you up." Miroku moved to get away.
"I-iie... Do you... need something?" She stared up at him, searching his eyes.
"Aa. I just wanted to check on you. You seem... distant after we set foot again this morning. Is something bothering you?" He settled himself in front of her, a serious mask replacing his usual playful façade.
Sango propped up on her elbow and faced him. "It was nothing, Houshi-sama... Just something I saw..."
"Care to enlighten me about that thing?" Miroku smiled a little.
"Iie... It was nothing. It wouldn't be that important... Something I can't afford actually..."
"Didn't you even do something to have it?"
"I couldn't afford to spend money for it." She retorted as she sat up in front of him.
"What wouldn't you give for it?" He prodded on.
"... I don't know... It was something that was similar to what I had in our village... Something I dearly treasured..."
"Would it make you happy if you got it back?"
"Well... Yes, I suppose..." She drifted. Then she noticed the glint in his amethyst eyes. "What are you trying to do, Houshi-sama?" Her eyebrow raised, she continued. "I swear I will pummel you into oblivion if you lay your hand on any --"
"Would you still pummel me if I got you this?" He raised a package parallel to his face, and dropped it on her lap as he placed his hand on her thigh. "Open it."
Sango opened the package, wary of the hand on her thigh and the cursed hand busy toying with her hair.
She gasped as she held in her hands the same object she'd been eyeing at the stall... A dagger that looked awfully like the dagger she left that fateful day.
"Houshi-sama... How...?"
Miroku tucked a stray lock to her ear. "Well... I have my ways..."
"You STOLE it?!"
Miroku feigned hurt. "Ah, you think so little of me Sango... I wouldn't resort to that."
Her eyes narrowed. "But you do steal from those villagers."
"Well..." Miroku began. "I wouldn't want to give some special person a stolen item now, would I?" Oops, a slip-up. He hoped she didn't notice that.
"I-I..." Sango stuttered. She sighed. "A-Arigato, Houshi-sama..." Finally, she smiled.
"Don't I get SOMETHING in return?" He asked.
"Like what?" She seemed ready for the hands that would move to her butt for she narrowed her eyes, if it could get narrower.
"Like...this..." He scooped Sango into his arms and inhaled her scent. "I need someone to stay with me tonight, in case it gets cold..."
"Don't you dare slide those hands down..." She adjusted herself so that her back was against him. "But I have to admit, you're warm..."
He chuckled lightly and moved himself, with Sango in his embrace, against the tree before he settled her head above hers. "And so are you..."
Sango yawned as she placed the dagger on the cloth again. "Domo... Miroku..."
He smirked at the name she called him before she drifted off.
"You do have your ways, don't you, bouzou?" Inuyasha spoke a little while later.
Miroku smiled. "Sometimes it is better to comfort the ones you love at every chance presented… Even if you know you wouldn't be there for them once they need you the most."
"Feh." Came Inuyasha's normal reply. "Keep your word that you wouldn't hurt her." And with that, Inuyasha closed his eyes again.
He sighed. "I can only hope I'd stay alive through this, Sango…"
~*~*~*~
His reminiscence did him nothing as the dagger was flying towards him at top speed.
...tsuzuku...
Vocabulary:
Sengoku Jidai - well, literally means "Age of Warring States" Probably everyone at the IY fandom knows this, as the real title of the anime is Inuyasha: Sengoku o Togi Zoushi, ne?
Ojii-sama - prince
Hime (sama) - princess
Tasukete Kudasai - Please help me. Tasukete roughly means help.
Hayaku - faster, quickly…
Ki - power, aura… You get the picture
Ookami - now for my error in a previous chapter… This means wolf, and Kouga (not Shippou, sorry for the confusion I made) is often called "ookami-boy"
Kakera - means piece (If you listen to L'Arc~en~Ciel, their song "Pieces" had a line saying "Ah, watashi no kakera yo…" which is translated as "Ah, pieces of my body…") So when I used it, as in "Shikon no kakera", it means piece or a shard of the Shikon no Tama.
Ningyo - doll
Inuhanyou - "half dog demon", or in a more specific term, Inuyasha. (Hehehe)
Fuuyoukai - wind demon (fuu is wind, another word for "Kaze") I used this to refer to Kagura
Fusuma - a decorative rice paper used to cover windows (like a curtain made of rice paper)
Tanuki-youkai - Weasel demon. If you watch RK, Kamiya Kaoru is called by Megumi as "Tanuki," for she is often illustrated to have weasel ears and tail. Megumi on the other hand, is the kitsune. Ohohohoho! *Megumi laugh*
Takeda-sama - well, if you haven't watched the whole of the series or read the manga (which are both still ongoing), he's a prince who fell in love with Sango when she was young. They met him again and he wanted to marry our dear Sango-chan (ooh, Miroku was sooo jealous!!!) His full name is Takeda Kuranosuke. It wouldn't be too much of a spoiler now, would it? I mean, many stories referred to him too, and he was always the other guy who pined for Sango (save for some instances that it was Naraku, Hojo or an author-copyrighted character.)
Chichiue - means father, the archaic version of otou-san and the more formal form of the not-so-respectful chichi.
Futon - a mattress usually not left unfolded after using, some sort of bed without the headboard and the frame
Noren - a three-paneled cloth hanging used when changing clothes
Shoji - means door; requires a person to change footwear when entering
Moshimoto [insert name here] desu - another way of introducing oneself, meaning "I am [insert name here]
Yorusuke Onegaishimasu - I'm not quite sure of the spelling but it roughly means "Nice to meet you" but in truth it means "I put my life in your hands" (or something of that sort… I didn't really learn how to speak Japanese. I'm still planning though, now that I'm in college)
Kenki - just like ki, it means power, aura, energy…
Youki - its sort of the same as kenki/ki, but with the "you" as a prefix, it sort of means "youkai ki" which is not a good sign for it means evil energy (just like jaki)
Haori - Inuyasha's upper clothing, fire-rat shirt or whatever they call it (I'm not familiar with the series at most, but only with the basic info)
Baka - stuuupid
Ningen - human
Ikuso - let's go!
Author's Rant:
Well, that's to make up for the months I've been in the dumps. Though I could've posted this around last month, I was far too depressed. And then there's the whole modem-screwed-up thing. So I have to add what should have been in another chapter to give to you so you won't be too angry at me... Hehehe...
So anyways, I hope you people are still with me. Gomen for all the errors I committed here.
Ja, mata ne!!
~Shohoku no Miko~©
Konnichiwa! Konnichiwa! Konnichiwa! I just decided to try out this pairing, since my twin was insisting I do something of this pairing. Hai, minna. This is Sango and Miroku. Of course, I find them really cute together! I think they are meant for each other! But... As far as I am concerned, I haven't tried anything of this. And in memory of my twin who practically loooves the monk [We both harass monks, if you don't mind, since Genjo Sanzo and Uesugi Tatsuha and our dear Houshi-sama here are all of the same vocation], and for being in the dumps after my last update, I should continue to write this S/M fic.
I thank again those who reviewed and stuck with the story. [Can you believe this fic is a year and a quarter old already?] You don't know how much your support meant to me when I read your reviews two months ago! *sobs*
And yeah, since a reviewer told me that she has restrictions when it comes to the rating of the story, I decided to not make it R. I'll just have a bit of what I really was planning. Anyway, the descriptions are the only ones that make it R and even if I remove that part, it'd still be the same. And to make up for the long wait, I made this chapter extra longer than the others. I'm just hoping ff.net would not screw up with the real format of this chapter.
~Shohoku no Miko~©
SnM: Okay peeps, gotta make up for the short and crappy chapter I posted previously. I was really ecstatic about certain results from certain universities I applied in and sure enough, the top three schools here in our country already released the results... And I passed! I passed the tests!
Inuyasha: *comes barging in* Oi, what tests? Don't tell me you take the same stupid tests this one heck of a miko here does...
Kagome: Heard that, Inuyasha!
SnM:Ah, Inuyasha, Kagome-chan. So nice of you to join me again.
Inuyasha: Keh. I was looking for the bouzou. Oi, bouzou!!! *shouts annoyingly*
SnM: *sighs* Miroku? Uhm...
Miroku: *enters the room with dreamy, swirly eyes* Hey, Inuyasha! Haven't you ever thought that I was meditating here?
Inuyasha: Not like you have anything to think of except groping for Sango...
SnM: Well, Inuyasha, you see...
Sango: *enters the room as well with dishelved hair and holds something in hand* Miroku... You left your stack of ofuda in my roo-- *Notices Inuyasha, Kagome and Shohoku no Miko* Ah... *turns beet red*
Miroku: Umm... I left it in your rogue pack? How did that happen?
Sango: I don't know...
Inuyasha, Kagome and SnM: Umm... Yeah... Right...
Inu-Yasha: A Medieval Pulp Fantasy -er- Inu-Yasha: A Feudal Fairy Tale ©Takahashi Rumiko.
XCS: This story is dedicated to a dear friend, FluffyLemonn [thanks for the e-shoulder] Also to my twin, MidoriTenshiSakura. Wherever you are...
Teach Me How To Love
By Shohoku no Miko
Chapter Twelve: Juni
Sango grunted for the umpteenth time. Even if her taiji-ya trainings taught her how to undo any kind of knot that existed in Sengoku Jidai, (well, at their time...) this one just wouldn't budge.
"My dear, dear Sango... Even if you try slashing your wrists just to set them free, you can't." Toya walked in front of her and knelt down, his face looking up to hers as she turned her head sideways.
"You see..." He roughly grabbed Sango's face by his hand, forcing her to face him. "I don't commit the same mistake TWICE. So sweat it..."
Sango huffed. "Toya... You see, I am more than willing to die here if ever slitting my wrists would set me free. But then... I still have to avenge my tribe so I'd rather stay alive. And I know that Houshi-sama and the others will come for me. So relax, youkai. Your death will be sweet once I am freed of this binding. But for the meantime, let me congratulate you for capturing me." Sango spat at his face, unable to hold back her fury.
Toya felt sticky liquid dripping from his cheeks. But instead of conveying the reaction Sango wanted him to, he smiled in satisfaction. Wiping his face using his sleeve, Toya drew Sango's face closer to his, inhaling her scent. "Coralberry... Sango... Just like a coral... A rough and strong exterior, but such a beauty..." He then placed his lips over hers roughly, concealing any sly speech she would have spat out.
She can't believe it. This... youkai... kissing her... even licking her lips... Without her permission at that!!! Inside, she seethed with fury... 'How dare he...? When I get out of this... When Houshi-sama saves me... He'll rip you off into pieces and suck you into oblivion...! Just like the ojii-sama he's meant to be, saving his hime--'
She froze. Where in the seven hells were her thoughts leading? And to think that her captor was trying to claim her... Almost smiling, Sango opened her mouth and began responding to Toya's kiss.
Feeling her lips move, Toya grinned through the kiss. If there's anything he wanted in a mate, it would be boldness. 'And I have certainly made the right choice...' Opening his mouth over hers, his right hand trailed down as he fancied taking her right then and there. He vigorously cupped her bosoms and smashed it wildly, his other hand joining in the fun while he was still caught up in a lip lock.
Unbeknownst to him, Sango's mind almost jumped in delight at what her 'response' did to him. Taking advantage of his current state of being drowned by erotic sensations, Sango opened her mouth, finally 'giving in' to his searching mouth.
And then, she bit his lower lip. Not lovingly, mind you.
Toya's lower lip began bleeding as soon as he released Sango. "Whore!!!" His right hand, which was currently situated on Sango's belly (with the intentions of going south) drew up and hit her cheek violently.
But then again, she expected that to come. Grinning victoriously, Sango spat out straight at his face for the second time. "You thought for a moment there I'd give in, didn't you? Well let me tell you... I'll never give myself to you... Not now, not EVER!!!"
Toya tasted his blood as it came out of the puncture. "BITCH!!!" He slapped her over and over again, not even noticing that tears slowly cascaded down Sango's cheeks.
'Houshi-sama... Tasukete... Tasukete kudasai... Hayaku...' She felt more hot tears spilling from her cinnamon eyes as Toya forced open her kimono and started devouring her through her wrappings.
*******
'Houshi-sama... Tasukete... Tasukete kudasai... Hayaku...'
Miroku's head snapped up, hearing a familiar voice. The voice was in pain, whispering as if it was facing something terrible... A strangely familiar female voice...
"Sango!" Miroku gripped Kirara's fur tighter as realization dawned him. Closing his eyes, Miroku tried to find her ki. 'Focus, Miroku, focus...'
After a few seconds of trying to locate her, his eyes flew open and looked forward to the west.
And as if on cue, a faint red orange light glowed for a while then faded.
"Kirara..."
The feline growled and headed off towards west at her fastest rate ever since she was a cub.
*******
"WHAAAATTTTT????" Kagura screeched. "You can't be serious about this now!!!???"
Naraku smiled. "You have to... Stay by the ookami prince's side before anyone could take hold of the shikon no kakeras to claim for them."
'More like "I don't want to die just yet,"' Kagura thought. It may be that Naraku is currently her master, but she was never the submissive type. She growled inwardly, unfazed at what assignment this baboon pelted hanyou ordered her.
"Why don't you send that stupid rat to that filthy thing instead..." Kagura scoffed towards the ningyo where the spirit of Toya was supposed to be. "You gave him shards after all. Three, to be exact."
"He is a distraction, Kagura. A distraction for the inuhanyou to chase while I gather all the other shards. And with that hanyou's pent-up desire for Sango..." Naraku smirked.
Kagura raised an inquisitive eyebrow. "But I thought you... Sango..." She did not get to finish what she wanted to say because a sudden twisting pain sprang in her chest, making it difficult to breathe.
She fell on the ground in a heap, clutching her chest, making short and quick gasps in futile attempts of inhaling oxygen for her systems. She looked up from her place on the floor and saw the hands of the person she greatly despised, as if holding something.
Naraku grinned mockingly at his younger detachment, loving the way her struggles seem useless. He saw Kagura's eyes widen and her face grow a pretty shade of blue or purple as realization dawned upon her.
Kagura's anger flared as her gaze landed on the object -- rather, her HEART -- in the still tightening grip of the fused Onigumo and prince of a nearby town. Her only source of the scarce emotions she knew, the reason for her to continue following the baboon-pelted hanyou, her liberty...
Naraku gave a menacing growl as he squeezed the fuuyoukai's heart one last time -- this time much longer -- then pricked one spot with his long claws before even releasing it.
Kagura almost wanted to run to him and thank him for releasing her, but her looming hate for her master weighed more than that. For her, water is thicker than blood, and if given a chance, she would loathe the people who kept her preoccupied when she could have spent her first years in pure bliss.
She was snapped into reality when Naraku spoke. "STAY WITH HIM. DO. YOU. UNDER. STAND ?!?!" He spoke, emphasizing his command by squeezing her heart with each word.
Kagura knew better than to voice out her objections, so with a scowl, she flicked her fan, a sudden gust of wind flapping the fusumas. She plucked a feather from her hair and it grew big, just enough for her to ride, hastily but gracefully hopping on as she turned her back on Naraku. Through gritted teeth, she worded her compliance. "...Hai..." And with that, she flew towards the north.
*******
Sango still couldn't believe it. She lay there on the ground, her kimono torn and tattered sitting at the far corner of the cave. Her bindings were the only things keeping her dignity from the youkai.
No, not a youkai. A hanyou. She realized that her captor was the prince of the fief her tribe once saved against a swarm of tanuki-youkais attacking the town. It was her first time exterminating, way back before she even saved Takeda-sama's village. She remembered it now. She had been just like Kohaku when Naraku summoned them.
~*~*~*~
She was nervous, and often she would adjust her boomerang at her back. She did not ride on Kirara then, since her father wanted her to develop her stamina by sprinting from her village to the town they were supposed to protect. Besides, she often acquired diseases and allergies, so they trained her to be accustomed to everything.
They arrived at the village at night, and exactly the time when the weasels started attacking. At once, her older comrades, together with her chichiue, charged at the demons.
She marveled at the skills of the older taiji-yas, and she saw that even without her, they would be all right. She readjusted her Hiraikotsu and stood at the sidelines only, but never dropped her guard.
That was when she heard a shrill voice cry for help. She cast a look at the ongoing battle and realized that all of them have their hands full. It is her duty to fight the youkais for the villagers, so she broke into a sprint towards the direction of the voice.
She turned on a corner, and a sight before her almost made her gasp. There, in front of the village shrine, a two-headed weasel-youkai bit off the neck of a village elder, while the other head snarled at a woman embracing a boy, both regally-dressed. The woman was still screaming for help.
The youkai's second head looked her way. She shivered, but hid it well. The other head turned and noticed her and as if on cue, the youkai lunged at her. She desperately defended herself using her katana, occasionally getting a hit in. She led the youkai towards the nearby forest as she leaped from branch to branch. Putting on her mask, she jumped as she threw poison bombs in the youkai's direction. Upon contact with the ground the bombs exploded and purple mist surrounded them. The youkai screamed in agony as the gas entered its eyes and inhaled the toxic substance.
As the haze cleared, Sango reached for her boomerang. Aiming it at the youkai, she hesitated. Her aim was never accurate when she practiced, so she doubted that the weapon would finish the youkai once and for all.
Sensing her doubts, the youkai grinned and staggered towards the clearing where the woman stood planted to the ground.
She saw the woman's eyes widen behind the youkai as it sped up to attack her. Brushing away all her doubts, she positioned her Hiraikotsu and set her legs apart, forming a stance that could easily throw and catch the huge weapon.
*Woooooshhh*
Hiraikotsu was sent flying, and in one fluid motion, sliced the two-headed demon into half, splitting its body and two heads. The youkai dropped dead on the ground with a thud.
Hiraikotsu hurled back to Sango and she caught it, skidding backwards. She fell on her knees, exhausted mainly because she was tense. The world was quickly dimming and she felt herself falling backwards. The last thing she saw was a little boy running to her before she passed out.
She woke up to the sound of a porcelain tray being set down a little distance from where she was. Cracking an eye open, she took in her surroundings -- a white ceiling, a scroll hanging on the wall to her front, a low table with small figurines of some sort, a futon standing on the corner, more scrolls with intricate designs to her left and an elaborately carved noren. She looked to her right and noticed the shoji open, giving her a perfect view of the garden.
"I see our savior is awake. I never thought I'd see your beautiful eyes open again." a soft voice to her left said.
Startled, she glanced again to her left where she failed to notice a boy sitting. A woman then sat beside the boy. 'Ah, the woman from the encounter.'
"Pardon my son's playful words. But I want to thank you for saving us. Especially my son. He's the only heir of our village." the woman smiled at her.
"Hello, pretty. Moshimoto Toya desu. Domo arigato for saving my life. Yorusuke onegaishimasu!!!" the boy beamed at her.
She felt herself blush. She was never used to compliments, more so coming from a boy. A boy of high rank, it seems.
~*~*~*~
It would have been fun to reminisce about those first days of exterminating, but given her predicament and the impending danger...
If only Houshi-sama could come sooner...
~*~*~*~
[this flashback was inspired by a fanart I saw in Kumo no Su, a shrine to Sango and Miroku. Visit the site, its awesome.]
"Sango!" Miroku shouted over the storm, running where his instincts told him.
She ran away again. But before she left him to his flirting, he received a very hefty beating from her Hiraikotsu and her delicate and strong hands, earning a lump on the head and several bruises and bluish purple patches on the forearms.
He never expected her to act very violently, since he thought she was already used to his "shameless flirting," as she always puts it. But this time it did look like she overreacted.
Does that mean she's jealous?
A man can only hope.
He sighed, inhaling the scent of the mud and the storm coming down on him. Kagome refused to talk to him about Sango's whereabouts, Inuyasha, as usual, acted like the jerk he was, rambling about how foolish the situation was.
Shippou, on the other hand, had been very helpful, telling him, after a long silent treatment from Kagome. He told her that the taiji-ya just walked away after they ate dinner. She deliberately left Kirara and her weapons, telling them that she would be back after a while.
But that was hours ago, and it was already past midnight. He was lucky he caught Shippou awake because of the storm, or else he would have sat there helplessly instead of venturing now to retrieve Sango, thanks to the vital information the kitsune gave him.
He thought he heard a faint whimper to his left, and spun his head to the left and began walking towards the direction of the voice.
A figure half-sat half-sprawled against the tree was what made Miroku stop from searching. He couldn't really see the face of the person, but was positive that it was a lady from the looks of it. He could sense a faint kenki from the figure. "Daijobu ka?" he shouted over the storm as he half-ran from his position.
"...Go... Away..." The voice seemed weak and very familiar, which gave him all the more reasons to draw closer.
"... Hou...shi...sa...ma--" The last syllable came soft and painful, as if strangled.
Miroku's eyes widened as he caught a glimpse of the auburn orbs staring at him almost sadly. And he knew that only one person could make his title sound so special even at the sight of death and agony. "Sango!!!"
He saw Sango's body, soaking wet -- with blood?
Indeed, Sango's right arm was bleeding, and from the looks of it, her other arm was bruised and her knees and legs scraped with wounds.
She looked like she had battled a youkai. But his Sango was never one to depend on somebody to save her for she can fend for herself.
On impulse, he grabbed her and pulled her towards him. "What happened...?"
"I...left...Hiraikotsu...so I...had to...fight... Hid my kenki... But I killed... Got shard..." She struggled to say, but all her energy was quickly draining from her, and the rain wasn't helping at all.
Sensing her drastically falling energy level [a/n: Does this sound like a trading card? Hope not...], he hugged her tighter, concentrating on transferring some of his strength to her as his serene mask contorted to an angry one, his eyes staring at nothing in particular.
She didn't deserve this much pain. He knew. He knew she was upset over his antics that she went to have some time to sort out her feelings and clear her mind. But of all the time for the youkai to attack, this definitely wasn't the perfect one.
It was his entire fault. His fault that Sango had to fight with a powerful youkai without any weapon. Sure, she was skillful, but because she left her weapons, add to her current state of mind, she had a hard time. His fault that she was too distracted to even sense a youki nearby, due to his horrible methods of getting some girl to bear his to-be-damned-if-Naraku-was-undefeated child.
Stupid Naraku. Every misfortune they try to endure, every curse they suffer, every ill emotion they knew and felt, every heartache... It was all because of him.
Under the raging storm, while giving his strength to the delicate and frail taiji-ya in his arms, he promised three things.
He will not lead her on.
He will protect her at all costs.
And he really will kill Naraku to put Sango's heart at peace.
~*~*~*~
Miroku got down from Kirara the moment her paws hit the ground. He promised he will protect Sango at all costs, but what did he do? Sango already experienced too much pain; She was a jaded soul. He should have watched over her carefully instead of flirting around her [or other women for that matter].
And now what happened? Her life was once again in great danger.
'Kuso...' He cursed mentally as he no longer detected her ki. 'This is definitely not a good sign.'
"Oi bouzou, I can hardly sniff her scent here. What did you come here for?" Inuyasha stopped just behind Kirara.
"Inuyasha..." Kagome tugged at Inuyasha's haori.
"What?" He snapped.
"There's a shard... Three shards... In that cave." Kagome pointed the small opening on the mountain.
Inuyasha smirked. "Feh. Another minion of Naraku to tear apart. I'm itching for a fight. Miroku, ikuso!"
Inuyasha sprinted towards the cave when Miroku stopped him. "Kagome-sama, when Sango was taken away... The youkai had a shard, right?"
Kagome pondered. "Well... Yes, yes I remember. It had two shards... One on each leg, just like Kouga-kun..."
Inuyasha growled at the mention of the name. Kagome fought the urge to scratch his fluffy [!!!] ears.
"... And I remember sensing a faint power from his chest... Maybe it was just my imagination… So probably…"
Miroku's head shot up. "Sango… I sense her ki!"
"So what are we waiting for here, c'mon!!!" Inuyasha, carrying Kagome, Miroku and Kirara headed to the dark cave.
*******
She didn't know how to face the insufferable jerk of a prince. Sure, Naraku thought it was just PEACHY, that merely staggering and crawling towards the ends of their territory would make her damsel in distress act believable. But no. Anyone who witnessed how a youkai -- or any other person for that matter -- killed almost half of the population of your tribe and had the guts to even use them against a former comrade would remember that...
Kagura shook her head. Stupid Naraku. If it weren't for that grave sin she did, it would be easier to make a compromise.
Hah. She walked towards the cave quietly, her grace never wavering. At this time of the night, maybe she could get a deal out of the ookami.
"You think I wouldn't know you're here, wouldn't I? Have you forgotten my sense of smell?" A voice snarled at her from the dark.
Kagura snorted. "I'm not stupid like you, ookami-boy."
Kouga growled. "Here to kill the rest of my pack?"
"If deemed necessary, yes." Kagura waltzed towards Kouga, fanning herself.
"Leave before I tear you into pieces. Now."
"Chill, Kouga-kun." Kagura teased, more of mocked as she flipped her fan close and placed it on Kouga's shoulder. "I need you to do something for me."
"Why would I do something for you?" He snapped back.
"Well for one, you might find it necessary to have an ally against the other interested parties in your territory. I mean, THEY are at an advantage when it comes to number --"
"All because of you, bitch!" Kouga grabbed her fan and broke it into two, the other piece in Kagura's hand.
Last straw.
"Look! I didn't want to do it like this! I have no intentions of fighting with you now but if you're so stubborn then sorry for you!" Kagura opened her broken fan and sliced it through the air.
Kouga smirked. Has she forgotten that her fan was broken?
A slashing sound took Kouga by surprise, add to a dripping sensation on his left cheek.
Kagura's eyes narrowed. "Thought it was that easy didn't you?"
A growl from behind her reminded her of another presence.
"Yo Kouga, ready to tear the bitch apart?"
Kouga raised his hand. The last thing he needed was another person dipping his hands on this business. "Ginta, leave this to me."
"But Kouga --"
"Leave. NOW. And make sure you wake up nobody or else..." He left the threat hanging.
Ginta shrugged. He knew that the youkai killed their kinsmen way back, but knowing Kouga, he wouldn't let that pass. So it would be much better to leave the matter to him.
When Ginta left, Kouga's gaze went back to the fuuyoukai.
Kagura was grinning maliciously. "Well, what a display of bravery. I must say I'm quite impressed. Too bad, the ookami prince is going to die because of stubbornness." She opened her trusty fan and readied for another attack.
"What do you want in exchange of your 'services' then?" Kouga's right eyebrow shot up.
Kagura's smile widened. "Should we settle this on a more comfortable place?"
Kouga's eyes darted around their camp. Sensing that his pack was sleeping, he relaxed. "If you want to." He headed towards the cave in contemplation, with a smiling in satisfaction Kagura in tow.
'He shouldn't turn his back on his enemy. But on the contrary...' Kagura followed him.
*******
The cave was dark, illuminated only by a small fire in the middle. A dark kenki prevailed in it.
"Where could those shards be..." Kagome jumped down from Inuyasha's back but stayed an arms reach away from him.
A slight rustle from their left got their senses and defenses kicked in as a figure clad distinctly familiar emerged from the shadows.
"Sango!!!"
Sango's gaze went to the said houshi.
Miroku walked towards the taiji-ya.
Inuyasha and Kagome watched the exchange. "There's something wrong in this situation..." Kagome murmured.
A faint glint of metal in the dark caught Kagome's eye.
"Miroku-sama!!!" She shouted.
Miroku jolted out of trance due to Kagome's sudden outburst...
... A second too late.
Hurdling towards him was a dagger that looked awfully familiar.
~*~*~*~
Sango stared at the stall longingly, her face stoic but breaking. She was never good at hiding her emotions.
Miroku stared at her from his place beside the gate. He did not want to leave yet; the place gave them all a well-needed break, save a night of battling a useless youkai made stronger thanks to Naraku.
But it was worth it. For months they never even stopped for more than eight hours. Sometimes they even changed strategy, traveling at night and resting in the morning. But in the end they still preferred the conventional way, though Inuyasha would always express it by complaining how unfortunate he was to have 'weak baka ningens' for company.
He was taken out of reverie when he heard Sango sigh for the umpteenth time before they started their journey.
"What are you all waiting for? Naraku wouldn't wait for us!" came Inuyasha's irritated gruff.
"Hai, hai, Inuyasha-SAMA." Kagome said jokingly while waving at the children.
Miroku chose this moment to take the one step that separated him from Sango.
"Something wrong?"
Sango averted her gaze from the stall to his face then smiled. "N-nandemonai. Saa, iku yo." Then she turned and started to walk away from the town.
Miroku looked at the shrine one last time before turning and walking away.
They have reached around twenty miles [thanks to Inuyasha who willingly carried Kagome along the way and Kirara who flew with Miroku and Sango on her back] when they stopped for the night, and the day had been tiring and fruitless.
"Look on the brighter side, Inuyasha. We have journeyed a good distance." Kagome reassured the pissed hanyou as she yawned. "Well I guess I should get some sleep then. You wouldn't want your good-only-for-shard-detecting burden get worked up, ne?" She winked at Inuyasha. "Oyasumi, minna." And she tucked herself to sleep, Shippou already ahead of her.
He caught her rift and 'Feh'ed, though he knew, deep inside, that she was more than that.
A little while later, everyone, save for a certain houshi, was asleep.
Miroku moved from his lotus position leaning against a tree, and crawled silently beside the taiji-ya.
Sango stirred, feeling a hand on her forearm. She opened her eyes and caught sight of purple and black robes in front of her.
"Gomen, Sango. I must have woken you up." Miroku moved to get away.
"I-iie... Do you... need something?" She stared up at him, searching his eyes.
"Aa. I just wanted to check on you. You seem... distant after we set foot again this morning. Is something bothering you?" He settled himself in front of her, a serious mask replacing his usual playful façade.
Sango propped up on her elbow and faced him. "It was nothing, Houshi-sama... Just something I saw..."
"Care to enlighten me about that thing?" Miroku smiled a little.
"Iie... It was nothing. It wouldn't be that important... Something I can't afford actually..."
"Didn't you even do something to have it?"
"I couldn't afford to spend money for it." She retorted as she sat up in front of him.
"What wouldn't you give for it?" He prodded on.
"... I don't know... It was something that was similar to what I had in our village... Something I dearly treasured..."
"Would it make you happy if you got it back?"
"Well... Yes, I suppose..." She drifted. Then she noticed the glint in his amethyst eyes. "What are you trying to do, Houshi-sama?" Her eyebrow raised, she continued. "I swear I will pummel you into oblivion if you lay your hand on any --"
"Would you still pummel me if I got you this?" He raised a package parallel to his face, and dropped it on her lap as he placed his hand on her thigh. "Open it."
Sango opened the package, wary of the hand on her thigh and the cursed hand busy toying with her hair.
She gasped as she held in her hands the same object she'd been eyeing at the stall... A dagger that looked awfully like the dagger she left that fateful day.
"Houshi-sama... How...?"
Miroku tucked a stray lock to her ear. "Well... I have my ways..."
"You STOLE it?!"
Miroku feigned hurt. "Ah, you think so little of me Sango... I wouldn't resort to that."
Her eyes narrowed. "But you do steal from those villagers."
"Well..." Miroku began. "I wouldn't want to give some special person a stolen item now, would I?" Oops, a slip-up. He hoped she didn't notice that.
"I-I..." Sango stuttered. She sighed. "A-Arigato, Houshi-sama..." Finally, she smiled.
"Don't I get SOMETHING in return?" He asked.
"Like what?" She seemed ready for the hands that would move to her butt for she narrowed her eyes, if it could get narrower.
"Like...this..." He scooped Sango into his arms and inhaled her scent. "I need someone to stay with me tonight, in case it gets cold..."
"Don't you dare slide those hands down..." She adjusted herself so that her back was against him. "But I have to admit, you're warm..."
He chuckled lightly and moved himself, with Sango in his embrace, against the tree before he settled her head above hers. "And so are you..."
Sango yawned as she placed the dagger on the cloth again. "Domo... Miroku..."
He smirked at the name she called him before she drifted off.
"You do have your ways, don't you, bouzou?" Inuyasha spoke a little while later.
Miroku smiled. "Sometimes it is better to comfort the ones you love at every chance presented… Even if you know you wouldn't be there for them once they need you the most."
"Feh." Came Inuyasha's normal reply. "Keep your word that you wouldn't hurt her." And with that, Inuyasha closed his eyes again.
He sighed. "I can only hope I'd stay alive through this, Sango…"
~*~*~*~
His reminiscence did him nothing as the dagger was flying towards him at top speed.
...tsuzuku...
Vocabulary:
Sengoku Jidai - well, literally means "Age of Warring States" Probably everyone at the IY fandom knows this, as the real title of the anime is Inuyasha: Sengoku o Togi Zoushi, ne?
Ojii-sama - prince
Hime (sama) - princess
Tasukete Kudasai - Please help me. Tasukete roughly means help.
Hayaku - faster, quickly…
Ki - power, aura… You get the picture
Ookami - now for my error in a previous chapter… This means wolf, and Kouga (not Shippou, sorry for the confusion I made) is often called "ookami-boy"
Kakera - means piece (If you listen to L'Arc~en~Ciel, their song "Pieces" had a line saying "Ah, watashi no kakera yo…" which is translated as "Ah, pieces of my body…") So when I used it, as in "Shikon no kakera", it means piece or a shard of the Shikon no Tama.
Ningyo - doll
Inuhanyou - "half dog demon", or in a more specific term, Inuyasha. (Hehehe)
Fuuyoukai - wind demon (fuu is wind, another word for "Kaze") I used this to refer to Kagura
Fusuma - a decorative rice paper used to cover windows (like a curtain made of rice paper)
Tanuki-youkai - Weasel demon. If you watch RK, Kamiya Kaoru is called by Megumi as "Tanuki," for she is often illustrated to have weasel ears and tail. Megumi on the other hand, is the kitsune. Ohohohoho! *Megumi laugh*
Takeda-sama - well, if you haven't watched the whole of the series or read the manga (which are both still ongoing), he's a prince who fell in love with Sango when she was young. They met him again and he wanted to marry our dear Sango-chan (ooh, Miroku was sooo jealous!!!) His full name is Takeda Kuranosuke. It wouldn't be too much of a spoiler now, would it? I mean, many stories referred to him too, and he was always the other guy who pined for Sango (save for some instances that it was Naraku, Hojo or an author-copyrighted character.)
Chichiue - means father, the archaic version of otou-san and the more formal form of the not-so-respectful chichi.
Futon - a mattress usually not left unfolded after using, some sort of bed without the headboard and the frame
Noren - a three-paneled cloth hanging used when changing clothes
Shoji - means door; requires a person to change footwear when entering
Moshimoto [insert name here] desu - another way of introducing oneself, meaning "I am [insert name here]
Yorusuke Onegaishimasu - I'm not quite sure of the spelling but it roughly means "Nice to meet you" but in truth it means "I put my life in your hands" (or something of that sort… I didn't really learn how to speak Japanese. I'm still planning though, now that I'm in college)
Kenki - just like ki, it means power, aura, energy…
Youki - its sort of the same as kenki/ki, but with the "you" as a prefix, it sort of means "youkai ki" which is not a good sign for it means evil energy (just like jaki)
Haori - Inuyasha's upper clothing, fire-rat shirt or whatever they call it (I'm not familiar with the series at most, but only with the basic info)
Baka - stuuupid
Ningen - human
Ikuso - let's go!
Author's Rant:
Well, that's to make up for the months I've been in the dumps. Though I could've posted this around last month, I was far too depressed. And then there's the whole modem-screwed-up thing. So I have to add what should have been in another chapter to give to you so you won't be too angry at me... Hehehe...
So anyways, I hope you people are still with me. Gomen for all the errors I committed here.
Ja, mata ne!!
~Shohoku no Miko~©