This chapter is going to go back and fourth between present and flashbacks. I tried to make it as easy to follow as possible. Anyway, thanks for the reviews! Keep reading and I'll keep writing! (Disclaimer * I own nothing!*)
*************************Flashback***********************************
Shin waited in the shade of a large tree outside the village when a slim silhouette soon began to come into view. He could tell by her large weapon and her constant companion, that it was Sango.
"You waited for me?" She asked coming ever closer to him
"Of, course I did." Shin enveloped her in an embrace, which she warmly returned.
"How did you know I would come this way?" She asked still happily surprised by his gesture
"No matter which direction you leave you always take the same way home, I learned that after the first few times you left to exterminate a demon."
"I see." Sango laughed at her own predictability
"I heard you weren't supposed to return until later this afternoon." He said
"I'm not, I got an early start home." Sango sat down in the cool shade.
"Don't tell me you rushed here to see me?" Shin asked jokingly
"Maybe, maybe not." Sango responded in a laugh
He sat down next to her, and watched as she took her hair down from her high ponytail.
"So was it a difficult extermination?" He asked still fixated on her features
"Not really, I think even Kohaku might have been able to handle this one by himself."
"Really, then why did they send you to do it?"
"To be honest I think my father is a little worried by our relationship. I guess he thought that sending me away for a while might change things. " Sango said somewhat saddened.
"I see." Shin said with disappointment in his voice.
"It's not that he doesn't like you, I just think it's because he can be a little overprotective."
"I understand, he must think that I am some wondering heart breaker who goes village to village hitting on girls." Shin said lightheartedly
"Like I could ever fall for someone like that." Sango laughed (*A.N* Talk about Irony!), "Don't worry I'm sure that he will realize that we love each other. But for now we should keep it low key."
"….So does that mean I can't do this…" He leaned in and kissed her softly
"Definitely not. And we can't do this either." Sango climbed into his lap and began kissing him back.
"And what else can't we do?" he asked
"I can think of something in particular." She answered through kisses.
**************(Must keep PG rating )**(End flashback)*********************
"What are you talking about?" Sango asked angrily
"I know you're in love with someone else I can see it in your eyes." Shin said still holding her hand.
"You have no idea what you're saying, let go I've had enough of this conversation"
She said pulling away from his grip and walking back into the village.
"And what if I tell the Houshi?" He said confidently
Sango stopped in her tracks and looked him in the eye.
"Have you forgotten everything? I know what you are." She said calling his bluff
*******************(return to flashback)********************************
"I can't stand to be away from you." Shin said running his fingers through Sango's hair.
"It comes with the job." She said matter of factly
"I know and that's why I want to make sure were never apart." He said more seriously
"And how do you plan to do that?" Sango asked
"Sango I want to prove to your father, to your whole village how much I love you." He continued
"You don't have to prove to anyone, I know and that is all that counts."
"Sango, I want to get married. Say you'll marry me?" He bravely stated
Sango stood up, shocked. "Are you serious." She asked in a mixture of happiness and nervousness.
"Of course I'm serious." He laughed
"Then yes, yes I will." She smiled widely
****************************End Flashback******************
"And just who do you think I am?" He asked with more frustration in his voice
"I'm going to make sure you don't fool these people like you fooled my village."
"And if you tell them, then everyone will know about us, and I'm pretty sure your partner won't be to happy about our very intimate history." Shin bluffed
**********return to flashback********************************
"We should head back now." Sango said looking at the changing sky.
"I'll go first. Your father must think I ran away or something." Shin joked
He helped Sango up and said goodbye. She watched him go, her heart filled with excitement. The only thing worrying her was the thought of telling her family she was engaged. She was very close to her father, and she wondered about his reaction. She was the leader of the village's daughter and it was important that she marry someone with a high rank in the village or someone wealthy in another. The fact that she was going to marry a penniless wanderer would cause uproar.
'Hopefully everything will be alright.' She thought
****One hour later*****
Sango was heading back home when she heard her name being called. She turned to see one of her fellow exterminators waving her down.
"Hey!" She called back
She waited till they were walking side by side.
"How was your extermination?" Sango asked
"It went well, but that wasn't the most intriguing part." She responded
"Oh, and what was?" Sango asked interested
"Well, the whole village was turned upside down a few months ago. I heard from one of the servants that a stranger came to the city claming that he was the son of the headman of the village. Apparently he said he was the product of an affair and that he returned to claim his place as the heir and future leader of the village. It wasn't long before the headman's reputation was in the dirt. It took some time before they realized that the stranger was a fraud and as punishment he was beaten and left in the wilderness."
"So what do you make of it?" Sango asked worried
"Isn't it obvious? The time matches the time when we found the wonderer outside of the village. I'm lucky I found you, you should warn your father that his kindness might lead to betrayal." She concluded
"But if they had beaten him and left him in the wilderness he couldn't have survived long." Sango said trying to make sense of this new information
"The village is not more than a five hour walk from here. It is possible that we found the fraud. It makes to much sense to ignore, don't you think?" She said
"I suppose your right. Sorry, but do you mind keeping this between ourselves for a while." She said as she sat down
"What is wrong Sango?" The other exterminator asked
"Nothing, I just feel faint. Give me a minute and I'll be fine." She said trying to hide her sudden feeling of sickness. Sensing her master's distress, Kirara came to her side.
"Maybe she should carry you home?" The other exterminator suggested
On command Kirara transformed. Sango got on her back and headed home. Her fellow exterminator talked about other things but Sango couldn't listen, she was to busy trying to clear up Shin's past.
Not much longer they had arrived in the village. Still deep in thought Sango headed home. She walked in to find Shin greeting her with a smile. When her expression hadn't changed he became worried.
"What's wrong? You seem upset." He asked concerned
"Do you remember how you were hurt?" She asked in a voice hardly above a whisper
"Why do you ask?"
"Please just answer the question." She said louder
"I can't remember. Why, what is the matter?" He asked again
"Are you telling me the truth? You don't have to hide anything from me." She pressed
"Of course I'm telling the truth. Now tell me what is wrong." He said more concerned
"I don't know if I can believe you. You see, I heard about a fraud in another village who tried to con the headman into giving him his fortune. They had beaten him and left him outside the village and…"
"You think it was me?" Shin interrupted
Sango began to shake as she held tears in. "I didn't say that."
"But you implied it." He said coming closer to her
"I don't know if it's true, but please if there is anything you have to tell me, please do it before we tell my father about our engagement."
He looked her into her eyes. "Make me a promise first."
"Yes?" She responded wearily
"No matter what I say, you will keep it between us."
Sango nodded, unable to speak out of fear of what would be said.
"I never knew my father, but my mother told be about him. She told me he was a powerful man of high rank in a village towards the mountains, these mountains. When I was old enough I began to search for him. Based on the little information I had I came to the conclusion that he was in the village you spoke of. I confronted them about it but instead of any help I was pushed aside and left out to die." Shin turned away from her, " That is the truth Sango."
"Oh Shin, I'm so sorry." Sango said, "I had to know, I didn't want any doubt about you."
"I understand."
The two turned at the sound of Sango's father's entrance.
"Sango, you'll be leaving tomorrow with three other exterminators. There is another job in a town half a days walk from here." He said
"Sure father." Sango answered wiping away tears from her and Shins conversation
"Is they're something the matter?" He asked coming to his daughter's side
"Actually Sir, there is something your daughter and I want to tell you." Shin said changing the subject.
*********************************End Flashback***************
"Houshi-sama has nothing to do with this, he wouldn't care." Sango said
"You know as well as I do that he does. He was jealous of me the moment I touched you. It is obvious that you two are more than friends."
"That's ridiculous." She said more confidants then she was
"Acting tough just like always." He said
***************return to flashback**************
Shin awoke in the morning to find Sango already gone. Next to him he spotted the red ribbon she used to tie her hair. He read over the writing nicely written on it. 'To my future husband, Shin : when you carry this know I am never far from you. Love Sango.'
'Sango, please forgive me, I'm doing this for us.' He thought as he got up
********
It had been two days since Sango left with the other exterminators. She was more than happy to put the events that took place before she left behind her. She wanted to come home and be with Shin, she wanted to plan her wedding. She had been overjoyed at her father's reaction. He was more than happy at his daughter's future marriage and it was settled that once she returned the whole village would be informed.
They had approached the village gates and entered. Sango rushed home only to find her brother there alone.
"Where has father gone?" She asked
"He is meeting with Hyakka."
"Why? Has something happened?"
"You should check this one out yourself." Kohaku warned
A little confused at her brother's answer Sango quietly followed his advice. She was worried as to exactly what the problem was. She hoped nothing bad had happened, Hyakka was like a second father to her. He was second in command and was very close to her family. She walked ever closer to his home wondering exactly just what the meeting was about, as far as she was concerned there was nothing important set to happen. Except her wedding. Just then she got a sick feeling in her stomach. She saw Shin, her father and Hyakka walk out of the house in an argument. She didn't have to guess what happened, she already knew. It was no surprise when her father told her that Shin was the 'long lost son' of Hyakka. He told her all that was said, and it was amazing how much of the story was exactly like the one her fellow exterminator told her happened at the other village.
"Do you think it's true father?" She asked after he told her about the meeting.
"I don't know, it doesn't make sense. Hyakka is very devoted to his family and he would never do anything to dishonor them, but in our line of work it does make it possible. He may have cheated on his wife with another woman in a village."
"And how is family taking the news?" Sango asked
"Not well. It is hard for them to understand how this could happen." He replied
"Father I can't allow this, there is something you need to know.
**********
Shin had taken a walk out in the woods. He hadn't wanted to see Sango till he knew her feelings on what he had done. And it wouldn't be long till he would find out. He heard her footsteps coming closer.
"You lied to me." She said
"I did it for us, I didn't want us to live off your father." He said faced away from her
"And you're lying again. You didn't do any of it for us, it was all for money."
"That's not true."
"I don't believe you, I can't believe any thing you say anymore."
"I wasn't planning on things to turn out this way." Shin said trying to convince Sango
"And just what were you planning? And I want the truth this time." She said
"I was after your fathers money at first."
The words cut into her like a knife, she was on the verge of leaving but in her heart she knew she had to stay.
"And, why didn't you?" She continued
"Because of you. From the moment I came here you helped me, you were nothing but kind. And I grew to love you."
"Don't be surprised when I say I don't believe that." She said
"It true, it's the only thing I know I true. I really wanted us to have a good life together and if you just go along with this we still can."
"Do you expect me to go along with a plan that destroys the life a close family friend. Hyakka is a second father to me, when my mother passed he was there for us. I couldn't if I wanted to."
"Then you made your choice?" Shin asked
"Yes, I have already told my father."
Shin was silent for a moment and then looked at Sango.
"My father and I have arranged a safe way for you to leave. Please, come back home with me." Sango offered
"I don't know if I can face your family again." He said
"I can't promise a pleasant evening. But, at least tomorrow when you leave you will be well rested and with supplies." She said leading the way back to her home. Shin walked behind her silently.
********************End Flashback**********************************
"You always put on a tough act in front of everyone even me." He concluded
"Like I said before, I am leaving." She finally broke away from him and left with Kirara in toe.
"Wait!" Shin called out walking briskly after her
"I've had all I can take for one evening." She called back edging ever closer to the village
In her rush she didn't see Houshi-sama standing in front of her. And needless to say she ran in to him.
"Ow!" They both said in unison
"Just who I was looking for." Miroku said
"Houshi-sama?" Sango rubbed her head
"Where did wander off to? He asked "I asked some of the villagers where you were but…" Miroku looked up in time to see Shin walking towards them.
"Sango, you didn't let me finish…" Shin stopped upon seeing the Miroku
Miroku studied the scene, but before drawing any conclusions as to why Sango and Shin were off in the woods together, Sango spoke up.
"Houshi-sama, Shin was showing me something he thought related to the demon." She explained
"Right, but since it started to get dark she thought it safe to return to the village." Shin said
"Well I would like to see this for my self." Miroku said, "Maybe you can show me."
"Actually Houshi-sama, I think it can wait till tomorrow." Sango said
"Right, Sango has a point." Shin said
"No, I think I would rather see whatever this demon left behind, we might not have time tomorrow morning." Miroku insisted
Sango was in a panic she had to think of something before Houshi-sama's suspicions were confirmed. She could sense the awkwardness between Shin and Miroku, and before any more time passed she did the first thing she could think of.
"Actually Houshi-sama there was something I wanted to tell you." She said coming closer to him
Shin kept his eyes fixated on her as he tried to hide his envy.
"Sure, Sango what is it?" Miroku asked
Sango moved closer to him and whispered in his ear, "Actually, I wanted to tell you this in private." Sango couldn't believe what she had said, talking to Houshi-sama seductively was the only thing she could think of. By his reaction, Sango knew he took the bait.
"I guess this can wait till tomorrow." Miroku said to Shin 'I don't know what has gotten into Sango, but it is worth finding out' Miroku thought
This Chapter took forever to write! Sorry for the delay but I promised to update more frequently. Please Review! Thanks for reading!!!