(500 words)
His eyes remind me of the stormy sky, hovering above our heads. A deep blue, shrouded in murky clouds of grey. Clouds that conceal hurt, and worry, and true emotions that he won't expose, lest he bring down our already desperate morale.
But I would never vocalize these thoughts, for fear of actually breaking down his barriers and seeing the true anguish in his skyclad, cobalt orbs. So I will remain silent again, denying what is painfully obvious.
He's torn up inside. And I'm not sure if there's anything I can do to lessen the great burden on his shoulders. We all know that his time is rapidly approaching. The whole of us, even Shippou and Kirara, can feel the heavy thickness that looms in the air around us. The threat of death and defeat.
I don't think I can live without him.
"Houshi-sama?" He stands in place, looking up to the sky and holding out an upturned palm, while he balances his staff between torso and arm. A solitary droplet falls from the sky and into his naked hand.
I try again. "Houshi-sama?"
This time, he turns his stormy eyes on me, gently smiling. "It's raining." And he brings his gaze back to the dark firmament, letting his expression slowly fade back into a small frown.
And then the heavens open and waterfalls cascade down, soaking us all to the very core. Inuyasha barks something about finding shelter in a cave, before scooping Kagome and Shippou up and darting toward the nearest opening within the rocky formations that lie ahead of us. Kirara transforms into her larger self, waiting for Houshi-sama and myself to climb on. But I just stand there, looking at Houshi-sama through hazy, wet eyelashes.
"Sango! Let's go!" He yells over the storm, offering me a helping hand. But I can only stare at dark, chocolate locks plastered to his crown, and the contours of his countenance, as the raindrops follow the perfect line of his cheek.
"Sango?" His eyes shine vibrantly, even in the dismal weather around us. A deafening crack of thunder jolts me from my trance and I latch onto his outstretched hand, pulling myself onto Kirara's back. He places me in front of him, my back to his chest, so that he can better hold onto the youkai beneath us. Or that's what he would say, in any case.
"Houshi-sama?" I murmur, leaning back into him and absorbing the warmth he seems to radiate. He looks at me in slight surprise when, instead of fisting my hands in Kirara's fur as usual, I clutch at the damp fabric of his outer robes.
"Hai, Sango?" He returns, just as softly.
I give him a wistful, dreamy smile. "Will you smile again? For me?"
His face breaks into a warm grin, one that travels all the way to his eyes and melts away the mist in his irises. And I just sigh in content, feeling his happiness seep into my heart.
"Thank you, Houshi-sama."