K, no more school til august, free at last but there is the little I'm-in-
the-middle-of-moving-and-have-no-telephone problem, but I intent to keep my
promise, by the end of june I'll post the last chapter jiji
Search of Love
Twelve years. It was impossible that he had learned nothing in that time. More than half of his life had to be worth something ne? Even though some lessons were quite boring, they all ended up being useful for something. Besides, both Mushin and his father used to say he was not to be an ordinary person; going on and on about how his spiritual powers had to be canalized in the right way and what not.
Back then he couldn't have cared less, now however he had grown; in ways he never thought possible. Not only had he learned by the tedious lessons of his youth, but by his own seven years of experience and practice. It was only logical that if he put his mind to it, he would be able to do something. After all, spiritual techniques and knowledge of any kind had all been acquired by someone who at one point had no scripts or predecessors to teach them. If others could come up with skills and cures, what made him any different?
He had after all made a promise to someone he cared deeply for. There had only been one time he had broken one of his promises, and he had regretted it deeply. He wasn't about to do it again if he could help it, if not for his sake, for Sango's.
She couldn't see past where her arms stretched forward and unwillingly she had to slow her pace in fear that she might bump into a wall or anything of that sort. The adrenaline was still rushing freely through her blood making the pain of sharp rocks against her bare feet imperceptible. It had been useless to try and run with a kimono so she had a good grip on the ankle cuff, keeping the cloth just over her knees. In her left hand clutched tightly was the ragged old piece of paper Kagome had claimed would save Miroku's life. Trying her best to keep it dry she had stuffed it all in her fist. After all it didn't matter if it was a bit crinkled as long as it could be read.
Her footsteps echoed along the stoned street crashing over small amounts of rain water. She knew where she was going, she was almost certain he was there. Her sense of orientation had always been excellent and for that she was grateful. Even though she had only seen 'it' on their way into this town, she knew what streets to take to get there. The only problem was that it wasn't a very short distance.
She thought of Kirara and how stupid it was to rush out of the inn in her condition. But there was no sense in regretting things now. Her lungs were already burning and it was not helping that she inhale large amounts of cold wet air. The muscles in her legs had begun to protest and with every step she took she felt another sharp rock dig into the tender flesh of her feet. Mud was spattered all over her legs and her kimono was soaked clinging tightly to her like a second skin. Goosebumps made their way up her arms and down her torso as the rain seemed to get colder by each passing minute.
None of this however seemed to matter. Thoughts that seemed out of place kept running through her head as she blinked rapidly trying to keep out the rain water. The image of Miroku in her dream looking sideways at her innocently seemed to be carved into her mind. And even knowing it wasn't real she couldn't stop thinking about it. There were other images as well. Mostly memories.
When they had first met, she listened intently as Miroku scolded Inu- Yasha for trying to hurry her recovery. The first time he had tried to grope her setting his hands over her legs. When he had intended to give her 'Mouth to Mouth'. The first time he had called her name in a battle. How his robes brushed against her whenever they rode Kirara. When he had apologized for not asking her his ridiculous question. When he had taken her hand after the jackal youkai incident. The first time he saved her regardless as to what could happen to him.
Her fist clenched. The first time she had tended to a wound 'caused' by her, she had felt a horrible empty feeling of guilt. This feeling having plagued her for days, she had made a promise to herself to be more careful in battle so that he would never have to get hurt on her account again.
Her eyes invisible under her cascading bangs, she gave a bitter smile keeping up her pace. How naïve. Pushing aside her train of thoughts she stopped abruptly in front of the large structure. She was never known to be a calm calculating person. On the contrary she had gotten into a lot of trouble because of her explosive behavior. Now, as her body still begged her for oxygen, her lungs expanding and contracting in her chest rapidly, it had happened again. But she had made it, time was precious.
Jogging forward she looked up at the huge doors surrounded by a protective wall. As Miroku had once told her, a Temple never shuts it's doors to anyone. She stepped through into a beautiful garden. Not able to appreciate it all that much in the dark and with the sky falling over her, but she felt instant relief as her feet passed from the rough stoned path to the cool flooded grass of the temple.
She stepped up rapidly to a large structure in the middle. Behind it still within the boundaries of the Shrine she could make out two other buildings, smaller than the central structure. Licking her lips to clear them from rain water she looked both ways, now where was he?
Walking up cautiously to the structure in the centre she decided the only way to find out was checking. Quickening her pace she threw open the doors to be received by the silence of the large, apparently empty structure. She couldn't help but give a surprised gasp as looking closer she saw it was not empty at all.
Never had she seen so many scripts or books in her life. In the walls there were shelves loaded with both of these, all around the hollow wooden structure. The water dripping off her hands and drenched kimono echoed in the large room as she took a step inside. Her reading skills were very poor due to the fact that her mother had been the one to teach her, when she passed away there had been no one left to continue her tutoring, but it caused her a great deal of curiosity thinking of everything that could be written here.
She scanned the room with here eyes. No one was here. About five candles that had burned out over themselves were in various locations around the room, near the end to the right there was a wooden floor board out of place and a round hole with splinters surrounding it. Her mind snapped back to Miroku. He wasn't here so what was the point of staying?
Turning back she exited the large room to the rain pounding over her ears once more. She turned to her left and headed for the small shrine behind the large library. Climbing the three wooden stairs she flung open the doors to find nothing. There wasn't much to this small wooden structure. Besides the fact that it had a small alter at the very end, it looked a lot like the small huts the found occasionally in the woods. Empty. That only left one.
Anticipating the sight of Miroku she jumped to the muddy floor and ran across the small field over to the last small shrine. A spark of fear suddenly entered her heart wondering what she would do if she didn't find him there, or if something had happened to him. Pushing aside the disturbing thoughts she closed her eyes tightly shaking her head and ran right into something very hard.
Dazed she fell back over the muddy grass, her head spinning. Blinking constantly she tried to focus her vision as well as keep the rain out. What had happened? It felt like she had collided with a wall and the shrine was still about a yard away. Ignoring the throbbing of her head she got up and cautiously walked over, for safety she let her kimono fall to her ankles and stretched her arm out ahead of her.
Taking no more than two steps her hand met with something. A soft blue spark had come out of thin air as she felt the solid structure under her palm. She pulled away feeling the small discharge of energy. It came to her as she let out a small gasp. Not this, not right now. She pounded her fist over the invisible barrier only to have it bounce back at her leaving the field with that same blue electricity.
Her brows furrowed as she clenched her fists and tried again. "Miroku!"
His eyes shot open breaking completely his concentration. He turned to where he thought he had heard his name, ears straining to hear something apart from the patter of rain over the ceiling. Had he imagined it? After all it had been a very faint cry and the rain falling hard over the little wooden temple made a considerate noise. Not to mention the eternal drip of the leaks in the ceiling. Had her voice just been a figment of his imagination? He wanted to see her badly, it was very possible that his mind was just trying to find a way to satisfy him.
He let out a soft moan as a dark hue came to his cheeks. He had lost concentration. Regretting having had imagined such a thing, he shut his eyes again assuming his original position. It hadn't been smart to get distracted, who knew what would happen to him if he did it again. Pushing aside his thoughts he went back to his work.
It was impossible anyway, there was no way she would call out to him. At least not by his name.
She swallowed hard. Telling her mind to calm down, he was here, it was proven by this barrier, but why didn't he answer? Had he heard? Did he choose to ignore her? Was he hurt or...?
She debated on what she should do now. The simplest thing would be to call out to him again. Though she had not intended to call him by name, it was another one of those moments where her body acted regardless to what reason told her. Still, she had a feeling that it would have the same outcome. Silence. What good would that do? It would only make her worry more.
There had to be a way in here but, she walked around the invisible dome to the front of the shrine, his barriers were strong. She knew this for a fact. The only thing she could think of was waiting until it came down on it's own but that could take hours and would mean that either he took it down by will, or that he was...
She swallowed hard feeling dizzy. His Shakujo stood incrusted in the dirt directly in front of the wooden stairs to the door giving off a soft blue hue. Though his barrier guaranteed her that he was alive it didn't say anything as to how he was. Being as it was, it would hold out strong until the end when it would suddenly evaporate. It told her nothing as to what state he was in.
Her physical pain and exhaustion catching up to her finally, she let herself drop down over her legs. Again she set cautious fingers over the barrier giving off what looked like soft blue lightning.
Wait, what was she doing? She had his salvation in her left hand. Like hell he would let her in! Getting up with a determined face she was about to give him a piece of her mind when a yielding memory rushed across her mind.
"Nani?" she asked the monk as he suddenly took her wrist in his hand.
"Well you broke the other one I gave you ne? I should have known you'd need more protection, what with you being so impulsive and all."
"I'm not impulsive!" she said offended, watching him slip a white beaded rosary over her right hand just right for her wrist.
It had been a few days since the jackal youkai incident. And yes it was true the bracelet had snapped in the battle, but it hadn't been her fault. Not completely at least.
"Oh, oh you're right I'm so sorry for implying such a thing! Really I don't know what came over me..." he grinned.
Sango looked up from the shiny beads to scowl at him. He smiled "Consider it as a gift then... I hope you like it."
He smiled again before heading out the little shack joining up with Kagome and Inu-Yasha. She blinked at the door. He had made it for her, she knew it.
Sango remembered when Kagome had told her to wear her new kimono that very morning. Agreeing shyly, she had slipped out of her normal pink yukata and something had dropped from a hidden pouch. It was a small white seashell. Knowing well what was in it she picked it up just as Kagome and Shippou looked down at it curiously, hastily putting it away in her new kimono.
Luck had been with her. She rummaged inside her sleeve feeling the hard structure of the shell. And pulled it out quickly, clicking it open. A bit of water had leaked through the shell giving the white beads a glossy coat of water. She took them out of their container and quickly placed them over her left wrist, only hoping this would work. He said they were for protection, she didn't know if they would help her cross a barrier, especially his.
Nervously she took her hand up to the barrier, still fisted clutching the paper. Her knuckles touched the barrier and she felt the surge of energy run throughout her hand. But she pushed. She took in a sharp breath as pain invaded her entire arm, but her hand was on the other side of the barrier. Eyes wide with mild surprise she gulped and took in a deep breath, she could get in, but her arm was becoming numb. It was her guess that passing her whole body would hurt a bit more.
Pressing her lips together she shut her eyes and pushed herself through the barrier. Biting her lip she withheld her scream and it felt like all of her muscles seemed to want to contract at once. It felt like having a corporeal cramp. Once through, she swayed for balance breathing hard after having experienced such a thing. Her whole body felt twitchy now. She almost forgot the fact that she was in.
Swallowing down her pain she looked up to the small cabin and ran up the stairs skipping the first two. The door cracked as she flung it open and entered, suddenly stopping and almost falling over herself.
There was a peculiar silence as both looked over to each other with similar expressions. It seemed to last forever, the loudest noise came from the soft thumping of small droplets falling from Sango's kimono over the old wooden floor. The swelling ceiling creaked once or twice in their moment of silence. Both eyes scanned one another. Sango barely had time to realize he had nothing over his chest. His violet cloth lay folded neatly beside him, and his black yukata was pulled down to where the waistband was. He was sitting cross legged in front of the small alter at the very end with his hands intertwined over his lap. Only his index and thumb were extended making contact with each other pointing upward.
Miroku looked at the girl in front of him, who was still panting lightly. She was soaked, dirty and exhausted, yet she looked beautiful. The wet silk over her body barely covered anything. Only the small rivers of air under it gave away the secret of her second skin. Red had become maroon and the white petals of sakura blossoms were no longer a clean metallic white but rather a dull trans-lucid. Not to mention that it looked rather ruffled around her legs. With blotches of mud going from her bare feet to her thighs. Her hair was still scurrying with water as it stuck to anything it came upon, forming ebony rivers on her face, neck and shoulders.
So much was going on in their heads but noting seemed to come out of their mouths. Sango was the first to break out of the trance. No longer able to hold in what her mind told her so strongly to do. Confirm he was here. Her brows dropped to sad eyes as she stumbled forward almost tripping over her own feet. Falling in his lap she set her arms over his neck and pushed herself against him.
He shivered. Not knowing if it was her wet kimono over his warm flesh or the fact that he could feel her breath over his back and her own goose bumps against his skin. He longed to hold her, to return such a deep embrace. But as much as he wanted to, the reason he couldn't acted up seconds later.
"Ah!"
Sango tensed at his call of pain and quickly pushed herself away looking up to his eyes already wanting to ask the question. He cursed himself for loosing concentration again and looked down to her with half closed eyes.
"What's wr--"
"You shouldn't have come." He interrupted wincing again
Her gasp was caught in the back of her throat as she looked up to him with slightly wide eyes. Her brows dropped again and feeling shame arise in her stomach, but suddenly stopped. She broke eye contact with him and looked down to her left hand where the paper was still crumpled in it. Unconsciously he also looked down and watched as she opened her fingers slowly, revealing a very crumpled piece of paper. Rather curios he looked up again to see her looking down loathingly at the paper.
She had remembered. Her brain had come out of its wave of relief after seeing him and now everything had come back. Why he was here in the first place, her strange dream, Kagome's return with his cure, running through the rain preoccupied and scared, to be received by a 'You shouldn't have come'?!
Jaw clenched tightly she turned up to him with fury in her eyes, watching him jump back a bit. She threw the ball of paper in his lap and just as he was about to look down to it her other hand connected with his cheek.
It hurt, she didn't know why so much though. She should be used to it by now. This time however she had the impression that it had hurt her a lot more than it did him.
Shocked, he could do nothing but stare emptily to where his face had been pushed. He wondered what had just happened before he heard her harsh voice.
"Is that all... you have to say to me?"
Blinking a few times he tried to ignore the stinging in his cheek, understand what had just happened, and keep up his ritual as he turned back to her with question in his eyes.
"You shouldn't have come?!" she asked again a little louder
He just didn't like her being so angry, especially at him. But he couldn't think of anything to say.
"Not going to tell me that you lied? Or apologize for having made me worry beyond myself? Or at least tell me why the hell you pulled all this mess off?!" she slammed her hand against the floor
He had seen Sango angry before, and frustrated, but never with this feeling. It unnerved him and suddenly made him feel very guilty. So she had found out that he had lied about his cure. And she was in this state because of him. The guilt packed on.
Sango let out an exasperated sigh. "There's your damn cure. Be lucky you have such good friends that stick by you no matter how stupid your actions get."
He looked down at the paper in his lap then back up at Sango who was apparently still trying to get herself under control. She looked up from her fists to him with a softer expression, he couldn't be sure if what he saw roll down her cheeks were tears or lingering rain water from her bangs.
"Since I'm not welcome here, I'll leave now..."
Getting up clumsily she turned towards the door.
"Iya." He found himself saying
She turned slowly to face him again. "Why...?" she asked softly
He lowered his gaze thinking quickly of a reason why he said that "It's still raining, you could--" he stopped as looking up to her again he saw she was shaking her head.
"Why did you do this?" she asked again.
Having understood her original question he didn't dare look away from her now. But it was barely the time to talk about these things. His face became neutral.
"You really don't know?"
Sango's face twisted with question, after that there was silence in the small shrine again before she finally dared to speak.
"Do you think my happiness would come of your death?" he squirmed under her intense gaze and only relaxed when her eyes traveled down to her lap as she sat down once again in front of him.
"You would die for me?" she asked softly
Noticing the soft tinge of pink on her cheeks he stood mesmerized by her expectant expression for as long as he dare.
"Yes..."
Sango swallowed and looked up at him momentarily, then moved her hand over both of his. He couldn't help but look down at their contact, not fully understanding what she wanted from him. Shifting his gaze he found her also staring at their hands. She looked up to him meekly with an expression he had never seen before.
"Would you live for me?" she asked in a hushed tone
She was cold. Small chilly fingers griped his hands lovingly as she said this. And all he could do was look back at her with an uncertain gaze.
The emotion of her words sunk in, creating a rare feeling of warmth that spread from his chest to his whole body, and he couldn't help but smile softly at the girl before him.
"Yes..."
keep up the reviews please!
Search of Love
Twelve years. It was impossible that he had learned nothing in that time. More than half of his life had to be worth something ne? Even though some lessons were quite boring, they all ended up being useful for something. Besides, both Mushin and his father used to say he was not to be an ordinary person; going on and on about how his spiritual powers had to be canalized in the right way and what not.
Back then he couldn't have cared less, now however he had grown; in ways he never thought possible. Not only had he learned by the tedious lessons of his youth, but by his own seven years of experience and practice. It was only logical that if he put his mind to it, he would be able to do something. After all, spiritual techniques and knowledge of any kind had all been acquired by someone who at one point had no scripts or predecessors to teach them. If others could come up with skills and cures, what made him any different?
He had after all made a promise to someone he cared deeply for. There had only been one time he had broken one of his promises, and he had regretted it deeply. He wasn't about to do it again if he could help it, if not for his sake, for Sango's.
She couldn't see past where her arms stretched forward and unwillingly she had to slow her pace in fear that she might bump into a wall or anything of that sort. The adrenaline was still rushing freely through her blood making the pain of sharp rocks against her bare feet imperceptible. It had been useless to try and run with a kimono so she had a good grip on the ankle cuff, keeping the cloth just over her knees. In her left hand clutched tightly was the ragged old piece of paper Kagome had claimed would save Miroku's life. Trying her best to keep it dry she had stuffed it all in her fist. After all it didn't matter if it was a bit crinkled as long as it could be read.
Her footsteps echoed along the stoned street crashing over small amounts of rain water. She knew where she was going, she was almost certain he was there. Her sense of orientation had always been excellent and for that she was grateful. Even though she had only seen 'it' on their way into this town, she knew what streets to take to get there. The only problem was that it wasn't a very short distance.
She thought of Kirara and how stupid it was to rush out of the inn in her condition. But there was no sense in regretting things now. Her lungs were already burning and it was not helping that she inhale large amounts of cold wet air. The muscles in her legs had begun to protest and with every step she took she felt another sharp rock dig into the tender flesh of her feet. Mud was spattered all over her legs and her kimono was soaked clinging tightly to her like a second skin. Goosebumps made their way up her arms and down her torso as the rain seemed to get colder by each passing minute.
None of this however seemed to matter. Thoughts that seemed out of place kept running through her head as she blinked rapidly trying to keep out the rain water. The image of Miroku in her dream looking sideways at her innocently seemed to be carved into her mind. And even knowing it wasn't real she couldn't stop thinking about it. There were other images as well. Mostly memories.
When they had first met, she listened intently as Miroku scolded Inu- Yasha for trying to hurry her recovery. The first time he had tried to grope her setting his hands over her legs. When he had intended to give her 'Mouth to Mouth'. The first time he had called her name in a battle. How his robes brushed against her whenever they rode Kirara. When he had apologized for not asking her his ridiculous question. When he had taken her hand after the jackal youkai incident. The first time he saved her regardless as to what could happen to him.
Her fist clenched. The first time she had tended to a wound 'caused' by her, she had felt a horrible empty feeling of guilt. This feeling having plagued her for days, she had made a promise to herself to be more careful in battle so that he would never have to get hurt on her account again.
Her eyes invisible under her cascading bangs, she gave a bitter smile keeping up her pace. How naïve. Pushing aside her train of thoughts she stopped abruptly in front of the large structure. She was never known to be a calm calculating person. On the contrary she had gotten into a lot of trouble because of her explosive behavior. Now, as her body still begged her for oxygen, her lungs expanding and contracting in her chest rapidly, it had happened again. But she had made it, time was precious.
Jogging forward she looked up at the huge doors surrounded by a protective wall. As Miroku had once told her, a Temple never shuts it's doors to anyone. She stepped through into a beautiful garden. Not able to appreciate it all that much in the dark and with the sky falling over her, but she felt instant relief as her feet passed from the rough stoned path to the cool flooded grass of the temple.
She stepped up rapidly to a large structure in the middle. Behind it still within the boundaries of the Shrine she could make out two other buildings, smaller than the central structure. Licking her lips to clear them from rain water she looked both ways, now where was he?
Walking up cautiously to the structure in the centre she decided the only way to find out was checking. Quickening her pace she threw open the doors to be received by the silence of the large, apparently empty structure. She couldn't help but give a surprised gasp as looking closer she saw it was not empty at all.
Never had she seen so many scripts or books in her life. In the walls there were shelves loaded with both of these, all around the hollow wooden structure. The water dripping off her hands and drenched kimono echoed in the large room as she took a step inside. Her reading skills were very poor due to the fact that her mother had been the one to teach her, when she passed away there had been no one left to continue her tutoring, but it caused her a great deal of curiosity thinking of everything that could be written here.
She scanned the room with here eyes. No one was here. About five candles that had burned out over themselves were in various locations around the room, near the end to the right there was a wooden floor board out of place and a round hole with splinters surrounding it. Her mind snapped back to Miroku. He wasn't here so what was the point of staying?
Turning back she exited the large room to the rain pounding over her ears once more. She turned to her left and headed for the small shrine behind the large library. Climbing the three wooden stairs she flung open the doors to find nothing. There wasn't much to this small wooden structure. Besides the fact that it had a small alter at the very end, it looked a lot like the small huts the found occasionally in the woods. Empty. That only left one.
Anticipating the sight of Miroku she jumped to the muddy floor and ran across the small field over to the last small shrine. A spark of fear suddenly entered her heart wondering what she would do if she didn't find him there, or if something had happened to him. Pushing aside the disturbing thoughts she closed her eyes tightly shaking her head and ran right into something very hard.
Dazed she fell back over the muddy grass, her head spinning. Blinking constantly she tried to focus her vision as well as keep the rain out. What had happened? It felt like she had collided with a wall and the shrine was still about a yard away. Ignoring the throbbing of her head she got up and cautiously walked over, for safety she let her kimono fall to her ankles and stretched her arm out ahead of her.
Taking no more than two steps her hand met with something. A soft blue spark had come out of thin air as she felt the solid structure under her palm. She pulled away feeling the small discharge of energy. It came to her as she let out a small gasp. Not this, not right now. She pounded her fist over the invisible barrier only to have it bounce back at her leaving the field with that same blue electricity.
Her brows furrowed as she clenched her fists and tried again. "Miroku!"
His eyes shot open breaking completely his concentration. He turned to where he thought he had heard his name, ears straining to hear something apart from the patter of rain over the ceiling. Had he imagined it? After all it had been a very faint cry and the rain falling hard over the little wooden temple made a considerate noise. Not to mention the eternal drip of the leaks in the ceiling. Had her voice just been a figment of his imagination? He wanted to see her badly, it was very possible that his mind was just trying to find a way to satisfy him.
He let out a soft moan as a dark hue came to his cheeks. He had lost concentration. Regretting having had imagined such a thing, he shut his eyes again assuming his original position. It hadn't been smart to get distracted, who knew what would happen to him if he did it again. Pushing aside his thoughts he went back to his work.
It was impossible anyway, there was no way she would call out to him. At least not by his name.
She swallowed hard. Telling her mind to calm down, he was here, it was proven by this barrier, but why didn't he answer? Had he heard? Did he choose to ignore her? Was he hurt or...?
She debated on what she should do now. The simplest thing would be to call out to him again. Though she had not intended to call him by name, it was another one of those moments where her body acted regardless to what reason told her. Still, she had a feeling that it would have the same outcome. Silence. What good would that do? It would only make her worry more.
There had to be a way in here but, she walked around the invisible dome to the front of the shrine, his barriers were strong. She knew this for a fact. The only thing she could think of was waiting until it came down on it's own but that could take hours and would mean that either he took it down by will, or that he was...
She swallowed hard feeling dizzy. His Shakujo stood incrusted in the dirt directly in front of the wooden stairs to the door giving off a soft blue hue. Though his barrier guaranteed her that he was alive it didn't say anything as to how he was. Being as it was, it would hold out strong until the end when it would suddenly evaporate. It told her nothing as to what state he was in.
Her physical pain and exhaustion catching up to her finally, she let herself drop down over her legs. Again she set cautious fingers over the barrier giving off what looked like soft blue lightning.
Wait, what was she doing? She had his salvation in her left hand. Like hell he would let her in! Getting up with a determined face she was about to give him a piece of her mind when a yielding memory rushed across her mind.
"Nani?" she asked the monk as he suddenly took her wrist in his hand.
"Well you broke the other one I gave you ne? I should have known you'd need more protection, what with you being so impulsive and all."
"I'm not impulsive!" she said offended, watching him slip a white beaded rosary over her right hand just right for her wrist.
It had been a few days since the jackal youkai incident. And yes it was true the bracelet had snapped in the battle, but it hadn't been her fault. Not completely at least.
"Oh, oh you're right I'm so sorry for implying such a thing! Really I don't know what came over me..." he grinned.
Sango looked up from the shiny beads to scowl at him. He smiled "Consider it as a gift then... I hope you like it."
He smiled again before heading out the little shack joining up with Kagome and Inu-Yasha. She blinked at the door. He had made it for her, she knew it.
Sango remembered when Kagome had told her to wear her new kimono that very morning. Agreeing shyly, she had slipped out of her normal pink yukata and something had dropped from a hidden pouch. It was a small white seashell. Knowing well what was in it she picked it up just as Kagome and Shippou looked down at it curiously, hastily putting it away in her new kimono.
Luck had been with her. She rummaged inside her sleeve feeling the hard structure of the shell. And pulled it out quickly, clicking it open. A bit of water had leaked through the shell giving the white beads a glossy coat of water. She took them out of their container and quickly placed them over her left wrist, only hoping this would work. He said they were for protection, she didn't know if they would help her cross a barrier, especially his.
Nervously she took her hand up to the barrier, still fisted clutching the paper. Her knuckles touched the barrier and she felt the surge of energy run throughout her hand. But she pushed. She took in a sharp breath as pain invaded her entire arm, but her hand was on the other side of the barrier. Eyes wide with mild surprise she gulped and took in a deep breath, she could get in, but her arm was becoming numb. It was her guess that passing her whole body would hurt a bit more.
Pressing her lips together she shut her eyes and pushed herself through the barrier. Biting her lip she withheld her scream and it felt like all of her muscles seemed to want to contract at once. It felt like having a corporeal cramp. Once through, she swayed for balance breathing hard after having experienced such a thing. Her whole body felt twitchy now. She almost forgot the fact that she was in.
Swallowing down her pain she looked up to the small cabin and ran up the stairs skipping the first two. The door cracked as she flung it open and entered, suddenly stopping and almost falling over herself.
There was a peculiar silence as both looked over to each other with similar expressions. It seemed to last forever, the loudest noise came from the soft thumping of small droplets falling from Sango's kimono over the old wooden floor. The swelling ceiling creaked once or twice in their moment of silence. Both eyes scanned one another. Sango barely had time to realize he had nothing over his chest. His violet cloth lay folded neatly beside him, and his black yukata was pulled down to where the waistband was. He was sitting cross legged in front of the small alter at the very end with his hands intertwined over his lap. Only his index and thumb were extended making contact with each other pointing upward.
Miroku looked at the girl in front of him, who was still panting lightly. She was soaked, dirty and exhausted, yet she looked beautiful. The wet silk over her body barely covered anything. Only the small rivers of air under it gave away the secret of her second skin. Red had become maroon and the white petals of sakura blossoms were no longer a clean metallic white but rather a dull trans-lucid. Not to mention that it looked rather ruffled around her legs. With blotches of mud going from her bare feet to her thighs. Her hair was still scurrying with water as it stuck to anything it came upon, forming ebony rivers on her face, neck and shoulders.
So much was going on in their heads but noting seemed to come out of their mouths. Sango was the first to break out of the trance. No longer able to hold in what her mind told her so strongly to do. Confirm he was here. Her brows dropped to sad eyes as she stumbled forward almost tripping over her own feet. Falling in his lap she set her arms over his neck and pushed herself against him.
He shivered. Not knowing if it was her wet kimono over his warm flesh or the fact that he could feel her breath over his back and her own goose bumps against his skin. He longed to hold her, to return such a deep embrace. But as much as he wanted to, the reason he couldn't acted up seconds later.
"Ah!"
Sango tensed at his call of pain and quickly pushed herself away looking up to his eyes already wanting to ask the question. He cursed himself for loosing concentration again and looked down to her with half closed eyes.
"What's wr--"
"You shouldn't have come." He interrupted wincing again
Her gasp was caught in the back of her throat as she looked up to him with slightly wide eyes. Her brows dropped again and feeling shame arise in her stomach, but suddenly stopped. She broke eye contact with him and looked down to her left hand where the paper was still crumpled in it. Unconsciously he also looked down and watched as she opened her fingers slowly, revealing a very crumpled piece of paper. Rather curios he looked up again to see her looking down loathingly at the paper.
She had remembered. Her brain had come out of its wave of relief after seeing him and now everything had come back. Why he was here in the first place, her strange dream, Kagome's return with his cure, running through the rain preoccupied and scared, to be received by a 'You shouldn't have come'?!
Jaw clenched tightly she turned up to him with fury in her eyes, watching him jump back a bit. She threw the ball of paper in his lap and just as he was about to look down to it her other hand connected with his cheek.
It hurt, she didn't know why so much though. She should be used to it by now. This time however she had the impression that it had hurt her a lot more than it did him.
Shocked, he could do nothing but stare emptily to where his face had been pushed. He wondered what had just happened before he heard her harsh voice.
"Is that all... you have to say to me?"
Blinking a few times he tried to ignore the stinging in his cheek, understand what had just happened, and keep up his ritual as he turned back to her with question in his eyes.
"You shouldn't have come?!" she asked again a little louder
He just didn't like her being so angry, especially at him. But he couldn't think of anything to say.
"Not going to tell me that you lied? Or apologize for having made me worry beyond myself? Or at least tell me why the hell you pulled all this mess off?!" she slammed her hand against the floor
He had seen Sango angry before, and frustrated, but never with this feeling. It unnerved him and suddenly made him feel very guilty. So she had found out that he had lied about his cure. And she was in this state because of him. The guilt packed on.
Sango let out an exasperated sigh. "There's your damn cure. Be lucky you have such good friends that stick by you no matter how stupid your actions get."
He looked down at the paper in his lap then back up at Sango who was apparently still trying to get herself under control. She looked up from her fists to him with a softer expression, he couldn't be sure if what he saw roll down her cheeks were tears or lingering rain water from her bangs.
"Since I'm not welcome here, I'll leave now..."
Getting up clumsily she turned towards the door.
"Iya." He found himself saying
She turned slowly to face him again. "Why...?" she asked softly
He lowered his gaze thinking quickly of a reason why he said that "It's still raining, you could--" he stopped as looking up to her again he saw she was shaking her head.
"Why did you do this?" she asked again.
Having understood her original question he didn't dare look away from her now. But it was barely the time to talk about these things. His face became neutral.
"You really don't know?"
Sango's face twisted with question, after that there was silence in the small shrine again before she finally dared to speak.
"Do you think my happiness would come of your death?" he squirmed under her intense gaze and only relaxed when her eyes traveled down to her lap as she sat down once again in front of him.
"You would die for me?" she asked softly
Noticing the soft tinge of pink on her cheeks he stood mesmerized by her expectant expression for as long as he dare.
"Yes..."
Sango swallowed and looked up at him momentarily, then moved her hand over both of his. He couldn't help but look down at their contact, not fully understanding what she wanted from him. Shifting his gaze he found her also staring at their hands. She looked up to him meekly with an expression he had never seen before.
"Would you live for me?" she asked in a hushed tone
She was cold. Small chilly fingers griped his hands lovingly as she said this. And all he could do was look back at her with an uncertain gaze.
The emotion of her words sunk in, creating a rare feeling of warmth that spread from his chest to his whole body, and he couldn't help but smile softly at the girl before him.
"Yes..."
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