"The betrayal of death is the worst of all."
She sat in her room, quiet except for her breathing. She'd been there for three days, accepting food only when someone forced her to eat it. Her eyes were lackluster and her hair was losing its shine and becoming dingy. Nothing felt right to her anymore.
The Birds outside her window were chirping happily, how dare they when her heart was so heavy? The sun filtered into her room, how could it when her days were so gray? The Pink of her bedspread seemed to bright, so she stripped it off and stuffed it under her bed, lying only on the clean white sheets. The tree outside her window reminded her of him. She couldn't stand it; she had to talk to someone who understood.
She stood and looked out the window, blinking at the light. She felt dizzy at standing up so quickly and stared at the well house. But she couldn't stand any longer. She collapsed on her bed. Curling up. And crying herself to sleep again. She was only happy when she was asleep.
His hand curved around hers, holding it tightly as he looked down at her expectedly. She was smiling, a sense of happiness filling her very being making her tingle. He pulled her closer and bent down, capturing her mouth in his. His skin tasted like light sweetness, almost a marshmallow, almost mint. She pulled back giggling and his expression changed to that of guilt. He pulled her into his arms unexpectedly but she didn't mind. She was happy.
"Come home," he whispered, and she felt wetness on her shoulder. She pulled back to find him crying. His amber eyes filled with the sadness her had when he... No! He couldn't be! Inuyasha! Everything faded away from her, the bright spring day, Inuyasha, nothing was real, and she was plunged back into the darkness.
She awoke with a gasp, as if she had been holding her breath. Someone was there, at her door knocking. She groaned and sat up, ignoring the tears that fell down her face.
"Come in," she called softly, hoping it wasn't loud enough for them to hear. The door swung open and Hojo peeked his head inside, his body followed and in his hands was a bundle of flowers. He smiled sheepishly at her and hurried to wipe away the tears. He sat on the edge of her bed, and offered the flowers to her. She took them a bare smile tracing her lips. He came everyday now, bearing gifts for her. He was the only ray of sunlight she had in the world now.
She leaned forward and hugged him tightly; cutting him off as he told her all the medicinal uses of the beautiful flowers he had just given her. He seemed startled but hugged her back, stroking small circles along her spine. She breathed in his scent, lavender and all sorts of other herbs, one of the herbs stung her nose slightly making her want to sneeze. It reminded her of Inuyasha, the way he smelt of forest and cinnamon. Her brow creased and she held on to Hojo tighter, tears dripping past her cheeks.
He rocked her back and forth, as she sobbed quietly, she missed Inuyasha so much. She needed to see him again, and not in her dreams. A thought struck her, if she died would she, it was hope and it was all she needed.
She talked with Hojo a while about silly useless things that she would have welcomed otherwise. In a time she grew distant and he left, promising to return. She gave him a knowing smile and he left waving to her from the window. Her eye caught the well. I'm going back.
Sango perched near the well. Unknowingly close to where the monk had stayed during the day, crickets were chirping back and forth around her. The scent of warm rich wet earth was everywhere, musty and good at the same time. She smiled up at the sky, thanking it for the blessings they had received. If Inuyasha had been able to he would have set out just like this, waiting for Kagome. Under her arm Shippou slept, his tail curled up around his nose and his arms around it, sucking him thumb as he dreamed his pleasant dreams.
She stroked his head, watching the well for any sign of movement, needing to go back to the slumbering village with Kagome in tow. Like Inuyasha would have done. There was a scratch near the well and her eyes flicked towards her, her hope rising. Kirara pounced upon a cricket near the well, letting it go and repeating it. Sango sighed and watched for Miroku to take the watch that morning.
S. Wooz - -(this.is.a.heart.for.you)- You'll love the ending. Just keep an eye out for Chapter Five.