&&&&&&&
"Kamui!"
Sango called out through the south-facing window. The sun was high in the sky and the small insects darted about in their dance of life. The house had been built on the edge of the village, and had more land surrounding it as a result. She gazed out past her flower beds, past the herb and vegetable gardens, past the grazing oxen. The paddies would have a very good rice yield this month. She resumed her task of cutting the vegetables for the meal she was preparing.
"Yes okaa-san!"
Kamui answered his mother's call. Sango looked out the window again to see her youngest son running up the pathway to the house. He was seven years old now, and he was a big boy for his age. Good thing, too, as he and his older brother Fuma sparred with each other constantly. Fuma was nine years old and it had become important to him that his younger brother continue to work on his self-defense. So whenever they could, they sparred, remembering whatever lessons learned from their parents and uncle.
Kamui was a fast learner, and soon was almost his brother's equal in skill. He reached the window where his mother was and stood on tiptoe in order to see her face. His skin had turned brown from the time spent outside; his dancing eyes barely hid the mischief he could always be counted on to be in the middle of.
"Where were you?"
"Otooji Kohaku-san is teaching us his fishing technique."
His eyes opened wide and he gave her is brightest smile, which never failed to warm her heart.
"Uncle Kohaku, eh?" She eyed him suspiciously, as a large part of the mischief he found himself in usually had her brother at its source.
"Hai."
"Go and fetch your brother and uncle. It's time for lunch."
"Yes, mother."
Kamui turned and skipped away, a children's song wafting in the air behind him. Sango dried her hands and continued setting the eating area. Such a wonderful life she had. She and Miroku. He was a well-respected teacher in not one, but three villages. She had given him two fine sons. Her brother had completed his apprenticeship and was a fine sword-maker with a growing reputation. He would soon take a wife, if he could ever settle on one of the many girls who flitted about him like butterflies. Aya was the best one for him. Of that she was convinced. Now, it was only a matter of her making him see what was right in front of his face.
She placed a small flower arrangement in the center of the prepared food and contemplated how her life had come to this point. Miroku turned out to be a wonderful husband. Not a day went by that he didn't show her in some small way how much he was still in love with her. And even after two children, he still couldn't keep his hands off her. She blushed as she remembered last night's encounter. He could barely wait until the children were asleep. She placed her hand on her belly. Perhaps this was the daughter they were waiting for. She had faithfully followed Kaede's advice on timing. Now the outcome remained to be seen.
Kamui entered soon after, tugging his brother along by the sleeve. Kohaku entered right behind them.
"Did you all clean up properly?" She always had to remind them.
"Of course, onee-san." Kohaku gave her that sneaky grin of his.
"Lunch is light today because we're having supper at Kagome and Inu-Yasha's house as soon as Miroku arrives. So you must all be back here early so I can check you over. She has daughters, so her home is always spotless. Remember, no one dirty... ".
The boys chorused before she could finish. "...lives at this house."
She gave them a scolding look. The boys giggled. She turned quickly to Kohaku who was suddenly very interested in something on the ceiling.
"You. Sit."
"Hai."
She smiled at the joke only she could know, as they bagan their meal.
&&&&&&&
'Yes.'
She thought as they ate their meal, spanking Kamui on the back of his hand when he tried to steal a piece of fish from his brother when his head was turned.
'How wonderful this has turned out. A wonderful family, good friends... I've never been so happy in my life.'
A solitary tear ran down her cheek. Then another. Fuma dropped his chopsticks.
"Okaa-sama. Are you feeling well?"
It was so strange, but she couldn't stop herself from crying. The room was taking on a strange light, and now even Kohaku looked on with concern. She put down her own utensils, as the details of the room began to fade. Everything was getting darker and darker until tunnel-vision took her family farther and farther away.
She tried to scream, but found she had no voice.
&&&&&&&
Sango woke up from the dream - her hot tears falling on Miroku's face.
"Is it fated to be only a dream, Houshi-sama?" She whispered to him.
Kilala interrupted her musings, mewing her warning. Sango quickly disengaged herself from him, shuddering from both the colder air outside the blanket, and from simply losing physical contact with him. Placing the wrap back over the prone monk, she took a piece of cloth and wiped his face tenderly.
"I want to be that close to you again, Miroku. Closer, even. Please stay with me."
&&&&&&&
"Make the cut here, Inu-Yasha." Kaede had marked the area on the spider's head. Inu-Yasha took one swipe with Tetsusaiga and cleaved the head in half. The elder miko stepped quickly to clean the blood away from the gland that produced the venom, removing it with her knife in three cuts.
"Thank you, Inu-Yasha. I believe that I have all I need, now." With that, she hurried into the hut to prepare the anti-venom.
"I'm goin' to check up on Kagome." He yelled back as he turned to head toward the well.
&&&&&&&
Once outside the well-house, Inu-Yasha walked through the yard toward the house. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught the old tree. The Goshinboku. Taking a detour, he walked up to it and stood before it. For a moment, he contemplated all that the tree had meant to him in his life, how it was the linchpin that connected him with his first love, and hopefully, his last. He walked closer to it and placed a hand on it, feeling the aged, gnarled bark. Although mostly grown over, the indentations from Kikyo's arrows were still there. He ran his fingers over them, fighting off the sadness. He patted the tree's trunk, and turned to the house.
Once at the door, he knocked, deciding that entering unannounced was something he would no longer do unless it was an emergency. Her happiness now meant everything to him. After a moment, the door opened. Expecting to greet Mrs. Higurashi, he was surprised to meet... Sota!
The boy looked up, apparently not expecting to see the hanyou either. His face registered surprise, then anger.
"Thief!" He slammed the door shut. Inu-Yasha shouted through the door.
"Sota! Open the door. Listen. I'm sorry about what happened." Inu-Yasha was now also upset, having been so bluntly reminded of his earlier transgression.
"Go away. I don't want to talk to you anymore." Came the voice through the door.
&&&&&&&
Kagome returned from the pharmacy with the items Kaede requested. Hurrying toward the house, she noticed two figures in the yard. The bright red haori told her immediately who one of them was.
'He really wants to be with me.'
Her heartbeat quickened at the thought. She set the package down in front of the door and walked over to see what was going on. The other person was her brother. And he was working through a kata with... Tetsusaiga?
Inu-Yasha was on one knee with his back to her so he didn't see her, but she didn't get more than fifty feet away when he picked up her scent. He turned his head to her and smiled that smile she had become so fond of. She ran over to them.
"Hey, Kagome! Inu-Yasha is teaching me 'Toyama-ryu Batto do' sword fighting technique. I'll be the best in my Kenjutsu class after this!"
Almost ignoring her brother, Kagome had by now encircled her arms about her man, letting him take her into a kiss as he combed his fingers through her hair. She patted his shoulder as she remembered her brother standing there. Sota was looking at his feet with a blush on his face, tracing a line in the earth with one toe.
"So, you've become a sensei now. What brought this on?"
She looked at the two of them before Sota piped up. "It's an agreement between two men. You wouldn't understand."
"Is that so?" She arched an eyebrow before she tugged Inu-Yasha's sleeve, a more concerned look on her face.
"How is he?"
"Kaede was preparing the medicine when I left her."
"We have to get back. Sota, tell mom I'll be back as soon as I can.
"All right. And Inu-Yasha, don't forget what you promised. O.k?" He took one knee as he bowed and presented Tetsusaiga to Inu-Yasha.
"Arigatou, sensei."
"Onozukara, deshi."
Inu-Yasha sheathed his sword, then hugged Sota before mussing his hair. The couple turned to retrieve the package of medicine before heading back to the well.
"What was that all about?" Kagome asked.
"It's an agreement between two men. You wouldn't understand." Inu-Yasha echoed Sota's statement with a smile on his face.
&&&&&&&
A/N:
okaa-san, okaa-sama - mother
otooji - uncle (younger than mother)
onee-san - elder sister
deshi - young pupil
Kenjutsu - Japanese sword fighting
onozukara - of course, absolutely
Cynical Chaos: Thanks for your review. The cliffs are a part of the story, but this chapter should be better for you.
LOTRwolf: Yes. She doesn't want to lose him. Thanks.
CriscoKittie: You are right! I completely forgot that. This story is just taking a different turn, almost on its own. Thanks.
ShortPoet: Glad you enjoyed. Remember I said in chapter 4 that Kaede was experimenting with various over-the-counter medications Kagome brought back with her? Kaede is quite skilled as a healer, and has isolated medicines derived from formulations she would never have access to. That Kagome can bring back stuff with her is one of the plot holes in InuYasha that we have to simply accept in order to continue on with the story. It violates laws in both classical and quantum physics - she's destroying and then creating matter, which is not supposed to be possible. Eh, what 'cha gonna do?
deanna: Glad you enjoyed. Yes, it's tough for Sango right now, but what's that I see? Light at the end of the tunnel?
Torina Archelda: Thanks, and glad you like it.
crazylittlecheezer: Kagome went back to her time to pick up the items Kaede asked for. Sango grumbles often about Miroku's behavior, but she'll do anything she can to keep him safe, because... well, you know why. And your name is the best.
"Kamui!"
Sango called out through the south-facing window. The sun was high in the sky and the small insects darted about in their dance of life. The house had been built on the edge of the village, and had more land surrounding it as a result. She gazed out past her flower beds, past the herb and vegetable gardens, past the grazing oxen. The paddies would have a very good rice yield this month. She resumed her task of cutting the vegetables for the meal she was preparing.
"Yes okaa-san!"
Kamui answered his mother's call. Sango looked out the window again to see her youngest son running up the pathway to the house. He was seven years old now, and he was a big boy for his age. Good thing, too, as he and his older brother Fuma sparred with each other constantly. Fuma was nine years old and it had become important to him that his younger brother continue to work on his self-defense. So whenever they could, they sparred, remembering whatever lessons learned from their parents and uncle.
Kamui was a fast learner, and soon was almost his brother's equal in skill. He reached the window where his mother was and stood on tiptoe in order to see her face. His skin had turned brown from the time spent outside; his dancing eyes barely hid the mischief he could always be counted on to be in the middle of.
"Where were you?"
"Otooji Kohaku-san is teaching us his fishing technique."
His eyes opened wide and he gave her is brightest smile, which never failed to warm her heart.
"Uncle Kohaku, eh?" She eyed him suspiciously, as a large part of the mischief he found himself in usually had her brother at its source.
"Hai."
"Go and fetch your brother and uncle. It's time for lunch."
"Yes, mother."
Kamui turned and skipped away, a children's song wafting in the air behind him. Sango dried her hands and continued setting the eating area. Such a wonderful life she had. She and Miroku. He was a well-respected teacher in not one, but three villages. She had given him two fine sons. Her brother had completed his apprenticeship and was a fine sword-maker with a growing reputation. He would soon take a wife, if he could ever settle on one of the many girls who flitted about him like butterflies. Aya was the best one for him. Of that she was convinced. Now, it was only a matter of her making him see what was right in front of his face.
She placed a small flower arrangement in the center of the prepared food and contemplated how her life had come to this point. Miroku turned out to be a wonderful husband. Not a day went by that he didn't show her in some small way how much he was still in love with her. And even after two children, he still couldn't keep his hands off her. She blushed as she remembered last night's encounter. He could barely wait until the children were asleep. She placed her hand on her belly. Perhaps this was the daughter they were waiting for. She had faithfully followed Kaede's advice on timing. Now the outcome remained to be seen.
Kamui entered soon after, tugging his brother along by the sleeve. Kohaku entered right behind them.
"Did you all clean up properly?" She always had to remind them.
"Of course, onee-san." Kohaku gave her that sneaky grin of his.
"Lunch is light today because we're having supper at Kagome and Inu-Yasha's house as soon as Miroku arrives. So you must all be back here early so I can check you over. She has daughters, so her home is always spotless. Remember, no one dirty... ".
The boys chorused before she could finish. "...lives at this house."
She gave them a scolding look. The boys giggled. She turned quickly to Kohaku who was suddenly very interested in something on the ceiling.
"You. Sit."
"Hai."
She smiled at the joke only she could know, as they bagan their meal.
&&&&&&&
'Yes.'
She thought as they ate their meal, spanking Kamui on the back of his hand when he tried to steal a piece of fish from his brother when his head was turned.
'How wonderful this has turned out. A wonderful family, good friends... I've never been so happy in my life.'
A solitary tear ran down her cheek. Then another. Fuma dropped his chopsticks.
"Okaa-sama. Are you feeling well?"
It was so strange, but she couldn't stop herself from crying. The room was taking on a strange light, and now even Kohaku looked on with concern. She put down her own utensils, as the details of the room began to fade. Everything was getting darker and darker until tunnel-vision took her family farther and farther away.
She tried to scream, but found she had no voice.
&&&&&&&
Sango woke up from the dream - her hot tears falling on Miroku's face.
"Is it fated to be only a dream, Houshi-sama?" She whispered to him.
Kilala interrupted her musings, mewing her warning. Sango quickly disengaged herself from him, shuddering from both the colder air outside the blanket, and from simply losing physical contact with him. Placing the wrap back over the prone monk, she took a piece of cloth and wiped his face tenderly.
"I want to be that close to you again, Miroku. Closer, even. Please stay with me."
&&&&&&&
"Make the cut here, Inu-Yasha." Kaede had marked the area on the spider's head. Inu-Yasha took one swipe with Tetsusaiga and cleaved the head in half. The elder miko stepped quickly to clean the blood away from the gland that produced the venom, removing it with her knife in three cuts.
"Thank you, Inu-Yasha. I believe that I have all I need, now." With that, she hurried into the hut to prepare the anti-venom.
"I'm goin' to check up on Kagome." He yelled back as he turned to head toward the well.
&&&&&&&
Once outside the well-house, Inu-Yasha walked through the yard toward the house. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught the old tree. The Goshinboku. Taking a detour, he walked up to it and stood before it. For a moment, he contemplated all that the tree had meant to him in his life, how it was the linchpin that connected him with his first love, and hopefully, his last. He walked closer to it and placed a hand on it, feeling the aged, gnarled bark. Although mostly grown over, the indentations from Kikyo's arrows were still there. He ran his fingers over them, fighting off the sadness. He patted the tree's trunk, and turned to the house.
Once at the door, he knocked, deciding that entering unannounced was something he would no longer do unless it was an emergency. Her happiness now meant everything to him. After a moment, the door opened. Expecting to greet Mrs. Higurashi, he was surprised to meet... Sota!
The boy looked up, apparently not expecting to see the hanyou either. His face registered surprise, then anger.
"Thief!" He slammed the door shut. Inu-Yasha shouted through the door.
"Sota! Open the door. Listen. I'm sorry about what happened." Inu-Yasha was now also upset, having been so bluntly reminded of his earlier transgression.
"Go away. I don't want to talk to you anymore." Came the voice through the door.
&&&&&&&
Kagome returned from the pharmacy with the items Kaede requested. Hurrying toward the house, she noticed two figures in the yard. The bright red haori told her immediately who one of them was.
'He really wants to be with me.'
Her heartbeat quickened at the thought. She set the package down in front of the door and walked over to see what was going on. The other person was her brother. And he was working through a kata with... Tetsusaiga?
Inu-Yasha was on one knee with his back to her so he didn't see her, but she didn't get more than fifty feet away when he picked up her scent. He turned his head to her and smiled that smile she had become so fond of. She ran over to them.
"Hey, Kagome! Inu-Yasha is teaching me 'Toyama-ryu Batto do' sword fighting technique. I'll be the best in my Kenjutsu class after this!"
Almost ignoring her brother, Kagome had by now encircled her arms about her man, letting him take her into a kiss as he combed his fingers through her hair. She patted his shoulder as she remembered her brother standing there. Sota was looking at his feet with a blush on his face, tracing a line in the earth with one toe.
"So, you've become a sensei now. What brought this on?"
She looked at the two of them before Sota piped up. "It's an agreement between two men. You wouldn't understand."
"Is that so?" She arched an eyebrow before she tugged Inu-Yasha's sleeve, a more concerned look on her face.
"How is he?"
"Kaede was preparing the medicine when I left her."
"We have to get back. Sota, tell mom I'll be back as soon as I can.
"All right. And Inu-Yasha, don't forget what you promised. O.k?" He took one knee as he bowed and presented Tetsusaiga to Inu-Yasha.
"Arigatou, sensei."
"Onozukara, deshi."
Inu-Yasha sheathed his sword, then hugged Sota before mussing his hair. The couple turned to retrieve the package of medicine before heading back to the well.
"What was that all about?" Kagome asked.
"It's an agreement between two men. You wouldn't understand." Inu-Yasha echoed Sota's statement with a smile on his face.
&&&&&&&
A/N:
okaa-san, okaa-sama - mother
otooji - uncle (younger than mother)
onee-san - elder sister
deshi - young pupil
Kenjutsu - Japanese sword fighting
onozukara - of course, absolutely
Cynical Chaos: Thanks for your review. The cliffs are a part of the story, but this chapter should be better for you.
LOTRwolf: Yes. She doesn't want to lose him. Thanks.
CriscoKittie: You are right! I completely forgot that. This story is just taking a different turn, almost on its own. Thanks.
ShortPoet: Glad you enjoyed. Remember I said in chapter 4 that Kaede was experimenting with various over-the-counter medications Kagome brought back with her? Kaede is quite skilled as a healer, and has isolated medicines derived from formulations she would never have access to. That Kagome can bring back stuff with her is one of the plot holes in InuYasha that we have to simply accept in order to continue on with the story. It violates laws in both classical and quantum physics - she's destroying and then creating matter, which is not supposed to be possible. Eh, what 'cha gonna do?
deanna: Glad you enjoyed. Yes, it's tough for Sango right now, but what's that I see? Light at the end of the tunnel?
Torina Archelda: Thanks, and glad you like it.
crazylittlecheezer: Kagome went back to her time to pick up the items Kaede asked for. Sango grumbles often about Miroku's behavior, but she'll do anything she can to keep him safe, because... well, you know why. And your name is the best.