Chapter 3
- Tears of Coral -
Late that night, while all the others were asleep, Sango was still awake, her feelings still confused.
When she saw Miroku and Kuromi together throughout that day, she felt jealous, no doubt, but also...she felt strangely happy. The way they got along together, how he laughed at what she said, the strange likeness and unity between them; somehow, strange feelings of joy rushed through her as she saw these things in them.
'Snap out of it, Sango!' she told herself. 'What's wrong with you?'
"Sango-san?"
"Eep! Oh! Houshi-sama, it's only you!" she said.
"Sorry if I scared you," said Miroku, inching closer to her. "Do you mind?"
"Oh! No, not at all," she replied. Miroku smiled slightly, and sat next to Sango, leaning slightly against Kirara.
Sango was silent for a while, looking at the stars.
"So...what was it that you and Kuromi were talking about on our way here?" she asked. "You seemed to get along rather well,"
"Well, she told me about her past and I with mine," he said. "Things like that. Not very interesting topics, if you ask me. But I did get to know her a lot better,"
"Do you...think she'll make a good wife for you?" said Sango. "I mean, since..."
She trailed off and looked at her feet sheepishly.
Miroku shrugged and smiled slightly.
"I suppose," he said. "But it is rather odd how it all is; both of us, searching for a mate to continue our lineage,"
"It must be destiny, then..." said Sango quietly.
"Still," said Miroku, looking at Sango. "Why would she want a child? I mean, I have a perfectly good reason,"
"The Kazanna," said Sango softly. "You have no choice..."
"I should ask her, but..." said Miroku, and stopped there, gazing towards the stars and closing his eyes.
He sighed. There was silence, except for the quiet sound of Kirara's breathing.
'What am I going to do?' Sango thought. 'Houshi-sama doesn't love me, I know that. And he looks so happy around her...'
"Miroku..." she said, raising her head. The monk opened his eyes, suprised that she had used his real name.
"Yes, Sango-san?"
"I'm happy for you," she said, turning towards him; she was smiling, but her eyes were full of tears. Were they tears of joy or sadness, she couldn't tell. "She deserves you more than me. And you deserve a woman who wants you and loves you as much as you love her!"
"Sango..." said Miroku, a bit taken aback.
"You two will have a wonderful life together, I just know it!" she said, now sobbing. "Go! I don't deserve you!"
With that, she got up and ran away, resting only when she collapsed in the grass, crying.
"Sango-san..." said Miroku, watching her from afar as she fell asleep to the sound of her sobs.
Sango returned the next morning, her mood no different, if not better, than the night before.
But only Miroku knew of the pain she felt inside.