Me: Wow, it's been a long time since I've updated! I finally figured out what to write next as you can see. Plus, school has been a curse.
Honestly, I had this weird KagSan dream a while ago that I felt was some kind of sign to get back to writing this fic. As a special bonus, I'll tell you about it at the end of the chapter!
And Naru the Miko, don't worry. There's a reason the title of this fic is called "Closer." Heh, heh.
Disclaimer: "InuYasha" is property of Rumiko Takahashi, Sunrise, Viz, and all those other people who bring this series to us!
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Chapter 3
Kusari didn't seem fazed by the others' outburst.
"What do you mean – ah!" Sango had taken a step forward to confront Kusari, but found that the chain wouldn't allow her to move; which was weird, seeing as how the end of it wasn't attached to anything. She tugged on it, but it wouldn't budge. "What's wrong with this chain? It won't move!"
"Huh?" Inuyasha was unconvinced. He went to test it out himself. "What are you – " but when he pulled on the chain himself, he found that it indeed wouldn't move. "Uh – what's with this thing? Urgh!" He pulled on it harder, but he still was only able to drag it across the ground about a centimeter away from its original spot.
"You can't pick it up," Kusari said simply. "It –" he stopped when he and the others saw that Kagome had taken it upon herself to lift the chain up off the ground. What was surprising was that she had actually managed to do it, and with amazing ease.
"Uh…" Kagome was suddenly reminded of the time she was able to remove Tessaiga from Inuyasha's father's grave. "Um…" she looked to the others for some kind of explanation.
"Kagome-sama," Miroku spoke with awe, "how were you able to do that?"
"I don't know." Kagome gazed down at the length of metal in her hand.
"Of course she was able to do it." Everyone looked round at Kusari. "After all, isn't she the one who's supposedly in love with Sango-chan?"
The expression of, "Huh?" was plastered on everyone's faces.
Miroku tried getting his head around this. "So, you're saying that Kagome-sama was able to pick it up because she has feelings for Sango?"
Kusari nodded his head. "Of course, the feeling has to be mutual."
Kagome and Sango stared at one another, not sure what to say in response to this.
"Okay…" Miroku turned back to the previous subject. "But why can't you remove the chain?"
The youkai shrugged. "I didn't plan for it to come off."
"Didn't plan for it?" Sango repeated aghast. "You mean you expected me to wear this thing forever?"
"Why not? I thought it might grow on you; and besides, it would have helped to keep you in check." After seeing Sango's growing desire to smack him one, he quickly added, "But I was planning on coming up for a way to take it off eventually!"
"Why don't you just do that now?" Magu inquired.
"Ah, these things take time," Kusari stated plainly. "I could start now, but it wouldn't be ready until later. So until then," he smiled brightly, "you should probably try and go about your business as usual." He began pushing the others out the room to go outside.
"Ah – wait a second!" Sango protested.
"You mean in order for Sango-chan to go somewhere, I have to be there to carry her chain?" Kagome couldn't believe this was happening.
"Bin-go!" Kusari sounded. "Don't worry – as soon as I have the solution to this little problem, I'll come and sort it out straight away!" With a last push, he shoved the group out onto the verandah, his brothers, Rie, and Kokoro, right behind him. "See you later!" After the others had said their goodbyes, the group was now left outside, staring at a closed door.
"I guess there's nothing for it then," Inuyasha decided. He turned around and began walking. "Let's go back now."
Kagome sighed. She glanced beside her at Sango, who seemed to be absorbed in her own thoughts. "Come on, Sango-chan," she told her before she started leading her by the chain.
Miroku followed behind the others, watching Kagome and Sango carefully. Shippo jumped up onto his shoulder.
"What is it?" he asked, observing Miroku's expression.
"Hm? Oh, nothing…"
Shippo narrowed his eyes slightly. "It's never nothing with you."
"Well, we may just see soon enough," Miroku smiled.
"Huh?"
- - -
When they got back to the village, Kaede was, to say the least, surprised when she saw Kagome leading Sango back with her – by some sort of leash… Needless to say, an explanation was in order for the Miko. She didn't seem very trusting of letting a youkai like Kusari take care of the matter, but neither did she say anything about trying to solve the problem herself.
Kagome let out a heavy sigh. "So what now…?"
"I suppose we should go about as usual like Kusari suggested," Miroku responded.
"That'll be a bit difficult," Kagome mused. She glanced up at Sango's face.
The taiji-ya made to go inside. "Well, I think I should go change – ah!" She was suddenly jerked back. Sango looked round to see that Kagome had dropped the end of the chain in her hand.
"Wait, I have a better idea." Kagome ran past Sango into Kaede's home. When she came back out, she was carrying Sango's clothes and some towels in her arms. She scooped up the chain with her spare hand. "Come on!" Sango meanwhile had no choice but to follow her to wherever it was the girl was going.
"Hmm…" Judging by what Kagome was holding, Miroku had a pretty good idea of what it was she had in mind. "You know, I think I'll – "
Inuyasha whipped Tessaiga out in front of him. "You think you'll what?" he said in a threatening tone.
"Uh… wait here until they get back," Miroku finished hesitantly.
Shippo shook his head. "Some things will never change…"
- - -
Kagome hung the towels and Sango's clothes over a nearby tree branch. "I thought you might want to clean up after what you've been through."
"Oh…" Sango didn't seem to have thought of this. "Um… yes… thank you…"
Kagome smiled. "It's nothing. I just thought it would be nice." She got undressed and took one of the towels off the branch for herself. She waited for Sango to do the same until the two of them could go into the onsen together. Kagome left the end of the chain at the edge of the onsen, relaxing as she slipped into the warm waters. "Ah… feels good…"
"Mm…" Sango nodded in response.
The atmosphere felt somewhat tense between the two. Sure, they've bathed together before, but that was when they were simply friends. Now that they were something… more… it felt slightly awkward for them to be around each other.
Kagome couldn't help it though, as her eyes fell onto one of the injuries on Sango's arm. She reached her hand out tentatively from the water, grazing it gently with her fingertips. "Your cuts don't sting or anything, do they?"
"They're long fine by now," Sango assured her, shifting her eyes slightly to watch the other girl.
"Well that's good." Kagome turned her attention back to the steamy waters. "I'm glad you're alright, after everything that's happened." She bobbed her legs in the water absentmindedly, trying to find something to do.
"You worry too much." Sango scooped up some of the onsen's water in her hands and rubbed it against her face.
Kagome tilted her head. "But it's only natural, right?" She paused before adding, "Because I care about you so much."
Sango abruptly stopped what she was doing to stare out blankly across the steaming water.
"I bet it's the same for you." Kagome smiled as she said this.
Sango felt her face turn red. Whether it was from the hot water or embarrassment, she wasn't sure (yeah, right…), but she bowed her head and tugged at the chain around her neck uncomfortably. Oh, the chain… "I hope this doesn't rust…" she murmured in an attempt to distract herself.
Kagome must have heard her though, as Sango saw a hand slide underneath the chain at her neck. She looked up and saw Kagome with a docile expression on her face. Her heartbeat sped up as she soon realized that Kagome was pulling the two of them closer together. She squeezed her eyes shut; having a feeling she knew what was coming. She waited… waited for Kagome's familiar scent… waited for her soft touch… but it never came. Instead something splashed against the side of her face. Bewildered, Sango opened her eyes and saw Kagome laughing away.
"Hahaha!" She looked up at Sango, trying to suppress her giggles. "You thought I was going to kiss you, didn't you?" Kagome broke into another fit of laughter.
It took Sango a couple of seconds before she retorted, "Kagome-chan!"
Kagome splashed Sango again to continue her amusement.
"Hey, Kagome-chan!" Sango protested. "Stop that!"
"Haha! Try and stop me!" Kagome giggled back. She glanced at Sango who seemed to have a cross expression on her face, though she found it rather comical. Amidst the splatter of water, Kagome thought, 'I really hope this works out…'
- - -
Inuyasha swung Tessaiga around, examining it from every angle. "Drat… looks like I'll have to get Totosai to fix Tessaiga." The bits of metal Renkin had melded on refused to come off with brute force, too much of it being too risky as it could damage Tessaiga even more so.
"And when are you going to do that?" Miroku proposed.
"I suppose the sooner the better, in case we get into any fights soon. With Sango handicapped the way she is, we'll especially have to be ready."
"Hm… you may be right about that…" Miroku brightened up. "Well, guess you'd better be on your way then!"
"Hrm?" Inuyasha raised a suspicious eyebrow at the monk. "You'd better come too." He grabbed Miroku by the front of his robes and proceeded to drag him away. "Shippo, tell Kagome and Sango where we've gone."
"Uh – right."
"What?" Miroku raised his voice. "No, Inuyasha, why do I have to go with you?"
"You know perfectly well why."
"No I don't." Miroku wriggled around to try and break free of Inuyasha's grasp.
"Miroku, stop that!" The two therefore were engaged in a struggle of sorts. Inuyasha trying to haul away Miroku while the monk strived to be released from his grasp on the ground.
"Inuyasha?"
"Hrn?" At the call of his name, Inuyasha looked up, Miroku following. Kagome and Sango had just returned from the onsen, and were now staring at the two with perplexed expressions.
"What are you doing?" Kagome inquired.
With a grunt, Inuyasha lifted Tessaiga before him. "I'm going to get Totosai to mend Tessaiga for me."
"Oh…" Kagome glanced down at Miroku. "You're going too, Miroku-sama?"
Taking a quick glimpse of Inuyasha's threatening look, Miroku hastily answered, "Apparently so."
"Oh… well in that case…" Kagome dropped the end of Sango's chain to run into Kaede's home. "Wait here just a moment." When she came back out, the girl was carrying two bentos. "Take these in case you get hungry."
"Ah, thanks." Inuyasha took the boxes from her.
"That's very considerate of you, Kagome-sama."
"Well I made one for everybody. You might as well take it with you."
Inuyasha turned to leave. "Alright; we'll be back as soon as we can."
"Take care of yourselves," Miroku said as he got up, with an intended underlying meaning behind his message.
"We'll be fine," Kagome replied. Everyone said their farewells, Inuyasha and Miroku heading for Totosai's, while the others stayed behind.
"Hey, Kagome?" Shippo tugged on Kagome's sock.
"Yes?" She bent down to be at eye-level with the kitsune.
"Well, you said you made a bento for everyone, right?"
Kagome smiled. "Do you want to eat it now?"
"If that's alright…" Shippo said sheepishly.
"Of course it is!" Kagome straightened up. "What do you think?" she asked Sango. "Want some of my bento?"
"Uh… sure…"
Kagome smirked and pulled the damp towel over Sango's head downwards. "You're going to eat the one I made especially for you."
The way Kagome said that, Sango wasn't sure whether to be flattered or wary of eating her food.
- - -
"Inuyasha," Miroku said as he peered back at the village over his shoulder, "I didn't know you could be so soft."
"Huh?" Inuyasha retorted haughtily. "What are you talking about?"
"About basically leaving Kagome-sama and Sango in the village by themselves."
"What about it?"
"Well, it gives them some alone time," Miroku replied slyly.
Inuyasha snorted. "This is exactly why I decided to bring you along."
"I protest!" Miroku retorted indignantly. "As curious as I am, I would have been able to resist my natural urges."
"Your 'urges' as you call them aren't all that natural."
Miroku huffed and simply decided to leave the conversation at that. He wasn't all that off of what Inuyasha's intentions were however. As they walked, Inuyasha thought about what exactly Kagome and Sango would do with their time together.
- - -
Sango waited out on the verandah with Shippo and Kirara for Kagome. Kagome thought they could all sit outside to eat the bentos she made. She came back out carrying a rather large-looking bento with two smaller ones on top. Handing the smaller ones to Shippo and Kirara, Kagome unraveled the cloth around the larger box to revel an impressive layout of food which Sango gaped at.
"Kagome-chan… this is a lot…"
"Do you think so?" Kagome gave the bento the once-over. "I can share it with you if you like."
"What?" Sango was aghast. "All this was supposed to be for me?"
"Of course," Kagome said as though this were obvious. "I made it with all my love for you."
At this comment, Sango's face blushed crimson. She put a hand to her face. "I think I'm too embarrassed to eat now…"
"Oh, come on!" Kagome shoved an onigiri in Sango's face. "I made it, now you eat it."
Sango took the onigiri from Kagome's hands. "I didn't say I wouldn't eat it." With that, Sango bit into the onigiri's top.
Kagome leaned forward in anticipation. "How is it?"
Sango swallowed. "It's good."
Kagome smiled triumphantly. "Shippo-chan," she started, "do you want to drink – Shippo-chan?" Kagome looked around for the young kitsune. "Eh? Where did Shippo-chan go?"
"Kirara?" Sango's voice called. Kagome spun around to see that the feline youkai was also missing.
"Where did they go?" Kagome thought out loud. "Do you think we should go look for them?"
"Mmm… Well, Kirara's been off by herself before… If Shippo is with her it should be alright. Besides, they can't have gone very far off."
"Okay…" Kagome agreed with the taiji-ya and settled down. She picked up a set of chopsticks to begin eating from the bento as well.
As the two girls ate wondering where Shippo and Kirara went, they accidentally reached for the same piece of food.
"Oh, er… go ahead and take it, Kagome-chan."
"No, you – I made the bento for you after all."
"But you should be able to eat what you make as well."
"Well… seeing as how it's the last one, do you want to share it?"
"Um… sure, I suppose that's fine." Sango wondered just how Kagome was going to split this one little bit of food up. To her surprise, Kagome decided to bite off half of it, and held the rest out to Sango. For a second Sango hesitated, but seeing Kagome's eager face, she decided to just go with it.
Kagome smiled as she watched Sango eat from her chopsticks. "You're so nice, Sango-chan."
"Hm?" Sango looked at her as she ate.
Kagome however didn't respond to this. She simply continued to grin and enjoy the bento she made for the one she cherished the most.
- - -
Shippo and Kirara, as it turned out, went off to eat somewhere away from the two girls.
Shippo sighed, popping another wiener into his mouth. "Even I know when it's time to leave those two alone."
Kirara "mewed," nibbling her own bento.
Shippo gazed up through the branches of the tree they sat under, sunlight coming through like droplets. "I wonder how Inuyasha and Miroku are doing…"
- - -
"What did you do!?" Totosai couldn't help but weep at the former masterpiece of a sword he had once made. He scolded Inuyasha, "I keep fixing Tessaiga but all you do is keep wreaking it – haven't you learned to take care of it yet!?"
"Hey, it wasn't my fault!" Inuyasha snapped back. "I had my back turned for one second and the next thing I know this youkai does this to Tessaiga!"
"A-ha! So you really should have been paying attention, but you weren't!"
"I was deflected in the midst of battle!"
Miroku finally took it upon himself to put a stop to this little spat. "Now, now – what's done is done. Right now, the important thing is that Tessaiga should be mended as soon as possible. We should get back before something comes up."
"Humph…" Totosai grunted. "If you plan to use Tessaiga to protect humans, you should keep it in good condition in that case."
"To-to-sai…" Inuyasha murmured warningly.
"I would think you would want to protect that girl – Kagome," Totosai retorted. "Where is the rest of your group anyways?" Totosai glanced around for them.
"Oh, they're waiting for us at the village by Goshinboku," Miroku told the sword maker. With a grin, he added, "Inuyasha thought it would be nice to let Kagome-sama and Sango stay by themselves with Shippo and Kirara."
"Hrm?" Totosai reached for his mallet. "What do you mean by that? Inuyasha actually took the time to be thoughtful?"
Inuyasha growled. "Grr… You - !"
"Actually…" Miroku got a questionable glint in his eye. "The fact of the matter is that -"
"Miroku!" Inuyasha interrupted him suddenly. "What do you think you're doing?"
"Totosai merely wants to know what's going on, Inuyasha," Miroku replied with his façade-like aura.
"He doesn't need to know!" Inuyasha spat. "Why do you keep telling everyone about that? I wouldn't be surprised if the next thing I know Naraku finds out!"
"I think that would most likely be due to his Saimyoushou, not I," Miroku stated matter-of-factly.
"Grr…"
Totosai decided to ignore the two and instead begin work on Tessaiga. 'An odd group they are,' he thought as he banged away.
- - -
'Um…' Kagome stared at her mathematics textbook, managing to draw only a blank. What a pain it was to miss so much school. Believing that she wasn't going to be solving this anytime soon, Kagome's mind began to wander.
Sango was sitting next to her right, as she wasn't able to go very far without Kagome. While Kagome was doing (or at least trying to do) her homework, Sango kept herself busy polishing Hiraikotsu. Kagome watched her with interest, whether it was her tending to Hiraikotsu, or Sango herself.
Feeling Kagome's gaze on her, Sango turned her head slightly to look at her.
"What is it?"
"Hm?" Kagome appeared to drift back to reality. "Oh, sorry; I just couldn't seem to concentrate on my homework."
"Is it that bad?" Sango crawled over towards Kagome and leaned over to look at her textbook. Her pleasant scent passed by Kagome's nose when she moved over, tickling her senses. Catching her breath, Kagome felt warm as her heart beat quickened. She watched Sango make an expression of bewilderment when she saw her textbook.
"What are - ?" Sango had to stop abruptly as Kagome leaned forward and kissed her earlobe. She jerked back and brought her hand over her ear, flustered eyes staring at Kagome. "Wha- what was…?"
"Sorry," Kagome apologized. "Did you… not like that?"
Sango's face was red. "I-It just surprised me; that's all."
Kagome smiled somewhat shyly at her. "Can you come over here?" Kagome set her books aside.
"Um…" Slowly, Sango moved closer to Kagome, feeling unsure of what was in store for her.
"Here." Kagome guided her to lay her head down in her lap. She softly ran her fingers through Sango's bangs without saying a word; simply letting the quiet air provide for ambience.
Sango tried to calm herself as her head rested against Kagome's warm body. Eventually the passing breeze helped to cool her down, taking the time to settle comfortably into Kagome's presence. As she closed her eyes, Kagome brushed her hand through Sango's bangs softly.
"Kagome-chan…" Sango finally murmured.
"Hm?"
"This is… nice."
Kagome smiled down kindly at her, happy.
- - -
'Clank!' went another piece of metal as Totosai pried it off Tessaiga. Inuyasha eyed it tiredly as it rolled off to the side.
He sighed from boredom. "This is taking so long…"
"Well what do you expect?" Totosai snapped. "All these bits of metal melded to Tessaiga – I have to be careful in removing each one and getting Tessaiga back to its former glory."
Inuyasha grunted.
"Anxious to get back are we, Inuyasha?" Miroku glanced at hanyou sitting across from him.
"That's not it," Inuyasha mumbled.
"Is it?" Miroku said in a light tone. "Well don't worry about Kagome-sama and Sango," he smirked. "I'm sure they're taking very good care of each other."
"You perverted Houshi!" Inuyasha barked angrily. "That's not what I'm concerned about!"
"Oh?" Miroku looked surprised. "Shippo and Kirara then? Worried they're being neglected by Kagome-sama and Sango while they –"
"THAT'S NOT IT!"
"Will you two quiet down!" Totosai clamoured. "I have to concentrate!"
Inuyasha sighed heavily to let out his pent-up frustration, slumping back against the wall. Miroku decided that was enough fun for now, so he put on a more somber demeanor.
"So what is it that's bothering you?"
Inuyasha's eyes softened as he stared at the floor. There was a bug there which looked like it was about to die. "I don't know… I just feel that there's something." Another insect came crawling into Inuyasha's view. It started moving towards the bug that Inuyasha had spotted earlier. When the crawling insect came close to the bug and touched it, the bug suddenly became livelier and moved. 'Huh?' Inuyasha blinked at the pair.
"HI-YO!!"
"Gyah!" Inuyasha jumped at the sudden noise. His eyes darted towards the cave entrance where he saw two familiar youkai.
"Kusari!?" Inuyasha growled.
"And Yaiba," Miroku added.
"What?" Totosai whirled around. "Two youkai?" he said in a panic.
"Oh, don't worry old man," Kusari waved his hand. "We're not here for you or anything. We were just passing by when we saw doggy-ears and the Houshi here."
"Doggy-ears?" Inuyasha snarled in a lengthened tone.
"What are you two doing here?" Miroku asked them.
"We were looking for you guys," Yaiba answered him. He glanced around the cavern. "Where's the rest of your group?"
"They're back at the village," Miroku replied simply. "Inuyasha and I just came here to get Tessaiga mended."
"Oh, you mean the katana Renkin played with?" Kusari said light-heartedly.
"More like mutilated," Inuyasha spat. "Why were you two looking for us anyway?"
"Hee hee," Kusari grinned broadly. "Because I've found the solution to Kagome and Sango-chan's chain problem."
"Have you?" Miroku seemed intrigued. "What is it?"
Kusari waved his finger. "Ah-ah-ah… It's a secret."
"Hmm…" Miroku became more engrossed in this 'secret solution' Kusari had.
"Well, since they're not here I guess we'll continue searching for them," Kusari said as he and Yaiba were about to depart.
Miroku got up. "Let me save you the trouble by leading you to them," he offered.
"Really?" Kusari grinned. "Thanks, Houshi!"
Sensing that there was some ulterior motive behind Miroku's proposition, Inuyasha butted in. "I'm coming too." He turned to Totosai. "I'll be back later to get Tessaiga."
"Fine, fine," he replied before going back to his work.
"Alright," Inuyasha looked at the others. "Let's go."
- - -
Everything was peaceful. Sango was resting comfortably in Kagome's lap, while the other girl enjoyed having her there so close to her. That's why it partly came as annoying when Kagome found that she had to break their little moment together. Something triggered a wavelength in Kagome's head which caused her to look up at the forest. Sango could tell.
Slowly opening her eyes, she voiced, "Kagome-chan?" Sango got up and looked at her with concern. "Kagome-chan, what's wrong?"
"Uh…" Kagome turned form the forest to Sango. "Mm… it's probably nothing, but…" She stood up decidedly. "Sango-chan, I have to go somewhere. I'll be back soon though, okay?" Before she got an answer, Kagome sprinted off.
"Kagome-chan! Kagome-chan, wait! Uh - !" Sango made to follow her, but she had forgotten about the chain around her neck. Cursing, she looked back in the direction Kagome had gone. 'Kagome-chan, don't get into any trouble.'
- - -
She ran through the forest. She recognized this presence. Why was this person here, though? Kagome didn't know why, and neither did she know why she wanted to meet up with this person. Somehow she felt she had to though. She ambled onwards on until she finally reached the clearing. There, standing in front of Goshinboku, was a person she knew all too well. Kagome caught her breath as she looked on. The other person there noticed her; though she probably already knew Kagome was on her way there. She turned around slowly to face her, long dark hair and white and red robes swirling around.
Kagome's guess was right. 'Kikyou…'
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Me: Ah-ha! What's going to happen next? Heh heh heh…
And now introducing: A KagSan Dream
Okay, I was watching "InuYasha" with my mom and sister. The Inu-tachi was walking along as usual when the screen focuses on Kagome and Sango. So they're just talking (I don't know what about) until Sango starts to get playful and grabs Kagome's hand. She spins around behind her (hair flowing effects and everything) and they decide to go somewhere together.
The scene changes, and now they're sitting together somewhere talking again. So they're talking, talking, and I'm watching, watching… when the screen begins to come up to their faces. I was like, 'Okay…' Then I thought, 'Wait a second… aren't their faces getting a little too close to each other?' Then, bam! They kiss, and it totally freaked me out. I looked around at my mom and sister to see their reactions, but they were somehow transparent-like and didn't seem to be paying attention to the show.
I looked back at the screen in shock, and now there was something going on about Kagome being kidnapped and Sango going to save her… then they got trapped in this room together by some crazy person who wanted to do experiments on them or something… it was just weird…
-End Dream-
It was really weird seeing KagSan stuff actually happen in the show. It's totally different form just reading and writing fanfics about it and stuff. What I also noticed in my dream was that Kagome seemed the more reluctant one of the pair. Hm… interesting.
Well, whatever! I hope you look forward to the next chapter.