Yay, it is Time for Chapter Three. Are you ready? I am. Again, I don't own Inu-Yasha. We already knew that. Thanks for the reviews.
Heaving herself up, Anya sighed loudly. The sun was beginning to set, her bloodstained clothing sticking to her body. Murmuring, she rummaged through a small bag that had been tied around her waist. Now, it lie beside her. She pulled out a simple, though mildly elegant black short-kimono, starting at Miroku.
"Do you suppose you could take leave for a moment? I need to dress."
"Are you sure you don't need any assistance?"
A frown came onto Anya's face, her violet eyes narrowing.
"I think I will manage, but thank you"
Defeated, Miroku exited the room and stood outside the door. Anya, meanwhile, disrobed and pulled on the kimono. The sleeves were thin, resting on her shoulders, the short bottom was not even to her knees, in fact, it was well above. She pulled a black coat over it, the bell sleeves and long open bottom covering her scarcely clothed body a little more expertly.
Sliding her dainty feet into a pair of wooden sandals, she stepped outside the building, beside Miroku. Anya waked with a limp on her left side, weak looking and frail. Miroku watched her, extending an arm.
"Would you like to go for a walk?"
She nodded faintly and took support on the arm. A little smile fell on her lips, as she looked up at him. He looked down at the girl with seriousness plastered onto his face.
"I want to know… what's going on with you and Sango."
Her spirits fell. He wasn't going to tell her how lovely she was, or how much he cared for her in the little time they were acquainted. In fact, this was about Sango. She sighed deeply, and then shook her head a little.
Anya's violet eyes glimmered as she looked at him. The now star lit sky shone around them in the dark forest, as they stood parallel to each other. She looked at him with a silent gaze, and she began to speak.
"Sango has always been my rival. Since we were children, our main goal has been to out-do the other. We were always similar, until we began to get older. I developed as a woman in body and mind before she did. I got more attention. It drove her slightly over the edge of our competitive ways. Well, I guess this all makes me seem like I'm proud of myself and all that jazz. Well, by the time she reached fourteen, we both were vigorously training to be slayers, whereas it had just been me. But this was competition."
Anya broke her speech, as Miroku nodded to her to continue.
"Anyway, we were the two best in the vicinity. They would send me out with her family, because it only made sense to send me as well, they've got to send the best, right? Well, I got very, very sick the night her family was killed by Naraku; I couldn't go into battle. She has gotten herself convinced that I arranged it, to get back at the world because I had no parents. She sent me by way of delivery message a letter that was brimming with hatred and still had the ink stained with tears. She was positive I did this to her. But I had no doing in this, at all."
Anya looked at her feet, sighing, then gazing back up at Miroku. He watched her with a startled gaze. She shook her head and sighed deeply.
"But it's over now. As soon as I got the letter, I left the village. AtsuYasu was the only person with me. I was attacked about a week after I departed. A huge demon caught hold of me, and I don't know what happened after then. I remember struggling, and hitting my head. Then I woke up, with all of you around me.'
Miroku looked down at the girl and smiled faintly. He brushed a few locks of her glossy raven hair out of her eyes, the corners of his mouth twitching.
"Well, I'm glad I know what's going on, now. I didn't know it was so serious."
"It's fine. I don't care about it."
She lied through her teeth, frowning internally, though projecting a weak smile to Miroku's sight. A slender, long-fingered hand brushed against his side, as she propped herself up against him. Having a limp on your side doesn't allow too much self-standing.
"Well, we should get back, right?"
Anya nodded, in response to Miroku's request. They turned and began to walk back, slower than the pace they had come into the clearing. They returned, having been gone for only a half-hour, greeted by an angry looking Sango. She was sulking outside the building, as Miroku guided Anya up the stairs and assisted her in lying back down.
"Miroku-sama, I thank you for all the help you've given me."
A sly grin met the lips of Miroku. He looked down at her, lying underneath the blanket on the floor, and said a simple phrase.
"You can repay me when you are well."
Anya ignored the origin and the gesture of his comment, smiling at him. He was kind, underneath all that perverted layering. The girl's violet eyes scanned his face, then met his eyes (I cannot, for the life of me, remember what color they are). Their eyes stayed in the connection for a full five minutes or so, until Sango burst into the room.
"I know what you're doing to him! I know he's going to be under your spell, like they all were! You killed my parents, Anya Murakami, you whore!"
Anya looked at Sango and sighed deeply. Miroku placed a rough hand on Anya's forehead, the gentle touch suggesting she not rise.
"Sango-chan, you need to leave her be for now. She's hurt."
"THAT'S a load of bull. She's no more hurt than you are, Miroku-sama! I wish you could see that! She's a liar, a cheat, and a fake! She's a slut and a tramp, and she's no good! Watch out for yourself. Don't get close to her!"
Anya fought temptation to protest, just lying on the floor. Miroku watched Sango exit, and looked down at Anya. He frowned.
"Sango-chan's never lost her temper like this…"
Anya stared at him with widened eyes, as he lifted his hand from her forehead. Her choked voice answered with surprise.
"You believe her…"
Miroku shook his head faintly, and looked at Anya. He observed her ivory face, slender frame, and violet eyes. Sighing, he replied in a halfhearted tone.
"I'm not sure who to believe, Anya-chan. I'm not quite sure who's right. I've known Sango for much longer than I have known you. You're a very sincere girl; I can see it in your face. You're also very lovely, might I add; but I have no idea who's the liar"
Anya frowned and rolled over, onto her non-injured side. She was no longer facing Miroku when she said her final words of the night.
"Miroku-sama, please leave me alone for a little while."
Miroku frowned and knelt beside her. He grasped her shoulder gently and tried to move her from her hunched-away position. She let him do all of this, until they were facing each other. His face brushed against hers, and he kissed her softly.
Anya's eyes widened and a characteristic anime blush crept onto her face. She murmured a single thing.
"Miroku-sama…?"
He looked at her and smiled very faintly, seeing as he had not been slapped harshly yet. She looked stunned, but that was all.
Outside the hut, Sango held an expression similar to Anya's. Utter Surprise.