To Love an Enemy
Chapter 21 - Reflection
I don't own Inuyasha
Sitting in her bed munching quietly on her breakfast, Sango was deep in though she had only been home for two days and already things were back to normal. Recalling how when they had road into the castle everyone had cheered. Her father had even commended her, the first words of praise she had heard in a long time.
Recalling those words of gratitude Sango's throat constricted. As a child she had always wished to hear those words from her fathers lips, but now that the occasion had come to pass she felt no joy only emptiness.
There had been a feast that night in her and Kohaku's honour. Everyone had toasted her and she had felt so loved, so happy. Yet something was wrong, these were her dreams come true. Her father had said he loved her and Kohaku was alive; so why did she feel like there was something missing. Looking deep into her heart Sango let herself realize why it was she was so sad, it was because she had lost Miroku.
When she had been staring out into the crowds of people she kept imagining that his face was right there in front of her smiling that smile that made her heart do summersaults. Picking up her bowl of fruit Sango speared a piece of apple on her fork, the small piece of fruit brought the memory of the first time she had had breakfast with him.
"Will I ever get over him?" Sango thought desperately. "Will I ever be able to forget him and get on with my life?" Putting the bowl of fruit aside Sango drew her knees and sobbed. Her heart felt like it was going to break, how was she ever going to live?
"Miroku, stop moping about!" Inuyasha retorted when Miroku sighed for the fifth time in a minute. "Just because she's gone, doesn't give you an excuse to sulk. We've got important things so do here. After that spider incident it should be obvious that you need an heir. We need to find someone suitable to be king in case you die before you can have a child. Now let narrow it down how about the Earl of Faronia? The duke of Darsaw?" Inuyasha said reading off a long list of names. An hour later Inuyasha finished reading off the list to which Miroku had said no to every single one. Raving Inuyasha yelled, "well then who do you want you numbskull! I just read you the entire list, why don't you want any of them? " and ripped the parchment into tiny pieces which he threw up in the air.
"Because I already know who," Miroku said calmly batting away pieces of paper from in front of his face as they floated down.
"WHAT!" Inuyasha yelled. "You let me read that ENTIRE list and you already knew! Who is it then, personally I don't think anybody's better then the Lord of Gatoul."
"You." Miroku said quickly.
Inuyasha raised his hands to wave them about furiously once more when what Miroku had just said sunk in. Slowly he lowered his arms and a look of stunned disbelief crossed his face. "W-w-what?" he finally stuttered. "You can't possibly be serious! Me!"
Miroku rolled his eyes. "Of coarse you, you idiot. You're already my second in command, it makes sense. Plus I already know that you'd make a good leader, if you managed to control that temper of yours. Unless you want me to give it to Lord Naraku…."
"Of course not," Inuyasha retorted. "I'd rather die than see him on the throne!"
"Well then do you agree?" Miroku asked calmly.
"Well of course not!" Inuyasha said pausing to regain his breath Inuyasha said, "but Miroku….what about Kagome….damn it this is hard to say!"
Miroku just raised an eyebrow waiting for Inuyasha to say what he wanted.
"Miroku," he said in a whispered hiss. "If I'm King then there'd- there'd be no way I could……could……could m-m-m-marry her."
Miroku had suspected that Inuyasha had liked Kagome for a while, but to hear him admit it, to him none the less, was surprising. Grinning evilly Miroku said , "ahha! I knew you liked her!"
"BAKA!" Inuyasha yelled hitting him over the head. "Don't say it so loud, she might hear you!"
"I might hear what?" Kagome said opening the door to bring in a tray of tea.
"AAAAAAH!" Inuyasha yelled blushing as red as the robes he was wearing. "You didn't hear that did you?"
"Hear what?" Kagome asked occupied with pouring both of them a cup of tea.
No missing a beat Miroku said, "I just named Inuyasha by heir."
"Wait a sec!" Inuyasha said turning back to face Miroku. "I never agreed to anything!"
"Well what do you want me to make a royal proclamation forcing you to accept? " Miroku asked calmly accepting a cup of tea from Kagome and taking a sip. "Look Inuyasha just take it."
"I- I- guess." Inuyasha said.
"Inuyasha!" Kagome squealed flinging herself at him to hug him. "That's amazing!"
Blushing once more Inuyasha, looked over to Miroku who nodded while mouthing the words, 'don't worry.' Sighing Inuyasha looked down at Kagome his eyes softening. "Thanks Kagome," Inuyasha said.
"You won't forget about me, when you become all powerful will you?" Kagome asked looking up at him.
Coughing and reaching his hand up to loosen the robes around his neck Inuyasha said, "umm well actually Kagome, can I speak with you about that outside." Looking puzzled Kagome, let go of Inuyasha and walked outside the door. Getting up Miroku went and put his ear against the door. His mother had always said he had more curiosity than a cat.
"Kagome, well, about what you just said, well I was wondering, I mean I just wanted to say, I mean I wanted to ask you if-"
Inuyasha fumbled until Kagome kindly asked, "What is it Inuyasha?"
Miroku heard Inuyasha take a deep breath before regaining his composure. "Kagome, I love you." He said finally. "Will you stay with me as my wife? Kagome what I'm trying to say is will you marry me?"
Miroku heard Kagome gasp and then there was a thud heard, and Inuyasha saying awkwardly, "Uhhh Kagome would you mind letting go of me I can't breathe!"
"YES!" Kagome said. "YES! Yes I'll marry you!" She was sobbing by this point Miroku recognized and then he heard Inuyasha tell her everything was going to be alright, and not to cry. Peeking around the corner, Miroku saw Inuyasha gently tip Kagome's chin up and kiss her. Smiling gently, Miroku closed the door to give them their privacy and walked back to his desk. Sighing deeply, Miroku looked down at his hand where he was still holding Sango's hair ribbon. Remembering how accidentally he had picked her hair ribbon up off her bedside table the night he had helped her to escape. Thinking through the tears he allowed himself to shed Miroku thought, "I hope you're happy Sango."
Supper that night was a quiet affair. Kohaku was being looked after by the healers, and both of Sango's older brothers were away fighting. Looking up from her barely touched meal Sango said quietly, "father?"
Looking up from his plate her father looked her evenly in the eye. "Yes Sango?"
"I was wondering if, I might be able to speak with Prince Miroku?" Sango said then quickly added. "I met him you see, and he and his men aren't the monsters we think they are. They're humans just like us. So I think that I might be able to come to some sort of peace agreement."
Her father look startled for a moment but as he opened his mouth to say something Sango cut him off. "Father while I was there in disguise I met one of our peasants, she told me that the people are sick of this war and just want it to end. So I've been thinking that peace would be the best option, don't you?"
"Sango, the people will have the peace they desire if what you tell me is true, before I would not have told you this but I think you deserve to hear after what you went through for your country. I have been waiting for months for such a moment because you are right peace is what we want this fighting has got to stop. Peace comes to our country tonight. By tomorrow it will all be over."
"What!" Sango exclaimed. "You mean you came to an agreement with Miroku already!"
Her father looked at her curiously after such an informal name. "No, that is not what I meant," her father said. "What I mean is that Prince Miroku will be dead by sunrise."
Author's Note: Oh evil place to leave it I know. Sorry for the long time since the last update and sorry for the short chapter.I'm typing this while my parents are sleeping...technically you see my mom doesn't want me anywhere near the computer until my exams are over. She's actually put a password on and stuff….took me FOREVER to hack in….sigh Sorry but I do have some consolation to all you readers wondering when this fic is going to end. I only have one or two chapters left and the epilogue. Well hope you liked and please review.