Hi minna! Back again with another chapter to this…exciting…story…*coughs* yeah…but anyway! I always keep forgetting to do this, no, not because I'm an arrogant bastard..lol, but I just forget and I'm sorry but I'd like to thank all of my reviewers! I luv you all and I never really got that out to you! I have also started another fic called Under the Big Top if any of you would like to read it. But anyway, I luv you guys and I thank you for all of the support you've given me! On with ze fic! Hope you like x-tra long chapters cus I think this might be the longest one! o.o;;
Chapter 9: Sango goes Shopping
"Kohaku!" Sango called from the stairs.
"Yeah sis?" He appeared with a blue ribbon in between two of his fingers, busily tying it into a low bow for his ponytail.
"Would you like to come with me to the market?"
"Why don't you have one of the servants go?" Kohaku said, cocking an eyebrow.
"Because I like to shop and the servants do enough already. Plus, I'm only picking up some fruit." Sango answered.
"Well…can we go get Souta?" Kohaku said as he jumped down the stairs one by one, his ponytail lashing back and forth as he landed.
"If it's ok with his mother I suppose." Sango said, unsure how Mrs. Higurashi would answer.
"Then let us go sister!"
' @ '
"Shall we buy candy with the money we got?" Souta said, looking up at Kohaku.
"Yeah, the chocolates look nice in Miss Laurene's shop windows." Kohaku said.
Sango watched the boys as they talked and smiled a little at how much Souta looked up to her brother, not only because he was the taller of the two but she also guessed that because Souta didn't have an older brother that Kohaku could fill that space. Kohaku, friend and role model to Souta Higurashi. She couldn't help but feel overwhelmed at how proud she was of Kohaku and leaned over, grabbing him close to her chest and gave him a good squeeze.
"I love you so much little brother, and I'm proud of you."
"AAH! Sango! Hey Sango! What are you doing?!" He cried as his face was smooched against her and he could no longer see. "Let me go!"
Sango released him and he stopped struggling and blushed as he tried to fix his hair.
"I'm glad Kagome doesn't do that to me." Souta said with wide eyes as he stared warily at Sango. She saw his look and quickly plucked him from he seat and into her lap, hugging him tight to her also.
"You are such a good boy Souta!" Sango cried, stroking the now shoulder-length hair on the younger boy's head.
"AH! Kohaku! I cant see!" Souta cried, his arms flailing out at his sides.
"Aw let him go Sis, you'll kill him!" Kohaku said from his safe distance.
Slowly Sango let the struggling boy go. Souta scampered from her lap and sat next to Kohaku looking quite frazzled. Sango smiled to herself as the two boys engaged in trying to wipe off the "girly germs". Soon the carriage came to a halt and the driver, Hachi, stood outside with the door open and a hand extended.
"Thank you Hachi." Sango said as he helped her get out. Kohaku and Souta followed, only jumping out instead of being helped. They walked the few steps to the market where many women and children were bustling around inside. There were few men.
"Sango, Souta and I are going to the candy shop across the street ok?" Kohaku said as he and Souta eyed the small store.
"All right but please, please be careful Kohaku. You too Souta!" She had to yell the last part since the boys had taken off as soon as they had heard her consent. She took a deep, relaxing breath and let it out slowly, the tension leaving her shoulders. Turning, she picked up a basket and made her way inside.
Immediately she was swamped with the sound of loud chattering and Sango had to stop and blink a few seconds before she fully adjusted to the sound. She quickly made her way through the small amount of people, squeezing through people standing a bit too close to just be talking. She made her way to the back of the store where she could walk through the isle and browse as she pleased.
"All right…now what was I looking for exactly…" She said to herself. She had to stop and think about it, silently cursing herself for the sudden memory loss. As she stood pondering, a dark shadow passed form behind her and disappeared quickly as she felt a shiver run down her spine and turned around.
' @ '
Souta burst into the candy shop with Kohaku in step just behind him. A young woman stood at the counter, her blue eyes sparkling brightly and her hair up in a bun. She wore a common dress, nothing like Kagome or Sango ever wore, it button all the way down and was a solid light pink. She wore a white apron over it and no gloves. Obviously second-class.
She greeted them with a bright smile. "Hello boys! How are you today?" She said with a light, almost carefree voice. Souta blushed shyly and looked at the floor. Kohaku also blushed but cleared his throat and shyly spoke.
"Um…hello ma'am…"
The woman continued to smile.
"Well, go ahead and look around. You can call me if you need any help." She turned and began cleaning the back shelf. Souta turned to Kohaku.
"Well…what should we get?" He said eyeing the shelves that held bars of chocolate, jars filled with different colours and sizes of gum balls, lemon-flavored drops and all sorts of other candies the boys haven't even heard of before.
The small store had nothing but shelves on its walls, the only side that hadn't had a single shelf was the display window where two cardboard children were enjoying some chocolate on a checkered blanket, their cardboard puppy playing with its red ball.
"Hm.." Kohaku paced around the store, carefully eyeing the many choices.
"Well…I want some chocolate." Souta said, oogling the large bars of chocolate stacked neatly nearby.
"Those ones are the best!" A voice whispered from behind the two, causing them to jump. The boys turned to come face to face with another boy. He was dressed in dark blue slacks and a matching jacket. His dark brown/light red hair was pulled back in a high ponytail and tied with a large blue ribbon. His emerald eyes shined and a smirk grew across his young face. He looked pretty mature needless to say, except for the fact that he was practically two feet shorter than Souta.
Kohaku's eyebrow ticked.
"What are you, three?!" He said.
The young boy's whole body twitched.
"I'm seven!" He cried indignantly.
"Well I'm twelve." Kohaku said, poking his chest out proudly.
"I'm ten." Souta said.
The boy hmphed. "Shippou." He said.
"I'm Kohaku and this is my best friend Souta." Kohaku said, jerking his head toward Souta as he introduced him.
"Pleasure I'm sure." Shippou said as his eyes shifted momentarily to Souta. He stuck a hand in his pocket and ran a finger along the glass jars as he walked by.
"What a weird kid." Souta whispered when Shippou was far enough away.
"Yeah, he must have cruel parents, naming him like that." Kohaku said.
"Maybe they wanted a girl." Souta added. "I think he's up to something."
"Yeah, seems like it. C'mon, lets get our candy and get out of here."
"Aa."
Kohaku ran for a jar filled with lemon gumdrops and quickly filled a small bag while Souta grabbed for the chocolate bars he had been wanting so badly. They ran up to the counter, their hearts racing.
"Excuse me ma'am!" Kohaku cried.
The woman came from a back room shielded by a curtain, a smile on her face. Souta began wondering if her mouth ever hurt from smiling so much.
"Yes?"
"We're ready to buy this candy now ma'am, please, we're in a hurry!"
"Is this enough?" Souta said quickly, taking all of the money from his pocket and tossing it onto the counter.
The woman only gave it a quick glance before nodding and putting the money in a cash register. "I believe I'll be seeing you boys-HEY! WHAT ARE YOU DOING BACK THERE?!"
The two boys' heads shot over their shoulders as they saw Shippou, pockets and arms full of candy squeak as soon as he had been found out and haul butt out of the door. The once kind, smiling woman had turned into an evil demon…well according to Souta anyway, and she immediately whirled on the two boys accusingly.
"You were sent to distract me while your little buddy got most of the goods am I right?!" She snarled.
"No! No ma'am, that's not right at all! We just met that kid a few seconds ago! We really-
"Save it Souta, lets get out of here!" Kohaku cried, grabbing his bag of candy and bolting. Souta eeped and collected his candy from the counter as fast as he could and was out the door in a flash.
"Where are we going?!" Souta cried, already puffing in fear of the woman calling the police.
"I don't know, I'm following him!" Kohaku cried, pointing toward Shippou's fleeing form.
"Hey you up there!" Souta cried. "Wait up!"
Shippou slowed down a bit to look over his shoulder to see the two boys he had met only seconds ago seemingly chasing him.
"You're not getting any of my candy! I stole this fair and square!" He cried over his shoulder and putting on an extra burst of speed tore off around a corner.
"Oh great he thinks we're after him!" Kohaku cried. Souta rolled his eyes.
"Shippou! We're not chasing you! Just stop!" Souta cried, dodging a cart that had suddenly appeared out of nowhere.
"That's what they all say!" Shippou snapped before face planting into a pile of rotten vegetables in the street.
Souta and Kohaku came to a screeching halt as Shippou's fleeting form suddenly disappeared again.
"Man he's fast!" Souta huffed, bending over with his hands on his knees and gulping for air.
Kohaku blinked a minute before turning his half-lidded gaze to Souta, eyebrow ticking once again. "No, just clumsy."
"Wha?" Souta said as he straightened. His confused look went from that to amused as Shippou pulled himself from the disgusting heap.
"Bleck!" He cried in disgust. "My clothes! They're ruined!"
"You smell beautiful too there big boy." Kohaku said. Souta stifled a laugh.
Shippou glared at them both. "If you weren't chasing me I wouldn't-
"We weren't chasing you…we were just following you." Souta interrupted matter-of-factly.
"Keh."
"Anyway, why did you take the candy?!" Kohaku said, fisting a hand on his hip.
"Cus I wanted to, duh." Shippou said as he tried his best to pull of the trash from his clothes and hair.
"Well…since we're here we might as well help you." Kohaku said, taking a step toward the smaller boy. Souta made a sound of protest and Shippou backed away from him quickly.
"No, I'm fine, don't touch me!" Shippou said. "I don't need your help, you're not my mother!"
"I wasn't trying to be you little jerk!" Kohaku said, raising a threatening fist and looking very much like an older, more arrogant boy that we all know and love.
"Hey guys I don't think we should be figh-
A growl and bark suddenly interrupted Souta mid-sentence.
The three boys turned around slowly to see a gang of large dogs making their way toward them at a slow, threatening pace. Souta paled, Shippou gulped and Kohaku fidgeted.
"Kuso…" Shippou spat under his breath. His emerald eyes searched wildly back and forth for an escape route, and he began to get anxious when he couldn't find one.
"We're going to die!" Souta cried, almost dropping his precious cargo.
"We're not going to die!" Kohaku grumbled, also trying to find a way out.
"Quick! Follow me, this way!" Shippou cried, jumping over a pile of bricks and taking off down the street.
"Lets go Souta!"
"Chotto! Don't leave me behind!" Souta cried, running as fast as he could to try and catch up.
The dogs were on their heels in seconds, and the boys could do nothing but scream bloody murder as they ran through the now empty streets of Evergreen and Millweed.
"Where the hell are the people on this side of town?!" Shippou cried as he dodged an open door that seemed to have come out of no where.
"Nobody lives on this side of town yet!" Kohaku cried from behind. "They're not done building it yet!"
"CHIKUSO!"
' @ '
"Fruit!" Sango cried, jumping a little at her outburst. She blushed as two women who had been passing by stared at her for a moment before walking on their way again.
She walked around looking again. This store is so peculiar…they put their fruit in the strangest places every week! Finally finding the fruit she began walking through the small isles made by the large wooden containers that the different fruits were situated in.
As she walked along the isle filled with the many different kinds of apples she felt a presence behind her. Her eyebrow ticked and she picked up a rather large, red apple and turned, chucking it at the offending person. A smirk crossed her face when the satisfying thunk sound made its way to her ears. Her smirk instantly faded when she recognized the voice that spoke to her.
"Using produce as a weapon, only you could think of something as such Miss Sango."
Sango's eyebrow ticked. Miroku…She seethed. She quickly began going in a different direction, trying to avoid eye contact as much as possible.
Miroku smirked to himself. Ah dear Sango…she refuses to acknowledge me at all. "Oh Sango!" He cried, jogging after her.
She didn't stop.
"Miss Sango!" He cried once again, although he was walking next to her now. She began to turn but he jumped in her way, blocking her path. She tried to turn again but he was way ahead of her and blocked her path again. Her eyebrow ticked again.
"What…do you want Miroku." She growled.
"You dropped this." He said, holding out the apple. It had a small dent in it where it had impacted with his head. She looked up and saw the red spot that was forming. She smirked. That should show him.
She snatched the apple from him and put it into her basket. He raised an eyebrow expectantly. He doesn't think I'm going to…oh for the love of…
"Thank you…" She growled under her breath. "Now, if you'll excuse me I-
"No."
Sango blinked. "What?"
"I will not excuse you."
For some reason Sango began having chronic eyebrow spasms. "I did not mean it literally it was just a saying." She said through clenched teeth.
"Well I took it literally. You are not excused from my presence." Miroku said smoothly, putting a hand in his pocket and leaned against a wall leisurely.
Sango's head ached. "Miroku, I do not have the time for this. I just came for some shopping. I did not want to-
"But you did." He interrupted with a smirk.
She glared at him but continued. "I did not want to come here to argue with you over what ever little petty thing you have to say. I know what you are up to. You are trying to get me angry and get me to explode in front of all of these people."
Miroku tsked and shook his head. "Why, Miss Sango, you have me all wrong!" He said, taking a step toward her. Sango took one back. "Why would I want to do such a thing?"
"Because you are an arrogant bastard." Sango muttered. He cocked an eyebrow again but acted as though he didn't hear her.
"I am not one to embarrass a pretty lady in front of many people, or anywhere for that matter." He said, his voice going to a harsh whisper as he got close enough to touch her.
Sango continued to back away. She growled inwardly when her back touched solid wall. He was trying to pull a fast one over her eyes. She wasn't going to fall for it this time! No matter what he did she wouldn't fall for it.
He stopped in front of her, surprising her that he had stopped not even within arms reach of her. What was he up to now?
He smiled slowly. "Sango…I would just like to talk to you sometime, but it seems that you do not wish to give me a chance to speak. I keep getting injured from your…well…kept temper." He said, trying to be mindful of his words.
Sango blinked at that thought. It was true…she didn't give him a snowball's chance on a hot summers day of surviving whenever he tried to talk to her. She either caused him bodily harm or ignored him entirely. But it was also his fault too! He kept trying to…touch her. That was just something that she didn't want to deal with right now. Touching led to relationships which led to open feelings and secrets being shared…and heartbreak. Another thing that Sango couldn't deal with again. Not since…not since…he left.
Miroku saw the distant look in her eyes and his eyebrows furrowed in worry. What was she thinking about? Suddenly her eyes became teary and her chin began to quiver.
"Sango?" He questioned, taking a cautious step toward her. When she didn't respond he began to worry. "Sango?" He tried again.
"Hikari…" She whispered, choking back a sob at the thought of his name. Suddenly her knees buckled and the basket slipped from her wrist as she fell toward the ground.
"Sango!" He cried, leaping forward and catching the almost lifeless girl in his arms, feeling the crack of his knees as they hit the hard floor. He instantly winced in pain but ignored the sudden throbbing as his knees screamed in agony. "Sango…Sango? What's wrong Sango?"
She could still see his face. The way he smiled; the way he looked at her. The way he held her close when her father was away. The things he told her that she knew, as a lady of her stature she shouldn't be listening to. Hikari…why…why did you have to go? She thought bitterly.
Miroku looked into Sango's face and her eyes looked clouded over. The tears in her eyes weren't large enough to spill over her long lashes but just stayed there and made her eyes shine like stars in the black blanket called the sky. He sighed at the sad look her beautiful face portrayed. What is going on in that head of yours Sango…
They sat there for a moment in silence, Miroku holding Sango tight to his chest as she stayed in her dead to the world state. He didn't dare try to touch her in any other place than where his hands rested, on her back. It wouldn't have been right for him to do it now, not that it really ever was, but there would be so much hell to pay if she were to awaken at the exact moment he did something.
"Hey! What are you two doing back here?!" A deep voice cried from behind them. Miroku jumped and Sango snapped from her world of heartbreak and despair to find herself in Miroku's arms. Her breath hitched in her throat as she gasped and quickly tore herself away from the embrace, standing up and backing against the wall.
"Nothing, the lady fainted and I merely caught her." Miroku said smoothly as he stood, turning around to face the shopkeeper with his hands raised in the air innocently. The shopkeeper grunted and turned, walking off and muttering something. Miroku turned to Sango who looked as though she had seen a ghost. "Sango…are you ok? What happened to you?"
Her wide eyes slowly focused on him and she quickly picked up her basket and shot passed him like an arrow. "I'm sorry Miroku, but I have to leave!" She cried, dropping the empty basket back on top of the pile on her way out of the door. As she reached the sidewalk she lifted her skirts and ran like a jackrabbit down the street, pushing past people as she went, desperately trying to get as far away from the store and Miroku as she could.
She got disapproving stares as she ran past older women and couples, but she didn't care. She had to get away! Her lungs and legs were burning and screaming for her to stop when she finally slowed down and ducked into an alleyway where she leaned against a brick wall and tried to catch her breath.
Her chest heaved as she gulped for air. Hikari…all of that time we spent together meant nothing to you? Behind my father's back we met in the darkened garden or in the streets; I begged my servants not to tell and they were loyal to me. I gave my heart and soul to you Hikari…apparently it meant nothing to you. Why…why did you have to leave? You were all I cared about…I would have left my family, everyone for you. You used me…you never loved me at all…not at all. Sango bit her lip as the bitter and hurtful thoughts filled her mind and painful memories came back to her. All of the times she had snuck out of her darkened home at outrageous times of the night to meet with him in the garden or in an abandoned street. There they would sit and talk about everything, even if they had seen each other earlier that same day they talked. They talked about things they had already talked about, they talked about their future together, her family, his family, their friends.
But that was long ago…before her mother died and they moved here. But I was young and stupid then. I would have run off with anyone who told me they loved me and convinced me that they did…like hikari did…
She sighed bitterly and took several deep breaths. I had better get back before the boys return and find that I'm not there. Sango thought.
As if on cue, three high-pitched screams tore through the air like a hot knife through butter and Sango froze stiffly as three boys came tearing past her followed by a pack of dogs. Kohaku spotted her as they ran past.
"Sis! Help us! Please!" He cried, running in a circle around a tree. Two dogs went after him while the other three went after Souta and a very small boy.
"Kohaku!" Sango cried. She turned and looked for Souta and the strange boy and saw that they were running in circles around a very large man and woman. Oh dear..
"Sango! Help!" Souta cried, his legs were about to give out under him they had been running for so long. He didn't know how much longer he could hold out.
"Hang on, I'm coming!" Sango said as she ran from the alley and to Kohaku. "Kohaku! Over here, run to me!"
"But they'll come after me and chase me around you Sis, I cant!"
"Just come here, I promise I wont let them hurt you!"
"I cant Sis!"
"GET YOUR ASS OVER THERE SO SHE CAN COME HELP US NEXT!" Shippou cried, he was so tired! His vision was starting to blur and he was getting dizzy from all of the energy he used up.
Kohaku apparently got the hint and came running to Sango, who pushed him behind her. The dogs came charging at her but she stopped them cold with a swift kick in the nose.
"Go on! Get!" She cried menacingly, trying to look as venomous as possible. The two dogs got the hint and went scurrying off in another direction.
"You saved me!" Kohaku cried, finally able to breathe regularly again. Sango smiled.
"HEY WHAT ABOUT US?!" Shippou cried from afar, the couple now gone and they were running in circles around nothing now.
Sango and Kohaku quickly ran to Shippou and Souta and Sango did her little trick again, sending the dogs yelping for their lives.
Shippou fell to the ground on his back and Souta fell onto his bottom. They were both breathing heavily and gulping for air. Kohaku leaned against a wall and gained his composure also.
After a while Shippou jumped up and hugged Sango's dress. "Thank you, thank you, thank you ma'am!" He cried, tears of gratitude in his eyes. "We have been running from them all day!"
Sango's eyes widened. "All day?"
"About ten minutes after you saw us last." Kohaku said. "I wouldn't say all day but that's what it felt like."
"I'll say." Souta puffed from the ground.
"Well, I think it's time we got home. Souta's mother is probably worried sick about him now." Sango said.
"Can we take Shippou home Sango?" Souta said as he sat up, brushing himself off.
"Sure, Shippou…would you like us to take you home?" Sango asked, looking down at the little boy.
"I would like that very much, and I would appreciate it." Shippou said with a small grin.
"Well let us go then!" Sango said, her earlier problems forgotten. As they started off, they were all frozen to their spots as a chain of growls set off one after another, growing louder by the second. They all turned to see a large gang of dogs making their way toward them, teeth bared to the gums and growls rumbling like thunder.
"Aah! They've gotten reinforcements!" Shippou screeched, leaping behind Sango and trying to use her dress as cover.
"No problem." Sango said, and began kicking and stomping at them. "Shoo! Go away! Get on now!"
Souta's eyes widened and Kohaku turned green.
"It's not working Sis!" Kohaku cried nervously.
"Well…there is only one thing left to do…in a situation such as this…" Sango said, a little nervous.
"Whats that?" Souta said, already starting to back away.
"RUN!"
Sango plucked Shippou from the ground as she turned and hauled it, considering he was the smallest and would most likely have gotten run over. The dogs were on them like white on rice and didn't give any hint as to giving up any time soon.
"There's the carriage! Quick inside!" Sango cried as the carriage came into view. Once they all dove inside without the help of the driver Sango screeched at him. "HACHI, GO, NOW!"
' @ '
Everyone looked quite questionable when Hachi got them home. They were all hot, sweaty, dirty and looked very frazzled. Sango immediately went and took a bath and got ready for dinner. She tried not to think about anything that had happened today that would upset her, but as fate would have it, they wouldn't leave her alone.
She tossed and turned in bed for a while, thoughts of evil dogs and broken hearts filling her dreams, until she awoke and thought of how Miroku had held her while she wasn't in her right mind.
So tenderly…he held me. She thought as she lay on her side and stared up at the moon shining in from her window. He didn't even try to…touch me in any wrong way. He didn't try to take advantage of me…is it possible that….that he can actually be a NORMAL guy? She softly snorted and turned over, the thought calming her to the point where exhaustion finally settled in on her and she fell asleep.
*~
Bleh! That was an awful ending! I don't like that at all..but I felt that you guys might want to start hurting me if I didn't get another chapter out soon so I apologize for this awful ending! See I had most of this chapter written out and then I just kinda let my imagination go and typed up whatever came to mind and I thought of for about 10 seconds! Go me! Well anyway, I should be updating Under the Big Top soon because…I don't know why…hm. But, I do have to start school again tomorrow…yay. So I don't know how my updating will be with that. Wow this was really long? Did anyone else notice that?
Is it just me or are the opening and closing themes for the 3rd season of Inuyasha just addicting?! I love Owarinai Yume and Every Heart!! If you haven't heard the songs you really should! OH! And I know I've been seriously behind on my responses to reviews and I've gotten so many new readers! AHH I should get caught up with those, that will be my goal! I'll probably work on those during the week…yeah…so if I update it'll just be the responses to reviews so if you want to read those you can ^.^ Anyway, I'm done babbling, thank you to all of my readers I love you so much! Until next time!
*~Nekmon