Chapter Six: Altered Love
"So she really took it that hard Miroku?" Inuyasha was sitting with Miroku just after Sango had stormed out. Miroku seemed so distraught. He thought that by telling Sango the truth, maybe…just maybe…she would believe him. Now she hated him and there was nothing he or anyone could do about. He spoke ill of her family, and to her that must be the worst thing you could possibly do. He knew that when people spoke badly about his father, it made him angry for them just to imply his lack of nobility.
"Yeah she really did." His head was in his right hand while the other relaxed in his lap. Kagome now knew of everything that was going on and just wanted to be there to help Miroku through his hard times. Other than his kazzana, there wasn't much more that could depress him like this.
"Here Miroku let me tend to your wound." Kagome reached over to pull down his robe. He pulled away slightly as her hand brushed his wound.
"Sango usually does that for me…" He looked as though he were about to cry.
"I know Miroku, but thanks to Inuyasha and the demon you got a little roughed up. You don't want it to get infected and then you really can't protect Sango do you?"
"Of course not!" He jumped up from his seat.
"Then sit down and let me fix you up."
"Yeah Miroku I'm sure Sango just needs a little time to think about all this. She'll realize sooner or later she made a mistake right?" Inuyasha offered his counseling. Probably came from hanging around Kagome too much.
"I hope you're right Inuyasha…" He pulled down his robe so Kagome could continue. She carefully undid the pervious bandaging that was terribly soiled and replaced it with a new one.
"I wish we were back at that mansion. Sango wasn't mad at me then. And they had better medicine because my arm is killing me!"
"Oh Miroku…" Kagome gently hugged her friend. She hated to see anyone upset…especially Miroku because it rarely happened.
"Just go to sleep you baka, you need your rest." Inuyasha handed Miroku his nightclothes and let him continue to go to sleep. Inuyasha sat with Kagome for a while before they too went to bed. Inuyasha kept watch for a while just to make sure they didn't have anymore night surprises. Sango came in a while later to go to bed and just stuck her nose up at Miroku as she went by. Miroku did his best to just let it go and go back to sleep.
The next morning, Inuyasha woke up first to a warm lap as Kagome was happily sleeping in it. He felt guilty though as he saw Sango lying in the one futon and Miroku leaning against the nearby wall. Unfortunately this family only had one futon to offer and everyone agreed that Sango would have it. Miroku had covered her with his blanket seeing as it began to get colder during the night, so he sat against the wall with his knees huddled close to his chest in attempts to keep warm. He got up and took his red haori off and covered Miroku with it. He smiled a bit as he noticed his friend stop shivering and fall back into a dreamless slumber.
Inuyasha took a walk around to survey the village a little more closely while everyone else slept peacefully. The sun had been up for a while now, but wasn't right above him, meaning it was about eleven in the morning. No one was out except for the farmers and even they gave him dirty looks. He didn't know if it was because he was a demon or if they were apart of what was going on. He must have been walking for an hour before his ear twitched hearing the sound of a girl screaming. He then recognized it to be Sango. He ran back as fast as his legs could carry him to where their hut was located. As he walked in, he was surprised to see that it wasn't Sango who was in danger, but Miroku.
"How could you say something like that Miroku!" Sango stormed around the room pointing and yelling at Miroku.
"Sango I'm sure he didn't mean anything by it." Kagome tried to ease he friends anger.
"You stay out of this Kagome!" Sango glared knives towards the young priestess and continued her ranting.
"Sango I know you don't believe me, but they aren't who you think they are. And whoever they are, they are trying to kill you." Miroku dodged and ducked around her fists.
"My-father-would-never…" Miroku missed this time and got creamed in the face by one of Sango's swings and fell backwards onto a table, breaking it into pieces." He would NEVER do anything to hurt me…" Miroku sat for a minute thinking about what had just happened. Before he could say another word Sango had already stormed out once again.
"Sango you sh-…" Inuyasha started.
"I don't want to hear anything from you either Inuyasha!"
She was gone. She walked straight into the woods and there was nothing he could do. He decided to just let her go while he went to talk to Miroku. He walked in to find Kagome helping him up off the floor.
"Oh gosh Miroku you're bleeding again."
He sat against the wall and waited while Kagome went to get bandages for his reopened wound. Inuyasha waked over and just looked at the tired, yet sad monk.
"What happened Miroku?" He placed a hand on his shoulder but quickly took it away and Miroku winced. "Sorry bout that…"
"I didn't do anything…she started it and I told her the truth. I didn't expect her to go lethal on me." Inuyasha and him sat in silence before he began again. "She thinks I'm making excuses for my injuries and that I don't even respect her feelings."
"Well that's crazy. You do everything you can to make her happy…why would she say such a thing?"
"I don't know she's not acting like herself…"
They sat once again before Kagome came back in with what she needed.
"Inuyasha will you help me out here?" She sat out the bandages and string, anything that was needed to treat his wound.
"Yeah sure no problem…"
"Put pressure on the wound so the bleeding will stop and I can stitch it back up." He did as he was told and pulled down the top half of Miroku's robe to apply pressure. Miroku's face scrunched up in pain as the damp cloth connected with his wound, but he still held it together as Kagome began. As she finished, Miroku felt as though he hadn't slept in weeks and his eyes became heavy as the pain and tiredness took over. He laid back from where he was sitting and immediately he was out like a light. Kagome and Inuyasha both sighed and waited for Sango's return. Kagome prepared a meal for them all to try to cheer everyone up. Little did she know it was a meaningless attempt because as Sango came back, they all sat in silence as they ate, except for Miroku who in turn was fast asleep.
"Stupid monk is so lazy." Sango scoffed as she put more food into her mouth.
"Sango why are you acting like this? Don't you think you went a little to the extreme? It's your fault Miroku is sleeping…you tired him out after you knocked him onto the table and reopened his wound. You know…the one he got saving your life!" Kagome was enraged to hear Sango's attitude. Inuyasha just backed up not wanting to get in the middle of their little catfight.
"I don't need this from you Kagome. He deserved what happened to him and I can't think any differently."
"Miroku's right you know Sango…"
"Shut up Inuyasha…"
"No I'm not, but did you ever stop to think?"
"Think of what?"
"You're father never even once asked you about Kohaku!" Inuyasha was also enraged about Sango's attitude towards Miroku, the man who not even two months ago asked her to marry him.
"He's right Sango…your father didn't ask about Kohaku. Don't you find that a little suspicious?" Kagome was calm now.
"Oh kami what have I done?" Sango stared blankly at the wall. "Kohaku was his pride and joy."
"Sango?" Kagome walked over to her friend.
"Kagome what have I done? It does make sense, but what are we going to do? How can I apologize to Miroku? Oh gosh I must have hurt him so badly. I hit him really hard too…"
"I'm sure Miroku will be more than willing to forgive you Sango…just let him heal and rest first."
Sango looked over to her monk to see him fast asleep in the one futon they did have. He looked like he was in pain, but more than just physically…his feelings had been badly hurt and it was all her fault. His face was paler than normal and stained with tears. She noticed a small purple bruise forming where she had hit him.
"I'm so sorry Miroku…" She said to no one.
Though she didn't know why that single reason had changed her mind so easily. Maybe because she too had noticed it, but never had an explanation. All she knew was she had noticed her father acting differently, but she had though it merely to be him coping with their current…situation.
A few hours went by and Miroku still had not woken back up. Sango was now by his side, periodically wiping his forehead with a cool cloth. Inuyasha and Kagome had since then gone for a walk trough a path in the forest that was rumored to be the most beautiful in the entire mountain. Sango had no intention of joining them until she knew Miroku was all right. Besides, she didn't want to leave him alone just in case someone decided to attack them. She still partly hesitated to believe his words, but then again why would he lie to her? And why couldn't she have realized it before?
The sun began to die down, making everything glow with a beautiful glimmer of orange and red. Inuyasha and Kagome had still not returned, but that did not worry her. It began to get colder and with that Miroku began to open his eyes after his long nap. As his vision focused he noticed Sango staring straight down at him. At first he thought he was dreaming, but then the pain and memories of what had happened before he fell asleep all came rushing back, causing him to leap out of his seat and back onto a nearby wall. He held his shoulder to ease the pain he felt and shook as Sango began to walk over to him.
"I'm not going to hurt you Miroku I promise." She got closer and he kept quiet with all his might.
"I promise…" She leaned in and kissed him passionately to show him she was sorry. They released for a second and just stared into each other's eyes. A few minutes lapsed by before Sango began crying, falling onto his chest. With his other hand he help her tightly to show his forgiveness to her.
"I'm so sorry Miroku…I'm so sorry…"She cried. He lifted her head up and wiped away her tears.
"It's alright. I don't like to see you cry. You're too beautiful to cry. So stop okay because I forgive you."
"Oh Miroku I love you so much." She embraced him tightly, wrapping her arms around his waist as she leaned into his lap.
"And I you my dear Sango." The throbbing he felt in his arm disappeared for a moment while he was in this temporary bliss. Nothing could go wrong now. He knew now that he had the confidence to beat whatever or who ever was coming.
They'd be ready…