Don't own InuYasha, and it's not like I'll actually own him when all I want is Sesshomaru.

Through the Well

By Miztikal-Dragon

Chapter Twenty-nine: So Close

It had been Sango's turn to cook since Kaede had left the village to go aid another. The days passing seemed to go by so slow and she felt like she was going to go insane if she saw Miroku trying to grope another one of the young village maidens.

She could hear their annoying giggles from a mile away and it irritated her, giving her no peace as she cleaned off the vegetables for the stew she was preparing.

"You will have many children and live a long and healthy life..." a voice said followed by tiny fits of giggles.

That was the last straw! Sango dropped the knife that she had grabbed and stomped to the exit of the hut. Stopping herself before she walked out, a cruel idea came to mind. Grinning, she stepped out into the cool summer afternoon. Her gaze went to Miroku, who had a horde of women all around him.

She was sure that her plan would work, the demon slayer walked right by him and pretended not to see the lecherous monk. He fell for it hook, line, and sinker. The moment she passed him, his eyes darted to her and he called out her name.

Ignoring him, Sango continued to walk away until she was sure that she was away from any 'unwanted watchers'. She chuckled to herself as she thought, 'I've spent so much time trying to keep his hands off my appendages and now I'm purposely going to make him go crazy, how ironic..'

She was so deep in her thoughts that Sango hadn't realized how close Miroku was until he placed a hand on her shoulder, scaring the daylights out of her. Out of reflex, her hand whipped around and slapped him forcefully across the face.

"Oh, Miroku I'm so sorry!" she gasped dropping to her knees and leaning over the fallen monk.

"Ouch," he whined sitting up, rubbing his cheek, "Why must you..."

When Sango came back out of her brief "brain fart" , she found that her hand had made its way onto where the demon slayer had so violently "whacked" the monk, and she blushed. Sango tried to move her appendage but Miroku placed his palms over hers and stared deeply into her eyes. Her gaze dropped momentarily to his lips and he made a dry laugh before leaning closer to her.

Sango tried to pull back, but was as if her body was in a trance. She needed to say something before it went any further than what she had originally planned it to.

"We...can't..." she whispered as their faces were only centimeters apart.

"Why not?" he asked, his fingers playing with the tips of her hair.

"Because..." she replied, 'Think of something! Oh, wait a moment! Kagome! She's still at the hut!' "Oh, my god...Kagome!"

Miraculously she pulled out of her emotional stupor and practically jumped to her feet and rushing back to the hut. She had left an unconscious Kagome all alone in the hut and thieves and much worse could easily pick her off.

Reaching her destination, Sango rushed over to Kagome's side and noticed that the young girl's position had changed and some of the color had slightly washed back onto to her face. Sango smiled a bit then went back to preparing the food.

The rest of the day went rather quickly, Sango and Miroku avoided each other, there was no sign of Inuyasha; which had become a regular routine for him to leave during the day and come back right before sunset, only to go directly to Kagome's side and silently watch her all night long. The three of them discussed about Inuyasha's overwhelming guilt for wanting to kill Kagome as she lay badly injured, he had rarely said anything besides "feh" but that was only to be expected.

Kaede had returned a few hours after Sango's and Miroku's little scene and the old priestess seemed to be in deep thought as she reorganized all of her herbs and other medicinal stuff that Sango didn't understand.

"Lady Kaede," Sango said happily as she poured water into an enormous pot, "I noticed that Kagome moved a bit today."

"Aye," the elderly woman replied, "Now only if she would wake up for the sake of Inuyasha.."

"How are her wounds doing? Are they healing?" the demon slayer asked.

"Aye, they are almost finished healing, in about a few more days she should be as good as new." Kaede answered, "Thanks to the help of Inuyasha and a few medicinal herbs."

Sango glanced outside, it was going to be dark in no time and the hanyou would be coming soon. The demon slayer wanted to see Kagome before Inuyasha came and practically kicked her out of the room. Getting up from her spot, Sango slowly walked into the tiny room and lit a few candles so she could see.

Kagome looked as though she was only peacefully sleeping, dreaming a wonderful dream. Sango settled herself next to her friend and brushed the sweat from her brow, it had been a warm day. A faint smiled crossed Sango's face, but only one of sadness.

"Inuyasha's not doing too well Kagome," Sango informed her unconscious friend, "Miroku, Kaede, and I don't think he's eating anymore and I'm really worried. He needs you. He's hurting inside, because he blames himself. He loves you Kagome, he really does and it's so depressing to see him this way..."

"And that's why ye need to find the inner strength of your soul and wake up.." a voice said causing Sango to gasp, "If not for anything else, wake up for him."

The demon slayer looked to her side and saw Miroku sitting by her side. It was confusing on how he came in and sat next to her and she didn't see or hear him, besides it was a little creepy. Sango was about to get up and leave when Kagome started to moan in her sleep.

"Miroku--"

"Shhh!" he commanded.

Sango watched as Kagome moved slightly in her sleep. Her mouth opened and closed as if she was trying to say something. When the girl began to toss and turn, Sango worriedly glanced at Miroku who seemed to be concerned. Soon enough, Kagome was thrashing about madly and Sango tried to hold her friend down.

'She's going to tear the bandages!' she thought. "Miroku go get Kaede!" Sango whispered loudly as she tried her best to restrain Kagome.

With out another word Miroku was on his feet, and left the room for the elderly woman. Not even a minute later, Kagome stopped moving. Sango sighed as she released her friend and looked down at her pale face. There was a few tears falling from her expressionless face and Sango wiped them away.

"...Inuyasha..." Kagome whispered in her sleep

Kaede and Miroku came into the room and Sango looked up at them. Immediately the priestess went to Kagome's aide and began checking the girl's bandages. After a few moments of an awkward silence, Kaede replaced the thin sheet over Kagome's body and slowly got up onto her feet.

"Nothing's wrong. She didn't tear any of her bandages and there's no need to get upset. The young lass was probably having night terrors." Kaede explained.

"She called out for Inuyasha." Sango told them getting to her feet also.

"Aye, that's to be expected my child, but we need not fret. This young lass is strong and she will recover," the old priestess sighed, "Dinner is ready, ye can both eat if ye please to."

All three of them left the tiny room and settled themselves down by the insignificant fire. They all decided to eat in silence. As the sunset and it became dark, small conversations brimmed the tired silence. Where was Inuyasha?

"He's probably sulking somewhere at the moment." Miroku offered as he sat against a wall.

"Probably," Sango said as she petted a sleeping Kirara in her lap, "but he has always been here by sunset. I mean, I wonder if he's okay.."

"I understand...What do you think Lady Kaede?" Miroku asked.

"I believe that our young lad just needs to find his thoughts," she replied, "Though I am concerned about his health, I haven't seen him eat anything since the night before the battle with Naraku."

Just as that was said, Inuyasha entered the hut. He looked as though something had given him quite a scare. The hanyou didn't seem to notice anyone, he just quickly made his way to the back room.

oOo