Well, I have written the first part of my Diploma tests, and next week I start the second part. I don't work today or tomorrow, so I thought I would work on the next chapter of my story. As for how many chapters this story will have, I've come up with 40 chapters planned for this story, and then it will be done, and right now I'm on chapter twenty-seven, so it will be a while before I'm done this story.
Winter Wonderland
Chapter Twenty-Seven
The sun shined brightly overhead as Kohaku glanced up at the sky. He shivered slightly since the snow felt so cold on his feet.
"Kohaku!"
The boy turned around to see his sister and Miroku standing at the top of the hill.
"Are you coming?" called Sango.
"Yeah I'm coming," Kohaku yelled back as he ran through the snow to reach his sister and the monk.
Kirara was perched on Sango's shoulder, and mewed when Kohaku had caught up to them. Smiling, Miroku continued to lead to the way where Naraku's castle had once been, and recover the remains of Sango and Kohaku's father and fellow villagers.
"What do you suppose Kagome and Inu-Yasha are doing right now?" asked Sango.
"Probably the usual. Kagome goes to school, Inu-Yasha sits at her home eating Ramen, but that's only my theory," sighed the monk.
Sango nodded, and reached her hand forward to grasp the monks right uncursed hand. They had left Kaede's village almost a week ago, and were almost to their destination. Kohaku couldn't wait to see the village again; it had been almost a full year since he last saw it. I recalled the time Naraku was supposedly dead (Second movie) and Sango had taken him back to their village for him to heal from his wounds. Kohaku almost jumped when he felt something land on his shoulder, but sighed in realizing that it was only Kirara. He turned his face towards his sister and smiled. She looked so happy being with the monk. He recalled the times that the boys from their village would come courting to their house for her, and each time she would turn them down. Kohaku laughed as he recalled saying Sango would never get married or have children, but it seemed she proved her father wrong.
"There it is," pointed out Miroku, to the small cliff where they had temporarily moved her fathers gave to until they had defeated Naraku.
Kohaku stopped as he recognized some of the landmarks near by. He knew that this had been the place where Naraku's old castle had been at one time. Miroku took off part of his robe and started to move the remains onto it, so they could be transferred back to the village.
"How long until we reach the village?" asked Kohaku.
"We'll rest tonight, and then ride Kirara to our village tomorrow morning," sighed Sango.
Kohaku nodded and looked towards Miroku again who had gathered the last of the remains.
"Kohaku, may I have your assistance?" asked Miroku.
The boy nodded and helped Miroku lift the remains of his father's and fellow villagers. Sango watched from the distance with Kirara on her shoulder before following Miroku and her brother.
"Why don't you guys just ask Kirara to carry it?" asked Sango.
"It's not that heavy, just the armor," said Miroku.
Sango nodded and followed her future-to-be-husband, and brother as they made there way into the forest that would take them to Sango's village. However known to the group, they were being followed by someone they did not expect. Kirara took no notice to the followers since they weren't demons, and if they decided to attack them, she would be ready.
"Sango . . ." whispered Miroku.
"Yes . . ."
"We're being followed . . ."
"You noticed too?" asked Kohaku.
Kirara mewed in agreement.
"They've been following us since this morning," whispered Miroku.
"Maybe their just going the same way we are?" asked Kohaku.
"I doubt that, but if they do try to attack, we'll find out why they are after us . . ."
Sango nodded in agreement. After the fight with Naraku things had gotten a little boring . . . this should liven things up a bit.
*******
The moonlight shined brightly overhead as they rested at a small abandoned hut. The wind had started to pick up creating a snowstorm. Kohaku stared out the small window watching the snow come down in big flakes. Kirara sat on Kohaku's shoulder watching the snow as well.
"I doubt whoever was following us is following us now," sighed Kohaku.
"PERVERT!" screamed Sango.
Kohaku turned around to see Miroku's hand near his sisters rear and a nice red slap mark on his face.
"But Sango dear . . ."
"How much of a pervert are you? My brother is here you moron! And so is Kirara!" screamed Sango.
"But . . ."
Sango continued to yell at the poor monk, while Kohaku couldn't help but laugh at his sister, and was quite glad that her boomerang wasn't close by, or she could really hurt the poor guy.
Miroku finally gave up trying to touch his future-bride and just wrapped an arm around her shoulders.
"You see, this is good, and decent to do in front of my brother," sighed Sango, resting her head on the monks arm.
"I don't mind you know," sighed Kohaku.
Sango blushed, but Miroku smiled and leaned to kiss her, "Don't even think about it . . ."
Miroku sighed and just pulled Sango up in his lap, wrapping his arms around her, "Can I at least hold you like this?"
Sango nodded and rested her head against the monks shoulder. If Miroku could hear her heart beat, it was pounding at the moment. The very first time in her life, she had been held like this by a man. Sure when she was young her father and mother would cuddle like this, but she hadn't really done this before with Miroku or with anyone for that matter. In all honesty, she had no clue what she was getting into. Sure, she knew how to kiss, but showing her feelings was a different story. Her mother had died after Kohaku was born, and hadn't learned anything really about . . . well just thinking about it made her blush. Oh, she knew the basic birds and the bees but the detailed stuff made her nervous. The only thing she really how to do well was to fight. Sighing, Sango leaned more closely to Miroku's chest.
Miroku smiled as he felt Sango move closer to him. He could tell she was nervous about something at first when he started to hold her since she felt stiff, but then relaxed. The monk held onto Sango more tightly, and lightly stroked her hair. Loving the feeling of her curled up in his chest. He looked down at his right hand, and sighed. Miroku still couldn't believe his curse was completely gone . . . it was almost too good to be true. He could now live his life slowly instead of walking from village to village asking every pretty woman to bear his child. He of course had Sango to do that now.
"Hmm . . . Sango . . ." whispered Miroku, glancing up to make sure Kohaku was fast asleep.
"Yes?"
"How many kids can we have?"
"Why are you asking me this?"
"I'm not the one who's going to be going through the pregnancy, so it's really up to you,"
Sango smiled. She recalled courting with some of the boys in her village, and them telling her should would have five kids and no more if she were to marry him, "As many as you want . . ."
"Even ten?"
"Yes . . ."
"Twenty?"
Sango nodded her head.
"How about . . ."
"Don't push it Miroku,"
The monk chuckled and rested his chin on top of Sango's head, closing his eyes and drifting off into a peaceful sleep.
Unknown to them, they were being watched a short distance away. Due to the storm, Kirara couldn't pick up on their scent as they hid behind the rocks near by.
"So they're in there?" asked the first.
"Can't we just kill them and then grab the girl?"
"No Lord Kuranosuke said he just wanted us to bring the woman to them if she was alone, and not to hurt anyone,"
"But she's not alone . . ."
"Doesn't mean we can't take her by force,"
The other one nodded and grabbed the bottle at his side, "This will knock them all out, including the small fire cat that's traveling around with them. We'll grab Sango and head back to the castle,"
(A/N if any of you are confused at the moment, I'm kind of talking about Episode 78, you'll catch on in a moment or two)
Nodding his head, the two soldiers crept closer to the hut window. Peeking inside making sure no one was awake, the first soldier tossed in the bottle and watched as the smoke came out of the nozzle. None of them were awakened by the smoke, only put into a deeper sleep. The second soldier crept inside the hut and picked up the sleeping girl from the monks arms.
"Come on! Let's go!"
***************
Miroku slowly started to feel himself starting to wake up. Not wanting to open his eyes, he tried to wrap his arms around Sango, but frowned when he couldn't feel her in his lap anymore. Cracking one eye open, he tried to see if Sango was awake making them breakfast, but frowned when he didn't see her in the hut at all.
"Sango?"
The monk got to his feet and went to the door peeking outside, there were no footprints outside in the fresh snow.
"Sango!" cried out Miroku, starting to panic slightly, "Sango where are you?"
Kohaku gave a small snort as he was awakened by the monks yelling, but couldn't tell what he was screaming about. Kirara was now awake as well and stayed perched on Kohaku's shoulder as they walked out of the hut.
"Miroku . . .*Yawn* . . . what are you yelling about?"
"Sango! She's gone!"
"What?" Kohaku ran back into the hut and noticed that she wasn't there. Panicking he ran outside beside the monk. "She couldn't have gone far, her boomerang is still in the hut,"
"And she never leaves with out it, so where could she be?" asked Miroku.
Kohaku was about to respond, but felt something tugging on his leg. He looked down at Kirara, who was trying to lead him back to the hut. Glancing at Miroku, who was still yelling out his sister's name, followed the fire cat back into the hut. Kirara pointed out a bottle on the floor that had not been there when they had fallen asleep, "Miroku! We found something!"
Miroku came charging back into the hut and examined the strange bottle. Sniffing at it, he immediately pulled it away from his nose, "Oh, that stuff makes me sleepy,"
"So maybe my sister was kidnapped, but by who?"
"Kirara," sighed Miroku, kneeling down beside the small fire cat, "Is the scent of the kidnappers still on the bottle?"
Kirara sniffed it and mewed, nodding her head.
"Alright, do you think you can pick up their trail?"
The fire cat pounded outside and started to sniff the air. Her ears drooped and she shook her head. Miroku sighed and threw the bottle down, smashing it into pieces. Kohaku was about to tell the monk they would find his sister, but his eyes noticed something on the bottom of the bottle.
"Hey Miroku, look at this," said Kohaku, pointing to the picture that had been on the bottom of the bottle.
Miroku took a deep breath to calm his anger before looking at the picture. His eyes widened at the bear symbol on the bottom, "Kirara let's go! I know who took her!"
(A/N I know most of you are confused if you haven't seen up to episode 78, but don't worry, more will be explained in the chapter and at the end)
*************************************
Sango slowly opened her eyes as she felt the mornings sun beams on her skin. She was about to kiss Miroku and say good morning, but it was then demon exterminator realized that she wasn't curled up in Miroku's lap, but was lying on her back. Her eyes shot open, but she had to close them due to the sun. Once her eyes adjusted, Sango stared around the room, wondering where she was. The room was very large with silk drapes hanging off the windows, and the futon was so comfortable and had many think blankets placed over her and extra ones in the corner of the room. This place seemed oddly familiar, but she couldn't quite remember if she had been here before. Looking down at her clothes, she sighed with relief that she was still wearing the same ones. Taking a deep breath, she tried not to panic. She looked around for her boomerang, but it wasn't there in the room, however that didn't mean she was unarmed. She still had the secret weapon attached to her arm, which she could use if necessary. Tip toeing to the door, Sango gently slid the sliding door, and peeked outside. There was one guard in the hall, but he was fast asleep. Making sure no one was down the hall, Sango crept out of her room and softly ran down the hall. Her feet made no sound as she turned at the end, but ended up running smack dab right into someone. She was about to fall down, but a pair of strong arms caught her. Sango was about to attack the person who caught her, but stopped as she recognized the smiling of the young lord . . . Kuranosuke.
"Ah Sango, it seems you are finally awake," smiled the young lord.
Sango was speechless as she stared at the young lord who she hadn't seen in almost a year, but blushed slightly as she remembered him asking her to be his wife, "Lord Kuranosuke . . . what am I doing here?"
"My soldiers brought you here during the night, they said you were alone,"
Sango's eyes widened, "I wasn't alone . . . I was with Miroku, and my brother Kohaku . . . oh gods they must be so worried about me!"
The lords eyes darkened, "They lied to me? Well I will make sure they will pay for that. Where were your friend and brother stay?"
"At a hut . . . but now that I think about it, it's only a short distance from your castle . . . to the east I think,"
"Well, I will send soldiers to them to let them know you are here then . . . Marcos!"
A man came running down the hall and bowed to lord, "Yes, your majesty?"
"Find the monk that came here last time to my castle, there should be a young boy with him and the fire cat. Tell them where Sango is and guide them back to my castle. Oh and make bring the two soldiers who brought Sango to me, to meet me in the chamber right now,"
"Yes my lord!" And with that he took off back outside.
"I'm very sorry for all this. Come . . . won't you have breakfast with me?"
"Well . . . there's um . . ."
"Tell me over breakfast, it's been so long since I've seen you Sango,"
Sango sighed and followed after the young lord, "So . . . have you found a wife yet?"
"No . . . I actually took your advice and tried to look for one, but . . . I couldn't trust any of them . . . not like I trust you . . . Sango,"
The exterminator blushed and continued to walk by his side. When they entered his chamber breakfast had already been set out for them. Sango took as seat right beside the young lord, "Um . . . lord Kuranosuke . . . there's something I need to tell you . . ."
"Oh . . . did you finish your task?"
"Task? Oh yes we finished collecting the jewel shards, defeated our enemy, and I got my brother back,"
"That's wonderful to hear,"
Sango nodded and was about to speak again, but the lord interrupted her.
"Sango . . . you must be wondering why I brought you here?"
The exterminator nodded her head.
"I heard rumor that the jewel was put back together, and you told me once that you had to complete that, and another task, but I wasn't quite sure if you did succeed in that task or not. So I sent two soldiers to bring you here . . . to see if you would become my wife,"
Sango blushed and was about to speak, but the lord grabbed her hands into his.
"Sango, please hear me out . . . I tried looking for someone else, but I couldn't. I just couldn't get you out of my head. I have spent sleepless nights thinking about you and wondering if you were safe and still alive. I just couldn't forget about you, and there were tough times this year when I really wished you were by my side. Sango, I would love it, if you were to stay at the castle with me . . . as my wife. Your brother could stay with us . . . and the monk too if he wished. Would you please be my wife . . . and bear me an heir for the throne?"
Sango stared at the lord with her mouth wide open. She was very flattered that the lord had confessed his love to her, but she didn't love him. He was very nice as a person, but she loved Miroku with all her heart. Maybe he didn't say such flattering things to her all the time, but still . . .
"Sango . . . please say something . . . you're making me nervous.
Sango took a deep breath and was about to tell him no . . .
"SANGO! SANGO WHERE ARE YOU!" screamed a voice from outside.
"What the hell is going on?" asked the lord, running to the window with Sango at his heels.
Sango gasped as she saw Miroku trying to run to the castle while Kohaku and Kirara were clearing a path by knocking the soldiers out of the way.
"SISTER! WHERE ARE YOU!" cried Kohaku.
Sango ran out of the lords chamber, took a left down the hall and ran out into the cold winter, "Miroku! I'm right here!"
Miroku spotted her and ran towards where she was standing. More guards try to block his way, but Kohaku and Kirara took care of them. Sango ran towards the monk and was swept off her feet as his arms flew around her, and his lips came crashing down on hers. The lord ran out to tell the guards to stop, but froze as he saw the scene before him. Miroku fell to his knees, exhausted from fighting the soldiers, and released Sango's lips, but still held onto her, crushing her against.
"Thank Buddha . . . oh I was so worried about you . . ." whispered Miroku.
Kohaku ran to his sister's side and hugged her as well; "We didn't know what happened to you until Miroku saw the bear symbol on the bottle,"
Sango was confused by her brother's statement, but shrugged it off.
"I woke up . . . and you were gone . . . there was no trace of you . . . your boomerang was still there . . . I thought I lost you," whispered the monk into Sango's hair, holding her tighter.
"Miroku . . . you could have been killed, I mean going up against the whole castle's army . . ."
"I didn't care . . ." His grip on her tightened as he kissed her again fully on the lips, "I would die for you my love,"
Sango gasped and blushed at his statement.
"Is this what you . . . were trying to tell me?"
The three of them looked up at the lord who was still frozen to the spot, and Sango could see the pure hurt in his eyes.
"Yes . . . I've already found a husband . . . who I have promised to bear his children, and be his wife," whispered Sango.
The lord nodded, and sighed heavily, "That was what I feared . . . that I had been to late . . . I already knew I guess, but I was just hoping that I was wrong . . . I could see the look in his eyes that night when he save you from the bear demons ghost . . ."
The soldiers had stopped attacking and just stared at the lord, wondering what they should do next. Kirara de-transformed, dropping Sango's boomerang, and her family's remains gently to the ground before running into Sango's lap, purring.
Miroku didn't say anything as he continued to hold Sango; he just kept thanking Buddha in his mind that she was okay.
"My lord . . . what do we do?" asked the captain.
"Return to your posts, and tell the two soldiers who brought Sango hear I wish to speak with them,"
"Yes sir,"
The lord knelt beside the two, "I'm sorry dear monk about this . . . would you please stay a few days here? As a way to tell I'm sorry for all of this?"
"Sango . . . what do you think?" asked Miroku.
"I guess we could," sighed Sango, pecking Miroku on the lips.
************************
They actually spent two whole weeks at the castle instead of a few days. Miroku was doing a little demon exterminating since the castle had been having problems with the near by demons, and Sango and her brother were helping the soldiers, and teaching them how they would be able to ward off the demons with different types of poisons. At the end of two weeks, they decided to head to Sango and Kohaku's home village.
The lord had wished them well, and had asked to be invited to Sango's and Miroku's wedding. Agreeing, Miroku, Sango, Kohaku, and Kirara headed off.
It was two days before they reached the village, and it was the same since they last left it. Sango found a decent hut and began to clean it up while Miroku and Kohaku began burying the remains. They had a small ceremony for the death of her father, and fellow fighters, before heading inside before it got too dark. Sango had made them some Ramen, which Kagome had given her before they departed. As Sango was clearing up dinner, Miroku glanced at her brother and winked his eye. Getting the message, Kohaku got up and walked out of the hut with Kirara on his shoulder, winking back at the monk.
"Kohaku . . . where are you . . ." Sango was silenced as Miroku pulled her into his lap and kissed her passionately on the lips. She melted into his kiss and kissed him back just the same, and didn't even notice as Miroku picked her up and placed her on the futon near the fire, "Miroku . . ."
"Sango . . . can I please make you my wife tonight?" asked the monk.
"What . . ."
"I asked Kohaku if he would give us some alone time . . ."
"What have you been telling him Miroku!" hissed Sango.
"Nothing bad . . . I swear . . ."
Sango cooled down a bit, but blushed as she remembered his question, "You want to make me your . . ."
"Yes . . . or mates as Inu-Yasha puts it,"
"I . . . I guess . . . but . . ."
"But what?" asked Miroku.
"I don't . . . I don't know what to do . . ." Sango whispered, blushing like crazy.
Miroku only smiled and leaned down, brushing his lips against hers, "Would you be too embarrassed if I told you what to do?"
"No . . ."
"Then just relax . . ." whispered Miroku, kissing Sango again.
Sango stiffened at first. She was nervous as hell, but relaxed into the kiss and cleared her mind. Miroku smiled against her lips and wrapped his arms around her.
TBC . . .
(Alright people, for those who didn't see episode 78 here's a brief summary. Sango and the others are traveling but are summoned to a castle to exterminate a demon. The lord turns out to be someone Sango recognizes. It turns out when she was younger, her father and fellow villagers came to his castle and killed a bear demon. Now it seems another demon is attacking the castle, and he wants Sango to get rid of it. Later on in the episode, to lord asks Sango to be his wife, but she doesn't know what to respond. Miroku doesn't really say anything since he wants her to be happy. However Sango tells the lord she can't be his wife since she has a task to take care of (getting Kohaku back), and that after that she would think about it. In the end, the demon turns out to be the bears ghost from which Sango and her family killed. Miroku saves Sango from the bear, and the lord realizes that the monk has feelings for Sango as well. Anyway, Sango's father had explained to burn the bears remains, however Kuranosuke's father told them to wait, and keep the fur. In the end, the inu group leaves the castle, with the lord thinking to himself, he won't give up on Sango, and would wait for her.
And the deal with the bear thing being on the bottle. Well the lord at the time told his minions to make merchandise like bear stuffings and what not, so that people would once know that a demon bear was killed there, however they sold nothing. Sigh well there you have it. I am done my part B for math today, and I do my Physics on Thursday. It will be a while till I write the next chapter since I work from thrusday to Saturday. The next chapter is going to be a Sesshoumaru/rin chapter. And why do I ask you people to review? So I can see how many I get! I'm like on 905, or something like that. Anyway, just review and tell me what you think!
Lynns