Heart of Darkness
part two
Sesshoumaru, Jaken and Rin left Sango in the forest, but, as they were walking away, Jaken exclaimed, "No! Wait! Milord, we should follow that taiji-ya!"
"What, Jaken?" Sesshoumaru sounded calm, but the taiyoukai had rounded on him, obviously furious.
"W-well," Jaken mumbled in a small voice, quaking, "it's just that… I bet she was lying when she said that she didn't know where Inuyasha-sama was! We could follow her, and then you can kill your brother! And I bet she'll lead us to the boy too—to Kohaku!"
Sesshoumaru was silent for a long time when suddenly he whirled around and walked back the way they had come. Soon, the three arrived at the place where Sango was still sitting in the flattened bushes, rubbing her sore cheek. "Taiji-ya."
Sango looked up, and her eyes narrowed.
"Tell me where Inuyasha is," Sesshoumaru growled, charging forward and grabbing her neck. He lifted her off the ground by the throat and squeezed.
Jaken shook his head. Not exactly my plan, but…
Sango struggled desperately; she couldn't breathe. Her hands clawed at the hand wrapped around her neck and she choked, "I—told you! I—don't know!" Then, her hand found a shuriken and she plunged deep inside Sesshoumaru's already injured arm.
He let go immediately, obviously in pain. Jerking the shuriken out, Sesshoumaru glowered at her. Blood dripped down his arm and he said, "This time, you will die." He backed up and drew his sword, the Tokijin.
"Stop! Sesshoumaru-sama!" Rin jumped in front of Sango. "Please, don't kill Sango-sama, Sesshoumaru-sama."
Sango stared in shock at the little girl who was, however unintentionally, buying time for her to get away. "Thank you," Sango muttered humbly, and, glaring at Sesshoumaru, took off on Kirara, who was ready for action nearby. They took off into the sky, but not before Sango threw one last shuriken. It would have hit Sesshoumaru in the face, but he deftly caught it.
The three watched the taiji-ya disappear, and there was a long silence. Finally, Jaken broke it by saying, "She's quite the feisty one, isn't she?"
Sesshoumaru didn't say anything, but Rin swore on that day she saw a trace of a small smirk on his lips.
oOo
Meanwhile, at around the time that Sesshoumaru, Jaken and Rin found Sango, the search for said taiji-ya was just beginning. Miroku, Kagome and Shippo wandered throughout the forest nearby, calling Sango's name. Inuyasha didn't particularly care, well; he didn't care until Kagome threatened him. Then he helped with the search.
"Sango-chan! Sango-chan!" called Kagome repeatedly. She searched every bush, every tree, and every blade of grass for her friend. "Oh, where did you go, Sango-chan?" Kagome muttered dejectedly. "Miroku-sama is positively miserable without you."
oOo
"Sango! Sango!" called Miroku desperately. "Where are you?" he howled. Suddenly, Miroku spotted something strange through the dense foliage of evergreens. It was a deserted village and there, lying on the ground, covered in blood and dirt, was a giant bear youkai just beginning to stir. It was sorely injured, Miroku could tell. Did Sango fight it? I wonder if she's hurt…
Then Miroku noticed that the bear youkai had suddenly gotten up and was ready to kill. It lumbered toward him, knocking trees out of the way. Taking a step back, the monk saw a huge, bloody wound on its shoulder.
Did Sango do that? "Inuyasha! Kagome-sama! Shippo!" They came to his side within seconds, and Shippo and Kagome backed away in fear. Inuyasha smiled and drew Tetsusaiga. He charged toward the youkai, but Miroku distracted him by yelling, "Its shoulder! Inuyasha, go for its left shoulder!"
"Huh?" Inuyasha turned toward the monk, only to be knocked aside by the youkai. "Owww!" Inuyasha growled, looking at his arm, which had, thankfully, only a flesh wound on it. "Look what you did, Miroku!" he yelped furiously.
"Sorry!" Miroku said. I would use the Kazaana, but it's too dangerous…
"Kaze no Kizu!" Inuyasha bellowed. The bear youkai managed to sidestep the attack, but it was hit full in the face by another, which Inuyasha had sent out the second when he saw that the first would miss. The demon was obliterated and Inuyasha made his way back to Kagome for some bandages.
Miroku, still wondering if Sango had fought this youkai, wandered into a clearing not too far from the others, ignoring Kagome and Shippo's cries. What he saw shocked him. The grass had been dyed red! As if someone had lain there while bleeding—or while dying. That thought horrified Miroku. It couldn't have been Sango who lay here—could it? Then Miroku spotted something that confirmed his fears. Lying in the middle of the blood stained grass was a very bloody piece of Sango's kimono.
"Kagome-sama! Inuyasha! Shippo! Come here now!" Miroku bellowed urgently, rapidly becoming frantic. They raced over yet again and Miroku picked up the cloth. "Look," he whispered.
"So?" Inuyasha said.
"This is from Sango's kimono!" Miroku hissed. "It's bloody!"
Kagome grabbed the cloth out of Miroku's hands and her eyes watered. "Do you think Sango-chan is okay?" she whispered.
Inuyasha rolled his eyes. "Well if that's bloody than most likely she's not—"
"Sit!" Kagome barked. "You stupid, idiotic b—"
"We have to find her," Miroku said at once, interrupting Kagome before she could curse at the hanyou. His expression was pained as one thought alone ran through his mind: This is my fault.
oOo
"That stupid youkai," Sango muttered. "Next time I see him, I'll kill him." Kirara gave a meow and Sango smiled. "Do you think maybe we should go and look for the others?" Then, Sango glanced down and saw, following her swiftly on the ground, were Sesshoumaru, Rin and Jaken. "Oh, no!" she moaned. "They're following me!"
They are after me to get Inuyasha…
Sango shook her fist at the youkai below and shouted, "STOP FOLLOWING ME, DAMMIT!"
Sesshoumaru, obviously angered, rose up in the sky until he was flying next to her. "Taiji-ya. Tell me where Inuyasha is."
"I told you, I don't know!" Sango snarled. "Leave me alone!"
Sesshoumaru's eyes lighted as an idea hatched in his mind. This girl, this taiji-ya, could be used as bait to draw Inuyasha and the others. I will let the cat youkai loose and it will undoubtedly go to Inuyasha and the rest of her companions, eventually leading them back to me. And then I finally can kill my useless hanyou brother. "You're coming with me!" he growled, grabbing Sango and tearing her roughly off Kirara. He held her close, her face pressed against his breastplate, his arm around her waist, so she could not escape.
"Let me go!" Sango shouted, struggling.
"Stay still!" Sesshoumaru barked. Kirara growled threateningly and started toward the inuyoukai. "Tell your youkai to leave or I'll kill her."
Strange… she's a taiji-ya, yet she travels with youkai…
"No!" Sango choked.
Sesshoumaru flexed his claws menacingly.
"F-fine!" Sango exclaimed. "Kirara, leave. Now." Kirara made a stubborn sound and Sango looked at her pleadingly. "Kirara, please. You're in danger." Making a defeated sound, Kirara took off. She knew where she was going.
Sesshoumaru grinned in a horrible way and took Sango down to the ground. "We stay here. Jaken, go collect some firewood. Rin, help him," he ordered.
Jaken looked confused, but complied. "Oh… oh, okay, Milord." His eyes told his lord that he understood: bait. Rin was still puzzled, and Jaken, leading her away, said, "Don't worry, I'll explain it when we get the firewood."
"Let me go!" Sango shrieked.
Sesshoumaru ignored her and took her to the base of a nearby tree. He sat her down and tore a strip off the bottom of her kimono without even asking. She shrieked in anger, but he didn't care as he wrapped the cloth around Sango and the trunk, pinning her to the tree. He tied it tight, so she could not escape no matter how hard she struggled.
And all at once, Sango knew what he was doing. "You're using me as bait…" she whispered. Furious, she shouted, "You bastard!"
Sesshoumaru sped toward her and went to claw her head, but she ducked and he missed her. Not by much, though. "You keep," he snarled, "calling me a bastard. Stop."
He scowled down at her when he saw, to his surprise, that tears were falling down her face. He bent to her level and peered deeply into her face. "Why are you crying?" The question was almost gentle. Honest.
"I'm… what?" Sango questioned.
Sesshoumaru's hand floated toward the taiji-ya's face, and Sango flinched, but Sesshoumaru simply wiped the tears away. Something had possessed him on this day, something strange… something kind. "You were crying," he said. "Why?"
"I don't know… maybe because you want to kill my brother and you are going to kill my friends!" she snapped.
Sesshoumaru backed up; a stony look on his face, regretting that he ever touched her face, wondering why he touched her face.
Sango avoided his gaze and stared fixedly at the ground. The tension grew, but, thankfully, Rin and Jaken returned with the firewood. Sesshoumaru stood up immediately and strode away from Sango. Jaken and Rin settled down to start a fire and Sesshoumaru watched them with a somber air.
He closed his eyes briefly, and thought simply, Filthy human.
oOo
Miroku sat next to blood soaked grass as he had for hours. She's hurt… no doubt… she might even be dead… and it's my fault… I wish I wasn't such an idiot…
"Miroku-sama, come on. Sango-chan is probably out there somewhere. She's probably fine. Someone might have helped her," Kagome lied skillfully. It was only a lie because Kagome believed Sango to be dead. She would never say it aloud; it was too painful… for both Miroku and herself.
"Right now," Inuyasha announced, hopping down from the tree, "we need to continue our search for the sacred jewel shards. Move it," he moved over to where Miroku sat, giving the monk a little kick, "come on. You know that Sango is d—"
Before he could finish his sentence, Kagome had shouted, "Sit!"
Inuyasha crashed painfully to the ground. He began to get up, muttering, "You little b—"
"SIT!" Kagome bellowed again.
Inuyasha hit the ground again, but this time he held his tongue.
Shippo hopped into view. He had been out asking about Sango. "Hey guys, some people nearby said they saw a girl fighting the bear youkai and then they saw her go into the woods. One man said that she was covered in blood," Shippo said, eyes fearful. "Where's Sango? Is she okay?"
"But if she was dying, why isn't her body here?" Kagome wondered aloud. Miroku made a pained sound, but Kagome turned to him happily. "Don't you see, Miroku-sama? The fact that there is no body obviously means she isn't dead!"
Miroku smiled weakly at Kagome for that and stood up. "She'll find us." He said it as a statement, but to him, it was more a pleading question: Is she going to find us? Is she going to come back?
"Yeah," Kagome agreed wholeheartedly.
"Yeah!" Shippo echoed.
"Well, come on, then," Inuyasha said impatiently, motioning into the woods.
"Yes," Kagome chirped. "We have to find her."
oOo
Two days had passed without any sign of Inuyasha and the others. The third day had just begun, and Rin had run off after a butterfly about half an hour before. Jaken had fallen asleep and was snoring loudly. Sesshoumaru and Sango kept sullen silence, glowering at each other.
"You're going to die when Inuyasha gets here," Sango said conversationally. When she said this, Sango felt a twinge of pain in her heart. Why? Sesshoumaru was a heartless, cruel youkai, so why should she, the taiji-ya, feel bad saying that he was going to die? She hated him…
…didn't she?
Sesshoumaru closed his eyes briefly, obviously annoyed, and wordlessly got up and walked into the forest.
oOo
Filthy taiji-ya… how dare she insult the great Lord of the Western Lands? I should kill her… Inuyasha wouldn't know she was dead… he would still come, and I would still get to kill him.
I hate her. I hate everything about her. And yet…
His brow furrowed in confusion.
And yet… I am drawn to her… intrigued by her.
No, he thought ferociously. She is a weak human, and not worthy. She cannot stand against me for even a second. She has insulted everything I am. I will kill her. He was satisfied, when suddenly, a more humane part of him cried out, No! She is strong, even if she is human. I cannot kill her. Sesshoumaru let out a roar of fury and frustration. '"What is happening to me!" he growled, the inner fury and confusion barely disguised in his baritone voice. The feelings in him caused him to drop to his knees, his hand covering his head protectively.
He hated her for making him feel this way.
What are these feelings? This has never happened to me before… why am I attracted to that filthy taiji-ya? I am not like my father who fell in love with that human woman and fathered that bastard Inuyasha—father betrayed my mother and all the Inuyoukai when he did that. I will not be like him.
His claws struck a tree, snapping it in half. Furious with Sango, for being a stupid human, and himself, for allowing himself to get caught up in emotions, he tramped back to the camp.
oOo
When Sesshoumaru walked into the forest, Sango could tell he was mad enough to kill. And that gave her a little satisfaction. It was easy to make him angry. Sango thought back to a moment ago, when she felt pain at the thought of Sesshoumaru's death. Why, though? He was a youkai, and she was a taiji-ya. She was supposed to be pleased when a youkai met its demise…
But, Sesshoumaru was different. He was impossible. Every time she thought she had found a way to break him, he found a way to hurt her more. By insults, or by uneasy silence. Sango hated tension, and the air around the two was full of it. Now, Sesshoumaru had stormed into the forest. That hurt.
But she didn't know why it hurt.
She hated him. She hated every fiber of his being. He went against everything she knew and loved. He was a youkai, and she, human. It was right for her to feel hate. She hated him with all her heart.
At least, she thought she did.
After thinking, Sango realized that, though, yes, she did hate him… there were other feelings… more hatred…?
This hate was, surprisingly, not for the death and the cruelty he represented. This hate wasn't even completely directed at Sesshoumaru himself.
This was hate for the silence. This was hate for the pain and the sorrow all around her. But why?
Why was there so much hate built up inside her?
Naraku took control of her little brother, and he didn't know whom she was—or whom he was, for that matter.
Her whole family had been slaughtered.
The man that she loved was a perverted, lecherous monk.
She was stuck with an arrogant, human-hating youkai.
Human hating.
That little human girl, Rin, traveled with Sesshoumaru, and she wouldn't leave, so he had to have some kind of a heart, and some part of him mustn't detest humans that much…
Sango tried to stop her mind from thinking about the youkai lord, but her mind kept drifting back to him. Drifting back to Sesshoumaru, with his long silver hair and that shining blue crescent moon glowing on his forehead. Sango grew angry, and confused.
After thinking for half an hour, Sango's lip curled in a horrified but dry smile. How ironic, she thought. I am attracted to Sesshoumaru.
oOo
Sesshoumaru arrived back at the campsite soon after Sango's (and his own) realization, a stole a look at the taiji-ya. Their eyes met, and they both glanced away.
I have feelings for this monster? Sango thought in shock.
How can I have feelings for this human? Sesshoumaru thought, still furious with himself.
"Sesshoumaru…" Sango whispered.
He turned toward her, a stony look on his face. He was making sure none of his emotions could be seen through his expressions.
"Never mind," Sango said shyly. She felt her face heat up and thought frantically, I can't believe I'm blushing… what is happening to me?
Perplexed, Sesshoumaru watched her face redden.
oOo
In the meantime, Kagome, Inuyasha, Miroku and Shippo were searching hopelessly for Sango, in the hopes that she was alive. It was pointless, however; for they had absolutely no idea where to go…
…until Kirara flew down from the sky onto the ground where the group stood talking.
"Kirara!" Kagome gasped.
Miroku took an eager step forward, hoping to see Sango somewhere on Kirara's being, but no luck. He sighed miserably and shook his head.
Kirara meowed at him and grabbed the monk's sleeve, tugging him back the way she had come.
"Do you think she knows where Sango is?" Kagome asked.
"Maybe!" Shippo said enthusiastically. "Let's go!" He hopped in between Kirara's ears and beckoned to the rest.
Kagome smiled and grabbed Miroku's hand gently, leading him over to Kirara. They both mounted her, and they set off, Inuyasha jumping steadily from tree to tree after them.
At least two hours passed before something happened. Shippo had fallen asleep, and Kagome had to grab him from between Kirara's ears; he almost fell to the ground below. Inuyasha was falling behind, panting loudly. Miroku was silent, keeping an eye out for any sight of his beloved taiji-ya. Kagome was constantly looking back to where Inuyasha was, obviously concerned.
Then, finally, Kirara lowered herself to the ground in a wooded area. Inuyasha followed her down and collapsed in the dirt, exhausted. Kagome hopped off of Kirara, Shippo still in her arms, and said, "Hey… I don't see any sign of Sango…"
Miroku got off too, and was looking around when something caught his attention. "Look!" he whispered. He pointed at a place in the woods just beyond where they were: a clearing. In that clearing, tied to a tree with her own kimono, was Sango. "Sango!" he exclaimed in an ecstatic whisper. He made to run forward, but Kirara grabbed onto him and held him back.
Kagome ran up to where Miroku was and gasped. "Look… Inuyasha… it's…"
Inuyasha got up off the ground and jogged over to where his friends were. Immediately he saw what Miroku had not. "Sesshoumaru…" he breathed.
"Sesshoumaru took Sango prisoner?" Miroku fumed.
Inuyasha smiled evilly and walked into the clearing. Miroku followed closely afterward, and Kagome followed after setting the sleeping Shippo on the grass. Kirara was there to protect him; she wasn't worried.
"Sesshoumaru!" Inuyasha and Miroku barked at the same time.
Sango's face split into a huge smile when she saw her friends. "Inuyasha! Kagome-chan!" She then paused and hesitantly continued, "…houshi-sama!"
"Sango!" Miroku ran toward the girl and untied the cloth. She got up and Miroku threw open his arms for a hug, but no luck.
Sango turned away from him and muttered, "Thank you, houshi-sama," and ran over to Kagome, who welcomed her with open arms.
Miroku stood there in shock, mouth agape. Inuyasha snickered at him, but Kagome quieted him after a quick threat. "S… Sango?" Miroku said weakly.
Inuyasha took a step toward his older brother and unsheathed Tetsusaiga. Sesshoumaru, who had sensed the group long ago, gave a tiny hint of a smirk and drew the Tokijin. Then, simultaneously, they charged at each other.
Sango looked worriedly between the two, searching for Sesshoumaru. Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru drew back for a moment, and Sango sighed in relief. There was a tiny cut on Sesshoumaru's forehead, but that was all. There was a thin line of blood dripping from Inuyasha's mouth to his chin, but no other injuries. The two struck at each other again and again, and each time they found they were evenly matched.
Sesshoumaru, annoyed by how he hadn't gotten in a proper shot yet, charged toward the half-breed. Their swords connected, but Inuyasha frowned.
"This time I'm going to kill you!" he roared, charging forward with new strength. To Sesshoumaru's surprise, Inuyasha brutally knocked the Tokijin from his brother's hand. It landed in the dirt some feet away and stuck fast.
Unarmed, Sesshoumaru frowned. Inuyasha smirked at him and readied the Kaze no Kizu. Either I have to dodge or… The taiyoukai's eyes narrowed and he dashed toward Tokijin.
"Oh, no, you don't!" Inuyasha roared, whirling around and swinging his sword at his brother. "Kaze no Kizu!" the hanyou bellowed, and watched in satisfaction as his strongest attack rolled toward his older brother.
Sesshoumaru grabbed the Tokijin and back flipped to safety—the Kaze no Kizu missed him by an inch. Inuyasha gave a dry smirk and said, "I'll get you next time, Sesshoumaru."
"There will be no next time!" Sesshoumaru growled, charging. Inuyasha immediately mimicked him, the same determined expression on his young face.
Sango's eyes widened, and the taiji-ya ran into the middle of the battlefield and screamed, "STOP!"
Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru froze, staring at the woman in between them.
Tears sparkled in Sango's eyes and her form shook piteously. "Please don't kill Sesshoumaru," she pleaded with Inuyasha. "He saved my life!"
Inuyasha dropped his sword in shock, while Kagome's eyes widened and she gasped. Miroku bit back a disbelieving chuckle and said, "He saved you?" The monk laughed and added, "I think you must be thinking of someone else, Sango."
Sango glared daggers at him and retorted, "He did save me! I was hurt… I was beaten by a bear youkai and Sesshoumaru helped me!"
Sesshoumaru glanced away. "I only helped because I was begged, taiji-ya."
"See? He's just a cruel youkai! Sango, he kidnapped you so he could use you as bait!" Miroku insisted.
Sango bit her lip and averted her eyes. "I know…"
The taiji-ya felt a hand on her shoulder and turned to find Kagome's earnest face staring into her own, large chocolate eyes staring into her own cinnamon orbs. "Come on, Sango-chan," she said softly. And Sango complied. With one last look back at Sesshoumaru, Sango left with Kagome, Miroku and a very reluctant and frustrated Inuyasha.
Sesshoumaru stared impassively after her, watching the girl disappear over a hill. "Ridiculous."
oOo
As strange group of travelers strode farther and farther away from Sesshoumaru's fading figure, the Tetsusaiga, back to it's normal, broken self, bobbed lightly on Inuyasha's shoulder. An annoyed expression played across the hanyou's face, and he snorted unceremoniously. "Why didn't you let me kill him?" Inuyasha asked for the third time in five minutes.
And for the third time, Sango was silent.
"Tell me! I could've killed him, I just know it!" Inuyasha persisted.
"I told you," Sango said slowly, the cold edge to her voice biting into her friend. "He saved my life, and I was in his debt. Now the debt is repaid." I highly doubt Sesshoumaru appreciates that I stopped the battle; in fact, he probably hates me for it. Her heart throbbed painfully. But I felt I needed to do something. Sango bowed her head, and thought, A debt? I'm afraid that I think it's more than just a debt… Sango suspected that another reason she stopped the battle was because of her secret, rejected feelings for the Taiyoukai.
"You wouldn't have to repay him if he was dead!" Inuyasha exploded. Sango chuckled softly and looked up at Inuyasha as if observing a young child. He glanced down at her and immediately tensed. "What're you lookin' at me like that for?" asked he, sounding like some kind of dumb, juvenile delinquent.
"Nothing," Sango said, her voice barely above a whisper.
Miroku gazed down at the young girl and considered asking her what the matter was. But all thoughts flew from his head when she looked up at him, and her eyes seemed strangely empty and dark. "San…go?"
Sango quickly averted he eyes when she saw the monk's eyes widen in confusion. Why do I feel so depressed? she wondered.
"Sango? Are you all right?" Kagome asked, saying what Miroku didn't dare to voice. "You seem sad. Do you regret saving Sesshoumaru, or something?"
Sango almost laughed. But then she realized that if she made it seem that she in no way regretted her decision, her new secret might be discovered. "No. I'm fine, Kagome-chan." Sango smiled. "Really," she added quickly when she saw Kagome's unsure expression.
"Feh," Inuyasha said gruffly.
oOo
That evening, Sango sat huddled around the warm fire of their campsite, thinking. Miroku sat silently next to her, also deep in thought. Kagome and Shippo were fast asleep, curled up in the girl's sleeping bag. Kirara lay next to Sango on the log, also sleeping. Inuyasha sat in the branches of the nearest tree, and, asleep or awake, no one could tell.
I wonder if Sango is all right now… why was she acting so strangely today? So quiet? He glanced over at her and saw her large eyes shut, her knees pulled up to her chin. Miroku scooted a tiny bit closer, and she didn't stir. Maybe… The monk's hand reached out slowly toward her, but suddenly a soft voice cut through the night air.
"I see you haven't changed."
"Huh?" Miroku jerked his hand back and peered at Sango. Her eyes were still closed, but it was her who had spoken. "What?"
"You haven't changed," Sango repeated quietly.
"Sango," the monk laughed. "It's only been a couple of days since I last saw you. Do you really think I would have changed?"
Only a couple of days, Sango mused. That's right. Sesshoumaru only held me captive for two days. How come it seems as if it has been so much longer? The taiji-ya opened her eyes and glanced at the monk. "So, seen that girl lately? What was her name? Ryomi?" Her voice dripped ice.
"Ryomi?" Miroku repeated. He blanched. That troublesome girl had been immediately forgotten when Sango ran off. "Oh… Sango—"
Sango simply stared at the flame once more. Her eyes flickered back and forth across her comrades resting on the ground, and then finally up to where she presumed Inuyasha sat, in a tree above Kagome. Her mind drifted to Inuyasha's words earlier that day and she frowned.
'Tell me! I could've killed him, I just know it!'
Would he have really killed Sesshoumaru? His own brother? Can anybody be that cruel?Sango grimaced and thought briefly of her dear Kohaku before turning to, at that moment, more urgent matters. And what am I going to do about my… feelings? He must hate me. I'll never tell him. Never!
"Sango?" came Miroku's voice.
The girl's head snapped up, making her loose her balance. Clumsily, she began to tumble off the log. "Ahh!" she squeaked. She braced herself and prepared to hit cold dirt, when Miroku's arms snaked around her waist and pulled her back up. She smiled at him, the tension gone for the moment. "Thanks."
"You are welcome, Sango," Miroku said huskily. He leaned in closer and Sango's face heated up. Suddenly, his lips descended on her own. Sango stiffened, and attempted pushing him away. But, he had her in a firm hold and would not let go. She protested against his mouth, but he didn't hear.
"NO!" she shouted, managing to push him away and slap him hard. This time, it was Miroku who almost fell of the log. Except, unlike Sango, who was saved, Miroku continued to hit the ground—hard. She stood up and backed away from him, face scarlet.
Kagome sat up and rubbed her eyes and peered out at Sango, caught in the fire's light. Her eyes found Miroku, or rather, Miroku's legs, sticking up from where he had fallen. "What… happened?" she said groggily. Then she saw how red Sango was, and noticed the hand across the girl's lips. Kagome's eyes widened. "Oh… you—"
Sango shot her a look and snapped, "Go back to sleep, Kagome-chan."
Not sure whether to be excited that her dear friends had kissed, or miserable that Sango was upset and had told her off, Kagome complied and lay down again next to Shippo. Sango seemed to relax, but Kagome's eyes stayed open.
Miroku, in this time, had gotten up, and his hand was on his cheek. Mouth open, eyes wide and full of hurt, he sputtered, "Sango… I… I thought…"
Sango whirled around and strode off into the forest around them, blocking out Miroku and Kagome's calls. She kept walking until she reached a small clearing littered with fallen branches. She collapsed against a tall tree and sighed. Oh god, she thought miserably.
There was a rustling of leaves up above, and Sango snapped to attention. "Who is there?" she called out, hand gripping the Hiraikotsu. "Show yourself!"
And, out of the shadows, came the most unlikely person.
Sango leaned forward. "Kohaku?"
Her little brother tottered toward her, covered in blood. The taiji-ya ran forward and got down to her brother's level and examined his wounds. "Oh, god, Kohaku, what happened to you!" She hugged him and smiled. "It's all right now. I'll take you back to Kagome and—" She froze mid-sentence. Wait—the jewel shard… doesn't it numb pain? Then… All thoughts flew from her head as she realized it was a trap too late. Kohaku sank his kusarigama deep into Sango's shoulder, making her cry out and fall backward.
"Koh… Kohaku!" she stammered, gripping her shoulder and feeling the blood pour over her fingers. She winced in pain and growled at her own stupidity. "Naraku is going to pay for what he's done to you, Kohaku!"
His eyes empty, Kohaku swayed slightly and rushed forward at a terrible speed to attack again. Sango grabbed Hiraikotsu and swung it out in front of her as a shield. He maneuvered to successfully disarm her of her boomerang, and the weapon collided with a tree. The boy attacked again and Sango was forced to draw her sword. She blocked the attack with her good arm and pushed back against him. The taiji-ya managed to push her little brother back and throw his weapon to the ground. Devoid of emotion, Kohaku glanced blankly at his fallen kusarigama and unsheathed his sword. He attacked with no passion, making it easier for Sango to throw him off balance.
"Wake up, Kohaku!" Sango urged, watching Kohaku struggle against her onslaught of defensive attacks.
There was a strong gust of wind, and Kohaku glanced up to see Kagura floating on her pearly feather in the moonlight. He gave his sister one last gaze, and jumped up into the trees, and then onto Kagura's feather.
Now that the battle was past, and there was nothing to distract Sango from her wound, she gasped in pain and fell to her knees, clutching her injured shoulder. She staggered back to the campsite and Kagome leaped up from where she had been whispering to Miroku about Sango and the monk's disastrous encounter.
"Sango-chan, what happened?" Kagome dashed forward and led Sango to her medical supplies. She got out gauze and bandages and dutifully wrapped up Sango's arm before the taiji-ya had a chance to say a single word. Kirara meowed and hopped up next to her mistress, licking her hand.
Miroku raced over and asked, "How did this happen, Sango?"
There had been too much tension between them already, so Sango decided to pretend that the earlier incident had never happened. It was not as if Sango did not love the perverted monk, she did, it was just that Sango had always had trouble dealing with the extent of his flirting, and now, it was quite refreshing to have feelings for another, even if they were forbidden.
So she decided to explain. "I was attacked… by Kohaku."
Kagome gasped, Miroku frowned deeply, Kirara whined unhappily, and Inuyasha hopped down from his perch and swore at the beast that was Naraku. "He'll never trick me again," Inuyasha declared. "Bastard!"
Sango flinched as Kagome brushed the wound, and then listened to her relentless, pointless apologies. It was minutes later that Sango managed to speak, and when she did, she reassured Kagome that she was absolutely fine. Yes, she had to do it three times, but it succeeded in quieting Kagome, so Sango could brood in peace.
Soon, Sango's wound was wrapped up, and she was feeling far better. Kagome hovered by her side, Miroku sat next to her, deep in thought, and Inuyasha sat cross-legged in the dirt. One minute later, her voice broke the silence.
"I was tricked."
Miroku glanced up from his knees when she said this and, puzzled, repeated her words. "You were tricked? What do you mean?"
"Kohaku," Sango sighed. "Something possessed me… I believed him to be normal, and embraced him… only to remember that the jewel shard in his back numbs pain."
Kagome winced sympathetically. "Sango-chan, that's so horrible…"
"Feh. Surely you must be used to it by now," Inuyasha snorted thoughtlessly. "We've been hunting Naraku for a while now, and he has used Kohaku against you tons of times."
Sango and Kagome glared at him. Kagome, used to his insensitivity, responded in her normal manner: by once again using the beads around the hanyou's neck to his great disadvantage.
"Sit, boy."
Inuyasha, thankfully sitting on the ground, had not long to fall, but he did fall, and a painful fall at that. He hit the dirt and growled out something incomprehensible, but Kagome deciphered it as something that was worthy of another sit.
"Let's sleep now," Miroku murmured. "We should have been resting for tomorrow hours ago—now we have not much more than five hours to sleep." There was a sound of compatible mumbling, and Miroku finished his speech. "I cannot sleep, so I shall take watch."
"But, houshi-sama," Sango protested. "You'll be exhausted by morning!"
"It means more to me that you care," Miroku said, eyes shining.
Sango's face reddened and she buried her head in a sleeping bag she had borrowed from Kagome. Oh, god, she thought. She closed her eyes and ignored the feeling of a certain monk's eyes remaining on her.