"Sango!"
Sango spun around, looking for the source of the voice. Ayame was running towards her, the expression on her face showing relief. She waved frantically at the girl who still stood at the edge of the forest.
"Sango," Ayame gasped when she got to the woods. "Where did you go?"
"I was just hanging around," she sighed, grateful for the demoness' worry but annoyed all the same. Smoothing out her dress, panic shot through her.
'Ah! How am I going to explain this!'
The demoness, oblivious to her companion's frantic thoughts, rolled her eyes and tugged on Sango's wrist.
"Let's go, then. Kouga wants to talk to you."
Sango allowed herself to be pulled across the clearing to the village, but despite herself she looked back at the forest more than once. One tree, for heaven's sake…
When they reached the village, something was off. A think, choking film of unease lay over everything like dust on a neglected mantle, and no one would meet her eyes. There was absolutely something wrong.
She was seated in front of Kouga, who tilted his chair back to balance on two legs and the wall behind him. Sango shifted nervously in her seat.
"Hakudoshi was through here today," he said conversationally.
"I–is that so?"
"Yup. That makes thrice times in less than a fortnight."
Ayame stood beside Kouga, looking a little worried. Sango frowned. Thrice…that would mean he'd visited nine times this month, with more than a fortnight until the next one. Surely the sheriff had better things to do than pester their village. Kouga continued.
"He seemed particularly keen on speaking to you."
"Why is that?" she asked carefully.
"I don't know. He would not speak of it. But…Sango," Kouga sighed and put his chair back on four legs. "The villagers have eyes, and ears as well as any. They speculate, and calculate, and already the gossip flies."
"What would you have me do?"
Ayame stepped forward.
"Stay put for a little while. He told us that he would visit again soon, so please – keep to the village until he comes to call."
Sango stood up.
"Why? If the sheriff's need to speak to me is so great, then he can wait for me as any other should!"
"That isn't the only reason. You must also take note of the rumors, and the recent sightings of bandits. What if that hanyou is responsible? Do you not remember Inuyasha? He killed his own mother and ran to the forest! He was never found," Kouga reminded firmly.
She shrugged.
"I can take care of myself."
"No one doubts that," Ayame said soothingly. "We just wish you would stay here, until Hakudoshi comes."
Sango thought for a moment. Maybe…
"If I stay," she started, "will you give me the recipe for butterscotch?"
Ayame and Kouga stared at her as if she had gone mad.
'That's all?' Kouga thought. 'Some old recipe? There has to be a catch.'
But Ayame recovered quickly, and smiled.
"Absolutely."
"Then…it's settled," the now-imprisoned woman sighed. Drat…
She didn't mind having to stay; it was the lack of freedom that stung. Gladly she would have stayed if only she was allowed to leave at will. The knowledge of that freedom was comforting.
"One more thing, though," Ayame said. Sango froze.
'Here it comes. She'll ask about my clothing, about my bracelet! I don't know what to say!'
"You have to tell me when you learned to sew so well! And why did you have to do it out in the woods?"
Sango grimaced. Ah, well, at least she wasn't suspicious.
Several days later, Sango paced her living room anxiously. She had the recipe and a lie about the dress (now washed and dry, ready to return when next she reached Green Haven) was firmly rooted in Ayame's mind. She hadn't dared to try the recipe just yet, since she didn't have some of the ingredients and to ask for this so suddenly would be too much – especially on top of her recent behavior.
She had to get out!
This place was going to drive her mad. All her clothing was mended, her tiny home sparkled as well as a hut could, she had helped Ayame tan hides until her fingers were stiff from lashing the skins so tightly to their posts, and she had even done some work at the smithy! If she didn't see her forest soon, she would go mad.
So that night she tucked the recipe and Umeko's dress into a small pack, and slung it over her shoulder with her quiver. She picked up her bow and rushed out into the woods. Hakudoshi would not come in the middle of the night, and she would be back before the noonday meal! She intended to stay only long enough to prove Miroku wrong.
However, she had forgotten what a pain finding the tree would be. Not only was she trying to find one tree in the forest, but she was trying to find it in the dark. Not one of her brighter ideas… So she wandered until she felt that she was near where she'd been before, and began the long, aggravating search.
False dawn was sneaking through the trees when she heard a noise in the bushes. She reached for her bow, and fumbled only a moment with her quiver before knocking the arrow.
The arrow, however, had over plans. It slid off her finger, pointing towards the ground. With a cry of dismay she recaptured the errant projectile and pointed it at the noise.
"If I was an enemy you'd be dead right now," a gruff voice informed her. "You're the slowest archer I've ever seen."
"Have I found that stupid tree at last?" she asked the speaker, who was standing up with his arms raised. From what little light there was, she could see long black hair, and almost half a glimmer of brown eyes.
"Yea, it's behind you."
Sango rolled her eyes. Right. Put down the bow and turn around. Even if this guy wasn't an enemy, she refused to be that foolish.
"If you wait a little longer I'll take you back."
"Why not take me now?" she asked, hesitant to lower her bow.
"Because Miroku will tan the hide of anyone who leaves this spot untended, stupid! Even if it's me."
She wasn't entirely sure who 'me' was, but she lowered her bow. Whoever this was, he knew Miroku. The evidence was piling in his favor.
"Just wait for dawn," the gruff voice sighed. Sango nodded, and leaned back against the tree that was, indeed, behind her. It would only be an hour or so until the sun broke through the trees – come to think of it…
"It is dawn," she said, realizing. "It'll be awhile before the rest of the light breaks through the trees, but its dawn."
"Then we'll wait for the light," the man growled acerbically. She frowned, and cocked her head to the side.
"I thought the new shift came at dawn."
"Just shut up!"
About to send a sharp retort towards the man, she stopped. Giving a sigh, she leaned against the tree to wait for first light. A leaf fluttered above her head. Sango concentrated on it, gauging the light by the colors of the leaf.
Soft green, barely a shimmer as the weak light staggered into the woods. Stronger, stronger, warming up and waking up. The gold sun slowly piercing through the foliage, casting patterns of radiance and dark over everything. Her focus spread from the leaf to the trees, and she watched in awe as the light came in. Shadows fading, light prevailing, the warmth spreading light and life like a cloak over the woods.
She was absorbed by the marvel, and so nearly jumped out of her skin when the man called to her again.
"Oy," he said, stepping out of the bushes. Sango gave a cry and snatched up her bow. The arrow knocked a little quicker, but not much.
Another man entirely stood in front of her. She would have forgiven the dark hair turned silver and the brown eyes to gold were it not for two dog-ears standing erect on the top of his head.
"Who are you?" she asked in a firm, but quiet, voice. He rolled his eyes.
"Inuyasha. Now come on, get ready. Shinnosuke will be here soon."
Inuyasha. The name struck a nerve.
"…Do you not remember Inuyasha? He killed his own mother and ran to the forest! He was never found…"
"You!" she cried. She let her arrow fly, and thankfully for Inuyasha (whose back had been turned) she missed her mark and it flew off into the trees. He spun around, and glared at her.
"What the –"
She scrambled for another arrow, and loosed it. This one only barely missed its mark.
"Killer!" she screamed. "Murderer!"
Inuyasha leapt forward, and Sango lurched backwards, tripping a little.
"Dammit, woman! I don't have time for this. Just shut up and let's go."
He grabbed her bow as she tried to knock another arrow. She gave a cry, and tugged a dagger from her waist, slashing blindly at him. He jumped back, into the trees, and she spun around in search of him.
Before things could proceed further, however, a cheerfully curious voice filled her ears.
"Now while I'm certain that there's a very good reason why Inuyasha is hiding in a tree, Sango, I'd rather hear it back at camp. What say you to that?"
The young woman spun around to see Miroku, leaning against a tree with a grin that she would soon learn was his 'signature' expression. She didn't sheath her knife.
"You harbor a murderer!" she accused fiercely. Miroku nodded.
"Oh, yes. Two of them. Four deserters, six tax dodgers and an uncountable number of thieves, also."
Sango's jaw dropped, and she spluttered in anger and confusion for a moment.
"But…wh – He killed his own mother!"
"I did nothing of the sort!" Inuyasha shouted furiously from his perch. Miroku looked up to where the sound came from.
"Sango, dear, sheath that please. I believe Inuyasha fears for his life."
"And for good reason!" the two snapped back in unison. Miroku gave a chuckle.
"Now," he sighed coming forward to put a hand on Sango's shoulder as her blade went back to its sheath grudgingly. "Sango, if you promise to keep that demon-killer put away, I promise that Inuyasha won't try anything icky. That includes murder or maiming, I swear it."
She nodded hesitantly, and Inuyasha dropped out of the tree. Sending him back up said tree to collect her bow, Sango asked:
"Demon killer?"
Miroku tapped the sheath of her knife, tucking Sango under his arm. She wriggled free, and he sent her a pained look before explaining.
"Against a dagger like that, a demon's power is useless. It will kill someone of demon blood as easily as one who is wholly human."
She looked down at her weapon, surprised. Kouga…that wretch. He had given it to her not long after Kohaku had died. He must've known. Despite the less-than-kind thoughts she held for the wolf demon at the moment, she was grateful.
Miroku clapped his hands together as Inuyasha handed Sango her bow.
"Well, then! Off you two go. I'll be back by the noonday meal."
Inuyasha and Sango – standing more than an arm's width apart, started walking. Before Miroku was even out of sight, however, Inuyasha turned back.
"Hold it!" he cried, and Miroku paused. He had been starting to climb up the tree (the tree being that which was marked to be found).
"Where the hell is Shinnosuke?"
Miroku grinned.
"Wakana had twins," he told his friend. "He's busy rejoicing over the fact that both children, and their mother, are doing well. I let him be."
Inuyasha nodded, and turned back. Gesturing vaguely at Sango to follow, they began the trek back to Green Haven. Halfway down the path, Sango remembered her plan to be back by noon.
Ah, well, supper would be fine as well.
She milled around Green Haven – after returning Umeko's dress – for the better part of the morning. She was introduced to a good many people – including the overjoyed new parents Wakana and Shinnosuke. Wakana had (for obvious reasons) been more than tired, but happy all the same to meet her.
"I can't wait for my lying-in to be done with!" she had sighed quietly when the twins were asleep. The two little boys had been squalling hungrily when Sango had entered (at the insistence of Shinnosuke and Shikako, who were already trading father stories). She and Wakana had talked, mostly about 'women things'. Things like that were half-remembered by Sango, who hadn't cooked for more than one in over a year. She was surprised to find that she enjoyed herself – she hadn't expected that talking about how to make Sunday's chicken last a little longer to be so pleasant.
At one point during the morning, after Wakana had fallen asleep and she had wandered off to look around more, she found herself even fantasizing about being…well…a woman. Doing house-chores for a family again. It sounded nice. Peaceful.
Her little fantasy was lost, however, when Miroku strolled into the clearing with a smile. He caught up with her almost immediately, and started chatting.
"I told you I'd be back by noon," he greeted. Sango blinked, and looked up at the sun. It was, indeed, noon. How had the time passed so quickly?
"So?" she scoffed. He sighed.
"Never mind. Have you eaten?"
When she admitted that, indeed, she hadn't, he guided her over to the large pot where she had supped not long ago.
"Neither have I, not since I left," he told her. "I should have taken some bread and cheese. I'm famished!"
"Next time you'll know," Umao scolded, doling them out barley soup. They ate in a companionable silence, and almost as soon as Sango had taken her last spoonful of soup – and wonderful it had been, for barley – he asked about the butterscotch.
"If you have what I need, I can make it," she had said pridefully, handing her bowl back to Umao, who passed it to the children doing dishes. Miroku nodded, and propped his chin on his hand.
"Care to take a wager on it?"
"On what?"
"Whether or not Satoru will accept your candy."
She folded her arms and regarded him with mild amusement.
"You're a clergyman. You cannot gamble."
"Ah, but that's the beauty of it! I can pardon myself as quickly as I sin."
"Somehow I don't think it's supposed to work that way!" Inuyasha yelled from the bench where he had just sat down to eat. Miroku made a face at him, and looked up at Sango.
"Do you accept?"
Unable to resist, she shook the hand he had extended.
"I do. What do we play for?"
"If you win…" he paused, thinking for a moment."If you win, you may see the route we take to Green Haven."
"And if you win?" she prodded. He smirked and stood. When he began to walk past her, she thought that he might ignore her question. This was proved wrong when he said, in a voice so quiet she almost didn't hear:
"I claim a kiss."
As Kat-chan said, my stories without fluff would be…not my stories. So, enjoy this little teaser.
And I sincerely apologize for the unholy and disgusting wait on this chapter. The next one won't take even a couple days, I promise. And then chapter six...groans