Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha, or its characters. I do own, however, the original characters: Alden, Cora, and Setsuko. Using my original characters in your own stories is not permitted, unless with my consent. Thank you.
Chapter 6
The Hidden Shard
That spirit had managed to break itself lose from its thick, strong restraints. It quickly leapt itself into the air, as painful steam seared and scorched its skin, and great pillars of fire burned forth once more. But the flames and burning did not subdue it; that damned spirit used all of its strength to fight against the blazing whips, and forced itself free of it. It had successfully managed to leave that fiery chasm, the agonizing moans of despair reverberating in the distance. That spirit left the dark depths, stretching out its great wings, as it began to ascend higher and higher, to whatever lied above.
Alden shot his eyes open, yet another eerily linked nightmare. He did not bother to get up; he tried to calm himself down immediately and rest again. It wasn't long before he closed his eyes easily, and fell asleep.
Morning rays lay over Alden's eyelids, waking him eventually. Cora was up before him, like usual, already dressed and prepared to start a new day in the Feudal Era. She noticed that he had just awakened, and hovered over his face.
"More nightmares last night, Alden?" she asked.
"Yeah. But it wasn't that serious this time," he told her. "I almost immediately fell back to sleep."
"Pf! Probably getting used to them. But are they starting to get random again?"
"No. I'll tell you about it later at breakfast so everyone can hear. I'm sure they're wondering about it."
"Okay."
Cora walked over to her backpack and extracted her notebook once again, turning to her previous page, which was book-marked by her pen. She scribbled some words down, asking Alden to how to correctly spell some of them.
"Alden, how do you spell Sango's name?"
Alden sat up abruptly.
"Why do you want to know that?" he asked.
"Pf! Just spell it out for me."
"Ugh. S-A-N-G-O."
"Okay. Thanks."
He turned to her.
"What are you writing in there, anyway?"
"Wouldn't you like to know!" she retorted.
"Yes, I would. Tell me before I grab it away from you, Cora."
"Pf! I'd like to see you try! It's my diary anyway, so hands off!"
"But what are you writing about Sango in there for?"
"None of your business!"
"Alright. That's it, brat. Give it here."
Alden stood up, and ran over to snatch away Cora's notebook. She hugged it close to her, while he tried to pry it out from under her arms.
"Hey, stop!" Cora cried. "It's my diary! Leave me alone!"
"Yeah right, brat. What could a nine year old possibly want with a diary?"
"Wouldn't you like to.....hey!"
Alden managed to pull the notebook from his sister's hands, opening it to a random page to begin reading.
"Hm. Let's see what we have here....."
"Gimme it back!" Cora struggled, flailing her arms.
"Let's see. Huh?"
Alden read a few sentences. He could easily see through the bad spelling; and was astounded at what he read.
"This is like chronicles of what's been going on in the Feudal Era," he said. "You've just been writing down what's been happening every day?"
"Well, I just started it yesterday," Cora said. "But now, give it back!"
Before Cora could do anything, he flipped to the newest page that she had been writing on moments ago.
"Alden met Sango at the lake last night. I wonder what they were doing?" he read aloud. "Could Sango actually like my brother? I wonder what's going to happen today....."
"Give it back now, Alden!" Cora screamed. "NOW!"
"Hey, what are you doing writing about Sango and I in here for?"
"Give me back my diary!"
Alden read some more, holding back Cora in the process.
"Hey, this is actually good. Chronicling our days like this; but just take out the part of Sango....."
"No! This is my own diary.....it has our days in it, but my own thoughts too.....no way I'm changing anything!"
"Ugh. Fine, brat. Here."
Alden tossed the notebook at his sister, but fortunately, she caught it hastily.
"Finally!" Cora said in exasperation.
"Cross out the part about Sango and I, Cora," Alden demanded. "Do it now."
"No way! It's my own thoughts!"
"Listen, I don't want anyone to know anything yet."
Cora looked down at her own words, but did nothing. She put it away soon after, while Alden got dressed and ready for the daily breakfast at the abode next door. Cora thought for a while.
"I wonder what happened last night," she thought to herself. "I know Alden likes Sango, but what about her? Does Alden even know? Pf! I think he does; he's just not going to tell me, of course."
Alden and Cora left a couple minutes later, and entered the doorway where breakfast was just being served. Kaede had made a morning broth, nothing of delicacy, but nonetheless tasty. Cora ate it hungrily, while Alden looked over at Sango, who caught his glance. She said nothing, merely blushing slightly again. Kagome gathered her backpack, and rummaged through it, noticing her depreciation in supplies.
"Ugh. Oh no! I'm running out of stuff!" she said. "That well better be fixed soon!"
"Well, maybe if we could somehow try to use the well, we might get somewhere!" Inuyasha retorted.
Kagome was angered by this comment; she thought Inuyasha would keep quiet about trying to do dangerous things while Alden and Cora were here. But she was also getting worried about the well situation; when could they try the well again?
"There has to be a way we can fix the well without taking any serious risks," Kagome said.
"Ye must not try anything hasty," Kaede said.
"Precisely," Myoga agreed. "It's way too dangerous. Out of the question."
"But, what will we do?" Kagome wondered. "We have to figure something out. Otherwise, Alden, Cora, and I won't ever be able to get back to our times!"
"Hm. Well, since the well's magic is obviously in a distorted state, the only thing is to wait patiently for something else to occur. Perhaps figure out how it came to be distorted in the first place."
"Naraku is behind it, I know it," Inuyasha said. "He's trying to figure out a new way to gather more shards. Messing with the well is a great way to; gathering shards through time."
"That is probable," Miroku said. "But the question is, where is Naraku now? We haven't seen or heard of him in a while now."
"Yes. Then, perhaps it is something else," Myoga said. "But whatever it is, it is obviously indeed very powerful to be distorting the well's magic and tinkering with time."
"It could be anything then," Kagome concluded.
This comment was met with a weary silence, although everyone was in thought. Myoga mused about the mysteries and questions surrounding the well, but to no avail, he conjured no theories or ideas. Miroku looked over at Alden; was he planning to meet Sango again? But what was he caring for, he knew he could do nothing about it. Inuyasha and Kagome both were provoked by the well; somehow they had to figure out a way to fix its magic and find the culprit behind the distortion. Cora had finished breakfast, and began playing with Shippo and his tops, as Kilala sat and watched. Alden began to think about his dream again that he had last night; he rehearsed it over again and prepared to tell the details to the others. Sango ate quietly, waiting for Alden to perhaps say something to her, but she feared embarrassment, and her inevitable blushing. She concluded to herself that it was best to stay quiet; maybe he would say something to her later without the others around.
Unusually, Alden decided to disperse the quietness.
"I had a dream last night again," he told them. "Another one."
Myoga snapped out of his thoughts and perked up.
"Oh, Master Alden, I forgot to ask you about that!" he said.
"Well, last night it wasn't too intense. That demon or shadowy thing I keep telling you about had broken free of its chains, rose out of the fire, and flew way up high with its wings, escaping all of the torment down there. And then I woke up."
"Hm. Interesting," Myoga said. "Very interesting. More plot to this story about this.....demonic-like shadow."
"Pf! I'm telling you, there's nothing interesting about it," Cora commented. "Alden has been having nightmares forever. Ugh. I'm bored. I'm going to go outside. Shippo, let's go play!"
Cora exited the abode, beckoning Shippo to follow her. Shippo gathered up his tops from the floor and left, trailing after her.
"Kilala, go with them just in case," Sango commanded Kilala.
Kilala obeyed, and went outside.
"Thanks, Sango," Alden said. "Excuse my sister's short attention span."
"So, these dreams, Alden," Miroku began. "Are they so excruciating and disturbing?"
"Yes, they were. It felt like hell, literally," Alden told him. "But that demon escaped it. I don't know what will happen next."
"Perhaps this is the work of a demon?" Myoga mused.
Meanwhile, outside the abode, Shippo was twirling his tops on the ground while Cora attempted to hit them with her slingshot. She aimed her carved rocks at them, some successfully making contact and ricocheting off the tops, causing them to spin out of control and hit the others.
"Wow, you've got good aim now, Cora," Shippo said. "Eagle eye!"
"He he. Thanks, Shippo," Cora said.
Kilala watched the tops spin crazily, as Cora took aim again. Suddenly however, from the blue sky, came a winged demon. Abruptly it came down upon the village, landing near the unsuspecting Cora. It opened its mouth and bore its long, sharp fangs, as it licked its lips mindlessly with a slimed green tongue. Its face was that of a grotesque: scaly and gremlin-like, however not a sort of Lilliputian imp. Its eyes were searching for something, obviously the jewel shards located in the near abode. All of this happened in the matter of seconds; Cora backing away from the mammoth devilish demon.
"Ah! A demon!" she cried.
The demon, however, did not proceed to the abode where the shards dwelled, housed in Kagome's backpack. It did not remain indifferent, but reacted to the startled Cora, its eyes gazing upon her dangerously, intimidating breathing noises issuing from its carnivorous mouth.
Shippo and Kilala reacted hastily.
"Ah! Cora!" Shippo cried. "Don't worry! Take this fox fire, demon!"
Shippo emitted a flame of the fox to scorch the demon. It was unaffected.
"Ah! Oh no!"
Kilala leapt forward, transforming into her true savage form. She lunged at the demon, attempting to sink her teeth into its scaly skin. The skin however, was as tough as a sheet of hard armor; Kilala grasping onto it uselessly. It countered the futile assault with its claws, flinging Kilala through the air, and plunging her into the earth. The demon turned back towards Cora and met her terrified eyes, as it slowly cornered her.
Inside the abode, the others were still talking amongst themselves, unaware of what was occurring outside. Kagome, however, was abruptly disturbed by a pulsation; a magnetic force. She recognized it; a jewel shard was nearby.
"It's very close," she thought. "It's really strong too. Like that time before, at the well, when we first met Alden and Cora."
"Is something the matter, Kagome?" Miroku asked, noticing her concerned disposition.
"Yes. I sense a jewel shard!"
"At last!" Inuyasha said.
Everyone emerged from the abode, following behind Kagome. They beheld the injured Kilala and the fretting Shippo. The demon had Cora cowering in a crevice, her eyes watery and shaking.
"Cora!" Alden screamed.
"Feh. It's about time we found a jewel shard," Inuyasha said. "Take this, demon!"
He leapt at the gigantic demon from behind, assailing it with his iron claws. However, to no avail, it only left a minor scratch. The demon turned around and focused its attention on Inuyasha, its tongue sliding out of its cage of lengthy teeth.
"Damn it, it has tough skin," Inuyasha said. "Feh. Fine then."
Inuyasha unsheathed Tetsusaiga, and it enlarged with an intimidating radiance. He charged at the demon, which seemed to have conspicuous slow reflexes, mentally and physically; he cut it down easily. Soon, the demon was nothing more than diced remnants.
"Where the hell is the jewel shard?" Inuyasha wondered.
When the battle was over, Cora ran over to Kagome and hugged her, sobbing and blubbering.
"I was so scared," Cora said, amongst her mumbling. "I thought I was a goner."
Kagome noticed how strong she sensed a shard now; in fact, she never felt such a powerful force from a single shard. It felt like it was right near her, exactly in her midst, but no jewel shard was around.
"Hey, Kagome! I thought you said there was a jewel shard nearby!" Inuyasha asked her.
"I do sense a shard," Kagome said, Cora still shaken and teary-eyed in her arms. "It's around here somewhere."
Suddenly, an unusual event transpired. As the distressed Cora's eyes continued to tremble with tears, a blue glow began to emanate forth. It appeared to be emitting from Cora's right arm, shining feebly initially, but then growing in radiance. The light eventually shone with a blinding illumination, as everyone shielded their awestruck eyes with their hands.
"There it is!" Kagome said, holding Cora's glowing arm. "It's the jewel shard! It's giving off that light!"
Cora watched the light radiate from her arm, a distinct shape was now easy to discern despite the brightness; it was indeed a shard. It appeared deeply embedded in the midst of Cora's arm.
The light soon dissipated, the shape fading away. Myoga hopped over to scrutinize and examine Cora's arm.
"Hm. A shard is embedded in her arm?" he pondered. "Interesting."
"Well, what are we waiting for?" Inuyasha said, irritated. "Let's get it out of her arm!"
"Inuyasha, sit!" Kagome said.
Inuyasha's face was flung to the ground as a result of the word of incantation.
"There's no way we're going to cut off Cora's arm or slice it up in order to get the shard," Kagome said. "But, this shard; it's powerful."
"That light was indeed remarkable," Myoga said. "I've never seen a light of such purity emit from a shard."
"This was what I was sensing before," Kagome told them. "Before, when we first met Cora and Alden at the well. I had sensed the shard in Cora's arm. It was really strong; that's how I recognized it just now."
"Hm. Interesting."
"Does it hurt, Cora?"
"No, not at all," Cora said.
"Well, that's good."
Kaede hurried over to look at Cora's arm.
"Hm. This child's arm....." she said. "The light from it was a spectacle. A very bright shard shines from within.....one of purity."
Inuyasha recovered from his minor head injury.
"Hey, Kagome, I'm getting pretty sick of....."
Kagome ignored him; she was too wrapped up in her thoughts of the new strange situation that had taken place.
"I had a jewel shard inside me when I first came to this era.....just like Cora has now. A demon had come after me; just like demons have gone after Cora. She can't be.....another reincarnation of Kikyo?"
"What is on your mind, Kagome?" Kaede asked. "Is something troubling ye?"
"Well, you don't suppose that Cora could be.....another reincarnation of Kikyo?"
"Hm. I don't understand. What do ye mean?"
"Well, I keep noticing how we're alike. How we both have had a jewel shard in us, and have had demons attack us....."
"Hm. I see."
"I don't think so, Lady Kagome," Myoga said. "That similarity may be true, but do not forget you and the Lady Cora are of similar eras and different backgrounds. If she were a reincarnation of Lady Kikyo, you would be dead also. You could not both be alive."
"Yes, that's true, I guess," Kagome said. "But then how do you suppose a shard got in her arm?"
"Perhaps through the travel through the well. Let us not forget that the well is in a very distorted state, and that traversing through time and using its magic may cause various bizarre things to occur."
"But what has confused me is this child's power of purity," Kaede said. "Did you witness that light? She obviously has the power of a priestess!"
Everyone was taken aback by Kaede's observation; was Cora really a priestess? If so, what had caused her to come across these powers?
"Lady Cora, have you noticed this before, in your time?" Myoga asked her.
"No, I don't even know what is happening to me," Cora said, bewildered. "A priestess?"
"In short, you have the ability of purity and to ward off evil demons," Kaede said. "Just like my sister, Kikyo."
"And I have a shard in my arm? But, how? What is happening to me?"
"That is a mystery," Myoga said. "But I tend to think it has to do with the well. It has caused many strange happenings to occur. Maybe because Lady Cora and Master Alden have traversed here through the well's distortion to our era, it has caused different effects on them. Master Alden's ominous dreams, now Lady Cora's newfound priestess abilities. It seems they haven't had these strange things about them before now; very strange indeed."
"Well, I think the best possible solution is to nurture Cora's priestess powers," Kaede said. "That glow.....so very powerful indeed."
The rest of the day was spent attempting to tap into Cora's powers. With the aid of Kaede and Kagome, Cora tried rigorously to stir up and then harness her new abilities. She was left alone in the abode to concentrate and focus inwardly, conjuring up emotions and stimulating her mind, trying to get that powerful light of purity to shine forth once more. Initially however, she was not successful, even with the kind help of Kagome and Kaede.
Dusk soon came along with thick, threatening clouds, raindrops abruptly pelting down upon the village. The sky however, was not roaring or thundering, nor flashing from lightning, but was quiet enough to be peaceful. The threatening clouds became serene.
Everyone was now inside the abode, Cora finally taking a break from her arduous meditation. She did not like the act of meditation and concentration at all; she found herself restless and wanting to get up to go outside. But she knew she had to stay and sit, Kagome said that it was best, and so, she listened.
"Any success?" Miroku asked.
"No, not yet," Kagome said. "But Cora has been working hard at it. I think she'll get it soon."
Kagome smiled at Cora; Cora returning it.
"Soon, ye will be a powerful priestess," Kaede told Cora. "Once ye have gotten control and able to harness the light, ye will be powerful. A new Kikyo is indeed among us."
Myoga started a whispering side conversation, careful not to disturb the others.
"Pardon me, but Master Alden, could you please answer a question? Curiosity has the best of me again."
"Sure. Go ahead, Myoga," Alden said. "About my nightmares?"
"Yes, of course. That demon that we encountered today, I couldn't help but see the resemblance between it and your description of the demon in your dreams."
"No, that wasn't it at all. That demon was too big and monstrous to be it. The shadowy demon in my dreams is much smaller, although I can't give you any details since it's always very blurry and hazy."
"I see. So it is a small demon."
"I would say about the size of Kagome, not as small as my sister. And the shape of it, now that I think of it, seems somewhat human too. Although it has wings."
"Hm. Interesting."
Rain continued to fall, as the conversation in the abode turned into a talk over supper. Kaede prepared a soothing vegetable soup, which was enjoyed by everyone; providing them with comfortable warmth against the chill from the rain. The conversation lingered on about Cora's new abilities, and how she would go about using them if she were to be a powerful priestess. Once she was able to control her powers, what would she do? Could she sense jewel shards like Kagome? Could she use her sacred light to shoot enchanted arrows? Did she in fact have the same abilities as Kagome and Kikyo, amongst the priestesses? Or was it something different? And what about the shard embedded in her arm? Would the shard remain there or did it have to be removed? If it was removed, would she still have her powers?
As dinner came to an end, the rain ceased to pour from the sky. Kaede and Kagome insisted the others leave to try again with Cora's powers. Thus, they left them alone once more; walking out into the wet, gray evening. Inuyasha was becoming vexed once more with the shards. Why couldn't they somehow extract the shard from Cora's arm, and be done with it? He let it go, instead wondering what Kagome was doing to get Cora's powers out and useable. The others were talking to some villagers who were sitting or lying outside their own huts and abodes; an atmospheric weariness seemed to have a callous grasp on the town.
After an hour or so, Kagome exited the abode. Inuyasha walked up to her abruptly, demanding to know what was going on inside.
"We managed to somehow get the light to shine again," Kagome told him. "Kaede said that once Cora taps into her powers enough, she'll be able to use her powers easier at will."
"And what are these powers anyway?" Inuyasha asked.
"Um, don't know yet. Kaede assumes some sort of priestess abilities. Once she activates the light more powerfully, she'll have to discover what she is capable of herself."
"And what about the shard?"
"It has to stay in her arm. It's deep in there, Inuyasha. Kaede assumes it's close to her bone; it's providing her with power, although Kaede claims that her abilities were there all along, just remaining hidden."
"So all of this has to do with the well, huh?"
"That's what we all think. All these weird things going on to Alden and Cora; it must have been the well's distorted magic."
A black, cloudy sky eventually devoured the grayness that seemed to lie heavy in the air, as night overtook the village. Cora had managed to sharpen her ability to cause the light to shine forth from her arm, but hadn't figured out her abilities just yet. Kaede assumed it would come in time, and that she would unearth the secrets to her powers on her own.
Everyone soon decided to head for the hot springs to rest and relax. The girls took the one path again to a hot spring, the boys the other. Alden felt agitated by this; he wanted to talk to Sango, but nonetheless, proceeded to follow Inuyasha and Miroku, with Shippo humming along the path. Cora decided to stay back at the village with Kaede, Myoga, and Kilala; she wanted to wash herself alone later.
In the springs, Shippo splashed around playfully, Inuyasha becoming somewhat irritated.
"Why couldn't the runt go with Kagome?" he thought to himself.
"Hey, Inuyasha," Alden said, relaxing in the water. "Kagome is from our time, right?"
"Yeah, why?"
"Nothing. Just thinking about all this. All that's happened to us."
Alden was just making conversation; he was instead preoccupied with thinking silently about Sango. Should he ask her to meet again at the lake? Should he reveal his feelings for her?
Miroku, unusually, was not trying to sneak a glance at the girls in the springs; he was instead mulling over the bizarre events that have been occurring with Alden and Cora. Everything had gotten very confusing; he could not even begin to think of a theory or solution to any of it. He eventually just shrugged it off, turning towards the now silent Alden. Alden now seemed very indulged in his own thoughts, having a very unusual look in his eyes. Was it a look of passion? Was he thinking of Sango? Miroku wondered; but he kept telling himself not to worry about it. He couldn't do anything about it if they had fallen for each other. But it kept persisting, tugging at his insides; he had to know what Alden was thinking, and what was happening between him and Sango.
Fortunately, at this time, Inuyasha decided to get out; Shippo was annoying him with a variety of antics and talking about trivial things that made him punch the harmless fox demon on the head.
"Hey, that hurt!" Shippo cried, thrashing in the water. "I'm telling Kagome!"
"Feh. Go ahead, runt," Inuyasha said, leaving the spring.
"Alden, you saw that, right?" Shippo turned to Alden for reassurance. "The way Inuyasha treats me!"
"Don't worry about it, Shippo. Who cares," Alden said.
"Yeah, just ignore him," Miroku added.
"Well, I'm going to get out now anyway," Shippo told them. "I'm going to head back to the village and talk to Cora. She's there, right Alden?"
"Yeah."
"Okay. At least she's always nice to talk to and play with. Unlike Inuyasha."
With Shippo gone, a silence invaded the springs. Alden loved it, nonetheless, and relaxed. Images of Sango kept appearing in his mind sporadically, however, and began to show in his eyes again. Miroku recognized it, and took this opportunity to ask him about Sango.
"Sango is beautiful, isn't she?" Miroku asked him. "I mean, don't you think so?"
Alden was stunned initially by this comment; was the monk reading his mind?
"Yes, she is," Alden said.
"You know, before you and Cora appeared in this era, I would constantly ask her to bear my child. You know about my story, don't you?"
"Yes. I heard from the others. But I also hear you're very lecherous with women in general. And I can see you're like that with Sango all the time, so....."
"Well, you see, I must find that one certain beautiful maiden to bare my child. I must, or otherwise my family cannot be avenged, and Naraku's evil will live on....."
A silence ensued once again, with Miroku deep in thought; Naraku's name had presently given him a surge of utter contempt and hatred. Eventually, however, he realized that this was the chance to talk to Alden about Sango; he should keep trying to get Alden to talk.
"So, back in your time, how are you with the maidens?" Miroku prodded, abruptly dispersing the quietness. "Any fair ladies?"
"Well, let's just say I'm not as lecherous as you, Miroku," Alden said. "There are many girls that are very beautiful in my time, but they're either taken or they....."
Alden paused.
"Yes?" Miroku asked, with a new vigor of curiosity.
"Let's just say, they're different. Girls in this era are completely different from the ones in my time."
"I don't really understand. Maybe if you compare. Perhaps comparing.....the lovely Sango to.....one of the girls from your time."
"Sango is strong-willed, determined, compassionate.....I haven't met any girl like her. She's pious, gentle....."
"She is. But are there any girls like that in your time?"
"Yes. But, she is.....different from them."
Alden was again entranced by his thoughts of Sango; he had not even realized what he just said. Miroku's suspicions were correct, and he now knew and was certain that Alden was in love with Sango. He however, was not so sure about Sango's feelings for him. But he had guessed there was some sort of infatuation; he had caught a glimpse of Sango's blushing and observed her flustering movements around Alden. But what was he to care? He couldn't prevent it; love is inevitable sometimes.
The conversation ended with Shippo coming back to the spring to tell them that everyone was now inside. They left soon after, both still mentally engrossed about the beautiful Sango.
It was fairly late when everyone decided to go to sleep. Alden however, through meticulous means, made sure to speak to Sango in private about meeting at the lake. He still spoke surreptitiously to her, not wanting to yet reveal anything to anyone else about her and himself. But now, he was determined to get their relationship out in the open; to themselves first at least.
"Sango, meet me at the lake in an hour or so," Alden told her. "I'll be there waiting, having started a fire so we can see since it's so dark out tonight."
"Okay," she agreed, entering the adjacent abode. "I will."
Alden sat up awake, waiting for Cora to start sleeping. He could tell the moment she began to slip into unconsciousness; her face showed a very familiar, relaxed, serene disposition. He didn't tell her that he was going to meet Sango again at the lake solely due to the fear of being written as an entry in her "diary." Once she had begun sleeping, he snuck out of the abode with a careful stealth, pacing himself to have a light, silent step. He remained careful and alert even after exiting the abode and the village, always peering behind his shoulder, until he had reached the lake.
The lake was drowned in darkness, engulfed entirely by the black night sky. Alden started a fire quietly, sat down by a tree, and patiently awaited Sango's arrival.
Sango soon got up quietly, sliding around the others' peaceful persons, careful again not to rouse them. She successfully got to the doorway, and exited through it, allowing herself to be swallowed up by the intense shadows of the night. As she crept out of the abode, Miroku's eyes shot open quickly. He had kept himself awake.
Alden relaxed closely by the fire, unknown shadows abruptly emerging from the light. He turned around and noticed the approaching Sango, she smiled gently, blushing slightly, when his eyes focused on her.
"Hey, Sango," he said. "Sit here by the fire I started."
She sat down comfortably, looking at Alden, pondering embarrassingly what to say to him. What could she tell him? But then, with a stroke of luck, she reminded herself to ask him of his past; she wanted to know him better.
"Alden," she started with a breath of bravery. "I just wanted to know something."
"Yes?" Alden asked, a new vigor conspicuous in him.
"Well, since I told you about my brother, and a part of my past.....I was wondering if you could tell me about yours....."
"My past? Sure.....but where should I start? Let's see....."
Alden thought of what specifically to tell her. Sango's past was so tragic; he didn't know what to talk about that would be even mildly interesting compared to that.
"Well, back in my time," he started. "I mean, my life is very similar to Kagome's of course. Not exactly the same, but both of us go to school, and everything."
"Kagome doesn't seem to like it very much, yet she goes back....."
"Well, it's important to learn.....but back in my time, I don't have fun. I don't have many friends, to be honest, apart from clubs at school. I've always wanted a life like this.....filled with adventure, just like from the books I read. I still can't believe this is actual real life.....all of this that's happened to Cora and I. It's unbelievable. But apart from my disbelief, I like it here. I would like to stay here....."
"But don't you miss your family?"
"Yes, but.....I don't know."
"How come your era isn't adventurous? Aren't there any demons to slay or jewel shards to collect or anything that may force you to go on some sort of a journey?"
"No. There's none of that."
"There is no evil that threatens?"
"Corruption and greed maybe. But no evil demons or enemies....."
"It sounds like.....a place I would consider living in....."
"Yeah, I guess it can be pretty peaceful at times. But it can get lonely too....."
"Loneliness is everywhere....."
"Yes, it is. I can't even get this one girl to like me.....it's pathetic."
"A girl doesn't like you?"
"No. There's plenty of beautiful girls back in my time, but.....they just.....I haven't found one that....."
Alden didn't know what to say next. There are no girls that I've met that are like you? Did he want to confess his feelings? But how would she react?
He decided. Looking towards her, he gazed passionately, and told her.
"Sango, I haven't met any girl like you," he said. "I think.....I've fallen in love with you."
Alden's confession did not register in Sango's mind initially. She did not know how to respond. She was paralyzed, mentally and physically immobile. She turned her face towards the lake, blushing severely again, eyes quivering in disbelief. What was she to say?
"Sango, you are the most beautiful girl I've met, in so many different ways....."
She was finally able to turn back towards him, released from a temporary paralysis due to her overwhelming emotions. She met his gaze.
"I....."
She couldn't speak; she continued to stare into his eyes, captivated by them completely. She allowed his face to inch closer towards hers, as their lips slowly met. Sango closed her eyes and allowed herself to be kissed passionately, although not roughly. Her blushing faded after time, thankfully, but unusually. As their lips parted, they looked at each other, Sango still unable to produce words.
"Do you feel.....the same way about me, Sango?" Alden asked.
"I.....do."
Behind the bushes, knelt a persistent spying Miroku. He was well hidden; he had witnessed the whole thing very clandestinely. During the kiss however, he felt a complex, disturbing storm of emotions gush through him. He at last got answers; they did love each other. He told kept telling himself that it was inevitable, but why did he keep coming back to spy on them? He knew they loved each other, yet the kiss shocked him, and threw him into disbelief. Why was he feeling this way? He at last resolved it by leaving immediately. Hastily he proceeded however, rustling the bushes and crackling leaves beneath his feet. Sango and Alden turned around quickly in response to the noise.
"Who's there?" Alden called out.
Miroku gave no answer. He had left quickly; perhaps he did hear Alden's voice, or perhaps not. His pace was fast and boisterous, just as his current state of mind.
Alden and Sango turned back towards each other after scanning around with their eyes for anyone.
"You don't have to be shy around me anymore, Sango," Alden told her. "We can be together, out in the open. But we can still keep this as our place to meet when we want to be alone."
He held her hands in his. She blushed again, feeling her face with her palm this time. She felt the embarrassing heat on it. Alden put his other hand on top of Sango's hand that felt her hot cheek.
"You don't have to feel shy anymore, Sango."
"No, I'm not," she told him.
"But, you're blushing."
She smiled.
"I can't help it. I always do when I'm around you."
"Well, now we can be around each other all the time."
Sango didn't say anything, an awkward silence finally ensuing. Alden wondered what she was thinking.
"That is okay with you, Sango? I mean, you want to be with me, right?" Alden asked.
"Of course I do, Alden," Sango said. "As you said, I haven't met anyone like you."
A sudden and unusual flashback came to Sango's mind. Miroku was groping her, and she slapped him for it. She left a red mark on his cheek, and called him a lecher.
"That lecherous monk....." she muttered under her breath.
"What did you say?" Alden asked.
"Huh? Oh. Nothing. It's nothing....."
Alden heard what she said, despite his response. He made a mental note of it.
"You're so kindhearted, Alden," Sango said. "And determined, and valiant, and how you protect Cora.....you would easily give your life for her."
"As you have already done for your brother," Alden said. "You're more valiant and determined, with an unyielding will."
She looked deeply into his eyes again, but this time, it was ephemeral. Alden stood up after a while, unusually.
"Are you leaving, Alden?" Sango asked, perplexed.
"Yes. I'm going to get some sleep. I'm not going to be able to get up tomorrow morning," he said. "And plus, I think someone was spying on us before. That rustle in the bushes....."
"You think so? But who?"
"Listen, Sango. My sister knows about what we've been doing here. She figured it out somehow."
"Cora knows we've been meeting here?"
"Yes. Which is why I think we should just let our relationship be out in the open. I was afraid to say anything to the others at first because I wasn't sure.....how you felt about me."
"I love you, Alden.....everything about you. I want to be with you, in the open now."
"Okay, good."
"You think that was Cora spying on us?"
"I don't know. But.....whatever. It doesn't matter now, right?"
"No.....it doesn't."
He smiled at her, and she smiled back. That was another thing about her that made Alden so entranced, he realized; her gentle smile. He knelt back down for a moment, and exchanged a quick, chaste kiss. He walked past the bushes, looking back at her, not wanting to go. She was indeed beautiful, as she looked back at him, continuing with her mesmerizing, enticing smile.
As Alden approached the village, his feet felt heavy, as well as his eyelids, but his heart was light as a feather. He was overcome with happiness; he couldn't wait to be with Sango again. He also felt relief in admitting his feelings, and of course, blissful that she had returned the feelings.
Alden entered the abode, where Cora still remained sleeping; he couldn't help but wonder if she was the one snooping on them. He told himself that he would look in her notebook in the morning. Thus, Alden got ready for bed quickly, and attempted to relax. His insides were jumping with glee, boisterous and cheery, but he needed to sleep. He calmed himself, and let himself be carried off by the soporific effect of the day's length.
Sango extinguished the fire and stood up, still in disbelief. She had not known that Alden felt that way for her, although she knew she yearned for it entirely. Her heart was too filled with happiness, although it seemed to be an unusual happiness to her. She did not feel disturbed by it; she welcomed it, and let the warmth from it bring a smile to her face. As she continued to feel it, she began meandering her way back to the village.
Miroku had been restless, continually disturbed by his tempestuous emotions, conflicting each other inside of him. After he had left Sango and Alden's meeting at the lake, he immediately headed back to the abode to attempt to sleep. But to no avail, as these complex feelings swirled in him, disrupting his sleep and thoughts.
Sango entered the slumbering abode, quietly and gingerly once again, preparing herself to go to sleep as well. Miroku noticed her arrival, but was too deeply absorbed in his now almost tormenting feelings. What was he feeling? He felt acceptance, yet a pestering disbelief covered itself over it. Why couldn't he believe that Sango and Alden had kissed, and wanted to be together?
Sango found it a difficult task to fall asleep, as she was much renewed with an elated vigor. She loved Alden; she was entranced by him, as he was her. She couldn't help but to feel glee and giddiness. Her eyelids eventually began to droop however, as images of her future relationship with Alden passed through her mind, serenity and placidity overcoming her. She fell asleep.
Miroku remained unable to drift into slumber; he could not decipher why he was feeling such complex, conflicting emotions, only that they disturbed him greatly. He allowed himself to be drained and torn apart by these baffling emotions, sleep never possessing him.