When Night Falls
Disclaimer: I did a quick calculation... my chances of owning Inuyasha are one to 3,098,789,345,697,304,095,388,321. In other words, I don't own it.
Yay! I said it would be up in a week, and I did it! Yeehaw! This is kinda a fun chapter, just togive thema break from the battling (like all good heros need). It's... odd to say the least. The first part is sort of an odd... fluffy rhing, where Sango does something she never thought she'd ever do. Anyway, on to reviews.
mirsan4ever: Thank you! I always like to know when people enjoy my work!
Miroku's Pet Vixen: Teehee, yes I am. And I like your story very much! Keep writing!
xXSpoiled SangoXx: Oh, come now, I'm sure if you put your mind to it... anyway, you'll find out... next chapter. Sorry.
Veglma: I never said Earth was next... but who knows?
moonyme: Ooo... someone's eager! That's good though!
Siren66: Mmm... I see... not something to look forward to, is it? Oh well, keep yer head high, my friend. Higher. Higher! HIGHER! crack! uh-oh... slinks away.
ninalee-chan: Inuyasha doesn't like to be upstaged by anybody, but he better get used to it. This is Miroku's story! Kinda.
medlii: I know... the missing weapons is troublesome for me, as some of the characters can't really fight without them, but they'll get them soon... yes they will...
Anyway... I think this chapter some people might find offensive... but if you do, please don't kill me. Enjoy!
Chapter 12: Sango the Hypocrite
After what seemed to be a very short nap, Sango, Shippo, Miroku, and Kagome were ever so rudely awaken by a hanyou quite anxious to get a move on (and seemingly completely oblivious to how what he had done was wrong). Thankfully, it had only taken a little convincing (and a lot of osuwari's) from Kagome to show him that eating breakfast and getting washed up might be a better alternative.
It had been while scouting the area that Inuyasha had come across a hot springs. While it seemed trivial to him, the others had been quite pleased to know that they had a chance to clean off the grimy mixture of sweat, dirt, and blood that was currently slimed and crusted across their bodies.
Kagome had insisted that she and Sango get cleaned up first, seeming as they were the most eager, and that Kagome figured she could start making their breakfast when they got back. Inuyasha had nodded slightly, and Miroku (much to Kagome and Sango's pleasure), was finally showing signs of the tiring past couple of days and decided to skip the opportunity for perversion and catch whatever sleep he could before they returned.
Thankfully for Miroku, Kagome and Sango decided to take their time in the springs, savoring for as long as they could. Who knew when they would get another chance to bathe? Once they were finished they returned to the campsite to find a disgruntled Inuyasha, and a still sleeping Miroku, who Sango promptly woke up. The two then made their way to the springs, Miroku yawning while trying his hardest to drain out the sound of Inuyasha's grumblings.
After watching them leave, Sango turned to Kagome to find her using a stick to prod at the remains of the last night's fire.
"I don't think we have enough wood left to cook the food," she said.
"But I'm hhhhuuuuuunnnnngggggrrrrrrryyyyy!" moaned Shippo.
"I know," she said smiling at the kitsune, "Sango, would mind collecting wood while I get the food ready?"
"Of course not," Sango smiled, "I'll be back soon."
She walked off into the woods, her eyes scanning the ground for suitable sticks and logs, and it wasn't long before she had collected a satisfactory bundle. As she walked back to the campsite she was surprised to here a splash. One hand cautiously made it's way to her sword, at least until she heard Miroku's voice ring out through the forest.
"Dammit, Inuyasha! You got my pants wet!"
Sango realized she must've strayed rather close to the springs. The sharp voice of Inuyasha could then be heard.
"So what?"
"Well what am I supposed to wear?"
"Feh, you're a pervert, I'm sure you wouldn't mind going in the nude." Inuyasha's voice had a slightly mocking tone.
Sango wanted to leave, but something held her in her place. She suddenly found thoughts racing through her head of how easy if would to sneak in and steal a glace before anyone found out…
She shook her head violently. "Dammit Sango," she said to herself, "stop thinking those thoughts… you're not a pervert like Houshi-sama."
But a gentle pressure was building up just below her heart, as if someone was squeezing her stomach, and it pulled her to do what she never dreamed. It was the same pressure that she got whenever Miroku groped her, the slight feeling that just maybe, deep in her being, she enjoyed it. And this pressure Sango was finding harder and harder to deny.
"I'll get caught, they'll see me…"
Your trained in stealth… no they won't, answered the feeling inside her.
"But surely Inuyasha will smell me."
As if on cue, Inuyasha's voice came calling again. "Shit, Miroku. Why you got to use that soap of Kagome's, I can never smell anything else when you got that stuff."
And that was all it took. Gradually, the pressure in Sango's gut spread throughout her body, causing a tingling sensation to come over her. She could do it, just sneak in, take a peak at Miroku, and leave. She wouldn't be caught, and after that, she'd never have to do it again, right?
With ninja-like stealth she crept towards the bushes surrounding the springs. Grabbing a tree branch she swung herself up in the tree, finding a suitable perch. She found it near the top. It gave her a perfect view, but it had enough branches that Inuyasha and Miroku would have to look hard to discern her from the rest of the tree.
Looking down, she noticed Inuyasha sitting against one wall, his back to her. Miroku sat across from him, the water up to the bottom of his chest. She knew it was wrong, she knew she should leave, but something held her there, glued to the tree trunk, eyes fixed on the monk that she often criticized for doing the very same thing.
After about fifteen minute's however, the leg tucked under her body was beginning to ache something horrible. Gradually she shifted her weight to the other foot, inadvertently brushing up against a tree branch. Inuyasha's ears perked. With a small gasp Sango sucked in her breath and held it.
"Who's there?" asked the dog demon, eyes scanning the woods, ears twitching in an attempt to catch more sound.
"Did you hear something, Inuyasha?"
"Yeah… in this tree behind me, probably just a monkey or something…"
"But almost all the animals fled south… I'd best check it out."
Miroku stood up.
Sango fell out of the tree.
Blushing madly, she scrambled to her feet and, scooping up the twigs in her arms ran as fast as she could back to the camp. It was quite a scene for Kagome when Sango darted into the clearing, clothes dirtied, hair full of twigs, and apparently out off breath. Thankfully the red on her face was mistaken for a flush from her run.
"Sango? Something happen?"
"No, no, nothing at all," said Sango nervously as she attempted to straighten her skirt.
"Okay…" Kagome said unconvincingly.
Later that day, as they all sat around the fire eating, Sango sat aside in deep contemplation. What had driven her to do that? At the time it had seemed like a good idea, but now it seemed stupid, pointless, and dare she say it… perverted. She felt incredibly dirty.
C'mon, Sango, it's not like the monk never did it, she told herself, but then again… I'm not the monk.
Sighing slightly, Sango decided that the next time she caught him spying on her, she might just have to slap him a little less hard.
After that brief interlude, the journey was on once more. As they continued northward, the red light kept growing lighter, but there was also another effect. It was almost like a horizon, one of the most beautiful any of them had ever seen.
"Are you sure were headed the right way?" asked Shippo, from Miroku's shoulder. "That sure doesn't seem like a bad place…"
"Sometimes the places that seem the most innocent… are in truth the most dangerous," Miroku answered grimly.
"Like the eye of a storm?" asked Sango, casting him a glance.
He nodded. "Exactly. While the eye maybe a brief oasis… you're still surrounded on all sides. You're trapped. We're walking into a death-zone. I suspect… that whatever is causing this… is in the eye. The origin. It provides it with safety, from it's own powers and from those who can't reach it."
"I don't like this," groaned Kagome.
"Who would?" snorted Inuyasha. "Either way, I can handle it."
Kagome rolled her eyes. "If you say so."
The northern lands of Japan were full of many hills, further annoying their journey. But as they came over a particularly large hill, they were shocked to see…
"A village!" gasped Kagome.
"You're right," said Sango in an amazed tone, "and it's inhabited! Look… there are candles lit!"
They all but ran down the hill. Well… except for Inuyasha, who, a quarter of the way down, tripped over his own feet and ended up becoming a tumbling, cursing, enraged hanyou of doom as he rolled comically down the hill and lie in a crumpled heap at the bottom. It made their day… once Kagome found out he was okay, that is… hell, who am I kiddin', they didn't give a damn. They were laughing like crazy.
And so they made their way through the village in good humor, excluding Inuyasha of course. The Inn seemed to have been closed for the night, but Inuyasha, who was still muttering obscenities, knocked on the door so hard that he practically knocked it over. They were met by an extremely aged-looking woman, who gave Inuyasha a completely venomous look before steeping aside and letting the group in.
"What're ye doing here?" she hissed.
"We are but travelers," said Miroku as he stepped up, "but I noticed, while passing, that this in seems to have a strong demonic aura, for a nominal fee…"
"I don't but that hocus pocus crap," snapped the old Woman, "besides, I have bigger things to worry about than a coupla rat demons. You have no idea what you got yerselves into by stepping into this village…"
"We're just passing through…" spoke up Kagome.
"It don't matter," muttered the Innkeeper grimly, "once you come in… you can never go out."
End Chapter 12
Hmm... what's up with the village? Why can't they leave? How much longer to the end of the world? Will Sango go pervert too? No.
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