Separation
By: SlayerSango23
A/N: The next installment...hope it is enjoyable. Review, please and thank you! And thank you to all my reviewers thus far. Special thanks to Melitza for her awesome suggestions and prompting! Once again, I don't own the Inuyasha characters... :sigh:
Chapter Seven: Sango's Scent and the Glowing Flesh
Sango awoke early the next morning feeling warm and content, in spite of her nocturnal visions.
Her sleep had been troublesome, but it had been much more tolerable with Miroku at her side. At one point, the nightmares had torn her from the depths of sleep, and she'd become aware of her erratic jerking motions. But then, she had felt Miroku's strong yet simultaneously gentle embrace, and she found the strength to weather the storm. She always seemed to be able to summon so much more courage and strength with him near, whether it be for the purpose of protecting him, or some other. The support he gave her seemed limitless.
She stirred slightly and realized that he still held her. And Sango blushed. Blushing had become such a natural reaction to any kind of attention from Miroku.
She was thoroughly unaccustomed to waking up in Miroku's arms, but it wasn't an unpleasant new experience, not in the slightest.
She felt no urge to slap him, only to stay like that, for as long as she was able. She momentarily considered feigning sleep in order to remain there, but he had already realized that she was awake.
He looked down into her eyes, and she noticed that his appeared so serene and...satisfied.
"Sango, good morning." he greeted cheerfully.
"Good morning." she replied shyly, then suddenly found interest in the floor. She was still nestled against him, arms wrapped around his waist, and he firmly held her to him.
He smiled at her timidity. He was always amused by the girlishly shy antics she sometimes displayed around him, knowing well the powerful taiji-ya she was in battle and at heart.
Then again, he thought, it wasn't everyday they awoke in each other's arms. In fact, it had never happened before, at least...not in the world of reality...
But he digressed.
"I was concerned for you. You had nightmares, didn't you?" he asked.
"Yes, I did." She noted the weary expression he was trying to mask. "Did you sleep at all?"
"No, not really." he smiled.
"Oh, I'm sorry."
"Don't be sorry, Sango. I was perfectly content watching over you." He kissed her forehead.
She blushed like mad at this.
"But Miroku, I am sorry that you were deprived of sleep because of me. You really do need your rest." She knew this to be true but still silently feared killing him in his sleep.
"Don't worry, Sango. I will be fine."
"Did you come up with anything, Miroku?" she asked, as she reluctantly released her hold on him and he followed suit, even more reluctantly.
"Well, first of all, I must know about these dreams of yours, in explicit detail. You can tell me on the way back. We should go and meet up with Inuyasha and Kagome. We can figure out what to do from there."
"Yes." she nodded. "Um, Miroku?"
"Yes?"
"Can you sense anything...you know, unusual about me? ... Like a demon? And please, answer truthfully."
Miroku paused, as if thinking deeply. "No, Sango. I don't sense a demon...at least, it doesn't seem like that..." Truthfully though, he couldn't be sure. It pained him to consider such a thing... "...But there is something...I can't quite put my finger on it. It's almost as if you're..."
"What?" she asked, concerned.
"...radiating some unusual amounts of spiritual energy..."
She looked at him quizzically. "Could it be Midoriko's influence?"
"Hm, possibly. You did say that she appeared before you..."
"Yes, but what would that have to do with me radiating spiritual energy?"
"I don't know, Sango, but I plan to find out."
"Miroku...I feel like something is going on inside of me..."
He frowned and took her hand, giving it a squeeze. "I promise, we will find out what's going on inside, Sango."
She nodded and squeezed back.
"Well, let's go and find Inuyasha and the others." Sango said, after a moment.
"Are you sure you're all right?"
"Yes. For the time being, I feel like myself."
They headed back toward the appointed meeting place, Kaede's village.
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Kagome pulled herself out of the Bone Eater's Well. Inuyasha, having more of a heart than he let on, had 'allowed' her to go home for the length of time that Miroku was to be away. It had been nice to return home and recuperate a bit. She was still grieving over the loss of the girl who had quickly become her best friend, but she continued to hold onto the hope that Sango could still be alive. Still, she didn't quite feel right unless she paid some kind of tribute to Sango, so she had brought flowers to place at the site where Sango had fallen, lilies, Sango's favorite. She was careful not to crush them as she exited the well.
Inuyasha, Shippo, and Kirara were all waiting for her.
"Kagome!" Shippo cried, as he ran to her and jumped into her lap.
"Hi, Shippo. I brought you some goodies."
"Thanks, Kagome!" The little fox appeared chipper, but she could tell that he'd been crying again.
"I brought some things for you, too, Inuyasha."
"Oh, thanks, Kagome."
"Inuyasha? Is something wrong? You seem distracted."
"Just thinking..."
Kagome handed a sucker to Shippo then turned her gaze back to Inuyasha.
"Did you pick up on anything yet?" she asked.
"Well, I am kinda picking up a scent that seems familiar, but I can't quite make it out yet."
"What do you think it is, Inuyasha?" she asked, as he sniffed around.
Suddenly, Kagome felt something and gasped.
"What is it!"
"Inuyasha, I sense the sacred jewel!"
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Miroku and Sango neared the village. Sango had conveyed every portion of the dream that she could recall, but some parts still seemed unclear. It had been the one and only dream she'd had, since the incident, but it had become increasingly more detailed and realistic.
Something was beginning to affect her physically, as well. A wave of nausea overtook her from time to time; she nearly became ill on several occasions. And Miroku became increasingly worried. He had been so overjoyed to have her back that he had apparently overlooked the seriousness of the situation, but he was beginning to become all too aware of some kind of turmoil inside of Sango. He treated her like an expectant wife, constantly asking if she was all right, and suggesting that they take the journey at a slower pace. She was surprised he hadn't offered to carry her yet.
Sango, despite her occasional pain, wouldn't have it, and would assure him that she was fine. She was amused by his overly protective behavior and appreciative, but she had to admit she was becoming slightly annoyed.
Will this be what you are like if I someday carry your child, Miroku? She gave a wry smile and continued on beside him.
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Inuyasha ran through the forest that had come to bear his name, with Kagome on his back and Shippo clutching her shoulder. Kirara flew overhead. They had headed off in the direction Kagome had sensed the jewel emanating from, but Inuyasha had quickly picked up on something else, which made him run even faster.
"It's her, Kagome."
"Are you sure, Inuyasha?"
"Of course! I know her scent by now!" Kagome noticed a hint of anxiousness and excitement in Inuyasha's voice. Had this been in regard to Kikyo, she would have undoubtedly been jealous.
"Oh Inuyasha, I hope you're right!"
"Have I ever been wrong?"
"You think Sango's alive, Inuyasha?" Shippo asked.
"All I know is that I'm picking up her scent in this direction...and Miroku's, too."
"And this is the same direction I sense the jewel in! I hope they're not in trouble!"
"Well, I don't smell that bastard Naraku around here..."
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"Miroku, look." Sango pointed. "I think they're coming to us."
Miroku smiled. Inuyasha must have picked up on Sango's scent.
Their friends arrived, all with very stunned expressions.
Sango was bombarded by shouts of her name by Kagome and Shippo. Shippo immediately jumped into her arms, and Kagome ran to her, as well. Inuyasha stood back, attempting to appear emotionless, but upon close inspection, he was a very relieved hanyou.
"Shippo, Kagome, Inuyasha, Kirara, I'm so glad to see all of you!" she said, hugging a clingy Shippo.
"We thought we'd never see you again, Sango!" Shippo sniffed.
"Oh Sango, I'm so relieved! We all missed you so much!" Kagome said, with tears in her eyes. She wrapped her arms around Sango tightly.
Shippo, fearing being squeezed to death, jumped to Kagome's shoulder. Kirara had also joined in and was nuzzling against her master's side.
Sango smiled and returned the hug. "I missed you all, too."
"Even Inuyasha missed you..." Kagome remarked, receiving a haughty grunt from the hanyou.
"He won't admit it, but he did. The second he picked up your scent he was off to find you." She smiled.
Inuyasha turned away and crossed his arms over his chest, clearly embarrassed.
"Keh, I was just sick of everybody whining and crying about YOU being gone! Where the hell have you been anyway! And why did ya go and do something so stupid? I could have taken out Naraku on my own!"
Sango glanced over at Inuyasha, not quite sure how to respond to that. "Uh..."
"In other words, he missed you and felt responsible for your death." Kagome translated. "Right, Inuyasha?"
Inuyasha simply gave a 'keh'.
"That means yes." Kagome translated once more, with an amused grin.
"So, what happened, Sango?" She broke the embrace and looked at her, placing her hands upon Sango's shoulders. In her excitement, she had forgotten all about sensing the sacred jewel, but she was now becoming very aware of it. She sensed the jewel as strongly as if she held it within her hands. What does this mean?
But before Sango could answer her own question, Kagome stopped her. "It's ok, Sango. Let's just head back to the village. We can talk there."
"Kagome! What about the.." Inuyasha began, slightly irritably.
"Oh, um...I don't sense it anymore..." Kagome lied.
Inuyasha seemed exasperated.
I sense the sacred jewel's aura all around Sango... How will she react when I tell her? And how can I tell her that her stomach is...glowing...? I know I have to say something, but I think I'd like to talk to Kaede about this first...
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A/N: The major challenge of this chapter was showing that Inuyasha cares about Sango, while at the same time keeping him in character. I had difficulty with the reunion in that I wasn't sure what Inuyasha would say to Sango... I hope that I got my point across without making Inuyasha OOC. I tried to use Kagome's words and thoughts, as well as Inuyasha's excitement upon picking up Sango's scent to express that, rather than what Inuyasha directly said to Sango. I, of course, had to have Inuyasha make some rude comments to hide his true feelings. And as in the episode "Miroku Falls Into a Dangerous Trap," when Inuyasha remarked that Kagome "already said what he was gonna say," I wanted to convey that Inuyasha was indirectly acknowledging what Kagome had said, that he missed her, too.
