If any of his companions wondered why Inuyasha came back to came soaking wet and in a foul mood, none of them dared to ask. That Kagome met him with a glare that could freeze over a hot spring was not lost on Sango, who had been sitting by the campfire making uncomfortable conversation with Miroku for the last two hours. She wondered what had happened between them when Kagome had gone to return his cloak. Nothing good, from the look of things.
She had tried to return the cloak herself, if only to get a few more moments alone with Inuyasha, but Kagome had insisted that she should rest. It was almost embarrassing that her companions thought that her little adventure had been so harrowing. It didn't help things in the least that Kagome was the one falling all over herself to make her comfortable. Sango almost envied Inuyasha for finding the opportunity to slip away.
Although she had done her best to maintain a normal level of conversation with her companions, Sango had actually spent most of the day trying to decide how she should ultimately deal with Kagome. It had been easy enough to put her friend out of her mind back in the cave, but when they were face to face Sango felt as guilty as if she'd been caught stealing.
Not too far from it, but you haven't been caught yet.
That was a wonderful thought. She and Kagome had never really had an argument about anything, much less something as monumental as Inuyasha. Moreover, she'd seen Kagome's temper shine through enough times to get a taste of things to come. When, and it seemed to Sango to be a question of when rather than if, the situation between herself and Inuyasha came to light there would be a nigh cataclysmic confrontation. Sango sighed and traced a small circle on the ground with her foot.
From the very first time Inuyasha put his hand on her shoulder, Sango had worked hard to convince herself that there was really nothing between him and Kagome. She had not succeeded. If anything she had become more acutely aware of how much Kagome cared about him. Everything from the way they bickered back and forth to the way Kagome had been able to put so many arrows into the air so quickly when he had been carried off by the hawk had only reinforced what Sango already knew. Whether or not she knew it herself, Kagome was in love with him….
"Don't you think?" Miroku said, snapping her back to reality.
Sango looked around stupidly for a second, fumbling for an answer because she hadn't been paying attention to a word the monk said. Luckily Shippo registered his opinion in her stead.
"Miroku's right, Kagome," the fox began. "Resurrecting a dragon's corpse to fight for you is wrong. It could draw the soul back out of the afterlife! How would you feel about that?"
Completely lost now, Sango drew her legs to her chest and tried to become as small as possible. She wasn't sure she even wanted to know what they were talking about.
"They didn't resurrect the corpse," Kagome protested. "The machine dragon just uses the bones as an endoskeleton and the interspinal fluid as the basis for the computer system."
"I don't have a clue what you just said, but I ain't got no use for dragons, 'machine' or otherwise." Inuyasha snarled crossly. Those were the first words he'd spoken since he returned to camp.
"Who cares what you think?" Kagome shot back, her voice full of venom. That was all it took for Sango to decide it was time to leave.
She made a bit of a production out of yawning extravagantly and stretching her back just to get her point across, then set Kirara on the ground and announced that she was going to bed. Miroku's eyes lit up at the prospect and he came close to stumbling into the campfire in his haste to escort her the five feet between the group and her bedroll.
Sango gave Inuyasha a quick look that asked what should I do?
Hell if I know, his eyes responded.
In the end she acquiesced to his company. Even after she lay down, he lingered far longer than she had hoped he would. It wasn't that she didn't like him, or even that his flirtatious attentions weren't just a little bit cute, but enough was enough and too much was too much.
"Sango, I want you to know how happy I am that you survived your ordeal unscathed."
She nodded at him pleasantly, her body language guarded. At this point he hadn't actually done anything yet, but that would come in time. It always did.
"Kagome and I were worried to no end about you and prayed for your safe return," continued the monk. His face was stoic and his eyes shut, the very image of a thoughtful Buddha.
Sango felt herself relax, which in and of itself was a mistake. Like a coiled viper, Miroku sprang into action as soon as she let her guard down.
"Thank you for returning to us, Sango," he said, his voice perfectly even, while he set his hand on her breast as if it was the most natural thing in the world.
A fury she knew all too well boiled up within her, and her hand shot out from under her blanket almost reflexively. She had slapped him many times in the past, but for the most part they had been playful. This time was different, and the sound seemed to echo like a rebuke through the canyon long after the blow had been dealt. Miroku's eyes were wide with surprise, and even in the poor light she could see the bruise darkening quickly on his cheek. Her own hand throbbed from the force of the assault and it was that realization that softened her face.
"Miroku, I didn't mean…"
The monk stood up and shook his head. Behind him she could see that Inuyasha was on his feet, his eyes blazing. Miroku touched his face as if in shock. His hand was shaking. Sango was still looking for something to say when he silently turned and walked away.
*****
The eastern sky was already turning purple with the coming dawn when Sango awoke to see Inuyasha looking down at her. He was sitting on his knees, leaning over her with his hair spilling around her face. She smiled up at him.
He must have been watching me sleep.
"I just wanted to say goodnight." Inuyasha whispered.
"It's almost morning," she replied. "Have you been standing watch all this time?"
He nodded silently. Sango thought it was more likely that he simply couldn't sleep. Her own slumber had come reluctantly and even then had been fitful and restless.
"Goodnight, Inuyasha," she said quietly.
"Goodnight."
Before he could pull away, Sango reached up and gently pulled him to her. They exchanged a furtive kiss, each one giving the other a shy smile afterwards. Then he tenderly trailed a clawed finger along her cheek and departed. Sango rolled over and closed her eyes. Much to her surprise, she slept soundly for the rest of the night.
Kagome, who silently witnessed the whole exchange, did not.