Chapter twenty-four: Revelations

She opened her eyes and turned her head over the wrinkled, kind face looming over her.

"Ah, it's good to see you awake, good morning, Sango." Kaede smiled pleasantly.

Sango rubbed her eyes and tried to focus her surroundings; ah, Kaede's hut. How had she gotten there? What had happened? Her thoughts were confusing but then it all came back to her; the tombs, Inuyasha, the Ronin.

Hadn't she made herself clear when she had told Inuyasha she wanted to stay in her village? How dare he bring her here?

"Before you start getting a tantrum child, allow me to speak a few words first," said Kaede with a patient tone.

Sango looked at her, puzzled, but Kaede had that knowing face. She… she seemed like if see… For Kami! She knew! She knew all of what had happened! Sango felt her face burn with embarrassment.

"No need to worry, no need to worry, I'm no one to judge, dear child…"

"Oh…"

"And please, don't blame Inuyasha, when he appeared in the middle of the night with you, unconscious on Kirara, I made him tell me all of what had come to pass. Let me tell you that he did well in bringing you to me. You had lost a lot of blood and maybe you wouldn't have survived had you stayed in your village."

Sango sat up on the futon despite her leg still throbbed a little. "I… um… thanks for taking care of me, Kaede-baachan… How many days was I out?"

"Just one dear, but better thank Inuyasha, he was the one who wouldn't leave your side, just like you did when he was sick, remember? Well, now I have some tasks to do, if you'll excuse me."

Kaede stood up and exited the hut, not before giving Sango an eerie smile.

Sango heaved a sigh. The last memories came back to her, or had she dreamed it? Perhaps she had been delirious; she remembered Inuyasha telling her he wanted to stay with her. Her heart gave a jump at the mere thought and her stomach felt as if falling from a cliff, but she shouldn't leave her hopes get too high, after all, she knew what Inuyasha felt for Kagome… things were as they were and they couldn't be changed just because she had had an hallucination.

Sango proceeded to remove the blanket to inspect her leg, but it was heavily bandaged and besides, she had to cover it quickly again as the drape at the entrance was opened. She looked up to find a tall, dark haired young man looking at her with warm eyes.

"Hi." He knelt next to her.

Sango felt her mouth becoming a smile, even though she hadn't intended it, but she couldn't help the flip her heart gave or the funny sensations in her stomach. She couldn't help either wanting to reach for him and hug him with all her strength, and then her wish was granted; Inuyasha wrapped his arms around her.

"I was so worried when you didn't wake up, I'm sorry, I know you wanted to stay but I had to bring you here," he whispered in her ear, his hand stroking her back. Sango was frozen at first but she managed to hug him back, resting her head on his shoulder, smelling his essence.

Couldn't that moment last forever?

However, he separated from her and looked her in the eyes. "How do you feel?"

"F-fine."

"I'm glad."

"You came back… after all," she said as her eyes scanned his face.

"I did, and I told you I would stay with you, as you wished."

So, it hadn't been a hallucination. Her stomach flipped.

"W-why?" she asked with a frown.

"I would have already answered that question if you hadn't fallen asleep last time," he teased and gave him a boyish smile. Sango blinked.

"Well, I'm not asleep now…"

"Indeed."

There was a small quiet moment. Sango moved to one side, trying to make herself more comfortable, but Inuyasha's silence was driving her mad!

"So?"

"So what?" He was smiling! How dare he mock her!

"So why did you change your mind!" she said, exasperated. She wished she could stand up and smack him on the head.

"Because I discovered you are wrong." His voice changed then from teasing to a more serious tone.

"About what?"

"About the well… and about Kagome." He took her hand in his and, nervous, started making small circles with his finger.

"R-- really?"

"Yeah… I found out I'm not waiting for her anymore, and that night, I didn't lie to you, it really wouldn't matter if Kagome were here, because I only want to be with you."

"You're playing with me." She looked down, refusing to believe those words. She didn't want to be hurt again, to face reality and find herself alone one more time.

"I'm not, I need you." He searched her eyes.

"Why? Because overnight you realized you love me?" she said, eyes teary and a tone that intended to sound like sarcasm, but she was never very good at it.

"Yes, I do… well, I have known for a long time but it was only until now that I understood it." He intertwined his fingers with hers and kept his gaze firm, as if trying to decipher her thoughts.

Sango's mouth opened a couple of times but she couldn't mutter a word. She just stared at him, eyes wide open. Blush crept up her face.

He blunted; "so… are you gonna say something or am I making a fool of myself because you decided it was a bad idea after all and now you regret asking me to stay in the first place---"

She raised her hand and placed a finger over his lips, cutting his sentence off. "No… no, not at all, I just that can't believe it… I couldn't stand to wake up and discover I was having feverish dreams."

"You're not. It's real Sango. I… I love you."

She hid her face on his chest, hugging him while those menacing tears finally fell.

"I love you too, Inuyasha, so much," she said between sobs. Inuyasha rested his chin on top of her head. A relieved sigh escaped him and a huge smile transformed his face.

They stayed in each other's arms for a long time, enjoying their warmth and sweet whispers. That, until Sango's stomach emitted a sound so strong that it made Inuyasha laugh heartily.

"I guess we have to feed you, otherwise you won't get your strength back, Sango-chan."

Sango felt her insides melt at the sound of the word 'chan'. Never, not in a thousand years, she would have expected to hear Inuyasha call someone like that. And it had been to her he had dedicated such caring name. She felt she could defeat hundreds of youkai in that very moment.

"Alright."

"But I'm afraid you'll have to let go of me so I can fetch you some food," he said.

"Do I have to?" she smiled and snuggled closer to his chest.

"If you want to return to the taijiya hill as soon as possible, then yes, I'm afraid you'll have to."

She raised her head and looked into his deep, dark eyes.

"Then, do you really want to go back?" she said, astonished. She still didn't dare to believe it all was happening.

"Only after you heal and Kaede marries us, of course." Inuyasha didn't say this with the resigned, scared face he had in the taijiya village but with a shy grin and bright, hopeful eyes.

"Are you asking me to… to marry you?" Her cheeks became an even deeper shade of red.

"Yes, I guess I am, of course, only if you want to…"

She flung into his arms, knocking the air out of his lungs. Leg in pain and all.

"Ooof!"

"Oh, Inuyasha! Of course I do! I do!"

He hugged her again and lifter her face to his, capturing her trembling lips and placing there the sweetest kiss Sango had ever felt.

"I'm sorry to inform you but," he said between pecks "You have no way out now, you're all mine."

"I wouldn't want it any other way…" And they resumed their kisses.

Outside, Kaede gave a step back; it would be better not to enter her hut in that moment. She tried to get away as silent as possible. There was a satisfied smile on her face and a bowl of rice between her hands that now, would surely get cold.

Effectively, rice could wait. Now, where had she placed that scroll with the marriage ceremony?

THE END.

------------------------------

A/N: Don't shoot me! There's still an epilogue for this story and I promise solemnly that everything shall be explained there. ;)

Thank you so much for your kind reviews and patience. One more update an this story will be history LoL!