Uhm, Chapter 6! Gosh, I never intended to write so much, but I must admit I'm having fun. READ-READ-READ-READ-READ. Reviews please!
Sango woke to the alluring scent of stew simmering over a flame. Her vision was hazy, she could not see anything but shadows and faint light. There were soft noises all around her, someone sniffling, another shifting their weight where they stood, "Is she awake?" one voice whispered.
"I'm not sure…" murmured another. She tried to move, but she felt a terrible stabbing sensation in her side, the pain filled her entire body. She blacked out again.
Hours later, she stirred once more, this time she made sure not to move. She allowed her eyes to adjust, taking in the space around her. It was nighttime, a dim glow from a fire burnt in one corner of the room. There were no noises, no voices whispering the darkness. Sango groaned as pain surged through her body yet again. Her head was throbbing and there was an unusual heaviness on her left side, but it was nothing compared to the excruciating pain under her ribcage on the right. She finally recalled her battle with the revolting wolf demon; how he had slashed open her skin, and how she had lacerated his neck. She winced as she tried to get a better look at her surroundings. Someone entered the room.
"Ah, you're awake," said the figure in a hushed tone, "we've been worried about you." Miroku stepped into the light. Sango hadn't found her voice yet, she just looked at him. So, they had found her, meaning Kagome must be somewhere nearby. As if he read her mind, the monk motioned to something Sango had not noticed, "She hasn't left your side in two days…" Sango remembered the heavy feeling on the left side of her torso; she managed to turn her head to where Miroku gestured. It was Kagome, lying beside her with her head nestled against her, resting on Sango's chest. Sango's heart raced. She cherished having Kagome cuddle against her, but she thought of what she had decided under the tree. Falling in love with the monk was her only chance to stay near enough to Kagome to be happy, but remain at a distance that could keep their friendship untainted.
"Houshi-sama.." she finally managed with a hoarse voice, "I need to speak to you."
"Not now." replied the monk, "rest now, talk later."
"No, it's important." Sango tried to sit up but the pain was far too strong, the sleeping Kagome was jostled into consciousness.
"Sango!? You're awake!" cried Kagome as she all but tackled the Taijiya, wrapping her arms around her neck. Sango gasped in anguish causing Kagome to realize what she did and let go of her. "Ah, I'm sorry, Sango-chan, I'm sorry!"
"It's…fine." groaned Sango, writhing in pain. Nevertheless she was touched by Kagome's reaction.
"I was just so happy to see that you are alright…I mean, aside from those terrible wounds. You're alive!" Kagome was trying to make some point and failing.
"Yes, I'm alive."Sango replied, '..Barely' she thought as she considered Kagome's death hug. "Houshi-sama, help me sit up please."
"You shouldn't move yet!" exclaimed the Miko, "Your injuries will reopen and you could bleed to death!"
"I'm fine, lift me up." responded the Taijiya without looking at Kagome.
"Miroku-sama, don't." pleaded Kagome. Miroku ignored her as well, he knew all too well how stubborn Sango could be, she would find a way up on her own eventually anyway, and that would most definitely result in more damage to her abrasions. Tenderly, he put his arms under Sango and raised her up. The demon exterminator cried out in pain and then bit her lip to stop herself from screaming more as she leaned against a wall. Kagome was stunned, how could she even handle such torture? Miroku sat beside Sango to help support her and to be there in case she fell unconscious again. The Miko and the Monk both feared that her wounds had opened once more, but neither said anything. No longer covered by a blanket, Sango finally looked down at her body, realizing she was only covered by formerly white bandages now stained with blood, that were wrapped around her entire torso and right shoulder. She was in too much pain to mind now, besides she was barely exposed anyway, and it was only Miroku, her future husband...and Kagome, who had seen much more of the Taijiya's body in the hot springs.
"Kagome," Sango spoke at last, "I need some time alone, with Houshi-sama. Perhaps you could go search for Inuyasha and Shippou, tell them I am awake." Kagome's eyes widened. The last thing she wanted to do was leave, she had waited for Sango to awaken for two days. Not once, had she left her side and she would most certainly not leave her now, alone with the lecher. Recognizing the tenacity in Kagome's face, Sango reached for her hand. "Please." She requested, softly smiling at the Miko and squeezing her hand lightly. Kagome frowned; just like that, she was willing to do anything Sango asked of her. Yet, she wished Sango would ask her to stay instead of the monk. She did not know that deep within her heart, the Taijiya wished for the same thing. Feeling rather unwanted and forlorn, Kagome simply nodded, got up, and left the house. Sango watched her go and felt her weakened body imploring her to follow, but she could not. She returned her attention to Miroku, who had watched Sango stare at Kagome as she left. He was giving her a puzzled expression. "What is it, Houshi-sama?" she asked.
"It's nothing…" Miroku said hesitantly, "What did you want to discuss Sango-sama?" Sango did not say a word. "Sango?"
She paused, and then looked at the monk with a determined gaze. "I need you, Miroku." She implored, it was the first time she had ever said his name, but the words before it were the ones that truly caught the monk's attention. His face went white, his confidence was gone, he'd never actually had a beautiful women say she "needed" him. His suggestions were always rejected after all.
"You, n-need..w-what?" he stammered, "b-but you're wounds." He coughed, a nervous gesture. "I don't think it would be..wise." Sango put one finger over his lips and he stopped rambling immediately.
"I'm not saying I want to be intimate right now." She tried to laugh but it hurt too much, "But, I want to be closer to you. I need to be." Miroku sighed, perhaps breathing for the first time in minutes; he looked at the Taijiya and smiled.
"Of course, my love." He chuckled, relieved. He was not at all prepared for the situation he nearly found himself in. Sure, ever since he met the demon exterminator he had wanted to be with her. He had no problem asking a woman to lay with him, but to his own surprise, he was suddenly extremely nervous when he thought that was what Sango was offering. Now he was embarrassed, he sat next Sango and wrapped his arm around her shoulder cautiously.
She leaned on him and smiled. "Thank you." Leaning on Miroku was pleasant when he was making advances. Maybe disregarding her feelings for Kagome would be easier than she thought. She reflected on the Miko, the way she wrapped her arms around Sango's waist, her head in Sango's lap, her breath on her neck, and her hand on the scar. There was something different about Kagome's touch; Sango could not forget that sensation. She never experienced anything like the feeling she had when she kissed the sleeping Miko. She groaned and tried to focus on Miroku instead.
"Perhaps you should rest now," said Miroku, regarding Sango's hurt expression. She looked at him with dread as he tried to get up. No, she would not let him leave her now while she was still thinking of Kagome. "Lay down, Sango-sama, I'll go ge-" Before he could finish speaking she grabbed the collar of his robes and pulled him down towards her. Her lips crushed against his in desperation. She searched for any reaction between them, any glimmer of desire for him. She stopped and he pulled back, "Sango-sama…" He looked at her for a moment and then leaned towards her again, pressing his mouth on hers. She tried again, pleading with herself to experience something, anything.
There was nothing. She pushed him away. He looked at her with surprise, but after seeing her confused and distraught expression, he understood. "You didn't feel anything, did you?" Sango frowned at him, hopelessness filled her eyes and spilled over her cheeks as she shook her head.
"I'm sorry, Houshi-sama…I can't pretend anymore. I do not love you." She cried. Her words wounded him, but seeing her so distressed troubled him more.
He hugged her close, "I can't say that it's not upsetting, Sango-sama, to know that you do not return my affections, but I have no ill feelings towards you. Please do not weep, I will be just fine. There are many women in this world." He chuckled somberly. "To be honest, I think I've known this would happen for a long time, your heart belongs to someone else." She quieted and looked at him questioningly as he laid her down, but he did not continue. "You should get some rest now." He kneeled beside her and kissed her on the forehead, then got up and walked to the entrance, where he stopped. He turned to Sango, "Kagome-sama…She is a lucky woman." With that final statement, he left the shack and walked off into the night.
Yea, so Miroku knew! Waaaay to be obvious Sango. Geez. Have you ever noticed how people who are soooo extremely in love with someone are always blissfully unaware of how extremely apparent they are? They think they have this BIG secret when in reality everyone knows. (lol, I'm actually making fun of myself right now. been there, done that.) ANYWAY. This was my LEAST favorite chapter thus far, prolly cause there was like..no SangoxKagome. It is another one of those chapters I nearly continued but decided not too. You'll just have to wait for the next one (it won't be long at all). ACTUALLY because you made it through this relatively boring chapter,(I apologize, it had important plot stuff and I couldn't avoid it), I'm going to reward you to make up for it. I'm gonna make the next chapter FULL of SangoXKagome GOODNESS! GET PUMPED! I'll write all night, so I'll probably have it posted by 3 or 4AM, just cause I love you guys. REVIEWS.