Author's Note: Written for the Angst, Anguish and Torment table at the LJ comm inuyasha_sango. The prompt used is 'vulnerable'.
The next time Sango and Inuyasha found themselves alone together was the night of the new moon.
She watched, fascinated, as he underwent the metamorphosis; claws receded into blunt nails, eyes and hair darkened, his dog ears vanished and human ones appeared in their normal place.
Grey eyes glanced sideways at her. "Satisfied now?" he grunted.
"I'll never grow tired of seeing that," she said, and blushed.
"Keh." Inuyasha tucked the now-useless Tetsusaiga closer to his body. "... Shouldn't you be sleeping?"
"I'm not tired," she lied, tucking her legs beneath her.
He smirked. "Liar. I can still tell – you're damned easy to read," he added, seeing her growing look of panic.
"I – oh, fine." Sango looked away, presumably scanning their surroundings for threats but really waiting for the colour to recede from her cheeks.
"I just thought... you'd like some company while waiting for Kagome-chan and Houshi-sama to return."
Inuyasha scowled. "I'm not some baby who needs to be watched over all the fucking time."
The slayer was completely unfazed. "I know you aren't. It's just that... we're all vulnerable, whether we realise it or not." Sango tilted her head, a small smile in place. "Sometimes, Inuyasha, we need to be reminded we aren't alone."
"What the hell are you talking about?" he snarled. "I ain't vulnerable!"
Kagome and Miroku chose that moment to reappear, logs piled high in their arms; both were red in the face and panting.
"The sun set as we were coming back – Inuyasha, we're sorry we didn't get back in time!" exclaimed Kagome breathlessly, dumping her burden on the grass.
"Not like there's anything to see," he grumbled. "You're all idiots."
He stole a quick sideways glance at Sango as he spoke, but she was talking to Miroku and missed it.