a/n: Hey Yall!!! Sorry I haven't updated in a while but to tell you the truth I really haven't been in the writing kind of mood. Not to mention that my internet's being gay and it's pissing me off . .... Anyways, we're back to the present time for this chappie and I'm sorry if some of you were disappointed with my background story for this story but hey, it's a side story not the whole story and I caint spend seven or eight chappies in the past. I may go back later and write a prologue story to this one telling fully about their budding relationship but that is not what this story is about and I already spent a good three or four chappies in the past. Anyway, ON TO THE STORY!!! ^.^

DISCLAIMER: IT MAY HAVE BEEN A WHILE BUT I STILL DON'T OWN INUYASHA... Yall are wishin I did now aren't you O.o!!!

Chapter 20- The Bruise and the Broken Village

~~~~~~~~~~~~~Present Time~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sango awoke slowly with a loud yawn and the warm presence of her mate's body heat on her back. Smiling, she turned around and lifted her eyes to Sesshomaru's calm face, meeting his gleaming golden eyes with her own sleepy brown ones.

"Hey…"

"Did you sleep well?" Sesshomaru asked as he pulled her in for a chaste kiss.

"Mhmm…"

Sesshomaru smirked at his mate's dazed response. It pleased him greatly that even after eight years of marriage he could still leave his wife breathless. He released her from his protective grasp and watched as she stood to stretch out the kinks that her body had acquired overnight. He did not miss the wince when Sango stretched out her back and took note to watch her incase she had received an injury that he had not smelt.

Sango, who'd thought she'd hidden the sign of pain from him, slowly walked to the closet to retrieve a clean kimono to wear for the day. Shrugging her sleeping yakuta off with her back turned towards her mate she did not expect to hear a feral growl come from the man, who just seconds ago, was completely calm and content.

"Sesshomaru?" Sango questioned as she turned around to look at her mate who was angrily staring at her.

'Why's he glaring at me? What did I do?' Sango thought as her brows knitted together in confusion.

She watched her mate as he stood from his spot on the floor, placing Kohaku onto a pillow, and strode across the room to the spot that she currently stood. Sango's mind raced at what she could have possibly done to anger her mate.

'Has the sight of my scarred back finally angered him? Has he finally decided against having such a scarred mate?' Sango thought as her worst fear again made itself known in her mind's vulnerable state.

"Sesshomaru, I…"

She was cut off by Sesshomaru grabbing her arm gently, spinning her around, and kneeling to the floor behind her; twisting her neck almost painfully Sango tried to see what he was doing. It was then that her eye caught the mirror that hung on the closet door; a gift from Kagome's time to outfit all of the Inu family's homes. What she saw immediately answered the question of Sesshomaru's odd behavior.

An enormous blue and black bruise had formed on her back where she'd fallen on a large rock the day before while battling the bear demons. It spread from the small of her back up her right side and halfway up her rib cage before fading to a red and then pale tan. She could see Sesshomaru's face in the mirror and it now appeared to be more guilt ridden than angry. Sango was about to speak when he stood and carefully wrapped his arms around her from behind.

"That injury was from yesterday's battle isn't it Sango?" Sesshomaru questioned quietly, his head now resting on the shoulder opposite the injury.

Merely nodding Sango closed her eyes and leaned back into her mate's strong chest. Truthfully the large bruise was quite painful, and she was sure that a few of her ribs had probably been broken the day before, but her augmented healing had already mended that damage and she knew that the bruise itself would disappear before the end of the day.

"It's nothing Sesshomaru. It has already begun to heal," Sango said hoping to soothe her mate whom she was sure was currently beating himself up for not "protecting her well enough".

The look on his face was enough to confirm her suspicions and she sighed deeply. Still within his arms, Sango turned to face him and placed her right hand softly on his cheek.

"This is nothing Sesshomaru and it is not your fault that I couldn't hold off a mere bear demon. I guess I'm just not as strong without all of my memories," Sango said, trailing off at the end as she tried to recall more memories of her training and only ended up with a throbbing headache, "Your injuries were worse than this by far."

Sesshomaru merely pulled her to him again with one hand resting on the back of her head and the other on her left hip. She felt as he took in a deep breath and inhaled her scent completely as he was prone to do in times of stress or worry. Sango merely smiled and wrapped her arms around his broad form.

"It is not nothing Sango. I should have protected you and I didn't. Were it not for Shippo's arrival then you and Kohaku would have been in danger. I have failed you."

"No Sesshomaru. You will never fail us," Sango said as she raised her head and looked deeply into his pain filled eyes, "You were fighting off the other demons and as a demon slayer I should have been able to handle one bear demon. I don't want to hear you blaming yourself for this!"

Sesshomaru stared into her chocolate brown orbs for a moment before closing his eyes and sighing in defeat. He knew that look and it told him that there was no way he was going to win that conversation. Smiling at his mate's defiant expression, he was happy to see that she was finally starting to act like herself again.

'Even if she hasn't regained all her memories.' Sesshomaru thought as he opened his eyes again, 'Just how much, though, has she remembered about Rin and Shippo?'

"We should finish dressing Sango. Rin and Shippo will be waiting for us, and from the look Rin gave you yesterday when you were telling her of your 'situation' she will be very eager to hear what we have to say," Sesshomaru said as he released her and moved to retrieve one of his own larger kimono's from the closet.

Sango smiled and nodded in response before finishing pulling on her kimono that had been hanging at her waist since Sesshomaru's growl. Moving to feed Kohaku once again while Sesshomaru dressed, it did not take long for the baby to eat its' fill and the couple to be ready to go.

Leaving their room and sliding the door shut behind them, Sango and Sesshomaru made their way to the kitchen where they could smell Rin making breakfast. Sango offered to help but Rin adamantly refused saying that this was her house and they were her guests. Of course Sango's motherly nature made it nearly impossible to simply sit and watch as Rin did all the work.

Sesshomaru and Shippo had already launched themselves into an in depth conversation about the growing bear demon population in the area and how it was beginning to be a problem. Their talk was put on hold, however, as Rin brought each of them a plate and they began eating. Sango put Kohaku in his sling and enjoyed a tasty breakfast full of animated discussion courtesy of her daughter. When they'd all finished eating they moved to the sitting room to have their discussion.

Sango leaned against her husband with her baby in her arms as he retold the events leading up to their arrival and how Sango was still missing many of her memories. Rin had cried when he'd told of Sango's death and the pain she was still experiencing due to sudden memory attacks. Shippo had a reaction quite similar to his adoptive father, a certain silver haired hanyou, and was seething by the time Sesshomaru finished his tale and Sango told them her experience at the mansion.

"So that's why you brought Sango here Sesshomaru? So that you could go find that bastard and give him what he rightfully deserves?" Shippo asked while trying to soothe Rin and suppress his own anger at the same time.

"Yes. I need you to protect Sango while I am away," Sesshomaru said as he once again had to force himself not become angry at his mate's retelling of what happened at the mansion, "I do not know how long I shall be gone but it should not take me long to track and dispose of him by myself."

"Very well Sesshomaru. I would request to go with you but I know that I am more needed here to protect Sango," Shippo said with a sigh, "However, we need a way to reach you should anything happen while you are away."

"There's no need," Sango said with a smile, "If we need him I can call to him through our mating mark. Plus, I have many ancient slayer secrets that I could use if we needed him here instantly."

Rin looked at her mother with a slightly confused look. She had been trained as a slayer yet she was never taught of such spells or secrets.

"What secrets mother?" Rin asked; sure to respect her father's wishes and address her as "mother" instead of "mommy."

"Secrets that only the most experienced slayers can understand Rin. You were never a violent fighter, you are more adept to healing and priestess duties; therefore I chose not to tell you about some of the more complex and violent of the slayer's secrets."

Rin looked slightly put off for a moment before she realized that her mother was absolutely right; she wasn't a fighter, she was a healer. Her skills at fighting were only used when absolutely necessary and only to protect others. She smiled and decided not to question her mother further on the topic since Sango always seemed to know what was best for her and would not have kept things a secret from her had she needed to know.

Sesshomaru looked at his mate quizzically. She had not told even HIM about some of the secret spells of the ancient demon slayer's that had been entrusted to her.

'That was made clear when she restored my arm. I had no idea that the slayer's held that kind of power,' Sesshomaru thought as he smiled at his mate.

He trusted her though, and would not question what little tricks she had up her sleeve. However, it suddenly occurred to him that Sango was speaking of her slayer training. Had she not told him herself that she could not recall her memories of her training?

"Sango. Your training, do you remember?" Sesshomaru asked as he eyed his mate.

With a sigh Sango turned to her mate and looked into his piercing golden eyes.

"I know what your asking Sesshomaru and yes, I did have another memory attack and did not tell you."

Brows knitting together in irritation Sesshomaru sighed, closing his eyes and rubbing his temples to try to relieve the stress he was feeling.

"How bad?"

A simple question but one that Sango did not overly want to answer.

"Not bad Sesshomaru… I-"

"Please do not lie to me Sango. I'm your mate and I need to know," Sesshomaru said, cutting her off before she had a chance to continue.

Sango merely closed her eyes and hung her head slightly.

"It was excruciating," Sango said with her brown eyes still hidden behind her closed lids, "Last night I left to go to the bathroom and I saw many slayer weapons decorating the walls of the hall. The memories were very hazy, as expected, but when I pushed they cleared up quickly and the pain of the knowledge accompanied them."

Sesshomaru's fist was now tightly clenched and his claws had dug five small ruts in the floor where they'd ground across it in an attempt to relieve some of his anger.

"How much do you remember Sango?"

"Only my training with my father and the other demon slayer's. Speaking of which, why can I not return to my village? I would be safe there and I'd like to see my father as well."

Her innocent question drove a stake into Sesshomaru's heart. How could he tell her that her clan was no more? That they had been annihilated by Naraku and her little brother, for whom their son was named, had been used as Naraku's puppet to slay her family.

"Please Sango. I ask that you do not question me concerning your family and your past until I have restored your memories. All will be made clear then, and until then I want you to promise me that you will stay with Shippo and Rin and will not try to return to your village," Sesshomaru asked in a pain filled voice that Sango could not refuse if she'd tried.

"Ok Sesshomaru, I promise. I'm sorry to have upset you my love," Sango said, saddened that she had caused her mate pain by asking such a question.

'Perhaps my father did something terrible since I mated a demon and I cannot remember,' Sango thought as she decided to drop the subject and try to remember later, after Sesshomaru left, so that he would not feel guilty for the pain she suffered as the memories returned.

'Remembering all of the memories leading up to her villages' destruction will hurt her mentally and physically. I cannot risk telling her. I will just have to defeat Takusi quickly and find that witch of fathers' to make the antidote,' Sesshomaru thought as he hoped that Sango would keep her promise and not go to the ruined slayer's village while he was away, 'I'll have to speak to Shippo about ensuring her promise before I leave.'

a/n: Well there yall go. The first chappie back to the present from Sesshomaru's dream/memories. What do yall think? I know I'm kinda rusty since I haven't updated in a while (~.~) but it's not that bad right. (*Nods*) ...but, but...*sweatdrop*... alright it kinda was... -.- *sigh* Anywayz, yall know the drill...

PLZ READ AND REVIEW!!! ^.^