DISCLAIMER: I do not in any way own InuYasha or anything that has to do with InuYasha. And if I make any references to any songs, I do not own them either unless otherwise stated.
A/N: Sorry it took so long. I was not sure how to put this how I wanted it. I know I should have had this out sooner and I'm really sorry. I also used a few lines from a few songs... Remember... I don't own them.
Happy Reading!
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By the time InuYasha and Sango reached the taijiya village, the sun was already hanging low in the evening sky. InuYasha was setting up a fire in the middle of the small village and Sango was in a nearby hut preparing it sleep in.
Sango walked out of the small hut with a pail she had found in the hut in one hand and dried meat and vegetables in the other. "InuYasha, there is a stream down at the end of the path there," She pointed to a small over grown path and smiled sweetly. "Would you mind getting some water, please?"
InuYasha 'hmphed' and took the pail roughly out of her outstretched hand. "Why do I have to do it?"
Sango gave another sweet smile before placing a piece of cloth on the ground by the fire with the dried unprepared food lying on top. "Because I will be preparing our meal tonight."
InuYasha grumbled under his breath and headed down the path at which she had pointed out to him. He could tell that the path was once used greatly and that in recent years had not been used at all.
After retrieving the water, the hanyou started back up the path to his taijiya friend. 'I don't think I remember eating anything that Sango had prepared before.' The hanyou thought to himself as he once again found himself in the empty village.
InuYasha sat the pail down by Sango and watched as she prepared their evening meal. She seemed to know what she was doing, but still could not remember her ever preparing a meal. Kagome had prepared their meals when they were searching for the jewel and Kaede was the cook while they were in the village. 'I just hope it taste as good as it smells...'
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After their meal was finished InuYasha looked over and saw that Sango was lazily petting Kirara, who was relaxing in her lap. The taijiya felt the gaze of her hanyou friend and looked up to give him a small smile.
"It's so peaceful here. I feel most comfortable and complete when I'm home." Her voice was soft and unwavering, but something was there.
'Is that a tear in her voice?' InuYasha could not smell the saltiness, nor see the wetness in the firelight, but he knew that she was crying on the inside. She was home. Home with her family, even if they were in the ground, they were here with her. "Have you visited your father yet?"
Sango's small smile grew slightly at the way he had chosen to ask him question. "No, not yet. I wanted to wait until tomorrow while I had daylight and could spend more time with him and the others."
InuYasha nodded then stood. He stretched and walked over to the half empty bucket of water, only to pour it onto the dying fire. "We should get some sleep."
Sango stood and Kirara lumped out of her arms, only to run over to the hanyou who had been walking over to the hut that Sango had prepared earlier. The small youkai 'meowed' and rubbed against InuYasha's legs only to get a stunned growl from him.
"What's wrong with her?!" He was glaring at Sango as he spoke.
Sango just shrugged. "I'm not sure. It looks like she is thanking you." Sango looked up at the star filled sky and sighed happily. "It is so much more beautiful with the fire out."
InuYasha quickly forgot about the neko at his feet and found himself looking at the beautiful taijiya before him. "Yeah..."
Sango could have sworn she heard something different in her friend's voice and turned her head to him with confusion in her eyes. "InuYasha...?"
The hanyou quickly looked away and crossed his arms over his chest. "What?"
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The next morning, Sango awoke to find InuYasha sitting by the entrance of the hut with his eyes closed, apparently sleeping. She found this odd. 'I figured that he would sleep in a tree outside. I made a place for him to sleep in here so he would not feel like I was not thinking about him, but I did not think he would sleep inside.'
She allowed the thought to pass and quickly, but quietly, walked passed her hanyou friend with Kirara close behind. InuYasha opened his eyes as the taijiya left the hut. He had awaken when he first heard her sit up, but he enjoyed the feeling he was getting from her gaze.
After just sitting there thinking about this and that, InuYasha thought it was time for him to make his appearance. He knew that he could find his taijiya friend at the graves of her fallen village friends and family. As he walked closer to where he knew she would be, his senses picked up the saltiness of tears and the heaviness of the grief in the air.
InuYasha walked over and kneeled down beside his saddened friend. He placed a clawed hand on her shoulder only to have her turn and bury her head into his chest. Before InuYasha could even think of what she had done or what he should do, he placed his arms protectively and longingly around her.
InuYasha did not, by no means, like her tears, but it seemed to be the only time that he was able to hold her in his arms. She belonged to another and he was her friend. So, he played the part of a loving friend, most of the time.
With his temper and attitude, it was hard for him to be a good friend to her or anyone else, but when he wanted to he could be a great friend. Like now. Sango was crying for her fallen friends and family and he was there to hold her while she cried. He did not need to stay anything thing. All she needed was for someone to hold her while she cried.
That's where he came in.
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InuYasha was not sure how long he had held the taijiya beauty in his arms, but he knew it had to have been a few good hours. Her tears had long stopped, the saltiness was no longer lingering in the air and grief was long gone. Yet, he still held her close protecting the strong, yet fragile, young woman from the world and she allowed him to do so.
The hanyou looked down at the top of her head and smiled sadly. Only to be pulled out of his thoughts when a voice announced its presence behind the two embraced friends.
"I see that you have found yourself a human mate, InuYasha."
InuYasha quickly pushed Sango away and turned, standing up, looking into the ever-emotionless face of his coldhearted brother. "Sesshomaru."
"Sister?!"
"Kohaku?" Sango was just recovering from being thrown from InuYasha's gentle hold when she heard her name. She looked up and saw her younger brother standing slightly behind the great Taiyoukai, Lord Sesshomaru, and the human girl Rin stood slightly behind him with a smile on her youthful features.
"Sister, are you really InuYasha's mate?" His voice was uneasy and a little hurt at the thought that his sister, a taijiya, would mate with a hanyou.
"No, Kohaku. InuYasha is just my friend, I am to marry Miroku." Sango looked over and saw that the two brothers were glaring at each other and that a fire already burning in her hanyou friend's eyes sparked ever more, yet again, at them mention of her union to the houshi.
"That's wonderful!" The teenaged girl ran out from the protection of Kohaku only to give Sango a big hug. "I would like to come to your wedding." She looked over to Kohaku and then her Lord. "I'm sure Kohaku will want to come and maybe even M'Lord will join us!"
Lord Sesshomaru looked down onto the young girl before him and narrowed his eyes slightly. "Do as you wish. I will no attend the union of the wench my brother has claimed to a mere human."
Everyone was shocked at the great youkai's words, but none more them InuYasha. "I have not claimed her, bastard."
Sesshomaru turned to leave and walked away without turning back or stopping as he spoke. "I will see the of you in one month's time... and yes brother... you have..."