Standard disclaimers apply.

A/N: Thanks for the great reviews! That sure was a heated exchange between Kagome and Asami, wasn't it? I personally feel that this gave everyone a better insight on what type of person Asami is. I am still thinking about how I should end this story…basically, I write according to how I feel without much prior planning.

In this upcoming chapter, Sango reminisces on her marriage, while Kagome starts getting a bit paranoid over Asami's threat. Oh yes, and a bit of Kag/Sess fluff. Please read and review!

Title: Rewind

Chapter 8: My pain, my fears

(Sango's POV)

"Miroku…baka…"

"You look so beautiful when I pleasure you, my dearest Sango…" Miroku said as continued his assault on my breasts from behind me.

"No…not on tape…" I hissed, my hand closing around his and pulling them away from my body.

"Sango-"

"No, you hentai…not on tape, alright?" I tried hard to catch my breath, threatening to hurl the TV remote control at him. "Baka!"

"Alright, alright!" He raised his hands in surrender, before running to the video camera and giving the screen a lecherous wink. "I'll bring you to the bedroom now, where I'll slowly tie your hands to the bedposts with my shirt-"

I couldn't watch it any longer; with a determined press on the 'pause' button, I stopped the tape. Miroku's grinning face was frozen on the screen, while the tears in my eyes made him look a little fuzzy.

Why did this happen to me? We used to be so happy…

Crawling over to the television screen, I wiped my tears with the back of my hand, before reaching out shakily to touch the screen.

As my fingertips came into contact with his face, I drew back. For how long have I not felt his skin under my fingers?

"Miroku…" I whispered softly. His name always sounded so comforting. Reaching out again, I traced his jaw line with my fingers, trying to recall the warmth he radiates. The warmth from the television felt nothing like that of his.

And his masculine scent…it was nothing the stiff television box can provide.

Looking into his smiling eyes, I felt a stab of pain in my heart. It was so painful, summoning a fresh onslaught of tears. But so what if I loved him? The fact remains that he no longer belongs to me.

I closed my eyes, feeling the tears seep out from under the eyelids to flow down my cheeks, before meeting at the chin and falling onto the ground in little drops.

Where was the familiar hand which always wipes my tears?

I wanted so badly to feel his hand wiping my tears away, but I cannot deceive myself.

That day, at the hospital, it only took an embrace from him to sweep away every trace of determination I had to leave him. I wanted so badly to hold him tight, and cry out every single bit of sadness in my heart. I wanted him to chase all my unhappiness away.

There was so much I wanted to do and yet cannot do, for beside him, stood a barrier that was deeper than the oceans and higher than the mountains. I cannot get past that barrier that was Asami.

I told myself, if she could give him what I couldn't, I should let them be. I shouldn't be so selfish as to deprive him of the child he deserved, deprive her of the man to take care of her, and deprive the baby of its father.

But it was so unfair…I met him first. We are lawfully wedded…he promised to take care of me forever. I wonder, when he was with that woman, did it ever occur to him that he made promises to me?

It was all too late…all too late. My heart had died. I used to be so strong, but right now, I'm an emotional mess all over again.

"Miroku…" I got into a kneeling position in front of the television, reaching out to place my palms on each side of the screen.

He was so close, yet so far…

Closing in the distance, I placed my lips over his, wishing that it was him I was kissing. The screen felt hard and foreign against my lips, but I couldn't care less.

(Kagome's POV)

The familiar fragrance of rice was lingering in the kitchen as the merrily blinking light of the rice cooker indicated it being in the 'keep warm' mode. Walking over to the stove, I opened the pot of stewed meat, only to realize a film of oil was forming on the surface, indication of it having cooled down. I turned the stove on for the second time since the stew was ready.

It was already nine in the evening, and Sesshoumaru was still not back yet. Sango had gone out with a few of her colleagues at the police post for someone's birthday celebration, leaving me alone at home.

Exiting the kitchen, I picked up the phone in the living room and dialed my husband's number.

"You have reached the mailbox of-"

I sighed and replaced the receiver, sitting down on the couch. The television was screening my favorite Wednesday variety show featuring the boy band Arashi, but I just couldn't bring myself to pay attention to what they were talking about.

Where can he be at this time? Why isn't he home yet?

It was then when I recalled what Asami said.

"…maybe in awhile, he will never be able to mingle again."

I suddenly felt as if someone dipped me in an icy ocean. A feeling of foreboding overcame me, causing my throat to go dry instantly. What did she mean by that? Could she be scheming against him? She may seem so innocent and cute on the outside, but she could break up Miroku and Sango…what else could she not do?

I looked around the spacious house frantically, at a loss of what to do. There was no one around to listen to me, no one around for me to ask advice as to what to do.

What if she wanted to harm him? What if he already got into some form of trouble?

I should call him again. Yes, I should.

Picking the receiver up again, I punched in Sesshoumaru's mobile phone number, pressing the phone closer to my ear.

"You have reached the mail-"

With a frustrated cry, I slammed the phone down. Just where can he be? What could have happened to him? He was already three hours late…

Images of him lying by the side of the road in a pool of his own blood sent me trembling, before I hurriedly ran to the window and looked down to where the main entrance was. There was no one there, and neither was there anyone at the road junction.

Thoughts of losing my husband became too much to bear, coupled with the suffocating fear of the vile words from Asami, and all sensible thoughts in my head were swept away by a tsunami.

Could he be with her? Could he really be with another woman? It happened to Sango…could it happen to me too?

I need to find him…I have to find him. Wherever he may be at the moment.

"Sess…" I whispered, as a prickly sensation rose behind my eyes. Blinking back tears, I grabbed my coat and the keys, before running out of the apartment as fast as my legs can carry me.

Standing outside the elevator, I watched the numbers ascended ever so slowly. It seemed like it would never reach the twelfth storey, and just as it reached the eighth, the numbers stopped.

I bit my lip in anxiety, before turning away from the elevator and running to the stairs. There was no time to lose. I ran down, step by step, eager to get to the ground floor as fast as possible. All I could think of at the moment was Sesshoumaru, and that was all that was needed to keep me running.

The cold wind beat at my face harshly as I exited the building, inducing the tears to course down in streams. The salty tears fell upon my lips, as it became increasingly difficult to breathe with my running and the tears.

Where should I go to? Where can he possibly be?

I didn't even know where to go, what to do, and as desperation was about to step in, a familiar voice called out from the mailbox area.

"Kagome?"

I froze. That voice…that voice…it belonged to the person I was looking for. I turned, and all my earlier fears were replaced by a soothing relief, like a flame in the abyss of darkness.

"Sess!" I cried, sprinting over to him as fast as I could, hurtling into his embrace. His initially stiffened body relaxed, before strong arms circled my body to hold me even closer than I thought possible. Tears coursed down like they had a will of their own, more out of relief than anything else. "Sess…"

His warmth, the scent of his L'eau Par Kenzo perfume and his mere presence…Thank goodness he was alright. There is nothing to worry about when he is with me.

"What happened?" He asked gently, his large hand entwining itself among my hair and pressing my head closer to him. He laid a few kisses on the top of my head before prompting for an answer. "Hmm?"

"I thought…I thought you…find someone else…be-because I…" I cried, feeling each sob escape my lungs with anguish mixed with relief. "…give y-you…a child…"

"What are you talking about, Kagome?" He questioned, puzzlement underlying his voice.

"I…I…Where were you? Wh-Where did you go?" I continued crying, squeezing him closer. My tone was accusing, after all the fear I experienced in the past two hours. "Why c-couldn't I contact you? I called you so many times…Why…Why didn't you tell me you were coming back late?"

He sighed softly, before gently removing me from his embrace. He didn't say a word, and instead, retrieved his mobile phone from his back pocket and raised his left hand to waist level, which was holding a paper bag.

Motioning for me to take the mobile phone, he waited as I took it from his hands. The phone was off, and when I tried to switch it on with fumbling fingers, the only indication on the screen was a blinking "Battery low, please recharge."

"Oh…" I mumbled, suddenly feeling slightly embarrassed for throwing tantrums like a child. So that was why I couldn't contact him no matter how many times I called.

He didn't laugh or blame me, and it was a moment of silence before he reached out to cup my left cheek with his right hand. Bending down slightly, he said, "I should have informed you I was coming back late, Kagome. It was my fault for making you worried, but I really wanted to give you a surprise."

"Eh?"

He placed the paper bag in my hands. "Open up."

Casting him a curious look, I reached into the paper bag, only to retrieve a beautifully wrapped box with maple leave prints on it. Running my eyes over the Japanese characters at the edge, I asked, disbelieving.

"This…is this the cheese momiji…?"

He nodded. "I queued up for more than two hours to get it."

I was speechless. My husband, who usually appeared like he couldn't care less about everything, hated crowds and noise, queued up for so long immediately after work just to get me a box of tea snacks. All because I saw the advertisement for the famous Hiroshima momiji manju three days ago and mentioned that it seemed so pretty. I had intended to buy it since it looked so delicious, but it was too much of a hassle.

This little act of love from my husband brought about another bout of prickling sensations behind my eyes, as the tears came down yet again. Seeing his handsome face and feeling his love for me was almost too much for my heart to bear.

"Kagome? What's wrong?" He asked, puzzled over my reaction.

I shook my head, unable to speak before I threw my arms around him again. Holding him as tight as I could, I hoped he could feel all the love for him.

"Arigatou…Sess…"

"It's nothing. Don't cry." He patted my head, whispering into my hair. "Shinpai sasete gomen."

"Iie, shinjiranakute gomen ne."

To be continued…

A/N: Ahhh…the sweetness of KagSess fluff. And as you can all see now, Sango still loves Miroku, but it is because of the circumstances that she is forced to hold her feelings back and give way. Please review! See you guys in the next chapter!

Glossary:

Baka – Idiot

Hentai - Pervert

Arigatou – Thank you

Shinpai sasete gomen – I'm sorry for making you worried

Iie, shinjiranakute gomen ne – No, I'm sorry for not believing you.