Best Wishes

Disclaimer

I do not own Inuyasha.

Part III

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"As a taiji-ya, you must know what season it is." Her eyes darkened considerably. Of course she knew.

"Mating season." Her voice grew cold. Her stance grew even less relaxed, if that were possible. "Is that why you're here? To find someone at the festival?" He didn't answer. Suddenly, she whirled away from him with death in her eyes. Inuyasha was going to die.

Sango knew that he had thought of her. She was free from commitment, it would keep the Daiyoukai away from Kagome, and he would ultimately get his brother off of his back. Her anger was not misdirected in the slightest when she found herself beating her 'friend' to a bloody pulp as he pleaded with her that he hadn't thought of her at all.

"Liar! Admit it!"

"Sango-" Her fist slammed into his mouth. He had fought back, of course. The hanyou wasn't going to take a beating without dealing something back. However, the taiji-ya was in her 'total killer' mode. She was a goddess of anger and totally indestructible as she used her small fists to beat him and bring him as much pain as possible.

"Inuyasha, how could you? You knew that I would befriend Rin! You knew that he needed someone stronger than any wimpy girl at this festival! Why the hell would you think something so crazy as pairing a taiji-ya with a fucking Daiyoukai?" Her point was very clear and came across using a wide signal. He understood instantly that they wouldn't work without a lot of persuasion. But the hanyou couldn't talk his way out of a wet fucking bag. How unfortunate.

"If you would listen for one damn second!" He was getting tired of being beaten on. Angry women sure were pains. Major pains. Her stance went back to normal and she crossed her arms to resist the urge to haul off and punch him in the mouth again. "I understand what it must look like to you. But you don't understand the whole thing. Though we do still sort of hate each other's guts, he's still my brother. We've come to an understanding that will keep us from killing each other. I want him to have someone that'll take him down a notch. I also need someone to keep Rin safe. That little girl is hell to deal with unless she likes you. And I know you two are good pals." She opened her mouth but he glared at her until she closed it. "Think about it, would you?"

"I'm not supposed to mate with youkai. Plus, I don't love him. That's a big strike. I need to be able to be happy after what's happened to me. I've had enough misery to last me a lifetime." Her voice was quieter but that didn't mean that she was done beating on him or being angry. "Sesshoumaru isn't someone that I can love. If I wanted a bad relationship, I would've stayed with Houshi-sama."

"Sango-"

"I'm not giving up the biggest choice in my life on a favor, Inuyasha." She relaxed and turned away from him. "End of story."

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Kagome grew concerned when Inuyasha came back bleeding and beaten up again. It looked different from the other fights that he had with his brother.

"Inuyasha-" He held up his hand when she went to rush to him to heal him.

"Don't. I deserve this." His tone warned her that he was serious. The little miko wanted to argue with him but he wouldn't have it. "Just don't. These'll heal in a few hours." The next day was the second part of the festival. It lasted a total of five days. He was pissed at Sango for dealing him so much damage. She had almost broken his arm and he knew she bruised his ribs nicely. Her anger scared him more than Naraku had. He remembered hiding behind Kagome a couple times before. She was not someone to mess with and he was damn lucky to walk away with his life.

"What did you do to her?" Shippou grinned when he noticed the condition and smelled Sango's scent on the hanyou.

"Her?" Kagome frowned before shock crossed her face. "Sango did this? What did you do to get her so angry?"

"She knows why Sesshoumaru is here. The bastard probably told her. Then again, I couldn't blame him if she was giving him that stare..." He paled as he recalled the look on her face when he saw her coming for him. She had dragged him into the forest by the hair before throwing him right against a tree.

"Why is he here?" Miroku piped up from the corner. "I did think it very strange for a Daiyoukai such as himself to be interested in a mere festival. I also highly doubt that he would subject himself to so much human contact for a little girl's plea." The unfortunate hanyou was again cornered until one of them figured it out. Kagome's eyes narrowed first.

"Good for Sango! I wish I had been there to see it! How could you do that to her?"

"Hey now, wait just a minute! I was telling her the truth when I said that I didn't automatically think of her for it! Youkai women aren't good for Rin and he knows that. Rank and strength play a hefty role. He needed to seek out some contenders before the season picked for him." The hanyou's tone softened at the last sentence. "He could've just as easily taken you from me..."

"You don't think, do you?" His miko crossed her arms but her anger was gone. He had been worried. "He wouldn't have been around me this late in the season unless he came to fight with you again. I doubt he would've done that." Miroku was being caught up to speed and, right before he could utter a word, the very person they had been speaking about walked right in.

"Thanks a lot, asshole." Sesshoumaru's eyes swept over his brother's body and walked forward. He poked everywhere to see what type of damage the little taiji-ya could have possibly inflicted. Upon getting to the ribs, his brother yowled in pain. "Watch it!" He was impressed.

"She did a number on you, eh, little brother?" Satisfaction was in his voice. He wanted her. She had everything he was looking for, even if she was a human. Kagome's eyes were wide and her mouth dropped open. The tone of his voice tipped her off.

"You're..." He looked over at her when she began to ask. His face was impassive but she could see the answer in his molten amber eyes. He wanted her best friend.

"Indeed, miko. I will ask to formally court her. I will find a way to make her mine." The Daiyoukai was being honest. He would overcome her challenges until she gave in and agreed.

"If you are..." Kagome's words faltered. She had to say it. Her eyes went to Miroku. "If you do end up courting her, I want you to know that I will not hesitate to put an arrow through you if you should hurt her. If you are unfaithful, degrading, and cold to her; I will know. You will not hurt her and get away without paying the consequences." It took guts to look him in the face, which she did on the last sentence, and tell him that she would kill him.

"I am a Daiyoukai of word and honor. I will not harm her nor will I demean her. Unfaithfulness is abominable. If I ever do anything so appalling, I would deserve death." His words cut through Miroku like a hot blade. He was a houshi. He should be of word and honor. He had been the one to hurt Sango by being unfaithful. Perhaps in his mind, he wanted her forgiveness. He wanted her to accept him back, though he knew he didn't deserve it. He didn't want to see her with Sesshoumaru but he wasn't sure if he could reform himself in time. Or even she would never look at him again.

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She shielded her eyes against the sun's glare as she handed someone else their glass of sake. Rin was sitting in the same stool with the same grin on her face.

"Sango-chan, will you play a song for me tonight before bedtime? Please?" The taiji-ya smiled and nodded.

"Of course, Rin-chan. Just come and get me before you go to sleep tonight. The festival is continuing on until midnight or so." The girl bobbed her head while practically singing thank-yous over and over. Sango had been unable to think straight the entire morning. Sesshoumaru had come for a mate that would befriend Rin honestly. The little girl hadn't moved from her side in the two days of the festival. Honestly, the taiji-ya didn't want any advances from anyone, human or youkai.

"Sango!" Kagome's voice was slightly urgent as she called to her friend. Sango hadn't returned to the house that night. She'd slept in the trees and snuck in to get her uniform. Other than that, she'd been by herself and did a lot of thinking. Mostly about her village. About how little she'd actually done. Once the festival was over, she would go back and continue her work on it. "Are you okay?" The miko had obviously heard about the recent happenings.

"I'm fine, Kagome. Why so worked up?" It was the truth. She wasn't bothered by it. The anger and the trapped feeling went away after beating the shit out of Inuyasha. She knew it would go away completely if she could only get her hands around the houshi's neck. However, she wasn't going to go to hell for beating up a holy man, no matter how unholy he seemed.

"You should've heard some of the things that went on last night, after Inuyasha got back." She put her hand over her mouth. "It'll have to wait, though. I totally forgot I had to host a gathering by the stage! Meet you at the springs tonight!" The day went quick that afternoon. Sango lost count of the times she glimpsed Sesshoumaru out of the corner of her eye. By the time Rin was ready for bed, the taiji-ya was exhausted and still had hours to go. There was a slight reprieve from her promise. When the little one went to sleep, she would take some alone time to herself.

"Sango-chan, thank you for playing me a lullaby. I've always had to sing myself to sleep since I began traveling with Sesshoumaru-sama." Sango pulled the covers up over the little girl and kissed her forehead before removing the hairband that had held her little side pigtail.

"Nonsense. Every little girl deserves a lullaby. It's like someone wishing you a bon voyage before going out to sea. It's important." Sango began singing softly before she pulled out her flute. The little girl tried to stay awake but once her eyes were closed, images appeared. Beautiful visions. Sango holding her close as they star-gazed. Sango grinning as they both gave each other crowns made of flowers. Sango kissing her head each night before sleep. Rin softly uttering the word 'mother' as she fell into sleep holding the taiji-ya's hand. When Sango's flute died away at the last note of the lullaby, Rin was fast asleep with a small smile on her face and a single tear falling from the corner of her eye. The taiji-ya reached out and brushed it away before standing up.

"She thinks of you highly." His voice didn't startle her. She knew he'd been watching her. She stormed outside and stood a few feet away, waiting. He was beside her quickly. "I wish for you to-"

"No." The firm tone in her voice reminded him of his brother. Stubborn. Hard-headed. "I will not become a mate to you. I've had enough horror in my life, Sesshoumaru. I want love. Something I know I will never get from you." Sesshoumaru was unmoving as well. He would not choose another. It was her or no one. Her scent had locked in the decision when they'd spoken the night before. Not to mention that his mind followed his decision when he noticed how she had beaten his hanyou brother.

"That is a shame. I was hoping you would agree and make it easy." His slightly mocking tone pissed her off. "You see, taiji-ya, I have chosen you and I will get you to agree. You will not say no for long."

"You arrogant bastard!" She exploded, her good sense wavering in the face of such arrogance. "I refuse to stand here and take this another minute! You've done nothing but piss me off since you arrived here. I have taken about as much as I can. I will not be with you. I do not love you nor will I ever. That's the end of this game, Sesshoumaru." He watched as she stormed away. Sure, he was not pleased with the outcome of their spat but she had forgotten one thing. She had challenged him. She had stated that she would never love him.

"Not quite sure who said it, son, but the phrase goes 'Never say never.' It's about as old as I am, I think."

Granted, his father's advise was never that great but he knew that the phrase was one of a kind. It was also a challenge. He would get her to love him if it was the last thing he ever did.

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Sango clipped her hair up and sank deep into the water. Kagome had gone without her when she had instructed the miko to do so. She hadn't gotten done until a few hours after the festival's night had already come to an end.

"Sango-san." Heat flared into her cheeks and her eyes went to the male that had interrupted her alone time. "Oh! I apologize! I had no-"

"Hentai! How dare you come waltzing over here like you had no idea the springs were here!" She covered her chest beneath the water and glared at him until he turned around. She got out, wrapped a towel around her body, and sat down on a rock. "What did you want?" He turned back around, almost desperate to plead with her.

"Sango-san, you mustn't allow Sesshoumaru to court you! I need you to give me a second chance!" He was pleading with her? "I never meant to cause such harm to you. I just... don't know anymore..."

"Houshi-sama, I..." She bit her lip. "I cannot give you a second chance. People do not just change their ways out of the blue. I know that you're not ready to make such statements." She let her dark hair form a curtain between them. "I know that everyone deserves a second chance but I cannot make my heart take another wound." Insecurity had become close to the taiji-ya.

"Please, you must-"

"Stop."

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"He said what?" Sango sat with Kagome in their room, preparing for bed. "Sesshoumaru meant it?"

"It hurt Miroku-sama quite a bit. I must say, it took his breath away. He looked stunned at first but then..." The miko frowned. "I don't care what he says. Sesshoumaru has a lot more respect than he seems to. He's loyal and honest and he definitely wouldn't be unfaithful."

"Kagome, are you hinting at something?" The taiji-ya frowned. "I seriously don't believe that he can be any good for me. He's not like me, he probably doesn't even like me. What would we do together? Is he really willing to be with a human?"

"Sango, those are things that you need to ask him. I can't answer them. Though... he did mention that he would find a way to make you his. The way he stared at me when he said it made me believe it." Her voice trembled slightly. "I don't want to push you. But... maybe moving on wouldn't be so bad."

"Houshi-sama asked me for a second chance." Silence took over the room as Sango slid under her covers. "I told him that I couldn't. I was so hurt after we separated..."

"He heard Sesshoumaru talk about all those things... He probably thinks he can change if he tries." The blew out their candles and settled themselves in for the night. "We'll see what can come of this. Besides, it doesn't hurt to think things through." They said good night and let the noises of the night lull them to sleep.

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Sango tied her hair up after dressing. She checked her appearance over and smoothed out the short kimono. She wasn't quite sure she wanted either Sesshoumaru or Miroku... or any guy for that matter. She was better off alone. No more pain that way. Loneliness could fade into the background. Pain wouldn't.

"Sango! Are you going to help me out today with the rest of the preparations? They begin around lunch." The taiji-ya nodded eagerly. It wouldn't allow her to think and she got to let out some anger as she bossed some of the workers around.

"Just make sure you come and get me." The miko nodded with a grin on her face.

"I will!" Sango escorted her outside and began her walk over to her stand. If she was lucky, she wouldn't see either of her 'suitors' that day. She also hoped that she wouldn't see Inuyasha, for fear of his safety. She wanted to strangle him.

"Sango!" Shippou and Kirara were there waiting for her. She pet her neko with a grin. She hadn't seen her companion for a while.

"How have you two been? Even though we're in the same village, it seems like you've been at a completely different one." The kitsune hadn't slept with Kagome in a few days. Probably because they had a few temporary huts set up for the children and a few supervisors.

"We've been running around mostly. There are a lot of different games that I'm learning." Shippou was filled with youthful exuberance. She really loved his optimism. He had gone through losing his parents, too, and bounced right back with extra left over. A smile slid over her face at the sheer fact that they had all overcome a lot.

Sango was busy after only a few hours. There were a lot of people she didn't recognize. A few men had touched her inappropriately and she hit them with her tray 'on accident.' She noticed that when Rin came over for her usual, Sesshoumaru was with her. He was watching the men around her. A flush covered her face as she walked over to them.

"Good morning, Rin."

"Sango-chan!" A grin lit up the little girl's face when she saw Sango. "I have lots to tell you!"

"Really? Lots, hm?" Sango set a cup down and poured her some juice. As the girl described her day, the taiji-ya took the time to study the men that she had been serving. A few had 'accidental' bloody noses and the others had completely forgotten the encounter and were downing their drinks, demanding more. Rowdy bunch of idiots, that's what they were. "Would you like me to come back with you again tonight? For a lullaby?" Rin nodded, ecstatic.

"Yes, please!" Just as she was going to say something more, the men began shouting for her.

"I'll be there. I promise." She took a few bottles of sake and prepared for the worst. After all, men were animals. Drunken men were monsters. Her heart pounded when someone's hand landed on her behind. Anger pulsed through her until she heard a gurgle that was probably supposed to be a scream.

"You will apologize to her. Now." The cold voice was like ice in her veins. She hesitantly turned around to see what she'd already known she would find. His fist around the drunkard's throat, his fangs bared, and his eyes narrowed. Another gurgle, softer than the last, broke the silence that had suddenly surrounded them. "If anyone sets an unwanted touch on this woman, they will answer to this Sesshoumaru." The anger was receding slightly and she noticed that he was even glaring at her. When he walked away, the loud voices returned and everyone continued their conversations. Through the rest of the day, no one dared even tap her shoulder.

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Rin had her lullaby and Sango had her break from everyone. It was surprising. She hadn't been thinking about anything depressing since Rin and Sesshoumaru barged into her life. Her eyes went to her left, where Sesshoumaru basically materialized from the darkness.

"My answer is still no." Her quiet voice sounded loud to her own ears. "I don't know why you keep bothering to try." He stopped in front of her.

"Taiji-ya, you issued me a challenge. It would be against my own code to not accept." He reached into his haori and withdrew a long red ribbon. Silk. She stared at him with a small frown on her face.

"I cannot accept a gift from you. I told you that I'm going to court you." It was certainly beautiful. He made no move to give it to her nor put it away. She noticed that her name had been sown in at one end. In black. "Sesshoumaru." Sango tore her gaze away, afraid to look at him holding out a gift for her. It was a part of courtship.

"In return, I want you to play. Fair trade." She stared at him. How was that fair?

"No, I can't." She shook her head and backed away from him. "I'm sorry, Sesshoumaru. I can't... I don't love you..." She turned away and ran back to the festival. Only, she really didn't want to be there. The taiji-ya wanted to go to sleep and try to forget about what happened. She'd turned down the Daiyoukai again.

"Sango-san, you don't look so well." Miroku's soothing voice drifted over to her from Rin's very own stool. Had he seen the mess earlier? Or had he merely heard about it? "May I ask what is bothering you?" Those serene blue eyes pulled at her last remaining heart strings. She couldn't deal with it anymore.

"Houshi-sama... I do not wish to see you right now." Her mahogany eyes glittered with pain. "I'm having enough trouble as it is."

"Is Sesshoumaru bothering you?"

"No." She stared him in the face as the word left her lips. One thing she didn't need was Miroku causing her more trouble. "I want you to mind your own business."

"Sango-"

"Enough! Don't you think you've done enough damage?" Her heart was beating quickly. She was swimming in the pain again. Bells and whistles sounded in her mind, warning her to get away from him. If she remained near him, the dam would break. She would fall. "I need time, all right? I can't stand to be around you. Not yet." Her pounding heart and uneven breathing alerted the houshi. He nodded and stood. His hand touched her shoulder gently and gave her a tiny squeeze.

"I am here if you need me. That's all I want you to know." Those deep blue eyes pulled her in. She couldn't tear her gaze away. She didn't want to. The pain was receding. It was being erased as though it never existed. She still remembered that it was real, however. That gave her the strength to pull away.

"Good night, Houshi-sama." He nodded and left without another word.

"He stunk of other women." She whirled around to see glimmering amber eyes and unruly silver hair. Inuyasha. "It was a good thing you did."

"Yeah." She wasn't so sure. The pain had been drawn away so easily. She knew she had loved him. That was what destroyed her.

"Don't worry. I'm not gonna start on you. I just wanted to get away from Kagome. She misses your work." Sango had helped her earlier and it gave her a break from the tense atmosphere of the drunk men. "Actually, she's going to the springs in a few minutes. You should go."

"I need it. Will you watch this crowd for me?" At his hesitant nod, she smiled and walked toward the most relaxing place in the whole village. By the time Kagome arrived, Sango was in the springs with her eyes closed.

"I was hoping you'd come tonight. I have a lot to tell you." Once Kagome had explained about the guys after Sango left, the taiji-ya spilled her guts to the little miko. "He got you a present? Why didn't you take it?"

"It's custom for men to give women presents during courting. Accepting a gift means that I accept him." Kagome nodded like she'd known that. She probably did. "Kagome, I'm not ready for a relationship. My encounter with Houshi-sama proves that theory."

"You can't let yourself fall again. I don't want to push you toward someone else but Sesshoumaru isn't the worst guy in the world. And... I hate to say it but maybe you should consider letting go of old values. Who says you can't love a youkai? Or even a Daiyoukai?"

"No one. However, I do know that Sesshoumaru is not someone that I can fall in love with."

"Sango, we have a saying for sentences like that. Never say never."

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Sango is definitely against being with Sesshoumaru. How long can she keep it up?

Hope you enjoy.

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-Angel