Ok so apparently no one loves me enough to review, but hey. I promised an old friend that I would finish re-writing this so I'll just have to struggle on all by my lonesome. Anyways here's the next chapter, it's extra long so I hope you like it.
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Chapter 4: Scattered Memories
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"Ahahaha, no… please… stop!" Laughter resonated in the darkness.
"Only if you say it." A teasing yet loving voice drifted by her ear as invisible fingertips ghosted over her sides.
"Ha… ok… I got… I give in!" Her voice huffed, trying desperately to breathe through the laughter.
"I want to hear the words." Warmth spread through her neck as lips brushed tenderly against the smooth skin. A shiver running through her body as she twisted towards the now empty space beside her.
"Ok… ok…" Deep breath. "I'll bear your children!" Her voice shouted to the darkness. A husky chuckle beside her ear again as strong arms embraced her.
"My one and only Sango…"
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Sango's eyes snapped open, a tear drifting slowly down her cheek. What was that dream? How come it seemed so familiar? Her heart ached as she wrapped her arms around herself. It was as if a hole had been left inside her, like something was missing.
Shaking the last remnants of her odd dream out of her head, she brushed a hand across her cheek to dry the stray tears. Sitting up, she looked around. Kagome was fast asleep beside her, Shippo curled up in her arms. Inuyasha leaned back against the wall, eyes closed, mouth wide open as his ears twitched absently in his sleep. She smiled to herself, everything was back to normal.
She pushed herself up off her sleeping bag and stretched. As she let her arms fall back down beside her she couldn't stop the nagging feeling that something was missing. She scanned the room and noticed that Kirara wasn't there. 'Must have left in the night for some air.' She thought. Stepping quietly over Kagome, she silently left the hut.
The sun was just coming over the hill leading towards Inuyasha's Forest and the well. Taking a deep soothing breath of the cool fresh air she stepped away from the hut. Her eyes suddenly caught a hold of a man leaning against the fence across from the hut. Sango frowned as she realized it was the man from the night before. Her expression then turned to one of confusion as she noticed Kirara curled up in the sleeping man's lap.
"That's odd." She whispered to herself as she took a few steps closer. Kirara never approached strangers. She hated them. Why was she now purring in her sleep, curled up with this strange man?
Sango kneeled down in front of the man, taking a long look at him. He seemed familiar to her yet she knew she had never met him before last night. His black hair drifted in the slight morning breeze, his purple monk's robe rustling quietly. As she studied him her vision clouded.
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"Miroku? Miroku?" She called in a slightly amused voice. "You can come out now! I'm not mad anymore! I promise I won't smack you!" She called out to the surrounding woods. A warm hand fell on her shoulder, turning her to face… the strange man. She smiled up at him.
"I'm sorry love. You know I can't help these wondering hands." His voice came out sounding more pleased than apologetic. Her smile turned to more of a wicked smirk as she suddenly whacked him over the head with Hiraikotsu.
"You can, but you won't, and that's why you have to be taught a lesson." She said before spinning on her heel and walking away. She could hear his hurried foot steps following behind her.
"Aww come on darling. I'll be good." He pleaded behind her. She grinned as she waved a hand in the air, brushing his words off.
"I warned you." She almost giggled as he whimpered. "I'll be sleeping with Kagome for the next week."
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"Miroku." She whispered as she focused back on the man in front of her. He stirred and his eyes fluttered open to look groggily up at her. He smiled a gentle loving smile as his arms reached out and pulled her to him. She couldn't quite understand why she felt so safe in these strange arms, she couldn't pull away. He kissed her softly on her lips, then again on her forehead before pulling away again.
"Good morn my sweet." He smiled, his eyes full of tenderness. Tears pooled in her eyes, streaking down her face. She was so confused. His face clouded with concern as he brought his hand to her cheek, brushing a tear away with his thumb.
"What's wrong Sango?" He asked in that soothing voice of his. She couldn't take it, why was she getting so confused by this seeming stranger. She swatted his hand away from her as she glared back at him.
"Why? Why are you doing this to me? My head hurts! Why can't you just leave me alone?" She cried out at a surprised and hurt Miroku. Pushing to her feet she ran and kept running until her lungs burned. She collapsed to the ground, tears pouring down. She hugged herself as broken sobs wracked her body. It hurt so much. She couldn't understand why this hole in her chest ached and burned whenever she looked at that strange man.
"Miroku." She choked out between sobs. Why did she hurt so much? She just wanted it all to go away. As the sobs broke and she began to breathe normally again she felt so dirty. She needed to go clean these thoughts from her mind.
She pushed herself up and slowly walked to the hot springs nearby. She needed to relax, to let her mind go blank and just breathe. Dropping her clothes by the pool, she slowly immersed herself in the steaming water. She leaned back and closed her eyes.
"Sango."
Her eyes whipped open as she turned to the path. No one was there. She scanned the surrounding area but found she was alone. Sitting back again her brow furrowed as she stared off into the water.
"Sango?"
This time for the briefest moment she could have sworn she saw Miroku's reflection dance on the surface of the pool. With a loud splash her arms came up to her chest to hid her body from his perverted eyes, as she whipped back around to face him. But he wasn't there. No one was there. A lonely feeling settled itself in the pit of her gut as she sat back down again. As she closed her eyes she could swear she heard birds chirping, a stream trickling nearby.
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Birds chirped in the trees surrounding her as the sun shone down. The stream ran quietly by, fish swimming in its cool waters. She sat there waiting, listening intently.
"To me, you're a special girl." Her heart jumped as his words caught her by surprise. She turned slightly to face him, her breath hitching.
"I have never thought of another girl so fondly or strongly as I do you," She turned away, her hand rising absently to her chest as if it could be still her racing heart.
"But…" He took a deep breath. "I could never love you as a woman." A shiver ran through her as his words struck a painful cord. She lowered her head slightly letting her bangs fall in front of her eyes.
"You're a comrade alongside whom I fight; that is how I feel." Her heart ached as tears sprang to her eyes. She swallowed, clearing her throat before she could speak.
"I know that… without having to be told." Her voice wavered as she closed her eyes to blink away the building tears. "It's not like I thought you were in love with me." Her breath caught as he sat silently behind her. She pushed off the ground, ignoring her name on his lips.
"You're finished, right? I'm going." She said as she tried to walk away. But her feet were like lead, weighing her to the ground.
"What I'd like to say is this:" He paused for a moment as if collecting his thoughts. The short seconds between his words were like torture, she wanted to get away before her heart could break further.
"If the battle with Naraku comes to an end, the curse of my Kazaana is broken, and I'm still alive," Her heart ached, she didn't want to hear this, his voice was to soothing. She loved him too much. She needed to leave, but his next words stopped her heart cold.
"At that time, will you live with me…" Her head shot up as her breath hitched in her chest.
"And bear my child?" She gasped. Tears finally falling down her cheeks.
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A stray tear dripped into the water around her, causing a ripple to break the calm surface. Her eyes slowly opened as her head began to pound. Why was this happening to her? 'Am I going crazy?' She asked herself. How could she be having these flashes of the stranger Miroku, as if she knew him? As if she had lost her memories? And if she had lost her memories, then why was it only the memories of this man that evaded her? She couldn't tell if these images were hers or if she was seeing something made up.
She lifted her head to the now darkening sky as she tried to think.
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Kagome had woken up to find Sango already gone and Miroku's sleeping bag tidily rolled up in the corner. She quietly walked outside to find a hurt looking Miroku standing in the middle of the street. Kirara circled his feet, mewling her concern. She rushed over to him and looked up into his pain filled eyes.
"Oh Miroku, what's wrong?" She asked, almost sure she knew what his answer was going to be.
"It's Sango. I woke to find her kneeling in front of me. She looked as if she were back to being my Sango…" His voice drifted off as his eyes gazed out towards the woods. Kagome's heart ached for him. If Inuyasha had forgotten about her she would be devastated. She desperately wanted to fix this for him, for Sango, but she knew that she couldn't. Only he could make Sango remember him.
"You should go find her. Try to talk to her again." She smiled up at him. "Maybe you can figure this out together." She squeezed his shoulder reassuringly before giving him a light shove towards the forest.
It had taken him quite a while to find her. He had looked pretty much everywhere. The well, Goshinboku, even back at the wrecked clearing from yesterday's battle. Finally he stumbled upon her bathing in the nearby hot springs. He had quickly hidden behind a group of bushes as he looked out at his love. She sat back in the water, eyes closed, a single tear streaking down her face. He breathed a sigh of relief now that she was there before his eyes. He had been worried that maybe she had run off, but here she was. He smirked slightly at the irony of how he had found her. He had forgotten how heavenly her bathing figure was.
He remembered the things she had said soon after his proposal.
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She sat beside him in the grass, her head leaning against his shoulder. His hand had strayed to her backside but she hadn't swatted it away, and had yet to smack him. She lifted her head and turned a smile towards him.
"Miroku you have to promise me something." She said, her expression turning serious. He pulled her closer to him and smiled.
"Anything." He said, his joy of her acceptance making him willing to do anything and everything for her.
"You have to promise me you'll stop groping other girls. And you have to stop peaking at me while I bathe, because after we get married you and I will be…" She trailed off as her face turned red. He loved it when she blushed and he loved her too much to lose her. He grabbed her hand in his and kissed it lovingly.
"I promise with all of my heart, my dearest Sango." He stated. She smiled then giggled and kissed him on the lips. She turned and leaned back into his chest as he wrapped his arms around her.
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He smiled as he remembered that day. They had sat together for hours before Inuyasha had broken free of Kagome and disturbed them. He wanted to laugh at the memory of Inuyasha's interruption, but he couldn't seem to muster up the strength. His heart ached and he wanted to cry. He may never be close to Sango again. He may never hold the woman he loved in his arms. His arms twitched as if they knew they would never be wrapped around his love.
He sighed as he looked down. He should leave. He couldn't break his promise, even if she didn't remember. He got up and walked away.
Sango sighed as she rose from the water to dry herself off. Her head still ached but she was starting to feel better physically. Her ankle no longer throbbed, she realized as she dressed. She started back towards the hut when she heard a noise from the bushes to her left. It sounded like someone was retreating. Had someone been watching her? She ran into the brush, spotting someone's retreating form, she grabbed the shoulder of the peeping tom. She spun him around angrily and gasped when Miroku's eyes met hers. She blushed furiously as he stared down at her and she automatically smacked him hard across the face.
"How could you? Even after you promised me that you would never…" She gasped and her hand flew up to cover her mouth. What had she just said? She was confused at her words yet they seemed so familiar. Miroku stared blankly at her, caressing his bruised cheek. Tears burst into her eyes again as she pushed passed him and ran back towards the hut.
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Alrighty, another chapter in the dust. I have the day off tomorrow so after I'm done running some errands I'll come back and probably write another chapter. Hope all of you invisible friends enjoyed the chapter and I look forward to seeing your invisible reviews. Night night! :3