Weeping Willows
By Dragoness
Disclaimer: I do not own the characters in this story. They are the product of the wonderful Rumiko Takahashi.
Thank you again everyone for the reviews. You guys are so awesome.
O.k. guys I know the last couple of chapters have been a little slow but it was for a good reason. First of all I wanted to show the progression of Sess & Kags relationship a little more. I also wanted to show Sango's growth because when the crap hits the fan Kagome will need her support and trust me in the next couple of chapters the crap will start hitting the fan. Enjoy.
Chapter 10 A Crying Shame Pt. 2
Kagome groaned as she rolled over to avoid the ray of sun that had managed to escape the curtains. She did not really sleep very well the previous night getting up every couple of hours to check on Miroku. When she wasn't doing that she was tossing and turning as she tried to ban the vivid dreams that even now brought a blush to her face just thinking about them.
Laying there for a few more minutes trying to get herself together Kagome thought again about that kiss and the promise. God she needed a shower. A very cold one.
Hearing the shower Miroku decided to get up and leave before Kagome could come and ask any questions. He wasn't sure he wanted to talk about it yet, had he not been so inebriated the other night he wouldn't have told her as much as he did. Eventually, but not so soon. He still didn't know what to do or even think about this situation.
Looking around Miroku spotted his shirt lying across the back of the chair. Kagome must have removed it to wipe him down with the rag floating in the bowl on the table in front of him. The last thing he had been worrying about lately was his hygiene but he had to admit he did feel less dirty and sticky.
Miroku let out an involuntary groan as he tried to sit up. He felt like someone had been tap dancing on his head, and his stomach felt like it was trying to devour itself. Staying still for a moment Miroku waited for the worst of the pain to pass before getting up and retrieving his shirt. As he was walking toward the door ever so slowly he suddenly noticed the apartment was quiet.
When did the shower stop? Moving a little faster despite his pounding head he stopped when he heard Kagome gasp. Miroku didn't turn around as he waited for the tongue lashing that he knew would come to begin.
Oddly it was still so silent that he turned around to see if he had imagined the sound. But when he turned Kagome was there looking at him sadly, her eyes shining with unshed tears. Miroku didn't want to see anymore tears. He didn't want to hear anymore or shed anymore. He just wanted to curl up under the bed and hide for a little while. Sighing he met her eyes again and seeing no anger asked, "What?"
"I didn't say anything. If you feel you have to go then go. I had only hoped you would at least tell me face to face instead of trying to run out of the door while I wasn't in the room." Kagome said quietly.
"I don't want to argue and I don't need a pep talk. I just want to be left alone." Miroku said his voice shaking with emotion.
Kagome moved to sit on the couch Miroku had recently vacated and tucked her legs under getting more comfortable. This is not how she had envisioned this going. She wondered again what could have happened to put him in this state.
"Miroku. Have I ever judged you or yelled at you? I saw you last night and you were hurting. It was like your soul was calling out to me. I couldn't leave you like that; I could never leave any friend like that especially you. I just brought you here to watch over you and to be here if you need an ear. I am not trying to pry." Kagome said looking for some sign or clue to his feelings at the moment.
"At least someone isn't," Miroku responded bitterly. A picture of Sango flashed in Kagome's mind at the statement and once again she wanted to ask what happened but it wasn't the time. Not yet.
"When you are ready to talk I'm here. I understand if you need some time to yourself just don't spend too much time isolating yourself, remember you have people who love and care for you," Kagome said as the tears started to fall. She hated seeing him like this.
Seeing her tears Miroku instantly turned his back, facing the door once again. Releasing another sigh as he stared ahead looking at nothing in particular Miroku added, "Thanks 'Gome. I just need some time I'll be back, don't worry." With that he steped out into the sunshine and disappeared.
Talking to the empty room Kagome quietly muttered, "Miroku, how can I not worry?" She stayed there for a while just thinking about everything and nothing at the same time. Once she felt ready she went to get her cell off the charger. She had some calls to make.
"Go away! I don't want to talk right now," the voice on the other side of the door screamed.
"I am not leaving until you open up and I can see myself that you're doing fine." Kagome was trying to be patient but she was really getting annoyed. She had been talking, well if you could call it that, to Sango through the door for the past ten minutes and she was still on the porch.
She knew Sango would be difficult but she really hadn't anticipated having so much trouble just getting in the door.
Taking a deep breath Kagome readied herself for another shouting match when she heard the deadbolt unengaged. She looked up to see Sango standing there looking very tired.
"There, you see I'm fine. You can go now," Sango said coldly.
Letting out a sigh Kagome begged, "Please just let me come in and sit for a while. We don't have to talk about anything. If you don't let me in you know I will just camp out here on your stoop until you do."
Looking resigned Sango stepped back to let Kagome in and then shut the door behind her. Walking past Kagome she proceeded into the kitchen to finish the cup of tea she was drinking when she was interrupted.
"Well?" she asked taking a sip from her cup as Kagome sat across from her. "Come here to gloat?" Sango grimaced as the now cold tea went down her throat. Going to the sink pouring out her tea and starting the tea pot again Sango turned to face Kagome fixing her with a harsh glare.
"Gloat?" Kagome said incredulously. "How can I gloat? I don't even know what's going on. All I know is something is wrong. Miroku is a mess and you're not answering your phone."
"How can I gloat about anything when I don't know what the hell is going on? I just want to know that my sister is o.k."
Sneering Sango replied, "I am o.k. as you can see. I just don't want company right now."
Kagome looked at Sango closely. She was dressed up a little more than usual and her makeup was flawless. It just couldn't hide the bags under her eyes, or the puffiness that no doubt came from a recent bout of crying. She actually did look good to anyone who didn't know better, but Kagome did know better. How many times had Kagome felt like shit and dressed up even more to try to trick her mind into feeling a little better. Taking extra time with her makeup to turn her sad baggy eyes into eyes that looked like she was just maybe a little tired, no more. How many times had she herself put that mask on to try to fool everyone into believing she was fine?
Running her hand down her face Kagome finally looked Sango in the eyes. Using a technique she learned a while back she spoke softly to Sango. "I'm here if you want to talk. That's all. No gloating, no 'I told you so', no judging. If not we can just sit here and enjoy a cup of tea."
When Sango visibly relaxed Kagome knew it had worked. When Sango was riled up and defensive the key was not to get her even more riled up. If the person was loud, talk lower and softer. If they were standing and in close arguing, step back to give more space and try not to look as though you're on the defensive. It didn't always work but it had helped a couple of times. Strange enough she got it from a de-escalation class her job made all employees attend yearly.
"You said Miroku was a mess," Sango said turning away from Kagome to make them both some tea now that the water was ready. "What did you mean?"
"Exactly what I said. A mess. He is really upset right now and I honestly can't say I have ever seen him this bad. What happed between you two?"
"He didn't tell you, huh?" Sango said as she put Kagome's cup in front of her and sat down across from her.
"No, he just said that you two had an argument and he left."
"Well, that's what happened." Sango replied.
"Why do I think it's more to it than that? Kagome asked. "Sango!" Kagome prompted when she received no response from Sango.
"It really wasn't that bad. We got into a little disagreement and Miroku overreacted. He said that I was too pushy. That I am always in everyone else's business and that he had put up with it long enough."
Her voice shaking as she continued Sango looked at Kagome with sorrowful eyes. "He said that he didn't know who I was sometimes and didn't think he could be married to someone like me. That for the now the engagement is off until further notice. He said had been patient and had waited for me to mature and grow out of it but now he did not see that ever happening."
Sango was on the verge of rambling now. Her voice was shrill and Kagome was having a hard time understanding anymore as she had started crying during the last part of her explanation. She went into the living room to get a box of tissues. Returning to the kitchen Sango couldn't sit anymore.
She walked back and forth pacing as she tried to get a hold on herself. Finally she seemed to be calming down a little. She leaned against the wall with her head back and closed her eyes willing the tears that just kept running down her face to stop.
"Why didn't you call me?" Kagome asked. "Why all the cloak and dagger? We have never hidden things from each other before," she stated curiously. What exactly started this? Neither one of them seemed to want to say.
"After the way I treated you with the Sesshomaru thing how could I face you? I always go around thinking I know what's best and I was wrong. I really did think I was helping and I have been trying to do better. At least I thought I was and now I've pushed away the only man I have ever loved. And on top of that I was too stubborn to admit my error and apologize. Telling myself he knew how I have always been he needs to just deal with it."
"Well he dealt with it alright," she laughed softly tears still streaming down her face. "He packed a bag and went right out the door." Sango who had been leaning against the wall suddenly lost all her strength. She slid down the wall until she was sitting. She drew knees up and supporting her elbows on them put her head in her hands.
Kagome's eyes burned as they welled up with tears, she felt so sorry for her sister. Whatever had happened, whether it was Sango's fault or not, she still didn't want to see her suffering like this. Kagome took a seat beside Sango and wrapped her arms around her.
"You should have called me. I don't care about the past, I had my say and we moved on from there. You are the sister I never had and my best friend. Never be afraid to come to me. I will always be here for you, ride or die."
At Kagome's last statement Sango broke down. She had been trying to stay strong but now she couldn't help but let it out. Her hurt and anguish were suffocating her. It was if her emotions were drowning her and her heart was a weight that was trying to hold her under water.
"What am I going to do now?" Sango cried.
"Shush now just let it out. Know that I am here for you," Kagome said as she tightened her hold and kissed Sango on the top of her head. "We'll figure this out but not right now."
Of course this started a whole other wave of tears as Sango and Kagome sat on the floor holding each other while giving a voice to the despair they each were now feeling. As they sat there on the kitchen floor Kagome asked, "Why is it that we always end up in the kitchen when we discuss serious issues?" Despite everything Sango could not suppress the strange snort from escaping her mouth sounding somewhere between a sob and laugh. "I'm serious," Kagome said smiling. "You ever notice that?"
Sango nodded her reply as she tightened her hold on Kagome. There was nothing really to say and no need to. They had known each other long enough to not always need words and this was one of those times. The two sisters stayed like that for quite a while. Not talking just comforting each other by their closeness.