Chapter 12
Sango glanced out her window with a frustrated growl. The sun appeared to be ready to rise another hour and she had not slept the entire night. After tossing and turning and kicking the blankets every which way, she decided to go for a walk. Tip toeing her way down the hall so she wouldn't wake anyone, she made her way down the stairs and to the door. The guards watching eyed her closely but opened them for her when they sensed no evil intent.
Making her way around the side of the palace towards the garden, she tugged her blanket around herself tighter. The winter chill in the early morning was unforgiving and she wished for spring.
Turning the corner, she stopped when she saw Miroku sitting in the clearing of the garden meditating. She walked up to him, as silent as a mouse, and waited to see if he would notice her there.
"You're up early, Sango," he said in a deep and tranquil voice. A voice that, to this day, still sent shivers racing through her spine and butterflies into her gut.
"I couldn't sleep," she replied taking a seat beside him.
He opened his eyes and noticed her worry lines furrowed on her brow. Sighing, he untied his limbs from his meditating position and laid down on the cold grass.
"It took me at least half an hour to clear all the snow out of this spot so I could sit," he said randomly. "I could have simply used my wind tunnel and sucked it up, but something told me Lord Sesshomaru would have been very upset if the winter flowers had been ruined by it." He chuckled and studied the stars.
"Upset is an understatement for Lord Sesshomaru," she said trying to joke too. Something was just eating at her and she couldn't put her finger on it. She focused on one star and tried with all her might to remember something that was lost to her.
"Sango, you haven't been you these past two days. Is it from what has happened between our group and Inuyasha, or something more?" he asked propping himself on his elbows to better look at her.
She kept her focus on the stars, not answering. She wasn't trying to be rude. She actually did not know what had her frustrated further. As much as he was annoying, Inuyasha played a huge role in their little pack. Each member did. Having one missing was like loosing a family member. She already knew how that felt…
"Sango?" Miroku asked trying to get her attention.
"Huh?" she questioned finally looking at him. She snapped out of her daze and smiled.
"It's really nothing. I just have a lot on my mind."
"Hm," was all he said.
They shared a few moments of silence while both tried to gather their thoughts.
"Kagome is leaving in the morning with Sesshomaru. They are going to the future," he said with an amused tone.
"What?" That got her attention quick. "Leaving? With him? Without telling ME?" Sango questioned looking at him angrily.
"Hey! It's not like I have anything to do with it. I heard it from a maid during the meeting this evening. Gossip travels fast when you are living in a palace."
"Why didn't she tell me she was planning this?
"Was it so unexpected Sango?" Miroku asked half sarcastically. Seeing her angry glare and the dark shadow in her eye, he explained himself hastily.
"I mean, honestly. If Kikyo is as big as a threat Kagome thinks she is, and with Inuyasha at her side, do you really think Kagome would go alone? I think this was part of her deal with Sesshomaru. She would council him on things to come, if he protected her on her journey home. I also have a very intense feeling that this will be the last journey there she makes."
Sango took a minute to let it sink in. It made sense and usually Miroku was right about this stuff.
Her last trip home? Oh, poor Kagome. I hope you're okay. I just…now that I know this…this bad feeling I have just intensified. I have to warn her tomorrow.
Miroku noticed her troubled look and decided he couldn't stand it anymore. Moving to kneel beside her, he put his hand over hers and looked deep in her eyes when she looked up.
"I feel it too, Sango. Something is coming. But we have to trust Kagome and pray that she will be fine. The storm hasn't come yet; we don't even know what kind of storm it is. Don't worry over things that cannot physically be answered now. It will only drive you mad," he said seriously. Then trying to lighten the mood, he interjected, "and put worry lines all over your face. You're young and beautiful, so enjoy you're youth."
She blushed deeply and moved her hand away from his shyly. He grabbed it again and stood, making her rise with him.
"Sango, I know I'm a jerk. I know I'm a womanizer. But in all honesty, its because I can't have you. I am so caught up in you, that I need to flirt to get my mind away from it," he began. She made a move to interrupt but he silenced her.
"You can't worry about love until Kohaku is back. There is just too much on your plate now. But I want you to know, as much as I may flirt, you are the woman I want to bear my children when the time is right."
His statement was strange, but Sango teared up instantly when she saw the sincerity in his eyes. Three words were never so right to say at the worst time. Three words that she couldn't wait for the right moment to scream on the mountains; just for him.
"Thanks," was all she managed to say.
Miroku didn't need more than that. He knew she wanted it too. But he also knew she was at a vulnerable point in her life, and she needed to keep strong. As horrible as it was, Sango knew that marrying Miroku now would only hinder her chances of bringing her brother back alive.
He might not act it at times, but when it came down to it, Miroku was as honorable as they come. Quite frankly, he would wait all the way to his death bed, if it meant one hour of being married to Sango.
They walked back to the palace with silly smiles plastered on both their faces. Sango was floating on air, and thought to herself, Nothing can ruin this moment.
That was of course, until she felt the oh-too-familiar hand groping her bum.
"HENTAI!" she screamed and clobbered him with her fist. He stood there with a bruise on his forehead and she turned her back to him.
"You really know how to kill it, don't you Miroku?" she asked angrily.
"It's not grabbing your rear that makes me do it. Its feeling you touch me, even if it's a punch to the face. I will live with that violent contact until I can have something more," he said with a smirk as he caressed his head.
Sango stormed off and marched back to her room in a fit of anger, but no one could mistake the beaming grin on her lips. Well, I'm 100% okay with that, hentai.
Sesshomaru had not slept for long before his body demanded him to get up. He growled low and ran his clawed hand through his hair.
Damn. Traveling with this miko had better be worth it. There is a feeling I can't shake off. Something is going to happen. It better not stall me. I have very limited time for surprises.
He threw his legs over the side of his over sized bed and dressed himself quickly. He was ready within minutes, leaving his bathing for later this evening to save time, and he made his way to Kagome's room. Just as he was about to knock firmly on the door, Kagome opened it and jumped a little when she met his plate armor.
"I was going to go see if you were downstairs," she said with a hand over her heart. Almost having your head split open with a huge spike can make your heart race a little.
"Hn. Meet me by the gates. We leave in ten minutes," was all he said as he turned and walked away.
Kagome looked back at Shippo who was staring up at her from the ground. With her yellow sack in hand, she made her way to Sango's room to say good bye.
She knocked timidly on her door, unsure if she was awake or not. Sango threw the door open and pulled Kagome in a tight hug.
"You be safe okay? You're doing the right thing," she said with a teary voice.
"It's okay, Sango," Kagome answered hugging her back. "I can protect myself."
Sango looked up at her as if to say, That's not what I'm worried about. She stayed quiet though and looked over her shoulder at Miroku.
"I don't have to tell you to watch out for Kikyo. I have a very bad feeling in my gut and something is not right. Sesshomaru is not Inuyasha, I don't know how far he will go to protect you," Miroku warned.
Kagome nodded and hugged him before she grabbed Shippo and traced Sesshomaru's steps. She found him by the gate talking to the guards. The two guards bowed deeply and the doors opened. She still hadn't talked about Shippo going and was curious how he'd react. Sesshomaru did not turn to her when she approached but asked, "We will make it to your well in 6 hours. Are you prepared?"
"Hai," she answered, realizing he wasn't going to say anything about Shippo. Without saying anything else, he formed his cloud and they were off. Shippo was wagging his tail excitedly in her armsand couldn't wait to get there. He was telling her all the things he wanted to draw for his grandma and his uncle and Kagome was smiling ear to ear.
At least not everything about this trip will be bad.
Sesshomaru's gut feeling about something going wrong was growing, and he was beginning to growl out loud. It did not go unnoticed by his two companions, and Kagome suggested they stopped for lunch since her and Shippo skipped breakfast. Sesshomaru glanced at the sun. Four hours had past, and he decided they could spare time to eat. He let them down off his cloud and left them to fend for themselves.
"Jee, Mama, what has him all wound up? He is tighter than usual," Shippo asked looking in the direction he had gone.
"Shh, Shippo. Don't say such things. I don't know what has him upset. It's most likely he doesn't want us to know. Let me make you some ramen."
She took out a styrofoam cup from her bag and set up her kettle. She gathered some twigs to start the fire and looked around for water.
"Shippo, do you smell which direction is the stream?"
He sniffed the air, then pointed south-east of where they were.
"Stay here and yell if danger comes close," she warned him. She put up a barrier around him to be safe and left with a canteen. She found the stream fast enough and kneeled down to fill it up.
Out of no where, she felt a horrible energy envelope her and she suddenly couldn't breath. Dropping the canteen, she brought her hands over her neck and tried to pull at hands that weren't there.
That's when she felt dark miko magic sizzling around her and seep into her lungs. She choked and started to gag, then she began to feel light headed. She threw a barrier around herself then tried to purify the energy inside it. It worked only enough to allowed her to breathe again, but she still felt the dark magic working a spell on her. She fell to her knees nausea claimed her body. She pushed her energy to find the source but her attempts were in vain. Her head went spinning and suddenly there was a pain shooting through her body she couldn't explain. Her scream pierced the quiet woods, and crows flew off the tree tops.
Then, just as quickly as it began, it stopped. She was on the ground panting, as sweat rolled off her forehead. Someone touched her wrist, checking her pulse, and she focused her eyes. Sesshomaru was bent over her, with blood on his claws. She propped herself up and felt dizzy again. There was still dark magic in her and her power wanted it out.
She ran to the river and lurched herself until her stomach was empty. Sesshomaru stood and waited while she rinsed out her mouth. She turned to him, her face regaining color with a fearful, questioning look.
"A dark miko. She had been following us for sometime, she was keeping distance however. I went to search for her but she covered her traces. I did not detect her until she started her spell on you."
"What spell?"
"Do I look like one? You should know. If you can't even recognize hexes, you aren't worthy of being a miko."
"I can't believe you! How can you insult me like that?" she said stand up, fuming.
"Truth is never an insult. You are just too prideful," he bit back.
"You're one to talk about pride!" she challenged.
His claws met her throat and she very much hated her life at this moment. Two jerks in one day trying to choke me. Great start, Higurashi.
"I warned you before to never insult me again!"
" 'Truth is never and insult'," she replied. His eyes bled red at her attempt of catching him with his own words.
"You watch your tongue, you ungrateful human. I save your worthless life and this is your gratitude?" he spat in disgust.
"You keep using 'human' as if it's an insult. Rin is human but you love her nonetheless! So don't act like you don't care!"
He let go of her as if she were poisonous and she thought she had won, when there was a resounding slap heard in the woods.
She held her cheek as she stared at him in disbelief.
"Never, never, use Rin to manipulate me again. Forget your lunch. We leave now," he said with a very calm voice. His eyes were blank and he simply looked at her. She knew what his eyes were saying nonetheless. It was the same look he wore before he killed something.
He turned back to where she left Shippo, leaving her kneeling on the floor still holding her face.
She stood and walked back to her canteen and stared at it. She picked it up and chucked it angrily into the river, watching it sink to the bottom.
How I wished right now I was that canteen.
She walked back to camp and saw Shippo still safe within her barrier. His ears were pressed against his head and his tail was wedged between his legs. He had heard the fight and he wanted nothing more than to kill Sesshomaru for hurting his mother.
She picked him up gently, but remained silent. Sesshomaru formed his cloud again and they were back on track. She kept her back to him the whole way, facing the opposite direction. She did not utter one sound, and the whole feeling was rather awkward and tense.
Good. She is better off silent, anyway.
You hurt her.
She crossed her line.
She was speaking the truth. You are not the only one always right.
If you were a physical being, I'd kill you. Silence.
Apologize to her.
Are you mad? Sesshomaru growled loudly, startling Kagome and Shippo. Shippo knew he was talking to his beast, which alone was strange. But for him to be so agitated by it was not good. The youkai and his youkai beast were supposed to be as one. Shippo's own beast does not awaken until his coming of age, which was still many years ahead of him. But he did know enough that when the beast and the youkai are not in harmony, trouble always followed.
Apologize or I will do it myself.
What in gods name do you mean yourself?
Do you think you are in control of your physical self completely? If you do not make things right, I will.
That bitch crossed her line! She should apologize to me?
Do you love the girl?
Of course I love Rin. I want nothing but the best for her. But the miko has no right-
SILENCE. SHE IS ONLY TRYING TO OPEN YOUR FOOLISH EYES. MAKE THINGS RIGHT AT ONCE!
WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE? HOW DARE YOU TRY TO ORDER ME?
I am you. A part of you that you have still yet to accept. But I will not sit and allow you to harm her.
Sesshomaru was bewildered. His beast was actually fighting with him. This had never happened before. He glanced down at the miko, and wished very seriously that he were any other demon, so that he could sigh very loudly.
He lowered his demon cloud and waited for the miko to step down. She didn't know what he was doing, but she kept quiet and her back turned. Shippo jumped off her arms and stood facing Sesshomaru with a warning look. Shippo was no match for him, but it would be over his dead body if the Daiyoukai hurt his mama again.
Sesshomaru looked at the boy and instantly Shippo knew he wasn't going to harm her.
"Go and find berries, boy. Bring them back for you and the miko to share," he ordered. Shippo cast a weary glance to Kagome before her bounded off. She kept her back to him and kneeled down to unpack her things again. She realized now that she had forgotten her kettle back by the river, and silently cursed herself.
Not wanting to talk to him, she pulled out her science book and sat beside a tree to do her homework. She might as well since there was nothing else to do.
Taking interest in the book in her hand, Sesshomaru studied it from far. He noticed the mathematical figures on it and saw her scribbling on a piece of parchment.
"What is that," he asked breaking the silence.
Kagome paused in her writing and hated him even more for trying to talk to her now. "My science book," was all she said, then returned to her writing.
He walked over to her and looked down. He saw things he didn't understand and his intrigue in her knowledge grew slightly. He liked to know everything, and when he came across someone who knew something he didn't, it was a rare and valuable thing.
"May I?" he asked her gently. She looked up at him with disbelieving eyes. He beats her and now he wants to learn from her? How more arrogant can this jerk get? B
Her thoughts were silence when she saw something in his eyes. A look he didn't have before. I've never seen that in his eyes before. It's like, he's trying to tell me he's sorry. Is he really apologizing to me? Well, I would prefer if he could just out and say it but I guess for him, this is as good as anyone will get.
She smiled at him and scooted over. He almost breathed a sigh of relief, and his beast was giving a very contented growl. He sat beside her with his arm propped against his knee as he read what she was studying.
Everything from the effects the moon had on the tide and gravitational pull on the earth, to the calculations between planets, how to calculate the speed of light. He was shocked that she could answer questions he didn't even know.
Light-years, black holes, names of galaxies. He was absolutely taken aback.
I have underestimated her. She knows things this Sesshomaru does not. Interesting.