A/N: Yay, a new story for this fandom (one of the first animes I've ever watched, actually). As the pairing tag may have informed you already this is a Sango x Inuyasha story.
Some may think that I don't like Kagome with how I portray her in this but rest assured I like her very much, but I think she possesses some character traits that aren't always pleasant (especially considering the time of the Sengoku Jidai).
Anyway, some characters may be OOC (out of character), so you have been warned.
Hugs are Special
"Sit, Inuyasha!"
The well-known command disturbed the calm evening atmosphere. The group around Inuyasha had settled down for the night, but the hanyou had somehow upset Kagome again.
Sango, who'd just returned from gathering firewood, glanced from the angry young woman to the hanyou lying on the ground.
"What happened?"
"Kagome tried to hug him, and he pushed her away."
"And that's why she's angry?"
Shippo nodded before jumping onto Sango's shoulder.
The Slayer frowned.
Was that really a reason? Especially to sit the hanyou? If he didn't want to be touched, Kagome shouldn't touch him. Besides, she could have asked before going to hug him, right?
But that wasn't like Kagome, Sango sighed in her mind.
Setting down the firewood, she told Shippo to play with Kirara while she defused the situation.
Miroku, who had also just then reappeared from where he'd probably snuck back into the village a few minutes from their camping spot, intercepted her.
Really, the lecherous monk couldn't even keep it in his pants for a few days...
"Sango!"
"Not now Miroku."
"But you wouldn't want to get in between their little lover's quarrel now, would you?"
"That's not a lover's quarrel."
With that, she pushed him out of her path and walked over to Kagome.
The young woman was still screeching at the top of her lungs while the hanyou had slowly sat up but stayed unusually quiet, with his head downcast.
"Kagome. That's enough."
"What?!"
"That's enough. You sat him already."
"But he can't just-"
"If you can't ask before invading his personal space, you're setting yourself up for something like this. In your time, things may work differently but this isn't your time. Besides, you seem to forget that he's a hanyou and not a human."
The younger woman looked at Sango with wide eyes before she started glaring.
"He's never had a problem with my hugs before!"
"Maybe but everyone has days when normal just doesn't work. Now, how about you go to the bathhouse in the village to calm down? Shippo would probably love to go swimming, right?"
She turned to the small Kitsune who nodded excitedly.
Almost immediately Kagome's eyes softened.
"Fine. Let's go Shippo. We'll be back soon."
"Take your time. It won't grow dark for some more hours."
The black-haired woman walked over to her trademark yellow backpack and pulled out an inconspicuous bag with her shampoos - or whatever she called it.
Then she turned back to Sango.
"We're off."
Sango nodded and watched her and Shippo leave. After a short glance at Kirara, the demon cat followed them.
"Well... I'll also excuse myself."
"Oh, really? Not finished with exorcising all the demons yet?"
The monk smiled innocently as he walked up to her with his arms wide.
"My dear Sango, why would you say it in such a tone?"
She closed her eyes in annoyance. Kami, why did she have to deal with this?
She only realised that closing her eyes had been a stupid idea when she felt the monk's hand on her butt for the umpteenth time.
Growling lowly in her throat, she opened her eyes again to glare at the lecherous man. But just as she focused her gaze on the dark-haired male, the monk was pushed away from her.
He landed on his ass with a thud and stared up at Inuyasha with surprised eyes.
The hanyou was also growling, and his eyes had a red tinge to them that spoke of just how pissed he was.
"Apologise."
"Wha- Oh, yes, yes, of course! I must apologise for my behaviour! I'll, um, I'll leave!"
He quickly scrambled to his feet before practically fleeing from the clearing. Sango looked after him for a few moments before turning to face Inuyasha.
"Will you be okay?"
"Mhm."
"Should I leave you alone?"
"No."
Sango nodded slowly.
"Is there something I can do to help you?"
The hanyou stayed quiet for a few moments and Sango wondered if he'd say anything at all.
Then he looked at her from underneath his lashes.
"Hug me?"
"But I thought-"
"Please."
How could she deny him when he asked like that?
Slowly, she wrapped her arms around the hanyou's middle and laid her head against his chest, since he was a bit too tall for her to hook her chin over his shoulder. His arms also came up around her middle as he buried his face in her hair.
They stayed silent for a few moments, only the wind whispered in the tree leaves.
"Inuyasha?"
"Mhm?"
"Is something going on that we don't know about? You're not usually like this."
"I'm not sure."
"I'm here to help, Inuyasha. Or just to listen to the many thoughts I know are running through your head."
She felt him chuckle.
"I remembered something."
"Okay."
"Something my mother said to me. I was maybe five years old, and we were in a field of flowers. She was making a flower crown for me, and I asked about my father. Why she loved him."
Sango's hands slowly moved over his back in soothing circles. She knew how hard it was for him to talk about his mother.
"She looked at me and explained that she'd felt understood by him. How he'd made her feel seen and heard. As a kid, I didn't understand how you couldn't feel seen - I told her that was a stupid reason to love someone. She smiled at me and said that I'd understand one day - when I met that person. And she told me to keep that person close, to never let them go if they returned my feelings."
"And? Have you found that person?"
"I- I think so."
"That's good then, hm?"
She pulled away slightly to look up at him. Inuyasha didn't look at her though, his cheeks slightly flushed.
"Maybe... I didn't tell her yet."
"You should tell her then, I guess. Otherwise, you won't know."
"So, I should just tell her Hey, I like you?"
Sango chuckled.
"Well, maybe not like that. Give it a bit more enthusiasm, hm? I mean, you love her, right?"
"I think so."
"Okay, then keep the I like you part. Just a bit more feeling."
"I like you a lot."
"Yeah, like that.", she smiled up at him.
Inuyasha nodded slowly, golden eyes roaming over her face. Then he carefully released her middle and instead grabbed her hands in his own.
"I like you a lot, Sango."
"Huh?"
"I really like you a lot."
Still wide-eyed, the Demon Slayer looked at the hanyou in confusion.
Inuyasha smiled softly.
"You thought I meant someone else, right?"
"Well, yes! I mean-"
"Sango... Who did I tell about my mother?"
"All of us."
"Who did I tell about my own feelings regarding my mother and her death?"
"Me..."
"Who helps me work through my feelings and thoughts whenever I become overwhelmed?"
"Me..."
"Who do I go to when I need advice or just someone to hold me?"
"Me..."
Inuyasha carefully lifted one of her hands to his mouth and pressed a short kiss to her knuckles.
"Who makes me feel seen, heard and understood all at the same time, Sango?"
"Me?"
"Yes, you. It's been you for a long time. I know you all think Kagome and I are in love with each other, but she has a boy back in her time and she's more like a sister to me anyway."
"R-Really?"
"Yeah. So? Do I get an answer?"
"Did you ask a question?", she smiled up at him.
Inuyasha's eyes seemed to glow in the setting sun as he pulled her closer again, so their chests were pressed together, lips almost touching.
"Do you feel the same? Do you like me too?"
"Those are two questions.", she whispered, eyes flitting between his eyes and lips.
He grinned, fangs showing. Her cheeks reddened.
"Answer both?"
"Yes and yes... I've liked you for some time now."
"And you didn't tell me because?"
"You said why."
"Mhm, fine. You're excused then. Sango?"
"Yes?"
"Can I kiss you?"
"Please."
He grinned again before slowly leaning in, lips sealing hers. Sango's eyes slipped shut as she enjoyed the texture of his lips.
The slow pace was just how they had both wanted it - secretly imagined it.
Gradually, they separated again but Inuyasha kept her close and pulled her knuckles to his lips again.
"I'm really happy right now."
"Me too... Do- Do you- Um..."
She fell silent again and looked down, but Inuyasha pulled her face back up with both hands.
"Sango?"
"Do I have to hide it again with the others? That I like you?"
"No, why?"
"Because you want your emotions to be yours alone... You don't like it when others know your real feelings that's why you hide them behind all that snark."
"Mhm, do I really do that?", he mumbled, mostly to himself.
Sango shrugged, fingers playing with the bottom seam of Inuyasha's fire-rat haori. The hanyou watched her for a few moments before sighing. Gently, he traced her cheekbones with his thumbs, causing her to look back up again.
"I'll admit that I'm not sure what I want the others to know and what not... But I'm not going to hide it. Especially if Miroku can't keep his hands to himself!"
"You know he won't."
"He'll have to learn if he wants to keep all his limbs intact.", the hanyou pouted and buried his nose in Sango's hair again.
The Slayer chuckled softly and leaned against Inuyasha, relaxing as she breathed in his familiar scent.
"We'll figure it out, I'm sure."
"Yeah?"
"Mhm, as long as you talk to me about how you feel."
"You too. I know you hide your emotions as well."
"I guess I do. There is something to be said about upbringing and all that, hm?"
"Probably.", he muttered and slowly moved a bit away.
Sango frowned at him until he bowed down to kiss her again, just as softly as before.