Chapter Text
The night was cool, but not cold. The breezes stirred the leaves on the trees and the sound whispered through Sango’s mind. She stirred as Kirara snuggled up next to her head, her twin tails tickling Sango. A brief thought ran through her mind: where were Kagome and Inu Yasha?
Her breath slipped between her lips with a gentle woosh and she stared at the ceiling in concern. What would happen now? Would Houshi-sama get into trouble? Was Inu Yasha even upset about this? What had chased him? Or was it chasing Kagome-chan?
She turned on her side, the ends of her dark hair falling softly over her shoulder. Her thoughts were so unsettled and her heart, well, she couldn’t decide how she felt let alone what she felt. Miroku was handsome but his violet eyes often seemed to stray from her to another woman. It made more sense for her to continue her relationship with Inu Yasha because they were both matched as warriors. It connected them.
Kagome and Miroku made sense together as well. Two spiritualists would likely have children with even stronger gifts. Somehow, too, Kagome managed to put Miroku into his place. Even though his eyes strayed, he was much more attentive to Kagome in the past 6 months than he had been to her, his supposed love interest, in the previous 2 or 3 years. Kagome had a positive influence on him and it showed in nearly every way.
She rolled over again, her dark ponytail following her and thumping lightly on the floor. Kirara trilled softly but her annoyance still carried underneath her comforting tone. Miroku was good with Kirara, too, treating her like an intelligent being and not simply an animal. That one time, when Ken had acted as if Kirara couldn’t understand him, Sango had barely restrained herself. Miroku had been the one to bop him on the head with his shakujo.
Sango smothered a giggle. Ken had not been happy and then Kagome had reinforced Miroku's point with her own sassy response. “Kirara is probably 10 times smarter than you!” Kirara moved closer to Sango’s head. She settled down and purred, her thrumming giving Sango a peaceful repose. In only moments, Sango sighed and was asleep.
Sango woke to a soft snoring sound. She chuckled a bit, then stiffened. The snoring sound surrounded her and she wasn’t sure what was happening. Between one breath and the next, she understood her situation. Some male had her head in his lap! He seemed to be sitting up and resting, which confused her. She wasn’t injured so why…OOOO! That man!
Leaping to her feet, she uttered “Miroku!” with just enough force to wake her newly minted intended.
“Ah! Lady Sango. How lovely you look in the morning light.” At Sango’s annoyed face, he took her hand and leaned forward, ignoring the fact that she was standing while he was still seated, and said, “I hope today is the first of many where I see your face first thing in the morning.”
Sango blushed, completely overwhelmed! How could some monk make her feel this way? Like, like some awkward child learning how to wield a weapon, desperate to prove herself and focused on this man! Was this due to the string? Did this new connection make her vulnerable to him?
She could even see their string! Why was it so short? The string between herself and Inu Yasha had been much longer. At least she thought it had been. She’d only seen it once faintly when it was first announced. If she could see the red string of fate between herself and Miroku, was that affecting how she felt about him? Did seeing the string mean that their connection was stronger?
If that was true, then what about Kagome and Inu Yasha? Would he reciprocate her feelings, the ones that Miroku insisted Kagome had? Staring into Miroku’s eyes wasn’t helping either. His expression held answers, but not the ones she wanted.
“First thing we should do is have breakfast,” Miroku announced as he rose. “Then we should definitely begin looking for Inu Yasha and Kagome-chan. I am wondering what was chasing them. Whatever it was avoided my ofuda yet I’m sure that Inu Yasha and Kagome-chan can handle it.” He nodded once and Sango was unsure if he was trying to reassure her or himself.
There was nothing to be done, however, so Sango nodded back and picked up a grumpy Kirara. Surely her father would have more to say. After he gave Miroku a serious workout.
Kagome ached. She blinked her eyes opened carefully and tried to carefully stretch out. She nearly fell! Where was she? Looking down, she saw the ground far below. Very far below!
“In in in a tree!” she whispered to herself.
“A course you are,” a deep voice answered. Under normal circumstances, well, this was a dream come true! Waking up to Inu Yasha! Yes!! But reality was very different. Her head felt funny and she still felt tired.
“C’mon,” her new intended said. “Let’s get going. We gotta get back. My dad is gonna be upset. Your mom, too,” he added and shuddered. He turned to look at Kagome, his golden eyes unreadable. Kagome was putting her hair into some semblance of order. Unlike other mikos, her hair wasn’t smooth like a silken curtain. Was that another reason that Inu Yasha and Miroku weren’t attracted to her? It was a little sad that her first soulmate swapped her out for someone else.
Once again, Inu Yasha leapt down to the ground, practically pulling Kagome down with him. This time, however, she managed to land mostly on him, forcing the hanyou to grab her before she hit the ground. He placed her on her own feet rather quickly and Kagome quickly centered herself to search for any errant youki or reiki.
A faint pulse disturbed her concentration, yet it was centered around her finger. The thread. She had hoped that somehow, she and Inu Yasha could become closer but this was not at all what she had wished for. She’d known that he and Sango had been planning on the binding, even though neither seemed in love, which was very odd. Soulmates, as a rule, fell in love almost immediately even if they weren’t sure what the feeling meant.
Aiken and Junji. Orihime and Ichigo. Muso and Miki. The stories were so famous that nearly every child knew them: The fated meeting as children that convinced Aiken to search for Junji and accept no other. Orihime waiting every year for her Ichigo until he finished his service in the heavenly guard. Muso and Miki meeting on the day of her marriage to another. Each story had its own charm.
And now, perhaps, her own would join them.
They might have to smooth out the details, however. She stood up and began walking after Inu Yasha, who turned to glance over his shoulder at his new mate. “Uh, so, your mom.” His voice betrayed his anxiety, but Kagome couldn’t figure out why. Her mother would be overjoyed with this if it meant that she could pet his ears. They really were adorable!
“Is your mom as powerful as you?” Inu Yasha asked. Even though it wasn’t his fault, he had a sinking feeling that the mother of a miko, a long line of spiritualists in fact, might not be happy that her daughter was suddenly attached to a hanyou. His father might be more understanding, although Miroku might need the help of all the kami, but the Higurashi matriarch could be scary.
Especially if you tried to steal some mochi that she had just finished making.
His hand kept drifting towards his miko. It was annoying. Not as annoying as how good she smelled. Or how nice her smile is. And she needed his protection. He’d thought it over last night while he’d guarded her. Something really had been after them and even though he hadn’t told her yet, he had managed to separate himself from her briefly, trying to lure whatever it was away, but it had followed the miko instead.
He looked at his thread and a quick smile flitted across his face. His father might not be happy but his mother would be happy. Maybe she could convince Kagome’s mother not to hurt him?
“Let’s go,” he said gruffly. “Everyone is looking for us already."
Her stomach rumbled and his miko had the grace to look a bit embarrassed.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t have anything last night because Miroku performed the ceremony before I had a chance to eat. Could we please have breakfast?”
Inu Yasha grunted, but he was already sniffing the forest for anything that might go with fish.
“C’mon, weak human. Let’s get you some breakfast before you pass out.” Feeding her sounded like a good idea. That bouzo probably never caught her breakfast.