Splintered Coral – Part Seven
Important: Long wait... I know. I rewrote
this several times, but I'm done now! XD Enjoy!
Disclaimer: Nothing is mine except for the
story idea itself and the little mini-story at the end... ^_^ Kusho... I want
it all!
---
They approached the village
more speedily than expected, and a certain monk's optimistic grin had gone into
overdrive. He was, no doubt, charging up for one of his girl-scouting trips.
Ansho, however, had other plans, and proved it by rounding on him. Miroku, to
say the least, wasn't expecting the finger suddenly poking into his chest, and
much less the glaring taijiya connected to that finger. However, he made a
speedy, and predictable, recovery from the mild surprise.
"Can I help you, Lady
Ansho?" he asked smoothly, softening his grin to smile beguilingly at the
taijiya as he removed her hand from his chest, enveloping it in his own hands.
Her glower shifted slightly to an expression of annoyance. But, then again, it
was better than that scowl of hers- if looks had the ability to kill, that one
would be the most dangerous of them all.
"Yes, actually, you
could," she said tartly, wrenching her hand away and crossing her arms in
a gesture of defiance. He chuckled.
"And how could I do
that?" A dangerously saccharine smile crossed her face, causing Miroku's
own to falter slightly. Any woman with that look on her face was one to
be wary of...
"It's quite simple
really," she began, that smile still wreathing her features as her arms
loosened from their position on her torso.
"It is?" Miroku
said, backing up slightly. Ansho's eyes glittered as she made up the distance.
"Yes. You see, all
that is required is that you do not go run off the moment we set foot in
that village. Instead, you are to stay with us so that we can all find
someplace to spend the night, all right?"
...Cruel, cruel girl...
Ah, well, he'd just have to make her angry enough to storm off without giving
her an affirmative answer. If he played it right, she'd forget all about this
little conversation until after he was off on his routinely rounds. All would
return to some semblance of normality.
"Intriguing
proposition... But, pray tell, what would my benefit from this arrangement
be?" Miroku inquired, beaming that trademarked confidence of his. However,
it seemed that his light supply for that particular charm was cut off when
Ansho took a step forward, draping her arm over his shoulder, her finger's
dancing against the nape of his neck. His eyes were on the verge of bugging out
of their sockets at this unpredictable turn of events. "Uh... Ansho?"
She spoke her reply softly, her eyes glimmering in her amusement.
"Well, Houshi-sama,
your benefit would be..." Her tone changed sharply, vocalizing a sort of
authority as her drifting fingers latched around the monk's hair, "that
you'll live to see tomorrow!" She gave Miroku's ponytail a quick tug
before she hurriedly detached herself from his personal space. "Now, come
on!" She turned away, heading again towards the now near town.
Miroku was non-responsive
to her final command. He was too busy gaping at the young woman moving away
from him, jaw hanging and shoulders sagging in shock.
"You know, I heard
that that's a good way to catch flies," Sango said hesitantly as she
finally reminded Miroku of her presence. He started slightly, closing his mouth
when he realized what was going on. The monk laughed nervously, rubbing the
back of his neck in an attempt to soothe his now aching scalp.
"Yes, I suppose
so," Miroku said, glancing at Sango, who gave him a weak smile. He peered
at her, noticing the way her features were shifting slightly every few seconds,
as though a series of different emotions were coursing through her. He decided
to ask. "Sango? Is something wrong?" She froze, then shook her head
vigorously.
"No, I'm fine
Houshi-sama! Let's hurry, before we get left behind, all right?" Without
another word, she hurried off, Kirara balancing precariously on her shoulder.
Miroku frowned, studying her retreating back. Finally, he shrugged and
followed.
*
Sango sighed, lowering
herself deeper into the water, eyes trained on the ripples she had caused as
they rolled away from her in ever widening platinum arcs. She was such an idiot!
What was wrong with her? When Ansho had put her arms around him like that, she
had felt, well, jealous...
It was ridiculous!
After all, technically,
they were the same person. So, what would it matter if one of them managed to
some how advance their relationship with Houshi-sama? It'd all end the same...
The 'advancements' would continue when they were back to normal.
Wouldn't they?
What if he liked one of
them better than the other? What if, eventually, he decided he didn't want them
to go back to being the old Sango? If he ended up wanting only one of
them, what would happen to the other half? Hell, what if he didn't want any
part of her (or them)? What if it was some other girl on his mind, and he was
just playing the role of a concerned friend?
And where in the world had
all these questions come from?!
Taking a deep breath,
Sango dunked her head beneath the steaming water in an attempt to clear her
head, reemerging a second later. Leaning back against a particularly smooth
rock, she tried recollect just when she had started thinking this way. After
all, before this entire escapade, even though she knew she did have feelings
for that perverted houshi, she hadn't worried about it as much. She had
occasionally wondered about it during the especially quiet moments the group
sometimes had, but she hadn't worried... Had she? Well, maybe she had,
but never this much.
Sango stood abruptly,
thoroughly irritated with herself. Wringing out her hair as she went, she made
her way to the shore of the spring. She quickly twisted her locks into a
makeshift bun, tying it off with her ribbon before slipping on her white yukata
and deftly securing the belt. Gathering up her normal clothing from where they
had been folded on a rock, she left the walled off onsen, stepping into the
tavern's courtyard.
The cooling air made her
shiver slightly as it hit her, a pleasant change from the humidity she had just
exited. Hugging her small bundle of clothing tightly, she hurried down the
hall, intent on making it to the room. After all, she was hungry, and maybe,
just maybe, if she were around some company, her mind would stop considering the
endless "what if" questions it seemed to own. In fact, she was so
focused on reaching her destination that when someone slid open a shoji door
she had just past, she nearly jumped out of her skin, her head whipping around.
Miroku stared back at her with a countenance of vague surprise. After a moment
of silence, he grinned.
"Hello Sango. Did you
have a nice bath?" he asked, causing her to raise an eyebrow.
"Why do you
ask?" she countered, distrust lining her voice. He pouted.
"Can't I be concerned
for a beautiful lady's welfare?" Her other eyebrow rose in a visage of
skepticism. He exhaled audibly. "Ah, never mind then. I'd better finish
pasting up these ofuda. We wouldn't want the lord of this place to think we're
cheating him out of a proper exorcism, would we?"
"Mmm..." was her
none-too-convinced reply as she turned, continuing onward. After a few steps,
she glanced over her shoulder, watching the monk make his way towards the main
door.
Ofuda indeed. Trust the
houshi to take advantage of whatever daylight was left.
Sango was so busy glaring
at the leaving houshi that she failed to notice the step right in front of her.
Not compensating for the sudden rise in her path, she tripped, falling with a
cry at the sudden pain in her ankle. Hissing in vexation, she struggled to
untangle herself from the heap she had collapsed into. Her efforts ceased when
a warm, calming hand found its way onto her shoulder. Sango blinked up to see
Miroku once again looking back at her.
"Houshi-sama...?"
"Well, Sango. I never
did think that I'd see the day when you became clumsy. But then, there's a
first time for everything, no?" Flushing slightly, Sango frowned at him.
"I thought you were
going to go put up more of your scrolls," she snapped, shrugging off his
hand as she finally managed to sit up properly. He sighed wistfully.
"Well, apparently no
longer."
"And why precisely is
that?" He laughed.
"Well, Lady Sango, I
always help those in need of assistance, and, judging by that gash in your
ankle, you'll be needing some."
So that was why it
had hurt so much. There was a fair sized cut decorating the before said part of
her anatomy, and it was bleeding somewhat profusely.
"Well, then, if
you're going to help me, help me already," Sango murmured as she
averted her gaze, gathering her dropped possessions and hoping the houshi
wouldn't get too many ideas.
Miroku rose from his
kneeling position, offering a hand to the sprawling girl. Reluctantly, Sango
accepted it, allowing him to help her up. He frowned when she winced, having
put some weight on her hurt leg. Hoping she wouldn't take it the wrong way, he
slipped an arm around her waist in order to help support her. Blood rushed into
her cheeks in record time.
"H-Houshi-sama!? What
are you doing?!"
"Helping you,"
he said simply. "Now, let's get you somewhere so we can bind your
injury."
She nodded, words escaping
her for the moment.
*
Ansho couldn't help but
feel aggravated, and furiously so. What unadulterated nerve, draping
herself all over him like that! Had she no tact!? And letting him tend her
wound like that... She was just begging for a grope! She'd deserve it
too. With a huff, Ansho exchanged the piece of armor she'd been tending for
another.
Her discontent did not go
unnoticed. Miroku shot a look at her as he finished binding Sango's ankle.
Moving so he was leaning against the wall across from her, he broke the
silence.
"You know, I've been
wondering... Why the name Ansho?"
"What do you
mean?" she replied in a snippety manner.
"Why did you choose
that name, of all names? There must have been a reason."
"It just came to
mind," she said, not glancing up from her work.
"It's what haha-ue
would have named Kohaku if he had been a girl," Sango said softly, causing
both Ansho and Miroku to look at her, taken aback. She hesitated, then continued,
egged on by their curious gazes. "I don't know why I remember, I just do.
She told me... us-" she gestured at Ansho- "the day before she went
into labor. She died shortly after Kohaku was born." She took a long,
shuddering breath. "It's odd... I could hardly recall what she looked like
before this happened, but now I can almost hear her voice again, telling me
stories."
"What sort of
stories?" Miroku asked quietly, recognizing that Sango was in an
especially talkative mood, which was rare for her. He couldn't help but be
curious... After all, she usually locked herself up, preferring to turn away
rather than open up.
...Wasn't that the way
with everyone?
But, honestly, if any
spell had its ups and downs, this one did.
"Oh... All sorts...
Some were the common sorts you hear everywhere. Some were ones she made up...
Like my favorite...." She smiled, eyes growing distant, as though she had
forgotten that anyone else was there. "I forget exactly how it went, but
it was just perfect.
"You see, haha-ue was
a helpless romantic, she always said so herself. She believed that there were
two kinds of first kisses. The first kind is the normal kind... The second is
the first kiss you share with the person you love most in the world. Only a
lucky few get both at the same time..." She shrugged, looking up to see
Miroku staring at her intently. She flushed. "What?"
"...Nothing..."
he said, looking away. Well, if this wasn't a new side to Sango, he wouldn't
know what was. Obviously, her mother wasn't the only hopeless romantic,
whether she knew it or not. Sango huffed.
"Well, excuse me! I
know it sounds silly, but I-" She was cut off by Ansho suddenly clearing
her throat. She looked over, eyebrows raised. "Yes?"
"I'd like to talk
with you privately, if you don't mind," said the taijiya, her lips pursed
as she rose. Sango frowned, but nodded, following Ansho out of the room.
Miroku blinked.
Women... He'd never
understand them.
---
Aamalie: Loooooooong chapter... At least
for me... And it took forever... Blah... Updates after this may take a while...
I KNOW I'm gonna be grounded soon... Evil grades...
And before anyone asks, onsen
is another word for hot springs... I've been reading a lot of stuff on Japan
lately, and it sorta stuck itself into my vocab... ^^;
---
Zero27: ^_^;;; Thank you... I'm glad my
filler was appreciated... But I still think football is overrated!
LadyJynjyr: Don't worry! He doesn't... He's
actually one of the best in the class... ^_^ But the dancing unit is over...
*sigh* And I chose Ansho 'cause it means Reef...
Wakadori Ramen: Are you implying that you would
flirt with MY Miroku?!?!? HMMMM?!?!?! *glares*
Lily Thorne: Hee... The tally was explained at
the first chapter... And my favorite is a toss between "Taking Over
Me" and "Everybody's Fool".
Vampire-Elf: Gomen I didn't send this one to
you... You weren't on, and I REALLY needed to get this up today. ^^;;;
Inu-shounen: Longer than usual and some mild
fluff... Happy? Don’t answer that... ^^;
Seproth: ...I honestly don't get you...
Ghoul King: *sighs and starts mopping up the
drool* Messy people... *twitch* Must not give into temptation... o.O;;;
dEeYaN: You probably will... This fic is
gonna take a LONG time to write, considering that I'm the author. ^^;
Corisu Li: *grins* Ah... But she DID finish
the chapter! I'll peg her another day... At the moment, you need to get to work
on YOUR next chapter!!!
Queenizzay: ^_^ Cookies are good! =P But
yes... Venn is verrrrrrrrrry "Sexah", as you put it! ^_^ But Sesshy
and Miroku are better! *huggles all three*
Raven Demon: Eh... Depends on how sadistic I'm
feeling. ^.^ (Translation: Torture is likely).
Amber Eyez: *glares* It's one of a kind... As
are all of my weapons... But, you COULD always make up your own!
Hayzi: oO;;; *hides*
S@n-Ch@n: I didn't get a review from you!
SHAME! I kept waiting, and waiting, and before I knew it, it had been two
weeks! *pokes you* Your reviews make me laugh, and therefore inspire me!
Therefore, you must review this chapter! Or ELSE!!! ^_^;
---
Aamalie: Sorry to those I missed... I'm
lazy. I've been writing all day. ^^; Ah, oh well... What are you waiting for? REVIEW!