In the Dark…

Even the moon sheds some light

Interlude

Kagome rubbed her eyes tiredly as she dug at what was once the well. She had to get this cleared out… she wouldn’t be able to go home. Some part of her mind reminded her that eventually the well would be cleared—how else would she have gotten through it in the first place? That renewed her efforts. She wasn’t going to not-come-here on top of everything else.

Inuyasha was nearby, watching her silently. She had called him out here—she told him that she wanted to talk to him, but instead was ignoring him as she dug away with one of her ‘shovels.’ She was oblivious to everything around her except the dirt pile—which wasn’t looking very demolished. She hasn’t moved hardly any of it. He finally grew tired of her efforts and jumped down from his branch, startling her. “Oi… you said that you wanted to talk.”

Nodding slowly, she let the shovel rest on the mound of dirt. “Yes….” She murmured, voice quiet, eyes downcast. “I… I wanted … needed to talk to you about Kikyou.” The words tumbled out of her mouth, the silence growing around the both of them after she blurted out her statement. She began to fidget, shifting from one foot to the other when he didn’t say anything to her, just stared at her with a measuring look. Kagome rarely spoke of the miko—and now she was being more blunt than she had ever been.

“What about Kikyou?” He leaned against the tree, eyes half shut as he observed her, finally speaking, watching her fidget more. “She’s free now, no longer filled with hatred, no longer a servant of Naraku.” His voice was a little clipped at that, not being able to keep the hatred out of his voice at even the mention of the youkai’s name.

“But I was the one that killed her!” She protested. “Not… directly.. but she came after me.” Her voice was pained. “You saved me and not her… you …” She was going to say more, but Inuyasha cut her off with an angry shake of his head.

“I saved you because I wanted to save you, Kagome.” His voice was quiet, barely controlled anger creeping into the tone. “Kikyou … all I wanted to do for Kikyou was set her free. She …” He swallowed and looked away. “Damn it, Kagome! I knew Kikyou was dead. That Naraku was the only reason why she was alive—and I set that hatred free. She never wanted to be alive again, you know that!”

Kagome nodded slowly in response to that. She knew, better than anyone, that Kikyou didn’t want to live again. She heard her voice in her mind—pleading not to live again. It didn’t make it any easier, though. To know that she had survived when Kikyou did not—that she was the one that ended Kohaku’s life. But…

“Kikyou and Kohaku were no longer living, Kagome. Both of them were being controlled—both of their souls were trapped.” Inuyasha’s gaze was penetrating. When did he get so close? “You set them free—you alone were able to do what they wanted for so long. All because of you.” He bit his lip and his ears flattened slightly. “I’m glad that you survived, Kagome.” His cupped her face in his hands, ignoring her shocked looks and his red cheeks. “I… couldn’t … I didn’t want… “ He swore quite loudly at his inability to convey his thoughts. “Damn it, girl! I wanted you to live, I want you with me!”

She continued to stare at him, oblivious to his uncomfortable state. He was clearly waiting for some type of answer from her—she forced her dazed mind to clear and respond. “Inuyasha?” Baka! He tells you more than he ever had before… and all you can say is his name? She gave him a weak smile. “You… really want me to stay with you?” She gestured at the dirt pile with a grin. “I certainly won’t be going anywhere soon.”

His eyes widened and then he relaxed slightly as well. “I do want you to stay, Kagome.” He nodded quickly. Inuyasha’s cheeks still held a hint of redness. “Don’t leave me now.” He pleaded. “I..I care for you too much.”

He’s telling the truth… Inuyasha… that’s the closest you’ve ever come to telling me … that is the most that you’ve ever said to me. She hugged him tightly, enjoying the brief moment of peace that they were offered—something to hold on to and cherish when the shadows would closer around them. Nearby, another couple was having their own moments of confession…

**

Miroku was comforting Sango much in the same way that Inuyasha was Kagome. Both were strong on their own, but friends, family—they were both so precious to them. He let Sango sob against his shoulder, stroking her hair carefully this time, not showing any sign of his usual lechery. He did know how to be caring—she had seen it so many times, and he was treating her with that same type of care—showing her the person that he rarely showed anyone. The deeply serious side of him that was hidden under his flamboyant, playboy attitude.

And it helped—to know that he could cast off his masks to be with her—to comfort her, and that she could trust him to reveal her pain to anyone else. She had lost so much, suffered so much at the hands of Naraku. Played with and manipulated by her own blood—and she finally ended that last chance of manipulation.

But … gods, to know that there was nothing left of her family but memories and graves—She closed her eyes more tightly and continued to let the sobs shake her body, tears falling down her face. She had to be strong—she was the one that killed Kohaku in the end, she was the one that finally severed her final connection to Naraku, but there were still others that were not free from his manipulations, his games.

The very weapon that Miroku wielded, his Kazanna, was given to him by Naraku, a connection between the youkai and his family line. If Naraku was killed now—then that connection would be severed, and there would no longer be the taint of the evil on him, on his descendents. And he was strong, even knowing what Naraku’s ‘gift’ would do to him. He is the one being strong for me, holding his own hurts inside….

She had talked to him about that once—so long ago. When he was in one of his rare moods of seriousness. Like now. They had talked for a short while before she questioned his lack of ‘normal’ behavior. She didn’t know how rare it was for him to do that—but now—she didn’t question it, just accepted the strong shoulder of the man that she cared for, that she saw so much in—the one that she wouldn’t mind staying with.

The one that she loved. There, I admitted it. I love Miroku—I get jealous when he is around other girls, when he pays them more attention than he does me. But… gods, he is such a playboy at heart, loving women and the chase—being with them and being alive. Can I make him feel alive like that?

“Miroku?” She finally lifted her head from his shoulder, hands wiping at her face, trying to erase the tracks her tears made. “Thank you.” It was hardly adequate, but Miroku nodded, leaning back. It was as if he understand what she couldn’t voice—the thank you was for so much more. He watched her carefully for a few moments before deciding to speak, his eyes carefully guarded.

“Sango… what are you going to do when this is all over?” He looked down at the hard, dirt ground, not meeting her eyes. “After Naraku is defeated—“ There was no doubt that he would be—“Are you going to stay in Kaede’s village or will you be moving somewhere else?” He waited patiently for her answer.

Sango was completely taken back by the question. Moving on? Where would I move on to? She was tired of traveling—so weary of not staying in one place for more than a few days at the most, always searching—relentlessly driving themselves towards what almost seemed an impossible goal. “I want to stay somewhere.” She whispered. With you would be nice. “I’m tired of moving, Miroku. I know that you… as a houshi—you do that—but…” Her voice broke a little and she shook her head. “I just want to sit still and relax.”

Miroku patted her hand gently. “I too, Sango want to rest and relax. I have been fighting and traveling for far too long. I wish… that I could find a young lady and one that would understand me. Know me and how I can really be…” He kept on giving her careful looks, praying that she would pick up the hints, that she would notice that he was talking about her.

Sango blinked in surprise, staring at the houshi. She knew his serious sides, but that he really wanted to settle down? Her heart leaped a little—what she wanted? Was he saying…? Lifting tear filled eyes up to him, she gave him a tight hug, a small, watery smile gracing her face. “That sounds like a wonderful idea.” She murmured.