Noble House

Wow! 27 reviews and almost a 1000 hits!! I’m really happy! So many people reading and liking this product of my fucked up little mind! *cackles maniacally* Faychan, as always thank you for your support. hehe, I didn’t tell you too much though, just some little snippets. there will be lots of surprises yet, especially since I’m still not sure of everything that will happen... my outline for the fic only goes up to this chapter... *eh hehe... don’t worry.. there will be much much more of the story, but updates may come every other day instead of every day.* Tom, you are right, she does deserve freedom. ^_^


Inu Yasha froze on the spot. He glanced over at the elder miko, thanking the gods his wife was currently asleep. Kagome didn't need to deal with this just yet; she was still too emotionally drained to cope with this latest development. He debated for a moment talking to Kaede now, but decided against it. Inu Yasha moved down the hallway that led to their room, pausing for a moment to shift Kagome's weight in his arms so he could open the shoji. He carried her inside, sliding the screen shut behind him with a bare foot. Inu Yasha carefully undressed his wife, maneuvering and lifting her body so gently that she did not awaken during the process. Once she was tucked snugly into their blankets, Inu Yasha returned to the main room to speak with Kaede.

When he re-entered the room, Kaede turned towards him, and motioned for him to sit beside her. He plopped down on the floor beside her, starting expectantly at her for a few moments as she sipped her beverage. Patience, however, never was a virtue the hanyou possessed in abundance.

"Well, Baba, how does she know?" he asked, his voice weary and tinged with annoyance.

"She overheard part of a conversation Myoga and I shared. I suspected she was there, but was not certain until I heard her door slide shut." Kaede replied as she finished off the last of her drink. She stood slowly, her left hand supporting her lower back. Inu Yasha quickly took her right, and assisted her. Kaede's physical condition had declined severely in the last year, and while she was still in relatively good health, she had trouble standing and walking as of late. The elderly miko collected her things, preparing to leave.

"Why don't you stay the night, Baba. It's late, and we have plenty of room." he offered. Not that he would admit it to anyone, but Inu Yasha had been worried for her health as of late. There were so few people who genuinely liked or tolerated him, and the obnoxious old woman had been like a grandmother to him the past couple of years. She chuckled and shook her head and continued her way out the door. Inu Yasha took a couple of quick, long strides so that he could catch up with her. "Feh! At least let me give you a ride on my back. You're so blind and old, you'll probably fall and hurt yourself."

Kaede chuckled at his feeble attempt to cover up his concern. "I will be fine, Inu Yasha. It is only a short walk, and you have more... pressing matters to attend to." He stood in the doorway and watched her leave, scenting the night air to make certain there were no threats to the miko in the area. When he was satisfied that she would be relatively safe, he returned to the common room, closing the door behind him. 'She's right' he thought, 'I have other things to worry about, don't I?' Inu Yasha summoned his courage, and strode down the hallway leading to Sango's room.
**********************************************************************

Sango had heard the brief conversation between Kaede and the hanyou, and now stiffened with fear as she heard his quiet footfalls heading towards her room. He paused outside her door, and Sango felt her heart hammer in her chest. She was not ready to face him, not so soon after learning that they might have to marry for her protection. Sango attempted to feign sleep as she had earlier, knowing that he would noy any and wake her to discuss the situation.
She did not want to have to marry anyone right now, let alone a good friend who was already happily married. Besides, Kagome deserved to have him to herself... she had suffered so much when his attentions were divided because of Kikyo. It would be like betraying their friendship to take the safe way out and marry the hanyou.

She heard the screen slide open, and then shut again a minute later. When she didn't hear him in the room, Sango was confident that he had left. "You can't fool me, Sango. I know you're awake." he stated. Startled, the young woman turned to look in the direction of his voice. A brief burst of light filled her vision, and when her eyes adjusted she could see he had lit a small lantern with one of "matches" from Kagome's time. He sat in a corner, his back leaned up against the wall. His hair and eyes faintly reflected the dim light, giving him an almost ethereal quality.
His weary face reminded her of days past when the threat of Naraku still hung over their heads. She knew that he had lit the candle for her benefit, as talking to a disembodied voice would do nothing to calm her already ragged nerves.

His golden eyes seemed to radiate sadness, and were locked squarely on her own. He was silent for several minutes, and Sango began to feel nervous under his gaze. She sat and turned so she faced away from him, hoping that it would be easier to have this discussion if she didn’t have to look at him. She did not hear him move from his position, but that proved to mean very little. After all, she had not heard him enter.

“Sango, what Myoga was talking about.... it was just one option. One of many. You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to. That includes getting married. Just know this.... whatever you decide, I’ll stand by you.” The taijia was surprised by how very tired he sounded. He fell silent again, waiting to see what her response would be.

“Why, Inu Yasha... Will you support me because you have to? Is it only out of obligation, because your bastard of a brother that did this to me?” she spat. She was incensed at the thought of him only helping her because he had to. She was even angrier that someone would marry her our of a sense of duty, and not out of love.

She heard him stand and stomp over to her bedside, and watched as he sat down in front of her. “You are not a stupid woman Sango, so stop acting like one!” he snapped. He sounded positively incensed, and she knew she had pushed her luck too far with that last statement. “You know damn well that I’m helping you because we are friends. You can be as angry as you want about everything that’s happened, but don’t fucking take it out on me! I’m the one trying to help you, remember?”

Enraged at his harsh words, she drew her hand back and slapped him across the face. She put enough force into the blow that his head rocked to the side. He stayed that way for a few seconds, his eyes wide with surprise and his jaw slack. Sango regretted her actions as soon as her palm connected with his cheek. She was worried he would retaliate, but was made even more afraid when his eyes met hers. They became cold and distant, something she had not seen since she had first met him and tried to kill him. When he stood and turned to leave, she knew she had gone too far and hurt him deeply. She had done nothing but push him away since he had found her at the spring. Before he could get too far, she snaked an arm out and grabbed the fabric of his hakama beneath his knee.

“Matte.....” she whispered. He stopped his retreat from the room, but did not turn to face her. “Inu Yasha... gomen nasai... I... I didn’t mean...” came her apology. He could smell the salt of her tears, and felt her hand trembling as it clung to his clothing. He sighed and shook his head, returning to a seated position in front of her. He was downright shocked when she launched herself at him, wrapping her arms tightly around his shoulders and burying her face against his neck. He hesitantly returned the embrace, worried what her next mood swing might be. He felt her hot tears drip onto the skin of his neck as she cried, and pulled her closer. She continued to weep while she apologized over and over again, clinging to him like a lifeline.

“Just.. don’t do it again Sango.” She nodded her head in agreement with his request, and she was rewarded by being pulled even deeper into his warm embrace. She felt him rest his chin on the top on her head while one of his hands rubbed lazy circles on her back. “Go to sleep. We can talk more after we’ve both had some rest.” When she nodded in agreement again, he released his hold on her. She lay back onto her futon, and blushed when he pulled the blankets up around her body. Her blush deepened when he smiled down at her and gave her hand a gentle squeeze with one of his own. He rose and crossed the room, snuffing the light. Sango heard the shoji slide open and closed, and heard his footsteps echo down the hall towards his room.

Sango was again left alone to stare out into the dark of her room and ponder her fate. She knew her options were more limited than Inu Yasha had seemed to imply. She did not purposely abort the child, as she would be taking an innocent life. She would not want to raise a child on her own in any situation, let alone a child of mixed heritage. ‘Marry him?’ she asked herself again. Her mind conjured the image of her friend, slightly leaned over her ae lae lay on the futon while he squeezed her hand. His smile had been tender, and his eyes and hair had shone in the dim light. She had known in that instant, that if she chose to spend her future with him, her married life would be anything but unpleasant.


tbc....