Arise, fair Sun to meet the Moon

“Did it have to be an abandoned shrine?”
“Did you see any other hideaways on our way here?” Sango was getting annoyed. The Hanyou hadn’t stopped complaining since they had decided to find a safer camp. The only place the trio could see for at least a few miles was an old abandoned shrine; built to ward off the evil spirits in the nearby forest. Only long ago, that forest had been logged by the current Samurai Lord of this particular region, and the shrine had fallen into disuse.
“Well, no. But-
“Either the shrine, or we can go ask Naraku for tea.” Despite its obvious need for repair, it was still stable, and quite resistant to the ages. Whoever had built it had been of a mind with lasting impression. It was a single level structure, much like Kaede’s hut, but much larger. There was even a courtyard with a fair garden, which surprisingly fared quite well.
“Point taken. Now what the hell were you doing trying to kill me?”

“You already know the answer.” She suppressed the urge to shout, carefully breathing and unclenching her hands. “Besides, forget my reasons, what happened to you?”
Inuyasha sighed deeply, running a hand in her hair, still hiding under that red hood. Sango hadn’t truly seen her features, only a brief and blurry glimpse. But it was undeniable, Inuyasha’s body had changed. The Hanyou slowly exhaled, pulling her sheathed sword close. “None of your damn business.”
The tone was so cold, so deadpan, it sent a shiver down Sango’s spine. She decided not to press the issue and let silence cast its pall over them for a time, thinking deeply on what had befallen them.
“We should go back to the others.” She said.

“Out of the question.” Inuyasha, who had been counting the dust on the floor, looked up. “The pass was blocked by the landslide. Naraku and I aren’t known for hitting lightly.” She took a pensive posture. “It makes me wonder, though. He never uses such a direct application of his power. Strange.”
Sango frowned, considering the implications. “If he’s over being subtle, that could put everyone in some serious danger. We need to get back to the others, tell them what we’ve seen.”
“No.” Inuyasha muttered.
“Alright, what do you suggest we do?”

She crossed her arms just below her breasts, cradling her sword closely. “Don’t you see the problem here? I’m a woman.” She stood up, flinching as if her wound seemed to throb with painful intensity. “I woke this morning thinking someone had butchered Kagome, I couldn’t do a thing. Too weak. Now I wake, to find that I am!”
Sango felt her eyes narrowing. “I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that.”
“Can’t you see? I couldn’t even fight properly with my fists, let alone that the sword,” She pulled it free in one smooth, practiced motion. The expected flash did not occur. “won’t recognize me.” She buried it into the floor, sitting on the old boards with a thump and a flinch. After a time, stunned Sango could hear sobbing. “What happened to me?”

She couldn’t think of an answer, so she did the only thing she could think of. Staring out the dirty window at the sky, she stayed silent. Soon enough, she heard Inuyasha stand, with a calmer, more composed countenance. “Sorry.” She muttered, facing the corner.
Sango turned her head to fully face her friend, and nodded. “Don’t worry, we‘ll find a way.”

Their simultaneous apology was instinctual and practiced, neither was visibly startled, but neither could hide their internal surprise. Inuyasha waited a moment, then slowly nodded, meeting her eyes with Sango’s own. Hope was the only thing they had against insurmountable odds, and they both knew that it would serve them well. Their tensions had eased, somewhat. In celebration, it was the Slayer that struck up conversation.
“You interrupted my sleep. Lets get some rest, when you awaken, I’ll show you something.”
“It was your fault for waking up. Whatever.”

They each settled to their own nooks, the light of the day notwithstanding, and went to rest.
It didn’t last long.

“How does it feel?” Sango turned in her scavenged bedroll. “Have a little more respect for us now?”
“Fighting isn’t so hard. But my damn…” She struggled to find the words to express herself. “Things. Keep bouncing around.”
“That’s why you bind them tight to your chest.” She laughed. “Haven’t you ever learned anything watching us in the hot spring?”
A pause. “I don’t watch you bathe.”
Sango found herself laughing again. “How do you know what I do in a hot spring?”
“What else would you,” She looked up, standing from her cross-legged position. Sango admired the feat, wondering at the subtle play of muscles surely taking place. It wasn’t a sexual thing, more like admiration, a small respect for her flexibility.
Inuyasha’s face started turning red, a small blush forming in her cheeks. “Miroku can’t keep his mouth shut, always talking about how heavenly you look!” Her voice, by the exasperated finale had raised up a notch.
Sango felt the blood rush to her own face with the mirth of it, a smile stretching from ear to ear plastered somewhat acutely on her. She could feel the twinkle in her eye, imagine the feminine pout of embarrassment Inuyasha would surely have adopted.

“Miroku had no part of it.” The Taijiya pushed herself up on her elbows, letting that be the end of it. She watched as Inuyasha slid across the floor, barely a few millimeters above it every step, with those long, energetic strides.
“Just once.” She mumbled, resigned. She knelt by her side, their faces separated by an inch of air. “And it was an accident. I kept my thoughts in check.”
Sango took a moment to contain her laughter, studying the Hanyou to ensure that she was sincere. If she wasn’t, she certainly looked the part. Her eyes, though they were hooded by a deep shadow still caught the light. She briefly noticed that their color had changed, though it was insignificant next to the honest; honesty inside them. “Its alright.” Sango closed her eyes, then opened them again. “I believe you.”

The white-haired woman breathed a sigh of relief, nodding. Sango knew conversations weren’t her forte, and this showed quite well in her character.
“This doesn’t change anything, you know. Our situation. We still have to warn the others.” Sango caught her friend’s wrist before she could move away. She did not resist, let herself be turned so that they were facing one another again.
“I know.” She said. “But we’ll have to go the long way. And we’ll need to travel together.”
She blinked at that. “Why?”

Inuyasha frowned, than her lips parted. Nothing came out. She closed them again, bowing her head and humbly sliding away. “We’ll go when we’ve had rest. It will be dark then, so we can remain hidden.”


Inuyasha had always been a warrior. Without his sword, he was lost. Sango had felt the same when she was without her own weapons. She could sympathize. She was uncertain, but she thought she had heard…
Being a woman must have been traumatic for him, that was putting it objectively and somewhat inappropriately. That simple statement alone couldn’t truly grasp the situation through the eyes of the Hanyou. Everything you are changed in an instant, to become what you were.
She set her head down, and whispered the words herself.

The Hanyou would die fighting, that was his, her, essence. She also knew that the experience was alien. A fish thrown to the sky would be in a place all too frightening. Her eyes closed, and with a simple statement, an exact mirror of the one she’d just muttered, she fell into sleep.

“Because I’m… afraid.”