autumnleaf16

Any sort of excuses were a sign of weakness, because it meant that you were engaging in some sort of activity that required an explanation. But it became worse when you could not even come up with a reason for the offending action.
That was what he had been doing ever since he saved that woman…he forced herself to call her ‘that woman’ because he simply refused to acknowledge her as someone different from the rest- who were all nothing but passing faces.
Sesshomaru scowled as he looked at the two kimonos that he held. One was ripped and stained due to dirt and even blood at some part, it was simply made with cotton in a very plain pattern- designed for a woman who would be travelling actively. The other kimono was a startling contrast. It was sewn from a very fine silk with rich embroidery over the whole thing. Ironically, it was also in the colour of coral. (I really don’t think that there isn’t anyone who doesn’t know this, but just making sure. Sango literally means coral in Japanese.)
He did not know why he felt the need of finding her a new kimono when it was her own fault that he had ripped her originally crude clothing.
The truth was that he was running out of excuses whenever she was involved.
Why did he even tolerate her folly? Claiming that her wound had healed, she had been prepared to leave, despite how upset Rin was. Rin barely softened his frown, as he could not forgive his own reaction due to what the child had said.
He was near enough to hear any words spoken between the two humans when Rin ran in the cave with the flowers she had picked especially for who she called ‘the pretty lady’, after a quick introduction, which led to him learning of the woman’s name, Rin quickly moved to her main concern.
“Are you going to stay with us? Rin will be very happy if you do!”
Much to his disgust, his instinct was hoping that she would not say no,
He did not know what her reply was, because he walked away, angry with himself.
He should have let her leave since it was what she wanted, but instead, he had refused- telling her that he would not let her leave because her mind was not healed yet.
“And what is that to you?”
All of a sudden he hated her boldness, what he had previously admired, it was the cause of her facing him without any hesitation, and therefore leaving him a question that he could not answer.
Sesshomaru did not want her to die…he did not even want her to be in a position where she suffered so much as to welcome death so passionately.
“Unlike you,” she was screaming, “There are those who would worry if I suddenly disappear! Especially my…”
At this point she halted and began to cry.
He didn’t know how he should react- he had never been in a position where he wanted someone to cease their weeping out of a sentimental reason. Before, it was always due to an annoyance, which he ended by delivering the killing blow.
Tears were a weakness mainly involved with sadness, so he never saw them on the face of his very capable and strong mother, while Rin seemed too happy in her naïve way as to have her defence breached.
But the strangest thing was that he did not regard her as weak in any way, these tears did not change his opinion of her.
He wanted to do something, anything that would cease her tears. Not knowing what to do, he stretched out his hand.
She turned away, running from him. At that time, he was only aware of one thing: she must not leave.
His hand caught the end of her kimono, causing the garment to severally rip. At that she had blushed and immediately tried to gather the tattered fabrics together. He was almost relieved at what happened, because it halted her tears.
“Sango, your kimono is rip!” Rin had suddenly appeared, and attached herself to Sango tightly, “At least stay with us until you get a new one!”
For some reason, she had consented to Rin with a single nod.
But why was he the one finding her a new kimono? He could have easily left the matter with Jaken. He knew that Rin had obtained her new kimono by persuading his servant to find her one somehow. Naturally, Sesshomaru did not really care about what Jaken did.
Knowing his servant, it was probably achieved by some ridiculously complicated plan, instead of the much simpler and faster way of demanding the tailor to find a kimono the same size as the broken one he had held.

Although she loathed agreeing with someone who always considered himself as right, Sango had to admit that Sesshomaru was not wrong in what he said. She may have completely recovered from the physical wound she had inflicted upon herself, but the wound in her heart had not even start to heal.
Miroku…it hurt her to even think of his name, let along his actions. Yet for a whole glorious day she had been so happy due to him.
His confession…her acceptance. She was overjoyed.
But she was to see him the very next morning in the company of a large group of girls, and even hugging and kissing some of them. That was the last attack required for her to break down completely, especially when she has already suffered so much: the slaughter of her whole village; the death of her father due to her own brother; the tortured soul of her dead brother caused by Naraku’s manipulation; and now there was the additional pain of the betrayal of a lover.
Sango forced herself to smile due to the cheerful young girl beside her, who was chatting merrily about something even as she fingered the fur pelt that Sango had somehow managed to wrap around her body. It was not in her power to make anyone happy, but she did not want to make someone unhappy if she could help it.
“What did you just say, Rin?” she asked gently when the child stopped talking and was looking at her in what might be described as a pleading fashion.
“Rin want to know if Sango will stay with us forever now that Sesshomaru-sama wants you to as well.”
“Sesshomaru? He…” Sango began, confused at why Rin would even think of this as until this morning, Sesshomaru had not see her ever since he rescued her. If she was to be truthful, then she would admit that she had been rather angry at being completely neglected, even though she knew that Sesshomaru rescuing her, and then taking her instead of simply leaving, was an act of miracle.
What Sango didn’t know was that he has not neglected her as she believed.
“Because Sesshomaru-sama gave his pelt for Sango to wear! Surely that means he like Sango!”
At this Sango forced down her urge of snorting and only shake her head gently at the naïve child. After she failed to put her torn kimono together, he had thrown the pelt to her without changing his expression at all. All he said was this: “Have the decency to cover your self.”
She could not understand why he would care as humans were so despicable to him, so surely her body was nothing that would interest him. She wonders whether it was because the sight of her body disgusted him, as he hated all aspect of humans so much.
Without any warning, the soft silk of the new kimono Sesshomaru found for her hit her in the face with the much more rough cotton of her familiar kimono that she had failed to find, and believed to have disappeared. Automatically, she fingered the fine silk with a slight wonder, being a yokai exterminator she was always used to wear clothing that were practical.
Sesshomaru forced his face to reveal nothing at all as he stated the explanation he had finally thought of.
“I only went to find you a kimono because the old one reeks of my idiotic half brother’s scent.”
“But nonetheless, I still thank you.” Sango whispered, a very slight smile forming on her lips as she clutched the two kimonos.
He only snorted at this: “I want no thanks.”
Because he did not want to regard what he did as right, nor did he desire to repeat his actions.

Author’s Note: once again, this idea suddenly came. Well, first of all, I’ll just explain what I know of my story. All that I know is the end- so the process is very confusing for me! I really like the new kimono incident and I hope that I didn’t get out of character but I really tried not to. I guess what happened with the kimonos can be seen as a development of their relationship. Another thing I realize is that I have been focusing on Sesshomaru a bit too much so I will try to talk about Sango more in the next chapter, as this is as hard to accept as it is for me. As for Miroku…I haven’t made him into a bastard or anything because I actually quite like Miroku (Although it is partly reflected glory as I really like Sango). When I finished my story I actually felt quite sorry for Miroku, at what will happen to him. (which does not involve in being sucked by his wind tunnel, I have seen too many author do this for my liking, although some of them I consider to be very good stories.) But the important thing is that he is not portrayed in the full wrong, or a completely negative fashion.

One more thing: Jaken is present, although I’m just not sure whether he would come out at this rate!