Kagome stared. Was it possible Sango had learned something of her sordid affair with Sesshoumaru—or perhaps even worse, her unfortunate entanglements with Kohaku? A ball of lead sank through Kagome’s stomach, though her face remained quizzically blank.
“…No,” she said, after a moment. “…Not particularly?”
For another heartbeat, Sango’s keen, slayer’s gaze remained riveted on her—before her features crumpled, into an expression of unmistakable feminine despair. “…I think…I think that, perhaps, Miroku is seeing other women.”
Kagome’s shoulders sagged, some of her wariness abating. “Why would you think that?”
“He is never here,” Sango complained, her eyes sheening with tears. “It is always just me, alone with the children. And now, now, another…”
The bitterness in her tone took Kagome aback. She had never heard this from Sango before. She had always seemed so happy to keep bearing Miroku’s children.
“Sango-chan…if…” Kagome paused to take a bracing breath. “If by some chance, you don’t want this child—”
Sango’s look was indignant. “Of course, I do. That’s not the point.”
Kagome nodded, relief flooding through her.
“I just want him to want it. To want me…” Sango’s voice trembled. “To want us, more than whatever else he’s chasing after, out there.”
Kagome felt guilty. A large part of Miroku’s absence was her own doing, and she felt she should own up to it.
“I don’t think you should worry so much, Sango-chan. I’ve asked Miroku to serve as a dignitary for me. He’s a natural diplomat, and with Edo growing at such a rapid pace, I thought it made sense for him to help broker trade deals with neighboring lords. That’s why he’s been gone so much, lately.”
“Well, I figured that as much—you see him far more than I do, nowadays,” Sango snapped. “But tell me, Kagome-chan, how do you explain him coming home smelling of perfume and sake? More of your ‘trade-deals’, I am supposed to believe?”
Kagome bristled at her tone. “You can’t possibly put that blame on me. You knew how he was when you married him. Honestly, Sango-chan, what did you expect? He may be a monk, but he doesn’t act like one. He never did.”
Sango laughed, brittle and short. “That’s a fine reply, coming from you. You turned more than a blind eye on Inuyasha’s carrying on with Kikyou, even after you were married.”
Her words cut through Kagome like a blade. Coldly, the miko replied, “I’ll overlook that last remark, seeing as how you’re clearly hormonal. But maybe you should reflect on this: that you made your choice with open eyes, just as I did. And maybe you should be grateful, you know, that your husband is alive and well. Resent me for my freedom and status if you like, Sango-chan, but just know that I’d trade all of it in an instant to have what you have—imperfect spouse, unexpected child, and all.”
Sango paled. “Kagome-chan…”
But Kagome’d had enough. Turning upon her heel, she left Sango alone to contemplate her choices, as she set out for the fortress she had raised.
Inuyasha © Rumiko Takahashi
Oof, those claws come out. Ouch. On both their parts 😬.
Yeppppp
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Ooo wasn’t expecting this!!! Damn, meowww. These girls are getting Feisty 👀
This is going to sound horrible, but now I’m super glad Kagome is having these trysts with Sesshoumaru. InuYasha was a two-timer during their marriage. I hope Kagome fucked Sesshoumaru willingly on ‘That Night’ and things just got out of control 😂
Doesn’t sound horrible to me at all LOL
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hahaha yes they are! <3
Hm, and I wonder if part of Miroku’s absence pertains to his investigations into That Night and the disturbance he feels towards Kagome and her power. (though, smelling like perfume is suspicious af)
Why does your writing always cut me to the bone? The scene was so emotionally rich.
I’m surprised and intrigued that Inuyasha carried on with Kikyo after the marriage, but also very affected by the way that Kagome decides that she made her bed and wishes she could lie in it still, so to speak. I have to admit, as much as I love Sess/Kag, I’m very particular about the fics I’ll read for it because I ALSO love Inuyasha– and my favorite set up for Sess/Kag is when Inuyasha can be conveniently dead and missed and mourned so that I don’t have to feel torn 😂😂One of the things I so enjoy in this fic is how you explore Inuyasha’s character flaws, but very much so through the lens of Kagome’s grieving love for him.
I’m perpetually super intrigued by the business with the fortress. I don’t trust Ren one bit, and I keep thinking he must somehow tie into the Hirokin subplot… we shall see.
Thanks for writing!
“One of the things I so enjoy in this fic is how you explore Inuyasha’s character flaws, but very much so through the lens of Kagome’s grieving love for him.” *cries* so glad you enjoy this! yeah, you know the older I get, the more sympathetic I feel towards ol’ Inuyasha lol He didn’t really have much of an upbringing it seems, and it’s through Kagome’s selfless love of him that he’s able to mature and evolve so much as a character throughout the canon <3
Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts on this scene!! Hope you enjoy the next 😉 <3 <3 <3
I needed this so much today. Thank you! Interesting to see that Kagome is finally forced to confront some of the nuances in her marriage–it wasn’t perfect, as much as she’d like to think it was. Was Inuyasha truly sleeping with Kikyo while married to Kagome? If so, I’d say that’s pretty irredeemable. If he was just seeing her, it’s more of a gray area. Either way, I like that it clears the way for a relationship between Sesshoumaru and Kagome that is in some ways superior to her former marriage–Sess is so obsessed and fixated on her, I can’t imagine he’d ever stray once he actually secured her. Thank you for all your hard work!
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"Interesting to see that Kagome is finally forced to confront some of the nuances in her marriage–it wasn’t perfect, as much as she’d like to think it was. " - so glad you enjoyed this aspect of the scene!! <3 Now I'm itching even more to share the next ;)
Thanks so much, Alex!! <3