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~Chapter 2~- The Hidden Emotion

“Sango!” Kagome yelled, an hour or so later after looking around.

Her feet shuffled against the ground as she hurriedly ran to Kagome. Kagome was standing in front of a mandolin modeling a beautiful kimono, staring at it with a twinkle in her eyes. Sango smiled, knowing that Kagome had found the kimono she wanted.

“Can I have this one?” Kagome pleaded with stars in her eyes.

Sango smiled, “Of course.”

When they walked up to the fake model to check the price, Kagome’s smiled faded. Sango checked the price and even though it was an expensive piece of work, Sango looked around to find Kagome’s size and pulled it off the shelf. As Sango walked up to the clerk, Kagome quickly ran up to her side as the lady behind the desk started to check the dresses out.

“Sango,” Kagome interjected, “You can’t buy this for me- it’s way too expensive!”

“Of course I can. Don’t worry about it. It will be well worth it one day.” She finished, giving the lady the amount that everything costed.

The lady behind the desk folded the dresses with extra caution, careful not to damage the expensive clothing. As she handed them to Sango, Kagome smiled at Sango, receiving the same warm smile. They walked out of the store together, heading back towards Kaede’s hut. On the short walk back, Kagome’s mood had already started to lighten a bit. The sun was up over their heads now and Kagome stretched out her arms, tilting her head up towards the radiating warmth that the sun gave her. She gave a small smile up towards the sun and had her own little conversation inside her head.

~Kagome’s Conversation~

‘I can’t believe just getting out in the sun and noticing the little things in life would actually improve my mood. I already feel like some of the weight has been lifted off my shoulders.’ Her head would tell her.

‘Yes but what about Inuyasha? Doesn’t strolling around so casually remind you of him?’ her heart would say back to her.

‘It’s mind over matter and honestly, I’ve wasted too many tears on him. Sure he was my first love but it wasn’t like he loved me back anyway so why bother continuing to waste my time over him? I need to move on and open up my mind and my heart to someone who will treat me as I deserve to be treated.’

Her heart tempted her, ‘Well then, what about Koga? He’s been with you ever since Inuyasha left and has stuck by your side through everything that you’ve been through.’

Suddenly, I got flustered and a blush appeared on my face. I didn’t understand why I had reacted the way I did, but I ignored what the other part of me was saying and walked inside of the hut with Sango.

~Sango’s P.O.V.~

‘Kagome seemed so happy and relieved just buying a dress and walking back to Kaede’s. I wonder what she’s thinking about.’ I asked myself.

“Kaede, we’re back!” I yelled for her.

As the older woman walked out in the little room, she helped me put the dresses somewhere that they wouldn’t get ruined. Kagome and I sat down and brushed our hair as we waited for her to come back out. As she returned, the monk walked in and looked over at us. I looked at Miroku and he nodded, giving me the signal to start our surprise for Kagome. I stood up and walked over to Kagome, resting on my knees behind her. As I brought the blindfold around her eyes, she dropped her brush and freaked out a bit.

“Sango,” she questioned, “What are you doing?”

“I can’t tell you, its s surprise. You have to keep this blindfold on though.” I told her, tightening it around her head.

“Well, okay.” She replied hesitantly.

~Kagome’s P.O.V.~

I was led blindly through a rougher terrain while being blindfolded. My guide was Sango and if I didn’t trust her, I would’ve taken the blindfold off, but since I did trust her, I let her guide me to wherever she decided to take me.

“Ugh, Sango: how much further? I wanna take this thing off already.” I complained.

Sango giggled, stumbling a bit, “Don’t worry Kagome, we’re almost there.”

We continued to walk for about 10 more feet and then she stopped me. I felt warmth rise against my legs as she slowly undid the blindfold. When the blindfold was finally off, the sight was so amazing, a gasp escaped my lips. Marveling at the sight before me, I couldn’t help but put a big smile on my lips. There I was, at the normal hot spring place that Sango and I usually go to when we stay at Kaede’s. Miroku was standing beside the hot spring, my yellow bag resting against his foot as he smiled at me. The pink bubbles’ overflowing the hot spring is what amazed me. They were everywhere and as I took a step closer, the familiar cherry blossom consumed my senses and made me feel like I was home. Leaving the bag leaning against the rock, Miroku walked over to me and gave me a warm smile before leaning over and giving me a friendly hug. Hesitantly, I returned the gesture, tears slowly beginning to well in my eyes. Stepping away from the hug, I swallowed back the tears and smiled at Sango and Miroku. Before I spoke to either of them, I rubbed the tears away from my eyes and gulped down my shaky voice.

“Thank you guys so much.”

Miroku smiled, “Oh well enjoy your bath ladies but save your thanks for later.”

This time, Sango and I both looked at the monk walk away, not only confused, but surprised as well. I wasn’t the only one who seemed surprised this time either. We locked eyes with each other and then burst out into laughing at the strange monk. Nevertheless, we both stripped down to nothing and slowly slipped into the warm heavenly bliss that awaited us. As soon as I sat down in the nice, warm water, I instantly melted somewhere into those pink bubbles.

“Ahhhh,”I exhaled in total bliss, “This feels sooo heavenly.”

Sango nodded, “Yeah, I couldn’t agree more.”

Being swept away by the perfect situation, Sango and I must’ve talked for about an hour. Once we both realized we’d been in longer then we had expected to be, we sadly pulled ourselves out of the water and dressed. Carrying my bag back, I was smiling unintentionally.

“I feel like everything: all my anger, my sadness and frustration, has been washed away by that simple bath.” I told Sango, strolling through the woods.

Sango turned and smiled at me, “That’s a great thing to hear, Kagome.”

~Back in Kaede’s hut~

~Third person P.O.V~

As Sango and Kagome walked back into the hut, Miroku was sitting and laughing with Kaede. When he noticed that they were back, he turned his attention towards them, giving a small smile.

“Welcome back ladies,” he started, “Did you enjoy your bath?”

Sango and Kagome both replied at the same time, “Yes, we did.”

A chuckle was received from the monk, “That’s good to hear. How do you feel, Lady Kagome?”

Kagome thought for a second, “Actually, I feel amazingly rejuvenated and worry free.”

“That’s great!” the monk replied, almost a little too enthusiastic.

By the time they had returned, it was a little later in the afternoon, so, Miroku was heating up some homemade soup. As he poured the soup into 4 out of the 5 bowls, Kagome’s nose was consumed by the smell of the tasty soup. Her stomach growled a bit, while Miroku handed out the bowls to the girls. He made sure to get everyone a bowl first, before serving himself. Still, Kagome couldn’t help but wonder why there was an extra bowl sitting beside the pot. They all ate in peaceful silence and Kagome offered to clean up. As she was collecting the dishes from everyone, the empty bowl beside the pot caught her attention once again.

“That soup was delicious, Miroku,” Sango said, full, “Did you make that yourself?”

The monk replied happily, “Why yes, my dear Sango, I did in fact make this soup myself. I’m glad you enjoyed it.” He finished, moving closer to Sango.

“Hey Miroku,” Kagome asked quickly, “Why is there an extra bowl sitting out on-“

Before Kagome could finish asking her question, a loud smack made its way through her words. She turned her attention away from the extra bowl and towards an angry Sango with a, now, red hand marked Miroku.

“You pervert monk!” Sango yelled at him, with a slight blush across her cheeks.

“Sango my dear, no need to be rash now!” he defended, a tremble in his voice.

Sango lunged forward to smack the monk once again but what stopped her was the clatter of the bowls hitting the floor. They both looked at Kagome who was bent over, hands on her knees, laughing at the two hysterically. They didn’t know what to say or what to do, so they looked at each other and the monk began to chuckle a bit. Soon afterward, the 3 were all laughing together at the fact that nothing had changed between them all, even if Inuyasha was gone. He was gone for the better and Kagome wasn’t upset that he did leave her anymore. When Shippo and Kiara walked into the hut, wanting some food, they saw their friends laughing together and gave a questioning look. The 3 friend noticed and gathered themselves, helping the little ones to some food. Kagome was the only one who had tears in her eyes from the laughing though.

~Later that night~

Koga had returned to the hut, sneaking in the back way. He met up with Miroku who told him to go bathe and come back in clean...furs. The wolf prince agreed, fleeing from the hut and Miroku walked back to the ladies in their rooms. He told them to get dressed in their kimono’s and to pretty up because they were going to go somewhere tonight. No matter how many times they asked the questions, the monk wouldn’t break. They simply had to get dressed and get ready and follow the monk without question. Once they had dressed up in their kimonos, they walked out, waiting for Miroku. Kaede took Kiara and Shippo out a little bit earlier, so the hut was quieter than usual. When Miroku returned, he stopped and took a good, long look at the ladies, complementing them both.

His compliment to Sango, however, has much more meaning behind it.

“Sango, you look extraordinarily gorgeous.” he flattered.

She blushed and he took the ladies by their arms and interlocked elbows with them. They walked out of the hut and into the setting sun, not knowing where the monk was taking them. The girls decided to keep quiet and wait to see what they were in for, rather than ruin it by pestering Miroku. Once they arrived to wherever it was they were, a lot of people were gathering around, and Kagome started looking around to see what all the commotion was. The silence was killing her and she needed to know what was going on so she wiggled her arm free from Miroku and walked around, seeing what everyone was waiting for.

“Lady Kagome, wait! Stick close!” Miroku warned when she escaped his grasp.

She was already lost in the crowd by the time he even mentioned it to her. She wondered around, not feeling at all scared and looked at all the little stands around. Then, all of a sudden, she heard loud ‘POP’ ‘POP’ noise and she nearly jumped out of her kimono. Once she realized that they were just fireworks, she breathed a sigh of relief and pushed through the crowd. Her intention was to head somewhere where they were less people. Once she found a place to rest, she stood back and watched at the fireworks danced in the midnight sky. She felt like she could feel the heat that the fireworks so she walked over to a pond that was filled with Koi fish and lily pads with flowers and fell in to it with her back smacking against the water. She instantly felt cooled off and relaxed in the water, feeling its soft ripples. Her eyes shut as she continued to soak in how nice the water felt against her skin.

“So,” a familiar voice said, “How are you feeling?”

~Kagome’s P.O.V.~

I opened my eyes and looked around to see the familiar stranger, wondering what he was doing here.

“Koga,” I started, watching him walk towards me, “Your back. I-I’m fine, thanks.”

My heart pounded loudly in my chest as he continued to get closer and closer to me. He stopped when he was standing in front of the pond, taking my hands in his and pulling me up from the cool water. Once I was standing in front of him, he continued to hold my hands, keeping me even closer to him. He looked me straight in my eyes and I felt like he was searching my sould through my brown eyes.

“Kagome,” he said in a tone that sent a small shiver down my back, “You look so amazingly beautiful tonight.”


I replied with a blush evident on my cheeks, “Thanks, Koga.” I still didn’t make eye contact with him though.

“Kagome.” He called my name ever so softly.

I finally looked him in the eyes, but it seemed I looked up at the wrong time. He was leaning in towards my lips, determination obviously evident. My blush deepened to the red of my kimono as his lips came dangerously close to mine. His eyes were closed and as his lips just grazed mine, my eyes began to shut. Of course, his lips only slightly touched mine before we shot away from each other, a furiously red blush on my face. The reason we backed away from each other so fast was because the fireworks shot off, sending a loud booming noise echoing through the night air. He chuckled a bit, leaving that irresistible smirk lay on his lips and that lusting desire burning in his eyes directing towards me. I knew that if we stayed here, isolated from just about everyone else, that Sango and Miroku would get worried and that things might get a little out of hand so I turned around and looked at the fireworks for a couple seconds.

“Koga,” I asked him, “Let’s go down and find the others.”

I didn’t dare to turn around and wait for him to come to me or bother to see the look on his face; I just walked off, knowing that he would follow me.

TO BE CONTINUED!