Hanyou- Half demon
Kitsune- Fox
Kami- God
It was nearly nightfall. The sun was setting on one side of the horizon while the
moon rose on the other. I had already changed into my night clothes and was curling up by my favorite window with a book when
I saw him approaching. I dropped my book and ran to the front door.
"Don't you dare!" he warned, seeing my nightgown. I paid his words no heed and
ran into his arms anyhow.
"Miroku," I whispered. "How I've missed you."
"Zamora, no matter how much you missed me, I missed you more," he replied.
"I find that very difficult to believe."
"Well, let's get you inside and go into that later."
"Aw, you don't like the way I look?" I teased, once inside.
"Actually, I love it," he said. "It's the neighbors checking out my woman that
I have a problem with."
"I'm more than just your 'woman,' Miroku, I'm your betrothen. I will have no other
besides you, and you no other besides me. And, by your return, should I conclude that you and your compainions defeated the
demon you saught?"
"See for yourself." He removed the rosary beads that clasped the fabric around
his hands and let the fabric fall to the ground. I had never actually seen his void, but all I saw now was an ordinary palm.
"Miroku! How wonderful!" I rewrapped my arms around him.
"Where is your father?" he asked suddenly.
"Asleep," I replied. "Old age has been cruel to him. Most of my time is spent caring
for the poor man."
"Zamora-"
"Miroku, no. I am not in need of your sorrows for me. Let us celebrate your good
fortune."
"Fine, then. How do you suggest we celebrate?" he asked misheviously.
"Well, why do I get you a hot bath and some food and we'll go from there?"
"That, my lady, is music to my ears."
After he'd had a bath and was enjoying some food, I heard my father calling for
me. I went to his bedside, Miroku right behind me.
"Yes Father," I said. "I am here. And look who has rejoined us." I guestured toward
my betrothen, who bowed.
"Miroku. I know now- you will be safe."
"Father?"
"It is time for me to pass, Child."
"Father..."
"I love you, Child." His eyes fell back as he died. I placed my hand over them
to close them.
"I love you too, Father," I whispered to the dark. I pulled his blanket over his
head. By then I couldn't hold back any longer, and began to weep. I soon felt Miroku's warm arms and the cool fabric of his
clothes around me. I cried until I had no more tears left.
As per tradition, a prayer ceremony was held every ten days until his burial. But
even a month later, my heart was aching. I would sometimes think, 'It's time for Father's tea,' and then remember he was not
there to recieve it. Miroku was of infinate help to me. As well as comforting me, he would wander the fields with me and helped
me clean. He even tried his hand at cooking once. A horrible cook to start, but a good student. There were times that all
was on my mind was his wonderful smile. One night, while he was trying to help me prepare supper, I heard a voice come in
from the window.
"I don't believe this." It was InuYasha. "She's got you /cooking/ now?" It was
followed by a loud 'Smack!' Kagome.
We turned to see the two looking in the window, he rubbing his face. "What was
/that/ for?!?" he yelped.
"Opening your month," Kagome replied idoly, as if she went through this often.
Come to think of it, she probably did.
"Besides," Shippos said, popping up. "She can't 'sit' you anymore now that your
necklace is gone."
"Do you mind if we come in?" Kagome asked.
"Yeah, can we?" Shippo asked.
"Of course," I said laughingly. "Come around to the front."
I let the merry trio into the house. "Grettings to you all," I welcomed them. "I
trust you have found us in good health."
"Almost," InuYasha said, still rubbing his head.
"Then you shouldn't say such nasty things," Kagome stated. "Miroku!" she yelled
and took the man into her arms.
"We're so very happy to see you!" Shippo added, joining the embrace.
"I've missed you both as well," my betrothen replied, smiling. It was truly a sweet
scene.
"Where's your father?" Kagome asked me suddenly. "We'd love to see him too."
"I'm afraid you won't be able too," I informed her. "He has passed on."
"The day I arrived, actually," Miroku said, wrapping an arm around me.
"I'm so sorry," Kagome sympathized.
"It's good that you went ahead of us then," Shippo stated.
"Yes," I agreed. "Seeing him was just what I needed."
"Feh," InuYasha grumbled. "Get a room."
"It's right around the corner," Miroku informed him. I elbowed him in the side.
He barely grimaced. That demon slayer must have toughened him up. Speaking of whom...
"Where is Sango?" I asked.
"She wanted to return to her home with her brother," Kagome informed me. I noticed
InuYasha roll his eyes, but said nothing.
"That's good to hear," was all I said.
After dinner, the group all agreed they wanted to stay awhile, at least until after
Miroku and mine's wedding. I was all for that. If there's one thing I didn't like, it was an empty house. The trio didn't
even object to having to share the guest room. Not much, anyway.
I managed to get InuYasha alone before going to bed. I questioned the real reason
for Sango's absence. The hanyou said nothing at first, just kept glancing in Kagome's direction. "I won't tell her you said
anything," I pleaded. "Please, tell why she felt it unnessescary to come with you."
He lookeed at he floor. "She didn't wanna see Miroku gettin' married."
I was confused. "But aren't they friends?" Then it hit me. "She fell in love
with him, didn't she?"
He nodded.
"Miroku has to know. He has a right to know that Sango's in love with him as well.
He should know his options," I said as steadily as I could.
"You think he's marring you cus he thinks it's his only option?"
"Well... yes."
"Women are so stupid."
"Pardon?"
"He knows Sango wants to be with him. He'd rather be with you."
"He would?"
"Yeah."
"Would you excuse me a moment?" I asked. Miroku was in the living room with
the other two, saying goodnight. I walked straight for him. Not saying a word, I wrapped my arms around him and kissed him.
"Wow," he said when our lips parted. "I don't know what I did to deserve that,
but I'm glad I did it." The others laughed while I happily held him. "What /did/ I do to deserve that?"
he asked me.
"It's what you didn't do," I replied. "Namely, Sango.
"InuYasha!" Kagome began to yell.
"No! Kagome, don't!" I interrupted. "I'm glad he told me. If he hadn't, I wouldn't
be able to prove to Miroku he made to right choice."
"You have no need to prove anything," my betrothen told me. "I already know I did."
"Aww," Kagome cooed. She certainly did that a lot. I heard InuYasha huff and the
back door slam shut. Kagome smiled, sighed, and headed off in the hanyou's direction.
"Shippo was just asking me if I knew when the wedding was," Miroku informed me.
"Yeah, but he said it was up to you," the kitune pipped.
"Up to me?" I asked. Miroku nodded. "How about in later spring, when the cherry
blossoms are in bloom?"
"Sounds good to me," Miroku said. "But that time of year isn't that far of. We'll
have a lot of work in a short time."
"Don't worry, we'll be here to help!" Shippo consoled him, and hopped off to bed.
"How comforting," he mumbled to my giggles. "So, Lady Zamora, shall we be off to
bed as well?"
"But of course, Master Miroku," I replied, grinning. He took my hand in his
and we headed to my, or now our, room. I looked at him, still smiling.
"What is it?" he asked.
"I was just thinking."
"About what?"
"How happy I am. How happy I hope you are."
"Zamora, I have never, ever been this happy in my entire life." We reached my room.
His staff now spent most of it's time leaning against a wall inside. The only time he used it was for the occasional exorsism.
"I'm glad." We kissed and got ready for bed.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Later in the spring, when the cherry blossoms are in bloom...
"I undertake to observe the precept to abstain from destroying living beings.
I undertake to observe
the precept to abstain from taking things not given.
I undertake to observe the precept to abstain from sexual misconduct.
I undertake to observe the precept to abstain from false speech.
I undertake to observe the precept to abstain from
liquor causing intoxication and heedlessness.
I undertake to observe the Five Precepts to the best of my ability."
Miroku's friend and fellow monk, Bai, looked up from the Pancasila to the couple
being married.
"Now, Miroku and Zamora have some words they wish to promise each other now."
Miroku took my hand into his and looked straight into my eyes. "Zamora, I have
told you before that I have never known this amount of happiness. There are not words to describe the joy I feel knowing that
I get the to be the one who spends the rest of his life with you, that I get to be the one who's children you'll bear, and
the one who will grow old with. I did not know life like this was possible."
Tears were flowing freely from my eyes. "I- I had this all wr- written out... But
I- I can't seem to remember a word of it. But know this, Miroku. I pray that I am even as half as happy the rest of my life
as I am now. And as long as I stay with you, I know I will be."
His eyes were shining, almost tearing, but not quite. We looked at Bai. He nodded
for us to continue. We took in a breath to recite the Sigilovdda Sutta.
"In five ways should a wife, as Western quarter, be ministered to by her husband:
by respect, by courtesy, by faithfulness, by handing over authority to her, by providing her with ornaments. In these five
ways does the wife minister to by her husband as the Western quarter, love him: her duties are well-performed by hospitality
to kin of both, by faithfulness, by watching over the goods he brings and by skill and industry in discharging all business."
Miroku and my eyes never left each other as Bai said, "I now prounce you as
husband and wife. Be good to each other. You may now kiss the bride."
"Your wish is my demand," Miroku said before his lips met mine.
After the happiest moment of our lives, we met our guests at the house. There weren't
many. Aside from the usual trio of friends, there were a few of my own from the village. While chatting with Kagome, I spotted
one lady in the small crowd I didn't recognise right away. But it had been awhile since I had last seen the demon slayer.
"Sango!" I greeted her. "I'm so glad you could be here today!"
"Zamora," she greeted me with a weak smile. I was not the one she was looking for, I'm sure,
but I could tell her where my new husband was. "My congradulations for you both."
"Thank you! Miroku's out in the back meadow with InuYasha and some of the others. I'm sure
you'd like to talk to him."
"Indeed, thank you." She headed for the back of the house.
"Well, that wasn't uncomfortable or anything," Kagome stated.
"Agreed," I said. "But if she wishes to see him, it is her right."
"You're being awfully calm."
"I trust Miroku."
"Wow. I never thought I'd hear those words."
"Oh, come on. He wasn't /that/ bad was he?"
"Walk with me Zamora, and let me tell you a story."
"Uh-oh."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I didn't get to talk to Miroku until late, when everyone, including Sango, was
gone and our housemates were sound asleep. Kagome and InuYasha had fallen asleep in the guest room, but Shippo had dropped
in the kitchen. I picked up the kitsune and brought him to the guest room to join the other two. "Sleep
well, chibi ichi," I whispered, and gave him a kiss on his forehead.
I walked back out into the kitchen, where I hoped Miroku had begun cleaning up. Thank Kami,
he had. "Today was wonderful, wasn't it?" I said as I helped him.
"Wonderful doesn't even begin to cover it," he replied, but seemed distracted.
"Did Sango find you?"
"Yes."
"So you did see her."
"Yes."
"Something happen that was too personal to share with your wife?"
He smiled. "No. She told me her heart has begun to heal and wished us well."
"That's good to hear. A broken heart is not easy to recover from."
"Very true."
"Will she visit again?"
"In, time, perhaps."
"Ok," I said. looking at the remainder of the mess. "The way I see it, we have two options."
"You have my attention."
"One, we can finish cleaning, or two, we can consumate our marrage."
"I vote two!" Miroku said, picked me up and ran all the way to our room, both of us laughing
the whole way.
