Title: Riverside

Pairings: Miroku x Sango

Rating: T

Based On: Riverside by Agnes Obel

Summary:

A year after Kagome's return to the Feudal Era, Sango's daughter drowned in the river near the village. Now, almost ten years later, Miroku helps her come to terms with their daughter's death.

~~OO~~II~~OO~~

"Mommy!"

"Kyoko! KYOKO! MIROKU! MIROKU, INUYASHA! HELP HER!"

Sango could still hear the cry and then screams as her daughter was swept away by the currents of the beautiful river that ran near her home. Kyoko had been playing, so innocently, so sweetly, with her twin, Kaori, just before the bank had given out beneath her weight and sent her tumbling into the water, screaming for help.

Now, Sango sat with her knees to her chest, watching the water silently. Behind her was Kaori, playing with her younger brother, Ushin, and Inuyasha and Kagome's daughter, Kichona under the close eye of Miroku and Inuyasha as Kagome washed some clothes at the bank. Ten years had passed since that day, and Sango still felt the deep sorrow that a mother felt after losing a child much too young.

"Sango." Miroku's gentle voice interrupted the peace of the afternoon. "Why don't you come and sit with me?"

Sango smiled faintly, glancing over her shoulder at her husband, replying, "No, thank you. I want to stay right here."

Inuyasha snorted, rolling his molten eyes, pretending to be annoyed though his eyes held a gentle understanding. "Damn it, Sango, get up here and sit with him before he gets all pouty on us."

"No, no, I'll go join her. Can you watch Kaori and Ushin? I think Sango and I need to go on a walk..."

"Of course Inuyasha can," Kagome said from where she was washing a haori. "Perhaps he can wrestle with them."

"Away from the river of course," Miroku said quickly, noticing his wife's frantic look.

He led Sango away from the water, gently winding an arm around her waist with a smile. "Sango…"

Sango finally broke down, sinking to her knees, a sob tearing from her chest as she cried, "It's not fair! Why Kyoko!? She was such a good girl! She always helped Kaede and Kagome-chan out! It's not fair!"

"Hush, Sango," Miroku murmured, kneeling beside her and wrapping his arms around her. "I know it hurts, it hurts me, too. But there's nothing any of us could've done to save Kyoko when she fell. The river was swollen from so much rain and not even Inuyasha could've been fast enough."

Sango sobbed, burying her face in his chest, releasing the grief that had built up over the years. "I miss her so much…"

"As do I," Miroku replied, kissing away her tears. "As do I, Sango. As I said, I know it still hurts. But Kyoko would want us to move past her death and enjoy life before we join her."

Sango sniffled, choking back another sob as she whispered, "But…"

"It's like with Kohaku," Miroku told her, "When you thought he was dead those first few months. You pushed forward to defeat Naraku, didn't you? Now we need to push forward to help our remaining daughter and son, Sango. Kyoko will always hold a special place in our hearts, but you'll have to move on and live with me in the present, not with Kyoko in the past."

Sango contemplated this for a while as Miroku cradled her against his chest, kissing her head and rocking her soothingly. Finally she whispered, "I guess you're right…"

"See?" Miroku said, smiling as he pressed a kiss to her soft lips. "Now," He stood, offering her his hand. "Why don't we go and spend some time with Kaori and Ushin. I think they might be worried as to where we went, even with Inuyasha-ojisan and Kagome-obasan nearby."

Sango accepted his hand, smiling as he turned and started up river, back towards their family. Sango paused, glancing over her shoulder at the river. She smiled gently, whispering, "Goodbye, Kyoko."

And with that, Sango went to rejoin her family, not seeming to notice the little girl that smiled from her place beside the water.

~~OO~~II~~OO~~

A/N: Yes, yes, as you can see I did in fact start another fanfic! But this one I think is going to be special. :3 This fanfiction is a collection of one-shots, all based on certain songs. I started off with what I think is a depressing song about a woman losing someone to a river (I encourage you to look up the song), resulting in Sango losing her daughter.

Now, back to the information about this! If anyone has a song they'd like to suggest, feel free to put it in your review or PM it to me and I'll listen to it and see if I like it. ;)