Kohaku is dreaming.
Endless darkness, endless sorrow. It's just a feeling, nothing tangible has emerged yet. He wanted to escape but there was no path that led away from the nothingness that surrounded him.
This nothingness was preferable to the anguish he usually felt in his dreams. They were usually of his sister dying, but never dead. They were usually of her maimed and torn apart by his hands.
His sickle became a weapon of death a long time ago. The hate that was originally purged by the people of his village after carving and compressing the youkai bones had returned. The spirits of his weapon were hateful, but they were also crying.
Carved to protect, the weapon had been wielded to murder.
Kohaku saw nothing in his mind. He felt cold, he felt sad. He knew this was a dream though, because he was aware and he could feel.
His mind drifted to memories of his former companion Kanna. Yes… this is what she felt like. Her nothingness was always preferable to the vengeful Hakudoushi. In fact, her company may have been better than his own sister.
Being with his sister… brought too many memories. Too much sadness.
For that matter, being with anyone meant death, Kohaku thought, his mind going off on a tangent.
Aneue… Kikyou-sama… Kagura…Rin…It was all because of him.
His presence destroyed. He'd rather die, but not before witnessing Naraku's demise.
The darkness began to engulf him and the feeling of endless sorrow squeezed his heart.
Aneue… help. Kikyou-sama, don't let take me…I'm so sorry Kagura. Rin, I'm sorry too.
"You think we should wake him?"
There were voices coming from somewhere. Kohaku wanted to call out, but the darkness was in his throat and he was mute.
"Kohaku… wakey wakey Kohaku! Time to get up!"
Who was that?
"Sesshoumaru-sama will get angry…"
Sesshoumaru-sama…? Is it Rin?
"Kohaku."
Kohaku woke up, his chest heaving.
Sesshoumaru towered above him, staring down with the same hard expression he always wore.
This man, thought Kohaku. He chased away the darkness…
His eyes fell on Tenseiga, which hung on the daiyoukai's hip.
There is light in this world that purges even the greatest evil…
"Kohaku. I want you to stay with Rin while I'm gone."
Does he trust me? After all I've done?
Sesshoumaru watched the boy nod. After just waking up, Kohaku's mind was still distracted from his dream.
"Don't let it swallow you."
"Huh?"
"Don't let it swallow you," the demon lord repeated. "You're being weak."
Kohaku stared for a long moment then nodded.
"Un. Okay."
