A/N: Thank you to my amazing beta, Evervescent, for helping me revamp this story. She is absolutely amazing, so check her out!

This story has been nominated for Eikyuu Kosai (the Miroku/Sango fandom awards) Best Darkfic/Angst in 2009, as well as nominated for IYFG Best of Miroku/Sango Second Quarter 2009. Thank you for all the support!

For Brittany.

Keeping Strong

Chapter 1: Cruelty

I had no expectations.
That way, I couldn't get hurt.
-Sango

-KS-

The schoolyard was bustling with teenagers as they loitered, waiting for the warning bell to ring. Laughter filled the air as summer vacation grew ever closer. Only three more months of torture and they would be free of homework and stuck-up teachers. Besides, with the hot weather, everyone would much rather be enjoying the beach rather than sitting inside a stuffy classroom.

Sango Taijiya clutched the strap of her messenger bag tighter as she weaved her way through the various groups of students, her long brown hair caught gently in the breeze. Her eyes darted around fervently as she tried to locate the person that made her heart flutter. It only took her a few minutes to spot him, and a smile immediately came to her lips.

"Kuranosuke," she called across the courtyard, waving to grab his attention. He turned away from his peers and gave her one of his dazzling grins. He was what she could only call beautiful, with his chiseled chin and luscious curled locks of dark brown hair. His hazel eyes watched as she approached.

"Hey," he drawled as she got nearer, wrapping his arms around her in an embrace.

She clutched onto him tightly before standing on her tiptoes to give him a quick peck on the cheek. They had been together for almost a year now and had planned to spend the rest of their lives together. They had already chosen which colleges they would attend and talked about getting out of the town, to escape the confinement of their parents' watchful eyes and gossiping friends. There was a whole world out there to see.

Kuranosuke glanced back at his group of friends. She had never really gotten to know them, as they never seemed to enjoy her presence. "Can I talk to you for a minute?" he asked, taking her hand and leading her away from everyone else.

"Sure," she replied, her smile widening. "Actually, I've got something to tell you." Eyes the color of dark chocolate flecked with hazel nut sparkled in excitement. He missed the way she laid a protective hand over her stomach.

When they reached a clearing where no one would overhear, he dropped her hand and took a step back, suddenly looking uncomfortable under her gaze. "Look, Sango," he began, rubbing his hand over the back of his head, his eyes downcast. "I don't think this is working out."

Her smile faltered, but never left her face. "What do you mean?"

A sigh escaped him as he stuffed his hands into his jean pockets. "Maybe we should break up."

Sango could have sworn her heart stopped beating as his words sunk in. "Is this a joke?" she asked harshly, wearing a puzzled expression. When he didn't reply, she knew it was no laughing matter. "I don't understand. I love you."

He winced at her words. "I know. I loved you too, once. But feelings change. People change."

She shook her head in disbelief. "We planned our whole life together. Why?"

Kuranosuke shrugged. "I guess I met someone else."

Tears stung her eyes as she tried her best to hold them back, refusing to allow him to see her cry. Her cheeks flushed as she bit her lip. "You bastard," she mumbled, her words full of malice. "You only used me to get what you wanted and then you toss me aside like this? Is that what you do with all the girls you get with?"

He seemed uneasy and quickly glanced around, making sure no one would overhear their conversation. "Would you keep it down?" he asked.

"No, I will not keep it down," she replied fiercely. "You broke my heart and you want me to silently walk away as if there was nothing between us? Well, I won't!"

"I'm sorry, Sango," he said, beginning his retreat to the comfort of his friends. "Really, I am." Without another word, he sent her one last pitied glance before turning his back on her and walking away.

Sango stood there for a moment, ignoring the tears that slid down her cheeks and dripped soundlessly off her chin. Watching as he soon began laughing with his peers once more, she closed her eyes, unable to take the sight. Her heart had been shattered into a million pieces and her body had gone numb.

With an inaudible cry, the brunette turned and ran. She didn't care that school was starting in a few minutes, or that she would probably get detention for skipping class. Her friends wouldn't worry too much of her absence at lunch. All she wanted was to flee the pain and agony a simple boy had brought her. Her legs burned as she continued her way home, her breaths short and uneven as she rasped against the cool Spring morning. Her lungs felt as if they were on fire, but that didn't stop her.

A rundown house finally came into view. Its paint was peeling and the front yard was nothing but dirt. Sango sprinted up the porch steps and slammed open the door, immediately making her way to her room without so much as a hello to her mother. She curled up on her bed, stuffed her face into her pillow, and cried.

It was just that morning that she had found out some extraordinary news. Now it only seemed to be a burden after the breakup. Her sobs became louder as the realization of her situation began to sink in.

Sango was seventeen and pregnant. And now she was all alone.

-KS-

As the day turned to night, Sango finally worked up the courage to step out of her room and into the darkness of the house. It was eerily quiet. She could only assume that her mother hadn't heard her storm in earlier. School had ended hours ago, meaning that someone had probably called the house, questioning her mother of her whereabouts.

With a deep, shaky breath to calm the knot in her stomach, she walked into the kitchen. A shiver crept up her spine at the icy atmosphere in the room. Her mother was leaning against the counter, holding a lit cigarette between her fingers. She was a beautiful woman, in her mid-thirties with black hair. Her chestnut eyes were distant, absent of the warmth they used to hold, as they stared out into the evening twilight.

Sango took another deep breath as she stepped toward her, wringing her hands nervously. "Mom?" she called, her voice suddenly small. Her stomach lurched as nausea threatened to take root.

Her mother turned around to stare at her, causing all courage to escape the girl. "What is it?" she replied in a harsh tone.

Sango was used to this behavior by now. Ever since her father's death, her mother had turned cold, blocking out the rest of the world. Naomi didn't even deserve the title of 'mother'. "Maybe you should sit down," her daughter warned, bringing a clenched fist to her chest.

"I don't want to sit down." Her voice seemed to echo in the room. The teenager dropped her gaze to the ground, trying to figure out how to proceed. Irritated with the girl's behavior, Naomi crossed her arms. "Spit it out already."

"I'm pregnant," Sango blurted, immediately covering her mouth with her hands, as if to take back the truth. She watched her mother's expression contort through the different emotions. A fleeting look of surprise and hurt passed her mother's eyes, but it was quickly gone, making Sango wonder if it had ever been there in the first place.

Naomi's eyes were empty as her expression turned cold. "Get out," she commanded. There was no remorse in her tone – no sadness or pain.

Sango could only stare at her, completely shocked at what she just said. "But mom," she tried, confused by her reaction. By this time, her stepfather had entered the room and held a look of concern. Without even getting all of the facts, he wrapped a protective arm around his wife's shoulders.

"I said I want you out of my house!" Naomi screamed. "I will not have a tramp living under this roof."

Her eyes wide, Sango gaped, utterly surprised by her mother's words. "W-what?" she stuttered, sure her ears were betraying her.

"You heard your mother," Ryota said sternly. He and Sango had never gotten along. "Pack a bag and leave this instant."

She didn't tear her gaze from her mother's face. "Mom, you can't be serious! You are willing to throw not only your daughter, but your grandchild, out onto the streets without so much as a second thought?" Naomi simply took another drag of her cigarette. "I can't believe you! If dad was alive, he never –"

Her words were cut off as a resounding slap echoed through the room. Words were lost to Sango for a moment, unable to speak, as she brought a hand to her cheek that was now pulsing with pain. She was shocked beyond belief. Her mother had never raised a hand to her before. Never.

"Don't speak of your father," she warned.

The brunette turned a hardened glare on Naomi, and then shot Ryota a sideways glance. "It's because of him, isn't it?" she muttered, seething on the inside, but too proud to show it. "There was a time that you and I cared for one another, even after father's death. But now it seems your vision is clouded by that sorry excuse for a man. You want to choose him over me? Then so be it."

She spun on her heel and retreated to her room. Tears fell heavily from her eyes as she slammed the door closed behind her. Still in a daze, she packed her school bag full of clothes and grabbed two objects from her nightstand drawer.

One was a large roll of money that she had been saving up, never having the chance to spend it. The other was her most prized possession: a silver chain with a perfect, spherical rose quartz. It was the last gift her father had given her before he died. Her mother kept all of his other possessions.

Sango shook her head to rid her thoughts of the painful memories and clasped the necklace around the column of her throat. Her eyes swept over the room a final time, allowing her mind to wander. She quickly turned around and headed toward the door, silently scolding herself. If she allowed herself to remember happier times, it would have simply been too much.

She walked down the hall, swiping a hand across her eyes to wipe away the tears. She held her head high as the door to her left opened, revealing her younger brother. "Sango?" he said in a worried tone as he expressed his sympathy.

His sister only stared at him. "Go back in your room, Kohaku," she whispered.

In her mother's eyes, Kohaku was the perfect child. He had never disobeyed her, and because of that, he was still so innocent. "But, Sister," he pleaded, his eyes catching sight of her reddened cheek. "Did Mom …?"

Shaking her head, she smiled at him. "This was my fault," she argued softly. "Do not blame Mom for this, or for my absence."

"You're … you're leaving?" he clarified, his innocent brown eyes turning wide. "Then I'm coming with you."

"No, Brother. You have to stay here." She wrapped her arms around his shoulders and pulled him to her chest. He was still so pure. She had to protect him from being subjected to the harsh realities that had been thrust upon her. "I promise to keep in touch."

Tears gathered in his eyes. "I don't want you to leave," he admitted. "Please, don't leave me, Sango."

"It's going to be okay." She stooped down to look at him. "You're such a kind boy, Kohaku. Don't ever change that. I love you." She grazed a thumb over his freckled cheek to wipe away a tear.

With a final smile of farewell, she stood and continued her descent down the flight of stairs, keeping her gaze straight ahead. There was no turning back. This was for the best, especially for her brother's sake.

Naomi was standing near the front door. Sango didn't look at her, didn't speak to her, and made no motion whatsoever toward her. The love they shared was lost. She had hoped her family would support her and help raise her child. When she had decided to tell them about the baby, her fate had been sealed. The tie she had with her family was broken beyond repair.

Sango Taijiya never shed a single tear as she walked out into the cool night air, hearing the door slam behind her.

Updated: 7/11/15