Ok, so I kinda got this idea from a whole mixture of thing. The movie Fifty First Dates, Smallville, and my crazy subconscious mind all contributed to the making of this.

Reminiscence

Chapter One

Sango laid her head against her beloved monk's chest, soaking up the warmth that came pouring from Miroku's body. It was a bright, beautiful day. Sunlight streamed from the sky, even though it was partially blocked by clouds. A day like this was rare for the winter, so it was expected that they would all enjoy it while it lasted. It was only the beginning of January, but this unexpected, nevertheless fully appreciated, sun started to melt off all the frosty ice crusting the earth so that fresh water ran down the hill the taijiya now sat on, feeding the grass and making beautiful flowers pop up with the anticipation of spring.

Of course, it wasn't exactly like spring. All the animals had still played it safe and were in hibernation, so there was no usual chatter of the squirrels or lovely bluebird songs. And of course, there weren't the usual butterflies that Sango had loved so much for they were probably somewhere over the ocean now. However, all of this didn't matter for the taijiya was with her monk, the man she loved most out of every other of those billion souls in the world. He wasn't the most perfect man in the world for Sango, she had to admit that, but he was someone she could lean on for support; someone who could understand her and could offer her protection from all of her troubles.

This was all she could possibly want, wasn't it? Sometimes she kept stealing a glance at him and drank in his features. Miroku was better-looking than the average man and Sango was less than average in her opinion. Sometimes, it didn't feel right to be with Miroku, but other times, like now, it felt like they both were fit for each other like pieces of a puzzle.

Sighing her contentment, Sango glanced up to stare at those wonderfully violet eyes once more. But, to her surprise, his head was turned from her, blocking out those beautiful orbs from her view. "Houshi-sama?" she whispered, stroking his hair. Miroku immediately turned to stare at her, his indigo eyes as cloudy as the sky was as he bit the inside of his cheek, trying to look normal, but miserably failing at that.

"Houshi-sama, what's wrong?" Sango immediately asked, cupping the monk's face in her hands and searching his eyes for an explanation.

Miroku heavily sighed, "I don't know how to say this Sango. I've never felt like this before."

"You can tell me," The slayer encouraged, her whole face serious, "You can tell me anything."

The monk sighed again, "Sango, you know how I feel about you, right?" Sango nodded impatiently, willing him to go on, "Well, we've been together now for… months, almost a year we've been looking for Naraku… and I…" he hesitated, staring at Sango.

"You what?" She asked, curious to what he might say and hoping he wouldn't break up with her.

"I love you," He said, quickly looking away, his cheeks slightly flushed from embarrassment.

Sango smiled at his answer. She was able to say it back at him, "I lo-"she paused, realized that if she were to say that, it would be a lie and she would never lie. Instead, she bit her lip and restarted, "Yes, I know. Thank you, Miroku."

Miroku glanced at her, looking at her reaction. She seemed genuinely happy, but the monk couldn't be too sure. "And how do you feel about me?" He asked her back.

Sango's smile dropped a bit, but she quickly regained it as she dove into her brain for a reasonable solution, "Um, I feel very strongly about you back. You are a great companion and I love you, my friend," She said, able to say the "l word" in that situation because it was true. She did love him as a friend.

Miroku didn't seem to pick that up and he grinned, "Well, since I love you and you love me, I guess it's obvious that we should…" He paused, "We should get married?" It wasn't a statement. It was a question in a pleading tone.

Sango's mouth hung open in complete surprise. She had not been expecting this. They sat in stunned silence and she could almost feel Miroku's chagrin but was too deep in thought to reply. Did she want to marry Miroku? Her subconscious mind immediately recoiled at the thought and sternly told her "no!" But, her logical mind asked her why not? It was nice being around Miroku and he wasn't going to be a bad spouse. He would be a great dad, so why not? It's not as though people married for love these days anyways. Most people married people they hated, so wasn't Sango lucky that she got to marry someone she liked? No, she did not love him, but like was enough. Besides, wasn't she old enough to get married? Another year or so and it would be too late. No one wanted to marry an old woman.

Sango remembered the day she hit puberty at the age of thirteen; her father had tried to find her a husband. He had asked everyone, but there were two problems that prohibited her from getting married. One: She was too stubborn-willed to surrender her high ego and submit to any man ruling over her and two: this was the more important one, though she hated to admit it. No man would ever take her anyway. Though she was delightful to their senses, she was nothing more than a one-night stand. They did not want women like her. They did not want a stubborn warrior. They wanted a real woman. One that could cook and clean and raise children without complain. A woman who ran off to slay demons without the confirmation that she might even return horrified them. Sango was no man's type.

But then there was Miroku. Every woman was his type and yet he only asked her to marry him… The other times, Sango hoped, were just jokes. Still, even though she knew that Miroku would be great for a husband and that he was her last resort, the thought of marrying him was not totally the most repulsive thing she had heard, but still, he wasn't for her. Everyone had a soul mate and he clearly was not hers. Still… This would have made her father proud and that's all she would ever want…

Her mind finally made up, Sango gave Miroku a brilliant smile and in a loud and clear voice, she answered, "Yes, Miroku, I'll marry you."

0

Sango slowly began to change into her tight slayer outfit as she began to think about the events of earlier that day. She had hidden shyly behind Miroku as he held her hand and proudly announced that they were getting married to the rest of their friends.

Kagome had trilled in happiness and immediately started to work out their wedding, declaring herself the wedding planner and exclaimed that they were going to have a white lace party theme… whatever that meant…

Inuyasha had snorted his approval and merely told Miroku that it was about time he made a move while Shippo blinked at them, not quite old enough to understand what was going on. Kirara had attached herself to Shippo, determined not to look at Sango for she did not approve. That confused the taijiya the most. Everyone else seemed to approve of her and Miroku, but for some reason, not the fire neko. Kirara had been Sango's life-long companion and friend and it was she who knew Sango the best, so why did Kirara disapprove?

Sighing as she pulled on the last of her armor, she recalled the rest of the morning. Kagome had announced that their wedding would be held this coming spring. Then she had to go back to her time to pick up some supplies or something for the wedding, but Inuyasha protested, as usual, and there their usual fight began. However, it all ceased as Kagome exclaimed that she sensed a jewel shard… Not jewel shards, as in Koga or Naraku was approaching, but jewel shard, as in Kohaku…

The taijiya forced herself to inhale deeply as she pulled on her sword. She must stay cool and not allow her emotions to show. Just like a stone… Be a stone. Emotions were for the weak. It was better to stay quiet and observe silently so no one could pick at your thoughts. Many people poured their heart out, but that was dangerous. Even doing that to your closest companion was life threatening. In the feudal era, who knows what kind of monstrous demon could be hiding in the form of a friend?

Then, Sango completed her outfit by quickly flinging her long hair in a high ponytail and running out from the bushes she changed behind to meet up with her friends. Kagome stood in the front, her full mouth set in a thin line, like she always did when anxiety threatened to overcome her. Miroku's fun-loving eyes were unnaturally stern and glinted almost black, even in the sunlight. She could have expected those two's emotions to shine through. What she didn't expect was Inuyasha's behavior. His usual confident, boisterous high ego was gone. Instead, he stood perfectly still like a statue carved in marble. No one would be able to tell if he was actually alive if not for the soft swishing of his silver hair in the slight, chilly breezes.

Immediately, Sango knew that it wasn't just Kohaku that was making them all so tense. There was a high demonic aura in the air, but who was it. "What's the matter?" She asked, hoping that they would tell.

Kagome glanced over worriedly at Inuyasha and he gave her a slight nod, which was all she needed, "Well, it, um, Miroku sensed a demonic aura. It's Sesshomaru."

Sango frowned at the big deal they were making out of that, "So?" She asked, casually.

Kagome paused, looking troubled, "Um, he's with Kohaku."

That set the taijiya off, "Which way?" she demanded, the determination fierce in her eyes.

"Northeast, but Sango-" the miko began, but her friend had already darted off as fast as her two legs would allow, "Sango!" she called after, but there was no reply, "Naraku is also nearby…" She concluded feebly.

Sango sprinted through the dense forest, wishing very much that Kirara wasn't mad at her. It would have been so much easier to fly over the trees at a much faster rate. However, there was no time for complaining- she had her brother to save! But, the good thing was that she could sense the demonic aura getting stronger, which had to mean that she was getting closer to that arrogant snob of a youkai. Hearing people talking just bits away from her, she could tell that she was there. The exterminator jumped over a large boulder, squished through thick hedges and-

There they were! The little girl sitting atop a large, mossy rock was the first view that appeared in her sight. She seemed delighted about something with the little ugly green imp besides her, looking very repulsed about something. Sango usually would have felt the need to stop and ask the girl why she was so happy, but today, she was in a desperate rush and had absolutely no time. Skidding to a halt, Sango's mind suddenly blanked and the tall pines, the crisp blue sky and the dark green mossy earth, which she had thought beautiful before, all seemed plain and faded into a background for creature that was Sesshomaru.

He stood tall and still, amazingly perfect and beautiful with his sharp, arched features and light mien. His molten gold eyes focused on her, making the usually controlled slayer gasp with shock. After staring back for a couple of stunning seconds, Sango quickly recalled what she was here for and ended the staring contest by removing her eyes from his to look for Kohaku. At once, she found the familiar young boy. He stood motionlessly at Sesshomaru's feet, much like a lifeless puppet of some kind.

That infuriated the taijiya. Her brother was not to be messed with like this! "What have you done to my brother?" She demanded of the demon, careful not to look him in the eye in case he was to stun her again. Sango thought that it was unfair that one could be as perfect like him.

Sesshomaru cocked his head slightly at the young woman's rudeness. As distressed as she was, she was still such a sight to male eyes. Long raven locks of hair streamed out from a messy ponytail in pieces all over her face. Dirt covered her hands and small tears covered her outfit, but she still burned with an unquenchable determination that showed in her bright brown eyes which looked as if they could have been warm and nice, but at this very moment were filled with anger. The slayer was tall, fair, and very slender, though without curves that were showed off by the tightness of her suit and right then Sesshomaru hated the slayer for making him even entertain these thoughts, but made no suggestion that he had even heard her, for he just stared ahead with eyes so blank that no one could ever tell what his thoughts were. Finally, his eyes flashed a shade of intense copper, "I have not done anything to you brother," He said coolly, "yet." He added with the slightest twitch of his mouth that could only be categorized as a smirk. It would be interesting to see what her reaction was. He wasn't disappointed.

Sango's cinnamon eyes widened at that supposed threat, "You wouldn't," she breathed, not looking away from his eyes, which did not seem so wonderful now that he was going to hurt her brother. Yes, they were still beautiful, but a dangerous, violent kind of beauty that she did not like.

Sesshomaru's eyebrows came briefly together in small frown, not being able to comprehend the taijiya's words, "I would," was all he said simply before he zoomed toward Kohaku with incredible speed, his claws poised in perfect accuracy for striking.

Time seemed to freeze then for if it hadn't, Sango obviously wouldn't be able to see Sesshomaru for he was moving so fast, it would look as though he were only an odd flash of bright silver light. "Stop!" Sango called out, racing forward to try to save her brother. She was frustrated from the slowness of her movements, but she really couldn't help being human. Dread overcame her and Sango didn't even bother to whisk the pesky pieces of hair that had gotten in her face aside as she watched Sesshomaru's deadly claws approached Kohaku's vulnerable back. "No!" Sango tried to exclaim, but time seemed to speed up at then and before the word left her lips, Sesshomaru had plunged his dagger-like nails into the very spot Kohaku's jewel shard lay.

Tears sprung into those once filled with love brown eyes as she watched her precious brother stagger for a moment. Then, that damned youkai withdrew his hand from the flesh it was in to show that the white hand was now covered with red, red blood so thick that it almost covered the sparkling pink jewel in his palm. Sango finally managed to make her stupid legs work and rushed to Kohaku, enveloping him in her arms and ignoring the colorful red blood that moistened her clothing.

Cinnamon eyes nearly identical to hers, minus the fact that they were a few shades darker, seemed to spark up in life, but then cloud over again in the length of a second. "Sister," Came the feeble croak from her dear brother's voice before he collapsed in her arms, fresh rubies of blood squirting out form his back wound and leaving a nice puddle around where the two siblings sat.

"Kohaku!" She said urgently, feeling his pulse. Bump… bump… Sango waited impatiently for the third beat, but it never came. Fresh tears started running down her cheeks now, like salty rivers of sadness. She tried to fight them for a while, but then completely surrendered, thinking that it was all over- that she had lost absolutely everything now.

Sesshomaru watched all this with the shadow of the slightest frown on his perfect face. He had thought that the taijiya had loved her brother, so why was she acting like this? Stupid, confusing humans, he thought as he observed the woman sobbing freely with despair in front of him. Finally, he couldn't take it anymore and unsheathed the Tenseiga. "Move aside," he warned coolly.

Sango shook her head, afraid that he would want to disfigure her beloved brother's body. All she wanted to do now was to let him rest in peace, where there was no Naraku to haunt him.

Sesshomaru was annoyed. He remembered that nothing of importance could happen to a living person by the Tenseiga, so the little female slayer wouldn't get hurt. The Inuyoukai then slowly began to raise the arm holding the life-returning sword, and in doing so, the creatures of the underworld appeared in his vision. He narrowed his eyes to see them crawling all over the little boy's body as if to them, he was nothing more but a broken toy. And, Sesshomaru also realized that they were also starting to crawl on the female's body, which appeared to look as though she was slowly dying from a broken heart.

He had to act fast, so he did. With one fluid movement, Sesshomaru glided his sword over both siblings, ignoring the shrieks of pain from the underworld creatures as they burned with pain, then ceased to exist. Another swipe of his blade finished off the rest of the creatures, and with that, he slid his blade back into his sheath and waited for the boy to snap out of it.

At that moment, Sango felt a quite peculiar feeling. She was so sad just seconds ago from the loss of her brother, but now a warm aura radiated from deep within her, making her feel much better. Her tears immediately dried up and her chest, in which contained her heart, stopped hurting. Not sure exactly what had happened, she glanced up to see Sesshomaru standing in front of her, tucking his sword into the sheath at his waist. Sango frowned. What was that for?

"Sa-Sango?" A quiet voice in her arms gently said.

Suddenly, it hit her. Sesshomaru- the nasty arrogant demon- had revived Kohaku! But why? Tears moistened her eyes again, but this time, it was not from sorrow, "Oh, Kohaku! You're alive!" Kohaku's eyes were also wet. However, he didn't say anything more for fear that once he did; he might wake up from this lovely dream. Joy radiated from her pretty, pale face in gratitude, "Sesshomaru, you did this?" When she got no response but a blank stare, she continued, "Oh, thank you! But why?" She bit down her tongue then, wishing she had not asked that in case he would suddenly regret his actions and kill him.

Sesshomaru looked scornfully toward her, "Do not think I did that for you. It was merely because Rin had asked me so."

Sango just barely managed to resist slapping him by remembering that he had brought back Kohaku. Instead, she momentarily let go of her adored sibling to rush at Rin and wrap her in a tight embrace. The little girl gently patted Sango on the back, not sure if she should be thrilled or freaked out. Sesshomaru tensed up, but then, after deciding that Sango wasn't going to harm Rin, he relaxed slightly. "Thank you so much, Rin. You don't know what this means to me." Sango breathed, finally letting go of the girl.

Rin flushed pink, but overall looked pleased, "I only wanted someone to play with me," she confessed "And because" a frown crossed over her face for a mere second, then brightened "Kohaku protected me and I wanted to do something for him!"

The taijiya smiled at that, returning to her brother, "Well, now you'll have Kohaku to play with forever," The huge beam on her face really lightened up her features, making her much more attractive and quite pleasant to be around.

Sesshomaru didn't say anything but merely continued to watch their heart filled exchanging. Trying to ignore the happiness that filled the area, the Inuyoukai tried to concentrate to finding out the source of a new odor that had entered his sensitive nostrils. He closed his eyes and took a long whiff. It was a very subtle, but alluring scent of whom it belonged to, Sesshomaru couldn't be sure, but the scent was so fragrant, yet delicate that it had him reminded of only the fairest of female Inu-Taiyoukai. It was quite lovely, but completely unlike the fake floral perfumes most women wore- it was fresh, real almost. Not like artificial flowery junk, but like a real meadow of flowers. It was the soft aroma of aloe, tangy raspberries, and the hint of lemon mixed together in one fragrant odor.

The Taiyoukai took a long sniff, enjoying it immensely. Whomever the scent belonged to, he was sure it was a female of high status and power. But what kind of Inuyoukai would wish to meet him now? Sesshomaru was sure that no one would ever dare to approach him during his journeys. So why now? Well, whomever the scent belonged to, she was very close now. In fact, she was so close that he wouldn't be surprised to find the demoness right in front of him… Yes, she was definitely in front of him; less than even a foot, perhaps. Sesshomaru kept his eyes closed just one second longer before snapping them open to eye the demoness who had come.

It took him all his centuries of self-control not to growl in fury at the person it front of him in surprise. To his confusion, it wasn't another demoness; it was the slayer girl. But why had she smelled so rich and alluring just then? She was just a mere human! Maybe she had killed a demoness? But that couldn't be for she had no scent of death or blood on her. Perhaps…

Sesshomaru's train of thoughts was broken by the taijiya's voice.

"Um, thank you, Sesshomaru, for bringing my brother back," Sango said, a bit curtly. She was not used to being nice to demons, but her voice did ring with sincere gratitude. When Sesshomaru said nothing in return, she continued on, "I doubt you would want us here any longer, so Kohaku and I shall take our leave-"

"You will do no such thing," Sesshomaru finally spoke, his voice soft, but dominating.

Sango blinked, "Excuse me? What was that?"
The demon narrowed his cool eyes slightly, "Kohaku will not be going with you."

"Why not?" Sango demanded hotly, "I'm his sister, you know and I appreciate you reviving him, but we have to go."

"That's where you're wrong," He informed her, no anger showing on his face, but it was boiling down inside of him, "I didn't revive your brother for your sake. Rin wanted amusement so I did so for her. He will not be leaving us."

"Yes he will! My brother is coming with me whether you want it or not," Sango said through clenched teeth.

Sesshomaru lazily flicked a wrist upward, letting his deadly claws gleam in the dim, frosty sun, "I'd like to see you try," He challenged.

Sango glanced uneasily at the demon. She shifted the uncomfortable weight of the Hiraikotsu of her back, not sure whether or not she should snap it out for battle. But the thought of battling the creature in front of her made her queasy inside and, even though she wouldn't admit it, she knew she couldn't win. "Fine," Sango finally surrendered with a sigh.

Sesshomaru frowned, "It's that easy?"

The taijiya nodded, "There's no way to beat you, so why try?" She said with exaggerated weariness, "I'm in your debt and I don't want to try to become your enemy instead," Sango sighed again, "So, Kohaku shall stay."

The demon glared at her, knowing that there was a twist, "And?" He inquired.

Sango gave a small frown, "But there is a way we can get what we both want. You want Kohaku to stay with you and I need to be with my brother, so obviously, the best compromise would be if I travel with you." She smiled uneasily

Sesshomaru's jaw twitched, "You will do no such thing." One human girl was bad enough to cause all Inuyoukai to be gossiping about him behind his back. They said perverted things about Sesshomaru and Rin, which were completely untrue since he only saw her as a daughter, so what would they say if they saw him with a full-grown human woman? It couldn't be any good. "Just go back to that filthy hanyou."

"No way! I'm staying right here with Kohaku and nothing you can do will-"Sango suddenly stopped her eyes wide as she stared up in the sky. It had suddenly gotten very dark and an ominous aura hung in the air, "Do you sense that?" She quietly asked, their argument quickly forgotten.

The dog demon took a deep whiff, and then narrowed his eyes in hatred, "Yes," Who could mistake that evil aura for anything else? "Naraku's approaching."

It gets better than this, I swear! Anyways, I'd like to thank my beta and my sister for spreading the fever to me so my subconscious mind could have thought up of this.