Sango stared at the crackling fire. Inuyasha had gone with Kagome to her well of time as usual. Only after stressing that wouldn't go retrieve supplies if Sango really needed them, or one of them could always stay behind with her. Everything had worked out so perfectly for them, it seemed. Naraku was dead. The Sacred Jewel was shot into the abyss. The well still worked. Kagome could visit her family and live her life in the era with her soul mate. Though they had tried to hide it from the somber demon slayer she knew they were engaged. They were well on the way to their happily ever after. The thought of their situation in comparison to hers made Sango sick. Exhaling with a shudder, Sango suddenly felt very guilty for thinking such petty thoughts about her friends. They supported her unwaveringly and they were all she had left.

Disgusted with herself, Sango hiccuped and took another swallow of sake. She knew Inuyasha and Kagome hated her recent sake drinking habit, but the sharp burning sensation down her throat was one of few things that could make her feel again. Fate, as usual, had not been kind to tajiya. Kohaku had died in the last battle, his shard stolen in a desperate last ditch effort by Naraku to persevere. And Miroku had fallen to his wind tunnel, just a battle short of Naraku's death. Just the thought made tears sting Sango's bleary eyes as she zoned out, sake in hand.

She was well on the way to self loathing and inebriation, so much so that she didn't even notice the approaching figure. He had been watching her for a moment, turquoise eyes narrowed in slight disapproval. Her cheeks were rosy and her glassy stare was lost in the pit of the fire. When he had had enough he cleared his throat. "Yo." He rasped, muscular and tanned arms folded across a broad chest.

Blood shot brown eyes traveled up the olive skinned figure. She could tell from the sinewy, muscular frame who this body belonged to. She hiccuped again, locking with sky blue eyes before looking back into the fire. Finally, after another long sip, Sango spoke. "You." Was all the tumbled forth from her body. He looked around, one glinting fang bared. Dark hair splashed across his shoulders in a high ponytail.

"You drink that shit? You never struck me as a sake lover." He commented after a while, taking a lazy seat across from the fire and the demon slayer. She sniffed, averting her gaze from the well toned legs of the familiar youkai.

"I guess I never had a reason to drink it until now..." She mumbled, swirling the cup. He snorted, leaning back in a relaxed manner.

"Drinking that won't fix your problems, or-" He shot a somewhat soft gaze towards her. "Ease your pain." He was surprised when she hurled the cup at him, a surprisingly dark glare on her face. She grabbed the bottle and took a long swallow, dark eyes seething in the demon's direction.

"Don't you talk to me about pain."

He rolled his shoulder, interested that Sango was finally reacting. "Hey, you're not the only one who lost someone you loved to him. I wasn't even there to see the bastard die. I have no closure." Sango set the near empty bottle down and returned her gaze back to the fire.

"There is no closure. It always hurts. Deal accordingly." He had to chuckled at that.

"But you're not dealing with anything. I'm just saying, the times we did battle I always respected you. You were fierce as you were. No spiritual powers, no demonic powers, just you. You were never somebody I wanted to cross... It'd be a shame to piss it all away in sake bottles." He replied smugly. He finally had Sango's fully attentive eyes on him with that remark, her fingers drumming against the ceramic bottle.

"Are you saying you're not threatened by me now?" Was her cool and surprisingly intelligible response. He leaned forward with a sneer, staring at her rosy cheeks.

"I'm not scared of a drunk-" Before he had finished the mug with remaining sake had shattered next to his head, splattering the alcoholic liquid all over him. He hadn't so much as turned his head before he found himself face to face with Sango's katana. He took the moment of immobility to take in the sight of Sango.

He had never taken the time to really examine her outside of battle. He had always been smitten with Kagome for her beauty, her kindness, her inner strength. The sight of Sango, leaning over with a weapon in her hand was a whole other sight. Her curves weren't a secret, barely contained by her disheveled kimono. Her hair was falling loose from her ribbon, splaying all over her shoulders as her piercing eyes glared at the demon. He licked a fang suggestively, glaring back at her. "So, now what?" Finally, her full lips turned up in a smile.

He was very interested in seeing where this was going to lead to based on the look on her face. But Inuyasha, as usual, had to ruin it. "KOGA!" With ease the wolf youkai leapt just out of reach of the hanyou's claws, gold eyes glaring at him. "You bastard, what the fuck are you bothering her for?!" Kagome hurried after him in her miko robes, looking worriedly at the campsite. It didn't seem like much damage had been done and both Koga and Inuyasha were in one piece.

Kagome sidled up to Sango peering worriedly at her. She appeared fine, or at least as fine as she was going to be (not that she expected Koga to harm her). "Oh Inuyasha, now you know Koga would never harm any one of us. He probably caught our scents and stopped by, right?" She smiled sweetly at the two youkai preparing to engage in battle. Even if Koga had essentially given up on Kagome, he still melted at her smile. Cracking his neck, he straightened up.

He shrugged, glancing at the tajiya who was still glowering at him. "Actually, I caught hers. I stopped by because I realized I didn't know much about that one, that's all." Inuyasha eyed him suspiciously as he filed past her. He waved at Kagome. "Make sure dog-breath takes care of you, and just let me know if he doesn't!" He was surprised when Inuyasha took a firm grip on his shoulder.

He leaned close, eyes shining intensely at the wolf demon. "Take your shit somewhere else, wolf. She doesn't need any of it and she doesn't need anymore disappointments." He whispered. Koga sent Sango another glance.

"She hasn't broke yet, I'm sure she's not going to." Inuyasha leaned back with crossed arms, dissatisfied. Hesitantly, he waved towards Sango. "See you." He said, preparing to take off.

"Sango." She corrected. "It's Sango."