The early dawn shone through the sea foam green meadow, the grass rippling like waves on an ocean. The taijiya stood near the edge of a brook that ran through the dew-laced plants, solemn chocolate eyes looking at her own reflection. Weathered hands reached for the interior of her salmon kimono as she reached for a loop of murasaki beads. She held the string in front of her, hands gripping the round spheres intently. Tears began to swell to her eyes, hands trembling, as she remembered the earlier events, and why she had the beads that once graced the hand of the monk she loved.

"Houshi-sama!"

"Stay away, Sango!" She didn't want to let him die. Not now. If that cursed hand of his was going to envelop him, she would die at his side.

"No Houshi-sama! I can't leave you! I will die withyou!" He looked at her with intense cobalt eyes, knowing his certain death as he reached out his left hand. She held on tightly, tears pouring from his eyes.

"Please... Remember me, Sango! Take these and remember me!" From his hand he released the beads that ones bound his cursed wind tunnel.

"No, Houshi-sama! I will die by the one I love!" She embraced him for only a moment, as she felt the ground around her being sucked into his Kazaana. Tears fell from both of their eyes as the monk pushed her away with such force that she fell. She tried to stand and run to him, but by the time she had done so, the wind tunnel forced Miroku into its vortex. The dust cleared, and Sango stood there silently, in the deep pit of ground that hadn't been sucked in. She swallowed hard. Was he really gone? Forever?

It had been a week since, and the impact it had left on the whole group seemed like it would never subside. But as anyone could suppose, it hit Sango the hardest. For three days she had not said nor eaten anything, until Kagome had begun nearly forcing food down her throat for her own good. She still wasn't speaking to anyone, and she thought she never would. She had tried to kill herself, but InuYasha had stopped her, keeping an eye out for her as well. When they thought she was finally stable, they let her go on her own to mourn. And there she was, sitting by the creek, beads in hand. She had not thought that the place where he had died would be a suitable grave, so she found a spot very special and dear to both of them. It was the meadow in which he had proposed to her, and she had gallantly accepted. It seemed now that it was wasted, though, because she never got to bear his child, nor would she ever be able to. She felt regret for not accepting his question earlier, and maybe she could have pleased him, even at her own expense. If she were to become pregnant, then the baby would be cursed and would envelop her in its Kazaana. But now, she thought, that would be selfish, for then their child would be without parents, and would have the same fate as its fathers before it.

Tears of frustration and anger ran down her peach cheeks. What had she done wrong? It was her fault that he had died. It was all her fault. She could have done something, anything. She planted her face in her thighs, salty drops soaking into her skirt. Why now... Why had he died now?

"Why do tears fall down your beautiful face, fair maiden?" She stopped whimpering for a moment, then sniffled. She didn't care who was standing behind her. Probably some man looking for a good time, she thought. Couldn't he see that she was mourning? Couldn't he see she didn't want anyone to comfort her? Couldn't he see?!

"Leave me alone to mourn the one I love." She didn't even look up at the stranger, only hearing his footsteps come closer.

"Who was this man, may I ask?" Again, she did nothing but stare at her legs, teeth clenched down upon her bottom lip.

"No one of your concern--" She stopped in mid speech as she felt a gentle hand to her rear. She quickly turned around to slap the pervert, but held her hand still an inch from his face as she saw who sat behind her.

"It can't be..." He smiled his signature smile, placing a hand upon her delicate face.

"My, my, Sango. How I have missed this..." He continued to grope her. She flinched and slapped him, but quickly embraced him.

"Houshi-sama..."

XxX Sorry that this is so short, but its just an introduction. More chapters to come! XxX