Chapter 2

Hey people, sorry for the late update, I've had this chapter done for a while now, but haven't been as motivated as I should have to get it out xD sorry to have made anyone wait! Please read and review, no flames.

A lone figure steadily walked out into the field, blood had painted the ground red, bodies littering the floor, paying no heed the figure slowly made their way to the centre of the field, where laid a baboon pelt and a small pile of ashes.

The figured narrowed their gaze at the pile with unveiled amusement "Pathetic" came the sultry voice of the figure as they bent and kneeled before the remains of the once living, evil hanyou.

A wooden bowl was taken out from a satchel, and the ashes scooped up, standing once more, the figure cupped the bowl and sneered "Couldn't defeat that pathetic group, even with half the jewel..."

With that the figure sealed the bowl, placing it in their satchel bag and making their way back to the dense foliage of the forest.

"Kohaku..." Sango whispered out, bringing a trembling hand to her lips when she found her brother leant up against a sturdy tree, breathing very shallowly, he looked like death.

His skin was very pale, it was even making the freckles that dusted his nose pale, his body was hunched in exhaustion as if he was fighting with himself to breathe, his eyes were squeezed shut so hard that tears were leaking from his eyes.

He shook fiercely as his body wracked with pain. Sango not being able to take it anymore, ran over to him, her feet thudding with every step, she quickly fell to her knees in front of him, hugging him to her chest, rocking him slowly. She whispered soothing words into his ear as she ran her fingers through his slightly damp hair.

"Kohaku..." she whispered again, knowing that he wasn't long for this world, her form trembled as she tried not to sob and just concentrate on comforting her brother.

He leaned out of her tight grip, her hands not leaving his shoulders, he slowly bought a shaky had up to her face and cupped her cheek. Sango gasped at him, when she looked into his eyes, they were bright and alive, not their usual dulled selves when under Naraku's control.

He gave her a small smile, one that she hadn't seen in many years "Nee-san...I-I'm sorr-" he sentence was cut off as a harsh bout of coughs shook his frame, as blood dripped from his hands.

"Kohaku!" Sango shouted, watching in horror at the blood in his hands, he gave one last look at her when his coughing fit ended.

A breeze went through the clearing ruffling their bangs, as they looked into each other's eyes, Sango's red and puffy from tears and worry, his own shining acceptance.

Slowly he laid back against the tree and inhaled his last breath, the sound making his chest seems like it was rattling.

"Nee-san..." he choked out, his hand reaching out to hers on the grass, with his last words, his eyes dulled of life and his body went limp, his arm limply fall to the ground by his side, his head tilting back into the tree as a trickle of blood escaped his lips.

Sango covered her mouth as a sob pushed it way through, her body wracking with them, she put her hands on his shoulders "K-koha-haku...?" she called, and shook him slightly.

No response.

Sango heaved trying to breathe as felt herself start to hyperventilate "Kohaku!" she shouted, shaking him, trying to get him to wake up, his body just limply moved with her hands, his head lolling forward with the motion.

She sat back on hunched in disbelief "His gone..." she whispered to herself, trying to not believe it, he couldn't be! She came all this way and defeated Naraku and...and...

Sango closed her eyes in anguish and raised her head to the heavens, hot tears still running down her face.

"Kohaku!"

Her shout echoed through the valley.

"She's not too far ahead, come on!" Inuyasha shouted behind, wanting the others to keep up and not get left behind.

Kagome had picked up Kirara, due to her wounds slowing her down, she didn't think she would be able to hold Shippo and run at the same time, he was quite a deal more heavy than Kirara.

Miroku watched as Inuyasha plowed on ahead, not even thinking to run and pick up the young kitsune, to make the journey faster, Miroku sighed as he bent down to scoop up the kit, albeit reluctantly, not sure how to feel about the Kazaana.

Kagome met his violet eyes in understanding, before she continued running, Shippo having not sensed the Monks discomfort, gave him a bright smile and held onto his purple robes eagerly, with another sigh, Miroku followed the others, as he too, ran towards the Taijiya that had captured his heart.

Inuyasha burst into the clearing, sniffing intently to pick up any scents, and made his way to where he smelt Sango and...

Inuyasha paused in his stepping, and lowered his eyes minutely, he smelt blood, death and Kohaku's fading scent. Unsure of how to continue he waited for the rest of the group to catch up, so they could all survey the damage together.

Inuyasha's ears perked up at the sound of a cry and registered it as Sango's, he felt sympathy well up inside him at the sound, his ears laid back against his head.

After a few minutes, Kagome and Miroku burst into the clearing, where the hanyou stood, holding the other members of their group, panting in exhaustion.

Inuyasha found he couldn't blame them for it, they had just defeated Naraku, even he was quite exhausted himself, he looked at them with sad eyes, and tilted his head in the direction he knew Sango was in.

Kagome felt tears well up in her eyes, she dashed ahead of Inuyasha, the others following behind.

Kagome grimaced, her side ached something terrible and her arm felt like it was on fire from the claw marks.

"Mew?" Kagome looked down at the small neko youkai in her arms, and gave her a small smile.

"I'm fine" Kagome replied in a whisper, stroking Kirara's side with her thumb, reassuring her.

'Sango...'

"Kohaku...please come back!" Sango sobbed into the boys chest, dampening the material of the yukata he wore, she gripped onto it with her clenched hands.

She felt numb, what was she going to do now? She had tried, tried so hard to save him and this is what happened. She felt anger surge through her as she lifted her face up from his yukata, and stared at his peaceful face. The blood that had slipped past his lips dried, she raised her hand and wiped it off gently, seemingly mesmerised as it flaked off with her strokes.

She felt fury well within her 'Naraku!' she snarled in her head as she caressed the boys face, she felt the anger leave her in a flurry, and tilted her head down, her bangs covering her eyes, as more tear slipped past her now closed eyelids.

It was over now, nothing more could be done, they had defeated Naraku, and she had unknowingly already avenged Kohaku's death.

Sango sighed depressingly and gently cradled his hand between her own, he had been her brother for only fourteen years and for three of them, he was taken from her by Naraku.

She clenched her teeth in frustration, gripping tightly to the boys limp hand, "I should have tried harder!" she harshly whispered.

'...Should have tried harder...'.

They continued their trek back to the village that Kaede resided in, in silence, everyone was deathly silent the only sound heard was the crunching of their footsteps on the old worn path.

Inuyasha was in the front leading the way, with his usual scowl on his face, Miroku was in the middle of the group with Shippo on his shoulder, both just looking into the distance. Sango, Kagome and Kirara took up the back of the group.

Kagome, picked at the hem of her skirt and bit her lip slightly, not liking the uncomfortable silence, she was itching to say something but she didn't want to disturb anyone, everyone had his or her own thoughts to currently dwell on.

She inaudibly sighed as she kicked at a stone that was on the old, worn path 'What are we going to do now?' she thought, glancing at Sango discreetly at the corner of her eyes.

Sango was walking in a trance and seemed to be just watching her feet as they all walked along, Kagome closed her eyes, hiding the watering of her eyes.

Ever since they found her in the field, it was like looking at a different person, they had found her leaning against Kohaku against an old worn tree, his eyes blank and dead to the world. She had her head against his chest, waiting to hear a heartbeat and was just staring, with tears slowly trailing down her face.

She looked so broken. Nothing like the strong girl she knew.

She couldn't imagine losing her younger brother 'Sango-chan...' her eyes snapped open, hearing Sango stumble, Kagome quickly gripped her arm, to keep her steady, and looked at her with worry.

"Sango, are you okay?" Kagome asked, she looked down at the older girls feet seeing the rock the Taijiya must have stepped on. Even though it was just a rock, her friend was in a bad state, but it was odd to see the usually graceful girl stumble over such a small rock.

'That's my job' Kagome grumbled in her head, thinking of all the times Inuyasha told her off for being so clumsy. She mentally shook her head and bringing her attention back on her friend, Sango seemed to blinking out of her stupour and just stared at the Miko with blank eyes for a moment before shrugging the girl off and continuing on, once again in her trance.

Kagome felt a pinch of hurt, but swiftly pushed that aside, and started walking after her, she knew how the girl felt, 'Especially since...'

Kagome shook her head quickly, feeling her chest clench with pain, she couldn't dwell on that thought anymore, she needed to be strong for her friends. With that thought, she lifted her head up and noticed Miroku staring at her with his intense gaze, she felt her face embarrassingly heat up.

'What's wrong with me?' she thought, as she quickly diverted her attention to the ground, tearing her gaze from his intense violet stare.

"Oi wench, we're taking a break" Inuyasha gruffly announced to her, Kagome stopped her walking and just stared dumbly at the hanyou's back.

'Who are you and what have you done with Inuyasha?' her mind not comprehending that for once it was Inuyasha himself that wanted to stop.

Inuyasha halted in his heavy footfalls, his eras twitching, not hearing her footsteps and looked at her curiously, seeing her dumbfounded look, he felt his face heat up, pink dusting his cheeks "Look, the smell of your blood is annoying my nose, go fix yourself up" with that he leaped into a tree, effectively ending the conversation.

Kagome huffed before giving a wince, with everything that had happened she had just blocked out the pain, now it was making sure she could feel it.

She wasn't sure whether to thank the hanyou or kick him repeatedly.

'Where will life lead me now?' Miroku shifted his gaze from the trees that lined the side on the meadow they were currently walking through, to the clear blue sky.

On such a day they would all usually be chatting away, Kagome with Shippo in her arms, walking along side the surly hanyou Inuyasha, while he and Sango would take up the rear, while he tried to feel up said girls rear.

Kagome and Sango would share looks, mentally conversing about their dislike with the boys at that time, Shippo teasing Inuyasha, Inuyasha grumbling, usually from being 'sat' and himself usually sporting a red mark from a hard slap, or a bump on the head from the lovely Sango.

It wouldn't be the same again.

He could feel how tense everyone was, while he was the strongest that he knew at detecting auras, you'd have to be spiritually stunted to not feel the tension, that was so thick, you'd be able to cut it with a knife.

Hearing the commotion behind him, he halted his steps and looked over his shoulder at the females of the group, he felt pain well in his chest seeing Sango's blank face, she was so out of it, it was amazing she could still walk.

He shook his head, he should be there helping her though this, not wallowing, even with this thought he stayed rooted to his spot, what if the Kazaana opened...

A sigh escaped his lips as he watched the Miko, help her, and for the older girl to just shrug her off as if she was no one 'Sango?' he questioned worriedly in his mind, watching as she made her way past him to continue walking as if nothing happened.

As if none of them were there.

He looked back at Kagome, and noticed her brief look of pain and an air of melancholy set around her, he stared at her intensely trying to work out what wrong. Surely what Sango did wouldn't have caused the overwhelming sadness he could now feel in her aura.

He noticed her look up and quickly look away from him, he felt his heart beat a tad faster than normal, but ignored it, and followed the others.

End.

Thankyou for reading, hope you enjoyed the chapter, please R&R.