A/N-I was a little worried over the last chapter but I'm glad it was recieved positively. This chapter is similiar to the last one but from our dear Sango's pov so I hope you all enjoy it. Things will start picking up eventually, lol. Anyway, on with the reading.

Disclaimer: Inuyasha is not owned by me.

Chapter Three

Sango wasn't sure what to do. She wanted to visit her old village again but Kohaku did not seem interested in going there. Whenever she brought it up, he would change the subject or suddenly seem to get tired and retreat from conversation altogether. She didn't want to leave him but the pull to go back to their village was strong.

She wished she could talk to Miroku about this. He would probably have something wise to say. But then she was annoyed at herself. She didn't need Miroku's advice on how to handle her own brother. What could he possibly tell her that she couldn't figure out for herself anyway? He didn't have a brother.

It's not like he could be much help anyway since he was still out on his little journey to find himself or whatever it was he had said he was doing. She wondered how long he was going to be gone. Not that it really mattered to her, of course. Two weeks, eight weeks, eight months, it was all the same to her. He could be gone a year for all she cared.

Oh who was she kidding. Of course, she cared. She cared more than she would like to admit. Maybe she was too cold to him after their final battle, but she was exhausted and worried sick over Kohaku that she had no more energy left to give anyone. She figured that he more thany anyone else would understand. Maybe she should have kissed him before he left that way he'd remember what he left and come back sooner.

Truthfully, though, Sango did understand why he left. It was the same as her wanting to go back to the youkai exterminators' village. They were looking for the parts of themselves that could remember a time before their lives were dedicated to Naraku, before their lives had seemed so bleak, before their losses. So Sango knew that in the end, she would most likely make the trip back to their village even if Kohaku would not.

Sango was grateful that she had good friends. She could trust them in battle and she could trust them with her family. She would go for a while and when she came back, maybe they could all resume a normal life, or whatever normal was these days for them.

The only one who seemed somewhat opposed to her leaving was Kagome. Noting Sango's health, not that there was anything seriously wrong with her health, in Sango's own opinion, Kagome expressed her concern a few times. She wasn't sure Sango should leave while sick. Sango assured her many times that she was not sick. She had been feeling a bit nauseous and fatigued lately but that was hardly a cause for concern. Her normally strong immune system must be weak due to her recovery. She just had a…a bug.

She didn't want Kagome to make a big deal out of things, but of course she could not resist. She pestered Sango while she got ready.

"Are you sure you're okay to leave, Sango?" Kagome asked worriedly.

"For the hundredth time, I'm fine, Kagome. I appreciate your concern but really, don't worry," Sango replied.

"Okay, okay, it's just a little odd that you're still feeling sick. Make sure to take the medicine I gave you, okay?" Kagome said.

"Okay. And I'm not feeling sick. I haven't felt ill in days," Sango lied. She had actually felt quite ill this morning but she felt fairly normal now. It was getting harder to hide it from Kagome.

"Good. If you're sure then…"

"I'm sure."

"Alright. I'll do some research when I get home."

Sango raised her eyebrows. "You're going home?"

"Yeah. I've been busy here while everyone's been recovering so I thought I'd spend some time there. What?" Kagome said, looking nervous for some reason.

"Nothing," Sango said, turning back to tightening the tie around her bundle of supplies.

"It'll only be for a day or so. Kohaku will be fine," Kagome said, refolding a blanket.

"I'm sure he will but…" she paused, not sure whether she should venture onto the topic.

"But what?"

"You're really only going for a day?"

"Well yeah, I'm still needed here."

"What about when you're not?" Sango said, already regretting the words.

"No, it's okay," she said, staring down at the floor. "I think I'm going to just see how everything works itself out for a while before I make any decisions."

Sango didn't envy Kagome's position. Not only was she back and forth between two worlds, she also had her relationship with Inuyasha to sort out. She was curious about the development of their relationship, obviously she knew they cared about each other deeply, but how would thing turn out for them? But she knew better than to pry for details about that.

"Anyway, I'm not the interesting one. You are," said Kagome, sounding a bit too cheerful.

"Me?" Sango said, making a face at the thought. "How do you figure?"

"Well you and Miroku. Isn't it time to take your relationship to the next level?" she said excitedly.

"The next level…" she said, unconsciously rubbing her stomach. "We're going to take it slow." She had never told Kagome about how far to the next level they had actually went but Sango wanted to keep that between herself and Miroku for a while. Just the thought made her face warm.

"Slow…I guess that makes sense. You're both still young and neither of you has to be in any rush now. But you guys are so cute together," Kagome sighed happily.

Cute wasn't exactly what she would call her relationship with Miroku but she didn't want to spoil the young girl's fantasies.

"Isn't it romantic to find someone to spend the rest of your life with," Kagome smiled.

"Romantic?" Sango snorted. "Spending the rest of your life with someone like that monk is hardly romantic. Even spending your life with just one person in general isn't very romantic-just think, you have to depend on that one person for your happiness, and what if that person gets really annoying and eventually you can't stand each other." Suddenly those images became very vivid in her mind.

"Sheesh, can't you enjoy romantic thoughts for a little while before getting all boring," Kagome chastised.

"I'm just not a romantic," said Sango simply.

"Every woman's a romantic," Kagome assured her. "Even you," she elbowed her, "so don't act as if you're immune. Just you wait, you'll see."

"Yes, well, romance is great and all, and as hard for me as it is to leave that subject, I really do have to finish getting ready," she said firmly.

"You're no fun," Kagome said.

"Good. Fun is for the weak."

ooo

Early the next morning, Sango had all her supplies packed and was ready to go. But she couldn't find Kohaku or Kirara though they were probably together. She couldn't leave without seeing him. Maybe he would even change his mind about going.

Luckily, she found Inuyasha though she hadn't been looking for him. "Inuyahsa, have you seen Kohaku?" she asked breathless from rushing around.

"No, I haven't seen the kid all morning," he replied nonchalantly. She leaned against a tree feeling dizzy. "Hey, aren't you leaving today? He asked looking as though he were surprised to see her still standing there.

"Yes. Do you know where Kohaku might be?"

"Hmm," he paused. "Did you try searching through the forest? You just have to look."

"Yeah, thanks for that," she replied exasperated. She turned to head into the woods but Inuyasha called out to her, stopping her.

"Hey, Sango!"

She glanced at him over her shoulder. "Yes?"

"Take care of yourself."

"I will." She nodded. "It's not like I'm going away forever or anything. I'll be back soon enough."

"Yeah, I know but you probably won't hang around here very long," he said, looking past her.

"What?"

"Nothing. After me, you're about the next strongest so don't wander too far. You never know when we might need you again," he said gruffly.

"Thanks. It was good fighting beside you too." She smiled. "See you soon and don't give Kagome a hard time about going home."

"Feh, why would I?'

Sango just gave him a knowing look and headed into the woods. She finally found Kohaku deeper into the forest like Inuyasha had said. He was sitting on the ground with his back against a tree trunk and stroking Kirara's back absentmindedly. There was an absent look in his eyes as if his real thoughts and emotions were buried very deep inside him somewhere. She wished she could see into the place he was looking and figure out how to bring him back.

Sango cleared her throat but Kohaku gave no sign that he heard her. Kirara was looking up at her thoughtfully. "Kohaku," Sango said quietly.

He looked up at her. "Oh, Sango. Sorry, I didn't notice you."

"It's all right…I'm leaving soon," she said.

"Oh."

"If you want to come with me, you still can. It's not too late. We can-"

"Maybe next time," he said abruptly.

"Well, if you're sure…"she paused, giving him the chance to change his mind. He just stared up at her blankly. "All right, I guess I'll go then."

"Have a safe trip."

"Don't exhaust yourself and make sure not to stray too far from the village. You're still recovering," said Sango warningly.

"I'll be fine. Don't worry about me. Just go," he said with a hint of smile.

She smiled back feeling a bit lighter. All right, I'll be back soon. Kirara," she called. Kirara trotted over to her. With one last look at Kohaku, she left.

ooo

Sango found that she didn't mind the solitude while spending time in her old village. It was nice. Aside from Kirara, being alone gave her a chance to finally make peace with her past. The memories of her childhood and training no longer tugged painfully at her heart. She only wished that Kohaku were here to reconcile his troubled mind.

Every day she lit joss sticks for her father and fallen comrades-her family's graves. She put small, neat offerings in the shrine she made and told them of how they had been avenged, making sure to include a lot of little details when it came to the battles. She knew her father would enjoy the details; he appreciated a good story especially when it involved a battle. She even spoke aloud of her relationship with Miroku, who she was sure he would warm up to eventually after he proved himself.

The village was overgrown, one could hardly tell a village had been here before. But the field that she and Kohaku had played in as children after the finished all their exercises and chores, still looked the same, as if untouched by time. The only difference now was that the tall grass that they used to hide in only came up to her waist now. The surrounding areas where they had done their training also appeared the same with the grass still flattened in certain places and patches of dirt that worn through over time after years of use.

Memories of all the extra training her father had made her do long after everyone had finished for the day had come rushing back. Many things she'd forgotten suddenly returned to her with the breeze brushing against her face or the scent of peach blossoms lingering in the air. She remembered Ryo, the first and well only boy she'd ever liked. Her younger girl self had actually entertained thoughts of romance and marriage with him. He was two years older than her and strong, one of the strongest young youkai exterminator's in the village. But he was also incredibly reckless and went ahead one day to stop a water snake demon from advancing on a nearby village without waiting for the others and drowned.

She even remembered her mother who she had not thought of in a long time. Her mother had been killed two years Kohaku was born during a mission. It used to bother her that she could not remember very much of her mother until her father told her that it wasn't important the she remember every detail of her mother as long as she did not forget her and remembered what was truly special about her to Sango. So she did remember a woman who laughed a lot and whenever she smiled, it made Sango want to smile too and forget about whatever had upset her.

Her mother was quite skilled at storytelling, which was probably why her father enjoyed stories so much. He wasn't much of a storyteller himself and Sango did not inherit that either. Her parent's marriage had been arranged as a way to help further establish the peace that between the demon slayers clan and a nearby clan of ninjas who'd long left the area. Sango never understood why there was tension between the two groups as their objectives weren't very similar, but no one had ever really explained it to her. Her father had always told her that is just the way it was, she doubted he knew himself. Though their marriage was arranged, they eventually grew to have a mutual respect and love for one another.

It had been a good trip. Now that she had truly paid respects to her past, she could move forward. She also felt lighter than she'd ever had in a long time. But she was starting to get a little lonely. She missed her friends and brother and even a certain person. There were also a few things that needed to be sorted out.

The journey back was slower than it would normally have taken due to health reasons. Well, it wasn't exactly her health that was the reason. Her nausea had subsided somewhat, the ginger she had boiled down and drank as tea helped a good deal. But she still became dizzy easily and there were parts of her that she hadn't even know could become sore.

There was a sinking suspicion in the back of her mind. The visit to her village also recalled of talk between the women in the village. She was sure her symptoms-er, health-related query had popped up in their conversations somewhere. But for now, she pushed it to the back of her mind, although that was kind of hard considering she was facing a potentially life-altering situation, which was a problematic thought to say the least. Or not, of course, there was always that thought too.

No, she mustn't dwell on those ideas. There was still plenty to deal with, like her brother. And Miroku, they still had relationship issues to sort out, didn't they? He had better be there when the time came for that.


A/N-Thanks for reading and don't forget to drop a line on your way out. I'll try to have the next chapter up before the holiday, but if I don't have a good Christmas, holiday whichever one you might enjoy, winter break, and all that good stuff.