Sango fidgeted with her shackles, feeling this position slightly nostalgic. She was chained to the wall, her arms outstretched. Her legs were chained to the wall as well, but she was standing. Lifting her head slightly, she looked around, a small smile on her face. She had been chained similarly like this, when she had been captured and possessed by the demon women. Then Miroku had come, and saved her. And then, he had proposed to her.

But where was he now?

Sango sighed and looked down at her legs. What the hell? Someone had changed her clothes! She was wearing traditional hanfu, a very expensive and beautiful dress. Sango inspected her clothes to her best ability. Her dress was a deep red, adorned in gold silk embroidery. It was so beautiful and soft…

"Do you like it?" Renshu asked, crossing his arms. He leaned against the grey wall of the cave. "It looks very good on you."

Sango glared at him. She tried to move, causing the chains to clink and rattle against the wall.

"Where am I?! Where have you taken me?! What is this place?! Where are my clothes, damn it?!"

Renshu stared at her, eyes wide. He chuckled.

"You're quite the feisty one, aren't you?" He asked, walking towards her. He took her chin in his hand, pulling her face to his. He stared into her deep, chocolate eyes. "Don't worry. I didn't touch you inappropriately. I figured a beautiful woman like you shouldn't be adorned in a warriors clothing."

Sango glared at him harder. What was he playing at?

"Just so you know, I'm a demon slayer. I wear warrior's clothes all the time."

Renshu stared at her, his emerald eyes softening. "So that explains those scars…"

Sango gasped and looked away. She felt tears come to her eyes. She hated it when people saw her scars! Thinking it over, how was she going to wed Miroku? As soon as he saw her atrocious body, he would probably leave her….After having any woman he wanted, no matter how beautiful, an abomination like her would drive him away in and instant! What could she do?

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't be prying into you personal life." Renshu dropped her face and turned away. "I'm supposed to kill you, you know," he said, remorse in his voice. He looked back at her, his face expressionless.

Sango didn't respond. How was she going to get out of this one?! With her armor gone, she was defenseless! She was strong enough to fend off any normal man, but Renshu….He had obviously had training in both swordsmanship and martial arts. He was truly a menacing foe. She didn't want to risk her life in a battle with the likes of him.

"Unless," Renshu continued, "you'll come back to China with me. And um…" He blushed, and twiddled his fingers. Sango stared at him questioningly. What the hell?

"And become my bride," he stuttered.

Sango bit her bottom lip, but she couldn't repress it. She broke out into hysterical laughter, trying her hardest to retrain herself. Renshu glared at her, his fists at his sides.

"I'm serious!" he shouted.

Sango said between giggles, "H-honestly? Why the h--hell do you want me as your bride?"

Renshu blushed deeper. "Because! You're um, you're pretty and strong. And um, I need a strong girl, so she can come with me into battle. And um…" he mumbled the last part, "you have a nice body."

Sango sweat dropped. Why was it that she always attracted the freaks? Why couldn't she be lucky like Kagome and get the nice, smart, sweet men? Sure Renshu was pretty damn hot and kind of sweet, but…still a pervert.

"Renshu…" Sango clamed down. "I can't. I have a duty to fulfill here."

Renshu ran to her, clutching one of her hands in his. "I'll help you! But then, I…I lied. I don't want to go back to China. I want to stay here. I want to run away. Y-you see I'm…"

Sango stared at him, her brow raised. What was he going on about now?

"You're what?"

"I-I'm T-tongxing Wang." He looked down at his feet, shuffling them nervously.

"Which is…?"

He closed his eyes and shouted, "I'm the prince of fucking China!"

Sango gasped. No way! They would seriously send their prince into battle?!

"Renshu….Why don't you just return to China then?"

"Because…over there…its worse. There's fighting and blood shed everywhere! I came here, hoping to just abandon my mission! But my father, the Yixing Wang, sent one of his ambassadors over to keep an eye on me. But I…I just hate fighting! I can't stand to watch people die! I always act tough but I…"

Sango looked upon him with sad eyes. There really were good people on both sides. The poor man just wanted to escape from it all…

"I just don't want to be alone. Will you please come with me?"

He tightened his grip on her hand.

"But you don't even know my name," Sango smiled.

"Please tell me."

"Sango."

Renshu smiled. "That's beautiful…"

Sango blushed lightly. He really was sweet. But….There was no way. She wasn't going to abandon everything she had worked so hard for with Miroku. And she didn't even know the guy! How could she break it to him…?

"Renshu!" a man called from the entrance to the cave. He held a bloody spear to his chest. Renshu walked over to him, and they began to converse in Chinese. After a few minutes, Renshu began to shout. He swung his arm dramatically, causing the man to scurry off, yelling.

Renshu turned back to Sango. "It seems your militia has come for you. I'm setting up a wall in front of this cave. Don't think that you are saved."

Sango sighed. Was this guy bipolar or something?

"Sango!" She heard from the entrance. Matsuda stood alone, trying to fend off the bulky Chinese men before him. He swung his sword madly, not really knowing what he was doing.

"Matsuda! Be careful!" Sango shouted, trying again to free herself. She scanned the area for something she could use. Nothing! Wait….She spotted a key out of the corner of her eye. It was placed on a small natural ledge, right next to her hand. There was no way it was just coincidence. Had Renshu left it for her? She grabbed it quickly, jiggling it into her chains.

Matsuda got pushed back, almost falling off the cliff. He grabbed a hold of the edge with his hand, holding his sword over the abyss with his other. Wincing, he tried to pull himself up. A massive and bulky man stood over him, sneering at him. Matsuda gasped, closing his eyes. He prepared for the worst.

"Leave him be," Renshu stated. He walked up to the edge, grabbing Matsuda's wrist. Pulling him up with one hand, Renshu inspected the man before him. Matsuda looked him over, realizing he was the man that had captured Sango. In one small instant, he thrust his sword deep into Renshu's chest.

Renshu was caught by surprise from the bold act. He dropped Matsuda onto the ground, falling back. He clutched his chest, blood gushing out through his fingers. He looked down upon it in disbelief.

"Renshu!" Sango called, running to him. She squatted down next to him, her eyes filling with tears.

"Sango…" Renshu coughed, blood pouring from his mouth. He smiled through his pain. "It's ok…I don't mind. With all the men I've killed," He coughed and spat up more blood. His eyes began to roll, his face loosing color. "It's only right that I'm killed…by another man's hand…."

Sango felt a tear roll down her cheek as his life passed before him. Blood seeped onto her dress, tainting the silk. She clutched his body in her arms, and then let him go. Matsuda looked upon them, his face pale.

"Sango….where you friends?"

"No." Sango stood up, wiping her eye. "He was just….pure. And this was best. Don't worry Matsuda. You did him a favor."

Matsuda stared at the man he had killed. "I was just trying to protect you…"

"I don't need protection."

Sango walked over to the cave again, finding her armor. She began to re-dress, keeping her eyes on the subordinates of Renshu. They were all panicking, having lost their leader and their translator. Sango re-tied her sword to her side, and then placed her helmet on her head.

"Come on, Matsuda," Sango ordered, walking past the men fearlessly. Matsuda scurried after her, afraid that they would kill him to avenge their master. The two walked down the side of the mountain in silence, staring at the ground before them.

The rest of the militia was battling men at the base of the hill, and they were winning. Matsuda went to join the battle, but Sango remained still. She'd seen enough death for one day. She turned and looked up at the top of the peek. Where there other men like him? Others who hated the battle, and just wanted it to end? To find happiness? And to not be alone? Why did it seem that the simplest things in life were so difficult to achieve? If a prince couldn't even find happiness, then who could? Was there any hope for her and Miroku? Or were they damned to live their lives like this, forever in darkness?

She sighed, looking back to the battle before her. Swords clanged together, slicing through flesh, falling to the ground. Blood splattered upon the ground, sloshing out of wounds. The whites of eyes were beginning to seem second nature. And the sight of heads rolling was nothing at all.

Sango felt her heart sink. These situations reminded her so much of the Shikon no Tama. They said that it was composed of the four elements of the human heart; Kushimetama (wisdom), Arimatama (courage), Megimetama (friendship), and Sakimetama (love). And that the jewel worked both ways; good or evil. It was the same with the human heart. If either became tainted, the holder would become evil as well.

So when a human being commit's a sin, such as murdering another, does that make him evil? And when you've killed so much that you feel no remorse, are you even human anymore? What does it make you?

Sango didn't understand. If all these men were going to become this, then what was going to become of the human race? War was an inevitable prospect of humanity, but the aspect of it was going to destroy humanity's soul itself….

Miroku ran through the caverns, trying to figure out which way they went. He heard the sounds of battle in the distance, the sounds of swords clashing together. It echoed off the walls, ringing in his ears.

"You there!" a man's voice called from the right. Miroku turned to him, seeing a grand horse with none other than-!

"Kurenosuke," Miroku stated in shock.

Kurenosuke stopped his horse, giving Miroku a suspicious eye. "How is it that you know my name?"

Miroku took off his helmet, glaring at him. "Recognize me?"

Kurenosuke stared at him, long and hard.

"No, I don't believe I do. Have we met?"

Miroku gaped at him. What the hell?! This was coming from the guy who didn't forget his six-year child hood crush?! And he couldn't even remember his rival in love?! What a son of a bitch! All because he was the Takeda, and in line to be the Shogunate. The nerve of some people.

"It's Miroku! The monk! Remember? I destroyed the bear demon? And I'm Sango's fiancé!"

Kurenosuke glared at him. "Ah yes. I remember you now."

The two gave each other menacing stares, each sending mental daggers to each other's heads.

"Have you seen her?"

"I was about to ask you the same thing."

"I was just with her a while ago, but I had to take sudden leave. I heard that she was kidnapped, so I made haste here." Kurenosuke looked through at the caves all around them. He drew his sword.

"Yes. I saw her get taken away by a Chinese mercenary, but was unable to save her. So, I'm looking for her as well," Miroku responded, drawing his sword as well.

Kurenosuke jumped off his horse, standing back to back with Miroku. They both stood battle ready.

"Some fiancé you are," Kurenosuke commented, his eyes not tearing from the caves around them.

Miroku chuckled slightly. "Speak for yourself."

An enormous amount of Chinese bandits ran out from the caves, jumping down onto the ground below. It was common for bandits to come over to foreign countries on war ships, stealing foreign goods and women to bring back to the main land.

Kurenosuke and Miroku broke away from each other, both using their skills to fend off the men. Working as a team, they swung around, switching places, maneuvering together.

Miroku stuck his sword into the leg of the last man standing, just as Kurenosuke sliced his arm.

They smiled at each other as the offender fell to the ground. They left them all alive, unwilling to take any lives.

"You're a decent guy, Kurenosuke," Miroku panted, sheathing his sword.

"As are you, monk." Kurenosuke wiped his brow, sheathing his sword as well.

"So. May I accompany you?" Miroku asked, daringly. Kurenosuke glared at him again.

"Why?"

"I have to bring Sango back."

"But I don't know where they're going," Kurenosuke lied.

"I do." Miroku felt rage burn up inside him. What was he playing at? Of course he knew where they were going! He was the freaking Takeda! "They're going to the East China Sea."

"Well then, I don't see why not," Kurenosuke gave in, keeping his polite face. He hated the guy's guts, but he knew that Sango would like to see him. And he had to make sure she was ok anyway. So if he had to share a horse with this damn monk for a while, so be it.

Miroku hopped on the back of the horse, refusing to hold onto the man before him.

Kurenosuke pulled on the reigns as he kicked the stead's sides.

"Onward! To the East China Sea!"