Last Flashback. Next we go back to Inuyasha and the gang. This one is sad. Please comment.

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha. The story belongs to the wonderful author who has given me something to do .


It's been about a year since you brought Korano to the waterfall. True to his promise, he tells no one. You've been taking him a few times. You both have been talking more and more about the days and what to expect. You both have even started to talk about life together if it would be possible.

Mikoro is getting more and more jealous about the situation. He tries to corner you with his gang whenever you're walking alone but they don't succeed. You can always escape their sights. They have almost cornered you but Korano shows up all of a sudden as they draw near. Your training with your father improves so much that you've started using swords. You're very careful to not impale him as he uses his own. Your combat has also improved greatly. He's proud of how much progress you've gotten through. You think that it's because of having more then just a friend at this anti-half demon village.

You're walking through the village. It's almost dusk.
You're looking for him as you both made plans. The sun was almost over the horizon… Suddenly, the bell starts to ring. You look out at the far east and your eyes widen. There coming down the hill were about fifty men on horses. Your heart stops as you realize that they are no more than bandits.

Korano! You race up to his mansion as people hurry out, wondering what was the matter. They look at the way of the bell and see nothing.

"What's going on?" most of them ask. You rush past without saying anything. Finally, some one spots the riders.

"Bandits! We're under attack!"

"Bandits!"

"Run."

"Get the women and children out of here!" People start screaming and running every which way.

Where are you? Korano! I need to see you. You feel a hand grab you. You turn and are about to strike when you see that it's Korano.

"Korano." you gasp. He leads you behind a hut and leans you against the wall.

"Saraja. Get yourself and Sakora out of here. Save yourselves. I'll come back for you."

"No! I want to stay and help. I don't want to leave you. I can fight. "

"Saraja. Please do this for me." he says louder to make himself heard above the noise of the frantic villagers. "What if you get killed? You mean the whole world to me. I couldn't bare it if you got killed." His eyes are pleading you to do what he asks. You want to stay, to not leave his side.

"My lord." you both hear some one shout. He looks at you.

"Promise?"

"I-."

"Saraja. Please." You close your mouth and nod, not wanting to do so. He sighs, relieved.
"I promise that I'll come back to you." You nod again

"Be careful." Your voice shakes a little.

"My lord Korano." The voice is more urgent. You reach up and touch his face. He looks at you more carefully before turning swiftly and running back to the mansion and to the voice. You watch him leave, tears building in your eyes. What would happen? Would he come back like he promised? You remember Sakora. You start running back towards your hut, in the opposite way the villagers were going.

"Sakora!" you shout. You don't see her. "Sakora! Where are you?"

"Saraja!" You look ahead and see her.

"What's going on?" Her eyes are open wide.

"Bandits are coming this way." You grab her hand. "Come on. We have to go."
"Where?"

"Hiding." You pull her towards the woods, to the place.

"Wait. What about Korano?"

"He wants to fight. He asked me to leave. He said he would come back. He promised." You feel tears fall down your cheeks. You both reach the woods and unnoticed, run to the waterfall. You both reach it, out of breath but run to the side of the falls, jump to the entrance of the cave, and run through it. You both finally reach the end and sit down on the floor, shaking, frightened and out of breath. You both hold onto each other as the bugs glow brightly, unaware of the impending doom of your village. The light starts to calm you both as you listen intently to the sound of footsteps. After a while of hearing none, you both try to fall asleep. When you finally do, the battle has been won. The outcome was to be seen in the morning…..

You wake up, gasping. The dream. It felt so real. You look around and see that you and Sakora were in the cave. She gets up, hearing your gasp.

"What's wrong Saraja?" she asks intently.

"It's nothing. Just a dream."

"Do you think it's over?" You look at her; your eyes grow wide slightly.

"You think we should check?" She nods. You take a deep breath and stand up. She does as well. Taking her hand, you both walk out of the cave, not knowing what was out there. You're both shaking as you get closer to the entrance. You see that it's morning. You both slept through the night and made it! What was waiting for you both at the village? You both hurriedly walk out of the place that was dear to you both and down the road to the village. Where they bandits still there? You can still smell the scent of them but it's really faint. You both reach the hill. You take a deep breath and walk up it….. You both stop, not believing your eyes. What was a village was burned to the ground. The smell of death clung to the air, making it difficult to breathe. You feel tears gather as you both watch the smoking huts fall into a million pieces.

"Come on." says Sakora quietly. You could hear her pain in her voice. "Let's see if anyone is here." You nod and allow her to lead you to the village. The scent of bandits was strong but you both see none.

They must have just left. You both reach your parent's houses first. You see that they have collapsed. You both run over to them.

"Mom?! Dad?!" you call. Sakora was yelling the same thing. You reach what was supposed to be the doorway and walk through.

"Mom?! Dad?! Where are you?" You move a few pieces of wall and gasp. Tears start to fall. There under the collapsed wall laid your mother.

"MOM! Wake up. Mom, please." You shake her, her face in your lap. "MOM!" Tears rush down your face as she lays there, motionless, her eyes blank, staring at the ceiling. You close them with shaking hands and bring her face towards your chest. You rock her, crying softly. "Oh mom." you gasp. After a little while, you wipe your eyes and walk out. You see Sakora sitting down next to her ruined hut. She looks up and you see tears falling down her face. You shake your head mutely, not being able to say a thing. She slowly gets up and walks over to you. You reach for her and you both fall in each others arms, trying to comfort each other.

"Come on." you say shakily. "Let's see if we can find anyone alive." She nods and you both very slowly walk through the village. You both call out for anyone to answer. You then find your father along with Sakora's. You feel tears sting your eyes again as you gently lean down and close his eyes. Sakora does the same with her father.

"They won't be alone." says Sakora quietly. You nod when an idea pops into your head.

"Korano." you gasp. You start running up to the mansion leaving Sakora.

"I'll be back." you yell out to her. You reach the mansion.

"Korano!" you yell. "Please be ok. Korano! Can you hear me? Where are you? Korano!"

"Saraja?" You hear his voice.

"Korano! Where are you?"

"In the storage room." His weak voice scares you. You're running as fast as you could. You reach the room and cry out.

"Korano!" You see him and it scares you. He has a stab wound right through his chest. He tries to sit up.

"Saraja." He slumps back down.

"Korano!" You rush over to him and look at him.

"This can't be happening." you whimper. "Why did it happen?" Tears gather and fall. He looks up at you. You lift his head and place it in your lap.

"Saraja? Why did you come back?"

"I couldn't leave without finding you." You look at him through accusing eyes. "Y-you promised. Y-you said you would come back for me. You said you would be ok."

"I'm sorry Saraja." he sighs. "But you did what I wanted you to do."

"Forget you!" you cry out. "What about me? I can't leave you. I'll follow you."

"Saraja." His voice was harsh. "You'll do no such thing."

"But I can't leave you. You said you'd be there for me."

"Not this time." His voice was gentle. You gasp.

"You don't mean that. You said it. I believed it. You're not leaving me behind. We've always been together. Don't say that you're now changing your mind."

"I'm not changing my mind but you're not following me in death Saraja. It's pointless."

"Korano. Please don't leave me. Please."

"I have to go. I want you to feel free Saraja."

"You've always made me feel that way."

"Please Saraja. Let. Me. Go."

"Korano. I can't."

"You. Must." He winces. He looks in your eyes. He smiles.

"Don't worry about me. I'll be fine." You nod.

"I'll keep this promise that I'll always be there for you." You nod again. Tears stream down your face as you slowly lean down. He closes your eyes as you give him his last kiss. You wish with every fiber in your body, you could give him his strength back. You feel the life leave from his body. You let go and look at his vacant eyes.

"I'll miss you." you whisper, tears still falling. "Goodbye." Like your mother you rock him gently, sobbing over your dead boyfriend's body.