A/N) Happy New Year! Woo! Okay, I really don't have much to day, other than if you have any input or ideas, let me know! Enjoy this chapter. ^o^

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It had been almost a week since Sango was released from the hospital. To get her out of the house, the whole group decided on a trip to the mall.

"This would look so cute on you, Sango," Kagome held out a blouse for Sango to see.
"Yea, if I was forty pounds skinnier, maybe," Sango joked back.
"Like you've gained forty pounds," Ayame joked at Sango's small belly.
"Whatever," Sango scoffed at the comment. She sighed, skimming through the rack of clothes in front of her. "God, none of these fit me. I'm going out with the guys," she stormed out of the store at that. She saw the three guys sitting on a nearby bench, the three of them taking up the entire thing, and walked over to them.

"Done yet?" Koga asked upon her arrival.

"I am, at that store," Sango gestured to the boutique that Kagome and Ayame were still inside of. "Nothing was going to fit me anyways."
InuYasha smirked at her comment, "really, how come?" he asked sarcastically.

"You're not funny, dog boy," Sango returned, a nasty tone in her voice. She sat down on the armrest of the bench, her hands sitting on her belly.
"Here, take my spot," Miroku stood up to let Sango sit more comfortably. She thanked him as he helped her fill his empty spot on the bench.

"When do you think they'll be done in there?" InuYasha wondered aloud.

"I dunno," Koga shrugged.
"They seemed pretty dedicated when I was in there." Sango added, "They could buy the whole store if they wanted to."
"I wouldn't be surprised if they did," InuYasha commented.

Sango placed a hand on her belly again, feeling an empty sensation. "Miroku, I'm hungry. I'm gonna go get a pretzel."

He handed her some money and kissed her cheek, then watched as she made her way a few stores down to the pretzel stand.

"Have you told her yet?" InuYasha asked.
"Told her what?" Miroku wondered back.
InuYasha smirked, "you know. That thing that every girl wants to hear."
"The thing that I haven't yet told Ayame," Koga chimed.

Miroku glared at his friends, "mind your own business."

"Y'know, if you wait too long, someone else might snatch her up," InuYasha lectured.

Miroku rolled his eyes, "yeah, I'm sure that'll happen."

/

Meanwhile, Sango was standing at the small pretzel vendor waiting to order when someone tapped her shoulder. She turned around and was shocked to see who it was.
"Katsuro? What are you doing here?" She wondered to her ex-boyfriend, then realized that was a kind of stupid question.
"Well, it's a mall," he replied. "How've you been?"
She swallowed, "Umm, y'know," she gestured down to her belly, "pregnant."

He led her over to a nearby bench, not even giving her time to stop him. "Sango, I feel really bad for what happened. And, I've been working, and I got a new apartment, and I honestly think I can support you and the baby."
She stared at him, mouth agape and wordless. "I umm, I don't know what to say."

"Say you'll come live me," he repeated. "I swear, Sango, I can support you, and the baby, and everything."
She shook her head, "do you even have any idea how much babies cost? And the medical bills? And I just don't know, Katsuro, how I can be sure-"
"I know I wasn't very trustworthy in the past, so I can see where you're coming from. I know I hurt you when I left. I'm truly, honestly sorry for that, from the bottom of my heart. I can't even imagine how that must have felt."
"It felt pretty bad," she mumbled.

"But, since Kikyo left me, I haven't even thought of any other girl besides you. You and the baby, and how I can somehow help you," he rested a hand on her shoulder. "I know I can help you now. Please move in with me."
"Well, then you've been thinking about two girls," Sango hid her smile and placed her hands on her belly again.
Katsuro was confused for a moment, then smiled with her. "It's a girl?"
She nodded. "Mhmm."
"I'm her father, please, let me show you that I can be her father."
"Katsuro," she began.
He sighed, "please move in with me."
"Well that's not going to happen," a familiar, third voice joined the conversation from nearby. Sango looked up from Katsuro and to the source of the voice, Miroku. "Get your hands off her," Miroku demanded.
Sango stood up quickly and pulled Miroku over, "Miroku," she began, only to be interrupted by him.
"Who the Hell is that guy? Why does he have his hands all over you? And asking you to do what?" He was angry, but his disgust was not aimed at her.

"Let me talk," she spoke calmly, understanding how the situation probably looked from his end, and why he was so upset about it. She held back the tears that were beginning to form in her eyes, "Miroku, that's Katsuro." She waited for his reaction.

At first, he didn't seem to recognize the name, but then, he remembered. "You mean-?" He gestured to her midsection.

She nodded, "my ex-boyfriend."
"What's he doing here?"
"It's a mall."

Miroku frowned, "he has no right to talk to you after what he did."
"Listen," she secretly wiped away a tear. "even though he might not be the father, he doesn't know that, and he told me he's got a job and a new apartment and that he's willing to to do this with me. He wants to be her father. And there is a good chance that she actually is his," she paused, the tears she was holding back finally falling down her cheeks. "I think I'll give him a chance."
Miroku's heart broke. She was going to leave him. For her ex. He was so close, and now she was going to leave for someone who didn't even love her the way he did. "No, you- you can't."
"Please," she sobbed, "please don't make this harder than it needs to be." She fell into his arms, letting him hold her. "I'll give him a week, okay? And I'll call you everyday. And in one week I'll make my final decision." She pulled away from his embrace, "just let me make this choice. It'll be best for her."

Miroku placed a gentle and prolonged kiss on her lips, holding the small of her back and caressing her soft hair. He pulled away slowly, "okay." He reached into his pocket and pulled out his house key. "Here," he placed it into her palm, "go get some things from the apartment. We won't leave here for a while."

Sango nodded. She turned around to face Katsuro, wiping her face with her hands. "Here's the deal: I'll stay with you one week. And if I think you have what it takes to take care of me and her, then I'll stay with you for good. If not, I'll move back in with Miroku and the guys. Fair?"
Katsuro nodded, a smirk on his face. "Sounds great to me. I know you'll be fine."

She faced Miroku again, "I'll call you later, okay?"
"I'll be expecting your call."
"Just think of it as if I'm on vacation."
"That I'll do."
"Miroku, I-" she stopped herself, biting her lip.
"Yes?"
"I'll miss you."
"Me too."
/

Sango and Katsuro left the mall. After making a small detour at her apartment, Katsuro pulled into the parking lot of his building. It wasn't exactly what Sango was hoping; the semi-rundown brick building was in a bad part of town, near her old neighborhood. She could only hope that the inside was nicer.

Katsuro took her bag out of the trunk and led her into the building, and then down the stairs. He took out his key and opened the door to his apartment, leading her inside.

Much to her dismay, the inside of his abode gave little to no redemption for the outside of the building. The beige carpeting was stained (with what, she didn't want to know), and the pale green walls were chipping with paint. The entire room was cluttered, wrappers and paper plates and silverware laying around in various settings. The furniture wasn't a pretty site, either, as the once white pleather couch was a paling gray hue, and the two large recliners were stained and had peeling upholstery.

"Welcome," Katsuro invited her in all of the way, taking her bag from her and then, setting it aside on one of the chairs.
"This is," she began, searching for the proper word that couldn't offend him, "quaint."
He smiled, "thanks, I try."
Not very hard, she thought to herself. "Where will I sleep?"
"Well, my room is kinda messy, and my bed isn't very comfortable," Katsuro began sheepishly, "I think you and the baby would be much more comfortable on the couch out here."
"Oh, okay," Sango nodded.
"You hungry? I can fix up something," he quickly suggested.
She felt sick to her stomach, in all honesty. She didn't even want to think about food, let alone eat it. Shaking her head, she replied, "no thanks, I'm fine. I think I'll just take a shower and lie down."

/

Maybe this was a mistake, Sango thought to herself later that night as she was lying on the old couch. Katsuro had given her a blanket- not a very nice one, though- and a pillow. No matter how she positioned herself, she couldn't get comfortable. She missed her bed back at the other apartment. It was so comfy and warm, and she always slept so soundly. On this couch, this old, ugly couch, she knew she wasn't going to get a good night's sleep.

It seemed as if she had already made her decision.

\\\

It took much longer than usual, but Sango eventually dozed off into a dreamland. When she awoke the next morning, she heard the shower running form the nearby bathroom. She sat up on couch, her exposed skin peeling away from the pleather, and looked around.
"I'm not going to raise you here, don't worry." She said, rubbing her belly. She stood from the couch and walked over to the bathroom door, trying to turn the knob to get in. Upon realizing it was locked, she knocked on the light colored wood on hopes her ex-boyfriend would respond.

"Katsuro?" Sango called lightly, her voice quaking.

A moment later, she heard a response, "Whattaya want?"
"Can you unlock the door?"
"Why?" His voice was bitter and sharp, much like it was when they were in a relationship. It certainly didn't sound like he wanted anything to do with her.

"I need to take a piss," she almost cried, the pain in her stomach immediately escalating. It's weird, she'd noticed, how often she'd been finding herself in these situations. It was quite embarrassing.

"Too bad," he replied bitterly, "you'll need to wait."

"Katsuro, you son of a bitch!" She shouted, pounding on the door.
"Knock that off, you'll disturb the neighbors."

She screamed in annoyance, sliding down to sit against the door. "Please?!" She begged loudly a few minutes later.

There was no response, just the sound of the shower continuing to run.
"Bastard," she cursed under her breath. "I'll pee on your floor if you don't hurry the fuck up!" She shouted.

"If you do, you'll be sorry, you worthless slut."
"It's your fault to begin with, fucker!" She yelled back.

A moment later, with out a response from Katsuro, he opened up the door, causing Sango to fall backwards. He lifted her up, slapped her face, then held her tightly towards him. "If you ever talk to me like that again, I'll make your life a living Hell," he swore to her. With another shove, she was on the floor again. "Now, clean up your mess, slut," he insulted, referring to the mess Sango had made out of terror. "Only babies piss themselves. I guess that makes you a helpless little slut."

Sango wiped the tears that were forming in her eyes. She stood from her spot on the floor and looked at Katsuro. "I hate you," she said, rubbing her cheek.

"Good." He turned around and walked back into the bathroom, locking the door behind him. "If that's not clean by the time I get out, you're in for it."

She quickly changed her clothes and threw her soiled ones into a plastic bag. She set a towel down on the spot on the floor, then sat back down on the couch. She reached for her phone on the coffee table and contemplated calling Miroku.
She quickly dialed the number for him, and waited for him to pick up.

It's Miroku. Leave a message.

"Hey. Miroku, it's me. I, umm, just wanted to tell you that I'm umm, I'm doing pretty good. I miss you."
She hung up the phone and sobbed into her hands.

A few minutes later, Katsuro stepped out of the bathroom and sat down next to her, wrapping his arm around her shoulder.
"Sango, sweetie, I'm sorry for all that. I wasn't thinking. Forgive me?" He leaned into her and kissed her cheek softly.
She slightly pulled away to only find herself being tightly gripped by him. She shook her head.
"Well, hows about we fuck or I hit you again." He whispered bitterly into her ear, making her shudder.
She sat frozen in contemplation for a moment, then nodded shamefully, knowing he could very much break a bone- or worse- if he tried hard enough.

He grinned, and immediately began to strip off both of their clothes, beginning with Sango's tank top. Topless, she felt the urge to turn away from him in pure disgust, but refrained, knowing his mannerisms. He slid her shorts and underwear off of her slender legs, stroking them in doing so. He took off his shorts and boxers, still tenderly stroking Sango's skin. He placed a rough kiss on her chest and immediately inserted himself into her. She was limp with shame and terror, letting him take full advantage of her.

"Slow down," she held back a moan of pain, "you're hurting me."
"Good," he nearly growled back at her, going faster.

Tears welled in her eyes and began to fall down her face as she tried not to scream out in pain. Her skin chilled with goosebumps, and she was counting the seconds until Katsuro would finish.

It seemed like an eternity, but he soon came and pulled out, then slid his shorts back on. "I'm gonna go smoke with the guys. You can stay here and have a sandwich ready for when I get back," he grabbed his keys and walked out of the apartment.

Upon hearing the door close and lock, Sango broke out into hysterical sobbing again. She couldn't believe that she had just let that happened.
I'm sorry, Baby. I'm sorry.

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