This chapter was written for iy_themes' Light theme.
It was well into the dark of night when she awoke. He could hear her rise on quiet feet, and he pretended to sleep as she snuck out from the abandoned old hut they were spending the night in. He waited a few moments before setting out after her, leaving the other four of his friends to continue their sound sleep. He found her sitting on a hill not far away, beneath the light of the full moon and countless stars.
As he sat down next to her, she turned to him with a brief and weak smile. He returned the gesture and they sat in silence for awhile. He did not need to ask why she was still awake. He knew the worrisome things that were going through her mind.
She worried about her brother, whose life was the last missing piece of the Shikon no Tama. The two slayers had been through so much pain and loss, yet both Sango and Kohaku still held the will to fight. Their strength was humbling.
She also worried about Miroku. Every time he opened the kazaana he was just a step closer to his death. In moments of absolute quiet, you could hear the monk's hand hum slightly, the beginning of a roaring wind that would eventually consume him.
"You can't sleep either?" Sango asked.
"Keh," Inuyasha spat, "I'm just makin' sure you ain't doing anything stupid. What're ya doing goin' off by yourself?"
She heaved a heavy sigh, and Inuyasha's ears fell.
"I'm just worried I guess," she said, "About everybody."
Her eyes were sad and full of loss. He couldn't help but turn away.
"Me too," he said quietly.
Ever since their encounter with Magatsuhi all he dreamt about was Kagome lost in darkness, spending all of eternity battling Naraku inside the Jewel. He couldn't let that happen, just as he couldn't let his best friend be destroyed by the Kazaana and he couldn't allow Kohaku to forfeit his life.
Inuyasha was a little surprised when he felt Sango's hand creep its way into his. She sought reassurance, and in turn gave him strength. They were his friends, all of them, and he could not, would not, let them down.
Many things went unsaid between them at that moment.
I hope we all make it out of this alive.
She squeezed his hand.
I know everything will turn out okay. I'll make sure of it.
And he squeezed back before letting her hand slip from his.