Ch. 100- Treachery or Trust?
Inuyasha © Rumiko Takahashi
Inuyasha, Kagome, Miroku, Shippo, and Myoga all stood outside the barrier, waiting for any sign of life. It felt like an eternity since they saw Sango and Kirara disappear within the invisible wall. They could only wonder...what was she doing in there?
"...I'm going in there," Inuyasha said as he prepared to approach the barrier.
"Wait, Inuyasha!" Kagome exclaimed. "The barrier will only shock you!"
"I don't give a damn!" Inuyasha spat as he attempted to draw his Tetsusaiga...but then, Miroku held out his hand in front of the half-demon, causing him to stop in his tracks.
"I wouldn't be so hasty if I were you, Inuyasha," the monk said before he looked up at the barrier. "Look."
To the surprise of the others, the barrier began to fade away.
"It's lifting!" Kagome exclaimed...and not long after, someone stepped out from the mist. To everyone's relief, it was Sango...but her eyes were hooded as she dragged the Hiraikotsu alongside her. Behind her, Kirara had shrunken back to her normal size, looking just as forlorn as Sango was.
"Sango!" Kagome called, causing the older girl to look up at her...and for a moment, her eyes seemed to brighten and she gave the group a small smile...albeit a forced one.
"Hi, everyone," she said. "Sorry...did we worry you?"
"...Sango..." Kagome started. "Umm...we don't mean to pry...but...well-"
"Quit beatin' around the bush, Kagome!" Inuyasha barked before he turned to Sango. "Sango...is it true what Myoga said? Was that kid really your brother?"
"Inuyasha!" Kagome chided. "God, does subtlety mean nothing to you?!"
"What?!" Inuyasha questioned. "We might as well as her-"
"No," Sango suddenly spoke, gaining everyone's attention. "Whoever that was...it definitely wasn't my brother. I'm afraid you're mistaken."
"But...Sango...he was clearly-" Kagome started.
"Enough!" Sango snapped, causing the 15-year-old girl to gasp as she stepped back, and almost instantly, the demon slayer felt a slight tinge of guilt form in her chest before she sighed. "I'm sorry...I shouldn't have yelled like that."
"I-it's okay," Kagome assured. "I guess I shouldn't have pried."
"...Yeah..." Inuyasha muttered as he looked away. "Sorry about that, Sango."
"It's fine, Inuyasha," Sango reassured before she turned to Miroku. "Miroku...if you please could...say a prayer for these poor villagers. May their souls find peace."
"Of course," Miroku nodded. "We will give them all a proper burial."
Soon, everyone got to work in burying the dead villagers. As they did...Kagome noticed Sango seemed to be a bit too focused on the task at hand. While she helped gather the dead bodies, she didn't give anyone so much as a passing glance and she had this bitter expression on her face. Kagome felt her heart sink. It was almost like she was seeing the young woman who had lost her friends and family all over again.
As for Sango...she was beside herself with turmoil. On the one hand, some part of her was happy that her younger brother had been resurrected...but on the other, she was furious that Naraku was now using a sweet, kind boy like him as a killing machine. If Kohaku had any conscious mind of his own, right now, the boy would no less be horrified by what he had done.
What could she do?
Meanwhile, Inuyasha glanced over at Sango while Kagome and Miroku finished burying the dead villagers. Shippo and Kirara had brought some flowers from the forest nearby and laid them on the fresh graves. Not long after they did so, however, Kirara soon went over to Sango's side...her tails and ears sagging sadly. Her mistress didn't even give her a sideways glance. She just quietly stroked her head while she looked at the sky.
"Poor Sango," Kagome whispered.
"Yeah, and Kirara, too," Shippo added. "They both seem so sad."
"What do you think might have happened in that barrier, Miroku?" asked Kagome.
"I don't know," Miroku answered, "but whatever happened...Sango seems to be in some pain. Let's leave her alone for now. I'm sure she'll talk to us when she's ready."
"...I hope so," Kagome said.
"Damn..." Inuyasha cursed. "I know that kid must have a shard of the jewel, but he's probably long gone by now." He then glanced at Sango. "And...as much as I want to, I can't make Sango tell us. She looks like she's been through enough, already. I guess I'll just follow Miroku's lead and let her tell us when she feels like it."
"Good job, Inuyasha," Kagome praised as she put her hand on his shoulder, causing him to glance at her. "I'm proud of you for considering Sango's feelings."
Inuyasha nodded before he looked to Sango, who still continued to look skyward before he heaved a sigh.
'I do wanna ask where Naraku went...but I think I'd only make things worse with my big mouth...Miroku's right. If she has something to tell us, she'll say it when she's ready.'
XXX
Later that night, the group managed to find an empty hut to sleep in so that they could rest for the day. Kagome and Shippo lied together on a pile of hay, the latter tucked into the former's arms. Sango was lying on a reed mat with Kirara and Miroku sat against some barrels of firewood. As for Inuyasha, he sat against the wall by the doorframe, his eyes closed but his ears pricked and alert.
As the small fire crackled, Sango opened her eyes, showing that she was really asleep. How could she, anyway? After what happened today, though she was exhausted mentally and physically...her heart would not let her fall into slumber.
'Kohaku...' she thought. 'When you looked at me with those empty eyes...it looked as if you really didn't remember me. You've really forgotten who I am...but even more than that...you've forgotten that we must avenge our friends...our Father...!'
She furrowed her brow and clenched her fist, tightly.
'Somehow...I'm going to get you back!'
That's when she remembered Naraku's orders.
"You will bring me Tetsusaiga, Sango...I'll be waiting for you, tonight..."
Sango bit her lip. She was no fool to Naraku's lies. Not anymore. She knew that he was a treacherous being and would no doubt make an attempt on her life as well as Kohaku's, even if she did honor their bargain...
...But...still...
As Sango glanced over her shoulder, she saw Inuyasha, who held his precious sword in his arms, ready to draw it at even the slightest sound or scent of danger.
'...I can't just grab the sword while he's sleeping,' she thought. 'He's sure to notice...but...maybe...' She then glanced down at her wakizashi, then back at the Tetsusaiga. 'That's it! I'll just swap the swords! I'm sure he won't notice then!'
As she slowly crawled over to the half-demon...Inuyasha's eyes suddenly snapped open, causing Sango to gasp as she stumbled back.
"I...Inuyasha?" she asked.
"...Hey," Inuyasha said. "You all right, Sango?"
Sango's eyes went wide before she cast her eyes to the fire. "...Not really...no..."
Inuyasha heaved a small sigh. "Listen, Sango...you don't have to lie. We know that kid was your brother, Kohaku...and I guess it's hard, seeing him attacking innocent people like that. I could see why you stopped me, earlier. You didn't want me to hurt him...did you?"
Sango gasped silently while Inuyasha looked at her...his expression showing something rare, even for him: sincerity.
"I get it," Inuyasha said. "I mean...I kinda get it, at least. Even though you saw your kid brother kill all those people, you don't wanna believe that it was really him...do you?" His eyes softened. "Trust me...I know how you feel."
"...You do?" Sango asked while Kagome, whose eyes opened slightly as she heard them talk, glanced over at them.
"Yeah," Inuyasha said. "When you're close to somebody and they seem to change for the worse...you don't wanna accept the kind of person they've become."
Kagome's eyes softened at that.
'He's talking about Kikyo,' she thought. 'I guess a part of him still wants to remember her for the good person she was...or...he thought she was, anyway...'
"No matter what you say," Inuyasha began, "you still love your brother, don't you, Sango? And I know because...you see...you know the priestess that used to guard the Sacred Jewel? Well...I fell in love with her, 50 years ago."
Sango gasped silently in surprise.
"She was my first love," Inuyasha said, "but...I don't think Kikyo really reciprocated my feelings. She was gonna have me turn human...so that the jewel would disappear and she and I could be together...but looking back on it, now, I don't think it would have worked out." He looked Sango right in her eyes with an air of seriousness. "I thought about what you said about the jewel...about how no matter what wish you make on it, anyone who comes in contact with is met with an ill fate...and now that I think about it, even more, I realized...Kikyo still used me."
"...Inuyasha...!" Sango whispered.
"But...even knowing that," Inuyasha began, "a part of me still wants what's best for Kikyo...even though, she's been brought back from the dead, she's a walking husk of what she used to be...bitter and full of contempt...but I still wanna remember her for the good person she used to be...and I'm pretty sure that's what you want for Kohaku, too, don't you, Sango?"
Sango's eyes widened even more...but then, they started to well up with tears, causing Inuyasha to gasp. Before either of them knew it, Sango suddenly broke out in sobs, prompting the others to awaken, as well.
"Huh?" Shippo asked. "What's going on?"
"Sango!" Kagome exclaimed as she soon went by her side.
"What happened?!" Miroku asked Inuyasha, who stuttered in a panic.
"I-I don't know!" Inuyasha answered. "I started talking to her about what happened and she started crying! I didn't mean to make her cry, I swear!"
"I can't do it!" Sango suddenly shouted, causing everyone to look at her.
"What?" Kagome asked.
"You can't do what, Sango?" Miroku inquired.
"What's the matter?" Shippo questioned, worriedly.
"I...I'm so sorry!" Sango apologized. "I...I didn't want to do this, but if I don't, there's no telling what he'll do to Kohaku!"
"Sango, slow down!" Kagome urged. "Start from the beginning. What's going on?"
Sango sniffled and wiped her eyes, and with a small encouraging nudge from Kirara, she began to convey to the others what had transpired in the barrier. She explained in full detail her encounter with Naraku from within the invisible wall and how he was using Kohaku as his puppet. Finally, she told them about how Naraku demanded that Sango bring him the Tetsusaiga in exchange for Kohaku's life.
Needless to say, the group was shocked...not to mention disgusted.
"I don't believe it...!" Kagome whispered.
"How could he do such a thing?!" Shippo questioned in anger.
"Naraku...you despicable beast," Miroku hissed. "Is there no low to which you won't sink?!"
"I'm no fool to Naraku's lies, now," Sango said. "I know that he won't honor our agreement...but even so...what am I going to do?" Her eyes began to well up again. "Kohaku...he's such a sweet, innocent boy...and the thought of him being Naraku's minion is more than I can bear! I can't let him do this to him! Even if he doesn't remember me, he's still my brother! I have to find some way to get him away from Naraku..." She threw her head up as she looked to the others. "But I won't do it at the expense of your trust! Even though we haven't known each other for long...you've all come to mean so much to me, already!" On that, she broke down sobbing once again, prompting Kagome to hug her from the side.
"Shh~!" Kagome soothed. "It's all right, Sango! We'll think of something!" She then looked over at Inuyasha, who had his eyes closed and his arms crossed. "Inuyasha? Why haven't you said anything?!"
"...So...Naraku wants my sword, huh?" Inuyasha asked...before he grinned. "Well, then...let's give it to him!"
"Huh?!" Kagome, Miroku, and Shippo questioned.
"Wha...?" Sango whispered in surprise.
"Hear me out," Inuyasha said. "I have a plan...but it's risky. Odds are it only has a slight chance of working, but it's the best we've got." He then looked to Sango. "But Sango...if it's gonna work, you gotta trust me...okay?"
Sango gasped silently before she put on a determined expression and nodded her head. "Of course, I trust you!"
"Good," Inuyasha smirked. "Here's the plan."
We have officially reached 100 chapters! WHOO!
Anyway, I decided I wanted to change things up a little bit and show that Sango really did trust Inuyasha and friends, which is why I had her tell them about what happened with Naraku. Hope you'll enjoy it!
Review, please!
