Still posting! Damn this is confusing!

Part 9

The Broken Boy

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Sango cradled her brother's body in her arms. Try as she might, the tears just wouldn't come. She felt hollow and empty inside. She had known all along that something would happen...but she had hoped that they could find a way to save him. Hope had kept her going. Now it was as dead as the empty shell of her brother that she couldn't seem to let go of.

Inuyasha and Miroku were still questioning Sesshoumaru's servant. The little demon didn't seem to know why they had found Kohako at the bottom of the deep hole that the youkai claimed to have been rescued from. Naraku's scent was there, but it vanished after a few feet. Only the stink of the toad's blood staining the ground testified that the creature was telling the truth.

Sango looked up with eyes filled with sorrow. The monk, hanyou, and demon, stopped yelling at eachother long enough to feel ashamed at their behavior. Even Jaken felt he was shaming himself by getting in a screaming match with his lord Sesshoumaru's brother and companions.

"He killed you." Sango said quietly.

"Huh?"

"If Kohako is dead, then the Shikon shard that was keeping him alive is gone."

"Why is she looking at me like that?" Jaken was getting nervous. He inched his way behind the legs of his enemy to shield himself from the woman's eyes.

"What do you mean Sango?" Miroku said gently.

She looked down and stroked her brother's cold cheek once and then stood up. "Isn't it obvious? They killed Jaken. And saved him with the shard. Just like Kohako."

"You mean this stupid frog has the jewel shard!?" Inuyasha seemed baffled.

"I do not!"

"Give it here, you little bastard!" Inuyasha lunged at Jaken. He dived behind the Monk.

"Wait Inuyasha." Sango's sad and lifeless tones stopped him. "That Jewel shard was used to control my brother. They must have plans for Jaken too. "

"And if we follow him when the shard takes control, we will find Naraku." Miroku finished the thought.

"And I will have my revenge..."Sango carried her brother to Kirara's back. "Let's take him home, Kirara. I will bury him with the family."

"We are all going." Inuyasha announced. "We do this together to the end...all of it. We will help you with your brother."

Snago looked at them and smiled a small sad smile. She nodded her understanding and made room for the monk to climb behind her.

Before he jumped onto Kirara's back, he paused beside Sango's knee and laid a hand over her own. He squeezed her fingers gently and whispered "I'm sorry." Then he let her go.

Sango was confused and comforted by his gentle touch. She stared at the hand he had held for so brief a moment and felt her eyes fill. Finally...Maybe there was something else to help keep her going after all.

She made no move to wipe away the proof of her grief as they flew toward the empty village that she grew up in. She let the tears fall.