Action scenes here... no flames please, I tried my best. You people are insane to say I'm good at these things... . me getz confused!

Her Haunting Past

"Naraku." Hissed Miroku.

"What?" asked Sango. Kagome was already running down the hall again after Inu-Yasha.

"I can't believe I didn't feel him coming." Shouted Miroku already looking for his staff.

"What are you doing?" Sango turned quickly.

"I'm going." Miroku argued.

"To do what? To die?! We're in no position to defeat him Houshi-sama, the most we'll be able to do is fend him off. I don't need you going to risk yourself just for that. Or is there really something you think you can do?" she argued while shaking off her yukata and putting her armor in place.

He didn't have the chance to answer back as she quickly ran off with Kirara and Hiraikotsu over her shoulder. There was another loud explosion and Shippou's high pitched voice echoed in the distance.

He growled.

Sango jumped off the porch and caught site of the battlefield. Inu-Yasha was barely visible jumping from tree top to tree top slashing at whatever part of Naraku's beast was unprotected. As always he had sent one of his gruesome creations. This snake like creature hissed and lashed out at Inu- Yasha as well. It stood over two scaly feet ending in sharp black talons. At the end of its tail a large scythe of some sort countered with Inu- Yasha's Tetsusaiga.

"Hiraikotsu!"

The beast turned sharply to see the giant boomerang and ducked quickly, not before receiving a large gash in its side. It hissed loudly.

"Sango-chan abunai!" shouted Kagome as the snake advanced quickly towards the inn. Katana out and ready she stood her ground ready to face the beast. But the threat did not come from ahead.

"Sango!"

Miroku's strained voice was the only thing that would have made her turn and see just what Kagome had wanted to warn her about.

"No!" called out Inu-Yasha

Kagome gave a squeal and covered her eyes not wanting to see what she knew would happen.

Sango saw the familiar double bladed weapon come down over her. She didn't have enough time to make connections; the only thing clear was that she was going to die.

The blade suddenly lost its fluid movement and made a harsh turn to the right nicking off her shoulder pad.

What happened in the next two seconds she would figure out in a moment, when she was able to think again. The first thing she noticed was that the garden was no longer quiet with nervous anticipation. She wasn't even in the garden anymore.

"Good girl Kirara!" she faintly heard Shippou shout out.

The fire beast looked up worriedly at her master checking to see if she was all right.

"Kirara." Sango said shakily, she gave a jumpy sigh and smiled at the cat. "Thank you so much!"

Kagome was so flushed with relief all she could do was smile and whimper a small "Yokatta..." Inu-Yasha gave a nervous sigh. That was too close.

Miroku from down at the inn took a shaking had up to his brow, recalling the scene that had been before him moments ago. He didn't remember ever having been so scared in his life.

Sango had been distracted with the snake youkai. A shadow just behind her made its move. He recognized the taiji-ya outfit and the double bladed weapon. Miroku felt he had called out for her too late when Shinosuke raised his Niken over his head. Time stood still as Sango's ponytail snapped looking to the danger behind her. Shino's arm twitched and the weapon came down. His heart missed a beat.

Seemingly coming out of nowhere Kirara jumped over Shino sending the Niken askew and leaving him on the floor. The youkai Sango had been waiting for lashed out next, but not before Kirara took her master over her back and out of harm's way.

It was until then, he could breathe again. But the battle was far from over. Shinosuke recovered quickly snatching his Niken and heading to his closest opponent, Miroku. He clutched his staff, and for now, walking stick not sure if he could face him.

A barrier of fire appeared between both of them, cutting off Shino's path; he turned to look at Kirara ready to fire again and to a preoccupied Sango.

"Shinosuke? What's wrong?" she yelled

Miroku saw just as he turned, the familiar blankness of his eyes right before he turned to face his friend and former love.

"Sango, there is something controlling him."

She tensed. This was too familiar

"Inu-Yasha move!" Kagome's voice echoed in the wide space before one of her brilliant arrows flew through the air just missing Inu-Yasha into the youkai's chest.

"Seriously do you have something against me?!" he yelled covering himself from the fragments of the exploding beast.

"Grab the shard!" she yelled ignoring him.

Landing expertly in the dirt, he shifted quickly back to where the monster had been, disappearing in the dust.

Sango landed next to Miroku making sure he hadn't been hurt.

"Daijoubu." He smiled

He was almost sure she would start yelling at him now, or slap him or do anything but what she did.

"Arigatou..."

He turned quite confused to look up at her concerned face. Again they were interrupted, this time by the cry of pain from Inu-Yasha. He was suddenly and forcefully thrown out of the cloud of dust and landed not so gracefully a few feet away.

"Inu-Yasha!" called out Kagome, already rushing to his side.

Paying no attention to either the nasty gash between his neck and shoulder or Kagome, he took her in his arms and jumped out of the way not a second before one of the Niken's blades incrusted itself into the dirt along with a piece of Inu-Yasha's haori.

He set down a dazed Kagome and looked down to what was left of his right sleeve. 'How the hell did he rip it so easily?'

"Inu-Yasha!" Kagome's voice brought him back to reality

Shino was inches from his face. Pushing Kagome down he felt a sharp numbing pain in his side. Kagome gave a choked scream and he got angry. Like Miroku, he had seen eyes like Shinosuke's too many times before. He pulled out Tetsusaiga.

Sango gave a sharp gasp.

"Does this seem familiar to you Taiji-ya?"

His voice rang out turning heads everywhere. Everyone knew that voice.

"Remember a blade slicing Kenji's back, tearing of Eiji's shoulder, going through Notaro's stomach, slicing Ryu's chest?... going through your father's head?"

"Urusai! You've gone too far this time lowly bastard!"

Sango was barely listening as Inu-Yasha gave that monster a piece of his mind. She was back at that castle that dreadful day. Remembering the noises, smells and visions.

Inu-Yasha cursed as Shino took another swipe at him. He had fought a Taiji- ya before. Sango was much faster but Shino was stronger and his technique was different. The only thing left to do was knock him out until he had control over himself again.

Planning his move quickly he stood his ground watching Shino charge at him, a foot away he unsheathed Tetsusaiga sending his Niken flying through the air. With Shino unarmed and vulnerable Inu-Yasha flicked his wrist and with the side of the weapon connected with Shino's side sending him rolling into a tree. He heard Sango's choked gasp.

"If you ever fought a just battle we would have destroyed you long ago. Others fight and die for you, not even knowing why. You can't even have followers carry out your orders without manipulating their physical bodies." Lashed out Miroku setting a hand over Sango's shoulder.

Inu-Yasha looked uneasily to Shino's shaking body then began looking for the culprit of this mess. "Come out you coward!"

"Would you all like it if he could think for himself then?" asked Naraku coolly

"Inu-Yasha!" yelled Shinosuke

If it would have been anyone else's warning he wouldn't have hesitated so much, but coming from his own opponent he turned a second too late; a long metallic spear piercing his shoulder.

"Ahh!"

"Inu-Yasha!" cried Kagome

"What the hell is this?! Inu-Yasha!" Shino yelled desperately "I don't...! I can't...!"

Sango watched in horror as Shino with a terrified face pulled on the spear like weapon. Every hunter had his or her own hidden weapon in case of loss or fracture of the main one. Hers was the kodachi in her forearm. Shinosuke's was a sort of anchor. She had seen him use it a few times. It stayed embedded in the beast and the long metal chain attached to it allowed you to haul the creature. Like a fishing rod. Only he used it in a much crueler way.

Kagome squealed as Inu-Yasha crashed against the ground, some trees and the ground again.

"No!" yelled Shinosuke

"Bastard." Breathed Miroku through clenched teeth. "He's given Shinosuke back his consciousness, but not his body. He knows what he's doing but can't do anything about it."

Sango's stomach jumped. Meanwhile Inu-Yasha found a way to counter with Shino's technique. About to slam him into a tree Inu-Yasha gave a flip so his feet connected with the bark. Using it as leverage he pushed, flying towards Shino. His fist connected with Shino's side.

Both gave a yell of pain hitting the floor. Inu-Yasha somewhat recovered and roughly pulled the serrated spear out of his shoulder, groaning and falling to his knees.

"Inu-Yasha!" called out Kagome at his side immediately

The poison was beginning to work it's effect. Sango's fist clenched.

"NARAKU!" Sango yelled her eyes glossy. "Face me you bastard!" she poised Hiraikotsu

"Maa maa Sango, don't get so upset. Shino is thinking for himself remember?" he mocked.

Miroku clenched his teeth. Inu-Yasha was out of battle for now, out of the corner of his eye he could see Kagome tending to his wounds and the poison. Then a quick movement to his right caught his eye.

"Sango!" two voices shouted in unison.

The Niken was once again coming down over her, only this time she was ready. Her adrenaline high, she channeled the bubbling rage within her to the cool movements of her boomerang and katana. She had fought with Shinosuke tons of times before. This one was no different. He didn't have control over his body but it still had the same limitations and abilities.

"Sango..." he said worriedly between breaths

She countered his Niken with Hiraikotsu and flicked her katana. "I won't let him have you Shino."

"You don't understand." He said making another horizontal slash.

"I'll save you Shino." She ducked quickly and took a swipe with Hiraikotsu

"Sango." He blocked with his Niken.

"You want his freedom then take the shard out of him." Explained Naraku

A shard, just like her brother. She had imagined something of the sort. But this time Shino's life didn't depend on it. "Kagome!" she turned to her friend. "The shard."

With fear and sadness in her eyes Kagome hesitated before lifting a hand to the hollow of her neck tapping it twice. Sango's heart dropped.

In the distance Naraku's laughter erupted throwing off Sango's concentration. Shino's fist connected with her cheek bone, followed by a hard kick to her side.

"Sango!" called Miroku and Shino. Clutching her stomach with one hand she held up Hiraikotsu to shield herself from his Niken. Her cheek was bleeding.

"Time is running out for you, I would be more careful with that chest wound. Let me know what you decide. Will or won't Shino come back to me, to fight alongside your brother. Choose well taiji-ya. For now I have no reason to stay."

"Piece of filth!" Kagome hissed.

"Naraku! Don't you dare leave!" yelled Inu-Yasha from his position on Kagome's lap "More of a coward every time we see you! Now you won't even stay to watch the destinies you have changed!"

Miroku looked up to the laughing monster floating away on his cloud of darkness. The thing he hated most about this fight with the demon was not having to go searching from town to town for him. It was not the desperate feeling of defeat every time they faced him. Not the injuries or the attacks.

What he hated the most, was his hatred itself.

The way his blood boiled from frustration every time he hurt someone he loved. The way his fingers would dig into the skin of his palm. The void in his stomach knowing he would smile while tearing Naraku's body apart, seeing him scream and suffer in pain for everything that he had done.

For Inu-Yasha, Kagome, Shippou, his father, Shinosuke. And Sango. It scared him at times. It was too much of one feeling so negative and consuming. Being poked at and growing every time Naraku had the last laugh.

"SANGO!"

Everyone turned to the desperate voice of Shinosuke. Watching the quick movements by both hunters and enduring the dreadful silence afterwards. Everything stopped. Not a breath was taken or expelled. Not a finger twitched. No one cared about Naraku anymore. Everyone's eyes seemed to be glued to Sango's katana, as still as everything else surrounding them.

She knew she should be in pain, as Shino's Niken was incrusted in her shoulder, but all she could see now was the desperate shaking of his eyes. Both stood stiffer than stone. Only their eyes showing the fear within them both. Sango's katana only touching Shino's neck. No one dare moved for the longest time.

Shippou whimpered against Inu-Yasha when Shino shut his eyes tightly.

"Sango..." his Niken trembled. "Please do it..."

His weapon was literally in her body, with a flick of his wrist he could kill her easily, just as much as she could extend her elbow and end his life.

"Please!" he said a little louder trembling more. "I don't want to be your burden, I don't want to be Kohaku!" he shouted.

Tears streaming down her emotionless face gave away what she was feeling inside.

"I can save...." she began with a cracked voice.

"You already have!" he shouted. Fear in his words as the Niken turned slightly in her shoulder.

"Now it's my turn..." he tried for a smile. With every once of strength and will power he had, he concentrated everything in moving his left hand. Gritting his teeth he forced his arm up, trying his best to place his hand over hers; still clutching the katana so tight her fingers were white.

"He won't win." He told her

Miroku looked with wide eyes to the man in front of Sango. "No..." he pleaded silently.

"Shinosuke..." her eyes widened in fear.

He smiled, trying his best to comfort her; she hadn't taken her eyes of his. "Daijoubu Jou-chan... remember..."

She shook her head. "No!" she pleaded him

"My love will always be yours Sango...."

"Shinosuke!"

"I will always love you."

Eyes widened everywhere.

His hand pulled on hers.

"NO!"

°

sobs! oh my! I got kinda carried away whimpers I uh... sobs louder damn, I didn't know I'd grown so fond of him! Ohhh, well this is and angst fic, and in my defense I had planned to kill him from the start, but then again I had planned to make him a jack ass... ohhhh! sobs

Anywho, this is it, last chapter. Hope you enjoyed!

But before you start with the death threats there will be an epilogue. Hehehe, (do you really think I would do that to my dear readers?! I'm not that evil!) I can't bring him back to life you know but I'll try for a bitter sweet ending

By the way, I kept my promise to you being as this is the last chapter I uploaded it before the end of June. Now the epilogue won't take much longer either but I'm having trouble with my phone so I can't guarantee anything before July, but that's just if the phone goes haywire, if it doesn't I don't see why I can't upload it before July. hehe.

Review! ¬¬ without the death threats please...