Chapter 17

Sango slept fitfully. Murmuring broken words and sweating with fever. Unknown to her, Keade mopped her forehead and prayed for her quick recovery. Myroku silently sat in the corner, looking at her face. He had been there a long time. Long enough to see the countless salves and bandages carefully rubbed and removed again. He had been there long enough to know that thanks to his purple thing and the kindness of other villages, Sango had not lost a lot of blood, and if they could trust the stranger from yesterday, she would recover, if not quickly.

"Do not worry yourself Myroku." Keade told him as she wiped Sango's head.

"There is no poison in the salves. I nether smell nor sense anything wrong with them." He just nodded.

Inside Sango's head she saw many things. In one dream she was talking to Kohaku. They were both just children.

"Sango!" Kohaku wined.

"What is it Kohaku?" Sango smiled.

"Demons!!" he whispered frightened.

"Kyoske said there were demons in the wash room!" His lip started to tremble.

"He said there going to eat me and spit out my bones!" He flopped on the ground crying hopelessly.

"I don't want to be eaten Sango! I don't want to take a bath!"

"Oh Kohaku!" Sango laughed as she took her brother in her arms.

"He is lying! There are no demons in the wash room! And if there are, do you know what would happen?"

He looked up.

"Father..Father would kill him?"

"Yes! Father would never allow demons in the washroom! What would people say?" His face split into a grin and he giggled, jumping out of her arms.

"Someday I will kill all the demons in the world!" he ran about the room lunging around stabbing imaginary demons. There was a whistling sound and he turned to her. There was an arrow logged in his heart.

"Who are you?" he mumbled and fell slowly to the ground.

"KOHAKU!" she ran to his corpse. Around her people fell and screamed as demons lunged at their throats. As she ran she grew older. A little girl tripped and was ripped to shreds by the bloodthirsty swarm.

"NO!" she screamed sobbing and choking.

"NO!" she fell next to his body and tried to pull the arrow out, but it was stuck.

"Kohaku!" she whispered

"Kohaku, awake Kohaku!" she rocked his lifeless body in her arms. Dead children rose out of the carnage and began to sing.

- Little brother, little brother

- Soon find sleep, in heaven

- Soon find rest, I love you

- Sleep my brother

- Sleep and wait for me

She felt a hand on her shoulder.

"Is he dead?" asked the voice

"Yes, he is gone, and so is my father, are you dead?" she turned to the man.

"No." He shook his head and gently led her away from her brother's body.

"I am alive." He assured her. She nodded and embraced him.

"You are alive too Sango." he whispered.

"Yes." She whispered back. Tears falling from her eyes.

"Alive with you....Myroku."

She awoke with a scream.

"Sango!" Myroku fumbled over to her.

"Will she be all right Keade?" He automatically put his hand on her head to smooth away her hair.

"Calm yourself Myroku." She said walking over.

"She is awake."

Sango moaned, squinting her eyes. Where was she? Were was Myroku? Myroku...

"Myroku....?"

"I'm here. I'm here do not worry."

Why am I in pain? Mezu....she killed me. Like Kagome...

"But....Mizu and Kagome..." She started crying.

"Mizu is dead Sango! Everyone is all right, they are here, outside. Everything will be fine."

She lifted her hand to his check and smiled threw her tears.

"We are alive Myroku." she stated.

"Yes." he rested his cheek on hers.

"We are."

**Meanwhile**

It was morning. Shippo, Kelala and Inuyasha had decided to take a bath at a nearby lake and Myroku was still with Sango. Kagome had nothing to do but worry. A cool breeze swept over her. Sango is stuck in bed recovering and all I can do is think about myself. She thought guiltily. Over and over all I can think about is forty-five days, forty-five days. Six weeks and three days until I die. She turned towards the wind and hugged her knees. But..but I have a daughter. She thought calmly. That means I win. I kill her. I kill Kikyo. She sighed and fell into the cold grass looking at the sky. Can I kill a human? She thought. No. But Kikyo isn't really human...but when? Forty-five days. Six weeks, three days...

**Meanwhile...again...are you getting tired of these yet?^^**

"Have you finished?" he asked his newest servant as he sat on his throne.

"Yes." she answered from the floor bowing her head. "May I go home now?" he smiled. She smiled back.

"Yes, come let me take you home." he held out his hand. She took it with no hesitation. Shuddered and slumped to the ground. He sat back down.

"Kagura." He called "Take Kotarie away. We may need her later."

Kikyo watched as Kagura lifted her with her wind and took her away. Scowling all the while.

"Is that why you did not kill her?" She asked him stiffly. He smiled at his lover.

"Can you not bare to see her face?" He put his hand over hers. She recoiled inside. How could she sink this low? How could she be with this filthy creature? But it was necessary. In order to lure him into her corner, to be close enough to him, that when he had all the jewel shards she could kill him. This new dilemma had complicated things though. How could she kill that girl and watch Naraku at the same time? Make him do it. She needn't worry herself about her, even if it would hurt Inuyasha. Stupid man. She smiled warmly at her slave.

"Why would that be? I have you, my Naraku." He frowned.

"Do not lie to me Kikyo. You cannot keep the girls face out of your mind." That was true. Ever sense she had seen her face and Naraku had told her it was meant to look like Kagome and Inuyasha's daughter; she could not help thinking. What would our children have been like? When I loved him..like Kotarie? Yes. Kotarie's memories were fake. Which was why it was vital that she only give the medicine and not talk. It was not hard for Naraku to replicate Inuyasha's kimono, nor was it hard to place her in the well and manipulate her thoughts. She gently pulled her hand away and stood up.

"I hope your plan works Naraku. I spend a lot of time avoiding death." He smiled again.

"Don't we all?"

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

K, I had confusion on this. We learn that Kotarie is Naraku's incarnation. Yes, I know, I'm sorry. We also learn that, sense Naraku can put what ever story he wants in her head, Koatarie had no idea she was "working" for Naraku. She actually "believed" the story. Why did he do this instead of just controlling her body with his thoughts like he does later on? Well, because Miroku would have sensed that the girl was lying. Hope that clears it up! This isn't a Nar/Kik either. So don't worry^^.