Chapter 3(AKA the good stuff)-Thicker Than Blood

Kirara landed lightly on the soft sand, and Sango helped her brother off.

"Who were those freaks?" Kohaku asked as he regained his balance.

Sango decided to ignore his question completely. "Kohaku…were you lying to me?"

"Neechan! How could you say that? I'm your own flesh and blood!" Kohaku looked hurt.

"That's no excuse. Kirara never just nuzzles up to anybody. She's too cautious."

"But-"

Sango's eyes seemed to reflect all the hurt and the anger that had built up over the years. She was surprised that she could feel this much passion over something…she didn't remember anything that had happened. "Tell me the truth, Kohaku!"

"No!"

"So you admit you lied!" her eyes softened. "Neechan, listen. I'm so confused. I remember being with you, in the village, but that's all. There's like…a huge blank between then and now. What's wrong, Kohaku? Please, tell me what happened!"

"Because those people…your friends…took so much time away from us, Sango! I want to be with you forever, now." The hot sun almost blinded Sango as it reflected off of her brother's tears.

As she embraced her brother, she noticed tears were streaming down her own cheeks and face. "I know, I know. Hush, Kohaku. Why can't I have both you and them, Kohaku?" So those people were my friends…she thought.

"Because…you love them more than you love me! I've seen you with them all the time, laughing and playing. Especially that houshi! I know you love him. That should be me, not him! Not them!" a look of excruciating pain passed over his face. "It would have been father's wish for us to be together!"

"Matao, Kohaku! Wait! It's not your place to tell me who I love, or father's wishes! And it wasn't I who let myself be so easily manipulated by a mere spider!" Sango knew this wasn't the truth, that it was actually Naraku, and there was no way Kohaku could've fought back. But she was just so angry about all the blows life had given her; she had to vent on something. "And it wasn't me, who, like a coward, ran to Naraku to erase my memories. Was it not…you, Kohaku? Who, on more than one occasion, tried to kill me?" her eyes, which were locked with Kohaku's, started to pierce through his soul. "And was it not you…neechan…" she seemed to spit the last word, infuriated. "…who killed our father?"

"Sango, no! I just-"

"No. Listen; just give me back my memories of these people!"

At that moment, Kohaku's face hardened. His eyes, which just a second ago were full of fear, love, and compassion for Sango, seemed to die. "Matao, Kohaku! Where is…your soul! It's gone! And I sense another presence here…Naraku!"

Kohaku took three steps backward. "No…leave me alone…not again, stay out of my brain, Nara-"

"No, fight it, Kohaku!" But it was too late. He was already standing stone still, and with no facial expression. It was a pose Sango knew all too well.

"Feh!" Kohaku's lips were moving, and his voice was coming out, but it was flat. It never changed pitch, and Sango knew that she had lost him again. "You are too wise, Sango. You pose minimal threat to my traps, but even so, I can not let you continue to walk this earth. I will give you back your memories, and deal you your death, courtesy of your younger brother. And if you run, I will kill him. You plight bores me, and the jewel shard in his back should be of good use to me."

"Naraku, come out and fight me! Why do you always us Kohaku? Leave…him…out of it!" But Naraku's presence was already gone, and Kohaku was running towards her.

If only those nice people…wait a minute! He did give me my memories back! Sango dodged an attack from Kohaku and pulled out her katana.

After about an hour of fighting, Sango was weak, both physically and mentally. Kohaku was holding up, but that was because Sango refused to hurt him. She then came to the realization that Kohaku wasn't going to stop unless she did something first.

"Naraku!" She screamed. "I know you can hear me, I know that your watching this! I know that you can control Kohaku's mind, but he still has a heart. I remember everything…even Kagome. He couldn't kill her, and I know that my face is embedded deep within his heart. He won't kill me."

Sango dropped to her knees and set her katana and Hiraikotsu on the ground. "But something tells me that the might of Naraku has grown. If in the final moment he uses that power, he might overtake your pure heart. So if I do die, I die without regrets. I got to see you one last time, Kohaku. But heed me! I know that your heart is listening to me. Don't follow me into the after world." She noticed Kohaku's weapon was raised, and that he was walking toward her. "That's what father would have wanted."

Sango bowed her head and said a final prayer. "I'm not sure what's about to happen…it's the final test to see what's stronger." She looked up. "His mind…or your heart. Either way, I don't care anymore. I put my life on the line for you, my brother. Either way, I love you. Good-bye…or maybe it's…hello?"

PLEASE R&R I WANT FEEDBACK!!!!! OK, now commentary. In the original, there was some confusion as to how I was going to give Sango's memories back, and that final little monologue she does at the end. In the original, it was going to be Naraku's day where he was weak, because he's half demon. Then I realized that most people hadn't seen that episode, 'cause that's one of the ones I bought, and they haven't showed it on adult swim yet. I was going to make it so he just didn't have the capacity to handle it, and was forced to give her back her memories. I like this way better. There was also a lot of little, "small talk" stuff in the beginning, but I decided, "To hell with it! I want more angst and yelling!" Sango's little monologue at the end was confusing in the original, and I reread it and thought, "WTF was I thinking?" It was very, "Your going to kill me…but your not." Hope you like it!