Disclaimer: see chapter 8

X. Attacked

Sango looked back at Miroku, who stood silently watching the whole scene. What could she do? She knew that she couldn't bear to kill him, but she also couldn't bear the look of disappointment on Kohaku's face.

Kohaku…Houshi-sama…which one would she choose? Sango closed her eyes in thought.

"Choose!" Kagura commanded impatiently.

"NO!" her voice rang out as she opened her eyes. "I won't do it. I'm sorry Kohaku, but it's, it's a stupid to strike this deal. I'll find another way to free you because I can't, and won't go through with this."

Kagura narrowed her eyes. "Fine. Just don't regret your decision." She opened her fan and shot out the blades. Sango quickly picked up Hiraikotsu and shielded Miroku and herself with it. When the dust settled, Kagura disappeared, but Kohaku was still there.

"Kohaku!" Sango started forward, thinking that Kagura left him.

"Don't!" Miroku grabbed her arm and held her back. "It might be a trap."

"But…" she cleared her head and thought about it. Would Kagura really leave her innocent brother behind?

"Kohaku?" she started towards the boy again, but this time, slowly and cautiously. She gasped when she caught sight of Kohaku's face. His eyes had gone blank and his face was emotionless. A chill ran down Sango's spine and her stomach sank. Oh no, he's under that spell again.

Kohaku advanced towards her, laughing coldly. "I waited and waited, I hoped, no, expected you to free me, but you couldn't do it, all for that monk. You failed, and for that you shall pay."

Kohaku threw his scythe at her, and she ducked just in time, for she was stunned at his words. The weapon whizzed past her, taking off an inch of her hair. She moved out of the way immediately before the weapon came back.

Sango used the Hiraikotsu to block Kohaku's attacks, but she didn't have to heart to strike back. This was her brother after all.

Soon, she was getting tired. Kohaku didn't seem to be affected at all, and struck at her tirelessly. It must be the jewel shard giving him the energy.

"No…" she gasped as she stumbled on a root and fell. She looked up and saw the scythe flying at her. She didn't have time to hold up her weapon to block or to reach for her sword. She closed her eyes and waited for the pain, but it never came.

(AN: I was gonna leave it there as an evil cliffie, but decided to be nice since you are so nice to me )

She heard a sound like metal hitting metal and opened her eyes. Miroku was standing over her, his staff held out horizontally in front of him between his hands. He grimaced at the force of the impact of the scythe hitting his staff. But he stood his ground and Kohaku retrieved his weapon.

Sango got up immediately and stood by Miroku's side. She let out a tiny gasp as she saw the blood trickling down his left fist where the scythe hit his finger before it hit the staff.

"Houshi-sama, get out of here! Now!" she commanded firmly. Miroku was surprised for a second, for he had never heard her use that tone on him before.

"I can't let you fight alone," he protested.

"Go! That's my brother, and this is my fight. Let me do it by myself." Sango gave him a gentle push away from Kohaku.

"But –"

"Please, Houshi-sama, I can do this on my own." Then in a small, barely audible voice, she added: "I don't want you to get hurt again because of me."

She turned and stepped between Miroku and Kohaku, leaving Miroku standing there behind her, unsure of what to do. He couldn't leave her, what if she got hurt? And he couldn't really help her either, because she wouldn't let him. So he just stood to the side watching silently.

It pained him greatly to see Sango getting wounded, and it frustrated him that she wasn't fighting back. But whenever he tried to step in, Sango told him to stay out. Finally, he couldn't take it anymore. He stepped between the siblings to protect the girl.

"What are you doing?" Sango grunted.

"I can't let you continue this, you're going to get yourself killed!" with that, he got out his sacred scrolls.

"No fair, two against one," Kagura appeared out of the shadows of the trees. "I guess I'll have to make it even then." She opened her fan and sent out more blades of wind. Miroku helped Sango to the cover of some trees. The blades chopped the trees down and narrowly missed their heads. Miroku stood up and walked to face Kagura, about to open his Kazaana when he heard Sango yelled for him to watch out on his right. He turned in that direction and saw Kohaku's scythe coming fast straight for him. The monk froze.

"NO!" Sango yelled and pushed Miroku out of the way and they were both thrown against a tree.

Sango gasped and clenched her teeth against the pain as Kohaku's scythe went in her left shoulder. She collapsed against Miroku.

When his back hit the tree, Miroku's breath was knocked out of him. When he got his breath back, he realized what happened as Sango leaned against him, her shoulder bleeding. He used his left arm to support Sango and freed his right hand. He looked at Kagura and Kohaku with pure hatred and released the Kazaana.

Kagura laughed coldly. "Pathetic humans." With that, she and Kohaku flew off in her feather.

Miroku sealed his hand and turned his attention to Sango. He shook her gently while calling out her name. Sango looked up.

"I, I'm sorry Houshi-sama…" she whispered and went limp in Miroku's arms.

yay! 99 reviews!! the 100th reviewer shall get to borrow Miroku or Inuyasha (yes I have them here) for the day. please note I said 'borrow' so I want them back for the next chapter!

as for the weird pairing, I'll take votes for one more chapter, then I can start on the story. also I want to know what genre to write it in. humor/parody, or something more serious and tragic? i have a plot in mind for the current pairing leader, but if you have an idea for a plot for any pairing, please tell me, i'll be glad for suggestions.

weird pairings:
Naraku/Kagome's mom - 8 (this'll make an interesting story)
Sango/IY - 6
Naraku/Kirara - 5
Kanna/Kouga - 5
Miroku/Kagome - 2
Kagome/Shippo - 2
Sango/Sesshy - 2
Rin/Naraku - 2
Rin/Jaken - 2
Kaede/Naraku - 2
Shippo/Kirara - 2
Miroku/Kagura - 1
Sango/Naraku - 1
Hiten/Sango - 1
Naraku/Kagome - 1
Rin/Shippo - 1
IY/Kagome's mom - 1
Jaken/Kagome - 1
Kanna/Shippo - 1
Koga/ Rin - 1
Kikyou/ Koga - 1
Shippo/Kikyou - 1 (kinda scary, but that's okay)

FMP: yup, that's right, I went to China! I wish I was in Athens now ...