YojimbosBlade: Heh, well I'm glad you like this story n.n
Z.A.G: Ah, we could still have a body burning ritual-- that sounds fun... No, no, Kouga's not going off to get killed, I could never kill off Kouga, I like him too much. And yup, that's one story I've been working on for a while now. It was actually one of the first InuSan stories I ever planned. I already have a couple chapters written, just not the first chapter. The first one just doesn't want to be written. Anyways... I'm keeping my eye on your story n.n
moonsiren06: I just read your fic a little bit ago; looks good. I'm honored that my story was one of the ones that inspired you too :)
sangolover4eva2004: Thank you for the comment n.n I'm glad this seems to be getting better.
purplepeopleeater: Yeah, a Jaken plushie! It's cute, but I'd rather have a Kirara one. Jaken's whole obsessive worship of Sesshoumaru is cute though. And I'm not the only one who likes Ginta and Hakkaku! Great! n.n I don't think Inuyasha and Kouga could ever be on 'good terms' though, they'd die without having some sort of competition with each other. And Miroku really doesn't appear in this chapter either; I tend to forget about him on account of, I don't really care for him. So, sorry n.n;;
AN: Whoa, two updates in one day! That has to be a record for me n.n;; This is mentioned in the first chapter, but I figured I'd say it again since there's a partial scene spoiler involving Sango and Kohaku in this chapter. Partial, because I altered it slightly to fit what I had planned. So, here it is; warning, spoilers for the second movie are ahead. There, don't say I didn't tell you.
Night came without many other events. Miroku had been rather quiet the rest of the day, as had Kagome. Though Kagome would occasionally look at Inuyasha and sigh. She had accepted the fact that Inuyasha chose Sango, but that didn't mean she wasn't without heart-ache over it....
It didn't take long for the group of shard hunters to get settled in for the night. And soon, silence filled the air around the campsite, as they each drifted off into sleep.
-II-
"Where are we?"
"The demon exterminator's village-- our home."
"Home?"
"That's right... You don't remember everything yet, do you?"
"I'm sorry, Sango-sama."
"It's alright, don't worry about it." 'Even though Naraku died... you are still not free... from the memories of killing our father and companions, are you?'
"Ane-ue..."
"Kohaku. Just now you--"
"Only this word comes back to me... But as soon as it does, it feels as though my heart is being crushed."
"It's all right, don't push yourself. Just spend as much time as you need in order to remember."
Sango smiled sadly at her brother, he still had a long way to go and it wasn't going to be easy once the memories of what he had done came back to him. But she would be there for him, the whole time.
On her spot on the floor, Kirara jumped up suddenly. She sniffed the air a couple times then growled and bristled her fur. Without hesitation, she ran outside, ignoring the taijiya calling to her.
"Stay here." Sango said to Kohaku, before running outside just as Kirara transformed to her larger form. Who she saw, surprised her, "Kagura!" A noise at the doorway caught her attention, and she glanced back to see Kohaku there. She turned back to the wind-user, a look of determination coming to her face, "Are you here to take back Kohaku?"
Kagura laughed, looking to the side as an amused smile came to her lips, "What I am here for is the Swallow's Cowrie Shell that Kohaku is carrying." She turned back to the two taijiya, that smile still on her face, though it was evident that her intentions were not good, "We are both free of Naraku. Why don't we try to get along?" Her crimson eyes narrowed slightly as she saw Kohaku defensively place a hand over the pouch carrying the shell. "If you hand it over without resisting, then I'll let you both live."
Sango turned to Kohaku. She wasn't sure what the shell was, exactly, but with the way Kagura was talking, she knew she couldn't let the wind-user have it, "Kohaku, grab hiraikotsu!"
As soon as the boy turned to re-enter the hut, Kagura let her fan fall open and gave a quick wave of her arm, "Ryuujya no Mai!"
Sango turned just as Kohaku was coming outside again. She ran for him, it was dangerous for him to come outside. But she couldn't reach him in time. The wind picked them up, and instinctively she reached for her brother. Her fingers brushed his, but before she could get a firm grip on his arm, the force of Kagura's winds forced them apart. "Kohaku!!" She cried out, watching as the winds picked him up higher into the air, while she herself was forced to the ground. Before she hit the ground, though, Kirara caught her. The taijiya gripped onto her fur and leaned down to avoid being blown off of the fire-cat, "Kirara, get to Kohaku!"
Kirara obediently began flying against the strong currents, trying to reach Kohaku before anything happened to him.
They neared the younger taijiya, and Sango began to feel hope grow inside. But the hope quickly dissolved into horror as she saw Kagura make a move.
Kagura made another wave of her hand, and this time wind-blades cut thought the tornado-like winds, heading straight for Kohaku.
"Faster!" Sango practically screamed, hoping that they would be able to reach Kohaku before the deadly wind-blades did. But luck was not with them.
The blades hit. Ripping though his clothes and cutting deep into his flesh.
The pouch containing the Swallow's Cowrie Shell flew from its place at the boys' waist, to Kagura's waiting hand. "I take this with the utmost gratitude." The wind-user said smugly, as her feather carried her into the sky and away from the taijiya village.
Once Kagura was gone, the winds faded immediately. Kohaku fell from the sky, but once again Kirara was there to catch him before he hit the ground.
"Kohaku! Kohaku!!" Sango repeated his name several times, cradling his still and bloody body in her arms, "Kohaku say something, say anything! Please!!"
-II-
Inuyasha awoke with a start. A whimpering sound had been what woke him up. His eyes remained closed as his ears flicked in the slight breeze... No, nothing was coming towards them. He sniffed the air... No, no demons were nearby. Satisfied that everyone was safe, he opened his eyes and jumped to the ground. Kagome was closest to the tree he had been in. Despite the fact that she knew about him and Sango, the miko continued to be the one to sleep closest to wherever he slept. She was fine, sleeping peacefully in her sleeping bad. Shippou was, of course, curled up in her arms, sleeping as well.
The hanyou walked forward a few steps to Miroku. No, Miroku wasn't making any noise. The hanyou snorted. The only person left was Sango... He took a couple steps towards her, when the smell of salt-water reached his nose. He stopped for a moment, and sniffed the air. There was no mistaking it, Sango was crying.
"Sango." He whispered, kneeling beside the taijiya. He was surprised to see she was sleeping still. 'Crying in her sleep?' He asked himself, blinking slightly. 'What could she be dreaming about?'
"Ko... Kohaku!" Sango murmured, almost as though she were answering Inuyasha's silent question. She repeated her brother's name another time, as she curled up.
Inuyasha's eyes narrowed in concern. He could see she was sweating; the moonlight gave the illusion that her skin was glistening because of it. When she whimpered again, he reached out and touched her shoulder, "Sango. Sango, wake up!" He said quietly, shaking her slightly.
Sango gasped and her eyes flew open. She took a few, quick intakes of air, before looking around frantically. Once it had registered that it had only been a dream-- a nightmare, she sat up and looked at Inuyasha. She wiped her eyes in a vain attempt to hide the fact that she had been crying, "Inuyasha... I..."
The hanyou made a quieting gesture and inclined his head towards Miroku and Kagome. He then motioned for Sango to follow him, before disappearing into the tree-line.
Sango took a deep breath, and stood up.
Kirara opened her eyes and sleepily looked up to her mistress.
The taijiya smiled slightly and bent down to scratch the kitten's ears, "Its okay, Kirara, go back to sleep."
Kirara yawned and laid back down. Inuyasha was with Sango, and Kirara knew that Inuyasha wouldn't let anything happen to her.
Sango followed Inuyasha as he walked past the trees, finally stopping once they were far enough from the others so they wouldn't wake them, "Are you okay?" He asked, turning to face the taijiya.
She nodded slowly, wrapping her arms around herself in an attempt to stop trembling, "I was dreaming about what happened after we had gone our separate ways... after I had gotten Kohaku back."
"But Kohaku's alive, Sango. The way you were acting, it was like he... wasn't." Inuyasha said quietly, unsure of whether or not she wanted to talk about it.
Again, the taijiya nodded, "I know... Kagura came to us, she was looking for a shell that Kohaku had. She took it and left our village in destruction-- more than it had been before then. But..." She trailed off and hugged herself tighter, looking to the side as she continued quietly, "But in my dream she didn't leave Kohaku alive... I know its stupid to get so shaken from a dream, but..."
"We're going to get him back." He replied, moving closer to her and putting his hands on her shoulders, "I promise you, I won't let anything happen to your brother."
She still looked to the side, unable to meet his golden gaze, "Since when did my problems become yours?"
"What?" He asked, releasing his hold on her as he looked at her in surprise, "Sango, how can you ask me that? Why wouldn't your problems be mine?" He put his fingers under her chin and turned her head towards him again, forcing her to look at him, "Do you think I wouldn't care what happens to him?"
Sango closed her eyes tightly, new tears beginning to roll down her cheeks, "I don't know, Inuyasha... It's just... the more people tell me that everything will be okay, the more it seems like it won't be okay. Everyone has their own problems and burdens, I don't want to add to that, but it seems like I always do. I've put us all in danger many times, and all those times Kohaku was involved." Her body began to shake even more, and she finally let go of herself and clutched onto the front of Inuyasha's haori instead, "I don't want to lose anyone else again."
Inuyasha remained quiet for a moment, unsure of what to say, "Sango... you're right, everyone does carry their own burdens, but that doesn't mean we don't want to help you with yours. Kohaku is your family, no one expects you to just forget about him; even if we are put in danger on occasion."
The taijiya nodded as best she could and leaned her face against his chest, her words becoming muffled by the fire-rat coat, "I know..."
He let his arms wrap around her as he remained silent, still unsure of what to say, so he didn't say anything. Instead of saying anything, he just held her until she stopped trembling so badly. Once she seemed to be okay again, he moved back slightly in order to look at her.
Before he could step away, though, her hold on his haori tightened, and she pulled herself closer to him once again, "No... For tonight... could you just hold me..?"
The hanyou was once again quiet for a moment, before slowly letting his arms go around her again, "Of course." Sango was strong, he knew. But even strong people needed comfort at times. He had only witnessed her 'break down' a couple times, but she never had anyone to comfort her, other than the usual 'it will be okay'. But for now, he would stay with her... "Hold on." He said quietly, before picking her up in his arms and jumping into a tree. There, he sat on a limb with Sango in front of him. Sitting in a tree would be more comfortable than standing on the ground, at least that's what he figured.
"You could give me a little more warning before doing something like that." Sango said, half-seriously as she settled back with her back against Inuyasha's chest.
Inuyasha smiled slightly, "Sorry."
She sighed contently and closed her eyes. Just knowing that he would stay with her, and let her sleep while in his arms was enough. She felt safe with him there, even though she was at risk of falling from the tree. She knew she was safe with him, and she trusted him completely.
His smile faded slightly as he stared off into the night. He knew that Sango had gotten Kohaku back after they had split up. He had seen the younger taijiya with his sister at Kaguya's castle. He wasn't sure when she had gotten her brother back, but he had been there when she lost him again. Kohaku had just started calling Sango by 'ane-ue' again, when Naraku stole him back.
Somehow it always came back to Naraku. Naraku was the reason Miroku had his kazaana. Naraku was the reason there were only a few remaining taijiya left. And Naraku, well, Naraku was the reason why Inuyasha had been sealed to that tree fifty years ago. 'Well... the bastard actually did something that turned out good.' He thought as he looked down to Sango, as that smile reappeared. If Naraku hadn't interfered all those years ago, he would've never met Sango. And, though many things since his 'awakening' had been tough, he knew it was worth it in the end.
"Inu..." Sango mumbled sleepily, bringing the hanyou out of his thoughts. She nuzzled against his chest before saying, "I'll view."
The hanyou cocked an eyebrow and chuckled before resting his chin on her head, "Whatever you say, Sango."
She smiled and went over the words she had said once more in her mind, 'Inuyasha... I love you.' With a satisfied smile, the taijiya let herself fall asleep once more in the comfort of Inuyasha's arms.
AN: The End. Yup, you heard correctly; that's the end of it. For the record, a lot of the inspiration for this chapter came from 'Vanity' by Yuki Kajiura. Very pretty song.
-sighs- I loved writing this story so much, I almost don't want it to end. But, sadly, I don't know what else to do with it, so it shall end there. I hope you enjoyed reading it, as much as I enjoyed writing it!