As Shippou regained consciousness, he became aware that he was being shaken fervently by his tail. He opened his eyes just slightly and saw that it was dark, and so concluded that it was still the same night of his attack.

"Sango? Is that you?" He looked up at the figure above him.

"Oh, thank goodness you're alive! I thought I had hurt you badly! I was afraid that.... Who's Sango?"

"A better question- who are you?"

"Oh! I'm Kikura- a fox demoness, born of Toumuyo-sama. I never met my mother, so there isn't much to say about her. Except I'm sure she was a fox-demon. I'm a pureblood. Also, Kikura is kinda long- so if you want, you can shorten it to Kiko or Kichan, if you want."

"I am a pureblood fox demon as well! My name is Shippou. Now would you mind please putting me down?"

Kiko dropped Shippou and he fell from her hand with a soft thud. He landed on is arm which bent in an awkward direction. Shippou let out a soft "itai..." and Kiko moved Shippou into a more comfortable position.

"Now, what should we do about your arm? And your leg looks hurt too!"

"We have to find Sango and Miroku, that's what. They are my friends and they are outside of the forest."

"Speaking of that, why were you in the forest at all?"

"My other friends, Inuyasha and Kagome are away, and she usually cooks, so we needed food to eat. So, Sango and I were hunting when we caught this rabbit. Then, this large fox came, stole our rabbit, and threw me into the woods, muttering."

"Another fox? That's strange!"

"I know- but it happened. Oh, the trouble of being so small."

"You're taller than me by a good two inches!"

"Yes, but you can better defend yourself."

Shippou tried to push himself into a standing position with his good arm, but his hurt leg collapsed. He suddenly had a better idea.

"You have jewel shards, do you not?"

Kiko tugged at her hair defensively.

"Why?"

"We have to get to Kagome's time and tell her that I'm hurt and that we lost Sango and Miroku."

"Her time?"

"No time to explain- do you know how to get to the old well?"

"I think so..."

Kiko reached into her pocket to instinctively find her phoenix.

"Where did it go? My phoenix is missing!"

"I saved it when you dove into the water. Here it is."

Palm outstretched with phoenix inside, he turned over the small toy. An elated look on Kiko's face, she leaned over to hug Shippou. Her cheek brushed against Shippou's and she whispered softly into his ear-

"I don't know what I would do without you, Shippou. Thank you"

They began to fly upon the wings of the gilded phoenix as the sun began to rise in the east.

Miroku woke early, partially because he liked to meditate in mornings, partially because he wanted to get a head start on finding a new sword for Sango. He walked outside of his small and magically protected cottage and saw a horrible sight. Directly outside of his doorstep lay the bleeding body of Kohaku, his own weapon sunken in his back. Kohaku opened his eyes just a little and crawled forward.

"Sango..." he whispered. "San..go..."

Blood was seeping from his eyes, where tears would be, had he not had gashes across his face, blending the tears with the sticky discharge of the wound. His entire body was torn in pieces and it was not hard to see that he was about to die. Miroku ran into the cottage and lifted Sango from her bed. He carried her outside and she awoke in his arms, next to Kohaku. She quickly gasped, before she spoke.

"Kohaku! What happened? Are you going to live, for if not, I will not be able to live knowing that you are dead. Please, Kohaku. Don't die."

"Sango.. Sango.. don't die for me. The fox demon...Sango... he has your weapon. He took my weapon as well and has now killed me with it. I must die now, in your arms. Sango... take my weapon from my back and reclaim hiraikotsu. I love you, Sango. Please don't kill yourself over me... it is my only wish."

"Kohaku; you can live! Don't die! I know you can be healed."

She reached out and held her younger brother in her arms. With one final movement, Kohaku reached behind him and ripped out his sickle and placed it in Sango's hand. Blood rose to the surface of his wound and poured out onto Sango's lap.

"Sango..."

His eyes fluttered shut and within seconds, his soul had left his body. Miroku rubbed her shoulder and she turned to him with a mournful look in her eye. She reached over and fell deeper into his arms. She diverted her eyes back at her brother, still in Miroku's embrace with Kohaku's weapon resting in her hand and winding around the three of them. She started in a whisper, which rose to a scream-

"Kohaku... I must avenge your death!"