Disclaimer: If Inuyasha was mine, I would have been forced by a contract to treat my stories better.

A few days? Ok, try a few months. I don't have the time nor energy to explain the hellish cycle I went through, but I am updating. -le sigh- I hope you all can forgive me and will still review. I'll try to be better, I really will. It's just... my life went through some stuff that I don't care to explain, and, well, I haven't had a single idea on this story for months.

(Sorry, no time for review replies. Thanks to everyone though!!!!!! I LOVE YOU ALL!!)

-/-Slave to One's Fears-/-

-/-Chapter 12-/-

Coming from me, you'd have never thought

That I could rebel...

Well I have.

And I do.

And I will.

And I'm not giving up until you're dead on the ground.

"Sango-chan... Sango-chan... wake up..." A dreamy, low, and fuzzy voice crept over Sango's sleeping form, making her stir. She snuggled further into her warm bed, not wanting to leave just yet. The voice persisted, becoming more anxious, and Sango frowned in her half-asleep state.

"Juss five morrrr minuttssss, Kohakuuu... Lemme aloooooone... go 'waaaaaay..." She clenched her blankets, angry at her little brother for waking her up so damn early. Honestly, she felt as though she'd just fought a thousand demons. Didn't she deserve some rest? When a hand touched her, she blindly attempted to bite it, something that always made Kohaku go away. He was brave, but not brave enough to face the wrath of his sister's white and rather sharp teeth. She'd bitten him before and she'd do it again, or she wasn't named Sango. The hand wavered, but approached again. This time, when she snapped out, she heard Kohaku chuckle. That made her become quite irritated.

"Kohaku!! Goooooo awaaaaay! I'm trying to sleep! We'll play later, alright!?" Once again, that darn hand was shaking her shoulder. This time she sunk her teeth into it's strong muscles and gnawed, causing the person controlling it to yelp. It was then that Sango woke up, realizing that Kohaku wasn't anywhere near her. She opened her eyes to a wincing Miroku, who was watching her with something akin to terror. She blushed at the image of herself, chewing his gloved hand. About then she realized where his other hand was.

-SMACKKK-

"Miroku-SAMA!" She screeched, ready to kill the houshi out of sheer annoyance, then mentally slammed on the brakes. "Oh my God! MIROKU-SAMA!" In utter happiness, she threw herself on him and hugged him tightly. Tears of joy leaked from her eyes, and she concentrated on his beautifully alive scent. "You're awake, you're awake, you're alive, you're alive, you're right here, you're right here, you're..."

"Yes, I am." Miroku chuckled, obviously pleased with himself. "Tired, aching, but quite alive, thank you." Sango looked up, and the sight of her big brown eyes made Miroku smile gently. He loved her doe eyes, so expressive and clear. He hugged her back, making sure to keep his hands at an appropriate level. Sango enthusiastically hugged him back.

"I-I thought I'd never see you again.." Sango murmured into his chest, her voice muffled by the thick material he was wearing. The houshi tightened his grip, stroking her soft, mussed hair and relishing in her calm scent. After a few moments of blissful calm, Miroku could have sworn he heard a snuffle, and he pulled Sango back to find her struggling to catch her breath. His small noise of concern made her tilt her face towards him, and he was shocked to see tears gathering.

"Chani? Are you alright? Should I call for Kagome?"

"You... you were not supposed to live..." She choked out, burying her face in her good hand. Miroku froze, his expression one of horror as he attempted to pick out his next words from the swirling mass of dread that now clouded his mind. He backed slightly away from the crying girl, trying to figure out what to say. He did not need to put forth such effort, however, as within the next second his life entered a new hell.

"You were supposed to die!" Sango screamed, her face contorted in rage and despair. "You were supposed to DIE!" She shrieked again, her fists clenching and her lip bleeding as she bit down on it. Miroku's jaw dropped. His breath shortened as he struggled to keep from breaking down. His heart pitter-pattered in his constricted chest, and he began to panic. What was she talking about?

"You really... wanted me... dead... didn't you?" Miroku's voice came out as a forced whisper, his vocal cords straining as he sought to stay sane. "But... why..."

"You SOLD me to Naraku! You betrayed me!" She yelled, then quieted eerily. A harsh chuckle spilled forth from Sango's mouth, a thin trail of blood running down her lower lip. She looked down at her clasped hands, thick bangs shadowing her face from his sight. A chill swept through the room at her next words. "If you die... then I will feel happiness once more" Miroku shook his head, denying her words.

"No. You- I-"

"Shut up, Houshi-sama." Sango spat, her head snapping up to look at him once more. "Shut up and go to hell."

"Chani, I-"

"GO TO HELL!" Miroku backed up several feet on his hands and knees, stumbling clumsily over the wadded blankets and mussed futon as he scuttled away backwards. Sango bared her teeth slightly, their pearl-white surfaces smeared with pink.

"I will not let you live." She made a movement as though to slowly reach towards him when Kagome burst through the door.

"Sango-chan! What's gotten into you!?" Dashing over and quickly pushing the swearing girl away, she motioned for Inuyasha to gather up the weakened Miroku.

"No! Kagome! Please! Let me go! You don't understand! He betrayed me! I can't let him live! He used me!" Sango cried out desperately, trying to force Kagome away. Kagome let out a small cry of frustration and looked towards Sesshoumaru, who obliged quickly and snatched up Sango. Sango, knowing she was caught, slumped in demurred protest against the tall demon's chest. She allowed him to carry her out of the room. Inuyasha took Miroku one way while Sesshoumaru went the other with Sango. Kagome and Rin cast each other worried glances before nodding to each other and heading off in the direction of their respective mates.

-.-

"Miroku-sama? Are you alright? Did Sango... hurt you?" Kagome questioned quietly, gently sponging off Miroku's sweating brow. Miroku miserably shook his head no, staring off to the side, wishing that the rice paper would disappear so that he could see Sango, wherever she was. Kagome sighed. This was not going well, not at all.

None of the slaves had been prepared for this. Oh, they had expected Sango's wrath, yes, but to go this far...? When she had strived so hard to save Miroku's life? It was unwarranted, and confusing. Kagome shook her head mentally and softly pushed a few of Miroku's bangs out of his face. His stormy eyes were gazing continually at the wall, never wavering nor blinking. Seeing that he was too far gone, Kagome gathered up her supplies with a sigh and walked out of the room. She silently motioned to Inuyasha, and whispered

"Don't let him out of that room. And don't let Sango in, ok? I'm going to go snag Rin and see how Sango's coping." At the mention of the apparently dangerous female, Inuyasha's eyes flashed.

"I want that bitch out of here, Kagome. She shouldn't go anywhere near Miroku ever again... she's insane!" Kagome frowned slightly and shook her head.

"She thinks that Miroku-sama betrayed her and sold her off to Naraku again. I'd be a little angry too, Inuyasha. We have to be patient with her. She's lost so much in the past few weeks- her self image, her home, her security, even her honor and dignity. We just... need to convince her that Miroku-sama isn't a bad person. We need to get her trust back. Have fortitude when dealing with the matter, " she murmured in Inuyasha's slightly twitchy ear. "Sango and Miroku-sama both need us right now. It's time to pay Miroku-sama back for all he's done for us." She looked Inuyasha straight in the eye. "He needs us so much, and Sango needs just as much. Please, Inuyasha. Have a heart, ne?" She kissed him lightly then moved on down the hall. Before she could disappear out of his watch-bound sight, however, Inuyasha grabbed her wrist and kissed her fully. Kagome let out a squeak and turned pink as he released her, lips still burning from the invigorating albeit brief touch. His voice dipped a shade lower than usual as he succeeded to his mate.

"Fine. But if she tries to hurt him, I'm putting her out." At Kagome's half relieved, half horrified look, he held up his hands. "Out temporarily." With a satisfied nod and another kiss, Kagome headed off down the hall to check up on Rin and Sesshoumaru's work with Sango.

-.-

"Don't move, Sango... you've got a cut, and your arm..." Rin dropped off, biting her own lips gently in an attempt to steady her nerves as she brushed the gauze against Sango's bitten lower lip. Truth be told, she had been terrified of Sango; the girl's wild attempt to hurt Sesshoumaru's master had frightened her. However, she braced herself, and found that Sango was the same old Sango once she was calmed. As for now, the said exterminator-in-training had her eyes squeezed shut. Rin spoke out softly, wary of rousing her too harshly.

"Sango? Am I hurting you?" Sango's brown eyes opened slowly, betraying tears and a stuttering shield. Rin let out a small 'oh' and pulled the slave into a warm embrace, forgetting in her kindness her past fears, however mindful of Sango's injuries. Sango began to cry softly into Rin's shoulder, her shoulders shuddering weakly as she tried to stop crying but failed miserably. Rin softly rubbed circles on Sango's back, whispering in her ear comfortingly.

"Shh, there, it's alright... come on, Sango, tell me what's wrong..." Sango choked a bit on a sob and sat back, not bothering to wipe her streaming eyes.

"Rin, I-I don't know what to do... he betrayed me, I know he must've... but... he said he l-loves me and I just don't know if I can... I want him to die because... because he made me trust him and I shouldn't have and... oh..." Sango hiccupped and slowly dried her eyes, sniffling as Rin just watched. A knock on the door interrupted them, making both girls jump. The free woman sighed and stood, smiling slightly in apology to Sango as she went to open the door. Upon finding Kagome outside of it, Rin went into the hallway. Kagome wore a worried expression, premature lines of anxiety lining her face, and she bit her lip.

"Rin? How's Sango doing?" When Rin shrugged and looked away, she questioned her more. "What're we going to do about this?"

"I don't know, Kagome. I guess... only time will tell."

-.-

And that's where I leave you. I really hope you like this, it took me a bit. I didn't like so many parts of it and I redid it like a million times, but hey! It's up, isn't it??

...I know I didn't update for forever. And I am so, so sorry. And I know I shouldn't ask favors. But could you do me some?

One: visit the author of Khepri. She's my favorite authoress on the entire site and deserves so much more than she's getting. Please, please go look at her, and watch for a collaboration fic between us soon!!

Two: Don't give up on me yet. I am trying hard. I should have an update up soon. Don't, err, don't stop reviewing, ok??

Three: Go to my profile. I have other stories that need fixing and you're my only feedback. At least go and review Memories, ok?? Please??

THANK YOU!!!!!!!

-FL