Chapter 3. Alive

Kohaku raised his sword and brought it down swiftly through a target made of straw and hay. He sighed as he threw the weapon into another ones head. He tossed a few daggers at several other ones. Kagura watched him with care.

"Kohaku! Come take a break, you look tired." she called to him. Kohaku looked up at the demoness fondly with a small smile. He nodded his head.

"Hai, I do need to relax for a bit." he said while stretching his arms. He walked away from the training ground to where Kagura sat. She was sitting under a large tree. A demon tree really. It grew larger than any other and had many strange powers.

One was a barrior created by each leaf, branch, and root. A blue light engulfed the entire tree as he approached. Kagura placed a hand on the tree's trunk.

"Tikaru, he is allowed here. Let him pass." she whispered to the demon. The tree shook gently but allowed a small gap for Kohaku to pass through. "Arigato." Kagura thanked the tree as she turned to Kohaku.

"Tikaru and you sure are good friends Kagura." Kohaku said while smiling at Tikaru. Kagura smirked and sat down. She rested herself against the trunk and sighed.

"Yes, I suppose we are. I saved him from death and he repays me by helping when I ask for it." Kagura said. Kohaku sat down next to her and leaned on her. Kagura put one of her arms around him and let her hand rest on his shoulder.

"It's been a year you know." Kohaku said suddenly. Kagura looked down, a sad look cast over her face. She nodded.

"You should, go see her grave. To pay your respect and to say hello, or goodbye to her. I'm sure, she would like to see you either way." Kagura suggested. Kohaku looked up at her with a hopeful smile on his tired face.

"Can we? Really? What if master Naraku finds out. You know he won't let me." Kohaku thought suddenly. Kagura smiled softly.

"Then I shall come with you." she replied.

"You mean it?!" Kohaku said excitedly while jumping up. An eager look spread over his face. Kagura nodded as Kohaku grinned ear to ear. Kagura got up and placed both of her hands on Tikaru. She put an ear up to the demon as well.

"I can hear your heart beat today again. Your still in there. I swear, I'll find away to set you free... I promise.." Kagura whispered. A leaf fell from the tree and landed in Kagura's hair. She held it gently as she gazed at it.

The veins inside were arranged into words. 'Arigato' it read. Kagura smiled at the demon tree before she and Kohaku left towards Miroku's castle. Kagura pulled a white feather from her hair and tossed it into the air. She held Kohaku firmed around the chest as they flew off at amazing speed.

They finally arrived at the grey stone castle. They landed in the back forest land, just beside the thick garden. Kohaku ran into the flowers once he was on the ground. He was running for the side of the castle where she was burried.

As he ran, he tripped over something. He fell down and jumped back up. Kagura was now running up to him.

"Somethings in the flowers Kagura!" he said as he went into an offensive fighting position. Kagura pulled out her fan and flipped it open, ready to swing.

Sango heard Kohaku's voice. To her it sounded like angels singing. A long awaited noise. Something that made you want to sing. She stirred slightly.

"Ko..haku.." she mummbled as she slowly began to rise up.

Kohaku heard his name being called by a familiar voice. He watched as a woman slowly sat up in the flowers. A few were nestled into her long hair that spilled over her shoulders in straight waves. She turned her head to face him.

What he saw knocked him to the ground. That smile. Those eyes. That face. He knew them all so well.

"Sango?" he whispered. She nodded. "Sister!" he cried as he jumped up and raced to her.

Sango dropped her book and knelt down. Kohaku fell into her loving arms as she gave him a soft hug. She stroked his hair to try to calm his tears. He kept crying her name now and then. Something Sango had wanted to hear. Her little brother calling her name and she could actually be there to answer.

"M'lady Sango! Your alive!" Kagura exclaimed. She went into a sweeping bow. Her fan outstretched in respect. Sango turned her gaze at Kagura.

Sango's thoughts were interrupted by a woman screaming in surprise. Kohaku let Sango go and looked at who had screamed.

Kagome came running down through the flowers. Tears streaming down her face and flying behind her. Sango recognized the girls face. She didn't know why, or how she knew her, she just knew her face.

Kagome tried not to trip over the end of her forest green kimono as she ran. Kagome stumbled a few times. She kept running when Sango stood up. A name passed her lips.

"Kagome?" she called in a strange voice, as if there was a sudden stroke of memory that hit her like lightning. Kagome ran up to Sango and hugged her, getting Sango's hug in return.

"Oh my friend! Thank god! I thought you were gone forever! I could not be happier to see you old friend!" Kagome choked on her words as she sobbed uncontrollably. Sango stroked Kagome's back comfortingly.

"Miss Kagome! It has been so long!" Kohaku said as he ran up to the two of them. Kagome gave Kohaku a deep smile.

"You must be happiest of all that she is back to us again." Kagome said to him. He nodded in a sad way as tears filled his eyes. Sango released Kagome gently and embraced Kohaku once again.

Kagura stood watching them with a strange look to her eyes. One of respect and loyalty.

Sango looked up suddenly from her brother. Her gaze traveled farther down the feild of flowers where a few people were standing. Inuyasha and Sesshomaru stood silently next to Miroku. His face was deathly pale and he seemed rather weak and thinner than he had been.

"Sango?" he asked in bewilderment. His voice was small and raspy as if he had not had water or food in days. Sango released her brother and slowly made her way towards them. Her pace quickened and she practically flew to them. Miroku had his arms open wide as a welcome to her.

Sango ran right past him. Her arms opened and closed themselves tightly around Sesshomaru who stood in shock, looking down at her. She gave a few weak sobs and cried into his robes.

"I'm sorry. I didn't listen to your words then. I see what I had done has changed so much." she said in a voice that didn't really belong to her. A voice of ancient power and wisdom. Miroku stood in shock and slight horror as he stared at his once beloved who had come back from the dead.

A small tear strolled down his face.