The Inu-tachi had grown lazy, living each day in idle boredom, awaiting the day when Naraku would make himself known. He seemed to have vanished, and some thoughts began to toy about, as some assumed, but dared not say, the notion that perhaps Naraku was dead. The kazaana in the houshi's hand and Kohaku's disappearance were the only notions that disproved this, which kept the small group of rebels tense.
One night, the winds had shifted, stirring Inuyasha from his sleep. What the hell? Amber eyes opened as he stirred from his sleep, his nose twitching up scents that he could not understand. Finding more comfort in sleeping in the trees, the hanyou straightened up, ears cupped forward, eyes scanning the darkness.
He found one of the odd scents, but it wasn't what he expected. In fact, he was rather surprised, the dark figure clad nearly all in black. If it wasn't for the pink armor she wore, she would have blended with the shadows entirely, her ebony hair masking her face. She seemed to be looking out at something in the distance, prepared for battle, even though it was late, the moon glowing high in the velvet blue sky overhead, casting pale glows all around. What's she doing, so late at night? Apparently, he was not the only one who noticed. Soft footsteps moved from the darkness of the hut, moving to stand next to her, light glinting off the staff the figure held.
"Sango..." The monk spoke, tone unsure, especially as he stood next to her, noticing the look of determination on her face.
"He's here." The taijya spoke, voice edged and masking whatever emotions that had been coarsing through her. Without waiting for a reply, she broke off into a run.
"Sango" Miroku called after her, holding out a hand to stop her. The only response he received was a glare over her shoulder, followed by brash words.
"Don't follow me."
Hesitantly, the monk lowered his hand, joined now by the awake hanyou, whom wouldn't be able to go back to sleep now that he was awoken from slumber, curiousity now piqued. "Whats her problem"
Miroku folded his arms, holding the staff to him, fighting the urge to reprimand the hanyou. Finding it to be rather moot at the moment, he spoke, violet eyes still watching the point where the fair taijya had vanished, a look of fear on her features. Was that it? The monk toyed with the idea in his mind, having been woken up by her sudden movements back at the hut. From what he had gathered, she had a bad dream, and then came out here... ready to fight? Something isn't right here.
"I'm going after her." The monk said, sparing a glance at Inuyasha with a slight shrug of his shoulders, looking over the hanyou seriously without bothering to answer his question. "Go back to Kagome-sama. I think something's amiss tonight."
"Feh." Inuyasha snorted, turning to walk towards the hut. He had no intention of waking up the school girl if he didn't have to, but something about Miroku's tone made him not doubt it. He senses it, too. He has to. It reeks of Naraku... Inuyasha stopped a moment, a chilling breeze tossing his silver hair around, as he glanced over his shoulder, finding the monk had already gone. "Don't get yerself killed, bouzu." He mumbled to himself, turning to vanish within.
Somewhere in the distance, even though they had faded out from the ears of the half-youkai, they were pounding in the ears of the taijya. Her heart racing, her legs burning due to physical exertion. Sango had snuck out, having wanted to sneak out without Kirara or Miroku noticing. The neko was asleep, however, Miroku was a light sleeper, and was easily stirred as she had readied Hiraikotsu on one shoulder. Having left him with harsh words, she took off on her own.
He's here... I know he is...
The dream she had was so realistic. Perhaps foolish, as the only reason she had left the hut was due to a mere dream, nothing more than thoughts from her subconscious. She dreamed that Kohaku was coming to her, crying... only to be struck down by Miroku before she could approach. The intensity of the dream made it sure, without a doubt, that it was perhaps a premonition. She had to find Kohaku, to make sure he was alive, and protect him..
The amount of time that passed since she left the hut was unknown, not even fully aware of where she was going. Trees passed by her, all foliage resembling the same, just dark blurs as she ran and ran. Her travels were soon noted, sobbing heard a short distance away, pushing through the bushes that blocked her path. Stumbling upon the small clearing, her eyes widened at what she saw.
"Kohaku.." The taijya's voice came out to be just a gasp, as he turned to face her. His cheeks tear-stained, kusarikama held in his hand. He looked frightened, bringing pangs to his older sister's heart, and looked like he wanted to run away, yet stayed motionless despite the sobs that shook his small form every so often. Pain was evident on his face, the pain of a scared, lost little boy..
"I don't want to go back..." He sobbed softly, weapon clattering to the ground as he released his shaking grip upon it. "I... I just want to be free... I don't want to kill anymore..."
Sango's heart tore itself, despite the long time of rebuilding and healing its scars, back into pieces at the sight of her brother. Without putting much thought into it, she dropped to her knees, and pulled the taijya into a hug, tightly holding the younger boy to her. "You don't have to..." She whispered, feeling him hug her back, while her heart pounded in her chest. Something about this didn't seem right... It seemed as hazy as her dream, part of her not fully believing it. "I'll protect you... I'll keep you from Naraku."
"Thank you... I knew I could trust you, Sango.." The boy breathed lightly in her ear, causing Sango to tense up faintly, eyes opening, staring at the ground in silent horror.
He called me Sango... He called me by my name...
A wave of uneasiness crossed through her, her heart skipping a beat in her chest. She pulled back, holding the boy at arms' length now, staring at the face of the boy, who inquisitively looked back, a faint look of amusement mixed in with his boyish confusion and innocence.
"What's wrong, Sango" With a tilt of his head, an innocent blink. Sango gasped, and let him go, eyes wide.
"You... you're not my brother." Anger swelled within her, as she reached for her katana, tied to her side. The boy's face contorted, into a rather dark look, a sneer replacing his features.
"You've forgotten me already? Figures, after you let me die so easily!" Without hesitation, the weapon was swiped off the ground, and thrown at the girl, whom was barely able to get to her feet and jump aside in time before the wicked sickle hit its target. Torn between complete rage and numbing confusion, Sango slid the hiraikotsu off her back, yet made no move to throw it.
He isn't my brother... he can't be my brother... but he is... The sickle was thrown again, connecting with the large boomerang, the clang made causing the girl to flinch. This was oddly different from the last time they fought, he seemed to have gotten stronger. Of course, its not Kohaku. But... it is.
"Sango" She could have sworn she heard someone call her name, causing her to turn and look, a very big mistake. The familiar sharp point pierced her back, causing her to tense up, breath contained in her lungs, pent up, afraid to release the oxygen stored there. The boomerang dropped to the ground, suddenly heavy to the user, whom was unable to support it anymore. "Sango" A figure had approached, passed her by, and charged at the boy. Apparently, the cloaked figure didn't see the attack, and instead went for the boy, the words exchanged between them lost as the taijya reached behind her, feeling for the handle of her brother's weapon. Gripping the handle, she pulled the kusarikama from her back, glancing down blankly at the crimson fluid that dripped from it. The pain was intense, although oddly familiar, recalling it all too well. Unbearable, the pain became too much, bringing the woman to her knees, kept upright by the hiraikotsu anchored into the ground. Breathing was painful and oddly deafening to the girl.
Miroku, unaware that Sango was in trouble, faced Kohaku, violet eyes narrowed. "How incredibly low one can go, to mess with the emotions of a fagile woman." Scolding the child, he slipped his hand into his robes, withdrawing a thin piece of parchment. An ofuda. "However, such foolishness cannot go totally unrewarded... I must thank you for saving us the time of hunting you down... Naraku."
The boy grinned widely, a look that didn't fit his features all too well: a look of pure insanity. "Your paper cannot harm me, houshi... after all, I'm not the only one you have to deal with right now..." Motioning with a slight raise of his chin, Miroku turned to look, eyes widening as he saw Sango, in a relatively horrible state, approaching him, sword drawn and using hiraikotsu as a cane.
"I won't let... you kill... my brother..."