Posted: 1-6-05

Chapter 3

AN: Still writing up a storm and posting later! I just add in the reviewer responses. It's not too hard. Yes, I'm still watching The Twilight Zone. I wonder which one it is, I wasn't paying attention. I've seen a few in the past, so many are new to me. Heh, coming back to it at the end. Wow, Serling was the master of plot twists!!!! That man was simply brilliant. Anyway, back to the series at hand. I don't own Inuyasha. And yes, the angst is going to start coming and not really stop. You can blame the orthodontist. Although, I am getting used to it. But it still sucks. I'm trying to eat a piece of cold pizza and it's weird jamming into the side of my mouth to bite off a piece. I would break out the Jello, but I've been living off of that recently. Okay. Sorry. Here's the replies and the chapter.

Iggy04: Well, over all this story is having shorter chapters. That's just how I'm writing it. It makes it easier to write and update quickly for me and my busy schedule. I know the last chapter was a little dry, but the angst will start pouring in soon, don't worry! And I always reply to all of my reviewers! I love it and I think you deserve recognition! As for chapters, I'm still not sure. I know the story line, but how I break it up remains to be seen. And to answer your questions, well, you'll just have to wait and see if those come into play!

penguin: Thanks!

Yun Fei: Hm... Is this quick? And yeah, I left a cliffie... Those are good, though, if you know you can update soon and you want people to keep reading! ...I think...


"This is the only way for me to come back to Ane-ue," Kohaku said, still tightly gripping his weapon and looking at the injured Miroku.

The monk stared at him in surprise. "How will killing me do that?" he asked, not seeming as uptight as he once was.

"Naraku told me. He said that I could live again if I killed you." He still looked at him grimly, looking as though he wanted to attack but waiting for some reason.

"You believed him?" Miroku asked. "Naraku is treacherous. How do you know that he'll really do this?"

"Maybe I shouldn't trust him, but it's worth a shot. What else is there for me to do? How else are we supposed to be a family again?"

Miroku stared at him for a moment, his eyes wide with surprise. "You're right," he suddenly said softly, smiling a little. "I think I see what Naraku is thinking."

Kohaku seemed taken aback by this. "What are you talking about?" he asked, lowing his scythe.

Miroku still smiled at him. "It doesn't really matter," he said. "Just make it fast."

The boy was still confused. "You're just going to let me kill you?" he asked, his weapon now at his side.

"Yes," he answered, looking at the ground with the same smile on his face. "But promise me one thing."

Kohaku kept looking at him, feeling as confused as his target was originally. "What?" he asked, feeling as though he should take the request of the person he was about kill.

Miroku stared at the ground for a moment longer, his smile seeming to grow sadder. Finally he raised his head to look at Kohaku again. "Take care of your sister. Make sure that she's always happy. Can you do that for me?"

Kohaku blinked a few times. He had no idea of why this monk would ask him something like that, but as it wasn't something he knew he couldn't do, he said, "Sure."

"Thank you," Miroku replied, his smile seeming more relieved. Kohaku looked at him with confusion for a few moments more before finally tightening the grip on his scythe again. He started running toward the injured man, his weapon raised and ready to slice through Miroku's neck.

"Don't forget," the monk said, smiling as his death approached him.

"Kohaku, no!!!" a voice exclaimed, stopping him in his tracks as he prepared to swing his weapon. Both of them turned to see Sango, now in her slayers uniform, riding on Kilala and looking both shocked and confused.

"Please don't stop me," Kohaku replied, looking back at Miroku. "This is something I have to do."

"What do you mean?" she asked, her voice shaking a little.

"Ane-ue," he began, looking back at her and causing her to gasp slightly, "I know he's a friend of yours, but this has to be done. It'll benefit us both in the end, I know it will."

Sango looked on for a moment, looking like she was at a loss for words. Kohaku returned his gaze to the monk, who was still looking at the speechless girl and seeming lost in his own thoughts for some reason. Kohaku lifted his scythe again, and Miroku immediately noticed this and looked back at the boy, smiled, and shut his eyes. He swiftly lowered his weapon.

"STOP!!!" Sango screamed, tears forming in her eyes. The blade was inches from Miroku's flesh when he stopped attacking to look at his sister again, and the houshi also opened his eyes and gazed at her. "Kohaku," she started, walking toward them, "Why do you have to kill Houshi-sama?"

He really wasn't sure as to why his sister wasn't letting him do this after he had all ready assured her that everything would be all right. He pondered this for a moment and finally decided to answer her. "Naraku said that if I kill him, he'd... he'd give me my life back. There isn't any other way, Ane-ue..."

More tears had begun to flow from her eyes. Finally, she murmured, "Kohaku..." but nothing more would leave her lips.

He didn't know what to make of this reaction. After a while, Kohaku, prepared to take another blow at Miroku. Once again, he prepared to cut open his throat, although the monk seemed to be too lost in staring at Sango for some reason to notice him this time.

"Don't do it!!!" Sango exclaimed, grabbing hold of her brother's arm and stopping his attack, which Miroku had finally noticed.

Kohaku tried his best to free himself from her. "W-why are you stopping me, Ane-ue?" he finally asked, still struggling.

"K-Kohaku..." she began again, still crying and not seeming to know what she wanted to say.

"Let him do it, Sango," Miroku suddenly said, his face stone serious. "I think Naraku means it. This might be the only way for you two to be together."

"But..." she started again, the tears seeming to flow harder much to the surprise of Kohaku. "But what about you?!"

"I'll be all right," he said with the same smile he had been wearing when he told Kohaku what he wanted him to do. "I was bound to die soon anyway at the rate we were going. I never told anyone to keep you all from worrying about me, but I did think my time was running short as is. At least this way I don't have to worry about my curse taking me. And you two can start over again in your village."

"Houshi-sama..." Sango mumbled, her voice once again trailing off into her sobs. Her grip on Kohaku's wrist lessened and he pulled himself free, although he put his weapon at his side and stared at his sister with confusion.

"Ane-ue, what's the problem?" he asked, feeling slightly irritated.

Sango slumped to her knees and put her hands over her face, finally allowing herself to dissolve into the tears she had been trying to hold in. Both of them looked at her, concern and confusion on their faces.

"Please, Sango, just let him..." Miroku said.

"If I don't kill him, I don't know what Naraku will do to me," Kohaku added. "He said that he 'couldn't guarantee my safety.' What else can we do?"

She continued sobbing, her tears beginning to show in the spaces between her fingers. They both kept watching her, waiting for some response or sign of recognition. After a few moments, she hunched over a little more.

"I-I'm so sorry," she said, raising her head and looking at him.


AN: Mwah ah ah! Evil cliff hanger of death!!! Who was she apologizing to? You shall have to wait and see, my lovelies! I'm back at school, but again, this fic just keeps coming as I write, so there'll be more soon, okay? Now, review! Or I'll wait longer to post the next chapter!

...Miroku and Sango's theme just started playing on my computer... (freaked out)