Posted: 3-18-05

Chapter 6

AN: Guess what I don't own? Inuyasha! Okay, outside of my hidden disclaimers (which I've just now realized, lol), I am IMMENSELY sorry about not updating in fifty years, but my schedule was just crazy and I was gone for nine days. Then, the semester started, I lost my meds for a week, I got a toothache which may or may not require a root canal (grr), and then I had improv for like a week straight and an insane weekend. I just looked back at the last chapter and found a terrible type-o that thankfully none of you mentioned, so I fixed it! And I love you guys. A lot. You've broken my old review record. It used to be 20 (21 when Cat in the Hat was still living). ;-; I'm so happy! Thank you so much! Please come back an review again or these tears will not be from joy!

Starzki: Thanks! I'm glad you liked the fluff, and after reading your fics it REALLY feels like a compliment! And look, it's still coming!

medlii: Thank you very much! And don't worry, I tend to repeat myself, too. (Note these replies)

Jwink: Thank you! And I am! Yay!

Yun Fei: Well, I can't answer your question without ruining the story, but that was such a good analysis! I have totally had those same thoughts!

BaByXbOoX143: Ha ha, you make me laugh (which is good)! Thank you for the comments! And you want someone to die, huh? Well... (whistles innocently) coughwaitcough

xxxroxyxxx: Okay okay okay! Hee hee hee, thanks!

Fantastical Queen Ebony Black: lol, wow. I thought I had hyper sounding reviews... Thank you for the comments! As for the manga, there are two sites that I tend to go to. I guess I could e mail you or... something. I don't know what thinks about typing web addresses in fics. ...Great, now I want shrimp!

Candyland: Did I say this was going to be the final chapter? Or do you just want me to finish this? There's still two or three chapters left, I think... Sorry to disappoint you. I'm totally kidding, Candy-chan.

lil'wonder: Yay! I'm so happy that somebody disagrees with me! Why? Because it was really hard to figure out what I think on this matter. I mean really hard. I'm just a hopeless M/S fan, I think. And besides, there's still hope for Kohaku... I'm glad you like it, though!

xBloodxRedxRavenx: I finally did!


The group walked down the path, much quieter than usual. Inuyasha led the way, still seeming cranky after the small incident at breakfast. Kagome walked behind him with her bike, frowning at the hanyou. Shippo sat in the basket, rubbing the large bumps on his head, and Kilala walked alongside of that. Sango and Miroku took up the rear, walking side by side. Sango still had her head down, seeming lost in her thoughts. Miroku was more or less back to his old self, although his concern for Sango was apparent.

Finally, Inuyasha growled, breaking the somewhat awkward silence. "I don't see why we're just wandering around like this!"

"We don't have any leads," Kagome replied, sounding a little scolding. "Hopefully we'll run across someone who can help us track either Naraku or Mouryomaru down."

"Feh, this is a waste of time!"

Suddenly Kagome stopped in her tracks. The others looked at her after a moment, not sure of what was going on. "H-hey, guys?" she finally said, looking at the ground with worry.

"What's the problem now!" Inuyasha exclaimed.

"I-I can sense a jewel shard heading toward us again..."

Everyone's eyes widened in shock, most particularly Miroku. Sango raised her head and gasped. "Are you sure, Kagome-chan?" she whispered, a hurt expression coming to her face.

She nodded in response. "This time, it's headed straight toward us, though. It's not doing the strange things it was yesterday."

Miroku looked at Sango, her face still seeming pained. "We... We'd better get ready, then," she finally murmured, looking down again.

Inuyasha, Kagome, Kilala, and Shippo looked back at them, their faces expressing confusion. "Hey, what happened last night, anyway?" Inuyasha asked. Sango choked back a sob and Miroku motioned toward her briefly in concern before giving a quick, angry glance to the hanyou.

"Now's not the time for that, Inuyasha!" Kagome exclaimed, turning toward where she felt the jewel coming from. "He'll be here any second!"

Sango took a deep breath and completely raised her head, looking toward the shape that was approaching them with little emotion.


"What am I supposed to do? I don't want to hurt Ane-ue. But, wouldn't something happening to me hurt her, too? Wouldn't it? I don't think I've seen her smile at all since Naraku tricked us. Maybe... Maybe she still has hope. That has to be it. She still thinks I can survive, so she tried to make sure no one was killed. So, then, what does this mean I should do now? I'll have to decide fast. I'm practically there..."


Kohaku stopped running a few yards in front of them, trying to hide the fear and confusion he felt inside. The group stared at him, although the half demon, the priestess, and the kitsune didn't look nearly as worried as the others.

"What do you want, Kohaku?" Inuyasha asked, his hand naturally heading for Tetsusaiga before he stopped himself.


"...What do I want? I... I want Ane-ue to be happy. And I want to be happy as well. Right now, she looks so sad. I-I was right, wasn't I? She still wants me to live. She still wants me. I was being foolish. Still, I can't kill the monk without hurting her, can I?"


"I have orders..." he mumbled before trailing off.

"Orders for what?" the hanyou replied, frowning.

"I-I..." he began, starting to tremble and looking at the ground.


"Kohaku... Is Naraku still trying to control you? What should I do? How am I supposed to help him? I just can't let him hurt like this."


Kohaku swallowed hard and looked back up, a pained expression on his face. "I'm sorry, Ane-ue. But... He won't let me stop. I have to. He told me that if I didn't, my safety wasn't guaranteed. What else is there for me to do?" Tears began to fall down his cheeks, although he was trying his best to stop them.

Sango's face looked the same, as everyone turned to look at her. "What is he talking about, Sango-chan?" Kagome asked as gently as she could.

"K-Kohaku," she stuttered, her sobs keeping her from saying anymore.

Miroku watched her for a second and then sighed, facing Kohaku again. "All right," he said, surprising the others. "What I said yesterday is still in effect, all right?"

Kohaku nodded slowly, trying to grab his weapon, although his hand was shaking.

"What is this!" Inuyasha exclaimed. "What the hell did you do last night?"

"Houshi-sama, please..." Sango whispered, a pleading look in her eyes. "You don't have to do this. There has to be another way."

"And if there isn't?" he answered quietly, still watching the boy struggle with himself.

"Will somebody please answer me!" the hanyou said, looking back and forth between them.

"I have to kill him," Kohaku sobbed, finally getting a grasp on the end of the chain.

"What!"

"No you don't, Kohaku," Kagome replied quickly, wanting to move toward him but stopping herself. "I'm sure Naraku was just saying those things to scare you! We'll find a way for you and Sango-chan to be together where no one has to die."

"Let him, Kagome-sama," Miroku said, his face somber. "We shouldn't risk anything."

"Houshi-sama, no!"

"What if Naraku's lying?" Inuyasha added, frowning at everyone. "Then what would we do, huh?"

"Trust me, I know he isn't lying," the monk answered. "This was his plan. This is how he works. He wanted to torture us mentally by letting only one of us live. I know that's what he was thinking."

"Please, Houshi-sama, you can't mean that!" Sango exclaimed, tears still flowing freely. "That just can't be it! You can both live, I know it!"

"No, they can't," a voice said from a hidden source. Everyone looked around in shock, trying to find who had said it.

"Damn it!" Inuyasha exclaimed, grabbing the hilt of Tetsusaiga. "When did he get here!"

"You were very clever to see through my plan, monk," the voice continued, a slight sound of enjoyment within it. "However, there is no way you can stop me. I always hold true to my word, and someone is definitely going to die."


AN: Just thought I'd fill you in on some news about the Inuyasha manga, which, as you may or may not know, is still coming on strong (unlike the anime). Rumors had been going on about it ending soon, but chapter 400 premiered in Japan recently.. Apparently, there were also some comments from Takahashi included in which she said that, "...there's still many more stories she has to write (before the series can finish) and that for now she's aiming for at least 500 chapters." Looks like we'll be getting stories for a good while to come, although I don't know what this'll mean for the hopeful second series. Hey, this gives her more time for hopeful M/S fluff . Like a kiss! (glares) But 100 more chapters... That's at least two years until we find out the ending! Oh well.

And, yes, there will be a death next chapter! (Laughs evilly)

KOHAKU: Aw man! It isn't me, is it?

MIROKU: Well, it had better not be me!

FMP: Relax, you guys, it's just a story. But frankly, I've set it up for one of you two, if you didn't notice.

KOHAKU: Come on! I've all ready died once!

MIROKU: Yeah, and I'm as good as dead. Why kill someone?

FMP: Because. It's an angst fic, after all!

MIROKU: Hey, wait, maybe you'll throw in a twist.

KOHAKU: Yeah, and Naraku dies instead!

MIROKU: Or... Inuyasha!

INUYASHA: Oh, you'd better not! (glares at FMP)

KOHAKU: Or... Ane-ue?

(Kohaku and Mirokugive an angry look to FMP)

FMP: Woh, calm down! I couldn't kill someone who I'm fairly certain will make it through the series! So Sango, Kagome, Shippo, and Sesshy and his crew are all safe.

INUYASHA: You mean you think I'm gonna die!

FMP: It's possible. Anyway, everybody, I'm fairly certain that there are only two chapters left. ...I think. The next one will probably be pretty short, too, and the last one will have so much angst that I'll probably have to write it after I finally get these stupid teeth pulled...

KOHAKU: Wait, did you just write this ending so it would feel like you had written a longer chapter cause it took you so long to update in the first place?

FMP: (nods with embarrassment)