Disclaimer: NO, I do not own Inuyasha. I only own this fanfic. Sue me.

All she knew at the moment was hurt. As she opened her eyes, all the pain from the night before came rushing in to greet her solitude with unending torture. Her ankle was numb, her head in confusion, and her heart was broken. She tried to recollect the activities of the previous night, but it all seemed like a big blur. The only thing clear enough for her to interpret was Miroku's sad face, eyes brimming with a film of tears. She attempted to sit up, but fell back down to the cold floor heavily and a flash of pain coursed through her head as she cried out in pain. As she lay there, whimpering like a child, Miroku's solemn face entered her mind once again. What happened to me? Why is this image of Miroku's face tormenting me so? It hurt to think those things. Sango knew that it was partially because of her head, but there was another source of her anguish. Steadily and cautiously, she brought her hand up to her heart. She could hear the faint thump of it, as well as it's beat against her bare hand, yet there was something amiss. Sango felt like there was a knot in her heart, like there was something she didn't want to let go or speak about. Something…

"Ah, you're finally awake, are ye?" Kaede's voice drifted through her mind. Sango quickly brought her hand back to her side as the old priestess came through the flap of her hut. Sango finally realized where she was.

"Kaede…" Sango's voice sounded like a knife had slit it.

"Yes, Sango?" said Kaede.

"What… happened?" Sango hoped she would tell, for she wished for knowledge of the past day.

"I was hoping you would tell me," Kaede spoke softly and Sango let out an exhausted sigh.

"I don't know…" Sango attempted to sit up again, and surprisingly succeeded. As she hunched her back over to prevent from falling backwards again, Kaede came and sat next to her.

"You poor child," Kaede's voice was like a mother's. "I wish I knew what ye had been through. The evil that has done this shall pay regrettably."

"Kaede, I don't remember a thing," Sango flinched a little as she tried to recall. Then her face brightened a little. "Actually… there is something…"

"What is it, my dear?"

"I don't…really know."

Kaede closed her eyes. "Your soul is speaking to you, child. Do not shut it out, open your mind to it with welcome. It will help."

"Well…" Sango paused. "I saw Miroku's face… he was--"

"Kaede!" She looked up to see Miroku run hurriedly through the flap. "Have you seen--" He stopped and stared at Sango's broken form. "Sango…" Kaede immediately knew there was some kind of conflict between them.

"Miroku, Sango is in a great deal of pain," Kaede put a hand on Sango's shoulder. "She cannot remember her actions. Do you, perhaps, know what occurred?"

Miroku did not answer. All he could do was gaze at the shattered demon huntress, every thought and every detail of last night flowing across his mind. She doesn't… remember? Miroku couldn't believe this. All that had happened, all that he had revealed to her, vanished? Or was it simply camouflaged and hidden from her, waiting for Sango's recovery and discovery? He racked his brain for answers. Then a thought ran through his head: What if I helped her remember? What if I… Miroku threw the thought away immediatly. Sango would do better if she didn't know what had transpired between them. Yet, a part of him didn't want to leave her empty and confused. If he left without telling her, she would be heartbroken anyway, as well as lost. But if she remembered, it might be easier on her, even though it would be harder on him. I don't care. He thought. Miroku's final conclusion was to stay until Sango's memory had been recovered. He could tell her again, but… he just couldn't. He had told her once, which was painful enough, but to tell her again, to make her relive what had already happened… he just couldn't do it. I could stay for…

"Miroku," Kaede spoke to the wandering monk. Miroku then realized that he had started pacing and mumbling, so he stopped. He also noticed that Sango had passed out, for some bizarre, unknown reason. "Miroku, what have ye done to put Sango in this condition?" When Miroku, once again, didn't answer, Kaede sighed. "She says she cannot remember everything. Everything except you. She told me that all she could recollect was your crying face." Miroku felt so many emotions at one time flood through him when she said this, and each was surprisingly similar. Kaede noticed his sudden expression and stood up, walked to the exit, and motioned towards Miroku. "Come with me."

As they walked towards the forest, Miroku took advantage of Kaede's silence to ponder about his situation. What will happen if I don't get Sango to remember in time? Should I just leave? Or should I wait for something to jolt her memory, even while putting her life on the line? I know not when the year ends. While deep in thought, Miroku nearly crashed into two large trees and almost ran into Kaede once while trying to catch up.

"Miroku, do not let your mind wander this time," Kaede's voice was soft, but stern. "Pay attention. Ah, here we are." The weary priestess stopped in front of a large, oversized tree. It had a diamond-shaped scar in the middle and hundreds of branches and roots, and the tree's leaves seemed to whistle and hum when a breeze floated by. Miroku also noticed that one incredibly large root had specks of dry blood preserved on it, and the ground below was messed and shifted.

"Miroku, this is where one of the villagers found Sango, unconscious and wounded." Miroku blinked. "The God Tree is a very sacred tree, precious and beautiful. It seems to have a spirit of its own, and we respect it with passion. It was this tree, as ye may know, that my sister Kikyou bound Inuyasha to 53 years ago. And Kagome told me that, in her time, this tree was still thriving, and was the spot where her mother was proposed to. Now, another situation has rested itself on its branches. Something has transpired between ye two, but I do not know. That is why I brought ye here. The tree seems pure and holy, and it is here where many people come to pray for forgiveness of sins. I think it may assist you with speaking the truth."

Miroku felt a wave of satisfaction and pureness wash over him. It was almost as if Kaede's words had awoken the tree. He felt as though he could speak out all of his sins without remorse. Wanting to rid the feeling, Miroku told Kaede about what had happened. He told her about Naraku's escape, his conversation with Sango, her flight, and his finding and decision. All throughout his explanation, the old woman was silent, nodding and understanding the whole situation. When Miroku finally finished, she took a deep breath.

"Miroku, ye have analyzed your situation very well," Kaede looked him in the eye. "But you have forgotten one thing."

"What?" Miroku was certain he had gotten all the aspects possible.

"Imagine you are in Sango's position." Kaede began. "You have experienced heartbreak many times over, with family; Kohaku, your father, and the other demon slayers. Now, the last person closest to you tells you he is going to leave. What would be your first reaction?"

"Tears, of course."

"Aye, but what action?"

"Well…" Suddenly, Miroku understood. "I wouldn't be able to bear living anymore. I would have lost too many people in my life and wouldn't be able to bear it any longer."

Kaede nodded. "If you leave, she will most likely commit suicide. If you stay, you could bring her to the void. Either way, you both would die." Miroku bowed his head slightly, trying to hold the weight of his burden. "But… if you were to find Naraku and kill him in time… it would be a risk, but what to lose?"

"Kaede, should I… tell her?"

"About what, monk?"

"About what I told her awhile ago. After all, you said we have nothing to lose."

"Ah," Kaede closed her eyes momentarily. "I believe that you should let Sango remember on her own. Her memory is probably not buried deep." Miroku nodded. He stood up, took one last glance at the God Tree, and walked towards the village.

"Miroku, there is one other thing you should tell Sango," Miroku looked back over his shoulder to see Kaede's form standing as well, her back facing him. "Tell her your true feelings. It will ease her pain when she revives to clear her hazy mind. And after all," Miroku couldn't see her small smile. "What do you have to lose?" With that, Kaede strolled off into the forest, leaving Miroku alone with only silence to greet his goal…

I'm so sorry, it took me forever to update! Thank you for being so patient, reviewers, and please keep those reviews coming! I have a feeling that this story will be better than my other one… Anyway, thanks again!

-Ryuu