A/N: Yeah…yeah…this chapter is gonna be…sad…Even though I know some of you want to rip out my spine for this, I will promise you one thing that will happen that will make it all better. Please read bottom author's note for information.

Again, I repeat, I am really, REALLY sorry for this, but I didn't have a choice. I won't ask you to forgive me, but I hope you will continue to read, because it WILL have a happy ending. Thank you.

Chapter 13: Reunion

"K-Kuro…" Suki repeated, looking at him in disbelief. "You-re back…"

Kuro stepped out from beneath the trees, walking towards her. "Yes, Suki, I'm back."

She took a sharp intake of breath before running into his arms. "Oh, Kuro!" she breathed, clinging to him and taking in the comfort that he gave. "I was so worried…I was worried that you might not come back…"

He ran his fingers through her hair, holding her tight. "But I'm back now, and I promise, I'll never leave you again."

"Uh-huh…" she nodded, looking up at him. With his right hand, Kuro stroked her cheek, brining her purple eyes to look at him. Slowly, their lips were captured in an embrace of happiness that they were together again.

"I don't know why I'm even doing this," Kiri muttered, a few yards away, hidden by the brush. When she found out that she was going to be alone with Akuto, she decided to spy on Kuro, making sure to stay downwind of him. But so far, nothing of particular interest—besides her brother's overuse of his tongue—seemed to be happening. "Maybe I should just leave…" When something interesting happened.

Kuro and Suki broke away, when Kuro looked at the love of his life puzzled. "Are you all right? You're trembling."

She shook her head. "No, its nothing…I'm fine."

He didn't seem to believe it. "Are you sure?"

"Yes, I'm just…I'm just so happy you're back!" Suki replied, burying herself in his haori.

Even if Kuro believed it, Kiri didn't buy it. How dense is he, anyway? She thought. It's obvious something's up…

He smiled, hugging her. "I wont leave you again." He repeated. "I'll go see Uncle Miroku-sama in the morning. Then, Suki…we'll be together forever, just like I said."

Suddenly she pulled away, looking down. "K-Kuro…about that…"

"What?" he asked. "What is it?"

Suki's eyes started filling up with tears. "It's just…" She covered her eyes.

Kuro came and grabbed her by the shoulders. "Suki, please, tell me what's wrong."

A sob escaped her as she looked into his chocolate eyes. "M-my father…he…he's…" she was unable to continue.

But Kuro understood. The thought hit him like a blow to the chest. U-uncle Miroku-sama…he's… Even though his adoptive uncle never liked the idea of him and Suki being together, Kuro had looked up to him nonetheless. After his father died, he thought he could always look up to his uncle for support, and now he was gone.

"Oh, Suki…" he said, pulling her close. She wrapped her arms around him and cried on his shoulder. "I'm sorry."

"H-he was getting s-so much better too!" she sobbed. "W-we were sure he would live…and then..."

Kuro didn't know what to say. He didn't know anything he could say that would comfort her. He just held her, letting her know he cared.

"B-before the end…Father want-ed to tell you th-that he...he said that…he wanted you to know that he would r-rather have you than anyone else t-take care of me."

Kuro gave a small half smile to himself. It made him happy to know that in the end, his uncle did approve of his courtship of Suki after all.

Suki continued. "Right before he…F-father touched Mother…" she gave a sobby giggle, and then stopped, remembering her sadness. "A-and told her he was glad that she bore his children…and then…M-mother cried and cried…but later…she…"

Kuro gasped, looking down into Suki's eyes. "No…not…Aunt Sango-san too?"

This seemed to erupt new tears in her eyes. "Right about the time F-father turned worse M-mother started getting sick…I d-don't understand…she was s-so healthy…the last thing she s-said was that she regretted she wouldn't l-live to see our wedding."

Kuro closed his eyes, while holding her trembling form. Now he understood. They were both all alone in the world, with no one to help them. It shouldn't have been this way…he thought. They shouldn't have died…They didn't understand that we still need them…

Kiri, still hiding in the bushes, looked at both of them with eyes full of empathy. Now everyone's gone…she thought, holding all her tears in. Who are we supposed to look up to now?

Her fingers touched the bead necklace. Who's supposed to support us now?

Kuro kissed Suki's forehead. "Suki…I'm sorry. You're parents; they shouldn't have died and left you alone. But…I'm back now. We can get married, like we planned, and then you won't be alone anymore. I promised I'd never leave you alone again."

Her indigo eyes looked downward. She backed out of his embrace. "Kuro…I want to say yes…I really do…but…"

"I understand if it's too early." He said at once. "I know Uncle Miroku-sama and Aunt Sango-san just—"

Suki shook her head. "No…it's not that…its…" Her hands closed into fists and she closed her eyes sharply and looked down.

Kiri perked up. I knew there was something else…

"Kuro…" Suki said. "Please, forgive me…I never wanted this…It wasn't supposed to happen this way…"

"Suki," he demanded, in a harsher tone. "What is going on?"

She didn't want to look him in the eyes. But her eyes were fearful. "Kuro…I'm engaged."

He stared, not wanting to believe it. No…it can't be true…But he eyes didn't betray her. Maybe it was true. It was even worse than hearing about her parents, knowing that this had occurred while they were apart. It's because you were gone so long…she wanted someone else…someone human…

Kuro turned around sharply. "I understand."

"No!" Suki walked closer towards him. "No, not like that…I don't want this at all! If only it was you—"

He still didn't look back at her. "Then why did you?" he wanted to know.

She whispered, "I was forced."

It was then that Kuro turned around. "You were what?"

Suki looked up at him, pleading him to understand. "I was forced into it, Kuro. The day after Mother…a man from the village called…Henka, I think…came to me and told me I needed someone to take care of me."

The raven haired hanyou blinked. "And you—"

"I refused!" she stated. "But…he kept coming, making his argument stronger…then he—"

"He what?" Kuro asked. Suki didn't reply. "What did he do Suki?" he asked again.

Her eyes remained focused on the ground. "He threatened me, Kuro. He…told me…that if I didn't marry him…he'd hurt my sisters…and you."

Kuro started growling. "I'll kill him."

"No!" Suki ran up to him. "Please, don't!"

"Why not?" he demanded. "I have every right to! That bastard, thinking he can do that to you—"

"Kuro, he said that if I told you and you tried to kill him…he had many friends in the village that would hurt Yume and Hana while you tried to kill him."

"Doesn't matter." He said. "We'll keep them safe while we—"

"You can't kill him, he's…" she paused. "He's strong."

His eyes widened. "He didn't hurt you, did he?"

"No, but…he was able to block a blow I aimed at him after he told me this…Kuro, he may be human, but, I know he's dangerous to cross."

Kuro sighed. Though his blood was boiling to kill this 'Henka', he knew they were trapped. If he had as many allies at she said, there was no way to protect everyone while trying to kill him. He knew she had no choice but to agree to his demands. "What are we going to do?" he asked.

"Kuro, please, understand, I don't want this. My heart is only yours." She assured him. "But…I can tell Henka that I'm still too upset over mother and father, that can buy us some time."

"All right." He agreed. "That should give us time to figure out how to get you and your sisters out of this place. But Suki, if he hurts you, or your sisters in any way, I will kill him."

She nodded her head. "I understand. And I agree. Kuro, please, don't worry about this now, let's just be together, like we should be."

Kuro held her. Even though he knew they were headed for troubled times, he was content at that moment to know that she loved only him. "Suki," he whispered, "I love you."

She leaned her head over his chest, letting the beating of his heart fill her ears, while her own heart beat to the same rhythm. "I know." She said.

Kiri, who had watched the whole thing, turned around and slipped back into the woods. So…there's someone else after Suki…I don't have to worry, Kuro will take care of it but… she remembered what she had heard earlier. Uncle Miroku-sama…and Aunt Sango-san…

"Kiri?" Akuto asked, standing up. She had wandered back to their camp. He noticed her expression. "What's wrong?"

She was absent-mindedly holding her necklace. "The world's turning upside down…" she said. "What are we supposed to hold on to now, that everything's being taken away?"

Akuto walked towards her. "I'll hold you."

She needed some comfort. Seeing Kuro and Suki made her realize how lonely she was. "Please…just this once…"

As Akuto held her, she thought. Maybe…Akuto was right…with everything crazy going on in this world…maybe I need someone to hold me…

A/N: Okay, not as sad as last time, considering that I had to say many things in this chapter, but still…yeah…I hated doing that again.

Anyway, to make up for it, Inu, Kags, Miroku, and Sango WILL appear later as ghosties. HAPPY ghosties. As in, they're happy in the afterlife, okay? So, you WILL see them again. I hope that makes you guys feel better.
If it doesn't…well…I hope you continue reading…