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My Chosen

The darkness was comforting, really. It stroked her as a mother offering comfort to an injured child. It embraced her lovingly, coveting her, protecting her from that which meant to injure, meant to hurt. It pulled her down, its utter silence somehow forming a silent lullaby sung just for her…

And still, she fought for all she was worth. Even after she forgot why she was fighting – and even after she forgot what she was fighting – she continued. Even as the darkness swallowed her being, even as all realization slipped away, Sango felt the insatiable need to struggle. Even though the dark permanence was, in all reality, comforting – even though it slowly made the wracking pain that was her earthly existence slip away to a warm nothingness – the young woman could not bring herself to accept it without that final effort.

But the intangible darkness would not be quenched. She didn't remember why or how, but somehow she had known all along that her efforts would be in vain.

Even after the memory had faded away, the emotions remained. She felt – happy. Content, even. She was brimming with pride and satisfaction.

But even as the intangible darkness tried to offer her the solace and comfort of the void, the faint stabs of longing sadness and regret remained. She missed – something… Someone…

But she couldn't – quite – remember who, or what, or why…

And then she saw them, and she remembered something.

"Kohaku… Father…"

They were waiting for her, their arms open in kind welcome, and Sango remembered how badly she had longed for this reunion. Tears of immeasurable joy warmed her cheeks as she ran towards them.

It seemed unduly cruel that no matter how hard she ran, she got no closer to them.

"I'm – coming – " she cried out to them, but she could feel something pulling at her – something holding her back…

Sango wheeled on the presence, anger flashing –

But the anger quickly dispersed at the sight of the beautiful priestess standing behind her. The woman's ghostly visage flickered and faded in an imperceptible breeze. As Sango concentrated on her, she seemed to fade into clearer view until she was entirely opaque and real. She stood directly in front of Sango, smiling gently. In the depths of her dark eyes there seemed to be a wealth of knowledge, of care – of understanding.

Even before she introduced herself, Sango somehow knew who she was. The taijiya dropped to her knees in a numb mixture of shock and respect.

The priestess smiled warmly at the gesture, nodding gently. "I am Modoriko."

Sango didn't even realize that she was still crying until the priestess had already knelt down and encircled her in a comforting embrace. The woman's kindly smile never left her face even as she murmured into Sango's hair.

"I know that you want to go to them – and I cannot stop you. But the delay was necessary - you are my chosen, little taijiya."

Her ghostly hands stroked Sango's raven tresses comfortingly. "I also once gave my life to stop a dark conglomerate of demons. I gave my eternity to fight the darkness, and yet I have always known that I could never win were the gem to reside in the wrong hands." She smiled sadly, peering now into Sango's eyes. "I feared that none would stop him – this Naraku. All my energy is forever caught up in fighting the demons trapped in the gem with me – and so, I could not hope to battle him myself. I feared the war was drawing to a most unfortunate ending. I trapped myself in that jewel to stop evil, and yet my existence was going to be used to strengthen it."

Perfect porcelain fingers traced the line of Sango's face, lovingly brushing away tears. "And then you came. The answer to my prayers. The sister of my soul." She smiled affectionately. "And never has anyone made me so proud."

Sango found herself unable to look at the other woman. "Your words are too kind, lady Modoriko. I am only happy to have served you…"

A cool finger hooked beneath her chin, forcing the taijiya to look up and meet the priestess's eyes. "You were willing to give up everything for the sake of good – you saved me, taijiya – you saved us all."

A blush lit up Sango's cheeks. "I could not have done it alone –"

Modoriko smiled kindly. "But without you, all would have been lost. I would have been lost. And that is why you are my chosen – my most beloved…" The priestess's voice dropped to a hopeful whisper. "You are my kindred spirit – and I would trust none more than you to finish the job. To complete the gathering of my jewel and help put an end to this eternal struggle..."

The love and caring in her voice warmed the very depths of Sango's soul, reminding the young slayer of the love of a family…

The love of a family.

A family who awaited her on the other side.

- PULSE -

Sango's eyes widened as everything around her pulsed – every fiber of the void seemed to beat with the momentary rhythm. The priestess abruptly began to fade away – her fingers, still on Sango's face, simply became a mist. The great priestess's smile seemed to turn apologetic.

"I'm afraid, however, that the jewel is not yet whole, and my battle not yet complete. I must return." She began to whisk away, backwards, towards a bright shimmer in the distance. Sango reached out a hand towards her in a futile gesture.

"Modoriko – wait – what am I to do?"

Even from across the growing expanse between them, Sango could feel the warmth exuded from the priestess's smile. "That is up to you, my Sango. You've already given so much; I could not ask you to do anything more than to follow your heart…"

A ghostly hand pointed towards the lilac shimmer in the distance. "To return to the world." The hand pointed in the direction Sango had seen Kohaku and the others. "To move on to the next."

There was a long pause before she finished, serenity exuding from her tone. "But know that whichever way you choose – I shall light your path and smile upon you always."

And then, she was gone, leaving Sango to look uncertainly from the bright shimmering to which Modoriko had retreated to the family awaiting her in distance…

You know which Sango should choose? REVIEW! OR ELSE!