Last time: Naraku was defeated, and his part of the Jewel is in their possession. Though, there are a few more shards to collect, and they won't be easy to find.

Chapter 18: Kay's Promise

The group, minus Kay, Michelle, and Charlie, who were somewhere in the woods, stood in front of Kaede's hut, looking sad and Kagome looked close to tears.

"Well, I guess that I should go back to the temple. I can train to become a higher ranked monk," Miroku said, a small smile on his face, but you could tell he wasn't happy for having to leave the others... and Sango.

"And I'm going to go find Kohaku," Sango said, looking out into space and worrying about her brother. Her hand went up near her face and she was only snapped out of her trance when Kagome said something.

"I suppose that we are going to find the rest of the jewel shards. Kay and Michelle will probably travel with us also. Well..." Kagome said, looking at the ground.

"I don't want you to leave," Shippo muttered so softly that InuYasha could only hear.

"Will you come with me until the roads fork, Sango?" Miroku asked the demon slayer.

"Sure," Sango said softly, a small smile playing on her lips.

They started to walk off, Kirara on Sango's shoulder, both of them sad and looking back at their friends, Kagome, InuYasha and Shippo.

"It's a shame that Kay and Michelle aren't here," Miroku said, turning back to look at where he was going.

"And don't forget Charlie," Sango added.

"How could I?"

"STOP!" yelled someone from behind them. The two turned around to see Kay running after them, Charlie and Michelle close behind, and the rest of them following to see what was wrong.

"You can't leave! If you don't help us, how will we get the last shards? Who will humor us while Sango slaps Miroku for groping her? Who will comfort you when you are sad, explain others' feelings to each other if you're gone?" Kay said, her hands clasped together as if she were praying.

"But I have to find Kohaku..." Sango said quietly.

"And I must get back to the temple," Miroku added.

"I can bring Kohaku back in a day or two, and we can come with you to the temple!" Kay said, pleading.

Michelle walked forward a few steps and InuYasha looked at her like she was crazy. Us go to that stupid temple

"I'm sorry, Kay, but we can't stay," Miroku said, smiling softly.

"Please..." she said, a tear escaping her eye.

Was she... crying? This stunned everyone watching. Kay never cried! A tear rolled down the side of her face and fell onto the ground. Miroku was gaping at the tear, confused on how she let her emotions loose at a time like this.

Sango looked at Kay and smiled. "You are just full of surprises aren't you? Well, I guess I'll stay," Sango said, smiling widely. Kay grinned and hugged Sango, and let go of her, looking over to Miroku.

"I feel like I'm left out... all right, I'll stay. But I'll want to go to the temple every once in a while for training," Miroku said, smiling widely. Kay stood there, her grin bigger than ever and the tears already all dried up. "Don't I get a hug?"

"I don't want you to touch me, so no," Kay said, laughing. "Charlie," Kay said, watching her dog transform. She got up on her dog's back and looked down to the others.

"Where are you going?" Sango asked.

"I'm going to keep a promise," Kay said, grinning madly.

- - -

Kay looked down as Charlie flew through the sky, searching for something important. The forest was thick, and seemed to go on forever. She smiled and said, "Down there."

Charlie landed and Kay jumped off of her dog, just in time to see a demon attacking a boy. Kay drew her sword and jumped up, slicing the demon's head off. It wasn't that hard to kill, just a snake demon. She landed and put her sword back in it's sheath.

She turned and smiled. "Hello, Kohaku," Kay said, nodding.

"How do you know my name?" Kohaku asked, taking a step back.

"I know many things. And I know your sister. And I just know a lot of things... It's more of a curse, really..." Kay said, thinking aloud.

"My... sister?" Kohaku asked.

"The woman you see in your mind all the time. Sango. She is your sister. Now, I need you to come with me. Sango is a good friend of mine, and I can help you, and her. You have a jewel shard in your back, and if it is taken out, you'll die. But I know someone who can bring you back to life. You just have to trust me," Kay said, holding out her hand. "Do you trust me?"

Kohaku hesitated, but took a step forward and grabbed Kay's hand. "Yes."

"Good. My name is Kay, and we will be traveling on my dog... Where is he?" Kay said, looking around. "Charlie!"

"You have a weird name. And so does your dog," Kohaku said as he saw a small dog come into the clearing. "How are we supposed to ride on that?"

"We come from another country, so your names are weird to us, right Charlie?" Kay said, smiling and walking over to her dog. He transformed and she pet him. Kay turned around to look at Kohaku, who was gaping at her dog. "Does that answer your second question? Now, come on, we have to leave."

Kay got on top of Charlie and he walked over to Kohaku, who got on with help from Kay. She smiled at him and told him to hang on as Charlie started to run through the forest.

"Just so you know, if my dog talks to you, don't be alarmed. We both can talk using our minds," Kay said, moving her head back a little to look at Kohaku.

I'm glad I found you... Kohaku.

- - -

Sango gripped Kirara's neck tightly as she lurched unexpectedly in the sky. She felt Miroku behind her grab her tightly, as to not fall off, but his 'cursed hand' didn't exactly grab her, more like her butt.

As she slapped him she thought, This is the third time! Can't he think of something else to do while we're looking for Kay?

The two were curious of why Kay had left them, and what promise she had to keep. She just left so unexpectedly. Michelle wanted to come along, but they figured it was best that she stay and help out Kaede and the others. She and Kagome were learning to control their priestess powers better.

"I wonder what Kay is searching for?" Sango said as Kirara slowly started to decline.

"I don't know, but it must be very important to have made her leave us like that. She is a secretive one, she is," Miroku said.

Kirara went below the tops of the trees and started to speed up through the forest, avoiding the large trees that were so compact and close together. She wanted to tell them that she could smell another scent other than Kay's and Charlie's. She could smell Kohaku.

"Slow down when we are near them, Kirara. We don't want to let Kay know that we followed her," Miroku said.

"Wouldn't she know already? With her powers and all?" Sango asked.

"We can hope that she doesn't find out."

Soon enough Kirara slowed down and stopped, letting Sango and Miroku get off. Kirara transformed into a little cat and led them to the edge of a clearing. Night had finally fallen and they could see a fire in the distance.

Then they saw her. Kay was sitting right in front of them, with Charlie in his transformed state at her side. He went off into the forest and she went up to get some firewood, and across from the fire sat Kohaku.

"Kohaku..." Sango whispered as she started to run to Kohaku.

Miroku grabbed her waist and stopped her from going any further. "Miroku! Let go!" Sango said, not loud enough for anyone to hear.

"If you go out there, Kay will see you, and so will Kohaku. We can't let them know we are here. This must be what Kay is doing. But, she must be doing something else, because she turned somewhere along the line. We are in a completely different direction then what she left off in," Miroku said, holding Sango tightly.

Sango stopped her struggle and gave up, watching her brother. She felt useless. Her brother was right in front of her, but she couldn't get to him. Kay came back to the fire, but stopped in the middle of putting the wood into it. She looked over to where Sango and Miroku were, but they ducked just in time, hiding behind the bush.

Kay and Kohaku ate some fish that Charlie got and they went to bed, leaving Sango and Miroku to ponder over what she was going to do.

Soon enough Sango got tired and leaned against a tree to go to sleep. Not exactly comfortable, but it worked. She shivered a little bit in her sleep, and Miroku smiled. Taking off the purple cloth on his kimono he moved over to Sango and put it over her, giving her some warmth.

- - -

Sango awoke from Kirara's tail tickling her nose and she suppressed a sneeze. She yawned and felt very warm, and looked down to see that she had a cloth on her. It wasn't very thick, but it was still warm. Sango sat up and realized that it was Miroku's and she smiled. Sometimes he could be so nice, but others, he was just annoying.

Miroku awoke soon and Sango walked over to him and gave him back the fabric. "Thank you," she said quietly. She looked over to the clearing and gasped.

"What?" Miroku said, jumping up and getting his cloth on at the same time.

"They're gone!" Sango said, looking around. Kirara transformed and the two humans jumped on her back, and she ran after them, following their scent.

- - -

The day was over when they finally reached Kay. They hid behind trees and another bush, watching her walk with Kohaku and Charlie trailing behind her. They followed her in the forest, watching her look around for something.

Miroku tapped Sango's shoulder and pointed. There was Sesshomaru, not too far away from them. Miroku and Sango adjusted themselves for a better look, while staying well hidden. Good thing they were down wind...

"Sesshomaru... I have a favor to ask you," Kay said, taking a few steps forward.

Sesshomaru stayed silent, but looked like he was taking in every word that she said.

"I would like you... to help him. To help Kohaku," Kay said, turning and showing Kohaku to Sesshomaru. Kay was ready for the next part. She moved in front of Kohaku just as Sesshomaru started to growl.

"Why are you with that child?" Sesshomaru asked, his voice emotionless as ever.

"He isn't bad. He was controlled by Naraku last time you met him," Kay said, clenching her fist near her face.

Rin walked up behind Sesshomaru and said, "Please don't harm him, Sesshoumaru-sama."

"I want you to bring him back to life with the Tenseiga," Kay said, motioning to Kohaku.

"He is alive now," Sesshomaru said, looking at the young demon slayer with a cold gaze.

"No, he isn't. He is only alive because of the sacred jewel shard in his back." Kay took a step forward. "Please... For me?"

Sesshomaru pondered it for a second. "Fine. I'll help."

"You promise to use your Tenseiga after I take the jewel shard out?" Kay asked, walking to Kohaku and looking at him carefully. "Are you fine with this, Kohaku?"

Kohaku nodded and Sango gasped silently, not loud enough for anyone to hear. Sesshomaru sighed silently and drew his sword.

"Kohaku, you might want to sit down for this," Kay said, sitting next to him as he did as she asked. She pulled on the top of his kimono and stopped before grabbing the jewel shard from his skin. "Kohaku... You... might remember things... that you don't want to. But you have to keep calm, all right? Now, are you ready?"

Kohaku nodded and Kay gulped. She reached for the shard and somehow got it out without her poison nails hurting him. Once the shard was out, Kohaku collapsed, dead.

Though, true to his word, Sesshomaru stepped up to the plate, well, actually he stepped forward, and looked at Kohaku carefully. Kay knew that he was searching for the demons that went after the dead, though, she couldn't see them this time.

He brought the sword over Kohaku's lifeless body, and he soon stirred, holding his head and trying to think clearly.

By now Sango had to stop herself from crying and yelling her brother's name, and Miroku had to practically tackle her to keep her hidden.

"My sister, Sango... Where is she?" Kohaku asked Kay uncertainly. Kay smiled and looked at Kohaku carefully.

"We are going to go to her, very soon," Kay said, standing up.

"So that's what her promise was. I guess it makes sense since she had told you she'd go and fi--" Miroku whispered, but was interrupted by something very unexpected.

Sesshoumaru had walked over to Kay and kissed her. Kay's eyes were wide once more, for another unexpected kiss, but this time it was in front of people. Miroku and Sango sat there, their eyes as wide as dinner plates and their mouths opening and closing, but not able to say anything.

Once more Jaken was outraged, but grumbled silently in the background, with Rin who smiled. Ah-Un ate some grass, bored with the whole thing. Charlie was acting like Miroku and Sango, and Kohaku just watched, his mouth slightly open.

Were you expecting that? Charlie asked Kohaku mentally, not letting anyone else on their conversation.

Kohaku shook his head, watching as Sesshoumaru let go and nodded for a goodbye. Kay stood there, her blush deepening and she feebly waved goodbye.

Next time: Kay comes back with Kohaku, but now that Sango and Miroku know Kay's little secret, what will happen? How will Sango and Miroku act around Kay?

Michelle: O.O;;;

Kay: ...

Michelle: What the &#! is wrong with you!

Kay: It had to be done.

Michelle: NO IT DIDN'T HAVE TO BE DONE!

Kay: Yes, it did. It pushes their relationship forward, and it also helps set the stage for the next, and last, fanfic of the trilogy.

Michelle: I hope you know what you're doing!

Kay: Most the time, I don't.

Charlie: HOLY CRAP! I love the idea for the next fanfic!

Kay: I knew you would.

Michelle: Let's just let you guys read the next chapter, How dare you!.