Well, there's only three chapters left. It's kinda sad that this is coming to a close, but I'm glad that it is, too. I've got so many other ideas to work on, so, that's what I'm gonna do.

A Change in Our Future

Chapter Twenty-Three: Kohaku's Troubles

Kohaku didn't talk at all when the group traveled back to Kaede's village. He was sad and was trying to make himself feel better, but nothing that he did would help. He sighed and tightened his grip around Sango's waist. I looked over at him, wondering how he was feeling.

"It's fine, Kohaku. You can't expect to be good on your first try," Sango said, turning towards him and smiling a bit.

"Yeah... I guess..." Kohaku answered, looking at the ground.

I started thinking, and then I thought about Kohaku's jewel shard. We needed to figure out a way to keep him alive. But we needed to take care of the jewel shard and the jewel, too.

It seemed that InuYasha was thinking about the same thing, because he said to me, "What are we going to do about the jewel?"

"I haven't figured that out, yet," I said, closing my eyes and thinking hard. We needed a selfless wish, one that would help everyone... Or at least some of us... And we needed to decide what the wish would be as soon as possible.

We got to Kaede's village after a little while, but it seemed like a short amount of time if you compared it to our normal travels.

Sitting down in the hut, Sango bandaged Kohaku's wounds and I was deep in thought. It wasn't very much like me, because Miroku and Shippo both asked if something was the matter. Though, it wasn't very strange seeing InuYasha thinking hard.

I opened my eyes and looked over at Kohaku, starting to smirk.

"Are you all right, Kagome?" Shippo asked me, taking a few hesitant steps backwards.

"Kohaku, what do you think about trying to use the Shikon Jewel to keep you alive and give you the ability to fight demons? Would that be fine with you, Sango?" I asked the two demon slayers. I obviously wanted Sango's input, since Kohaku was her brother, and overall it was Kohaku's choice.

The hut was silent.

And it was still silent.

Still goin'.

No one was saying a word.

"WELL?" InuYasha yelled, breaking the silence into tiny little pieces. I was sort of glad that he did that, even though I turned and glared at him.

Sango sighed. "Well, I... I... What do you think, Kohaku?" Sango said, turning to her brother.

Kohaku sat there for a while and then said, "I think it will work. Besides, one jewel shard brought me back to life. Just think what the whole jewel would do! And it might be able to make me a better fighter, too."

Sango nodded. "OK, then. I guess we will do it, then."

I smiled slightly and stood up.

"We might as well do it now, right?" I asked, a little bit nervous. Sango nodded, and Kohaku agreed with Sango. I walked over to Kohaku and knelt down behind him. He let the top of his kimono down slightly and I took my hand to the shard.

I took the shard out. Instantly, Kohaku fell over, dead. I took out the Shikon Jewel and stuck the last shard into it. It glowed and I grasped it in my hand feeling the purity of the jewel being whole once more.

I crawled closer to Kohaku as Sango held him, fighting the tears that threatened to fall. I rested the jewel on his chest (Sango was holding him with his back to the floor) and closed my eyes.

I started to wish. I wish that Kohaku was alive to destroy demons. I wish that he had the power to slay some of the most powerful demons. He needs to be strong... and alive. I wish that Kohaku could be the greatest demon slayer ever! I opened my eyes just in time to see the Jewel in my hands send light through the gaps in my fingers. It glowed and sent a purple light through the whole room. The only people who were able to manage to keep their eyes open were InuYasha and myself.

When the light faded, I stared at my hands. All that was in my hands was a clear marble that looked just like glass. I shifted my gaze to Kohaku and heard Sango gasp when she saw him breathing. He moved and looked up at his sister's face, turning around to face her.

"S-sister?" Kohaku asked hesitantly.

Sango cried and hugged him tightly, rocking back and forth with her head against his. I sat there with tears in my eyes, smiling at them.

InuYasha watched with a small smile, but I could tell he was a bit sad. Was it because he was missing his own mother?

We locked eyes, and he quickly looked away. I turned to see Miroku moving over to Sango, smiling slightly. Shippo walked over to me and gripped my sleeve. I looked down at him and set my hand on his head, wondering how everyone else was taking this.

- - -

Later that day, Kohaku sat on a hill with Sango. Sango later told me that they were catching up. Kohaku learned more about Sango, and also learned more about Miroku.

"Uh... Sister?" Kohaku asked, looking away.

"Yes, Kohaku?" Sango asked, looking at her brother with a smile.

He was playing with a blade of grass. "I... I was wondering... After I make amends for what happened... Can I come live with you and your fiancée? Or at least near you? Because I may have found someone I like and then I may be a lot older or maybe you'll be really old or--"

"Yes, Kohaku. You can come stay with us if you want to. Or live near us. Or whatever you want," Sango said, smiling. "I'll have to check with Miroku, but I'm sure he'll be fine with it."

"Fine? Fine! I'd be more than fine with it," Miroku said, popping up behind Sango.

"AK! Where did you come from?" Sango shouted, obviously startled.

"I was listening in. How can I stay away from such a beautiful woman?" flattered Miroku. Sango smiled sweetly, but quickly her smile changed to surprise and then anger.

"PERVERT!" SMACK!

Miroku sat near Sango, rubbing his cheek softly.

"Sister, do you two always act like this?" Kohaku asked, obviously surprised.

"Unfortunately, yes," Sango said, her hand balled up into a fist.

- - -

That night, everyone was quiet. It seemed like everyone was asleep, except for me. I looked around the room, but my gaze stopped on InuYasha... And then I saw his ears.

As quietly as I could, I got up and walked over to InuYasha. I slowly reached out my hand towards his ear, and grabbed it gently. InuYasha twitched, but he didn't wake up, so I started rubbing it. It was so soft and fuzzy! Soon I sat down, but I didn't stop rubbing his ears.

InuYasha's eyes popped open unexpectedly and he looked at me, where I was frozen and blushing.

"Kagome, what the hell are you doing?" InuYasha asked, looking at me with a glare.

"Uh..."

I was saved from answering by a sudden roar and a villager shouting out "IT'S A DEMON!"

I gasped and ran to grab my bow and arrows in the corner of the room while shouting for everyone to get up. Everyone was alert and ready for action after I shouted at them all.

Once outside, we saw one of the ugliest, and tallest demons ever. It's fangs stuck out and went halfway up his face, probably obscuring his vision somewhat. He had red skin and looked like an ogre on crack.

Sango ran out in front of us, her Hiraikotsu ready. She threw it towards the demon, but it was surprisingly fast and moved out of the way just before getting hit. But the boomerang came back and went through the palm of his hand, but not cutting anything off. The demon screamed out in pain and kicked towards Sango, who jumped up and retrieved her boomerang and dodged his kick at the same time. The rest of us were just trying to get over there, seeing as Sango had a head start.

InuYasha pulled out his Tetsusaiga and was just about to attack with his wind scar when the demon managed to grab hold of Sango and hold her out in front of him like a shield.

"You can't attack, InuYasha!" I said as InuYasha stopped mid-attack.

"I know that, wench!" InuYasha shouted, glaring at me.

"Sister!" Kohaku shouted, running over to the demon. His weapon was ready and he threw it at the demon's wrist, managing to cut off the demon's hand. The hand dropped to the ground and Sango pushed her way out while Kohaku jumped up and started to attack the demon. He just started cutting off limbs, one by one, when he finally went for the head.

"DIE!" Kohaku shouted before lopping off the demon's head.

The ogre on crack fell to the ground, as did Kohaku. The young demon slayer landed on top of the ogre, breathing heavily.

"KOHAKU!" Kohaku turned to look at the voice, but was greeted by her sister attacking him with a hug.

I ran over there towards Kohaku and knelt next to them, saying, "You did it, Kohaku! You defeated the demon!"

Yay! Kohaku did it! w00t!

Anyway, sorry for not finishing the chapter quickly... Eh... -.-;

Next Chapter: Kohaku has defeated the demon, but is he ready to leave the comfort of being with his sister?