:Disclaimer:

Akana: Um, yeah, this is totally the disclaimer thingy! Whee!
Leiko: Ugh, she's being hyper. >.
Akana: Hey! I just realized that we never told them why I wasn't being as hyper in the other chapters! You totally cut me off before I could --
Leiko: In other news, we don't own Inuyasha.
Akana: That's right! We suuuuuuuure don't!

:End Disclaimer:

Sorry if the characters seem a bit OOC. I was basing Kohaku more on what he was like in the 2nd movie than in the series, and I probably made a lot of mistakes with Sango's reaction. Well, thanks once again, someonewithoutaname! Answers: You think THAT chapter was sad? Wait 'till you read this chapter and the ones after... Kikyou is gone, gone, gone, gone. Forever. And ever. Poor Kikyou. Muwahahaha, everything about the demon trio shall be explained in chapter 7, which is going to be the final chapter in this kind of short story. Well, enjoy this next chapter!

Chapter 5: Brother, Sister

POV CHANGE

I glared at her. She glared at me. You could almost feel the static in the air as we exchanged glares behind Miroku's back. We both dropped further behind so we could "talk" without anyone hearing us. Inuyasha and Kagome were leading us around, as always, on the lookout for the remaining jewel shard, so we knew they wouldn't hear us. It had been about a week since Yuriko joined up with us, and I was about ready to majorly kick her ass. She was being so annoying and overprotective!

"You'd better back off!" she whispered through clenched teeth. "Miroku is my brother, and he's coming home with me once you guys find the last shard!"

"Listen," I hissed back, "I know he's your brother, but he promised to live with me! Why can't we all just live together or something? Would that be so bad?"

"Yes, it would!"

"Why? Do you think I'm trying to steal him away from you or something?"

"As a matter of fact, yes!"

"Then you're just a selfish, conceited little -- "

"Takes one to know one!"

I glared at her. She glared at me. We held a small glaring contest until, out of the corners of our eyes, we saw Miroku start to turn around and see how we were doing. We immediately smiled at him innocently, pretending that we weren't just arguing with each other about him. He gave us a suspicious look, then turned back to the path ahead. We continued our glaring contest.

"I sense it! The last jewel shard!" Kagome suddenly burst out. I whipped my head around, forgetting all about Yuriko for the moment. My thoughts lingered on one person. We needed only his shard, then the jewel would be complete... My worst nightmare had finally come. What would I do? How could I kill my own brother?

Kirara jumped from her resting place in my arms and darted into the woods. I ran after her, and I was aware of the others following us. My heart pounded as I ran. Kohaku... I thought. You're free from Naraku now, but you still have the jewel shard... We need it for the jewel to be completed, and yet... Must we take it? Can't the jewel just remain unfinished? I knew I was being selfish with these thoughts, but I really didn't care at the moment. I wanted to be with my little brother.

When we came upon him, he turned and looked at us, me in particular. For a moment, I got my hopes up. Would he finally be able to remember? "Miss Sango," he said, apparently surprised. My hopes tumbled back down, and I felt my heart sink low. "What are you doing here...?"

"Wecame to find you," I answered, using a smile to hide my pain. "You still don't remember anything about me, do you?" He shook his head. Looking at him, he seemed so innocent. He didn't remember anything, true, but... wouldn't it be better that way? If he never remembered what he did to Father and the others, he could always be innocent, and he'd never be haunted by such horrible memories.

I couldn't take his shard, though. I looked at the others appologetically, but they all seemed to understand. I don't think they wanted me to take his shard, either, when they knew how hurt I'd feel afterwards. "Let's get back to the village," Kagome suggested. She didn't say it, but I could tell she meant: "And discuss what to do from there."

I smiled my gratitude. "Come on, Kohaku," I said warmly, looking back at him. He nodded slightly and followed me hesitantly back to the others.

Later that night, when everyone else was asleep, I shook Kohaku awake. He looked up at me sleepily. I smiled at him and whispered "C'mon. Let's go." I pulled him away from the clearing we were in (we hadn't made it to the village yet) and into the woods. The almost-full moon shed its light on us through the leaves as I turned and looked at him. His face showed that he was very confused about why I brought him there. I kept smiling at him, trying to keep my real emotions hidden. I sat down and pulled him down with me into a hug. "Kohaku..." My fingers lightly brushed against the shard imbedded in his back.

"Miss Sango?" Kohaku said, his voice showing his sleepiness. I could feel that he was blushing a little. He didn't remember that we were brother and sister... He didn't remember anything... He was only a boy, a stranger, I tried convincing myself. "What are you doing?"

I remained silent. I tried to keep smiling, but my smile faltered. My tears shone silver in the moonlight. "I'm sorry, Kohaku," I told him in a whisper. "So... very sorry..." I took a deep breath, ready to take the shard from his back.

"Sister," Kohaku said in a barely audible whisper.

I stopped. My hand was there. All I had to do was take out the shard, and it would all be over. I hesitated, then put my hands on his shoulders and pushed him away slightly so I could look him in the face. "What did you...?"

"You're... You're my sister, aren't you?" he asked. "These memories... They're all coming back suddenly..." Suddenly, he became silent. I stared at him anxiously, dreading what would come next. "Sister, I... I killed father and the others..." He dropped his gaze to the ground. "And I hurt you as well... I-I'm sorry... I shouldn't even be alive right now... It would be too much to ask for forgiveness after everything I've done..."

Why? my mind screamed. Why? Why right now? Why did it have to be right now? "You're wrong," I choked out, my tears flowing in full force now. "I do forgive you, Kohaku. You're my brother. How could I not?" I pulled him into another hug. More than ever, now, I didn't want to do it. I wanted to let him live. He was my brother. He finally had his memories back. He didn't deserve to die. But... the others needed the shard for the jewel to be completed... Did it really need to be completed? Why couldn't the Shikon jewel just remain in two pieces? No.. After everything they've done for me, it would be selfish... They need the full jewel... And, if Kohaku keeps the shard, demons will constantly come after him... I closed my eyes tightly. "Kohaku, I'm sorry..."

He went limp in my arms. I dropped the jewel shard to the ground and held onto him tightly, never wanting to let go. I'm sorry...

I'd done it. I'd murdered my own brother.

POV CHANGE

I opened my eyes slowly. Something didn't feel quite right. Something was missing. My mind was still groggy as my eyes wandered over the campsite, trying to figure out what was different. Inuyasha was still sitting down with his arms crossed, leaning against the base of a tree. His eyes were closed and it was obvious he was sleeping. Kagome was still laying in her sleeping bag near the fire with Shippou curled up next to her. Yuriko was sleeping next to me in a sleeping bag that Kagome had lent her. I had been sleeping leaning against a tree as Inuyasha was. Kirara was tugging at my sleeve and mewing repeatedly. That was what had woken me up. I glanced down at her, then at the two empty sleeping bags near the fire, then made the connection.

I woke Inuyasha first. He was fastest; he had the best chance of getting to her in time. "Sango's taken Kohaku into the woods," I told him when his eyes opened. He immediately nodded and stood up, commanding me to wake the others before speeding off. He needed no explanation; he knew as well as any what Sango was likely planning on doing.

I crossed over to Kagome and woke her and Shippou. I told them what'd happened, and they hopped on Kirara. They didn't leave yet; they were waiting for Yuriko and me. I finally came to my sister and woke her up. She looked at me with tired eyes. "What is it, Miroku?" she asked, yawning a bit.

"Sango's taken Kohaku into the woods," I explained quickly. "We think she's going to try taking out his shard, and we need to stop her before that happens!"

She gave me a slightly odd look -- as though she were... jealous? -- but it was replaced a moment later with genuine concern. She quickly climbed on Kirara, and I got on behind her. Kirara took us speedily in the direction Inuyasha had gone. I hardly even noticed the scenery as we went. I was too concerned for Sango. If she killed her brother, she would face an eternal sadness. It would be a great tragedy for her, and I didn't want her to go through that.

When we got there, it was too late. She was holding Kohaku's limp body and sobbing. Inuyasha was just standing there, staring as though he couldn't believe it. He hadn't gotten there in time... Kagome got off Kirara and walked over to Sango. She knelt down beside her and placed a consoling hand on her shoulder. "Sango..." She didn't know what to say, and nor did I or any of us.

Sango lifted her eyes to us. "I had to," she whispered. She slowly laid Kohaku's body on the ground, then stood up just as slowly. She wiped away her tears or, at least, tried to. She was fighting hard to keep from crying again. "T-The shard is... right beside him..." She turned away. "I need to be alone for a while..." She stumbled off into the woods.

We all stood there, silent for some time. We didn't know what to say or do. Finally, it was Kagome, Sango's best friend, who came up with the idea. "Let's complete the jewel," she said evenly, "and then use it to bring back Kohaku." She looked at Inuyasha, probably half-expecting him to protest, but he just nodded. We all knew it was the best thing to do. Kagome took the last shard from the ground where it was and then took the almost completed jewel. She brought the two together. A blinding light flashed, illuminating the entire clearing. When it faded, the jewel was whole and complete. She looked around once more at us all, then closed her eyes and made the wish.

The blinding white light came again. This time, though, when it faded, the jewel was nowhere to be seen. The wish had been pure enough for the jewel to be completely purified. Kohaku opened his eyes slowly, as if waking up from a long and deep sleep. He sat up and looked around with a confused look. "Where's... Where's my sister?" he asked.

Kagome blinked in surprise, most likely wondering how he remembered, then smiled at him. "C'mon, let's go see her," she said kindly. She looked at the rest of us and grinned. It had worked. Sango would be happy, and that thought lifted my spirits.

Yuriko tugged at my sleeve at that moment. I looked at her, and she gave a small smile. "I... need to talk to you about something," she said hesitantly. She pulled me into the woods away from the others' prying eyes before looking at me once more. "It's about Sango..." I looked at her with confusion, but she just stared at the ground. "You see, the thing is..." She shifted a bit, then looked back up at me. "I really want you to come home with me and forget about her... I know you love her, but I feel that I'm losing my brother whenever she's around. I know it's probably selfish of me, but... I just don't want to lose you."

I stiffened a little. "Is that what this is all about?" I asked. "Is that why you and Sango have been in a secret war?" She looked at the ground again, a bit ashamed, but I lifted her chin and looked into her eyes. "I can't forget about Sango," I told her evenly, "but I also can't forget my little sister. I want Sango to live with me, but I want you there, too. I'll love Sango, but there's room in my heart for you, you know." I smiled and moved my hand from her chin to her shoulder. "Would it be so bad if we all lived together? I don't think I can choose between her and you."

She looked at me long and hard. The tears were shining in her eyes as she attempted a smile. "I want to," she whispered, "but you and I both know that I can't. You and Sango would have a family, and I wouldn't belong. I'd fight with Sango about everything. I'm sorry, but it just can't happen." She reached up and placed her hand on my shoulder. "I'll check up on you from time to time, so you'd better not get into any trouble. I won't forgive you if you do, so remember that."

"But -- "

"Don't worry about it," she interrupted. "I know you can't choose between your little sister and the love of your life, so now you don't have to."

"Yuriko..." Not knowing what else I could do, I wrapped her into a warm hug. Thank you for this, I told her silently. Thank you...

No one could've guessed what happened next.