Hello again! Thank you everyone who reviewed!

I'm in kind of a rush, so sorry if there are mistakes. I'll try to go over as muchas i can without being late for where i'm going.

-Diverse-Thinker

PS: Bankotsu is seriously OOC in this--let's just say his curiosity is over-whelming. SO SORRY!


Disclaimer: sigh Nop, not yet. Don't own Inuyasha, at all.
Kagome made her way to her yellow bag as she grabbed a few shampoos and lotions from it. Shippou, who had been playing with the healed Kirara, noticed this. "You and Sango going to a spring? May I come? Oh pretty please?" Shippou begged.

Kagome smiled and nodded as Shippou jumped on her shoulder happily; Kirara on Sango's.

Kagome stopped for a second and turned to look at Sango sheepishly, "Um...where exactly is the nearest spring?"

"I have no idea. Kirara, do yo know?" Sango looked to the small cat demon on her shoulder.

"Mew" Kirara jumped off Sango's shoulder and transformed into her larger form.

"Well I guess she does." Sango clarified. Jogging over to her small bundle of things, she grabbed her Hiraikotsu and jogged back to Kagome and Shippou.

"It must be a little farther away than usual…that's why Kirara wants to fly us there." Sango explained as she straddled Kirara, Kagome getting on behind her.

Shippou jumped up on Kirara's large head and Kagome held onto Sango's waist as Kirara took flight.


Sango was right—the place was farther away than she thought.

Kagome had tied up her hair as she laid her head back on the edge of the spring. Sango left her hair down, infact, all she did was take off her clothes and sit there, not even bothering to touch the lotions yet.

Kagome giggled, starting to tell a story from her time, it was about the time she and her friends had a funny conversation.

Sango just sat there, listening to Kagome and Shippou laugh at the silliness of the girls from the future. Sango stared down at the water, her eyes looking through the liquid and to her hands. Her hands were shifty, nervous almost. Sango's hair fanned around her in the water, but she didn't care. Her long mahogany hair curtained the sides of her face, some sticking to her cheeks. Shutting her eyes, Sango began to daydream.

Kagome giggled, "That's when I suddenly tripped over Souta's shoes and fell flat on my face!"

Shippou slapped the water numerous times as he laughed hysterically, rolling around in the water in the process.

Kagome giggled at Shippou's antics. Looking up to Sango, her smile disappeared.

"Sango…are you ok?"

There was silence, Sango sat there, head down staring through the water.

"Sango…?"

Sango lifted her head up slowly, looking at Kagome through saddened eyes.

"I'm sorry Kagome…I…I just—"

Kagome raised a hand to her face to stop her. Smiling brightly, Kagome began to get out. "It's ok Sango…I understand. I totally understand." Kagome grabbed Sango's shoulder. "Don't worry, you'll find someone else. I bet right now Inuyasha is having a nice talk with Miroku…but don't stop being your usual awesome self, ok Sango?"

Sango looked up at Kagome, then gave her a loving smile. "Thank you Kagome-chan."

Kagome smiled back, "You're welcome, Sango-chan."

Sango looked back down at the water, hearing Kagome start to dress herself one again.

"I think we should start heading back, it's getting late. Plus, I'm really sleepy." Kagome giggled.

"You go ahead," Sango replied, looking over to Kirara, "Kirara will take you home, just make sure she comes back to get me."

Kagome looked at Sango as she hugged her knees. 'Poor Sango…'

"Are you sure you'll be ok? I don't want you to get hurt or anything…"

"I'll be fine, really." No emotion evident in her voice.

Kagome nodded solemnly. "C'mon Kirara, let's get going. Coming Shippou?"

Shippou nodded anxiously as he grabbed his clothes and hopped on the transformed Kirara; Kagome getting on behind him.

Without another word, Kagome left back to the village leaving Sango to wallow in her pain herself.

Of course, that was how she was used to it.

Sango slid deeper into the water, letting her eyes close relaxingly.

Sitting still, her ears sharpened to any noises around here—nothing. Was it too quiet? Or was nature trying to give her a break from being alarmed? Either way, Sango wanted peace. If she couldn't have peace inside her, she atleast wanted to be surrounded by it.

Without movement, the steam started to float upward and surround her, making the top of her head damp slightly. The moist air slipping her deeper into relaxation. Soon enough, Sango had slipped even deeper into the water until the water reached her nose. Now only letting her closed eyes, nose, forehead, and hair show from the water.

A sudden pang of hurt hit her like numerous hits with the Hiraikotsu. Miroku…hadn't waited.

Her emotionless face stayed emotionless as tears escaped her closed eyes, adding to the stream around her. Sango felt the small ripples of water as her tears disturbed the perfect image of a relaxed woman in the reflection.

Her reflection. Sango opened her eyes slightly, she looked drowsy. She looked at the water below her nostrils. There it was, her reflection. Her reflection hid everything. It hid the fact that she was hurting from the inside out. It hid the fact that she was aching. But what it did show, was that she was a lonely woman. And because of the fact that it was only her reflection in the water, clarifies that.

Shutting her eyes again, Sango lifted herself high enough to where she now sat on the edge on the spring. Grabbing a moistened towel, she wrapped it around her hips, covering her lower parts. Her legs remained unmoving as they were still dipped into the steaming water.

Sango opened her eyes and looked around curiously, checking if there was anything that seemed suspicious. Nothing, and with that, she shrugged and moved her hair off her back and all onto one shoulder. Being that her top was uncovered, she moved her hair so that it covered the left side of her chest, while she covered the other side by having her right hand cup her left shoulder. Her left hand relaxing in her lap.

Sango sighed deeply, an obvious amount of stress within her.

"Miroku…he left me. Didn't even have the patience to wait."

Sango surprised herself as she voiced her thought outloud. But she was right. Without Miroku, what would she do with her life after she had her revenge with Naraku? They were planning on getting married!

"Of course, he'd rather have someone pretty and openly willing to bear his children."

Sango closed her eyes once again, letting her other senses take over. Her back rounded as her head lowered and her chin was tucked into her chest. The crescent moon had lightened the place for a while now, making the springs look serene.

It was overwhelming really. How easily you could forget about worries if you just relax your body and shut your eyes. It was easy as that, daydreaming. More droplets began to sweep down her cheeks from the ends of her lashes and slowly roll off her chin. If one had looked upon her face, one would have thought she was sleeping. But tearing in her sleep? Without a thrash to indicate nightmares? No, she was awake and fully alert.

She sat there like that for a while, some of her silky hair starting to dry off and blow in the slight breeze.
She wanted to do this everyday, but Sango knew it would be impossible. But she liked the fact that no one was around to guard or watch her. No one. She was alone. And she liked it, a lot. Sango smiled through her daydreams as another tear rolled down and lingered at the corner of her smirking lips before it completely dried there.

She wasn't alarmed, nor did she care when she felt his aura. Would he kill her? Would he care to? Would anyone even double look the taijiya? She had heard him plant his sword firmly in the ground behind her, and leave it there. Not a flinch was seen.

Sango felt warm fingers caress her back, right where the scar was after he had moved some loose strands away from her back. Curiosity always made people stop and stare. She had herself, then Kagome. Of course, Kagome had a pity look on her face, and Sango hated that. She wondered what he looked like right now.

"Where did you get it?" His gruff voice asked her.

There was silence between the two. No, she wasn't templating whether she should tell him not. She just wanted to sit in the silence for a few more blissful seconds.

"My br—Naraku."


Bankotsu had seen her sitting. And he knew she knew he was there. But why didn't she care? They had just had a fatal fight the night before. This made him curious, and a little bit frustrated.

Turning towards her, he saw her clothes on the floor, recklessly slipped off. Unsheathing his Banryuu, he firmly planted his sword through the clothes and into the ground; impaling them.

Now that he was close to her, he noticed it again. The funny looking scar on her back. He looked at her figure; her position. She looked as if she was sleeping. But was she? Was the taijiya actually sleeping uncovered in the middle of the forest? He wouldn't believe it. But it seemed like it, so he shrugged. A nap actually didn't sound so bad.

Bankotsu kneeled right behind her, she for sure had to have felt him now. The cloth on his bent knee had lightly grazed her flawless black. Bankotsu moved a few hair strands from her back and onto her shoulder. Now looking at her scar, he touched it lightly with a few fingers, grazing it as he moved his fingers in the shape of her scar.

"Where did you get it?" he asked, breaking the silence. Bankotsu noticed she didn't answer for a second, as if dwelling in her dreams and ignoring him. If she didn't answer, she was either sleeping or ignoring him. But how she was only moving slightly to breathe, it looked like she was really sleeping.

The sound of her whispered melodic voice filled his ears, slightly making him surprised she had indeed been awake and had her back turned to him; the leader of mercenaries known as the Band of Seven. Was she crazy?

"My br- Naraku."

Bankotsu sat fully down behind her, his knees on either side of her back. Though he kept a safe distance away, they were close but not touching. He rested his elbows on his knees as he stopped fingering her large scar. Scar's intrigued him, especially the story of how people got it.

Smirking, Bankotsu replied in the same hushed voice she was using. "You're brother, Naraku?" He joked.

Sango gritted her teeth at the thought. But thought before she said 'her brother'. Maybe she should jog his memory slightly.

"A boy was possessed, by Naraku's doing. The boy…he got me in the back."

The uncertainty and over-thinking in her voice was evident. Bankotsu lifted a delicate eyebrow, "Tell me, the truth."

Well, it was half the truth. Sango was surprised that Bankotsu caught that.

Sango opened her eyes slightly and looked at the water ahead of her.

"My father was the head demon slayer in our village. Of course, my brother and I had to become demon slayers as well."

Sango continued to tell the tale, telling everything from the beginning—to the end. But she kept his name a secret, always saying 'my brother' instead of Kohaku.

"I climbed out of my own grave, and Prince Kagewaki treated me to almost full health. That's when I heard Naraku talking to him about an Inuyasha who had slaughtered my village. I came running out of the room and told them I would kill this Inuyasha personally. What a fool I was."

"Naraku was lying, then?"

"Yes. And he turned me against Inuyasha, making me hate him. When it was Naraku himself who killed my village. He took everything away from me. My brother, My family, My kin…he almost took away my friends…and I will not let that happen. I travel so long and far with this group, just to avenge everyone I loved. But…I guess I started to get too connected to the group."

Bankotsu stayed quiet, either letting her talk more or letting the both of them bask in comfortable silence. Why again was he so curious about her? Sure he felt her fury dwelling within her from 100 villages away; but why was it to his concern?

He remembered Renkotsu trying to warn him about Naraku. Bankotsu was not a fool; he knew Naraku was an evil person. Bankotsu gritted his teeth; he had to admit that Renkotsu was a lot smarter than he was. Could he help but not trust Renkotsu? Having the brains of the group, Renkotsu could easily hide anything he wanted from Bankotsu.

The familiar call from Kirara was heard from the sky as the said cat demon pounced onto the forest ground. Catching a sight of Bankotsu made Kirara begin to growl loudly, her tail swishing from side to side ready for battle.

Bankotsu also stood up as his hands turned to fists. Both of them glared at eachother for a while both remembered the scars they gave another. Bankotsu still had teeth marks on his shoulder, but it looked like Kirara had made a full recovery.

Sango looked to her side lazily, Bankotsu had impaled her clothing. So, she would have to do with a towel from Kagome's time for now. Sango grabbed the slightly dampened towel and wrapped it around her like Kagome does; just above her bust but below her armpits. "No Kirara, not yet."

Both glaring opponents looked to see Sango looking up at the sky, her hair falling onto her back.

"You asked me a question." Sango started, not taking her mahogany eyes away from the stars above her. Bankotsu noticed her eyes were half-lidded, as if she was looking right into a dream. "Now may I ask you a question of my own?"

Bankotsu looked down at her dreamy gaze over the bridge of his nose for a moment before he settled back down behind her once again. "I don't care." He mumbled incoherently.

"What do you know of this boy with a sickle? What do you want with him?"

"He was assigned to hang around us. Naraku's little messenger boy. The ninja kid is pretty good though." Bankotsu laced his fingers together and brought them over his head, stretching before her completely laid down on his back with his hands behind his neck. "Always goes wherever we say…But we can't find him. We'd like to ask Kohaku, that's his name, if he could hang around a little more since he's so useful. We think this Naraku guy took for some reason…so I guess we're waiting for him to come back."

"Why this village then?"

Bankotsu shrugged, shutting his eyes slowly. "Heard talk he was around here."

Sango looked back down at her hands, finally noticing her hands were shaking throughout the whole conversation.

"I-is that s-so." 'Damnit.' She tried to sound calm, but it was getting hard. She felt her heart shatter at the mere call of his name.

Bankotsu noticed her stuttering. Cracking an eye opened, he turned his head towards her clothing. He smirked, her clothes that were once actually in one piece. Shutting his eyes again—something clicked. Opening his eyes fully, he turned back to her clothing. Why didn't he notice this before.

"The boy," He surprised her by breaking the silence.

"Yes, what about him?" Sango replied, not meaning to say it rudely but ended up doing it anyway.

"You know him."

Sango sighed, "No. No I don't-"

"Don't lie. You know him…a lot longer than anyone has. You knew him before he worked for Naraku." Did Bankotsu really care? No. Not really. Then why did her keep talking? Maybe the fact that he could prove her wrong. He lived for that wonderful feeling.

Sango clenched the part of the towel that lay lightly on her lap. "You're wrong."

"Am I, now?" Bankotsu sat up, resuming his previous position of resting his elbows on his bent knees. "Taijiya, why do you keep lying? Not just to me, but to everyone around you?" He brought his gaze to the back of her head, knowing she'd feel it. She was trained to.

'He's staring.'

'A memory had popped into my head the second I started to relax. A memory of when I called Kohaku, a ninja. But he corrected me; as if he remembered. But what I heard from Naraku—his memories were erased.'

'He won't stop.'

'And things started to click around me. The taijiya's grief, the one in front of me. The fact that Kohaku corrected me, saying he wasn't a ninja but a taijiya.'

'Kohaku…he used to stare at me like this.'

'I know her, without knowing her. She will go blindly into battle, for Kohaku. She isn't the last of her village, like I had heard. No, she wasn't alone. Well—sort of. So, she doesn't want to be alone. Is that why she want to save this, Kohaku?'

"He's you're brother."

Sango's eyebrows knitted together angrily. Turning around to meet his amused azure eyes, she gritted her teeth not even realizing the closeness.

"Yeah? What of it, Bankotsu?"

Bankotsu continued to stare into her eyes. Trying to look through them.

'So? Why will you not kill me?"

Bankotsu gritted his teeth, "Are you not afraid?"

"Of death? Most certainly. But, no, not of you."

"WHY?"

The woman smiled, "You're eyes show anger and lust for blood. But…the eyes are only windows to your soul. And somewhere deep into your soul, is someone who wants to see me live."

He stared into the woman's kind mahogany eyes.

Coming back to the present, he stared back into angrier mahogany eyes, chuckling at the similarities.

"Just proving facts, taijiya."

Sango let out a breath she didn't know she had been holding, before she turned back around letting her back face the man of murders.

She could feel Kirara's uncertainty like a jolt of pain. She knew exactly what she was thinking, too. Has her mistress gone mad? Why would she feel so carefree around a man who's sinful lust only craves blood? A mercenary. Why, you ask Kirara? He is not the man I know to kill. He is letting something take a hold of him; or else he would have killed me in the fight we had before.

But no, his Banryuu only wounded me. He didn't kill me, nor did he want to. Of course, he had said so in the beginning of our fight. That he didn't want to kill me. But I am ready.

Again, his voice slightly surprised her and brought her out of her thoughts.

"You, taijiya. Why do you not fear me?"

"You truly mean, why do I not cower in fear, or why do I not even flinch at your presence. Is that what you're asking?" Sango asked.

"That's right. Why?"

"That's simple, Bankotsu."

Bankotsu waited for her answer. And waited. And waited. He rolled his eyes, "I'm sorry did you reply to my question yet, or were you just trying to get on my nerves?"

Sango smirked. "Because, I know you. And I trust the person you are. Not the person everyone thinks you are."

This startled Bankotsu to all end. He had tried to murder her yesterday—but yet this woman trusted him. She was crazy! "W-what was that? You tr-trust me?"

"…Hai."

'…She trusts me?' Bankotsu closed his eyes, did anyone ever say that to him before? No. No one. Was that why he was so startled? A small smile made his way to his face at the thought. But he quickly wiped it off.

Bankotsu looked off to the side. "Why will you not even prepare to fight me, taijiya?" He asked in a slightly more hushed voice, ignoring the previous conversation.

"I am ready to fight you Bankotsu. I am always ready, did yo not hear me correctly yesterday?"

"But when I found you, you were merely bathing…"

"I am always bathing. Sure, I look unprepared, but I am not. And yes, I do look like I'm just relaxing, and heck I probably am. But while I am relaxed, you are tense. And believe it or not, that will help me in battles that people think I am unprepared for."

"My father taught me that, no one else." She mumbled as an afterthought.

Bankotsu had no response. Knowing she was right.

Again, a peaceful moment of silence throughout the two diverse people. And again, someone must have broken the silence; or else they wouldn't be having a conversation—but a confrontation of quiet.

"…Why?"

Bankotsu looked up at the sky as he felt a small drop on the tip of his nose. "Why what?" He asked irritated, he wasn't exactly the most 'riddle-breaking' guy in the world.

"Why do you kill?"

Bankotsu smirked, "More questions, taijiya? Well I'll answer this one, just for you."

Sang sat in silence, awaiting the answer she probably already knew the answer to.

"I was born to do this. I thrive on blood. I do what I wish without another thought about it. I love the sight of a human's frightened face. I love the smell of it amongst my hands…it's what I do, without regret. I do what I please, without no fear of the afterlife." That was the second time he had said that last sentence. The authentic version was said to that dead miko, Kikyou.

Sango smiled. "I see."

Bankotsu frowned, he could feel the amusement in he voice.

"What?"

Sango looked over her shoulder, showing him her moonlit profile. "Why what, Bankotsu?"

Bankotsu's eyes narrowed. "What's so funny?"

Shutting her eyes, she replied. "I just think it's funny that your opinion seems so rough and tough Bankotsu, especially about yourself, how conceited. But in reality—you're softening up."

Bankotsu snapped off his posterior and glared down at her, "What was that, wench? What did you say?"

Sango sweeped her long lashes up at him, looking up at him without even moving her head upwards. "You heard what I said. Why didn't you kill the village?" She started to demand things, like he had with her earlier. "Why didn't you fight me with all thought of seeing my blood? Why is it that the village only saw you, and not your Banryuu against their skin? Why is this Bankotsu? Where is this tough mercenary who does what he pleases without second thought or fear of the afterlife? Why?"

Bankotsu growled, "You're asking for it, bitch."

"You won't kill me, and I want to know why!" Sango stood up, meeting him eye to eye. "You, you are not better than a human with slight knowledge of how to use your enlarged sword. Where is this infamous leader of the Band of Seven?"

'Is it possible…?' Bankotsu's eyes widened slightly, 'You can't be kidding me.'

She noticed this, "What?"

Bankotsu quickly caught his composure and narrowed his eyes at her, not answering.

After not receiving an answer, Sango smiled at him—making him wonder even more. Sitting back down, she let her feet enter the hot spring's warm water once again, dangling it off the edge.

He looked down at her; the rain was picking up. He followed suit and sat behind her. Eventually, he laid back down with his elbows propping him up.

"Thank you, for not killing him."

Bankotsu looked at the back of her head once again, finally understand who she was talking about.

"You're welcome."

"One more question."

Bankotsu sighed annoyed, "What will get you to quiet with all these stupid questions, taijiya?"

Sango smirked, "Answering this last question."

He rolled his eyes. "What?" He replied angrily.

"You want to be alive again, don't you?"

How is it hat she never seizes to surprise him greatly? What was that, like the second or third question he didn't have an answer for? But wait, that didn't count…it wasn't a question.

And yet, she always seemed to know he wouldn't answer.

"You could…if Naraku dies."

And there it was again, the aura of a mangy half-demon. As much as he wanted to rip the heart of the half-demon with his own hands, he wasn't allowed to kill him now. Not yet. And all because of this Naraku character telling him not to. He was told not to, and he was actually listening. When did this happen?

She must have felt it too, for when Bankotsu stood abruptly and ripped his sword from the ground, she did nothing but stare at him.

He walked out of the clearing of the hot spring. The aura of Inuyasha was getting extremely close. It wouldn't be fair I they had a fight, if he couldn't fight back. That would just be injustice murder, and that was his job. Not Inuyasha's.

"If you fight with us-" Bankotsu turned around to look at her as he placed his Banryuu on his shoulder. "You can be."

He continued to stare at her, she stared back.

Azure met Mahogany in a daze. Neither looking away from each other.

Inuyasha was practically a field away.

"Meet me here tomorrow, Sango."

And with that, Bankotsu left without another word.

Sango looked down at her hands again. Letting her eyes shut and her head droop, she heard Inuyasha's foot steps a few tree's away.

"WHERE'S BANKOTSU? I SMELL HIM, WHERE IS HE?" Inuyasha dropped to the ground, sniffing the floor with his delicate nose. Sango turned to him; a peaceful yet slightly saddened smile dawned on her feature.

Inuyasha looked at her for a second, then looked back down at what he was doing.

Wait-

Inuyasha looked back up at Sango; "You ok?"

Sango's welfare was important to him. A promise held their now tight friendship together. He cared for her, as a best friend. It was nice to have real friends now.

The two warriors had got a chance to train, so they took it. Sweat from head to toe, Kagome said the two hadn't stopped training for a long while.

Inuyasha picked up Sango' Hiraikotsu and walked towards her; it was now nearing nightfall. A smirk planted on his face, he plopped it infront of the panting taijiya.

"Pretty good, Sango."

Sango look up at him, a small smile on her face. "Right back at you, Inuyasha."

They had both finally given in, when it came to a fight without weapons they were almost evenly matched. They had discarded the weapons and just fought until they felt a truce, and now was that time.

"Inuyasha?"

Sango and him were now resting in a hut, he had accompanied her to put her weapons away.

"Yeah? What?"

Sango looked at him, an innocent smile on her face. "You know Inuyasha, when I first met you, I hated you."

Inuyasha scoffed, "Well duh. You thought I killed your whole village."

"And when I finally learned you didn't, and I joined this group—you treated me like scum. Always pushing me to the limit, pressing my buttons, weren't you?"

Sango didn't give him time to answer, "And for that, I thank you. I finally realized why you did that. I'm sorry no one could do that for you when you were younger, Inuyasha."

"Keh, it's no big deal. No need to get so sentimental over it, Sango. Jeeze." Through his words, he looked off to the side as he crossed his arms over his chest. A normal sign he didn't mean what he was saying.

Sango chuckled, "After that, I promised something silently. Then I told Miroku. And I guess I just feel like telling you."

"Yeah? So what is it, Sango?"

"No matter what or who you are Inuyasha…I will always be with you. Half demon, human, or full demon…I will stand by your side and fight with you."

That stunned Inuyasha to no extent. There was silence, a small blush on his cheeks as she continued to put up her weapons.

Her words, they were so kind. He couldn't help but feel a greater respect for her.

"Is…is that a promise, Sango?"

Sango looked back at him, "Yes. It is, and I don't break my promises, Inuyasha. It is my thanks to you."

"I'm fine now, Inuyasha."

Sango's conscience smiled, 'He actually called me Sango this time. Not taijiya.'


Yay! Extra long chapter yall. I couldnt find a place to stop it, so it's a tad bit longer. Hope you dont mind!

I'm starting to get ready for school--so next update might be either tomorrow night or the day after that.

Well-Reveiw Review Review Review! Pretty Pleaseeee?

(PS: OMGDanica and Forever in Darkness is sooo cool.) THANK YOU, OMGdanica and Forever in Darkness. Thank you for being so kind!

-Diverse-Thinker