Finishing the braid in his hair, Sango played with the bristle-like end for a moment. She templated many things the night before. Many things. She guessed her dazed mood was just an after effect.

"Hey Bankotsu?"

"Yeah?"

"…What's…it like? To be dead?"

Memories flooded into Bankotsu's mind. What it was like to be chased and hunted down by that village…that raw and cold feeling of having your head severed from your body. But death? Things just weren't coming to him…

But he would try and answer as best as he could. "Well, it's sort of like…hmm." He re-thought his example. "Have you ever had one of those types of sleeps when you don't dream of anything? It's just black? For me, it was like…before I knew it, I was alive again. I could see…and the events in-between that were a bit…black and vague." Bankotsu turned his head slightly to see if she got it.

Sango looked down at him and smiled assuringly. "I see." Letting go of his hair, she watched him swing his braid over his shoulder and let it lay on his chest.

With the confidence she had yesterday totally gone, Sango didn't know what to say except, "When we're out there…just…be careful."

Sango saw his shoulders bounce seldomly as he laughed. "Can't keep any promises."


Inuyasha was pacing back and forth, demanding they leave soon. Of course, Kagome's skeptical eyes were watching him go back and forth, back and forth.

Yunai was sitting up, her baby fiddling with his father's finger. Miroku had woken up in the middle of the night, waking everyone else when he burst into laughter at the mere sight of his new son.

"Taro…Taro-Yuki… my boy…" Miroku kept whispering as he continued to feel his baby reflexive grasp his finger.

Already on the small boy's hand was part of Miroku's prayer beads he had donated to his son. He too, had the curse of the Wind Tunnel. The donated beads were put into a small bracelet for him to wear, as well as a handmade hand protector. Just like dad.

Looking to her husband, Yunai smiled. "He's getting sleepy…"

Kissing his son on the forehead, Miroku stood. "I guess that's our cue then."

Both Inuyasha and Kagome looked up at him.

"Finally…Keh."

"Inuyasha!"

Miroku merely patted his shoulder, unable to be frustrated. "One day Inuyasha…you too will feel this…feeling."

"Whatever."

Kagura, who was sitting towards the mouth of the cave, passing Sango and Bankotsu, sauntered onto the scene. "Are we leaving yet?" She was nervously fiddling with her fan.

"Yeah, finally." Inuyasha complied with a grunt as he walked towards the exit. Kagome followed with her nose in the air soundly at Inuyasha's attitude problem. Miroku leaned down and kissed Yunai like there was no tomorrow.

"Miroku—" She muttered once he pulled away.

Sensing her question, Miroku cut in. "Just in case." He smirked.

"But Miroku—"

"I love you, Yunai. I love our creation, our son. I…am so lucky." Another kiss to the lips and to the baby's head before Miroku stood up from his kneeled position.

Yunai also tried to stand and follow her now-departing husband, but she was stopped by a hand to her face.

"You will not be following. Stay here with Kirara and Shippou. You and the baby will be…much safer." Kagura replied in a warning-like voice.

"But Kagura--!"

"Shippou—" Kagura looked to the said demon. "Make sure she doesn't leave, no matter what." She also gave a knowing glance to Kirara, who complied with a 'mew' before turning into her full size. Kirara was getting ready to ride Sango down the mountain, and return to the cave afterwards to guard Yunai and Shippou. That was her orders from not only Kagura, but from Sango.

Kagura turned, and walked away.

"…Good luck Kagura."

"Be safe." She replied back.

"You too."


Feeling the wind dance in her hair, Sango continued to stare down the mountain as Kirara flew both she and Bankotsu down it. Miroku rode with Kagura, while Kagome rode on Inuyasha. Strapped onto both of Sango and Bankotsu's back were Hiraikotsu and Banryuu, while Kagome gripped her bow and arrow tightly to her chest.

Bankotsu couldn't help but smile at how obvious Sango's little 'confession' yesterday was. All right, so she hadn't really finished it, but it was pretty clear. That single thought made his heart skip a beat, and that feeling was so…rare for him that he almost choked. But did he return her feelings? Was it too early to tell?

How ironic was it that the person who really loved you was never the woman you admired from afar (she being Kagome), but it was actually the woman right under your nose? So ironic that it almost made Bankotsu want to burst into a light-hearted laughter.

The pounce of Kirara landing on leveled land made him come out of his thoughts. Without a second to waste, Sango swung her leg off of Kirara with smooth movement. She hadn't even kicked him in the process. Graceful indeed. He was grateful…a kick in the face wouldn't be too pleasant.

Kagome and Miroku also unloaded off their rides, followed by Bankotsu. Once Bankotsu and Banryuu made it to the ground, Kirara was off, up to the cave no doubt.

Sango watched her for a moment before silently following Inuyasha and the others North. Bankotsu noticed, as he caught up with her, that there seemed to be a mix of determination and anxiety on her face.

"Anything wrong?" He asked, breaking the silence. Everyone seemed to be nervous.

Sango was caught off guard. Looking up to the speaker, she sent him a forced smile. "I've had better days."

"Me too."

Positions were already planned. Inuyasha, Kagome, and Miroku would attack Naraku head on, while Kagura, Sango and Bankotsu would attack his minions, trying to clear the way.

"…Good luck, Bankotsu."

He smirked. "I don't need luck."


The birds were singing, and Sango dazedly wondered why. She gripped the wet soil under her hands. The feel of the Earth in-between her fingers were lost to her.

How could they sing on such a tragic day?

(A/N: The following things in Italics will be her memories.)

--
Sango threw her Hiraikotsu one more time, for she knew she wouldn't be able to anymore. Her hands were tired. Her arms were sprained. She was sweating as if she was dipped in a spring. Everything hurt, but even so she couldn't feel a thing. Not now anyway.

The Hiraikotsu cut through precise amounts of yukai. She was sure that was the last of the demons.

It had been a while since Inuyasha, Kagome and Miroku had attacked Naraku—but they were on the other side of the castle, and she could only see and hear little scads of their battle. She hoped they were doing ok. …Kagura had already been defeated. Not dead, but unconscious. Sango had moved her to a place she wouldn't be too noticeable in before returning to the fight.

Suddenly, Banryuu came twirling infront of her before impaling the ground beside her feet. Snapping her head in Bankotsu's direction, she saw him sink to his knees as his head dipped down. He looked torn and exhausted, no longer being able to take anymore. Bankotsu looked a lot more damaged than she did, and she could only imagine how damaged he was on the inside...his bones must be trembling to break. Well that's how it looked from the outside, anyhow.

In blind luck, Sango had just managed to see a parade of about 20 arrows making their way towards the fallen mercenary, and in an instant she was running towards him. Sango had called his name, telling him to move. He only looked to the side at her after the last call, barely lifting his head before he felt the full force of Sango slamming him into the ground.

Following immediately after that, they watched the arrows fly above and past them from the ground.

"You ok?" Sango asked, flushed from fighting. Placing her hands on either side of his shoulders, and her knees on either side of his thighs, Sango remained there, hoping to protect his weakened body with her own.

"I've had better days." He coughed.

--

"…WIND SCAR!" Inuyasha yelled, for what he knew would be the last thing Naraku would ever hear. They were so close to victory…

As planned, two or three sacred arrows glowed fiercely as they chased the wind scar.

Time slowed for the occupants of their battle as the powers of both sides, demonic and pure, collided in an attack against Naraku, who stood there, eyes ablaze with…fear.

He screamed as the attacks hit him…

But that wouldn't do him off that easily. Naraku's smirked, scads of his body still alive. The important parts. He began to laugh when—

"NARAKU! DID YOU FORGET ABOUT ME?" Miroku yelled over the roaring winds.

The next move would be a stretch, and if anyone besides Miroku knew about it, they wouldn't have agreed at all.

"…NO MIROKU!" Kagome screamed at the top of her lungs.

"KAZAANA!" With that, he began to suck up the remaining parts of Naraku.


Collapsing onto her elbows from her palms, Sango ground her fingers through the dirt. So close…
Sango gasped loudly as her hand rested upon Bankotsu's blood soiled stomach.

'He had gotten hit?'

Her eyes began to water when he made the familiar noise of creeping death. That noise, she knew, she would never forget.

"I won't die Sango, if that's what you're thinking." She heard Bankotsu say.

"…You wont?"

Bankotsu smiled, wiping a tear off his cheek. It wasn't his; it was Sango's. His eyes were opened only barely.

"I've had worse. And I'm a little tired…so if I sleep for a bit…"

Sango watched with wide eyes as his hand traveled from her cheek to her back. But she couldn't even feel if he was caressing her…all she could do was stare into his soul—because right now, it seemed so open.

In a moment, Bankotsu's smile faded and his hand dropped from her back.

"…Bankotsu!"

Double looking his hand, the same one that was on her back, she saw an arrow clutched in his hand.

'He…had stopped the arrow from hitting her back…'

As she came to her wits, she felt his neck for a pulse. Surely enough, there was, and she smiled.

--

Kagome laughed ecstatically as Naraku was fully sucked within Miroku's Wind Tunnel. Even Inuyasha was smiling broadly.

"NARAKU'S DEAD! YES!" Kagome yelled in joy.

--

Sango began to laugh giddily as she heard Kagome's proclamation. He was dead…AND BANKOTSU WOULD LIVE!

Oh she could kiss him if he wasn't…

What was stopping her?

Out of pure joy, she grabbed his chin, giving him a chaste kiss to the lips. It was only chased by a fierce blush to her face.

Getting ready to stand up, Sango heard the call of a familiar voice…

"LOOK OUT, SANGO!"

--

"Inuyasha…what wrong with…MIROKU! NO!"

--

She had heard the scream before, and now that it repeated itself, she was worried.

So she ran. She ran as fast as she could, no matter how much it hurt to move. Her bulged stomach didn't help her motivation either.

--

It was so quick.

Sango looked up at the same time she felt a force push into her side, making her fly off of Bankotsu and skid against the ground.

Coughing, Sango tried to sit up, but she was sure a rib or two might have been broken…the searing pain.

Of course it wouldn't be over yet.

Looking up towards her attack a handful of feet away, she saw the familiar white of Kanna.

"…Kanna…"

She was leering down at the unconscious mercenary. "Naraku…he is dying inside that monk's Wind Tunnel." Kanna reached down to Bankotsu's neck and felt around before driving her nails through the skin, collecting the last two shards of the Shikon jewel.

"I could make My Master come back…"

Sango began to coil in on herself at Kanna's words. They had tried so hard…! What if Bankotsu died!

"Stop right there Kanna…" Came Kagura's collective voice. "You're possessed."

Kanna heard Kagura raise her fan, aiming towards her.

"Why try to save this mercenaries life…if he is already dead? Do you not remember…?"

"Tell me Kanna, is his body soiling to the bone? You were right about one thing. Naraku is dying, and if he successfully dies…then Bankotsu lives. Even if you did take the jewels."

With a quick sweep of her fan, Kagura sent her attack.

Sango knew it was her cue to try and rescue Bankotsu, so she stood, ignoring the pain. Her ears were deaf, and all she could hear was the pounding of her heart.

--

"INUYASHA! HELP HIM!"

Inuyasha ran towards his friend. Grabbing his robes from behind, sure not to get in the way of the open Wind Tunnel, he was quickly met with kick to his stomach.

"Stay away, Inuyasha!"

Kagome ran over to Inuyasha to see if he was ok before looking to Miroku. His Wind Tunnel wasn't closing…and it was growing.

"…It's my time."

--

Her feet were pounding against the Earth, and even as her legs began to screech in agony, she kept moving.

Before she knew it, her Grey eyes were taking in the scene around her.

"…No…MIROKU!"

Inuyasha's sensitive ear heard the yell, and quickly turned his head to see Yunai running towards her lover. Kagome also turned.

"NO YUNAI!"

Miroku heard Kagome and quickly looked where she yelling to…

"…Yunai…" He felt his heart practically scream in fear. "PLEASE NO!"

Her small hands were in fists, holding onto her dress so she wouldn't fall. Her hair was out of its normal bun; it was swaying from side to side as she came to him.

Running into him, Yunai quickly clasped her arms around his waist, never letting go for her life.

"I'M NOT LEAVING!"

--

Sango swerved to the left, missing a raid of sword-like wind before reaching Bankotsu. Falling to her knee, she tried to lift him. But with her strength drained, she knew it was hopeless.

Kanna's screams were swirling in the background, but she could careless.

An apprised call made Sango gasp, "KIRARA!" She whistled and Kirara came quickly.

It was a moment before both Sango and Bankotsu were on the feline.

Sango collapsed on her pet, her head within Kirara's mane. "Thank you…"

Sighing in relief, Sango looked down at Bankotsu only to scream.

His face was pale white and he looked as if he was bring drained…

Out of his mouth was coming a light blue smoke. Following it, she watched as it sank into the remaining mirror of Kanna. She was dead…but her mirror seemed to still live.

With Sango's orders, Kirara landed near the mirror. Kagura came as well.

Beside Kanna's mirror was Bankotsu's shards.


"Come on Sango…" Kagura sighed. She watched her friend let go of the ground, dirt falling from her fingers.

Sango stood with her head hung low. The last of the memories from the moments before were starting to fade.

With that, Kirara carried Sango, Kagura, and the body of Bankotsu to the other side of the castle.

On the way there, Sango's tears couldn't help but spill over onto her cheeks.

Kagura knew she couldn't console her now…what could she say? That it would be ok? That everything will better later? Gently settling with small caresses to Sango's back, Kagura felt her sobs.

As Kirara began to descend, Kagura felt Sango's sobs grow. "No…Miroku…" She heard her say.

Once Kirara landed, both Kagura and Sango stumbled off and went to where Inuyasha and Kagome were.

Kagura stared at the huge hole in the Earth, what could that possibly be? Sango seemed to ignore it…or maybe she just didn't want to look at it.

Inuyasha was holding Kagome in his arms; it was obvious she was crying.

Sango walked up behind her, letting her hand touch her shoulder lightly. "Kagome?"

Kagome looked up from Inuyasha's shoulder and into Sango's watery eyes.

Both women exchanged silent messages before embracing eachother, knowing exactly what had happened.



The losses of that day were great.

And when I'm gone, just carry on

Don't mourn; Rejoice

Every time you hear the sound of my voice

Just know that I'm looking down on you smiling

And I didn't feel a thing, So baby don't feel any pain

Just smile back.


In memory of N.C.
We miss ya, Nick.


Just let me take another day or two for the Epilogue and I'll close the curtain.

Don't forget to wait for the sequel! Yes, there is one!

Lol, one more thing: sorry this was probably nothing you wanted to read. I know yall wanted some alone time…and maybe even an ending note to eachother, but I thought this would be the best way.

-M