I dis claim owning Inuyasha!

Chapter 2: Guilty Pleasures…

Sango slowly pedalled her way to her lonely house. She was tired and depressed; but a small smile tugged on her lips as she caught a familiar sight. She carefully placed her bicycle on the garage's sidewall; it was her means of transportation. She made her way towards the person that brightened her somewhat gloomy night.

"Hey Miroku," she greeted as she sat next to him by the front porch. She sighed out loud, feeling calmed by his mere presence. "How you doin'?"

He eyed her. He had known Sango since they were little kids, barely out of their diapers, though he was two years her senior. He knew perfectly well the emotions playing in her eyes at the moment. "The real question is how you are doing?"

"Not fine. The doctor implied that chemotherapy would just prolong Kohaku's life, not cure him. Knowing my brother, he wouldn't consent. He told me once he'd rather go through the suffering in the house, rather a suffering in the hospital," she leaned her head on her best friend's shoulders. Right now, Miroku was the only comforting presence in her life. "Miroku, I'm scared. I don't want to lose Kohaku. Not just yet…" she trailed off, a sob rising to her throat.

Miroku wrapped an arm around his friend's shoulders. "You will not lose Kohaku, Sango. Don't give up just yet. The Lord still has plans for your brother," he drew Sango closer to him. He flicked the cigarette on his other hand, as if trying to hide it from her. "Have you eaten? There's some leftover pizza at home. C'mon," he said.

"Thanks Miroku but I'm really tired; and it's already late. I think I'll just go to sleep," she shook her head. Then, Sango's eyes narrowed as the cigarette smoke filtered her nose. She snatched the stick from Miroku just when he was about to take a puff on it. "How many times have I told you to stop this habit? This can cause lung cancer, you know. I'll hate you forever if I lose you too," she scolded him, half-joking, half-serious.

The man raised both his arms. "Fine, fine, Sango. I'll stop," he winked. Sango glared at him, aware he would never get out of the habit. She stood up from where she sat.

"Well, goodnight Miroku. Sorry to leave you now but I'm really tired and sleepy," she gave him a weak smile before disappearing inside the house.

Miroku sighed as the front door closed. His heart ached for Sango. He could not apprehend why such tragic moments were inflicted on the young woman. She was orphaned at the age of eighteen, with a younger brother to take care of. Now, at the age of twenty-four, her one and only family would be soon taken away from her. Still, Miroku had faith God had plans for the young woman. Whatever that may be, he would be there to take care of her.

He lighted another cigarette before walking back home. Smoking was his guilty pleasure.

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Sango awoke the next morning with a heavy heart. Kohaku was not in his room; and she felt empty. This is how it would feel if he's gone… She immediately banished the thought. She walked towards the window, staring up at the cloudless, bright blue sky. The sun was already high up, its golden rays somehow easing the heavy load in her chest. She could somehow see the positive in the day: she would be able to see Kohaku at the hospital. Sango quickly took a shower, made tea and a toast, and pedalled her way to the Kibou Hospital.

Her brother was transferred to the ICU the previous night after her brief visit. Kohaku was awake when she entered his room. A smile was visible on his boyish face the moment he laid eyes on his sister. "Ane-ue," the twelve-year old boy greeted. He flinched a little as he felt pain shot through his inside, yet his smile never faded. "How was your morning?"

Sango beamed at her brother's enthusiasm. "It's fine, Kohaku. How are you feeling?"

"Swell. No need to worry. The doctor said I could go home in a week or so, depending on my recovery. I'd rather go home now, you know. There's no tv here!" he gave a slight pout, amusing his sister. Kohaku, though only twelve, was very aware of his health. He knew how much heartache his condition had caused his older sister. All he could do was insist he was okay, and joke around to make Sango smile. "Did you bring me a newspaper?" he asked.

Sango handed him the Sports and Comics section, the only two things Kohaku preferred to read. "Your team lost 5-2, just so you know," she snickered, messing her kid-brother's hair, who was giving her a glare for divulging information before he could read it. Sango spent about an hour with Kohaku before heading out to work again. She left just after he drifted off to sleep. Once more, sadness loomed over her.

Just as she was making her way out of the ICU, the door to Kohaku's neighbouring room was widely opened. A nurse was carefully checking a heavily bandaged man. Curiosity got the better of Sango as she leaned forward, noticing the patient's silver hair. The nurse looked at her. "I'm about done, ma'am. You can now come in," the nurse said.

Sango knew the nurse misunderstood, thinking she was there to visit the bandaged man. Yet Sango nodded her head and stepped inside the room. The nurse gave her one last smile before leaving, closing the door behind her. Sango frowned at herself. What was she to do inside the room? She bit her lip as she peered at the man on the bed. Her eyes softened as she gazed at his serene face. Sango walked a little closer to the bedside to get a better view of the unconscious man.

"You're beautiful," Sango heard herself murmur. Her lips curved into a smile as she sat down at the side of his bed. She traced the features of his face. Somehow she felt magnetized. Worried he would wake up any moment, she retreated her fingers and stood up. "You must be the man who had a car accident from last night. You're in a coma, right?" she talked to him. "Your parents are pretty worried about you. Your mom, at least that's who I think she is, was crying so much. My heart goes out to her."

Sango grabbed the chair and dragged it to his bedside. "I'll just talk to you for a few minutes. I'm not expected at work till eleven a.m. anyway. You don't mind, right? I mean, I'm not really a talker, but I could use a little conversation once in a while. You see, the room next to yours is where my brother is. He's real sick. He assures me he's fine, but I know he isn't. Yet, I won't give up. He's the only family I got, and I can't lose him. Unlike you…" Sango paused, analyzing the situation. She felt funny and foolish for talking to a man in a coma. It was a ridiculous action but somehow she felt good to be able to release her deep thoughts. This man would be her listener.

Sango stood up from the chair. She carefully took the limp hand and clasped it with her own. "I'll be your friend, even if by the time you wake up, we won't see each other. But you'll be my friend and I will always pray for your recovery. Promise!"

She said her goodbye and quietly went out of his room, vowing to come back and talk to him the next day. This course of action became routine for Sango for the next few days. She would sneak in and out of his room every once a while, when no one was around to see her. It was a guilty pleasure for the young woman.

Kohaku once commented about how his sister seemed a little excitable every visit. Sango started to smile a lot, as if it was the most natural thing for her to do. The little brother was afraid his illness was making a crazy person out of his older sister. Instead of being scared for himself, Kohaku was more afraid for his sister's sake. He had questioned her once if everything was fine. Sango answered in a tone full of delight and amusement. His sister was merely happy.

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Sesshoumaru stared at his unmoving brother, with only the constant rise and fall of his chest as a sign of normal breathing. How long had he been standing there by Inuyasha's side? Minutes, an hour maybe?

It was universal truth that one would find the significance of a person only if you lost them; and Inuyasha was nearly lost.

The older brother never, even once, proclaimed his love for his younger brother. He felt it unmanly; and would ruin his reputation as the cold, emotionless bastard he was known to be. Yet for the past few days, Sesshoumaru could only wished he had at least shown how he truly cared for Inuyasha.

It had been five days since the accident, since Inuyasha was last conscious. The doctors said no need to worry, but the whole Yuukan family was on the verge of going crazy just waiting. Izayoi, the mother, would stay by his son's side if possible; but there were also commitments to attend to, and hospital regulations to follow. Sesshoumaru this time volunteered to be the one to visit Inuyasha, and possibly the first person he would set eyes on. For Sesshoumaru, that would be his way of showing his care for the younger brother.

The doorknob was slowly turning, and the door was quietly opened. A young woman peered in, eyes widening as she gazed at Sesshoumaru. She gasped momentarily before gaining her composure. "Sorry, wrong room," she muttered under her breath before quickly closing the door behind her.

Sesshoumaru smirked at the closed door. His eyes went back to his little brother. "Still attracting women even in your unconscious state, otou-chan?" The older brother shook his head in amusement. The woman who was about to enter was no stranger to Sesshoumaru. He had seen her enter Inuyasha's room before. Thinking she was someone his brother knew intimately, he waited till she left. The puzzling thing was when she left his room; she immediately proceeded to the next room and stayed there for hours. Sesshoumaru, being the caring brother that he was, inquired about the woman at the nurses' station. Turned out, she was the older sister of the young boy with leukemia. "Wonder what Kagome will say about this?" he raised a brow, as if his brother will do his usual way of retorting with an annoyed scowl or a growl of "Keh!" Sesshoumaru closed his eyes, admitted to himself he missed the 'conscious' Inuyasha.

He stared at his brother once more, a rare smile on his face. He could get used to this, he thought, like it was a guilty pleasure.

Thanks to icygirl2 (thanks for the compliment), robot killah (can you guess w/c Filipino movie this is?), and Lord of swords and waffles (I'm not really into AU IY fics so I thought why not try one to get over the 'fear'. Also, I'm no Japanese but I think if one literally translates Inu no Taisho, it means "inuyasha's father' so I figured I'd just call him Taisho…hopefully that's okay.)

Any kind of reviews will be greatly appreciated!