Chapter 24: Someone to Watch Over Me

He took a deep breath as he contemplated opening the door. He was aware he still had tears in his eyes. He was never known to cry; he'd rather curse his pains out than let his tears flow; but the tragic news made him forget of his masculine ego. He cried a great deal in private.

Inuyasha slowly opened the chapel doors, not knowing what to expect. He was there to lend support, show his care for the child and the sister, and offer his condolences. Miroku met him by the doorway. Inuyasha offered a hand. "Thanks for the call, man. I really appreciate it," he said softly as he stared at the man he once saw as a rival for a special woman's heart.

Miroku nodded with a small smile. He nudged his head in the direction of a woman in white, sitting at the front pew, staring blankly ahead. "She had been like that ever since. Quiet, unmoving. She doesn't even cry," he told Inuyasha sadly. Miroku cared too much for Sango, but this time he felt he was not enough. She needed someone else's shoulder to cry on. "Go to her. Maybe you can get her to eat something, get some sleep, or even say something." Inuyasha nodded. Miroku watched the man his best friend loved so much. He stepped outside to do some reflection.

Sango sat there, unfazed by her surroundings. If someone offered his/her condolences, she could only nod and smile sadly. Her tears had dried up. She slowly walked to where Kohaku was laid in his eternal sleep. She gazed at his brother. His face was peaceful, and almost smiling. She stood there frozen, simply watching Kohaku. Part of her believed it was only a dream. Soon she'd wake up and see Kohaku playing with Kirara by the front porch, laughing like any carefree twelve-year old boy would.

Sango wanted to cry. The pain inside her was enough for tears to simply flow out but there was none. She felt a hand on her shoulder. She nodded, thinking it was either Miroku or Jakotsu trying to comfort her. She felt the arm draped over her shoulder in a partial hug. She turned around and saw Inuyasha.

"Sango…" he tried to say something.

Sango looked at him, surprise clouding her thoughts at first. "K-ko-haku's… he is…" she wanted to say the word loud but she couldn't. Instead, tears poured out from her. She started to cry. Inuyasha enveloped her in his arms.

Sango finally let herself break down, crying her heart out. Inuyasha held her tightly as he felt her body quivering from the heartache. He feared if he let go, Sango would crumble to pieces.

There were no comforting words to say. There was none. All he could do was lend his shoulder for her to cry on. It took Sango awhile to calm down.

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The wake lasted for three more days. Sango tried her very best to refrain herself from another breakdown similar to what happened when Inuyasha first arrived. She must admit releasing those concealed emotions did good for her. She was able to get a few hours' sleep, eat a little something and mumble a few words to visitors.

Inuyasha was also there, day in day out, all throughout the wake until the burial. He even stayed for the night to keep watch with Sango. At one time, Izayoi came by to offer her condolences.

"Are you sure you'll be okay?" Miroku asked Sango. They stayed with Sango at her house after the afternoon burial. It was already night but Miroku, Jakotsu and Inuyasha refused to leave Sango alone (even though Kaede would be with her).

Sango offered a smile to her three friends. "I'll be fine," she tried to reassure them. "Go home and take a rest. Please, do this for me," she pleaded. She was aware of the sacrifices the three had done for her; she was more than grateful for it. But, they also deserved to think about their well-being. Jakotsu was first to budge.

"Fine. Anyways, I have to open the shop tomorrow. Don't think about coming to work. You rest now," he gave Sango a tight hug. "You call me if there's anything you need, okay?"

Sango nodded. "Thanks, Jaki. Take care."

"Well, I better go home too. I still have classes tomorrow," Miroku said trying hard to sound cheerful. "Hey. I'm just right across from here. Holler up if you need me too."

"Thanks, Miroku. I really do appreciate everything," she told him sincerely and gave him an embrace as well.

Inuyasha held out his hand and the two men shook hands. They greeted each other a goodnight.

"Nighty-night, Inuyasha!" Jakotsu waved a hand before hooking his arm on Miroku's. "Take care, San!"

The two disappeared from view. Once her two best friends were gone, Sango sat down as all her energy had been drained out. She exerted her last effort when Kaede gave her a hug and bid her goodnight as well. Inuyasha was the only one left. He lingered a while.

He walked to where Sango sat and knelt in front of her. He fixed his eyes on hers, noting the heavy loneliness her bronze eyes conveyed. He took Sango's hands. Sango squeezed them in return. Once again, tears started to fall from her eyes. She let them drenched her face, and she was glad Inuyasha did not even attempt to stop her. She needed to let loose the painful emotions building inside her. "I'm okay now," she said when she finally calmed down. "I'm okay," she assured him. "You should go home and rest as well."

Inuyasha hesitated to let go. It felt like he needed her more than she needed him. "Are you sure… I can stay?"

Sango smiled at him. "Don't worry about me. I'll be fine."

Inuyasha stood up, bringing Sango with him. "Promise you'll also call me if something came up?"

She nodded slowly. "Thank you so much, Inuyasha. You'd never know how much your presence here meant to me," she whispered. Inuyasha applied a soft kiss on her forehead.

"Goodnight, Sango," he said, making his way towards the front door.

Once Sango lost the warmth of his fingertips from her hands, Sango felt hollow, as if she had just lost her pillar of support.

She slowly made her way upstairs, her feet leading her to her brother's room. Emptiness filled her. It was the first time the biting realization dawned on her: Kohaku's gone. Kirara met her and gave a small mew, knowing her master and friend had already joined his creator. Sango bent down and caressed Kirara's fur. The kitten gave her a sad look. Sango stood up and walked towards the big windows. She opened them, exposing her self to the cool night breeze. Her gaze travelled to the pale moonlight. Her gaze fell on the small table right beside the window, where a solo picture of a smiling Kohaku was placed. Sango took it and stared at it. Her fingertips traced the image of her brother. Her heart folded in ache, knowing she would never again feel his warm skin and gaze into his innocent brown eyes.

Sango collapsed onto the rocking chair placed right in front of the window. "T-there's a somebody, I'm longing t-to see. I hope that he, turns out to be," Sango sang despite the forming of a lump inside her throat"Some…one to watch… over… me."

She hugged the picture frame, submitting herself to her emotions and tears. Soon, sleep dawned on her. The thought that Kohaku from somewhere up there was watching over her provided her a solitary feeling inside. Sango knew she would be all right at the end of it all.

The road may seem broken but it did not mean there was another way to take where happiness stood waiting. She would just have to find the right road.

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Inuyasha slowly got in his car, unwilling to just leave Sango on her own. He knew she was a strong woman, but even individuals such as her needed someone to lean on at times like this. He started the engine of his car then his eyes caught a silhouette opening the big windows from upstairs of Sango's house. He knew the room belonged to Kohaku. Sango was in her brother's room.

He turned off the engine. He just couldn't leave her alone like that. Inuyasha opened his car window. He would stay, he decided. Sango didn't have to know. He would just stay inside his vehicle to simply watch over her. It was the least he could do for her.

And Inuyasha watched over Sango for consecutive nights without her knowledge. He'd come by late at night, sleep in his car and leave very early in the morning. It gave him comfort, in a way, to do such a philanthropic act. He never knew he was capable to do such things. He did it, not for recognition or compliment. He did it because he wanted to be there for Sango (literally) even if she didn't know it.

Watching over her was something Inuyasha found solace in.

A/N:

Alright. Whew. ch23 and 24 were written (on paper) a long time ago. This really happened in the movie (btw, in the movie, it was the girl's father not brother. She was an only child and her mother's dead. But I think for this fic, it's better to have kohaku rather than making up a technical OC for sango's father.). so… I'm not sure how you all would react to these 2 chapters. I love Kohaku, I really do. I even considered him getting well; but then it was really part of the climax in the movie. And it served something significant to the plot and twist of the story. I hope you all did pick it up.

So… I hope no one will hate me for doing this to Kohaku (especially animefreak03 and kurokitsune-chan who had predicted it), but I really think it's a must for this story. Also, I have this premonition: this is also kohaku's fate (as much as I hate to admit and think about it) in the canon storyline. But remember, every cloud has a silver lining… after a storm, a bright rainbow will appear. There's still some hope of happiness for our heroine. That I promise.

Well, this fic is nearing its end… about 6-7 more chapters left, eh? –sighs- once again… sorry for such tragic chapters.

Thank you though for sticking up with this fic.

Next chap will be a bit brighter… that I promise.