Disclaimer: nope. Inuyasha characters aren't mine. The song "Feels like Today" aint mine either. It's owned by the composer and the Rascal Flatts. Yay for the greatest country band in the world!

Chapter 25: Feels like today

Kaede opened the door, a smile appeared on her face as she gazed into the sincere golden eyes of the young man standing outside the house. The concern written all over his face was enough for Kaede to know this young man hold a feeling more than friendship for Sango. She could only hope this young man would help the dear child find the right road to take to attain happiness (especially now that her brother had passed away).

"Ah, nice to see you, Inuyasha. Come in, child," she opened the door widely, welcoming the visitor. She was itching to tell the young man her awareness of his 'nightly' visits to Sango's house, where he spent his evening sleeping in his car and waking up early next day to leave as if he never even came. Kaede had caught him once, asleep in his car, at the break of dawn. At first she was troubled and curious as to why he was even there. Instead of confronting him, Kaede resorted to observation. She had observed Inuyasha arriving late at night, simply staying inside his car; and there he would fall asleep. She had no idea what his purpose was; but the consistency of it gave her an idea Inuyasha wanted to be there for Sango (without the young woman's knowledge).

Inuyasha wrinkled his brows. The older woman was eyeing him strangely, as if she wanted to question him for something. He shook the thought off. It took him about one month to actually visit Sango. (His every-now-and-then visits at night do not count.)

"I'm glad you showed up, child," Kaede said. "Sango has been shying away from everybody. She rarely eats and talks. She even refuses to see Miroku and she simply stays inside Kohaku's room. Good thing I managed to get her out today. She's in the garden. Go talk to her," Kaede slightly pushed Inuyasha towards the garden.

Inuyasha was taken aback. He hardly ever said a word. "Uh, thanks, I guess," he said when Kaede nodded her head and left. Inuyasha stepped out of the living room sliding doors where it led to the almost bare garden. He quickly noted to himself that for a garden owned by a florist, it looked certainly blank. Hardly any plant of some kind was found; only wild flowers and unwanted weeds grew to the untended soil.

In the centre of the garden, where a stone bench was placed, sat a figure of a lonely woman. An aura of sorrow surrounded her. Inuyasha did not even bother to walk quietly. He intended for Sango to sense his presence yet the lady stayed still, as if she was cut off from the world.

"Sango," Inuyasha called as he neared her.

It took her some moments before she turned to look at him. She tried to give him a smile but failed. It was fast approaching a complete month without Kohaku in her life. It was more than she could take. Inuyasha took a seat beside her.

"How are you?" he asked softly.

Sango sighed heavily. "I'm still breathing." Her answer came out as a downhearted whisper.

Inuyasha expelled a breath. This was not his Sango he was used to, yet he didn't know how to respond to it. He understood her despondent attitude. He understood the hopelessness in her tone. She missed Kohaku a great deal, but it was downright wrong to continue living in misery. "How do you think Kokaku would deal with that kind of response from you? You think he'd be happy his sister lost all hope in life?" he said, his voice a little hard and harsh. It pained him to see her like that.

Sango turned to him and gave him a sharp look. "I wouldn't know now, would I? Kohaku is already de-," Inuyasha cupped her mouth to muffle her word.

"He is resting in peace," he supplied the word. "Look Sango. I don't know the extent of your pains. I did not lose a brother I love so well," he said, furrowing his brows at his own statement. It made his subconscious think about the irony of the statement, especially in dealing with his relationship with his own brother. "In fact, no matter how I hate my brother, I don't want to experience that kind of tragedy. But we don't have to treat this as a tragedy, though. We can look at it in a spiritual perspective. Kohaku's now at rest, probably playing happily somewhere in paradise at the moment," he said soothingly to her.

Tears started streaming down her face. She was silent; either she was contemplating what Inuyasha had just said, or she simply tuned him out. Then, she spoke with a voice full of regret. "I prayed so hard everyday to Him not to give me a reason to lose my faith. He took away my parents, and now He took away the only family I've left. Why is… is… God so cruel?" she asked, her eyes straining upwards to the sky, directing her question to a spiritual entity to the heavens above.

Inuyasha squatted in front of her, so he was face-to-face with Sango. He took her hands and cupped them in his. "I am no preacher, Sango. But this I know, perhaps this was all meant for you… like a grander plan or something. I don't know. But you have to let go. You have to move on with your life, as your parents and Kohaku would want you to."

Sango broke down. "It's hard, Inuyasha. Everyday I ask my self where have I gone wrong? Was the love I gave my brother not enough for him to stay with me until our old age? Was my faith not strong enough for Him to answer my prayers? Have I been such a bad person to deserve such tragedies in life?"

"If you think that way, then your brother's death would simply be a tragedy. We'll never know our purpose in life; and there are no solutions in figuring it out," he gazed down on the ground, hands still clasping Sango's. "Kohaku's soul is at peace now, Sango. The mourning should stop; but celebrating the way he lived his life should be continued. That's the only way you can move on." Inuyasha stood up, pulling Sango with him. He cupped her chin, his left hand wiping the flowing tears from her eyes. "Cry, Sango. Cry out all your pains, anger and regrets." He let Sango cry on his shoulder (well, more like on his shirt as tears drenched the fabric). When he felt she had calmed down a bit, he pulled back and stared deep into her mahogany eyes.

"Now, you should smile. Smile, so that Kohaku will also smile for you." He brought his lips to her forehead.

In almost one month, Sango finally smiled a sincere smile. It still hurt. She was still heartbroken. She was still questioning. But at least, she smiled.

And Inuyasha was there to celebrate that moment when her inner peace was returning.

OOOooOOooOOOooOOooOOOooOOooOOOooOOooOOOooOOooOOOooOOooOOO

I woke up this morning,
with this feeling inside me that I can't explain,
like a weight that I've carried
been carried away, away

Eyes flickered open to be met with a roomful of sunshine. It was the nearest thing to heaven. A sudden lightness was inside her chest. Sorrow finally dissipated. It was almost paradise.

Sango sat upright on the bed, Kohaku's bed. For the past month, she had tried to cling onto his presence. It had been painful. But, Sango awoke for the first time with a clear head. The sorrow and pain was still apparent, but the mourning was slowly passing.

As Inuyasha had said the previous day, Kohaku was already at peace. Sango's heart would soon attain that same peace.

She walked up to the windows and opened them widely, letting the cool breeze of the morning caress her cheeks. It was a bright new world as she stared up to the bluest sky, Kohaku's favourite scenery to watch.

Kohaku. How she missed him so. But last night, he came to her in her dreams. He visited Sango for the first time in a month. He smiled to her his usual boyish and innocent smile.

Ane-ue, smile for me, he had said. The look in his eyes pleaded for Sango not to lose hope. He begged Sango to continue living. At the end of it all, in between consciousness and dream state, he felt a sweet kiss on her lips. Kohaku finally said his last goodbye. Two figures appeared by his side. Sango knew she was crying tears of joy and sadness at the same time. As Kohaku started walking away, he turned and made a promise he made a long time ago. I will watch over you for always, ane-ue, he called out to her.

Kohaku's image faded, both hands held by their mother and father.

Sango wiped a lone tear trickling down her cheek. It will be the last time she would cry tears of sorrow.

I know something is coming
I don't know what it is
But I know it's amazing, you save me
My time is coming
And I'll find my way out of this longest drought...

Sango, after doing her morning ritual, made her way downstairs and greeted a lively 'good morning' to Kaede, much to the surprise yet relief of the older woman. Sango hugged her tightly. "Is breakfast ready, Ms. Kaede?" she asked in her old cheery tone.

Kaede gave a hearty laugh. "Well, of course. Go child and eat all you want," she ushered Sango to the kitchen who allowed herself to be served. Her plate was full but she devoured everything on it.

You treat life like a picture
But it's not a moment that's frozen in time
It's not gonna wait

'Til you make up your mind, at all

As she made her way to work, riding her bicycle, Sango let the wind flutter her hair. She felt free (not from the burden of taking care of a brother)… free from anger towards the Almighty. She was free from an unending sorrow. She was free from a hopeless self. A huge smile was plastered on her face as she entered her humble flower shop. Jakotsu gave a gasp of surprise before leaping from where he sat and attacked Sango with a big hug. Sango laughed at her friend's enthusiasm.

"W-why are you here?" Jakotsu backed away and pointed a finger at his friend. He analyzed the expression on Sango's face. Happiness? Last time he checked she was all depressed and isolated herself from the world about three days ago. Something, or someone, had managed to get through her. "What did Miroku say that made you come out of the house?"

Sango smiled. "Oh, Miroku said a lot of things, I assure you. But, it was somebody else who made me see the light at the end of the tunnel," she sighed.

So while this storm is breaking
While there's light at the end of the tunnel
Keep running towards it
Releasing the pressure, that's my heartache
Soon this dam will break

"Hmm… I'm not even gonna guess who it is," Jakotsu rolled her eyes. "Well sister, as much as I enjoyed being my own boss and doing the flower arrangements myself, I'm delighted you're back. Plus, you're looking fabulous today. Your cheeks are so rosy and your smile is so big. I'm happy for you," he hugged Sango once more.

"I'm happy too, Jaki," was all the response she could give, but the sincerity in her words were apparent.

And it feels like today, I know
It feels like today, I'm sure
It's the one thing that's missing
The one thing you're wishing
Life's sacred blessing and then…
It feels like today

A/N: sorry for the long update.I'm also glad I didn't get bashed when I ended Kohaku's life in this fic. I'm very grateful to all you wonderful readers for understanding the value of his passing to the plot and drama of this story.

Anyway, this chapter is not as dark and gloomy, I hope. I tried to make it brighter as I promised but it didn't reach to my expectations. Real sorry bout that. A few more chapters left and even though university's starting nxt week, I promise to continue writing the remaining chapters.

Thank you everyone for the continued support.