In the last chapter:

Matsume was destroyed and released into the afterlife. Sango and Kouga retrieve the baby safely and everyone is now happy. So they make their way back to Kanna and Kohaku.

Disclaimer: I do not own InuYasha but I do have my words! Muhahahaha!


Kanna was on the bench in the gardens waiting for Sango and Kouga to return. She was getting rather nervous on getting the baby back. She misses him so much. Kohaku was worried about her because she has been doing nothing but moping around for the past few days. Not eating much but still eating because he and Akoro insist upon her to.

The sun was bright that day that they left and ever since, there have been many clouds in the sky overhead. The wind has been warm to the touch but inside, Kanna was cold. She could remember the way that it felt when Naraku was inside her, telling her what to do and what she should feel. The emptiness that she had inside of her at that time kind of felt the way that she does now. Except now, she can hear and feel her heart beat within her.

Today though, the sun has been peaking in and out of the clouds. There would be brightness and then darkness that would shadow down upon the gardens where she sat. Her wound was now closed and the skin was repairing itself so no scar remained. She could move now without pain and without assistance yet, she wondered a lot whether there was a reason to do this now. Her baby has been gone for almost two days now. Without her milk to feed him, without her love to make him strong, and without his father to guide him. She felt so lost and empty that she didn't know if she would survive learning that he died. At night she has been having nightmares of him dying without her. She wakes up crying in her sleep and she goes out into the gardens without waking Kohaku. Often this happens to her two or three times a night since the baby left. Akoro caught her a couple of times and talked her into going back to bed to get her rest.

But there has been no rest until she gets her baby back into her arms. Kanna sat there with cold tea in a cup in her hands as she thought over things.

Matsume, why did you take him? Why did you insist on naming him and then taking him away from me? I was happy to find that I had another sister besides Kagura and you were her. I was happy to find that you were well enough to live your life without pain and despair in your heart. But why now? Why him? I wish that I could see him and make sure that he was ok. I only had just a day with him before he was ripped away from me. I know that we share a bond as mother and son but I want more than that. I need more than that. Kohaku has been so loving and so nice to me during these past few days. But the waiting is starting to wear me down and I can't find a reason to wake each morning that he is not here in my arms.

Kohaku was staring at her through the window in the kitchen wondering if she was ever going to get through this.

"My wife is on her way. She knows that she can assist Kanna in this." Akoro said.

Kohaku looked around and then saw a woman go near Kanna and she said some things and then Kanna started crying. Kohaku was about to go out there and Akoro stopped him.

"Akira will be taking care of her until Sango and Kouga come back with the baby. Which I am sure is not going to be that far off in the future." Akoro said.

"How do you know of such things?"

"Well Akira assured me that things are going to be ok. We have a bond that is close to what you and Kanna have but not that strong."

"So you are able to feel her feelings and listen to her thoughts?"

"I can only feel her feelings. The thoughts part is only one thing that she can do and I cannot. I think that it is because we are two different races too far apart."

"Oh. Well I am glad that she is here. I can see already that she is making a difference." Kohaku said as he glanced back out the window. He saw the two women talking up a storm and laughing some.

"You know, Akira is a very shy sort. I am amazed that she is able to be so comfortable with Kanna after such a short time with her."

"Well, Kanna has that gift sometimes. She can bring the best out of people when she wants to."

"Then what were the issues with Matsume?"

"I do not know. I think that there was something wrong with Matsume after Kagome helped her. She was terribly disfigured and scared and there was nothing that either of us could do. Kanna thought only I needed the most help more than her. And maybe that was where some of the jealousy came in."

Akoro thought for a bit and then nodded his head. "Jealousy can create much chaos in the world and there is enough evil here to make it worse. So that does not surprise me. Come, let's surprise them with a good dinner."

"Alright." Kohaku said smiling. It was about time that he was in a good mood since their son was taken a few days ago.

They worked quickly as the sun was going down. They lit nice candles and set them out on the dinning table and arranging the food just right for the meal. Akira and Kanna sat out in the gardens until dinner was ready. They seemed to get rather close for the time being and by the time that they walked inside to get dinner ready it was there waiting for them. During dinner they talked of various things and how Akira was having fun at home waiting for Akoro to come home. And then they all started laughing because they all knew that she was bored as all hell by herself in a home that was nothing but quiet.

By the time that they were getting ready to wash dishes, there was a knocking noise and then some thumping out by the front door. Akoro and Kohaku looked at each other and grabbed some knives for protection. They opened the door and standing there looking tired and weak was Sango and the baby in her arms. Kouga was behind her with Kirara in his hands.

Sango was starting to fall forward when Akoro grabbed her and Kohaku took the baby. Kanna ran to the front door and grabbed the baby from Kohaku while he took Kouga. Kanna immediately took Mijtsu over to the pillows in the living room and looked him over. Akoro and Kohaku took Sango and Kouga to their room and started cleaning them up. Akira went and got a bag that she brought with her to their room and started working on their wounds that they had. Kirara came and sat next to Kanna while she fed the baby. The most that was wrong with him was that he was hungry and wet. But that was it. Kanna was so happy. Kirara made sure that nothing was coming near him at this time. Kohaku came out and she started growling at him and hissing loudly. The baby cooed and she stopped.

"What was that all about?" Kanna asked.

"Kirara has taken to the baby. She now feels that she must protect him at all costs at this time. Her anger from him being ripped away from you is taking over."

"But she knows you."

"She was like this when Sango got very sick when she was little. It was something that she always did with Sango but I am surprised that she is doing it with him. Maybe something happened that we don't know about."

Kiara then nuzzled closer to Kanna and she noticed that the mirror was there.

She took the mirror from Kiara and then smashed it on the floor between her and Kohaku. Little screams could be heard and then fell silent.

"Thank you Kirara. That was very honorable of you." Kanna said smiling as she stroked her head. Kirara mewed softly and then walked away.

"She said that she was honored that you chose her." Kouga said.

Kanna turned around quickly because she was surprised at his voice behind her.

"Should you be walking around?" Kanna asked.

"I am fine. Sango is still sleeping. She had to take most of the brunt but we brought these back for you." Kouga said giving Kanna the Moondragon flowers.

"These are my favorite. I always loved the ones in the garden that Sango has."

"Well these ones are yours. If you want them to grow where you live in your garden, the ogre told me to tell you to drop blood on the petals and bury the whole flower."

"And if the gods accept you, there will be a mound of flowers grown there until you die." Kohaku finished.

"How did you know?"

"I was there when Sango got hers. She was but a small child then. She came here and did that and then told me to never tell anyone what she did. Because it was so dangerous and we were still so small." Kohaku said.

"I understand that. They are rather large." Kouga said.

"I am starving. Is the baby ok?" Sango said limping into the living room.

"The baby is fine. Just wet and hungry." Kanna said.

"Thank you so much sis for going and getting him!" Kohaku said hugging her fiercely.

"Careful Kohaku. There is still something wrong with my rib. I don't know why it is broken but there must have been something done to me without me knowing." Sango said wincing but hugging her brother back.

"Here is some dinner. I was sure to make enough because I knew that you were coming soon." Akoro said handing her a plate. Akira handed Kouga a plate and set one down for Kirara who was waiting patiently.

As they ate, they talked about what had happened and all that has been said. There were times that Kanna was horrified but at other times when she was crying. Her sister did love her and did regret doing what she was doing. That was good. Then maybe her soul did not go into the netherworld.

As everyone went to sleep that night, Kanna looked down at her baby. He was sleeping soundly and she noticed that he was smiling. She looked over at Kohaku who was sleeping on his side; his breathing was slowed and even. His face was embraced in a smile as well. She had been thinking of moving closer to Sango and Kouga now that they were living in Sesshomaru's land. But she did not want to intrude on their privacy but she would like them to be close for when their baby arrives. Kanna knew that Sango was going to give birth to a daughter this fall. And she couldn't wait.

Sango was on the porch sipping some tea hoping that everyone was sleeping. She had enough rest and she was thinking about the last few days on their way back here. How the weather was not the greatest and they had to stop at the old village where she used to live with her father. They stayed in their old home and she was able to find a goat with some milk. That was how she fed the child; letting him drink off the goat was the one thing that saved them all. Kouga was able to find some meat for them to eat and Kirara was able to find good blankets. Although she never asked or understood where they got these things. Neither did she care, as long as she had the baby that was the main thing on her mind. The bond between her and Mijtsu was strengthening and she loved every minute of it. But knew that Kanna would get worried. Then on their last part of the journey back, that was where they encountered the demons. Where they tried but did not succeed in getting the child for their meal. Kouga was so good on defending them with the baby in his arms. Kirara as usual did a wonderful job and Sango; she was just courageous because she knew that the baby had to survive. She even gave the baby the last of the milk before the fight knowing that she might not make it through to see her brother again. But there was something out there protecting her because not much harm was done to her. Even when the scorpion came after her and pinned her down, she wasn't harmed and only got a few scratches from the demon's claws. The Hiraikotsu took off the pincher so smoothly when she threw it. Then the beast caught her off guard and she was thrown against the rock wall and pinned down by the blasted thing. Kirara was such a good companion because that was when she came and distracted the thing so Sango could get her sword out and stab the beast repeatedly.

But she wondered soon after that if she had killed the child that she could be carrying within her womb. She knew that Kouga was serious when he told her that they created a child but she didn't know as of yet if that was true since she was not near her bleeding cycle. She held herself around her belly and hoped to Kami that her baby was still there and that it was going to grow up big and strong. Just like its parents are. She then thought of poor Shippo. He was still with InuYasha and Sesshomaru. She was hoping that he was fairing well. And to think that this was supposed to be her honeymoon week. What a week this truly has been. Living in an abandoned shed with her brother, his wife, Akoro and his wife and her new husband. Battling fierce demons and sorceresses all for the protection of the life of a baby. She wouldn't have done anything different.

She glanced up at the sky and smiled. The moon was full and the stars were out playing in the dark playground in which they lived.

"I will be home soon my son. Soon. We are coming home." Sango said softly and then walked inside to go to sleep.

She was bound and determined to go home the next day with all 4 of them. She couldn't wait to show off her nephew to everyone. She smiled as she fell asleep in Kouga's arms that night.