A chilly night breeze blew little droplets of rain onto his cheek. Raising his hand slowly, he brushed the cold drops away, awed by the sensation he felt on his fingertips and skin. He'd been numb for so long that he'd forgotten what it felt like; the cold sensation of the rain, the scent of the damp forest, the rush of air into his lungs, the strong beat of his heart.

For the first time since he'd been pulled from the grave, Kohaku felt alive. No more did the jewel artificially keep him going, no more was there a string attaching him to Naraku.

Alive.

The small bundle in his arms squirmed, and the young slayer looked down at her. His niece. She'd been crying so loud from the moment she was born, but as soon as she was wrapped in one of Kagome's blankets and placed in his arms she quickly quieted. Now she slept, shifting every now and then, already able to thrash her limbs.

She was so pretty, this tiny little girl in his arms. As Kohaku looked at her, he could see how the infant took after his sister, she had the same curve in her nose and same shape of mouth. He could even see similarities to himself, from the thin tuft of dark hair that graced her scalp to the round shape of her face; he was reflected in his kin.

A soft hiccup drew Kohaku's attention, and he looked up at the other baby wrapped up in Sango's arms as she slumbered. Smaller than his twin sister, they'd all been worried about the little boy who'd been born second. His cries had been weaker, his face had been redder, and Sango was almost too weak to birth him. But Kagome didn't give up, the miko had pushed her friend on, and together the two of them had been able to bring the little boy into the world.

They were still unsure as to how safe he was, he didn't seem to be as strong as his twin, and Sango refused to let him out of her arms. Even so, as the hours passed the child was still clinging to life, and he seemed to be growing stronger every second.

As Kohaku looked at his nephew, he knew with certainty no one would ever question who the child's father was. The only other person he'd seen with eyebrows that thick was Ronuku, and with the stubborn bushi's blood flowing through his veins as well as Sango's the child surely possessed the strength to survive.

Two babies. Twins. Two new lives, born the day Kohaku had regained his own life.

The first children to be born of the demon slayers since their massacre.

Kohaku closed his eyes and shuddered. He could still see his blade flying through the air, his father's blood spilling to the ground, Sango's cries of confusion and anguish…

These two babies would never know their grandfather. They would never know their kin, the taijiya village, nor their heritage as slayers. Everything that had been destroyed was lost to them.

Because of me, he thought, They'll never know, because of me. They weren't even born and I've already destroyed their lives.

His life had been restored, but for as long as he lived Kohaku would never escape his guilt.

"Kohaku?" a voice quietly called out, "Are you okay?" He opened his eyes and looked over to see Rin looking at him with concern. His cheeks felt warm and wet, and he realized that he'd been crying. He raised his arm again and brushed the tears away.

"Sorry," he responded, "I'm fine. I…" His niece squirmed again and he quickly adjusted his arms so that she didn't fall. Rin crept closer to him, quiet so as not to disturb everyone else who was sleeping after an exhausting night. A slumbering Futeki clung to her neck and she held the toddler with one arm.

"You have to take extra care with babies," Rin said, not unkindly, as she knelt next to Kohaku, "Kohana told me that they can't hold their own heads up so you have to help them until they're strong enough." She indicated where he should put his arms, and Kohaku shifted again supporting the infant's head.

"Thanks," Kohaku responded, suddenly realizing that he could have accidentally hurt his niece by holding her wrong.

"There's a lot to know about babies, but I've had lots of practice looking after Futeki when Kohana needs me to, so I can help you," Rin indicated the sleeping hanyou pup. She looked back at the baby Kohaku held, "She's really cute isn't she? She looks just like Sango. I bet when she grows up she'll be just as strong as her mom. The little boy looks like Ronuku, I think he's doing a lot better now than he was earlier."

Kohaku remembered that Rin could be a bit of a chatterbox when she wanted to, but her gentle voice was not unwelcome. He listened quietly as she rambled on about the two babies.

"Are you going to teach them how to be demon slayers when they're older?"

"I…," Kohaku hesitated, "I'm…not sure if I should. If Sis wants that…"

How can she trust me to be around them?

"I think you should," Rin continued, "You're great fighter Kohaku, they'll learn a lot from you. Babies take a lot of work, these two are really lucky to have an uncle like you."

"…Lucky?" Kohaku echoed in disbelief. He hadn't been lucky for the rest of his family…

"Yes, lucky." Kohaku and Rin jumped, startled to hear Sango speak. They turned to the older slayer, and she looked at her little brother, eyes thick with emotion.

"Sis, I'm sorry, we woke you up," Kohaku said, "You should be sleeping-"

"Kohaku," Sango cut him off, "Yesterday, I risked everything to protect you, and when I thought I'd lost you I…" she closed her eyes, composing herself, "If you hadn't come back to me, I couldn't have made it through last night. You're all I have left…"

"Sis I…"

"I'm so lucky, I didn't lose any of you," Sango continued, almost sounding guilty, "And not one…but two babies…they'll have each other, a brother and sister to look out for one another. Someone to laugh with, someone to learn from…I couldn't have asked for a greater blessing, for them or myself. Kohaku…they're our kin. Please, help me look after them."

The little bundle in his arms squirmed again, and Kohaku looked down. His niece's eyes squinted shut, but she rolled around trying to figure out how to use her little body. At the beginning of her days she was so full of life.

Naraku had tried to destroy the demon slayers, he'd nearly wiped out every last one of them. But, with these two babies was born a new generation of slayers. Kohaku's father, his mother, their kin, even Sango and himself…they all continued on within the new lives of these infants.

Naraku may have the entire jewel, but he'd failed to wipe them out.

"Yes," Kohaku nodded, tears coming to his eyes again, "Yes Sis, I'll help you." Sango reached out with her free hand and took her brother's arm, the two siblings smiling as they held their kin.

Father…Sis…Everyone. I'll protect them. I won't let any more of our people die.

Kohaku would carry his guilt for the rest of his life. But in his sister's children, he might be able to find redemption.