Chapter 4: When The Bough Breaks

Sango sat in her large bathtub. She dipped her head back into the warm water and sighed in contentment, as the scent of her jasmine infused bath bomb wafted to her nose. The bath water had long since turned purple and the bubbles as well. She had turned off the lights with only a few stray candles illuminating the bathroom.

It had been a long day for her. Since coming home, she'd been running her non-profit organization from her kitchen table. And as the head of the organization it was definitely a lot harder than it sounded. The workload was the same, but without her many assistants nearby, the things she depended on them to do, she now had to complete on her own.

Long story short things quickly became stressful. 'But nothing a nice long soak can't fix.' She thought to herself as she sunk lower into the sweet smelling water. Lifting her left hand from the soapy water, Sango inspected the engagement ring Miroku had given her right after graduation. She smiled at the memory and gently spun the ring about her finger. Sometimes she liked to just take a moment and enjoy the fact that she was about to marry the love of her life. Sometimes she was awed at the fact that they even managed to get to this point. She remembered a time where she felt as though Miroku would never be able to settle down, a time where she felt she was nothing but a conquest to him, just one more notch in his belt that he could brag to Inuyasha about.

'I guess I was wrong.' She smiled to herself, but the smile quickly disappeared when she thought about the event that led them to confessing their feelings. Miroku showing up bloody, beaten, and barely conscious on her doorstep. How Miroku had managed to keep his Uncle's abuse under wraps for so long was a mystery to her, but she was glad he was finally able to tell someone and get help.

Miroku had stayed with her for a few days after the incident. She had wanted Miroku to go to the police, but he was adamantly against it. Though she didn't agree with his decision, in the end it was his to make. Though they weren't expecting to return to Miroku's childhood home and find it devoid of Mushin's presence completely. They never knew what happened to Mushin. The most plausible theory seemed that Mushin had gotten spooked when Miroku ran, and fearing the legal action Miroku could take, he fled.

After having had thoroughly enjoyed her bath and fearing she'd turn into a prune, Sango stood to rinse herself off. Stepping out of the tub she dried off with a fluffy towel, putting on the satin nightgown she had laid out for herself to wear. When she finally emerged from the steamed filled bathroom, Miroku was sitting on the bed taking off his shoes.

"Hey I didn't hear you come in." Sango said as she leaned in to give her fiancee a kiss. She crawled into bed behind him and watched as he shed the rest of his clothes, until he was only left in his boxers.

"I thought you would've been sleeping. I didn't want to wake you." He said as he slid into bed beside her. She laid her head on his chest and Miroku slowly began to comb his fingers through her damp hair, and suddenly she felt so lucky, to have someone she loved so much, to have someone who loved her back. It made her think of Inuyasha and Kagome. She didn't know the exact reason why their relationship ended, but she knew how much it broke Kagome's heart. Her best friend was a mess following the breakup and Inuyasha leaving without a word definitely didn't help. Then Kagome found Hojo. Some of the spark was back in her eyes and Hojo had managed to slowly glue the pieces of Kagome's fractured heart back together, but there was still something missing. Sometimes when Kagome wasn't paying attention she'd get this faraway look in her eye. But as quickly as it came it'd be gone, and Sango never had the nerve to confront her about it.

"What are thinking about my love?" Miroku said gently, never stopping his ministrations on her hair.

"Just, life I guess. I was thinking about us, about Inuyasha and Kagome." Miroku sighed at the mention of their two long time friends. Inuyasha was his best friend in every since of the word, he'd take a bullet for the man if need be, but sometimes Miroku actually wondered how thick his friend's skull truly was.

"Kagome and Inuyasha need to figure out what they want for themselves. They both have demons they still need to fight, and maybe once they've finally beaten them...they can be together. They're good for each other, you're not the only one rooting them dear."

A comfortable silence began to stretch between the couple. Only the sounds of their light breathing filling the small room. Sango bit her lip in an anxious manner, rubbing circular patterns on her finacee's chest to distract herself. They 'd had this argument many times. Usually ending in one of them storming off. But she needed to get it off her chest, Kagome and Inuyasha weren't the only ones with demons left to face.

"Miroku, have you ever thought about looking for Mushin?" His fingers froze, and Sango immediately felt his body tense at the name that was never supposed to be spoken. So much time had passed since the abuse ended, but just the sound of his vile name was enough to send a chill down Miroku's spine, and the memories that rushed back were enough to take his breath away.

"Have you ever thought about talking to your dad?" Miroku bit out. His tone and his eyes darkened with irritation.

"Touche." She said rolling away from him. Sango hadn't spoken to her father in about as long as Miroku had seen Mushin. Miroku knew about the strained relationship she had with her father. He was a lying, cheating, bastard who had driven her mother away. She was ten when her mother left. The older woman had simply given her children a parting kiss on the forehead, and neither of them saw her again. And that's when the late nights, unexpected meetings, and last minute business trips had started.

Slowly the childhood Sango had known began to slip away as she became the primary caregiver for her little brother, Kohaku. Walking him to school, making him lunch and dinner, skipping school care for him if he was sick. How many times had she cried herself to sleep as child wondering why her mom had left them behind, and begging for her father to come home?

On her twelfth birthday she'd spent the day with Kagome's family. Her father had been called away on "business" and her mother was obviously no where to be found, so she decided right then she'd never cry or pray for her parents to come back into her life again. She'd simply exist without them and continue to care for her brother in any way she could.

It was the first time she'd ever admitted to herself that she hated them.

"I'm sorry Sango, I didn't mean to snap at you." He tone was soft, apologetic. "But you know how I feel. I don't want to look for Mushin for the same reasons you don't want to talk to your dad. What good would it do? We've changed, we've made a better life for ourselves, so what's the point in reopening old wounds?"

"Because they aren't healing Miroku." Turning to face him, she continued. "How many times have you flinched when you weren't expecting me to touch you. How many times in the last five years have you woke up screaming from you're nightmares? You never talk about what happened to you, and I just thought finding him would bring some closure is all."

Facing his bride to be, he pulled her into his arms and she buried her face into his chest.

"I'll think about it okay? But only if you think about talking to your father. You're wounds aren't healing either my love."

She nodded in agreement and soon they both fell into a dreamless sleep.

Sango sat with her brother in the small ice cream shop they loved so much as kids. The tall brunette woman gingerly licked her raspberry sorbet cone, as her brother went to town on his rocky road.

"You're gonna get a brain freeze if you don't slow down kid." Sango said laughing

"Can't help it. This is pretty much the only thing I've eaten today." He said between bites. Kohaku was almost fourteen now, and was already about two inches taller than his older sister.

"We could've went somewhere to eat Kohaku, you did just win your soccer game. Why don't we get sushi or something to celebrate?"

"I don't have money for sushi. I'll just eat something at home." He said munching on his waffle cone.

"If you have food at home, why haven't you eaten?" The teenager blushed at being caught in his fib. He peaked at his sister through his lashes and recognized that look on her face. It was her signature 'I'm not taking any of your shit today' face and Kohaku knew he had to come clean.

"Fine I don't have any food right now, I don't have any money to go grocery shopping. There ya happy?" He said folding his arms across his chest.

"Of course I'm not happy! You've should've called me if you needed money Kohaku, you can't go around starving yourself."

"I'm not! I just wanted to wait until I got paid. Old man Totosai's been really good about giving me hours. You pay for my rent, you pay my bills, I don't want to ask you for everything. I know you're saving up for your wedding and for a place with Miroku, plus you can't take care of me your whole life sis. I gotta grow up sometime."

The glare Sango had been sending his way immediately softened at his words. Sango hoped that her absence in Kohaku's life would prompt her father to care for the boy a bit more, but like always she'd been expecting too much. Kohaku assured her that their father still sent him money for the necessities, and while she wasn't thrilled with the situation there wasn't much she could to change it, being a broke college student herself. Though after establishing her company and finally making a steady income, she moved Kohaku out of their childhood home and into a new place.

She wanted Kohaku to be independent of their father. His monthly checks didn't equate to love and Sango wanted her brother to realize that. Though she could sometimes see the resentment in his eyes and hear it in his voice, Kohaku still had the faintest hope that their father would, someday, step up to be the father they remembered from so long ago.

"I don't want you to ever feel like you're a burden to me Kohaku. I love you and I'd do anything and everything for you. I don't mind taking care of you kid, it's my job." She said with a watery smile. She wrapped her arm around him as he laid his head against her shoulder, more content than he'd been in a long time because his sister was finally home.

The sweet moment was cut off by the sound of Kohaku's grumbling stomach and the siblings laughed.

"Come on, let's get some sushi."

Kagome wiped a few stray tears from her cheeks, as she watched Hojo climb the stairs towards his gate. He had to be back at the university and so their small vacation was finally coming to an end. While she would miss Hojo for obvious reasons, she was kind of glad to be without him for a while. She could tell that his presence irritated Inuyasha, whether he'd like to admit it or not.

Now she and Inuyasha could finally hang out in peace, without the awkward tension Hojo seemed to stir between them.

"234 Meido Ave, please." She politely told the cab driver. She'd been staring out the window, looking at nothing in particular, when her phone suddenly began to buzz in her pocket.

"Hello? Oh, hi! Wow it's been ages, how are you? I'm fine thanks. Um, tonight? Sure I don't see why not. Yeah Totosai's sounds great. Okay then I'll see you at 8, bye."

By the time she ended the call the driver had already pulled in front of Inuyasha's house. She handed him his fare and thanked him again, before jogging up the few flights of stairs leading to the front door.

Kicking off her shoes and locking the door behind her, Kagome was finally glad to be home. She'd been running around all day with Hojo to make sure he had everything he needed for his flight. She walked passed the kitchen and noticed the time to be 5:30, that meant two hours of relaxation before she had to get ready for her date.

Jogging up the stairs to her spare room, she quickly changed into something comfortable and threw her hair up into a ponytail. It wasn't until she went into the kitchen for a bottle of water, that she noticed how quiet and empty the house seemed. 'I wonder where Inuyasha is?'

If he wasn't on the first or second level of the house, then there was only one place he could be. Grabbing an extra bottle of water, she left the kitchen and quickly turned to the door immediately to her right. Shutting the door behind her she skipped down the concrete stairs, soft grunts telling her she'd found the man she'd been looking for. She leaned against the banister across from him to watch as he ruthlessly pounded into a punch bag hanging from the ceiling. He was bare from the waist up, his long hair tied behind him in a high ponytail. He was sweating like a madman which probably meant he'd been down here for awhile. A few more jabs and Inuyasha was down for the count. Leaning his forehead on the bag to catch his breath, he finally looked up at her and gave a small smile.

"Need some water champ?" Tossing the water she brought he caught it with ease, twisting the top and chugging half of it.

"Thanks, I didn't hear you come in. You get Hobo on the plane okay?" He said smirking at her, knowing that asinine nickname he gave Hojo irritated her.

Rolling her eyes at him Kagome could only chuckle at his attempt to annoy her. She supposed she should be a little more upset at his childish behavior, but she actually thought it was a little funny. And ironic seeing how his medical would ensure he'd be far from being a hobo.

"Hojo made it onto his flight very well thank you. I just wanted to tell you that I'm going out later, so don't worry about dinner for me."

Interest finally peaked, Inuyasha raised a dark eyebrow at her. "Oh? You and Sango have plans?"

"Um...no not with Sango." She said a dark blush staining her cheeks. She did a quick about-face to begin heading up the stairs back to the main level of the house. She didn't understand why she was so embarrassed. It's not like she was going on a date or anything. It was just drinks with an old friend. Maybe an old friend she dated, who Inuyasha never liked, but that was beside the point. Inuyasha didn't like anybody.

"Not so fast! Who're you goin' out with Kagome?" He said hot on her heels. If she thought he missed the blush on her cheeks, she was sadly mistaken.

"I'm just catching up with an old friend, it's no big deal." She tried to make a beeline for the stairs leading to her room, but Inuyasha was too quick. He grabbed her arm and spun her around to face him, backing her up against the wall until she had nowhere to go. His arms came up on either side of her head, effectively keeping her in place, his nose mere inches from hers. She flushed as his breath fanned against her cheeks, she wanted to look away from him, but was too stunned from the action to do so.

"If it's no big deal then just tell me." His voice low due to their proximity.

"You stink." She said. Her was voice small, the rise and fall of her chest began to speed up and small knot was forming in her belly. He was too damn close.

"And you still haven't answered my question." Silence stretched between them. "I'm still waiting Kags." He said in a sing song tone.

"It's Kouga okay? He called me while I was on my way home and invited me out for drinks, are you happy now?" Her tone exasperated.

"Kouga Lang? The idiot jock who chased after you for two years? That's kind of whorish don't you think? I mean Hobo's only been gone what, two hours? And already you're on to the next." Inuyasha said stepping away from her, his eyes narrowing at every word.

"Excuse me? I can't believe you just said that! I love Hojo and I'm not going out to "whore around" with Kouga. He's a friend and we're just catching up."

"More like trying to finish what he started in high school." Inuyasha said crossing his arms over his bare chest.

"You're such an asshole, this is why I didn't even want to tell you." Rubbing her face in irritation she quickly headed up the stairs and into her bedroom to get ready, she didn't have time to deal with Inuyasha's childish antics tonight.

Inuyasha stood at the bottom of the stairs and flinched as Kagome slammed her door. He sighed as he let down his ponytail and ran a hand through his hair. He didn't even understand where all of that had come from, but any mention of that jackass's name was enough to put him on edge. 'It's bad enough I have to worry about hobo, now that prick too?'

Making his way up the stairs and into his bathroom, Inuyasha turned on the shower, he shed himself of his clothes, and stepped under the hot stream of water. He sighed as he leaned his head back and let the water fall through his scalp. Squeezing some shampoo into his palms he generously began to lather his hair. He knew he'd have to apologize to Kagome sooner or later, preferably later when she wasn't pissed. He understood that his anger and irritation were irrational, but he couldn't help himself. He never could when it came to Kagome.

In high school, Kagome was never the girl fighting through a swarm of guys who were vying for her attention. She had Kouga, but that was pretty much it. Now there's Hojo, and all the sleazy guys who try to hit on her when him and their friends go out. He'd never had to fight for her attention before, he was used to her putting him first, and now he seemed to be taking a backseat to everyone else and he hated it.

He rinsed his hair and shook his head in disbelief. Even in his mind it sounded childish. Inuyasha hurriedly finished washing and dressing himself, hoping to catch her before she could leave. Opening his bedroom door he saw her walking down the stairs and jogged down the stairs to catch up with her.

"Kagome, wait a sec!" She turned at the sound of her name and Inuyasha's eyes went wide. She was wearing tight black jeans that clung to her legs and hips oh so right. The deep cut white blouse she wore showed just enough cleavage without it being too racy, and the black heels she wore made her already long legs look that much longer. He couldn't really tell if she was wearing makeup, but her hair was so shiny and bouncy he just wanted to run his fingers through it.

"What is it Inuyasha, I'm gonna be late." She said, her tone obviously clipped with annoyance. Damn she was still mad.

"I, uh...um, sorry." He looked everywhere but at her, an embarrassed flush staining his cheeks. He heard the click of her heels and for a minute, thought she was going to walk off without even acknowledging him. He turned his head as the smell of her soft perfume wafted to his nose and found her standing so close, that no more than a few inches probably separated them. He looked directly into her eyes and the hurt there, only made him feel more like a prick. He hadn't meant to genuinely hurt her feelings.

"You mean it?" She said quietly.

"Of course!"

"I'm not a whore, I love Hojo." She said vehemently, her tone strong and sure.

"I know." And this time it was his turn to sound soft and subdued. "I'm a dick and I didn't mean it." Soon Inuyasha found himself enclosed in Kagome's tiny arms as she gripped him tightly around the waist. His arms came around her shoulders to return the embrace as he allowed himself to gently sniff her hair, and get a better smell of her perfume.

'Cherry blossoms.' He though to himself.

"I forgive you." She said stepping away from, walking towards the door she bent down to pick up the purse he hadn't seen her put down. "I shouldn't be out too long, I'll see you when I get back."

"Okay, see ya." She opened the door and turned to give him one last smile, surely to bring it home that she wasn't mad anymore, then she was gone.

Kagome walked into Totosai's and instantly recognized that tall, dark, and handsome man sitting at the bar. He turned his head towards the door as the bells hanging from the doorknob chimed. He gave her a megawatt smile, and she happy to see that some people just didn't change.

"Kagome! Damn girl you've gotten even hotter since the last time I saw you." She laughed and accepted the hug he pulled her into.

"It's good to see you too Kouga, it's been so long! Since graduation at least." She said returning his smile. Though they never worked out romantically, Kagome definitely considered Kouga a good friend. Her heart was filled with Inuyasha in high school and eventually Kouga understood that. He was content with their companionship, but that didn't mean he didn't flirt with her every chance he got.

"Come on I saved you seat at the bar. What'll you have?"

"Shot of tequila please."

"Still the same 'ol Kagome huh? Make that two." He told the bartender. "So, how's life been treating ya? If that rock on your finger says anything, I'd say pretty damn good. That mutt never deserved you, but I'm glad you're happy." The bartender handed them their shots and both of them threw them back with ease.

"I'm not engaged to Inuyasha." Kagome said lowly, trying to keep the despondent tone out of her voice, she ordered another shot.

"Oh shit, sorry." He said noticing her change in demeanor. "Who's the lucky bastard then?" Kouga let out a sigh of relief when he noticed the upturn of her lips.

"His name is Hojo, we met at university. He's a good man." Kagome said honestly, the bartender handed her her shot and downed it with expertise.

"As long as he's treating you right. Otherwise I'd kick his ass." He smiled when his joke had the desired effect of making her laugh.

"I'll keep that in mind." Kagome ordered a water as Kouga reached to finish the beer he'd momentarily neglected. "So how's life been for you? What'd you do after graduation?" Kagome asked happily. Kouga then proceeded to tell her how he decided to go into police work. He'd went into the academy straight after high school and climbed the ranks quickly, soon becoming the youngest detective in the homicide unit.

"Wow congratulations Kouga, that's amazing. I'm glad you found something you're passionate about."

"Yeah, it's a tough job. Shit can get pretty heavy, but it's always worth it when we can put a bad guy away. But that's partly the reason I asked you out tonight. I'd figure it'd be better if you heard it from me than some stranger."

"What is it?" The seriousness in this eyes put her on edge, and she had a gut feeling she wasn't going to like whatever it is he had to say.

"It's about Kikyou." He said quietly. Her eyes widened and he second guessed if a bar was the appropriate setting for news like this. "Maybe we should go somewhere else, somewhere private?"

"No. Tell me what's going on." Her tone was absolute and leaving no room for nonsense.

"We got an anonymous call a few days ago. At first we thought it was just someone bullshitting us, but I decided to look into it."

"Kouga you're really making me nervous, just spit it out already!" She rubbed her sweat palms on her jeans and fidgeted in her seat.

"We don't think Kikyou's death was a suicide. We have reason to believe there was foul play involved."

Kagome eyes widened to comical proportions as she momentarily forgot how to breathe.

"F-foul play? Like...like m-murder?" Kouga's head nodded in confirmation and the world stopped spinning. Murder? Who would murder Kikyou? What kind of situations could she have possibly put herself in to end up a murder victim?

"I need a shot, make it a double." Kagome ordered. Soon her drink was set in front of her and she let the sting of the alcohol bring her back to reality. "How? Who? Why?"

"That's my job to find out Kags. I'm sorry. I didn't wanna open any old wounds, but I thought you deserved to know. Your friends too." Kagome's head feel into her hands as she took a shaky breath. Friends, she'd have to tell Inuyasha about Kikyou. She asked herself how he would take it, but in her heart she already knew the answer.

'It's going to break his heart. Everything he worked so hard to rebuild after her death, it's all going to be ruined.'

For a fleeting moment she thought about not telling him at all, though she knew that wasn't even an option. If she kept this from him he'd never forgive her.

"I'm sorry for springing this on you." Kouga said sincerely, his hand squeezing her shoulder in a comforting manner. The gesture brought tears to her eyes, but she quickly blinked them away. Now wasn't the time or place. She'd cry it out when she had a moment alone. Placing her hand atop his, she squeezed it in reassurance.

"No, thank you for telling me Kouga. I'm just worried about Inuyasha is all. Out of all of us he was the most affected by her death, for obvious reasons. I'm just scared it'll undo all the progress he's made."

"You'll all just have to take it one day at a time. This case is close to my heart, and I'll find the fucker who did this to her and make sure he pays. I promise you that."

"Thank you. It puts me at ease to know you're the one working her case, I know you'll do all you can." He wrapped his arm around her shoulder as she leaned into him, taking all the comfort he could give.

"Anything for you Kags." He said softly.

Already Kagome was drained, emotionally and physically, and this was only just the beginning. Somewhere deep inside her soul she knew, things were going to get much, much worse.

I'm alive.

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