Twigs and branches crunched under their feet as they trudged along in the dark forest. No one spoke, the air was filled with anger and death. Each person carried with their own guilt and worries. Finally When coming to a bend in the path they stopped.

"You two go that way and Miroku will go that way and I'll go through the treetops so I can keep a watch on both paths." Inuyasha ordered firmly pointing in either direction. No one agreed or denied his orders so he jumped into the tree line. The others looked at each other for a brief moment before heading on their way.

"That was the most awkward trip I've ever taken." Dean whispered as soon as they were far enough way. He looked at his brother who had an expression he couldn't exactly read. It mixed anger, guilt, sorrow, exhaustion all in one face that that was confusing.

"Dean you've said that every time we've went looking for the shards." He retorted looking down at his brother.

"It's because it keeps getting worse and worse." He paused and when Sam didn't say anything else he continued. "Dude what's up. You look like an orphan."

"We are orphans Dean."

He thought about this for a second but just let it go. "Dude really?" He waited and watch his brothers anger grow.

"We caused this dude." Sam said shining his flashlight into a couple bushes and inspecting a couple of tree as he spoke. "Songo got hurt and I would bet money Meg killed that other girl from the village. We brought her here dude." He said walking a little faster and searching a little harder.

"She would have come either way Sam. She is here for the same reason we are. We can actually stop her though. Do you really think Fido over there can take her on? No way but we know ow to stop her dude. It'll be fine." Dean reached out his lantern and looked around wishing at the moment he would have taken the flashlight. Sam scoffed and stopped walking.

"Oh and how are we going to do that? Kill her? Are you going to kill her Dean?" He asked glaring. Dean stopped and looked at him seriously. He didn't answer immediately. Meg had been someone they hated. She killed, lied, stole, beat them up. She was their enemy no question but to kill her officially, neither brother knew how to feel about that and they didn't want to. When Dean Finally answered his words were soft, his tone solem.

"If we have to."

Miroku walked in the center of the path silently. He didn't want to think about anything else but bringing that demon down. He replayed the event over and over again in his mind. He replayed every moment and what he could have, should have done differently. Sango should have never gotten hurt. He should have been the one in the grasp of the demon. He shone his lantern behind every bush and tree but he knew that didn't matter. If that monster was in the woods she would find him he wouldn't need to find her. He hung the lantern on his staff and continued his search and thought about the brothers. The foreigners who happened to just show up and bring this thing with them. Part of him blamed them and the other part knew it wasn't their fault but that part was being ignored. They knew how to deal with it and they were going to.

He glanced up toward Inuyasha who was paused at one tree near him. "Have you seen any sign of her?" He called out. The white haired man look down at him then jumped to his level.

"What do you think? I don't know who or what I'm looking for, not to mention I have no scent." He spit angrily. Miroku clutched his staff and stepped towards the dog. He knew what he was going to say and at this point he was having none of what Inuyasha thought.

"Look you blame me and that's fine but I wasn't going to let her die. If you weren't too busy fighting and being jealous about those two you would have been back sooner to help me." He shouted and sneered. The half demon stepped forward threateningly.

"What the hell did you just say? Are you blaming me?"

"No this was my fault but don't act like you are innocent. Don't act like you wouldn't have done the same if it was kagome instead of Sango!" Now the two were nose to nose, breathing heavy, fists clenched. Inuyasha opened his mouth to say something else but they heard a shout.

Sango sat up and looked around the room of sleeping people. The fire had been long out and the hut quite. She stood and grabbed her notepad and walked quietly outside and into the cool night. She made her way carefully to the garden where she had been just earlier that day. She knelt into the soft dirt and let her hands slide into it with ease. She wiggled her fingers and let the damp soil rush between them..

She pulled them out and wiped them on her skirt carelessly. The pang of pain swept through her neck and chest and she grabbed at her throat. She felt the bandage and tried to feel the wound through it. When she couldn't she took off the bandage and felt the gaping laceration that went from ear to fingers caressing the wound she began to cry, then weep in a mourning fashion. She replayed the event to vividly in her memory. The demon grabbing her face and laughing, Kaede's fear and Miroku's tears. Warm blood choking her and spilling down her chest. The panic started then like it had before. She tried to breath between sobs and tears but ended up curily up at the edge of the garden. She laid her head on the damp earth and let her tears water the plants. Slowly slumber beckoned her and she reluctantly stood and went back to the hut. She layed on her bed and slept just like that. Covered in dirt and tears staining her red cheeks.