Shikuro: A Caribbean Fairy Tale

by Inuma Asahi De

Inuyasha was as bad as pirates came, according to his legend. Kagome was a woman of propriety, destined to marry for her family's honor when all she wanted was to live on the sea. What happens when their eyes meet by chance or perhaps by daring fate?

91. For the Sake of Each Other

Blanket Disclaimer: The writer does not own any characters created by Rumiko Takahashi but like everyone else wishes she did. All original characters or concepts are the author Inuma Asahi De's (with the exception of historical figures).

This will be a double update. Expect the next chapter within the hour. I'm still editing it slightly and it's a very long one.

Chapter Ninety-One

For the Sake of Each Other

The sun was just dipping towards the horizon when the Shikuro finally set sail heading back towards Kouga's Kingdom. On the deck, standing in the cold twilight, Inuyasha, Miroku, Sango and the finally normal Kagome were standing shoulder to shoulder their eyes glued on the distant sight of the disappearing island that had once housed the vile human prison. Even now they could see the reddish residue of flames as the prison continued to simmer, nearly burned to the ground by now. It was a strangely magnificent sight in both its beauty and meaning, the gentle glow like the rising sun as it overtakes a new day.

Sango, with her arms tightly at her sides watched the dimming glow even now, her eyes unable to leave the liberating sight. It was as if with every flame that licked the air she was becoming more and more whole, not that she hadn't been before, but it was still cathartic none-the-less.

"Well," Miroku finally whispered as he looked down at his wife's softening face. "It's over." He told her as he placed a gentle hand on her shoulder, squeezing.

Sango for her part turned towards him and tried to smile but the look was strained and a bit unsettled. "Not yet." She told Miroku causing Kagome and Inuyasha both to turn towards her and frown. "Kohaku," She whispered the name and looked down at the ground bitterly. "Is still—," Her lip trembled for just a second but she shook her head, bit it, and raised her eyes back up, they glistened in the light from her unshed tears. "I should check on Kohaku."

Kagome looked over at the other woman, guilt weighing down on her soul for words she had said earlier when she was not herself. Carefully, she shifted around Inuyasha until she was standing in front of Sango, her grey eyes just as tear washed and depressed. Apologetically, she reached her hand out, her fingers just brushing Sango's hand. "I'll go with you," She offered gently as she rubbed the back of the other woman's hand. "If you like?"

For a moment, Sango hesitated but it only lasted a moment. With a shaky breath she sent Kagome a watery smile and grasped her hand a little tighter. "Please." The words sounded stronger than it should have, her whole demeanor seeming to strengthen the longer she gripped Kagome's hand. Whether that was Kagome's miko nature influencing Sango or not was impossible to tell.

Turning towards Inuyasha, Kagome sent him a soft smile and motioned with her chin towards Sango before shaking it softly. He nodded in return understanding the silent words and watched quietly as the two women finally walked away from the slowly dissipating glow on the horizon. "It's probably best they have a moment alone." He thought to himself as he glanced at his son already seeing the internal debate on the boy's face. "For both of them."

As if he had finished his own internal debate, Miroku crossed his arms over his chest and sighed. "We should leave them be for a bit." He nodded to himself even though he was technically talking to his father. "Let them—talk, I guess?" He glanced towards the older man who nodded in return, his eyes on Kagome's head as she finally disappeared down the stairs.

"They're pretty close," He commented as he rolled his once dislocated shoulder, the pain that had been in it when he was human already completely relieved. "They'll take comfort from each other."

Reassured, Miroku licked his lips and walked towards the helm, undoing the basic tie that had kept their direction focused so far. The rope scraped against the wood, Inuyasha's ears twitching at the sound. "It feels like it's been a year." The man whispered as he let the rope drop to the ground beside his feet and turned the helm slightly, following the distant lights of the armada. "But it's been—what?" He looked towards his father and shook his head somewhat amused. "Three days."

"Something like that." Inuyasha agreed and with a yawn walked towards Miroku before plopping himself down in front of the wheel. "I'm exhausted."

"I bet." Miroku agreed as he looked down at the man's silvery head. For a moment, he imagined it as it had been only hours before, pitch black and lacking his normally abnormal ears. A bitterly cold feeling washed over him and he shuddered, forcing the image out of his head. "I would never in my life want to relive these past few days again." He grumbled, noticing as his father's ears shifted slightly backwards to hear him.

"I'd drink to that," Inuyasha nodded his head and smiled to himself. "If I had something to drink." He smacked his lips slightly and thought about the prospect of having something to drink in those very moments. It was tempting, it really was. "Maybe some sherry."

"Otou-san?" Miroku said suddenly, as he angled the ship just a little towards starboard.

Hearing something strange in his son's voice, Inuyasha titled his head backwards, barely able to see Miroku's chin. "Hm?"

Miroku took in a shaky breath and finally just shook his head. "Never mind, it's nothing."

Narrowing his eyes, Inuyasha turned, twisting his body until he could see Miroku fully. "What is it?"

Miroku looked away from him, refusing to make eye contact. "When I saw you, laying like that I—," He growled to himself and slapped the side of the wheel stiffly. "You can't ever do that again."

"I know." Inuyasha nodded his head and didn't say a word otherwise as he sent the man an apologetic look. Regardless of age, Inuyasha understood it was hard to watch your father die.

"God." Miroku brought one hand up and rubbed it across his face. "This has been," He paused and searched for the right words. "The worst three days in my whole life."

"Hai." Inuyasha agreed, the switch to Nihon-go not bothering Miroku at all, the slight laugh however and the twinge of a smile made him instantly frown.

"Why are you smiling?" Miroku glared down at his father his frazzled emotions making him interpret the smile as mocking.

For once Inuyasha didn't hesitated at all, there were absolutely no reasons to hide what he was about to say. After all, Miroku would probably be angrier if he attempted to hide it. So, instead, of lying and dancing around the topic he just came out and said exactly what needed to be said. "I asked her to marry me." It was only a minor lie, his masculinity not allowing him to admit to Miroku that Kagome had actually asked first.

Miroku felt his hands temporary go lax on the wheel, the ship ever so slightly tilting to the side before he shook himself back into awareness. Gripping the helm tighter than he probably needed to, he opened his mouth but not one single word emerged as he looked down at his father in complete amazement.

Inuyasha smiled up at him crookedly, and waited for the boy to catch his breath.

"You," Miroku tried to speak but the words completely floundered in his throat, catching there before they could even reach his tongue. "When?" He managed to push the word out as he held onto the wheel tightly, not wanting to lose his grip from the sheer shock of Inuyasha's admission again.

"On the hillside," Inuyasha shrugged as if the whole thing was really not as big a deal as it was. "You were with Sango watching the prison and I," He looked at Miroku watching as the man's eyes grew to twice their normal size, realization dawning on him. "I guess I just had the urge to finally ask—we've been courting long enough for it."

Miroku blinked and his hands went slack once more, although this time, Inuyasha jumped to his feet catching the wheel before it could turn.

"Maybe I should take that." Inuyasha suggested and waited until Miroku nodded in agreement before he walked around and actually took the smooth wood into his hands.

"You," Miroku finally was able to say after several minutes, turning his head to look at his father with some strange mixture of emotions on his face. "You asked her," He paused just slightly as he watched his father nod. "And she said yes?" He pushed a little further and Inuyasha nodded his head again, his lips twitching as they tried not to smile too wide. "Wow." Miroku looked down at the ground and brought a hand up to rub the back of his neck. "Wow." He managed to repeat again and Inuyasha laughed slightly.

"Is that all you're gonna say?" The man mocked and taking just one hand off the wheel lightly punched his son in the arm.

Miroku growled slightly at the gesture but there was no malice in the sound, which soon turned to laughter anyway. "I just can't believe—." He tilted his head back as happiness filled him that he almost couldn't explain. His father, a man who deserved all the happiness in the world was finally marrying. "And marrying a girl who," He took a deep breath as Kagome's bright grey eyes seemed to suddenly jump in front of his face, so deep and knowledgeable that it made him shudder. "Is more brilliant than words could ever do justice."

"Miroku," Inuyasha shook the boy who seemed to have become too lost in thought to actually answer. "You awake?"

Miroku chuckled, a little embarrassed, and dropped the hand from the back of his neck. "When's the wedding?" He asked as he turned and looked at the man who had raised him, the only father he had ever known, with true pride.

"Tomorrow." Inuyasha answered shortly and shrugged his shoulders ever so slightly. "That's the plan anyway."

"That's soon." Miroku sent him a mocking glare and clicked his tongue in amusement. "Is she pregnant?"

Normally, Inuyasha would have laughed at Miroku's joke. Normally, he would have shoved him and playfully defended Kagome's honor. Normally, he would have done a million things but in that moment, something inside of him suddenly clicked. The air around him seemed to permeate his senses more fully, a deep and somehow romantic smell hitting him. It was sweet like honey and comforting like a warm fire. It made him drowsy and exhilarated all at once but most of all it made him think of his mother and he knew exactly why.

"A mother." His eyes shifted back and forth not actually seeing anything but needing to look for it anyway. "How did I not notice?" He asked himself as the world around him seemed to slip away, his mind consumed only by that one unnerving thought. Distracted, Inuyasha's hands dropped off the wheel and the boat swung slightly to starboard.

Men down below hollered in annoyance and Miroku jumped into action, grabbing the wheel and righting the ship quickly. "Damn." He cursed as he looked at his father who had still not moved even one inch. "She is pregnant, isn't she?" He deducted looking absolutely amazed and when Inuyasha didn't respond gasped loudly. "Holy—I didn't even know you, her," He looked down at his feet as if he could somehow see the woman through the decking. "She—damn." He cursed again and lifted his eyes back up to Inuyasha not sure what to say at all. "You work fast." He finally settled on half joking and half serious.

"No." Inuyasha shook his head, his mind still processing exactly what it had just realized. "Not Kagome."

"Huh?" Miroku scrunched up his face confused, one eyebrow raised as he gently held onto the ship's wheel.

Inuyasha slowly turned his head to look at his son, his entire body seeming somehow stiff. Silently, he reached for the wheel and pushed Miroku's hands out of the way making room for his own.

The younger man frowned at the gesture not understanding in the least. "What are doing?"

With the wheel safely in his hands Inuyasha nodded his head once slowly as if to finish digesting the information he now knew and understood. "Sango."

Miroku's whole face drained perfectly white, his eyes going so wide that they took up the whole of his face and then, they rolled into the back of his head as he passed out cold.

-break-

"What the hell is going on up there!?" Sango complained with a loud growl as she held Kohaku steady on the bed, the boy still asleep despite the turbulence up above.

"Probably that distant storm," Kagome commented as she looked outside the window from her place on the desk chair. "The waves must be coming at us hard because of it."

Sango snorted loudly but didn't comment as she gently laid Kohaku down once more, brushing his hair out of his eyes. "He always was a sound sleeper."

Kagome smiled slightly. "My brother is too." She told the other girl as she placed her hands gently in her lap. "He once slept through a hurricane."

Sango laughed slightly but the sound lacked mirth. "Kohaku once slept through a Tuscan dinner party." She smoothed the boy's feverous head with the back of her hand. "Mama and Papa were hosting some duke or lord or something and there was a whole orchestra." She leaned back and grabbed for the water bucket and a bit of cloth in order to cool his head. "The men and women were waltzing and we were all dressed up, all my brothers and I." She dipped the clothe in and wrung it out gingerly. "We were allowed to stay up till nine, Kohaku in all the excitement didn't make it to eight." She brushed the wet cloth over his red skin. "He fell asleep in a chair, sitting straight up."

Kagome felt her heart clench in her chest from the story and she sighed, looking right at Kohaku. "This isn't fair." She thought, not wanting to speak and ruin Sango's sudden moment of accepting peace. "He's so young and he has to suffer like this." She felt her mind already beginning to grow fuzzy, it was almost as if she were slipping away from reality. "I wish—," She whispered, the words so quiet that Sango actually didn't hear them. "I could take your pain away." Kagome blinked as her own words seemed to encompass her, the idea coming to her before the thought had even cleared her subconscious. "I can."

Carefully and without another thought, she pushed herself upwards out of the chair. The room around her grew somehow lighter and darker to her eyes all at once, energy only she could see beginning to build in the room. She breathed in deeply, her grey eyes even able to see the energy as it swirled at her mouth, sucked in by her lungs. She exhaled a smile forming on her face as the energy came back out, this time mixed into a new color she knew all too well—grey. Her feet padded across the short distance from the desk to the bed, her eyes following the energy to the point it culminated. There, in the center of it, was Kohaku, his body seeming to call to her, to beg her to come to him, to see where the energy led.

"This isn't like last time." She realized as she walked, her feet barely touching the ground as if she were floating. "Or am I just—," She raised her head for the briefest of seconds looking away from Kohaku to the air above her watching the energy as it danced. "More aware?" She lowered her head, realizing that the energy really didn't matter at all what mattered was only him, only—. "Kohaku."

Sango heard the sound of her brother's name from behind her and turned around confused. Standing right behind her, with a distant and yet wholly focused expression on her face, was Kagome. "What are you doing?" Sango asked but the girl didn't respond her grey eyes staring down at the bed, focused on only one thing. Surprised, Sango clutched the rag a little tighter in her hand as she followed Kagome's eyes to Kohaku and back again. "Are you okay?" She asked worriedly, afraid that Kagome had reverted once more to the person she had been when the jewel was controlling her. "Kagome—can you hear me?"

"I want to see." Kagome whispered and although the voice sounded like her own, it was far wiser than a mere eighteen year old. "I just want to see." She repeated once more and leaned over the boy, staring down at him with bright grey eyes, the energy all around her swirling like a fog. Carefully, her fingers reached out sprawling wide as she aimed to touch Kohaku's cheek. Just the tips of her fingers connected with his flesh, the energy in the room seeming to explode from the action, covering everything in pure white.

-break-

A soft melody wafted through the air, the sound deep and enchanting as it hit barely living ears. Kagome felt her head swim from the sound, the waltz one she barely recognized. In the background, the echo of soft conversation, delicate laughter, and feet as they swept across the ground in time to the music floated into her ears. Feeling lethargic she tried to open her eyes against the sounds, wanting to see what had created them. Before her eyes could open fully though, the music died and she jumped, eyes snapping opened coming into a different life.

A sea of colors filled her vision as gentle applause resounded all around her. Her breath caught in her throat as the image of a million gowns filled her eyes, blues and reds and violets and purples creating a sea of brilliant color. "Beautiful." She whispered just as the music began again, this time a much faster and sensual sound. Majestically men bowed to their dance partners, begging for the chance to twirl them around in their perfectly tailored dresses, parading them like flowers or better yet like property.

Suddenly a particular girl in the crowd caught her eye and she felt her heart stop dead in her chest. A small girl, no more than eleven danced by her wrapped in a man's big arms. Her face was beautiful, sparkling, happy, and looking up at the man with pure love in her eyes. Almost afraid, Kagome lifted her head as the little girl spun, her feet coming off the ground as the man picked her up. The blue gown with white satin bows spun with her and her laughter echoed throughout the room, above even the Orchestra.

"Sango." Kagome whispered, the tears already beginning to form in her eyes. Unable to stop herself she looked at the man, afraid that Costa's horrid face would be there. It wasn't. A charming man with bright brown eyes was the one holding the child like form, love in his whole body as he held his only girl.

"That's my sister."

Kagome jumped and panicked nearly falling over backwards to get away from the sound. Turning towards the voice, body alright tense she went limp with surprise when she saw a very childish face watching the unfolding beauty. He was small no more than four, his eyes so similar to his father's and his sister's that Kagome didn't have to guess to know who he was. "Kohaku."

"Hello Kagome." He spoke quietly, his voice not fitting his tiny body. Carefully, he turned his head and looked at her, the sheer youth in his face not matching the maturity in his eyes. "Costa's not here."

"Oh." She whispered unable to think of anything else to say.

Kohaku smiled faintly at her before turning back towards his sister just as she unleashed a childish squeal. Some of the dancers had stopped to watch the young girl, laughing and exchanging whispered words with those around them. Adorable, they were probably calling her. "I wanted you to see a happy memory." The boy told her as he inhaled slowly and frowned all at once. "This is the last time, I remember seeing her happy."

Kagome's eyes widened and she too turned to watch the girl as her father spun her around catching her as she began to fall.

"Mother brought her to Costa for the first time," He paused as the waltz began to speed up becoming faster and faster, each stroke of the violins bows more and more deliberate. "Right after this ball—to me—right after the waltz."

Kagome felt her mouth go dry, memories of Sango's horrors and deepest secrets washing over her. "She's so young."

"Aren't we all," Kohaku responded evenly as the dancers moved faster and faster, the waltz speeding up with each and every moment that came and passed. "Too young for the horrors of life?" His mouth moved slowly over each and every syllable and as if he had timed it, the music abruptly stopped.

Confused, she turned back to the crowd in time to see the image completely frozen.

"I feel asleep." Kohaku whispered and Kagome turned to look at the boy who seemed to be becoming smaller and smaller. "I never got to say goodbye before she left." His voice was tight and his shoulders were trembling with the effort it took not to cry. "She left," He turned and finally looked at Kagome once more, his brown eyes blurred with tears. "And when she came back, she was gone."

Heart breaking in her chest, Kagome shook her head and reached for him but her hand swiped nothing but air. "Kohaku!" She yelled as the room became pitched black, fear gripping her heart. "Not again." She inhaled sharply as the darkness loomed over her threatening her with its bleakness. "Not again." She repeated desperately and grabbed for her hair, yanking on the strands. "Kohaku!" She yelled into the darkness the word echoing back towards her.

"I'm right here."

Petrified, Kagome threw herself around looking straight at the boy who was somehow behind her, standing next to a window. The blackness was slowly beginning to seep away, replaced by plain walls lined only with a few scarce paintings, none of them full of any beauty. Unnerved Kagome took a step forward, looking at Kohaku as if he might change at any moment. Breathing heavily, she took him in, he looked just a little taller, a year or two older and his eyes were just as haunting as they had been before.

"Where are we?" She ventured to ask as she looked around the room, bookshelves and painting sets beginning to form. There were plenty of books on the floor, half read and opened, but the paints were untouched by the easel as if there was an evilness about them.

"Her room." Kohaku whispered and then turned, his back facing her, walking away from her towards the window. It was almost like he was stepping into a painting, his body becoming smaller the closer he came to the sunlight.

Out of nowhere, Sango formed in front of him sitting on the window ledge. She looked older too, maybe thirteen, her dress a stunning green that didn't match the ashen look of her face. Kohaku approached her slowly, his feet shuffling on the floor. "Sorella?" He whispered the word but Sango didn't move. He froze and shifted his weight from foot to foot as children do. "Vuoi giocare?"

Kagome listened as he tried to pull his sister in, asking her if she wanted to play a game but once more Sango didn't move. The girl simply stared into nothing, her eyes dark, clouded with a hate the child couldn't possibly understand.

"It was like," His voice was suddenly beside her and Kagome turned her head quickly, looking down at an already older figure. "She was alive and dead all at the same time." He spoke bluntly and closed his eyes against the image of himself standing with a broken sister. "I didn't know why, I thought it was me." He whispered quietly, his eyes opening slowly, his head raising to take in the scene once more. "But it wasn't." The words were like death on his tongue, weighted and irate.

Kagome stepped back from him as the anger that encompassed his soul began to take shape. Blackness, dark and hot, washed off his body into the air, circling his whole form until he was practically coated in the darkness. "Don't!" Kagome yelled, reaching for him, trying desperately to grab him and yank him away from the vile hatred that was corrupting his heart.

"Don't touch me!" He screamed as her fingers managed to grab a hold of his sleeve. Violently, he grabbed her hand, twisting it until she cried out in pain from his twisting grip. "You don't know."

"But I do." She cried as she felt him release her arm, the malice still building around him. Desperately, she closed her eyes to the sight as she wracked her brain trying to find the words for what she had experienced. "I was there." She told him as she brought her arm back towards her body cradling. "I saw—no," She sobbed as she allowed the idea to finally take hold of her. "I felt everything." She bit out the words, the pain of the rape coming back to her as if she were reliving it right then. "I know Kohaku—," She looked up at him seeing a startled child looking back at her. "I know."

He breathed in deeply, the darkness around him dissipating just a little. "So do I."

Kagome couldn't breathe as the darkness around Kohaku consumed him leaving her standing alone with nothing but a door in front of her. It was opened only slightly, enough so that light was pouring into the blackness around her. Against her will she took a step forward, her body feeling small and strange as she moved. "Sorella?" She called softly but her words were met with only an angry cry.

"Fermata!" Sango's voice cried out, just a little older, begging him to stop.

Kagome felt her throat close shut as her small hands reached for the door, little fingers of an eleven year old boy filling her vision.

"Che cosa ti ho detto?" Costa's voice quiet but filled with rage entered her ears, the words translated the minute they hit them, 'What have I told you?'

"Don't make me open the door." Kagome said as her fingers began to grip the edges of the wood. "Please Kohaku!" She yelled into the endless darkness behind her, closing her eyes against the sight she knew she was about to see.

The sound of a door slamming greeted her ears and her eyes snapped open finding herself inside a new room. She felt the cool edge of a bottle in between each of her fingers, she saw the sherry sitting on the desk, and she felt her breath hitch in her throat. She knew they would find out. It would only be a matter of time but she also knew her sister was gone, banished for a crime she had been victim of. Hatred filled her for the mother who didn't care, for the father who was too weak to defend his daughter, and for the brothers who had been so unconcerned they hadn't chosen the same path as him.

Kohaku took a step forward, his proper shoes hitting the floor, the heels scrapping the wood. He opened the bottle, uncorking it with his young fingers, his eyes never leaving the sherry as the doctors directions ran through his mind.

"It will only take one drop." The man had said in English as he handed Kohaku the bottle looking at him with eyes that promised not to save him from prison. "To kill a demon."

"Una goccia." He whispered in Italian repeating the doctors words in the voice of a child about to commit murder. "Per uccidere un demone." He raised the bottle, looking at the sherry glass with all the anger in his heart present in his hands. He tipped the vile and allowed half of it to spill within, splashing as it landed in the sherry.

"The color of the drink won't change." The doctor had looked at the vile of reddish liquid. "As long as its sherry," He handed Kohaku the vile and looked back at his horse and wagon to make sure it hadn't moved: a traveling doctor who would leave no witnesses. "This stuff's the same color."

"Thank—you." Kohaku responded in his best English the doctor looking at him curiously.

"Why are doing this?" He asked even though he, as an Englishman, understood the urge to kill corrupted demons.

Kohaku took a moment to process the words before he released his answer. "For the sake," He finally started to say, the words coming easily as he let them go. "Of her."

"Per il bene della sua." He said now in Italian as he pulled the vile away and closed his eyes.

Immediately, Kagome felt her own open again, her moment of living through Kohaku over before it even began. She panted as the images flooded her mind, images of Costa, images of his death as he gagged on his own blood. She saw images of disappointed parents, images of an unfair trail, images of the prison, images of forced feeding, images of sickness, images of beatings, images of countless hours spent vomiting up bitter tasting poison, images of praying for death, images of a man in despair, images of a man in pain, images of a man experiencing every imaginable punishment: images of every beating, of every lashing, of every broken bone or dislocated body part and last of all, images of every night spent wondering if the most precious person in the world was still alive.

"You feel everything." Kohaku's voice sounded out of nowhere and unsurprised this time Kagome merely turned and looked directly at him.

She saw him then as he really was, a sixteen year old boy who had lived the same living death as his sister willing. "Yes." She answered as the tears washed over her, the knowledge of his pain making her break a little inside.

"Tell me Kagome," He turned and looked at her, his eyes finally matching his body as they implored her for a truthful answer. "Why would you do such a thing?" He asked and Kagome felt her heart stop as it envisioned the truth. "Why would you feel someone else's pain?"

"Why does anybody feel pain for someone else?" Kagome asked him in return watching as his expression changed from imploring to confused. "You already know the answer Kohaku." She told him softly as she looked straight into those brown eyes. "You said it yourself." She felt the light begin to grow around her, the whiteness overtaking the black that had encompassed them.

"What did I say?" Kohaku asked breathless not seeming to believe that he could possibly possess such an answer.

Kagome smiled unable to do much else as the whiteness filled her with warmth, erasing and easing the pain. "Why would you feel someone else's pain?" She repeated the question as the whiteness began to edge closer and closer to him. "For the sake of each other."

The words dropped into the air, landing at their feet in a blazing glory of shared experience. He smiled at her as if he had been hoping all along she would come to that conclusion. His brown eyes turned to a lighter gentler shade of almost deep dark honey. The whiteness edged closer to him eating away at all the darkness that had been hovering around him. He opened his mouth and Kagome suddenly felt very far away from him, so far she couldn't possibly hear the words.

She reached desperately in his direction just as the whiteness finally overtook the world inside Kohaku's head. The image of him disappeared with it as if washed away in a cleansing rain. "Kohaku!" She yelled and the sound echoed away into the vast whiteness bouncing off of every unseen wall until it came back to her with different words.

"Help me."

-break-

Kagome's grey eyes opened into the room, seeing it so clearly it almost hurt, before it went decidedly blurry. She felt Sango's hands as the woman shook her, trying desperately to bring Kagome back into the world. She heard the muffled sound of Sango's voice as well, pleading with her frantically, begging her to wake up once more. Just barely able to focus, Kagome blinked slightly just able to make out the other woman's shape beside her. "Sango?" She replied, her voice coming to her ears just as muffled as Sango's.

"Oh thank god." Sango whispered as she looked down into Kagome's awakened face. "You're back." She smoothed the girl's hair as she leaned across the bed. "What happened?"

Breathing deeply, Kagome became more aware of her surroundings. Slowly, she looked over to her right, just noticing Kohaku's still form next to her on the bed. She narrowed her eyes as information she had just been given processed. "Help me." She heard his voice and her heart clenched tightly in her chest. "How can I help?" She wanted to ask him but she knew the still form could not answer.

"Kagome?" Sango whispered again becoming worried the longer the girl stared silently at her brother.

Unhindered by the sound of Sango's voice, Kagome continued to stare at the boy seeing him with cold precision. She ran through every image she had seen in her time within Kohaku's mind. "He was tortured." She thought to herself as she saw the images of beatings and felt the sensation of starvation. Her stomach turned as she experienced forced feedings and her mouth clenched as she tasted unnervingly bitter water. "What—is that taste?" She closed her eyes hoping to focus more on the disgustingness.

Beside her, unnerved, Sango reached for Kagome's shoulder and shook her hastily. "Kagome!" She said the girl's name a little more urgently but Kagome didn't make a sound. "What's wrong?"

Sango's word were lost on Kagome's ears as that bitter taste swelled in her throat becoming acid that would soon turn into vomit. She began to gage, the lack of food in her stomach the only reason she didn't vomit. Her eyes watered and the sensation of being horribly ill turned quickly into brilliant understanding. Kagome shot up in the bed quickly, her movement shocking Sango so much the girl fell backwards and landed on the ground. "Sorry." Kagome threw her feet over the edge of bed only just managing to throw the hasty apology down towards Sango.

"What's going on?" Sango asked as she watched Kagome's feet hit the ground beside her already moving once again.

"We have to get a doctor." Kagome told her quickly as she ran towards the door not bothering to wait for Sango to get off the ground.

"Why?" The older woman called towards Kagome and she shoved herself to her feet prepared to chase after her.

Stopping for only the barest of seconds, Kagome turned towards the other girl with imploring eyes. "We can save him." She spoke quickly watching as Sango's face drew into a complete look of amazed shock. "It's not consumption." She continued as the memories washed over her telling her everything she needed to know. Hastily, she crossed back through the room, reaching forward and yanking on the girl's sleeve. "It's poison!" She pressed and tugged on Sango until the girl began to move easily both of them racing to the deck up above without another word.

-break-

Miroku came back into consciousness slowly his head splitting from either the fall or the news one. Blinking, he looked up at the now star streaked black sky and frowned confused.

Looking down at his son's confused face Inuyasha felt the same horrified face, Inuyasha felt the same horror. "Welcome back." He offered, his voice tense as he looked down at Miroku. The boy jerked and looked over towards him in response not seeming to have realized he was there.

"I passed out?" He spoke quietly as he pushed himself up into a sitting position next to his father.

"Went down like a rock." Inuyasha told him as he demonstrated with his hand, dropping it to the deck hard.

Miroku nodded his head but the gesture didn't really look like a sign of comprehension. Slowly, he brought a hand to the spot on the back of his skull where a lump was forming. Gingerly, he touched it and winced as a bit of pain met the probing fingers. Thinking better of touching it, he pulled his hand away and gulped down the lump already forming in his throat. "Um?" He mumbled but the words really wouldn't come.

Glancing at his son, liking his lips slowly Inuyasha felt the boy's tremendous fear as it seeped off of him. "She's pregnant." He was as blunt as possible not wanting to cover up the words.

"How?" Miroku whispered as his posture slumped completely dazed by the whole admission. "How?" He turned and looked at Inuyasha, the horror lining his face making the older man wince slightly.

The natural urge to make a joke consumed the father and he had to bite his lip so he wouldn't release the inappropriate words. Even if a joke was made to lighten the mood at this point he was positive it still wouldn't lighten even a fraction. "We must have missed it." Inuyasha informed him even as he tried to run through his brain when he had missed such vital information. "The nose doesn't lie." He told himself but the words felt lame in that moment.

Miroku went silent as he slouched forward, his whole back hunching as his hands sagged in-between his upturned knees. "What are we going to do?" He managed to whisper, his voice thick with the fear already building within him. "Pregnant," He lifted his head up and looked at Inuyasha fear already beginning to mount on his face. "Women can't stay on a ship."

The dog demon licked his lips slowly and nodded his head in understanding. He knew better than anyone that just having women on a ship was dangerous but add in a pregnant woman and the danger doubled. That is, the danger didn't grow just because of the crew, it grew because of the life style. Being pregnant was hard on the body and required rest and, dare say it, pampering. To keep a pregnant woman on a ship during pregnancy was dangerous. Although, that was only a theory, to his knowledge it had never actually been done. Everyone he knew who allowed their wife or, woman as it were, to travel with them always sent them to shore when they became pregnant and once the pup was old enough brought them both on board.

Still, that was not an option here, there was no way he could leave Sango behind. Besides even that, he knew if he left Sango on shore he would have to leave Miroku, the boy would give him no choice. Sighing, the dog demon brought a hand to his face and rubbed for just a second feeling once more exhausted. "We'll figure something out." He managed to say to Miroku trying to be as reassuring as possible.

Miroku gulped down the lump in his throat once more and looked at his father with every serious bone in his body. "If she has to stay then I—."

"We won't." Inuyasha interrupted almost darkly, the words leaving his mouth with such force that Miroku snapped his own mouth shut. "We will never leave her behind."

Miroku nodded his head some of the weight on his shoulder's beginning to dissipate as those words floated in the air. He knew exactly what decision he would have made if the Captain had told him Sango would have to stay on shore but that didn't mean he would like the result at all.

Leaning against the railing heavily, Inuyasha took a deep breath. "You know," He said after a few seconds, looking down at his son's head as the boy sank into the floor tiredly. "I'm way too young to be a grandfather." He watched as Miroku perked up ever so slightly, tilting his head sideways so he could see the man fully. "I mean," Inuyasha shrugged nonchalantly and sent the boy a half smile. "I'm getting married tomorrow for the first time and I have my first grandchild on the way."

Miroku laughed and shook his head in amusement. "What's that say about you?" He asked and Inuyasha joined in on his laughter watching as the tension began to ebb around the boy.

It would be a difficult nine months or however long was left but they would deal with it as a family would. "I do," He spoke as seriously as he possibly could watching as Miroku's laughter died from the grave sound. "Have one thing to add."

"What?" Miroku asked his voice just as somber as he looked at his father waiting for the words to come on edge.

"I had one rule." Inuyasha lifted his head and looked straight at his son, a firm glare on his face. "And you couldn't contain yourself."

The younger man's jaw dropped opened and he growled loudly at Inuyasha but the sound came across as it was intended, playful. "It was your job!" He pointed an accusing finger at the other man before he pushed his shoulder. "You're the one with the nose."

"Excuses excuses," Inuyasha bumped Miroku's hand with his shoulder and shook his head slowly back and forth. "You can count can't you?"

"What's that got to do with anything?"

Inuyasha raised an eyebrow and stared at his son in mock horror. "I'm a horrible father, I didn't teach you anything." He mumbled to himself before placing a hand on Miroku's shoulder soberly. "There's a timing issue with this."

"You always told me," Miroku explained dryly as he shrugged the hand off his shoulder. "I never found the need to count."

"Arrogant pup, aren't you?" Inuyasha laughed the sound of his amusement catching.

Easily Miroku began to laugh too, tilting his head back over the railing as the sound of their amusement rose into the air.

"Inuyasha!"

Kagome's voice made Inuyasha jump up before he even had a chance to register the fact she had yelled his name. Without a second thought, he jumped across the helm's deck, landing just in front of the stairs where Kagome already was ascending Sango behind her practically being dragged. "What's wrong?" He asked hastily worrying about Sango and Kagome both for very different reason.

"We need a doctor." Kagome spoke without explanation Miroku seemingly appearing out of nowhere behind him father, practically shoving the man out of the way.

"Are you okay?" He asked quickly as the girl's made it to the helm's deck, Miroku already reaching for his wife. "What happened?"

"Not me." Sango explained although her voice was faint as she turned and looked at Kagome for clarity. "Kohaku."

Kagome nodded her head quickly and turned towards Inuyasha grabbing for his sleeve and pulling on it to imprint the importance of the situation on him. "It's poison."

"Huh?" Inuyasha felt his heart sink into his chest, ripping into him as he tried to understand her words.

"Kohaku's been poisoned." She continued on as she held onto him a little tighter, trying to make him really feel exactly what she was.

Still unsure, his mind not able to keep up with everything she was saying, Inuyasha narrowed his eyes. "How do you know?"

Kagome looked up at him, her bright grey irises saying hundreds of words that didn't even exist in any known language. "I just know." She finally spoke those eyes pressing into him, telling him to believe her every word, even the ones unspoken.

The dog demon felt his heart speed back up hammering against his rib cage, not needing any further explanation to believe her words. Turning around, he headed straight for the wheel, grabbing the rope he had set in place when Miroku and himself had been to incapacitated to actually direct the ship. They were currently leaded in a straight line however so the rope had served its purpose. "We need to catch up to Kouga's lead ship." It was a command not a comment.

"Aye!" Miroku nodded his head sharply and turned on his heel headed down the staircase, which lead to the Quarterdeck.

"Sango," He looked at his daughter-in-law the knowledge of her pregnant pushed to the back of his mind for just this moment. "You know the basics of treating poison."

She nodded but her face came across as not convinced. "But without knowing the poison there's not much I can do."

Inuyasha shook his head quickly dismissing her words easily. "Treat the symptoms then." He commanded her, his sharp golden eyes stressing the importance of what he was saying. "Treat the fever, treat the cough with syrup, do whatever you have to do to keep him alive."

The woman's face went stony at his words and she finally understood the importance of what he was saying. "Got it!" She turned hastily and headed down the stairs where Miroku had disappeared moments before. The sound of her shoes hitting each step seemed quiet as the ship came to life around them, Miroku having roused the whole crew.

Kagome's grey eyes looked out across the sea, the light from Kouga's ship flickering in the distance, it was no more than half a league in front of them but it seemed unnervingly far. "How long?"

"To Kouga?" Inuyasha clarified but didn't wait for her to answer before he spoke. "No more than five minutes."

"Not Kouga." Kagome frowned and looked back at Inuyasha her expression tense. "To his kingdom?"

Inuyasha didn't respond right away his face drawn in a tight line, unwilling to admit the truth. Finally after several long seconds he took a deep breath and released it in one short quick burst. "Hours."

Kagome winced ever so slightly and turned to look out at Kouga's ship once more, it was already coming closer to them, the little light becoming brighter. "He asked me to help him." She bit her lip not realizing that Inuyasha had even heard the words.

"Help you?" The dog demon looked at his fiancé over the wheel feeling unnaturally confused. "When did he ask, how did he?"

Kagome didn't bother to turn around as her mind raced through all the possibilities. "He asked me." She thought to herself as she kept her eyes on the ever growing light in the distance. "He only asked me because I'm the only one with the power of—whatever that is—empathy." She shook her head trying to make the strange feeling go away that had settled in the back of her brain. It was almost as if she knew something and didn't all at the same time. "I can't cure poison." She rationalized with herself but it was already too late, the thought was already there, the possibility too hard to deny. "But I might be able to purify it."

"Kagome?"

The girl didn't wait to hear what else Inuyasha had to say, she was already almost down the stairs by the time she heard his voice.

"Fuck!" Inuyasha called and quickly grabbed for the rope on the ground trying to tie down the wheel the best he could. "Miroku?" He shouted not sure where the boy was.

"Yes, Captain?" The distant call hit his ears.

"Kagome!"

-break-

The door to Sango's Cabin slammed open, a nearby sword hanging on the wall falling straight to the ground. It's sharpened edge cut into the ground, the sound of the wood slicing as much a threat as the action itself. Kagome stumbled into the room in the least graceful way possible her hand clutching the bow to her body as her eyes desperately looked for Kohaku. The boy, not surprisingly, had not moved from the bed and his sweaty forehead showed he was still not doing well.

Sitting beside her brother, a rag in her hand Sango looked at Kagome as if she were crazy. The girl's large brown eyes looked completely amazed by the woman standing panting in the door way. "Kagome, what are you doing?" She asked as she eyed the boy and stood up hesitantly part of her still afraid of the darkness that had been inside Kagome before.

"I don't know." The priestess answered honestly as she took a step into the room. The bow's red edge shined in the candle light as it flickered about her and Kagome bit her lip. "Can I purify poison?" She asked herself as she took another step forward, the pure energy in her body already moving once again. "Poison is just—a form of hate, isn't it?" She spoke out loud not even noticing as Sango took a step towards her brother looking at Kagome as if she were crazy.

"What are you going?" The other girl said firmly as she moved herself between Kagome and her baby brother protectively. "Kagome talk to me."

The girl finally raised her head and looked at Sango, the greyness in her eyes making the other woman sigh relieved. If Kagome's eyes were grey then there was no darkness controlling her heart. "Poison," Kagome began slowly as she glanced from Kohaku to Sango. "Is just nature's hate." She stared at the boy and flinched not too sure about her assumption. "Well not hate," She changed her wording and glanced back at Sango. "But—it's a danger that can be cured or," Her eyes widened as her own mind processed her thoughts. "Purified."

Behind her, Miroku and Inuyasha suddenly appeared in the doorway both men panting. It had taken them a moment to secure the ship before they could rush down to the two women in their lives. "What's going on?" Miroku asked first as he stepped into the room looking at the bow in Kagome's hands frozen. "Not again."

"Kagome." Inuyasha rushed past his son and towards the girl but she held up her hand before he could reach her, stopping him.

"Poison can be cured." She spoke cryptically as a faint outline of power washed over her. "Cured—that's just another word," She dropped her hand, the one on the bow tightening its grip. "For purified."

Sango's tense shoulder's relaxed at the words as she saw the wisdom beyond Kagome's years appear in her eyes. Without hesitation the sister stepped out of her way and moved to the side Inuyasha and Miroku freezing as well, watching in anticipation.

With slow deliberate and almost methodical steps, Kagome made her way across the room. A soft glow of gentle pinkish white began to form around her body encompassing her without covering her up. She looked downright mystical, the supernatural glow like a goddess or fairy of legends. Her hair began to dance with paranormal wind that only seemed to touch her, the product of her energy seeping from her body.

When she reached Kohaku, she tilted her head ever so slightly to the side, looking down at him as if he was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen. "Sixteen." She whispered the word and the other three people in the room froze, listening with amazement. "That's just too young to die, Kohaku." She spoke, the sound of her voice somehow normal and not all at once.

Her grip tightened on the bow and she leaned forward over the bed, her fingers moving together until they all touched and were perfectly straight. The boy wheezed in his sleep as if he knew what was about to come and Kagome smiled softly. Her hand glowed a pure yet exotic white as she touched his chest with the fullness of her palm. She breathed in once deeply, her grey eyes becoming whiter and whiter the longer she looked at him.

"This won't hurt." She spoke to him as if he could hear in his current state. "I promise."

Instantly, the moment her words died away, the whiteness seamlessly fell from her hand into Kohaku's body. It seeped out from every possible part of her hand: the fingers, the palm, and even the nails. It washed over the boy, covering him in the bright whiteness slowly as if it was completely taking over him. The energy moved from his chest to his limbs, flowing all the way down his arms to his hands and from his legs to his toes under the sheet. It did not, however, touch his face even once, the energy stopping for some strange reason below his neck.

Kagome pulled her hand away the energy instantly glowing brighter around Kohaku's body before it seemed to absorb into every aspect of his flesh disappearing as Kagome panted.

The people in the room were frozen unable to even comprehend what they had just witnessed. Inuyasha stepped towards her, the urge to hold her and protect her from even herself outweighing his fear of being purified by her again. He reached his hand towards her but she shook her head despite being turned away from him, unable to see him.

"Not yet." She spoke, her voice a breathy whisper of exhaustion having performed too many feats today. "One more thing." She looked down at Kohaku watching as his lungs began to finally take in air although still with great labor. "It's out of his lungs—so now I—I need to focus on his mind—the fever." She nodded to herself as she tightened her fingers once more, reaching past Kohaku's chest, past his shoulders, past his chin and his eyes until her hand made a home on his forehead.

She felt the wetness of sweat underneath her palm and the evidence of a fever so strong it had to be damaging. She bit her lip knowing without having to know that a fever like this, even stopped, would have still caused damage that even she could not hope to completely reverse. Still, she knew she had to give him a shot, she had to try. Taking in one last shaky breath, she closed her eyes already knowing how much power she would need. The energy formed in her palm, highlighting the entirety of her hand as she pushed it forward carefully releasing it into his very being.

As if they had a will of their own Kohaku's eyes snapped opened as the warmth of her hand and her power seeped into his deepest senses. His brown eyes swirled with it for just the barest of moments before he inhaled sharply and closed them once more. Eyes closed his breathing picked up going from shallow to somehow deep as the energy around his head brighten. Finally, after five long terrifying seconds, Kagome pulled her hand away this time quickly. The whiteness seeped once more into Kohaku's hand and Kagome, exhausted, swooned.

Instantly, Inuyasha was there catching her as her body fell backwards, her breathing becoming labored. "Kagome?" He whispered terrified as he held her, turning her just enough so he could see her eyes.

They were bright still and undeniably more grey than black. "I'm okay." She looked towards him as the bow dropped from her fingers clattering loudly on the ground. "Oh." She mumbled and started to reach for the object but Miroku had already swooped in and grabbed it. "Thank you." She tried to smile, the expression coming across as more tired than anything else. "I think—I used too much power today." She told them and neither man could dare disagree.

"Sorella." The word made everyone nearly jump, the sweet call of 'sister' soft in the air.

Sango looked down at her brother as his pale skin began to take up color once more. Her heart hammered against her ribcage as hope flooded her for the first time since the moment she saw him. Slowly, his brown eyes opened and her throat nearly closed as she looked hastily back Kagome for only a moment. "You—?" She started to say; Kagome's nod the only confirmation she needed before she sobbed. The relief in her body was so strong that she practically fell on her brother as she pulled him into a hug. The boy who was not yet fully aware of his surroundings jumped slightly but calmed the instance he heard her soft voice whispering loving words in Italian.

Still holding Kagome, Inuyasha looked at her as she smiled at their happiness. "What did you do?"

"Purified the poison." Kagome whispered as she leaned against him a little bit more, his warmth comforting. "That's all." Her eyes flickered closed for a moment until a grunt from Kohaku made them snap back opened.

Held secured in his sisters arms the boy was looking right at Kagome, his expression just as tired as her own. "You heard me." He said as a grateful smile flooded his face. "Thank you."

Kagome shook her head as if the thanks was not needed and smiled at the boy. "You'll never be fully healed." She explained, the wisdom in her voice as always, beyond her years. "I can't repair the damage done to your body but," She closed her eyes for just a second appearing to have gone to sleep but as quickly as her head tilted down she jumped back up awake once more. "It can't do any more damage now." She finished the sentence looking just a little bit more awake than she had been a moment before.

Kohaku nodded towards Kagome, understanding her words easily as he leaned into his sister. Slowly, his eyes began to flutter closed as tiredness gripped him expectantly.

Still holding Kagome tightly, Inuyasha lowered his head into the side of her neck, inhaling her scent deeply. "You're going to be the death of me." He thought as he glanced up at Kagome his chin propped up on her shoulder.

"Kagome I can't—," Sango began to speak as she held onto her already sleeping brother love and affection taking over her. "You—this is—amazing." She turned to the girl as the word dropped from her lips, true admiration showing in her every feature.

Kagome shook her head and blushed slightly as she felt Inuyasha pull her a little closer as if agreeing. "I just," She looked away a little embarrassed by the look on Sango's face. "Did what I had to—what was right."

Sango brought a hand to her face, holding it there for several seconds before she finally wiped her tears. "Thank you." Was all she managed to say as she held back the urge to cry more.

Clearing his throat, knowing that Kagome couldn't take much more praise in that moment, Miroku lowered himself onto the bed. "What happens now?" He finally asked as he placed a hand on his wife's shoulder and looked towards Inuyasha for an answer.

Before Inuyasha could say a single word however, Sango opened her mouth. "We'll take him with us." She explained easily as she held onto her sleeping brother not bothering to listen to the Captain.

Inuyasha bit his lip at the words and looked towards Miroku, something Kagome had said hindering the idea in their minds. "There's no way." Inuyasha gently put forth the idea, watching as Sango's whole demeanor went from relaxed to steaming.

"What?" She bit out the words, grasping Kohaku tighter. "He's my brother, I'm not leaving him."

"Sango," Miroku allowed his hand to move away from her shoulder and down to her hand, massaging it gently. "Kagome said his body can't be healed, a pirate ship is no place for someone who," He looked towards Kohaku who was breathing better but still with a strained quality to his breath. "Is in that kind of shape, permanently."

Sango ripped her hand out from under Miroku's and glared. "We'll take care of him."

"Sango," Kagome interrupted the conversation as she leaned into Inuyasha. The other woman turned her head towards Kagome hoping to receive some sort of solidarity from her. "We're going into dangerous places and after everything," She explained gently as she looked down at the boy already noticing his eyes were opened when no one else had. "Kohaku—I think deserves some peace in his life." She watched as the exhausted boy smiled at her not nodding his head but agreeing with his eyes.

"We'll make sure he has plenty of peace here." Sango argued but there was something in her voice that said she was beginning to understand even if she didn't like it. "Right?" She turned towards the Captain looking at him with an imploring gaze.

Just noticing the boy's opened eyes Inuyasha paused before he spoke. He waited just a second, making eye contact with the boy watching as he smiled at him, wanting him to agree with Kagome. "Nothing about this ship is ever truly peaceful." Inuyasha finally spoke keeping his voice soft, wanting to be as comforting at the moment as possible.

"Besides that think of his health." Miroku joined in, wincing as his wife shot him a deadly glare. "Sango, he'll never be completely healed and you know what sea life is like." He lowered his head a little bit as she glared darker and darker. "His body can't handle this life, if we brought him it would be torture."

"What should we do, then?" Sango growled as she spoke but didn't yell, mainly because of the sleeping boy in her arms. "Abandon him, leave him with Kouga?"

Suddenly, Kagome found herself bombarded with a solution. "Mama!" She shouted into the room, everyone jumping for the intensity of the word. "We can send him to live with my mother." She continued on looking not at Sango but at Kohaku. "She'll take care of him," She implored, watching as the boy looked at her inquisitively. "She'll school him and I bet when he's ready even send him to school with my brother—Souta's just a few years younger," She pressed on as she watched Kohaku's eyes begin to light up at the prospect of a good life. "He'll have a decent life there."

Not realizing that Kagome was not really talking to her, Sango frowned at the possibilities. "To have a life like that?" She thought to herself as she unconsciously rubbed the boy's arm. "Would it be—better?" Her heart twisted in her chest the thought of giving up her brother a bit too much for her to bear but in the end she knew what was right. "Would she," She began slowly as she pulled the boy a little closer to herself needing him to be there, in her care. "Really do that?"

"Of course," Kagome nodded her head once as she leaned back into Inuyasha once more. "I know she would be happy to have a ward." She closed her eyes thoughtfully for a moment realizing the truth in that statement. "Since father's gone," She paused for just a second not quite able to continue. "Having someone else to teach and nurture would give her—hope." She settled on the word, watching as Sango became more comfortable with the idea as did Kohaku. "I can write a letter to her explaining."

Miroku frowned for a moment as he thought through the idea quickly. "What about," He glanced at Inuyasha and then Kagome. "Your uncle?"

Kagome thought for a second trying to figure out for herself how her mother would handle such a situation. "I'll tell her the truth." She finally said as she looked directly into Sango's eyes. "And she'll make it into a lie."

"But—."

"She will," Inuyasha clarified bluntly as she nodded into the side of Kagome's neck. "That woman isn't as much of a socialite as she made herself out to be."

"But," Sango tried desperately one more time to hold onto her hope, to hold onto the boy who had given his childhood so that her honor could be maintained. "He's my brother."

"Do I get a say?" The boy finally choose to speak, knowing that now was the time to finally speak.

Sango flinched and looked down at the tired brown eyes not realizing that he had, at some point, awoken. "Kohaku?"

"Ti amo, Sorella." He spoke gently in Italian, raising his hand up to touch her cheek. "ma—." He paused and looked at Kagome, forcing himself to speak in English a language he had learned before he had been imprisoned and had perfected whilst there, thanks to an English guard. "I just—would like to live in a house again." He nodded as he finally turned and looked up at his sister with a smile. "A peaceful place where I can safely," He smiled and closed his eyes as if he were already imagining it. "Rest."

Sango found herself crying once more, crying more than she ever had in her life. "Is that what you really want?" She asked as her tears dripped down and landed on his cheek.

He smiled up at her as the warmth ran down the curve of his cheek until it feel to the side of his head. "Sì," He smiled softly as his eyes began to fluttered closed falling into sleep. "That's all," The words became hazy as he drifted off, feeling safe and secure for the first time since he was probably five years old. "I ever wanted."

Acceptance finally washed over Sango and she forced herself not to cry any longer as she pulled the boy tighter against herself. "Then rest Kohaku." She said softly as she smoothed his hair back away from his forehead and placed a gentle kiss to the top of his once sweaty head. "Rest."

End of Chapter

Please Review

A/N: So that ends Kohaku's section of the story, the next chapter which will be uploaded within the hour.

Note to Anonymous Guest: Unfortunately, I do not know how to make fanfiction press work. I have never been on that site. Wish I could be of more help.

No Bonus Point: If you would please review and give me your thoughts on this chapter before moving onto the next I would appreciate it!

Last Chapter's Bonus Point:

Inuyasha calls Kagome by her first name in episode Four when they defeat Yura!

Yugioh and Inuyasha lover, WhiteLotus, Nightmare Hanyou (Didn't notice a slave, sorry), DogDemonLover, Menarie, walomadolo, kittyzwuvme1234, anime4eva222, Asian Delicacy, Glon Morski, Cagome, Atem4321, Ai2000,

Next Chapter:

Unity

See you then!

UNEDITED

POSTED 12/23/2013