The True Holder of Shikon

I do not own Inuyasha.

35

Fractured Memories

XXX

Sango?

It took her a moment to register that she was awake. She looked around the dark room for whoever had spoken. She was alone.

Sango, I need to speak with you...

"M-Midoriko?" She looked around the room as though the priestess would materialize out of the shadows. Her mahogany eyes scrutinized each corner.

I am inside of you. There is no need for you to look for me or speak with me out loud. I just...felt the need to contact you.

What for, Midoriko? We were one, right...? How are we able to talk?

Don't concern yourself with that. I'll be within you until my soul is complete. I wanted to talk with you about your situation. Your emotions are vulnerable because your body is containing both of our souls. Be cautious with what you do. If anything should make you upset, it will feel twice as hard as usual.

So...I was right? When will the effect fade?

It should be gone by now, I believe. I've no idea why it happened at all but with what you've been put through, I shouldn't be surprised.

Sango remained silent. She drew her legs up to her chest. Resting her chin on her knees, she began to think about everything very carefully.

I apologize for putting you through so much...

Think nothing of it. And don't worry. I'll make sure I get Naraku next time. Your soul will be complete again. I promise.

The darkness seemed to ease her uneasiness. She felt terrible for not being able to complete the jewel. But Naraku...he just pissed her off so much that she lost her ability to think straight. But she just had to stop that. She had to calm herself down to think rationally.

So...Midoriko said that my emotions should have calmed down by now. When I encounter him, my head shouldn't be as foggy.

What would she do about her current situation? Her relationship with Sesshoumaru was going well but...she felt as though they took another step. Sighing, she fell back and stared up at the ceiling, her eyes glazed over.

XXX

Sango was woken up early by a pain in her stomach. She rolled over and sat up, blinking the sleepiness from her eyes. Sesshoumaru entered, gazing at her with his usual stoic expression. She gave him a small smile and stood before walking over to him and pulling him to her in a gentle embrace.

"Are we leaving soon?" He looked away from her.

"The miko has not yet returned." She looked up at him with a frown. He wasn't looking at her. She pulled away, looking at her feet.

"Are you okay, Sesshoumaru?" The Taiyoukai looked over at her with a confused frown on his face. His glittering amber eyes blinked curiously.

"Why wouldn't I be?" His voice was soft, yet demanding at the same time. She further avoided his gaze by turning around when she felt heat spread through her face.

"Because of the other night." He suddenly knew what she was talking about. He had given in to her demands of him. He had given her what she wanted. But...why would he feel any different towards her, if not even closer? She was a strange woman.

"Sango, are you okay with the way things turned out?" She stiffened. Why would he even ask? Turning around to question him, she found him closer than he had been before. He continued to walk towards her, his expression never changing.

"Of course I am." She whispered as he tilted her head up with the arm she had healed. "It's just..." He smirked before turning around to leave the room.

"I am restless. It is nothing you need to concern yourself over." She watched as he left, strangely satisfied with his answer. He always travelled, never staying in one place too long. Sighing, she got dressed and went out to find someone that knew what was going on with Kagome and Inuyasha.

XXX

Inuyasha sat at the edge of the well, staring down into the depthless darkness. It was always a mystery to him how it lit up beautifully when they travelled through it to the past or the future. Kagome was at school. He had nothing to do but wait for her to get home. He had pissed the cat off so he was sunk for entertainment.

"Inuyasha?" Kagome's mother opened the door and gestured that he follow her. "I made some lunch." He brightened a bit. Food was always good for a hungry hanyou. But it wasn't enough to fully cheer him up. His conversation with his brother had been far too depressing. If only he'd known... Why couldn't Sesshoumaru have told him? "Is anything wrong? You seem down."

"Nah, it's nothin' for you to worry about." He flashed her a small grin as she led him into the kitchen. Daisuke had returned to work that morning. The wedding had been small and short but still meaningful. The hanyou watched the woman as she served him tea and ramen, humming and smiling brightly as though she were the happiest woman in the world. "Do Souta and Kagome fight a lot?" He wondered, not even realizing that he had asked it out loud until she rested her loving gaze onto him.

"Of course they do. It's only natural for siblings to fight." She sat down across from him and appeared thoughtful. "Kagome mentioned you having a brother before. Are you having problems?" He shook his head quickly, his amber eyes going instantly to the bowl of ramen.

"It's not that... But I used to believe that he wanted me dead at any cost. Now...I found out that he...he doesn't." He picked up the chopsticks and began to eat carefully, not wanting to appear sloppy in front of her for some odd reason.

"I see... Did he tell you that he cares for you?"

"No, nothing like that. I just found out that he actually protected me by abandoning me after my mother passed away." He found it strangely easy to talk to her. She was such a nice woman, always quiet and listening without interrupting. "He told me that if he had taken me with him, I could've been killed. But since he didn't...I got the chance to live." He looked up at her hesitantly to see her smiling broadly.

"Then it is obvious that he cares for you. Not as much as he'd like to but enough to save you by letting you go." He stared at her as though she had spoken words of a deep secret. As though he had never even considered such a thing.

He never had.

XXX

Sango bumped into him by accident and found that he looked rather depressed. She gave him a concerned gaze.

"Houshi-sama, what's wrong?" She bent down next to him before tilting her head to the side to get a better look at him. "No girls to flirt with?"

"Sango." The way he said it made her draw back. His eyes were empty, devoid of anything. It was so unlike the houshi that she just stared at him in shock. "I'm sorry. I need to be alone." He stood up and went to walk away when he was tackled from behind. It caused him to stumble but he didn't fall flat on his face. His eyes widened when he realized that Sango was hugging him from behind.

"Houshi-sama, I'm sorry. I know that it causes you pain when I'm with him but..." She trailed off, not being able to find the words to express just what she wanted him to know. "I can't be with anyone like I can be with him. It's so different from anything I'm used to. He makes me feel...pretty. I know it's silly..." He turned around and pulled her closer, leaning his head down so that his lips were against her ear. His hot breath sent shivers down her spine.

"It isn't silly, Sango. If he makes you happy then how can I intervene? It's just...I wish I hadn't blown my chance." She stiffened when he held her tighter but relaxed when she realized that he would never. Or else face her lover's wrath.

"I just...love the way he makes me feel. You understand, don't you?" She looked up at him and her eyes widened. His eyes were glittering with unshed tears. She opened her mouth when he closed his eyes and smiled.

"The way it feels to hold you..." He opened his eyes, looking up into the sky. "I just wanted to know what I was missing." She wrapped her arms tightly around him, feeling extremely guilty. She had caused one of her best friends pain... But she couldn't just let Sesshoumaru go because of that. However, her guilt eased when he pulled away and gave her one of his charming smiles. "Thank you." She said nothing as he turned and walked away.

Miroku couldn't believe how incredible it had felt just to hold her in his arms. He also couldn't believe that she had almost witnessed him crying. He was specifically depressed about how much his Kazaana was expanding. Naraku had to be taken down, by any means necessary.

I can't say but...it won't be too long now before my void sucks me in. My nightmares are only getting worse and now I don't have the hope of gaining Sango's heart... What is left for me to hope for?

The houshi sighed before stopping to stare at the village. He had nothing, really. No home, no fortune, and definitely no integrity. What woman would ever want him? Besides Koharu. She was far too young for him. His eyes went to the sky. What chance did he have at happiness? Would his life pick up if he survived their last battle with the hanyou, Naraku?

Too many questions to be answered...

XXX

Sesshoumaru sat by the tree, meditating. His mind was visually sparring with Naraku. He wanted the hanyou dead. The next confrontation would be the last. He knew it would be. Call it intuition...or maybe just plain confidence. But he was becoming enraged with the way Naraku was flaunting his powers, with the way he was testing theirs.

I will swear on all that I am, all that I have, that Naraku will go down.

He looked up, his eyes narrowing as he sensed the houshi. Miroku walked into the clearing, his eyes on the Taiyoukai.

"Just the person I wanted to see..." There was a slight hint of sarcasm in the houshi's voice as he stopped walking. "Might I talk with you a moment?" Sesshoumaru nodded and stretched out his legs. He hadn't meditated in a while so it was leaving him slightly cramped. "I feel...as though I needed to ask you about Sango."

"What about her? Will you question my intentions? I thought I had already proven that I would care for her and protect her." Miroku sighed. This was going to be tough. How was he going to ask Sesshoumaru about his relationship with Sango?

"I wanted to ask you...if you really understand what you feel for her. What does it feel like when you hold her? Do you want her to stay with you for as long as she lives? Is she someone that you want to hold on to?" The houshi was struggling with his questions. Would Sesshoumaru get angry at him for asking? All the Taiyoukai did was stare at him.

"I believe that those questions are none of your business." He went to stand up when Miroku suddenly started to raise his voice.

"I just want you to tell me! I...don't want her hurt. I tried to let her go because I thought that she could be happy with you! I just want to make sure that...this is what is right for her." Sesshoumaru glared at him before standing fully and easily striding over to the houshi.

"You gave me no opposition when you learned what it was that we shared together. You backed off without so much as a single argument."

"I am not protesting about your relationship! I just want to ask if you feel that you can...keep her safe and happy." Miroku's voice dropped and he lowered his head. Sesshoumaru was silent for a long moment.

"I have no answers to that. All I can do is try." With that said, the Taiyoukai walked away and left the houshi alone in the clearing.

XXX

As soon as Kagome returned, which was about a week later, they departed from the village, Inuyasha as patient as ever... Sango felt slightly ill and so drained that she could hardly keep up. She put up a false front, pushing herself to the brink of exhaustion to keep pace with her companions. When they stopped later on that night, the taiji-ya went to sleep almost instantly. The next day was exactly the same. At every rest they took, she ate little and slept as much as possible to conserve what little energy she had. In fights, she was practically useless. She tried to fight but ended up being even weaker than the children.

"Sango, what the hell is going on?" The hanyou approached her after the third battle she'd flunked out of. Sesshoumaru watched her with guarded eyes, a concealing frown pressed onto his lips.

"I don't know, okay?" She snapped irately. "Do you think I know what's going on? I don't even know why I'm so damn weak and tired! I don't know why I have to push myself to keep pace! I don't know!" He bit back a retort because it was crude and blunt. He really didn't need Kagome on his ass about manners again.

"Well, just stay out of the way until this passes. You'll be better off on the sidelines." Her gaze hardened and she glared at him with resolve in her eyes.

"I'll do one better! How about I go back to the village and wait for your return? I'll be well out of way, then, I'm guessing!" Inuyasha opened his mouth to protest when she turned around. She took one step then froze, falling back into the arms of the one she's been arguing with. It seemed that her exhaustion was beyond normal. So, Inuyasha set her down and pulled his brother away from camp.

"What was that, Sesshoumaru?" The Taiyoukai couldn't disclose anything. Truth was, he didn't know the exact reason. It was far too early for any signs to be shown, or so he figured.

"I do not know, Inuyasha." He looked over at his lover, his eyes remaining expressionless. Kagome and Miroku looked concerned as they tried to rouse the taiji-ya. "We should take her back..." Just as the words left his lips, a bright light flashed, causing them to look over. Sango was standing, facing all of her friends. In her eyes was something Sesshoumaru never wanted to see.

"Sango!" Kagome held out her hand in concern. "You shouldn't be up..."

"Quiet!" The taiji-ya snapped, her eyes finding Sesshoumaru's. A malicious smirk forced its way to her lips. "You..." She suddenly dove for her weapons and got to them without much resistance. After all, no one really knew what was going on. "I want you to die!" She screamed as she aimed an arrow at him, releasing it almost instantly. Sesshoumaru found himself rooted to the spot, unable to move as he watched the arrow's flight. It landed right in front of him and unleashed a massive explosion of purification energy.

"Sesshoumaru!" Inuyasha cried, having had the foresight to get out of the way before the arrow hit. He regretted instantly not grabbing his brother. He barely managed to dodge an arrow fired right at him. However, as the smoke and dust cleared, he saw his brother's narrowed eyes. In his hand was Tokijin. "What are... Stop it! What are you doing!?"

"I cannot fight her defenseless." The emotionless look was somehow more withdrawn and sported a kind of poker face, if you would. "That would be foolhardy." He noticed the damage that the arrow had caused. His clothes were ripped and there were small cuts all over his body.

"You can't seriously intend to fight her." The hanyou argued but to no avail. His brother was dead set on fighting the taiji-ya. "You could...kill her."

"I may have no choice." The emptiness of the sentence sent a painful shock through Inuyasha's system. His eyes stung as he watched his brother brace himself, all the while dodging arrows. However, the aftermath of the arrows were what was injuring the Taiyoukai. Why was Sango acting out? She had all of them on the run from her spiritual powers.

"Sesshoumaru!" Miroku's voice was harsh, his eyes narrowed. "What did you do to her?" The houshi was more than angry at the Taiyoukai. "Don't you touch her!" Kagome held him back, her arms around his waist from behind, as Sango had done when they had last talked alone. He felt pain with each step Sesshoumaru took towards the taiji-ya.

"Inuyasha, what's going on?" Kagome looked back at the hanyou, startled to see the bitter expression on his face. "Inuyasha!" Rin screamed and Shippou and Kirara stood in front of her.

"Sango-chan! Don't hurt Sesshoumaru-sama!" The little child sobbed hysterically, her eyes wide with horror. Shippou tried to ease her torment by reassuring her, telling her that they would all figure it out and that no one would get too injured. But judging by the way Sesshoumaru was suddenly acting, the kitsune wasn't so sure.

"Fight me." Sango pulled out her wakizashi as she threw her bow and arrows on the ground. "Let me be the one to see the color of your life blood as it drains from your body." Something was wrong with her, that much Sesshoumaru could tell. He narrowed his amber eyes at her, feeling his youki increase steadily. Something within her was tormenting her body, stressing so badly that it made her lose her senses. As he closed in on her, he could see the resolve in her eyes weaken. But she still fought him. She still tried her hardest to mortally wound him, going for the vital parts on his body. Inuyasha ran over and tried to interfere, tried to stop her but it wasn't any use as she only attacked him until he was forced to back off. He reached up to wipe the blood from his cheek, where she had grazed him with her blade. Sesshoumaru stepped closer.

"Sango, I will not waste my breath and tell you to stop..." He hesitated, trying to sense something specific in her aura. "But if you so decide to continue this, I will have no choice but to possibly cause harm to you...or even kill you." There... His eyes widened. It shouldn't have even been showing. But that faint signal...

"Stop wasting your breath then." She charged at him, her body still slightly weak from all of the exertion she had placed on it in their journey. He used Tokijin to block her blows until he attacked and sent her wakizashi flying out of her hand. She jumped back and began to throw daggers at him. He needed close combat... He used his speed to get behind her before raising Tokijin and striking her in the back of the neck with the hilt. She went limp and fell to the ground with a loud thud.

"Sango!" Miroku ran over, accompanied by Kagome. The hanyou could tell that his brother merely knocked her unconscious. "You... You..." The houshi stared spitefully up at the Taiyoukai before Sesshoumaru put his sword away.

"What is it?" There was a morbidness in his eyes that none of them liked. "Sesshoumaru, what's wrong?" Inuyasha forced his voice to remain calm.

"I... I've...failed her..." It was all the Taiyoukai said as he gently picked her up and turned away. "Let us get her back to the village. That old miko should know what to do about this."

XXX

She was warm, safe, and her mind seemed strangely numb. She felt like she was being carried. Then, suddenly, she felt nothing and darkness, sweet darkness, encased her mind. A battle flashed before her eyes and she was harming the man that she loved so dearly. The expression in his beautiful amber eyes... She tried to look away but was forced to watch as more scenes unfolded in which those she loved were hurt by her.

No more! Stop it! NO MORE!

Everything froze and then shattered like the jewel had. She kneeled down, seeing bits and pieces of her fractured memories. Her tears rolled down her face and dropped onto them as she realized that they were all of her memories, both wonderful and terrinle. Then, nothing remained.

What have I done? My love...my happiness...my friends...my life... Destroyed.

She picked up a handful of her broken memories and brought them to her chest as she sobbed pitifully. Alone. Broken. Defeated.

"Sesshoumaru..." The name faded on her lips as the sweet memory of him vanished. Then, all went dark.

XXX

Sesshoumaru watched her as she suffered her nightmares in his arms. When they arrived back at Kaede's, he set her in the room she had recovered in before. The others left him alone, knowing that he would prefer to be by himself instead of in their company. Though, Miroku was still furious with him. Not to mention that Inuyasha wanted explanations.

"Sango." He gently touched her face. "Get well and rest now." He leaned down and kissed her forehead. Her expression eased, making him feel a little better. He took her hand and rested his head on their joined hands as he lay beside her. "I will never...ever leave you." He felt guilt surfacing. Everything was his fault. He should have thought out his actions better before just following demands. If he had only realized that while those shards were within her body...they would reject anything foreign and impure. Though...how it could be considered impure was beyond him. Perhaps it was the strength of the amount of youki inside of her body. It was simply too much to be ignored... He sighed quietly as he closed his eyes, allowing himself to slip away.

XXX

She opened her eyes and sat up to darkness. Someone was...holding her hand and lying close beside her. Her eyes were not completely adjusted to the dark but even still...nothing was familiar to her. The person next to her moved.

"Sango? Are you...all right?" The voice was deep but held nothing that clued her in as to where she was.

"Sango?" She asked, testing her voice and trying out the name that the many had used. "My name...is it Sango?" He moved, letting go of her hand. The warmth faded from her body, making her shiver. A few candles were lit, causing her to blink from the sudden brightness.

"Y-You don't know your own name? Sango, this isn't-" She stared at him in complete curiosity. However, there was no recognition in her eyes. She didn't know who he was. She didn't even know who she was. He felt his stomach twist painfully. His mind didn't want to register the pain involved in her stare. He felt a stinging sensation in his eyes and his breathing became irregular. "N-No... This...can't be happening. Not now..." He fell onto his knees and tried to fight the scene he knew was about to happen.

"Who are you?"

XXX

Some twist, eh? Wonder what really happened to her? Well...I know what happened. At any rate, we're coming closer and closer to the end. I've failed to mention that in previous chapters but I guess it slipped my mind. What, with trying to come up with newer chapters for you and all...

I'm not so sure really how many chapters are actually left but they will be a bit longer for you. And I am sorry to leave you at a cliffie like this but...how could I resist the temptation of some feedback? It seems cliffies are the only way to achieve such a goal so...here's one!

Thanks a bunch! And remember, please let me know what you think!

Hint: That means...review!