Sorry for taking so long. College really does weird stuff to you. Please enjoy the chapter! Oh, and the song for this chapter will be Memories by Within Temptation. For the full effect, I recommend listening to that song while reading, especially when the letters are read.

The only thing that could be heard was the crackling of the fire. Miroku went cold. Did he just hear right? Was it really Sango who had sent that message? The monk swallowed hard and took a deep breath.

"Kagome, is it really Sango? What did she say? Is she coming back?" Kagome looked from the others to the letter. After scanning over it quickly she turned to the hopeful monk and shook her head no, crushing what little hope he had of her changing her mind. There was a deathly silence as Kagome continued to read the letter. Finally after what seemed like an eternity Inuyasha broke the silence.

"So are you gonna read the stupid letter or not?" Kagome narrowed her eyes at Inuyasha.

"I'll say it."

"Say what?"

"Siiii…."

"Okay, okay! Let up!" Kagome glanced up at Miroku going to the other tree to retrieve the other letter. After a bit of effort, the letter found its way into the houshi's hands. However, he didn't open the letter, he just turned to Kagome.

"Go ahead and read your letter first." Kagome nodded and started to read the letter out loud.

"Dear everyone,

I know the past day has been a tough one on you all. I am sorry for worrying you, but I want you to know what is going on so you can understand why I left. I want to start off by saying that it has nothing to do with anyone offending me. In actuality, you all have been such sources of strength, comfort and hope that I cannot begin to explain how grateful I am to each one of you. Though you all have brought comfort and protection to me, I cannot guarantee that same protection to you. You all know my history and what I have done. I can't stand the thought of betraying you again, you who have provided so much for me. What kind of payback is that? So that is why I have decided to offer the best protection I can: not allowing myself to become tempted to betray you all again. That is why I have left. I understand if you still don't believe or don't want to believe that I am not coming back now, but please understand this: as hard as it is for you to not have me there, it's harder for me to be away from you guys. I have some leads on Kohaku's whereabouts, so for now I'll be searching for him and Naraku. If I find Kohaku and I'm able to bring him back, then I will return sooner. If I find Naraku before, then I will send for you all.

Kagome, please keep the boys in line. I know you can handle anything that comes your way. Stay strong, for yourself, and if you have any left over, save some strength for me.

Inuyasha, thanks for watching over me all those times in battle. The sooner we find Naraku, the sooner we can set everything right again. Oh and don't go being a baka to Kagome, Shippo or Kirara." Inuyasha stared at the ground and huffed at that.

"Shippo, you're doing a great job of keeping everything together. Keep it up.

"Kirara, I want you to stay with the others. If you find Kohaku before I do, protect him then come find me, okay? Be a good girl while I'm away.

Please don't come after me. I need to do this task alone. For your sake and mine please heed my request. The second letter I sent is a letter to Houshi-sama, so please make sure he gets it. I know we'll meet again dear friends. Please don't forget me, for my memories will always keep you near and dear to me.

-Sango

After Kagome finished reading the letter, she dropped her arms to her sides. Inuyasha looked up at her, smelling the silent tears that now fell from her eyes. The hanyou walked over to her and pulled her into a gentle, comforting hug. Shippo stood next to Kirara, also silently shedding tears. The demon cat turned to Shippo and mewed, as if trying to offer comforting words to the young kitsune. Miroku never shifted from his spot standing in the grass. His head hung low, his bangs falling over his eyes. He tried not to shed any tears. After all, they were going to see each other again, right? His fists clenched tight, wrinkling the letter that was addressed to him personally from his dear Sango. He almost didn't want to read the letter, fearful that it will be another bad news letter, asking to end the engagement. Kagome wiped away her tears and pulled away from Inuyasha, muttering a silent thank you before walking over to Miroku. She placed a hand on his shoulder in comfort, and that was it for Miroku. He buried his head in the miko's shoulder and wrapped his arms around her shoulders, not her waist like he had tried before. Inuyasha grunted softly but Kagome turned her head towards him, scolding him. Miroku was oblivious to this all. He didn't wish to be perverted right now. He just wanted some comfort from this ordeal. Kagome could hear Miroku catch sobs in his throat before they could make their escape. The wind started to pick up around them, blowing cinders and flakes of fire around the group. Shippo shuddered. After Miroku had regained his composure he stood straight and looked at the letter he had clutched so tightly in his hand. The wind ruffled the edges of the letter around his left hand. He turned his hand around, looking at the rings that were on his fingers. One ring, on his ring finger, was designed with the four seasons surrounding a heart in the middle. Every season, my love will stay the same, no matter what. On his little finger was a ring similar to that, only the top half of the band was decorated with roses. Sango's ring she had left him. Fresh tears threatened to spring in his eyes, memories of the day he gave that ring to Sango beginning to surface in his mind. He shook his head sharply, hoping that those memories will be shaken out of his head. He looked once again at the letter in his hand. He brought it to his face and breathed in. It smelled of Sango's sweet perfume she wore often. The wind continued to pick up until the gusts threatened to blow everyone over.

"We need to get some kind of shelter set up in case rain comes again." Inuyasha suggested. He ran off into the surrounding wood to look for something suitable to use as cover from the rain in the event it decided to pour down on the group. Meanwhile Kagome decided to inspect what Miroku had in his hand.

"Miroku-sama, are you going to read your letter?" Miroku smiled half-heartedly at Kagome and then looked at his letter.

"Yes, Kagome-sama. I will. I just need a minute." Kagome nodded and walked over to Shippo who was still upset over the letter. Miroku went to the tree where he pulled the letter from. He opened his hand and uncrumpled the letter. He closed his eyes, took a deep breath and then opened his eyes and began reading.

My Dearest Houshi-sama,

I'm sorry for what I have done to you. A hurt like this doesn't go unnoticed. I understand if you want to break off the engagement, but just know that if you want to take me back, I'll be waiting at the end of the road. Even if you don't reciprocate my feelings, just know you were the first and will be the only person that I will care deeply for with all my heart. I hope that one day very soon I will be able to join you in your travels and maybe one day after that, if you still wish it, come and live with you like you asked me. After all of this fighting, it will feel nice to settle down and start a family.

If you read nothing else in this letter, please read this: I haven't given up on you. Please don't give up on me. I don't know what I'd do if… nevermind. I wanted to say one thing before I end this letter. I know this'll be the first time I say this, but I needed to say it in case something happened to either of us before we meet again.

I love you.

Your Taijiya,

Sango

Miroku was silent, but his mind was racing. She still wanted to marry him? But why did she give him her ring? Why didn't she ask him to come along with her? She couldn't possibly think that something would happen to them, could she? A large pop in the fire brought him back to reality. Kagome tended the fire with a stick, creating the pop. She turned to Miroku who now was perplexed with staring at the fire. Kagome waved her hand in front of Miroku's face, breaking the stupor he was in.

"Yes, Kagome-sama?"

"What did Sango-chan say?"

"That she was fine and she'd see me later on the journey." Kagome nodded hopefully and looked up at the moon, now high up in the night sky. She yawned and turned to Shippo.

"Alright kiddo, time for bed. For all of us." She looked at Miroku, who was now staring at the moon much like Kagome had been before. Inuyasha came back with some giant branches and some logs. After he set up the shelter over Kagome and the fire, he took his place outside the covering and closed his eyes.

"Inuyasha, why are you sleeping outside the covering? If it rains, you'll get wet." Kagome said to the hanyou. Inuyasha just huffed.

"Feh, I'll take my chances." Kirara transformed and curled around Kagome and Shippo who were quickly getting more tired by the minute. Miroku settled down by the fire and closed his eyes, prepared for a restless sleep. He still clutched the letter Sango had written tightly to his chest.

Please review! The ones I get inspire me to continue even more. Thanks to all who have reviewed so far! If there are any suggestions for this story, PLEASE let me know, but only be constructive, not destructive.