The song is 'Flower Petals' from Outlaw Star.

Again, Sango and Sesshomaru only bond as FRIENDS here. No more, nothing else. They only become FRIENDS…everyone got that? OK, on with the chapter.

Sango and Sesshomaru went out upon the balcony of the hotel and sat down upon it facing each other. Even by the light of the moon Sango could see that Sesshomaru looked very troubled, his hand was shaking a bit. Feeling he could tell her more if he was comfortable Sango looked at him. "You know, Sesshomaru, it's very late now. I don't think anyone is going to knock on the door, and there aren't that many people out. You can take off the pendant now if you want." Sesshomaru removed it and handed it back to Sango. As she took it and Sesshomaru's familiar shape reappeared before her, she couldn't help but stare.

"What is it, Sango?" Sesshomaru asked

"It's just that, sitting here this close to you….you look so much like Inuyasha."

"Yes," he agreed quietly. "Our father is reflected in both of us," he paused. "Sango..would you like to see a picture of my father?"

Sango nodded. "Very much."

He reached into the pocket of his kimono and brought out a small rolled up scroll. "My father had this drawn up a few months before he died. After he passed I kept this in my pocket ever since. In a way…it felt like he was here with me."

"He IS Sesshomaru, and he always will be," Sango said. "The same way mine is." He unrolled the scroll and showed it to Sango. Sango gazed upon the image…a tall, muscular demon with long flowing white hair similar to Inuyasha and Sesshomaru's with Sesshomaru's ears and fangs and golden eyes that had as much warmth as Inuyasha's. His hair was in a ponytail at the top of hs head, but Sango could tell if he pulled it free it would be as long as Sesshomaru's. His imposing figure caused her to gasp a bit. "He looks…like both of you. So strong and fearless."

"He was," Sesshomaru said, looking upon it. "But he had as much warmth and feeling for humans as Inuyasha.."

"And you," Sango said with a small smile.

"Yes," Sesshomaru said. "Dear Father...I understand now why you defended all humans up until your death…and why you spoke so highly of them. I only wish I had listened to you when you were alive."

"That doesn't mean he's not listening now," Sango said. "He's watching you and listening to you now, I KNOW he is, and I know he's proud of what you've done." She paused a bit. "Sesshomaru? You were trembling before…what happened?"

Sesshomaru rolled up the scroll and put it back. Sango could tell he was hesitating, so she put her hand on his shoulder. "Sesshomaru? It's OK, you can tell me. I can tell you're upset…it helps if you talk about it. I promise I won't tell anyone else if you don't want me to."

Sesshomaru looked down and took a deep breath. "I had a vision tonight, Sango. A horrible one….a vision of the possible future.."

"You mean a nightmare?"

"What?"

"That's what humans call bad visions they have in their sleep."

"Yes, it was a nightmare, then."

"What was it, Sesshomaru? You can tell me." When Sesshomaru hesitated she put his hand on his shoulder again. "Really, you can tell me." There was a 'mew' and Kiara came out on the balcony. Sango picked her up. "You can even hold Kirara while you tell me. It's very soothing to hold a cat in your lap." Gentily she put Kirara into Sesshomaru's lap. To his surprise she curled up into a ball and looked up at him. "Mew?" she asked "Go ahead, pet her. I don't think she'll mind." Hesitantly he reached his hand out and stroked her fur.

"Her fur is so soft. I don't think I've ever been this close to her before without her threatening me or trying to attack me."

Sango smiled. "That's because she's forgiven you, Sesshomaru. She knows that you've changed and she accepts you now." In answer Kirara purred and snuggled in his lap, much to his surprise. He stroked her fur again. "So, go ahead, Sesshomaru. You can tell me."

Sesshomaru took a deep breath and began. "I dreamed that….we found Kagome too late and by the time we brought her to Inuyasha…he died…" he bowed his head. "My little brother died right in front of me. I was so stunned I couldn't even breathe. "

"Go on."

"I told Jaken to watch over Rin, and went into my chambers to be alone. Kikyo showed up just then…and she pulled me down to Hell!" Sango's eyes grew wide at that. "Once there, Cain himself shown up there and informed me I was on trial for all my crimes. He brought in the Seven Deadly Sins, who had been personified, and the 4 I was guilty of- Pride, Greed, Wraith, and Envy- testified against me. They harassed me, taunted me, other horrid creatures from my pst like Kyura, Jakotsu, Mukotsu….they were all there, throwing things at me, harassing me…and the worst part was I was stripped of my powers. I couldn't transform, I couldn't fly, I had no strength. In fact, the only things I had were my poisoned claws and whip…the only ones I could use to fight back."

"Wow.." Sango said. "That DOES sound awful!"

"Yes…at first the only one who defended me…was Kagura."

"Kagura?"

"Yes….she actually came down from Purgatory, giving up her chance at Heaven to defend me…but no one would listen to her either."

"That sounds like something she would have done."

Sesshomaru looked down. "I only wish I knew how she felt long before. If there was only something else I could have done to maybe save her.."

"I don't know if there was ANYTHING you could have done, Sesshomaru. By the time you found her it was too late."

Sesshomaru sighed a bit. "Still..maybe if I had just put aside my pride and realized Kagura's feelings…and my own for her…I could have found a way to help her escape."

"She has escaped, Sesshomaru. In a way, she has…and she's in a better place now. Far from Naroku and his evil." She looked at him again. "Go on with your dream, Sesshomaru. What happened then?"

"Finally they were going to throw the both of us into a large pit of fire- The Pit of Ultimate Dispear. I was going to be turned into a statue…become on the outside what I used to be on the inside. But before they did…some thing happened.."

"What?"

"You, Miroku, and Kagome all appeared to save the two of us! You defended me and told them to free Kagura. You actually said…you forgave me."

Sango smiled. "That's because I do," she said softly.

"You said Inuyasha could still be saved and were coming to rescue me…but Kikyo shot me with three arrows before I could leave with you! I lost consciousness…and woke up here."

Sango stood there speechless. "That sounded like a horrible dream!" She touched his shoulder. "But….Sesshomaru…I want you to know, one part of that dream WILL come true…if anything like that ever DID happen…and I pray to God it won't..Miroku, Kagome, and I wouldn't hesitate to come down and help you, no matter what."

"You…would?"

"Yes. A long time ago, Sesshomaru, the five of us"

"Mew!"

Sango laughed a bit. "The SIX of us made a pact that if one of us was in trouble, the others wouldn't hesitate to come and help. That way we know we're always here for each other..and…it kind of makes us all like another family. I know that I haven't been the nicest person to Inuyasha….I and Miroku are both guilty of not listening to him or not taking his side a lot…but we're always there whenever Inuyasha needs us…and he's there for us. We can always count on each other.." she stopped and put her hand on Sesshomaru's shoulder. "And Sesshomaru…now that you've made peace with Inuyasha..I want you to know the pact now applies to you, too. If you need help…we'll always be here for you, no matter what." As if to show Sesshomaru that Sango was being truthful, Kirara rubbed up against Sesshomaru's stomach and began purring against him, much to his surprise. Sango looked down at her. "I think Kirara's trying to tell you that SHE forgives you as well. Go ahead, stroke her back, she loves that." Sesshomaru began to stroke her back, slowly and a bit unsure at first, but then he started to get better at it as Kirara purred even louder. "She wants you in our group too. The six if us will be there for you whenever you need us to be now."

"As will I, Sango. I will not hesitate at all to be there if you need me. After all, if Inuyasha- my brother- thinks of you as his family..then you are now part of mine."

"Thank you." Sango paused a bit.. "Sesshomaru? You've already shown me the Demon sign of affection...do you have a sign for friendship?"

Sesshomaru nodded. "It's usually done with two hands, though. Face me and I'll show it to you." He stood up and Kirara jumped upon the balcony railing. He put his hand upon his shoulder, then extended his index and middle finger. He touched the two hands to Sango's heart. "That's the Demon Sign of Friendship. It's usually done by two hands at the same time. The right hand is on the left shoulder, and two fingers of the other hand on the heart. The two fingers represent trust and caring."

Sango nodded and touched her right hand to the left shoulder and put her index and middle fingers of her other hand on Sesshomaru's heart. "Like that?"

"Yes, that's the sign of friendship."

"I like it. It's simple and sweet at the same time." She looked up at him. "Do you want to see human signs of friendship?" She faced him. "One is a handshake. Hold your hand out," She stuck her hand sideways. "Like that." He did so, and Sango took his hand and gentily shook it. "Like that. Another form of friendship is called a high-5." he looked at her questioningly. "Here, I'll show you. Hold your hand up," when he did, Sango slapped his hand lightly. "See? Now you do it. Just slap my hand gentily, Like…tap it, just like this." She demonstrated again…and then Sesshomaru gentily did it. "Just like that. Or else…we can hug. To humans hugging is another form of friendship. You can learn all of them now that you're part of our group. Think of it as six ready-made friends!"

Sesshomaru looked up to the stars again. "It's ironic, Sango. Now that I WANT Inuyasha to live…he might die in a little over 24 hours." He looked down. "I only pray that this vision doesn't turn out to be true. I DON'T want him to die, Sango!" He looked down. "We have all these years to make up for. I was a fool for 254 years…such a fool…I couldn't see the greatest treasure that my father left to me…more valuable than any of my swords…more valuable than my castle, or land…Inuyasha. The most priceless gift I have ever been blessed with. He might be taken away JUST when I finally see him as something to be protected and cared for…" He felt himself once again breaking into a sweat. "I didn't know this was going to be such a hot night tonight. Sango…is the heat affecting you as well?" He turned to see Sango staring at him with surprise. "Sango…what is it?"

"That's not sweat, Sesshomaru! Those are tears…Sesshomaru…you're CRYING!"

Sesshomaru reached up to touch the wetness that was again coming down his cheek. "Tears?" he whispered. He pulled away his hand to see a wet spot on his finger. He could smell the salt and realized they WERE tears. "I…haven't cried since my father died…so many years ago…and even then I cried very little…in my chambers in private….I haven't cried in over 200 years.."

"You can cry in front of me, Sesshomaru," Sango said. When it looked like he might go back in, Sango put her hand on his shoulder. "No…really..you can. It's OK to cry in front of people,. Sesshomaru. Really, I don't mind if you do. Don't hold it in, that's one of the worst things you can do. There's no need to go someone to be alone if you need to cry. I'm your friend, you can cry in front of me..there's no shame in that. It's better to let it all out. Keeping it in only makes it feel worse. Go on…you can cry…" Sesshomaru froze in place and didn't stop the tears as they came down.

"I….don't want him dead…I DON'T want him dead! I love him…but I might not ever get to tell him…when I think of all he suffered…that's something else the Sins said…in a way I'm indirectly responsible for all of this…"

"Not JUST you," Sango broke in. "WE all had a hand…I should have killed Kikyo a long time ago when I had the chance!! I don't know why I didn't!"

"That wouldn't have even happened if it hadn't been for me and my pride. My pride and envious thoughts…and now I might lose my brother…before I even get a chance to fully know him. If I had only put aside these sins and taken him in this would never have happened. The fault lays with me, Sango." He tried to wipe the tears away.

"Sesshomaru," Sango said, "you don't have to stop. It's not good to keep things inside of you, go ahead and cry if you need to. You'll feel better. Trust me, you will. There's no shame in crying in front of people, it's better if you do. Crying ISN'T a sign of weakness, Sesshomaru...it's a sign of STRENGTH. It can make you stronger once everything is out.

I cry a lot in front of Inuyasha, Kagome, Miroku, and Shippo…and they understand. They're always there to help me and be there…that's what friends do." She put her hand on his shoulder again. "And I'm here for YOU as well, now that you're my friend too. Go ahead and cry it out, you'll feel a lot better if you do." She removed her hand and faced him. "You know what else can help?" He looked at her questioningly. "A hug. A simple hug from a friend…it always works for me." With that she put her arms around Sesshomaru's shoulders and gentily hugged him. Sesshomaru looked surprised at first, but the he put his arm around Sango's waist and VERY gentily hugged her back.

"Like that?"

"Like that. See, you're learning. How did you feel just now?"

"That….felt nice….it was unlike anything I've ever felt. Warm, close, and comforting."

"Do you feel better?"

"I believe I'm starting to."

"Hugs of friendship have that way, Sesshomaru. They can help comfort you and soothe the sadness. It does for me. Whenever I cry, Kagome always hugs me and lets me sob into her shoulder…and I feel better knowing I have her, and Inuyasha, Miroku, and Shippo there with me…"

"Mew!"

"And of course you, Kirara! I could never forget you." Kirara jumped onto Sango's shoulder.

"Do you cry when you think of your brother, Sango?"

Sango looked down. "Yes. When I think about what he must be going through…I cry for him. Of course I cry for other reasosn, too. I cry when I think of my Father's suffering, and of the horrors of the people of my village." He looked at Sesshomaru. "Let me show you something.." she turned around and slowly lifted up her nightshirt to show him her huge scar. He gasped.

"Sango…how did you get that?"

"Naroku did that to me…using my brother to do it," Sesshomaru growled softly. "He put a jewel shard into Kohaku's back in order to control him and his movements and ordered him to kill our father, everyone in the village, and finish off with me. He put his weapon right into my back, giving me this scar. By sheer force if will I was able to survive. That and pure luck…if this was any deeper it would have gone into my spine."

"Curse him," Sesshomaru growled. "Imprisoning a child's mind, forcing him to do his will like a puppet….causing him to kill his own family..damn him straight to hell!" he looked at Sango. "You are am amazingly strong woman, Sango. You could have been paralyzed…it's truly a miracle you were able to live." He studied the scar. "Does that hurt you, Sango?"

"Not as much anymore," Sango reassured him. "It used to hurt whenever I walked. Now it only does if someone presses it hard or when I wash my back it stings a bit. When that happens, I cry harder than I ever have before. Sometimes just looking at it is enough to make me cry….not because it hurts, but because my own little brother did this to me…and he didn't even know he did! He didn't know what he was doing, and I know he would be horrified if he found out."

"May I touch it, Sango?"

"Sure." Sesshomaru very gentily ran his finger over the scar, amazed at how deep it was, being careful not to push down upon it.

"Sango…would you like me to remove this scar when we get back to our time?"

Sango put the nightshirt down and turned to face him. "Can you do that?"

"Yes. The Tetsagia is the Sword of Healing, as you know. Not only can it restore a soul and destroy the undead it can also heal deep wounds. All I would have to do is run the sword over that scar, and it would be gone instantly. Would you like me to do that?"

"I would…thank you, Sesshomaru."

"Think nothing of it, Sango. After all…we are now friends. You have just helped me…so I will help you."

Sango smiled. "Not just us, Sesshomaru. You have five more ready made friends waiting for you back home, one of which is your own brother. I know he'll be glad to finally get to call you one. I know, like you, it's not easy for him to express emotions, but he hated having to fight you. He WANTED the both of you to be family."

"So we shall be," Sesshomaru said, staring out at the stars again. "You WILL get better, Inuyasha…and we WILL be the family you deserve to have."

"You know the best way to start with that? Tell him you love him. You can do it. Like I said, I know you can. I also know the best way you can start. You know there's someone here that you also love. If you can tell HER you love her, it'll be easier when you finally tell Inuyasha."

Almost as if she had heard him, the voice of Rin came from the room as her small shadow became visible in the moonlight reflecting on the balcony floor. "Lord Sesshomaru?"

Sesshomaru turned quickly. "Yes, Rin?"

Rin came toward him just then. "Lord Sesshomaru…are you alright?" She stared at him, concerned. "You're crying, Lord Sesshomaru! I've never seen you cry before."

"I'm very worried about my brother, Rin. It caused me to have a nightmare about it."

Rin crawled up into his lap. "Was it really bad, My Lord?"

He didn't want to scare her with it, so he just answered "It was, Rin."

"Whenever I had a nightmare…my Mother always took me in her arms and sang me a lullaby…and it always made me feel better. Do you want me to sing to you, Lord Sesshomaru?"

"I would like that, Rin, Very much."

Rin cleared her throat, moved closer to him, and began a lullaby she remembered hearing from her mother.

"One soundless mid-day, the wind was so cheerful.

Flower petals sway in the breeze as if they were sleepy.

This serene feeling...

Tell me, what's the word people use for it?

Tell me a story that's locked away in the white-sand moon.

Let me hear it as gently as light shining down...

Will the time come?

Then you'd be able to be gentler than you are now.

Such a warm feeling...

Tell me, what's the name that people give to it?

Softly, let me hear of the distant future,

So bright it can't be seen, like a white-sand moon."

Sesshomaru and Sango were amazed at the beauty of Rin's singing. "That was lovely, Rin. You have a beautiful voice."

"Do you feel better now, Lord Sesshomaru?"

"I do. Thank you, Rin," Rin slid off Sesshmaru's lap. Remembering Sango's words, he glanced at her who nodded in support. "Rin," Sesshomaru called. Rin stopped where she was and turned around to face him. He knelt down so they were eye level. "Stand in front of me." Rin moved closer to him. Gentily he took her hand in his. "Rin…I must tell you something important."

She nodded. "Okay."

"Rin, this is very hard for me to say. Demons have a hard time expressing their feelings to people…"

"Why, Lord Sesshomaru?"

"Because our hearts are much smaller than human hearts. But, you need to know this.." he quickly glanced at Sango, who nodded to him encouragingly. "Rin…ever since you came into my life..you have caused a great change. Not only in my life…but deep within myself. Ever since my father died many years ago I have shut myself up…but you have opened up my heart in ways that I never thought could be possible. I now know that emotions and kindness are signs of strength…and having someone to take care of and be there for has helped me see these things. It was like I told you earlier tonight….you have truly helped me in more ways than I could ever hope to name." He let go of her hand and reached over to touch her cheek. "Rin…you are one of the most important and most valuable things in my life. I….cherish you, Rin."

Rin smiled. "I cherish you as well, Lord Sesshomaru," with that, she reached out and hugged him. Sesshomaru slowly hugged her back. "I love you, Lord Sesshomaru."

"I….I love you, too, Rin," Sesshomaru finally said. He gentily pulled away from her. "Rin, hold out your hand." She looked curious as she did so. He took it and gentily held it to his heart. He moved it in a circle on his heart. "This is the Demon sign of affection, Rin. This is how Demon family members say I love you."

"Oh," Rin then took Sesshomaru's hand, put it on her heart, and moved it in a circle. "Like that?"

"Yes, just like that, Rin."

"Would you like to see how human family members say I love you?"

"Yes, Rin." Rin then moved over, hugged Sesshomaru, and gave him a small kiss on the cheek. Sesshomaru moved back a bit. His eyes widened as he reached over and touched his cheek. "A….a kiss? A kiss for me?" He looked down, uncertain of what to do and feeling a bit uncomfortable. "Thank you," he finally said.

Sango came forward then. "Sesshomaru? It's OK. Humans don't just reserve kisses for their husbands or wives like Demons do. The only kind of kiss that's reserved for husbands and wives are kisses on the lips. But kisses on the cheek are OK. Anyone can kiss on the cheek. Brothers and sisters, close friends…and parents and children can kiss on the cheek. For humans a kiss on the cheek is a way of saying I love you…and you don't have to be married. Only for kisses on the lips."

"Is that true?"

"Yes. Kisses on the lips are for married people, but kisses on the cheek are for anyone you love."

"Very well then…" Sesshomaru gathered Rin tenderly in his arm, brushed her hair back from her face…and gentily pressed his lips to her cheek. He looked at Sango. "Like that?"

"Just like that."

Rin hugged Sesshomaru again. He glanced at the clock on the wall. "Rin, it's very late and we have to get up early tomorrow to continue on our journey. You must go back to bed now."

"OK." Sesshomaru gathered Rin into his arms and carried her to the bed. He brought the covers up around her shoulders. Run turned to him. "Lord Sesshomaru?" she asked. "Does this mean when you get the Great Empire, like Master Jaken told me you will, I can be with you forever?"

"Rin, there is not going to be a Great Empire. I no longer want one anymore…I want a family."

"You have one, Lordf Sesshomaru. You have Inuyasha, and your mother."

"Yes…and I also have you, Rin." He reached into another pocket of his kimono and pulled out a scroll. "I was goig to present you with this for your next birthday in another month, but I think you may see it now." he unrolled it. "This is a legal document I had made up, Rin. It states clearly….that you are now legally adopted as my daughter. No one can ever take ou away from me, Rin, and you may stay with me as long as you wish." Rin gasped with joy at that. "When you turn sixteen and get of age, if you also want, I can perform a Demon ritual to join your lifespan with mine. You wont become a Demon, but you will age as slowly as I do, and you'll hardly ever have any illnesses."

Rin sat up. "Lord Sesshomaru, can you really do that? ALL of that?"

"If you wish, Rin."

"More than anything!"

"The ritual will have to wait until you're sixteen."

"OK!"

"You wish both?"

"I wish them, I wish them!" She hugged Sesshomaru tightly. He smiled his small half smile and hugged her back.

"Very well, so it shall be. But you must sleep now."

"OK. Good night, Lord Sesshomaru. I love you." She kissed him on he cheek. He kissed her back on the cheek.

"I love you too, Rin. Sweet dreams." When he turned back, Sango smiled at him.

"See? That wasn't so hard."

"No," he agreed, turning back to Rin.

"If you can tell her, you can tell Inuyasha."

"And so I shall."

BACK IN THE FEUDAL ERA…

Shippo stirred in his sleep and woke up quietly. Sitting up, he saw Miroku asleep in the chair next to Inuyasha. Silenty he got up and made his way around to Inuyasha's bed, staring at him. With his Demon eyes he could see clearly, even in the dark, that Inuyasha had gotten worse. His Demon form had now completely gone, and the scales were spreading to his stomach. Shippo knew that he would start to hurt severely down there soon. He also noticed that Inuyasha was sweating and groaning in his sleep. Occasionally he would toss and turn, mumbling things. A few times Shippo even heard Kagome's name mentioned…and he wanted to burst into tears. Carefully he got into the bed with Inuyasha and snuggled up against him. He quietly lifted Inuyasha's good arm and put it around him, snuggling up against his body. "Please don't leave us, Inuyasha. Don't leave ME. I love you." Slowly he fell back asleep.

IN KAGOME'S TIME…

Sango, Kirara, and Sesshomaru turned back to the balcony. "Are you feeling better, Sesshomaru?"

"Yes, very much. Thank you for our talk, Sango, I did enjoy it very much." he glanced at the clock on the wall. "Sango…it's very late. Demons can stay up all night with no difficulty, but I know humans cannot. You should get some sleep as well."

Sango climbed back ito the bed and Kirara jumped up next to her and curled up into a little ball on the pillow. "Will you be alright now?"

"Yes. Thank you, Sango. Pleasant dreams…my friend."

"Pleasant dreams," Sango pulled the covers up.

Sesshomaru glanced out the window, looking at the stars, trying to send a telepathic message to Inuyasha. After a while he became aware of another presence in the room with him and he looked back in. From the far corner of the room he could see a faint blue white light glowing. The light got brighter and brighter and before Sesshomaru's eyes a figure came out of it….a figure he knew well. He gasped as the figure came closer to him.

"Mother?"

SHIPPO: Oh NO, Inuyasha's getting worse and worse! He's calling for Kagome in his sleep…Miroku, what are we gonna do?!

MIROKU: There's nothing we CAN do until Sango and Sesshomaru come back with her. We need more herbs, the potion is spreading a lot quicker than I thought it would! Help me open a window too.

SHIPO: What could be taking them so long?! I wish they'd hurry! Next time: SESSHOMARU'S VISITOR. I hope whoever that is can help him find Kagome!