Inuyasha skidded to a halt in front of his home, roughly dropping Kohaku in the dirt.

"Stay there," he barked at the boy, as he hustled Sango into the hut. Kirara transformed back into her small form, darting inside before them.

Kagome started to her feet when they entered. "Sango-chan!"

She all but stumbled into Kagome's arms, clinging to her friend like a drowning person. Barely controlled sobs racked her body.

"Sango-chan…"

Back outside, the hanyou squatted so he was level with Kohaku's face. "I oughta kill you for what you did to Miroku," he said coldly, "but Sango won't let me. And mind you, that's about the only thing that's holding me back."

Kohaku stared back, equally as cold. He saw the animal rage lurking at the back of the sharp gold eyes and felt an affinity.

"As you say, Inuyasha-sama."

He spat on the ground, his eyes never leaving the hanyou's.

The only thing Sango saw when she entered her friends' home was Miroku, lying pale and still, in a corner.

Her knees gave way and she fell forward – only to be supported by a warm body.

Miroku!

She had wronged him. He had hurt her. She loved him – as he loved her.

Disjointed thoughts and feelings filled her consciousness like the buzzing of so many bees. Sango felt light-headed but fought against the urge to simply let go, clinging fiercely to the person holding her.

After she had vented some of the emotional tide surging within, she belatedly realized the person with her was Kagome.

The last time Kagome had comforted a distraught, sobbing Sango like this had been years before, when she had joined their little group. Sango remembered and saw the memory reflected in the other girl's eyes.

The years melted away as she held her dearest friend close and felt her arms tighten in response.

"What happened?" the miko asked softly once the sobs had subsided.

"… Kohaku, he…" Sango paused. She stiffened and dropped her gaze. "… we lay together."

Kagome frowned, not understanding the implications of the archaic term for a heartbeat – and then her eyes widened. "Sango-chan, I – "

" – it's my fault!" she blurted out. Anger, self-loathing, disgust were mingled in her voice. "I was drunk – and I – "

"Stop it!"

Now it was Sango's turn to be shocked into silence. Kagome looked older than her years, older than the demon slayer had seen.

"Sango-chan. What happened isn't your fault. It's nobody's fault."

"I didn't resist… he was there with me, and I didn't…"

She bit her lip.

The younger girl found herself at a loss for words.

The sound had stopped when Miroku next opened his eyes.

His fingers twitched as he checked for functionality; the pain of his wounds was still there, but he felt stronger. More connected to the living.

He sighed and closed his eyes again.

Memories of Sango floated to the front of his consciousness; too weak to fight them, he simply watched them.

Miroku had failed her. He had failed them.

All the children he had wanted – the happy family he had sought for himself and her, the drifters who had lost everything.

Because he had lacked the courage to kill the thing that threatened his happiness – his, he thought with a pang of guilt.

Kohaku's words – laced with venom as they were – still clung stubbornly to him. They were just like the things Naraku said, only worse; Naraku didn't know him like this boy did.

Being raised in the shadow of his kazaana had rendered him immune to anything Naraku said, but this time it was different.

The ugly truth that faced him leered mockingly. Is this really who I am?

Miroku wondered when was the last time he took a step back to view himself through another's eyes. Now he was confronted with the nagging fears on the back of his mind; the glib, charming rogue who womanised shamelessly, stealing a grope when he could. The swindler who cheated people out of their money. The conman who 'exorcised' demons in exchange for lodging and food – and maybe the daughter of the household to boot.

A man so preoccupied with and repelled by death, he immersed himself thoroughly in the pleasures of life.

His chest seared with pain unconnected to his wounds.

I have changed! I am faithful to her! His fists clenched.

While all these things were true, they no longer defined him. He was Miroku, who had broken the curse of three generations. Miroku, trusted friend and ally. Betrothed.

He needed her. She was his redemption, his new reason for living.

And if she needed him, he would be there.

Regardless of what it cost him.

Miroku opened his eyes once more.

The uncomfortable silence in the hut was broken when Miroku mumbled something and pushed himself upright.

"… Miroku?"

"Sango…!"

She rushed to his side, flinging her arms around his neck just as he reached for her.

"I'm sorry," they murmured at the same time. Her tear-streaked face was pressed to his neck; he held on to her shoulders as though he would never let go.

"I failed you – "

"I thought I'd lost you – "

Oblivious to his wounds, Miroku cupped her face with his hand. "Forgive me, Sango. I thought I – "

"No." She was shaking her head, eyes dark with emotion. "It is I who has to beg forgiveness."

Exhausted, he lay back down again.

"Sango – "

She was looking away from him deliberately. "… Let's break our engagement. You have no obligation to me – "

"NO!"

They were shocked into silence by the monk's outburst. Anger contorted his face and brought what little colour he had to the surface.

"We made a promise to each other, remember? No matter what happened." His hand groped for hers. "As long as we are alive to fight."

"Miroku, I can't. Not this time." She pulled her hand away. "I have wronged you – wronged everyone. I slept with him."

The words dropped like a rock. All colour drained from Miroku's face.

Sango could bear it no longer. She fled the hut.

"Sango-chan!"

Casting a fleeting apologetic look at Miroku, she dashed outside – only to have a gentle hand catching her shoulder.

"Let her be alone for a while," said Inuyasha gruffly. "They both need it."

A scowling Kohaku picked himself up from the dirt where he had been unceremoniously dropped. "Stay there," Inuyasha growled from somewhere overhead.

He looked up menacingly – to find he was already gone, he and Sango.

Whatever that was going on inside the house was inaudible from his position. Nevertheless, Kohaku knew better than to escape – the hanyou would be on his jugular in an instant.

The bloodthirst was strong in him as well. The young man knew better than to take it lightly.

Sitting cross-legged, he pondered his current situation.

Doubtless it was impossible for things to go back the way they were; Inuyasha had ruined everything beyond repair.

And in any case, Kohaku wanted nothing more than to live out the rest of his miserable half-life with the woman that made it bearable.

For her he would gladly live, so he could return her love. They could be happy like they had been.

They had even consummated their union. The corner of his mouth lifted in a mirthless smile.

A very small part of him – right at the back of his mind, he reckoned – was recoiling in disgust from the Kohaku that sat leering in the dirt. But that was a part easily – detached. Removed from himself.

Kagome watched Sango disappear into the forest with a small cry of frustration, turning to Inuyasha for comfort. Her shoulders heaved with emotion, her mind reeling from the sheer absurdity of the entire situation –

But there was nothing she could do but watch her best friends' lives fall apart at the seams, slip away between their fingers.

"… Kagome?"

"Mm?"

"About Miroku."

She lifted her head. "What about?"

"How is he?"

Kagome flushed a little, remembering with a small jolt how close he had come to death – and even yet teetered on the precipice. "I… I honestly don't know."

He firmed his jaw. "They'll pull through. They're stronger than that." But his eyes told the real story.

"But what about Kohaku – " the miko caught herself, being unable to reconcile the gentle, smiling youth with the sullen monster responsible for all this heartbreak. More than those two broken souls' fair share. " – what about him?"

"I don't know," said Inuyasha grimly. He released Kagome and strode outside.

Kohaku looked up when he heard footsteps in front of him.

"You. Get up."

Obediently, he got to his feet – and was promptly whisked off them, slammed into a tree.

"Inuyasha!" gasped Kagome.

"Bastard," Inuyasha snarled into one ear, "even though I can't end you right now, I can damn well make sure you pay for what you've done."

Kohaku would have thrown a sharp retort back, but there was a clawed hand pressing dangerously into his windpipe, and his feet were dangling some way above the ground.

It was pointless anyway, he reasoned, because the hanyou was powerless to do anything but make empty threats.

Physical pain, he could tolerate well enough. Naraku usually put him through much worse. He thought back to one of the numerous occasions when he'd scream his throat raw and bloody.

One day he realized that no one could hear him; his agony was silent ever since, much to Naraku's disappointment.

The young man settled for a penetrating look, aimed straight at Inuyasha. Much to his delight, a trace of fear lurked in the back of the gold eyes.

"… Feh." The pressure on his throat melted away and Kohaku dropped to his hands and knees, coughing. Inuyasha watched him warily.

"… So what will you do with me, then?" asked the slayer in between coughs.

The hanyou grimaced. "Honestly? I dunno. And that's not my place to decide anyway." He folded his arms.

"I'm taking him home."

A voice cut in sharply and all three wheeled to stare at the speaker.

Sango, her eyes hard, strode briskly from the forest into their midst. Her cheeks were still flushed and stained from crying.

"You kidding me?" snorted Inuyasha.

"Sango-chan – " began Kagome.

A look from her silenced them both. She turned her head towards the hut – hesitating for perhaps a moment – and called, "Kirara!"

An answering mew and the firecat came out, transforming as she ran.

Drawing a small knife from inside her clothing, she cut Kohaku's bonds. Sango climbed onto Kirara and motioned for her brother to follow.

Inuyasha abruptly snapped out of it and took a few steps forward. "What the hell's wrong with you!" he yelled. "You gonna take off with – with that – and leave Miroku here?"

Sango responded with a cold look that stilled his next few words. "I think it's best we don't move Houshi-sama for now," she said slowly. "He needs time to recover from his wounds."

"Wounds that he inflicted!" The hanyou gestured angrily at the boy sitting behind her.

"I know."

They stared at each other for a long time. Kagome glanced at Inuyasha; his eyes darted up to meet hers.

Abruptly, Inuyasha's mouth hardened into a thin line and he stepped backward. "Don't think this ain't over," he shot at Kohaku, before addressing Sango, "and you damn better know what you're doing."

The slayer inclined her head briefly and turned to Kagome, an odd look in her eye. "Kagome-chan. Please look after Houshi-sama."

"Sango-chan…" She appeared to be struggling with herself for a moment. "… I will."

She waited until they were both safely mounted on Kirara before touching the firecat's side; they rose into the air and gradually disappeared.

"… let's go," snapped Inuyasha.

A feeling of dread filled her stomach. Kagome nodded, biting back her questions; the expression on his face was one she had never seen before.

It terrified her.

"Wait."

Miroku swayed dangerously in the doorway, clutching the frame for support. His milky-white face was pinched and tense almost beyond recognition.

Kagome ran towards him. "Miroku-sama, you shouldn't be up – "

He waved her away. Determination filled his eyes. "No. I can't… I have to stop her. Before it's too late." The words were jerky, forced out in between gasps.

"Damn you, Miroku," said Inuyasha quietly. "You can't even stand." But he eased Miroku onto his back without another word, and motioned for Kagome to climb on as well.

His brow was furrowed in worry; with the extra weight on his back, he wouldn't be able to run as fast as he would like. The taijiya village was a good day's journey away even on his own.

"Feh. I got no choice. It's gonna be a hard ride." He turned to Kagome. "Tie the useless bouzu to my back, and hang on yourself – no. On second thought, tie yourself down too."

She did as she was told, trusting him implicitly. "Inuyasha…?" The grimness in his face, mirrored in Miroku's, was beginning to scare her.

"… The last time I saw that expression on Sango's face, she tried to kill Kohaku and herself."