We do not own Inuyasha or any of its characters.
This story is an adaptation of the Jane Austen Novel Sense and Sensibility, and heavily influenced by the 2008 BBC adaptation. There have been some changes to the plot to make it more… Inuyasha.
This story features artwork by the amazing Kalcia, come find us on Tumblr (same usernames) to see the art!
Spring, 1805
There was a somber air over Shikon Park, the weight of it felt by all who stood within its grasp. Sango Higurashi's hand was clasped tightly in her sister Kagome's as they watched their father struggle to breathe as he lay in his bed. Their mother, Mai Higurashi, sat in her place beside him, gently wiping the sweat off his brow.
A loud commotion from the hall pulled Sango from her vigil, her deep brown eyes turning to the door as it swung open, revealing their half-brother, Hojo, their father's son from his previous marriage.
"Hojo, thank goodness you have come," Mai said softly as she rose from the bed to let Hojo draw near.
"Father, I am here," Hojo whispered, tripping over his feet as he scurried closer to kneel beside the bed, taking his father's hand in his.
"Hojo…" Kenji Higurashi's voice was labored as his dulled gaze turned to his eldest child. "I am unable to divide my estate… between you and your… sisters." Kenji coughed, the sound almost a wheeze as Hojo leaned closer. "The law says everything... Everything...must go to you…"
Hojo's eyes widened almost imperceptibly, a look of anticipation that was quickly dashed, but not before Sango's sharp sight caught it.
"You must… Promise me… promise me you will look after your sisters, your step-mother… Hojo…" Kenji's hand tightened against Hojo's, "you must promise me."
"I… promise, father."
Kenji's eyes closed in relief as he dropped back against the pillows.
A moment later the labored breathing faded, and Mai let out a cry as Kenji's hand fell limp. Kagome's hand covered her mouth as she let out a sob, her chocolate eyes full of sorrow and a hint of fear as she watched their mother fall onto the bed, her head on their father's chest as she sobbed. Hojo stepped back, his gaze slightly wide and full of panic as the doctor rushed through the door at the sound.
Sango began to tear up as she watched as the doctor examined her father, listening to his chest, holding a mirror to his mouth to check for breath, but she pushed them back. There would be time for mourning later; at the moment, she knew she needed to be there for her mother and her sister. She knew there would be much to do; someone needed to think of what came next, and as much as she loved her mother and sister, they would sooner fall into despair than plan and prepare.
Within three days, she had been proven right as her brother's wife, Yura Higurashi, arrived with their young son Akitoki in tow, to install herself as the lady of Shikon Manor.
Yura was as different in temperament and looks from the Higurashi sisters as their brother could have gotten. While both sisters had long dark hair, kept in modest but reasonable fashion, Yura's black hair was shockingly short, the cut skimming her chin. Sango and Kagome both were known in the parish as being warm, approachable women, whereas Yura was cutting and direct, two qualities unusual for a woman of their time. Her black gaze missed nothing, judging everyone and everything, and typically found them lacking.
Sango curtsied to her sister-in-law as the woman swept by her with barely a glance. Given Yura's… demands for perfection… Sango, upon notice that the woman would be arriving by the end of the day, had immediately ensured her best presentation. She stood in the entryway in her best black linen dress, determined to honor the mourning period even though Yura had made it obvious she took it as a slight. Her sister-in-law's slight sniff and lifting of her nose made her feelings quite clear as she passed.
Sango sighed as she fell in line behind Yura, listening with a heavy heart as the woman immediately began to discuss the changes she wanted to make to the home: the paintings that simply had to be replaced with something more colorful, and wouldn't that wall look marvelous in green? It hadn't even been a full day, and yet everyone was already miserable, a new record for Yura. Sango fell back as Yura continued on through the home, a manservant scrambling after her to take note of her multiple changes.
"Thank you, Ayumi." Mai's voice had Sango turning to see her mother with a few of her most precious items from the master bedroom carefully cradled against her chest. "Please get the room ready; your mistress will be expecting it."
"Mama…" Sango stepped forward to help her mother, taking some of the items. "I'm sure there is no need to give up your room."
"No, Sango, Yura is the mistress now; she will demand the best and I…" Mai sighed as she led Sango through the halls, "I have no wish to fight while I am still mourning your father."
"Well, I think it's rubbish that she is now the mistress at all," Kagome huffed as she stepped out of the room she shared with Sango, where she had been hiding. "It's not fair; where have they been for the past 6 years? Hiding away as far from here as they could in London? Where were they when father fell ill? They don't deserve Shikon."
"No, they don't," Sango agreed, "but that does not matter."
"Sango," Kagome fumed, "do you not care that they are taking our home from us?"
"Of course I care, Kagome, but that is not how it works," Sango chastised. "The estate always goes to the eldest son, and it would do you well to stay in Yura's good graces. Our livelihood is now entirely dependent on Hojo and Yura."
"And she will lord it over us every day," Kagome grumbled before turning pleading eyes to her mother. "Mama, how long do we need to stay? I cannot stand to be around that woman for long."
"Until we know what our allowance is, we do not know what we can afford, dearest," Mai said quietly as she began to place her items around her new room. "We will stay as long as we must, and we must pray for your brother's goodwill and generosity."
"You mean pray that Yura is generous…" Kagome muttered under her breath, and Sango could only nod at her sister's words.
Three days had passed since Yura's descent on their… her… home, and Hojo had yet to make any decision as to his sisters and stepmother's future. Sango walked through her father's library, her fingers trailing over the familiar spines with a sense of sadness. She drew out her favorite story, Candide by Voltaire, smiling sadly as she thought of the hours she spent in the library listening to her father hem and haw over some correspondence or theory that was proposed in a book. He had given her one of the most precious gifts a father could give a daughter—an education that included more than embroidery or music—and she would be forever grateful.
"Hojo, I do not want… them… ruining anything." Yura's voice echoed down the hall, drawing closer to the library.
Sango dropped her book onto her father's desk to hide behind the false door. She had been nice and accommodating to Yura for three days, but lord, she needed a break. If she was seen, Yura would have some demand or another, and Sango would sigh, smile, and do what she could to assist.
"Yura, they are my sisters and my stepmother."
"And we are being hospitable and charitable by allowing them to stay here for the time being, when they do not belong." Sango sighed at Yura's cutting words. "I do not understand why they insist on staying; if they would like to stay, then they will need to join the servants."
"Yura, Mai was lady of the house for nearly 20 years."
"And now I am lady of the house, and I say who stays and who goes, Hojo."
"I promised Father that I would look after them."
"And you have been, my dear Hojo; no brother could have been more attentive in their time of mourning."
Sango stepped back to leave, but stopped as she heard Hojo begin to speak again.
"I have a mind to give them each 1000 pounds."
Sango's eyes closed as a sense of relief rushed over her. A thousand pounds apiece would let them find suitable lodgings, and still keep the staff who wished to follow them. She should not have doubted their broth…
"A 1000 pounds apiece?" Yura's voice rose to a screech. "Surely you aren't intending to rob your only son of his rightful inheritance! How would you be able to look him in the eye, knowing you are taking money from dear Akitoki?"
"Is… is it too much?"
"Hojo, what would three women need with 3000 pounds a year between them? They would not have many expenses, and your sisters will inherit 10,000 pounds upon the death of your stepmother, which is a more than adequate inheritance."
"Ah, then 500 pounds apiece, that should suffice."
"Oh, Hojo, that would be more than generous, and I am sure your father did not intend for you to squander your inheritance from your mother on his second wife and your half-sisters."
"You are right of course, my dear," Hojo signed as Sango seethed from behind the door. "Then it is set: 100 pounds apiece. I will inform Mai, and they can begin to find their own accommodations."
300 pounds a year… Sango felt panic begin to rise.
How would they be able to survive on 300 pounds? That would barely cover a home for the three of them, let alone any of the staff. Sango felt tears well and she forced herself to push them away. She needed to stay strong, to help make sure they would be safe and could afford necessities such as food when they left Shikon. She pressed her back against the wall and let her shoulders drop for a moment before pushing off to seek out her mother.
Hojo stood behind her mother in her new bedroom, his face clear of any expression as her mother buried her head in her hands and her shoulders shook.
"This is not what your father would have wanted, Hojo, you know how important family was to him," Mai exclaimed softly, her voice heavy with tears.
"Yes, as long as it was this family." Hojo's eyes took on a hard glint as he spun and stalked past Sango, barely giving her a nod as he stormed out.
"300 pounds…" Mai whispered, dropping onto the bed, "whatever shall we do?"
"We will make do, mama," Sango responded as she moved to kneel beside her mother. "It is what we do."
"Oh there you are." Yura swept into the room, a small, unattractive smile on her face. "I was wondering where you were hiding."
Mai's shoulders stiffened as Yura spoke.
"I have just heard from my brother, Miroku; he will be coming to visit us tomorrow, and I anticipate that his stay will be a long one. You have never met my brother, have you?"
"No," Mai said quietly, shaking her head slightly.
"He is the eldest, heir to a considerable fortune, and I must say, the family has great expectations of him." Yura looked around the room, a hint of disdain visible as she took in the modest decorations. "Well, there is much to do, my brother is quite… discerning in his tastes, and we would not want him to find any…" Yura's eyes scanned over Mai and Sango quickly before continuing, "fault with anything." Her lips turned, the look cruel to Sango. "So please do excuse me, there is thus much to do."
Mai waited for the door to close behind Yura and her footsteps to fade down the hall, her hands clenched at her side.
"We will be leaving as soon as we find suitable accommodations." Mai took Sango's hand as anger deepened her voice. "I will not stay around that woman any longer than I must."
True to her word, Yura found many things to change or items that simply were not up to her dear brother's standards, sending the house and the staff into a tizzy. Silver that had been polished only days before her arrival were deemed to be stained or tarnished, forcing the staff to meet her expectations before they could move to another task, only to have her yell at them for not working fast enough.
Sango watched out the window of her room when she saw Ayumi and Kanna struggling with a rug over their shoulders. She quickly ran out of the room towards the nearest exit, not catching up with the girls until they had managed to throw the rug over a line strung between two trees.
"Ayumi, Kanna, what are you doing?" Sango asked, eyeing the carpet beater in Ayumi's hand. "Weren't these just done a week ago?"
"Beg pardon, miss," Ayumi said softly with a small curtsey, "but Mrs. Hojo Higurashi insisted they be done again with Mr. Miroku coming."
"These carpets are clean, Ayumi." Sango reached out to gently take the carpet beater. "Please, go see to your other work."
"Thank you, Miss Sango." Ayumi smiled as she curtseyed again and hurried into the house.
Sango turned to the rug, the one she knew should be laying on the floor in her father's study, the beater in her hand. All of her anger and frustration at the situation began to bubble up, and her grip on the beater tightened. Sango couldn't help herself, grabbing the beater with both hands, winding back and smacking the carpet as hard as she could, wishing that it actually were her sister-in-law's face.
She took a step back, shaking out her arms as she turned… and came face to face with a man's chest.
"Good morning." A rich tenor voice had her lifting her gaze, deep brown meeting indigo as the man smiled at her.
"Oh, umm, forgive me, I was j… just…" Sango stammered, her eyes going wide.
"Beating carpets?" the man teased, laughter dancing in his eyes.
"Oh… ummm…" Sango looked sheepishly between the carpet and the man. "Yes."
"Miroku Hoshi, how do you do?" Sango continued to watch him warily, unsure of what to make of him as he took his hat off, his black hair long for the fashion of the day, tied back at the base of his neck. "My horse threw a shoe, so I came this way by way of the stables."
"Sango Higurashi." Sango dropped into a small curtsey, and as she rose she saw a small smile turning Miroku's lips.
"Would you like any help?" he asked, and Sango tilted her head slightly, unsure of what he was asking. His smile grew as he gestured towards the rug with his hat. "With your... carpet beating?"
Sango found her lips twitching with amusement for a moment, before she shook her head slightly, a blush forming on her cheeks.
"Oh um… no, thank you." She turned her head briefly towards the house then back to him. "I should… take you back to the house to see your sister."
Sango moved towards the house, pausing for a moment as she and Miroku started towards the same opening between the rugs. Miroku stepped back with a small bow, holding out his hand to let her go first.
As they walked back to the house in silence, Sango could not help but notice the differences between Miroku and his sister. He had been warm, charming, nothing at all like the cold, cunning and calculating Yura. Her eyes darted to him as they walked side by side. She couldn't deny that he was attractive, tall and lean, dashing in his black coat and pants, purple vest and white cravat.
Sango snuck a look at his boots as they ascended the stairs to the front door; she had learned from her father that one could tell a lot about a man from his boots. If they were new and shiny, the man just wanted to pretend to fit in, but Miroku's were scuffed and worn. They were not the boots of the high society lord-to-be that Yura had painted him as when she spoke of him. This was a man who held the door open for her with a smile, whose indigo irises shone with intelligence, curiosity, and not with the indifference of the lords who had visited her father from time to time from London.
He puzzled her.
He intrigued her.
"Miroku!" Yura jumped to her feet as Sango led him into the parlor, dashing away from the table where she sat with Kagome and Mai. "Look at you, why are you dressed like… that? Where are your things?"
"They are on their way here from the inn. The weather was nice, so I felt like taking a ride and enjoying the fresh country air."
"And how long are you planning on staying?" Kagome's voice was full of distrust and resentment, but a side look from Sango had her going quiet.
"Well, that would entirely depend on Mrs. Higurashi." Miroku held his hat before him as he smiled first at his sister then Kagome before turning to Mai's. "I would not like to overstay my welcome; I am dependent on your hospitality." Sango watched her mother give her first real smile since the death of Sango's father as she nodded to acknowledge the courtesy and respect that Miroku had given her.
Sango watched Miroku with her mother and sister, answering their questions easily with a smile as he ignored the dark looks and hisses from Yura. He was not at all what she expected him to be. More than once he turned back to look at her, laughter and genuine amusement in his eyes, and she could tell he was laughing with, not at, her family.
When Yura finally had enough of being ignored, she forcibly grabbed Miroku's elbow, dragging him away from the three women. "I cannot believe you showed up looking like… like this," she seethed, her voice carrying down the hall. "You have more sense than this, Miroku, and it's time you start…" Her voice finally dropped off, and Sango was unable to hear any further… complaints from the woman.
"I like him," Mai said with a soft smile on her face. "He is a proper gentleman."
In a manor as large as Shikon, it was almost amazing how many times a person could still run into someone in a day. It seemed that every time Sango turned a corner, or entered a room, Miroku would be there, talking with the butler, charming cookies from the cook, or admiring the library. He seemed to go out of his way to talk to every member of the household, to learn about them, to get to know them. He didn't treat them like they were beneath him: he spoke to them as equals, genuinely curious about their lives. He was respectful to her mother, deferring to her in conversations or decisions, treating her with the proper courtesy and dignity of the lady of the household.
Sango truly admired that.
In his family, he had told her, when his father had died some years ago, it had been set up that his mother, rather than him, would inherit the estate. It was a rare arrangement to be sure, but none would dare to question his mother.
"It gives me a unique perspective, I suppose," Miroku said one day when he had joined Sango on one of her daily walks. "I never understood the law that said a wife could not inherit the husband's estate, that instead she is entirely dependent on his will and his next of kin. Why shouldn't a woman be seen as having the same worth and value as her husband?"
When Sango gave a soft sound of agreement, he stopped for a moment to watch her, his indigo eyes considering her carefully.
"It must pain you to watch my sister refurbishing Shikon after her own… taste."
Sango shook her head at Miroku's words. "No; I mean, it is her house now, so it is only right that she would seek to refurbish the house to suit her needs and wishes."
"Yes, well, I wish she would stop trying to refurbish me as well." Miroku's voice held a note of anger, and Sango tilted her head up to watch him. "She sees me as a disappointment; she would like me to be someone important, someone spoken about, a politician or dignitary of some sort."
"Is that not something that you would want, then?" Sango asked him, genuine curiosity on her face.
"Me? No.. no. You see, I would rather go into the church, run a small country parish…" He smiled at the thought before sighing. "But that is not smart enough for my family." Miroku got quiet, his brow troubled. "I feel that we must all find our own way to be happy."
"So do I…" Sango said with a small laugh, "and I quite prefer your definition of happiness."
"Do you?" Miroku turned, his deep indigo eyes capturing Sango's with their intensity, as if he was looking for something in them, and smiling softly at what he found. "Good. Quiet country parish it is, then." With a small chuckle he began to walk again, and Sango trailed beside him, lost in thought over what he had said.
It wasn't long before Miroku began to join Sango every day for one of her walks of the grounds, laughing with her at some new antics of Kagome's, sharing tales of their childhood, their visions of the future. He began joining her, Kagome, and Mai for evening readings of poetry and stories, and Sango found they had similar taste in books. She shyly showed him some of the drawings that she had done, portraits of servants and a charcoal of Shikon Manor, and he was in awe of their beauty.
Each day found him standing a little closer, smiling a little brighter at her as they laughed on their walks. One day Miroku found a yellow wildflower and carefully picked it for her hair, a compliment to her dress and beauty, he had said, and Sango had felt her cheeks flush at the compliment. Family dinners were spent with furtive glances between the two: Sango would look up to see Miroku suddenly darting his eyes away, only for him to smile when she did the same.
One afternoon, Sango lay under one of the oak trees with Kagome, a gentle, happy smile on her face, not seeing the consideration on her sister's.
"Do you love him?" Kagome asked. Sango started, her face turning towards her sister, but there was no question to whom Kagome was referring.
"I… think very highly of him," Sango said, very diplomatically, only to be met with the amused expression on Kagome's face. "I like him, Kagome," she finally admitted with a small laugh.
"Do you think he is worthy of you? From what I can see, he has no taste for music or poetry."
"Kagome, there are worse faults than not appreciating your playing," Sango said, pushing off the ground.
"But his readings, Sango! He's so calm: there's no passion, no spirit in it."
"He allows the words to speak for themselves, Kagome. He has a different style; is that so bad?"
"Well…" Kagome grinned, "the day you tell me to call him brother-in-law, I will find no fault in him at all."
Sango stilled, pushing herself up into a fully seated position.
"Kagome… no, there is no question of that. He has family obligations, duties."
"But if he loves you, those will not matter, and he will act upon those feelings."
"Kagome, nothing has been said between us," Sango said, watching her sister's face. "I have feelings for him, yes, and I believe that he has feelings for me, but please, do not hope for something that may actually never happen."
"You mean you are … not engaged?"
"Engaged? What would give you that impression?"
"I thought, for sure, that he had asked you in secret, that there was an agreement between you two."
"No." Sango said with exasperation, "nothing of the sort."
"Well, it is only a matter of time; in fact, I am sure it will be very soon."
Sango shook her head at Kagome, her stern expression giving way to a smile as her sister began to giggle. When Kagome saw Miroku approaching from the house, her giggles quieted with a knowing look and a waggle of her eyebrows as Sango blushed and rose to dust off her dress before leaving for her daily walk with Miroku.
Later, as they returned from their walk, Miroku left for the stables to check on his horse, and Sango continued on to the manor.
"... enjoying his visit, Yura." Sango slowed at her mother's words, stopping altogether when she heard Yura respond.
"Yes, it does appear so… You must understand, my mother has great expectations for him..." Yura paused for a moment before continuing, "...both in position and in matrimony. So you see, any young woman that may be attempting to… lure him in… would thus wind up gravely disappointed."
Sango's eyes closed at the veiled warning. She had no expectations of anything coming from her… friendship… with Miroku, but still any hopes or dreams were cut to the quick in an instant.
When Sango finally composed herself well enough to enter the manor, she found her mother standing with Kagome, huddled over a letter. At the sound of Sango's footsteps Mai's head rose and she gestured for her to join them.
"What is it Mama?" Sango sighed.
"It's a letter from my cousin, Mushin. He has offered us a cottage on his estate in Devonshire. What do you think, Sango?" Mai asked her, handing her the letter.
Sango scanned it quickly, focusing on the key information: the rent, and the size.
"It is small, but the rent is moderate; we would only need one, maybe two servants. I do believe we should consider it."
"I will write to Mushin immediately and accept."
"Without seeing it, Mama?" Kagome asked.
"Yes." Mai's face was hard as she spoke. "I am determined to leave this house by the end of the week."
Sango watched her mother hurry down the hall, the letter in hand. She knew that the conversation between her mother and Yura had something to do with her mother's sudden insistence to leave.
It seemed almost surreal—packing up a lifetime of memories, keeping only the dearest of items—to move so far away. There were memories in every corner of the house: hiding from their father, giggling with Kagome. The library was the hardest, and thus the room Sango and Kagome had left for last. Sango had just lowered a painting of Shikon from the wall when the door to the library opened and Miroku entered, stopping when he saw Sango and Kagome.
"Ah… I was...Ummm," he stammered, at a loss for words for the first time since Sango had met him.
"Excuse me," Kagome said quickly, shooting her sister a glance, "I must go help Mama." Sango's mouth opened to ask her to stay, but with a wink Kagome was gone, leaving Sango alone with Miroku.
Miroku watched Sango for a moment, emotions swirling in his eyes, but Sango was unable to read them.
"Devonshire…" he finally stated, "that's… that's so far away."
"Yes," Sango breathed, "but it is not too far for true friends to come visit."
"No… no it's not," Miroku responded, his hands clasped behind his back, his expression unreadable. "It… it must be hard to leave Shikon."
"Yes..." Sango said hesitantly, "but in light of the circumstances…"
"Yes, of course… of course…" Miroku paused again, and Sango felt her heart begin to race even as Yura's comments floated through her thoughts. "Sango, you must know that these past few weeks have been very happy for me."
"For me as well…" Sango responded, her eyes shining.
"I… I don't think I've ever been happier." Miroku's voice showed his nervousness. When he looked up and met her gaze all Sango could do was nod as he smiled. "I'm… I'm very glad that I was able to be here, to be a friend, during these troubling times and I want you… I want you to know that I…" His gaze became troubled as his throat caught, "I value your friendship too."
He took a step forward, his mouth opening as if he was going to continue, only to pause, taking in Sango's face before meeting her gaze again. Sango could then see it in his expression, there was so much that he wanted to say and yet… he couldn't. He drew his hands out from behind his back to show a small wrapped package. His mouth opened again, as if to speak, before snapping closed. He set the package on the desk, tapping it gently. When Sango looked up, she could see the shimmer of tears, and knew they were in hers as well.
"Excuse me," Miroku said brokenly with a small nod as he turned and walked out of the library, leaving Sango standing behind the desk with a stunned expression on her face.
Sango took a deep breath as she stepped out of Shikon Manor for the last time, descending the steps towards the carriages. A hand reached out to help her, and she looked up to meet Miroku's troubled indigo eyes before placing her hand in his. His hand held hers for a second too long, earning a stern throat clearing from Yura, who glared at Sango. He released her hand reluctantly and Sango stepped away to ascend into the carriage, the small package from Miroku tucked safely in her hands.
Hojo stepped up to close the carriage door with a nod to Mai before stepping back to his wife, who watched with glee.
"You will come and visit us soon, Miroku?" Kagome asked, shooting a sly grin at her sister.
"As soon as I can," Miroku promised, his gaze never leaving Sango's. As the carriage started to pull away, she watched him through the window, their eyes never breaking contact until the carriage turned a corner and he disappeared from view.
"Well, my dear?" Mai asked, drawing Sango's attention back to her mother.
"I… I have no news for you," Sango said softly, glancing at the package in her lap.
"He will come visit us soon; I know he will," Kagome smiled, resting her hand over Sango's.
Sango just nodded to appease her sister, then let her gaze turn out the window, watching as they left Sussex behind. As they traveled, the view changed, from towering woods to sweeping plains and hills, yet Sango saw none of it, even as she watched. When Mai and Kagome fell asleep she carefully opened the present from Miroku to reveal a leather bound book. A small smile curved her lips as she saw it was a book on local flowers and herbs in Devonshire, a gift designed to appeal to her practical heart. She opened the book and saw the signature on the message on the first page:
Your affectionate Friend
- M. Hoshi.
Her fingers lightly traced the letters before she settled the book carefully in her purse. Sango sat back in the seat, letting her head fall back as she closed her eyes as she drifted off to sleep.
The entire journey to Devonshire and their new cottage took six days to complete, and Sango was grateful when the carriage finally drew to a stop. The crashing waves of the sea drew Sango's attention as she stepped out of the carriage; their new home sat near the cliffs, and she stopped for a moment, in awe of the view, before her mother called her name and she turned to see the cottage for the first time.
It was small, much smaller than Shikon Manor, yet Sango knew it would do for the three of them and the two servants they had brought with them. She saw the small garden plot next to the house, and sighed with a little relief that they would be able to grow some of their own food to reduce costs.
The cottage was as different from Shikon Manor as it could be, with rustic floors and walls free of any wallpaper, the stucco clearly visible. The ceilings were much lower than the vast chambers of Shikon, making the cottage seem closed in, yet also welcoming. The sound of a musical note told her that Kagome had found a piano; at least her sister would not be bereft of all of her comforts.
Mai stopped Sango as she walked past, intent on viewing the kitchen.
"Sango, can we really live here?" Mai whispered, her eyes full of shock and near horror.
"Of course we can," Sango said with a smile. "We must."
