InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Hard to Let Go ❯ Aftermath ( Chapter 3 )

by MapleRose

last chapter....

III. Aftermath

Sango slowly walked back to where she dropped her weapon, tears still running down her face. Inuyasha, Kagome, Shippo and Kirara followed her. She knelt down and picked up her weapon with her right hand. She flinched as she felt the pain in her shoulder. She turned to look and saw the bloodstained cloth that was once part of Miroku's robe, and tears flooded her eyes once again.

I have to be strong. She clenched her fist and wiped away her tears. There will be time to mourn later, but now, we have business to finish. I will avenge you, Houshi-sama!

"Show yourself coward!" she ran to where the battlefield was and yelled out.

"It was you that ran away from the battlefield," Naraku's disembodied voice mocked.

"I hate you! I hate you for what you did to Kohaku, to Inuyasha and Kikyou, to all the innocent people who didn't deserve their deaths, and especially what you did to my Houshi-sama! You disgust me!"

"I'm so sorry about the monk. It was his grandfather's fault after all, not his," Naraku mocked again.

Sango growled. "If you are not a coward, then show yourself and fight with us face to face instead of letting someone else do it for you."

Naraku didn't answer. He just laughed and bombed the earth in front of her.

"Come on out you coward." Inuyasha yelled once the dust settled. There was a dangerously angry glint in his eyes. Kagome didn't say anything, but there was a determined look on her tear-streaked face as her hand tightened around her bow. They refused to be disheartened by Miroku's death. If anything, it made them more determined to kill Naraku. They could feel Miroku's spirit cheering them on.

"Over there! I can sense the jewel!" Kagome called out. She ran towards the place, and the rest of them followed.

Naraku was wearing layers and layers of armor, but they could see that the armor was broken in some places where he hadn't had time to fix.

"Looking for more fun?" he chuckled.

"Fun for us. 'Cause you're going down!" Inuyasha replied.

While Inuyasha distracted Naraku, Sango growled and aimed the Hiraikotsu at a weak spot with vengeance and precision. Naraku was caught off-guard and rocketed backwards. He sent a ball of demonic energy to block off the boomerang. This was all Inuyasha needed to use the Bakuryuuha, Tetsusaiga's ultimate attack. The armor was blown off Naraku and at this slight moment of surprise, Kagome used her arrow to finish him off.

The light was so bright that they had to cover their eyes. When the light faded, the tainted jewel that was in Naraku was revealed. Kagome caught and purified it. Kagome took the two shards that Kouga gladly gave for her and placed them in the gap. The jewel was almost complete, except for the one shard that was in Kohaku.

As Naraku was destroyed and lost control of the shard in Kohaku's back, his eyes lost its glazed look and returned to normal. He gasped in pain and recognition and fell to his knees. He started to sob uncontrollably while holding his head. Sango dropped to her knees beside him and held him in her arms.

"Ane-ue, I'm so sorry," he managed to choke out. "I remember now. I, I killed Father and our friends. I'm sorry…" He cried onto Sango's left shoulder as she tried to quiet his sobs.

"It's okay, Kohaku, it's not your fault. I'm just glad that you are back," Sango murmured. I'm glad you're back little brother.

"Sango-chan," Kagome approached the siblings and touched Sango's shoulder gently. "I, we need the last shard…"

Sango gasped and snapped to look at Kagome. "But he'll die!"

"I know, but…" Kagome looked sad as she tried to think of something to say.

Sango shook her head. "No! I won't let him go! I failed to protect him the first time, so I will do everything I can to make it up to him. He's so young, and has a long life ahead of him, I can't take that away!" Kohaku was tired, and was already asleep in Sango's arms, so he didn't hear the conversation.

"But, we," Kagome failed once again to come up with the right words.

"I'm sorry Kagome, I, I just got him back, and I can't lose him again. Can we, can we at least wait a little while?"

"Let him go now Sango, before you get attached. Then it'll be even harder," Inuyasha intervened. Kagome was about to sit him for his insensitivity when she saw the pain and understanding on his face. He knew how hard it was for her, just like it was hard for him to let Kikyou go.

"Why don't we rest for now and decide what to do tomorrow," Kagome suggested as it was getting dark, and they all agreed.

That night, Sango tossed and turned on the floor of the hut they found, unable to sleep. She was afraid to sleep, afraid to dream. And she knew that when morning came, she would have to give up her brother. Her mind wandered back to that night, her last night with Miroku, and the talk that they had. Miroku's voice came back to her, comforting her.

"I know it's hard to let go Sango, but Kohaku would finally be able to rest in peace. You have to move on. He doesn't belong here, Naraku is forcing him to stay."

Deep in her heart, she knew she had to let go, just like she had to let go of Miroku. She pounded her fist on the ground gently as to not wake the others. It's not fair! It's not supposed to end this way!

She knew a while ago that she would eventually lose her brother when they came to complete the jewel. But it seemed so long to that day that it seemed unreal. Now that day had come, she found it harder than she thought, harder still when Houshi-sama was gone. She had already lost one love, and she didn't want to lose another.

It seemed so unreal. She still couldn't believe that he was actually gone. She half-expected to feel his hand on her butt any second. But deep down, she told herself that it wasn't going to happen. He was gone, just like Kohaku would be tomorrow.

"Stay strong, my Sango…" Miroku's voice echoed in her mind.

I will try, Houshi-sama, for you I will.

"It's okay, I understand," Kohaku told them when they explained what they had to do. Sango looked very sad as they got ready to say goodbye to her brother.

It had been two days since Naraku was defeated. Sango wanted some time to spend with her brother before he had to go, and the gang allowed her the two days. During that time, she answered his questions and comforted him. She told him about their quest to collect the shards and defeat Naraku. She even told him about Miroku and how wonderful he was.

She gave him a long hug. "I love you Kohaku," she choked out. "You'll always be my sweet little brother."

"I love you too Ane-ue. I'll say hi to Father and Miroku-sama for you," Kohaku's voice wavered a bit. As much as he tried to hide it, he was a bit afraid. He didn't want to go, but knew he had to.

"Thanks," she drew back, wiped the tears from Kohaku's eyes and then her own.

It had to be done, she reminded herself, like Houshi-sama said, if she loved Kohaku, she should do what's best for him, and that is to let him go.

"Good-bye Ane-ue."

"Good-bye Kohaku," and I'm so sorry, but it's for the best, you are going to a better place now.

The little boy leaned against Sango and closed his eyes as Kagome gently took out the last shard.

Sango knelt down in front of the shrine in the middle of the crater and said a prayer. They had built the shrine for Miroku, and placed his staff, which was all that was left, in the shrine. She had just come from visiting Kohaku's grave, and she had placed flowers for him.

On Sango's right shoulder was the piece of material that was torn off from Miroku's robe. Sango washed the blood from it and wrapped it around her shoulder again. She wore it as a memory of her Houshi-sama because she didn't need it for her wound anymore. The wound was almost healed, all was left was a scar that won't go away. She wished that the deep, deep wound of her heart would heal though. It was still bleeding, but the sharp pain dulled with time to a slow but persistent throb, reminding her of what could've been and never will be.

Sango got up and sighed. Many times she wondered why it had to be this way, and why Fate was so cruel to her. Did it have anything but pain and suffering in store for her? In one day, her village and family were killed, and she was left all alone in the world. Just when she was starting to find a reason to look forward to life, it was cruelly dashed as well. She shook her head to clear it. No, she was thinking negatively. It wasn't all bad. Fate gave her true friends who cared about her and trusted her. It allowed her to meet Miroku and to fall in love with him. Even though it did hurt her, she was glad for the time of happiness that she had, however short it was. She remembered those days as she entered the hut she called home.

Kagome decided to stay in this time to protect the jewel and travel around helping people; Inuyasha and Shippo stayed with her to protect her. They had asked Sango to join them, but she politely refused. She wanted to stay here to look after the two men she loved.

Sango felt so alone sometimes even though her friends occasionally pass by to visit her and pay their respects to Miroku. Many times she wanted to just die, that way, she'd be with Miroku and her kin. But whenever she tried to take her life, she found that she couldn't, as if there was an invisible force preventing her. Or perhaps it was her own conscious telling her that she made a promise to Houshi-sama to continue living. Sometimes she even hated him for that, for leaving her behind by herself. She did have Kirara to keep her company though. She was ever grateful for her. The cat demon did not question her actions, just comforted her friend in her own silent way.

Sango sat down with Kirara by her side and started to polish her Hiraikotsu. It wasn't dirty since she hadn't used it in a while, but it was a habit that she had. It was as if the memories tied to it became clear to her when she rubbed it. The weapon reminded her of Miroku. It reminded her of all those times that she used it to hit him when he tried to grope her. She smiled as her hand rubbed the boomerang. It also reminded her of her village and the days before Naraku, of the days when her brother watched her practice, hoping that one day he could be as good as her.

She sighed as she stopped. Memories. That was all she had. She missed them dearly and her heart ached for them. But the memories helped her get through each day. Their spirits guided her and protected her, and in a strange way, she felt almost content.But when she felt depressed, Sango would take a deep breath and force herself to try to face the day. Because one day, perhaps one day, the wound in her heart would heal, and she may be able to love again...

*sniff* okay, that's it.  so, should i add an epilogue or leave it as it is? i do have an idea of a songfic for it, about how miroku comes to her to tell her it's okay. but i'm having a hard time deciding between two songs: "My heart will go on" from Titanic or "To where you are" by Josh Groban. please tell me what you think!