Adult-FanFiction.org : Inuyasha / Yashahime

Discovery of You	By : Lovergal Category: InuYasha > Yuri - Female/Female Views: 11434 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own InuYasha, nor make money from this story.

Chapter List
- 1-Discovery of You
- 2-2
- 3-3
- 4-4
- 5-5
- 6-6
- 7-7
- 8-8
- 9-9
- 8
- 9
Disclaimer: I don�t own Inuyasha.

AN: Be prepared. I skipped on through about twenty manga chapters in a few short sections. This is an AR, of course, but nonetheless I did manage keep some of the canon intact. I hope you enjoy the last chapter of Discovery of You. Thank you for your reviews. I�ve appreciated each and every one! Uh, except maybe for Truth and Justice�s review threatening to have my fic on ff.net deleted, eh heh.

The next few weeks were a haze of pain. It struck Sango as singularly ironic that she�d just spent the previous weeks experiencing bliss like none other that she�d thought possible. Perhaps she�d done something wicked in a past life to leave her with bad Karma? She must have been as wicked as Naraku, if the sorry state of her life so far was any indication.

Sango and Kagome rarely spoke now. It was a shock, so different from the easy and playful banter of the week before. Still, Sango was so hurt by Kagome�s words she made no effort to repair their friendship. As for anything more than friendship, Sango feared that the sweetness she�d found in loving Kagome was now lost forever.

Sango also avoided her gaze, which seldom turned her way now. Both took pains to avoid each another�s company. Inuyasha, Miroku or even Shippou would certainly have noticed and commented on this, had there not been a swift escalation in the danger and intensity of their shard-hunting efforts. They were nearly down to the last shard; Kohaku�s shard.

Sango felt secretly relieved that she could wrap herself in the anger and frustration that came from trying to protect her brother and worrying over him. At least she was more practiced in dealing with the old pain of loss and fear than the fresh new pain of rejection.

She tried not to blame Inuyasha. Yet at her darkest points, Sango could not help but get angry and jealous when she saw Inuyasha draw near to Kagome. Kagome seemed to welcome his presence eagerly now and was quick to flash him a smile. Sango was becoming convinced, despite Kagome�s statements to the contrary, that Kagome did indeed love the hanyou.

Granted, jealousy was the least of her problems at the moment. She had Kohaku to grieve over and, consequently, Kagome as well, although she reminded herself that a short, few weeks of happiness should not compare in the least to her own brother�s terrifying plight. Still it was difficult. With no Kagome to distract her from the gnawing fear for her brother and Naraku, she felt as if her insides were completely tied in knots.
The only relief to be had was during the times that Sango faced an enemy in battle. A calm would settle over her and she would feel almost normal again as she attacked her enemies fiercely with her hiraikotsu. Fighting had become her only escape, it seemed.

After one such battle, Inuyasha patted her on the shoulder and gave her a gruff �well done�. She looked into his eyes and saw admiration laced with pity there.

Sango didn�t know how much more of this she could take.

x x x x x

Inuyasha caught Naraku�s scent after many days of frustrating searching. It was faint and the group members had quite a lot of ground to cover in order to reach the spot where Inuyasha believed Naraku to be hiding.

As she sat astride Kirara, Sango became lost in thoughts of her brother. She thought back to the day that they�d faced Princess Abi. Kohaku recognized Sango as his sister that day, calling her by name. It was as if a great weight had been lifted off her shoulders. Finally, that was as it should be.

Still, her eased guilt over Kohaku did not eliminate the jealousy now she felt now that Kohaku had chosen to travel with Kikyo instead of with his own sister.

That same jealousy was mirrored in her reaction to Inuyasha and Kagome. They were together more often now, or so it seemed, and Sango was left feeling isolated and alone.

Sango had mixed feelings about Kikyo. At times, she felt unbridled jealousy towards the undead miko as she watched Kohaku follow her, hardly sparing her, his sister, a backwards glance. Sango reminded herself that Kikyo was the only being able to keep Kohaku�s shard pure. Still, she wondered for what purpose was Kikyo doing that? Did she plan to sacrifice Kohaku�s life in order to reunite the Shikon jewel? With a sickening lurch in her belly Sango admitted that it was certainly possible.

Sango silently rolled over these worries in her mind as she guided Kirara in the direction Inuyasha was heading. Unconsciously seeking some sort of relief from her dour thoughts, her eyes turned to watch Kagome as she was carried across the ground below at break-neck speed by Inuyasha. Kagome�s arms were wrapped tightly around his neck and Sango remembered how those arms felt when they had wound themselves tightly around her own neck and shivered, languorous warmth pooling in her loins.

Quickly, she reminded herself that Kagome no longer wished to be with her that way and her heart plummeted again. She would not allow herself to wallow in fantasy and pretend otherwise.

x x x x x

A fierce battle ensued as soon as the group came face-to-face with Naraku. Only Kagome was absent, delayed by an errand to retrieve a holy item which she hoped would save Kikyo�s life. Sango felt tense and distracted with worry for her. Despite the recent strain on their relationship, Sango�s feelings for Kagome hadn�t changed. She may have distanced herself from the girl, she still felt highly protective of her.

It was a grim scene. Naraku was rising to his full strength and Kikyo and Inuyasha appeared helpless to defeat him. Sango desperately tried to shield Miroku, whose strength had begun to falter after Naraku�s poison had once again entered his wind tunnel.

It was a great relief to Sango when she saw Kagome arrive with the bow she�d acquired from Mount Asuza to save the dying Kikyo. Kagome stood there, her face deathly pale as she looked back and forth between Naraku to Kikyo. Sango wished she could reach out her hand and touch her, offer the slim, delicate girl support, but she knew her place in battle. Any waffling on her part could endanger them all. Still she snuck glances over at Kagome when she could. Sango witnessed the myriad of emotions which passed lightning-fast across the Kagome�s features: horror, desperation, frustration, and abject terror. Finally, when Kagome raised her bow and aimed, the slow, deliberate movements and the swelling of power around Kagome that even Sango could feel left her quite breathless.

x x x x x

After the battle was finished, Kikyo was near death and Naraku had escaped. Sango still watched over Kagome from afar. She was worried for her, but felt helpless to intervene. If Kagome did love Inuyasha, Sango wasn�t certain how Kagome would react to the sight of an obviously distraught Inuyasha saying his tender goodbyes to Kikyo. Sango searched for signs of hurt or even jealousy in Kagome�s face when Inuyasha carried the dying Kikyo away from the group to be alone, but there was no trace of either emotion. Instead, Kagome simply looked washed out, saddened, and it became obvious that she harbored no ill-will towards to undead miko. Perhaps she even mourned her impending death. This amazed Sango, this capacity for feeling Kagome possessed. It took her breath away to observe her kind, gentle nature exposed so.

Sango sighed. Kagome�s gentle, mournful expression definitely threw Sango off-balance. She could never place Kagome into any convenient categories, at least not for long. She never acted the way she was supposed to, never seemed to fall prey to the more petty of human emotions. It would have made Sango feel better if Kagome had seemed jealous of Kikyo; it would have dignified Sango�s own jealousy somehow. Yet, Kagome didn�t. She was complicated. Kagome was just so�good. And Sango both loved and hated her for it at the moment.

Sango had desired Kagome, even lusted after her. It occurred to her that perhaps she�d never really known or even wondered what Kagome was truly thinking and feeling during their time together. Of course, she�d been concerned with surface matters, whether Kagome was feeling well, or how her ever-ready smile never failed to make Sango feel loved. On a baser level, she�d been concerned with how exactly she might touch Kagome to elicit her soft moans and cries.

But had she ever looked deeper than that? Had she ever wondered at Kagome�s motivations and reasoning for acting in the way that she did? Had she even cared, especially if those actions conflicted with her own?

Sango certainly hadn�t accepted Kagome�s request to step back from their relationship well at all.

Watching Kagome now, seeing the mixture of sorrow and love apparent in her features, Sango felt a sharp pang of guilt. Perhaps she should have trusted Kagome, trusted that she was making the best possible choice at the time, for both of them.

But she hadn�t. She had been too worried about her own feelings. Her own damaged feelings. Or else she�d been too concerned with her own sense of how things should be between the two of them. Sango was left to wonder now at exactly what had motivated Kagome to do the things she did � to care for Sango, to kiss and touch her, and, finally, to push her away.

�What about what you need?� she�d asked her once. Perhaps Kagome�s needs were not high on her agenda, and perhaps that was how it had to be in order to win this terrible battle against the great threat that Naraku presented to them and the rest of the world. It may be that feeling good and holding someone close and the selfish desires that love wrought were only allowed after one had won such battles, else you lose your strength and focus to fight.

These thoughts came to Sango in a rush. Kagome had to consider so many factors, the feelings of so many others. Kagome had to remain caring, loyal, loving to those around them.

Of course, one can have one overpowering, possessive sort of love that saturates the pores and pleases the mind, but perhaps, perhaps�.you can convince Kagome to be with you once again. To be who you desperately need her to be. To love you, to touch you�

No! That was not it. That would not do. Passion would not get the job done.

Sango felt as if there were two sides warring for dominance inside of her: one that wanted Kagome back more than anything and the other that wanted, more than anything, to understand Kagome. She covered her face with her hands, unable to come to terms with her troubled feelings.

x x x x x

Sango spent a long night mulling over her and Kagome�s relationship. She�d realized that there was more to Kagome than she�d been willing to love and accept. It was a strange thing to say, but true. Sango had loved only the bits and pieces of Kagome, the ones which she had chosen. She�d been selfish, unwilling to face the fact that Kagome wasn�t simple and her life and destiny was not simple either.

And that not-so-simple life and destiny just might not include Sango.

Sango had wanted a fairy tale after the nightmare of her father, friends, and brother at the hands of Naraku�s evil. She wanted love to be the reverse of her life thus far; she craved something simple, uncomplicated, and completely wonderful. It was wonderful, but she�d forgotten that you must make concessions, even in love. Or perhaps she�d chosen to ignore it and hoped it would simply go away.

Whatever the case, loving the real Kagome was more difficult than loving the girl with the cheerful smile and the gentle touch. The real Kagome had problems of her own, other attachments pulling at her. The real Kagome pushed Sango away.

But Sango did love her. She loved her enough to accept all of these things.

But how to tell her this? Or�should she tell her these things?

There wasn�t much chance. Things were moving so quickly. Sango briefly assessed the current situation. Miroku sat silently near Sango, quieted by the pain of his wounds. Kouga sat next to Kagome and boasted loudly to her as they sat by the fire. Kagome�s smiled pleasantly up at the wolf youkai. But Sango noticed that Kagome�s jaw was set a little too tightly and her shoulders were tensed.

No. Now was not a good time to talk to her, Sango realized, and that annoyed her to no end. She�d only just worked things through in her mind and desired the relief that would come from unburdening herself to Kagome. But she was through with being selfish. And so she merely clenched her fists in frustration.

But I love her so much. Sango struggled silently to maintain control of her emotions as she watched Kagome staring into the fire, pretending to listen to Kouga�s stories. Kagome has much to work through, Sango thought. She�s worried for us, worried for Inuyasha, Miroku, Kouga, Kohaku, everyone and I�m sick that I�ve only added to that worry.

x x x x

The stress of the entire situation was beginning to wear on Sango. She wanted to reach out to Kagome but she couldn�t. And when her thoughts were not turned to Kagome, she was worrying about Kohaku. Half the time now, she felt as if she were being pulled in two different directions, between her worry over Kohaku and her concern for Kagome. Although she�d grown so used to not having control over Kohaku�s fate, it still grated on her nerves. It was a dull ache from an old wound. Sango bowed her head and waited. She waited to talk to Kagome. She waited for some sign of Kohaku. It was almost too much for her.

When Miroku reached out his hand and touched her arm, she nearly jumped out of her skin. But seeing his eyes widen, she reached out and took his hand in hers and smiled a reassuring smile.

�Stay with me there, Sango.�

�I�m not going anywhere, Miroku.�

�I mean, you looked as if you were someplace else. Lost in your own thoughts I mean.�

�I�m worried about�.Kohaku.� Sango had almost said �Kagome�.

As if sensing this, Miroku prodded her. �And about anyone else, perhaps?�

Sango almost gave him a warning look, but caught herself. She shouldn�t allow her angry, possessive feelings about Kagome to cause her to lash out. This was a time to work together, for unselfishness, not for secrets and riddles. She was done with those things.

�I�m worried for Kagome,� she admitted in a flat tone.

�You two�� He paused here as if to find the right words. �Haven�t been spending as much time together.�

Sango rolled her eyes. �Just come out and say it Miroku. I know that you know.� Sango wasn�t actually certain what Miroku did know, but she was tired of dancing around the subject.

�I have no idea what you�re talking about,� he said with mock-hurt.

�Whatever you say, Miroku.� Sango smiled slightly.

�There is always me.� He patted his knee and gave her a crooked half-leer.

�Yes, there is always you.� She flashed him an uncharacteristically bright smile. �I�ll take that into consideration.�

He was quiet for some time before he asked again. �So why all the hiding?�

�Kagome, she didn�t want anyone to know.� Once the words left her lips, Sango regretted them. She didn�t want to blame her friend for any of this. It was more complicated than that and she refused to allow herself to fall back into the blaming, selfish mode.

�Oh I see.�

�No, it wasn�t that. I mean, it�s complicated. I was expecting something from her that she couldn�t give.� Sango�s words came out in a quick stream. �I was selfish. I wanted her to be the way I wanted her to be, for me and I didn�t mind the many forces that were pulling at her. I was selfish,� Sango repeated and took a deep breath. �She wasn�t selfish. She did what she had to do.�
It felt good to say these things aloud. She smiled up at Miroku again. He patted her behind and she stopped smiling as she shoved him away. Inside, however, she was secretly pleased. Not because she wanted Miroku to touch her, but because it was really a sort of game the two of them could play to distract themselves from their fear and worry.

x x x x x

Sango went to her that night after everyone was asleep. She shook her gently to wake her.

�Kagome,� she whispered. �Kagome.�

Kagome�s eyes stared back at her in confusion. �Sango,� she asked breathily. For a moment, staring into those beautiful, half-lidded eyes, Sango just wanted to lean forward and kiss her. She wanted to taste her so badly she felt something clench hard and tight in her chest. It hurt not to touch her. However, that was not what she was here for.

Kagome moved to sit up. �I-I.� Sango almost lost her nerve for a moment. �I wanted to apologize for the way I�ve acted. I was only thinking of myself.�

Kagome�s eyes filed with tears and Sango almost lost her nerve. Her purpose was to help ease Kagome�s burden, not add to her sorrow.

�I wish I could be the person you need, Sango. I wish things were different. I wish I didn�t have to put other needs in front of yours and we could simply love one another, simple and uncomplicated�� her words came out in a rush and Sango leaned forward and pressed a finger to her lips.

�Shhh,� she soothed. �Don�t cry. That�s not what I�m here for. I should be the one apologizing to you. I�ve failed to support you in what you�ve chosen to do. I- I�ve failed to see it your way.�

Kagome�s lips parted against her finger and she began to speak again when Sango interrupted, wanting desperately to make her meaning clear before it was too late.

�Kagome, I just wanted to say I love you. Not us, not how we are together. I love you.�

Kagome remained silent. Her lips were set in a thin line as she seemed to struggle to understand the meaning of Sango�s words.

�You were right,� Sango continued. �In order to finish this, we can�t allow our selfish needs and desires to interfere. Because we can�t have a simple, uncomplicated relationship, because there are things that need to be done and other people we must love and care for, doesn�t change that fact that I love you and that I feel a better person for knowing and loving you. You�re doing the right thing, doing the best that you know how. You can�t change the circumstances of your life for me, or I for you. You saw that. I took me a little longer, but I finally understood that as well. �

She took another deep breath, still struggling to put her thoughts into words. �I thought I should live for you, and you for me, but it doesn�t work that way, does it? You can�t use your love as an escape from reality, from responsibilities, from duty. And I have a duty to my brother, to my friends, to avenge my family and save the world from that evil bastard. You do to. Thank you for reminding me of that. Thank you for being strong. �

�But Sango, I��

Sango quickly cut her off. �No more. I�m fine. I feel better now, more focused and sure of what I�m doing than ever before, though some of the sacrifices I will make will break my heart. Still, it is enough. Just promise me you won�t worry about me any more, okay?�

Kagome nodded her head and Sango rose and walked to the other side of the fire, feeling both better and worse than she had in a long time. She lay there awake for a while, staring up at the nearly full moon, thinking over what she�d said. She�d expected to feel better and did at first. But after the initial adrenaline from the encounter wore thin, Sango began to feel as if she were being dragged down her lower and lower, as if the strong parts of her were being peeled away by the moonlight to reveal a sad, frightened girl. For a moment she despaired that she would never be whole again, that she was only fooling herself with her supposed �revelations� about the nature of love and regretted everything. She turned on her side, away from the fire and cried herself to sleep.

Still, once her tears began to flow, she knew that this moment of weakness didn�t change a thing. Her heart cried out, but she had a purpose and that would keep her going. She understood Kagome better now and that brought them closer than any physical touch ever could. That thought made her smile a little, through her tears.

x x x x x

Sango�s renewed sense of purpose took her through the following weeks to the end. The battles became bloody and fierce, in what was to become a series of unrelenting clashes with Naraku. Sango and her friends rushed to find her brother. Kohaku�s shard had to be protected at all costs.
And, as it turned out, he was in the most unexpected of places � he was with Inuyasha�s brother.

The past year had been full of strange, fantastic events, but this didn�t fail to shock Sango. She was accustomed to Kohaku being threatened by Naraku and his minions, but the thought of Kohaku in the care of Inuyasha�s cold and sometime violent brother sent chills up and down her spine. As Inuyasha caught the scent of his brother and his followers once again, the group made ready to follow.

Before leaving, Kagome stepped forward and rested her hand on Sango�s arm. �It�s okay, Sango. Sesshoumaru wouldn�t hurt Kohaku.�

�But he tried before. Inuyasha had to stop him.� Sango was not convinced, although Kagome�s light touch against her arm helped to calm her.

�He�s�different now. Nicer somehow. Kohaku is safe, I can feel it.�

�You can?� Sango gave her a questioning look.

�Yes, the shard is still intact and pure.�
x x x x x
Naraku caught the group by surprise some distance from the area where Inuyasha had sensed his brother. They had expected that the evil hanyou would be intent on reaching Kohaku first, so the attack was not expected. Their little group was thrown into chaos as Naraku unleashed a seemingly endless stream of lesser demons to attack. Sango attached with her hiraikotsu until her shoulder ached while Miroku stood beside her and fought with his staff. Kirara was somewhere near the edge of the attacking swarm of youkai, intent on protecting Shippou. The two of them made an excellent fighting team, Sango thought with pride, exhausted thought she was. She watched as Kagome fired arrows. She tried her best to keep a close vigil on the young miko. Several times Sango or Miroku were forced to intervene on her behalf, but it wasn�t always possible since there was a near-constant barrage of attacking youkai before them. Inuyasha was locked in combat with Naraku himself.

Sango felt a sudden dread curling in her gut. Perhaps this was merely a diversion. It was so like Naraku to use trickery and have one of his minions go on ahead to capture Kohaku. Her thoughts distracted her and Sango took a blow from an attacking youkai was thrown to the ground.

�Sango!� she heard Miroku yell from a few feet away. She shook her head to clear it and began to scramble up off the ground when she saw him.

Kohaku.

Kohaku was standing across the field directly in front of her. In the corner of her eyes, Sango saw a white blur which must have been Sesshoumaru as he rushed to attack Naraku. Sango watched Kohaku as if in a trance when she heard a scream behind her. Kagome was crouching near to the ground almost completely swarmed by the lesser demons. Her bow had been knocked aside during the initial attack. Sango watched with horror as one wheeled to attack. Before Sango could act, the beast was on Kagome. With a scream of rage, Sango leapt towards the creature, not taking care for her own safety. The youkai swung it�s scaly, green tail towards her and she ducked and hacked away at it with her katana.

And then everything went completely black.

x x x x x

When Sango awoke, she was resting against Kirara and the cloudless, blue sky stretched out above her. Her head ached terribly.

�Sango, you�re okay!� Kagome was there, holding her hand.

�Yeah.� Sango smiled up at her, suddenly pleased that she was fawning over her. �But it was you that I was worried about.� Sango reached a hand toward her, brushing her fingertips across her cheek and marveling at the softness. �I was so worried, Kagome, when��

�Shouldn�t worry about me, I�m fine.� Kagome smiled down at her, but there was a hint of sadness there. Sango had a sudden flash.

�Kohaku! How is he?�

�He�s-�Kagome�s eyes brimmed with tears and Sango knew that one of her greatest fears had been realized.

�He�s dead, Sango. Naraku took his shard and now��

Sango bowed her head and waved her away. �I couldn�t save him. In the end, I couldn�t save him� she wailed inwardly. She wished she�d never woken up. After she composed herself, she raised her bloodshot eyes to Kagome and told her, �Take me to him.�

x x x x x

The suffering was unbearable. It was like losing apart of herself, except she wouldn�t have hesitated to give of her own life to have saved Kohaku. She felt so helpless, as useless as she looked down at her brother�s lifeless form. �Kohaku,� she said softly as she cupped his cheek. She dissolved into sobs against his chest.

She was only vaguely aware that a blue light was swirling around her. Why, why, why, she thought angrily as she raised her eyes blindly to the sky.

There was a swelling of power behind her. �No!� Sango grabbed her brother into her arms and turned to face it, ready to protect his lifeless body from any threat. What she saw took her breath away. Kagome was holding the jewel between her hands, which hovered in the air over her cupped hands. A powerful energy swirled around her.

�What is-� Sango was at a loss for words. She tried to hear Kagome�s words, but they were lost in the roar of the steadily increasing power.

�She�s making the wish,� Kaede�s gravely voice chimed in from behind her. Inuyasaha and Miroku stepped forward.

�Kagome, what�s happening?� Inuyasha stared at her with a look of half-fear, half-wonderment. And then in a flash, Kagome was gone.

Sango stared in shock.

�Kagome,� she whispered, terrified. Have I lost Kagome as well? Her heart constricted in despair and she bowed her head.

Sango felt completely broken and empty. She�d lost everything, everyone now.

�Sister,� a small voice from behind her called. Sango stiffened and her eyes grew wide with amazement. Without raising her head, she whispered out a single, hopeful question,

�Is that you�Kohaku?�

�Sister� he repeated softly again and Sango was whirling around and clutching him to her, sobbing with joy. Tears rolled freely down her cheeks as she cried out in relief and happiness and held her brother tightly against her.

�Sister�Sango, am I alive?�

Sango patted him all over in order to assure both Kohaku and her that he was indeed alive.

�Are you happy for me sister?� Kohaku asked with tears in his eyes.

�Yes, Sango wailed out. �Yes Kohaku, very happy.�

As she laid her head against Kohaku�s shoulder that day, Sango knew that it was true that love is best expressed through action.

And all at once she knew, knew for a fact that Kagome had loved her. No spoken words of love could ever hope to match this deed. Kagome�s wish had brought Kohaku back to her.

With a wistful smile, Sango glanced back at the empty well behind her before she turned back to Kohaku. She gripped him by the shoulders and laid her forehead against his own.

�I can never match the angel who brought you back to me, brother,� she told him with a smile. He grinned back at her and hugged her tightly.

x x x x

Kagome�s mother watched her daughter stand in front of the shrine�s well house and shook her head. She knew that Kagome had been trying to go back through the well again. It was futile. She�d made her wish, which she related tearfully upon her return a few days ago.

It had been a simple wish, but one which had changed so much. Kagome had wished for the all of Naraku�s evil deeds to be undone.

After she�d whispered the words over the powerful jewel in the palm of her hands, there had been a swelling of incredible power, power that seared her insides. There�d been a flash of light, and then her mind had gone completely blank. Kagome awoke to find herself lying at the bottom of the well in modern Tokyo.

The last thing Kagome had seen before she was transported back to her normal life was of Kohaku raising his head from the ground. The sight had made her both incredibly happy and a little afraid as well.

She�d done that, her wish had brought him back from the dead.

Sango had her brother back now. But Kagome could no longer go back through the well. Her friends were unreachable. They were lost to her, everyone she�d come to care for, even love, during the long hunt for the jewel shards.

x x x x x

Mrs. Higurashi knew that Kagome often worried about her friends. She missed them. And Mrs. Higurashi worried about Kagome as well. She slept an inordinate amount of time. She didn�t appear interested in any of the things she�d formerly enjoyed. Her usual zest for life was missing. She wasn�t in her usual hurry to rush off to school, or catch up on her schoolwork. Instead, she requested that she be allowed to remain home for an unspecified amount of time. Mrs. Higurashi had no choice but to comply with the request when she saw her daughter�s distraught, haunted expression.

Plus, Mrs. Higurashi was happy to have Kagome near her instead of at school for the time being. That way, she could keep a closer eye on her daughter. In fact, she was secretly glad Kagome could not return through the well. After all, her life seemed to be in constant danger while traveling with her companions. But she would never tell that to Kagome.

A week went by, and then another week. Kagome remained despondent and showed little interest in returning to school. Once night, Mrs. Higurashi heard Kagome crying herself to sleep. She was divided as to what she should do. On one hand, she wanted to go into the room and comfort her daughter, and yet, her daughter had become so aloof, so mature of late she wasn�t sure it would be appropriate. Her daughter�s pain was a mystery to her, but she had become a woman and as such her mother knew she could not bear the pain for her.

Her mother put a finger to her lips in a thoughtful gesture. She knew of only one pain that would keep her bright, cheerful and resilient daughter up crying at night after so many days had passed.

The next day she asked her daughter a question. She couldn�t help herself. She had to confirm if her suspicions were correct.

�You miss everyone terribly, don�t you?� It was more of a statement than a question.

�Yes,� Kagome answered her flatly as she pushed the breakfast around on her plate. She hadn�t been interested in much, including food.

�Is there anyone in particular you miss? Anyone special?�

�Y-yes.� This time, Kagome�s voice was rough and cracked. When she looked up at her mother she had tears in her eyes.

Mrs. Higurashi gathered her up into her arms and cradled and rocked her as Kagome dissolved into tears and sobs.

�You can talk about it, if you want to. Might help, Kagome.�

�I know, it�s just�.� Kagome didn�t finish, but pulled back. She smiled through her tears up at her mother. �It�s just, I wish I hadn�t left things as they were. I wish I could have said how I�d felt. That�s what hurts the most. I wish I didn�t have so many regrets.�

After that day, Kagome seemed better. Mrs. Higurashi watched as her daughter returned to her normal, cheerful self. Well, not exactly her normal self. Kagome was different now, a little more serious. Sometimes she would catch her wearing the sad, lost expression again as she sat alone in her room. But during the say, she seemed happier. She was back at school, socializing to some extent, caught up in her studies, and she smiled more. It was better than before, at least.

Mrs. Higurashi had been relieved when Kagome had returned home through the well, unscathed. Later, she realized that her daughter did bear scars after all, though perhaps not the ones visible to the naked eye.

She did not pity her daughter. Some scars are not to be begrudged, after all. She herself had her own scars, such as a husband who abandoned them, but she�d gladly repeat the experience if it meant that she would have her two beautiful children to love and care for.

x x x x x

6 months later�

The last thing Kagome expected to see when she stepped into the corner store was her. She stopped short in front of the counter with her mouth gaping dumbly.

Sango, she thought incredulously, and then she repeated it aloud.

�Sango!�

Sango glanced up from reading a magazine. �I�m sorry, my name is Akimi. Can I help you with anything?�

Akiko had Sango�s eyes, they were exactly the same color, size and shape�and there was absolutely no recognition at all in them.

The girl who was Sango, and yet wasn�t, shifted under Kagome�s intense gaze. �Um, I�m just started working here a few days ago. Are you looking for the girl who worked here before?� she asked her.

Inside, it felt as if an old, badly healed wound had reopened. Kagome felt the prickle of tears in the corners of her eyes.

�Sorry,� Kagome muttered as she rushed out of the store onto the street.

Kagome stood there swaying on the sidewalk a moment before her knees gave way beneath her. She flung her arms out and barely caught herself against the rough concrete wall of the store before she fell. She leaned against the rough concrete of the building, breathing heavily. She felt as if her entire world was tumbling into pieces all around her.

It was her. Sango. It had to be her. But how, why? Was this Sango�s reincarnation? Why was she here, now?

All of these questions and more rushed through Kagome�s mind. Kagome briefly considered going back into the store, but was afraid to do so. She was frightened of what this girl might do or say. She was afraid she wouldn�t�be Sango.

She felt a light brush against her shoulder. Kagome turned and found herself staring into the eyes of the girl who was Sango, and yet wasn�t. The girl, Akimi, was smiling at her.

�Are you okay? I was due for a break, so I thought I�d check on you. You seemed awfully rattled.� Her eyes held a mixture concern and curiosity. Kagome remembered that expression. Sango had looked at her like that so many times. Kagome felt a sharp pang in her chest and winced. Her Sango.

Akimi reached forward and tucked a stray hair behind her ear, before she jerked her hand back quickly. �Oh, sorry! I don�t know why I just did that.�

Kagome was at a loss for words.

This must be how Inuyasha felt every day, watching Kagome, the image of Kikyo, walk and talk with a different name, different personality�but the same soul. And Kagome thought she could see Sango�s soul, Sango�s old soul, shining back at her out of the young woman�s dark eyes.

�It�s okay,� Kagome finally managed softly. She was still shaken. �You just reminded me of an old friend, that�s all.�

�Does she live around here,� Akimi asked, flashing another smile. �I might know her.�

�Uh, no. She doesn�t. She�s not, um, around anymore.�

�Well, you looked as if you�d seen a ghost.� Kagome got the feeling that Akimi was laughing at her, but in a gentle way. She found she didn�t mind and smiled shyly back at her.

�Sorry, I freaked out didn�t I? My name is Kagome by the way. And thanks for checking on me.�

�No problem.� The girl stopped smiling for a moment and shifted. �You know, I�m pretty new around here. I don�t really know anyone. You wouldn�t want to go have coffee or get something to eat sometime, would you?�

Kagome was silent for a moment. There was a rushing sound in her ears and she almost fled in panic. Akimi�s eyes held her steady.

�How about tonight?� Kagome heard herself asking.

Akimi smiled shyly at her. �Sure.�

Kagome felt like singing out loud as she skipped home though the brisk, autumn air. She was being given another chance. Another chance at love, she decided. She felt whole again. She had her Sango back in her life and, whatever happened, that felt good. Kagome tossed her head and allowed the breeze to ruffle her hair as she laughed up into the clear, blue sky.

Finis

AN: Thank you readers for your support of this story. Many of your reviews have been inspiring. I�m a bit sad that it�s over, but what can I do? As always, dear readers, please let me know what you think. This can also be considered a sort of 'roll-call'. If you've been following this story and haven't left a review, please do so now. I value that reader/writer connection. (aka review whore, but there's a good reason for that! It's nice to hear why someone has bothered to read something I've written.)

Want to read more of my writing now? If anyone is a fan of pirates, I can send you the link of my recent PotC fanfiction (M/F, J/E).

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