Ties That Bind: Bring on the Fluff
Episode 7
In the morning, Kohaku is sleeping in and Kagura and Sango are talking. Sango asks, �So what do you feel for my brother?� �I�m not sure.� Kagura answer. �I really have nothing to compare it to.� �How can that be?� Sango asks. Kagura tells her, �I have only existed for a few months. In that time, I have been in Naraku�s clutches. I have no childhood, no parents, nothing which would have prepared me for this.� �Well,� Sango asks, �What about your relationship with Naraku? What was that?� �That was as far from what I feel for Kohaku as I can imagine.� Kagura says. �He had power over me, and he never let me forget it. It seemed at times like even my thoughts weren�t private from him. He hurt me physically, but he also attacked my soul. He would give me just enough freedom to wet my appetite then pull me back. When I was in his castle, he was always watching me: when I slept, when I ate, when I bathed. I knew that he could do anything to me at anytime. Sometimes he would make a pretense of lust, just to show that there was nothing I could do. But it wasn�t my body he wanted, it was my spirit.� �Did he�?� Sango asks. �He didn�t have to.� Kagura answers. �It was a constant threat. It was a way in which things could still get worse. Thinking about it now I realize that if he ever had done it, the threat would have lost most of its power. I think I can safely call what I feel for Naraku hatred, and therefore, what I feel for Kohaku would be love; wouldn�t it?� �I�m not sure.� Sango says. �It�s just hard for me to use that word when you�re a grown woman and he�s still a boy.� Kagura says, �I�m not a woman, not in a normal sense; and Kohaku is no longer a child. Naraku took that from him. All I know is that he is the only person I�ve ever felt good about my relationship with. I don�t know what that means, but I want it to mean something.� �I see.� Sango says. �I can�t trust you; not yet. Also, I�m still not sure about having him go with you. But for now, you have my permission to continue to be with him.� �Thank you.� Kagura says. �Does he always sleep this late? When he was with Naraku, he didn�t seem to sleep at all.� Sango laughs silently. �He slept in whenever he could.� she says. �It�s funny, but I�m glad to see that that hasn�t changed.� �Not like you,� Kohaku says sitting up, �you were always the first one up. You and Kirara would get up before sunrise and head off into the woods.� �Good morning.� Sango says. �I suppose you�re right. Those were happy times.� Kohaku asks, �Will there be happy days again sister?� After Sango nods in agreement she asks, �Are you hungry?� �Is there any more of that stuff Kagome had? The sweet brown one.� he asks. �Chocolate.� Sango says. �Kagome says that too much of that is bad for your teeth. But, I suppose one more piece won�t hurt.� Sango smiles and the day begins.