While these thoughts coursing through their minds, Sango made a decision. Pulling a small knife out of a sheath strapped to her thigh, she cut the rope that constrained Kohaku to the tree. Gently, she positioned the limp Kohaku so that his back faced her. Kagome gasped as Sango cut the boy's top open exposing the back of neck. Kagome nodded in understanding as she caught a glimpse of Sango's determined eyes. The taijiya made a careful incision where Kohaku"s neck met his back exposing the blackened Shikon no Kakera. Sango motioned Kagome over and the young miko cautiously retrieved the Shikon shard, purifying it with her touch.
No sooner had Kagome walked away with the Shikon shard than Kohaku's body began to convulse. Sango cried out at the violent shudders racking her brother's body. She wrapped her strong arms around Kohaku's body trying to still the shaking. Eventually, the shakes began to diminish and Kohaku lay lifeless in Sango's arms. Tears ran from Sango's open eyes as she continued to hold her brother tightly to her. With trembling hands she placed a finger underneath his nose, hoping to feel breath. It was not to be. Kohaku had not been able to withstand the loss of the Shikon no kakera. Sango collapsed over her brother's body, sobbing.
Kagome covered her mouth to quiet her own crying as she stared at the sad girl before her. She could imagine the pain that Sango was going through. It would be the same for her if she were to ever lose her brother. She fell back a step at the sad scene ahead of her and bumped into something solid. Sesshoumaru. The youkai lord looked at his lifemate, crying for another's loss. It was not something he fully understood but seeing tears in Kagome's eyes made his heart clench strangely. Sesshoumaru did not like her tears. Taking a clawed hand, he gently tilted up her chin and tenderly wiped her tears. After a moment, he released Kagome and turned towards Sango and Kohaku.
Striding over to Kohaku's body Sesshoumaru unsheathed the Tenseiga. Startled by the sound Sango was shocked to see Sesshomaru standing there. The youkai lord's eyes were unreadable and she grew angry at the youkai. Thinking that he was trying to do something horrible to Kohaku's body, Sango rose into a battle stance. Standing in front of her otouto's body she scowled angrily at Sesshoumaru. But before she could even blink the youkai stood over Kohaku's body and swung his sword in two arcs. Shocked by Sesshoumaru's strange actions she ran over to examine her brother's body. There were no cuts from Sesshoumaru's sword. All of the sudden, Sango felt a movement beneath her hands. Staring down at her hands she noticed that Kohaku's chest rose and fell slowly. Kohaku's brow furrowed and he slowly opened his eyes. Beyond words, Sango gave her brother a quick hug before pulling back to take a good look at him.
"Kohaku!"
"Oneesan... Where am I?"
"Yokatta. You remember me."
"Ne, oneesan, daijobu? Of course I know who you are. Why wouldn't I -"
Kohaku froze. His eyes were wide and unseeing as tears ran unheeded down his face. In his mind, he saw himself as he killed his unsuspecting father and the deadly blow he had dealt Sango. Kohaku wrapped his arms around himself and rocked himself slowly as he sat on the cold, hard ground. No No I didn't do those things! It wasn't me! The anguished pain in his young face struck Sango painfully. Sango slowly placed her hand on the traumatized boy, willing him to break free of his shock. She knew that he had recovered his memory but what such a memory could do to his young mind she didn't want to even consider. Gathering Kohaku into her arms she stroked his hair soothingly.
"Kohaku, it wasn't your fault. No one knew at the time the kind of evil creature Naraku was. He was the one that controlled you and made you do those things. It's not your fault. It was only your first time out on a hunt. Many stronger than you have fallen to him. Don't blame yourself."
The words seemed to hit a resonant chord within Kohaku and he began to shake uncontrollably. No longer was he silent as he sobbed into his oneesan's arms. Sango continued to murmur comfortingly in her brother's ear and smoothing his hair. Her own eyes filled as she repeated over and over that it wasn't his fault. It was finally over and Naraku was dead. It was unthinkable that she could not help Kohaku get over this and come back to himself. They deserved to be happy after all they had been put through. Finally, the sobbing quieted. She hugged him tightly once more before holding them apart to stare into Kohaku's eyes.
"Okaeri nasai, otouto."
Kagome smiled up at Sesshoumaru with teary eyes full of gratitude and love.
"You're happy?"
"Hai!"
Sesshoumaru raised an eyebrow. Humans. He'll never understand them. They cried when they were sad. They cried when they were happy. He sighed inwardly as Rin began running around in circles shouting about how he had saved Kohaku the same way he had saved Rin. He couldn't deny that some undefined feeling had warmed his heart at the scene before him. And the look that had been in Kagome's eyes exhilarated him more than any battle ever had.
"Sesshoumaru-sama."
Sesshoumaru turned towards the taijiya.
"Arigato. Honto ni arigato."