Maybe Next Year

Chapter 6: Wake Me before the New Year

Sango sat next to a crisp white bed. The sheets were fresh and clean, yet smelled like nothing. Fragrance-free, seems suitable for a hospital. She gazed around the room she sat in. White, everything was white. So, plain and boring, she'd have to spruce it up the next time she came with some beautiful flowers. She looked at the bed to the person who was resting in it; she's been lying there for years, twelve years to be exact. The young woman glanced out the window, it was snowing outside, a sign that the year was almost over, another year soon to be over. She sighed and looked at her dear friend who was missing her favorite season, well at least when she was a child.

"Oh Kagome, when will you wake up?" She choked on her words, "What will happen once you do?" Sango broke her vision of the white snow falling softly down below and back to her childhood friend who lay motionless in bed.

"Kagome, it's been twelve years!" Sango cried to herself silently and rubbed her eyes. She continued, "It was just an accident. Why are you still suffering for something that happened such a long time ago?" She sniffed and wiped her running nose.

She stayed silent for a moment to gather her thoughts. She promised Kagome's mother that she wouldn't cry when she would give her daughter a visit. 'When she wakes up, it would hurt her to see you crying Sango. Be strong for her, she needs you.' Sango smiled sadly remember what Mrs. Higurashi had said to her a few years back. Mrs. Higurashi had so much hope that Kagome would wake up, but deep down, her depression was taking over. Sango fiercely shook her head and mumbled consecutive 'no's under her breath. She needed to stop thinking about past and its gloomy days. She needed to stay strong for Kagome. She just couldn't leave her, especially not after everyone else did. For their best interest, Sango decided to change the subject.

"Well, Merry Christmas Kagome. Oh and I met someone." Sango blushed at the thought.

"His name is Miroku, he's sweet, a bit of a perv, but he's nice and smart. He can also cook. I can't wait until you wake up so you can try some of his food once you get off of this IV." She scanned Kagome's body. She was very skinny. Her muscles her virtually gone due to the years of bed rest in her vegetated state. Sango cringed a bit and sighed.

"You know your mother blamed herself for the first two years. We all know that it wasn't your fault…it wasn't anyone's fault... It was an accident, just an accident." Sango stayed quiet for a moment collecting her thoughts. "Before she passed, she told me to take care of you, even after you wake up. I promised her that I would. I would have done it even if she never asked me to, but Kagome…" She started sniffing again. Sango stuttered at she was trying to finish her sentence, but she continued to choke on her own words. She paused to try and regain her composure. "…it's just so hard Kagome! Living with this guilt can become so unbearable at times! I know I shouldn't be thinking like this, my therapist said not to, but Kagome, I can't help it! It was my entire fault! Okasan blamed herself when she should have been blaming me! Kagome, I'm sorry, I am so, so sorry!" Sango wept more as she scrambled off the chair she sat on and kneeled before the bed, clutching the sheets, and cried over her dear friend's body. Sango cried and cried until she felt a sense of weakness come to her. As she blinked her last tear from her eyes, Sango fell into a deep sleep.

There was a soft knock at the door and a slight mumble of a hello. The door cracked open and a black haired man peeked inside. His deep purple eyes scanned the room and gazed upon two women, one who has been a sleeping beauty since she was a child, and the other a mournful friend. Sango slept silently over her Kagome's body, her body awkwardly arched on the bed. Her cheeks were stained with tears, her nose a bit red, obvious signs of crying. The man quietly entered the room and reached over Sango.

"Sango, sweetie, it's time to go. Kohaku will be out of school soon." He gently nudged the girl. Sango woke up slowly, in shock that she had fallen asleep.

"Whaa, Miroku? How long have I been out?" Sango asked her boyfriend.

"I'm not entirely sure, but we have to leave if we're going to get Kohaku from school and make it in time for the Christmas party at Inuyasha's place." He mumbled apologetically.

"Oh." Sango stuttered slightly. She gazed back at Kagome, a mix of emotions running through her mind, reluctant, but eventually leaving Kagome's bedside. The couple walked out the room, Miroku's left arm wrapped around Sango's shoulders. She leaned her head onto his shoulder and sighed yet again.

"Don't worry Sango, I'm sure she'll wake up soon." Miroku's assurance was sweet to the ear, but held no oath. Still she agreed to try and heal the pain in her heart, but her conscience was still rotting away her hope.

The two checked out of the hospital and traveled by Miroku's car. After they had picked up Kohaku from school Miroku dropped them off at home to change for the Christmas party. He then left so he could change as well. When Miroku arrived back at his girlfriend's apartment, her and Kohaku were already dressed. Miroku could feel a change in her aura, more cheerful and warm then hours before. Once compliments were said to each other, the three left for the car to take off towards their Inuyasha's apartment. They arrived at the party, laughing as they exited the car. The weather was chilly; it had just begun to snow again.

"Come on, before we get any colder." Miroku held her hand as Kohaku ran ahead of them eager to ring the doorbell. Moments later Inuyasha swung the door open letting the warm air out and the cold in.

"It's about time you guys made it!" Inuyasha greeted them with a playful grin and let them through the door.

"Yeah I know, sorry. I was just visiting a friend and I accidently fell asleep." Sango explained. For whatever reason Sango didn't want her friends to know about Kagome. Miroku of course knew because she often would ask him for a ride to the hospital, and Kohaku knew since he was little. Sango though, wouldn't let anyone else know about Kagome. There was something that she feared with letting so many people know. She feared the questions. She feared the apologies.

The small group walked away from the door and closer to the party. Inuyasha's apartment was far from small. The top floor apartment took up all the buildings corners. Dark cherry floors covered every room but the kitchen and bathrooms. It had a master bedroom, a guest bedroom, a full kitchen complete with an island and a breakfast bar that was big enough to double as a dining table. The living room was large and open, Inuyasha wasn't a tasteless man, but still had no idea how to decorate. A large white sectional was in the middle of the room and an It was one of the buildings his father owned and made income property. After his father's passing and his mother's bed rest, Sesshomaru took over the Takashi's many owned properties. With a promise to his brother, Inuyasha could live in any of the apartments rent free until he finished university.

"Well she must be boring if you fell asleep at her house. Whatever, you're at my party now, just fun and drinks." Inuyasha grinned as he led the group towards the living room. "By the way, Kohaku, what do you want to drink? I have Happoshu, Chuhai, Highball, wine, and of course sake." Inuyasha earned a nudge in the gut from Sango.

"Inuyasha, he's only thirteen! Why are you offering him alcoholic drinks?"

"Oh come on Sango, it's the Holidays! Besides, he can at least have a can of Chuchai or Highball. It's all fruity and stuff." Kohaku laughed at their petty argument.

"Onee-chan, calm down. I'm going to go get something to eat." Kohaku smiled and ran off towards the kitchen.

Inuyasha turned away from Sango, towards his other guests. All right, let's get this party started!"