Author's Note: It was only a matter of time before I broke over into the Inuyasha fandom... I've been wanting to get this fic up and going for some time now... I just never did, until now.
So, hello all. I assume you to be of the Miroku/Sango persuasion if you are indeed reading this. You will also find bits of Inuyasha/Kagome included in the mix, but the main focus is our lovely demon slayer and her wandering handed, yet oh so lovable monk.
I have always been a big supporter of the MS in the story, and I felt a little let down at the anime ending, and am getting a little tired of the manga going on forever (I am running out of shelf room for all the books!!!) ... don't get me wrong both the show and manga are great, but more MS fluff could be added. And that is why I am here at the moment.
I also assume that you know that standard disclaimers and such? Correct? Good!
And with that, I will shut up and get on with the story!
The battle was fierce. Then again the ultimate fight to decide the fate of not just feudal Japan, but the world wouldn't be easily won. Each member of the group knew that from the beginning... and none of them would have been able to accept anything other than an all out fight between good and evil...
Naraku made certain that the tiny group that defied his evil will would have their hands full. And he didn't disappoint. Every minion, every cursed soul, every dirty trick he could think of was off the shelf and on the battle field.
That was why the group of unlikely heroes found themselves split up so quickly. Inuyasha, Kagome, Shippo and a few of Koga's wolves found themselves fighting with their all against two of Naraku's clones and minions. Koga and the rest of the the wolf tribe that came along for the fight, Sesshomaru, and a few others were battling a mass of creatures as well. Somewhere amongst the dead and wounded chaos on the battlefield, Miroku, Sango and Kirara were also fighting with all their might.
Sango had spied her brother's possessed body again as she and Kirara were about to fly in to aid the Hoshi in his fight with what looked to be another Naraku clone. Praying that he would be fine without her, Sango took off to her brother's location. She knew she had to try and save him... even if it meant death for her... he had to be freed.
Miroku saw her take off and a new rage filled him. Making quick work of the clone with his fighting skills and a finishing touch from his Kazaana, he followed her. He was glad he did.
Right as he entered the ominous clearing where Kirara and Sango had stopped, he sensed something bad. There was an extra strong presence of evil over here. Then he saw it- the blood dripping scythe that belonged to Sango's tribe came flying at her.
Moving with unprecedented speed he managed to push the unaware fighter to the side... not without injury to himself, but Miroku didn't care. She was worth more to him than his own body...
"Hoshi-sama!" She cried as she saw the blood dripping from his arm. She was at his side both to see if he was all right, and to give him protection from any further attacks.
"I'm all right Sango... but don't let your guard down... not even for Kohaku..." He hissed as he held his wounded arm close to his chest. "I know you are here Naraku! I can feel you watching. I hope you enjoy it, because you will die by our hands today!" Miroku shouted as he stood.
"Silly monk. I thought you would have figured out that your attempts to stop me are foolish. I hold nearly all the shards, and once I kill that damned half demon and your friends, I will have them all. You will fail!" Came the snicker of the sinister demon. "While I deal with them, here... you wanted to him back so badly... well here he is. Kohaku! Kill them now!"
Miroku knew this day would come... the final battle to save Kohaku... Not anything against Sango or her ability and skill on the battlefield, but he knew this was one battle she could not win. If she killed her brother there would be pain, and if she failed... that would mean he too would suffer more than anything else in the world...
"No, Kohaku... it's me... Sango!" She tried to talk with him. Tears welled in her deep dark orbs. Her pleas ate at his heart.
'Dearest Sango... he may hear you, but he is powerless to fight it...' Miroku said closing his eyes. He needed to be prepared for what he was about to do... it was risky, but he knew of a way that might save the boy...
"Sango! Get back!" Miroku shouted as he opened his eyes and saw Kohaku about to take a swing at her. She didn't move... running again he blocked the blow that could have been fatal for her with his staff. In doing so the wooden tool and weapon broke in two.
Dropping the end of the staff to the ground he grabbed into his robes and pulled out a handful of powder. Blowing it into Kohaku's eyes give him the distraction he needed to get behind the boy.
The powder didn't last long and Kohaku's possessed body targeted Sango once again. It was now or never. Miroku needed a miracle.
'I know I am not a very good Hoshi... in fact I know that I must be one of your worst, but please Buddha and all the spirits, help me out will ya?' He prayed as he took an extra pair of beads and threw them at Kohaku.
Sango didn't know what to do. She could see that Kohaku was coming for her... she knew she could not save him by words... but yet she couldn't bring herself to do more than raise her sword in defense against him. She wanted to... she knew she had to do it... but her arms would not move.
'I've failed you father... I've failed everyone... but he is my brother... I thought I would be strong enough to at least allow him to die... but he's my brother! I don't want to be alone!'
"Goodbye..." She whispered as closed her eyes and waited.
When nothing came she opened her eyes and gasped.
"Hoshi-sama?" She cried out as she saw Miroku snare Kohaku with a rosary. Pulling the boy away from her, the Hoshi began to fight with the boy and struggle finally knocking away his weapon.
"Sango! Pull out his shard!" Miroku's voice called to her. "You need to pull it out now! I can't hold him!" He said struggling to contain the boy.
"But... that will kill him!"
"Sango! Please!"
'What do I do? My brother lives only because of that shard in his back... but he lives to do evil. I want to stop his suffering... but...'
"Hoshi-sama!" She cried as Kohaku stabbed the monk in the leg with a hidden blade.
"Sango! You need to trust me. I think I can save him... but I need that shard out of his back first... please. Do this for him!"
'I trust you... I love you.' She said mustering her courage and followed the monk's orders. Closing her eyes as she pulled out the shard, she felt faint as a rush of power swept around her. She cried as she heard her brother's screams of agony and pain... but she completed her task... 'I trust you... please save my brother...'
With a quickly swoop of his hand, a mighty seal was placed over the hole where the shard had been lodged. Chanting a few words, Miroku managed to seal the wound before the boy's soul had leaked out and left his body for good.
Sango blinked in disbelief as she saw her brother take a breath with out the shard in his back.
"Hoshi...sama?"
"Not now Sango... It is only a temporary fix... we have to defeat Naraku, but rest assured, I will help your brother when this is all over." Miroku said as he stood up forgetting about his wounds. "Kirara, can you take us to where Inuyasha and Kagome are? I know that is where the real Naraku is going... he needs her Shikon Shards to fully defeat us."
The fire cat growled in encouragement as the couple climbed on to her back and they took off.
"Kohaku... is he..."
"He should be fine for now... that seal will hold his soul in his body for a few days. Then we can figure out what to do... give me the shard Sango..." Miroku instructed as he tried to calm his nerves. This was it... Naraku would pay for what he did to so many people. Miroku would set Sango and himself free of that evil creature once and for all.
'And then... heaven. I want so badly for this to be over... not just that I am tried physically and spiritually... but then my dearest Sango... you and I will restore your family with your brother at your side... and it will be heaven. No more watching you in pain day after day... no more damn curse to keep me from showing you how much I do love you...'
When they arrived things were looking pretty bad. Inuyasha was bloody and Kagome was struggling to keep a brave front up.
Miroku quickly jumped off to offer Inuyasha some much needed help. The half demon had been fighting the majority of the beasts keeping Kagome safe to pick off a few here and there with her holy arrows.
"Inuyasha!" Miroku called out to try and give the demon hope. "Naraku is weakened. He is losing! Let's finish this now!"
The two fought on against the hoard of beasts while Sango, Kirara, Kagome and even little Shippo fought against their own enemies.
As they seemed to make progress against the foes, a sinister laugh echoed across the woods.
"No! Inuyasha, look! The moon..." Kagome yelled looking up at the nights sky. They had nearly forgotten they had been fighting for a good part of the day, and now dusk had finally turned to night.
"Why tonight of all nights! Damn it!" Inuyasha cursed his half demon limitations. With this moon, he would change back to his full human form... and be useless to the effort.
"We need to retreat!" Kagome screamed knowing what the moon meant to the battle and her friends. They would lose without Inuyasha and the Tetsusaiga.
"No, not this time. I finish this or I die right here!" The stubborn streak seemed to not waiver whether he was human or half demon.
"We fight together Inuyasha!" Miroku replied as they doubled their efforts to try and find the real Naraku before the change occurred. "I sense him over there!" The monk said pointing, the still half demon agreed with a few sniffs of the air.
The final charge began. Inuyasha, Miroku and Sango ran into battle backed up by Kagome firing arrows left and right towards the direction the the monster.
Swords ready, seals and half of a staff were also there to attempt the demise of an evil the world did not need.
Naraku struck. He exited his hiding spot after being taunted. The demon had made a fatal error in allowing the words of the group to finally get to him, and they were not about to back down.
Inuyasha dove into battle like a wild half demon, wanting to end it all before he transformed. He felt it coming on... he pleaded with himself and the damned moon above to wait... just a few more minutes...
But as always with the group, they could not have their way... the silver hair on Inuyasha's head changed to a deep black and the once powerful sword shrunk as the transformation took place.
The human Inuyasha was thrown back with a lucky blow by Naraku. Miroku was concerned about his partner, however losing focus now meant death for them all.
"NO! Inuyasha!" Kagome called out and ran towards the injured man. "You have to fall back..." She told him as she fired another arrow into the mix.
"Never!" He spat as he wiped the blood from his lips. Before he could get his bearings and return to the fight, the strangely dressed priestess from the future ran ahead, arrows ready.
"NO! KAGOME! Come back!" He yelled, his heart pumping faster than ever before. 'She's going to get herself killed. No, I cannot let that happen...' He looked down at his father's sword. 'Please father... please... give me the strength to save her... she's... Kagome is important to me... I think... I love her!'
Not waiting for any sort of answer or caring what would happen to him he charged Naraku.
As if out of no where the Testsuaiga activated like never before. It wiped out any and all demons in its path with a searing light.
Naraku was unprepared for both the power surrounding the sword, and the light; this was their chance.
"Kagome! Now!" Miroku screamed as he saw Inuyasha rear up for what would most likely be the last swing his tried body could handle. The girl nodded and notched another arrow. Waiting for the right moment she let it fly and added to the light and power behind Inuyasha's sword.
"Naraku! YOU DIE!" Inuyasha screamed as he sliced through the demon.
Miroku didn't wait for the beast to collect himself or find another way to avoid the attack, once the jewel dropped from his grasp, Miroku opened his cursed hand.
"KAZAANAA!" He screamed as Naraku's body was sucked up into the very void he had given to Miroku's grandfather.
When the light of the attack and the dust cleared, the battlefield went silent. Without the jewel's power, Naraku's minions lost power. Many cut their losses and left before the regrouping forces finished them off.
Kagome ran to Inuyasha's side as the exhausted man fell to his knees.
"Is it over?" Sango asked as Kirara set down next to Miroku. His quiet and worried body posture made her wonder if everything was all right. He wasn't celebrating, he wasn't smiling... he wasn't trying to grab her bottom... he just stood there holding on to his cursed hand... looking at it with extreme worry.
"Stay back Sango..." He instructed in a serious and cold voice. Getting a better look over his shoulder she saw the blood dripping from his hand.
The silence of the battlefield came to an abrupt end when the monk screamed out in excruciating pain. There was something trying to come out from the void in his hand... the long claw like arms struggled causing the monk searing pain.
Holding his hand down to the ground he seemed to be struggling with the creature... it was no doubt Naraku not wanting to give up.
"Miroku!" Kagome cried not knowing what to do at the moment.
"Stay back I said!" He shouted staggering ahead a ways. With the pain and his wounds sustained in the battle, he knew he could not run away from the group like he wanted to do.
'Is this the end? But we defeated Naraku... am I going to be consumed by the curse even now?' He wondered. 'Father! Grandfather! Is this the pain that you felt? Shall I fail you both now? After we were so close?'
The small group of friends moved closer to the monk, even against his wishes.
"Let us help you Hoshi-sama." Sango said reaching out her hand to him.
Just as she did, a dark light shot out from his cursed hand. The creature that was trying to exit almost succeeded... its long claws reached up to try and kill the monk, but only managed to cut him across the chest and legs... it was sucked back into the void shortly after.
Falling to his knees, Miroku noticed his hand was getting hot. Looking at the cursed hand he felt as if he was about to faint. The void was closing... slowly and painfully it was closing... but in its place was a mangled and bloody wound.
Crying out with pain, the monk finally could take all his body could. The last thing he could recall was Sango's worried and tear stained face and then everything went black...
"Will he be alright?" Sango asked as the group assessed the wounded and set up a camp for some rest. She had not left the monk's side since he had passed out. The demon slayer didn't want to admit that when he did finally fall, she thought he had died. Her heart had broken in pieces then... and she felt weak.
Even now she didn't feel much better. Shippo and Kirara had gone to retrieve her brother, who for all they could figure out was in a deep sleep-like state. With him safely beside her, she was able to worry about other things... well another person. On the other side of her, was the man who had entered her life so abruptly at her lowest point and had given her so much... the man, she hated to admit, she was deeply in love with.
"I think so... but he's really beat up." Kagome said as she pulled out some more bandages and supplies. "I'll have to go home and get more later. He's going to need a lot of care if he's going to recover... and it's going to take a lot of time."
"I'll take care of that, you should go and check out how Inuyasha is doing... don't you two have some things to talk about anyway?" Sango smiled motioning to the human looking half demon who had been staring at the jewel for a long time.
"I know. I just don't know what to do. I think... I think... I ..." Kagome stopped. She couldn't say it.
"Love him." Sango helped looking down at Miroku.
"Yeah... there's just so much between us. Especially if he still wants to become a full demon..." Kagome sighed remembering Inuyasha's plan to become a full demon with the power of the jewel. "What about you and Miroku?"
"I will bring him back to my village and we will rebuild it.. together... You know, its funny how much they change our lives." She smiled as he stroked his face. Miroku had been badly injured there wasn't a part of him that was left without a bandage on. Even his cheek had a scratch covered by a small band-aid.
She didn't even notice Kagome getting up and walking over to Inuyasha, she was too involved in looking down at the man she was to spend her life with...
'You weren't serious about having 30 kids, right?' She wondered with a faint blush thinking of their future. 'I'll bring both you and Kohaku home, and I'll begin rebuilding the village while you rest up. Then went you are all better we can talk about getting married and starting our family.'
Things were still hazy with pain as something caused him to wake. Trying to take account of where he was, the monk tried to use his senses before opening his eyes.
'Several humans... a few small demons... smells like that instant noodle stuff Kagome brings... soft hand stroking my face... faint humming... wait a minute... soft hand? It feels good though.' He sighed internally as he decided to slowly open his eyes.
"S...Sango?" He tried to say by the dryness of this throat left him with nothing more than a croak.
"Hoshi-sama!" Her humming stopped and she hovered over him. "Are you in pain? What's wrong? Kagome said to give you this when you woke up." She said offering him some pills and a bit of water.
"Sango? Is it..."He stopped and tried to look at his hand. It was covered with a great deal of bandages.
"Don't try and move Hoshi-sama... you were badly injured. You need to rest." She told him keeping him from sitting up. Sango expected his hand to wander up to its usual place on her bottom, but was rather shocked to find that he didn't.
'Maybe he's just too tired to try it now...' She told herself trying to not be sad or angry that he didn't try anything. Little by little, she had slowly begun to enjoy their little game of 'touch and slap.' Granted she didn't like to be touched there so much- there were other ways he could show he loved her, but then again, this was Miroku after all... she had accepted his little quirks long ago. Besides he always ended up paying a heavy price for his adventurous hands.
Several days later Miroku could take laying down and resting no more. Fashioning a cane out of a piece of wood, he was up and limping around due to a bad leg injury.
He found moving was quite painful, but he wasn't about to do nothing till he was fully healed.
After having a long talk with Inuyasha and the rest, the group decided how to use the jewel and what to do now. With the help of Kirara, the group had returned to the magic well that connected the two worlds.
"And you're sure about this?" Kagome asked as she hugged Sango.
"Yes, you two have your own path to wander in your time... and well, I've got a village to restore." The young woman smiled. "Besides its not like you can never come back and see us, right? You have the jewel with you... and well, I am sure Inuyasha will want to come back once and a while and pretend to be half demon again."
"I know... but..."
"You have a life to lead in your time Kagome. You need to go back to it." Miroku smiled as he too gave the girl who had changed all their lives the best hug he could considering his injuries. "Now get out of here and be happy."
"You too! I wish both of you the best!" Kagome smiled as she handed her backpack to Sango and climbed into the well.
"Don't worry about her, I'm going to protect her." Inuyasha said arrogant as ever. He was triyng hard to not show off to much emotion. Who knew when they would see each other again... Miroku, for all his faults and stupid moments, was a good a loyal partner.
"I have no worries. Except that you can survive in her world without getting into too much trouble." Miroku laughed as he watched his first real friend adjust his 'human' attire Kagome had brought.
"I'll manage." He scoffed like it would be no big deal.
"Buddha help you and give her patience." Miroku said a little mock prayer.
"You just don't mess things up on your end here." Inuyasha whispered to the monk. "Take care of her and be happy."
"I will. You too. Now get! Your woman is waiting."
And with that the well was closed leaving behind the two and their demon companions.
"I hope they will be happy." Sango said approaching the monk who seemed to be lost in thought.
"What? Oh, them? They will be. As long as Inuyasha learns to be a little quieter." He replied looking out at the sky. Sneaking a peak over at the woman beside him, Miroku noticed something different about her. 'She's holding back... it feels as if she is almost afraid of me now... is it because of Kohaku... my injuries or is it... the promise we made?' He wondered.
Turning to her he flashed her one of his boyish smiles.
"What now dearest Sango?" He asked, wanting to know what she felt at the moment. With her distant attitude he didn't know if this would be the best time to ask her about the engagement, or even the idea of marriage. 'Let's get our lives pieced back together first... then we can truly begin our future together.'
"Shippo is going to stay with Kaede. So that leaves the four of us to return to the demon slayer village and begin again... that is if you want to do that..." She said turning away with a faint blush. 'I'll go wherever you lead... As important as rebuilding my village is, you are also important.'
"Then it is settled. Once we get there, I can begin the rites to better help Kohaku... but I am afraid I cannot actually be of much other help as I am now." He sighed hating the fact he was injured so badly. It would be months before he was able to use his once cursed hand, weeks before he could walk without the help of a cane... it was just so annoying that he was this way...
"Hoshi-sama, you've done enough already... you've saved me enough times, and you gave me back my brother... there's nothing more I can ask of you." She said not wanting him to feel helpless. 'Well, except to love me for the rest of my life... share my life with me. But all in time...'
Miroku saw her hesitate to get on Kirara after he had climbed on.
"Do not worry about the future Sango, we will get through it together. Your village will be great once again. But it will take time."
"We have all the time in the world now." She smiled getting on behind him. With his weak arms and injuries it would be best if she held on to him on the ride. With Kohaku's still sleeping body, the two took flight on Kirara and headed towards the still devastated village she had left so long ago.
'We can sleep in the main house. It wasn't completely destroyed. That should work till I can get a better house repaired and things going. The forest to the North should have enough wood, and with the waterfall and lake in the West I can easily get food for us... it's going to be hard work... but I'm ready.'
The journey wasn't long. Kirara could tell how anxious they all were in getting to the village, so she went as fast as she could.
In no time they would see the remains of the village. Sango knew it would be hard to see the village that she grew up in still in a state of destruction, but it would be great again.
"Well, are you ready for some long and hard hours of work?" Sango asked trying to break the silence of the ride.
"How is that different from our last job?" Miroku replied with a light hearted voice.
"Well, for one there is no demon at the very end to fight." She smiled and took a bold move to hold him tighter.
Neither could deny the happy feeling as they stayed close for a few minutes. Miroku enjoyed having her pressed up to his back, and she shivered with the feeling of his strong body so close.
"I wouldn't be too sure. You can get quite scary at times." Miroku chuckled.
"Very funny." She chuckled back, and was about to say something else when her words were shopped by the first view of her village.
"Sango? Are you sure we are in the right place?" Miroku asked as Kirara hovered above the site.
"I don't understand... what happened? It's... already rebuilt?"
Down below where they had expected a still ravished grave of a village, they found a bustling city on the mends. In place of the burned and destroyed houses and shops, new ones had sprung up, or repairs were under way for the more important structures. People were once again walking through the streets where so many had been slaughtered.
"It has to be the right place, look.. there are the graves..." Sango said as Kirara sat down next to the main house.
Shouts of excitement came from the people of the village signaling someone of importance to exit the main house with an escort. Miroku slid off of Kirara and tried to stand in front of the confused demon slayer. However with his leg and the journey, he was lucky to be able to fall back on Kirara for support.
"What is the meaning of this? Who are you? And why are you wearing the uniforms of my people?" Sango asked in both a confused and angry voice. 'Just what was going on here? Was this some kind of joke?'
"Ah! My lovely Sango, I have awaited your return!"
'That voice... it couldn't be...' She said recognizing the voice. Looking towards the main stairs to the house, she saw him.
"I told you I would wait for you." A smiling Prince Kuranosuke Takeda walked towards her with open arms.
A/N:
So that's the start of the story. I am sure you can all imagine the problems that our young Prince returning means for the couple... but to find out exactly what happens, you'll just have to wait for the next chapter.
I know the plot line isn't anything too spectacularly original, but I can guarantee some twists and fluff in the course of the story.
Like I said before, I just had to get this story out there- it's been driving me crazy for a while... and when I say 'a while,' well it's been about a year...
Enough talking for now- let me know what you think! Reviews, comments, randomness is always appreciated! (They also make for good encouragement on getting the next chapter up faster )