Bffimagine: You guys must be tired of me by now.

Miroku: Yes, I am.

Inuyasha: I don't think we could be any more exhausted.

Bffimagine: I wasn't talking to YOU. I was talking to THEM.

SMASH. The sound of breaking glass filled Miroku's ears. Thought it wasn't glass he heard shattering; it was his heart.

'Inuyasha…' Miroku thought, fighting back tears, 'Loves Kagome. It makes perfect sense. I—we weren't meant to be.'

From behind watery lenses of tears Miroku took in the sight before him.

Kagome's lips were firmly locked with Inuyasha's, and it was ripping Miroku to shreds.

'I—I can't take it anymore…'

Miroku quietly slipped away, unnoticed, and headed toward the hot springs.

"HOUSHI-SAMA!" Sango called.

'Where could the hentai have gone?'

"Any sign of Miroku? Kagome asked.

"Not since the kissing scene earlier," Shippo muttered.

"I HEARD THAT!" Inuyasha fumed.

A large lump formed of Shippo's skull.

"AHHH! ITAI!"

"It IS true though Kagome," Sango pointed out dully, "You and Inuyasha have been very… open about your affections lately."

"Miroku was probably just grossed out so he went to get some quiet time," Shippo suggested, rubbing the lump on his head.

"It's been about three hours," Miroku sighed to himself as he slipped out of the water and dressed.

After meditating for a while, Miroku felt as if he could face the world—or even Inuyasha—with his shredded heart.

A slight rustling in the bushes put Miroku on his guard. He readied the shakujo to strike.

Walking out of the foliage was a demon in the form of a beautiful woman, though such was unbeknownst to Miroku.

He let out a breath of relief.

"Young houshi," the woman cooed, "I must bear a child to a man to honor my family. Please, let me bear your children."

"You're a demon," Miroku determined flatly, sighing again.

"Of course not! How could you say such a thing?"

"Gomen, I'm sorry, but I don't like women."

"NANI? WHAT!"

"All of it is a lie. A well made one. I made myself into a carefree, perverted womanizer in order to keep the rest of me hidden."

The demon looked sympathetic.

"Really, I'm much deeper than that. I love a hanyo, a male one at that, and every day I live is a lie. I'm not carefree; I'm worrying about my cursed hand every second. I don't want to hurt anyone, and that's why I'm alone."

The demon took a step closer.

"You are a good person. You have an innocent spirit, a pure soul, and a kind, loyal heart." The demon's hand was pressed over the left side of Miroku's chest, where his heart lay beating consistently.

"You will willingly die for anyone, just to save their life."

"MIROKU!"

Inuyasha and the rest of the gumi were running toward the two. The demon smirked.

Quick as light, the demon seemingly became molten silver and was in front of Inuyasha in seconds.

""INUYASHA!" Kagome and Miroku called out at the same time.

'I want to test you, houshi-kun.' The demon's hand sank into Inuyasha's chest.

"Please," Miroku begged the demon, "If it is a heart you desire, take mine and spare his."

"Very well." The demon changed into her true form. Each hand had five long, sharp claws. The demon's hair changed from black to silver, and she lunged forward to Miroku.

"G-Guh…"

The demon's claws had sunked deep into Miroku's flesh, savagely snapping ribs and piercing the lungs in the way.

"Miroku?" Inuyasha was clutching the shallow but bleeding wound in his chest.

"Just as I thought." Satisfied, the demon tore out Miroku's heart. It was still beating in her hand as Miroku fell to the ground.

"HOUSHI-SAMA!" Sango cried. She launched the Hiraikotsu at the demon, but it went through her like water.

"Hanyo," the demon shouted, "This houshi is a special human. Because he endure so much pain and hurt his heart works somewhat like a mirror, a kagami."

"Get to the point," Inuyasha answered snappishly, averting his gaze to the almost lifeless Miroku.

"If all of you, the houshi's friends, the ones he loves so dear, look into his heart, it will reveal who this beautiful young boy loves more dear than anything in his life."

Kagome peered into the weakly beating heart. When it ceased, she saw…

"Me?" Inuyasha gasped, "Miroku loves me?"

'Miroku,' Sango whispered mentally, shaking her head, 'Inuyasha wasn't meant to find out like this.'

FLASHBACK

"Sango," Miroku whispered one night, "I—I need to tell you something."

"Can't it wait until morning?" Sango asked, groggy from sleep.

"No. I need you to know… I'm in love with Inuyasha."

The solemn look on Miroku's face made her want to cry.

END FLASHBACK

She certainly didn't take it well at first, but it did become more casual between them eventually.

"Miroku," Inuyasha had tears running down his face.

'All this time, I have been outwardly showing love for Kagome. It must have torn him apart.'

A thought shook Inuyasha. He didn't want to think about it, but it couldn't be ignored.

'Is it really Kagome I love?'

Silent tears streaked Inuyasha's face, wet, salty signs of mourning.

'No. Kagome… I never loved her. I loved Kikyo. And now… now…'

Amber eyes strayed to Miroku.

'I… love him. I've loved him from the beginning. I've needed him… wanted him…'

A voice inside Inuyasha's head relentlessly shouted, 'He's dead! It's too late! If you had made up your mind earlier, he'd be alive and happy! He be alive and in your arms!'

"I'm sorry."

Kagome and Sango's gazes snapped into focus and they stared questioningly at Inuyasha.

"Miroku, I'm sorry. Moku washe arimasen."

Inuyasha rushed to Miroku's side.

"Please forgive me Miroku. I love you… ai… aishiteru."

Miroku managed a weak smile and a shaky breath.

"I love you Inuyasha. Please don't cry for me." Miroku's hand gently wiped away Inuyasha's tears.

"I'm sorry Inuyasha. Don't feel hurt on my account."

Miroku's long, thin fingers fell away. Inuyasha stole his last breath with an emotional kiss, tears streaming down both their faces.

Violet eyes slowly closed and a pale, slender form went limp in Inuyasha's arms.

Inuyasha gently ran his fingers through Miroku's silky black hair.

"Sleep well, koishi."

A dark figure shrank back into the shadows, getting away unnoticed by the mortals.

The Angel of Love, Ai no Tenshi, smiled sadly at Inuyasha and Miroku.

"Strange," she thought, "Even with this ridiculous halo and white, feathery wings, not to mention white robes, they STILL thought I was a demon."

Miroku's heart solidified into pure, beautiful crimson crystal and shattered into shards.

bffimagine: Should that be the end? Hmm… tell me what you think!