Disclaimer: -- No, I do not own Inuyasha. I dream of it though… -eyes wander to ceiling-

Full summary: Naraku escapes once again, and Miroku knows he doesn't have much time to make his decision. He knows his curse is his burden, and no one else's. So when he decides to leave, how will Sango react? She knows she loves him, but will she be able to tell him in time? Miroku must choose: act selfish and stay, leading Sango to her grave as well as his own? Or leave to die all by himself knowing he left Sango heartbroken?
Chapter 1: Sango's Tears of Flight
"Damn you, Naraku!" yelled Inuyasha, charging head-on with Tetsusiaga raised above his head. All his anger towards the filthy, scheming bastard was sapped into his words and gave him power. "WIND SCAR!" The attack flew through the air, slicing ground and atmosphere, but the instant before it hit, Kagura appeared in front of Naraku and directed the blow towards the wall of the castle. As wind came in contact with wood and stone, the building began to collapse into a smoking heap. Sango, who had been fighting back-to-back with Miroku, whistled for Kirara. The two-tailed cat demon's ear twitched and she stopped her attack to gallop over to them, with Sango, Miroku, and Shippo hopping on her back without a moment's hesitation. Inuyasha grabbed Kagome and flung her over his back before bounding out of the castle just in time. The ceiling collapsed, creating a large cloud of blackened soil that rose into the air, giving them limited vision. Soon the cloud dispersed, and everyone was able to catch a glimpse of a giant feather riding on the wind into the background.

"Damn it…" said Inuyasha. "Damn it all! He got away again!" The angry hanyou punched the ground aimlessly as Kagome slid off his back.

"Don't be so hard on yourself, Inuyasha," said Kagome gently, crouching down next to him. "This only proves that Naraku is a true coward. He was too afraid to face his fate."

"True enough," said Miroku's voice, with him, Sango, Shippo, and Kirara riding down from the sky on flames of red. "But we still have yet to kill him. When we do, all will be at peace." But something deep inside him told him otherwise. What if they didn't kill Naraku in time? Who was to say that he wouldn't lead his friends to their graves, sucking them into the abyss of his right palm along with himself? Inuyasha would never be able to avenge Kikyou's death, or confess his true love to Kagome. (tee hee hee…) Kagome's friends and family would mourn for her loss, in whatever weird way the people in her era mourned. Shippo's young life would be cut short, and Kirara would never ride on wind's fire again. And Sango… Miroku shook his head, trying to clear his mind. But a terrible vision came to his head…

His Wind Tunnel burst away from the prayer beads, and immediately began to swallow his arm. He watched in horror as Inuyasha, Kagome, Shippo, and Kirara were sucked into oblivion, screaming for their lives. Even those who he had no real attachment to were drawn in. Kouga, Kaede, Ginta, Hakkaku, Kohaku, Ayame, and innocent villagers were soon brought to their early graves. Then Sango stepped forth from the trees. He yelled at her to stay away from him, but she kept walking forward. Although, she really didn't need to walk, or even move for that matter, because the curse in his hand was already bringing her in. Then, Sango's face was gone. His Wind Tunnel slowly became bigger until all that was left of him was his torso and a giant hole in the ground. The last thing he heard was Naraku's insidious laughter that filled his mind, telling him he was a fool until—

"Miroku?" Sango's voice pulled him out of his thoughts. Miroku looked around and realized that they had set out once again, and that he was drenched in sweat. "Miroku?" Sango called out to him again.

"Yes, my dear Sango?" he said cheerily, covering his gloom expression rapidly and wiping his forehead.

"Uh…" Sango stuttered. How Miroku's mood went from deep in malicious thought to his lecherous old self was beyond her. It almost creeped her out. "Nevermind."

"Of course, my beautiful maiden," Miroku's voice seemed normal, but there was something dark, something sinister cast over it. It was very slight, but Sango thought Miroku just wasn't himself. From the time they had left the broken, disintegrating castle, to setting up camp for the night, Miroku was completely silent. He hadn't even attempted to grope her! When Kagome asked him about it, he just put on a clearly fake smile and waved the question off. Sango started to worry. This could be really serious! She thought. So, when Inuyasha and the others were fast asleep, Sango crawled over to the oblivious monk, who was staring intently at the stars. Once again, Miroku seemed locked away in his subconscious mind, shifting and sorting through his thoughts. Even when Sango had reached his side, Miroku was completely unaware of her intense gaze. This really got Sango on-edge. She slowly reached out to touch his shoulder, but stopped her arm in mid-air, for she felt that if she so much as brushed his shoulder, a giant earthquake would wreak havoc. It almost seemed as though he would shatter underneath her if she broke his thoughts. After mentally debating with herself, Sango gathered up her courage and gently touched Miroku's arm. He jumped, which caused her to withdraw her hand with alarm. Then Miroku turned his head to Sango's, his deep, purple eyes contemplating her light brown ones. Moments passed. Moments soon turned to seconds. Then seconds turned to minutes. After what seemed like years, Miroku finally spoke.

"Is something troubling you, Sango?" he asked.

"I could ask you the same thing," Miroku froze at Sango's words. She saw fear flicker across his face, and she soon spoke in a voice that was barely a whisper. "Please tell me."

Miroku's head snapped away from hers, obviously pained to speak. Sango knew this must have been an incredibly painful topic to make him react like that.

"Please, Miroku," Sango pleaded. "I have burdened you with many of my troubles. Please tell me yours. I am more than ready to listen." Miroku's eyes moved to his right palm momentarily, but flicked back to the stars when Sango followed his stare. "Is it something about your Wind Tunnel?" she had to summon her last ounce of courage to ask him.

Miroku turned his head back to hers. His eyes were shining with a film of tears, which startled Sango, for she had never seen him cry, not even in the many years she had known him. Miroku spoke in a voice that cracked and churned with emotion.

"The days are growing colder, Sango," he said. "And I fear I will not live to feel the warmth of the sun again." Pure worry shone through Sango's face. As Miroku went on, his voice became slightly steadier.

"By the end of the year, my Wind Tunnel will come of size where it will eventually swallow me whole." Sango gasped, and a tear fell from her face. "I must distance myself from all whom I care for before that time arrives."

"You don't mean…" Sango hiccupped. "You're leaving?"

"I must."

"But…" Sango's tears fell in sheets now, each shimmering droplet like a crystal in the twilight moon. "Y-you can't! We can kill Naraku before next year! You just can't go! You just can't leave me here!" Sango's tears of sadness turned to anger. How could he do this to her? She had stood beside him many times. How could he do this to her?

"I can to protect you," Miroku said quietly.

"Then are you just going to die alone?" Sango had to force her voice to do her bidding. "Is that what you want?"

Miroku paused a moment before answering. He seemed to be reminiscing a vision in his personal mind. "I would rather die alone than bring you with me."

Sango couldn't bear it. First her father and the demon slayers, then Kohaku, now Miroku! She stood up, tears still falling from her stained face, and began to run into the forest. Miroku stood up as well and made an attempt to stop her, but she only twisted away and kept running. With her tears blinding her vision, Sango nearly tripped over bushes or roots on many accounts, cutting her face on tree branches and soiling her face with risen dirt. Sango had no idea where she was going, nor did she care. She didn't want Miroku to see her like this; she didn't want him to realize her secret. Miroku could see right through her. After running along blindly for awhile, Sango's foot caught on an oversized root and she fell to the ground, crying in anguish and pain. She looked up and was surprised to see that it was, infact, the God Tree that she had stumbled upon. Did I really run that far? Sango thought to herself, taking breaths between sobs. She knew they hadn't been too far from the village in the first place, but it was still a long distance to run. Then she looked down at her ankle, which was twisted in an awkward position, numb. Sango sighed heavily and laid her head back down, not even bothering to pick up her broken body. She fell asleep sprawled across the forest floor, with the wind whispering tales from the sky and the God Tree watching silently over the demon huntress.

-sighs heavily- Phew, took me long enough! o.O This is onlymy second fanfic, I'm gettingbetter!Please review!

-Thanks so much,

Ryuu