Three Years Later
Prologue
Miroku lay awake on his futon, though it was long past midnight. In a few hours, the sun would be rising, and Miroku had not yet gotten an ounce of sleep. Most men in his position would be set to burst with happiness, but Miroku felt nothing but confusion and regret. Earlier in the day the local priestess and doctor, Kaede had told him that he was going to be a father. His wife and the mother of his child, Sango slept peacefully beside him, her head resting on his chest with a smile on her lips. Miroku felt terrible. He was overjoyed at the prospect of having a child, especially with the one woman her truly loved and cared for, but one element was missing from a 'happily ever after'. Naraku. His greatest and most powerful enemy still walked the earth, and a curse placed on his right hand by the demon still threatened to swallow him up. He couldn't stay here with his wife and child, not when he had a mission to fulfill and most certainly not when his curse could devour his wife and child along with himself. But nor could he bear to leave his wife and unborn child to live on their own. He might miss seeing his son or daughter grow. He may miss ever seeing his son or daughter at all. As much as he hated it, he couldn't ignore the fact that the wind tunnel was ever growing, and that his time limit had already shortened to a matter of years, if not months. Not enough time to defeat Naraku. He wasn't frightened of death, but of the possibility that his child may be born with the same terrible fate. That, was something Miroku would not allow to happen.
Several hours later the sun had made itself completely visible over the horizon. Sango stirred. She yawned and stretched her arms. "Good morning Miroku." she said, giving him a peck.
"Good morning to you too." Miroku replied, giving back more than he had received. "And to you baby." he added, kissing his wife's stomach.
"I still can't believe we're going to be parents." Sango sighed. "I'm going to have a family again."
"Yeah." Miroku mumbled without enthusiasm.
Sango gave him a look. "You don't sound too happy."
"I'm not." he confessed.
"Why not? You're going to be a father Miroku! You've only been looking for the opportunity for God knows how long. Since before you met me at least."
Miroku sighed ruefully. "Sango, I will stay here until you give birth, but after that Inuyasha, Kagome and I will need to continue our quest to defeat Naraku."
Sango stared at him in confusion for a moment before asking "What?"
"Sango, I cannot stay here with you and our child with the wind tunnel still threatening my, and if I stay here, your life." Miroku explained. "Kagome and Inuyasha cannot hope to defeat Naraku by themselves. I must forge on with them."
"You can't!" Sango screamed. "It's too dangerous!"
"It is more dangerous to stay here and just wait for my death." Miroku answered. "I will not accept my wind tunnel killing me as inevitability. In addition, if I remain in the village, I will be a danger to everyone inhabiting it, including you and our baby. I will not put you two at risk by staying."
Sango's eyes began to brim with tears. "No!" She threw her arms tightly around his neck, as if to keep him from moving. "You'll let our child grow without ever knowing his or her father?"
"Will you allow our child to be born with a curse that fates her to an early death? And don't you ever think that way!" Miroku commanded sharply. "I will live Sango, and I will return here when Naraku is no more."
"How do you know?" Sango sobbed.
"As long as you are in my heart Sango, I will not allow myself to die. Just promise you will wait for me to come back." Miroku requested.
Sango continued to cry, her tears soaking the front of Miroku's robes. "Don't leave me." Sango pleaded.
"Will you promise me?" Miroku asked again.
"Yes. I promise you." Sango managed to force out through her tears. "I just love you so much."
"I love you too Sango. I don't want to leave, but nothing good can come of my remaining here. I will live, for you Sango, and I will return. You have to believe me, my love." Miroku told her.
"I will. Don't forget me." Sango continued to weep.
"Do you really think I could?" Miroku asked her coldly.
"Of…of course not." Sango tried vainly to choke back her tears. She wiped her eyes hastily "I'm sorry."
"Don't be." Miroku said. "I'm the only one who has anything to be sorry about. I know that I'm giving you a burden that no person should ever have to bear. Please forgive me." Miroku begged, wrapping his arms tightly around Sango.
"I know you are only doing what's best for everybody. But don't you die on me. If you do I will never forgive you as long as I live!" Sango threatened.
"I told you, you don't have to worry. Let us just try to enjoy the time we have left together." Miroku said, rubbing his wife's back.
Nine months later, Sango gave birth to a beautiful baby girl. She and Miroku named her Haruko. The day for Inuyasha, Kagome, and Miroku to continue their journey came. "I don't want to let go." Sango told Miroku as they held each other for what might be the last time.
"You must. You have to believe I will survive this." Miroku told her as he kissed her intensely. He then kissed his daughter on her forehead. "Be a good little girl for Mommy while I'm gone." He told her softly. Finally, he turned to Shippo. "Shippo I need you to be the man now, I'm entrusting you to look after Sango and Haruko while we're away. Do you promise to take good care of them?"
"Scout's Honor!" Shippo swore, right hand over his heart.
Miroku sighed. "Let us leave quickly before I change my mind." Miroku, Kagome and Inuyasha left, Sango and Shippo watching until they disappeared into the distance.