AN: My way of coping with the idea that the series might end badly.
Disclaimer: I own nothing. Obviously. :O
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She had seen him fall, remembered screaming his name when he hit the ground and did not move, the last drops of blood from his newest wound spattering across the ground around him. With a burst of rage and pain, she had dealt with the demons she had been fighting and ran to him, fighting off more of Naraku's henchmen as she fought to protect him from their gaping jaws and bloodied claws.
Dropping to her knees beside him, she saw his clouded amethyst eyes moving to gaze upon her face, saw the tiny smile he sent her way. Pain burst through her heart, making it hard for her to breath. How could he be smiling?
Looking to his wound, she tried desperately to stop the bleeding, but her hands were not enough, and his blood pooled out from between her fingers so fast that she knew she could never contain it. Closing her eyes and taking a deep shuddering breath, she tried to keep her emotion in check, but was losing the battle this time. He was dying.
"Sango."
His voice was soft, calm. She opened her eyes, only now noticing that she was crying. Sniffing, she scooted closer to him, ignoring the battle going on around them, as even now the demons ignored them because they were no longer a threat.
"Houshi-sama…" Her voice was a stark contrast to his, broken and filled with tears.
"Miroku." He chided her gently, still smiling, his eyes growing even more clouded and distant as his life ebbed from him.
"Miroku." She whispered, humoring him, bitterly aware that her chance at happiness was almost gone. Once she had thought she could have a life with him after Naraku died…
"Sango…"
"Shhh…" She said, gently brushing his unruly bangs away from his eyes. Her heart gave a lurch as she realized that she would never be able to do so again.
"Please…live on without me." He said, his hazy gaze strangely piercing, as if he were reading her thoughts.
"I don't think I can." Sango admitted, lowering her head so her bangs were hiding her face. Small drops of moisture began falling upon them both, and Sango realized that it had begun raining. Suddenly, she felt a touch on her cheek as Miroku forced his last strength into the comforting gesture.
"Please…for me." He said. She raised her head, and then nodded once. Satisfied, Miroku let his arm drop, the strength drained from him. Closing his eyes, he sighed, falling into an uneasy unconciousness.
Sango sat there, rain falling upon her as she stared at their intertwined hands. She had not remembered taking his hand. More tears welled up in her eyes, and she buried her face into Miroku's chest as she sobbed, vaguely hearing Kagome's cries of joy as the last demons fled, Naraku disappearing into dust as he died.
Raising her head from Miroku's chest as Kagome's cries finally registered, Sango took his hand, the one covered by the glove and beads, and uncoiled the beads, removing the glove. His hand lay palm up, pale and unadorned by even a scar.
"You're free." Sango whispered hollowly. Miroku did not hear her.
Later, Sango stood by his grave, the scents of rain, blood and newly turned dirt lingering in her nose. "I will live on because you asked me to." She told his grave, eyes sad but yielding no tears. She had already cried for him, and no longer could do so.
Turning, she left his grave, and never returned, her love for him remaining unspoken.
Fin.