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November 2nd, 2018

Miroku (Main Gang)

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The meadow was a glorious expanse of grass and wildflowers. Soft green grass rustled gently in the breeze as Miroku walked slowly enjoying the feel of the wind blowing past him. All in all this was such a delightful break from all the violence that had become part of the norm. It seemed as though the dawning of each new day brought with it yet another villain to fight. Demons, yes, but evil humans as well. And their job was to fight evil in all its forms.

Still, at times it bothered him. Not the endless battles but rather the ramifications the acts of an evil few had on his friends. How many demons had he fought in the past that were like Inuyasha or Shippo? Merely fighting to survive. Defending themselves from the sudden, unexpected arrival of those who wished to do them harm for no other reason but existing? He had been taught to hate all demons - Haichi excluded - and in some ways, he was no better than the villagers who turned them away. Who refused them entry because they judged a book by its cover. It was sad really but there was nothing for it. All they could hope was to change a few minds along the way.

Across the field, he could see the others waiting for him. Inuyasha, sitting above the others in a sturdy tree branch with a soft smile on his face that clearly the hanyou didn't believe anyone below him could see. That soft smile, of course, was due to the miko currently waving at the monk enthusiastically. It was so clear to everyone but her how much Inuyasha loved her. Shippo was balancing atop Kagome's shoulder, his eyes shining with delight as he too waved merrily.

And then there was Sango. The stunning demon slayer stood at Kagome's side, poised and collected, her face glowing with a serene, shy beauty. Ah yes, Sango was the most beautiful woman he had ever beheld in both body and mind. He knew, as he had known for some time now, that he loved her. More than anything or anyone. He would gladly sacrifice himself a thousand times if it meant keeping her safe.

Beaming happily, Miroku hurried his step to join his comrades in arms. As he walked, he took a moment to thank Buddha for the gift of his friends. This small rag tag group of people who cared for him, who were honest and loyal, who were always there for him. Before them, he had only had Master Mushin and Haichi. The latter mainly served him out of fear and the former out of obligation. They cared for him - surely - but this new group? They were so much more. They were his everything. Especially Sango. Most of all Sango actually. And that is why he could never let her know how he felt. He chased women and acted as lecherously as always to put her off the scent that his heart just wasn't in it anymore. It wouldn't be fair to tell her when he knew one day he'd have to leave.

Long ago, he had accepted that he would die at an early age because of his cursed wind tunnel. So he had resigned himself to the fact that he would never have any long-term friendships or relationships with anyone. He flitted from one meaningless trist to the next. Not that anyone has ever said yes. For all his propositions, he had yet to have anyone. He wouldn't hurt himself or a future child by doing that. No one should have to live with this curse. It would end with him one way or another. He had promised himself that much. But so much for not having earthly attachments. For not loving anyone. For choosing a lonely path. How could he give up his friends now? How could he give up Sango? He couldn't. Not now. Not ever. Not until the choice was made for him.

Just as that thought crossed his mind, the sky faded into a sickly black. The blue sky disappearing behind dark, angry clouds as wind swirled angrily through the clearing. No. Not the clearing. The wind began and ended with...with him.

One moment it was a gentle breeze, the next a howling gale. It struck him, tearing, pushing, pounding. It circled him, closing, tightening. He screamed as it wrapped with crushing force around his hand.

No!

"Miroku, are you alright?" Kagome called out as she began coming closer with a concerned look on her face, "What's wrong?"

"GET BACK!" he tried to scream but to his horror his words were drowned out by the rushing wind. Didn't they know they should run?! Why were they coming closer?! WHY?!

"Miroku?" Sango asked as she gave him a heartbreakingly beautiful little smile and hurried her pace to stand near him, "Talk to us. Tell us what's happening."

A tearing pain shot through his arm causing him to scream out in sheer agony when the wind tunnel exploded in a shrieking maelstrom of wind. It sprung open, releasing that black hole sucking in everything, even light, into its unfathomable darkness. Miroku's screams of pain ripped from his chest as he felt the wind tunnel expanding, engulfing his whole hand, the wind gaining in strength with each passing moment.

Suddenly, his pain became the least of his concern as he heard screams over the pounding in his ears. Blue agony laced eyes watched helpless horror as Shippo flew through the air towards him and disappeared into the terrible void. The wind tunnel grew still larger. His forearm was gone, sucked in. Miroku tried to turn, to point the wind tunnel away from them. But he couldn't move, couldn't breathe, couldn't do anything except watch.

With a sob of anguish, he watched as Inuyasha tried to shield Kagome from the wind with his body. He failed. Kagome slipped from the hanyou's desperate grip. With his own scream of anguish, Inuyasha leaped after Kagome as he always had done. Miroku could do nothing but choke on his tears as he watched Kagome disappear into the void, her reaching fingertips just inches from Inuyasha's as he joined her in the horrible nothingness of the wind tunnel.

Miroku wept, tears streaming down his face, as the wind tunnel crept closer to his shoulder. There was only one person left to die now besides himself. He watched as the wind tore Sango from her feet. As the howling maelstrom pulled her in, her terror-filled eyes found his. It was in that moment he knew. He saw how much she loved him and regret washed through him for every damn second he'd wasted in this life. Would he even get a second chance or would his soul be forever trapped within the void?

"Miroku!" Sango screamed in terror, as she, too, disappeared into the nothingness. Dropping to his knees, he didn't even try to fight any longer. It would be over soon. Everything...everything was over. He'd killed them. He killed them all. He never should've stayed. He knew better. This...this was why he was meant to be alone. He killed them. He killed...

"Miroku!"

Miroku bolted upright, gasping for air only to find himself nose to nose with Sango's frightened face. She was kneeling on the futon beside him with one hand outstretched. Taking a shuddering breath, a strange mixture of relief and guilt rushed through him. It was just a dream. He hadn't killed them. Sango...Sango was right here. Sango...

Swallowing a sob, Miroku threw himself at his wife, wrapping his arms around her, clinging on as though she might disappear if he let go. Shaking uncontrollably, he buried his face in the side of her neck, trying to gain a hold on his emotions.

"Shhh, it's alright," Sango cooed as she ran her fingers through his hair, "It was just a dream. The wind tunnel is gone. Naraku is defeated. I'm okay. Everyone is okay. You're okay."

"I saw..." he choked as he desperately tried to hold her tighter, "I saw..."

"I know," she soothed as she allowed herself to be the strong one and kept him grounded, "Everything is alright."