Part 9

Miroku stood in a dark, endless void. Everywhere he looked there was nothing but unending blackness. But just ahead he could see a small speck of light approaching him. It got larger and larger until it was almost on top of him, growing like a life form. And indeed it was.

Naraku in his Baboon disguise suddenly stood facing Miroku in the void, but he appeared unprovocative. Miroku poised himself for an attack. He gripped his staff tightly and prepared for Naraku's first strike, even readying his wind tunnel.

"I'm not here to fight, Miroku," he said, with a hand up. "I'm here under a flag of truce. I'm here to give you an offer. Serve me and your friends will survive another day."

"If your threat had any merit, Naraku, you wouldn't be meeting me here in this lonely—place," Miroku said, giving a glance around. He still had no idea where this place was. "I'll never serve you, and we defeated you just a few weeks ago along with Bankotsa and Jakotsu."

"Did you now?" Naraku chuckled. "Or did I let you? I have you in the palm of my hand, Miroku, or rather yours." Miroku looked at his right hand and the curse of his wind tunnel. "Yes, you're correct. Your hand is the key to my total domination of this wretched land. And with you at my side we could be unstoppable. We'd rule everything!"

"I'm master of my own fate, not a puppet for your amusement."

"Foolish sentiments," Naruku said with a grumble. "You honestly believe that? No one controls their own life. Others do it for them, directing them in the direction they chose. It's the same between you and me. I control your life and I can take it away on a whim."

"Then why haven't you like my father and grandfather before me?"

"I didn't destroy their lives, they did. They chose to defy me and paid the ultimate price. But I've spared you from their horrible fate for the moment because you can still be us use to me." He paused, then discarded his Baboon disguise for his human form. He suddenly wore a dark purple robe, and had long, jet-black hair. "You interest me more than you'll ever know."

"Am I supposed to take that as a compliment?"

"Take it however you wish. What I'm saying is you've endured more hardships than any human I've witnessed and still you press on, out to destroy me and in search for more Suikon Jewel fragments with your friends. The emotional turmoil must toil on you daily."

Miroku eyed him. "What are you getting at Naraku? Are you saying you enjoy watching me struggle? Watching my family and friends suffer at the hands of your sadistic machinations, only to wipe me out in an instant when the fun is over? Well, that's not going to happen!"

"I enjoy seeing humans squirm like insects. I would rather see your entire race die than have to live with them again. However, you humans do have your uses. I stand before you, flesh and bone, because of a deal I made with demons. And in doing so, I received a wondrous gift I never would have dreamt of."

Naraku raised a hand and suddenly engulfed Miroku in a blinding light.

"When I placed the curse of the wind tunnel on your family, a part of me became a part of you. I'll have my revenge. But you'll get the Shikon Jewels for me. This will not be negotiable."

"NOOO!" Miroku screamed, as a searing pain suddenly engulfed his body.

Miroku opened his eyes and grabbed his staff. He hadn't been asleep for more than thirty minutes before he awoke. But he wasn't the same person. Now Naraku controlled him and he could feel the demon inside him as a collective part of his conscious self.

Inuyasha had dozed off believing Miroku wasn't a threat and was snoring now.

Miroku stood on his feet and looked at the others who were sleeping soundly without a care in the world. It was a peaceful place where they decided to settle down the night, but there was no peace for him.

His eyes glowered and his mind raced with the urge to kill, or rather he was commanded to think that way. Miroku didn't want to kill his friends, but he wasn't strong enough—this time—to resist Naraku's will over him.

His spirit was weakened and it was all he could do to grip his staff tight to resist Naraku's whims, because if he moved he knew he'd do something horrible. "I don't want to kill my friends," Miroku said, his voice a mere whisper and not audible to the sleepers.

Then don't, but do gather up the Shikon Jewel shards, came Naraku's voice in his mind. I'll be waiting for them just over the ridge, but if you don't—

Inuyasha's left ear twitched, and he sniffed the air, then opened one eye. Miroku saw this.

Miroku stood over Kagome and had his staff poised over her chest to impale her, Naraku was controlling him.

"Kagome!" Inuyasha screamed out.

Kagome awoke suddenly to the sight of Miroku standing over her, Miroku kept resisting Naraku's control. "Kagome! Get…away!"

Miroku raised his staff above his head and suddenly brought it down at her.

Kagaome gasped, but quickly rolled out of the way as Miroku's staff slammed into the ground where she was a moment ago, digging into the ground.

It awoke everyone.

Inuyasha unsheathed his sword. "I knew it!"

"Inuyasha—Sit!" Kagome said.

Inuyasha slammed into the ground face first. He was confused. "Kagome! Why?"

Miroku swung his staff at the others, but his movements were purposeless and erratic. His mind was compromised, but his soul had fight in it. And these were his friends. The great Buddha would never allow him to harm them even under Naraku's control.

He went after Sango, but she was able to avoid his attacks with ease. "Miroku, what's wrong?" she asked. But he didn't say anything at first. He swung his staff at her a couple of times before saying, in a struggling tone of voice, "Help me, Sango. Naraku is controlling me."

"Inuyasha, come help me," Sango said.

"Aint gotta ask me twice," he said.

Sango said, "Inuyasha, don't hurt him. He's being controlled by Naraku. He can't control his actions."

Inuyasha remained at the ready. "That snake in the grass. I knew I smelled him. Where is he? Naraku!" he shouted. "Come and face me man-to-man, you coward! Stop using Miroku as a stupid pawn!"

"He's controlling me by the curse he placed on my hand," Miroku said, struggling against his actions. "I don't want to hurt anyone. Stop me, Inuyasha. Do what you must!"

"There's only one way," Inuyasha said. "I gotta cut off your hand."

"Nooo!" Miroku said. "There has to be another way?"

"What are you complainin' about? You'll finally be free of Naraku's curse!"

"I don't want to be free of it that way." Miroku's voice sounded a little stronger. "I won't let Naraku hurt you guys. But if it's the lesser of two evils, then do it!"

There was sudden laughter from everywhere reverberating throughout the area and through the darkness. It was Naraku.

All of a sudden, Miroku could feel Naraku's influence increase and overwhelm him, and he said to Inuyasha, "Do it, Inuyasha. I would rather lose my hand than be a messenger boy for Naraku!"

"Aint gotta tell me twice," Inuyasha said, and he rose the crimson blade of the Tetsusaiga, and brought it down onto Miroku's right arm, slicing it off just below the elbow.

Miroku screamed out in horrible and agonizing pain, grabbing his right arm. Blood did not pour from the wound because the Tetsusaiga had cauterized it with intense heat. Tears fell down Miroku's face from the pain and shock filled him from the sight of his lost arm.

Naraku's laugh echoed the dark landscape again.

Suddenly, he appeared wearing his traditional baboon disguise. While the others took care of Miroku, Inuyasha raised his sword in anticipation of battling it out with Naraku—again!

"It seems Miroku got his wish after all," he said. "He's finally free of the curse I placed upon his family, but it came at a high cost."

"Why?" was all Inuyasha asked.

"Revenge," Naraku simply said. "His family has served my purpose, but now it is time to cut the cord like an infant from his mother. He may enjoy the rest of his life in peace. I knew you would have to cut off his hand off, but believe me it's not over. Once Miroku dies, his soul will become forever mine, feeding my essence for all of eternity. It will be an unending existence of pain—much like others that serve me." He chuckled sinisterly, and then vanished like a phantom in the night.

Inuyasha quickly looked around, but Naraku was gone, and he could no longer smell his scent (in the area or on Miroku), which told him he was truly gone.

"This is not what I envisioned my death to be like," Miroku said, his face wincing with pain. Sango wrapped him in a blanket. "I feel very cold."

Sango wrapped her arms around him.

Inuyasha asked, "Is there anything we can do?"

"Yes, there is," a voice came from the darkness. And to everyone's surprise, Sesshomaru walked into the dim glow of the Tetsusaiga's crimson blade. Behind him were Rin and Jaken, riding a two-headed horse.

"Sesshomaru?" Kagome said surprised.

"What are you doin' 'ere?" Inuyasha asked, his voice angry. "We aint got time for you!" Whenever he saw his elder brother, his anger flared. He turned the Tetsusaiga on Sesshomaru.

Sesshomaru held up a hand, and said, "I didn't come to fight with you—if that is your fear?"

"I fear nothin'!"

"There is still time to save Miroku."

"There's nothing that can be done for him."

Sesshomaru shook his head. "If you believe this, then why do you position yourself hence? I can save his life. But if you have chosen to allow him to die, be it on your head and condemn Miroku to endless suffering conjoined with Naraku." He started to turn away.

"Sesshomaru," Kagome called out. He turned his head. "Can you really help Miroku?"

Sesshomaru turned and faced her, and said, "I can."

"What can you do?" Sango asked, knelling on the ground, holding Miroku in her arms, his head leaning in her lap. Miroku was listening, but he felt he was going to lose consciousness at any momemtn, and if he did, he knew he would never wake up. "If you can, save him."

Sesshomaru drew the Tenseiga and Inuyasha reacted in defence. Sesshomaru however stood unafraid of Inuyasha's actions. "Your fear is unwarranted, Inuyasha. I will not kill him, obviously." He then looked at the others. "Quickly, find his arm. I will reattach it."

"And how are you goin' to do that?" Inuyasha said.

"The power of the Tenseiga is must greater than I originally realized, Inuyasha. It is a sword of life, unlike your sword, the Tetsusaiga. I will reattach Miroku's arm and restore his life. It is unfortunate that I learned the secret of the sword after my own limb was lopped off. You did that." Shippo found Miroku's arm and brought it to Sesshomaru. "Now join it with his arm."

"Wait!" Inuyasha said, getting in between Miroku and Sesshomaru. "If you restore his arm he'll once again be cursed by Naraku."

"Do you wish him to live, Inuyasha, or die?" Sesshomaru asked bluntly.

Inuyasha thought for a moment, but ultimately favoured in saving his friend. "Do it!" he said. "But no tricks."

Shippo positioned Miroku's lower arm to touch with the rest.

"I assure you, Inuyasha, I don't fool around when it comes to life," Sesshomaru said, and with one swift strike of the Tenseiga and a blinding light, Miroku's arm was reattached to his body, with no visible scar or indication that it had ever been cut off.

Everyone was beyond words.

Sesshomaru sheathed the Tenseiga. "He's in shock, but he'll be fine."

And as if on cue, Miroku moaned and slowly opened his eyes. His first sight was that of Sango looking down at him. He felt his head laying on a soft cushion-like pillow and realized it was her lap. "Am I dead? Is this the great beyond?"

Sango smiled at him. "No," she said, with a tear in her eye. "You're alive." All of a suddenly she froze as a hand touched her rear, the same one that had been cut off.

Her face tightened up with anger and she instinctively slapped him. "Ow!" Miroku cried out. Sango pushed him off her lap and got to her feet.

"He's fine," Sango said. "The gull!" But then produced a thin smile.

Miroku got to his feet and then noticed Sesshomaru standing next to Inuyasha. He then saw his hand had been reattached to his body. He opened and closed the palm, glove still on to hinder the wind tunnel. "Do I have you to thank for this, Sesshomaru?" he asked, looking at him.

Sesshomaru nodded. "I've also taken Naraku's control away. He can no longer control you as he did. The healing power of the Tenseiga prevents it. I only wish I could have lifted the curse completely, but that can only be done with his demise. We all wish for that one day."

Miroku bowed thanks. "I'm grateful to you for saving my life and restoring my arm, but this means Naraku's curse still have a hold on me and the wind tunnel will eventually suck me into the void like my father and grandfather."

"Not unless we defeat Naraku first," Kagome said with a smile. Miroku smiled. He had a sense of optimism when she said that. She then turned to Sesshomaru. "Thank you, Sesshomaru. We owe you a debt of gratitude."

Sesshomaru didn't smile. He said, "Perhaps one day that debt will be repaid. In the meantime, I must continue on my way."

He turned to leave, but then Inuyasha asked, after sheaving the Tetsusaiga, "Hold on, I have a question. What brought you here in the first place?"

"I smelled Naraku's scent in the area and came to settle a score."

"We have a score to settle, how about settling ours?"

"Inuyasha! Sesshomaru just saved Miroku's life," Kagome said. "Your vendetta a can wait for another day. Now just sit down!"

Inuyasha slammed into the ground.

Sesshomaru looked down at Inuyasha, his face pressed to the ground as if he was glued to it. Inuyasha looked up at Sesshomaru. Sesshomaru knew of the sacred beads that resided around Inuyasha's neck that had control over him whenever commended such with a word.

Inuyasha groaned, embarrassed by it all.

"Pathetic Inuyasha, controlled by a humans," Sesshomaru admonished.

Sesshomaru turned and left the same way he came, and his party followed him.

Miroku looked at his hand and suddenly felt a deep sadness. "What's wrong, Miroku?" Shippo asked.

Miroku looked at him. "Nothing," he said and smiled. "Do I smell like Naraku anymore, Inuyasha?"

Inuyasha snorted. "Nah, but I think I need another bath," he said, waving his hands around. "I think I landed in—something." Indeed, it was animal droppings. "Yuck!"

And everyone laughed.

Miroku went over and put his arm around Inuyasha. "Just think of it this way, we're all marked by someone or something," he said, giving Sango a sweet smile. "And in life, that's how it should be. No one should go through its trails and tribulations alone."

Inuyasha snorted again and shoved Miroku's arm off. "Ha! Judging by how many places your hand has been, and let's not just limit to the girls, would you like me to cut if off again?"

Miroku sniffed the air. "You reek, Inuyasha," he said. "You smell like…"

"Ha, very funny," Inuyasha said. "And if you say I smell like Naraku, then I'll beat ya!"

"Hardly, Inuyasha," Miroku said with a smirk. "On the other hand, you smell like—" Miroku waved a hand across his nose, "—you! Pew!"

END