Author's Note: Well, we're not there yet, but the end is in sight. I imagine they'll only be one more chapter after this, and yes… the cliffhanger continues!

Chapter Six

Breaking Point

Well, needless to say the normally lively, or at the very least peaceful, temple was like a battle ground for the next few days. Everyone was too angry or too deep in thought to talk to each other. There were seething glares, a few bitter words, and mostly there was the silence. The horribly loud, ripping silence. It seemed to be the one inescapable weapon of this war that took no prisoners. Yume was hit hardest of all. Not only did Kento destroy all of her glassware in half-hearted ; full-raged assassination attempt but she had a nagging suspicion that Sango was plotting her death.

During the fifth night of Miroku's return she managed to sneak away from dinner without any war wounds. She used this little bit of solitude to sort out her thoughts. This objective so preoccupied her that she hardly realized Kento was next to her until he spoke.

"Plotting new and unusual ways to cause people pain?" he spat at her.

She winced at the biting comment. "Maybe I deserve that… but…"

"But what?! You couldn't resist playing matchmaker?! Oh, never mind the fact that you're playing with a very delicate subject that might possible crush both of them irreparably! I honestly thought you were more responsible than that! I ca-wah!"

Kento, even with his quick reflexes, found it a challenge to keep his balance as Yume pulled him behind the corner they'd just been, for lack of a better word, speaking in front of. "Wh-hmf!"

"Shhh!" Yume hissed while placing one hand firmly over his mouth. "Miroku just rounded the opposite corner!" she managed in a softer whisper, "I think he's going to see Sango!" Kento really had to fight the urge not to kill Yume for her own foolishness… but then again… he couldn't ignore the fact that he was just a bit curious…

~~~

Miroku hovered at Sango's door for a moment… she was crying… again… Just like she had for every night since he came back. Things had changed a lot in the time he was gone… she'd changed…

As he stood there, transfixed in front of her door by her muffled sobs his fingers curled into his now Kazaana-less palm. Things had definitely changed. Naraku had been defeated… as far as Yume had been able to tell him, between assassination attempts that is, Kohaku had faded back into the dust Naraku had made his slave from, and she'd had to come to peace with everything… She seemed so tired… tired of fighting…

Sleep hadn't been a friend to either of them apparently. While she cried he would pace the grounds until sometime near dawn when he'd slip into unconsciousness for an hour or two before beginning another tense day just like the last one before it. Every night he'd wanted to comfort her, but every night he'd managed to control his emotions and stay away.

Tonight ,however, he just couldn't bear it anymore… no matter how foolish… he had to reach out to her… Almost soundlessly he slid apart her paneled door, painting the floor with moonlight.
Sango stiffened at the intrusion and wiped away her tears and adopted a stead firm voice. "Go away Houshi-sama!" She was still too proud for her own good. That, may never change.

Unaffected by the cold greeting Miroku made his way into the room. "Sango… why are you crying… Is it because of me?" Sango, wishing he'd get the hint and leave already, still didn't reply. A pitiless stillness spread itself between them trying to guise itself as a barrier. Miroku wished he could just leave, and stop causing her pain, but a stronger, less logical side of himself, prevented him from fleeing. Instead he shifted closer to her futon watching the storm of painful emotions batter them both against the rocks. Sinking to his knees beside her, unable to bear it any longer, he spoke at last; a whisper above the storm. His head was bowed in shame and his voice began to shake with strain, "I just… I just should've stayed a memory… It would have been better that way…"

The tension gave way just then. Sango, no longer fighting the tears that came freely down her cheeks, sat up and studied Miroku with a frozen expression until she forced his gaze her way. "No Miroku… no… please don't think that…"

"Sango…" he breathed in a husky, near breathless whisper. Gently his arm journeyed to rest like a feather, just barely around her waist.

Sango released a breath she didn't realize she'd been holding and closed her eyes like it pained her to feel him touch her. She'd wanted to be close to him, heck even to tie him down and never let him escape, from the first moment she saw him alive again… but… He'd died once and it had almost killed her… She'd pushed him away because she didn't think she could survive it again… Softly, not wanting to force her, his arm finished encircling her waist and his lips tenderly embraced hers in a kiss, trembling with emotions. Damn them both… she no longer cared if it destroyed her later… she wanted to love him…for as long as she had him…With a small cry of anguish she fell into his arms, offering everything in that one moment…

~~~

A small assured smile found it's way to Yume's lips as finally rose from her position against the wall. She'd seen and heard only Miroku entering Sango's room, and that was all she needed. No matter what happened after this, at least she knew they'd finally found each other.

"Happy?" came an unreadable tone from behind her, as a shift of robes told her Kento was rising.

"Yes, as a matter of fact I am." She said quietly, turning to meet him, not giving him a second to interrupt her. "And you know Ian, you can lash out any way you like at me and it won't matter. Maybe I've caused them undo pain, I can't be sure. Yes, maybe the promise of what could have been if he'd never died to begin with will cause some regret later. But right now they have something they'll never forget. They've finally found each other. In this world Buda says is only pain that's the most anyone can ever ask for! And another thing!" she was still speaking quietly, but with a passion, "You can not look me in the eye and tell me that you've never tried to do something you felt to be right without being sure if it would all work out for the best!"

Kento stood there for a moment, unsure of how to respond. Then, after a few moments, a playful smirk crossed his lips. Even if this careless peace was just for one night, he couldn't ignore the truth in her words, and he knew exactly how to show her he understood. Finding one another in a world that seemed to full of pain was all two people could ask for. He couldn't pretend to be angry with her any longer… In one swift motion he seized her by the arms, and brought her up off her toes just slightly so that her lips could meet his. He held that moment still until breathlessness caught up with him. He lowered Yume only enough to meet her gaze with his full power arrogant grin. "Now I have," he whispered huskily.

Authors Note: ah, things seem peaceful at last… but will Miroku live to see the next winter? Find out in the concluding chapter!