Kaze no Houyou – The Embrace of the Wind:

Chapter Five

"Inuyasha," a sinister voice smirked in the darkness of the sunset outside.

"Naraku. Temee…I'm going to kill you, you bastard. Your little game has been going on for too long." Inuyasha's amber glare pierced the darkness as a knife, tearing apart any air between the two.

"Kill me? The very least you are going to do, little puppy, is feed me." Naraku boasted his challenge.

"Feh! Feed you, huh? Well eat this! Kaze no kizu!" Inuyasha shouted, slicing the air with one of his more powerful attacks, directing his blast at Naraku's face.

Naraku smirked, jumping clear over the blast, as he came down on Inuyasha with a heavy blow to his head.

Inuyasha stumbled back, shaking his head. So…dizzy…  "Keh! You think that's enough to stop me, bastard?!" He struggled to keep his stance straight through his spinning vision. Finally the spots began to clear. He's just going to keep dodging everything I throw at him, dammit! I won't last long that way!  Inuyasha began to walk slowly and calmly towards Naraku.

The evil villain cocked his head in mock curiosity. "So? Are you trying to talk things out now? Am I already too much for you to handle?"

Just…don't…attack him. Wait until you're close… Inuyasha found controlling his anger one of the hardest things he had ever done.

"What a disappointment, Inuyasha. I thought for sure that you could withstand so much more than that. That girl did, at least," Naraku sneered.

Inuyasha's gaze snapped up to the wicked hanyou's face. "Kagome…what did you do to Kagome?!" he shouted furiously. His power exploded within him, and he could hold himself back no longer. "Bakuryuha!!" He thrust his sword forward, creating a vortex wind like a hurricane.

Naraku's eyes widened as the attack fell upon him. He hadn't expected such a violent attack without Inuyasha having to power himself up first. The blast caught him head-on, and he felt himself fall victim to its violent ripping gusts.

Inuyasha felt a gasp escape from his throat. Did I…did I get him?  He watched the smoke and dust as it was tossed around. He waited until it began to settle.

Sango collapsed onto her knees beside Miroku's body, panting, with tears still flooding her eyes. "Hou…Houshi-sama…" She could feel herself begin to cry. She could tell he was still alive, but to see him in such a condition pained her more than she ever thought it could.

Serin frowned, feeling her sword pulsing to her. No…I cannot let you out. If I do, my secret will be revealed, and I may never be born. I am sorry, friend.

"Miroku-sama, hold on!" Kagome choked through blurry vision. He looks so horrible! He's covered in so much blood…how can he still be alive?

Suddenly, Inuyasha came crashing through the side wall, battered and bloody. He stood up, panting hard, his Tetsusaiga chipped at the top.

"Inuyasha!" Kagome yelled, standing up from Miroku's side.

"Feh! Don't worry about me, just get yourselves somewhere safe!" He shouted at her.

Yuki jumped up. "I'll help you, Inuyasha! Serin too!"

He glared at them. "No! I have to kill him on my own. You guys go worry about fixing him up!" He nodded to Miroku, who was now being gently laid onto Kirara's back. His eyes fluttered open at being moved.

"Sango…?" Miroku sighed in relief.

"Houshi-sama! Houshi-sama…I'm so sorry. I should have listened to you. That Kagura…I'm so sorry, Houshi-sama." Sango was crying openly now.

"Sango…" He gave her a comforting look. Then he took on a serious face. "Kagome-sama!" he called to her, as she stood over by Inuyasha. "Have you kept your promise yet?"

Kagome blushed a bit, but looked to Inuyasha. Now is the time. It's now or never. I don't know if we'll survive this… "Inuyasha…" she started. "I…I…"   

"What is it, stupid woman?! Dammit, Naraku's coming, so whatever it is you have to say, say it fast and get outta here!"

Kagome nodded and took in a breath. "I love you Inuyasha. I know that you love Kikyou, but I want to be with you. Please…she is dead. Let her go, and let me be with you." She kissed him on the cheek, looked at his shocked face with tears in her eyes, turned to run off to the others.
                "Kagome…" Inuyasha grabbed her arm.

Miroku smiled as he watched Inuyasha pull Kagome against him in a deep kiss. Sango gasped.

"Well…I suppose it's my turn then. Though now I feel like I'm merely following some trend," Miroku muttered to himself.

"Houshi-sama?" Sango looked at him, confused.

"Sango, I…"

Miroku was cut off in his sentence by a harsh bellowing laughter. Naraku had entered the room, transformed into a horrible youkai form. "I have you all now. You will not survive this time, Inuyasha!" Naraku shoved his pointed plant-like arm at Inuyasha and Kagome.

"Look out!" Inuyasha tackled Kagome to the side. "Look. Get the others together, and get them outta here! Alright?"

"Inuyasha…"

"Don't worry, I'll be back. I promise." He kissed her forehead, stood her up, and then pushed her along towards the others. "Go. Go!"

She nodded and ran to Sango, Miroku, Shippo, Kirara, and the two hanyou. "Come on, guys. Inuyasha says we need to get out of here now."

Miroku threw a mock glare at Kagome. "Kagome-sama…you interrupted me."

Kagome smiled, realizing what he was talking about. "Oh, well please, don't let me intrude." She brought down her smile for a second though. "Sorry…but you'll have to finish once we get to somewhere safe."

He nodded as Sango got onto Kirara in front of him. "Hold onto me," she instructed. "But no tricks," she warned him, "or I'll leave you here to Naraku."

 "Alright. No tricks." Miroku smiled as he slid his hand clumsily over her waist. "Don't worry. I'm not…strong enough…to tease you right now. Okay…I'm holding on."

"You're only using one hand. You'll fall." Sango frowned, concerned.

"I can't use my right arm."

"Why not?"
                "I'll tell you later. Let's just go," Miroku pleaded as the attacks started up again across the room.

"Hai. Let's go, Kirara!" She took off, following Shippo, Kagome and the two hanyou down the halls.

Kagome winced, hearing Inuyasha's screams from down the hall. She stopped running and stood there. He's really getting hurt! What can we do to help him?

Sango stopped Kirara and looked back at her. "Kagome-sama? What's wrong?"

"Can't you hear him?" She whispered shakily.

Miroku frowned, his thoughts whirling. His head was pounding, his body was searing with pain, and his vision was blurry and spinning. I'm not going to last much longer like this. At this rate…it won't be Kazaana that kills me…it will be my own mortal wounds. He took in a deep breath, making his decision.

"Kagome-sama…I don't think…" Sango began, not sure of what to tell her.

"Sango. Please take me back to the battle."

"What? But Houshi-sama…" she pleaded, "you can't fight like this! You can barely sit up."

Yuki's eyes pained, watering a bit. No…it's all falling apart….

"That's suicide, Miroku!" Shippo shouted.

Miroku's face seemed old all of a sudden. He looked wise beyond his years. But he gave a warm smile, and his voice was gentle though it was hoarse with pain. "Don't fret…over me, Shippo."

"Houshi-sama…" Sango's tears fell now openly.

"Please, Sango." I'll help you all escape. Even if it costs my life. I am going to die soon anyway, whether by Kazaana or by Kagura's inflictions.

"Hai." She nodded, scared of the outcome though.

Uncle Miroku…why…? Why are you doing this…?

Serin looked onto the group with distant eyes. She had known things would come to this. Toying with fate will only bring about pain and suffering. Perhaps more suffering than was originally intended by fate.

"Let's go, Kirara."

"Inuyasha!" Miroku called out, standing on his own, though barely.

Inuyasha took a second to steal a glance at Miroku across the room. "What do you want?! I thought I told you all to leave, dammit!"

"Inuyasha, move out of the way. Get behind me. Now! Don't ask questions!" Miroku shouted, wincing at the pain inside him, both from his heart and wounds.

The hanyou blinked for a moment, confused. He wasn't used to hearing Miroku so forceful. Tired, hurt, and a bit relieved at his commands, Inuyasha headed back towards the others while Naraku watched on with curiosity.

"Sango," Miroku began as Inuyasha was running towards them. "Sango, I care deeply for you. I'm sorry I hadn't the courage to tell you before. But I love you."

Her eyes watering all over again, Sango ran the few steps to him. "Houshi-sama…" She cried into his arm. She knew what he had planned… "Houshi-sama, please, don't!"

Miroku felt the pang in his heart again as it was torn in two. I can still turn back…but…no, I have to get them out of here. We'll all be killed eventually if I don't. He nodded to himself. "I'm sorry, Sango. I have to." He tipped her face to meet his. "You understand?"

She nodded through blurry vision, just staring up at him. He kissed her after a breath's moment, and held her in his kiss for a moment longer.

"Hey, monk! Hurry it up, Naraku's curiosity won't keep us alive for long, dammit! What do you want?" Inuyasha shouted, though only a few feet away, interrupting them.

Miroku nodded to Inuyasha. Then he turned to each member of the group. "Inuyasha…you are strong. But blind. Open your eyes and you will become twice as strong." He smiled. "Kagome-sama, you are strong in your faith. Take care of Inuyasha. Shippo…" he laughed for a moment, "Shippo. You might be a strong little kitsune-youkai, but you still have much to learn. Don't shut your mind out to anything new. Miss Yuki, thank you for bringing yourself and your cousin into our group. I'm only sorry I didn't get a chance to get to know you better. Miss Serin…" He frowned a bit. "I thought you were an evil soul at first. But I see now, that you're just afraid to trust people. Don't be afraid to let them into your life. And Kirara…" He paused to pat her on the head. "Please take care of Sango for me. I will miss her dearly. Sango…don't let my loss close your heart. I will wait for you…however long it takes. But if you find someone else…someone else who can love you…don't close your heart to him because of my memory." He sighed, having finished his painful speech, tears now clouding his own eyes.

This…this is what he meant before. He said that those two hanyou brought death. Perhaps this happened because they were here? Sango shivered at the thought, but she returned instantly to the moment at hand. He…needs to know… "Houshi-sama…I love you."

He smiled. "I know." And then he turned and walked towards Naraku, pulling the prayer beads off of his hand. "Goodbye, everyone. And good luck."

About six months after Miroku's death, Yuki and Serin were planning to return home.

"I'm only sorry we couldn't have been more help to you all," Yuki apologized.

"It's okay. You did what you could. Some things just can't be helped, I guess. Miroku-sama chose his destiny himself. He was smart. I trust he chose the right path." Kagome smiled.

Yuki nodded. "You're right." She smiled to Sango, who was rubbing her swollen belly gently. "Hm…it's still hard to believe that you never said anything about that to Kagome-chan." She giggled lightly.

Sango blushed. "Well…I think it was…more of an accident…"

The group got their share of laughter before Sango brought up a question to Yuki. "What should I call it?"

Yuki smiled. "Musouka."

"Musouka. That is a boy's name. What if it is a girl?" Sango asked, curious as to how Yuki was so certain of her baby's gender.

"Mm…then you think of a name." She smiled brightly to Sango.

"Yuki, we must leave now." Serin took her cousin by the arm.

"Hai. Goodbye, everyone." She smiled at Inuyasha and Kagome before turning and walking off with her cousin.

"Bye!" Shippo waved from the top of Kagome's head.

Kagome smiled, waving until she could see the two hanyou no longer. "They were certainly nice. Hm?" She turned to Sango as her friend shivered. "Sango, what's wrong?"

Sango smiled, tears forming in her eyes. "Nothing…nothing is wrong at all. I was distressed a moment ago. I was worried about this child having to grow up without his father. It put so much stress on my mind. But I am better now." Sango paused to smile, as she saw Miroku's face in the sky above her. "You see…I was just embraced by the wind."