Well, we're getting closer to the end now, aren't we.  There isn't much left.  And this chapter is basically for Sango and Miroku.  Just to tell you, Sango's nightmare will be a mix of the stuff from episode 33, episode 100, and some stuff that I add in on my own^.^  Sorry, but the ideas are so cool!  I love those episodes^.^  If you don't know what I'm talking about then I'll tell you.  Episode 33 is the illusionary death episode, you know, with the evil tree.  Episode 100 is where a demon traps them and makes them relive memories and then their fears.  However, Inu-chan saved them in the end^.^

Anyway, now it's time to go onward!

Note!  This has to do with fluff.  I know I SAID they would all be couples, but I have ideas for a sequel, and it doesn't work if they all get together at the end of this fic.  So please, don't bug me about it, okay?  And PLEASE don't be mad at me.  PLEASE!

Disclaimer:  I don't own Inuyasha.  I just bought two new Cds!  More like my mom bought me one and I bought the cheaper one^.^  I have Lifehouse's second CD now and I also have a CD by Train.  Yay me!

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Yume sat quietly in her chair.  Her eyes scanned the room.  Cycil was the only one still standing with her.  Siria was gone and still hadn't returned.  Suddenly, she emerged from the darkness.  Her eyes were downcast, refusing to meet the glances from her friends.

"Siria, what's wrong?" asked Yume.  Siria stopped where she was.

"I couldn't stop her from proceeding," she answered.  "Gomen ne, Yume.  I failed."  Yume shook her head.

"You did no such thing, Siria.  It's fine.  They won't reach this place."

"Who's left?" asked Cycil.  Yume looked to both of them and then closed her eyes.  It was quiet for a while.

"Inuyasha-sama, Kagome-sama, and Shippo are heading off to find the others.  Sango-sama and Miroku-sama haven't encountered the nightmare yet."

"Aren't you worried?"

"Iya.  Remember.  If even one of them doesn't make it, none of them will.  They have to make it here together, or they will all be sent out of this dimension, never to return here.  Sango-sama may be strong enough to overcome hers, however…I doubt that Miroku-sama will be able to overcome his.  I will make sure of it.  I will pour everything I have into his nightmare.  His soul was weakened from being shattered.  He won't make it through."  Siria and Cycil simply nodded.  They could detect the pain in Yume's voice, even if she was good at hiding the way she truly felt.  'Gomen nasai, Sango-sama, Miroku-sama.  However, I can't let you get here.  Miroku-sama will die from this.  Sango-sama, forgive me.'

******

Sango was walking slowly through the darkness, looking for her friends.  Suddenly, the scene changed to that of a field at night.  It was breathtaking.  Sango looked around, unsure as to where she was.

"Aneue!" shouted a soft male voice.  Sango froze.  She knew that voice.  She wasn't sure if she wanted to turn around, in fear of seeing nothing.  However, she slowly turned and her eyes went wide.  There he was.  Her beloved little brother was running up to her, waving.  There was a huge smile on his face.

"Kohaku…" she whispered quietly.  He ran up to her and hugged her, and Sango hugged him back.  Tears were streaming down her face.  "Kohaku.  I'm glad you're back,"

"Aneue…why are you crying?" he asked her.  Sango just pulled away, smiling.  She wiped the tears from her eyes.

"Na-nandemo," she responded.  "I just missed you so much."  She hugged him again, only this time, she held him tighter.  'I won't let you go again,' she told herself.

"Aneue, there's something I want to show you," he said.  He took her hand and began to pull her into a nearby forest.  They walked down the path until they reached a small clearing.  Sango gasped.  It was beautiful.  There was a waterfall, pouring into a river that was flowing slowly.  The trees around it made it even better.

"Wow, Kohaku.  This place is beautiful."

"I'm glad you like it, aneue."  Suddenly, he disappeared from her side.

"Kohaku?" questioned Sango.  Suddenly, the water flashed red and the sky turned the same crimson color.  Everything besides the water and sky turned black.  They remained red.  "Kohaku?"

"Over here, aneue," he said from across the river, his head hung low so she couldn't see his eyes.  In his hand was his sickle shaped weapon, covered in crimson.

"Kohaku," said Sango in surprise.  The blood dripped off of it.  Sango looked behind him and saw blood covered bodies.  Her eyes were wide with fear and they were welling up with tears.

"Inuyasha…Shippo…Kirara…Kagome-chan…you killed them."  The four, blood covered bodies were as still as death.

"Hai, aneue.  I killed them," he said quietly.  "I killed them all."  Sango was shocked.  "And now, I must say goodbye, my dear aneue."  He raised the weapon and threw it at her, but Sango dodged and began to run off, back towards the clearing.  She knew Kohaku was following her.  There was no way she would be able to escape, and she didn't want to hurt her little brother.  She eventually made it into the clearing and dodged again as the weapon came at her.  However, another chain came out and wrapped around her leg, causing her to trip up.  She fell and rolled down a small hill.  She sat up and froze as she saw Kohaku at the top of the hill.

"Kohaku!  Onegai!  Stop this!" she pleaded with him.

"Gomen, aneue."  He threw the sickle at her again and she closed her eyes, waiting for the impact.  She felt a pair of strong arms lift her from the ground and move her away from where she had been.  She opened her eyes and looked up at the houshi's determined face.

"Houshi-sama," she said quietly.  He landed from his jump and set her down.  Kohaku threw the sickle again, but Miroku blocked it with his shakujou.  Sango watched as it happened again and again, deciding what she should do.  One of them would end up dying, but she wasn't sure which one.  How could she possibly decide between them?

'Sango-sama,' said a familiar, soft voice.

"Yume…why are you here?"

'Sango-sama, gomen ne.  I wanted to give you your greatest desire before your worst fear would happen.'

"Nani?"

'Miroku-sama has to die.  Forgive me.'

"Iya!"  She shouted.  "He won't die.  I won't let him!"

'Demo, Sango-sama…'

"I won't let him!"  Sango ran towards the houshi who was battling her brother.  The chain of the sickle wrapped around the shakujou and Kohaku yanked it away from Miroku.  The houshi now had nothing left to protect him.  The sickle was about to imbed itself in his chest when Sango stepped in the way and blocked with the Hiraikotsu.  She then threw the boomerang at her brother, but Kohaku jumped over it.  He threw out a smoke bomb like thing and they both lost track of him.

"Where is he?" questioned Sango.  Miroku said nothing.  Neither of them knew that Kohaku had jumped behind them.  He then threw the sickle towards them.  Miroku suddenly gasped and stepped forward.  Sango slowly turned around and saw the chain that was connecting Kohaku to Miroku.  There was pain written all over the houshi's face.  Kohaku pulled back and the sickle came out of Miroku's back and towards the boy.  Miroku fell down to his knees and then to his stomach.  Sango could see the huge hole in his back.

"Houshi-sama!" she shouted.  She knelt down next to him.  She looked up and saw that Kohaku was nowhere to be found.  She turned her full attention to Miroku.  "Houshi-sama, it'll be alright.  You'll be fine."

"Sango," he whispered.  "I'm glad you're safe."  She turned him over so that he was on his back.  She then placed his head on her lap.  Sango concentrated her mind.

'Yume?' she questioned.

'Nani?' asked the dream weaver.

'Is he going to live?'

'…Sango-sama…'

'If he isn't, then I want you to take my life instead.'

'Are you kidding?'

'Iya.  I would rather die than watch him die.  Onegai, Yume.'

'Sango-sama…you are indeed strong.  You fought against your brother to save Miroku-sama, and now you would rather lose your life than lose him.  You are indeed a selfless person.  You are stronger than I ever would have thought.'  Suddenly, the scene faded, leaving her in darkness again.

"Houshi-sama?" she asked out loud, but there was no response.  "Yume?"  Still nothing.  "It must have just been an illusion.  I need to go find the others."  She began to head off to try and find her friends.

******

Miroku walked all alone through the darkness.  He wasn't sure where he was going or what he was supposed to be looking for.  Suddenly, a breeze picked up and he was placed in a familiar crater once the scene changed.

"Where am I?" he questioned the ground around him.  He turned around and saw a familiar gravestone looking structure.  His eyes widened.  "This is…my…"  He didn't get to finish his sentence.  The breeze was getting stronger.  He looked around and then down at his hand.  The kazaana was growing.  He watched as the black hole kept growing.  He could see it under the glove now.  The sealing cloth didn't even cover it anymore.

"Hello, houshi," said a dark voice.  He looked up and saw the one person he loathed more than any other.  The hanyou was smiling down at him, his crimson eyes gleaming.

"Naraku," said Miroku darkly.  He put all of his hate into the name.

"Houshi, your life will end soon.  There isn't much time left."

"Then I'll end it all now!" he shouted as he began to remove the rosary.

"It won't save you.  It won't work on me."

"We'll see about that."

"Even if it does, you will die.  Have you forgotten?  My body is made entirely out of poison.  It will spread and kill you quickly."  Miroku stopped what he was doing.  "And you don't want to die, do you houshi."

"Miroku!" shouted a familiar voice.  Miroku turned around to see his friends behind him.  Inuyasha switched his glance from the houshi to Naraku.  His eyes narrowed.  "Naraku!  What are you doing here?"

"Isn't it obvious?  I'm here to destroy you.  And you, houshi.  You will die here, no matter what.  After all, this is where your father died, and you will follow him."

"You're wrong, Naraku," said Miroku confidently.  "We will defeat you.  You can't stop us all."

"We?  You better look again."  Miroku turned to look at his friends, but found that the spot was empty.  He was all alone.  "Iya…"

"They left you here.  They don't care about you.  They would rather save themselves."

"That's not true."

"You are nothing but a burden.  They see you as nothing but an asset."

"You're wrong!  They're my friends."

"Then why did they leave you with me?  They don't care about your life at all."

"Iya!"

"You're nothing to them. They see you as…"

"Iya!!"

"…Nothing."  Something inside of Miroku snapped.  He lost his senses and tore off the rosary, letting loose the kazaana.  Naraku had hit a nerve and Miroku had lost his senses because of it.  Naraku laughed.  "It won't work on me, but it will work on them."  Suddenly, a swarm of Saimyousho came at him, being drawn into the black hole.  Miroku finally regained his senses and quickly put the rosary back on.  He hadn't even paid attention as to how many he had pulled in, but it felt like hundreds.  He felt white-hot pain running through his body.  The poison was spreading faster than he had thought.  Naraku was laughing as he stood on the edge of the crater.

"Baka.  Now you really will die and no one will be able to save you.  You've been abandoned by the only people you cared about.  How does it feel?"

"They…didn't…abandon me.  I know…they wouldn't."

"You know nothing.  They know you're here, but they don't care.  They would rather have it be you than them."

"Urusai!"  Naraku faded out of the scene, leaving Miroku all alone.

"No one would care about a furyou houshi like you.  They just used you to help them.  You're nothing but a baka hentai.  You will die here, Miroku."

"Urusai, Naraku!"  However, there was no reply.  The evil hanyou was gone.  Miroku fell to his knees, his strength leaving him.  He began to crawl and climb out of the crater.  "I…won't…die in…here!" he said, trying to climb out of his father's grave.  He was mad at his father.  He was mad at the fact that he had given him this life, this curse.  He hated his father for everything right now, including for him being here.  "I won't die in your grave!  I refuse!  I'll never forgive you.  Never.  I hate you…oyaji!"  His strength gave out on him and he rolled down the side of the crater and stopped near the gravestone.  He was on his back, his breathing becoming hard and ragged.  He felt hot and it was slowly becoming harder to breath.  He was all alone.  He had been abandoned.

******

"Yume, what's happening now?" asked Cycil.

"Sango-sama is done with hers, and Miroku-sama…he's failing."

"For what reason?" asked Siria.

"Miroku-sama has a lot of bottled up feelings, and he seems to have a lot of hate in him.  Hate for the hanyou, Naraku, and hate for his father."

"His father?"

"When he was younger, he was sad that his father had died, and now he's angered by it.  He believes that his father left him, and now he believes that his friends have left him too.  He's been abandoned so many times; it's taking its toll on him.  He's dying from it.  If you give into the nightmare, you die.  It's as simple as that."  Cycil and Siria looked at each other and then back at the hateshi.  After everything that had happened, she was trying so hard to kill them, even if she cared about them.  It just didn't feel right to hurt these people anymore.  But it had to be done.  They weren't allowed to get here.

******

Sango was walking by herself through the darkness, still trying to find someone she knew.  She then stopped when she heard a soft mewing sound.

"Kirara?" she asked the darkness.  Suddenly, the small neko came running up to her master.  Sango bent down and let her jump into her arms.  She hugged the neko and smiled.  "I'm glad you're safe.  Now let's find the others."  However, Kirara squirmed in her arms and then jumped down, running off into the darkness.

"Matte!  Kirara, where are you going?"  The neko stopped and mewed to her.  Sango began to run after Kirara, heading off into the darkness that seemed to be everywhere.  It was so very empty.  Kirara was soon out of sight, but Sango could still hear her mewing.  She ran towards the sound.

"What is it, Kirara?"  She soon saw Kirara, who was next to a body.  Sango quickly ran over to the neko, and she then saw who it was she was standing by.  "Houshi-sama!" exclaimed Sango.  She knelt down next to his body and then slipped her arm under his neck in order to support him.  She cradled his upper torso in her arms.  'He's so cold,' she noted.  He was barely breathing the way it was and his skin was deathly pale.  "Houshi-sama!" she called out again.  "Please wake up!  Houshi-sama!  You need to wake up."  'He must be going against the illusion.  Is he losing?  Is that why he's as cold as death?'  It then struck her.  'If you give in to the illusion…do you die?'

"Houshi-sama, you really need to wake up now.  I'm right here.  Please wake up…Houshi-sama."  All of her attempts were futile.  He was growing colder by the minute.  His breaths came less frequently and his pulse was dropping.  Sango's eyes began to fill up with tears at the thought of losing him.  She then hugged him close.  "You can't die.  I don't want you to.  Please come back.  Open your eyes!"

******

Miroku was lying in his father's grave, his eyes closed.  'I've been abandoned again.  I've been abandoned by the only people I could call friends.  I'm all alone again.'  It began to rain on him as it became even harder to breath.  'This is it.  I'm going to die.'

"Houshi-sama!" shouted a familiar voice, but it seemed far away to him.

"That voice…Sango?" he questioned weakly.  He opened his eyes and looked around.

"Houshi-sama!  Please come back!"

"Sango?"  He looked up and then saw her, standing above him.  She knelt down by him and then lifted his head up.  She was holding him the way she had been in reality.

"Houshi-sama, please don't leave me.  I don't want to be alone again."

"Sango.  I thought you had left me…I thought…you had…"

"Shhhh…I'm here now."  She hugged him closely to her.

"Sango…I don't think I can…make it."

"Houshi-sama…you're stronger than this.  I know you are.  You won't die here, in your father's grave.  I won't let you.  Houshi-sama, what happened?"

"Naraku came…and he…told me I would die here.  All of you came, but then you…left me.  You all left me here…to die.  He told me that you had…abandoned me."  Sango simply hugged him closer.  It was becoming more difficult for Miroku to breath.  His sentences came out in pieces.

"We would never abandon you, Houshi-sama…have faith in us.  Have faith in your friends.  We have faith in you to always be there for us, and no matter what happens, we won't leave you."

"I…believe you…Sango."

"I'm glad.  Now, I know you can make it.  Don't die yet.  I can't lose you now, not after everything we've been through.  Get up, Houshi-sama."

"I feel so weak.  The poison is spreading too quickly…Sango…forgive me, onegai."

"Don't say that.  Houshi-sama…I'll be waiting for you, so please come back to me."  And with that, Sango faded from his sight, but not before laying him back on the ground comfortably.  "Houshi-sama…what do you want to do?"  Her voice also faded after asking him that question.  "What do I want to do?" he asked himself.  "I…want to see you again…Sango.  I don't want to die here.  I don't want…to die like this."  He slowly sat up, panting.  He turned around and began to crawl towards the side.  He then began to climb the dirt wall of the crater.  'I refuse to die here.  I want to see them again.  I want to see Sango.  I don't want…to die!'  He pulled himself out of the crater and stood, facing the sky.

"Sango!  I made it!  I want to see you again.  Sango…I need to tell you now.  Sango…aishiteru…aishiteru."  And with that, it faded, and Miroku saw nothing but darkness.

******

Siria and Cycil watched as Yume focused on what was happening with the Inuyasha-tachi.  Beads of sweat began to form on her forehead, slowly sliding down her face.  Siria and Cycil watched her.  She seemed tired.

"Cycil," said Siria quietly.

"Nani?"

"Why does Yume seem so tired?"  Cycil took a good long look at the dream weaver and noticed that she was breathing rather deeply.

"I'm not exactly sure.  All of these nightmares must be taking their toll on her.  She's trying too hard."

"But if they come here, she won't have enough strength to defend herself."

"That's why we're here.  Siria, we have to protect Yume no matter what.  We have to do everything in our power to stop the Inuyasha-tachi, otherwise they'll kill her…and I don't want to see her die."

"I don't either."

"So we'll protect her with our lives."  Both girls nodded as they continued to watch Yume struggle.

******

Sango watched as color began to return to Miroku's face.  His breathing became more regular and his pulse quickened, steadily going back to normal.

"Houshi-sama…you did it."  He still wasn't awake, so Sango hugged him closer.  "You beat the nightmare…demo…how did you do it?  What saved you?"  She shook her head and just hugged him more.  "It doesn't matter.  I'm just glad you're alive.  Houshi-sama, I don't want you to ever leave me.  You have to promise that you'll always be there for me, no matter what.  Don't ever leave…onegai…aishiteru."  Suddenly, Miroku groaned.  Sango released her grip on him and lied him back down on the ground.  He then slowly opened his eyes and looked up at her.

"Welcome back, Houshi-sama," she said.

"Sango?  Was…was it all just…"

"It was an illusion based off of your fears."

"Sango…arigatou."

"What for?"

"Because of what you said to me, I was able to make it out.  I was able to return to you.  Sango…I know what I want to do.  I want to stay here, where I belong.  I want to stay right along side my friends and by you.  Arigatou, Sango.  You saved me.  No one else."  Sango blushed slightly.

"I'm glad you're safe, Houshi-sama.  I was afraid I had lost you."

"You'll never lose me.  I promise.  I'll stay right here if you want me to."  Sango simply smiled and nodded.  Miroku then sat up and Sango quickly hugged him.  Miroku was surprised at first.  This was the first time she had really hugged him like this and he made sure to control himself.  He hugged her back, holding her carefully.

"Arigatou," said Sango quietly.

"You're welcome."

"Oi!  Sango!  Miroku!  Kirara!" shouted a certain hanyou.

"Where are you guys?" shouted a concerned miko.

"Come out, come out wherever you are!" shouted none other than Shippo.  Sango and Miroku smiled and then broke their embrace.  They both stood up and Sango picked up Kirara, who mewed adoringly.

"Kagome-chan!  Inuyasha!  Shippo!  We're over here!" shouted Sango.

"Where?" shouted Inuyasha.

"Over here!"

"Where is 'over here'?"

"I'm right here!"  She began to wave her free arm.

"…Where?"  Sango and Miroku both sweat dropped.

"Inuyasha, you have good hearing and a good nose.  You should know where we are!" shouted Miroku mockingly.

"Urusai, bouzu!  It's not my fault everything looks the same!"

"Houshi desu.  We're over here!"  Miroku also began to wave his arms.  He then looked to the ground and found his discarded staff.  He picked it up and began to wave it too, making a jingling sound.  Eventually, three figures emerged from the darkness.  Inuyasha seemed annoyed.

"Finally!" he said, slightly relieved.

"Are you guys alright?" asked Kagome.  Sango and Miroku simply nodded.

"Keh, why wouldn't they be?" asked Inuyasha.  "Now, let's go find Yume.  I'm sure she's behind this."  Suddenly, the surroundings began to swirl, the darkness flashing a purple color.  Suddenly, the familiar falling feeling returned as the ground disappeared beneath them.  All of them had but one thing on their minds.  This was it.  This was the last battle.  This would decide their future.  It was time to prove themselves.  They would do it.  They would defy fate.

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Well, how was it?  Miroku and Sango confessed their love.  Too bad they don't know it yet.  Neither of them heard it.  How sad, ne?  But they'll know eventually.  I promise.  However, there will be a catch that you have to wait around for.

Anyway, right now, I gotta go organize my life.

Aneue –older sister.  It's what Kohaku calls Sango

Urusai –shut up

Furyou houshi –a delinquent monk

Oyaji –the way Miroku refers to his dad.  He once called him 'Chichiue', but he isn't so respectful towards him anymore.  Oyaji is a disrespectful way of saying father.

Aishiteru –the long awaited 'I love you'.

Houshi desu –it means 'I'm a monk'.  It's what Miroku says to Inuyasha when he calls him a bouzu.

Well, gotta get going.  Bye for now^.^