Disclaimer: I own Nothing.

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"Dou yara, issho ni shini sokoneta na"

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"It seems we failed to die together after all"
 
--Miroku, Episode 118

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IronyChapter 12…

…Relief…

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"I'm making sure that you will not hesitate again…when your friends find you…

…It will be either them or you. In the end, someone has to die…"

She remembered Naraku's words. Damn him, he was right…

The vision had been firmly implanted in her mind. She could see herself driving the blade smoothly into his body. And then, a single thrill of blinding, white pain shot from her stomach to the very tips of her fingers. Sango released the blade she hadn't even realized she was holding. For a moment, she didn't realize why her own hands were covered in blood. Until realization hit and she got a screaming shock of fear, tears brimming and ready to fall. Oh god…

After all that… she had resisted killing him with everything she had…

'Please don't let it be his blood…' she pleaded silently as she slowly opened her eyes. She saw the houshi before her, his horrified expression.

'He's okay…' Relief flooded her, despite the terrible pain shooting through her body.

'This blood is mine…' For a second, she was terrified. She didn't want to die…

And then, she realized that she didn't care. The man she loved was alive. At the moment, her life didn't matter. She was finally free from the Shikon no Kakera…

Sango grit her teeth, the pain was making in hard to stay conscious. Slowly, she could feel her body go numb as her legs turned to jelly. She fell forward, preparing to hit the ground. Suddenly, she felt a pair of warm, strong arms around her.

'Houshi-sama…'

He pulled her body closer to his, embracing her gently.

"Sango…" he whispered into her ear. She could feel his warm breath on her neck and yet, she was so cold.

"Sango, stay awake!" he cried as her heavy eyelids began to close. She looked up at him wearily, her vision too blurry to see clearly.

"Houshi-sama…" she whispered.

Miroku leaned in to hear her.

"I'm glad…" she winced, a few tears running down her face.

Miroku didn't know what to say. She was glad?! But… she was dying…

No! He wouldn't allow himself to think that way. Sango was the strongest woman he had ever met. She was a youkai taijiya. She had been through injuries worse than this…She would live through this…

"Sango…" he managed to choke out.

"Why?" he tightened his grip on her, feeling her body temperature dropping rapidly. She was freezing.

She gasped lightly, opening her mouth to speak, but nothing seemed to come out.

Miroku felt himself growing angry.

"Why?! Why would you do this?" he choked back tears. She brought her right hand up, lightly caressing his cheek. He gasped.

She was… smiling? Why?

"I…" she took a ragged breath as he covered her hand with his, pressing it harder into his cheek.

"I wanted you to live…" her voice faded to a light whisper as she finished speaking.

Miroku could only watch in horror as her eyes closed and her body went limp.

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A/N: I dunno if that was mushy or not, but… uhhh… ^^;; That was weird to write, kinda hard. I'm not very good at the whole dying mushy speeches, sorry. I don't even know which option this is, since it's not exactly like any of the choices I gave. I guess you guys won't know if Sango is dead or not until next chapter ^^;; I know this one was short but if I added more on, it would spoil the mood and the cliffie ^__^ Since it's winter break and all, I'll update sooner than usual. Thx for reading, please R&R! ~.^ BTW, before I forget, Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays minna-san! ^_^

Ja ne!  ~Sango_to_Miroku~

12-24-03… ¬.¬;;