Ch. 3

me: ok...after I killed Miroku, a lot of people were upset, I noticed...

Kikyo: cough understatement of the century cough

me: so, xgirl66, please don't devour my liver...devour Kikyo's instead!! O.o and to the rest of the Miroku fangirls, im sorry!

Kaede's hut was a depressing sight. Kagome was sobbing in InuYasha's arms. InuYasha's eyes were wide and surprised at Kaede's diagnosis. But Sango...Sango was staring at Miroku, as though she were made of stone. Kaede stood heavily and walked toward the door.

"I think you all need some time alone." She said quietly, walking out of the room. Sango's eyes were still glued to Miroku.

"I hit him." She whispered, her eyes filling with tears.

"Wh-what, Sango-chan?" Kagome choked out, her eyes red from crying.

"Just before he died. I slapped him and called him a pervert. That was the last thing I said to him. He died before I could tell him that I..." Sango stopped, as though suddenly realizing Kagome and InuYasha were present. It wouldn't do to have an emotional breakdown in front of them.

"Why did this have to happen?" Kagome cried, kneeling beside the houshi. It was so strange, to see him like this, without the firey attitude he usually portrayed. Kagome stared at him for a moment longer, then stood up, wiping her eyes. "Do you want a moment alone, Sango-chan?"

"Oh...yes, please." Sango replied. She watched to make sure Kagome and InuYasha were gone, then she turned back to Miroku. She felt this terrible pain inside at the thought of Miroku never coming back. It was as though any moment, she would feel his hand where it was not welcome. It was all a joke, he was just doing it to get her closer to him, so he could pull his usual tricks.

"Come on, Miroku." Sango muttered. "You can stop now, okay?" A tear slipped from her eye and onto his cheek. "Great. I'm crying now, Miroku. Just wake up, okay? This isn't funny."

The monk didn't stir. Sango waited, her eyes still overflowing with tears. She moved a lock of his black hair out of his eyes, and stared at him longingly.

Miroku felt quite strange...this feeling, there were no words to describe it. It was like...floating, almost. Yet he couldn't open his eyes, which made no sense at all. He was just floating...higher, and higher. He didn't know what was happening. Was he dead? Was he going to heaven? The thought comforted him. It was as though he was four again, sitting on his dad's lap.

"Dad? What's a curse?" A young, black haired boy asked. He was perched on his dad's knee, wearing the traditional clothes of a Buddhist monk. The boy stared at his right hand, which was draped in violet cloth.

"You're too young to understand such things, Miroku." The older man said, smiling at his son. He himself was also wearing traditional clothing, with a cloth over his hand.

"No I'm not!" Little Miroku said, indignantly. "Mushin said that some guy named Raraku gave it to us!"

"It's Naraku, with an 'N'." His dad corrected. "And for once, Mushin is right."

"Then how come Mushin doesn't have one?" Miroku asked. "That's not fair, that we have to and he doesn't!"

"It's not a matter of what's fair and what's not." The older man said wearily. "We have this because of something your grandfather did, a while back."

"Grandpa did something to Naraku?"

"In a manner of speaking, yes."

"But I never did anything to that guy! How come I'm cursed, too?" Miroku cried. This was very confusing.

"It doesn't matter. Naraku just chose to make it that way."

"Well, Naraku is stupid." Miroku said stubbornly. "When I grow up, I'm gonna fight him!"

His dad chuckled. "I'm sure you will, Miroku. If you win, I will be very pleased."

"I will win, dad. I betcha I'm stronger than him!" Miroku said, his eyes flaming. "I'll win, and get rid of this stupid hole! Just you wait and see, dad! Just wait and see..."

Miroku smiled at the memory. How naive, he had been at the age of four. He had truly though that Naraku was going to be weak and cowardly. Well, he had at least gotten the cowardly part right. As Miroku reflected on his life, a white flash passed in front of his closed eyes, causing them to fly open. What he saw almost made him faint.

He was looking at...himself and Sango! He was lying on the floor, with a blood splattered cloth over him. Sango was sitting next to him, moving his hair out of his eyes. Where was he?

Oh god... that's me.. I'm dead! Miroku thought, horrified. He watched as Sango continued to cry over his dead body. This wasn't right; he was still here! He needed to show her, somehow...

"Sango!" Miroku yelled loudly. "I'm still alive! Sango!" He looked at her anxiously, checking for the signs that she had heard him. There were none. He floated closer to her, waving his hand in front of her face. Still nothing.

Am I a ghost? Miroku thought. Sango stood abruptly, startling Miroku. She wiped her eyes and cleared her throat. As soon as she left the room, Miroku was slammed with another memory.

"Dad! Dad!" The young Miroku rushed outside. It was like a tornado had hit; a strong wind was blowing everything away...and his dad was inside it. "Dad! What are you doing?" He could hear his dad yelling in pain and fear.

"Miroku! Get away from there!" Mushin's voice rose above the roaring wind. Miroku turned to look at the plump man, then turned back to his dad, who was being sucked into his own Wind Tunnel, or so it seemed.

"Dad!!" Miroku screamed. His dad was still yelling, his face contorted in pain. Miroku ran toward the wind, but Mushin's strong arms caught him and pulled him away.

"No, Miroku! You mustn't be sucked in!"

"Let me go!! Why aren't you helping Dad?! He needs help! He needs help!!" Miroku screamed, tears running down his face. He violently broke away from Mushin, but it was too late. With one last gust of wind, his dad disappeared into the void. Miroku rushed into the hole the wind had made, searching for his father.

"Dad? Dad? Dad, where are you?" Miroku cried, his voice squeaking with fear. Finding no trace of his father, the young boy fell to his knees and sobbed. His dad had left him, without any warning. Just as his mother had.

"I didn't even get to say good-bye..." Miroku sobbed. Mushin looked at the small boy sadly, then picked him up and carried him into the house.

" I haven't thought about that in years..." Miroku said softly. If he was dead, then maybe he would see his mother and father in heaven. Finally be reunited after all these hard years.. He floated aimlessly toward the door, which Sango, Kagome and InuYasha passed through. It was an odd feeling, to have your friends pass through you.

"I can't believe he's dead." InuYasha said, staring at the body.

"I didn't even get to say good-bye..." Sango murmured softly. Miroku stared at the demon slayer.

Kagome was quiet. It was though she was numb. Miroku looked into her eyes, which were red-rimmed. She sniffed and moved closer to InuYasha.

"I already miss him so much..." Sango whispered. Kagome nodded her agreement, and even InuYasha gave the tiniest of nods.

"Sango...." Kagome said, turning to her friend. "This is totally out of line, I know. But...I've always wondered....did you love him? I mean, I know he loved you, but did you love him?"

Miroku blinked when he heard Kagome ask the question. He floated closer, wanting to hear every word of her response. She looked so helpless, her face tear stained.

"Did I...love him?" Sango repeated. "Well..."

me: ah. I love cliffies. Oh, plus, the part where Miroku sees his dad get sucked up, I know that was an episode, but I don't tape them, so I didn't know the dialogue. Therefore, I made stuff up. Sorry!

Kikyo: ::is running from xgirl66::