Ch. 9: Taking Over Me

me: ::anger mark:: I...do...not...own...Evanesence....or...their...songs.....

Kikyo: O.o

me: so please review!

You don't remember me

But I remember you

I lie awake and try

so hard

not to think of you.

But who can decide what they dream?

And dream I do....

"I didn't need to see that again..." Sango thought, her eyes shining softly. "I would have given anything to save him, but he died just because I was too stubborn to move out of the way. If I had just listened to InuYasha, then Miroku would be by my side instead of underneath that sheet...I can't believe the things I do sometimes..."

"Sango-chan? Would you like to say something to Miroku as well?" Kagome asked. Sango snapped out of her reverie, blinking away the tears that threatened to pour down her face.

"You can go before me, Kagome-chan..."

"But...I just went...we've all had a chance except you. I mean, I can understand if you don't want to, but-"

"I want to. I...I'd just like to do it alone, if that's all right?" Sango looked around at the rest of the group, all who seemed to agree to this.

"Sango, when you're done, please come and fetch us. We still need to bury him." Kaede said quietly.

"Yes, Kaede-sama."

InuYasha left the clearing first, apparently eager to get away from his departed comrade. Shippo clambered onto Kaede's shoulder and left with her. Kagome was the last to leave; she walked quickly toward the hut, then turned on her heel and stared at Sango.

"Ah...Sango-chan..?"

"Hm?"

"Please don't feel like it was your fault. Miroku didn't die because of you; he died for you. There's a big difference there." Kagome's eyes were shining as well, and she wiped them on her white sleeve before continuing. "He loved you so much that he sacrificed his life for you. So just...don't feel bad, please..."

"I don't feel bad, Kagome-chan." Sango lied, gritting her teeth. Heh, 'died for her.' What a lie. He died because she had been stupid enough to think that a piece of wood was going to be indestructible against dozens of incredibly sharp objects.

"Oh...well, I just thought I'd give you my views on it..."

"Okay, fine. Now could you please go?"

I believe in you

I'd give up anything just to find you

I have to be with you

To live

To breathe

You're taking over me...

"Sorry!" Kagome hurried to catch up to the others. Sango watched her friend's brown shoes slap onto the dirt. Miroku would never walk again. Slowly, very slowly, Sango lifted the white flower from her pouch.

"Um, earlier today I remembered that time you told me how I was like that flower. It really meant a lot to me to hear that from you...I..." Her voice caught, and she continued, shakily. "When I was a demon slayer, people always told me not to let my emotions get in the way of my work, and I listened to them. Um, but you...um, I think you brought out the best in me...god, this sounds stupid...but yeah."

"It's not stupid, Sango.." He whispered, his eyes filling with transparent tears. He couldn't keep watching her feel like this.

"And...um, I'll miss you of course, and I hope you're okay, wherever you are. Um, we'll get our revenge on Naraku for you, and I won't forget you." She let the tears fall onto the white sheet that covered the monk, and she placed the flower next to his heart. Still crying, she looked up, her eyes searching for the place they were going to bury him. She found the dark hole in the middle of the three trees, and she looked inside. Miroku followed suit, and the two gasped simultaneously at what they saw.

The flower...

"Oh god..." Sango reached her hand into the soft dirt and cupped the flower, feeling the velvet-like petals. She lifted it from the grave and held it in her hands.

"The flower..." Miroku let a tear fall, and to his surprise, it landed on the dirt, forming a dark brown wet spot. He gasped, taken aback.

"What the-?" Sango wiped her eyes on her sleeve and examined the dirt, placing her finger on the spot.

"Sango!!"Miroku yelled, half hoping she could hear him. It had never worked before, ne?

"Damn it Miroku, if you're here, could you just come out and tell me?!" She sighed, exasperated.

"I've been trying to!" He yelled back.

"Give me a damn sign!"

"I'm TRYING!" He reached over to her and grabbed at her hand. His own went straight through it, and he sighed.

"Houshi-sama...talk to me, if you're here..." Sango said quietly, her voice no longer angry. He reached for her hand again, but this time touched the flower.

Have you forgotten all I know

and all we had?

You saw me mourning my love for you

and you touched my hand...

I knew you loved me then.

His pale finger rested on the dark flower, not passing through it. Miroku's eyes lit up and he stared into her eyes, smiling softly.

...but she just looked right through him.

"Damn..." He withdrew his hand and stared at her. She stared back, her eyes dry now. Sango stood, placing the flower back into the grave. She raised her head toward the sky and looked up at the white clouds. It was a fine day for a memorial service, and he deserved it. Her eyes remained dry as she walked over to the white sheet and lifted it. She stared at him, then smiled.

"I love you, Houshi-sama."

I believe in you

I'll give up everything just to find you

I have to be with you

To live

To breathe

You're taking over me.

"Houshi-sama?" The voice was female, and very annoyed. "Houshi-sama, get your lazy ass up or I'll hit you. Come on! InuYasha and Kagome are outside already!"

I look in the mirror

And see your face

If I look deep enough

So many things that are just like you

are taking over....

"Wake up already!!" Miroku heard the impatient voice one more time before he felt a sharp pain in his head and awoke with a start.