disclaimer: see chapter 9

XI. Aftermath

"Sango! NO!" Miroku cried out, fighting against the tears that threatened to spill. "Why…"

It's all my fault, I failed to protect you. I'm the one that should be sorry.

Miroku stroked her hair and kissed her forehead gently. Then he held her tighter and sobbed into her limp form. He remembered all the times they spent together. All the times that he looked at her but know that he could never have her. He wished that he had at least told her how he felt.

I love you…
"It's getting dark. Where are they?" Kagome was getting worried. "Maybe you should go and look for them Inuyasha."

"Feh! They can take care of themselves." Inuyasha put on his 'why should I care' face and looked away. "Go back to sleep. Besides, I don't think I should interrupt them in their time alone. You know, Miroku could be busy-"

"Sit!" Wham! Inuyasha hit the floor of the hut, making a hole in it with his face. Shippo woke up at the noise, but when he saw Inuyasha in that position, he shook his head and went back to sleep.

Inuyasha jumped back up. "What was that for?"

Kagome was about to yell at him when she saw through the open door, a figure outside coming towards them. It had started to rain, so it was hard for her to tell who it was. It didn't seem like a human since it was pretty big.

"Inuyasha…" she feared that it might to a demon coming to attack them.

Inuyasha sniffed the air, but couldn't catch a scent, for the rain had washed it away. He drew the Tetsuaiga and got ready to fight. But he put it away as the figure came closer and he realized who it was.

It was Miroku, carrying a limp Sango in his arms and her Hiraikotsu on his back. He was bent over slightly to keep Sango from getting wet. The tears that fell freely from his face was mixed with the rain. His face was blank as he walked steadily towards the hut.

"Miroku? What happened?" Kagome came to the door and asked softly.

He didn't answer her. He walked past her into the hut and placed Sango gently on a futon. Her shoulder was crudely bandaged with strips of dark purple cloth and was stained with blood. He knelt down beside her and took her cold hand in his. He was not much warmer since he was soaked from head to toe.

"Is she…" Kagome knelt next him, her face hopeful.

Miroku nodded. Kagome looked closely, and saw that Sango was still breathing. But her breaths came quick and shallow, and her face was as pale as a ghost. She seemed to have lost a lot of blood and was unconscious.

Kagome got up, leaving Miroku staring at Sango. He gently brushed her hair off her face. Her skin was hot to his touch.

"We should take care of her wound." Kagome came over with some bandages. Miroku moved over and silently watched Kagome bandage Sango's wound.

Please be all right, He prayed.
For the next couple of days, Miroku would not leave Sango's side. He even slept next to her.

"Oh, she'll just love that," Inuyasha snorted, "What are you planning to do exactly?" That comment got him yelled at by Kagome. Miroku just stared at Sango, not saying anything.

Her condition seemed to get worse. Four days and she was still unconscious. Her breath came shallower and her temperature was getting higher according to Kagome's "thermometer".

Miroku was getting very worried. He kept on apologizing in his mind and beating himself up about it. He did not what he would do it he lost her...
sry for the shortness, hope the fluff makes up for it... two more chapters till the end, and I'm feeling sad that it's almost over.

you who reviewed can all borrow Miroku or Inuyasha for 24 hours, you'll just have to fight over them yourselves (share nicely now, don't kill each other ).

for the results of weird pairings...drum roll please...and the winner is:
Naraku/Kagome's mom! with 8 votes, a close second is Sango/IY with 6, and Naraku/Kirara is tied with Kanna/Kouga for third with 5 votes each.

so, it's been decided that it's gonna be a Naraku/Kagome's mom humor/parody/horror story. hope i can pull it off. anyone got any suggestions of plots?