&&&&&&&
By the time Sango reached Kagome, she knew something was wrong. Kagome had stopped from a dead run, just past the edge of the clearing, her head moving from left to right in search of the fallen monk. Her fear for his safety was palpable.
"He was right here, right in this spot! What could have happened?"
Sango's heart felt a slight tremor. Where was Miroku?
WHERE WAS HE!???
She stopped her mind before it spun out of control. There had to be an explanation. There was so much she wanted to tell him, now that she had resolved that she was indeed ready to take the next step with him. It was true that he was a hentai, but she now knew that his many redeeming qualities more than made up for that. She had decided that she loved him, she finally admitted that much to herself, for who he was, and would not try to change him in any way.
She was far from perfect, so how could she demand perfection from another? They would work things out together, if he felt the same for her as she did for him. They would defeat Naraku, and then, after his curse was lifted, they would have the life together that the both of them had been denied. Yes. She would risk her pride and take the first step because life was indeed too short. She would even bear him the son that he always...
Where was he?
After all this time together, at the exact moment she made her decision, he was to be taken from her? Her hands started shaking as she broke out in a cold sweat. This was not supposed to happen. This couldn't be happening. Her family. Kohaku. The fates had already taken from her much more than they deserved.
No! There had to be an explanation. She fought to bring her emotions back in check.
"Kagome. Tell me exactly what happened."
She tried not to sound desperate, although her heart was pounding away in her chest. She surveyed the spot Kagome had pointed to for any clues, setting down her weapon and the pack with the sleeping Kilala.
"I was trapped by the soul stealers, and he used his wind tunnel to free me from their grip. He caught me before I could be injured, and I swear I thought that he was only a bit shaken up!"
Kagome frantically began to search around the undergrowth in the area, hoping that a stunned Miroku had simply dragged himself to safety.
'I shouldn't have left him. I shouldn't have left him.' The thought became a litany. She glanced out of the corner of her eye at the frantic demon exterminator, who was on the verge of tears no matter how she tried to hide it.
That didn't help as the young miko was already becoming more and more anxious over her friend's disappearance. He was right here! He couldn't simply vanish, unless...
His wind tunnel! He had sealed it properly before he caught her, hadn't he?
Hadn't he???
Kagome fought against her mind which immediately took hold of the worst- case scenario. She had been so preoccupied with Inu-Yasha and Kikyo, that she hadn't given her friend a second thought as he lay on the ground, almost unconscious. If he hadn't sealed it properly... If he had passed out and it wasn't sealed...
'Oh god! Miroku!' Kagome fell to her knees.
Sango turned to face an angst-stricken Kagome when she could find no clues from the spot where he had last been seen. She was using every ounce of emotional command as well as every part of her training and experience as a demon slayer to keep the horror of the situation bound under a calm exterior. The tremors shaking her heart collected even more power from the fear, threatening to become an avalanche if she couldn't hold on. Seeing Kagome with her face in her hands was almost enough to make her lose it.
She took a breath and steadied herself before she walked over, kneeling down in front of her friend. She gently put her hands on Kagome's shoulders. Surely there was some detail missing. She would find it.
"Kagome. Look at me." She said as gently as she could, unable to stop the shaking in her hands.
"I can't."
Kagome shook her head. She couldn't look her friend in the eyes. Her mind was frantic, searching for something to hold on to. She was convinced Miroku was dead, and it was all her fault. The guilt over his demise, as well as the end of any relationship the monk and the demon slayer might have had overwhelmed her.
"Sango. I...I'm so sorry."
Inu-Yasha had by now caught up to them, having no clue as to what had transpired. He looked from Kagome to Sango. Kagome, on her knees, was distraught. Sango, kneeling next to her, was a powder keg ready to go off any moment. The sight and smell of one frantic woman was usually enough for him to go on alert, but two caused him to immediately put all his senses in high gear, as that always spelled trouble, from past experience.
"Kagome. What's wrong?" He asked cautiously as he surveyed the area, straining his youkai senses.
"It's Miroku... he's..."
"Hold it!"
Inu-Yasha almost hissed the whisper. He put a finger to his lips as he sank into a crouch. Sango immediately went on alert, crouching in front of Kagome and drawing her katana as Hiraikotsu was more than ten feet away from her, where she set it down. Kagome, upset with herself that her bow and arrows were left near the well where she first confronted Kikyo, could only hope that whatever it was...
"Iron Reaver Soul Stealer!!!"
Inu-Yasha drew on all of his power as he leapt straight up.
&&&&&&&
Thanks to all my wonderful reviewers.
Chibi Fyrefly: The easy, pc answer is Kagome/Inu-Yasha. But just imagine if you went through what Kikyo did. It's tough to even contemplate. Thanks for your comments.
CriscoKittie: The next one will be new for you. Coming soon! Thanks.
NefCanuck: That was actually quite funny, the airbag thing. Thanks.
Typically Head-Over-Heels: Here's the more you asked for. Thanks for your comments.
Torina Archelda: Yes! They did forget about Miroku. And I tried to get to your fics, but the quotes! NOT! I'm reading "Somebody Like You" and I'll leave you a review. Thanks.
LOTRwolf: Sorry about the song confusion. There actually IS a song called "Harvest Moon", but it's from waaaay back in, like the '40s or something. I was thinking of "House of Moon" which you might like anyway. Thanks.
By the time Sango reached Kagome, she knew something was wrong. Kagome had stopped from a dead run, just past the edge of the clearing, her head moving from left to right in search of the fallen monk. Her fear for his safety was palpable.
"He was right here, right in this spot! What could have happened?"
Sango's heart felt a slight tremor. Where was Miroku?
WHERE WAS HE!???
She stopped her mind before it spun out of control. There had to be an explanation. There was so much she wanted to tell him, now that she had resolved that she was indeed ready to take the next step with him. It was true that he was a hentai, but she now knew that his many redeeming qualities more than made up for that. She had decided that she loved him, she finally admitted that much to herself, for who he was, and would not try to change him in any way.
She was far from perfect, so how could she demand perfection from another? They would work things out together, if he felt the same for her as she did for him. They would defeat Naraku, and then, after his curse was lifted, they would have the life together that the both of them had been denied. Yes. She would risk her pride and take the first step because life was indeed too short. She would even bear him the son that he always...
Where was he?
After all this time together, at the exact moment she made her decision, he was to be taken from her? Her hands started shaking as she broke out in a cold sweat. This was not supposed to happen. This couldn't be happening. Her family. Kohaku. The fates had already taken from her much more than they deserved.
No! There had to be an explanation. She fought to bring her emotions back in check.
"Kagome. Tell me exactly what happened."
She tried not to sound desperate, although her heart was pounding away in her chest. She surveyed the spot Kagome had pointed to for any clues, setting down her weapon and the pack with the sleeping Kilala.
"I was trapped by the soul stealers, and he used his wind tunnel to free me from their grip. He caught me before I could be injured, and I swear I thought that he was only a bit shaken up!"
Kagome frantically began to search around the undergrowth in the area, hoping that a stunned Miroku had simply dragged himself to safety.
'I shouldn't have left him. I shouldn't have left him.' The thought became a litany. She glanced out of the corner of her eye at the frantic demon exterminator, who was on the verge of tears no matter how she tried to hide it.
That didn't help as the young miko was already becoming more and more anxious over her friend's disappearance. He was right here! He couldn't simply vanish, unless...
His wind tunnel! He had sealed it properly before he caught her, hadn't he?
Hadn't he???
Kagome fought against her mind which immediately took hold of the worst- case scenario. She had been so preoccupied with Inu-Yasha and Kikyo, that she hadn't given her friend a second thought as he lay on the ground, almost unconscious. If he hadn't sealed it properly... If he had passed out and it wasn't sealed...
'Oh god! Miroku!' Kagome fell to her knees.
Sango turned to face an angst-stricken Kagome when she could find no clues from the spot where he had last been seen. She was using every ounce of emotional command as well as every part of her training and experience as a demon slayer to keep the horror of the situation bound under a calm exterior. The tremors shaking her heart collected even more power from the fear, threatening to become an avalanche if she couldn't hold on. Seeing Kagome with her face in her hands was almost enough to make her lose it.
She took a breath and steadied herself before she walked over, kneeling down in front of her friend. She gently put her hands on Kagome's shoulders. Surely there was some detail missing. She would find it.
"Kagome. Look at me." She said as gently as she could, unable to stop the shaking in her hands.
"I can't."
Kagome shook her head. She couldn't look her friend in the eyes. Her mind was frantic, searching for something to hold on to. She was convinced Miroku was dead, and it was all her fault. The guilt over his demise, as well as the end of any relationship the monk and the demon slayer might have had overwhelmed her.
"Sango. I...I'm so sorry."
Inu-Yasha had by now caught up to them, having no clue as to what had transpired. He looked from Kagome to Sango. Kagome, on her knees, was distraught. Sango, kneeling next to her, was a powder keg ready to go off any moment. The sight and smell of one frantic woman was usually enough for him to go on alert, but two caused him to immediately put all his senses in high gear, as that always spelled trouble, from past experience.
"Kagome. What's wrong?" He asked cautiously as he surveyed the area, straining his youkai senses.
"It's Miroku... he's..."
"Hold it!"
Inu-Yasha almost hissed the whisper. He put a finger to his lips as he sank into a crouch. Sango immediately went on alert, crouching in front of Kagome and drawing her katana as Hiraikotsu was more than ten feet away from her, where she set it down. Kagome, upset with herself that her bow and arrows were left near the well where she first confronted Kikyo, could only hope that whatever it was...
"Iron Reaver Soul Stealer!!!"
Inu-Yasha drew on all of his power as he leapt straight up.
&&&&&&&
Thanks to all my wonderful reviewers.
Chibi Fyrefly: The easy, pc answer is Kagome/Inu-Yasha. But just imagine if you went through what Kikyo did. It's tough to even contemplate. Thanks for your comments.
CriscoKittie: The next one will be new for you. Coming soon! Thanks.
NefCanuck: That was actually quite funny, the airbag thing. Thanks.
Typically Head-Over-Heels: Here's the more you asked for. Thanks for your comments.
Torina Archelda: Yes! They did forget about Miroku. And I tried to get to your fics, but the quotes! NOT! I'm reading "Somebody Like You" and I'll leave you a review. Thanks.
LOTRwolf: Sorry about the song confusion. There actually IS a song called "Harvest Moon", but it's from waaaay back in, like the '40s or something. I was thinking of "House of Moon" which you might like anyway. Thanks.