Miroku's sighed heavily, and heaved himself over the titanic tree root in front of them. The trees here were so very thick and intertwining! He wasn't claustrophobic by any means, but even he was feeling tense. The leaves were so thick that almost no sunlight got through them. It had rained recently here, too. Steam rose from every surface, creating an almost steam-room effect.

            Miroku sighed, and tightened his grip on Sango, helping her forward even more through the trees. The path taken by Kirara was fairly obvious: it was the only one there.

            Slowly, they labored their way through the forest, scaling roots taller than they were, hacking away at thick, heavy vines that blocked their paths, and trying to avoid any potentially dangerous things. It must have been more than an hour, a hot, sweaty, trying hour, before they reached any change in the forest at all.

            Finally, they came to a small spring. More of a pool of water lying in the grassy ground. It was shallow, and clear. Miroku motioned for Shippo to followed them, and they group sat down near the side of the pond. "We'll stop here for a while." He said. "It will give us a chance to catch out breath, and prepare for the next stretch."

            Shippo hopped up on Sango's head, and looked at the monk plaintively. "But, Miroku, where do we go next?" He asked.

            Miroku blinked and looked around. There was only the way they had come in, and that was obviously not the way to go. He sighed, but then again, stranger things had happened these last few days. He looked down again, inspecting the water in the spring. It looked clean.

            He leaned gently down, and scooped some water to his lips. It was cool, sweet, and clean. He looked back up, and sighed. "The water is good." He proclaimed, turning to Sango to help her get some. He stopped. Sango wasn't there.

            His eyes widened, and slowly traced round the clearing. Shippo was gone as well. As was the exit. Sudden panic struck him, and only pure self control kept him from jumping up and tearing off in a random direction, looking for them.

A light breeze blew through the clearing. Miroku's eyes narrowed, and he stood up. He was surrounded by trees on all sides. There should be a breeze. His brain swiftly kicked into overdrive mode. Concern for Sango and Shippo (mostly Sango, actually) was quickly locked away in the back of his mind, and the foreground took over. Practicality was what had to rule.

            He looked around carefully, wary of the constant, slight breeze. Nothing he could see, anyway. Was it something to do with the water? He slowly looked down. He could see to the bottom, but it was obscured by his reflection, staring back at him. He looked back up, and mused a bit, then stared back down, and dipped his hand in the water. His hand got wet, but nothing else. He shook his hand off, and stared back down, unconsciously lifting his crippled right hand to his chin, musing.

            His hand froze, and his eyes fixated on his reflection. The right hand of the reflection wasn't shattered. His eyes widened, and he drew back slightly. The reflection's eyes narrowed, and it leaned closer. Its lips widened in a smooth smile, as slowly it lifted its right hand, unwrapped the beads around it, and slammed its open palm onto the surface of the water. The light breeze in the clearing suddenly became a gale.

*****

            "Houshi-Sama?" Sango called out softly, her voice cracking from lack of use. "Shippo?" She looked towards the pond that Miroku had been sitting at fearfully.

            He had fallen in! How had he fallen in? He had barely even touched the water, and the next minute he was gone with a splash. Then Shippo had panicked, and gone in after him, and they were still not up.

            Slowly, she crawled over to the water, looked down in it. It was all cloudy and dirty, almost black. She couldn't see to the bottom. Her breath started coming faster, and her eyes widened in panic. Were they okay?

            She stumbled back from the pond, looking wildly back and forth. She swallowed thickly, and tried to curl up into a ball. This was wrong! All wrong! Nothing had gone right since that night. She had jumped into Miroku's wind tunnel, and smashed his hand with the Hiraikotsu, but after that it was all blank.

            And when she awoke, she was tired. So, very tired. If it hadn't been for Miroku pushing her on these past days, she could have just sat down and fallen asleep. It would have been so easy.

            She looked up, again, frantically looking around. Tears were brimming in her eyes, and she sat up. Where was Miroku? There was the Monk? Her breath was coming in little gasps now.

            Sleep…

            It came whispering into her mind, the same as it had been for so long.

            Sleep… Lie down… Close your eyes…

            Where was the Monk? Where was he? She stumbled frantically over to the water, and looked down in it again. It was completely black now. She looked around frantically, the shadows growing longer. All around the clearing, the already dim light grew dimmer, and shadows crept down the trees, pushing along the ground.

            Sango stumbled back, her feet diving into the black stuff that was once the pond. She screamed a hoarse, grating scream as something grabbed her leg, holding on fiercely. She looked down, and jerked back onto dry land, kicking her leg frantically. Something black fell back into the water. Tears now littered her cheeks, and her lips curled in fear. The shadows at the base of the trees were pitch black now, and spreading out towards her. The trees themselves were growing darker, becoming hard to see. She whirled around and stared in horror at the pond. Pitch, black shadows were oozing from the water, and over the ground, only darkness remaining where they were. She dashed back to the safety of the yet untainted grass, tears now streaming down her face.

            "Houshi!" She cried out in agony, willing the monk to appear and save her. Her eyes jerked up as the now black trees started to writhe and wriggle, screeching at her. She shook her head in horror and disbelief, and fell to the last resort of frightened children: She ducked down, curled, and covered her head. "Houshi-Sama!" She cried out, not looking up. "Houshi…" She whimpered, curling into an even tighter ball, shoving her face into her knees, and wrapping her arms round her head, willing it to all go away.

            The voices were growing louder now.

            Sleep! Close your eyes!

            Don't fight!

            Rest!

\           die…

            "Miroku…" She whimpered as the darkness overtook her.

            DIE

            Something snapped. Sango flew herself out of her fetal position, her face contorted with rage. She rolled back onto her shoulders, and snapped up to her feet, now enveloped in complete and utter darkness.

            It was just like her dreams. Exactly like her dreams. Miroku would come and find her, or she would find him. She could feel the darkness pulling at her, trying to take her.  If this darkness wanted her so bad then it could have her, but she would find Miroku! She tightened her fists into taunt balls, and dashed forward through the screaming night, all thoughts of sleep forgotten.

*****

            Miroku dashed away, scrambling madly away from the swirling vortex that led into the pool. He grabbed onto a root, and winced in pain as he felt his blood being sucked to his feet. Is this what it felt like to be attacked by a wind tunnel? He hasped in relief as the sucking suddenly stopped, and quickly got to his feet.

            He whirled around to face the pool, eyes narrow and at the ready. The water in the pool slowly flowed upwards, filling in space, until it resembled Miroku himself perfectly. Miroku stumbled backwards as the thing reached into the pool again, and pulled out a staff, perfectly resembling Miroku's staff, and stepped out onto the land. Miroku backed up a few steps, then turned and dashed into the thick trees, leaping onto a long, sloping trunk, and beginning to run up it.

            There was a thump, and a laugh, and Miroku looked back to see the thing staring up at him from the bottom of the trunk. It had now taken on his colors too, only it looked like he once had, complete with his outer, purple robe, pony tail, and un-shattered hand. The thing, lifted its right hand, and cracked its knuckles smugly.

            "What's wrong, Miroku?" The thing asked. Miroku stopped in shock, and turned around again. The thing was even using his voice! He gritted his teeth, and continued dashing up the gradual incline. Quickly, he turned, and jumped, landing on another trunk almost as thick as a hoarse. He quickly began dashing down that again, hitting thick, heavy leaves and branches out of his way as he did so.

            The constant, light tapping of sandals told him that the thing was already behind him, and dashing after him. He quickly grabbed an overhead branch with his left head, and jumped to the left, using the branch to break his fall onto yet another path-like branch. He instantly began dashing up again, continually getting higher and higher. HE couldn't even see the ground now.

            There was a snapping of branches from above him, and he stopped in horror just as his doppelganger dropped in front of him, a sinister grin on its face. It quickly swung the staff furiously, aiming at Miroku's neck. Miroku stumbled back slightly, tripping out of the path of the staff. He gasped as he fell of the branch, and quickly wrapped his hand around a vine to his right. He gasped in pain as his hand grated across the rough surface of the vine, and he felt sticky blood begin to flow over the back of his hand. How the hell was he supposed to beat himself?

            He looked up frantically, and his eyes widened as he saw the doppelganger unwrapping the beads on its hand. The monk quickly dropped, and rolled on an odd somersault down the next thick trunk, barely avoiding the cyclone that opened right were he was a moment ago. He winced as he felt something pull in his left shoulder, and he stumbled on down the branch. He turned around, his face clouded with anger as he faced where he had dropped from. He now had no decent arms. How the hell was he supposed to be able to fend this thing off?

            "Whets the matter, Houshi?" His own voice asked him, and the clone dropped smoothly down to the branch he was on. "Can't you defend yourself?"

            Miroku back up, holding his crushed hand up carefully.

            "Why don't you use the wind tunnel, Miroku?" The clone asked, his voice mocking.

            Miroku's face narrowed in a scowl. No way could he do that. His wind tunnel was way too damaged. He would get sucked in instantly!

            The clone's face nodded. "You're afraid." It hissed. "You're a stinking coward." It spat on the ground.

            Miroku took the opportunity, and swung his right arm as hard as he could. His broken fist slammed into the clones head, overbalancing it.

            The clone stumbled slightly, and fell backwards. Almost as soon as it hit, it was back on its feet. "You are a coward." The clone affirmed to itself. "Well, you'd better get over any fear you have of death." He hissed. "You are going to die, Miroku." The clone said, its voice suddenly dropping down into Miroku's own tone, calm, and reserved. "You can do nothing about it, so you might as well make it on your terms." The clone ripped off the prayer beads from his arm, and opened his hand at Miroku.

*****

            Sango ran desperately, her eyes wide with fear, and tears streaming down her face. "Houshi!" She screamed at the top of her lungs. "Houshi-Sama."

            Things were after her, she could feel them, all around her. They were always getting closer. "Houshi-Sama!" She called again, listening desperately for any response. She ran further in whatever direction she was facing. She wasn't even sure what was up anymore. There was no direction here.

            Her mind was screaming at her, filling her head with Memories she hadn't known she had. She had been in this place before. This complete, total darkness. It had happened that night they had fought Morkleb.

*****

            "Houshi-Sama!" Sango screamed, flying towards him. She could barely make out his face through the ravaging winds rushing towards his hand. She tightened her grip on the Hiraikotsu, and her eyes narrowed. She suddenly flung the giant boomerang forward, sending it flying through the wind. Her eyes widened in horror as it snapped in half, like a twig. One half shattered, sending shards flying into her skin. The other half fell halfheartedly, torn at by the winds. Sango was pulled past it, let out a final scream, and suddenly everything went dark.

*****

            Her footfalls were muffled by the darkness, as were her breaths and all her other motions. She gasped in horror as she felt something wrap around her. With sudden rage, she reached down with her other hand, grabbed it and threw it. Whatever it was let out a scream as it flew deeper into the darkness.

            She ran harder faster, feeling the things only feet behind her. She sprinted, occasionally switching directions, oblivious to the burning fire that was her lungs. "Houshi-Sama!" Her ragged scream rang out again.

*****

            The darkness was thick, like an oozing tide. It washed over her. She was falling through the darkness. It clung to her, dragging her down, clutching at her, clawing it her. She couldn't get out! She couldn't move. Her mouth opened and a scream ripped from her lips, loosing itself in the darkness. There were things all around her. She could hear them, getting closer, and closer. The sickening crunch of the things made her stomach churn and her eyes water. She couldn't see anything! Nothing!! She was blind! Where was everybody?

She let loose another scream, and started running, even while she was falling she ran, stumbling left and right. Her foot seemed to find traction on the air, and then hit something. She gasped, and started falling again, she tried to reach up, but couldn't even find out what up was anymore. She was falling into nothing.

*****

            She slammed suddenly into something hard, like a wall. Rage and fear and frustration came to the surface all at once, and she screamed at whatever it was. She could feel the things behind her, hissing and writhing. Frantically, she began beating at the thing in front of her, not caring what it was. She scratched, and bit, and kicked, and punched, and attacked. She could feel her too-long fingernails becoming cracked and bloody and bent as she attacked the thing mercilessly, finally managing to climb over whatever it was.

            "Miroku!" She screamed, her throat constricting with sobs, and she started running again.

*****

            She screamed over and over again, falling further and further from the light. Something grabbed a hold of her arm, and she struck out frantically at it, wrenching it off, and throwing at away from her as hard as she could. Tears poured down her face, and she continued running, attacking things randomly whenever they grabbed her.

            Where was Miroku, and Kohaku, and Shippo, and all the rest? Why weren't they here? Where were they?

            There was a sudden burst of light above her, and she saw, just briefly, a woman. Her hair was crimson, and she had black, large, draconic wings. She reached out for Sango, calling her name. Sango reached back, clasping the clawed hand offered to her. Her frantic eyes registered the woman's name finally: Atma.

            And suddenly the darkness was gone, replaced by the cool serene landscape of the desert. Sango breathed heavily, gasping for breath, standing in the desert. Atma let go of her hand gently, and smiled at her. "Now, make sure you stay alive." She said her voice soft. And then she was gone.

            Sango breathed only a moment more, then slumped down into the cool sands, unconscious.

*****

            Sango screamed again as a thing wrapped around her leg, causing her to pitch forward. She rolled over, and savagely struck out at the thing at her foot, only to have something grip her arm in a tight, vice like grip. She threw herself forward grappling with the thing, and beating it over and over again with her right hand, fear and hate and anger slamming into the thing with each blow.
            And suddenly there was light again. She was lying in a clearing. The same clearing the darkness had come to her in. She sat up slowly, and blinked. Across the pond from her was Miroku, sitting up, and rubbing his shattered fist tenderly.

            "Houshi-Sama." She whispered, her voice still raw.

            Miroku looked up, and blinked at her, an almost foreign look in his eyes.

            "Houshi-Sama…" She said again, her voice cracking somewhat. Unsteadily, she got to her feet, and waded strait through the pond to him. The cool water only came up to her waist, and she emerged from the other side only half wet.

            Miroku blinked at her, looking very shaken. "Sango…" He murmured. "Do you know what just…"

            "Shut up, Miroku." Sango whispered, and collapsed into him, wrapping her arms around him. Slowly, she started to cry.

*****

            Whoohee! Man, I'm proud of that chapter. It's not half bad if I do say so myself.

            And If your wondering about Shippo, Don't worry, I didn't forget him. He's still there, just not at the end of this one.

            And for those of you hoping for Sesshoumaru, sorry. I got a bit to caught up in this chapter. Anywho, please R&R. Toodles!