Chapter Twelve: There's A Hero In Everyone

Noon set in and things began to heat up. Inuyasha still struggled in the battle, as a stab wound apparently wouldn't stop their foe. Miroku was now sitting up while Sango applied pressure to his still bleeding wound. He felt just horrible that he couldn't help out. This was his fight after all. It was while he was watching the battle that he knew what he could do to help. Maybe be of some use.

"Yes…that could work quite well…" He said to himself.

"What was that Miroku?" Sango gave him a quizzical look.

"I…" He struggled to get up. "I know what to do. How to beat him I mean."

"You what? Wait…you can't Miroku!" She tried to pull him back down.

"Inuyasha can't last much longer out there Sango I have to help him." Miroku began to walk over to where Inuyasha and Hatsu were at a stand off. Inuyasha was panting heavily and his chest was littered with miscellaneous cuts and bruises.

"Come to join pet? I knew you would fall victim to my lure."

Miroku spoke underneath his breath in a language no one seemed to recognize. Obviously it was part of his Buddhist practices. As he got closer his voice became louder. Hatsu gasped as he realized what the monk was trying to do.

"Would you really kill a human Miroku? That would be an awful burden to bear."

"You are no human I assure you."

By now Inuyasha had some hint of what Miroku was trying to do, but feared for his friend, as he knew this would take a great amount of his energy. The words the demon spat didn't seem to phase Miroku as he now stood the best he could. With a final word, Miroku shouted and forcefully placed a seal onto the chest of the demon is disguise. Hatsu seemed to panic as he punched Miroku in the stomach, sending him rolling across the ground.

"Miroku!" Sango shouted as she ran to his side.

"Heh. So sorry I had to interrupt your little voodoo routine pet, but I really must continue my fight." He smirked as he viewed Miroku lying helplessly on the ground, visibly defeated. But as he began to walk away, Miroku's voice could be heard yet again. Sango held his wound while Miroku tried his best to finish the spell. His eyes were closed tightly and he was breathing heavily, but he knew he couldn't give up yet.

"Miroku stop. Inuyasha can handle it." He paid no mind and continued what he had already started.

"It's too late Sango…I have to finish." He brought one hand to his chin and formed a seal. Hatsu felt the effects and screamed as he turned in the monk's direction.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" The demon tried to remove the seal from his chest, but to no avail. Miroku's body began to glow a soft blue and likewise with Hatsu. Only his was red with anger.

"RELEASE!" Miroku shouted, eyes wide open. Then his body went limp and his hand fell to his side.

"Miroku? Oh Buddha. Please wake up Miroku." She pleaded to his still form.

"My turn…" Inuyasha smiled as dashed at the demon that emerged from the young demon slayer's body.

"What? How can I? This can't be!" He couldn't finish a sentence.

"Oh yes it can…WIND SCAR!" Inuyasha put all his might into the final blow and smirked as he watched the demon run for its pathetic life. Of course it did not succeed and was wiped from existence the moment the energy wave connected with its body.

"Finally it's over. "Inuyasha concluded. His hopes, though, were torn in two as he noticed a furious looking Koto still standing not to far from Sango and Miroku. They had one more person to deal with and he was infuriated.

"You…you still care for him more than me… HOW DARE YOU!" he shouted in great anger.

"Koto no!" Samara ran and fell on her knees…pleading to her companion.

"Don't make this hard Samara."

"Koto. Leave them alone please…they did nothing to harm us and our…your master is gone. We were defeated Koto." He looked down in utter despondency. Though this feeling was not at all long lasting.

"Good. I'm glad he's gone." He looked over in Sango's direction. "I do love you Sango. I have since we were kids. I just don't understand…"

"Drop it already would you?" Inuyasha shouted at the man.

"Excuse me?"

"If you love her so goddamn much why don't you want to see her happy?"

"I don't need the advice of a half-demon such as yourself."

"He's right Koto…" Sango stood and walked over, taking his hand into hers. "I love Miroku…with all my heart. I want nothing but to spend the rest of my life with him." Koto looked as though he was stabbed through.

"It pains me to see him like this. I want it to end…and I want you to leave. Koto I want you to leave."

(smack) He slapped her across the face. She stood in shock and put her hand up to her cheek.

"You will never be happy." He raised his hand once more. Though before he could connect his wrist was caught.

"This is for Miroku!" Inuyasha stood and punched the demon slayer in the face, sending him to the ground. He brushed the dirt from his hands and casually walked over and picked Miroku up, bridal style. "Let's go."

Sango stood for a minute, then ran over to Samara and embraced her in a tight hug.

"Thank you…for everything." Tears streamed down her eyes. Samara stood there for a moment…then returned the favor.

"You're very welcome Sango. I'll be over later to check on him alright?" She smiled and walked past Koto, who was lying unconscious on the ground.

"Hey Samara!" Inuyasha shouted from halfway in the hut. "Stay with us tonight…you don't need to be with that loser do you?" She smiled for a moment and ran smiling after her new friends.

After that the night was long.

The sun went down that night sooner than anyone would've expected. Shadows were cast in every direction as the moon rose and reflected its beautiful rays off of anything that was willing to receive it.

Though for many reasons this night was different from most, but only for this single group of travelers. This night, unlike most, was the first night everyone could rest without the worry or threat that some unknown creature would come unnoticed and try to take each of their lives.

But they weren't out of the woods yet.

Miroku hadn't woken up yet, and it wasn't expected either. Luckily for all of them Samara was in fact a doctor. This seemed to ease Sango's mind in such a way that she knew now she could just rest by his side. None of her actions would reflect Miroku's well being.

A very comforting thought.

"The bleeding has lessened, and only one of his ribs are broken, but other than that I would say he just needs rest to regain whatever energy was lost." Samara concluded.

"That's a relief." Sango sighed.

"So when will he wake up do you know?" Inuyasha asked from the opposite side of the room. His sensitive hearing easily picked up the conversation. He sat motionless as Kagome worked to bandage all of his miscellaneous cuts and bruises. Out of the whole battle, his biggest setback was the laceration to his shoulder."

"I hope sometime tonight, but I really can't say. I'm not to familiar with the spell he used." Sango sighed once more. She hoped that his nap wouldn't last as long as she says. Who's to say it even is a nap? As she sat there next to his pale, unmoving body, she felt very…alone. Like everyone had deserted her.

"So how are you Inuyasha?" Sango questioned as Kagome tied off the last of the bandages. "I hope this didn't hurt you too much. I know Miroku would be just crushed if he knew he caused all this. If I caused you all this…"

"I know he sort of cause this..."

Sango put her head down…

"But…" He continued, "I wouldn't have been a part of this if I didn't want to. I helped you guys because you're our friends."

"Inuyasha…" Kagome smiled.

"Uh… plus he would've beat the crap out of him if I wouldn't have been there to save his butt…"

"Inuyasha…" She glared.

"Well I'm glad you're alright. We don't need everyone around here injured." She smiled and covered Miroku up so that the blanket came to his waist.

As the night progressed, all that could be heard were the chirp of the crickets as they played their music for the luminous moon, as it still appeared high in the sky.

Sango sat by Miroku with a lit candle not too far away. Shadows crept all throughout the room and it seemed that the one candle protected her from the darkness as well. Her eyes wandered down, peering at her monk's angelic features. Shadow covered half of his face, but she could still make out his mouth, as it was no longer smiling. All she wished for was for him to wake up from his deep slumber and tell her he was all right. Everything was going to be all right…

Right?

She wished to feel the coolness of his skin, but instead only felt the fever still burning inside his body. She closed her eyes slightly and dozed off. Her dreams seemed to be granted right before her tired eyes as she felt his squeeze her hand as well.

It was all she wanted.

"Miroku?" She questioned the still form. He made no noise, but instead smiled for her.

It was all she needed.

"Are you in any pain? Can we help you in some way?

"W…we?" He managed despite his dry throat.

"Samara is here with us. She wants to repent for all that she think she has done."

His sapphire eyes shot opened and seemed to scan the room. " Sh…she was with…Koto. It's not safe here."

"Don't worry Miroku she healed you and Inuyasha to the best of her extent. Al she said was that you need to rest now alright?"

He leaned up a bit and ripped the cover from him. His eyes searched his bandaged and only wondered what she had done for him.

"Calm down Miroku it's alright. I assure you she won't do us any harm. Just lay down now okay?"

He nodded and did as he was told. His eyes fell shut as sleep overtook him. Though something in the back of his mind caused worry to sweep across his dreamless sleep. Things didn't seem to be right quite yet…