Chapter Sixteen:

Night progressed faster then any of them expected. Soon the sun rose and rays shined in every direction waking anything it spread its light upon. As Miroku lie asleep everyone else went on with his or her normal hustling and bustling. Sango seemed to be the only one who just couldn't seem to keep herself busy as she waited patiently for her love to wake up.

"It's no use Sango. Just let him sleep." Sakura suggested. "He's overly tired and I think that if not by tonight, he'll be awake any time now."

Sango nodded and got up to assist Sakura in gathering her next medley of supplies for the later procedure. Once again a small vile and many bandages. No longer would her love suffer with the pain of battle, of heroism.

No sooner had she place the very last container in its spot did Miroku finally show signs of life. His deep blue eyes fluttered open and Sango was immediately at his side clutching his hand to show him she was there.

"Heh…Sango." Miroku smirked.

"What, what is it? What's so funny?" She toyed with him as he lie helpless on his forsaken mat. No more helpless was she as he held facts from her that she so desired to hear.

"You worry too much of me my dear Sango. I was only sleeping." He sat up and pulled her into a gentle embrace, ignoring the dull pain he still felt. She smiled and detached herself.

"Let me make you something to eat. It'll help you bring back your strength.

"Hai…that would be quite nice." He smiled and stood following her slightly to watch her work. How he loved to just watch. Witness her purity at its very best. She turned with the most graceful actions with a bowl of hot soup in her hand.

"Here you go Mirok—" She froze and gasped as he dropped to the floor clutching his stomach. His eyes welded shut in the utmost of pain.

"Miroku!" She dropped the soup all over the both of them and fell to his level. He gasped for a moment, but smirked slightly as he saw a face of dread painting her features.

"What...what's so funny?" Her eyes darted back and forth scanning him from head to toe.

"I told you that you worry too much."

"T-that's not funny Miroku…" She pleaded.

"Stop worrying for me." He sat all the way down onto the floor, drenched in hot soup she had spilt. "But now look what you did."

"Sorry…it was your fault though." She gathered her senses and swiped a rag from the table to clean him up.

"Didn't that burn?" She questioned wiping all the contents off of his bare chest. So well formed even after all of their hard battles that formed so many scars.

"It wasn't that bad…"

"Good…" She finished and helped him up from the floor

"Uhh…what's going on?" Sakura wandered in holding an assortment of wild herbs.

"Miroku played a bad joke…that's all." Sango explained.

"O…kay…" She seemed to give up on figuring out their joke and almost forgot as to why she even came in…"

"I wanted to see if you wanted to finish the treatment before you all went home."

"That would be wonderful." Miroku said walking back to his mat. He sat himself down and waited for Sakura to conclude her treatment.

"Ready Miroku?" Sango asked.

"I need to be healed to rid Hatsu from Samara. I am ready."

Sakura removed the bandages from Miroku's waist and took out the previous pieces of cloth from his wound. After his wound was all cleaned Sakura simply poured a quarter sized amount of liquid onto her hands and caused them to shimmer with a sapphire glow matching perfectly with his eyes.

"Lie down Miroku so I can finish alright?" He did as he was told and lied down with his head supported in Sango's lap.

Sakura sighed and closed her eyes seeming to concentrate for a moment.

"Miroku for this to work you need to do me a favor."

"Anything."

"Concentrate some of your spiritual powers into it. I am no priestess so I cannot complete this without your help. You will know it worked when it becomes a ruby red."

"I'll try." He gently grasped her hands and closed his eyes in concentration. His face began to bead with sweat before the concoction began to do as she said. It became more of a scarlet color and she smiled as his hands dropped in exhaustion.

"You did great Miroku. You lay back now and relax...I can do the rest." She gently rubbed the newfound mixture over his wound and pushed down slightly as her hand stroked over his wound. He winced slightly, but knew it would all be over soon. Sango moved from underneath of him retrieving some bandages and handed them to Sakura as she wiped the excess off of her hands.

"All done. That wasn't so bad was it?"

"No…it really wasn't." He smiled and sat all the way up so Sakura could finish wrapping. "Now I'm just tired. I didn't know you'd need my help."

"Sorry…I should've told you."

"It doesn't matter now…as long as I'll get better.

He smiled and laid all the way down, eyes shut in sheer exhaustion.

He slept the rest of night and all everyone else could do was clean the mess they had made that day. Kagome and Inuyasha came back late in the afternoon only to discover the sleeping monk. Sango also seem to be chipper herself as she knew that soon they would all go home. Even deep in his sleep Miroku felt and knew it too. His eyes move behind their lids as dreams traveled across his fragile mind.

"How's he doing Sango?" Inuyasha questions with the utmost of care in his voice.

"A lot better I think. Sakura said we could go home in a few days."

"Finally." He snorted.

Sango decided to ignore his rude remark and continued to do the chores she was so reluctant to do earlier in the day.

"Too much laundry…" She thought.

As she got to Miroku's violet robes, she held them up to her face and smelled the luscious smell of the man she so adored. Though as she scanned the robes, she noticed many rips and tears. She decided to sew them all before he woke. Perhaps a good surprise before they continued home.

As she got back, the sun was finally setting and everyone was hustling and bustling within the beautiful home. She was surprised to see Miroku awake and talking with Inuyasha when she walked in with clothes still in her hands.

"Welcome back Sango. Oh here let me give you a hand with those." He leaned up carefully, placing pressure on his knee as he did so.

What a gentlemen…

"Are you sure Miroku? You just woke up from a major procedure." She was hesitant to hand him anything.

"Sakura said it was okay if I walked around a little. Besides, clothes aren't heavy. Those are my robes aren't they?"

She nodded her head and handed him a pile of his own garments. He took them willingly and traveled into the other room to set them down.

"I guess he's feeling better…" Inuyasha muttered.

"Perhaps."

"He still needs to take it easy though." Sakura walked in with a cup. "Here he needs to take this before you all retire for the night. It'll speed up the process. Sango nodded her head and gratefully took the cup from the young girl's hands.

"You've been a great help Sakura…thank you."

She simply smiled and began to walk out.

"Goodnight everyone." And she was gone.

Sango smiled and continued to deliver the drink to her love. Though as she was entering, she bumped right into the man causing them both to topple to the floor. Luckily for Sango she didn't drop her cup. She'd hate to bother Sakura again.

"I'm so sorry Sango are you alright?" He asked trying to stand up.

"I'm just fine. But you need to take it easy. We can't risk you hurting yourself."

He nodded and gingerly massaged his wound.

"Here…before we go to bed you should take this." She handed Miroku the cup as she was standing back up. He was a little reluctant to drink it as he smelt the rancid mixture, but still did as he was told.

"I think it's time for bed now Miroku."

The two both fell asleep in each others arm with warm thoughts clouding their minds as they dreamt wonderful dreams. Though sometime during the night, Miroku woke with a start sensing a familiar presence outside.

But decided to let it be…