Chapter Nineteen: Unexpected Reunion

Night soon fell and things were quiet, as they had seemed to be for a while now. No birds sounded their vocal music to soothe anyone who was there to listen and no animals seemed to scurry across the forest ground. Normally they would be of course, but due to the lack of forest none would be heard for a while. Luckily for the group the fire traveled in the other direction and ceased to harm them any further.

Sango peered over at her sleeping lover, as that seemed to be all he would do anymore. No need to worry right? He was just resting after all, healing and nothing more. Right? She could only sigh and pull the cool cloth once again across his tarnished face, as his fever seemed to still linger. The process of healing seemed to go on forever and it wasn't only for the monk. Inuyasha, too, was having a hard time and no one had a genuine explanation. Luckily for him though Kagome was always by his side when he needed her, just as Sango had been for Miroku.

Her thoughts seemed to entrance her in a sort of way, but were immediately brought out as she heard a pain-filled moan coming from the man next to her. It took all she had not to literally jump on him, but remembered instead what he had said once before. 'You worry too much of me my dear Sango. I was only sleeping.' That's what he always said to her. So this time she wouldn't worry. As much…

"Sango…are you here?" His eyes were still closed, but behind his soft lids she knew his deep midnight blue eyes laid in wait to see the light.

"I am." She responded so that only he could hear. He smiled and lifted his hand up for her to grasp. Instead she took it lightly and laid it to rest next to him. His smile, this time, turned to a frown and his eyes opened to see her expression.

"Sad my love?" He gazed into her eyes this time. It was his turn to reveal her thoughts. It took him a moment. "No not sad. Relieved maybe?" She nodded as tears threatened to spill.

"I'm alright. Really."

She shook her head. "No your not Miroku…Just look at yourself."

And he did. He took a moment to gaze down his chest, but realized he was covered in bandages up to just below his shoulders, and could no longer see his condition.

He could only shake his head to her. Sadly she could hold her tears no longer and left the room before he could witness anymore. He just stared for a moment before he let his head fall back to his pillow.

"What now?" He questioned himself.

"Yeah what are you going to do now?" He began to lift himself up from his mat, but got no further than a few inches before crashing back down, teeth clenched in white, hot pain.

"You shouldn't try to move or anything." He now recognized the person that approached him.

"Inuyasha…" He smiled. "Thanks for…" He was cut off.

"Don't Miroku." His frown returned. "Inuyasha, Sango left me just now. Why?"

"Well it's been a while since she's heard your voice. Or looked into your eyes."

"What do you mean? I was just asleep."

"Yeah asleep for going on a week now." Miroku's face filled with one of shock and disbelief.

"No…"

Inuyasha shook his head. "We've all been a little worried." He leaned down, hand favoring his shoulder.

"Well how are you?"

"Fine. I was only out for a few hours."

"Inuyasha can I…"

"See? Yeah…" He helped the bed ridden monk sit up to his best ability and began to unwind the bandages that bound him. As they fell to the polished ground, Miroku could only stare in disbelief.

"I don't really remember…how this happened." He sighed.

"Do you remember the fight? You were hidden in the forest."

He nodded. Then recapped for his own sake. "I was in the forest waiting for the moment when…"

Pure remembrance filled his mind.

"When I cast the spell upon the demon."

Inuyasha sat and listened to his part of the story, as he hardly knew himself.

"But…he emitted that energy at me at the same time. And there was…fire everywhere. I ran. Then I don't remember."

Inuyasha sat down to his level. And gently pressured his friend to lay back down. He gratefully accepted. They stared for a moment before a low growl of thunder was heard, breaking the silence between them. Inuyasha stood up once more and continued back outside.

"Sango will be coming back now that it's going rain. I'll send her in for you and I'll get Sakura back in here to re-bandage your wounds."

"Thanks Inuyasha…I owe you one."

"It's me who should be saying that you bouzu. Just get some rest. The fight's over."

Miroku watched the flap fall signaling the half demons exit. Now he could gaze down at his battered body. His old wound was apparent behind the burns and scratches. Truth was, he felt better than he looked. The trick was just to get everyone else to believe it.

Just as he began to close his eyes, he heard the faint murmur of someone calling his name. It was pure love and worry coming from the voice rather than anger and spite. He was thankful for this in more ways than one.

"Sango. I'm glad you came back." He smiled to her. Noticing that his bandages had been removed, she immediately fell to his side.

"Are you in pain do you need anything?"

He laughed. "Sango I'm fine I feel immensely better now that you're here." He paused for a moment. "Sango I'm sorry for leaving you all alone." He sat up, ignoring the pain, but more focused on the love he felt. Her eyes were in an endless scan of his body, as she seemed to focus on all parts. Anything she could find that she could help with.

"I was just so scared is all. We never thought you would wake up. And…"

She gazed into his sapphire eyes.

"I thought…that I lost you."

"Sango you'll never lose me."

"But you did that spell," Tears were building up. "And it just took so much out of you. And then…when I found you in the forest." He held her hand. "I only wished that when I got you from out of under that tree that you'd still have a pulse."

'Tree?'

"But I'm alright. Burn here, scratch here. Nothing but flesh wounds, nothing that won't heal with time. I just don't want your heart to be one of those things healing. Alright?"

She nodded and embraced him in a hug. Sakura was, by this time, standing at the door and could only smile at the site before her.

"It's finally nice to heal you all when there is no more threat. Now that you are all happy again."

Sango smiled at their new friend and stepped back so that she could do her job once more. Leaning onto the end of her love's futon handing the young girl such things now and then. She noticed that Miroku kept his eyes shut the entire time and instead went to grasp his hand. He smiled behind the pain and grasped her hand.

"There, all done. Everything's healing wonderfully and your fever is gone. You should be able to go home as soon as you feel able Miroku. Just don't push yourself you hear?"

He flashed a smile and pulled Sango closer. Sakura got the idea and left with her supplies and a final goodnight.

"Sango. Will you sit with me until I fall asleep?"

"Of course I will."

For only sheer minutes, it seemed, the young man rested his eyes and felt the hand of his lover gently stroking his raven locks. His breath evened out and soon he was in a deep slumber as he had been for such a long time now. Sango smiled and laid down next to him to follow along behind him.

He was always one step ahead of her it seemed. And most importantly he did it with a smile, regardless of what his curse may bring to him. Death maybe. Or maybe they would kill Naraku before that could ever happened. And that was the dream they held onto now. But what would happen when it was fulfilled?

What is a person to do without their dreams?

Of course they had more though. They always had more with each other, marriage and maybe even children. But that, too, was on hold until the demise of Naraku. No need to entrust another innocent child to hold the curse and to watch his father die a horrible death. That was the last thing Miroku wanted.

But for now they seemed to be just as happy in each other's arms. Soon they'd go home and soon they'd bring their lives back to as normal as they could possibly become.

As for this journey, that for once was free of Naraku's magic, they seemed to learn more about each other then they ever intended.

Inuyasha did after all come with a caring side that was now apparent to Kagome as their relationship escalated. Hopefully he could be just as caring to her and finally admit his love as Miroku had done for Sango not too long ago.

As for Sango, she learned that a lot more came in the package that was too soon be known as her husband. More good in his soul that she had never seen…care, love, but most of all compassion. He also seemed to do anything for her regardless of the consequences. Sometimes that hadn't always turned out for the best though.

But one thing that everyone could agree on was that throughout this whole journey, they did come upon an unexpected reunion with their innermost feelings and thoughts. Nothing that they ever thought they'd all see again from their childhood and beyond. So all of their lives could be lived a lot easier now that they truly saw what was to be expected from each and every one of them.

One thing was for sure now…

There sure as hell wasn't anything that could stop this group from achieving what they wanted.

Not even Naraku…

~~Fin…~~