Chapter7:

Every time, Goddamn, that I look at my seed

I see something I can't be

Beautiful and care free, that's how I used to be

Now like some Goddamn fucking freak

I'm so pressured, I'm so weak

Something takes a hold of me, Something I can't believe

-Korn

Follow the Leader

Miroku knew he was death dreaming. It had happened to him more times than he would have liked. He never knew if it was a religious vision, or a delusion brought on by loss of blood. He was walking by a quiet, peaceful stream on a sunny day. The world was covered by a haze, and he couldn't hear or see much other than the stream. He felt very sleepy, and thought nothing would be better than to lie down and take a nap for a while. He fought himself, urging his body to snap awake and keep walking-

Come on, Miroku, keep with me! KEEP WALKING DAMMIT!

She screamed at him to keep going. Sango had lost the strength to carry him a block back, and now she had one of his arms over her shoulder and was trying to drag him. He seemed just conscious enough to drag his feet along with her. 'KEEP WALKING, DAMMIT!' She screamed, losing her voice.

The stream is so pretty, He said to the picture image of himself. I think I'll go for a swim… The other Miroku slapped himself across the face Wake Up, Fool! No time for swimming! You Have To Walk!

'Ya haff to wah…' Miroku murmured. Sango, still trying to drag him the last block to the row of huts where Kagome lived, shrieked at him to wake up and move or he was going to die. Then the worst thing happened. Miroku toppled over into Sango, knocking them both to the ground.

To Miroku's horror, the other self that he had split from fell headlong into the river. He tried to yell for himself, but his mouth was filled with cotton and the words came out muffled. The fog around the stream path seemed to thicken until he couldn't see his hands in front of his face. He was forced to continue on. suddenly, he could read a sign in front of him. On the sign, one word was written in bold, black letters: KAME. He screamed.

When Kagome, led by Sango, rushed to Miroku's lifeless body on the street, her first thought was for his safety and to act quickly, the second was the horrible realization that the thick, dark line leading down the path from the corner was Miroku's blood. The first action Kagome took was to pack his wound with salt to stop the bleeding. To Sango's equal happiness and sadness, Miroku came alive with an earsplitting scream.