Chapter8:

Show me the way to forgive you

Allow me to let it go

Allow me to be forgiving and

Show me the way to let go

-A Perfect Circle

Mer de Noms

A blue fire erupted from the clearing at the end of the path. It struck him in the shoulder, paralyzing him. To Miroku's amazement, he saw himself swimming down the river towards the blue fire. The fire consumed him in the river, and then began to consume him lying here on the (street) path here by the river of souls (Kagome's house) trying to steal his heart and soul. He reached out for help, for anything, and his hand grasped something-

Sango gripped Miroku's hand, telling him that she was so sorry, sobbing and crying that she would forgive him if he would come back, she was so-

Sorry I didn't do this sooner, Miroku told his beautiful bride, clasping her hands in his. Cherry blossoms rained upon them in the bright summer afternoon. The flowers fell into her hair, somehow making her look even more beautiful in her white ceremonial kimono. I love you more than the moon and the stars. (The moon and the stars) I can see your (surrounding) beautiful face (lovely eyes) before me (above me). I love you more than words can say, Sango, My Blushing Bride. Don't ever let me go-

'Don't let me go' Miroku whispered almost inaudibly looking up at Sango, but she heard him. Kagome was doing her best to heal him, but her powers were nothing close to what they used to be. She was happily married to Inuyasha, and wasn't exactly qualified to be a miko anymore.

'I won't! I love you, Miroku! More than the Moon and the Stars!'

The Moon and the Stars…

Miroku smiled to Sango and knew no more.

His eyes opened to warm, hazy sunlight, and suddenly he was terrified that it was over. After all he'd survived; demons, terrible wounds, curses, marriage, he was killed by his best friend and lover over a misunderstanding.

Then he saw her beautiful face. She had a black eye, but otherwise he was terribly happy to see that he hadn't hurt Sango as much as she had hurt him. She was slumped in a chair next to his bed, asleep. He was relieved to find that he wasn't in the clearing at the end of the path, but here with his soul mate. He stirred in the bed, checking his injuries. the bruise in his right side was large, purple, and still sore, telling him he hadn't been out for more than 36 hours. His left shoulder was heavily bandaged. She had sliced him right where he had taken the wind blades more than two years ago. Just moving in bed made him suddenly very tired. His stirrings had awakened Sango. She walked to the bed with some effort.

'Sango,' he said, trying to apologize, but she laid a finger on his lips, silencing him.

'Shh,' she said quietly, 'you lost a lot of blood. Don't move, don't even speak. I know you're sorry. Apology accepted, okay?' a tear slipped from her black eye. 'For now I'm just glad you're okay. Rest now, my houshi-sama. I'm the one who should be sorry.' she kissed his lips, bursting into tears. 'I'm really sorry, my star, my moon, please forgive me!' she squeezed him in an embrace that hurt them both. Miroku's shoulder had been shorn to the bone, and Sango had two broken ribs.

'I don't forgive you,' he whispered. 'I love you.'

She kissed him again.

'I was foolish to kiss Tashiko,' he said, his voice growing faint.

'Miroku, please don't-'

'I kissed her because I wanted to feel better.' His eyes welled up with tears, but he wouldn't cry in front of her. 'I didn't feel any better, it felt worse. I'm guilty…Sango…I love….' He passed out before he could complete the sentence.

'I know, my houshi-sama. My moon. My star. Rest easy.'

(fb) 'Miroku!' Sango screamed as he fell. Kagura escaped on her feather, laughing. Inuyasha pursued her. Sango held Miroku's bloody body in her arms, crying for him. She knew she would never be able to tell him how she really felt about him. Sango wished she could replace every slap she'd dealt him with a kiss. Her tears ran through his blood that stained her cheeks. She kissed him there, as he lay lifeless in her arms. Her first and last kiss. To her happy horror, he kissed her back, complete with tongue. He whispered to her: 'What took you so long…I've been waiting for one of those for a while…'

For the rest of Sango's life, she would say with a smile on her face that she regretted that kiss with her heart, soul, and body.

And all that you touch, and all that you see

And all that you taste, all that you feel

And all that you love, and all that you hate

And all you distrust, all you save

And all that you give, and all that you deal

And all that you buy, beg, borrow or steal

And all you create, and all you destroy

And all that you do, and all you say

And all that you eat, and everyone you meet

And all that you slight, and everyone you fight

And all that is now, and all that is gone, and all that's to come

And everything under the sun is in tune

But the sun is eclipsed by the Moon.

-Pink Floyd

Dark Side of the Moon