"Silence slowly comes to me...
Embraces me so tight to keep me cold...
A thought that's drifting through my mind...
Struggles to be free and wails alone..."
A Broken Whisper (Wolfsheim)



Events

"Talking"

'Thinking'

Stressed
Kagome soared through the air until she came to a building. She landed on the roof and noticed Miroku gazing off into the city. Kagome wondered why he had summoned her and what was going on. He glanced over at her and she noticed that his violet eyes were burdened with something. Kagome approached him and laid a hand on his shoulder. He sighed and Kagome wondered what was going on. Miroku shifted and she heard the rings upon his staff jingle. She had always wondered why he carried such a staff; it was for a Buddhist monk.

"Why have you summoned me?" Kagome softly questioned.

"Naraku is planning on destroying Makai," Miroku softly answered as Kagome removed her hand.

"What does this have to do with me?" Kagome huffed. Miroku scoffed at her and glared.

"He is going to open the gates," Miroku replied.

"He can't," Kagome whispered in slight fear.

"It will be difficult, but he will," Miroku answered.

"Makai matters still don't concern us," Kagome sighed.

"Kagome, do you know why I don't partake in destruction like Inuyasha and you do?" Miroku seriously questioned.

"No, but I've always wondered," Kagome admitted.

"Do you remember when the Taijiya existed?" Miroku questioned.

"Yes, but what does this have to do with you?" Kagome questioned.

"I fell in love with a woman who reminded me of Sango," Miroku answered as Kagome's eyes widened.

"This has nothing to do with Makai," Kagome informed.

"I am trying to get you to understand what violence brings!" Miroku shouted at her.

Kagome watched as he turned away from her with an angry glare. He sighed and closed his eyes in an attempt to control his anger. She had never seen him this angry before. He sighed again and gripped the staff tighter in his hand.

"I fell in love with a human that reminded me of Sango. I went to her village with the intent to destroy it. I wanted to understand why you and Inuyasha gained such pleasure from tormenting the humans," Miroku explained.

Kagome listened as he paused again.

"I only knew of the love that I felt from 'Him' and then the love from our brethren. I arrived at her village with the intent to kill all their crops before winter. I came to their field and that's when I saw her."

Miroku paused once more as if he saw her image before him.

"I was awed by her, not by her beauty because no one compared to Sango's angelic perfection. I stood in her village and watched her constantly. It wasn't long before I took form and talked to her. I told her I was traveler. We got along perfectly. Seasons passed and soon I found out something."

Miroku closed his eyes and fought the urge to forget about the happening. It was the only memory that he had held within his being for long. It had taught him something that he would never forgot.

"She was engaged to a monk. I went into a rage and let all the feelings of hatred and betrayal fill me. Everything went black and I don't remember what happened. I awoke and found her village in flames. When I sat up, I realized that I was flesh with wings present. In my hand, I held this same staff, but the worse thing is…I never found their bodies," Miroku finished with a sigh.

Kagome was silent before she asked, "Whose staff was it?"

"It was her fiancé's staff," Miroku answered.

"Miroku," Kagome sighed since she couldn't think of anything else to say.

"Because of my petty rage I ended up killing them all and destroying everything. I lost a close friend, destroyed lives, and killed the closest thing to love I'll ever have," Miroku whispered.

"I'm sure it isn't that bad," Kagome sighed.

"I did realize one thing," Miroku whispered. "I realized that I could never kill like you and Inuyasha. I can't fathom how you don't feel guilt. That one incident is always in my mind reminding me that we are truly damned."

"You're wrong," Kagome whispered.

"About what?" Miroku questioned.

"Inuyasha feels guilt," Kagome whispered.

"What about you?" Miroku questioned.

"I regret nothing," Kagome replied.

Miroku's eyes widened at the claim as she simply watched him. Her wings drooped and he knew she was tired. They were all tired of living in the shadows. Kagome turned to Miroku and smiled.

"You are not empty," Miroku whispered.

"I am as hallow as Naraku is," Kagome claimed.

"What about that kit?" Miroku questioned.

Kagome remained silent and he knew he had her. She felt guilty for killing his parents. Miroku had watched her battle with the new Infernal and knew she cared. She was not completely damned.

"My guilt for him will pass once he dies," Kagome calmly assured.

Miroku rolled his eyes and knew that he would have to get her to see things the hard way. Before she could blink, Miroku had vanished and appeared with Kuronue. He held the bat youkai in his hand. His hand was clenched around Kuronue's throat and the youkai's face was turning blue. Kagome reacted to help him but Miroku stepped back and held him of the ledge of the roof.

"He can fly…even if you drop him," Kagome reminded with a forced chuckle.

"Not if he is unconscious," Miroku reminded.

"What are you trying to prove?" Kagome questioned with a bored sigh.

"Kagome…you do understand that I will kill him," Miroku calmly said with a smile.

"But you said you would never kill," Kagome quoted with a grin.

"In my mind I see youkai and humans differently," Miroku, reasoned as his eyes narrowed.

"You are still taking a life. No matter what he is…he is still living!" Kagome growled.

"Would you rescue him…he belongs in Makai and so does Shippo. Would you allow their home to be destroyed?" Miroku taunted.

"Of course," Kagome quickly answered.

Kuronue had stopped his struggles and passed out. Kagome noticed the lack of movement and Miroku grinned at Kagome.

"He was following you. He is here because of you," Miroku calmly explained.

"That damn youkai means nothing to me! I care for nothing because I am Fallen!" Kagome shouted at him.

"Very well," Miroku sighed as he tossed Kuronue over the edge.

Kagome froze as she watched his body fly outward away from the safety of the roof. He turned in the air and she could clearly see his face looking peaceful. His soul was unaware that he was about to plummet to his death. In an instant, he vanished below her vision and fell toward the earth.

"This building is only forty stories high," Miroku warned.

Kagome growled as she looked from Miroku and to the edge of the building. He grinned and lifted into the air. His violet eyes watched the youkai fall to the ground. Kagome closed her eyes and sighed. Kagome flew over to the edge and noticed that he was halfway down the building. Her eyes looked to Miroku and noticed that he was calmly watching her.

"Damn you," Kagome hissed as she jumped off the edge.

"I already am," Miroku whispered as he watched her.


Kagome closed her wings close to her body so she would quickly fall. She stretched out her hand as she attempted to reach for the youkai. Her fingertips brushed against his foot and she almost relaxed. Her grip on him slipped and he continued to fall. Kagome's eyes widened in fear and she desperately reached for him. The ground was quickly approaching and she struggled to grasp him. Kagome smiled in triumph as she grasped him by the foot and held onto him. He was only a breath away from the cement. Kagome relaxed and softly set him on the ground. She plopped down next to him and stared up at Miroku who was taking his time descending. He landed next to her and she glared at him.

"I thought you didn't care." Miroku simply said to her.

"I don't…he still has his uses," Kagome calmly responded.

"Is that why I sense a bond?" Miroku questioned.

"I allowed him to play my favorite game and he won a feather," Kagome responded.

"Still confiding in me?" Miroku teased.

"Shut up before I pluck your feathers!" Kagome growled.

"About the feather," Miroku interjected.

"Yes, he made a wish upon it," Kagome informed.

"This is interesting," Miroku sighed as he glanced at the passed out youkai.

"I don't know what it is, but I feel compelled to constantly stay by him," Kagome confided with a sigh.

"Are you sure you don't care?" Miroku questioned.

"Yes, but the feather did grant something because it vanished," Kagome quickly said.

"Whatever request or wish he made won't leave you alone until you fulfill his wish," Miroku stated.

"This sucks," Kagome sighed.

"Look at it this way, you get a break," Miroku happily said.

"Like I need time to waste," Kagome grumbled.

"Stay around him, you might learn something," Miroku suggested as she glowered at him.

Kagome gave him a dry look and Miroku sighed. Kagome stood up and cracked her wings as Miroku winced at the sound.

"Okay," Miroku whispered. "I have to go find Inuyasha."

"Tell him hi," Kagome said as Miroku nodded and vanished.

Kagome looked down to the unconscious youkai at her feet. She tapped him in the chest with her foot and sighed. It seemed that nothing would wake him up. Panic shot through her as she wondered if he had died. She kneeled next to him and placed her ear against his chest. A gentle heartbeat was her reassurance that he still lived. She sighed and blew a few stray bangs from her face. Tilting her head in curiosity, she leaned closer to him. His face was perfectly relaxed.

'What is so special?' Kagome wondered.

Kagome reached out, ran her fingers along his face, and traced his lips. His skin was soft and slowly becoming chilled from the temperature. She brushed some of his raven hair from his face and sighed. It annoyed her that something this primitive could capture her interest. Kagome pursed her lips in thought. The feather was what called her to him, that and whatever wish he had made. Kagome stood up and figured that it would be best to get him inside before he froze. A frozen bat youkai was all she needed. Koenma wouldn't take well to that. Of course, he hadn't taken well to when she pushed Yusuke in front of the car, put laxatives in Kuwabara's food, and almost drowned Hiei in the toilet.

Kagome snickered at the fond memories. Those were the memories she wanted to hold onto, something that would light up her darkness. He eyes widened at the thoughts and she narrowed her eyes. She searched the empty area to make sure know one had read her mind. Kagome looked back down to Kuronue and decided that she wouldn't leave him out here to freeze.


Author's Note:

I figured I should update, bring in the New Year with a chapter!

Please Review!