Chapter 9 – The Taijiya's Love

Hey! Sorry for not updating – I was kind of distracted – I got my SIXTH desert tortoise over the weekend! Well, anyway, I hope to wrap up this story in two more chapters. Sorry for those of you that wanted this to be long (Sushi-chan, I still love you!) but I didn't even mean for it to get this far – but you guys reviewed so much, I kept writing! You guys rock hardcore – I love you! Anyway, here's our favorite two-timing monk's POV – maybe Sango'll forgive him…

Disclaimer: Sigh Still don't own Inuyasha. I worship Rumiko Takahashi too much to steal her story.

Later, as I look at it, it was a very good thing that Sango ran off on her own without Hiraikotsu, it was a good thing that she got attacked by the tiger youkai and we heard her scream, and it was a good thing that we went running after her, because if we hadn't, there was no way we would have seen Kirara fight the tiger youkai by herself – and win.

I'll admit to underappreciating her. We all will. Because we'd never actually seen Kirara take on a demon by herself. Again, it was a very good thing that she became a human – because otherwise, we wouldn't have seen how what a great fighter she was as a cat demon. Kagome, Shippou and I were desperately out of breath by the time we reached the clearing. Inuyasha had gone ahead, and when we caught up to him, his amber eyes were wide open and the only thing he could mutter was, "You guys gotta see this…"

My heart stopped cold when I saw the demon – I recognized him from the start. And there was Kirara, a cat demon again, almost like a little bug on his body, crawling up his stomach, and he couldn't smack her off. I had no clue what she was doing, but it sure was pissing him off. His arms were flailing around like a child's, but he couldn't reach her. I was entranced by the fight until I felt Kagome's cold hand touch my arm, and she pointed to a spot beneath a tree not too far from where Kirara and the demon were fighting.

"Miroku, look!"

From a distance it was kind of hard to tell what it was, but then I got it. Her pink yukata gave her away. It was Sango, and she was really badly injured. The pink yukata, now that I looked, was stained with scarlet blood.

No matter that she'd broken the engagement, as soon as I saw her in danger the feeling came rushing back to me – that feeling of devotion and selflessness and the need to protect. Love. It was a very good thing that Kirara became a human, because with another woman to distract me, I knew how much I loved Sango. She was the one I loved, the only one I dreamed of, and the only one I'd ever need in my life.

I saw that all when I found her in danger, and even though she might not have loved me, I still loved her.

I leaped up out of the bushes, ready to dash across the clearing and get her out of danger, but surprisingly, I felt arms holding me back. I looked behind me, and Kagome and Inuyasha were holding my arms and keeping me back.

"Miroku…" Inuyasha said, "Let Kirara do it. Sango'll be fine."

"She's hurt! And Kirara's fighting!" I protested.

"Not for long." Shippou said, pointing. In all the confusion, we had forgotten the battle. I turned and saw the demon, blood pouring from his eyes, roaring in pain and anger, and then at the last second, there was Kirara – at his neck.

"No way." Kagome whispered.

Kirara flew back, still a tiny fly, and then slammed her entire body straight into his neck. We all winced simultaneously.

"Great, two people injured." Inuyasha muttered. "Just what we need."

The demon tottered and then slowly fell to the ground. And then we saw her – Kirara was hovering in midair, her body splashed with blood – but she was fine.

"She made it!" Kagome screamed. "Yes!"

I grinned – until, of course, I saw that the demon was going to fall right on top of Sango.

This time, Kagome and Inuyasha didn't dare hold me back. I leapt straight out of the bushes and sprinted with all my might towards Sango. My robes leapt flapping around my legs and I had long ago left my staff behind. I didn't think there was a chance I would make it in time, but I wasn't going to sit by any longer and let Sango be put in danger.

Unfortunately, as I was about to prove my love to the damsel in distress – and maybe win back my engagement – Kirara beat me to it.

Baka neko. Damn cat.

I had to instead sprint backwards to avoid being crushed by the demon. Once he had fallen to the ground with a thunderous sound, I saw Kirara come closer. Sango seemed almost conscious now, with a smile on her face and her hands buried in Kirara's mane. Kirara had a beautifully proud look in her eyes – she knew what she'd done was right, and so did I. She seemed almost apprehensive of me when she touched ground and I was there waiting for her, but I only smiled.

"Kirara, that was amazing. Can I have Sango to bandage her?"

She seemed to nod and walked towards me. She seemed awkward to not be able to talk to me anymore, but I didn't mind at all. As I came closer to her to take Sango off her back, she suddenly came forward and licked my cheek.

It wasn't the lick – the kiss – of a lover. It was the lick that said, I know I made some mistakes, but it's over now. We're still friends, right?

I just kept smiling, hefted Sango off her back and held her in my arms. Even though the blood and the dirt, she was still Sango, and my heart quickened as she instinctively snuggled close to me, her weak hands clutching at my own.

"Mi…ro…ku?" She whispered.

The warm feeling receded just as quickly as it had come as I remembered she'd broken our engagement earlier that day. "I'm going to bandage you, alright?"

When we got far enough away from the demon, the whole group converged together and Kagome pulled out her magic medicines. When I made to lay Sango on the ground, she groaned, squeezed my hand and murmured, "Don't stop."

My heart started slamming and my whole body felt numb. "Sango…?"

"Miroku…I'm sorry…because…I do still love you…" She managed to say before smiling and falling unconscious again. I just sat, flabbergasted, my girl still lying in my arms, until I felt Kirara's warm snout in my neck. I turned, and there were her crimson eyes, and in a second I could swear I knew her thoughts;

Oh, Miroku, you know she's always loved you, right? This is good – now, everything is back where they belong, and I like it that way.


Oh, I love Miroku too much to put him through the pain of losing both his women – one of them has to come back. Don't worry, there will be one more chapter – it's not over yet. The ending will be much more satisfactory than this one, I'm really tired right now. Please review – Arigatou!