"You're right. Let's go."
Miroku was startled to see how easily Sango consented to his plan. He'd expected her to argue or insist on staying at all costs, the strong taijiya he knew so well was never this passive.
"Are you sure?" Kagome asked, "If you don't want to-"
"If it'll keep my children safe, what choice do I have?" Sango cut her off, and at once Miroku recognized the expression on her face:
Defeat.
Kaida and Naoe's story and been a terrible blow to them all, but perhaps none more than Sango. She'd already endured months of torment watching her brother act as a puppet to the demon; Kohaku had barely escaped that alive and now her husband and father of her children had succumbed to the same fate.
"Ronuku and Kohana were struck by their own attack; the very same power that they used to tear a demon apart from the inside out," Naoe had said to Miroku in private, "I've no idea if they're simply under Naraku's control, or if they're even..." the samurai was unable to finish, guilt written plainly on his face, but the monk understood well enough.
Barely a mother, and Sango could very well be a widow.
Has she not suffered enough?! The monk thought angrily, surprised that he could hate Naraku even more. The demon had wreaked havoc on all of their lives for far too long, it was time for him to meet his end.
Not that Miroku needed any extra incentive to kill Naraku. He hadn't said a word to anyone, but he heard it every night as he lay down and feigned sleep: the quiet rush of a hungry and powerful wind. Each night the noise grew stronger and his right hand began to ache as though it were slowly being pulled apart. Even during the day, against the pounding rain and everyone's alarmed voices as Kaida and Naoe returned he could hear it.
His wind tunnel. The gaping hole in his palm was finally turning its hunger on him.
Miroku had a few days at best estimate, but he wasn't certain. His pulse hammered through his system, and he trembled at the thought that at any second his palm would tear and the darkness would swallow him whole. He constantly felt the urge to flee, to tear out into the forest and die alone far away from anyone else. He couldn't bear the thought of someone else being pulled into his curse with him, and yet he selfishly remained within the perimeter of the village.
He had one chance. This village was a target, that was absolutely certain, and now that Naraku had what he wanted he was surely on his way here to destroy them. On his own Miroku had no hope of winning, his best bet of even getting close was to stand and fight with the rest. The odds were against them: Naraku had the jewel, Kohana and Ronuku with their new destructive power, and no doubt countless demons at his call. The future looked bleak, but even so that small selfish hope that they might prevail and rid Miroku of his curse kept him from running…and put all of his friends in mortal danger.
Forgive me, the monk thought, trembling in guilt and fear, I would gladly give this life of mine, it if means Naraku will be consumed by this curse along with myself.
No matter how he looked at it, that seemed to be the best possible outcome. Provided he lived long enough to see the fight.
He tried not to think of the regrets in his life, he wanted to be able to face his death with a clear mind and no distractions. However, one thought kept racing through his mind, and he knew that he had one last duty to carry out before he left this world for good.
Sango's twins. This infants had barely just begun their lives, and already their future looked bleak. Naraku would not spare them, he wouldn't spare anyone connected to them, and if it meant hurting Sango he would do it in the worst way imaginable. Without ever knowing them, Ronuku's children could possibly die by his own hand.
Miroku wasn't going to let that happen.
He'd spent many years asking women to give him a child of his own, but he had only recently realized that it wasn't simply the desire to continue his lineage and produce the next generation to battle Naraku. He wanted to be a father. Being there for the birth of Sango's children, guarding them as they returned to the village, holding one of those warm tiny lives as they squirmed his arms…it had awoken a paternal desire.
Of course it was too late now. He scarcely had days to live, and with all the fear and uncertainty for his friends clouding his mind he wasn't sure he could bear to bed some strange woman and leave her with his offspring. In the past he might've, but not now.
Miroku would be the last of his line.
But that didn't mean his fatherly instincts would go to waste. He'd already been there to assist bringing the twins into this world. With no father there to protect them now, he felt that it was his duty to step in and fill the role. After listening to Naoe and Kaida, his mind began to race at once until he realized that there was a place where the twins could be safe far from Naraku's grasp. He presented the idea to Kagome who thought it over and immediately agreed to help.
The two of them had prepared arguments in order to sway Sango, but it appeared that those would be unnecessary.
"It would be best if we left now," Miroku said, "I'm afraid you won't have much time to gather your things."
"That's fine," Sango replied, her voice dead and flat. She stood, handing her daughter to the monk while adjusting her son in the furoshiki against her chest.
"I'll go get the other two, and then we can go," Kagome said before ducking out into the darkness outside of the hut. It had been agreed that Rin and Futeki, being too young to fight themselves, would be sent along as well.
As Sango adjusted her son she cast a long look at her Hiraikotsu propped up against the wall. Miroku saw her face reflect a shadow of sorrow, and he felt it too. They desperately needed her strength in the upcoming battle, slaying demons is what Sango had been born and raised to do. He remained silent however, he could only imagine the agony she felt already in deciding to leave with her children. They were too small to be without her.
The wooden flap in the doorway brushed aside, and they both turned to see Kohaku standing in the doorway with Kirara.
"Kohaku...I…," Sango's face fell, but Kohaku held up his hand to interrupt her.
"It's all right sis," the younger slayer said, "I spoke to Kagome, she told me what's happening. I think you're making the right decision."
Sango opened her mouth as if to respond, but then closed it. She simply nodded as Kirara sadly chirped at her brother's feet.
"I'll escort you out of the village," Kohaku said, peeling back the door flap and letting them exit. Kagome was waiting for them outside, Rin and Futeki standing at her feet.
"I don't want to leave, I want to be here when Lord Sesshomaru comes back!" Rin protested, as Futeki wailed at her feet. The little hanyou had been inconsolable ever since the others returned without his father.
Kagome shot Miroku a worried look, and the monk responded with silence.
Inuyasha and Kagome had returned with Naoe and Kaida hours ago, it was night now. The fact that Sesshomaru had not returned yet was a bad sign; Inuyasha was still out scouting the edge of the forest for any sign of him or Naraku. So far, there was nothing.
"Please," Rin continued to plead, "I could stay and help Shippo and Lady Kaede take care of Naoe and Lady Kaida."
"Rin," Miroku said, kneeling to the young girl's level, "I have no doubt that you'd be of great use to Lady Kaede, but perhaps Sango could use your help more? You've done a great job taking care of Futeki, she needs someone experienced with children to go with her and help take care of her babies."
As he knelt at her level, the young infant in Miroku's arms cried out and shot her tiny arms forward as though grasping for something. Rin, who kept one hand on Futeki's head as he clung to her leg, reached forward with her other and touched the infant's hand. Sango's daughter grabbed Rin's finger, and gurgled happily.
"I believe she's asking you to come along as well," Miroku chuckled softly.
"I…I guess I can help," Rin quietly conceded. She looked up at Kagome, "But I can come back once Lord Sesshomaru returns, right?" Kagome hesitated before responding.
"Once he's back and everything is safe, I promise I'll come get you," the miko said. She glanced around to everyone, "We're all ready to go now, right? I haven't asked my mom about this, but I'm sure she won't mind having five guests for a while, so don't worry about a thing, ok?"
Everyone nodded, and Miroku stood again still supporting the infant. Quietly their little group headed out into the darkened forest. The dark clouds blocked all starlight and the moon, but Kagome led them through by memory. Soon they all stood in an ancient clearing next to a tiny wooden structure.
The magic well leading to Kagome's era.
Miroku knew it would be safe on the other side; there were no demons and Naraku had no influence. Sango and the children could hide there peacefully until the danger had passed…or live there for the remainder of their days, should the worst happen.
"It's kinda scary at first, the well looks pretty deep, but once we jump we'll actually float to the other side and land softly," Kagome explained, "Are you ready to go?"
Rin nodded, taking Futeki's hand as his wailing had calmed to quiet sniffling.
"Wait," Sango said, "I…want to say goodbye." She turned and looked at Kohaku, sorrow written on her face once again. The taijiya handed her son to Kagome before stepping forward and hugging Kohaku.
"Don't worry Sis," the younger sibling said, "You'll be safe on the other side."
"It's you I'm worried about," Sango replied as she fought back tears, "Please. Please don't die. And if…if you find Ronuku…"
"…I know what it's like. To be controlled by Naraku," Kohaku responded quietly, "I'll try to save him."
"Do what you can, but don't put yourself at risk. I…I don't want to lose you again." She hugged her brother close, before taking a step back and wiping her tears. She looked down at the cat between their feet, "Kirara, please take care of him."
Kirara chirped, and brushed up against her leg in affirmation. The taijiya knelt down and patted her faithful companion on the head, before standing up and taking her daughter from Miroku. The monk tried to ignore his grief and kept his face a calm mask as he returned the warm bundle to her mother.
The ache in his palm grew, death creeping ever closer. This would be the last time he ever spoke to Sango.
"Miroku," the taijiya said, cradling her daughter, "I...wanted to thank you. For everything. You've done a lot for me and my children, more than I ever could have asked."
He wanted to kiss her. More than anything, he wanted to hold her in his arms just once and know how it felt. For her to understand just how much he truly loved her.
Instead, he smiled and waved her off.
"Think nothing of it my dear Sango," he said, "I'm but a simple monk, performing his duty to a friend in need."
No matter how much he wished it, the dying man could not allow his final desire to come true. The taijiya simply looked at him sadly and nodded.
"Please, take care of yourself Miroku." Sango said, "I don't want you do die either." He simply continued to smile, but did not answer.
Forgive me Sango, but that is a promise I cannot make.
Sango looked at him a moment more, and for an instant Miroku worried that she figured out it was already too late for him. If she did, she didn't say anything and turned around to face Kagome at the well.
"I'm ready now," Sango said, and the miko nodded.
"All right, I'll go first with your son; you, Rin, and Futeki can all jump down after me," Kagome said, looking at her small group and smiling as they nodded. The miko looked up at Kohaku and Miroku.
"I'll be right back as soon as everyone is settled, it won't be too long."
Miroku nodded, continuing to keep his sorrow at bay. Kagome hauled herself over the edge of the well, holding tight to the infant in her arms, as she prepared to drop down.
Goodbye Sango, Miroku thought, regret coursing through his veins. Kagome's form disappeared as she dropped and the monk waited expectantly for the blue light of the well to glow, the portal that would open and take them all to the other world.
They will be safe. Naraku won't reach them.
Miroku closed his eyes, convinced that he had done all he could for them. His last duty to Sango and her children.
Seconds passed.
Kagome's voice yelped, along with a thud as though she had hit the bottom of the well.
Miroku opened his eyes, surprised to see no glow.
Only darkness.
"The well!" Kagome's panicked yelled up at them from the bottom, "It isn't working!"