Wow, I finished chapter 5! (Pats self on the back) I'm so amazed And I thank all my reviews for helping me to continue this!

Miroku: And I helped too!

Me: Of course you did! It wouldn't be much of a story withour you!

Miroku: I know!

Me: But don't let it get to your head...

Chapter 5: Sunrise

The sun had set about 5 hours ago and the sky was the color of the depths of an ocean, not a star in sight. The waning moon was not visible through the think clouds.

In the cave, Sango and Miroku slept. Lying up against Kirara, Miroku was turned slightly over on his side, propped up ever so slightly. Sango wasn't sure how or when, but she had ended up right next to him after dozing off. At least, that was how she woke up.

"Sango?" Miroku said softly into her ear. His voice was close and she could feel his breath against her neck when he said it. She turned her head to face him and found herself staring into deep purple eyes. Eyes filled with fear.

"You're awake?" she asked him. "It's still the middle of the night."

"I know, but I can't sleep... not now." Miroku sat up a bit more and Sango shifted her weight so he could. He rested his head on Kirara's back.

"Why not?" Sango asked him.

Miroku turned to face her and said nothing. Sango saw worry etched all over his pale complexion. Something was troubling him.

"You can tell me."

A harsh wind blew through the mouth of the cave, putting out the small embers of what was left of the fire. The cave went dark. Sango felt Miroku jump beside her.

After a while, Miroku commented "It's cold... and I don't seem to have much covering me up."

Sango was grateful for the dark as her face blushed bright red. She hoped he couldn't tell, but it felt so hot. She was sure it was pushing right through the darkness. But if it was, Miroku didn't seem to notice.

"Yeah, your robes got all wet... and I didn't want you to catch cold..."

"May I... please have them back now?" Miroku shivered and Sango rose from where she was sitting to retrieve his robes. In doing so, she stumbled upon what appeared to be a rock.

"Are you alright?" Miroku asked, putting his hand out to catch her before she hit the ground.

"What are you...?"

"You tripped over me, I'm sorry." Miroku said, releasing his grip. Again Sango was thankful for the darkness.

"Right, I'm sorry about that." she apologized.

"There's no need for you to be sorry. It was my fault."

"Whatever, here you go." she threw his robe at him, landing it on his head.

"Hey!" Miroku said, tugging it off his head. It fell to reveal Sango sitting beside him again. She smiled.

"Do you need any help?" she asked casually.

"Do you want to help me?" Miroku asked, placing the crumpled material in her hands. This time it was Miroku who was thankful for the lack of light, for he feared that if she saw the smile on his face, she would slap him.

"I see your feeling better..." she said coldly, moving her hands to untie the knot around his waist that held the rest of his robes in place.

"A little..." he commenting, frowning again.

"Is anything wrong?" she asked, finally undoing the knot. She pulled the layers over his shoulders. He shrugged and didn't answer.

"You can do the rest..." she said, having a strange feeling he was taking advantage of the situation.

"Alright... but thank you." he said, pulling his left arm through the sleeve of the first robe, then the deep blue one. Straightening it out a bit, he turned to face Sango.

"I can't move it."

"Can't move what?"

"My arm." he replied. He looked down at it.

"You just did... Oh, you mean your cursed hand?" Sango frowned.

"Miroku nodded his head. "I can't feel it..."

"Let me see..." Sango heard the rustle of fabric as Miroku moved next to her. Using his left hand, he lifted his right one and placed it in Sango's lap. Sango put her hands around it and pulled back instantly.

"It's so cold..." she told him. It felt as if it was dead, a dead body part attached to a living one that was slowly taking the rest of the body with it. A tear fell down Sango's cheek.

"Are you worried?" Miroku asked her. Sango looked at him, just barely making his figure out in the dark. Why was he asking her that? She should be asking him, not the other way around! Was he trying to cover up his own fear?

Sango didn't answer, just merely went behind him and quickly shoved his right arm through the sleeves of his garments. Her skin clammed up upon touching his arm and she preformed the task quickly.

"Thank-you..." Miroku thanked her again. But Sango didn't stop. Moving to the side again, she gently pulled the robes of Miroku's bare chest, her hand brushing it in the process. It sent a chill up her spine and Miroku smiled. Firmly closing the garments over him, she pulled away.

"Is that better?" she asked him.

"Yes, much better. Thank you." he smiled at her. Sango smiled back. "But you didn't have to do that."

"I...know that." she fumbled with her words. He was feeling better, she could tell by his actions.

Kirara, who had been sleeping until now, awoke. She transformed into her smaller form, as her warm fur was not needed at the moment, and wandered over to where the pair were sitting.

"Hello Kirara." Sango said when she jumped into her lap. Kirara mewed with affection and Sango scratched behind her ears.

"It's almost daybreak." Miroku commented, looking out the mouth of the cave. Sango looked too and saw that the surrounding area was slowly getting brighter.

"It will be nice to see again." Sango said, looking down at the monk's hands. They were motionless.

"Do you think I would take advantage of you in the dark?" Miroku asked her.

"I wouldn't put it past you..." Sango said, gazing at the sky. The few clouds that remained were glowing with light from the rising sun.

"Would you like to go?" Miroku asked suddenly. Sango was taken by surprise.

"Go where?" she asked.

"See the sunrise." Miroku finished. He was smiling. "If we hurry, we can still catch most of it."

"Alright, if you're sure you can go that far." Sango stood up, holding Kirara close.

"I'll be fine." Miroku struggled to stand up. He rested his weight on the wall of the cavern and Sango reached out to help him up. Miroku grabbed her hand thankfully.

"See, I'm fine." he said, breathing heavily again. Sango frowned, but didn't say a word.

"Let's go." she said, leading the way out of the cave. Miroku followed slowly behind.

Outside the cavern smelled of fresh rain. Sango inhaled deeply and filled her lungs with it, enjoying every moment. Kirara jumped from her arms, her fur collecting small drops of rain and dew from the grass as she ran ahead. Miroku and Sango watched her bound ahead and followed slowly behind.

"We should be able to see it from there." Miroku pointed up a small hill surrounded by young trees at the base. The top was only green grass overlooking the sky.

"Are you sure you can make it that far?" Sango asked him.

"As long as you're here, yes." Miroku smiled. Sango turned away and blushed.

They made it halfway up the hill in a short time, even with Miroku's state of health. He was out of breath most of the time and Sango could tell it hurt. But he was very persistent and never said a word about it, merely continued up behind Sango.

Sango heard him stumble, followed by a small crash and a muffled "Ow"

"Are you alright?" Sango asked, turning around to face Miroku, who was on the ground.

"Yes, I'm fine. We're almost there." he rose to his feet, using his staff for support.

"Yes, but..."

"There is not point of turning back now then." Miroku walked to her side, staff clutched tightly in his left hand, his right one hanging limply at his side.

"I know, but you-"

"Come on!" Miroku had started on without her. After watching him slowly struggle up a steep part and smiling, she followed after him and went to his side. They walked up the rest of the length together.

When they reached the top of the hill, Kirara met them there. She was curled up on a rock jutting out of the ground, twitching her ears anytime the wind blew by.

"Kirara has saved us seats." Miroku said, taking his place beside the cat demon. Sango followed suit and sat down next to him.

"We got here just in time. " she commented, looking up at the sky. The sun was shining over the horizon, almost halfway over it. The light reflected off of the clouds and trees around it, making them seem as if they were glowing.

"It's beautiful..." Miroku said, staring out into it. He blinked, shielding his eyes from the bright light temporarily.

"It is." Sango said. Kirara jumped into her lap and mewed in approval. Miroku laid his back on the ground, looking straight up. He winced when he hit the ground.

"Are you sure you're alright?" Sango asked, concerned.

"Come lay beside me." Miroku said, patting the ground beside in invitation. Sango laid her body out beside him, Kirara still laying on her stomach, rising and falling with her breathing.

"I was thinking..." Miroku started.

"About what?"

"About how much time I'll have left. Left to live, I mean." Miroku frowned.

"Don't talk like that! I'm sure you have plenty of time!" Sango assured him.

"You and I both know... I don't have as much time as I need, as I would like to have."

"Miroku..."

Miroku closed his eyes and continued talking. "Who knows, this could be the last sunrise I witness." he opened his eyes again and turned to face Sango. "I haven't even found someone to spend the remainder of my life with."

Sango sat up at hearing this and turned away. "Would you like to?" she asked him slowly.

"Yes I would..." Miroku sat up and put his hand on Sango's shoulder. "I meant what I said."

Sango's mind suddenly burst with emotions! Was he telling her he loved her, or was this just her imagination running away with her? He could very well be talking about a random girl he met in a village they visited in the past. But Sango had a strange feeling he was talking about when he told her he loved her back in the cave. Perhaps he had not really been asleep then...

"Sango?" Miroku interrupted her thoughts.

"What?" she said, not turning around to face him.

"I need to know... do you..."

"Do I what?" Sango turned around to face him once again. He was smiling. His back was to the sun, making it look like he was glowing.

"I was just wondering..." Miroku took a deep breath. How could telling the girl he loved that he loved her be so hard? He had never had a problem showing his feelings toward women before! Maybe because all those other times weren't the real thing.

"Let me answer that for you." Sango said, sure of herself this time. She leaned forward and kissed him lightly on the lips at first. Miroku closed his eyes and kissed her back, taking in her taste and smell. His tongue asked entrance to her mouth and she let it in graciously. He took in her feel, the smoothness of her skin and how her eyes closed beautifully as her eyelashes brushed his face. Sango put a hand to his cheek, deepening the kiss. Her other hand toyed with his hair in the back. Miroku leaned on her, weak, but not wanting to breathe just yet. The two of them fell to the grass, never breaking their kiss. Behind them, the sun rose high enough so you could see the whole orb, brightly lit in the sky.It was there first kiss, most definitely not their last. And Miroku felt that it would be okay to die right then and there, knowing Sango loved him as much as he loved her.

Aww, Miorku and Sango are just perfect for each other! I love them so much And don't worry, I probably will write another chapter! (Even if this did sound like an ending) Miroku is not healed yet and Inu and Co aren't back! The horror!

Miroku: I'm hurt!

Me: yes, did you forget?

Miroku: Oh yeah...

Anyway, please read and review, I'll have the next chappie posted as soon as I write it