Disclaimer: I do not own InuYasha or any of its characters. They are property or Rumiko Takahashi. However, this story and created characters are mine.

Chapter 7: Time is Up

Midori sat quietly, hugging her knees tightly, her pet lying next to her. The conversation she had with Kagome played over and over in her head. To almost a complete stranger she told her life story, her curse, her fate.

"Hey," a voice called to her, breaking her train of thought. She turned her head as Isamu turned sniffed to the air. Miroku walked slowly to her, smiling and waving. The pain of the truth grew in intensity at the sight of her brother. She could not let him know the truth. Midori's eyes shifted to the ground, deterring her gaze from her only family. Miroku frowned, watching his sister turn away from him. With little effort the monk slid next to his sister.

"How are you?"

Midori hugged her knees tighter, wanting to cry. She did not want to lie, but nor could she tell the truth.

"Fine," she answered quietly, refusing to look at him.

Miroku settled down silently next to her. He smiled sweetly as he stared at the night sky. Midori shifted her eyes, glancing at her brother. She smiled, remembering the many nights they would watch the stars. Wind swiftly brushed though, rustling the leaves of nearby trees. Midori shivered at the abrupt breeze, which caught Miroku's attention.

"Are you cold?" Miroku questioned with concerned eyes. She shook her head, unwilling to express how she felt. He frowned, he knew she was lying. He could not fathom why she would not talk with him. His dark blue eyes moved downward, landing his gaze on her bandaged arm.

"How is your arm? Kagome said it was hurt baldy."

Midori shot up from her crouching position. The pang of betrayal filled her heart once again. This time, Kagome had caused it. She turned to him, ready to defend herself from the expected harsh words from her brother.

"What did Kagome tell you?"

"She just said it was hurt badly," he claimed, holding his hands in the air in innocence, "I just wanted to see it, see if there is…"

"It's none of your business!" Miroku jumped, startled by the loudness of Midori's voice. She stood, towering over the confused and frightened monk. Miroku sat in silence, waiting for Midori to speak again. Instead, she stormed away, huffing towards the river. Miroku did not move, unable to comprehend what had happen. He just watched his little sister leave.

Midori gradually slowed her pace as her angry subsided. Tears dripped from her eyes, tears of pain and sorrow. The face of her brother flashed in her mind, his shocked appearance, making her feel horrible. Ceasing to a halt, she sighed heavily.

There has always been hard times. After their parents died, Mushin was left to care for them. The two siblings were all that they had. As the years passed, Miroku was able to bond with Mushin, while she was left alone. She would watch from the waterfall as the two would discuss exorcism techniques or drink sake. The growing loneliness escalated after he left, after he broke his promise.

Mushin searched the multiple shelves of the outdoor shed, hoping to find some sake. Usually Miroku could find it in an instant. His reward was a magazine which Mushin kept for entertainment. Without his helper, the old monk failed to surface any beverage. His concentration, however, did not waver as footsteps echoed in the shed.

Midori looked at her guardian. He reached high, standing on his toes in pursuit of his pleasure drink. His arm stretched further and further towards the back, pushing himself further off his center. She watched as he lost his balance. The next thing she knew the contents of the shelf had tumbled onto his head.

"Mushin, are you okay?" Midori said as she removed the objects hastily. The last thing she needed was Mushin to leave, even if it was not his intention. Realizing he would be fine, Midori sat next to him, hoping he would listen to her.

"Maybe I should have told him about my curse. Maybe he would have stayed."

"Your brother is on a mission," Mushin stated, brushing off Midori's suggestion along with the scattered papers, "It would not have made a difference."

"But why didn't he say goodbye?" Anger was buried into the words of the girl, upset about her brother leaving.

"It was probably easier not to say goodbye." Mushin deterred his attention to the liquor he spotted on the floor. He ignored the sound of Midori leaving the cellar; his mind engaged in reaching for his prized drink.

She walked slowly to the waterfall, where she would practice her sword skills as Miroku socialized with Mushin. Staring at the impacted ground, she began to remember the many hours of training. She recalled her promise to herself. Someday, I will defeat Naraku. The name alone generated rage within her. Her enclosed fist slammed the beaten land.

"Ahhh!" she cried aloud as a sharp pain shot up her arm, changing her rage to fear. Cradling her arms, she glanced over her right palm. The flesh, foreign to her own, began to pulse, quickening as her heart trembled.

"Stop! Stop it!" she shouted at the foreign object that laid in her hand, her heart racing. The flesh continued to pulse, as if mocking her futile attempts. Midori sobbed as thoughts of her life ending came into her mind. She would no longer be able to see her brother. She would not be able to keep her promise to herself, another person to let her down.

As the sorrow grew, the pulsing ended. Her eyes, still full of tears gazed at her palm. The flesh stopped its shaking, its deriding behavior. Her breathing was hard and rigid, her body still in shock of what happened. She gritted her teeth, knowing that Naraku was testing her, waiting for her to break.

"I shall come back to reclaim my flesh someday." Naraku's unforgettable words played in her head.

Breathing at a normal pace, Midori decided to complete her promise, her promise of defeating Naraku. She would not break her vows. Clenching her swords, she left without saying a word.

"'I shall come back to reclaim my flesh someday,'" Midori repeated the words from her memory. "Someday, I will die because Naraku wants it."

Without warning Midori straightened her back. A sad expression came across her face as she placed her left hand over her chest. She felt nothing as her eyes focused on her chest.

"My heart is no longer my own." Her realization was but a whisper in the wind. No longer did her heart beat in her chest; it had become a hollow cavity. Grasping at her chest, tears began forming behind her green eyes. She knew that now, after being reunited with her brother, they must once again part.

Midori's eyes shifted to Isamu. The cat demon, feeling her sudden anguish, nudged her leg in comfort. She smiled at him, thanking him for his kind heart. The smile faded as she heard the voices of her brother and new friends coming from the camp.

"Isamu," Midori said, trying to prevent the tears from falling, "I want you to stay with Miroku. Be with him and protect him." The cat whined at the request, but licked her face in response. She hugged him fiercely, wishing that fate was not so cruel.

Feeling satisfied about her decision, Midori stood, faced the camp once and began to walk, leaving this chapter of her life.

"I didn't think you were the type to leave without saying goodbye."

Midori stopped at the sound of the gnarly voice.

"I am going to the bathroom," She replied annoyingly without looking at him.

"Normally humans don't give meaningful hugs before they leave just to have a leak."

"What would you know about 'meaningful hugs' InuYasha?" By now, Midori was facing him. She thought he would grit his teeth and shout, just like every other time she insulted him. This time he responded differently.

"Why leave? Wouldn't you just be like Miroku, leaving without saying goodbye?" His words struck her hard. She had to get away in order to protect the others, but she could not tell them.

"What?" She asked, unprepared for such an response, especially from InuYasha.

"Aren't you being just like Miroku if you were to leave without saying goodbye."

"That was different. He broke a promise." Her rebuttal was slightly shouted at the half demon. Her eyes were mixed with emotion. She needed to leave, but neither did she want to make her only brother worry.

"Look, I don't really care what you do, but I have an obligation to Miroku. He's my friend. I won't lie to him about you leaving."

"I don't want you to," Midori said, turning away from InuYasha's hurtful stare. She needed to get away, away from her friends and family.

"Be careful, though, for Miroku's sake."

Isamu whined as he watched Midori nod and disappear into the overgrown trees.