Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Inuyasha characters.

A/N: Sorry for the delay! I finally managed to squeeze out some time to get one chapter done. This chapter, unlike the previous two, will be done in Miroku's POV. Read, enjoy and review to keep me going!

Title: Rewind

Chapter 3: Pause and Erase

It has been a month since my life fell apart.

Funny how the pain still feels so raw. It is killing me, both inside and outside.

I don't know how long I've been sitting at the table alone, staring at the divorce papers in my hand, my vision alternating between blurry and clear with every fresh onslaught of tears.

I received them this morning, from the very same woman whom I never thought of parting with.

Yet maybe parting would do her good. I can never imagine it doing any good for me though. The mere thought of signing the papers sent an imaginary knife through my heart.

"I'm tired of all this, Miroku…I cannot go on like that anymore. I want a divorce."

Yes, it might be good and merciful for her.

I cannot forget the look in her beautiful eyes when I revealed I fathered a child with someone else. The initial look of jest and disbelief, gradually evolving into one of shock before anguish and anger took its place in those orbs.

She was so sad. No, she was devastated, I could tell.

Maybe I should do some good after all the evil sins I've committed by letting her go. Being a devout Buddhist, I know I will go straight down to the eighteenth level of hell for what I've done to my beloved Sango.

I am not afraid of that though, I deserve it. And she deserves so much more than what I had to offer.

All I want to do now is find out how I can undo some of the wrong I've done in order to make it up to her in some way.

Words are so useless. I've tried explaining, but it won't do any good.

I don't know what else to do.

I am a professional counselor, yet I have no idea how to help myself at all.

I really don't recall what happened that fateful night half a year ago. My senses were dulled by the alcohol coursing through my blood, and I was vaguely aware of what was going on around me. All I remembered was waking up in bed beside her, both of us naked and disheveled.

She was young and pretty, at 20 years of age at the most. I found her somewhat familiar, yet I couldn't recall where I've met her before, but I didn't pay heed to it. We did not do anything more, simply said bye without any further exchange of words, and I left with a monstrous headache. I didn't even look back. It was just a terrible, terrible mistake that I needed to leave behind.

I don't deny that I have the most annoying habit of groping female friends and colleagues and flirting with them, but that is all I will ever do. It's all a big joke. I know my limits, contrary to what I know others think of me. My heart belongs to Sango, every muscle and fiber of it.

To have a one night stand with some unknown girl, to the extent of fathering a child is just impossible.

Yet it happened.

I saw her at the same nightclub when I went for a drink with some buddies of mine back from college, just a month ago. It was originally supposed to be a night of fun and catching up on the old days, but it turned out to be a night that changed all my subsequent days.

I recognized her instantly, despite her looking wearier and thinner, and couldn't help but notice the obvious bulge at her abdomen.

At that moment, I became deaf to the loud music around me. It felt as if I was plunged underwater, drowning in the dark abyss.

My senses felt blocked, while my brain desperately screamed for it to be not what I think it is.

Please don't let her be…My mind begged.

"We need to talk." She paused. "I am pregnant."

I couldn't speak for a moment. It was just as if my air supply was cut off, and all I could do was stand rooted, my head feeling light and woozy.

The initial shock passed, before I shakily asked.

"For…For how long?"

"5 months." She replied.

My mind worked quickly despite the sick churning of my stomach, only to find the months and the timeframe tallying.

And with that, my nightmare began.

I couldn't possibly ask her to abort the baby; I would have to be a beast to do something like this. In a daze caused by nothing but the seriousness of the entire situation, I confided in a close friend of mine, Inuyasha, who insisted that I tell Sango everything.

"You've got to tell Sango this," He said. "You can't hide something this big from her!"

"She'll never forgive me…"

"I know you screwed up big time, but we are talking about a baby here!"

"How am I going to face my wife?"

"Try explaining to her! How'd you know unless you've tried?"

That was what I did, and now I am sitting all alone in our apartment.

The pristine white walls, the clean furniture and the wilting flowers in the vase seemed especially lonely without Sango around. Her presence brought liveliness and joy even during the darkest times, anchoring me to a life of happiness and fulfillment.

I miss her so much.

I don't even know where she is now.

My calls to her cell phone were all unanswered, and no matter how many messages I leave on the voicemail, there was simply no reply at all.

Where can she be?

Looking around the room, I saw my trusty Panasonic video camera sitting on the side table, bringing a flood of memories to my mind. How I used to tape all our happy times down, secretly filmed her when she was sleeping, recorded messages and silly declarations of love for her, before compiling it into a single video as an annual wedding anniversary gift.

But now it was all too late. The camera is still here, but the one I love is not.

If only I could rewind my life like a tape.

If only I could pause it at the parts I love and erase those I wish to forget.

If only I could wake up from this horrendous nightmare…

Ring!!! Ring!!!

Rushing to the telephone, I hurriedly picked up the receiver with fumbling hands.

"Sango?"

"Miroku, it's me, Asami."

My heart felt as though it did a downward plunge into a bottomless pit.

"…Yeah. What is it?"

"I just want to let you know…I have an appointment with the gynecologist next Friday at 3pm."

"Oh. I'll be there."

"Great! I'll feel so much better if you're with me. I can't wait to know more about our baby!"

"Yeah…okay. See you."

"Bye!"

Replacing the receiver, I could only sit on the floor with my face in my hands.

And for a long time, that was all I did.

To be continued…

A/N: That was chapter 3! Miroku is really remorseful, isn't he? Please enjoy and review!