The long and winding road -- That leads to your door -- Will never disappear – I've seen that road before -- It always leads me her -- Lead me to you door.
The wild and windy night -- That the rain washed away -- Has left a pool of tears -- Crying for the day -- Why leave me standing here -- Let me know the way.
The Beatles - The Long and Winding Road
Sango stood under the night sky, bathed in the light of the half moon and shivered slightly. Winter had come upon them and the air had turned frigid. It had been almost two moon cycles since she returned to her village. Two cycles of slowly healing and trying to bury the ghost of one hentai monk, she'd been less than successful.
He still invaded her thoughts and haunted her dreams the way he always had. She was almost resigned to the fact that he always would.
Restless, she followed her usually path and headed towards the cherry tree that loomed over the graves of her people. She had no idea why the graveyard brought her comfort; perhaps it was because as she walked by the mounds of earth she was reminded of all she'd lost…and what she'd gained.
InuYasha, Kagome, and Shippo, her friends…her family, they were the ones who'd found her decimated village and had buried the dead, while her hentai monk had blessed them. They were the ones that had stood at the gates and defended her people while she and Miroku had been locked in their own battle.
When she'd heard the details, heard what had almost been lost, what had been lost, and what had been gained, she'd cried all over again.
Gods, they'd almost lost Kagome. She didn't even want to think about it. And in the end they had lost Kaede, but with her loss they'd received not one, but two miracles. Kagome was alive and Kohaku…Kami Kohaku…was free.
Since she'd returned he hadn't had one of his rages for weeks, and with each passing day he seemed to rediscover the boy she'd known. The joy it gave her almost soothed her grieving heart.
Isamu had finally married Riko. She'd been ecstatic when she'd heard and could think of no one better for her friend. They'd had the ceremony two weeks ago. It had been outside, under this very tree, and although simple, it had been beautiful.
Kagome and InuYasha were mated… and it was about damn time. She and Kagome had spent the first few nights of her return locked away in her hut while her friend had let her cry and rage and rail against the heavens.
InuYasha…well, when he'd heard what had happened to Miroku he taken off into the forest and returned a week later. He hadn't said were he'd gone and Kagome hadn't pried. She simply kissed him hello, hugged him tight, and led him into the hut she'd been staying in when she hadn't been taking care of Sango.
Sango had watched the reunion with a detachment born of her grief and it wasn't until many weeks later that she'd finally been able to tell her best friend that she was happy for her. Kagome, in her understanding way, had rolled her eyes and pulled Sango towards the hot spring, saying that she really, really needed a bath.
She sighed and hugged herself, walking aimlessly among the graves. She was happy for her friends, truly she was, but their happiness had a way of driving home, like nothing else could, all that she'd lost.
She paused and looked down at her stomach, splaying her fingers across her abdomen. It was why she hadn't told them yet. She wanted to keep the knowledge to herself a little longer, cherish it, and relish it, and selfishly indulge in it.
Miroku, bless him and damn him, had not been content to go out in a blaze of glory, he'd had to go and leave his legacy behind. All those times throughout the years when he'd asked her to bare his children, and he wasn't even going to be around to see what his child looked like.
She smiled slightly and rubbed her hand up and down. With her luck it was going to be a boy and he'd come out a miniature charmer, as flirtatious and appealing as his hentai father. Kami help her, she was going to need one of those shotguns from Kagome's time just to keep the girls from rioting.
She rubbed her belly and willed her fingers not to tremble. She was with child and as wonderful as the thought was, it scared her a little. She'd never known her mother and didn't know the first thing about being one.
She was a taijiya, a warrior, when had she ever had a chance to learn all those womanly things that being a mother required? As scared as she was, however, the cautious joy in her heart couldn't be denied.
It may not be the same thing as having Miroku by her side, but she had his child…their child. It was going to be enough. It had to be.
Sighing again, Sango wandered over to the tree and sunk down, leaning her back against the bark. She looked up and a soft smile played at her lips. The stars were beautiful tonight. A languid feeling moved over her and she must have dozed, because she didn't hear him until he spoke.
"You looked beautiful in the moonlight taijiya, like a celestial maiden." Groggily she blinked open her eyes and focused on the figure in the shadows. Her brow furrowed.
"Do I know you?" The figure chuckled and stepped closer. Moonlight now bathed his form, Sango gasped and scrambled to her feet.
"I-It can't be. Y-You're dead," she breathed and groped behind her. The man before her smiled in that lecherous way she remembered and moved closer to her.
Kami, it wasn't possible, couldn't be true. Was he a ghost? It had to be a trick, a trap, a cruel and sadistic joke. Or maybe her crushing grief had simply allowed her mind to snap.
But he was still speaking and he didn't appear to be a ghost.
"As you can see, Sango, rumors of my demise have been exaggerated."
He took another step closer and quick as lightening her hand blurred. He froze and gulped and raised his hands, trying to look as non-threatening as possible. She was so close he could see the swirls of amber in her cinnamon eyes, eyes that now glared at him with seething anger.
"Sango, let's be reasonable yes?" She shifted the dagger she'd placed under his chin and growled.
"Who are you? Lie to me and I will cut your throat before you can draw your next breath."
Miroku felt sweat roll down his back as he gazed at the woman before him. This was not going at all the way he'd imagined, but then, he should have known that he'd have to do a little convincing.
After all, she'd seen the wind tunnel take him. The question became, how in Kami's name was he suppose to convince her it was him, before she flicked her wrist and sent him back to where he'd come from?
"Sango, you must listen to me. It's me. It's Miroku." The blade dug deeper and he winced as the tip pierced his skin. A thin trickle of blood rolled down his throat.
"You're lying. I saw Miroku die and where he went no one returns. I'll only ask you once more. Who are you?"
He felt a shiver go down his spine when she narrowed her eyes. Kami, she was serious. Thinking quickly, he did the only thing he could think to do to convince her it was him. He reached down and ran his palm over her backside and grinned lustfully.
"Run the blade true for now that I have caressed heaven I can greet Kami-sama with open arms!"
Kami t-that grin, that grope. I'd know that feeling anywhere.
Sango's eyes widened and the knife at his throat trembled before tumbling from her limp fingers. It clattered at his feet. Miroku was the only man she'd ever met that would risk death to grab her ass. His actions convinced her as nothing else could have.
"I-It can't be." She brought her hand to her lips and breathed. "M-Miroku?"
He stepped forward and his warm breath fanned her lips, while his arms snaked around her waist and pulled her against his body.
He rested his head on her forehead and closed his eyes contentedly, breathing deep.
"My Sango…how I've missed you." He opened his vibrant indigo eyes. She was still staring at him in disbelief and his lips twitched. He leaned in and captured her lips, teasing the petal soft folds open with the tip of his tongue. Her eyelids fluttered helplessly and she opened for him. He deepened the kiss, plunging his tongue into her heat and drinking deeply.
They broke off when the need to breathe overwhelmed them and he rested his forehead against hers again, bringing his left hand up to caress her cheek.
"Still irresistible I see," he muttered. Her cinnamon orbs softened and tears pricked the corners. She didn't know how, and she didn't know why, but it was him…it was Miroku. She raised her hands and ran them over his face, reveling in the feel of stubble and warm skin.
"It is you. Kami, Miroku h-how is this possible?" He kissed her again and she went willingly. Soon his kisses grew more insistent and Sango's discordant emotions bubbled to the surface. Passion and pain dueled. Kami she wanted to feel him, needed to feel him, had to prove to herself he was real. With a cry she grabbed the lapels of his robes and ripped the purple fabric away from his body.
"Kami Sango, I missed you," he breathed. She kissed him violently and shrugged out of her clothing. She pulled away and he couldn't decipher all the emotions in her cinnamon gaze. She was kissing him again, rubbing her tight nipples against his bare chest insistently, and he was swiftly losing his mind.
"Inside me, come inside me. I ache, Miroku."
Her words were hot and fervent and the animal inside him responded. He dropped his clothes and his erection bobbed free, hard and glistening. With a growl he had her back to the tree, gripped her luscious ass between his palms, prayer beads digging in and rubbing the skin, pulled her up, and slammed his cock into her glistening sex. She cried out and wrapped her powerful legs around his waist as he pounded into her over and over and over again.
There was rage in her movements and lust and heartache and pain and…love.
Sango buried her face in the crook of his neck, thrusting down to meet him. Biting her lips she felt the pressure between her thighs build and build, each delicious thrust sending her higher.
Kami it hurt and felt glorious all at once. The need to come, to fulfill the physical ache between her thighs, became unbearable, and she could tell he felt the same way because his hard thrusts grew erratic.
"Harder houshi, take me harder," she pleaded. He responded by slamming his shaft into her to the hilt until it touched her womb. This violent coupling was becoming too much, a punishment and a penance. He was murmuring incoherently now and she was gasping and pleading and begging and finally, finally she was coming.
"O-Oh Kami, I-I…O-Oh gods, o-oh g-gods!"
"Fuck Sango!" He screamed and they reached the end in a blinding flash of white light.
When it was over, he didn't move out of her, he simply collapsed and rolled them until she was resting on his chest while he ran his fingers through her sweat soaked dark hair.
She looked up and gazed at him with that same mixture of awe and disbelief she'd had since the moment she'd realized it was him. Slowly though, it started to give way and a new flood of conflicting emotions welled with-in her.
She came to herself with a start, caught the contented little smile on his face, and exploded.
"Y-You lecherous bastard!" She yelled and punched him in the gut. He made an oomph sound as the wind was knocked out of him. She let his softening member slide of her heat, pushed herself up, and angrily started gathering her discarded clothing. Miroku was too busy trying to remember how to breathe.
She had just shrugged into her juban and was wrestling with her kimono when he collected himself enough to stand. He grabbed her arm and spun her, thunder crackling beneath his indigo orbs.
"What the hell was that for Sango!" She tried to pull away from him, but when he wouldn't let her go she settled for moving in and beating her fists against his chest.
"You bastard, you fucking bastard. I thought you were dead! For two months I thought you were dead! Do you have any idea what I went through? Who gave you the right to decided that my life was more important than your own? How selfish can you be? Don't you know, don't you realize how much I love you? But no, you had to go and sacrifice yourself. I didn't ask you to do that. I didn't want that!"
Her strength lagged and she was crying freely now and he did the only thing he could think of. He caught her against his chest and held on for dear life.
"Sango," he muttered. "Shh, my love, don't cry, it's all right. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to put you through that and I promise never to do it again."
She cried even harder if it were possible and but soon her tears started to dry up. She hiccupped a couple of times and pulled away, slightly embarrassed.
He didn't let her get too far.
"Feeling better?" She flushed and nodded.
"I-I'm sorry, I've been a little…emotional lately." He rubbed her arms.
"No, I'm sorry; I should have realized how shocking this would be, but when I saw you. Well, you know the level of self control I seem to have when it pertains to you."
She grimaced and nodded, before looking away.
"So, how long are you staying?" He stilled suddenly and watched her warily.
"Why would you ask that?" She shrugged.
"The quest is over and you told me from the beginning that you would be leaving. I want to know how long we have."
Miroku blinked and much to her surprise he started laughing, he was laughing so hard she was afraid he'd crack a rib any moment. When he calmed down enough to speak again, he found her staring at him in bewilderment.
"I-I'm sorry," he chuckled. "I'd forgotten…you see I'm so use to wearing them that I didn't even think…" He trailed off and to her astonishment started to unbind his cursed hand. She leapt forward to stop him.
"Miroku no! Don't!" But she was too late. He freed the cloth, let it drop, and she could only stare. Stunned, she reached out her palm and ran it against his, feeling the warm, pink flesh he'd revealed.
"I figured since I no longer have to worry about the wind tunnel taking you I might stick around for awhile. Say…forever. That is…if you'll have me?"
Sango looked from his hand to his eyes and back again, and the realization what it all meant finally sunk in. Miroku was staying; they were going to be together. Tears stung and she launched herself into his arms. He caught her and held.
"I'd like that Miroku. I'd like it very much," she whispered fiercely. He pulled away after a moment, dropped to his knees, and grasped her hand.
"Sango my love. Will you marry me and bare my children?" Sango smirked, leaned down and brushed her lips against his.
"Yes Miroku, I'll marry you…as for baring your children." She grabbed his right hand and placed the palm against her abdomen.
"I'm already doing that."
Miroku's eyes widened. "S-Sango you're…you're…truly?" She nodded, happy tears leaking. He spread his fingers over her slightly rounded stomach.
For the first time in a long time he felt that the fates and the gods no longer despised him. Kami, she was having his child, she was going to marry him. His weary journey was over.
Home. Sweet Kami, he was finally home.
Fin
A/N: Welcome to the end of my saga, hope you all had as much fun reading as I did writing it. And to Pointy O, thanks for all your support and reviews, and yes funny, random stories. It's been a pleasure, girl.