Fated To Die – Part Four: United

Water cascaded down the slope, crashing to the craggy rocks below. Foam and water vapor collected near the bottom, swirling in the wind. All other sounds were drowned out by the roaring waterfall. A lone figure stood by the bank of the river. The wind pushed up against this person's back, trying to topple the figure over the edge. Sobs were coming from this person's throat, sobs of unspeakable torture and anguish. The waterfall roared on, the sobs falling upon empty air and being swallowed by the overpowering sound of the water as it spilled over the edge. The person gazed down at the rocks below, and considered jumping. There was nothing to life for and everything had stopped being important in that one fateful moment. The one thing that could've possibly make this person happy was gone forever; all that was left was a body no longer willing to go on.

There had been moments when, despite everything suffered, this lonely person had forced the body to press on. But the spirit that had given the person strength was gone, and not even the hope that once drove the person onward could be rekindled. To be separated from the one this person loved more than anyone in the world only helped to take what life the person possessed away. It was a miracle that the person had survived for so long, since no food had been consumed and hardly any time was given for rest. At last the body could no longer go on, and the spirit had long since died.

There was nothing to cling on to, nothing to go back to, no reason to go on, and only death could stop the pain and sorrow that tortured this poor soul. Only death was willing to embrace this person now....

Miroku climbed up the side of the waterfall. He had gotten rid of his only love, for good this time, and planned to throw himself off once he got to the top. He had tied a heavy rock around his neck just in case the fall didn't kill him. No more waiting around for him; no more wondering when the Wind Tunnel would at last claim his life; no more being tortured with love he couldn't have; no more crawling through his remaining days in emotional agony. He would at last be free from life and would fall into the waiting hands of death. He climbed with more energy than he had used in a long time. His body was giving one last burst of energy, knowing that soon he would not need it any longer. He could already feel a great weight being lifted off of his shoulders as he willingly drew closer to his death.

He reached the top and stopped, his breath catching in his throat. His body felt frozen in place, and only the beating of his heart reminded him he was still alive. He stood there and stared. He didn't know whether to weep for joy or sorrow; at the moment he was far too stunned to do either. His hands trembled at his side, and he blinked several times to make sure he wasn't just seeing things. At last he got control of his limbs and managed to move them closer to the lone figure standing near the water's edge. His heart melted with love and admiration for the woman he was gazing at. He watched as her long hair danced in the breeze, her clothes whipping around her body. Her weapon was resting at her side and he could see her shoulders shaking.

"You came back," he said in disbelief. He hadn't expected her to continue following, especially after the way he had treated her before. She must really love me, he realized. What am I thinking, trying to destroy her like this? I know I'm going to die, but that doesn't mean I have to wound her so deeply in the process. Besides, I love her far too much to stay away from her. Oh, dearest Sango, I hope you'll forgive this foolish monk. He drew closer still, reaching out to touch her. The pounding water was drowning out any words he could speak to her. To his horror, he saw her jump off the edge.

"Sango, no!!!!" he screamed.

She thought she heard her name being called. The next instant, her fall was interrupted. Her arm jerked painfully; she could feel two hands on her right arm, clutching it tightly. She glanced up and felt tears well up when she saw whom had saved her. He shouted something at her, but the water was too loud and she couldn't hear him. He started pulling her up, and she helped him along by swinging her legs onto the rocky edge and climbing up. She reached the top with his help and collapsed into his arms. He held her close, weeping in relief. She wept too, and for a moment they laid there holding each other.

"Let's go where we can hear each other," he suggested. She agreed and together they got up and walked away from the waterfall. They came to a valley covered in flowers, and sat down next to each other.

"Miroku, you're here," she sighed happily, crawling into his arms. He welcomed her there, smiling.

"I'm so sorry, Sango. I've been such a fool. I thought to protect you, when in the end I was only killing us both." One of his hands was on her stomach and the other was on her breasts. After all that's happened, he's still Miroku, she thought happily. He rested his chin on her shoulder. "I love you," he whispered. Those three words made her happier than anything else in the world could've.

"And I love you, Miroku," she responded. All of the grief and pain the two had gone through fell away, and only the love they held for one another remained. She turned to face him, to gaze at that handsome monk she had fallen in love with. "I'll never let you get away from me again," she said with a smile.

"Sango..." She knew that he would one day be killed by the Wind Tunnel, and yet she was willing to give all her heart to him. He never dreamt he would have someone love him so much. He stroked the dear woman's cheek, as she had done his what seemed like only a moment ago now that the nightmare was over. He pressed his lips to hers and relished in the taste of her perfect mouth. She sank into him, wrapping her arms around his neck. The two of them were sinking down into the grass, though which one of them was to blame for this was hard to say.

"Wait, Sango. I... can't do this to you," he said, pulling away. She laid in the grass and stared up at him, her eyes full of trust and love.

"Miroku, I'm going to lose you some day. I know this is true, and as hard as it is for me, I've accepted it. I want to at least have a son to remember you by." He blushed, gazing at the woman he loved in surprise. "I know you want to," she added.

"I do want to," he admitted, "but I simply cannot take advantage of you like this."

"That doesn't sound much like the perverted monk I fell in love with," she noted with a wry smile.

"Ah, so it's perversion you want, eh? Don't say I didn't warn you!" he smiled, bearing down on her with another passionate kiss.

Miroku awoke feeling more alive and fresh than he had in a long time. In his arms, still sleeping peacefully, was the dear love of his life. He lovingly planted a kiss on her forehead. She sighed in her sleep and snuggled closer to his body. Just when he thought he couldn't love her any deeper, he did.

He had abandoned and rejected her, and still she persisted on being with him. He was grateful that she had, for he wasn't complete without her. He was back to being alive again and really enjoying it. With her in his arms, not even the threat of the Wind Tunnel could dampen his spirits. It was like a shadow lurking in the distant future: he knew it was there waiting for him, but he was no longer afraid of it.

"Sango, my love? Wake up." Her eyes fluttered open and she smiled at him.

"Hello there, handsome," she greeted. "I just had a horrible nightmare that you abandoned me and made me look all over for you. In part of the dream, you pushed me and told me never to come near you again. It was horrible."

"I had the same nightmare," he told her. "But don't worry; it's over now, and we're together." He kissed her lips. "Now, there's something I've been meaning to ask you."

"I wanted to ask you something too," she said.

"Ladies first."

"I was just wondering, what was it you said to me when you saved me?"

"Oh, that! I said, 'I'm not letting you go, I swear it'." Sango blushed, smiling happily. "I meant it too, love. I'm never going to let you go again. The days I spent apart from you taught me I simply cannot live without you."

"Yes, I learned the same thing," she nodded. "Now, what was it you wanted to ask me?"

"Well, I don't wish to ruin the mood or anything like that, but... where are Inuyasha and the others?" Sango blinked; she hadn't given them a moment of thought since she began her search for Miroku. How long had they been gone? While searching it felt to Sango like an eternity, but now that she was with Miroku it all seemed like a nightmare that only lasted a moment.

"I honestly don't know," she confessed. "I was so focused on finding you that I completely forgot about them."

"I know; I too lost all sense of everything." Just from looking into her eyes Miroku could tell she was thinking the same thing he was.

"Let's go find them," they said in unison.

"Come on, Inuyasha! It's been a week now! I'm starting to get really worried about Sango!"

The half-demon growled, glaring at Kagome irritably. He and Kilala had been trying to track down Sango for a week but couldn't seem to find any trace of her.

"And who's the one that said we should leave her alone for a while?" he retorted.

"I didn't think she'd be gone for this long!" Inuyasha's ears suddenly went up. Kilala glanced up, then raced off.

"Whoa, Kilala! Slow down!" shouted Shippo, clinging onto the animal's fur.

"What is it, Inuyasha?" asked Kagome. Inuyasha sniffed the air.

"Sango and Miroku!" he gasped. "They're back!" He ran off with Kagome following. The group was so excited that their friends had returned that they almost crashed into the couple when they met.

Kilala transformed and rushed into her master's arms. Shippo was clinging onto Miroku's leg, weeping happily. Inuyasha and Kagome were too happy for words; they just smiled at their friends.

"Kilala, I missed you!" exulted Sango, rubbing her cheek on the animal's head. "I missed all of you."

"Yes, you must forgive us for leaving so suddenly," said Miroku.

"Yeah, well, what the hell were you guys doing for a whole week?" demanded Inuyasha. He looked angry, but everyone could tell he was relieved to have his friends back. Miroku and Sango exchanged smiles, and Miroku slipped his arm around Sango's waist.

"We just had to get away and... do some soul-searching," he explained. "Or should I say soul mate searching."

"You mean, you and Sango....?" gasped Kagome, grinning in delight. Miroku nodded his head. "Oh, that's so great! I knew you two would be together!" She hugged the new couple and congratulated them.

"I guess this means you can't be lecherous anymore, huh, Miroku?" teased Inuyasha.

"That is not a big loss to me," shrugged the monk.

"Well, come on! Enough standing around here! Let's celebrate in style!" insisted Kagome, pushing Miroku and Sango forward. Sango rested her head on Miroku's chest and smiled up at him. He returned it, and squeezed her closer.

Death was something that came to everyone. One day it would come to them both; it was just a matter of when. The two of them decided not to worry about that, and enjoy life while they had it.

"Oh, he's such a darling little boy!" cooed Kagome, hugging the child close to her chest. The child cooed and played with the young woman's long black hair. "And it looks like he's already getting a fondness for women, just like his father!" Sango chuckled lightly and bestowed a fond glance at her baby son.

"He looks like his father, too. And speaking of babies... when are you do?" Kagome blushed deep red.

"I think I still have a month or two to go, but I really wish I could just get these kids out right now!"

"You're sure there's more than one?" Sango cast a critical eye on her friend's swollen belly. Kagome did seem bigger than Sango had been during her pregnancy, but that might have been because Kagome was younger.

"Inuyasha checked. He says he can hear at least two heartbeats in there other than mine."

Kagome beamed happily. "I love twins! I can't wait to see what they look like!" Sango chuckled at the younger woman's enthusiasm.

"You won't be so excited when it comes time to deliver." She looked around for her lover, but couldn't find him anywhere. "Have you seen Miroku? He's been acting very peculiar lately, and I'm starting to worry about him." Kagome shrugged her shoulders.

"Sorry, haven't seen him." Sango sighed in exasperation and went out in search of the monk. She loved the man dearly, but sometimes he got on her nerves. Lately he had been going off on his own for hours at a time and never bothered telling here where he'd been or what he'd been doing. She didn't think he would be with a woman; he loved her way too much for that. Still, she couldn't help worry that there was something wrong with him.

As she walked she heard an agonizing screech well up from somewhere in the distance. She recognized the voice at once to belong to Miroku, and started to run. She didn't have her weapon with her, but if he was in danger she would do all she could to help him. She dashed into a clearing and found the man he loved. He wasn't being attacked, but she could tell right away what the cause of his screeching was. He had his left arm clutching his right, and a look of horrific pain was etched on his handsome face. For a moment she stood there staring at him in horror, then her legs remembered how to move and she rushed towards him.

"Miroku, no!" He saw her and his eyes went wide in terror.

"Get away!" he shouted. "Get away before you're pulled in!"

"You're not leaving me!" she retorted.

"I can't stop it, Sango! Please, get out of here!" The Wind Tunnel in his hand had been growing as they spoke, and it was already beginning to draw Miroku in. He let out another wail of agony. Sango shut her eyes tightly, hot tears streaming out. The man she loved was being forced to endure a painful death, and he expected her to just walk away. She snapped her eyes open; her jaw was set, a look of determination on her face.

"I won't let you leave me here like this! I'm coming with you!"

"Stop! Sango, don't!" But she paid him no attention. She ran towards him and clasped her arms around his waist tightly. She glanced up at the man she loved and saw him staring at her in admiration. In his eyes she saw he didn't want her to be doing this, but he had accepted the fact that she was going to no matter what he said. "I wish... it didn't have to be this way," he said mournfully.

"I know, but at least we'll be together."

"But what about our son?"

"Kagome and Inuyasha will take care of him." She kissed his cheek. "I don't want to live without you, Miroku. I love you with all of my heart."

"And I love you, Sango," he returned. He put his left arm around her and drew her close, kissing her lips for the last time.

~End