Brother My Brother

Miroku had built a fire before the night had settled in, and the flames
crackled in the silent air. The only sound heard for miles was the
chirp of the crickets, but these were far off as the insects preferred
to avoid any demons, even half-demons. It was late into the night and
Miroku had stayed by Sango’s side the entire time, occasionally
watching Inuyasha sitting against the tree with Kagome’s body in his
lap. It was absolutely horrifying to Miroku that the half-demon would
refuse to let him bury her yet and insisted on holding her, watching
her as if she would somehow come back to life. It pained him to see
Inuyasha like this, though it could be understood. He had already lost
one love fifty years ago, and now Kagome was gone as well. It must have
been devastating to him.

    

Sango suddenly gasped and made a pain ridden noise as she grasped
blindly for something to hold. Miroku grabbed her hand and was down on
her level in an instant.

    

“Sango, Sango, are you all right? What’s wrong?” he asked desperately.
She could not answer, as her teeth were clenched and tears ran down her
face as she struggled against the pain overtaking her body. Miroku put
a hand to her head, caressing her soft skin and whispering to her to
hang on, to fight. “Please Sango, don’t let go. Don’t give up.”

    

Kirara lifted her head and made a soft noise, watching as Miroku
desperately called to Sango, trying to help her pull through her pain.
The nekomata mewed as her good friend struggled for her life.

    

“Sango… I’m here…” Miroku whispered. He did not know what else to do.
He had to help, but he did not know how. He simply kept talking to her,
trying to reassure her that she was not alone. Minutes passed, and then
her grip on his hand lessened and her body relaxed. Miroku’s eyes
widened and he called to her, watching for her to stir, to move, but
she remained still.

    

Kirara cried softly and Miroku held Sango’s limp hand as finally he let
his withheld tears fall. It was too much for him. style="font-style: italic;">First Lady Kagome… Then young Shippo… Now
fair Sango. This cannot happen!  He put his forehead to
Sango’s hand and wept, mourning her passing. This loss was unlike
anything he had ever experienced before. It was as if his entire world
had been shattered, had been broken before his very eyes. The fair
radiance he had admired from afar was gone, never to return to him.

    

He blamed himself. He had not broken through Naraku’s barrier in time.
If he had worked harder, if he had put forth more effort, perhaps he
would have. But he had not, and now Kagome, Shippo, and Sango had paid
the price for his imperfect job. He could not forgive himself. Three
lives were lost because of him, and he deserved no forgiveness. This
was too much for him. How could he live with himself after this?

    

A soft object touched his other hand and Miroku looked down to find
Kirara nuzzling against him. He placed his hand on her back, moving his
fingers through the soft fur.

    

“I’m sorry Ka,&#a,” he said as he wept. “This is all my fault. I’m so
sorry.”

    

She mewed and nuzzled him again. He could only guess as to what she was
thinking.

    

From his seat against a far tree, Inuyasha watched the monk and
nekomata. He still held Kagome, occasionally stopping to caress her
sleeping face. But her body had gone stiff and very cold, her skin no
longer the fair cream it was before. Still, he refused to let go of
her. She was his friend after all, and friends never let go of one
another. He moved her slightly, adjusting her weight against him just
as Miroku rose to his feet with Sango in his arms.

    

“Miroku, is she dead?” he inquired. The monk turned to face him with a
strange look on his face. Inuyasha could not interpret it well. He
seemed afraid, scared, sorrowful, angry, and guilt ridden all at the
same time. Miroku said nothing in response, which annoyed the
half-demon somewhat, and instead returned to where he had buried Shippo
earlier that evening. He retrieved another tree limb and began digging
a hole next to Shippo’s grave and as Inuyasha watched, he set Sango in
this new hole and buried her there. The tree limb acted as her grave
marker and he dropped to his knees to pray for her. Inuyasha sighed. It
was not as if he did not care that Shippo and Sango had passed on, it
was just that Kagome was his first priority as of now. As long as he
held her like this, he knew she would be all right.

    

Miroku prayed for a long time. Ten minutes passed by, then fifteen,
then twenty. Inuyasha began to wonder if he was planning on staying
there all night when he finally rose to his feet and stared down at the
grave. Then he turned and faced the half-demon and Inuyasha could see
quite clearly that he had been crying. Miroku began walking over to
him, and he could smell the salt from his tears lingering in the air.

    

“Inuyasha, are you ready to lay Kagome to rest yet?” he asked softly.

    

Inuyasha pressed her closer to his body. “She’s staying with me,” he
growled. “You touch her, you’ll regret ever being born.”

    

Miroku sighed, but did not have the strength nor the patience to argue
with him. Instead, he turned and went to where Kirara lay, picked her
up gently, and sat against a tree a few feet away from where the
half-demon sat. Kirara mewed softly and adjusted herself in Miroku’s
lap, nuzzling against his torso before laying still. Miroku petted her
back, his mind blank and emotions shot. Everything had happened far too
quickly for him. He had lost the best friends he had ever had in a
matter of hours. was was life acting so cruel to him?

    

He must have dozed off because the next he knew, the sun was rising in
the horizon. Kirara was breathing evenly, and Miroku guessed that she
had also fallen asleep. Looking at Inuyasha, he found that the
half-demon was in fact awake, staring intently into Kagome’s motionless
face. This is starting to go a bit
too far. Kagome must be laid to rest as soon as possible.

    

“Inuyasha,” he said. The half-demon looked up at him. “Would it be
easier if I bury her in your absence?”

    

His golden eyes narrowed menacingly. “Shut up! I’m tired of you trying
to take her away from me!”

    

“But Inuyasha,” Miroku said. “You cannot hold on to her forever. She is
gone. There is nothing you can do for her now. Please allow me to place
her in a grave.”

    

“I told you, if you touch her, I’ll kill you!” Inuyasha snarled. “What
part of that don’t you understand?” He brushed some stray bangs from
Kagome’s forehead. “I will hold her like this and she will be fine.
You’ll see.”

    

“By the gods,” Miroku protested. “Inuyasha, this cannot go on. I know
you are devastated by this great loss. I realize how much she meant to
you, but you cannot hold on to her body in this way. You are preventing
her from finding eternal rest. Please, give her to me.”

    

Inuyasha said nothing.

    

“She is dead, Inuyasha.”

    

The half-demon looked back up at him. “Don’t say that.”

    

“I will say it because it is the truth,” Miroku replied. “There is
nothing you or I can do about it.”

    

A heavy silence settled onto the uneasy dawn atmosphere. Kirara had
lifted her head to listen and observe the heated conversation between
the two males, and she mewed softly at the half-demon. Inuyasha paid
her no heed as he continued staring down at Kagome’s face, stroking her
cheek lovingly. Finally Miroku had had enough and he stood, having
placed Kirara on the ground.

    

“I will not stand by and watch this take place,” he declared.
“Inuyasha, I will lay her to rest whether you agree to it or not.”

    

Inuyasha stood as well, still holding Kagome’s body. “Not yet,” he
stated firmly. “Not just yet.”

    

“Inuyasha…”

    

“Listen to me, Miroku. Kagome’s hurt, and we can’t do anything about
it. We don’t have the power. But I know someone who does, and I’m going
to take her to him.”

    

“Inuyasha…”

    

“I don’t know if he’ll help, but I love her enough to try.” He looked
up at Miroku. “You understand, right?”

    

“What in the hells are you talking about?” Miroku questioned. “Who has
that kind of power? Where are you taking her?”

    

“I’ll return soon,” was all the answer the half-demon gave before he
took off at full speed to the west. Miroku watched after him, not at
all sure as to whether he should follow or remain behind and wait for
him. He looked to Kirara who mewed in response and shook her head. She
wanted to stay. Miroku returned to her and sat against the tree once
again. Kirara crawled into his lap, curling her tails around to her
nose before drifting off to sleep.