Damn, y'all, it's time for the final installment of my first-ever song fic! Just as I said in Unholy Attraction, this story turned out so much differently than I thought it would. I intended for this to be a ONE SHOT, using ONE song. And now we have a yaoi tribute to the entire 'Fallen' album. Hot damn. I don't see myself doing any more song fics in the future, but who knows. I've already technically done eleven XD. I hope you enjoy this final chapter, and be sure to leave me lots of heart-melting reviews. The final chapter uses the song 'Whisper' by Evanescence (they have a new album coming out Oct. 3rd ).

Disclaimer: I own it not, though I will miss it as much as if I did.

…

Catch me as I fall.

Say you're here and it's all over now.

"I'm here, Miroku. I'm here for you," a melodic voice whispered softly into the darkness. Sesshoumaru reached a slender hand forward to twine fingers with Miroku's. The monk's flesh felt as stiff and cold as frozen logs. In contrast to that, his face burned with an ashy gray fever. A soft sigh escaped from between the demon's sculpted lips. It pained him to see the human in such a vulnerable position. In the short time the two had known each other—on the battlefield and from within the intimacies of lovers—Sesshoumaru had never seen the man look so utterly fragile. Even when he'd found Miroku's body in that forest lake, there had been a masculine serenity to him, a strength even in death. That strength was gone now, and Sesshoumaru's heart ached for it to return.

Speaking to the atmosphere.

Sesshoumaru lifted his delicate chin until his eyes were raised to the level of the cave ceiling. He wasn't certain who he was speaking to, but he broadcasted his thoughts with all the might and power he held within him. Please let the human survive. There is little I can do for him now, so please let him survive. I cannot use Tenseiga on him unless he is dead, and I fear the sword's magic would not work twice on the same delicate soul. Please save this human.

Sesshoumaru did not stop to question why he wanted Miroku to live so desperately. Somehow, in the mix of all the lust, separation, and yearning, his lackadaisical attitude towards the monk had developed into something infinitely more profound. He could not bring himself to put that something into words, but he knew quite well what it was. This was the feeling that drove his father mad. This was the feeling that seemed to run in his blood. His father had loved the human Izaiyoi; his brother loved the human Kagome; and now…Sesshoumaru had Miroku. If only Miroku would live, Sesshoumaru would fully understand the madness of his bloodline.

It seemed his fate was inescapable. The very thing he'd grown up loathing—the love of a human—he was destined to receive and even reciprocate. He'd claimed it was just an experiment, an attempt to understand the man he'd been raised to resemble, but now the demon knew that somewhere in his heart he'd predicted it all. From the first caress he'd understood what would come from this sordid affair. Sesshoumaru had known that he would find himself falling with no chance of ever hitting the ground. He'd feared it at first, but now he could only pray that the human would live and give him a chance to fall even further, fall until he became just that: one of the Fallen.

No one's here and I fall into myself.

…

Closed eyelids fluttered rapidly with the stirring of dreams beneath them. A faint murmur reached Sesshoumaru's sharp ears, one he recognized as his own. It seemed his exhaustion had finally caught up with him and pulled him into a deep sleep as he watched over Miroku. He was just barely awake enough to realize this but not enough for true consciousness. Images flashed behind his still-closed eyes, most of which concerned the human lying in his lap while Sesshoumaru's back rested against the cave wall. He could no longer hear the fait pitter-patter of rainfall on the ground, but the air was still dank with chill. He wondered vaguely how anyone could survive in these conditions, let alone a man that was already ill.

Another murmur reached Sesshoumaru's ears as consciousness slowly began to filter through his system. He wasn't usually this slow to wake, but his strong senses gave no indication of any nearby threats. There was no need to rush just to sit alone with the body of his lover and wait in tense anxiety. Sesshoumaru could still feel intense heat in his lap, which meant his lover was most certainly alive. Some of his tension melted immediately away at the thought. If Miroku had slipped from this world while he lay there and slept, the demon would never have been able to forgive himself.

This truth drives me into madness.

The one thing that did trouble him was when he felt a strange shifting to the heat in his lap, growing colder in some places and hotter in others. He willed his eyes to open, pondering possible causes for this peculiar activity. Perhaps his fever had gotten worse? Or maybe he'd picked up a new illness? As the Taiyoukai's golden eyes finally cracked open, he became aware of one other strange thing. The murmuring had not stopped, even though his lips were firmly closed. He furrowed his brow, utterly confused, but the moment he glanced down all became clear.

Miroku was tossing in his sleep. The sickly gray color had left his cheeks to be replaced with a soft, healthy flush. Little snippets of half-formed words escaped from between his lips, obviously part of whatever vivid dream he was having. His entire lithe body shifted this way and that with restlessness. Sesshoumaru could do nothing more than gawk at the miracle laying partially on top of him. His lover looked…well. Better than well. He looked clean and healthy and more beautiful than Sesshoumaru could ever remember seeing him.

I know I can stop the pain if I will it all away.

"How is this possible?" Sesshoumaru whispered to himself. "Miroku was on the brink of death…and now…" Words failed him as he struggled to understand. It was if his very will itself had driven away his lover's illness. Miroku was well again, no doubt about it, and would likely be waking up soon. Sesshoumaru watched the human with baited breath, waiting for the moment when those shimmering mahogany eyes would open and look upon him once again.

Don't turn away. (Don't give in to the pain.)

Don't try to hide. (Though they're screaming your name.)

Don't close your eyes. (God knows what lies behind them.)

Don't turn out the light. (Never sleep, never die.)

He didn't have long to wait, and an immeasurable wave of warmth spread through him in response to those warm eyes on him and a whispered breath saying, "…Sesshoumaru?"

The demon cupped Miroku's face. "I'm here, love. I never left your side."

The monk struggled to sit up, pressing his hands flat against Sesshoumaru's chest in order to support himself. His eyes scanned the cave, as if he couldn't remember where he was. Those same dark eyes grew troubled a moment later, and Sesshoumaru guessed the human was starting to remember. For a moment, Miroku grew still, then his brown eyes fixed on Sesshoumaru with a guarded expression. "What did you call me?"

Sesshoumaru was, to say the least, shocked that of all the questions in the world Miroku could ask at a time like this, he had chosen to ask that one. "Pardon?"

"I said…" Miroku repeated slowly, "when I first woke up…what did you call me?"

It took Sesshoumaru a moment to realize what the monk was talking about. When he finally did, he felt his chest grow tight with apprehension. "Love". Without even realizing it, he had called the monk his love. He had revealed himself with no idea if Miroku shared his feelings or was even well enough to fully understand. Sesshoumaru's face was kept calm and cool while his inner emotions raged. There was no turning back now. He would have to be upfront and hope for the best.

I'm frightened by what I see.

But somehow I know that there's much more to come.

"I called you my love, Miroku." Sesshoumaru's voice was even and steady, belying none of his inner turmoil.

Immobilized by my fear.

And soon to be blinded by tears.

The human looked taken aback by this blunt statement and quickly replied, "Why would you do something like that?"

Sesshoumaru paused for a long moment before answering, his golden eyes burning into Miroku's with unidentifiable emotion. Slowly, he reached forward and took one of the monk's smaller hands in his, folding it quietly. "Because I love you."

Miroku could not have been more shocked if Sesshoumaru had claimed he'd joined a human rights activist group. This was the last thing he'd ever expected…and the one thing he'd longed fro more than all the riches in the world. His heart fluttered madly in his chest as his gaze rose to meet those eyes still burning so intensely into him. Those beautiful eyes that were now looking at him with such profound adoration and maybe a hint of fear. The monk nearly smiled at the thought of Sesshoumaru being afraid.

I can stop the pain if I will it all away.

So this was how it would end. The circumstances behind their first few meetings had made Miroku think a day like this would never come. He'd never even dreamed that one day his feelings for the demon might be returned; Miroku had even expected to die for them. He almost had died for them. Miroku had saved him from the darkness waiting over the edge. He'd claimed the human for himself and protected him in more ways than he could name.

Don't turn away. (Don't give in to the pain.)

Don't try to hide. (Though they're screaming your name.)

Don't close your eyes. (God knows what lies behind them.)

But could it ever truly work out between them? Their differences were profound and many, in both species and character. Nevertheless, an undeniable bind had formed between the two, sparked by lost and hardened by this bizarre emotion known as "love". Neither of them had come out of this the same person as before. Who were they to guess how much they'd change upon entering into the new relationship presented before them?

Fallen angels at my feet.

Miroku gazed down at his fingers as they lay laced with Sesshoumaru's by their feet on the floor. Even their skin colors were so drastically different from each other: Miroku's tanned by the sun and vigorous while Sesshoumaru's was pale and lovely, like that of a child or spirit.

Whispered voices at my ear.

Death before my eyes.

What would Miroku do when he met his friends again? What would he do if Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru fought? To what side would be pay his allegiances? So many questions lacking answers, and so many twisting roads in need of ends. Miroku shook his head slowly, half wishing the gods from other religions would bestow upon him a glimpse of the future. The only thing he knew for sure was the love he felt for this demon was strong and thriving, and not something he could ignore without losing a vital part of himself.

She beckons me, shall I give in?

Realizing Sesshoumaru was still watching him closely for a reaction, the monk raised his dark eyes to meet those of his lover. His lips, still pale from the sickness he'd miraculously overcome, twitched up into a shadow of a smile.

"I love you, too, Sesshoumaru." This was truly the end of everything.

Upon my end shall I begin?

The demon's face broke into the first true sign of emotion Miroku could ever remember seeing: a blissful grin. Before Miroku could react, Sesshoumaru leaned quickly forward and pressed their lips together, soft and needy. The monk melted into the kiss, pulling his fingers from Sesshoumaru's to tangle them in the Taiyoukai's silky hair. Whatever future lay ahead of them would be faced together: he could taste it on his lover's lips. The place by his side would forever be filled by a tender caress and a loving murmur in his ear. If this was truly the end, then together they marched towards it, hand-in-hand, side-by-side, filled with never-ending love.

Forsaking all I've fallen for, I rise to meet the end.

The end.

There you have it folks . I hope everyone is pleased with the ending. Leave me a review if you are; lave me one if you aren't. It'll be my honor to hear from each and every one of you. Until next time, ja mata!