A/N: I have several chapters written up, but won't post them until I get at least 5 reviews. Tell me what you guys think and if you want more -

"Come home safely Kagome-chan!" With a smile and a nod Kagome sprinted to the well house, pausing to wave to her mother for what could have been the last time upon reaching the steps.

The well house was dark, the early morning sun only managing to shed a small path of light on the stairs. Checking her supplies for what must have been the twentieth time in the last hour she smiled in satisfaction. Today would be the day. Today they would finally defeat Naraku and her friends would be free. They could put the jewel together at long last and everything would be alright again. Inuyasha could even make his wish. The thoughts of what would happen once that he did were pushed to the back of her mind. Now was not the time to think about herself. There were too many other things at stake.

Placing the strap of the medical pouch across her chest Kagome stepped onto the lip of the well. She hoped the battle hadn't started just yet. Her mother had kept her home for a day longer than she'd planned. Naraku's final threat and declaration of war had been issued nearly five days ago. Inuyasha had been just a little too eager to send her home. It had been bothering her the entire time she'd been home. Taking one final, deep breath she launched herself into the well. Brilliant lights erupted around her and she could feel the familiar prickling of her skin as the time loop pulled her in. Vaguely she wondered just how many more times she'd be able to make the trip through the well before it closed for good.

Climbing out on the other side she relished the fresh, crisp air. The Sengoku-jidai was purer than anything her imagination could have ever conjured. She loved it. But something was wrong. Picking up her large, yellow bag she took a cautious look around. The sky was dark, too dark for this time of morning. And it was quiet. Way too quiet. Not even the wind dared to rustle the leaves of the trees. Setting off towards Kaede's village she kept her pace brisk. As the fear began to seep into her soul she broke into a sprint, tearing through the underbrush. Questions raced through her mind at an alarming rate as she cleared the line of trees, crossing the field to the road which led to the village. Her biggest concern was Inuyasha. Why hadn't he been waiting for her? He'd promised.

"Lady Kagome!" She was in the village now, but she didn't recognize the owner of the voice which had called to her in surprise. People were slowly stepping forward from the cottages and gathering on the sides of the road. There was sadness about them that couldn't quite be placed. Something was dreadfully, horribly wrong. Kaede's small hut came in to view, no longer at the edge of the village since it had grown.

"Kaede!" She wasn't even to the fence surrounding the property before she began to scream, dropping her bag along the way. "Sango-chan! Houshi-sama!" The bamboo flap flew open to reveal both of her friends, wide-eyed with surprise. Jumping up the steps Kagome went to enter the hut. She was shocked to find Miroku's hands upon her arms, holding her back.

"Kagome-chan, you don't want to go in there." Her mind was racing with the possibilities. Miroku wasn't wearing his prayer beads.

"Let me go!" Wrenching herself from his grasp she entered the hut only to stop short. A long piece of white linen was in Kaede's hands, slowly being laid over a lifeless body. Inuyasha's lifeless body.

No.

Dropping to her knees beside his still form she frantically began to sift through the medical pouch still around her torso. He was bleeding. There was a hole in his chest, several deep lacerations scattered across the rest of his torso. She could fix this. She hadn't spent two years studying medicine for nothing. With fumbling fingers she went to remove the bandages from his wounds. A pair of hands reached to halt her actions and she pulled away, unaware of the tears flowing down her cheeks and blinding her.

"I can help him!" The bandage roll fell from her fingers as she finally took a moment to take in Inuyasha's broken form. He looked so peaceful and content, as if he were merely asleep.

"Come on Inu-chan. Open your eyes for me. Wake up and stop playing around." She bit her lower lip to hold back the tears. "I can wake you up by force if I have to Inu no baka." That was the moment her denial was broken. Her eyes flitted to the neatly folded haori beside his head, the rosary beads placed upon it like some ghastly beacon of hopelessness. A sob tore from her throat as she flung herself atop his lifeless form.

"Kagome?" A set of hands moved to pull her away, different from the first pair.

"No! Stop it! Leave me alone!" Stroking his already chilled skin she bit back another cry, allowing her fingertips to rest gently upon his lips. "You promised you'd wait for me. You said it would all be okay." Placing her head on his chest she shut her eyes, tears leaking out from under her eyelids.

Breathing deeply she attempted to withhold a sob only to fail miserably. In that breath she had smelled him. He smelled like sweat, dirt, trees and the wind. How many times had she taken him for granted? A soft hand fell upon her back, rubbing it softly. Gently it helped her to sit up, pulling back her mussed hair. Turning, Kagome flung herself into Sango's arms, sobbing for all she was worth. How could this have happened?

The final battle wasn't supposed to have taken place yet. But it had.

She was supposed to have returned just in time. But she hadn't.

She and Inuyasha were to defeat Naraku, to save their friends and finally put the jewel together. But they didn't.

What was to become of the jewel now?

She could feel Miroku lifting her to her feet, his touch somehow different now that the kazaana was gone. Placing an arm around her waist he steered her outside. Out the corner of her eye she could see Kaede placing the linen over Inuyasha. A sob escaped her throat. After everything they'd gone through, all the near death experiences they'd shared, he had gone and died on her.

Inuyasha was dead.