Not Everything Ends in Happily Ever After

By: SilverLunarStar

Part I – Kikyo's Mistake

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Disclaimer: I in no ways own Inuyasha. If I did, believe me, Kikyo would be long gone and Inuyasha would have made up his mind already.

Author's Note: For those of you who know me, I'm back! For those of you who don't, hello, nice to meet you! I feel as if I've been gone for way too long. College is an overwhelming and inescapable – for me, at least, reality. Let's see… the last time I posted a fic here was at the beginning of this year and for a totally new category, Princess Diaries! I was very happy with that fic, but also weary. It took a lot out of me to try and finish it before the series came to an official end. Sad to say, I didn't make it, but I'm proud of it nonetheless.

Now, this isn't exactly a new fic. I've been working on it for the past… oh, two to three years, maybe even longer, as the idea had been playing in my head for quite a while. I officially completed it last year, on Halloween. It took me a while to type up, not because of its length, but life barging in at every turn. And, as I've decided I will now only post fics that I've completed on paper/computer, it might be a while before anyone hears from me again after this fic. (Actually, that's not completely true, since I have three other one-shots waiting their turn.)

Also, if anyone reading this has read my Sailor Moon story "She's My WHAT?!?!?!" I AM DOING EVERYTHING IN MY POWER TO FINISH IT!!! I'm currently working on Chapter Seven, but have yet to come up with any action scenes, which I'm honestly very horrible at writing and am seriously wondering whether I have the capability to do so. I finally have Season 2 on DVD so it'll probably be my guideline in those scenes, with the necessary modifications, of course.

I'm sorry for all my blabbering.

So, without further ado, I, Eli, bring to you, my faithful and new readers, "Not Everything Ends in Happily Ever After," starring our favorite hanyo and miko, Inuyasha and Higurashi Kagome respectively.

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It took three years, but they finally did it.

She still can't believe it. It has been well over a month, yet it doesn't seem to settle completely in her mind that Naraku has been destroyed, thanks to the combined efforts of Inuyasha's unusual pack, his older half brother, Kouga's pack and allies, and most unexpectedly, by Naraku's unwilling puppet, Kagura. Together, they were able to give Inuyasha and Kagome the opening shot to defeat him.

Since then, Inuyasha, Higurashi Kagome, Shippo, Miroku, and Kirara, have been residing in Kaede's Village.

As soon as Naraku had been eliminated, Shippo collected the tainted half of the Shikon no Tama and gave it to Kagome.

She purified it, letting it fuse together with her half. The Jewel had glowed as it became one.

Everyone left as soon as they witnessed the Shikon no Tama become whole again, save for Sesshoumaru, Kagura, and Kanna.

Sango had leaned against Miroku, holding onto Kohaku's lifeless body.

Inuyasha held onto the exhausted miko, who suggested to Sango she ask Sesshoumaru if he would bring Kohaku back to life. Inuyasha had disagreed, stating they "owed the bastard enough and didn't need to add any more favors." He had looked at his older brother expectedly, nonetheless.

"This Sesshoumaru doesn't mind," he informed them, but Sango had politely declined.

The inu-youkai had then left to join Rin and Jakken back at the Western Lands since they didn't need "this Sesshoumaru" any longer.

Kagura and Kanna left soon after, the wind youkai thanking them for releasing her heart and Kanna's soul from Naraku's grasp.

Miroku inquired why Sango had refused Sesshoumaru's offer to use Tenseiga on the demon slayer's younger brother.

Sango had replied sullenly that Kohaku had been resurrected enough times in this life; it was time for him to move on and be reborn. They buried him in the Village's cemetery.

Kagome sighs as she makes her way down to the river, her memories keeping her company. She pinches herself almost every day after walking up to the feeling of the Shikon no Tama resting on her chest, used as a pendant which had, surprisingly, melded willingly with a silvery strand of Inuyasha's used to support a few protection beads and the Jewel. Kagome had thanked Inuyasha for his donation by kissing his left cheek, leaving him as red as his haori and hakama; he uttered a small "Keh," before dashing off, probably to climb up the Goshinboku.

Kagome giggles at the memory. She removes her clothes and steps into the river as another recollection comes to mind. The first time she had bathed in this river, she had caught Inuyasha spying on her on top of the small cliff. She frowns, looking up to see none other than…

"Kikyo," she gasps, staring at the undead miko, before averting her gaze to where her clothes should have been.

"Looking for these?" Kikyo said, lifting her old high school uniform, or what remained, as it is now in shreds.

Gathering what dignity she has left, which is pretty difficult, considering the fact that she is stark naked, she wrings her hair and steps out the river. "What do you want Kikyo?" she asks, looking up at the pair of cold eyes.

"I'm here to take what's rightfully been mine before you existed," she states, knocking an arrow to her bow.

The miko from the future doesn't need to ask the clay pot miko what she's talking about; it rings as clear as a bell in the silence. She wants her life, her soul, and her Inuyasha. 'Well, she isn't going to get my life, my soul, and she is most definitely not getting my Inuyasha.' Her forest aura suddenly flares around her, seeking out a familiar crimson yoki.

On the Goshinboku Inuyasha feels, rather than sees, Kagome's aura wrap around his own.

Kikyo, angered by Kagome's visible aura, let's the arrow she has on her bow soar. The eighteen year old's aura dims as she moves, but the arrow still grazes her right shoulder. If it were a regular arrow, it wouldn't have hurt much; after all, she's been injured a lot worse with all the demon fighting. However, because of the miko's rage, it taints the arrows, influencing their damage. Kagome tries to dodge a few more arrows; three out of five graze her left elbow, her left leg above her knee, and her right cheek. 'Damnit, I just had to leave my bow and arrows.' Inuyasha always scolds at her for being careless; even if Kikyo hadn't made an appearance, there are still plenty of youkai out there who want the Shikon no Tama. She winces as an arrow embeds into her left shoulder, sending a spark of angry energy throughout her body. This time she can't help but let out a scream as she painfully drops her to her right knee.

Suddenly, Kikyo is but ten feet in front of her, aiming an arrow right at her heart.

'Inuyasha.' She closes her eyes, before hearing the arrow soar through the air. A yard way from its destination, it is cut into four pieces, dead wood and a metal point land on the ground.

Her eyes snap open, hearing a loud growl. Her line of vision is clouded with silver and red.

Inuyasha had dashed over to where Kagome's aura led him, stopped when he felt a barrier and used the Red Tetsusaiga to break through it. He saw when Kikyo shot the arrow at Kagome and quickly destroyed it, before moving in front of her, ready to do what he should have done long ago.

"Inuyasha, move out of the way. Once I take back my soul, I shall become part of this world again, then you and I can be together once you wish to become human."

Inuyasha growls once again, his body trembling with rage. "How dare you? When you died fifty years ago, you were not meant to walk this earth again. I should have realized that long ago, but no, I took pity on you instead. You should have returned to the afterlife as soon as Naraku was defeated. Since part of Kagome's soul is still missing, I knew you hadn't, but I granted you more time. I can see that was a mistake, just like it was for you to come after the life of my intended mate!" he exclaims, flexing his claws as he tries to control his youkai blood. He vaguely hears Kagome gasp in surprise.

"Her? You choose her over me? As your mate? What makes you think she'll have you as such?"

Kagome has had enough. She can attack her all she wants, but she has no right to say that to Inuyasha. Flinching as she removes the embedded arrow, she slowly stands, her legs shaking. "What makes you think otherwise, Kikyo?"she retorts.

Inuyasha turns around when he smells more blood flowing from her and quickly wraps an arm around her to support her, ignoring her bare state as best he can.

"Inuyasha is more than I could dream of. Since I was a little girl, I always dreamed that I'd one day fall in love with my 'Knight in Shining Armor' and the Gods blessed me by presenting me with a better option: a ruthless hanyo whom I would do anything for as long as I live and would still watch over him even after my demise, whether he would take me as his mate or not; I'm always ready to stand by his side, no matter what he decides. If he wants to take me as his mate, then I'll be more than happy to comply, not because his is the alpha of our pack, but because he is Inuyasha: a hanyo and the love of my life." Her eyes water. "Even if he were to use the Jewel to become youkai or ningen, I wouldn't hesitate to give it to him so he can have his wish granted. Although, if he were to choose either, I must say, I would sorely miss his kawaii puppy ears." She smiles through her cascade of tears.

Inuyasha's heart soars, hearing Kagome's assertion. He had decided long ago to leave the Shikon no Tama in her hands, letting her decide what to do with it, but hearing her declaration of her accepting him as her mate no matter in what form touches him deeply. He's the one who is truly blessed.

"How pathetic," Kikyo directs to the miko from the future.

"No, you're the one who's pathetic Kikyo," Inuyasha steps in. "When I first heard of the Jewel, I thought this would be my chance to belong some place, with the other youkai. Then I met you and you convinced me to become human and be with you. At that time it felt like I was finally going to fit in somewhere. It was satisfying fighting by your side, defending the Village, but you never let me close enough to you. The day I decided to become human and be with you, I could smell your fear as I kissed you, even though you responded back. When Naraku tricked us, you went after me, unlike I, who went after the Jewel. Instead of killing me, like you could have to save your energy to live, you used what you had left to freeze me in time, unable to move on."

"It was no less than I thought you deserved. If it weren't for my reincarnation, I-"

He interrupts. "That's another thing. Everyone is quick to believe that Kagome is your reincarnation, but what I think is that, when your body was buried along with the Jewel, the Gods believed your soul had become too corrupt for you to handle the Jewel anymore, so it went from owner to owner, until, five hundred years later, they found the perfect vessel: a pure soul unlike any other; the exact opposite of what yours has become. When Urasue brought you back with Kagome's soul; it probably just fit right in because the two of you are miko. You've been trying to get your soul back, when, in reality, all you're trying to do is steal Kagome's!" He chuckles darkly, if not a bid sadly. "I left you alive because I believed you to be Kikyo, the woman I thought once loved, when I was really just fooling myself all those years ago, hoping that I had a place to belong. Now I truly know where I'm meant to be and I know what it feels like to be accepted and, believe me when I say this: it's NOTHING close to what I felt when I was with you!" He had had his head bowed the entire time, until now. He lifts his head to reveal his golden irises surrounded by molten lava. Lunging at her, he extends his claws; they lengthen before reaching the clay pot. An unearthly scream is heard throughout his forest and the Village as stolen souls are finally able to move on. Only one remains. Kagome looks at it and whimpers, feeling its corruption. 'If that part melds with me, will I become like Kikyo?'

Sensing her hesitation, Inuyasha makes his way back to her. He lifts her head to meet his eyes and nods.

Nodding back, she takes a deep breath. As the orb nears, she uses her aura to cleanse it, before letting it enter her, completing her soul, and, instead of hatred, she feels her love for Inuyasha intensify, which she didn't believe was possible, for she already thought to love him enough. 'I guess there's no limit to love,' is her last thought before fatigue overwhelms her body.

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Please take note that I have not read the last bit of the Inuyasha manga even though I'm well aware that it's ended. I have a lot of fanfics in mind that will most likely be ruined if I know the actual canonical events and my goal is to get to all of them as best as I can.

I hope everyone enjoyed the first chapter. I'm not sure if it's later confirmed that Kagome is in fact Kikyo's reincarnation (Urasue, similar features, and Jewel aside,) as Inuyasha stated, it is my firm belief that it all of the reasons to believe that she's her "copy" is coincidental. I've always wanted to write a fic where I express this belief (later, some of my other stories may have Kagome as her reincarnation,) hence why I had Inuyasha represent it.

As stated above, this story is complete, residing in my flash drive. The more reviews, the more motivation for me to update sooner. =)

Thanks for reading,

~*Eli