THE BEGINNING OF THE END

Kagome awoke lying on the cold, hard floor. While trying to come to her senses, she noticed that her eyelids were heavy and she had to force them into exposing her almond eyes. While bracing herself with her hands, she slowly pushed her body into an upright position.

"Ugh," a small grunt manages to slip from her mouth.

Kagome's chest feels like it wants to explode and it's continuously sending sharp pains through her body when she attempts to breath. Catching her breath seems rather difficult and almost impossible without intense concentration. Looking down, she notices blood soaking through her new white button down.

Great! I just bought this shirt the last time I went home and now it's permanently stained for sure! I must look like a train wreck. Not that that really matters at this point.

Nothing really matters right now.

Why didn't I just die? Why do I have to deal with the fact that Inuyasha just tried to kill me? Life sucks and then you die right!? NOT ME! I lived! What shit!

At the very thought of Inuyasha being in his full demon form and the cause of her wounds, caused Kagome's heart to throb and her eyes to sting. She couldn't decide whether to cry or vomit. After Naraku exposed Inuyasha to the tainted Shikon jewel he transformed into a full fledged demon. It was Inuyasha's eyes that bothered her the most though; the whites were replaced with pools of blood and his concern turned into hatred.

The pain from her crushed heart was worse than the bleeding gashes across her stomach and her bruised ribs combined. All she knew was that she had to get to the jewel and purify it before Naraku could do any more damage. Naraku can not be allowed to live.

"Bastard!"

Kagome whispers through cracked lips hoping that Naraku would hear her inner desires to murder him with the use of one word. And there really isn't a better word to describe Naraku.

As her eyes adjusted to her surroundings, Kagome tried to guess what part of Naraku's body she was in. Naraku had pulled her and all of her friends into his body to try and absorb them to make him stronger.

Damn! If only I had paid attention in Anatomy class. But no, I was too busy trying to save the world in the feudal era. I could be anywhere in Naraku's body at this point.

Rolling on to her knees, Kagome attempted to push herself to her feet despite the pain shooting through every muscle and nerve in her body. Her attempt ended with a loud thud right back to the ground.

Well that's just great! I'm alive and I can't walk! Of course it's me who gets the shity fairy tale.

"I was wondering if you were going to wake up Miko or just lye there and die."

Kagome was so involved with her own thoughts in that second that she didn't even notice that someone was approaching.

"Seshomaru, do you always sneak up on defenseless women?"

"You are bleeding Miko."

Seshomaru decided to ignore her question and go on with his own thoughts. It isn't that surprising really; he never seems to care about anything except what is on his mind and what he wants at that particular moment.

Kagome studied his features while he was starring at her wounds, probably deciding if he was going to help her or just leave her there. His face was expressionless as usual, showing little signs of emotion. If he didn't move around so much he could be mistaken for a statue, always wearing the exact same look that was seen the last time. Seshomaru's eyes were beautiful amber, just like Inuyasha's, only less kind and they could cut through a person like knives. It sent shivers up her spine to even imagine when he turned those eyes towards her with the intent to kill. Thank everything that is good that they are on the semi-same team. If that's what it is called. The only thing that makes him look more like an angel rather than a demon is his long beautiful hair. How a demon could even have hair that looks like that boggles her mind. It would be so nice just to run her fingers through it once before she dies, just to say she felt the prettiest hair in existence.

Glaring in his general direction and irritated that he was even near her, Kagome sat back a little on her knees to get as far away from him as her wounds would allow.

"Yes, I do believe I noticed I was bleeding! But thank you for making it known out loud Seshomaru."

It hurt when she spoke, so the attitude that she wanted to convey in that statement sounded more like a gasp for help rather than an "I seriously hate you right now," comment.

Here I am again, the classic damsel in distress and my rescuer is a stone cold demon who has tried to kill me in the past. Not to mention, he makes comments that are painfully obvious…literally.

"Get up. You will help me find the Shikon jewel so I can kill Naraku. It is time for this to finally end." Seshomaru's voice displayed cold certainty and authority only a demon lord could posses. This, to Kagome, meant that he was definitely full of himself.

"What does it look like I'm trying to do? As you so blatantly pointed out, I'm injured. I would love to kill Naraku, believe me, but Inuyasha is a full demon now, so Naraku is not our only problem."

Kagome's heart clenched as the memory of the attack came back to her mind. Her eyes began to sting again; she had almost forgotten to cry when Seshomaru interrupted her pity party. But now could not stop the tears of anger and grief from rolling down her cheeks.

Without a single word, Seshomaru carefully lifted Kagome from the ground and gently cradled her against his chest taking care not to brush against her still bleeding wounds. Kagome didn't even get a chance to protest, she would have if he didn't have the look of resolve in his eyes. Her job was to find the Shikon jewel for him, he would not take no for an answer.

"You want to save Rin, don't you?"

Kagome was answered with an expressionless stare. Naraku had taken Rin as a hostage; Seshomaru would stop at nothing to save the only human he ever had feelings for.

"Where do you sense the Shikon jewel Miko?"

Kagome pointed in the direction that she felt the slight hum of the jewel and hoped that it wasn't one of Naraku's tricks. Seshomaru's grip tightened around Kagome to hold her body in place against his chest and he bounded off into the direction she pointed without another thought.

Inuyasha's sight went from red to hazy grey. His head pounded as though it was in rhythm with his heart. He began to reach towards his temples in hopes of easing his throbbing head when the smell of blood made his nose twitch. It is not just any blood, but Kagome's blood; which was smeared across his hands and claws! Eyes opening wide, and alarm bells ringing in his head Inuyasha remembered everything that had taken place! As he was hit with waves of despair and nausea his knees buckled and he hit the ground.

What have I done!? I have killed the woman I love, and I never even had the chance to tell her! Damn it! Kagome…

Inuyasha's heart was ripping from his chest and his eyes began to sting and water.

"Déjà vu is it? Inuyasha!" Naraku hissed from the darkness.

Startled from his revere, Inuyasha had almost forgotten he was inside Naraku's body until he heard Naraku's malicious voice. There were organs and pieces of demons strewn in every direction. Naraku's face was nearly transparent as it hovered, smirking, in direct view of Inuyasha. Naraku's hair was a dull black and this illusion of him decided to let it appear quite long in length. His eyes were blacker than night, they could almost absorb the very light from the sun and leave the world in eternal darkness.

"I moved you into a part of my body where you would not be affected by the tainted jewel. Now that you have come to your senses, you appear to have realized what you have done. Ironic is it not?"

Naraku paused long enough to give Inuyasha the chance to respond. The half-demon only starred at the ground shaking with rage. His eyes were no longer orbs of red, but brilliant amber that glinted with deadly intent.

"I thought you would enjoy killing Kagome the same way you murdered Kikyo. I wanted to see your reaction because I know you love Kagome more than you do Kikyo. This was an opportunity a little too good to let slip. You did exactly what I wanted you to! Don't you agree Inuyasha?"

Naraku's smirk seemed to turn into a self-satisfied smile the instant he finished his latest jibe. He was clearly amused by the torment that Inuyasha was battling.

I will kill Naraku even if I kill myself in the process! I promised Kagome I would protect her and instead I was the object that brought her death! I will meet her in the afterlife when this is over. Kagome, damn it! Kagome.

As Naraku's comments sank into Inuyasha's heart with iron claws, his tears became more frequent and they made little wet spots down the front of his red fire rat jacket. His heart had never felt like this before, all Inuyasha wanted to do was rewind time. His heart was bleeding and he had to shake off the nausea that was trying to overwhelm his senses.

Turning away from Naraku's illusion, Inuyasha's arm tensed as he raised Tetsaiga above his head, proving that despite his hearts efforts to give up, his mind would not let him give in. With sword in hand, he ripped through organs, tissue, and anything that happened to be in his way. Inuyasha was determined to cut Naraku into pieces faster than the demon could reassemble his body parts.

I will create a barrier with Tetsaiga and find the Shikon jewel. I will create a void into the underworld and pull the jewel, Naraku, and myself into death!

Inuyasha sprinted forward with grim determination to kill Naraku, there is nothing left to live for, Kagome is dead.