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Awaken
By Sunflowerobi
Prologue: The Ending of One and The Beginning of Another
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"INUYASHA!!" Kagome cried out as Naraku's tentacles reached for Inuyasha.

Inuyasha jumped, but to no avail: Naraku's faster.

Chikusho! Inuyasha cursed as Naraku's miasma filled his nostril. He was only aware of the pain that shot through his entire body as he fell, fell into the darkness below that's not to be awaken again...

"INUYASHA!!" Tear stained Kagome's face as she called out to Inuyasha, but received no reply of any kind.

N-no!! He can't be d-dead!! NO!! OF COURSE he's NOT dead!! He's only unconscious!! Yeah!! That's right...he's not dead... Even as she tried to believe the false, she can't bring herself to since her instincts called out to her, telling her not to believe the false. Al-alright-y!! I-I will a-avenge you, Inuyasha!!

Blue battle aura flamed around Kagome's body as angry tears continued to flow down her cheeks.

"THIS, Naraku, will be YOUR DEATH!!" Energy shot out from Kagome's palms racing toward Naraku.

The evil villain tried to move away from the energy ball's path, tried to run from his death, but he can't. He was locked in the place, unable to move even a limb. His eyes widened when the energy ball caught him, engulfing him. Not giving him a chance to even scream in agony, the power purified Naraku, who has now ceased to exist.

It was certainly a magnificent site. Everyone saw it agreed so.

Tear streamed down Sango's face. Kohaku...chichiue...Both of you and our village are finally avenged...

Miroku unwrapped the seal on his hand. Air Rip is finally gone!! Chichiue...Ojii-sama...rest in peace, now...

The quest is finally over!! Shippou thought happily, though no such evidence was shown on his face.

... Kagome sat on the ground, head down, staring at her palm-up hands.

The others, now finished with their 'moment of happiness', came over to Kagome, looking at her sympathetically.

"Kagome..." Shippou's voice called out uncertainly, breaking the ice.

Her shoulder started shaking as she tried to stand up to no success. Sango immediately abandoned her hiraikotsu as she stepped forward to help Kagome on her feet. When she was sure the other was alright, Sango let go of Kagome, who wobbled dangerously, almost to the point of falling. Miroku caught the semi-conscious girl before she can fall.

"Kagome-sama?!" Miroku's voice was urgent, worried, and most of all -- alarmed.

"uh..un..." Kagome's unfocused eyes were opened as her lips opened and closed to form unclear words.

Miroku leaned in to listen what Kagome had to say. "Yes?"

"...uh...don't feel well...s-so t-tired...want to rest...UH-" Kagome heaved as bright red blood started to trickle down the corner of her mouth. For a moment, no more movement was there from Kagome, but after a minute or two, her head rolled to the side.

Tears stung the eyes of Shippou and Sango; Miroku was speechless. The other two wept for the dead as Miroku silently prayed for them.

"May you both live well in your next life." Miroku concluded. Everyone stood up.

The priest look at the bodies of the dead. "Shall we?"

Sango looked around also. "I suppose so...KIRARA!"

Immediately, Kirara transformed into her huge demon form. Together, Sango, Miroku, and Shippou (not that he's of much help) hauled the corpse of Inuyasha and Kagome on to the back of Kirara.

"Well, let's head back to Kaede-sama's village, Kirara." Sango announced.

In the orange sunset, the little group set off toward their destination. A single leaf fell in the slight wind, creating a sad, lonely scene. Is this the end? Is this the end of them all?

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

In modern Japan:

Somewhere in Nerima, a stampede was on.

"Get back here and let me get a good beating out of you, pervert!" A girl with short black hair shouted, chasing after a red head pigtailed girl.

"It was an accident!! I didn't even want to look at you, un-cute tomboy!!" The one being chased shouted back, still fleeing for her life.

That did it!! The 'un-cute tomboy' thought as she threw a mallet at the other. "Catch THIS, you perverted dummy!"

Totally unaware of the mallet, the pigtailed girl stopped in her track, only to be hit on the back of her head. She dropped on the street anime-style, her fingers in the form of the famous gesture. [you know, all fingers closed except the thumb, pinkie, and index finger.] "wha ya duh tha fo...?" After that, she went into unconsciousness.

"Hmph!" The short-hair girl known as Akane pivoted on her heels and walked back to wherever she came from, which is Tendo Dojo.

By now, the sun had set, the dim street light provided the only brightness around.

Suddenly afraid of the dimmed street, Akane jogged back home quickly.

Took off her clothes the third time that day, Akane slipped into the hot water. hmm...refreshing... Immediately, her encounter with Ranma was forgotten.

"Hurry up, Akane!! You're not the only one who needs to bath!!" Nabiki yelled outside the door.

"Yeah!" Somewhere also outside the door, female-Ranma's voice echoed.

"Shut UP!!" Completely pissed off, Akane countered.

After a while, Akane decided that it wasn't so fun any more soaking in the bath, so she slipped out and dried herself with a towel. Peeking out the sliding door, she discovered that Nabiki and Ranma had left, thus she quickly got dressed. When she went out the door, Akane found everyone in the house hold except Kasumi was waiting impatiently.

"You know, you should hurry up now a days. You're such a slowpoke." Nabiki said disdainfully.

"Uh-huh." Female Ranma echoed yet again.

Why...why that little- Akane's face flushed bright red, making the others wondering if she's embarrassed or angry. Yet, she won't answer their silent question. Instead, she walked through them directly to the kitchen. Kasumi is the only sane person other than me in this house hold. Maybe I'll help her out.

"Oh, Akane-chan!! What are you doing here?" Kasumi smiled at her youngest sister as she stirred a pot of soup on the fire.

"um...Kasumi-chan? Do you mind me helping you?" Akane fidgeted around.

"Oh! Not at all, Akane-chan!! Not at all!!" Kasumi smiled again, returning to her pot of soup.

"Ano...what would you like me to do?" Akane asked again.

Kasumi-chan turned, putting her right index finger to her lips, apparently deep in thought. "Hmm...let's see... oh, I know!! I was planning to make mochi for dessert today. Would you like to make that?"

Akane smiled, happy that she's of any use. "Of course, Kasumi-chan."

***Dinner at Tendo house hold***

"Otou-san, minna-san. Akane-chan made the mochi for dessert today. All of you should try it." Kasumi smiled and announced from her seat.

Everyone blanched.

"um...very nice, Akane-chan..." Soun Tendo, the head of the Tendo house hold, complimented as he sweated rather nervously.

"Eat UP, minna-san!!" Akane happily chirped.

Uh...the terror of revenge... Ranma thought, cringing slightly. "uh...um...I just remember that U-chan invited me to dinner to night."

Soun's scary snake form appeared, battle aura emitting from him. "Sure~ly~ you WILL~ eat Akane's mochi~?"

"uh-uh-uh." Ranma scooted back as far as possible. "...i-it's just not-not ni-nice i-if you eat be-before go-going t-to s-s-s-someone's d-dinner, co-correct? ...eh-heheheheh..."

Soun reversed back to his original form. "I suppose so." He had a thoughtful expression, but it soon turned to a scary scowl. "But, you WILL eat Akane's mochi, understand?"

"Um-um-um..."

"Oh, cut it out!! I'll just eat it myself!!" Having gotten impatient, Akane took the tray that contained the mochi that she had made herself, and left the room feeling sorry for herself. Just eat it won't kill him!! That insensitive jerk!!! She thought unhappily.

"You~little~-" She heard his father threatening Ranma again.

*sigh* Something just don't change...

Having arrived in front of her bedroom door, Akane twist the handle and went inside. She turned on the light and sat on the bed. Tear threatened to spill, Akane put the tray of mochi on her nightstand. She wiped her eyes -- hard.

I will NOT cry. I refuse to cry over that insensitive jerk.

Taking off her clothes, she put on her PJ's and turned off the light. Fatigue taking over her, she slept a -- dare I say? -- wonderful night despite all the unpleasant things that day.

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END OF PROLOGUE: THE ENDING OF ONE AND THE BEGINNING OF ANOTHER