Disclaimer: I own nothing, no one, no where, just my story.

This was posted a long time ago under a different name somewhere else; I found it again and am in the process of finishing it up/refurbishing the storyline. Hope you like.

"Inuyasha!" Kagome screamed. "Look out!"

The scene was one of massive destruction. Smoke rose from the cracked earth, the metallic smell of blood was thick in the air, and sparks whirled upward from blackened huts. Facing each other, firelight flickering off their faces, stood Naraku and Inuyasha. Inuyasha was wounded and exhausted, one ear torn almost off and his fire-rat full of rips and tears. Kagome was crouched over Sango and Miroku, who'd been knocked unconscious by Naraku's last attack. He had only a single shard left, and Inuyasha was determined to take it and finally destroy him.

They had managed, by a combination of sheer luck and ferocious teamwork, to kill the pale infant who was Naraku's heart a few weeks before. If the evil hanyou died now, Kagome knew, it would be final. She was shaking from a combination of fear, anticipation and exhaustion. Kirara nuzzled her friend anxiously. Kagome glanced anxiously at Sango, lying her down gently and scooping up her bow and arrow. "Shippou! Keep an eye on them, ok?"

Shippou was crying. "O-okay, Kagome. Be careful!"

She was already off, dashing between rocks to get closer to the duelists. The shard was glowing darkly from Naraku's hand. Kagome, crouched behind a small hillock, bit her lip in terror as Inuyasha swayed on his feet. His golden eyes narrowed as the Tetsusaiga began to pulse. Kagome set an arrow to her string, wrenched back, and let fire, feeling power thrum through her arm as the missile flew straight for Naraku. He turned, surprised, as his barrier disappeared- just in time for him to be hit by Inuyasha's Adamant Barrage. Huge diamond spikes shredded his body, and his maroon eyes turned to Inuyasha for one last, awful moment, full of shock.

Kagome stood up, one hand to her mouth. Oh my gosh! she thought. He- he- Naraku's finally gone? This is unbelievable! We did it! She waited with bated breath- Naraku had regenerated after being blown to shreds so many times before that she could barely believe the uneventful seconds ticking by. She heard a meaty thump as Inuyasha collapsed. "Inuyasha!" she shrieked and ran to him, cradling his head in her lap. He opened one eye blearily.

"Kagome? Did I get him?" She nodded mutely. He smiled. "Good." Then he pushed himself upright again, eyes focused beyond her. "Kikyo?" Kagome gave a little gasp. Oh, now she decides to come out? She turned to see the beautiful, dead priestess walking sedately towards them. Inuyasha eyed her. "Kikyo…" he said softly. She smiled at him.

"So, Inuyasha. You've finally killed your enemy, and now you have the whole jewel." Kagome winced. Ooh, yeah, I probably should have grabbed that last piece of the jewel... Kikyo tossed Kagome Naraku's shard. "What will you do now, I wonder?" Kagome looked from the priestess to the hanyou. Their eyes were locked, Inuyasha's lambent with some hidden emotion. To Kagome's surprise, Kikyo's cheeks were shiny with tears. The moment went on and on…

Then Kikyo gave a sharp cry and a jerk before crumpling to the ground. Behind her stood Kagura, her fan spread and features contorted with rage, before slowly dissolving into the wind. Her maker was dead, and now so was she. Inuyasha gave a high yelp as he scrambled over to his first love. "Kikyo! KIKYO!" Kagome stood in shock, watching a gigantic pool of blood spread around Kikyo. She felt the pieces of her soul that had been inside the undead priestess flow back into her, a comfortably warm change, and started sobbing. Kikyo's dead! It's all our fault, we were being so careless! How could this happen? Inuyasha…

She felt a gentle hand around her and a soft furry face buried in her leg, as Sango held her and Shippou sniffled. "K-Kagome, Sango's awake now, and I think Miroku's going to be okay too. But is that Kikyo? Is she- is she dead?" Kagome nodded into Sango's shoulder.

"Oh, Sango, I can't believe this! Kikyo's always been around, and Inuyasha…"

Sango looked at her friend in sorrow. "I know, Kagome."

Inuyasha was holding Kikyo's body tight, his blood mixing with hers, when she crumbled into dirt. His howl was heard for miles.

Kagome sat on the steps of the hut the group was staying in to heal- all except Inuyasha. She put her head in her hands. Where's Inuyasha? He just took off after Kikyo died, and he was hurt so bad. I know he heals, but I've never seen him so badly injured. He's been gone for almost three days now. I'm so worried about him… She played absently with Kirara's ears. Miroku was lying down inside, having suffered a severe concussion, while Sango miraculously had only a few cuts and bruises. They were all worried about Inuyasha, but Sango had advised Kagome that for once, she shouldn't try to find him. He was more full of grief and hurt than he'd ever been, and wanted to be alone for a reason. Be that as it may, I'm going to try and find him if he's not back soon, Kagome decided. She stiffened and glanced over as a twig snapped, only to see- Inuyasha! He looked awful, dirty and bloody and weak, but Kagome almost fainted from relief. She ran towards him with a glad cry, but he didn't look at her. He just twitched his good ear and limped past her into the hut without a backward glance.

Kagome stared at him for a second, her mouth open. Inuyasha just walked right by me! Is he- mad at me for something? No, he's upset about Kikyo still, duh. Poor Inuyasha- I hate it, but he did love her, and she died. How would I feel if Inuyasha died? She followed him inside. He was slumped against a wall, fiddling with the sleeve of his fire-rat while Sango started to clean his wounds.

"I don't know what we'll do about this ear, it's already starting to heal, but... I'll have to wrap it up," she was telling him. He just shrugged, and Kagome's throat tightened at the sight of the adorable ears she loved so much, drooping like bloody dishrags.

Well, he'll open up when he's ready, I guess. I know we all miss Kikyo a lot, Kagome thought sadly. I might as well make myself useful. She went outside and grabbed a few sticks of firewood, setting a pot of water to boil for some ramen. She had to look away as Sango lugged a jug of sake out of the corner- the best thing they had to clean Inuyasha's ear- and then tied it up, flushing it with some spring water. When the ramen was done, Kagome silently carried it over to Inuyasha. He took it without a word or a glance, causing Sango and Miroku to exchange a concerned look. Kagome, pained, immediately went to her sleeping bad and curled up as the light grew dimmer, drifting off at last when Shippou came to steal some warmth. Her dreams were troubled and she tossed and sweated all night.