The Pain of Letting Go.

Chapter 1:

(I do not own Inuyasha or any of the characters mentioned, except Sashomea, she is my own little character.) ENJOY!

I ran as fast as I could without tripping. I ignored the pain I felt in my shoulder and focused on her. Her breathing was labored and her clothes were soaked a beautiful shade of red. I tried to talk to her, but she was unresponsive. This was all my fault. I thought they could live knowing that each other was still alive, but I was wrong. If I wasn't fast enough, I may lose more than Kagome. I had to reach Kiadea; she was the only one who could help her now.

X*****X

We were walking the forest. Kagome wanted to collect more herbs, I wanted to relax. We wandered further from the village than normal, but, if anything came up, Sango and Miroku could handle it. It was more than unlikely, as the demons chose to stay in the mountains rather than risk attacking human villages. News of our triumph had spread across the lands. Naraku was dead, and his many incarnations had followed him into the netherworlds. Today, years after it happened, the humans have mostly forgotten, but the demons remember, and that is the most important.

I sat on the ground; my back against the very tree Kagome released me from all those years ago. I still have dreams about it, how I was sealed to the tree by the first woman I ever loved; Kikyo. It was nobody's fault though, we were tricked, and in the end, we both died.

I pushed those thoughts out of my mind for Kagome's sake. She knows more than anyone how I still feel, how difficult it is. But she knows I love her. I watched her search the grounds for plants. I watched as she gently caressed the leaves, teasing the tiny hairs and feeling the softness between her fingertips. She was gentle; her swollen belly was barely visible through her robes, and I was never more attracted to her. I was also edgy about taking her so far from the village, as she was due any time now. Sango was equally worried, but it was Kagome. Who could stop her? Either I took her out, or she went by herself.

"Inuyasha!" Kagome was excited.

"What is it? Is something wrong?" I couldn't hide the concern in my voice.

"No, it's just that, it kicked."

I took a second to process the thought; the baby? I hopped over to her, my ears perked and listening, of course the baby! She took my hand and I helped her to her knees. She then placed my palm on her belly, and we sat there together. I have a child. I stared into the grass, becoming fully aware of the beautiful brown eyes that watched my every movement. We locked our gazes, my golden eyes staring deeply into hers.

"I hope they get your eyes. I just love the golden yellow."

"Kagome, half this child is you, so no matter how you wish upon the stars, nothing could make it any more perfect." In that statement, I realized just how much I loved her, and how she came into my world to be with me, and I to be with her.

I leaned over and kissed her lightly. I felt her teasing my hair with her fingers, slowly making her way to my ears. Before she could touch them, I reached up and took her hands in mine, releasing her lips and kissing her palms lightly.

"I love you Inuyasha, I always have, and I always will."

X*****X

I ran as fast as I could without bouncing her around too much; restraining from jumping unless necessary, though I couldn't jump high. My shoulder burned with pain, but I had to keep going. The village felt further away than normal, and I was having trouble keeping awake. I started to stumble, but I wasn't giving up. 'Hold on Kagome. Please, just hold on.' Her blood stains had spread, and I could feel the warmth seeping into my own Kimono. I looked at her, I didn't dare touch the arrow that protruded from her chest, and besides, the barrier wouldn't let me.

"Kiadea! Sango! Help her Sango!" My voice strained. I could feel my voice fading.

"Inuyasha! What happened? Is Kagome alright? Are you alright, what happened!" Sango raced from her hut, followed by three children. "No! Everyone go back! And watch your brother!"

"Just please help her." I was incapable of any further explanation, frantic in my movements. "Kagome? Kagome, please answer me Kagome. Kagome!"

"Just bring her in here and lay her down." Kiadea, an older priestess, yelled through the chaos. Her powers of healing were strong and her wisdom was endless; there is no one I would trust more with my wives life.

Rin, my older brother's former traveling companion, started working on Kagome while Kiadea took me by the arm and led me outside. "Inuyasha, I need you to tell me what happened. Do ye understand? I need you to tell me."

I couldn't respond to her question, I hardly heard what she asked me. I paced and panted, running my hands through my hair and gripping the pommel of my sword. My hand brushed my sensitive ear, and I remembered. I remembered what happened. Kagome's pain was entirely my fault.

"Kiadea, the baby's coming, and it's Kagome, I... I don't know if she's breathing."

Visions flashed through my mind, and I couldn't get them out. I had watched Kagome getting shot, over and over again. I watched her shooter grin and smile with obvious delight. The adrenaline pumping through my body has subsided, and I now feel even more pain from my shoulder and the rest of my body. I tried to relax, but I couldn't, the pain was just too much. I had never felt this way before, and I could no longer handle it. My body vibrated from the external pain, while I felt my insides breaking from the memories. I fell to the ground, struggling to sit up. I struggled to breath, but at the same time, I was oddly peaceful inside. If Kagome was going to die, I wanted to too, so I let go. I fell back and laid in a crumpled mess on the ground, slowly bleeding out. I was born half-human. My mother loved me for who I was. I was tortured for being a half-demon; everyone despised and wanted to change me, except for her. I will die a half human and demon, for Kagome loves me just the way I am. I am gruff, straight to the point and plain rude, but she still chose me for me. I will embrace what she taught me about love, friendship and life. But, I must also let it all go. The last thing I saw was Shippo standing over me, followed by Miroku, both shouting incomprehensible things at me. The last thing I heard was the cry of an infant, and Kagome's final breath.

X***X