In the End...

They had Naraku surrounded. It was now or never. The plan had to work.

"InuYasha!" Kagome screamed as he was once again bombarded by Naraku's attacks.

"Feh. You think that's going to stop me?" InuYasha picked himself up off the ground and positioned the Tetsusaiga to attack. "Kagome! Shoot me with one of your arrows!"

Kagome looked at him, confused. "But, InuYasha-"

"Just do it!"

'I just have to trust him.' With speed that only comes from an expert, Kagome fitted an arrow and aimed it at InuYasha. Naraku turned towards the girl and sent his tentacles to stab her.

"Oh, no you don't! Hiraikotsu!" Sango, from atop Kirara, threw her boomerang bone and severed the limbs. "Miroku, now!"

Before Naraku could recall his lost extremities, the young monk sucked them into his Wind Tunnel.

"Kagome!"

At InuYasha's call, Kagome sent her arrow flying. At that same instant, InuYasha used the Wind Scar.

"Pathetic. You never learn, hanyou." Naraku enveloped himself in a shield and absorbed both attacks. "don't you remember what happened at Mt. Hakurai? I can send your attack back at you, tenfold!" The shield began a whirlpool effect as he readied his attack. "Die, InuYasha!"

"He played right into our trap!" InuYasha grinned confidently. "Everyone get ready!"

Miroku moved beside Sango, who held her boomerang bone up as a shield. Shippo, along with chibi Kirara, ran behind some large boulders. Kagome refitted an arrow and waited for the perfect moment.

With a surge of demonic energy, Naraku unleashed his assault.

"Idiot." InuYasha laughed to himself. "Backlash Wave!" With a mighty swing of the Tetsusaiga, he repelled the attack back at Naraku.

"Do you think me a fool?" Naraku hissed as he wrapped Kagome in demonic energy. "I'll use your new woman as my shield!" Kagome, arms pinned at her side, struggled to free herself. It was useless. She was pulled between Naraku and the Backlash Wave.

"No! KAGOME!" InuYasha looked helplessly as the attack drew closer.

"Dance of Blades." The powerful wind severed the demonic hold on Kagome and she fell just as the wave hit. She landed hard on the ground and didn't move.

Shocked by the betrayal, Naraku looked behind him. "Kagura, you dare?"

The wind sorceress snapped her fan closed. "I have my freedom." She turned to leave.

Naraku, with his body disintegrating, pulled out her heart and squeezed until it exploded. Kagura fell, a hole in her chest where the heart should be.

"Have your precious freedom, in death." Naraku began pulling his body back together.

"Not this time, you monster!" Kagome lifted herself to her feet. She seemed to shake as she aimed her arrow at his spider scar.

'Kikyo, lend me your power so we can defeat him' A blue aura radiated around her. Sensing someone beside her, Kagome opened her eyes and saw Kikyo's spirit.

"Kikyo," InuYasha breathed.

"We shall end this now." Kikyo joined her kehai into Kagome's body. The two priestesses let the arrow fly. Naraku was struck through his scar, and was no more.

Deep in the forest, Sesshomaru, Jaken, and Rin watched as Kohaku's pupils dilated. He gave out a chocked breath and collapsed to the ground.

"Lord Sesshomaru," Rin began, "can you save him?"

"This boy tried to kill you. You wish me to give him mercy?"

Rin looked down, thoughtful. "It wasn't him. If he had wanted to really kill me, I would be dead."

"Very well." Sesshomaru unsheathed the Tenseiga. He sliced down the messenger demons with a graceful swing of the mighty sword.

"What? Where am I?" Kohaku opened his eyes and sat up. "Ow! That hurt!" He exclaimed as Sesshomaru pulled the Shikon Shard from his back.

"You no longer need this." He dropped the jewel into the boys lap. "Give this to your sister as proof of your freedom."

Sesshomaru turned to leave. "Come, Rin."

"Yes, Lord Sesshomaru!" Rin stood and ran after the demon. "Bye, Kohaku!"

Kohaku held the shard in his hand. "Sister..."

"Is it over?" Sango asked pensively. "Is he really gone?"

Miroku stepped forward. "There's one way to find out." He slowly pulled the rosary from his hand. 'Please Buddha.' Miroku opened his hand, and felt nothing. No rushing wind. No pain of the vast abyss. Not quite believing it, he turned his palm and stared. Smooth, uninterrupted skin greeted his sight.

"Sango, look! Sango!" He turned excitedly to the young woman. "I'm no longer cursed! My family has been redeemed!" As he gazed at her, he saw her eyes shine with tears.

"Oh, Miroku!" Sango threw her arms around his neck. Miroku, startled at first, wrapped his arms around her as well.

"Well, that's a first," Shippo said slyly, coming out from behind the rocks. Kirara mewed in agreement.

Sango, realizing the intimacy of the embrace, pushed Miroku away, blushing. "I-I'm sorry. I was just so happy for you. I don't know what came over me."

"it's quite alright, dear Sango." Miroku said with a mischievous smile. "After all, it's only natural to have these feelings, given our great victory." He positioned his hand to caress her rump.

SMACK!

"I need to see what happened to Kohaku." Sango looked down. "I'm worried about him. When we left him with Sesshomaru, he said he'd look after him, if only for Rin's sake. And, now that Naraku's dead..."

"We understand," Miroku started, rubbing his red cheek. "Come back to the village when you find him."

Kirara let out a roar as she transformed. She and Sango flew to the south.

"We should be heading out, too. Don't you agree, InuYasha?"

InuYasha was staring at Kagome. Her body was still enveloped in the blue light. As she walked towards him, he realized that Kikyo had not left her.

"K-Kagome?" InuYasha took a tentative stop forward.

"Kagome is being suppressed by my spirit." Kagome spoke, but it was Kikyo's voice. "InuYasha, using this body, we can be together, just like we wanted." She reached out her hand and touched his face.

"Kikyo," InuYasha paused, not sure how to continue. 'How do I ask her to die again?'

"You've got to let go. Our time passed. Leave Kagome's body and rest in peace."

"I see." Kikyo pulled her hand back. "You've chosen her over me. Why, InuYasha? Is she more precious to you than I am? I died for you!"

"I'm sorry, Kikyo. If I had just trusted you 50 years ago, you wouldn't have died. Forgive me." He hung his head in shame.

"InuYasha, you once said that your life was mine. Are you now telling me that you'd rather be with her?"

"I loved you, Kikyo. Nothing will ever change that. But, Kagome-" InuYasha sighed. "Kagome is with me now. I want her by my side. I... I love her!"

At his exclamation, Kagome's soul fought to regain control. Kikyo was expelled, her blue aura shooting up into the sky. Kagome's features softened, and she smiled.

"InuYasha..." Kagome said softly before collapsing.

"Kagome!" InuYasha shouted in anguish.

"InuYasha, how is she?" Miroku and Shippo ran to his side. "We must get her back to Kaede." Miroku looked around. "Now where is that cowardly Hachi? Hachi, come out! We need you!"

The raccoon demon stepped out of his hiding place. "Yes, Lord Miroku?"

"We need a ride to the village. Kagome needs to be treated."

"Yes, master."

"Shippo, go and grab the Shikon Jewel from Naraku's remains."

The young fox pouted. "Why me? I'm just a little kid. Why don't you do it?"

"As a human, I can't get near that miasma Naraku left behind. With Lady Kagome unconscious, you're our best bet. We can't just leave it here for any random demon to find it. Now go!"

Shippo walked away, grumbling to himself. "Why do I always get the hard jobs? I'm just a kid..."

"Don't worry about Lady Kagome," Miroku assured the half-demon once they were off. "I'm sure all she needs is rest."

'I hope so. Kagome, I can't lose you.'