Kagome sat on the top of the hill overlooking the village and the forest, singing about loving someone who won't love you back…she didn't know she was being watched. Two men crouched in the bushes not far away. One man was tall and skinny with his hair shaved off. The other was shorter and more built. Both were dressed as bandits.

"Is that the girl?" said the one man. "She doesn't look like she's so special."

"No, this is the one. Her clothes are strange and there isn't much to them. That and she looks like the dead priestess Kikyo. Besides, she doesn't need to be special. You destroy the mate you destroy the demon. It should work with hanyou's too."

"Ok, let's get her." Just like that the two demon killers launched themselves out of the bushes and at the young priestess. Shocked by the first punch she didn't have a chance to scream. Kagome did what she could to block the blows. What I would give for my arrows right now, or at least a rock. The bigger of the two killers said,

"Hurry up and kill her, the half breed is going to be here soon." The other guy nodded and took out a knife. Kagome screamed as she missed a block and the knife slid between her ribs Fighting harder she didn't notice the second guy grab his knife until it slammed into her back, just below her heart.

"That's good. Let's just get out of here." The two men turned and ran. Kagome laid there watching as the sky swam in front of her eyes and the trees blurred.

Inuyasha, I love you.

Inuyasha was sitting outside the house with the rest of the gang when the words floated across Inuyasha's mind plain as day.

"NOO, KAGOME," he screamed jumping up and racing towards the village. Miroku and Sango looked at each other before the hurried after Inuyasha. Inuyasha finally caught scent of her blood and raced towards it. When he finally reached her she had passed out from blood loss.

"Kagome," he whispered dropping to his knees by her. Miroku and Sango caught up and took on look at their friend before racing off to find Kaede.

"GET HER BACK TO THE HOUSE INUYASHA," Miroku yelled. Inuyasha scooped her up and ran. When he got to the hut there was still no one there. Laying her gently on a futon he sliced what was left of her clothes off of her.

"Please, Kagome," he whispered pressing kisses to her forehead, "please live. Shredding her clothes he took pieces and pressed them to the major wounds trying to stop the flow of blood. Kaede came rushing into the house took one look at Kagome and started giving orders. Finally she looked at the others and said,

"She's lost too much blood, she needs blood or she will die." Sango gave a soft cry of despair and then looked at Inuyasha and gasped. His eyes were golden red and his stripes were visible on his cheeks.

"If she dies Inuyasha will go crazy, and if he does that we are going to have to kill him," whispered Miroku coming up behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist. Picking up Shippo the both sparred one more look at Kagome before going outside to pray. Shippo fought them.

"No, MAMA, NO." As soon as they left Kaede heard Inuyasha in a lower rough voice asking,

"What do I need to do?" Kaede uncovered a wound in her chest and held out a knife to the hanyou. He brushed it away and held on lengthened claw to his wrist.

"Inuyasha, beware. This may not work, even if you were a human." Inuyasha nodded his head and slit his wrist and held it over the wound letting his blood mix with hers. After while Inuyasha laid down next to her, leaving his wrist over her chest.

"Inuyasha, that is enough," said Kaede, "we don't need to people dying of blood loss." Inuyasha just growled at her and used his other arm to pull Kagome close to him.

Kagome looked around confused. She was sitting in a field of flowers next to a river. A few feet away stood a couple. There was a beautiful woman in an elegant kimono and a demon with his armor on and his long silver hair in a high pony tail. There were standing there in each others arms looking so in love that Kagome felt a pang of jealousy. Suddenly they turned around and looked at her. She gasped when she saw the same violet stripes across the demons cheeks that she saw on Inuyasha when he was a full demon. Smiling gently the woman lead her mate over to stand by Kagome. The young miko immediately bowed before them.

"Child, it is alright." said the women.

"Izayoi sama," Kagome whispered. Raising her head she asked, "Does this mean I am dead?"

"No dear, you are dreaming. Do you love my son?"

"With all my heart."

"Would you wish him human?" Kagome's eyes flared with sudden anger.

"No, there is nothing wrong with him as he is. He is a HANYOU. He doesn't need to be any more or any less then he is. He's strong enough without being demon," she said shooting a glance at the InoTashio, "and he has a kind, if hidden, heart. He doesn't need to be anything but what he is." She finally stopped to take a breath and noticed both of them grinning at each other before they looked at her.

"What would you give to stay with him," asked InoTashio.

"Anything, everything."

"The ability to go home to your family," said Izayoi.

"You humanity," said InoTashio.

"Yes, I would give everything to stay with him." Looking away she whispered, "He's my life. He's in love with another and yet I can't live without him."

"Is he truly in love or is he clinging to the only kind thing he knew as a young man? I believe he loves you. Tell him, don't let your pride keep this secret anymore. Tell him."

"When you wake up, everything is going to be different. You have chosen to give up much to stay with my son," said InuTashio. "I will ask once more, are you sure about what you will give up? Are you sure it wouldn't be better to move on?"

"I am sure. I want to go back to Inuyasha."

"So be it," he said, and then he leaned down and gave her a kiss on the head. "I am proud of him. I am proud of both my sons."

"I love him, please Kagome," said Izayoi drawing the younger woman into a hug, "love him enough for both of us."

Suddenly a wave of pain went through her body. Accept it, accept him echoed in her head. Breathing deep she fought to embrace the pain. Mentally she hugged it to her as if it where Inuyasha himself. Biting her lip she struggled not to make a sound. As the pain subsided she noticed an arm on her chest and another one around her shoulders under her head, holding her to him. Turning her head she kissed his lips before joining him in blissful unconsciousness.