The final shard was theirs. Naraku's baboon pelt lay torn on the bloodstained grass, staring emotionlessly into the black night. A blanket of clouds covered the moon, refusing to allow its dim beams to penetrate, leaving the earth below in a hazy darkness. Amongst all the chaos and post- carnage crouched two beings, staring into the only light that could be found.

Inuyasha stared at the medium-sized jewel that lay in Kagome's hand . . .it had been so long since he had last seen it whole. He wondered why he didn't steal it to fulfill his wish and become a full youkai. The lack of desire to tear it from her and run was surprising, maybe even a little unnerving, though he would never tell anyone. He glanced from the Shikon No Tamaa to Kagome, trying to figure out what she was thinking, but not voicing his own thoughts; nothing unusual for the hanyou.

Curiously, she rolled the jewel about in her hand, as she had done with many separate shards after their purification. For some reason it felt different to hold the entire jewel, even though one shard could hold the same power. Maybe it had something to do with the knowledge that Naraku was gone, and the Shikon No Tamaa should be gone, too. Something inside her said that the jewel should no longer be in existence, and that she was the only one who could destroy it, but how?