No matter how much I love the Inuyasha series, as do us all, I have no ownership of anything Inuyasha.(though I wouldn't mind owning Sesshoumaru for a bit! ;)
Prologue
Kagome stares out over the clearing, kneeling on the grass. Looking back one of the things she remembers most is the feel of the cool grass beneath her. Odd despite all that had happened around her, that is one of the clearest memories she has of that time, that moment.
Inuyasha stands beside her, Tetsuiga dropping to the ground with a clatter as he drops to his knees beside her. Nearby she can hear Sango sobbing quietly over the still body of her brother Kohaku. Miroku leans over her, his entire body shaking as he wraps his arms around her. Kirara sits on the other side of Kohaku's body, shrinking down into her smaller cat form with a blast of demonic fire.
The clearing is silent, the lack of sound feeling out of place when just minutes ago there had been a battle. Bodies lie scattered all over the clearing, most of them demons. Only two had belonged to their group, Kohaku being one of them. Kagome watches as Inuyasha rises, leaving Tetsuiga where he had dropped it as he moves across the clearing to where Kikyou lay. He drops to his knees beside her and Kagome's heart aches for him as he gently picks her up, carrying her over to where Kagome sits. Inuyasha sits Kikyou on the ground, propping her up against his chest.
Kikyou stares at Kagome a second, the light in her eyes fading. She holds out a trembling hand and Kagome does as well, the Shikon Jewel sparkling in her hand.
"It's yours now." Kikyou says, her voice a hushed whisper before her hand drops to the ground. Kagome stares at her a second before rising, turning away and staggering toward the woods. She can feel her mind shutting down, its only safeguard against what had happened here. She lets it, knowing that she cannot face what had truly happened here until later.
She nearly runs into Sesshoumaru as he heads for the woods as well. She stops, staring up at him. Chocolate eyes meet gold and for a second Kagome can see all his emotions within him. Exhaustion rims his eyes with lines, though so fine that she almost doesn't seem them. His hand, partially hidden by the long billowing sleeve of his hayori, trembles. Blood soaks his clothes in places but he stands firm.
After a long moment he bows his head to her before turning and disappearing into the woods without a word.
Kaede watches them as they walk slowly up the road, Inuyasha carrying Kikyou's body in his arms. Kirara carries Sango and Kohaku, Miroku walking beside them and leaning on his staff heavily. Shippo rides in the basket of Kagome's bike, the young miko pushes the bike along beside her. The group files past Kaede into her hut and she watches as Kagome leans her bike against the wall. Kagome stares at her a moment and Kaede stares up at her.
"It is done." Kagome whispers before turning and heading for the woods.
Kagome wanders through the woods aimlessly, or so she thought until she stops before the sacred tree. She stares up at it blankly, then for some reason she has no idea of she starts crying.
All that had happened, all the events of the past several years suddenly slams into her and she drops to her knees, collapsing onto her side and crying herself to sleep at the foot of the sacred tree.