(Yea yea yea, another story... when I sould worry about others... but oh well. YOU DON'T CONTROL MY LIFE! or my writing style.

Just enjoy it.)


"NO!!" Came the urgent, desperate cry from Kagome.

Kagome turned just in time to see a blur of silver and red coming towards Sesshomaru in alarming speeds, intending to kill. So, without even thinking about it, she flashed over and knocked him out of the way, taking the blunt of the attack. The sword slashed across her chest, gliding down until is cut off at her side. She let out a breathless gasp and fell numbly to the ground. Somewhere off to the distance, she heard Sesshomaru let out an angry snarl, and heard the bodies fall to the ground.

They were fighting brothers from some panther tribe up north that decided they wanted to challenge Sesshomaru and his choice of mate. They thought that it was unmoral to mate to a human, let alone a miko, and make her heir. Kagome stood by her mate's side, and helped him defeat their enemies. They fought endlessly, and ended up somewhere in the forests in the back of his lands. And because they had fought nearly non stop for about two days, they were exhausted, and something was going to have to give. And it seemed it happened. One of the panther's, the one with black hair, yellow eyes, and a large sword of silver, came up behind Sesshomaru, and sent a steady look to his brother in an unspoken agreement. He trusted his sword with all the strength he had left. That was when Kagome came in. If it weren't for her sacrifice, they would have killed him. And with him dead, the will left in Kagome to live would have died with him, and they would have lost.

Suddenly, and a lot sooner then she would have thought, she felt warm, sweaty hands on her face. She fluttered her eyes open to stare into the panic filled one of his, her mate, her love, Sesshomaru. She lifted a hand and caressed his face with a sad smile.

"You remember what I said about Tensagia? And the jewel?" She asked barley above a whisper. She was dying. It was unavoidable, undeniable, no matter how much they wish it wasn't. Kagome didn't want to die yet. Her life just started, and she didn't want to leave him. And Sesshomaru couldn't loose her. He just couldn't. He never let anyone so close to him before, never let down his walls to be left alone and broken. And right now, that was what was happening. He was loosing the very one who broke his walls, the very one which could leave him defenseless, and lost, and alone.

He nodded in understanding. And he hated it. With every fiber of his being, he wished it wasn't so.

"For as long as the jewel exists, your soul cannot continue to the afterlife, and thus, cannot be revived by Tensagia." He repeated the very words she told him not too long ago, when they went over the panther brothers' challenge.

Kagome smiled, even though it hurt her cheeks. She would not die like all the ones she saw in the movies. Not clinging over for warmth, or crying her eyes out whining "Why me?" No, she would die with a content smile because, even though she didn't want to die, she died honorably and to save the life of her mate. She continued to cress his face with numb fingers, trying to give as much comfort as she could as she was dying. She knew it would hurt him, and much more then what he would let on.

"You know I love right? That no matter what, I would never regret anything, and I wouldn't change this out come right?"

"Why wouldn't you?"

"Because," She coughed. The blood was filling her lungs and it hurt with every breath she took. "Because I wouldn't be strong enough to live without you. But you are, and I know you will find a way to get me back. Just don't go selling souls, alright? That would be bad." She smiled again when she heard him give a dry laugh.

"Alright, and of course I know that." He leaned down and gave her a kiss on the forehead. When he sat back up, he noticed her eyes had closed, and her breathing stop. And then it seemed like the whole situation weighed down on him. He could feel the gap that she always filled, he could feel the drowning misery taking a hold on him, and he could feel her absence. And with every beat his heart made, the pain of it coursed through his veins, making it difficult to breathe. But he believed in her. He believed in what she said that he was strong enough. And he would go on believing in her words, because it was the only thing he now believed in. Everything else had abandoned him, and left him in the dark, and betrayed him.

He let the grief take him, and the beast inside him surfaced. He howled to the sky, cursing the gods. All that he had left in him, all of it was in that one cry.

To on lookers, it was a magnificent sight. In the shadows of the forest, stood a beastly white dog, gleaming in the light of the moon, howling at it. And everyone who saw, everyone who heard, knew. They could hear it in the cry. The pain filled, sorrowful, desperate cry. And they all knew she was dead. The lady of the western land, the lady in the house of the moon, the sunshine in the dark world, and the representative of everything good stood for, was gone.


The rest of the group, Inuyasha, Sango, Miroku, Shippo, Rin, Kikyo and even kirara, stood at the gates to the western palace. And all hope, despite the truth, vanished as Sesshomaru walked across the horizon carrying the lifeless body of Kagome. Everyone would suffer the lost of her. Inuyasha, he lost his best friend. The one, who tamed his wild beast, taught him to trust and gave him a family. A family he never had, nor had the chance to have, was gone.

Sango, she lost a sister. This lost seemed unbearable. She had lost her entire family, they entire village she grew up in, and now she lost someone who was there for her when she needed her the most? Now she lost someone else she considered family, and the pain of it, it caused physical pain.

Miroku also lost his sister, one he never had. One he was glad wasn't his because she would have the cursed wind tunnel. He would never wish that one someone, no matter how handy it comes sometimes.

Kikyo also lost a friend. Kagome was more powerful then her, something that took a while for her to accept, but when she did, she grew a friendship she didn't think they could have. They both learned and taught with each other. Discovering ways to use their powers they thought they would never be able to do, and learned how far they could push themselves. Though Kagome was miko turned youkai, it was natural for her to have more endurance. Though Kikyo gave her a run for her money.

Rin and Shippo both lost a mother. Twice for each. They had lost their family, thrown out into the world by themselves, and she came along and made everything alright again. She gained their trust, and took them in as her own, something someone else wouldn't have done so, well, like how Kagome did it. And it was hard to accept the fact they would never see her smile proudly at them when they did something to surprise her. They would never hear her sing them to sleep, or how she stayed with them when they had nightmares. Or how delicious her food was when she shooed out all the cooks, so she could brew up something special. They all had lost a friend, or family member, and it was hard for them all to accept she was gone.

Sesshomaru carried her to the gardens and to a shrine in the back and placed her on the offerings table. He then had some one come in and clean her wounds, and place her into one of their favorite kimonos. His favorite because he loved seeing her in it, and hers because she loved wearing it. He left to go fill the others in, and tell them what he was going to do, and see if they would help him in it. As he closed the door quietly behind him, he lifted his eyes to stare into four pairs of saddened eyes. Sango and Miroku sent the kids up to their rooms, considering they were too young to understand what was going on.

"The panther's killed her," he said in a quiet even voice.

"Those damn bastards! I outta go and kill the lot of them!" Cursed Inuyasha.

Kikyo sighed sadly and warped her arm around his and rested her head on his shoulder.

"I am sure, Inuyasha that Sesshomaru took care of it. If anyone deserved that right, it would be him."

"All of us deserve that right!"

Sesshomaru sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose in hopes to push back the growing headache. He was not in the mood to deal with his brother's brash attitude.

"There is a way to bring her back," he said just as quietly, letting his hand fall back to his side.

"The shikon jewel," muttered Kikyo and Miroku spontaneously.

Sesshomaru only nodded his head in agreement.

"But why is that?" asked Sango, voicing the others thoughts.

"I believe it has a connection to her soul," Kikyo spoke up.

"Explain,"

"Unlike me, she was born with the jewel in her body. I don't know if it was because the jewel chose her to protect it, or to carry my soul, or because the kami saw that she was to be my reincarnation. But my best bet was that it chose her to carry it along with such a pure and powerful soul. It's just a theory."

Sesshomaru took a moment to think about that. It did make since. Kagome didn't fully explain why she couldn't be revived by his sword. She said that she didn't fully understand it herself, so she couldn't explain it. He did have to admit though, what the miko said, it could be a good possibility.

"This is just another reason to finish hunting down the jewel shards, and Naraku, since he has most of the jewel." Inuyasha concluded.

Kikyo shifted uneasily, and four pairs of eyes were suddenly intent on her.

"Speak." Sesshomaru commanded.

"There lies a problem."

"What do you mean?" Sango had an idea of where Kikyo was going, since her village held the jewel until given to the dead miko.

"Yes Sango. Your assumptions are correct."

"But the rest of us don't know. Mind keeping us up to speed?" snapped Inuyasha.

Kikyo sighed and started to explain the grave news. She knew she would have to face either Sesshomaru's wrath, or Inuyasha's, or both.

"Defeating Naraku will be the easy part. And you know that it will take everything within us to do it too, so you know this will be a severe headache.

Kagome is the only one who has the power to either make a pure, selfless wish, or purify it out of existence. I cannot because I am dead. Yes, I can purify the jewel shards, but I cannot do it by touch like she can. And because I am dead, I cannot completely make a selfless wish while my heart purley desires something else. The jewel cannot be destroyed by just simple wording of the wish. It must be purley made by the heart. We all are human, thus it's only understandable that we crave something we do not have. Kagome has that pure soul about her, but it's hard to explain."

Sesshomaru pinched the bridge of his nose again. The miko was right, this is a tremendous headache. They very one that died and cannot be revived by his sword, is the one that they need to purify the jewel so he can revive her. But he was interrupted by a nock on the other side of the door. He stepped away so the servant could open the door.

"She is ready, my lord," She mumbled.

Sesshomaru nodded and walked in, leading the other's to their beloved friend. As he approached, the demon sorcerers were awaiting for him to give them the go ahead. But before he did, he wanted to see her, one last time. The servants out did themselves. Kagome lay stiffly, but beautifully. They dressed her in an elaborate kimono. It was midnight blue dotted with small white roses. The kimono, the one he had made for her, and even though you couldn't see it because she lay on her back, but there was a giant silver crescent moon. It started on her right shoulder, stretched across her back and ended back and her right hip. Her moonlight silver hair fanned out behind her, creating a halo around her. Her hands were folded in prayer, as all the miko were positioned when they were buried. The expression was one as though she was nothing in but a deep slumber, which he had all intentions of making it that way. The silky material flowed around her body, looking like it belonged there. Somewhere beside him, he heard the sharp in take of breathe. When he could no longer stand it, he turned away, and nodded in the direction on the demon sorcerers.


Later that night, Sesshomaru lay in his bed, thoughts of what happened repeating in his head, tormenting him, making him squirm under their heavy weight. He tossed himself onto his back and stared up at the roof. He stared at it hard, trying to pay attention to details of the wood work. The wood was old, but in good condition. Strong and sturdy; always there, to shelter you and protect you from the outside. Just like her…. Damn it! He can't think like that. Everything here just reminded him of her, in some way, shape, form or fashion. But then suddenly he heard light chuckling echo across the room. He shot up and looked around, but saw nothing. He could have sworn that was Kagome's chuckle. Oh this was just great. First, he couldn't stop thinking about her, now he was hallucinating.

"You are such a worry wart,"

Ok, he knew he didn't imagine that, did he?

He heard a heavy sigh, followed by, "Sesshomaru, if my soul can't continue onto the after life, you think I would just wonder around mindlessly? I'm offended."

Before he knew it, a ghost of a smile threatened to play at his lips. Oh yes, that was definitely Kagome.

"I suppose."

Then all of a suddenly, the air around him grew fidgety cold, and his hair moved just slightly, as though a breeze trifled through.

"I'm right here," he heard her whisper.

He closed his eyes, and when he did, he saw her. Well, not like you physically see someone, just her outline, lighted by some sort of light. His eyes snapped open, but he lost her.

"What?"

"I thought I saw you."

He heard her chuckle again.

"Close your eyes again."

He did, and he saw her again.

"I'm lost."

"You see my essence, not me." She said lightly, as though she was laughing.

He frowned.

"I do not find this funny." He said in his classic emotionless voice.

"I'm not laughing. It's just, our bond is stronger then I thought."

"Why do you think that?"

"Because you see what I am, the light of my spirit. This is what you look like when you die. You look like your physical appearance, but you see more. You know?"

"I suppose." He replied in the same flat voice. Whatever, he was just happy he could communicate with her, even if his eyes have to be closed.

"You should sleep. You still haven't rested from fighting so much, and the emotional stress isn't helping."

He couldn't help but open his eyes and send her and icy glare.

"Woman, do you think I could sleep?"

"You could if you tried," She said in a soft, alluring voice. "Now lay back down, I can't push you."

He chuckled softly but did as she said. He closed his eyes again and he could see her floating above him, her hands on his face.

"Can you feel me?"

"No."

But he didn't have time to respond. She started to sing, one of his favorites, and before he knew it, he was swallowed into the land of dreams, dreaming of her, holding her, and kissing her, feeling her alive.

(Wahoo! First chapter and I can't sit still! I want to post more, but I just have to finish typing it!! Damn fingers type faster!! Oh, for Sesshomaru's lullaby, just think of your favorite song and imagine she's sing that because I don't know what song to put for it, and well, blah. It'll get better. In this story, I hope to let out my more humorous side, instead of being so sad and depressing with romance. . Ahhh!! This is going to be so much fun!)