2 weeks later...
Inuyasha and the others managed to defeat Naraku thanks to Kagura's risky betrayal. She led them straight to Naraku's heart and was finally granted her freedom.
They have no idea where she flew off to once it was all over, but watching her soar in the air to find herself and start over was satisfying.
It was all over. Inuyasha went into battle so recklessly that he was covered head to toe in wounds and inhaled a lethal amount of miasma.
"Damn. Who the hell thought a baby could put up such a fight?" He grumbled as Kaede bandaged his body.
"Well you have to remember that Moryomaru did most of the work. The baby was just pulling the strings." Sango explained.
"Keh. I'm just glad it's over."
"It isn't over yet, Inuyasha. Not until Kagome can rid this world of the Shikon jewel."
"Lady Kaede is right. Even I lack the power to protect the jewel." Miroku said as he rubbed it with the fingers on his formerly cursed hand.
Inuyasha looked at the completed jewel and wondered what Kagone would have to do...and if she would be safe doing it.
"I'm going to see her."
"What?" the group exclaimed in unison.
"You can't, Inuyasha! You need to heal. You took in a lot of Miasma." Shippo said as he jumped on Inuyasha's shoulder.
Inuyasha brushed the little fox demon off his shoulder, put his fire rat robe back on and struggled to get on his feet.
"Maybe Kagome can purify it." He suggested as he limped away.
Sango, with merely a bruised shoulder and broken weapon chased after him.
"Wait Inuyasha." Sango called from behind him.
"What?" He asked as he turned his head to the side, but didn't bother to stop.
Sango caught up to him and supported him on her other shoulder.
"I don't need your help." He said as he put most of his body weight on her, almost toppling over.
"I want to make sure you reach Kagome quickly. If she can successfully purify miasma, we need her here. She can help Miroku too."
"Oh...right."
They continued to the well in silence.
Once it was in plain sight, Inuyasha forgot about his injuries and sprinted towards the well and hopped in.
Sango sighed and walked back to Kaede's to watch over Miroku.
Kagome's Era, 3AM
Kagome and Takeshi were sound asleep in her bed when the sound of the opening window and a familiar scent alerted the young half demon cub.
As Inuyasha entered the room, Takeshi sprawled over Kagome to try and get a look at him.
All of her son's movement immediately woke her up. "What is it, Takeshi?" She asked with her eyes barely open. When she noticed the breeze coming in through her window, she turned around and saw the silver haired figure in her room.
"Inuyasha." She said in her sleepy voice as she sat up and rubbed her eye. "I'm so glad to see you. I was worried."
"No need to worry about me, my injuries should heal in a week, tops." He told her confidently.
"Injuries?" She stood and turned on the light. "Show me."
Inuyasha groaned and slightly opened his robe to show her.
Kagome touched his chest where it was bandaged. She gently ran her fingers across the wrappings.
He grabbed her tiny hand and brought it toward his collarbone. "It's over, Kagome."
She looked up at him with a hopeful shine in her eyes. "You mean Naraku is..."
He gave a simple head nod.
"And what about the jewel?"
"We have it. We need you to come back. Kaede says only you can destroy it."
Kagome looked back at her son who had been staring at her. 'I guess it's time we go back for good.'
She turned back to Inuyasha. "I'll do it. Somehow."
"There's...one other thing." He struggled to say as he dropped to the floor.
"What is it? What's wrong?" She asked worriedly as she knelt next to him and grasped his shoulders.
"Theres miasma in my chest. Can you purify it?"
"I've only done it once before but I'll try." She took a deep breath and closed her eyes. She placed her hands on Inuyasha's chest and concentrated.
Inuyasha let out a sigh of relief as the pain from the poison began to fade.
"Thank you." He said in a low, relaxed voice.
Kagome nodded and smiled.
Inuyasha was captured by her smile and gaze. It reminded him of the times when they were...closer.
But the sound of the young Infant's cries disrupted their exchange of gazes. That reminded him that those times were gone and she was further away than ever.
"what's wrong? Is he okay?"
"Yeah. He's still tired is all."
Kagome picked up Takeshi and began to rock him and coo him back to sleep.
Iniyasha noticed between all her "hush baby" and "it's okay" her voice would crack. It wasn't really okay.
Once he was asleep, Kagome rested him on the bed and sat by Inuyasha.
She let out a long sigh and looked into his eyes.
"It's really...over?"
"Yeah. Naraku is dead."
Kagome rushed into his arms and sobbed. "It doesn't feel over. Why don't I feel like it's over? When will the pain stop?"
Inuyasha wrapped his arms around her protectively as she nuzzled her forehead on the side of his neck. He rested his cheek on her hair and inhaled her scent.
'She's finally this close to me again but she's full of anguish. What can I do? How can I help her?'
He became full of anguish himself as he recalled what Naraku said. He's right. This is all my fault. From that stupid decision to go off with Kikyo, to kissing her to giving Koga back those jewel shards knowing he had a chance of being killed. If she ever found out what I did...'
The thought of losing her again, probably for good instantly entered his mind. He hugged her tighter and she tightly clutched the sides of his robe.
"You're the only person I feel close to. The only person that understands. What happened to Koga really took a toll on me. I need you to protect me like you always do!"
'But I don't always protect you, Kagome. It's because of me you were almost killed.'
"Kagome I..."
"I know what you're thinking." She began with a sniffle. "How can you protect someone from pain like that?" She let out a slight laugh through her cries. "It's stupid. I'm sorry." She lifted her head and wiped her eyes. "First thing in the morning we can go back."
Kagome got in her bed next to her son and drifted to sleep.
Inuyasha remained in his spot on the floor, staring at the sleeping girl. 'How can I look at her every single day after what I did to her? I should convince her to stay. She'd feel so much worse if she knew what I did. I don't want to hurt her anymore.'
He fell asleep at her bedside for what he told himself would be the last time.
