Disclaimer: Still don't own Inuyasha.

A/N: The battle scene maybe bored and awkward. I'm a peace lover. Frankly, I stopped reading and watching Inuyasha after Kikyo's second permanent death, LOL. I really lost in idea –sigh–

Chapter 4:

Die Alone

Sesshomaru sat cross-legged against the tree. He closed his eyes and sometimes an empty sigh escaped his mouth. He never expected that incident, kissed a human but he won't be a liar at the same time. He did want her. Though he tried to burn out that memory but her image still appear inside his head, he could still taste the sweetness of her lips. He was totally confused, and he had to make a move to go out from this vicious circle.

"It is not usual that Sesshomaru-sama keep quite all these days," Kohaku whispered to Jaken as he handed Rin a roasted fish. "Sesshomaru-sama only speaks if it's necessary," Jaken replied in soft voice. "But it's different," Kohaku insisted. "Like something is bothering him," Rin suddenly stated and both of Jaken and Kohaku stared at her with shocking gaze, but then they nodded their head in approval.

"I hear that," Sesshomaru said in usual tone. Indeed, Sesshomaru could hear what his companions were talking about. He's a geart dog demon; he has the sharp-ears. And he needed to clear up his mind. 'Damn that woman!' cursed him. Three of his companions turned into silent suddenly.

'Damn that woman!' cursed him.

"I guess I agree with you, child," Jaken said. "He's different lately." Both Rin and Kohaku nodded briefly.

Sesshomaru opened his eyes and immediately stood up.

"Sesshomaru-sama?' Jaken asked as he saw his Lord walked passed them. "Stay here," Sesshomaru commanded. His mind forced him not to go, but his whole body seemed not obey what his brain told. The more his mind and heart contradicted, the faster he ran.

..oOo..

"Sesshomaru," Kikyo whispered in shock as she saw a tall man with silver hair and golden-orbs appeard in front of him. "What are you doing here?" she asked.

Sesshomaru did not answer, instead of asked her in turn, "Where's Naraku?"

"He's hunting the food," Kikyo answered simply. Sesshomaru walked closer to Kikyo while saying, "I'm still in the plan." Kikyo keep silent and waited Sesshomaru finished what he meant. "I would kill Naraku now."

"It is not the time yet," Kikyo told him. "If we…"

"I would not let that low-life hanyou spend more time with you," Sesshomaru interrupted and made Kikyo surprised. Immediately, Sesshomaru was standing high above before Kikyo and for her shock, he put his thumb upon her lips and carresed it gently.

"I never think I would share the same lips with my half-brother." He caressed her lower-lip.

"And I had tried my best to not repeat the same history as my father did." He leaned down and captured her lips, kissed her gently. His mind told himself to push away, but he did not. The other side, Kikyo accepted and enjoyed the kiss like they did before because somehow she wanted it, she never felt so much safe and comfortable just like when Sesshomaru put his arms around her. Sesshomaru growled inside their lip-lock. It was then Sesshomaru pulled his lips away from hers.

"Why did you do this?" Kikyo asked. "You have done it twice."

"Because I wanted," Sesshomaru answered. "And I could tell you want it too," he added. His eyes looked deep into hers. "It's ridiculous. You are Inuyasha's half brother and I was his… once lover," Kikyo said in a whisper, chocked at the last word. "Looks the brothers have the same taste about woman," she added. The dog demon moved and deleted the space between them. "But I will not neglect you, like he did," Sesshomaru hissed.

"We just met. Don't tell me you have fallen in love with your half-brother's former lover, Sesshomaru," Kikyo tried to joke. "I do," Sesshomaru replied in a serious tone. "And I'm not playing," he finished like he knew what she was going to say. Kikyo startled, she never expected such words from this Lord of the West. "It is not you, Sesshomaru. You must out of your mind," she stated. "Maybe yes, but I mean every word," he refused, still in serious tone. His gaze told her that he wasn't lying.

And he knew she doubted. It would make sense if he do the same thing like Inuyasha did, betrayed her. How she hated to fall in the same hole twice; to cross the same path and to be dumped. Indeed, she wanted him too, but she has no power to take such stuff no more. She had enough.

"I… cannot," she forced out the word. "I won't feel hurt anymore. Besides, what do you expect from a dead human?" Sesshoumaru could see the sadness and trauma in her eyes. She was miko; he was demon. She was dead; he was alive. Nothing can come of this forbidden love. "I expect nothing than you," he stated. "You don't even know about love," Kikyo stated, she tried to deny.

"That's why I need you to teach me."

Sesshomaru leaned down and kiss Kikyo once again. This time, she melted into him and returned his embrace. She softly moaned as the kiss grew intense. Sesshomaru gently bit her lower lips and his tongue rushed into her as Kikyo opened her mouth, their tongues danced together. He never got such a staisfaction of kissing a woman, and yet he got it from a human. His kiss seemed want to show her how serious he was.

"Sesshomaru!" A deep voice called out, it was full of anger and hatred. Both Sesshomaru and Kikyo released their lip-lock and looked at the crimson-eyed man who was standing behind Sesshomaru. "What are you doing to Kikyo?" Naraku shouted loud, his eyes showed ember. "I will never let anyone to touch or kiss Kikyo. Not you, not even you damned half-brother!" He warned as his scent grew stronger.

Naraku transformed himself into a giant spider creature and produced the poisonuos miasma while the demons who formed Naraku from the once Onigumo released from his body. "Even transformed in the end, you're still just a spider," Sesshomaru insulted. But he could sense that Naraku's scent was stronger than before, even he hasn't absorb the Shikon Jewel for a long while during his time with Kikyo. Sesshomaru went forward as he grabbed Bakusaiga and slashed to Naraku but it didn't damaged Naraku's body compelety.

"It's amazed me for now the Great Dog Demon has a new arm," Naraku mocked in a laugh.

"Thanks for Kikyo to revive it," replied Sesshomaru. The smirk faded from Naraku's face as he heard those words. "You are too much interfering in our relationship, Sesshomaru," stated Naraku. "I shall kill you!"

Sesshomaru smirked. "Watch your words!"

Sesshomaru rushed forward and used Bakusaiga to cut Naraku's body off. Naraku managed to avoid but Sesshomaru was faster and caused his body cut in half. Naraku smirked as he regenerated his massive body and noted coldly, "No matter how much you cut me, it's useless."

"Kikyo-sama."

Kocho and Asuka appeared from the back of Kikyo. "We had smeared the arrows with the cave's soil like you ordered," Asuka informed. Kikyo took the bow from Kocho as Asuka handed her the arrow and aimed the arrow straight at the place where Onigumo's heart buried. She released a Sacred Arrow that glow in pure white light and immediately stabbed the target.

"Kikyo…" Naraku whispered as his body crashed to the ground, so did Kikyo. She exhausted and fell on the knees; Sesshomaru shifted his concern to Kikyo. "Your time is gonna come," she whispered.

Naraku realized that throughout this time, it was Kikyo's trick to kill him. And he was so foolish for not aware this because of overcame by his own desire. "Damn!" he crused. "You tricked me!"

"Like you tricked me fifty years go!" Kikyo shouted in turn.

One of Naraku tentacles rushed to Kikyo. In a quick move, his tentacle struck Kikyo hard and she pounded to the ground. "You are tricky," Naraku complimented. "I learn from you," Kikyo replied as she managed to get up.

Suddenly, Kohaku rushed out from the bush, followed by Inuyasha and his group at the opposite way.

"Kohaku!" Sango called her brother. "Have not I told you to stay?" Sesshomaru stared shaprlhy at the young boy. "I want to help Kikyo-sama," he answered.

"Very well," Naraku smirked. "Now, all of you come here to end your life," he stated.

"What have you done to Kikyo?" Inuyasha asked angrily as he saw Kikyo wounded. "You should watch how your brother kissed Kikyo," Naraku smirked. "The Great Sesshomaru falls in love with a dead human," he insulted as Inuyasha and other surprised for Naraku's statement. Then Naraku immediately created a dark and strong barrier to protect him. Naraku stuck out his tentacles to Kagome and grasped the Shikon Jewel which was being hung around her neck. "The Jewel!" Kagome cried.

"With one more shard, it would whole again and granted my wish," Naraku said as he held the corrupted Jewel. "Now, it's time to complete the Jewel."

Naraku shifted his tentacle from Kikyo to Kohaku. Sango immediately grabbed her Hiraikotsu and attacked Naraku. It collided with Naraku's body, ripping him in half. Everyone is shocked, but as the Hiraikotsu whirled back to Sango, it is coated with the poison that it passed through and Sango was hit with a heavy dose of poisonuous miasma. Naraku laughed and insulted her, "Useless."

Kohaku was going to run and Sesshomaru tried to protect him, but Naraku caught Kohaku faster and took the shard from his neck easly. The shard was taken out and Kohaku fell unconscious. Sango, with her last power, approached Kohaku and held him in her embrace.

"Now," Naraku said as he united the last shard to the Jewel. "This is the time to send all of you to the hell," Naraku grinned. The jewel shone the black light as Naraku gave his soul to the now completed Shikon Jewel and transformed. His miasma strengthened and increased, caused Miroku and Shippo to protect the powerless Sango and the unconscious Kohaku from the miasma.

Sesshomaru swung Bakusaiga and release the most powerfull Meidou. Without their awarness, Kikyo also release a Sacred Arrows with the rest of her power. Along with Sesshomaru's Meidou, Kikyo's Sacred Arrow attacked Naraku. Bakusaiga destroyed most of Naraku's body as the Sacred Arrow tried to purify Naraku's body and the Jewel, while Inuyasha covered Kagome from the big explosion. The attacks hit Naraku and a massive explosion tore the giant spiders' body of his as the Shikon Jewel was separated from Naraku's body. Everyone rushed to avoid the spider's poisonous body as Sesshomaru the Shikon Jewel survived his attack. Miroku used his Wind Tunnel to suck up as much of the falling miasma as possible while Inuyasha used his Meido Zangetsuha to rip through the larger chunks.

Kikyo saw that the Jewel survived and still corrupted. Then she got up and ran in hurry to catch the Jewel to purify the Jewel for good with her own hands.

"Kikyo…" Naraku whispered in his last breath. The explosion caused a bright light that blinded their eyes. Suddenly, everything turned into haze. Kikyo couldn't see anyone. Kikyo looked around and only mist surrounded her. Only The Shikon Jewel was being held in her hand. The next second, the view has changed. Kikyo stood up in the grass field and she was still holding the Jewel on her hand.

'It is… when I was going to meet Inuyasha, to give him the Shikon Jewel,' Kikyo memorized.

Kikyo turned her head back in a hurry for she felt a presence behind her. And unexpectedly, someone who looked like Inuyasha slashed his claws to Kikyo's left shoulder. It caused her bleeding and fell to the ground, like happened fifty years ago. Kikyo knew it was a mere illusion and managed to fight but Naraku's demonic energy overwhelmed Kikyo's spiritual powers and rendered Kikyo powerless and on the verge of death. It wasn't the mere claws, it was posionuos miasma.

"Kikyo!" Inuyasha cried as he saw Kikyo fell into the ground. The mist which surrounded her was gone now. Inuyasha grabbed her and held her.

"My wish…" Naraku said to himself.

'That's right. I simply wanted Kikyo's heart.'

"My real wish."

The Jewel shone bright as Naraku said his true wish for Kikyo's heart. But the Jewel would not grant Naraku's selfish wish. The rest of Naraku's body suddenly trapped in the intense fire and burned him, like ever happened to Onigumo. But though, Naraku still laughed loudly inside the fire. He laughed himself for his own stupidity. He should aware from the first that the purpose Kikyo gave him the Jewel was to purify him using the Jewel. And he was so foolish to think that Kikyo would love him like he always wanted. It was just an illusion of his desire.

"We will meet again in hell, lovely Kikyo," Naraku stated in laughter.

As Naraku destroyed inside the fire and dead in dust, the posionus miasma began to faded, replaced with the clear night sky.

"Kikyo…" Inuyasha called Kikyo softly, who lay powerless in his embrace, still held the Jewel. Her Shinidamachu glowed in the dark, surrounded them as the dying souls slowly went out from Kikyo's body. Kagome did realize that Inuyasha need ta time together with Kikyo, so she stepped slowly to Miroku and Sango. "Kagome-chan…" Sango tried to comfort the girl who started to shed the tears. As for Sesshomaru, he just stood firmly not far from Inuyasha and Kikyo. He looked at his half-brother sharply. How he hated to let Inuyasha put his arms around Kikyo.

"You just came in time," Kikyo whispered. Inuyasha clutched Kikyo tight, inhaled her last scene and reminded everything that had done. "I have finally become an ordinary woman," Kikyo commented herself and reelased a sigh.

"Kikyo…" Inuyasha finally spoke. "You were the first woman I ever cared for. And yet…" A single tear falling down form Inuyasha's golden orbs, it touched Kikyo's cheek. How he really hated himself, totally regreted. He always promised to protect her, but at the same time he always failed. He just said the words, but he never really tried to prove his oath. "I couldn't do anyhting for you!" Inuyasha shouted. Everyone could his remorse, inclued Kagome and Sesshomaru. "You came for me. That's enough," Kikyo said with a calm and relaxing smile.

Meanwhile, amazingly Kohaku opened his eyes and caused Sango suprising. "Kohaku!" she cried. "Sister," Kohaku called in a whisper. Everyone turned their attention and surprised for the fact, include Inuyasha, but not with Kikyo and Sesshomaru. "Kohaku…" Sango started to shed the tears, she was happy that Kohaku was alive even she couldn't hear his heartbeat. Then she saw a little while light at the back of Kohaku's neck where the Jewel's shard ever placed.

Inuyasha looked down to Kikyo with questioning eyes. But Kikyo uttered no answer but only closed her eyes and tried to catch every tiny life she could get. Sango could not hide her happiness. She didn't know how much Kohaku would survive this time, but at least they have another chance.

Sesshomaru walked closer to Sango and Kohaku, and stood tall above before them. He then pulled out Tenseiga and swung it to Kohaku. Sango surprised as she could feel the beat of Kohaku's heart. Everyone perplexed for his action. "It's Kikyo's wish for me to revive Kohaku," Sesshomaru stated dryly. Sango tighten her embrace, whispered how much she loved his younger brother.

"Kikyo-sama…" Kohaku called out when he saw Kikyo laid motionless in Inuyasha's arms. "Please... You had promised me not to die," he said plainly. Kikyo just smile slightly. She knew she would die in any second later.

Sesshomaru walked passed Kagome and ahead to Inuyasha.

For everyone's shock, he grabbed Kikyo and carried her in his embrace.

"What the hell are you doing, Sesshomaru?" Inuyasha inquired angrily as he wiped his tears. Kikyo was still closed her eyes, tried to hold her dying life as long as she can.

"You don't deserve her. You have failed to save her," Sesshomaru noted. "And what's your bussiness about it?" Inuyasha insisted.

"If you really love her, why don't you run to protect her?"

Inuyasha startled while Kikyo burried her face at Sesshomaru's chest. She felt hurt, no matter how much she tried to hold on, but she couldn't deny that throughout this time she never felt Inuyasha come to her, to save her like he had promised.

"Give her back to me!" Inuyasha shouted. "You have enough," Sesshomaru noted and then walked away from Inuyasha. When he passed Kagome, Kikyo stopped him.

"Take it," Kikyo said as she opened her hand and revealed the Jewel. Kagome took the pure Jewel from Kikyo. "You know what to do."

And Sesshomaru walked again into the woods, carrying Kikyo along with Shinidamachu around them.

"Do you think it's true about what Naraku said before?' Miroku whispered to Kagome.

"I don't know," she answered, but somehow she sure about this.

It is too late.

..oOo..

"Sesshomaru-sama!" Rin greeted happily, but her big smile faded away as she looked Kohaku wasn't with him, instead of Kikyo in his embrace.

"Milord, what happened?" Jaken asked curiously. Sesshomaru stopped right before them. "Kikyo-sama" Rin whispered. "What happened to her, Sesshomaru-sama?"

Sesshomaru only walked and then leaned against the tree; he put Kikyo on his lap and laid her head upon his chest. Rin and Jaken came closer. "She's so beautiful," Rin commented, and Jaken nodded without him realized. Her dead souls slowly went out from her body and glowed in the dark.

"She doesn't die, right Sesshomaru-sama?" Rin asked her lord with a trembling voice, but Sesshomaru said nothing. "Tell me she doesn't die!" Rin demanded. "Calm down," Sesshomaru finally spoke. "Why don't you rervive her with Tenseiga like you did to Rin!" Rin started to cry. "Calm down!" Sesshomaru repeated in a high tone and caused Rin turned into silent. If only he could revive Kikyo with Tenseiga, but her soul was now reincarnatted in Kagome. She has no soul anymore to fill her empty body. "C'mon, child," Jaken grabbed Rin's hand and guided Rin to the tree not far from Sesshomaru.

"Rin," Kikyo whispered. "Kikyo-sama!" Rin cried, "I'm happy you're still alive."

"Don't cry," Kikyo demanded with a smile. "H-hai, Kikyo-sama," Rin wipe her tears.

Rin followed the imp demon to sit under a tree not far from the demon lord and the miko. Rin folded her kness and leaned on. Jaken only could sigh, honestly he felt sorry for the miko.

Sesshomaru tighten his arms around Kikyo. Somehow, he felt the same way like his half-brother, unable to protect and save Kikyo. Sesshomaru shriveled, he felt no difference with Inuyasha. He let Naraku killed Kikyo for the umpteenth time; he let Kikyo die together with the damned low-life hanyou, Naraku.

"Sesshou…" Kikyo's soft voice broke the silent. She lifted her head up hardly to look at Sesshomaru's face and she smiled slightly. "Thanks for helping me," said Kikyo.

Sesshomaru just uttered nothing as his silver-bangs hid his eyes. Kikyo waited for his reaction. Indeed, Sesshomaru was different from Inuyasha in many ways. He wasn't a type of would said what he was feeling. And somehow, he was just similar to Kikyo.

"Why don't you say anything?" The tears fell from her melanholic eyes. "Are you mad at me?"

NO! He would never ever mad at her. He mad at himself, for have no power to save her life. Sesshomaru wipe her tears with his hand, it was a gentle touch.

"Do you really love me?" Kikyo asked. No answer.

Kikyo once again shed the tears. "Because I'm doubt," she confessed.

"Give me time to prove it," Sesshomaru demanded.

"I have no more time," Kikyo replied. Sesshomaru took Kikyo's chin and kissed her.

Rin lifted her head up and saw Sesshomaru was kissing Kikyo. Immediately she blushed and looked away. "What now, Rin?" asked Jaken as he saw the child's cheeks burn in a deep red. Jaken looked at the direction of his lord and the miko. The little imp suddenly blushed like Rin did and bent down his head. "They shouldn't do this in front of a child," Jaken commented and caused Rin giggled a bit.

Kikyo closed her eyes and tasted every feel she could taste for the last time. She never felt so save and comfortable before like this, when Sesshomaru wrapped his arms around her.

As they released their lip-lock, the last dying soul went out from Kikyo's body and left her empty inside. Shinidamachu flew away to the night sky along with the dead souls and her light shone around them. "It's so warm, like a mother," Rin commented as she felt the pure-white light touched her skin.

Jaken and Rin were amazed at the glowing soul and Shinidamachu. But then they aware that Sesshomaru has already stood up and carried Kikyo. "Come on," Sesshomaru commanded and then started to walk. "Milord, where will we go?" asked Jaken.

"She should be burried properly."

And soon, the crying Rin followed Sesshomaru as Jaken took Ah-Un and guided it. They walked ahed to the village wher Kikyo once lived, along with the flying Shinidamachu high above them.

He lost her.