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Tragic Ending

(A.N.: this takes place right after Inuyasha opened and went in Kagome's window)

He took a deep, hesitant breath, opened the window, and went inside.

He looked around and said, "It's empty!" Then he thought 'Damn. Of all the luck'

As he thought that, he smelled Kagome's familiar scent from all over the room. The door opened as he sighed deeply. He turned to look at Kagome and said "Kagome!"

She stared at him with a face whose stoicity (is that a word?) could rival Sesshomaru's, as she said emotionlessly, "Inuyasha."

"Can we talk?"

"I don't know of what there is to talk about."

"My feelings."

"Oh, really. I already know about you and Kikyo, so spare me."

"No! You misunderstand me! I lo-"

"You love Kikyo. I know. Don't you realize how much that hurts?!"

"No! I don't even love her anymore!"

"I'm sure."

"Kagome! I killed her!"

"I... nani?"

"When you left, I cried practically the whole time, and when she came and mocked me, I transformed and killed her even though I had Tetsusaiga!"

"I see..."

"Then, hands over cd player I heard a song that reminded me of us."

"What was it?"

"I don't know. All I did was turn it on, and it played."

She listened to part of it, then stopped it. "So, this made you think of us?"

"Yes."

"What did you want to say?"

Inuyasha blushed. "I... I... wanted to say..."

"Never mind."

"But at least answer me this question."

"Okay, shoot."

"Will you come back to me?"

"I'm sorry, Inuyasha. With how many times you've cheated on me, I can't."

"This is your final word?" Inuyasha asked as stood up and walked to the window, not looking back.

"..."

"I hope you realize how cruel you're being, Kagome," Inuyasha said as he turned to her. As he said that, his eyes started to stream and his voice broke.

He jumped out the window and walked slowly towards the Bone Eaters Well. Kagome's eyes streamed as her cold exterior melted away from the sight of Inuyasha's tears. She ran downstairs, then outside after Inuyasha.

Kagome ran into the hut with the well, and saw Inuyasha draw the Tetsusaiga. He turned, because he heard the door slide open. His tears fell rapidly as he turned to see her, as he transformed the Tetsusaiga. He let out a sob as he said "Goodbye, Kagome."

"Wait! Please!"

Even though he heard her desperate cry, he drove the Tetsusaiga through his torso. He cringed, looked at her, smiled, and said "Kaze... no... Ki...zu." The attack went up his body, and he fell through the well.

She jumped in, and when she arrived at the Sengoku Jidai, she picked up Inuyasha and climbed out. She set him down and said, "Inuyasha! Speak to me! PLEASE!"

Miroku said "What happened?" (he, Sango, and Shippo were only a few feet from the well)

"It's all my fault! I said I wouldn't take him back! Shippo, go get Kaede, please!"

"Sure thing!" Shippo said as he raced to find the elderly priestess.

"Inuyasha! Please stay with me!"

"Ka...gome..." Inuyasha said weakly.

She gasped. "Sweetheart!"

Shippo returned with Kaede, running as fast as she could behind him.

"Please, sweetheart! Stay with me! Kaede will make you better!"

As she saw the injuries, and with a quivering voice, Kaede said gravely, "I'm sorry. He's beyond help at this point. Having been brought down by Tetsusaiga, it's miraculous enough that he's still alive... but he is not long for this world, I fear."

"Don't tell me that! You can make it, I know you can!"

Inuyasha said again, "Ka...gome..."

While sobbing, she said "Y-yes?"

"What I wanted... to say before..."

"Yes?"

"Kagome... I... I love y-you." he said as his tears never ceased falling, only fell faster.

"But... why? Why didn't you tell me before?"

"I... was... afraid."

"But..."

"At Kaguya's castle... I wish I would've told... you then."

"But why do this?"

"I thought... that you really did... stop loving me..."

"You've survived worse... you'll make it."

No one else dared to say a word, letting Kagome and Inuyasha have their last moment together, though Sango was crying.

"I'm afraid... Kaede's right... I'm not long... for this world..."

"Please... no..." She took his hand in hers.

"I will always... love you... Kagome," he said as he leaned his head up. She leaned down and kissed him for the last time, for after a few seconds, his grip loosened, and his head fell back.

"Inuyasha? No. Please don't go. Please don't leave me. I need you."

Sango and Miroku embraced as Sango cried on Miroku's shoulder. Kaede bowed her head and Shippo bawled.

"Inuyasha," Kagome sobbed. "Come back, please! Don't leave me."

silence, except for Sango and Shippo crying

"Inuyasha?" She pushed him gently once or twice. "No. No, no, no. NOOO! INUYASHA!" She was sobbing harder and louder than the others.

"Kagome? I'm sorry..." Sango said, as she continued to sob on Miroku's shoulder.

She had barely heard it, she felt so numb.

"Let's go back inside. This has caused much anguish."

"No. I'm staying out here. The only man I ever loved has just died, Sango. I can't leave his side."

Sango started to protest, but Kaede stopped her. "Is there anything I can do for ye, child?"

"Nothing can bring my love back. The Tenseiga is well out of our reach..."

Sango and the others felt so bad, yet they didn't know how to console her.

"But can you bury him beneath the Goshinboku?"

"Of course."

After the service that Miroku provided, they all left her alone, so she could mourn over her loss.

The next morning, Miroku said, "Oh, my God!" as he looked out of the hut.

This got everyone's attention. They stepped out of the hut, and what they saw made them repeat the same scene as when they discovered Inuyasha on the brink of death. (Sango crying on Miroku's shoulder, Shippo crying, and Kaede bowing her head) Kagome was lying face up, with the transformed Tetsusaiga through her stomach. (At Inuyasha's grave, of course)

"How did Tetsusaiga transform for her?" Kaede asked.

"I don't know, but is that a note in her hand?" He unfolded the note, and what he saw made his eyes widen. He read the note aloud:

To: Sango, Shippo, Kirara, Miroku, and Kaede.

I told him I'd always stay by his side,

and I also meant in death.

I'm sorry, but I cannot break a promise,

not to him, my one true love.

I hope you understand why I did this,

but with a broken heart, I oblige

that age old promise.

I ask you all to bury me with him,

so I may be with him in death.

That way, if we don't meet in the next world,

I may still keep my promise.

Love,

Kagome

As he finished reading, they all (except Miroku) shed many tears. They buried her, as she wished, next to Inuyasha. In the hut, Shippo asked, "Do you think that Kagome and Inuyasha met in the Other World?"

"Yes," Miroku said. "In fact, I'm sure they have."

END

Inuyasha manga/anime: Rumiko Takahashi

this storyline: yours truly

credit also goes out to Tony Rich Project, whose song was the primary influence for this fanfic (aside from Inuyasha, of course)

Jonathan Sadler