Stopping short at the entrance of the den, Kouga ordered a few of the wolves to gather some supplies for Kagome. He growled in frustration as he set Kagome down on a bed of furs, only to have her body loll back and forth from the motion. Kouga rubbed the back of his knuckles against her soft cheek and pulled some furs up to her chin.

"Please be alright," he murmured to her, pleaded with her.

Kagome's eyebrows crinkled together and she coughed. "Inuyasha," she mumbled. Kouga took a step back, his heart constricted painfully in his chest. He sat down beside her and brushed the hair off her face. He knew what he had to do.

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Inuyasha tightened his grip on the hilt of his inheritance, the sword he was destined to have. He stared through a crimson gaze at the evil hanyou that dared to hurt Kagome, the girl he was destined to be with. A thought flitted across his hazy mind. How was he a full demon and still in control? Kagome. The answer came to him. She kept him sane through the craziness. He would defend her and protect her forever.

As Inuyasha raised his fang sword, he felt a rush of power flow into him and settle. This was it. He would tear that worthless Naraku limb from limb until he regretted ever touching Kagome. He barely noticed when his feet sprang forward as he rushed Naraku. His power was building, even as the evil hanyou blocked each of his attacks. They were becoming quicker. His power was increasing still.

Stupid ass, Inuyasha thought as he blindsided Naraku and blew half of his body of tentacles away. Sango's hiraikotsu came flying into view. Naraku easily blocked it and tossed it from sight. She was already atop Kirara and after her weapon as it sailed across the tree tops and out of sight. Miroku was tossing sutras as fast as he could at Naraku from the tree line, while dodging tentacles and random demons.

Inuyasha didn't know when his two friends had rushed to the scene, but he was thankful for the added distraction as they battled. He could feel his skin starting to tingle. He sent Naraku a grin before bracing himself and pushing all of the power that had built up, out and through the blade. The force that ripped out of the legendary sword blasted Inuyasha back. He managed to get back to his feet as the attack hit Naraku dead on. His massive body broke into dust, falling and floating on the breeze. His head landed on the ground in the middle of the debris, his eyes a blank and dead. Inuyasha stalked over to it and thrust his sword though it, spitting in the ashes of his fallen enemy.

"Kami," he heard behind him. He turned to see Miroku staring at his hand, the wind tunnel gone. When Inuyasha stepped toward him to see, Miroku leaned into a fighting stance, his staff poised in front of him. "Sango, stay back," he said as the demon slayer and her partner landed behind him.

"Is he going to attack us too?" she asked.

Attack them too? Inuyasha paused and looked down at his hands. His claws were twice as long as normal. Twice as deadly. He was still a full demon and they were afraid of him. "Sango," he started, but closed his lips over his elongated fangs. She'd flinched at the gravely voice that had come out.

"Don't look at her." Miroku tightened his grip on his staff and stepped in front of Sango, hiding her from view. "Inuyasha, if you can hear me, revert back to your half-demon self."

"Of course I can hear you, idiot. I'm not deaf," Inuyasha bit out.

Miroku's eyebrows raised, though his hold on his weapon remained steady. "You mean, you're in control?"

Inuyasha scoffed. "I think I would've killed you by now if I wasn't." Inuyasha sheathed his sword and crossed his arms over his chest. "I repeat: idiot."

Miroku and Sango watched as his claws and fangs shortened, the stripes on his cheeks faded and the red returned to the glorious gold color they all recognized. Surprised again, though this time he fell into a relaxed stance, Miroku let out a sigh of relief. "How were you in control?" he asked.

Inuyasha shrugged. "I just kept thinking about Kagome." His cheeks pinked a bit as he admitted this.

"Why didn't that ever work before?" Sango questioned.

Because I never let myself admit how I feel about her. He thought this, though he didn't say it out loud. The blush on his cheeks darkened a bit before he shook his head. "I don't know."

"I can't believe it's gone," Miroku said, absently. Sango took his hand, the one with a newly formed scar in the shape of a small swirl. She rubbed a finger across it and he shuddered. "It tickles," he smiled. "I've never felt the palm of this hand before."

"Cut the crap," Inuyasha said, sick of this tender moment. He wanted a tender moment of his own. "Where did wolf shit take Kagome?"

"He ran toward the village." Before Sango turned to point, Inuyasha had taken off at full speed. "Who do you hope wins Kagome's heart?" she asked Miroku, who was still staring at his hand, which was still in hers.

"All I care about, my dearest, is your heart." He smiled and before she realized and could pull her hand away, he pulled her into an embrace. "It's over. We can finally be together."

She laughed into his chest and threw her arms around his neck. "Finally."

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Inuyasha dashed as fast as he could to Kaede's hut. Skidding to a stop outside of it, he caught Kouga's trail heading in a different direction.

"He ran off with her," Kaede said, emerging from her home. "He felt this was too close to the battle."

Inuyasha took off again without so much as a nod, leaving the old priestess in the dust. He was sure that the wolf had taken her to his den. It would only take an hour or so to run the distance, so Inuyasha forced himself to run faster. Kagome. Her name echoing in his mind was driving his need to see her higher, farther. He would hold her in his arms, whether she liked it or not. Would she consider him a failure for letting her get hurt the way she was? He shook his head. Not his Kagome. She would never think bad of anyone. Seeing the good in everything was usually what led to her being manipulated for the jewel. He smiled. She'd be by his side forever and he'd protect her with everything he had. If only she'd choose him. His smile wavered. What would he do if she chose the wolf?

"No," Inuyasha growled. He had to be the one.

Coming up quick on the wolf den, Inuyasha could hear Kagome's laughter. Relief washed though him so fast that he almost tripped on his feet. Her laughter was dizzying. When he saw her, she was sitting just inside, a small wolf cub was playing with a rope, tugging and pulling, trying to get the other end out of her hand. It let out playful little growls, making her giggle louder. Inuyasha could see Kouga standing nearby, a look he couldn't quite place on his face.

Before she could protest, Inuyasha pulled her up into his arms and squeezed her gently. He buried his nose in her hair; her scent calmed him instantly. "Are you okay?" he asked quietly.

"Yes, I'm fine," she said, her voice kind. She knew the things he thought about when she was injured. Fully blaming himself was what he usually did. No doubt about it, he had probably scoured his mind for a way to make it up to her, even though she didn't see him at fault for her injuries. He set her on her feet slowly, loving the way she slid down his body before her toes touched the earthen floor. He pulled her hand out and dropped Naraku's chunk of the sacred jewel into her hand. She stared at it for a minute, unsure of what she was seeing.

"I destroyed him for good," he said, his voice still quiet.

Kagome blinked. "Y-you destroyed him?"

"I wasn't alone, if that's what you're thinking," Inuyasha said quickly.

"So he's really gone then, muttface?" Kouga said, coming up to stand on Kagome's other side.

"He's gone," Inuyasha confirmed with a firm nod of his head. "That bastard didn't stand a chance."

The conversation lulled to a halt and Kagome could feel two sets of eyes on her. They were waiting for her to finish their earlier discussion, which involved her breaking someone's heart. Kagome cleared her throat and looked at her shoes. She hated herself at that moment. She was too much of a coward to look either one of them in the eyes. She opened her mouth to speak when Kouga pulled her into a hug. She could feel Inuyasha tense beside her.

"Kagome," he sighed. "Oh, Kagome." He let go of her and rubbed the back of his knuckles up her cheek.

"Kouga?" she asked, confused.

"I don't want you to pick me," he said finally.

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I know this update took me forever to do. I apologize. I have one more chapter to write, then this story should be finished. For those of you who like Kagome/Kouga pairings, I wrote a one-shot about them. It's called "Wolfy." I think it's a cute little story. So...read this...comment...then read that...then comment again! Please, let me know what you're thinking after you read my stories. Comments/reviews help me, encourage me. Thanks again guys! Oh, and sorry for the cliff-hanger...I promise it's the last one...for this story at least. ;p

Love,

iheartinuyasha