Hello all fan fiction readers, and writers. Thanks for the long wait. I'm planning to maybe finish this fic by the end of this summer. The chances? Slim to none, probably, but who knows? If anyone would like to collaborate in this fic or my other two, "Hiei's Love" or "Our Hearts of Ice", please feel free to contact me through a review, guestbook comment on the site, or e-mail. I shall be waiting.

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters except for Keirlya and Himitsu.

Aishiteru, My Taiyoukai

Chapter 11: Emancipated Showdown

"Oh my god!" Sango gasped as she watched the incredible transformation of Himitsu right before her very eyes…and everyone else's. She grabbed Miroku's shoulder for support as she couldn't take her eyes off her. "Kagome!" she called, trying to reach for her.

"No.." Miroku stopped her as she gave a sign of disgust.

"Let me go, Miroku!" Sango yelled at him as she tried to pull away. She was trying to rescue her friend, but all he was doing was stopping her from death. "Kagome!'

Kagome stood her ground as the transformation was complete. Himitsu had completely changed like going from geek to chic in a matter of days. Except this was the opposite. Himitsu had looked better her normal demon self. She now looked like her mom, if she had one. Her eyebrows scrunched as she was concentrating her powers. She looked at the moon: new. Soon, Inuyasha would come back as a demon and help her.

"Inuyasha…" she whispered, grasping her bow with her right hand and arrow with the left, figuring out how she would defeat Himitsu alone.

Inuyasha

Inuyasha kept his lips on Kagome's as his hands explored her body, from her jaw her waist. He then caressed her butt and left it there as she moaned in pleasure. Her arms were around his back as he pressed his face against her chest. She started to smirk as a dark abyss formed and her arms reached inside from him. She continued trying to find his darkest thoughts.

"Let go of him." a cold voice cried. Inuyasha and Kagome stopped what they were doing and turned to find the owner of the voice. Inuyasha was in a state of shock, confusion, and pleasure as he was in the presence of both his lovers.

"Kikyo?" he stared at her. He realized he hadn't seen sensed her because of the new moon. His chocolate brown eyes gazed at her auburn stone cold ones as well.

"Get away from him." she commanded as her pale face scrunched in anger. She ordered her soul stealers to attack Kagome. They separated her and Inuyasha as she started to scream, their hold strong and indestructible.

"What're you doing?!" Inuyasha yelled, furious. He wish he could fight, but he couldn't for he had the force of a mere human which could do nothing. He was angry for many things: the fight with Naraku's offspring, his half-blood self, Kikyo and Kagome. "Kagome!" he called to her, trying to reach for her tiny hands.

"You love me, Inuyasha." Kikyo told him sternly. "You kissed me the night Kagome ran away to your brother's keep." she harshly whispered. "And now, what is this?!" she looked as if she had seen two heads and a large growth on his face. "Are you willing to sleep with just anyone now?!"

"I WAS NOT SLEEPING WITH HER!!" Inuyasha raised his voice and then it lowered for his love of Kikyo AND Kagome kept him at bay. The two ends were just tugging at him and he was just the trophy.

"Inuyasha…" Kagome said weakly, "I love you. Please don't leave me." she looked as if she was about to cry. Inuyasha just took her in; he didn't know what to do.

"…" Kikyo just looked down at Kagome who was still struggling with the hold of her soul stealers. "Give it back." she commanded as she approached Kagome slowly with her bow and arrow in hands.

"Kikyo, what are you talking about?" Inuyasha asked as he was even more confused for he had no idea what the two girls knew.

"Follow me." Kikyo emotionlessly instructed as she walked out of the forest. Inuyasha followed briefly after a few minutes of contemplation with Kagome still bound by the soul stealers, grunting and cussing. He looked at the struggled Kagome and still had no clue. So he followed her, curious about everything. He looked at the new moon. Soon, he would become a demon and kill Kanna, Kagura and Himitsu.

Fight

"This is my fight, Sango." Kagome told her friend, not turning her back as she prepared an arrow laced with her purification abilities. She aimed for Himitsu's forehead, where the tiny pink shards were located and released the arrow as it soared swiftly into the air, only to be dodged.

"What are you staring at?!" Himitsu roared fiercely at Kagura, who was on her feather. Kagura cussed at her as she stood on her feather and started to call on all the demons once more. The cadavers from the earth reappeared, their arms and other body parts bursting through the soil as they followed their master.

"All of them!" Kagura yelled with her deep blood red eyes. She pointed with her fan to every single one of them: Sesshoumaru, Miroku, Sango, Shippo, and even Kagome. "Ha ha ha!" she laughed haughtily and simpered evilly with her crimson lips. She really didn't understand why she followed instructions from Himitsu, the youngest of them, but she would ask Naraku when they finished them off. 'Naraku…' she thought as she looked at quiet Kanna, who stared obliviously into space, holding her mirror, like a mannequin of some sorts.

"Here they come again!" Sango yelled as they all looked above to watch the hordes of demons approached the group swiftly and strongly.

"There are so many!" Shippo squealed as he transformed into a large top.

"…" Sesshoumaru took out Tokijin, the only sword he could rely on because Tetsusaiga was not in his grasp and Tenseiga did not do such a thing as kill only restore. He pulled his only reliable weapon out of its scabbard and prepared for another round of demon slaying.

"I'll go first!" Miroku yelled, volunteering as he stepped in front of the group and opened the purple cloth, revealing the cursed chasm Naraku had bestowed upon his ancestors. "Kazaana!" Miroku yelled brazenly as he positioned his hand and the demons were sucked in like a vacuum sucks dirt.

"Monk!" Kagura yelled. "Go!" she looked as the saimyosho appeared and relentlessly flew into the horde that was being sucked.

"Gah, saimyosho!" Miroku yelled as he covered the cloth before he was infected with the deadly poison. He cringed as he saw more and more demons. 'So many…can we really do this?' he asked himself, subconsciously looking into the night sky. 'Inuyasha…'

Kagome and Himitsu

"Please, priestess…" Himitsu mocked as she swiped away the three arrows that were released. "This will not work, you should know that." she smiled an evil smile. Kagome was starting to get tired as she continued to fire arrows giving away a little bit more of her energy. She started panting heavily as she continued to stare at Himitsu, refusing to back down.

"I …" she exhaled, "..will NOT give up!" she insisted. The kimono was now ruined, dirty and dripping with Kagome's blood as she stood back up on her two feet. There were a few cuts on her cheek but the ones on her legs, arms, and side helped contribute to the blood stains on the silk. 'I can't believe I ruined the dress!' she told herself as she took an arrow from her quiver.

"Just give us the rest of the Shikon shards." Himitsu told her in a deep voice. "Naraku has the other half so all we need are the ones you have collected." she explained, revealing too much information.

"Never!" Kagome yelled, glancing quickly at the night sky. It was getting much lighter than before and gave her a sense of renewed hope.

"Then you will die, priestess." Himitsu gravely warned as she disappeared and swiftly attacked Kagome with her sword. Kagome dodged it just in time. "Very lucky."

Kikyo and Inuyasha

"Where the hell are you taking me?" Inuyasha asked harshly as he followed her, a few feet away. She silently stopped, her Shinto shrine outfit swaying in the wind.

"To the truth." she briefly stated as she continued. He had no choice but to follow. He felt torn between Kikyo and Kagome. He had fallen for Kikyo 50 years ago and was still in love with her. But her reincarnation, Kagome, was something different yet similar to Kikyo, whom he loved. He knew he felt something for Kagome as well, something more than their weird friendship and teamwork. He didn't know if it was love, for if it was, it was only for Kikyo.

Inuyasha followed her past the trees and shrubs and realized that it was where Sango, Miroku, and Shippo went. He looked around and heard battle sounds. 'The battle!'

"I can't go there." Inuyasha stopped Kikyo, touching her clay shoulder. "They'll see my weakness." He pleaded to her with his chocolate brown eyes.

"I am not leading you in full view of them." she explained as she turned left, the battle sounds and cries, still heard but not seen. He heard a familiar voice. Inuyasha took a peek by the brush and was downright mortified and shocked as he saw what was in his view. It was of a beaten down Kagome in a battered kimono against what looked like Himitsu.

"What the FUCK?" he said loudly. "That is NOT Kagome!" he told Kikyo, whose expression did not change. Her stare indicated that it truly was her. 'It is NOT her. No way in hell!' He turned to Kikyo, but she was gone. He felt a tingly sensation as his body began to transform back into a demon. He watched his nails turned from short and stubby to long and pointy, perfect for killing. He then felt his ears change into pointy dog ears, his sense of hearing amazingly good. His brown eyes turned to rich amber as his sight was unbelievably good as well. And lastly, his dark hair turned to pure white as he bore his newly transformed fangs. "Now?" he whined, as he didn't relish the feel of turning back to demon. 'I'll sort this later. I have to help Kagome!'

Kagome and Himitsu

Kagome panted heavily, her lungs being suffocated as she inhaled and exhaled. Sweat dripped down her face and other parts of her body as she fell on her knees. She untied the obi and took off the first layer of the beautiful now soiled silk kimono. It was weighing her down through its tightness on her body. Himitsu still had her energy as she laughed dangerously, walking slowly towards her.

"Aw.. Did the little priestess get tired?" she asked mockingly, exaggerating a dramatic frown as she smirked evilly, her long, white fangs. She was now towering over the fallen priestess as she held her bow tightly. "If you had just given me the shards, everything would be fine now!" she explained, then she whispered, her hot breath in Kagome's ear, "Goodbye." she smirked as she raised the sword and sliced, Kagome's face in timorous expression, her eyes widening. 'Inuyasha!' she thought once more, closing her eyes, awaiting her death.

"Get the hell away from her!!" Inuyasha cried, jumping in, Tetsusaiga in hand as he sliced her arm. "Are you okay, Kagome?" Inuyasha took her hand, pulling her up against him. His amber She was weak, but was able to stand her ground.

"Yeah, thanks a lot," she smiled weakly, as she still concentrated, preparing her arrow.

"Gah!" Himitsu hissed as her detached arm fell to the ground, dark crimson blood spewing out of the open laceration with her hands still gripping her sword tightly. "Fucking demon!" she hissed, her eyes showed death as she took her sword with her left hand. Inuyasha was a little surprised, thinking she wouldn't be equally strong with that arm. "I'm fucking ambidextrous, asshole!" she cussed even more as she attacked him.

Inuyasha raised Tetsusaiga in defense as he watched Himitsu disappear from place to place. His amber eyes followed her every move. She may have gotten more demonic energy, but he could still see her, but to some human, it would look like a blur. He smirked as he saw her raise the sword and blocked it with his own. Spark flew as weapon hit weapon, sending them both back, dust rising.

"Look!" Sango pointed as she used her boomerang bone to ward off the saimyosho. "Inuyasha!"

Miroku and Shippo turned to look at their demon friend, faces gleaming even though they were tired and sweaty. Even Sesshoumaru looked, but only for a slight bit as he sliced the cadaverous soldiers and horde of demons.

"Uh…boring!" Kagura gave up, watching from her feather in the sky. She stopped the call of the demons as her feather lightly floated down into the ground. She jumped off and feather returned as her hairpin, which she stuck in her raven hair carelessly. "Fuujinomai!" she cried, releasing masses of wind blades from her fan, angry and tired. "Get them!" she yelled at the cadavers as they rose up and attacked with their own mind.

"Get ready!" Shippo yelled as he turned into the top and squished most of the cadavers. Sesshoumaru finished them off with Tokijin and pushed the wind blade away. Kagura sent more and more clusters of her wind blades.

"Kazaana!" Miroku unleashed his hell hole which sucked the wind blades into his hands.

"Hiraikotsu!" Sango yelled as she threw her large boomerang which hit Kagura, sending her small frame to the ground and half her face, bleeding. Blood red eyes stared back at Sango as Kagura got back up.

"Ryuujinomai." she spoke with a deadly tone as she released her most powerful attack.

Kikyo

Kikyo returned to the site where her soul stealers were binding Kagome. She still was there grunting and tried using her demonic powers.

"What do you want?" Kagome hissed, her eyes devilish.

"Give back part of his soul you stole." Kikyo demanded, looking down at her. Her face serious and voice arid. Her sullen eyes stared down at Kagome's.

"I have no idea what you are talking about!" Kagome yelled as she struggled. The soul stealers then went inside of her, both long tailed creatures, entering her body. Kagome struggled for a bit, then lay motionless as Kikyo put her by a tree.

Himitsu, Inuyasha, and Kagome

Inuyasha and Himitsu fought with their swords, slicing thin air and trying to hit their enemy. Every time Himitsu was hit, she would recover most of her energy and became much stronger. She came at Inuyasha again, and he dodged her attack, but didn't see the rest, as she went into a full circle, her blade meeting his skin.

"Agh!" Inuyasha cried as his fire rat kimono was soaked with blood. He cussed as he still fought.

"Inuyasha!" Kagome called as she took a rest. Her energy and strength were slowly increasing, but she was still weak. 'How are we to defeat them?' she asked herself, feeling hope drain out of her slowly.

Dear Child…a voice called to her. She was alert as she looked around to see where the voice had come from. She looked out at the battlefield and it seemed that she was the only one to heard. 'Who is it?' the voice had seemed familiar to her, but she couldn't put her tongue on it.

Oh Child…it is I, Midoriko… the voice revealed, her motherly presence surrounding her, putting her soul and body at ease. 'Oh, Midoriko…' Kagome thought , 'how do I defeat them?'

You will know, Child, when the time comes…just believe in yourself and your teammates… 'But, how?!' The voice did not answer her this time and the ethereal feeling had dissipated.

"I just don't get it." Kagome frowned, but she had a renewed strength. "Right." she told her self as she prepared an arrow. While Inuyasha was fighting, keeping Himitsu distracted, she aimed for the forehead.

"Steady.." she told herself. 'Steady!" She let the arrow soar into the air, as it hit its mark: the Shikon shard.

Kagura

Kagura unleashed her Dragon Dance. A wind tornado as high as the heavens formed from her tiny fan as it picked up anything in its path. The tornado came at the Inu-tachi, sucking dirt, soil, and other things.

"Guys, watch out!" Sango cried as she called on Kirara. Kirara transformed into the large fire feline, carrying her and Miroku on her back as they soared in the air. Shippo had transformed into the giant pink balloon and Sesshoumaru was atop his red cloud, all looking down at the scene below. The white twister eventually died out .

"Hiraikotsu!" Sango unleashed her boomerang once more. Kagura would not let herself get hit, so she let out her 'Fuujinomai' to counteract the boomerang. Sango caught it, feeling restless. "What are we to do?" she asked them, even Sesshoumaru. "Nothing we can do, can defeat her!"

"Now let's think.." Miroku said, in deep thought. It was actually a difficult challenge for them since Kagura was aided by hordes of demons and Naraku's Saimyosho which appear whenever she beckoned them to. It didn't seem to Miroku that Kagura would call on the demons again, so he ruled out that situation. He COULD use Kazaana, but she would just call on the Saimyosho, so that was out of the question. He DID take into account Sango's demon slayer poison. Shippo could also transform into something useful. And Sesshoumaru…well…Sesshoumaru could do whatever. "Guys.." he told them. "let's distract her first." They nodded; Sesshoumaru did too as they went back to the battlefield.

Himitsu, Inuyasha, and Kagome

"AHHH!!" Himitsu cried with agony as she grasped her forehead with her one arm, her cry echoing through the morning sky.

"Himitsu!" Kagura yelled. She couldn't help her at the time for Sango, Miroku, Shippo, and Sesshoumaru were battling her. "Kanna!" Kanna had stepped in the battle, creating a strong shield with her mirror as Kagura rushed to her aid.

"Not so fast!" Miroku yelled as he threw one of his scrolls, which bounded her. Kagura was stuck at her place for a while, but she increased her energy and broke through it. An arrow hit before her feet, it sizzling with purification energy. Kagura looked confused as she saw that Kagome had her full strength.

'No… it can't be!' Kagura thought to herself as she saw her younger sister cry in pain.

"One more step and you're done!" Kagome threatened, her eyes meaning every single word. She quickly took out another arrow and set it with her bow, aiming at Himitsu, who was still screaming, trying to take out the arrow, but couldn't because of the purification energy.

"Yeah, Kagome!" Shippo hoorayed as he watched the whole scene play out with the rest. Himitsu was sizzling and was burning with the purity, her one shard falling to the ground.

"NARAKU!" Himitsu screamed. "KAGURA! KANNA!" Kagome felt that this was the right time so she let the arrow go as it hit its mark again , the second and last shard falling to the ground.

"No, Himitsu!" Kagura yelled, as Himitsu's scream intensified and she slowly changed back into her normal self, her forehead sizzling. Himitsu was still able to fight, but only with one hand.

"Iron Reaver Soul Stealer!" Inuyasha yelled his claws slashing through her side.

"Ah!" Himitsu cried in pain, her side bleeding profusely. She had no extra demon energy left as she still continued to fight. Her long sword clashed with Inuyasha and her agility was still better than his, but she was weak, and he has retained some for later. 'Smart one.' she smirked cynically.

"Fuujinomai!" Kagura yelled, her wind helping her sister. She would not allow her to die, for if that happened, she would get punished.

Kagome wasn't sure about Himitsu having a heart unlike Kagura but she felt a humongous urge to do so. 'This must be the feeling Midoriko told me.' she thought as she aimed the arrow and let it silently hit its target.

"Ha." Kagura smiled. "She doesn't have a heart, just like the rest of us." Himitsu would not die and she knew it. But her smile quickly turned into a frown as the arrow hit and Himitsu stopped, a bright shining light at her chest. "Himitsu?" she rushed over there. Kagura pressed her elf like ears and heard the ba-bump of an actual heartbeat.

"Heh.." Himitsu fell to the ground, smiling weakly. "You're free now, sis. And Kanna, too." she managed to say.

"What the hell are you talking about?!" Kagura shook her sister. "Free?"

"You see…" she coughed, " I snuck in and took your heart, putting it inside you." she pointed to Kagura's chest. "You'd be free because he now has nothing controlling you." Shippo, Miroku, Sango and Sesshoumaru walked over. Kanna stood quietly from the crowd, mirror in hand like always.

"What does that have to do with your heart?!" Kagura hissed again. She was free! She couldn't believe it! She also couldn't believe what Himitsu had done.

"This was probably my punishment. Naraku probably knew and put my heart back into my body." she explained slowly. "Take care of each other." she smiled, a genuine one, at the whole group. "Thank you." was the last thing she muttered as her eyes shut forever and her mouth closed in a straight line, her head slowly lolling back into the dirt. The bleeding continued but the breathing, unfortunately, did not.

"Himitsu! Goddamn you, Himitsu!" Kagura angrily said. She stood up, her face hardening, as she figured out something. The mirror. Kagura took the mirror from Kanna and took Himitsu's weapon. Without any emotion, she thrust the steel weapon into the glass, shattering it into many pieces on the ground. She looked at Kagome, who flinched slightly. "Do me a favor, please," she started, "destroy this mirror with your purification powers." Kagome obeyed with her friends on guard , in case of anything, as Kagome did just that. Sesshoumaru started to leave the group, realizing he had to get Jaken, Keirlya, Rin, and Ah-Un back to the palace.

"We are now free, thanks to her." an unfamiliar voice spoke. Everyone turned to see that it was Kanna who had spoken!

"Whoa, you talked?" Inuyasha asked. Kanna nodded as she shut her mouth again, her eyes giving Kagura's a signal.

"Since you helped us, we will help you." Kagura felt at peace as she led them to the forest, where Inuyasha recognized, he was with 'Kagome.' They were surprised to see Kikyo, holding a white ball of light in her hands and Kagome, still bound by the soul stealers. Kikyo approached Inuyasha silently, the group stared in awe as she pushed the white ball back into his body.

"What was that for?" Inuyasha asked, holding her shoulder, which hurt Kagome slightly. She still had not healed and was comforted by Sango, Miroku, and Shippo. But Kagome was still weirded out with the other Kagome who looked exactly like her.

"I will not take you to hell with a piece of you missing. I plan to take ALL of you." she said, turning to him, and then leaving, her soul stealers following her as she disappeared in the brush.

"Oh my god!" she said as she approached the copy, who was still devilish and evil. Kagura held the copy with her fan.

"This is a new project Naraku has been working on." Kagura explained. "He made us gather DNA of certain people and created lifelike forms of them, intending to take away the souls through enticement." she looked at Inuyasha who looked slightly embarrassed.

"Enticement?" Kagome asked Sango and Miroku. She was in high school, but still didn't know what that word meant.

"Uh…" Miroku sweat dropped. "Well…"

"It's …uh…" Sango said.

"Seduction." Kagura interrupted, "which I'm sure she did. She tried seducing you, am I right, Inuyasha ?" Kagura asked. Inuyasha nodded slightly, embarrassed and red.

"Inuyasha!" Kagome angrily said.

"What?" Inuyasha asked innocently. "I thought it was you!"

"SIT!" the beads listened and pulled Inuyasha hard on the floor, his face with dirt.

"Watch out for him." Kagura finally said as she took the feather from her hair and threw it, the small hairpin becoming a large feather. Kanna rode on it along with Kagura as they floated higher. They looked at the Inu-tachi and left without a word, going wherever the wind would take them.

"Inuyasha, come to me." the copy Kagome enticed once more. Furiously, Kagome used her purification powers and killed the copy, burning the flesh off.

"Hey, where's Sesshoumaru?" Kagome looked around.

"Who cares?" Inuyasha said with his mouth full of earth.

"SIT!"

Sesshoumaru

Sesshoumaru followed Rin's scent as he found her along with Keirlya, Jaken, and Ah-Un, around a hill with lots of flowers. He silently strode in, calling to them.

"it's time to go back." he said as Keirlya bowed, calling Rin over.

"Sesshoumaru sama!" Rin smiled toothily picking up flowers. 'Rin found lots of flowers!" She held a large variety of flowers to him as he nodded.

"There will be more when we get back." he managed to say as Keirlya rode on Ah-Un with Rin and Jaken followed annoyingly.

"Oh, master Sesshoumaru, I'm sure you defeated them all by yourself!" he praised him over and over and Sesshoumaru hit him on the head. "Ow.."

"Ha ha, Jaken got hiit!" Rin joked as they were led back to the palace.

"Keirlya, set Rin to bed. Rest yourself." Sesshoumaru ordered as Keirlya bowed and took Rin in by the hand, bringing her down the hall. Ah-Un were taken by Jaken around the back as Sesshoumaru walked around a bit, the afternoon sky up above.

"Hey!" a voice called behind him. He turned around, his face not frightened or surprised for it was Kagome. "Why did you leave?" she asked him, her brow furrowing as chocolate met amber.

"Why are you here?" he questioned her roughly. "You've found your friends, now leave my grounds." he commanded. Kagome was saddened by this as she held the kimono in her hands.

"Look, I'm sorry about this kimono." she said sadly as she was only wearing the undergarments. "I know you don't want this back. It's ruined." Sesshoumaru had no clue why she was crying over the garments, but did not feel the need to comfort her or feel pity.

"Leave." he commanded, his voice a little stronger.

"I want to say goodbye to Rin first!" Kagome yelled back at him. Tears settled at the bottom of her eyes as they slightly dropped down her cheeks. Sesshoumaru did not look at her and did not argue as she stormed into the hallway. She then came out. ".. I don't know where she is."

Sesshoumaru led her down the hallway, dismissing Keirlya as they entered Rin's flowery room. She was lying under her light pink blankets, quietly sleeping.

"Oh, she's asleep." Kagome whispered. She was about to turn around until a voice called her over. Kagome turned around to see a bug toothy grin on Rin's innocent face. Sesshoumaru left the room as he let the two girls say their farewells.

'Rin has taken a liking to her.' Sesshoumaru thought as he stood near the door. 'She's leaving.'

"Rin, you're so sneaky!" Kagome smiled, tickling her. "I thought you were asleep!" Rin laughed out loud.

"I was waiting for you, silly!!" Rin smiled. "Why are you here? Are you sleeping here?" Rin asked hopefully. Kagome stopped the tickling and they settled. Rin's smile vanished as tears welled in her eyes. "You're leaving aren't you?"

"I'm sorry, Rin…" Kagome quietly said. "My friends have come back."

"No! That's a lie!" Rin yelled furiously. "Rin and Sesshoumaru sama are you friends! You're leaving us!!" she pouted, crying at the same time.

"Rin, I only stayed here because-"

"NO! GO AWAY! I HATE YOU, KAGOME!" Rin shouted as Kagome's eyes widened. Tears began to well up in her eyes as Rin started throwing pillows at her.

"Goodbye, Rin." Kagome managed to say as she left. Kagome was struck with sadness as she heard Rin's voice over and over again. NO! GO AWAY! I HATE YOU, KAGOME! Kagome started sniffling as she hit her head on something soft and firm. She looked up to see Sesshoumaru's amber eyes on hers. She wiped away the tears, knowing he hated them. "She called me Kagome. She never does." she managed to say through choked words. Sesshoumaru just stood there. It was their last time together, he knew that. Would it be so hard for him to express a little feeling?

Sesshoumaru wrapped his arms around her small frame as she started sobbing on his clothes. He felt something in him, but subdued it as she also hugged him, her arms around his waist since he was much taller than her. She looked up at him feeling miserable as the thought of leaving him and Rin. Rin had left a permanent mark in her life along with Sesshoumaru, whom she thought was a selfish bastard. She realized she was wrong as she saw the way he had treated Rin…as his own daughter. Her heart was able to mend itself as she stayed with them for a few days and realized she was happy there. But leaving Sango, Shippo, Miroku, Kirara, and her first love, Inuyasha behind, tugged at her. She had decided she had to go with them. Collecting the Shikon shards was her responsible anyway.

"I wish I could stay." she whispered, knowing his amazing hearing had heard that.

"I do too." Sesshoumaru said. Kagome looked at him and smiled. She took the arm with the stub as a hand and rubbed it back and forth, smiling. Sesshoumaru flinched slightly at her soft touch, and soon warmed up to it. "What are you doing?" he asked, confused.

"My gift to you." she smiled as a warm sensation erupted into his arm and the stub formed into his former hand with long nails and a maroon stripe through the forearm. Amazed, an expression of shock filled his face- the most expression Kagome had seen. She looked happy as he took his arm and looked at it, up and down, examining every inch.

"You did it." he said, overjoyed. He placed his hands on her shoulders as he slowly kissed her on the lips, taking Kagome by surprise. Her chocolate brown eyes widened as she melted into his arms, returning the kiss, feeling overjoyed. His lips were soft and delicate. She knew they were virgin lips, never kissing a woman in his lifetime until now. Passion erupted between them but he did not force his tongue into hers like all the other guys did. They broke apart and he hugged her , their last hug, as he absorbed her luscious scent. "I'll miss you."

"I will too…" Kagome started to cry again, as she touched Sesshoumaru's soft tail. She held his hand as he took her out to the forest, where she was to meet her friends. "Goodbye, Sesshoumaru." she softly spoke, her head lowered as she let go of his hand, never looking back.

"Goodbye…" Sesshoumaru said, his heart feeling lighter, "Kagome."