AN: OH MY GOSH! It has taken me so long to find just the right direction to take this one-shot! I had thought and thought and thought and nothing ever came. Then the other day I was driving down the highway and a song came on the radio and it hit me! Anyway, I'm going to get down to it and I hope you enjoy (even if this one is a little short). Also, sorry about my obscenely long absence!

Disclaimer: I don't own, please don't sue!

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Chapter 12: At What Point…
Pairing: Kagome/Jin Kariya
Rating: T (Mostly for imagery towards the end)
For: Slypy

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At what point do the stars in the night sky lose their luster?

When the girl with stars in her eyes can no longer looks at you.

"Jin! Jin, come outside! The sky is so clear! Aren't the stars beautiful? It seems like forever since I've seen them. I'm glad the storm clouds have finally passed," Kagome said as she rubbed her arms in the cool night air.

As she was suddenly pulled back against a strong chest, she tilted her head back and smiled up at her lover as she gazed into his crimson eyes. "Look up, silly!"

"I don't think I will. I've found something better right here," Jin replied as he kissed the smaller woman's forehead.

At what point does food lose its taste?

When the woman who made your favorite dishes is no longer in the kitchen.

"Okay, close your eyes and open your mouth," Kagome said as she held a bowl of something behind her back. Jin looked at her warily from his chair at their table. Rolling her eyes, Kagome stated again, "Close your eyes and open your mouth."

Complying after a moment, Jin did as told hoping that he wouldn't regret it. A spoon touched his bottom lip and he opened wider to accommodate before closing his lips around the utensil to prevent spilling anything. The spoon left his mouth leaving behind a warm liquid with different chunks of food. Keeping his eyes shut, he chewed and analyzed the different tastes. He eventually swallowed and opened his eyes to look at the woman he loved as she waited eagerly for his opinion.

"That was delicious! What is it?" He asked.

Kagome beamed before setting the bowl of food in front of him and answering, "It's called Oden. My mother taught me how to make it a long time ago."

At what point do bells begin to ring dully?

When the woman with the tinkling laughter is silent.

Jin couldn't help the smile the sound that reached his ears. He stood with groceries in his arms as the woman he had chosen to spend his long life with played with some of the town's many children. He had noticed some of the townspeople giving them odd looks and muttering on their never-altering appearance. He knew that they would be forced to leave soon and find somewhere new to live.

A ball of cold slush collided with the side of his head. He turned to look at the smiling woman before she began laughing at the half-hearted glare that he was giving her. The church bells began to ring and he mused that the seemed to be in perfect harmony with Kagome's laughter.

Christmas…they would stay in this town until Christmas, at least.

At what point does hatred begin to consume you?

When the only person to fill your heart with love is no longer in your life.

Jin ran as quickly as his legs could carry him. It had been a mistake to stay in this town for as long as they had. He should have talked her into leaving sooner. And now he feared that it may be too late. He had been out gathering wood for their fire when he noticed the smoke coming from the direction of their home.

Running into the clearing, his heart both flew and sank at what met his eyes. Kagome was fine, but she was on her knees crying beside the burning embers that was once their house. When she noticed that he was there she ran into his embrace and cried at the loss of their home and what it meant for them.

He quickly became angry. How dare they? Surely the townspeople had hoped that they had been inside the house as it burned.

Kagome reached up to cup his face with her small hands. When he looked down at her tear streaked face, she smiled weakly up at him as if knowing exactly what he'd been thinking. "Please don't hate them," she said softly. "They're only human and don't understand. They're only afraid and it causes them to make quick and harsh decisions."

Jin wondered at how someone could be so forgiving, but he marveled at how with only a few words that same person was able to calm his fury and help him find acceptance. They would begin a search for a new home as soon as they gathered what possessions they could from the dying fire.

At what point do you decide to forfeit your immortal life?

When the person who you planned to spend it with dies.

"Hurry!" Jin shouted as his hand tightened around Kagome's. Tales of an immortal couple had reached the town that they lived in sooner than either had expected. And now they had to run.

It was dark and hard to find a path through the dense forest, but they were gaining precious distance from them mob chasing them as they ran. They suddenly broke into an open field and both ran as fast as they could to make it to the trees on the other side. If they could make it, it was likely that they would be able to get away.

They were over halfway across the field when a gunshot rang through the air. Jin's heart almost stopped when he heard Kagome's cry from beside him before her hand went limp and she fell to the ground.

"Kagome!" He shouted and he turned to drop to his knees by her side. The woman he loved lay on the grass-covered earth as a pool of her own blood gathered around her from the holes in her back and chest. She could no longer speak but he watched as her eyes connected with his for the last time and the light within them dulled.

Anger and hatred raged within him as he called upon his powers over the wind and pushed the mob back the way they came. Any that were still conscious after their collision with the surrounding trees ran back to their homes in fear for their lives.

Jin watched as the jewel Kagome had worn around her neck glowed brightly before five lights shot forth into the night sky to disappear amongst the stars. The jewel itself the proceeded to dull and dissipate into the night air like a fine dust.

He sat there for several long moments before deciding to pick her up and carry her to a safe burial place. Jin wasn't sure what he would do once he was finished and forced to leave Kagome behind, but he did know that he would find those that were like himself. He would seek his brethren out and then he would find a way to follow her into the night.

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AN: And there it is. The chapter that has given me so much trouble! I hope that it was worth the ridiculous wait. Nothing much else to say here except that the next character on my list is Zangetsu :]

But I have an idea! Call it a little contest, if you wish. Because this took so long to do and was randomly inspired by a song that just happened to come on the radio, if anyone can guess the song I will do a one-shot specifically for you. Not related to this series, you can request any pairing you want from any other show/movie/what-have-you! It will be a separate story all on its own. The only pairings that I'm taking off the table are those involving characters from the Twilight series because I refuse to have anything to do with it…sorry :/ The only hints to the song you're getting are within some of the different sections of the story. Have fun, thanks for reading, and I hope I'll see you the next time around!