"You've exceeded my expectations, you two. I never imagined you'd be here so soon," Kanna said quietly. Kagome was so shocked she couldn't speak, and Shippo was growling underneath his breath. Ranten was whimpering, and Kagome could feel the fear coming off of her. All things given, Ranten was being fairly brave.

"Why are you here?" Shippo bit out, his claws at the ready. "Is this another trick of Naraku's?"

Kanna shook her head. "It is not. Come in, please." She walked away, light illuminating the path where she walked. Kagome trudged on forward despite Shippo's protests, and Ranten followed closely behind.

They sat on the tatami mats as Kanna levitated her mirror toward them. Shippo begrudgingly sat behind the girls.

Kagome finally said, "You're the witch?"

Kanna nodded. "After your comrades were defeated by Naraku, he gave me back my heart for my loyalty." She paused, her eyes white with an emotion, perhaps. "I fled immediately. He has never been able to find me. I've been waiting for this day for years."

Shippo cocked a brow. "Why so? Why would you defy him?"

Kanna's lips turned down subtly. "What he's doing isn't right." Her eyes were hard and unforgiving. "He killed my sister. He shall get what he deserves. You heard correctly about my powers. I can indeed fix the well." She waved her hand over the mirror, and they all saw the well. "Naraku is aware of your presence, and now, the well his heavily guarded."

Kanna reached a hand inside herself, and Kagome gasped at the tiny thing in her palm.

"A Shikon Jewel shard!" Kagome whispered. It was ridiculously small, but it was a shard. "How did you get that?"

Kanna smiled softly. "I stole it; it's so small that Naraku didn't notice." She dropped it into Kagome's palm. " It's how I got you back here, and it's how you'll return to the past." She put the mirror down. "I will lower the levels of the water so you can pass through. I will restore the magic in the well. It will take me about a half day." She pointed to a door. "You are free to roam the estate as I prepare."

Kagome nodded and remained as Shippo and Ranten left. "What will it take to fix the well?"

Kanna's lips twitched. "It will take almost all my power."

Kagome gulped. "Will I….remember?"

Kanna smiled. "Yes. Both you and I will remember." Kanna pressed her lips to a bowl of water. "The others…I can't say." Kagome felt her heart sink. "I'm sorry," Kanna said. "Excuse me, but I must prepare now. Please join the others."

Kagome stumbled across Ranten at the entrance. "Where are you going?"

Ranten shrugged, a pained smile on her face. "I'm going to visit my sister's grave. I'll travel on a cloud, and I'll be back by the morning." She stopped for a moment. "I'm sorry I was so mean to you. If I have a chance to redo this…I'll treat you better."

Then she was off.

Kagome felt her heart thrumming in her chest. Now to speak to Shippo.

She found him sleeping in a room, and Kagome felt a smile quirk at her lips. She sat next to him and rested her head on his shoulder. He stirred, and Kagome immediately straightened up. "I'm sorry!" she squeaked. Shippo shook his head.

"It's fine. I would rather see you in real life than in dreams," Shippo murmured, and Kagome felt her face heat up.

"Tomorrow we will reach the well. I'm never going to see you again," Kagome said softly, a crack in her voice betraying her sadness. Shippo's eyes softened, and he felt his stomach twist.

"You'll see me," he replied, but Kagome shook her head, smiling bitterly.

"No, you'll be Shippo-chan, not my Shippo." Shippo was breathless. He curled a finger underneath Kagome's chin and tilted her head up, staring into her beautiful eyes.

"I will always be with you," he murmured, and Kagome felt tears slide down her face. "Always." Kagome could take no more. She embraced him and kissed him deeply, wanting to remember how his hands felt on the small of her back. He was so warm, and he whispered her name against her lips. Kagome clutched to him as if her life depended on it, even when he was hovering over her protectively. He made love to her slowly, cherishing every moment, every sound. Kagome touched his face.

"I love you," she said, halting his movements.

Shippo's lips lingered on hers. "I love you, too."

They lay together for what seemed like hours. Kagome played with his silky hair, and Shippo was practically purring in delight. "Still so spoiled," she giggled, and Shippo chuckled as well.

"You've got that right." They decided to make the last hours of their time together count. After this, they would never see each other again, not really. It wouldn't be the same. Kagome laced her fingers through his, and Shippo pulled her closer, kissing the top of her forehead. They fell asleep in each other's arms.

Shippo was startled awake by the door closing in the front. He was immediately on guard, but Kagome calmed him with a simple touch to his forearm. "It's just Ranten," she said sleepily, sitting up. The sheets pooled around her hips, and Shippo marveled in her beauty.

Shippo kissed her. "Sorry about that."

Kagome shook her head. "It's totally fine. We should probably be getting up now anyway."

He embraced her tightly, letting her lay her head on his shoulder. "Don't forget."

"I never will."

The two met Ranten at the entrance. "Did you get to see her?"

Ranten nodded. "Yes, her grave was still there. It's been a while, too long probably. I missed her."

Kanna appeared suddenly, startling all three of them. "It is ready. Are you?"

Kagome squeezed Shippo's hand and peered into Shippo's eyes. "Yes."

The well was heavily guarded. When Kanna warped them there, Ranten nearly screamed but was able to silence it quickly. It didn't alert any of the demons in the area.

Kanna put her hand on Kagome's shoulder. "You will need to get there in one piece. Shippo, are you willing to protect her?"

Shippo nodded sternly. "Yes."

Kanna turned to Ranten. "Are you willing to serve as a distraction? I can protect you."

Ranten nodded. "I can scream and run, get a good number of the guards away." She turned to Kagome and surprisingly gave her a hug. "Good luck."

A high-pitched scream drew the majority of the guards away from the well. Shippo and Kagome dashed, slicing through enemies.

Kagome sensed an aura of darkness. "Naraku!"

A tentacle just narrowly missed her cheek as she turned to face him. Shippo growled and prepared his foxfire. The tentacles kept swiping at them, and Shippo shielded her with her body. The tentacle number increased and Shippo was getting tired. They backed against the well, and Shippo gasped.

"You need to go."

"No," cried Kagome. "You can't do this, I can't leave you-"

Shippo dragged Kagome into a kiss and pushed her. As pink light enveloped her, she saw one of Naraku's tentacles spearing Shippo's chest before he hopped in with her.

She was travelling through a rose colored light. She was travelling opposite to the flow, and it was a familiar sensation. She was travelling back in time, again. She could see Naraku not far behind, and she kept floating. To her front, she saw Naraku's silouhette from the past, and he was looking over the well after smacking Inuyasha out of the way, stealing the remainder of the jewel shards.

Naraku cackled. "You've just made things worse for you, priestess. I'll merge with myself in this timeline, and I will destroy you all again!"

Kagome scowled, going faster. She found herself at the bottom of the well and quickly climbed up the vines leading to the top. She knew Naraku was close, and she couldn't let him win. Not this time.

Sango and Miroku were keeping Naraku back, and Inuyasha gasped in indignation. "I just sent you back, how the hell-"

"That's not important! Arrows!"

She saw little Shippo and felt her heart break. He tossed her weapon to her, and she smiled. "Thanks, Shippo."

Unfortunately, she was a little too slow, and Naraku appeared out of the well. Inuyasha screamed. "What the fuck? Why are there two Naraku?"

"There's no time to explain!" Kagome shouted, pulling back her bowstring.

Naraku slid to his past self.

"What is this? A discontent of past and future?"

"Indeed. Now they can never stop us. Let us merge."

Merge they did. Unfortunately, it did not go as cleanly as they would have liked. He turned into a glob of monsters all sharing the same body. Although terrifying, he did not share the same speed he had before. His human head was split into two, and his arms were dripping with fluid and flesh.

"Now," his voice distorted. "All of you die."

Kagome felt the desire for justice bubble up within her. "You're not killing my friends this time." She released the arrow, and it was stronger than anything she had ever conjured before. It held all of her love, her rage, all of her emotions in it, and it was a bright, pure light. Naraku screamed out when the arrow hit him and he split into all his particles, fading into the light. The jewel clinked on the ground as it fell.

Kagome panted, feeling her energy leave her. She sank to her knees, exhausted.

Inuyasha gaped at her. "How did you do that?"

Kagome shook her head. "I don't know, Inuyasha. I don't know."

She felt a little hand touch her. "Shippo-chan," she sighed, smiling. Tears came to her eyes. "Shippo-chan, it's over."

His toothy smile reminded her so much of what he would be in the future. She cried for the loss of her love, but she also cried because all of her friends were still alive. They were still here. She still had them.

Inuyasha held the jewel in his hands. "This is it, huh? You really want me to wish for something?"

Kagome nodded. "Anything you want."

"Kagome, I-"

"It's okay. You can bring Kikyo back."

Inuyasha blinked. "Kagome, there was something there between us-"

"I know you love her. It's okay. I understand. I love someone too."

Inuyasha hugged her. "Thank you."

She hugged Sango and Miroku. The goodbye was teary and emotional, mostly from Kagome. It wasn't likely that she'd be seeing them again, but she knew that she needed to be with her family. She'd already said her goodbyes to Inuyasha, wishing him happiness with the now revived Kikyo.

She bid adieu to Kaede, giving the old woman the rest of her supplies. The woman accepted her decision.

She came to the well, seeing a pouting Shippo. Her heart fell ever so slightly.

"Why are you leaving?" Shippo spat out, his arms crossed angrily.

"I have to." She held the jewel in her index finger and thumb. "The wish was not pure, so I must go protect it in my time. There aren't many demons there."

Shippo was crying. "Why do you have to go?"

Kagome sighed. "I recently lost someone I loved. It is difficult. I don't want to chance this happening again." She ruffled the hair on his head. He was Shippo, but he wasn't HER Shippo. "I love you, Shippo. That's never going to change." She paused. "If you're still around in five hundred years, come look for me."

She kissed Shippo on the top of the head, quickly hugged him, then jumped down the well for the final time.

words: 2029

All right guys, thanks for staying with this. NEXT CHAPTER IS THE LAST!

I know you all probably hate me after this lol, but I promise, it'll get better.

until next time