I decided to go ahead and get this next chapter up. I don't like the idea of leaving you guys on a cliff-hanger, and also this is a really important chapter so here we go!

Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha or its characters. All rights to Rumiko Takahashi.

Chapter 14: Kagome's Realization

I fell hard into the well.

As I saw Inuyasha's hand slip out of mine, I felt the searing loss of him all over again. I hadn't tried going through the well since I'd returned, and I didn't know if I would be able to get back after reaching the other side.

I closed my eyes as I hit the ground. I just sat there for a moment as I tried to regain my composure. Inuyasha, I thought to myself. Tears fell from my eyes as I questioned if I'd be able to get back or if Kikyo would succeed in killing Inuyasha. Then a beautiful sound came from above the well.

It was Inuyasha's voice. The well hadn't worked and he was still alive.

His voice began to rise into a yell as I quickly began to climb up out of the well.

A sudden cry of pain came from Inuyasha, and I froze in terror of what might have happened to him. I heard Kikyo say one word and that was all I needed to hear to kick me back into gear:

"Poison."

I climbed as fast as I could out of the well. The first thing I saw was Inuyasha lying on the ground with several arrows sticking out of his chest as Kikyo leaned down to touch him.

"Get away from him!" I shouted as I jumped out of the well. "Kagome," Inuyasha said weakly.

I ran over to where Kikyo was standing over Inuyasha and tackled her to the ground. We landed several feet away from Inuyasha and I heard her gasp as the tumble knocked the wind out of her.

I jumped off of Kikyo and ran over to where Inuyasha was lying. "Inuyasha!" I said. He groaned as I touched him. "Oh, no," I said as I looked at the wound.

The entry wounds of the arrows had turned red and appeared more like blisters rather than blood. "It's poison," I said, repeating Kikyo's words. Inuyasha nodded, grimacing. "I'm…not gonna…make it," he said in a pained whisper. I shook my head. "No, baby, don't say that," I replied. I tried to smile. "I'll purify the poison." I had just moved my hand to touch his wounds when I heard the familiar noise of an arrow being loaded on a bow.

When I lifted my head up, Kikyo had her aim set on me. "You're going to wish you'd never come back to this time," she shouted. I jumped out of the way barely in time to miss her shot. Kikyo rapidly loaded another arrow, but this time I was ready.

I quickly loaded my own bow aimed it at her.

With both of our weapons pointed on each other, we met eyes.

"You won't kill me," she said coolly. I kept my aim on her and didn't let my guard down. "What makes you think that?" I asked. She looked over at Inuyasha.

"If you kill me, Inuyasha will never see you the same," she said. I hesitated as she spoke again.

"If I were to die by the hands of you, then it will haunt him forever," she continued. "He would never be able to look at you without picturing my death." I thought about her words for a moment, wondering if it was possible for them to be true.

Kikyo's eyes were hard on me. "You know I'm right," she said. I finally lowered the bow and processed what she was saying. "Just leave," I finally said with defeat evident in my voice.

"Don't get comfortable," she said. "I'll be back." She turned around and began to walk away.

Then she was gone.

My heart was still racing from Kikyo's words as I turned to Inuyasha. I ran over to him and knelt down. His eyes were closed, but he was alive. One by one, I touched all the arrows as quickly as I could. They dissolved in my fingers, and I was reminded of when I unsealed Inuyasha from the tree when we first met.

"Inuyasha?" I said. His eyes opened and they moved to look into mine, but he appeared unable to speak. "It'll be okay," I said. I leaned down and got to work on purifying the wounds the arrows had left.

Slowly, Inuyasha began to move again. His fingers twitched and he was able to breathe freely. When I had done all that I could, I helped him to sit up. His gaze met mine and I couldn't read his expression. Before I could even ask if he was okay, Inuyasha spoke.

"Why didn't you kill her?" he asked. I looked away from him. "I couldn't," I replied. "Kagome," he said seriously. "What she said isn't true." I shook my head at him and looked up.

"Yeah, it is," I replied. "You would never be able to separate that moment from me. And even if you could, that memory will still be with me. I'll have to deal with it." I sighed.

"I can't kill her," I continued. "Not just because of you. I can't kill her because I understand her. I know what it's like to love you. I know what it's like to hurt in the same way because I used to be in her position. There was a time when I couldn't have you in the way I wanted. I've been exactly where she is, so I understand that her actions are the way they are because of pain. They may be the worst actions she could take, but I still understand." I turned away from Inuyasha again. "That's why I couldn't kill her."

Inuyasha didn't say anything for a minute. Finally, he sighed and spoke. "Kagome," he said. "You don't have to kill Kikyo. We can just…figure out another way to end all of this." He put his hand under my chin and gently lifted my face so I was looking at him.

"Kagome," he continued seriously. "Don't worry. We'll figure out how to stop her." I nodded, still a little shaken. Inuyasha stood up and reached out his hand. Once I was upright next to him, we began to walk back to the village.

When we reached my house, Inuyasha kissed my cheek and told me good night.

I watched him as he walked away, and it wasn't until his form had faded into the darkness that I remembered he'd been about to propose before Kikyo appeared.

I heaved a sigh as I walked into my house. It seemed like that would have to wait.

To be continued…

Aren't you happy I didn't leave you hanging on that last chapter? :)

I'll post more soon!

Much love. :)