A/N: Thanks to any reviewers, disclaimers, etc. :3 Now enjoy this story! :D I plan on this one being longer…as this is the last chapter. -sighs- Where has the time flown? Now enjoy!

~~OO~~II~~OO~~

Kagome stared in horror at the burning building, knees threatening to give way. "…no." She croaked, staggering closer. She ignored when a piece of flying debris singed her cheek. "No." She dropped to her knees, tears gathering and spilling down her cheeks.

Miroku and Sango appeared at her sides. "Kagome, its okay…" Sango murmured, gently comforting her friend.

"No, it's not," Kagome spat back, reeling away from her friends and glowering at them with such ferocity, that Sango flinched away into Miroku, who wrapped his arms around her. "My boyfriend just got killed because I came to work today!" She hissed, looking ready to kill someone. "You call that OKAY?!"

"Kagome!" A voice suddenly wailed. A moment later, Shippo had his arms around her neck, burying his face into her shoulder. "You're okay!" he sobbed, clutching at her. "I was so scared…that…you had left me, too! Where's Inuyasha?!"

Kagome's own tears began to gather as she buried her face in the fox kit's hair. They spilled down her face and she broke into sobs, large ones that racked through her body as she tried to stop them. "He's…" She choked out as the fox kit stiffened. "He's with Izayoi and Inutaisho."

Rin appeared in time to hear her words. Her face paled and she slumped heavily against Sesshomaru. "No…" she whispered. "He's not…he can't be…he wouldn't die on us. He's Inuyasha for Kami's sake!" But she had tears streaming down her face, russet eyes full of grief.

Miroku buried his face in his fiancé's hair, refusing to lift his head and show his own tears while Sango sniffled into his shirt.

Inuyasha…

…was dead.

~~OO~~II~~OO~~

"Need anything else dear?" A nurse asked as she patted Kagome's bandaged arm.

Kagome shook her head, though she wanted to scream at the nurse and tell her to bring Inuyasha back. Her eyes were dull, lifeless, as she stared at the ceiling above her. Everyone had asked her if she was okay…but she wanted to know if her friends, her family, were okay. She needed to know.

Souta had heard about everything on the news -Kagome had yet to watch it and hear the story for herself- and had called, frantically yelling into Sango's cell phone for his older sister. Sango had almost gone psychotic, yelling back until Kagome herself had to snatch the phone away and say, "Hello, this is Kagome Higurashi. Can I help you? And if you're some reporter, get the hell off my friend's phone or you'll be seeing Sesshomaru sometime soon…"

That discussion had turned into Kagome comforting her brother that though she was alright, she had been injured.

After the explosion, ambulances had found them, as well as cops and other officials. They had been taken to the nearest hospital to be looked over. Kagome had arrived in an ambulance that had been wailing through the streets at high speed.

Into the surgery room for Kagome, as they had sedated her and set to work on removing glass and stitching wounds. Fifty three shards of glass and three hundred stitches later, Kagome was sitting in a hospital bed, staring dully out the window as she did now.

"Kagome?"

Kagome glanced over her shoulder in surprise to see the said brother there, a small wary smile on his face.

Kagome's eyes filled with tears and she gave a crooked smile. "Hey, Souta."

Souta grinned and moved to sit next to her. "I guess I should have dragged Amber back here to stay, huh? Then I could have stopped you from getting in so much trouble…I still can't figure out how you exploded a building, got in a car crash, and get attacked by more demons than any other person -all though I have to say I might blame Inuyasha for it all, as he is half-demon."

Kagome choked on sudden sobs, her body shaking as she tried to control herself. "Yeah, well no need for that anymore." She said, giving a wry and shaky smile. "He was still inside when the building exploded."

Souta's thoughtful look was replaced by one of sorrow. "Kags…"

Kagome waved him off. "It's fine. The police who came in said he would have died instantly. That made me feel a little better…to know that he wasn't forced to suffer through agonizing pain."

Souta gently ruffled his older sister's hair. "Enough about sad stuff…would you like to meet my fiancé?"

Kagome nodded, feeling a sting at the word 'fiancé'. "Of course."

Souta grinned. "I'll be right back." He ducked out of the room, and then returned a moment later with a young woman.

The woman was just a tiny bit shorter than her younger brother. She stood proudly; chin raised with a mischievous glint in orange eyes…cat eyes. Slim and obviously meant for speed, she also had fangs and claws. Black hair drifted down to her waist, and from them sprouted cat ears. "Yo."

Kagome recognized the woman's aura instantly and she gaped at her brother. Never, in the entirety that was her life, would she believe Souta would fall for a cat demon. Sure, they'd had a cat named Buyo growing up -a cat that the kid had adored. But…he usually was terrified of demons. This was completely unexpected! "Amber, this is my older sister, Kagome. Kagome, this is my fiancé, Amber." Souta introduced.

Kagome blinked at Amber. "You're a demon."

Amber roared with laughter, her fangs bared in a grin. "I noticed." She chuckled, an ear swiveling back. "So you're the famous Kagome that everyone's after, huh?"

Kagome smiled slightly. "Yep. That would be me." She said softly, rubbing the back of her head.

"The one who owned and broke Shikon no Tama…" Amber mused. "I heard you're looking for Shards again…?"

Kagome gave a slight nod. "Yeah…Inuyasha was helping me until…" she broke off, unable to continue.

Amber's gaze softened. "I'm sorry for your loss, Kagome. I can understand how you feel. In fact…here." She dug in a pocket, and then dropped something in Kagome's lap, glaring at it spitefully. "I heard my little cousin was killed for having that the other day."

Kagome stared in shock at the large Shard in her lap, eyes wide. "That is huge," she whispered. "This would attract youkai for miles."

Amber gave a wry grin. "Exactly. You go ahead and keep it. My little brother had it when I came across it. No way in Hell is that happening. I heard you were collecting them from other demons and decided you might want to keep it for me."

Kagome gave a small smile and pulled out her small collection of Shards, gently tucking the large Shard into the bottle. "Thank you, Amber. Listen… could you keep Souta safe? He's all I have left to be alive for." she gave a crooked smile again. "I probably would've figured some way to kill myself by now if he wasn't alive."

Amber gave the said man, who was looking at them with confusion, a soft look. "Of course. I love Souta…no way is he dying on me."

Kagome gave a quiet thanks to Kami, that her last string to life would be safe.

~~OO~~II~~OO~~

"Is it true?"

Kagome looked up from her small 'wheelie tray' as she called it, cocking an eyebrow. "Is what true, San?"

A few weeks ago, Kagome had been sent home from the hospital on strict orders that she remain in a wheel chair for up to nine weeks. All of her stitches were gone, though she was still healing from the wounds. She had continued to stay in the Takahashi Mansion, though she avoided Inuyasha's room at all costs. Nobody went close to it. It was an undecided law. It would ruin the hope that he would possibly return from the dead…though they all knew better.

"Is it true what Shippo said? Souta's fiancé is a cat youkai?" Sango repeated, smiling.

Kagome almost fell out of her wheel chair, sending some schedules to the ground. They were currently in the middle of planning Sango's wedding, and she wanted to know about Souta's? "Err, she is…how does Shippo know?" She demanded.

"Shippo met her at the hospital," Sango explained, doodling on a piece of paper.

Kagome sighed. "Yeah, she's a cat demon…somehow I'm not surprised. I'm sure Kohaku would have freaked out, huh?"

Sango laughed, eyes filling with a bit of sadness. "Yeah, he would have. Him and Souta were like two peas in a pod…"

The two were overcome with sad memories, and then Sango said, "Okay, let's talk about the cake! Rin said she'd make it…"

"Let me think," Kagome said, pointing her pencil at her friend. "You want a large cake -as tall as Souta at least. But you don't want it so girlish. You could care less what it looks like, so long as it tastes amazing."

Sango burst out laughing, dropping her pencil. "You know me better than I do," she teased as she picked it back up.

"Isn't that what I'm supposed to do?" Kagome joked, tossing a small sketch of the cake at Sango. "What do you think?"

Sango gaped at the sketch. "…have you ever thought of becoming an artist?"

Kagome shot her a strange look. "Sango, we're planning your cake."

"I know, but look at this masterpiece," Sango said, holding the picture up to the light. "This is absolutely amazing."

Kagome snorted, chucking her pencil at Sango. "Yeah, right. Look at the cake, you damn procrastinator. Do you like it?"

Sango nodded, a smile on her face. "I love it!"

"Now, back to planning!" Kagome announced. "You're going dress shopping with me and Rin tomorrow, remember? You need to be prepared while Sesshy and Miroku-"

"What did you just call me?" A familiar cold voice called from the massive family room.

"Nothing, my Lord of Fluff!" Kagome yelled back, cracking into a grin.

Sango blinked in surprise. Kagome had been semi-depressed for the past few days; obviously not over the death of a certain half-demon…it had been obvious she would never recover. Now she was happy and smiling? What the hell! But when the woman looked into her friend's eyes, Sango realized she was wrong. Kagome was nowhere near happy and smiling. The girl's eyes were full of grief, sorrow, and heartbreak. The light had faded from Kagome's eyes, leaving an almost scary dead look.

She was pretending for her friends.

But Sango couldn't help but laugh when she heard Sesshomaru's disgusted snort from the other room.

She gave a sigh and quickly sent a prayer to Kami.

Kami, if you are true and real, please accept my prayer. Kagome…she's suffered through so much. As a child, she was excluded from everyone. As a teenager, she was almost killed by a demon for having miko powers. As an adult…she's lost her mother and her brother's in America. I'm getting married and probably moving somewhere new with Miroku. Please. Bring Inuyasha back. She's all alone…and she doesn't deserve to be…

~~OO~~II~~OO~~

Kagome sat in her wheelchair, staring at the large doors before her with tears building in her eyes. The room that was forbidden to anyone…

Inuyasha's room.

She gently touched the wooden doors, beautifully carved with scenes of dog demons fighting with others and the tears began to spill down her cheeks.

It had been six weeks…it was obvious he wasn't coming back.

She took a breath, and then opened the door, wheeling in carefully before softly closing the door behind her.

She needed to say goodbye, whether she wanted to or not.

Pain stabbed her heart as she gently ran her fingers over Inuyasha's bed. The covers he had slept in before the school had exploded. They were still rumpled in the exact position from when she had been lying on them with him.

Kagome choked on a sob. "Why?" She whispered, moving over to pick up a shirt that had fallen carelessly on the floor. She buried her face in it, tears soaking into the fabric as she breathed in his scent. "Why?" She repeated. "Why, Inuyasha! Why couldn't you stay with us? Why did you have to become a full demon! Why did you…why did you leave me?" She broke down, letting out sobs that echoed around the room.

"I'm so sorry for anything I ever did," she murmured, wiping away her tears after she got control of herself. "I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!"

Taking a breath to calm herself, Kagome Higurashi looked one last time around the room before wheeling herself out of it.

~~OO~~II~~OO~~

"So…" Sango said softly, searching for words as she, Kagome, and Rin walked down the sidewalk. "Kagome, what are you going to do to earn money since you can't work as a teacher anymore and won't let Rin and Sesshomaru pay for anything?"

Kagome gave a dry laugh. "Perhaps this Ayame will be sympathetic and let me work for her. I'm pretty good at math, remember?"

"Not," Sango teased. "Maybe she'll let you help people choose dresses?"

"Don't you have to go to college for that?" Rin pointed out.

Kagome sighed as Sango wheeled her into the said store. "Yeah…"

Upon entering the beautiful -white- building, they were met by a young woman with white furs, green eyes, red pigtails, and a tail. She was obviously a wolf demon.

"I'm Ayame," She greeted, flashing fangs in a smile. "And you don't happen to be the Kagome Higurashi, Sango Taijiya, and Rin Takahashi I've been hearing about on my T.V. for the last month?"

"In the flesh," Rin replied, firmly shaking Ayame's hand.

Ayame flashed a soft look. "I'm sorry for the loss of Inuyasha Takahashi. I know he was important to you all."

Kagome's face fell, but then she steeled her emotions and said bitterly, "Well, life just hates us all. Doesn't it?"

Sango flinched at her best friend's words then said quickly, "Let's find a dress, shall we?"

Ayame smiled slightly. "This way, please," She said, leading the way to a backroom. The three other young women followed her.

Upon reaching the room, Ayame nodded to two chairs -as Kagome was in her wheelchair- and said, "Alright, Miss Sango. What kind of dress do you want?"

Sango tapped her chin. "I want a real simple one," she decided. "No train, no decorations, just a plain white dress."

Ayame blinked. "Are you sure?" Sango nodded.

"Alright then…"Ayame said, confused. She moved to open the door, but then was startled when a voice asked softly, "Can I come help choose?"

Ayame looked over in shock when she saw Kagome Higurashi's exhausted, grieving, dead eyes looking at her with a small amount of hope. Ayame cracked a grin. She wasn't stupid; she could see that the heart break was literally killing the girl. After spending so much time around a half-demon's presence…she had grown to rely on the mixture of mortal and demon aura. Unknown to the humans yet, her skin had dried a bit and her hair was duller than it should be. "Of course."

Kagome gave an exhausted smile and wheeled after Ayame. "Thanks," she murmured after getting through the door.

"No problem," Ayame said, grinning still. "Let's go find what you're friend would like!"

~OO~~II~~OO~~

Ayame blinked in surprise as she wheeled Kagome, whose arms were full of dresses, back to the backroom. "Kagome-Chan, I thought Sango wanted a simple one…"

"I've known her for years," Kagome said smugly. "I know exactly what she does want, and that's one of these."

"If you're sure…" Ayame said nervously, opening the door before wheeling Kagome past the woman's friends and into the dressing room. Before long, Kagome had wheeled herself out again and motioned for Sango to go in.

Kagome settled herself into the chair next to Rin, leaving her wheelchair unattended.

"You didn't get simple dresses, did you," Rin said softly.

Kagome laughed, waving her off. "Course not. You and I both know that as tough as San is, she prefers girly wedding dresses."

Rin nodded just as their said friend emerged from the dressing room, face bright with delight. "Kagome, you are amazing!" She announced.

Rin and Kagome shook their heads. "No," Rin said. "You, my dear friend, are amazing. Look at you!"

Sango had emerged in a beautiful -and large- beige dress. It was strapless, and golden lace created magnificent designs all over it and on the corset. The train drifted elegantly behind Sango, and the said girl's eyes sparkled.

Kagome cooed to her friend. "Awww…you're beautiful, San!"

Rin agreed enthusiastically.

"Well, we've still got two more dresses…" Ayame said softly, a grin on her face.

Back into the dressing room Sango went.

"So, Kagome," Rin said, leaning back in her chair. "Are you…okay?"

Kagome sighed. "I should have known this was coming. Yes, Rin, I'm fine. It just…hurts a little."

"Kagome," Rin said softly, leaning closer to her friend. "Don't lie."

Kagome almost broke down. "I'm not…it just hurts a little," she repeated, clenching her hands into fists. "Now drop it, Rin."

Sango emerged again, this time a strange look on her face. "Kagome, could you explain why you chose a purple wedding dress?" The dress made their friend look sexy. It was a lovely magenta lilac coloring, strapless, and fit Sango perfectly. The dress was gathered in different spots, making it look plated. Small rhinestones drifted around the top near her breasts.

Kagome gave a fake grin. "Remember! Miroku likes purple, woman. And the dress fits you nicely and looks quite sexy."

Rin nodded. "I agree with Kagome on all things. So far it's this one, Sango."

"Just one more to try on," Sango announced, disappearing into the dressing room with Ayame again.

Rin smiled then said to Kagome, "Kagome, you do realize that I've lived with a dog demon for centuries. I'm not stupid. You practically smell of guilt and grief."

Kagome scowled at her. "My boyfriend was killed because I had the Shards. Wouldn't you feel guilty?"

Rin sighed and nodded. "I guess…" she said grudgingly. "I'm sorry for forcing you to think like this."

"Whatever." Kagome spat, shoving her way into her wheelchair and away from Rin.

Sango once again revealed herself and both Rin and Kagome were immediately clapping.

"That's the one," Rin decided.

Kagome gave a cat call. "Perfect. So you, Sango. You're getting it."

Sango lit up brilliantly.

The dress was white satin at the corset, studded with rhinestones. It, too, was strapless. A thing material made up the large skirt, which had rhinestones at the bottom, and the train was made of ruffled satin, gathered together to look like white, soft waves.

"I love it," she said.

After Sango had changed into normal clothes and Rin had paid for the dress, Ayame caught Kagome as the woman prepared to wheel herself outside. "Kagome-Chan, I had a quick question."

Kagome glanced at her. "Yeah?"

"I heard you are jobless now," Ayame said carefully. "So would you consider working with me? I don't usually find what people want so fast…and you look like the kind of person who can."

Kagome broke into a grin. "We were actually talking about me asking you about that. I'd love to. Thanks, Ayame."

Ayame grinned and waved her off. "Just give me a call when you want to get married, Kagome-Chan."

Kagome smiled, and then turned away, tears pricking at her eyes as she hurried and wheeled out after Rin and Sango.

That won't be until I'm dead.

~~OO~~II~~OO~~

"OUT!"

The person staggered, slumping heavily against the wall as blood spattered the ground again, which was already covered in blood stains, old and new. Their body was covered in gashes and slices, made intentionally by the owner of the body.

"Get out!" They spat, raking claws down the back of their neck. Blood dripped to the floor. "Out, out, OUT!"

A heart-wrenching howl burst from their mouth as they started randomly lashing at their back and chest, letting out a small cry of pain.

"I'll kill myself before I let you hurt them," the person spat at the other thing, glaring into the darkness.

"Get. Out." They repeated, looking ready to cut out their own heart. "I'll…do whatever you want, just get out…"

A moment later, they snapped, "NO! I WON'T DO THAT!"

Silence, then-

"Huh. So you're weakness…is my soul? Easy, I know how to get you out now," they taunted.

Suddenly, they raked claws over their heart over and over, digging into the flesh furiously until they slumped down to the floor, barely conscious.

"I win," they rasped, black edging their vision. "You're gone now, you bastard."

Then, with a soft moan, the person passed out, jumping gratefully into the blackness.

~~OO~~II~~OO~~

A/N: -dies laughing- Do you honestly think I'd end the story at this part? What do you take me for? This story has a bit of life to it yet :3 Anyhow, I hope you enjoyed. Review please, as it makes me feel better.