A/N: ZOMG you guys wouldn't believe what happened! I had almost this whole chapter written out and then my computer froze and I lost ALL OF IT!!! GAH CURSE YOU SQUISHY FOR MAKING ME WRITE WITHOUT STOPPING TO SAVE!!!! I want to cry right now I'm so upset with myself, it was a great chapter, almost completely perfect with the way it was ARGH *starts pulling hair out while Squishy cowers in the corner and sucks her thumb* .

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Kagome wasted no time in heading straight for Naraku; in fact she was so determined to get to him to end this that she didn't even stop to fight, opting to simply disembowel any oni to cross her path without pausing once. Sango for her part covered her back and took out any oni that intended on ambushing the determined Miko.

"Naraku get ready to die." Kagome called out as soon as she was close enough.

"You know it's such a pity you broke free of my hold over you." He sighed. "I was so looking forward to using you in various ways."

"I'd rather rot in hell then let you touch me." She hissed.

"Well then why don't we see if that can be arranged?" He hissed as his form began changing.

Kagome shielded her eyes as part of the roof and building were destroyed in the act and once it was done she shook her head and peered up to find Naraku was now part humanoid and part creepy spider. "Ugh you are the ugliest thing I've ever seen."

"I'll be the last thing you see wench." He roared as he lunged forward to attack.

"Kagome!" Sango called out as the Miko dove out of the way and turned it into a controlled tumble before leaping up to strike and remove the leg closest to her.

"I'll take you apart piece by piece if I have to." Kagome growled as Naraku writhed in pain a moment before laughing as the leg began to regenerate. "Fuck."

"Good luck with that Miko, I possess more power than you could possibly imagine." He sneered.

"Whatever too bad you don't have the brains to use it properly." She muttered as she flung out her hand, sending a volley of purification orbs. Some of them went wide of the mark but the ones that hit had to have hurt like hell. Then before he could recover she sent out another wave then another before darting over to Sango. "Go and find Kagura, tell her to do it now!"

"What-"

"Just go!" She yelled before turning her attention back to her enemy.

Sango dared a glance around, hoping to find the wind youkai nearby, when she couldn't find her she headed for the nearest building to see if she was inside. "Kagura?" She called out as she darted from room to room, when no response was forthcoming and her search was completed she ran out and headed for the next building. That one was almost empty so she wasted no time in heading back out to the courtyard in search of another building she could check.

While she was frantic in her search Kagome paid no attention to anything save for the monster before her. "I don't care what I have to do, but before this day is done you will be dead." She promised.

"Small words from an even smaller foe." He taunted. "What do you possibly think you can do wench? Especially when you're all alone?"

"Who said anything about her being alone?" Someone called out.

Naraku spared a glance around the courtyard to find nothing and just when he turned back to face Kagome, the owner voice popped up from behind; it turned out to be Koga and quick as lightning he took out Naraku's hind legs with his wakizashi. Naraku howled in pain as he whipped around and started swinging.

Koga was successful in dodging the first swipe but inadvertently put himself directly in the path of the second, the air left his lungs in a whoosh as he was propelled across the courtyard and through the wall of a building.

"Koga!" Kagome exclaimed.

"Looks like the mutt is down and out for the count." Naraku purred as he once again turned to face Kagome.

"Ha! You obviously don't know Koga that well now do you?" She smirked as she flung her hand out to send more orbs flying his way then dodged to the side as a tentacle shot out of his back and straight for where she'd been standing. "Is that the best you can do ya freak?"

"Oh my dear Ka-go-me, I'm capable of so much more." He promised as he sent another tentacle flying.

Sango had made it halfway across the courtyard when a group of oni had moved to block her from reaching her destination; with a muttered curse she sent Hiraikostu flying and smirked in satisfaction as they were shredded to bits. The moment she'd caught the giant boomerang she continued on her way, taking out any and every oni that dared block her from her goal.

High above Miroku sat atop Kirara while tossing sutras at any oni to cross their path, then once they were subdued Kirara would move in for the kill. If it hadn't been for the samiyosho he'd have let his Wind Tunnel free and they would be able to join Kagome in her fight against Naraku, but as always they were there so he was forced to resort to other means.

"Come on Kirara we're almost done." He said as he patted the neko's neck. Kirara roared in response then altered course to confront another group of oni heading their way.

Once they'd dispatched them Miroku glanced down to find Sesshomaru taking on a small army all on his own and he caught sight of Sango just before she disappeared into a building that somehow had a large hole in the side of it.

Sango spared a glance in each room before coming to a stop next to a pile of rubble. "What happened to you?" She asked Koga as she started pulling debris off of him.

"Eh you know, the usual." He muttered as he pushed a rather heavy beam off of him.

"I think the last of Naraku's forces have joined the battle, you should help Miroku and Sesshomaru so you can all help Kagome."

"What are you doing?" He asked as he climbed to his feet and shook himself free of dust.

"I'm looking for Kagura, Kagome said to tell her the time is now for their plan."

"Oh right I forgot about that." He said. "Alright run along and find the wind bitch, I'll go help the others."

"Got it." She said and with that they both left the building. She headed for the last building while Koga headed for the group of oni that Sesshomaru was working on. "Kagura?"

"Who's there?" A voice called out.

"It's me Sango."

"Thank Kami Sango you've got to help me!" Kagura exclaimed.

Sango followed the sound of her voice until she came to a screen, the moment she'd pushed it aside she understood the problem. Kagura was chained to a wall with shackles that were glowing slightly. "What happened?"

"Don't worry about it just find a way to get me out of here." She growled while shooting a dirty look at the corner of the room.

Sango followed her gaze to find Kanna standing there with her Mirror and the heart of Naraku in her arms. "Right, I'll be right back."

"Hurry!" Kagura called after her before turning back to Kanna. "I don't care what you say I'm taking that heart and I'm killing it as soon as I'm free."

"It is a strange thing, to wish to be free." Kanna said in her flat monotone.

"Whatever." She rolled her eyes.

As soon as Sango was out of the building she looked around until a thought popped into her head, another moment of searching and she found her target. "Sesshomaru-sama please I need your help!"

Sesshomaru waited until he'd dispatched his latest victim before shooting a glare over his shoulder at the Slayer. As if I would help someone responsible for the Miko's capture.

"Please Sesshomaru-sama, it concerns yours and Kagome's plan." She pleaded.

"Hn." He said as understanding set in, he spared a glance to Koga.

"Don't worry about me just go!" Koga growled as he took out two oni with a single swipe of his claws.

Sesshomaru nodded once then darted over to where the Slayer stood. "What is it Slayer?"

"Naraku's got Kagura chained to the wall with magic infused shackles." She said.

"I see." He said as he walked past her and headed into the building.

Kagura looked up and blinked in surprise before sighing. "And this is the help she gets."

"Where is the heart Kagura?" Sesshomaru asked.

"Right there- no wait!" She exclaimed as Sesshomaru made to make a move on Kanna. "Kagome and I had a deal, just get me out of these things and I'll carry out my part."

"You'd better be telling the truth." He growled as he advanced on her. "Or no amount of running will spare you from my wrath."

"I promise." She swore.

He nodded once then called forth his poison, with a few swipes of his claws the shackles and magic surrounding them dissolved into a puddle of goo. "See to your part wench." With that he spun on his heel and left the room.

"Sesshomaru-sama please wait!" Sango called out before he could get too far ahead of her. "Look I know what we did was wrong, and you'd rather leave things the way they were… but she forgave him Sesshomaru-sama and despite what you may think…. We need him."

Sesshomaru had stopped when she called out to him and once he'd processed her words he spared a glance over his shoulder at her. "Just what are you talking about Slayer?"

~*~

"My, my you're starting to look a little tired Ka-go-me." Naraku sneered.

"Are you kidding I could go all day." She panted as she popped out of another controlled tumble; the fact of the matter was she was getting tired. Half the time she was either dodging him, or trying to send enough purification at him in hopes of doing some real damage.

"Honestly what do you possibly think you can do?" He sneered. "You are weak and pathetic, you don't know how to stand on your own at all."

"Well then I guess it's a good thing she won't have to try."

Kagome blinked and looked over as Miroku, Kirara, and Koga joined her; frowning in confusion she glanced around to find that the courtyard had been cleared of oni and now things were oddly silent.

"Ah as always the cavalry comes just in the nick of time. Very well then you shall all meet your deaths together!" He hissed as he thrust a leg out with the intention of sweeping them off their feet so he might crush them.

They managed to evade his strike by the thinnest of margins and before he could retract his leg, Kirara leapt through the air to sink her fangs into the appendage. Not giving him a chance to recover Koga darted forward and started hacking at him with his wakizashi while Kagome threw purification orbs and Miroku let his sutras fly.

They battled a few moments longer before the four pulled back a bit to regroup. "Alright we need to think of something else because this isn't working." Kagome muttered as she eyed the evil hanyou.

"Where the hell is that mutt with his sword when you need him the most?" Koga growled.

Kagome frowned and was just about to tell him Inuyasha was dead when the most surprising thing happened.

"Keh, who the hell you calling a mutt ya shit for brains?"

Quick as lightning Kagome spun around to find a smirking Inuyasha with a fully transformed fang resting against his shoulder; she gaped as he strolled towards them at a leisurely pace, almost as if he were taking a walk in the woods and not heading into battle. "Inuyasha?" She gasped.

"The one and only wench." He said as he came to a stop and broke into a grin.

"Inuyasha!" She exclaimed again as she threw herself at him. "You're alive!"

"Now this is the Kagome I remember." He murmured as he held her tightly.

"Well, well if this isn't and unpleasant surprise." Naraku sneered. "And here I thought you'd be happy to hear of his demise before refusing to revive him Sesshomaru."

Kagome pushed herself away from Inuyasha and peered over his shoulder to find both Sesshomaru and Sango were headed in their direction; the moment she understood what had happened she smiled at Sesshomaru to thank him for fixing her mistake.

"My reasons for my actions are entirely beyond your understanding Naraku." Sesshomaru said without taking his gaze off of her.

"Well alright then what say we get to the fighting here already?" Koga said as he grinned wickedly.

"Sounds good to me." Inuyasha said before darting forward while swinging his fang and caling out 'Wind Scar!'.

"Well then shall we?" Miroku suggested.

"Yes we shall." Koga said.

Kagome watched as the rest of her friends took off with the intention of opening a can of whoop-ass on their enemy; well all of them save for one. "But why?" She asked curiously as she turned back to gaze up at Sesshomaru.

"Because despite his actions you were saddened by his death." He murmured as he closed the remaining distance between them.

"I'm still not getting it." She shook her head, she'd never thought in a million years that Sesshomaru could be bothered to save his brother, no matter who it was who did the asking.

"Then perhaps this will explain it." He said as he reached into his haori to pull something out then held his hand out to show her what lay inside. In the exact center of his palm sat an exquisitely crafted ring complete with a single blood ruby. "I like you Kagome, and I would be honored if you would permit me to court you."

"Come again?" She asked as she blinked and looked up at him.

"Do I really need to repeat myself?" He sighed.

"But… what about your girl?" She asked in confusion.

"Silly little onna, you are the girl I was referring to."

She couldn't help but rock back on her heels in surprise. "Are you joking?"

"Does it look like I'm joking?" He arched an eyebrow at her.

"Well…"

"Are you saying no?" He frowned.

"Well… no but…" She trailed off as she frowned in thought; she still wasn't quite getting all of this just yet and now was hardly the time to be dealing with such things. And just when she was about to tell him that something clicked in her mind and it all fell into place. "But… why?"

"You are everything I've ever looked for in a mate… and then some." He said softly.

It was then the pain she'd carried for so long seemed to lessen until it was nothing more than a dull ache; even more she suddenly realized that in the past couple months she'd come to care for the stoic daiyoukai standing before her. But when he'd told her he'd already found a girl she'd pushed those thoughts aside; besides she always figured there was no place in her life for such things as love and happiness. "You have really shitty timing." She muttered while thinking if only he'd said something sooner then maybe some things could have been avoided.

"You suggested I be myself Miko." He said dryly. "And I did not wish to say anything until I felt the time was right."

"Well your sense of timing sucks then."

"What is your answer Miko, it's only a matter of moments before the others realize we are not partaking in the battle."

She couldn't help but glance over her shoulder then smirked when she found her friends were doing their best to give Naraku hell, after a moment she turned back to face him and smiled fully. "Alright but-" And here she held a finger up to forestall his reaction. "We really need to talk about a few things, like you beating around the bush and having bad timing."

"So noted, Kagome." He smirked.

"Hey you said my-" And before she could finish he swooped in to claim her lips; she was only surprised for a moment before she sighed and returned the kiss while wrapping her arms around his neck as he pulled her tightly to him.

Unfortunately there was still the pressing knowledge that a battle was being waged several feet away from him; that and air was suddenly becoming a needed thing so she pushed on him a bit to get his attention. He sighed before nipping at her bottom lip once more then finally pulled away.

"Wow." She said as she panted to catch her breath.

"Indeed Miko." He smirked before letting her go and taking her left hand to slide the ring over her ring finger, she couldn't help but grin when she found it fit perfectly.

"Alright so what say we go and kick some freaky spider-ass." She suggested. "After all, there ain't no room for a happy ending if he doesn't go."

"Agreed." He said as he pulled her to him then leapt into the air, forming his cloud as he did so. "Are you ready Kagome?"

"Like you wouldn't believe Sesshomaru." She said as her eyes took on a fierce glint of determination. I guess I want my happy ending after all.

~*~

A/N: okay so I think my computer crashing was a sign that this chapter needed to be rewritten cuz now I'm way happier with it than I was before :D anywho only a couple chapters to go but unfortunately this is all your gonna get from me until tomorrow night, sorry but work calls. Leave a review and let me know what you think! ~QW