Chapter 34

"You need Tetsusaiga!" I shouted over the rushing winds. It took me a moment to realize he didn't carry any weapons except for his claws.

"Fuck it," Inuyasha growled as he landed on the top torii of the shrine. "I'm not letting this chance slip away."

My heart pounded as I turned my head. My eyes scanned the dark miasma that surrounded the shrine. I prayed that the fox family is alright. "It's that barrier again." Inuyasha grunted and turned his head sharply.

Crazy, screeching laughter pained my eardrums as Inuyasha quickly dropped down backwards just as a wild huge demon broke the torii with its long claws. He quickly set me down to use his claws.

I triggered my automatic blades, wincing at a small pain that pinched my heart. What was that? I shook my head as more roars filled the air. My eyes locked on a figure that's too easy to recognize. "Naraku," I hissed and ran at him.

"Kagome! Get back!" Inuyasha shouted after me. I heard more screeches of wounded Greater Demons behind me as Inuyasha quickly dealt with them.

I stopped when I was several feet away from Naraku. He smirked at me and I gripped my hilts tightly. "It's nice to see you again, Kagome," he purred, looking way too confident for his own good.

"You're dead, Naraku," I growled.

He lifted his blood-red gaze. "Not before your mate."

Inuyasha's curt yell had me look behind. He was being ganged up on by the demons. His back was starting to get drenched in blood as he swung around and caught one demon, ripping it's throat out. More demons came down.

"Inuya-" I grunted when Naraku's claws pierced my arms, holding me in place. Naraku chuckled as I whirled around, jamming one of my blades up into his ribcage and piercing his heart, if he still had one. Unfortunately, he still lived. I twisted the sword, staring at the black blood that coated my hand before glaring at him. I ripped my sword out, slanting it so it went out through his side. He still didn't show any pain.

"Are you done?" His hand shot out and gripped my neck, picking me up and throwing me towards the Sacred Tree, where I rolled on the cement. "The half-breed has planted his seed in you." Naraku looked pissed as he walked up to me, "You are forever tainted."

I stared in disbelief as the wounded flesh sewed themselves together. Scrambling up, I threw the other blade at his head, cursing when I missed. "I was always tainted by you, asshole." I rammed into him, sending us both rolling on the ground while I used my other sword to slash at him. His claws nicked me as he tried pushing me off him. I used the skills I learned from Inuyasha to keep him under me, Though I was one hand short with the sword in hand.

My head hit the ground hard when he caught my weak stance. His claws dug into my wrists, drawing plenty of blood around my head as he glared at me. "You are always going to be mine, my disobedient pet. Even when you die." He grinned wickedly as I arched against him, trying to get his hold to loosen up.

I had dropped my sword when I flipped over. I called deep inside me for my spiritual power, just planning a little zap to get him flying off me. That little zap caused a whole world full of pain to seize my heart. I screamed and clutched my chest.

I was pulled off the cold ground quickly and heard a huge explosion right behind. Opening my eyes, I looked up at Sesshomaru weakly as he held me with no emotion crossing his face as he stared at Naraku. He quickly released me and I kept my hand over my heart as I looked around at the many Class-A slayers that had joined the fight with the countless Greater Demons. Inuyasha also wielded Tetsusaiga against Naraku, the Wind Scar ripped through the air towards him.

Sesshomaru glanced at me, "Stay back and hold your own," he ordered.

I said nothing as Sesshomaru disappeared with speeds unimaginable. My last blade was Midoriko's sword and I wasn't too sure I wanted to deal with that unknown pain of calling my sacred powers too soon.

Inuyasha was by my side in an instant, holding Tetsusaiga towards Naraku as Sesshomaru sparred off with him. "What happened?"

I didn't know. Shaking my head of the dizziness that threatened to overwhelm me, I noticed that my body was trembling. I slowly pulled out Midoriko's sword, hearing Inuyasha snarl.

"Kagome, don't even think about it," he growled and turned on his heel to charge at the demon that was heading for us.

I closed my eyes and reached inside my soul for the bit of power I had left. Just one swing and I could obliterate Naraku enough to give me time to find the heart and stab it. The sword was knocked out of my hands before I could load my power in the blade. Opening my eyes, I turned to Inuyasha, incredulous. "That was my last weapon!" I shouted over the roars.

Inuyasha glared at me. "You're kidding! Stay behind me!" he demanded as he started running towards my old home. I followed after him, narrowly dodging demons Inuyasha failed to slash through. There could be another weapon inside. A knife was good enough than nothing.

Glancing to the side, I just caught Naraku's eyes before he vanished into a cloud of miasma when Sesshomaru's sword came down on him. "No!" I shouted over the battle, pausing my running to stare at the empty spot that Naraku once occupied. He couldn't have escaped, not now.

Hands tugged me back and I scowled when Naraku wrapped an arm around my neck, threatening to break it.

"Kagome!" Inuyasha growled.

I felt Naraku's hand tighten around my neck when Inuyasha took a step closer but didn't dare make a sound of weakness. Instead, I kept my eyes locked with Inuyasha's.

Inuyasha bared his fangs in a scowl as he immediately took a step back. He lowered his sword slightly. "Release her! You coward!" he snarled across the long gap in anger.

"Why would I do that?" Naraku answered. "You might have defiled and Marked her body, but know that I marked her first, many, many times." His hand brushed down against my arm, where scars of the past remained. The arm went around my waist, his hand pressed on my stomach.

Inuyasha looked outraged and almost beast-like as he crouched down, ready to attack, golden eyes glaring as a loud growl roared through his clenched teeth. But, unfortunately, he wouldn't attack with me in the way.

Sesshomaru stepped forward. "You seem to go through much to have this particular human. Surely, you must have a reason."

Naraku chuckled darkly, "Payment, Sesshomaru. Payment and revenge. That's what makes this little bitch mine."

"What- ugh- are you talking about?" I hissed and struggled against his tight hold.

I could nearly feel his wide smirk. "Your dear father made a deal with me. His first born child for his lover's life."

I felt denial coursing through my veins even when Naraku went into detail. "Naomi died by demons. Daisuke pleaded for me to save her. I did, for a price. But they thought they could hide in such a sacred place as a shrine."

The news surprisingly didn't have much effect on me. I already mourned for my parents, for my home. Now I wanted revenge. I could feel my sacred power building up inside me and channeled it to my hands. It didn't matter if I would lose my sacred powers. It would be just enough to purify this demon whole if I put my whole power out all at once. Something pressed into my stomach and made me gasp just as Sesshomaru replied.

"Interesting," and with speed unimaginable, his poisonous whip shot out. Inuyasha and I cried out but it hit right on target, just inches away from my own head, it pierced Naraku's.

I felt a sharp pain as he stumbled back from me but quickly took the chance to dive out of the way before Sesshomaru's whip attacked Naraku again.

I heard the hiss of poison against flesh as I tried standing. Instead, a burning pain ripped through my stomach. Removing my hands from the stomach of my shirt, I took in the blood soaked palm steadily. The pain seemed to get worse now that I was aware of it and I curled up, trying anything to get rid of the pain.

"Kagome!" Inuyasha knelt in front of me, pulling my arms away from my stomach. The blood was starting to soak my lap. "Shit..."

"Inuyasha! What are you waiting for?" I shouted over the battle cries of the slayers around us. "Kill him! Before he gets away!" I could deal with any shocking aftermath later, if Inuyasha misses this chance because of me, I'm never forgiving him. Inuyasha glanced from me to Naraku, his golden eyes pained. "I-I'm okay..." I tried to reassure, even though my sight was darkening, "Okay... I'm okay..." I closed my eyes tightly to will away the nausea.

Inuyasha grabbed my hand and squeezed. Just when I was going to scream at him for worrying about me, he was gone. The Wind Scar blasted through the air, heading for Naraku straight on.

Pieces flew and rained down with disgusting plops, only to start regenerating again. I looked around the parts, looking for his heart, his weakness. But, as pieces flew back to each other, there was nothing that resembled a heart among the carnage.

"Naraku!" I looked to the shrine entrance to see Miroku and Sango. They both held what looked like a blue jar, with each hand holding it and the other holding the lid shut. Naraku, half-completed, looked in shock as they took their hands off the lid and the heart inside it flew out towards him, eager to return to it's body.

Naraku's regeneration seemed to go quicker, tentacles whipped this way and that, knocking any one close out of the way, including Inuyasha and Sesshomaru. Just as the heart went inside his body, a barrier flew up around him, knocking Inuyasha's following Wind Scar off course.

I looked around the ground and stood slowly when I saw Midoriko's Sword. Inuyasha had the ability to knock down barriers. Naraku surely knew this and past experiences told me he was going to escape soon. I only had one chance.

Blood was dripping off the hem of my shirt as I kept one arm wrapped around my waist to stop some of the blood flow. My mind was spinning with the loss of blood but I forced myself to grasp the sword.

Inuyasha was smirking, not seeing me behind him, as his Tetsusaiga bled red. "It's over, Naraku."

The Wind Scar shattered the barrier and just like I knew it would, it left Naraku okay, but open. He hovered over us with a smirk, getting higher as miasma circled him.

I concentrated all my spiritual power into the sword, making the blade glow with a blinding, white light. "This is it," I whispered as I felt an empty feeling in my chest. Raising it, I glared at the incredulous Naraku.

"No! Kagome!"

I ignored Inuyasha's desperate shout and swung Midoriko's sword, feeling every ounce of energy leave me in the shot that soared towards Naraku. I could hear Naraku's screams as he evaporated in my spiritual power, his heart included. My sword dropped from my hand, clanging on the ground. I fell.

Inuyasha caught me when my knees touched ground, both arms wrapped tightly around me as he looked at my face. He was saying something, his lips moving quickly, but I couldn't hear over the cheers. I will meet you in Hell, Naraku, I thought as I felt the empty feeling consume me. Closing my eyes, I drifted to sleep.

"Kagome, Kagome," Inuyasha's voice chanted over me as I drifted in and out of consciousness. "You gotta hang on, Mate."

He sounded so sad, but I couldn't feel anything. I was only hovering in dark space. Was this what it was like? Having a soul being shattered? It didn't seem that bad.

I couldn't feel his emotions through our mark. I couldn't tell if my eyes were open or closed or if I was upright or lying down. The only thing I could hear was my jagged breathing patterns and Inuyasha's voice.

"Kagome," his voice cracked and he fell silent. I could hear faint sobs. I knew it should have made my heart ache. I knew I wanted to comfort him. But I couldn't reach him.

Inuyasha...

The emptiness started to frighten me and I didn't know why.

Inuyasha...

I heard my breaths come out faster. A pain started to crush me. I tried to get away from it.

"Kagome...?"

I couldn't move. Inuyasha! Inuyasha! Inuyasha! I screamed but couldn't be heard. I wondered why I was calling him? Where was Mama? Was I actually dead?

I felt like sobbing but tears wouldn't come. Naraku would come if he heard my weakness. Wherever I was, it couldn't be far from him.

"Damn it!" a voice snarled and I shied away from it. Who was he? Where was Souta?

Sudden anger filled me. The demon took the both of us. Why couldn't he leave Souta?

The panic and anger and sadness drained out of me. It had to be only a dream. It wasn't real. I would wake up soon.

"Kikyou?" the same voice asked. Who was he talking to? I am Kagome. "She's dying, isn't that enough for you?"

The voice started to slip from my mind. I was alone now, the pain was my only company as it pressed down on me.

There was a sudden flash of light, then another, then another. The pain increased and I screamed in agony as the flashes ripped through me. But at the same time, I felt like I was being completed. Like a puzzle.

Everything faded.

I moaned as I opened my eyes to look up at the pastel colors of the ceiling. Back in a hospital. I sighed as I got up, brushing my hand against my stomach to find the cut healed. My belly felt more swollen than I thought it was. Then I noticed a light blue blanket covering me, surely not from the hospital. There were gifts in the corner, mostly flowers and cards, but they were a bright splash of color in this room and made me smile.

Looking to the side, Inuyasha looked down at me, at my stomach more like it, seeming to be lost in thought. There were dark circles under his golden eyes.

"Inuyasha?" I whispered, watching him blink rapidly and look at my face. "Are you alright?" I asked tentatively.

"Kagome..." he breathed and I was suddenly sitting up with my face pressed into his shoulder as he hugged me tightly. "Kagome..." he repeated as he nuzzled my neck.

"Uh..." I froze when I felt his cold tears. "Why are you crying?" I asked as I gently pushed him away to see his face. True enough, his eyes were glassy.

He flushed and looked away. "I didn't know if you would ever wake up," his voice cracked and he shut his eyes tightly. "You've been asleep for over two months."

My eyes widened. "What?"

Opening his eyes, he looked back to me. "After you killed Naraku, you passed out," he informed, giving me a meaningful glare before softening. "Your soul was breaking. You were delusional for a month. Screaming, kicking, crying...you were dying."

I tensed, remembering the dark pain. "I thought... it was a dream."

He went on. "Kikyou saved you- for whatever reason." I sensed he knew why but didn't press it. " She helped you and left, saying that 'She's only human now'. After that, you were silent. You just slept for another month."

I sighed silently, leaning back into my medical bed. I knew what he was going to say before he said it.

He blew up. "What the fuck were you thinking?" He snarled and stood to tower over me. I lowered my gaze as he vented. "You were hurt, dammit! Kaede warned you not to use your spiritual powers before they've been completely restored and you did so anyways! Do you know how worried everyone was? You must've had a fucking clue, seeing as you practically ended your own life! What's wrong with you? I could have ended it by myself!"

I held my tongue until he was finished, doing my best not to interrupt him. When he was done, I said calmly, "You'll never understand my revenge and you never will." When he bristled, I quickly added, "I couldn't rest until he was dead, by my hand. I had to kill him."

Inuyasha opened his mouth to say more but stopped and sighed. "You're alive and well. That's what counts, right? Forget the fact that I sat by your side every single day, praying that you'll wake up."

I flushed and crossed my arms, noticing my clothes had been changed for a hospital gown. He was going for the guilt trip. "I'm sorry, is that what you want to hear?" I looked up at him, "I'm truly sorry I scared you and everyone else. But I don't regret what I've done. He's finally dead..." Those words left in a whisper and I smiled, "It's all over."

He crushed me to him again, fervently whispering, "I hate you," I laughed at the huge lie I sensed. "You're always making me worry. Why can't you be a good little mate and listen to me?"

I rested my cheek on his chest and sighed. "It's all over," I repeated more louder. He kissed my neck and took a deep breath, letting it out slowly. I sat back and looked up at him, happy to know that his anger and worry was fading. "Did you speak with the doctor? Is my baby okay?"

"Our," he automatically corrected. "And yeah, he's fine. The wound wasn't fatal either."

"He?" I rose a brow.

He sniffed but didn't answer.

I narrowed my eyes at him before sighing and falling back onto the pillow. "Naraku's dead," I sang the words pleasurably. Years of fear, bloodshed, hatred were finally over.

"And everyone lived happily ever after," he rolled his eyes. "We're out of slaying."

My brows rose, "Both of us?"

"Well, it wouldn't be fair for me to continue slaying if you wanted to, right?" he sighed. I knew then that he would really miss it, after all, he's been in demon slaying for a good part of his life. "Besides, cutting myself off would prevent me from doing something stupid like your father did. Demons won't find us so easily for revenge if we turn in our weapons and hide in Sesshomaru's area of protection."

I flushed. "My dad did it to save my mother! Are you saying you wouldn't do the same?"

He straightened, "Of course I would, Kagome. Though, I wouldn't do what he did. Geez, calm down."

I relaxed and he did so too. "Years of pain are finally over," I whispered, still not believing it. Sure, it was over. I got my revenge. But I'll never get those years back. I would have to start as a wife and mother; a new life once again.

"This time, for good," Inuyasha smirked. I had no idea if he was talking about what I just said or what I was feeling but it was all the same. He stood up, "I gotta tell the doctors you're up and rub it in their stupid faces."

I glared and lunged at him when he started to leave. He reflexively caught me before my upper half could touch the cold tile as my hand gripped his t-shirt. "If I have to stay in here, you're staying with me to keep me company," I said pointedly.

He sighed annoyingly. "Fine." He pulled me off the bed and into his arms before sitting down where I was with me in his lap. "Better?"

"Much," I leaned into him comfortably, enjoying the feel of his arms wrapping tightly around me. Although I was wearing a hospital gown with only my underwear underneath. I shifted in his grasp, trying to tug the paper-y fabric to cover me more warmly.

Inuyasha allowed me to squirm for a minute before the crinkling of paper got to him and he ripped it off. "There, happy now?" he said at the same time I shouted his name. He grabbed the blanket and covered my body with it, kissing my forehead.

I tilted my head up and brought his down so our lips could meet. A new life. A permanent life with Inuyasha, I thought blissfully. I loved the sounds of it.

Inuyasha broke away but kept close, his heated eyes watching my half-lidded ones. "One more obstacle," he said breathlessly. Under the blanket, his hand caressed my baby bump.

"Don't call her an obstacle," I smirked as he buried his nose in my hair. "She's going to be a beautiful girl."

"Won't be saying that while you're in labor," he chuckled before bringing his head back to look at my face. "Are you alright, Kagome? The healers here are good but..."

"I'm fine. There's no need to go off on anyone," I assured with a smile.

"I wasn't gonna go 'off' on someone," he muttered as I rested my head over his heart, hearing and feeling the steady beat under my ear.

I hummed in response. Needing to hear it, I said, "I love you, Inuyasha."

He rested his cheek on my head. "Love you, Kagome." There was no hesitation, no spark of a lie, only the warmth his murmured words brought me.

I closed my eyes and sighed in content. "Thank you," for everything, I added mentally.

To Be Continued...

A/N: OMG it's finally done! (I get really hyper when I know it's my last chapter, hence why this chapter is up so quickly) and everyone wants a sequel, which I'm glad for since I'm already starting it. Thank you everybody who bothered reviewing this story. It really got my spirits up!

The sequel: Dear and Departed will be up after I complete one of my series. It's most likely either gonna be after Whispered Kiss, Happily Ever After? Tips for the Lovestruck Fools, Eyes on Her, or Prophecy of the Miko and the Dogs. (Yes I know I can't really decide * grumble *)

Don't forget the final review!