Chapter 35

While Kagome and Harry had been doing battle with the fake Voldemort inside the others had been doing battle with the real Voldemort outside. Under a crimson moon the smell of war raged around the tiny house.

Demons, Death Eaters, and all other sorts of evil and nasty things were out to create as much havoc as they could. As Harry and Kagome rushed down the stairs and out the door he pulled out his wand, and she summoned her bow and arrow.

When they opened the door five Death Eater's surrounded them. Kagome shot a few arrows out along with Harry flying curses. In seconds five dead or unconscious men lay at their feet.

While they were able to stand on the doorway, Harry and Kagome watched the battle for a few seconds. Inuyasha and Sesshomaru had their swords and were making a very good mess out of half the demons coming their way. It appeared Chi had called upon his snakes and were biting everything they could. Ron and Shippo were nowhere to be seen as well as Koga. Hermione was standing next to a boulder appearing like she would protect it with her life. Which seemed very hard at the moment since she was doing battle with a giant nasty demon that was able to shield every one of her curses. Kagome easily shot down the demon and Hermione quickly made eye contact with them.

When Harry saw the back of a very familiar head he tore off away from the house. In seconds he had his wand to the back of the being's neck.

"Harry, why didn't you kill me when you first saw me? Why did you wait until you were right up next to me?" Voldemort turned to face Harry head on.

"Because there are things worse than death Tom." Harry said not realizing he was quoting a very special somebody.

Riddle snorted, "You sound exactly like him. Tom Riddle is dead." Riddle flicked his wand and everything stopped, all the Death Eaters and Demons backed away from the dueling area for the two. "Tom Riddle is dead," Riddle said again, "But Lord Voldemort will live forever."

It was Harry's turn to snort, he started to empty his pockets of several different objects, five thuds could be heard across the silent clearing (Everything was under a shrinking charm, but when Harry dropped them, they started to grow). "Oh, and your servant Lucius probably gave you the other one, a diary wasn't it?" Harry stared into Riddle's eyes, no longer fearing him, but pitying him. "You're no longer immortal Tom, you're just a sad, lonely, man." His words seemed to hit home Riddle seemed to pale but he held his ground.

"Oh and what are you? Everyone around you dies, your family, your friends, even that boy three years ago, he was killed just because you had be noble." Riddle spat the last word out with such disdain Harry thought he could have been spitting poison.

"Why won't you let anyone in Tom? Why can't you see the only person to blame in this clearing is yourself?" Harry questioned of the man standing before him.

Riddle sneered and then raised his wand, he flicked it a few times and it turned into a sword and he raised it to Harry's cheek. "So sorry, my other form prefers this to wands."

For the second time in his life Harry picked up Gryffindor's sword and prepared to do battle for his life. Riddle flicked the sword and Harry could feel the warm liquid flowing down the side of his face.

"First blood," Riddle whispered a maniac gleam in his eyes.

Just as in a wizards duel Riddle and Harry backed away from one another and bowed. The entire forest was silent and still, the wind only allowing itself to quietly float between the two, causing the blood on Harry's face to dry quickly.

Harry waited knowing full well Riddle wanted him to make the first move. Riddle soon tired of Harry's patience and lunged.

Sparks and clashes carried over the crowd as the two battled, it was easy to see Riddle had the upper hand, but Harry was able to block most of his jabs because the older man wasn't very good at concealing his moves.

The minutes flashed by with no victor among them. It was soon seen, despite Harry's lack of talent both were very evenly matched.

After a particularly loud crash Riddle pushed Harry away from him, the two stood in the circle of followers not noticing they were being watched.

"So, shall we keep going like this forever, or will you surrender and discover I am the true master?" Riddle said only loud enough for Harry to hear. "Why did you start this insane endeavor in the first place? Did you think you would win against someone who wanted only to kill you?" The bloodthirsty gleam had gone out of Riddle's eyes, now it was only curiosity.

"No, I really didn't think about what would happen when we met again for the last time, but I know now." Harry looked at the very…human man standing before him. "I don't want to kill you Tom, I pity you too much to kill you." Harry glanced down at the ground. He didn't know what came over him, but thinking of the house this wizard had re-created made him pity Tom Riddle even more.

"One of us must die!" Riddle yelled.

"Some that live deserve death, and some that die deserve life, how can you be so quick to make that judgment?" Harry looked deep into Riddle's eyes searching for something remotely pure. (A.N. I don't own Lord of the Rings but I do so love that line).

"YOU MUST DIE!" Riddle yelled as he charged at Harry catching the boy off guard.

Riddle's aim was pure, Harry fell back with the dark wizard pinning him to the ground. Riddle shook his sword and it turned back into a wand.

"I prefer it this way." Was all that came from Riddle's lips.

A flash of green light, and a scream was the last Harry heard.

From Kagome's view on the steps of the house she could only see the tops of the two fighter's heads. She tried to get higher but was unable to get past all the demons. As if on command arms wrapped around her waist and she was flying up to the roof of the house.

Inuyasha set Kagome down on the roof and then stood next to her, they watched the battle in compete silence until the half-demon turned to Kagome.

"Kagome, if Naraku dies, then I think we are going to be sent back." The girl looked at her companion, "Well, he's the one who opened the gap, I think when he dies everything will be righted." He said looking away from her at the stars. "I want to die, I have lived far to long a life." The hanyou said completely out of character. "You deserve to be with him, I belong somewhere else. Do what you need to do." Inuyasha kissed Kagome's forehead and turned her around to face the battle.

It was at that moment Harry fell. In one second the green light flashed and Kagome screamed. Suddenly the whole clearing was filled with a white light and when it was gone only three beings were left standing, (other than the plants of course) and a giant bubble stood in the center.

Kagome climbed through one of the open windows and down the stairs and out to where she saw him fall.

Harry was lying on the ground; glassy eyes open staring up at the night sky.

The aforementioned bubble was floating gently near his feet. When the others got closer they saw inside were two beings. Naraku and Voldemort once meshed had been torn apart, Voldemort pointed his wand at Kagome and another green flash erupted from inside the vortex.

Instead of landing his curse on the appropriate person the curse bounced off the walls of the bubble and ended up hitting both Naraku and Voldemort. When the curse disappeared, the bubble popped and one body fell to the ground as the other was lifted up and then spirited away.

Not even glancing at the other body Kagome went over and kneeled over the still form of her beloved.

"I love you," She whispered into a deaf ear.