The girls got to the Hot Spring took off their clothes and stepped into the hot water. Kagome and Sango both sighed in contentment. After the three day battle with Naraku, the girls really needed this time just to relax. They sat there in silence for a while each deep in their own thoughts. Sango then looked up at Kagome and asked.
"So now that this is all over, what do you plan on doing, Kagome?" Sango asked Kagome. Kagome held a finger to her lips and thought for a moment.
"I don't know Sango, I may return to my own time. As much as I love you and the others, I don't belong here. The problem is I don't belong in my time either. I honestly wish I could find somewhere to fit in." Sango gave her a sympathetic look.
"I hope that you find what you are looking for." Sango said, placing a hand on Kagome's shoulder. She didn't want to see her sister leave them but should couldn't ask her to stay and be miserable. Not if there was a chance she could be happy somewhere else. Kagome sighed and sunk deeper into the water.
As the girls are having their conversation, Inuyasha is making his way through the forest. He catches sight of a soul collector and follows it to Kikyo. He finds Kikyo sitting in a tree surrounded by her soul collectors as each one brings her a new soul.
"Kikyo." Inuyasha whispers, his eyes soften as he stares at her. Kikyo opens her eyes, a ghost of a smile cross her face. She jumps down from the tree branches and makes her way over to Inuyasha.
She places a hand on Inuyasha's cheek and strokes it. Inuyasha leans into her touch.
"It's over, Inuyasha, it's finally over now only one thing stands in our way. I need you to do something for me, my love. Kikyo says to Inuyasha.
"What is it Kikyo, I'll do anything for you, just name it." Kiky0 embraces Inuyasha hiding her face as she smiles an evil smile.
"The only way you and I can be together, Inuyasha, is if you kill my reencarnation and I am allowed to get my soul back." Inuyasha releases Kikyo and backs away from her.
"You're asking me to kill Kagome for you?"
"Yes, Inuyasha, kill Kagome then you and I can be together. Or does she mean more to you than I do?" Inuyasha's amber eyes widen, he rushes back to Kikyo and pulls her into an embrace.
"No, Kikyo, never. You mean more to me than anyone else, even Kagome."
"Then kill her, Inuyasha." Inuyasha sighs and nods his head.
"Alright, Kikyo anything for you. I'll do it tonight."
After their bath the girls headed back to the hut they shared with Miroku, Inuyasha and Shippo, and started dinner. Once everything was ready they had a nice quiet without Inuyasha. Kagome briefly wondered where he was, then with a sad heart she reasoned that he must have run off to be with Kikyo. She tried to convince herself that she didn't love him, but deep down she still did. She needed to get over this if she was ever going to move on. Kagome was eventually going to go back home and never see Inuyasha again. Perhaps him being with Kikyo was for the best, at least she could leave without wonder 'What if?' Kagome could make a clean break. These things were running through her head as she settled down to go to sleep, Tomorrow she would return home and move on with her life.
The next day after breakfast, Kagome gathered her things and said goodbye to her second family. She said her goodbyes, gave Shippo one last hug and kiss then headed for the Bone Eaters well. The whole time she walked she wondered if she would get to see Inuyasha for one last time. When she neared the well Kagome stopped short seeing Kikyo sitting on the edge of the well.
"And where do you think you're going my reencarnation?" Kikyo asked.
"I'm going home, Kikyo, you don't have to worry about me anymore. I have no intention of coming back, Inuyasha is all yours."
Kikyo looked intently into Kagome's eyes, it felt like time had stood still. Then suddenly Kikyo started laughing, a very manical laugh. She laughed so hard that she had to hold her stomach. Kagome looked on unconfortably, she had a feeling that something bad was about to happen. Kikyo suddenly stopped laughing and stared at Kagome.
"I'm afraid you're not going anywhere, girl. At least not with my soul." Kikyo said to Kagome in a menacing tone.
Kikyo's eyes flicked behind Kagome, letting her know someone was behind her. Kagome quickly ducked, barely avoiding Inuyasha's claws as he swiped at her. Kagome fell forward landing heavily on the ground. She looked up just in time to see Inuyasha bring his claws down across her back. Kagome only grunted in pain.
"Inuyasha, how could you," Kagome asked as she scooted away from him, "I thought you cared about me, at least as a friend." She added with tears in her eyes. Inuyasha's eyes glinted with malice.
"Hn, you honestly thought we were friends? You were nothing more than a Shard detector, a means to an end. You're nothing more than a poor man's Kikyo. And now that your usefulness is up, give Kikyo her soul back!"
Kagome was able to get to her feet and make a run for the well, but Inuyasha was only playing with her, He took several swipes at her, catching her on the leg, the arm and across her mid section. Until finally he used his blades of blood to send Kagome flying, hitting her head on the edge of the well, Inuyasha stalked forward.
"Now wench, to end your miserable life." Inuyasha said as he cracked his knuckles
As Inuyasha leaped at her, Kagome threw her hands out. Instead of creating a barrier, she blasted Inuyasha away from her. He crashed several feet away, unconscious. Kagome stood up on unsteady legs and tried to climb into the well. Just then she felt an arrow pierce her back.
"You will die today, girl, this I promise."
Kikyo was notching another arrow giving Kagome time to sit on the edge of the well and let her body fall back into the well. A blue glow could be seen eminating from the well signaling that Kagome had crossed over into her own time.
Kikyo went to Inuyasha to wake him, she shook him until his eyes opened
"The girl is gone, Inuyasha, you must go after her. Bring her back here so we can take my soul back."
Inuyasha nodded. "I'll be right back with the wench."
He jumped down into the well, but hit nothing but the bottom. He jumped out and in again, but nothing happened. The well was now sealed. Inuyasha tried several more times to no avail.
"I don't know what happened, Kikyo, The wells is sealed. But you and I can still live a happy life together."
Kikyo stared angrily at Inuyasha, she couldn't believe that he was spewing such nonsense.
"You worthless Hanyou, how could you believe that I would ever be happy with you, with my soul incomplete. You had one job to do and you couldn't even accomplish that!"
"Kikyo?" Inuyasha mumbled, hurt and confused.
Just then she drew her bow and shot at Inuyasha, hitting him in the shoulder. To his surprise he was not purified, it would seem for wanting Kagome dead, Kikyo's spiritual powers were stripped from her. Her eyes went wide when nothing happened to Inuyasha. For his part Inuyasha smirked and came at Kikyo.
"You never loved me, did you Kikyo? You were only using me to get your soul back, and now you're gonna die."
Inuyasha swiped at Kikyo with his claws catching her across the shoulder, then again across her face. He continued to slash at her until finally cracking her clay body, there by letting the trapped souls escape. With one more hit of his blades of blood, she shattered into pieces, the remaining souls free. With a scream she finally fell to the ground dead. Kagomes soul hovered over her for a moment then sped off into the well, where it passed through time and space to rejoin her. Inuyasha took the opportunity to jump after the soul, hoping to pass through but he was not allowed. He was left in his own time without a friend in the world.
