The owner of the aura was gone, at least. The effects of the aura were fading; very slowly, but they were still fading. However, the devastation to the clearing she found herself in wouldn't fade with time. The foilage and soil were blackened, and mixed with the ash and stray magic of a horrible battle. This land would remain barren for an age.

She could see nothing alive left. Nothing green, nothing moving. Kagome visually searched for any sign of life, or of someone having been alive. She sighed as nothing caught her eye, then turned. Was that a movement? There, half-buried in the soil and fallen trees, she saw a hand moving slightly.

Her heart skipped a beat, and she rushed over to the fallen form, and brushed away the dirt, praying that the person was still alive. The red cloth, stained and bloodied, jumped out at her, and she tried not to start crying. A few moments later, she'd cleared dirt away from his face, and she felt desperately for a heartbeat. There. No. Yes, there was a faint pulse, but it was far too weak. "No," she breathed. "Inu-Yasha. Damn it, you can't die!"

His eyes cracked open, and he looked grouchily at her for a split second. "Who's dead?"

Kagome blinked, then smiled happily. "Inu-Yasha!" She set to work clearing the debris from the rest of his body. "I'll get you out of here in a moment, then I'll go grab Sango and Miroku to help you out of here."

"No."

Kagome scowled at him. "Don't play tough; you're injured."

"That's not what I meant." His hand caught her arm, and she paused to look at him. "Don't leave." He suddenly started coughing, and blood splattered his mouth.

Kagome opened her mouth, but the hanyou gripped her arm tightly. "Tell them Naraku's dead," he told her quietly, "and I'm glad they're okay. The purified jewel will heal Miroku, since Naraku's death won't do it like he thought it would."

"Inu-Yasha, stop talking," Kagome interrupted. "You're wasting energy. Save it for healing."

She was startled to feel his hand shift to take hers. "A few minutes don't matter," he whispered, his voice growing hoarse. "I may be stubborn, but I'm not stupid. Purify the jewel, then go home and take it with you. You'll be safer there." His hand tightened on hers. "Promise me!"

"All right," she whispered, and his face settled, an ear twitching. Kagome used her free hand to pull the completed jewel from around her neck. "Here! If the jewel can heal Miroku, it can help you, too! Just take it and-"

"No!" Inu-Yasha objected, his voice urgent. He sat up quickly, gasping in pain, and Kagome felt a stab in her chest as she saw how his hair was matted and rust-coloured down his backside. "It's still tainted! I don't want-" A spasm of pain cut him off, and, her eyes tearing up, Kagome helped him lay back. As she leaned in close, his eyes eyes rolled over to her. Weakly, he started, "Ka- Kagome. I. w." He trailed off, and his eyes dropped to one side, his hand falling limp in hers.

Please let him be unconscious, Kagome prayed, and checked for his pulse. Nothing. His skin already felt cold to the touch. She bit her lip, staring at his face. "Inu-Yasha," she repeated, her voice breaking, "you're not supposed to die." Alone with his body, she started to cry.