The battle was truly over.

Now all I have to do was wait for the corrections to catch up with hundreds of years, then BACKTRACK again to find my current self and erase what cruelly happened two hundred years ago.

But before I turn back...I must follow my own advice before I too die of blood loss.

"Kelah...WHAT-"

The group is openly shocked as I take Kodai's head and drink the little blood that still flows from it. It's quite barbaric and grotesque, but I'm a vampire and it doesn't disgust me in the least.

I take what I can, feeling myself strengthen a little and throw the head down with the body.

I jump back from a sudden blackening of his skin and watch with wide eyes as his skin dissolves as if sunlight hit it. It happened so fast, and so thoroughly, that there was nothing left except his clothes.

So...it finally WAS over.

Now all I had to deal with was my change back to humanity. That, I would wait all day and night for.

"I think I'm going to be sick..."

I smile at Kagome, fighting not to laugh at her. A hand presses to her throat as she unknowingly backs away to Inuyasha. His hand rests on her shoulder, but he doesn't look very collected either.

Humph...some warrior.

"We should find shelter." I suddenly mutter. "Dusk is coming."

Kagome looks a little panicked, and eagerly nodded. Everyone snaps to movement and regroups.

"I'm going to scout the area while I still can."

"Hey WAIT! You think just because you helped beat Kodai that suddenly you're off the hook??" Inuyasha retorted, giving his usual glare.

I stop a few feet in the air and look down at him with wide eyes. Was he NUTS?? He COULDN'T be serious!

"You did all this to Kagome in the first place and you're still going to die temee!"

My eyes narrow at his threat, but I quickly sail into the air before he can grab me. We don't have time for this shit right now and I need to find me and my newborn shelter before we're caught by the light.

I ignore his arguing with Kagome and the others, and scan the area. My eyes squint as the dusk becomes lighter and I feel a little dread. I knew time would have to backtrack with me, and it would take a while. Until then I shouldn't start thinking like a human yet.

Finally, I spot a mound of rock a short ways away and exhale in relief.

I quickly drop to the ground and look to everyone. "There's a large rock a little ways away." I answer, pointing in front of me. "It's gotta be a cave."

"We're not finished here Kelah!"

My seemingly unlimited patience snaps and I whip forward, wrapping my hand around Inuyasha's throat. I return his glare as he tries to pry my hand away. I squeeze and bare my fangs. "This is NOT THE TIME! The sun will come up soon and if we DON'T get going NOW, Kagome and I will BOTH be dead! We can argue over it LATER!"

"Yamero!"

I quickly let go at Kagome's demand and fly away from his claws. I didn't want to get injured again while my body was still healing and restoring itself.

"If you still have qualms with me after Kagome turns back to her previous human self, take it up with me then. But we're leaving." I grab Kagome's hand and fly in the direction I remember the cave in. Inuyasha gives a shout of indignation, but the others take off after me to catch up.

"That was highly unnecessary." She lowly retorted, flying to match my pace.

In the matter of seconds, she's pulling ME forward and I remember she's still got those shards in her arm.

"It got him to stop for a few minutes didn't it?" I snap back.

There was a sudden buzzing in my ears, like a bee straying to near, and I can't really hear what Kagome replies. That never happened before and it occupied with a small fluttering in my stomach. My eyes widen.

I was beginning to change!

My lips tip as I let my newborn pull me along. I don't know how much longer my flight abilities will be with me, and she's pulling me fast enough to keep me airborne as it is.

I didn't even know if I COULD fly anymore.

She stops us at the place I spotted and I see a narrow entrance accompanied with mustiness. But it's still a place to hide from the sun.

Hopefully before it leaves, I would be able to see it for the first time in two centuries.

Inuyasha's quiet growl tells me he and the others arrived and I let Kagome in first. I take a quick second to eye the demon, finding his eyes narrowed a little in calculation, before crawling after.

He could smell the changes too.

My sight quickly adjusts and I slowly follow Kagome's steps by ear in the dark, my hand against a wall. There's no drop off or bumps, but it does incline quite a bit.

Finally she stops and I do as well, knowing here was far enough. I can barely see my hands in front of my face, and I imagine the others will have ten times the difficulty.

"You...you're changing!"

I look to a small blur in the dark, smelling Kagome close to me. I nod...my smile widening. "I knew it would take a while for time to catch up with me. After I become human, you will too. Though I doubt it won't be for a while. You don't have two hundred years to make up for, and then backtracking hundreds more into the past."

"What...what does it feel like?" She nervously queried.

The buzzing in my ears was gone, as was the fluttering in my stomach. Now there was a slight burning in my body, as if my blood were heating up. It was finding my original, if I even HAD any of my own blood anymore, and creating more. Soon all I would have is my own blood and what wasn't mine would simply change to become mine.

"Odd." I whisper, plopping to the smooth ground.

There was a brief pause of silence as everyone settled as well before Inuyasha spoke up again.

I knew he couldn't keep his mouth shut for long.

"When you become human, you have the chance to see sunlight again before I run you through."

I didn't bother to answer him. I wanted to focus on what was going on inside. I simply stare across the wide area, listening to everyone's breathing and smelling their agitation.

I was surprised at what I smell from Kagome.

"Inuyasha...can't you just......leave it?"

"NANI!? What the hell are you talking about?? You want me to let him LIVE?!"

"Well...I mean...he WILL be human again... He'll be easy to kill now... And I'll be human too. It'll be like nothing happened right? So...can't you just let him go back through the well and go his own way?"

I openly gawk at Kagome in the darkness, able to see her glowing eyes.

She gives me an embarrassed grin, but there is resolve coming from her.

"Now that I've battled and fought like an elder vampire, I can understand a little where you're coming from. Even though I don't condone half of what you do still, that won't matter soon." She gave a shrug, as if it wasn't a big deal to her.

I slowly blink, discounting the burning that slowly intensifies, and feel touched. This was the first affectionate thing she ever said to me or for me. It was the first time she stood up for me...that ANYONE ever stood up for me.

"Arigatou gozaimasu..." I whisper, slouching a little to the ground.

She smells of bashfulness, but mutters a 'welcome' back and the rest is silent. I smell Inuyasha brooding and he's not happy about it, but he follows Kagome's words. There is a tiny bit of thoughtfulness from him and I wonder what he's thinking about.

The others are openly baffled as well, but they seem to accept this a little more gracefully than he does.

All's well that ends well.

~*~*~

Time passes as I smell Shippo asleep next to Kirara. Miroku smells peaceful and I realize he's meditating. Sango's breathing is slow and even, and I know she's dozing to recover her strength.

Inuyasha is still angry, most likely at me, and it hasn't lessened any.

Well he could deal.

I was honest in my words. Kelah righted the wrongs he committed and should at LEAST have a day or two as a human again. The shards in my skin, combined with accepting my vampire side, magnified my powers more than KELAH'S.

I understood what it was like to be a powerful vampire.

Being reminded of the shards, finding them glowing beneath my blood-stained robe, I pull the sleeve up.

It was time to take them out and be a little more normal...at least until I changed back too.

Feeling eyes from those still awake, I bypass that and raise a hand. This would hurt of course, but it was the only way.

I slice the bump where the shards were, wincing a little. I smell attentiveness from everyone and know I just gained all eyes. With my extremely long nails, I slowly slip one under a shard and pull it out. I drop the shard to the ground and keep a sharp eye on it while going to the other.

As soon as the second shard is gone, the wound closes up again, though much slower and the power drain I feel is immense. The exhaustion kept at bay with the power boost comes like a wave and crashes over me.

It's all I can do to keep my eyes open to find the shards and grasp them.

"Kagome-sama daijoubu desu?"

I rapidly blink away sleep and look across the way, squinting in the magnified dark to Miroku. I smile a little, even though he can't see it. "Hai Miroku-sama. I'm just tired from everything. Didn't know how much until I took the Shikon no Kakera out."

I look to two in my hands, seeing my nails slowly retract. My tongue brushes against my fangs, finding them doing the same. There's an odd sensation from my nails and gums as and I shiver against it.

Creepy.

Heavily exhaling after everything is done, I slip the shards in the pocket of my robe, hoping they would stay safe.

Now I wish I hadn't broken the bottle to spur my vampire side on.

Everything seemed to stagnate after that. There was nothing to do but wait, yet I didn't want to sleep. I wanted to keep nose, ears, and eye on Kelah during his change so I knew when mine came too. He hadn't said anything about it being painful, and I hope it isn't.

I've had enough pain for the night.

So I give into the need for sleep, trying to keep my conscious from sinking too deep in case something happens during that time.

I would be rather dissatisfied if I missed anything.

~*~*~

I breathe a small sigh of relief when Kagome finally drops off. Now my attention can fully go to Kelah without any deviations.

There was something going on with that guy and I couldn't place it. I knew it had to deal with his transformation, one that I had no clue about. I could only keep everything tuned to him for anything suspicious.

In the meantime, everyone else could take the rest they needed as I watch over the area.

As I usually do.

I just wish it wasn't so dark in this cave. Even I could barely see a thing. I don't know if morning has come and I have a severe need to see for some reason. If it was nearly dusk when we reached the cave, surely sunrise should be here by now.

I don't know how long we've been down here and I've been unable to keep track since we went down.

I scowl and fight to get up. But I still want to know; not being aware of what's going on around me always irks me.

I fight a few more times before mentally sighing and carefully standing to keep from alerting anyone. They were all exhausted, as I mildly was, and needed more sleep. These were the times I liked being part youkai. I could ignore it to do what was needed and sleep when I could.

I avoid stepping on those around me as I trail back. In minutes, I'm at the end of the tunnel, finding a small beam of dim light hitting some of the stone. So...morning WAS here.

"Is that the...sun?"

I startle and grip Tetsusaiga's hilt before placing the voice. How the hell I didn't notice him following me was beyond me.

Maybe I was more tired than I thought.

"Don't fucking SCARE me like that!" I severely whisper. I spy him shift and realize he was flying. That would do it.

He crept forward, almost shyly, and stared out the area with wide eyes. I smell him and sense the changes that occurred already. He's more human than vampire now and I feel a little forlorn at not being able to kill him.

But by the look of childlike innocence on his face, I feel a little less angry, and a little more understanding of Kagome's sympathy.

"Stupid! Don't go outside." I quietly warn, voice rough. I avidly watch him and see him almost physically weaken. His nails are still claws, but that is just the way they grew. His blood smells less evil and a little more humanlike.

At least knowing he was becoming human gave me hope for Kagome's condition. I almost wanted to get back inside and keep an eye on her, but there was a quiet grunt from my companion.

"What?" I ask, eyeing him with boredom. His fascination of a simple sunrise was lost on me, as I've seen too many in my lifetime already. They're nothing special.

"I...I feel..." Another cry was cut short as Kelah purposely stopped himself. He sunk to his knees, startling the shit outa me, arms wrapping around himself. "It...hurts!"

~*~*~

I could feel the change in my blood and the dimming of my senses. Even flying was becoming a burden.

I was returning human at last.

When Inuyasha left for the exit, I was compelled to follow him, as I wanted to see if the sun had risen. It was hard to stay in the air and took supreme act of will to keep myself from falling. It made me a little sad, but also excited.

Flying was the best thing I liked and I would miss it.

There was nothing to describe upon seeing the harsh rays of morning and not feel it burn my skin or burst into flames at the heat.

It was glorious.

I knew in that moment that I was almost fully human, if not done transforming. I even FELT more fragile, and it made me giddy.

Certainly I would have to get used to this...but I was content to look around with my new, dulled senses and look at the sun rise for the first time again.

I felt like a baby all over again.

But it was cut short with the sudden stinging sensation in my chest. I figured it was the ending of my changing, so I didn't bother thinking about it.

Until that second, more intense sting came and dropped me to my knees. I clutch my body against the pain as if to ward it off, frantically wondering what was going on. There was a bit of exhaustion that hit me, mostly from what I fought earlier. Now it seems to double tenfold and knock me for a loop.

My vision swims.

This wasn't supposed to be happening!

"Nani o suru?? Yameru!"

I grit my teeth as there's a sharp stab near my heart and I double to the ground, using the dirt to hold me.

God...the PAIN!...

"What's going on?!"

Through the blood rushing in my ears, I barely hear Kagome's worried voice.

Harshly breathing, I weakly turn to look at her, falling on my side to the dirt. "K...Kagome...itai yo..." I whisper, a hand trailing across the ground for her.

It just hurt so much to move!

In an instant, she was at my side and I felt touched at that. It brought tears to my eyes and I blinked at them. This girl, who cursed me with giving her a new life, was so forgiving and generous to me. I would never forget that.

"Inuyasha...what's happening?!"

"How should I know?? One second he was looking at the sunrise, than gave a cry of pain and fell to the ground! Can't you smell it?"

"Hai... But...this shouldn't be happening! He's HUMAN!"

Human...

That word echoed in my ears and I suddenly understood.

This wasn't anything to do with the vampire transformation anymore. This was totally different.

My heart palpitates unsteadily and I gasp for air as I feel like someone kicked me repeatedly. My free hand grips the earth and tears furrows into the ground in my pain.

"Kelah shikkari suru!" She cries, gripping my hand. I squeeze it in my pain, though I don't think I've hurt her. She's still a vampire. I can tell by the fangs that peeked when she spoke.

I just hope this doesn't happen to her either.

"Kagome..." I wheezed and ducked my head to my chest when my muscles spasm. My breath becomes erratic as I fight for it.

"Gods houshi-sama...what's WRONG with him?!"

I look behind Kagome and strain to see the two humans standing close behind her. I blink when my vision seems to swim out of focus for a second, almost disappearing.

Miroku's heavy sigh reaches my ears and I feel another stab of panic at that. The monk was highly knowledgeable for a human and I suddenly have a respect for his powers. He was strong for a human.

And for some reason, seems to feel pity for me after all I've done to him.

"He's human now Sango. His body is old. Two hundred years of cheating death is catching up with him."

I grit my teeth at a small pricking near my skin. My bones feel brittle and there's a pain in my joints to move them. My hand goes lax in Kagome's as my body heavily leans to the ground.

The monk is right.

I'm dying.

But somehow...it doesn't feel so bad.

At least I got to see the sun rise...and I can really and truly rest for once.

"Kelah..." Kagome whispered, her voice shaky. "You can't die...you just regained humanity! You have to live to see a sunrise!"

I give her a small smile, feeling my skin change now that my organs are through shifting. The new feeling makes me shudder, but I keep my vision locked on caring, watery brown and smile a little more.

"Kagome-chan..." I whisper, giving her hand a meek squeeze. "Shinpai suranai... This won't...happen to you... You haven't been a kyuketsuki that long... So be human again and...live for me..."

~*~*~

Then just like that...his eyes closed and his body turned lifeless.

As if someone fast forwarded Kelah, his skin turned from wrinkled to tight against his body and his facial structure altered as his bones disintegrated. The clothes around his chest became highly baggy and I barely smell the deterioration and decay as his body rots away at rapid pace.

Trying to catch up from his time to mine.

His hand in mine becomes hard and the skin leathery. It turns a dark color and some of it peels away, disappearing to nothing. I let go in shock, dropping his quickly appearing bones to the ground.

With nothing around them, the bones break apart and scatter around me...yet still eroding.

The village clothes fall to the ground, nothing to fill them. I watch with wide eyes as that skull becomes visible...then slowly starts to corrode as well.

This all seemed to happen in an instant...and then there was nothing left but the black and white robes given to Kelah.

And the memory of the time I spent with him.

A hush falls over as I numbly sit in front of his clothes; tears unknowingly falling over my face.

I never wished anything like this to happen to him in a million years. I didn't want him to go this way.

But now...at least Inuyasha got his chance at seeing Kelah die.

With a harsh swallow, I feel a familiar hand on my shoulder, giving a gentle squeeze. Without words, I'm picked up under the arms and cradled against a warm body. I'm grateful to him for his caring when needed, even in front of the others. My gaze still rests on that outfit and I hear Miroku murmur a few prayers to the departed.

Finally, I blink and look to Inuyasha as he gives me a gentle shake. "He's...gone..." I whisper, more tears falling.

~*~*~

If I didn't have such a good grip on Kagome, I would've dropped her in my shock. The bafflement and amaze that went through me at his decay wasn't something I expected.

But what Miroku said made sense.

It was too bad he wanted to become human, as it turned to his downfall NOW...

I looked away from horrified and dead brown and close my eyes, giving Kelah a small bit of sympathy.

At least he was a good fighter...

But now he was gone, and my attention turned to Kagome...experimentally smelling to see her blood's transformation so far. I smelled it the second her scent came to my nose when she appeared after Kelah's cry. After that, she must've been too caught up in what was happening to notice her own change.

By now...she was fully human again.

I can't help but breathe a sigh of relief, my mouth twitching upward.

Things could get back to normal now...at least normal for US anyway.

"Daijoubu?" I whisper, looking to her again.

"He...he's dead... He's gone... Will that...happen to ME?"

"It won't. You're already human Kagome."

She startled and looked at me stunned, but nodded after a second. She must've noticed everything was duller than before.

Just like my own transformation to human.

My gaze shoots to Miroku as the monk slowly gathers up Kelah's robes, his gaze solemn and even.

"What are you doing bouzu?" I retort, trying to get the tension to dissipate a little. I was used to death in my long life, as were the others from fighting together...but this was the first time we'd seen anything like this.

"Giving Kelah's remains a proper burial."

I don't bother to answer, knowing that...really...those clothes ARE the only thing left of the vampire. There's nothing but his scent on those robes left.

Not even his bones remain...there's nothing but dust particles in the dirt.

"Yosh...let's head back then. There's nothing else we can do here." I quietly answer, turning back for the village. Kagome shifts a little in my arms, but doesn't try to get out of my embrace. She knows she's I won't let her down.

A good thing...because her breathing quickly becomes even about a dozen paces from the cave.

My ears briefly flick back with a small, odd look. I sneak a peek at her peaceful face, feeling more content with her in my arms.

My Kagome was back.

~*~*~

"Will you slow DOWN Kagome-chan?? You'll make yourself SICK."

I shake my head, too happily stuffing my face with actual FOOD to care how I look. The day passed me by as I slept off my exhaustion of everything that happened within such a short timeframe.

It was heartening to be back to normal.

As if to celebrate, Sango mentioned food moments after I woke up and my stomach loudly agreed with her. So here we sat, everyone eating the forgotten provisions out of my pack that got left behind and overlooked with everything going on.

Out of the corner of my eye, I spy a hand stealthfully making its way to one of my unopened containers. My eyes narrow and in a flash, my chopsticks flick against Inuyasha's hand, hearing him grumble and sit back at being caught.

"You have your OWN ramen Inuyasha. Don't make me take you down for trying to steal mine." I easily threaten, going back to eating. I briefly meet his eyes, telling him I mean business.

He glared almost like a pout, but went back to his own food. "You're hogging it all!" He nearly whined, going back to scarfing his bowl empty. "I'm still hungry!"

"You'll deal. You have easier access to getting food now than I do." In no time, I finish the container and sip the broth, reveling in the taste.

Just barely, I hear him mutter about wishing I WAS still a vampire...so at least he could have all the ramen.

Quickly downing the rest of the juice, I set the container with the other and go for a third. "Inuyasha...osuwari."

I grin as he slams into the ground, trying desperately to keep his bowl from spilling over everywhere.

When he finally pulled himself off the wood floor, he glared at me like usual. "What the fuck was THAT for?!"

I glare back, letting the water seep in with the noodles. "You didn't think I HEARD you?? You're only a few feet away from me!"

"We heard as well and I personally like Kagome-sama a human than a vampire."

"Same here Kagome-chan."

I beam to my friends and dig in to my third bowl, taking it a little slower this time. This was udon, and one of my favorites.

"You know I didn't mean it you baka..."

One eye looks to my right, seeing a tinge to Inuyasha's face. I smile at him to lessen his embarrassment, also that I understand.

It was nice to get everything back to normal again and the second I get inside my home I'm going to give everyone a big hug.

I miss my family and my momma most of all.

The only thing to worry about now were Shikon no Kakera, Naraku, and school.

Sigh.