Here are the two last chapters. Thank you all for reviewing and please continue reviewing. 

-MC

My Last Breath

Evanescence

hold on to me love
you know i can't stay long
all i wanted to say was i love you and i'm not afraid
can you hear me?
can you feel me in your arms?

holding my last breath
safe inside myself
are all my thoughts of you
sweet raptured light it ends here tonight

i'll miss the winter
a world of fragile things
look for me in the white forest
hiding in a hollow tree (come find me)
i know you hear me
i can taste it in your tears

holding my last breath
safe inside myself
are all my thoughts of you
sweet raptured light it ends here tonight

closing your eyes to disappear
you pray your dreams will leave you here
but still you wake and know the truth
no one's there

say goodnight
don't be afraid
calling me calling me as you fade to black

"And she wonders if, in the dark place to which she is heading, there will be enough mercy to erase from her mind the final shreds of memory."

                                                                        -The Flanders Panel

Kagome didn't really know what was going on.  At first she had been enjoying her dinner with Naraku and her father when Sesshomaru disappeared.  Initially it was fine, her father's guards were there, as were Naraku's…and she was in her own home.  But then her father's guards were gone and the guests seemed to have just vanished into thin air.  Kagome felt slightly woozy as the world tipped on its side and she fell into a deep sleep.

After that she awoke to a light shining bright in her face.

Typical kidnapping/questioning technique, she thought, how quaint.  And that drug they slipped into my drink worked quite well.  Lucky me.

As Kagome glanced around she smarted from the wounds she received in her transport.  Absolutely Fabulous, and there is nothing British about this, she grimaced. 

Kagome was about to try to move again when a shadow danced across the bright beam.  Her eyes blinked and watered with the quick change of lighting and with the figure in front of the light as it were made it impossible to distinguish any features.  Male or female?  Definitely male.  And then the figure spoke.

"It is so tempting to go with the typical 'ah, so you have awoken' line.  No wonder it is so clichéd.  It just comes naturally…"

The voice was deep and silky, not silky soft and comforting like Sesshomaru's, but the kind of silk that could wrap itself around your neck and choke you before you knew it.

"Naraku?"

"Bingo, Kagome, my dear.  Here, let me get you out of these restraints.  Sesshomaru will be here soon."

"Why am I here anyways?  Does this have to do with El Salvador?"

"All in good time, my sweet, all in good time."  He had discarded the ties that previously held her hands and sat down in front of the beam again, so Kagome could not read his expressions.

Shots could be heard and gradually they were coming closer.  However, Naraku didn't seemed fazed at all, in fact, judging by the light chuckle, he seemed quite amused by the whole arrangement.  Kagome was still piecing things together but it was all still a jigsaw puzzle in her mind.

Was Naraku the connection to El Salvador?

"By the way, Kagome, do you love Sesshomaru?"  Her imperceptible nod seemed sufficient to him.  Kagome didn't like it one bit.

Something carelessly blew the door opposite Kagome off its hinges.  And through the fuzzy light, where the door used to be, framed in all his glory, was Sesshomaru.  The glint in his eyes gleamed in the darkness and the .44-millimeter was cocked in his hand.  At that moment, Kagome realized that she would never want to be in his line of fire.

"Ah, now that we are all here…please…take a seat."

Sesshomaru absently wiped some blood off his chin before sitting down where Naraku had motioned.  He glanced and Kagome and almost sighed with relief that she looked unharmed.  Not wanting to show his weakness in front of Naraku, even though it was probably fruitless since he had rushed in here getting to Kagome, Sesshomaru decided to not comfort her with a touch. 

"Now, I am sure you are both wondering why you are here.  But before we start, I have something to tell Kagome."  Naraku smiled wolfishly at Sesshomaru before he took Kagome's hand in his.

"Kagome, my darling, your father is dead."

Ripping her hand away from him Kagome tried to stand but was roughly pushed back down by Naraku.  This resulted in Sesshomaru standing, but was cut off.

"Please, stay back.  We are talking and it doesn't involve the paid help.  I will get to you in a second."

Sesshomaru burned with anger but quickly fought it down.  Naraku knew how to push his buttons and was only trying to rile him up.

Kagome was shocked, to say the least.  But nothing prepared her for what was to come.

"He was killed by the brothers of the men who murdered your mother.  Doesn't it seem fitting?"

"W-what?"  How is that possible…?

"Kagome, I have a lot of explaining to do.  Here, I will bring Sesshomaru over and you two can hold each other while I break the news, alright?"  There was something strange in his request, but Kagome didn't argue as she was brought into the tight embrace of Sesshomaru.

"Yes, now the time has come.  Do, tell me, Kagome, have you heard of the School of Americas?" 

Kagome visibly flinched at the name.  She nodded.

"I thought so.  You see this school was designed to train soldiers from other countries to be able to defend themselves in cases of war or possible communistic take-overs.  However, this school seemed to train the soldiers of the El Salvadoran army exactly how to kill and pillage any town or city effectively.  And that is what these soldiers did during the civil war.  Isn't that right?"

Kagome nodded again, tears streaming down her face.  Sesshomaru had no idea where this was heading, but he was sure it wasn't good.  He gripped Kagome tighter.

"Yes, but that is not all they did, is it?  They also assassinated the six Jesuits that night.  And your mother…and your little sister."

Kagome's grip on Sesshomaru's back tensed.

"But did you know that Sesshomaru was involved in that school as well?"

Kagome immediately let go of Sesshomaru and stared at him in shock. 

"You see?  My favorite playmate of old matched with her ultimate enemy?  Even I am impressed with how well it worked out.  Kagome, my darling, you are in love with a man who actively participated in the School of Americas special programs in Japan.  The school of soldiers that killed your mother and your little sister.  So, can you tell me you love him now?"

"But Japan hates America…" Sesshomaru trailed off.  He couldn't have…

"You are grasping at loose straws, Sesshomaru, it is inevitable you should at least catch one…but it seems you are doomed to blindness.  A sad failing in your field."

"It's true though…" Kagome whispered, trying not to believe what she just heard.

"No, my dear.  You know as well as I that America didn't really win the fight with Japan.  Japan would have fought until their last breath, but alas, it was impossible.  It was just so in the war with the British and the colonies.  Britain didn't want to send over more men and so the war ended.  What could happen?  they thought.  I bet the old bags are rolling in their graves now.  So, in the treaty, Japan was granted a special program of young soldiers who were trained in the art of war.  But those American presidents are going to be rolling in their graves when Japan presents them with their newest edition.  And my what a healthy specimen he is…"

Something was not clicking with Sesshomaru.  He tried to ask Kagome but she flinched from his grasp. 

"Kagome…? What is wrong…" the pain was evident in his voice.

"Please, please, just give me a minute."  Tears were running down her cheeks and she could barely stay seated she felt so faint. 

But Naraku wasn't finished yet.

"So, did you enjoy our little game?  I thought it was a beautiful construction myself.  Originally Inuyasha wasn't in the picture, but they decided he was a sacrifice they could deal with.  But loosing you…that would not be impossible."

"Who?"

"Are you still not there yet?  I thought I gave you enough clues.  The masters.  They were a little iffy on your tactics but you've made them proud.  And now all you have to do to pass and finally become  the only graduate of the school is to kill your precious Kagome.  The same Kagome who, judging by her reaction to you just now, is clumping you with the men who murdered and raped her mother…and killed her sister."

Sesshomaru stopped breathing.  The masters?  The masters have been testing me this whole time?  I never escaped them?  Then that means Miroku AND Naraku are working for them…

"Why would you do this to me?" Kagome suddenly yelled, "I thought of you as a brother!  After my family was killed you—"

"Yes, Kagome!  After your family was killed mine was killed too!  But the guerrillas killed them.  And isn't it funny that I met up with the men during business in Japan who could not only help me get my revenge on those worthless peasants in El Salvador but also make me quite rich as well.  The only price they asked was to establish a task worthy enough for their star pupil.  And my what a job I did…"

"No!  No you couldn't have done this…I…" and she was caught in Sesshomaru's embrace once more.  He glanced down at her and started to remember a night he shared in her bed not two days ago.

         "Is it all for naught, then?" he murmured, glancing at the woman, a vision of loveliness next to him.  He gently brushed back the bangs from her face and snuggled closer to her, needing to feel her against him.  As she wrapped her arms about his waist and her legs intertwined with his own, Sesshomaru allowed himself a small sigh.

"I love you," she murmured throughout the night air, her whimsical voice cascading through the room like a waterfall in her beautiful and devastated homeland. 

He could never kill this woman.  She was his.  And he was hers.  For eternity.

Naraku knew he wouldn't have been able to kill her.

"Yes, well, we can't have the lady stay with you…"

And Naraku shot Kagome once through the stomach. 

Sesshomaru was to her in an instant.

"Kagome, love, hold on.  Hold on…" he helplessly used his shirt to stop the wound as he turned on Naraku.

"How could you?"

"Simple.  Japan needs you.  Without her, you can go back.  I'm sure you would have grasped that stra—"

"Grasp this straw."

And Sesshomaru shot him three times in the heart.  Death was instantaneous.

Sesshomaru then rushed back to Kagome.

"Please, hold on.  I'll get you help."

"Naraku…?"  she whispered.

"I killed him.  I don't care.  I can run from the masters.  He was the connection.  Now he is gone…please, just don't talk."

"Sess, Sess, I love you.  I never thought you were like those soldiers…. I love you so much."  Kagome said just under a murmur.

"No, please.  You can't go.  I just found you.  You were the only one who could melt my ice heart.  If you go, whats stopping me from freezing again?"

"Sess, there is nothing we can do.  Go…live." 

"How can I live without you?  Please…please…"

He desperately kissed her lips, which were rapidly getting colder by the moment.  Holding her body tightly against him, Sesshomaru cried tears, for the first and last time in his life, he cried.

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Blood dripped.  All she could see, feel, touch and taste was the vermilion liquid dripping…dripping.  And then…

Darkness.

It is said your life flashes before your eyes when you die…

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