**** I do not own Inu Yasha or claim any rights to it in any way. ****

An End and a Beginning

CHAPTER 1

The alarm clock rung, Kagome jerked awake. Where was she? Where was Inu

Yasha? Then it all came rushing back to her, and she stifled a sob. Dead. He was dead.

They were all dead. She could feel the weight of the completed Shikon no Tama on her

throat. A reminder of she had, and what she had lost. Sango, Miroku, Shippou..Tears

leaked out of her eyes. They had defeated Naraku, but Inu Yasha was hurt. He was lying

on the ground, and as Kagome ran to him, silent deadly arrows flew out of the darkness.

First Sango, then Miroku, they had died in each others arms. Shippou had cried out and

ran to them. Another arrow hissed, and the little kitsune fell, feet from Sango and

Miroku.

Kikyo stepped out of the darkness, between her and Inu Yasha. Her arrow

pointed at Kagome. She let if fly. It hit Kagome's right shoulder. Kagome fell to the

ground, clutching her shoulder. "A long time ago," Kikyo began, in a soft dangerous

voice, "I realized it was not Inu Yasha I hated. It was you." She regarded Kagome

coldly, "I could kill you, but this is much better. It's better for you to suffer, than die."

She smiled, "Your friends are dead." She bent down and pulled the Shikon no Tama off

Naraku's corpse and put its chain around her neck, "The Shikon no Tama is mine," she

gathered the unconscious hanyou in her arms, "and I'm taking Inu Yasha to hell with

me." In a swirl of dark energy, she opened the gate to hell. "With the Shikon no Tama I

can bind him to me for eternity. You will never have him. He is mine."

Something was not right. Inu Yasha forced his eyes to open. The Shikon no

Tama glinted above him and the person who wore it held him in her arms. But it was not

Kagome, it was Kikyo. He felt his body shift, then start to sink, like he was being sucked

away. NO! Kikyo was taking him to hell. NO! He couldn't leave Kagome. He heard

Kikyo shout, "With the Shikon no Tama I can bind him to me for eternity. You will

never have him." He looked over to where she shouted, through the swirling energy he

could see Kagome, an arrow stuck out of her shoulder. NO! KAGOME! His mind

screamed, but no words came out. His body would not move. NO! This can't be. There

was not way he could stop Kikyo from taking him. The Shikon no Tama glowed slightly,

as if beckoning to him. Kikyo was not paying attention. She was laughing as fast as she

could draw breath. Perhaps it was his love for Kagome that he found the strength, or

perhaps the Shikon no Tama it's self lent him the power, or maybe both, but Inu Yasha

managed to raise his hand and rip the Jewel from Kikyo's neck. He flung it toward

Kagome, "I LOVE YOU KAGOME!" He shouted above Kikyo's screams of rage, as

they were both sucked to hell and the gate closed. His last thought was of Kagome; if

only there was a way.if only..

Kagome lay on her bed, reliving the moment. She had screamed his name as he

disappeared. The next thing she knew she was in the hut with Kaede leaning over her,

changing the bandages on her wounds. Kagome lay their listening to Kaede; Miroku and

Sango had already been laid to rest. Kagome wore the Shikon no tama around her neck.

Kirra curled up next to her. At least Kikyo had not seen her, Kagome thought, glad of the

youki cat's presence.

"I can't stay here, Kaede."

"I understand child."

She looked at the small bundle that lay on the next bed, Shippou. "Is he going to

be alright?" She asked.

"Yes, luckily he's tougher than he looks. The arrow missed his heart. He will be

ok in a few days. I'm sorry nothing could be done about Miroku or Sango."

"I want to thank you for everything you have done for me," Standing up she

placed the little cat next to Shippou. Will you tell him...," She faltered.

"Don't worry child. I will explain everything to him. He will understand."

Kagome hugged Kaede, "Thank You," she said, "For everything."

She gathered up the things she wanted, to remember her fallen friends with,

Miroku's Shakujou, Sango's Hiraikotsu, and Tessaiga. Kaede had recovered Tetseiga

from Naraku's dead body. Kagome hugged Kaede one last time, then taking a breath;

she jumped into the well.



"How is you shoulder Kagome?" Her mother said.

"Much better Mom thanks." Well, there are advantages to being a Miko, Kagome

thought. Most people would not be able to use their shoulder for a very long time, if ever

again, after an arrow wound like that. But except for a little stiffness she was fine. The

doctor had been amazed.

"Are you sure you don't need another day or two before going to you new school,

that was a nasty flu bug you caught."

"No Mom, but thanks." Kagome had spent the summer recovering from the

wound, then right before she was supposed to start high school; she got sick, with the flu.

Ironic huh, Kagome thought, all that time I pretended to be sick, and now when I finally

don't have to pretend anymore, I get sick.

Somehow, even though she had spent so much time in the feudal period she had

managed to get into a very good secondary school. Her math scores weren't that great,

but her history and creative writing scores attracted the school board. They had been

impressed by her writing about the feudal era. The lead history teacher specialized in that

period in history, and he had never seen a student who was so knowledgeable before. He

had said when he read her stories and papers, he felt like he was there. So Kagome had

been accepted.

Kagome sat on the bench waiting for the bus that would take her to her new

school. She wondered what it was going to be like. She would not have any friends, as

Yuah, Erri and Ayumi had gone to a different school. Ah well, at least she didn't have to

worry about them asking her about Inu Yasha. A tear slid down her cheek, she didn't

know if she could stand anyone bringing him up right now.



Kagome looked up at the notice posted on the bulletin board. The first meeting of

the archery club was today, after school. Her mother had been encouraging her to join a

club or find some sort of activity to do after school. Now that she was no longer

traveling back in time every chance she got, she had a lot of free time on her hands. She

supposed her mother was right. It wouldn't do her any good to mope around the house

all day after school.

"Are you coming to the archery club today after school?" A familiar voice broke

Kagome out of her memories and she spun around. There standing in front of her was

Sango. She had on a school uniform, and carried a back pack like any other student. But

it was definitely Sango.

"Sango?"

Sango smiled, "And you must be Kagome?"

"You know me?"

"No silly, it's on you name tag, Higurashi Kagome."

Kagome looked at Sango's name tag, it said, Hayashi, Sango.

Sango smiled, "You're an odd one. You must be the new student. I heard you

were sick at the start of school. I still have all my old notes from last year if you'd like to

borrow them to catch up."

Kagome stared at Sango. This must be Sango's reincarnation. She looked like

Sango, acted like Sango, but did not have the memories. Kagome smiled. "I would love

that. Sorry about before, you just reminded me of someone I once knew."

"Someone you knew? With my name as well, huh. Wow, freaky. Come on I'll

show you around."

"Hey, who's your friend Sango?" Another familiar voice sounded across the

court yard. Slowly Kagome turned. It was Miroku. He was also in a school uniform, but

there was not doubt it was Miroku.

"Aren't you gonna introduce us?" Miroku said eyeing Kagome."

She held out her hand, "You are Miroku, my name is Kagome."

Miroku looked at her stunned, "How did you know?"

"It's ." Kagome was going to say it's on your name tag, but she noticed he

wasn't wearing one. "It's. Ah.Lucky guess."

"Wow, you must be physic or something." He moved closer in an action that

Kagome was long familiar with. She easily side stepped his wandering hands, and then

with a twinkle in her eye, she said, "And no, I won't bear your child."

Miroku stared at Kagome, mouth open with surprise. Sango broke out laughing,

"Wow either she really is physic, or she has already been warned about you." Come on

Kagome, we've got about 10 minuets before the bell rings, I'll show you where your first

class is." And she pulled Kagome away, leaving a gapping Miroku behind.

"Here we are. Good luck in your classes today. I look forward to seeing you at

practice." Sango waved at Kagome as she sped off to her own class. Kagome waved

back. It was great to see Sango and Miroku again, even if they didn't remember her.

Kagome kept glancing around. If Miroku and Sango were back, she thought, feeling a

lump in her throat, what about Inu Yasha.



"That is a very fine bow you have."

Kagome had just released an arrow and it had hit the close to the center of the

target. A chill ran up her spine. That voice! The last time she had heard it was the last

time she had seen Inu Yasha. She tried to swallow, but her mouth felt like an old dry

leaf. She lowered her bow and slowly turned around. She stared into apathetic brown

eyes. Her own eyes widened. How.how could Kikyou be here? If she was Kikyou's

reincarnation, then how could Kikyou be here in this time? "Arigato," she managed to

say.

Kikyou raised a finely shaped eyebrow at this girl's odd behavior. "It looks to

have been made by a very fine craftsman," she looked closer at the bow, "though I do not

recognize what kind of wood it is made of. Where did you get it?"

"It was a gift."

"Someone must prize you greatly to give you a gift such as this."

Kagome's remembered the day Inu Yasha had given her the bow. "This is the

third bow that I've broken; I just can't seem to keep them in one piece." The gang sat in

Kaede's hut, a pot of stew bubbled happily on the fire, as Kagome examined her broken

weapon.

Myoga jumped on the splintered wood, and examined it, "Hmmmmm, These

bows are made of ordinary wood, I am not surprised that they keep breaking."

"Why is that?" Sango said leaning closer to look at the broken bow.

"When Kagome shoots, she channels her energy through the bow and the arrow.

This can put amazing strain on the weapon. After a while the bow can't handle it, and

snaps."

"So what should I do?"

"Well, I would subject keeping two bows, for when one breaks you will have a

back up."

"Keh, just what she needs more luggage," Inu Yasha said.

"Well if you can think of a something better, I'm all ears," Kagome shot back.

Inu Yasha stood up and stretched, "Maybe I will," he said, then stalked out of the

hut.

Kagome glared after the departing hanyou, and then stood up, "I'm going to go

home for a few days. I've got some tests." Grabbing her bag, Kagome stalked after Inu

Yasha. Kagome kept waiting for Inu Yasha to jump out at her and demand that she stay,

but she didn't see any sign of him. "I wonder where he went to?" she whispered to

herself, then jumped in the well.

When she got back three days later He was sitting in a tree waiting for her.

"Here," he said jumping down and thrusting a long cloth wrapped bundle at her, "Maybe

you won't break this one."

Kagome took the bundle and pulled back the cloth. Smooth wood, slightly warm

met her fingers. Kagome held up the bow and examined it from tip to tip. It was a rich

mahogany color, with small elegant flourishes on either end. A strange script was etched

along the side, and the grip fit Kagome's had perfectly. It was also lighter than any bow

she had ever held. It felt like she was lifting a feather. "Inu Yasha! It's wonderful, I

love it. Thank You."

"Keh, It's nothing," he said, but he looked pleased at her reaction to his present,

"I just didn't want to have to carry more stuff than you already have," he said picking up

her yellow book bag and tossing it over his shoulder and started off. He paused looking

over his shoulder at her, "Well are you coming, or have you forgotten that we still have

shards to find?"

"Yes," Kagome said to Kikyou remembering the pleased way Inu Yasha had

looked at her that day, "I think he did."

Kikyou's eyes coolly regarded the girl in front of her. There was something about

her, something familiar. A memory tugged at the back of her mind, like an itch she

couldn't reach. Her eyes narrowed slightly as she peered into Kagome's face. "You

seem familiar," she said, "have we met before?"

Kagome's face went even redder. "Nnn. No, I don't think so," she said.

"Mmmm," Kikyou nodded slightly, but did not look entirely convinced. Her

eye's scanned down the clip board she was holding. "Higurashi Kagome," she read of

the sheet, and then looked back up at Kagome.

"Hai," Kagome said.

"My name is Takahasi, Takahasi Kikyou. I am the president of the Archery

club."



Ok.. So what do you think? I have been working on this fan fiction for quite

sometime. I was not planning to start posting chapters until it was completely finished,

but I find I need some inspiration. I want to warn everyone that there will probably be

many spoilers along the way, especially episode 26 in the anime. I won't be able to

update everyday, but it shouldn't be too long between updates. Feel free to e-mail me

with any comments or questions or suggestions, and of course I love to read reviews. I'm

not really happy with the title, so if anyone can think of one they think fits better, please

let me know.

And I also want to thank everyone who reviewed my other stories:

"Sesshoumaru's Thought's on Rin," and the "Cherry Blossom Dance." Elena~sun,

Dannigirl, LilFilipinoGurl, GreaterBeast-Xellas, Dragonfly Angle (What a great pen

name that is), Sagan Fox, Kaijuu-chan, Phoenix-dancer224, lauren, Neko, Akimura,

Xtreme Nuisance, SylverAngel, Taea, Lauri, Hereiko Nakashima, noloc#, and Kitten

Kisses. Hope I didn't miss anyone. Thanks for taking the time to tell me what you

though about my stories.

And I want to give a special thanks to SenTaro-Taisensei for his encouraging e-

mails, and reviews. You got me thinking that maybe I should start working on this fic

again, and start posting it as well. I look forward to hearing what you think of it.

One more quick note, I am having a hard time with getting the formatting correct.

When I upload my story, it gets a bit jumbled. Not all the paragraphs indent, and I have a

problem with the spacing. If you know how to fix this, could you let me know.