Disclaimer: -__-….Need you remind me….I'm sad enough as it is because I have to wait till Thursday night to watch Inuyasha on tape because I don't have cable in my dorm yet….So I'll let you draw your own conclusion.

A/N:  First of all I would like to thank the following people for putting me on their favorites list. ^__^

Goku Li

Smileygirl322

CaribMiko03

Silverpuppyinuyasha

Flame99

Tsume Yamagata

Thank you.  And a special thanks to Mashed Potatoes1 because she is cool. And to my friend Fluffy-kun who read my story even though he's not interested in fanfiction and for writing those awesome Vegeta poems.  ^__^  I'm listening to the Rurouni Kenshin soundtrack.  It's cool.  Anyways thanks to all who have reviewed.  As a warning this chapter will be slightly angsty but will be plenty waffy as well.  So it's bittersweet really.  Ok you have been warned so please enjoy.

Reason to Live

Ch.7 To Free a Soul

Kikyo's aim was true…her arrow heading straight for the quickening pulse in Kagome's breast. 

The silence was deafening as everyone was caught between gasping in shock and throats constricting in fear as their eyes wetted with tears awaiting Kagome's cry of agony.  As the arrow sped closer a flash of red was seen as Inuyasha stepped in front of Kagome, taking the arrow in the heart, just as Kagome jumped in his arms to embrace him.

The forest was deathly quiet.  Everyone gazed in agonizing devastation at the scene before them:  two beings embracing each other as though they could keep each other from disappearing into oblivion. 

In Inuyasha's backside the pale feathers of Kikyo's arrow could be seen clearly.  But more appalling was the sight of a bloody silver tip sticking out of Kagome's backside.

The tension of this horrible conflict rising in horror as everyone realized that their friends were pierced through the heart, sharing this pain.

Miroku, Sango, Shippo, Kaede, and Kikyo fell to their knees in anguish.  Kikyo dismayed because though she will succeed in killing her reincarnation, Inuyasha will die with her.  She could never bring him to hell with her now.  The others wept in earnest as they witnessed their friends slowly die in front of them.

"Kagome!  Inuyasha!  NO!"

"It's over"

Everyone turned to look at Kikyo muttering softly.

"They are going to die together.  It should be me.  I should be the one to die with him."  Kikyo looked at the couple silently struggling to survive.  "You can not help them.  My spell has made a barrier.  If you approach you will die.  And now my soul will never be at rest."

"How do you know that Kikyo?"

"Because, I can not rest unless Inuyasha is with me."

"Kikyo, I believe Inuyasha was the only thing keeping you here in the first place.  Now that he is out of your reach your soul may rest.  Before you even attacked he was lost to you.  He loves her."

"Kikyo, there is no way he would go with you.  Please just release them from the spell.  I may still be able to heal their injuries."

"Even if I wanted to, I could not.  All my power was used in making and releasing that sacred arrow.  I have nothing left to break it.  If they truly love each other as you claim then that and that alone could break the spell and heal their wounds, binding them together forever.  If their love is true then I would have nothing holding me back and I could finally pass on."

"Hey it looks like they're talking, but I can't hear them." cried Shippo.

"The barrier makes it impossible for us to hear."

^*^

"Inuyasha, do you want to know something funny."

Inuyasha and Kagome had no idea how long they had been pinned together.  Time seemed to have stopped.  Both were in excruciating pain, barely able to breathe.  Both were content with the fact that they were together.

"What is it, Kagome?" said Inuyasha barely above a whisper.

"I know I'm going to die soon, but I'm not afraid."  Kagome smiled at Inuyasha tears streaming from her eyes.  She strained to take another breath.  "I am not afraid to die because I'm with you."

"Kagome, I was never afraid to die because I had nothing to live for.  And now…I'm still not afraid, even though I have everything to live for right here.  I'm sorry I couldn't save you.  But at least I'm dieing with you in my arms.  I love you, Kagome."

"I love you too, Inuyasha.  So much."

"But I'll be damned if we die without me even kissing you once."  Kagome let out a sob as Inuyasha placed his lips over hers in a soul-searing kiss.

A/N:  That's it for now.  Please review and I'll update this weekend since I don't have any classes.  Kyo-kun and ja ne.