A/N: I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I didn't mean for it to take this long! I swear! I started a new fic that completely sucked my brain dry...did I mention that I'm really sorry?! It is also due to the fact that I can't write fight scenes. After many hours of trying to write it...I ended up completely giving up and did this. It's a lot more angst-y this way, anyway.

The Other Side of the Mirror

Chapter 29: Only Way

Inu-Yasha held Kagome, *his* Kagome, against his chest. A few tears dripped from his flooded eyes. Why had she come?! He, Miroku, and Sesshoumaru could have finished off Naraku without her!

Miroku couldn't use his Kazanna because of Naraku's stupid bees, but Inu- Yasha *and* Sesshoumaru using a Kaze no Kizu easily finished the bastard off.

She shouldn't have gotten hurt!

Sesshoumaru placed a hand on Inu-Yasha's shoulder. "We fought valiantly, thank you."

"I was too slow," Inu-Yasha answered, more tears escaping his control. "Naraku poisoned her, because *I* was too slow!"

"Calm yourself, Inu-Yasha," Miroku said, taking another look at his finally un-cursed hand. "I'm sure that I can create an antidote to any poi-"

"She shouldn't have been hurt in the first place!" He yelled again. He fell to his knees clutching her even closer.

"Inu-Yasha," Sesshoumaru said calmly, but forcefully enough to command the hanyou's attention, "Kagome is strong. Believe in her, and we will be able to help her."

Inu-Yasha lowered his head, "But she's bleeding...humans die if they bleed too much. I can smell everything...her blood, her fear. She's so afraid...she's shivering, too. She's so cold..."

"Yes, humans are different, but if we go quickly, she will be perfectly fine in a few hours."

Inu-Yasha hugged Kagome again, then stood up. "Then, let's hurry."

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Miroku told Inu-Yasha and Sesshoumaru to wait outside of Kagome's room as he gave her the antidote to Naraku's final poison. Inu-Yasha had yelled that he would never leave *his* Kagome with a lecher, but Miroku and Sesshoumaru clamed him down enough to let Miroku do what he had to do.

Inu-Yasha passed for what seemed to be hours before Miroku came out of the room. The first thing Miroku did was shake his head sadly.

Inu-Yasha felt tears form in his eyes again. He grabbed Miroku by his collar and slammed him against the wall. "No!" He screamed. "How could you?! You said that you would save her! Damn you, Miroku!"

"Stop, Inu-Yasha," Miroku said calmly. "Your Lady Kagome is safe. Though, it will be a while before she can fight another demon."

"No! She won't ever fight another demon! Naraku nearly killed her! Why did you look so sad when you came out? What's wrong with Kagome?!"

"She was bleeding heavily, so she has been in and out of consciousness many times. She has been calling for you for the past hour."

"And you *didn't* tell me?!" He rushed into the room.

The entire thing reeked of blood. Kagome's small figure lay on the bed; she looked so small and weak.

He couldn't believe that he had let her get hurt. He wanted to be back in his world. This place was getting to him. Who knew how long it would take to get Kagome to trust him again?

He sat down on the bed next to her. She was pale and had a fever that made her sweat and shiver at the same time.

Inu-Yasha pulled her into his arms. "It's going to be all right, Kagome. You're safe. This Naraku's gone; I know how to defeat him now. When we go back, I'll tell Sango and Miroku, and everything will be fine! This entire ordeal has taught me so much. Wherever you go, Kagome, I'll be at your side. I love you, Kagome." He kissed her cheek, "Please don't leave me."

Kagome slowly opened her eyes. "Inu-Yasha, do you really feel that way?"

"Yes," he answered, nuzzling her neck.

"Inu-Yasha-" she moved away slightly. "I'm sorry. I-I'm still..."

Inu-Yasha turned his face away. "You still don't trust me."

"No," Kagome said, "I just-I'm still afraid. I'm sorry."

Inu-Yasha moved away. "Don't worry," he said anyone could hear the hurt in his voice.

Sesshoumaru walked in. "I did not mean to eavesdrop, but I believe I have found a way to get you both back home."

"How?" Inu-Yasha asked.

"I can also make it so that you, Kagome can forget all the terrible things that have happened here."

"How?!" Inu-Yasha said more forcefully.

"Miroku can create a portal back to your world."

"I can forget everything? But..." Kagome looked away.

Inu-Yasha wouldn't look at her. "Kagome would trust me again?"

"Kagome, I've hurt you more then I can even apologize for. I want to help you. Please will you allow me to help you?"

"Yes," Kagome answered meekly.

"Then, come with me."

Kagome could hardly stand, let alone walk, so Inu-Yasha picked her up and followed his older brother to his office.

Once there, Sesshoumaru explained how Miroku would create the portal, and give Kagome a potion to make her forget about what happened.

"But, I would remember everything?" Inu-Yasha asked.

"I don't know," Sesshoumaru said truthfully. "I don't know what the portal would do."

"I want to go home. But, I know things now, I can't forget them."

"I don't know if I want to forget either," Kagome said. "I'm still so confused about everything."

"You don't have to decide now. You, Kagome, must heal fully first."

Kagome nodded.

Inu-Yasha lowered his head. "Come, Kagome, you need to rest."

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

It took about five days for Inu-Yasha to believe that Kagome was fully healed. But by that time, Kagome had already made her decision. In this world, she would never have Sesshoumaru, no matter how much she wanted to. In the other world, she would have Inu-Yasha. He loved her so much. She had loved him before the stupid portal messed up her life. But no matter how much her heart told her that she loved Inu-Yasha, her mind wouldn't believe it. She thought that was strange; usually one heard about one's mind not believing what the heart said. But in her mind, she saw Inu- Yasha, raking his claws down her, only to hurt Sesshoumaru.

She just cried. If she forgot everything, she could love Inu-Yasha again, without fear. But, what if she even forgot Inu-Yasha? She wouldn't have any memories...she would be alone.

When the day finally came to send them back, Kagome told Sesshoumaru that she wanted to forget everything. It was the only way.

Sesshoumaru nodded and poured some of the mixture on Kagome. She instantly fell unconscious. Inu-Yasha looked up at his brother, "She will be alright, won't she?"

"Yes," Sesshoumaru answered. "Now go."

Inu-Yasha looked at the purple hole in the castle wall. "Thanks, I'm glad I met you." He said sincerely.

Sesshoumaru sighed; he didn't like what he had to do. But it was the only way. He watched Inu-Yasha walk closer to the portal; when he was almost there, he spoke, "Inu-Yasha!"

The hanyou turned, "What?"

Sesshoumaru used his demon speed to dump the last of the potion on Inu- Yasha and shove him through the hole. The hanyou's eyes widened and he got out a piece of a question, right before he fell unconscious: "Sessh-why?"

Sesshoumaru turned away and Miroku closed the portal. "You did what you had to, milord. They could not have lived peacefully with the memories they made here."

"You sent them back to the day they left, so your counterpart and their other companions will not know they left?"

"Yes."

The demon lord sighed. "Maybe the potion won't work on Inu-Yasha. Maybe he will remember, and tell Kagome how he truly feels?"

"Eventually, Lord Sesshoumaru, even with the potion, those feelings are hard to ignore."

A/N: Yay! Only one more chapter! I know that this one sounded like the end, but I have just a few more details to wrap up! Please review! And I have a new story! It's completed! Please read it! Ja ne!