Disclaimer: I wish I owned Inuyasha (or at least his ears!) but, sadly, I don't. T.T

"words" talking

^words^ thoughts

Chapter 16: Gone

Kagome's arrow came within inches of Kikyo's body when a

flash of red once again cut the arrow short. "Kagome! Please

stop!" Inuyasha pleaded, standing in front of Kikyo

protectively. "Inuyasha, move or I will move you." Kagome said

in her strange voice. "Kagome, don't do this. You're not this

kind of person. You're the gentlest person I know. Please think

about this!" Inuyasha begged. The last thing he wanted was for

the two women he loved most to fight against one another.

Kagome's eyes never once softened. "I will warn you once more.

Get out of my way. This woman no longer belongs in this world.

She needs to be put to rest, once and for all. Do not make me

waste my magic on you." She threatened. "Go ahead, Inuyasha.

Step aside. I can handle this half-bit miko. She's no threat."

Kikyo encouraged. She placed a gentle hand on Inuyasha's

shoulder and stepped around him gracefully. "Come on, little

girl. Let's get this over with. I've got better things to do."

Kikyo smirked. Kagome merely nodded her head and raised her

hand. A bright flash of miko energy flared up, and was soon sent

hurling toward Kikyo. Kikyo grinned wickedly as the ball of

energy hit her shield and bounced off harmlessly. Kagome scowled

and tried again. It had the same effect. Inuyasha watched

desperately. Kagome and Kikyo would drain themselves if they

kept this up for as long as he knew they planned to. It was then

that both girl and woman switched roles, and Kikyo began firing,

with Kagome shielding herself. Inuyasha could see that Kagome

was still not even breaking a sweat, and Kikyo was beginning to

become worn down. He wondered what would happen to her if she

ran out of energy, considering that she was already dead. ^I

have to do something to stop this.^ He thought with

determination. ^But what can I do?^ Finally, Kagome became

tired of playing cat and mouse with Kikyo. Her eyes began

glowing a deep purple, and the wind seemed to pick up around her

again. In one swift movement she brought her hand up and flung

it to her left. Kikyo gasped as she was lifted into the air and

thrown into the trees. Inuyasha also gasped as he watched her go

flying. He raced and stood in front of Kagome, grabbing her by

the shoulders. "Kagome, listen to me! Please!" He began

begging once more. "Let go of me!" She demanded. "Kagome!

Stop this! You know you don't want to do this. Deep down inside

you somewhere there must be a part that's screaming to come out.

A part that's telling you this violence is useless!" He told

her. For a brief moment, he thought he saw Kagome's eyes flash

back to her normal chocolate brown orbs that he knew so well.

But it was gone in an instant. "Come on! Fight this!" He

encouraged. Inu. . .yasha!" Kagome gasped, falling to her

knees, holding her head. Inuyasha recognized the voice as the

real Kagome's voice, and not this fake one. But as he fell to

the ground beside her, he could feel the wind picking up again.

^She hasn't gotten through yet.^ He thought. He pulled Kagome

into a tight hug. "Remember who you are, Kagome. Please

remember." He whispered into her hair. "Inuyasha. . .it hurts

so bad. Make it stop. . ." She cried. Before Inuyasha could

begin to sooth the frightened girl, she was lifted from his grasp

and into the air. Inuyasha looked behind him in shock to find

Kikyo standing there, using her own powers to hold Kagome in the

air. He looked back at Kagome. She was reaching down for him,

trying to make a connection. "Inuyasha!" She screamed. But as

soon as she screamed his name, She was sent flying across the

clearing to land on the other side. Inuyasha's sensitive ears

allowed him to hear the sickening thud as she hit the forest

floor. "Kagome!" He called, trying to reach her. But as soon

as he jumped in the air, an unknown force stopped him. Well, it

was unknown to begin with. . .but he soon figured out where it

came from. He looked down to see Kikyo holding him in midair

with her miko powers, a small smirk on her face. "That girl has

interrupted enough, Inuyasha. Let's just go before she gets up."

She said sweetly. He could tell it was more a demand than a

suggestion. "Kikyo, I can't just leave her here like this. I

have to know she's okay." Inuyasha responded. The surprise of

getting an answer like that caused Kikyo to lose her grip on

Inuyasha for a split second, just enough time for him to escape.

He ran towards Kagome, kneeling down before her still figure. He

lifted her head into his lap. "Wake up, Kagome. You have to be

alright. If Kikyo hurt you, it would be all my fault. . .and I

would never forgive myself." He whispered. Still, Kagome's eyes

wouldn't open. He began shaking her body back and forth.

"Kagome? Kagome!" He whimpered. Slowly, Kagome's whole body

began being overtaken by purple light, starting with her toes.

Inuyasha watched in awe. Just before the light covered her head,

Kagome's mouth opened. Her eyes remained shut, but her mouth

opened in silent words. "I'm sorry, I tried." She mouthed. The

light finished covering her, and her body disappeared, turning

into a million tiny, purple sparkles and drifting into the air.

"Wait! Come back! Kagome!" Inuyasha called. A gentle hand

found its way to his shoulder. "Come, love, now there is nothing

keeping you from me." Kikyo whispered in his ear sweetly. He

turned to her, his bangs covering his moist eyes. "She's gone."

He muttered. "But of course she is. I got rid of her, just like

I promised I would." Kikyo assured him. "Kikyo! I never wanted

you to kill her! This has gone too far! I can't accept this!"

Inuyasha cried, grabbing his head and falling to his knees.

"It's too much. She can't really be gone." He mumbled to

himself. Kikyo grabbed a fistful of his hair and pulled him up

to look at her. "You forget, love, you promised to go to Hell

with me. And what do you think will happen to you if you don't

go?" She asked harshly. Inuyasha refused to meet her eyes with

his. "You will remain in this world, just as I have for so long,

for as long as existence allows. A wandering spirit." She

concluded. "I don't care anymore. I have nothing left to live

for." Inuyasha growled. Kikyo threw him to the ground, a scowl

on her face. "Filthy halfbreed! I should have known from the

start you'd be nothing but trouble!" She spat. "Goodbye,

Inuyasha. May we meet again in Hell." She scowled. And with

that, she also disappeared out of the area, leaving him to be

alone forever.

~~~~~~ I know I know I know! It's taking me forever! Please forgive me! Well, here's another chappie anyways. Enjoy!