Promises

Silence set eerily over the group, and Kagome broke through the barrier to Kohaku, whispering, 'Kohaku, listen to me...'

The stiff figure that guarded Sango, Miroku, Kirara, Kaede, and Shippo didn't move a muscle, but a small voice replied, 'Who are you? What do you want?'

She could hear the uncertainty in his voice, the fear of being forced to do something he didn't want to do... again.

Her hatred for Naraku grew, nearly breaking her control, but she forced herself to stay calm.

'I want to help you... but I need your help to do that...' She told him, a deep blue starting to wrap around Kohaku's young body, and the boy replied, 'Yes, how can I help?'

'Do you feel the pain in your back?'

'Yes.'

'Fight it, I will help you... do it, now!'

The deep blue surrounding Kohaku's body began to swirl, creating flames, but no one around him paid attention, their focus on Kikyo as turned to Inuyasha with a cold smile, announcing, "It seems it is finally time Inuyasha... too bad you couldn't save your love again, but as they say... all is fair in love and war. Good-bye."

Anger doused Kagome, threatening to break her control as Naraku used her emotions to regain some of his control, and they played a small game of tug- o-war over Kohaku's body.

'Kohaku, fight him! We can do this!' She shouted, feeling Kohaku's presence next to her, and Naraku was violently shoved back, she could hear his curses in some numb part of her mind.

Her attention quickly snapped back to Kikyo, watching her walk towards Inuyasha who was bound to a tree by an arrow...

So like the first time they met, Kagome realized, her heart skipping a couple beats.

A drop of sweat rolled down Inuyasha's cheek, his golden eyes darkening with anger and misery, his thoughts on Kagome...

How he failed her...

He watched Kikyo as she extended her hand, a light blue haze surrounding it, slowly walking towards him with purposeful steps, and with a sick lurch in his midsection, he realized she was smiling...

Truly smiling.

'God Kikyo...' He thought, not wanting to believe this was actually happening, but how could he deny it?

His thoughts once again switched back to Kagome as Kikyo took the last step...

"Stop."

The deadly command froze Kikyo in her tracks, and she turned until she spotted Kohaku's flame engulfed body, her brows furrowing as she whispered, "Kohaku, what are you doing?"

"I told you not to lay a damn hand on him Kikyo..." The young boy growled, taking a step forward as the dark blue flames roared, reaching higher into the sky.

Everyone other than Kikyo and Kohaku stood there, utterly lost, unable to comprehend what was going on, but Kikyo had already caught on, her eyes widening when she realized whom it really was, crying, "You bitch! How did you..."

"Naraku has control of Kohaku... all I had to do was tap into his mind to gain that control. Kill two birds with one stone Kikyo... I'll rid of you and save Kohaku. Now I say it is high time you left my friends alone..." Kohaku whispered, his closed eyes opening to reveal anger filled eyes, and he took a step forward, grabbing Kikyo's arm as Kagome summoned her strength.

A scream came from Kikyo when Kohaku touched her, even before Kagome managed to shove her power through his body, and Kikyo jerked, her eyes wide from the pain as she lifted an arm, slapping Kohaku soundly.

He fell to the ground, stunned, and Kagome felt shock wash through each of their bodies. the pain inside Kohaku was transferred to her through the connection with him, for which she was thankful.

Her attention went to Miroku and Sango as they stepped forward, intent on punishing Kikyo.

"No! Stay where you are." Kagome whispered from Kohaku's body while Kikyo stared at her arm where black marks in the shape of a hand now lay.

The exact spot Kohaku had touched her, Kikyo realized with a snarl, and she stepped forward, shouting, "You... you bitch! You're still pure!?! What the hell, after all that? I..."

Her face was a mottled red, nose scrunched, but Kohaku ignored her, calmly standing up with a smooth agility, turning to her with a small smile and whispering, "Good-bye Kikyo..."

The blue flames that surrounded his body blasted towards her, swallowing her body as her scream reached their ears.

The blast of power lifted into the sky, racing over the forest and landing with an explosion far away, Kikyo's scream still echoing in the air, sending chills down Kagome's back.

God, she had just killed someone...

She couldn't wait to deal the same fate to herself...

But no, she had to concentrate.

With a jolt, she realized everyone was staring at her, or to say Kohaku, but she merely had Kohaku stay facing the direction Kikyo had disappeared, staring off into the distance.

"I haven't much time, for even now Naraku is fighting my invasion..." Kohaku whispered, closing his eyes with a sigh, and Shippo stepped forward tentatively, his eyes swimming with tears as he cried, "Ka-Kagome... is that you?"

"Yes Shippo dear..." Kohaku whispered, turning around towards the voice, the weapon in his hand that hadn't done a thing dropping to the ground with a soft thud, and Shippo ran towards him, bounding into his arms while crying, "I've missed you so much Kagome! Don't ever leave again!"

That hurt...

It was exactly what she planned on doing, but this time, she didn't plan on ever coming back.

A tear slipped down Kohaku's cheek, followed by another as Kagome fought for her voice, praying for strength she knew she had to have.

There were only a couple things left she had to do, and first thing first: she had to make sure everything would be all right after she was gone...

"Oh Shippo... I'm so sorry, I have to go again soon, but promise me something. promise me you'll take care of everyone, no matter what happens. promise me that."

"O-okay... I... I'll make sure... I-I promise..."

"I love you Shippo, be a good boy..."

It sounded strange to hear Kohaku saying these words to Shippo, to watch the tears roll down his youthful face, to see the anguish in his eyes, yet there seemed to be the slightest undercurrent of Kagome underneath...

"Miroku..." Kohaku's choked whisper broke through the silence that had settled upon them, and Miroku nodded, walking forward until he stood right in front of the shorter boy.

"I... I hope you have good luck in finding your love, but don't look too far... I shall miss you greatly... if not your hands..."

A strangled laugh came from Kohaku's lips, his arms tightening around Shippo the slightest, and he continued, "Sango..."

"Yes Kagome?" She whispered, stepping next to Miroku with an emotionless face, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears as Kohaku whispered, "Your brother... is fine, I healed him. He's right here, helping me... take care of him, he's too good to let go."

"Oh..."

With a shuddering sigh, Sango nodded, a heavy weight lifted from her shoulders now that her brother would be safe and sound next to her side, but Kagome wasn't done, Kohaku's brows furrowing the slightest when he added, "I... I made a promise to myself, but... but I just can't keep it..."

Eyes widening the slightest, Sango stayed remained silent, prompting Kagome to continue, and Kohaku took a deep breath, holding Shippo towards Sango, finishing with a painfully neutral voice, "I promised... that I would find a fa-family for Shippo... would take care of him and... a-and love him as I know you will Kohaku? P-please?"

Kagome felt like she was going to die from the inside out, every goal she had ever had in life was now crumbling around her, tucked away to last forever while she went off with the wind...

And the only fault was her own.

She drug them all into this and she'd get them out, no matter what.

"Yes, of course Kagome..." The demon exterminator cried, taking Shippo into her arms, the tears that were once shimmering in her eyes now slipping down her cheeks silently.

Turning, Kagome searched for the courage within herself, feeling Inuyasha's eyes upon her, and she moved Kohaku's body until he stood in front of the dog demon.

She thought she'd never see his face again...

Yet here she was, just like the first time they met...

It hurt like hell.

Knowing beyond a doubt that this would be the last time ever...

The dark blue swirled faster when Kohaku reached up, grasping the arrow in his small hand, and the arrow turned to dust instantly, freeing Inuyasha from the tree he was bound to.

This was going to be so hard...

All she wanted was to die, be rid of the pain...

But how could she do that when she had a promise to keep?

That's what kept her going, forcing her to go through with this...

"Inu... Inuyasha..." Kohaku whispered as Kagome studied Inuyasha's features with misery, and Inuyasha attempted to see Kagome within Kohaku, "I-I have... one last thing to do... but in order to do that... I need our connection..."

Feeling the rough bark poking into his back, Inuyasha felt a tugging deep inside of him, but he ignored it, concentrating on what Kohaku was whispering, "Since... since the rosary beads are here with me... that won't work... but look deep inside of yourself..."

Screaming, Kohaku froze, and back at Naraku's castle Kagome jerked, Naraku's hands lifting upwards and grabbing her shoulders painfully.

'Not yet! I am not done yet!' Kagome screamed, fighting him, and she turned her attention back to the young boy's body she was in, whispering, 'Kohaku... I need you to help me again, hold him off, please. I just need a few seconds more, and then you can return to your sister... and promise me, you won't let anything happen to her! Watch over her...'

His presence seemed to expand inside of her, stopping Naraku from shredding her apart, and she added, 'You are a very brave young man Kohaku... and remember, none of this was your fault... it was all Naraku...'

Another stab of pain hit her, and Kohaku cried out once more, clenching some of Inuyasha's outfit in his hand, his face twisted as Kagome finally forced Naraku into submission.

Sucking in a deep breath, Kohaku's eyes opened as Sango, Miroku, Shippo, Kaede, and Inuyasha watched him, their eyes narrowed in worry, but they all relaxed once again when Kohaku started speaking, "I promise, to all of you, I shall make Naraku pay for all he's done to each of you... he shall pay..."

"Kagome..." Inuyasha whispered, grabbing Kohaku's shoulders and forcing him to look into his eyes, and what he saw in Kohaku's eyes scared him...

The look in his eyes...

It tore into him like a knife...

Suddenly it was all of Kagome there.

Not Kohaku's dirty body, muscles that were just starting to form, but Kagome's lovely body, warm smile, and her scent surrounded him...

Only her scent could make everything perfect...

She reached up a hand, brushing it against his cheek...

It was her whisper when Kohaku said, "Please, just look inside..."

With those lasts words Kohaku slipped into unconsciousness, falling limp against a shocked Inuyasha, and the dark blue flames that had surrounded his body disappeared as Sango rushed forward with a gasp.

'Kagome...' Inuyasha thought, her words about looking inside of himself popping up in his head, and he took a deep breath, reaching deep inside of himself where that tugging had been earlier.

Instantly he felt pain wash in on him, causing his knees to buckle as he fell to the ground on his knees, the connection between Kagome and himself complete.

'Oh god, this pain!'

It was beyond bearable, all over his body, every single nerve affected by it.

And to think, Kagome had been suffering this...

"Kagome!" He shouted, startling everyone around him, but miles away at Naraku's castle, Kagome felt the connection complete, just as Naraku slapped her, sending her senses reeling.

'Inuyasha...' She thought, feeling power build within her, and she knew what she had to do.

Getting to her feet slowly, she came face to face with a furious Naraku, his black eyes so narrow they looked like slits, and with a small smile, she realized she wasn't at this monster's mercy any longer.

She was free!

She couldn't believe it, after being imprisoned so long, she was finally free!

Only one thing left to do before she could take that freedom in her hand...

One last thing!

Laughing softly, she stared into Naraku's cold eyes as he lifted a finger, touching it to her cheek once again, announcing, "You cannot fight me, you are at the brink of death..."

The searing pain exploded in her cheek again, and with a scream, Kagome felt tears fill her eyes, unbearable pain filling her body.

Vaguely realizing Inuyasha was screaming also from the pain that was tearing her apart, she silently apologized to him for putting him through this pain, and glared at a confused Naraku through tear filled eyes.

God, how she hated the bastard...

He ruined so many lives...

Damn him, he shouldn't be allowed to live.

'I won't let him live...' She told herself, an anger sprouting to life deep inside of her, and a warm tingling sensation washed over her body. 'Get ready Naraku...'

Eyes widening, Naraku stared at Kagome as dark blue flames exploded from her body, swallowing both of them up.

"It is the end for you Naraku..." She whispered, feeling power wash through her body like a wave, and with a grunt, she broke free of the chains that had been her source of imprisonment for over three weeks.

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To those who reviewed: Thanks!

~Jammies2000, Unholy-angle, Three-Letter-Word, Pua lahi lahi, Lady Mayhem, Hanyou Queen, Glory230, Lilly123, Kokoro, Morlana, Chloe, Lutra, SailorKagome, Shadow Wraith, N Tiger of the Wind~

Letz move on to the next chappie, eh?

Hugz N Kissez, Ali