Disclaimer: Hey all. All right, for Kawaii-Baka14, the whole bleeding of the mouth thing will be explained in this chapter, so don't fret! Although, the explanation will be kinda dumbly said... It's all going to be told and hopeful male since. Don't know if it will, but that's what I am hoping for. A thanks goes out to Kurai Kyusobin for reading my entire fanfic at 2:49 in the morning! I am thanking you for the support and everything. There will be another lemon, one for sure in the very last chapter. There may be one sooner, but I just don't know. I just have to say that...Inu Yasha's dead, so if there was a lemon for them...it'd be kinda weird...but who knows, right? Well, * evil smile * besides me...and a certain friend of mine here on ff.net that I told about the ending... AND HEIEKITTY IF YOU SAY ANYTHING TO ANYONE IF THEY ASK I WILL KILL YOU!! * Cough * anyway, back to the story!

~*~Chapter Twenty-Two: The Broken Heart~*~

Sherue placed the blood soaked cloth at the edge of the table. Her face held worry. "Lord Sesshomaru," she said, scanning Inu Yasha's naked form again for injury, "You may need to get Inu Yasha's mate. She may want to see what happens." Sesshomaru turned and exited, leaving Sherue alone.

She picked up the smallest of the three bottles and removed the cork. Cold shot through her body as she dipped her fingers into the light blue substance. She removed her fingers and wiped the lotion on Inu Yasha's temples and across his forehead. She then grabbed the largest and sprinkled the contents into her palm. Sherue proceeded to put the white powder on the hanyou's body, starting at his head. She sighed.

"Lord Inu Yasha, what happened?"

~*~

Sesshomaru walked down the hallway, sniffing out Kagome's scent. He found her, walking with Rin through the main room. They were laughing and having a good time, but they both had worry hanging over their heads. The inu youkai walked up to them. Without even turning, Rin knew he was there.

"Hello, Sesshomaru," she said in a happy voice. Kagome looked at the lord.

"Geesh! You scared the living daylights outta me!" Rin chuckled at Kagome's antics.

"Kagome, Sherue wishes for you to be present." Sesshomaru sent a quick loving glance to his mate and walked off.

"Well," Kagome said, sighing heavily. "Oh, Rin. Do I really want to go?"

"Yes, Kagome," Rin answered the older girl. "You want to know what happened to Inu Yasha. You best be going." Kagome smiled and nodded and took off running in the same direction as Sesshomaru, hoping not to get lost.

She caught up with him and they walked in silence. When they arrived at the wooden door, Sesshomaru held it open. She may have been human, but he was hospitable and gracious, if not nice, in his home. They entered the room to see Sherue grab the unopened bottle and place it at Inu Yasha's side.

"Do you want to know what happened, m'Lady?" the witch asked. Kagome nodded and hesitantly stepped forward. "The watch closely." She lifted the lid off the bottle and a light purple mist split off in two directions from the bottle. One stream traveled to Inu Yasha, engulfing his lifeless body in the light. The other when up into the air. Inu Yasha's forehead glowed at his temples as the mist began its work.

They all watched as the mist turned black above the hanyou. "What's happening?" Kagome asked, not taking her eyes off the hovering fog.

"We are going into his mind and finding out what his last thoughts were. No doubt he died in his sleep, judging by how no one seems to know what happened, so what we will see is his dream." Sherue answered.

A harsh voice rang through the room, while nothing appeared in the mist. "You never give up, do you?" Kagome gasped. She had heard that voice before. When Inu Yasha first transformed, he had spoke in that same voice. Was this his demonic side talking?

"Not when there's hope," another voice answered. It was Inu Yasha! Kagome had to fight back the urge to scream for him.

"It is a false hope, and you know it, Inu Yasha," the harsh voice answered back. It was almost pitch dark in the room, which gave the whole scene a creepy air to it. The only lights were that from the cauldron and Inu Yasha.

"You're crazy. I am not giving in that easily. No matter what happens." Kagome could almost see Inu Yasha speaking. A cold chuckle rang through the room. Kagome almost had the feeling that she, Sesshomaru, and Sherue were not the only live ones there.

"Remember this, Inu Yasha? Remember how real this felt?" The mist illuminated the room. A faint image appeared and Kagome gasped when she saw her own body lying lifeless, drenched with blood. A form towered over the body in the mist and it was that of Inu Yasha in his youkai form. All went dark when Inu Yasha's voice called.

"No! STOP!" What sounded like a growl, too weak to be the youkai's, followed the outburst.

"Hehe, Inu Yasha. You can't stop me. It's useless to try. Give up. GIVE IN AND LET ME TAKE OVER!" a scream echoed through the dark room and Kagome almost went into panic. That was Inu Yasha screaming. What had happened? Why couldn't they see?

Just then, the room burst into light as another image appeared in the mist that hovered above Inu Yasha. There, looking like the walking dead was the hanyou. Kagome felt tears threatening to fall as she saw his body. He sat, hunched over. All around him, blood formed in a large puddle. Skin, bone, muscle. It was all strewn around the room in the mist. Inu Yasha's black midnight hair contained clumps of his own flesh. Blood trickled down his back. His insides were hanging from his open abdomen. Blood fell from his open mouth. Inu Yasha was heaving for air, which seemed like a useless attempt. From the looks of it, his lungs and stomach were torn to pieces. Kagome could see his ribcage and pieces of what she was sure was his left lung. Something was missing...

Standing next to the hunched over Inu Yasha was Demon. He held out his hand as Inu Yasha looked up. An airy, almost mystified voice sounded, as Inu Yasha's eyes widened. "My heart," the voice said. Inu Yasha gasped as Demon slowly added pressure. Kagome clenched her teeth to stop from saying or doing anything, seeing as to how this was all just a memory.

"Give in, Inu Yasha. Let me take you and let you free."

"No, you bastard," the words were barely audible as blood seeped from his mouth. Kagome thought she would be sick from all the blood and flesh.

"Then you leave me no choice," She watched in horror as the human heart that sat in the youkai's hand burst, adding blood to the walls and floor. With what remained of Inu Yasha's last breath, he screamed. Demon's laughter echoed and the image faded.

"Do you think his heart really burst? And his lungs and stomach? Is that why he's dead?" Kagome asked quietly, tears rolling down her soft cheeks.

"Kagome," Sherue said, "it may all be. The demon from the vision is part of Inu Yasha. It seemed determined enough to kill Inu Yasha. Since it is apart of him, I have no doubt that he did cause that physical damage internally. Gomen, m'Lady. I wish it didn't have to be this way. With the internal damage, he couldn't survive. His demonic side was too violent and skewered his lungs and stomach as well as his heart. That is what caused him to die." Her voice dropped to a whisper. "Inside, I am almost positive he is torn to shreds."

~*~END CHAPTER~*~

Well, if it wasn't clear in the chapter, then here it is: when his lungs and stomach were ripped apart, blood made its way up his throat and into his mouth. That's the way it is in really life: when someone's stomach is punctured, blood spills from their mouth. Well, there you all go. I hope it isn't too bad. A few more chapters and this fanfic will be completed * sad tear face *

Ja Ne!

Sara