He watched her cry, he watched her sleep fitfully, plagued with nightmares. He wanted so much just to hold her, comfort her, and wipe away her tears. But, a locked window and pride kept him outside, content with the mere sight of her physically safe. He sat back on the branch and thought about the events of the day. They were hurtful, painful even to him, but maybe he could find a clue to her sudden departure.

I couldn't believe it! He dodged every attack! I knew, that, unless I killed him, Kagome might never be able to return. I glanced at the black portal that had sucked her in. She had to back, she just had to! Unfortunately, while looking at the portal, I had taken my mind off Naraku. He threw another at me; I managed to dodge, but just barely. I could feel it skim my head, just missing my sensitive ears. But, it made a shallow cut right between them. I could feel blood dripping down my neck, I wiped it out of my eyes, not caring. In the back of my mind I could hear the sounds of the other battles taking place, but I was too concentrated to care at the moment. I brought up the Tetsusaiga, ready for the next round. I knew I was tiring, but I sure as hell wasn't giving up.

But, then something happened that I did not count on, or for that matter, intend. Naraku, instead of attacking me, jumped at something behind me. I whipped around to find him advancing on Kagome, who slowly backed away. I charged at him, but was thrown to ground before I could get anywhere near Kagome. I slowly got up again, trembling a little as I used the Tetsusaiga for balance. I noticed that Naraku looked a little frustrated, he was right in front of Kagome, but both were looking confused, and he couldn't reach her. Suddenly, Kikyo appeared, and took Kagome away. That was all I needed, a reason for rage.

"I am your opponent Naraku!" I yelled as I raced at him, again.

"You, worthless half-breed!" he sneered, "You becoming are an annoyance, boy!" My sword missed him as he stepped out of it's path

"Trust me, it gets worse!"

"It does not! Do you know what's going on in there?" He indicated the barrier that kept us from Kagome. "Both your precious mikos are in there. Let me tell you a secret..." He jumped to whisper in my ear, I was immobilized with fear for Kagome, I knew Kikyo would kill her given a chance. "...Only one will survive..." he laughed and jumped back out of reach "Who knows? Maybe not even that!" I was shaking with rage, and something else I couldn't quite define, a protectiveness of Kagome, and too a lesser extent, Kikyo. We continued to fight, but I couldn't even manage to land a glancing blow.

The barrier fell, and I saw Kikyo walking out, with Kagome's jewel shards. I could no longer smell Kagome, but I couldn't smell her blood either, I didn't know whether that was good or bad. I prayed she'd made it far enough away without being hurt. But, there was the jewel shads that Kikyo held, Kagome wouldn't just give those up, especially not to Kikyo. She'd never said as much, but I knew that Kagome never trusted her one bit. I didn't want to believe that Kikyo, the woman that I had loved with all my heart, had betrayed us all, but, I didn't know what else to believe.

While I was contemplating this strange turn of events, Naraku's attack hit me, I flew and hit the base of the cliff behind me. I watched helplessly as Kikyo headed towards Naraku. I slowly got up, and maneuvered behind Naraku, where Kikyo hopefully wouldn't be able to see me. As she handed the jewel to Naraku, I attacked. A bright light exploded from Kikyo, but I kept going, not understanding what was going on, but only having the intent of killing Naraku once and for all. The thing that stopped me was the arrow headed straight for Naraku.

What happened next will surely stay in my memory forever, and give me more nightmares then I really need. The arrow hit Naraku first, as it was supposed to. He screamed, and I will never forget it. As much as it chills to think about it, I couldn't help but feel a shiver of pleasure and satisfaction. He was not going to trouble us any longer! This time, I would make sure he stayed dead!

The purifying arrow went straight through Naraku's heart, but it kept going. Time seemed to slow as I saw the arrow head for Kikyo. Acting purely on instinct, I moved to save her, protect her from what I knew would kill her for a last time. I could hear three voices screaming. Mine, Kikyo's and Naraku's. I wasn't quick enough. I pierced Kikyo's shoulder, before slightly grazing my arm and landing embedded in the ground. Immediately, my left arm was paralyzed, but still, I somehow managed to catch Kikyo as she crumpled to the ground. Lying her slowly down on my lap, I knew she was almost gone. For good this time. The arrow had purified her hatred for everyone, and that was all she had left to keep going.

"Inu...Inu-yasha..." I didn't realize until then that tears were running down her cheeks, but she was smiling. I could feel tears building up in my own eyes, but I refused to let them fall. "Please...thank Kagome, she has freed from the life that I had no wish to relive. I'm sorry for all the trouble that I have cause you two..." I shook my head, as much to clear my head and stop the tears as to disagree.

"No, Kikyo, it wasn't really you. It was the leftover spite and hatred of Naraku. You shouldn't have to apologize." I felt I should let her believe that, even though some small part of me did blame her for things, it was very small. Besides, it was both our faults, if only we'd learned how to trust...

"Inu-yasha, I'd like you too tell Kaede good bye for me...I will see her soon in the next world..." her breath became shorter and she coughed up blood. "Good bye to you as well...and...you really should...tell her..." Her head dropped, she was gone. I could feel her spirit rise and embrace me with a love she'd never really shown when she was alive. Her sham of a body broke to ashes and dirt. I heard her voice softly whisper 'Remember, there was no lie my kiss. But there is none in hers either...." Suddenly, her parting words made sense. I looked around frantically for Kagome; I had to find her now. I saw her on top of the cliff behind me. One hand held the bow; the other was across her mouth, as she stared at me in horror. The whipped at her hair and clothes, she seemed to me like an angel of vengeance, brought to strike down Naraku. But, as I caught her eyes, trying to ask her to come down, come back to me, she turned and ran.

I watched her go, dumfounded, I just didn't understand, what happened? What did I do? I looked in confusion towards Sango and Miroku, they were watching with interest and confusion as well. Sango hadn't even noticed Miroku's hand migrating down her back.

"What did I do?" I asked them helplessly. Sang looked a little lost, and shrugged, which caused Miroku's to hit an inappropriate spot on her backside. As a sign of how tired and confused we all were, she simply grabbed the offending hand and moved it to a safer place.

"I...I really don't know Inu-yasha..." She sighed

"Perhaps Lady Kagome simply needs some time to herself. The battle may have been quite traumatic for her." I sighed, the monk was probably right, I should leave her alone...but I wanted, no, needed to speak her!

I raced towards the well. I knew for a fact that she would head back to her time, and I might be lucky enough to catch her before she reached it.

No luck. By the time I reached the well, her scent was long gone. That girl was fast when she feels she needs to be. Why couldn't she use that speed any other time then to get away from me? But I had to find her now, before I lost the nerve to tell her....again. I went down the well, feeling the familiar sensation of centuries passing by me. Reaching Kagome's time, I ran to where I knew her window would be. It was locked. Why would it be locked? She knew I could come by at any time, and she had promised me it would always be open. I looked in, she was asleep. At least for now.

Suddenly, she sat upright, she was crying. Soon, she fell back asleep, and all I could do was watch.

I'm really sorry that this took so long. ch 3 is the final one, I'll try to get that up soon. please R&R