(omg, here it is, the second half you've all been waiting for...)

CHAPTER 16: SACRIFICE

...and was jerked to a stop, her swing completed, her breath caught. Eyes wide, she looked disbelievingly down upon her enemy. Yes, she had got him; her sword was buried half way in his chest, the flesh sizzling from her power. She had expected that. But not the cold grin on his face, as if it but a scratch.

Or the mind numbing pain that seared through her middle.

Kagome tasted bile, her breath gasping in a desperate way, as she slowly looked down to see the cause of this pain. Her hands shook, and she let go of her sword to grasp that brown tentacle that now protruded through her torso, just under her ribs, and out her back. She brought a hand up and found it bloody. With her blood. Not his, not a demon's, but hers. And it slowly trickled between her fingers, staining her pale hands a sickly red.

Her jaw clenched and unclenched, feeling as if to choke and utter something, but nothing came out but gasps for breath. Trembling, Kagome looked to Naraku once more. He only smirked at her, and she hissed when a burning started to spread form the mortal wound. She smelled the rotting scent of decay, and knew he was poisoning her with miasma. And everything seemed to slow down.

Her eyes went one way, and spotted her human friends, fighting back to back to ward off demon from each other. Sango was swinging with all her might, a battle snarled on her lips. Her head bled somewhat, and it seemed she favored her ribs. But she was fighting like a mad woman. Just like Sango would always do. She admired the woman, her courage, her strength, and her heart. Even as it bled to know that her little brother was controlled by the most hated being, turning him against her. But she was kind, and caring, and short tempered when it came to Miroku, but the blushes couldn't hide anything.

And then there was Miroku, a man who had lived pain all his life. Even at his first breath, he knew pain as his mother died giving him life, and then his father trying to fight to keep that life for him. Raised to be a Houshi, he searched all his life for Naraku and for a woman to bear his children, even if to carry the curse. Though his methods were perverted, his was good at heart, and pained when he saw a female in pain But most of all, she knew he wanted to love. If they made it out, she prayed that he would.

She turned her head and saw the mates, Kouga and Ayame. They were perfect for each other. Ayame had her love, and Kouga had someone to love and comfort him. The death of his pack had been hard, she knew, and today, he was still getting revenge as he ripped apart demons the best he could. She was glad he was happy, even if he had missed her, for his life was all that mattered now. His life, with Ayame.

Her eyes searching, she spotted Sesshomaru. She didn't know, didn't plan to, but being challenged by a pathetic demon and then insulted when the little girl had been taken was enough to make her mad as well. Though he hated his brother, he had set aside his pride and asked for a truce and his help. And that was a true lord if she ever seen one. So this too was his fight.

Slowly moving, she saw what had given her a soul. Kikyou. She couldn't say she hated the woman now, for she was protecting the children, who could not even do it on their own. Her cold façade covered something, and Kagome hoped it was the remainder of her heart. She wanted to hate her, she had stolen what was dearest but as Kagome watched as she fought, she had to respect her. She had gone through the most pain to a level. She had once been protector of the jewel, and carried its burden, never to live a normal life. She had seen a chance in a hanyou as desperate as her for warmth, and she acted on it. Though she probably never intended to hurt him, Kikyou had needed to love, to have a heart, and share it with someone. And that had been torn from her by an envious mind, tricking her to think the only one she could care for, had betrayed her. Much like her self. And mostly, this was her fight.

Kagome lastly looked to the one she most desperately wanted in her life, but couldn't have. Inuyasha. She saw as he reared back and slashed demons to pieces, like so many times before. But even now, he looked brave, strong, and had the spirit to fight anything. Tears welled as his swung around, and got another, his face contorted I anger, one of his best traits. But she also knew him as kindhearted, and courageous, and panicking at her tears. He hated her tears, cause it made him care. And it only made her smile. He was arrogant, tough, childish at times, egotistical, loud mouthed, fast, strong, smart at times, and the hanyou she fell in love with. His heart had been broken by her predecessor, and she came to fix it. But she never expected him to steal hers in return. It was much too bad that love could never be. He, above all else, deserved to be here, fighting for what was right.

And he turned in their direction now, eyes hot, then wide as he saw them. As he saw Kagome, the girl who had grown so close to him, being hung in the air by a tentacle, by her mid section. She saw him pale to a deadly white, and how his jaw hung open, and how his eyes glazed over. A warm feeling spread through her, and she turned t looked at Naraku once more, the poison making itself known once more. That was all she needed, to know he cared.

She looked deep into Naraku's eyes, his menacing, spiteful gaze, and saw an evil so great, that it made her shudder. But not for long, she vowed it. And of all things, she grinned. He saw, and his brows crossed in confusion. Ignoring any pain whatsoever, Kagome snatched her sword and pulled it free. Naraku's flesh immediately started to heal, and he laughed at her stupidity. But he didn't see it, she did. Shocking him, Kagome's hand struck out, and was shoved right into his healing flesh, and it sealed over her wrist. She felt the stinging, the burning of her flesh in his miasma, but she didn't care, she had what she wanted. For in her hand, was the Shikon no tama.

Naraku looked at her dubiously, "do you jest? Do you really think you'll win? I've run you through, and your friends will die soon."

She snorted, her body trembling as it grew weak, and a spurt of blood came form her mouth. Naraku saw as she gave him a red toothy grin.

"Not...t-this time..." she choked out, and tightened her grasp on the jewel. She felt the heat of it in her palm, and the glow as it purified. He gasped in pain, and stared down at his starting to boiling chest.

This was for everyone.

For Sango, Miroku, Shippou, who she was going to desperately miss, Sesshomaru, Rin, Kouga, Ayame, Kirara, Keade, her brother, her mother, her grandfather, her sensei, and her future. His words came back now.

There's only one today, and we can't go back and fix it.

Oh how true that was. This was it, this was the end, by everything that was in her. This was the end of Naraku. And this, was for Inuyasha.

Kagome cried out, and pumped her miko powers to the jewel, making Naraku howl in pain. She hissed as it too affected her. But her pain wasn't important, theirs was. Everyone's.

Just make their pain...

As silent as the air around her, a tear slipped down her cheek.

...go away.

Silence. Time seemed to freeze, the air going still, and the world taking on a hush. Blood was caught in mid air, demon parts being thrown everywhere. Kikyou's arrow paused as it headed towards a charging demon. Sango was caught surprised as she fell, Miroku catching her wrist. Rin comforted Shippou, holding him tight. Kouga linked hands with Ayame, pulling her away from a demon behind her. Inuyasha, was seen reaching a hand out, his face torn, clothes bloodied and his state battered. Reaching a hand out to her.

And Kagome...she smiled a small happy smile.

Then, it seemed as if shockwaves went out, too fast to be seen or heard, but felt by all. Purple light shined then enveloped the land, cooling hot bodies, and healing wounds. Pins crawled along their skin, stitching skin and aligning bones. And the same light, enveloped Naraku. His skin slowly turned black, burning with an internal fire, his face warped with pain. It then burned holes that became large and all over, burning away flesh, then bone. But not before a woman with short black hair was expelled from his body, her soul the only thing saving her. And then, he was ashes in the wind.

Then they heard it, a high pitched sound, ringing in their ears like an annoyance. But it soon expanded, and deepened, gaining in volume, and it was no longer a ringing, but a scream. Some one was screaming, screaming for all they were worth. It couldn't be identified, there neither pain, joy, sadness or anything in it. It was just a scream. Kagome's scream.

That same purple light came back now, slowly retreating to the source, sinking and dimming, letting time take its course. And the scream went with it. Soon, they found they could move, breath again, and looked around in wonder as the demons had disappeared, purified by the jewel. Sango whirled, and found her wounds healed.

"By the gods..." she breathed and looked to Miroku, he was staring at his hand, an emotion there that couldn't be identified. "Miroku?"

He looked up slowly, a tear slipping past him, ad he held up his hand. His perfectly normal, whole, hand. "It's gone..."

Sango gasped, but jumped when the bushes beside her rustled. She sobbed when out form the woods, came Kohaku, dazed and confused, looking around dumbfounded. Till his eyes laid on her, and he starting crying. She ran up and held him, clutching him to her chest like he would evaporate.

"An-nue..."

"Ssh, it's okay Kohaku, its over, it's finally over."

"Kagome!" they heard Inuyasha yell out, and whirled their heads there. Only to freeze, a cold feeling spreading through them.

Ping!

The now useless, empty, lightless shikon no tama, fell to the ground, rolling away like a normal stone. Its once light purple depths was shadowed and dulled, its power gone. A few drops on red fell on it, sliding down the surface in bright red streaks. Looking up, Kagome's hand was there, covered in blood, dripping lightly on the jewel. And she stared at it, eyes teary and flooding, a small smile tugging her lips. But to the others, they only saw her standing where Naraku once was, a gaping hole in her stomach.

She turned to them weakly, her head slowly coming their way. And she gave them that small smile, a trickle of blood leaking from the corner of her mouth.

"He's gone...it's over..."

And she fell to her knees, her hand coming up to cup the hole in her, before falling to her face in the dirt.

"KAGOME!!!!"

:::::::::::::::::Hmmmm...maybe I should just leave it here...let you wonder...write my will...

aw, what the heck? Two more coming up!!!!

SO's:

shikonAngel19: no, cause i do that too.

Scarlet angel: ohhhhhh sorry, did I do that? Well, we'll see what happens.

Cubanblood: that's okay, but not too often, I like to stick to my fav's.

Kitura-inu-lova: hate me now? Oh I know you do. Im psychic, and right now, im feeling if I don't update soon, you people are gonna kill me. Am I right?

Jammie2000: should I run for my life? Yeah, I think that's a good idea. Take a laptop with me and come out when its safe. Thank you come again!

Pattycake: yes I know, but how will I get people to review? And why thank you, I didn't know you thought so kindly of me! (can you hear the sarcasm?)

Nagumi strife: and now I have ten seconds to run for the hills. Cause I have this feeling that your hell had reopened.

Essis: how much do you hate me? Oh no need to demonstrate, I was only asking!

PeachesDani: how many times do I have to tell people. He's mine and that's final! Don't make me go dragon on you!

Swimchick1416: ohhh no, I decided no. well...maybe...

Lady-of-the-darkness: I bet your not dancing now. ::gulp::

Inuyasha-Freak15: what? Is it bad? Don't tell me a bad writer! God now I need to hang myself!

Mish-serenity: cause the next chapter is hers! Stay tuned my dedicated fans!