CHAPTER 17: IS IT 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!!!!"

Inuyasha raced to her side, skidding to a stop as he tripped before reaching her in his frantic state. His hands shook horribly, but he didn't care. Just the sight of so much blood, her blood, sickened him. He quickly but gently grabbed her and turned her over. She groaned in protest, and blood poured from her mouth as she opened it to breathe. He was shaking he knew, and he knew she needed help, but he didn't know what to do. It seemed as if everything had evaporated, and the world centered on her. She trembled against his hands, and he could feel the cold creeping up on her. Choking back on his sobs, Inuyasha whipped off his haroi, folded it, and compressed it to her wound, making her cry out in agony.

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, I don't want to hurt you...gods, please, please, Kagome..." he whispered and pressed harder, hoping to everything that the bleeding would stop. But he knew it wouldn't. She stared p at him with those big beautiful brown eyes, glazed with pain, but shined at him. It only hitched his breath to see her this way. She reached up a bloody hand, and rubbed his cheek lightly.

"Inuyasha..." he could barely hear her voice, and he panicked when she choked for breath.

"No, don't talk, it'll only make it worse. Please, just hold still..." warm blood was leaking between his fingers, his haroi soaked through. She smiled nonetheless at him. The smile she always gave him.

"Inu...yasha...I'm-ugh...I'm dying..."

He shook his head vehemently, praying to every god that she would shut up and let him help her. "No, don't say that, you're not dying...shut up, Kagome, just be quiet, you're NOT going to die..."

"Inuyasha..."

"BE QUIET! Don't talk, we'll get you to Keade's, she'll heal you, you'll live...please, I need you to live..."

She lightly placed a hand on his hands covering her torso, and her other stroked his cheek, bringing his attention to her face, where she captured him with her eyes. They were so warm, so alive, so full of...love. Tears made their way quietly down her face, and it took everything in her to keep smiling. She was dying, she knew, she could feel the cold coming. She shook her head slowly at him. He gritted his teeth and hung his head, fighting back so hard on the tears.

"You're not going to die...the wish, the jewel...why didn't it-"

"That...wasn't my wish...my wish, was...for all of you...to live...without pain. I did...it for you..."

He gulped the lump in his throat, and took deep breaths, "stupid girl...stupid wench."

She tried a laugh, and ended sounding like choking, "don't...call me that...dog boy."

They heard sobbing, and Inuyasha knew it was Sango weeping for her, Kagome, and he smelled the tears of a few others. He grabbed the hand on his cheek and squeezed hard, looking deep into her eyes.

"please, Kagome, I'm sorry, sorry for everything that I've done to you, for all the times I've hurt you, for all the fights the names, everything! Just please...just, you can't die...we need you...I need you..."

Her smile failed as a wave of pain swept her, making her groan and cry more, and he saw as blood just poured from beneath her. She looked back to him, holding on for so much longer.

"Inuyasha...some-something...to tell...you..." her breath was shallowing, making her pant, and he pressed harder on her wound.

"No just stay silent, we're going to Keade's-"

"I'm...n-not...going...make it...in-Inuyasha...I ...I ..."

"What? You what Kagome?" his voice was raw, and he wanted desperately to just hear her voice for a little longer, keep her alive a little longer.

"I ...I...love you...I love you...Inuyasha..."

He hung his head again, the pain in his chest oh so clear, as his heart flew at he words. But it came crashing down when he knew she really was not going to make it. His lips trembled the tears so close to escaping.

"I ...w-wan-ted...t...tell...you earlier...b-but..."

"Ssh, its okay, gods please..."

"Please...s-s-say some-thing...just-just...tell me..." he placed a finger to her bluing lips, and stared so intensely at her.

"You should know already Kagome...it would be impossible for me to give my heart to any other...but you"

She managed a smile, and her happiness spilled with her tears. He had said it, in his own words, what she had finally heard what she had longed to for years. He loved her, she had no doubt to it, and the easiness it gave her numbed some of the pain. She turned her head weakly, and saw the same people she had done this for, already mourning her. She turned back, and kept her eyes there.

"Don't...mourn m-me..."

"Kagome..."

"Just once...b-before...I g-go...please...just o-one...k-kiss..."

Face broken, Inuyasha nodded and placed hand behind her head. She gave him a weak smile, and he knew it would be her last. He was an inch from her face, his heart breaking smaller with each centimeter.

"Oh gods Kagome..."

"Please..." she begged, tears flowing nonstop.

He closed the distance, pressing lightly their lips together. And he cried. The tears slipping past him, trailing down his cheeks, and he kissed her deeper.

Kagome would have loved to warp her arms around him, but she couldn't feel them anymore. She couldn't feel anything, but his nice, warm soft lips, caressing her own in a loving way. It was the last thing she felt.

Inuyasha tasted her blood in his lips, and he cried harder. He had always wanted to kiss her, to hold her, to love her. And now that he could, it was bittersweet. He felt her body jerk, and she held her breath, the pain seeping from her. And he felt her body go limp, her lips go lax, and she sighed her last breath into him.

Panicking, Inuyasha pressed his mouth harder on hers, as if the kiss itself would bring her back from the darkness she went. But no mattered how hard he kissed her, how hard he held her, or how much he desperately wanted her back, he knew, they all knew, she was gone. Sango broke out weeping, as well as Ayame, who was clasped tightly to Kouga. Miroku grabbed on to Sango, and held her in her hysterics, tears of his own coming. Shippou was bawling in a sniffling Rin's arms. Even Sesshomaru had enough respect for her to sheath his sword and bow his head. But nobody, nobody, could match Inuyasha's pain.

He pulled her back, and her limp form lulled in his arms. Arms quivering, he pulled her close again, stroking her hair as if she was alive or a child. He rocked her body, needing the comfort more, and cried, cried, cried, into her hair. Sobs so painful raked his shoulders, so painful that it has Sango covering her ears to try and escape them. But nobody could, the pain so fresh in their hearts, reeking havoc upon their souls. That they didn't notice the light din glow of light next to Kagome's legs.

It grew in intensity, ad looking closely, you would see it was the jewel, the lifeless dead shikon no tama. But it seemed it had a little magic left. It glowed brighter, and suddenly, started turning to dust, a nonexistent wind making the dust swirl up slowly, rising and falling in the air. Whispering was heard, and Inuyasha brought his head up to see a shapeless cloud of purple dust start to take form. It glittered and sparkled, shifting and changing with each turn. Some spun rapidly, taking the form of a delicate hand. Some more spiraled and a chest could be seen clearly. And finally, with one final spin and flash of light, the dust shaped itself into that of a woman. Her features were clear, and she sat on the ground opposite Inuyasha, this woman made from jewel dust, glowing purple. They only watched amazed.

She opened her eyes, and laid them on Kagome, a sad smile taking her beautiful glittering face. She reached up a misty hand, and stroked the girl's cheek, a whispered light feeling that wasn't felt. And then she looked to Inuyasha, that sad smile fading, her brows crossing in concern.

"Who are you?" he breathed, keeping a tight grasp on Kagome's body.

She smiled again. I am a priestess. The one who gave her soul for the jewel.

It was a light voice, but rich and full, expressing a woman of experience and age. And they all heard it, in their heads and very beings. Sango gasped.

"Midoriko..."

His emotions too intense, Inuyasha snarled at the entity. "Why didn't you save her!? Why?!"

She eyes closed sadly, her shoulders rising in what would seem a sigh. When she looked back at him, it would look like she's crying.

It was never in my power. She made a choice, and now only choice will save her. There's only one who can make it.

"Who? Tell me!"

The miko raised and her head and turned to look...at Kikyou.

:::::::::::::::well, I dint get the responses I wanted unfortunately. I wanted you people to yell at me! To hate me! I find it hilarious. But no, I am disappointed. Oh well. On to the next chapter!

So's:

kitura-inu-lova: gasp!!! What have I done!

Jammies2000: hmmmm....not too far off, but not quite right either. Guess you'll just have to wait.

Szmadad: one more...blasted chapter!!

Pattycake: THANK YOU!!!! Oh god I feel special now!

Inuyasha-Freak15: you must find out!!! Soon!!

Lady-of-the-darkness: ::sweatdrop:: I feel we have a hopeless case here. Just stop dancing!!!

Essis: yes!!! Hate me for I am evil!! EVIL!!! Muwahahahahaha!!!!

Shikonangel19: im not telling!! You'll have to read.

Mish-serenity: im so bad...damn cliffies...

Kikiusa: yes there will be!!! One more!!! And if I feel like being lazy, then it'll be two!!!