Shayril: Hiya, folks!!! I'm back.

Kalika: Finally!!

Yue: Yes. We are all anxious to see what happens next.

Shayril: I'm sorry. But I haven't been able to use the computer for a couple months. Then, there was my hiatus due to some personal issues, which were causing major blockage. But I'm better now!!

Navi: (Sarcastically) Goody. Now my life is complete.

Shayril: Oh hush! All right, no more talking. Let's let the people get to the chapter.

Chapter Twenty-Eight – Saying Farewell

Sakura anxiously paced beneath the skylight in the conservatory. It had been over an hour since the quake and Kagome's message. Soon after that a frightfully sad cry had echoed to them. The two children had been so upset that she eventually had to use the Sleep Card on them. Now she herself was waiting to find out if she would be screaming like that. She spun around to pace back towards the door and froze. She blinked a couple times to make sure she wasn't seeing things. Before she could make any other move, Sakura felt him wrap his arms around her. Must have been that demon speed, but she wasn't complaining as she rested her head on his chest. Her eyes slid closed and she listened to his heart beating.

Sesshoumaru closed his eyes, allowing himself this moment. He probably wouldn't admit it to anyone, except maybe her, but the sight of Heaven's Guardian on his knees in anguish had affected him more than he thought possible. His thoughts had instantly turned to Sakura and he just knew that he would've been the same way were he in Yue's place and she in Kagome's. The whole way back he had thought of nothing but holding her in his arms and how grateful he was that she had agreed to stay behind. Just then a shriek echoed through the halls and Sakura looked up.

"What was that?"

His eyes were sympathetic. "I believe someone has told the young kitsune about his mother."

Her face fell. "It's true then? She's gone?"

He gave a slight nod. "Unfortunately so."

"Then that was Yue we heard?"

"Yes. I do not envy him. I can only hope that he will be able to survive without his mate. Though he does not look like he will."

"Is it really that bad?"

"Yes."

Yue stood in the garden under his and Kagome's tree, as he liked to call it. One of his hands rested on the trunk, still scraped and red from digging in the rubble. He had refused to let anyone heal them. Images of their short time together since being reborn flashed through his mind. Memories of laughing and playing with her and their children played before his eyes. For a few moments he could swear he saw her, smiling happily at him. Gods, it hurt! The pain was almost unbearable. He was convinced that he wouldn't be able to live without her. It was then that he heard a shriek from the castle. He turned in time to see a red blur streaking out of the castle entrance. With a grunt he caught the bundle of fur.

"Tousan, say it's not true! Please, tell me they're lying," Shippou begged.

Yue's eyes softened. "I'm sorry, Shippou."

Tears immediately spilled from the boy's eyes and he held his adopted son while the child cried. Akemi's words from earlier came back to him. A determination filled him. He would survive this for Shippou and for Akemi. They needed him. They'd already lost their parents once before. They would not lose their father again. He would live for them.

It was late by the time he came to the Goshinboku. He had been traveling ever since the others returned to Clow Reed's castle two nights ago. He just couldn't stay with them. He needed to be by himself. He slowly approached the ancient tree, his fingers gently traced over the scar where Kikyo's arrow had held him, the arrow that Kagome had freed him from. He never admitted it to anyone, not even himself, but he had begun to fall in love with her the moment he opened his eyes to see her facing the centipede youkai. Like Yue, he was reliving his time with her by his side. He had always been grateful for her friendship and loyalty and the love she had once felt for him. He smiled weakly as he remembered her reaction when he first called her Kikyo.

"My name is Kagome! KA – GO – ME!"

He had only called her that to get a rise out of her. Even when scared she was full of fire. She never let anyone walk all over her. He frowned. Almost anyone. He had been allowed to walk all over her heart. She may not have let him get away with anything else, but she had let him do that. He was suddenly filled with regret. How he could've possibly done that to her, the woman he loved, he didn't know. And now it was too late to make it up to her. His ears drooped and he bowed his head as tears welled at the realization.

"Inuyasha? I thought I sensed ye."

His head snapped up and he furiously blinked away the tears before turning to face the old miko. Her one eye questioned him and sparkled with concern as she approached him.

"What are ye doing here? Weren't ye off to fight Naraku?"

"Naraku's dead. It's over."

She nodded and looked around. "Where are the others?"

He turned back to the Goshinboku. "They are still at Clow Reed's castle. We ran into him while searching and he helped us."

He then remembered something. Reaching inside his haori, he pulled out a leather pouch and handed it to Kaede.

"Your sister is at rest again. I made sure of it."

"You?" She echoed in disbelief. "I didn't think ye'd be able to."

The hanyou shrugged. "She tried to hurt Kagome. Besides, Kagome went for too long without that piece of her soul."

"It is about time the two of ye were together. I was..."

"We're not," he cut her off. "I was a fool for too long and I lost her."

Kaede's eye widened. "You mean she's..."

"That's not what I was talking about," Inuyasha cut her off again. "But yes, she died to defeat Naraku and the Dark Mistress. It's only because of her that they are dead."

The old miko's eye closed as she processed his words. Kagome was gone. The young, energetic girl from the future would no longer brighten her home with a cheerful greeting and bright smile. In the past three years Kaede had come to look upon the girl as her granddaughter and now she was gone. Her eye opened.

"Someone will have to tell her family," she said.

Inuyasha nodded. "I will. I'm the only one who can. I doubt they'd appreciate a stranger telling them, even if it were Yue."

With Sakura's help Kagome's family was brought back to the Sengoku Jidai for a memorial service for her. The service was going to be held in Kaede's village. They immediately grew to accept Akemi and Shippou. Considering the fact that they were standing five hundred years in the past, it was easy for them to accept what they were told. Mrs. Higurashi immediately made Yue a member of the family as Kagome's chosen husband even if they weren't bound together by law in this lifetime. She believed they were bound together in their souls and that's all that mattered to her.

The memorial service was large. All of the village, all of the armies that fought against Naraku, all of her friends, all of her family, and many of her subjects from the Sky Kingdom were gathered to pay their respects and bid farewell to Kagome, Heaven's Priestess, High Lady of the Sky Kingdom, respected miko and fighter, and beloved friend, daughter, sister, granddaughter, wife, and mother. The tears flowed freely from all eyes, even Sesshoumaru couldn't help the single tear that ran down his cheek. He was in awe of the display before him. Literally hundreds of thousands of people cried for one woman. Even those from his army and the kitsune army who barely had contact with Kagome shed tears for her.

Yue stepped up to the small headstone that was erected below the Goshinboku to honor Kagome.

"Farewell, my beloved. I will never be complete without you, but I will live for our children."

Shayril: Well, there you go. All that's left is the epilogue.

(Hides to avoid angry mob of readers.)

Navi: Get her! Get her! Get her!

Aliri: You know, if they kill her you'll have to go back to living with your parents.

Navi: Don't get her! Don't get her! Don't get her!

Yue: You killed Kagome. Why must I suffer?

Shayril: (Pats his arm comfortingly) Don't worry, Yue baby! She's not gonna stay dead. That wouldn't make for a very good sequel.

Kalika: (Does happy dance) Sequel! Sequel! Sequel!

Navi: Must you do that???

Kalika: Yes. (Sticks tongue out at Navi.)

Navi: You know, it's sad that my one-year-old daughters are more mature than you are.

Kalika: Uh uh! They are not!

(Navi just smirks.)

Aliri: Behave you two.

Shayril: Yeah. And go get the food! I'm starving! (To readers) Ciao!!!