Chapter 24: Osuwari!

Jack picked up his sword and stuck it in its sheath. Inuyasha and Miroku stared at the puddle before them. Their foe was defeated, gone forever.  Miroku unwound the purple cloth from his hands.  The wind tunnel was gone; he smiled as he rubbed the palm of his hand.

"But I didn't get to kill him," Inuyasha whined while putting the Tetsusaiga away.

"No, you couldn't have," Kagura said as she looked at the half-demon before her.

"Why not?"

"Because you wished for the jewel. If you had killed Naraku, then you would have used it for your own purposes. Both you and Miroku had a small place in your heart where you yearn for the jewel. Mr. Sparrow did not. He was willing to give away a shard and his life for his friends. The Shikon Jewel has many mysteries that nobody knew about. Like this."

"How do you know so much about this, love?" Jack asked.

"If you give the shard, I will show you."

"Jack, don't be a fool," Inuyasha growled. Jack did not listen. He was in a trance. The shard was held out, and Kagura took it. She reached back into her hair and pulled out the jewel with one piece missing. Jack's shard fit together perfectly, like a puzzle. Suddenly, a pink light erupted from the jewel. Kagura's eyes flashed red, and a demon fell out of her into the black puddle on the ground. Kagura's paleness lessened, and her hair unraveled itself. Her red and white kimono turned a pale blue. The shard stopped glowing and burst into a thousand pieces that were carried off by the wind.

"You're a human," Miroku stated, shocked at what had just happened.

"Yes, Miroku. I am also a sorceress." Kagura smiled. It was good to be free. She looked to her left, to the bush where Sango had hidden herself and the others. She called out, "Come out! All is well, and it is time to rejoin your friends." Out of the bushes Kagome and Sango ran. They ran rush up to their men. Kagura smiled and left.

"We have something to tell you, both of you," Kagome cried out.

"We heard your talk about us!" Sango continued.

Inuyasha looked at Miroku and slapped him upside the head. "I told you there was something there, monk!"

"Well, I'm sorry I..." Miroku was cut off.

"Ladies, there might be a way to shut them up, savvy?" Jack said as he winked. Sango and Kagome put their arms around their men, Sango with Miroku and Kagome with Inuyasha, and kissed them. Miroku and Inuyasha kissed back passionately. Jack smirked and started to clap when he felt a tug at his shirt. He looked down and saw Jacklyn staring up at him. With a joyful yell, he reached down, picked up the little girl, and spun around in circles with her. Then he relaxed her on his hip. His gaze fell on Will, who, by the looks of it, had the same bandage work.

"I guess you go to the same person to get your wounds wrapped, mate," he commented.

"I guess so." Will laughed. He shook Jack's hand and spoke again. "Thank you."

"No worries, savvy?" Jack set Jacklyn on the ground, and she looked at Inuyasha, who had stopped kissing Kagome.

"Daddy," she said, pointing, "That's the dog man from my dream."

"Oh, really?" Will questioned, playing along. "Didn't you have a question for him?"

"Oh, yeah! Mr. Dog-man, sir, what does that necklace do?"

"I'll show you!" Kagome said rather blissfully. "Sit!" Without a second in between the word, Inuyasha was rammed into the ground, making a hole for himself. Everyone burst out in laughter. Inuyasha sighed while a still laughing Kagome picked him up and kissed his cheek.

"You know what, mate, if you accompany me to Port Royale, where I drop off Will and Jacklyn, I could probably take that collar off at the blacksmith shop. What've you got to loose?"

"I guess. There's nothing better to do." Inuyasha shrugged.

"I'm coming, too!" Kagome demanded.

Jack said his good-byes to Miroku and Sango and left them, where they walked into Naraku's castle. Inuyasha led the way to the well where they all left and traveled to the normal era.

The sun had almost set when Jack cast off with the Pearl, headed for Port Royale.