Sorry for the delay on this chapter. A friend of mine just recently…passed away in a car accident so I haven't much been in the mood to write. But I have an obligation to full fill with this story. So here you are, Chapter 19. Oh yea, I'd like to thank the following people:

The Lady Winged Knight

DarkWolfYoukai-And-Blood Demon

Nina Moca

Caprice Ledgermain

SensesFail26x

Alaskan Tiger

NefCanuck

These are the people who's very descriptive, very supportive reviews helped me most. Some of these names are also the ones of those who have been reviewing throughout the whole story. Thank you guys. And thank you to all my other reviewers. I didn't forget all of you, I just can't put all your names up here!!

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With the promise she made to Inu Yasha in mind Kagome did the one thing she knew would help most. She began to chant. Gathering all her Miko energy and centering it around her friends trying to give as much protection as possible.

Naraku had lunged forward with his sword in hand straight for Inu Yasha. Inu Yasha leapt aside, just as he had Sango threw her boomerang and lunged forward with the staff. The edge of the boomerang seared just across the side of Naraku's arm as the staff stabbed into his hip.

Kouga jumped from his spot on the ground with his sword drawn Shippou not to far behind. Without even planning it or talking it over the Kitsune and Wolf demon laid their swords upon one another creating a scissor like effect. They went forward trying to aim for Naraku's head. The great demon Lord, however, saw this attack. He quickly ducked down and flung his sword forward bringing it across Shippou's chest as he fell beneath them.

With the boomerang back in hand Sango threw herself forward she pulled her arm back ready to throw her weapon. Naraku smirked softly and held out his sword. From behind Sango Inu Yasha leapt. He flipped into the air and came soaring down Tetsiega pointing straight down to Naraku. The mighty demon lifted his sword up to deflect Tetsiega forgetting Sango. The demon slayer took the more pointed end of the staff and jammed it into Naraku's chest. Blood slowly seeped from beneath his top. Sango withdrew her staff just as Inu Yasha was being throw back.

Kagome continued to do her chanting. Her fingers twitched and ached from being held back from drawing her bow and striking Naraku. Her heart was racing and burning with a rage to destroy him. She felt unlike she ever had before.

Shippou got up from his place on the ground. He shook his head as if shaking away the pain in his chest. The sight of Naraku leaning over Sango ready to strike her met his eyes. Shippou lunged forward at his once master. He swung his sword and felt it slide through skin. Although he had struck Naraku across the back Naraku had struck Sango in the gut. She lay on the ground with her hand over her stomach. Shippou cried out as if he were the one in pain. Naraku swung around to face the Kitsune.
From his place off to the side Kouga came running. His speed no more different then it had been years back, if not better. He shoved Shippou out of the way of Naraku's mighty blow and instead deflected it with his own sword. He pushed hard against Naraku's sword trying to hold his ground.

"Kagome, are you doing ok?" Inu Yasha called to her.

"I'm just fine. But, Inu Yasha, I must strike him. If I can gather all my Miko energy and shoot it all at him in one strike with my arrow I can kill him." She said keeping the chanting steady between her words.

"How are you going to be able to do that? He's to damn fast." Inu Yasha pointed out saying it more to himself then Kagome.

With that said Inu Yasha leapt off the ground and headed towards Naraku. He had to come up with a way to get Naraku to hold still so Kagome could strike him. But how? Unconsciously Inu Yasha swung Tetseiga screaming "Wind Scar!!" The yellow glow of energy shot out and headed towards the demon lord. It hit it's target, though it didn't do much damage. Although their attacks were hitting him, he kept regenerating himself. As long as he had the Shikon No Tama he was unbeatable.

"You see Inu Yasha when it comes to Checkers you want to keep as many of your guys on the board as possible. However, sometimes it is necessary to sacrifice one of your pieces to be able to obtain some of the opponents pieces." Kagome explained as she moved pieces about on the board.

"Yes….that's…..it." Inu Yasha mumbled to himself.

Kouga leapt forward once again Shippou right behind him. They went straight then split apart and went off to the sides. From the middle came Sango. She threw forward her boomerang. It seared straight for Naraku. In the time it took him to try and deflect the attack of Sango's Kouga and Shippou were throwing their swords across his skin.

Blood seemed to be everywhere. Not one of them didn't have blood on them. Wether of their own or of someone else's.

"Out of my way you guy's! I know how to destroy him!!" Inu Yasha bellowed.

Shippou, Sango, and Kouga did as they were told. Each jumped away taking their weapons with them.

Inu Yasha leapt forward at Naraku. The great Demon Lord eyed him cautiously. He was not in a position to attack. Suddenly the Hanyou discarded the Tetsiega throwing it aside. He opened his arms and quickly wrapped them around Naraku binding him. With his right foot he kicked the Shikon sword from his grip and away from his body. Naraku pulled and struggled to get free but Inu Yasha would not let him go.

"Kagome shoot your arrow now!" He yelled.

"Inu Yasha No! It'll hit you to!" She screamed.

Yes, that was the plan after all. If he must sacrifice himself for the good of his friends, then so be it. It didn't matter anyways. Once Naraku was defeated Kagome could go fix everything.

"Kagome it's alright. I won't really die. Remember your going back to make sure this never happens."

"But what if the well still won't work! What if I'm stuck here in this time forever…..without you! Inu Yasha I can't live without you!!" She screamed as tears streamed down her face.

The energy around her was growing strong. She needed to do this now or never. Her words had been true. She couldn't live without him. She wouldn't want to. Why was he doing this. There had to be some other way. Why? Why was she going to loose him now. It wasn't fair.

"He's right Kagome, it's now or never. Don't you want to make things better." Shippou called out to her.

They were all right, but, how could she….do it?

"Please Kagome. You must!" Sango yelled out.

"Yes Kagome, do it, we all know you can." Kouga joined in.

Naraku pulled and struggled with more of his strength now. No way would he be defeated by a bunch of humans and worthless low life demons.

"She won't do it! She's too afraid. You idiotic brats will soon know my wrath!" Naraku bellowed.

"Kagome do it now!!!!" Inu Yasha yelled.

"I can't!!!"

"You must!" Sango screamed.

"For us!" Shippou pleaded.

"Now Kagome." Kouga demanded.

"KAGOME DO IT NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!"

It seemed to take everything she had to draw that arrow from her side. She placed it on the string and steadied it onto her fingertip. She was about to do the one thing she'd always feared. She was going to kill the one man she'd ever loved truly. She was going to do what Kikyo had failed at doing. Killing her love with the strike of her arrow. Why was fate so cruel? The hot tears that stung her face seemed like her only comfort. It was now…or never.

Inu Yasha's eyes stared into hers as he waited for her strike. Slowly his lips moved forming the three words he'd been afraid to say to her all his life.

"I Love You."

The arrow flew from it's place upon the bow. It seared forward, Miko energy surrounding it gathering more strength as it flew. It drove through the Hanyou and straight into the heart of Naraku. In a great flash of light all went dead. The only thing heard over the explosion was a horrid scream that would send chills down a grown man's spine.

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R&R!!!! The next chapter is the very last chapter of the story. Remember I'm hoping for at least 200 reviews for this story. Also I really like long reviews! Lol their just nice.