Okay, so far, I'm trying to keep the whole updating every weekend thing but it's hard! So much homework, so little time. Not to mention that I procrastinate so much. Anyways, I'm sure you want to read the story, so here it is!

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Inuyasha characters. Never have, never will. Oh cruel fate. (Oops, I haven't been doing these. Damn! They are freakin' annoying. .)

Chapter Twelve: Final Battle Begins

Kagome and Sesshoumaru were already up when the sun began its ascent into the sky. The morning sky was streaked red and purple, slowly giving way to the blue. A nice quiet morning, calming and soothing. However, Kagome's heart was anything but calm. Naraku's words echoed again and again. 'Our battle will come soon enough. I suggest you ready yourselves.'

"Something is troubling you," Sesshoumaru observed.

Kagome nodded. "Naraku's words," she said.

Sesshoumaru growled involuntarily. "The hanyou will be dealt with," he said gruffly.

Kagome looked to the Taiyoukai. "I'm afraid," she admitted.

"'Afraid?' " Sesshoumaru asked, slightly interested.

Kagome nodded. "Afraid of the consequences. Afraid that I will lose" she stopped.

Sesshoumaru waited for her to go on. Kagome took a deep breath. Kami, am I really going to say it? Am I really going to tell Sesshoumaru that I she thought. Her feelings wrestled within her, her heart about to burst with the longing. She didn't know when she started feeling this way. Maybe it was when he actually accepted her enough to train her. Or maybe, it went as far back as when he saved her.

Sesshoumaru stared at the silent girl. She was struggling internally and it intrigued him. What could she be thinking about? He thought. He wanted to know what was bothering her, what was making her upset. He wanted to soothe her fears away, hold her and tell her everything was going to work out. For once, he didn't berate himself for becoming soft. In fact, he was beginning to like this feeling. Yes, Kagome had changed him. Ever since she had walked, or rather, fallen, into his world, he had found himself becoming less and less cold. He knew, at that instant, that he, Lord Sesshoumaru, Taiyoukai of the Western Lands, was head over heels for a human. Not just any human, a miko. A miko named Kagome. He moved closer to the target of his affections. (A/N: Okay, was that way OOC for Sesshoumaru? Sorry, but it fits the story!)

"You have yet to answer my question," he said.

Kagome snapped out of her daze. "Eh? Oh sorry," she said. "Just thinking."

"About what?" Sesshoumaru asked.

Kagome's mind whirled to think of something to tell him. "Uhâ€the battle with Naraku," she said. Oh, smooth Kagome. Talk about something that depressing. Kagome thought.

"You need not worry about that," Sesshoumaru said.

"But he still has Sango-chan and Miroku," Kagome said.

"They will be returned safely to you," Sesshoumaru vowed.

Kagome gave him a smile and Sesshoumaru felt his heart glow.

"We don't know when he will want to fight," Kagome said.

"He desires the shards. It will not be long," Sesshoumaru said. "We will wait for him here."

Kagome nodded in agreement.

"ARRRRRRRRRRR!"

The scream was heard throughout the forest. Inuyasha slammed his fist into the ground. His scream of frustration was from deep within his soul. All around him trees were knock down, some were splintered. All were proof of his agony. The white-hot pain searing inside his chest and there was no relief. The agony filling the core of his being, tearing him up inside. It was all because of Kikyo.

"Shit," he cursed. "How the hell could I have been such a baka?"

'You loved her. No, you thought you loved her. You were willing to sacrifice everything.' A second voice called out.

"Damn!" Inuyasha said.

'You hurt those around you when you made that foolish choice. You hurt the one that truly loved you.'

"Kagome," Inuyasha said.

He picked himself up from the forest floor, his bangs covering his eyes. Slowly, he walked towards the direction that Kagome and his half-brother had gone, his legs moving robotically.

In his lair, Naraku smiled as he watched the inu hanyou trek to the spot where the final battle would be held. Behind him, Kikyo watched as her former love slowly made his way towards the woman she despised. She absent-mindedly touched her chest where her heart was supposed to be. Nothing. She felt nothing, no emotions other than hatred. If she ever felt anything else, it was numbness but she paid no attention to that. Her cold, lifeless brown eyes were riveted on the beaten figure. Suddenly, Naraku's voice rang out to her.

"Kikyo, we are leaving,"

"You wish to battle them now?" Kikyo asked, her voice hard.

"Everyone has gathered, it is best that we do not keep them waiting," Naraku said.

With the flap of his monkey skin cloak, Naraku walked to the room where Miroku and Sango were. Both of them were still unconscious, due to Naraku's youki. With Kikyo behind him, and Sango and Miroku with him, Naraku made his way to where Kagome, Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha were waiting for him.

Inuyasha knew he was near when he felt Kagome and Sesshoumaru's auras. He was a bit hesitant to walk but forced himself when he was reminded that Kikyo would be there. Coming into the clearing, he saw two figures conversing. It was Kagome and Sesshoumaru.

Sesshoumaru jerked his head and looked past Kagome's shoulder. He could see Inuyasha walking towards them. Seeing he was distracted, Kagome also turned around. It pained her to see the defeated way his shoulders sagged. He dragged his sword on the ground, as if sapped of his strength. He was hurt so badly. She thought.

Inuyasha finally got to where Kagome and Sesshoumaru were standing. He lifted his head a little and stared at the woman he had hurt so badly. She looksâ€different. It's like she went through a transformation. She's stronger than I last remembered. Inuyasha mentally noted. He also noticed that instead of her usual bow and arrows, she now carried a sword.

"Inuyasha," Kagome called out.

Her soft, calming voice took away the last of his already sapped strength. He wobbled to where she was standing and then sank to his knees. Kagome stared at him.

"What are you doing?" she asked.

"I'm sorry," Inuyasha whispered.

Kagome was taken aback. He's apologizing. She thought. But the Inuyasha I knew would never apologize. She just stared at him, kneeling, submissive. So unlike the strong, proud, arrogant Inuyasha she was used to.

"I-Inuyasha," she called.

Inuyasha kept his head hung low.

"Inuyasha," she said more firmly. She took his face in her hands and forced him to look at her.

The pain and hurt in his golden orbs were so intense, she felt tears spring into her eyes.

"Forgive me," he murmured.

"For what?" Kagome asked.

"For hurting you," Inuyasha said.

Kagome smiled. "It's okay. I knew you couldn't leave her. You loved her, that was all there was to it. True, it did hurt me when you chose her but after I was saved, I realized that feelings can't be controlled. Especially love." Kagome said.

Inuyasha remained quiet, so Kagome went on.

"I realized that I had to move on. It was the only choice I had, and so I did," Kagome said. "You should too."

"Kagome, I" Inuyasha started to say.

"Kikyo isn't who she was fifty years ago. As Kaede-baba said so long ago, she was forced back to live on this earth. I'm sure she wouldn't have wanted to if it meant hurting you," Kagome said.

"I don't know what to do," Inuyasha said.

"The miko and the hanyou are approaching," Sesshoumaru announced.

Kagome helped Inuyasha to his feet. "Be strong, Inuyasha," she said. "And follow your heart."

"Arigatou, Kagome," Inuyasha said.

Kagome smiled. Lifting her sword a bit, she waited.

Naraku appeared on a youki cloud with the unconscious forms of Sango and Miroku at his feet. Kikyo was behind him, carried by her soul-stealers. They both landed in front of the small group. Naraku smiled.

"It seems that everyone has made it," he said.

Kagome saw the bodies of her dearest friends at his feet.

"What have you done to Sango-chan and Miroku?" Kagome demanded.

Naraku laughed. "They are merely unconscious and unharmed, at the moment," he said.

"If you hurt them in any way, I'll make sure you regret it," Kagome snarled.

"You threaten me? You are no match for me," Naraku smiled.

"Don't bother with them, Naraku," Kikyo said. "Just kill them and get it over with."

"You forget who you are dealing with," Sesshoumaru said, giving no hint to the amusement he found in the confidence the undead miko had.

Inuyasha's eyes never left Kikyo's form. His golden eyes that were once so full of pain were now burning with hatred. Hatred for the fact that she was suffering. Forced to live upon this earth with nothing but hatred in her life. Inuyasha gripped his sword tightly. I'll kill you Kikyo. I'll kill youâ€to save you. He thought.

A light surrounded Naraku as he changed his form into that of his youkai form. Smiling all the while, Naraku made a lunge at Kagome, who jumped to her right. Sesshoumaru instantly sprang into the air and slashed his claws towards Naraku. His claws barely made a scratch.

As the other two fought with Naraku, Inuyasha and Kikyo stood opposite each other.

"You will die, Inuyasha," Kikyo said.

Inuyasha said nothing. Kikyo took out her bow and strung an arrow in it. She fired a warning shot over his left shoulder. Inuyasha didn't move a muscle. Kikyo notched another arrow.

"Are you afraid Inuyasha? Are you afraid of killing the woman you loved, fifty years ago," Kikyo taunted.

Still silent. Kagome's words rang through his head. Follow your heart Taking a deep breath, Inuyasha ran towards Kikyo, which caught her off guard. She fired the arrow, but Inuyasha dodged.

I have to kill her. I have to kill herâ€so I can save her.

The final battle had begun.

Author's Note: Okay, so the final battle has begun which means that there are probably only a couple chapters left in this story. OMG! I'm almost finished with my first story. Wow! Anyways, I'll try to update sooner! I hope you enjoyed this chapter (although it was a little sappy).

Read and Review! Arigatou!