Wow! I'm pretty surprised I got a few reviews already...Thanks y'all, and if you have any suggestions for the story or my writing, please share them and I'll do my best to improve. Sorry it took me so long to update; I had this ready a few days ago but didn't get to go on the internet... Thanks again to the reviewers!

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Inuyasha's mind was whirling, and yet it seemed like he wasn't thinking at all. All he knew was what his heart told him – the only thing he could do to relieve his guilt-ridden heart was to relieve the guilt – bring Kagome back, whatever price he had to pay. Which, ironically, was his life. For him it was nothing as long as Kagome was okay.

Then Inuyasha's mind began to function again when the thought of Kagome entered. Had he really known before that he'd been in love with Kagome? I guess you don't really miss what you've got until it's gone, he thought. Gone. He hated that word now. It meant too much for him – death, pain, sadness, fear... Too much.

Sango was clearly depressed as she rode with Miroku and Shippo on Kirara's back. It seemed her exterminator job allowed far more than enough death. Her father and brother had been seemingly taken from her, then Kohaku came back...on Naraku's side... And now Kagome. None of this would have affected her if she'd just been a simple housewife. She'd probably be cooking some rice right now in a hut, waiting for her husband to come home. She imagined the husband coming into the hut, smiling, and praising her food. She sighed, shaking her head. Somehow it didn't seem that appealing, and when the husband was imagined, Miroku's head took the place of the non-perverted man she'd probably have married. Just for that, she gave Miroku a withering glance. Instead of his usual, "What did I do?" look, he just lowered his eyes. He was suffering from Kagome's loss more than it looked. Sango knew especially, because usually Miroku wasn't eyeing her bottom. He kept his eyes lowered, and the slight slump of the back replaced his usually tall stride.

Sango took a look at Shippo in her arms. He was awfully quiet, the only noise audible being a lone sniff every once in a while. His eyes were slightly red, and Sango was filled with sympathy for the little fox-kit. He seemed so much like a child, and she felt suddenly protective. She only hoped Inuyasha's plan would work, and Kagome would soon be laughing among them.

She glanced at Inuyasha ahead of them. She couldn't see very well from the distance, but she did notice the same slacking of the shoulders as Miroku. Turning slightly, she saw her own shoulders were doing the same. Roughly she straightened up, jostling Shippo.

"Sango?" he asked in a small voice. "Do you think Kagome will be back soon?"

"I hope so, little one," she said softly. "I hope so."

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Sessomaru strode steadily behind Inuyasha, contemplating the current situation. I knew he cared for the human, but I never thought he would give his own life for her, he mused. Still, it is to be used to my advantage...

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Kagome, in Kikyo's flitting shape, ran along the forest, keeping a sharp eye on Inuyasha, still confused.

How did I get into Kikyo's body? she wondered again and again. I had her soul...she was just hatred and anger...

After a long travel, Inuyasha began to slow as Kaede's hut became visible. Then he sped up, crying, "Hurry!"

What's he doing? Kagome wondered frantically. She ran to hide behind a villager's house nearby as Inuyasha entered Kaede's hut.

A moment later he came out, followed by Kaede, holding an all too familiar shape.

Kagome stifled a scream as she looked at her own body. Her skin was gray with death, and she hung limply from every joint. She was doubly frightened by the blood that covered her torso.

"Do it," Inuyasha told Sessomaru, "and then I am at your mercy."

Something about what he said scared Kagome. What's he doing?! she screamed in her head again.

A smirk decorated Sessomaru's face. "Of course, dear brother," he said softly. He drew Tenseiga as a visible tremor passed through Sango, Kaede, Miroku and Shippo. Then Kagome knew.

He's going to bring me to life! she thought. Oh my god – will it work? What am I going to feel? She panicked and just stood, frozen.

Sessomaru pointed the sword at Kagome's still body. It quivered there for a moment, then Sessomaru's face hardened and he replaced the sword.

"She's not there," he murmured harshly.

"What?" Inuyasha asked, a seizure of fear passing through his face. "What are you talking about?"

"Her spirit does not linger in the dead. Nor does it haunt the earth as a ghost. She was not taken by the otherworldly messengers. It is as if her spirit does not exist, but her body is dead."

"So where is her spirit?" Sango cried.

"I know not."

Inuyasha's strong frame crumbled to the ground. The sight wrenched Kagome's heart so hard she ran to him, forgetting her form.

"Inuyasha!" she cried, lifting his head.

Sango, Miroku, Kaede and Shippo stared. Sessomaru took one look at her and a mixture of confusion, fear and anger took over his face.

"Is that not the girl?" he asked carefully.

"Kagome was a reincarnation of this...person," Kaede said, finding her voice. "Her name is Kikyo."

"What are you doing here?" Miroku asked what appeared to be Kikyo.

Inuyasha gazed up at the girl. "Kikyo...if you wish to kill me, you may do so," he murmured.

For a strange moment, Kagome felt a horrid urge to hurt the hanyou, to kill him, to take revenge... But then it passed and Kagome was swept up with painful feelings of tenderness.

"Watch it!" Sango cried. Kagome turned to look at her friend. Sango held her boomerang high. "Lay a finger on Inuyasha and I'll kill you!" she continued, eyes blazing with hatred.

"Sango..." Kagome looked at her friend with pain in her eyes, and that caused to Sango to halt.

"Why are you looking at me that way?" Sango asked roughly. "Stay away, Kikyo! Let go of Inuyasha or I'll kill you!"

Kagome swept a tender gaze at Inuyasha, then let his head gently lay on the ground as she stood.

"I'm not Kikyo," she said, wondering how exactly to break it to them – to Inuyasha...

"We're not falling for that," Sango yelled. "Meet your doom!" She hurled the boomerang, and Kagome realized she'd spoken too late.

"I'm Kagome!" she cried as the weapon neared.

Sango's heart seemed to stop, but it was too late. She called back the boomerang, trying to avoid the accident, but Kikyo/Kagome moved too slowly and the boomerang slashed across her chest.

At the girl's outburst of claiming to be Kagome, Inuyasha's senses snapped to attention. The girl's eyes slid to Inuyasha as the boomerang hit her, and he knew, with a jolt than ran fully through his body, that the look in her eyes could be no other than Kagome's.

She screamed as her chest was split by an unbearable pain, wrapping her up in death's embrace. Pain vibrated from her body, pulsating through her, and she felt herself slipping for the second time.

No! she screamed at herself. A strange power filled her dying body as she fought suddenly with an unknown fervor. I REFUSE TO DIE!

Inuyasha stared in horror as Kikyo/Kagome's repeated screams shattered the air. Abruptly a strange light shone in rays from the girl's body, blinding him. When he was able to look again, he saw her collapse onto the ground, just like what he saw earlier.

He was able to feel no more pain as his beloved fell for the second time. But this time, he had a small, alien sense of hope.

The hanyou rushed to the form on the ground. He touched a trembling hand to her cheek, and knew she lived still.

Sango was looking in horror at the gash that extended from the girl's left shoulder to her right hip. Miroku was just looking. The girl's white shirt was split, and hints of female body parts began to show. Sango caught on and shoved Miroku behind a rock, bashing him repeatedly on the head.

Inuyasha lifted the girl and brought her into Kaede's hut. He motioned for the old woman to follow.

"Hurry, heal her!" Inuyasha demanded. He touched the girl's hand, and at that moment, the light that had been seen before flared up again, though not quite as bright as before. When it faded, the wound was replaced by a scar.

The girl began to cough, and her eyes fluttered. Inuyasha clasped her hand to his chest and watched her in anticipation.

Dark eyes opened, and Inuyasha recognized the softness.

"Kagome..."

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A/N: Well, folks, I hope you liked that! I sure enjoyed writing it. :) Please review and tell me what you think!! I've already started the next chapter and should have it up soon! BTW, sorry if I made any mistakes in the story, I write fics on my prehistoric laptop that ironically doesn't have spell check, then I use me mum's computer to post 'em. Thanks for reading!!!