n.n! Wow! Two reviews over ONE weekend? Must be a blue moon....

I'm not gonna answer reviews at the end of this chapter, so I'll combine them all together next chapter :P

Note: Ako means "my child"

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The whole group as on edge as they walked towards Midoriko's Cave. Kagome was leading the group and had been exceptionally quiet and edgy lately. Even Shippou took the hint and kept away from his "mother". Sango had been casting worried glances over to her friend, but remained silent. Miroku had an unreadable expression on, but he seemed very worried about something. Inuyasha was soon becoming sick of the unsettling silence.

"Kagome-sama," Miroku said abruptly, drawing everyone's attention to him.

"Hmm?"

"May I speak with you..." he cast a glance over the rest of the group, "PRIVATELY?"

Both of Kagome's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Of course, Miroku." The pair slipped off a distance away from the group, taking care to keep out of the Hanyou's hearing distance.

"I know what you have to do to destroy the Shikon no Tama." Miroku stated quietly, locking gazes with the young Miko.

Kagome's lips tightened. "Ah," she murmured, "Please forgive me, Miroku, but I couldn't tell everyone..."

"Understandable..." Miroku replied, "However, Inuyasha is going to be very..." he chose his words carefully, "distressed."

"I know," Kagome groaned, "I've been trying to figure out a safe way to go through with it without hurting him but..."

"What must be done must be done." Miroku finished for her. "I understand. Are you sure that there's no other way, however?"

"Midoriko said that as far as she knew it was the only way and that she had been searching for a long time for an alternative..."

"Ah. Then I suppose you'll have to go through with it, no matter the cost."

"Mhm."

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Even at a distance, the Hanyou strained his ears to hear the pair's conversation. All he could get was "destroy" "Shikon no Tama" "Midoriko" and "no other way". Inuyasha growled, but quickly silenced himself as the two came back to join their friends.

"Everything okay?" Sango asked, glancing at Kagome and Miroku.

"Yeah." Kagome replied, sounding a little choked up, "Everything's perfectly fine..." Kagome resumed her spot at the front of the group and continued onward.

No one missed the sad glances the monk gave Kagome as they walked.

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"We're here..." Kagome said quietly, staring at the mouth of Midoriko's Cave. She felt her eyes begin to sting with unshed tears as she realized that what she had been dreading was upon them. Her hands shook a bit as she clutched the Shikon no Tama in her hand. "Let's go..."

Miroku stood next to Kagome and cast a worried glance in her direction. He grasped her free hand with his and gave it a comforting squeeze, murmuring something in her ear, making her smile.

Neither Inuyasha, nor Sango, missed this exchange and both raised eyebrows at each other in question.

Wordlessly, the group walked through the barrier and into Midoriko's Cave.

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Kagome stood in front of Midoriko's stone form, choking back tears. "Midoriko-sama..." she said aloud in a shaky voice, "I've arrived. I have the required items, like you requested. Now..." Kagome's voice broke, but she regained it, "Now I'm ready."

She took a deep breath and held the Shikon no Tama in a way similar to how Kikyou held the Jewel when her body was burned for burial. "Priestess Midoriko, I call upon your spirit to aid me. Aid me so as that I might destroy the Cursed Shikon no Tama that has so plagued this world for so long. Priestess Midoriko, I command your soul to appear for me and give me the strength to complete your mission."

Kagome had set the Mirror of Kaguya on the floor, and on top of that the Feathered Robe of the Heavens. The Robe had begun to float in midair as Kagome spoke her spell, and soon the thread of the Robe of the Fire Rat had entwined itself into the pink fabric.

"Priestess Midoriko!" Kagome's voice said loudly, "I have brought you the Sacred Items, Kaguya's Feathered Robe of the Heavens and her Mirror, a thread from the Robe of the Fire Rat, the Legendary Sword Tessaiga." She paused for a second, taking in a shaky breath. "Now, Midoriko, I offer you the Blood of the Innocent, spilt by the Sword of a Pure-Hearted Soldier. Midoriko, accept the Blood split by two lovers who have not yet realized their affections!"

The Shikon no Tama began glowing and pulsing with an inhumanly pure aura. It soon floated by itself in front of Kagome. Kagome then reached a hand out to Inuyasha, beckoning him forwards.

Inuyasha cautiously walked forward, getting a cold feeling in the pit of his stomach.

"Inuyasha," Kagome began, "draw the Tessaiga."

He obeyed, unsheathing his sword and holding it in front of Kagome. Said Hanyou tensed up as she grasped his hands in her own and raised them, sword and all, above her. "Priestess Midoriko!" Kagome cried, "Take my Blood as your passage into the Realm of the Living so you may join me in the quest!"

Everyone gasped, except Miroku who simply stared on in sorrow. Inuyasha's eyes widened as his mouth opened and closed, trying to protest.

"Priestess Midoriko!" Kagome cried again, arms shaking, "I offer you my Blood, the Blood of the Innocent, shed by the Tessaiga, wielded by the Pure-Hearted Solider, split by two lovers in denial of their affections! Midoriko! Come to me!" With that final verse said, Kagome pulled down on Inuyasha's hands, forcing him to thrust the Tessaiga through her chest harshly, blood spilling freely as the Shikon no Tama glowed insanely as the Priestess Midoriko soon appeared in front of it.

Inuyasha finally managed to regain control of his arms as he withdrew the Tessaiga from the raven-haired girl. "KAGOME!" he screamed hoarsely, clutching her as they both sank to the ground in a blood heap. "KAGOME!" he cried again, running a clawed hand through her silky hair. "Kagome you stupid, stupid, STUPID girl! Why did you do that!? Why did you make ME do that!?" he said over and over, rocking the bleeding girl in his arms.

Midoriko stared on, eyes shining with fresh tears as they slipped down her cheeks. "Kagome-sama..." she said aloud, floating over to the young girl, despite the growling from the inuhanyou.

"How DARE you even utter her name!" Inuyasha snarled, clutching the girl closer to him protectively, "You KNEW she would die, didn't you!? And you STILL asked her for this! You KNEW she wouldn't refuse! YOU LED HER TO HER DEATH!"

Miroku walked forward and, with much effort, managed to drag a howling and struggling Hanyou away from the dying Miko's body.

"Kagome," Midoriko began, tears still falling onto her pale face, "release your soul like I instructed... Release your earthly hold on your soul and aid me as I shall aid you. O, Innocent, release your Soul and offer it so as to aid in the destruction of the Cursed Jewel! Kagome, I command thee, give up your body!"

Kagome's eyes widened slightly as she let out one final breath, her body finally going slack as blood continued to pour into the dirt covered floor.

Everyone just stared in silence for a moment. Inuyasha's heart-shattering cry broke the hypnotizing quiet, "KKAAGGOOMMEE!"

Kagome's soul began to appear above her body, cloaked only in a simple white gown that had silky off-the-shoulder sleeves. It clung to her torso tightly, and then proceeded to loosen until it billowed out into liquid-like ripples at her bare feet. Her glistening raven-black hair floated in an unearthly manner around her as her very skin glowed with the intensity of the Shikon no Tama that had been bound to her for so long. Kagome's eyes shone with unshed tears and a complete calmness. From her back came the loveliest thing either of them had seen... two pairs of feathered angel's wings, one right below the other. Kagome floated slightly over to Midoriko and held onto her hands, fingers entwined.

"Kagome," Midoriko said, tears still falling, "forgive me for this..."

"You have nothing to ask forgiveness for, Priestess Midoriko." came the echoing reply. Kagome's voice was somewhat hollow, but still held the never-ending forgiveness and love that she had had when she was living. Kagome released Midoriko's grasp and turned to Miroku. "Miroku-sama," she began, formally, "I thank you for aiding me earlier when I was so nervous... If I had entered the cave and began the ceremony with any hint of hesitation I doubt my soul could have managed this far."

Miroku smiled slightly, "No problem, Kagome-sama."

"Kagome..." came the broken voice of Shippou, eyes shimmering with tears as he saw his "mothers" Spirit.

Kagome's eyes immediately softened as tears spilt unwillingly down her face. "Oh, Shippou-chan, my child." she murmured in her echoing voice. She rushed forward and embraced the young kitsune, cradling him against her chest and crying silently. Her soul spread comforting warmth throughout Shippou's body, calming him. "Shippou-chan, please forgive me...Ako..."

Shippou cried, clinging to Kagome's chest. "Kagome-okaasan, why did you have to die? Why did you have to leave me all alone?"

More glistening tears streamed down the young Miko's face, "Oh Shippou-ako..." she gave off a warming glow that soon sent Shippou into a calm sleep. Kagome couldn't stand to see the young kitsune that she had come to love as her own cry so much over her. Kagome stood, wiping her eyes. She looked at Inuyasha solemnly, searching his eyes.

Inuyasha looked away from Kagome, shielding his face with his bangs. How could he, a half-breed, look upon such a radiant person, no, angel? He wasn't worthy enough of even being in her very presence.

Kagome let out a small sob as she saw Inuyasha look away, taking it as a sign that he didn't love her anymore. Did those fleeting moments when she had been a Hanyou mean nothing? Or did he find her unworthy of him now that she was just a simple human girl? The reincarnation of his love? Her elegant wings drooped, brushing the dirty ground. The beautiful glow she had possessed around her faded dramatically, as she lost her Angelic features. The feathered wings faded into a dull gray with the ends tinted black and soon, at her chest, she began bleeding, reflecting that of her human body.

Both Miroku and Midoriko's eyes widened. Miroku released his hold on Inuyasha and even dropped his staff, the rings clanking together loudly in the dead-silent room. "Oh no..."

Midoriko put a hand to her mouth. "Kagome! No!" she ran over to the Miko, supporting her weight. "No Kagome!"

"What's wrong?!" Sango cried, finally speaking.

"Her soul... something's wrong with it! Houshi, aid me! Quickly, man!" Midoriko cried, slapping Kagome on the cheek lightly.

Miroku ran over and began carefully examining Kagome. "Whatever reason she had for aiming to fulfill the quest is fading and fast... Something is holding her back now! If she can't regain her reason for completing this, not only will the ceremony fail..."

"But the Shikon no Tama will be tainted forever, Kagome's soul will perish, and she won't return to her body." Midoriko finished quietly, worry etched over her face. "Oh, Kagome! O, Innocent! Don't give up yet! We all NEED YOU!"

Inuyasha looked up and his eyes betrayed the indifferent look that his facial features held. His eyes were filled with pain and love as he looked at Kagome. Why was she giving up? What was WRONG?

Kagome began sobbing uncontrollably, blood falling from her dusty-pink lips. "It hurts... Oh, Kami, Midoriko... It hurts..."

"I know, Child, I know..." Midoriko murmured, stroking her hair as she continued to hold the girl up. "Houshi, is there anything we can do to sustain her soul?"

Miroku's expression was grim. "I'm afraid unless she abandons the hesitation for returning to the living, she won't make it." He looked at the Shikon no Tama as it began to turn a cloudy blackish pink. "And judging by the state of the Shikon, it's too late."

"Oh, Kagome!" Sango screamed, "Don't give up! Don't leave all of us! You're the only thing that keeps us together! What about Shippou!?"

Inuyasha stared at Kagome and stood up. He walked over to Kagome and nudged her face gently with one hand. "Kagome?" he nudged her cheek again. "Kagome?"

Kagome moved her face away from his touch, tears streaming down her face. "Don't..."

Inuyasha's gaze softened. What was wrong with her? "Kagome," he repeated, now holding her fact in his hands and forcing her to look up at him, "what's wrong?"

Midoriko and Miroku backed up to give the two some space.

"What's wrong?" Kagome repeated, "What's WRONG?" her voice took on an edge, "You looked away from me, Inuyasha! You were the reason I had for doing this! I wanted to destroy the Shikon, and in return Midoriko promised me that she'd grant you the wish that you always wanted: to being a full inuyoukai!" Kagome slammed her fists against Inuyasha's chest as she broke her eye contact with the hanyou. "As soon as I had revealed my soul to you, MY SOUL, you looked away! Why, Inuyasha!? Why!? Did I look THAT much like Kikyou!? Did those moments that we spent together as Hanyou's mean NOTHING? Was it that you could only let yourself love me as a hanyou!? Why, Inuyasha!?" Kagome cried, uttering the most deadly 6 words she could ever have said, "Why did you betray me, Inuyasha!?"

Inuyasha's form quickly stiffened as those words flew from Kagome's mouth. "Kagome..." he said hopelessly, "I love you for YOU, not as a Hanyou or as Kikyou! It was YOU I fell in love with, YOU who made me feel again! Kikyou could never measure up to you, Kagome!" he said, stroking her face with his clawed fingers carefully, "I didn't want to look away... but... you were so lovely and pure and... your soul wasn't meant for half-breed eyes. I could never be worthy of your beautiful soul..." he finished.

"But Inuyasha..." Kagome murmured, finally regaining eye contact with her beloved, "my soul is yours. It was made for your eyes, and yours alone, half-breed, human, youkai, ALL of you." She cupped Inuyasha's face in her hands searching his eyes. She smiled as she found what she was looking for. "I can see your soul, Inuyasha. It's beautiful..." Kagome's wings strengthened and turned back to their glowing white form. Her skin regained its pure, holy glow and the bleeding stopped and was erased from her gown. Kagome's arms went limp as her eyes closed and she and the Shikon no Tama glowed as one.

Inuyasha's eyes widened as he clung hopelessly to his love. "Kagome... don't leave me yet!" He buried his nose into her hair, trying to keep her with him.

Midoriko smiled as the ceremony regained its purity. "Shikon no Tama!" she commanded, holding her arms straight forward, palms flat, facing the Jewel, "With the Feathered Robe of the Heavens, the Celestial Mirror, the Thread of the Robe of the Fire Rat, the donated power from the Legendary Sword Tessaiga, and the Blood of the Innocent, I command thee to disperse! Erase yourself from the clutches of this world and cease to exist! Shikon no Tama! Draw from the Innocent the power you need to collapse within yourself! Shikon no Tama! SHOUSITSU!" with that final cry, the Shikon began shaking and finally, with a shattering sound and an explosion of energy, the Shikon no Tama disappeared....

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Inuyasha was the first to stir. "Minna?... Kagome?" he said aloud, blinking and examining his surroundings. There was nothing but pure, white light and weightlessness, much like when he and Kagome had spoken to each other through the Goshinboku.

"Inuyasha..." an echoing voice said, warmness evident in the tone.

"Huh?" he replied, blinking a few times. "Okaasan..." he said, eyes widening.

"My Inuyasha, ako. My beautiful hanyou son..." Izayoi said, her eyes warm with love. Her black hair floated around her weightlessly as she reached forward and embraced her child.

"Okaasan!" came Inuyasha's muffled cry as he hugged his mother back tightly, burying his face in her shoulders.

"Inuyasha..." Izayoi replied, stroking her sons back comfortingly, "You have a wish to make."

"A wish?"

"Yes, ako, a wish. That young girl you've been traveling with promised you one, as she did the rest of her friends. You can wish for anything you desire, but you cannot change anything that has resulted in death."

Inuyasha went quiet as he clung to his mother. "Is Kagome okay?"

"Yes, she's fine. Kagome's currently keeping the Jewel alive long enough to allow us to meet like this... She decided that out of everyone you've ever known that you'd like to see your mother as a messenger for your wish." Izayoi smiled.

"Ah." Inuyasha murmured.

"You've desired many things, my son." Izayoi continued, "You wished to be a full inuyoukai like your father and brother to make up for your childhood, you wished to become human for the Miko Kikyou, and at one point you even wished for your own death, isn't that right?"

Inuyasha sheepishly pulled back and nodded to his mother. "Hai, but... I think more than anything I know what I want now..."

"Is that so...?"

"Hai... I wish to remain a hanyou... I want to remain a hanyou for the rest of my life, and, if Kagome wishes too, I want to spend the rest of my life with her."

Izayoi smiled, and then put a hand to her son's cheek. "Hai, Inuyasha. Be well."

With that, Izayoi disappeared and Inuyasha was returned to Midoriko's Cave. He blinked a few times, and was greeted by his smiling group members. He noticed that Miroku and Sango were holding hands, and beside Sango was her brother, safely out of Naraku's grasp. Miroku most likely wished for his Master to become a bit better in health, since the old man WAS near death anyway. Shippou was standing next to two gravestones, most likely he had wished for his parents to have a proper resting place. However, there was one individual that Inuyasha couldn't seem to spot...

"Inuyasha?"

There she was. Inuyasha turned around, grinning, as he embraced the young, now alive, Miko tightly. "Kagome..."

Kagome smiled and returned the embrace. She pulled back. "What did you wish for? I don't see any black hair, so you're not human... But I don't see any youkai markings so..."

"I wished to remain a hanyou..." he said, "for you." he added, smiling shyly.

Kagome smiled and clung to Inuyasha affectionately. "I'm so glad, Inuyasha..."

"What did you wish for?"

"Well... I wished for two things, since Midoriko took a bit of pity on me..."

"And?"

"And... I wished for the well to always remain open for you and me, and... I wished to remain with you until you no longer desired to be with me..." Kagome blushed at the last part.

"Then you'll be around for quite a long time, Kagome." Inuyasha gave her a fanged grin as they both turned to their group members.

With one final glance at Midoriko's Statue, who was now smiling peacefully, they all made their way out of the Cavern.

And they all lived happily ever after...

Or at least for the most part... Miroku got hit with Hiraikotsu soon after because he groped Sango. Yeowch....

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n.n! Yes, my friends, the final chapter! Or it is sorta n.n; There's one more I'm going to post next weekend, and then it'll be the end of HKKK. Review, pretty please!