Author's Note: Back to school time! Which means that I won't be able to update as much as I usually do. So many sorries! Which is why I'm gonna try and get this story wound up before the teachers start loading us down so work with me here. - Many thankies.

Inuyasha sat at the edge of his forest. Just shy of Kaede's village but far enough away from the border of trees that he couldn't reach out and touch them. His knees were drawn up and tucked under his chin, eyes focused sightlessly on the grass before him as he mused. Kagome.... and his brother. A shudder rippled through him and he sighed, fingers working inside his pocket as they curled around the item there. The prayer beads.

She'd taken them of him. The thing that bound them together and she'd removed it with a smile and said he was free then left. Free. He should be glad. He hated the damn thing didn't he? Then why did he feel as if she'd removed a part of his heart with it? It was a bittersweet thing actually. All the time he spent wishing the things away and now...they were of him and he couldn't seem to throw them away.

"Kagome." He murmured softly.

His gaze flickered then, life returning to his topaz eyes as the wind stirred the trees setting their bows in gentle motion. The breeze stirred and curled around him carrying with it a subtle sent. His eyes widened in shock and curiosity. He knew this scent. Inuyasha pushed up from the ground, leaping into the trees, claying a clawed hand against the trunk to stay himself then jumped again moving through the thick canopy towards the haunting smell.

Kikyou. He hadn't seen her for while. Not since they'd killed Naraku. He'd seen her then but only for an instant, standing on the edge of the battlefield, bow in hand and poised. For that instant he'd thought she'd been aiming at him but then realized her glare was set on Naraku. However it was Kagome's arrow that pierced Naraku in the end and Inuyasha's Tetsusaiga that finished him. Kikyou...Kagome...Kikyou.

The thick matt of trees broke into that clearing that ringed the Sacred tree. And Kikyou stood beneath it, a pale hand rested against the trunk lightly, delicate, a lover touch. Her back was turned to him as he landed just a few feet behind him. He soul collected swirled around him assessing for a moment then returned to twine about the branches above their mistress and still Kikyou remained silent. Inuyasha took a slow step forward.

"Kikyou."

"Inuyasha." She turned to look at him and the faintest hint of a smile flickered over her mouth. Her eyes burned with sadness and loss glossed over by ice-cold indifference. Even when no one else could Inuyasha had always been able to see the sorrow beneath her poise. "I've come to say goodbye."

He winced in surprise. "Goodbye. I...you're leaving?"

She lifted a hand and looked down at it. "This body is dying Inuyasha. It's no more then animated clay. A parasite that I have to feed to keep it moving. But..." she dropped her hand. "I grow weary of capturing human souls to give it. The jewel is gone from those who would abuse it so I can move on."

Inuyasha blinked. "That's it. You wanted the jewel gone. That's why you gave our shards to Naraku. You wanted him to use them to become a full demon so then the jewel would be useless."

Kikyou's lips tipped into a small smile of self-mockery. "You ruined that ploy didn't you?"

"Kikyou..."

"It was not an accusation." She said placating then turned away. "I no longer wish your company in hell. Live your life Inuyasha. And don't forget me."

"No!" He moved forward. "You can't just let yourself die. There has to be another way."

Kikyou glanced back over her shoulder and smirked. "Do you want me now Inuyasha? Now that my replacement has turned from you?" The mocking tone dropped from her voice. "I have no wish to remain in the world as the walking dead. Not even for you."

"You can't fool me Kikyou. I know who you really are. And you're the same as you always were!"

"You're a fool to think so." Eyes narrowing coldly. "I am-" Her words were cut short as Inuyasha grasped her wrist and pulled her against him, lifting his arms around her in an embrace.

"You can't hide from me. You don't have to." Her hands curled into fists then straightened as she lifted them as if she might strike him. "Kikyou. I will always love you. No matter what." Her hand trembled and lowered and instead she clenched Inuyasha's robe with it.

"I'm dead Inuyasha." She said softly.

"No! I will find a way. I swear I will."

"How?" Her voice held disbelief but with the faintest hint of desperate hope so subtle he almost missed it.

How? How? Who could bring back the dead? Who would be able to save Kikyou? And his mind went to one person. The last person he ever thought he'd ask for help. Sesshomaru. He ground his teeth against the thought of asking his brother for help but he had no other choice. He released Kikyou slowly.

"I have a way. Stay here! I'll be back." He hugged her again then turned and leapt into the trees. Kikyou...he'd save her.

"Together!" Kagome's face went pale and bright red at the same time.

"Is there a problem?" Sesshomaru asked lifting an eyebrow.

She glowered at him. "Yes there's a problem! We can't share the same room." There was no way they could, Kagome thought to herself. She'd gone up to her room after helping Souta clean the dishes to find Sesshomaru already there with the information that it was where he'd be sleeping as well.

"Exactly...why not?"

"Because my mom will know! What will she think?"

"She sent me here." Sesshomaru said impassively with that expression that was Sesshomaru's version of a shrug.

"SHE WHAT!? Why?"

"There are only 4 rooms."

"Only-" Kagome hadn't thought about that but he was right. They did only have 4 rooms. Her brother's, her grandpa's, her mom's, and her own. She sighed. "Great."

"Is there a problem?" She knew that tone. This amused him! Son of a....

"Nothing. Nothing at all. I'm going to get ready for bed." Walking over to tug her clothes out of her dresser. If he could be calm and cool about this she could to. Oh nowhere would they sleep. Her bed was much too small. She walked towards the bathroom praying her mom wouldn't come to wake her up.