Me: Hi, everyone! This is the last chapter of "Closer." Thanks for your reviewer support in helping me write this!

Disclaimer: "InuYasha" is property of Rumiko Takahashi, Sunrise, Viz, and all those other people who bring this series to us!

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Chapter 4

The two girls who shared the same soul stood staring at one another.

"You…" Kikyou muttered.

Kagome straightened up at Kikyou's recognition of her. "Kikyou… what are you doing here?"

The Miko turned back around to look at Goshinboku. "I'm not sure. I felt like I had to come here for some unknown reason."

"An unknown reason?" Kagome echoed Kikyou's response.

Kikyou turned around fully to face Kagome. "Isn't he with you?"

"He?" Kagome blinked. Realizing that she must have meant 'him', she asked, "Are you looking for Inuyasha?"

Kikyou took a moment before replying, "Not in particular. I was simply wondering."

"Well, he's not here at the moment…" Kagome swayed nervously from side to side. "Do you…" she wondered if she should really ask, "Want to wait for him?"

Kikyou frowned slightly. "Why would I want to do that?"

"Eh?" Kagome knew she would have to explain herself. She wasn't too thrilled about it though. "Er… well… it's because… Inuyasha…" She gulped. "… still loves you."

The Miko's expression didn't change. Seeing this, Kagome continued.

"I just thought that if that was the case… shouldn't you work something out?"

Kikyou turned her head to the side. "It's too late for that."

"But…"

"I grow tired of talking about this," Kikyou pressed on. "I knew I shouldn't have come here." She turned to leave.

"Kikyou, wait!" Kagome called out to her. Of course though, it was no use in trying to change her mind. She could only watch Kikyou disappear into the forest, leaving her alone. 'Kikyou…'

- - -

Kagome tracked her way back to Kaede's, mind still set on Kikyou's appearance. If Inuyasha was there at the time, would he have wanted to try and talk to her? 'Most likely,' Kagome mused. 'Maybe I should have tried harder to stop her.' Before Kagome could dwell on the situation any longer, something up ahead of her caught her eye.

Sango was pulling on the end of her chain, trying her best to get the stupid thing to move. She seemed to be having a hard time, barely managing to even budge it.

"That… rotten… Kusari…" she strained as she pulled. "The next… time… I see him… he… is… so… dead! Ah-!" Sango's hands slipped on the chain, resulting in her falling flat on her back. "Unn…" She opened her eyes to see someone staring down at her.

"Sango-chan?" Kagome blinked.

"Ah! Kagome-chan!" Sango quickly got back on her feet. "Where did you go?"

"Oh, um…" Kagome glanced to the side. "No where in particular."

"Hm?" Sango leant forwards to look at Kagome. "Really?"

"Mm." Kagome nodded nervously.

Sango was still suspicious. She narrowed her eyes. "You sounded pretty sure of where you were going before."

Kagome faltered. "Sango-chan, if it was something important I would have told you."

"Hmm?" Sango straightened up.

Kagome could tell that Sango wasn't buying it. To change the subject, she asked, "So, where are Shippo and Kirara? They've been gone for quite a while now."

"Right behind you!" called the kitsune's voice.

The two girls looked around to indeed see the aforementioned youkai there. They also noticed that they were not alone.

"Inuyasha, Miroku-sama!" Kagome said with surprise. "What are you doing back so soon?"

Inuyasha jutted his thumb behind him. "These two were looking for you."

"Eh?" Kagome glanced behind him. "Ah! Kusari and Yaiba!"

Kusari waved with a wide grin. "Hi-ee!"

Yaiba put a hand up. "Hello."

Miroku came forward. "They've brought the solution to getting the chain off."

"Already?" It hadn't even been a whole day yet, so Sango was surprised Kusari found a solution so soon.

"Why?" Kusari looked thoughtful. "Did you want to keep it on longer?" He smirked. "Were you having fun…?"

Sango grimaced. "You perverted youkai!" She would have pounded him, but the chain around her neck prevented her from doing so.

"There, there." Kusari retorted airily. "Kagome-chan, you'd better keep an eye on your pet there," he commented, making Sango even more vexed with him.

Inuyasha folded his arms. "Kusari, I thought you were going to tell them how to get the chain off."

"Oh, yes yes!" Kusari pounded his fist in his palm. "Okay, Kagome-chan, over here." Kusari motioned for Kagome to follow them a little a ways from the group.

Slowly, Kagome followed, the others wondering what they were going to do. Inuyasha kept a close watch over them, while Miroku watched them eagerly to find out what Kusari's secret 'solution' was.

"Okay." Kusari stopped and turned to face her. "Mind you, this is only if you really want to take it off."

"I do," Kagome stated, placing her hands on her hips.

"If you say so," Kusari replied in a disheartened tone. "I mean, you could put also put it back on if you want-"

"Kusari!"

"Okay, okay!" The youkai pulled out a small vile from inside his robes and handed it to Kagome. "Okay, just sprinkle that on the chain around Sango-chan's neck."

"And it should come off?"

"Well…" A playful smile danced across Kusari's face. "You have to do one other thing."

"Hm? And what would that be?"

Looking from side-to-side, he motioned his hand as a sign for Kagome to come closer. She leaned in and Kusari cupped a hand around her ear, whispering something to her. Kagome's eyes widened.

The others jumped as Kagome suddenly exploded at Kusari, looking absolutely vivid.

"What did he say to her?" Shippo watched as Kagome stomped towards the retreating Kusari.

Inuyasha shrugged his shoulders. "No idea."

"Hmm… I wonder if he'll tell us later," Miroku mused.

"Kusari!" Kagome shouted in shrill tone. "What did you just say!?"

"Aw, come on, Kagome-chan," Kusari sweated. "Don't be so testy."

"Why shouldn't I with a solution like that!?" she boomed. "Couldn't you have found some other way?"

"Huh? Well, I don't know… maybe… but this is more fun!" Kusari beamed. Kagome just continued to look even more dangerous. "Wow, you two really are made for each other. Uh – but what's done is done; I can't change it now, it's too late. Besides, it could have been worse…"

"What!?"

"Uh…"

Kagome closed her eyes and groaned. She glanced up and across at Sango, who blinked innocently at her. Kagome felt her face turn red as she looked away. 'Unn… why me…?' She glared at Kusari before leaving to go back to the others.

"Kagome, what happened?" Inuyasha asked as she came back.

Kagome however, didn't answer him. She merely huffed, picking up the chain and grabbing Sango's hand. "Come on, Sango-chan."

"Eh?" Sango blinked.

Kagome dragged Sango into Kaede's house, shutting the entrance. "No one had better come in!" she shouted through the doorway.

Kusari came waltzing up to the others. "Whew… aw… now we can't see," he pouted.

"Kusari," Yaiba bellowed apprehensively. "What did you say to Kagome?"

"Yes, I am also very interested in what it is you told Kagome-sama," Miroku joined in.

"Oh…" Kusari rubbed the back of his head and grinned with a wink. "Ah, well..."

Inuyasha frowned. "Kusari, what -"

The hanyou was interrupted by the sound of some sort of cry coming from inside the cabin. They all stared at the entranceway.

Yaiba was the first to speak. "Was that…"

"…Sango?" Miroku finished.

The next thing they all knew, Kagome came marching out of the cabin at a swift pace towards Kusari. The youkai's face faulted when he saw her. Kagome was blushing, but her expression was definitely one of irritation.

"Kusari!!" she yelled, quickening her pace.

"Uh oh." Kusari gulped. "Uh, Kagome-chan -"

"Don't 'Kagome-chan' me!" she shouted. "It didn't do anything, you liar!"

"It seemed to have done something," Miroku observed. His eyes lingered over to Kaede's home.

Curiously, he went over to the doorway and peeked inside. Pulling the curtain aside, he saw Sango sitting on the floor breathing heavily. Her face was flushed red and she was holding her hand up over her ear remarkably.

"Hm?" Miroku blinked. "What happened?"

"I don't know, but I don't think it'd be a good idea to ask." Shippo observed from behind. He and the others were watching Kagome chase Kusari around.

"Ahh!" Kusari squealed. "Kagome-chan, I'm sorry it didn't work! I'll think of something else to fix it!"

"No, you won't!" Kagome protested, still aiming to slap Kusari silly. "Kusari…! Eh?" She suddenly stopped in her tracks. Kagome was getting that familiar feeling again. "Inuyasha!" she called.

"Eh?" He looked up at her with his arms folded. "What is it?"

"I sense a Shikon shard nearby!"

"What? Where?" Inuyasha went on alert.

Kagome took a moment to pinpoint it. "Over there!" She pointed towards the forest.

"Okay, come on!" Inuyasha bent down so Kagome could climb on.

She nodded. "Alright, just let me get my bow and arrows." Kagome dashed into the cabin to find Sango picking up Hiraikotsu. "Sango-chan?"

The taiji-ya shouldered her weapon. "I'm coming too."

"Eh?" Kagome wasn't too sure if that was a good idea. With Sango still bound the way she was, it could pose some problems. She felt though that Sango probably wouldn't like it if she left her behind. Kagome nodded and gathered up the chain.

"The two of you?" Inuyasha noted as they came out. "Fine, but hurry up!"

"Kirara," Sango spoke to her companion, "stay here and keep an eye on these two." She motioned at Kusari and Yaiba.

"Aw, but we want to come too!" Kusari whined.

"It'd probably be better for you two to stay here," Miroku advised.

"But we can help!" Kusari insisted. "We can -"

"Kusari." Yaiba put a restraining hand on his brother's shoulder. "Alright, Houshi."

Miroku nodded.

"Aw…" Kusari drooped his head.

"I'll stay back too," Shippo offered.

Kagome glanced back as she clambered aboard Inuyasha. "Alright; thanks, Shippo-chan."

"Okay, let's go!" Inuyasha leaped off with Kagome and Sango, Miroku following close behind. "Kagome, is it this way?" They went deeper into the forest past a couple of trees.

"Yes, just keep going." Kagome gripped onto Inuyasha's robe when she remembered something. 'Kikyou… I wonder if I should tell him...' Kagome's eyes widened. 'Wait… is she –'

Inuyasha lifted his head up when his nose caught scent of something. 'This smell… is it possible?'

"Inuyasha, the youkai is up ahead!" Miroku announced. The bird youkai was flapping its enlarged wings, hovering ominously in the air.

They all stopped in the clearing, Inuyasha letting Kagome and Sango down. Everyone noted however that they weren't the first ones there. Inuyasha gasped, staring at the Miko he first met all those years ago.

She pulled back on her bow and aimed, letting the arrow fly. It pierced through the youkai, who let out a yelp of pain before disintegrating into nothingness. How easily it was defeated. The shard glittered as it fell from the air, landing in the Miko's outstretched palm.

"Kikyou…" Inuyasha breathed.

The Miko turned around to look at him. "Inuyasha."

"Kikyou," he walked towards her, "what are you doing here?"

"Funny." She tilted her head. "That's the same thing Kagome asked me."

"Huh? Uh…" Inuyasha glanced back at the aforementioned girl. He seemed to be searching for Kagome's approval in speaking with Kikyou.

Kagome was surprised when he looked at her. She leant in next to Sango and wrapped her arms around one of the taiji-ya's.

Inuyasha's face softened. He turned back to Kikyou. "Kikyou… can we… talk?"

She stared back at him with an unwavering expression. Closing her eyes, she tilted her head away and mumbled, "Fine…"

- - -

A pleasant breeze blew by, passing though Kagome's hair and tossing it up gently. She sighed as it came, cooling her face. She was sitting atop a hill alone with Sango, and from there they could see Kaede's village down below.

As much as she liked the serene atmosphere around her right now, Sango felt the need to say something. "Kagome-chan."

"Hm? Kagome glanced at her.

"Are you really okay with… Inuyasha speaking with Kikyou?"

Kagome stared at her, pausing. She gave a small smile and looked back down at the sight in front of her. "Yeah. I knew I liked Inuyasha, and that he still had feelings for Kikyou. I felt it would be fine just to be near him." She stared up into the sky. "And that's still fine. I don't need him to reciprocate my feelings anymore." She looked back down at Sango. "Because I have you." She smiled.

"Um… mm…" Sango tilted her head away a bit as her cheeks reddened.

Kagome grinned. "Isn't that good though? Now Inuyasha can be with Kikyou."

"I suppose…"

Kagome's expression became docile, but still with that small smile on her face. "I must admit though…" She brought her knees up to rest her head on them. "I wasn't sure how this thing between us would work out."

"Eh?" Sango looked up at her.

"It's stupid, but… I thought for a while that maybe you didn't want to go along with it; just because how you can be reluctant at times. But I figured later on that it was okay. When it happens, it'll happen."

Sango stared at her. She glanced down, her features subdued. "Kagome-chan…"

Kagome turned her head around slightly in response. To her surprise, Sango gently cupped her face in her hand, pulling her towards her. She leant in, kissing her softly. After settling in from the shock, Kagome slowly closed her eyes and embraced the moment.

When they parted, Sango whispered, "I'm sorry for making you feel that way, Kagome-chan."

Kagome smiled warmly. "It's okay. I'm just glad to have you by my side." After she said that, something heavy fell into her lap. "Eh?" Kagome looked down to find that the chain around Sango's neck had slipped off. "It… came off?" She lifted up the chain in her hands.

"But how?" Sango rubbed her neck.

"A-ha!" a voice from behind chimed in. The two girls spun around to see none other than Kusari. He was lying on his stomach, elbows propping his head up. He grinned at them. "It was pretty simple when you think about it. All you had to do was express your feelings for each other. Sweet, huh?"

"Maybe…" Kagome furrowed her brow. "But why didn't you tell us that before?"

"It couldn't happen if I told you," he said matter-of-factly. "You'd be too conscious of it to do it naturally. Anyways, after watching that sweet moment I don't think anything else could live up to it," he smiled.

"You were spying on us?" Sango's expression contorted into one of disapproval.

"Huh? Er… well…" Kusari jumped up onto his feet. "I'll see you two back at the village!" And with that he scampered off down the hill.

"Moh…" Sango frowned. "I don't know who's worse; Houshi-sama or Kusari."

Kagome giggled. "Me, neither." She gathered up the chain and examined it thoughtfully. 'Hmm… maybe I'll keep this…' A playful smirk danced across her face.

Sango raised a questioning eyebrow at Kagome. "Kagome-chan?"

The girl stood up with the chain in her arms. "I'm going back to Kaede-obaa-chan's. Are you coming, San-chan?"

Sango did a double take at the sound of the nickname Kagome had bestowed on her. She answered, "Um, I'm going to stay here a little while longer. I'll catch up with you."

"Alright," Kagome smiled at her. She turned around and skipped away down the hill, Sango hoping she wouldn't slip and end up falling down it instead.

She couldn't recall having ever seen Kagome skipping before. The only time she ever did that herself was so long ago, a time when she was really happy. She smiled, glad that Kagome was content with her feelings. The moment seemed a bit like déjà vu to Sango.

The last time this happened, Sango found herself questioning her feelings towards her best friend. This time around however, she knew how she felt; and she was thankful for it.

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Me: Aw… not exactly the ending I had in mind, but it'll do. Do any of you think Kikyou was OOC? I don't know… Well, that aside, I hope you all enjoyed it.

By the way, the fourth "InuYasha" movie is out in Japan now! Hahaha… why am I promoting that here? Oh, well. Happy holidays, everyone!