Allrighty ppl. The final chapter! Let's see what it holds in store.....

Five arrows left their bows with a soft sound. Kagome heard the bow being released and felt an arrow lodge in her thigh. Gasping, she pulled at the arrow that bound her love. It burst into tiny shards and Kagome fell to the ground as another arrow thunked into her shoulder. Looking up, she saw Inuyasha standing above her, eyes wide. Holding the Shikon Jewel up, she began her wish.

"I wish none of this ever happened. I wish everyone forgot about me in this Era and that I never remembered any–" Another arrow lodged into her lower back and she gasped. Trying desperately to finish her wish, she saw Inuyasha stand in front of her.

"Kaede! Stop! It's Kagome! Don't shoot!" Before he could finish, another arrow lodged itself in Kagome's other shoulder. Kagome fell to the ground, Shikon Jewel rolling out of numb fingers.

"No…Kagome…please," Inuyasha knelt to pick her up and found her still breathing but it was coming in shallow gasps.

"My wish…the Jewel…I must forget," struggling to reach for the Jewel, she failed. Inuyasha hugged her close and Kaede stepped out from the bushes, shock mirroring on her face.

"Kagome!" shouted a voice from the opposite bushes. Rin rushed out of them, eyes intent on Kagome. Sesshomaru followed, and kneeled beside Kagome as Rin touched her hand.

"Sesshomaru," growled Inuyasha. Sesshomaru quieted him with a look as he withdrew the Tensaiga.

"This woman has helped me see what I have lost. I wish to repay her," said Sesshomaru.

"No…I do not…want to live anymore…Inuyasha…cares…only for Kikyo…Want to forget," managed Kagome. She knew she was almost dead and was ready to accept it. Inuyasha stared at her in shock and hugged her again. Kagome was surprised to see tears in his eyes.

"I said I would never leave you and I meant it. I don't want you to forget, Kagome, let Sesshomaru heal you with his sword. Then, we can be together forever," said Inuyasha.

Kagome shook her head. No matter how much she wanted it, she couldn't take the pain anymore. She knew Kikyo would always be on Inuyasha's mind and whenever he looked at her he would see Kikyo. It hurt.

"Please, Kagome, let Lord Sesshomaru heal you!" cried Rin, tears streaming down her face.

Kagome shook her head again. Darkness crept into her vision and she smiled. She was almost free.

"This is the…last time I will see you…Inuyasha. Please…don't feel bad…it is a choice I have made. Do not let…Sesshomaru heal me…once I pass away. My final…wish of you," Kagome lifted a hand and brushed a tear from his cheek. "I love you Inuyasha. Forever…and always."

She went limp in his arms, her last breath leaving her body. Inuyasha felt his heart shatter and stared down at the woman he had loved.

"No…don't leave me again Kagome. I need you here with me. Please," begged Inuyasha, hugging her corpse. Sesshomaru lowered his sword and re-sheathed it. Rin began to cry and Sesshomaru shook his head.

"She did this because she wished it, Inuyasha. Do not cry, you show weakness when you grieve," said Sesshomaru.

"You bastard. Heal her! Now!" shouted Inuyasha, fresh tears appearing in his eyes.

Sesshomaru shook his head again, and slowly stood. "I respect the wishes of the dead. Kagome made a choice, brother, let her rest in peace."

"How can she rest in peace when her memory lives on? How can I ever live with her gone?" howled Inuyasha. Sesshomaru picked up Rin – as she was too grieved to walk – and turned away.

Shippo rushed from the bushes and stopped a few feet away from Inuyasha and the now dead Kagome. Tears stung his eyes; he had known it was she but had said nothing. He felt a pang in his heart and fell to the ground, sobbing loudly.

The sound of something flying above was heard and Inuyasha looked up. The two-tailed feline, Kilala, landed a few feet away, Miroku and Sango dismounting. Sango was in her demon slayer outfit and Miroku had many charms in his hand. They saw Inuyasha's grief stricken face and knew what had befallen him. Sango let out a cry and fell to the ground, body shaking from the sobs that racked her.

"Miroku! Sango! What are ye doing here?" managed Kaede.

"We heard that a female demon that looked like Kikyo was hunting for the Shikon Jewel. We suspected another Naraku and then heard the claim that she visited Inuyasha frequently. We came as soon as possible. We didn't suspect her. We thought you had seen her go back to her own Era so we crossed her off," Miroku glanced over at Inuyasha. "Please tell me that is not who I think it is."

Kaede nodded and then began to cry. Miroku looked over at Inuyasha, who still held tightly onto Kagome. He bowed his head and then went to kneel by Sango. Putting an arm around her, he let her cry into his shoulder, trying hard not to cry himself.

"Why Kagome? Why?" sobbed Inuyasha. He knew she wouldn't answer but he hoped she would. He then saw the glowing Shikon No Tama lying only a few feet away. He picked it up and stared into its depths, wondering what she meant by her wish. Then he knew.

Lowering Kagome he walked over to Miroku and Sango. Miroku looked up with red-rimmed eyes and noticed the Shikon Jewel in Inuyasha's hands.

"She wanted to forget. The pain…I never imagined how she took it. She ended her life just to forget," choked Inuyasha. He held tightly to the Jewel and then muttered the words Kagome had used so frequently, " 'Death and Despair await those who come in contact with the Shikon Jewel'." Inuyasha let out a short laugh. "I never knew how much those words meant till today."

Miroku stood, dragging a still sobbing Sango up with him. "We must give her a proper burial. And her parents must be notified."

"No. No more pain, no more emotion. I'm…I'm going to use it," said Inuyasha. He looked into the Jewel's depths and a tight smile formed on his lips. He said quietly, "I wish that none of this happened. I wish that I never…" He choked on the words but continued, "never met Kagome. I wish she never fell down the well and never had the Shikon No Tama in her body. I wish we all forgot what happened while she was here. And finally…I wish I never was." It was the hardest thing for him to say, but he did. Sango let out a cry and reached for Inuyasha, but the Jewel was already glowing. Miroku reached out as well and Kaede yelled a warning. Miroku jerked Sango back just as light engulfed Inuyasha. White light burst from the Shikon Jewel and Inuyasha smiled, closing his eyes.

POOF

Kagome Higurashi tapped her foot on the wood for good luck as she rushed out of her house. She passed by the hidden well but something stopped her. Stepping back, she glanced at the door. She could hear someone say her name, though it was faint. Walking over to the doors, the words ceased and she shrugged. She rushed off to school and happily greeted her friends. Today was her fifteenth birthday.

All thru the day, Kagome felt like something was missing, like she should be somewhere else, doing something important. The party that night went well, but she was constantly drawn to the Sacred Tree that stood in the shrine area. As the party continued, Kagome made her way outside. Stars twinkled above and Kagome stood in front of the Sacred Tree. Touching a small part of the tree, she was surprised when a voice spoke. It seemed behind her. Whirling, she came face to face with a young man that had long silver hair and…doggy ears. His eyes were molten gold and he wore a red kimono. A sword was buckled at his waist and purple and white beads adorned his neck. He smiled at Kagome and spoke softly.

"It seemed like forever when the Jewel erased the memories. I thought I would never see you again. Though I don't exist in my world, I will exist in yours," Reaching out his hands, he took hold of hers. Kagome gasped. It seemed so familiar. "I hoped to see you once more. Hoped yet didn't know if it would happen. Kikyo never died so the Jewel was safe; I was never bound to the tree so Naraku never was." Smiling slightly, he looked down. "You probably don't remember me. I remember you though Kagome. I will never forget you."

He pulled her into a kiss then, holding her tight as he did. Kagome's eyes widened but it felt strange. Like it was right. She closed her eyes and kissed him back. They stayed that way for a long while before he pulled away. Smiling, he began to fade.

"I love you Kagome. Forever and always," spoke Inuyasha. Then he was gone.

"Inuyasha," whispered Kagome, tears stinging her eyes as the memories flooded her head. She walked back to the party, tears silently streaming down her face. Many people asked what was wrong, but she shook her head and walked back outside, to the hidden well. Looking down into its depths, she closed her eyes.

"Inuyasha," murmured Kagome, letting her tears fall into the darkened well. With a shuddering breath, she jumped into the well.

THE END

And yes that is it! I think that is one of the saddest ones I've written! Well, if you have any questions, I'll post the answers on here once you send them in! Look forward to other Inuyasha stories! Adios!