OK. Sorry for not updating so fast. I had some ideas on this chapter, but I was unsatisfied with the results. Sorry if this chapter disappoints you. I'll warn you when I'm getting close to the sequel.

Chapter 38 – Never Really Was

Miroku coughed nervously. Demons were all around the two, enclosing them in a menacing circle, threatening to kill them. He had no more Ofudas to use, and his kazaana was his only weapon, besides his holy staff. He dared not to use his wind tunnel because the same poisonous insects were there as well. Sango had killed off most of the demons, but more came coming up.

"This is the end," Kagura said as she stepped through the demon circle. Her red fan matched the color of her eyes, deadly and fierce. She looked mysterious in the eerie light. She took one more step and lifted her fan. "Dance of the Dragon!"

All around them, demons dropped before them dead. Miroku and Sango didn't dare to drop their guard, just in case they might be next. Kagura looked around and did a little scoff. "Oops, I must have missed my target." She said with a playful mocking tone. Lucky for her, Naraku was too occupied with something.

"Whose side are you on?" Miroku asked slowly. He held his staff defensively in front of him. Sango put her hand on her boomerang, ready to throw it.

"You should know it by now," Kagura said as Sesshomaru jumped out of nowhere; ready to bring his sword down on Kagura's head.

"DON'T THINK THAT YOU COULD POSSIBLY KILL ME!!!" Sesshomaru shouted out. Kagura calmly leaped out of the way before the sword was brought down. It made a large hole on the roof as it made contact with it.

"Oh shut up. Don't flatter yourself," Kagura mocked him and jumped up, firing more gusts of wind at the three.

&&

"Kagome... you're joking right? Naraku isn't really controlling you... right?" Inuyasha grew hesitant. There was no way he was going to attack her, not after what he had been through. What they had been through.

"I'm serious... I can't move... Stupid jewel..." Kagome muttered, making Inuyasha glance at it. It had turned the color purple. He watched it glitter ferociously, the colors swirling inside of it. It was a truly amazing sight, really.

"So, you finally now how I'm controlling you, eh?" Naraku said. He made a little snort. "Not really fun, huh?" Kagome struggled against the hold. Somehow, she could feel something binding her. She dropped to her knees, the bound around her disappearing. The sword she held flew out of her hand and skidded across the floor. Inuyasha caught it and unsheathed it.

"I thought I got rid of you before..." Inuyasha said. Naraku glowered at him.

"And you didn't but it left me awful memories," Naraku said icily. "You nearly blasted me apart."

"How did you meet the others?" Inuyasha said, not commenting about what Naraku just said.

"I put a curse on Miroku's great-grandfather. I could tell it was Miroku because of the beads around his right hand, and plus, he was a spitting image of his grandfather. They were both perverted, anyway," Naraku said, his voice bold and unwavering. "Each kazaana will suck up its own owner, and it's passed down from generation to generation in the male side."

"What did his grandfather do to harm you anyway?" Inuyasha asked. He wanted to hack Naraku to bits, but something was holding him back.

"Tried to kill me. Said I didn't belong here. Tried to kill me," Naraku said with a laugh. "Big mistake."

"And Kagome?" Inuyasha said hesitantly. He wasn't sure if he wanted to know or not.

"Oh, I met Kagome back in middle school. A pretty little vixen she is, you know that? I don't know how she got the jewel, but I knew she had it. I tried to take it from her, and the little wench nearly kicked me in the crotch. Bad idea, really. Next thing you know, she's not around anymore. A few years later, I find out she's in high school already... and guess what? I meet you. Again. Small world isn't it?" Naraku said. He narrowed his eyes.

"What are you going to do with the jewel, IF you get it?" Inuyasha said, emphasizing the 'IF'. Naraku let out a laugh.

"I always wanted to be super powerful. Doesn't everybody? I know you do. You heard about that jewel even before it got to Kagome. You wanted it, didn't you? You want it to become a full demon. And to do that, you deceived Kikyou, making her believe that you wanted to turn human... for her. Isn't that right Inuyasha? But guess what? It went WRONG. You fell in love, didn't you? That is, until she lost her ranking as the jewel protector. You lost interest in her, didn't you? Then, after that you had forgotten about the jewel, forgotten about how you wanted to become a full, fledged, demon. You should have just stolen it when you got the chance... how very stupid of you," Naraku said in a harsh voice. Inuyasha snarled, his grip tightening on his sword.

"SHUT UP!" he lunged at him and took a swing. Naraku dodged it and punched Inuyasha. Kagome watched in horror as Inuyasha practically flew across the rooftop, slamming hard into the rusted metal railing. He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and charged at him again. This time, he barely hit Naraku. Naraku saw an opening and decided to kick Inuyasha. He threw several punches at Inuyasha's stomach.

"Aw... is the little puppy getting beat up by the big bad Naraku? How sad," Naraku gave Inuyasha one final blow. Inuyasha skidded across the floor.

"Shut... up... I refuse to lose to you..." Inuyasha got up and aimed his sword at Naraku. Naraku mocked him by arching his eyebrows.

"Oh? Is that so?" Naraku folded his arms across his chest. Inuyasha gave out a laugh.

"Yeah..." Inuyasha said slowly. Kagome's shiny eyes were looking up at him. "Kagome..."

Kagome reached over to her neck and tugged hard on her necklace. The jewel fell from around her neck and into her hands. "Inuyasha... use this..." Inuyasha looked at her. Her out stretched hand was holding the jewel. He took it and jammed them into his sword. He immediately felt it pulse under his hands.

"So, using the jewel, eh? I see the binding spell had worn off on you Kagome," Naraku shot her a glare.

"Gnhh...............!" Inuyasha was struggling with something. Kagome could feel his sword pulse as she got nearer.

"Inuyasha? What's wrong?" Kagome said as she walked closer. Inuyasha jerked away.

"Run Kagome... run away..." Inuyasha said. His voice had changed, and Kagome could see that his claws had grown longer. She didn't know what he meant when he told her to run away, so she backed up a little.

"I won't leave you," Kagome said, her lips quivering with fear.

"Go... I might... attack you..." Inuyasha said as he turned to Naraku. He looked up and Kagome gasped when she saw his face.

His eyes had turned bloody red, blue pupils in the center. Purple jagged lines were on each side of his cheek, and his fangs stuck out. It was scaring her seeing him like this, but she didn't know what do to.

"KON... GOU... SOU...HA!!!!!!!!" Inuyasha's sword had shot these sharp crystals at Naraku, slicing him here and there.

"GNHH!!" Naraku shouted. Miroku stared in disbelief.

"It worked??" Miroku turned his attention back to Sango. She was amazed as well.

"You...bastard..." Naraku said, forming a barrier around him. "THIS ISN'T OVER... I'll see you two in hell!" With that, he had unleashed his poison miasma. Once it cleared, he had disappeared.

"Inuyasha...?" Kagome reached out to touch him. He was bleeding, probably from all the hits he had received from Naraku. He jerked away again.

"Stay away from me!" Inuyasha growled. He collapsed to his knees; his breathing was hard and slow. His voice had gotten even raspier.

"Inuyasha!" Kagome ran over to him without hesitating. She kneeled before him, her hands shaking. She touched him and he almost fell over. Kagome broke his fall from him collapsing on the floor. Instead, she put him in her lap. "Don't you die on me..."

"Keh... seems that bastard Naraku hit me one too many," Inuyasha said weakly. "Sorry I couldn't protect you."

"No, you're wrong. You came all this way, even if we weren't together anymore." Kagome held back the tears. His sword was still glowing. She put her hands over it and concentrated. Instantly, the jewel was back in her hands and was no longer purple, but a bright pink.

"Kagome... we were always together. Even in the end. You're here... with me... aren't you?" Inuyasha said that a little too weakly. This wasn't a good sign. Blood was everywhere, and it was soaking his clothes, though it was hard to tell because his clothes were already bloody from before.

"It's not the end... not now... you can't die... not here... not in my arms..." Kagome said softly. Her voice was soothing him, making him relax. He had already changed back into his normal form. Her voice suddenly turned bolder. "There is a way to save you."

"Kagome... you're not thinking of using the jewel, are you?" Sango asked. Kagome turned away.

"I have to..." Kagome said. Inuyasha was close to death.

"But he's not even dead yet," Sesshomaru scoffed. Kagome had almost forgotten Sesshomaru was here. "I bet he's faking. Inuyasha, get your ass up before I haul you to America, alive or not."

Inuyasha grunted as he pulled himself up. "Shut... up..." Suddenly, Naraku appeared out of nowhere. In a flash, Inuyasha was sent flying again.

"NOOO!" Kagome shouted. Before she could stop Naraku, he had stabbed him with a knife and sent him hurling down the building. Kagome ran towards to Inuyasha, in hopes that she'll get there in time. But it was as if time was going in slow motion, and the only thing moving fast was Inuyasha. Inuyasha didn't even have any time to react. She held out her hand to him as he fell. "INUYASHAAAA...!"

Inuyasha heard her, but his senses were too shocked at what just happened. One moment, he was in Kagome's arms. Next, he was falling down into darkness. He still had enough energy to live from when he'd finally hit the ground. That's what he thought.

Kagome had watched him disappear. Why was it that all her senses had gone... blank? She didn't know what she was doing while she jumped down after him. Kirara flew in and made her land on the demon's back, carrying her to the floor. There Inuyasha lay, not moving.

"Inuyasha?" He didn't answer her. She kneeled next to him just like she had before. She cradled him in her arms, shaking him gently, hoping that he'd wake up. Nothing. Not even a stir.

"Please..." Kagome's pleas were not enough. He still didn't move. She cradled him more. 'He's not dead...'

"There's only one way to save him." A voice rang out behind her.

"I thought he was indestructible." Kagome whispered. Kagura kneeled beside her.

"Everyone has their limits. Maybe his went too far," Kagura said. She didn't seem like an awful person anymore. "You know how to undo all this. It's in your hand."

Kagome stared at the jewel in her hand. They said something to her when she received the jewel.

'Keep it safe... protect those you cherish with it, but don't fool around...' Wasn't that what they had said?

Kagome cursed at herself for not listening to them completely. She had to make a wish... but it had to be a good one.

Kagome was too deep in thought that she didn't even notice the stir on Inuyasha's face.

She had finally came to an answer. She was ready to make that wish. 'This is for you, Inuyasha.' She thought as she closed her eyes and tightened her grip on the jewel. Two hands closed tightly on the jewel, she made her wish.

"I wish none of this ever happened and everything was back to normal and-" Kagome shouted as Inuyasha shouted something else.

"KAGOME!!!!"

"Inuyasha?!?" She reached out but it was too late. White light engulfed them and everything was blank.

&&

'Hmm... I wonder where my class is?' Kagome smiled cheerfully for no reason at all as she wandered down some strange halls. 'Whoa, dejavu!'

She read her slip again. 'Homeroom 213...' She looked at the door right ahead of her. 'Room 213! Finally!' She felt relieved as she rushed toward it and knocked on the door.

Her memory was dim, but she still had visions of someone. She didn't tell her mother this though. At least not yet.

A teacher had opened the door and welcomed her in. She smiled nervously and handed the teacher her slip.

"Welcome Higurashi. I'm very please to have you in my class. Please take the last seat in the third row, going vertical. I'm your homeroom teacher, Ms. Asakawa," She spoke. Kagome took the slip back and stuffed it in her back pocket as she walked toward the empty seat. She could feel all eyes on her.

She sat in the seat and stared straight ahead. A girl sitting on her right leaned over. "Hi, I'm Sango. Welcome to Furikotomo High School." She said with a cheery grin. Kagome smiled nervously.

"Thanks. I'm Kagome." Sango's eyes suddenly twinkled and faded.

"Your name sounds pretty and familiar," Sango said to her. The boy sitting in front of Sango turned around to talk.

"Kagome, eh? You seem pretty cool. How you are you finding Furikotomo so far?" The boy smiled at her. "I'm Miroku-"

"The complete lecher. He goes around asking girls if they want to bear his child. Disgusting if you ask me," Sango interrupted him. They were talking low in a whisper.

"That reminds me..." Miroku reached over to hold Kagome's hand. "Would you bear my-"

"Save your breath monk." A new voice entered their conversation. Kagome looked up to see who it was. The boy sitting in front of her had turned around and had this angry expression. His white hair looked familiar, but she couldn't tell where she had seen it before. His gold eyes... she knew she saw it somewhere. She looked through her thoughts as she searched through her head. Nothing.

Sango giggled. "This is Inuyasha. A real pain in the ass." Sango said as she watched Kagome outstretch her hand to shake his. He didn't take it. He just turned back in his seat.

"Pain in the ass, huh?" Kagome muttered.

"I heard that, wench," Inuyasha said, his back still turned to her.

"Don't mind him. You'll grow to like him as much as we do. Even though he seems like a tough guy, some soft parts are there underneath," Miroku laughed.

"What's so funny, Miroku?" Ms. Asakawa said from where she stood. She was reading a passage from a book, but she had stopped to give Miroku a warning.

"Oh, I just thought the weirdest thing! Isn't it funny how so many people love your new dress?" Miroku lied.

"Oh really? Is that just some excuse to check me out, or are you really asking for detention?" Ms. Asakawa arched her eyebrow at him. Miroku laughed.

"Now, now, I really mean that! You look stunning today," Miroku's mind was just screaming from laughter.

"Allright, that's enough. Now, let's discuss your homework. You must do reviews on page number 23, and give me the answers to the questions that are given to you at the end of page 40," Ms. Asakawa said as the class groaned.

"That's at least 20 pages worth of homework!" One kid shouted. Ms. Asakawa returned the glares she got.

"Do you want me to make it 50? Because I will!" She threatened. The groaning and protests stopped. She smiled at them as the bell rang, signaling them to go to their next class.

Kagome heaved her backpack onto her back and walked calmly out the door. She had already gotten all her textbooks from the office, and it was a rather long wait. She started to go to her next class, but she decided to stop by her new locker.

'Locker number... 15. Ah, there it is!' She thought as she reached the lockers. The twisted the knob until she heard a click. She opened it up and peered inside it. 'Not bad... but it reeks like gym socks...' She felt someone come closer as she turned around to look.

"Ooh, your locker is next to mine. How weird!" Sango said cheerfully as she opened her locker and piled her books in it. "You should put this inside of it. The guy who had it last used to play sports a lot." Sango handed her an air freshener. It smelled like apples.

"Thanks! I'll leave it in here over night and see if the stench is gone tomorrow," Kagome smiled as she placed it carefully on the top shelf. Miroku and Inuyasha waltzed by and opened their lockers as well. 'How weird... all of our lockers are in the same row...'

"Can I see your schedule?" Sango asked. Kagome nodded as she dug it out of her back pocket. Sango took the piece of paper and read it. "Ooh, you have your homerooms with us... You're taking drama class? Ew... why?"

Kagome shrugged. "I didn't know what all the other classes were." Kagome said with a little laugh. She took back the paper and stuffed it back in her pocket. "Do you guys know where room number 118 is? I have that as my next class." Sango and Miroku shook their heads no.

"I have that class next. I'll take you," Inuyasha said out of nowhere. He had been rummaging through his locker the whole time.

"Thanks," Kagome said. "Bye you guys!" She waved at Sango and Miroku as she followed Inuyasha down the hall.

&&

Kagome stared at the floor the whole time. She didn't dare speak a word with Inuyasha. There was something about him that she didn't know...

"Who are you?" Inuyasha asked suddenly. Kagome looked up from her daze.

"I'm Kagome. Kagome Higurashi," Kagome answered nervously.

"I heard that name somewhere. Sounds pretty familiar," Inuyasha said. They finally reached a door and stepped in. They took the seats in the back, not saying another word.

'Who is this girl? And why does she make me feel so... calm?'

Hmm! Before you ask any questions...

1. Kagome didn't fufill the wish. She didn't finish making the wish because Inuyasha had interuppted her, that's why she is having some visions in her head of someone, but I won't reveal who.
2. They all have very little memories of each other, but they seem familiar with each other.
3. I made up the names of the school and the teachers, so... if you find the meaning to them, then good for you. Ha-ha.
4. This chapter was named after a song by Mario Winans. Lols.

review!