Heyhey! You know what? :( I am starting to feel that I am neglecting my other fanfic, "Whom In Between" and there has been some demands that I update that soon. So after this one, don't be surprised if there's not as much updates on this specific story. Sorry, and thanks. Now here it is!

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::Chapter 9::

"You what?!" She whispered, unable to believe her ears.

"I used it. I used the Shikon no Tama." Inuyasha repeated quietly. He looked away from Kikyou's accusing features and bowed his head, making his long silvery bangs cover his eyes. A fist was curled up into a ball.

"I wished on it. I had... wished for.. Kagome."


FLASHBACK

A lone figure was knelt beside a petite frame that lay beneath the

neatly made covers, his body hunched in a way that obviously illustrated loss.

Inuyasha opened his eyes and stared at his recently departed love. Why did she have to leave? She was the one that had stirred his untrusting heart back into the one he had before all the betrayal and hate happened. She was the one that made him love once again and rediscover the need of protecting the ones he cared about. And now she's gone. Snap, just like that.

A wave of guilt washed over his entire being, and two tears slid from his amber eyes. Why did she have to die? Why couldn't he, himself, have died instead? He had also broken his promise to Kagome. He had said from almost the very beginning that he would protect her, but try as he might, she always seemed to slip through his fingertips; like that time Sesshoumaru almost killed her with the stolen Tetsusaiga, another when Kikyou tried to hurt her with a purifying arrow, and when Kanna came and tried to absorb Kagome's soul into that mirror of her's, and how could he forget the time the cat youkai kidnapped her. But now he paid the ultimate price of not being able to protect her...

She looked so peaceful lying there. Her lips slightly parted, her midnight tresses forming a small halo around her pale skin. She looked so quiet and innocent, that Inuyasha almost expected her to wake up from the slumber and smack him for startling her.

The object that was in his hand was soothingly cool against his skin, and made him feel calm. He opened his hand and stared at the Shikon no Tama that they had completed together.

The translucent orb gave off a bright pink shine of renewed purity and hope, but to him, the glow was dull compared to how it looked when it had Kagome there to keep it pure. The Shikon no Tama, the Jewl of Four Souls: Ariami Tama (Courage), Nikimi Tama (Friendship), Fushigi Tama (Wisdom), and Shakimi Tama (Love), and it is said when those four things come together they become our Naobi, or heart. This powerful jewel that makes Youkai strong, and causes war and distrust between humans. Made by when the great Priestess Midoriko had battled with a powerful oni made up with smaller youkai, and when she was almost defeated, Midoriko had reached deep within herself and grabbed the demon's tamashi, but doing so also forced out her own soul, which was the Shikon no Tama.

The jewel that could grant you one wish. One wish that might change the whole world.

'I know my wish.' Inuyasha thought. He didn't stop to think about the consequences, he didn't want to think about if the wish would fulfill itself or not. All he wanted was Kagome.

He squeezed the orb tight with two hands and placed it in front of his heart, shutting his eyes he wished with all his might.

"I want Kagome to come back. I want Kagome alive so that we can be together with all our friends, and this time, I promise that I will be all that I can for her."

A bright flash of pink filled the room, leaving Inuyasha temporarily blind. When it stopped, Inuyasha looked down into his hands, expecting the jewel to be gone.

It wasn't. It was still in his hand, but it no longer had the glow and the aura of hope. It was nothing now but a worthless glass ball.

Fear bubbled up his throat. 'The Shikon no Tama is supposed to disappear!'

"Please move." He pleaded, watching Kagome expectantly for any movements. There was none.

"Why didn't it work!?" A loud crack was heard as Inuyasha involuntarily tightened his fist. "Stupid jewel, why didn't you work?!?" He flung the ball across the room in frustration and folded himself so that his head laid on where Kagome's stomach was under the covers. He hugged her tightly as tears started to fall.

"I'm sorry," he whispered. "I'm sorry, Kagome. I tried, I really did..."

FLASHBACK ENDS


"Baka, of coarse it didn't work." Kikyou said in a tight voice. "You know why?"

Inuyasha shook his head.

"The wish was selfless. You made that wish upon the Shikon no Tama for yourself."

"But what about the time you were going to use it to turn me to a ningen?"

"That was going to be a wish for both you, and me." Kikyou explained impatiently. "The jewel of Four Souls will not grant wishes that are not for the benefit of others."

Inuyasha stood up and started pacing. "But it is! Then Sango, Miroku, and Shippo could've been happy again! So would've the others. Who was here with her medicine and bandages to help those in need? Kagome. Remember all those people at her funeral? Think about them, I bet every single one of them would want her here right now."

"I don't care about her funeral!" She yelled, then more quietly she asked. " But Inuyasha... do you really want Kagome alive, here, right now?"

Inuyasha stopped and looked down at the woman he had made his bride. She looked so sad and helpless, that Inuyasha kneeled in front of her and held her hands in his.

"Kikyou... please understand. I will always love you, but it's different. You will always have my soul, but Kagome has my heart."

The miko looked away from his eyes. "Fine, Inuyasha." She said quietly. She removed her hands from his grasp. "I see now that you can never love me the way you did in the very beginning." She sighed heavily. "And since you have told me the truth, I must do so also."

'At least now I know why Kagome's still here.'

"Your wish upon the jewel didn't fully come true, but only half of it did. She is not alive, but she is not dead. Kasumi-san was indeed.. Kagome."

It took a while before Inuyasha reacted. He leapt onto his feet in happiness, though his face gave away no emotions. He leaned over and gave Kikyou a kiss on her cheek. "Thank you." He whispered against her skin, and left.

'Kagome, I will find you. Please wait for me.'

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Okay, now to me, this was a v long chapter. So please please please be nice? Onegai? Hehe, thanks minna!

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