Disclaimer:I do not own Inuyasha

Akaiinu knelt there, wide-eyed. Everything wasn't clear to him yet. What just happened? Why was there a sword in his sister's chest? Why was she gasping for air? Why was his younger brother hovering above her like that? He soon realized what was going on. There was a sword in her chest because she was stabbed. She was gasping for air because she was…dying.

He closed his eyes, shook his head fiercely. No! None of this was happening! He did not just see that. The cold hard truth came to him once he opened his eyes again. Everything was the same. Nothing changed. What just happened was no dream.

Soon his eyes made contact with he brother. Anger filled his entire body. How could he do this!

He got up to his feet and quickly walked over to Sesshoumaru, grabbing a handful of his Haori. "THAT'S THE WAY OF HELPING HER?! YOU BASTARD!" He shouted in his face, sending out an echo. Silence only answered him. Sesshoumaru looked at him, still emotionless. " I would appreciate it if you remove your hands from my clothing."

"You're lucky that I haven't killed you yet! Now tell me why you did it." Akaiinu spat. It was unusual that Akaiinu lost his temper like this. He got angry, but this wasn't anger. He was furious right now.

"Oh, I get it now!"

Everyone's head, with the exception of Sesshoumaru, turned to Totosai. "I'm surprised you didn't see it sooner! The Tenseiga only works on those who are already dead, but whose spirits aren't yet gone. Sesshoumaru can't revive someone if they're not dead!"

The realization calmed Akaiinu down- slightly. He still had to bear the sight of his twin sister writhing in pain, eyes becoming glassier. He looked to Sesshoumaru, and thought about saying something. But in the end, his anger succumbed to the desire to comfort his sister, he knelt by her.

"Kuroinu…" he muttered, as he cradled her in his arms. She didn't have much time left. To his surprise, he saw Kagome kneel right next to him. He looked to her for a split second, but a gasp form Kuroinu made him turn to her again.

And as he looked down, He could almost see the last heartbeat of blood course its way through her veins. All at once, the breathing stopped, the eyes closed. It was as if life just…left her, along with her warmth. The crimson eyes that had held so much hatred a few minutes ago now held something as close to calm as he had ever seen.

Akaiinu swallowed hard. He knew that it wouldn't be a long time, and yet he also knew that at the moment his only sister was dead. It took everything in him not to cry. He felt a hand on his shoulder-Kagome, he knew.

"why…?" was all he could say to her. She cast a look at Kuroinu as she gave her response, "she may have tried to kill me, but I feel bad for her. I don't think she was ever really happy"

Akaiinu bit his lip, knowing what she said was true. There wasn't a moment that passed without her thinking about the pleasure she would get out of killing Sesshoumaru.

How ironic. It ended with him killing her, he thought- black humor.

Sesshoumaru, still calm pulled his sword out of Kuroinu's chest. He wiped it quickly, then put it back by his side. He then took out the Tenseiga.

"you may want to move back," He instructed, emotionless. Akaiinu felt himself nod, but couldn't bring himself to move. It took Kagome reminding him that she'd be alive again in a little while to get him to move.

When they were out of the way, Sesshoumaru took a deep breath and pointed the Tenseiga at Kuroinu. He closed his eyes, and tried to focus his mind in the necessary manner to work the Tenseiga. He felt the energy course forward into her limp body, and then stepped back.

It was up to her now.

Is this what dying feels like? Am I dead? Thought Kuroinu. She was surprised she could still think at all. She felt cold all over, numb. Nothing really reached her. Part of her still thought she was fighting her brother. That was the part that wanted to be alive.

She knew she should be feeling pain, unbearable pain. She could see herself- no, her body- writhing and gasping. And yet, when she looked down at her chest, she couldn't see any wounds. Her throat wasn't slit. It was as if all the damage done to her disappeared.

She took a deep breath as a sudden feeling of calm washed away the numbness. For some reason, she felt that everything was alright. She didn't need to worry about anything. And yet, she did.

She worried about her brother. Akaiinu never left herself, until; she made her mistake. She had almost killed her own brother, and felt nothing near a second thought. She would have murdered him and continued as if It was nothing.

It was now she realized how much she had hurt him. It was now she felt remorse, when it was useless.

I'm sorry, Akai. I'm so sorry… she thought. She wondered what would happen, what he would do without her. That's when she saw Kagome kneel, along with Akaiinu, by her dead body.

And then she realized that her brother would be just fine.

She knew she wasn't going to any good place after all the people she had killed. Behind her, she could smell the brimstone of hell. She accepted it, and was about to go to her fate, when she felt a twang within her. She looked back, and saw Sesshoumaru with the Tenseiga.

They wanted her back. As much as she had hurt them, they wanted her back. Without much of a second thought, she turned and headed back to her body.

Moments ago, the body before them was dead. Now, it lurched forward, opened her eyes and took several deep breaths. Akaiinu ran forward towards her, and she turned with weary eyes to watch as he came towards her. He caught her in a warm embrace, one she felt too weak to return.

"Kuroinu, don't you ever die again!" Akaiinu scolded. Kuroinu felt herself smile weakly.

" I'll try…." She said. She looked to Sesshoumaru, who was putting Tenseiga back.

"thank you, brother" she said. He looked at her over his shoulder, yellow eyes meeting red ones.

"don't think I've forgotten all the things you've done, Kuroinu" HE warned. She shook her head.

" I don't think you ever will"

And that's when they heard the scream.

Cliffies are so much fun, don't you think? If you know what's going to happen, for god's sake don't spoil it for the rest of us by writing a detailed summary and submitting it as a review. Just a simple 'i know what's going to happen' will do....