Inuyasha looked up from his view of the food roasting on a spit over the fire, and shifted his attention to Kagome. "Hey Kagome! I think it's done. It looks done enough for me, anyway."
"Yes of course Master Inuyasha. You lazy dope! Check it for yourself!" As Inuyasha leaned over to check the meat, Shippo came bouncing up and stood alongside Inuyasha.
"It's done! It's finally done! I'm so hungry I could eat it all!" Shippo bounced over to where Miroku and Sango sat at the foot of the nearest tree. "Come on you two the food is done!" he yelled gleefully.
Once Kagome had cut the meat into even portions for all of them, they all sat around the fire and ate. Looking up from his meal, Miroku said, "Kagome, I must admit your cooking has improved greatly from when I first met you." There were answering agreements from around the fire as several full mouths tried to compliment Kagome.
Suddenly, Inuyasha stiffened. "Demon. A big one." Inuyasha got to his feet and unsheathed the Tetsusaiga as Miroku, Sango, Kagome and Shippo got to their feet. While Sango reached for her boomerang bone, Shippo slid over to Kilala and Kagome picked up her bow and quiver of arrows.
The demon appeared out of nowhere, it seemed. It was swift as it hurtled toward the now prepared group of warriors. It struck faster than any demon had ever attempted before, but it was too slow. "Feh. Just what do you think you are, exactly? No matter, you'll be just as dead as any other demon!" Inuyasha swung the Tetsusaiga with lightning accuracy, cutting the demons' left arm and part of its' torso off. The demon turned, desperately swinging with what strength and life it had left. It also swung with deadly accuracy, right at the person it was aiming for. "NO KAGOME WATCH OUT!"
Inuyasha rushed to catch Kagome as she fell. Dropping the Tetsusaiga as he held out his arms and caught her before she hit the ground.
Miroku looked from Kagome to the demon, who was taking its' last breath. "Die." He opened the wind tunnel in his hand, and punished the demon into nothingness. "Kagome? Is she all right?"
Inuyasha sat on the ground holding Kagome in his arms. Her blood was pouring from a wound that stretched from her collarbone to her naval. Inuyasha tried desperately to stop the flow of her lifeblood with his hands, but it was useless. She was going pale from blood loss. "Inuyasha, listen up. Tell my family...that I love them. Tell my brother to listen to mom. She knows what it best for him. Tell everyone that-that I had a wonderful time with all of them. Everyone. And you, Inuyasha..." Her voice grew faint, and broke off as she reached a blood-covered hand and gently touched his cheek. "I...love you...Inuyasha. Please...don't be sad. Live....for me." Her hand slowly dropped as her eyes lost their focus. "I...love...you..."
"Kagome. Kagome? Wake up Kagome. Come on Kagome stay here! KAGOME!" Inuyasha shook her lifeless body as he tried to wake her up.
"Inuyasha stop it. She's gone." Sango gently kneeled next to Inuyasha, who had stopped shaking her. Tears rolled down his face as he stroked her hair, his hands still wet with blood. "Here Inuyasha...we'll wrap her in this." Sango slowly and gently lifted Kagome's body out of Inuyashas' arms and placed her on the white funeral cloth that Miroku had laid out.
Miroku slowly closed Kagome's eyes and folded the sheet over her. "She was a selfless friend," Miroku said, "and we will mourn for her."
