A/N: Thanks to Terror (again!) and TheyCallMeTaterSalad for the feedback last chapter.
Kagome rested her head on InuYasha's shoulder blade as he carried her on his back, away from the clearing. His pace was slower than usual, as if he were afraid to move her. Kagome knew it took a great deal of effort on his part, and she was certain the speed must have been painfully tedious to him.
"It's ok to go faster," she whispered. InuYasha ignored her, continuing at his pace. Kagome sighed, then tried again. "I'm fine," she assured. "You're not gonna hurt me."
"I already did!" he snapped.
"InuYasha, you didn't-"
"Shut up!" he barked. "Just shut up!" Why was she so understanding? Why wasn't she mad? He had failed her. He made a promise. He had promised to protect her and he didn't. It was his fault. He let her die.
Kagome was sure she was supposed to comfort him; she was certain there were words that could ease his guilt, but she was unsure of what those words were.
So instead she said nothing.
"Where do you think he took her?" Sango asked Miroku. They sat together under a flowering tree, mere feet from the battle that had just commenced. Kagome's blood stained the ground, and Sango fought back more tears. Shippo lay asleep with Kirara, having cried himself to sleep. A single blossom fell from the tree, landing on Sango's lap. She stared at it, mesmerized by its beauty. How could something so beautiful exist in a world so tainted by evil?
"Perhaps he decided to take her home," Miroku whispered. It had seemed like hours since InuYasha had left with their friend's body. Only a sliver of sunlight remained on the horizon. "Sunset," Miroku said, more to himself than anyone. Tomorrow would be a new day. A day without Kagome. He stared at the prayer beads wrapped securely around his right hand. Perhaps if he could not defeat Naraku for himself, then he could at least do it for their friend.
"It must be so hard on him," Sango said, turning her gaze to Miroku's. "To lose someone you love." She looked down at this. She was unable to look into his eyes for fear that she would not be able to control what she might say.
"Yes, I imagine…" Miroku trailed off, his eyes still on Sango. She looked up at him again, and it almost broke his heart. Such sad eyes. Miroku sighed to himself. He was supposed to be a holy man. But if there truly was a god, surely he would not allow such a beautiful creature to suffer so?
Sango stood, suddenly uncomfortable being so close to the monk. The way he was looking at me… She shivered. It was as if he could read her face; as if every fear and every hope she had ever had was written clearly across it.
She turned away from Miroku's gaze, towards the sun setting on the horizon. She squinted as she saw a familiar shape slowly tread towards them.
"Sango?" Miroku asked, noticing her tense. He stood to join her. "What is it?" He followed her gaze to the figure approaching them. The last remnants of sunlight glistened off a tangle of silver hair. "InuYasha!"
"He's carrying…" Sango trailed off as she saw the figure on InuYasha's back raise its head. "Kagome!" Sango took off, running as fast as she could. Miroku stared in bewilderment, then turned back to the sleeping Shippo.
"Shippo! Kirara! Get up!" he yelled before taking after Sango.
Shippo rubbed his eyes groggily, turning towards the noise. "What?" He noticed Sango and Miroku running towards a figure on the horizon. "InuYasha?" Shippo strained his eyes, trying to get a better look. "Wha- Kagome!"
InuYasha stopped as their companions rushed towards them. He lowered himself and Kagome stepped onto the ground. Sango rushed at her, her arms circling Kagome so tightly, she was uncertain exactly how she remained able to breathe.
"Kagome," Sango whispered, tears of relief streaming down her face. Miroku placed a hand on Kagome's shoulder, giving her a gentle squeeze.
"It's good to see you are alright, Kagome," he said with a smile. Kagome grinned as she wrapped her arms around the monk.
"We thought you were dead," Shippo cried as he clung to Kagome's leg.
"I was," Kagome whispered. She turned her eyes to InuYasha, who stood silent, his back to everyone. Kagome turned back to her friends. "Sesshoumaru… he… InuYasha got him to use his Tenseiga… I don't know how, but…" Kagome trailed off, overwhelmed by everything.
"You should sit down," Sango insisted, guiding her towards the tree they had previously been resting under. Kagome allowed Sango to guide her, suddenly realizing she was exhausted. She looked over her shoulder at InuYasha, who walked over to a small hill. She watched him go up, then down the other side, never taking her eyes off him until she could no longer see any trace of silver.
A/N: Review please! The next chapter is going to be the very last installmentof this story.
