Inuyasha heaved a deep breath and snapped the ropes that bound his body. The adrenilin was rushing through him. He was back. No longer stuck in his human form, he had a renewed confidence. He forced himself up and took another deep breath. Though the pain was incredible, he walked quickly through the blackened corridors. Soon he came to a stairway leading upward. He could not smell anyone around, so he continued on.

He decided to first find Kagome and get her to safety, and then worry about Sesshomaru and the shards. He walked out of the darkness, and into a hallway lit with several torches. He checked to make sure no one was there, and then walked down it to an open door. At first the sunlight hurt his eyes, but after squinting for a moment, they adjusted to the light he had been deprived of. He saw Jaken from across the way, and jumped up onto the roof before he saw him. Jaken wouldn't have noticed anyway, he seemed to have been in quite a hurry. Inuyasha wondered what Jaken was rushing about for, but after a moment forgot all about it.

Jumping from roof to roof, Inuyasha finally picked up the scent of two humans. One was the little girl that had offered to help him, and the other.... the other was KAGOME.

Inuyasha ran along the roofs towards Kagome, but stopped suddenly when he saw Sesshomaru standing between him and Kagome.

"Hand over the girl." Sesshomaru insisted.

"Yes, give her back." Jaken mimicked.

Rin looked up at Sesshomaru in wonder.

"They didn't take me Sess-"

"Quiet Rin. Go with Jaken."

"But Sessh-"

"Now Rin."

"Yes Sesshomaru-sama." She said sadly turning to her new friends, "I gotta go."

As Rin started walking away, she looked up on one of the rooftops Inuyasha happened to be sitting on.

"You're BETTER!" She yelled pointing at him happily.

Sesshomaru turned instantly to see who she had been talking to. When he saw Inuyasha he smiled.

"I knew I shouldn't have underestimated you. I'm surprised you are still alive. Jaken said you were dead." Sesshomaru said giving Jaken an evil glare. "I see I'll have to finish what I started."

Sesshomaru laughed, then threw an attack at Inuyasha. Rin looked up at Sesshomaru attacking her new friend and instantly ran into the crossfire to protest. Kagome saw her running into danger and jumped into the way to protect the young girl. The blow connected with Kagome.

Everyone looked upon the small body of Kagome that shielded Rin. Rin's closed eyes suddenly opened wide when she saw the unconscious body of her new friend on top of her.

Sesshomaru maintained the look of calmness, though he was utterly shaken inside. Had he hurt Rin?

Miroku gently helped lift the unconscious body of Kagome off Rin, who still sat silently in shock.

Rin's eyes filled with tears.

"Is she okay? Is she okay Sesshomaru-sama? Why did you hurt my friends?"

Inuyasha's temper was raging. He wasn't sure to whether he should kill Sesshomaru now, or see if Kagome was okay. The reaction was instantaneous. He ran to see Kagome. He took her gently from Miroku's arms.

"Oh come now Inuyasha.... surely you will attack me now that I have attacked your human twice now?"

"What is your problem!?!" Sango yelled loudly.

Rin was now crying. She was confused and saddened.

Sesshomaru smirked and turned away.

"Come Rin."

Rin stayed where she was.

"Rin. Come along."

She remained unmoved. Sesshomaru moved towards her, and she scooted away.

"Come Rin!"

She shook her head. She got up and ran behind Sango, wrapping her arms around her legs.

Suddenly the wind picked up. It was Kagura and Naraku's bees. She came down laughing, and grabbed Rin into her arms.

"Do you have those shards for me Sesshomaru?"

For the first time ever the group actually saw worry on Sesshomaru's face. Sesshomaru reached into his gi and pulled out the glass jar with shards inside.

"I see you got the shards, but Inuyasha is still alive.... you didn't complete your deal."

He laughed.

"You laugh now but I see the fear behind your eyes. Why is the human girl so important to you? You, Sesshomaru, youkai who hates all humans."

"The girl means nothing to me."

"Than why is it that I have orders from Naraku to kill her if you do not do as you are told?"

Sesshomaru stood there.

"Very well, since this girl means nothing to you, and you did not kill Inuyasha which was part of the agreement, I will be taking this girl with me."

Sesshomaru's eyes went wide, and he went to attack Kagura. She started to fly away.

"Everyone stand back!" Miroku yelled.

"Wha-"

"She uses wind to fly away. I can counter it with my void and pull her back!"

"But the bees-"

"Everyone move!!"

They did as they were told.

Miroku opened the void, pulling the alarmed Kagura back, while sucking in the poisonous bees. Finally Kagura let the shards and the little girl fall, and Miroku wrapped his hand, while Inuyasha jumped up and caught Rin.

"Are you alright Rin?" he asked her.

Still frightened, she nodded. She wrapped her arms around his neck.

"I was scared."

Inuyasha looked up at Sesshomaru.

"What in the HECK was that all about!?!"

Sesshomaru tried to take Rin from Inuyasha, but she refused to come away.

Sesshomaru sighed.

"Naraku kidnapped Rin a while ago and promised to kill her if I didn't get the shards. That wasn't hard, and I got Rin back, but then they threatened her again if I didn't kill you. That's what all this is about."

"Why is this girl so important to you? I thought you hated humans."

"I do. But Rin.... Rin isn't just a human. She's..."

Inuyasha's face scewed.

"Your daughter?" He asked.

"No! I...." he spoke solemnly, "I owe her a life debt."

Inuyasha laughed. A little girl? A little girl saved his life? Suddenly he heard Kagome grunt, and remembered where they were.

"Why did you have to include Kagome in all this? Why did you hurt her?"

"I didn't. I simply took the shards. Naraku framed me so you would come after me and I would kill you."

"Inuyasha!!" Sango yelled, "She's fading fast!"

Inuyasha looked back. Setting Rin down he ran to his wife. He held her in his arms.

"Kagome..." he whispered. "Don't leave me."

Sesshomaru looked at the dying girl.

"Save her Sesshomaru-sama," Rin cried, "like you saved me."

Sesshomaru looked to his sword. The sword left to him by his father, the sword of healing.

"Step away from her."

"Are you crazy?" Inuyasha asked.

Sesshomaru lifted his sword above Kagome.

Inuyasha pushed him away.

"What are you thinking!?!"

"This is the Tensiaga, it's a healing sword."

"It brought me back to life." Said Rin quietly.

"Inuyasha..... if .... you don't.... Kag..ome....will die." Miroku struggled.

Inuyasha reluctantly allowed Sesshomaru to continue. When he finished, Inuyasha looked at Kagome, then back at Sesshomaru.

"In...Inuyasha?" Kagome said quietly.

Inuyasha took his wife in his arms. When he turned around to thank Sesshomaru, Sesshomaru of all people, he found he was gone. Sitting next to the spot he had been standing was a little glass jar. The jar of the Shikon Shards.

"Inuyasha?" Kagome asked again.

"Hai Kagome. It's me."

"Inuyasha, I was so worried when you didn't come back. I thought something had happened to you."

"You should have stayed at home, I would have been back."

"Inuyasha.... I was so scared..... Please don't leave me again."

"I won't Kagome, I promise."

Kagome closed her eyes and let out a deep breath. She finally could get the sleep that she had needed for so long. She finally could be at peace. She was with her husband, and that's all she needed. She just needed to be in his arms.

Inuyasha picked up his sleeping wife and started walking away.

"Come on Kagome... let's go home."

As Inuyasha walked away, Sango ran to Miroku's side. He was panting and sweating, leaning up against an old tree.

"Hoshi-sama... that was very brave what you did."

"Arigato.... San...go..."

"Hoshi-sama, we need to get you to Kaede... you are very ill-"

"No... Sango. I need to talk with you. I.... owe you... the truth."

"But Hoshi-sama..."

"Listen San...go.... please."

Sango sat there silently.

"You remember when you asked.... if my void ever hurt?"

She nodded.

"Sango... I don't... have much time.... the void is growing... it will consume me."

"Yes I know Hosh-"

"Soon. Sango... I'm dying. It won't be long now.... and... and I want you to know so that .... it won't... be such a shock to you when it happens. So that it will be easier to move on." Miroku reached into his gi and pulled a beaded necklace from his neck. "This... was my mother's... and her mother's before that.... it's supposed to protect you from evil.... I want you to have it."

He took the necklace and motioned her closer. He then placed the necklace over her head and let it fall around her neck.

"It looks... beautiful on you."

Sango sat still, silently contemplating all that he had told her.

"No.... no Miroku! It's not true! We'll get Naraku! You won't die!"

Miroku... she had never called him Miroku before... he had always been Hoshi-sama.

"You can't die...." Sango said, as a tear rolled down her face, "You can't...."

She leaned in and kissed him.

After she pulled away, she continued, "You can't... Because I love you."

A/N: Awww.... There we go... now what will Miroku do??? I know... torture.... but I figured I'd give you this much because it's better than nothing. I know that it's not nice, but I wouldn't be able to update for a while after this because I'm in the Forgotten Carols!!!! I've waited my whole life for this, and through one simple audition I made it!!! Of course the choirmaster must be deaf because I got let in, but I'm thrilled anyway!!! Anyway, I know it's not the best chappie, but still, it's better than nothing. I don't know what to think about this chapter.... I'm not all that fond of it... I'll probably redo it, but I don't know..... I think I still have the characters OOC. Anyway, tell me what you think!!!! Love you guys, and as always, thanks for the reviews!! Happy Holidays!!!