A/N: Thank you to anyone who reviewed (thanks Yuffie!). Here is the next chapter. I hope you guys like it. There is a sort of songfic type element to this chapter. You will not see the entire song in this chapter, and it will finish when or before the story finishes. Please review and let me know what you think!

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My Only Hope
Chapter Two

"Stay behind me." Kagome repeated.

"What's he going to do?" whimpered Yuka.

Kagome took a deep breath. "He's going to pierce through the barrier. Whatever happens, just stay where you are. If something happens to him or me, run back to the well as fast as you can, and have Inuyasha help you guys get back home…"

"Kagome…" Eri was using a very serious tone. "Why are you talking like that?"

"Have you accepted the reality of your death, miko?" smiled Naraku.

Kagome got down on her knees and closed her eyes. She placed her hands together. Her friends stared at her with confusion etched into their features. "Kagome? What are you doing?" they whispered.

"Praying…" she smiled. "Help me…"

Naraku cocked his head sideways, and allowed a crooked smile to come across his face. Surely she did not think her weak holy powers were going to stop him now. They would be unconscious soon. No one, human or demon, could breathe in his toxins for too long…

Kagome could feel her lungs beginning to burn. The barrier was just for show. It wasn't protecting them from any of the poisonous gas that was permeating the room. Midoriko, help me please. I need me to lend me your strength. I cannot survive this on my own for long…

There's a song that's inside of my soul
It's the one that I've tried to write
Over and over again
I'm awake in the infinite cold
But you sing to me over and over and over again…

Kagome's friends had lost the battle with Naraku's poisonous vapors. Behind her, they were laying unconscious. She could feel herself slipping into blackness as her hands fell to her sides. She would give anything for some fresh, clean air to breathe. She gasped, only succeeding in pulling into her lungs more of the toxin which she was so desperate to keep out.

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"Let me go, damn you!" growled Inuyasha. "Don't you realize where I'm going? Kagome is in danger, you idiot!" Inuyasha knew Kouga was about as protective of Kagome as he was, but this was ridiculous.

"The only reason she's in danger is because of you." Kouga spat.

Inuyasha had fantasies about how triumphant he would feel when he ripped Kouga's cocky head from his fuzzy little shoulders. "Kouga…let me go…" he growled threateningly.

"Or what?"

Inuyasha couldn't help but laugh. Despite his current circumstances, Kouga sitting there mouthing off to him was pretty funny…or…was the funny part the fact that Sesshoumaru had been standing behind Kouga unnoticed for over five minutes? "Kouga…can't you smell that?" he smiled.

Kouga wheeled around.

"Let him go. Now." Stated Sesshoumaru calmly. "This is not the time for revenge."

Inuyasha's mouth hung open in surprise. His brother was helping him? Was this the twilight zone?

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Kagome had begun to sway where she sat. She could not permit herself to fall into unconsciousness. If she were to pass out, Naraku would win. She couldn't let that happen. Even if he was right. Even if Inuyasha wasn't coming to help her, she couldn't let Naraku be the one to have the remaining jewel shards. There were too many consequences.

Again, she began to pray. Please…Midoriko…help me…

"That won't help you, miko. You may be resisting the poison longer than your friends, but you are not immune to it…" It was Naraku.

So I lay my head back down
And I lift my hands
and pray to be only Yours
I pray to be only Yours
I know now you're my only hope

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"Why did you help me back there?" demanded Inuyasha as he and Sesshoumaru got closer and closer to Naraku's hideout. The overpowering stench of his poison was the only clue they had.

For a moment, Sesshoumaru said nothing. "You're an idiot."

Inuyasha blinked. "Damn it. Is that your answer to everything?"

"You don't even realize how important that human girl really is, do you?" Sesshoumaru spat. "Your feelings for her cloud your judgment. You are blind to how important she is going to be…"

Inuyasha kept running, although under normal circumstances Sesshoumaru's statement would have stopped him in his tracks. His eyes bulged, and he looked at Sesshoumaru with an angry sort of confusion. "What do you mean how important she is going to be?" he asked. "All I know is that she is important to me now. That, and I know that I'll break Naraku's hairy little head off his shoulders if he's done anything to her…"

"Exactly." Smirked Sesshoumaru.

"Exactly what?" groaned Inuyasha.

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Kagome could no longer stand it. She had lost. She permitted herself to fall into unconsciousness. There would, at least, be comfort in the darkness. She fell with a thud, and Naraku smirked. Her eyes closed, but her barrier did not disappear.

He took a step backwards. "What the hell?" he growled. "What's going on?" He could sense that the barrier around the miko and her friends had actually begun to get stronger. He scratched his head in confusion. "How did she…how is this possible?" he yelled. He took another step backwards. If he got near that barrier, he might be purified. Damn that miko…

"Where is Kagome?" Naraku knew that growl. It was Inuyasha. He turned, still smiling. "What have you done to her?" he gasped, red rising into his cheeks.

Naraku could only laugh. "You need not be concerned about her, Inuyasha. She swallowed the remaining jewel shards. I could not permit her to do that. Her and her human friends are gone. However, that meddlesome barrier is still around her…." This was still a source of immense confusion to Naraku.

If possible, Inuyasha grew even madder. "You son of a…"

Sesshoumaru held him back. "Keep a hold on that sword. I don't want to deal with you right now." He warned. "You need to be concerned with the girl and her friends. I'll take care of him…"

"But he…" Inuyasha began.

"Shut up."

"Okay." Inuyasha nodded.

"Go, you moron!" Sesshoumaru commanded, drawing his sword and running at Naraku.

Inuyasha approached the barrier with caution. It surprised him that the barrier dissipated on its own when he approached. He glanced at Kagome and her friends. He was a failure. He had allowed both Kikyou and Kagome to fall into Naraku's clutches.

He picked each of her friends up and slung them over his shoulders. The barrier around Kagome reappeared as he stepped away. He ran from the castle, set them outside, and returned. He picked Kagome up bridal style, and rushed from the castle.

When he had her safely outside, he laid her on the grass next to her friends. "I'm sorry," he whispered, running back in with his sword drawn.

Sesshoumaru glared at him. "Get out of here, you idiot! I thought I made myself clear earlier? Leave!"

Inuyasha stalled for a moment, but, receiving another death glare from Sesshoumaru, decided it was in his best interests to get away.

He went back outside, surprised to see Sango, Miroku, Kirara, and Shippo waiting for him. "What are you guys doing here?" he gasped.

"We're here to help." Sango looked at Kagome with worry etched into her features. "What should we do?"

"We just need to get Kagome and her friends to Kaede as soon as possible…"

"But Inuyasha," Miroku frowned, "they aren't breathing."

The little kitsune's lip began to quiver, and Inuyasha picked him up consolingly. "I don't care. We still have to get them to Kaede's…"

Sango nodded to Kirara, who gladly accepted the extra weight of Kagome's three friends. Inuyasha picked Kagome up. "I'll carry her. You guys will need to ride back on Kirara…." Inuyasha sighed.

"All right, Inuyasha. It's okay with us." Sango whispered, patting him on the back. "Are you going to be okay?"

He glared at her, but did not respond, and started out towards Kaede's village ahead of the others. There had to be something she could do, right? How long would it be before the hearts of Kagome and her friends finally gave out? Inuyasha could only hope that they ran into Kaede before they reached her village. Way before…

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A/N: Heh heh heh. (smiles) Sorry about that, but as I said, I am a cliffy fan. Please review and let me know what you think, and I will update!