Authors Notes: Okay, Ayame Ito, in an earlier chapter of the story that included the seal, Sesshoumaru talks about smelling himself on her. He smells himself on her, but the scent hasn't changed much.The only difference is the smell of the city, and that's always on Kagome anyways because she goes there. Soz, didn't mean to blow off the question.

Now, guys, I am such a dork, I know it, but if you have the space on your comp THE FOURTH INU YASHA MOVIE IS SO WORTH IT+dies+ It was awesome, and there was even an appearance of our favorite youkai lord. +melts+ Okay, so I'm an otaku. I admit this. I am working on downloading the second movie onto my comp because I cleared out massive space today. But ugh+melts+ The fourth movie is so awesome.

And KJInuyasha, the epilogue is after this chapter, soz for the confusion. Im sorry Ive been building up towards the fight with Naraku, Im not gonna leave it out(no matter how much I suck at fight scenes)

Now, this is the chapter of the story that some of you may dislike the most, some may be cheering. But remember, I'm trying to keep things semi-realistic.

Disclaimer:I don't own Inu Yasha

Bad Day

Chapter 31: Living On A Prayer

Every day and night, they spent more time together. She couldn't help it, and neither could he. They needed no words to convey their fears. Kagome was terrified of going back to the future and not finding him there, waiting for her. He knew she was leaving after the battle. Their need for one another was insatiable. Every moment seemed more precious, and everyone felt that way. Sango and Miroku were often seen together, spending every moment they could with one another.

And the night before they would leave for Mt. Hakurei, Kagome felt the tension in Sesshoumaru's heart as his arms tightened around her.

"Do you think everything will be alright?" Kagome whispered to him as they looked at one another.

"It will be. We are strong enough to defeat him," Sesshoumaru told her as he nuzzled her hair. Kagome took comfort in his words as they began to make love again.

The air was getting colder as they ascended the mountain only a few nights later. Kagome got more anxious by the second as she and Sesshoumaru rode the cloud. Inu Yasha and Kouga rode on another cloud made by Sesshoumaru, and Sango and Miroku rode on Kirara.

Involuntarily, she shivered, and Sesshoumaru wrapped his tail around them both as they ascended. He sniffed the air every now and again.

Naraku's smell was getting stronger. And others. The Kagura wench who was so foolish as to try and bribe him to destroy Naraku. Other smells assailed his nose, and he felt the youki of hundreds of different demons.

"Naraku is composed of hundreds of other demons, correct?" Sesshoumaru asked. Kagome nodded her head. He understood the smell for so many other demons then. With a glance, he took in Inu Yasha's eager face. No one should be so eager to kill. It corrupted the soul and blinded one to the cause and meaning behind the death. But Inu Yasha only wanted revenge. His life thus far had been spent trying to achieve it. What would he do afterwards?

They landed a safe distance away from what Sesshoumaru could tell was Naraku's dwelling.

"Tomorrow is the new moon," Inu Yasha suddenly stated. Sesshoumaru looked up to the sky and his half brother's statement proved true.

"So?" Kouga began.

"We have a slight problem. Inu Yasha can't…Well, his weak time is during the night of the new moon," Kagome explained quietly.

"I know that. I meant it's not like he's vital to our cause. We can kill Kagura, then go after Naraku," Kouga stated simply.

"There are hundreds of demons guarding Naraku's dwelling. It will not be that simple. But Inu Yasha, you must stay behind. Leave even. We must get this done tomorrow, and I'm sure you don't want to die," Sesshoumaru stated. Inu Yasha snorted.

"No, I'd rather face Naraku as a human than give this opportunity up. Besides, I know I can kill him," Inu Yasha stated like he was more powerful as a human than as a hanyou. Kagome began, then stopped herself. There would be no stopping him now, and they started the battle tomorrow.

"Everyone, let's sleep, two on guard every three hours," Sango said, her words a command more than a suggestion. She was in an element she knew, was born into once more, and it calmed her and gave her strength as she remembered her village. She would do whatever she had to tomorrow for her village, for her brother.

Kohaku…

Kagome stood watch with Sesshoumaru that night. Her eyes drifted closed more than once, and before she knew it, it was dawn and he was shaking her awake.

"It is time," Sesshoumaru told her.

"I love you," She told him once. She didn't expect an answer, for he had never said anything to answer her before, except for thank you.

"I love you too mate," He said in a hoarse voice. Kagome stared at him, shocked. Why had he said that? Did he think he would never see her again, or that battle would take her from him? Or did he really mean it?

"Thank you," She whispered finally. They kissed one last time and Kagome awoke the others as Sesshoumaru checked his swords to make sure they were secure at his side.

The group set out to Naraku's dwelling and when they were a hundred yards away from the doors, Kagura appeared on her feather, Kanna behind her.

"Impudent fools! You will die for coming here," Kagura said, her angry crimson eyes directed at Sesshoumaru. He merely smirked and moved towards her. Suddenly she made some obscure noise and demons began to appear from the castle behind her, heading straight for Sesshoumaru.

The battle had started, and everyone threw themselves into it. Kagome used her miko power to purify every demon in her path as she headed for Sesshoumaru. Sango was throwing her giant boomerang, and Miroku was sucking demons in his hand, while Inu Yasha had no problems with tetsusaiga.

Kagome felt one slash her arm and cried out. Her energy faltered and the youkai swarmed upon her.

"Dance of the dead!" Was screamed somewhere, and Kagome heard Sesshoumaru snarling angrily as he cut them down. Somewhere, someone cried out in pain. The voice registered with Kagome suddenly.

Sango…

Energy welled up within her, coursing through her body, hot and angry, her rage a poison seeking release.

Everywhere around her demons fell away, becoming nothing more than ash as she charged towards Sango, who was trying to fight off demons with Hiraikotsu.

She helped her friend and they stood fighting back to back as Kagome purified anything around her, and Sango threw Hiraikotsu and caught it again and again.

The battle went on for hours before the stream of demons finally ended, and Kagura looked down from her spot on the roof, her eyes filled with fear.

"You will all die!" Kagura snarled as she took Kanna and disappeared somewhere.

"Let's go inside. Inu Yasha, will you be alright, it's almost dusk," Kagome said as she began walking towards the doors, looking every way, trying to find any sign of a hidden trap.

"I'll be fine, let's just get inside and find him!" Inu Yasha growled as he walked past Kagome. He opened the doors with a little grunting, signs that his powers as a hanyou were fading.

Inside the massive building, it was dark and Kagome heard nothing. She was shocked when Sesshoumaru began walking purposefully towards one of the doors.

"Hey, where ya going?" Inu Yasha asked.

"I smell him, and I'm following the path I think may lead directly to him," Sesshoumaru stated as he opened one of the doors.

"You go your way, I'll go mine," Inu Yasha snarled as he began to walk towards another door. Sesshoumaru nodded his agreement, uncaring. He didn't think the path led to Naraku, he knew it. But the hanyou would soon be a human, useless to all of them in a fight.

"I'll go with you," Kouga said.

"If we split up, we can cover more of the castle. I'll go this way with Sango," Miroku said.

Kagome didn't voice her concern. That splitting up divided their power, and in the end get them all killed. So she followed Sesshoumaru, her eyes adjusting to darkness as they descended stairs built into the earth. Where they going into some sort of cellar?

As they continued on in darkness, Kagome hoped her friends would be okay.

Inu Yasha and Kouga kept walking through the maze of halls, Kouga's keen nose the only thing saving them from going in circles. Little by little, Inu Yasha became human. By the time they reached a dead end, the hanyou had turned into a full human, and Kouga snorted angrily.

"You could have told us all this a week ago when we were discussing our plans you mangy mutt," Koga stated as he turned.

Inu Yasha didn't have time to answer as blades whipped towards them, some cutting into their skin.

"Seems the poor little hanyou is a human tonight. You will never defeat Naraku, more's the pity," Kagura said as she continued to hurt them.

Kouga walked against her winds and suddenly pounced on her.

"You little bitch. I won't let you kill me. I won't die until you and Naraku are dead," He panted as blood trickled from various wounds on his body.

He let his claws extend from his hands and sink into her skin. Kagura cried out in pain as he removed one and plunged it into her neck. But…

She kept breathing!

"You can't kill us, for we have no hearts," She taunted as she stood, gasping, but still breathing, and threw Kouga away from her. Before Kouga could stand, she was gone.

"What the hell?" Kouga snarled.

"They hide their hearts somewhere. I remember Yura did something similar. She hid her soul in a comb. Maybe they keep their hearts hidden somewhere in here," Inu Yasha said.

"Then we better find those hearts, or else Kagome and the others are gonna die," Kouga said. Inu Yasha and they began running in the direction they came, looking for another corridor to try and explore.

Sango walked with Kirara on one side and Miroku on the other. As they continued and came against nothing and no one in their paths, Sango became more and more frustrated.

"When will we find Kohaku," She finally shouted, her eyes welling with tears of frustration and anger.

"Calm down Sango, we'll find him. I promise," Miroku said as he hugged her tightly.

Without any warning, a sickle embedded itself into the wall right next to Miroku. Sango jumped back, taking him with her as she faced her little brother.

"Kohaku," Sango whispered brokenly as the boy jerked the chain and the sickle came back into his hand. His eyes were dull and his face blank.

"Sango, our only choice is to get his weapons and subdue him somehow," Miroku stated.

So Sango walked towards her brother.

"Kohaku, give me the sword and sickle," Sango spoke slowly, carefully. Kohaku directed all of his attentions to her as Miroku moved silently and slowly so as not to draw attention to himself. Kirara paced angrily to help distract Kohaku.

When Sango was only a few feet away from the shell of her little brother, Miroku pounced and grabbed Kohaku's hands, holding them tightly. Sango quickly grabbed the weapons from the boy and threw them as far away as she could. When she saw how hard it was for Miroku to hold onto the struggling boy, she took the sword and hit her little brother on the back of his head to knock him out, tears flowing from her eyes as he fell to the floor with a thud.

"I'm sorry," She whispered.

Unbeknownst to any of them, Kikyo had come to the dwelling, knowing exactly where Naraku was. As she followed the feel of his energy, she felt the others and sighed sadly. They would undoubtedly die.

Suddenly a little girl appeared in front of her, a mirror in her hands. Kikyo was almost shocked by the almost ghostly figure.

"Look into my mirror," The girl whispered. Kikyo smiled. She knew the little girl's game. As a part of Naraku, the girl couldn't be allowed to survive.

"I have no soul to steal," Kikyo almost taunted as she walked towards the little girl. For the first time Kanna showed a flicker of fear in her eyes. Kikyo didn't, couldn't, let it affect her as she placed her hand son the girl and let energy flow through her palms and into the girl's shoulders, purifying her into nothing more but a pile of ash. The mirror shattered as it hit the floor. Kikyo looked resolutely at the door and followed it down the stairs built of compacted dirt.

Kagome watched in horror as Naraku and Sesshoumaru fought. Sesshoumaru had told her to find where Naraku had the shards stashed, and with fright she realized he had swallowed them! In on spot along his body, she saw the distinct glowing right above his chest.

Suddenly Kagura crashed in and for a moment the fighting stopped.

"Kouga and Inu Yasha are looking for our hearts!" She cried out, her eyes wild with fear.

"They will not find them. I have already taken mine back into me, for I learned that it would give me greater strength in subdueing a full demon I abdosrbed. Now I need not fear dieing, for I have the power of a full demon. You however, will die," Naraku said as he reached out a root-like tentacle and wrapped it around Kagura.

Before the girl had time to struggle she was dragged to Naraku's body and swiftly absorbed into him. Kagome heard one scream before suddenly Kikyo walked up behind her.

"He thinks he is no longer vulnerable despite his heart. Kagome, take my shard. His power is great, and you need all the help you can get," Kikyo said as she handed Kagome the last shard.

"Why are you doing this?" Kagome asked.

"Because I want you gone from this place, and defeating Naraku is the only way I can do it. I want to go back to my place in hell and rest," Kikyo finished as she began to move back from the fight. Kagome briefly wondered about the so called deal between Naraku and Kikyo, but had to force it to the back of her mind when Naraku spoke.

"I will absorb you too foolish youkai," Naraku mocked as he shot out one tentacle after the other, trying to catch Sesshoumaru.

Kagome saw one coming behind Sesshoumaru's back as he was fighting off several in front of him with Tokijin.

"No!" She screamed, right as it was about to wrap around him.

For the second time, she gave everything up for her mate.

Sesshoumaru turned and watched in shock as Kagome was absorbed into Naraku's body through one of the root-like tentacles that had been aiming for his back.

"Kukuku, it seems your little miko had all the other shards. Now I am even more powerful. Because of her love for you, she is dead Sesshoumaru," Naraku mocked as Sesshoumaru charged at him, Tokijin in one hand and his claws dripping poison ready to dig into Sesshoumaru's heart.

The others arrived at the scene, watching Sesshoumaru savagely try to tear Naraku limb from limb. The demon lord was covered in his own blood, and each time he cut off one of Naraku's appendages, a demon grew from it and began to attack him.

Kirara held a knocked out Kohaku in her jaws gently as she watched everyone aid the youkai. Blood and gore spattered everywhere as they watched from all sides for another of the tentacles. But there always seemed to be three to replace one that was cut off.

"What's this?" Naraku suddenly gasped, as if choked. His hands clawed at his chest, his eyes wide with terror.

Everyone gasped as a faint pulsing light appeared where his heart was. With each beat the pink light grew stronger.

"No, stop this! You're supposed to be dead! Argh stop!" Naraku snarled.

Suddenly the room exploded in an intense pink light.

When the light faded away, everyone looked at the glowing figure of Kagome, who stood where Naraku had once stood. All around her was a pile of ashes, and within her clenched hand the shikon jewel, now complete, glowed brightly.

"You're alive!" Kouga shouted. Kagome smiled and walked towards Sesshoumaru, her eyes filled with tears.

"It's over," She whispered as she fell into his arms.

"She's fading," Kikyo told them.

"What the hell are you talking about?" Kouga demanded.

"Soon she will be back in her own time now that her duty here is done," Kikyo responded. "And now Inu Yasha, it is time to keep your promise," Kikyo told him as she took his hand in her own.

"No! Inu Yasha, part of my duty was to make sure you didn't make some stupid mistake! And going with her is the stupidest mistake you could ever make. We all love you here, and everyone needs you! Don't leave us for her. She died a long time ago Inu Yasha, but you're still alive," Kagome told him as she stood and walked towards him, her body trembling.

"You have no right to interfere!" Kikyo told her angrily. She had made a deal with Naraku, and she may not have given him the shard, but he had been defeated anyway. Inu Yasha was promised to her!

"I have every right to interfere. Inu Yasha is my friend. He doesn't have to go with you," Kagome told her. Then she turned to Inu Yasha. "Inu Yasha, you don't have to go. We need you here, with us. Please," Kagome pleaded.

"But, you have Sesshoumaru, and Miroku and Sango have each other, no one needs me," Inu Yasha told her. "Except Kikyo."

"You're wrong. We all need you. Do you know how much everyone, yes, everyone, will miss you if you go to hell with Kikyo?" Kagome asked. "I'm from the future and I know a couple of people who will miss you. Please Inu Yasha, stay with us," Kagome told him. The hanyou looked as indecisive as ever. Suddenly Kagome saw the gaping hole opening up beneath Kikyo.

"I have to go," Inu Yasha told her. "I love Kikyo."

And like that, they were gone.

Suddenly Kagome gasped and she fell to the floor. Before she even hit the ground, Sesshoumaru was cradling her in his arms.

"I love you, mate," She told him as the pains in her chest increased. The jewel shard in her hand began to pulse brightly, and little by little sunk into her body.

"I love you too mate," He whispered into her hair and he clung to her slowly disappearing form.

Kagome awoke to several people watching her anxiously.

"What happened?" She asked as she rubbed her eyes. She felt like she had drank too much shochu.

"You're here for good Kagome," Sesshoumaru stated as he pulled her into his arms.

"I love you," Kagome told her mate.

"And I love you," He whispered back as Sango and Miroku babbled angrily over who got to hug her next.

"It's good to be home," Kagome told him.

Authors End Notes: Oh it's not the end yet. There is still the epilogue to tie everything up and all. This chapter was hard to write because of all the fighting. I don't do good fight scenes, and I know it. Its my weakness. So please forgive me. The epilogue will be posted in a few days. And at that time, the story Falls On Me will be posted. (I really need to find songs that aren't by Fuel to inspire my stories).

Thankies To: KJInuyasha, SeSsHiE's-MaTe, VampressKiss, Tsuki no Yasha, myworld101, animebook fan, Erik and Fae, Kyo-chan-gurl, Mis0ka(I seriously didn't realize my mistake, and err…Im really sorry 00), LacyKatt08, blulily07, lincoln logs equal GOD, Lyn, Princess of the Saiyans 16, EmChi, dragon huntress(as if I could kill off Sango and Miroku! How could you think so badly of me!), Ayame Ito, Fairie Mistress, Joey, sakura-no-hana-hoshi, Nikki, karen12, DemonQueen14, Hoshiko Megami